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⚕️Public Health reports increase of Whooping Cough cases in Deschutes County

⚕️Public Health reports increase of Whooping Cough cases in Deschutes County

Issue #125

02 May

Be aware Gmail will sometimes ‘clip’ the newsletter, but you can always:

👇

In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔 Local Trivia

🌄 Bend, OR Weather

📰 Local News - What’s a Happening?

⚕️Public Health reports increase of Whooping Cough cases in Deschutes County

🏆Dr. Patricia Buehler receives People’s Choice Award for innovative new eyelid surgery device

📰Madras DMV office closed Wednesday due to staffing issues; agency couldn’t keep both it and Redmond open

🔥30-acre prescribed burn planned Friday SW of Bend near Aspen Day Use Area during managers training workshop

⛑️ Fire & Rescue News

🔥Early Morning Fire in Bend Alerted by Smoke Alarms, Residents Escape Unharmed

🔥Lightning-caused wildfire south of Bend encouraged to grow

📰 Local Government News

📰 Bend Current News

📰Bend City Council Approves Updated System Development Charges Amid Public Concerns

💖Community News

🛍️Bend Farmers Market kicks off 2024 season

🏆Volunteer at Newberry Volcanic Monument wins national award

😁 MEME of the Day

📅 Lots of Events

Camp Polk Meadow Preserve (Camp Polk Today)

Camp Polk is a historically significant site located near Sisters, Oregon.

When was it first established?

A) 1866

B) 1855

C) 1865

D) 1862

👉Find the Answer in Tomorrow’s Newsletter👉

BEND

North Oregon Cascades

Today

Partly sunny. A chance of rain and snow this morning, then a slight chance of rain showers this afternoon. Snow level 4000 feet, increasing to 5500 feet this afternoon. Little or no snow accumulation. Winds light. Chance of precipitation 50 percent. Rainfall amounts a tenth to a quarter of an inch.

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Free air freezing level 6000 feet, increasing to free air freezing level 6500 feet after midnight. Winds light.

Friday

Partly sunny in the morning, then rain in the afternoon. Snow level 6000 feet in the afternoon. Pass winds southeast 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain near 100 percent. Rainfall amounts a tenth to a quarter of an inch.

Friday Night

Rain. Snow level 7000 feet, decreasing to 6000 feet after midnight. Pass winds south 5 to 10 mph, becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of rain near 100 percent.

Saturday

Rain and snow. Snow level 4500 feet. Pass winds west 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.

Saturday Night

Rain and snow showers. Snow level 4000 feet. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.

Sunday

Rain and snow showers. Snow level 4000 feet. Breezy. Chance of precipitation 90 percent.

Public Health reports increase of Whooping Cough cases in Deschutes County

In the past two weeks, Deschutes County Public Health has identified seven cases of Pertussis, more commonly known as Whooping Cough in the community. All cases have been investigated by Public Health Communicable Disease staff and close contacts have been notified. In 2023, a total of six cases of pertussis were reported in Deschutes County.

 Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious respiratory disease that is transmitted from person to person through droplets from a cough or sneeze. Newborn babies, who are too young to be vaccinated, are at highest risk for severe illness.

The best defense against whooping cough is a well immunized community. Pertussis vaccines (DTaP and TDaP) are recommended for all people that are ages two months and older. While everyone is encouraged to get vaccinated against this disease, it is especially important that pregnant persons get vaccinated during each pregnancy to best protect their newborn. It is also critical that everyone who comes in contact with babies is fully immunized.

“Getting vaccinated does not only protect you, it also protects your loved ones and close contacts, some of whom are more susceptible to complications from pertussis,” said Dr. Rita Bacho, Program Manager for Communicable Disease Prevention and Management.

Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Symptoms

Whopping cough begins as a mild upper respiratory infection and resembles a common cold (sneezing, runny nose, low-grade fever, mild cough).  Within two weeks, the cough becomes more severe and is characterized by episodes of numerous rapid coughs, followed by a high-pitched whooping sound and is sometimes followed by vomiting. These episodes may reoccur for one to two months. Because infants and toddlers are at greatest risk of complications from whooping cough, they're more likely to need treatment in a hospital. Complications can be life-threatening for infants younger than 6 months old.

Pertussis vaccines (DTaP and TDaP) can be provided by local health care providers, as well as most pharmacies for people seven-years-old and older. People are encouraged to call their primary care provider or local pharmacy for vaccine availability.

As a Vaccine Access Program provider, Deschutes County Health Services also offers Safety Net Immunizations to individuals and families who have difficulty accessing immunization services. Immunization clinics are available to individuals from newborn to adult (children under 14 years must be accompanied by an adult or guardian).

Immunization services are available for all ages at our Redmond and Bend campuses as follows:

Redmond Campus

236 NW Kingwood Ave.

Wednesdays by appointment

10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Bend Campus

2577 NE Courtney Dr.

Thursdays by appointment

10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3p.m.

To make an appointment, please call Deschutes County Health Services at (541) 322-7499. Please bring a current shot record and health insurance information (if applicable). County Health Services staff will not deny service due to the inability to pay.

For more information about whooping cough, please visit: Whooping Cough (Pertussis) | CDC

Dr. Patricia Buehler, CEO of Osheru, has won the Eyecelerator People's Choice Award for her groundbreaking Ziplyft device, a minimally invasive solution for eyelid surgery!

Dr. Patricia Buehler receives People’s Choice Award for innovative new eyelid surgery device

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Patricia Buehler, MD, MPH, an eye surgeon from Bend, and founder and CEO of Osheru, won the Eyecelerator People’s Choice Award for her innovative new device for blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, the Ziplyft.

The Ziplyft has secured consecutive prestigious awards from Eyecelerator, a leading ophthalmology innovation catalyst.

At Eyecelerator's annual innovator sessions, preceding the American Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) Meeting, on April 5th in Boston, MA, Dr. Buehler's Ziplyft won the coveted People's Choice Award, as selected by attendees. This recognition celebrates an outstanding cutting-edge startup in the ophthalmic space, and it follows Ziplyft's triumph last year when it won the Winning Pitch Award.

Upper eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, is consistently among the top five most popular cosmetic surgical procedures performed in the United States¹, underscoring the significant demand and market potential for innovative solutions in this field.

Traditional blepharoplasty techniques have remained largely unchanged for over 50 years, often requiring invasive surgical methods, extensive recovery times, and posing risks of post-operative complications like bruising, asymmetry, and suture issues.

The post Dr. Patricia Buehler receives People’s Choice Award for innovative new eyelid surgery device appeared first on KTVZ .

Madras DMV office closed Wednesday due to staffing issues; agency couldn’t keep both it and Redmond open

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Oregon DMV continues to have staffing issues, especially at its smaller offices, as the Madras office was closed on Wednesday.

DMV spokesman David House said word came late Wednesday morning.

“The decision came after trying to open both Redmond and Madras offices this morning, but not enough staff was available to keep both open,” House told us.

He said the issue likely was some “sudden sick leave needs.”

Much of the business Oregonians have with DMV can be handled online .

The post Madras DMV office closed Wednesday due to staffing issues; agency couldn’t keep both it and Redmond open appeared first on KTVZ .

30-acre prescribed burn planned Friday SW of Bend near Aspen Day Use Area during managers training workshop

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District plans to ignite a 30-acre prescribed burn this Friday six miles southwest of Bend near Aspen Day Use Area as part of a national administrators' training workshop that is making its first visit to the Deschutes National Forest.

The Agency Administrator Workshop , hosted by the National Interagency Prescribed Fire Training Center (NIPFTC) , a multi-agency training center based out of Tallahassee, Florida, offers unique training programs which cover foundational topics for prescribed fire practitioners, fire and fuels managers, and line officers tasked with implementing fuels management programs.

Ignitions are slated for 10 a.m. Smoke will be visible from Forest Service Road 41, which will remain open. Forest Service Road 700, which provides access into Aspen Day Use Area and Trailhead will be closed for operations. A portion of the Two-Hour Horse Loop will also be closed. The road and trail will be closed during operations and likely into the weekend until firefighters determine the area is safe.

Smoke will be visible from Bend and surrounding areas. Residents in Widgi Creek, Tetherow, Deschutes River Woods, Bend, and areas South and East of the Deschutes River may be impacted with smoke and are encouraged to keep doors and windows closed to reduce smoke impacts.

NIPFTC’s Agency Administrator Workshop provides participants an opportunity to network with successful fuels program managers and skilled fire practitioners, while learning about fuels management direction, policy, planning and implementation. NIPFTC’s training programs emphasize mentorship and hands-on experience, which requires building relationships with a variety of host units that manage successful fuels management programs.

This program delivery at the Deschutes National Forest represents the first workshop held in a western venue subsequent to NIPFTC's expansion beyond its original southeastern base.

It's one of three training events under way in recent days on the Deschutes National Forest, including another prescribed burn training program, TREX, and the Central Oregon Wildfire School.

Those are annual events, while the NIPFTC agency administrator workshop is new to the region this year, Public Affairs Specialist Jaimie Olle said, noting that it made for "a busy couple weeks for us."

Prescribed burning reintroduces and maintains fire within a fire-dependent ecosystem, helping to stabilize and improve the resiliency of forest conditions while increasing public and firefighter safety, forest officials said. Once firefighters ignite prescribed burns, they monitor and patrol the units until they declare the burn out.

This prescribed burn is occurring within the Central Oregon Landscape , one of 21 focal landscapes identified within the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy . The implementation of this prescribed burn supports the Deschutes National Forest’s commitment to addressing the Wildfire Crisis Strategy which aims to reduce severity of wildfires, protect communities, and improve the health and resiliency of fire-dependent forests.

Prescribed burns can protect homes from tragic wildfires. Fire management officials work with Oregon Department of Forestry smoke specialists to plan prescribed burns. Prescribed burns are conducted when weather is most likely to move smoke up and away from our communities. Sometimes, weather patterns change, and some smoke will be present during prescribed burns.

What does this mean for you?

During prescribed burns, smoke may settle in low-lying areas overnight.

All residents are encouraged to close windows at night to avoid smoke impacts
When driving in smoky areas, drivers should slow down, turn on headlights and set air conditioning on “re-circulate”
If you have heart or lung disease, asthma, or other chronic conditions, ask your doctor about how to protect yourself from smoke
Go to centraloregonfire.org to learn more about smoke safety and prescribed burning in Central Oregon

For more information on prescribed burning in Central Oregon, visit centraloregonfire.org/ and for information specific to the Deschutes National Forest visit www.fs.usda.gov/deschutes . Follow us on Twitter @CentralORFire. Text “COFIRE” to 888-777 to receive wildfire and prescribed fire text alerts.

For more information regarding the NIPFTC Agency Administrator Workshop, visit Agency Administrator Workshop - NIPFTC .

The post 30-acre prescribed burn planned Friday SW of Bend near Aspen Day Use Area during managers training workshop appeared first on KTVZ .

Weekly Road and Traffic Report for the Week of April April 29 – May 5 Bend

Weekly Road Construction Update Week of April April 28 to May 4 Deschutes County

ODOT - Region 4 Weekly Construction Update April 26, 2024 - May 3, 2024

Early Morning Fire in Bend Alerted by Smoke Alarms, Residents Escape Unharmed

Bend, Oregon - An early morning blaze at a single-family residence in Northeast Bend was swiftly controlled thanks to working smoke alarms, preventing what could have been a disastrous event. The incident occurred around 5:00 AM on Wednesday, May 1st, when two occupants were alerted by the sound of an active smoke alarm from a spare bedroom.

Upon investigating, the residents discovered hazy smoke emanating from their kitchen and spare bedroom and promptly called 911. Further inspection revealed smoke pouring from an exterior wall, with flames visible outside through a bedroom window. The occupants made an initial attempt to douse the flames while awaiting emergency services.

Bend Fire & Rescue teams responded quickly, confining the fire to the spare bedroom and extinguishing it before it could spread further through the home. According to officials, the fire originated from ashes that had been improperly disposed of the previous day. The ashes, removed from a wood stove and placed in a combustible container, ignited the exterior of the house.

No injuries were reported thanks to the quick action of the residents and the efficiency of the fire crews. The property sustained limited damage, contained primarily to the spare bedroom where the fire was first detected.

Bend Fire & Rescue emphasized the importance of proper ash disposal from wood stoves. "Always assume ashes are hot and capable of igniting combustible materials," warned a spokesperson from Bend Fire & Rescue. Residents are advised to place ashes in a non-combustible, metal container, extinguish them with water, and ensure they are cold before disposal. Additionally, the fire department reminded everyone of the critical role smoke alarms play in home safety and urged residents to regularly check their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Further information and assistance regarding fire safety can be obtained through the City of Bend Fire & Rescue’s Community Programs on their website.

Lightning-caused wildfire south of Bend encouraged to grow

A lightning caused fire is being encouraged to grow in an area where managers planned to conduct prescribed burns. The lightning caused Little Yamsay Fire ignited in an area where prescribed burning was planned. Now firefighters are expanding the fire up to 6,000 acres.

With the warmer weather approaching, this issue of the Bend Current focuses on one of the great wonders of Bend: our outdoors! Join us for Bend Bike Night on May 13 (see details below) for a family-friendly event that is all about bicycles, reminders about how to take care of your property (now that those sprinklers are turning back on), and an update from Councilor Barb Campbell!

Continue Reading

Bend City Council Approves Updated System Development Charges Amid Public Concerns

Background: Bend's city council updated water, sewer, and transportation system development charges (SDCs) after extensive public input. Initially introduced decades ago, SDCs aim for growth to fund itself, sparing existing residents from bearing the cost.

Details: Approved in five unanimous votes, the new SDC structure introduces tiered charges, making smaller residential units pay less. Commercial SDCs remain complex, with significant debates around their impact on business, especially healthcare providers who fear increased costs could hinder local medical services.

Public Input: There was notable opposition from the medical sector, concerned about the long-term impact of higher fees. An online caller from the medical community described the phased introduction of these charges as a "non-solution."

Council Action: Discussions included possible adjustments like a temporary pause on increases for medical and dental projects. The council also considered broader systemic issues affecting healthcare, beyond what city SDCs can address.

Future Steps: The council plans further updates and is mindful of potential implications under new state mandates aimed at promoting climate-friendly urban development. They also approved a significant pay raise for future councilors and the mayor to encourage more diverse representation.

For the full story HERE

Bend Farmers Market kicks off 2024 season

Wednesday was opening day for the fresh vegetables and local goods of all kinds. The farmers market is set up in Brooks Alley on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.