Two more reservoirs have been listed as dangerous by the Oregon Health Department because of blue-green algae blooms.  Blue River and Dorena reservoirs, both in Lane County have been put on the algae list.  Blue-green algae-infested water is toxic to humans, and can be fatal to pets and small children.  Until further notice, you shouldn’t drink the water from those lakes, eat fish from them, or even breath water spray.

Congressman Peter Defazio wants the Feds to review the use of foreign forest workers by contractors on several Obama stimulus handout projects.  The contractors filed the required forms certifying that they could not find American workers to do the jobs.  Defazio sent a letter to the Labor Department disputing that, saying that with double-digit unemployment in Oregon’s rural areas, it is unlikely that the contractors could not have hired Americans.  He accused the contractors of abusing U.S. immigration law to undercut American workers.  He and his Republican challenger Art Robinson meet in the first of their four joint appearances this Friday in Eugene.

The Oregon average for a gallon of regular has dropped below three dollars a gallon.  Marie Dodds says the highest prices of the year usually come between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and tend to drop in September and October.  She says the price of oil is hovering between 70 and 80 dollars a barrel, set more by commodities speculators than supply and demand, with U.S. inventories of petroleum at 20 year highs.

New unemployment numbers are out.  For July, Oregon’s jobless rate gained a tenth of a point to 10.6%.  The state lost more government jobs than expected, and gained some construction jobs, but not enough to offset job losses.  The price of gas in Oregon dropped a fraction of a penny to about $3.03 a gallon, on average.  Oregon has the fifth-highest priced gas in the nation.  Since Memorial Day, the average price has gone up 1.7 cents a week.  If that seemingly gradual increase holds for a year, Oregonians will be paying four dollars a gallon next Summer.

This time the fun-killing alert from health officials covers Dexter Lake, east of Eugene.  That’s the 11th body of water to get an algae bloom warning this summer.  Swallowing the water or   breathing in its droplets can cause severe illness in adults, and can even be fatal to animals.  On a brighter note, state health officials suggest hiking around the lake, or boating so slowly that you don’t cause spray that you could breathe.

The U.S. Senate has passed a package of 26 billion dollars in aid to states with legislatures that wouldn’t balance their state budgets–and Oregon is sure one of those.  Oregon gets 274 million dollars if the hastily-recalled U.S. House does likewise next week.  Most of the money goes to teachers and social programs.  Senate Democratic leaders attracted enough GOP support to pass the handout by promising to pay for it later with program cuts or new taxes.  The windfall is just half of Oregon’s expected revenue shortage for the next biennium, so state legislators still have tough choices to make early next year.

Albany Amazing Aquariums store owner Roger Hawthorne has given up protesting that he’s innocent of groping customers.  He pleaded guilty in mid-trial this week.  A plea deal sends him to prison for 18 months, but at least one of the charges against him—and there were many–would have carried a mandatory 75-month term upon conviction.  Hawthorne admitted to this: attempted sex abuse of a girl under 14 years of age, 11 counts of third degree sex abuse against women, and encouraging child sex abuse.  Victims say Hawthorne would make sexual comments as they shopped at his aquarium and fish store, and brush up against them in a sexual manner.

Kyron Horman’s mom and dad said yesterday that they believe Terri Moulton-Horman is now in hiding–where she has their son Kyron stashed.  According to Kaine Horman, “I think her friends are hiding information about her state of mind and her character…..and I would not be surprised if two or three of her close friends each has a piece of information that may be related to where Kyron’s at.”  Seven year old Kyron Horman dissappeared June 4th.

Animal rights groups are upset over a decision by Bend to kill more than 100 pooping, aggressive Canada Geese, that had been forcing humans from city parks.  But the so-called “people eating tasty animals” (PETA???!!!) think it’s palate-pleasing.  The local park district had the birds butchered and frozen.  Half the delicacy went to low-income food boxes, and the other half went to the Bend Community Center for savory goose entrees and soups.

The OLCC has put the cap on all home-brew beer and wine competitions this Summer and Fall.  The OLCC says its interpretation of an old Oregon law, in conjunction with the more-activist Attorney General’s office under John Kroger, is that people can make the brew but they can’t take it outside their homes–to the front lawn, a neighborhood bar-b-que, or a fair.  The buzz-busting bureaucrats say the law must be changed by the Oregon Legislature, which won’t happen until after Oktoberfest celebrations this Fall, at the earliest.

There’s another blue-green algae warning out.  This time of year, swimmers, boaters, fishermen and campers need to be on the lookout for blue-green algae blooms in calm water likie lakes and lazy rivers.  The State of Oregon has issued an algae bloom warning for Willow Creek Reservoir near Heppner, and Diamond Lake, north of Crater Lake.  You are advised not to touch, inhale, or drink the water where there is a blue-green algae bloom.  And campers are warned that boiling the water might not destroy the algae, and fish from those lakes may be toxic.

You can have something to say about future recreational use at Green Peter Reservoir.  Two forums are going to be held next week in Sweet Home and Lebanon.  Both will be from 7-to-9 PM.  The Sweet Home meeting will be Monday at the Sweet Home Senior Center, and the Lebanon meeting will be Thursday at the LBCC Lebanon Center.  The Corps of Engineers is updating its recreation master plan for the lake.  Area landowners have told the Corps that they’re concerned about fire danger, vandalism, and trespassing by users, and they would like a greater presence from the Corps or Linn County.  As of now, there are two boat ramps and one designated campground at Green Peter.

Art Robinson, running against Peter Defazio in Oregon’s fourth Congressional district, has scheduled the first two of his planned seven debates against Defazio for August 12th in Eugene, and August 17th in Roseburg.  The trouble is, Defazio has not agreed to show up.  He wants fewer debates, later in the campaign, and he wants the League of Women Voters to moderate.  Robinson says the League is not non-partisan anymore, so he wants a one-on-one debgate with just a timekeeper.  Robinson says if Defazio is a no-show, he’ll debate Defazio’s published statements.

Researchers at Oregon State University have discovered a new glue that they say could cost half as much as the goo now used on tape, stick-up notes, and stamps.  And, it uses no petroleum-based solvents, so it’s more environmentally friendly.  It was discovered in the classic manner–by accident, as they were heating vegetable oil.  They’re keeping the exact recipe a secret until they get a patent.

Oregon colleges, community colleges and universities are poised for an unprecedented flood of new students clamoring for an education.  Administrators are expecting record-high enrollment this fall.  The state university system expects a five percent enrollment increase, to a record 96-thousand students this fall, and some community colleges expect enrollment to be up by as much as 25 percent.

The River Rhythms concert series starts off with some Disco and Funk.  The Satin Love Orchestra performs Thursday at Monteith Riverpark in Albany.  Upcoming artists include a Neil Diamond tribute band, rockers Mother Hips, Sawyer Brown, and Country star Joe Diffie.  Blanket seating begins at 5:30 PM.  Chairs are allowed outside the blanket area.

Already one of the states with a high unemployment rate, Oregon has landed near the top of  another misery index.  After a surprising 20 percent jump in foreclosure rates for the first quarter of 2010, Oregon is now number three in the nation for the heartbreak of losing one’s home.  The top two states, with far higher foreclosure rates continue to be boom-to-bust states Nevada and Florida.

A new poll done by a Portland polling firm finds the governor’s race a dead heat.  Democrat John Kitzhaber leads Republican Chris Dudley, 38% to 37%—-but the undecideds are leaning more to Dudley right now.  In other Oregon political and economic news, Governor Kulongoski has ordered state agencies to implement 9% across the board cuts to make up a predicted 577 million dollar revenue shortfall.  The Governor says, though, that he will ask the Legislative Emergency Board to exhaust almost all its emergency funds to keep open three minimum security prisons set to close under the mandated 9% cuts.  And, locally, unemployment continues sky-high.  May figures show Linn County at 13.2%, and Lane County at 10.7%.  The jobless rate was down in Benton county to one of the state’s lowest—7 percent.

This the week for the ‘Sweet Home Sweet Ride’ car show.  It will be this Saturday at the Jamboree grounds off 18th in Sweet Home.  200 to 300 rods, customs, antique cars, and bikes are expected to be there.  The show will feature food, drink, a live band, and DJ music from KFIR.  Don’t forget to vote for the People’s Choice trophy, and take a Poker Walk to win.  The car show Saturday will raise money for three Oregon childrens’ charities.

If you see lots of firefighters in downtown Sweet Home this week, don’t worry–it’s just 200 wildland firefighters going through a week of annual training.  Many will be camped around the high school until Friday.  The U.S. Forest Service and other agencies get together each year to give basic wildland firefighting training to new firefighters and continuing education for returnees.  The group will get field training on CTC land.