Survey points to prioritizing mental health, community safety
Results of a survey about the elements of the Justice System Improvement Program (JSIP) were presented to the Benton County Board of Commissioners during the June 14, 2022 work session. Benton County voters want their local government to prioritize investments that address mental health, community safety, and people who are navigating homelessness according to a poll commissioned by the County designed to gather feedback on projects related to the JSIP. The survey, conducted by DHM Research, interviewed 300 respondents between May 23 – 25, 2022, with a margin of error at ±5.7%
The survey found that voters are generally satisfied with County services, especially parks (80%) and sheriff enforcement and patrol (67%). Overall, 41% of respondents believe that Benton County is on the right track compared to 38% who say it is on the wrong track. Top issues for residents include homelessness (32%), housing affordability (21%), and crime/safety (13%).
Only 23% of respondents were aware of JSIP, a multi-year project based on a comprehensive 2018 assessment of the community safety and justice system. The project is focused on investments in mental health and treatment for addiction, corrections, emergency operations, law enforcement, and the courts. Of those who were aware, only 6% knew that the JSIP includes additional mental health resources.
The Board will determine a preliminary Justice System Facilities package in August. Funding for these new facilities will come from a variety of sources including nearly $30 million in resources leveraged by the County including state and federal funds for the Crisis Center, Courthouse, and a local bond measure planned for May 2023. A final determination on what will be included in the bond measure will be made in December. Additional opportunities for public engagement including public meetings and small group presentations will take place next fall.
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Independence Day!
The Fourth of July is just around the corner! Each year residents across the U.S. celebrate the day it became an official nation when the Declaration of Independence was passed by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.
If you are celebrating with fireworks this year remember to enjoy fireworks where they belong: on the pavement at home 🏠 away from structures, 🚗 vehicles, and 🌳 flammable vegetation.
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Practice safety on the Fourth |
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Fireworks disposal
Fireworks can liven up the season if used safely. Republic Services asks all residents to use caution when using and disposing of fireworks.
Follow these guidelines to keep neighborhoods and collection truck drivers safe. Improperly extinguished items can cause fires in trash and recycling carts, collection trucks, or spread to nearby structures.
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Grant application period for non-lethal agricultural wildlife deterrence program opens July 1
Agricultural operations of all sizes in Benton County that wish to prevent conflicts with wildlife may qualify for up to $5,000 in reimbursement grant funds for the purchase of proactive non-lethal wildlife deterrents to protect livestock and crops. These deterrents include standard and electric fencing, scare devices, fladry or flagging, birthing or lambing structures, animal housing, and livestock guardian animals. Property owners experiencing conflicts with beavers may also qualify for grant funds for the purchase of deterrents to protect trees or prevent flooding.
Grant applications may be downloaded and submitted beginning July 1, 2022 at co.benton.or.us/awpp. The application period closes July 31, 2022 and grant awards will be announced on September 1, 2022.
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Upcoming vaccination clinics
The Benton County Health Department continues to work with community partners to offer COVID-19 vaccination events throughout the County during the month of July. Events will take place in Corvallis, Philomath, and Monroe.
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Habitat burns, burning love, and loving butterflies at Beazell Memorial Forest
(an article by: Northwest Natural Resource Group)
It’s that classic love story: boy meets girl, boy buys forest, girl marries boy, boy plants 100,000 trees.
Okay, not classic, exactly, but sweet, definitely.
When Fred Beazell bought over 500 acres of former farmland near Corvallis in the early sixties, he had dreams of living on the land with his long-time sweetheart, Dolores Anthony. The couple married a few years later, but for decades continued to live in Silicon Valley, where they both worked in tech. Still, Fred made frequent weekend trips to the land and found immense joy in digging holes and planting seedlings – over 100,000 of them, in fact. When they retired in 1991, Fred and Dolores finally decided to move to the forest and build their dream home there. The couple enjoyed two happy years on the land together – birdwatching, hiking, and watching Fred’s trees grow around them – before Dolores passed away.
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Heat and cold water safety
Summer has arrived and with it, the warm weather. Review the following heat safety tips to help prevent heat-related illness:
Stay hydrated and watch out for signs of heat-related illness.
If you are working outside during high temperatures remember to:
- Drink 2-4 cups of water every hour while working. Don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink.
- Avoid alcohol or liquids containing lots of sugar.
- Wear and reapply sunscreen.
- Wear a brimmed hat and loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
- Spend time in air-conditioned buildings during breaks and after work.
- Encourage coworkers to take breaks to cool off and drink water.
- Seek medical care immediately if you or a coworker has signs of heat-related illness. These include muscle cramps, headaches, faintness, nausea or vomiting. Learn more about working outside during high temperatures.
Be aware of warning signs and symptoms of heat-related illness:
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Heat Cramps may be the first sign of heat-related illness, and may lead to heat exhaustion or stroke.
- Symptoms: Painful muscle cramps and spasms usually in legs and abdomen and heavy sweating.
- First Aid: Apply firm pressure on cramping muscles or gently massage to relieve spasm. Give sips of water unless the person complains of nausea, then stop giving water. Seek immediate medical attention if cramps last longer than 1 hour.
- Heat Exhaustion
- Symptoms: Heavy sweating, weakness or tiredness, cool, pale, clammy skin; fast, weak pulse, muscle cramps, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, headache, fainting.
- First Aid: Move person to a cooler environment, preferably a well air conditioned room. Loosen clothing. Apply cool, wet cloths or have person sit in a cool bath. Offer sips of water. If person vomits more than once, seek immediate medical attention if the person vomits, symptoms worsen or last longer than 1 hour.
- Heat Stroke
- Symptoms: Throbbing headache, confusion, nausea, dizziness, body temperature above 103°F, hot, red, dry or damp skin, rapid and strong pulse, fainting, loss of consciousness.
- First Aid: Call 911 or get the victim to a hospital immediately. Heat stroke is a severe medical emergency. Delay can be fatal. Move the victim to a cooler, preferably air-conditioned, environment. Reduce body temperature with cool cloths or bath. Use fan if heat index temperatures are below the high 90's. A fan can make you hotter at higher temperatures. Do NOT give fluids.
With the warmer weather, many of us want to get in the water even though the water hasn't quite warmed up yet. Please be EXTRA careful when recreating as water levels in most rivers are still very high and water temperatures are still cold. Review cold water safety facts:
- Body heat can be lost 4 times faster in cold water than in cold air.
- Wearing a life jacket significantly increases chances of survival.
- Cold shock can be just as severe and dangerous from water temperatures of 50-60F as it is from water at 35F.
- Gasping for a breath or rapid breathing from sudden immersion can be triggered by water as warm as 77F.
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Questions?
Benton County Public Information Office
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