This section
will focus on emerging issues that are being dealt with by the OUNC.
Check back often! Do you have a story spotlighting an excavator and/or facility operator that highlights good damage prevention practices? Please click here to submit it for review.
Rodeo clown JJ Harrison has held the “Northwest Clown of the Year” title for the past five years. At the Ellensberg Rodeo while demonstrating his trade, he used his teaching skills to promote Call 811!
JJ Harrison grew up in Okanogan, Wash., where his love for the rodeo began. He took his passion to college with him and joined the rodeo team as a bull and bronco rider at Washington State University. Harrison taught science and social studies at a Walla Walla middle school for eight years while working as a rodeo clown.
Since 1923, the Ellensberg Rodeo is held every Labor Day weekend. The Ellensburg Rodeo is also one of the “old rodeos” and has earned its place as one of America’s Top 10 professional rodeos.
As part of the national effort to raise awareness of safe digging practices, and encourage the use of 811 to request locates of underground facilities, the Oregon Utility Notification Center (OUNC) board of directors worked with Governor Kitzhaber to issue a proclamation naming April 2012 "Oregon Safe Digging Month". In the proclamation the Governor has asked people to call 811 at least two business days before digging to insure all essential underground utilities are located before excavating.
The board would like to thank the Governor for his support and hopes everyone will use the free call to 811 prior to starting any digging project.
View Proclamation
One Call Concepts, Inc. (
OCC) commissioned Paul Jr. Designs to create the
811 Damage Prevention Bike. The 811 Bike was unveiled at the 2011 Greater Chesapeake Damage Prevention Training Conference November 2, 2011, in Ocean City, Maryland.
A second unveiling will take place at the Common Ground Alliance Conference scheduled for March 6-8, 2012 at the Rio All Suites Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. (
www.cgaconference.com)
The 811 bike will appear on
American Chopper February 20 and 27, 2012.
