A donation of cedar, three summer articles, and Kelso High School Advanced Wood Tech students are coming together to create dozens of new homes for some important—and declining—members of the local ecosystem.

Students in Joe McWilliam’s Advanced Wood Tech class are building owl nesting boxes, bat houses, and Mason bee houses as part of a hands-on Career and Technical Education (CTE) project combining woodworking, research, conservation, and community service. Each student is building at least two houses: one to install at home and one to donate for placement in the community. Some students were so inspired by the project, they decided to make even more. And the impact will continue to grow: all three Advanced Wood Tech classes offered throughout the school year will take on the project.

The timing is especially fitting for one of the project’s beneficiaries: October is Bat Appreciation Month, dedicated to raising awareness about the important role bats play in healthy ecosystems and the challenges facing their populations.

The idea began this summer when McWilliam read three different articles about declining populations of owls, Mason bees, and bats. While each species faces different challenges, the articles had something interesting in common: cedar is particularly well suited for constructing their homes. That caught McWilliam’s attention.

At the end of last school year, local business A&J Fencing Inc. donated approximately 3,000 pounds of cedar to Kelso School District’s CTE program. McWilliam saw an opportunity to put that generous donation to work while giving students valuable hands-on experience.

“As soon as I relayed this information to the students, they were on board,” McWilliam said.

Before picking up their tools, students researched how to properly construct homes for each species, including different nesting-box requirements for various types of owls.

The details matter. Owl boxes provide alternatives when natural nesting cavities are scarce. Mason bee houses require properly sized, smooth nesting tunnels to help protect the bees and their young. Bat houses provide dry, protected roosting spaces for animals that play an important role in controlling insect populations.

Once the houses are complete, McWilliam plans to contact state and local parks about possible placement. Houses may also be installed on private property throughout Kelso. Community members interested in placing one on their property may be able to receive a house in exchange for donating additional cedar to help students continue building.

The project gives students an opportunity to develop technical skills while using those skills to solve a real-world problem and make a difference beyond the classroom.

From one generous donation of cedar, Kelso High School students are building much more than woodworking projects. They’re building habitats, and giving some of their smallest and most important neighbors a little more room to thrive.

About Kelso School District

Kelso School District has a goal of 100% (bit.ly/ksd-100) of students graduating high school and having post-secondary plans for college, career, trades, or military. Our mission is to prepare every student for living, learning, and achieving success as a citizen of our changing world.

A new destination event celebrating the intersection of Indigenous and Western culture through fashion, art, and food will debut in Pendleton, Oregon, October 15–17. Interwoven: Where Cultures Meet, organized by Travel Pendleton, invites visitors to experience the people, makers, designers, artists, flavors, and stories that shape this corner of Eastern Oregon.

At the heart of Interwoven is the Interwoven Market, featuring 70 booths and artists representing more than 30 Indigenous Nations. Guests can shop, meet makers, watch demonstrations, participate in hands-on activities, and discover the creative work behind the event’s fashion collections.

Fashion takes center stage throughout the weekend, including shows featuring eight Unresidency designers who have spent six months developing collections inspired by their individual creative practices and connections to place. The weekend culminates with The Rodeo of Runway, a one-of-a-kind fashion show on horseback at the Blue Mountain Equine Center.

Food is woven throughout the experience with events held at Electric Sundown. The Taste of Umatilla County invites guests to sample pairings featuring local foods, First Foods, and regional libations. At Fashion Bites, eight chefs representing Indigenous culinary traditions, James Beard-recognized talent, and the vibrant Pendleton food scene will be paired with the Undresidency fashion designers to create small plates inspired by their runway collections. Together, the chefs and designers will explore the connections between place, ingredients, culture, and creative expression.

Community creativity will also take center stage through art activations and collaborative projects, including two community-designed pieces that will make their runway debut Saturday night. Created entirely at the Interwoven Market, the pieces will become a highly visible representation of collective creativity.

When the sun goes down, Interwoven becomes Unwoven. In partnership with VYBE, the after-hours experience transforms Electric Sundown into a lounge and nightlife destination, giving guests a chance to gather, unwind, and experience Pendleton after dark.

Organized by Travel Pendleton, Interwoven continues the story of culture at the heart of Pendleton’s community told through fashion, art, food, creativity, and connection.

Interwoven: Where Cultures Meet takes place October 15–17, 2026, in Pendleton, Oregon. Tickets, event information, and the full list of participating artists and designers are available at www.interwovenoregon.com.

This project is funded in part by a grant from Travel Oregon.

Reducing the threat of wildfire and restoring public lands

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Wildland Fire Service will begin prescribed burning operations throughout Oregon and Washington as weather, fuel, and air quality become favorable. Operations will continue throughout the fall and winter. These burns are carefully planned to reduce hazardous fuels, protect nearby communities, and restore native ecosystems. Information about specific upcoming and active burns is available online.

“Prescribed fire is one of our most effective tools for reducing wildfire risk and improving habitat,” said Josh O’Connor, Northwest Geographic Area Fire Chief for the U.S. Wildland Fire Service. “By carefully planning and executing these burns, we’re helping protect communities and strengthen the health of our public lands.”

Techniques range from broadcast burning, which is the application of fire to an entire area, to hand and machine pile ignitions. These burns focus on increasing safety in the Wildland-Urban Interface and restoring ecological function to the landscape. Targeting built-up fuels and residual materials from previous thinning operations decreases the load of dead trees, branches, and underbrush that pose significant wildfire risks.

What the public should know

• During prescribed burns, smoke may settle in low-lying areas overnight.
• Residents are encouraged to close windows at night to avoid smoke impacts.
• When driving in smoky areas, drivers should slow down and turn on headlights.
• People with heart or lung disease, asthma, or other chronic conditions, should ask their doctors about protecting themselves from smoke, and monitor their local air quality map.

All burns are carried out when weather, fuel conditions, and air quality are within prescribed parameters. Firefighters use a combination of natural features and constructed control lines to keep the fire contained, with protocols in place to minimize smoke impacts on nearby communities.

For more information, contact the BLM District Office or the U.S. Wildland Fire Service Geographic Area associated with the burn.

-BLM-

The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
 

The U.S. Wildland Fire Service conducts operations in close coordination with the Bureau of Land Management. As a unified federal entity under the Department of the Interior, the USWFS integrates expertise to streamline wildfire prevention, response and recovery under our shared mission to foster fire-resilient landscapes and safeguard communities across America’s public lands.