OFF PAGE ONE
WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2022
HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A9
Kathy Aney/Hermiston Herald
Second grader Emily Ramos Corral walks with her class along
the hallway at McNary Heights Elementary School in Umatilla
on Monday, May 16, 2022. After COVID-19 case numbers fell,
fewer of Emily’s classmates and teachers wore masks.
SCHOOLS
Continued from Page A1
Dirk Dirksen, Mor-
row County School Dis-
trict superintendent, said
COVID-19 worries have
decreased along with con-
cern. He said there have
been no reported cases in
Morrow County schools in
at least a month and maybe
only one or two since
February.
“Knock on wood,” he
said, adding he hopes cases
do not reemerge.
As for protocols, he said
schools require adults to
sign in at an offi ce upon
arriving at a school. At that
time, they have to state that
they do not have COVID-19
or symptoms.
“We also would ask par-
ents to keep kids at home
with any COVID symp-
toms,” he said, and schools
send students home if they
have symptoms.
Dirksen said schools are
equipped with COVID-19
tests from the state of Ore-
gon and masks are optional
for students and staff , both
on school grounds and in
buses.
He said he has kept an
eye on COVID-19 num-
bers in the district. In recent
months, he said, cases are
declining throughout Mor-
row County. The superin-
tendent said it is possible
case numbers are higher
than what is reported in the
school district and through-
out the county.
“When kids are home
with the fl u, we don’t call
them up and tell them they
have to call the health
department,” he said.
Jake Bacon, Hermis-
ton School District assis-
tant superintendent, said
concern about COVID-19
has drastically reduced, and
contact tracing is a thing of
Ben Lonergan/Hermiston Herald, fi le
First-grade students eat a meal at their desks prior to the start of the school day at Washington Elementary School in Pendleton
on the fi rst day of in-person instruction on Feb. 22, 2021. With COVID-19 cases rising in May 2022, Oregon offi cials have asked
schools to prioritize in-person learning and monitor spread of disease in their community and absenteeism, off ering testing
and recommending or even mandating masks before moving to remote learning.
the past. Masks in his dis-
trict are optional, for both
staff and students. This
remains the situation both
on school grounds and on
buses.
There was a COVID-19
case last week, he said, but
a lot is unknown as report-
ing is not mandatory. The
district still has recommen-
dations, though.
“An individual who tests
positive, they should isolate
for fi ve days,” he said. After
fi ve days, and after 24 hours
of being fever free, they
should wear masks for days
six through 10, he said.
Bacon said cleanings
and sterilizations have
decreased in recent weeks,
but schools still are wiping
down tabletops and promot-
ing hand washing.
The Oregon Health
Authority and Oregon
Department of Educa-
tion also reminded schools
that students or staff with
COVID-like
symptoms
have to stay home, and
asked families to not send
their sick children to school
and to seek a test and, if the
children are eligible, to get
them vaccinated.
— Oregon Public Broadcasting
reporter Elizabeth Miller and The
Oregonian reporter Fedor Zarkhin
contributed to this report.
Kathy Aney/Hermiston Herald
A box of face masks sit on the counter in the offi ce at Hermiston
High School on Monday, May 16, 2022.
People with HIV
are our neighbors.
More than half of Oregonians with HIV
live outside Portland, often in suburbs or
small towns like this one.
Kathy Aney/Hermiston Herald
Heather Spinden poses with two of her benefactors, Josh
Ross and Holly Woods, on Wednesday, May 11, 2022. Ross and
Woods have helped mobilize individuals and businesses to
make improvements to Spinden’s home.
HOME
Continued from Page A1
the Spindens. Their home
had problems, and their
homeowner’s
insurance
dropped them last summer.
Suddenly,
people
wanted to help.
Through
contacts,
Ross and Woods, along
with Academy, started
attracting more help. An
employee of Ross-Brandt
Electric Inc., Ross was
able to get his family’s
company on board with
this effort. More people
and companies followed,
as they posted this work on
Facebook, distributed fly-
ers and made phone calls.
Cost
Less
Carpet
donated the flooring, C &
C Construction Services
Inc. provided much of the
roofing and other compa-
nies stepped up, too. Ross-
Brandt provided workers,
as did some other compa-
nies. Jimmy’s Johns Porta-
ble Toilets Inc., offered its
services, and other people
gave what they could.
Over $100,000 was
given in donations, includ-
ing around $40,000 in
cash, Woods said. Enough
money was left from dona-
tions to pay Heather Spin-
den’s medical bills.
“We didn’t expect this,”
Woods said. She added that
the Spindens never asked
for this help, but people
gave it freely.
Heather Spinden said
she has a lot of good feel-
ings about her community
because of this work.
“We feel so humbled
and blessed,” she said.
“We’re so happy that
they’ve made it so we can
enjoy this home, and we’re
going to enjoy it, one day
at a time.”
LET US “MEAT” YOUR NEEDS
T-BONES & RIB STEAKS
10%
OFF
while supplies last
E.O.M.S.
EASTERN OREGON MEATS
541-567-2011
253 W. Hermiston Ave., Hermiston
easternoregonmobileslaughter.com
But with today’s advances, HIV isn’t what it used to be.
People with HIV are living longer, healthier lives, with the
help of medication. By talking about HIV, we can support
our community. Testing and early treatment protect you
and your partner. Help is available if you’re HIV+.
Learn more and find free testing at endhivoregon.org