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About Appeal tribune. (Silverton, Or.) 1999-current | View Entire Issue (June 2, 2021)
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 2021 | SILVERTONAPPEAL.COM PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK Millions in federal funds proposed for local projects Connor Radnovich Salem Statesman Journal USA TODAY NETWORK Salem-area lawmakers have proposed spending millions of dollars in federal aid on local projects and community organizations to support recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and strengthen areas of community need. Slated to receive funds include chambers of commerce, homeless advocacy organizations, the new Salem YMCA, universities and grant programs. It’s one of many distributions of American Res- cue Plan Act funds from the state as lawmakers fin- ish the legislative session and balance the budget. The state received about $2.6 billion in federal ARPA funds, and $780 million of that was set aside specifically for new investments. Lawmakers were asked to submit a list of priority projects by early April; more than 1,200 requests were proffered, to- taling more than $35 billion. To allow for an equal initial distribution of funds to local projects in all legislative districts, $240 mil- lion of the $780 million was set aside for lawmak- ers. Senators were each given $4 million to allocate, while representatives each had $2 million. “This local investment process will deliver some See FUNDS, Page 2A Oregon’s $1.86 million vaccine lottery: Your questions answered Tracy Loew Salem Statesman Journal Many outdoor places will be closed this summer and there will be limits on recreation across Western Oregon because of wildfire damage. PHOTOS BY ZACH URNESS/STATESMAN JOURNAL ‘BONKERS SUMMER’ Wildfire closures, new permits and crowds will test the Oregon outdoors this season Zach Urness Salem Statesman Journal | USA TODAY NETWORK W onky. Unusual. Bonkers. h Those are just a few of the words officials and ex- perts are using to describe Oregon’s upcoming summer in the outdoors. h Massive wildfire closures, sweeping new permit systems, worker shortages and pent-up demand for wild places are all expected to collide in a season of random chaos in the forest, mountains and coast. USA TODAY NETWORK Gov. Kate Brown announced her “Take Your Shot Oregon” campaign, offering residents the chance to win cash and scholarships in exchange for getting at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Here’s everything you need to know: How do people enter the lottery? Everyone age 12 and older who already has re- ceived or gets at least one dose of the Pfizer, Mo- derna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine by June 27 will be automatically entered. How many prizes are there? There will be one $1 million winner; 36 $10,000 winners (one in each county), and five $100,000 Oregon College Savings Plan education scholarship winners. When is the drawing? The drawing will be held on June 28 and winners will be announced the following week. Is anyone not eligible? Employees and family members of the Oregon Lottery, the Oregon Governor's Office, the Oregon Treasurer's Office and the Oregon Health Authority are ineligible. What about people who don't get vaccinated for health or religious reasons? They are not eligible for the lottery. Will winners’ names be public? Yes, Oregon law requires lottery winners’ names to be made public. Winners can decline their prize if they don’t want their name released. Who is doing the drawings? The Oregon Health Authority will use the state’s vaccine database to assign a number to each person See LOTTERY, Page 2A It’s possible to camp along the Willamette River at a place known as the Nicol Sanctuary, a 100-acre preserve north of Salem that can only be reached by boat. A trip to the Madison Butte Trail in Eastern Oregon serves dual purposes. 1B See OUTDOORS, Page 4A Unemployed in Oregon will have to look for jobs again Bill Poehler Salem Statesman Journal USA TODAY NETWORK For the past year, Freres Lumber has struggled to find enough employees. Before the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, the company had about 475 employees; it now has about 425. That resulted in the company cutting back its operations at the same time demand for its products has surged. The Lyons-based company has taken on every strategy it could to hire more employees over the past year, including heavy advertising of available posi- tions, a 10% wage increase for all employees and company-wide quarterly bonuses. But, like a lot of companies in Oregon, the family- owned company is still struggling to find enough people to get back to its previous level of operations. “It’s been very difficult to find employees since the start of the pandemic,” said Kyle Freres, the compa- ny’s vice president of operations. “We’ve been run- ning close to 60% of capacity at our plywood plant just due to the lack of employees.” With businesses in Oregon struggling to find Vol. 140, No. 24 A Trail of Memories “We’re on pace for a pretty bonkers summer,” Ore- gon Parks and Recreation Department spokesman Chris Havel said. “With this weather, we’re already catching back up to a record-breaking level of visita- tion.” While Oregon tourism isn’t expected to fully re- bound until 2024 – largely because of a slowdown in air travel – that doesn’t seem to apply to the state’s wild places. The demand for outfitter-guided trips, outdoor gear and cabin or vacation rentals has been off the charts. “I’ve never seen anything like this in terms of how quickly our summer trips sold out and how many people want to get on the river,” said Zach Collier, owner of Northwest Rafting Company in Hood River. “I think this summer is going to explode. Everything that requires advanced reservations is already sold out. Everything else, like first-come, first-served campgrounds are just going to be packed.” The trend appears to comes down to a stressed- out population eager to get out and experience the world, but that still can’t fly to Europe and doesn’t feel comfortable in more crowded places – whether it’s an indoor museum or Disneyland. “People just feel safer in the outdoors right now,” said Jaime Eder, industry communications manager for Travel Oregon. “We’re expecting a lot of in-state Serving the Silverton Area Since 1880 A Unique Edition of the Statesman Journal QEAJAB-07403y enough employees, the state’s employment depart- ment will reinstate its previous rule requiring those seeking unemployment benefits to search for jobs. Over a year after suspending the rule at the beginning of the pandemic, about 220,000 people will have to return to seeking employment by July 31 to continue to receive benefits, including the $300 weekly boost in unemployment benefits. Suspension of requirements The state’s employment department temporarily suspended its rules regarding work searches on March 27, 2020, and made them retroactive to March 8 under guidance from the Families First Coronavirus Response Act that allowed states to modify their laws on an emergency basis. Oregon’s unemployment rate soared to a record 14.2% in April 2020 as entire industries like hospital- ity shut down and others like health care and manu- facturing shed employees on a temporary basis. The rate has slowly declined this year, dropping to 6.0% in March from 6.3% in December 2020, but is See JOBS, Page 4A Online at SilvertonAppeal.com News updates: h Breaking news h Get updates from the Silverton area Photos: h Photo galleries