Local Athletes Prepare for Annual Special Olympics
By Brian Addison
A group of local athletes and volunteer coaches practice Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Baker Middle School track, as they prepare to represent Baker City in the Special Olympic Regional competition held May 31 in Milton-Freewater.
Special Olympics Head Coach Bonnie Kemry is joined by her volunteer coaching staff Debbie and Danielle Stuck, Patty Mossman, Melanie Brown, Denise Clark and about a dozen athletes ranging in age from 18-years to 68-years old.
“Everybody who practices gets to compete at the regional competition in Milton-Freewater,” said Kemry. Athletes earning bronze, silver or gold medals then qualify to compete at the state competition held in Hillsboro on June 27 and 28.
Genetically Modified Alfalfa Poses Risks To Growers
By Debby Schoeningh
What some say will mean big profits for the hay industry, Oregon Rural Action (ORA) members, and others, say could turn out to be the economic demise of many Pacific Northwest growers.
A genetically modified seed, Roundup Ready (RR) Alfalfa, manufactured by Monsanto in partnership with Forage Genetics International, the world's largest producer and processor of alfalfa seed, was approved for sale by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in June 2005.
RR Alfalfa has been genetically engineered to be immune to the Roundup herbicide glyphosate. This allows growers to spray their fields with Roundup to kill weeds, without damaging the alfalfa itself.
Proponents of RR Alfalfa say growers can expect improved weed control resulting in higher forage quality, improved stand establishment, flexible application and no crop rotation limits.
Eastern Oregon Audiology Introduces Newest Technology For Hearing Loss
by Brian Addison
Robin Maxon of Eastern Oregon Audiology introduced fellow audiologist Alex Hatton of Cochlear Americas in Denver and Stacey Watson from Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle to members of the Lions club during their monthly luncheon meeting. Hatton presented a seminar on the newest medical treatments for people with moderate to severe hearing impairments. The new cochlear implant and bone conduction hearing technology have resulted in miracles for some people.
Elgin resident Wayne Shaw received a surgical cochlear implant last year at age 39, to help correct a severe, long time hearing loss. Shaw suffered the hearing loss when he was two-weeks old as the result of treatment for a high fever. He showed those attending the Lions club meeting, a small scar above his ear where the cochlear device had been surgically implanted. Shaw then answered questions spoken by Hatton.
“I could hear the words. It’s better than a hearing aid,” answered Shaw when asked about first thoughts after receiving the cochlear implant. Among the list of surprising new sounds Shaw mentioned the ‘pop’ when he opens a soda bottle, chirping birds, and said at first he was especially sensitive to the ringing of the telephone.
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