The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Thursday, October 27, 2022
Oregon Beach Weather
Coast Guard Establishes New Unit in Warrenton
The Coast Guard held an establishment ceremony Wednesday in Warrenton to formally establish Coast Guard Base Astoria.
During the ceremony, Cmdr. Todd Wimmer assumed command of the new unit. Wimmer previously served as Chief of Facilities at Coast Guard Training Center Petaluma, California, from 2019-2022.
Rear Adm. Jon Hickey, the Director of Operational Logistics, presided over the ceremony.
Base Astoria is located in Warrenton and will provide operational logistics support for Coast Guard units across the Thirteenth Coast Guard District’s Oregon and southern Washington regions.
Astoria Riverwalk Reopens
Astoria Riverwalk reopens near Buoy Beer after stabilization project more than four months after the Buoy Beer Co. building partially collapsed over the Columbia River.
Fencing has been pulled back, pedestrians can now pass unimpeded and on Friday the Astoria Riverfront Trolley plans to resume full rides that stretch from the Pier 1 area to 39th Street.
Florence Salmon and Trout Enhancement Program (STEP) will hold its monthly meeting on November 2nd at the Florence Elks Club.
Members will talk about their hatchery coho program. The group will also discuss restarting their “egg to fry” aquarium program in Florence and Mapleton schools. This is an educational program designed to help local students view and understand their local environment.
Florence STEP also hopes to restart their local kid’s fishing days next year in hopes of spreading awareness of local fishing opportunities.
The meeting will be in the back room of the Florence Elks Lodge #1858, 1686 12th St. The public is encouraged to attend.
Florence STEP is a volunteer program within the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) that works to restore and enhance Oregon’s native salmon and trout populations. Since 1981, STEP volunteers have monitored fish populations, restored stream habitat, provided youth and adult educational opportunities, and produced salmon, steelhead and trout for Oregon fisheries.
Florence STEP self-funds all of their activities. Volunteers have donated money, materials, equipment, and countless hours of time and labor.
Work is done under the supervision of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. FOR MORE INFO: http://florencestep.com
Waldport and Yachats Community Trick-Or-Treat Events Friday And Saturday For Kids and Adults
The weekend’s fun kicks off Friday night in Waldport where the second annual “Trunk or Treat” party will haunt the community center parking lot from 6-8 p.m. Organized by Waldport’s Beachcomber Days, the event will feature some 50 decorated cars — up from 40 last year — decorated along Halloween themes, with volunteers in costume handing out candy to children.
On Saturday afternoon in Yachats, the Yachats Youth & Family Activities Program is teaming with the city and Yachats Chamber of Commerce for the third year to throw a family-friendly trick-or-treating event in the downtown area. From 3-5 p.m. trick-or-treaters of all ages are welcome to walk a designated route through town, finishing at a “Trunk or Treat” car event near City Hall.
Waldport’s event is sponsored by the Beachcomber Days Committee, a nonprofit that funds educational scholarships for Waldport High School students.
“Last year we had over 300 kids,” says TiAnne Rios, Beachcomber Days secretary, and “we’re expecting a bigger turnout this year. Everyone is welcome.” Calling Trunk or Treat “a safe alternative to trick-or-treating house-to-house,” she urges all attendees to sport costumes.
She credits local businesses, organizations, the city and volunteers for “helping put this together; it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Beachcomber Days is accepting donations of candy until noon Friday at the Waldport Business Center or the Waldport Library. Potential volunteers or those wanting more details may contact Rios at 541-270-5752.
In Yachats, YYFAP executive director Patricia Hettinger expects even bigger crowds than the 300 children and adults who participated last year, and also a boost in the number of community organizations and businesses offering free candy. Those taking part will display a pumpkin in their window.
The Yachats route begins at the Yachats Ladies Club on West Third Street, and goes to nearly 30 other civic and business sites before finishing in the parking lot between City Hall and the Yachats Commons. There, some 10 devilishly-decorated cars (plus a city councilor or two) will be the feature attractions. Volunteers will be on hand to help guide participants along the route.
Families can also trick-or-treat at the Pavilion, where hot dogs, beverages and chips will be available. In the event of rain, the Commons’ multipurpose room has been reserved.
“It should be a really fun event,” says Hettinger. “We’ve been working with City Hall employees and (chamber director) Bobbi Price to continue this fun tradition, inclusive of community and families.”
Maps of the route will be available at stops along the way, or online on YYFAP’s Facebook page. Those interested in volunteering may contact the YYFAP office at 541-547-4599.
The Witches of Depoe Bay are flying in for the 13th annual food drive to support the Depoe Bay Food Pantry.
Join the effort from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31, rain or shine. The Witches will be collecting cash, checks, and nonperishable food items at these locations:
Chester’s Market Parking Lot, 3950 US-101 Depoe BayIn Front of the Whale Fountain on US-101, Depoe BayIn Front of Re/Max Integrity, 110 N. HWY 101 Depoe Bay
Witches and Warlocks will be stationed in these three areas to collect donations.
Donated nonperishable foods include:
TunaTop ramenChiliCanned vegetables and fruitSpaghetti and spaghetti sauceCanned meatsSpamDry potato flakesMacaroni and cheesePasta and pasta sauceCerealSoupBaby foodJam or jelly
All proceeds will go directly to the Depoe Bay Food Pantry.
In 2021, the Whiches of Depoe Bay Food Drive collected 1,769 pounds of food and $6,025.
To donate food, checks or cash before or after the event, email Sandy De Muri at msdemuri@att.net to arrange pick up. For more information contact: Sandy De Muri, msdemuri@att.net, 510-508-3890. — https://www.cityofdepoebay.org/community/page/witches-depoe-bay-food-drive-monday-october-31st-200-500pm
One Pill Can Kill
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), “Rainbow Fentanyl” has become an alarming trend across the United States and in Oregon. It is believed Rainbow Fentanyl (pictured below) is intentionally made to look like candy by drug cartels in order to attract children and young people.
Fentanyl can be lethal and it only takes a small dose to KILL a person. Please be mindful of this threat and educate those around you of the dangers. For more information, please visit the DEA One Pill Can Kill Public Awareness Page https://www.dea.gov/onepill
Rainfall brings an increased risk of hazards to wildfire-impacted areas throughout Oregon
Take action to prepare for flash floods, landslides and debris flows
Salem, Ore. – Oct. 27, 2022 – Oregon has entered the rainy season while recovering from consecutive years of intense wildfires. Oregon Emergency Management (OEM) is warning people living and traveling in and around wildfire-impacted areas of the increased risk of flooding, landslides and debris flows associated with burn scars and encouraging Oregonians to sign up for emergency alerts, exercise caution and plan ahead.
Wildfires dramatically change the landscape and ground conditions, which can lead to a higher risk of flooding. Natural, unburned vegetation and soil normally act as a sponge during a rainfall event, but after an intense wildfire, burned vegetation and charred soil form a water-repellent layer that blocks water absorption. As a result, properties located below or downstream of the burn areas are at an increased risk for flooding, debris flows and landslides. Even areas not traditionally flood-prone are at risk of flooding for several years after a wildfire.
“We’ve experienced incredibly destructive wildfires in Oregon over the past three years, and their effects linger even after the flames are out,” said OEM Director Andrew Phelps. “Oregonians in or near these impacted areas need to be aware that threats like flash floods and debris flows can happen quickly with little to no warning. People need to pay attention to emergency alerts and local weather forecasts and leave if they are told to evacuate or if they feel unsafe.”
OEM recommends people take basic preparedness actions for all types of disasters, including staying informed, being aware of surroundings, having a plan for emergencies and being prepared with an emergency kit.
Stay informed
- Monitor the weather forecast for watches, warnings or advisories at Weather.gov.
- Sign up for local emergency alerts at ORalert.gov.
- If told to evacuate, do so immediately using a planned evacuation route least likely to be impacted by flash flooding and debris flow.
Drive with caution
- Be aware of the latest road conditions before driving by checking Tripcheck.com.
- Be alert when driving; embankments along roadsides may fail, sending rock and debris onto the road.
- Turn on lights, increase the following distance and slow down.
- Don’t drive through flood water; just 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult, and a foot of rushing water can carry away most cars.
Understand flood advisories, watches and warnings
- A Flood Advisory is issued when a forecasted specific weather event may become a nuisance: Be aware.
- A Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding to occur: Be prepared.
- A Flood Warning is issued when flooding is imminent or already occurring: Take action.
Look for signs of landslides
- Look for changes in the landscape like leaning trees, land movement, or a trickle of falling mud or debris.
- Pay attention if the water in streams or creeks suddenly turns muddy or the water flow suddenly decreases or increases.
- Listen for unusual sounds, such as trees cracking or boulders knocking together, that might indicate moving debris.
Develop an emergency plan that includes emergency kits for your home, work and vehicles. When any disaster occurs, it could take days to weeks for first responders to reach everyone impacted. Oregonians need to be as prepared as possible in an emergency. OEM recommends every household be 2 Weeks Ready, meaning they have a plan and enough food, water and supplies to survive for at least two weeks following a disaster. Recognizing disasters disproportionately impact marginalized communities, OEM offers several equitable and accessible readiness resources to help inform all Oregonians of their risks and ways to prepare.
Oregonians should also recognize the importance of flood insurance and be aware that home and rental insurance policies don’t cover flood damage. Flood insurance is a separate policy that typically takes 30 days to go into effect. For more information about flood risk and mitigation, visit Ready.gov/floods. For details on landslides and debris flow, visit Ready.gov/landslides-debris-flow. For flood facts including flood zones and maps, risk and costs, and insurance coverage, visit the National Flood Insurance Program at Floodsmart.gov.
Oregon Health Authority
· We’re tracking data to understand the spread of COVID-19 in Oregon. This dashboard is updated weekly.Data are provisional and subject to change.For more information, including COVID-19 data by county, visit http://ow.ly/UtOx50Lm9lO.
Governor Kate Brown wrapped up a nearly two-week trade mission to Asia Tuesday. She says shoring up international relationships is critical to Oregon’s economic development as it recovers from the pandemic.
Brown says South Korea is Oregon’s third-largest export market for food and agricultural products. In Japan, Brown says she talked with tech companies about investing in Oregon’s semiconductor sector. Despite having just two months left in office, Brown says the trip was important for a state that ranks among the most trade-dependent in the nation. Her office says she also promoted tourism, wine and beer with representatives from Travel Oregon and others.
Parents Of Infants Should Watch Out For Signs Of RSV Despite Low Case Count In Oregon
While dozens of states across the U.S. have reported dramatic increases in the number of children with a respiratory virus known as R-S-V, the latest data from the Oregon Health Authority shows the number of cases in Oregon remains low.
Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, typically presents like a seasonal cold. However, toddlers and particularly infants can experience severe symptoms. In the worst cases, an RSV infection can spread to the lower respiratory tract causing pneumonia and bronchiolitis.
Lane County Public Health has been alerted to “a few” pediatric cases from area hospitals. Health officials said parents of infants should watch out for signs like short, shallow breaths, wheezing sounds and when the muscles around the chest cavity contract in an abnormal way.
RSV virus usually peaks between December and February but in 2022 it’s appeared early. The best form of prevention is good respiratory hygiene.
Symposium in Bend Explores the History of Human Beings in Oregon’s Great Basin
The Oregon Historical Society, in partnership with the Deschutes County Historical Society and members of the Burns Paiute Tribe and Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Indians, is hosting a two-day, public symposium on the history of humans in the Great Basin region in Oregon, featuring talks by tribal knowledge-holders, anthropologists, and archaeologists.
The symposium will take place on Saturday, November 5 and Sunday, November 6, from 8:45am to 4:30pm, at the OSU Cascades campus in Bend, Oregon, and is free and open to everyone. Attendees can register for one or both days of the symposium here; PDUs are available for teachers who attend.
Human beings have lived in, passed through, and had relationships with the Great Basin region for at least 14,000 years — a time of significant transitions in climate, species, and ecosystems, all of which resulted in changing lifeways for the people. The “Human Experience in the Oregon Great Basin: Past and Present Ways of Knowing” symposium will feature presentations by experts who have researched and learned about the land, plants, animals, people, and climate of the region. Discussions led by Wilson Wewa (Northern Paiute) and Diane Teeman (Burns Paiute) will frame each day of the symposium, which will be filled with presentations about the recent archaeological research and analyses, partnership projects, and online databases that are helping build knowledge about the historical and ongoing human experiences in the Great Basin.
“Evidence of a deep history of humans in the Great Basin is present in the stories and tribal knowledge shared by Paiute and Klamath peoples as well as is visible in physical reminders, such as caches of tools made for hunting, gathering, and other utilitarian activities,” said OHS Chief Program Officer Eliza Canty-Jones. “The work that tribal members have done to preserve this history for millennia, as well as the work archaeologists and anthropologists have conducted in more recent times, offer the public complex understandings of some of the oldest known human history on the continent of North America.”
Featured presentations are listed below; for presentation synopses and presenter bios, visit ohs.org/greatbasin.
Presentation Schedule
Each day of the symposium will include an introduction by Wilson Wewa (Northern Paiute) and a conclusion by Diane Teeman (Burns Paiute)
Saturday, November 5
Paisley Caves Textiles: Fiber Arts and the Native Plant Selection in the Northern Great Basin
Presented by Elizabeth Kallenbach
The Antiquity of Smoking Pipes and Tobacco Use in the Northern Great Basin
Presented by Thomas J. Connolly
Seeds, Fruits, and Tubers: A Regional Perspective on Archaeological Plant Data in the Northern Great Basin
Presented by Jaime L. Kennedy
Exploring Cultural Landscapes of Oregon’s Great Basin Region
Presented by Justin Rohde
Tradition, Technology, and Teaching: Collaborative Workshops between the Burns Paiute Tribe and University of Nevada, Reno’s Great Basin Paleoindian Research Unit
Presented by Geoffrey M. Smith, Diane Teeman, and Daniel O. Stueber
Sunday, November 6
Archaeology and the Human Experience at the Paisley Caves in the Northern Great Basin
Presented by Dennis Jenkins
Evidence of Ice Age Cold Adaptation in Oregon’s Great Basin and How it Can Inform Challenges of Future Climate Change
Presented by Richie Rosencrance
Modeling Indigenous Land Use Patterns in the Northwestern Great Basin at the End of the Last Ice Age
Presented by Erica J. Bradley and Geoffrey M. Smith
The Roles and Research of the Museum of Natural and Cultural History Archaeology Field School
Presented by Katelyn McDonough, Dennis Jenkins, Richie Rosencrance, and Geoffrey Smith
About the Oregon Historical Society
For more than a century, the Oregon Historical Society has served as the state’s collective memory, preserving a vast collection of artifacts, photographs, maps, manuscript materials, books, films, and oral histories. Our research library, museum, digital platforms & website (www.ohs.org), educational programming, and historical journal make Oregon’s history open and accessible to all. We exist because history is powerful, and because a history as deep and rich as Oregon’s cannot be contained within a single story or point of view.
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