The latest news stories and stories of interest in the Willamette Valley and around the state of Oregon from the online digital home of the valley, WillametteValleyMagazine.com
Monday, April 27, 2020
Willamette Valley Weather
Today Rain or drizzle likely before noon, then showers likely, mainly between noon and 3pm. Cloudy, with a high near 62. Southwest wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Overnight, 30% chance of showers, low of 52.
Tuesday Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 75.
Wednesday A 30% chance of showers after 11am. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 69.
Thursday A 30% chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62.
Friday Partly sunny, with a high near 67.
Saturday Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64
TODAY’s HEADLINES
On this Monday health officials at Lane County say COVID-19 has claimed another life. Officials say the victim was a 59-year-old man from the Eugene-Springfield area who died in the hospital last night.
There are currently 50 cases of COVID in Lane County. Twenty-six patients are recovering at home, and there are none in the hospital.
Twenty-two people have recovered. The number of tests given is 2,679.
COVID-19 has claimed four more lives in Oregon, raising the state death toll to 91, the Oregon Health Authority reported yesterday. Oregon Health Authority also reported 58 new cases of COVID-19 as of 8 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 2,311.
The new COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Benton (1), Clackamas (3), Coos (4), Deschutes (2), Jefferson (1), Josephine (1) Linn (3), Marion (4), Multnomah (29), Polk (1), Umatilla (1), Washington (7), Yamhill (1).
Oregon Health Authority released a modeling report update on Friday that indicates the efforts of Oregonians to stay home and practice physical distancing has helped prevent as many as 70,000 COVID-19 cases in Oregon.
The report stated the epidemic would have continued to grow exponentially, doubling every week. By April 16, the number of cumulative infections would have been about 80,000, including 2,000 hospitalizations. Hence, the interventions are estimated to have averted over 70,000 infections, including over 1,500 hospitalizations.
According to Dean Sidelinger, MD, state epidemiologist their modeling continues to show that our collective efforts are working. He said despite the very real hardships these sacrifices have cost Oregonians, we have to keep it up even as we move toward easing restrictions. We need to build on our success in limiting the spread of COVID-19.
The federal government is urging caution as several states begin easing COVID-19 restrictions.
Many don’t appear to be following guidelines issued by the White House such as the Florida beaches. In Atlanta, many on city streets were walking hand in hand on this Monday morning, clearly believing the pandemic has passed them by.
“I am sure a lot of people have missed the asterisk, but we said to look not only statewide, but county by county,” White House Coronavirus Task Force member Dr. Deborah Birx said Sunday.
Red Cross supplies have run dangerously low. If you are healthy and looking for a tangible and safe way to help your community, please consider donating blood.
The Red Cross has implemented sanitizing and social distancing policies to ensure you’re safe while making a lifesaving donation.
Schedule a Red Cross donation appointment today.
Office of the State Fire Marshal Extends Rules Allowing for Self-Serve Gas to May 9, 2020
The Office of the State Fire Marshal is extending a temporary rule change that allows Oregon gas stations to provide self-service on a voluntary basis, in order to address shortages of workers experienced by gas retailers statewide.
The rules change was first announced on March 28 and then extended on April 11 to April 25. Today, State Fire Marshal Jim Walker extended the deadline another two weeks, through May 9.
“We want to thank Oregonians and Oregon businesses for being flexible during these challenging times,” said Walker. “As we continue to monitor this ongoing situation, we feel it is best to extend this option for an additional two weeks.”
The extension of the change will still allow station attendants to help customers while avoiding face-to-face and hand-to-hand contact. It also continues to ensure physical distancing measures are in place. Attendants will continue to sanitize station equipment and fuel nozzles and assist customers with their refueling as needed.
Information about the extended rules change for self-service gasoline can be found on the OSFM website.
Among the heroes of these unprecedented times are Oregon’s farmers and ranchers.
These hard-working families have continued to grow their crops, care for their animals, and provide food for society, along with other vital agricultural products.
Now more than ever, Oregonians are searching for locally grown vegetables, fruit, meat, eggs, cheese, nuts, honey, and other products like flowering baskets, vegetable starts, and bedding plants.
Oregon’s Bounty, at OregonFB.org/oregonsbounty, is a searchable directory of nearly 300 family farms and ranches that sell food, foliage, and other ag products directly to the public.
“Oregon’s Bounty includes farm stands and CSAs from across the entire state, and the directory includes contact information,” said Anne Marie Moss, Oregon Farm Bureau communications director.
“It’s important to check with a farm online or by email or phone before visiting to see if their opening date has changed. Farms and ranches that are selling to the public will be taking every precaution to make sure their products, their customers, their employees, their families, and themselves remain as healthy and safe as possible. Some farm stands may have specific instructions for customers, such as online ordering or pickup options,” said Moss.
Spring favorites that are in season now include asparagus, rhubarb, salad greens, artichokes, radishes, mushrooms, flowering baskets, bedding plants, vegetable starts — with Oregon-grown strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries not far behind.
Oregon’s Bounty allows visitors to do keyword searches for specific ag products — such as blueberries, cucumbers, honey, or eggs — and/or search for farms and ranches within a specific region of the state.
“While so much of society has come to a stand-still, Farm Bureau members are #StillFarming and #StillRanching, and for that, we are all very grateful,” said Moss. “A lot has changed but the love Oregonians have for locally sourced food has not. We encourage everyone to support their local farms and ranches and to continue enjoying Oregon’s incredible agricultural bounty.”
May is Wildfire Awareness Month. Keep Oregon Green, in partnership with federal, state and local fire agencies and organizations, knows May is a great time to encourage the public to create defensible space around homes this spring and prevent the start of careless, unwanted wildfires.
At stake: Lives, property, forests
When it comes to preventing wildfires, there’s a lot at stake – lives, personal property, and the many benefits provided by Oregon’s forests and rangelands. During the 2019 season, 250,000 acres in the Northwest were consumed by wildfire, with almost 80,000 acres burned in Oregon.
People were responsible for starting 1,192 fires that burned around 22,000 acres. ODF’s gross large-fire costs were $32.8 million, and many neighborhoods were forced to evacuate. Each year, over 70 percent of Oregon’s wildfires are started by people. Many are a result of escaped debris burning and campfires left unattended.
Before heading outdoors, contact the agency or landowner who manages the lands at your destination for an update on current fire restrictions or bans. Any visitor to Oregon’s natural areas should review these restrictions before building campfires, burning debris, or using equipment that could ignite dry vegetation.
Oregon, Our Oregon
This year, KEEP OREGON GREEN is launching a new wildfire prevention campaign and releasing four new public service announcements to help raise awareness.
The announcements feature movie, television and voice actor Sam Elliott, who is the official voice of Smokey Bear.
Each announcement will encourage residents and tourists to practice basic wildfire safety while enjoying the outdoors. Elliott has a home in Oregon and has experienced fire first-hand near his other home in California, so he well understands the fire risk that threatens our state every year.
Pride in Oregon is the driving force behind Keep Oregon Green’s campaign and new website. Stunning campaign photos of Oregon’s iconic landscapes will encourage everyone to protect our state’s scenic recreation areas. Using the hashtag, #OregonOurOregon, Keep Oregon Green wants you to share photos of your favorite natural areas and thoughts for keeping Oregon free of wildfire.
The new campaign artwork, PSAs, and additional wildfire safety tips can be found at keeporegongreen.org and its various social media platforms.
Coming soon: More Wildfire Awareness Month tips
During May, a new wildfire prevention topic will be shared each week to help homeowners and recreationists learn how to prevent their outdoor activities from sparking the next wildfire. For more information, visit the websites for Keep Oregon Green at www.keeporegongreen.org, and the Oregon Department of Forestry at www.oregon.gov/odf.
Follow Oregon wildfire news and prevention updates on social media:
Twitter @keeporegongreen, @ORDeptForestry and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/keeporegongreen; https://www.facebook.com/oregondepartmentofforestry?fref=ts