Good morning, Corvallis.

Benton County’s Developmental Disabilities program will mark 55 years on Tuesday, Aug.

25 with a free community event at the Corvallis Community Center from 4 to 6 p.m. The celebration comes as director Jasper Smith retires on Aug. 31 and Laura Lonski takes over on Sept. 17.

Local journalists met at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library on Aug.

19 to talk about the loss of support for local news. Former editor Penny Rosenberg and other panelists said that with fewer reporters, community stories and coverage are at risk — urging readers to support their news outlets.

At a Thursday school board meeting, Philomath High coach Levi Webber secured $7,500 for turf improvements on baseball and softball fields to address Title IX concerns; OSU archives revealed the naming origins of local towns and a Philomath grad won two photo awards abroad.

Visitors can admire a 70-ft blue whale skeleton on display at OSU’s Hatfield Marine Science Center after years of careful restoration following its stranding.

The exhibit also features a postcard art installation by local artists—inviting reflections on nature and community.

AAA data (as of Aug. 21) shows gas prices in Oregon edged upward to an average $4.77, with Corvallis at $4.66 and diesel averaging $5.64 across the state.

Philomath School District closed freshman and sophomore interdistrict transfer registrations Wednesday and Thursday at Philomath High due to an enrollment surge.

The district will conduct spot checks — confirming student addresses — while reviewing kindergarten staffing at Clemens Primary.

On Thursday night, the Philomath School Board previewed a new color-coded quick-reference safety guide for schools that shows six response types.

Superintendent Susan Halliday said classroom wall displays and staff training will begin next week, and the guide will be updated based on community input & board feedback.

Benton County and Corvallis leaders will meet Tuesday, Aug.

25 to review cuts in federal funding that may drop emergency shelter beds from 157 to as few as 48 by March. County staff ask for new funding — a step meant to support shelter operations and local crisis services.

Brooke Davis, a hobby farmer near Dunn Research Forest, received a Benton County grant that funded a 200 sqft poultry coop protecting her chickens and ducks from predators.

The Agricultural and Wildlife Protection Program will accept applications from Oct. 1 to Nov. 30 to help farms use nonlethal methods.