Forestry group to offer scholarships
Linn County Small Woodlands Association is offering four $2,000 scholarships to students graduating from Linn County high schools who plan to pursue forestry or forestry-related natural resources fields of study in an Oregon college or in a dual-enrollment program (such as LBCC-OSU and LCC-UO).
The scholarships are renewable at $1,000 to $2,000 rates, depending on the success of the group’s Seedling Sales. Academic achievements, honors and awards, school activities and community engagement will be considered.
Application forms, to be postmarked or e-mailed by May 4, are available at Linn County’s high schools and from Katie Kohl, LCSWA scholarship chair ([email protected]).
Hwy. 20 striping planned this week
Starting on Tuesday, April 14 at 9 a.m. and continuing through Friday, crews will be striping U.S. 20 from the Santiam Junction to just east of Santiam Pass (mileposts 74.5 to 88). Flaggers will be used to control two-way traffic. Travelers should expect delays each day between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The project completes a paving project during last summer and fall. Wet weather in September and October prevented crews from doing the striping.
Business support during COVID-19
To better support local businesses during the COVID-19 health crisis, Linn-Benton Community College’s Small Business Development Center has created a new platform for virtual business forums, called Let’s Keep Connected.
The site offers three virtual town hall forums per week, at 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and at 5:30 p.m. each Wednesday.
Content will vary and include information on funding programs, other resources and updates, and Q&A sessions with SBDC Advisors and other local agencies and organizations.
Check it out at letskeepconnected.org and sign up for one of the upcoming town hall forums. All events are free, but registration is required. More information is available at http://www.linnbenton.edu/extended-learning/small-business-development-center/index.php.
Deadline here for foundation grants
The Sweet Home Community Foundation is accepting grant applications through April 15.
The goal of the Foundation is to provide funding and support to a wide variety of Sweet Home community projects. Special consideration is placed on projects that provide lasting benefits to our community.
Starting this year there are two grant programs:
SHCF Community Grants are given in the following broad categories: Children and Families; Education; Community Livability and Arts and Culture. Grants up to $2,500 are awarded.
The Alice Blazer Grant is will total as much as $10,000 and will require a more comprehensive application process. This grant is specifically for projects able to demonstrate tangible long term community benefits; a positive wide-reaching impact and having the necessary additional financial or in-kind support to achieve success.
The initial application for both grant programs can be submitted online at giveshcf.org/grant2020 from through April 15.
Grant applicants must be a 501(c) 3 or other qualified tax-exempt organization or the proposed project may be implemented in partnership or affiliation with such an organization.
Support for the foundation is provided through the generosity of local individuals and businesses.
Grant award recipients will be announced in May.
The LBCC Foundation has created a new “Roadrunner Student Emergency Fund.”
This fund will be used to help students secure housing, afford basic needs, find access to resources for online learning, and more. Donors can make the difference between a student joining our healthcare workforce or dropping out.
In this uniquely challenging time, if you are in a position to offer financial support, regardless of the level, please consider doing so today.
Extension offers online ag help
Oregon State University Extension offers a variety of agriculture-related helps and activities for those confined to their homes.
– Science information for the kids (and you) – http://www.asas.org/meetings/virtual-resources. This collection of programs has been reviewed by and is being promoted by the American Society of Animal Sciences. It offers online resources for educators and parents in the midst of COVID-19 restrictions.
– OSU Chick-Cam – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50EXdnUQt7c&feature=youtu.be&t=32.
– Gardening – Through the end of April, OSU Master Gardeners are offering free access to OSU’s online Vegetable Gardening course. The easiest way to get there is to visit workspace.oregonstate.edu/catalog-page#all-courses and scroll down to the “Free Intro to OSU Master Gardener Program.”
For beef farmers, there are a number of options:
– Beef Quality Assurance online training is available. BQA is a national program that raises consumer confidence through offering proper management techniques and a commitment to quality within every segment of the beef industry. See more about BQA and find the on-line trainings available at http://www.bqa.org. The BQA program offers several certification options including the following:
– Cow/Calf – For those who breed and sell weaned calves;
– Stocker/Backgrounder – For those who raise and sell feeder cattle;
– Feedyard – For those who feed and sell fed cattle; and
– Transportation – For those who truck cattle (professional driver or farmer-ranch).
BQA certification is for three years. Update yours now if needed or add another certificate on another sector of the beef industry.
For more information on the BQA or other animal husbandry questions, contact Shelby Filley at (541) 236-3016 or [email protected].
n Animals and COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Information is available from the Oregon Department of Agriculture http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/agriculture/Pages/COVID-19.aspx or from the federal Center for Disease Control at http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/index.html (scroll down and click on “”If You Have Animals.”
SHAF scholarships deadline extended
Sweet Home Alumni Foundation has extended the deadline for scholarship applications from Sweet Home High School seniors by five weeks, to Friday, May 8.
Foundation directors voted unanimously to make the change.
SHAF Board President Greg Ego vowed to take necessary steps to ensure SHAF’s purpose is not frustrated by events unfolding as a result of COVID19.
In keeping with the medical community’s recommendation of social distancing, graduating seniors can complete their application online at: sweethome.k12.or.us/media/2020/01/SHAF_Scholarship_ApplicationFillable-1.30.pdf. Completed applications should be mailed to be received on or before May 8 to: Sweet Home Aluni Foundation, P.O. Box 83, Sweet Home, OR 97386.
Search and Rescue recruit openings
The Linn County Sheriff Sheriff’s Office is recruiting young men and women, ages 14 to 18, to join the Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team and participate in a 10-day summer training program.
This will be the 27th Search and Rescue Training Academy in Linn County and will be held June 19 through June 29.
Those who are interested in becoming an integral part of the Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue mission should have an interest in community service and a desire to be a part of a highly trained and professional life saving organization.
There is an application process that includes oral interviews, a background check and physical aptitude test. Applicants must attend one recruit meeting at the Sheriff’s Office at 7 p.m. on May 1 to attend the academy. Successful applicants will be eligible to attend.
Training will include classes in wilderness survival, shelter building, search tactics, first aid/CPR, map and compass reading, rappelling and many more topics.
For more information about the program contact Lt. Joe Larsen at the Linn County Sheriff’s Office (541) 812-2272 or visit the Linn County Sheriff’s Office website at http://www.linnsheriff.org. Online applications are available on the website and at the Sheriff’s Office in Albany.
Meals on Wheels
weekly menu
Meals on Wheels offers lunch at the Sweet Home Community Center to seniors over 60 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Meals are delivered between 11 a.m. and noon.
The Senior Center serves a separate lunch on Wednesdays.
Suggested donation is $3.50. All meals are served with milk, coffee or tea upon request and diabetic desserts are available on request.
The menu on Friday, April 17, is pork choppie with pork gravy.
The menu on Monday, April 20, is kielbasa sausage with sauerkraut.
The menu on Tuesday, April 21, is chicken salad half sandwich.
Volunteers are needed for meal delivery.
For more information, contact Norene at (541) 367-8843.
Fish Lake interest group seeks history
The Friends of Fish Lake, a group working to restore the vintage buildings that once served as a remount station for the National Forest Service, are producing a book on the Fish Lake site that will document and share its history with a larger public.
Local residents who have stories, photographs, old maps or journals that refer to Fish Lake are invited to consider sharing them for the project.
Many have already contributed stories about their time working for NFS at the site, leading pack trips originating from the site, working on fire, tree planting and other natural resource crews, conducting research and restoring the buildings.
Email materials or any questions to [email protected]. They will be added to the Fish Lake archives for possible use in the book.