KWSO News 10/9/19

The Warm Springs Tribal Council has posted the 2020 Budget. There is a projected 1.4 Million dollars in cuts for 2020 and as part of the process, council has asked departments to present cuts at various levels, from 10 to 30 percent. According the the Spilyay Tymoo, Council members also discussed at length the question of whether the tribes must charge customers for services that include water and wastewater systems, solid waste disposal and sanitation. District and General Council meetings can be expected later this month or early November at the latest. The 2020 Proposed budget has been posted at several areas in the community including, the Tribal Administration building, WS Market and IHS to name a few. You can also check it online at the Tribal Member portal. Visit warmsrings-nsn.gov to view the budget information online, in the Tribal Member Portal go to “Finance” then “Annual Budget”

Health officials say one more Oregonian has a vaping-related severe lung illness, raising Oregon’s toll to nine victims, two of whom have died. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Gov. Kate Brown on Oct. 4 ordered a six-month ban on sales of all flavored vaping products with nicotine or THC. It’s unclear when the ban will start. The governor told state agencies to “immediately” pass emergency rules to ban the products.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says at least 1,080 people across the country have been struck with lung illnesses connected to vaping and at least 18 have died.Officials do not know what is causing the illness. Medical tests have pointed to oils lodged in victims’ lungs, while others have pointed to lung reactions typical of exposure to toxic chemicals.Of Oregon’s nine victims, at least five used products they bought at legal marijuana retail stores.

Central Oregonians are coming together this week to rescue fish and mitigate impacts caused by drought and scheduled, seasonal streamflow changes in the Upper Deschutes River. Due to streamflows being reduced to refill reservoirs for the 2020 irrigation season, fish can become stranded along a 1 mile stretch of channel that dries out every year from Lava Island Trailhead to meadow Camp off the Deschutes River. By piping open irrigation canals, promoting on-farm conservation by patrons and entering temporary instream leases, irrigation districts have the opportunity to conserve millions of gallons of water each year. Over the next 5 years, the districts are expected to pipe more than 400 thousand feet of open canals across Central Oregon.

Locally, WS K8 football action yesterday saw the Eagles soar over the Outlaws of Sisters at home with a score of 36-0. Cross Country is on the Road today, with the meet starting at 3pm in Lapine, Volleyball will be home hosting Sisters at 4pm. In Soccer, Madras White Buffalo Boys will be hosting Estacada this afternoon at 4pm. Lady Buffs are traveling to Estacada, game time is at 6 & Madras Volleyball is traveling to Corbett today to face off against the Cavaliers. That game is at 6pm.