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The INDEPENDENT, March 21, 2001
VHS senior Myriam Gendron receives DAR Good Citizen Award
Myriam Gendron, a senior at
Vernonia High School, was the
Columbia County winner of an
essay competition sponsored
by the Daughters of American
Revolution (DAR).
Gendron earned first place,
and one of three Good Citizens
Awards, with her essay on pre
serving the American heritage.
She was chosen for the com
petition by local DAR member
Patricia Wheeler on the basis
of her application, which in
cluded personal information,
recommendations, transcripts
and test scores.
The DAR annual scholar
ship contest includes cash
prizes along with the awards at
county, district, state and na
tional levels. One candidate
from each high school in Co
lumbia County was selected for
participation.
“It was an honor to repre
sent my school," said Gendron.
“I didn’t know how many other
applicants there would be, but I
figured I would try.
“I was so glad when they an
nounced my name,” she con
tinued. “My essay went on to
district, where it placed sec
ond. If it had gotten first, I
would have gone on to state.
Still, I’m glad I participated.”
MADD offers suggestions for spring teen events
Award winners Sophia Franz of Scappoose High School, at
left, and Myriam Gendron of Vernonia High School flank Act
ing Regent Patricia Wheeler of Mount St. Helens Daughters
of American Revolution. Not pictured is Paula Nagunst,
award winner from Rainier High School.
Forums on health issues for men
Tuality Health Education the U.S. suffer from erectile
Center will present three free dysfunction. This presentation
classes on health issues for will explore current research
men on Saturday, April 14, and treatment options for male
impotence, especially as it re
from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
The first class, Colorectal lates to men who have been di
Cancer Update, will be led by agnosed with cancer.
At 11:15 a.m., Self-Esteem
Patrick Y. Lee, M.D., colon and
and
Sexual Performance will
rectal surgeon, Tuality Health
care medical staff. Cancer of be led by Jerry Shipp, M.A.,
the colon and rectum has be LMFT, licensed psychologist,
come a significant killer in this marriage and family therapist,
Psychological
&
country, largely because of Western
people’s discomfort with get Counseling Services, Hillsboro.
ting tested. In this program, Today’s American male has a
participants will gain an under lot of his identity and self-es
standing of the current re teem wrapped up in his sexual
search on the potential causes ity. When sexual performance
of colorectal cancer, the latest is threatened or impaired by
in diagnostic and screening disease or surgery, men may
techniques and treatment op question their “maleness” and
wonder if they are “doomed” to
tions.
Evaluating Treatment for Im a life of celibacy. This frank
potence will begin at 10:15 presentation will focus on the
a.m., led by Shammai Rock- emotional and relational efforts
ove, M.D., director, Center for of this physical impairment.
The Tuality Health Educa
Men’s and Women’s Urology,
Gresham; and former director tion Center is located at 334
of Erectile Dysfunction Center, SE Eighth Avenue in Hillsboro.
Oregon Health Sciences Uni The classes are free and no
versity. About 30 million men in registration is required.
Apply now for local scholarships
Local scholarship applica
tions are now available at the
Vernonia High School office for
seniors and alumni. There will
be more than $30,000 in local
scholarship funds for students
pursuing post-high school
training. The due date for appli
cations is April 23 at 5:00 p.m.
For more information, call
Jill Griffin at VHS, 503-429-
3521.
Academy looks at Scappoose site
A public meeting is sched
uled for March 22 at 6:30 p.m.
in the Scappoose High School
cafeteria to consider a propos
al to site a new campus for the
state law enforcement training
academy next to Scappoose
Airport. The academy, operat
ed by the Department of Public
Safety Standards and Training,
is currently located in Mon
mouth.
LOW CO$T CAR LOANS
Vernonia Federal Credit Union • 503429-8031
Spring break, prom time and
graduation are the highlights of
the school year for many teens.
It is a time for celebration.
MADD, Columbia County
Traffic Safety Commission and
local law enforcement agen
cies remind you that these are
also times for celebrations of
joyous events in your children’s
lives. Before allowing alcohol
to become a part of these cele
brations, consider the risks.
Furnishing alcoholic bever
ages to someone other than
your own child in your own res-
idence is against the law. It can
lead to fines of up to $1,000 per
minor cited and thirty days in
jail. The person providing the
alcohol, or even providing a
place to party, can be required
to pay restitution for any dam
ages incurred and can be sued
in civil court. You may also be
held liable for any damages
from traffic crashes that are the
result of consumption on your
premises.
Deciding that “at least the
drinking can be controlled if it is
in my home” will not do your
children or their friends any fa
vors. Before you provide alco
hol to teenagers, ask yourself if
you can afford to take the risk
of losing everything, including
your home, job and possibly
someone’s life?
Every parent’s worst night
mare is a knock on the door in
the middle of the night. Be sure
your child comes home safe
and sober.
For more information, plus
suggestions for safe and sober
celebrations, call 503-397-
6157 or visit www.madd.org
Qual-Med Health Plan fined by insurance division
QualMed Oregon Health
Plan, Inc., has been fined
$50,000 for violating state in
surance laws and administra
tive rules.
The fine was imposed after
a market conduct examination
by the Insurance Division of the
Oregon Department of Con
sumer and Business Services
of the company’s operations
from April to July, 1999.
QualMed, now known as
Health Net Health Plan of Ore
gon, Inc., admitted to failing to
pay health insurance claims
without conducting a reason
able investigation. Insurance
Division examiners found that
QualMed refused to pay almost
a third of randomly selected
claims without a reasonable in
vestigation.
QualMed also admitted to
improperly imposing pre-exist
ing condition limits and not giv
ing individuals credit for previ
ous coverage under the Ore
gon Health Plan. They also ad
mitted to improperly using indi
vidual health statements to de
termine whether to provide
group health coverage.
The Insurance Division
found similar violations by
QualMed during past market
conduct examinations.
QualMed has been licensed
in Oregon as a domestic health
care service contractor since
1989. Its main administrative
offices are in Clackamas.
The company was fined
$15,000 by the Insurance Divi
sion in 1996 for improperly
denying emergency room
claims without conducting a
reasonable investigation.
For complete copies of In
surance Division enforcement
actions, visit the division’s web
site at <www.oregoninsuran
ce.org> Click on Enforcement
actions.
Time to sign up for Great Oregon Beach Clean-up
Mark your calendar for Sat
urday, March 31 - the 17th An
nual Great Oregon Spring
Beach Cleanup. Thousands of
volunteers who care about
Oregon’s livability are needed
to help at the state’s beaches
from 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to
clean the entire coastline be
tween the Washington and Cal
ifornia borders. Volunteers are
asked to check in at one of 40
meeting sites, pick up a bag
and head down to the beach to
do their part in improving our
coastline for wildlife and sum
mer visitors. Coordinators of
the event suggest volunteers
bring gloves and wear sturdy
shoes. Complimentary bags
will be furnished by beach
cleanup coordinators. Groups
of 20 or more are asked to reg
ister in advance with the appro
priate Zone Captain.
“We want to emphasize Vol
unteer Safety this spring more
than ever,” said Jack Mc
Gowan, SOLV’s Executive Di
rector. “Knowledge of basic
beach safety and adherence to
some basic guidelines can help
reduce the potential for acci
dents and injuries." Volunteers
are requested to be aware of
these safety tips while on the
beach:
• Don’t turn your back on the able from SOLV for $10. The
ocean. Watch out for sneaker poster was created by Sand
waves.
ström Design and produced by
• Don’t play on or around Moore Litho, Color Technology,
logs.
Graphic Arts Center Publishing
• Exercise extreme caution Co., and Lincoln & Allen
on rocks and cliffs.
Bindery.
For more information, call
The Spring Beach Cleanup SOLV at 1-800-322-3326 or
poster, an Oregon coast color visit their web
site
at
photo by Rick Schafer, is avail- <www.solv.org>
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INDEPENDENT
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