"Take Care Out There" Encourages Responsible Outdoor Recreation

The new campaign, "Take Care Out There," is a result of the collaborative work of the Oregon Outdoor Recreation Network, comprised of statewide, federal and private partners. The campaign encourages outdoor recreationists to Take Care Out There with trip-planning advice, safety tips and preservation guidelines, while also connecting with local communities to enrich their experience. The industrious beaver, Oregon's official state animal, known for its restorative conservation practices, is the campaign's ambassador.

Access the toolkit to help share the Take Care Out There message through social channels, websites, newsletters and at your business.

Read the full press release.

Two-time Olympic Champion to Headline Oregon Rural Tourism Conference in April

Ashton Eaton, a celebrated American decathlete and two-time Olympic champion, will be the closing keynote at the Oregon Rural Tourism Conference on Tuesday, April 28. Eaton will share his perspective and insights on rural Oregon and why his experience growing up in La Pine holds a special spot in his heart.

For more information on the conference and to register to attend, visit oregonruraltourismconference.com. The deadline to apply for a scholarship is March 5. The early bird registration rate of $200 expires on March 31.

Oregon Film Celebrates The Goonies 35th Anniversary with Statewide Tour

It’s been 35 years since The Goonies audiences first went in search of treasure with a lovable band of kids from Astoria. To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the film, Oregon Film and Travel Oregon will partner to offer public screenings of the movie in seven cities around the state—from La Grande to the home of The Goonies: the Liberty Theatre in Astoria. This tour will help support the Oregon Film Museum and Astoria's official Goonies Day celebration June 4-7.

During the four-day event, Goonies fans can bowl at “Chunk’s Bowling Alley” (as seen in the film), embark on their own adventure with an interactive scavenger hunt and hear about the making of the film from those who were there. Official memorabilia, including t-shirts, hats, glassware, and more, will be available at the event’s headquarters, the Astoria Armory. Visit the event’s website at www.thegoondocks.org for updates.

See the full press release and screening dates, here.

Legislative Update

HB 4047 makes the state lodging tax rate permanent at 1.8%. The bill passed the House, with a 37 to 18 vote on Friday, Feb. 21. It is waiting to be scheduled for its first reading on the Senate floor, which can only occur if there is quorum. With the Republican walkout, the Senate did not have quorum to open the floor. In order to have quorum and conduct business on the Senate floor, two Republicans must be present to have a 2/3 majority. While the bill cannot be read on the floor and moved to committee, it can have an informational public hearing in the Senate Finance and Revenue Committee. The informational hearing on HB 4047 is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3 at 8:30 a.m. in Senate Finance and Revenue. If session does not resume, HB 4047 will be dead upon adjournment on March 9.

Photo by Kenji Sugahara