KWSO News 7/30/19

In-coming Kindergarten families at the Warm Springs K-8 Academy need to be sure students are enrolled for the coming school year. Kindergarten conferences and Summer School for kinders will start soon. Turn in registration packets to Heilan at the School District office in Madras, 445 SE Buff Street. If you have any questions you can contact Heilan at (541)475-6192. Registration packets need to be returned by August 8^th. Summer school for Kindergarten starts August 12.”

Jeremy Red Star Wolf, of the Umatilla tribe, took the oath of office last week to become the 42nd Chair of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. The chairmanship rotates annually between the four member tribes. The oath was administered by outgoing CRITFC Chair Ryan Smith. The other 2019-2020 CRITFC officers are: Leland Bill (Yakama), Vice-chair; Ferris Paisano (Nez Perce), Secretary; and Ryan Smith (Warm Springs), Treasurer.

A project that includes the paving of U.S. Highway 20 over the Santiam Pass has begun. The project covers almost 14 miles from Santiam Junction in Linn County to Jack Lake Road in Jefferson County. All construction will be done Sunday through Thursday nights, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. with two-way traffic controlled with flaggers and a pilot car. Travelers can expect up to 20 minute delays. The project will be completed by October 31.

Fire personnel held the McKay Butte Fire, burning northeast of McKay Butte on the Deschutes National Forest, to 190 acres Monday. Crews, heavy equipment and aerial resources secured the perimeter of the fire with fire line tied-in with existing roads, reaching 10% containment. A Level 1 (BE READY) evacuation notice is still in place for the McKay Crossing, Ogden, and Prairie Campgrounds on the Deschutes National Forest. The McKay Butte Fire was reported by Lava Butte Lookout at 3:00pm on Sunday. Approximately 160 fire personnel are currently assigned to the incident. The fire is still under investigation. The public is reminded to be careful with any ignitions. Central Oregon recently moved to HIGH fire danger, meaning fuels are very receptive to ignitions.