Palouse Police Department Urgently Seeks Public's Help

Palouse Police Department              

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 Jerry P. Neumann      120 E Whitman St.   P.O.B. 248  ~ Palouse, WA 99161-0248

    Chief of Police                       (509)878-1611    FAX (509)878-1427     Police@Palouse.com

 October 27, 2011

Information about recent unsolved Indecent Exposure case. At this time we are asking for the publics help in locating or obtaining information.

On 10/22/11 (Saturday) at approximately 1045 hours, a white male exposed himself to two teenage girls in the Palouse High School parking lot.  The witnesses provided the following description:

White male, approx. 50 years old, 5-09 in height, wearing a bright hunter orange ball cap pulled down low, light colored t-shirt, and camo-pants.

Suspect quickly left the scene in a small, white 90’s pickup with black rims, possibly a Chevy S-10, bearing WA plates.

If you see the above described Suspect call Palouse Police Dispatch at 509-332-2521

Regards,

Jerry Neumann

Chief of Police

Fairfield Care Open House October 30, 2011, Fairfield, Wash.

Fairfield Care , will hold an open house, Sunday, October 30, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., 305 Hilltop Lane, Fairfield, Wash.

We will have raffle items, entertainment and hors d’oeuvres. The legislators from the 9th District will be invited. Representative Fagan has been a great help in moving our paperwork through the proper channels and speeding things up, so we do owe her a debt of gratitude. Plan to join us!

Fairfield Care, operated by the locally owned third generation facility of SHFI (Sunshine Health Facilities), Spokane Valley, Wash., is now licensed to offer Assisted Living and Independent Living Apartments at Fairfield Care. Dr. Nathan Dikes, CEO. May 7, 2011, Fairfield Care re-opened the Good Samaritan Nursing Home, that had closed in 2010.

Rockford Historical Society Receives Exceptional Vintage Collection

At their annual election, October 14, 2011, the Rockford Historical Society retained the current slate of officers: President Betty Myer, Co-vice Vice Presidents Evelyn Fricke and Ardis Dashiell, Secretary Linda Jones, and Treasurer Donna Davey. Trustees are Linda Jones, Paul Gillespie and Esther Hemken.

The Historical Society building at 10 S. First Street needs a new roof. To deal with problems caused by a leak, a dehumidifier is operating, but it won't suffice during the winter months. Efforts to raise necessary funds for a new roof are underway, including a grant application for funds from Spokane Preservation Advocates, Heritage Fund. Additional funds will be necessary. Donations and fund-raisings will be greatly appreciated. Call (509) 291-3261.

Guest speaker, Karl Felgenhauer, told members that Fairfield Care, is now licensed to offer Assisted Living and Independent Living Apartments at Fairfield Care and is operated by the locally owned third generation facility of SHFI (Sunshine Health Facilities), Spokane Valley, Wash., Dr. Nathan Dikes, CEO.

In 2007, Fairfield Care opened the Good Samaritan Nursing Home at 305 Hilltop Lane, Fairfield, Wash., that had closed in 2010.

Evelyn Fricke reported on the many gifts given to the museum by long time area residents, Jennell and Louise Branson. The collection includes an unparallel authentic farm cook wagon that was used on the Palouse more than a century ago. The ravages of time, weather and neglect have taken a heavy toll on the majority of these retired workhorses, and although the museum has vintage pictures of local cook wagons, she doesn't know of another like this one in existence. This wagon has a sleeping area in the rear, she said. It will temporarily stored in one of the Fair buildings until other arrangements are made.

November 11, 2011, Tony Bamonte and Suzanne Schaeffer Bamonte will be guest speakers, and will present a program on recently published history books, including their Spokane, Our Early History - Under All The Land. The book was published recently for the Association of Spokane Realtors Centennial by Tornado Creek Publications, P.O. Box 8625, Spokane, WA. (509) 838-7114. Fax (509) 455-6798. 509-838-7114 ....fax 509-455-6798. mailto:tcpoffice@comcast.net..

The society meets 2nd Friday each month, 11:30 a.m. in the Harvest Moon Banquet Room.

Marine Moms-Bethesda Appreciate Support and Offer Newsletter

The Marine Moms-Bethesda actively support our combat wounded, injured and ill troops and their families. They also publish a newsletter, however currently it is not online, just through email. Currently the latest page is their September luncheon .

The group welcomes your participation and support. Visit Marine Moms-Bethesda to learn more, and if you would like to receive their newsletters directly in your inbox you may sign up for them using the form on the right side.

Candidate Forum at McIntosh Grange, Rockford, Wash., October 17, 2011

The McIntosh Grange, 319 S. First St. will host a public Candidate Forum the evening of October 17, 2011.

Other October 17, 2011 meetings include, 6:30 p.m. Rockford Community Center meeting, 229 1/2 First Street, and 7:00 p.m. Southeast Spokane County Community Fair meeting, Harvest Moon banquet room.

Arificial Pancreas Promoted by Junior Diabetes Research Foundation Petition

The Junior Diabetes Research Foundation is circulating their Artificial Pancreas Advocacy Campaign (APAC) petition.
JDRF believes this Artificial Pancreas could greatly improve health and life for those who suffer with Type One Diabetes.

Your support can help make sure that the FDA is forward-moving when it comes to assessing the artificial pancreas (AP).

The Artificial Pancreas petition is HERE. Please take a moment and follow the link provided to sign a petition to the FDA to move the Artificial Pancreas through to approval.

To learn about the Artificial Pancreas Advocacy Campaign click HERE.

Haley Moser Awarded Scholarship at Colton, Wash.

Haley Moser, Colton’s 2011 Teen Advisory Board member, was awarded one of two $200 scholarships given out to the members who showed the most outstanding academic success, leadership skills, and civic involvement.  The scholarships are donated by the Friends of Whitman County Library with proceeds from the library and the annual 4-H Teen Dance.  Way to go, Haley!

Storytime, held every Monday at 10:30 a.m., 706 Broadway,  for children ages 1-6, for October and November will focus on popular nursery rhymes at the Colton Library.  Children will meet characters such as Little Bo Peep, Little Miss Muffet, and Peter Pumpkin-Eater during October.  Halloween will be celebrated as well with crafts, stories, songs and snacks.

Third Thursday, the after-school program at the Colton Library, is October 20, 2011 and will have a Halloween theme.  Join Librarian Holly Meyer for a Halloween craft, puzzles, stories, and a scary snack.  Children from kindergarten to 6^th grade are welcome to join in the fun at 3:15 pm.

What You Should Know About RAMSES and the Critical Status in Spokane Area Hospitals

What does RAMSES mean to you when you call 9-1-1 and summon an ambulance?

The Spokane County EMS & Trauma Care Council's Resources Available for Medical & Surgical Emergency Services (RAMSES) is an online emergency and disaster system designed to provide hospital and pre-hospital diversion information to emergency room staff and patient transporting dispatch staff.

Veteran Emergency Department (ED) doctor, James M. Nania, MD, FACEP, said when the numbers of sick or injured persons arriving at Spokane's four hospital emergency departments began increasing in recent years those departments participated in the council's plan for disaster emergencies to better manage the overload. Nania is Spokane County EMS and Trauma Care Council Medical Program Director.

The Spokane County Dispatch Center dispatches and, based on information given by caller about location and condition of the patient(s), the nearest fire department's paramedic first responders are first enroute to the patient's location. One of American Medical Response (AMR) ambulance fleet, Deer Park Volunteer Ambulance or the Fairfield Volunteer Ambulance is also paged to the scene. If air transport is needed, it is dispatched.

Each hospital's status based on RAMSES codes is constantly available at AMR and onboard Deer Park Volunteer Ambulance. All ambulances receive RAMSES information via radio contact.

Each hospital's status based on RAMSES codes is constantly available at AMR and onboard each unit in their fleet and on Deer Park Volunteer Ambulance. All ambulances also receive RAMSES information via radio contact. The status codes, not to be confused with trauma triage codes (*see sidebar) help manage patient load so patients are taken to the nearest ED with the capacity to meet their needs.

Ramses includes the following status:

• Green: Staff and beds available, no restrictions.
• Yellow: Limited staff or limited beds available.
• Red: No staff or no beds, due to limits of available staffing, beds are filled to capacity, or required equipment temporarily unavailable.

The area's two trauma facilities, Deaconess Medical Center and Sacred Heart Medical Center, alternate weeks so one is always available to accept trauma patients -- those with life threatening issues where delay in emergency medical care may endanger a patient's life or limb -- regardless of the RAMSES status.

When a hospital emergency department activates Red it no longer admits patients until the overload is eased. In this scenario, the ambulance is diverted to the nearest hospital able to provide appropriate emergency medical care for the patient.

In the event all four hospitals reach Red status at a given time, all facilities again accept patients as medics continue to work through the caseload. Then, unavoidable delays may result.

According to the Spokane County EMS and Trauma Care Council's manual,

"In spite of ER divert (Red status) Deaconess Medical Center and Sacred Heart Medical Center should still receive adult major trauma patients. In addition, Sacred Heart Medical Center should still receive pediatric major trauma patients and Level I STEMI patients."

There are exceptions to every rule so even an overburdened hospital may receive emergency patients in their Outpatient Department as needed, instead of in the ED.

When an ambulance responds to a 9-1-1 call, the sick or injured person is stabilized and their condition assessed by First Responder, EMT, or Paramedic. By the time the patient is in the ambulance the senior medical officer has triaged the patient -- determined his or her condition -- and ranked it trauma, critical care, or emergent care.

A trauma patient will be transported to one of the two trauma facilities.

In all other cases, if the patient's doctor has been contacted, a MD-to-MD destination is given, or the patient may request a hospital of choice, or else the senior medical officer's judgment prevails, in conformance with Patient Treatment Rights.

Communication between hospital and ambulance continues during the run. If the medic learns the ED has gone from green to yellow or red status, the patient may be asked for their 'second choice' hospital. If the patient's doctor was called before the ambulance arrived, the receiving hospital will notify the patient's doctor of the destination change.

In the event you become that patient, have an alternative hospital in mind.

Patients who plan to go directly to an ED instead of by ambulance, are wise to phone ahead to ensure the facility is not already overburdened.

When a walk-in patient arrives at the hospital emergency department a triage-nurse performs emergency screening and stabilization. Non-critical patients, including those in severe pain, wait along with others already in line.

The sobering reality is often a wait of up to several hours before a doctor first attends the patient.

Nania explained that area residents can take small comfort from the fact that places like Los Angeles, CA, Portland, OR, and in thousands of other metropolitan areas where populations increased years earlier than in the northwest, similar 'patient distribution systems' have been in effect for more than a dozen years. Spokane and the surrounding areas have only experienced this crisis for five to six years.

Three years ago Nania warned that the numbers of patients arriving for emergency medical care are forcing hospital emergency departments into Red Status more and more often. He predicted a dire situation would ensue if a major disaster occurs in our area, due to insufficient available medical resources. With the 2011 flu season ahead Spokane's four hospital emergency departments could become overburdened.

Deer Park Ambulance is the oldest volunteer ambulance company in the state of Washington, and veteran Chris Cato, Critical Care Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic (CCEMTP), said,

"While the system is not perfect, RAMSES has improved and eased the situation tremendously."

Online information can be found at the following websites:

Trauma guidelines.

RAMSES webpage  provides links to hospitals, as well as other valuable sites. The EMS link takes you to the council's site.

Also, at Spokane County EMS & Trauma Care Council, 808 West Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane, WA 99201, Ph: (509) 625-6290.

Yard Debris and Chipping Events on the Palouse October -- November 2011

Suzanne Tresko, Recycling Coordinator, Spokane Solid Waste System, Spokane, Wash., has confirmed the following fall yard debris and chipping events in five communities on the Palouse. The goal is to process residential Clean Green yard and garden debris.

Only residential Clean Green material is allowed. Any other material is garbage and will not be accepted.

The events are scheduled 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. in the following towns,

·   October 22, 2011 - Fairfield

• October 29, 2011 - Latah
• November 5, 2011 - Rockford -- cancelled
• November 12, 2011 - Waverly
• November 19, 2011 – Spangle 

The host town must monitor the customers and materials that residents bring in. Clean Green means woody material less than 3 inches width and 6 feet in length. NO land clearing debris, stumps, trunks, or branches larger than the Clean Green size limit. NO dirt, plastic bags, metal, other garbage, contaminants, or material that is already an odor nuisance when delivered.

Residential means NO material from parks, public works, or other town projects, or business, commercial, farming, or silvaculture activities.

The chipping and hauling contractors will only accept and process residential Clean Green material. Anything left at the site that does not meet the residential Clean Green definition will be the responsibility of the hosting town to handle at their own cost and separately from these events.

Incoming material closes at 3:00 p.m. so the contractors have time to finish grinding, loading, and helping with site clean up.

The Town of Fairfield and Town of Latah are hosting a FREE composting workshop on the same day as their yard debris day:

• Fairfield will be at 10:00 a.m., October 22, 2011 at the Community Center.
• Latah will be at 10:00 a.m., October 29, 2011 at their community center.

Master Composters of Spokane County will provide home composting sessions on the same day as their yard debris day, November 5, 2011, at City Hall, Emma St., Rockford, Wash., 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Residents who attend the 45 minute session will learn how to reduce the volume of residential organics that they generate and compost what they do generate. After attending the session, they'll receive a free home compost bin (1 per residence, with proof of Spokane county ID).

Contact your city hall for information about a home composting class.

Civil War 150th Anniversary Series Began Wednesday, October 26, 2011

One hundred and fifty years ago, our nation was engaged in a terrible civil war. Join your community at the North Spokane Library for timely discussions and family events as we recognize the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War!

The eight part series, which culminates April 2, 2012 includes the program, "Were any of your ancestors among the three million Americans who fought in this struggle?"

During her presentation, Miriam Robbins, who is the direct descendant of eight Civil War veterans, will demonstrate how to find and use a variety of primary documents and online resources to research the lives of your Union and Confederate forebears."
Visit Spokane County Library District for details.

Fairfield Care Licensed to Operate Assisted and Independent Living Apartments

Long-Awaited GOOD NEWS!
Assisted Living and Independent Living Apartments at Fairfield Care
Now Available!

Fairfield Care, operated by the locally owned third generation facility of SHFI (Sunshine Health Facilities), Spokane Valley, Wash., is now licensed to offer Assisted Living and Independent Living Apartments at Fairfield Care. Dr. Nathan Dikes, CEO.

May 7, 2011, Fairfield Care re-opened the Good Samaritan Nursing Home at 305 Hilltop Lane, Fairfield, Wash., that had closed in 2010. Citizens of the community stepped up with donations and volunteer work, including Primeland employees and board members who helped clean the premises and trim shrubbery around the building.

Apartments began to fill, and a short stay apartment also was made available -- contact Peggy Ostheller at the Fairfield Owl Pharmacy for reservations; rates are $50.00 per night or $300 per week. Plans were soon underway for units to open in the assisted living wing also.

Less than six months later, Fairfield Care met the standards of the State of Washington, and is now licensed to open the assisted living part of the facility. These apartments are furnished with new refrigerators and microwaves; they are modern, light and fully carpeted.

Call Penny at Fairfield Care, (509) 283-2232 to tour and learn what is offered. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If you know of someone interested in downsizing or in need of a little care, check Fairfield Care. The facility offers a friendly environment in a rural setting with local doctors, drug store, groceries and other amenities available within the community. It has an enclosed courtyard, and the attached apartment wing also has apartments available for rent.

Become a Marine Moms-Bethesda "Elf"

"The Holidays are right around the corner and the Marine Moms-Bethesda "Elfs" are making their lists and checking them twice!"

So reads the request for "Holiday Cheer" cards to be given to American Heroes in the hospital. The "Elfs" will also be bringing "Holiday Cheer" to the polytrauma and spinal cord units, and to PTRP at Richmond VA Medical Center at a date to be determined.

The cards sent for Marine Moms-Bethesda should have a note written inside; for both men and women. Remember, cards without GLITTER or decorations that might fall off and get into wounds.

"All cards are screened so please don't seal the envelopes, or they may be sent without the envelope. No need to stick the flap inside of the envelope - it will save us time if we don't have to pull it out. (Saves on paper cuts too! ;) )

"Rather than mailing cards individually, more than one card may be mailed in a larger envelope or a box.

"If you wish acknowledgement that your cards were received, please include an email address. Questions? Email Jane."

Jane @ MarineMoms-Bethesda.org (remove spaces around the @ sign.)

Mail cards to:
Marine Moms-Bethesda
P.O. Box 22
Cordova, MD 21625

Postmark deadline for "Card Elfs" is November 15, 2011Postmark deadline for "Stocking Elfs" is November 1, 2011.

"Thank you so much for taking a few minutes to send "Holiday Cheer" to the Marines , Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen who have given so much defending our freedoms!" Jane, www.MarineMoms-Bethesda.org.

Thanks also to everyone passing on the information!

The Community Marketplace Adds Many Antiques Outlets in Uniontown

Nine more reasons to make Uniontown your antique destination

Uniontown Community Development Association (509 229-3655) reports the Community Marketplace is a new antique mall housed in an antique building in Uniontown. The primary tenant is Patty Iulo, whose business is titled Miss Maggie’s, plus eight other dealers.  Located on highway 195 at 118 S. Montgomery, the mall is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and Sunday on occasion. Phone (509) 229-3233.

Iulo started her official antique career in March by setting up her specialty -- antique jewelry -- in a corner at Green Cottage Antiques Uniontown.  There, proprietress Barbara Reed mentored her. Born and raised in Pullman with many family ties to Uniontown, Iulo has loved antiques her entire life. After working 22 years at WSU, she decided it was time to downsize the stress in her life and begin following her dream. She heard about the building being available for rent and in August Iulo relocated her operation.

Miss Maggie’s takes the front portion of the building where Iulo displays an eclectic collection of antiques. In addition to jewelry, she has furniture, glass, collectibles and primitive items.  Her inventory also includes things for men.  She buys at auctions and estate sales, but also handles items on commission.

The remainder of the building is made up of nine stalls, rented to individual dealers.  Eight are leased, leaving one available ($50 per month.) Staffing of the Community Marketplace is shared among the vendors with Iulo being on site Friday and Saturday.

The Community Marketplace joins three other well-established Uniontown antique stores:  Green Cottage Antiques, Splendid Old Stuff and Littlefield Antiques.  Check out their listings at www.uniontown.us in the business section.