Oregon

Difficult fire season strains relationship between forestry department and Eastern Oregon landowners

Published

4 hours ago

October 18, 2024

Difficult fire season strains relationship between forestry department and Eastern Oregon landowners

Firefighting equipment hangs above a “Volunteers Needed” sign at Payton Station, headquarters of the Baker Rural Fire Protection District, Baker City, Ore., August 1, 2024. Baker Rural Fire Protection District is a volunteer department that sent crews to the Durkee, Thompson, and other local fires throughout July.

Anna Lueck / OPB

At a Thursday board retreat in Pendleton, officials from the Oregon Department of Forestry went over the grim statistics that have come to define modern fire seasons: In 2024, fires burned more than 1.93 million acres in the state, 18 times the amount compared to 2023.

Department staff also highlighted the ripple effects that go beyond acres burned and firefighting costs.

Joe Hessel, an ODF incident commander and former district forester for northeast Oregon, said the department normally relies on landowners like Eastern Oregon ranchers and farmers to share knowledge of their land with firefighters. While that relationship persisted, Hessel said there was a growing sense of dissatisfaction among some landowners over how the department responded to the fires this year.

Landowners peppered officials throughout the season with questions about the number of personnel the department sent, the equipment they used, the length of time they spent fighting the fire and their overall approach, Hessel said.

“Landowners didn’t want to hear about all the other fires, the lack of resources, or anything else that could be viewed as an excuse for what they viewed as a less than full fledged effort to deal with an emergency on their property,” he said.

Lee Wright looks over his cattle, sheltering from the Durkee fire in his feedlot, to the burned hills that once made up his grazing lands near Vale, Ore., July 31, 2024. Wright lost nearly twenty thousand acres of grazing land to the fire-- meaning he will likely have to lease other pastures for his herd, or sell those he can't afford to feed. — Lee Wright looks over his cattle, sheltering from the Durkee fire in his feedlot, to the burned hills that once made up his grazing lands near Vale, Ore., July 31, 2024. Wright lost nearly twenty thousand acres of grazing land to the fire– meaning he will likely have to lease other pastures for his herd, or sell those he can’t afford to feed.
*Anna Lueck / OPB*

The rising fire protection rates landowners are paying to the state add to the tension.

“It’s sort of a perfect storm for frustration to boil over,” he said. “I believe higher than desired rates have created tension between ODF and landowners at a level that didn’t used to be there, and that the partnership we relied on for years is under significant stress.”

Hessel said the main obstacle is that the system is overloaded. The size and intensity of the fires this year didn’t match the resources the department and its partners had on the ground.

Eastern Oregon ranchers were hit hard by fires almost immediately. The Durkee Fire, which burned nearly 300,000 acres in Baker and Malheur counties – destroyed wide swaths of rangeland. Local farmers said they considered selling some of the cattle that weren’t killed by the fire because they might not be able to feed them anymore.

While the department will continue to fight fires each summer, the board didn’t have any easy answers for a long-term solution.

Board member Brenda McComb, a retired forest science professor, asked if officials should revisit the state’s fire suppression laws to focus more on fires threatening human life and property rather than trying to put out every wildfire.

“My question wasn’t looking for the financial fix, but rather the financial balance,” she said. “Can we spend less money with the military approach to putting out fires and divert that money to post-fire recovery?”

It was a suggestion that wasn’t fully embraced by other board members and department staffers. State forester Cal Mukumoto referenced a cattle pasture the board visited the day before.

“That’s someone’s life. That’s someone’s livestock. That’s what we’re talking about here. People live in and are part of this community and have generations here that have this culture,” he said. “We’re told to go out there, suppress those fires, and that’s what we’ll do.”

Mukumoto said firefighting policy would have to be left to the Legislature. At least one legislator was listening: state Sen. Jeff Golden, D-Ashland, who was in the audience. Last session, Golden co-sponsored a bill that proposed a ballot measure that would have taxed timber companies to help pay for wildfire costs. It died after receiving a committee hearing.

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Oregon

Lane Kiffin Shares Thoughts On Oregon’s Illegal 12-Men-On-The-Field Play Call

Published

11 hours ago

October 17, 2024

Press Room

Lane Kiffin Shares Thoughts On Oregon’s Illegal 12-Men-On-The-Field Play Call

The Ole Miss Rebels are in the midst of a bye week, so that gives plenty of time for some big-picture questions to the team’s head coach.

According to FootballScoop.com, Lane Kiffin was asked on Wednesday’s SEC Coaches Teleconference about a particular move made by the Oregon Ducks in last week’s win over the Ohio State Buckeyes. Essentially, Oregon seemed to intentionally put 12 men on its defense for a penalty during a crucial Ohio State possession.

Since the clock did not reset after the infraction, the Ducks were able to defend the Buckeyes with 12 men on the field and run time off the clock in the process, just giving up five penalty yards in return. This move has been the talk of college football since Saturday, and Kiffin tied this instance to Ole Miss’ controversy of allegedly faking injuries to slow down offensive possessions.

The allegations had become so strong recently that the Rebels released a statement on the matter last week.

“It’s interesting, though,” Kiffin said, per FootballScoop.com. “I find all this national talk about someone faking an injury, and people shouldn’t do that; I’m not saying I don’t agree with.

“But, I just found it interesting that everybody thinks this is awesome that you went against the rules and put more people on the field, but then everybody’s [up in arms] when faking an injury. So just found it interesting.”

Kiffin does have a point: it does seem like a bit of a double standard. Of course, injuries are a much more serious matter in football than simply playing with 12 men on the field. Injuries are real and can hamper a player’s physical health and future career, and faking those is a bad look.

Regardless, it appears the NCAA closed that loophole that the Ducks potentially exposed last week, issuing a rules “interpretation” that gives the offense in this scenario the choice of resetting the game clock to the time before the snap. If Oregon did this move on purpose, it will now be a thing of the past.

READ MORE Content From Ole Miss On SI:

– Ole Miss Football Roadmap: Scouting the Rebels’ Remaining 2024 Opponents

– ‘Devastating!’ Ole Miss WR Cayden Lee Leaning On Teammates Following LSU Loss

– Lane Kiffin Offers Encouraging Words Following Ole Miss’ Loss to LSU

– Can Ole Miss Football Better Finish Games Following Bye Week?

– Why Lane Kiffin Isn’t ‘Overreacting’ to Ole Miss’ Loss vs. LSU on Saturday

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Oregon

10 most expensive homes sold in central Oregon, Oct. 7-13

Published

19 hours ago

October 17, 2024

Press Room

10 most expensive homes sold in central Oregon, Oct. 7-13

A house in Bend that sold for $2.5 million tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in central Oregon in the past week.

In total, 91 residential real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $728,688. The average price per square foot was $357.

The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of Oct. 7 even if the property may have been sold earlier.

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Oregon

Oregon Ducks vs. Purdue Boilermakers prediction: Odds, expert picks, QB matchup, betting trends, and stats

Published

1 day ago

October 17, 2024

Press Room

Oregon Ducks vs. Purdue Boilermakers prediction: Odds, expert picks, QB matchup, betting trends, and stats

Oregon has ironed out the early season kinks they exhibited against Idaho and Boise State by rattling off four resume-enhancing victories over @Oregon State, @UCLA, Michigan State and, of course, their unforgettable 32-31 win over Ohio State last weekend. With Oregon ranking 97th nationally in pass plays of 20+ yards, QB Dillon Gabriel hit Texas A&M transfer Evan Stewart for a 69-yarder along with four more passes of 30+ yards to stretch OSU’s secondary. The win vaulted Oregon to the #3 overall ranking and in the driver’s seat of a very competitive Big Ten Championship chase.

Winless against FBS competition (0-5), Purdue posted a 0% win expectancy against their first three Power Four opponents (Notre Dame/Nebraska/Wisconsin) while getting outscored 146-23 in those contests. With starting QB Hudson Card unavailable due to injury last week against Illinois, freshman QB Ryan Browne breathed some life into the offense by completing 69% of his passes for 297 yards and a 3-to-0 ratio to go with 118 rushing yards. Despite rolling up 49 points with a 77% win expectancy the Boilermakers let victory once again elude their grasp, losing 50-49 to the Illini. Purdue’s offense needed the help, as they rank 120th in yards per drive and 133rd in offensive plays per game with 54.

NBC Sports has all the latest info and analysis you need, including how to tune in for kickoff, odds from BetMGM, player news and updates, and of course our predictions and best bets for the game from our staff of experts.

Listen to the B1G Talk podcast with Todd Blackledge and Noah Eagle for the most compelling storylines across all of college football, with the biggest teams on the rise and the latest rankings!

Game Details and How to watch Oregon @ Purdue live

Date: Friday, October 18, 2024
Time: 8:00 PM EST
Site: Ross-Ade Stadium
City: West Lafayette, IN
TV/Streaming: FOX

Want to check out the other games on the College Football schedule this week? We’ve got you covered right here on NBC Sports with all the matchup, venue, game-time and TV/streaming info so you won’t miss any of the action!

Game odds for Oregon @ Purdue

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

Moneyline: Oregon (-10000), Purdue (+1650)
Spread: Oregon -27.5
Over/Under: 60.5 points
*Odds courtesy of BetMGM

This game opened at an aggressive Oregon -29.5 before crossing the key number -28 all the way down to -27.5. The moneyline opened -4,500, and while most of the market is still in the -4,000 to -5,000 range, Draft Kings is hanging -3,600 out there. The game total has steamed up from 58.5 to a current market high of 60.5.

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

NBC Sports Betting Analyst Eric Froton (@CFFroton) thinks we could see a lot of points this Friday Night:
“Oregon will be able to move the ball at will against this porous Purdue defense. With the Boilermakers transitioning to a new OC and redshirt freshman QB, they’re going to be motivated to still execute and score points even if they’re getting blown out. I’m backing the Over 60.5 points.”

Listen to the Bet the Edge podcast as hosts Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick provide listeners with sharp actionable insight, market analysis and statistical data to help bettors gain more information before placing their wagers.

From the Trading Desk at BetMGM courtesy of John Ewing: Heisman Insights

Line movement (open, current)
· Ashton Jeanty +5000, +150
· Travis Hunter +3500, +800
· Cam Ward +20000, +900
· Jalen Milroe +800, +1000
· Quinn Ewers +800, +2200

Highest Ticket%
· Travis Hunter 16.5%
· Nico Iamaleava 9.6%
· Jalen Milroe 8.4%

Highest Handle%
· Travis Hunter 31.9%
· Ashton Jeanty 11.1%
· Cam Ward 7.8%

Biggest Liability
· Travis Hunter
· Ashton Jeanty
· Nico Iamaleava

Quarterback matchup for Oregon @ Purdue

Oregon: Oklahoma’s loss has been Oregon’s gain, as QB Dillon Gabriel has picked up right where 2024 R1 NFL draft choice Bo Nix left off, leading the nation in completion rate with the Ducks ranking 10th in total QBR. Gabriel’s 88th percentile PFF passing grade ranks 6th in FBS and he threw for 341 yards in Oregon’s 32-31 victory over Ohio State last weekend. The sixth-year signal caller has accounted for 3+ rushing/passing touchdowns in each of his five starts against FBS opponents and has scored/thrown 168 touchdowns over his illustrious career.

Purdue: Opening day starting QB Hudson Card failed to ignite the offense against their first four FBS opponents and sustained a concussion two weeks ago that thrust redshirt freshman QB Ryan Browne into the starting role against Illinois. Browne provided a much needed spark leading the Boilermakers to 536 total yards and 49 points, both of which are team season-highs by significant margins. His dual-threat capabilities produced 297 passing yards with another 117 coming on the ground against Illinois’ 43rd ranked defense. He has since been named the teams QB1 going forward with Card’s status for the game looking doubtful and unlikely to be a factor even if healthy at this rate.

Betting Trends & Recent Stats

Oregon was without star DE Jordan Burch, who leads the Ducks with 15 pressures and 5.0 sacks, against OSU last game. Matayo Uiagalelei ranks second with 4.5 sacks and 4 more sacks created.
The Ducks are 2-4 ATS with a -6.0 PPG cover margin, despite winning their games by an average scoring margin of 15.2 points. They’re also an even 3-3 on the total.
Despite ranking 129th in defensive EPA with major deficiencies against both the run and the pass, Purdue’s defensive line ranks 23rd with an 8.1% sack rate and 18th with a 27.5% sacks-per-pressure rate.
Purdue fired OC Graham Harrell two weeks ago and replaced him with new OC Jason Simmons who was on staff as an analyst for 9 months and has been coaching in college for just two years after making the leap from high school.

College Football talk is taking over Bet the Edge every Thursday throughout the season. BET THE EDGE is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Vaughn Dalzell, Eric Froton, and Brad Thomas’ insights Thursdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

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Expert picks & predictions for Oregon Ducks @ Purdue Boilermakers

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NFL calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Oregon @ Purdue:

Moneyline: NBC Sports is recommending a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports is recommending a play on the Oregon Ducks ATS.
Game Total: NBC Sports is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 60.5.

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