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A countywide effort to verify that registered sex offenders are complying with Oregon law resulted in 12 arrests and hundreds of compliance checks across Benton County on July 23rd.

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Corvallis Police Department, Albany Police Department, Oregon State Police, Benton County Community Corrections, the U.S. Marshals Service, and several other law enforcement agencies participated in the coordinated compliance sweep.

The operation focused on ensuring registered sex offenders were complying with Oregon reporting requirements. The effort targeted offenders who had fallen out of compliance, and also educated current registrants about their legal obligations. Or, as we read it, reminding them not to violate the conditions of their registration.

According to a CPD press release, investigators conducted 248 compliance checks during this specific operation. Those checks led to 12 arrests for violations of Oregon’s sex offender registration laws.

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office said the operation was “designed to improve public safety by maintaining an accurate sex offender registry and identifying individuals who may not be complying with Oregon law.”

Part of the check is whether or not registrants are actually living at their reported residence, and to verify that other mandatory registration updates have been completed. The whole goal seems to be keeping Oregon's sex offender registry accurate for law enforcement… and where applicable, for public notification.

Under ORS 163A.040 (Failure to Report as a Sex Offender), people required to register as sex offenders commit a crime if they knowingly fail to comply with Oregon’s reporting requirements.

Those requirements include completing an initial registration, reporting changes of residence within a set timeframe, and updating employment or school information.

The penalties depend on the circumstances of the violation and the offender’s conviction. Some violations are prosecuted as a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $6,250. Other violations involving offenders convicted of felony sex crimes can be charged as a Class C felony, which carries a max sentence of five years in prison and fines of up to $125,000.

Oregon law requires registrants to report their current residence and notify authorities whenever they move. If someone moves without updating that information, they may be in violation.

Compliance checks like this one are a routine tool used by law enforcement agencies to help ensure registration information remains accurate. Officials say these operations are important for maintaining the integrity of the statewide registry.

You can search the Oregon Sex Offender Registry here.

This article was written by K. Hewlitt at The Corvallis Inquirer. Feel free to send us your stories or articles to publish at: editor@corvallisnow.com

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It’s a slow news week. Sometimes that’s a good thing. So whether or not this is a reflection worth discussing… well, that’s up to you to decide.

Construction has been moving along on Benton County’s new courthouse along Highway 20, just north of downtown. Now a question has flown into public debate: What about the birds? No, they don’t need a courthouse. Most aren’t criminals and generally obey the laws of nature. Although I do have a woodpecker in my yard that I would happily send to jail.

Specifically, what happens when hundreds of square feet of shiny new courthouse windows face one of the prettiest river corridors in the valley? To us, those windows promise beautiful views, natural light, and a distraction while waiting for jury duty or maybe even one last glance at freedom?

To a bird, they may simply look like... well… more sky.

(Photo Credit: The Corvallis Inquirer)

Unfortunately, birds don’t read architectural plans. And unlike humans, they don’t usually appreciate floor-to-ceiling windows until it’s a little too late.

We’ve all heard it before, that unmistakable “thunk.” The kind that instantly makes you look at the window. My cat heard the thunk once, and promptly picked up a crow off the ground, larger than herself… and brought it to the door, passing it off like it’s own trophy that it meticulously stalked, pounced, fought, and brought home for family dinner.

Window collisions are one of the largest human-caused threats to birds in North America. Yes, we just mentioned the other one. Conservation organizations estimate that hundreds of millions to as many as one billion birds die each year in the United States after striking glass. Birds often mistake reflections of trees, rivers, clouds, or open sky for actual habitat and simply keep flying.

Research has found that low-rise buildings with large windows, like the new courthouse, account for a surprisingly large share of bird collisions. A courthouse doesn’t have to be 40 stories tall to become an obstacle if it’s surrounded by trees, water, and open flight paths.

The new Benton County Courthouse is taking shape fast. Scheduled to open in spring 2027, it will replace Oregon’s oldest operating courthouse and feature modern courtrooms, improved accessibility, and a new Emergency Operations Center.

It also sits near the Willamette River, an area frequented by songbirds, waterfowl, raptors, and migratory species throughout the year. Bald Eagles even. That combination has prompted some people to wonder whether the building’s reflective glass could unintentionally become a hazard.

Did we message Benton County for comment? No. Should we? Probably not. Odds are… they have better things to do.

To be clear, there is no evidence at this point that the courthouse has caused bird collisions. The building is still under construction. But it's a fair question. And like we said, it's a slow news week, locally speaking.

Some communities have started to pay more attention to bird-friendly architecture. The Oregon Zoo Education Center in Portland, for example, uses bird-friendly etched (fritted) glass with a subtle pattern that birds can see but that doesn't affect human views.

Other solutions outside of patterned or fritted glass include ultraviolet coatings that birds can see (but people barely notice), decorative films, or exterior screens that break up reflections. Many of these treatments have been shown to dramatically reduce bird strikes without changing the building’s overall appearance.

In other words, it’s possible to have a courthouse with great views and fewer unintended avian traffic accidents.

Benton County has spent years planning a courthouse designed to serve the community for generations. It's already looking pretty grand, even without the landscaping. Is a relatively small adjustment worth the effort to help protect local wildlife? We should probably wait and see.

Because if the crows get organized, they'll have probable caws.

This article was written by Brian Lindensmith, a contributor to The Corvallis Inquirer. Feel free to send us your stories or articles to publish at: editor@corvallisnow.com

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The reservoirs that supply the Willamette Valley with water, flood protection, hydropower, and summer river flows are sitting at historically low levels, which has raised concerns about how the region will make it through the remainder of the dry season.

According to a recent report by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Willamette Valley reservoir system is only about 48% full, well below where they would normally like it to be in late July. USACE officials described 2026 as one of the driest years in decades, with the valley experiencing its sixth-driest combination of rainfall and snowpack since 1980.

The low reservoir levels stem from a winter that produced very little mountain snow, which means low snowpack, followed by below-average spring precipitation. Normally, melting snow gradually refills reservoirs well into early summer. This year, there wasn’t enough snow to replenish storage.

USACE officials have described the situation as a “double-whammy.”

The Willamette Valley’s 13 federal reservoirs are managed for more than just recreation. Every gallon stored behind the dams has multiple jobs.

(Photo: a dry dock on Lookout Point Reservoir/The Corvallis Inquirer)

Throughout the year, the Army Corps balances flood protection, hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, water quality, fish habitat, recreation, and maintaining enough downstream river flow for communities throughout the valley. During winter, reservoirs are intentionally drawn down to create space for floodwaters. They are normally refilled during spring so that water is available during Oregon’s dry summers.

This year, reservoir managers simply did not receive enough runoff to refill them. While conditions vary across the basin, several reservoirs are especially depleted.

As of mid-July, USACE reported:

• Cougar Reservoir: 20% full

• Green Peter Reservoir: 23% full

• Hills Creek Reservoir: 23% full

• Lookout Point Reservoir (pictured above) : 40% full

• Blue River Reservoir: 53% full

Some do remain in better shape, including Foster Reservoir at approximately 96% full. Conditions can differ across individual watersheds, but the entire Willamette Valley system remains below normal.

For most residents here, there is no immediate concern about running out of water. Corvallis draws 70% of its municipal water directly from the Willamette River, and about 30% from the Rock Creek Watershed on the east slopes of Mary’s Peak. Officials have not yet indicated that public water supplies here are at risk or under significant stress like other areas in the valley.

Low reservoirs can still affect us in several ways. River flows released from upstream reservoirs help maintain cooler water temperatures for endangered salmon and steelhead during hot weather. Hydroelectric production may also be reduced, potentially increasing reliance on other electricity sources.

The current challenge facing water managers is deciding when and how much water to release. If too much water is released now, reservoirs may not have enough storage to support rivers later in August and September, when streamflows are typically at their lowest. But holding too much water upstream could reduce downstream river flows needed for fish, water quality, agriculture, and communities that rely on it.

"We know how deeply the communities of the Willamette Valley value this river system and rely on these reservoirs, so we are doing everything we can to carefully manage every drop of water we have. Our priority is to support the people, the local economy, and the environment by balancing these critical, competing needs through the difficult months ahead.” Salina Hart, chief of reservoir regulation and water quality for the Portland District, said while describing how the Corps is balancing competing demands throughout the basin.

This article was written by Brian Lindensmith., a contributor to The Corvallis Inquirer. Feel free to send us your stories or articles to publish at: editor@corvallisnow.com

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It is now possible Oregon residents served by Pacific Power will see an increase in their electric bills as the utility asks state regulators to approve a new general rate case. If approved by the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC), the proposal would raise residential rates by 10.8% beginning in April 2027.

According to Pacific Power, the increase would amount to about $15.61 per month for a typical residential customer. The proposal is now under review by the Oregon Public Utility Commission, which has the authority to approve, reject, or modify the request.

It's a timely announcement, given the current wildfire situation across the state. Pacific Power said the request is driven by the rising costs of operating and maintaining Oregon's electric grid, along with investments in wildfire prevention, reliability improvements, aging infrastructure, and compliance with Oregon's clean energy requirements.

"Affordability is an ongoing concern for our customers," said Rick Link, Pacific Power's senior vice president of regulation and planning. "We understand the impact rising costs have on households, and we're working to balance those concerns while continuing to invest in the safety, reliability, and resilience of Oregon's electric system."

Pacific Power has also stated that the proposed rate increase is not intended to recover costs associated with pending wildfire litigation. However, investments in wildfire prevention are included.

(Photo via Pacific Power Wildfire Prevention Resources)

The proposal will be the subject of public meetings hosted by the Oregon Public Utility Commission. The hearings are part of the formal rate case process, where commissioners, consumer advocates, businesses, and members of the public can weigh in before a final ruling is issued.

For many Oregon households, this latest proposal comes after several consecutive years of higher electric bills. Exact customer impacts vary depending on usage and prior adjustments, but recent years have brought a steady stream of changes.

In 2024, Oregon regulators approved roughly a 9.8% residential rate increase. In April 2026, a second rate adjustment was approved by the PUC… the adjustment was tied to power costs and renewable energy programs.

The proposed increase also arrives as PacifiCorp continues defending itself against numerous lawsuits stemming from Oregon’s devastating 2020 Labor Day wildfires. The utility has already paid hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and continues to face additional litigation.

The PUC is expected to spend several months reviewing the filing before making a final decision. Under Oregon law, commissioners can approve the request as filed, modify it, or reject portions of it. The issue will be closely watched over the next several months as decisions are made.

This article was written by Derek S., a contributor to The Corvallis Inquirer. Feel free to send us your stories or articles to publish at: editor@corvallisnow.com

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The race for Mayor of Corvallis has another potential contender. And it’s not a cat.

Kasey Haxton has submitted an initial filing to run for mayor in the November 2026 election. According to the City, the filing has been received but is awaiting approval before Haxton can begin collecting the signatures required to qualify for the ballot.

Whether this is a serious run for Mayor or not is yet to be seen.

(Image via Platypus Affiliated Society YouTube)

One of the clearest windows into the prospective candidate’s views comes through the Democratic Socialists of Corvallis website. It’s a pretty basic website, like something you’d make in your 2006 Computer Science 101 class in college. Haxton has written two newsletters on the website and has been active in the organization’s “Housing is a Human Right campaign.”

The group’s mission says that it organizes “for a society where working-class people own and collectively control resources we all rely on, like housing, healthcare, food, and jobs,” and advocates replacing what it describes as a system “rigged against” working people.

Haxton is the principal author of the organization’s only two published newsletters to date. The first, published in May 2025, introduces Haxton as chair of the Housing is a Human Right campaign committee, while the second newsletter, published in July 2025, continues updates on the campaign’s organizing efforts.

In the May newsletter, Haxton writes that the campaign believes “housing is a human right” and argues Corvallis should end homeless camp sweeps while pursuing policies including expanded public housing and rent control.

The July newsletter reports the campaign has grown to more than 250 petition signatures and says volunteers were canvassing weekly at the Corvallis Farmers’ Market and First Alternative Co-op, all the while advocating for rent control and additional housing policies.

Haxton has also spoken publicly about housing affordability outside of the organization’s newsletter.

In a 2025 interview with Street Roots, discussing homelessness and affordable housing in town, Haxton argued that recently constructed affordable housing still remains financially out of reach for residents.

Referring to one development, Haxton said, “Most people who live there, there is no income minimum. They’re paying a lot more of their take-home pay.” Haxton also called for greater public investment in housing, saying, “All we need is a city council with the political will to do it.”

The development Haxton is referring to is most likely Union at Pacific Highway, which opened in South Corvallis with 174 units. The cheapest rent is $1,100 per month. The highest income a resident can have to qualify for a unit is $45,400 per year for a single individual.

As of writing, no campaign website, campaign finance committee, or detailed mayoral platform for Haxton could be found. Additional campaign information will likely become available when and if signature gathering begins.

The Street Roots article can be found here.

Oregon State University chapter of the Platypus Affiliated Society hosted a panel titled "The Democratic Party and the Left,” where Kasey speaks. It can be found here on YouTube.

This article was written by Brian Lindensmith, a contributor to The Corvallis Inquirer. Feel free to send us your stories or articles to publish at: editor@corvallisnow.com

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Last week, the High School Journalism Institute summer program brought together high school students from across Oregon and southwest Washington to learn reporting, writing, photography, and multimedia storytelling. The eight-day institute, based in Corvallis, produced news stories from around our community.

(Photo via www.visitcorvallis.com)

This year’s session ran July 11–18 and was a collaboration between Oregon State University, Oregonian Media Group, and other Oregon media organizations, including The Lookout Eugene-Springfield, The Register-Guard, and Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Throughout the week, students published stories and multimedia projects while receiving one-on-one mentoring from experienced reporters, editors, and photographers.

The program has operated for nearly three decades and is offered at no cost to participants through community and philanthropic support. Click on the images below published on Oregonlive.com to read some of their final projects. We liked the high priestess at Adam’s Washeteria piece the best. It was smart, creative, uncovered, quirky, and just a fun read in general.

All stories were published on OregonLive and can be found here.

This article was written by Derek S., a contributor to The Corvallis Inquirer. Feel free to send us your stories or articles to publish at: editor@corvallisnow.com

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Downtown is getting another gathering place. Actually, two of them. A write-up on the second one is coming soon.

We all knew McMenamins had taken over the space adjacent to its downtown location. The company has now officially announced plans to open a new small bar called “The Wheel” in the currently vacant space.

While an opening date has not yet been announced, the company said it is awaiting final city permits before welcoming customers.

The announcement came Monday through McMenamins’ social media channels, where the company described The Wheel as “a whimsical small bar.” This makes sense. What does McMenamins’ ever do that isn’t whimsical?

(Photo: McMenamins)

The name draws inspiration from the natural cycle of the seasons, ancient symbolism surrounding fortune and fate, and the Grateful Dead song of the same name.

According to a newly launched page on McMenamins’ website, the bar will continue the company’s tradition of creating intimate gathering spaces. The space will feature stained glass and décor inspired by natural and mythical themes, with the company describing it as a place “modeled after Alpen shacks, secret lairs, and snug refuges where people can gather for a dram, play music, and share ideas in a cozy setting.”

The addition expands McMenamins’ footprint here in town, where the company already operates the downtown Corvallis Pub and McMenamins on Monroe near OSU Campus. The downtown pub itself has been a fixture since 1991 and occupies the former Tower of London restaurant building.

The Tower of London was a longtime Corvallis landmark, serving English-style fish and chips, beer, and pub fare from 1972 until its closure in 1988.

McMenamins also shared several work-in-progress photos of the new space, showing construction well underway. No opening date has been announced.

The website for “The Wheel” can be found here.

This article was written by K. Hewlitt at The Corvallis Inquirer. Feel free to send us your stories or articles to publish at: editor@corvallisnow.com

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A 51-year-old Albany man died Sunday after drowning in the Willamette River near Crystal Lake, marking another reminder of the dangers that can exist on the river.

According to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, emergency responders were dispatched shortly before noon on Sunday (July 19), after reports of a person floating down in the river near river mile 133.

Authorities identified the victim as Romail Dontail Allen, 51, of Albany.

(Photo: Willamette Boat Landing at Crystal Lake Park)

Witnesses told dispatchers that Allen had entered the water and appeared to be in distress. One bystander attempted to rescue him and later reported that Allen appeared to have died. Another witness told investigators Allen was not wearing a life jacket.

Benton County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol deputies were on patrol Sunday, but were operating farther downriver near the Polk County line when the call came in. Corvallis Fire Department crews reached the scene first, launching a rescue raft to access the victim.

Locals said the rescue operation took some time to coordinate. Allen was recovered from the river around 12:22 p.m., upriver from Michael’s Landing, but floated under Highway 34 and the Van Buren Bridge. Firefighters immediately began CPR while transporting him to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

We were down at Michaels Landing on Sunday, where the Graand Kinetic Challenge was setting up the water crossing portion of the race. While participants in the race had life vests, many people on paddleboards and other floats did not.

The section of the Willamette River that runs through town often appears calm, but river safety officials say “hidden currents, cold water, underwater debris, and changing conditions can quickly turn dangerous.”

Allen’s death follows several other serious incidents on this same stretch of river in recent years.

Last summer, a woman drowned in the river near Crystal Lake during a recreational outing, while another person involved in the incident survived. The tragedy sparked renewed discussion about river safety and the importance of wearing personal flotation devices.

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office is again urging anyone recreating on or near the water to wear a properly fitted life jacket. Free public life jacket loan stations are available at several Benton County parks along the river.

The Sheriff’s Office noted that even strong swimmers can become overwhelmed by river currents, cold water, or fatigue.

Anyone with information about Sunday’s drowning is asked to contact Deputy Savage at BentonCoSheriff@bentoncountyor.gov.

The Corvallis Inquirer via Benton County Press Release. Feel free to send us your stories or articles to publish at: editor@corvallisnow.com

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When Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced criminal charges against Gateway of Willamette Valley in Corvallis last month, along with a list of other Medicaid fraud cases being investigated in the state, many readers, including us, were left asking the same question. Who is Linda Thomas?

Despite operating a developmental-disability services organization for years, Thomas has maintained a remarkably small public footprint. Unlike most local business owners or nonprofit leaders, she has never appeared in the news, served on public boards, or maintained much of an online presence.

She oversaw a company that provided employment and day services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout Benton and Linn counties. Now she is on the wrong side of one of Oregon’s most significant Medicaid fraud prosecutions.

According to Thomas’ LinkedIn profile, her career in the developmental-disability field stretches back many years. Before launching Gateway, she worked as a Program Manager for Bridges Enterprise, LLC, another Corvallis provider serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Like Gateway, Bridges Enterprise is also an LLC, with a home address, one Google review, no website, and very little public information available. It was not named in the lawsuit.

In May 2016, Linda Thomas left Bridges and became CEO and Executive Director of Gateway of Willamette Valley, LLC. She described the organization’s mission simply as “We provide employment and day services for the I/DD community in Benton and Linn Counties.”

Public records indicate Gateway of Willamette Valley was already participating in Oregon’s Medicaid provider system by at least May 2020, showing the organization had been serving clients for several years before the conduct alleged by prosecutors began.

For staying out of the public eye so well, her LinkedIn profile paints a picture of someone highly invested in community service. Among the causes she lists as important are animal welfare, children’s issues, education, civil rights, human rights, health, poverty alleviation, environmental stewardship, economic empowerment, disaster relief, arts and culture, and science and technology.

Those interests stand in sharp contrast to the allegations now before the court.

Gateway primarily provided employment and day-support services for adults, programs funded largely through Oregon’s Medicaid system. For many people in Benton and Linn counties, these services play an important role in helping adults with disabilities develop job skills, participate in community activities, and build independence.

The criminal investigation has resulted in two separate cases, one against Thomas personally and another against the company itself. LLC protection has its limitations. An LLC is a special business structure that offers liability protection of a corporation. Now Thomas is on the hook personally.

In State of Oregon v. Linda Sue Thomas (Case No. 26CR33195), prosecutors have charged Thomas with two counts of Aggravated Theft in the First Degree, five counts of Theft in the First Degree, and seven counts of Making False Claim for Health Care Payment.

According to the charging documents, prosecutors allege the offenses occurred between January 2024 and March 2025 and involved payments made by the Oregon Department of Human Services. The information references dozens of DHS payment run numbers that investigators say are connected to the alleged false claims.

Gateway itself is charged separately in State of Oregon v. Gateway of Willamette Valley, LLC (Case No. 26CR33199). The company faces seven felony counts of Making False Claim for Health Care Payment. Prosecutors allege the company knowingly concealed or failed to disclose information in order to obtain Medicaid payments to which it was not entitled. The alleged conduct spanned multiple billing periods over approximately fifteen months.

At this stage, the allegations remain just that… allegations. Thomas and Gateway have been charged, but neither has been convicted, and both cases remain pending.

Our review of publicly available records found no previous criminal convictions, no verified bankruptcy filings, no significant civil lawsuits outside of the current criminal proceedings, no political campaign activity, and no prominent civic leadership roles.

For now, the criminal filings leave many questions unanswered. How much Medicaid funding did Gateway receive during its years of operation? How many clients relied on its services? What first prompted investigators to look at the company’s billing practices? Those answers will emerge as the criminal cases move forward.

There is a larger issue here. In terms of responsibility for overseeing publicly funded care. How companies get approved to submit claims… the claims process itself… and oversight or auditing of those claims. In Oregon, all of the new cases stemmed from investigations conducted by the state’s 22-person Medicaid Fraud Unit.

At the press conference announcing the cases, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said, “At its core, combating Medicaid fraud is about fighting for working families, protecting vulnerable Oregonians, and holding bad actors accountable when they take advantage of taxpayer dollars.”

Of all the cases uncovered statewide in this investigation, you know it's not all of them. Things get missed. Resources are limited. Medicaid is a vital service, and there are more people out there taking advantage of a system designed to help disabled people… a system that is supported by taxpayer dollars.

If you have any information you believe would help the public better understand this case, until further details emerge… feel free to contact us at editor@corvallisnow.com. We welcome both on-the-record and confidential conversations.

This article was written by Brian Lindensmith, a contributor to The Corvallis Inquirer. Feel free to send us your stories or articles to publish at: editor@corvallisnow.com

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Updated: July 18, 2026, at 4:15 p.m.

The state is facing its most active fire period yet of the 2026 wildfire season, with multiple large fires burning across central, north-central, and eastern parts of the state. So far, the Willamette Valley has been largely spared.

(Photo via Oregon State Fire Marshall)

Hot temperatures, dry vegetation, gusty winds, and recent lightning have fueled rapid fire growth, stretching firefighting resources across several counties.

The largest wildfire currently burning is the Porcupine Ridge Fire in Gilliam County, which has grown to approximately 15,621 acres. It is closely followed by the Coyote Fire near Prineville at roughly 15,000 acres, while several other fires have expanded beyond the 10,000-acre mark.

As conditions worsened Saturday, the Oregon State Fire Marshal issued an Emergency Conflagration Act, allowing additional structural firefighting resources from around the state to be mobilized to protect homes and communities threatened by the fast-moving fires. The declaration comes as multiple fires continue to grow simultaneously.

State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple urged Oregonians to stay informed as conditions continue to change.

“The conditions we’re seeing across Oregon have challenged firefighters for the past week and the current forecast isn’t providing much relief,” Ruiz-Temple said. “I’m urging every Oregonian to be wildfire aware and to sign up for their county’s emergency alerts. Know the evacuation levels and follow them if they are issued.”

Oregon’s Largest Active Wildfires

(Approximate acreage as of July 18, 2026, 4:15 p.m.)

1. Porcupine Ridge Fire (Gilliam County) — 15,621 acres

2. Coyote Fire (Crook County) — 15,000 acres

3. Cove Creek Fire (Wheeler County) — 12,000 acres

4. Crosswhite Fire (Wheeler County) — 11,247 acres

5. Hopkins Fire (Gilliam County) — 10,469 acres

6. Hoag Fire (Gilliam County) — 10,000 acres

7. Brewer Fire (Crook/Jefferson counties) — 10,000 acres

8. Lower Dry Creek Fire (Umatilla County) — 8,096 acres

9. Akawa Butte Fire (Deschutes/Jefferson counties) — 6,208 acres

10. Deadman Canyon Fire (Wasco County) — 5,171 acres

Mandatory and voluntary evacuation notices remain in effect across numerous communities. Level 3 “Go Now” evacuations have been issued around several of the state’s largest fires, including the Porcupine Ridge, Coyote, Cove Creek, Crosswhite, Deadman Canyon, and Hoag fires. Residents are encouraged to monitor local emergency alerts, have evacuation plans, and leave immediately if directed by emergency officials.

Fire officials are now warning that continued hot weather, low humidity, and wind could lead to additional fire growth over the coming days. More than 15,000 lightning strikes across Oregon and Washington this week have sparked dozens of new fires, with firefighters continuing to respond to new starts while battling the state’s largest fires currently burning.

The Oregon State Fire Marshal has said today that “The Oregon fire service is working around the clock to protect communities against numerous wildfires. We’ve mobilized all three of our incident management teams, 30 task forces and strike teams, and have brought in help from California and Washington.”

This article was written by K. Hewlitt at The Corvallis Inquirer. Feel free to send us your stories or articles to publish at: editor@corvallisnow.com

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If you missed today, you still have a chance.

Day two of the Graand Kinetic Challenge shifts into high gear on Sunday with some of the race's most anticipated obstacles.

The day begins at 10 a.m. at Crystal Lake Sports Park, where teams tackle the legendary Mud Bog Challenge before heading to the Willamette River for the amphibious portion of the race.

Spectators can watch the human-powered machines enter the water at the Willamette Boat Launch around 12:30 p.m. and emerge at Michael's Landing on Northwest 1st Street at approximately 1:15 p.m. From there, teams make their final push along First Street to the finish line at Riverfront Commemorative Park, where the weekend's champions will be crowned.

Some photos from Day 1:

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Some people in our community make an impact far beyond it, and it gains national attention. This has been happening a lot lately.

The passing and accomplishments of Albany born actress Daveigh Chase. Corvallis native cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra’s work on one of this summer’s biggest movies. Another resident, on screen rather than behind the camera, Robyn Masella competed on Jeopardy.

Now another.

Local residents Jean-Marie and Cory Buxton, founders of The Farmette Project, were recently featured this week in a national magazine. Woman’s World published an article highlighting how a simple idea has grown into a source of fresh food for families experiencing hunger.

Being featured on Woman’s World means more than you might think. The weekly magazine sells more than 30 million copies annually and gets millions of readers every month online. It is now part of McClatchy Media,

alongside other nationally recognized publications including Us Weekly, In Touch, Life & Style, Closer, and First for Women.

The magazine highlighted the Buxtons’ simple but inspiring idea: transform part of their yard into productive farmland and donate the harvest to those who need it most. As the magazine put it, they “turned their lawn into a way to feed families.”

The Farmette Project began in 2018 as a backyard project and has since expanded through partnerships with local volunteers, gardeners, farms, and Oregon State University to rescue and distribute surplus produce throughout the region.

Their guiding philosophy was “grow-to-give.”

Today, the project provides fresh fruits and vegetables to food banks, free food stands, and tribal communities. The Farmette Project reached a milestone during the 2025 growing season by donating 10 tons of fresh produce to local food banks, families facing food insecurity, and nearby Native American tribes.

10 tons is 22,046 pounds of food if you were wondering.

We have a longstanding tradition of community gardens, volunteerism, and local food initiatives here (think Corvallis Sustainability Coalition or South Corvallis Food Bank). Jean-Marie and Cory Buxton are a part of these efforts.

For the Farmette Project, appearing in a national magazine is a huge accomplishment. Growing and donating 22,046 pounds of food… food that many can not afford… this holds a much heavier weight.

This article was written by Jesse Grant, a contributor to The Corvallis Inquirer. Feel free to send us your stories or articles to publish at: editor@corvallisnow.com

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Audiences across the country are heading to theaters to see The Invite. Gasp. The theater. Leaving your house to watch a movie... we get it. But one of this summer's top-performing films at the box office (currently trending at number six nationally) has a principal artist whose roots began here in town.

Adam Newport-Berra serves as the cinematographer for The Invite, a new film directed by Olivia Wilde, that stars Wilde alongside Penélope Cruz, Seth Rogen and Edward Norton. Newport-Berra is the artist responsible for much of what you actually see on screen.

We use the word artist, because that’s what a cinematographer is. Adam’s art and creative journey has roots in the forests and hills surrounding the city before reaching audiences around the world.

(Photo: ASC and Adam Newport-Berra)

Newport-Berra was born in Corvallis and raised in rural Benton County near the McDonald-Dunn Forest. When the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) welcomed Newport-Berra into its prestigious ranks earlier this year, it noted that “nature served as both the catalyst for his interest in photography and a continuing influence on his artistic approach.”

The towering Douglas firs, soft morning light, and winding forest roads that many locals take for granted became part of the visual vocabulary of a now successful Hollywood cinematographer.

The Newport-Berra family home was located on Jackson Creek Drive near the forest. Adam has said that growing up in rural Oregon, surrounded by natural landscapes, helped shape his artistic vision, a connection echoed by the American Society of Cinematographers, which noted that "nature served as the catalyst for his interest in photography."

Adam grew up with his brother, Alex Newport-Berra, a Crescent Valley High School graduate who later attended Oregon State University and became a local teacher.

Family records describe the Newport-Berra home near McDonald Forest, where the brothers spent much of their childhood exploring the surrounding woods.

Often called the Director of Photography, the cinematographer is responsible for creating the visual feel of a movie. Working closely with the director, Olivia Wilde in this case, they determine how every scene is photographed, choosing the lighting, camera movement, framing, lenses, color palette, and composition that shape the audience’s emotional experience.

It’s a role that blends engineering, photography, and fine art… making cinematography one of the most creative and influential jobs in filmmaking.

(Photo courtesy of Black Bear Pictures)

After leaving Corvallis, Newport-Berra studied film production at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts before building a career that has earned widespread recognition throughout Hollywood.

His credits now include acclaimed films such as The Last Black Man in San Francisco, Blink Twice, Splitsville, and now The Invite. Television audiences have also seen his work on acclaimed series including The Bear, Euphoria, Outer Range, and The Studio.

His artistic style has reached far beyond film as well, with music videos created for artists including Kendrick Lamar, Adele, and Miley Cyrus.

He also earned an Emmy Award for his cinematography on The Studio, recognition from his peers for excellence behind the camera.

We often celebrate painters, musicians, sculptors, and writers as local artists. Newport-Berra is a reminder that filmmaking is art as well. A hometown’s greatest contribution to the arts isn’t always found in front of the camera like Daveigh Chase.

Sometimes it’s the person standing behind it.

Darkside Cinemas is now playing The Invite. Check their website for shows and times. Support local.

This article was written by Brian Lindensmith, a contributor to The Corvallis Inquirer. Feel free to send us your stories or articles to publish at: editor@corvallisnow.com

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The new Van Buren Bridge is now carrying traffic across the river, but the life of the old bridge isn’t over yet. It was a historic bridge, and its legacy will live on. It’s actually federally required. By law.

(Photo: Oregon Department of Transportation, Justin R. Scalera, Photographer, HAER, September 2023)

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is now asking the public to help decide how the historic 1913 bridge should be commemorated through a permanent exhibit. Residents can share their opinions through an online survey available here.

Because the Van Buren Bridge was determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, federal law requires ODOT and the Federal Highway Administration to mitigate the loss of the historic structure under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

Rather than simply documenting the bridge, the agencies plan to create a public exhibit using original pieces salvaged from the original bridge.

Federal funding for the exhibit was included as part of the overall bridge replacement project. Final design and construction figures totaled $85,442,844 for the new bridge.

ODOT is leading the planning and construction effort in partnership with the City of Corvallis Parks and Recreation Department. Once completed, ownership and long-term maintenance of the exhibit will be transferred to the city.

ODOT is now asking residents to decide on two potential locations. This is actually a bit interesting.

The first option would place the exhibit between the new Van Buren Bridge and the remaining pedestrian bridge in Riverfront Park. That location sits close to where the historic bridge once crossed the Willamette River, and would create a small, but highly visible display for park visitors.

The second option would incorporate the exhibit into the future North Riverfront Park, located north of today’s Riverfront Park near the informal boat launch known as Michael’s Landing.

Have you heard of the North Riverfront Park project? Admittedly… we haven’t. Until now. We stumbled upon it while writing this article (that's often how things happen). We'll “inquire” about it (pun intended) and do a future write-up if we can get more information from the City. Anyways…

The exhibit would showcase several distinctive pieces saved from the original bridge.

Among them are the bridge’s two pony trusses, each roughly 60 feet long. While pony trusses were a common bridge design in the early 1900s, the Van Buren Bridge used them as part of a much larger truss system, making them an important piece of the bridge’s engineering story.

Another centerpiece would be the bridge’s turning mechanism, the massive gear assembly that once allowed the bridge’s swing span to rotate so boats could travel up and down the Willamette River. Measuring roughly 25 feet wide and 6 feet tall, it remains one of the bridge’s most distinctive surviving features.

Before it was replaced, it was one of only two remaining vehicular swing-span bridges in Oregon. ODOT hopes the new interpretive exhibit will ensure that memories of the bridge will not be forgotten. Public feedback collected through the survey will help determine how that story is ultimately told.

(Photo: The Corvallis Inquirer, July 4th, 2026)

This article was written by Derek S., a contributor to The Corvallis Inquirer. Feel free to send us your stories or articles to publish at: editor@corvallisnow.com

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Of all the races appearing on the ballots this November, Ward 7 for City Council is one of the most intriguing… well, as intriguing as politics can be.

Unfortunately, the Ward 7 race is not being crowded by alien prawns who like cat food, have advanced technology, and a spaceship, like the movie District 9… but it still will be interesting to watch what unfolds.

Unlike several other City Council wards, where incumbents are seeking another term or only one candidate has stepped forward so far, Ward 7 features an open seat and has three potential candidates from dramatically different backgrounds.

The ward covers much of northwest Corvallis, including neighborhoods around Timberhill, Witham Hill, and the Walnut Boulevard corridor.

Retired U.S. Forest Service official Jerry Ingersoll has officially qualified for the ballot, while Danielle Chambers and Asa Jorg continue collecting signatures to qualify for the November election.

Ingersoll brings decades of experience leading federal agencies, Chambers comes from years of civic involvement and service on local advisory bodies, while Jorg remains a mystery… and represents an entirely different generation.

So who is Asa Jorg? He hasn’t released much info as of yet, or had any traction online, other than the city website stating he has qualified for the election and is collecting signatures. So we did some digging.

Jorg is currently pursuing an Honors Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering at Oregon State University while earning a minor in Biological Data Sciences. He is expected to graduate in 2028.

Outside of the classroom, Jorg serves as an undergraduate researcher in Oregon State’s Jin Lab for Membrane Filtration Technologies, where he works on improving laboratory production methods for marine-sourced chitosan, a naturally derived material being studied for use in water treatment and advanced filtration technologies.

His research is focused on making the production process more efficient and reducing costs for testing new flocculation materials. More efficient and reducing costs. Sounding like something the city council may need? We can’t translate flocculation materials, but maybe he can translate these efficiencies and cost-saving techniques to an elected position. Hell, maybe he is developing alien technology.

Jorg has built an impressive list of leadership roles during his first years at OSU. He currently serves as president of the Bioreactor Design Team, treasurer of the Biomedical Engineering Society, and secretary-treasurer of United Campus Ministry at Westminster House.

Ok. You got our attention.

His work with the Bioreactor Design Team includes helping develop engineering solutions through hands-on collaborative design projects. Kind of like our design idea for improving river access in downtown?

Before attending Oregon State, Jorg graduated as valedictorian from Grant High School in Portland.

During high school, he served as Technical Documentation Lead for FIRST Robotics Competition Team 3636, helping document the team’s engineering work and competition projects.

His LinkedIn profile also lists him as Student Strike Lead for the Portland Association of Teachers. The profile does not explain the position in detail, but likely refers to organizing or participating in student support efforts during Portland Public Schools’ 2023 teachers strike.

Jorg also lists membership in Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), a national left-wing student organization with chapters on many college campuses. Although it would be inappropriate to infer his political platform or policy positions based solely on that affiliation.

Retired Forest Service leader Jerry Ingersoll is most likely not sure what he is up against yet, as none of us are, but if Jorg collects enough signatures and runs for the seat in all seriousness… the race could be interesting.

Ingersoll recently retired after a lengthy federal career that included serving as Forest Supervisor of the Siuslaw National Forest and leading the U.S. Forest Service’s national Job Corps program. His campaign emphasizes responsive local government, collaboration, and decades of experience managing large public organizations.

Danielle Chambers, who is also seeking to qualify for the ballot like Jorg, previously served on Corvallis’ Charter Review Task Force and is a graduate of Leadership Corvallis.

Her campaign focuses on transparency, civic engagement, and encouraging broader public participation in local government. Chambers has also spoken publicly about choosing to make Corvallis her home because she values the city’s welcoming and inclusive community. We agree.

Jorg has not yet released detailed positions on major city issues such as housing, transportation, the proposed Civic Campus, or downtown redevelopment. These are the major issues we face over the next several years, including housing, transportation, downtown revitalization, parks, infrastructure investments, and the future of the city’s riverfront.

For now, Ward 7 is interesting… it has three potential candidates whose paths to public service could hardly be more different. We’ll be sitting back, eating our cat food, and watching closely.

We’ll also be waiting and watching for Neill Blomkamp’s District 10, which is supposedly in development.

This article was written by Brian Lindensmith, a contributor to The Corvallis Inquirer. Feel free to send us your stories or articles to publish at: editor@corvallisnow.com

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Earlier this week, it was revealed that an unknown number of ballots were not collected from residential mailboxes on Election Day. This happened after postal employees on 12 of Corvallis’s 38 mail routes were instructed to prioritize package deliveries over outgoing mail pickups due to staffing shortages.

Photo: Benton County Record and Elections

This prevented those ballots from receiving the Election Day postmark… this postmark is required under Oregon law to be counted. Now, Benton County Clerk Darla Rush says she is taking the issue directly to state and federal officials.

A county news release was issued on Wednesday. This release stated that Rush contacted the U.S. Postal Service’s representative in Portland immediately after reading about the reported mail collection problems. The issue was elevated to senior USPS leadership.

Rush also forwarded the information to the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office, where election staff are now expected to review the situation as well.

With Oregon’s November general election approaching, Rush says her priority is making sure every eligible ballot mailed on time receives the required postmark and has the opportunity to be counted.

To that end, she has requested a meeting later this week involving USPS representatives, the Corvallis postmaster Nicole Archer, and the Secretary of State’s elections director to discuss the issue and procedures ahead of the fall election.

The county is also planning a public education campaign aimed at reducing the risk of voters being affected by postal delays.

“Our primary message will encourage voters to use one of the county’s 17 official ballot drop sites whenever possible,” Rush said in the release. “If you do mail a ballot, follow the Secretary of State’s direction, do it at least one week before Election Day.”

Benton County says election staff will hold community outreach events this fall to answer questions about voting options and help residents understand the safest ways to return their ballots.

The county itself does not collect ballots from residential mailboxes, the post office does, but it does operate official ballot drop locations throughout the area, where ballots can be returned directly without relying on postal collection schedules.

It still remains unclear how many ballots were affected. A list of Benton County ballot drop boxes can be found below and at the link here.

Corvallis

• Kalapuya Building (Records & Elections Office) - 4500 SW Research Way (rear parking lot drop box)

• OSU Gill Coliseum - 660 SW 26th St (Ralph Miller Lane & 26th St)

• Lincoln Health Center - 121 SE Viewmont Ave

• Benton County Courthouse - 120 NW 4th St

• Law Enforcement Building - 180 NW 5th St

• LBCC Benton Center - 757 NW Polk Ave

• Corvallis Community Center (C3) - 2601 NW Tyler Ave

• Wells Fargo at Timberhill Shopping Center - 2543 NW Kings Blvd

• City Limits Market - 5800 NW Highway 99W

Adair Village

• Adair Village City Hall - 6030 NE William R. Carr Ave

North Albany (Benton County precincts)

• North Albany Shopping Center - 621 Hickory Ave NW

Philomath

• Philomath Community Library - 1050 Applegate St

Monroe

• Monroe Community Library - 380 N 5th St

Alsea

• Alsea Community Library - 19192 Alsea Hwy

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After more than a year of meetings, surveys, and outreach, the City of Corvallis’ Downtown Vitality Strategy Task Force has released its final report. It’s a 27-page roadmap outlining what community members say should be done to strengthen and revitalize downtown.

Outside of special events, downtown is pretty slow during the summer months. Multiple local businesses have closed for weeks or have introduced shortened summer hours. Here is looking at you TacoVino. These are often used as ways to save money when foot traffic is slow.

Forty members, including business owners, downtown property owners, city councilors, community organizations, OSU representatives, and residents, spent a year studying downtown’s strengths and weaknesses before arriving at a consensus plan.

The group met 35 times over the course of the year and gathered community feedback through surveys, town halls, stakeholder meetings, online comments, and outreach events. More than 1,600 residents participated in the priority action survey.

The strongest concerns centered on making downtown feel safer and more welcoming. Among the biggest themes identified throughout the report were:

• Safety concerns, especially after dark

• The impacts of homelessness and gaps in social services

• Vacant storefronts and struggling businesses

• Better connections between downtown and the Willamette River

• More housing downtown

• Easier walking, biking and access from neighborhoods and OSU

• Concern about losing government services if City Hall eventually relocates

• Better promotion of downtown as a destination

When residents ranked nearly 30 proposed actions, one recommendation stood above the rest. The highest-scoring priority was:

“Identify and address behavioral safety and social service gaps downtown to reduce harm, improve access to support, and enhance overall community wellbeing.”

One recommendation that stood out was the community’s desire to better embrace the Willamette River. Lee Eckroth was on the task force, and we are sure he served a large part of that recommendation.

Other notables on the task force included Benton County Commissioner Gabe Shepherd, Corvallis City Councilors Tony Cadena, Charlyn Ellis, and Jan Napack, Downtown Corvallis Organization Executive Director Nicole Nystrom, Visit Corvallis Executive Director Carolyn Mayers, and Corvallis Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Deann Garcia.

After reviewing all of the community input, the task force organized its recommendations into eight major goals, listed in order of priority:

1. Enhance downtown cleanliness and safety.

2. Foster a vibrant retail, service, office and entertainment economy.

3. Make the Willamette River an integral part of downtown.

4. Improve access, walkability and accessibility.

5. Expand housing opportunities downtown.

6. Invest in public spaces, cultural amenities and civic buildings.

7. Improve downtown’s environmental and infrastructure resilience.

8. Develop a downtown urban renewal plan supported by a Tax Increment Financing district.

Task force members emphasized that no single project will transform downtown on its own. Instead, they envision gradual improvement through coordinated investments, private development, public infrastructure projects, and community partnerships.

The task force is asking the City Council to formally accept the report, begin discussing implementation, identify public and private partners to help advance the recommendations, and continue evaluating a proposed downtown Tax Increment Financing district that could eventually go before Corvallis voters.

You can download and read the full 27-page report here.

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This article was written by Brian Lindensmith, a contributor to The Corvallis Inquirer. Feel free to send us your stories or articles to publish at: editor@corvallisnow.com

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Construction is still underway at 412 SE Second Street in downtown, but things are coming together in more ways than one.

The Confluence, a new community-focused building, has been taking shape. The vision behind the project stretches beyond the timber. The goal is to create a permanent home where organizations can collaborate, community members can gather, and most importantly, downtown gains another destination for people to spend time in the city’s core. Which we desperately need.

According to The Confluence, the project was created around a simple idea: “Joining forces is in our nature.” Rather than operating separately, four local environmental organizations will share a single facility, allowing them to work more closely together while reducing costs and increasing their collective impact. Sound familiar?

This is one of the same ideologies pitched by the city for the new $200 million Civic Campus proposal. Currently, municipal departments are spread across several older buildings. By bringing them together into a single Civic Campus, the city hopes to make it easier for residents to access services, improve workplace safety and efficiency, and replace aging, seismically vulnerable facilities.

Not everyone agrees. Especially with the price tag. More on that later.

The Confluence includes four partner organizations. Cascade Pacific Resource Conservation & Development, Greenbelt Land Trust, Corvallis Environmental Center, and Mary’s River Watershed Council.

As the project’s partners explain, “Co-locating and sharing resources increases the social and environmental impact of our network beyond what we could accomplish as individual organizations, like tributaries flow together to create larger rivers with greater momentum.”

One of the more commendable aspects of the project is how intentionally local the construction has been.

Project leaders say approximately 75% of the building materials have been sourced, grown, or processed within 30 miles of the site downtown, while 80% of the construction labor has been provided by workers who live within two miles of downtown.

Additional sustainability goals include recycling or reusing nearly all construction waste, incorporating solar panels, using low-flow plumbing fixtures, and avoiding solvent-based exterior coatings.

Although The Confluence will serve as headquarters for the four nonprofit partners, the building is also designed with the community in mind. Project organizers envision it becoming a place where meetings, educational programs, community conversations, and public gatherings can take place.

For downtown, projects like this are important.

Every community event, workshop, meeting, or gathering brings people onto the sidewalks. That kind of foot traffic will help what many business owners have been working to rebuild in recent years.

We have invested significantly in infrastructure, from the new Van Buren Bridge to streetscape improvements and public spaces. Buildings like this complement those investments by creating places where people actually want to spend time.

This article was written by Brian Lindensmith., a contributor to The Corvallis Inquirer. Feel free to send us your stories or articles to publish at: editor@corvallisnow.com

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On June 26, 21 y/o Kenny Truong drowned after jumping into the waters of Tamolitch Falls, better known as “Blue Pool.” Friends watched him struggle to swim back to shore before disappearing beneath the crystal-clear surface. He could not be saved.

If you have ever been to Blue Pool, Oregon, the water is so crystal clear and unadulterated, emanating from an underground spring and filtered through rock, that you feel like you could reach your arm in and touch the bottom. Until you do. Then you realize it's 30 feet down to those rocks, and you've lost circulation within seconds because the water is a lethal 37°F–38°F year-round.

When we say "lethal," we mean cold enough to trigger an immediate, involuntary gasp reflex. That's fine if your head is above water, for now, it's simply a shock to the system. But if your head is underwater, that involuntary gasp doesn't draw in air. It draws in something else. And you drown.

You don’t realize how dangerous it is until you’ve experienced it. And by then, it’s often too late.

Luckily, we have in love travel bloggers to help us find it, show you what not to do… just days later… and then try to sell it to you.

Here you have it, “Two Wandering Soles”, served on a branded silver platter, in Oregon, over a campfire, and straight to their website. True love.

Let’s just read the caption to start: “Katie jumping in from the water’s edge. We do not recommend cliff jumping here.” This is the caption. Under the photo of Katie cliff jumping.

Posted on June 30th, three days after Kenny Truong’s death. Listen, we don’t have to work “hard” at The Corvallis Inquirer on this one… the story writes itself. Actually, Katie and Ben wrote it.

But mainly to sell you shit.

Maybe they didn’t know about the death three days prior? Benefit of the doubt? Nope. Just below the image of Katie jumping in, they write:

Between clicking their shop, the other shop, the vanlife tutorial academy shop, the e-book shop, the other… stop. It took us a fair amount of time to even get to this website screenshot while trying to “x” out the ads.

Seen that bird here before… in that stock photo… yup, it’s called “Two Wondering Sold.” And guess what, Katie and Ben? You weren't the first. And neither was the recent tragedy that just made national headlines.

Following last week’s drowning, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement on the Blue Pool in Oregon, “it’s taken lives before and will take lives again if visitors do not understand what they are facing.”

History doesn’t suggest, it says they’re right.

Authorities and numerous news reports describe Blue Pool as having claimed at least six lives over the past decade, although a complete public record of every fatality is not maintained by a single agency.

Two of the fatalities that have been widely identified are Joel Jesse Martin in 2015 and Kenny Truong in 2026.

The problem is that Blue Pool doesn't look dangerous. It looks inviting. And thanks to Katie and Ben of Two Wandering Soles, they showed you how to get there, where not to jump, and what not to do, all while doing it themselves… just three days after Kenny’s death.

P.S. They also want to sell it to you, from every angle, even through Amazon, as stated on their website:

“We participate in the Amazon Associates Program, which means we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you.”

You’re right, Katie and Ben. Two Wondering Sold. It was no additional cost to us. We didn’t make a purchase from your website (once we got through the ads). We did lose a part of our soul… the fact that we were forced to write this article… sigh… I guess we all paid the price on this one… even our readers.

Hopefully, Katie and Ben’s Amazon affiliate gets their cut, and so do they… after all, they truly are, at heart… wandering souls… blinded by love money.

You can, if you want, read more about Katie Diederichs and Ben Zweber at www.twowanderingsoles.com. They are based in… you guessed it… Bend, Oregon. Most likely on social media as well (here is their instagram).

(photo: www.twowonderingsoles.com)

This article was “staff” written by The Corvallis Inquirer. It’s good getting together. Feel free to send us your stories or articles to publish at: editor@corvallisnow.com

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If there was any doubt that we have embraced the new Van Buren Bridge, Saturday night may have settled it.

As darkness fell over the Willamette River, residents lined the bridge's new, wider pedestrian pathways to watch the Corvallis Jaycees Fourth of July fireworks display over the riverfront. The bridge was the most popular vantage point, offering views of the show that reflected on the river.

It served as a large public balcony, bringing together neighbors, families, and visitors for the show.

Named after Martin Van Buren, the eighth president of the United States, the Van Buren Bridge has connected Corvallis for many years. On July 4th, it wasn't just carrying cars across the river… it brought the community together on foot.

The new bridge represents one of the most significant transportation investments in our area ever. After roughly three years of construction, the bridge officially opened to the public during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 6, 2026. The approximately $85.4 million project replaced the previous aging bridge, designed to withstand major earthquakes while improving travel for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.

Wide sidewalks, a protected multi-use path, and public art were all incorporated into the design. Last night was likely the first time many people got to see the bridge close up, outside of a car, on foot.

The project was led by the Oregon Department of Transportation and Coburg-based Hamilton Construction.

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