Podcast - Ochoco National Forest Restoration Collaborative - Part 2

Collaborative Tours Bailey Butte Fire Site - June 2015

Part 2 in a series about the Ochoco Forest Restoration Collaborative convened several years ago by Prineville Mayor Betty Roppe and Crook County Commissioner Ken Fahlgren. In this episode the Collaborative takes a tour of the Bailey Butte Fire which burned 8,000 acres of Ochoco National Forest in 2014. Experts in fire behavior and forest restoration discuss, at various stops during the day, how fire affected the forest and how smart restoration practices may diminish the effects of future fires. 9:21 total time.

Pete Caligiuri discusses the history of wild fire.

Podcast: Ochoco National Forest Restoration Collaborative - Part 1

Addressing and Resolving Impassioned Gridlock

The Ochoco National Forest Restoration Collaborative is a group of diverse stakeholders who started meeting in 2012 at the request of co-conveners, Prineville's Mayor Betty Roppe and Crook County Commissioner Ken Fahlgren. The group works on forest and watershed restoration within the Ochoco National Forest in Central Oregon. Listen to this 8-minute podcast to hear how groups, seemingly at odds with each other over forest management issues, are working together for the common good of the forest and surrounding communities. https://soundcloud.com/cumberlandcountypachatter/ochoco-forest-oregon-collaborative-part-1 

Collaborative members during a field trip

Voices of Woodgrain Millwork

Company Abruptly Closes - 200 Jobs Gone

Woodgrain Millwork in Prineville Oregon recently closed it's mill after a roof collapsed under the weight of heavy ice and snow. The company has no plans to reopen the facility meaning that upwards of 200 people are losing their jobs. This in a county with over 10.2% unemployment, high poverty and homelessness. Listen to this podcast and hear the voices of affected workers. Total time: 8:02

Prineville's Woodgrain Millwork facility prior to roof collapse
Photo Credit: Kevin Sperl, Central Oregonian

E-Cigarette Growth in Crook County Oregon

Smoking Cessation Devices or Simply Brilliant Marketing?

The growth of e cigarettes in Crook County Oregon has been huge. Listen to this podcast recorded on Nov. 4th, 2014 with two experts from the Crook County Oregon Health Department. You'll learn what e cigs actually are, who's using them, and what the health outcomes are. Total running time: 18:40

Muriel De La Vergne-Brown and Kris Williams

Homeless in Crook County

Ever Wonder What It's Like?

Somehow the message that the economy was improving never made it to the homeless population in Crook County. Numbers are increasing and services can't keep up with the need. Bill talks with two people in Prineville Oregon about how they came to be homeless, what it's like to live on the street, what challenges they have on a daily basis, and what resources they have tapped to help them get out of the cycle of homelessness, drug addiction, and jail. Listen to this podcast now (8:41 total time) and learn what it's like to be homeless.

Matt at Redemption House Ministries

Billie Johnson - Windy Acres Dairy Farm

It's Always Been About the Journey

Billie Johnson is a dairy farmer on a journey. Raised on a cattle ranch near Monument Oregon, Johnson has always known that farming was in her blood. But her journey through farming has not been an easy one. And, as one of the leaders in the raw milk movement, she's had to fight for the right to supply healthy, organic products using the “herd share” business model -  legally allowing her members to obtain raw milk products right from the farm. Listen to this podcast and be inspired! Total running time - 8:37.

Billie Johnson at Windy Acres Dairy Farm

Fighting Homelessness and Hunger in Crook County

Nazarene Church Expands Redemption House Ministries

When the Prineville Nazarene Church decides to address problems in the community they jump right in, create a plan, and move full-steam ahead. The Church has a big vision for tackling the multi-faceted issues of homelessness and hunger problems in Crook County.

Greg Sanders and Karla Wiseman, both with the Nazarene Church, at the
site of the new 22-bed emergency shelter under construction in Prineville

Listen to this 11-minute emotion-packed podcast to learn more about the Ministry's big plans to help the homeless and hungry in Crook County !

Tana Osborn

Until Heaven Then My Friend; Life's Journey For Your Beloved Dog

Tana Osborn, a Powell Butte Oregon resident, is a retired nurse and new author of a book called "Until Heaven Then My Friend: Life's Journey For Your Beloved Dog." Host Bill Mintiens talks with Osborn about why she wrote the book, how she dealt with her own grief about the loss of her dogs, and why she believes that all dogs go to heaven. Total running time: 7:30

Tana Osborn with Boots and Socks

Chris Gannon

Helping Native Fish Return After 100 Years

Chris Gannon is the Director of the Crooked River Watershed Council. This past fall Chris and his team helped Chinook salmon and Middle Columbia steelhead get closer to their native spawning grounds on the upper Crooked River by removing the 100+ year old Stearns Dam. An impressive collaboration among government agencies, the landowner, and environmental groups over a ten year period, the Watershed Council shepherded this project to it's completion this past December.

Chris Gannon in his Crooked River Watershed Council office

Listen to this four minute radio interview with Chris and you'll hear the passion and commitment that all the partners had for this project.

And, after listening to the radio piece, if you'd like to view the 17-minute video documentary that the Watershed Council had filmed about the dam removal (by Jakie Spring Media LLC, Prineville) simply click on the link below. You'll open the Crooked River Watershed Council's web site where you can click on the link "Stearns Dam Removal Project." Crooked River Watershed Council

CASA Needs Volunteers - Now!

30 Children Need an Advocate Today

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Prineville needs your help! They're not looking for your money, they're looking for a little of your time, your empathy for the children who've been removed from their parent's home due to abuse or neglect. Over 60 children are in foster care in Crook County - but only half of them have an Advocate, someone trained and specifically looking out for the rights and needs of the child. Listen to this 10-minute radio show with two members of the Prineville CASA team - Gaylynn Kerns and Meriah Smith - learn what it's like being an Advocate - then seriously consider becoming part of the CASA team in Prineville.

Could It Happen Here?

Could a Sandy Hook or Clackamas Mall incident happen here?

This 10-minute radio show (heard 8/27/13 on KPOV 88.9 FM Bend OR) was originally recorded in Jan 2013 shortly after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Mayor Roppe, Chief of Police Bush, and Sheriff Hensley joined me for a round table discussion about the possibility of a similar incident happening in Crook County Oregon. The full interview is 50-minutes and can be heard at prinevillepeople.blogspot.com/2013/01/co…-here.html .

l to r: Sheriff Hensley, Mayor Roppe, Chief Bush

Could it happen here?

Mayor Roppe, Sheriff Hensley, and Chief Bush joined me last week to discuss the recent mass killings, gun control, and how recent events have impacted Prineville/Crook County

left to right: Sheriff Hensley, Mayor Roppe, Chief Bush

Click the arrow below to listen to this fascinating discussion (about 50 minutes total):