A4 The BulleTin • Thursday, FeBruary 4, 2021
University
“Wild and Sce-
nic Rivers …
offer opportu-
nities for soli-
tude. They pro-
vide necessary
fish and wild-
life habitat.”
Continued from A1
“And even if it’s allowed,
we’re not sure it’s the right
thing to do.”
In Deschutes County,
state mandates currently
limit outdoor gatherings to
a maximum of six people.
OSU-Cascades expects to
have a graduating class of
about 330 students this year,
according to spokesperson
Christine Coffin.
This marks the second
straight year without a tra-
ditional graduation cere-
mony for OSU-Cascades
grads. Last summer, the
university initially post-
poned the event, then later
canceled it.
“Even with more people
being vaccinated daily, it
is not possible within an-
ticipated state and local
health guidelines to plan
any large in-person gather-
ing as early as June,” OSU
President F. King Alexan-
der said in a statement. “We
feel it’s important to make
this announcement now be-
fore large numbers of our
graduates’ families begin to
make travel and lodging ar-
rangements.”
Johnson acknowledged
that this is a disappointing
decision for graduating se-
niors and their families.
“I feel really bad for the
graduating seniors, just like
I did last spring,” she said.
Jade Warner, a senior at
OSU-Cascades, said she
felt the university made the
right decision. She was be-
ginning to get a bit nervous
about having a massive
in-person graduation cele-
bration, she said.
“I (value) health and
safety above all else, and I
don’t see us at a point where
that makes sense,” Warner,
22, said. “I’d much rather
have my friends, family and
peers be safe.”
More details about the
university’s virtual com-
mencement will be released
in the next few months, the
release stated.
— Ian Isaacson,
Oregon board chair of
Backcountry Hunters and Anglers
Rivers
Continued from A1
“Wild and Scenic Rivers hold
many backcountry values for
hunters and anglers,” said Ian
Isaacson, Oregon board chair
of Backcountry Hunters and
Anglers. “They offer opportu-
nities for solitude. They pro-
vide necessary fish and wildlife
habitat.”
Once a river falls under the
Wild and Scenic designation,
federal land managers will
be required to assess wildfire
risks in the area. Plans must in-
clude assessing wildfire risks to
nearby homes and businesses
as well as ways to restore wa-
ter quality from environmental
damage caused by wildfire.
The bill also encourages fed-
eral land managers to develop
river management plans in col-
laboration with Native Ameri-
can tribes as a way to keep their
voices heard. Tribes across the
Pacific Northwest voiced sup-
port for the legislation.
“Careful management
around our rivers is necessary
to maintain good drinking wa-
ter, healthy fish runs, and the
beauty that our rivers offer to
us and our guests,” said Dan
Courtney of the Cow Creek
Band of Umpqua Tribe of In-
dians.
In Central Oregon, rivers
and creeks that are part of the
bill include:
• North Fork Crooked River:
The bill adds 3.5 miles to the
main stem plus several tribu-
taries (66.5 miles total).
• Metolius River: No new ad-
ditions to the main stem. Addi-
Ryan Brennecke/Bulletin photos
An angler wets his line along a section of the Crooked River in 2018.
tions are tributaries (36 miles).
• Whychus Creek: 7.6 miles
of the main stem (above its
confluence with the De-
schutes River), plus 5.9 miles
of Snow Creek (tributary of the
Whychus).
• Tumalo Creek: 24.7 miles
added.
• Deschutes River: an 8.4-
mile section from Lava Lake to
Crane Prairie Reservoir.
• Fall River: two separate
sections totaling more than 7
miles.
• Browns Creek: a 2.7-mile
section.
• Paulina Creek: an 8.6-mile
section.
• Cultus River: a 1.9-mile
section.
Around 2,500 Oregonians
submitted more than 15,000
nominations to be included in
the act, which builds on legisla-
tion passed in 2019 that added
more than 250 miles of Wild
and Scenic Rivers in Oregon.
Oregon now has 2,173 miles
designated in the Wild and Sce-
nic Rivers system, but that to-
tal is just a fraction of Oregon’s
110,994 miles of rivers and
streams.
By expanding the river net-
work, Oregonians “can protect
the health of delicate ecosys-
tems and strengthen access to
high-quality drinking water,
while increasing wildfire resil-
ience, and bolstering our recre-
ation economy,” said Merkley.
The bill is good news not
just for environmental protec-
tions and wildfire resilience, it
is also meant to help the econ-
omy — river rafting, fishing
and hiking trips help boost
jobs and spending. In Oregon,
outdoor recreation supports
more than 224,000 jobs and
generates $9.3 billion in wages
and compensation, according
to the Oregon Tourism Com-
mission.
“As a fly-fishing guide and
owner of a fly-fishing shop, my
livelihood depends on Wild
and Scenic Rivers like the De-
schutes, Crooked, and Meto-
lius,” said Jeff Perin, owner of
the Flyfishers Place in Sisters.
“These are challenging times
for small-business owners and
having access to protected riv-
ers is more essential than ever.”
e e
Reporter: 541-617-7818,
mkohn@bendbulletin.com
e e
A section of frozen waterfalls along Tumalo Creek in 2018.
Reporter: 541-617-7854,
jhogan@bendbulletin.com
ENTER TO WIN THE
VALENTINE’S GIVEAWAY!
Workplace
Continued from A1
What won’t change?
Keeping 6 feet of distance
from all others, requiring cus-
tomers and employees to wear
a face covering — as well as
regular sanitation of common
areas, shared equipment and
high-touch surfaces — will
continue to be mandatory, as-
suming the rule is approved by
the department.
Employers will continue to
be required to display safety
posters, develop an infection
control plan, ventilate busi-
nesses as much as possible and
provide employees with train-
ing in case the novel coronavi-
rus strikes.
Public health agencies will
retain the power to direct com-
panies to isolate certain em-
ployees who have been poten-
tially exposed or infected.
What will change?
Among the changes, Oregon
OSHA will ask employers to
consider not transporting mul-
tiple people in a single vehicle,
though this activity will not be
prohibited.
Business owners with more
than 10 employees and exist-
ing ventilation systems will
Theft
Continued from A1
She said 12.9% of victims
were unaware if their cars were
locked or not. Most vehicles
were stolen in the early morn-
ing between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m.
on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The brand most commonly
stolen in Bend in 2020 was
Honda, with 16, followed by
Subaru with eight, Toyota and
Ford with seven each.
It was not known how many
of the stolen vehicles were
rental cars or how many of the
victims live outside the area.
e e
Reporter: 541-383-0325,
gandrews@bendbulletin.com
be required to certify in writ-
ing that the ducts are flowing,
and bosses will be required to
cooperate with public health
agencies that seek to arrange
workplace vaccinations.
Written notice will be man-
datory for employees who
quarantine, with the notice
stating their right to return to
work — without penalty from
management — after the pe-
riod of isolation ends.
Health care organizations
will be required to provide
workers believed to be exposed
to COVID-19 with respira-
tors, unless they demonstrate a
“genuine shortage.”
Oregon OSHA highlights
that wearing face shields — the
thin plastic visors resembling
welders’ masks — “should be
discouraged when more suit-
able alternatives” exist to prevent
spreading the disease. Oregon
Health Authority is considering
banning face shields entirely.
Vaccines not required
While the Oregon Bureau
of Labor and Industries pre-
viously announced that em-
ployers may require their em-
ployees to be inoculated, with
some exceptions, Oregon OS-
HA’s proposed rules state that
“employers need not require
employees to accept the vacci-
nation.”
If employers are offered the
vaccine on a voluntary basis,
those who refuse must provide
written documentation.
However, if the Oregon
Public Health Authority or an-
other agency requires certain
workplaces to get their shots,
the employer must cooperate
by making workers and space
available.
“It is the considered opin-
ion of both the Oregon Health
Authority and Oregon OSHA
that all individuals should ac-
cept vaccination unless it is
medically contraindicated,” the
agency said. “Allowing some
workers to decline such a vac-
cination does not indicate any
doubts on the part of the state
or Oregon about the value of
the vaccine and the importance
of reaching a high vaccination
rate to both public and worker
health.”
Sylvan “Butch” Barney
Crume Jr.
of La Pine, OR
Dennis aka “Mayor of
Sandtrap Lane” M. Pat-
terson of Sunriver, OR
November 10, 1943 -
January 24, 2021
Arrangements:
Baird Memorial Chapel
of La Pine is honored to
serve the Crume family.
Please visit our website,
www.bairdfh.com, to share
condolences and sign the
online guestbook.
June 24, 1940 - Jan 27,
2021
Arrangements:
Deschutes Memorial
Chapel and Gardens is
honored to serve the family
- (541) 382-5592. Visit our
online register book to
send condolences and
share treasured memories
at deschutesmemorial-
chapel.com or on Face-
book at facebook.com/
deschutesmemorial.
James Franklin
Willhite Jr. of
La Pine, OR
June 12, 1942 - Jan 27,
2021
Arrangements:
Baird Memorial Chapel
of La Pine is honored
to serve the Willhite
family. Please visit our
website, www.bairdfh.com,
to share condolences and
sign the online guestbook.
OBITUARY DEADLINE
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