Immunization rates among children appear to be dropping during the COVID-19 pandemic. This leaves children and communities at risk to other diseases.
Providers in Washington's Childhood Vaccine Program reported they administered 30 percent fewer vaccines to 0-18 year olds in March of this year compared with the same month in previous years. In April, preliminarily we are seeing a 42 percent decrease, but that number may change as April data continues to be reported.
Meat and egg prices at the grocery store make shoppers do a double take because they can't believe the increase in prices. Food prices have been on the rise since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and they have reached a 50 year high.
As of April, inflation is only at 0.3%, but prices of food are wrecking household budgets. The low inflation rate is due to the 20.6% drop in gas prices as well as the decrease in prices for clothes, airline fares, lodging away from home prices, and vehicle sales.
Through Sunday, according to the Washington Dept. of Health, another 145 coronavirus cases were confirmed in the state, bringing the total to 18,433, including 1,001 deaths.
Friday, Inslee did a turnaround and said that now restaurants will not be required to get customers' contact information as initially ordered. Last Monday (May 11), Gov. Jay Inslee outlined metrics that counties must reach before they are allowed to enter Phase 2 of his Safe Start plan. Counties with less than 75,000 residents and have not had a new coronavirus case over a three-week period can apply for a variance to enter Phase 2 before other parts of the state. If approved, the counties may enter Phase 2 immediately. It allows restaurants to resume operations at limited capacity. Inslee's office said that instead, businesses are asked to keep a list of those who voluntarily provide contact information.
"We are asking visitors to voluntarily provide contact information in case of COVID-19 exposure. We only need information for one person per household. If we learn you may have been exposed to COVID-19 during your visit, the information will only be shared with public health officials. They will contact you to explain the risk, answer questions and provide resources. This information will not be used for any other purpose, including sales or marketing. If this list is not used within 30 days, it will be destroyed," Inslee said. "This will not be required of anyone."
Within the past two months, a small piece of Vader history has gone missing. The missing piece is a small memorial stone taken from the Little Falls Cemetery in Vader. The stone was located and last seen next to the sitting bench in the back part of the old section.
The stone is inscribed with the dates January 2, 1923 - January 6, 1923 and the baby's name Nigel James Bowen Son of Ralph & Virgil "Virgie" M. Bowen. The cemetery cannot find the family or relatives of this baby boy and he seems to have been buried at this cemetery alone. There were several Bowen families living in the Vader/Ryderwood area in the 1920s according to records. It is not known where the families went after the baby's death.
The Winlock Dance Center recently gave a basket to a student who wrote an essay for Mothers Day. Mrs. Collins and Miss Iverson worked in coordination with Robin Brumley at the dance center. Emly Austin won the essay contest and the basket worth $100.
This is the 40th Anniversary of Mt. St. Helens' eruption, a time that many of us locals remember all too well.
It was early in the morning on a Sunday, many of us were going about our usual days. Getting ready for church, just doing what we did as a family 40 years ago. For myself, I was a young high school age student living in Winlock.
We went to church that morning like we always did on Sunday. The Lutheran Church in Winlock has a beautiful view of Mt. St. Helens. After church when we all walked out, there was a huge plume of ash coming out of the top of the mountain. At that point, I remember asking, "what happened?" and someone older said "It looks like she finally blew her top." I didn't understand what exactly that meant at the time.
Last week, Governor Jay Inslee announced a statewide plan for contact tracing.
SOUTH BEND - As if coronavirus isn't bad enough, now Washington residents in Blaine have to be wary of Asian giant hornets, which were spotted there in December, for the first time in the USA, and again earlier this month, according to scientists, who aren't sure how they arrived in The Evergreen State.
SOUTH BEND - Pacific County Commissioner Lisa Olsen and Kittitas County Commissioner Laura Osiadacz drafted a detailed letter to Governor Jay Inslee that was sent last Tuesday (May 12) and signed onto by 19 counties, including Pacific County.
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