The latest news stories and stories of interest in the Willamette Valley from the digital home of Southern Oregon, from Wynne Broadcasting’s WillametteValleyMagazine.com
Thursday, October 27, 2022
Willamette Valley Weather
Early Morning House Fire in Eugene
A house fire sparked early Thursday morning at 1595 W. 28Th Place.
The fire had started in a bedroom of the home and spread to the attic and walls. The family got out of the house safely and then called 911. The fire is still under investigation
Eugene City Councilors Move Forward With 2nd Phase of Renter Protections
Eugene city councilors are moving forward with the second phase of renter protections after a lengthy discussion about some of the plan’s key points Monday.
Those key points included:
- Limiting the amount of money landlords may charge for deposits.
- Requiring applications to be processed in the order they are received.
- Displacement prevention assistance — which would require landlords to pay tenants money in some circumstances, such as when tenants are evicted legally for no cause.
The council sent the first two points to public hearing after a fairly straightforward conversation, but spent more time discussing the third point.
The council eventually voted to move the point about displacement prevention assistance to public hearing as well. After a series of amendments, councilors decided the draft ordinance should include language requiring landlords to provide displacement prevention assistance in an amount equal to three times the current monthly fair market rent published by the Department of Housing and Urban Development when a tenant is either evicted for no cause, or a tenant’s rent is increased by 5% or more in a 12-month period and the tenant chooses to move rather than pay the increased rent. The ordinance would also create a small landlord compensation fund for landlords that earn less than 80% of the area median income.
Councilors also directed the city manager to revisit additional enforcement options for violations of the $10 screening fee cap passed in July during the first phase of renter protections.
A date for the next public hearing on renter protections has not been set at this time.
Bernie Sanders Comes to Eugene to Rally Today
University of Oregon GOTV Rally with Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Sen. Ron Wyden, Rep. Peter DeFazio, Tina Kotek and Commissioner Val Hoyle
On Thursday, October 27, Bernie will be in Eugene to rally ahead of the November election.
Eugene, Springfield and Lane County to begin leaf pickup
Lane County and the cities of Eugene and Springfield are preparing to kick-off their annual leaf collection efforts. Removing leaves from catch basins, grates and gutters allows storm water to run off and prevents flooding.
Keeping leaves out of the drainage system also improves water quality because decomposing leaves use up oxygen that is needed by aquatic life in local streams and rivers. And removing slippery leaves from streets and sidewalks makes travel safer for people walking, biking and driving.
In all three jurisdictions, property owners are responsible for leaves that are placed improperly in the street or cause safety or localized flooding hazards.
Eugene and Lane County allow residents to pile leaves in the street, while Springfield only allows bagged leaves to be set out for collection.
Leaves are the only items collected. Piles with branches, pine needles, trash, grass and other lawn debris are not accepted and will not be collected.
To get the best information for your property, determine which jurisdiction provides service in your area, and then contact that agency. Here are the details for each jurisdiction:
City of Eugene
Eugene’s leaf collection and delivery program begins Nov. 7. Eugene’s leaf program is funded by storm water fees because proper use and disposal of leaves keeps decaying leaves out of local creeks and rivers and helps prevent localized flooding caused by blocked storm drains.
After an initial focus on the central Eugene area, City crews will break into three groups to focus on designated sections of the city. Each crew has the staffing and equipment needed to collect and deliver leaves and sweep streets after the leaves have been picked up. This puts resources closer to neighborhoods and improves service on unimproved streets.
Online features allow Eugene residents to look up their address and see when they should pile their leaves neatly in a row parallel to the curb, order leaf deliveries, or report hazards such as leaves in a bike lane. People should place their leaves in the street the weekend before crews are scheduled to be in their neighborhood. The second round of leaf collection will start January 3. Safely pile remaining leaves in the street between December 31 and January 2.
For more information about Eugene’s leaf collection and delivery services, go to www.eugene-or.gov/leaf or call Eugene Public Works Maintenance at 541-682-4800.
City of Springfield
In Springfield, the City provides a leaf pickup service to residents within the city limits to help prevent flooding, protect water quality, and keep neighborhood streets safe for bicyclists, pedestrians, and drivers. Leaves are collected in two rounds in two areas — the west and east sides of town with 28th Street/ 31st Street as the dividing line.
Sanipac is contracted to pick up, haul, and recycle bagged leaves for residents within the city limits. Leaves must be put in medium-sized bags that contain only leaves. Bags containing other yard debris cannot be used for compost and will not be picked up.
Bags need to be placed curbside, not in the street, by 7:00 a.m. on Monday of the scheduled week for collection in that area. Not all bags will be picked up first thing Monday; it may take several days. Additionally, severe weather may cause delays. Landscaping, yard maintenance companies, property management companies, and residents are not allowed to blow or rake leaves into the streets.
Springfield residents can also pledge to properly dispose of their leaves for a chance to win one of two $100 gift cards from a local home improvement store. Residents can view this year’s informational flierfor more details on how to enter.✎ EditSign
The first round of leaf collection in Springfield starts November 28 west of 28th Street/31st Street, then December 5 east of 28th Street/31st Street. The second round starts January 9 west of 28th Street/31st Street, then January 16 east of 28th Street/31st Street.
For more information about leaf pickup in Springfield, visit www.springfield-or.gov/leafpickup, call 541-525-2658 or email ogram@springfield-or.gov“>leafpickupprogram@springfield-or.gov.
Lane County
Lane County Public Works will begin its annual leaf pick-up program on Monday, November 7. The County collects leaves in two rounds in two general areas: Santa Clara north of Beltline Highway and several Springfield locations generally just outside the city limits. Lane County crews may be working in your zone prior to official collection dates if time allows; however, crews will return to your zone as scheduled.
Lane County provides a leaf collection information line (541-682-8565) updated at 5:00 p.m. each Friday. It describes where leaf pickup begins on a weekly basis. For more information go to www.lanecountyor.gov/LeafPickUp, call 541-682-6905 or e-mail leafcollection@lanecountyor.gov.
Leaf Preparation Guidelines
Two priorities that are the same in all three jurisdictions are public safety and operational efficiency. Here are some tips to help meet those objectives:
- In Eugene and Lane County, leaves must be in the roadway but piled at least 15 feet away from parked vehicles. Do not bag leaves.
- In Lane County leaf pickup will be provided for paved curb-and-gutter streets only. In Eugene, unimproved streets are picked up during both rounds but equipment must be able to reach the leaves from the hard road surface.
- In Springfield, leaves need to be put in medium-sized bags that contain only leaves. The bags should be placed curbside, not in the street.
- Do not pile leaves in bike or traffic lanes or on curbs or sidewalks.
- Keep storm drains and gutters clear to prevent localized flooding.
- Do not mix in other debris such as branches, rocks, lawn clippings, pine needles, or trash.
- Leaves are not picked up in private yards.
- Wait to put leaves in the street until the weekend prior to collection.
- Consider recycling leaves as compost or mulch material.
Schedule Information
| Eugene (Leaf Placement Dates for First Round) | First Round | Second Round |
| Central/Core | Nov. 5 and Nov. 6 | Jan. 3 to Jan. 20 |
| Zones 1 | Nov. 11 and Nov. 13 | Jan. 3 to Jan. 20 |
| Zones 2 | Nov. 19 and Nov. 20 | Jan. 3 to Jan. 20 |
| Zones 3 | Dec. 3 and Dec. 4 | Jan. 3 to Jan. 20 |
| Zones 4 | Dec. 10 and Dec. 11 | Jan. 3 to Jan. 20 |
| Zones 5 | Dec. 17 and Dec. 18 | Jan. 3 to Jan. 20 |
| Springfield (Leaf Pickup Dates) | First Round | Second Round |
| West of 28th Street/31st Street | Nov. 28 | Jan. 9 |
| East of 28th Street/31st Street | Dec. 5 | Jan. 16 |
| Lane County (Leaf Pickup Dates) | First Round | Second Round |
| Zone A (Santa Clara west of River Road) | Nov. 7 to Nov. 9 | Nov. 28 to Dec. 1 |
| Zone B (Santa Clara east of River Road) | Nov. 14 to Nov. 17 | Dec. 5 to Dec. 8 |
| Zone C (Springfield area) | Nov. 21 to Nov. 23 | Dec. 12 to Dec. 15 |
Eugene 2022 Leaf Service Area Map
Lane County 2022 Leaf Service Area Map
Springfield 2022 Leaf Service Area Map
One Pill Can Kill
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), “Rainbow Fentanyl” has become an alarming trend across the United States and in Oregon. It is believed Rainbow Fentanyl (pictured below) is intentionally made to look like candy by drug cartels in order to attract children and young people.
Fentanyl can be lethal and it only takes a small dose to KILL a person. Please be mindful of this threat and educate those around you of the dangers. For more information, please visit the DEA One Pill Can Kill Public Awareness Page https://www.dea.gov/onepill
Rainfall brings an increased risk of hazards to wildfire-impacted areas throughout Oregon
Take action to prepare for flash floods, landslides and debris flows
Salem, Ore. – Oct. 27, 2022 – Oregon has entered the rainy season while recovering from consecutive years of intense wildfires. Oregon Emergency Management (OEM) is warning people living and traveling in and around wildfire-impacted areas of the increased risk of flooding, landslides and debris flows associated with burn scars and encouraging Oregonians to sign up for emergency alerts, exercise caution and plan ahead.
Wildfires dramatically change the landscape and ground conditions, which can lead to a higher risk of flooding. Natural, unburned vegetation and soil normally act as a sponge during a rainfall event, but after an intense wildfire, burned vegetation and charred soil form a water-repellent layer that blocks water absorption. As a result, properties located below or downstream of the burn areas are at an increased risk for flooding, debris flows and landslides. Even areas not traditionally flood-prone are at risk of flooding for several years after a wildfire.
“We’ve experienced incredibly destructive wildfires in Oregon over the past three years, and their effects linger even after the flames are out,” said OEM Director Andrew Phelps. “Oregonians in or near these impacted areas need to be aware that threats like flash floods and debris flows can happen quickly with little to no warning. People need to pay attention to emergency alerts and local weather forecasts and leave if they are told to evacuate or if they feel unsafe.”
OEM recommends people take basic preparedness actions for all types of disasters, including staying informed, being aware of surroundings, having a plan for emergencies and being prepared with an emergency kit.
Stay informed
- Monitor the weather forecast for watches, warnings or advisories at Weather.gov.
- Sign up for local emergency alerts at ORalert.gov.
- If told to evacuate, do so immediately using a planned evacuation route least likely to be impacted by flash flooding and debris flow.
Drive with caution
- Be aware of the latest road conditions before driving by checking Tripcheck.com.
- Be alert when driving; embankments along roadsides may fail, sending rock and debris onto the road.
- Turn on lights, increase the following distance and slow down.
- Don’t drive through flood water; just 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult, and a foot of rushing water can carry away most cars.
Understand flood advisories, watches and warnings
- A Flood Advisory is issued when a forecasted specific weather event may become a nuisance: Be aware.
- A Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding to occur: Be prepared.
- A Flood Warning is issued when flooding is imminent or already occurring: Take action.
Look for signs of landslides
- Look for changes in the landscape like leaning trees, land movement, or a trickle of falling mud or debris.
- Pay attention if the water in streams or creeks suddenly turns muddy or the water flow suddenly decreases or increases.
- Listen for unusual sounds, such as trees cracking or boulders knocking together, that might indicate moving debris.
Develop an emergency plan that includes emergency kits for your home, work and vehicles. When any disaster occurs, it could take days to weeks for first responders to reach everyone impacted. Oregonians need to be as prepared as possible in an emergency. OEM recommends every household be 2 Weeks Ready, meaning they have a plan and enough food, water and supplies to survive for at least two weeks following a disaster. Recognizing disasters disproportionately impact marginalized communities, OEM offers several equitable and accessible readiness resources to help inform all Oregonians of their risks and ways to prepare.
Oregonians should also recognize the importance of flood insurance and be aware that home and rental insurance policies don’t cover flood damage. Flood insurance is a separate policy that typically takes 30 days to go into effect. For more information about flood risk and mitigation, visit Ready.gov/floods. For details on landslides and debris flow, visit Ready.gov/landslides-debris-flow. For flood facts including flood zones and maps, risk and costs, and insurance coverage, visit the National Flood Insurance Program at Floodsmart.gov.
Oregon Health Authority
· We’re tracking data to understand the spread of COVID-19 in Oregon. This dashboard is updated weekly.Data are provisional and subject to change.For more information, including COVID-19 data by county, visit http://ow.ly/UtOx50Lm9lO.
Governor Kate Brown wrapped up a nearly two-week trade mission to Asia Tuesday. She says shoring up international relationships is critical to Oregon’s economic development as it recovers from the pandemic.
Brown says South Korea is Oregon’s third-largest export market for food and agricultural products. In Japan, Brown says she talked with tech companies about investing in Oregon’s semiconductor sector. Despite having just two months left in office, Brown says the trip was important for a state that ranks among the most trade-dependent in the nation. Her office says she also promoted tourism, wine and beer with representatives from Travel Oregon and others.
Parents Of Infants Should Watch Out For Signs Of RSV Despite Low Case Count In Oregon
While dozens of states across the U.S. have reported dramatic increases in the number of children with a respiratory virus known as R-S-V, the latest data from the Oregon Health Authority shows the number of cases in Oregon remains low.
Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, typically presents like a seasonal cold. However, toddlers and particularly infants can experience severe symptoms. In the worst cases, an RSV infection can spread to the lower respiratory tract causing pneumonia and bronchiolitis.
Lane County Public Health has been alerted to “a few” pediatric cases from area hospitals. Health officials said parents of infants should watch out for signs like short, shallow breaths, wheezing sounds and when the muscles around the chest cavity contract in an abnormal way.
RSV virus usually peaks between December and February but in 2022 it’s appeared early. The best form of prevention is good respiratory hygiene.
Symposium in Bend Explores the History of Human Beings in Oregon’s Great Basin
The Oregon Historical Society, in partnership with the Deschutes County Historical Society and members of the Burns Paiute Tribe and Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Indians, is hosting a two-day, public symposium on the history of humans in the Great Basin region in Oregon, featuring talks by tribal knowledge-holders, anthropologists, and archaeologists.
The symposium will take place on Saturday, November 5 and Sunday, November 6, from 8:45am to 4:30pm, at the OSU Cascades campus in Bend, Oregon, and is free and open to everyone. Attendees can register for one or both days of the symposium here; PDUs are available for teachers who attend.
Human beings have lived in, passed through, and had relationships with the Great Basin region for at least 14,000 years — a time of significant transitions in climate, species, and ecosystems, all of which resulted in changing lifeways for the people. The “Human Experience in the Oregon Great Basin: Past and Present Ways of Knowing” symposium will feature presentations by experts who have researched and learned about the land, plants, animals, people, and climate of the region. Discussions led by Wilson Wewa (Northern Paiute) and Diane Teeman (Burns Paiute) will frame each day of the symposium, which will be filled with presentations about the recent archaeological research and analyses, partnership projects, and online databases that are helping build knowledge about the historical and ongoing human experiences in the Great Basin.
“Evidence of a deep history of humans in the Great Basin is present in the stories and tribal knowledge shared by Paiute and Klamath peoples as well as is visible in physical reminders, such as caches of tools made for hunting, gathering, and other utilitarian activities,” said OHS Chief Program Officer Eliza Canty-Jones. “The work that tribal members have done to preserve this history for millennia, as well as the work archaeologists and anthropologists have conducted in more recent times, offer the public complex understandings of some of the oldest known human history on the continent of North America.”
Featured presentations are listed below; for presentation synopses and presenter bios, visit ohs.org/greatbasin.
Presentation Schedule
Each day of the symposium will include an introduction by Wilson Wewa (Northern Paiute) and a conclusion by Diane Teeman (Burns Paiute)
Saturday, November 5
Paisley Caves Textiles: Fiber Arts and the Native Plant Selection in the Northern Great Basin
Presented by Elizabeth Kallenbach
The Antiquity of Smoking Pipes and Tobacco Use in the Northern Great Basin
Presented by Thomas J. Connolly
Seeds, Fruits, and Tubers: A Regional Perspective on Archaeological Plant Data in the Northern Great Basin
Presented by Jaime L. Kennedy
Exploring Cultural Landscapes of Oregon’s Great Basin Region
Presented by Justin Rohde
Tradition, Technology, and Teaching: Collaborative Workshops between the Burns Paiute Tribe and University of Nevada, Reno’s Great Basin Paleoindian Research Unit
Presented by Geoffrey M. Smith, Diane Teeman, and Daniel O. Stueber
Sunday, November 6
Archaeology and the Human Experience at the Paisley Caves in the Northern Great Basin
Presented by Dennis Jenkins
Evidence of Ice Age Cold Adaptation in Oregon’s Great Basin and How it Can Inform Challenges of Future Climate Change
Presented by Richie Rosencrance
Modeling Indigenous Land Use Patterns in the Northwestern Great Basin at the End of the Last Ice Age
Presented by Erica J. Bradley and Geoffrey M. Smith
The Roles and Research of the Museum of Natural and Cultural History Archaeology Field School
Presented by Katelyn McDonough, Dennis Jenkins, Richie Rosencrance, and Geoffrey Smith
About the Oregon Historical Society
For more than a century, the Oregon Historical Society has served as the state’s collective memory, preserving a vast collection of artifacts, photographs, maps, manuscript materials, books, films, and oral histories. Our research library, museum, digital platforms & website (www.ohs.org), educational programming, and historical journal make Oregon’s history open and accessible to all.We exist because history is powerful, and because a history as deep and rich as Oregon’s cannot be contained within a single story or point of view.
Voting in Oregon feels GOOD
It’s time to get #VoteReady: Just grab your ballot and a blue or black pen!
You don’t even need a stamp It’s not a test: you can vote on every candidate and measure, or leave some blank How you vote is private. Make a plan to vote! http://OregonVotes.gov#TrustedInfo2022
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