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
Monday, May 30, 2022
Willamette Valley Weather
There are many Memorial Day events set for Monday where all are welcome to attend and pay respects to those who died while serving in the military.
Willamalane Park, Springfield
The 73rd annual Memorial Day ceremony at Willamalane Park, hosted by American Legion Post 40, is set to start at 9 a.m. Monday at the Veterans Memorial Plaza at 998 Mohawk Blvd. in Springfield, across the street from McKenzie Willamette Hospital. Chairs will be provided.
Speakers include: Springfield Mayor Sean Van Gordon, Police Chief Andrew Shearer, the Willamette Leadership Academy, the Elks 2145/Emblem Club, Frank Blair from Disabled American Veterans, bugler Tom Schwetz, Scout Troop 179, Eagle Scout/West Point candidate Orion Van Buskirk, and Chaplain Chris Rhoades from Grace Baptist Church. The Facebook event page is at facebook.com/events/555414186213234.
Pioneer Cemetery, Eugene
There will be a formal Memorial Day observance at 11 a.m. Monday at the Eugene Pioneer Cemetery, 1001 E. 18th Ave., northwest of the intersection with University Street and adjacent to University of Oregon campus. The event is hosted by American Legion Post No. 3 in Eugene and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 293. The observance will include performances from the Shasta Middle School’s band and choir, the Eugene-Springfield Fire Department bagpipe band, and participation from Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, and local scout organizations. Information: James K. Walsh at 541-484-6630.
Luper Pioneer Cemetery, north of Eugene
Luper Pioneer Cemetery will have its vehicle gate open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday through Monday, so anyone can walk the grounds and take a self-guided tour of the historic site. The cemetery entrance is on West Beacon Drive, in between River Road and Prairie Road.
About 1,000 pioneers arrived in the Willamette Valley in November 1853 by way of the Oregon Trail cutoff across central Oregon “to farm the fertile soil of the Willamette Valley, between the Cascade Mountains and the Coast Range,” according to the McClure wagon train by-laws. Some of those pioneers are buried at the cemetery.
On Memorial Day there will be additional information displayed about the people who arrived in 1853 by wagon. The band Poodle Creek Pickers will be performing music at the site from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Mulkey Cemetery Memorial Day Service
Mon, May 30 10:00am – 11:00am A new experience this year for our annual Memorial Day service.
Memorial Day service and music. Harmonica version of “Amazing Grace”, local musician walking and playing and a remembrance of people who shaped our local history. Children welcome. 3335 South Lambert, Eugene, OR 97405
11th Annual Memorial Day Community BBQ! Washington Park
The 11th Annual Free Community BBQ Honoring the service and aspirations for a unified and and healthy Nation! Open Mic, Community Resource Tabling, Kids corner, and more. BBQ served at 2pm!
The 11th Annual Memorial Day Community BBQ at Washington Park in Eugene, Oregon, will continue a tradition started by students at Lane Community College and embraced by the Community.
In the 2010-11 school year, Lane Community College was seeing record numbers of people attending, due the Recession of 2009. The Multicultural Center under the leadership of Jim Garcia and Greg Evens and Tina Lymath, offered students of color, a space, and a vehicle for collaboration and engagement. Lane Community College Student Government and its involvement with the Black Community in Eugene goes back to the mid 60’s when local Black students formed the first Black Student Union inspiring community members to be more aware of the national movement for Black Studies and Cultural Recognition. Consequently the LCC Black Student Union and other student groups have been well supported and recognized both structurally and financially at Lane Community College. During this Period Mark Harris taught Black History and was a health counselor for the school.
Taking the lead from Harris’s work documenting local African American/Black History , the Black Student Union set out to connect more with the local history and community by hosting a community event. Memorial Day 2011 was chosen after a presentation during Black History Month by Eric Richardson about the contributions of African Americans/Blacks to the Aspirational spirit in the United States and the World, after the Civil war, around fulfillment and possibilities of Justice for All ( See South Carolina Burial 1865).
In 2014 the Memorial Day event was taken on by the Eugene/Springfield NAACP as Richardson had assumed a position on the board which was sympathetic to the alignment of the narrative for the event.
According to organizers, the 2022 Memorial Day Event will continue to honor those who have sacrificed so that we can all work to highlight the spirit of belonging, and meaningful change, through engagement and civic participation. The Event will take place on Memorial Day Monday May 30th 2022 at Washington Park, 22nd and Washington Street. Eugene, Oregon 12- 4 pm Free Community BBQ, Music, Community Resource Tabling! Open Mic 1-2pm
Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing plans Memorial Day flyovers across the state
They’re expected to take flight at around 10 a.m. on Monday with six passes, all at about 1,000 feet above the ground and at 400 mph.
“Flights could be canceled or times changed due to inclement weather or operational contingencies,” the 142nd Wing said on Twitter Sunday morning.
The flight also serves as a valuable training opportunity for pilots.
Memorial Day Jet Flyover from the 173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field Schedule for Southern Oregon
Fighter jets from the Oregon Air National Guard based in Klamath Falls will conduct Memorial Day flyovers on Monday.
F-15 Eagle fighter jets from the 173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field will fly over the following events:
- 11:00 a.m. Veterans Memorial Park, Klamath Falls, Ore.
- 11:10 a.m. Eagle Point National Cemetery, Eagle Point, Ore.
- 11:20 a.m. Brookings Harbor Port, Brookings, Ore.
- 11:25 a.m. Collier H Buffington Memorial Park, Gold Beach, Ore.
- 11:40 a.m. Roseburg National Cemetery, Roseburg, Ore.
- 12:00 p.m. Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, Medford, Ore.
- 12:05 p.m. Memory Gardens Memorial Park, Medford, Ore.
- 12:15 p.m. Riverside Park, Grants Pass, Ore.
The jets will travel at approximately 400 MPH at an altitude of approximately 1,000 above ground.
Flights could be canceled or times changed due to inclement weather or operational contingencies. The 173rd FW is home to the sole F-15C pilot training facility for the United States Air Force.
With Memorial Day weekend here and summer travel season around the corner, the Oregon Department of Transportation wants people to know a few key things before hitting the road.
ODOT suggests checking your route on tripcheck.com with more cameras now showing road conditions, more real travel times and construction projects. With major events planned throughout the area, the department is asking people to plan for delays.
“Watch for message signs warning of congestion,” ODOT said in a press release. “Slow down and be aware of fellow travelers who may not be familiar with our state highways.”
Summer travel season begins in earnest Friday with Memorial Day weekend. The Oregon Department of Transportation has some tips on planning ahead to spend more time enjoying your trip and less time stuck in traffic.
Here is the summer travel release from ODOT:
- Check your route on TripCheck.com. We’ve added more cameras showing road conditions, more real travel times, look for cones on our construction projects, and striped lines to see local partners road and construction information.
- Plan ahead. Major events like the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 in Eugene, July 15-24, may cause delays on Interstate 5. Watch for message signs warning of congestion. Slow down, and be aware of fellow travelers who may not be familiar with our state highways.
- Plan a car-free trip. Consider taking the POINT bus or Amtrak to the games in Eugene, and walking or biking around town. Or avoid the crowds and plan a walking or biking tour. Look for resources under “Plan your Trip”.
- Driving electric? Look forward to upgraded EV charging stations along major roads like I-5, I-84, and U.S. 101. Some chargers on these roads are part of the West Coast Electric Highway network and now have upgraded plug types that can connect to more EV models. You can spot the new chargers by their orange-colored stickers.
- Oregon has about 2,100 public EV charging stations throughout the state. We’re about to get a lot more along major roads and in Oregon’s communities over the next few years, courtesy of ODOT’s pledge of $100 million for EV charging infrastructure.
- Construction is everywhere. Road and bridge construction occur year around in Oregon, but paving needs good weather and so large projects happens in the summer. Check out our Project Tracker and see what is planned. Check TripCheck for any delays from projects underway. Watch for orange, slow down around work zones and help everyone get home safely.
- Take extra caution around chip seals. This lower cost paving method extends the life of the road, but slow down as there can be loose rock around that may fly and break windows or chip paint.
- To make travel easier for Oregonians and the thousands of visitors expected for the World Athletic Championships, some construction and maintenance projects will be on hold for three weeks in July.
- Rules of the Road. Know what to expect on Oregon roads. The Move Over Law says you must move to another lane if an emergency vehicle is on the side of the road with emergency lights flashing. If you can’t change lanes, slow down. ODOT Incident Responders are on the road to respond to incidents with other first responder partners. Have you been driving awhile? Brush up on the rules in 2022-2023 Oregon Driver Manual.
- Waterfall Corridor improved access. The much-loved Waterfall Corridor of the Historic Columbia River Highway can be visited by bike, bus, or tour. If you drive in your personal vehicle, you’ll need a timed use permit from May 24 until Sept. 5 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Permits are available online for a $2 transaction fee. A limited number of same-day permits (with no fee) are available in person at several area locations. More information on transportation options and permits.
- Wildfires. Debris cleanup from 2020’s devastating wildfires is done, but some of road repairs continue this summer. Expect delays on OR 224, OR 22, OR 126, and OR 138 as crews continue to remove rocks and debris over the highway, fix fire-damaged roads, remove hazardous trees and re-seed with native plants, and repave. OR 224 is open but most recreation areas remain closed and there are multiple work zones.
- Last year in Oregon, cars were the number one source of wildfires during the summer. Do your part to prevent them. If you have to pull off the road, stay on hardened surfaces and avoid dry grass. Never, ever toss a lit cigarette or any burning materials from you vehicle.
- If you end up in a smoky area, turn on your headlights so others can see you.
- Be Prepared. Make sure your vehicle is in good working order before you head out. Check your coolant, hoses, and your tires. Have emergency supplies in your vehicle. Food, water, extra medications, a first aid kit, a paper road map, phone charger, jumper cables, a safety vest and a flashlight all may come in handy as you travel.
Know before you go and have a safe trip wherever you go and however you choose to get there.
