Make the McKenzie Connection!
Make the McKenzie Connection!
Sorted by date Results 626 - 650 of 1812
The number of trout in a southern Oregon stream system showed no decline one year after a fire burned almost the entire watershed, including riparian zone trees that had helped maintain optimal stream temperatures for the cold-water fish. The research by Oregon State University sheds light on the ability of steelhead, cutthroat, and rainbow trout to endure the higher water temperatures expected to accompany climate change and its manifestations, including increased frequency, extent, and...
With the election a little over a month away, some say caregiving and long-term care are issues too big for candidates in Oregon to ignore. There are about 460,000 family caregivers in the state providing $5.7 billion of unpaid care, according to a 2017 estimate. Yvonne Smith, a faculty member at Clackamas Community College, said some people may not even realize they are caregivers. "For example, if you are helping someone manage their medications if you're doing someone's grocery shopping if...
RAINBOW: The audience at last Friday's screen of the documentary "Elemental" was the largest outside of Portland, according to its director. People saw archival footage from other parts of the U.S. that suffered destruction similar to the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire. There were aerial views of burned lands around Vida. Other footage illustrated ways a home could be hardened to limit fire damage. The segment from a fire lab included tests where entire houses were subjected to a simulated wildfire,...
MCKENZIE BRIDGE: A wreck on Hwy. 126 last Friday night took the life of a McKenzie Bridge man. According to the Oregon State Police (OSP) the 2-vehicle accident on Friday, September 30th, occurred at approximately 6 p.m. Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the scene near milepost 50 of the McKenzie Hwy. OSP's preliminary investigation showed an eastbound blue Nissan Versa, operated by Vanessa East, 45, of McKenzie Bridge, was stopped with its turn signals and brake lights activated while waiting to turn left into a residential...
LEABURG: In its analysis of options for the future of the Leaburg hydroelectric project, the Eugene Water & Electric Board noted that the Leaburg Dam was built to divert water to a canal for power generation. "If there's no need to divert the water, the dam still does serve other purposes," staffers said. Among those benefits is the bridge on top of the dam that connects to the Leaburg Hatchery and homes across from Highway 126. The structure forms a barrier used to remove hatchery fish from...
In May, a plaque was presented at the Lane Electric Coop's annual meeting to the "Blue River Bottle Boys." They were being recognized as the coop's Member of the Year. "The dedication of the members living in the McKenzie River Valley is so inspiring," Lane Electric General Manager Debi Wilson said. "What the Bottle Boys have accomplished, one dime at a time shows you that anything is possible." This month, the Ruralite, a monthly magazine, featured the Bottle Boys with a front-page cover story....
VIDA: The Board of Directors of Vida McKenzie Community Center (VMCC) announced this week that Comfort Flow Heating has increased its in-kind donation of equipment and supplies from $10,000 to over $33,000. "This donation, combined with similar in-kind contributions from other sub-contractors and generous donations from local residents and grant funders, helps move VMCC closer to completing a successful rebuilding campaign," according to VMCC vice president Gerry Aster. Aster said people can...
CAMP CREEK: The Lane County Sheriff’s Office received the report of a serious motor vehicle crash on Camp Creek Road on September 24th at approximately 1:27 p.m. The accident occurred near milepost 2, in the general area of the Easy Lane intersection. Deputies responded and found that a black Toyota Tacoma driven by 26-year-old Austin McKee of Springfield had been driving westbound when the vehicle crossed over into the eastbound lane for an unknown reason. The Toyota struck an eastbound Chevrolet Silverado pickup head-on. McKee was t...
The Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reported last Thursday that they’d received information an airplane went down near Mount Jefferson. At 4:14 p.m., on September 22nd, hikers in the area reported hearing what sounded like an airplane engine followed by a loud crash. The two hikers were on the Pacific Crest Trail when they heard the crash and said they could smell fuel but did not see an airplane. The report was followed by the United States Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) contacting LCS Dispatch stating they had an airplane ra...
LEABURG: People who don't think removing Leaburg Dam and the lake it created are planning to make a public showing. Organizers of a "Save the Lake" petition say they've gathered around 800 signatures and are inviting the public to show up on Sunday, October 16th. Those that do are being asked to launch boats, kayaks, and paddleboards for a float on the lake at 3 p.m. People who don't take to the water can join a march across the dam. In 2018 the Eugene Water & Electric Board drained the Leaburg...
RAINBOW: For people attending the Elemental documentary event on September 30th, a cautionary warning might be needed for some. The movie includes images of homes being destroyed by flames and the radio chatter of first responders, which could be unnerving, especially to those who have lived through an evacuation. “It is real footage and it is real people’s stories,” explains Michael Sherman who is also a filmmaker. Sherman, a McKenzie High School graduate who grew up in the area, has been...
People heading out to do some wild edible foraging are being cautioned to keep safety at the forefront of their plans while mushroom hunting. With an eye toward reducing missing person reports, the Lane County Sheriff's Office is reminding people to develop a plan to avoid getting lost as well as returning home safely. In the past, we've seen several mushroom pickers go missing around this time of year, including Shane Eldor Sprenger, who is still missing. The 47-year-old man was was last known...
WALTERVILLE: The "Gateway sign" at the western entrance of the McKenzie Valley was being readied for completion by workers last week. Supporters of the project, like the McKenzie River Chamber of Commerce, say it was originally designed to welcome tourists by now will "have even greater significance as a way to help encourage and give hope to communities and residents as they rebuild following the devastating Holiday Farm Fire." A similar sign will be installed near the Hwy. 20/Hwy. 126 to...
RAINBOW: Civilian, conservation, and corps were the 3 C's of the New Deal work relief program that left its mark locally by constructing trails and structures that are still in use today. Challenging is a word often applied to health care in America. In rural areas, it has become even more appropriate. Over the few years in the McKenzie River Valley, that word has sometimes felt inadequate. Optimism was high in 1977 when a nonprofit named the McKenzie River Clinic began offering primary health...
The Vida McKenzie Community Center wants to again thank all its friends, members, and donors for making it possible for the construction of its new building to begin. The first visible activity on the Thompson Lane site began with concrete forming on October 26th. By September 5th the footings were poured and by the 14th, construction of the foundation walls was on its way. Concrete will be poured this week for completion of the stem walls and our building will really start to take shape. To...
The Oregon Conservation and Recreation Advisory Committee is pleased to announce the opening of a funding for conservation and recreation projects in the 2021-2023 biennium. The Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund is a new way for Oregonians to support projects that protect and enhance the species and habitats identified in the Oregon Conservation Strategy. Funds of up to $50,000 are available to create new opportunities for wildlife watching, urban conservation, community science, and...
LEABURG: Early in 1927, when the Eugene Water & Electric Board decided another power source was needed it didn't plan 10,000 years in advance. Nor did the utility have to consider what natural disasters might occur in the next million years. Today, though, potential seismic or mega-flood events are part of the design requirements mandated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). 2022 marks 95 years since EWEB made the decision to build the Leaburg hydroelectric project. It is also a t...
MCKENZIE BRIDGE: On Sunday, at approximately 8:18 am, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office received a report that a raft had overturned in the McKenzie River near Paradise Campground. Paradise campground is located just upriver from McKenzie Bridge. While en route, deputies learned that one of the three involved rafters was unconscious and CPR had been performed by bystanders and paramedics. At 9:14 a.m, paramedics at the scene advised the involved male had died. Lane County Sheriff’s Sergeant Tom Speldrich said deputies arrived on the scene and...
Nearly 20 years ago the Biscuit fire burned across half a million acres in Southern Oregon. It also exposed a college sophomore to the controversy, science, and politics at play during and after the blaze. That student was Trip Jennings who assembled a team to grapple with the complex debate around the fire and worked with scientists, advocates, and local citizens to capture the story in a documentary. More than a decade later, the Eagle Creek fire ignited the Columbia River Gorge, a scenic...
Why are there dead salmon in the river? If you live close to a river or stream in the Willamette Valley, you might come across salmon carcasses or see ODFW staff and volunteers slinging carcasses into the water during September and October. In September, salmon will begin the end of their life's journey in Willamette Valley rivers as they gather to spawn and die. Historically, thousands of adult salmon spawned and died in these rivers and streams, supplying essential nutrients to fuel the...
Labor Day this year was celebrated by gathering together. On the 2nd anniversary of the Holiday Farm Fire, hundreds of people did just that at the McKenzie Track & Field....
The Walterville Waddle, Parade and Fair set for is September 10th has been cancelled due to the extreme fire hazard conditions over the weekend.There are no plans to reschedule for this year but the events will return in 2023....
The planned U.S. 20 construction closure east of Sweet Home has been delayed until Sunday, September 11 for traveler safety. The road will be open Friday and Saturday. Drive carefully and be prepared if you travel this weekend. Hot, dry winds may prompt power line shutoffs to prevent fires. Treat traffic signals without power like a four-way stop. Trees and vegetation may be on the road. In dry conditions, be careful parking to prevent vehicle-sparked fires. Visit TripCheck.com for the latest traffic conditions....
Due to the extreme risk of wildfire in our service territory and continued forecast of potentially strong winds, Lane Electric Cooperative will implement a public power safety shutoff starting at 5 p.m. on Friday, September 9 through the evening of Saturday, September 10. This outage will impact nearly all members, with the city centers of Oakridge, Lowell, and Veneta remaining powered to provide key services. This decision was made after carefully considering current wildfire risk, predicted weather forecasts, consulting emergency officials,...
RAINBOW: When the voting was over on August 30th, three members had been elected to the board of directors of the McKenzie Valley Wellness nonprofit. With 80, 73, and 72 votes respectively, Val Rapp, Kelly Shaw, and Jane Wilson were the winners. Several people who attended the annual meeting at the Upper McKenzie Community Center said they were pleased the process ran smoothly. But Shaw has confirmed she decided on September 1st to resign. So did Joshua Cloke - who was to appear in an upcoming...
