The Oregon Department of Forestry stages a vehicle at the Gales Creek Fire Station on Tuesday, August 27. Photo: Chas Hundley The Oregon Department of Forestry moved fire danger in the region from “High” to “Extreme” on Monday morning, bumped Industrial Fire Precaution Levels to 3 for the entire Tillamook[Read More…]
Chas Hundley
Lawsuit alleges Banks fire chief fired employee in retaliation over whistleblower activity
Chief Rodney Linz (right) checks on a volunteer firefighter that sustained minor injuries during a Feb. 1, 2020 training exercise in Gales Creek. Photo: Chas Hundley A lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court of Oregon on Thursday, September 3 alleges that longtime Banks Fire District 13 employee Linda Hedlund[Read More…]
Fires, traffic, COVID-19: Welcome to Labor Day weekend
A vehicle drives west from Banks toward the coast on Highway 6. Photo: Brenda Schaffer Traffic and fires and COVID, oh my. Those are some of the top concerns public officials from a number of government agencies locally and across the state are gearing up for this weekend as a[Read More…]
Hot weather prompts shift in precautions for logging in region
ODF offices in Forest Grove. Photo: Chas Hundley For those who work in the Tillamook State Forest and surrounding forests protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry, logging and other commercial activities will need to shift certain activities out of the hottest parts of the day as much of the[Read More…]
Banks School District, unions gear up for school year start
Banks School District. Photo: Chas Hundley As the start to Banks’ school year — September 8 — draws closer, the Banks School District administration has met at least three times already with the Banks Education Association, a union representing 58 teaching staff members in Banks, to hash out items of[Read More…]
Is fiber coming to rural western Washington County? Perhaps, says Ziply
Ziply’s current broadband network in northwest Oregon. Blue is broadband, green is fiber. Photo courtesy Ziply website The rural portions of Washington County have always struggled to gain access to high speed internet, with some regions solely relying on satellite or microwave options, while others are on copper lines now[Read More…]
‘Worst fire danger of the year:’ ODF warns of hazardous conditions ahead of Labor Day weekend
The Oregon Department of Forestry stages a vehicle at the Gales Creek Fire Station on Tuesday, August 27 2019. Photo: Chas Hundley “We’re looking at our worst fire danger of the year,” said Oregon Department of Forestry Forest Grove District Forester Mike Cafferata in a phone call with the Banks[Read More…]
Washington County Sheriff will not send deputies to Portland demonstrations
Governor Kate Brown during a Monday, July 13 press conference. Screenshot from OHA Youtube stream A plan by Governor Kate Brown to address continued demonstrations and civil unrest in the wake of the killing of a demonstrator in Portland is showing cracks less than 24 hours after it was released[Read More…]
Governor Brown appoints Terri Davie as Oregon State Police superintendent
Terri Davie. Photo: OSP Beginning November 1, the Oregon State Police will have a new superintendent, Terri Davie, pending Oregon Senate confirmation. The move was announced Monday, August 31 by Governor Kate Brown, who appointed Davie to replace retiring OSP superintendent Travis Hampton, who officially submitted his letter of resignation[Read More…]
Hillsboro hunter killed by elk in Tillamook County
The elk that killed Mark David. Photo: OSP A Hillsboro man has died after an elk he wounded while archery hunting gored him to death. According to the Oregon State Police, Mark David, 66, was hunting on private property in the area of Trask Road in Tillamook County on Saturday,[Read More…]