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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 2, 2020)
B8 Blue Mountain Eagle OUTDOORS Wednesday, September 2, 2020 SHOOTING THE BREEZE Community HEALTH BEAT The old man down the road I 170 Ford Road, John Day • 541-575-1311 • www.bluemountainhospital.org Suicide Prevention is Everyone’s Business Most of us have been touched by the tragedy of suicide. We may have lost someone close to us or been moved by the loss of someone we may have never met. When a suicide happens, those left behind often experience deep shock. Even if they knew the person was struggling, they may not have expected suicide would be the result. However, many people who find themselves in a suicide crisis can and do recover. Sadly, in the State of Oregon, on average, one person dies by suicide every 10 hours. Suicide is the leading cause of death for people ages 10-24, the 2nd leading cause of death for people ages 25-34 and the 3rd leading cause of death for people ages 35-44. More than five times as many people died by suicide in Oregon in 2018 than alcohol related vehicle accidents. * Since early 2019, Community Counseling Solutions has been working with the Zero Suicide Institute to help guide us in a system-wide transformational change toward safer suicide care for the people we serve. The foundational belief of Zero Suicide is that every death from suicide for individuals in care is preventable. This framework moves away from a fragmented care system to a more to a holistic and comprehensive approach that will enhance and expand suicide prevention and intervention strategies designed to raise awareness of suicide and improve care and outcomes for our clients. But we cannot do this alone. Suicide prevention is everyone’s business. You can help by taking the following actions if you think someone may be be suicidal: • Know the Signs: Most people who are considering suicide show some warning signs or signals of their intentions. • Talking about death or wanting to die • Talking about feelings of emptiness, hopelessness or having no way out of a problem • Saying goodbye to friends and family • Giving away personal items and wrapping up loose ends • Learn to recognize these warning signs and how to respond to them by visiting the Know the Signs web site https://www.suicideispreventable.org/ Find the Words: If you are concerned about someone, ask them directly if they are thinking about suicide. This can be difficult to do but being direct provides an opportunity for them to open up and talk about their distress. Asking someone if they are thinking about suicide will NOT suggest the idea to them if they aren’t thinking about it. • Reach Out: You are not alone in this. Before having the conversation, become familiar with some resources to offer to the person you are concerned about. Help is Available The Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255- TALK) offers 24/7 free and confidential assistance from trained counselors. Callers are connected to the nearest available crisis center. The Lifeline is also available in Spanish, and for veterans or for those concerned about a veteran, by selecting a prompt to be connected to counselors specifically trained to support veterans. Community Counseling Solutions has a qualified mental health professional on call 24/7 to respond to crisis calls. If you are having a mental health crisis or want to help someone who is, please do the following: Call 9-1-1 and tell the dispatch operator that you need to speak to the on-call crisis worker. They will ask you some basic information (your name, location and the number to reach you on). The crisis worker will call you right back at the number you provided. *Oregon Suicide Facts and Figures provide by American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Blue Mountain Care Center Resident of the Month Sharon Sharon was born on May 9, 1940 to Roy and Miriam Pulliam in Portland, Oregon. She had four brothers and sisters. Sharon had severe asthma as a child and her family moved to the Dalles, Oregon and then to Canada to improve her health. Sharon has a music degree from college. She was married for 17 years and had three sons and a daughter. She has 12 grandchildren. She worked at a radio station in the Midwest and was a ward clerk at a hospital in Seattle. She also taught music out of her home, was a church staff musician and choir director. She enjoys helping people, playing the piano, the violin, doing arts and crafts, shopping, playing cards and bingo. She also enjoys teaching music to children. Sharon came to the Blue Mountain Care Center on September 20, 2012. S205041-1 Monday - Thursday 7am- 6pm Monday - Thursday 7am- 6pm Friday 8am - 5pm Friday Sharpe 8am - 5pm Mendy FNP Mendy Sharpe FNP Apppointments available S204807-1 139101 Quality Healthcare Close to Home t was a hot summer day, before, Hank never lost the you know the kind where awe he felt seeing it yet you feel like you’re again. melting. Mid-July through “The reason I asked you late August kind of hot. to stop by today, Hank,” Hank was only 19 that sum- the old man drawled, “is mer and feeling as Bob because I know you’ll be Seger would put it “like a headed back to the city to rock.” On his way home live with your Ma once from work, Hank summer is through. stopped by to see I’ve seen you learn Mr. Harris, an old a lot while you’ve man that lived just been here, and I’ve outside of town. respected the way Mr. Harris never you’ve worked hard ran out of stories and took responsi- bility. I wanted to or cold drinks, so Dale Valade give you something Hank stopped by to to remind you that cool his heels two or good things come to folks three times a week. that work for them.” Hank’s old Chevy had a Mr. Harris opened the squeaky fan belt, and every large gun cabinet, reached time he made the turn off of inside and, grabbing a fine the highway onto Harris’s custom hunting rifle, pulled driveway, the squeal would it out. He handed it to the sort of announce his arrival. young lad who stood there Mr. Harris would sit up in speechless. It was a work of his porch rocker and adjust art, but had signs of having his glasses in anticipation. been well traveled. He too looked forward to “Mr. Harris, I don’t the visits. Mrs. Harris had know what to,” the boy passed away the winter stammered, “I mean, before, and it was lonely by nobody has ever given me himself. something like this before. After parking his old I’m not sure I can take it. I truck out front, Hank trot- ted up the walk and onto the mean Mom probably won’t porch in his typical youth- even allow me bring it in ful and vibrant manner. For the house.” a moment, Mr. Harris rem- “You go on and take it,” inisced of days gone by Mr. Harris said. “For all the times your uncle dragged when he could run up the you over here to mow my front steps like that. After lawn and trim the trees. greeting, they retired inside And for fixing my gate after out of the miserable heat those hooligans blew it up to the study. Mr. Harris’s last Halloween. No, a man den was a tapestry of pic- tures, awards and accom- needs a rifle, Hank, because plishments. He had served there is no more important in Vietnam as one of Uncle role that a man can play than to protect and provide for Sam’s Motherless Children, his family. I’ve taught you earning a bronze star. He came home afterwards, mar- how to clean it, shoot it and ried and went to work in the handle it safely. It ain’t easy not having a Pa, but I’ve local lumber mill. Every- one in the county in those done what I could for you, days had a job in the timber and I don’t know how many more of these hot summers I industry. They were good got left in me.” jobs, with steady work pay- ing money enough to raise Hank reluctantly and yet a family on. That’s just excitedly accepted the gift. One he cherishes to this day. exactly what Mr. and Mrs. It’s a symbol after all of not Harris had done. They were only freedom but of a dif- lucky enough to have raised ferent time and place. Back their children before the when the whole village town mill closed down. pitched in to take care of its Besides pictures of his own. People saw each other family and of his buddies, through every season back there were dozens of pic- tures of Mr. Harris with var- then, and it was a good thing ious big game animals. He too, because all they had never could afford to go to was each other and the good Lord to lean on when times Africa, but he had pretty got tough. well covered the continen- tal U.S. and Canada. Hank We love to hear from our stared, fascinated as he tried readers. Please write us at to take it all in. Although shootingthebreezebme@ he had seen it many times gmail.com! Grant County Awarded Federal Funds CARES SSA Allocation of the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program Grant County has been selected to receive an award of $46,847.00 for the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county. The selection was made by a National Board that is charged by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from The Salvation Army, American Red Cross, Council of Jewish Federations, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of Churches of Christ USA, and United Way of America. The Local Board was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country. The Local Board will determine how Grant County’s award is to be distributed among emergency food and / or shelter programs run by local service agencies. The Local Board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive federal funds made available through CARES SSA Allocation. Under the terms of the National Board award, local organizations chosen to receive funds must be a private voluntary non-profit or unit of government eligible to receive federal funds, with an accounting system and federal employer identification number. Organizations must demonstrate the capability to deliver qualified emergency food and / or shelter programs. Private voluntary organizations must have a voluntary board and practice non-discrimination. Qualifying agencies are urged to apply. Grant County has distributed Emergency Food and Shelter funds previously to the Grant County Food Bank, Prairie City Baptist Church Food Bank and Monument Food Bank. These agencies were responsible for providing food to qualifying local citizens. Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds under Phase CARES SSA Allocation may request an application by contacting 541-575-0059, Grant County Court Office, 201 S. Humbolt Street, No. 280, Canyon City, OR 97820. Completed applications are due before 5:00 pm Friday, September 10th, 2020. S204832-1
