To support recovery and resiliency, the Lincoln County Long-Term Recovery Group is inviting the community to the “One year later, reflections on Echo Mountain” event. Come share and reflect on local experiences during the Echo Mountain Complex Fire last September.
This event is FREE to all community members and will have live music, refreshments, and resource information booths. Bring chairs or blankets for outdoor seating and carpool or use County transit as parking is limited. Current public health recommendations for COVID-19 precautions will be followed.
WHAT: Community Event – “One year later, reflections on Echo Mountain
”WHEN: August 28th, 2021, 11am – 2pm
WHERE: Lincoln City Cultural Center 540 NE Hwy 101 Lincoln City, OR 97367CONTACT: CORE (Community Outreach Recovery Education) 541-265-0403More information here: https://www.co.lincoln.or.us/…/media_release…
Portland, OR—Governor Kate Brown today ordered all flags at Oregon public institutions to be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Saturday, August 21, in honor of Representative Gary Leif, who died on July 22 after battling cancer. Representative Leif had represented Oregon’s House District 2 since 2018. This flag order coincides with the date of Representative Leif’s memorial service in Roseburg.
“Our hearts are with Representative Gary Leif’s family, friends, and fellow lawmakers,” said Governor Brown. “In the Capitol, I always appreciated working with Gary. It never mattered to him if we came from different backgrounds or different parties. The most important thing for him was representing the people of Douglas County and looking after their needs.”
Health care workers, K-12 educators, staff, and volunteers required to be fully vaccinated PORTLAND, OR—Governor Kate Brown today announced two new vaccination measures to address Oregon’s hospital crisis, caused by the Delta variant surge, and to help keep Oregon students safe in the upcoming school year and minimize disruptions to in-person instruction: –Oregon’s vaccination requirement for health care workers will no longer have a testing alternative. Health care workers will be required to be fully vaccinated by October 18 or six weeks after full FDA approval, whichever is later. –All teachers, educators, support staff, and volunteers in K-12 schools will be required to be fully vaccinated by October 18 or six weeks after full FDA approval, whichever is later.
“The Delta variant has put enormous pressure on our health systems, and health care workers are being stretched to their absolute limits providing life-saving treatment for the patients in their care,” said Governor Brown. “I am devoting all available resources to help, and we must proactively implement solutions right now. We need every single frontline health care worker healthy and available to treat patients.”
In both cases, health care workers and educators who are not yet vaccinated are urged to speak with their doctor or primary care provider to get their remaining questions about vaccination answered immediately, so they can begin the vaccination process in time to meet the new requirements. In the case of educators, the Governor outlined the importance of masks and staff vaccinations to protect students: because children under 12 are still not yet eligible for vaccination, masks are a critical mitigation measure to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Ensuring all the adults around students are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 adds another layer of protection for students as well.
“Our kids need to be in the classroom full-time, five days a week, and we have to do everything we can to make that happen,” said Governor Brown. “While we are still learning about the Delta variant, we know from previous experience that when schools open with safety measures in place, the risk of transmission is low. That’s why I’ve directed the Oregon Health Authority to issue a rule requiring all teachers, educators, support staff, and volunteers in K-12 schools to be fully vaccinated.”
The Governor also outlined the steps Oregon is taking to support hospitals during the ongoing surge in cases and hospitalizations, including deploying the National Guard and nurse strike teams, establishing temporary decompression units to free up bed space, and removing barriers to discharging patients who no longer require hospital-level care. Oregon has also made requests to FEMA and the Biden-Harris administration for additional federal resources and support. The Governor announced she has formed a Hospital Crisis Prevention and Response group consisting of health care stakeholders to problem solve in real time and suggest new measures to aid health care workers and hospitals during the ongoing hospital crisis.
Additional Materials –A recording of today’s Press Conference — with an American Sign Language simulcast — is available on YouTube. Please note the video starts at the 19:49 mark. –An HD recording of today’s Press Conference for members of the media is available on Vimeo. –A copy of the Governor’s prepared remarks is available here.
The Oregon State Parks have now banned all fires in all state parks, campgrounds and beaches along the coast from the Lincoln County north border (Salmon River) to the Oregon/California border. https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm…
No campfires even in designated campfire areas. This includes charcoal fires, cooking fires, warming fires, propane fire pits, candles, tiki torches and other devices that emit flames or embers.
*Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottle fuels and propane/liquid-fueled lanterns are allowed.
Oregon is entering its second consecutive dry summer and is bracing for what has already proved to be another devastating wildfire season. While some wildfires are a natural part of Oregon’s landscape, the fire season in Oregon and across the West is starting earlier and ending later each year. Sadly, we are no exception in Lincoln County.
Warmer spring and summer temperatures, reduced rainfall, and earlier record high temperatures create longer and more intense dry seasons that increase moisture stress on vegetation and make our landscape more susceptible to severe wildfire. As the seasonal grasses and fuels have already cured in the East, the coastal communities of the West are rapidly catching up. Fuel moistures are at an all-time low.The current drought conditions in Lincoln County coupled with reduced measurable precipitation in the region have forced this decision. Local and adjoining county fire service leadership with support from our partners at ODF, BLM, USFS, and OSFM endorse this decision in Lincoln County based on predictive fuel modeling, current fire conditions throughout the state, and significant fire history in the area. With the Echo Mountain Complex Fires not at all forgotten, let this proactive measure serve as a reminder that we take last year’s events seriously. With limited resources on hand and no long-term relief in sight, now is the time to implement these planned restrictions, which also come earlier each year.
Oregon State Parks Update
Fires are prohibited on beaches and in coastal day-use areas in Lincoln County south to Oregon’s border with California.
>The ban includes wood, charcoal briquettes, candles, tiki torches and other devices that emit flames or embers.
>Propane stoves and other cooking devices that have a shutoff valve are allowed. Campfires are allowed in Oregon State Parks campgrounds.
All beaches and day-use areas (fires in campgrounds allowed) in Lincoln, Lane, Coos and Curry counties, from the Salmon River south to the Oregon border with California.
>Fire ban includes wood, charcoal briquettes, candles, tiki torches and other devices that emit flames or embers.
>Propane stoves and other cooking devices that have a shutoff valve are allowed.
>Fireworks are prohibited year round on all Oregon beaches.
>Look for signs at all beach access points.
Announcement: Due to increased wildfire risk in the Pacific Northwest, all campfires will be prohibited on BLM lands in the Northwest Oregon District beginning August 4th. Click https://www.lincolncity.org/index.asp… for more information.
In addition, all campfires are banned east of Interstate 5 in state parks and state-managed forests. Click https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm… more information.
The dust abatement for gravel streets will take place on Tuesday, August 03, 2021 However, due to ongoing supply constraints, some of the smaller gravel roads and dead end streets will not receive the treatment. Lignosulfonate is a naturally occurring polymer found in wood. It is not harmful to plants, animals or aquatic life.
LC Manager's Report 