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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 16, 2020)
NEWS MyEagleNews.com Blue Mountain Hospital reports first suspected COVID-19 hospitalization By Steven Mitchell Blue Mountain Eagle For the first time since the start of the pandemic, Blue Mountain Hospi- tal reported to Oregon Health Author- ity that they hospitalized between one and nine suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients during the week of Nov. 30 to Dec. 6. Rebekah Rand, Blue Mountain Hospital District director of emer- gency medical services, said the hos- pital reports its patient count daily and that OHA lists hospitals that report suspected or confirmed cases. The exact number of patients is only reported for hospitals with more than 10 patients. Rand said the hospital is not expe- riencing a shortage of beds, intensive care or otherwise. Rand said there had not been an influx of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients. Rand said because of patient pri- vacy laws and the process of elimi- nation, the hospital district cannot confirm if they are actively treating suspected or confirmed coronavirus patients. St. Charles Bend, a major hospi- tal in Grant County’s Region 7, saw Wednesday, December 16, 2020 A5 COVID-19 vaccine arrives in Oregon By Gary A. Warner Oregon Capital Bureau its hospitalizations steadily increase last month. In the first week of November, St. Charles reported 15 suspected cases and 13 confirmed. Rebekah The following Rand week, St. Charles saw its hospitalizations increase to 17 suspected and 17 confirmed, while the hospital in Harney County reported between one and nine sus- pected or confirmed cases. The cases doubled the follow- ing week, with 36 suspected or con- firmed COVID-19 and 35 confirmed in Bend. As of Tuesday, St. Charles reported on their website they were hospitalizing 32 confirmed COVID- 19 patients. Four of the COVID-19 patients are in the ICU, with three on a ventilator. St. Charles has 24 ICU beds in Bend and six in Redmond for a total of 30 throughout its system. St. Charles noted on its website that many patients need ICU care for other reasons like heart attacks, strokes or car accidents. The first of millions of expected vaccine doses needed to extinguish the COVID-19 virus arrived in Ore- gon Monday, starting a process that could last into fall 2021. The Oregon Health Authority issued a statement that the first doses of the vaccine manufactured by Pfizer arrived in the state at 7 a.m. Monday. Four facilities in or near Portland, along with a medical cen- ter in Ontario in Malheur County, will each receive 975-dose packages by Tuesday. Oregon is slated to receive 35,100 doses this week. The remain- ing 30,225 Pfizer doses will go to unspecified hospitals later this week. Another 10,725 doses will go to unspecified skilled nursing facili- ties for vaccinations beginning next week. “Today, I can tell you that help is here,” said Gov. Kate Brown in a statement. The vaccine’s initial arrival comes as the state, like most of the nation, has seen a steep rise in COVID-19 cases since September. Through reports Sunday, there have been 93,853 positive cases of COVID-19 in Oregon and 1,155 deaths. Nationwide, there have been over 16.3 million cases and 300,267 deaths. While a sign of hope, getting the vaccine to most of the more than 2.6 million estimated adults in the state is still a distant goal. “The vaccine is the light at the end of the tunnel, but we will be in this tunnel for several months,” said Oregon Health Authority Director Pat Allen. Allen urged Oregonians to wear masks, physically distance, avoid gatherings and stay home if sick. The initial doses will go to what health officials around the country have said are the most important ini- tial targets. “Starting with the frontline health care workers who have been our first line of defense against COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, and the long-term care facility resi- dents who are among the most vul- nerable, each day,” Brown said. For the facility residents and staff, the pharmacy companies CVS, Walgreens and Consonus Healthcare will offer on-site, no-cost COVID- 19 vaccines to more than 680 long- term care facilities in Oregon. The next group to received vac- cines will be “essential workers,” followed by people with underlying health conditions, and those older than 65 are next in line as they are identified by OHA’s Vaccine Advi- sory Committee. Receiving the initial doses Mon- day were Legacy Health Holla- day Park, Portland, and Legacy Health Meridian Park in Tualatin, just south of Portland. On Tues- day, doses will go to Oregon Health & Science University and Kaiser Permanente Airport Way Center, both in Portland. St. Alphonsus Medical Center, in Ontario, will receive the first doses outside the Portland Metro area. Most medical facilities that regis- tered to be vaccine provider sites are slated to receive the Pfizer vaccine within two weeks. Oregon is sched- uled to receive additional doses on Dec. 22 and Dec. 29. Because the vaccine requires two shots given about 19 days apart, the initial doses will all be used as the first shot, with the follow-up doses later in the month being used primar- ily for second shots. A similar vaccine made by Mod- erna could arrive beginning Dec. 22. It still requires final emergency use authorization by the FDA. COPS AND COURTS Arrests and citations in the Blue Mountain Eagle are taken from the logs of law enforce- ment agencies. Every effort is made to report the court dispo- sition of arrest cases. Grant County Circuit Court Jacob M. Derosier violated misdemeanor probation for use of intoxicants. On Dec. 14, he was sentenced to 60 days of jail. Derosier also violated fel- ony probation for use of intox- icants, failure to pay finan- cial obligations and failure to report as directed. On Dec. 14, he was sentenced to 42 months in prison and 72 months of post-prison supervision. The court found Derosier has a sub- stance abuse problem that has contributed to his criminality and recommended drug and alcohol treatment. Nicholas P. Gibson vio- lated probation conditions on a count of failure to serve jail time. On Dec. 10, he was sen- tenced to 40 days in jail. Grant County Sheriff The Grant County Sheriff’s Office reported the following for the week of Dec. 9: Concealed handgun licenses: 8 Average inmates: 10 Bookings: 3 Releases: 6 Arrests: 1 Citations: 1 Fingerprints: 0 Civil papers: 9 Warrants processed: 4 Assistance/Welfare check: 1 Search and Rescue: 1 Michael McLarty, 35, of Gladstone was cited for driv- ing uninsured, failure to drive within lane and driving while suspended or revoked. Oregon State Police Dec. 7: A trooper responded to a reported rollover crash near milepost 94 on Highway 395B. Investigation revealed the vehi- cle was southbound, pulling a small utility trailer at an esti- mated 40 mph, when the back end of vehicle started to slide. The driver attempted to cor- rect the slide but was unable. The vehicle and the trailer slid across the northbound lane and into a ditch where the vehicle rolled onto its top. The driver was not injured. Frontier Tow- ing responded and removed the vehicle and the trailer. Dec. 7: A trooper responded to a reported semi crash on Highway 395B near milepost 106. Investigation revealed the semi with double trailers was southbound at an estimated 35 mph when the driver lost con- trol on black ice. The semi and both trailers slid approximately 200 yards, ending up side- ways and blocking the entire highway. The semi was off the southbound shoulder and into a hillside. The trailers extended across the highway with the pup trailer hanging off the north- bound shoulder. The driver was not injured. Frontier Tow- ing responded and removed the semi and both trailers. The driver, James K. Caudill, 62, was issued a citation for fail- ure to drive within lane. The highway was closed for about two and a half hours. OSP was assisted by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon Department of Transportation. Dec. 8: A trooper contacted Steven M. Warrington, 31 of Granite at the entrance to West Main Street in John Day. OSP knew this subject had a misde- meanor warrant for his arrest. The trooper took Warrington into custody without incident. During a search prior to placing him in the patrol car, the trooper located a baggie and rubber con- tainer, both of which contained methamphetamine. The total weight of actual methamphet- amine was one gram or slightly less. The trooper transported the subject to the Grant County Jail where OSP lodged him on the warrant and unlawful posses- sion of methamphetamine. Dec. 9: A trooper saw a man he knew had felony war- rants for delivery and posses- sion of methamphetamine at West Main Street in John Day. The trooper contacted Tyler D. Dehiya, 27, of Mt. Vernon and took him into custody without incident. Dehiya also had a mis- demeanor warrant for his arrest. The trooper transported Dehiya to the Grant County Jail where he was lodged. Dec. 11: A trooper noticed a vehicle partially blocking the westbound lane of travel on Highway 26 near milepost 185. After further investigation, Eric M. Kifer, 35, refused to provide his information and refused to move his vehicle from the road- way. After further investigation, OSP made entry into the vehi- cle. Kifer still refused to get out of the vehicle. Kifer was taken into custody after resisting arrest. The vehicle was towed by Frontier Towing. Dispatch John Day dispatch worked 122 calls during the week of Dec. 7-13, including: • John Day Police Department Dec. 7: Received a report of telephonic harassment on Brent Drive. Dec. 12: Responded to a complaint regarding a bonfire and loud noise near West Main Street. Dec. 13: Responded for a welfare check. Bryon E. Fre- niere, 37, of John Day was arrested for a parole violation. • Oregon State Police Dec. 7: Received a report of a noninjury crash on Highway 395B. Dec. 7: Advised of a non- injury crash on Highway 395B near milepost 106. Dec. 8: Received a report of a deer-versus-vehicle crash on Highway 395S near mile- post 1.5. • Grant County Sheriff’s Office Dec. 7: Received a report of theft on South Johnson Street. Dec. 9: Received a report of a noninjury crash on For- est Road 52. • John Day ambulance Dec. 7: Responded for a 76-year-old man with chest pains on South Canyon Boulevard. Dec. 12: Paged for a 53-year-old man with a bro- ken tailbone on South Can- yon Boulevard. Dec. 12: Responded for a 78-year-old man with heart problems. Monday - Thursday 7am- 6pm Monday - Thursday 7am- 6pm Friday 8am - 5pm Friday 8am - Mendy Sharpe 5pm FNP Support Grant County! Mendy Sharpe FNP Apppointments available Driskill Memorial Chapel Duke Warner Realty Eastern Oregon Realty Ed Stuab & Sons Edward D Jones Elk Media Group-KJDY/News10 ER Printing and Graphics Families First of Grant County Ferguson Surveying & Engineering, Inc. Fields Grassfed Beef Fields Tree Service First Community Credit Union Fossil Shift Bike Shop Grant County Farm Bureau Grant County Genealogical Society Grant County Heating & Cooling Grant County Library Foundation Grant County People Mover Grant County Snowballers Grant County OSU Extension Service Grant/Harney CASA Heart of Grant County John Day Farmers Market John & Linda Shelk Foundation John Day Elks Lodge John Day Golf Club John Day Trailer Park & Laundry Mat Juniper Press Land Title co Grant County, Inc. Little Canyon Food Cart Malheur National Forest Malheur Employees Association MD Enterprizes Mossy Oak/Cupper Creek Land Company North River Electric Northfork John Day River Watershed Council Old West Federal Credit Union Oregon Telephone Company Oregon Trail Electric Co-op Oregon Trail Well Service LLC. Solutions CPAs Prairie City Motors & Cycles Prairie Springs Fish Farm Riverside Home Park Robert Bagett PLS CWRE S&C Electric Silvies Valley Ranch Sisul Engineering Smoking Pit BBQ of Burns State Farm Insurance Sunrise Construction Specialists TEC Copier Systems T&H Automotive Town of Canyon City Valley View Retirement Center Value Added Inc. Virginia McMillan D.D.S. Work Source Canyon City The Chamber would like to thank The Blue Mountain Hospital, 1188 Brewing Company, Eastern Oregon Realty and Len’s Drug for purchasing greenbacks for their employees this Christmas season. By doing this, they are keeping a lot of holiday dollars at home during a very trying holiday season! Grant County Chamber of Commerce 301 W. Main St. John Day, OR 97845 541-575-0547 S216709-1 S218716-1 1st Choice Automotive Anderson Sand Blasting Andy’s Plumbing & Sports Advantage Dental Bank of Eastern Oregon Belly Acres Ranch Benchmark Land Surveying Berry Creek Ranch Bisnett Insurance Blue Mountain Care Center Blue Mountain Chiropractic Blue Mountain Eagle Blue Mountain Hospital Canyon Creek Clinic Canyon Mountain Center CenturyLink Chester’s Thirftway City of John Day City of Long Creek City of Mt. Vernon City of Prairie City City of Seneca Claws & Paws Pet Sitting Columbia Power Co-op Come Ride with Us Motorcycle Maps Community Counseling Solutions Costco of Bend Country Preferred Realtors Coverworks Debbie Ausmus Country Insurance Doug’s Motor Vehicle Repair D.R. Driscoll Books S218714-1 139101 The Grant County Chamber of Commerce reminds you to support these local chamber members! 541-523-6377 541-963-6577 541-573-6377 541-576-2160 Recently we ran out of oil on a late Sunday afternoon. Having no alternate heat source I called Ed Staub & Sons and was connected with one of their drivers. I figured Monday at the earliest for a delivery of fuel. After explaining my situation, the driver said he would warm up a truck. Within the hour and near dark Ed Staub & Sons truck arrived - 2 1/2 miles out of Dayville. A Special Thank You to Ed Staub & Sons and to the Most Appreciated driver. We are all so fortunate to be residing in the Community of Grant County. S220450-1
