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FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022
Brookings, Oregon
State to relax COVID requirements at schools By DAVID RUPKALVIS The Pilot
Beginning Saturday, March 12, students in Oregon will no longer be required to wear masks or quarantine if they come in contact with someone with COVID-19. The Oregon Department of Education announced updates to its Ready Schools Safe Learners Resiliency Framework on Wednesday, timing its changes with moves the state announced earlier in the week. The biggest element is the ODE will no longer require students or staff to wear face masks, instead shifting the responsibility to local school boards.
"This change follows the CDC's COVID-19 community levels recommendations," said Colt Gill, the director of the ODE, "and the decision by the governors of Oregon, California and Washington to shift mask mandates to the local level beginning March 12." Gill said the change symbolizes a move to a "new stage of the pandemic" where protective measures are the responsibility of local officials and parents. "These guidelines will continue to support schools in reaching our goal of providing in person education to students all day, every day," Gill said. "It includes specific supports for students,
staff and families that may be at more risk for COVID-19 than others in the school population." In addition to eliminating the mask mandate, the ODE is removing a requirement that those who come in contact with someone who tests positive isolate for five days. In addition, universal contact tracing in schools will no longer take place as the state puts in contact tracing effort on pause. "The rationale on this is two-fold," Gill said. "First, the decision to pause contract tracing and quarantine acknowledges that these practices now, unlike earlier in the pandemic, have very limited impact on
transmission of COVID-19 in our communities. COVID-19 has evolved to become one of the most transmissible viruses known, and by the time exposure is identified and contract tracing is performed, transmission has often already occurred. "Second, following the Omicron surge here in Oregon, and for the first time during the COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon, we have very high levels of vaccine and infection induced immunity. The duration of this immunity is not quite known, but it is believed to provide protection from infection for at least 90 days." Gill said instead of contact tracing, More COVID Page A10
Kalloch brings grassroots campaign to the coast By DAVID RUPKALVIS The Pilot
Andrew Kalloch has never run for political office, but he is confident he can pull an upset in the Democratic primary for the District 4 congressional seat. Kalloch brought his long-shot campaign to Coos and Curry counties recently, continuing his campaign style of meeting voters face to face in every city in District 4. Kalloch is one of six Democrats who have filed to fill the seat being vacated when Congressman Peter DeFazio retires at the end of the year. “I’m running for Congress because I think it’s the best way to help my community right now,” Kalloch said. “I’m America first and I think we need more independent-minded people in Congress. I’m also running because I’m a new generation of political leader, a millennial.” Kalloch said he a proud Democrat, calling himself a progres-
Gold Beach native participates in Ice Exercise 2022 in the Arctic Ocean
sive. He said his parents were public school teachers, and he has always believed in service. “I think it’s a once-in-a generation election for this part of the state,” Kalloch said. “For decades, we’ve had Peter, and when I meet people, they say, ‘Of, you’re running for Peter’s seat.’” DeFazio has endorsed current Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle in the Democrat primary, but Kalloch said he will fight to reach voters one by one heading into the May primary. “I think leaders need to show up in every community,” Kalloch said. “They need to listen to people on all sides. I’m certainly a humble guy. I don’t think I know everything.” Kalloch also said he believes it’s a perfect time for a newcomer to move forward. He said there is an anti-incumbency move nationwide that will benefit first timers like himself. “I think people are frustrated and want government to More Kalloch, Page A11
By Megan Brown Navy Office of Community Outreach
Contributed photos
Andrew Kalloch visits with former Secretary of State Bill Bradbury while visiting Bandon during his tour across Coos County.
Oregon facing drought challenges
This illustration shows the low water reservoirs in Oregon. The continuing drought means less water for spring and summer recreation and irrigation and extreme, fast moving wildland fires. JEREMY C. RUARK Using a series of charts, the experts Country Media illustrated the increasing drought conditions through May that include below normal Pacific Northwest climatologists, forest reservoirs and streamflows. fire officials and experts from the NationOf most concerns to the experts are areas al Oceanic Atmospheric Administration on the east side of the Oregon and Washing(NOAA) are sounding the alarm about the ton Cascades. Pacific Northwest drought conditions. Snowpack, reservoirs and stream flows are “We are going into tough times in Oregon for the summer,” Oregon State Climatologist well below normal along Oregon’s east side and in southern Idaho, according to the exLarry O’Neil said during a media briefing perts. Karin Bumbaco, assistant Washington Thursday afternoon, March 3. state climatologist said in her state, the According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, as snowpack was well above normal for the of Feb. 22, 74% of the Pacific Northwest is year in January, but that level has dropped to in drought, with 19% in extreme or excep89% of normal as of March 3. tional drought, despite a promising wet and Drought Monitor Outlook snowy start to the winter season.
Experts outline concerns
Courtesy
Most of the region experienced an extremely disappointing January-February precipitation period with promising early-season snowpack “flatlining” during the two-month period. Significantly below-average snowpack (less than 70% of average) was common across the Sierra Nevada and the northern Great Basin, extending into parts of southern and eastern Oregon. Even with the atmospheric river conditions that brought in significant rain to Oregon this past week, it has not been enough to ease the increasing drought, the experts said. Substantial multi-year precipitation deficits are likely to continue for the interior Pacific Northwest, but there is no indication
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More Drought, Page A12
MILLINGTON, Tenn. - A Gold Beach native is serving with Commander, Submarine Squadron 11 supporting Ice Exercise (ICEX) 2022 in the Arctic Ocean. ICEX 2022 is a three-week exercise designed to research, test and evaluate operational capabilities in the Arctic region. Lt. Will Price joined the Navy to give back. "I joined before medical school to serve my community and country as a way to pay back this country for all the benefits I have received as a young man," said Price. "I have been given a lot of support from my community and this country during my education and the best way to pay it forward was to join the military." Price, a 2006 Gold Beach High School graduate and a 2017 Oregon Health and Science University graduate, has taken the skills learned from education and those learned in the military to become the sailor they are today. "Growing up in Gold Beach I learned to be self-motivated in my education and at work," said Price. "As a rural small town we don't have all the resources you would see in a large city. You learn to do more, more athletics, more extracurricular, more work. In Gold Beach, everyone is the subject matter expert in something for the community." Price serves as an undersea medical officer. "I get a diversity of opportunities as an undersea medical officer," said Price. "I get to take care of service members medical needs, treat divers with hyperbaric medicine during decompression sickness, plan submarine rescue operations and do diving operations myself as a Navy diver." According to Navy officials, U.S. Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel are participating in the exercise alongside personnel from the Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Canadian Navy and the United Kingdom Royal Navy. During the exercise, personnel will conduct research and operations in the Arctic Region. A temporary ice camp named Ice Camp Queenfish is being established which consists of shelters, a command center, and infrastructure to safely house and support more than 60 personnel at any one time. “The Arctic region can be unforgiving and challenging like no other place on Earth,” said More Navy Sailor, Page A12
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