242 Closing

ODOT’s Bend office reports crews will close the Old McKenzie Pass on Thursday, November 5.

The route along Hwy. 242 is a scenic, secondary highway that closes each year as winter weather approaches. Due to weather, cost, and logistics, ODOT doesn’t maintain the route through the winter. Vehicles are prohibited beyond the gates.

The annual highway closure doesn’t include public lands. Non-vehicle recreational users, such as skiers and snowshoers can go beyond the closed gates at their own risk. Because the road is not maintained in winter, conditions can be hazardous. There are no services or cell coverage, and weather can change rapidly. As snow melts in spring, recreational users may encounter fallen trees, rockslides and damaged pavement.

Even during its time as the main route between the Willamette Valley and Central Oregon, the narrow, twisting roadway and high elevation (5,325 feet) made it difficult to maintain and keep clear during the winter.

Annie Kids

Annie KIDS, based on the classic comic strip Little Orphan Annie, is coming to the Wildish Community Theater’s Rose Children’s Theater, 630 Main St. in Springfield.

The play tells the heartwarming story of a spirited young orphan determined to find the parents who left her years ago. Along the way, Annie outsmarts the grumpy Miss Hannigan, befriends President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and discovers that family can be found in the most unexpected places.

It’s a timeless story that reminds us all that “The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow.”

Showtimes include Friday, Nov. 20 at 7 pm; Nov. 21 at 1 pm; and Nov 21 at 4 pm. Adult $8, Students/Seniors $5: https://tinyurl.com/4wjwdeh4

Waterfowl

Ryan Kniss of Johnstown, Pennsylvania., received first place in the Habitat Conservation category of the 2027 Oregon Waterfowl, Upland Game Bird, and Habitat Conservation Stamp Art Contest with a depiction of a harlequin duck. The winning artwork will appear on the 2027 collector stamps and related promotional items, with proceeds supporting habitat improvement, research, surveys, and conservation projects. Each first-place artist will receive a $2,000 award in recognition of their outstanding talent.

Oregon has had a waterfowl stamp every year since 1984. Waterfowl stamps and validations raise about $500,000 annually with proceeds benefiting waterfowl management and habitat. Stamps and prints of the winning artwork can be purchased through tinyurl.com/4hjys5af