Sorting Salmon, Life Lessons

CRIME FIGHTERS BLAZERS KEEP ROLLING Make-A-Wish turns boy, 5, into superhero, A6 Portland begins road trip with win, B1 Serving Oregon’s South Coast Since 1878 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2013 theworldlink.com I $1.50 More bad news for health in Coos County BY EMILY THORNTON THE WORLD SOUTH COAST — Coos County is unhealthy. In fact, it ranked 28 out of 33 among Ore- gon counties compared in the Robert Wood Johnson County Health Ranking Study. Sherman, Gilliam and Wheeler counties weren’t rated. The county also was lacking in a lot of the data necessary to effectively identify and address county health problems. But between current public health admin- istrator Nikki Zogg, and her predecessor, Francis Smith, that vital information has finally been collected, analyzed and pub- lished in a finished plan for the future. Zogg used the information to form what is Photos by Lou Sennick, The World likely the most comprehensive county With a big smile on her face, Skyler Dowd carries a salmon in her net to another group harvesting the eggs and milt Wednesday morning. Her fifth grade class assessment and plan of attack to date. from North Bend spent the morning at the Morgan Creek Hatchery helping adult volunteers with their work. See more photos at theworldlink.com/galleries A lot of Zogg’s work has involved inform- ing everyone she meets. “My goal has been just to pack the docu- ment around with me,”Zogg said.“It impacts Sorting salmon, life lessons everyone.” The Community Health Improvement Plan identifies eight problem areas and ways BY CHELSEA DAVIS fish hatchery to see the grown ing a circle of life. grabbing fish, no one was shy. to improve them. They were: access to The World salmon and begin sorting them. Those salmon that were not They dove right into their healthcare, chronic illness management, This is the 32nd year the ready to spawn were thrown over assigned tasks and worked hard chronic illness prevention, dental health, fall COOS BAY — North Bend hatchery has done the program the crowder. until it was time for lunch. prevention, maternal and child health, men- middle-schoolers jumped into and now, said ODFW fish biolo- “You’re an incredibly impor- Wednesday was the hatch- tal health, and socioeconomic disparities. the salmon life cycle this week, gist Tom Rumreich, parents are tant part of this community proj- ery’s third day trying to find the The topics are broken down into specific helping sort, slice and squeeze volunteering who had partici- ect,”Rumreich told the students. bottom of the pond “and we still goals,each with someone in charge of making the native fish. pated in the same activity when “These salmon are caught in the haven’t found it,”Rumreich said. it happen. However, much of the work lies North Bend fifth-graders they were in fifth grade. ocean ... which pumps millions “We sorted through 2,000 fish with individuals. suited up Wednesday morning “If you guys remember,for the of dollars into the community.” on Saturday and there’s still any- “I really want to encourage more of the at Morgan Creek fish hatchery last four years A boy in the where from 2,000 to 2,500 fish in population to take responsibility for their east of Coos Bay. After securing you’ve had a liv- back row raised there,”he said. own health,”Zogg said. their waders and coats, the stu- ing, breathing, his hand: “How The students’ teacher, Tami Access to health care dents climbed down into the growing salmon long do fish Timm, said it’s easier for kids to chest-deep water armed with at your desk,” live?” learn when they can get their The county lacks adequate access to health nets. Rumreich told Salmon can hands dirty. care. For instance, there is a lack of urgent Salmon thunked against their the room of live up to seven “They came back and were cares, lack of physicians due to low pay, lack legs as they waded through the squirming fifth- or eight years able to explain the process,”she of specialty care, lack of timely care and lack water before plunging their nets graders. and at that said. “Their eyes are huge and of transportation for patients. to the bottom of the pond. But he gave a point weigh they want to do it. This makes Zogg said members of Western Oregon Some struggled as their nets warning, asking around 50 science fun.” Advanced Health had organized a task force emerged with one, two — once them to repeat pounds, Rum- What surprised Timm was to work with area transportation services to in a great while, five, as one boy after him: “All reich said. that some kids had never seen a provide rides to doctor visits. She also said boasted — salmon that they salmon die after Other salmon salmon before. North Bend Medical Center, Bay Area Clinic handed to Salmon and Trout they spawn.” range from 2 “Even though they’re in our and Bay Area Hospital are all looking at pro- Enhancement Program volun- The kids years old community, it was surprising viding urgent care services. teers. needed to be (“jacks”) to 5 how many students had no idea,” Chronic illness management The workers clubbed the prepared to see years old. But she said. salmon over the head and threw the salmon rockfish, Rum- Sage Johnston named her fish Chronic illness is another serious issue in Eggs from a single Salmon are them onto the deck. clubbed over the reich noted, can Nemo and said her favorite part the county.Many conditions are preventable, “Female! I’ve got a female!” head before they bagged by young volunteers live up to 150 of the process was getting into such as those associated with cigarette one boy shouted, unfazed as were tossed onto Wednesday morning. years. the tank and catching the fish. smoking. However, some are not, such as workers lined up the salmon and the deck and “Wow...” the “I’m Alaskan,” she pointed some cancers. sliced their tails. sliced open. boy whispered, wide-eyed. out. The health ranking study found that about Other students lugged the “It seems cruel but they’re at A few students were hesitant When the hatchery was 27 percent of adults smoked, as compared to male salmon over to workers who the end of their life,” he said. “It after listening to Rumreich’s launched in 1982, there were Oregon’s 17 percent and the national bench- squeezed their milt into plastic might sound sad, but it’s not the instructions. One soft-spoken only 400 eggs. Now, there are mark of 13 percent. bags, which will later fertilize the end of the story, it’s the begin- boy asked if he had to get in the more than 1 million. Zogg said lessening smoking in the county females’ eggs. ning of another one. They put water. Reporter Chelsea Davis can be would take leadership, based on her experi- Five years ago, every kinder- nutrients into the river system.” “You don’t have to get in the reached at 541-269-1222, ext. ence in another county. gartner received a salmon egg, The salmon’s carcasses pro- water, but you’ll want to get in 239, or by email at “It took a lot of leadership from elected which they named and followed vide food for others, one boy the water,”Rumreich said. [email protected] officials,”Zogg said. as it grew. By the time they’re in said. They feed the insects which By the time the kids began m. Follow her on Twitter: As bad as the statistics are for smoking,the fifth grade, it’s time to go to the in turn feed young salmon,creat- putting on their waders and @ChelseaLeeDavis. leading cause of death in the county in 2011 was cancer, which claimed 208 lives. That was followed by heart disease, with 188 deaths. Chronic lower respiratory diseases was third, with 60 deaths. Other chronic conditions with high rates State investigates herbicide complaints were: arthritis, 28 percent; asthma, 13 percent; heart attack, 7 percent; angina, 8 per- BY JEFF BARNARD household weed killers. week,”Hanson said. “Two days later I had a cent; stroke, 6 percent; diabetes, 11 percent; The Associated Press He says the investigation was launched severe headache, trouble breathing. I missed high blood pressure, 29 percent; and high after 15 people lodged complaints. work because of it. I’m still having breathing cholesterol, 42 percent. GRANTS PASS — The state of Oregon is One of them was Beau Hanson, a 26-year- problems.” Chronic illness prevention investigating complaints that an herbicide old meat cutter. He saw a helicopter flying Crook Timberlands did not return sprayed from a helicopter on commercial back and forth a half mile away while he was requests for comment. Chronic illness has taken about 1,250 years timberlands in Curry County drifted over outside cutting firewood. His 8-month-old The Department of Agriculture took vege- of life away in the county each year due to people’s homes and made some of them and daughter was with him. tation samples from four properties to test for premature death. It also took away from time their animals sick. Hanson says he smelled something sweet herbicides, said Mitchell. The investigation at work. Oregon Department of Agriculture pesti- and tangy, and started having an asthma should be done in two months. The plan says the county is a physically cide program manager Dale Mitchell says attack.

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