REPORTER CENTRAL KITSAP
INSIDE: Home & Garden section
FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 | Vol. 30, No. 23 | WWW.CENTRALKITSAPREPORTER.COM | 50¢
IN THIS EDITION
Four hurt in rollover SR3 crash
FIREFIGHTERS CLIMB TALL TOWER TO FUND CANCER RESEARCH
BY CHRIS TUCKER CTUCKER@CENTRALKITSAPREPORTER.COM
NEWS USS Grayback model at Navy museum
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County jail donates hundreds of diapers
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OPINION It’s your chance to run for school board
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Photo by Ryan Orseth / CKFR
Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue firefighter Brian Fuchs stands in his turnout gear in front of the Columbia Center skyscraper in downtown Seattle during the 24th annual Scott Firefighter Stairclimb on March 8.
CKFR raises $18,869 to fight cancer
‘Team Central Kitsap’ raises the most of any department in county BY CHRIS TUCKER CTUCKER@CENTRALKITSAPREPORTER.COM
SILVERDALE –Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue firefighters have raised $18,869 to help fund the fight against leukemia and lymphoma during the 2015 Scott Firefighter Stairclimb in Seattle. The 11 members of Team Central Kitsap were among the nearly 2,000 firefighters who took part in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society fundraiser at Seattle’s Columbia Center March 8.
“It will affect somebody you love. And the faster we get a cure, the faster we don’t have to deal with this any more.” – Ryan Orseth, CKFR Wearing 50 pounds worth of “turnout gear,” firefighters walked up 1,311 steps to ascend 69 floors in the state’s tallest
skyscraper. The vertical height totaled 788 feet. Ryan Orseth was one of the Team CK members. “It’s an awesome feeling to be able to know that you did a huge thing … not just for Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue but for the families out there that really needed it,” Orseth said. “If you don’t think that leukemia or lymphoma affects you, I guarantee it SEE STAIRCLIMB, A9
SILVERDALE – Two people were injured in an early morning one-vehicle crash at the intersection of State Route 303 and State Route 3 in Silverdale on March 11. The driver, Justin C. Blanton, 35, of Silverdale, and a 12-year-old passenger were transported to Harrison Medical Center. Two other passengers, one five years old and another 11 years old, were also taken to the hospital as a precaution. According to the Washington State Patrol, Blanton was southbound on State Route 303 in a silver 2002 Pontiac Firebird and turning right onto the ramp of southbound State Route 3. Blanton attempted to pass another vehicle on the left side of the ramp but lost control on the wet roadway and struck a concrete Jersey barrier. The car traveled on the barrier for approximately 100 feet before it rolled onto its top. WSP’s report stated the cause the crash was speed too fast for conditions. Blanton was cited for negligent driving. The Firebird was totaled. All four people in the car were wearing seat belts and alcohol was not a factor.
Some Medicaid users get free access to telemedicine SPORTS Crosspoint places sixth in competition
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Molina Healthcare Medicaid users can access Virtual Urgent Care via telephone, internet BY CHRIS TUCKER CTUCKER@CENTRALKITSAPREPORTER.COM
SILVERDALE – Molina Healthcare Medicaid customers now have free “Virtual Urgent Care” access to primary care providers around the clock thanks to a new partnership between Molina, CHI Franciscan and Harrison Medical Center.
The goal is to make preventable care both more convenient and more affordable. CHI Franciscan estimated that more than 16,000 Molina Medicaid customers are eligible to make use of the service. Normally the online care costs $35 per visit, but Molina Medicaid customers will pay nothing to use the service. Patients using Virtual Urgent Care
have access to board-certified doctors and nurse practitioners any time day or night, who can offer diagnosis, prescriptions and set up in-person follow-up appointments. The online care isn’t meant to replace clinics or hospitals or necessary emergency room visits but it can deal with other issues such as allergies, bladder infections, bites and stings, coughs, cuts, burns, fever, flu symptoms, headaches, pink eye, rashes, sinus issues, sore throat and sprains. Virtual Urgent Care is also available
to those who are not Molina Medicaid customers, although the $35 fee would not be waived. The Seattle-based Carena telemedicine company provides the web portal and the whole virtual care system and uses Franciscan’s branding to provide the service. Since launching Virtual Urgent Care, CHI Franciscan estimates that the service has saved patients more than $600,000 compared to the cost of SEE FREE CARE, A9
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