20 February 2008

Fledglings -

People often see baby birds that are partially feathered sitting on the ground below a tree and automatically assume that they fell out of the nest and need to be helped. At this stage in a birds development, they are considered "fledglings". Fledglings NORMALLY will jump or fall out of the nest. This is their "flight training" stage. The mother bird will then continue feeding the bird on the ground until the bird is able to fly (usually only takes a few days). Unless injured, these birds should be left where they are. Efforts should be made to keep cats, dogs, and curious children away from the bird so the mother can continue to feed it.

It was a dark and stormy night! But when the hot line operator called with what turned out to be an adventure, I could hardly wait. I packed up my stuff, called the people with the bird and arranged to meet them in Myrtle Creek.
We were to meet at a little store with good lighting. The gentleman, John, gave me a small box with the bird in it to me. He had thought that it was a screech owl, based on information he found on the internet. I looked and knew right away it was a pygmy owl.

A large, sophisticated marijuana grow outside of Drain at 975 Sand Creek, was raided Thursday afternoon, seizing approximately 350 marijuana plants with a maturity value of over $500,000.

Chef Dennis and wife Jodine, and Mr & Mrs Allen Smith dance after dinner to the soothing sounds of slow poke

Reustle- Prayer Rock Vineyards, of Umpqua held another one of their infamous Winemaker’s Dinners Saturday evening at Chef Joden’s.

On September 4, 2007, the 100 year old English Settlement School, was added to the National Register of Historic Places. On January 29, 2008, the Baimbridge-Kanipe Farmstead Historic District, which includes the 150 year old farm house, two large barns, a sheep shed, buggy shed, equipment shed and an orchard of heritage apples, joined it there. Both properties are included in the “almost 1,100” acre Mildred Kanipe Memorial Park northeast of Oakland on Elkhead Road.

The Roseburg Police Department and the Douglas County Sheriff ’s Office are accepting applications for the 2008 Citizen’s Law Enforcement Academy. The academy will be held on Thursday evenings from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, March 20 through May 22. There will also be three Saturday classes that will offer hands on training and demonstrations. Applications can be obtained online at www.dcso.com or www.cityofroseburg.org.

ROSEBURG, Ore. - Douglas County’s OSU Extension Forestry Program is off ering a class titled “Principles of Tree Health.” The one session course will be held on February 27 from 6-9pm at the OSU Extension Office in Roseburg. This class will provide landowners with an introduction to tree health, including situations that contribute to tree success or failure, and a discussion of common tree diseases in Douglas County.
Additionally, the “Timber Management Techniques for Small Woodland Owners” course has been rescheduled to March 5 from 6-9pm at the OSU Extension Office in Roseburg.
For more information regarding these courses, or to register, contact the Douglas County OSU Extension Office at (541) 672- 4461 or e-mail mary.hoffman@oregonstate.edu (registration must be received by February 11). Information on other Douglas County OSU Extension classes is available on the Web at: htt p://extension. oregonstate.edu/douglas/dccalevents. php.

As part of National Entrepreneurship Week, the Micro Enterprise Development and Learning program of Umpqua CDC is offering a free training workshop for all Oakland small business owners and entrepreneurs.
The workshop will take place at the Washington School in Oakland on Wednesday, February 27th, at 9:30 am. Marketing expert Dean Vincent of Tango Marketing will instruct participants on the 7 steps a business can take to improve its marketing plan and increase sales. This workshop is the first in a series of small business development activities that will take place in Oakland as part of a USDA Rural Business Entrepreneurship grant and the CORE collaborative.
To register or for more information about the program, please contact Lily Brislen at 541-673-4909 or e-mail her at LBRISLEN@UmpquaCDC.org.

Oakland Community Theater announces open auditions for the summer production of Showdown at Sundown, a melodrama with five characters: three females and two males. Auditions are scheduled for Friday, March 14 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, March 15 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.; both sessions will be held at the Washington School Gym behind Oakland City Hall, 637 N E Locust Street.
Like last summer’s production, The Code of the West, this melodrama will provide an opportunity for the actors to “ham-it-up” while telling the story of a mail order bride and a snake in the grass who gives snakes a bad name. The colorful characters work through the plot to a happy outcome, but the struggles are many along the way.
Production dates are June 20 – 22 and June 27 – 29. Everyone is encouraged to audition and those interested in backstage support positions are always welcomed. For additional information call 459-9504 or leave a message at 459-9396

A “blowout” class is planned for Saturday, February 23!! Three very talented local bakers will present a comprehensive lineup of products/processes in consecutive demonstrations.
Working with five types of specialty pastry dough, offerings will include two biscotti recipes, cream puffs, several scones, puff pastry in both sweet and savory recipes (including terrific Puff Pastry-Chicken Pot Pie) and something delicious baked in phyllo (fillo) sheets.
All recipes provided, as well as samples of each delicious presentation baked in class. A salad bar & soup luncheon is included with $20. admission fee.
Class will be held at the Sutherlin Community Center, starting promptly at 10:00 a.m., finishing at approximately 2:30.
Pre-registration is required, please call Lilian at 672-5486. Proceeds benefit Friends of Douglas County Extension Service.