Oregon Legislature approves over $600 million for wildfire recovery efforts
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Oregon Legislature approves over $600 million for wildfire recovery efforts

ByTom Atkinson

Source: KEZI.com SALEM, Ore.– The Oregon Legislature has approved more than $600 million to support those impacted by the 2020 Labor Day wildfires. Some of the highlights of the recovery funding package include: $150 million- Wildfire recovery housing supply and land acquisition $110 million- Water and sewer infrastructure projects in wildfire impacted communities $75 million-…

Task Force Collaborations Helping Reopen Parks for Summer
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Task Force Collaborations Helping Reopen Parks for Summer

ByTom Atkinson

Source: DebrisCleanupNews.com With pandemic-related travel restrictions beginning to lift and the summer vacation season officially underway, Oregonians are justifiably eager to get back to their favorite recreation spots. Travelers need to be prepared for changes to many of the state’s iconic scenic areas and waterways that were severely damaged by last year’s wildfires. While many…

House Bill 2289 Passed by the State
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House Bill 2289 Passed by the State

ByTom Atkinson

House Bill 2289 was passed by the State and became effective on June 11, 2021. It provides simplified planning and building processes for the rebuilding of nonresidential, accessory, and residential dwelling uses. APPLICABILITYThe bill is applicable to owners of properties on which structures or uses were destroyed or interrupted by the Holiday Farm Fire. Sections…

Reopening park in Oregon town devastated by wildfire ‘is going to be a big milestone’
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Reopening park in Oregon town devastated by wildfire ‘is going to be a big milestone’

ByTom Atkinson

Source: NBC16.com BLUE RIVER, Ore. – The Holiday Farm Fire swept down the McKenzie River drainage and through town late last summer, driven by unusually fierce east winds. Blue River Park was lost to the flames along with much of the community. NBC-16 visited Blue River and interviewed Park Board member Alice Bonasio. “Blue River…

Thank You to Melanie Stanley!
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Thank You to Melanie Stanley!

ByTom Atkinson

On the night of Labor Day 2020, before packing a few of her own possessions in a car and escaping the rapidly spreading devastation of the wildfires that were coming towards Blue River, Melanie Stanley made sure she warned as many of her neighbors as she could. That involved physically knocking on people’s doors, as…

New Holiday Farm Fire Permit Navigator Appointed to Help Survivors
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New Holiday Farm Fire Permit Navigator Appointed to Help Survivors

ByTom Atkinson

Lane County’s Land Management Division has just announced that Marianne Nolte has been selected to fill Lane County’s new “Holiday Farm Fire Permit Navigator” position.  This is an important new function within the Land Management Division – and as the name implies the Permit Navigator position was created with the singular mission of assisting Holiday…

McKenzie River Trust Gearing up for In-Stream Restoration at Finn Rock Reach!
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McKenzie River Trust Gearing up for In-Stream Restoration at Finn Rock Reach!

ByTom Atkinson

Source: McKenzieRiver.org We are working to improve fish and wildlife habitat on the middle-McKenzie River. In-stream restoration can look messy and is often misunderstood.  McKenzie River Trust staff will be presenting on how the project has been designed, what the project will look like during restoration and the expected ecological benefits for fish and wildlife….

Future Build Project – Sheds for Survivors Documentary
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Future Build Project – Sheds for Survivors Documentary

ByTom Atkinson

Today Lane Education Service District shared this amazing short documentary film created by Lane County high school students. The piece tells the incredible story behind the Future Build project where students, volunteers, and agencies came together to bring hope to the survivors of the Holiday Farm Fire in the McKenzie River Valley. #FutureBuild #LaneESD #CTEworks!…

Blue River Post Office Gets a Grand Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
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Blue River Post Office Gets a Grand Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

ByTom Atkinson

Blue River has come a long way since the Holiday Farm Fire last September, and things are really starting to look better with a lot of cleaning up being completed and construction starting on many properties around town. A major milestone for the community has been getting our Post Office back, on the same site…