How to Protect Your Home From Wildfire

May 6-12 is Wildfire Awareness Week in Oregon and Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Jim Walker is asking Oregonians to make sure their homes are protected from wildfire. In a unified proclamation, governors from Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, and California encouraged homeowners to think about the approaching fire season. “The roof is the most critical part of the house when it comes to wildfire protection,” says Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Jim Walker. “Embers can collect and ignite on the roof, in gutters, and enter unscreened openings around the house.” Walker said even with non-combustible roofing material homeowners should always keep roofs, gutters and eaves clear of flammable debris.” Fire prevention experts also promote what they call “defensible space”around homes before fire strikes this summer. To reduce the risk, fire officials suggest removing dead vegetation for at least 30 feet around your house. In most cases, trees and healthy plants do not need to be removed. However, trees should be pruned and grass kept short and green to keep fire on the ground and more manageable by fire crews. OSU Extension can make suggestions about fire resistant plants.

Homeowners should also keep access in mind for large fire trucks. Long driveways should be at least 12 feet wide, have 10 feet of vegetation clearance from the centerline out, and about 14 feet overhead. Large vehicle turnaround areas are critical for your safety as well as firefighter safety. For more information, visit the websites for Keep Oregon Green, Oregon Department of Forestry, or call your nearest ODF or forest protective association office.

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OCCC Celebrates Silver Anniversary With Huge Party

Oregon Coast Community College is pulling out all the stops May 19 at its South Beach campus to celebrate 25 years in Lincoln County. The formal celebration begins at 10:00 a.m. with comments from Interim President Bruce Koike and reflections from 2006 Alumnus Sean Krause. There are many activities and demos throughout the day, tours and recreational events. A variety of lunch choices, including a beer garden, will be on tap from 11:30 – 1:30. Tickets will be sold for a “Wiffle Ball Drop” worth $25,000. Another celebration at the Lincoln City campus is set for July 21.

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Three Toledo Men Injured in Hwy 20 Crash

Three Toledo Men Injured in Hwy 20 Crash

A Land Rover driven by a Newport teen sideswiped one car and then ran head-on into another Saturday morning, injuring three Toledo men in the second vehicle, two of them seriously. Robert “Therron” Kraft, 46 and Shannon Monroe, 42 were both taken to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis. Michael Barker, 29, was treated at Pacific Communities Hospital for non-life threatening injuries and released.

Oregon State Police said a 1999 Land River sport utility vehicle driven by the young woman was westbound on Highway 20 near milepost 2 when, for an unknown reason, it sideswiped an unidentified white compact passenger car and then collided head-on with an the eastbound vehicle containing the three men. The teen was transported to Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport with minor injuries. The sideswiped car remained at the scene and initially contacted a Newport police officer. But the male driver then left in the car before OSP could obtain more information and is believed to have traveled westbound. OSP has not positively identified this person and is asking him to call OSP Northern Command Center dispatch at 800-452-7888.

The teenager driving the Land Owner has been cited by OSP to appear for DUII, Reckless Driving, and three counts of Assault in the Second Degree. Three of the four victims had to be extricated by firefighters from Newport Fire and Rescue and Toledo Fire and Rescue.

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Discarded Railroad Ties a Watershed Cleanup Issue

The MidCoast Watersheds Council (MCWC) invites community members to come together for a meeting at 7:00 p.m. May 10 to talk about abandoned creosote-infused railroad ties, which are common in the area. The meeting is at the Eddyville Community Church (20712 Highway 20). MCWC coordinator Lisa Mulcahy encourages people to “beautify your communities by identifying piles of discarded railroad (creosote) ties in between Nashville and Toledo. Also, learn more about the salmon habitat restoration work going on in your local creeks,” she said.

Participants are asked to bring the location (an address or obvious landmark) of any remaining piles of creosote ties you know about so MCWC can continue to help in facilitating their removal. MCWC works to maintain productive streams and watersheds on the central coast. Projects are designed help improve water quality, preserve and restore river and bay habitat, and help salmon migrate to and from their spawning grounds. For more information or to report the location of discarded creosote ties, email Lisa Mulcahy, Yaquina Basin Planning Team Coordinator at yaquinawatershedcouncil@gmail.com, or call 541-264-0572.

 

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SNAP Incentive Program Coming to Toledo, Lincoln City

The Lincoln City Farmer’s Market has become the latest to accept federal food benefits. Adults and families enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) can use their Oregon Trail card at the Lincoln City Farmer’s Market to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, plant starts, meat, dairy and bread. Through Ten Rivers Food Web’s “That’s My Farmer” SNAP Incentive Program, people who spend at least $6 of their SNAP benefits at the market get an extra $6 in market tokens redeemable for fresh foods.

In Lincoln County, more than nine thousand people rely on SNAP monthly, bringing in an estimated $15 million into the local economy each year. 33% of Lincoln County children are on SNAP, far outpacing the national average. Ten Rivers Food Web spokeswoman Chloe Rico said the Newport Farmer’s Market saw a 102% growth in SNAP transactions in 2011 from 2010 after the program was started there. SNAP clients spent almost $5 thousand of their benefits on local food in Newport last year. The Toledo Street Market will also participate in the program this year. For more information call 541-602-7278, or email.

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