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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 12, 2020)
NEWS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020 HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A3 COVID-19 cases reach 2,188 in Umatilla County By JADE MCDOWELL NEWS EDITOR Umatilla County’s new COVID-19 cases are still high compared to the rest of the state, but increasing less rapidly. On Tuesday, Aug. 11, the county had announced 27 new confi rmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the county’s total to 2,188 since the pandemic began — an increase in 183 confi rmed cases from the Tuesday prior. Deaths announced over the past week between Aug. 4-11 included a 76-year-old man who tested positive July 17 and died Aug. 10 at Good Shepherd Medical Center; an 85-year-old woman who died at Kadlec Regional Medical Center; an 83-year- old man who died at Good Shepherd Medical Center; and a 71-year-old woman, a 93-year-old woman and 94-year-old man who all died at Regency Hermiston Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. According to an Aug. 5 report from the Oregon Health Authority, Regency had 80 cases of COVID-19 linked to its facility through residents, staff or close con- tacts of staff getting sick. Umatilla County also announced its youngest death so far, a 47-year-old man who died July 14 at his residence. While it can be complicated in elderly patients to determine the relationship between COVID-19, the individual’s underlying conditions and their death after their diag- nosis, the news release from Umatilla County announc- ing the 47-year-old’s death specifi cally noted that “the death certifi cate listed COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV-2, as a cause of death or as a signifi cant con- dition that contributed to his death.” Morrow County announced its third death so far of an individual with COVID-19 — an 85-year- old female resident who died at an out-of-state hos- pital on July 21. “This is an incredibly sad announcement and we encourage everyone to be respectful as a family in our community grieves,” the news release from the county stated. “If you are in need of support during this diffi cult time, please con- tact Community Counseling Solutions at 541-676-9161.” Options for COVID- 19 testing are avail- able throughout Umatilla County, including local medical clinics, such as Family Health Associates. Jolene Horning, prac- tice manager at Family Health Associates in Herm- iston, said when a patient calls with any symptoms or exposure to COVID-19, the offi ce schedules a telehealth visit. If the provider who speaks with them during the call recommends that the person be tested, they can drive to the offi ce for a curb- side test. The virtual chats and drive-up testing reduce the amount of exposure within Family Health Associates’ offi ces at the Good Shep- herd Health Care System plaza and their satellite clinic in Umatilla. Horning said they introduced tele- medicine this spring and have conducted 3,000 tele- health visits so far. She said insurance pro- viders seem to be covering 100% of the cost of the test in most cases, and the sam- ples collected are sent to Interpath for testing. “We were getting a 24-hour turnaround (on results) but with the out- breaks in places like Flor- ida and Texas supplies ran low, and now it’s been more like 72 hours,” she said on July 31. The Oregon Health Authority releases a weekly report on worksite outbreaks of COVID-19, defi ned as workplaces with more than 30 employees that have had at least fi ve cases linked to the workplace. Lamb Weston remained in one of the top spots on the workplace list with 167 cases linked to its Hermis- ton plant between June 16 and July 18. But the compa- ny’s Boardman facilities are now reporting outbreaks as well. OHA’s weekly report for Aug. 5 lists 31 cases at its Lamb Weston East site, 22 cases at its Lamb Weston Boardman Pac Center and 21 cases at Lamb Weston West. Shelby Stoolman, a spokeswoman for the com- pany, said in an email on Aug. 5 that so far the Board- man sites had not been shut down and a mass testing event has not been planned — both of which happened at the Hermiston site in July. “We’re closely monitor- ing the cases and sharing information with OHA, and we’ll adjust our approach if needed,” she said. Hermiston Herald to distribute masks Staff photos by Ben Lonergan At left, Summer Wildbill folds masks in preparation for insertion into the Wednesday, Aug. 12, edition of the Hermiston Herald at the offi ces of the East Oregonian in Pendleton on Aug. 11. The mask distribution, a partnership between the Hermiston Herald and Umatilla County, will distribute roughly 15,000 masks across Hermiston and the surrounding area. Above, Lindsey Pasemalittlesky inserts folded masks into packets of COVID-19 information. Four candidates running for Hermiston City Council so far By JADE MCDOWELL NEWS EDITOR Three incumbents and one newcomer are in the run- ning so far for four seats on the Hermiston City Council. Candidates for the four, at-large positions on the council have until Aug. 25 at 5 p.m. to fi le for candidacy. All candidates who fi led will appear on the November 2020 general election ballot, and the top four vote-get- ters will take offi ce in Janu- ary 2021. Nancy Peterson, an accessibility specialist for Columbia Basin College, is running for the fi rst time, but she said it has been a dream of hers to run for offi ce since she was a teenager licking stamps to help candidates that her parents were sup- porting. She said she is now in a place in her life where she feels prepared to serve. Peterson has lived in Hermiston for 11 years and the Umatilla/Morrow County area for 20 years, she said, and she hopes to focus on listening to com- munity members’ concerns and helping the city under- stand their needs. “If people don’t feel heard, they’re not going to listen,” she said. Primmer Peterson She said she has lived through a wide range of experiences that other peo- ple in the community have also faced, from spending time as a single mother to putting herself through col- lege. She hopes to put those experiences to use repre- senting the residents of Hermiston. David McCarthy, sales manager for KOHU/The Q radio stations, was appointed to fi ll the remainder of the year in John Kirwan’s seat in May after Kirwan resigned due to a career change. He said his experience so far on the council hasn’t dampened his enthusiasm to run for a full term in November. “They couldn’t scare me away that easily,” he joked. He said he likes looking at situations the city faces and fi guring out how they might do a better job of responding, and he is pas- sionate about improving the community for children and local businesses. Rod Har- din has already served 28 years on the city council and said he Hardin considered not running again. But previous health problems he had been facing have been resolved, he said, and his retirement as princi- pal of Hermiston Christian Center has given him more time to devote to the city, so he decided he can put his experience to use on the council for what he believes will likely be his last term. “I guess I’m not ready to give it up yet, if the public will let me,” he said. Hardin said he is proud of the decisions the coun- cil has made over the past three decades that have got- ten Hermiston to where it is today, from building the Regional Water System to buying the electric util- ity that is now Hermiston Energy Services. He has served on various commit- tees over his years of ser- vice, but said he has always stuck with the Public Safety Committee because it is a topic he is passionate about. Doug Primmer is running for a third term, and said his motivations are the same as the fi rst time he ran. “I’m still trying to make a difference,” he said. “Like I said when I fi rst started, the world is run by those who show up.” Primmer grew up in Hermiston and has had a career in law enforcement and corrections, including more than 30 years as a res- cue diver with the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Offi ce. His brother, Dale Primmer, is a Pendleton city councilor. Manuel Gutierrez cur- rently holds one of the at-large seats on the coun- cil, but said he doesn’t plan to run again. THANK YOU TO MAYOR DAVE DROTZMANN for the letter that you sent to Governor Kate Brown regarding your concerns on the Umatilla County shut down. • Burgers • Salads • Sandwiches • Smoked BBQ Ribs Hours: • Prime Rib Tuesday-Saturday and More! 11am-10pm Sunday 11am-9pm Closed Monday Thank you for supporting the local businesses. HALE’S RESTAURANT 100 W. Hwy 730, Irrigon 541-922-4374 174 E. Main Street, Hermiston 541-567-7975 Open for take out & curbside 8am-9pm • 7 days a week Thank you for all of you do! Over the years, all of us here at American West Properties, Hermiston, LLC and American West Properties in Boardman, have come to rely on the professional expertise of our ad rep, Jeanne Jewett. Not only with our ads for the EO Real Estate Guide & the Hermiston Herald, but also with the special ads she offers throughout the year! From all of us here American West Properties, Thank you Jeanne! Gain Exposure. Drive More Business. Find New Customers. Marketing assistance from the print & digital experts. Talk to Jeanne today! 541-564-4531 • jjewett@hermistonherald.com
