A log truck parks in front of Oregon’s capitol on June 22 as part of a protest against HB 2020, a cap and trade bill. Photo: Kevin Magwood VERNONIA – A normally-sleepy corner of Columbia County comes to life this weekend as the annual Vernonia Friendship Jamboree & Logging Show[Read More…]
Salem
Smokey Bear license plates will become available in Oregon August 1
Image courtesy of Keep Oregon Green OREGON – Smokey Bear’s 75th birthday is this year and Keep Oregon Green, a Salem-based nonprofit whose focus is the prevention of wildfires, and the Oregon DMV are celebrating the landmark with the introduction of a license plate adorned with the federal mascot. Beginning[Read More…]
Fire season begins for all Department of Forestry land in the state of Oregon
Image courtesy ODF OREGON – With the declaration of fire season on July 1 for the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Northwest Oregon and North Cascade protection districts, the entire state has now entered into official fire season on ODF protected lands. ODF’s Southwest Oregon District was the first of 12[Read More…]
Oregon Department of Transportation names Paul Mather to Interim Deputy Director
Photo: ODOT SALEM – The Oregon Transportation Commission named retired Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Highway Division Administrator Paul Mather as ODOT Interim Deputy Director at a special meeting of the Commission in Salem. His tenure began Monday, July 1. The Oregon Transportation Commission is the governing board of the[Read More…]
Nearly 1,000 acres have burned on ODF-protected lands in 2019 so far
Forest Grove Fire & Rescue responded to reports of an out-of-control burn pile in Gales Creek on May 5. It turned out to be a false alarm. Photo: Chas Hundley SALEM – The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) issued a warning that the window to safely burn debris has closed until[Read More…]
Gov. Brown declares May ‘wildfire awareness month’
A small brush fire burns near Balm Grove in 2017. Photo: Chas Hundley SALEM – Oregon Gov. Kate Brown joined the governors of nine other states in signing a proclamation declaring May 2019 wildfire awareness month. The Department of Forestry said Oregonians were responsible for starting 1,330 wildfires during the[Read More…]
Oregon Department of Forestry seeks public input in Northwest Oregon State Forests Management, Habitat Conservation Plan
Trees open up to reveal a clear cut and newer growth in the Tillamook State Forest. Photo: Chas Hundley SALEM – Public input is sought on the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Northwest Oregon State Forests Management Plan and Habitat Conservation Plan at a roundtable discussion scheduled in Salem on[Read More…]
Governor Brown appoints Bev Clarno as Secretary of State
Bev Clarno. Photo: Governor’s Office SALEM – Governor Kate Brown appointed former Redmond state representative Bev Clarno to fill the rest of former Secretary of State Dennis Richardson’s term, who died just over a month ago. She will take office “over the next several days,” according to a press release[Read More…]
State, local officials will meet in Salem on April 5 to plan the development of the Salmonberry Trail
Members of STIA walk the first completed portion of the Salmonberry Trail while visitors pass by. Photo: Chas Hundley SALEM – The Salmonberry Trail Intergovernmental Agency (STIA) will hold a board meeting on Friday, April 5 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife[Read More…]
Oregon Secretary of State Dennis Richardson dies
Workers at Washington County Elections offices show Secretary Richardson how ballots are processed in May 2017, with Manning resident Shirley Javorsky in the purple jacket. Photo from Oregon SOS. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ SALEM – Oregon’s Secretary of State Dennis Richardson passed away Tuesday at around 9 p.m. at his home in Central[Read More…]