Benton County News
April - May 2019
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County proposes 2019-21 biennium budget
The proposed Benton County budget for the 2019-2021 biennium was released on April 17, 2019. Budget review meetings have been occurring over the past two weeks and will conclude towards the end of May. At the end of the budget review, the Budget Committee will approve the 2019-2021 biennium budget and set the maximum property tax rates for each year of the biennium.
A summary of the approved budget will then be published and the Board of Commissioners will conduct a final public hearing before officially adopting the budget. The Board of Commissioners is tentatively scheduled to conduct the final public hearing and consider the budget for adoption on June 18, 2019.
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County honors public health advocates and partners at annual awards event
Congratulations to City of Corvallis Police Department Livability team members: Sergeant Joel Goodwin, Officer James Dodge, Officer Trevor Anderson, Officer Luke Thomas, Officer Josh Zessin and Officer Dale Raybould (pictured above left). The City of Corvallis Police Department Livability team are recipients of the 2019 of the Sheldon Wagner Public Health Service Award.
And, hats off to recently retired Benton County Special Transportation Coordinator Lee Lazaro, recipent of the Roger Irvin Health in all Policies Award (pictured above right).
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County Fair and Rodeo announces 2019 main stage line-up
The Benton County Fair & Rodeo proudly presents the 2019 Pioneer Telephone Main Stage entertainment:
Wednesday, July 31
- 7:00pm, Trevor Tagle
- 8:30pm, Jackson Michelson
Thursday, August 1
- 7:00 pm, Petty Fever: Tom Petty Tribute
- 8:30 pm, Queen Nation: A Tribute to the Music of Queen
Friday, August 2
- 7:00 pm, 5 Guys Named Moe
- 8:30 pm, Taylor Dayne
Saturday, August 3
- 7:00 pm, Briana Renea
- 8:30 pm, Larry, Steve & Rudy: The Gatlin Brothers
Tickets go on sale June 3, 2019. Concerts are free with paid admission to the fair. Seating in the outdoor venue is first come, first serve.
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Benton County first in state health factor rankings
For the fifth year in a row, Benton County ranks first in overall health factors, and for the second year in a row, Benton County ranks second in overall health outcomes according to the annual Oregon County Health Rankings released in March by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, available at
www.countyhealthrankings.org.
Although the County ranks highly and experiences ongoing stability among health factors and outcomes, the County’s recently completed 2017 Community Health Assessment process identified areas needing improvement.
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Let's Pull Together on May 18!
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Bring your friends, your family, or your group, and join in to reduce the impacts of invasive plants! Come to any one of the Let’s Pull Together locations on Saturday May 18 to remove weeds. Benton Soil & Water Conservation District site coordinators and on-site noxious weed experts will assist you in identifying native plants and noxious weeds.
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May is Mental Health Month
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May 2019 marks the 70
th
year of observing Mental Health Awareness Month. In honor of this important observance, look for our #MentalHealthMonth awareness campaign on @BentonCoGov Facebook and Twitter channels throughout the month of May.
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Public Health Hep-A prevention campaign sees success
Since 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been assisting state and local health departments in eighteen states to deal with Hepatitis-A outbreaks that have sickened over 13,500 people and killed at least 119.
To date there have been no Oregon Hepatitis-A cases epidemiologically linked to any of the outbreaks around the country. Nevertheless, out of an abundance of caution and an ever-improving understanding of the risks facing our unhoused population, Benton County Health Department began a Hepatitis-A prevention campaign in late 2017.
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Last day to report flood damage in Benton County is May 15
The Benton County Commissioners Annabelle Jaramillo, Pat Malone and Xan Augerot signed a declaration of local emergency/disaster for the unincorporated areas of Benton County on Thursday, April 11, 2019. Heavy rains and the release of water at Dorena Dam in Lane County resulted in substantial flooding in the County.
May 15, 2019, is the last day to report flood damage in Benton County. Additionally, if you live in a flood plain or have National Flood Insurance Program coverage, please contact Toby Lewis, Benton County Flood Plain Manager, at 541-766-6819.
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Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
Identity theft is “the taking of a person’s name or individual identifying number–like a social security, account number, or drivers’ license number–and using it to commit fraud or theft.”
To protect yourself from identity theft, become a S.C.A.M. artist!
- Stingy with information.
- Check your financial information.
- Ask for copies of your credit report.
- Maintain careful records.
Stingy with Information
Buy a shredder for your home and use it to shred personal financial information you no longer need. Always post outgoing mail in a Post Office mailbox, not your mailbox at the curb outside your home unless you have a locked mailbox. Do not leave personal information, your computer, cell phone or PDA in your car, and don’t give your personal information to people who initiate the contact.
Check your Financial Information
Each month check your credit card statements for unauthorized purchases and your bank statements for unauthorized withdrawals. Shred any unsolicited credit card offers.
Ask for Copies of Your Credit Report
Review your credit report annually. You have a right to obtain a free credit report once every 12 months from each of the three national credit reporting bureaus–Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Make sure someone hasn’t opened a line of credit in your name.
Maintain Careful Records
Keep financial and identity information you must maintain, like your social security card, in a secure location. Shred what you don’t need.
If you are a victim of identity theft, take these actions:
- Contact all three credit bureaus and report the fraud. Request a fraud alert.
- Contact your local law enforcement agency and report the fraud.
- Contact your bank and advise them of the fraud.
- Keep careful records! Document all your activities. Note date/time of phone calls, who you spoke with and what they said to clear this up.
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