Salem-News.com Recreation articles Page 8

Old McKenzie Pass Highway Now Open

The "old" McKenzie Pass Highway became a seasonal scenic highway in 1962.

(SPRINGFIELD, Ore.) - The McKenzie Pass Highway (OR 242) is now officially open to all traffic. The highway has been closed to complete a highway repaving project that has now been completed.

The nearly $4 million dollar project, funded by the Federal Highway Administration, cut back the slope and realigned the highway, replaced two bridges and repaved the highway surface making the road more stable and safe for all users.

2009 Oregon State Fair Shows Appreciation for U.S. Military and Veterans

During with Two Days of Memorable Events, families of deployed soldiers will receive 100 free tickets to “Oregon! Oregon! 2009”

(SALEM, Ore.) - The 2009 Oregon State Fair is making a BIG deal out of honoring U.S. veterans and active military.

Friday, August 28 – opening day of the Fair – and Saturday, August 29, are Veterans’ Appreciation Days at the Fair and include a variety of special events for all fair-goers to enjoy. On both days, veterans will be admitted into the Fair free of charge with a voucher available both in Vet News and on the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Website. Active military with ID get in for free.

Words That Hurt, Words That Heal

My teen was the subject of some bad-mouthing that caused him to leave a whole group of friends and start new relationships.

(AGOURA, Calif.) - Most of us gossip without giving it any thought whatsoever. Yet, its effects can be so damaging and full of impact.

Our kids face this sort of thing in high school in ways we couldn’t have imagined long ago. With the advent of instant communications, whether it is instant messaging, tweeting, or immediate photos and videos, the ability to communicate to a wide swatch of people is available to everyone.

Former NW Governors `Fillet` Federal Salmon Plan (AUDIO)

A letter from the Governor asks the federal government to craft a new salmon recovery plan that is "lawful and science-based."

(PORTLAND, Ore. ONS) - In about one week, the federal government will announce whether it will throw out the previous administration's plan for endangered native salmon recovery and start over.

Three former Northwest governors have already made their minds up, including John Kitzhaber here in Oregon, Cecil Andrus in Idaho and Mike Lowry in Washington.

Art Along the Rogue - Oregon`s Largest Street Painting and Music Festival

Art Along the Rogue Street Painting and Music Festival October 3rd and 4th @ Riverside Park in Grants Pass, Oregon.

(GRANTS PASS, Ore.) - For the seventh year, the City of Grants Pass will celebrate Art Along the Rogue Street Painting and Music Festival on Saturday and Sunday, October 3rd and 4th, 2009.

This year's the event will feature Oregon's largest street painting, 40 local and regional street painters, a Community Art Show, food and craft vendors, plus music all weekend.

Young Child From Canada Drowns in Molalla River

Officials consider the incident a tragic accident.

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office had the sad duty of locating a small child Monday at Feyer Park, in Molalla. Sheriff's Office Spokesman, Detective Jim Strovink, says they learned by Monday evening that the child had died.

The child is identified as 5-year old Markian Barsukoff of Alberta, Canada. "Markian was here in Oregon, visiting with his family to attend a wedding and family reunion," Strovink said.

Endangered Sharks Get Oregon Aquarium Spotlight (AUDIO)

The aquarium events run through August 8th.

(NEWPORT, Ore. ONS) - It is "Shark Week" at the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport. Oregon waters are home to about 15 shark species. Five of them can be seen at the aquarium, where visitors can watch them feed and learn more about their role in the ocean ecosystem.

Scientists say that, like many other aquatic species, sharks have been over-fished, and some types are endangered. Aquarium spokesperson Cindy Hanson says one of the biggest threats to sharks is a practice known as "finning."

Man Presumed Drowned After Falling From Sailboat

Two men entered the water, one was rescued.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Rescuers say two men jumped off a rented sailboat into the Columbia River to cool off around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, and only one was able to make it back to the sailboat. The other male is presumed drowned.

Opening Day for the BIG 2009 Oregon State Fair is Almost Here

Between August 28th and September 7th: the State Fairgrounds in Salem will become Oregon’s second largest city.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Oregon’s biggest event of the year is getting set to open its gates at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 28th.

This year its guests – expected to exceed 380,000 in number – will experience a fair that’s BIGGER than ever, with new events and activities, plus all of the traditional favorites.

Summer Vacations are for Parents, Too

In summer, the parenting duties are less, but with a teen in the house, my job is to be vigilant about his whereabouts, his friends, what he’s watching on all his screens, and generally try to keep him alive.

(AGOURA, Calif.) - Remembering Chevy Chase in those summer vacation movies reminds me of the fact that most so-called “family vacations” are, at best, vacations for the kids and torture for the parents.

I’m generalizing, of course, but most generalizations as well as clichés, have a strong basis in truth.