Red Cross issues advice to stay safe during extreme heat

Heat can be dangerous for anyone. Stay hydrated, stay cool and stay connected.

We’re experiencing some of the hottest temperatures of the year across Oregon and SW Washington. The American Red Cross urges everyone to take three critical actions to stay safe:

1. Stay hydrated by drinking a cup of water every 20 minutes, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Avoid sugary, caffeinated and alcoholic drinks.
2. Stay cool by spending time in air-conditioned places. If your home is too hot, go to a mall, library or cooling center.
3. Stay connected by checking on others and asking for help if you need it. Make sure pets have access to fresh water and shade.

“Knowing what to do to protect yourself and loved ones from extreme heat can save lives,” said Priscilla Fuentes, Chief Executive Officer of the Cascades Region. “We’re asking everyone to check on friends and neighbors, especially older adults, people with chronic conditions, outdoor workers and athletes. You could make all the difference by sending a text, making a call or knocking on their door.”

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
Remind everyone to drink water, even if they don’t feel thirsty. Aim for a cup of water every hour and encourage people to avoid sugary, caffeinated or alcoholic drinks. Babies should be breast-fed or bottle-fed often. Fewer wet diapers or darker urine can be signs of dehydration.

Encourage athletes and outdoor workers to take breaks in the shade. They should drink a cup of water — or a sports drink — every 20 minutes.  

Help those without air conditioning find a safe place to go like a mall, library or cooling center. They can also take cool showers or baths to help cool off. Remind people to wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothes in light colors.

Never leave a child or pet alone inside a parked car, and make sure pets have access to fresh water and shade.

HEAT ILLNESS SIGNS Anyone can become ill during extreme heat if their body can’t cool down properly. It’s critical to act fast as some types of heat illness can be deadly.

Heat cramps are signaled by heavy sweating and muscle pain. Take action by stopping what you’re doing, resting in a cool place and drinking a cup of water — or a sports drink — every 20 minutes. If you feel sick to your stomach, pause drinking. Get medical help if cramps last more than two hours or you have heart problems.

Heat exhaustion is signaled by heavy sweating, weakness, cool and clammy skin, muscle cramps, dizziness, fainting, nausea or vomiting. Take action by stopping what you’re doing, resting in a cool place and drinking a cup of water — or a sports drink — every 20 minutes. Loosen your clothes and place a cool wet cloth on your body. Get medical help if you’re vomiting, don’t feel better in an hour, or if you have heart or kidney problems.

Heat stroke is a deadly condition signaled by high body temperature, rapid heartbeat, confusion, headache, dizziness, fainting, nausea or vomiting. Call 911. Move to a cooler place, remove extra clothing and use a wet cloth or a cool bath to cool down. If possible, sip a sports drink or water. 

IF THE POWER GOES OUT When a heat wave and a power outage happen at the same time, it can be even more dangerous. Stay in air conditioning either at home or at a mall, library or cooling center. Keep an ice-filled cooler stocked with food, water and medicine, so that they don’t spoil. More information is available here.

Finally, download the free Red Cross First Aid app so you’ll know what to do if emergency help is delayed and the free Emergency app for real-time weather alerts and heat safety information. Content is available in English and Spanish with an easy-to-find language selector. Find both apps in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) has finalized its Annual Operations Plans (AOP). The plans describe projects planned for state forests in the 2026 fiscal year that began July 1 and runs through June 30, 2026.  These include:

• Planned timber sales for each district.
• Recreation projects, such as the installation of a bridge.
• Other types of forest projects, such as stream enhancement or restoration projects.

ODF received 516 written comments during the public comment period that was open from April 18 to June 3.

“Once again, we received many passionate and constructive comments from the public, representing diverse perspectives and demonstrating a high level of interest and engagement in state forests,” said Nick Palazzotto, ODF’s State Forests Division Deputy Chief.  “The comments help us in the challenging work of trying to balance ODF’s legal obligation to manage state forests for timber production to meet economic goals as well as social and environmental outcomes—a concept referred to as Greatest Permanent Value.”

State forests provide economic, social and environmental benefits, including:

• Outdoor recreation
• Forest education
• Clean water
• Critical fish and wildlife habitats
• Sustainable harvest volumes that produce jobs and revenue that funds vital services in rural counties

The majority of timber sales are on Board of Forestry lands, where about two thirds of the resulting revenue is split with the counties. In turn, the counties share those revenues with special districts that support local schools or provide other essential community services. ODF retains one third of the revenue to fund management of state forests. A small portion of the timber sales are located on Common School Forest Lands and generate revenue for the state’s Common School Fund.

Some comments resulted in edits to specific timber sales while others are addressed in a high-level summary of the comments received highlighting the major themes, topics, and agency responses. 

“We read and consider every comment,” said Palazzotto. “However, we do not respond individually to each one. Sale-specific comments are considered by the field and technical specialists and changes are documented in the plans. We also develop a summary with broad categories that capture the high- level comments and provides our responses to the public commentary.”

The comment summary document has the following sections: 

• Recreation
• Timber Harvest
• Climate Change and Fire Mitigation
• Young Stand Management
• Aquatic, Water Quality, Wildlife
• Roads and Slopes
• Process and Document Improvement
• Specific Sales
• Out of Scope

“Because we manage state forests for the Greatest Permanent Value, we have to consider how our decisions impact all Oregonians, not just a single commenter,” said Palazzotto. “So even though we made changes to some sales, not everyone will be satisfied with those changes. We recognize that and seek to be as transparent as possible in our decisions. 

We know Oregonians care about their forests as we received more than 500 comments this year. Given the high interest in how state forests are managed, ODF will continue to work on improving communications with landowners, neighbors and concerned citizens. Our goal is to raise awareness of our AOP process and how people can connect with us to have their concerns heard.”

The Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Operations Plan documents are available for ODF’s Astoria, Forest Grove, Klamath-Lake, North Cascade, Tillamook, West Oregon and Western Lane districts. These are located on the same webpage as the summary of comments and agency response document.

The Sweet Home Economic Development Group (SHEDG) Board of Directors, which is responsible for overseeing the Oregon Jamboree, has announced that the 2025 festival will mark the 34th and final year of the music festival that takes place annually in Sweet Home.

Established in 1992 as a project aimed at economic development for Sweet Home, the festival was initiated to assist a rural community that had experienced significant layoffs and mill closures. Over the past 34 years, the festival has proudly supported and fulfilled its mission of promoting rural economic development and contributing to our community, generating millions in economic activity for our local area. In a statement, the board expressed that “despite the extensive support from the community and volunteers, the financial realities of operating a music festival no longer align with our mission to foster rural economic development in the Willamette Valley. While our Board of Directors has made the challenging decision that 2025 will be the final year of the Oregon Jamboree, we eagerly anticipate celebrating our rich history and enjoying some excellent country music with everyone at this year’s festival.

For further details regarding the implications for 2026, including information on ticket refunds for 2026, please visit www.OregonJamboree.com.

Salem – Student loan borrowers faced significant confusion and frustration this past year in navigating the shifting landscape of loan repayment and forgiveness programs, according to a new report issued by Oregon’s student loan ombuds. Federal student loan repayment and forgiveness options continued to be challenged in court and intermittently available, according to the report.

Lane Thompson, who has served as Oregon’s student loan ombuds since the position’s creation more than three years ago, said the past year has been the most challenging yet.

“Because the rules continue to change, it leads to frustration and confusion for both borrowers and servicers. The ongoing nature of the changes has compounded these sentiments from borrowers,” Thompson said. “Forced collections resumed in May, so many borrowers are feeling the potential consequences of their student loan debt for the first time in five or more years. Another change, announced since the report was published, will also result in additional costs for borrowers.”

Part of the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, the student loan ombuds is tasked with helping guide borrowers through their options and navigate the confusing student loan landscape. Thompson recently posted the program’s third annual report.

Two major takeaways from the report are:

• Servicers are difficult to reach.
• People pursuing federal loan benefits – who tend to be low income, public servants, and people with disabilities – are most affected by servicers’ lack of clarity

Going into year four, Thompson said she is hopeful that her work will help keep servicers on track during a time when financial entities have less federal oversight.

“The continuously changing rules result in less clear expectations for servicers, and makes regulatory oversight even more crucial. The chilling effect created by federal changes means state regulators are more important than ever,” Thompson said. “Helping people understand their rights and responsibilities is also key.”

Thompson said the other area where her position is having an effect is in helping student loan borrowers avoid scams.

“Scam attempts increase during times of financial upheaval, and one goal of the licensure structure is to help Oregon’s consumers check the legitimacy of collection attempts,” she added.

Thompson said she has resolved more complaints and participated in more advocacy this past year than previous years.

“Not every state has a student loan ombuds/advocate,” she said. “When there is a lack of clarity at the federal level, state level advocates and regulators can serve as a backstop for borrowers who have issues with the servicing of their student loans. I feel lucky to serve Oregonians in these times.”

If you have questions about your student loans or issues with your loan providers, contact Thompson at 888-877-4894 (toll-free) or dfr.bankingproducthelp@dcbs.oregon.gov. Check a student loan servicer license at NMLSConsumeraccess.org.

Cherry crop described as “disaster of a year”, farmers in Oregon report 

Two years prior, Oregon cherry growers were optimistic that an above-average yield and innovative marketing strategies would put an end to a series of detrimental seasons primarily caused by snow and heat that severely impacted the delicate crop. However, the cherry market collapsed that year, resulting in significant losses for Oregon cherry farmers, who subsequently received federal assistance.

This year may present similar difficulties for those cultivating Oregon’s fourth most valuable fruit, following wine grapes, blueberries, and pears. Numerous cherry farmers commenced the summer harvest last month facing a labor shortage, as farmworkers postponed their travel to Oregon due to concerns over immigration enforcement. For instance, Chandler mentioned that he had only half of his usual workforce of 120 in June. Nevertheless, even those who began with a full staff encountered tough market conditions, with cherries yielding minimal profit, if any.

Farmers are concerned that this season could have enduring effects on the viability of Oregon’s sweet cherry industry.