Tuesday Morning News: Warm Springs CPS Energy Program, Fire Updates & Local Music Programs

Warm Springs Children’s Protective Services will accept energy assistance applications for up to 300 people on Friday, September 18th, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the old school gym. Applicants must bring a printed physical copy of their most recent light bill, as digital copies, emails, and mobile phone apps will not be accepted.

The Bench Fire on the southern end of the reservation reached roughly 67,000 acres and is now 90% contained with no recent growth. However, active blazes west of the reservation—including the 5,600-acre Austin Fire and the 233-acre Narrows Fire—are producing smoke over Warm Springs and Madras. Public information officer Javin Dimmick emphasized that a reservation-wide Level 4 general shutdown burn ban remains in place, stating, “Basically, there’s a reservation wide burn ban, campfires, open fires, wood, biomass, twig stoves are all prohibited… No chainsaws, no generators, no running equipment in the forest right now. The ban is for the foreseeable future.”

509J School District band students have locked into flow state during summer Band Camp to prepare for upcoming sports send-offs and school events. Adam Thompson, who teaches band and choir at Madras High School and Jefferson County Middle School, detailed the purpose of the camp: “What we do here is we practice learning how to march, we practice learning how to play our instruments… and good posture, because we do a lot of send-offs to celebrate different sports making it to state.” Thompson also instructs at the local Joyful Noise Music Academy, a program held at the Methodist Church that offers low-cost music classes for participants of all ages. Describing the academy’s diverse percussion offerings, Thompson noted, “Joyful Noise Music Academy, hosted by Jill Plant, is seriously such a good idea for anyone who is looking to just join into music at any point in your life. Music is for anybody.”

Top Oregon Democrats report they do not expect major modifications to state voting procedures despite a U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing a presidential executive order regarding mail-in voting to move forward. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield indicated that the state maintains the ability to pursue future legal action, while Secretary of State Tobias Read stated that upcoming elections are expected to proceed as planned.

Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe suffered a torn right meniscus during an offseason workout and is scheduled to undergo surgery this week, sidelining him for a significant portion of the season.

Angel Reese broke the WNBA single-game rebounding record with 26 rebounds and set a new single-season rebounding mark with 458 total as the Atlanta Dream defeated the Los Angeles Sparks 78-71. Reese recorded her 27th double-double of the season with 11 points and 26 rebounds, helping Atlanta secure its ninth consecutive victory over Los Angeles.

Weather conditions across Central Oregon will feature patchy smoke, sunny skies, and hot temperatures reaching near 98 today, followed by gusts up to 28 mph overnight and mid-90s on Wednesday.