KWSO News Aug. 15, 2018

The Warm Springs Youth Center recently tested drinking water and the results indicated the presence of lead. The Boys & Girls Club has covered sinks and drinking fountains to make them off limits for kids. They have set up hand washing stations and have stocked plenty of bottled drinking water. More information will be shared as it becomes available. The club will move to afterschool hours next week with the start of school at the K8 with a shift back to full day program hours the week of August 27th, then the fall afterschool schedule restarts after Labor Day.

The Museum At Warm Springs’ 23rd Annual Huckleberry Harvest Dinner is this Saturday at Kah-Nee-Ta Resort. The Huckleberry Harvest is an annual fundraising event that includes a gourmet dinner, silent auction and tribal members demonstrating their art. The dinner will be in Kah-Nee-Ta’s Gold Ballroom at the Lodge. In recognition of The Museum’s 25th Anniversary, they have selected Kah-Nee-Ta’s famous “Bird in Clay.” The proceeds from Huckleberry Harvest help to support the Museum’s educational mission. Tickets are still being sold for the Huckleberry Harvest. Inquire at the Museum or visit their website www.museumatwarmsprings.org.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an air quality advisory for several counties including Jefferson, Crook, Deschutes and Wasco, through tomorrow. The smoke in the air is causing air quality to reach unhealthy levels. Pollutants in smoke can cause burning eyes, runny nose, aggravate heart and lung diseases and other serious health problems. You should limit outdoor activities and keep kids indoors when it is smoky.

Human caused wildfires burned 228,000 acres last year. Oregon Department of Forestry says it has responded to 30 human-caused fires in the past week alone; one burned over 20,000 acres. Causes include vehicles with overheating or faulty exhaust systems, illegal abandoned campfires, target shooting, and illegal debris burning.  Folks need to use utmost care on a daily basis to prevent adding new fires to the landscape, especially during extreme conditions with a long way to go before the end of fire season.  Some tips – do your mowing before 10 a.m., but never when it’s windy or excessively dry. Metal blades striking rocks can create sparks and start fires. Make sure your vehicle is properly maintained, with nothing dragging on the ground. Maintain proper tire pressure; driving on exposed wheel rims will throw sparks. Properly maintain brakes; brakes worn too thin may cause metal-to-metal contact which can cause a spark. Don’t drive your vehicle onto dry grass or brush; hot exhaust pipes and mufflers can start fires you won’t even see until it’s too late. And, maintain a defensible space around your home.