Crook County fastest growing in state, new census estimates say
Crook County grew faster than any other county in Oregon between 2020 and 2022. That’s according to newly released census data. The Bend Bulletin reports Crook County saw a 6.6% population increase over that time. Other Central Oregon counties, such as Deschutes and Jefferson counties, also saw increases. Part of the growth in Crook County is likely due to increasingly high housing costs in Bend. As rent and home prices have grown, more people have moved to nearby Prineville. But experts say as more people move to Crook County, housing costs will start to go up there too. Prineville officials say they’re aware they will need to improve infrastructure and build more housing to meet the growing demand. The census data also showed Multnomah County had the largest decrease in Oregon population between 2020 and 2022. (Anna Kaminski/The Bend Bulletin)
Blue Mountain Hospital officials deny rumors of cuts to home health, hospice service
The Blue Mountain Hospital District in Grant County is reassuring local residents that it will continue to provide home health and hospice services. That’s after someone circulated misleading fliers that claimed the district planned to cut those programs. The Blue Mountain Eagle reports that at a recent hospital district meeting, staff assured residents the home health programs would remain. District officials are looking into ways to change insurance reimbursement for the services because Medicare does not currently pay nurses for travel times to people’s homes. That can sometimes take up to an hour in Grant County. Still, the district says they are finding ways to make the services work financially for nurses and local care providers. (Bennett Hall/Blue Mountain Eagle)
Grants Pass-area substation vandalism under investigation
The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a reported break-in at a Pacific Power substation just east of Grants Pass that led to brief power outages Sunday afternoon. A suspect was caught on video surveillance looking straight at a camera at the substation on East Jones Creek Road and waving at it, a Pacific Power spokesperson told the sheriff’s office. The suspect may have manipulated a gas valve and a coolant system at the substation. Pacific Power told the sheriff’s office that a person would have to be familiar with the system to use it. The break-in comes after a spate of attacks on electrical substations in Oregon and Washington, as well as other states, underscoring what experts have said is the continued vulnerability of the nation’s electrical grid. Two substations in Clackamas County were attacked on Nov. 24 and Nov. 28. (Vickie Aldous/The Daily Courier)
Federal mediators hold first ‘listening session’ on removal of Snake River dams
Anyone hoping to speak Friday at the first of three online listening sessions hosted on a highly controversial proposal to remove four lower Snake River dams will need to wait. The speaking slots are full for the first two-hour session, which begins at 10 a.m. The sessions, hosted by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, are designed to allow federal agencies and stakeholders to hear the public’s concerns. The two other sessions are April 3 and May 25. Both will begin at 10 a.m. The dams have long been the target of environmental groups, which say they must be removed to benefit salmon recovery. Farmers say they support salmon recovery, but want a solution that will benefit all stakeholders. They depend on the dams to transport crops via barge, provide irrigation water and generate clean electricity for the region. (Capital Press staff)
State forestry department gives away trees in Southern Oregon
Free tree seedlings in boxes of 400 will be available for pick-up at the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southern Oregon District Office the first week of April. The seedlings are left over from a U.S. Department of Agriculture Emergency Fire Restoration Program, now entering its second year of giveaways to regions affected by the Labor Day fires of 2020. ODF will hold another free seedling event at North Santiam Park to help those affected by the Beachie Creek Fire, according to a press release sent by ODF. The South Obenchain Fire burned over 32,000 acres of public and private land near Shady Cove and Butte Falls. For this year’s seedling giveaway, there are too many trees, said Marcus Havniear, an ODF stewardship forester at the Southern Oregon District Office. Any landowner can pick up boxes of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir seedlings from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., April 3-6, at the ODF office, 5286 Table Rock Road, Central Point. (Morgan Rothborne/Rogue Valley Times)