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, June 14, 2023
Willamette Valley Weather
Lane County Will Hold A Disaster Preparedness Drill Wednesday —Mass care exercise at Lane Events Center on June 14
Lane County Emergency Management and partners will be conducting a mass care exercise on Wednesday, June 14, at the Lane Events Center. If residents notice increased activity or emergency vehicles at Lane Events Center on June 14 they should not be alarmed and should not call 9-1-1.
The exercise is designed to help local disaster response agencies practice setting up mass care sheltering operations in an emergency that results in widespread evacuations. It will also test local plans and ability to shelter people, pets, and livestock safely and efficiently.
“The opportunity to practice and improve on a blue-sky day is a gift,” said Lane County Emergency Manager Patence Winningham. “Conducting a mass care exercise with our local and regional partners will help make us that much more prepared for the real thing – and we’ve all seen that the ‘real thing’ can and does happen here.”
Media are welcome to visit the exercise between the start time of 10:00 a.m. and noon. Please coordinate with Public Information Officer Devon Ashbridge on-site at Lane Events Center.
Exercise partners include Red Cross, Oregon Department of Human Services, Lane County Health & Human Services, Lane County Animal Services, Greenhill Humane Society, and Oregon Emergency Management. There are also many individual volunteers from a variety of agencies acting as evacuees during the exercise.
Lane County Commissioners Adopt County Budget that Preserves Services
The Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 (FY 23–24) budget today. The County balanced a $7.26 million deficit in its General Fund without layoffs or cuts in services.
“Once again, we are pleased to present a budget to our community that preserves community services, expands services in critical areas, and makes strategic adjustments to slow the growth of expenses over the long term,” said County Administrator Steve Mokrohisky. “Just like families who create a household budget, we have to make smart decisions about how we spend limited taxpayer resources.”
Key investments in the County’s FY 23–24 budget include:
- 2 additional FTE in the District Attorney’s Death Investigations program
- Increasing the part-time Program Specialist position in Emergency Management to full-time
- Investment in the creation of a Behavioral Health Stabilization Center
- Funding provided by two levies recently approved by voters: the new five-year Lane County Parks levy and the renewal of the five-year Public Safety Levy
Lane County’s budget is comprised of 33 separate funds. The vast majority of these funds are healthy and structurally balanced. Lane County’s most distressed fund continues to be the General Fund because it relies on limited revenue from Lane County’s $1.28 per $1,000 of assessed value property tax rate, one of the lowest rates in Oregon.
“Our budget is not simply a collection of 33 separate funds,” said Mokrohisky. “It’s an interconnected web that must work together to support the needs of our residents. Our goal over the next two years is to close the structural gap between revenues and expenses in our distressed funds – including the General Fund – through a combination of expense reductions, alternate funding sources, and the modest use of reserves to minimize the effects on our services to residents.”
Adoption of the budget followed approval by the Lane County Budget Committee, which is made up of the five elected county commissioners and five appointed residents. The Budget Committee reviews the proposed budget, conducts public meetings and hearings, and discusses possible changes leading up to approval of the budget.
More information about Lane County’s budget process is available at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/Budget.
Lebanon Fire District Responds to 60′ Arborvitae Fire
Lebanon Fire District crews were dispatched to a report of a vegetation on fire in front of a home in the 600 block of Crowfoot Road. When they arrived, firefighters found approximately 60 feet of arborvitae hedges fully involved in flames.
The fire was quickly knocked down, but crews remained on scene for approximately 45 minutes to check for hotspots and make sure no flames rekindled. While the fire did approach within 15 feet of the home, it did not spread from the hedges to any structures before being extinguished.
The Lebanon Fire District would like to remind residents that we have had an unseasonably dry late Spring, and vegetation is already drying out and turning into fuel for fire. If you have arborvitae, or other large vegetation on your property, we recommend keeping them watered throughout summer. For resources on defensible space and more information on protecting your home and property from fire, visit https://www.oregon.gov/osp/programs/sfm/pages/oregon-defensible-space-code.aspx.
Storm pipe rehab project on Alameda and Vine in Roseburg
ROSEBURG, Ore. – Motorists should expect weekday lane closures and detours for the next few weeks on Alameda Avenue and Vine Streets after the City contracted with Allied Trenchless to rehabilitate existing storm pipe using cured-in-place pipe liner installation.
The storm pipe rehabilitation project is an ongoing annual activity that has proven to be an effective way of extending the useful life of the City’s storm pipe infrastructure.
Taking place from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays only, construction work is scheduled to begin Tuesday, June 13, and is expected to be completed on Friday, July 7.
The project will begin on NE Alameda Avenue at NE Morris Street and continue west on NE Alameda Avenue to NE Vine Street. The storm pipe lining project will continue south on NE Vine Street to NE Church Avenue.
During the project, there will be lane closures and detours in place to route vehicle traffic around the work zone.
The City appreciates motorists’ understanding and patience throughout the project and asks motorists to use caution when traveling through the work zone.
For more information, please contact the Public Works Department at 541-492-6730 or pwd@cityofroseburg.org.
Wildfires Near Hermiston and Pendleton
What started as a response to douse a grass fire Tuesday morning, June 13, near Hat Rock State Park in northern Umatilla County would progress to a massive wildfire requiring help from virtually all local fire departments and more.
The hot, dry weather and high winds fed the Hat Rock Fire, which Umatilla County Fire District No. 1 estimated at one point in the evening to have grown to approximately 10,000 acres. The National Weather Service in Pendleton on June 12 issued a fire weather watch for June 13 for Gilliam, Morrow and Umatilla counties. The NWS changed that June 13 to a Red Flag Warning that was in effect until 9 p.m.
“Firefighters are being challenged by gusty winds and low relative humidity,” according to a report from the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal, which also asked everyone to pay attention to these conditions and take the necessary precautions to avoid sparking a fire.
The Hat Rock Fire prompted the closure of Highway 730 near the state park, and the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office would issue an evacuation notice for areas in Juniper Canyon along Hartle, Wallula and Hatchgrade roads due to the Hat Rock Fire.
The sheriff’s office reported deputies and search and rescue members went door to door advising occupants to evacuate the area. This was not a mandatory evacuation but a notice of immediate evacuation, the sheriff’s office explained, which meant occupants were requested and instructed to leave the area for their own safety.
The city of Hermiston opened the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center for anyone evacuated who may need shelter.
Red Cross has opened a shelter in response to the Hat Rock Fire in Umatilla County. Our volunteers are ready to help those affected by this wildfire. Shelter location: 1705 E Airport Rd., Hermiston, OR
The State Fire Marshal mobilized six task forces and the OSFM Green Incident Management Team to the Hat Rock Fire as well as the Mount Hebron Fire, according to Umatilla County Fire District No. 1.
The high winds and low visibility grounded the K-MAX helicopter from La Grande and two aircraft the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sent to fight the blaze.
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek declared a conflagration for the Hat Rock Fire and the fire burning at the same time on the Mount Hebron area in Pendleton. That fire, however, would spread to approximately 500 acres.
Fire District No. 1 reported it received a callout at 10:59 a.m. for a brush fire on Highway 730 near Highway 37. The fire district reported its crews battled the fire in multiple divisions along Highway 730, and numerous local agencies assisted.
Umatilla Rural Fire Protection District, Echo Fire Department, Irrigon Fire Department, Boardman Fire Rescue District, Pendleton Fire and Ambulance, Pilot Rock Rural Fire Protection District, East Umatilla County Rural Fire Protection District and Umatilla Tribal Fire Department each sent crews and equipment to the Hat Rock Fire.
The Walla Walla Fire Department, Oregon Department of Forestry, Gilliam County Fire Services, Oregon and Oregon National Guard also have provided resources.
The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office reported it activated the county’s Emergency Operation Center at noon to assist in monitoring the ongoing fires in the region and coordinate response efforts.
Wind and low relative humidity, as well as a strong cold front moving across the Pacific Northwest were contributing factors to the Red Flag Warning, according to the NWS.
The forecast called for temperatures up to 88 degrees with relative humidity as low as 27%, according to NWS. Winds were projected to blow westward at 25-35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.
“A cold front will sweep across the forecast area on this afternoon resulting in increasing westerly winds combined with low relative humidities,” the Weather Service reported. (SOURCE)
Oregon State Fire Marshal mobilizes resources to the Hat Rock and Mount Hebron Fires
The Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is mobilizing six task forces and an incident management team to Umatilla County as firefighters battle two fast-moving wildfires. Tuesday evening, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act for the Hat Rock fire and Mount Hebron fire to provide these additional resources.
Level 2 evacuation orders are in place through the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office for the Hat Rock fire, and some residents self-evacuated due to the fire activity on the Mount Hebron fire. Local fire officials have confirmed some outbuildings were lost in the Mount Hebron fire.
“The Hat Rock and Mount Hebron fires have been growing rapidly due to the dry, windy conditions in Umatilla County. The local firefighting resources from three counties have been battling both fires since they began mid-day June 13,” said Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple. “With the red flag warning in place, the OSFM is mobilizing additional resources through the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System (OFMAS) to help the local fire service agencies on scene.”
In accordance with ORS 476.510-476.610, Governor Kotek determined the fire poses a threat to life, safety, and property, 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 in battling the fire and further support a coordinated response.
The OSFM’s Green Incident Management Team will be briefed and assume command. The six task forces are coming from other counties around the state through the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System.
PacifiCorp says it plans to appeal a jury verdict that found it liable in four wildfires over the 2020 Labor Day weekend. Twenty-five-hundred homes were damaged or destroyed by the fires.
Jury Reaches Verdict in James v. PacifiCorp
PacifiCorp to pursue appeals
As a result of the historic and tragic wind event of Labor Day 2020, many of our fellow Oregonians suffered losses to their homes, businesses and communities. Regardless of the outcome, a trial will never fully restore what was lost. We are proud to have told the story of our incredible employees, who meet the call to service every day in support of our communities and customers and did so in the face of the preexisting, lightning caused Beachie Creek fire that roared into the Santiam Canyon causing widespread damage that weekend.
The company plans to pursue appeals, and we are confident we will prevail.
Pacific Power, a division of PacifiCorp serving customers in Oregon, was the first utility to develop a Wildfire Mitigation Plan in the state starting in 2018. We continue to lead in wildfire mitigation, and our plan continues to grow and evolve– which includes in-house emergency management, meteorology and data science teams and features the installation of over 300 weather stations, grid hardening, fire-risk modeling software and an enhanced vegetation management program. How utilities serve communities and customers in Oregon, and expectations for continuous and reliable electric service, will be reshaped. We are committed to working with impacted communities to ensure everyone can thrive in our collective new reality.
Wildfire remains a complex issue and the threat of wildfire continues to grow dramatically in Oregon and the West. Escalating climate change, challenging state and federal forest management, and population growth in the wildland-urban interface are substantial factors contributing to growing wildfire risk. These systemic issues affect all Oregonians and are larger than any single utility, such as Pacific Power. A holistic perspective and public-private leadership will be essential to adapt society to natural disaster risks. As we look to recent events in California that have impacted the availability of routine property insurance for residents and businesses and wildfire smoke from Canada affecting the Northeast U.S., it is critical that we all work together to protect Oregonians through constructive, enduring solutions.
Grants Pass Retiree “Wins For Life” with Oregon Lottery
A Grants Pass woman decided to play Oregon’s Win for Life draw game for the first time – only to end up a jackpot winner. Ruth Salvatore, 73, purchased five tickets for the June 4 drawing and learned of her $52,000 annual prize when she scanned the last ticket on the Oregon Lottery app.
At first, Salvatore saw she had won $2 on a ticket and was thrilled she won something.When her last ticket scanned as the jackpot winner, she ran into the living room to share the news with her sister and husband Ed.
“Look at that,” she said. “Look at that,” pointing with excitement to her phone.
Salvatore and her husband are planning to use the money to remodel their home and take a trip to Cancun. Coincidentally, the couple will be celebrating their 52nd wedding anniversary this month – making “52” a special number for them.
The winning ticket was purchased at the Grants Pass Fred Meyer store.
The Oregon Lottery recommends that you sign the back of your ticket to ensure you can claim any prize. In the event of winning a jackpot, players should consult with a trusted financial planner or similar professional to develop a plan for their winnings. Players have a year to claim their prize.
Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned nearly $15 billion for economic development, public education, outdoor school, state parks, veteran services, and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org.
David’s Chair Outdoor Mobility Systems is bringing a fleet of track Chairs to Florence and Newport Oregon for people with Mobility Challenges to use for FREE.
Southern Oregon-based nonprofit David’s Chair Outdoor Mobility Systems (David’s Chair) is mobilizing their team with a fleet of track chairs to the Oregon Coast this weekend. On Friday June 16 they will be in Florence Oregon at Heceta Beach County Park and on Saturday June 17 they will be at Nye Beach in Newport Oregon. Both excursions are from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The time slots to use a track chair in Florence are full while there are a couple still open for Newport. You should come meet the David’s Chair Team at both locations and the community members supporting these events to learn how you can help make Oregon Beaches more accessible. . CEO and Founder Steve Furst said, “We are excited to bring our track chairs to Florence and Newport for the first time. Hosting Beach Day Excursions like these are important so people with mobility challenges can access the beaches with their family and friends. Both of these communities have been great to work with as we planned and prepared for these excursions.”
David’s Chair owns a fleet of track chairs that they allow people to use for FREE. CEO and Founder Steve Furst said, “We are working with many different entities in each city to bring a Track Chair permanently to both communities. David’s Chair is in the process of placing several track chairs at locations along the Oregon Coast and they are close to having them in Newport and Florence. “We want to make the Oregon Coast more accessible and with our track chairs people will have the independence and freedom to go where they choose. Nobody has to push them.” Said, Steve Furst. David’s Chair has received some grants to purchase track chairs and they are looking for more locations to partner with to provide their free services. “We are doing everything we can as a non-profit to make this as easy as possible and still having some trouble in certain areas. We are handling all reservations to use the track chairs through our online portal and providing forms and waivers. We provide insurance, maintenance, and parts. We are basically doing it all. We are even purchasing places to store them. We just ask our partners to check the track chairs in and out to the people using them and provide power and light cleaning to the track chairs. We are on a mission and looking for partners to help us provide the Oregon Coast with mobility freedom for all”, said CEO and Founder Steve Furst. You can learn more about the upcoming excursions and how you can help by going to www.davidschair.org and selecting the events page. You can also ask any questions through the Contact Us link on the website.
About David’s Chair
David’s Chair got its start in 2017, after Medford resident David Hartrick was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). An avid hunter and fisherman, David immediately began searching for a way to enjoy the outdoors in the confines of a wheelchair. With the help of CEO and Founder Steve Furst, the pair discovered the company Action Trackchair and raised enough money to buy one. David recognized he wouldn’t be able to use it for long and dreamed of others benefiting from the chair as well; shortly after, the non-profit David’s Chair was born.
David passed away on January 11, 2018, just 11 months after his ALS diagnosis. However, David’s Chair continues to give the gift of independence and freedom to people with ALS and other mobility challenges. Both David’s original Action Trackchair, along with several newer chairs have been used by people with mobility challenges to go places and experience freedom they haven’t been able to, free of charge.
To learn more about David’s Chair, visit www.davidschair.org and like David’s Chair on Facebook.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service invites the public to community open houses on potential sea otter recovery efforts in Northern California and Oregon
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) will host 16 public open houses with communities in Northern California and Oregon this June to gather input on the potential reintroduction of sea otters to their historical range. The open houses will provide communities and stakeholders an opportunity to ask questions, share perspectives and speak with Service staff about sea otters and next steps in recovery efforts including the potential reintroduction process – should a proposal move forward.
The southern sea otter, one of three subspecies of sea otter, is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. As directed by Congress, the Service assessed reintroduction feasibility in 2022. The assessment concluded that reintroduction was biologically feasible and may have significant benefits for a variety of species in the marine ecosystem and expedite the recovery of the threatened southern sea otter.
The assessment also concluded that additional information about how reintroduction would affect stakeholders and local communities was needed before considering the next steps. There is no active proposal to reintroduce sea otters at this time.
The open houses will help the Service gather further information to inform next steps. As the Service considers the possibility of reintroduction, we recognize that community values and issues are critical in this process. Input from the public and key stakeholders, including ocean users, will be a foundational component in establishing next steps including whether or not a potential reintroduction is proposed, as well as ensuring that proposals are crafted in a way that benefits stakeholders and local communities.
The Service aims to be inclusive, thoughtful, and scientifically sound as we consider actions to support sea otters, local communities and ecosystem recovery, now and in the future.
Open houses will be held in the following communities in Oregon and Northern California:
Oregon
Astoria – June 20, 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM Astoria Elks Lodge #180 453 11th St., Astoria, OR 97103
Garibaldi – June 21, 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM Old Mill RV Resort 210 South 3rd St. Garibaldi, OR 97118
Newport – June 21, 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM Newport Recreation Center, Multipurpose Room 225 SE Avery St., Newport, OR 97365
Florence – June 22, 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM, Lane Community College, Florence Center, Room 103 3149 Oak St., Florence, OR 97439
Coos Bay – June 22 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM, Southern Oregon Community College, Empire Hall, Lakeview Rooms E, F, & G 1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay, OR 97420
Port Orford – June 23, 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM, Port Orford Library, Large Conference Room 1421 Oregon St., Port Orford, OR 97465
Gold Beach – June 23, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Curry County Library, Meeting Hall 94341 3rd St., Gold Beach, OR 97444
Brookings – June 24, 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM, Coastal Community Center (located inside Coastal Home, Health, and Hospice) 585 5th St., Brookings, OR 97415
California
Crescent City – June 24, 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM, Del Norte Recreation Department, Gymnasium 1005 H St., Crescent City, CA 95531
Arcata – June 25, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM, Cal Poly Humboldt, College Creek Complex, Great Hall Community Center Building, Room 260, 1 Rossow St., Arcata, CA 95521
Fort Bragg – June 26, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM, Noyo Center for Marine Science, Discovery Center 338 N Main St., Fort Bragg, CA 95437
Bodega Bay – June 27, 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM, Bodega Bay Community Center 2255 CA-1, Bodega Bay, CA, 94923
Point Reyes Station – June 27, 5:00 PM– 7:30 PM, Point Reyes National Seashore, Bear Valley Visitor Center, Red Barn Classroom 75 Bear Valley Rd., Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
Sausalito – June 28, 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM, Bay Model Visitor Center, Gallery 2100 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965
San Francisco – June 28, 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM, San Francisco County Fair Building, Auditorium 1199 9th Ave., San Francisco, CA 94122
Emeryville – June 29, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Emeryville Senior Center, Main Hall 4321 Salem St., Emeryville, CA 94608
The Service encourages interested stakeholders and publics to drop in any time during the open houses. Full details and open house information are also available online at www.fws.gov/project/exploring-potential-sea-otter-reintroduction.
### The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
