‘Vets’ highway’ idea reaches impasse
The Mail Tribune
Medford, Oregon
July 26, 2006
By Jennifer Strange
An effort by an ad hoc group of veterans from three area counties to designate Highway 62 as “Veterans Memorial Highway” has reached an impasse with state officials — in part because the state already has a highway with that name.
“We’re reviewing a package to see if there’s a way to designate it without renaming,” said ODOT District Manager John Vial. “We know we won’t rename it because changing
everyone’s address (along Highway 62) is not something we’re interested in doing.”
The Southern Oregon Veterans Memorial Highway/Highway 62 Ad Hoc Group has successfully acquired resolutions of support for their idea from the city councils of Medford, Central Point, Eagle Point, Shady Cove, Grants Pass and Klamath Falls.
Similar resolutions have come from the Jackson, Josephine and Klamath boards of county commissioners and state senators and representatives, said group Chairman Jerry Barnes. Barnes is a former Jackson County commissioner who served in the Korea and Vietnam wars as a Navy commander.
The proposal would mean the raising of signs at Highway 62’s beginning in Medford and its end where it intersects with Highway 97 in Klamath County and at several prominent locations between, Barnes said. Highway 62 has long been known at Crater Lake Highway because it is the route to the famous national park. That name is not officially recognized.
Although ODOT is “supportive of steps that support our veterans,” a primary stumbling block is that Interstate 205 in Portland already is named in honor of veterans, Vial said.
The redundancy and potential confusion of doubling up names worried members of the Oregon Geographic Names Board, which reviewed the proposal in June.
“They have written back a letter saying they’re supportive but expressed concern,” said Vial.
In addition, there are other areas in Oregon where public respect for veterans is visibly displayed. Interstate 5 is part of the Blue Star Memorial Highway program, a federal effort to recognize Americans who have served their country.
“In the landscape areas of all the rest areas on the highway, you’ll see signs explaining the program and honoring our veterans,” Vial said. “And several counties, including Klamath, have put up signs at crossings into their counties that note support for veterans.”
The proposal is in the hands of the Oregon Transportation Commission, awaiting a spot on its September agenda.
Interest in the designation has picked up speed among local veterans since the idea was first voiced by Eagle Point resident Al Schenfisch in November. Schenfisch shared his brainstorm with fellow veterans while manning a Veteran’s Day parade float.
“We took the idea and expounded on it,” Barnes said. “We felt we need to show that Oregon honors all veterans in America. That’s why we selected the highway.”
It’s a fairly easy proposal to get behind, said Eagle Point City Councilman Alan Curriston, who signed the resolution presented by Schenfisch to the council about six weeks ago.
“It’s a good idea and an effective way to recognize veterans,” Curriston said. “Apart from putting up new street signs, there shouldn’t be much negativity associated with it.”
If its bid is successful, the ad hoc group has planned an elaborate Veterans Memorial Highway dedication ceremony. Highlights could include a speech by Gov. Ted Kulongoski, a formation flyover of Kingsley Field fighter planes and a drill team from Prineville, said Barnes.
Jennifer Strange is a freelance writer living in Central Point. Reach her at jlstrange@hotmail.com.
Other pages in this section
- Crater Lake Symposium Convenes Researchers – Fall/Winter 2006
- Brian Smith plans to answer call of world’s highest peak – December 31, 2006
- Survey says: Snow level ‘nearly normal’ – December 29, 2006
- Fatal crash closes Highway 97 – December 29, 2006
- Under proposal, Crater Lake entry fees would double – December 22, 2006
- Oregon Neutral In Shift From National Parks – December 15, 2006
- Big fee hikes at national parks are a bit too big – December 21, 2006
- Proposal would increase Crater Lake fees – December 18, 2006
- America’s Largest Bald Eagle Festival is President’s Day Weekend 2007 in the Klamath Basin of South Central Oregon – December 19, 2006
- Since You Asked: how much snow does Crater Lake get each winter? – December 14, 2006
- Volunteers become Park Service’s public face – November 28, 2006
- Pacific Crest Trail journey is a repeat performance – November 28, 2006
- Remembering a little boy lost – November 23, 2006
- Memorial Service Scheduled for Boy, 8, Lost at Crater Lake – November 18, 2006
- See old-growth, National Creek Falls on short trail – November 17, 2006
- Pine Beetles Can Set Stage for Disastrous Forest Fires – November 6, 2006
- Mom hopes to use dogs to find son – October 25, 2006
- Search for boy winds down – October 21, 2006
- Ceremony honors missing 8-year-old – October 21, 2006
- Search, hope for Portland boy all but over – October 21, 2006
- Searchers scour woods in vain – October 19, 2006
- Crater Lake Highway Renamed – October 18, 2006
- ‘Frustrating’ search – October 18, 2006
- Boulders, brush and bravery, but no boy – October 18, 2006
- Missing boy faces snow, wind – October 17, 2006
- Searchers continue to look for Portland boy missing near Crater Lake – October 17, 2006
- Snow slows search for boy missing at Crater Lake – October 17, 2006
- Massive search underway for Portland boy missing at Crater Lake – October 16, 2006
- Boy still missing at Crater Lake – October 16, 2006
- Mount Scott rewards hikers with a peak experience – September 29, 2006
- ‘The Good Fire’ – September 25, 2006
- Block Island will be featured on ABC show – September 22, 2006
- Bybee Complex Fires – September 14, 2006
- Snow job at Crater Lake National Park in Oregon – September 7, 2006
- Trees of heaven – September 7, 2006
- WebCam now available to view Crater Lake fire – September 7, 2006
- Natural end sought for Crater Lake fire – September 06, 2006
- Bybee Fire Complex Fact Sheet – September 2, 2006
- Crater Lake science and learning center opens – August 28, 2006
- Scientist to lecture about pines threatened by rust – August 27, 2006
- Lightning-stoked burns still growing – August 27, 2006
- Grand Opening of Science and Learning Center – August 24, 2006
- Newest Puzzle Fire near Mt. Jefferson tops 4,100 Acres – August 22, 2006
- Roving the Floor of Crater Lake – August 21, 2006
- Weather makes firefighters work harder – August 20, 2006
- Found in the ashes – August 20, 2006
- Crater Lake due for odd visitor – August 18, 2006
- Army veteran finally gets to run – August 14, 2006
- Crater Lake hosts marathon – August 13, 2006
- ‘What you see is what you get’ – August 12, 2006
- Tourists watch fire left to burn at Crater Lake – August 7, 2006
- Terry Richard picks Oregon’s best mountain hikes – August 6, 2006
- Bybee fire use update – August 3, 2006
- Crater Lake will help clear brush – August 1, 2006
- John Carl Owings – August 1, 2006
- Finding their place in the sun – August 1, 2006
- Building improvements, relocation of the primary parking lot – July 28, 2006
- The essence of Oregon summer: visiting Crater Lake – July 23, 2006
- Bill would boost size of Upper Klamath Refuge – July 10, 2006
- History into stories – July, 2006
- Find haven of coolness along Red Blanket Creek – July 14, 2006
- U.S. considers closer watch on volcanoes – July 13, 2006
- Lack of cash strains national parks – June 24, 2006
- Volcano Man: New Superintendent Enjoys Craters of the Moon – June 23, 2006
- Can bicycling be Oregon’s Maine event? – June 16, 2006
- Annie Creek Restaurant set to open at Crater Lake – May 25, 2006
- Rouse to mark 50 years – April 23, 2006
- Gerald L. ‘Gary’ Hathaway – December 12, 2001
- Senator Boxer announces National Scenic Byway grants for northern California All-American Road – March 31, 2006
- Walking on Crater Lake – February 21, 2006
- Dispute swirls around geothermal project – January 14, 2006
- William Arthur ‘Bill’ Bloom – January 13, 2006
- Crater restaurant-gift shop nears completion – January 05, 2006
- Crater Lake: preserved in all its glory –