Page 8
The INDEPENDENT, August 5, 2004
Whooping cough in Columbia Co. Community Yard
Cases of whooping cough cough that makes a person Sale sign-ups
have been confirmed in Colum-
bia County and cultures of a
suspected Vernonia case were
requested by Columbia County
Public Health.
Although whooping cough
immunizations (pertussis) and
boosters are typically adminis-
tered between the ages of two
months and 6-7 years, there
are several reasons why the
disease can appear. The vac-
cine is considered to be 85 per-
cent effective, but some chil-
dren don’t get booster shots on
the most effective schedule
and others are exempt be-
cause of religious considera-
tions.
Whooping cough is conta-
gious but, unlike flu, is not air-
borne. It can be spread easily,
though, in the spittle or mois-
ture of a cough, which allows it
to quickly infect several people
within a family or small group.
To avoid this, do what your
mother always told you: Cover
your mouth when you cough.
Symptoms of whooping
cough are the same as for most
upper respiratory diseases,
mild discomfort and cough with
little or no fever. Many people
who contract it will not go be-
yond a fairly persistent, annoy-
ing cough. The difficult, and
sometimes dangerous, phase
is a strong, uncontrollable
Locally Grown
Fresh
Flowers
Cut to Order
Julie Prohaska
Behind Vernonia Inn
503-429-7055
gasp loudly (whoop) for air. It is
not uncommon for spasms
from the coughing to also
cause vomiting. Treatment is
usually with antibiotics.
Whooping cough can be
very dangerous for infants who
have not yet been immunized,
or for people who have other
conditions that weaken their
systems.
Cases have been confirmed
in Benton County and in Wash-
ington state. If someone in your
family is suspected of having
whooping cough and your doc-
tor is not in Columbia County,
be sure your doctor knows your
county of residence.
Vernonia’s sixth annual
Community-Wide Yard & Side-
walk Sale will be on Saturday,
September 18. Organizers are
already getting calls from peo-
ple outside the area to find out
the date.
To participate in in making
Vernonia one big yard sale, or
for more details, call Helen
Bateman at Vernonia Realty &
Insurance, 503-429-6203.
Vernonia Pride will be taking orders
for engraved bricks at Shay Park
YOUR NAME
HERE
During Jamboree at our booth or at the
Old Timer's Picnic or from
Donna Webb at 503-429-5201
By Audeen Wagner
Need a School
Sports Physical?
A new program is being offered this year
which will allow students to get sports phys-
ical exams absolutely FREE. It is a ONE
DAY ONLY clinic, first come-first served and
no appointment is necessary. Students who
plan to participate in sports should either
phone or drop by the school district office
immediately to sign up and take care of the paperwork. Dr.
Gilmore and Cathy Rozinek, R.N., from the Vernonia clinic will be
at the high school all day to do the sports physicals.
FREE sports physical clinic.
Tuesday, August 10. Dr. Gilmore will see athletes
from 8:15 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Where: Vernonia High School.
Who: Any student who wishes to participate in a school
sports program. A physical exam is required for
everyone turning out for athletics.
What:
When:
Blizzardz softball team takes fifth
in State Games of Oregon in July
The Aloha Blizzardz, a 14U
softball team which included
vernonia players, finished fifth
in the State Games of Oregon
tournament held last month at
the Tualatin Hills Park & Recre-
ation complex.
The Sweet Home Blazin An-
gels defeated the Siletz Dream
Catchers in the championship
game.
The Aloha squad, sponsored
by Creative Resources, is a
member of the Washington
County League, which is com-
posed of teams from Aloha,
Banks, Gaston, Forest Grove,
Vernonia and Beaverton.
The Blizzardz, coached by
Bill Shaw and assistants Bill
Grogg and Shawn O'Brien,
posted a 9-4-1 record prior to
the tournament.
Jessica Darling, Lacy Lena-
han, Adrianne Boman and
Nicole Bulbul led the team in
on-base percentage. The pitch-
ing duties were handled by Bo-
man, Lenahan, Branda Richter
Health Notes
and Meaghan McHill.
The other squad members
are Crystal Gregg, Jessica
Gregory, Erica Grogg, Jaime
Harvey, Michele Stangland,
Elizabeth Childers and Britney
Talbot.
Vernonia players Adrienne
East, Brittney Paden and Amy
Rethwill joined the team for the
State Games of Oregon tour-
nament.
Brewington-
Dean wedding
Tina Dean of Vernonia and
Jeffrey L. Brewington, Sr. of
Jefferson were married August
1 in Vernonia. The couple plan
to make their home in Vernon-
ia.
The bride graduated from
Vernonia High School in 1986
and is currently employed by
Dr. Timothy Gray in Forest
Grove. She is the daughter of
Penny Dean of Vernonia.
The groom graduated from
high school in Nebraska in
1986 and is employed at Secu-
ratos in Lake Oswego. He is
the son of Patricia Brewington
of Jefferson.
U NL IM I T E D
5 6K IN T ER N E T
For information call
5 03 - 4 29 - 27 01
www.agalis.net
Students will want to take advantage of the FREE clinic, which
is offered on August 10 ONLY. Contact Barb Carr at the District Of-
fice immediately, 503-429-5891, then mark your calendar for next
Tuesday to take care of this requirement.
Questions? Call the District Office at 503-429-5891.
Next Mammovan visit : August 18, 2004. Call the clinic at
503-429-9191 to make an appointment.
Tillamook State Forest Summer
programs offer something for all
Are the kids bored with sum-
mer vacation? Are you tired of
trying to come up with some-
thing new for them to do?
Take advantage of the Ore-
gon Department of Forestry
regularly scheduled interpretive
programs that let you experi-
ence the Tillamook State For-
est with experienced forest in-
terpreters.
ODF offers guided walks,
talks and tours on this 364,000-
acre forest in the northern
Coast Range. The programs
are free and are conducted at
easily reachable locations off
Highway 6. The length of the
average program is one hour.
Locations for the programs are
at the end of the article.
Sat., August 7, 2 p.m.
WHEEL OF FOREST GAME
Similar to the TV game
show, Wheel of Fortune, partic-
ipants will spin a wheel and dis-
cover fun facts about the
Tillamook Forest. This is a fam-
ily/group game where naturalist
guides encourage participants
to take a closer look at water-
sheds, water-loving plants and
animals, and recreation eti-
quette. Groups will test their
knowledge and compete with
others. Prizes will be awarded
to the lucky winners! Gales
Creek Campground Day-use
Area
Sat., August 7, 7 p.m.
COUGARS
Most of us will never actual-
ly see a cougar in the wild be-
cause they are extremely shy
and secretive. Though we don’t
see them, we can still get to
know these powerful predators.
Enjoy interesting pictures,
facts, and stories about the
largest cats in Oregon. Smith
Homestead Day-use Area
Sat., August 14, 2 p.m.
TILLAMOOK BURN
FACTS AND LEGENDS
Hike along an old railroad
grade to the origin of the 1933
Tillamook Fire, which tore at
the heart and soul of Oregon’s
citizens, but spurred them to
action. See if you can spot any
clues from the past. We will dis-
cuss the facts and legends of
the first and largest of the fires
that became known as the “six-
year jinx.” Gales Creek Camp-
ground Day -use Area
See page 15