From the KWSO Newsroom
Warm Springs Observes Veterans Day; St. Charles Native Market, Broadband Expansion and Cancer Screening Projects
Warm Springs is observing Veterans Day today, November 11 with the annual Veterans Parade beginning at 10 a.m. Veterans are invited to gather at the Campus Pavilion for a complimentary continental breakfast hosted by Indian Head Casino. Parade lineup begins at 9 a.m., with veterans requested to fall in by 9:30. A community luncheon will follow at 11:30 a.m. in the Old Elementary cafeteria. Organizers announce that the afternoon Veterans Day Powwow in the gym has been canceled due to recent losses in the community; however, the morning parade and luncheon will proceed as scheduled. Tribal offices and local schools remain closed today, and Wednesday sanitation routes will be collected on Thursday alongside normal Thursday pickups.
In nearby Madras, St. Charles will host its annual Native Market today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Local Native vendors will showcase their work, and a free community meal will be served from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. All community members are welcome to attend. The annual tradition began during Native American Heritage Month alongside the unveiling of the St. Charles Health System Land Acknowledgment, which honors regional Native people and recognizes that St. Charles facilities stand on lands ceded under the 1855 Treaty with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing $17 million through its ReConnect Program to expand high-speed broadband on the Warm Springs Reservation. Awarded to tribally owned Warm Springs Telecom, the grant funds fiber-optic line installations to serve more than 150 households across the Simnasho and Sidwalter areas, alongside construction of a new headquarters facility. Officials highlighted the award as a significant step toward lasting technological sovereignty. Meanwhile, a separate ongoing project continues laying fiber for 936 Tribal residences, 21 businesses, and five community institutions. Mainline conduit installation is roughly three-quarters complete around the Agency area, with active construction in Greeley Heights. Agency area service remains on track for launch this coming spring for households who sign up for service.
In regional healthcare, Oregon Health & Science University has secured a $3.1 million federal grant to boost preventive cancer screenings among Oregon Tribal members. The four-year AT-HOME initiative collaborates directly with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and the Klamath Tribes to distribute at-home screening kits targeting cervical and colorectal cancers. Native populations face elevated incidence rates alongside documented barriers to routine clinical care. Project leaders aim to register several hundred adults between ages 45 and 65, working to increase screening rates by at least 10 percent.
Turning to winter safety, state officials urge caution regarding carbon monoxide hazards as lower temperatures drive up the use of heating appliances. The Oregon Health Authority notes that carbon monoxide claims an average of 18 lives across Oregon annually. Because the lethal gas has no scent, color, or taste, exposure can occur undetected. State fire safety officials warn that early signs include headaches, nausea, dizziness, physical weakness, and mental confusion. If you suspect carbon monoxide inside your home, evacuate outside immediately and dial 911. Working carbon monoxide detectors on every level remain the most reliable line of defense.
Looking ahead to seasonal expenses, financial counselors at OnPoint Community Credit Union are sharing strategies to keep holiday budgets under control. With national holiday spending estimated to top $1,600 per household, planners advise establishing firm limits for gifts, travel, and seasonal decor before shopping. Consumers can leverage store discounts, rewards points, and cash-back features while avoiding buy-now, pay-later installment offers that risk compounding debt into January.
For your KWSO Central Oregon weather outlook: Expect partly sunny skies today with an unseasonably mild high near 72 degrees, dropping to an overnight low around 38. Thursday brings increasing clouds and a high near 68. Wet weather returns Friday with rain showers, highs near 64, and gusty winds reaching up to 46 miles per hour. Saturday turns partly sunny with a high of 59, before rain chances rise to 70 percent on Sunday with a high near 57.
