Continue to use local restaurants and local businesses at the same pace that you have before the COVID-19 emergency in order to keep our local businesses financially healthy.
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RAYMOND, WA 98577 PERMIT NO. 36
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Vol. 42, Issue 13
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March 25, 2020
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President Trump approves Hospital CEO/Administrator Major Disaster Declaration Kempton discusses COVID-19 in our area his wife, Chelsea, have three more readily tested? some results still pending. for Washington Kempton: Potentially but children. The Herald thanks Herald: Has Pacific
FEMA announced that federal emergency aid has been made available for the state of Washington to supplement the state, tribes and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic beginning on January 20, 2020, and continuing. The President's action makes federal funding available for Crisis Counseling for affected individuals in all areas of the state of Washington. Federal funding is also available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures (Category B), including direct federal assistance under Public Assistance, for all areas impacted by COVID-19 in the state of Washington. The federal cost share is 75 percent. Michael F. O’Hare has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. O’Hare said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further assessments.
Many local restaurants offering take-out and delivery
By GEORGE KUNKE Many local restaurants in Raymond and South Bend are struggling to survive, but thanks to a supportive community that is accustomed to pitching in and helping out, many are still afloat. Big Nick's Pizza & Pasta in Raymond offers a carry-out and delivery service. Owner Nick Delin also owns the Raymond Liquidation store in downtown Raymond. "Right now I'm working to keep the stock up as much as we can," Delin said Sunday. "We're trying to stock the essentials and keep stocked up for everybody and we're trying to get a variety of stuff." Delin said that his restaurant is down "30 to 40 percent" in revenue since last Monday when carry-out only was ordered by the governor. He has "300 to 400" trays of take and bake pizzas ready and that pizza is also available at the store. A full menu is available at the restaurant. Food stamp payment can be used at the store The restaurant is open Sunday thru Thursday from 11-8 and 11-9 Friday and Saturday with order cutoffs one-hour before closing. "Keep safe and healthy; we're all in this together," Delin added. Slater's Diner Slater's Diner in Raymond is still offering a full menu with its take-out service. Patrons can pick up their food inside or have it brought to them outside. "The community has been good to us," Manager Colby Moreno told the Herald Sunday. "We really appreciate the business. Things have been so far, so good. We have been making our quota and have not laid anybody off. Wednesday was amazing and the last four days have been really good, but today has been slower." Slater's has been running specials and is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11-7, and Friday and Saturday from 11-8. Slater's is closed Tuesdays. The phone number is 360-942-5109. Pitchwood Alehouse Pitchwood Inn & Alehouse in Raymond has takeout service available and at press time was working on See restaurants Page A4
Matthew Kempton
By GEORGE KUNKE, geoakunke@gmail.com The Herald reached out to Willapa Harbor Hospital Chief Executive Officer/Administrator Matthew Kempton, MHA, about the Coronavirus Pandemic that is surrounding the world. As of Friday, 24 of 39 Washington counties had reported cases of the virus; however, Pacific County was not one of them. Kempton has a master’s degree in health administration from Texas A&M University and a bachelor’s of science from Brigham Young University. Kempton, and
Mr. Kempton who took time from his 24/7 schedule to answer questions for our readers posed by the Herald Friday evening. "As you can imagine, we are working around the clock to continually prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic," Kempton said. "I can assure you that we are prepared and we have many plans and contingency plans in place ready to be enacted as the pandemic evolves." Herald: How many COVID-19 tests are available in north Pacific County, and how many in the entire county? Kempton: This number changes daily in a positive direction. Herald: What is the criteria to get tested? Kempton: An order from a physician. Herald: Can you drive out of the county to get
not all of the counties have the same supply of testing kits. Suppliers are allocating sampling kits in volume amounts. Herald: How many people have been tested for COVID-19 in north Pacific County? Kempton: This changes daily, we would need to have you check with the Pacific County Public Health Department. As a healthcare provider, we cannot release this information. However, the county has more latitude to share this type of information. Herald: Is the county on hold with sending the tests out to get the results because it does not have viral media kits? Kempton: We do currently have sampling kits and we have sent specimens out for testing. We have received some negative results with
County sent patients to other counties to be tested? Kempton: We cannot comment on behalf of Pacific County as a whole. We do not have this information. Herald: Since anyone potentially is carrying COVID-19 and doesn't feel the symptoms, should everyone be wearing a mask in public? Kempton: No, the CDC recommends that healthcare workers and only those showing signs of COVID-19 wear a mask. However this is up to each individual’s discretion. Herald: Is it a fact that you can carry the virus and show no symptoms? Kempton: Yes, although how contagious a person becomes increases as symptoms manifest. Please refer to the CDC for more specific answers to this question. See kempton Page A3
Around the Willapa
Panic Buying and Senior Shopping Hours: Conversations with Pioneer Grocery’s Rick Manlow and Mike Johnson, and Thriftway’s Melanie Bowling By Rebecca Chaffee Since the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak, we’ve all seen pictures of long lines at grocery stores and carts overloaded with toilet paper. Is your store experiencing “panic” buying? What items have been selling out? Rick responded emphatically that “yes” Pioneer Grocery is definitely experiencing panic buying. People are buying large quantities of toilet paper, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizers,
disinfection wipes and other paper products. Staple food items such as rice, beans, potatoes and canned goods have been hard to keep in stock. Bakeries aren’t able to keep up with the demand for bread. Milk and eggs are also selling out. The store has not been able to keep up with the overall demand. People are worried about school and business closures and possible quarantines and are responding by stocking up on supplies. Melanie confirmed that Thriftway is also facing
CARD OF THANKS
In all the craziness that’s been going on the last few months, someone taking the time to be generous and reminding us that we’re all in this together and have to look out for one another, is without a doubt a special kind of person: Thank you Trish Bisbee, for taking the time to collect orders for breakfasts from Sheila’s Cafe, and treating your fellow businesses. It was very much appreciated. Maynard of Maynard’s Towing
panic buying. Concerns about the COVID-19 outbreak seem to have spiked when the school closures were announced. For several days shopping reached extreme levels. Since last Friday the frenzy has started to taper off. She reported that in addition to toilet paper - wipes, paper towels, over the counter medicines like cough syrup, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizers, canned goods, frozen foods, dried beans, ramen are in high demand and short supply. Milk and other dairy products are also in short supply. There are signs posted throughout the store limiting high demand products to two items per customer. “Many of our shelves are bare.” However, Melanie commented Thriftway has a new egg supplier and they have not run short of eggs! Are you experiencing supply chain problems? Mike emphasized that Pioneer Grocery’s “whole supply chain has been shocked.”
Many of their usual products are unavailable or in short supply. Stocks of toilet paper have been totally depleted; there is none to be had. The good news is that their supplier just called to inform them that the shortages are short term. They expect to deliver normal quantities this week and begin to catch up on the shorted products within about two weeks. Thriftway is experiencing similar supply shortages. Melanie gave an example of a recent order she had placed for 2,000 items including canned goods, ramen and soups; they received a shipment of only 400 items. In another order of 500 frozen food items, only 114 were delivered. Thriftway’s suppliers are also indicating that they expect normal quantities of standard products to be available within several weeks. Fresh produce has not been significantly impacted. Melanie guesses that this may be partially
See buying Page A2
Raymond, South Bend, Valley moving ahead with education Raymond staying in front of South Bend move ahead with educating, feeding students education, school food, building By GEORGE KUNKE Raymond Superintendent Dr. Steve Holland told the Herald Friday that his teachers are working incredibly hard to see that students continue their education progress during the COVID-19 crisis. "The teachers I’ve seen and talked to are working incredibly hard to make this time meaningful," Holland added. "YouTube lessons, reading to kids, assigned essays, etcetera are all part of the mix. "We have a lot of teachers still teaching and a lot of students still studying via everything from paper packets to the Internet," Holland said. The current online and take-home packets learning program is not mandatory for students, though administrators probably want it to be. "I haven’t got data yet on how many are participating," Holland said. I know Mrs. (JoDean) Jordan reported 91 percent of her freshmen were participating yesterday, but I don’t have overall numbers yet. For those not online, we probably won’t ever have solid numbers. See raymond Page A2
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By GEORGE KUNKE SOUTH BEND – South Bend Superintendent Dr. Jon Tienhaara discussed with the Herald the current education program, the school breakfast/lunch program, and the construction of the elementary school. “The academic program we are providing during the closure continues to evolve,” Tienhaara said. “We started last week with providing educational resources to all grades K-12 and down into the preschool. As the grades get older, teachers are doing more online and in many cases continuing some leveled instruction, particularly for seniors, who are still working toward meeting graduation requirements. Just as important as a continued academic program, however, is continuing a personal connection to our students. Our teachers are making regular contact with their students and counselors are also sharing regular video segments with students. I am sure as this closure continues, we will see teachers continuing to develop their various methods of instruction and providing assistance and resources to families and students.
Valley going forward with teaching students, delivering food
By GEORGE KUNKE Willapa Valley Superintendent Nancy Morris updated the Herald Friday afternoon about how students are continuing to be educated and discussed the workings of the breakfast/lunch delivery program. “At Willapa Valley, our elementary school teachers are providing packets of work to students,” Morris said. “Teachers will drive the school routes on Thursdays to deliver packets and pick up packets from each student’s home (preschool thru 5th grade). “At the middle-high school, teachers are using a variety of ways to support student learning, from paper packets to online instruction with Khan Academy; to online connection through Google Classroom, or Zoom meetings,” Morris informed. “Some teachers are posting videos to YouTube, and others are calling students and parents on the phone to check-in. “The challenging part of this school closure is that not all families have reliable internet access, so a variety of ways to connect with students and parents is best. Teachers also have student resources posted
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