Coast landslide danger increasing JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
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he National Weather Service (NWS), Oregon Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral and Industries (DOGAMI) issued weather advisories late last week concerning heavy rain, flooding and the potential of landslides. Rain totals were forecasted from 2 to 4 inches or more along the Oregon Coast. The News Guard contacted DOGAMI geologist Bill Burns for insight into the landslide risks along the Oregon Coast during and after such weather events. The News Guard: What specific areas of Lincoln County are at risk for landslides and why?
Bill Burns:
• Canyon bottoms, stream channels, channel outlets • Steep slopes and bases of steep hillsides • Areas where slopes of hills have been altered by excavated or steepened or recently burned
• Places where slides or debris flows have occurred in the past Our Statewide Landslide Information Database for Oregon (SLIDO) map can help people understand where the potential landslide risk is generally higher or lower. https://gis.dogami.oregon. gov/maps/slido/ As you will see much of western Oregon has a moderate to high susceptibility to landslides and thus our concern during large storms like the one happening now. The News Guard: Specifically, how does the heavy rainfall increase the risk of landslides? Burns: During the next several days, the NWS is forecasting an atmospheric river type storm in northwestern Oregon. This means we could have intense rain over prolonged time. Storms like these are the ones that have caused landslides in the past and thus the concern right now. The soils can’t drain fast enough, and the com-
See LANDSLIDES, Page A2
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Oregon geologists warn that drivers traveling along the Oregon Coast and through landslide areas need to be aware of the potential danger following intense rain events. This photo shows a previous slide following a heavy rain event.
Taft music students make history JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Editor’s Note: The News Guard first published the following story Nov. 2 stating that Dylan Rodriguez plays the trombone and Ryan Riggs plays the flute, when in fact Ryan actually plays the trombone and Dylan plays the flute. We are happy to set the record straight.
STAFF REPORT
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incoln County and other ares of the state are likely to see the impact of a major financial boost in transportation funding. The Oregon Department of Transportation will receive over $1 billion in additional transportation funding as part of the federal infrastructure package, according to Oregon Transportation Commission Chair Bob Van Brocklin. “This past weekend Congress completed work on the largest infrastructure finance bill in history,” Van Brocklin said. “Once signed by the president, the $1.2 trillion bill will allow ODOT to address a number of major challenges in our state.” The money will go toward projects around the state that will benefit drivers, transit riders, cyclists and pedestrians, help maintain roads and bridges, and address climate change, according to Van Brocklin. “We’re still analyzing the legislation to determine exactly how much funding ODOT will receive and where it will spend the money,” Van Brocklin said. “Many projects are ready for construction, and others are in the final stages of planning so we should be able to move quickly.” ODOT plans to conduct a media briefing this week to release additional details. The specifics about that event were pending as of early Monday morning. Nov. 8. Van Brocklin said the Oregon Transportation Commission and ODOT will direct the funds, combined with state funding from the Oregon Legislature to “make real progress”
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aft sophomore Kaylon Junder plays the clarinet, Taft senior Dylan Rodriguez plays the flute and senior Ryan Riggs plays the trombone in the school band. “The three music students have been accepted into the Oregon Music Educators Association All-State ensemble this year,” Taft 7-12 Band and Choir Teacher Collin Stegner said. “To my knowledge there has never been a student who has been accepted into this ensemble in Taft’s history.” In order for students to make it into the All-State band, they must follow an audition screening and placement process. Audition screening is “blind” as judges do not know the student’s name or school information. Screeners listen to each track and assign a score from 1-100. They listen for the following: Note/pitch accuracy, rhythmic accuracy, tone quality, articulation, dynamics, style, and phrasing. After the auditions are scored each student ends up with an overall score and is ranked. Stegner said the honor for the students is significant. “All-State is a way for the music program to be recognized by individual students on a huge stage,” he said. “It also allows students to have an experience performing with some of the best band students in the state.” Stegner said opportunity for the three Taft 7-12 students to perform with the All-State ensemble underscores the importance of music in their lives. “Benefits of this experience include experiencing music at a very high level with some of the most amazing music educators in the country,” Stegner said. “It will also teach them what it is like to be a professional musician where you have very limited time to perform an amazing performance. In regard to life lessons, it teaches them how to have more self-discipline and that hard work can give you unforgettable experiences in life.” The music conference and All-State Concert will be conducted from January 13 through 16 in Eugene. Tickets can be purchased online at SeatYourself.com for $15 for the High School performance.
ODOT to receive $1.2 Billion for statewide projects
Dylan Rodriguez
Ryan Riggs
Kaylon Junder
See ODOT, Page A2
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