Walden to Visit Southern Oregon Aug 22-26

 PRESS RELEASE: 8/11/05

Extensive schedule includes events in Jackson, Josephine, Klamath and Lake County to focus on transportation, economic development, health care and the fight against meth

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representative Greg Walden (R-OR) will be in southern Oregon from August 22-26, during what will be his 69^th visit to the region since taking office in 1999 and his third so far this year, to meet with residents and community leaders about a variety of issues.  This trip to southern Oregon - which includes meetings in Jackson, Josephine, Klamath and Lake Counties - is part of Walden's 248^th round trip between Oregon and Washington, D.C. since taking office.  Topics at his events and meetings will cover a broad range of issues critical to the region, including transportation, economic development, health care, the fight against meth, military, and a celebration of Oregon's Crater Lake quarter.  His schedule follows:

MONDAY, AUGUST 22:

MEDFORD

12:00 - 1:30 PM: Congressman Walden will speak at the Bear Creek Valley Rotary meeting to give members an update on congressional activity affecting their community and to answer questions they may have.  A member of the Hood River Rotary, Walden enjoys speaking to Rotarians, who perform valuable community service projects.  The Bear Creek Valley Rotary Club, under the leadership of President Sally Densmore, has worked on endeavors such as their one-week vision clinic in Mexico and the construction of facilities at Blue Heron Park along the Bear Creek Greenway. Location: Red Lion Hotel, 200 West Riverside Avenue, Medford

1:45 - 2:45 PM: Walden will meet with representatives from the Oregon Department of Transportation to discuss a project to enhance the I-5/Fern Valley Road interchange, a major link between the I-5 corridor and communities in southern Oregon, including Phoenix, Talent, south Medford and east Medford.  Walden helped secure a total of $7.4 million for this project in the Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA-LU), which President Bush signed into law on Wednesday, August 10.  During his visit, Walden will learn more about the project before joining the ODOT representatives and local business and community leaders on a van ride out to the site to see the interchange and its benefits firsthand.  Start Location: Foster Denman, LLP, 3521 East Barnett Road, Medford;  Site Visit: I-5/Fern Valley Road Interchange

ASHLAND

3:15 - 4:00 PM: Traveling next to Ashland, Walden will meet with Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) Executive Director Paul Nicholson and Artistic Director Libby Appel, as well as members from OSF's board of directors.  In addition to discussing funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, a contributor to OSF operations, Nicholson will update Walden on the Festival's impact to the local economy as well as a project they are currently sponsoring to raise funds and community awareness for AIDS/HIV.  Location: Oregon Shakespeare Festival; 15 South Pioneer Street, Ashland

TUESDAY, AUGUST 23:

MEDFORD

8:00 - 9:00 AM: Walden will attend a breakfast roundtable meeting co-hosted by Southern Oregon University (SOU) and Medford Urban Renewal Agency to discuss education and economic issues critical to the revitalization of Medford's downtown area, including the possible development of a joint SOU/Rogue Community College campus, increased commercial activity, and enhanced green space and park areas.  SOU President Elizabeth Zinser will introduce Walden; attendees at the breakfast will represent a variety of businesses, economic development groups, local governments and education institutions.  Location: Red Lion Hotel, 200 North Riverside, Medford

9:15 - 10:15 AM: As a follow-up discussion to the town hall forum Walden held in Medford in February on the fight against methamphetamine, he will again bring together local government officials, law enforcement and community activists to discuss ongoing activities to help find a solution to this epidemic that has become all too familiar in our communities.  Since his forum in February-which was one of seven he held throughout southern, central and eastern Oregon-Walden has remained an active member of the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine, sponsoring several pieces of legislation and supporting key amendments addressing a variety of issues including international trafficking of meth, controlling access to precursor ingredients, cleaning up toxic waste sites left after meth labs, enhancing support for local law enforcement efforts, protecting children in meth-affected homes, and increasing appropriations for community-oriented policing, prevention and treatment programs.  Location: Medford Library, 205 South Central, Medford

12:00 - 1:30 PM: Walden will then speak to the Medford Rotary, providing members with an update on congressional activity affecting the region as well as answering questions they may have.  The Medford Rotary has been involved in an ongoing project to take medical supplies to Siberia and also provides scholarships to local high school students.  Location: Rogue Valley Country Club, 2660 Hillcrest Road, Medford

1:45 - 2:45 PM: Walden, co-chair of the bipartisan House Rural Health Care Coalition, will tour the new, expanded portions of the Rogue Valley Medical Center with CEO Roy Vinyard and other hospital leaders.  He will begin his tour at the North Lobby and will include the Cardiac Center, where he will see the latest technologies being employed by Cardiology Chief Dr. Kent Dauterman and Dr. Brian Gross, as well as the hospital's Rambling Rogue Café.  Before being elected to Congress, Walden served on the board for the Hood River Hospital where he learned the intricate details of running a successful community hospital.  Touring the new, state of the art expansion will allow Walden to see firsthand the continued good work being done at the Rogue Valley Medical Center to serve patients in southern Oregon, especially in specialty care areas such as cardiology, neuroscience and orthopedics.  Out of respect for patient confidentiality and HIPPA regulations, this meeting is closed to the press.

3:00 - 3:45 PM: Walden will then join Mayor Gary Wheeler and other local community officials at a reception for the City's Safe Sidewalks Program, which is designed to improve sidewalks within a one-mile radius of elementary schools throughout the area.  Walden secured a $2.8 million investment in the Transportation Equity Act for this project, which will not only improve safety near schools in the area, but will also help encourage children to become more physically active through walking to school rather than relying on automobile transportation.  Location: Corner of Hamilton and Withington Streets (adjacent to Washington Elementary School), Medford

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24

GRANTS PASS

7:00 - 8:00 AM: Walden will begin Wednesday in Grants Pass at a breakfast meeting with Josephine County Commissioners Jim Riddle, Dwight Ellis, and Jim Raffenburg to discuss issues of importance to the County, including the meth epidemic, Elk Creek Dam, the Grants Pass Irrigation District, and the passage of HR 517, legislation authored by Walden to reauthorize the critical "County Payments" program, which provides federal investments to counties containing federal forestlands to offset the drastic decreases in timber sale receipts seen in the 1990s.  These funds help maintain key programs such as transportation infrastructure and education.  Location: Elmer's Restaurant, 175 NE Agness Avenue, Grants Pass

8:30 - 9:30 AM: Similar to the event on Tuesday, August 23 in Medford, Walden will host a follow-up meeting to his February forum on the fight against methamphetamine, bringing together local government officials, law enforcement and community activists to discuss ongoing activities to help find a solution to the meth epidemic.  The Josephine County Drug Court will have individuals who have graduated from their highly successful program and beaten the addiction.  In addition to updating attendees on his work in the Congress, Walden will hear from local agency and government officials who will share insights into local programs that have been successful.    Location: City Council Chambers, 101 NE A Street, Grants Pass

12:00 - 1:30 PM: Walden will then speak to the Grants Pass Rotary at their luncheon meeting about congressional activities affecting the area and will be available to answer questions attendees may have.  This active club is involved in several community service projects including fundraising for the completion of Morrison Centennial Park and the development of the area's new sports and family park.  Location:  Wild River Publik House, 533 NE F Street, Grants Pass

WHITE CITY

2:00 - 2:45 PM: Walden, whose congressional offices in Medford and Washington, D.C. placed first among the Oregon congressional delegation in a competition to collect worn-out athletic shoes for recycling, received a donation of athletic equipment from Nike worth approximately $2,000, which he directed toward the White City Boys and Girls Club.  The Club serves more than 1,000 kids each week in activities to encourage physical and mental activity while also developing life skills and providing youth with a place to spend their spare time.  Walden will present the donation to Dick Hanlin, executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley, and to the staff, volunteers and youth of the White City Club   Following the presentation, Walden will help serve the kids root beer floats and visit with them and their families.  Location: White City Boys and Girls Club, 3275 Avenue G, White City

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25

KLAMATH FALLS

6:45 - 8:00 AM: Similar to the events in Medford and Grants Pass that served as a follow-up meeting to the town hall forum Walden sponsored last February on the fight against meth, Walden will hold a no-host community breakfast meeting to discuss both congressional and local activities aimed at advancing the fight against meth and finding a solution to this terrible problem.  During the breakfast meeting, Walden and other attendees will preview two videos sponsored by Jeld-Wend, "Messed Up: Straight Talk About Meth" and "Danielle's Story: A Commitment to Being There." Location: Oregon Institute of Technology, Crater Lake Room, 3201 Campus Drive, Klamath Falls

8:30 - 9:30 AM: Walden will tour the North Ridge Estates to get a firsthand look at the progress being made by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) toward cleaning up asbestos found at the site.  Walden was instrumental in getting the EPA to temporarily relocate families living in this subdivision during the clean-up process so that they were not exposed to the asbestos, especially during the summer months when children are playing at home more often and the weather is hotter.  Walden will meet with EPA officials as well as families who will share stories of how this has impacted their lives.  Location: Marine Memorial Park, Corner of Old Fort Road and Hunters Ridge Road, Klamath Falls

11:00 - 11:45 AM: Walden will then join Governor Kulongoski and deliver remarks at a celebration in honor of Oregon's Crater Lake quarter now in circulation.  The ceremony will also include the official renaming of Alameda Bypass to Crater Lake Parkway.  The design was up against competition of other notable Oregon landmarks and pieces of the state's history, but Walden credits the hard work of residents throughout Klamath County in putting forth an outstanding effort to have Crater Lake's beautiful landscape chosen as the quarter's final design for all American's to see.  Location: Veterans Park, Klamath Falls

12:00 - 1:30 PM: Walden will speak to the Klamath Falls Rotary about congressional activities affecting the region and will be available to answer questions members may have.  This club has been actively engaged in community service projects benefiting the community, including a new fountain at Lake Ewauna and work with Klamath Cares-Klamath Reads.  Location: Shilo Inn, 2500 Almond Street, Klamath Falls

2:45 - 3:45 PM: Walden will visit Kingsley Field to meet with Colonel Tom Schiess and other senior staff at the base to receive an update on operations and to discuss the future of the base.  Following their meeting, Walden will tour the facility to see its operations firsthand.  Topics of discussion will include facility upgrades, personnel, upgrades to the F-15, potential impacts as a result of the Base Realignment and Closure process, and other initiatives base leadership is working on.  Location: Kingsley Field, 211 Arnold Avenue, Suite 11, Klamath Falls

4:00 - 4:45 PM:  ECS Composites has invited Walden to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony at their new facility and to tour the new building.  Walden played a key role in bringing parties together to discuss options for building the site in Klamath Falls for a project that will employ approximately 200 people in the Basin.  Location: Corner of Arnold and Joe Wright Roads, Klamath Falls

4:45 - 5:15 PM: On his way to Lake County, Walden will stop on Hwy 97 to get a firsthand look at the stretch of road between Modoc Point and Algoma Road, an area with a fatality rate two and a half times Oregon's average due to exposure to rock falls, below standard bridge spans, substandard shoulders and deficient sight distance.  Walden helped secure a $5.1 million federal investment in the continuation of this project in the Transportation Equity Act signed by President Bush earlier this week.  Location: Hwy 97 between Modoc Point and Algoma Road

SYCAN MARSH PRESERVE

8:00 - 9:00 PM: Walden will travel to The Nature Conservancy's Sycan Marsh Preserve in Lake County where he will meet with Conservancy's representatives, including Sycan Marsh Preserve Manager Craig Bienz and Klamath Basin Program Director Mark Stern.  He will attend a briefing and group discussion on The Nature Conservancy's diverse activities in the Klamath Basin and at the Sycan Marsh Preserve and will be updated on the latest policies they are engaged in.  Location: Jim Castles Research Station, Sycan Marsh, Off USFS Road 27

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26

SYCAN MARSH PRESERVE

6:45 - 9:30 AM: Walden will tour the Sycan Marsh preserve to see firsthand the activities and efforts underway by The Natures Conservancy at this site.  During the tour, he will discuss key issues, including cattle grazing, hydrology, forest management, biodiversity, and wildlife needs.  His tour will begin at the Research Station and proceed to Reen Field, Pole Creek and Long Creek, concluding at Yainix Ranch.  Start Location: Jim Castles Research Station, Sycan Marsh, Off USFS Road 2

CHILOQUIN

9:30 AM - 3:00 PM: Following his tour of Sycan Marsh, Walden will tour the Sprague River and get a firsthand look at the River as well as ranching operations and conservation projects in the region.  From Yainix Ranch, Walden will visit the Ridgeway Project, Gold Ranch, the Williamson River Delta and Barkley Spring.  Topics discussed with U.S. Fish and Wildlife representatives as well as those operating each of these sites will include livestock management, riparian restoration, fish habitat and the water system as a whole.  Walden is a member of the House Committee on Resources for which he chairs the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health and is a member of the Subcommittee on Water and Power.  He is also an active member of the Congressional Rural Caucus and the Western Caucus.  Start Location: Yainix Ranch, 28080 Goddawa Springs Road, Chiloquin

Congressman Walden represents the Second District of Oregon, which includes 20 counties in southern, central and eastern Oregon.  He is a Deputy Whip in the House leadership structure and a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce as well as the Committee on Resources.

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