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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2020 ❚ SILVERTONAPPEAL.COM PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK K1 Task force outlines ways to improve outdoor recreation Zach Urness Salem Statesman Journal USA TODAY NETWORK Oregon’s outdoors is already great, but could be a little bit better. That’s according to a group tasked with recom- mending ways to improve the state’s outdoor recrea- tion in ways big and small. In a draft report released Thursday, the 33-person task force proposes a broad set of ideas that include funding search and rescue, creating an Oregon Out- doors Pass and getting more diversity in the state’s wild spaces. “Things are going remarkably well for the most part, but some people and places are being left behind,” said the draft report, created after a series of meetings and open houses convened by the Governor’s Task Force on the Outdoors. The goal is to recommend to Gov. Kate Brown pol- icies, legislation and initiatives that would boost Ore- gon’s recreation economy, improve resources, and boost outdoor participation, especially among youth and underserved communities. To that end, they came up with 30 initial ideas un- der five broad categories that will be discussed at a fi- nal meeting Jan. 23 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Wil- lamette Heritage Center in Salem. A public comment period follows the meeting — providing time for people to weigh in on the ideas. Fi- nal recommendations will come this spring. The hope is that the recommendations are applied in the next five years. Here’s a brief look at some of the ideas proposed in Thursday’s draft report, which can be read in full on- line. More diversity in Oregon’s outdoors Oregon is already a fairly white state, and that’s even more true in the outdoors. To encourage more diversity, the group proposes a focus on reaching out to minority communities to have a hand in land management planning or hiring more diverse people in state agencies. Another plan would seek to make state parks more accessible — or highlight accessibility — to disabled visitors. Committees, sub-cabinet and an outdoor caucus The task force proposes a bunch of committees for See OUTDOOR, Page 3A Here are the 2020 bills from local lawmakers Class size, Kratom sales, NORPAC and tax relief among proposals Connor Radnovich Salem Statesman Journal USA TODAY NETWORK L-R: Alex and Melissa in the Special 2 hour season finale episode of ‘Flirty Dancing’ airing Saturday, Jan. 25 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. MICHAEL BECKER/FOX Looking for love on 'Flirty Dancing' Could Mt. Angel native find love on new Fox dating-show? Abby Luschei Salem Statesman Journal USA TODAY NETWORK Alex Morrissey could describe his dating life in two words: "Pretty nonexistent." Traveling regularly, a prior relationship ending poorly and being comfortable staying in the safety zone of friendships were among the reasons the 28- year-old said he's remained single. That may no longer be the case. Morrissey is looking for love on the new Fox blind dating-show "Flirty Dancing." The Mt. Angel native will be featured on the two-hour season finale Satur- day, Jan. 25. "Flirty Dancing" is based on a U.K. series of the same name. It combines the worlds of dance and dat- ing for a truly unique reality show where singles meet for the first time — never speaking — by performing a choreographed dance together. Take the clip of a dance between two singles from the U.K. show, for example, that went viral in Novem- ber and melted the hearts of thousands. The United States version, hosted by dancer and actress Jenna Dewan, differs from its British counter- part. Each episode typically features two singles look- ing for love, and each of them performs two dances with two potential matches. After the single has performed with each person, they must choose who to take on a second date with- out even knowing their names — no pressure, right? Morrissey, who currently lives in Southern Califor- nia, will choose between two matches during the sea- son finale. "It made me far less nervous than I would have been had I been one of the potential matches. I feel like I would have gone into it with fear and doubts had I (known) I was going up against another person," he The $49 million sale of NORPAC Foods’ Salem, Brooks and Stayton processing facilities to cold stor- age giant Lineage Logistics was approved by U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Peter McKittrick on Tuesday, contingent on agreements being reached concerning previous union contracts. The sale marks the end of the nearly 100-year-old Willamette Valley agricultural processor. “This is the last assets we’re going to dispose of, of any substance,” McKittrick said. Most of the intangible assets of NORPAC, including its intellectual property, trade names, inventory, con- Payments to student athletes Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, plans to introduce a bill that that would cut student athletes in on the multi-billion dollar college athlet- ics industry by allowing them to profit from their name, image and likeness. Courtney The bill is modeled after California legislation that was signed into law last September. Courtney said in November he doesn’t think the bill will pass this session, but any work done on it would better position it to pass in a future session. Restoring funding for CourtCare See DANCING, Page 3A Sale of NORPAC Willamette Valley plants approved by U.S. Bankruptcy Bill Poehler Salem Statesman Journal USA TODAY NETWORK The 2020 Oregon legislative session is just around the corner and lawmakers from across the state will soon descend upon Salem with legislative plans and bills they will work to pass. As in the past several even years, the 2020 session will be a “short session” of just 35 days with even tighter legislative deadlines. Lawmakers have spent the past few months building coalitions and prepar- ing to advance their legislation. Unlike regular legislative sessions, short sessions have restrictions on how many bills can be intro- duced. Senators are allowed one bill, while repre- sentatives are allowed two. Other bills are introduced through other avenues, such as legislative commit- tees. A series of committee hearings starting Monday unofficially kicks off the 2020 session as many legis- lative concepts will receive their first public hearings. The session convenes Feb. 3. A greenhouse gas emissions cap-and-trade bill, similar to one that failed during the 2019 session, is likely to be the session’s most controversial legisla- tion. But each lawmaker has their own priorities. The Statesman Journal reached out to all of the lawmak- ers representing the greater Salem area in Marion and Polk counties to inquire into their priority bills for the short session. tracts and trademarks, were sold as part of a $107 mil- lion sale of NORPAC’s Quincy, Wash., processing plant to Oregon Potato Company in December. Tuesday's agreement brings the sale of NORPAC’s assets to $156 million. According to court filings, CoBank, which financed the bankruptcy, has $382 million in liens against the three Oregon facilities. That means some owed mon- ey by NORPAC will not be paid. Lineage has leased the Salem, Brooks and Stayton processing plants since it filed for to purchase the properties and is leasing the Salem location to Oregon Potato Company. “It is possible if this sale is concluded, and appar- See SALE, Page 2A Online at SilvertonAppeal.com Vol. 139, No. 5 News updates: ❚ Breaking news ❚ Get updates from the Silverton area Photos: ❚ Photo galleries Serving the Silverton Area Since 1880 A Unique Edition of the Statesman Journal QEAJAB-07403y ©2020 50 cents Printed on recycled paper Entering into her first session as a senator repre- senting Salem, Republican Sen. Denyc Boles is using her one bill to restore funding to a program that lost it last session. The program is CourtCare, a public-private part- nership that provides free child care for parents who are involved in the court system. The program’s goal is to shield children from court proceedings that could get tense or disturbing. Par- ents who have court-mandated appointments can also use the service. As a pilot program in Marion and Polk counties, it was successful and well-liked, Boles said. So some legislators sought during the 2019 session to expand the program statewide. During the budget process, however, not only was the program not expanded, continued funding for the Marion and Polk county program was dropped. Consequently, Marion County had to shut down its CourtCare program in July. Polk County found other funding to maintain its program. Boles will be requesting $200,000 for the Marion and Polk programs, which she considers a modest proposal considering the size of the state’s budget. “It’s just another way that we can protect fam- ilies,” she said. Tax ‘fix’ for pharmacies Recently appointed Rep. Raquel Moore-Green, R- Salem, said that her first bill this session will be to See BILLS, Page 2B