Merkley Holding Central Oregon Town Halls

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., was busy in Central Oregon Sunday.

Merkley first held a town hall in Prineville at the COCC Crook County Open Campus building, where he updated residents on his work in Washington D.C.

Among the issues he was hoping to hear from residents were education, infrastructure and the closing of rural post offices.

One issue Merkley has been hearing a lot about is the recent travel management plan requirements laid out by the Forest Service.

Many Oregon residents have been concerned about the implementation of those plans on the national forests, including the Deschutes and Ochoco.

“That implementation raises concerns that I think are important to share back with the Forest Service,” Merkley said. “I and my team can help channel those concerns that citizens are quite rightly concerned about.”

Merkley said he shared feedback from people in Baker and Union counties with the Forest Service.

The result: the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest pulled back its plans.

After the Prineville stop, Merkley held a town hall at the Bend Senior Center Sunday afternoon. On Monday, he will hold a town hall at the Jefferson County Senior Center in Madras at 2 p.m.