You
can’t get there from here...that is if you plan on flying throughout most of
May
As
May began Roberts Field in Redmond, the region’s commercial airline hub, was out
of service as contractors started paving one of the airport’s runways,
necessitating a complete closure in that the runways intersect in an X
configuration.
For
months airport officials have been preparing passengers to plan for alternative
travel out of Central Oregon. And airlines concurrently had blocked out the estimated
closure dates of May 2 through 22 well in advance of construction.
Bus
services such as Central Oregon Breeze have braced for additional passenger
loads and many travelers have used ground transportation to reach Portland for
airline or train connections to other destinations.
The
timing of the project was intended to take advantage of warmer Spring weather
before the beginning of the heavy summer tourism travel months. The
improvements are estimated to cost $18.3 million, nearly 94% of that sourced
from a Fedeal Aviation Administration grant and the remainder from a state
ConnectOregon grant.
Dam gates open
as federal judge orders spotted frog talks
As
the 2016 irrigation season began with water release from upper Deschutes River
for downstream farms and ranches a fedeal judge in Eugene ordered environmental
group plaintiffs and a coalition of basin irrigators to seek solutions for
managing water to protect the spotted frog and assure agricultural uses.
The
order by US District Court Judge Ann Aiken was issued in a written opinion that
followed her earlier denial of an injunction requested by environmental groups
that would have forced substantial changes to this year’s release of water from
reservoirs.
Aiken
also denied the environmental groups motion to delay her written opinion and
set a trial date for their earlier suit that maintained current operation of
the dams jeopardized the Oregon spotted frog listed as threatened in areas of
the basin under the federal Endangered Species Act.
The
Deschutes Basin Board of Control, representing basin irrigation districts, has
said that a habitat conservation plan, or HCP, being developed with US Fish and
Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, which manages the dams, and
other interests will address water conservation and management to benefit the
frog.
Earlier
posts on the spotted frog:
Federal judge denies motion to disrupt Deschutes irrigation for spotted frog
Small frog makes big waves in Deschutes Basin: ESA listing spawns policy & legal wrangling
Grass now
greener for pot growers
After
delaying action on marijuana operations on farmland Deschutes county commissioners
have agreed to draft new land use regulations and rules that would permit
growers to move ahead.
The
contentious issue has divided some owners and neighbors of existing farm and
ranch land who argue that noise, smell, potential illegal activity and lighting
from greenhouses would disrupt their quite lifestyle.
Proponents
counter that marijuana growing should be permitted by recent state legislation
that resulted from a statewide ballot initiative, and is covered under Oregon’s right to farm
law.
The
legislation had enabled cities and counties to “opt out” of allowing growing
operations within their jurisdictions.
The
county timetable calls for draft regulations to be completed by May 19; a
review and first reading with any changes by commissioners May 25; a second
reading in early June and for regulations to take effect 90 days after that.
Growers
will be required to comply with the new regulations within six months, although
existing medical weed farmers will be have to observe new lighting rules
immediately.
Quick,
swerve...or risk a blown tire or busted shock
The
dismal condition of many Bend high-traffic streets has brought out the comic in
local residents.
Instead
of the well-known “adopt a road” program to clean up trash, think of “adopt a
pothole” volunteer groups. Or perhaps a rally to determine the top driver who
can navigate several damaged roundabouts without touching a
tire on one of the asphalt ditches.
Local
traffic cops may be having a tougher time guessing whether a driver has had a
few too many of Bend’s official brewing libation, or just adept at dodging
rutted street hazards.
With
a proposed fix in the form of a new gas tax soundly slapped down by voters,
city officials are now looking at the possibility of tapping the tourism tax to
raise an estimated $1.3 million for street repairs.
That
brought out a statewide tourism association’s threat of a possible lawsuit. An
association spokesman said it might be a stretch to interpret the tax on nightly lodging legislation as allowing
receipts for street repairs as a tourism expense.
Meanwhile,
motorists are cautioned to keep their eyes off the cell phone or GPS and on the
approaching potholes.
