hi...Im moving to Oregon soon...lots of questions...please help

kathleen-ann
on 2/16/08 7:39 pm - Prescott Valley, AZ
HI ...My name is Kathleen-Ann ...I live in Prescott, Arizona now. And some time this year we are moving to Oregon. I dont know which particular area. My hubby works for Walmart..and we have to stay with Walmart supercenters...as they pay the most. First off let me say to those that are not fans to this corporation Walmart...I'm not exactly a pure fan either...but its a job...my hubby enjoys...and has enjoyed for over 10 years. With that said I support my hubby at wally world ...just maybe not wally world I support. LOL........ Anyhow we are real low income...In Arizona there is free government health insurance through the DES office named ACCHS. We also get food stamps there also. Yes ...I'm very open and honest. We are hoping things will change in Oregon for us...and hopefully the management in a particular store...will get my hubby in the Management program...its his dream and I support it....and it will help our income crisis. THe rentals seem to be cheaper in Oregon then what we are paying now.  I have poor health...I Need to know if through the DES office their...throught the state there is there a state type free health insurance? And which DR.'s accept this insurance...so I can keep a follow up Dr. for as I"ve had RNY in Feb. of 07. I also read someone stat local support groups are only a few. Where these local support groups? Also ...I read someone taking OH training to be a leader...how do you go about doing this.??? Do any of you know the income stats to get on the health insurance??  Also with Supercenters in Oregon which area would you recommend.? I understand in the news last year...there was flooding and certain areas are taking advantage of folks looking for rentals have jacked their prices up. I dont want to live in area that has problems such as gangs, violance....etc. I have 3 children.17,13,4. .I need a three bedroom...that accepts pets. Any ideas. I would be willing to pay for shipping and handling for anyones old newspapers. Or some one tell me a web address for a local paper...I've looked on the internet ...a bit confusing...of which is the local paper. I also understand certain areas...rain alot...but also certain areas do get snow and the four seasons...which areas are that???  I thank any one and everyone on answering any of the question...as silly as some might be. Hugs.....I will be in touch..Kathleen
Eve R.
on 2/16/08 11:21 pm - McMinnville, OR

Hi Kathleen,  In order for us to help , we'll need to know what area of the state you;ll be coming to.   I don't even know of any superstores in our area, we do have a Wal-Mart though.  We do have low income health care but they are signing up people right now for a lottery style drawing and only adding about 2,000 people this time.  It's very popular and not enough money to go around. 

Each area of the state seems to have a small support group so I think you'll be okay with that. 

Oregon is such a big state that until you have a better idea of where you'll be coming, it's hard to help.   You might try The Oregonian, the Eugene Register Guard, The Hillsboro Argus for some  information in the Willamette Vally for rentals.  

Vicki PNW
on 2/17/08 3:07 am, edited 2/17/08 3:57 am
I am not a fan of WalMart either.  But I do know of only several Super Centers nearby.  The first is in Troutdale (Wood Village on the walmart.com website), about 15 miles east of downtown Portland.  The second is on Mill Plain Blvd west of I-205 in Vancouver, WA.  The third is on SE 192nd Ave/SE 34th St in the far eastern part of Vancouver, WA. The others in this state are in Woodburn, Salem (2 stores), and Lebanon (east of Albany).  Another one up in Washington state is about an hour's drive north of Vancouver.  All the stores are within 100 miles of where I live. The State of Oregon has the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) which is equivalent to the federal Medicaid program.  However, OHSU (Oregon Health and Science University) in Portland states in its website that "currently, surgery for the treatment of obesity is “below-the-line” for OHP", meaning that WLS is NOT covered under the OHP. Here is the website for our local papers: The Oregonian (Portland): http://www.oregonlive.com/ Statesman Journal (Salem): http://www.statesmanjournal.com/  The Register-Guard (Eugene): http://www.registerguard.com/ Please consider the Vancouver area in Washington state.  Washington state has no state income tax, but it does have a 6.5 percent state sales tax with local taxes tacked to it.  I think that the current sales tax rate is 7.9 percent in Vancouver and its county.  I understand that their health plan under the State Department of Social and Health Services may cover some WLS.  However, it may be difficult to find a surgeon who would accept it. Here is the link for the local newspaper in Vancouver: The Columbian:  http://www.columbian.com/ Also, Oregon is one of only 2 states in this country that does not allow self-service gas as a matter of state law.  That may be a disadvantage if you prefer to pump your own gas.  Sometimes motorists have to wait forever for an attendant to help them.  I have seen service stations where there are only one or two attendants working 8, 12, 16, and 20 pumps!  The longest I have had to wait for service was about an hour because there was only one attendant working 12 pumps and not organizing his time efficiently!  Up in Washington state, I can pump my own gas and be on my way within 5 or 10 minutes.  Just like that! Hope this helps!

Vicki

DS (lap) with Dr. Clifford Deveney. Cholecystectomy (lap) with Dr. Clifford Deveney 19 months post-op.

Has not weighed myself since 1/2010.  Letting my clothes gauge my progress instead.

Bran54
on 2/17/08 3:46 am - OR
Eugene Springfield area has 2 supercenter walmarts................great schools in Eugene. 

Happiness is an attitude.  We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong.  The amount of work is the same.  ~Francesca Reigler

 
 








 
Mona S.
on 2/17/08 7:30 am - Saint Helens, OR
I would like to give feedback on a few of locations of the super centers.  I grew up in Albany, OR.  There is a Walmart Super Center in Lebanon which is just East of Albany.  Albany sits on I-5 and is a lot bigger town now than when I grew up.  Are you a small town person or a big town person?  Lebanon is a small town with a small to average size high school.  They are a safe town.  Albany is very close and has two high schools.  Since Albany is larger it does have more of a crime rate.  In that area people easily drive between Albany/Lebanon/Corvallis area.  Corvallis is West of Albany and is the "safest" city in Oregon.  (Just labeled by Farmers Insurance).  Corvallis is the home to Oregon State University, so housing costs a little more than Albany.  Lebanon is definitely the least expensive of the three cities to live.  Newpaper for Albany is Albany Democrat Herald. http://www.democratherald.com/ The supercenter in Eugene/Springfield.  The Eugune/Springfield area is probably the prettiest greenest area of the state.  I never lived down there so I do not know much about the housing market. I hope I don't offend anyone, but I would avoid the Salem area.  They have a strong gang problem in Salem.       

Mona
 
  

DrTina
on 2/18/08 8:26 am - Beaverton, OR
There is a brand new superstore in REdmond Or (central Oregon). The weather there is of the four season variety with some snow. but its a very nice community with good schools and if you leave north of town you can live fairly reasonably. The rest of the list are on the West side of the state where the weather is more of the two season variety. Nice and warm (but not by Arizona standards) and rainy with the occasional ice or snow storm but nothing long lasting. I would probably avoid the two superstores in Portland as in the areas where you could afford housing you might run up against more crime. The Albany Corvallis area is very nice with reasonably priced housing. Woodburn is very rural with some gang problems. You can find reasonably priced housing I think and you are a short 25-30 minute drive from the Portland area for good medical care or 15 minutes from Salem where you can also find doctors. The Salem area is variable in crime and cost of housing. They have good schools by in large. I lived in Washington state for years and there are good and bad things to compare between the two states. If you can get on the Oregon Healthcare program it is far superior to what is available in Washington state. The gas pumping is no big deal at all. Rarely have I had to wait to get someone to pump my gas and frankly you get spoiled really fast! The schools are by in large good in Washington state and one hour north of Vancouver is much the same as the weather in western Oregon (maybe a tad more rain). This is a small town with reasonable housing. Vancouver is larger with more crime but also nice areas. As in the Portland area the less expensive housing is usually in the areas prone to higher crime rates.
Michelle D.
on 2/20/08 4:13 am - Keno, OR
VSG on 06/18/07 with
Hello Kathleen-Ann, I can answer some of your questions but not all... I live 10 miles outside Klamath Falls, OR in Keno and we have a Walmart SuperCenter in Klamath Falls that is open 24 hours a day.  Klamath Falls is located about 20 miles North of the California Border and about the middle (East to West) of the State.  It is a somewhat rural farming type community and it has a military base.  I love raising our 3 children here.  We do not have gang problems or alot of violence. The rents here are reasonable (we have several rentals and we rent from $350 for a 1 bedroom in K.Falls to $650 for a 3 bedroom 2 bath in Keno with 1 1/2 acres).  All of our renters have pets so I would think you would be able to find somewhere that allows them.  The newspaper here is online and it is the Herald and News Klamath Falls OR.  You may also be able to search The Nickel online (it is an advertising newspaper that we post our rentals in).   Our weather here consists of all four seasons.  We are high desert, so we are at a high elevation and have leaf trees as well as pine trees.  We have hot and dry summers in the 80's and 90's with many lakes and rivers to enjoy.  Nice Fall and Spring and Snow in the Winter but not too much snow.  There are many places nearby for skiing and snowboarding.  Not too much rain here as we are not too near the coast and not alot of fog or gloomy days either. My husband and I both have had Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomies and although we did not use the local Bariatric Surgeon, we do attend the local WLS support Group Meetings that he hosts once a month.  Most of the people who attend have RNY or Lapband (though there are about 6 of us now locally with the VSG).  The surgeons name is Dr. Raul Mirande. Oregon Health Plan (to the best of my knowledge) helps to pay for medical based on need.  One of my friends pays larger co-pays than another due to a higher income.  With 5 people in your family and Walmart as a single employer, you may very well qualify for aid.  I am sure you must be able to go online and research this through the State of Oregon. Klamath Falls and Northern California are the only places I have EVER lived, so I can not help you with what the rest of Oregon is like.  Good Luck on your research and your upcoming move.  If you have any other questions for me, send me a personal message as I rarely come into this message board.
Michelle in Oregon   42 years old  - BMI 20.8 - 5' 7" tall and 133 lbs.
married to Fireman John VSG 5/06 @ LapSF  - 6'2" and 190 pounds


I am Thankful for all the Servicemen and Women because
              
FREEDOM IS NOT FREE
Michelle D.
on 2/20/08 4:25 am - Keno, OR
VSG on 06/18/07 with
By the way, I just read the post about pumping your own gas and I had to giggle!!  Most of us ex-Californians LOVE that we do not have to pump our own gas and get stinky.  Where I live we drive-up, get our gas pumped by really polite attendants and drive away...that simple! (Oh, and we pay of course)  If the attendants are busy (as when I was in Portland this weekend for the High School State Swim Championships) I just hop out and swipe my card and start my own gas pumping - are they really gonna call the Police on me??  TeeHee, I guess I'm just a rebel!! Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, no sales tax.  Reasonable priced homes for sale.  Some say Oregon has high property taxes but as the owner of many homes and coming from CA, I find this not to be accurate.  Yes, we do pay income tax! 
Michelle in Oregon   42 years old  - BMI 20.8 - 5' 7" tall and 133 lbs.
married to Fireman John VSG 5/06 @ LapSF  - 6'2" and 190 pounds


I am Thankful for all the Servicemen and Women because
              
FREEDOM IS NOT FREE
Ennyl
on 2/25/08 5:08 am - Southwest, OR
Hi Kathleen-Ann.  I live in a small town called Grants Pass in SW Oregon.  We have four WalMarts within 30 miles, two of which are SuperCenters, including the one right here in Grants Pass. I'm a realtor, so I am familiar with the housing market in our area.  We were hit hard a few years ago with a lot of people coming in from California, and as a result, our home prices skyrocketed.  As the housing market in California died off, so did ours.  Prices have come down quite a bit in the last two years but still not to the pre-2003 prices.  We do have many rentals available, but many of those are home owners that have not been able to sell their homes for what they owe and are trying to get high rents to pay the mortgage.  I think this may change by this summer as there just aren't enough renters. Medford is 30 miles from us and is the largest town in the area and has a decent mall.  Eugene is about 2 hours away and has more shopping, cultural events and educational opportunities.  We are two hours from the ocean and have numerous lakes and rivers for outdoor activity. Our local paper http://www.thedailycourier.com/ Medford paper http://www.mailtribune.com/ If you need any further information you can reach me at [email protected]
Terri  "Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup"


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