BRIEFLY.

Byline: The Register-Guard

NORTHWEST

Oregon limits supply of anti-flu medicine

PORTLAND - The state plans to buy only a small amount of anti-flu medicine that the federal government is offering for a possible pandemic, the Oregon public health director says.

The state's plan is to stockpile enough to ``go in and do a local blitz'' in the opening hours of an outbreak, in hopes of containing it, and perhaps to stockpile some supplies for isolated areas, said Dr. Susan Allan of the Oregon Department of Health.

If the state bought the amount of medicine the federal government is recommending, it would have to come up with $7 million that it hasn't budgeted, Allan said.

The state's plan will cost ``well under $1 million,'' she said. It can be paid for through federal funds the state has for health emergency preparations, she said.

Allan said the anti-viral medicines must be taken within 48 hours of infection or the onset of symptoms to be effective; their impact is minimal, reducing the duration of the flu by about 36 hours; and they are expensive.

``We're not promoting it,'' she said. ``We believe the same amount of money could be better used in other ways.''

Dairy says state denied cruelty prosecution

BOARDMAN - Threemile Canyon Farms said Friday that the state has declined an animal rights group's demand for prosecution for alleged animal cruelty at its Columbia River Dairy.

The dairy provided a copy of a letter from Oregon Deputy Attorney General Pete Shepherd that said the claims of the Humane Farming Association were unfounded. The letter cited investigations by the Morrow County district attorney's office and the sheriff's office.

The attorney general's office also noted that the Oregon Department of Agriculture confirmed that the dairies at Threemile Canyon Farms are certified ``Grade A'' and are routinely inspected.

Marty Myers, general manager of Threemile Canyon Farms, said the Humane Farming Association claims were not only unfounded, they ``were insulting to our hardworking, valuable employees who care for our livestock using best practices to ensure the health of the herd.''

Portland district recalls laid-off custodians

PORTLAND - Custodians laid off four years ago and replaced with nonunion workers were asked to return Friday by the Portland Public Schools district, school officials said.

The Service Employees International Union Local 503 challenged the layoffs, and the Oregon Supreme Court ruled last October that the school district violated state law.

With no legal recourse left, the district is formally recalling the custodians, said Bob Lawrence, spokesman for Portland Public Schools.

If all the laid-off union workers choose to return, it could add $10 million to the district's $12 million custodial budget, according to an e-mail sent Thursday to school principals. In addition, custodians may be entitled to back pay, an issue that has not been resolved.

With her teeth back, beaver returns to wild

PULLMAN, Wash. - A beaver who lost her four front teeth after being struck by a car was returned to the wild on Friday.

Bailey's teeth grew back under the care of the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and the tale of her recovery has captivated the region.

The beaver was released in an uninhabited area near the Lower Granite Dam reservoir on the Snake River near Clarkston, Wash., the school said in a news release.

- From news service reports