The latest and most comprehensive coverage of local News, Sports, Business, and Community News stories in the Klamath Basin, Southern Oregon and around the state of Oregon from Wynne Broadcasting’s KFLS News/Talk 1450AM / 102.5FM, The Herald and News, and BasinLife.com, and powered by Mick Insurance. Call them at 541-882-6476.

 

Friday, February 21, 2024

Klamath Basin Weather

Today
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. Calm wind. Overnight a 20% chance of rain after 1am. Snow level 5000 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. Light southeast wind.

 

 

 

 

 

The Ragland Masquerade returns this Saturday, Feb. 22, at the Ross Ragland Theater. The annual education fundraising benefit is planned to be an unforgettable night of celebration and giving back.

The Ragland Masquerade Education Fundraiser is a premier fundraising gala and social event that raises awareness of the need and benefits of keeping access to the arts and arts education for K-12 students across the Klamath Basin and Southeastern Oregon. According to the Ragland, this must-attend event is full of elegance, delicious food and live entertainment, all dedicated to supporting the Ragland’s seven education programs.

The education programs offer over 20,000 individual opportunities for arts education to all students in the Basin, K-12, each year. The Masquerade promises an unforgettable night with surprises, enchantment and raffle items you don’t want to miss.

Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to wear cocktail attire and masquerade masks. Performances and events are scheduled throughout the evening.  Tickets are $75 per person. Tickets can be purchased at the Ragland Box Office Monday-Friday, noon to 5 p.m., by calling (541) 884-LIVE, or by visiting their website at www.ragland.org.

 

Pet of the Week from Klamath Animal Shelter

 

Around the State of Oregon

Lake County School District announced on Wednesday that Lakeview High School junior, Thomas Strong, had died.

“[Thomas] was a vibrant presence in our school,” the school district shared in a news release on Wednesday. “His kind spirit and friendship will be deeply missed by all who knew him. He touched many lives in our community, and his absence will be felt profoundly.”

The district said that they are unable to share further details due to an ongoing investigation. Counseling staff, Lake ESD staff and Outback Strong are available at Lakeview High during school hours if students or staff are looking for support. Mental health care is also available through Care Solace to students, staff and families in the district.  

UPDATE ON THIS STORY, 2/21/2025

On Tuesday, February 18^th, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police assisted the Department of Human Services Child Welfare with the service of a court ordered protection order. The protection order was for a 17-year-old juvenile reported to be living at 300 Block of South G Street in Lakeview.

The mother of the juvenile, Amanda Edwards (38), and mother’s boyfriend, Nathaniel Cullins (31) were detained after law enforcement made entry into the residence. Law enforcement conducted a search and located the juvenile deceased on the property.

The Lake County Major Crime Team was activated to investigate the juvenile’s death. The Lake County Major Crime Team consists of the Lake County District Attorney’s Office, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oregon State Police. Oregon State Police is leading the investigation. Law enforcement believes there is no active threat to the community.

Nathaniel Cullins was charged with Unlawful Use of a Weapon.

Both Edwards and Cullins were both lodged at the Lake County Jail for the following crimes:

• Criminally Negligent Homicide
• Criminal Mistreatment in the First Degree
• Abuse of a Corpse in the Second Degree
• Tampering with Physical Evidence

Anyone who has information regarding this investigation and has not been contacted by police is encouraged to contact the Oregon State Police Southern Command Center at 541-883-5711 and reference Case # SP25-054507.

 

An avalanche in Oregon’s Cascade Mountains has killed two backcountry skiers, authorities said Tuesday.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that its search-and-rescue unit recovered two bodies west of Bend in Happy Valley, near Broken Top peak.

The couple had been skiing when an avalanche happened Monday at 6,700 feet on a south-facing slope, the Central Oregon Avalanche Center said in a social media post.

“We extend our deepest condolences to all who loved the couple who tragically lost their lives while doing what they loved,” the post said. “As longtime residents of Central Oregon, they have touched many lives, and their legacy will continue to live on in our community.”

 

Marzelle Culver, a 24-year-old Medford man accused of attacking a man with a sword on Dec. 26, 2024, has been committed to Oregon State Hospital after an evaluation deemed he was not fit to stand trial.

Jackson County Circuit Court documents from this week show Culver appeared in court on Tuesday for a hearing about his fitness to proceed. Based on the review of the court and a mental health evaluation, the court found that Culver lacked fitness to proceed.  

Culver is pleading not guilty to six felony counts, including assault, attempted assault, burglary and weapon charges, after police said he used a sword to attack 51-year-old Daniel Szabo in Medford. 

 

A man is going to prison after being convicted of groping an 18-year-old on an Alaska Airlines flight, federal officials said.

In March 2024, Justin Baker, now 42, was flying from Burbank, California, to Seattle, when he learned the woman next to him “was preparing to go to college and was just 18 years old,” McClatchy News reported.

Baker began “bumping his knee” into the woman’s knee before she moved closer to the window so she wouldn’t be touched, court documents said.  Then, Baker showed the woman texts between him and his wife about engaging in sexual acts, documents said.

Baker touched the woman’s thigh before eventually draping his jacket over both their laps, documents said. She attempted to move away from him, but he reached under the jacket and groped her thigh again despite her saying “no” when he first tried to touch her, according to a Feb. 18 news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.  He then groped her genitals over her clothing before reaching into her shirt and groping her breast, prosecutors said. 

Baker was sentenced to two years in prison for abusive sexual contact, officials said. Upon his release from prison, Baker will be on five years of federal supervision and must register as a sex offender, prosecutors said.

 

Egg prices have many families scrambling nationwide to find reasonable egg prices.  Rent The Chicken comes to the rescue.

One company is thinking outside the box with their Rent The Chicken company. The company offers several different packages in both the Vancouver and Portland area that give families, chickens, and everything they need to care for them, so they can produce the eggs themselves. They also work with one local affiliate partner in the Portland/Vancouver area.

According to the company’s website, the standard package provides families with 8-14 eggs per week.  According to Homestead Jenn, the company will provide everything you need to raise the chickens, including organic and non-GMO feed that will last the entire rental period.

Rentals are for up to six months. But if you chicken out, workers will come pick up the chickens and take them back to the farm. According to Homestead Jenn, with the price of eggs and the Avian bird flu, many people are flocking to Rent The Chicken to raise their own. 

In addition to the standard package, Rent The Chicken also offers a Standard Upgrade package for $675 and a Deluxe rental package that includes four chickens for $775.

 

Salem Police arrested a man armed with a rifle near Salem Health Medical Center on Tuesday. Officers say Luis Escobedo Castaneda ran when he saw officers.

They saw part of the rifle in his waistband. He refused to comply with officer’s commands, and they used less-lethal rounds and a K9 to take him into custody. He was carrying a loaded rifle. Castaneda is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, interfering with a police officer, and disorderly conduct.

 

DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE ISSUES FIRST INCOME TAX REFUNDS IN 2025

Salem, OR–The Oregon Department of Revenue has begun distributing refunds for the 2024 tax year. Through February 17, the department has already processed more than 400,000 tax returns. The first refunds of the year were issued Tuesday.

Each year the department employs a refund hold period as part of the agency’s fraud prevention efforts. The hold period has been completed and most taxpayers can expect to receive their refunds within two weeks of the date their return is filed. Some returns, however, require additional review and can take up to 20 weeks before a refund is issued.

Taxpayers can check the status of their refund by using the department’s Where’s My Refund? tool. The Department of Revenue recommends that taxpayers wait one week after they have electronically filed their return to use the Where’s My Refund tool.

The Where’s My Refund? tool has been updated for 2025, providing more information about the status of their return to taxpayers who are signed into their Revenue Online account. Taxpayers who don’t already have a Revenue Online account can create one by following the Revenue Online link on the department’s website. Taxpayers who don’t have a Revenue Online account can still use the Where’s My Refund? tool but won’t be able to see the updated features.

A video outlining the refund process and timelines is also available to help taxpayers understand the process.

The department also offered a list of do’s and don’ts for filing to help with efficient processing and avoid unnecessary delays.

Do file electronically and request direct deposit. On average, taxpayers who e-file their returns and request their refund via direct deposit receive their refund two weeks sooner than those who file paper returns and request paper refund checks.

Don’t send a duplicate paper return. Taxpayers should file just once unless they need to make a change to their return. Sending a duplicate return will slow processing and delay your refund.

Do make sure you have all tax records before filing. Having all necessary records is essential to filing a complete and accurate tax return and avoiding errors.

Don’t get in a hurry and fail to report all your income. If income reported on a return doesn’t match the income reported by employers, the return, and any corresponding refund, will be delayed. If taxpayers receive more or corrected tax records after filing a return, they should file an amended return to report any changes.

Do make sure you have a Revenue Online account. Before beginning the filing process, taxpayers should make sure their information is current in Revenue Online, the state’s internet tax portal. Those who don’t have a Revenue Online account can sign up on the agency’s website.To get tax forms, check the status of their refund, or make payments, visit our website or email questions.dor@dor.oregon.gov.

You can also call 800-356-4222 toll-free from an Oregon prefix (English or Spanish) or 503-378-4988 in Salem and outside Oregon. For TTY (hearing or speech impaired), we accept all relay calls.

 

The winner of Oregon’s first Powerball jackpot of the year is 79-year- old Abbas Shafii of Beaverton.

Shafii purchased the $328.5 million winning ticket on January 17, 2025 at the Beaverton Fred Meyer on SW Walker Road. He chose to take the lump sun option, which is worth $146.4 million. Shafii declined to be available to media but was willing to offer a brief statement about the win.

“I am overjoyed to have won the Powerball and plan to use my prize to travel, invest and share my good fortune with non-profit organizations that are close to my heart,” Shafii said.   

Approximately a third of Powerball game sales are returned to the state and supports beneficiaries such as economic development, public education, veteran services, state parks and more.

Fred Meyer earned a $100,000 bonus for selling the jackpot ticket, and the store announced it would donate $50,000 to the Oregon Food Bank as part of its Zero Hunger | Zero Waste social impact strategy.

The Oregon Lottery recommends that you sign the back of your ticket to ensure you can claim any prize. In the event of winning a jackpot, players should consult with a trusted financial planner or similar professional to develop a plan for their winnings.

Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned more than $16.5 billion for economic development, public education, outdoor school, state parks, veteran services, and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery, visit www.oregonlottery.org.

 

Oregon’s hospitals are calling on the Oregon House Revenue Committee to pass HB 2010-A, legislation essential to protecting health care access for 1.4 million Oregonians who rely on the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) and preventing further destabilization of hospitals.  

Without legislative action this session, OHP faces a $2 billion funding shortfall, threatening the benefits, services, and programs that support Oregon’s most vulnerable populations.  Some 97% of Oregonians are now insured–the highest rate in state history. OHP has been central to this achievement, covering one in three Oregonians, including 57% of the state’s children.  

Oregon hospitals have long played a key role in helping fund OHP by supporting the hospital assessment, which–when combined with federal matching funds–accounts for nearly a quarter of OHP’s total funding.  Passing HB 2010-A is a critical step in preventing further destabilization of Oregon’s hospitals, about half of which are operating at a loss.

Since early 2020, hospitals’ facility payroll costs alone have increased 43%, as they have continued to invest more in staff to meet patient needs. But without adequate payment from Medicaid and other health insurers, hospitals are struggling to keep services available, including emergency departments, labor and delivery units, behavioral health care, and specialty services like oncology.

Some hospitals have already been forced to reduce or eliminate services, a trend that will only accelerate if funding is cut.  Oregon’s hospitals urge lawmakers to pass HB 2010-A to maintain health coverage and to help Oregonians access the care they need. 

 

Governor Tina Kotek and Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) announced the launch of Oregon’s Moderate Income Revolving Loan (MIRL) program.

The program will provide zero interest loans to cities and counties for new housing units that do not have enough financing to start construction. The funding is a tool cities and counties can use to boost housing construction, reducing housing prices and providing homeownership opportunities for moderate-income Oregonians. Housing built under this program must rent or sell to families making lower than 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI) during the lifespan of the loan, typically ten years.

The fund is repaid with a fee in-lieu of property taxes, at no additional cost to the owner, which allows the state to repeatedly lend out the funds. The MIRL program is part of a suite of tools in the Governor’s housing package, Senate Bill 1537 (2024), which allocated $75 million to the MIRL Fund. The bill also established the Housing Infrastructure Support Fund and the Housing Accountability and Production Office.

As a result of the Governor’s and the Legislature’s efforts, by July 2025, the state will have financed 2,800 affordable housing units and provided infrastructure for over 25,000 affordable and market rate housing units. The Governor’s 2025-2027 budget continues to build on that progress to increase Oregon’s housing supply in every part of the state.

 

Transgender Care Toolkit  Offered by Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield

“Oregon will not stand by while the federal government attempts to erase the rights and dignity of transgender individuals.” That’s the message from Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield as he announced the launch of a new gender-affirming care toolkit Thursday.

The new resource is meant to help transgender individuals and their families navigate challenges and uncertainties created by President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders.  The toolkit provides information about gender-affirming healthcare options, resources for legal concerns and discrimination protections, as well as guidance on what transgender individuals can do when facing obstacles while receiving care.

Rayfield says he is committed to giving transgender Oregonians the support and resources they need to thrive. The free toolkit is available on the Oregon Department of Justice website.

 

Environmentalists Suing on behalf of Chinook Salmon

The Center for Biological Diversity and allies sued the National Marine Fisheries Service this week for delaying Endangered Species Act protection decisions for spring-run Chinook salmon in Oregon, Washington and Northern California.

The Center, known as Native Fish Society and Umpqua Watersheds petitioned the Service in August 2022 to protect Oregon Coast Chinook salmon under the Endangered Species Act. In July 2023 the Center and Pacific Rivers petitioned to add Washington coast spring-run Chinook salmon to the list. The Service was required to decide whether to protect the fish within one year after the petitions were filed.

The Service found that federal protections “may be warranted” for the three salmon populations in 2023 but has made no further decisions.  Chinook salmon, also known as “king salmon,” are the largest of all Pacific salmon. Once abundant throughout the river basins of the Pacific Northwest, Chinook salmon populations have declined to a fraction of their historical size.

Spring-run fish are a variant of Chinook salmon, who return to rivers much earlier than the more abundant fall-run salmon. They return in the spring from the ocean to coastal freshwater rivers, staying for months in deep pools until they spawn in the fall. Spring-run Chinook have unique habitat requirements for migration, spawning and juvenile rearing. Their suitable spawning habitat is in mainstem rivers and tributaries, and these early returning fish have a special need for streams high in watersheds that stay cool enough during the summer so they can survive.

Currently, both spring-run and fall-run Chinook salmon are managed by the Service and state wildlife agencies as if they were the same population. But recent scientific studies show that spring-run fish are genetically distinct from the more abundant fall-run Chinook. The evolution of early-returning fish occurred in both salmon and steelhead trout millions of years ago. This difference in spawning-run timing is highly unlikely to occur again if these distinct populations are lost.

 

The Oregon Humane Society is receiving 41 cats from Spencer, Iowa where residents are still recovering from last summer’s flood.

The global nonprofit Greater Good Charities is flying cats to Portland and Boise. All of the cats have been certified by a veterinarian in Iowa. They receive another health check after arriving in Portland before they’re ready for adoption.

 

The U.S. Forest Service is grappling with a wave of 2,000 probationary worker layoffs, a direct consequence of the Trump administration’s push to reduce federal spending.

As a result, numerous federal employees across the U.S.  are now facing job uncertainty, and some former workers are speaking out, calling the recent job cuts “illegal firings.” Sean Anderson, a fired forestry technician, was informed last week that his employment had been terminated.

Anderson, who had worked for the U.S. Forest Service for three years as a seasonal hydrologic technician, said the layoffs were particularly distressing due to the longstanding dedication he had to the job.  He says that the issue was not about the local Oregon Forest Service management but rather a broader federal decision that affected employees.

Anderson’s responsibilities ranged from hydrology work to working with wildfire crews. He had previously seen the potential for stability in a job listing for permanent seasonal positions in March 2023  which he believed represented a positive step forward.  However, the Trump administration’s push for federal budget cuts left Anderson and other probationary workers in an uncertain position.   

A USDA spokesperson says they are acknowledging the cuts and stating that the Forest Service had released about 2,000 probationary, non-firefighting employees. These workers were in temporary positions funded by temporary IRA funding, and none of the affected individuals were operational firefighters. 

 

The Oregon Health Authority is launching a six-month pilot program to get people addicted to opioids medication treatment sooner.

Emergency responders in Marion and Multnomah counties will be trained to administer the drugs that help people stop using opioids. They’ll give them the medication in the field, before they’re taken to an emergency department. The Oregon Pubic Health Institute and the Bridge Center will receive 300-thousand dollars to conduct the pilot program.

 

200 employees at the Bonneville Power Administration took the Trump Administration’s buyout offer, 90 new job offers have been rescinded and 400 probationary employees could be laid off.

Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley say cutting 20 percent of the agency’s staff puts the power grid at risk, which is highly unlikely says officials.

 

No-cost cavity prevention program for Oregon students

Did you know that cavities are the most common childhood chronic disease among children under 19 in the United States? Almost half of Oregon’s 1st – 3rd graders have had cavities, and untreated cavities can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing and learning.

And did you know that dental sealants are one of the best ways to prevent cavities?

A dental sealant is a liquid coating applied to the chewing surfaces of the molars (back teeth). The coating flows into the deep pits and grooves of the tooth, “sealing out” the bacteria and food debris that cause cavities.

Oregon’s Certified School Dental Sealant Programs are a free resource where many elementary and middle school-aged students throughout the state can receive sealants on their molars (back teeth)—a quick, easy and painless procedure that can prevent up to 80% of cavities on those teeth.

Ask your school if they have a school dental sealant program. If they do, you will have to sign a permission slip. When the school hosts a sealant event, a registered dental hygienist will screen your child for sealants, which takes about one minute per student. If sealants are needed, it takes about 15 minutes per student.

 Sealants protect only the molars, however. Students still need to brush their teeth for at least two minutes, twice a day, floss daily, use fluoride, choose healthy snacks/beverages, and visit their dentist regularly. For more tips on keeping teeth healthy, visit our Caring for Your Teeth webpage.

For more on all of Oregon’s no-cost oral health programs in schools, including screenings, fluoride varnish treatments, and the mobile dental van “Tooth Taxi,” visit this webpage.

If you have questions, feel free to email OHA’s Oral Health Unit at oral.health@oha.oregon.gov.

 

EUGENE, Ore. — Early registration is now open for Oregon’s largest Urban and Community Forestry Conference. The all-day conference will return to downtown Eugene’s Venue 252 again this year.

It will be held on Thursday, May 15. It is organized, hosted, and staffed by the non-profit organization Oregon Community Trees, with sponsorship by the Oregon Department of Forestry in partnership with the and USDA Forest Service. Presenting sponsor is the new non-profit organization Our Urban and Rural Community Forestry, based in southern Oregon.

The conference’s theme is Growing Together: Collaboration and Diverse Voices in Urban Forestry. The conference committee is seeking poster presentations that reflect this year’s theme. The committee will prioritize presentations and poster proposals that focus on expanding the benefits of collaboration and empowering a diverse range of voices and future leaders in urban and community forestry, including those from rural areas. You can submit a poster proposal here.

Early registration is $150 until April 1, and $180 after that date. Students can register for $80 at any time. The registration price includes a boxed lunch and social hour beverages and snacks following the conference. To register, go to https://secure.givelively.org/event/oregon-urban-and-community-forest-council/growing-together-collaboration-and-diverse-voices-in-urban-forestry

Oregon Community Trees President Tyler Roth said this year’s conference is an important reminder that being representative of, respectful of, and relevant to, all kinds of people in a wide range of communities are key to urban forestry’s success.

“Who lives in Oregon and who urban foresters serve has changed significantly in the past few decades, with even more changes coming,” said Tyler. “It’s important that people who serve Oregonians and want their communities to be healthy, vibrant, and well-canopied with trees be effective in engaging with and including people from a broad range of demographic groups, whether it be residents new to the state, the elderly, people for whom English is not their first language, or other groups. That’s why I’m excited that our conference focuses on how to achieve that aim.”

Tyler said speakers will be announced in March, along with specific panel discussion topics.

About Oregon Community Trees

The mission of this non-profit, Oregon-based organization is to promote healthy urban and community forests through leadership, education, awareness and advocacy. www.oregoncommunitytrees.org

 

The Jackson County Expo has announced the 2025 summer concert lineup to take the stage during the Jackson County Fair this July.

According to the Expo, musical acts including Outlaw Mariachi, Jo Dee Messina, and a Taylor Swift tribute will take the stage in Central Point this summer. The Jackson County Fair runs from July 15 through July 20.

Fair tickets start at $12 and include lawn seats at the Bi-Mart Amphitheater. Meanwhile, concert ticket prices start at $25 and go on sale to the public on Tuesday. Fair admission is included with the purchase of a reserved seat.

For more information or to purchase a ticket, visit the Jackson County Expo’s website.

 

Britt Music & Arts Festival is excited to announce the first installment of concerts for the 2025 summer season.

The first of three official season announcements, this extensive group of shows features a wide array of musical artists, including first-time-to-Britt indie alt-rock band Rainbow Kitten Surprise, singer-songwriter Regina Spektor,  country artists Brothers Osborne, and folk/indie it-band Waxahatchee.

Britt will also be welcoming back legendary artists like Chicago, Earth, Wind & Fire, Gregory Alan Isakov, Buena Vista Orchestra, The California Honeydrops, Andy Grammer and many more.

The Australian Pink Floyd Show will also be returning to the Britt main stage in 2025 to deliver an unforgettable tribute to Pink Floyd, combining mind-blowing visuals and stunning soundscapes for a mesmerizing live performance.

President & CEO Abby McKee commented, “It’s always thrilling to share the news of the upcoming season with our community, and this year’s season feels especially exciting. We have an incredible mix of genres coming through town! With superstar legacy acts, longtime fan favorites, and extraordinary newcomers, I think our patrons have some amazing shows to choose from, and I suspect we’ll be seeing folks out on the hill several times this summer! And don’t forget, two more announcements are still to come.”

With this announcement, there will be a Member pre-sale before tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, February 28. 

 

You’ll need a Real ID to fly domestically, starting in May of this year, that’s unless you have a passport or enhanced driver’s license issued by several states.

The deadline is May 7, 2025, but you probably don’t want to wait until the last minute to get your Real ID. You can apply for your Real ID driver’s license or ID card through your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Real IDs are marked with a star on the top of the card. Real IDs will also be needed to access certain federal facilities. Congress mandated the real IDs in 2005 on the recommendation of the 9/11 Commission.

 

Wildlife Safari, south of Roseburg has a new baby giraffe named Watson who from Fort Worth, Texas.

Giraffes are the tallest land animals on earth, yet populations are declining in the wild, due to habitat loss and poaching.

Wildlife Safari says Watson’s arrival will allow visitors to learn more about these “gentle giants,” and their importance in the wild.

 

New Edition of the Oregon Blue Book Highlights John Day Fossil Beds and the Great Comet of 2024

Every odd-numbered year since 1911, the Oregon Secretary of State’s office has published the Oregon Blue Book, our state’s official almanac and fact book. Each edition of the book features beautiful, new cover images of Oregon captured by the winners of the Oregon Blue Book Cover Photo Contest.

The 2025-2026 Oregon Blue Book front cover features a stunning capture from the Painted Cove in the Painted Hills Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, near Mitchell. Photographer Matt Straite of Keizer made the image which he titled, “The Many Sides of Oregon.” The back cover includes an amazing astrophotography shot titled “Comet/C2023 A” by Nathan Rohde of Shady Cove.

“The Oregon Blue Book is an invitation to learn more about Oregon, engage with your neighbors, our government and our state’s history. It helps us understand what it means to be an Oregonian. The artists who’ve created these cover images captured some of that spirit, and I’m thrilled they’re a part of my first Oregon Blue Book as Secretary of State,” said Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read.

“So many people look right past the desert areas of the state, but there is so much beauty there,” said Straite. “I have always been drawn to images that show the work of mankind in nature, particularly when that work has been added to help others see the nature, like the work of the Civilian Conservation Corp. The way this trail bends at the end is such a strong draw to want to explore more.” Straite also said that he shot this image from the boardwalk, which is there to take people through the sensitive clay hills without harming them.

Nathan Rohde’s image of Comet/C2023 A3, also known as the “Great Comet of 2024” was made near his home. He said he’s always been fascinated by astrophotography and loved trying to capture the Milky Way and the Aurora, but after seeing posts online of other peoples’ images of the comet, he thought he could capture it too: “Living in Southern Oregon affords access to some relatively dark areas. On a tall clearing not far from Lost Creek Lake, I got set up about an hour before sunset and began scanning the sky with my lens fully extended. About 45 minutes after sunset, conditions were perfect and the pictures started coming through!” Rohde said the rolling hills in the foreground were an excellent way to provide scale and accentuate the sky.

The 2025-2026 Oregon Blue Book is available for presale purchase now at bluebook.oregon.gov/shop. These limited-edition books are $30 for the hardcover and $18 for the paperback, plus shipping and handling. A downloadable copy of the full cover for use by the media can be found in Oregon Blue Book Assets and Information here.

 

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