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Applications Sought For Forest Work
The USDA Forest Service is hiring for work within the Umatilla National Forest. The focus is supporting fire operations; positions that are vital to wildfire preparedness and disaster response. Jobs include wildland firefighter, fire engine operators, maintenance workers, forestry technicians (lookout) and animal packer. Applications are being accepted through October 29th at USAJobs.gov.

Notifications Going Out Regarding Food Assistance
Oregon’s Department of Human Services has started mailing notices to people impacted by changes to federal food assistance. The first notifications are to Oregonians who applied for SNAP between July 4th and September 30th, and whose benefits will change or end due to new federal rules. The first round of reductions and closures takes effect November 1st.. Over the next 10 months the state will continue to notify impacted households as their benefits change. Officials estimate more than 313,000 Oregonians will be affected.

CDA Plans Igloo Open House
The Columbia Development Authority is holding an Igloo Open House, Tuesday, Oct. 21st from 3p to 5:30p. The igloos are available for lease for commercial and industrial purposes. The open house entrance will be at the CDA East Gate, located off Westland Road and Interstate 82.

ODOT Is Hiring
Oregon’s Department of Transportation continues its hiring blitz, in an effort to staff up for the winter maintenance season. Applications for some positions close this week. ODOT says there is an abnormally high number of vacancies after a hiring freeze earlier this year. That freeze was lifted with passage of a massive transportation funding package at the beginning of October. The governor has until Nov. 12th to sign those bills into law.

Oregon National Guard Is Enroute To The Southern Border
Around 60 members of the Oregon National Guard are on their way to the southern border to help with security operations. A mobilization ceremony was held Tuesday, Oct. 14th for the 1249th Engineer Battalion. They'll provide logistical support including vehicle recovery, maintenance, refueling and parts distribution. Soldiers will train at Fort Bliss, Texas. The mission is being coordinated through the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense, as Oregon’s guard remains under federal control.

CDA Reports Igloos Are Now Available For Lease
For the first time in the history of the U.S. Army Umatilla Chemical Depot site, the Columbia Development Authority (CDA) says the public is invited to lease igloos for commercial or industrial purposes. Traditional igloos are constructed to 80 feet in length, 30 feet in width, and feature a 14 foot rounded ceiling. They are equipped with a standard 5 by 10 foot steel door. Igloos have been thoroughly cleaned and cleared by the Environmental Protection Agency. The monthly rental fee is $300, with a minimum one year lease term. A $1,000 refundable cleaning deposit is required, along with proof of a general liability insurance policy in the minimum amount of $100,000.  CDA Executive Director Greg Smith says access to the igloos will be straightforward and user-friendly, however there are certain restrictions on their use. For instance, igloos are not permitted for any form of habitation. The Army explicitly prohibited such use with the transfer of the property.

Fire Season Comes To An End In Northeast Oregon
The Oregon Department of Forestry has ended fire season for all forestlands protected by the Northeast Oregon District. This includes over 2 million acres of private, state, county, municipal, and tribal lands across Union, Baker, Umatilla, and Wallowa counties, as well as portions of Grant, Morrow, and Malheur counties. With the conclusion of fire season, landowners under ODF protection may resume burning residential yard debris and using burn barrels without a permit. If you are within a fire department’s protection area or the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), check with them directly for current restrictions and permit requirements.

A Cooler, Wetter PNW Winter Forecast
It's going to be a La Niña winter. The Climate Prediction Center says the conditions started in September and will continue through the end of the year. It should taper off between January and March. La Niña Pacific Ocean currents generally bring cooler temperatures and more precipitation to the Pacific Northwest, which could mean more snow in the mountains. The southern U.S. is expecting to see less precipitation.

Oregon To Get Another License Plate Choice
Oregon drivers can soon get their hands on the newest license plate. The Puffin Place benefits the Oregon Coast Aquarium and its work providing critical care to endangered marine animals. The plate features a tufted puffin floating on the sea, watching fish swim below. More than 3000 pre-production vouchers were sold, clearing the way for the plate to actually be made. The DMV estimates that will take six to seven months.

Plans Taking Shape For RV Park At EOTEC
The Hermiston City Council received an update Monday, Sept. 8th, on the location of a planned RV park tied to the city’s agreement with Amazon Web Services (AWS). The agreement, approved in May, commits the City of Hermiston to constructing a minimum of 100 RV spaces, with preference for AWS employees or contractors. In exchange, AWS will provide $8 million in compensation over the course of the project. City Manager Byron Smith reported that the RV park will now be developed on 20 acres, newly acquired in partnership with the Farm-City Pro Rodeo and Umatilla County. The site is located adjacent to the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center (EOTEC) campus and allows for additional future uses beyond the RV Park. The draft layouts include RV spaces fronting on to Airport Road, along with two additional full-size multi-sport grass fields, and future parking expansion to accommodate events at the EOTEC facility.

LID Formed For Upgrade To NW 2nd Street in Hermiston
The Hermiston City Council voted 7-1 Monday, Sept. 8th, to advance the formation of a Local Improvement District (LID) to upgrade NW 2nd Street between W. Elm Avenue and W. Cherry Avenue. The street has become a key connector, expected to see higher traffic volumes following upcoming changes at the Elm Avenue / Highway 395 intersection. The LID will finance improvements to the gravel roadway through a cost-sharing model, with assessments to benefitting property owners and a $75,000 contribution from the city. Construction is anticipated to begin in Spring 2026. Once complete, final costs will be proportionally assessed to benefitting property owners, who will have the option to pay in full or finance payments over 10 years through the city. The council’s decision follows months of collaboration between city staff and property owners, after an earlier proposal failed to advance in May due to remonstrances. With approval of the 2nd reading at the September 22nd meeting, the city will proceed with full design engineering and prepare the project for bidding later this fall.

Federal Government Allocations To Benefit Some Oregon Airports
Six rural airports in Oregon will share $17 million dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, passed in 2021. The Crater Lake-Klamath Regional airport receives the largest of the new allocations at almost $8 million, and will be used for runway and taxiway construction. Airports in La Grande, Hermiston, Hood River, McMinnville and John Day will split the rest.