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The Pacific County Emergency Operations Center is increasing drive through testing days in South Bend and Long Beach. Appointments can be made by calling the EOC at 360-875-9407 or 360-642-9407.
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Vol. 42, Issue 20
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May 13, 2020
Additional COVID-19 cases connected to seafood processing plant
By Karen S. Carter Five new COVID-19 confirmed positive cases were announced late Monday, May 4, 2020. This brings the total of cases for Pacific County up to nine. The ill individuals are self-isolating at home. Close contacts are being informed by public health nurses of the exposure and instructions to self-quarantine. These new cases in Pacific County are part of the cases reported positive from Bornstein Seafood Company in Astoria, Oregon. Health officials say 13 employees tested positive and the processing facility is closed until further notice. Clatsop County Department of Public Health indicated that 35 employees were tested. “This pretty clearly illustrates that the virus, if it is going to affect us [Pa-
cific County], is going to come to us from out of the area,” said Pacific County Emergency Management Agency Director Scott McDougall. “Here we have an example of it coming across the bridge from Astoria.” Can I get sick from eating meat produced in a processing plant where workers have COVID-19? There is no evidence that the coronavirus can be spread through ingestion of meat from processing plants where workers have COVID-19, according to the FDA and the CDC. COVID-19 is spread person-to-person through respiratory droplets from ill individuals. The virus is coughed or sneezed out and then transferred to the exposed person through the mouth, eyes, or nose. Research has determined that the virus can live on plastic
for a couple of days, so by the time the meat package makes it into the grocery store the virus is dead. It is best to handle meat normally, which means following the safety rules. Wash and disinfect all surfaces the raw meat touches. Wash your hands after handling raw meat. Why are workers in meat packaging plants getting sick? Many factors are at work in meat packaging plants during the COVID-19 crisis. The meat processing facilities are keeping up the regular practices, which keeps foodborne pathogens out of the meat, but with the close contact between workers it is hard to maintain social distancing in the plants. These workers have also been declared essential since they are an integral part of the food chain.
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Celebrating Mother’s Day through Social Distancing
Photo by Vivian Edersheim Les and Vivian Edersheim’s Lhasa Apso Suzie-Q helped thank caregivers at the Willapa Harbor Care Center on Mother’s Day when a caravan of approximately 50 or 60 cars passed through the driveway three times.
What are your mortgage options? Emergency funding available
By Lynnette Hoffman These past few months many American’s have lost their jobs due to Covid-19. As many struggle to make their mortgage payments, there are options that are available. The Care Act of 2020 was passed to offer borrowers relief in the time of crisis, but is this your best option? First, let’s explain a little about the mortgage business. Once your loan has been closed and you move in, many banks turn around and sell the loans. Who do they sell the loan to, chances are your loan was bought by one of the many Government Sponsored Entities (GSE’s) or federal agencies like Fannie Mae, VA or USDA. Once the loan is sold, another company called a “servicer” will service the loan. This is the company that makes sure the payments are made, taxes are paid and insurance is current. There are several involved in managing your mortgage once you have moved into your home. All of these companies will play a role if you fall on hard financial times.
In the Care Act of 2020, borrowers are given the option if they can not make their payments of asking for a forbearance. A forbearance is an agreement between the borrower and the lender that allows the borrower to delay foreclosure, the literal meaning of a forbearance is “holding back.’ I have always told borrowers, if there is any way you can make your mortgage, please do so. Any type of modification or alteration to your loan just means the bank is making more interest and you are paying down less principal. If you can not make your payment, there are more options available through the forbearance. During the forbearance, you have the option of pausing or reducing your payments. In the Care Act, lenders have the option to offer 6 months with an additional 6 months for a total of 12 months. I don’t recommend this length of forbearance if at all possible, try to do the minimum changes to your original loan. If you need a forbearance,
for Pacific County Residents
By Karen S. Carter The Department of Commerce has awarded Pacific County a Community Development Block Grant of $29,000 to assist Pacific County residents who need financial assistance. The focus of this money is to help households where employment has been negatively impacted by COVID-19 with layoffs or reduced hours. These funds are intended to go to household bills like rent, mortgage, or utility payments where the money can be sent directly to the biller. “Grays Harbor received that money on behalf of Grays Harbor and Pacific County,” said Pacific County Department of Health Director Katie Lindstrom. “They [Grays Harbor County] subcontracted with the Coastal Community Action Program to implement the funds in each county.” CCAP is not taking any of the grants money for administrative costs. “So all the funds will go directly to residents in Pacific County that need help.” “Our plan with that funding is to target people who have lost their employment, lost their job totally or their weekly or monthly income has been impacted because of Covid related shut downs and they aren’t receiving their unemployment yet,” said Emergency Operations Center Kathy Spoor. “It will be up to a maximum of $750 dollars to assist with mortgage or rent or utility payments. Coastal Community Action Program did get some extra money to help out with electrical bills. That is a different pot of money that they may be able to assist folks.” To apply for funds to help your household go to http:// coastalcap.org and look for the button with the link: CLICK HERE FOR COVID 19 ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. This will take you to the application where they can screen you for the money. If you have questions, please email Julia Osborne at juliao@coastalcap.org. Please keep in mind that these funds are limited and filling See Mortgage Page A4 out the application does not guarantee assistance.
Pre-disaster Mitigation Grant awarded to Pacific County
By Karen S. Carter The National Hazard Mitigation Grant Program has awarded Pacific County a Pre-disaster Mitigation Grant to pay for the development of a disaster mitigation plan. Pacific County is obligated by the federal government to develop this plan every 5 years. The current plan in place was approved in May 2016 and is set to expire in May
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2021. Pacific County Emergency Management Agency Director Scott McDougall applied for this grant in December 2018. “It is a very labor intensive process to write one of these plans,” said McDougall. “The process has been delayed and we are just now getting the award for this grant.” “It is going to make our timeframe tight,” he continued. “However, since we
By GEORGE KUNKE, geoakunke@gmail.com SOUTH BEND – The City of South Bend has been forced to cancel the Come and Play on Labor Day Festival because of COVID19. There would have been many added expenses because of the crisis. "The Come and Play on Labor Day Festival was cancelled for a couple of reasons, South Bend Mayor Julie Struck told the Herald Sunday afternoon. "First, we are unable to hold our normal fundraisers; the average cost is $17,000 per year; and second, the cleaning requirements to keep people safe were going to be extremely laborious. We would have needed several hand-washing stations set up for the crowd and a crew assigned to clean sanicans, restrooms and disinfect
tables and chairs continuously. Our committee members would not have had time to do the cleaning and we don't have the funds to hire a crew to do it either. It made more sense to cancel for this year and look forward to next year. "The Labor Day Committee has appreciated the community support each year," Struck continued. "It was a difficult decision to cancel and we know that citizens are disappointed. We are looking forward to a great celebration next year and hope everyone will join us in 2021. "All funds received for the 2020 Labor Day Festival will be used for the 2021 festival," Struck added. If you would prefer a refund, please contact Struck at julie.struck@southbendwa.gov.
Wolfe: People are still not taking this situation as seriously as it needs to be taken
regular basis.” But McDougall pointed out that in the last 5 years the summers have been drier than in the past and wildfire is now a rise that the plan needs to consider. “FEMA will pay for 75% of the planning process and Pacific County Commissioner Frank Wolfe we [Pacific County] are responsible for 25% of the By GEORGE KUNKE cost,” McDougall said. SOUTH BEND – A “However, we can cover lot of citizens in north PaSee GRANT Page A4 cific County may have been disappointed that last Friday Governor Jay Inslee allowed only five counties to enter Phase II of his what phase of recovery the state will be in at that time, Safe Start recovery plan whether we will be able to use school district facilities, to combat the coronavirus and what the WIAA decides to do with summer activities. pandemic. Pacific County There is a lot that can happen in the next seven weeks. We Commissioner Frank Wolfe are planning for the best case scenario, but we are also spoke candidly about Intrying to come up with some alternative plans if we are in slee's decision and many other factors involved with a position where we can't meet as a team in person." Tully also confirmed that a Ravens shirt and cap sale opening businesses in the will take place in the near future. "We will be doing an county. On the topic of Inslee's online fan gear sale soon," he said. decision to not allow the The summer practice schedule includes, June 29, 3 pm; county to reopen, Wolfe June 30, 3 pm; July 1, 3 pm; July 2, 3 pm; July 3, 9 am; said, "Of course the GovJuly 6, 3 pm; July 7, 3 pm; July 8, 3 pm; July 9, 3 pm; ernor has a very large and July 10 9 am; July 11, (scrimmage, vs Ilwaco at SBHS, complicated job in front of TBA); July 13, 3 pm; July 14, 3 pm; July 15, 9 am; and him to re-open the state. He July 16-19 (camp at Tenino). The Ravens, a Class 2B team, will compete in the East- has laid out a set of rules by West Division in the Pacific League along with Morton which to accomplish this. White-Pass, Ilwaco, Ocosta, North Beach, Toutle Lake, While he is being pressured from all directions to open and Chief Leschi. See football Page B2 nearly everything, that is,
are going to be in the planning process, FEMA is very good at granting extensions for our previous plans.” McDougall mentioned that Pacific County needs to stay current and up-to-date. “Our hazards change in the county,” he said. “We’ve never included wildfire as an identified hazard in the plan because it isn’t a really big hazard that we face at the beach on a
Ravens hoping to practice this summer
By GEORGE KUNKE The Raymond-South Bend football team is thinking positive about having a season this year. The Ravens have scheduled their summer practice sessions, and the final open spot for the regular season has been filled. Raymond HS Athletic Director Mike Tully confirmed the official schedule for the Ravens to the Herald. The open game is being filled by Chimacum, which will open the season. A scrimmage is scheduled against Ilwaco on July 11 at Millam Field, and a three-day mini-camp is also set at Tenino. Of course, everything depends on coronavirus and what Governor Jay Inslee intends to do with it as far as social distancing goes. "Those are the days we have planned as of now," Tully told the Herald Sunday afternoon in regard to the summer football practices. "I don't believe we have decided where they will take place." Asked if he was confident practices will take place, Tully said, "As far as whether we will be able to practice or not, I really have no idea. That depends on several factors that are out of our control. Right now, we don't know
Come and Play festival cancelled
to change the rules, he is being careful to look at each request. This is not an easy process. There are some businesses that it is fairly easy to argue can be safely opened. There are others which have definite risks attached. Pacific County was taken off the list because of cases showing up here. That was in the original plan. I'd rather he followed the plan than try to make a special case out of every county." Through his plan, Gov. Inslee also opened 10 new things throughout the state. Should he have opened up more? "Again, I'd prefer the steady, thoughtful path to the one of trying to rush through and just say 'yes' to every request," Wolfe offered. Wolfe does not believe Inslee's plan makes it too difficult for counties to re-open. "There is a path to reopening. At this point in time, if all the restrictions were removed and the state just went back to the way things were last year at this time, the virus would have a field day. People are still not taking this situation as seriously as it needs to be taken. The point of having a phase reopening is to reduce the spread, and we are beginning to do that statewide." As far as just trying to See WOLFE Page A3