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January 15, 2009 Front Page |
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MVMH Gives Update At County Commission Meeting
By Eden Taylor
In the regular Baker County Commission session on Jan. 7, Mountain Valley Mental Health (MVMH) gave their biennial update. The commissioners and audience were addressed by Vicki Long, MVMH director, Anthony Bailey, accountant and Kevin Campbell, Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc. (GOBHI) president.
Long described how the facility has improved. The organization charts have been updated and are in compliance with the State’s request. She said that in the area of service enhancement the facility has improved access for patients. Many employees are working four 10-hour shifts a week. Days are alternated so that the councilors can be accessed after hours. She also stated that Karen Long and Brenda Paul have completed their LCSW and LPC certifications respectively and that the other counselors are preparing to take the certification exams.
Baker Middle School Holds Science Fair
By Eden Taylor
The Baker Middle School Science teachers wanted to know how to better teach physical science concepts within the classroom. Wendy Files and Becky Mitchell took a course at Eastern Oregon University that encouraged them to have the students use their knowledge of the 6 simple machines to create their own working machines.
Both science teachers loved the idea and Becky though it would be a great opportunity for them to share what was happening in the science classroom with parents and other community members. Thus the idea of the Science Fair began.
The teachers began teaching about the 6 simple machines in December. After they had explored each a little, they instructed the students to use their knowledge to create a machine that used as many of the simple machines as possible. It was pretty much up to them from there on. The students chose their partners, what they wanted their machines to do, the materials they wanted to use, etc. The students were given an entire week in class to construct their machines. If they were not finished at that point they were allowed to take their projects home over the winter break.
Pondosa Home Damaged By Fire
Medical Springs Rural Fire Department was able to quickly contain a house fire in Pondosa, due largely to the actions of the owners and tenants.
Medical Springs Fire Chief Jim Carter said last Thursday night’s blaze began when the chimney got hot and ignited material next to it in the attic. The owners of the home, Bob and Jean Bennett, and the tenants Tom and Charlene Light were able to hold the fire down with a garden hose. The Bennetts also own the Pondosa Store.
“If they hadn’t done that, we probably would have lost the whole thing,” said Carter.
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