News Stories Fri., Apr. 20, 2018

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an alert to not use any pre-packaged (store bought) chopped romaine lettuce due to a high probability of e.coli bacteria.  This outbreak encompasses sixteen states, but CDC says it is likely this outbreak will expand to other states.  Warm Springs Sanitarian Russell Graham ordered places that serve children, elders, and others with potentially compromised immune systems, to not serve pre-packed romaine lettuce until further notice and discard any of the products they may have. The directive also applies to restaurants, food stands, and retailers. For folks who may have store-bought chopped romaine lettuce at home–including salads and salad mixes that contain chopped romaine—it is recommended not to eat it and throw it away.

Tuesday, April 24, which is next week, is the voter registration deadline for the May 15 Primary Election. Eligible voters have until 11:59 p.m. to register to vote online. It is also the party choice deadline. Voters who want to vote in a major party’s closed primary election need to be registered as a member of that party (Democratic or Republican) by the deadline. Voters can register and choose their party affiliation online at oregonvotes.gov. The Independent Party of Oregon has opened its primary election to voters who are not members of any party. To request a ballot for the Independent Party of Oregon, voters need to complete and return the Voters Not Registered with a Political Party form to the Clerk’s Office by 5 p.m. on April 24. Ballots for the May 15 Primary Election will be mailed to voters beginning April 25. Candidates for Jefferson County are: for County Commissioner Position #1 – Mae Huston and Kimberly Schmith. ​County Commissioner Position #2 – ​Mary Kendall, Courtney Snead and Kelly Simmelink. Jefferson County Clerk – ​Charity Dubisar, Yoonsun Reynolds, Brian Crow and Kate Zemke​.

BEND, Ore. (AP) — Three Oregon jail employees have pleaded not guilty to charges of criminally negligent homicide in connection with an inmate’s death. The Bulletin reports deputies Michael Durkan, Cory Skidgel and Anthony Hansen pleaded not guilty in their first court appearance Thursday in the death of 59-year-old James Wippel. All three were booked Thursday and issued a conditional release from jail. Wippel, of Portland, died April 26, 2017, at the Jefferson County jail. He’d been arrested two days before on suspicion of heroin and methamphetamine possession and delivery of heroin. At the time, the sheriff’s office said the inmate suffered a serious medical issue a few days before he was lodged in jail. Prosecutors have yet to say what leads them to believe the employees acted with negligence.

In prep sports. Madras Baseball was defeated by Gladstone 13-3. Boys tennis bested Crook County 6-2. While girls tennis was a draw in sets 4-4, so the verdict was decided on number of games won – Crook county edged Madras by one game.