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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 14, 2015)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, Wednesday, January 14, 2015 - THREE The flu in Morrow County The following was submitted by the Morrow County Health Department. The current flu situation: On Monday, Jan. 5, 2015, the Centers for Dis- ease Control reported that flu is now widespread in 43 U.S. states, up from 36 states reporting widespread activity the week before. Oregon is also seeing some increase in flu activity, as measured by persons visit- ing doctors due to flu-like symptoms, positive lab tests, and related hospital- izations. A few Morrow County persons have lab- confirmed cases of the flu. January (or later) is often the peak of the flu season. Is it too late to get a flu shot? Everyone six years of age and older should still get a flu shot as soon as pos- sible. Those 65 years of age and older and those with chronic health conditions (e.g., diabetes, heart and/ or lung disease) are highly encouraged to get a flu shot. What is the effectiveness of this year’s flu vaccine? The flu shot you receive protects you against three of the common flu strains in circulation. This year one of those common flu strains is the Influenza ‘A’ (H3N2) flu. It has been determined that this component of your flu shot is not as close a match for the currently circulating H3N2 flu due to slight changes (mutations) of the virus that can occur. Despite this situation, you should still get a flu shot if you haven’t done so. Where can I still find flu vaccine? Check with your healthcare provider or the Morrow County Health Department to find flu vac- cine. Don’t spread the flu: -Wash your hands fre- quently and use hand sani- tizer when soap and water aren’t available. -Cover your coughs and sneezes—flu and colds are respiratory-spread dis- eases. -Stay home if you or a family member is ill. -Clean commonly touched or used items in your home—faucets, refrig- erator handle, TV remote. -Don’t share drinking cups or eating utensils, es- pecially if you have an ill family member. When to call your doctor: -Call your doctor if you (or a family member) have been ill and are having dif- ficulty breathing. -Even if you have had a flu shot, call your doc- tor right away if you have a chronic health condi- tion and think you may be coming down with the flu; your doctor may be able to prescribe an antiviral medication that will ease your symptoms. For more information: -Call your doctor of the Morrow County Health Department, 541-676-5421. -Oregon Flubites (updated weekly): http:// public.health.oregon. gov/DiseasesConditions/ CommunicableDisease/ DiseaseSurveillanceData/ Influenza/Documents/data/ FluBites.pdf. -Flu Prevention for Ev- eryone: http://public.health. oregon.gov/Prevention- Wellness/FluPrevention/ Pages/index.aspx. Sunshine and snow greet Nordic ski group This weekend, the Nordic club enjoyed the sunshine on their ski trip to Kelly Prairie. Mem- bers that participated, shown here in no particular order, were Terry and Chris Harper, Bill and Sherry Ewing, Steve Brownfield, Molly Rhea, Betsy Anderson, Mahalie Huddleston, and Kristy Crowell. –Contributed photo IMESD INTERNET OUTAGE -Continued from PAGE ONE ventative measures and to minimize the impact DDoS attacks began occurring in the Umatilla School District in Septem- ber 2014. Tuesday’s inci- dent was the first time the attack impacted the region’s network. “Our focus is on pre- swift resolution when disturbances occur,” said Cheri Rhinhart, Director of Information Technology Services at IMESD. “Our staff is to be commended on their due diligence and quick response on Tuesday of this DDoS attack. The speed at which they fixed the issue is impressive.” IMESD provides tech- nology services to school districts and several public agencies throughout the eastern Oregon region. trict Attorney Justin Nelson has released the following report: -Nicholas Tony Ray Robbins, 30, was convicted of one count of Harassment, a Class B misdemeanor; sentence of 90 days incar- ceration was suspended and the defendant sentenced to 24 months bench probation, conditions of probation to nity service, no offensive physical contact with the victim, and completion of anger management evalu- ation and treatment. Fines, fees and assessments to- taled $600. -In addition, Nicholas Tony Ray Robbins, 30, was convicted of Harassment – Constituting Domestic Violence, a Class B mis- demeanor; sentence of 90 days incarceration was sus- pended and the defendant sentenced to 24 months bench probation, conditions of probation to include 30 hours community service, no offensive physical con- tact with the victim, and completion of anger man- agement evaluation and treatment. Fines, fees and assessments totaled $600. Grant funds available for private DA’s Report land watershed enhancements Morrow County Dis- include 30 hours commu- Private landowners may have the chance to enhance conditions on their lands thanks to a grant op- portunity from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB). The Umatilla-Wal- la Walla-Willow Creek OWEB Small Grant Team, consisting of members from the Morrow SWCD (Soil & Water Conservation Dis- trict), Umatilla SWCD, Umatilla Basin Watershed Council, Walla Walla Wa- tershed Council and CTUIR (Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reserva- tion), announces the avail- ability of up to $10,000 small grants to private land- owners for the purposes of enhancing watershed conditions to improve wa- ter quality and quantity while meeting the needs of all beneficial uses—flood- plain and upland improve- ment and enhancement as well as reducing erosion, sedimentation and nutrient loading. Projects dealing with invasive plants and noxious weeds will also be considered. Funding is provided through OWEB and small grant information is avail- able on their website at www.oregon.gov/OWEB/ GRANTS/pages/smgrant_ main.aspx. A two-week signup for small grants will be held Jan. 12-23 with funding decisions being made Feb. 11. For applica- tion materials or require- ments contact the Morrow SWCD at 541-676-5452. From the North End Boardman City Council passes resolution promoting development, swears in new council They say it takes a village to raise a child At its first meeting of lution aimed at promoting Twenty-two projects have and that is the truth. When we moved to the new year, the Boardman development in Boardman. qualified for the SDC waiv- City Council held a swear- The resolution temporarily ers in the past four years, Heppner 16 years ago, we had no idea what ing-in ceremony for three waives system development and the city hopes many Mayor Sandy charges (SDCs) for water more will take advantage of we were getting into, that our family had been members. Toms swore in Brandon and sewer hook-ups in the this year’s incentive. adopted into an amazing community. Our Hammond, Brenda Profitt, city. The resolution waives The city council was Delbert Turner as city the SDCs, up to $10,000, to also given a tour of the kids suddenly had a whole town watching and councilors. All three were property owners or develop- city’s new website, www. in the November ers of residential or com- cityofboardman.com. The over them, feeding them, giving them rides, elected General Election. Council- mercial property within the site has several new fea- Hammond and Turner city limits until December tures that enable the user teaching them life lessons. Our kids were ors are new to the council. 31, 2015. to find information more always welcome in your homes and loved like Councilor Profitt has served This incentive was first quickly, as well as a sub- past four years on the passed in 2010 for residen- scription link to the Board- one of your own, and as a parent it’s hard the council and was re-elected. tial customers only, and man Bulletin, which is three councilors will since then the council has emailed directly to the user. to explain what a comfort that is and has All serve on the council for a passed a resolution each The next meeting of year allowing the waiver term ending December 31, the Boardman City Council been. We have so many awesome memories 2018. of SDCs for all construc- will be Tuesday, January and wouldn’t have wanted to raise our kids In other city business, tion within the residential 20, at 7 p.m. the council passed a reso- or commercial districts. anywhere else. The support we have received over the Eastern Promise draws last several weeks has truly been a blessing! scholarship winners In our darkest days, when we were not able BOARDMAN, Ore.— to local businesses Sin- Promise cost just $10 per Trained volunteers assisted clair, Domino’s and Little credit. to deal with life, this community stepped up, 25 percent of all seniors Caesar’s. Irrigon High School The well-attended fair, student Von Groves was the from Riverside High School took care of us, and continues to take care of (Boardman) and Irrigon sponsored by the Eastern $500 scholarship winner Promise, gave high school for Irrigon, while Riverside High School in completing us. We will never be able to thank everyone, the Free Application for students the opportunity to students Alisha Sorensen and there are no words adequate enough to Federal Student Aid (FAF- receive help with filling out (senior) and Aristotle Rock- form during a Scholar- the FAFSA form, as well as well (senior) were $500 express our appreciation. We are sincerely SA) ship and FAFSA Fair Jan. with making plans to earn scholarship winners for at Riverside. In addition, college credits while still Riverside. Darin Hauner, thankful for the hugs, prayers, kind words, 3 three lucky students’ names in high school through the Erica Goodwin and Alisha were drawn for a $500 Eastern Promise. College Sorensen all won gift cer- visits, food and support we have received. scholarship, while several credits through the Eastern tificates. Please know that with the donations we others won gift certificates received, we were able to purchase Ryan’s SAGE Center announces PGE exhibit headstone, one less worry for us. I cannot BOARDMAN, Ore.— visitor center’s energy in- mand is balanced through The SAGE Center is now formation. modes of genera- imagine how we would have ever gotten home to a Portland General “ P o r t l a n d G e n e r a l multiple tion, the energy required to exhibit, expand- Electric is a wonderful run just one household through this without the tremendous support Electric ing the amount of energy asset to Morrow County,” outlet, and how electricity available at the Davis said. “We are ex- is distributed to customers. of this, and the surrounding communities, information facility. cited to partner with PGE The exhibit also helps and for that we are forever grateful! The utility and visitor to tell their diverse power show how energy genera- Sincerely, Mike, Misty and Baily center have been working for more than a year to make the exhibit a reality. Kalie Davis, SAGE Center manager, said the exhibit adds another di- mension to the interactive generation stories as well as the impact PGE has on our community.” The exhibit was fully funded by PGE and in- stalled Jan. 7. Visitors can learn how electricity de- tion and distribution re- quires planning and bal- ancing customers’ needs with the region’s economic, environmental and public policy goals.
