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Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Klamath Basin Weather
Today
A 20% chance of rain before 11am, then mostly sunny, with a high near 67. North northwest wind 5 to 9 mph. Overnight patchy fog with a low around 41.
Today’s Headlines
Klamath County is expecting thousands of visitors as it provides some of the nation’s best views of the annular eclipse on Saturday, Oct. 14.
The moon will begin to move across the sun at 8:05AM with the maximum eclipse happening at 9:19AM.
Klamath County leaders are reminding you that with many extra people all over our county and attending eclipse events, be prepared for an increase in traffic and crowds that week.
Please note:
- The regular school calendar already has a no school day scheduled for Friday, Oct. 13. It is a grade day for teachers.
- To eliminate possible issues with eclipse traffic, two Friday, Oct. 13 football games – Lost River v. Chiloquin and Mazama v. Klamath Union — have been rescheduled to Thursday, Oct. 12.
- KCSD is evaluating its food service delivery schedule to ensure that all schools have the products and supplies they need during that week and the following week.
- The district is following the recommendation of Klamath County leaders and encouraging staff to complete shopping for food, purchasing gas and complete banking so businesses can resupply for the eclipse visitors.
To stay up-to-date on eclipse information, follow the Klamath Eclipse 2023 Klamath Eclipse 2023 Facebook page and watch the KlamathEclipse2023.wordpress.com site.
Klamath County Public Health has provided the following tips to make your experience better during the week of the eclipse (Oct. 9-15):
- Get your grocery shopping done about a week or more ahead of time. Not only will you beat the crowds, but this gives our stores time to restock.
- Pick up your prescriptions and/or medical supplies early.
- Get doctor and dental appointments out of the way. It will start getting crowded the Thursday prior to the eclipse and could remain busy for several days.
- Conserve energy by unplugging appliances you’re not using and do laundry, use dishwashers and other necessities at low peak hours.
- Be prepared for slow internet.
- Fill your gas tanks.
- Get cash. ATMs might run out or be hindered by slow internet.
- Overall, supplies will be limited and high demand may mean you can’t get all of the things you need and want.
- Traffic will be heavy and lines for food and in stores will be long. Please be patient.
Eye safety
- Viewing any part of the bright sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury.
- Eclipse glasses are not regular sunglasses; regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the Sun. Safe solar viewers are thousands of times darker and must comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard. (KCSD press release)
Warner Canyon Ski Area in Lake County is offering a viewing area from their ski hill for the upcoming annular eclipse on Oct. 14.
Camping and RV reservations for the sites have filled up, but Warner Canyon is still open to visitors who want to see the eclipse. Lift rides are $10 per person to view the eclipse from the top of the hill, with glasses provided for viewers. More information can be found at warnercanyonskihill.com. (kdrv 12)
The Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base in Klamath Falls will be home to a new squadron of F-35A Lightning II jets, with a special task force organized to prepare the community for the new opportunity.
The aircrafts are set to come to Klamath County by 2025 or 2026 after the Air Force selected the 173rd Fighter Wing to host the fleet.
The F-35s will replace F-15s in use at Kingsley for military jet training.
Klamath County Commissioner Kelley Minty said the new fleet will allow the already-established Kingsley base to train pilots on an elevated level.
The squadron is slated to open up new economic opportunities in the area for aerospace and other industries tied to the upkeep of the F-35. According to Minty, this also necessitates new housing, mental health facilities and other amenities for the community.
The Commissioner’s Office is organizing a task force, called K.F-35, to make sure Klamath County is prepared for the arrival of the new jets. (kdrv 12)
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden in town this weekend with two in-person town halls in Klamath and Lake Counties.
Wyden has already held 36 town halls so far throughout Oregon in 2023 and 1,063 town halls overall statewide in fulfillment of his pledge to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon’s 36 counties.
The schedule for the upcoming town halls is as follows:
- Klamath County, 4 pm, Saturday, Oct. 7,
Klamath Community College Apprenticeship Center,
7390 S. 6th St., Klamath Falls - Lake County, 1 pm, Sunday, Oct. 8,
Lakeview High School,
906 S. 3rd St., Lakeview
(US Sen. Ron Wyden press release)
The Klamath Tribes voted overwhelmingly Saturday to reject the Copenhagen Investment Partnership’s latest offer to compensate the Tribes for the destruction of one of their most sacred sites for the soon-to-be-built Swan Lake Rim Hydropower Project.
The company’s latest offer was worth more than $40 million and included $22 million for land acquisition, $10 million for a tribal museum, $5 million for a sober living facility, $2 million for education, and promised to employ tribal members in union wage jobs. The offer was rejected by a vote of 77-8, with eight abstentions.
The Klamath Tribes have aggressively opposed the project since they first learned about it in 2011. In a 2016 letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee, then-Chairman Don Gentry stated, “The Klamath Tribes firmly oppose the licensing and construction of the Hydro Project at this location because it would destroy and adversely affect many cultural and sacred resources in the Swan Lake Rim area that continue to have a great spiritual value to members of the Tribes.”
As recently as Jan. 31, 2020, current Chairman Clayton Dumont submitted a letter to company representatives stating that the company “is about to blow a gaping canyon into the center of a massive Klamath/Modoc cathedral … Imagine that the Klamath Tribes somehow felt the need to disembowel an equivalent location, e.g., Vatican City. How would Catholics react if we came to them with a ‘Management Plan’ that claimed to ‘minimize and mitigate potential effects?’”
Chairman Dumont and other Tribal Council Members had been attempting to send the latest offer to all 4,611 tribal members eligible for a referendum vote. The actions taken at this meeting will stop that from happening. Part of the motion that passed stated, “We stipulate that there will be no future votes.” (more at HearldandNews.com)
Klamath Falls City Schools conducted active shooter training Friday at Conger and Pelican Elementary Schools to bring teachers and staff knowledge of protective measures to enact in case an active shooter were to appear on-site.
No students were involved in the exercises.
Sean Ferns, KFCS Safety and Health Manager, led the training. Ferns is a retired Klamath Falls City Police and Klamath County Sheriff’s Department law enforcement officer.
The training Ferns brought to Conger and Pelican are part of a program named ALICE Training. ALICE is the acronym for alert, lock-down, inform, counter, evacuate. ALICE Training is a nationwide program started in2000.
The program is a widely adopted, effective method of active shooter response training. ALICE Training is now a part of most safety programs for schools, workplaces and other communities.
The first part of the training took place in a classroom, where teachers learned of the type of alert they would receive if there was an active shooter. The next portion covered the transition from alert to lock-down, how to counter, and when students and staff could safely evacuate.
Ferns said there are plans for a practical portion of training to occur sometime in October.
(more at HeraldandNews.com)
Fire Managers Reduce Fire Danger and Restrictions in South Central Oregon
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Cooler temperatures, increased humidity, and recent storms are providing enough relief to allow further reduction in restrictions and fire danger in South-Central Oregon.
Effective 00:01 Thursday morning, October 5th, the agencies of the South-Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership (SCOFMP) will be lowering the Fire Danger from “High” to “Moderate”. Despite this change, fuels remain dry, and caution is needed to prevent wildfires.
The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Klamath-Lake District Regulated Use Closure (RUC), which regulates public use like campfires, chainsaws, and other activities that could start a wildfire, are being lifted on Thursday, October 5th.
While the RUC is being lifted, Fire Season is still in effect and regulations are in place restricting debris burning and timber harvest operations. All outdoor debris burning is still prohibited. As a reminder, any escaped or accidental fire start may result in the entire financial liability for the responsible party.
Forest operations on State and private lands that require a Permit to Operate Power Driven Machinery are required to have fire tools, onsite water supply, and watchman service. The release of sky lanterns, discharge of exploding targets or the discharge of tracer ammunition is also prohibited while Fire Season is in effect.
Public use Restrictions, on the Fremont-Winema National Forest, Sheldon-Hart Mountain, and Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complexes and most of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lakeview District were lifted on September 6th.
Public Use Restrictions remain in place on BLM lands in the Klamath River Canyon.
The Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) is lowering Thursday, October 5th from Level II to Level I. This means fire precaution requirements are still in effect, including a 1-hour fire watch following work that could spark a wildfire. Under IFPL I, chainsaw use is permitted any time of day on federal lands, including the Fremont-Winema National Forest and Lakeview District BLM.
Personal and commercial woodcutters are reminded of their responsibility to stay informed of current IFPLs and all restrictions that apply to activities conducted on public lands. Failure to comply with precautionary fire requirements may result in the issuance of a Violation Notice.
Area residents and visitors can help prevent wildfires by doing the following:
- Make sure campfires are never left unattended and are dead out and cold to the touch before leaving. Use plenty of water to drown the fire.
- If you are using a portable stove, make sure the area is clear of grasses and other fine fuels. Prevent stoves from tipping and starting a fire.
- Ensure chainsaws and other equipment, including generators, are maintained and have an approved spark arrester in good condition.
- Make sure off-road vehicles have a properly functioning catalytic converter or approved spark arrester.
- Never park a vehicle over dead grass and avoid driving through tall grass – your vehicle can ignite the fuels and start a fire.
- If towing a boat or trailer, ensure safety chains are properly secured and not dragging.
Suspected wildfires should be reported to 911 as soon as possible. Visit https://scofmp.org for more information on restrictions and IFPL.
Klamath Falls City Streets Divisions crews will be performing street maintenance operations Oct. 2nd-6th
ASPHALT REPAIR
Monday and Tuesday: Old Fort Rd. between Laguna Street and James Martin Court and the 1000 block of New Castle Avenue.
Wednesday: North exit of Veterans Park at Klamath Avenue.
Thursday: Broad Street and Commercial Street, between S. 6th Street and Oak Avenue.
PAINT CREW
Tuesday and Wednesday: Shasta Way between Austin Street and S. 6th Street.
Thursday and Friday: Washburn Way between Laverne Avenue and Crater Lake Parkway.
SIGN MAINTENANCE
Monday through Friday:
The Streets staff thanks citizens in advance for proceeding with caution in areas where crews are working. Work may be delayed or canceled due to weather, equipment breakdown, or unexpected emergencies.
For questions or concerns, please contact the City Public Works Department at (541) 883-5363. (more at HeraldandNews.com/city of klamath falls)
Recent weather conditions have lessened the fire danger on the Klamath National Forest, and fire restrictions are now lifted effective across the forest.
Forest officials stress that the Northern California fire season is not over, and care and common sense must still be used when in the forest. The larger fuels, such as logs, remain fairly dry and have not been as affected by the recent rains. The potential for wildfires still exists and visitors to the forest should remember to never leave campfires unattended.
A California Campfire Permit is still required for open campfires, stoves, and barbecues outside developed campgrounds. The permit lists requirements for clearing the ground around campfires, how to completely extinguish fires, and which tools must be always kept at the campfire site.
The permit may be obtained free of charge from any USDA Forest Service office or online at https://www.readyforwildfire.org/permits/campfire-permit/. (klamath national forest press release)
Around the state of Oregon
The Oregon Zoo is mourning the death of one of its animals. Neka the lion died Friday night after a seizure.
She was the oldest of the Oregon Zoo’s African lion pride at age 16. Neka had been at the Oregon Zoo since 2009 and gave birth to three cubs in 2013. (Oregon news)
Sunriver Police are investigating a spike in rental scams. Sgt. John Beck says incidents are rare in the small resort town, but they’ve received three reports in just the past week.
They all share common threads: vacation rentals found on Marketplace, CraigsList, even E-bay, and the alleged rental company sends over a contract.
In at least one incident, the victim was left stranded. The people that had paid the money to rent the house did show up at the house and then never received a code, so weren’t able to get into it. And then, as they start understanding that there’s a problem, they kind of had a feeling that they’d probably been scammed.
Sgt. Beck says the cases all present red flags people should watch for, like, if the deal seems too good to be true, it almost alway is. (Oregon news)
Oregon may have been getting some less-than-flattering attention in national media lately, but “CBS Sunday Morning” featured a more positive story about the Beaver State in the episode that aired on Sunday, Oct. 1.
In a segment of the Jane Pauley-hosted “CBS Sunday Morning” show, correspondent Conor Knighton visited Ashland to talk with staffers at the Clark R. Bavin National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory, which investigate crimes committed against wildlife.
Knighton describes the staffers as “an elite team of super-sleuths,” playing up the connection to the “CSI” TV series, and their tales of forensic investigations. But, on a more serious note, the “CBS Sunday Morning” piece talks about the how the Ashland facility is the only U.S. federal crime lab devoted to criminal investigations focusing on wildlife.
The segment discusses the multi-billion illegal trade in animals, and how items, including fur coats, ivory carvings, purses and more, are often made from endangered and protected species. The laboratory also is home to an extensive collection of mounted heads of animals and other taxidermy, with “everything from bugs to bison.” (Oregon news)
A 4.7-magnitude earthquake roiled ocean waters off the coast of Oregon Sunday.
The temblor struck at 5:49 p.m. about 196 miles from Bandon at a depth of just over 6 miles, according to the United States Geological Survey. There are no reports of damage or that anyone on land felt it.
The quake occurred along the Blanco Fracture Zone, a system of “strike-slip faults” off Cape Blanco in southern Oregon.
Earthquakes of magnitude 4.0-4.9 are considered “light.” Such quakes off the Oregon coast are common and suggest continued strain building along the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
Experts say there’s a 10-15% likelihood of a severe earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone in the next 50 years. Such a quake might devastate much of the Oregon coast and cause significant damage in Portland. (Oregon news)
Five men in Medford, Grants Pass and Central Point were arrested for separate, unconnected child sexual abuse cases.
According to a news release from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the total felony charges from the five men were 32 counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse, 10 counts of second-degree encouraging child sex abuse, 16 counts of first-degree invasion of personal privacy and a felon in possession of a firearm.
“The cases are not connected,” the release said. “Each investigation began when (the Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team) received tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which led to subpoenas, followed by search warrants at the respective residences.”
Once police received search warrants, investigators took digital devices and examined them, the release said. The devices underwent forensic examination for more evidence of child exploitation.
The first arrest was 60-year-old Steven Wesley Rambo in Medford, the release said. The next arrest was 45-year-old Michael David Robertson in Medford, when police found his car in the 20 block of Washington Street, the release said. (kdrv 12)
Upper Table Rock trailhead and trail closed weekdays Oct 16-Nov 22
Medford, Ore. — The Bureau of Land Management Butte Falls Field Office will close the Upper Table Rock trailhead and trail on weekdays from October 16 through November 22, 2023.
The trailhead and trail will be open on the weekends. BLM will be working with contractors to re-route steep and unsustainable portions of the existing Upper Table Rock trail. Small excavators and motorized trail building equipment will be used to complete the work. The closure will allow for public and worker safety during construction periods.
“Upper Table Rocks is an iconic hike in the Rogue Valley, and this work is necessary to create a safer, more durable trail,” said Jared Nichol, Butte Falls Field Manager. “This closure is a great opportunity to explore some of the other incredible trails in the area.”
The project will create a more sustainable trail that will require less maintenance in the future. Currently, steep areas along the trail wash out during large rain events, removing gravel and creating channels in the trail. These sections become muddy and create the potential for hikers to fall. The new sections will reduce the slope of the trail and provide a safer and more durable route to the top of Upper Table Rock.
Until the trailhead and trails officially reopen, members of the public may not enter closed areas, and all uses—including hiking and hunting—are prohibited.
There are plenty of other exciting hiking opportunities to explore during the closure. Lower Table Rocks, located 5 miles west, will remain open. Other BLM trails include the East Applegate Ridge Trail, the Jackash Trail, The Sterling Mine Ditch Trail. Slightly further away, Cascade Siskiyou National Monument features miles of hiking trails, including the Green Springs Mountain Loop Trail, Hobart Bluff Trail, Grizzly Peak Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail.
For more information about the Upper Table Rock, please visit:
October Events To Help Raise Awareness of Earthquake Preparedness
SALEM, Ore. – Oct. 3, 2023 — Oregon is home to several fault lines that cause dozens of earthquakes every year. The most known earthquake threat is the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a 700-mile fault located off the Pacific coast that puts Oregon at risk for a 9.0+ magnitude earthquake. A quake of that size could cause five to seven minutes of shaking, followed by a tsunami that would devastate coastal areas. October features several events reminding Oregonians to prepare and protect themselves before the ground starts shaking.
Wireless Emergency Alerts
“One of the most important steps people can take is to enable Wireless Emergency Alerts, or WEA, on their cell phones,” said Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) Director Erin McMahon. “WEA are short emergency messages sent to your phone to warn of an impending natural or human-made disaster, like an earthquake. WEA messages can provide immediate, life-saving information.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is conducting a nationwide WEA test on all consumer cell phones at 11:20 a.m. on Oct. 4. People will see a message on their phones that reads “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” Phones with the main menu set to Spanish will display: “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción.”
At the same time, FEMA will also test the Emergency Alert System (EAS) that broadcasts on radios and televisions. The message will read, “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.”
ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning Notifications
People in Oregon, Washington and California who’ve opted into WEA automatically receive ShakeAlert earthquake early warning notifications for earthquakes in their area with a magnitude of 4.5 or greater, which can offer critical seconds of warning to seek cover from falling objects and brace themselves. ShakeAlert uses science and technology to detect significant earthquakes quickly and sends an alert to people on their cell phones. The alert makes a distinctive sound and displays a text message reading, “Earthquake detected! Drop, cover, hold on. Protect yourself.” This message is also available in Spanish for phones set to receive alerts in that language. Some cell phones with text-to-voice capability may read out the message text.
Great Oregon ShakeOut
An effective and no-cost way for individuals and families to practice earthquake safety is to register for The Great Oregon ShakeOut, a self-led earthquake drill taking place at 10:19 a.m. on Oct. 19. Nearly half a million Oregonians have already registered, pledging to Drop, Cover and Hold On for at least 60 seconds as if a major earthquake was occurring at that moment.
“Knowing what to do when the earth starts shaking helps people reduce their risk and better protect themselves to prepare for earthquakes,” said Director McMahon. “Most emergency management experts and official preparedness organizations agree that Drop, Cover and Hold On is the appropriate action to reduce the chance of injury from falling objects and flying debris during earthquakes. When people practice these simple steps, it becomes a routine that allows instincts to kick in when shaking starts.”
When the ground starts to shake, or you receive an earthquake alert on a cell phone:
- Drop immediately onto hands and knees. This position protects you from being knocked down and allows you to stay low and crawl to a nearby shelter. If you use a wheelchair or walker, lock your wheels.
- Cover your head and neck with one arm and hand. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter. If there is no nearby shelter, crawl next to an interior wall away from windows. Remain on your knees and bend over to protect vital organs.
- Hold On until the shaking stops. If under a shelter, hold onto it with one hand and be ready to move with the shelter if it shifts. If there is no shelter, hold onto your head and neck with both arms and hands.
If you’re near the ocean and feel a large earthquake, Drop, Cover and Hold On until the shaking stops. Then walk inland and up to high ground. Do not wait for an official warning, as a tsunami could come ashore in a few minutes. Learn more about earthquake preparedness on OEM’s website.
ORAlert and Be 2 Weeks Ready
OEM also encourages people in Oregon to sign up for local emergency alerts from their county or tribe at ORAlert.gov; be informed and knowledgeable about the hazards where they live; and have an emergency plan and enough food, water and supplies to survive for at least two weeks following any disaster. The agency’s Be 2 Weeks Ready program offers several resources in multiple languages to help people prepare.
Learn more at oregon.gov/oem.
A state representative from Medford is part of Oregon’s incoming House Republican Leadership Team.
Representative Kim Wallan (R-Medford) is the incoming Whip for the party’s state House members. Yesterday, Representative Jeff Helfrich (R-Hood River) was selected by House Republicans to serve as their Leader, with Representative Mark Owens (R-Crane) selected as Deputy Leader and Wallan chose as Whip.
Wallan has lived more than 30 years in Medford after growing up in Klamath Falls and attending Willamette University in Salem, where she earned a degree in political science. She and her husband Jim moved to Medford after they completed law school at Willamette. (kdrv 12)
An Oregon resident recently charged with murdering 6-year-old Jeremy Stoner in 1987 is now a prime suspect in the equally brutal killing of 9-year-old Eric Coy, multiple law enforcement sources have confirmed.
Fred Marion Cain III, 69, was charged last week with murder during kidnapping and sexual assault in the February 1987 killing of Jeremy Stoner, who was abducted after leaving a relative’s home in Vallejo, California, and whose body was found days later on Sherman Island. Cain was linked to the crime through DNA, authorities said.
But now, authorities say they’re also looking at Cain as a suspect in Eric Coy’s killing, an investigation that has drawn community shock, sympathy, and hundreds of tips to police over the past 35 years, yet remains unsolved. Eric was found dead in a creek near Martinez Junior High School on Jan. 25, 1987. He was riding his bike a few short blocks away from his home when an unknown assailant stabbed him 11 times. (oregon news)
More than half a million Oregonians may need to rework their budget to accommodate a new monthly bill, and that could have broader economic implications.
The 540,000 Oregonians with federal student loan debt owe more than $20 billion in all, according to the U.S. Department of Education. The federal government froze payments and interest accrual for those loans in March 2020 as part of a pandemic relief measure. The break created a financial cushion that allowed borrowers to use the money for rent, car payments, or other spending – or to pay down other debt or build savings.
But now that respite has ended. As of Sunday, borrowers are on the hook again for paying their monthly student loan bills, and interest accrual resumed at the beginning of September. The Supreme Court this summer struck down the Biden administration’s plan to forgive about $400 billion in student debt for 43 million Americans.
While Oregon has relatively fewer borrowers than most states, their average debt is higher. The typical student loan borrower in Oregon owes just over $38,070, compared to $36,348 nationally, according to data provided by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. (Oregon news)
You check your phone and there’s a text message with an unfamiliar web link that indicates a U.S. Postal Service delivery requires you to respond.
What should you do? Don’t click — it’s likely a smishing attempt.
Smishing is a form of phishing — sending fraudulent emails or other messages to try and get personal information — that involves a text message or phone number, according to the U.S. Postal Service.
Many Oregonians report receiving the messages.
Targets will typically receive a deceptive text message intended to lure them into providing personal or financial information, such as banking or credit card data. The scammers often attempt to disguise themselves as a government agency, like the postal service, bank or other company with the goal of receiving personally identifiable information like account usernames and passwords, Social Security numbers, date of birth, credit and debit card numbers, personal identification numbers or other sensitive information.
The texts aren’t legitimate and should be reported and deleted. (Oregon news)
A motorist who sped away from Baker County police at more than 100 mph after an attempted traffic stop — and who then threatened a “shootout now” with officers during a call to 911 during the chase — was sentenced to more than 15 years in federal prison on drug and gun convictions.
Once police stopped Zachary Charles Persicke in September 2021, officers seized 400 grams of methamphetamine, heroin and pills from him, and they found a loaded .45-caliber handgun on the front passenger seat of his car. They also discovered an assault-style rifle with more than 100 rounds of ammunition in the trunk.
Persicke, 38, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The officers who had tried to stop Persicke’s car on Sept. 21, 2021, had obtained a search warrant for him and an associated residence, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey S. Sweet. (Oregon news)
U.S. Postal Service Hiring Across Oregon
The U.S. Postal Service welcomed job-seekers to job fairs at dozens of post office locations throughout the state Thursday. The USPS is trying to fill thousands of openings for full-time, part-time and seasonal jobs. Salaries range around $19.94 to $24.05 an hour, depending on the position.
Whether you are an early-riser or night owl, the Postal Service has positions to accommodate varying schedules.Here’s information from the USPS announcement:
Our goal is to fill thousands of positions all over the state. In most areas, the need is especially urgent for mail carriers, clerks and mail handlers. However, interested applicants should always check with their local Post Office for information on available positions.
The Postal Service continues to aggressively hire in many locations across the country. With a workforce of more than 635,000, USPS is one of the nation’s largest employers with ongoing attrition needs. And combined with the ongoing nationwide challenges faced by most employers, we are hiring for the holidays — and beyond.
A postal job offers employees the ability to work where they live, good pay, stability, lifelong benefits and career advancement opportunities throughout the entire agency.
Our employees are our greatest asset, and we are investing in our new personnel by providing robust training and on-the-job support. The Postal Service offers stability, competitive wages and benefits, and career advancement opportunities.
Starting pay varies depending on the job. But starting pay for carriers ranges between $19 and $20 per hour paid bi-weekly. Applications are accepted online at www.usps.com/careers.
Applicants must be 18 years of age and be able to pass drug screening and a criminal background investigation. Although in some instances, interested candidates can also be 16 with a high school diploma.
Applicants must be available to work weekends and holidays. Refer to the job announcement for full details, duties, responsibilities, job requirements, and benefits information. Job postings are updated frequently, so check back often for additional opportunities.
For additional information regarding available positions in all areas, applicants can go to our website at www.usps.com/careers. Jobs are uploaded every other Tuesday until filled. Potential applicants can also visit any Post Office location for more information.
Stabilizing our workforce to ensure we consistently service nearly 165 million addresses across the country is one part of the Postal Service’s 10-year Delivering for America plan to achieve financial stability and service excellence.
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel and like us on Facebook. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com.
SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Dept. of Forestry is now seeking nominations for its new Oregon Climate Smart Award.
The award will recognize landowners, land managers, researchers, operators, or other forestry professionals who use climate change-adapted practices, or develop innovative methods for carbon capture, retention, or reduced carbon release. Nominations are due by Dec. 31, 2023.
“The goal of this award is to encourage, improve, and recognize climate and carbon practices,” says ODF State Forester Cal Mukumoto.
In March 2020, Governor Brown signed an executive order that highlighted that the state is experiencing an increase in frequency and severity of wildfires that endangers public health and safety and damage rural economies. The order directed agencies, including ODF, to prepare and plan for the impacts of climate change and to take actions to encourage carbon sequestration and storage.
“From that executive order the Oregon Board of Forestry in the fall of 2021 adopted ODF’s Climate Change and Carbon Plan. The idea for an awards program arose in response to that plan,” says Mukumoto.
Christine Buhl is a member of the selection committee that will review nominations. In her work as a forest entomologist she already sees signs of stress on trees in Oregon forests from extreme heat waves and prolonged droughts. She said, “With these awards, we hope to encourage reductions in emissions and help forests and communities adapt and become more climate resilient.”
Buhl said specific actions that will be considered for recognition under the award program include:
- Efforts to improve the climate resilience of forestlands and restore ecological functions
- Climate Smart forestry practices in growing and maintaining trees
- Wildfire management, response, and fire or smoke adaptation
- Carbon reduction or capture in forest operations, such as logging or thinning
- Innovative research or products that reduce emissions or increase climate resilience
Buhl’s co-lead on the selection committee is ODF Monitoring Specialist Emily Martin. Martin said nominees may include universities, educators, consulting and research agencies, fabricators, forest operators, and private industry firms working on non-federal lands across the state. “Anyone can be nominated who’s doing climate-related mitigation and adaptation work or research, and anyone can nominate them.”
Find details and the nomination form here.
The University of Oregon’s Oregon Folklife Network is now accepting applications until Friday, October 13, 2023 for the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program (TAAP) for projects in 2024.
The program offers traditional artists and culture keepers a $3,500 stipend to teach their cultural practices to apprentices from their same communities, Tribes, sacred or occupational groups. The stipend supports accomplished artists, elder culture bearers, and community-trusted tradition keepers to share their knowledge, skills and expertise with apprentices of great promise, empowering them to carry on and strengthen Oregon’s living cultural traditions.
Apprenticeship teams agree to a video interview and make a public presentation, which can be in their own communities or hosted at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History at University of Oregon in Eugene.
To learn more about application procedures and eligibility or to recommend a TAAP applicant, view our guidelines online, email ofn@uoregon.edu, or call 541-346-3820. (submitted press release)
A new chair lift is coming to Mt. Ashland Ski Area, according to a Facebook post from the recreation site on Friday.
“We’re introducing the project of a fresh chair lift that will ~elevate~ the beginner experience at Mt. A,” the post said. “Our goal is to have the new chair lift open within the next two years.”
General manager Andrew Gast said in an attached video that the lift was possible due to large donations.
“(The) new chair is made possible by the biggest donation we’ve ever gotten $2 million from the Sid and Karen Deboer Foundation and an additional $500,000 from Sid and Karen Deboer themselves,” Gast saidin the video. “So thank you so much to them for making that possible. We’re working on that right now.”
The Deboer family created Lithia Motors in Ashland in 1946. As of May 2022, Lithia operated 267 stores in 24 states, and 14 in Canada. Lithia Motors employs approximately 21,150 people.
(kdrv 12/local sources)
Travel website “Trips to Discover” named the 16 best Halloween events in the U.S., and one Oregon event made the list.
The honor goes to the monthlong celebration “Spirit of Halloweentown,” hosted every year in the Columbia River community of St. Helens, about 25 miles outside of Portland.
The event is inspired by the 1998 Disney Channel. movie “Halloweentown,” which filmed on location in St. Helens.
The movie starred Debbie Reynolds as a witch training her 13-year-old granddaughter in the family’s magical ways while saving the townsfolk of Halloweentown. The movie spawned three sequels and became a beloved TV holiday classic.
Starting in mid-September, downtown St. Helens transforms into “Halloweentown,” with a courthouse square filled with spooky statues and a grand jack-o’-lantern sculpture (just like in the movie), which is lit to kick off the month of October. This year’s festivities will include a special tribute for the 25th anniversary of the release of the film. (Oregon news)
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