KWSO News for 10/17/19

Beginning the week of October 21 the Water and Wastewater Division of the Public Utilities Branch will be working alongside the GELCO contractor to finish the replacement and upgrade of the pressure reducing valves on the agency water system main lines. This work will consist of isolating PRV vaults near George Street, Kah-Nee-Ta vault and the South East vault (nearby the tribal administration building). The work is anticipated to take about three to four days which is an allowance of a day for each vault. The Water department intends to have the reservoirs filled so as to minimize any outages of water. Please be aware that a handful of users may experience outages for short periods of time while the PRV work progresses. If the situation calls for it, the water department will issue a boil water notice in compliance with EPA requirements. If you have any questions or concerns please direct those to the Water & Wastewater department by contacting the Public Utilities Department at (541) 553-3246.

Oregon’s $1 Billion per year student success Act, passed this spring, will see $200 million of the business tax go toward improving and expanding early childhood education in Oregon for kids from birth to age 5. The Bend Bulletin reports that a group of education and health leaders from Central Oregon’s three counties and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs – called the Regional Early learning Hub – are collaborating to see what local parents and child care providers’ needs are, so more children can receive high-quality prekindergarten education. The Early Learning Hub is also hosting focus groups for child care professionals to find out how barriers to accessing child care can be broken down.

The 10^th Biennial Oregon Summit is coming up this weekend, starting on Friday Oct 18^th and continuing through Sunday the 20^th. Kansas Congresswoman Sharice Davids, a member of the Ho-Chunk people will be the keynote speaker. These sessions are going to cover a wide range of topics critical to Oregon Democrats’ progressive vision.  If you’re unable to attend the event that takes place at the Sunriver Resort near Bend, they will be livestreaming all of the events and workshops.

A $3 Million endowment was recently created by the Lannan Foundation of Santa Fe, New Mexico with the American Indian college fund. The Lannan Foundation is looking to make it easier for Native American students to get college degrees by providing the students with scholarships to attend tribal colleges and Universities. According to studies, only 14% of American Indian or Alaskan Native students have a college degree, less than half the rate of other groups.

A Middle school students’ alleged threats to other middle school students resulted in a Lockout at Culver schools yesterday and families were told to expect another lockout all day today.  The Bend Bulletin reported that school staff found out about the threat Tuesday afternoon and contacted parents of the student who allegedly made the verbal threat as well as parents of those who were threatened and law enforcement was called immediately. Superintendent Stefanie Garber wrote that Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating the validity of the threat alongside school administrators, guidance counselors and the district’s special education director.

Locally: In Soccer, the Madras Boys Buffs will be hosting North Marion today at 4pm looking to extend their two game winning streak and avenge an early season loss to the huskies, the Lady Buffs will be on the road to North Marion at 4pm as they try to end the season strong and Madras Volleyball is on the road to Gladstone with their match starting at 6pm.