Tuesday News Roundup: Local Election Deadlines, Veterans Day Events, and Warm Springs Program Updates
Community organizers met Monday at the Old Elementary School Cafeteria for the monthly Native Aspirations meeting to coordinate upcoming resources across the Warm Springs Reservation. Central Oregon Community College announced five events honoring Native American Heritage Month, including a screening of the Klamath River dam-removal film First Descent followed by a filmmaker Q&A, and an art presentation on traditional mediums by Warm Springs artist Speak Thunder on the Redmond Campus. "Celebrating Native American Heritage Month, we got five events going on," said Jeremiah Rector of COCC, adding that full schedules are available online.
At the same gathering, the Central Oregon Two-Spirit Coalition announced a partnership with the Deschutes Historical Museum to host Transgressors, a touring exhibition from the Chichalu Museum honoring indigi-queer ancestors. Program director Leann O'Neill noted the opening reception takes place Wednesday, November 18th from 5 to 7 p.m., featuring a light dinner, educational discussion, and artwork by Mateja Sutterlee. "We'll have a presentation about the history of Two-Spirit people and learn how colonization has impacted gender identity," said O'Neill, noting that community rides can be coordinated through Reina Estimo at reina@wscat.org.
Thrive Central Oregon also announced updated drop-in hours at the Warm Springs Housing Authority, noting that services are canceled Monday, November 9th. "We will be changing our schedule to the first and third Mondays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. starting November 16th," said Jefferson County representative Maya, reminding residents that off-week assistance for housing and food needs is accessible at 541-728-1022 or info@thrivecentraloregon.org.
Warm Springs and Jefferson County will honor military personnel next week with ceremonies, meals, and cultural observances. On Tuesday, November 10th, the Simnasho Longhouse hosts a Veterans Appreciation Dinner opening with Washat services at 5 p.m. followed by a 6 p.m. community potluck. On Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11th, Warm Springs will stage its annual parade from the Campus Pavilion at 9:30 a.m. ahead of an 11:30 a.m. luncheon at the Old Elementary School Cafeteria, while Kah-Nee-Ta Resort provides complimentary day-use and discounts for service members with valid military identification.
In Madras, local veterans organizations are officially concluding their 20-year annual Veterans Day parade tradition. Madras VFW Post 12141 Commander Mike Williams thanked area businesses, first responders, and visiting veterans who sustained the event since 2004, noting that future generations of veterans may choose to revive it. In-person tributes continue Wednesday, November 11th at the Jefferson County Community Center, beginning with a 10:30 a.m. program and an 11 a.m. national observance featuring a keynote on a World War II prisoner of war, alongside free community meals hosted by the Madras Elks Lodge and local diners.
Voters across Jefferson County are deciding key local, state, and national contests today, with official drop boxes open until 8 p.m.. According to the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office, ballot returns reached 46 percent by Monday, with 8,249 ballots cast out of 17,800 registered voters. Ballots must be placed in official drop boxes—such as the Warm Springs campus box outside Fire and Safety, Three Warriors Market in Simnasho, or the county clerk’s office on D Street in Madras—by 8 p.m. tonight to be counted.
Public agencies will host a free Wildfire Recovery Multi-Agency Resource Event on Tuesday, November 10th, at the Central Oregon Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Madras. Running from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with lunch provided, the one-stop clinic connects wildfire-impacted families with representatives from the Oregon Department of Forestry, USDA Farm Service Agency, Oregon State Fire Marshal, and AgriStress Helpline.
According to reporting by ICT and Advance Native Political Leadership, a record-breaking 225 Indigenous candidates representing nearly 100 tribal nations are running in 30 states today, marking a nearly 400 percent surge since 2016. In New Mexico, former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland could make history as the nation's first Native American woman elected governor.
A federal judge in Oregon ruled that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have repeatedly violated a court injunction by conducting warrantless arrests without documenting flight risks. U.S. District Court Judge Mustafa Kasubhai ordered ICE to submit full arrest records and body-camera footage, criticizing agency submissions as "sloppy work" and noting that at least one officer falsified documentation during parking-lot apprehensions, as reported by OPB's Joni Auden Land.
Pacific Northwest environmental groups led by Save Our Wild Salmon are conducting nonpartisan voter turnout outreach focused on river and climate protections, according to Northwest Public Broadcasting. Save Our Wild Salmon executive director Joseph Bogaard noted that voters are increasingly weighing environmental issues at the ballot box, stating, "Hopefully, this election can help send a strong message to policymakers at the state and federal level that these need to be priorities."
Skies across the region will clear for afternoon sunshine today with a high near 56 degrees, dipping to an overnight low around 31. Wednesday brings increasing cloud cover and milder highs near 60, followed by a slight 30 percent chance of rain after 4 p.m.
