Friday, March 02, 2012

Clatsop County Women, Infants & Children Program Honored For Its Work In Promoting Breastfeeding


PHOTO: Clatsop County
Public Health Department staff (l. to r.) administrative assistant Sarah Kuhl,
public health nurse Patsy Lee Horecny, WIC nutrition aides Yami Garcia and Tory
Sutherland, and Oregon WIC breastfeeding coordinator Kelly
Sibley.
Thursday, March 1, 2012

Clatsop County’s Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program was honored Tuesday by the State of Oregon for its successful efforts promoting breastfeeding among local mothers.

Kelly Sibley, state nutritionist and breastfeeding coordinator for Oregon WIC, presented the certificate of recognition at the county Public Health Department.

“Clatsop County WIC is where women go to get the encouragement, help and support to breastfeed,” Sibley said. “Every day, your consistent support helps moms know that they can breastfeed, that breastfeeding is the routing way, the normal way to feed and nurture infants.”

Along with the award comes a $50,000 grant that the county will use to build a local coalition, involving local hospitals and other partners, to further promote breastfeeding. The local award and funding is part of the Breastfeeding Performance Bonus awarded to the Oregon Nutrition and Screening Program for WIC.

Oregon is one of just six states recognized with the award by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for its efforts to promote breastfeeding. The state ranks first in the United States with 93 percent of new mothers initiating breastfeeding, versus 75 percent nationwide. In Clatsop County, the rate is 96 percent.

According to U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin, breastfeeding is one of the most highly effective measures a mother can take to protect the health of the infant and herself. Breastfeeding, which has been a primary focus of WIC for more than 15 years, is known to reduce the incidence of infections, asthma and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and is also associated with lower rates of childhood obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancers later in life.

Clatsop County Public Health provides WIC services through two WIC certifiers, a public health nurse and a contracted nutritionist who works with high-risk clients. In 2010 the program served 1,508 infants and children under 5 and 578 pregnant and postpartum women.

“Our program does a lot,” said Public Health Director Margo Lalich. “We have a highly trained staff with a lot of knowledge.”

Released by: Tom Bennett
Community Relations Coordinator
(503) 338-3622

Clatsop County Board Of Commissioners Strategic Plan Draft Review...Sees P.U.D. Talks Stricken For Possible Later Discussion


Thursday, March 1, 2012

COMMISSIONERS REVIEW DRAFT STRATEGIC PLAN

The Clatsop County Board of Commissioners signed off on a list ranking the projects in the county’s draft Strategic Plan.

At a retreat Wednesday, Feb. 29, the board made few changes to the rankings first proposed last month by the county Planning Commission, which reviewed the plan and weighed each project under a variety of criteria. The board has scheduled a public hearing and final adoption of the document for March 28.

Development of the plan, a key goal of the board, is intended to provide a framework for planning and pursuing the various major projects proposed by the county. The document lists projects already underway, including the Ensign Lane extension at the North Coast Business Park, Highway 101 flooding solution and Emergency Operations Center addition, as well as future initiatives such as the county comprehensive plan update and Clatsop Plains wastewater solution. The plan also includes the projects’ cost, potential funding sources and estimated time for completion.

The strategic plan contains 42 total projects – the planning commission was asked to prioritize 23 items yet to be launched or scheduled. Each panel member scored the 11 planning projects, eight infrastructure projects and four facilities projects based on several criteria, including public need, revenue availability, cost/benefit analysis and support from other agencies.

On Wednesday the board of commissioners changed the rankings of a handful of projects but largely left the planning commission lists intact. Topping the planning project list is a proposed county technology plan update, followed in order of ranking by a historic preservation program, the comprehensive land-use plan update, transmission line standards, re-establishment of citizen advisory committees, renewable energy plan, estuary planning, sustainability plan, housing quality plan and criminal management evaluation.

The infrastructure projects were ranked, in order: Westport Slough dredging, fire station access development, Westport pedestrian improvements, county-wide bypass/evacuation route, Department of State Lands permitting by the county, Clatsop Plains wastewater improvements, Columbia River sediment clean-up and East County dock expansion.

Facilities plans ranking are: Incubator light industrial building at North Coast Business park, household hazardous waste recycling center, and joint public works location.

Consideration of a people’s utility district for Clatsop County, which was ranked last by the planning commission, was eliminated from the strategic plan by the board. The commissioners left open the option of addressing the idea separately sometime in the future.

The complete draft strategic plan can be viewed on the “Land Use Planning” page on the Clatsop County website, www.co.clatsop.or.us.

Released by:Tom Bennett
Community Relations Coordinator
(503) 338-3622

Thursday, March 01, 2012

Clatsop County Sheriff Department Hosts: RURAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DISTRICT MEETING SET FOR MARCH 8

Thursday, March 1, 2012

The Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office will host a meeting of the Rural Law Enforcement District
Advisory Committee on Thursday, March 8 at 6 p.m. at the Sheriff’s Office
Conference Room, 355 7th St, Astoria.

The advisory committee meetings serve as an opportunity for the Sheriff’s Office to brief the
panel and residents on the activities and programs the Sheriff’s Office is
conducting. The primary purpose of this meeting is to discuss the requested
2012-13 Fiscal Year Rural Law Enforcement District budget.

The meetings provide a forum where the public can freely address their issues, concerns and
suggestions to the Sheriff’s Office and the advisory committee. At the
conclusion of the meeting the Sheriff will be available to talk with anyone on
any issue of interest.

Released by: Tom Bennett
Community Relations Coordinator
(503) 338-3622

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Gun Bills Make Their Way Back To Oregon Legislature Before Final Hours Of Session

February 29, 2012

By ANTHONY MACUK - Oregon Capital News

SALEM, Ore. – Two bills affecting handgun owners in Oregon are poised to be debated on the Senate floor before the end of the current legislative session.

In a meeting held late Tuesday afternoon, the Senate Rules Committee evaluated new amendments to House Bill 4045 and Senate Bill 1594, both of which relate to handgun ownership..............Read Full OCN Article

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Portland Housing Bureau Has Loaned-Out $350 Million In Low-Or-No Interest Loans

February 27, 2012
BY JACOB SZETO - Oregon Capital News

PORTLAND, Ore. – Developers have received almost $350 million in assistance over the years in the form of low-interest or free loans from the Portland Housing Bureau for affordable housing units.

Read Full OCN Article