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.