KWSO News Oct. 30, 2018

St. Charles Health System announced plans Monday to close the Redmond Family Birthing Center next summer, calling it “a very difficult decision.” The decision comes after a task force made up of providers and community members recommended it, KTVZ reports. As part of the changes to women’s and newborn’s services, an obstetric hospitalist program will be created at the Bend hospital to provide care for laboring patients and manage obstetric emergencies. In Madras, resources will be provided to enhance nursing skill and education.

Oregon education officials are launching a campaign to reduce school absenteeism, which is considered a significant reason for the state’s low graduation rate and unimpressive standardized test results. Carla Wade of the Oregon Department of Education said the “Every Day Matters” campaign will help schools work with families to get kids to class. Obstacles for students include “economic barriers, health including mental health or disability issues, transportation problems — streets that don’t have proper crosswalks or sidewalks, or infrequent bus service,” Wade said. The Education Department is paying to help half the state’s school districts with the biggest absenteeism problems. Money goes for education specialists to help schools diagnose what’s causing absenteeism. Additional obstacles, Wade said, can include cultural differences — school schedules might not correspond with important ceremonies or events — and bullying.

The 2018 General Election is one week away. All registered voters should have received a ballot and it is now in your hands to VOTE. There are five ballot measures that Oregonians are voting on. Michael Mason is a state lobbyist – he works for tribes in Salem. His gives his take on how Measures 103 and 104 are doing:

You can find information about candidates and measures in the official Voter’s Pamphlet, which was mailed to all registered voters. You can also go online to access an audio version, an English version, or a Spanish version at oregonvotes.gov.

Madras High School junior Korie Johnson topped the list of four Madras players receiving Tri-Valley Conference Volleyball recognition this week. She was named to the six-player all-conference second team, and three other White Buffaloes received honorable mentions: Seniors Loraija Miller and Niyallee Cochran and junior Jen Binning.

Madras High School Boys Soccer is hosting a first round playoff game today at 2pm. They will be playing Mac High and that game will be broadcast here on KWSO.

Madras Football is on to the Class 3A state playoffs. The White Buffaloes received the No. 16 seed in the 16-team field. They will play at No. 1 seed Rainier in a first-round game at 7 p.m. Friday. You can listen to that game live on KWSO.