Parents & kids

Budget crunch forces Longview to cut teacher aides

LONGVIEW, Wash. -- More than 100 teacher aides in Longview are out of their jobs.

In fact, all the teacher aides are out of jobs.

According to a story in the Longview Daily News, the teacher aides are being told to re-apply for their positions because of cuts and restructuring.

All the aides will have to attend a job fair to re-apply and about 73 positions will be awarded based on seniority. District officials said they have to do it that way because all of the cuts are causing drastic changes to job descriptions and workoads.


 

Cowlitz Sheriff investigating vandalism at county park

Cowlitz Sheriff investigating vandalism at county park

LEXINGTON, Wash. -- Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office is investigating the recent vandalism at Riverside County Park in Lexington, which is four miles north of Kelso.

Sometime between April 20 and today, someone spray painted the bathroom walls with graffiti and drawings. The writing includes "SSL13" which is typically understood to be a label for the South Side Locos gang, which is a loose-knit group of teenagers known for destructive tagging around the Kelso area. There is also a drawing of the face of Joker that was done on the bathroom wall.

The parks department will be working to remove the paint, or cover it up. Investigators from the sheriff's office hope the public can help identify the culprits by calling in any information to Deputy Andy Nunes at 360-577-3092 or crime stoppers at 360-577-1206.

Mexican music and dance set for Saturday at Longview Public Library

LONGVIEW, Wash. -- From 2-3 p.m. April 28, the Longview Public Library will present Viva Mexico Mariachi!, the Pacific Northwest premiere mariachi band, in the lower floor lobby/Koth Gallery.

This day will celebrate Dia de los Ninos de los Libros (Children's Day/Book Day), a multi-cultural recognition of the importance of reading for all children. Pat Mora, author and librarian, spearheaded the American Library Association's creation of this expansion of Children's Day, a traditional Mexican holiday. The R.A. Long Multicultural Club will help us celebrate with snacks and free books for children. Be sure to keep in mind that the 2 p.m. time for the concert is not at the usual Salsa Saturday time.

Cowlitz County residents are lacing up

LONGVIEW, Wash. -- Approximately 100 people young and old will lace up their walking shoes in Longview on April 28 to  give hope that every baby will have a healthy start. They're walking and raising money to support March of Dimes funded research and programs to help moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies.

Here's why:

Longview hires former Wilsonville construction company employee as new Street/Stormwater Supervisor

LONGVIEW, Wash. -- Officials from the City of Longview recently hired Chris Collins as the city's new Street/Stormwater Supervisor.

America's oldest walking event to hit Longview streets April 28

 America's oldest walking event to hit Longview streets April 28

LONGVIEW, Wash. -- Hundreds of families and business leaders will join together April 28 at PeachHealth Women's Pavillion in Longview in the March of Dimes' annual March for Babies -- the nation's oldest walk fund-raiser and the only one honoring all babies -- those born healthy and those who need help to survive and thrive.

James and Holly Hanset are walking in SW Washington for their son, Holdyn, who was born at 24 weeks gestation -- about four months too soon. He weighed only 1 pound, 8 ounces. James and Holly were told by multiple neonatologists they should consider not resuscitating as Holdyn was at such a high risk of defects and lifelong complications.

"We decided that Holdyn should at least be given a chance," James said. "We spent the next five months living in the NICU."

Though they still have struggles, James says they now have one of the sweetest toddlers anyone could ask for.

Joining James, Holly, Holdyn and so many others who know the trauma of premature birth or birth defects, are key sponsors like PacificSource, First Tech Federal Credit Union, KeyBank and Kaiser Permanente.

PeaceHealth St. John takes steps to protect against Pertussis

LONGVIEW, Wash. -- In recent weeks, Cowlitz County has experienced a significant amount of pertussis, with 30 cases reported in the past month. This continues a trend seen locally in 2011, when the number of pertussis cases was up nearly six times over 2010.

Pertussis can be life threatening for infants, especially newborns. Due to the ongoing rise of pertussis, PeaceHealth St. John in Longview is implementing heightened infection control measures to ensure the safety of our most vulnerable populations. Pertussis is highly contagious and is easily spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. In the first ten weeks of 2012 there have been a total of 375 pertussis cases reported across Washington State, compared to just 76 cases reported in the same period in 2011.

Effective immediately, PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center is observing the following infection control measures: