New West Network

My Page: Joseph Friedrichs

Two Weeks To Oregon Primary

Be prepared Oregon political junkies, you’re bound to ingest vast amounts of information regarding Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton during the next two weeks.

And if that won’t be enough to satisfy your political receptors, how about a little Ralph Nader to boot?

All three candidates have announced they will visit Oregon before the state’s primary on May 20, and in the case of Nader it’s tough not to ask “why, man, why?” [more]

Trappings To Be Suspended

Both state and federal officials are taking a step back this week from their bid to protect salmon by capturing sea lions on the Columbia River.

The move comes after six sea lions were shot dead in traps designed to capture the creatures for transfer to Sea World parks. The shootings are under investigation, but it is believed that someone shot the sea lions late Saturday night.

It’s difficult to comprehend why someone would want to blow away a caged sea lion, and it’s downright creepy that they would do it in the dark. [more]

Beer News

Deschutes Brewery opened its doors for the first time outside of Bend today when its new pub in Portland officially opened for business.

The Portland Deschutes Brewery & Public House is located in the downtown Pearl District. And while many in Bend are slightly saddened to see our most popular brewery expand beyond city limits, it’s tough not to be proud of what a once-tiny brewery has been able to accomplish.

Make sure to check out this video link The Oregonian put together for the Portland grand opening.

As for the results from the official NewWest.Net investigative analysis of Deschutes beer: It's delicious. [more]

Both Democratic presidential candidates have posted online how they will help Oregon if they are elected to office.

For Sen. Barack Obama’s link, click here. For Sen. Hillary Clinton, click here.

Both candidates discuss wilderness issues, renewable energy and the economy, specifically about federal timber payments to rural counties.

Polls continue to show Obama is ahead in Oregon. The state’s primary is May 20 and ballots will start being mailed out early next week.
[more]

Snow, snow and more snow

A snow advisory has been issued for portions of the Oregon Cascades, with up to 6 inches of snow expected to drop by Thursday. Click here for the complete forecast.

Snowfall will also dabble into Bend, as snow will drop in all areas above 2,000 feet. In a very mind-blowing experience for many in Central Oregon, it has been snowing and sunny at the same time the past several days.

When will winter finally be over? Apparently not any time soon. [more]

News From Oregon

Monday’s must read story from Oregon comes from Gail Kinsey Hill regarding ethanol use and production in the West.

Although the article details declining support for the alternative fuel, it’s summed up beautifully with this paragraph from Hill:

“This year, in a fearsome recoil, ethanol has been blamed for a host of ills, mainly that its production -- in growing and transporting corn, and in the fuel burned to distill it -- uses more energy than it saves. The most recent, and perhaps most dramatic criticism: The headlong rush into ethanol production has jacked up corn prices and deepened the global food crisis.”
[more]

Live Video Stream In Cascades

Although some Central Oregonians have the chance to spend time with bald eagles while they winter along the middle and lower sections of the Deschutes River, as well as the Crooked and Metolius rivers, it’s no easy task to see the great birds while they nest in the Cascades during spring.

Well, it was no easy task until now.

A live-streaming video of bald eagles in Deschutes National Forest gives bird lovers a glimpse into what’s taking place while the eagles battle the cold and protect their nests and eggs.

The camera is stationed in a location where eagles have been known to nest for more than 30 years.

[more]

Notes From The Campaign Trail

Following her victory Tuesday night in the Pennsylvania primary, Sen. Hillary Clinton challenged, Sen. Barack Obama, her Democratic presidential rival, to a pair of debates in Oregon.

"Oregon deserves just as much attention -- and just as much information to make your decision -- as New Hampshire, Iowa, and Pennsylvania," Clinton said, according to a transcript of a commercial her campaign will soon begin playing in Oregon. "Since the Pacific Northwest hasn't had a single presidential debate, I am proposing today that Oregon host two Democratic debates, including one specific debate on the challenges facing rural Oregonians."

Officials from Oregon’s Obama headquarters did not reveal if the Illinois senator would participate in the debates.

There are only nine contests left on the Democratic primary calendar, with Oregon’s coming on May 20. The most recent poll has Obama ahead by 10 points in Oregon.
[more]

Bend Beers Brings Back Five Awards

While NewWest.Net columnist Bill Schneider is busy carousing Montana’s breweries searching for the perfect pint, several Oregon cities, including Bend, dominated at the 2008 Brewers Association World Cup.

Both the Bend Brewing Co. and Deschutes Brewery took home gold medals from the annual competition held in San Diego. At this year’s gathering 644 breweries from 45 U.S. states competed in nearly 100 beer style categories. Gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded for each category.

Oregon suds producers took home 18 medals, including in two of the more prestigious categories, those being for championship breweries. Those went to Pelican Pub & Brewery in the large brewpub category, and to the BBC in the small brewpub category, respectively.

See a list of Oregon’s award-winning breweries below. [more]

Fishing Season Opens Saturday

With the opening of trout season in most Central Oregon lakes and reservoirs less than a week away, many anglers and businesses owners are getting edgy due to heavy snowfall and iced waters that could prevent fishing access.

If extensive plowing does not occur on sections of the Cascade-Lakes Highway, some high-country bodies of water won’t be accessible for fishing until July, the Bend Bulletin reports. However, the U.S. Forest Service, the Deschutes County Road Department and some Cascade lakes resort owners are divining up costs to plow access areas. And although it makes sense to plow some of the roads for fishing access, many of Central Oregon’s mountain lakes are still frozen, so spending vast amounts of money to make them accessible doesn’t.

Owners at Diamond Lake Resort south of Bend are reporting three feet of ice and snow on the lake.
[more]