NEWS
MyEagleNews.com
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
A3
County approves $125K funding
for emergency operations center
Center hiring
full-time staff for
multiple functions
By Steven Mitchell
Blue Mountain Eagle
The Grant County Emer-
gency Operations Cen-
ter will receive $125,060 in
funding for its coronavirus
response team to hire addi-
tional staff members and
purchase supplies, including
COVID-19 test kits.
Emergency
Manage-
ment Coordinator Dave
Dobler requested staff from
the county with special-
ized skills. This included
Ryan Palmer from the Road
Department to the position of
Planning Section Chief.
Additionally,
Dobler
asked that County Com-
missioners Sam Palmer and
Jim Hamsher increase the
amount of hours they work
at the EOC. Palmer serves as
the public information officer
while Hamsher serves as the
court liason.
Dobler, who hired four
new staff members in the
finance department of the
EOC at $16 per hour, said he
needed four more staff mem-
bers in that department to
track expenses for Federal
Emergency
Management
Agency
reimbursements.
County Judge Scott Myers
said the EOC needs to give
those duties to furloughed
The Eagle/Steven Mitchell
From left, County Commissioner Sam Palmer, County Judge Scott Myers and Commissioner
Jim Hamsher at Wednesday’s Grant County Court session.
county staff in lieu of hiring
additional staff.
Dobler said he also needs
to hire two full-time section
chiefs at $24 per hour.
Hamsher asked Dobler to
give a “Reader’s Digest” run-
down of who is on the medi-
cal team of the EOC.
Dobler said in the medical
PIO positions, he has Jessica
Winegar and John Combs
from the Grant County
Health Department. Dobler
said in the Medical Work
Group, he has Community
Counseling Solutions CEO
and County Health Adminis-
trator Kimberly Lindsay, and
from the Red Cross, he has
Jim Spell.
The medical safety offi-
cer is Marsha Pereira, from
Blue Mountain Hospital Dis-
trict’s Home Health. Dobler
said Blue Mountain Hospi-
tal CEO Derek Daly is also
involved.
Palmer said there are men-
tal health specialists as well
on the medical team, includ-
ing staff from Step Forward,
an individual needs agency
in downtown John Day.
Dobler said he is work-
ing with the medical team to
find other sources for testing
kits and that he passed along
information for a company in
Texas that can do both test-
ing for the virus and testing
for virus antibodies, which is
testing for people who have
previously had the virus.
Dobler said he is work-
ing on getting more per-
sonal protective equipment
to the county. He ordered
395 masks and 50 face
shields for nine agencies
and approximately 100 vol-
unteer firefighters.
He said the state depart-
ment of corrections is gener-
ating homemade masks. He
added there is now a stan-
dardized pattern that will
catch droplets.
Logistics Section Chief
Steve Fletcher walked the
county through the EOC’s
website,
gc-or-covid-19.
info.
Fletcher said the website
includes links to the Small
Business Administration,
unemployment and other
resources.
“Community Counsel-
ing Solutions and the Health
Department is aware of the
website, and there are links
to their websites, and they
give us daily updates for the
site,” Fletcher said.
There are also links to the
Oregon Health Authority,
the Centers for Disease Con-
trol and Prevention and the
state COVID-19 response
website.
Fletcher said the EOC
operates a call center from 8
to 5 p.m. Mondays through
Fridays at 541-575-0520.
Dobler said there is
a retired nurse on hand,
Pereira, who can take
basic medical questions
while more involved med-
ical questions get referred
to the health department or
hospital.
Persistent faith amidst trials and tribulations
‘Church doesn’t
stop when the
building is closed’
By Rudy Diaz
Blue Mountain Eagle
Contributed photo
St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church served pasta March 24
through March 31.
to have the opportunity to
stay connected and be able
to see each other because
this was not possible 100
years ago when the Spanish
Flu was around.”
Father Christie Tissera
from the St. Elizabeth of
Hungary Catholic Church
said that Mass has been put
on hold, but the church is
still open for visitors to visit
the chapel for a prayer.
As worship and services
become
home-centered,
people continue to work
together to bring hope for
each other and provide ser-
vices and help to the public.
Bishop David Archibald
from the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints
said the women in the
church have been working
on sewing face masks, from
designs approved by the
hospital.
“Quite a few women have
been putting masks together
and collecting them for the
hospital,” said Archibald.
“We would love to have
anybody else to support
this project, and we love to
have our members partici-
pate in any type of other ser-
vice projects that commu-
nity members participate in
that helps us get through this
tough time.”
St. Elizabeth’s Catholic
Church served pasta March
24 through March 31. Tis-
sera said this carried out the
mission of St. Elizabeth,
which was to help the poor,
Blazing Fast
Internet!
/mo.
190 CHANNELS
Including Local Channels!
CALL TODAY - For $100 Gift Card Promo Code: DISH100
1-866-373-9175
S181423-1
2-YEAR TV PRICE GUARANTEE
Offer ends 7/15/20.
All offers require credit qualification, 24-month commitment with early termination fee and eAutoPay. Prices include Hopper Duo for qualifying customers. Hopper, Hopper w/Sling or
Hopper 3 $5/mo. more. Upfront fees may apply based on credit qualification.
Kluser: ‘Ortelco
was prepared
for this when we
didn’t even know
it was coming’
By Rudy Diaz
Blue Mountain Eagle
The “stay home” order
created a rise in internet
use due to people work-
ing at home, playing video
games, streaming the lat-
est shows and more, but
local internet providers say
their services are running as
intended.
Oregon Telephone Cor-
poration General Manager
DeeDee Kluser said OTC
Connections has not expe-
rienced an internet slow
down or people getting
kicked off the server, thanks
to a big enough backbone
in the community that can
support the demand.
“We constantly monitor
our usage every day, and we
have all different kinds of
graphs that show us where
we’re at,” Kluser said.
“Because we have redun-
dant routes, we can load
balance, we can shift traf-
fic or we can call a provider
and get more if we need to
... We are prepared to add
capacity as necessary.”
OTC works have seen an
uptick in complaints from
parents stating their con-
nection is slower than usual.
Kluser said, with more peo-
ple home and more devices
connected to the network,
household internet speeds
can slow.
OTC can check the con-
nection and see the usage
and how many devices are
connected to the router.
Families with 15 mega-
bit per second connection
plans would usually be fine
before the stay-at-home
order, she said, but with
more devices connected at
the same time, they com-
pete for limited bandwidth.
“Some parents are con-
cerned and say, ‘Well, we
work from home now, and
it seems like our internet
is terribly slow,’” Kluser
said. “We (OTC) get on and
then tell them ‘Well, you’ve
got an Xbox, four iPads,
three phones and two lap-
tops connected, so probably
that 15 mbps connection
isn’t enough under these
circumstances.’”
If customers are not
interested in increasing
their bandwidth, adjust-
ments can be made at
home to accommodate the
increase in use. Monitor-
ing and turning off devices
such as game consoles,
which are the top devices
for taking bandwidth, and
planning on how to best
use the available band-
width can help minimize
slowdowns at home.
“As a rule of thumb, we
say that each device takes
about 5 megabits of capac-
ity so we use simple math
like that to help custom-
ers make changes,” Kluser
said. “We have worked with
a lot of folks this week and
explained that everybody
is going to need to make
choices for their home.”
Kluser said every con-
nection is unique to the
home so a neighbor’s usage
would not affect a personal
connection. An overall net-
work slowdown would
occur if OTC did not have
the capacity to meet the
demand.
“OTC was prepared
for this when we didn’t
even know it was com-
ing,” Kluser said. “We had
a robust backbone, and
we were prepared to take
on people who wanted the
increased bandwidth, but
we never dreamed that
it would be because of a
COVID-19 situation.”
CenturyLink has made
adjustments regarding pay-
ments, according to Mark
Molzen, a CenturyLink
spokesman.
“In light of COVID-
19, we have suspended our
data usage limits on con-
sumer and small business
services. We will waive late
fees and will not terminate
service to these custom-
ers through May 12, 2020,”
said Molzen.
Molzen also said the
CenturyLink network is
performing at its normal
high standard, and even
with the rise, the demand is
being met.
“With the increased
demand for connectivity,
collaboration and content,
the CenturyLink network is
running at its normal high
standard,” said Molzen.
Blue Mountain Digi-
tal Office Manager Tammy
McKenna said there have
been no complaints at the
moment and that their ser-
vice has been running like
normal.
There are many ways we can tackle
IRS or State tax relief together:
SELECT TM ALL INCLUDED PACKAGE
39 99
mo.
For 12 mos. plus taxes
w/24-mo. agmt & qualifying AT&T wireless svc (min. $50/mo. after discounts
for new customers). Autopay & Paperless bill req’d. Prices higher in 2nd year.*
✔Tax Levies & Liens Release
✔Resolve Back Taxes
✔Wage Garnishment Release
✔Payroll Tax Negotiation
✔Stop Penalties and Interest
✔Tax Preparation &
Bookkeeping Services
✔Tax Debt Negotiation &
Settlement
Over 155 Channels
*$19.95 ACTIVATION, EARLY TERMINATION FEE OF $20/MO. FOR EACH MONTH REMAINING ON AGMT., EQUIPMENT NON-RETURN & ADD’L FEES APPLY. Price incl. SELECT Pkg., monthly service & equip. fees for 1 HD DVR
& is after $5/mo. autopay & paperless bill discount for 12 mos. Pay $44.99/mo. + taxes until discount starts w/in 3 bills. New approved residential customers only (equipment lease req'd). Credit card req'd (except MA & PA). Restr’s apply.
ACCREDITED
BUSINESS
®
A+
Rating
Call us now for your FREE tax consultation & evaluation:
Don’t settle for cable. Call now!
844-945-2056
Iv Support Holdings LLC
1-877-441-1933
SELECT ALL INCLUDED PACKAGE: Ends 3/28/20. Available only in the U.S. (excludes Puerto Rico and U.S.V.I.). 1st & 2nd year Pricing: $39.99.mo for first 12 mos. only. After 12 mos. or loss of eligibility, then prevailing rate applies (currently $85/mo for SELECT All
Included), unless cancelled or changed prior to end of the promo period. Pricing subject to change. $5/mo. discount: Must enroll in autopay & paperless bill within 30 days of TV activation to receive bill credit starting in 1-3 bill cycles. First time credit will include all
credits earned since meeting offer requirements. Must maintain autopay/paperless bill and valid email address to continue credits. No credits in 2nd year for autopay/paperless bill. Includes: SELECT All Included TV Pkg, monthly service & equipment fees for one Genie
HD DVR, and standard pro installation. Additional Fees & Taxes: Price excludes Regional Sports Fee of up to $9.99/mo. (which is extra & applies to CHOICE and/or MÁS ULTRA and higher Pkgs.), applicable use tax expense surcharge on retail value of installation, custom
installation, equipment upgrades/add-ons (min. $99 one-time & $7/mo. fees for each extra receiver/DIRECTV Ready TV/Device), and certain other add’l fees & charges. See att.com/directvfees for additional details. Different offers may apply for eligible multi-dwelling unit
and telco customers. DIRECTV SVC TERMS: Subject to Equipment Lease & Customer Agreements. Must maintain a min. base TV pkg of $29.99/mo. Programming, pricing, terms and conditions subject to change at any time. Some offers may not be available through
all channels and in select areas. Visit directv.com/legal or call for details. . ©2020 AT&T Intellectual Property. All Rights Reserved. AT&T, Globe logo, DIRECTV, and all other DIRECTV marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated
companies. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
S181413-1
Anthem offers a money-back guarantee designed to help you avoid wasting money on ineffective tax services.
We will gather as much information from you as necessary and work with tax authorities to give you the best
chance of reducing your tax debt. If for any reason that does not work out, and the government notifies us they
refuse to reduce your overall tax liability or monthly payments by any amount, we will gladly refund you the fees
you paid for our services in trying to reduce that debt. Money Back Guarantee does not apply to Bookkeeping
and Tax Preparation Services.
S181417-1
One solution for oxygen at home, away, and for travel
Introducing the INOGEN ONE – It’s oxygen therapy on your terms
No more tanks to refi ll. No more deliveries. No more hassles with travel.
The INOGEN ONE portable oxygen concentrator is designed to provide
unparalleled freedom for oxygen therapy users. It’s small, lightweight,
clinically proven for stationary and portable use, during the day and at night,
and can go virtually anywhere — even on most airlines.
Inogen accepts Medicare and many private insurances!
1-844-533-9173
where available
MO.
Where sports fans call home.
$
Internet providers
tackle the spike in
demand for connectivity
Tax Problems: RESOLVED
DON'T JUST KINDA TV. DIRECTV.
DONATE YOUR CAR
19 . 99
$
for 12 Mos.
bers of the Church of Jesus
Christ were invited by Rus-
sel M. Neilson, president of
the church, to participate in
a worldwide fast on the last
weekend of March to pray
for help through the pan-
demic and for mental, eco-
nomic and health relief.
Church members at the
John Day Church of the Naz-
arene also designated every
Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. to
pray for the community.
“This is a time to help
one another, and at this time,
some people are living in
fear and are scared of the sit-
uation,” said Tissera. “We
need to help people to have
hope that everything has not
ended, and we need to help
people not to give up: con-
tinue. We have a future, but
we have to face this situa-
tion that is hard. However,
remember God is there with
you.”
Imagine The Difference You Can Make
ADD TO YOUR PACKAGE FOR ONLY
America’s Top 120 Package
the lonely, the sick and the
needy.
Keith and DeHart said
church members have
helped at the food banks as
the amount of people going
has risen.
“As far as us as a church
goes, I would like the com-
munity to know that the
church doesn’t stop because
the building is closed,” said
DeHart. “The church is not
an organization like you
think of like a business. It’s
a group of people that are
following Jesus and caring
about the community.”
Along with helping in
the community, each church
leader shared that their
members work hard at keep-
ing in touch with each other
and making calls to make
sure members are fine.
Even with the uncertain
future of COVID-19 in the
world, church leaders shared
their optimism for now and
said they continue to exer-
cise faith for the future.
Archibald said that mem-
The Eagle/Rudy Diaz
Doors to the Church of Je-
sus Christ of Latter-day
Saints are closed as Sun-
day services have become
home-oriented.
FREE TOWING
TAX DEDUCTIBLE
Reclaim Your Freedom And
Independence NOW!
Help Prevent Blindness
Get A Vision Screening Annually
Ask About A FREE 3 Day
Vacation Voucher To Over
20 Destinations!!!
S181421-1
Grant County churches
have seen empty pews and a
new way to conduct Sunday
services as the stay-at-home
order is in effect to flatten
the curve of the new corona-
virus pandemic.
However, churches move
forward in faith as they
make adjustments and con-
tinue with optimism for the
future.
Churches around Grant
County have had to close
their doors, but internet and
telephone access has helped
services continue from
homes.
Pastor Randy Johnson
from the John Day Church
of the Nazarene said that
their members have been
using phone calls to continue
their Bible study, accompa-
nied with RightNow Media,
which is a website the pas-
tor encourages members to
use that provides videos for
Bible studies.
Since members can’t get
together on Sundays, John-
son said the church has been
using Facebook Live to
carry out services. A down-
side with a focus on tech-
nology has been the limited
interactions with people not
communicating in person.
“Sure, you can talk to
people over the phone or
even on the computer, but
you don’t really get to see
them face to face,” Johnson
said. “There’s a connection
missing.”
Pastor Keith DeHart from
the Prairie Baptist Church
said their services are also
broadcasted on Facebook
Live but agreed that con-
veying messages through a
screen can be tough.
“This is such a relational
thing where close contact is
important to us, and trying
to do that through a video
screen or on the phone is a
little different,” said DeHart.
“But we do feel very blessed
The Eagle/Rudy Diaz
DeeDee Kluser, the general manager of Oregon Telephone
Corporation, said OTC Connections has not experienced
internet slow down or people getting kicked off the server
since the rise in internet usage.
Call Inogen Today To
Request Your FREE Info Kit
1-855-839-0752
© 2020 Inogen, Inc.
All rights reserved.
MKT-P0108
S181419-1