KWSO News: Local Market Season Ends, Local Water Advisory and Regional Updates
KWSO’s Warm Springs Thursday Market wrapped up its summer season at the Warm Springs Campus Pavilion after averaging 11 vendor booths weekly to provide fresh produce, program outreach, and support for local small businesses and fundraisers. Community members can look forward to the upcoming “Native Market” on November 25th at the Old Warm Springs Elementary Cafeteria, featuring returning vendors for early holiday gift shopping.
Public Utilities General Manager Chico Holliday issued a water quality advisory for Simnasho and Schoolie Flats after late August tap tests showed lead levels at 0.0205 mg/L, exceeding the EPA threshold of 0.015 mg/L. The Water and Wastewater Department is currently conducting follow-up testing and inspecting corrosion control systems to ensure safe drinking water.
Open enrollment for Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs employee benefits runs from October 1st through October 29th, giving workers the opportunity to review options across medical plans, flexible spending accounts, retirement, and supplemental coverages like life, disability, accident, and critical illness insurance. Employees must confirm their email with Compensation and Benefits by September 25th to prepare, and can attend informational sessions held in-person and online on October 13th and 14th.
Brothers and Sisters in Progress announced at the Native Aspirations Community Prevention Meeting that it is opening a men’s home in Madras for people returning to Jefferson County after incarceration. The facility will house up to six returning citizens and host a weekly reentry program to help individuals connect with essential resources and successfully transition back into the community.
High Lookee Lodge shared program updates at last week’s Native Aspirations Community Prevention Meeting, highlighting ongoing support and organized activities for elders and local residents. Upcoming plans feature social gatherings, fitness routines, and seasonal events like Halloween festivities, alongside active efforts to restore transportation services so community members can attend outings.
It was a heartbreaking weekend for Oregon college football as both state teams fell to opponents. Sixth-ranked Oregon suffered a 39-31 shocker against Oklahoma State in Stillwater, while Oregon State dropped a close 35-24 matchup to 13th-ranked Texas Tech in Corvallis. Both teams seek redemption at home this week, with the Ducks hosting Portland State on Friday and the Beavers welcoming Montana on Saturday night.
President Donald Trump is pushing to end federal protections for gray wolves, a decision aiming to placate cattle ranchers hurt by recent executive trade actions. However, stripping Endangered Species Act status would not automatically allow open hunting in the Pacific Northwest. As Cascadia Wildlands conservation director Bethany Cotton noted, “Any idea that someone could just go out and shoot a wolf, that’s not true—that is not the case under current management in Oregon.” The push to strip gray wolf protections marks the administration’s second attempt to delist the species after a previous first-term decision was overturned by federal courts. Alongside removing federal rules, the White House is now encouraging individual states to roll back their state-level wolf protections.
A bright, sunny start gives way to increasing cloud cover tonight with lows around 46 degrees. Tuesday begins mostly cloudy before clearing, reaching highs near 74 with afternoon northern wind gusts up to 22 mph.