Calling out cancer

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake City Council declared during Tuesday’s regular city council meeting the month of September would be officially recognized by the city as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The council also unanimously passed a graffiti regulations ordinance.

Mayor Don Myers read a proclamation during the meeting regarding childhood cancer and the motivation behind the observance.

“Whereas pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children,” said Myers, “And whereas one in 285 children in the United States will be diagnosed by their 20th birthday, and whereas 80% of childhood cancer cases are diagnosed only after the disease has metastasized and spread to other parts of the body.”

Myers continued to read statistics on childhood cancer, including the fact that there has been a 24% increase in incidences of childhood cancer over the last 40 years and that two-thirds of childhood cancer patients have chronic conditions from the treatment they go through.

“Whereas the National Cancer Institute recognizes the unique research needs of childhood cancer and increased funding to conduct this research. And whereas, researchers and health care professionals work diligently to dedicate their expertise to treat and cure children with cancer,” said Myers.

The proclamation also recognized nonprofit organizations at a local and national level for their work helping children with cancer and helping families cope emotionally and mentally.

“Now, therefore, I the mayor and city council members of Moses Lake do hereby proclaim September 2023 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in the city of Moses Lake,” said Myers, “and I encourage all people in our city to join me in this special observance.”

After Myers read the proclamation, Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation Executive Director Angel Ledesma addressed the council.

“I just wanted to say thank you very much … this is very special to us. As you know, kids are special. Cancer is horrible, especially in kids,” said Ledesma. “We have about 10 active clients right now, that are young adult and/or pediatric cancer (patients). Most of them get shipped off out of town before we get a chance to help them out because it's urgent and the facilities they need to go to are out of this area.”

Ledesma then provided an update on the incoming Confluence Health Radiation Treatment Center, which she said is due to open the second week in October.

“We have worked really hard with Confluence Health,” said Ledesma. “We're very excited to have radiation in town. That's a lot of driving that a lot of people will not have to do anymore. So we just really appreciate your support.”

Other business

Also during the meeting, the council approved a graffiti regulations ordinance that has been the subject of council discussion for several weeks. The ordinance is meant to discourage graffiti and make it more difficult for graffiti artists to vandalize property.

“The City Council has requested an updated graffiti nuisance code to be brought forward for adoption,” wrote Interim City Manager Kevin Fuhr in the agenda memo for the ordinance. “The new code includes sections defining graffiti implements, prohibition on juveniles possessing graffiti implements, rewards for citizens turning in people committing vandalism, and a graffiti abatement program.”

Fuhr said that the ordinance includes a penalty fee of $25 for citizens who do not clean up graffiti on their property within three days.

“And the goal obviously is to get compliance with working with property owners and not charge 25 bucks,” said Fuhr during the council meeting. “There is also a graffiti abatement program description in there where people that don't have the funds to clean up or paint over graffiti can come to the city and we would help provide some tools for them to be able to take care of those needs.”

Gabriel Davis may be reached at gdavis@columbiabasinherald.com. Download the Columbia Basin Herald app on iOS and Android.