Stamp art

Artists are invited to compete in one - or all three - of the Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife’s 2025 stamp art competitions.

The winning artist in each contest will receive a $2,000 award and the winning artwork will be used to produce collector’s stamps and other promotional items - with sale proceeds benefitting Oregon’s fish, wildlife, and their habitats.

For more information on contest rules and to order stamps and art prints, visit: https://www.dfw.state.or.us/stamp_contest/index.asp

Entries will be accepted starting August 30 through September 27, by 5 p.m., at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife headquarters, 4034 Fairview Industrial Dr., SE, Salem, OR 97302.

Entries can be mailed, or hand delivered. If you hand-deliver your entry, please call ahead to make arrangements (503-947-6314).

A panel will judge artwork based on artistic composition, anatomical accuracy of the species, and general appeal.

Collector’s stamps, art prints, and other promotional materials are produced from first-place artwork. Proceeds from product sales are used for habitat improvement, research surveys, and conservation projects.

Artists are encouraged to visit ODFW’s stamp art competition webpage for more information.

Gas prices

Oregon’s average gasoline prices have ticked up while other regions see larger increases at the pumps. Refinery issues have sent gas prices higher in the Midwest, pushing the national average price of gas higher as well. Here in Oregon, pump prices are rising. Officials say this is the time of year for the seasonal climb in gas prices due to refinery maintenance and the switch to EPA-mandated summer-blend fuel. For the week, the national average for regular rose five cents to $3.28 a gallon. The Oregon average added a penny to an average of $3.60.

A major driver of higher gas prices nationwide is a shutdown at the large BP-Whiting refinery in Indiana, which was taken offline after a February 1st power outage. The facility has undergone extensive inspections to assess damage. The shutdown has had an impact on supplies, as the refinery normally processes 435,000 barrels of crude oil per day. This has sent prices higher throughout the Midwest and has also pushed the national average higher.

“This is the time of year that gas prices climb. Refineries typically run the last of their winter-blend fuels, then undergo maintenance ahead of the switch to summer-blend fuel. This process can temporarily reduce supplies, putting upward pressure on pump prices,” says Marie Dodds, public affairs director for AAA Oregon/Idaho. “So far, Oregon prices have mostly ticked down over the last four weeks while prices in other parts of the country have climbed. The Oregon average rose a penny in the last week, which is a small increase compared to other areas.”

All counties in Oregon except Curry ($4.08) have averaged below $4 a gallon. The Oregon average began 2024 at $3.79 a gallon compared to $3.60 on Tuesday.