Around Oregon and Idaho
Saturday, October 24, 2009 11:01 PM PDT
Coho returning to Columbia in big numbers
PORTLAND (AP) — Big numbers of coho salmon are surging up the Columbia River this fall.
About 700,000 coho were projected to return to the river system this year — at least 200,000 more than last year, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Officials say the coho run remains within the normal range of returns and probably doesn’t represent a trend in the much larger effort of salmon recovery in the Columbia system.
But fisheries experts are intrigued by some discoveries, such as a spike in coho returning naturally to the upper Willamette River, which hasn’t been stocked with fish for a decade.
Oregon aquarium exhibits turkey vultures
NEWPORT (AP) — The sun parts the clouds over the Oregon Coast Aquarium and the newest resident here lifts her red bald head, turns her back, and spreads wide her wings to bask.
‘‘See,’’ says CJ McCarty aquarium curator of birds, ‘‘Their feathers are iridescent. You can see the colors shining in the sun. Not black, but brown, tan, purples and greens. They are actually quite beautiful.’’
‘‘Beautiful’’ is not typically the first word that comes to mind when talking about turkey vultures. But McCarty is serious. Not only does she find the large birds attractive, but also intelligent, curious and no kidding incredibly clean.
Idaho officials trying to extradite Mexico suspect
BOISE (AP) — Elmore County officials in southwest Idaho are working with U.S. Department of Justice attorneys to extradite from Mexico a man accused of the 2002 Idaho killings of his girlfriend and her two young sons.
Elmore County Prosecutor Kristina Schindele told the Idaho Statesman that an ‘‘extradition packet’’ to be sent to Mexican authorities outlines why Jorge Orozco is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and also contains affidavits from witnesses.
The documents must be submitted by the U.S. Office of International Affairs to the Mexican government by Dec. 4, the newspaper reported in a story published Saturday.
Police say Orozco killed Rebecca Ramirez and her sons, ages 2 and 4.
Pendleton man plans to buy Columbia Gorge Hotel
PORTLAND (AP) — The troubled Columbia Gorge Hotel may have found a buyer after it closed last January.
Vijay Patel, who owns a small chain of hotels in Eastern Oregon and Washington state, told The Oregonian he will buy the historic hotel for more than $4 million.
Once called the ‘‘Waldorf of the West’’ after it was built in 1921 by timber tycoon Simon Benson, the hotel sits atop property that overlooks the Columbia River from a picturesque bluff.
