Just under 3% of ballots have come in for the 2026 Douglas County November general election as of Tuesday, Oct. 20.County Clerk Daniel Loomis said that is 2,582 ballots that have been received. Loomis said this is 1.68 percentage points below the participation rate at the same point in the 2022 local November general election.For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined in Douglas County over the year, from 6.5% in September 2025 to 5.9% in the most recent estimates.A State of Oregon Employment Department release said the county’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment declined by 400 over the year to September.Regional Economist Henry Fields said industry growth over the year maintained the pattern that has been relatively consistent for the last several years. Private education and health services added 230 jobs, or 3%, making up the largest portion of job growth. Fields said other sectors to add jobs included wholesale trade, which gained 60 jobs or 7%, and financial activities, which gained 20 jobs or 2%.OED said losses were estimated in other sectors, including manufacturing, which lost 200 jobs or 5%, construction which lost 100 jobs or 6%, retail where 160 jobs or 3% were lost, and government, which dropped 80 jobs or 1%.For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
Starting in 2027, Oregon Health Plan rates for the state's 15 coordinated care organizations (CCO) are expected to receive an increase, boosting available resources for healthcare managementCCOs are regional, integrated healthcare organizations which work with providers and hospitals to provide Medicaid benefits. In Douglas County, residents covered by Oregon Health Plan are served by CCOs like the Umpqua Health Alliance or AllCare CCO.According to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), its payments to Oregon's CCOs could see an average increase of 6.1% to capitation rates, or per-member-per-month payments, for coordinating healthcare services for patients under Medicaid in 2027. This amounts to an average rate of $627.68 per-member-per-month.Those averages do not take into account the state's one-time, $25 million maternity care investment announced in January. With maternity payments included, those rates could increase to an average 5.6% per-member-per-month.For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
The Roseburg High School girls soccer team inched even closer to the Southern Oregon Conference Hybrid title with a 3-0 win over South Medford on Tuesday in Finlay Field in Roseburg."We played really good," Roseburg senior Molly Smith said. "We got three goals in the first half, so really good, and we had really good energy throughout the game, and I thought we connected really well. We've been struggling with scoring the past few games, but I mean, we got three goals in the first half."North Medford (6-3-4, 6-2-2) lost 2-0 to Grants Pass (7-4-2, 6-2-2) on Tuesday. A win on Thursday against North Medford would earn the Tribe at least a share of the league title. Grants Pass is gunning for the other half of the title and will face a showdown with South Medford (3-8-2, 2-6-2) on Thursday to end the season.For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
On Friday night, the Thundering Water board of directors honored Shelley Briggs-Loosely as the Douglas County Upstream Hero of the Year during their annual recognition dinner for staff, volunteers, and local community leaders.Thundering Water Vice President Dr. Cordell Smith said Briggs-Loosely was selected for her many decades of community service, courageous leadership, and unwavering commitment to chronic disease prevention. Dr. Smith said Briggs-Loosely has been the driving force in a multitude of local capital campaigns and fundraising efforts including the new Umpqua Community College track and field complex, YMCA upgrades and many more.For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
Fall at Alder Creek Community Forest will take place Saturday, October 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.Information on forest health, fuels reduction, and fire resilience will be shared. Free family activities will include guided trail walks with wildland fire trainees. Kids can make and take a pinecone/peanut butter/bird feeder and decorate and personalize a wood cookie. There will be Smokey Bear swag from the Douglas Forest Protective Association as well.For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
Just over 2% of ballots have been returned in the 2026 Douglas County November General Election, as of Monday evening.County Clerk Daniel Loomis said that is 1,900 ballots, which is 0.77% ahead of the participation rate for the same point in the 2022 November General Election.Loomis said the number of voters in the county has increased by 2.25%, or 1,973 people, since the previous General Election.Ballots must be cast no later than 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3rd. Voters can use either the U.S. Postal Service or any official ballot drop site to cast their ballot. There are 15 official ballot drop sites in Douglas County, including 8 drive-up locations.For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
Although some counties in Oregon have officially ended fire season, restrictions remain in effect on lands protected by the Douglas Forest Protective Association.DFPA Public Information Officer Rachael Pope said fire season decisions are based on local weather, fire danger, and fuel conditions, which can vary significantly across the state.Pope said while temperatures are beginning to lower, several weeks of above normal temperatures have contributed to drying vegetation throughout the Douglas District. Substantial rainfall is needed to increase moisture levels in larger fuels, including trees and other woody vegetation, and reduce fire danger in higher elevation areas where fuels may remain dry. DFPA continues to monitor local conditions to determine when fire season can safely end.For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
Roseburg Police charged three men following an alleged shooting incident on Friday night.An RPD report said shortly before 8:00 p.m. officers were dispatched after a drive-by shooting was called in, in the parking lot of Bi Mart in the 1300 block of Northwest Garden Valley Boulevard. Upon arrival, the suspect’s vehicle and the individual they had shot at had both left the scene. Officers contacted the victim and learned her vehicle had been struck by a bullet while she was inside it. The victim was not harmed.Officers later gained more information regarding the suspects and their vehicle and learned they were in Sutherlin. Officers located the vehicle and initiated a high-risk traffic stop. They detained 19-year-old Bradley Tiry of Sutherlin, 19-year-old Damian Sims, of Winston, and 18-year-old Trever Habblett, of Sutherlin. All three reportedly admitted to being involved in the shooting. Officers later discovered the firearm used was stolen after it was recovered from the vehicle.For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
As sexual violence affects both men and women in the U.S. and Oregon, Roseburg receives a chance to raise awareness, support survivors and bring them a sense of security with 2026 Take Back the Night.The free event is organized by Peace at Home Advocacy Center, who served 121 victims in sexual assault response services in 2025. Held in downtown Roseburg, it is the second annual walk hosted by the organization, with last year's walk netting over 100 registered participants.The walk starts at 5:30 p.m. Thursday on the lawn of the Douglas County Courthouse, where organizers and community members will have opportunity to speak on sexual violence.At 6 p.m., a crowd will walk through downtown Roseburg, as a symbolic gesture for victims to take back power and shed fears of walking at night. This year's walk will carry forth a neon theme from last year, with guests welcomed to dress in bright clothing and don glowsticks.For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
The closure of a section of West Goedeck Avenue in Roseburg has been extended through 5:00 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, while crews continue sanitary sewer work serving the wastewater treatment plant, operated by the Roseburg Urban Sanitary Authority.A city release said the road was originally expected to reopen at 5:00 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19. The closure affects West Goedeck Avenue east of Old Melrose Road toward Lookingglass Road.Motorists should continue using alternate routes, allow additional travel time, follow posted traffic-control signs and drive cautiously near crews and equipment.For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
Christmas tree permits are free this year on the Umpqua National Forest.A release from the UNF said visitors can print the free Christmas tree cutting guidelines and district map from the forest’s website. The guidelines and maps identify designated cutting areas and provide important information about where and how to cut a Christmas tree.There is a limit of four personal Christmas trees per household, per season, and trees cannot be resold. Christmas trees can be cut from now until December 31, 2026.Before heading out, visitors should review the guidelines and maps carefully to ensure they are cutting in an approved area and following all forest requirements.For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
CAMAS VALLEY — A Friday 52-32 win over Camas Valley for the North Douglas High School football team propelled the Warriors into the first place spot in the Special District 2.The Warriors are 7-1, 4-0 in the SD2.For the Hornets (5-2, 1-2), Kaden Williams ran a kickoff return for a touchdown once and caught nine other receptions for 135 yards. Tanner Cummings led with 11 tackles. Matt DeRoss added seven tackles and a sack while Levi Cranston had 8 tackles.
Camas Valley's Luke Baker (6) throws the ball during a Special District 2 game against North Douglas on Friday in Camas Valley.Camas Valley's Luke Baker (6) throws the ball during a Special District 2 game against North Douglas on Friday in Camas Valley.
Photo courtesy of Gunner HemphillTannon Wolfe carried the ball nine times for 79 yards and two touchdowns.The Hornets will visit Mohawk on Friday. North Douglas will play Oct. 30 at Perrydale after receiving the forfeit for this Friday from Reedsport.For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
Douglas County earns national award for financial reporting AM Oct 19 PSDouglas County Commissioners Tom Kress, Chris Boice, and Tim Freeman announced that Douglas County has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada.A county release said according to GFOA, the Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. The award recognizes Douglas County’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and marks an extraordinary 38 consecutive years that Douglas County’s Management and Finance Department has earned this national recognition.For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com
GLIDE — The Glide High School football team kept a clean record for the season with a 28-22 narrow victory over Myrtle Point in a Special District 4 game."It was a fight. It was a dog fight. We knew it going into the game, but we didn't give up," Glide junior Leo Niedermaier said. "We showed some heart and passion. Everyone in here is willing to do everything we need to do to win football games."The Wildcats are undefeated this season, sitting at 7-0 overall and 3-0 in the Special District 4."It was not pretty tonight, but we played the full game, all four quarters. We didn't stop until the very last second," head coach Zackaryiah Mandera said. "It shows that our team's got a little bit of a little bit of, 'hey, you know, we're gonna line up and we're gonna beat you.' They got the mentality to do that. They finally showed that. We're super proud of them, but we got a big game next week."For More Information Please Visit www.nrtoday.com