Articles labeled: salem

When our kid was in third grade, he barely knew how to make a phone call much less prank 911 to report a school shooting. So we find this story of a 10-year-old in Salem, Oregon who made such a call a bit troubling:

The Willamette Valley Communications Center received a call at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday from somebody claiming to be an eleven year old female, stating that somebody had been shot in the arm while on the playground at Bush Elementary School.

Several officers responded to the scene and arrived in less than five minutes, but they were unable to locate any shooting victims. There were several students and parents about on the playground where the shooting allegedly occurred, but none had witnessed any shooting or violence. In checking with school officials, they were also unaware of any such incident.

Officers worked closely with school officials and interviewed several children before arresting a 10-year-old female student for calling in the false report. The student was charged with Disorderly Conduct in the First Degree, Misuse of 911 and Giving False Information to a Police Officer, then was released to her parent.

Where did she make the call from? Perhaps this is another example of why 3rd graders shouldn’t bring cell phones to school. And going off on a tangent, isn’t 10 a little old for third grade?

Niemann-Pick Type C, an extremely rare condition that generally affects school age children, is a fatal disease that blocks the body’s ability to metabolize cholesterol, which leads to neurological deterioration. The disease is so uncommon that previously it’s been difficult to diagnose as well as secure funding to research a cure. But now a pricey, experimental drug is giving the parents of these afflicted children hope:

The Hadleys are banking their hope on Zavesca, [a] drug that has slowed progression of the disease in some patients.

“It gives us time,” Bryan Hadley said. “We believe strongly in our faith and that God or doctors, or a little of both, will find a cure.”

The drug will cost about $108,000 per year per child, Hadley said. Their insurance will cover 50 percent, but the financial burden remains overwhelming. He is a wholesale distributor of cell phone accessories, and his wife works in real estate.

Bryan grew up in Salem and graduated from North Salem High in 1989. His family and friends have rallied to organize two local fundraisers to help with medical expenses and to benefit the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation. The former football coach lost three of his four grandchildren to Niemann-Pick.

A wine-tasting event is March 7 at Capitol Chevrolet, and a basketball exhibition March 8 at Chemeketa Community College. For tickets, contact the Salem Family YMCA, (503) 581-9622.

“Because it’s so rare, there’s not a whole lot of money going into research for this,” Bryan Hadley said. “That’s why we’re trying to raise awareness.”