News Stories Mon., Feb. 5, 2018

The City of Madras is distributing its first community-wide survey. The Citizen Input Survey has been mailed to mailboxes of those with a 97741 zip code, excluding Metolius. The three-page survey will help the city determine future focus of economic development, city services, downtown activities and to better understand the needs and wants of the community. The survey is also available on the City of Madras website.

Four students from Madras High School have been selected to travel to Japan for 10 days in June to visit Madras’ sister city, Tomi City. Osmar Rodriguez Piza, Jessica Geinger, Tyreyk Ramsay and Wynona Tewee, along with chaperone, Jefferson County School Board member Jamie Hurd, are all raising money to cover travel costs. The Bend Bulletin reports this is only the second time that students will travel from Madras High School to Japan. The City of Madras has pledged to donate $500 to each student and is dedicating a sum of money in its budget for the trip every year moving forward, Hurd told the Bulletin. Anyone interested in purchasing raffle tickets to support the trip can visit the Madras Sister City — Tomi City, Japan Facebook page or the Jefferson County Chamber. The group also has a ­GoFundMe page.

SALEM, OR — The Oregon State Archives in Salem will unveil its first ever Black History Month exhibit today. It is entitled, Black in Oregon, 1840-1870. The exhibit will feature stories, photos, and documents of early black pioneers in the Pacific Northwest. The exhibit is open to the public weekdays and will run through August 24.