Make the McKenzie Connection!
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Fire danger Lightning-caused wildfires have burned more than 50,000 acres of forest in southern Oregon. While the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Western Lane and South Cascade districts escaped most of the thunderstorm activity, the districts are concerned about another source of fire starts: people. “We’ve been having calls on illegal burns, campfires and some folks driving down forest roads with dry grasses,” South Cascade District Forester Greg Wagenblast said. “Both districts have been chasing down numerous human-caused fires eac...
Hwy. 126/105 Construction Work from Milepost 3.8 - 9.9 in Springfield Hwy. 126 construction Lanes Affected: (Westbound) 1 Lane - (Eastbound) 1 Lane. Project Summary: This project will preserve the existing highway by grinding and replacing two inches of asphalt in most areas and reconstructing the eastbound portions of the 42nd Street interchange. The project will also improve safety by constructing a cable median barrier between Mohawk Blvd. and East Main Street (MP 6.24-9.97). Comments: Most work is being done at night to avoid peak travel...
8/3/13 Update on Fires in Willamette National Forest Willamete Forest press release Warmer and drier weather over the West Cascades caused the fires from Wednesday’s lightning strikes to put up more smoke, making them more easily visible to surveillance aircraft. There are now 13 active fires in the Three Sisters Wilderness, one small fire near Waldo Lake, the19 acre Opal Lake fire on the flanks of Diamond Peak, and the Landes Creek Fire SE of Hills Creek reservoir. “The warmer, drier weather has helped us locate the fires, but it also mea...
Model Arch A scale model of the Springfield/McKenzie Arch will hit the road soon thanks to a successful month-long online fundraising drive to generate $2,500. The Friends of the Springfield Arch Committee's Kickstarter campaign went over the top this week with Karen Craiglow's pledge of $100. Hers was one of two memorial pledges: "In Memory of Bill Lincoln," and another by Carlene and Kalena Karp, "In Memory of Chris Karp." 22 backers contributed a total of $2,570. Behind the scenes, Leaburg artist Cathy Hickman has assembled thousands of...
Willamette Forest News The predicted lightning storm passed over the southern and central portions of the Willamette National Forest yesterday evening, igniting numerous small fires. One blaze in the headwaters of the Middle Fork Willamette River near Timpanogas Lake quickly grew to 15 acres. Crews responded immediately to that incident and a helicopter dropped water until evening fell. Fifteen ‘smoke reports’ were called into the Eugene Interagency Dispatch office last night; the majority of which are located in the Three Sisters Wil...
Smoke May Impact Air Quality LRAPA logo As the wildfire season heats up, the southern Willamette Valley may see periodic intrusions of smoke from wildfires. Smoke from active wildfires in Douglas County and southwest Oregon may make its way to the area if winds shift over the next few days. The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for parts of Lane County and dry thunderstorms with lightning are forecast for this afternoon and evening, which may trigger wildfires closer to our area. This is the beginning of what could be an...
New state program to provide up to $30,000 in assistance for struggling homeowners A new State foreclosure prevention program will be launched this Wednesday in 33 Oregon counties. The "Home Rescue Program" will provide assistance to Oregon Homeowners in two ways - through monthly mortgage payments (up to $20,000 or 12 monthly payments), and reinstatement payments to bring mortgages current (up to $10,000). On August 28th the program will be statewide by expanding to include Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties. Homeowners can apply...
Vida man arrested after starting a fire in his residence & fighting with police VIDA: Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers on Sunday morning arrested a Vida man for numerous crimes after he intentionally started a fire in his residence. Troopers from the Springfield Area Command are continuing the investigation. On July 28th, at approximately 3:15 a.m., troopers Mike Pelkey and Josh Wilcott of the (OSP) Springfield Area Command responded to a 9-1-1 call from the residence of 45571 McKenzie Highway in the Vida area of Lane County. The reporting...
Master Recycler Program Recycling class People can learn how to reduce waste, conserve natural resources, motivate others to change their habits, and make a difference in their community by joining the Lane County Master Recycler Program. Lane County Waste Management Division offers three training courses each year that provide comprehensive training in solid waste prevention, reuse, recycling, and compost education. In return for the 30+ hours of training, students are expected to provide 30 hours of volunteer outreach in the community...
I am a young, 46-year-old Grammy to two boys ages eight and 20 months. I am extremely close to them as well as to my daughter, mother, and father. I was let go from my job in 2011 and have been unemployed since. I have been watching my grandsons - the older one is in school during the school year - every day, Monday through Friday, since then. Last September I married a man I’ve known since childhood. He was living in North Carolina since he was 18, but moved here five years ago. He wants so badly to move back down there because he has a c...
I can’t believe the universe just provided validation for a decision I took this year. I’m referring to a recent column of yours on domestic abuse. Last New Year’s Eve I visited my sister and tried hard to avoid any discussion of her marital life. Her 20-year marriage has been filled with infidelity and abuse of every sort. Of course, she starts in on her husband’s girl-chasing and what she should do. I’ve heard all this stuff many times before, and this time I was not mobilized to analyze, offer advice or even listen. I noticed myself be...
Lane Electric service map The Eugene Water & Electric Board and Lane Electric Cooperative are exploring a possible service territory transfer of EWEB’s McKenzie River Valley territory to Lane Electric. Representatives of the Eugene-based public utilities have been in preliminary discussions about a potential service territory transfer for several months. Image shows Lane Electric's current service area. Based on a preliminary evaluation, it appears that a transfer could make technical, operational and general business sense. Over the past week,...
Wayne and Tamara Direct Answers is the weekly relationship advice column by Wayne and Tamara Mitchell. The column was begun in April 1999 and within two years appeared in newspapers in more than a dozen countries. McKenzie River Reflections...
Springfield Ladies Club "Brother can you spare a dime?" was a phrase going around in the 1920’s yet those words probably weren’t used by members of the Springfield Ladies Club in their fund raising drive. They relied on the enthusiasm and community spirit of their neighbors, rather than a public tax, to build the original Springfield Arch. Today, another community group, the Friends of the Springfield Arch, has taken a similar approach - launching a grass roots effort to rebuild a “Springfield/McKenzie” Arch in the East part of town. We’re a...
Road closure map Over the next few weeks, access to some recreation sites along Auferderheide Drive will be impacted by construction work. BLUE RIVER: The scenic byway known as Aufderheide Drive (USFS Road 19), that connects Blue River and Westfir, will be closed to through traffic for several days due to road work. The intermittent closures are scheduled to allow people to access popular sites on the weekends. Aufderheide Road will be closed to through traffic on: • July 23rd to July 24th, at milepost 14 to replace a culvert • July...
Grass roots By Denise Ruttan Photo by OSU's EESC. A mature grass plant is composed of leaves, a root system, stems and a seed head. Grass lawns are the default for most yards, but a few people realize there are other options, like edible landscaping, a bark dust yard or low-maintenance groundcover. "Maybe you have a lawn full of difficult-to-control weeds like annual bluegrass or rough bluegrass and you want to start over," said Alec Kowalewski, turfgrass specialist with the Oregon State University Extension Service. "Or you want to switch...
Gruning display case BLUE RIVER: Know how many artifacts are on display at the U.S. Cavalry and American Indian Museum? You’re probably guessing because even the owners are boggled at the thought of trying to inventory them all. “Thousands” will have to suffice. Displays inside the 5,000 square foot building cover the themes that have made lifetime collectors out of Ron and Coho Miner. Her interpretations of Indian life are on the left and Ron’s military focus is showcased to the right. Coho, of Blackfoot-Cree heritage, admits she hated history...
5th Annual Festival Lavender sprig The Oregon Lavender Festival returns to the McKenzie River Lavender Farm from July 12th to 14th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The site is between Walterville and Leaburg at 40882 McKenzie Highway (milepost 15.5). People are invited to relax on the banks of the River and celebrate all things lavender. They can explore a labyrinth within the lavender field along with the sweet aroma of lavender. Lavender treats will be available along with lavender products or fresh lavender bouquets. Art and crafts by local artisans...
Life jacket exchange SPRINGFIELD: The Lane County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue program, in conjunction with the Emerald Valley Rotarians and Cabela’s, conducted their third annual Life Jacket Exchange for Lane County residents this past weekend. According to Search and Rescue coordinator John Miller, during the two-day event, over 240 life jackets were provided to the public. “The event got unused life jackets out of garages and storage and back into circulation where they can save lives,” Miller said. “Additionally, 175 various s...
Back on board at the Stage Stop McKenzie Stage Stop CEDAR FLAT: “In the restaurant business, you either love it or hate it,” according to Patsy Wilson. “I’m lucky, I love it.” For her, that affection became a life-long career. She grew up in Eugene and graduated from Powers High School before working at (or running, and owning) several well known eateries over the last 40 years. Some of the places Patsy worked have included the original Ford Restaurant on Franklin Boulevard and the Fred Meier Cafe. Locally, she owned the Riverside Inn for t...
McKenzie River Cleanup Saturday, July 13th River cleanup The McKenzie River Guides Association, McKenzie Flyfishers and McKenzie Watershed Council is inviting people to join them for this traditional event. Help keep the river scenic and clean and enjoy food and prizes after the cleanup. Event Schedule 8:00 am – 9:00 am Sign-in & Pick up Supplies at Hendricks Bridge Par 9:00 am – 2:00 pm River Cleanup 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm BBQ and Festivities at Hendricks Bridge Park To register for boat routes, land based cleanup, or with additional...
Bede House Standing in front of the new St. Benedict Lodge Cabin, “Bede House,” are builders Garth, Jordan and Lonnie Hamlow. St. Benedict Lodge, McKenzie Bridge, will celebrate its 75th anniversary on Sunday, July 14th, with a special Mass at 9:30 am followed by brunch. Highlight of the celebration will be the dedication of a new retreat cabin honoring Kenyon and Patricia Reynolds who established the lodge on North Bank Road riverside acres in 1938. The new cabin will be used by various high school, college, 12-step, and retreat groups as wel...
Gold dredge SB 838, which would limit gold dredging along many Oregon waterways, is headed to Governor Kitzhaber’s desk following approval by both the House and Senate. “Salmon and clean water are some of the defining characteristics for Oregon’s streams and rivers,” said John Ward of Rogue Flyfishers. “This bill is a balanced first step to ensure their protection as most Oregonian’s desire.” Backers of the bill stressed it was designed to protect fish habitat and would create a statewide moratorium. The final bill is a compromise wi...
Kenneth Lee EUGENE: A Blue River man will spend over a dozen years in prison following sentencing in Lane County Circuit Court last Thursday. Kenneth Robert Lee, 47, will serve 17 1/2 years behind bars as an accomplice in the January death of 38-year-old Terry Fruichantie of Cottage Grove. Robert Paul Smith, 35, drew a life sentence with no parole option for the murder of Fruichantie. According to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, The death investigation began at approximately 8:45 p.m. on January 13th, when Lane County Sheriff’s deputies, alo...
Mosquito Dear EarthTalk: Is there a link between the recent spread of mosquito-borne diseases around the world and environmental pollution? -- Meg Ross, Lantana, FL If by pollution you mean greenhouse gas emissions, then definitely yes. According to Maria Diuk-Wasser at the Yale School of Public Health, the onset of human-induced global warming is likely to increase the infection rates of mosquito-borne diseases like malaria, dengue fever and West Nile virus by creating more mosquito-friendly habitats. “The direct effects of temperature i...