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Community feasts offered to everyone

Grant County residents have options this Thanksgiving. If you don’t feel like cooking or paying for that big meal, there are free community Thanksgiving dinners in both John Day and Prairie City.

In Prairie City, it’s happening at the PBC Teen Center sponsored by Prairie Baptist Church. It’ll be a traditional Thanksgiving meal at 1 p.m. this Thursday.

In John Day, it’ll be at the Elks Lodge from 1 until 4 p.m. The lounge will

November 21, 2016 7:50 am
education

Obama Administration Marks Five Years of the Veterans Opportunity to Work to Hire Heroes Act

President Barack Obama shakes the hand of Donald E. Larson, National President of the Fleet Reserve Association, after delivering remarks during a Veterans Day ceremony at the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, Nov. 11, 2016. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Five years ago today, President Obama signed into law the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, which brought about major changes to help

November 21, 2016 7:06 am
VSOs

Veterans service officer joins Umatilla County

A new face has joined the Umatilla County human services department to help local veterans access resources such as filing disability claims, pensions and other benefits.

Jennifer Olson was hired Oct. 17 from the Department of Veterans Affairs office in Walla Walla. As assistant veterans service officer, it is Olson’s job to work with the 1,800 veterans in Umatilla County and make sure they are aware of tools and programs available in the community.

“A lot of

November 21, 2016 7:03 am
Post-9/11 veterans

Everyday People: Seaside native, Marine veteran now serves schoolchildren

After 18 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, Billy Eddy got the chance to continue his family’s tradition of public service on the North Coast.

Eddy was hired over the summer as the Astoria School District’s new director of transportation, maintenance and safety. He replaced Ryan Hahn, who left to become transportation director of the Gresham-Barlow School District.

Eddy retired from the Marine Corps at the end of August, the same day as the district’s new food

November 21, 2016 6:06 am
education

Transition Assistance Program improvements ease path from Servicemember to Veteran

Five years ago today, President Obama signed into law the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, which brought about major changes to help transitioning Servicemembers acquire the training and skills they need to seamlessly integrate into the civilian economy.

President Obama greets members of the audience following his remarks on Veterans at Fire Station 5 in Arlington, Va., Feb. 3, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

On the

November 21, 2016 6:00 am
healthcare

SmokefreeVET: A text message program’s role in helping Veterans quit smoking

SmokefreeVET is an innovative, text message smoking cessation program that provides daily tips and encouragement to support Veterans who are trying to stop smoking.  Launched in 2013, VA’s SmokefreeVET text message program has been used by more than 3,500 Veterans.

Cell phones are generally always with you and always on, which makes them a convenient way to deliver messages and health-related information, particularly on stopping smoking.  VHA created SmokefreeVET in collaboration with the National Cancer

November 18, 2016 7:00 am
emergency assistance

VA transitional housing program to better serve Veterans experiencing homelessness

VA’s largest transitional housing program — the Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program — is transforming so that VA and its community partners can more effectively serve Veterans. The transformation involves implementing a competitive, time-limited grant process that will require currently funded community providers to reapply for funding.

The GPD program provides nonprofit organizations, state and local government agencies and tribal governments with the resources they need to develop and sustain supportive programs and/or

November 18, 2016 6:48 am

Veterans! Ready to be tobacco free? VA can help.

As soon as you stop using tobacco, the benefits begin. If you’re ready to be tobacco free, your VA health care team can help.

The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout is an annual event that encourages smokers to make a plan to quit or to actually quit smoking on November 17, 2016.

In the more than 50 years since the Surgeon General’s first report on smoking and health, cigarette smoking among U.S. adults has

November 17, 2016 7:00 am