Dispatch News 4-12-2023

Guest column: What it takes to become a school bus driver

By Darin Anderson Special to the Dispatch

So, you want to be a school bus driver. Wonderful, the world needs more people like you, but before you break out the reflective vest and saddle up a 40-foot school bus, let’s talk about what it takes to get there. I bet it’s more than you think … it was for me.

OK, first step is to apply for the job. Well, that’s not easy using the tools the district currently uses for all job offerings, but guess what? You can apply in person, at least until the current crisis is over.

Great, you’ve applied, and let’s say you make it through the interview and are approved to begin training.

Before you start training, you will need a Commercial Driver’s License. That’s going to require some background checks, some finger printing, some driving history checks, a physical exam and make sure your socks match (OK, I might be kidding about that one).

“What, it’s going to cost me about $400 to do all of this?”

Yep, but have no fear, the district will reimburse you for those expenses after you complete your training and have driven for a total of 200 hours.

Next up, getting your CDL learner’s permit. Remember when you got your original driver’s license? Yeah, well it’s worse this time around. You have to take, and pass, four written tests at the DMV, and

we all know how much fun the DMV is.

You did it, you got your learner’s permit. Time to hop in the big bus and roll on down the road — well, sort of. Now you have a license to start driving with an instructor. Fortunately, we have a great instructor who only yells once in a while (just kidding).

“How long am I required to drive with a trainer?” you might ask. At least 80 hours of behind-the-wheel time is required before you can be approved for testing. For those of you doing the math, it might seem like that’s only two weeks. Not quite, you only drive an hour or two a day because our trainer also is our dispatcher, and a bus driver, and a consoling ear — you get the picture. Do the math with that in mind, and you find that it will take you many weeks to complete your driver training. It took me eight weeks, and we had five trainers when I was learning.

But wait, there’s more! You must also memorize sevenplus pages of notes on how to perform a pre-trip inspection of your bus.

Yep, you get to learn about

leaf springs, power steering pumps, linkages, trailing arms, slack adjusters, minimum tire tread depths (and that varies depending on which tire we are talking about), and a whole lot more.

Now, you might be wondering how much you get paid to train. Well, that’s a bit tricky because while you do earn minimum wage while you are driving, you don’t get paid until you receive your CDL. Don’t go quitting your day job just yet!

OK, you’ve completed your driver training and you’ve memorized those seven pages of notes. It’s time to take the test. Here is where the challenge really begins because finding an examiner that works specifically with school bus testing has become a major problem. It might take a week or four to get you scheduled, but hey, that gives you more time to stay fresh on those previously mentioned seven pages of notes.

Testing time! The day arrives, and you feel like a 16-year-old going to get your first driver’s license. You are so excited! The test usually starts with the examiner going over

a little paperwork and then the pre-trip begins. Now if any of you are a little like me, you will go into the exam with the idea that you are going to blow the examiner away with your deep understanding of air brakes, turbo-charged engines and every other detail on the bus. But, guess what? They don’t care; they only want to hear you regurgitate those words on those previously mentioned seven pages of notes — nothing more, nothing less — verbatim.

You did it. You got through all seven pages and only forgot a couple of words — you know, words like “attached” when speaking of the windshield wipers.

Next up is the drive. I’ll admit I found this the easiest part of the whole process. I verbalized everything I was doing and thinking. “Stop at the line; stop at the sign. Looking for pedestrians left and right, looking for cars left and right. Putting my foot on the accelerator pedal, gently applying pressure.” You get the picture. Oh, and don’t forget to read all signs out loud as you pass them.

Hooray! You passed your test and are now a certified commercial driver ready for the road. It’s time for a little district-specific behindthe-wheel training and then you get to choose your route. Let me clue you in to something. Like most things in life, seniority counts in this world, so all those routes that look promising, yeah, they

are already taken by senior drivers. You get what’s left. Oh, and it’s only about 25-30 hours of driving a week at about $25 per hour, which means you are making about the same as a normal 40 hour a week minimum-wage job. But, hey, nobody said you were here for the money, right, so let’s move on to driving your first route.

OK, you have finally been cut loose and are ready to do your first morning run tomorrow. This is where I bribed my significant other into going along with me the night before to make sure I could find all the stops. Easypeasy, right? Oh yeah, it is easy until I get in a 40-foot bus that handles like a drunk buffalo (don’t ask me how I know), with no GPS, and it’s dark, and there are screaming kids in the back of the bus — and an occasional screaming parent outside the bus — and no adults in the bus but you.

Oh, by the way, as I just mentioned, our buses do not have moving-map GPS. You will do the trip with a printed route sheet: step-by-step instructions on when to turn, when to stop and what time to be there in one hand (did I mention it’s dark out), the other hand on the wheel, one eye outside looking for kids, cars, deer/elk, and one eye inside the bus because little Timmy is playing Tarzan, swinging from seat to seat. All fun aside, what I have outlined is mostly the truth. I

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Mineral Lake Fishing Derby slated for April 22-23

The 30th annual Mineral Lake Fishing Derby will take place from 12:01 a.m. April 22 through 11 a.m. April 23 at Mineral Lake Lions Den Campground, 113 Front St. East, Mineral. Prizes will be awarded for first

through fifth places.

There will be a beer garden, food trucks, music and vendors, plus a free KidsZone trout pond and prizes for children. People can register for the derby or purchase raffle tickets during

the event at the American Legion Building, 108 Front St. East, the Lions Den Campground, or the public boat launch. Pre-registration, April 21, is required for people who plan to fish by boat. All anglers 15 or older must have

a valid Washington State fishing license and valid state-issued ID. Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult with a valid state issued ID. Visit minerallakefishingderby.com for more information.

Pixabay

What fentanyl looks like from a Washington hospital

By Jeremy Lott The Center Square

As Washington state faces an ongoing fentanyl overdose crisis, state lawmakers have proposed many fixes to the problem, from making simple possession a felony again to cracking down on pillproduction machines.

But what does the crisis look like at the local level, out of the halls of Olympia?

To get a measure of this, The Center Square interviewed by email Dr. Raul Garcia. He is the medical director of Astria Toppenish Hospital in Toppenish, Washington as well as the executive director of the nonprofit Opportunity for Washington, a group that weighs in on drug addiction and homelessness, among other issues.

TCS: From the perspective of an emergency physician in Washington state, how bad is the fentanyl problem?

Garcia: Throughout my 25 years serving as an emergency physician, 16 in Central Washington, I have never seen a crisis develop and then multiply as drastically as fentanyl overdoses have. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 107,375 people in the United States died of drug overdoses and drug poisonings in the 12-month period ending in January 2022, with 67 percent of those deaths involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Here in Washington State, overdose deaths

involving synthetic opioids, mostly fentanyl, have increased 10-fold just over the past year — and I’ve seen it firsthand.

Why is fentanyl so deadly?

Fentanyl is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, leading to high dependency and addiction. Only 2 milligrams of fentanyl is needed to kill most people, which is equivalent to just a few grains of salt. The death rate from this synthetic opioid has been increasing at alarming rates in the past few years, and emergency rooms like mine are being flooded with these overdose cases.

Is the fentanyl problem a normal drug addiction issue, or is it something different?

The fentanyl crisis is not just a drug-addiction issue — it’s a multi-pronged public health crisis that stops at no lines or victims. Healthcare professionals have been buffeted from crisis to crisis over the last few years, but this one is entirely preventable. It’s past time we take substantive action to address this crisis that is killing off thousands

of our children every year. We need common-sense legislation to help our frontline workers and victims while holding the drug dealers and manufacturers accountable.

What should be done at a legislative level?

First, our healthcare professionals who are battling this crisis on the frontlines need more resources. The COVID-19 pandemic swept through medical staffing and resources, leaving us overwhelmed and inadequately prepared to not only handle the influx of patients from the pandemic, but also the increased rates of overdoses from this lethal drug. Supporting our healthcare workers is the first step to successfully maneuvering through this crisis.

What else needs to happen?

Much like our healthcare workers who are fighting this crisis in the emergency rooms, our law enforcement officers are fighting this crisis on the streets. Right now, fentanyl-related substances are classified as Schedule II drugs, meaning that medicalgrade fentanyl does have a use in some cases. However, bad actors are creating different variants of fentanyl that are extremely lethal. By exploiting loopholes, this drug is sold on the streets without being classified as Schedule I drugs by law enforcement.

Classifying fentanyl as a Schedule I substance, meaning that it would have no acceptable medical

use, would help ensure that law enforcement can keep them off the streets. Congressman Dan Newhouse, who represents us here in Central Washington, introduced the bipartisan Save Americans from the Fentanyl Emergency Act earlier this year to permanently schedule all fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs. It’s a great first step. I commend Rep. Newhouse for his unwavering dedication to help curb this crisis and hope he recognizes we can’t stop there.

What should be done for hospital patients who currently rely on microdoses of fentanyl to treat their pain?

Our regular treatment of pain with fentanyl directed by our medical providers should continue. These treatments are professionally regulated, properly dosed by pharmacist, and continuously monitored to effectively treat our patients.

You said that Rep. Newhouse shouldn’t stop there. What would be a further step?

Fentanyl primarily enters the United States through our southern border. Open-border policies have allowed fentanyl, amongst other drugs, to flow freely over the border with little to no prevention. Securing our southern border and enforcing the laws of the land will go a long way in preventing fentanyl from plaguing our communities in the first place.

Jonathan Gonzalez | Unsplash

Reverend

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(360) 832-4315

Pastor Larry Dorothy

Christ Episcopal Church 210 5th St. SW Puyallup, WA 98371 253-848-2323 www.episcopallup.com

Sunday Services

8am & 10am

10 am also livestreamed on Facebook

All are Welcome!!

Savvy Senior: Fun part-time job ideas for retirees

Dear Savvy Senior,

As a 68-year-old retiree, I’m interested in finding a fun parttime job that can occupy some of my time and generate a little extra income. Can you write a column on low-stress part-time jobs that are popular among retirees?

— Part-Time Retiree

Dear Retiree, Working part-time in retirement can be a terrific way to occupy your time and earn some extra income. The key, however, is finding the right gig that’s fun and satisfying for you. While there are literally hundreds of different part-time job opportunities out there for retirees, here are a few possibilities to explore.

Pet Services: If you love animals, consider pet sitting and/or dog walking. Pet sitters, who attend to a pet’s needs when their owner is away, can earn $15 to $40 per visit. Dog walkers can make $10 to $30 for a 30-minute walk.

To find these jobs, advertise your services in veterinarians’ offices or online at sites like Craigslist.org or Care.com. Or, if you’d rather work for an organization that offers these services, visit Rover.com.

Teach or Tutor: Depending on your expertise, you could substitute

teach or tutor students privately on any number of subjects. Substitute teachers typically make between $75 and $125/day, while tutors can earn between $15 to $30 per hour.

To look for substitute teaching positions, contact your local school district to see if they are hiring and what qualifications they require. To advertise tutoring services, use websites like Wyzant.com and Tutor. com.

Or, if you have a bachelor, masters or doctoral degree, inquire about adjunct teaching at a nearby college or university.

Drive: If you like to drive, you can get paid to drive others around using Uber or Lyft apps, or become a food delivery driver through Instacart or Uber Eats. Drivers make around $15 per hour.

Babysit: If you like kids, babysitting can be a fun way to put money in your pocket. Hourly rates vary by location ranging anywhere from $10 to $40 per hour. To find jobs or advertise your services, use sites like as Care.com and Sittercity. com.

Tour guide: If you live near any historical sites or locations, national parks or museums (anywhere that attracts tourists), inquire about

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10515 269TH ST. E., GRAHAM, WA 98338 www.livingwordlutheranchurch.com

(253) 846-1276

SUNDAY 9:30 AM

Wanda Joy O’Brien

June 23, 1937 ‒ March 29, 2023

Our beloved Mother, Grandmother, Auntie, Cousin and Friend, Wanda Joy O’Brien, passed away March 29th 2023. Wanda “Wannie”, was born on June 23rd 1937 in Yakima, Washington to W. Donald ‘Don’ and Laura P. McLellan. She was raised in Spanaway, Washington where she graduated from Bethel High School in 1955. She earned a nursing degree after graduation.

She married the love of her life H. Thomas ‘Tom’ O’Brien on June 14th, 1958. They started married life working the family dairy farm in Eatonville, Washington. When their three children were in school, Wannie was involved with the local PTA at Weyerhaeuser Elementary. Her love of children would shape the course of her life, as her volunteer work became her new vocation as the school’s secretary. She would spend 25+ years working for the Eatonville School District before retiring in 2000. Tom and Wannie loved the outdoors. Camping, fishing, water skiing and hunting trips were common and usually included an ever-growing number of “adopted” family members. One of her greatest joys in life was to watch her sons, daughter and grandchildren play sports and perform choral and dramatic productions in high school and college. Her distinctive voice, “Whoop! Whoop!” could be heard over most any crowd as she cheered them on.

Wanda spent the last seven years of her life living on the “Rondarosa”, her son Ron’s ranch in Republic, Washington where she continued to expand her “adopted” family. Wannie was preceded in death by her husband Tom, father Don, mother Laura, brother Donnie and sister Laurie. She is survived by sons, Donny (CareyLou), Ron (Abel), daughter Mary, grandchildren (Donny) Mason, Ian and Daniel, (Ron) Derrick and Dani Rochelle, (Mary) Elizabeth and Hannah. Ten great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. Nieces Julie, Peggy and Wannie Carver, Theresa Morrow, Linda and Patty O’Brien. Nephews Jeff, Kevin (KC) and Todd Morrow and Mike O’Brien.

If you knew Wanda the family invites you to a celebration of her life on April,13th 2023 at 2:00pm at the Mountain View Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 4100 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood, WA, 98499.

Unleavened bread the foundation of Passover cooking

Passover is a Jewish celebration and one of the religion’s most sacred and widely observed holidays. Passover commemorates the Biblical story of the Israelites’ escape from 400 years of slavery in Egypt. In 2023, Passover takes place April 5-15.

Pesach, as Passover is known in Hebrew, includes all kinds of ceremonial foods. The Passover seder plate showcases specific items that relate to both the suffering and emancipation of the Jewish people.

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becoming a tour guide. This pays anywhere from $10 to $40/hour.

Write or edit: Many media, corporate and nonprofit websites are looking for freelancers to write, edit or design content for $20 to $60 per hour. To find these jobs try FreelanceWriting.com, FreelanceWritingGigs.com and Freelancer.com.

Consult: If you have a lot

Throughout Passover, the faithful abstain from any leavened bread products. According to Exodus 12:8: “They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat.” Jews also are to remove all leaven (hametz) from their homes and eat unleavened bread for an additional seven days. Apart from being commanded by God, it is believed unleavened bread became traditional Passover food because the Jewish people departed Egypt in haste

of valuable expertise in a particular area, offer your services as a consultant through a firm or on your own through freelancer sites like Upwork.com, Fiverr.com, Freelancer.com or Guru.com.

Translator or interpreter: If you’re fluent in more than one language you can do part-time interpretation over the phone or translate documents or audio files for $20 to $40/hour. Try sites like Translate.com, ProZ. com or Gengo.com to locate

without time to let bread rise. Further, some say God also associated leavened bread with sin.

If there is one ingredient Passover celebrants might find challenging to work with during the holiday, it could be unleavened bread. Typically matzoh/matzah is substituted for other yeasted breads this time of year. One place matzoh really shines, though, is in matzoh balls for use in soups or side dishes. A dumpling of sorts, matzoh balls are tasty and filling, and ideal for meals throughout Passover.

translation jobs.

Public events: Sporting events, festivals, concerts and shows need ticket takers, security guards, ushers, concession workers and more. The pay is usually $10 to $20/hour. Contact nearby venues to apply.

Tax preparer: If you have tax preparation experience or are willing to take a tax prep course you can find seasonal work preparing tax returns at big-box tax firms like H&R Block or Jackson

Try this recipe for “Perfect Matzah Balls (Kneidlach)” courtesy of Chabad.org’s Kosher Cooking.

Perfect Matzah Balls (Kneidlach)

Yields 4 balls per each 1/4 cup of matzah meal (Meat, Pareve)

2 eggs, slightly beaten

2 tablespoons oil or chicken fat

2 tablespoons soup stock or water

1/2 cup matzah meal

1 teaspoon salt

Hewitt for around $17/hour.

Bookkeeper: If you have a finance or accounting background you can find freelance bookkeeping gigs at sites like Upwork.com and Fiverr.com, or through firms like BelaySolutions.com.

Librarian assistant: If you love books, public libraries hire part-time workers to shelve books, send out overdue notices, help patrons, etc. Contact your local library to see what’s available.

1 quart of salted water or chicken soup, for cooking

1. Beat eggs slightly with fork. Add other ingredients, except matzah meal, and mix. Add matzah meal gradually until thick. Stir. Refrigerate for 20 minutes in covered bowl.

2. Wet hands and form into balls. Drop into bubbling chicken soup or into a large wide pot into which 1 quart of water seasoned with 1 tablespoon salt has been added and has come to a boil.

3. Cook for 30 minutes.

If you don’t find these options appealing, try FlexJobs.com, which lists thousands of flexible workat-home jobs from more than 5,700 employers. Membership fees start at $10.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

Help Wanted

Eatonville Needs Bus Drivers! Recruitment Incentive!

Eatonville School District is hiring bus drivers and offering an incentive for new bus drivers:

New applicants who come to the District already holding a CDL with all required school bus endorsements who are recommended for a bus driver position are eligible for a one-time $3,000 salary bonus, once their hire is approved by the school board.

The $3,000 salary bonus will apply only to drivers who would not need to go through a driver training program in Eatonville.

New applicants who come to the District, complete the District’s CDL training program, and are recommended for a bus driver position, are eligible for a one-time $2,500 salary bonus, once their hire is approved by the school board. Applicants may apply at: https://edjobsnw.org/

For questions please contact: communications@eatonvilleschools.org

Hiring now for the 2023 Season!

Come join the team in Mount Rainier National Park this Summer.

We love commuters, and we also have housing available if you want to spend the season in Paradise! Commuters Credit, activities credit and potential to earn up to $700 end of season bonus.

Seasonal Hourly positions including:

Ashford

Laundry Worker $18

Drivers $20

Seasonal In park operations

Kitchen Utility $16

Porters (kitchen and lobby) Day & night shifts available! $16

Cooks starting at $18.

Housekeeping $16

Retail Clerks $16

Line Attendants $16

Year-Round Career Position with benefits

Location Manager-National Park Inn

If you are customer service oriented, have a flexible schedule, and enjoy working in hospitality then apply today! Please visit our website to complete an online application and view our most up to date opportunities: http://mtrainierguestservices.com/about-us/careers/

All candidates must pass a drug screening & background check.

know there are a few of you out there who want to help out, and we dearly need the help. However, my experience is that only one in about six people who apply and begin training will ever complete the task and become a bus driver. The district only has one driver trainer who currently works 60-plus hours a week in other aspects of her job.

As a district, it’s important that we utilize the few resources we have in the most efficient way possible, and it’s

my hope that by educating prospective school bus drivers in what it takes to become a driver it will help improve that 1-in-6 ratio.

Even though it’s a tough process to get through, I don’t regret even a minute of it. I am doing something that makes a huge impact in the lives of our children. I enjoy going to work and having a friendly banter with the other drivers (all nice people). However, nothing compares to joy of having one of my students surprise me with a hug or a kind word.

It’s worth it!

Sandra Grossi

February 16, 1948 ‒ March 14, 2023

Sandra Grossi passed peacefully at her home in Eatonville Washington on March 14, 2023.

Sandra was born in Newberg, Oregon on February 16, 1948 to Douglas and Rose Rahier, the youngest of four children. She grew up in Newberg and graduated from Newberg High School in 1966.

Right after high school, Sandra went to work as a telephone operator for General Telephone.

Sandra and her husband, Philip, were married May 1, 1976. They then moved to Federal Way, Washington where they both worked for Deluxe Check Printers. In 1979, they moved to Eatonville, Washington where they raised their family.

Sandra then went to work for Dr. Tom VanEaton in 1980. She remained working there after MultiCare took over the healthcare responsibility of the community. She retired February 1, 2013. In 2011, Sandra was nominated for the ”Loretta Club Customer Service Award” within MultiCare. In December of that year, she received a crystal plaque and a letter of achievement. She was also honored to have been nominated again in December 2012.

Sandra and Philip enjoyed many hobbies including sailing, taking road trips on their Harley and many enjoyable stays at the beach.

Sandra came to know the Lord as a child, and rededicated her life to God in 1980 and was a long time member of the Eatonville Baptist Church.

Sandra is preceded in death by her husband Philip; her parents, Douglas and Rose Rahier and her sister, Joyce York.

She is survived by her sister Erma Dallman; her brother Arnold Rahier; her children, Juli Blank (Kevin), Jon Forbes (Melissa), Eric Grossi (Lisa) as well as seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Her memorial will be held at the Eatonville Baptist Church on April 22, 2023 at 2:00pm.

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