KUDOS TO LOCAL STAFF

THANKS TO LOCAL EFFORTS – Successful vaccination campaign due to local staff and volunteers.

Seventh District Health Director Geri Rackow began her COVID-19 update to the Salmon City Council with a huge shout-out to the amazing local staff responsible for making the vaccination effort so seamlessly smooth. She said it goes not only to the district staff but to the Steele Memorial Clinic and the Salmon Pharmacy plus the volunteers who have made the local clinics possible every week.

In her March 3 report, she said there have been around 3,500 vaccinations statewide and that figure will be rising soon with the arrival of an additional 1,400 doses of the Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccine. Rackow said 24.3 percent of the residents in Lemhi County have received vaccinations which is one of the highest rates in the state. Vaccinations for the 65 and older group is expected to be finished the week of March 7th. Efforts will be moving to the next priority group which includes vaccinations for; Food and Agriculture workers, USDA Food Inspection workers; grocery and convenience store workers, National Guard members, manufacturing, Postal Service workers, flight crews and utility workers as well as homeless shelter residents. Those is that group will become eligible to receive the vaccine on March 15 and the local clinic will begin vaccinations on March 17. Those interested may sign up for the waiting list on the District Seven web site.

Steele Memorial’s Marketing Manager Jenny Tracy said that after next Wednesday there will probably be no more mass vaccinations. The next round of vaccinations will likely be given at the Steele Memorial Clinic or the Salmon Pharmacy or at the Public Health office on the Bar Hill. The public will be informed about schedules when they are formalized,

Rackow said another group anxious to schedule vaccinations are those who are under 65 and have underlying health conditions. She said a state COVID-19 advisory committee is meeting March 5 to determine a timeline of inoculations for that group. She urged people to continue to wear masks and practice social distancing for the time being.

One of the people this community lost to COVID-19 was City Councilman Ken Hill who was known for his many local contributions. Among them was buying the downtown History Park property and deeding it to the city. Earlier in the evening during a public comment opportunity Salmon resident Dave Gusky, who shared a common background of Colorado residency with Hill, suggested Hill’s portrait and a commemoration plaque be placed in the park.

City Clerk Mary Benton told Gusky and the council that the city is working on a re-dedication of History Park to Hill, and is having the History Park interpretive panels refurbished. She said a custom metal and wood monument sign created by Shelli and Rob Wiederrick has been commissioned in Hill’s honor. The date and time of the re-dedication will be announced.