The Valley Explorer V4, Issue 1

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Volume 4, Issue 1

INSIDE: 4 WAYS TO WINTER TAX TIPS

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TALES FROM THE FIRE LINEPAGE 11

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THE VALLEY EXPLORER Publisher

Shayne Morgan

[email protected]

A Letter to George W. Bush Dear George W. Bush, In retirement you are as vanished as Dick Cheney was in his undisclosed locations following 911. I’m sure you’re very glad to have handed on the responsibility of the presidency, so you could just fade away. However, George W., I feel you deserve to be bathed in the spotlight and heaped with praise in the field of Medical Prosthesis and those dismembered veterans of your Iraq folly. Without your heedless and headstrong gun fight with “The Evil Doer”, Saddam Hussein, the prosthetic limb industry would never have received such a shot in the (artificial) arm. Because of you, advances in artificial limb technology have been fast-tracked. Just check out the runners at the London Para Olympics. Because of their newly advanced prosthesis our vets are back on their “feet”, much praise to you. You’ve got to hand it to the Vets, Oh no! Not now, that they are kitted out with artificial hands, arms, legs and feet, etc. They can now hand it to themselves. Just think Mr. (Ex) President, the next time you see a young vet negotiating the harsh realities of his or her life, you made it possible, “Wee Georgie”. They say necessity is the mother of invention, in the case of prosthesis advances, YOU ARE THE MOTHER! George W., enjoy your retirement. Secure in the knowledge that fewer of our critically wounded die in Iraq, only to live out their lives with severe disabilities.

With much concern,Samuel B. AdamsNewport, OR 97365

Sales ManagerTom Wright

Coast Sales Carl Heath

Have a story or opinion? Email it to [email protected].

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LeTTerS

(NewsUSA) - The late '80s group Soul to Soul had a joint where lead singer Caron Wheeler's powerful first line was: "Back to life. Back to reality." Well that's the tune baseball is pump-ing through its speakers as it transitions from the offensive mutation called "The Steroid Era" into a new "Pitcher's Paradise." The 2012 MLB Playoffs has ushered in this new pitching-dominant era with authority. The World Series is a battle between the pitch potent, light-lumbered, San Francisco Giants, and the golden arms of the Detroit Tigers. On this World Series stage, stud pitchers will dictate the flow of the show. The heightened pressure of every playoff pitch and the increased importance of each run make the WS a must-see for sports fans. Nail-biting pitchers' duels highlight the value, intrigue and excitement of low-scoring games. Taking the juice out of baseball has put the authentic spark back.In the past half decade, MLB hurlers have regained their Mojo, throwing us back to the pitching-rich seasons of Bullet Bob Gibson and Sandy Koufax. The elimina-tion of rampant steroid use is the biggest reason. Harsher penalties and public humiliation have been a major deterrent to PED use in baseball. In 2006, suspensions for a positive drug test, was increased from 10 to 50 games. The Bud Selig-commis-sioned Mitchell Report in '07 exposed the epidemic, and damaged the reputations of baseball's biggest stars. Some were even dragged in front of Congress and exposed as liars. In the early 1990's the effects of steroids and performance enhancers hit baseball like a tsunami. Like when crack hit the streets of Oaktown in the 80s. Player usage exploded after the MLB strike of 1994. Homeruns swelled to an average of 177 per game by 1996. That number dwarfed the 126 per game average during the last clean era of baseball -- from 1978 to about 1990, when Hall of Famers like Dave Winfield, George Brett, Eddie Murray and Mike Schmidt put up "official" power numbers. The days of Klitschko brothers-looking, 60-homer-hitting droids are over. Just peep how the numbers have flipped since 2000, when nobody threw a no-hitter. This season pitchers were "making it rain" like Lil' Wayne, racking up seven no-hitters and three perfect games. Cain, the starter in San Francisco's Game 7 shutout, tossed one of those gems. Other pitching accom-plishments included knuckleballer R.A. Dickey's Mets record 44 2/3 innings with-out allowing an earned run; and Tampa Rays closer Fernando Rodney setting the Major League record for the lowest ERA with at least 50 appearances (0.60).

In Y2K there was a whopping 5,693 homers hit in MLB. This season homers have plummeted to 4,934. That's almost 800 less dingers. In 2000, Sammy Sosa led baseball with 50 homers. At least 10 other players hit 40 that season. By 2008, MLB's top slugger Miguel Cabrera led baseball with just 37 homeruns, and in 2009, Mark Teixeira and Carlos Pena tied for the lead with 39 home runs. These were the lowest totals for a homerun king since 1989. Runs are also down significantly from 2000 when 24,971 players crossed home plate. This season, just 21,017 runs were scored. With the decrease in offense, naturally pitching ERA's dropped nearly a run, from 4.77 to 4.01. The death of steroids isn't the only factor in baseball's pitching renaissance. More cats are throwing 90 plus mph darts these days, making life much harder on hitters. FanGraphs ranked all of the pitchers who threw at least 30 innings in a season and their average fastball velocities. The num-ber of pitchers with an average fastball velocity of 95-plus has steadily risen from 11 in 2007 to 35 in just five years.The expanded pitching repertoire is an-other reason. Back in the day, most great pitchers had one or two pitches. Now, any average pitcher probably has an array of four pitches he can dial up at any time.Mixing pitches and speeds keeps the best hitters off balance. Vogelsong executed this to perfection against the Cardinals in the NLCS. According to BrooksBaseball.net, Vogelsong, a 35-year-old finesse pitcher, had five pitches poppin'against the Cardinals -- a four and two-seam fastball, changeup, slider and curveball. The "Pitcher's Paradise" era is dominated by information and mathematical formu-las designed to give managers, pitchers and catchers, an edge on every pitch. Old-school managers like Detroit's Jim Leyland tend to go with their gut, and rely less on sabermetrics and dizzying num-bers. The use of tracked information and studying statistical trends has also played a vital role in the rise of the pitcher. New-age managers like Joe Girardi, are con-stantly scouring their notes for a strategic advantage. The future of baseball is a bright mix of skilled hitters and pitchers playing a high-stakes game of 60-feet 6 inch-chess. When a hitter is at his best, he'll get his base knocks, but the pitcher remains the most influential position in a baseball game. If you love the science of pitching and softball scores just don't sit right, flip on the TV tonight. Baseball's "Pitcher's Paradise"era will be on full display.This story courtesy of "The Shadow League." For more sports stories, go to www.theshadowleague.com.

MLB's New era: A Pitchers' Para-dise -- Say goodbye to steroids and sluggers

THE VALLEY EXPLORER

THE VALLEY EXPLORER

THE VALLEY EXPLORER 4

THE VALLEY EXPLORER

4 WAyS TO WINTer

Buy a pair of snowshoes or rent them from Peak Sports in Corvallis. Get your Snow Park Pass at Foster Lake Mall in Sweet Home and head out into the sticks. Benson Snow Park at the Hoodoo Ski Area exit is a great place to start.

SNOWSHOeINg SNOWBOArDINg AND SKIINg

Hoodoo Ski Area has $19.00 dollar lift tickets on Tightwad Tuesday or try night skiing for date night. Not a skier, grab your tube and rocket down the Autobahn tubing area.

Mountain Biking

The weather can be great for late winter mountain biking. Stop by John’s Cycle shop in Lebanon and get a bike and directions to some epic trails. Some of the best mountain biking trails in the state are in the heart of the Willamette Valley.

Winter Storm Watching

Winter at the coast brings storms, dining and lodging deals galore. Stop and comb the beach for agates and tsunami debris, while fishing for lingcod, cabezon, and sea bass.

FOOD THE VALLEY EXPLORER 5

“The Original and Still The Best™,” it’s time for the 36th Annual Newport Seafood & Wine Festival, sponsored by Chinook Winds Casino Resort. Chinook Winds has sponsored this event two years in a row. The festival draws local leaders, businesses and non-profits for a four-day celebration of Northwest wineries, artisans, and restaurants indulging in the senses. Nearly 20,000 festival attendees will participate in this event.

Festival patrons may purchase E-Tickets at: www.seafoodandwine.com and have the option of choosing which day to attend (Thursday, February 21st through Sunday, February 24th), plus the option to purchase a commemorative wine glass. Get tickets early so you can join the festivities on your preferred date. For more information, you may call the Newport Chamber of Commerce office: 541-265-8801 or visit www.seafoodandwine.com.

36TH ANNUAL NeWPOrT SeAFOOD & WINe FeSTIVAL

Pick up a copy of The Valley Explorer at Big Town Hero in Lebanon.

OUrDISTrIBUTOrS

Nearly 20,000 festival attendees will participate in this event to benefit the Newport Chamber of Commerce. For more information call the Newport Chamber of Commerce at 541.265.8801

“The Original and Still the Best”™Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday

February 21, 22, 23 & 24Thursday 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

E-Ticket Only $15.00 (limited 1,000 tickets)

Friday 12 p.m. – 9 p.m. $13.00 E-Tickets$13.00 at the gate

Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.$18.00 E-Tickets$18.00 at the gate

Sunday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.$7.00 E-Tickets$7.00 at the gate

Presented By:

• You must be 21 years or older to attend this event and must have a valid photo id. (no exceptions)

www.seafoodandwine.com

• Small service fee applies for e-tickets. All e-tickets have a $5.00 off Chamber Booth clothing coupon.

Newport Seafood & Wine Festival

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Philomath, Ore. – Kimono is a unique exhibition of Japanese textiles and Japanese dolls from the private collection of Louise Meadows, supplemented by kimono and dolls from the museum collections. Many of Louise’s kimono are available for purchase. Kimono is on display now - March 2, 2013. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00am – 4:30pm. Admission is always free! See photos of the exhibition on Facebook and our web site at www.bentoncountymuseum.org/exhibitions/kimono/.

VISUAL ArTS THE VALLEY EXPLORER

Also on exhibition is Oregon By Nature, a year-long exhibition of natural history specimens from the Benton County Museum collections!

Oregon By Nature includes Oregon state symbols, a 19th century Klamath canoe made from a single fir tree, mammals, birds, fossils, rocks, a hands-on area and a few other surprises. The artifacts were selected, not in an effort to be scientifically comprehensive, but rather to demonstrate the diversity, beauty, and mystery of Oregon’s natural environment. Informational labels are available on touch screen computers or your own smartphone. Enjoy a visit to Oregon’s past AND present! Located six miles west of Corvallis on Hwy 20/34, at 1101 Main Street, Philomath, Oregon, the Benton County Historical Society operates the Museum facilities for the preservation of history and culture. Its goal is to preserve the material culture of Benton County, Oregon. It strives to enrich people’s lives through interesting exhibitions and educational programs.Please call (541) 929-6230 for more information or visit our web site at www.bentoncountymuseum.org.

All hands on deck March 12-13 for important safety training for commercial fishermen! The Oregon Sea Grant Program through a partnership with the Alaska Marine Safety Education Association, Oregon Crab Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard is once again offering the Drill Conductor Course at no cost to local fishermen.

Required by 46 CFR 28.270(c), this sea safety course helps develop and hone skills such as donning immersion suits, flood control and vessel stability as well as using distress signals, MAYDAY calls and life

rafts. It is being held at Englund Marine in Newport on March 12-13, 7:45am to 5:00pm both days.

This class is physically demanding, including timed immersion suit donning, entering the water, then into a life raft, starting pumps, putting out fires, and so forth. Space is limited so pre-registration is required.

For more information or to register, please contact Michele Osterhoudt at the Lincoln County Extension Office, (541) 574-6534, or e-mail [email protected]

Free Drill Conductor Class Offered in March

expires 3/15/2013

THE VALLEY EXPLORER

InterCommunity Health Network CCO announces Hospital-to-Home Program to combat readmission

HeALTH

(BPT) - Spring is in the air - and that means pollen, mold spores and other airborne allergens are going to bring on sneezing and wheezing for an estimated 40 to 50 million Americans.

The spring season can be especially bothersome with so much conflicting information on how to find relief. To help you better understand spring allergies and combat symptoms this sneezing season, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), has answered some of the most frequently asked ques-tions.

1. Why does it seem like more and more people have spring allergies?

This is likely due to increased awareness and more people taking the steps to being properly tested and diagnosed. According to a recent study published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, pol-len counts are gradually increasing every year, which can cause heightened symp-toms.

2. Do spring allergy symptoms only last during the spring months?

The length of the season can help determine the severity of symptoms. For many areas of the country, spring aller-gies begin in February and last until the early summer. Mild winter temperatures can cause plants to pollenate early. A rainy spring can also promote rapid plant growth and lead to an increase in mold, causing symptoms to last well into the fall months. Allergists recommend starting medications to alleviate symptoms two weeks before they begin. If you have a history of prior seasonal problems, start your medication at the first sign of any symptoms.

3. Will eating local honey cure allergies?

A common myth is that eating a spoon-ful of local honey a day can build allergy immunity. The idea is that bees pick up pollen spores from flowers, transfer them to their honey and help you better toler-

ate pollen. Seasonal allergies are usually triggered by windborne pollen, not pollen spread by insects. There is no scientific evidence that honey will provide any ben-efit or reduce allergy symptoms. Your best bet? Talk to your allergist about ways to avoid allergy triggers, the best medications to treat symptoms and whether immuno-therapy (allergy shots) could be beneficial.

4. Is there such a thing as spring asthma?

Allergies and asthma are often worse during different times of the year due to environmental allergens. An estimated 75 to 85 percent of asthma patients have aller-gies. These allergic responses in the lung can lead to symptoms of asthma. If you have spring allergies, this can be why you have more asthma symptoms during the season. Those that believe they may have symptoms of nasal allergy or asthma can find a free screening program in their area by visiting www.acaai.org/nasp.

5. Can you suddenly develop seasonal allergies in adulthood?

Yes. Although allergies are common in children, they can occur at any time and any age. Sometimes allergies go away, but they also can come back years later. If you suspect you have an allergy, you should keep track of your symptoms with MyNa-salAllergyJournal.org and see an allergist to find relief.

“By understanding what allergens trigger your symptoms and how to avoid them, you can find relief from spring allergies this season,” says Dr. Richard Weber, an allergist and ACAAI president. “An allergist can help you find the source of your suffering and stop it, not just treat the symptoms.”

Allergies and asthma are serious diseases during every season of the year and that’s nothing to sneeze at. Misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment can be dangerous. To learn more about these conditions, and locate an allergist in your area, visit www.AllergyAndAsthmaRelief.org.

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Frequent spring allergy questions answered

Allergies and asthma are often worse during different times of the year due to environmental allergens.

CORVALLIS — Starting this year, Oregon Health Plan members will have a better chance of staying home after a hospital stay for certain chronic conditions because of the new hospital-to-home pilot program based at Samaritan Albany General Hospital. The program is part of the health care transformation plans for InterCom-munity Health Network Coordinated Care Organization (IHN-CCO), and is under the guidance of the Senior and Disability Services team for Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments (OCWCOG). “We expect this program to reduce hospital readmissions and improve health outcomes for our members,” said Kelley Kaiser, CEO of IHN-CCO. Patients can face many issues in getting back to full health after a hospital stay. But those that are coming home with chronic conditions like diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, congestive heart failure (CHF), or Atrial fibrillation (Afib), face an even greater danger. They are at high risk of being readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of leaving. According to Scott Bond, director of OCWCOG’s Senior and Disability Servic-es, medication errors by patients are one of the most frequent causes for readmis-sion. “A patient with diabetes receives information about a change in how to take their medication while in the hospital. If they don’t understand the changes or

don’t follow the new directions, they may wind up with uncontrolled blood sugar levels, and back in the hospital.” The Hospital-To-Home Program pro-vides a transitions coach who visits the patient within 48 hours of discharge, and then keeps in touch with phone calls over the next three weeks. They ensure the patient follows up with their doctor and learns how to manage their drugs and cre-ate a health record. The patient also learns the red flags that point to a worsening in their condition and how to respond. Hos-pital staff refers patients who could benefit from the program. The patient must agree to participate. “The home visit is the key to this pro-gram’s success,” explains Bond. “It gives the coach the chance to see what risks the patient may face in getting better at home. It could be something like a lack of means to get to the doctor and drugstore or prepare their own meals. If problems are found in the home visit, the coach will work with the patient to connect with resources in their community.” The CCO plans to expand the program to other hospitals in Benton and Lincoln Counties in the future. The successful Hos-pital-to-Home Program at Samaritan Leba-non Community Hospital will continue. For more information about the Hospi-tal-to-Home Program at Samaritan Albany General Hospital, visit ocwcog.org. For more information about InterCommunity Health Network CCO, visit samhealth.org/IHN-CCO.

Local public, private, and non-profit partners formed InterCommunity

Health Network Coordinated Care Or-ganization (IHN-CCO) in 2012 to unify health services and systems for Oregon

Health Plan (Medicaid) members in Benton, Lincoln, and Linn counties. The organization seeks to improve

the health of local communities while lowering or containing the cost of care. Partners include: county governments and their public health, mental health

and addiction service departments;

local health care providers; Federally Qualified Health Centers; Account-

able Behavioral Health Alliance; The Corvallis Clinic; Mid-Valley Behavioral Care Network; Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments; Quality Care

Associates; Samaritan Health Plans; Samaritan Health Services; Samaritan

InterCommunity Health Network health plan; and Samaritan Mental Health.

IHN-CCO currently serves more than 34,000 Oregon Health Plan members.

About InterCommunity Health Network Coordinated Care Organization

FINANCe THE VALLEY EXPLORER 9

(BPT) - Making mistakes is one of Americans’ biggest fears at tax time. A single error can delay the processing of your return or even cause it to be rejected by the IRS. If that happens and you’re entitled to a refund, get ready to wait.

Today’s sophisticated tax preparation products make doing your own taxes perfect the first time at an affordable price - or even free - a reality for millions of Americans each year.

“Online and downloadable solutions have everything the vast majority of taxpayers need to file their taxes with complete confidence,” says Jessi Dolmage, TaxACT Spokesperson. “Using do-it-yourself tax preparation software solutions drastically reduces the chance of errors, especially if you import last year’s return information.”

If you’re doing your own taxes for the first time this year or aren’t able to import last year’s return, be especially careful to avoid these common errors.

*Every year, the IRS receives millions of returns with misspelled names and incorrect Social Security Numbers (SSN), particularly those of dependents.- When processing your return, the IRS verifies names and SSNs on your return with the Social Security Administration’s database. If the information doesn’t match, the IRS will notify you. Although the errors are easy to correct, they could delay refund-able credits for parents and college stu-dents, and refunds for the Earned Income Tax Credit.

*Report all your income. The IRS can easily check how much income you received based on your SSN and 1099 forms financial institutions are required to submit. If unreported income is discovered after the filing deadline, you could owe penalties and interest on the earnings.

*Because filing status determines many amounts on tax returns, the IRS has strict qualifying criteria for each of the five filing statuses. If you don’t meet all the requirements for the filing status claimed on your return, the IRS could reject your return. If you qualify for more than one status, claim the one resulting in the bigger

refund or less tax owed. See IRS Publica-tion 501, Exemptions, Standard Deduction and Filing Information, for detailed infor-mation about filing statuses. Tax prepara-tion programs simplify it all by guiding you through your options and helping you choose.

*Whether you’re receiving a refund or owe taxes, double check the routing and account numbers on your return. One incorrect number can mean several extra weeks of waiting for your refund, someone else receiving your refund, or your refund being sent back to the IRS.

*With hundreds of deductions and cred-its available for the taking, it’s easy to miss one. The onus is on you as the taxpayer, not the IRS, to claim all the tax breaks you qualify for. Dolmage says that’s one of the key advantages of using tax prepara-tion solutions. “The program walks you through each credit and deduction to help you get the biggest possible refund,” says Dolmage. “All you have to do is answer simple questions.”

*Finally, file your tax return and pay any taxes owed by the April 15 deadline. If you need more time to file your return, file Form 4868 for an automatic six-month filing extension. However, keep in mind you’re still obligated to pay any taxes owed by April 15. Pay late and you’ll incur penalties and interest fees.

Dolmage also says, “Another all-too-common mistake is paying too much to do your taxes. Expensive solutions don’t equate to a larger refund. All taxpayers can prepare, print and e-file federal tax returns free at www.taxact.com - no restrictions, no bait and switch.”

TaxACT Free Federal Edition includes all e-fileable forms for simple and compli-cated tax returns. Regardless of how you filed last year, you can transfer data from last year’s return. Instant, personalized help is available every step of the way in the Answer Center, online at taxact.com and with Audit Assistant. Customers can also email tax and audit questions to Tax-Payer Support Specialists for free answers.

More tax tips are available at www.irs.gov. To learn more about TaxACT and start your free federal return, visit www.taxact.com.

Tips for avoiding costly errors on your tax return

(BPT) - For all the talk about taxes during the "fiscal cliff" debate at the end of 2012, many people are still left wondering what it means to them as the April 15 filing date approaches.

"'Is it a big deal? Or is it business as usu-al?' are questions I'm hearing," says Scott Halliwell, a certified financial planner with USAA. "While many issues were resolved, a lot of taxpayers still aren't sure how their tax returns and deductions are affected."

If you're one of those people, brush up on these 10 deductions before tackling your tax return. They are worth reviewing, as they could lower your tax bill.

1. Traditional IRA contributions. You have until April 15 to contribute up to $5,000 to a traditional IRA for 2012 and, if you qualify, deduct it on your tax return. Here are some guidelines:

If you were 50 or older on the last day of 2012, you can contribute up to $6,000.

If you (and your spouse if you're mar-ried) weren't covered by an employer's retirement plan in 2012, you can generally deduct your contribution in full.

If you were covered by an employer plan, you can only take a full deduction if your modified adjusted gross income was $58,000 or less ($92,000 or less for married couples filing jointly). Your deduc-tion is reduced if your modified adjusted gross income is higher. If your spouse was covered by a retirement plan at work but you weren't, you're eligible to take a full or partial deduction if your combined ad-justed gross income was below $183,000. See IRS Publication 590 for more details.

2. Self-employed retirement plans. If you work for yourself, you can open a Simpli-fied Employee Pension IRA by April 15 and deduct your contribution on your 2012 return. SEP IRAs may be an easy way to create your own retirement plan, and they can allow much higher contributions than traditional IRAs. Contributing to a SEP IRA does not exclude you from making an IRA contribution, but it may affect whether you can take a deduction for it. (A SEP IRA is considered an employer-sponsored plan).

3. Mortgage interest. You're allowed to deduct interest paid on your primary mort-gage, as well as home equity loans, home improvement loans and lines of credit. In general, you may deduct interest on up to $1 million of primary mortgage debt and up to $100,000 of home equity balances.

4. State and local taxes. The federal government generally allows taxpayers to deduct property and income taxes paid to state and local governments.

5. Sales tax. If you didn't pay much state income tax - or live in a state that doesn't tax income at all - you may be able to choose to deduct sales tax instead. And you typically don't need receipts - simply calculate an assumed amount using an IRS table or online calculator.

6. Charitable gifts. Make sure you have the right documentation. Cash contribu-tions - regardless of the amount - require a canceled check or dated receipt. Any contribution of $250 or more requires bank or payroll deduction records or a writ-ten acknowledgement from the charity. Noncash contributions valued at more than $5,000 generally require an appraisal.

7. Education costs. Up to $2,500 in inter-est on loans for qualified higher educa-tion expenses may be deductible if your adjusted gross income is less than $75,000 ($150,000 if you're married and filing a joint return). A portion of your tuition and fees may be deductible if your adjusted gross income is $80,000 or less ($160,000 on a joint return).

8. Medical and dental costs. You may be able to deduct these expenses if they exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income.

9. Health insurance. In general, self-employed taxpayers may be able to deduct all of their health insurance premiums.

10. Health savings accounts. If your family was covered by a high-deductible health insurance plan in 2012, you may be able to contribute up to $6,250 to a health savings account ($3,100 if it only covered yourself). Contributions are deductible, and similar to IRAs, you have until April 15 to contribute for the 2012 tax year.

Deductions that could dramatically cut your tax bill

THE VALLEY EXPLORER 10

(BPT) - Many homes have new TVs decorating the living room, bedroom, den and even the kitchen. These TVs often feature the latest wide, flat screens, which give viewers great definition and clarity. But while they provide a beau-tiful viewing experience, flat screen TVs are top-heavy on a narrow base, and they can easily be pulled off an entertainment center or other piece of furniture.

Many families might be surprised to know that every three weeks a child dies from a television tipping over. And nearly 13,000 more children are injured in the U.S. each year. Alarmingly, over the last 10 years there has been a 31 percent in-crease in TV tip-over-related injuries.

A recent report by Safe Kids Worldwide and SANUS revealed that young children are at greatest risk of TV tip-overs. The study, A Report to the Nation on Home Safety: The Dangers of TV Tip-Overs, includes data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and new find-ings from Safe Kids Worldwide primary research.

The research shows that seven out of 10 children injured by TV tip-overs are 5 years old or younger. Sadly, this age group also accounts for nine out of 10 serious injuries requiring hospitalization.

“Every 45 minutes, or less than the length of a Sesame Street episode, a child visits the emergency room because of a TV tipping over,” says Kate Carr, presi-dent and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide. “Dramas and tragedies should be on TV, not caused by them.”

It’s not just the newer flat screens that may cause a trip to the emergency room. Large and heavy old-style cathode ray tube (CRT) TVs placed on dressers or high furniture can also tip over if children climb the drawers to reach a remote control, a piece of candy, a video game, or anything else that attracts their attention.

According to the research, three out of four parents reported they don’t secure their TV to the wall, either because they are not aware that securing a TV is an im-portant safety measure, or they have con-cerns about damaging the wall or installing the TV incorrectly.

What can parents do to ensure that their children stay safe?

* Check your TV. Assess the stability of the TVs in your home. Remember, a curious, determined child can topple a TV. Children playing with friends or pets could knock a TV over, while other kids might be tempted to climb up to reach items placed on or near a TV, such as remote controls or candy.

* Secure your TV. Securing your TV to the wall is a safe solution. Much like child-proofing with a toddler gate or electrical socket cover, TV mounts and furniture straps are necessary precautions for keep-ing your family safe.

“You wouldn’t think to bring a baby home from the hospital without a car seat, or have your child ride a bike without a helmet,” says Carr. “Mounting your TV will protect your TV, and most important, your child.” To learn more, visit www.safekids.org.

TV tip-overs a hazard for young children

Fri. Feb. 22 The BAY HAVEN, Newport. 8:30 PM. Seafood & Wine Fest weekend.

Sat. Feb. 23 MAC'S AT THE VET, Eugene. 9 PM

Sat. Mar. 9 BUGSY'S, Junction City. 9 PM

Fri. Mar. 22 MAC'S AT THE VET, Eugene. 9 PM

Sat. Mar. 23. LUMPY'S, Dundee. 9 PM

Fri. Mar. 29. RIFS, Stayton. 8 PM

Sat. Apr. 6. HITCHIN' POST, Salem. 9 PM.

PARISH GAP

Classy Classic & Art Rock

For Booking or info, 541.829.9740www.myspace.com/ParishGap

I snapped this photo on Hwy 34 recently, five Bald Eagles had just harvested a baby lamb.

Photo: Shayne Morgan

OUTDOOrS THE VALLEY EXPLORER 11

TALES FROM THE FIRELINE

I get the call, it’s another fire. This time were directed to the Pole Creek fire just outside of Sisters Oregon. Little do I know, I’m going to be in it for the long run – almost 3 weeks. We complete our type four engine inspection at the Redmond Air Center and then we’re sent to the Sisters Rodeo grounds to set up camp.

We set up our temporary tent-homes as we get ready for our orders. The Pole Creek fire is burning hot and growing fast. It’s late August and it’s dry, The forest is covered in thousand hour fuels, downed Ponderosa pines the size of semi-tractor trailers. Inefficient forest management and years without fire have created a tinder box in the Three Sisters Wilderness. Our engine boss comes back with our fire orders: Meet your task leader at Checkpoint 80.

We spend about an hour creeping into the wilderness, at times we can’t even see 10 ft. in front of us. The smoke is thick and wafty, but to a wildland firefighter it’s the smell and taste of big money. Firefighters can make almost a year’s wage in a couple of months, but it can be brutal. As we ascend into the high mountain scape of the Sisters Wilderness, the smoke begins to thicken. It’s eerie when you can hardly see in front of you. Where is the fire?

We find our task force leader, he says hunker down until we get further orders. We decide to take lunch, it’s about 11am. We started our day at about 5am. The lunches are sandwiches with the occasional mystery meat that glows in rainbow colors when you hold it up to the

sunlight. The lunches are jam packed with calories - candy bars, energy bars, nuts, crackers and a juice box to wash it down with.

A short time later, our task force leader says he has an assignment; mop up 50 feet interior on the fire line, two miles up the road. We tell him we understand our orders and load up. The engine boss fires up the engine, nothing. This is not good. We keep trying; checking the battery, hitting the starter with a hammer, still nothing. We radio our task force leader, he comes down to check it out. He’s says, “Do you know any diesel mechanics?” I have a cell signal and call into Sisters and I’m able to reach a diesel mechanic. The mechanic says he can be there in an hour. He gets us back on the road and we continue mopping up, not much else happens that day.

The next day we continue doing some mop up. Our task force leader says we are going to night shift. This means we will be working from 6pm to 8am. Night shift can be rough. The central Oregon dessert is impossible to sleep during the late August days. I’m lucky, I get to go home for three days. I get back to the fire line after a short reprieve and ask my other two crew members how the last couple of nights went. Mel says, “Last night was one of the most intense times I’ve had on the fire line. We did a massive burnout last night. The smoke was so thick, you had to get on your hands and knees just to breathe. You couldn’t see one foot in front of the other, literally.” I thought to myself, “Yeah the fun stuff happens when I’m gone.” Little did I know, in the next few hours I would be in some fire. We spend the next couple

of hours driving up the road looking for spots. A spot fire is when an ash or some other type of debris starts another fire. They can grow quickly. The fuel model that day showed a probability of ignition at 94%, that means there’s a 94 percent chance that ember floating off the fire is going to ignite another spot fire ahead of it.

Not much happens the next couple of hours while patrolling. Then our strike team leader calls us, and directs us to a spot fire. We get there quickly with our 1000 gallons of water. I get out and start sizing up the fire. The strike team leader says, “Take these packs and put as many on as you can carry.” These are hose packs. The hose packs have fittings and everything you need to start a hose lay. Another firefighter starts putting glow sticks with ribbons tied on to me, about 20 of them. “Drop these as you go in so we know where the trail to fire is.”, he shouts. Crewmember Mel goes in with me, we run in, not seeing anything. It’s 3am, I wasn’t ready for this. I’m struggling with all the weight, running over giant Ponderosa logs over creek and it’s dark. I need to slow down, I’m tired and with the weight, ugh! Then I see the spot. It’s in a section of Ponderosas, about a quarter acre spot fire. Flames are shooting up hundreds of feet in the air, behind me are sawyers and hot shots. They begin cutting trees and clearing a trail. We work the spot for the rest of the night, by morning and about 13000 gallons of water later, it’s finally out. I’m exhausted. We bed down back at camp at about 9am. In the heat of the day in a tent we’re lucky to sleep past 2pm. The next couple of days are spent doing more back burn supporting and mopping up spots. You learn how to use tools when digging day in and day out. After each

shift you sharpen the tools with a 10 inch file. Not many people sharpen their garden shovel. But it’s the little things that count when cutting fire line for 16 hours a day, for two straight weeks.

The wilderness right after a burn opens up a gray scape. It’s dark-burned trees and ashy earth brings in a set of critters you would not see otherwise. You’re familiar with urban legends, fires have their own set of legends. Some are used to test rookie firefighters to see how sharp they are. “Watch out for that Corn Back Rattler over there, I marked it with white flagging.” is a common quip on the fire line. We were mopping up with a 20 person hand crew from LA. One of the guys on the crew saw an unusual wasp and said, “They can sting and lay eggs inside your body.” This is actually a western wood wasp, they don’t sting at all. They lay their eggs in the burned-out bark. Then there are the beetles, the beetles are horrific. I wish they were urban legends. They mate on the hot coals, ouch! When your putting out the burning stumps, these little buggers try stopping you by crawling down your pants, up your sleeves, down your neck and they follow that with stinging bite. This can happen for an entire day with numerous bites, on different areas of the body. Some burned areas have so many beetles it can be maddening and almost drive you to insanity. I’ve used duck tape to try to seal my nomex to keep the little pests out.

These are some stories from last summer’s fire season from a firefighters perspective. It’s some of the hardest work a person can do, but the memories will be with me for a lifetime.

BY SHAYNE MORGAN

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