By Anne Scheck
Lyle Mordhorst This past Friday, as winds whipped fires east of Salem, it was all quiet on the western front – the offices of Polk County. It wasn’t that evacuation worries didn’t exist there, but county administrators seemed confident under the threatening conditions.
“We do have some people living in the foothills, and that would be a challenge,” said Dean Bender, emergency manager for the county. But if residents needed to pile into personal vehicles and exit, there are a lot of ways for doing that – detour opportunities on roadways – that could ease departure, he said.
In Polk County, as well as across the state, Oregon has “route redundancy,” a term for planning that allows transportation to continue under circumstances when one route becomes congested or nearing capacity, said Michael Duncan, a transportation and growth management specialist who serves as a senior regional planner for the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).
Route redundancy becomes incredibly critical in natural hazard mitigation, “whether there are windstorms, snowstorms, fires or floods,” Duncan said.
However, creating a network of safe thoroughfares with good traffic flow hasn’t been an easy task, at least for Polk County. ODOT and the county have worked together in a partnership that, at times, seems to have been bumpier than any of the roads – “pain points,” according to both sides.
“My frustration had grown,” confirmed Polk County Commissioner Craig Pope, who served as the county liaison to ODOT for eight years. The bureaucratic steps meant glacially slow progress on some projects, and Pope was ready to hand over the role, he said. So, after Lyle Mordhorst was appointed county commissioner last year, he stepped in.
“We do have some people living in the foothills, and that would be a challenge,” said Dean Bender, emergency manager for the county. But if residents needed to pile into personal vehicles and exit, there are a lot of ways for doing that – detour opportunities on roadways – that could ease departure, he said.
In Polk County, as well as across the state, Oregon has “route redundancy,” a term for planning that allows transportation to continue under circumstances when one route becomes congested or nearing capacity, said Michael Duncan, a transportation and growth management specialist who serves as a senior regional planner for the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).
Route redundancy becomes incredibly critical in natural hazard mitigation, “whether there are windstorms, snowstorms, fires or floods,” Duncan said.
However, creating a network of safe thoroughfares with good traffic flow hasn’t been an easy task, at least for Polk County. ODOT and the county have worked together in a partnership that, at times, seems to have been bumpier than any of the roads – “pain points,” according to both sides.
“My frustration had grown,” confirmed Polk County Commissioner Craig Pope, who served as the county liaison to ODOT for eight years. The bureaucratic steps meant glacially slow progress on some projects, and Pope was ready to hand over the role, he said. So, after Lyle Mordhorst was appointed county commissioner last year, he stepped in.
Dean Bender Confronting him immediately was the problem of traffic growth. The juncture at Highways 51 and 22 needs to be safer and more efficient, Mordhorst said. The total number of cars now traveling daily through the interchange is 36,000 with approximately 5,000 more cars per day heading west. "The biggest draw for tourists is the casino and the Oregon Coast," he explained.
Mordhorst quickly got the reputation as peacemaker. In fact, he's been referred to as "Lyle Mediator" for his calm demeanor in meetings.
It wasn't simply that meetings with ODOT could be contentious, but the strain meant they became unproductive, he said. "We went round and round about the roundabout," Mordhorst joked, referring to the proposed traffic circle at Clow Corner Road and Highway 99 that has been a source of near-constant public criticism.
"I pretty much concluded, from ODOT, that it was going to be that (the roundabout) or nothing at all, and there have been deaths there, deaths of young people," he said. "So, I just took the discussion off the table and said 'OK, let's agree with that plan, now how can we move ahead?'" So now meetings are focused differently – on how to make progress, he noted.
Most of the transportation challenges have less to do with roadways than they do with personalities, Mordhorst acknowledged.
In the past few weeks, he’s faced county staff who took issue with an ODOT conclusion that there was ground movement on a West Salem hillside that could bar new road construction there; he's been contacted by a resident of Independence – representing neighbors on several streets in that town – about how to stop a loud train horn at night; he's been told by citizens all over the county that the roundabout planned for Clow Corner Road is the dumbest idea any government agency has ever had.
It’s not surprising that transportation planning can be rocky – there’s a long history of it. In 1997, John Kitzhaber, then governor, proclaimed that ODOT should become a “growth management agency.” This concept – the marriage of land use planning and transportation engineering – was conflictual at the start, according to Portland attorney Edward Sullivan JD, who has published widely on the issue.
However, in Oregon, “a symbiotic relationship” developed that’s been mutually beneficial, he concluded in an article for the journal Urban Lawyer a few
years ago.
New and productive talks have occurred in Polk County – and projects are moving forward, Mordhorst said.
“We have developed an excellent working relationship with Commissioner Mordhorst that has been very productive,” agreed Louis Torres, ODOT’s public information officer for the area. “We’re very appreciative of his efforts as we work on a number of state highway projects in Polk County.”
Years of managing the tire-service center Les Schwab in West Salem taught Mordhorst that "it's really not about the tires as much as it is about the people." Even temperament in tense situations is "what it takes to get the job done," he said. "I found myself just asking questions and listening, that is how I kept up," he said. "It's not that different here, asking and good listening is key."
One key to listening is to remember "they're not mad at you, they're mad at the situation," Mordhorst added.
Mordhorst quickly got the reputation as peacemaker. In fact, he's been referred to as "Lyle Mediator" for his calm demeanor in meetings.
It wasn't simply that meetings with ODOT could be contentious, but the strain meant they became unproductive, he said. "We went round and round about the roundabout," Mordhorst joked, referring to the proposed traffic circle at Clow Corner Road and Highway 99 that has been a source of near-constant public criticism.
"I pretty much concluded, from ODOT, that it was going to be that (the roundabout) or nothing at all, and there have been deaths there, deaths of young people," he said. "So, I just took the discussion off the table and said 'OK, let's agree with that plan, now how can we move ahead?'" So now meetings are focused differently – on how to make progress, he noted.
Most of the transportation challenges have less to do with roadways than they do with personalities, Mordhorst acknowledged.
In the past few weeks, he’s faced county staff who took issue with an ODOT conclusion that there was ground movement on a West Salem hillside that could bar new road construction there; he's been contacted by a resident of Independence – representing neighbors on several streets in that town – about how to stop a loud train horn at night; he's been told by citizens all over the county that the roundabout planned for Clow Corner Road is the dumbest idea any government agency has ever had.
It’s not surprising that transportation planning can be rocky – there’s a long history of it. In 1997, John Kitzhaber, then governor, proclaimed that ODOT should become a “growth management agency.” This concept – the marriage of land use planning and transportation engineering – was conflictual at the start, according to Portland attorney Edward Sullivan JD, who has published widely on the issue.
However, in Oregon, “a symbiotic relationship” developed that’s been mutually beneficial, he concluded in an article for the journal Urban Lawyer a few
years ago.
New and productive talks have occurred in Polk County – and projects are moving forward, Mordhorst said.
“We have developed an excellent working relationship with Commissioner Mordhorst that has been very productive,” agreed Louis Torres, ODOT’s public information officer for the area. “We’re very appreciative of his efforts as we work on a number of state highway projects in Polk County.”
Years of managing the tire-service center Les Schwab in West Salem taught Mordhorst that "it's really not about the tires as much as it is about the people." Even temperament in tense situations is "what it takes to get the job done," he said. "I found myself just asking questions and listening, that is how I kept up," he said. "It's not that different here, asking and good listening is key."
One key to listening is to remember "they're not mad at you, they're mad at the situation," Mordhorst added.
Ahmed Ahmed Recently, for example, Ahmed Ahmed, a resident of Independence, contacted Mordhorst about a sleep-disrupting train. Ahmed, who had a petition signed by more than 26 neighbors, asked ODOT, as well as the Portland and Western Railroad, to investigate the booming late-night horn, which he asserted is unnecessarily long and loud. He also took his complaint to the Independence City Council. None of these actions proved successful, he said.
But Mordhorst agreed to speak with Ahmed about possible alternatives, which he has done. So has City Manager Tom Pessemier. However, the likely option – a gate with flashing lights and bells – would be “trading one kind of noise for another,” Mordhorst observed.
Mordhorst’s listening skills will be needed soon for another reason: ODOT is setting up an online open house for the planned roundabout at Clow Corner Road. One part of the outreach will be providing an explanation of how this one differs from those that have made the wrong kind of headlines, those constructed with stop signs, signals and other complicating factors, said Torres.
If the roundabout finally gains public support, Mordhorst stressed that he doesn’t deserve much credit – that goes to the people that he’s been working with, like Torres, and to the people who paved the way, like Pope. "I didn't have to re-invent the wheel, I just picked it up and started rolling it," he said.
But Mordhorst agreed to speak with Ahmed about possible alternatives, which he has done. So has City Manager Tom Pessemier. However, the likely option – a gate with flashing lights and bells – would be “trading one kind of noise for another,” Mordhorst observed.
Mordhorst’s listening skills will be needed soon for another reason: ODOT is setting up an online open house for the planned roundabout at Clow Corner Road. One part of the outreach will be providing an explanation of how this one differs from those that have made the wrong kind of headlines, those constructed with stop signs, signals and other complicating factors, said Torres.
If the roundabout finally gains public support, Mordhorst stressed that he doesn’t deserve much credit – that goes to the people that he’s been working with, like Torres, and to the people who paved the way, like Pope. "I didn't have to re-invent the wheel, I just picked it up and started rolling it," he said.
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons CIVICS LESSON: The Voting Booth Returns to Polk County
In a state that continues to make national news for its ease of mail-in ballots, some Oregonians can still cast their vote the old-fashioned way this November – in a voting booth. It may sound like a throwback to another era, but Polk County is getting ready to set up a few of them for the coming election. It’s all part of a state mandate that requires a “privacy” compartment for people who want to vote onsite immediately if they opt to pick up ballots at the Polk County Clerk’s office. In the past, such citizens were ushered into that office, and seated at a special table with a structure that looks like a library-study carrel. However, under COVID-19 restrictions, this won’t do, explained County Clerk Val Unger. Sanitation practices mean the area would have to be thoroughly cleaned after each use, and even if that challenge was met, the office itself is relatively small, making six-foot distancing potentially problematic, particularly as the deadline for final ballot-casting approaches. The county once had a few of these old-time voting booths, which look like tall desks topped by a boxy tent, but new ones had to be ordered, said County Administrator Greg Hansen. Fortunately, the county needs only three of the booths to meet the state requirement, which is based on population. -- AS
In a state that continues to make national news for its ease of mail-in ballots, some Oregonians can still cast their vote the old-fashioned way this November – in a voting booth. It may sound like a throwback to another era, but Polk County is getting ready to set up a few of them for the coming election. It’s all part of a state mandate that requires a “privacy” compartment for people who want to vote onsite immediately if they opt to pick up ballots at the Polk County Clerk’s office. In the past, such citizens were ushered into that office, and seated at a special table with a structure that looks like a library-study carrel. However, under COVID-19 restrictions, this won’t do, explained County Clerk Val Unger. Sanitation practices mean the area would have to be thoroughly cleaned after each use, and even if that challenge was met, the office itself is relatively small, making six-foot distancing potentially problematic, particularly as the deadline for final ballot-casting approaches. The county once had a few of these old-time voting booths, which look like tall desks topped by a boxy tent, but new ones had to be ordered, said County Administrator Greg Hansen. Fortunately, the county needs only three of the booths to meet the state requirement, which is based on population. -- AS
Melting Pot Candy INDY HOP: Comfort Consumption in the World of COVID-19
Liquor and marijuana sales have increased substantially in the pandemic, according to national data. But there's skyrocketing demand for another kind of mood-heightening ingestible: Chocolate. It's now being purchased in unprecedented quantities, according to the National Confectioners Association. At Melting Pot Candy, on the corner of Main and C streets, owner Bonnie Andrews said she has seen a real upturn – she's finding it hard to keep up. A new treat: "sea foam," with caramelized brown sugar encased in thick chocolate. It was pronounced a "bite-sized dessert worth a million bucks" by one patron ... actually, an inquiring visitor from Trammart News ... who was asked to try a free sample. -- AS
Liquor and marijuana sales have increased substantially in the pandemic, according to national data. But there's skyrocketing demand for another kind of mood-heightening ingestible: Chocolate. It's now being purchased in unprecedented quantities, according to the National Confectioners Association. At Melting Pot Candy, on the corner of Main and C streets, owner Bonnie Andrews said she has seen a real upturn – she's finding it hard to keep up. A new treat: "sea foam," with caramelized brown sugar encased in thick chocolate. It was pronounced a "bite-sized dessert worth a million bucks" by one patron ... actually, an inquiring visitor from Trammart News ... who was asked to try a free sample. -- AS
Special section:
Challenging Times for School
Adolescents Navigate Uncharted Territory
Riley Zuck By Anne Scheck
There’s a pretty party gown that remains unused in the closet of Riley Zuck, a Central High School senior. It was bought for a prom that never happened – one of many missing milestones of the “lost year,” the title bestowed on 2020 by parents and students alike this fall.
The dress isn’t likely to be worn at any school dance this year, either – there’s no end in sight for “distance learning,” Zuck said. But amid the coronavirus pandemic, with her courses all on computer, Zuck is evidence that some youth are showing signs they’re learning how to knock down the stumbling blocks tossed at them.
She’s one of six captains of the varsity cheerleading team – and gone is any possibility of having a homecoming football game where crowds of alumni and students cram into the stands.
"It's hard knowing I’m not going to have those experiences," Zuck said. However, it isn't the lack of such
events that's really painful, she noted.
"It's the interactions, the stuff that just happens at school," Zuck said. Central High School (CHS) isn't just a collection of classrooms for learning but a place filled with people, she said, where many of her deepest friendships have formed, including those with adults, such as cheerleading coach Megan Smith.
The recent wildfires, which made air unhealthy, were particularly difficult, Zuck recalled. The squad was prohibited from their practice sessions, which have to take place outdoors under current restrictions. But on the "night of the red," as she called it – when a scarlet haze from fiery smoke blanketed the sky – some of the cheerleaders met up for "Taco Tuesday" together. The restaurant, which had been set up for social distancing, was perfect for the meet-up, she said. "It really helped me get through that time," she stressed.
Zuck is one of many her age who is showing a spirit of resilience that leaves the adults in their lives awestruck.
“These are amazing kids,” said Tina Andersen, manager of the Polk County fairgrounds, which became a sudden regional shelter for animals and people alike during the recent wildfires. Livestock management was undertaken largely by adolescents from 4H and the Future Farmers of America (FFA). Scores of teenagers showed up, and many from FFA made a habit of getting there in time for the 7 am feedings. Andersen said she was in a barn earlyone morning “when two of them popped up out of an empty water tub.”
There’s a pretty party gown that remains unused in the closet of Riley Zuck, a Central High School senior. It was bought for a prom that never happened – one of many missing milestones of the “lost year,” the title bestowed on 2020 by parents and students alike this fall.
The dress isn’t likely to be worn at any school dance this year, either – there’s no end in sight for “distance learning,” Zuck said. But amid the coronavirus pandemic, with her courses all on computer, Zuck is evidence that some youth are showing signs they’re learning how to knock down the stumbling blocks tossed at them.
She’s one of six captains of the varsity cheerleading team – and gone is any possibility of having a homecoming football game where crowds of alumni and students cram into the stands.
"It's hard knowing I’m not going to have those experiences," Zuck said. However, it isn't the lack of such
events that's really painful, she noted.
"It's the interactions, the stuff that just happens at school," Zuck said. Central High School (CHS) isn't just a collection of classrooms for learning but a place filled with people, she said, where many of her deepest friendships have formed, including those with adults, such as cheerleading coach Megan Smith.
The recent wildfires, which made air unhealthy, were particularly difficult, Zuck recalled. The squad was prohibited from their practice sessions, which have to take place outdoors under current restrictions. But on the "night of the red," as she called it – when a scarlet haze from fiery smoke blanketed the sky – some of the cheerleaders met up for "Taco Tuesday" together. The restaurant, which had been set up for social distancing, was perfect for the meet-up, she said. "It really helped me get through that time," she stressed.
Zuck is one of many her age who is showing a spirit of resilience that leaves the adults in their lives awestruck.
“These are amazing kids,” said Tina Andersen, manager of the Polk County fairgrounds, which became a sudden regional shelter for animals and people alike during the recent wildfires. Livestock management was undertaken largely by adolescents from 4H and the Future Farmers of America (FFA). Scores of teenagers showed up, and many from FFA made a habit of getting there in time for the 7 am feedings. Andersen said she was in a barn earlyone morning “when two of them popped up out of an empty water tub.”
Tina Andersen It turned out they’d fallen asleep before daybreak – the two teens had made sure to arrive before dawn so they’d be there in time for the first round of chores.
Chores seem to be a common distinction among youth who are adjusting
to this circumstantial sea change. “I think it has something to do with that – chores,” Andersen said. “With these kids, they’re used to getting things done, sticking to a schedule, working hard.”
Zuck, for example, works behind the counter at Petals & Vines, the Monmouth floral and gift store. She provided a glimpse of why the link to work responsibilities and well-being may be true. She works at the shop several afternoons a week, in a business owned by her family – her mother, Martha, is often her boss.
Growing up watching customer transactions, seeing the hard work of her mom and her grandmother, Maggie, gave her a keen sense of values that she uses now as a paid employee – and as a person, Zuck said.
"I think you learn how to structure time, and how important that can be," she said. Once shy about answering the phone, for instance, "I found out how to handle those calls. I had been a little bit afraid of the phone," she explained, adding that her generation doesn't use it in the same way as older adults. The verbal back-and-forth – answering questions, taking flower orders – has taught her to be a good listener and communicator, she said. And, she has become more adept at planning. Putting a bouquet together isn't just a creative process, but one that takes thought and experimentation, she observed.
If it sounds like work hours for teenagers are beneficial, recent research certainly supports that view. Studies over the past few years show that “early chores” can be an advantage. However, that hasn’t always been the case. Outside employment by high-schoolers once was seen as a risk factor for dropping out, according to a flurry of studies about two decades ago. A closer look at these findings suggests that it was intense work – not the lighter, part-time kind – that interfered with academics.
In the 1990s – which many identify as the start of the “childhood self-esteem” movement, stemming from a California task force by that name – there was a parallel decline in chores for children. At the same time, the phenomenon of “helicopter-parenting” took hold, seemingly out of necessity.
College entrance had become more competitive, with both admissions and scholarships going to those who
had more extracurricular activities. But the “traditional parenting” practice of making kids do chores now is being linked to good outcomes in a rather dramatic way, according to a report this past spring by a group of researchers from the University of Virginia. They studied nearly 10,000 kids who entered kindergarten about a decade ago, children now being followed as they attend school. By the third grade, the chore-performing youngsters showed higher academic success and more self-confidence.
Standardized tests were used, but so were the children’s own viewpoints on how they got along with peers or how much they wanted to help others. “Our study is unique in that we looked at how early childhood chores relate to development from a child’s perspective,” said the study’s senior author, Elizabeth White MD, in a webinar presented by the National Center for Education Statistics.
Some parents in Central School District 13J, based in Independence, need no convincing. Riley's mother is one of them. Her daughter is a self-starter – and she was raised to be one, said Martha Zuck. "Bad things that happen are like having a chair right in front of you," she said. "Leave it there and you won't go anywhere or you'll trip over it, so you've got to kick it out the way." Riley's job in retail has helped reinforce those skills, she said.
Chores seem to be a common distinction among youth who are adjusting
to this circumstantial sea change. “I think it has something to do with that – chores,” Andersen said. “With these kids, they’re used to getting things done, sticking to a schedule, working hard.”
Zuck, for example, works behind the counter at Petals & Vines, the Monmouth floral and gift store. She provided a glimpse of why the link to work responsibilities and well-being may be true. She works at the shop several afternoons a week, in a business owned by her family – her mother, Martha, is often her boss.
Growing up watching customer transactions, seeing the hard work of her mom and her grandmother, Maggie, gave her a keen sense of values that she uses now as a paid employee – and as a person, Zuck said.
"I think you learn how to structure time, and how important that can be," she said. Once shy about answering the phone, for instance, "I found out how to handle those calls. I had been a little bit afraid of the phone," she explained, adding that her generation doesn't use it in the same way as older adults. The verbal back-and-forth – answering questions, taking flower orders – has taught her to be a good listener and communicator, she said. And, she has become more adept at planning. Putting a bouquet together isn't just a creative process, but one that takes thought and experimentation, she observed.
If it sounds like work hours for teenagers are beneficial, recent research certainly supports that view. Studies over the past few years show that “early chores” can be an advantage. However, that hasn’t always been the case. Outside employment by high-schoolers once was seen as a risk factor for dropping out, according to a flurry of studies about two decades ago. A closer look at these findings suggests that it was intense work – not the lighter, part-time kind – that interfered with academics.
In the 1990s – which many identify as the start of the “childhood self-esteem” movement, stemming from a California task force by that name – there was a parallel decline in chores for children. At the same time, the phenomenon of “helicopter-parenting” took hold, seemingly out of necessity.
College entrance had become more competitive, with both admissions and scholarships going to those who
had more extracurricular activities. But the “traditional parenting” practice of making kids do chores now is being linked to good outcomes in a rather dramatic way, according to a report this past spring by a group of researchers from the University of Virginia. They studied nearly 10,000 kids who entered kindergarten about a decade ago, children now being followed as they attend school. By the third grade, the chore-performing youngsters showed higher academic success and more self-confidence.
Standardized tests were used, but so were the children’s own viewpoints on how they got along with peers or how much they wanted to help others. “Our study is unique in that we looked at how early childhood chores relate to development from a child’s perspective,” said the study’s senior author, Elizabeth White MD, in a webinar presented by the National Center for Education Statistics.
Some parents in Central School District 13J, based in Independence, need no convincing. Riley's mother is one of them. Her daughter is a self-starter – and she was raised to be one, said Martha Zuck. "Bad things that happen are like having a chair right in front of you," she said. "Leave it there and you won't go anywhere or you'll trip over it, so you've got to kick it out the way." Riley's job in retail has helped reinforce those skills, she said.
Aaron Ojeda-Hayes Olivia Ojeda-Hayes couldn't agree more: Holding her children accountable to complete any task to the best of their abilities is something she's always stressed, too. No one has to prod her son Aaron, a Talmadge 8th-grader, to fire up his computer in the morning, to begin his school day at home, she said. And Aaron, who plays piano and alto saxophone, feels a sense of commitment to playing well – he sets goals to accomplish this, she said.
"He has always been super-motivated," said Ojeda-Hayes. A strong work ethic is a big part of parental expectation for her son. Completion of chores around the house is a must, the responsibility of being part of the family, she explained.
Aaron previously got an allowance for doing those duties but, after he turned 10 years old, he began pitching in without pay – loading and emptying the dish washer, mopping floors. Having a regular schedule, pursuing his interests and having goals "keeps you on track," he said. So does "a supportive family,” he added.
At a recent session of the Oregon Health Forum, one characteristic repeatedly referenced about Gen Z, the name of the cohort from ages 14 to 24, is their reliance and ease with technology. YouTube is their number-one website choice and they have never known a world without mobile communication systems, according to the profile offered at the forum.
Still, concern about youth confined to Chromebooks and online platforms has been a recurrent topic at meetings of the Polk County Board of Commissioners. The county health department, which oversees statistical health markers for COVID-19, cannot advise reopening schools unless there is a reduction in incidence to less than a 5% positivity rate and less than 30 cases per 100,000 people, according to Jacqui Umstead RN, interim public health administrator for the county.
The commissioners consider that level hard to reach during this academic year. In this time of remote learning, “thirty percent of the kids will be okay,” said Commissioner Mike Ainsworth. “Thirty percent will struggle and come out of it,” he added. As for the remaining forty percent, “we are looking at a loss,” Ainsworth predicted.
“They are losing opportunities,” agreed Commissioner Craig Pope, the board’s “point person” for public health. It isn’t just diminished learning, “we are talking real isolation in some cases,” he said. For students who reside in outlying areas, “this may be a problem anyway, and now you take away school.”
"He has always been super-motivated," said Ojeda-Hayes. A strong work ethic is a big part of parental expectation for her son. Completion of chores around the house is a must, the responsibility of being part of the family, she explained.
Aaron previously got an allowance for doing those duties but, after he turned 10 years old, he began pitching in without pay – loading and emptying the dish washer, mopping floors. Having a regular schedule, pursuing his interests and having goals "keeps you on track," he said. So does "a supportive family,” he added.
At a recent session of the Oregon Health Forum, one characteristic repeatedly referenced about Gen Z, the name of the cohort from ages 14 to 24, is their reliance and ease with technology. YouTube is their number-one website choice and they have never known a world without mobile communication systems, according to the profile offered at the forum.
Still, concern about youth confined to Chromebooks and online platforms has been a recurrent topic at meetings of the Polk County Board of Commissioners. The county health department, which oversees statistical health markers for COVID-19, cannot advise reopening schools unless there is a reduction in incidence to less than a 5% positivity rate and less than 30 cases per 100,000 people, according to Jacqui Umstead RN, interim public health administrator for the county.
The commissioners consider that level hard to reach during this academic year. In this time of remote learning, “thirty percent of the kids will be okay,” said Commissioner Mike Ainsworth. “Thirty percent will struggle and come out of it,” he added. As for the remaining forty percent, “we are looking at a loss,” Ainsworth predicted.
“They are losing opportunities,” agreed Commissioner Craig Pope, the board’s “point person” for public health. It isn’t just diminished learning, “we are talking real isolation in some cases,” he said. For students who reside in outlying areas, “this may be a problem anyway, and now you take away school.”
Carter Marsters Carter Marsters, a freshman at Perrydale High School, knows exactly the feeling described by Pope. It all "feels odd," he said. Marsters was a middle linebacker for the school’s football team; He played catcher on the baseball team.
On his last day of school, he “kept hearing more and more” about the coronavirus, along with the plans for a middle-school dance later that day. “We finished the school day but the dance got called off,” he said. He hasn't been back to a classroom since.
But he’s adjusted. Though school occupies most of his day, he regularly works for his parents by doing clerical duties for their 24-hour care facility for disabled adults. Also, since the pandemic, he’s helped them with some remodeling.
Thanks to that activity, “I learned I love working with my hands,” as well as figuring out dimensions and plotting by numbers, said Marsters. “I may want to go into mechanical engineering,” he said.
Zuck feels similarly due to her work with flowers at Petals & Vines. The CHS cheerleader now sees design as her calling. "I discovered what I want to be, right here," she said, sitting at a table in the shop.
However, examples like Marsters and Zuck don’t offer a full dose of comfort to Commissioner Ainsworth, a CHS grad and caller-commentator for football and basketball games at his alma mater. “I know we have great kids,” he said. “I have seen them at the high school, I have seen them out there on the fairgrounds recently. But what about the others? I worry about them. I really do.”
On his last day of school, he “kept hearing more and more” about the coronavirus, along with the plans for a middle-school dance later that day. “We finished the school day but the dance got called off,” he said. He hasn't been back to a classroom since.
But he’s adjusted. Though school occupies most of his day, he regularly works for his parents by doing clerical duties for their 24-hour care facility for disabled adults. Also, since the pandemic, he’s helped them with some remodeling.
Thanks to that activity, “I learned I love working with my hands,” as well as figuring out dimensions and plotting by numbers, said Marsters. “I may want to go into mechanical engineering,” he said.
Zuck feels similarly due to her work with flowers at Petals & Vines. The CHS cheerleader now sees design as her calling. "I discovered what I want to be, right here," she said, sitting at a table in the shop.
However, examples like Marsters and Zuck don’t offer a full dose of comfort to Commissioner Ainsworth, a CHS grad and caller-commentator for football and basketball games at his alma mater. “I know we have great kids,” he said. “I have seen them at the high school, I have seen them out there on the fairgrounds recently. But what about the others? I worry about them. I really do.”
Supplement to The Independent
Publisher’s note. Voices from the community are an important part of coverage by The Independent, the monthly print edition of Trammart News, which also publishes The Linking Letter, covering the city; The Linking Loop, covering schools; Public Health Points, covering updates in the pandemic. Sometimes, citizen opinions come from residents asking to air their views in a commentary like the one below. Other times, they are invited to do so.
When Natascha Cronin gave public testimony at a recent Independence City Council meeting she received just such an invitation. She accepted it, and it is published with very little revision from the text she prepared for her recent address to the Independence City Council. Trammart News wishes to thank Ms. Cronin for her commentary, as well as all who contribute to the discussion and discourse that help us recognize the viewpoints of our mutual community.
When Natascha Cronin gave public testimony at a recent Independence City Council meeting she received just such an invitation. She accepted it, and it is published with very little revision from the text she prepared for her recent address to the Independence City Council. Trammart News wishes to thank Ms. Cronin for her commentary, as well as all who contribute to the discussion and discourse that help us recognize the viewpoints of our mutual community.
Natascha Cronin Guest Editorial Essay
By Natascha Cronin
As a naturalized citizen I feel it is my obligation and responsibility to speak tonight. My naturalization process is riddled with examples of white privilege, and I want to acknowledge that for some the financial burden and bureaucracy of naturalization makes the opportunity I was afforded out of reach for many. My choice to become a United States citizen was intentional and I hold sacred our ideals of democracy, our right to freedom of speech, and take very seriously our obligation to hold free and fair elections.
I have lived on three different continents, traveled extensively, and visited almost every state in this vast and glorious country. I mention this because I want to make it clear that I live in Independence for a reason. I could have chosen to live anywhere, but I chose to live here.
Our national politics have become a nightmare. For a long time, racism lived in the dark and in the shadows, unfortunately seen mostly by those effected by the hatred. Recently, the light switch on racism and racist actions was flipped on, and instead of scattering into the shadows, racists have become emboldened and have escalated their ability to spew hate and misinformation. This hatred and misinformation has sneakily wiggled itself into the hearts and minds of those who may not even consider themselves to be racist. Now, it seems these ideas of intolerance have come to light in our community. We have to ask ourselves. Do we stand by while hate and misinformation are disseminated throughout our community? Or do we speak up and call out those who need to open their hearts and minds to what makes this community great.
Truth is the accordance of fact or reality. We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men and women are created equal. This applies to all men and all women of all abilities, regardless of race, gender, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, income, or level of education.
Freedom is not about the individual; it is about a community and a country as a whole. None of us are absolutely free until everyone is free. Freedom is the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or
restraint. But this right of speech without hindrance or restraint comes with immense responsibility. Your freedoms should be used to lift others up, rather than tear them down.
United: Agreeing for agreements sake is very unamerican. Our country was founded on debate and differences of opinions. I mean, if we never disagreed this country would still only permit white men with property to vote. Respectful disagreements are what move our country forward. We are the United States of America, and although we may all have vastly different ideas and opinions, the fact remains that we are inherently united through the origins of the founding of this country. The vast majority of Americans did not descend from American Indians, rather from immigrants to this land seeking a better tomorrow.
The truth of the matter is that speaking truth and upholding freedom can unite us, and it should. I ask my fellow community members to think critically, deeply, and with proven facts about the actions you choose to make and the words you choose to speak. I urge everyone in Independence to complete and submit their census and to vote in November.
By Natascha Cronin
As a naturalized citizen I feel it is my obligation and responsibility to speak tonight. My naturalization process is riddled with examples of white privilege, and I want to acknowledge that for some the financial burden and bureaucracy of naturalization makes the opportunity I was afforded out of reach for many. My choice to become a United States citizen was intentional and I hold sacred our ideals of democracy, our right to freedom of speech, and take very seriously our obligation to hold free and fair elections.
I have lived on three different continents, traveled extensively, and visited almost every state in this vast and glorious country. I mention this because I want to make it clear that I live in Independence for a reason. I could have chosen to live anywhere, but I chose to live here.
Our national politics have become a nightmare. For a long time, racism lived in the dark and in the shadows, unfortunately seen mostly by those effected by the hatred. Recently, the light switch on racism and racist actions was flipped on, and instead of scattering into the shadows, racists have become emboldened and have escalated their ability to spew hate and misinformation. This hatred and misinformation has sneakily wiggled itself into the hearts and minds of those who may not even consider themselves to be racist. Now, it seems these ideas of intolerance have come to light in our community. We have to ask ourselves. Do we stand by while hate and misinformation are disseminated throughout our community? Or do we speak up and call out those who need to open their hearts and minds to what makes this community great.
Truth is the accordance of fact or reality. We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men and women are created equal. This applies to all men and all women of all abilities, regardless of race, gender, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, income, or level of education.
Freedom is not about the individual; it is about a community and a country as a whole. None of us are absolutely free until everyone is free. Freedom is the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or
restraint. But this right of speech without hindrance or restraint comes with immense responsibility. Your freedoms should be used to lift others up, rather than tear them down.
United: Agreeing for agreements sake is very unamerican. Our country was founded on debate and differences of opinions. I mean, if we never disagreed this country would still only permit white men with property to vote. Respectful disagreements are what move our country forward. We are the United States of America, and although we may all have vastly different ideas and opinions, the fact remains that we are inherently united through the origins of the founding of this country. The vast majority of Americans did not descend from American Indians, rather from immigrants to this land seeking a better tomorrow.
The truth of the matter is that speaking truth and upholding freedom can unite us, and it should. I ask my fellow community members to think critically, deeply, and with proven facts about the actions you choose to make and the words you choose to speak. I urge everyone in Independence to complete and submit their census and to vote in November.
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