October 30, 2026

Good morning Douglas County! Here are today's updates live from the Roseburg Receiver Communications Center.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. - Two Douglas County education programs have been awarded a combined $301,952.75 in state funding to expand career and technical education opportunities for local students.

The Oregon Department of Education and Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries announced Monday, October 26, that $6.4 million in Career and Technical Education (CTE) Revitalization Grants will support programs at schools and educational organizations throughout Oregon.

Among the recipients are Douglas Education Service District, which was awarded $176,964 for a regional culinary and hospitality education initiative, and North Douglas School District, which received $124,988.75 to modernize its welding and fabrication program.

The funding is part of the state's 2025-27 CTE Revitalization Grant Program, which is designed to help students gain practical skills and prepare for careers in industries that need trained workers.

North Douglas Receives Funding for Welding and Fabrication

North Douglas School District was awarded $124,988.75 for its North Douglas Welding and Fabrication Equipment Modernization Project.

The funding will support improvements to the district's welding and fabrication training program, helping students gain experience in skilled trades.

Welding and fabrication skills are used in a variety of industries, including construction, manufacturing and equipment repair. Career and technical education programs give students opportunities to explore those fields while still in high school.

The modernization project is one of several manufacturing and skilled trades initiatives receiving funding across Oregon.

Douglas ESD Awarded Nearly $177,000 for Culinary and Hospitality Education

Douglas Education Service District received $176,964 for the Douglas County Regional Culinary & Hospitality Learning Collaborative.

The project is intended to expand career and technical education opportunities in culinary arts and hospitality through a regional approach.

Culinary and hospitality programs can introduce students to careers in food preparation, restaurant operations, tourism and related industries while helping them build practical workplace skills.

The regional collaborative is among several hospitality and culinary education projects funded in this round of state grants.

Statewide Investment Supports Career Training

The CTE Revitalization Grant Program was established to help schools create or improve programs that connect classroom instruction with hands-on career training.

During Oregon's 2025 legislative session, lawmakers appropriated $7.9 million for the 2025-27 grant cycle. The funding is being directed toward 51 high schools, educational partnerships and education service districts across the state.

Projects receiving awards cover a wide range of career fields, including health care, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, construction, computer science, engineering, hospitality and natural resources.

According to state education officials, the program is intended to improve student engagement, academic success and high school completion while also helping communities develop a skilled local workforce.

The investment is especially relevant to rural communities, where access to specialized training equipment and career education programs can be limited.

For Douglas County, the two awards will support different areas of workforce preparation: modernizing welding and fabrication training in North Douglas and developing regional culinary and hospitality education opportunities through Douglas ESD.

The full list of grant recipients and project awards is available through the Oregon Department of Education's CTE Revitalization Grant Program.

More than one-third of Douglas County voters have returned their ballots for the November 3 general election, according to the latest update from the Douglas County Clerk’s Office.

The county reported receiving 32,513 ballots, bringing participation to 36.36%. That is 1.74 percentage points ahead of the participation rate at the same point in the 2022 gubernatorial general election.

With Election Day approaching, the Clerk’s Office is reminding voters to pay close attention to ballot return deadlines.

Ballots must be deposited at an official drop site or mailed with a valid postmark by 8 p.m. Tuesday, November 3. Mailed ballots must also arrive within Oregon’s seven-day post-election window to be counted.

Voters mailing their ballots close to Election Day should take the return envelope inside a post office and ask a postal clerk to apply a hand-cancellation stamp, also called a manual postmark. The Oregon Secretary of State’s Office is encouraging voters to use official drop boxes now that the October 27 recommended mailing date has passed. A ballot postmarked after Election Day will not be counted.

Douglas County has 17 official ballot drop sites available. Ballots deposited by 8 p.m. on election night will be collected for processing, according to the Clerk’s Office.

The county’s update also reminded voters that they have the right to access official ballot drop boxes and election offices without interference, keep their votes private, and vote without intimidation or threats.

Voters waiting for results will need to wait until polls close. The Clerk’s Office said initial unofficial preliminary results will not be read, published or otherwise made available before 8 p.m. on election night.

Some contests will take longer to resolve. When no candidate has filed for an office and write-in votes are received, the write-in winner will not be determined until final certified county results are published. The Clerk’s Office expects that to occur between November 25 and November 30.

MCMINNVILLE, Ore. - Three people were killed Thursday afternoon, October 29, after two helicopters collided in midair near McMinnville Municipal Airport in Yamhill County.

The Yamhill County Sheriff's Office said witnesses reported the collision at approximately 2:10 p.m. near Southeast Amity-Dayton Highway (Highway 233) and Southeast Cruickshank Road, southeast of McMinnville.

Both helicopters crashed into a field alongside Highway 233. Emergency personnel who arrived at the scene confirmed that all three people aboard the aircraft had died.

Authorities identified two of the victims as 22-year-old Maddie Aasbo, a flight instructor from Texas, and 38-year-old Tyler Delane Sturdevant of Newberg.

Aasbo was aboard a 1995 Robinson R22 helicopter with a student pilot from the United Kingdom. The student's identity has not been released pending notification of family members.

Sturdevant was the sole occupant of a 2018 Airbus AS350B3 helicopter.

Deputies from the Yamhill County Sheriff's Office, officers with the McMinnville Police Department and troopers from Oregon State Police responded to the crash, along with fire and medical personnel.

The collision happened near McMinnville Municipal Airport, and the wreckage came to rest on privately owned farmland.

According to reporting by FOX 12, a witness who was standing on the roof of a nearby barn saw the helicopters collide before they fell to the ground. The witness called 911.

The crash also prompted the closure of Highway 233 west of Dayton and nearby local roads while emergency crews and investigators worked at the scene.

Jerry Trimble Helicopters, a flight training company based at McMinnville Municipal Airport, confirmed that one of its aircraft was involved in the collision.

The company expressed condolences to those affected and said it was cooperating with law enforcement and federal investigators.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating what caused the two aircraft to collide.

The NTSB has sent investigators to the scene. The agency said the wreckage will be documented before being moved to a secure facility for further examination.

As of Friday morning, October 30, investigators had not announced what led to the collision.

The Yamhill County Sheriff's Office extended its condolences to the victims' families and friends.

The investigation remains ongoing.

ROSEBURG, Ore. - Douglas County’s 43rd annual Christmas tree lighting will take place Sunday, Nov. 29, at 6 p.m. on the front lawn of the Douglas County Courthouse.

The free event will mark the first lighting of the county’s Heritage Christmas Tree and courthouse for the holiday season. This year’s program will also recognize the 250th anniversary of American independence, with patriotic music included alongside traditional holiday activities.

The Hucrest Community Choir, directed by Colin Hurowitz, will perform patriotic and Christmas music. The program will include a reading of “Christmas in America,” the tree lighting and a visit from Santa Claus.

Across the street from the courthouse, Roseburg’s First Christian Church and Journey Church will present a live nativity scene.

A hospitality tent sponsored by the Douglas County Board of Commissioners and First Christian Church will offer hot cocoa, coffee and cookies, served by representatives of the Miss Douglas County Scholarship Program.

The annual ceremony is organized through a partnership between the county commissioners, the City of Roseburg and First Christian Church. Local public safety agencies, county departments, Hucrest Elementary School and other community partners also help support the event.

For those unable to attend, the county will livestream the ceremony on the Douglas County Government Facebook page, beginning at 5:50 p.m.

The tree and courthouse lights will remain on display throughout the holiday season.

County officials also encouraged visitors to spend time in downtown Roseburg, where storefronts and Christmas light displays will accompany the season’s shopping and dining. The county recognized Zachary Weiss and the volunteers who organize downtown’s Christmas light display.

Avista’s Oregon natural gas customers will see higher bills beginning Oct. 31 after the Oregon Public Utility Commission approved the utility’s annual purchased gas adjustment and related rate changes.

A typical residential customer using 45 therms of natural gas per month will pay approximately $5.83 more each month, an increase of about 8.5%. Individual bill changes will depend on customer type and how much gas they use.

The annual purchased gas adjustment accounts for the wholesale cost of natural gas Avista buys for its customers. It includes an estimate of gas costs for the coming year and reconciles the previous year’s projections with actual costs. Those gas purchase costs are passed through to customers without a markup.

According to the commission, this year’s changes include accounting adjustments and the expiration of certain prior-year gas cost adjustments. Updates to the public purpose charge and other rate adjustments also take effect at the same time.

The overall change also includes adjustments to offset lower customer use during last year’s unusually warm winter.

Commission Chair Letha Tawney said the annual review is intended to keep rates aligned with the cost of providing service. She said the commission remains focused on transparency and protecting customers from unnecessary rate impacts.

Customers seeking help with their bills can call Avista at 800-227-9187 or review the utility’s Oregon assistance programs. Local Community Action agencies may also be able to help customers find support.

Energy-saving tips and information about rebates are available through the Energy Trust of Oregon.

Avista serves approximately 106,500 natural gas customers in southwest and northeast Oregon.

ROSEBURG, Ore. - Roseburg residents can expect a cool and mostly quiet weekend, with a chance of light rain Friday and Saturday before sunshine returns Sunday. The National Weather Service in Medford says temperatures will remain near or slightly below normal through the weekend, with drier conditions expected heading into next week.

Friday, October 30, will bring partly sunny skies and a high near 59 degrees in Roseburg. There is a slight chance of rain between noon and 1 p.m., with a 20 percent chance of precipitation. Winds will be light, becoming south southwest around 6 mph during the afternoon.

Friday night will be partly cloudy, with temperatures dropping to around 39 degrees.

Halloween Forecast

Saturday, October 31, is expected to be mostly cloudy in Roseburg, with a high near 57 degrees and calm winds.

For families planning to head out for Halloween festivities, the local forecast is relatively favorable, although a few light showers cannot be ruled out.

The National Weather Service says a low-pressure system moving across the region could produce scattered showers Saturday afternoon and evening. While rain is expected to be more widespread across southwestern Oregon, rainfall amounts should generally remain light.

Roseburg's detailed forecast currently shows a 20 percent chance of rain Saturday evening before 11 p.m.

Temperatures will fall to around 35 degrees Saturday night, with patchy fog possible after 4 a.m. Those heading out for trick-or-treating or other outdoor activities should plan for chilly conditions, particularly as the evening progresses.

Sunshine Returns Sunday

Conditions are expected to improve Sunday, November 1, as the weather system moves east and high pressure begins building over the region.

Roseburg could see patchy fog before 10 a.m. and patchy frost before 9 a.m., followed by mostly sunny skies and a high near 60 degrees.

Sunday night will be partly cloudy, with a low around 37 degrees.

The potential for frost early Sunday is worth keeping in mind for residents with sensitive outdoor plants.

Looking Ahead to Next Week

The National Weather Service expects generally dry weather across southwestern Oregon from Sunday through approximately Wednesday.

Temperatures should gradually warm during the first half of the week, potentially reaching near or slightly above seasonal averages by Wednesday.

Another change in the weather pattern could arrive during the middle or latter part of next week. Forecasters are watching a developing system that may bring additional precipitation to southwestern Oregon, although the timing and rainfall amounts remain uncertain.

For higher elevations, snow levels are expected to remain between approximately 4,500 and 5,500 feet during the weekend's showers. Light snow accumulation is possible in the mountains, but forecasters do not expect significant snowfall for most locations.

Overall, the forecast points to a fairly typical late-October weekend in Roseburg, with cool mornings, occasional clouds and a chance of passing showers before a stretch of drier weather begins.

For additional forecast updates, visit the National Weather Service forecast for Roseburg.

Limited Time Events

• Fall Festival & Pumpkin Patch @ The Farmstand by Lehne Farms | September 26 - October 31 | Saturdays in October | Link
• Epic Expressions Photography - Free Halloween Photos @ Epic Quest Adventures, Sutherlin | Through October 31 | By reservation | Free, donations welcome | Link
• Grimm Times at Fairview Manor @ Douglas County Fairgrounds, Roseburg | October 29, 30, 31 | 7 - 10 pm | $15 ages 13+, $10 ages 12 and under | Link
• Terror on Central Haunted House @ 109 E. Central Ave., Sutherlin | October 30 - 31 | 5 - 10 pm | $5, children under 8 free | Link

Monday, October 26th

• DJ Trivia Night @ Workman's Bar & Smokehouse | 7 pm
• Open Mic Night @ Little Brothers Pub | 6 - 8 pm
• Celebrate Recovery | Westside Christian Church | Dinner at 5:30, Large group at 6:30.
• Monday Night Auxiliary Bingo | Winston VFW | 4:30 pm | must have papers by 5:30, $17 for all games.

Tuesday, October 27th

• Bingo @ Roseburg Elks Lodge #326 | 6:30 pm
• DJ Bingo @ Workman's Bar and Smokehouse | 6 pm
• DJ Trivia @ Urban NY Pizza & Grill | 7 pm
• Free Line Dancing Lessons - Elements Lounge @ Seven Feathers Casino Resort | Every week on Tuesday | 7 - 9 pm | Link
• Open Mic Night @ Kodiak Bar & Grill | Every week on Tuesday @ 6 - 8 pm
• Tuesdays! Free Line Dancing Lessons at Elements Lounge in Seven Feathers Casino Resort | 7 - 9 pm | Link
• Celebrate Recovery | Winston Assembly of God | Dinner at 5:30, Large group at 6:30.
• Live Music: CorMae, CallowRuse, Mammalodon @ The Rosebud Theatre | 6 -10 pm | Link

Wednesday, October 28th

• DJ Trivia @ Backside Brewing Co. | 6 - 7:30 pm
• Karaoke/Open Mic Night @ Idle Hour Tavern | 9 pm - 12:30 am
• Open Mic at Brix | Every Wednesday | 6 - 8 pm
• Trivia Night @​ Lookingglass Brewery | 6 - 9 pm
• Trivia Night @​ Little Brothers Pub | 6 pm
• Bingo @ Roseburg Senior Center | (Every Wed and Fri) - Doors Open at 5 pm, starts at 6:30 pm. Food available. Ages 7+.
• Celebrate Recovery | Redeemers (Old movie theater) | Dinner at 5:30, Large group at 6:30.
• Wednesday Night Karaoke with Mr. Michael | Winston VFW | 5 - 9 pm| 21+
• Canyonville Farmer's Market | Wednesdays from 9:30 am - 1:30 pm at Seven Feathers Casino Parking Lot | May - October
• Halloween Trunk-or-Treat @ Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2001 Bertha Ave., Roseburg | 6:30 - 7:30 pm | Trunk decorating begins at 6 pm
• Downtown Roseburg Clean-Up | 5 - 6 pm | Link
• Live Music: Bob Hall @ Two Shy Brewing | 6 - 8 pm | Link
• T. Bone Stone's Old School Blues Jam @ The Rosebud Theatre | 6 pm | Link
• Wicked Wednesday feat. Chandler P @ Workman's Bar & Smokehouse | 6 pm | Link

Thursday, October 29th

• DJ Trivia @ North Forty Beer Company | 7 - 8:30 pm
• Karaoke Night @ Workman's Bar and Smokehouse | 9 pm - 12 am
• Karaoke Night at Kodiak | Every Thursday and Saturday | 8 pm
• DJ Bingo @ Brix Bar & Grill | 7 - 9 pm
• Thirsty Thursday Cornhole Night @ Lookingglass Brewery | Every week on Thursday | 6 - 8 pm | Link
• Al-Anon Meeting in Oakland (Weekly) | Oakland Ice House - 212 Lucust St | 2 - 3 PM
• Grimm Times at Fairview Manor @ Douglas County Fairgrounds, Roseburg | 7 - 10 pm | Family Night Special: $45 for two adults and three youths | Link
• Local on Vendor Night @ Cooper Ridge Vineyard | 4 - 6 pm | Link

Friday, October 30th

• Friday Pizzas! @ Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards | 12 - 4 pm
• Karaoke Night @ Winchester Pub & Grill | 8 - 11 pm
• Kick Up the Dust - Line Dancing Lessons @ Workman's Bar & Smokehouse | 7 - 8 pm
• Bingo @ Roseburg Senior Center | (Every Wed and Fri) - Doors Open at 5 pm, starts at 6:30 pm. Food available. Ages 7+.
• Karaoke Night at Kodiak | Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday | 8 pm
• Friday Night Live Music | Winston VFW
• The Ghosts of Roseburg Past: Historic Walking Tours | October 16, 17, 23, 24, & 30th | 7 pm | Link
• Terror on Central Haunted House @ 109 E. Central Ave., Sutherlin | 5 - 10 pm | $5 admission, children under 8 free | Link
• Winston VFW Halloween Party @ VFW Post 9745, 570 W. Douglas Blvd., Winston | 6 - 10 pm | Live music from StickShift with Steve Scott, costume contest | $10 cover, cash only | 21+
• The Ghosts of Roseburg Past: Historic Walking Tours | 7 pm | Link
• Grimm Times at Fairview Manor @ Douglas County Fairgrounds, Roseburg | 7 - 10 pm | $15 ages 13+, $10 ages 12 and under | Link
• Beauty and the Beasts Halloween Burlesque Show @ Workman's Bar & Smokehouse, Roseburg | Doors 7 pm, show 8 pm | $25 presale, $30 at door | 21+ | Link
• FIFTH FRIDAY: Taste of the Umpqua - Downtown Roseburg | 5 - 8 pm | Link
• Live Music: Rovers & Dragons Celtic Band @ North Forty Beer Company | 6:30 - 9 pm | Link
• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow | Drain Civic Center | 6:30 pm | Dinner, Talent Show, Cartoon movie screening, Fire Dancers. | Link
• Live Music: Eliot Lipp w/ Special Guest Baloogz @​ The Rosebud Theatre | 6 pm
• RMEF Wines & Tines Ladies Night Out @​ Melrose Vineyards | 6 - 8:30 pm

Saturday, October 31st

• Umpqua Valley Farmers Market | 9 am - 1 pm | SE Jackson St | Link
• Roseburg Saturday Farmers Market | 2525 W Harvard Ave | 9 am - 2:30 pm | Link
• Karaoke Night @​ Brix Bar & Grill | (Every Saturday) @ 7 - 10 pm
• Karaoke Night @ Lookingglass Brewery | 6 - 8 pm | Link
• Karaoke Night at Kodiak | Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday | 8 pm
• Saturday Night Karaoke with DJ Dan | Winston VFW | 5 - 9 pm | 21+
• The Ghosts of Roseburg Past: Historic Walking Tours | October 16, 17, 23, 24, & 30th | 7 pm | Link
• Grimm Times at Fairview Manor @ Douglas County Fairgrounds | October 23, 24, 29, 30, 31 | 7 - 10 pm | Link
• Thrive Umpqua Community 5K Fun Run/Walk @ Ford's Pond, Sutherlin | Registration 9 - 9:45 am, run begins 10 am | Free registration, costumes encouraged | Link
• Canyonville Community Library Halloween Storytime @ Canyonville Community Library | 11:30 am | Halloween stories and take-home craft
• Roseburg Saturday Farmers Market Annual Trunk-or-Treat @ Tiffany Plaza, 2525 W. Harvard Ave., Roseburg | 12 - 3 pm | Free | Decorated trunks, candy, witches dance, food trucks
• Flashbak Rock & Roll @ Melrose Vineyards, 885 Melqua Road, Roseburg | 2 - 5 pm | Live music, costumes encouraged
• Epic Trick-or-Treat @ B's Sweet Treats, 1350 NE Stephens St., Roseburg | 3 - 6 pm | Free cupcakes and mini pizzas for children
• Leap of Faith Dance Center Trunk-or-Treat @ 1035 SE Lane Ave., Roseburg | 3 - 6 pm | Halloween treats and games | Link
• Dynamic Martial Arts Trunk-or-Treat @ 1223 NE Cedar St., Roseburg | 4:30 - 6 pm | Decorated vehicles, candy, costumes encouraged
• Roseburg Neewollah Parade & Downtown Trick-or-Treating @ SE Jackson St. and SE Douglas Ave., Roseburg | Lineup 4:30 pm, parade 5 pm, downtown trick-or-treating 5 - 7 pm | Free
• Roseburg Senior Center Halloween Trunk-or-Treat @ 1614 SE Stephens St., Roseburg | 5 - 8 pm | Donations accepted | Trunk setup 3 - 5 pm
• Sutherlin Downtown Trunk-or-Treat @ Central Avenue, Sutherlin | 5 - 7 pm | Free | Candy, food trucks, photo opportunities | Link
• Bulldog Barns Third Annual Halloween Treat and Greet @ 1751 S. Calapooia St., Sutherlin | 5 - 8 pm | Haunted maze, candy, popcorn, cotton candy, photo booth
• Terror on Central Haunted House @ 109 E. Central Ave., Sutherlin | 5 - 10 pm | $5 admission, children under 8 free | Link
• Pine Grove Community Church Fall Festival @ 1729 Buckhorn Road, Roseburg | 6 - 8 pm | Games, prizes, food, candy, cake walks
• River of Life World Outreach Center Harvest Party @ 8384 Old Highway 99 N, Roseburg | 6 - 7 pm | Free | Games, prizes, candy, family activities
• Shafty: Portland's Tribute to Phish @ The Rosebud Theatre, Roseburg | Doors 6 pm, show 7 pm | $20 presale, $25 at door | Link
• Grimm Times at Fairview Manor @ Douglas County Fairgrounds, Roseburg | 7 - 10 pm | $15 ages 13+, $10 ages 12 and under | Link
• The Blade Axe House & Tia's Street Tacos Halloween Party @ The Blade Axe House, Roseburg | 7 - 10 pm | $20 per person | Ages 10+ | Costume contest, axe throwing, darts
• 80's 90's y2k to now HALLOWEEN BASH @ Backside Brewing Co. | 8 pm | Link
• Halloween Party & Costume Contest @ North Forty Beer Company | 8 - 11 pm | Link
• Steampunk Halloween Bash w/ Soul Shock @ Workman's Bar & Smokehouse | 9 pm | Link
• Richwine Vinyards Halloween | 15330 Old Highway 99s, Myrtle Creek | Link
• Trunk or Treat Canyonville
• BOO-BASH @​ Lookingglass Brewery | 6 - 10 pm
• Live Music: Strange Brew @​ Two Shy Brewing | 6:30 - 8:30 pm
• Halloween Party @​ Draper Draft House | 5 pm - close

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That is the scoop for this Friday morning. Have a great day and a wonderful weekend!

- The Roseburg Receiver Team