The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Friday, October 14, 2022
Oregon Beach Weather
The Yachats Mushroom Festival Returns Friday for the Weekend
Mycology experts from around the state are participating in the event, which includes educational talks, guided walks, workshops and mushroom identification tables.
“This is a great opportunity to come out for lots of free sessions,” said Regina Moore, a festival organizer and pharmacist who has lived in Yachats for 10 years. “We are very excited to be able to resume this wonderful event.”
Only a few weeks ago, it was far from unclear whether the festival had the financial backing it needed for success, Moore said. But sponsorship from businesses, including Yachats Brewing, and help from the Yachats Chamber of Commerce, paved the way for what will be the festival’s 21st staging.
All eight of the festival’s guided walks, which can each accommodate 12 people, have already been booked on the festival’s website, yachatsmushroomfestival.com. Moore said two additional walks will now be added for those who sign up onsite.
Festival events will be held at multiple spots around Yachats, starting with a free, guided night walk at 6 p.m. Friday to spot fluorescent species.
Educational presentations will unfold all day Saturday at the Yachats Community Presbyterian Church on West Seventh Street. Identification tables will be set up Saturday and Sunday at the Yachats Lions Hall on West Fourth Street.
Bobbi Price, the Yachats Chamber of Commerce’s new executive director, said she hopes the event generates sufficient momentum to keep it going in years ahead.
“It looked for a while like it would be difficult to pull the festival off even this year,” Price said. “But it’s such a great opportunity to draw people to Yachats in what is the off-season for tourism to make this a permanent part of what we do.”
A number of area restaurants are participating by offering a special selection of mushroom-featured dinners. In addition, the Yachats Farmers Market will be open both Saturday and Sunday, featuring many mushroom-oriented vendors.
Five screenings of “Psychedelia” – an hour-long document about psychedelic drugs and their new resurgence in psychiatry – will take place Saturday and Sunday at the Yachats Commons.
“This whole experience is really about providing information about mushrooms that will interest anyone from a beginner to an expert,” Moore said. “There’s a lot going on.”
For a full schedule and details, go the Yachats Mushroom Festival website here
Man Dies In Brookings After Being Run Over by Road Paint Striping Truck
A road paint striping truck accidentally ran over a man which resulted in his death in the southern coastal town of Brookings, according to the Curry County Sheriff’s Office.
73-year-old Chester Leonhardt was at the end of his driveway on Pacific View Drive with his life partner when he stumbled and fell onto the road in front of the truck painting stripes and was run over.
Leonhardt was airlifted to Sutter Coast Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The sheriff’s office collected video evidence of the incident from neighborhood security cameras.
Two earthquakes were recorded within the Cascadia Subduction Zone off the South Oregon Coast Thursday, Oct. 13th.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a 4.4-magnitude quake was located west to southwest of Pistol River in Curry County and that was followed by a 2.8-magnitude quake.
Astoria’s ‘Love Your Streets’ Event on Saturday
Join us for our Fall Love Your Streets event on Saturday, October 15th from 9am-noon and help us beautify Downtown Astoria! Sign up here – we’ll be prepping planters for winter, removing graffiti, cleaning up our streets, and more – everyone is welcome!
President Joe Biden to Visit Oregon
President Joe Biden is scheduled to arrive in Portland Friday, Oct. 14th, to participate in a Democratic function and on Saturday, Oct. 15, attend a fundraising event for gubernatorial candidate Tina Kotek, according to the White House.
The White House released further details about the agenda for Biden’s visit, though the timing and location of events were not released:
Friday, Oct. 14
- Biden travels from Orange County, Calif. to Portland, where he’ll participate in a grassroots volunteer effort with the Oregon Democrats
Saturday, Oct. 15
- Biden will attend a reception for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tina Kotek in Portland
- Biden will give a speech in Portland about “lowering costs for American families”
President Biden last visited Oregon in April as part of a nationwide tour to promote the $1 trillion infrastructure bill that Congress passed late last year. Oregon is estimated to receive about $1.2 billion for transportation projects over the next five years.
In a speech delivered at a hangar near Portland International Airport, Biden highlighted several ongoing and planned upgrades to the airport as examples of the kind of infrastructure renewal that the new bill would bring.
Biden’s visit next week comes just a few weeks before Americans are set to vote in the Nov. 8 midterm elections.
The typically deep-blue Oregon has emerged as a surprisingly competitive state this year, due in part to its three-way race for governor, where recent polls have showed Republican Christine Drazan with a narrow lead over Democrat Tina Kotek.
Oregon also has some competitive House races this year, with Democrat Andrea Salinas and Republican Mike Erickson facing off in Oregon’s newly-created 6th Congressional District and Democrat Jamie McLeod-Skinner and Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer battling it out in the state’s 5th District after McLeod-Skinner ousted Democratic incumbent Rep. Kurt Schrader in the May primary.
The Portland Police Bureau is warning about traffic delays this afternoon due to President Biden’s visit to Portland. It could impact freeways on an already busy Friday afternoon.
Community Bank Week Oct. 17-22
SALEM – Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has proclaimed Oct. 17-22 as Community Bank Week. The week honors local banks and their employees for their economic and civic contributions in communities across the state.
Oregon community banks provide more than 5,800 family wage jobs through more than 375 branch and loan offices, issue $13 billion in home purchase and refinance loans, and safeguard $37 billion in deposits. They also make 80 percent of all agriculture-related loans.
Oregon’s community banks, most of which are chartered by the Division of Financial Regulation, play an essential role in promoting the economic health and prosperity of the state. In some communities, they are the sole provider of banking products and services and sometimes the largest employer. Community banks donate millions of dollars each year to nonprofits and local organizations.
“Our state banks continue to support small businesses and agriculture in Oregon, as well as provide banking services and create thousands of jobs,” said TK Keen, administrator for the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. “State banks are also invested in their communities through their 64,000 volunteer hours each year and the millions of dollars they have pledged to support nonprofits and other endeavors throughout the state.”
State-chartered banks throughout Oregon are celebrating Community Bank Week in their local neighborhoods. To learn more about Oregon’s state-chartered banks, go to https://www.oregonbankers.com/local.html.
ODFW Issues Hunting Advisory: Warns Of Wasting Disease In Deer And Elk
A disease that is threatening deer has prompted ODFW to issue an advisory to Oregon hunters.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is recommending that deer and elk hunters have their game checked for chronic wasting disease (CWD) this season.
CWD has been detected in deer and elk in Idaho, near the Oregon border. Hunters transporting deer or elk carcasses during the first weekends of the respective hunting seasons for those animals will be required to stop at check stations in Prineville, Celilo and Elgin.
Chronic wasting disease is not known to affect humans but threatens deer and elk populations.
“There is no cure, no treatment or vaccine for the disease and it is fatal to all animals that become infected,” ODFW state Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Colin Gillin said.
Affected animals will appear healthy for several years following infection before symptoms appear.
ODFW has tested more than 24,000 elk and deer for the disease over the past two decades and has yet to detect the disease in Oregon. However, with the disease approaching Oregon’s borders after spreading from Colorado and Wyoming in the past 20 years the department is redoubling its efforts.
In addition to the mandatory check points during the first weekend of deer and elk seasons, ODFW is asking hunters to have their deer and elk checked by their local ODFW field office. The testing process is quick and non-destructive.
ODFW will contact hunters directly if an animal they submit is affected and will post negative results on the agency’s website. MORE INFO: https://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/health_program/chronic_wasting/
Nearly half a million Oregonians pledge to practice preparedness during this year’s Great Oregon ShakeOut earthquake drill
Practice Drop (or Lock), Cover and Hold On to reduce risk during an earthquake
SALEM, Ore. – Oct. 13, 2022 — Earthquakes can strike any time without warning, as many Oregonians experienced last Friday when a magnitude 4.4 quake occurred in Linn County. When the earth starts to shake, people need to know how to best protect themselves.
The Great Oregon ShakeOut is part of a global drill for people to practice how to stay safe during an earthquake. Nearly half a million Oregonians have registered to take part in this year’s self-led Great ShakeOut drill at 10:20 a.m. on Oct. 20, pledging to Drop, Cover and Hold On for at least 60 seconds as if a major earthquake was occurring at that moment.
“The earthquake that struck Linn County last week rattled some folks and was a wake-up call that we live in earthquake country,” said Oregon Emergency Management (OEM) Director Andrew Phelps. “Knowing what to do when the earth starts shaking helps people reduce their risk and better protect themselves to prepare for earthquakes. Every person in Oregon should practice Drop, Cover and Hold On until it becomes a familiar routine. It’s an effective and no-cost addition to your preparedness plan.”
Emergency management experts and official preparedness organizations like the United States Geological Survey (USGS) all agree that Drop, Cover and Hold On is the appropriate action to reduce the chance of injury from falling objects and flying debris during earthquakes. When shaking begins or an earthquake alert is received on a cell phone:
- Drop immediately onto hands and knees. This position protects people from being knocked down and allows them to stay low and crawl to a nearby shelter.
- Cover the head and neck with one arm and hand. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter. If there is no nearby shelter, crawl next to an interior wall away from windows. Remain on the knees and bend over to protect vital organs.
- Hold On until shaking stops. If under shelter, hold onto it with one hand and be ready to move with the shelter if it shifts. If there is no shelter, hold onto the head and neck with both arms and hands.
Those with mobility disabilities may need modified actions to the traditional Drop, Cover and Hold On approach, but the premise is the same: Immediately protect oneself as best possible, shielding the head and chest and staying in a safe position until the shaking stops. Earthquakes may be so violent that it’s impossible to walk, crawl, or steer a wheelchair, and people may be knocked to the ground when shaking starts. Those who use a walker, wheelchair or have other mobility impairments are urged to lock any wheels; bend over and cover the head and neck with arms, a book or a pillow; and hold on until the shaking stops.
Oregon averages around 70 earthquakes a year; 15 of those are large enough to be felt. Most are crustal quakes that occur at relatively shallow depths. However, the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) – a 600-mile fault located off the Pacific coast shoreline – puts Oregon at risk for a 9.0+ magnitude earthquake. A Cascadia quake could cause up to four minutes of shaking or rolling, followed by a tsunami of up to 100 feet in height that will impact the state’s coastal areas.
“A Cascadia quake will devastate the entire Pacific Northwest region, impacting critical infrastructure like energy, drinking water and sewer services, transportation routes and lifesaving health-care facilities for weeks to months or longer,” said Phelps. “Knowing this makes it even more important to build a culture of preparedness in the state. Half a million Oregonians practicing earthquake preparedness at the same time is impressive, but it’s not enough. We need to work toward every Oregonian registering for the Great Oregon ShakeOut as an important step toward keeping themselves safe in the event of a Cascadia quake.”
Additional simple and effective no-cost and low-cost measures people can take to prepare for an earthquake include securing their space by identifying hazards and securing moveable items, signing up to receive local emergency alerts and enabling Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) on cell phones. People in Oregon, Washington and California who’ve opted into WEA automatically receive ShakeAlert earthquake early warnings notifications (for quakes in their area with a magnitude of 4.5 or greater), which can offer critical seconds of warning to seek cover from falling objects and brace themselves.
There are currently two ShakeAlert-powered apps available for download on the app stores: QuakeAlertUSA and MyShake. Those who have the MyShake app will receive a TEST alert at 10:20 a.m. on Oct. 20 for the Great Oregon ShakeOut.
OEM recommends people in Oregon be informed and knowledgeable about the hazards where they live and have an emergency plan and enough food, water and supplies to survive for at least two weeks following any disaster. The agency’s 2 Weeks Ready program offers several resources in multiple languages to help people prepare.
Learn more about the Great Oregon ShakeOut and register as a participant at Shakeout.org/Oregon.
