During their Regular School Board Meeting on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, the College Place Public Schools Board of Directors appointed Joshua Williams to serve as the interim representative for Director Area #3. Williams will fill the vacancy created following the resignation of longtime board member Todd Stubblefield.

In accordance with board policy and state law, the vacant position was publicly posted and opened for all eligible residents living within Director Area #3 to apply. The Board conducted a public interview process as part of the district’s board appointment timeline before deliberating and making the appointment during the evening meeting.

Williams is a lifelong Walla Walla County resident who has lived in College Place for the past 18 years with his wife and four children, three of whom currently attend College Place Public Schools. Professionally, Williams serves as a West Region Area Manager for Nutrien Ag Solutions. He also has a long history of volunteer service with Walla Walla County Fire District 4, where he has served since 2010.

In his letter of interest and interview with the Board, Williams spoke about his commitment to students, families, and educators and his desire to support strong academic standards while ensuring students feel safe, supported, and included. He also emphasized the importance of listening carefully, asking informed questions, and collaborating respectfully with stakeholders across the community.

“I am honored to be accepted as a member of the College Place School Board,” said Williams. “I look forward to serving our students, supporting our educators, and working together with our community to help every child succeed.”

Superintendent Jim Fry shared appreciation for Williams’ willingness to serve and the perspective he brings to the district.

“I appreciated Josh’s attitude of service to the community and our children as his reason for applying,” said Fry. “To have children in each of our schools next year will give him a perspective that will prove very valuable to our board.”

Williams will serve in the interim position until the regular November 2027 election determines the holder of the seat for the remainder of the term.

The City of Richland and Richland Fire & Emergency Services will unveil a new Automated External Defibrillator (AED) SaveStation at Badger Mountain Community Park (350 Keene Road) on Monday, June 1, 2026, further expanding public access to life-saving emergency equipment throughout the community. This will be the seventh unit placed in Richland. 

The SaveStation will be located near the park’s central amenities area, providing convenient access for park visitors, sports participants, walkers, and families enjoying the community park. A brief unveiling ceremony will take place at 11:00 a.m. at the installation site.

AED SaveStations provide immediate access to an Automated External Defibrillator during a cardiac emergency, when every second matters. Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere, and prompt CPR and AED use significantly improve survival rates.

Key features of the AED SaveStation include:

• 24/7 Accessibility: The unit is available around the clock, ensuring immediate access during emergencies.
• Temperature Control: Built-in climate controls help protect the AED and maintain operational readiness year-round.
• Alarm System: Opening the unit activates an alarm to draw attention to the emergency and alert nearby individuals.
• GPS Monitoring: The SaveStation is equipped with GPS technology that supports monitoring and helps emergency responders locate the device quickly.
• User-Friendly Instructions: Clear visual and voice-guided instructions assist users through the AED process, even without prior training.

The installation supports the City’s ongoing commitment to public safety and aligns with HeartSafe Richland, a community initiative focused on improving survival outcomes from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest through public education, Hands-Only CPR training, and increased access to AEDs.

"Having AEDs readily available in our parks and public spaces can make the difference between life and death during a cardiac emergency," said Richland Fire & Emergency Services Chief Randy Aust. "This SaveStation helps ensure that residents and visitors have access to life-saving equipment when and where it is needed most."

The Badger Mountain Community Park installation expands Richland’s growing network of publicly accessible SaveStations, helping create a safer and more prepared community.

For more information about HeartSafe Richland, Hands-Only CPR training, or AED awareness, visit heartsaferichland.com.

SALEM, Ore. - Oregon National Guard service members participated in ceremonies across Oregon and Southwest Washington to honor individuals who died in defense of the nation on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026. As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Memorial Day takes on heightened significance, as the country pauses each year to honor those who sacrificed their lives to secure the nation's pursuit of liberty and cherished freedoms.

During the nation’s 200th anniversary in 1976, President Gerald R. Ford’s speech at Arlington National Cemetery on May 31 paused to honor the service members whose sacrifices spanned the nation’s history, linking their courage to the anniversary celebrations.

“As we mark this milestone of our national independence, however, we must not forget the lessons of history. Other nations have risen to great heights only to weaken in their resolve. We must not repeat their error. We must remain strong in our defense and steadfast in our resolve to uphold the principles with which we began two centuries ago.”

Speaking at the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs Memorial Day celebration in Salem, Governor Tina Kotek highlighted that Memorial Day unites Americans in remembrance of the sacrifices made by service members.

"Memorial Day is not simply a tradition, it's a responsibility — a responsibility to remember the human cost of war, to honor those who never came home, and to ensure that their sacrifices are never forgotten,” she said.

Following Governor Kotek's remarks, Oregon Army National Guard Col. Russell Gibson, Government and Legislative Affairs Director and Commander, 82nd Brigade Troop Command, represented the Oregon Military Department and the State’s military community. He emphasized that the sacrifices made by Oregon’s sons and daughters should always be remembered.

"The men and women we honor today are not just names on a wall or statistics in a history book — they were sons and daughters, husbands and wives, mothers and fathers," Russell said.  "Their stories are our stories, and it is our sacred duty to preserve their memory and ensure their sacrifices are never forgotten."

Meanwhile, at a Memorial Day event at FirLawn Cemetery in Hillsboro, Oregon, Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Bertilson highlighted that when Oregon Soldiers deploy, "The impact is felt here as the families sacrifice when their loved ones are far from home."

Culminating the day is one of the major Memorial Day events at Willamette National Cemetery. Oregon Army and Air National Guardsmen, along with Navy, Marine Corps, and other military members, served as Color Guard and performed military duties for the ceremony.  A patriotic flyover conducted by the Oregon Air National Guard at the cemetery was one of nearly a dozen flyovers in cities and towns across the region, where the F-15 Eagles from the 142nd Wing flew in support of Memorial Day events.

“We are standing on Hollow ground,” said Wendall Pelham, the Keynote speaker and a Gold Star Father. “Men and women have given their lives so that we could spend this beautiful day together, sharing their legacies. Americans who answered their nation’s call, not because it was easy, not because it was safe, but because they believed there were things greater than themselves worth defending.”  

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Released Images:

260525-Z-ZJ128-1001: Carla Buyes (left), Gold Star mother of Cpl. Adam J. Buyes, U.S. Marine Corps, and Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek stand with a memorial wreath at Oregon Capitol State Park in Salem, Oregon, on May 25, 2026, prior to the Oregon Statewide Memorial Day Ceremony hosted by the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs. Cpl. Buyes, of Salem, Oregon, was assigned to the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and died Nov. 26, 2011, in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations during Operation Enduring Freedom. He was 21. (Oregon National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne)

260525-Z-ZJ128-1002-1005: Oregon National Guardsmen joined Oregon state and community leaders at Oregon Capitol State Park in Salem, Ore., May 25, 2026, for the Oregon Statewide Memorial Day Ceremony hosted by the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs. The ceremony honored fallen service members through a posting of the colors by North Salem High School JROTC, a reading of "In Flanders Fields," a flyover, and keynote remarks from Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek. Chaplain Col. Jacob Scott, Oregon Army National Guard, delivered the invocation and benediction, and Col. Russell Gibson, commander of the 82nd Troop Command Brigade and government and legislative affairs director for the Oregon Military Department, delivered remarks on behalf of the Guard and the state's military community. The ceremony concluded with the laying of a wreath by Gov. Kotek, ODVA Director Dr. Nakeia Council Daniels, and Carla Buyes, a Gold Star mother. (Oregon National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne)

260525-Z-LM216-1001-1004: A Memorial Day ceremony was held at Fir Lawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home in Hillsboro, Ore., to honor and pay tribute to all U.S. service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice, May 25, 2026. Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Bertilson, Oregon Army National Guard, was the guest speaker during the ceremony. (Oregon National Guard photo by 1st Sgt. Zachary Holden)

260525-Z-CH590-1056: Military members of a Joint Service Honor Guard team post the Colors to begin the Memorial Day Observance held at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Oregon, on May 25, 2026. This year marked the 76th annual Memorial Day Observance at Willamette National Cemetery, one of three national cemeteries in Oregon (the others being Roseburg and Eagle Point). (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

260525-Z-CH590-1261: Wendall Pelham, a Gold Star Father, delivers the keynote address during the Memorial Day Observance at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon, on May 25, 2026. This year marked the 76th annual Memorial Day Observance at Willamette National Cemetery, one of three national cemeteries in Oregon (the others being Roseburg and Eagle Point). (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

260525-Z-CH590-1594: Family, friends, visitors, and other mourners of the fallen move among the thousands of American flags displayed at the gravesites at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon, following the Memorial Day Observances held on May 25, 2026. Memorial Day is dedicated to honoring all those who died in service to the United States during both peacetime and war. This year marked the 76th annual Memorial Day Observance at Willamette National Cemetery, one of three national cemeteries in Oregon (the others being Roseburg and Eagle Point). (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

260525-Z-CH590-1379: Military members of a Joint Service Honor Guard team perform a rifle salute during the Memorial Day Observance held at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Oregon, on May 25, 2026. This year marked the 76th annual Memorial Day Observance at Willamette National Cemetery, one of three national cemeteries in Oregon (the others being Roseburg and Eagle Point). (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

260525-Z-CH590-1402: Oregon Army National Guard Chaplain (Maj.) Wesley Moldogo delivers the Benediction at the conclusion of the Memorial Day Observance at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Oregon, on May 25, 2026. This year marked the 76th annual Memorial Day Observance at Willamette National Cemetery, one of three national cemeteries in Oregon (the others being Roseburg and Eagle Point). (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

260525-Z-CH590-1329: Two Oregon Air National Guard F-15 Eagle jets assigned to the 142nd Wing at Portland Air National Guard Base conduct a patriotic flyover during the Memorial Day Observance at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon, on May 25, 2026. This year marked the 76th annual Memorial Day Observance at Willamette National Cemetery, one of three national cemeteries in Oregon (the others being Roseburg and Eagle Point). (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

Media Contact: 503-934-3310  |  licinfo@oem.oregon.gov" rel="noopener" style="text-size-adjust: 100%; color: rgb(0, 42, 92);" target="_blank">OEM_Publicinfo@oem.oregon.gov

2026 Wildfire Awareness Month: Have a Plan, Build a Go-bag, Get Insured, Be Ready to Evacuate 

SALEM, Ore. -- Oregon is going to be a tinderbox this wildfire season. With counties across the state already declaring drought emergencies, we are heading into what will be one of the driest seasons in more than a decade. As a result, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is asking you to get ready now: 

1. Pack your go-bags 
2. Know your evacuation routes – have a plan 
3. Sign-up for emergency alerts 
4. Be prepared if cell service goes down 
5. Know the evacuation levels 
6. Make sure you have enough wildfire insurance – have a recovery plan 

Pack Your Go-bags 

A go-bag contains essential items you may need to take with you in a hurry. Each household member (human and animal) should have an easy-to-carry emergency bag:  

In an easy to pack tote: 

• Water: one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation) 
• Food:non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation) 

In individual backpacks: 

• Large bottle of water 
• Non-perishable snacks or meals ready to eat (MREs) 
• 7-day supply of medications (if possible) 
• A basic first aid kit
• Flashlight (hand-cranked or with extra batteries)  
• Back-up power cell (for charging your phone and electronics) 
• Extra charging cables 
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio(NOAA Weather Radio, if possible) 
• Extra clothing and personal items 
• Digital or printed copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies, etc.) 
• Multi-purpose tool 
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items 
• Printed copy of family and emergency contact information 
• If possible, extra cash 
• Emergency blanket
• Printed map(s) of the area (make sure everyone knows how to read them) 

Know Your Evacuation Routes – Have a Plan 

Create an evacuation plan and make sure everyone in the family knows what it is. Visit OEM’s Be2WeeksReady page to find tips on how to prepare for evacuation or shelter in place. OEM also offers a wildfire evacuation checklist at wildfire.oregon.gov/prepare. 

Your plan should include: 

• A list of emergency contacts (printed and in every go-bag) 
• A safe meeting place in case family members get separated 
• Multiple evacuation routes from home, work, or school. comcan help with this, but everyone should also know how to read a paper map and how to get to safety. 
• Transportation arrangements, including pets and livestock. 
• A discussion with loved ones, friends and neighbors to ensure everyone understands the plan. 

Individuals with disabilities should plan ahead for transportation, equipment and service animal needs. Visit the Red Cross for tailored resources. If you have special medical needs, make sheltering arrangements some place that can accommodate your needs, because not all standard shelters can. 

For pet and livestock evacuation planning, visit Ready.gov/pets. Prepare a pet emergency kit with essentials like food, water, medications, identification and medical records. Livestock owners should arrange transportation and shelter options in advance—resources are available at Oregon Department of Agriculture. 

Sign-up for Emergency Alerts   

Visit ORAlert.gov to sign-up to receive alerts based on your zip code. If you're already registered, take a moment to log in and update your contact information. Also, check your phone settings to ensure wireless emergency alerts are enabled. 

Know where to find local emergency information, such as your county’s emergency management website and TripCheck.com. Follow local emergency services on social media, including the sheriff’s office, fire agencies and city or county pages. 

Be Prepared If Cell Service Goes Down  

Have a back-up plan for how you will communicate if cell towers burn in your area. Developing a family PACE plan (Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency) is key to staying connected during a disaster. Many cell providers offer a Starlink add-on for a nominal fee, which allows your cell phone to access the internet and make web-based phone calls and texts, or send Facebook and WhatsApp messages even if you can’t connect to a cell tower.   

An example of a PACE plan for individuals: 

• Primary: Cell Phones 
• Alternate: Starlink service on your cell phone. 
• Contingency: Satellite communicators, separate from the satellite function on your phone (which prioritizes first-responder traffic) 
• Emergency: Short-range communication radios for talking to family, and a hand-cranked NOAA weather radio to receive alerts. 

Know the Evacuation Levels in Oregon 

Oregon uses a three-level evacuation system to keep residents informed and safe. Be familiar with “Be Ready, Be Set, Go Now!” notifications: 

1. Level One – BE READY (Green): Stay aware of the wildfire threat and get prepared. Pack your go-kit, check emergency contacts, and ensure those in vulnerable situations (older adults, children, individuals with disabilities, and livestock owners) are ready to evacuate if needed. 
2. Level Two – BE SET (Yellow): Be prepared to leave at any moment. This indicates significant wildfire danger. Voluntary evacuation is encouraged—especially for those needing extra time to relocate safely. 
3. Level Three – GO NOW! (Red): Evacuate immediately! This means extreme danger is present, and it is unsafe to remain in place. Emergency responders may not be able to assist further. Leave immediately without gathering belongings and check TripCheck.com or call 511 for evacuation routes. 

After evacuating, do not return until officials declare it safe. You can find additional wildfire preparedness resources at wildfire.oregon.gov. 

Make Sure You’re Insured – Have a Recovery Plan 

Finally, whether you rent or own, now is the time to make sure you have wildfire insurance and enough coverage to replace your house. If the worst happens, you will need to rely on insurance, savings, loans and donations to replace what was lost. Have a plan for how you will recover. Your standard renter’s or homeowners' policy doesn’t cover floods, landslides or wildfires. Talk to your agent to make sure you have the right kind and amount of insurance. 

• Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety – Wildfire Ready
• Division of Financial Regulation – Wildfires Insurance Resources
• Filing a homeowners claim after a fire(English) 
• Filing a homeowners claim after a fire(Spanish) 
• Division of Financial Regulation – Wildfires Messaging Toolkit

Additional Wildfire Preparedness Resources 

• OEM's Wildfire Alert Graphics
• OEM's Evacuation Level Graphics
• How to Talk About Wildfires
• Prevent Wildfires
• Stay Safe While Driving During Smokey Conditions
• Vehicles can cause wildfires so make sure yours doesn't 

Shortly after 2:30 pm on Sunday, May 24, 2026, multiple 911 callers reported a residence on fire in the Tumalo area on 76th Street.  First arriving fire crews from Bend Fire & Rescue found a heavily involved split level home with fire extending into adjacent brush and trees.  Neighbors on either side of the home were using garden hoses to prevent the vegetation from igniting and spreading.  The fire was quickly knocked down, but due to the extent of the fire and the lack of fire hydrants in the area, full extinguishment was delayed.  No one was at home at the time of the fire, and the Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents.  Losses are estimated at $500,000 to the structure and $75,000 to contents.  Mutual aid was provided by Cloverdale Fire, Redmond Fire, and Oregon Department of Forestry.

The fire is under investigation at this time.

With much attention right now on protecting your home and property from the threat of wildfire, it can be easy to overlook preparation for when a wildfire strikes.  This is a good time to make a plan - before there is a wildfire.  Have emergency supplies such as food, water, important documents, medications, and other essentials ready to go.  Have a plan for communication with family members, and when you are told to evacuate, do so quickly.  For more information on preparedness, visit our website at https://bendoregon.gov/departments/public-safety/fire-rescue/community-resources-programs/own-your-zone/

FIRE POLICY COMMITTEE

MEETING SCHEDULED

The Fire Policy Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a regular meeting at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Madison Mancuso at (971) 433-7899 or madison.mancuso@dpsst.oregon.gov.

The meeting will be livestreamed on the DPSST YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@DPSST.

Agenda Items:

1. Introductions

2. Approval of Minutes of February 25, 2026 Minutes

3. Discretionary Case Review Quick Sheet
    Presented by Brooke Bell-Uribe

4. Gail F. Freer; DPSST No. 28436

Presented by Chantel Goettsch

5. Jakob K. Brandt; DPSST No. 40180

Presented by Chantel Goettsch

6. Logan M. Wigham; DPSST No. 38345

Presented by Chantel Goettsch

7. Fire Certification Review Task Force - Update

Presented by Brooke Bell-Uribe

8. Agency Updates

9. Next Fire Policy Committee Meeting - August 26, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.

Administrative Announcement

This is a public meeting, subject to the public meeting law and it will be recorded. Deliberation of issues will only be conducted by Police Policy Committee members unless permitted by the Chair. Individuals who engage in disruptive behavior that impedes official business will be asked to stop being disruptive or leave the meeting. Additional measures may be taken to have disruptive individuals removed if their continued presence poses a safety risk to the other persons in the room or makes it impossible to continue the meeting.

At 11:30 pm on Thursday, May 21 2026, multiple 911 callers reported a structure fire near Boyd Acres Rd in NE Bend.  First arriving fire units found two residences heavily involved in fire with extension into nearby brush and trees and a second alarm was called. The fire was knocked down quickly, with fire progression stopped within 45 minutes. Assistance was received during the incident from Redmond Fire & Rescue, Cloverdale Fire, and Sunriver Fire.  Both residences were uninhabitable with one a total loss, and Red Cross assistance was requested for the residents.  Losses are estimated in excess of 1 million dollars.  

The fire is under investigation at this time.  

The fire did extend into adjacent brush and trees, but was quickly stopped by fire crews.  Wildfires and wildfire losses aren't just in rural areas, they can occur even within City limits.  Taking simple steps, such as clearing combustible material within 5 feet of the house and using non-combustible ground cover, can greatly reduce the risk of losing your home to wildfire.  For more information on reducing wildfire risk, visit https://bendoregon.gov/departments/public-safety/fire-rescue/community-resources-programs/own-your-zone/

The Kiona - Benton City School District's regular school board meeting on May 26, 2026,  will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the High School PAC, located at 1205 Horne Drive.

SALEM, Ore. — The Emergency Fire Cost Committee (EFCC) will meet at 10 a.m. on June 2 in the Tillamook Room, Building C, Oregon Department of Forestry at 2600 State Street in Salem. To join virtually, please use the Teams video conference information found on the agenda.

The committee’s agenda includes:

• Financial status of the Oregon Forest Land Protection Fund (OFLPF)
• Weather update
• Executive report
• Administrative Branch report
• Status of large fire cost collection efforts
• Mitigation planning and implementation
• Status reports on EFCC work groups
• Protection Division report
• Administrator report

The meeting is open to the public to attend in-person or virtually via Teams. Public comments will be accepted near the end of the meeting. Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services, or assistance can be arranged by calling at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting at 503-881-8292 or by email at na.m.hobbs@odf.oregon.gov">lorna.m.hobbs@odf.oregon.gov.

The Emergency Fire Cost Committee (EFCC) oversees the Oregon Forest Land Protection Fund (OFLPF), established by the Oregon Legislature as a fund with the purpose of providing funds for fiscal year budgets of forest protection districts, investments in supplemental fire prevention, detection or suppression resources that enhance fire protection in the state and issuing loans to the Oregon Department of Forestry or forest protection associations that relate to wildfire costs. View more information on the EFCC webpage.

DEFENDANT SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS FOR CARJACKING

AND WEAPONS OFFENSES

Michigan Man Sentenced to 28 Years of Imprisonment for Online Sexual Extortion of Minor Victims

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Lake Oswego, Oregon, man has been charged with sexually exploiting minor victims online and in person across multiple states and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Alex Miller Eldridge, 36, has been charged by criminal complaint with sexual exploitation of children and possession and distribution of child pornography.

According to court documents, since May 2025, Eldridge used multiple online accounts to sexually exploit minors in multiple U.S. states and at least one foreign country. In December 2024, Eldridge flew from Hawaii to Pennsylvania to sexually abuse a minor victim he met on the Discord application. Eldridge recorded his sexual abuse of the minor victim and later sent those videos to multiple other minor victims.

Eldridge used the Discord and Session applications to engage in sexually themed chats with additional minor victims in 2025 and 2026. He directed one minor victim in Colorado and another in Greece to send him videos of themselves engaging in sexually explicit conduct, which he then threatened to distribute online. Discord also reported him for distributing multiple files of CSAM in November 2025.

Investigators executed a search warrant at Elridge’s home on May 20 and located additional evidence of sexual exploitation of minors and CSAM activity. Evidence found on Eldridge’s cell phone showed that he distributed CSAM on Discord the day before his arrest.

Eldridge made his first appearance in federal court yesterday before a U.S. magistrate judge, who detained Eldridge pending further court proceedings.

U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.

Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mira Chernick is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children is encouraged to contact HSI at (866) 347-2423 or submit a tip online at report.cybertip.org.

This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

# # #

Salem, Oregon – Twenty-six Oregon artists will access meaningful career development opportunities through the second round of 2026 Career Opportunity Program grants from the Oregon Arts Commission and The Ford Family Foundation.
 

Over $91,000 was awarded, including $46,665 from the Oregon Arts Commission for all artistic disciplines and $44,338 in supplemental funding for 12 established Oregon visual artists, visual arts writers and curators of visual arts through a partnership with The Ford Family Foundation’s Visual Arts Program. Grant funding received ranges from $1,041 to $7,000.
 

Career Opportunity grants support individual Oregon artists by enabling them to take advantage of timely opportunities that enhance their artistic careers. Most grants support the artists’ participation in residencies, exhibitions or performance opportunities.
 

"The creativity of Oregon artists and makers is so inspiring,” said Commission Vice Chair Jenny Stadler, who served as a panel chair. “I always look forward to learning more about the wonderful opportunities they are invited to participate in around the country and world."
 

“Artists are anchors of Oregon towns and cities,” said Kara Carlisle, president and CEO of The Ford Family Foundation. “By investing in artists’ research, training, dedicated work time and new exhibition opportunities, we’re not just amplifying their careers, we’re reinforcing the cultural fabric of our communities. We’re proud to join the Oregon Arts Commission in this shared commitment to impact.”

FY2026 Career Opportunity Program round two grant award recipients are:

Christian Burchard, Ashland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,664

To support the transportation of Burchard’s sculpture “Never Again II” from Ashland to the Wharton Esherick Museum in Paoli, Pennsylvania, for the exhibition “Breaking Ground.”

David Buckley Borden, Eugene

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

The Ford Family Foundation $5,000

To support the creation of an immersive art installation about forest ecology for the upcoming exhibition “Lookout Landscape” at the World Forestry Center in Portland, opening in fall 2026.

Adrian Chavez, Medford

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

The Ford Family Foundation $5,000

To support the creation of a new mural in downtown Phoenix, Oregon, celebrating local people, wildlife, and culture.

Srijon Chowdhury, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

The Ford Family Foundation $5,000

To support the production and presentation of a new large-scale installation and paintings for Chowdhury’s upcoming exhibition at Converge 45 in Portland.

Teah Cory, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

To support the development of industry-level skills in stop-motion animation through an online intensive with Aardman, the studio behind “Wallace and Gromit.”

William Cravis, Sisters

The Ford Family Foundation $4,000

To support a 13-week residency at the European Ceramic Work Center in Oisterwijk, Netherlands.

Joel Fisher, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

The Ford Family Foundation $5,000

To support the production of “Framework,” a solo exhibition in Los Angeles, including preparatory costs for printing, mounting, framing, and shipping.

Kristina Foley, McMinnville

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

The Ford Family Foundation $4,000

To support Foley’s participation in the 2026 XTANT Leadership Program and Textile Marketplace, a community gathering to celebrate the art of craft in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

Heather Goodwind, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

The Ford Family Foundation $1,655

To support a solo exhibition in Seattle, Washington, at LIC Gallery and participation in the Seattle Art Fair.

Marisa Grattan, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

To support Portland-based post-production finishing, color grading and delivery for Grattan’s approximately 20-minute documentary short film "ho‘oka‘awale / 疏离 (shūlí)."

Garrick Imatani, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

The Ford Family Foundation $4,050

To support the creation of work for both a group exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art in Portland, Maine, as well as a monthlong artist residency in Mexico City that concludes with an exhibition.

Emilie Kelly, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,041

To support Kelly’s endeavors as a writer, illustrator and comics creator at the Alaska Robotics Comics Camp.

Charlie Kralin, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

To support the purchase of equipment and software to complete an experimental stop-motion film for a solo exhibition at the Pacific Northwest College of Art’s Cauduro Gallery in Portland.

Shawna Lipton, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

To support the completion of a nonfiction manuscript of literary criticism at the Literary Journalism Residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.

Alexandra Lewis, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

To support the wider release of Lewis’s documentary “IROKO: Sacred Roots” through film festivals and in-person presentations.

Karina Lomelin Ripper, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

To support Mexican-American writer and director Ripper in attending the Latino Film Institute Inclusion Fellowship workshop: LALIFF Connect in Los Angeles.

William Morrow, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

The Ford Family Foundation $2,500

To support travel and on-the-ground expenses to participate in the International Association of Curators of Contemporary Art Congress in Turin and Milan, Italy.

Andrew Myers, Albany

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

To support an artist residency at Centrum in Port Townsend, Washington, as well as a solo exhibition at Linfield University.

Celeste Noche, Portland

The Ford Family Foundation $4,000

To support travel and production costs during the Interlude Artist Residency in Livingston, New York– the first major residency dedicated exclusively to supporting artists with families.

Brian Parham, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,960

To support a series of live “RISE: The Legacy of Black Guitar Heroes in Rock & Metal” performances.

Aejoo Park, Beaverton

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

To support Naomi Dixon's opportunity to coach and perform with Ooh La La, a BIPOC and queer all-women improv team, at the London Improv Festival in London, England, May 21-24, 2026.

Sara Parker, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

To support the premiere of “The House of the Heart,” a full evening-length interdisciplinary dance work at A-WOL Dance Collective, marking the culmination of a three-year research arc.

Ido Radon, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

The Ford Family Foundation $2,000

To support the production and presentation of a major installation in the 2026 Converge 45 triennial at the Center for Contemporary Art and Culture at the Pacific Northwest College of Art.

Aubrey Sloan, Willamina

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

To support “A Year and a Day,” a solo exhibition at Stark Street Studios and Gallery in Portland centering American working-class mothers through new ceramic works, invited collaborators, and public dialogue.

Mike Vos, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

The Ford Family Foundation $2,133

To support Vos’s first solo exhibition at Laura Vincent Design & Gallery in Portland of photographs and audio pieces made throughout Iceland.

Amber Whitehall, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

To support Whitehall's refinement of the historic dance work “Trio A” by Yvonne Rainer.

The Oregon Arts Commission provides leadership, arts programs and funding for nonprofits and artists through its grants, special initiatives and services. Commissioners appointed by the Governor establish policies and provide advisory support for public investment in the arts. The Arts Commission is part of Business Oregon in recognition of the vital role the arts play in supporting the economies, educational opportunities and vibrancy of communities throughout the state.
 

The Oregon Arts Commission is supported with funds appropriated by the Oregon Legislature, as well as by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Oregon Cultural Trust. Learn more at artscommission.oregon.gov and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

All passes will be approximately 1,000 feet above ground level and about 400 mph airspeed. Flights could be canceled or times changed due to inclement weather or operational contingencies.

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Aerial b-roll: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/752272/142nd-wing-f-15-flight-gopro-footage

About the 142nd Wing:

The Portland Air National Guard Base employs 1400 Airmen who provide an economic impact of nearly $500 million to the region. The 142nd Wing defends our homeland with F-15 Eagle fighter jets, guarding the Pacific Northwest skies from northern California to the Canadian border through their Aerospace Control Alert mission as part of Air Combat Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Their mission is to provide unequalled, mission-ready units to sustain combat aerospace superiority and peacetime tasking any time, any place in service to our nation, state and community.

For more information, contact 142nd Wing Public Affairs at 503-335-4347.

Photo caption:

An F-15EX from the 142nd Wing performs a fly-by at the Oregon International Air Show in Hillsboro, Ore. May 17, 2026. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman Casey Burruel)

SALEM, Ore. — The Certified Burn Manager Advisory Committee will meet virtually at 1 p.m. on Monday, June 1. To join, please use the Zoom video conference information found on the agenda.

The committee’s agenda includes:

• Welcome, introductions, new members
• Updated charter review and chair election
• CBM website - Directory
• Public comment
• Training deliveries - Updates and feedback
• Briefing on certified CBMs and trainees
• CBM for cultural burning
• CBM rule revision suggestions
• Updates
  • National CPBM Forum
  • Liability Pilot Program
  • ODF Prescribed Fire Manual

The meeting is open to the public to attend virtually. There will be a period for public comment. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting by contacting y.berry@odf.oregon.gov">Shelby Berry at 503-949-5181.

View more information on the CBMAC webpage.

Oregon's 2021 Legislature passed Senate Bill 762 requiring the Oregon Department of Forestry to establish a Certified Burn Manager Program. It is the duty of the Certified Burn Manager Advisory Committee to advise the Oregon Department of Forestry on the program.

Toppenish Man Sentenced for Violent Domestic Assault 

The following is a Memorial Day message by Dr. Nakeia Council Daniels, Director, Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Memorial Day is among the most solemn days on our national calendar and in the hearts of millions of veterans and military families, this day is also personal.

It is not simply the beginning of summer or a long weekend. It is a national day earmarked for remembrance and a day for us — as a community, as Oregonians, and as Americans — to pause together and reflect on the extraordinary cost of the freedoms we enjoy every day.

Across generations, millions of men and women have answered the call to serve.

Too many never returned home.

Today, we remember and honor every life given in service to this nation.

Memorial Day grew out of the pain and loss of the Civil War — a conflict that deeply scarred our young nation and forever changed countless families.

In the years that followed, families and communities continued to gather in cemeteries to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers, ribbons, and flags. They came not as part of a national holiday, but as grieving parents, spouses, children, friends, and community determined to ensure those who died for this nation would never be forgotten.

Those humble acts of remembrance became what was first known as Decoration Day - the foundation of what we now observe as Memorial Day.

And nearly 160 years later, we continue that same tradition of honoring and remembering.

We gather to remember those who gave their lives in service to this nation and to honor not only the fallen, but also those still missing in action and the families who continue carrying the enduring weight of that loss.

More than 81,000 Americans remain missing in action from conflicts dating back to World War II. For many families, remembrance carries not only grief, but decades of unanswered questions and enduring hope.

Their absence reminds us that remembrance is not passive.

It requires acts.

And here in Oregon, we continue to demonstrate that commitment in visible and meaningful ways.

In 2015, Oregon law established that the POW/MIA flag be displayed in a place of honor alongside the United States and Oregon state flags at public buildings across our state. Two years later, that commitment was expanded to ensure the POW/MIA flag would continue flying indefinitely at public buildings, including public schools.

The POW/MIA flag serves as a reminder that our nation and our state will never forget those who have died in service to this nation and those who remain missing.

Today, more than 260,000 veterans call Oregon home. Many still carry the visible and invisible burdens of service. Some continue grieving brothers and sisters in arms lost decades ago. And military families across our communities continue carrying the weight of sacrifice every single day.

That is why Memorial Day is still observed today. Not simply as a tradition, but as a civic responsibility. A responsibility to remember the lives behind the names. To preserve their stories. To teach future generations the true cost of freedom.

As communities across Oregon gather this Memorial Day, I hope each of us takes a quiet moment to reflect on those who never returned home and on the families who continue carrying that loss forward.

May we honor them not only with ceremonies and words, but through service to one another, compassion for veterans and military families, and a continued commitment to building a nation worthy of their sacrifice.

Dr. Nakeia Council Daniels is a proud U.S. Army veteran and the Director of the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs (ODVA), overseeing services for more than 260,000 veterans.

College Place, WA – College Place Public Schools invites local media partners to attend a special construction open house for the district’s new CPPS Fieldhouse project, which remains on schedule for completion in time for the start of the 2026-2027 school year.

Media representatives will have an opportunity to tour the construction site, observe progress firsthand, and capture approved photos and video of the developing facility.

Construction Open House Details

Thursday, May 28, 2026
11:00 a.m.
1755 S. College Avenue
College Place, WA

To ensure proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is available for all attendees, media outlets are asked to RSVP no later than Tuesday, May 26 at 12:00 p.m.

For safety and project coordination purposes, all photos and video footage must be reviewed and approved by Kirby Nagelhout Construction Company prior to publication or broadcast.

The new Fieldhouse was originally approved by the College Place Public Schools Board in February 2025 and is designed to support expanded educational, athletic, and community opportunities for students and families throughout the district.