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, September 20, 2023
Willamette Valley Weather
AirNow is another good source for air quality data. The recently redesigned site highlights air quality in your local area first, while still providing air quality information at state, national, and world views. A new interactive map even lets you zoom out to get the big picture or drill down to see data for a single air quality monitor. AirNow reports air quality using the official U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI), a color-coded index designed to communicate whether air quality is healthy or unhealthy for you. When you know the AQI in your area, you can take steps to protect your health. https://fire.airnow.gov
Search and Rescue Teams Rescue Man In Mount Jefferson Wilderness
Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reports on Monday September 18, at 9:42 p.m., the Linn County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team responded to a rescue on the Pacific Crest Trail near South Cinder Peak in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness.
Linn County Dispatch received a report that Curtis Nitschelm, 64, of Redmond, had been camping in the area while hunting when he had fallen ill and was unable to move. At approximately 11:00 p.m., a Life Flight Air Ambulance responded but was unable to land due to the lack of an adequate landing zone nearby.
Members of the Search and Rescue (SAR) team responded to the Cabot Lake Trailhead in Jefferson County, which is the closest access point to where the patient was located in Linn County. SAR members hiked through the night to get to the patient who was still experiencing severe symptoms when they arrived. SAR Medical Personnel began caring for the patient until a United States Coast Guard helicopter was able to respond and hoist the patient into the helicopter at approximately 8:00 a.m., on the morning of September 19. The patient was flown to the Redmond Municipal Airport, and from there was transported by ground ambulance to an area hospital.
Sheriff Duncan would like to thank all the Search and Rescue volunteers who make successful rescues like this possible. Please visit www.linnsheriff.org to learn more about the LCSO Search and Rescue team.
Lane County Elections Recognized for Innovation in Election Security
Lane County Elections has been recognized by the National Association of Election Officials (NAEO) for its outstanding efforts to ensure the integrity and security of the democratic process.
“This award is a testament to our team’s tireless dedication to upholding the fundamental principles of democracy,” said County Administrator Steve Mokrohisky. “We are honored to be recognized for our innovative approaches to election security, and we remain committed to providing voters the utmost confidence in the integrity of our electoral process.”
Lane County Elections was recognized for three things designed to increase confidence in the elections process: access to a 24-hour livestream of the Elections Office during every election; publishing an 8-step Mail Ballot Processing Guide; and publicizing a tentative schedule of mail ballot processing activities so people can follow along with the process in real time. When used in concert, these three things empower observers to view the mail ballot process easily and meaningfully.
For upcoming elections, people interested in observing the process can access the livestream and other information at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/Elections. The livestream begins on the day ballots are mailed and continues until election certification is complete. Detailed information about elections security in Lane County is also available on the Elections website.
The National Association of Election Officials (NAEO) is an organization dedicated to promoting and preserving the integrity of elections in the United States. Through collaboration, education, and recognition, NAEO supports election officials in their efforts to uphold the highest standards of election administration and security.
Save Eugene’s Hospital
“Make no mistake. The costs of this decision are high. Eugene Springfield Emergency and Rescue make approximately 4,500 trips to the emergency room every year. Consider the impact to our response time and cost. Our estimates are that every round trip transport will increase by 27 minutes. Think about what that means to people in West Eugene who have a heart attack or a house fire or another life-threatening crisis. Lives will be lost,” said Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis.
“This closure will decrease access and degrade health care in our community and we should all be very concerned,” said Lane County Commissioner Laurie Trieger. “A decision of this magnitude was not done in partnership at all. It was dropped on this community with no time to consider how best to mitigate and prepare for the loss, no time to plan for a thoughtful off ramp for services, no time to seek new allies or collaborators to help fill service gaps and plan for the future.”
“By PeaceHealth’s own admission, the closure of University District is being fueled by financial considerations, not community ones. PeaceHealth should honor its promise to the Eugene community by not closing this essential—and only—emergency service facility in the city. We expect more from a mission-driven, nonprofit organization,” said SEIU 49 leader Lorie Quinn, an environmental services worker at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center Riverbend.
“Everyday I see patients come into the ER desperate for our help. Often, they have nowhere else to turn. They are counting on me and the other people you see standing here. We are not going to let them down. We won’t let PeaceHealth abandon our community and endanger our families’ and patients’ health and safety,” said ONA leader Kevyn Paul, a charge nurse at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center University District. “It’s time PeaceHealth does the right thing for our community. Today, we call upon PeaceHealth executives, the Oregon Health Authority and state leaders to reverse this disastrous decision and save Eugene’s hospital.”
BACKGROUND: On Aug. 22, PeaceHealth executives in Vancouver notified our community that they planned to close Eugene’s only hospital–PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center University District–this fall.
This dangerous and irresponsible decision would leave nearly 200,000 people in Oregon’s second largest city without a hospital.
Losing our only hospital is a clear and present danger to the entire Eugene community—particularly our most vulnerable residents. PeaceHealth is gambling with our families’ long-term health and safety and putting profits ahead of people.
Local elected officials, frontline health care workers, unions, allies and residents are calling upon PeaceHealth to reconsider this disastrous decision and asking the Oregon Health Authority and state leaders to do everything in their power to save lives and keep Eugene’s only hospital open.
- Learn more at www.SaveEugenesHospital.com.
The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) is the state’s largest and most influential nursing organization. We are a professional association and labor union which represents more than 16,000 nurses and allied health workers throughout Oregon. ONA’s mission is to advocate for nursing, quality health care and healthy communities. For more information visit: www.OregonRN.org.
1st press conference was livestreamed on the Oregon Nurses Association’s (ONA’s) Facebook page here.
Join us in asking the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Governor Tina Kotek to do everything in their power to prevent PeaceHealth’s from closing Eugene’s only hospital!
Use this easy tool to email OHA and ask them to save Eugene’s hospital and protect Lane County residents: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/save-eugenes-hospital?source=direct_link&
The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) is the state’s largest and most influential nursing organization. We are a professional association and labor union which represents more than 16,000 nurses and allied health workers throughout Oregon. ONA’s mission is to advocate for nursing, quality health care and healthy communities. For more information visit: www.OregonRN.org.
Salem Detectives Arrest Jeweler Who Scammed Customers
Salem, Ore. — Detectives from the Salem Police Felony Crimes Unit arrested Douglas Wayne Gamble on September 15, 2023 for his involvement in the theft of gemstones and jewelry pieces from customers.
Gamble, age 57, owner of the business Timeless Jeweler located at 1105 Edgewater ST NW in Salem, became the person of interest in a series of theft reports filed with the Salem Police Department starting in late 2022. Ten victims reported the loss of money and property when doing business with Gamble who contracted with customers to design, repair, or consign jewelry pieces.
In some cases, customers reported lab-grown stones were sold to them as natural diamonds, or diamond jewelry settings were swapped with synthetic stones. Other customers reported never receiving purchased items or pieces left with the shop for repair, or other services. The store unexpectedly closed last October without notification to customers or the return of their property.
A conservative estimate of the total loss by Gamble’s customers is set at $250,000.
Gamble surrendered to detectives without incident on Friday and was arrested. He is currently lodged at the Polk County Jail on the following charges:
- Aggravated theft, five counts
- Theft in the first degree, six counts
Detectives ask anyone who has had similar incidents involving Gamble, through the store or online, to file a police report by calling the police non-emergency line at 503-588-6123 (option 1).
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers calls in CAP air support for aerial survey of Willamette Valley
— New commanders of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Portland District conducted an aerial survey of Willamette Vally dams and reservoirs with the assistance of Civil Air Patrol’s Oregon Wing aircraft and volunteer personnel on Friday, September 15.
District Commander, COL Dale Caswell and his Deputy Commander, LTC Kathie “Kate” Werback, were met by Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Mission Pilot, Col. Brian Bishop at the Portland-Hillsboro Airport in a CAP Cessna 182 aircraft. Bishop flew the two military officers to the Salem Municipal Airport (McNary Field) and picked up the district’s Operations Project Manager (civilian), Erick Petersen.
COL Caswell took command of the district in July 2023 and wanted to understand the mission of the Valley system. “The flight gave Caswell a better understanding of the Portland District geography assets,” said Petersen. “This along with topography of our area of responsibility and proximity of our assets to infrastructure and communities was also helpful to the Colonel.”
In a memo sent back to the Oregon Wing, Petersen shared, “The mission of the survey was to orient Caswell and Werback to the system of Willamette Valley dams and reservoirs, developed between 1939 and 1969, to manage flood risk for communities on the Willamette River and its tributaries. The system is comprised of 13 dams and reservoirs and prevents about $2 billion in damages due to flooding on an average annual basis.”
Petersen continued, “This pre-flood season flyover was a great opportunity to review changes on the landscape since the 2020 wildfires that hit the McKenzie and North Santiam sub-basins particularly hard. The fires changed the hydrology affecting system reservoirs and basin flood risks. Seeing the effects of the fires from the air helped facilitate a better understanding of the changes to the context of our mission.
“Heavy smoke kept us out of the McKenzie, but we got a great view of most of the system’s dams and reservoirs in a short amount of time,” Petersen wrote. “We will find an opportunity to get back in the air and see the McKenzie Basin as well, when the current fires and smoke subsides.”
In closing, Petersen commented, “The Civil Air Patrol has a unique mission and is an incredibly supportive partner, enabling us to easily get out and see a different view of our area of responsibility. We’re thankful for the opportunity we had on September 15th and look forward to continuing partnering in the future.”
# # # About Civil Air Patrol — Founded in 1941 and established as the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force seven years later, Civil Air Patrol is chartered by Congress as a nonprofit organization for the purposes of youth development, aerospace education, and to promote general aviation. In an auxiliary role as a Total Force partner of the Air Force, CAP operates the world’s largest fleet of single-engine aircraft for search and rescue, disaster relief, training, and education. Civil Air Patrol is dedicated to serving America’s communities, saving lives, and shaping futures.
Newsweek Podcast Focusing on The Disappearance of Fauna Frey Who Went Missing Near Grants Pass After Leaving Her Home Here in Lane County
Here One Minute, Gone the Next
John Frey joins Newsweek to discuss exclusive details about the case of his missing daughter that until now have been unavailable to the general public.
Fauna is a 45 year old woman who lives just outside of Eugene/Springfield, Oregon. She has been missing since the night of 6/28/2020. She was reported missing out of Josephine County because that is the last place we know with 100% certainty she was last seen (surveillance footage leaving a store with items purchased) . Fauna did not have a cell phone with her when she left Eugene/Springfield. Her vehicle, 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo Dark Blue with Grey Rock Guard paneling was later found deep in the forest outside Grants Pass.
We are asking the State of Oregon and the Josephine County Sheriff to cooperate in investigating this case and hopefully to bring attention to the plight of missing people in Oregon so it is treated as a priority rather than it being the least of priorities to law enforcement.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of Fauna Frey, call the anonymous tip line at 541-539-5638 or email FindFaunaFrey@gmail.com.
Help Find Fauna Frey #FindFaunaFrey FACEBOOK GROUP
Lookout, Bedrock, Horse Creek, Pothole Fire Updates
Lane County to Auction 10 Properties
Lane County is conducting a sealed-bid auction of real property now through 4:00 p.m. PST on Tuesday, September 26, 2023. Bids will be opened at 2:00 p.m. on September 28, and winners will be notified by telephone and email.
Included in the auction are lots located in Eugene, Florence, Oakridge, Blachly and Creswell. The properties up for auction range from a $2,200 minimum bid to a $180,000 minimum bid.
The properties have minimum bid amounts and will not be sold for less than the minimum bid. The properties will be sold on an as-is basis using a quitclaim deed, which passes any title, claim or interest in the property to the buyer without making any representations regarding other claims or liens.
Payment must be made with cash, cashier’s checks or certified back checks payable to Lane County. No personal or business checks, debit and credit cards or financing will be accepted. A 20 percent deposit of the minimum bid amount is due within 24 hours of the bid opening. The remaining balance, plus a $100 recording fee, is due no later than 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 5, 2023.
For more information including a complete list of auction terms, property descriptions and registration information, visit www.LaneCountyOR.gov/PropertyManagement under the “Auction” section: https://www.lanecountyor.gov/cms/One.aspx?portalId=3585881&pageId=4185255
Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon (PRO) will host its annual awareness walk and fundraiser, Sole Support for Parkinson’s at Alton Baker Park on October 1st
The annual event brings people whose lives are impacted by a Parkinson’s diagnosis together with a caring and supportive community for a walk along the riverfront spreading awareness about this neurodegenerative disease with no cure. Funds raised remain in the local community to help people living with the disease through Parkinson’s Resources (PRO) exercise, education, and wellness programs.
Sole Supporters, such as Eugene resident Larry Bradley, look forward to participating this year. Bradley, a client of PRO and member of the Board of Directors shares “Sole Support was one of the first events I participated in after my diagnosis. It was there that I learned about all the programs and services available in our community and where I was able to make new connections and find the support to face Parkinson’s disease head on. I encourage anyone who has PD or cares for someone with the disease to get involved! “
People living with Parkinson’s disease and their families and supporters from across SW Washington will participate in this year’s Eugene event to show their support and spread awareness about Parkinson’s disease. Registration is required but free.
- Saturday, October 1, 2023
- Alton Baker Park
- On-site registration and check in opens at noon – Walk begins at 1:30pm
- ~1k and ~5k routes are walker and wheelchair friendly
- Registration is free – fundraising is encouraged
To register, find out more, or donate, go to:www.solesupport.org or call 800.426.6806
About Parkinson’s Resources: Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon (PRO) is a donor supported non-profit with the sole mission of advancing the quality of life for people with Parkinson’s, their families and caregivers. With three office locations (Bend, Eugene, Beaverton), PRO provides direct care and support of thousands of families in Oregon and SW Washington. Working to address issues faced by Parkinson’s patients and their families, we can significantly improve the quality of life for all touched by this disease.
Fire information for the Smith River Complex North in Southern Oregon
Public Information Officers continue to support distributing up-to-date fire information on the Smith River Complex. Fire information boards can be found in communities around the fire area and are updated daily. #thankyoufirefighters
𝗦𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘀 92,727 acres (12,460 in Oregon) 1,526 total personnel 77% containment 35 crews 6 helicopters 45 engines 8 dozers 28 water tenders 10 masticators
Anvil Fire
Coos Bay, Oregon – As a result of the Anvil Fire, the BLM is closing the Edson and Sixes campgrounds and recreation sites until further notice. This order is for the safety of the public and firefighter personnel.
Members of the public may not enter closed areas. All uses—including hiking, hunting and camping—are prohibited.
“This closure order is to keep the public and firefighters safe,” said Steve Lydick, Coos Bay District Manager. “The BLM continues to work closely with the fire team and county emergency managers on public safety measures resulting from the Anvil Fire.”
Please visit Inciweb bit.ly/AnvilFireOR and bit.ly/FlatFireOR for the latest closure information.
Please call 911 to report any signs of new fires.
A list of fire restrictions and closure orders for BLM Oregon-Washington public lands are available at https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter @BLMOregon.
Fire resources worked through the night on the Morgan Fire, burning on the PaisleyRanger District of the Fremont-Winema National Forest, 8 miles north of Quartz Mountain near Bly
The fire is approximately 500-600 acres. Air resources, including heavy tankers and type 1 helicopters will be working the Morgan fire. Multiple resources, including hand crews, engines, and dozers, are working in the south end of the fire, at the north end of the Coleman Rim roadless area, using direct suppression tactics.
Local incident command transitioned to a South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership Type 3 team at 7 a.m. Weather over the next few days will generate potential for active fire behavior. North winds along with high ridgetop winds and low relative humidity will produce critical fire weather over the fire area. Possible moisture on Thursday may affect the development of the fire. A Level I (Be Ready) evacuation, issued by Lake County Emergency Management, remains in place.
Union Leaders for Nurses at OHSU Announce Strike in Public Rally
https://www.facebook.com/OregonNursesAssociation/videos/1407818040159293
WHAT: Oregon Nurses Association (ONA)-represented nurses from Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) will announce the results of their strike authorization vote during a public rally at Elizabeth Caruthers Park on the South Waterfront Monday, Sept. 18. The rally was livestreamed on ONA’s main Facebook page. The 3160 frontline nurses at OHSU are represented by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) through the Association of University Registered Nurses (AURN)..
During a rally in the South Waterfront Monday morning, nurse leaders announced that the more than 3,100 registered nurses at Oregon Health and Science University overwhelmingly voted to authorize their bargaining team to call a strike. The frontline nurses at OHSU—Oregon’s largest hospital—are represented by the Oregon Nurses
Association. Nurses at OHSU last went on strike in 2001 in a walkout that lasted 56 days. The strike authorization vote ran from Sept. 6 – 17.
Nurses at OHSU voted nearly unanimously to authorize an open-ended strike. Since December 2022, frontline nurses have engaged in more than 30 contract negotiation meetings with OHSU executives. Nurses’ contract with OHSU expired on June 30, 2023 and the nurse bargaining team declared impasse in August.
Nurses are calling for a fair contract to ensure a safe environment for patients and nurses, provide high-quality care through safe staffing, retain the highly skilled and valuable nurses who work at the hospital, and ensure frontline workers can reopen negotiations if OHSU’s acquisition of the Legacy health system is finalized. If a strike is called, ONA will give OHSU and the community a 10-day notice to allow hospital executives adequate time to cease admissions and transfer patients or to reach a fair agreement with nurses and avert a work stoppage.
The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) is the state’s largest and most influential nursing organization. We are a professional association and labor union which represents more than 16,000 nurses and allied health workers throughout the state. ONA’s mission is to advocate for nursing, quality health care and healthy communities. For more information visit: www.OregonRN.org.
Oregon Hospital Trade Association Rebrands as Hospital Association of Oregon
Formerly known as the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, the organization representing hospitals statewide has adopted a new name and logo as a reflection of its commitment to quality care and leadership that will support Oregon’s communities for generations to come.
Lake Oswego, Ore. — The Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems is now the Hospital Association of Oregon, ushering in an era of vocal advocacy that better reflects the organization’s commitment to the communities served by each of its 62 member hospitals.
“Our mission is to ensure that all Oregonians have high-quality, dependable hospitals in their communities today, tomorrow and for decades to come,” said Hospital Association of Oregon President and CEO Becky Hultberg. “We are committed to doing our part as an innovator, convener, active listener and tireless advocate to ensure that when our communities need care, our hospitals are ready.”
Building on an historic 2023 legislative session where the trade association collaborated with the Oregon Nurses Association and other groups to invest in Oregon’s health care workforce, the Hospital Association of Oregon will continue seeking legislative solutions in Salem and in Washington, D.C. that advance the resources, training and support hospitals need to provide patients with the care that they deserve.
The rebrand marks the Hospital Association of Oregon’s next step in its commitment to foster healthier communities across the state through advocacy, communication and education.
“Our hospitals are employers, funders of community projects and community spaces, all while providing essential health services to generations of Oregonians,” Hultberg said. “When our hospitals are strong, our communities win.”
About the Hospital Association of Oregon — Founded in 1934, the Hospital Association of Oregon is a mission-driven, nonprofit trade association representing Oregon’s 62 hospitals. Together, hospitals are the sixth largest private employer statewide, employing more than 70,000 employees.
Committed to fostering a stronger, safer Oregon with equitable access to excellent health care, the hospital association provides services to Oregon’s hospitals ensuring all are able to deliver dependable, comprehensive health care to their communities; educates government officials and the public on the state’s health landscape; and works collaboratively with policymakers, community organizations, and the health care community to build consensus on and advance smart health care policy benefiting the state’s 4 million residents.
State Wildlife Officials Ban Wildlife Killing Contests On Public Land
Four years after the Legislature failed to ban wildlife killing contests, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission outlawed them.
At its meeting Friday in Bend, five commissioners, with one abstaining, voted in favor of a rule to prohibit the contests, which have been held to kill coyotes in a few rural counties in Oregon. The derbies have drawn hundreds of people, offering the potential to win thousands of dollars in prize money.
The rule makes it “unlawful to organize, sponsor, conduct or participate in a contest that has the objective of killing unprotected mammals native to Oregon.” The vote makes Oregon the ninth state to ban the contests after Arizona, California, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Vermont and Washington. The New York Legislature also passed a ban in June that awaits the governor’s signature.
The Oregon rule will only apply to public land. Brian Wolfer, a wildlife deputy administrator, told the commission it does not have the authority to ban the killing of predatory animals on private land.
Environmentalists and animal rights advocates praised the vote .
“We are overjoyed that cruel, unsporting wildlife killing contests will never again occur on public lands in Oregon,” said Bethany Cotton, conservation director with Cascadia Wildlands, a Eugene-based group. “We thank ODFW staff and commissioners for recognizing that killing contests violate the agency’s mission to manage wildlife in trust for present and future generations.”
‘Predator management’ — The vote followed testimony from more than 40 people, a majority supporting the ban. They included hunters like Michael Finley, former chair of the wildlife commission. He said the contests were “antithetical to the concepts of sportsmanship and fair chase.” He also testified to the state Legislature in 2019 supporting a proposed ban, which didn’t make it out of the House Committee on Rules.
Paul Donheffner, legislative chairman of the Oregon Hunters Association, who hailed the lack of legislative action, also weighed in on the ban, writing a letter he said represented his personal opinion.
“The issue is really about bullying by well-organized animal rights organizations who seek to tell eastern Oregon citizens how to live,” Donheffner said. “It has almost nothing to do with protecting coyotes, which could still be killed 24-7, every day of the year under the proposed bills and under this rulemaking. The only thing this rule does is say you can’t have any fun doing so.”
Other opponents to the prohibition declined to speak to the Capital Chronicle on the record, saying the subject is controversial and has sparked death threats against them. They called the events “predator management contests” and said they were necessary to control the coyote population. Coyotes can go after livestock and kill elk and deer. Hunters blame coyotes for reducing those populations, though wildlife officials say the growth in rural populations is a bigger factor.
Research by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and others have shown – paradoxically – that killing coyotes does not reduce their numbers. Rather, the animals respond by stepping up breeding and moving into areas where their numbers have been diminished. One study showed that their numbers were replaced within weeks.
Organizers have publicized coyote killing contests in Lake and Harney counties. The Harney County Coyote Classic has been held in Burns every winter, including last year. Supporters said it has drawn up to 500 hunters and their families, mostly from Oregon, giving the area an economic boost by filling hotels and restaurants at a time when most people are hunkered down at home.
Teams of hunters, sometimes with night vision goggles, thermal imaging and electronic devices that mimic the sounds of young prey, have killed hundreds of coyotes at a time and offered prizes for the biggest and smallest animals slayed, animal rights groups said.
“Wildlife killing contests are abhorred by the Oregon public and have no place in our state,” said Kelly Peterson, Oregon state director for the Humane Society of the United States, an animal rights group. “Engaging in wanton waste of a native wildlife species as part of a contest for prizes is abhorrent and we are grateful that the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to end these cruel, gruesome competitions.”
Peterson told the Capital Chronicle that in the last four years, more than 1,000 coyotes have been killed in Oregon derbies.
“Because of growing opposition to these contests from the public, they are now rarely advertised publicly, instead happening in the shadows, and promoted through word of mouth.” Peterson said in an email.
The rule will go into effect as soon as it is filed, perhaps by next week, said Michelle Dennehy, a spokeswoman for the wildlife agency. She acknowledged that the rule might not eliminate the contests altogether.
“It’s possible the contests will move to private land, but the commission can only work within its regulatory authority,” Dennehy said. (SOURCE)
Two state parks will host OMSI star parties Sept. 23 for the Autumnal Equinox
L.L. Stub Stewart and Rooster Rock state parks will celebrate the beginning of autumn with free star-gazing parties starting at sunset Saturday, Sept. 23.
The parks are partnering with OMSI and Rose City Astronomers to host the events, which include a presentation at dusk and star gazing 9 to 11 p.m. Telescopes will be provided by volunteers and visitors are welcome to bring their own. Viewing highlights include stars, Jupiter, Saturn and more, weather permitting.
The event is free, but parking in the day-use area does require a $5 parking permit fee per vehicle. The star party at L.L. Stub Stewart also requires a free Stargazing permit, which is available at the park.
Visitors are encouraged to bring their own chairs, blankets, warm clothing, snacks and water. Bug repellent is always a good idea. Please use red flashlights to avoid interfering with the dark sky viewing. You can also cover your flashlight or smartphone with red electrical tape.
Star maps will be provided along with recommended astronomy apps that visitors can load on their phones if interested.
Visitors should arrive early to familiarize themselves with the area and only park in designated spaces for the event. Overnight camping is not permitted in day-use areas, though visitors can find campground reservations by visiting stateparks.oregon.gov. Guests are expected to exit Rooster Rock by 11 p.m. as the park will close at that time.
On the scheduled day for OMSI Star Parties, interested visitors should check back on the OMSI website for possible weather-related cancellations and any additional information. The long-range forecast looks like it offers great viewing opportunities for this event.
NASA Imagery Shows Scale And Impact Of Logging In Drinking Watersheds On Oregon Coast
Oregon’s coastal communities that rely on drinking water from forested rivers and creeks have lost substantial tree cover during the last 20 years, a recent NASA analysis found. That’s bad news for residents and the environment.
Forests not only improve the quality of surface waters, but also the quantity. They prevent erosion, and filter, direct and store rain and snow as they pass into streams, according to the researchers. And more than 80% of Oregonians, including most who live on the coasts, get some or all of their drinking water from surface water sources such as streams, rivers and creeks, according to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.
“We think of the coast range as having a lot of water, a lot of rain – and while that’s true in the winter – lately their streams are running pretty low during the summer months,” said Erik Fernandez, a program manager at the environmental nonprofit Oregon Wild who worked with NASA researchers on the analysis.
Young trees planted to replace logged mature trees also end up sucking up more water, further depleting surface water supply, Fernandez said. He also expressed concern that planting new tree stands requires spraying herbicides and pesticides, sometimes aerially, that can harm water sources.
Seth Barnes, forest policy director for the Oregon Forest Industries Council, said the more than 50-year-old Oregon Forest Practices Act, currently being updated, strongly protects water in Oregon’s logged forests.
“There’s really literally hundreds of protections that are put in place when anything is harvested in the state of Oregon,” Barnes said. “Things like stream buffers, harvest practices that are very specific and nuanced, reforestation requirements, steep slopes protections.”
Using data and satellite imagery from NASA collected between 1997 and 2023, four researchers from the agency’s Oregon Coast Range Ecological Conservation Team were able to look at logging impacts in forests within 80 Oregon Coast watersheds identified by Oregon Wild.
About one-third of the forested land in those 80 watersheds — nearly 600 square miles — had been logged during the last 20 years, according to the study.
“Over the last 20 years it would be entirely inaccurate to say logging in the Coast Range was done carefully. I don’t think you can look at an aerial photo and say it was done carefully,” Fernandez said.
The bulk of logging in watershed forests during this time was on land owned by industrial logging companies, followed by state and federal agencies, tribes and local municipalities. Those companies, including Weyerhaeuser, Stimson Lumber and Roseburg Forest Products, use a method called clearcutting, defined by the NASA researchers as the removal of all trees in an area exceeding 2 acres. Representatives from those companies did not respond to requests for comment from the Capital Chronicle by Monday evening.
Barnes said the companies and members of the Forest Industries Council have high compliance rates with the Forest Practices Act, including complying with regulations on water quality.
“We live in these watersheds and our families drink this water and recreate in these forests too,” and we want to be good stewards,” he said.
Casey Kulla, state forest policy coordinator for Oregon Wild, said he hopes the NASA analysis can aid efforts by some Oregon cities to buy and manage the forestland around their drinking watersheds.
The state recently passed legislation to create a Community Drinking Water Enhancement and Protection Fund with $5 million available for communities hoping to own or improve land around their source drinking water. (SOURCE)
Oregon Service Alerts Public About Nearby Forestry Work
Oregon residents can sign up to be notified about timber activity and pesticide use in their local area.
Under The Oregon Forest Practices Act, foresters working on non-federal land in the state must disclose when they plan to do pesticide sprays, logging, road building or other forestry operations.
Those rules apply to a recent, controversial plan to spray herbicide by helicopter in Lincoln County.
A notification system called FERNS (Forest Activity Electronic Reporting and Notification System) displays those plans online and sends alerts to subscribers. Users can also choose to only be warned about imminent aerial sprays within a mile of their home.
“Some people just want to know what’s going on in their neighborhood,” said Scott Swearingen with the Oregon Department of Forestry, which manages FERNS. “They want to know where the log trucks are coming from.”
Casey Miller is a Lincoln County Commissioner. He said the public can use the service to evaluate Oregon’s forestry practices.
“If you have the bandwidth, sign up and get those notifications. This will tell you a lot about what’s happening around you,” he said. “Explore this. Take some of your time and think about what it means to be an Oregonian.”
Additionally, FERNS notifies users when a forestry application has opened for public comment. Swearingen said community input can reveal that an operation would violate the law.
“That’s a 14-day period for folks to comment in case we miss something,” said Swearingen, “if they know something about that resource, or they know another resource there that should be protected.”
Swearingen said those with questions about FERNS should contact their local ODF Stewardship Forester. MORE INFO: https://ferns.odf.oregon.gov/E-Notification/
Media Availability: Let’s talk defensible space
SALEM, Ore. – Every year, communities across Oregon are impacted by wildfire. The Oregon State Fire Marshal wants to help all home and property owners be better protected against wildfire.
The OSFM is hosting media availabilities around the state to talk about defensible space: what to do and where to start. The agency is offering free defensible space assessments.
Assistant Chief Deputy Chad Hawkins and Defensible Space Program Coordinator Leslie Neu will be available for interviews and to show defensible space best practices with interested media partners.
Jacksonville — Wednesday, September 20 -11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
To schedule an interview, please email osfm.publicaffairs@osfm.oregon.gov.
BLM celebrates National Public Lands Day with free day-use access 9/23
PORTLAND, Ore, — The Bureau of Land Management is waiving recreation day-use fees for visitors on September 23, 2023, in celebration of the 30th annual National Public Lands Day. NPLD is the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands held annually on the fourth Saturday in September. To recognize 30 years of care and community and increase recreation access to public land, BLM leaders invite people to explore our unique and diverse natural landscapes and visitor facilities.
“National Public Lands Day serves as a connection between people and public lands,” said Barry Bushue, BLM Oregon and Washington State Director “Whether it’s your first time on public lands or your hundredth, we invite everyone to get outside and enjoy these national treasures across Oregon and Washington.”
Within Oregon and Washington, the BLM’s standard amenity day-use fees will be waived at the following:
- Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area
- Cape Blanco Lighthouse
- Wildwood Recreation Site
- Hyatt Lake Recreation Area
- Gerber Recreation Area
- Yakima River Canyon
- Loon Lake Recreation Site
- Alsea Falls Recreation Site
- Shotgun Creek Recreation Site
- Edson Creek Recreation Site
- Spring Recreation Site
The standard amenity fee waiver does not guarantee admission to some busy recreation areas where reservations for day-use, group sites, and overnight camping are recommended. Please contact the local BLM office if you have any questions about a recreation site you are interested in visiting.
You can search all available BLM recreation opportunities to explore on your public lands at https://www.blm.gov/visit.
Want to join one of BLM’s events and help restore America’s public lands? You can find a volunteer event near you at https://www.neefusa.org/npld-event-search.
Know before you go:
Be fire aware. Check for local fire restrictions and active fire closures.
Practice Leave No Trace principles and leave your public lands cleaner than you found them.
The fee waiver only applies to standard amenity fees for day-use at the recreation sites listed. The waiver does not apply to any expanded amenity fees for overnight camping, group day-use, and cabin rentals or individual Special Recreation Permit fees along permitted rivers.
Fee-free days occur each year in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Great American Outdoors Day, National Public Lands Day, and Veterans Day.
The remaining fee-free day in 2023 will be on November 11 in celebration of Veterans Day.
For more information about the BLM’s recreation fee program, please visit https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/permits-and-fees.
-BLM- The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
Missing Yachats Man’s Vehicle Found in North Lane County
On 08/25/2023, Dustin Steyding was reported missing to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office after he left work on 07/22/2023 and hadn’t been located since. Dustin was living and working in the Yachats area.
Dustin was reported to be in good physical condition, having previously worked as a hot shot firefighter in New Mexico. Dustin is very experienced in the woods and commonly goes out for hikes to stay in shape. Without means to locate Dustin, Deputies entered Dustin as a missing person in a national database.
On 09/04/2023, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office received a call from Dustin’s family after they located his vehicle on Keller Creek Rd, just outside of Lincoln County in Lane County. Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Deputies contacted the vehicle and determined it had been at the location for some time. Deputies were unable to determine Dustin’s direction of travel from the vehicle.
The vehicle having been located in Lane County, Lincoln County Deputies contacted the Lane County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team and arranged for their response the next day to started searching the area. After two days of searching, no clues to Dustin’s have been found.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Dustin Steyding should contact the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at 541-265-0777 and reference case number 23S-07321.
