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(Springfield, Ore.) April 16, 2021—PacificSource announces that it will extend its special COVID-related benefit provisions for its commercial plan members to the end of 2021. PacificSource initiated special COVID-related benefit provisions in the spring of 2020 to support its members and providers during the initial phases of the pandemic.

“This expansion of these provisions serves as a critical means of support for our members as we continue to battle the pandemic,” said Ken Provencher, president and CEO of PacificSource. “While great strides towards mitigating the spread of COVID have been made with the introduction of several safe and effective vaccines, we recognize that it will take some time for everyone to get their vaccinations and therefore extended support for our members is still very much needed.”

The following is a summary of PacificSource benefit provisions that are currently in place for PacificSource’s commercial plan members and will be extended through the end of 2021 (There are no changes for Medicaid or Medicare members at this time):

• PacificSource will continue to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for COVID-19 testing and testing-related visits for our members at out-patient care sites (including primary care, urgent care, and emergency rooms). Further treatment may be subject to additional cost shares depending on the benefit plan.

• PacificSource will continue to allow members a one-time early refill for prescription drugs. (COVID vaccinations are offered at no cost to members.)

• PacificSource will continue to waive all copays for Teladoc visits for members who have Teladoc as a plan option.

• PacificSource providers have been instructed to not collect copay/coinsurance or deductibles for testing and testing-related services.

• Self-funded employers will have the option to opt-in to the provision that waives member out-of-pocket costs. For self-funded employer groups electing to extend these benefits, a plan amendment will be issued.

• PacificSource is reaching out by phone to all high-risk members who have not yet received their vaccines and assisting them with locating a clinic or resources within their county, as well as taking them through the steps of pre-registering for their vaccine as needed.

PacificSource is continuing to follow standards and recommendations from the state health authorities in addressing all issues surrounding COVID-19 and recommends that Members visit the Oregon Health Authority’s website at https://covidvaccine.oregon.gov/ for updates on the latest vaccination guidelines.

About PacificSource Health Plans: PacificSource Health Plans is an independent, not-for-profit community health plan serving the Northwest. Founded in 1933, PacificSource has local offices throughout Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Washington. The PacificSource family of companies employs more than 1,500 people and serves over 523,700 individuals throughout the Greater Northwest. For more information, visit PacificSource.com.

Portland, Ore. – Registered anglers fishing near the Tri-Cities, Washington, can fish and turn in northern pikeminnow beginning April 19 as part of an early opening trial of the 2021 Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Fishery.

The early season opener is only available to anglers registered at the Columbia Point registration station near Richland, Washington, fishing within program boundaries above McNary Dam. The regular northern pikeminnow sport reward program begins May 1.

As in previous years, the program pays registered anglers $5 to $8 for each pikeminnow that is at least nine inches long. The more fish an angler catches, the more each pikeminnow is worth. And some fish have an even bigger payout. State fish and wildlife biologists have released specially tagged northern pikeminnow into the Columbia and Snake rivers, each worth $500.

Northern pikeminnow are voracious eaters, consuming millions of young salmon and steelhead each year. Since 1990, anglers paid through the program have removed nearly 5 million pikeminnow from the Columbia and Snake rivers. The program is funded by the Bonneville Power Administration and administered by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission in cooperation with the Washington and Oregon departments of fish and wildlife. It has reduced predation from pikeminnow on young salmon and steelhead by approximately 40% since it began.

If the early opener proves productive, additional stations may be considered for early opening in 2022, said Eric Winther, project lead with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

“Historically, large numbers of northern pikeminnow congregate near the mouth of the Yakima River early in the year,” said Winther. “We believe this early opener may provide anglers with some great harvests before those fish disperse from the area later in the season.”

Winther noted there have been several changes to station locations and operating hours for the 2021 season.

In addition to the eighteen full-time stations that operate during the five-month season, six new satellite stations will offer anglers additional pikeminnow harvest opportunities in areas with good fishing during short windows of time. These satellite stations will open at different times throughout the season. Interested anglers are encouraged to get the most up-to-date information on the program website, www.pikeminnow.org, before heading out.

Details on how to register for the program and applicable state fishing regulations are also available on the program website. Anglers will find resources on the site to help boost their fishing game, including maps, how-to videos and free fishing clinics.

For more information about the 2021 Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Fishery visit www.pikeminnow.org, or call 800-858-9015.

About BPA

The Bonneville Power Administration, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is a nonprofit federal power marketer that sells wholesale, carbon-free hydropower from 31 federal dams in the Columbia River Basin. It also markets the output of the region’s only nuclear plant. BPA delivers this power to more than 140 Northwest electric utilities, serving millions of consumers and businesses in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, western Montana and parts of California, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. BPA also owns and operates more than 15,000 circuit miles of high-voltage power lines and 261 substations, and provides transmission service to more than 300 customers. In all, BPA provides nearly a third of the power generated in the Northwest. To mitigate the impacts of the federal dams, BPA implements a fish and wildlife program that includes working with its partners to make the federal dams safer for fish passage. It also pursues cost-effective energy savings and operational solutions that help maintain safe, affordable, reliable electric power for the Northwest. www.bpa.gov  

April is National Volunteer Month – an ideal time to renew and refresh a commitment to volunteering, especially virtual volunteering.

Throughout the U.S., volunteers work with nonprofits, charities, congregations, and schools to support vital community needs. Individuals and employers alike are realizing that the community benefits of volunteering also extend to health and wellness.

The positive impacts of volunteering, including virtual volunteering, extend beyond communities to one’s own mental and physical health. Volunteering is found to reduce stress, improve bonding with others, and even extend lifetimes, according to the Longitudinal Study of Aging.

“Spring, especially this year, is a time of renewal that can spark both community-care and self-care,” said Umpqua Bank’s Caitlin Back, VP, Corporate Responsibility director. “For us at Umpqua Bank, it’s an important time to come together in renewed support of our communities, continuing to foster a culture of service that elevates our associates’ sense of purpose and meaning.”

Any size business can rally employees to contribute to the greater good, while attracting and retaining talent. First, gauge employee interest in volunteering, then, structure volunteer opportunities that can be flexible and done remotely and as a team.

Umpqua Bank is in its the 18th year of its Connect Volunteer Program through which associates receive 40 hours of paid volunteer time annually. The Bank’s internal Community Action Hub serves as a resource to find virtual volunteer opportunities available across the Bank’s five-state footprint.

While much volunteering is still in-person, virtual volunteering options have expanded significantly. Now, thanks to virtual volunteering, potential volunteers with geographic or time constraints have new opportunities to help make a positive impact in their communities.

The following organizations are just a few of those that provide virtual volunteer opportunities:

FROM ANYWHERE – Catch a Fire, WeHero, Project Helping’s Kynd Kits, Operation Gratitude, MicroMentor by Mercy Corps, VolunteerMatch and others.

OREGON – Children’s Book Bank, Portland Rescue Mission, and Hands on Greater Portland of the United Way of the Willamette Valley

WASHINGTON - United Way of King County, Serve Washington’s Get Connected statewide platform connecting volunteers and organizations

Additional virtual volunteer information and resources are available on Umpqua Bank’s blog.

Spring into Action this April during National Volunteer Month with Umpqua Bank @UmpquaBank #VirtualVolunteer #SpringIntoAction. Learn more about Umpqua Bank’s commitment to community at www.UmpquaBank.com/community.

For Immediate Release

April 13, 2021

Granite Falls School Board of Directors to Hold Work Session-

Notice is hereby given that the Granite Falls School Board of Directors will hold a work-study session on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, at 9:00 AM. The meeting will take place virtually. The study session is to discuss the 2019-2020 school year audit. There will be time for the Board and District staff to express any areas of concern that they would like the auditors to include in the scope of the audit.

To access the Board study session please call the number below. There will be no public comment during the study session but guests are welcome to listen in. If you have questions, please contact Melanie Freeman at eeman@gfalls.wednet.edu">mfreeman@gfalls.wednet.edu or by calling 360-691-7717.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 13, 2021

Contacts:

NOAA Fisheries: 

jorie.Mooney-Seus@noaa.gov">Marjorie.Mooney-Seus@noaa.gov 774-392-4865                

Fisheries and Oceans Canada:

a.Sloan@dfo-mpo.gc.ca">Lara.Sloan@dfo-mpo.gc.ca 250-588-5576

Vancouver Aquarium / Ocean Wise:

er.Sessions@ocean.org%20">Amber.Sessions@ocean.org 604-659-3752

MEDIA ADVISORY: NOAA Fisheries, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Vancouver Aquarium to provide update on status of gray whale off the coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia  

As part of an international collaboration and coordinated response, marine mammal biologists and veterinarians from the U.S. and Canada are sharing information and expertise to promote the effective treatment of a gray whale that appears to have developed an infection several months after being satellite tagged. When last observed the animal was behaving normally and was generally healthy.

Please join us as we share the latest information about what is being done to monitor, assess and respond to this whale. Background information will be available today on this webpage https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/marine-mammal-protection/international-collaboration-monitor-and-respond-tagged-gray-whale Please note the link will be made live just before the start of the media availability.

WHAT:            Media Availability  (via conference call)

WHO:              Dr. Sharon Melin - Program Manager California Current Ecosystem Program, NOAA Fisheries

                        Dr. Paul Cottrell - Marine Mammal Coordinator, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

                        Dr. Alex Zerbini - NOAA Fisheries affiliate, University of Washington/Cooperative Institute for Climate and Ocean Studies

                        Dr. Martin Haulena – Veterinarian, Vancouver Aquarium and Marine Mammal Rescue

                        Dr. Frances Gulland – Veterinarian, University of California, Davis

                        Dr. Stephen Raverty - Veterinary Pathologist, the Animal Health Center, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and University of British Columbia.

WHEN:

Tuesday, April 13, 2021 

12:00 – 12:45 pm PT 

Conference call information:

Password:                  1090813

Call in numbers:

CANADA         866-845-8494

USA                877-951-7311