Health District hosts community resource fair at McCosh Park
NANCE BESTON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 7 months AGO
Grant County Health District sitaff organized an event in collaboration with the Saturday farmers market in McCosh Park to educate area residents about addiction and resources to help people get clean. One of the booths there represented the newly-opened Women's Oxford House. Pictured are Nokey Pando and Kelley Rimbey who help operate the program.
COURTESY PHOTO/OXFORD HOUSE
Flags decorated McCosh park in Moses Lake for National Overdose Day. The 254 purple flags represented locals saved from overdose and the 108 whote flags represented those lost to an overdose from 2018 to 2022.
MOSES LAKE – Purple and white flags decorated the lawn at McCosh Park on Saturday for National Overdose Awareness Day. The purple flags represent the 254 lives saved from an overdose and the 108 lives lost to overdose, from 2018 to 2022 in Grant County. The statistics come from reports to the Grant County Health District, according to Mariah DeLeon, the organizer of the event.
“We really just wanted to create a space for people to memorialize these people and just kind of bring a little bit more humanity to the situation,” Deleon said.
The Grant County Health District was distributing Narcan, shirts, tote bags and water bottles that have a purple heart that say #EndOverdose.
Narcan can be used to help someone overdosing on opioids. DeLeon said there are no consequences to using Narcan, even if the person is not overdosing on an opioid. She said to wait five minutes between two doses and not administer more than two doses. She also said to call the police, there are good Samaritan laws in place to protect people from being charged for helping with an overdose and law enforcement and EMS will help ensure everyone’s safety.
“Even though we are a small community, overdose does affect us as well. It might not affect you, but it does affect people’s loved ones, their friends, neighbors,” DeLeon said. “So let people know that if we come together as a community, we can find some solutions and end overdose.”
The event took place next to the Saturday farmers market. There were tables from Grant County Health District, Moses Lake Community Coalition, Quincy Partnership for Health, Nuestras Raíces, Latino Civic Alliance, Oxford House, Renew, Unidos Nueva Alianza, Community Health Plan of Washington, Coordinated Care Health, Hope Source, Goodwill, Planned Parenthood and the Moses Lake Fire Department.
The Oxford House’s new Moses Lake location is accepting applications for residents, said Nokey Pando, who works with the organization. Those interested in applying can find additional information at www.oxfordhouse.org. If you know of a woman in need of services, they can apply at www.oxfordvacancies.com.
The purpose of the event was to connect those in the community affected directly or indirectly by addiction with education and needed resources, she said.
“We have to educate people that it doesn't even matter what the person’s background or race is,” DeLeon said. “It could be someone who is prescribed opioids from their doctors. It could be your grandpa who accidentally forgot that he took pain meds in the morning and he took a second dose. Overdoses don't just happen to people who are addicted to medication, there are accidental overdoses and stuff like that.”
Flags decorated McCosh park in Moses Lake for National Overdose Day. The 254 purple flags represented locals saved from overdose and the 108 whote flags represented those lost to an overdose from 2018 to 2022.
ARTICLES BY NANCE BESTON
1 arrested after Highway 17 stop; detectives recover fentanyl, firearms
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Street Crimes Unit conducted a traffic stop on Highway 17 near Randolph Road and executed a search warrant Friday morning as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation.
4th-year drought declaration in WA, subtle effects in the Columbia Basin
EPHRATA — Washington’s fourth straight year of drought is expected to hit some regions hard, but in Grant and Adams counties, the impacts will look different – quieter, less visible and centered underground. Statewide, the Department of Ecology issued an emergency drought declaration after a warm winter left Washington with about half its usual snowpack, raising concerns about low summer streamflows, stressed fish populations and heightened wildfire risk. Seven of the past 10 years have included drought somewhere in the state. “If you look at our mountains, the challenge we are facing is clear,” Gov. Bob Ferguson said during a press conference Wednesday. “We’re taking emergency action to protect fish, farmers and communities across Washington.”
Sleep Diagnostic Center to close after doctor’s sentencing
MOSES LAKE — The Central Washington Sleep Diagnostic Center announced it will be closing its doors effective April 30. This includes locations in Moses Lake, Spokane Valley, Brewster and Wenatchee. The announcement follows the March 25 guilty plea from Dr. Eric Edward Haeger, 57, in United States District Court to adulterating and misbranding medical devices with the intent to defraud or mislead, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “The adulterations by Dr Haeger show a dangerous disregard for the safety of his patients,” Washington Attorney General Nick Brown said in a statement. “This is a win for patient safety, for protecting public dollars from fraud, and for ensuring citizens of Washington get necessary healthcare. This case exemplifies the great work our team is doing in collaboration with our federal partners to fight fraud and protect Washingtonians.”