What’s the best way to promote Ellensburg and Kittitas County? The Ellen campaign? New videos promoting adventure in Kittitas County? Do we need viral marketing campaign like in Leavenworth?

What was the most significant thing that happened in 2010 locally? What’s ahead in 2011?

Ecology upgrades burn ban for Kittitas County to highest level

OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is upgrading a burn ban in Kittitas County to Stage 2 because air pollution levels caused by smoke are not dropping.

Ecology’s Stage 2 burn ban for Kittitas County is effective immediately and will continue until at least 10 a.m. Tuesday (Jan. 4, 2011). The Stage 2 ban applies to use of all wood stoves, inserts and fireplaces, and to all outdoor burning.

Under a Stage 2 ban:

• Use of all types of fireplaces, wood stoves and inserts is prohibited unless they are a home’s only source of heat.

• All outdoor burning – including residential, agricultural and forest burning – is prohibited.

Smoke from outdoor burning, wood stoves and fireplaces is likely to build up where cold air is trapped near the ground. Fine particles in smoke are so small they can easily get into your lungs. Once there, they can cause heart and breathing problems, and even death. Children, people with asthma and respiratory illnesses, and adults older than 65 are most at risk.

For updates, check local media reports, Ecology’s daily burn decision hotline (1-800-406-5322) and www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/outdoor_woodsmoke/burn_ban.htm.

A 2009 Ecology analysis estimates that fine particles contribute to about 1,100 deaths and $190 million in health-care costs each year in Washington. (http://www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/0902021.pdf)

The Washington State Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution should limit the time they spend outdoors. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse.

Ecology recommends that people limit vehicle trips, combine errands or use public transportation to reduce air pollution.

You can track air quality in your area by using the Washington Air Quality Advisory (WAQA). This is Ecology’s tool for informing people about the health effects of air pollution, including fine particles. It’s very similar to the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s national information tool, the Air Quality Index (AQI). Both use color-coded categories to show when air quality is good, moderate or unhealthy. (https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/Default.htm)

The difference is that WAQA shows that air quality is unhealthy earlier, when fewer fine particles are in the air. For more information, see this Ecology focus sheet. (http://www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/0802022.pdf)

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See a list of certified wood stoves and clean burning tips (http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/indoor_woodsmoke/wood_smoke_page.htm)

From O5 to 09 my family and I received

below standard care services from a local health care provider. We also  did not give our informed consent for these services.

Now, at the cost of $15,000.00 we have had to have the procedures redone correctly, or completely replaced by  competent and professional providers who cares about their patients.

We made every attempt to settle these issues outside of the legal system but every attempt was met with hostily, lies, and false allegations against my wife and child.

We filed suit in, and won our case  in Small claims and the  Judge ordered we be paid the full amount within 20 days. This person is appealing the decision,as is their right,  and we are currently awaiting the judge’s ruling in Superior Court after the evidence we presented in court is reviewed.

Seeing that it’s been moved to Superior on appeal, The defendant’s attorney’s have now been able to get involved. and that is what prompted me to post here in search of an attorney who might be able to give us some advice.

Several law offices I contacted informed me there was a conflict of interest upon hearing who the defendant was. I assume either they are currently handling a case involving this  person, or have previously, as the defendant’s current attorneys  are out of Spokane.  I finally  found one that has agreed to handle the writ of garnishment if it gets to that point. 

As stated previously, it all hinges on what Superior Court decides. I feel strongly that the evidence will stand on it’s own, and they will uphold the Lower Courts ruling.

To answer the question below as to what was the lack of informed consent about, There was a procedure that could have been used to prevent the complete loss of two teeth. We were neither told about or offered this at the time of treatment. We only learned of it after the fact from going to a different provider.

i feel that the only reason the defendant is appealing is because he is currently under investigation by the Department of Health because of complaints filed by our family and two other people that have come forward to tell about their experiences in his care. Both considerably worse than ours.

I’ll post the courts decision when it is made.   

Officials say an alcoholic energy drink called Four Loko is to blame for nine college students who were hospitalized after an Oct. 8 house party in Roslyn. Officials are working to ban alcoholic energy drinks in Washington, and the FDA is studying the beverages’ safety.

Are Four Loko and similar alcoholic energy drinks a major concern? Or are they simply a convenient scapegoat? Should the focus be on the drink or the behavior? Share your comments here.

Two more links that might be of interest:

FDA To Look Into Safety of Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverages (Nov. 12, 2009)

List of Manufacturers of Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverages