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
Wednesday, July 7, 2021
Willamette Valley Weather
Today– Cloudy through mid-morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday– Sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming north northwest 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.
Friday– Sunny, with a high near 92. North northwest wind 3 to 8 mph.
Saturday– Sunny, with a high near 90.
Sunday– Sunny, with a high near 91.
Oregon reports 463 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 1 new death
There is one new COVID-19 related death in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll at 2,782, the Oregon Health Authority reported 463 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today bringing the state total to 209,494. Oregon reports 85 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases on July 5, 66 new confirmed and presumptive cases on July 4, 123 new confirmed and presumptive cases on July 3 and 189 new confirmed and presumptive cases on July 2.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (3), Benton (5), Clackamas (63), Clatsop (4), Columbia (7), Coos (5), Crook (2), Deschutes (24), Douglas (26), Hood River (1), Jackson (31), Jefferson (3), Josephine (17), Klamath (1), Lake (1), Lane (47), Lincoln (1), Linn (39), Malheur (2), Marion (35), Multnomah (68), Polk (21), Sherman (1), Tillamook (2), Umatilla (12), Union (5), Wasco (7), Washington (21) and Yamhill (9).
Vaccinations in Oregon
Today, OHA reported that 1,707 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry. Of this total, 1,233 doses were administered on July 5 and 474 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry on July 5.
The seven-day running average is now 5,746 doses per day.
Oregon has now administered 2,553,609 first and second doses of Pfizer, 1,748,032 first and second doses of Moderna and 171,120 single doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.
As of today, 2,413,181 people have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 2,205,984 people have completed a COVID-19 vaccine series.
Cumulative daily totals can take several days to finalize because providers have 72 hours to report doses administered and technical challenges have caused many providers to lag in their reporting. OHA has been providing technical support to vaccination sites to improve the timeliness of their data entry into the state’s ALERT Immunization Information System (IIS).
To date, 2,964,195 doses of Pfizer, 2,240,820 doses of Moderna and 299,100 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines have been delivered to sites across Oregon.
These data are preliminary and subject to change. Updated vaccination data are provided on Oregon’s COVID-19 data dashboards and have been updated today.
COVID-19 hospitalizations
The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 125, which is 15 fewer than yesterday. There are 29 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is one more than yesterday.
The total number of patients in hospital beds may fluctuate between report times. The numbers do not reflect admissions per day, nor the length of hospital stay. Staffing limitations are not captured in this data and may further limit bed capacity. More information about hospital capacity can be found here.
Oregon updates non-viable vaccine disclosure1,2,3
OHA’s non-viable vaccine table has been moved to the Tableau dashboard. You can find that link to the weekly tab here. OHA reports updates on vaccines not being used each Tuesday in our daily media release.
| Vaccine type | Doses recalled | Non-viable, spoiled or expired | Grand total |
| Janssen COVID-19 vaccine | 6,905 | 6,905 | |
| Moderna COVID-19 vaccine | 37,760 | 37,760 | |
| Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine | 11,071 | 11,071 | |
| Grand Total | 0 | 55,736 | 55,736 |
1Updated: 07/06/21
LOCAL HEADLINES:
Oregon Country Fair Goes Virtual for 2021
It is cooler in the Clouds! Join the Fair’s 2nd virtual fundraising event, Fair in the Clouds, on July 9, 10 & 11. No tickets or parking passes to purchase, just come to www.oregoncountryfair.org.
There is no place on Earth like our Fair, but thanks to the cyber fairies we can still gather in the clouds!
Step through the Peach Portal to walk the M8trix, find your friends, see your favorite shows, and support our community of artisans. Once again, the Oregon Country Fair has been rendered in virtual splendor for you to enjoy from the comfort of your mosquito-free home. All you need is your computer or phone, a headset with a microphone, and an internet connection!
Tune-in throughout the weekend to enjoy music, vaudeville, art demos, the Fair in 3-D, connect with Fair friends new and old, and more! This event is free for everyone. Those who can are encouraged to make a donation, choose from an array of fresh, new 2021 Merch, and shop from your favorite Fair Artisans.
Opposition to EWEB’s Water Storage Tank Project
EWEB is planning to build two new water storage tanks in south Eugene. The project is set to be built on a 10-acre spot on 40th and Patterson in Eugene, which will require cutting down a portion of trees in the area.
Some residents are in opposition of it.
EWEB plans to build two 7.5 million gallon water storage tanks and they say the project has been in the works for years.
It requires 25% of the trees in a ten-acre area to be removed.
The water storage tanks will take up two acres and the rest of the land will be for public use.
Some Eugene residents gathered Tuesday morning in opposition of the project.
They tell us this project needed to have public hearings from the community.
“We just want to educate people and let them know that this is going to have unintended consequences,” said Sandra Bishop, a former EWEB commissioner.
They say the trees are an important aspect to neighbors in the area, providing shade and cooling from hot weather and heatwaves like the one we saw at the end of June.
“We know now that trees need to be preserved as stationary superheroes,” said Marco Elliott of Eugene.
EWEB’s Joe Harwood tells us the property was acquired by EWEB in 1950 as a future water storage site. He says after the new water tanks are built, it will meet seismic standards – and have community benefits.
“This is a very important project and unfortunately some trees will have to come out. But keep in mind we’ve already been re-planting native trees. We were already out this spring with Friends of Trees; we planted some native species. And we also plan to re-plant after construction is done,” said Harwood.
EWEB says a project team hosted an online meeting with neighbors in the area back in April and June of this year.
To read more about the project in full, visit here.
AROUND the STATE of OREGON
WILDFIRE UPDATES
Bootleg. OR-FWF-210321. ICT3. 15 mi NW of Beatty, OR. Start 7/6. Full Suppression. Cause: Unknown. 3,000 acres. 0% containment. Extreme fire behavior. Timber and brush. Evacuations in effect. Road closures. IMT2, NW Team 10 (Lawson) has been mobilized with in brief scheduled today at 1100.
Jack Fire. OR-UPF-000265. IMT2, NW Team 9 (Goff). 20 mi E of Glide, OR. Start 7/5. Full Suppression. Cause: Unknown. 1,400 acres (+900). 0% containment. Active fire behavior. Timber and brush. Structures threatened. Evacuations in effect. Road closures.
Lewis Rock. OR-952S-021160. IMT1, ODF Team 3 (McCarty) 4.5 mi S of Mitchell, OR. Start 6/30. Full Suppression. Cause: Lightning. 440 acres (+0). 15% containment. Active fire behavior. Timber and grass.
Dixie Creek. OR-952S-021187. ICT3. 3 mi NW of Prairie City, OR. Start 7/03. Full Suppression. Cause: Lightning. 541 acres (+0). 75% containment. Moderate fire behavior. Timber and brush.
Rattlesnake. OR-WSA-000037. IMT3. 12 mi NE of Warm Springs, OR. Start 6/30. Full Suppression. Cause: Unknown. 5,479 acres (+0). 97% containment. Minimal fire behavior. Grass. Structures threatened. Road, trail and area closures. No new information at this time.
https://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/content/products/intelligence/MORNINGBRIEF.pdf?2015-06-23%2021:26:00
Level 3 “Go!” Evacuation Order – Jack Creek Fire
IDLEYLD PARK, Ore. – A LEVEL 3 EVACUATION – GO! NOTICE NOW ORDERED FOR ALL HOMES LOCATED IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS DUE TO THE JACK CREEK FIRE:
- ALL RECREATION AREAS, HOMES AND BUSINESSES LOCATED BETWEEN MILE MARKER 43 EAST TO EAGLE ROCK CAMPGROUND.
Level 3 or “GO!”:
• If you chose not to evacuate, emergency services may not be able to assist you further.
• Grab your “go kit” and leave immediately.
• Follow your evacuation plan and stay informed.
Danger to the evacuated area is current and imminent and you should evacuate immediately. If you choose to ignore this advisement, you must understand that emergency services may not be available to assist you further. Do not delay leaving to gather any belongings or make efforts to protect your home. This will be the last message you receive.
LEVEL 2 “BE SET”: YOU MUST PREPARE TO LEAVE AT A MOMENTS NOTICE. This level indicates there is significant danger to your area, and residents should either voluntarily relocate to a shelter or with family/friends outside of the affected area, or if choosing to remain, to be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Residents MAY have time to gather necessary items, but doing so is at their own risk. THIS MAY BE THE ONLY NOTICE YOU RECEIVE. Emergency services cannot guarantee that they will be able to notify you if conditions rapidly deteriorate.
- A LEVEL 2 “BE SET” NOTICE HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR EVERYTHING EAST OF EAGLE ROCK CAMPGROUND TO SODA SPRINGS.
For more information about the fire, please follow official sources of information only.
Highway 97 is now open between Weed and Dorris in Siskiyou County following a closure due to the Lava Fire and Tennant Fire.
Caltrans says please be aware that fire and Caltrans personnel continue to work on and around the highway. Motorists are urged to slow down and drive carefully. Highway 97 conditions are subject to change without prior notice, due to fire activity.
The Lave Fire northeast of Weed is up to 71% containment and is 25,001 acres. Fire crew estimate the Lava Fire could be fully contained by next Monday, July 12th.
Meanwhile, the Tennant Fire south of Mount Hebron in Siskiyou County is now 10,541 acres and is 53% contained. Fire crews estimate the Tennant Fire will be fully contained by the end of July.
Meanwhile, Crews are responding to a wildfire west of Davis Creek near the South Mountain Reservoir in the Modoc National Forest, the U.S. Forest Service said. The Juniper Fire is up to 350 acres with multiple ground and air resources are on the scene. The Forest Service said to avoid the area and be aware of increased traffic. Smoke is working up into the Lakeview area and Lake County.
Governor invokes Emergency Conflagration Act, OSFM mobilizes resources for Jack Fire
Governor Kate Brown today invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act in response to the Jack Fire that broke out in Douglas County Monday evening. The fire is estimated to be 900 acres in size and is located near the community of Dry Creek. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has issued Level 3 evacuations, and the fire has temporarily closed Highway 138. The Office of the State Fire Marshal will assume command at 8 p.m. today and will work to bring resources from counties around Oregon to assist in the response.
“Today I invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act to make more state resources available to the fire crews on the front lines in Douglas County at the Jack Fire,” Governor Brown said. “It is evident that this fire season is rapidly underway, and we must all remain aware and cautious throughout the season, especially with activities that could spark a fire. We all need to do our part to help the many firefighters battling multiple fires across Oregon.”
In accordance with ORS 476.510-476.610, Governor Brown determined that a threat to life, safety, and property exist due to the fire, and the threat exceeds the firefighting capabilities of local firefighting personnel and equipment. The Governor’s declaration cleared the way for the State Fire Marshal to mobilize firefighters and equipment to assist local resources battling the fire.
The Office of the State Marshal’s Blue Incident Management Team has been mobilized. OSFM is responding with personnel, a Communications Unit, and a cache trailer loaded with incident support supplies, including COVID-19 PPE, tools to enhance defensible space around structures, and other provisions firefighters need to inhabit a fire camp. Oregon State Fire Marshal
Bootleg Fire burning on Chiloquin Ranger District
The Bootleg Fire is currently burning on the Chiloquin Ranger District of the Fremont-Winema National Forest on Fuego Mountain approximately 11 miles northeast of the town of Sprague River.
The fire was reported around 1:45 p.m. Tuesday and at that time was estimated to be over 100 acres with no containment. The cause is under investigation.
The fire is burning in steep, rugged terrain in mixed conifer and lodgepole pine. Fire behavior includes running, torching and spotting.
Smoke from the fire is highly visible from Oregon State Highway 140, Sprague River Highway, Chiloquin and the surrounding area.
Multiple aerial and ground wildland firefighting resources have been fighting the fire this afternoon, including four heavy air tankers and three single-engine air tankers. Firefighters will continue to work on the fire tonight. A Type 2 Incident Management Team has been ordered.
The fire is currently only burning on National Forest System lands and there are no evacuations.
There is increased firefighting traffic in the area. Drivers are urged to use caution.
South Central Oregon is continuing to have an active and early fire season. Area residents and visitors are asked to use extreme caution with anything that could spark a wildfire. Suspected wildfires should be reported immediately to 911.
ODF Fire Situation Map: https://www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/Documents/odf-fire-situation-map.pdf
Oregon DMV Makes Appointments A Permanent Option
The Oregon DMV is getting back to normal in many respects after COVID-19 restrictions have been eased. But one pandemic-inspired change will stick around.
When DMV field offices reopened to the public last year after the first wave of the pandemic, the agency created an appointment system to prevent crowded lobbies.
Now that social distancing requirements are no longer in effect, the DMV says you can just show up and hope you get served.
But agency spokesperson David House said many customers have said they enjoy the certainty of having an appointment, and he said that option isn’t going away.
“That’s going to be a permanent choice that Oregonians can make to get their in-person services at DMV,” said House.
House said many transactions such as license renewals can now be done online at DMV2U.Oregon.gov.
Masks are no longer required at the Oregon DMV except during driving tests.
Wildlife Images has Scholarships Available for Summer Camp
Wildlife Images Rehabilitation & Education Center has been awarded a grant of $57,770 to help provide scholarships for local families as well as additional educational programs and infrastructure.
A portion of the funds from the K-12 Summer Learning Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation totaling $24,000 will provide scholarships to 200 local students to receive a free week of camp at Wildlife Images’ summer program Camp EEK!
“Through OCFs generous grant, Wildlife Images is able to educate future generations on how to be good stewards of all the creatures that live on planet earth with us,” wrote Krista Smith, Wildlife Images’ Education Manager in a press release.
In addition to the scholarships, the grant also covers $4,000 of educational supplies and $18,000 for an additional teacher, allowing Wildlife Images to offer a second camp that doubles the enrollment capacity.
Nearly $12,000 of the grant will provide an all-weather television and camera system for an inside look at what happens inside Wildlife Images’ rehabilitation clinic as it treats sick, injured and orphaned wild animals.
“We have never been able to show park visitors the magic that happens behind the scenes at Wildlife Images. With this new capability given to us by OCF, we can give the public a chance to experience some of that magic and hopefully better connect them with wildlife,” said Dave Siddon, Wildlife Images’ Executive Director.
For more information about Camp EEK! and the scholarships available visit the Wildlife Images website.
103-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Fossil Found Near Mitchell Oregon
A new dinosaur fossil has been found in the state of Oregon.
Excavators discovered a fossilized dinosaur vertebra and they believe it is roughly 103 million years old.
The remarkable find reportedly took place on June 24 and came from a fossil dig that’s been sponsored by the University of Oregon.
Researchers found the vertebra on soil that is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), an environmental agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Prior to the dig, the University of Oregon’s Professor of Earth Sciences Greg Retallack and a team of paleontological researchers found a dinosaur toe bone in 2015. The find was a first of its kind for Oregon.
Both fossils are estimated to be around the same age and come from an ornithopod – a plant-eating dinosaur species that were bipedal and lived in North America, according to Britannica.
The original toe bone was found near Mitchell, a small city in eastern Oregon, while the newly excavated vertebra led by fossil dig foreman Greg Carr was reportedly found four miles northwest of Mitchell. At this time, it is not clear whether the two fossils come from the same dinosaur.
“University of Oregon paleontologist, Dr. Greg Retallack, along with North American Research Group volunteers, discovered dinosaur bones while conducting a permitted fossil dig and excavation on Bureau of Land Management public lands in Central Oregon. The find is part of Oregon’s first dinosaur discovery,” a spokesperson for the BLM told Fox News via email. “Until now, most fossils discovered in the state have been of mammals and these fossils are of much younger age.”
“It’s important for the public to remember that removal of any dinosaur bone or other fossil bones on Bureau of Land Management public lands is illegal without permits,” the BLM went on to write. “More information will be provided in the coming months.”
Illustration of what ornithopod may have looked like 103 million years ago. (University of Oregon)
While research is still underway for the long-extinct dinosaur, ornithopods are believed to have lived from the late Triassic to late Cretaceous periods. These two eras notably overlapped with carnivorous species such as Eoraptor and Tyrannosaurus, according to London’s Natural History Museum.
Moreover, a University of Oregon spokesperson stated in 2018 that its first ornithopod fossil was an interesting find since the U.S. state was believed to be underwater for most of the dinosaur age.