Tag: Benton County News Release

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BENTON COUNTY OFFICES DELAY OPENING ON JANUARY 17, 2024, DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER

Benton County officials have announced Benton County offices will delay opening until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, due to inclement weather conditions. The decision is based on the current weather outlook, which indicates the potential for icy roads.

To ensure the safety and well-being of community members and County employees, all Benton County offices will be open to the public at 10 a.m. This delay aims to mitigate risks associated with hazardous road conditions and potential disruptions to essential services.

Visit https://www.weather.gov/ for weather updates. 

For road conditions, visit https://tripcheck.com/ or call 511. 

For more information about county services, please visit Home Page | Benton County Oregon.

Benton County is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate based on disability in admission or access to our programs, services, activities, hiring and employment practices. This document is available in alternative formats and languages upon request. Please contact Cory Grogan at 541-745-4468 or pioinfo@bentoncountyor.gov.

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LAS OFICINAS DEL CONDADO DE BENTON RETRASAN LA APERTURA EL 17 DE ENERO DE 2024 DEBIDO AL MAL TIEMPO

Los funcionarios del Condado de Benton han anunciado que las oficinas del Condado de Benton retrasarán la apertura hasta las 10:00 a.m. el miércoles 17 de enero de 2024 debido al mal tiempo. La decisión se basa en las predicciones del clima en estos momentos, que indican la posibilidad de que las carreteras se congelen.

Para garantizar la seguridad y el bienestar de los miembros de la comunidad y los empleados del condado, todas las oficinas del Condado de Benton estarán abiertas al público a las 10:00 a.m. Este retraso tiene como objetivo disminuir los riesgos asociados con condiciones peligrosas de las carreteras y posibles interrupciones en los servicios esenciales.

Visite https://www.weather.gov/ para obtener actualizaciones sobre el clima.

Para conocer las condiciones de la carretera: https://tripcheck.com/ o llame al 511.

Para obtener más información sobre los servicios del condado, visite la Página general del Condado Benton, Oregon

El Condado de Benton es un empleador que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades y acción afirmativa y no discrimina por motivos de discapacidad en la admisión o el acceso a nuestros programas, servicios, actividades, contratación y prácticas de empleo. Este documento está disponible en formatos e idiomas alternativos a pedido. Comuníquese con Cory Grogan al 541-745-4468 o pioinfo@bentoncountyor.gov.

In response to the ongoing winter weather conditions, Benton County Public Works has initiated 24-hour operations, collaborating closely with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office to address road conditions and related challenges.

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In a standout act last September, Facilities Maintenance Technician Matt Hertel demonstrated an unusual willingness to step up and help when traveling to work when he encountered a rollover accident. Without hesitation, Hertel ensured the safety of everyone involved until emergency crews arrived.

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Benton County’s courthouse is the oldest county courthouse in Oregon still being used for its original purpose. In use since 1889, the building no longer meets court or county needs. Construction of a new courthouse and District Attorney’s office is planned for completion in 2026.

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A new art display “Sew Happy” has recently been installed at the Benton County Fairgrounds and Event Center’s Floral Courtyard. This completed art installation is a collaborative effort between local artist Kathy Jederlinich, the Benton County Cultural Coalition, the Benton County Fair Foundation, Benton County Fair Board and the Benton County Natural Areas and Parks Department (NAPE).

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The Benton County Public Podcast has released Episode 7, a special year-end and holiday edition embracing the spirit of the season. 

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Nov. 29, 2023

View photos of the Pastega Christmas Light Display.

Watch a video of the Pastega Christmas Light Display.

Benton County is bidding a heartfelt farewell to a beloved holiday tradition—the Pastega Christmas Light Display. This enchanting spectacle of twinkling lights and festive joy has been a cherished tradition since 1981.

Tomi Douglas, the Director of Benton County Natural Areas and Parks, took a moment to express gratitude for Ken Pastega and the dedicated volunteers who have tirelessly upheld this tradition. In a gesture of appreciation, Douglas presented Pastega with an honorary key to the fairgrounds, recognizing decades of effort from the Pastega family in making the holidays truly special in Benton County.

“The work that Ken and the team have done to keep this tradition alive throughout the years is amazing, and we know this won’t be the end of holiday traditions in Benton County,” Douglas said.

Douglas highlighted Benton County’s commitment to collaborating with the community to explore fresh ideas for holiday traditions at the Benton County Fairgrounds.

Ken Pastega, alongside Mike Strowbridge and Dana Strowbridge, has been at the helm of the drive-thru light display at the fairgrounds for a decade. At 77, Pastega genuinely expresses gratitude for the community’s support.

Beyond its visual charm, the Pastega Christmas Light Display has been a force for good. Always free for all, the event encourages visitors to donate canned food, resulting in an impressive 70,000 pounds or more of donations to local food pantries over the years.

“The enjoyment is seeing the kids go through and the adults saying I’ve gone through it every year,” said Pastega.

For now, the community still can revel in the magic of the Pastega Christmas Light Display at the Benton County Fairgrounds every night from 5 to 10 p.m. until December 31. It’s a final chance to bask in the warmth of this long-standing holiday tradition. 

“The Pastega Christmas Light Display has been a source of joy for the community, and we look forward to helping ensure new traditions will bring the magic of the season to Benton County for years to come,” Douglas concluded.                                         

Benton County is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to our programs, services, activities, hiring and employment practices. This document is available in alternative formats and languages upon request. Please contact Cory Grogan at 541-745-4468 or pioinfo@bentoncountyor.gov.

Nov. 28, 2023

Today, the Benton County Board of Commissioners announced a temporary pause of Disposal Site Advisory Committee (DSAC) activities after compelling testimony by the Community Development Director warning of significant challenges with the DSAC Board meetings including actions by some board members that block any substantial progress. 

The decision to pause was made by the Board of Commissioners during their regularly scheduled meeting on November 28 so steps can be taken to overhaul the bylaws and the structure of the meetings to be constructive, transparent and inclusive of all Benton County community members.  

The Board said this decision underscores their steadfast commitment to ensuring a productive and safe committee environment, ultimately allowing DSAC to serve the Benton County community effectively.

During testimony, Benton County Community Development Department Director Darren Nichols expressed concerns that the committee has faced major obstacles preventing the Committee from fulfilling its mission which includes bullying, disinformation, threats of violence, and a lack of progress in committee work that has led to the recent resignations of five committee members.

Benton County Administrator Rachel McEneny has acknowledged these events within the committee and emphasized the importance of transparent and productive committees and public meetings. McEneny has conveyed the County’s commitment to addressing these issues during this pause. 

“The serious breakdown in the committee’s ability to communicate effectively necessitates this pause. We recognize the importance of committees and public meetings and will work diligently to ensure the committee can resume and fulfill its intended purpose as quickly as possible,” McEneny said.

During Nichols’ testimony, he also highlighted a growing list of potential partners willing to assist in addressing sustainable materials’ future in Benton County and Oregon. These partners include cities, counties, state agencies, academic and industry representatives, and community leaders committed to collaborative solutions for solid waste challenges. DSAC is tasked with implementing Oregon State law, long-range monitoring of the disposal site, providing a forum for resident comments and concerns, as well as preparing an annual written report.

View the printed testimony or watch the testimony from Nichols and the Board’s response, and forward it to 37 minutes and 8 seconds.

Learn more about the Benton County Disposal Site Advisory Committee (DSAC).

DSAC is required in statute by Oregon law.

Benton County is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to our programs, services, activities, hiring and employment practices. This document is available in alternative formats and languages upon request. Please contact Cory Grogan at 541-745-4468 or pioinfo@bentoncountyor.gov.