Week of December 5, 2024
Week of December 5, 2024
Interest in nuclear energy as a solution to “dirty” sources of power is growing, including a proposal in the Northwest. However, some critics said it could divert attention from more practical renewable energy solutions. Amazon has signed an agreement with X-energy to build new nuclear technology, known as small modular reactors, to meet the company’s growing energy needs. The aim is to build the reactors at the Hanford nuclear site along the Columbia River. Kelly Campbell, policy...
“Oldest and Coldest” Springfield Christmas Parade Presented By: Oregon Riders Society returns for its 72nd year with the theme of “Gingerbread Kisses & Christmas Wishes.” This is the 8th year on December 7th. ORS has been able to make a significant impact on children and families located in Lane County. Within the last couple of years, ORS has helped dozens of children and families in need of assistance. Parade entries must reflect a holiday theme. The staging area opens at 9 a.m. on...
SPRINGFIELD: A documentary exploring the evolution and enduring influence of the McKenzie River Drift Boat has proved a crowd pleaser, judging by its enthusiastic acceptance at a screening last week. The film’s debut at the Wildish Theater is the creation of Randy Dersham, who has shifted his focus to filmmaking after a long career in the video game industry. Combining a mix of historical film, archival photographs, and insightful interviews, Dersham’s film charts the wooden boat’s...
On Earth Day in 2022, President Joe Biden stood among cherry blossoms and towering Douglas firs in a Seattle park to declare the importance of big, old trees. “There used to be a hell of a lot more forests like this,” he said, calling them “our planet’s lungs” and extolling their power to fight climate change. The amount of carbon trees suck out of the air increases dramatically with age, making older trees especially important. These trees are also rare: Less than 10% of forests in...
VIDA: The McKenzie Community Partnership hosted a Holiday Party at the Vida McKenzie Community Center on Sunday that was topped off with the illumination of a tall fir. Prior to flipping the light switch at 5 p.m., people inside the building were treated to live music, gingerbread house decorating, caroling, crafts and games, and refreshments - along with collecting new, unwrapped toys for the McKenzie Fire & Rescue’sa Toy Drive. The event was a new addition to the area’s Annual Holiday...
Starting this summer, Oregonians across the state will begin to receive a standardized list of what can and cannot be recycled statewide, and owners and managers of apartment complexes and multi-unit housing will need to prepare to provide recycling for residents. These are among new rules around recycling finalized Friday by Oregon's Environmental Quality Commission following four years of negotiation and planning. The Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act will go into effect July...
La Nina is bringing a cooler, wetter winter to Oregon and likely driving up heating bills as systems work harder. This is the third year of major price hikes for Pacific Power and Pacific Gas and Electric, with rates up by 40% from four years ago. One report found nearly half of Americans struggle to pay their utility bills and last winter, a January ice storm and rate hikes saw power shut off for a record number of Oregon households due to lack of payment. Jami Seymore, home energy expert for...
Governor Tina Kotek announced today that she is using her constitutional authority to call a special session of the Oregon Legislature, to begin on Thursday, December 12, for lawmakers to appropriate funds to pay for the historic 2024 wildfire season. A record 1.9 million acres burned this wildfire season, far exceeding the state’s 10-year average of 640,000 acres per season and incurring costs upwards of $350 million. While over half of the costs will eventually be covered by disaster relief...
McKenzie Varsity Sports Schedule This Week The McKenzie Varsity Boys and Girls Basketball teams host Oakridge on Wednesday, December 4. The Girls game tips off at 6:00 pm and the Boys game will start at 7:30 pm, The two teams travel to Nixyaawii Community School in Pendleton on Friday, December 6 and December 7 to participate in the Bouncin' Cancer Tournament. The Eagle Varsity Girls will open with the Stanfield JV team, 1:00 pm on Friday and play Pilot Rock at 9:00 am on Saturday. The McKenzie Boys will play Nixyaawii JV on Friday, 2:30 pm...
President-elect Donald Trump’s choice of Oregon’s U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer as labor secretary is among the more unusual and intriguing cabinet picks he’s made, and her appointment could have an impact on partisan politics — notably in Oregon. The Republican, who lost Oregon’s 5th Congressional District seat last month to Democratic state Rep. Janelle Bynum, has become an unlikely pivotal national figure. With only a single term in the U.S. House and a small-town mayoralty on her...
Earlier this year, as you may remember, country music singer Zach Bryan had a few too many alcoholic beverages before pulling out his phone and opening “X,” the app formerly known as Twitter. “Eagles>Chiefs,” he tweeted tipsily. “Kanye>Taylor. Who’s with me?” It’s not clear exactly what Bryan intended — most likely he was joke-trolling the Taylor Swift fan community, which, as he realized the next morning when he awakened with a penitent headache and looked at his phone, is about as good an...
When botanist John Bartram first identified a hydrangea native to the U.S. in the 1730s, little did he know it would become a mainstay of the garden with its iconic flowers implying romance with their blustery beauty. Hydrangeas populate millions of gardens and with good reason. They can be used as specimens in a place of honor, as partners in mixed beds, in containers and even as hedges, said Heather Stoven, a horticulturist with Oregon State University Extension Service. And with the...
Nov. 24: 1:17 p.m: Lost Subject - 7400 blk, Thurston Rd. A passerby found a disoriented male with mental health issues who had wandered away from his home. He was returned to family. Nov. 25: 3:02 p.m: Assist Outside Agency - 44500 blk, McK. Hwy. Nov. 27: 2:01 p.m: Information - 88600 blk, Whitsell Ln. 2:37 p.m: Assault - 41400 blk, McK. Hwy. 4:35 p.m: Assist, Follow Up - 49600 blk, McK. Hwy. 5:05 p.m: Incomplete 911 Call - 59200 blk, N. Belknap Springs Rd. Nov. 28: 6:35 a.m: Disturbance, Dispute - 37300 blk, Camp Creek Rd. Deputies responded...
Nov.25: 10:19: 38000 block, McK. Hwy. Medical, General. Patient Assessed, 1 Transported. 14:54: 40000 blk, McK. Hwy. Medical, General. Patient Assessed, 1 Transported. Nov. 26: 6:22: 49000 blk, McK. Hwy. Medical, General. Patient Assessed, Refusal Obtained. 7:53: 89000 blk, Upper Johnson Creek Rd. Medical, General. Patient Assessed, 1 Transported. 18:56: Camp Creek Rd./Easy Ln. Brush Fire. Legal Slash Pile. Nov. 27: 10:06: 45000 blk, McK. Hwy. Medical, General. Patient Assessed, 1 Transported. 14:48: 42000 blk, McK. Hwy. Medical, Trauma....
Nov. 29: 15:22: Towed Vehicle/Abandoned/Hazard – Hwy. 126E, Milepost 12. Troopers responded to report of an intoxicated male on the side of the highway. Upon arrival the male was evaluated by medical and it was determined he was having a medical event. The male was transported to the hospital for further evaluation. His car was parked nearby and was towed as a hazard. Involved: white Chrysler PT Cruiser, 62-year-old male from Junction City. Nov. 30: 22:50: Crash, Non-Injury – Hwy. 126E, Mp 10. Single vehicle vs. deer, non-injury. Vehicle...
Nov. 27: 23:10: Medical – 56000 block, N. Bank Rd. Male, Conscious, Breathing. Nov. 28: 00:14: Medical – 56000 blk, McK. Hwy. Female, Conscious, Breathing. Nov. 29: 08:45: Medical - 51000 blk, Dexter St. Male, Conscious, Breathing. 12:55: Medical - 51000 blk, Blue River Dr. Male, Conscious, Breathing. Dec. 1: 05:40: Medical – 92000 blk, Blue River Reservoir Rd. Female, Conscious, Breathing. The Upper McK. Fire District’s board of directors will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, December 16th, at the Blue River Fire Station...
