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Oregon Average Gasoline Price Still Declining as National Average Continues Climb

Oregon Average Gasoline Price Still Declining as National Average Continues Climb

(SALEM) - During the past week, the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline increased by almost 8 cents to $2.93—the highest since mid-May. Oregon's statewide average, however, continued its downward trend, dropping to $2.96. Salem continues to have the state’s cheapest gas prices, with a gallon of regular selling for $2.89.

Crude oil currently is trading at more than $70 per barrel, largely in response to recent global developments.

Field Burning Season About to Begin in Willamette Valley

Despite being scaled back dramatically from the late 1980s and early 1990s, field burning is still an important management tool for Oregon's $373 million dollar grass seed industry.

(SALEM) - Field burning in the Willamette Valley is about to get underway this summer.

If all goes according to plan, Willamette Valley residents will see the traditional plumes of smoke billowing up from grass seed fields but should not be impacted by the smoke, says John Byers of the Oregon Department of Agriculture's Smoke Management Program:.

Byers: "Field burning season is on target. They are starting to harvest now, which means that we will burning fields typically mid-July. We will occasionally burn after October first, but most of the fields are burned by the end of September."

Oregon Department of Forestry Announces Regulated Use Closure on All North Cascade District Fore

(SALEM) - The Oregon Department of Forestry has announced a Regulated Use Closure on all lands protected by the North Cascade District. The district encompasses private and industrial forestlands in portions of Multnomah, Clackamas, Marion and Linn counties.

"The large fire in the Estacada area last Sunday demonstrates clearly that the wildland fuels such as grasses on forestlands are very dry and can burn easily", said department information officer Jamie Paul. "People who work and play in the forests need to take extra precautions to prevent fires from starting."

Rules in effect on public activities on the forestlands protected by the department include restrictions on smoking, open campfires, chainsaw use, off-road vehicles use, the mowing of dry grass, fireworks and the cutting and grinding of metal. All backyard burning is also banned.

Rodeo Roared in With Thunder

The St. Paul Rodeo in its 71st year, is the nation's largest 4th of July Rodeo.

(ST PAUL) - The sky was thick with the clouds of a summer thunderstorm Tuesday morning, and crashing thunder and lightning made getting lined up for the St Paul Rodeo parade interesting for participants, who wondered what it would mean if the rain began.

Just as the parade kicked off, in a wondrous Oregon moment, the clouds broke open and the sun shined through, casting light and color on the event and the entire day.

“This is the Nation’s biggest 4th of July rodeo and it takes the whole community to make this happen. Things went very well this year. We almost equaled last year’s attendance record, even though the weather was hot the first three days, so yesterday was rodeo weather,” commented Dave Wilson, spokesman for the St Paul Rodeo.

Eight People Die on Oregon Roads Over July 4th Weekend

Preliminary information from Oregon State Police and ODOT indicates that eight people died in traffic crashes during the 2006 Fourth of July extended holiday period, equaling the average number of fatalities during this holiday weekend since 1970.

(SALEM) - Between 6:00 PM, Friday, June 30th, and midnight, Tuesday, July 4th, eight people died in 8 separate traffic crashes on Oregon highways over the July 4th weekend.

Oregon OSHA Offering Free Small-Business Safety Training in Salem

(SALEM) - The Department of Consumer and Business Services, Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) will be offering a free lunchtime training session in Salem on Friday.

Oregon OSHA designed the 'Safety for Small Business' program to help small business owners or supervisors implement an effective safety and health management program in their workplace. The training consists of two one-hour workshops where participants bring their own lunches, and Oregon OSHA provides workshop materials. The training is free.

The 'Safety for Small Business' workshop will be presented in Salem from noon to 1:00 PM at the Chemeketa Community College Training and Economic Development (TED) Center...

Emeralds Celebrate The Fourth of July by Beating The Volcanoes 7-4

A franchise-record 5,628 packed Volcanoes Stadium.

(KEIZER) - The Eugene Emeralds are on a two game winning streak, unfortunately those wins are coming against what was the hottest team in NWL baseball the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes.

Before a franchise record crowd of 5,628, the Emeralds scored first and never looked back beating the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 7-4 on what was a clear, but very windy night at “The Crater.”

Eugene shortstop Nick Kliebert had a double and scored three runs.

Electrical Short Causes House Fire

(SALEM) - Rentov Sergi was not at his residence at 2629 Gilbert Street S. when his house caught fire Tuesday. Salem Fire Spokesman Bill Holmstrom says fire was spreading up the exterior wall when a neighbor saw it and called 9-1-1.

Salem Fire received the call for a structure fire at 3:34 PM Tuesday. The first firefighters in reported flames crawling up the outside wall of this single-family dwelling.

The fire involved the gas meter, and they say they could see that the meter or a pipe to the meter was leaking gas. Firefighters had the fire under control within 5 minutes of their arrival.

Crews were able to extinguish the fire before it could enter into the structure.

Lightning Bolt Sends Large Tree Crashing Down

The tree caused no injuries but left a homeowner shaken after hearing what she initially believed was an explosion.

(KEIZER) - Fourth of July starts out with a bang in Keizer early Tuesday morning for one Keizer homeowner. Pam Jones of 4968 Sea Gale Way N in west Keizer said it sounded like an explosion when a bolt of lightning struck the tree outside her home.

Fire crews found a that large evergreen-type tree had taken a direct hit causing it to be spilt down the center, scattering tree bark over the cul-de-sac. Fortunately, nobody was hurt.

They say it is fortunate that there were no injuries or power lines down or damage to the home.

Homeowner Pam Jones says she was listening to the thunderstorm that was passing through the area, when she heard the emergency alert system broadcast on TV and then heard a large explosion.

Stayton Woman Dies in Highway-22 Crash Monday

Police say they are still trying to determine what caused the car to leave the roadway, leading to the fatal crash.

(DETROIT) - A Stayton woman died Monday evening in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 22 near the west end of Detroit Lake. There other individuals in the other vehicle from Seattle, Washington were injured, one received critical injuries.