http://www.NRToday.com Serving Douglas County, OR Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:18:46 -0600 en 30 http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/6969746-113/dale-main-roth-events http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/6946296-113/gross-net-tie-flight http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/6946063-113/beals-main-watson-carroll MYRTLE CREEK — You can’t take the cowboy out of Colton Gow. The 25-year-old, a 2006 graduate of Roseburg High School, was among the competitors in the first performance of the 31st annual South Douglas Rodeo on Saturday afternoon at the Tri-City Horsemen’s Arena. Gow partnered with his father, Bill, in team roping and also competed in calf roping and wild cow milking. It wasn’t Colton’s day in the arena — no times in all three events and thus no money won. But he didn’t seem too worried about it afterwards, managing a smile during an interview. “It was a … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/6838502-113/rodeo-gow-roping-colton http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/6792658-113/watson-event-main-smith Somewhere in the world a coyote howled and the sound skipped off the atmosphere like a radio signal from three states away. Eventually the sound waves subliminally tickled the auditory receptors stored somewhere in my mostly empty head. How else do you explain a sudden urge to head to the desert just to hear the unmelodic high wail of a pack of canine Mariah Careys? Mrs. O’Neill and I had vacationed several years ago at Lava Beds National Monument south of Klamath Falls and each evening we were treated to a nightly Coyote Gospel Choir concert while lightning flashed in … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/6621418-113/lava-turn-monument-beds Ah, the cheerful spring singing of the arriving migratory songbirds. After a long, quiet winter without them, they remind me it’s my favorite time of year. In the woods, in the backyard, while out working on the farm, you will hear the spring songs. But sadly, many of the birds you listen to are in decline, in part due to the loss of habitat. Some of the most valuable songbird habitat is in the lower valley riparian areas. Much of this habitat is on private lands and has been lost to development, which makes the remaining habitat areas in backyards, … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/6521663-113/birds-habitat-variety-areas http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/6491555-113/main-watson-late-riley Tom Ford claimed the main event victory in the modified class during the Pacific Racing Association’s season-opening night on Saturday at the Douglas County Speedway. Other main winners included Dale Yarbrough (street stocks), Jason Gotz (mini stocks) and Mike Batman (Old Time Racers). The next scheduled PRA event is this Saturday, with Mother’s Day at the speedway. All mothers will be admitted free. On the program are super late models, mini stocks, open sportsman and hornets. Gates open at 4 p.m., time trials are at 5 and racing at 6:30. Saturday’s Results Main Events Modifieds 1. Tom Ford; 2. Kalob … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/6400425-113/stocks-main-dale-event “Drivers, start your engines!” NASCAR? Daytona, Darlington or the Talladega speedway? No, no, no! This is much bigger than that. There might not be many 200 mph, 650-horsepower engines rumbling from the starting line in this one, but without a doubt, the talent and passion of the participants will skyrocket emotions and bring lawn chair quarterbacks to their feet. Yes, there can be only one thing that could possibly generate such excitement — the ice has cleared off Diamond Lake, AND it’s time to get the boats on the water. Roaring from the docks, headed to favorite spots — this … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/6335684-113/fish-cindy-fishing-net Warm weather is expected as the Pacific Racing Association is gearing up for its 2013 season opener on Saturday night at the Douglas County Speedway. Opening night — one of 14 dates on the tentative schedule — will feature the Knife River modifieds, Rock-n-Wingz street stocks, Dr. Todd mini stocks and Old Time Racers of Oregon. Gates open at 4 p.m., time trials begin at 5 and racing at 6:30. Ticket prices are $10 for general admission, and $5 for seniors, children and all military people. A family pass is available for $20. Children under 5 are free. A practice … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/6337582-113/stocks-street-mini-modifieds GLIDE — Nine-year-old Hope Cooksey arrived early Saturday morning at the Glide Wildflower show and walked around the tables, snapping photos of flowers in bloom that caught her eye. “They’re pretty,” the home-schooled student from Myrtle Creek said as she aimed her camera at the purple blooms on an Oregon iris. Hope was one of hundreds of people who dropped by the Glide Community Center for the 48th annual show. Nearly 650 varieties of plants were on display during the two-day show, which runs again today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. “What you see at this show goes way … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/6289751-113/wildflower-glide-plants-talk From Roseburg, follow Interstate 5 south and take the first Grants Pass exit at Exit 58. Take Highway 199 (Sixth Street) through downtown Grants Pass and follow the signs for Williams Highway (Highway 238). Follow Highway 238 for 25 miles and turn right onto Upper Applegate Road. Follow the road for 12 miles and park at a wide spot on the right side. The trail sign has fallen down and is not visible from the road. Cross the road and pick up the trail on the other side of a dilapidated livestock gate. … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/6240873-113/trail-mountain-mule-follow GLIDE — Though she didn’t make her living on the stage, Abbey Rosso clearly believed the show must go on. She certainly applied that motto to the Glide Wildflower Show, a once-flourishing event that was dying on the vine by the mid-1990s. As longtime show organizer and Idleyld Park resident Jeanne Moore recalls it, volunteers had dwindled. A decades-old vase collection was on the verge of being given away. Treasury funds were put into a scholarship fund at Umpqua Community College. Her heart aching, Moore told a new neighbor in the fall of 1994 about how much she wished the … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/5855974-113/wildflower-glide-april-davidson Spring is at hand and while enjoying a beautiful sunny day, you may think, “Well, the winter wasn’t too bad.” But usually this is just the calm before the storm. Rain is on the way, and with it comes the mud. Many of you may not think mud concerns you, but it can affect us all. If you own livestock, especially horses, it is an all-too-familiar reality. It develops as the ground gets saturated, and by spring it usually is. The first quagmires can develop around the barnyard and holding paddocks, then through gateways, along animal trails, along dirt driveways … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/5814289-113/mud-manure-conservation-feeding Atrophied from the winter layoff, my legs resemble two overcooked spaghetti noodles. My soft legs don’t even rise to al dente status, having instead the consistency of overcooked goo on an elementary school lunch tray. And from months of no exposure to sunlight, my legs share the same bloodless white color as the crawly things that creep and slither away from underneath an overturned rock in the garden. Since the weather has been springy lately, it was time to give those white legs the challenge of a more demanding trail in the Siskiyou Mountains, instead of another flat beach hike. … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/5741539-113/lake-butte-applegate-stein Fishing is an American tradition that continues to attract participants of all ages. It seems to be especially popular with kids. The recent News-Review Fishing Photo Contest that was online at www.nrtoday.com had 104 entries and many of them included both kids and fish. News-Review staff selected a few of those photos to highlight on this page. Enjoy their smiles as they show off their catching, ranging from smallmouth bass to big lingcod.    … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/5069470-113/fishing-contest-fish-kids In the cold of the freezing fog of winter, I am already poised for the first sounds of spring — the buzz of the pollinator. What are and who are the pollinators? The most familiar of them are the bees, but other insects and animals are also pollinators. Some of the most beautiful are the butterflies and birds. Also included are some species of moths, beetles, flies and even bats. Why should you care about pollinators? Whether you are on a farm, use public lands or have a backyard, pollinators are important to you because of what they do for … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/5399295-113/pollinators-spring-wildlife-pollinator Why does wildfire pose such a problem today? Forest fires have existed since there were woodlands with enough fuel in them to carry fire. Before humans were on the scene, lightning-caused fires burned these fuels and maintained a natural, dynamic balance of fuels and plant life. Later, Native Americans used fire as a tool that shaped forests to suit their needs for game and crops. When the European immigrants came, they considered wildfire a destructive force that needed to be suppressed. That policy of suppression continues today. And, of course, we apply it with a much greater level of sophistication … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/5414617-113/fire-forest-fires-umpqua http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/5098880-113/derby-fish-enhancement-umpqua t’s hard to find a snowshoeing partner. Most people who have snowshoed with me in the past have gone only once, never to repeat the experience again. Upon a subsequent invitation, they politely explain they would rather have needles poked in their eyes than repeat the snowshoe-with-Richard experience. Mrs. O’Neill once threatened to have me arrested for assault with a deadly snowshoe trek. So, when hiking buddy John Malone stated he had never been snowshoeing, I predatorily extended an invite. Out of all the marvelous snowshoe destinations in our Cascades, Crater Lake reigns supreme and is a perfect destination for … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/4816312-113/lake-crater-snowshoe-road Have you ever wondered how public lands contribute to your life? Or how your values and opinions can make a difference in how public lands are managed? For centuries, our forest lands have given us access to the wild. We formed a spiritual connection between those resources and our hearts and souls — and our pocketbooks. The forests also provided the resources necessary to build a nation, from the modest log cabins of pioneer families to ships, railroads, and cities. Americans hold nature dear, but we’ve used it more and more as our population grows. It is this dual role … ]]> My only (ha!) failing as a parent is that none of my children hikes, despite my best efforts to instill a proper love of the trail. Now that they’ve left the nest and are living out their drab, hike-free lives, there isn’t much I can do any more to rectify their urban existences. However, grandchildren are fair game. So, after a two-hour drive to the coast, made longer by the constant plaints of being hungry, cold, thirsty, bored, tired or all of the above, it was sweet vindication when grandchildren Aiden and Coral Marsh (ages 9 and 5, respectively) strolled … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/4383071-113/dunes-sand-dune-hiking You might think it’s early to be discussing fire protection, but fire risk management should be a year-round effort. That’s particularly true if you live in a high-risk area such as wildland/urban interface. Even if your home isn’t located in such an area, you can still be at risk. A fire at your neighbor’s house or one that starts along an adjoining roadway can quickly spread onto your property. Though winter is officially here, spring will be close behind. And springtime is always the best time to initially establish defensible space around your home. Check to see whether you have … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/4143492-113/fire-space-defensible-fuels Do you think people are at odds over how federal lands and resources should be managed here? Have you ever wondered what life would be like if people in the Umpqua Valley would sit down, neighbor to neighbor, and work out their differences over those things? If we settled our disputes locally, do you think important decision-makers elsewhere would listen to us? Well, the Umpqua Forestry Coalition has begun that work and plans to find out. This article is our way of introducing ourselves to you. Coalition members are people who can no longer sit by and watch our federal … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/4215854-113/coalition-umpqua-members-gridlock The temperature was 8 degrees Tuesday, the first day of the year, and Diamond Lake was covered by ice and snow. The conditions didn’t stop Paul Heberling of Roseburg from going fishing. At about 9 a.m., he was the first angler to venture out on Diamond Lake’s frozen cover, which amounted to a couple of inches of ice, some slush and about 12 inches of snow. Heberling drilled a couple of holes and proceeded to fish two rods, one with Power Bait and the other with a lure. It wasn’t too long before Heberling got up off his bucket seat … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/4184418-113/lake-ice-diamond-fishing CANYONVILLE — Jack Joyce remembers when he wanted to take his sons hunting in central California, but couldn’t find any choice terrain to hunt because most of it was posted as private property. Now, years later, he’s providing access to his land and ponds for youth hunts on his ranch a couple of miles east of Canyonville. He’s provided those opportunities for several years by donating hunts to the Umpqua chapter of the Oregon Hunter’s Association. The hunts are raffled off, earning money for OHA and giving young hunters a chance at bagging a turkey or duck. More recently, the … ]]> Douglas County is renowned for its natural beauty. One of the best ways to enjoy the county’s scenic rivers, waterfalls, lakes and mountains is to go for a hike. The county is home to the 79-mile North Umpqua Trail and other treks in the Umpqua National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management’s Roseburg District. Waterfalls are the most common highlight of many county trails, but hikers can also expect to encounter vistas of snowy peaks, hot springs and picturesque mountain lakes. Below is a list of 10 Douglas County hikes that highlight the region’s diverse scenery and includes recommendations … ]]> Biking is a great way to enjoy Douglas County’s diverse landscape. This list of routes has something for everyone — from casual to avid cyclists. No. 1 John Dellenback Trail around Diamond Lake This 11.6-mile ride is a family-oriented trip worth the drive, especially if you do other activities such as camping and hiking while out that way. Diamond Lake is approximately 80 miles east of Roseburg. The paved loop circling the lake features views of Diamond Lake and the surrounding peaks, including Mount Thielsen and Mount Bailey. No. 2 Farms and vineyards around the Umpqua This 31-mile ride may … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/3859140-113/road-valley-garden-ride When the urge strikes to sleep outside or roast marshmallows over an open fire, Douglas County residents are blessed with ample choices of nearby campgrounds close to trails, rivers, lakes, hot springs and waterfalls. Here are 10 popular Douglas County campgrounds. Most are in the Umpqua National Forest and Bureau of Land Management nature areas. 1. Diamond Lake Diamond Lake Campground books up fast in the summer, requiring campers to plan ahead. It’s popular for good reason. The 238-site campground is on the east shore of Diamond Lake, which offers plenty of swimming, fishing and boating opportunities. Bicyclists can take … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/3847223-113/campground-lake-falls-umpqua Editor’s note: Steve Bowers has a question-and-answer column, “Tips From the Treeman,” in his newsletter for Oregon State University Forestry Extension. The following is taken from that column. Dear Treeman, Being this is the holiday season, I’m wondering: Why does Santa use reindeer, when it is actually caribou that inhabit the Arctic region, Santa’s home? Michael Dear Mike, You had me there for a minute. In our region, domesticated caribou are called reindeer. In Europe and Asia, the term caribou is not used, as all animals, wild or domesticated, are called reindeer. Originally, these animals ranged from Scandinavia, throughout European … ]]> The hot, dry weather early in the recent hunting seasons didn’t skunk bowhunter Clinton Buzzard and rifle hunter Dave Bell. The two were successful in filling their respective hunting tags. Buzzard took a 6- by 7-point bull elk near Powers and Bell tagged a 3-point blacktail buck in the foothills near Winston. Both Oakland-area hunters were pictured in the recent News-Review online hunting photo contest. A photo of Bell cutting up his venison was titled “Deer, it’s what’s for dinner.” The picture drew the most votes, earning him the first-place prize of a GPS locator from Flying Cloud Trading Co. … ]]> At first glance our journey to Tanzania, Africa, would be largely the challenge of climbing Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro. The majestic volcanic peak is also known as the largest free-standing mountain in the world. Shortly after our arrival in Moshi, Tanzania, in mid-September it was evident that our journey would be more far-reaching than we had anticipated. Tanzania is the largest country in Eastern Africa. The city of Moshi is considered the gateway to Kilimanjaro, as it stands near the base of the towering 19,341-foot peak. Here we met our guides as our group of eight climbers prepared for … ]]> When you consider the great expeditions in the annals of mankind, such as Robert Peary’s quest for the North Pole, David Livingstone’s five-year search for the Nile River’s source and Henry Stanley’s subsequent search for Livingstone — well, my pursuit of Butterfly Lake might seem a tad bit insignificant. However, finding the North Pole or the Nile’s source would have been easier. Having hiked in the Tahkenitch Dunes area north of Reedsport many times, my initial quest was simply to change up the usual route for a little variety. As I perused a map of the area, Butterfly Lake came … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/4047604-113/lake-butterfly-highway-dunes It seems like when a politician says he wants to be perfectly clear, the exact opposite will happen. So the only thing clear about this last election and endless campaigning beforehand is that we will get a brief respite before the next cycle of muddled politibabble begins. Hiking is much more simple and direct, and Clear Lake offers not only a destination of remarkable clarity, but also a segue from the morass that is this opening paragraph. On this hike with the Friends of the Umpqua Hiking Club, we had to decide whether to move to the right or to … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/3218913-113/lake-clear-river-mckenzie Did you know that not only can turkeys fly, but they can blush? Were you aware that by rotating its head, the turkey has a 360-degree field of vision? More turkey trivia: Ben Franklin favored the native wild turkey over the bald eagle as the national bird of the United States. As in Ben’s time, the turkey still stirs debate. For us, the argument centers not only on the preferred recipe for stuffing, but also on the question “To stuff or not to stuff?” That means it’s time to get serious about turkey stuffing safety. Regardless of the ingredients or … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/3095446-113/turkey-stuffing-extension-safe John Greenleaf Whittier, a Quaker poet, must have had quite fond memories of Thanksgiving and pumpkin pie, as we can see in his 1850 poem, “The Pumpkin”: Ah! on Thanksday, when from East and from West, From North and from South comes the pilgrim and guest; When the gray-haired New Englander sees round his board The old broken links of affection restored; When the care-wearied man seeks his mother once more, And the worn matron smiles where the girl smiled before; What moistens the lip and what brightens the eye, What calls back the past, like the rich Pumpkin pie? … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/3192451-113/pumpkin-pie-bag-thanksgiving Members of 4-H youth enrolled in the foods and nutrition and food preservation projects will soon be receiving fantastic new curriculum to enhance their project work for the 2013 year. County 4-H staff, volunteers and judges recently attended a seminar where the new material was released. Each of the participants was challenged with questions pertaining to everyday living for everyone, not just 4-H kids. Two points of the curriculum that really resonated with me are concepts that are both easy to follow and mind-blowing when put into context. I am still thinking about the information and how it applies to … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/3324664-113/daily-drink-soft-curriculum There are plenty of agricultural pioneers in Gordon Ferguson’s heritage. His parents, Don and Floy (Strader) Ferguson, had a ranch in the Tyee area. Coming from Sutherlin, 20 miles to the east, they had to use a ferry to cross the Umpqua River to reach the ranch. Gordon’s grandfather, John Ferguson, had a ranch just east of Days Creek. A cable and wood plank bridge across the South Umpqua River was used to reach that ranch. Gordon grew up on those ranches, helping and working on them as soon as he was able. He admits ranching was all he ever … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/3347285-113/ferguson-gordon-ranch-county TOKETEE — Spawning salmon and steelhead can now jump and swim through a man-made passage over the Soda Springs Dam to a portion of the North Umpqua River the fish haven’t traveled for 60 years. Construction wrapped up this month on PacifiCorp’s $60 million fish ladder, and salmon already are using it. The ladder’s completion after nearly three years of construction also concludes a 17-year debate on whether to build a fish passage or tear out the dam 60 miles east of Roseburg Monte Garrett, who led the project for PacifiCorp, said the fish passage balanced competing interests. The dam … ]]> Editor’s Note: The following is the 11th in a monthly series — Homegrown: Made in Douglas County — that appears on The News-Review Business page. Profiles of companies with roots deep in Douglas County are featured in this series. To suggest a company for this series, email business reporter Craig Reed at creed@nrtoday.com. LOCATION: 17537 N. Umpqua Highway, Roseburg. COMPANY HISTORY: Bill Black, under the guidance of older brother Dennis Black, tied his first fishing fly at age 12. Dennis owned Black’s Custom Flies in Roseburg. During the summers of his youth, Bill traveled north from his family’s California home … ]]> CHILCOOT, Calif. (AP) — Oregon’s famous wandering wolf was back on the grid Friday after escaping satellite surveillance for five straight days, allaying fears something might have happened to him. But OR-7 eluded biologists trying to get a look at him up close and personal on Thursday in the wilds of Northern California, where he has been searching for a mate since last winter. Karen Kovacs of the California Department of Fish and Game said she and other biologists found a wolf track in the dirt when they went looking for OR-7 in steep, timbered country on the Plumas National … ]]> MARINA, Calif. — In the Central California coastal town of Marina, a $7 million desalination plant that can turn salty ocean waves into fresh drinking water sits idle behind rusty, locked doors, shuttered by water officials because rising energy costs made the plant too expensive. Far to the north in well-heeled Marin County, plans were scrapped for a desalination facility despite two decades of planning and millions of dollars spent on a pilot plant. Squeezing salt from the ocean to make clean drinking water is a worldwide phenomenon that has been embraced in thirsty California, with its cycles of drought … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/2620814-113/desalination-plant-million-drinking Have you ever been asked, “What is 4-H?” or “Why get involved with 4-H?” 4-H volunteers and members can give you great responses as they have joined our local county program for many diverse reasons. Leadership and teamwork skills, commitment, responsibility, knowledge, respect and confidence are all gained by being an active 4-H member. However, some of the more important reasons to get involved, that are often overlooked, are the friendships and memories that are made throughout the years of educational competition. Let’s break down the mystery of 4-H to help you better understand why more than 60 million alumni … ]]> The late afternoon October shadows crept through the isolated aspen grove hidden deep inside the pine forest. Vibrant amber and silver colored leaves flickered like hundreds of silent wind chimes in the soft autumn breeze. I stood, a watcher immersed in the wildness of the eastern Oregon wilderness. I had spent four days hunting elk in the rugged and remote lodge pole and alder patches of the high altitude, granite-peaked Elkhorn Mountains. Dawn to darkness, day-long hunts where fueled by passionate adventure. But despite the natural high gained from witnessing the mystical mornings, breathtaking vistas and the emotional and spiritual … ]]> Although the condition and overall abundance of big game populations vary in different regions of the state, the biggest factor affecting hunting opportunities come fall is the mild winter experienced this year throughout most of Oregon. The result is that, although some deer and elk numbers are down in some wildlife units, for the most part good over winter survival will mean good big game hunting opportunities for 2012. Here is what some Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife field biologists are saying about big game numbers around the state and the prospect for the 2012 hunting seasons. DEER Black-tailed … ]]> Hot, dry conditions and some closures of private woodlands are expected to greet rifle hunters when they venture into the Douglas County outdoors Saturday in pursuit of blacktail bucks. Unless there’s a sprinkle or two this week, the county will have gone about 70 straight days without any raindrops. That will make walking quietly through the woods and stalking big game extremely challenging, at least in the early days of the season. Bowhunters have been in the woods since Aug. 25. Depending on the area, the early archery seasons ended either last Sunday or today. After a five-day break, the … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/2115056-113/fire-forest-trail-junction STEAMBOAT — The fish ladder at Steamboat Falls was built in 1966 to help steelhead climb over steep waterfalls and reach upstream spawning grounds. Over time, however, the ladder became less effective. Sediment, gravel and logs clogged the three-story ladder, making passage difficult for fish swimming up Steamboat Creek, the source of one-quarter of the wild steelhead in the North Umpqua watershed. The ladder, about 45 miles east of Roseburg in the Umpqua National Forest, enhances the vital steelhead run, fish biologists say. The original ladder was built in 1958 and destroyed by a flood in 1964. This summer, it’s … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/2002512-113/fish-ladder-steamboat-falls Evening planets Mars speeds between Saturn and Spica. Look to the west-southwest as the sky darkens this month to spy Mars rapidly moving westward toward Saturn and Spica. On Aug. 8, the trio will form a nearly equilateral triangle with Mars on the right. Both planets and star will fit within a 4-degree circle. By Aug. 13, Mars will be nearly aligned between Saturn and Spica. A couple of nights later, Mars will have moved a few degrees to the left of both of them. A young crescent moon joins the trio on Aug. 21, making a grand sight. By … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/sports/outdoors/2112804-113/aug-mars-meteor-planets