Oregon Beach News, Monday 12/9 – Governor Kotek Visits Shelter and Affordable Apartment Complex in Clatsop County for Oregon’s Project Turnkey, Report Shows Oregon’s Kelp Forests Have Dwindled & Other Local and Statewide News…

The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com

Monday, December 9, 2024

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Governor Kotek recently visited a shelter and affordable apartment complex in Clatsop County, with the state’s highest per capita homeless rate

Oregon’s Project Turnkey sheltered thousands as state tries to build more homes

Just before a tour of an Astoria homeless shelter late last month, Gov. Tina Kotek met with a single father living there with his children.

He’d been paying rent for five years in nearby Seaside when his landlord terminated his lease without giving a reason. The father and his children were homeless, in a remote coastal region of Oregon with the state’s highest per capita rate of homelessness. Until 2023, it had no permanent shelters even though more than one in 50 Clatsop County residents were homeless that year.

The father is among thousands of people statewide who’ve been at least temporarily housed through Project Turnkey, an Oregon program that turned $125 million into nearly 1,400 new shelter beds, mostly by buying and converting existing hotels and other vacant buildings into shelters like the one in Astoria.

Shelter units provided through Project Turnkey cost about half as much as the statewide average for affordable housing, and U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici has proposed congressional legislation to expand the program nationwide.

Kotek, who was speaker of the House for the first round of Project Turnkey, advocated for it in the Legislature. She still supports the program, among other options.

Her 476-page budget proposal, released Monday, includes a request for $217.9 million to maintain existing shelters but it has no funding to build new ones. Instead, her 2025-27 recommended budget prioritizes increasing rent assistance and eviction prevention to prevent more Oregonians from slipping into homelessness and efforts to permanently rehouse people.

“We don’t have all the money in the world, so I am still staying focused on (where) we’ve made commitments,” Kotek told reporters during her Astoria visit. “We have to sustain them. We have to continue to fund things through the next biennium. And I also want to build what we have started, which is a statewide system where there is a clear financial commitment with our local communities to say, ‘You’re going to provide a continuum of care for folks who are experiencing homelessness. We’re going to be there with you.’”

In Clatsop County, Kotek visited the Columbia Inn, a converted 21-room motel that opened in October 2023 with Project Turnkey funding and shelters around 50 to 60 people each night. She also toured the nearby Owens Adair apartments, which has 46 units for low-income seniors and will add 50 more through an ongoing construction project.

Both the shelter and the apartment expansion exist in part because of state action: Lawmakers allocated $2.8 million to help Clatsop County buy the Columbia Inn as part of its 2023 Project Turnkey expansion, and Owens Adair is able to add units on an adjacent lot in part because of legislative changes this year that allowed cities to adjust parking minimums in the interest of building more homes.

The Owens Adair apartments, in a historic hospital overlooking the Columbia River, have a waitlist of more than 300 people. The expansion will reduce that waitlist.

“It’ll help for sure,” said Hsu-Feng Andy Shaw, the county’s housing authority director. “It’ll help generations of people in Astoria.”

As part of its efforts to meet Kotek’s goal of building 36,000 homes per year, the Legislature ordered cities to fast-track housing permits and allocated money toward infrastructure improvements needed for housing. In coastal cities like Astoria, where the Columbia River and the Youngs Bay prevent growth in three directions, developable land for housing is even harder to find than in other parts of the state.  (READ MORE)

Report Shows Oregon’s Kelp Forests Have Dwindled

According to a status report released by the Oregon Kelp Alliance in November, nearly 900 acres of bull kelp forest has essentially disappeared off the Oregon Coast since 2010. Only around one-third of Oregon’s kelp forests remain — important oases facing ongoing threats and stressors in a changing ocean.

For the past two years, the Oregon Kelp Alliance has been developing a tool kit to aid in the recovery of the kelp forests, piloting various approaches and techniques without a clear sense of what could work for the Oregon Coast.

Now, with their new report forming a foundation and federal funding in hand, they hope to build on that early work and move forward on a plan over the next two years to restore this diminished — and diminishing — ecosystem.

“We have things that we understand well and that we need to start moving on,” said Sara Hamilton, science coordinator for the Oregon Kelp Alliance. “And we have things that still need more research and development … but we’re not going to be able to wait until we have a perfect understanding of this system before we start acting.”

In their report, the Oregon Kelp Alliance includes a list of critical areas of future investigation. On the list are questions like: How do temperature changes and marine heat waves impact kelp forests? What sites along the Oregon Coast are most desirable for restoration work? Or protection? What criteria should be used to make those decisions?

There is a need, the report says, for more environmental monitoring to better understand how forces like climate change are impacting the forests.

Overall, the decline of kelp forests remains understudied and not well understood off Oregon while the condition of the kelp forests themselves varies widely. (READ MORE)

Recreational Crabbing Now Open Coastwide – Commercial Crabbing Remains Closed

Recreational crabbing is now open coastwide in all bays and the ocean, the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today. Commercial bay crabbing remains closed coastwide in conjunction with the delayed ocean commercial season.

Two consecutive tests of crab samples indicate levels of domoic acid (a marine biotoxin) are below the safety threshold from Cape Blanco to CA. (This area has been closed to high levels of domoic acid since Nov. 14.)

People should always call the Shellfish Safety Hotline at 1-800-448-2474 before heading out to harvest any shellfish or visit the ODA Recreational Shellfish Biotoxin Closures Webpage.

Current recreational harvest closures and openings:

• Crabs:
  • OPEN coastwide. 
• Razor clams:
  • OPEN from the WA border to Cascade Head.
  • CLOSED from Cascade Head to the CA border.
• Mussels:
  • OPEN coastwide.
• Bay clams:
  • OPEN coastwide.

In areas open to crab harvesting, it is always recommended that crab be eviscerated and the guts removed prior to cooking. This includes removal and discard of viscera, internal organs, and gills. Toxins cannot be removed by cooking, freezing or any other treatment.

ODA will continue testing for shellfish toxins at least twice per month, as tides and weather permit. Reopening an area closed for biotoxins requires two consecutive tests with results below the closure limit. 

For more information call ODA’s shellfish biotoxin hotline at (800) 448-2474, the ODA Food Safety Program at 503- 986-4720, or visit the ODA Recreational Shellfish Biotoxin Closures Webpage .

Contact ODFW for recreational license requirements, permits, rules, and limits.

Coos County Sheriff’s Office – Search & Rescue

On 12/06/24, around 630PM, North Coos Dispatch received a call of a missing person whom separated from her party while mushroom picking in the area south of Shore Acres State Park. The missing subject was identified as being Colleen Fiorucci (65). CCSO Deputy Burgo began the investigation, notified Oregon State Police and soon after, notified the Coos County Search & Rescue Coordinator (SAR) in the event the missing subject was not quickly located.

A Timber Deputy responded to assist and attempted to locate the subject behind locked private timber property gates east of Shore Acres State Park property. Due to the area of where the missing subject was said to be, the local U.S. Coast Guard was requested to assist due to their specialized equipment on their Rescue helicopter. Just prior to the next morning early hours, due to declining weather conditions and safety, the Deputies and Coast Guard postponed search efforts for the night.

On the morning of 12/07/24, the Coos County SAR team responded with K-9’s, ground searchers and the assistance of the U.S. Coast Guard. The search continued throughout the day, late evening and into the night without locating the subject. At night, the rescue efforts were postponed until the following morning. On the morning of 12/08/24, Coos County SAR team returned with the assistance of its CORSAR partners; Douglas County, Jackson County, Curry County, Siskiyou County SAR and the U.S. Coast Guard.

At approximately 1230PM, voice contact was established by SAR ground searchers. Two impressive ground searchers trekked through some dense dark brush to find Colleen, whom was cold, wet and tired. SAR members Meredith Childs and Tim Hawkins got Colleen to an extraction location accessible by the helicopter and started a warming fire to begin caring for Colleen. U.S. Coast Guard utilizing their helicopter rescue team, Colleen was hoisted out of the forest area and quickly taken to the local medical facility for care.

Thank you CORSAR and we are glad Colleen is safe! If you plan on going into the forest, please prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Plan for the trip you are going on and be mindful of the terrain and weather conditions. Dress for the weather, stick to your plan and always insure someone knows your plan.

Oregon Agencies Urge Residents and Visitors to Prepare for Earthquakes and Tsunamis after Last Week’s Big Quake

The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM), the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI), and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) are reminding Oregonians and visitors of the importance of earthquake and tsunami preparedness following today’s events.

Thursday at 10:44 a.m., a magnitude 7.0 earthquake occurred offshore 56 miles east of Petrolia, California. The National Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, Alaska issued a tsunami warning at 10:49 a.m. The tsunami warning extended north to the Douglas/Lane County border in Oregon and south to Davenport, California. The warning was canceled at 11:54 a.m., and no tsunami waves were observed along the Oregon coast.

The earthquake occurred in the Mendocino Triple Junction, which is a seismically active region where three tectonic plate boundaries intersect. The fault system where the earthquake originated is in the Mendocino Fracture Zone, which is the boundary between the Pacific and Juan de Fuca oceanic plates. More information about the earthquake and regional tectonic setting can be found at the USGS event page.

Earlier today, state parks closed beach access points and evacuation notices were issued for portions of the Oregon Coast due to the tsunami warning. With the cancellation of the warning, beach access points are set to reopen at 3:00 p.m. Although the immediate threat has passed, today’s events underscore the importance of being prepared for future emergencies. Taking steps now to ensure readiness can make all the difference during natural disasters.

What You Can Do to Stay Safe and Prepared:

• Know your evacuation routes: Whether you’re at home, work, or visiting the coast, familiarize yourself with local tsunami evacuation routes. Maps are often posted in coastal areas or can be found online using the DOGAMI/NANOOS Tsunami Evacuation Zones portal.
• Sign up for emergency alerts: Stay informed by subscribing to alerts at ORalert.gov for emergency notifications tied to your zip code—including earthquake and tsunami alerts. And turn on the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) on your phone, so you will receive alerts based on where your phone is located (important if you are visiting the coast).
• Create a go kit: Prepare a portable emergency kit with essentials such as food, water, medications, and personal documents.
• Review your emergency plan: Ensure everyone in your household knows what to do during an earthquake or tsunami, including where to meet and how to communicate if separated. You can learn more about emergency planning with the free Be2WeeksReady Toolkit.

For Travelers:

• Check Travel Conditions: If traveling, visit www.tripcheck.com for real-time road conditions in Oregon.
• Neighboring States: If your travel extends to California or Washington, check their Department of Transportation websites for updates: Travel | Caltrans, Travel Center Map | WSDOT.

DOGAMI encourages coastal residents and visitors to use this event as a reminder to stay informed about tsunami hazards and to practice evacuation drills regularly. DOGAMI provides additional information about tsunami preparedness at the Oregon Tsunami Clearinghouse. OPRD recommends exploring Oregon’s beautiful coast safely by always being prepared for emergencies. — For more information about earthquake and tsunami preparedness, visit Tsunami Safety.  —– Oregon Dept. of Emerg. Management  — Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OregonOEM

Be prepared for the unexpected—get your 𝐎𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐩 today!

Choose from a variety of map series to match your preferred scale, format, and level of detail. All maps use the same reliable data for tsunami inundation zones to help you stay safe. Access your map here: Oregon Coast Tsunami Clearinghouse- https://www.oregon.gov/…/tsuclearing…/Pages/default.aspx Large-Extent Tsunami Evacuation Maps: https://www.oregon.gov/…/tsucle…/Pages/pubs-evacbro.aspx

ShakeAlert® in Oregon

The Cascadia Subduction Zone is a 600-mile fault that runs from northern California up to British Columbia and is about 70 to 100 miles off the Pacific coast shoreline. There have been 43 earthquakes in the last 10,000 years within this fault. The last earthquake occurred on Jan. 26, 1700, with an estimated 9.0 magnitude; it also sent a large tsunami to the coast of Japan.

The USGS ShakeAlert® Earthquake Early Warning System is an earthquake detection tool, operated by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), that uses science and technology to detect significant earthquakes so alerts can be delivered to people on their cell phones before damaging shaking arrives at their location. ShakeAlert can save lives and reduce injuries by giving people seconds to take protective action, such as Drop, Cover and Hold On, or to move away from hazardous areas if they feel shaking or get an alert.

ShakeAlert also can protect people and infrastructure by triggering other pre-programmed actions upon earthquake detection, such as slowing trains to prevent derailments, opening firehouse doors so they do not jam shut, activating hospital generators to ensure continuity of service, and closing valves to protect water and natural gas systems.

ShakeAlert does not predict when or where an earthquake will occur or how long it will last. It detects earthquakes that have already begun, offering seconds of advance warning that allow people and systems to take actions to protect life and property from destructive shaking.

ShakeAlert infrastructure is already in place along most of the West Coast and can be used to trigger automatic-action systems, such as slowing a train, water utility valve shutoffs, opening fire station doors and starting back-up generators.

ShakeAlert became available in Oregon on March 11, 2021, a date that coincided with the 10th anniversary of the magnitude 9.1 Great Tohoku, Japan earthquake.

Learn more about how to protect yourself before, during and after an earthquake or a tsunami and how to Be 2 Weeks Ready. — MORE INFO: https://www.oregon.gov/oem/hazardsprep/pages/orshakealert.aspx

Three Subjects Arrested on Child Luring Charges in November

During the month of November 2024, Lincoln City Police Officers conducted several counter-child-luring operations on social media and developed probable cause to arrest three separate adults. These operations are used to investigate adults who inappropriately communicate with children.

In each of these cases, Officers posed as juveniles online and were contacted by the suspect who offered or agreed to meet with the fictitious juvenile for a sexual encounter. As of today, all three cases have been brought before a Lincoln County Grand Jury, who agreed there was sufficient evidence to support the arrest and prosecution. LCPD was assisted by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Toledo Police Department, and Dallas Police Department during these investigations.

Nicolas Mckenna, age 34, of Otis, Oregon was arrested in Lincoln City on November 12, 2024. His charges include Luring a Minor and Online Sexual Corruption of a Child 1st Degree. His bail was set at $1,000,000.

Joseph Thomas, age 41, of Toledo, Oregon was arrested in Toledo on November 16, 2024. His charges include Luring a Minor and Online Sexual Corruption of a Child 2nd Degree. His bail was set at $250,000.

Danny Hicks, age 58, of Dallas, Oregon was arrested in Dallas on November 29, 2024. His charges include 3 counts of Luring a Minor, 2 counts of Online Sexual Corruption of a Child 2nd Degree, and Purchasing Sex with a Minor. His bail was set at $1,000,000. 

LCPD wants to encourage parents to monitor their children’s social media activity and discuss with them the possible dangers of communicating with strangers online. These investigations are conducted in an effort to reduce criminal activity and to further enhance the safety of our community.

Court Documents Show Police Investigating Coos County Boy Found Dead As a Murder

Court documents show police are investigating the case of a missing Coos County boy who was found dead in the woods as a potential murder.

Five year old Joshua James McCoy was found deceased on Tuesday, November 12th about two miles from his home on Stage Road in Hauser. He was found naked in the woods.

Joshua, who was autistic and non-verbal, had been reported missing three days earlier. Court documents indicate Joshua’s mother, Angela German called her friend who lives in Utah and told her that Joshua was missing. Documents also say German told her friend instead of police because of past “bad experience with law enforcement.”

A search warrant was served to search German’s home less than a week after Joshua was found dead and her car was seized for forensic testing. The search warrant affidavit says German took ketamine and barbiturates to help her sleep.

Court records show that during an interview with police, German said she and Joshua laid down for a nap around 1:30 p.m. and when she awoke around 3 p.m. she discovered he was not in the house. However later during that same interview, she said they fell asleep around 10 a.m. and she woke up at 1 p.m. Documents also say that during that interview she “also made comments about Joshua being naked and dead in the woods.”

The affidavit says Joshua was found less than two miles from his home, he was approximately 20 feet off the roadway. He was naked with no scratches or marks on his legs or feet. He was not muddy anywhere except for some dirt on his hands. Documents say the medical examiner examined Joshua where he was found and said his body had “no signs of trauma, no petechia, and no scratches or cuts that would be consistent with Joshua walking through the briars or blackberry bushes.”

Tire impressions were also found in the mud near where Joshua was located. German’s car was found to have muddy tires.

Deputy Lee with the Coos County Sheriff’s Office says a search warrant will always be requested when a death is involved. “It’s not necessarily because there’s crime afoot, but it’s just to ensure that if there is, everything is done the right way,” Lee said.

German’s friend told detectives German and Joshua used to live with her in Utah, but were asked to leave because of German’s treatment of her son. It was just two weeks after leaving Utah that Joshua went missing.

Court documents say the Department of Human Services in Oregon has been investigating German’s alleged alcohol use, along with alleged mistreatment and neglect of her son for several months. Oregon DHS had even recently issued a pick up order. Documentation also show the Utah Department of Human Services was investigating German.

Lee could not confirm or deny that German was being investigated for murder. However the search warrant affidavit says there is probable cause to believe that Angela German is involved in the crimes of Murder II. 

Oregon Coast Humane Society is Offering Special Holiday Deliveries

In an effort to spread holiday cheer and to promote adoptions, the Oregon Coast Humane Society has announced it will be making special holiday deliveries on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning to families within 20 miles of Florence, the organization said.

OCHS officials said that, for those who prefer, appointments are also available on both days to visit the shelter and choose an adopted pet in person.

The holiday deliveries provide a two-fold opportunity for not only creating a lasting cherished memory but also a chance for new pet owners to receive guidance by adoption counselors on such topics as introductions to other animals in the home, feeding routines, and an animal’s specific behavioral information, OCHS staff said.

“When you adopt an animal from OCHS, we make sure to discuss the ongoing needs and expenses involved in caring for your new companion throughout their lifetime,” said Elizabeth Thompson executive director of OCHS. “We want all adopters to consider their future and think about how their new pet will fit into their lives in the years to come.”

OCHS staff said that prospective adopters are encouraged to visit the OCHS shelter to meet animals they’re interested in and to complete an adoption application. Pending an approved application, arrangements will be made for a holiday delivery or for a visit to pick the perfect pet, the organization’s staff said. OCHS officials said that the shelter is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

More information: https://oregoncoasthumanesociety.org/  —– Or call: 541-997-4277.

Tips To Purchase a Permit to Cut Your Christmas Tree From an Oregon National Forest

The holiday season is upon us, which means the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree is on. For those looking to bring home a real tree, permits are available now for all Oregon national forests.

Christmas tree permits are available for purchase online at recreation.gov (with an added $2.50 processing fee charged by the website) and at local U.S. Forest Service offices or from local vendors.

Permits are $5 each, and each permit allows the cutting of one Christmas tree. Households can purchase a maximum of five permits.

For downloadable maps of tree-cutting areas and a list of local vendors selling tree permits, go to bit.ly/WNFtree .

Fourth-grade students can receive a free tree permit by getting their Every Kid Outdoors pass and entering the voucher or pass number when prompted on Recreation.gov or by visiting a Forest Service office.

Seaside Art Walk for December

Seaside’s art walk takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month in the historic Gilbert District, with free, dedicated parking at Holladay Drive and Oceanway Street. Meet local artists and discover their latest collections.

Enjoy A Festive Holiday Experience Aboard the Candy Cane Express!

Nov 29-Dec 23 — Take in the views of the beautiful Oregon coastline aboard the historic train at Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad! Beautifully decorated both inside and out, this steam-powered train ride is complete with complementary hot cocoa and cookies. Write letters to Santa while awaiting a visit from the man in the red suit himself! This round-trip excursion departs Garibaldi and runs to Rockaway Beach for a one hour round trip ride. https://oregoncoastscenic.org/train-rides/candy-cane-express/

Annual Holiday Lights at Shore Acres

The event will include a speech by Mayor Sean Fitzpatrick, costumed carolers from the upcoming show “Decked!” which opens Dec. 6 at the Ten Fifteen Theater and a guest musical appearance by Blind Pilot.

Holiday Lights are set to sparkle again on Oregon’s Adventure Coast this season at Shore Acres State Park. Perched on the rugged cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Shore Acres State Park is famous for its beautiful 7-acre botanical gardens and Japanese lily pond. Visitors get a chance to stroll through this holiday tradition every night from 4:30pm to 9:00pm, Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve – including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It has become a real holiday tradition for the whole family. Admission is always free! However, parking at Shore Acres any time of the year is $5. — BOOK PARKING PASS NOW

Celebrate the Season at Sea of Lights

Celebrate the season at Sea of Lights: one of the coast’s most unique holiday light displays! Sea of Lights takes place at the Oregon Coast Aquarium from 5-8 p.m. on the first three Friday and Saturday evenings this December, with each weekend featuring a different attraction.

See lights, drink hot chocolate, meet Santa, and be merry! Chart a course for an unforgettable, family-friendly holiday experience. Find a full schedule of events, updates, and tickets online at aquarium.org/sea-of-lights

Sandbagging Stations in Lincoln County

Lincoln County residents have access to three self-serve, public sandbagging stations located in Yachats, Newport, and Lincoln City.

If you plan on using the self-serve sandbagging station, remember to bring a shovel. Hours:  Mid-October through mid-April. You can access sand any time of day or night. Community members may gather up to 10 sandbags per household, per season.  Full news releases, flyers, and social posts in English and Spanish are attached.

The 32nd Annual Bay Area Economic Outlook Forum will be held on Friday, December 13^th, starting at 6:45 am at The Mill Casino, utilizing, once again, an in-house face to face format.

This event is a joint project of the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and Banner Bank. The schedule for our 2024 program is very similar to previous years, with the continued use of an introductory speaker, this time focused on the challenge of housing issues and opportunities we have faced on the southwestern Oregon coast. After the introductory piece, our Oregon Employment Department economist, Guy Tauer, appears on the agenda.  Areas of local update focus are focused on Housing & Development this year which will include different developers and Key Housing experts. The popular feature “Home Grown Business Successes” will highlight two operations that worked through the challenges of the past two years and are part of our local success.  Tim Novotny, Communications Manager for the Coquille Indian Tribe, will be our emcee for the program. 

Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Looking For Suspect in Sandstone Cliff Vandalism

Officials with the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge are asking for the community’s help identifying the person or persons responsible for vandalizing a rock face recently.

According to the refuge, the names ‘Luke’ and ‘Niko’ were carved deep into a sandstone headland, which is located on public land. The refuge says the rock that was vandalized is on a section of beach between the cities of Gold Beach and Brookings.

Vandalism on public lands is illegal, and penalties include fines and jail time. Anyone with information or
knows who is responsible, is asked to contact the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge by emailing  oregoncoast@fws.gov.

The Oregon Coast Aquarium New Tufted Puffin Oregon License Plates on Sale

One of Oregon’s most adorably iconic seabirds is coming to the front and back of a car near you. The Oregon Coast Aquarium has opened voucher sales for its new tufted puffin license plates.

The design, featuring a tufted puffin floating in the ocean and gazing down at some fish below, was created by the
aquarium’s graphic design and marketing coordinator, Cam Mullins.

Starring a tufted puffin—one of Oregon’s iconic seabirds–funds from the new license plate will benefit both the Aquarium’s animals and their wild counterparts. You can purchase a voucher now and exchange it at the DMV once the physical plates are available. We need to sell 3,000 vouchers to reach the production stage—meaning the sooner 3,000 vouchers are sold, the sooner production begins, and the sooner you’ll have your puffin plates in-hand. Read the full story at aquarium.org/puffin-plate-debut: photo by OCAq’s Jeremy Burke

Tufted puffins are native to Oregon and nest on the rocky coast. The aquarium has a Seabird Aviary that sustains a flock of these sea birds and the profits from the license plates will go to benefit these puffins and their wild counterparts.

The voucher is available for purchase on the aquarium’s website. The cost covers the $40 surcharge fee and the money left over after the deduction of the DMV’s fees will go to support the Oregon Coast Aquarium’s
rehabilitation and conservation efforts. The aquarium is building a new marine wildlife rehabilitation center with
hopes of doubling the number of animal patients it can offer care to. FOLLOW on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/OregonCoastAquarium

Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay

Bill Offering Wildfire Survivors Relief from Taxes and Fees Passes Congress

The Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023, which is expected to be signed by President Joe Biden, will offer relief to survivors of wildfires dating back to 2015

After more than five years of waiting in some cases, wildfire survivors across the West will be relieved of paying federal income taxes on their recovery settlements and lawyers fees.

The Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023 passed the Senate on Wednesday night, about six months after it was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives nearly unanimously. It had been stalled for months, tucked into opposing tax packages from Senate Republicans and Democrats.

The bill, which is likely to be signed by President Joe Biden, would exempt people who have survived a wildfire between 2016 and 2026 from paying federal income taxes on disaster recovery settlements and fees paid to lawyers that were received or paid between 2020 and 2026.

Victims elsewhere are also likely to benefit. The bill applies to the survivors of the East Palestine train derailment that occurred in Ohio in 2023, though they’ve largely been exempted from federal income tax on payments from Norfolk Southern due to intervention from the Internal Revenue Service.

The disaster act would also provide relief for natural disaster survivors since 2020 in the form of a casualty loss deduction. That means that those who only received partial payments from insurers on home damage and other residential property damage could deduct those uncovered losses on their federal income taxes without itemization.

Passage of the bill, introduced last year by a Florida Republican Rep. W. Gregory Steube, follows a public plea last month by a political action committee. American Disaster Survivors sponsored billboards asking for help in Idaho and Oregon to grab the attention of the two leaders of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee where the bill sat. Oregon’s senior U.S. senator, Democrat Ron Wyden, chairs the committee, and Idaho’s U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo is its ranking Republican member. The disaster PAC was founded by survivors of fires that burned towns in California during 2017 and 2018 and which are still only partially rebuilt.

The bill would sunset in 2026, according to Wyden spokesperson Hank Stern, because federal tax codes are coming up for negotiation in 2025 and there is not a lot of political will among Republicans to do long-term tax policy in the lame duck session before a new Congress and administration comes to power in January. Wyden said in a speech following the bill’s passage that it was necessary and long overdue.

“Their homes and their businesses are burned, their possessions and livelihoods gone, and finally, the federal government is showing some common sense,” he said.

He and California House and Senate Democrats and Republicans who championed the bill said despite working in a bipartisan way to get it passed in the Republican-controlled House, Senate Republicans stalled progress.

“We’re going to be able to say to Westerners who’ve been hit by these big fires that they’re going to be able to go to bed tonight in the Western United States with a little relief that the federal government has finally come to its senses and made sure that they’re not going to have this additional tax burden,” Wyden said in his speech.

Spokespersons for the American Disaster Relief PAC said it would impact survivors of wildfire in many states.

“This has given a much needed glimmer of hope to millions of Americans across California, Oregon, Hawaii, Washington and Idaho who have been devastated by tragedy.”

Oregon Republicans also welcomed the bill, including state Rep. Christine Goodwin of Canyonville, who worked on a similar bill passed by Oregon’s Legislature.

“When I first wrote Oregon’s framework for wildfire disaster tax relief, I did so with the belief that government should not profit from the misfortune of its citizens. It took Rep. Jami Cate and I many years to get the bill over the line here in Oregon; I’m happy to see similar efforts happen so swiftly at the federal level.”

The state bill passed unanimously in the spring of 2024, ending state income taxation on settlements and lawyer fees for wildfire victims. That bill, Senate Bill 1520, was championed by survivors of the 2020 Labor Day Fires, including Sam Drevo, who survived the Santiam Canyon fire that burned down much of the city of Gates in the heart of the Santiam State Forest.

“On behalf of fire survivors everywhere, I am deeply grateful that this passed. I’m not super thrilled about the sunset, but it’s a huge step forward for fire survivors,” Drevo said.

He and his mom are still sorting out how much she was taxed on the settlement she received to help her rebuild her home in Gates that was completely wiped out by the fires.

“I know it’s going to be helpful, and to other people it’s going to be helpful. In general, it’s a huge thing to have this type of tax relief, especially in a situation where you lose everything,” he said. (SOURCE)

Oregon’s public universities and community colleges are calling for increased investment in higher education.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek’s proposed budget allocates more for higher education than the last biennium. But university and community college leaders say the budget doesn’t keep up with increased costs institutions are facing.

The leaders argue the inadequate funding could make higher education more expensive for Oregonians and slow down the state’s workforce development efforts.

The governor’s $138 billion budget, released earlier this week, is a guideline for state lawmakers ahead of next year’s legislative session. In her proposal, Gov. Kotek doubled down on her top three funding priorities: confronting Oregon’s homelessness and affordable housing emergency, K-12 education and addressing the state’s behavioral health care crisis.

“This is generally what we expected given the Governor’s collaboration with agencies during the development of Agency Request Budgets, the state’s revenue constraints and numerous pressing statewide priorities,” said Higher Education Coordinating Commission Executive Director Ben Cannon in a statement. Back in August, HECC commissioners sent a letter to the governor, objecting to the budget-setting process which led up to this week’s recommended budget.

In the 2025-2027 biennium, the governor recommends $4.39 billion for the agency responsible for two main funding streams for colleges and universities: operating revenue to run the institutions and financial aid programs to help students afford the cost of college.

The proposal, a 6.4% overall increase from the last biennium, sets aside more than $25 million to build up education pathways that lead to behavioral health care jobs and nearly $29 million to expand select need-based grants, like the Oregon Opportunity Grant. (READ MORE)

Oregon Ranks First In The Nation For Rate Of Homeless Families

Among the grim statisticsin a recent housing report released by the state, one stuck out: Oregon ranks first in the nation for homelessness among families with children.

Why it matters: While the statistics are striking, homeless advocates say they are likely a vast underestimate of a problem that can be difficult to quantify.

By the numbers: Oregon’s rate of homelessness among children is 19.9 for every 10,000 kids, according to the report, which relied on point-in-time survey data, a census count conducted on one night.

• The second-ranked state, Hawaii, had a rate less than half that of Oregon, with 7.2 of every 10,000 kids experiencing homelessness.
• The national average was just 1.4.

Yes, but: Brandi Tuck, executive director of the nonprofit Path Home, has been working with homeless families for nearly two decades and says those numbers are likely deceptive undercounts.

• Homeless families are what Tuck called the “invisible homeless,” often hiding their status to protect their children, avoid the stigma of homelessness and maintain employment.

Friction point: Tuck noted that the 2023 point-in-time survey found 6,300 people experiencing homelessness in Multnomah County.

• But statistics from the Department of Education show nearly 3,500 students in the county experiencing homelessness.
• Imagining that each of those students has at least one parent — and possibly younger siblings not yet in school — shows the gravity of the undercount, Tuck said.

State of play: Scott Kerman, executive director of the Old Town nonprofit Blanchet House, said single mothers — who are often fleeing domestic violence or other trauma — face special challenges because the city has no women-only emergency shelters that offer day-of accommodations.

• “When a family shows up and says we have no place to sleep, it’s devastating to not have answers for them because the answers don’t exist,” Kerman told Axios.

Threat level: Tuck said the trauma of being homeless for children has lasting development and health impacts that could lead to housing insecurity later in their own lives.

• “They’re the pipeline of inflow into the homeless system for decades to come,” Tuck said.

What they’re saying: Roxy Mayer, a spokeswoman for Gov. Tina Kotek, told OPB the report “describes a stark reality.”

• “After decades of underbuilding, Oregonians face a housing affordability crisis that worsens homelessness and financially burdens too many Oregon families,” Mayer said.

The big picture: Tuck said the top priority should be to get as many families off the streets and into housing as soon as possible, but these families need services — case workers, rent assistance and child care — to maintain stability.

• “You can’t just put people in housing and expect them to be resilient or figure it out themselves,” Tuck said. “People need support.”
• Julia Comnes, a spokeswoman for Multnomah County, said the county funds a number of programs specifically aimed at preventing family homelessness, including eviction prevention, family shelters with private rooms and permanent supportive housing programs.
• (SOURCE)

Ways to get and give help this holiday season

‘Tis the season for connection and caring for one another. But we also know this time of year can be challenging for many families. So whether you need a little extra support, or are looking for ways to give back to your community, we’ve got some suggestions to make the holiday season special.

Ways to get holiday help:

1. Visit the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) holiday resources webpage

Our 2024 holiday resources webpage has a list of local organizations that can provide hot meals, toys, winter clothes and more for families and individuals this holiday season. The page is available in English and Spanish, and you can sort the list by county to find resources in your area.

2. Connect with 211info

Not seeing anything near you on our list? Dial 2-1-1 to connect with someone who can guide you to the support you need. You can also visit 211info.org, enter your zip code, and search for “Holiday Gifts/Toys,” “Christmas Baskets,” or “Christmas Meals.”

3. Reach out to your local ODHS office

We’re here to help! Our local office staff often know about upcoming events and resources in your community. We can also help you learn more about services that be accessed year-round, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Oregon Health Plan (OHP), and more.

Ways to give holiday help:

1. Donate to ODHS or a community organization

ODHS partners with many community organizations that collect donations, like food, clothes, and toys, that support children in foster care, older adults, families in need, and more. For 2024, we’ve compiled a list with some of the ways you can donate to help the families ODHS serves. Don’t see anything on the list in your area? Contact your local ODHS office for more suggestions. You can also make a financial contribution to ODHS and specify how you want it to be used by emailing dhs.volunteerservices@odhs.oregon.gov.

2. Volunteer

Your time is one of the most valuable gifts you can give. At ODHS, we have several temporary volunteer opportunities this holiday season for things like wrapping donations, delivering gifts, and helping at holiday parties for children in ODHS care. Email dhs.volunteerservices@odhs.oregon.gov to learn about holiday openings or to get involved longer-term. If that’s not for you, we also recommend reaching out to local nonprofits or community centers with missions you believe in to see how you can help.

3. Build community connections

Sometimes, the best way to give back is by simply showing up. Attend local events, check in on your neighbors, and spread the word about the ways to get help that we listed above. A little kindness and connection can go a long way!

Holiday Express Steams Up – Rides run every Friday – Sunday through Jan. 4.

The countdown is on! The first day of the highly anticipated Holiday Express is almost here, and it’s your chance to ride a train pulled by a historic steam locomotive—an unforgettable experience like no other.

Santa’s nearly ready—list checked, elves prepped, lights sparkling, and candy canes in hand. The only thing missing is YOU!

Get your tickets now for this beloved annual tradition. Create lasting memories with friends and family aboard the Holiday Express. Rides begin Nov. 29 and run every Friday – Sunday through Jan. 4.

Special Offer: Get 10% off select rides from Nov. 29 to Dec. 8! But don’t wait, tickets are selling fast.

Be part of the magic this holiday season. Reserve your seat today! Oregon Rail Heritage Center 

Media contest invites Oregon high school students to promote young worker safety; entries due Feb. 21, 2025

Salem – High school students across Oregon are encouraged to put their video or graphic design skills on display by competing for cash prizes as part of a larger cause: increasing awareness about workplace safety and health for young workers.

The 2025 media contest, organized by the Oregon Young Employee Safety (O[yes]) Coalition, calls on participants to create an ad – through a compelling graphic design or video – that grabs their peers’ attention and convinces them to take the Young Employee Safety Awareness online training.

Participants get to choose the key message, theme, or tagline they believe will go furthest in capturing their audience and moving it to act. The target audience? Teen workers or teens who are preparing to work for the first time. The contest is now open for submissions. To compete, participants may submit either a graphic design or a video that is no more than 90 seconds in length.

Participants are expected to choose their key message, theme, or tagline in a wise and positive manner, including constructive and effective messages and language.

The top three entries in each of the two media categories will take home cash prizes ranging from $300 to $500. In each category, the first-place winner’s school, club, or organization will receive a matching award. Moreover, O[yes] will use the best of the submissions as ads in its ongoing efforts to improve on-the-job safety and health protections for teens.

While they carry out their projects, participants must ensure the health and safety of their team. No one should be endangered while creating their video or graphic design project.

The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. 

Participants are encouraged to submit entries online. Submissions may also be mailed on a USB thumb drive or delivered in person.

For more information about the entry form and rules, contest expectations, and resources – including previous contest winners  – visit the O[yes] online contest page.

The contest sponsors are local Oregon chapters of the American Society of Safety Professionals, Construction Safety Summit, Central Oregon Safety & Health Association, Hoffman Construction Company, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Oregon OSHA, SafeBuild Alliance, SAIF Corporation, and the Oregon Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) Alliance.

### About Oregon OSHA: Oregon OSHA enforces the state’s workplace safety and health rules and works to improve workplace safety and health for all Oregon workers. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit osha.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

About the Oregon Young Employee Safety Coalition (O[yes]): (O[yes]) is a nonprofit dedicated to preventing young worker injuries and fatalities. O[yes] members include safety and health professionals, educators, employers, labor and trade associations, and regulators. Visit youngemployeesafety.org.

Lend Your Voice to Shape the Future of Emergency Management in Oregon!

SALEM, OR – November 19, 2024 – The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) invites all Oregonians to participate in shaping the future of emergency management across the state. On February 11, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., OEM is hosting its second annual town hall where community members and partners from all backgrounds can provide input and feedback on the agency’s 2023–2025 Strategic Plan and the OEM Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) plan.

The Strategic Plan serves as a blueprint for OEM’s commitment to delivering excellent customer service and building resilience within Oregon’s communities. The IDEA plan guides emergency management practices that address the needs of all communities, fostering equitable outcomes and inclusive resilience statewide.  Feedback from this town hall will help guide OEM’s efforts to improve emergency preparedness, response and recovery in ways that serve every community across the state—before, during and after a disaster.

The town hall is open to everyone, and no prior emergency management experience is required. Closed captioning will be available, and a video and audio transcript of the event will be accessible upon request after the event.

Event Details:

Event: Oregon Department of Emergency Management’s second annual strategic planning and IDEA town hall
Date: February 11, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Location: Meeting will be virtual; link will be sent as event nears.  

Your feedback is critical in helping OEM serve Oregon’s diverse communities better and to foster an inclusive approach to emergency preparedness and resilience. We look forward to hearing from you at this important event.

For more information or questions, please contact Bobbi McAllister at obbi.mcallister@oem.oregon.gov“>bobbi.mcallister@oem.oregon.gov.

Contact us: Info@OregonBeachMagazine.com