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First Response Coalition To Celebrate Inaugural National First Responder Appreciation Day on Capitol Hill‏

To honor America’s “hometown heroes,” FRC urges Congress to pass H.Res.592, the “National First Responder Appreciation Day” resolution.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Congress has seen fit to honor pigs and popcorn, catfish and ice cream with national days of recognition. The FRC believes it is time for our nation’s first responders to be honored.

A diverse panel of key policymakers, first responders, and national organizations will celebrate the inaugural “National First Responder Appreciation Day.”

Oregon Fire Agencies Receive $522,500 in Firefighter Assistance Grants From FEMA

This week’s round of national fire grants amounts to nearly $16.9 million distributed to departments throughout the ten (10) FEMA Regional offices.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded $522,500 in Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) to two rural fire agencies in Oregon.

Nationally, the fiscal year (FY) 2007 AFG awards, which will be distributed in phases, will ultimately provide over $490 million to fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations throughout the country.

Oregon Guard F-15 Accident Report Released

Friends and associates of Major Greg Young say he is sorely missed.

(LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va.) - A pilot's spatial disorientation during an air combat training mission caused an F-15A to crash approximately 42 nautical miles west of Arch Cape, Oregon, in the Pacific Ocean on June 26th, 2007, Air Force officials announced today.

The pilot of the aircraft, Major Greg Young, died immediately on impact and was the only crewmember aboard the single-seat F-15A. The mishap occurred during a dissimilar air combat training mission with F/A-18s from Naval Air Station Fort Worth, Texas.

Two Students Shot at Delaware State University

The university is advising residential students to remain in their rooms “for their safety”.

(DOVER, Del.) - Two students were shot on campus at Delaware State University near Memorial Hall Friday morning by an unknown assailant.

According to local media reports, the male student is in stable condition, but the female suffered serious injuries.

The university says that all classes have been suspended for the rest of the day.

Police believe that a single gunman is responsible for the attack and the DSU police along with local police are still looking for the perpetrator.

Group Claims Oregon Senator Wants Female Teachers Defenseless Against Abusers

Group says legislation will make schools less safe for female teachers.

(BELLEVUE, Wash.) - A right wing Oregon gun ownership group is steaming over proposed legislation that would ban guns from school grounds. The group's angle in attacking the legislation brought forward by Ginny Burdick, is an implication that she is trying to make life "less safe" for female teachers.

"Oregon State Sen. Ginny Burdick's plan to sponsor legislation designed to make female teachers more vulnerable to abusive ex-spouses by specifically stripping away their right of self-defense on school campuses is a new low in gun control extremism," the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said today.

Family Escapes Burning House in Jefferson‏

One firefighter was transported to the hospital suffering from heat exhaustion.

(JEFFERSON, Ore.) - A family is safe this afternoon thanks to a smoke alarm and knowing that a quick exit from a burning house is above all the most important thing to do when your house is on fire. They lost the contents of their home however, and the public will have a chance to lend them a hand.

The fire appears to have started in the laundry room area and the fire is under investigation by the Marion-Polk County Fire Investigation Team at this time.

Enrollment on the Uptick at Chemeketa

In addition to an increase in full-time enrollment, general enrollment increased by 2.6 percent during the summer term.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Full-time enrollment at Chemeketa Community College rose by 3.5 percent for the 2007 summer term. Students taking 12 credits or more in a single term are considered full-time.

The Chemeketa Community College Board of Directors received the news during its meeting Wednesday, September 19th. The enrollment uptick coincided with the additional good news from the Oregon state legislature regarding funding.

Smith Announces Support for Copper Salmon Wilderness

Smith says the legislation will protect 13,700 acres of unique Oregon forests and rivers.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Senator Gordon H. Smith (R-OR) today announced his support of legislation designating the 13,700 acre Copper Salmon area of Southwest Oregon as wilderness.

“Wilderness is not a designation I take lightly, nor is it something that I categorically oppose,” Smith said at a hearing today of the Forest and Public Lands Subcommittee. “The Copper Salmon proposal has a tremendous level of support from local elected officials, sportsmen and conservationists.”

Health Advisory Lifted for Water Contact at Cannon Beach

Subsequent testing showed the contamination had subsided and the waters did not pose a higher-than-normal risk associated with water-contact activities.

(CANNON BEACH, Ore.) - A health advisory for contact with marine water at Cannon Beach in Clatsop County was lifted today by the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS), in conjunction with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

The advisory was issued Wednesday, after water samples at Cannon Beach showed higher-than-normal levels of enterococcus, a type of fecal bacteria, in the marine water.

Oregon Gas Prices Up Slightly This Week

In the Salem-area, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded rose by 1-cent to $2.81.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - In the past week, the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline fell by almost four cents to $2.79.

But Oregon's statewide average continued its upward trek, but by a mere one-tenth of a cent to $2.82. In coming weeks, motorists should see pump prices backing off.

Last week, OPEC agreed to increase oil production by 500,000 barrels per day.