News Stories for Fri., Jul. 21, 2017

The N’Chi Wanapum Canoe Family is getting ready for its journey to Camble River, British Columbia.  This morning at 8, the canoe family will meet at the Museum at Warm Springs for a brief Washut service before they officially depart on the canoe journey.

Warm Springs Construction will be doing work on Bear Drive and Quail Trail in Greeley Heights July 24^th through the end of September.  Work includes: rebuilding of the road, pedestrian paths and street lights. Watch for flaggers, slow down and use caution.

Federal and state agencies are investigating if there was a link between a series of wildfires in southeastern Oregon and military training exercises going on in the same area. Oregon Public Broadcasting reports federal officials believe the seven small fires that ignited last week could have been connected because they were all attributed to human activity.

The Oregon Promise grant program will continue, but there will be changes. The state will invest $40 million in continuing the program for 2017-19. However, due to higher than expected turnout for the new program and limited funding to meet projected costs, new applicants entering community college this fall will see changes to eligibility requirements. Beginning with new applicants this fall, and until future funding levels are sufficient, students with the highest expected family contribution to their college expenses will not be eligible to receive Oregon Promise grant funding. These changes will not impact students who first received the grant in 2016-17 and are continuing in college this fall. Over 6,800 students pursued community college with the support of the grant in its first year, and early findings suggest the Oregon Promise increased community college enrollment from high schools and influenced students’ college-going decisions.