Banks City Hall. Photo: Brenda Schaffer The city of Banks now is accepting nominations for the 2021 Banks Citizenship Award. The city’s announcement that nominations are being accepted says citizens and residents of Banks and the surrounding area who meet one or more of the following criteria are eligible: –Exemplify[Read More…]
Chas Hundley
Two people die over weekend on Highway 6
The junction of Highways 6 and 8 in Gales Creek on February 24, 2021. Photo: Chas Hundley Two people are the latest killed in a crash on the Wilson River Highway stretching from Banks to Tillamook after a collision on Saturday. The two-vehicle crash was located in Tillamook County near[Read More…]
Behind fire lines at the Game Hog Creek Fire
These trees experienced such high temperatures as flames burned beneath them that their needles died. The torched trees may pose a future fire hazard. Game Hog Creek Fire, July 22 2021, Photo: Chas Hundley Parked across Idiot Creek Road on Thursday, July 22, Oregon Department of Forestry’s Terry Hudnall was[Read More…]
Gov. Brown will require masks in K-12 schools statewide for coming school year
File photo: Chas Hundley On Thursday, Governor Kate Brown issued a directive to the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of Education to create a rule to require face coverings indoors for students in K-12 schools across the state for the 2021-22 school year, citing CDC guidance. “The science[Read More…]
Inaugural Blueberry Festival draws crowds in Buxton
Selena Flores, 6, picks blueberries at the Public Coast Farm Inaugural Blueberry Festival in Buxton on July 24, 2021. Photo: Chas Hundley Buxton’s Public Coast Farm was host to the Inaugural Blueberry Festival on Saturday, July 24, an event that drew crowds to the storied home of the Apple Valley[Read More…]
National Weather Service issues ‘Excessive Heat Watch’ for Banks area beginning Thursday
A map of the region from the National Weather Service showing some of the border of the Excessive Heat Watch (in red). Map courtesy NWS The Portland office of the National Weather Service issued an “Excessive Heat Watch” for much of the Willamette Valley and surrounding areas beginning Thursday and[Read More…]
Fire crews move into ‘heavy mop-up’ at Game Hog Creek Fire
A map of the Game Hog Creek Fire on Tuesday, July 20. Map: Oregon Department of Forestry Fire crews are pushing into the interior of the Game Hog Creek Fire as they work to establish a 300 foot perimeter free of burning material, the Oregon Department of Forestry said on[Read More…]
Game Hog Creek Fire held in place over weekend
A Fireboss Single Engine Air Tanker drops an 800 gallon load of Hagg Lake water on the Game Hog Creek Fire on Saturday, July 17, 2021. Photo from Oregon Department of Forestry video As of the afternoon of Sunday, July 18, the 182 acre Game Hog Creek Fire was kept[Read More…]
Hagg Lake closed to allow two planes to scoop water to fight Game Hog Creek Fire
Hagg Lake on August 3, 2020. Photo: Chas Hundley Efforts to fight the Game Hog Creek Fire burning in the Tillamook State Forest have hit a snag today, with two of three helicopters expected to fight the fire knocked out of commission by mechanical problems Saturday morning. Now, the Oregon[Read More…]
Three helicopters expected by Saturday at Game Hog Creek Fire
A helicopter stages at the Hornshuh Creek Fire Station in Buxton on Wednesday, July 14 2021. Photo: Banks Fire District The Game Hog Creek Fire grew to 133 acres, and the Oregon Department of Forestry has tapped additional helicopter support to fight the fire. Flames pushed past some of the[Read More…]