Community Briefs

Mount St. Helens program on tap

RITZVILLE — “Mount St. Helens-Then and Now” will be presented by geologist Sheila Alfsen of Dallas, Ore., who will detail the onset and May 18, 1980 eruptions sequence.

The lecture is set for 1 p.m., Saturday, May 21, at Zion Congregational Chruch, 301 W. Broadway Ave.

During the lecture, she’ll explain Mount St. Helens volcanic hazards with examples from other volcanoes and a comparison of their relative sizes during the program. In addition, the presentation will include the advances in volcanology made as a result of the eruption and how they are used around the world to gain prediction and offer disaster mitigation.

This lecture was first scheduled for 2020.

Then COVID-19 mandates prompted recheduling.

Alfsen is semi-retired, but still teaches geology at Portland State University, Chemeketa Community College and Linn Benton Community College.

She does research, is a National Association of Geoscience Teachers lecturer and serves as president of the Geologic Society of the Oregon Country. She is also a member of the Geologic Society of America and the Association for Women Geoscientist Distinguished lecturer.

Ice Age flood talk set for March

OTHELLO – The “How the Ice Age Floods Changed the Course of the Palouse River” will be the topic of a lecture offered at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 26.

The program runs during the Sandhill Crane Festival, officials said.

This will be the first time it will be conducted in person in three years, officials said.

The location has yet to be announced.