Uncategorized - UNION COUNTY https://unioncountyor.gov Oregon Tue, 05 May 2026 20:28:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://unioncountyor.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/logo_border_10b-150x150.png Uncategorized - UNION COUNTY https://unioncountyor.gov 32 32 Spam Identification https://unioncountyor.gov/spam-identification/ Tue, 05 May 2026 20:01:29 +0000 https://unioncountyor.gov/?p=32743 While there are many spamming methods, there are two main types of spam which are Advertising and Malicious. Advertising Spam Advertising spam can be extremely irritating by filling up your inbox on a daily basis, but usually the messages are in fact from legitimate companies that you have unknowingly subscribed to.  Often these messages begin […]

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While there are many spamming methods, there are two main types of spam which are Advertising and Malicious.

Advertising Spam

Advertising spam can be extremely irritating by filling up your inbox on a daily basis, but usually the messages are in fact from legitimate companies that you have unknowingly subscribed to.  Often these messages begin when you order something online from a legitimate company.  During the order process there is usually an inconspicuous checkbox that says something to the effect of ‘Please send me notices about news & special offers’.  Unless you want to receive those potentially annoying messages, you will need to hunt this checkbox down and uncheck it.  Not so surprisingly, once you are on a company’s mailing list, your information is often also shared with any of its partner agencies such as advertising firms & sub-companies.  Soon thereafter you end up with an inbox full of ads from multiple companies who also share your information.  Most of the spam that makes it to your inbox is advertising from legitimate companies.

The good news about legitimate Advertising spam is that it is usually painless to stop.  Any legitimate company should include in its message a method to Unsubscribe.  Sometimes it may be a link, other times it may be an email message sent to a certain address.  The Unsubscribe options that are included in messages from legitimate companies are safe to use, and usually the messages stop within a day or two, but sometimes as long as a week.

Occasionally you may see an advertising message make it to your inbox which is not from a legitimate company.  These are usually easily recognizable and offering a deal on something like Viagra.  You would not want to use any Unsubscribe methods on a message that is not from a legitimate company.

Legitimate companies can also be faked.  Paypal, Amazon, Fed-Ex, and banks are among the frequently faked companies.  One method for identifying fakes is by paying attention to the address that pops up when you hover the mouse over a link.  If your message includes the real looking Paypal logo hover over the link without clicking and look for an address in the form of https://paypal.com/somethingsomething.   If the link shows something completely different like http://sendusyourmoney.cn/somethingsomething , or perhaps a misspelling such as https://payapal.com/somethingsomething then there is a good chance that it is a fake.  Of course you would not want to try to Unsubscribe from one of these fakes either.

Any messages that slip through the filters that are not from a legitimate company should be forwarded ‘as attachment’ to your IT department.

Any spam that continues to come in from a legitimate company after a week from using their Unsubscribe method should be forwarded to your IT department so that they can blacklist them for not playing nice.

Advertising spam review:

  • All legitimate companies should include an Unsubscribe method which is safe to use.
  • Not all messages with an Unsubscribe method are from legitimate companies.
  • Watch out for fakes of legitimate companies.
  • Use the hover method on links for proper identification prior to clicking.

Malicious Spam

Most of the malicious type spam is filtered out before it makes it to your inbox.  For this reason, the ones that do make it through can be difficult to identify. To be safe you will need to be able to recognize the main types of malicious spam which are spoofing, phishing, and malware.

 

Spoofing

Email spoofing is the practice of forging an email.  One of the reasons that email should never be considered secure is because anyone can easily use literally any name and address they like in the ‘From:’ field.  With so much of our information out on the web and social media, it is not difficult for spammers obtain the information needed to run a successful spoofing scam.

Example & Prevention

Imagine receiving the following email from your sister Sally back East who checks in regularly on your dad who is in a nursing home.

From: Sally Smith(sally.smith@verizoneast.com)

To: Sammy Smith(sammy.smith@verizonwest.com)

omg help! we need to pay dads nursing home bill before the end of day or they will move him back over to south wing!!!!.  they need 5000. I only have 3500 of it until next  friday. please can you wire over the remaining 1500 and I will pay you back next week

BankAmerica

acct# 5555-5555-5555-5555

route# 4444-44444

let me know as soon as it is done

i will call you tonight to explain everything

The scary thing about this is that the bad guys can get all the information needed to pull off a scam like this from free online sources such as Facebook & Google.  To prove the point, next time you are on your home computer, try doing a search for “Happy Birthday” on Facebook. Pick a random birthday wish with many shares, and then pick a random person that shared the wish with a sibling, parent, or child.  Once you have found a family whose pages are open to the public, take a look at how much you can learn about their family just by scouring their social media pages, and doing a few Google searches.

Using your best practices checklist would help to identify a forged message such as this.  If Sally and Sammy had made it routine practice to simply include the same signature every time, a message like this would never be convincing.  The lack of proper grammar would be the next tip off, and lastly the urgency of the message.


Phishing

Email phishing is practice of tricking their victims into providing information.  This information can then be saved for later and used for things such accessing your online bank accounts, identity theft, and other fraud. Phishing and spoofing often are used together in order create an even more authentic look.

Example & Prevention

One common phishing attack involves setting up a fake site that looks identical to your banks official website. They then send you an official looking email warning you of suspicious activity and asking you to login and verify that your accounts look normal.  They also include a convenient link that takes you to their fake site.  Once you land on their fake site and attempt to login as you normally would, they warn you to double check the password entered then redirect you over to the official website.  In doing this, they have obtained your bank login credentials, and since you are now logged into your bank where you can see your accounts, you are convinced that the message was legit, and all is well.

Using your best practices checklist would help to identify the phishing scam by hovering over the links and verifying the address before clicking.  When it comes to sites that require a login, such as banks, don’t use links from the email instead find it in your favorites, or memorize the address.  Also be very careful not to mistype web addresses as this will often lead you to a faked phishing site.


Malware

Malware spam seldom makes it to the users inbox these days, but it does still happen.  Spammers can send a file attachment that appears to be a normal file, but includes a virus, worm, or Trojan. Often these files are simply a Microsoft Word document with malicious macros.  Messages with malware are usually very informal and provide very little information about the attachment.  They often include horrible grammar and many misspellings. Malware spam can be easily identified by using your best practices checklist.

If an attachment ever pops up with a prompt asking you to ‘allow’ an activity or macro, the correct answer is to ‘not allow’, then forward the message to your IT department for closer examination if you believe it to be legitimate.


Summary

Malicious spam can be very costly to an organization.  Costs can involve significant amounts of money in addition to critical data loss.  Spam cannot be completely prevented therefore the best defense we have is to educate ourselves on its identification.

  • Memorize the best practices checklist and apply it to all incoming and outgoing messages.
  • Advertising spam is mostly harmless and can usually be prevented.
  • Learn to recognize the different types of malicious spam and handle them accordingly.
  • It is better to be safe than sorry. If you receive a questionable message forward it on to your IT department to be examined.



Best Practices Checklist

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]]> Email Best Practices https://unioncountyor.gov/email-best-practices/ Tue, 05 May 2026 19:18:21 +0000 https://unioncountyor.gov/?p=32729 It is essential to understand, use, and expect some basic email best practices in order to prevent the costly mistake of interacting with spam. Using these practices helps to create a safe email environment for both the sender and receiver. Do not skip the formalities It is easy to get into the habit of skipping […]

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It is essential to understand, use, and expect some basic email best practices in order to prevent the costly mistake of interacting with spam. Using these practices helps to create a safe email environment for both the sender and receiver.

Do not skip the formalities

It is easy to get into the habit of skipping formalities especially with those whom you email regularly. This can be extremely dangerous. Anyone with a desire and a quick google search can create a fake ‘From:’ name and email address.  Doing so can make an email look like it is coming from someone familiar to the recipient.  Using all of the formalities on a regular basis helps others to identify that you are actually who you say you are.
  • Use a descriptive yet brief subject line.
  • Open the message with a proper salutation addressing the person(s) you are sending to even if it is something as simple as “Hi Fred”. When sending to a group of people, if possible try to address everyone in the group with something such as “Good Morning Chamber of Commerce Members”.
  • When sending an attachment or link, describe what it is for with something such as “Here is the requested deed for Ref#12345”, or “Here is the link to access our official website https://unioncountyor.gov”
  • Use a standard signature. The signature should include your name, title, and contact information

Etiquette

  • Use proper grammar.
  • Avoid misspelling with spell check and proof reading.
  • If sending a message using a mobile device add a line such as ‘Sent from my mobile’ to the top of your signature. While doing so does not excuse poor grammar or spelling, it does let the recipient know that there is more of a potential for mistakes.
  • Avoid jargon such as ‘lol dude cu later’.
  • Keep the message professional.
  • Reply to all legitimate emails, even if it’s just a simple ‘Thank you’, or ‘I will be working on this next week’. This confirms to the sender that not only did you receive that message, but you read it as well.  It is also just polite, so that sender does not need to wait and wonder if the message was delivered.
  • Let the recipient know the purpose of your email. Do not assume that a phone conversation last week means that they have been on the edge of their seat awaiting your email.
  • Do not send email urging an immediate response. Email should not be relied on for urgent issues, and immediate response requests are one of the red flags for identifying malicious spam.

Is all of this really necessary?

Yes! Following these best practices helps us to identify each other by more than just an email address.  Just as you can learn to tell who is talking behind you by the tone of their voice, you can learn to identify fake senders by the email’s content and the way it is worded. Spammers are typically laidback when it comes to professional details. While they may get your name right, and possibly some of the other formalities, it is unlikely that they will get everything right.  It is this laid-back practice that helps us to identify spammers.

Best Practices Checklist

  • Subject line is appropriate
  • Proper opening salutation
  • Proper grammar used
  • No spelling errors
  • Description of, or reasoning for attachments/links
  • Signature including contact information
  • Hover over links to verify authenticity before clicking

This list should be applied to all outgoing messages, and also be used to help identify the authenticity of any incoming messages. 

With every missing checkmark on your list, your suspicion level about the message authenticity should rise.

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]]> How to read a URL https://unioncountyor.gov/how-to-read-a-url/ Tue, 05 May 2026 19:02:46 +0000 https://unioncountyor.gov/?p=32717 How to Read a URL (Uniform Resource Locator)   The most relevant information, the domain sits between the first sets of slashes. Specifically, the last period in the space between the first sets of slashes will be surrounded by two strings, such as amazon.com or union-county.org or google.com. This is the domain which is the […]

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How to Read a URL (Uniform Resource Locator)

 
  • The most relevant information, the domain sits between the first sets of slashes.

  • Specifically, the last period in the space between the first sets of slashes will be surrounded by two strings, such as amazon.com or union-county.org or google.com. This is the domain which is the actual site you are visiting.

  • It is important to be able to identify what domain you are in, as deceptive emails will send you to places that look like trusted domains, but are actually phishing sites.
Some examples of links with the domain portions highlighted.

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]]> Community Event Funding Available for FY 2026-27 https://unioncountyor.gov/community-event-funding-available-for-fy-2026-27/ Fri, 01 May 2026 15:00:08 +0000 https://unioncountyor.gov/?p=32418 Community Event Funding Available for FY 2026-27 Union County is currently accepting applications for community events intended to increase economic growth and impact tourism within Union County. Eligible applicants include public sector and non-profit entities only. Funding for this program is made available through county-collected transient room tax funds. Applications are being accepted for the […]

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]]> Community Event Funding Available
for FY 2026-27

Union County is currently accepting applications for community events intended to increase economic growth and impact tourism within Union County. Eligible applicants include public sector and non-profit entities only. Funding for this program is made available through county-collected transient room tax funds. Applications are being accepted for the upcoming fiscal which begins July 1, 2026 and ends June 30, 2027. Applications will be accepted beginning May 1, 2026 and will be due no later than May 31, 2026.
This program is administered by the Union County Administrative Office with funding recommendations provided by the Transient Tax Advisory Committee. Final approval of awards will be made by the Board of Commissioners.

Applications are available on the county website at https://unioncountyor.gov/ or may be picked up at the County Administrative Office at 1106 K Avenue, La Grande. Completed applications will be accepted at the county office through May 31, 2026.

Fillable Application: Transient Tax Event Application

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]]> Public Comment Period Open for Title III Applications https://unioncountyor.gov/public-comment-period-open-for-title-iii-applications/ Tue, 28 Apr 2026 21:37:50 +0000 https://unioncountyor.gov/?p=32386 NOTICE OF COMMENT PERIOD UNION COUNTY TITLE III Projects (PL 119-58)   NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Union County Board of Commissioners are considering the following projects for funding under Title III of P.L. 119-58: Union County Search and Rescue – $160,097; Vehicle, inflatable rescue boat, snowmobile trailer, and portable radios. Category 2 Search, […]

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NOTICE OF COMMENT PERIOD

UNION COUNTY

TITLE III Projects (PL 119-58)

 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Union County Board of Commissioners are considering the following projects for funding under Title III of P.L. 119-58:

 

  • Union County Search and Rescue – $160,097; Vehicle, inflatable rescue boat, snowmobile trailer, and portable radios. Category 2 Search, Rescue and other Emergency Services.
  • Union County Emergency Services – $26,260; Portable EOC, vehicle tires, and computer equipment. Category 3, Emergency Services Training and Equipment.

 

As required by P.L. 119-58, the County will be accepting comments on the proposals until June 20, 2026.  The project applications are available for review by contacting the Union County Administrative Office, 1106 K Avenue, La Grande, (541) 963-1001.

 

Posted April 28, 2026

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]]> RFP Accepted for County Comprehensive Plan Update https://unioncountyor.gov/rfp-accepted-for-county-comprehensive-plan-update/ Thu, 23 Apr 2026 23:45:20 +0000 https://unioncountyor.gov/?p=32363 UNION COUNTY Notice of Request for Proposals Union County Comprehensive Plan Update Phase I: Plan Audit and Community Outreach Proposals due by 4:00 p.m., Pacific Time, on Monday, May 25, 2026.   Union County is soliciting proposals from qualified consulting firms to provide comprehensive land use planning services to complete Phase I of an update […]

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UNION COUNTY

Notice of Request for Proposals

Union County Comprehensive Plan Update Phase I: Plan Audit and Community Outreach

Proposals due by 4:00 p.m., Pacific Time, on Monday, May 25, 2026.

 

Union County is soliciting proposals from qualified consulting firms to provide comprehensive land use planning services to complete Phase I of an update of Union County’s Comprehensive Plan, as more particularly described in Union County’s Request for Proposals.

An electronic copy of the Request for Proposals may be obtained at  https://unioncountyor.gov/planning/ or by calling Union County Planning Department at (541) 963-1014.

Proposals must be received by Inga Williams, Director of the Planning Department, by hand delivery or mail at 1001 Fourth Street, Suite C, La Grande, OR 97850, on or before 4:00 p.m., Pacific Time, on Monday, May 25, 2026. Sealed, opaque envelopes should be clearly marked “Union County – Comprehensive Plan Update – Phase 1”. Please provide one (1) digital copy (no email submittals), one (1) original hard copy, and three (3) hard copies of the Proposal. The original should be marked “Original” and must bear an original ink signature by an individual authorized to represent the proposer. Late submissions will not be accepted.

All questions or requests for clarification must be submitted in writing no later than May 18, 2026, to Inga Williams by email or mail at:

Email: iwilliams@Union-County.org

Mail:  Inga Williams, Union County Planning Department

1001 Fourth Street, Suite C

La Grande, OR, 97850

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]]> Title III Project Application Period Open https://unioncountyor.gov/title-iii-project-application-period-open/ Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:40:12 +0000 https://unioncountyor.gov/?p=32058 Notice of Project Application Acceptance Title III Projects – Public Law 119-58 Union County is currently accepting project applications for funding under Title III of Public Law 119-58 (Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act).  Eligible project categories include: Firewise Communities Program Search, Rescue and other Emergency Services Emergency Services Training and Equipment Community Wildfire […]

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Notice of Project Application Acceptance

Title III Projects - Public Law 119-58

Union County is currently accepting project applications for funding under Title III of Public Law 119-58 (Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act). 

Eligible project categories include:

  1. Firewise Communities Program
  2. Search, Rescue and other Emergency Services
  3. Emergency Services Training and Equipment
  4. Community Wildfire Protection Plans
  5. Broadband Telecommunications Services

 

Applications are available here: Title III Project Application Form or may be obtained from the Union County Commissioners Office, 1106 K Avenue, La Grande, OR  97850.

 

Questions may be directed to Annette Powers at apowers@union-county.org.  

 

The deadline for submission of project proposals is Monday, April 27, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.

 

Additional information regarding eligible projects is available from the U.S. Forest Service at:

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]]> Opioid Abatement Advisory Committee to meet https://unioncountyor.gov/opioid-abatement-advisory-committee-to-meet-3/ Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:41:15 +0000 https://unioncountyor.gov/?p=32051 PUBLIC NOTICE The Opioid Abatement Advisory Committee (OAAC) is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, April 8 at 1:30 pm. The meeting will take place in the Misener Room located at; 1001 Fourth Street, Suite D, La Grande. Zoom video conference will also be available. Link listed below. Join by link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82271680855 Meeting ID: 822 7168 […]

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]]> PUBLIC NOTICE

The Opioid Abatement Advisory Committee (OAAC) is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, April 8 at 1:30 pm. The meeting will take place in the Misener Room located at; 1001 Fourth Street, Suite D, La Grande. Zoom video conference will also be available. Link listed below.

Join by link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82271680855

Meeting ID: 822 7168 0855

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]]> Buffalo Peak Advisory Committee Meeting https://unioncountyor.gov/buffalo-peak-advisory-committee-meeting-4/ Mon, 06 Apr 2026 15:29:45 +0000 https://unioncountyor.gov/?p=32045 The Buffalo Peak Golf Course Advisory Committee will meet Tuesday, April 7.  The meeting will be held at 4:30 pm in the golf course clubhouse located at 1224 E Fulton Street in Union.

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The Buffalo Peak Golf Course Advisory Committee will meet Tuesday, April 7.  The meeting will be held at 4:30 pm in the golf course clubhouse located at 1224 E Fulton Street in Union.

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]]> Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) – 2026 Update https://unioncountyor.gov/community-wildfire-protection-plan-cwpp-2026-update/ Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:39:54 +0000 https://unioncountyor.gov/?p=31897 Union County Emergency Services is accepting public comment on the updated 2026 Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). The CWPP is a non-regulatory document that serves as a guiding framework, offering recommendations and resources to help reduce the risk and impacts of wildfire in Union County. The plan addresses all CWPP objectives and meets the requirements […]

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Union County Emergency Services is accepting public comment on the updated 2026 Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP).

The CWPP is a non-regulatory document that serves as a guiding framework, offering recommendations and resources to help reduce the risk and impacts of wildfire in Union County. The plan addresses all CWPP objectives and meets the requirements of the Healthy Forest Restoration Act, while aligning with the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy.

A key component of the plan is the Mitigation Action Items, which outline prioritized strategies and actions to strengthen community wildfire resilience.

The draft plan is available for review at: Community Wildfire Protection Plan – 2026

Public comments will be accepted through 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. Comments may be submitted via email to ucem@union-county.org.

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]]> Bids Accepted for Purchase of Vector Control Vehicle https://unioncountyor.gov/bids-accepted-for-purchase-of-vector-control-vehicles/ Mon, 02 Mar 2026 22:20:57 +0000 https://unioncountyor.gov/?p=31747

Invitation to Bid

Sealed Bids will be received by the UNION COUNTY VECTOR CONTROL (UCVCD) at 1106 K Ave La Grande, Oregon 97850 until 4:00 P.M. March 9th 2026.

For:    Super Cab 4×4/AWD Pickup Truck OR Crew Cab 4×4/AWD Pickup Truck (2015 or newer) (must have fewer than 50,000 miles and have bumper to bumper warranty).

Plans, specifications, bid forms, etc., may be obtained through the following link or between 8:00 A.M and 4:00 P.M. Monday through Thursday for bidding purposes by email or phone at:


You may elect to mail or bring your bid in.  If you should mail your bid in, please specify on the outside of your sealed bid, “Vector Control Pickup Bid” and mail to bid opening address in time to be received before the closing date.

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]]> Commissioners to Consider Ordinance 2026-01 https://unioncountyor.gov/commissioners-to-consider-ordinance-2026-01-2/ Wed, 25 Feb 2026 18:26:41 +0000 https://unioncountyor.gov/?p=31717 PUBLIC NOTICE ORDINANCE CONSIDERATION Amending the Union County Zoning, Partition and Subdivision Ordinance The Union County Board of Commissioners meeting in regular session on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 will consider at 9:20 a.m. the second reading of Ordinance 2026-01; In the Matter of An Ordinance Amending the Union County Zoning, Partition, and Subdivision Ordinance to […]

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]]> PUBLIC NOTICE
ORDINANCE CONSIDERATION
Amending the Union County Zoning, Partition and Subdivision Ordinance

The Union County Board of Commissioners meeting in regular session on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 will consider at 9:20 a.m. the second reading of Ordinance 2026-01; In the Matter of An Ordinance Amending the Union County Zoning, Partition, and Subdivision Ordinance to Revise Articles 12, 13 and 21 to Provide Clarification and to Include the Addition of a Temporary Workforce Housing Conditional Use.

The meeting will be held in the Joseph Annex Conference Room, 1106 K Avenue, La Grande, Oregon with participation also available via Zoom teleconference at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81420006863 or by calling (253) 215-8782 and enter meeting ID 814 2000 6863.

Copies of the proposed ordinance may be obtained here: ORD 2026-01

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