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What a Hot Air Balloon Teaches Us About Management

This is the third in a series of Management Moments by Doug Dickerson, a weekly column designed to bring inspiration to those in the workplace and beyond.

(CHARLESTON, SC) - The story is told of a man flying in a hot air balloon who realizes he is lost. He reduces height and spots a man down below. He lowers the balloon and shouts, “Excuse me, can you tell me where I am?” The man below says, “Yes, you’re in a hot air balloon, hovering 30 feet above this field.”

“You must work in Information Technology,” says the balloonist. “I do,” replies the man. “How did you know?”

“Well” says the balloonist, “everything you have told me is technically correct, but it’s no use to anyone.”

Police Call Early Morning Crash a Reminder for Drivers to Lookout for Highway Crews and Vehicles

Oregon State Police cited the commercial truck operator for Careless Driving.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Even though the snow and ice has mostly disappeared, police say a crash early Tuesday morning is a reminder of the need to watch for highway maintenance workers and vehicles as they work to keep our area roads safe to travel on.

This morning at approximately 3:45 PM, three ODOT maintenance vehicles were involved in sweeping loose sanding material in the far right southbound lane of Interstate 5 near milepost 286 north of Wilsonville.

State Police officials say an ODOT dump truck operated by 53-year old Kenton W. Brenner was at the rear of the slow-moving maintenance vehicles with flashing amber lights and directional arrows displayed to move rear approaching traffic to the center and left southbound lanes.

PGE Employees Brave Storm to Help Hatchery Save Salmon

The salmon at the hatchery are due to be released into the Clackamas and Sandy rivers in March.

(CLACKAMAS, Ore.) - Several employees of Portland General Electric along with members of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife staff braved severe winter conditions last week to avert the loss of up to 900,000 spring chinook salmon destined for release into the Clackamas and Sandy rivers.

The salmon fingerlings being reared at ODFW’s Clackamas fish hatchery were imperiled by a sequence of events that began with a power failure following a major snowstorm at the hatchery on December 22nd.

The situation became progressively more precarious when a large diesel back-up generator started to malfunction two days later, on Christmas Eve, prompting employees from both organizations to give up time with their families to protect the fish.

Columbia County Operations Resume After Record-Breaking Winter Storm

Update on Weight Restrictions Imposed as a result of the Freeze/Thaw Cycle‏.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Officials say most of Columbia County is back to normal activities this week after two weeks of snow and ice hampered the holiday activities of many residents.

The storm brought a record 18.9 inches of snow to the region and was the snowiest month since 1969 according to the National Weather Service and a record snowfall for lower elevations.

The weather event affected the roads and on Tuesday, the 23rd of December the County Commissioners approved a Board Order imposing weight restrictions on posted county roads to reduce road damage as a result of the heavy freeze/thaw cycle.

Navy to Commission Aircraft Carrier George H.W. Bush

This floating airfield has a flight deck that covers 4.5 acres.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - The Navy's newest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier George H. W. Bush will be commissioned Saturday, Jan. 10th, 2009, during an 11 AM EST ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia.

New Year Kicks In Generous Federal Estate Tax Rules

It estimated that in 2009, the federal estate tax will generate about what the federal government will spend on K-12 education that year.

(SILVERTON, Ore.) - Moneyed Oregon families have one more reason to pop open the champagne for the New Year, when a law cutting further the federal tax on inherited wealth takes effect, according to the Oregon Center for Public Policy.

In 2009, the federal estate tax exemption will jump from $4 million per couple to $7 million. This means that the heirs of a widow or widower who dies in 2009 with an estate valued at $7 million will pay no federal estate taxes, according to OCPP policy analyst Janet Bauer.

Only three in 1,000 estates in Oregon will likely be subject to the federal tax under the 2009 rules, said Bauer. She noted that the ratio was 13 per 1,000 in 2000, before a 2001 law enacted under the Bush Administration began to phase in cuts to the federal estate tax.

Oregon Gas Prices Reach Five-Year Low to Close Out 2008

2008 concludes with the lowest gas prices we've seen in nearly five years.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Drivers will end 2008 with the lowest gas prices in nearly five years. The national average for regular unleaded drops four cents this week to $1.62, while Oregon's average increases half a cent to $1.74.

Marijuana Legalization: Retired Seattle Police Chief Says Obama Should Listen to Voters

We understand Mr. Obama has a full plate. Our economic crisis and the threat of terrorism are only two examples. However, we know that ending the drug war will offer a partial fix to both of these issues.

(SEATTLE) - In early December, Barack Obama invited Americans to participate in an unprecedented, bottom-up approach to government. Visitors to the President-elect’s official website, Change.gov, were able to submit questions and vote on which questions should take priority for the new administration.

More than a dozen of the top 50 questions called for amending America’s drug policies, with inquiries ranging from availability of doctor-recommended medical marijuana to the economic impact of continuing to arrest and incarcerate millions of people for drug offenses.

Oregon Fines Insurer for Improperly Denying Health Claims

The company was basing coverage decisions on a federal law that allows pre-existing condition claims to be denied for up to 12 months. The insurer notified the department of the error.

(SALEM, Ore.) - An Oregon woman who complained to the state after PacifiCare Life Assurance Company denied six of her seven medical claims helped launch an Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services investigation that overturned nearly 5,000 other claim denials.

Department Director Cory Streisinger today signed an order fining PacifiCare Life Assurance $46,000 for failing to conduct reasonable investigations before denying claims, making policyholders with pre-existing conditions wait more than six months for coverage of those conditions, and for failing to act promptly on a claim.

In its investigation, the department's Insurance Division discovered that PacifiCare Life Assurance was denying claims without contacting the people who made the claims or their health care providers to determine whether the services were covered.

Naked Home Invader Nabbed After Senior Citizen Grabs His `Cahoochies`

An 80-year old woman grabbed a naked man named Michael Dick by the crotch and gave him a good squeeze; police nabbed him a few minutes later.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Police say that today at 6:30 AM, an 88-year old woman in her bathrobe was confronted by a naked man who had entered her home in the 2500 block of SE 287th Avenue through an unlocked sliding door.