About Curry County, OR

The annual migration is underway. Trained volunteers will be on duty at Port Orford's Battle Rock Park from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. from Dec 26 through Dec 31 to help visitors see these magnificent whales and provide information about their migration. There have been many more sitings this years than in the years recently past and it is just as exciting as ever.

For more information about Oregon State Parks Whale Watch Spoken here program visit their site.

It was a beautiful day in Port Orford, clear skies, a brisk chill in the air, and a silent surf as the sun directly shown on the Tropic of Capricorn and cast a silvery light on the waters near Battle Rock

It was another beautiful winter day at the top of the banana belt on the southern Oregon coast.

Here is Cinnamon our cocker spaniel/poodle mix. She is 12 yrs old now.

This gentle loving fur-person was rescued from a high-kill shelter in Sacramento, CA eight years ago. She loves everyone and she is loved by everyone who meets her. It is impossible to count the number of smiles that she has brought to the faces of adults and children that see her and meet her. She rides shotgun in my truck, stands on the seat, crouches over the window rail, and places her head between the door/window frame and the passenger side mirror. When she runs to greet someone all you can see is her ears, fu manchu, paws, and tail flying in all directions at once. Cinnamon has brought a heart full of joy to our lives and we give our thanks and gratitude to members and affiliates of the Best Friends Animal Society.

Members of our Curry County Animal shelter, Gerda Ramer and Catherine Powers, just returned from a conference in Utah sponsored by Best Friends Utah on ‘No More Homeless Pets.’

They reported that the founder of Best Friends, Gregory Castle, gave a speech during the closing ceremony in which he expressed his belief that in the year 2014 we will be a no kill nation.

Thanks to the dedication and tireless efforts of members of the Best Friends Animal Society, http://www.bestfriends.org/, and other like-minded groups and individuals the number of dogs and cats killed at shelters across the United States has been reduced from 25 million in 1975 to 2.5 million in 2010.

In just a few short years with our support, their hard work, and the success of spay and neuter as well as their placement programs dogs and cats will be safe, warm, and happy in the shelters and ultimately in their forever homes.

Please help them to help the homeless dogs and cats by volunteering and/or donating at the local non-profit(s) that operate spay and neuter programs and the animal shelter(s).

Summer of Salmon - On the Oregon Coast. Southern Oregon's recreational ocean fleet could see a full summer of salmon fishing under proposals crafted Thursday to take advantage of better offshore salmon abundance this year.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council unveiled a set of options for this summer's season that includes the potential of chinook salmon fishing starting before Memorial Day and lasting until after Labor Day off the Southern Oregon and Northern California coasts.

Together, this year's options detail a summer ocean season for recreational anglers that's longer than any since 2007 and far more expansive than last year's token chinook season around Labor Day.

So get out your fishing poles, because the Summer of Salmon is fast approaching on the Oregon Coast!

Winter Art and Chocolate Festival - Brookings Oregon. Valentine's weekend, Brookings -Harbor High School will host the Winter Art and Chocolate Festival in Brookings Oregon. Since its beginning five years ago, the festival has drawn thousands of visitors from throughout Southwestern Oregon. Guests enjoy a variety of handmade arts and crafts, Oregon-made chocolates and participate in chocolate eating contests.

Chocolates from around the state will be available, including Branson's from Ashland, Moonstruck from Portland, Cherry Country from Salem, and Cary's of Oregon from Grants Pass. "You'll find truffles with nuts, fruits, liquors and even hot peppers," Willhite said. "There will be chocolate turtles, caramels, peanut butters and jellies. Come early and you might even get some chocolate coated kettle corn."

Chocolate eating contests will take place at 2 p.m. on Saturday February 13 and Sunday February14. General admission is $1, children 12 and younger are admitted free. Come visit the Winter Art and Chocolate Festival in Brookings Oregon!