KWSO News 5/7/19

This year’s camp crew training in Warm Springs is going to begin May 20^th. Fire Management’s Bob Medina:

Training will begin May 20^th at 9:30am at the Fire Management Building in the Industrial Park.

The Timber Committee is hosting a wood and bough cutting public meeting to provide a review of 2018 and finalized wood cutting codes. The meeting is tomorrow from 6-8pm at the Fire Management training room.

Members of the 28^th Tribal Council of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs was sworn in to office on Monday by Superintendent Lori Anderson:

Representing the Agency District are Anita Jackson, Glendon Smith and Lola Sohappy. Representatives for the Seekseequa District Brigette McConville and Wilson Wewa. And, for the Simnasho District Raymond Moody, Lincoln Jay Suppah and Raymond Tsumpti, Sr. Following yesterday’s ceremony, the Council selected as its chairman for this three year term, Raymond Tsumpti and Lola Sohappy will serve as vice-chair.

The homeless population in Central Oregon increased 12% from last year. The Homeless Leadership Coalition this week released the results of its annual point-in-time survey tracking homeless people in Central Oregon. Economic factors were the No. 1 issue cited as a barrier to finding housing. Unemployment was the second most reported factor.

The possibility of a new national park is being considered in western Montana, not run by the federal government but by a sovereign American Indian tribe. Blackfeet Nation, whose reservation borders Glacier National Park, is studying the feasibility of opening up part of its land for public recreation, KPAX reported in Great Falls. The new park could possibly alleviate some of the crowds at Glacier, which now routinely near or exceed 3 million people each year. The idea is part of a broader effort on the tribe’s part to look at new ways to utilize its agricultural resources. A conservation area would also include opening grass prairies as rangeland for bison and cattle. Operating a national park would help fund those projects.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality on Monday denied a water quality certification for the proposed Jordan Cove liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal and its feeder pipeline, the Pacific Connector pipeline, though the agency left the door open for the company to reapply. In a letter Monday to the project backers, the agency said “DEQ does not have a reasonable assurance that the construction and authorization of the project will comply with applicable Oregon water quality standards.” Klamath Tribal Chairman Don Gentry called the denial “great news for Klamath Tribal members and all concerned about protecting fisheries and Oregon’s waters.”

Madras High School girls tennis continued district play on Monday. Erika Olivera & Jessica Olivera are in the semifinals and qualify for the State Tournament. They beat North Marion in the round of 16, 6-0,6-0. In the quarterfinal they defeated Molalla 4-6,7-5,6-2. Play continues on Thursday for District placement. Lorena Macias & Natalie Ramos were defeated by the #2 seed from Cascade 1-6,1-6. On today’s prep sports schedule – JV and Varsity Baseball host Molalla in games starting at 4:30. Madras Softball goes into today’s games at Molalla High School with a number two spot in the Tri-Valley Conference and 10^th in the State.