The small town of Halfway, Oregon, located two miles off Oregon Highway 86 in eastern Baker County is a shining example of people working together. Situated in remote Pine Valley with the majestic Wallowa Mountains looming above them, community members regularly pitch in to help those that may be less fortunate. One example of this is Dtour's Reach-Out program, consisting of local youths that work to support the elderly and other community members in need.

"Dtour's Reach-Out youth program helps the elderly and disadvantaged with things they can't do - painting, raking leaves, getting and chopping wood," said program leader Luke Hearne.

ODOT's Richland maintenance crew who covers the Halfway area knew about the program and figured they could help. About 30 dead or dying ponderosa pine hazard trees had recently been cut down along the side of Oregon 86 due to the 2006 Foster Gulch Fire.

"We've watched those trees since the fire," said ODOT Baker and Richland Maintenance Manager Brad Payton. "Sadly, some have not recovered and they have become a hazard along the highway."

Payton said donating the trees to the non-profit youth group was a good fit. The timber value was below the $5,000 level that would have triggered the need for a more formal bidding process to sell the logs.

"This will be a good use for trees," Payton said. "The D'Tour program does a lot of good work for the community."

Hearne was thrilled to receive the donation that is currently waiting to be picked up and chopped into fire wood for numerous local residents who otherwise might have been facing a much colder winter season.

"Now, when we hear about people who need wood, we've got a wood pile to help them," Hearne said. "We would like to thank Brad Payton and ODOT very much for making these logs available to us."

Members of the Richland Maintenance crew who worked on the project include Perry Jacobs, Criss Bell, Dave Kingsbury and Paul Tarter.

Watch out for temporary traffic signals in construction work zones on U.S. 395, U.S. 26 and Oregon 19.

June 9, 2009 - To increase traffic flow and decrease driver wait times, a contractor of the Oregon Department of Transportation is using closed-loop signals to control alternating one-way traffic at bridge construction sites along U.S. 395, Highway 19 and U.S. 26.

June 3, 2009 - The Oregon Department of Transportation's contractor High Desert Aggregate of Bend, Oregon, will begin paving work next week along the Umatilla-Mission Highway (Oregon Highway 331) between the Wildhorse Casino entrance and Interstate 84 at Exit 216.

Oregon Department of Transportation contractors have completed pavement chip seal work along a 17-mile section of the Heppner Highway, Oregon Highway 74, between mile points 66 and 83. They are now working on U.S. 395 south of Pendleton between mile points 28-B and 36-B. Central Oregon Pavers out of Bend, Oregon, is constructing the project that will include chip sealing two additional sections of U.S. 395 between Battle Mountain and Fox. Motorists can expect loose rock on the roadway and up to 20-mintue delays during day and nighttime hours. Flaggers and pilot cars will direct traffic through the construction zones. Motorists are reminded to slow down, be mindful of loose gravel on the highway and drive with extra caution through the area. Depending on weather conditions, the project is expected to be completed by the end of June.

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