Week of May 22, 2025 q4971
Week of May 22, 2025 q4971
WALTERVILLE: At a May 15 customer appreciation dinner hosted by the Eugene Water & Electric Board, McKenzie Valley residents had the opportunity to speak directly with utility staff about water access, energy reliability, and wildfire resilience amid ongoing infrastructure changes and environmental risks. Held at the Walterville Community Center, the open house featured table discussions led by engineers, program managers, and communications staff, along with member’s of EWEB’s board, who...
EUGENE: Following a unanimous vote last Tuesday, Lane County residents can expect to see building fees increase 21% over the next three years. The county’s board of commissioners’ vote came after reviewing reports that indicated the land management division is facing a $1.2 million shortfall. Language in the County’s 2022-2024 Strategic Plan called for investing “in the Land Management Division to ensure adequate and sustainable staffing levels and resources are available to be...
EUGENE: The Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) is facing energy supply decisions that will cost nearly $2 billion over the next two decades. While approximately 80% of EWEB’s energy comes from the Bonneville Power istration (BPA), it needs to sign a new contract with them by the end of this year by choosing among several “products” depending on how much energy the federal agency delivers when and at what price. “This is a choice between good choices,” according to the...
A major player in the Northwest’s energy landscape is considering changes in the future, as extreme climate events make power delivery in Oregon more unpredictable. Like utilities in the region, the Bonneville Power istration - a nonprofit federal istration - is considering ing a larger energy market to ensure reliable access for customers. BPA is favoring a market known as Markets+, which it says will be less expensive in the long run but could cost between $79 million and $129...
State Representative Darin Harbick and Lane County Commissioner Heather Buch will lead a procession of cyclists through the ribbon and onto the newly designated Aufderheide Scenic Bikeway on May 30. The event, at the Portal Park in Westfir, will begin at 11 a.m. with a welcome by Samara Phelps, Travel Lane County President/CEO. “Recreational cycling generates over a billion dollars annually for Oregon’s economy, and the state’s one-of-a-kind Scenic Bikeway program offers cyclists a...
The 2025 boating season is getting into full swing. National Safe Boating Week, May 17-23, leading up to the Memorial Day weekend, is recognized as the unofficial start for the boating season. A key part of the designation is a reminder that when you’re wearing a life jacket, you’re not just protecting yourself. You’re wearing it to protect your loved ones, to assure them that you’ll come home safe, and to set an example for them. Officials say there were 3,844 incidents in 2023...
BLUE RIVER: During a walking tour of Blue River last Thursday people had opportunities to hear updates affordable housing and community land trust models, manufactured dwelling parks, and other aspecxts of how the community’s wildfire recovery efforts are taking shape. At the Rose Street project the non-profit McKenzie Community Land Trust has designed a plan they feel can maintain affordability in perpetuity. Details include a ground lease system for homebuyers of six three-bedroom homes...
LEABURG: Plans to build a new interpretive center are now taking shape. Last week, construction workers began work at the 46-acre McKenzie River Discovery Center property to transform the historic site’s buildings into a showcase for films, displays, interactive exhibits and activities designed to produce a museum experience like few others. Working with with Portland’s Museum of Science and Industry’s (OMSI), the Discovery Center will feature films, augmented reality and interactive...
BLUE RIVER: Walking and biking improvements near the Blue River Bridge and McKenzie Highway intersection were part of the concerns discussed at information tables set up lat week at an “McKenzie Open House” event in the school gymnasium. Other topics ranged from recovery housing assistance, accessory development units, a public wastewater system, and Firewise grant opportunities. During pathway conversations one participant noted that improvements are particularly needed closer to the...
Tariffs are disrupting supply chains from China, making it harder for reusable alternatives to compete with single-use plastics. Jeffrey Delkin, president of Bambu, an Oregon-based company which has been making plastic-free home goods for 20 years, said the Trump istration’s 145% tariffs forced the company to lay off their staff in China and make their U.S. staff part-time. Though Chinese tariffs will now drop to 30% for 90 days, Delkin noted it is still a huge jump from the usual 3.5%....
The primary goal of the Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and nond emergency medical service organizations. Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards....
Current Lane County Sheriff Cliff Harrold announced his retirement earlier this month after 35 years in law enforcement. His retirement is effective on Friday, May 16. Candidates can apply online and interviews will be conducted by the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday, June 11. The appointed sheriff will serve through 2026. To remain in office, the appointee must run for election in 2026 to serve the traditional four-year term beginning in 2027. To qualify for the position of sheriff in...
McKenzie Varsity Sports Schedule This Week The McKenzie Track and Field teams participate in the 1A-SD2 Special District 2 Championships on Saturday, May 24. Field events will start at 10:00 am and Track events begin at 12:00 pm. Special District 2 Championships Set For Aaron and Marie Jones Community Track This Saturday The Special District 2 Championships meet will commence at the Aaron and Marie Jones Community Track venue this Saturday, May 24. Twenty-four girls and boy’s high school teams will compete throughout the day (field events...
No easy or obvious solution will resolve one of the top and less-acknowledged crises in America, the collapse of local and regional news reporting. Whether Oregon Senate Bill 686 es or fails, it should at least open a discussion about improving the ability of Oregonians to get the information they need to govern themselves. The problem is obscured a little by the fact that most news outlets in the state haven’t disappeared completely, and a few new ones (the Oregon Capital Chronicle, for...
Continued From Last Week Interestingly enough, Anna’s rock-steady husband was OK with resolving it that way. Although obviously not happy to have been cheated on, he forgave his wife and accepted her promise to mend her ways. But Banche Breuning’s blood was up, and she wanted the Other Woman out of her husband’s life entirely. So she marched her straying husband into Chief Jenkins’ office for a super-awkward three-way conversation — apparently with an eye toward getting Anna dropped...
When you are badly frightened, does your hair stand on end? Kenneth McKenzie knew “for sure.” Some time in the early 1930’s, “Mac” McFarland, who was head ranger at the time, hired Harold and Kenneth McKenzie, and their friend Leo Huston, to work for the Forest Service during the summer recess from school. Forest work at that time consisted of trail building, clean up work and a variety of hard chores, along with firefighting. The three boys got their assignment and were camped at...
The lush fragrance of lilacs defines late spring. These beauties are as durable as they are lovely. They are cold hardy, city-tough and not picky about soil. They make vigorous tall screens and a striking display of flowers. Even when branches are bare, younger lilacs show off an attractive branching pattern in winter. Lilacs generally produce more blooms on healthy, newer growth, rather than on older stems, according to Ross Penhallegon, retired horticulturist with the Oregon State University...
May 13: 4:59 a.m: Incomplete 911 Call - 90700 blk, Fish Hatchery Rd. 7:12 a.m: Subpoena Service - 39900 blk, Deerhorn Rd. 7:27 a.m: Subpoena Service - 39200 blk, Deerhorn Rd. 8:34 a.m: Motor Vehicle Accident, Unknown Injury - Marcola Rd. 2:09 p.m: Restraining Order Service - Marcola Rd. 6:11 p.m: Overdue Subject - Slide Creek Campground. May 14: 3:00 a.m: Disturbance, Dispute – McK. Hwy. 2:48 p.m: Hit & Run - 7700 blk, Thurston Rd. 3:31 p.m: Motor Vehicle Accident, Unknown Injury - Thurston Rd. 6:13 p.m: Criminal Mischief - 89500 blk, Old...
May 6: 2:57: 88700 blk, Twin Firs Rd. Medical, General. Patient Assessed, 1 Transported. May 12: 12:37: 36200 blk, McK. Hwy. Motor Vehicle Accident. Non-Blocking, Non-Injury. May 13: 14:06: 37200 blk, Camp Creek Rd. Medical, Heart. Patient Assessed, 1 Transported. 16:14: 40100 blk, Deerhorn Rd. Medical, General. Patient Assessed, 1 Transported. 8:44: 89000 blk, Bridge St. Medical, General. Patient Assessed, 1 Transported. May 14: 13:55: 51100 blk, Blue River Dr. Medical, Heart. Patient Assessed, Transported Life Flight. 14:22: McK....
May 14: 13:55: Medical – 51000 block, Blue River Dr. Female, Not Conscious, Not Breathing. May 16: 11:26: Brush Fire – 52000 blk, McK. Hwy. Burn pile that is out of control. May 17: 14:07: Medical – 54000 blk, McK. River Dr. Female, Conscious, Breathing. The Upper McK. Fire District’s board of directors will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 16th, at the Blue River Fire Station 2, 51730 Echo St. in Blue...
