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Head on down to Lehne Farms, LLC for a great night of food and music!

Thank you all for Listening every Morning.

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🤠 FALL CLASSIC RODEO AT SEVEN FEATHERS - ENTER TO WIN TICKETS! Saddle up, folks! The Fall Classic Rodeo at Seven Feathers Casino Resort is thundering into town, and we’re giving away pairs of tickets so you can be part of the action! 📅 Saturday, Sept 19 & Sunday, Sept 20 ⏰ 2:00 PM both days 📍 Rodeo Grounds off Exit 101 on I-5 💵 Just $5 at the gate • Kids 5 & under FREE Feel the dust fly, the crowd roar, and the pure excitement of championship rodeo right here at Seven Feathers. Winners drawn daily from August 31st through September 18th! How to enter:👉 Go to 541radio.com and throw your name in the hat! https://541radio.com/2026/08/20/seven-feathers-fall-classic-rodeo/ Don’t let this one ride off without you. Enter now and get ready for the Fall Classic! 🎟️🐴🌾 #FallClassicRodeo #SevenFeathersRodeo #RodeoGiveaway #EnterToWin

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Who is wanting those Riley Green tickets in the worst way?! Tune in to Moon & Grubes Tuesday, September 1st for your chance to win the final pair of tickets to see Riley Green with Randy Houser, Kashus Culpepper and Hannah McFarland at Cascades Amphitheater.

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As we close out a legendary August here in Douglas County, it’s the perfect time to make sure your ride—and your home—sound as good as a summer sunset. Whether you’re heading out to the lake or hosting the neighborhood BBQ, Good Vibrations Audio Video in Roseburg is your go-to destination to make your favorite music hit a little harder. Every weekday at 5:20 PM on Best Country 103, catch our daily spotlight—powered by the local pros at Good Vibrations Audio and Video! For nearly 30 years, they’ve been the heartbeat of Douglas County’s sound scene. Did you know that the "Nashville Sound"—which polished country music for the masses in the late 50s—was all about high-fidelity recording techniques? Just like those engineers who pushed for better clarity back then, the team at Good Vibrations has been helping Roseburg upgrade its listening experience for three decades. Kenny is shaking things up this week with these "deep cut" country tracks that you won't hear on every station, but are guaranteed to sound massive with a premium system: *Patsy Cline – “Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray” (A haunting, beautiful vocal masterclass that showcases true high-fidelity sound) *Willie Nelson – “Devil in a Sleepin' Bag” (The perfect, gritty B-side rocker for your summer road trips) *Dolly Parton – “The Bridge” (A powerful, somber storytelling track that will test the dynamic range of your speakers) Ready to transform your audio experience? Swing by Good Vibrations at 957 NE Stephens Street and let the experts get you dialed in before the month ends! Who are some of your favorite underrated country artists that we should spotlight next? Drop your recommendations in the comments below! 👇 Let’s finish the month strong, Douglas County! 🎸🔥 #BestCountry103 #GoodVibrationsRoseburg #SummerSound #DouglasCounty #RoseburgOregon #CountryMusic #AudioUpgrade

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Can you believe August is already flying by? 🗓️ As we head toward the end of the month, we’re making sure you don't miss out on the best local summer vibes! ☀️ Whether you’re prepping for your weekend grilling or just looking for the perfect evening out, The Farmstand by Lehne Farms, LLC has you covered. Make your Thursday nights unforgettable! 🎶✨ Join them for their Weekly Thursday Evening Markets! From 5pm–8pm, come stroll through our curated selection of unique producer and artisan vendors. We’ve got live music to set the mood, our signature BBQ firing up, and plenty of fun kids' activities at Lehne Farms, LLC. It’s the perfect way to wind down and support your local community creators. 📅 Every Thursday through September 3rd! Are you ready to win? This morning Moon & Grubes are back with another Mystery Sound featuring the sights, sounds, and flavors of The Farmstand! 🎧 Could it be the sizzling of our BBQ, the rustle of fresh local produce, or something else entirely? Be the first correct caller to win a $50 Gift Certificate to use on all your favorites: homemade baked goods, fresh deli salads, local produce, and more! 📍 Where to find them: The Farmstand by Lehne Farms 532 Melrose Road, Roseburg, OR 97471 Open Wed–Sat, 9am–5pm (Always call ahead to confirm hours!) Don't let the end of July slip by without grabbing some farm-fresh goodness! Who is tuning in to Best Country 103 tomorrow morning? Let us know in the comments if you’re playing along! 👇 🌿🍓 #LehneFarms #TheFarmstand #DouglasCounty #ShopLocal #ThursdayEveningMarket #MoonAndGrubes #BestCountry103 #SummerVibes

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🇺🇸🔥 Keep the summer vibes rolling through the end of July with the Country Gold Rewind! As we head into the final stretch of August, it’s time to crank up the Country Gold Rewind* on Best Country 103! Whether you’re heading out for a final summer road trip or just cruising through our beautiful Umpqua Valley, make sure your ride is ready for every mile. Each week’s Country Gold Rewind is proudly powered by our friends at @Bona Fide Auto Repair LLC in Roseburg! When it comes to expert maintenance and keeping your vehicle in peak condition, they are the trusted team that keeps Douglas County moving all season long. This week, we’re spinning these iconic Country Gold hits: *Alan Jackson – “Summertime Blues” *George Strait – “Check Yes or No” *Kenny Chesney – “She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy” *John Denver – “Take Me Home, Country Roads” Bona Fide Auto is all about making sure your car, truck, or classic ride is running smooth—so you can enjoy the rest of your summer with total peace of mind. Honest service, expert hands, and that local, reliable care you can always count on here in Roseburg. 🛠️ “We keep your engine running as sweet as a steel guitar, so you can cruise with confidence - visit the pros at Bona Fide Auto!” 🛻 Tune in daily, turn it up, and let these timeless classics ride shotgun with you all the way through the end of July! 🎶🇺🇸 #BestCountry103 #CountryGoldRewind #BonaFideAuto #RoseburgOR #DouglasCounty #UmpquaValley #CountryGold #SummerCruising

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🤠 WIN TICKETS TO THE ULTIMATE COUNTRY PARTY! 🎸 Y'all ready for some boot-scootin' fun? Best Country 103 is teaming up with Seven Feathers Casino Resort to give away tickets to see the incredible Country LIVE tribute band hit the stage! Come and enjoy the music of some of your favorite country greats as Country LIVE performs massive hits from Kenny Chesney, Shania Twain, Keith Urban, and Luke Bryan. Get ready to experience the unmatched energy and showmanship of this premier country music experience! SHOW DETAILS: 📅 Doors Open: 7:00 PM 🔞 Age Restriction: Must be 21 or older 📍 Location: Seven Feathers Casino Resort HOW TO WIN: 1. LIKE this post ❤️ 2. TAG your favorite concert buddy in the comments below 👇 3. TUNE IN to Best Country 103 all week long starting Tuesday September 8th to 11th for your cue to call and win! Don't miss out—enter now and get ready for an unforgettable night of live country music. Good luck, y'all! 🍻✨

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Head on down to Good Vibrations Audio Video and find out what deals they can hook you up with!!! Proud Sponsors of Kenny's Country Spotlight.

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🎸 I WISH THAT WAS ME... but instead, it could be YOU! 🍻 We are down to our FINAL PAIR of tickets to see Riley Green on his Cowboy As It Gets Tour 2026 at Cascades Amphitheater on September 17! If you want to catch Riley, Randy Houser, Kashus Culpepper, and Hannah McFarland live, you better get that phone in your hand and listen up! Tune in to Moon & Grubes on Best Country 103 during the morning show, keep your ears open for the cue to call, and dial 541-440-9103! We'll be choosing our lucky winner on Tuesday, September 1st—so don't miss your last shot at a ticket! 🤠🎶 #BestCountry103 #KRSB #RileyGreen #CowboyAsItGetsTour #MoonAndGrubes #CountryMusic

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Cooter Died?

Actor Ben Jones, who played Cooter on The Dukes of Hazzard, passed away recently. Our long-time caller Cooter thought everyone…

Cooter is going thru a Divorce

Our longtime listener Cooter finally calls back after weeks! Turns out, he’s getting a divorce. Listen to hear what he…

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The 60th annual Canyonville Pioneer Days begins Thursday, August 27th in Pioneer Park.

The opening day will include an old-time barbecue starting at 5:15 p.m. The “First Pioneer Days” presentation will begin at 5:45 p.m. A pie auction will take place at 6:30 p.m. followed by music from the Eddy Ross Band from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Activities on Friday the 28th will begin at 10:00 a.m. with the Downstream Drum Team on the Creekside Stage. Kids games and a watermelon contest take place in the afternoon. Live music from Toys begins at 6:00 p.m. The Sweet will perform at 8:00 p.m.

Saturday the 29th has a long list of activities including Pioneer Life Demos in the pavilion, a dog show, a cake walk and live music throughout the day. Main Street – a Bob Seger tribute band takes the stage at 9:30 p.m.

Sunday the 30th Pioneer Days concludes with a horseshoe competition and Christian music from Open Bible Church and The Solid Rock Band. The event concludes at 12;00 p.m.

For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
WINCHESTER — Umpqua Community College’s women’s volleyball team is starting off as competitive as possible before games even start.

“We had our Green and White scrimmage on Wednesday, and I was really pleased with the outcome of that. The girls worked really hard and it was really good competition,” head coach Lauren Tennyson-Dean said. “I think the sky’s the limit for this group. I think it really is the work they put in that will be the official outcome, and these girls are willing to put in the work.”

Tennyson-Dean is preparing for her second year as head coach of the Riverhawks, and hopes to continue building the team culture to encourage good communication and openness. The team opened practices Aug. 1, getting serious on the court after a week of teaching youth clubs. Tennyson-Dean said the team is made up of four sophomores and eight freshman.

“It’s been really great to see the freshman take on some big roles and fill in those spots and do it so naturally,” Tennyson-Dean said. “Our sophomores have done a really good job of paving the way of ‘everybody has a voice’ and ‘everybody has an impact on the court,’ and and it has allowed those freshmen to go into those roles that need to be filled with open arms.”

The Riverhawks opened play Saturday with scrimmages at Lassen Community College and College of the Siskiyous. They’re scheduled to play in a few tournaments in Washington to prepare for the home opener and NWAC play. The Riverhawk’s first home game will be Sept. 16, hosting Pacific University in nonleague game.

For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
It's a bright, cool morning in Roseburg. As rays of sunshine filter through rippling rapids and swaying lavender bushes, pastels graze canvas. A stroke of the wrist creates a bush here, a rock there, a shadow draped over the face of a farm worker. By the end, the work comes together as a snapshot of the surroundings, an impression of Umpqua Valley's nature.

This was how Roseburg artist Patti Hagan spent her morning at Growing Miracles Lavender Garden as she prepared works for the 2026 Umpqua Plein Air. Across the week, artists have explored Douglas County to produce works for an exhibit at Umpqua Valley Arts (UVA).

The exhibit entirely of Douglas County scenery painted "en plain air," an artistic method in which landscapes are created in the environment itself. Subjects could be anything from the streets of Oakland to the North Umpqua River to a backyard garden.

Beyond immersing them in nature, the exhibit also provides friendly competition. It is a juried exhibition, with special awards and accolades set aside for chosen winners.

UVA exhibitions coordinator Ashley Cluver, who is participating in the Umpqua Plein Air herself, said the event is beloved by some artists not just for the chance to highlight the area's beauty, but also for connecting with other artists.

"There's many people in the area who value and treasure it because they value and treasure the Umpqua Valley and Douglas County in general," Cluver said. "It brings artists together and it brings the community together to celebrate our beautiful area."

For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
"It takes a glass to raise a brew." That slogan is the heart behind Umpqua Brewfest, which is returning to Roseburg this Saturday for a day of live entertainment, locally crafted bites and community gathering.

This year marks the 15th year since the 21 and over event started in Roseburg. It will run from 1–7 p.m. on August 22 at 539 SE Main St. at the Umpqua Outback Stage.

As a joint effort between Umpqua Watersheds and the Umpqua Valley Brewers Guild (UVBG), the event aims to highlight the flavors of Oregon's craft brewing scene. For a $15 admission, guests are provided a tasting glass and five tasting tickets to try brews of their choosing.

According to event organizer Kasey Hovik, the festival will offer beers from breweries local to Douglas County and beyond. Among those attending are Two-Shy Brewing, North Forty Beer Company, Lookingglass Brewery, Hope Valley brewing Co., McMenamins, Ninkasi Brewing Company, Claim 52 Brewing and Bandon Rain.

The festival will also feature home-brewed beers crafted by members of the UVBG, including a live home-brewing demonstration which starts at 3 p.m.. For food, UVBG members will cook up German fare including bratwurst, sauerkraut and pretzels.

For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
Last night's Winston City Council meeting saw a turn in the city's usage of Flock Safety Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras when it was announced the city has canceled its contract with the company.

Winston Chief of Police Brandon Sarti broke the news, stepping forth to inform the council that the Winston Police Department canceled its contract with Flock Safety earlier that day.

The contract cancellation is partly a budgetary decision, with the department currently facing $215,000 in budget cuts. According to the council's agenda packet, Winston was operating eight Flock cameras within Douglas County for a cost of approximately $24,000 a year.

Like other ALPR's, the cameras captured and logged images of vehicle license plates, along with the the location, time and date of the vehicle. Sarti said information can be shared between police departments.

In the meeting, Sarti voiced dissatisfaction with the budget cuts, saying they come at a time when the department is short staffed and as a lieutenant is retiring. He said the cuts are among the largest he's seen in his time with the city.

Sarti said the lieutenant's retirement and cancellation of the contract should save the department around $217,000.

"My control component is dealing with operational aspects of the department to give you folks the best quality police service as I can possibly give. That has taken a major hit this time," Sarti said. "All combined, we never had that much in one year."

For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
Crews from the Douglas Forest Protective Association responded to a report of a natural cover fire on Sunday afternoon.

DFPA Public Information Officer Rachael Pope said the fire was located near the Coos Bay Wagon Road and Burnt Mountain Road crossing, approximately 8.3 miles northwest of Tenmile.

Pope said on arrival, firefighters located a large stump fire with slow spread into nearby slash between the gravel road and timberline area along Burnt Mountain Road. Ground crews quickly knocked down the forward spread, completed mop up of the area, and transitioned to patrol status.

Pope said DFPA’s fixed-wing air attack and contracted Type 2 helicopter were utilized to scan the surrounding area for additional fire starts. No additional fires were located.

The fire was contained at 1/100th of an acre. No homes or structures were threatened by the fire.

DFPA was assisted by Lookingglass Rural Fire District and Tenmile Rural Fire District.

For fire season information from the Douglas Forest Protective Association,

For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
This weekend, Umpqua wine country comes alive with Celtic culture and entertainment for the 2026 Douglas County Celtic Society (DCCS) Scottish Highland Games & Clan Gathering.

Held from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday at Melrose Vineyards, it is a traditional Scottish festival centered around the country's music, craftsmanship and traditions, ranging from competitive feats of strength to dancing to musicianship.

Among the biggest highlights to catch across both days is athletic events, with this year's highland games serving as the base of the Scottish Heavy Athletics Championship for Oregon.

According to event organizer Karissa Beals, the championship will feature heavy athletics activities such as weight-for-distance, weight-for-height and the sheaf toss, where competitors pitchfork a stuffed straw bale and hurl it as high as possible.

Beyond the championship, Beals said audience members can register for amateur athletics if they arrive at around 8 a.m. on Saturday.

Live entertainment will also take place across the vineyard grounds, including live music throughout the day. Performing groups include the bagpipe and drum group Eugene Highlanders, among the oldest performing in the Pacific Northwest, and the traditional Celtic ensemble Argyle Shamrocks.

This year will also go beyond Scotland with traditional Irish dance performances from the Eugene-based Blackthorn Academy of Irish Dance.

For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
SUTHERLIN — The Umpqua Community College women’s soccer team set team history last year and are hoping to keep up the trend.

“Last year was a huge milestone for us, we broke a lot of school records and even though we’re still a newer program, it’s still awesome,” head coach Annika Arroyo said.

“We had some single awards, team awards and we made it to the quarterfinals of the NWAC, which is the farthest we’ve gone in team history.”

Arroyo, returning for her fifth year at the helm, said the team, especially the sophomore squad, is ready to use that momentum to make it further this year with goals of playing in the final four.

“We have eight returners and 11 new girls, but some of these new girls are on the older side and have experience from other places,” Arroyo said. “They have really good energy and they have really good spirit, in comparison of all the past years, and I really like that about them, they’re are always positive.”

For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
Umpqua Watersheds is hosting the 15th annual Umpqua Brew Fest on Saturday, August 22nd.

It will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Southeast Main Street in downtown Roseburg, behind Old Soul Pizza. The event celebrates clean water, craft beer and sustainable living in southern Oregon’s Umpqua Valley.

Patrons can taste craft beers from local and other Oregon brewers. Musical performances on the Umpqua Outback Stage include:

*Coleen and Co. from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

*Rovers and Dragons from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and

*TOB – That Other Band, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Admission to the 21 years old and over Brew Fest is $15. Identification is required. Admission includes a tasting glass and five tasting tickets. Non-alcoholic beverages will be available, and designated drivers are encouraged to join in the celebration. 100 percent of the proceeds will go to support the community.

For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
Thrive Umpqua is among the organizations hosting a free back-to-school event for families this Saturday, August 22nd. The second annual Back-to-School Bash will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This year the celebration moves to a brand-new home at Umpqua Community College.

A release from Thrive Umpqua said behind the fun is a shared purpose: helping every student walk into the new year ready to succeed. Research consistently links a strong start to the school year with better attendance and stronger academic outcomes — and small barriers can stand in the way. By clearing those hurdles, building students' confidence, and connecting families to the support and resources they need.

The event will offer free school supplies, raffle prizes including bikes, scooters, laptops, shoe vouchers and gift cards while supplies last. Students can also receive free haircuts. There will be a free lunch catered by Jackson Street Provisions and Smokin’ Fridays, plus cold treats from Umpqua Dairy ice cream and UCC Athletics Shave Ice.

For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
The Roseburg Public Library announced it will host Bee Amazed! presented by the University of Oregon’s Museum of Natural and Cultural History at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 18th.

A city of Roseburg release said youth from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade are invited to catch the buzz and be delighted by the wonderful world of Oregon bees as there are more than 500 kinds. Kids can discover mason bees, cuckoo bees, mining bees, longhorn bees and, of course, honeybees. The event offers hands-on science fun and buzz-worthy activities about bugs and bees while exploring these mighty mini-beasts of nature.

The free program will be held at the library on Northeast Diamond Lake Boulevard, as part of their Summer Reading Program. The event is made possible by a grant from the Douglas County Cultural Coalition and the Oregon Cultural Trust.

For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
Tickets are still on sale for Paws for a Cause, a benefit for Saving Grace Humane Society.

It will take place on Friday, August 28th at 5:00 p.m. at Melrose Vineyards.

This year’s theme is “Wizard of Paws: There’s No Place Like Home” and invites guests to follow the yellow brick road to Melrose Vineyards on Melqua Road. Guests will enjoy delicious foods, local wine and beer, live and silent auctions and stories from Saving Grace staff.

Tickets are $100 per person or $800 for a table of eight.

For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
Covering coastal Douglas County:

A Reedsport woman died and a child was injured in a vehicle versus pedestrian collision on Wednesday afternoon.

A Reedsport Police Department report said just after 4:00 p.m. officers responded to the accident at the intersection of Highway 101 and 19th Street. Upon arrival, officers found multiple citizens rendering aid to the 34-year-old and her two-year-old son who had both been struck by a vehicle.

Despite the efforts of all involved, the woman did not survive her injuries. The child was transported to Lower Umpqua Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries before being reunited with his father.

The incident is still being investigated by Reedsport Police Department with assistance from the Oregon State Police and Coos Bay Police Department. No further information will be released until the investigation is complete.

For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
It's been more than 20 years since Roseburg celebrated its last Obon Festival, an event centered around bringing Japanese traditions and culture to Douglas County. This weekend, that hiatus comes to a close.

12:30–8 p.m. Saturday, the Roseburg Obon Festival is making a comeback at Stewart Park, complete with traditional live music, dancing, craft activities, vendors and more.

What is Obon?

In Japan, Obon is a Buddhist festival dedicated to honoring ancestors. Traditionally held in the summer, it's a time for families to clean gravesites, perform traditional dances and light lanterns to guide ancestral spirits home.

Established in 1997 by the Roseburg Sister Cities (RSC) program, The Roseburg Obon Festival takes the event as a way to educate Douglas County on Japanese culture and traditions. After the passing of RSC founder Harold Winfield in 2000, the event went on hiatus for over 20 years.

For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
Currently, there is no active food pantry in Canyonville, leaving city residents in need of affordable nutrition with little options for local resources. Now, The FISH of Roseburg is taking the first steps towards a solution.

On August 20, the pantry will open its first South county pop-up at the Canyonville City Offices, located at 250 N Main St., from 4–6 p.m. The pantry will then operate at the same time and location every third Thursday of the month.

According to The Fish of Roseburg Executive Director Jenn Reida, it will offer items such as cereal, peanut butter, canned soups and chili, shelf-stable milks and even bread and produce.

Reida said the idea to expand into Canyonville came from a high number of residents requesting DoorDash deliveries past the pantry's range of operation.

Rather than make them come to Roseburg for their food, Reida wanted to bring it to them. From there, Reida said funding support from the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians and the Three Rivers Foundation helped to make that wish a reality.

For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
In just under two years, Phoenix Barraza went from silent to confident.

Alysha Barraza, Phoenix’s mother, says dog training, grooming and showing has helped him come out of his shell. He began by helping his grandmother, Laurie Moore, training and grooming her dogs at only two years old, and has shown a great knack for it.

“Phoenix is four, he’ll be five October of this year then he will be old enough to enter, you know, the full competition,” Barraza said. “But he’s been a pre pee wee ambassador, and had been recognized for that and for trying to bring the younger age into the sport.”

Moore and Phoenix are members in quite a few Oregon-based dog groups, including the Southern Oregon Terrier Club and Portland Miniature Schnauzer Club. The junior level of competition is for children ages 9-12, intermediate for 12-15 and senior is 15-18, according to the American Kennel Club website. The pee wee level is at some shows for ages 5-9, so Phoenix will be able to compete starting in November.

He’s been working the past few years as an ambassador to draw in those youngest ages to the dog shows, hoping to introduce more and more younger folks into the competition. In July 2024 when Phoenix first attended the Coos Kennel Club, he showed in a group of four pre pee wee competitors; in 2025 there were eight and this year there were 15 competitors in the age category.

“It’s really weird because everybody says he has a talent beyond his age, even the handlers’ kids,” Barraza said. “The handlers are shaking their head, going, “Man, he’s more interested in it and more advanced than, you know, a lot of them that are going every single weekend.”

For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
The Roseburg Public Library invites the community to an evening with Mitzi Asai Loftus, author of “From Thorns to Blossoms: A Japanese American Family in War and Peace,” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, September 3rd.

A city of Roseburg release said Mitsuko “Mitzi” Asai was not yet 10 years old in the spring of 1942 when President Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066 sent 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry – about two-thirds of them U.S. citizens – from their homes on the West Coast to inland prison camps. They included Mitzi and most of her family, who operated a fruit orchard in Hood River.

The Asais spent much of World War II in the camps while two of the older sons served in the Pacific in the U.S. Army. Three years later, when the camps began to close, the family returned to Hood River to find an altered community. Shop owners refused to serve neighbors they had known for decades; racism and hostility were open and largely unchecked. Humiliation and shame drove teenaged Mitzi to reject her Japanese heritage, including her birth name. More than a decade later, her life took another turn when a Fulbright grant sent her to teach in Japan, where she reconnected with her roots.

The release said in “From Thorns to Blossoms” Asai Loftus recounts her rich and varied life, from a childhood surrounded by barbed wire and hatred to a successful career as a high school English teacher and college instructor in English as a Second Language.

Copies of “From Thorns to Blossoms,” will be available for $25. The book also is available for checkout in physical format at the library and as a digital book on Libby.

The event is free and will be held in person only at the library on Northeast Diamond Lake Boulevard.

For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
Mop up continues on the Castle Fire, which is now 80 percent contained and remains at 3,613 acres.

426 personnel are working at the fire, which is located 23 miles northeast of Tiller.

The Southern Area Grey Incident Management Team has assumed command of the fire.

Firefighters work to eliminate any heat sources that are encountered. Interior pockets of unburned fuel may produce isolated torching and visible smoke columns. Chipping, rehab work, and hazard tree identification and falling will be conducted. The fire is being managed for full suppression.

An upper-level trough will set up overhead Wednesday into Thursday, setting up increased marine influence from the west. Temperatures will hover right around normal for this time of year. A significant marine push in the morning will bring higher humidity to the area, with greatly increased valley recoveries. Afternoon winds will remain enhanced throughout this time. Light-terrain-driven winds in the overnight and early mornings will give way to breezy upslope/valley winds in the afternoons, with breezy northwest winds over the ridges.

The Umpqua National Forest expanded closure area continues to be in effect. All National Forest System lands, roads and trails are closed to the public within the closure area. This includes several recreation areas.

For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
For 38 summers, the Sutherlin Blackberry Festival has brought out the town's car culture, crafts and competitive spirit. Now, the annual gathering is readying for another year of events.

Festival highlights

The festival runs across the upcoming weekend from Friday morning to Saturday evening. Across those three days, guests will attend a car show, sporting competitions, races, cook-offs, live music performances and more in and around the main gathering point of Central Park.

It's a lot of variety for a single town event, with organizing beginning in January to get everything set in time for the festival. But according to festival chairman Duane Waller, that everything-but-the-kitchen-sink aspect is what makes it special.

"It's not just a car show. It's not just a bunch of craft booths. It's a bunch of stuff," Waller said. "Doing one event like this is a lot of work, but we put all of this stuff together and pull it off on a three day weekend, which is amazing to see."

For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com