Rogue Valley News, Wednesday 5/28 – Spring Resource Fair at Hawthorne Park, Former Asante Nurse Accused of Drug Diversion Pre-Trial Conference Today & Other Local and Statewide News…

Update: Oregon State Police wrapped up their investigation of the West Coast Game Park Safari in Bandon — Drugs, guns, $1.6M found during raid of Oregon game park and over 300 animals relocated

Investigators who seized more than 300 animals during the search of a troubled animal safari park on the Southern Oregon Coast say they also found meth, about $1.6 million in cash and bonds, and dozens of firearms.

The West Coast Game Park, which had been in operation since the 1960s, is now permanently closed.

Oregon State police said they searched the park in Bandon on May 15 after getting disturbing inspection reports of malnourished animals and unsanitary conditions that dated back at least a year.

During the search, they found a dead tiger in a freezer, underweight big cats and other animals, and rodent droppings in food.

The South Coast Interagency Narcotics Team (SCINT) was involved in the initial search on May 15, and they found 80 grams of meth. They filed for additional warrants and on another visit found 44 guns – including one modified into a machine gun, 8 grams of cocaine, and about $1.6 million in cash, cashier’s checks, bonds, and certificates.

On the morning of Tuesday, May 27, Bandon Police officers arrested 52-year-old Brian Tenney as part of the SCINT investigation.

He was booked into the Coos County Jail on meth possession, manufacturing, and attempted distribution.

All the animals from West Coast Game Park Safari have been relocated to accredited or permitted animal sanctuary and rescue facilities.

Not all of the facilities are currently known. Four big cats, one male and one female serval, and two male Eurasian lynxes, were relocated to Wildcat Ridge Sanctuary in Scotts Mills.

Fifteen big cats were relocated to various sanctuaries and facilities through an effort led by The Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone, Minnesota. The sanctuary said they coordinated the transport and placement of nine big cats and seven exotic cats from West Coast Game Park after the search was finished.

“The Wildcat Sanctuary’s team, including their staff veterinarian, traveled 2,000 miles to ensure 4 lions, 1 tiger, 2 leopards, 1 jaguar, 3 lynx, 2 bobcats and 2 servals were safely removed from the West Coast Game Park Safari and rehomed to accredited facilities,” Wildcat Sanctuary said in a statement. “

The founder of the Minnesota sanctuary, Tammy Thies, said “With over 25 years of experience, our staff are professionals in relocating and transporting large predators safely and humanely. It took eight hours to assess, crate and load the cats into customized transports.”

Three animals had to be euthanized because of their poor conditions – a camel, a chicken, and a kinkajou.

The operation was led by Oregon State Police in collaboration with local, state and federal partners. It was part of a lengthy criminal investigation into the facility’s operations.

Update: Operation concludes as investigators depart facility

On May 18, just before 10 p.m., investigators concluded their search of the West Coast Game Park Safari and cleared the area. As a result of the search, 310 animals were seized and relocated to accredited and/or permitted animal sanctuary or rescue facilities. No animals were released into the wild or unattended as a result of the search warrants.

Unfortunately, due to their physical condition, a chicken and a kinkajou were euthanized. This is in addition to the camel that was euthanized on the first day of the search and is not the young camel featured in the previously distributed photograph.

Investigators are now processing all of the evidence obtained during their four-day search of the property. Due to the ongoing investigation and future adjudication of the case, no further information is available for release.

Media: B-Roll Video

Oregon State Police thanks our partners and the multiple animal sanctuary and rescue organizations who assisted during the multiday incident. These efforts would not have been possible or successful without their continued assistance.

Estacada Man Faces Federal Charges for Trafficking 270 Pounds of Methamphetamine

— An Estacada man is facing federal charges today after he was caught transporting 270 pounds of methamphetamine from Southern California to Oregon.

Anthony Barrera, 29, has been charged by criminal complaint with possessing methamphetamine and cocaine with the intent to distribute.

According to court documents, during an investigation of an alleged drug trafficker, later identified as Barrera, investigators learned Barrera rented a vehicle and traveled to California to pick up large quantities of drugs to distribute and sell in Oregon.

On May 24, 2025, officers located Barrera driving the rental vehicle northbound on Interstate 5 and followed him to a rest area near Roseberg, Oregon, where Barrera was arrested without incident. Agents executed a federal search warrant on the rental vehicle and seized 270 pounds of methamphetamine and two pounds of cocaine, which were concealed in the backseat and cargo area of the vehicle. Later the same day, investigators executed a federal search warrant on Barrera’s residence where they seized two firearms hidden under the floor of a closet.

Barrera made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.

The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Multnomah County Dangerous Drug Team (DDT). It is being prosecuted by Charlotte Kelley, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

The Multnomah County DDT is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and is composed of members from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Multnomah County Parole and Probation, Gresham Police Department, the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS).

The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives.

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

A group of students in Oregon is advocating for lawmakers to approve a bill that would enable them to participate in school board elections.

House Bill 3012, which was introduced earlier this year, aims to permit 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in nonpartisan school board elections beginning in 2029. On Monday morning, a coalition of youth voting advocates gathered outside the Oregon Capitol to urge legislators to consider the bill, coinciding with the day before school board elections are held throughout Oregon.

While Oregon automatically registers individuals aged 16 and 17 when they obtain their driver’s licenses, they do not receive a ballot until they turn 18. In contrast, 21 states permit 17-year-olds to vote in primaries if they will be 18 by the time of the general election, as reported by the National Conference of State Legislatures, and certain U.S. cities allow teenagers to vote in local elections. However, Oregon students like Nilani Maheswaran, a high school student from Beaverton, argue that they should have the right to vote on matters that affect their education, as they are already working, driving, and paying taxes.

The issues that concern her most at school include staff shortages, mental health support, and the high ratio of students to teachers.

Oregon currently has a greater number of residents aged 65 and older than it has individuals under the age of 18, marking a significant demographic shift with substantial consequences for the state’s economy.

As recently as 1985, Oregon had more than double the number of children compared to seniors. However, the state’s birth rate has dramatically decreased — ranking among the lowest in the nation — and the majority of baby boomers have now reached retirement age.

Consequently, the population of older adults has surpassed that of children. The Oregon Office of Economic Analysis projects that in 2024, there will be nearly 900,000 individuals over 65, in contrast to 832,000 under 18, with an estimated 821,000 currently.

State economists anticipate that the senior population will continue to grow while the number of children declines. By 2035, they predict that Oregon will have 40% more seniors than children. See report here: https://www.oregon.gov/das/oea/Documents/OEA-Forecast-0525.pdf

Life sentence for North Bend man accused of killing four people

COQUILLE, Ore. — A life sentence has been handed down for a North Bend man accused of killing four people – including his father – and kidnapping a woman from Springfield.

Oen Nicholson’s fate was handed down Monday at the Coos County Courthouse. Nicholson was arrested in 2021 but was deemed unfit to stand trial due to insanity – until last year.

“Guilty Except for Insanity” is the verdict for Nicholson on four counts of first-degree murder from a Coos County judge. The judge sentenced him to serve out the rest of his life in Oregon state hospital. prosecutors say Nicholson — 30 years old at the time — killed four people in North Bend.

One of them, his father, was stabbed more than a dozen times inside a trailer they shared at the Mill Casino RV Park, according to Coos County Special Prosecutor Paul Frasier.  Then, a couple in their seventies who stayed at the RV park was run over by Nicholson as he left the park in his father’s pickup truck.

He then used his father’s gun to kill one last victim — a woman at a North Bend marijuana dispensary he frequented.

“Under the law, this was the only resolution we could go with,” Frasier explained. “The experts in this case – both my experts and the defense experts – agreed that Mr. Nicholson met the criteria for Guilty Except for Insanity. And because of that, your options are limited. There’s only one thing you can do, which is what we did today. He was found Guilty Except for Insanity.”

Nicholson was diagnosed by specialists from both his lawyer and prosecution with schizophrenia with paranoid delusions. Those specialists say he believed each victim was a government agent attempting to kill him.

The judge tacked on another 20 years to Nicholson’s sentence for the kidnapping of a Springfield woman who Nicholson forced to drive 2,000 miles to Wisconsin following the killings.

Kyron Horman disappearance investigation continues 15 years later as police digitize case files

Law enforcement is scanning and documenting thousands of pages of reports, photos and evidence to be digitized, 15 years after Kyron’s disappearance.

As the 15th anniversary of Kyron Horman’s disappearance approaches, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) says its investigation into his disappearance remains ongoing, announcing that case files will be digitized.

The MCSO and Gresham Police detectives are scanning and documenting thousands of pages of reports, photos and evidence to be digitized. When the case is digitized, the file will be reexamined by the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, laying out the foundation “for a fresh and comprehensive review of the entire investigation,” according to MCSO.

MCSO detectives in the coming months will meet with Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez and his team to further evaluate.

Kyron was last seen on the morning of June 4, 2010, at a science fair at Skyline Elementary School in Portland.

Kyron’s stepmother dropped the 7-year-old off at Skyline that morning and reported that she saw him walking toward his classroom at 8:45 a.m., but he didn’t come home on the school bus. In 2012, a Multnomah County Circuit Court judge referred to Kyron’s stepmother, Terri Horman, as a “prime suspect,” but she has denied any wrongdoing, and no charges have been filed, though Kyron’s mother, Desiree Young, has accused Horman of giving multiple versions of events for the morning of Kyron’s disappearance.

Young has long campaigned to make sure the investigation keeps going, telling KGW last year, “I can’t even explain it. He’s a part of me. There’s just something in there that yearns to touch him and hold him.”

At the time, he was wearing a black T-shirt with “CSI” in green letters and a handprint graphic, along with black cargo pants, white socks and black Skechers sneakers with orange trim. He may have been wearing his glasses.

Kyron has brown hair, blue eyes, wears glasses and has a distinct V-shaped strawberry birthmark on his forehead, police said.

“We have never stopped searching for Kyron,” said Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell in a statement Friday. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to bring resolution to this case, for Kyron, for his family and for the community. With the support of our partners and the public, we are actively pursuing every credible investigative opportunity. Kyron and his family are at the heart of our work.”

A $50,000 reward remains available for information leading to the resolution of Kyron’s disappearance. Anyone with information is asked to call MCSO’s tipline at 503-988-0560, email tips@mcso.us or reach out to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) via 1-800-THE-LOST or online at the NCMEC CyberTipLine. (SOURCE)

Proposed federal SNAP cuts would leave Oregon families hungry, governor and senators warn

More than 700,000 Oregonians receive aid from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Oregonians will go hungry if congressional Republicans plow forward with plans to cut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and shift costs to states, senators and Gov. Tina Kotek warned on Tuesday.

Kotek and Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined a press call Tuesday with three other Democratic senators and the head of a Vermont anti-hunger group to discuss proposed cuts to SNAP, the food benefits used by 42 million Americans and more than 700,000 Oregonians.

Congressional Republicans on Monday night unveiled a plan to cut federal SNAP spending by at least $230 billion, mostly by shifting costs to states. But states including Oregon can’t afford those shifts, Kotek said.

“We just do not have the kind of money that it would take to maintain the program at the current level if these cuts go through,” Kotek, also a Democrat, said. “It will just not happen, and people will go hungry in Oregon.”

The details of congressional Republican’s budget reconciliation proposal arrived just before Wednesday’s release of Oregon’s May revenue forecast, which state budget-writers will use to craft the next two-year budget. Lawmakers are bracing for a downturn tied to tariffs, federal funding cuts and economic instability.

The federal proposal means that the taxes Oregonians pay to the federal government will not return to the state to help their neighbors in need, Kotek said. Kotek, who started her career as a policy advocate for the Oregon Food Bank, said she saw firsthand what it means for people to skip meals to afford rent or medicine and knows how fragile food security is for many.

“When you cut SNAP, you’re not cutting bureaucracy,” she said. “You’re cutting a child’s dinner. You’re cutting their breakfast. You’re cutting their family’s dignity.”

Every dollar spent on SNAP generates another $1.50 to $1.80 in economic activity at grocery stores, farmers’ markets and other local businesses, Kotek said. Without that money, stores could close and people could lose their jobs.

Merkley said Oregon stands to lose about $400 million under the proposal to shift costs from the federal government to states. And Wyden decried potential cuts to SNAP and Medicaid as a  “double whammy” for health care.

About 1.4 million Oregonians are covered by Medicaid, or the Oregon Health Plan. Republicans proposed instituting work requirements and withholding funding from states like Oregon that cover health care regardless of immigration status and cover gender-affirming care.

“The combination of less food assistance for seniors and kids, and then Republican cuts in Medicaid, is a prescription for a sicker America,” Wyden said. “What we’re talking about is health care 101: You need access to food to be healthy, and you need access to timely healthcare when you’re ill.”  (SOURCE)

Oregon’s Congressional Democrats propose leveraging federal Job Corps to train more firefighters

To combat chronic and growing shortages of wildland firefighters, Oregon’s Congressional Democrats propose leveraging an existing federal jobs program to boost the workforce needed.

The Jobs Corps was established in the 1960s to offer education and apprenticeship opportunities to low-income 16- to 24-year-olds, and nine of the Corps’ 24 Civilian Conservation Centers train students in work on public lands, including fire prevention and response. Three of them are in Oregon — in Yachats, Glide and Estacada.

The act is sponsored by Oregon’s U.S. Reps. Andrea Salinas and Val Hoyle and U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, as well as Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Kentucky and Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana.

The bill would also create a pilot program within the Job Corps to pay students to help build housing for wildland firefighters in areas experiencing shortages of available housing, a barrier to recruiting more people into the profession. Corps members make less than $200 per month while enrolled at a Civilian Conservation Center, and can qualify for housing, food, health and dental care while in the program.

Bill sponsors said in a news release the goal would be for the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to hire at least 300 graduates of the Civilian Conservation Centers’ wildfire training programs each year, and get them directly into permanent and seasonal wildland firefighting jobs across the U.S.

Salinas said in the news release the need for wildland firefighters is greater than it’s ever been.

“Wildfires are getting bigger, more dangerous, and more destructive every year due to climate change,” she said. “It’s a commonsense bill that will keep our communities safe from deadly blazes, and at the same time, create more job opportunities for Oregonians.”

The future of the Corps is uncertain, however. Trump’s May 2 budget request to Congress proposes eliminating the program entirely, calling it “a failed experiment.”

Merkley has tried to push the act for years, according to the senator’s spokesperson, Molly Prescott.

“The idea originated after Trump tried to eliminate CCCs in his first term,” Prescott told the Capital Chronicle in an email. “But as the Trump Administration is jeopardizing how we can prepare for and respond to wildfires amid deep cuts to federal funding and our workforce in public lands, it’s never been more needed to boost Job Corps CCC programs and get more wildland firefighters in the pipeline.”

Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers students do millions of dollars worth of public works and land management projects, according to agency reports, and hundreds of thousands of hours of wildland fire prevention and response work, including firefighting, prescribed burns and removing flammable materials. Students also construct and maintain buildings on public lands, build trails, and restore wildlife habitat and watersheds year round.

The National Job Corps Association, National Federation of Federal Employees, Wildland Firefighter Foundation and Western Fire Chiefs Association are also endorsing the bill. (SOURCE)

Oregon bill, headed to governor, sets homeownership goals by 2030

Oregon lawmakers say bill would help guide housing policy

Saying homeownership is crucial to building wealth and stability, Oregon lawmakers want more than 30,000 more Oregonians to own homes by 2025.

The Oregon Senate on Tuesday in a 23-6 vote passed House Bill 2698, which would create a state goal to increase homeownership rates to 65% by 2030 – followed by an additional 1.65% for the next five, 10 and 15 years. It also mandates the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department create a dashboard tracking progress on homeownership rates across the state that include race and ethnicity data.

That’s to ensure Oregon is working toward closing homeownership gaps between different racial and ethnicity groups, bill sponsor Sen. Deb Patterson, D-Salem, said on the Senate floor. Census data analyzed by the Oregon Employment Department shows that while 67% of white Oregonians and 62% of Asian Oregonians own their homes, only 30% of Black Oregonians, 47% of Hispanic Oregonians and 51% of Native American Oregonians are homeowners.

Latest available data shows 63.4% of Oregonians own their homes, and the state ranks 39th in the nation for homeownership, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Neighboring Washington, California and Nevada have lower rates, while Idaho is higher.

Decades of declining housing construction, a rising population and stagnant wages — particularly in the mid-2000s — contributed to Oregon’s current housing crisis. Oregon has 242,000 low-income households, yet only 113,000 housing units are affordable and available to them, according to data from the housing and community services department.

“Home ownership is a priority for the majority of Oregonians,” Patterson said. “It’s a time-tested means of building generational wealth and promoting long term economic stability for Oregonians and the communities we share.”

While the bill doesn’t address all issues related to housing, she said setting goals is an important step to guide policy.

The bill already passed the House in a 42-8 vote. Now that it’s passed both chambers, it is headed to Gov. Tina Kotek’s desk where she can sign it into law, let it become law without her signature or veto it. It would take effect immediately.

While most senators supported the bill, some legislators raised concerns that the state of Oregon needs to prioritize policies to increase the state’s housing supply.

A report in January showed Oregon needs to build about 29,500 more homes each year, mostly in the Portland and Willamette Valley region, to meet the state’s housing demand.

“We can set goals, we can have dashboards… but until this state makes policy decisions to allow more supply, which means compromise with folks that don’t want to increase supply, then we are going to see this systemic problem continue,” said Sen. Mike McLane, R-Powell Butte.

Sen. Noah Robinson, R-Cave Junction, said he supports homeownership and wants to make progress toward increasing it. However, he said he doubts dashboard and setting goals are the right way to do so.

“I think we’re just going to spend a bunch of money publishing a tracker of where we’re hoping to go, and what we really need to do is change state laws and make it easy,” he said.  (SOURCE)

OHA seeks your help to make health care more affordable

New committees, public hearing provide opportunities to brainstorm solutions

SALEM, Ore. – Are you concerned about paying for a health emergency or routine care? Do you have an idea that could make health care more affordable? Oregon Health Authority (OHA) wants to hear from you.

“Everyone deserves quality health care, but growing medical costs make that increasingly challenging,” said Antonio Germann, M.D., a family physician who is vice-chair of the Oregon Health Policy Board, a citizen-led body that oversees OHA. “We need to tackle this complex issue to ensure our future health, and we’re inviting people to share their personal experiences and expertise with us to help us address it.”

About 83% of Oregon adults worry about being able to afford health care in the future, and 43% have struggled to pay their medical bills, according to a 2024 survey. Concerning statistics like this prompted OHA to make strengthening affordable health care for all a pillar in its strategic plan. It also led the Oregon Health Policy Board to seek the public’s help in identifying a broad range of solutions by serving on committees and participating in a June 10 public hearing.

Oregonians are invited to submit applications to serve on two new committees focused on health care affordability. May 16 is the extended deadline to apply for both committees. Applications and more information are available on the Committee on Health Care Affordability and Industry Advisory Committee webpages. Once their members are chosen, the committees plan to meet beginning this summer. Additional details are below.

The Committee on Health Care Affordability, also simply called the Affordability Committee, is seeking diverse voices. Its members may include people who receive health care, employers that purchase insurance, health economists and health policy experts.

The Affordability Committee will be supported by the Industry Advisory Committee, which also aims to include a variety of perspectives, ranging from health insurers to providers, hospitals and health industry leaders. Health care professionals in small or independent practices, and those who specialize in primary care, behavioral health, oral health or pediatrics are particularly encouraged to apply to the industry committee.

Comment at public forum

Both committees will build on the work of OHA’s Sustainable Health Care Cost Growth Target program, which seeks to limit Oregon’s health care cost increases to 3.4% per person annually. Between 2021 and 2022, the state’s health care spending grew by 3.6%, slightly more than the target.

Every year, the Health Care Cost Growth Target program holds a legislatively required public hearing to discuss recent trends in health care spending and highlight what’s driving health care cost growth. The 2025 public hearing will specifically explore behavioral health and pharmacy spending trends and will also focus on policy ideas to improve health care affordability. Information and potential solutions discussed at the event will help inform the new committees’ future work. People are also encouraged to share their personal stories and ideas about health care affordability during the hearing. See below for details on how to participate.

What: Health Care Cost Growth Public Hearing

When: 10 a.m.-Noon PT Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Details: Hybrid virtual and in-person meeting to discuss health care costs in Oregon, including recent trends, their causes and ideas for slowing cost growth.

Get involved: Consumers, clinicians and businesses are invited to share their concerns about and experiences with health care costs. Email written testimony or sign up to provide spoken comment at e.CostTarget@oha.oregon.gov” style=”color: rgb(6, 66, 118); text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;”>HealthCare.CostTarget@oha.oregon.gov.

Webpage: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HPA/HP/Pages/cost-growth-target-public-hearings.aspx

Zoom meeting: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1610883159?pwd=PAveuaEZgsT4KLXVPXm8WduVGatWCa.1

Meeting ID: 161 088 3159 — Passcode: 371696 — One tap mobile: +16692545252,1610883159# US (San Jose)​

In-person meeting: Salem, Oregon (details will be added to Oregon Health Policy Board meeting webpage)

Free Camping, Day-Use Parking & Activities On State Parks Day June 7th

—Every year Oregon State Parks begins the busier season with a small thank you to its visitors — free camping and day-use parking on State Parks Day.

State Parks Day has been a tradition since 1998 to thank Oregonians for their long-standing support of the state park system. It falls on the first Saturday of June, which is June 7 this year.

“We are honored to steward and share these places with Oregonians and all our visitors. We appreciate their commitment to preserving and maintaining Oregon’s special places. We would not have the park system that we have today without their support,” said OPRD Director Lisa Sumption.

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) will waive day-use parking fees at the 25 parks that charge them and camping fees for all tent, RV and horse campsites on June 7. State Parks Day also includes free events at many state parks.

Park staff have worked hard over the last few months getting parks ready for the busier season and State Parks Day. The list of projects includes everything from clearing storm damage, with as many as 180 downed trees near Nehalem, to moving mountains of muck or sand to re-open camp loops. Now parks are ready to welcome visitors for State Parks Day and the busier season.

State Parks Day Events

• The Cove Palisades will host a free festival that celebrates the diverse history, food and culture of Central Oregon from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Festival of the Land, includes Dutch oven cooking demonstrations, kids’ games and activities, petting zoo, educational displays, mini farmers market and more.
• L.L. Stub Stewart will host a star party in partnership with OMSI and Rose City Astronomers at 9:30 p.m. in the Hilltop Day-Use Area. Visit OMSI’s website on the day of the party for possible weather-related cancellations: https://omsi.edu/whats-on/
• Carl G. Washburne will host a free State Parks Day BBQ from noon to 1 p.m.
• Spring Valley Access will host a trail work party from 9 a.m. to noon. The event includes clearing brush, raking debris and picking up trash.
• Tryon Creek State Natural Area invites visitors to explore its Interpretive Nature Center, navigate its extensive trail system and attend a guided hike.
• Prineville Reservoir will host a free State Parks Day BBQ from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. near the Dark Sky Observatory.
• Silver Falls will host an exhibit about the emerald ash borer (EAB) and its role as a threat to Oregon’s ash trees 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oregon State Parks and Oregon Department of Forestry staff will be on hand to share information about the importance of ash trees and this destructive invasive beetle.
• Collier: will offer a guided tour through Collier Logging Museum 11 a.m. to noon so visitors can learn about old logging camps and what machines they used to make life easier.
• Fort Stevens will host disc golf lessons 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fort Stevens State Park-Historic Area Columbia Shores Disc Golf Course.
• Harris Beach we have a multi-park scavenger hunt where visitors can seek natural formations, unique flora and historical locations. Pick up scavenger hunt cards at Harris Beach registration booth or from ranger or host at Alred Loeb.

For a list of events, visit stateparks.oregon.gov/

For camping availability, please check oregonstateparks.reserveamerica.com or visit first-come-first served sites: https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=reserve.first-come

—– State Parks Day began in 1998 to celebrate the support of visitors around the state. It’s one of three days a year that Oregon State Parks waives the day-use parking fees. Other days include Green Friday the day after Thanksgiving and First Day Hikes on New Year’s Day.

Father’s Day Train Rides on June 14th

Are you looking for a unique way to celebrate Dad this year? Climb aboard for a train ride that promises fun for the whole family! On Saturday, June 14th, Oregon Rail Heritage Center is rolling out a special pre-Father’s Day celebration.

Trains will depart at 1:00 PM, 2:30 PM, and 4:00 PM. Each ride lasts approximately 45 minutes and takes passengers on a round-trip journey down to Oaks Park and back along the beautiful Willamette River. Tickets are priced at $24 for adults, $16 for children, and $21.60 for seniors and active or retired military.

Whether you’re surprising Dad with a family adventure, or simply enjoying the charm of traveling by railroad, this is an experience you won’t want to miss.

Tickets are available at https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/orhf/items/548042/calendar/2025/06/?flow=469974

BLM announces fire restrictions to protect Pacific Northwest communities

 —On May 15, fire restrictions will go into effect for all Bureau of Land Management public lands throughout Oregon and Washington. BLM leaders encourage all visitors to be aware of active restrictions and closures as warmer, drier weather is forecasted around the Pacific Northwest.

These fire restrictions help reduce the risk of human-caused fires. Starting May 15, the use of fireworks, exploding targets or metallic targets, steel component ammunition (core or jacket), tracer or incendiary devices, and sky lanterns will be prohibited.

“The number of human-caused fires has only increased over the years,” said BLM Oregon and Washington State Fire Management Officer, Jeff Fedrizzi.

Grasses and other fuels dry out quickly in the summer months, making them highly susceptible to catching fire. It just takes one spark.

“Our first responders, local communities, and public lands will be safer if everyone follows fire restrictions and practices fire safety while out on public lands,” he continued.

Those who violate the prohibition may be fined up to $100,000 and/or imprisoned for up to 12 months. In addition, those found responsible for starting wildland fires on federal lands can be billed for the cost of fire suppression.

For the complete order and more information on seasonal fire restrictions and fire closures, please see www.blm.gov/orwafire.

May is also ‘Wildfire Awareness Month’. Visit NIFC.GOV for wildfire prevention tips: https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/fire-prevention-education-mitigation/wildfire-prevention.

To learn more about fire careers with BLM Oregon-Washington, please see https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire/state-info/oregon-washington/careers.

-BLM-

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR FIELDS ARTIST FELLOWSHIP 

Four Oregon Artists to Receive $150,000 Each Over Two Years

— Oregon Community Foundation, in partnership with Oregon Humanities, is now accepting applications for the Fields Artist Fellowship, which awards $150,000 to Oregon-based artists working to address community issues through creativity and cultural expression.

The two-year fellowships will go to four artists to advance their artistic practice and honor and sustain their commitment to create social change within their community. Eight more finalists will receive a one-time award of $10,000. The 12 fellows will receive professional development, networking, and community-building opportunities throughout the program.

“As an individual artist, receiving these funds was huge in terms of interrupting and creating social change in my rural town,” says Crystal Meneses, who received one of the inaugural Fields fellowships in 2019. “It opened doors for me that would never and have never been open.”

Applications from Oregon artists will be considered between May 6, 2025 and June 13, 2025. A selection committee will review applications and award the fellowships by December 2025. The Fellowship term will begin in May 2026 and run through May 2028.

“It is an honor to recognize the power that a single artist can have in their community through this program,” says Jerry Tischleder, Senior Program Officer for Arts and Culture at Oregon Community Foundation. “We look forward to adding another cohort of individuals into this growing network across Oregon.”

Artists of all disciplines and artistic media are encouraged to apply, including writers, filmmakers, visual artists, multimedia artists, culture bearers, and performance artists. Eligibility requirements include the following:

• At least five years of professional practice in an artistic discipline or combination of disciplines

• At least three years of residence in Oregon (non-continuous) and the intent to reside in Oregon for the majority of the fellowship term (May 2026 to May 2028)

• Demonstrable evidence of artistic practice that can engage with community groups and organizations and/or address community concerns

Oregon Community Foundation, in partnership with Oregon Humanities, administers the program and convenes gatherings for the fellows. All funding is provided by the Fred W. Fields Fund of Oregon Community Foundation.

Proposals must be submitted by June 13, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PDT. The application portal and full request for proposals can be found here.

Find more information here. An informational webinar will be held on May 22, 2025 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. Sign-up to attend using this link. A recording will be posted on this page after the webinar date. For questions, contact Program Administrator Aimee Craig.

About Oregon Community Foundation  – Since 1973, Oregon Community Foundation has worked to improve the lives of all Oregonians through the power of philanthropy. In 2024, OCF distributed more than $211 million in grants and scholarships in every county in Oregon in partnership with donors and volunteers. Individuals, families, businesses and organizations can work with OCF to create charitable funds to support causes important to them. To learn more, visit oregoncf.org.

About Oregon Humanities – Oregon Humanities connects people and communities through conversation, storytelling, and participatory programs to inspire understanding and collaborative change. More information about our programs and publications—which include Consider This, Conversation Project, Humanity in Perspective, The Detour podcast, Facilitation Training, and Oregon Humanities magazine—can be found at oregonhumanities.org. Oregon Humanities is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities and a partner of the Oregon Cultural Trust.

OHA to issue algae warnings when dog deaths reported 

As summer approaches, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reminds people heading outdoors to enjoy the state’s lakes, rivers and reservoirs to be on the look-out for potentially toxic cyanobacteria blooms.

To help, OHA is adding a tool reporting the possible presence of cyanobacteria in freshwater lakes and rivers statewide. Starting immediately, OHA will issue pre-emptive public warnings following reports of dog illnesses or deaths possibly resulting from cyanotoxin exposure.

OHA advises recreational visitors to always be alert to signs of cyanobacteria blooms in the water and in mats attached to the ground or rocks. This is because blooms can develop and disappear on any water body at any time when bloom conditions are favorable.

Only a fraction of water bodies in Oregon are monitored for blooms and toxins, so it’s important for people to become familiar with signs of a bloom, exposures and symptoms by visiting OHA’s Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms website at http://www.healthoregon.org/hab. 

Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs

No veteran should be without a place to call home, and the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs is committed to ending veteran homelessness in our state.

The new ODVA Houseless Veterans Program collaborates with federal, state, county, and Tribal agencies, veteran services offices, and community homeless service providers to meet the urgent and unique needs of Oregon’s diverse veteran communities challenged with housing stability.

In addition to advocating for Oregon veterans experiencing or at risk for houselessness, the program provides direct service to veterans and their families seeking federal and state veterans’ benefits, including access to local VA health care, documentation of service, as well as other available state benefits, and local homeless services organizations and low-income assistance programs.

If you or a veteran you know is dealing with homelessness, contact the ODVA Houseless Veterans Coordinator today at houselessvets@odva.oregon.gov or visit https://ow.ly/V4EH50VnL93 to learn more.

The tenth anniversary season of ‘In a Landscape, Classical Music in the Wild’ commences in May and continues until September.

This season will feature 50 concerts showcasing classical music at two locations in Lake County: Summer Lake and Fort Rock, as well as the Alvord Desert. The Summer Lake concert is titled ‘Dark Sky Concert,’ as Summer Lake is recognized as an Oregon Dark Sky Park.

A performance near Jacksonville at Applegate Lake will take place on May 30, and another at the Alvord Desert on June 21.

The performance at Fort Rock State Park is scheduled for September 13, followed by the Summer Lake Hot Springs concert on September 14.

The Fort Rock concert will start at 4 p.m. and conclude around 5:30 p.m., while the Summer Lake Hot Springs concert will begin at 9 p.m. and last approximately 1.5 hours due to the Dark Sky designation.

Tickets for individual concerts are priced at $50, or $135 for both performances, which includes two nights of camping at Summer Lake Hot Springs, with the camping fee charged per person. ‘Good neighbor’ tickets are also available for residents of Lake County.

Pianist Hunter Noack is curating a new program for this tour, which will encompass 50 concerts across six Western states: Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana.

The performances will take place at 10 new venues, including the recently reopened Kah-Nee-Ta in central Oregon. Noack will perform on a 9-foot Steinway concert grand piano.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs to sit near the stage, and wireless headphones will allow them to explore the surroundings while enjoying the music, creating a unique experience in the wild, particularly at Fort Rock, the Alvord Desert, and Summer Lake Hot Springs.

The series will kick off on May 10 in Goldendale, Washington, at the Maryhill Museum of Art. Tickets for the public can be purchased through the In A Landscape website at https://inalandscape.org.