News Stories Jul. 26, 2018

Over 14 teams joined in this year’s “Pirates of the Cure ibbean” Relay for Life of Jefferson County and raised over $80,700 to help save lives and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.  The Silent Auction brought in over $21,000. About 50 survivors and 30 caregivers walked the opening lap and inspired those currently battling cancer.  The top fundraising team was Warm Springs Gaming Enterprises which raised $12,323.  The top three individual fundraisers were Kathy Miles, Margee O’Brien and Alice Satterlee.  They also had several people who walked 30 or more miles during the event: Noah Kaiser 52 miles, Stacey Carpenter 50 miles, Chloe Brockopp (14 years old) 49 miles, Kimberly Palmer 45 miles, Sue Young, Linda Bengston and Matt Durfee 30 miles.  Donations are still being accepted until August 24.

SALEM, Ore. – Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) has lifted the ban on campfires and open flames in parks along the coast. But, the campfire and open flame ban remains in effect for the ocean beaches and all other state park properties managed by OPRD. It applies to wood, charcoal and other sources that cannot be “turned off” with a valve. The ban includes campgrounds and day-use areas. The extended campfire ban is expected to last at least one week. The ban was extended because of the continued hot, dry conditions and the high number of wildfires still burning throughout the state.

Fish, future flood control and economical hydropower will be key topics as cross-border Columbia River Treaty deal making gets down to brass tacks in the next couple of months. The U.S. and Canada have opened talks to “modernize” the more than 50-year-old trans boundary river management agreement. The chief negotiators provided an update at a forum in Spokane Wednesday. The negotiators also got an earful of advice from parties with something at stake. Andrew Munro spoke for Northwest electric utilities. They want to reduce the compensation British Columbia gets from Northwest American ratepayers for upriver water storage and coordination of river flows. The federal negotiators told Munro and the rest of the audience to brace themselves for a long wait to get to a Columbia River Treaty deal.

The first National Native American Hall of Fame will induct 12 honorees in October. Inductees are: Lori Piestewa, Jim Thorpe, John Harrington, Maria Tallchief, Dr. Lionel Bourdeaux, Elouise Cobell, Vine Deloria, Jr., LaDonna Harris, Allan Houser, Wilma Mankiller, Billy Mills, and N. Scott Momaday.