State Story Round-Up: Entomological Edition
Carla Axtman
I love local newspapers. The stuff that gets written about at the micro level really intrigues me. Perhaps its because I'm an observer of the human condition. Or put more plainly: I'm a busybody.
Few entities provide a more consistent stream of day-to-day-ness than local papers. In my previous blog-writer incarnations, I've posted a Sunday laundry list of goings on around the state with material pulled from these local stories. I've missed doing that. So I'm indulging myself today.
I don't know that I can do this every Sunday, but for today...here's a statewide story round-up!
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Mt Angel City Councilman Rick Schiedler has pissed off at least one constituent. Resident Dave Trapp filed a complaint with the Oregon Ethics Commission on Sept. 21 against Schiedler. As with most of these sorts of battles, the complaint has very little to do with the actual reason Trapp is pissed at Schiedler. Its kind of like LA Confidential, only without guns and Kim Basinger. Yet.
The paper of record in Tillamook has an opinion piece called The American Taliban. Authored by James Gregory, its a throw down against "corporate Christians", pondering why those who want to live under religious law aren't moving to Iran. Its quite a read.
Those of you who work for Boise Inc. pulp and paper mill in St. Helens and thought you were getting a long-term, unpaid vacation: take heart. The rumors of the mill's demise are greatly exaggerated.
Unfortunately, timber job cuts are happening in Philomath.
So the Ducks weren't quite as lucky as Oregon State. Or good. Whatever. I went to Linfield. Who cares?
Are people in Ashland all copacetic because of low-dose lithium amounts in the local water supply?
Some areas in Eastern Oregon are suffering through a massive grasshopper infestation. But a Rhode Island resident may have an answer. He's penned a letter to the city of Haines, informing them of an alternative to insecticide. Dave Gracer, also known as "The Bug Eating Man" (gag), wants to harvest the insects. Mr. Gracer is offering $7 per pound plus shipping. The instructions include:" They'd have to be shipped dead, so they'd have to be boiled and frozen to kill the germs in their gut." Yum, yum.
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Oct 5, '08
Thanks for posting this Carla. It's interesting to hear what's being written about in papers other than those in the immediate Portland area.
Regarding the grasshopper problem in E. Oregon, I hear it's having an impact on the hay and grass seed crops over there. As someone who normally feeds blue grass straw, a by product of the grass seed industry, to my horses in the winter, this infestation makes me glad I bought 10 ton of local grass hay from a friend of mine....
I used to put up 20 ton by myself every year, but had gone to buying the big squeeze blocks of the straw as it is easier for me to unload an 1100# squeeze block by hand than it is to handle the 100#+ bales that I was getting from another farm. I can also feed the blue grass straw free choice, where I have to ration the local grass hay.
Last year the hay supply became undependable so I decided to order 10 ton last winter for this winter. Never in my life did I think I would have to order hay a year in advance...but I'm glad I did.
12:33 p.m.
Oct 5, '08
I spent my early childhood living in and around Medford which is nearby Ashland. In fact, my greatgrandfather and one of my dad's uncles lived just outside Ashland. At one point almost all of my relatives on both sides of the family lived in the valley.
Anyway, Lithia Park was a favorite spot for family and church picknicks and I learned early on that the apparently lithium-laced mineral water flowing from fountains there tastes NASTY! I don't see how anyone can bear to drink it even though most of my own family seemed to like it. UGH! It's gross!
Oct 6, '08
The protein is incredible, very lean too. As the reincarnation of John the Baptizer, I have eaten nothing but with Oregon honey for the last 10 years. Explains a lot I suppose.
<h2>Anyway, I think the Jain's have a point. So go the insects, so goes the civiliaation.</h2>