Willamette Valley News, Wednesday 7/5 – Mop Up Begins on Moon Mountain Park Fire, Red Flag Warnings Issued Due To Critical Fire Conditions

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 5, 2023

Willamette Valley Weather

Red Flag Warnings Issued Due To Critical Fire Conditions

HEAT ADVISORY ISSUED: 4:56 AM JUL. 5, 2023 – NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Maximum temperatures of 95 to 100 degrees expected today.

* WHERE...South Willamette Valley.

* WHEN...Until 11 PM PDT Wednesday.

* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles
under any circumstances.

Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.

For sheltering information and other human services in your area, dial 2 1 1 during business hours or visit 211info.org in Oregon

RED FLAG WARNING ISSUED: 5:40 AM JUL. 5, 2023 – NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR WIND, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY, AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 604 AND 667...

* AFFECTED AREA... In Oregon,
- Fire Weather Zone 604 Willamette Valley.

* TIMING...Until 11 PM PDT Wednesday.

* WINDS...Northeast 3 to 7 mph early, becoming north 5 to 9 mph with gusts up to 20 mph by early afternoon. Near gaps in the Coast Range, wind becoming west to northwest 6 to 10 mph with gusts up to 25 mph by 7 PM and continuing for the remainder of the evening.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 12 percent.

* HAINES...5 (moderate) to 6 (high).

* IMPACTS...Conditions may be favorable for rapid spread on any new or existing fires. Extreme fire behavior is possible, especially from established fires. Use extra caution with
potential ignition sources, especially in grassy areas. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of the above conditions can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

Check with your local fire agency to see whether burning and/or firework restrictions are in place. Even if burning is legal, do not leave any type of fire unattended.

Mop Up Begins on Moon Mountain Park Fire

***Update:New Contact Info*** Oregon State Fire Marshal mobilizes firefighting resources to support Moon Mountain Fire
Oregon State Fire Marshal – 07/04/23 3:53 PM

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon State Fire Marshal has mobilized one structural task force to South Eugene in Lane County to assist with structure protection for the Moon Mountain Fire. The fire is estimated at 40 acres. The Oregon Department of Forestry Western Lane District is in command and conducting the investigation. Mutual aid resources from the Oregon Department of Forestry, Douglas Forest Protective Association, Coos Fire Patrol Association, Eugene-Springfield Fire, and Pleasant Hill Goshen Fire & Rescue are on scene.

Evacuations that were put into place initially remain in effect. Currently, Zone 32 is in a Level 1 Evacuation Order. Please visit the Eugene-Springfield Fire and the city’s evacuation map for more information and continuous updates: https://www.eugene-or.gov/4732/Emergency-Evacuation-Zones.

Weather conditions on Tuesday, July 4^th, are expected to reach the high 90s, with winds reaching 5-10 mph with gusts nearing 25 mph. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning extending to 11 p.m. Wednesday, July 5^th, night. Please be aware fire risk increased due to the hot, dry, and windy conditions. The OSFM asks everyone to pay attention to these conditions and take the necessary precautions to avoid sparking a fire.

Fire agencies are asking the public to be extremely careful this Fourth of July holiday and help prevent costly new wildfires from starting. People can help by following all regulations in place and celebrating safely. For those who purchase legal fireworks, OSFM encourages everyone to practice the four Bs of safe fireworks use:

Be prepared before lighting fireworks: keep water available by using a garden hose or bucket.
Be safe when lighting fireworks: keep children and pets away from fireworks. Never use fireworks near or on dry grass or vegetation.
Be responsible after lighting fireworks: never relight a dud. Please wait 15 to 20 minutes, then soak it in a bucket of water before disposal.
Be aware: Use only legal fireworks in legal places.

The OSFM is in contact with the local fire agencies and continues to evaluate the need for additional support.

ABOUT RESPONSE READY OREGON

This immediate response was made possible through the OSFM’s Response Ready Oregon initiative. It was launched through Immediate Response, a tool developed with funding from Senate Bill 762 (2021). The goal is to boost response to wildfires to keep fires small and away from communities.

Fire Danger Level Increases to High in Western Lane and South Cascade ODF District

Eugene, Ore. – Due to high winds, low relative humidity, and high temperatures, the fire danger level on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Western Lane and South Cascades Districts will increase to “High” (yellow) on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, at 12:01 a.m. This affects approximately 1.9 million acres of state, private, county and Bureau of Land Management lands in Lane, Linn and portions of Douglas County.

Any spark has the potential to start a wildfire. Dry conditions in the districts make it that much easier for a fire to catch and spread. Residents and travelers need to be vigilant when it comes to wildfire prevention. This means not parking over dried grass, responsible and legal use of fireworks, recreating responsibly and following local restrictions.

The primary difference between current fire prevention restrictions and those beginning on Tuesday affects the public use of power-driven equipment, such as chain saws, mowers, weed eaters, and more. The use of power-driven equipment, grinding, cutting of metal, and other spark-emitting equipment, such as wood splitters and generators, will be prohibited between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. This does not apply to mowing green lawns.

Other fire prevention regulations which will remain in effect, include:

No debris burning, including piles and debris burned in burn barrels
No fireworks on or within 1/8^th of a mile of ODF-protected land
Exploding targets and tracer ammunition, or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base, are prohibited
Campfires are allowed only in approved designated locations. Portable stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels may be used in other locations that are clear of dry vegetation
Motorized vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain, are allowed only on improved roads; one shovel and one gallon of water, or one 2.5 pound or larger fire extinguisher, is required while traveling
Smoking while traveling will only be allowed in enclosed vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water and other specifically designated locations
The mowing of dead or dried grass with power-driven equipment is not allowed between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. during high fire danger.

Again, ODF urges Oregonians to be responsible this summer and actively practice wildfire prevention. For the full list of restrictions, visit https://www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/pages/restrictions.aspx. For more wildfire prevention tips, visit keeporegongreen.org.

Plane Crashes Into Willamette River

The initial investigation by BCSO determined a 56-year-old male from Eugene was operating his Fenix AirTap Paramotor paraglider when it crashed into the Willamette River.

There was one passenger on board the aircraft when the crash occurred. The 51-year-old male passenger from Eugene was still underwater when first responders arrived and determined to be deceased.

The two took off from Irish Bend Park, flew north following the direction of the river, and were traveling back when the aircraft crashed into the Willamette River.

Two fishermen on a boat helped rescue the pilot, who was then transported to the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.

Impairment is not believed to have been a factor in the crash at this time. The investigation remains open and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Benton County Sheriff’s Office Detective Lovik at 541-766-6818.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) with oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is further investigating the incident.

Any further information will be released at the direction of the Benton County District Attorney’s Office.

BCSO would like to thank the Linn County Sheriff’s Office and Halsey Fire Department for assistance with this incident.

________________________________________

CORVALLIS, Ore. – On Saturday, July 1st at about 7:00 a.m., the Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) was notified about an ultralight aircraft crash in the Willamette River near Peoria, south of Corvallis.

BCSO is on scene working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Linn County Sheriff’s Office during the initial phase of the investigation.

It is unknown at this time how many occupants are on board the aircraft.

We ask the public to stay clear of the area as first responders continue the investigation and assess the scene for potential hazards to boaters/paddlers.

No additional information is available at this time. An updated news release or social media post will be pushed out as investigators learn more.

The ALL-IN Lane County Emergency Effort Completes Funding Allocations

The All-In Lane County emergency effort, targeted to prevent homelessness, improve emergency shelters, and re-house unsheltered individuals, completed its funding allocation phase this week. In total, proposals from 15 organizations from across Lane County were selected begin this work.

“We are fortunate so many service organizations stepped forward to partner in the areas Governor Kotek tasked us with improving,” said Lane County Multi-Agency Coordination group lead and Lane County Interim Human Services Division Manager, Kate Budd. “We not only look forward to the progress this effort will bring, but also strengthening the coordinated efforts across the region.”

The Lane County MAC Group is providing interagency management, planning, and operational leadership to provide strategic coordination, as well as identify resources and manage goals for the region’s ALL-IN work. The group is led by Lane County with broad representation from community-based organizations and local government.

“Catholic Community Services of Lane County is definitely “ALL-IN”! We will be operating new efforts in diversion, emergency shelter and rapid rehousing to affect the current unhoused crisis in Lane County,” said Lorri Perrault, Executive Director of Catholic Community Services of Lane County. “As always, we’re thrilled to collaborate with Lane County and other agencies to enhance the health and wellness of our community”.

The ALL-IN effort is the first multi-agency, county-wide effort aimed at reducing houselessness with an emergency focus. This work is made possible through Governor Kotek’s emergency orders on homelessness and subsequent funding through HB 5019.

To date, the MAC group has established an operational structure and cadence, created the first spending plan for the ALL-IN funding allocation to be approved by Governor Kotek, and executed contracts with local service providers to do the work.

Lane County’s All-IN effort will:

-Stabilize 741 households to prevent homelessness.

-Create 230 quality, low-barrier emergency shelter beds.

-Re-house 247 households from the street into permanent dwellings.

In coming weeks, community members will be able to track the progress of the effort with an integrated, online dashboard.

For more information about ALL-IN Lane County, organizations involved, and to track progress, please visit, www.LaneCountyor.gov/ALLIN

White Bird Clinic is expanding the flock and now hiring for multiple positions and departments! It takes a wide range of amazing people to achieve the mission of White Bird Clinic and to be successful in the work that we do. What exactly do we do? Well, for 50 years we have been providing compassionate humanistic healthcare and supportive services to individuals in our community, so everyone receives the care they need.

If you think you possess qualities such as level-headedness, patience, empathy, self-awareness, humor, active listening, and can approach challenging situations in a creative and neutral way then please apply and tell us more by visiting https://www.indeed.com/cmp/White-Bird-Clinic/jobsQuestions? Feel free to reach out by e-mail info@whitebirdclinic.org or by calling 458-239-1162

Oregon Drivers Will Soon Be Able to Pump Their Own Fuel

Oregon will soon join 48 other states where drivers can pump their own fuel — although those who do not want to get out of their vehicles can still choose full service.

The Oregon Senate passed House Bill 2426 on a 16-9 vote on June 21, three months after the House passed it 47-10. The bill goes to Gov. Tina Kotek. It takes effect upon her signature, though the bill empowers the state fire marshal to conduct a public campaign about safe practices first.

The bill still will require stations to reserve half their pumps to provide full service to customers who are older, have disabilities or simply prefer to have attendants do the work.

Together with New Jersey, Oregon has barred self-service at gasoline stations since 1951, though lawmakers have relaxed that restriction in recent years.

In 2015, legislators allowed self-serve gas during nighttime hours in rural and coastal counties. In 2017, they extended this allowance to all hours in rural counties, mostly east of the Cascades. In 2020, 2021 and 2022, Oregon’s fire marshal temporarily lifted the self-service ban statewide during emergencies such as wildfires and heat waves.

Voters retained a ban on self-service in 1982, when they rejected a ballot initiative to repeal it.

New Rent Control Bill Signed Into Law Takes Effect Immediately

A new statewide rent control bill signed into law last week means tenants won’t again be hit with the nearly 15% rent hike the state allowed this year.

Senate Bill 611 saw housing and tenants rights advocates pushing for greater consumer protections to prevent displacement, while landlords and property management groups argued any increased regulations would make the state a less attractive place for developers who might otherwise add to Oregon’s much-needed housing stock

A statewide 2019 rent control law specified an equation for maximum rent increases in a given year: 7% plus inflation. That means that this year, landlords are allowed to increase rents for existing tenants by up to nearly 15%. (According to data from Zillow, median rent in Oregon is $1,767, so the average renter could see increases of up to $265 a month.)

)SB 611, introduced by Sen. Wlnsvey Campos (D-Aloha) this year, originally set the cap at 8%, or 3% plus inflation — whichever of the two is lower. The bill has been amended so the cap is now 10% or 7% plus inflation, whichever is less. Landlords are also restricted to one rent increase a year.

Landlords who try to increase rent beyond the cap would be compelled to pay tenants the equivalent of three months’ rent plus damages.

“This is a homelessness prevention bill,” Cameron Herrington of the Oregon Housing Alliance said during a public hearing last month. “It will create stability for renter households in all parts of our state by protecting tenants from extreme rent increases while allowing landlords a fair, reasonable and predictable ability to increase rents as and if they need to in order to cover expenses.”

Sen. Wlnsvey Campos (D-Aloha)SB 611, introduced by Sen. Wlnsvey Campos (D-Aloha) this year, originally set the cap at 8%, or 3% plus inflation — whichever of the two is lower. The bill has been amended so the cap is now 10% or 7% plus inflation, whichever is less. Landlords are also restricted to one rent increase a year.

Landlords who try to increase rent beyond the cap would be compelled to pay tenants the equivalent of three months’ rent plus damages.

SB 611 might also provide some minor relief from the outsized influence of private equity firms that increasingly buy up housing stock and rapidly increase rent while aggressively filing evictions. It is a practice Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley has fought by introducing the End Hedge Fund Control of American Homes Act late last year, calling such practices “predatory.”

Hedge fund influence can drive up market rates, and previously, there were no regulations in place for the rent landlords can ask of new tenants, which is seen as a motivator for no-cause evictions – for example, a landlord seeking to charge more than a 15% increase in rent could simply serve a no-cause eviction to a current tenant, then rent the unit out at a much higher rate to the incoming renter. SB 611 specifies that if a landlord serves a no-cause eviction with a 30-day notice, the rent they charge the next tenant is capped at a 7% increase plus inflation.

The bill declares an emergency and will take effect immediately. (SOURCE)

Veterans from across the United States, and some from the UK and Puerto Rico, are in Oregon competing in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games.

The National Veterans Wheelchair Games is the world’s largest annual wheelchair sports and rehabilitation event solely for military veterans. The event demonstrates the unstoppable character of veterans and seeks to foster wider respect and opportunities for all people with disabilities.

The National Veterans Wheelchair Games is open to all U.S. veterans with spinal cord injuries, amputations, multiple sclerosis, or other central neurological conditions who require a wheelchair for athletic competition. Every year, hundreds of American heroes from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and the post-9/11 era compete in this celebration of sport, courage and camaraderie.

The event, which began on Tuesday, honors servicemen and women and displays the skill of paraplegic and quadriplegic veterans across a number of team and individual sports.

The competitions are being held around the Portland area at the Oregon Convention Center, Portland International Raceway, KingPins in Beaverton, OMSI and Mt. Hood Community College Aquatic Center.

The events are free to attend and runs through July 9th. MORE INFO: https://wheelchairgames.org/about/event-venues/

$5 Million State Fund To Protect Community Drinking Water

Conservation groups are celebrating a big win in the Oregon legislature – a new $5 million fund that will help communities protect their source drinking water.

Communities on the Oregon Coast are particularly interested in acquiring the forested lands that supply their drinking water, according to a release from Sustainable Northwest.

“Protecting the streams, creeks and rivers that supply a community’s drinking water is an incredibly effective way to ensure high quality and reliable quantities of clean drinking water to communities and water suppliers,” the release state.

The new fund will be administered by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, and will allow Oregon to access hundreds of millions in federal matching funds.

“This program is well poised to allow communities to decide how the forests providing their drinking water are managed and cared for,” Sustainable Northwest Forest Program Manager Daniel Wear said. “Land ownership is an effective way to connect communities to the water they rely on for daily life.”

“This new fund opens up hundreds of millions in federal matching funds for Oregon communities to protect watersheds and secure safe and clean drinking water,” Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts Executive Director Kelley Beamer said. “Thank you to our legislative champions, Reps. Helm and Owens, for prioritizing this new grant program and working to expand access to clean, reliable, and affordable drinking water across the state.”

The funding will provide $4 million for communities to acquire land or purchase conservation easements on properties, while also establishing a $1 million fund for projects to apply for loan repayment on projects that would have previously qualified for this funding.

The following statements are provided by Sustainable Northwest and the Coalition for Oregon Land Trusts.

About the Coalition for Oregon Land Trusts – The Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts (COLT) serves and strengthens the land trust community in Oregon. At COLT, we build connections and advance policies that help protect our natural world—our water, wildlife and open space—for all people, forever. This work helps our coalition members—30 conservation organizations around the state—do what they do best: protect wildlife and wild places, defend working farms and forests, provide recreation and parks, drive climate solutions and science, champion clean water for all and engage communities to protect our natural world.

About Sustainable Northwest – At Sustainable Northwest, we believe healthy, working lands are good for nature, people and local economies. We partner with rural communities and Tribal nations to solve natural resource challenges and build economic opportunities. Founded in 1994, our work focuses on working lands – forests, farms, and ranches. We promote healthy working lands, clean energy, smart water use, and markets for sustainable wood products throughout the greater Northwest.

Through this broad spectrum of work, we help to ensure both rural communities and urban centers have healthy landscapes, resilient economies, and engaged communities. We work on the ground in communities, collaborating to create long-term benefits.

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Says A hiker stumbled on the trail and fell down an embankment Saturday afternoon.

A father of five from Beaverton died after falling from a hiking trail at Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge Saturday afternoon, according to the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO).

Gerardo Hernandez-Rodriguez, 41, was hiking on the trail beyond the Benson Bridge near the first switchback when he stumbled and fell down an embankment around 1:30 p.m., witnesses said. The group the man was with reported that they lost sight of him after he fell, according to MCSO.

Sheriff’s deputies, the Corbett Fire District and a U.S. Forest Service ranger searched for the man. Due to the “inaccessible” and steep terrain, Gresham police were called in to operate a drone, MCSO said. A deputy searched the base of the cliff on the south side of the Historic Columbia River Highway, directly below the area that Hernandez-Rodriguez fell, and found him.

It took rescuers about an hour to get to him. Hernandez-Rodriguez died from injuries from the fall, MCSO said.

Deputies initially believed that Hernandez-Rodriguez fell 100-150 feet, but an investigation showed that he fell nearly 200 feet, the sheriff’s office said on Monday.

MCSO said alcohol impairment was likely a factor in his fall. The agency reminded others to make sure to be safe on the trails.

“This isn’t just going on a walk, this is a trail, this is a hiking trail, and so we encourage people to come prepared for an actual hike, it’s not a paved walk. it’s a hike,” said John Plock with MCSO.

Fireworks May Have Sparked Wildfire South of Waldport

A wildfire that has since been contained in Lincoln County south of the town of Waldport late Sunday afternoon may have been sparked by fireworks according to fire officials.

“Although the investigation is still ongoing, the deputy state fire marshal did recover remnants of firework mortars near the seat of the fire,” Central Oregon Coast Fire & Rescue

Dry and windy conditions contributed to the fast spread of the fire, according to the Yachats Rural Fire Protection District.

Firefighters were dispatched to a brush fire near Governor Patterson State Park just before 3 p.m. The first crews to arrive found the fire burning alongside Highway 101, as well as down a cliff about 20 feet below the highway in an area with vegetation on the beach.

The Lincoln County Emergency Management had advised residents to evacuate immediately due to “extreme fire danger” around 4:30 p.m. Emergency management officials had issued Level 3 – Go Now and Level 2 – Be Set notices along Highway 101.

Crews were able to make an initial knockdown of the fire around 5:30 p.m.

All evacuation orders were lifted just after 6 p.m. and residents were told they could return to their homes. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office gave the all clear on their emergency notification system about 90 minutes after the first order was issued.

The fire was estimated to be 0.25 acres in a 650-foot stretch of vegetation, according to the Yachats Rural Fire Protection District.

Highway 101 was closed for about five hours. Lanes were getting through by 8:00 p.m. according to TripCheck.

Officials remind residents to be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice in case of a wildfire. Fireworks are prohibited on beaches and within state parks in Oregon.

Oregon’s EV Rebate Program Out of Money and Remains Suspended

Oregon’s popular electric vehicle rebate program is out of money and will remain suspended for the rest of the year, potentially impacting EV sales and the state’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals.

That’s after lawmakers recently failed to pass essential legislation that would have provided an additional $30 million to restart the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Clean Vehicle Rebate program. The program’s suspension began May 1, and funds likely won’t be replenished until March 2024.

The Clean Vehicle Rebate program offers two levels of rebates, up to $7,500 combined, based on a person’s income. It was designed to encourage the purchase or lease of zero-emissions vehicles as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions statewide. Federal rebate programs are still available to Oregonians.

Residents who have purchased an EV on or before April 30 still have six months to apply for the rebate. However, if funding runs out, residents will be put on a waiting list and receive rebates once the program is replenished.

Erica Timm is the Oregon program’s coordinator. She said the suspension is a sign of the program’s success. She said Oregonians are making the switch from gas-powered vehicles to electric ones at quicker rates compared to other states.

“Oregon is one of the top five states in terms of electric vehicle adoption. And based on previous registration sales data as well as our participation data, we know those electric vehicle sales have been growing in recent years,” she said.

Timm said recent reports show 15% of overall vehicle sales in Oregon were electric vehicles in the first quarter of 2023. As of June, the state program has issued more than $75 million in rebates to more than 27,000 applicants since the program began in late 2018, according to DEQ data.

Timm said current projections show the program needs to double the amount it receives to prevent more suspensions. Currently, the program receives at least $12 million a year from the state’s vehicle privilege tax. DEQ projects it will receive $17.5 million in total for the rebate program in 2023, but needed $30 million to meet the demand.

If the program wants to avoid another suspension in 2024, it will need about $33 million for rebates, Timm said. By 2030, it will triple to more than $90 million.

“We are currently in the process of connecting with interested parties of the Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate program to discuss just what potential adaptations to support the long-term sustainability of the rebate program could be,” she said.

Oregon Heritage MentorCorps Assistance Applications Now Open

Salem, OR—Heritage organizations around the state are now eligible to apply for free professional technical assistance from the Oregon Heritage MentorCorps program. MentorCorps stems from a pilot program funded through an IMLS grant in the early 2010s. It has since grown into a fully actualized technical assistance program of the Oregon Heritage Commission that supports the “Pursue Best Practices” goal of the 2020-2025 Oregon Heritage Plan. Organizations can expect to work on projects alongside volunteer professionals with backgrounds in museum collections management, curatorship, archives, preservation, heritage interpretation, non-profit management, disaster preparedness and much more.

The role of MentorCorps is to assist with projects that are challenging the expertise of the staff at these organizations. This can include guidance in project management or planning, grant reviews, collections assessments, policy development, or simply prioritization of work if folks do not know where to start. Fielding a cadre of mentors with training and experience in the field that are geographically and technically diverse, there are very few projects that MentorCorps cannot assist with in some way.

“MentorCorps’ goal is to support organizations in achieving better practices on their way to best practices,” says Cam Amabile, Technical Resources Coordinator for Oregon Heritage. “Our program is meant to serve as a guide to resources, or a stepping stone on the way to a fully implemented plan or action. We aim to be a program that helps, particularly small organizations with limited capacities, meet their mission without being overwhelmed. To do that we pair them with our experienced practitioners as guides, with the added benefit of continuing to hone the mentor’s skills.”

This service is offered free to any heritage organization operating within the state of Oregon, but primarily serves museums, libraries, archives, and cultural institutions. Applications open July 3, 2023 and close on August 15, 2023 for the 2023-2024 assistance year. Applications can be found at: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/oh/pages/mentorcorps.a…

Organizations can reach out to Oregon Heritage Technical Resources Coordinator, Cam Amabile with questions about projects or applications at 971-720-8998 or cam.amabile@oprd.oregon.gov.