n March 25, A.D. 2020: The Tooth, the Whole Tooth, and Nothing … · 2020-03-25 · Blaine County Visitors Urged to Isolate! F Free subscription! [email protected] Or ww.theweeklybeaver.com!

Blaine County Visitors Urged to Isolate! F Free subscription! [email protected] Or ww.theweeklybeaver.com!

Sweet & Sour Isolation! n March 25, A.D. 2020: The Tooth, the Whole Tooth, and Nothing But the Tooth!

Whittle-Ö-Gram! Camas School soft closure extended to April 20! An Update from Superintendent Whittle!!!!! Dear Camas Parents, Students, Staff, and Patrons, Monday, the District Leadership Team attended the State Board of Education (SBOE) meeting and wish to give you a preliminary update on the information we received. A more detailed update will be released by Thursday, March 26. C All Idaho Schools! At the 3/23/20 SBOE meeting, it was determined that all Idaho schools will be on a “soft closure” until Monday, April 20. A “soft closure” was defined by the SBOE as “no students within the building.” Due to the fluidity of the COVID-19 situation, the SBOE will make a weekly determination by the SBOE as to whether Idaho schools should remain in a soft closure or the decision to resume face-to-face classes should be returned to local school boards. We will communicate this decision to you as soon as possible. During this time, the building(s) will remain closed to everyone other than designated staff. C Details on the School Website! Camas County Schools anticipated the possibility of such an action by the SBOE and, as a result, has a plan ready to be implemented. Staff was notified of this revision to the emergency closure plan and it was posted to the Camas County Schools website (camascountyschools.org) on March 19. Please go to the school’s website to see a more detailed explanation. In an effort to deliver instruction in as timely a manner as possible, teachers have been notified that they should begin developing plans for alternate instruction of the students enrolled in their classes. District administration will be developing guidelines and determining the support needed by teachers to begin their planning and preparation for remote instruction. Camas staff will begin their planning on Monday, March 30 and “going live” with remote instruction as early as Thursday, April 2, but the goal is to be providing instruction no later than Monday, April 6. C Reach Out Thusly! Please expect to be contacted by your student(s) teacher(s) by Friday, April 3, to clarify how instruction will be taking place. If you have not been contacted by Friday, April 3, please contact the teacher(s). The “formula” for emailing Camas staff is the person's first initial and last name followed by @camascountyschools.org. Please notice that there is an “s” at the end of school. There only exception to this formula is our High School Social Sciences teacher, Chris Thompson. His email address is [email protected]. If you are unsure of the staff member’s name, please access the following link, which will take you to the staff contact link (https://www.camascountyschools.org/parents/staff-directory). If you aren’t sure to whom you should direct your email, please email Wendy Strickler at [email protected]. and she will forward your concerns to the appropriate staff member. ❦


Be Out While In! How to Enjoy Your Public Library from Home! On-Line Resources! Wi-Fi! Interlibrary Loans! Streaming Movies!

Maybe Facebook Live story hour?

by Amy Ballard

f the words “shelter at home” have you pining for a good book, never fear. There are many ways to enjoy the offerings

of your local library from home. Library Director Stephanie Jewett shared in an email interview this week just how the Camas County Public Library continues to meet the needs of a community of readers in a time of social distancing. Things may look a bit different, but the library is still checking out books. “Even though they can't necessarily come into the physical building, the library still has a lot of resources available,” Jewett said. “We’re doing what we can to still provide library services in the context of social distancing and trying to mitigate the spread of the virus,” Jewett said. “This means that while we are keeping our doors locked, we are still loaning out materials and can allow up to two people in at a time to use the computers for up to a half-hour at a time. It’s a lot easier to wipe down a computer station after someone has used it than to try to disinfect the stacks, so we’re not letting people browse for materials right now.” This policy matches what other libraries in the region are doing, Jewett said. The public isn’t coming in, but the staff is still available to facilitate limited use of the library and its materials.

As always, the library’s catalog is available at camas.biblionix.com/catalog. “We encourage people to look at our catalog to see what we have available, and then place items on hold or call us. We will pull the items, check them out to you, and meet you at the door with them.” Can’t find what you’re looking for? The Camas County Public Library is part of the Idaho Digital Consortium on Overdrive, which has hundreds of titles available for loan. “We have

also recently signed up with Kanopy, a streaming movie service that will allow each patron to ‘check out’ up to ten movies per month. Both of these services are available on our website.” Jewett added, “We also have access to Ebsco educational databases, where you can find everything from how to master Microsoft Office to homework help.” Some resources usually require libraries to pay a fee or subscribe, but the library is working with providers to get temporary free access, especially to databases and other non-fiction sources that can help kids with their schoolwork.

And Inter-Library Loan (ILL) is still an option, “to a certain extent. We will continue to put in ILL requests, but it may take a bit longer to find a library willing to share with us.” Some

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face-to-face library services, such as children’s storytimes, have been put on hold. Jewett said that to mitigate the impact on our youngest readers, the library is considering offering Facebook Live storytimes. “Dozens of authors have made their works available for public performance, enabling libraries to hold events like that where before we would be running into copyright issues.” Fairfield resident Raquel Galvin said Tuesday that her kids, who enjoy using libraries in Fairfield, Blaine County, and even in Lima, Peru, when traveling, miss going to the library. “It’s like their world is upside down,” she said. In these confusing times, a good book is still an anchor for many people. Jewett said, “Just like in any time of uncertainty, we like to go for comfort and probably some predictability. My suggestion is to revisit old favorites, the ones that will make you feel happy. This is a great opportunity to share with your family. Reading aloud is so much fun, and a lot of people stop reading to their kids when their kids learn to read. Snuggle up on the sofa with a blanket and read to each other! You may find you enjoy it more than TV!”

Jewett also pointed out that now more than ever, the Internet offers innumerable suggestions for things to do to keep busy. “This is a great time to start a new hobby!” The library’s Wi-Fi is on 24 hours a day with no password, and it can be accessed from outside the building. And the library offers a variety of how-to books to help new hobbyists learn. “We have cookbooks, craft books, wood carving and gardening books, as well as books full of games and activities that don’t require a computer.” Jewett added, “And don't forget that we have puzzles and games available to check out, too!” In addition to serving patrons, Jewett said the library staff is also taking this time to “deep clean the building, evaluate the collection, and do some planning for programming that we can look forward to when things go back to normal.” g

Reach the Camas County Public Library by phone at (208) 764-2553 or online at camas.lili.org.

Amy Ballard teaches English at Camas County High School. When she gets a little free time, she writes. Find her online at www.amyballard.com.

Photo: Jeff Ralph


Apply for Property Tax Reduction! New Deadline!! Governor Little has extended the Application date to June 15 for the Property Tax Reduction, Tax Deferral and the 100% Service-Connection Disabled Veteran Benefit Programs. People who want to apply from home can call the Assessor’s office and file an application over the phone! Call Assessor Lynn McGuire at 208-764-2370! ❦

Application Deadline Extended Until June 15! June 15!!!!


Hey, what’s not happening??? Here’s the Would that Won’t!!!! A Retirement Farewell Postponed!!!!! The big party for retiring County Treasurer Gayle Bachtell has been postponed! We’ll do it later! Long-time Deputy Assessor Deanna Hoskinson has been appointed to serve the rest of Treasurer Bachtell’s term and will be sworn in April 1. Thanks, Deanna! ❦ Grave Matters! Cemetery District Meeting Cancelled!! The Cemetery District informational meeting scheduled for April 6 has been canceled! The Cemetery Board will be in touch! ❦

Fairfield City and Camas County make disaster declarations for COVID-19! “Nothing? That’s the point.” Fairfield Mayor Terry Lee and Camas County Commission Chairman Travis Kramer have issued emergency disaster declarations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and following emergency response declarations declared by Idaho’s Governor. According to Chairman Kramer and Mayor Lee, the declaration will allow the county and city officers to open their respective budgets quickly to deal with unanticipated and unbudgeted expenditures related to pandemic response, and ease access to potentially emergency resources coming from the state and federal governments. The state-declared emergency conditions also support local governments in using telecommunication for official meetings.

Chairman Kramer: “”Once again, the declaration is merely a proactive step in keeping the county prepared for fast-paced events that could occur. We will remain prepared and will continue to follow state and federal guidelines regarding COVID-19; if following these guidelines means that nothing happens, please try to remember: that’s the point.” ❦

Fairfield Clinic continues to welcome patients! Call ahead, please! Message from Tackett at the Fairfield Medical Center! “Hey, All! Fairfield Family Health Services is closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays for now. I am still in the office taking calls as of right now. We’re asking patients to not just walk in, but to please call ahead, instead. We will be asking questions on the phone and when you go to the front door, we’ll be asking more questions and taking your temperature. Depending on your symptoms, you may have to wait in your car for the nurse. If you have any questions, please call the clinic. Thank you!” ❦

Ensure social distancing! Grab an accordion! Give it a lusty squeeze!

Remember the Blaine! Regional health districts in Idaho are asking anyone who has traveled to Blaine County between March 8 and March 22 to shelter in place – please stay at home except to get necessary medical care. For further information, visit the South Central Health District website at www.phd5.idaho.gov ! ❦



Documents

n March 25, A.D. 2020: The Tooth, the Whole Tooth, and Nothing … · 2020-03-25 · Blaine County Visitors Urged to Isolate! F Free subscription! [email protected] Or ww.theweeklybeaver.com!