Spanning the State: Batten Down the Hatches, Edition

Carla Axtman

It seems like the big thing on the mind of most Pacific Northwesterners at the moment is the weather.

High winds and torrential rains have been walloping the region all weekend. A Pacific typhoon which brushed Japan brought its residuals to the area bringing high winds, torrential rain and left lots of residents without power. Welcome to fall, Oregon.

So as we wring out our fleece (it is Oregon, after all), let's Span the State!

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A rather rambling piece by Bill Monroe at The Oregonian highlights how smart phones are changing the experience of deer hunting. I'm no expert, but after reading this I wonder if the phones are defeating the purpose...?

A Baker City couple's motion sensing game camera captured a group of five cougars together. The photo was snapped about 6:30pm on Saturday. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s district wildlife biologist Brian Ratliff said it is exceedingly rare to see five cougars together. Ratliff said that the most likely explanation is that the group includes a mother and her 2-year-old daughter, plus the mother’s and, possibly, the daughter’s kittens.

The Divide Fence Project located east of Joseph in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest is closer to completion. Five miles of the seven mile length of fence is finished, with work set to be completed next year. The fence is intended to protect fish and riparian habitat while providing opportunities for grazing, recreation, and other activities near the Salt Creek Summit area. The project is a collaboration of Wallowa County, Wallowa Resources, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), the local ranching community, the Eagle Cap Nordic Club and the Forest Service.

Former Cornelius Police Chief Paul Rubenstein is speaking out about his retirement after a bruising and divisive battle between himself and a group of officers. It's been a pretty nasty fight and Rubenstein is coming out swinging.

Looking for a job? Grant County looks to be gearing up to hire folks to work on county roads. After years of deferred maintenance, local roads are falling in to serious disrepair, according to the county's roadmaster.

By Carla Axtman Sept. 30, 2013