One in five returning Vets face serious challenges…
The transition from Iraq to Lane County was a quick one for members of the Oregon National Guard 41st Brigade Combat Team.
205 – “It’s about eight to ten days from the point that they leave the combat theater until they’re back home with their family.”
For most, that’s not a big problem according to Lane County Behavior Health Services manager Al Levine.
206 – “about four out of five are able to accomplish a pretty successful transition and reentry back into their life. But about 20-percent are going to experience difficulty.”
But, for some, that can be a challenge. It can also be challenging for family members. Levine is calling on mental health professionals to help ease that transition by volunteering. He says there’s a national program called “Give an hour” that helps coordinate those services. In Oregon, there’s a similar program that also includes massage therapists and acupuncturists as well.
207 – “There is a project and a website called the Returning Veterans Project, it’s an Oregon based project out of Portland where those individuals can sign up and make free services available for vets and their families.”
The Lane County Board of Commissioners adopted a ‘welcome home’ proclamation yesterday. Levine says they’re encouraging employers to accommodate the transition and are also posting a variety of available services on their website. The Oregon Guard members were welcomed back last week after spending nearly a year in Iraq.
The Siuslaw School District Budget Committee will hear public input this evening on how to deal with a half-million dollar shortfall for the coming year. Superintendent Jeff Davis presented the draft budget earlier this month. It’s out of balance for a variety of reasons. In his budget message he pointed out the requirement to set aside money for anticipated shortfalls in the retirement system, as well as a loss of some federal stimulus funding and a continuing decline in enrollment and the subsequent reduction in state funding. The budget panel meets at the Elementary School library at 6:30.
Oregon’s average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is nearing three dollars. Marie Dodds, with Triple-A of Oregon, says the statewide average price held steady this week at $2.98 a gallon, In Medford the average is $3.04; in Eugene it’s just below that at $2.99. Florence’s average price increased two cents this week and mirrors the national average at $2.87 a gallon. Dodds says gas prices are averaging 75 cents a gallon less than a year ago when the global economic climate was still quite soft.
Health will be the focus during this Friday afternoon’s free Florence Health Fair 2010 at the Events Center. Spokesperson Linda Lydick says the intention is to give you the encouragement to – quote – “put one foot forward and take charge of your health”. Several seminars will be presented ranging from diabetic health to cardiac rehab to healthy cooking for people on the go. A special dinner seminar will be presented at five, but only to the first 100 people who register. The fair… and registration for the dinner seminar… opens at one.
If that’s not enough fun for you, check out the Florence Community Parent Teacher Association annual carnival on Saturday. From 11 to two at the middle school gym a variety of traditional school carnival games and booths will be provided. Each are run by various school clubs, classes and organizations and all money raised at the carnival is pooled, then divided between the groups. There’s no admission charge and most activities are only a quarter.
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Oregon Health Plan will get a $5.7 million
chunk of a settlement the U.S. government has reached with
drugmaker AstraZeneca. The company has agreed to pay $520 million
for allegedly marketing antipsychotic Seroquel for uses not
approved by federal drug regulators, including insomnia and
psychiatric conditions other than schizophrenia and bipolar
disorder.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Damage from a fast-moving fire at the
Eastside Foursquare Church in Portland is estimated at $500,000.
Portland Fire Bureau officials say investigators haven't yet
determined what caused the Monday night blaze. They say it appears
to have started in the church's meeting rooms on the second floor.
COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (AP) - Folks who like to sip a cold beer
with their recreation at either Cottage Grove or Dorena lakes had
better enjoy the beverages this summer. Next year, the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers plans to ban all alcohol at the two reservoirs
and their federally run campgrounds.
The agency said Tuesday the ban is prompted in part by
alcohol-related problems at the lakes, such as litter, vandalism,
injuries and late-night disturbances. Depleted staffing due to county,
state and federal budget cuts is also a factor.
---
Information from: The Register-Guard,
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A lawsuit has been filed by relatives of
an Oregon couple who died in 2008 after propane from a newly
installed stove ignited in their eastern Oregon vacation home. The
lawsuit seeking $3 million alleges the companies that installed the
propane hearth stove and its gas lines failed to coordinate to
check if there were any fuel leaks.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A Gresham couple has pleaded not guilty to
murder by abuse charges in the death of the 5-year-old daughter of
one of the suspects. Christopher Rosillo and his live-in girlfriend
Guadalupe Quintero entered their pleas in Multnomah County Circuit
Court in Portland after being arrested Friday. Quintero was Miss
Teen Clackamas County USA in 2006. Rosillo's daughter died April
13.
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) - An online college guidance service is
listing the Oregon Institute of Technology as one of the schools
offering the best green study programs. The school powers its
Klamath Falls campus with geothermal heat. The guidance service
WiseChoice has included the school's Renewable Energy program in a
top 10 list of such programs.
CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) - State police say a 31-year-old woman is
dead after a head-on crash north of Adair Village. They say
Adrianne Ollis of McMinnville was driving south on Highway 99W when
her car crossed the center line and slammed into an oncoming pickup
truck. The highway was closed for about three hours yesterday.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Police say anarchists are behind vandalism
at a Portland Starbucks and U.S. military recruiting station. The
Portland Police Bureau says roughly 50 marchers dressed in black
took to the streets late Monday and targeted the coffee shop and
the recruiting station. No arrests have been made.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - While Brandon Roy's return may have given
the Trail Blazers reason to hope, the Phoenix Suns have the more
tangible advantage in their first-round playoff series: a 3-2 edge.
The series swings back to Portland for Game 5 tomorrow with the
Blazers on the brink of elimination. Roy says he wants to start,
less than two weeks since he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his
right knee.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:
College Baseball:
Oregon rose one spot to number 17 in the Baseball America poll this week. The Ducks have won five of their last six games, the latest last night at PK Park when they jumped on the Beavers early, cruising to a non-conference 9-4 victory. The Ducks improve to 28-and-13 on the season; Oregon State falls to 21 – 14.
Prep Sports:
Far West League Baseball and Softball scheduled for yesterday afternoon was postponed because of field and weather conditions. The Siuslaw Vikings will host South Umpqua for baseball this evening at five… that game will air on Coast Radio Sports at 4:45. Viking Softball will make the trip to Myrtle Creek where they’ll face the Lancers at five. Also on the schedule today, Mapleton Track and Field at the Crow Cinder Classic.
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