Make the McKenzie Connection!
Make the McKenzie Connection!
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Snapping turtles, an invasive species in Oregon, are nesting this time of year and are more likely to be encountered on land which is an opportunity for the public to help out, wildlife officials say. Snapping turtles can harm native turtle populations as well as amphibians, mammals, birds, and fish. Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW) wildlife biologists are citing an uptick in reports. Recently, some people have captured some. If a snapping turtle is sighted on land and it can be contained...
In a one-two act, people had opportunities to socialize and not have to cook last weekend. Keeping the food coming at the Orchid Medical Clinic's Friday afternoon BBQ was Andy Aldrich, husband of clinic manager Missy Aldich. His grillwork kept a steady flow of burgers and dogs Pasta master for the McKenzie River Locals Helping Locals "Spaghetti Dump" the next day was Devon Thompson, Executive Director at McKenzie Valley Long Term Recovery Group. Attendees brought a quart of their favorite...
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued special restrictions on all their public lands administered in Oregon and Washington beginning on May 27, until October 31. Prohibitions under the order include: 1. Discharging or using fireworks or pyrotechnic devices. 2. Discharging or using combustible or explosive composition or chemical devices, including but not limited to exploding targets. 3. Discharging or using tracer, explosive, or incendiary ammunition. 4. Discharging steel component (core or jacket) ammunition, except a person with a...
EUGENE: During their May 3rd session the Eugene Water & Electric Board's commissioners gave good reviews for last month's meeting in Leaburg when options for the Leaburg Canal were discussed. Agreeing with that assessment was Will Rutherford who also asked for some more details. "People need to know what percentage of electricity is generated by Leaburg and what that means in terms of dollars and income to EWEB because we think the impact is really greater than it is," the Lure Lane resident...
The Community Credit Union's 13th annual celebration of outstanding education is granting $2,000 Community Builder Awards to the McKenzie Community School and the Marcola Elementary School. The McKenzie District's Fire Recovery and Art Therapy Project supports student recovery from the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire through art and music. Funds will be used to purchase art supplies to provide mental health resources to students. The Marcola Elementary School's Playground Improvement Project supports...
LEABURG: A Lane County Parks task force's recommendations to address the maintenance needs, restore critical habitat, and enhance services calls for a $6 million Five-Year Local Option Levy. The details of their recommendations will be on the agenda of a May 23rd meeting. During the Parks Master Planning process officials say it became clear that prioritizing investment in key parks was crucial. Feedback from community residents included taking into account the distribution and equity of recreat...
FINN ROCK: The Mc-Kenzie School District dealt with a shortage of school bus drivers this week by combining the downriver routes, to and from school. This Thursday was scheduled as a half day. Students will be released at 11:45 am and buses will leave the campus at noon. They will arrive home 4 hours earlier than usual. People interested in becoming drivers are encouraged to contact the school. No experience is necessary - the district will train qualified candidates. The work involves 16 hours...
SALEM: The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) has approved permanent rules for electric utilities. Temporary rules were implemented for the 2021 wildfire season while the PUC, utilities, public safety partners, and communities worked to finalize permanent rules. This is a timely decision as May is National Wildfire Awareness Month and wildfire season quickly approaches. A PSPS is an important safety measure designed to help protect people and communities in high fire-risk areas by proactively shutting off electricity during extreme and...
The Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) published a draft Action Plan for a $422 million disaster recovery grant this week, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Officials say the effort, known as “ReOregon,” was established to support individuals, households, and communities that are still recovering from the 2020 Labor Day Fires. Assistance will primarily come in the form of new permanent housing in the areas most impacted by the disaster. The proposed programs target fire survivors who were ren...
Val Rapp, president of McKenzie Valley Wellness, reports somebody has created a fraudulent membership form that purports to be from McKenzie Valley Wellness and has given it to people. “We are currently creating our official form, which we will release within the next couple of weeks,” Rapp said. “If anyone offers you a supposed McKenzie Valley Wellness membership form, please message me who offered it to you and when. I take this attempt to commit fraud in our good name very seriously, and I will pursue legal action against whoever is doing...
MCKENZIE BRIDGE: Deer Creek could be seen as an example of building back better by moving toward the past. The large McKenzie River tributary is one of three upriver areas where the effects of human activities are being counterbalanced by human interventions that mimic nature Over several decades, logging in the Deer Creek drainage, combined with severe flooding in 1964, scoured out the floodplain, clearing all vegetation. Following the flood, and for years to come, officials say the U.S....
In early September 2020, severe winds, high heat, and prolonged drought conditions led to the explosive growth of wildfires along the western slopes of the Cascades Mountains in the Pacific Northwest. The fires engulfed enormous tracts of forestland, destroyed communities, took dozen of lives, and cost hundreds of millions to fight. In a first-of-its-kind study examining burn patterns from the 2020 Labor Day fires, researchers at Portland State University studied the influence of weather,...
WILSONVILLE: At the Oregon Fire Chief's Association Awards luncheon last week five McKenzie Fire & Rescue volunteers received recognition for their long-term commitment to the community. They were all awarded the OFCA Award of Excellence. The OFCA is the only statewide forum that recognizes individuals for their long-term professionalism acts of courage and heroism. "We were very honored to nominate them and thrilled when we received notification that they were selected for the award," McKenzie...
A serious landslide between milepost 54 and 56 on Forest Service Road 19 (Aufderheide Drive) is likely to continue to limit access to Terwilliger Hot Springs from the McKenzie Valley. Other day-use sites and campgrounds will not be accessible from Highway 126. Affected recreation sites include the Echo Boat Launch; Sunnyside Campground; Slide Creek Campground; Cougar Crossing Campground and Boat Launch; French Pete Campground; Hard Rock Group Campground; Red Diamond Group Campground; Roaring...
Last Wednesday, April 26, a celebration gathering was held on the parcel of land known as the Jones or Seneca property. The 16-acre parcel was generously donated to the Blue River Community by Becky, Jody, and Kathy Jones, owners of The Seneca Family of Companies, and daughters of Aaron and Marie Jones. The Jones sisters donated the land at the end of 2021 with the proposed stipulation that with acceptance of the gift, the Community would collaborate on a plan for revitalization and development...
WALTERVILLE: The number of tradesmen's vehicles in the parking lot of the Walterville Elementary School should be tapering off soon. Brett Yancey, Springfield School District's Chief Operating Officer said the majority of the work is expected to be completed at the end of the summer. Subcontractors from McKenzie Taylor Construction are "putting the finishing touches on and we'll be ready to go well before the Fall," he said. The building suffered extensive damage as an aftermath of the second...
This image from the 3-D "walk through" of plans to rebuild the Blue River Park shows one of three proposed covered picnic areas. During last Saturday's design open house meeting, UO design student Audrey Rycewicz updated people on four changes that were developed since a February public input session. Among the changes was the addition of a 9-hole disc golf area, an extension of the riverfront Historic Trail, a larger off-leash dog park zone, and integrating a "natural play" area with...
McKenzie Valley Wellness (MVW) has canceled its annual membership meeting planned for Tuesday, May 3rd. In a statement, the MVW board said it had learned of some important concerns about past donations that never reached them, and people who wanted to be members never getting on the membership roster. “There has been some confusion around the correct mailing address and name for our nonprofit. We need to make certain that people who want to be members are included,” they noted. “Everyone on our board recognizes the importance of having our a...
LEABURG: Economic, environmental, and societal impacts were all on the minds of people who filled McKenzie Fire & Rescue’s Leaburg Training Center last Tuesday. During an hour and a half of audience questions, the Eugene Water & Electric Board’s commissioners and staff heard from local residents worried about the fate of Leaburg Lake and its dam and powerhouse. Two outcomes are up for review. The first would involve ways to bring the project back online to generate electricity. The second option...
McKenzie Valley Wellness (MVW) has canceled the upcoming annual membership meeting that was planned for Tuesday, May 3rd. MVW president Vall Rapp said, "the board has learned of some important concerns about past donations that never reached us, and people who wanted to be members never getting on the membership roster. There has been some confusion around the correct mailing address and name for our nonprofit. We need to make certain that people who want to be members are included." McKenzie Valley Wellness will reschedule the annual...
RAINBOW: Interest in a new clinic should help boost participation in this year’s election of board members for McKenzie Valley Wellness (MVW). Part of that interest relates to plans for a $1.8 million grant the local nonprofit has received to replace a building that burned in 2020. Four incumbents are on the ballot: Jane Wilson, Val Rapp, Kelly Shaw, and Josh Cloke. Two people have announced they’re running as write-in candidates. Tony Casad is asking people to vote for him for Position 3, cur...
PORTLAND: Despite substantial help from recent rain and snow events, Army water managers are bracing for another challenging year as they work to refill 13 Willamette Valley reservoirs for the upcoming conservation season. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) officials report the system is 53% full, which is 33% below the rule curve, as of April 21. “Extended drought conditions, variability of snowpack in the Cascades, and modified dam operations to support downstream passage of juvenile salmon are impacting refill of the system,” said Eri...
FINN ROCK: "It was a super cool experience," was the way McKenzie High junior Anna Reidmann reacted after seeing the Manzanita sculpture and the student artists who delivered it. "That branch represents standing through the fire - just keeping on. We lost a lot and they had similar stuff going on." Phoenix-Talent School District Superintendent Brent Barry said the idea developed from a realization that their area wasn't alone in being impacted by the wildfires of 2020. "We lost 2,400 homes and...
MCKENZIE BRIDGE: Over two inches of rain was recorded at the weather station at Cougar Dam last week, and residents of the far eastern sections of the McKenzie Valley report they encountered measurable snow on a daily basis. Besides being unusual, those conditions were also challenging to some motorists. Three motor vehicle accidents were reported on April 12th, all on the Clear Lake Cutoff. The first occurred around 10:30 a,m. when a caller reported a blue vehicle had gone off the roadway into...
