Portland, OR — Kick off the holiday season on Sunday, December 7 at Holiday Cheer: A Celebration of Oregon Authors. Visit with more than 65 local writers from 12pm to 4pm as you sip on hot cocoa, enjoy festive treats, and get a jump on your holiday shopping! Admission is free and includes access to both the book sale and museum exhibitions.

This year, some of the Pacific Northwest’s most prominent authors will be at OHS selling everything from children’s books to guidebooks to mysteries to histories! Featured authors include New York Times bestselling historical fiction author Kristina McMorris, Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read, journalist and podcaster Leah Sottile, and Steve Prefontaine biographer Brendan O’Meara. View a full list of participating authors at ohs.org/holidaycheer.

To add to the festivities, the popular Meier & Frank Santaland display will be back on view! Generations of Oregonians have fond memories of the downtown Portland Meier & Frank department store’s Santaland. A ride on the iconic Monorail and a chance to sit on Santa’s lap became a Christmas tradition for many families. Following the closure of Macy’s downtown store (which purchased Meier & Frank in 2005), a small number of items from Santaland were donated to OHS, which have been displayed annually since 2018. Come share in the holiday cheer with a visit to this nostalgic display, featuring Rudolph, animatronic elves, holiday decor, a model of the beloved monorail. The well-remembered Cinnamon Bear costume from Lipman’s holiday traditions will also be on display.

The museum galleries will be open from 12pm to 5pm. In addition to Santaland, featured exhibitions will include:

• She Flies with Her Own Wings, a look at Oregon’s golden age of aviation in the 1930s that shares how flight reshaped lives and technology.
• June Drake: Preserving the Past to Shape the Future, a retrospective of photographer June D. Drake’s work documenting life in Silverton, Oregon, and surrounding areas and the evolution of rural Oregon over six decades.
• The Yasui Family: An American Story, which shares one Oregon family’s experiences of racism, incarceration, and their unwavering commitment to justice, reflecting broader civil rights struggles in America.
• “We Were All Living a Dream”, a photographic exhibition of Donna Pollach’s intimate portraits of feminist and lesbian communities in 1970s Portland, chronicling their activism, camaraderie, and challenges.

For 56 years, OHS has celebrated the state’s rich literary talents at this annual book signing event. Book sales at Holiday Cheer support the Oregon Historical Society’s mission to preserve our state’s history and make it accessible to everyone in ways that advance knowledge and inspire curiosity about all the people, places, and events that have shaped Oregon.

About the Oregon Historical Society

For more than 125 years, the Oregon Historical Society has served as the state’s collective memory, preserving a vast collection of objects, photographs, maps, manuscript materials, books, films, and oral histories. Our research library, museum, digital platforms, educational programming, and historical journal make Oregon’s history open and accessible to all. We exist because history is powerful, and because a history as deep and complex as Oregon’s cannot be contained within a single story or point of view.

December 2, 2025

Media contact: Timothy Heider, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Recreational use advisory lifted for Wapato Marsh at Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge

Continue to keep pets away as levels detected remain above educational guideline values for animals

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has lifted the recreational use health advisory issued for Wapato Marsh at Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge in Multnomah County.

OHA issued the advisory May 1.

Water monitoring has confirmed that the level of cyanotoxins in Wapato Marsh at Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge are below recreational guideline values for people. However, levels detected are still above OHA’s educational guideline values for dogs, and owners should keep their pets away from these areas.

OHA advises recreational visitors to continually be alert to signs of cyanobacteria blooms. This is because blooms can develop and disappear on any water body at any time when bloom conditions are favorable.

Only a fraction of water bodies in Oregon are monitored for blooms and toxins, so it’s important for people to become familiar with signs of a bloom, exposures and symptoms by visiting OHA’s Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms website at http://www.healthoregon.org/hab.

When recreating, people, and especially small children, and pets should avoid areas where the water is foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green or blue-green, or if thick brownish-red mats are visible or bright green clumps are suspended in the water.

If people see these signs, avoid activities that cause you to swallow water or inhale droplets, such as swimming or high-speed water activities, and keep pets out of the area.

Cyanotoxins can still exist in clear water. When a bloom dies, toxins released may reach into clear water around the bloom. Blooms can be pushed into other areas, leaving toxins behind.

There also are species of cyanobacteria that anchor themselves at the bottom of a water body, live in the sediment, or can grow on aquatic plants and release toxins into clear water.

For health information or to report an illness, contact OHA at 971-673-0482, or visit OHA’s Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms website.

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Bend Fire & Rescue crews responded to a structure fire at a single-family residence in NE Bend. Three residents were home at the time. One reported waking to the smell of smoke, then hearing smoke alarms and noticing a large orange glow outside. Upon investigation, he discovered the roof—constructed of wood shake shingles—was on fire. He quickly alerted the other two occupants, and all evacuated safely without injury.

Firefighters arrived within minutes and fully extinguished the fire within approximately 30 minutes. The fire was contained to the roof and did not extend into the interior of the home.

The fire originated from the woodstove flue, which appeared to be original to the home. Over time, radiant heat likely charred the wood shake shingles and eventually ignited the roofing materials.

The entire roof will need replacement with a fire-rated material such as asphalt shingles, composition, or metal. The total loss amount is unknown at this time.

Home heating equipment, including woodstoves and fireplaces, is the leading cause of residential fires in Oregon, with approximately 450 incidents annually. Before lighting your stove or fireplace:

Ensure your flue is clear of debris.

Have your equipment inspected for possible failures. For home heating safety tips, call Bend Fire & Rescue at 541-322-6300. 

PORTLAND, Ore.— A Pendleton, Oregon, man pleaded guilty today to sexually abusing two minors and engaging in sexual contact with a third minor.

Aaron William Pizer, 41, pleaded guilty to two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor and one count of Abusive Sexual Contact.

According to court documents, on or between July 10, 2016, and July 9, 2017, and on or between August 22, 2019, and August 21, 2020, Pizer sexually abused two minors under the age of sixteen on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. On April 19, 2024, Pizer engaged in sexual contact on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation with a minor under the age of sixteen.

On September 4, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a three-count indictment charging Pizer with Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Abusive Sexual Contact. 

Pizer faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for counts one and two, a $250,000 fine, and five years to life term of supervised release. He faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison for count three, a $250,000 fine, and five years to life term of supervised release. He will be sentenced on March 12, 2026, before a U.S. District Court Judge.

As part of the plea agreement, Pizer has agreed to pay restitution in full to the victims.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Umatilla Tribal Police Department, and Pendleton Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassady Adams is prosecuting the case.

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.

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CORRECTIONS POLICY COMMITTEE

MEETING SCHEDULED

The Corrections Policy Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a special meeting at 10:00 a.m. on December 16, 2025, at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Juan Lopez (503) 551-3167 or juan.lopez-hernandez@dpsst.oregon.gov.

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

Agenda Items:

1.  Introductions

2. Shane Bond; DPSST No. 59946; Union County Sheriff's Office
    Presented by Cindy Park

3. Agency Updates

4. Next Corrections Policy Committee Meeting: February 10, 2026, at 10:00am

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 Corrections 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.

MEDIA ADVISORY: Strike Starts at Legacy Health Dec. 2

8 AM Press Conference from the Strike Line at Legacy Emanuel

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WHAT: Advanced practice providers (APPs) from Legacy Health hospitals and clinics in the Portland metro area and Southwest Washington will begin an open-ended strike against Legacy Health Dec. 2. APPs will hold a press conference from the picket lines Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 8 a.m. to discuss patient care concerns, the need to raise healthcare standards, and Legacy’s refusal to continue bargaining. 

The APPs include nurse practitioners (NPs), physician associates (PAs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs), and clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) who have been working to reach a fair contract agreement with Legacy for nearly two years.

WHEN: Strike Line Press Conference, Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 8 a.m. 

WHERE: The strike line outside of Legacy Emanuel Medical Center (501 N. Graham St. Portland, OR 97227). See the green picket line location near the intersection of N. Vancouver Ave. and N. Graham St. on the included map for media use only.  

WHO: APPs who are part of the Legacy Downtown/Specialties Bargaining Unit and care for patients at hospitals and clinics in Oregon and Washington.  

• Rob Brookshire, PA 
• Leigh Warsing, PA  
• April Callister, PA  

WHY: APPs are one of the fastest-growing professions in healthcare. They provide high-quality care directly to patients and are essential for expanding access to health care, reducing wait times, and ensuring patients and our community receive outstanding care.

After nearly two years at the bargaining table, APPs delivered a formal strike notice to Legacy executives on November 20 while offering to continue meeting with Legacy executives every day to reach a fair agreement that protects patients, enables Legacy to recruit and retain skilled caregivers, ends inequitable practices like unpaid work, and averts the need for a strike. Unfortunately, Legacy executives are illegally refusing to meet with APPs.

The APPs are represented by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA). 

Strike lines will be established at Legacy Good Samaritan and Legacy Emanuel hospitals from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on December 2. Starting December 3, picket lines will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week. This is an open-ended strike.

Community members can visit OregonRN.org/RespectAPPs to learn more about ongoing negotiations, sign a community petition in support of the APPs, and stay informed about the impact of the potential strike. 

A reminder to patients from APPs:  

If you are sick, please do not delay getting medical care. Patients who need hospital or clinical care immediately should go to receive care. We would prefer to provide your care ourselves, but Legacy executives’ refusal to continue meeting with APPs has forced us to strike to advocate for you, our communities, and our colleagues. Going into a hospital or clinic to get the care you need is NOT crossing our strike line. We invite you to come join us on the strike line after you've received the care you need. 

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SALEM, Ore. — The Adaptive Management Program Committee will meet virtually at noon on Monday, Dec. 8. To join, please use the Teams video conference information found on the agenda.

The committee’s agenda includes:

• Elect co-chair to new two-year term (Substantial decision item)
• 2025 year in review
• 2026 work plan
• Update AMPC charter (Substantial decision item)

The meeting is open to the public to attend online via Teams. Public comments will be accepted near the start of the meeting. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting at 503-945-7200 or by email at ogram@odf.oregon.gov">adaptivemanagementprogram@odf.oregon.gov.

The 13-member committee The Adaptive Management Program Committee helps determine if forest practices are meeting their goals to protect natural resources through a science-based and transparent process. The committee sets the research agenda that the Independent Research and Science Team (IRST) implements. View more information on the AMPC webpage.

Beginning on Friday, Dec. 5, Bend Fire & Rescue’s Santa Express will visit neighborhoods around Bend to collect donations of food, clothing and toys to support The Salvation Army this holiday season.  

The Santa Express will visit three neighborhoods:

• Friday, Dec. 5: Southeast Bend – Foxborough, Larkspur and Sun Meadow neighborhoods
• Saturday, Dec. 6: Northwest Bend – Three Pines, Westside Meadows and Shevlin Ridge neighborhoods
• Monday, Dec. 8: Southwest Bend – Pine Ridge, River Canyon and Aspen Rim neighborhoods

Route details are available at bendoregon.gov/santa-express.

Santa and Bend Fire crews will begin at 6 p.m. each night, slowly walking the neighborhood routes and gathering donations. Community members are encouraged to meet Santa along the way with donations of non-perishable foods, new toys or gently used clothing. The Salvation Army has expressed an increased need for gifts for teenagers this year. 

Those needing assistance with food or presents can call The Salvation Army at 541-389-8888.

Can’t catch Santa Express this year?

Bend Fire is also hosting a season-long food drive for NeighborImpact. Donations of non-perishable food – such as canned fruits, vegetables, soups and peanut butter – can be dropped off at any Bend Fire station through Friday, Dec. 12. Items will be distributed to local pantries, meal sites and shelters.

Fire station locations:

• West – 1212 SW Simpson Ave., Bend
• East – 62420 Hamby Road, Bend
• North – 63377 Jamison St., Bend
• South – 61080 Country Club Drive, Bend
• Tumalo – 64725 Cook Ave., Tumalo
• Pilot Butte – 425 NE 15th St., Bend 

EUGENE, Ore. – December 01, 2025

Oregon Folklife Network faces a $56,000 gap in funding that needs bridging by January 31^st, 2026.  Oregon Folklife Network serves over 280 culture bearers in all 36 counties, bringing huge impact to local communities across Oregon, with two full-time staff and an annual budget of $300,000 per year. As the only state-wide folk & traditional arts program, Oregon Folklife Network provides essential support and programming to culture bearers, a subset of artists who are often overlooked and underserved in the broader arts & culture landscape. 

Given the economic turbulence of the past year, even reliable funders like the National Endowment for the Arts and the University of Oregon have been forced to reduce support for Oregon Folklife Network. Through responsive fundraising efforts, Oregon Folklife Network has recouped some of these losses, but more support is needed. To bridge the remainder of the $56,000 funding gap, Oregon Folklife Network is turning to community.  

“We’re so grateful for the generous donors who step up in this precarious moment,” says Oregon Folklife Network director, Emily Hartlerode. “Their dollars support not only individual culture bearers, but also the vitality of entire cultural communities who are at heightened risk right now.”

This giving season, Oregon Folklife Network invites the public to support Oregon’s traditional artists. “Celebrating cultural heritage is not only a way of preserving traditions, it is also a pathway to building empathy, unity, and a more compassionate society,” says one artist. Culture bearers can be found all over Oregon, and some earn prestigious recognition like Fields Artist Fellow Eddie Melendrez (Chicano Painting), National Heritage Fellow Feryal Abbasi-Ghnaim (Palestinian Embroidery), and Taproot Fellow Inna Kovtun (Ukrainian Singing).

Visit our secure giving portal to make a one-time or recurring donation and help Oregon Folklife Network bridge this short-term funding gap.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Holiday Decorations Can Cause Home Fires ─ Follow These Safety Steps

Most candle fires occur during December

[PORTLAND, DECEMBER 1, 2025] The holidays are a wonderful time to get everyone together. Unfortunately, they can also bring a greater risk of a home fire. In a typical November and December, nearly 400 people in the Cascades Region will rely on the Red Cross after a home fire.  December is also the peak month for home fires caused by candles and festive decorations.

As you prepare your home for the holiday season, remember fire prevention is key. To help prevent holiday decoration-related home fires, follow these safety tips from the American Red Cross:

• Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.
• Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both. Check to make sure you have the right lights for where you are decorating.
• Replace any light strings with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the number of light-strands you can safely connect.
• Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged.

TREE SAFETY If you plan to decorate with a real tree, pick one with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched. Before placing the tree in the stand, cut 2” from the base of the trunk.

• Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from any heat source like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights, and make sure the tree is not blocking an exit.
• Add water to the tree every day.
• Never use lit candles to decorate the tree and always turn off the tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.
• If you buy an artificial tree, look for a fire-resistant label. When putting it up, keep it away from fireplaces, radiators and other sources of heat. Never use electric lights on metallic trees.

CANDLES AND HOME FIRES Candles are cozy, but they can also cause home fires. Remember, a candle is an open flame ─ it can easily ignite anything that can burn. Think about using flameless candles ─ they can look and smell like real candles.

• Blow out all candles when you leave the room or go to bed.
• Avoid using candles in bedrooms or other areas where people may fall asleep.
• Keep candles at least 1 foot away from anything that can burn.
• Use candle holders that are sturdy and won’t tip over easily. Put candle holders on a sturdy, uncluttered surface.
• Light candles carefully.
• Don’t burn a candle all the way down — put it out before it gets too close to the holder or container.
• Never use a candle if oxygen is used in the home. 

SMOKE ALARMS Place smoke alarms on each level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas. In addition to testing your smoke alarms once a month, change the batteries at least once a year, if your model requires it. Check the manufacturer’s date of your smoke alarms. If they’re 10 years or older, they need to be replaced because the sensor becomes less sensitive over time. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

HOME FIRE CAMPAIGN SAVE LIVES Since October 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, working with community partners, has saved at least 2,519 lives by educating families about fire safety, helping them create escape plans and installing free smoke alarms in high-risk areas across the country. To learn more about the campaign and how you can get involved, visit redcross.org/homefires. 

About the American Red Cross: 

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood and is the primary blood supplier to 65 hospitals throughout Washington and Oregon; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members, and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media. 

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SALEM, Oregon— Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is gathering public comments on proposed changes announced last month to the rules guiding reservations, special access passes, rate ranges and fee waivers. 

The proposed changes were announced last month in a press release. Public comments on the proposed rule change will be accepted through 5 p.m. Jan. 15, 2026, and can be submitted: 

• Online: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/prp/pages/prp-division%2015.aspx 

• Mail: OPRD Department, attn: Katie Gauthier, 725 Summer St NE, Suite C, Salem OR 97301 

• Email: D.Publiccomment@oprd.oregon.gov" target="_blank">OPRD.Publiccomment@oprd.oregon.gov 

A public hearing will be held for the public to provide comments. 

• Virtual Hearing: 5:30 p.m. December 15, 2025. Register to attend the hearing at: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_civm2LvcQx-R0ZKCwHCwww  

Most of the proposed changes are designed to improve the long-term financial sustainability of the state park system. The proposed changes to reservations are meant to maximize the availability of campsites for visitors.   

OPRD faces a projected operational budget shortfall of $8 million for this biennium based on forecasts through November. The projected shortfall is down from the $14 million estimate due to a combination of revenue-generating strategies, including an increase in parking fee parks and overnight camping fee adjustments.

The shortfall is due to increasing costs, the impact of higher visitation and a decrease in projected Oregon Lottery funds for operations. Visitor fees do not cover the cost of operations, and Oregon State Parks does not receive general fund tax revenue for operations.   

Proposed Cancellation Policy 

The proposed changes to the reservation policy discourage late cancellations and no-shows by incentivizing early cancellations. Refunds will no longer be provided for those who fail to cancel, which will help reduce unused reservations and open more opportunities for visitors to enjoy parks. The changes include: 

• No refunds on the day of arrival.  

• No-show reservations will not be refunded  

• Refunds vary based on how long reservation is held, how close to arrival it is canceled.  

Proposed Changes to Special Access Pass 

Future Special Access Passes (SAP) for Veterans and foster families will be exclusively for those who live in Oregon, according to proposed changes. This will help ensure that limited resources are directed toward Oregonians. That update along with limiting the number of free days to 10 per year will reduce the fees waived by $2.2 million per biennium or 46% decrease in costs. Proposed changes include: 

• Must be Oregon residents to participate. 

• Waived overnight rental fees (up to 10 nights/year).  

• Day-use parking permit fee waived.  

• SAP Cancellations: Must cancel reservations to avoid losing benefit nights. Refunded nights will be based on length of time reservation is held.  

Proposed Rate Ranges: 

• Day Use Parking Permit fees: $7–$25 daily; $30–$100 (12-month); $50–$200 (24-month).  

• Dynamic Pricing: Rates may vary by day of week, season, holidays, amenities, and demand. 
• Proposed Rate Ranges   

The updated fee ranges for campsites, cabins, yurts and group facilities based on market conditions and anticipated inflation. The new rate ranges will allow for greater use of demand pricing. This proposed change is part of a broader strategy to stabilize revenue and maintain high-quality park services.  

Ultimately, these proposed changes are intended to keep Oregon’s parks open, well-maintained and welcoming for generations to come.   

Once the public comment period ends, the proposal with any incorporated updates is slated to go to Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission in February 2026 for possible adoption. If adopted, new rules would be effective beginning March 1, 2026. 

Bend Fire & Rescue was called to Miller Elementary School on NW Crosby 9pm Sunday evening for the fire alarm sounding. Fire crews located the cause of the alarm in the gymnasium at the back of the building. The fire sprinkler system had activated due to a fire in the custodians’ workshop located just off the gym. Additional fire crews were dispatched to assist with the fire. The fire was kept from spreading past the workshop by the fire sprinkler system though smoke and water did spread throughout the gym. Crews remained on scene for an hour to help remove smoke and water from the school. The principal and school district maintenance staff assisted.
 

The fire was found to have been caused by a lithium battery stored in a cabinet in the workshop. The battery failed and started burning inside the cabinet before burning through the doors and into the room. Once the heat built up in the room the fire sprinkler system activated and stopped the fires spread. Fire sprinkler systems are found in all the public schools in Bend, even the oldest schools have had systems retrofitted over the years. These systems prevent fires from spreading and causing catastrophic damage. The damage at Miller Elementary is fixable and should only disrupt school for a day or two. The Bend LaPine staff are working on making the school for kids to return. They will make the call on any delays or cancellations to accomplish the safe return.
 

There are many benefits to lithium batteries, but they also need to be used and stored with caution. If not used correctly or if they get damaged, these batteries can catch fire or explode, even days after the fact. This doesn’t happen to every battery that is damaged, but there are steps you can take to protect your home and business.
 

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), here are safety tips for safe use and storage of lithium batteries:

•Purchase and use devices that are listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.

•Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

•Only use the battery that is designed for the device.

•Only use the charging cord that came with the device.

•Do not charge a device under your pillow, on your bed, or on a couch.

•Do not keep charging the device or device battery after it is fully charged.

•Keep batteries at room temperature when possible. Do not charge them at temperatures below 32°F (0°C) or above105°F (40°C).

•Store batteries away from anything that can catch fire. Consider a non-combustible cabinet or lithium battery storage specific containers.

As always, never throw any lithium batteries into the trash. These batteries will end up in the landfill where the process of trash collection, dumping, and packing into the landfill can cause the damage needed to start a fire. A fire in the landfill is a major concern of any solid waste department. This includes items with built in lithium batteries such as flashlights, alarms, and other small electronics. Contact your trash service provider, your local landfill, or many electronics stores for safe recycling options in your community.

The December quarterly meeting of the Advisory Committee to the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) will be held virtually and in person on Wednesday, December 3, in the Auditorium of ODVA, located at 700 Summer Street N.E. in Salem. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. and will be followed by a town hall meeting at 11:30 a.m., which is open to the public.

Established in 1945, the Advisory Committee holds a distinct and fundamental role in advising the director and staff of ODVA. The nine members of the Advisory Committee are military veterans from all corners of the state, appointed by the governor to serve and act as advocates for veteran issues and veteran concerns across Oregon.

Following every quarterly business meeting, the committee holds a town hall inviting the public to raise questions or concerns about broad veteran issues or to share information with the committee and agency director.

Members of the community are also invited to submit written public comments to the committee by emailing odva_vaac@odva.oregon.gov. The Advisory Committee meets quarterly on the first Wednesday of March, June, September and December.

REGISTER TO ATTEND
Please register at https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/b2ce0f46-4c12-4c26-a3a5-d9a9049afbc2@aa3f6932-fa7c-47b4-a0ce-a598cad161cf to attend the business or town hall portion of this meeting. Attendees will be allowed to participate during the town hall portion only and will be invited to turn on their camera and unmute mics during a recorded meeting that will be posted online at a later date.

The December 2025 Veterans Advisory Committee Quarterly Meeting Report is available on ODVA’s website here: www.oregon.gov/odva/Connect/Documents/December%202025%20Advisory%20Committee%20Quarterly%20Meeting%20Report%20FINAL.pdf. More information about the Veteran Advisory Committee can be found online at www.oregon.gov/odva/Connect/Pages/Advisory-Committee.aspx.

Established in 1945, the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs is dedicated to serving Oregon’s diverse veteran community that spans five eras of service members. ODVA administers programs and provides special advocacy and assistance in accessing earned veteran benefits across the state. Learn about veteran benefits and services, or locate a local county or Tribal veteran services office online at oregon.gov/odva.

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The County Opportunity Grant Program (COGP) Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting to review grant applications from 9:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m. December 8, 2025 via Zoom.

Applicants to the COGP will present their proposed projects for acquiring, planning, developing and rehabilitating county-run camping facilities. The Committee will evaluate and score all applications and create a priority ranking list of projects to be funded. The list will then be forwarded to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission for final review and approval.

A meeting agenda will be posted on the County Opportunity Grant Program web page at https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/GRA/pages/GRA-cogp.aspx. A link to view the Zoom meeting will also be posted at the site.

The COGP Advisory Committee consists of seven members who represent counties, recreational vehicle owners, people with disabilities and the general public. They also represent various geographic areas of the state.

The COGP was established in 1983 to direct a portion of revenue from recreational vehicle registration fees to counties for park and recreation sites and programs. All Oregon counties are eligible to apply. The program is administered by Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD).

For more information about the COGP, visit oprdgrants.org.

SALEM, Oregon— The Drone Rule Advisory Committee will hold its second meeting to review drone use in state parks, discuss goals for safe and responsible operation and begin providing feedback on draft proposed rules for drone takeoff and landing at Oregon State Parks and the ocean shore.

The Rule Advisory Committee will meet for its second meeting 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11. The public can watch the livestream on YouTube on OPRD Director’s Office live channel . A recording will be available after the meeting.

The Rule Advisory Committee includes representatives from recreation user groups, conservation organizations, natural resource specialists and other stakeholders.

Staff will review feedback from the committee, amend the draft as needed and then open the draft rules for public comment this winter. Staff will review public feedback, amend the draft as needed and then present the rules to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission for adoption.

The goal is to have a final set of regulations ready for implementation by Spring of 2026.

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) previously discussed drone takeoff and landing in early 2022. OPRD paused the rulemaking process after it generated a lot of public feedback both in support and against the proposed rules.

OPRD convened a work group to draft criteria and maps where drones should be allowed to take off and land at state parks and along the ocean shore.

The work group included representatives from conservation organizations, drone enthusiasts and trail-user groups. It helped develop proposed standards that identify areas where drone use should be permitted or restricted.

The group’s work helped inform the proposed draft rules on drone takeoff and landing now under discussion.

At its regularly scheduled board meeting on Tuesday night, the College Place Public Schools (CPPS) Board of Directors voted unanimously to place a renewal of the expiring 2023 to 2026 Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) Levy on the February 10, 2026 ballot.

The proposed renewal levy maintains vital funding that supports high-quality learning experiences for students in every CPPS school for 2027-20230. These locally approved funds bridge the gap between what the state funds and what actual costs are to operate schools at the current standard. The renewal will also help the district keep up with the rising costs of educational programs, safety supports, staff, and services.

If approved, this levy would continue to fund essential educational programming, including classroom staffing, student mental health supports, extracurricular activities like band, choir, and athletics, and school safety enhancements. These are programs and services that are not fully funded by the state.

 “College Place Public Schools delivers an exceptional education in a supportive, small-school environment,” said Board Chair Eva Brown. “Renewing this levy is essential to sustaining the programs and opportunities our students deserve and to upholding our commitment to responsible, transparent use of local taxpayer funds.”  

The EP&O levy currently makes up roughly 18 percent of the CPPS annual operating budget. It is not a new tax, but a continuation of an expiring levy that voters last approved in 2022 at the same rate of $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value. Renewal of the levy will not raise the tax rate above the amount previously approved, though actual collections are capped by state-defined levy limits.

Superintendent Jim Fry emphasized the importance of continuity: “This renewal is about maintaining the level of service and support our students rely on. These local dollars ensure that every student is known, challenged, and prepared for a bright future. It’s how we deliver on our mission every day.”

The official election date is Tuesday, February 10, 2026. Voters within the College Place Public Schools boundaries will receive ballots by mail in late January. For more information about what the levy funds visit https://www.cpps.org/page/levy-2026