The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Friday, February 2, 2024
Oregon Beach Weather
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY ISSUED: 2:16 AM FEB. 2, 2024 – NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM PST SUNDAY... * WHAT...South winds 15 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and northwest seas 12 to 17 ft at 14 seconds expected. * WHERE...All areas within 10 nm of shore north of Cape Blanco and all areas south of Cape Blanco to Point Saint George. * WHEN...Until 4 AM PST Sunday. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds and/or steep seas could capsize or damage smaller vessels. * View the hazard area in detail at https://go.usa.gov/x6hks
Search Continues for Missing Eugene Scuba Diver
WINCHESTER BAY, Ore. – A Eugene man who went scuba diving in the Umpqua River near the mouth of the Pacific Ocean is considered missing after he did not surface.
On Sunday, January 29, 2024, shortly before 3:00 p.m., 9-1-1 dispatchers received a call from a female reporting her friend, 47-year-old Jeffery Scott Harris of Eugene, missing. Harris had gone scuba diving in the Umpqua River near the mouth of the Pacific Ocean in Winchester Bay at approximately 12:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon. Harris, who had previous diving experience, had not returned prompting the call to emergency personnel.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, along with the United States Coast Guard (USCG), began a large-scale search for Harris. Two USCG Boats along with a helicopter searched the water. The Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue unit searched by land with K9 teams and ATVs until dark.
On Monday, searchers resumed their efforts by water and ground. Dive Rescue teams from Douglas County and Lane County attempted to dive in the morning during low tide but had to abort efforts due to dangerous diving conditions. The USCG helicopter assisted in searching throughout the morning.
“We have been in communication with Jeffrey’s family and have kept them updated as to the efforts that are being made. We are doing everything we can to assist them in locating Jeffrey,” Lt. Brad O’Dell said. “Deputies will return Tuesday to patrol the area by land. We are also coordinating with outside agencies to determine if specialized underwater searching equipment can be utilized in the conditions.”
The Sheriff’s Office has been assisted by the United States Coast Guard, Oregon State SAR Coordinator, CAHOOTS of Eugene, Lane County Search and Rescue, Douglas County Marine Patrol and Douglas County Search and Rescue.
Oregon Transfer Days at Clatsop Community College
Clatsop Community College is excited to announce Oregon Transfer Days, a special event designed to connect students with various universities and showcase the transfer opportunities available in the PNW region. The event will take place on Friday, February 2nd from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm in the Towler 3rd floor entrance on Clatsop Community College’s main campus.
Oregon Transfer Days will feature representatives from regional universities, providing students with the chance to explore different academic programs, learn about admission requirements, and discover the unique offerings of each institution. This event aims to facilitate a seamless transition for students planning to transfer to a four-year university.
Participating Universities include:
- National University of Natural Medicine
- Eastern Oregon University
- Grand Canyon University
- Linfield University
- National University of Natural Medicine
- Oregon Institute of Technology
- Oregon State University
- Oregon State University – College of Business
- Pacific Northwest College of Art at Willamette University
- Pacific University
- Portland State University
- Portland State University- School of Social Work and Child and Family Studies
- Prescott College
- Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Nursing
- University of Oregon
- University of Portland
- Western Oregon University
- Willamette University
This is a fantastic opportunity for students to gather valuable information, ask questions, and make informed decisions about their academic journey. Whether you are interested in healthcare, business, arts, or any other field, Oregon Transfer Days will have representatives from diverse disciplines to guide you.
For more information about Oregon Transfer Days, please contact Amy Magnussen at amagnussen@clatsopcc.edu. (SOURCE)
Lincoln County Sheriff announces he will not seek re-election for 2025
It is with very mixed emotions that I share my decision not to seek re-election for the position of Sheriff in the upcoming term, which will begin on January 6, 2025. Serving in the Sheriff’s Office for 36 years, and as Sheriff for the past 7 years has been an incredible journey, and I am grateful for the support and trust you’ve placed in me. After much consideration, it is the right time for our agency and for me personally.
I believe it is time for a new leader to guide our Sheriff’s Office forward and build upon the foundation we’ve laid. I am pleased to announce my full support for Lieutenant Adam Shanks as the ideal candidate to succeed me as Sheriff.
Lieutenant Shanks has been an invaluable member of our Sheriff’s Office team, demonstrating unwavering dedication, leadership, and a deep commitment to the well-being of our community. His experience, integrity, and passion for public service make him well-suited to take on the responsibilities of Sheriff.
As we navigate this transition, I have full confidence in the capable hands of the dedicated individuals who make up your Sheriff’s Office. I would like to express my true appreciation to the outstanding work they do to keep you safe. I am committed to working closely with the team to ensure a smooth transition and to provide any support needed over the next 11 months.
I want to express my deep thanks for the trust and support our citizens have shown me throughout my time as Sheriff. I am humbled and honored to serve you, and I look forward to seeing our community continue to flourish under new leadership.
Forest Service Seeks Concessionaire For Devils Churn Day Use Site
The Siuslaw National Forest is soliciting proposals for a business opportunity at the Devils Churn Day Use Site within the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area. A 100-square-foot concession space is available within a Forest Service building, and the agency is seeking a food and beverage service provider to operate this facility. Devils Churn is a popular year-round day use area and trailhead along U.S. Highway 101 just south of Yachats, Oregon.
The Forest Service has released a prospectus to advertise the opportunity and explain the application process. Interested parties are encouraged to review the prospectus and accompanying appendices. The application period opens on January 30, 2024. Applications must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3. Please read the instructions carefully before submitting an application.
One successful applicant will be chosen. The successful applicant will be issued a 5-year special use permit to conduct business in the concession space. MORE INFO: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/siuslaw/home/?cid=fseprd1162886
North Bend Murder Suspect Found Fit To Stand Trial
A man accused of murdering four people in North Bend and kidnapping a woman in Springfield has been found mentally fit to stand trial, but his attorneys don’t agree and they’re calling the state hospital’s evaluation into question.
Oen Evans Nicholson, 33, is accused of murdering his father, Charles Nicholson, in June 2021 at the RV campground near the Mill Casino in North Bend. Court documents said Oen then stole his father’s truck, hit and killed Anthony and Linda Oyster, then shot and killed Jennifer Davidson at the Herbal Choices marijuana dispensary. Court documents said Oen then kidnapped Laura Johnson from the Gateway Mall parking lot in Springfield, and forced her to drive him to Wisconsin, where she was able to convince him to turn himself in to authorities.
In 2022, Oen Nicholson requested permission to fire his public defenders and represent himself. The Coos County District Attorney ordered hearings to determine his competency to do so, which led to evaluations of his mental status, which led to Nicholson being committed to the Oregon State Hospital in October 2022. Later, in 2023, the D.A. filed motions to contest the evaluations’ findings that the defendant is not able to assist on his own defense and authorize involuntary medication for Nicholson to restore his competency to stand trial.
In November 2023, Nicholson was found mentally fit to stand trial so long as he continues to take his medication. The defense’s filing in response to the hospital’s ruling is sealed, but the D.A. filed papers disputing the reasons the defense believes Nicholson can’t stand trial. In the D.A.’s filing, one example he gave is that Nicholson is now eating food in the hospital, which he previously believed was poisoned. The D.A. has previously said he believes Nicholson is competent based on three letters Nicholson wrote to the court asking to represent himself, demonstrating he understands the court process and is therefore mentally competent.
Nicholson is facing 12 counts of first-degree murder, two counts of failure to perform the duties of a driver, and two counts of recklessly endangering another person. (SOURCE)
Man Arrested For Setting Astoria Home On Fire
Astoria Police say a man from Pacific County, Washington was arrested for setting a home in Astoria on fire early Tuesday morning which damaged the neighboring home also. Astoria emergency operators received a call around 2 a.m. reporting a structure fire at 66 West Bond Street. Astoria Fire Department and several neighboring departments responded to the fire.
Crews arrived on scene to find the house engulfed in flames. Crews report that two people who were living in the basement apartment were able to evacuate the home on their own. Then police officers forced entry into a neighboring house and evacuated a single person there. Both homes were damaged in the fire.
Police say the 911 caller who was passing through the area pointed out a man in the front yard of the house on fire. The man was not related to either home and was taken to the hospital for an unrelated medical issue.
Law enforcement then began the investigation at the scene of the fire. Following the investigation, police state Derrick Brett Gill from Pacific County was arrested on two counts of arson in the first degree, three counts of reckless endangering and two counts of criminal mischief in the first degree.
Quarterly Coffee with a Deputy – Waldport
Lincoln Co. Sheriff’s Office
More about these quarterly events:
Every three months our office will partner with a local coffee shop in Lincoln County to provide a time, space, and coffee for community members to meet our team and share what’s on their minds. Coffee with a cop events are a friendly and relaxed way for communities to connect with the deputies that serve them.
These events offer a unique opportunity for community members to directly engage with law enforcement, ask questions, voice concerns, and build positive relationships. Whether you’re a regular coffee drinker or simply curious about the work of law enforcement, this is a chance to connect with deputies on a personal level, learn about each other’s experiences, and share local feedback.
DOGAMI Recognizes the Anniversary of the Most Recent Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquake and Tsunami
Portland, OR— Around 9:00 PM on January 26th, 1700, a powerful magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck along the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ), which extends from Vancouver Island in British Columbia to Cape Mendocino in California. This earthquake released energy equivalent to about two billion tons of TNT, leading to significant impacts along the Oregon coast, the effects of which are preserved in the oral traditions of native communities and evident in the landscape. Damage from a CSZ earthquake would affect the entire region, causing several minutes of intense shaking along the Oregon coast, tsunamis tens of feet high, and shaking extending through the Cascade Range, with lesser impacts in eastern Oregon.
The global study of earthquakes has revealed that they are cyclical in nature, driven by the movement and interactions of tectonic plates. As such, the CSZ, where the 1700 earthquake occurred, has been accumulating energy since the last event that will be released in future earthquakes. To understand and reduce the risks associated with CSZ events, DOGAMI scientists study past earthquakes and faults, map tsunami evacuation zones, identify landslide-prone areas, and conduct risk assessments.
It is not possible to predict when the next Cascadia earthquake will happen. However, in the event of an earthquake, emergency managers advise immediate safety measures like dropping, covering, and holding on followed by evacuation for individuals in tsunami zones. Considering the expected impact, Oregonians should be aware of this hazard and prepare by having enough food, water, and supplies for at least two weeks, following guidance from the Oregon Department of Emergency Management.
Resources to help Oregonians learn about earthquakes and associated hazards:
ShakeAlert: An early-alert system that will send notifications to mobile devices and emergency alert systems in the event of a potentially damaging earthquake. https://www.shakealert.org/
Oregon Tsunami Clearinghouse: Access to a wide variety of tsunami information, including evacuation maps, maritime brochures, educational materials, and planning guidance. https://www.oregon.gov/dogami/tsuclearinghouse/Pages/default.aspx
NANOOS Tsunami Evacuation Zones: Tsunami evacuation zone maps along the Oregon and Washington coasts. https://nvs.nanoos.org/TsunamiEvac
DOGAMI Publications: Freely available publications on geologic hazards and earth science information from the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries. https://www.oregon.gov/dogami/pubs/Pages/pubsearch.aspx
HazVu: Oregon’s Geologic Hazards Map Viewer provides geologic hazard data in an online map view. https://gis.dogami.oregon.gov/maps/hazvu/
Oregon Department of Emergency Management: Learn more about what to do in event of an earthquake, and find advice and guides on how individuals, communities, and businesses can prepare. https://www.oregon.gov/oem/hazardsprep/pages/earthquakes.aspx
DOGAMI TSUNAMI INUNDATION MAP (TIM) SERIES – https://pubs.oregon.gov/dogami/tim/p-TIM-Till-13.htm
Landslide Closes Road and Impacts Homes In Astoria
A shallow, slow-moving landslide impacted seven houses in Astoria’s Uppertown neighborhood over the weekend.
As of Sunday evening, five houses have been “red tagged,” meaning they are unsafe to occupy at this time, according to Jeff Harrington, public works director for Astoria.
City Manager Scott Spence says the area moving near 27th Street and Grand Avenue is estimated at under five acres. Natural gas and water have been turned off to the area.
“Our primary concern is to keep people safe,” Spence said on Sunday. “This almost could be characterized as a rolling emergency. We’re actually seeing land movement affect people and property so we’re just doing the best we can to respond to the situation and make sure people are not in harm’s way.”
A portion of 27th Street has buckled and cracked and residents report that at least one house has moved several inches. They told KMUN on Sunday that they are beginning to see other signs of damage and movement throughout the area.
A drop in rainfall Sunday evening was a hopeful sign. “The best thing for the landslide right now is for it to dry out,” Spence said.
The 27th Street area — like many spots around Astoria — is historically prone sliding.
City staff are continuing to monitor the landslide and 27th Street remains closed. The city has asked people who are not residents to stay away from the area, and from Grand Avenue down below. (SOURCE)
Mother Of Waldport Woman Killed In Collision With Yachats Ambulance Plans Wrongful Death Lawsuit
The mother of a young Waldport woman killed Jan. 11 in a collision with a Yachats ambulance has gone to court asking to be named as her personal representative to help prepare for filing a wrongful death lawsuit.
The petition was filed Wednesday by attorneys for Heide A. Stocker of Waldport on behalf of her daughter, Kelsey R. Seibel, 25. Seibel had two sons, Kayden, 5, and Ryan, 4.
Seibel’s car collided with a South Lincoln Ambulance ambulance driven by Yachats Rural Fire Department firefighter/EMT at 5:16 p.m. Jan. 11 as the ambulance pulled out of the department’s driveway and onto U.S. Highway 101. It was headed to a high priority call at the Sea Aire assisted living facility just to the south.
Seibel died at the scene. Her passenger, Fokus Simmons, 16, of Waldport was critically injured and taken by ambulance to Good Samaritan Medical Center in Corvallis. He was in fair condition Wednesday, the hospital said. His mother, Elizabeth Wonson of Waldport, has been at the hospital since.
Oregon State Police said neither Seibel or Simmons were wearing seatbelts and the Kia Soul’s airbags did not deploy.
The fatal wreck and injury has shaken much of the Waldport community and Waldport High School, where Simmons is a sophomore. (READ MORE)
The City of Reedsport is Seeking a City Attorney
A City release said they are inviting proposals for contracted attorney service. For a list of duties and services required, go to the city’s website: www.cityofreedsport.org. Proposals are due to the city recorder’s office by 4:00 p.m. this Friday. Call 541-271-3603 for more information.
Florence Area Chamber of Commerce Drawing to Promote Tourism
The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce is consistently working on building the tourism traffic to Florence. The latest is a drawing for a two-night stay at the Driftwood Shores Conference Center and Resort.
The drawing is open to the public. Chamber President and CEO Betting Hannigan says the drawing comes with the two-night stay and a $50 certificate to the resort Market and Dine-in Deli.
You can register by using the qr code the link posted below. https://bit.ly/2NightsinFlorence
Oregon Department Of Forestry Recreation Team Seeking Camp Hosts
The Oregon Department of Forestry Recreation Team is looking for camp hosts to support operations at 8 campgrounds in the Tillamook, Clatsop, and Santiam State Forests for the 2024 season.
Campgrounds operates from May through October with flexible scheduling opportunities to include both full-season and short-season commitments.
Camp hosts are provided with:
*electricity
*water
*firewood
*septic
*ODF uniforms and supplies
Hosts help with light facility maintenance, visitor information services, and provide a point of contact for visitors in case of an emergency. Camp hosts enjoy direct access to trails and other recreation areas, get to meet people from all over the world, and can spend time exploring the vast experiences and views state forests have to offer.
To learn more, visit the ODF volunteer page: https://www.oregon.gov/odf/recreation/pages/volunteer.aspx
Florence Café 60 Senior Meals Program Reopens for Dine-In Meals
Lane Council of Government’s Senior Meals Program is reopening its Café 60 location in Florence after being closed for the past three years.
LCOG officials said that during the closure, LCOG’s Senior and Disability Services division offered grab-and-go meals but the reopening of Café 60 will provide a dine-in location for seniors who might otherwise go hungry. The Florence location will reopen on December 4 and operate three days a week at 11:15 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at the Florence Senior Center located at 1570 Kingwood Street, LCOG officials said.
Organizers said that interested seniors should make reservations at least a week in advance by calling ahead at 541-997-5673 or filling out a reservation menu at the Café 60 location. The program is open at no cost to seniors 60 years of age or over and those not 60 years or older are welcome to join by paying the meal cost of $8, program organizers said. Donations are welcomed to support the program’s continued operation in the community, LCOG officials said.
Volunteers are also sought to help with the program and those who would like to participate may call 541-682-1366. More program information is also available here: https://www.lcog.org/sdslane/page/florence-caf%C3%A9-60-reopens-dine-meals
OHCS awards $20 million to boost affordable modular housing production in Oregon
SALEM, ORE. — Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) awards $20 million to modular housing developers to boost production of these homes throughout Oregon. The developers will prioritize supplying modular housing that is affordable to state and local governments following a wildfire or other disaster, low-income housing construction and middle-income housing construction.
“Oregon needs affordable and middle-income housing in all shapes and sizes,” said OHCS Director Andrea Bell. “Investing in the production capacity of modular homes is vital to increasing housing options particularly in rural communities.”
Housing is considered modular when building sections are built in a factory and then put together at the intended site. The modular method of housing development can help accelerate affordable housing production as it can lower construction costs and reduce construction schedules compared to traditional building methods.
OHCS created the Modular Housing Development Fund to distribute the $20 million allocated through House Bill 2001 in the 2023 legislative session. The agency worked quickly to get funds out the door, opening applications for funding in November 2023. There were 17 eligible applicants, and the agency intends to award funding to the following four:
| Organization | Amount | City |
| Blazer Industries, Inc. | $5 million | Aumsville |
| Intelifab, LLC | $5 million | Klamath Falls |
| Pacific Wall Systems, Inc. | $5 million | Phoenix |
| Zaugg Timber Solutions, Inc. | $5 million | Portland |
“Thank you to the Oregon legislature and applicants. OHCS remains committed in being a partner in the collective journey to increase housing production across Oregon so everyone can have a safe, stable, and healthy place to call home,” said Bell.
Four Suspected Drug Traffickers Face Federal Charges After Law Enforcement Seize 370 Gallons of Liquid Heroin
PORTLAND, Ore.—Four suspected drug traffickers with apparent ties to a Mexico-based transnational criminal organization are facing federal charges today after they were caught transporting nearly 370 gallons of liquid heroin.
Marco Antonio Magallon, 44; Luis Deleon Woodward, 26; and Jorge Luis Amador, 25, all of Yakima, Washington, and Santos Alisael Aguilar Maya, 32, whose place of residence is unknown, have been charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and possess with intent to distribute heroin.
According to court documents, on January 24, 2024, as part of an ongoing, multi-agency drug trafficking investigation, law enforcement obtained information that several individuals working for a transnational criminal organization were transporting a large load of illegal narcotics into the District of Oregon. Late in the evening of January 24 and in the early morning hours of January 25, 2024, investigators observed a rented moving truck driven by Amador and an accompanying red pickup truck traveling west on Interstate 84 near Bonneville, Oregon. Investigators observed the vehicles travel together to a motel in Tigard, Oregon, making one brief stop in a commercial parking lot in Beaverton, Oregon.
Later on January 25, investigators executed federal search warrants on the defendants’ motel room and two vehicles. They located and seized eight 55-gallon barrels containing approximately 370 gallons of a liquid narcotic inside the moving truck and two loaded handguns inside the motel room. All four defendants were arrested without incident. Investigators transported the seized narcotic, which weighed approximately 1.4 metric tons, to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) narcotics room. Lab tests later confirmed the barrels contained liquid heroin.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), WCSO, and the Westside Interagency Narcotics Team (WIN). It is being prosecuted by Scott M. Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
WIN is a Washington County, Oregon-based High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force that includes members from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Beaverton and Hillsboro Police Departments, Oregon National Guard Counter Drug Program, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), FBI, and HSI.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Oregon Senate Republicans Cannot Run For Office Again After Walkout Per Ruling Mandates
Oregon Senate Republicans who participated in a historic 2023 walkout will not be allowed to run for office again, the Oregon Supreme Court announced Thursday morning.
In 2023, nine Oregon Senate Republicans walked off the job for 42 days in protest of a bill that protected abortion rights and gender-affirming health care.
Following this walkout, the Oregon Secretary of State ruled participating senators would be unable to run for office immediately after the current term due to Measure 113.
Voted-approved Measure 113 mandates that “any state legislator who accrues 10 or more unexcused absences during a legislative session shall be disqualified from holding legislative office” immediately following the current term.
The nine senators petitioned against the Secretary of State’s upholding of the measure following the walkout.
The Republicans argued that Measure 113’s wording was ambiguous when voted upon by voters, and did not support the secretary’s interpretation and enforcement of the rule after the walkout.
The Supreme Court states that it is upholding the secretary’s interpretation and that the Republicans who participated in the walkout will be unable to run for office again.
The court says that “the ballot measure history uniformly supported the Secretary’s interpretation,” and that “the ballot title and the voters’ pamphlet expressly and repeatedly informed voters that the disqualification would occur immediately following the legislator’s current term.”
The court concluded that voters would have understood the disqualification to apply to the term of office immediately following the term in which a legislator accrued 10 or more unexcused absences.
This means nine Republicans and one Independent senator who staged the record-long six-week legislative walkout in 2023 cannot file for re-election in 2024 or 2026.
Raymond James to pay nearly $200,000 in penalties and restitution for overcharging commissions to Oregon investors
Oregon’s Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) joined a multi-state settlement alleging that Raymond James & Associates, Inc. and Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. charged unreasonable commissions to retail customers on small-dollar transactions.
As a result of a coordinated investigation by state securities regulators, the group concluded that from July 1, 2018, to July 17, 2023, Raymond James charged unreasonable commissions on more than 270,000 equity trades and transactions nationwide resulting in overcharges of $8.25 million.
In Oregon, Raymond James charged unreasonable commissions totaling $96,550.83 to Oregon investors in 2,740 transactions. As part of the settlement, Raymond James will pay restitution and interest of $109,349.94 directly to the affected Oregon investors and a $75,000 civil penalty to the State of Oregon.
“Our division is pleased to be a part of this multi-state action to protect Oregon investors and hold Raymond James accountable for charging unreasonably high commissions,” said DFR Administrator TK Keen. “Protecting investors from unfair practices is a charge we take seriously. This settlement is a reminder that our division will hold companies accountable if they breach the trust of their customers.”
In addition to the fine and restitution, as part of the settlement, Raymond James agreed to change and enhance its policies and procedures to ensure that all commissions are fair and reasonable and completed a review to assess the efficacy of the changes it made.
The consent order can be found on our website.
### About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. Visit dfr.oregon.gov and www.dcbs.oregon.gov.
Public notice and request for comment on Medicaid waiver renewals and public notice about Fee-for-Service Selective Contracting 1915 (b) (4) Waiver
(Salem, Ore.) — The Oregon Department of Human Services’ (ODHS) Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS) seeks public comment on the renewal applications for three current Medicaid model waivers:
- Medically Involved Children’s Waiver
- Medically Fragile (Hospital) Model Waiver
- Behavioral (ICF/IDD) Model Waiver
These are standard waiver renewals that happen every five years. The revisions will not affect the services individuals receive. The number of individuals served by each waiver will remain the same. The renewals include administrative updates to the waivers’ effective dates, service projections and methods used to complete quality assurance activities. The effective dates will be July 1, 2024.
You can read the drafts of the three renewal applications via the links above or those on the ODDS website. Print versions of this notice are posted in local Community Developmental Disabilities Programs and Support Services Brokerages.
If you are interested, we invite you to submit feedback and comments on these waiver renewals. Here are two ways to do this:
- Send an email to s@odhsoha.oregon.gov“>odds.waivers@odhsoha.oregon.gov.
- Send written comments addressed to ODDS Medicaid waiver/State Plan analyst, 500 Summer Street NE E-09, Salem, OR 97301.
Deadline: To considered, we must receive your feedback by March 1, 2024.
Please note: This public comment period is not related to the Children’s Extraordinary Needs Waiver. ODDS submitted that waiver’s application to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) last month.
Oregon Wins Appeal of Prisoners’ Vaccine Prioritization Lawsuit
The ruling clears former Governor Kate Brown from liability just weeks after a separate Ninth Circuit panel concluded she can be disposed in the lawsuit.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday sided with Oregon in a lawsuit brought by current and former state prisoners who seek damages because they were given lower priority than prison guards to receive Covid-19 vaccines.
The appellate panel unanimously agreed that former Governor Kate Brown and the former director of the Oregon Health Authority, Patrick Allen, who were responsible for the state’s response to the pandemic in 2020, were shielded from liability for the inmates’ claims under the U.S. Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act.
The ruling reverses a federal magistrate judge’s denial of the two defendants’ motions to dismiss the claims against them.
“The PREP Act’s provisions extend immunity to persons who make policy-level decisions regarding the administration or use of covered countermeasures,” U.S. Circuit Judge Jennifer Sung, a Joe Biden appointee, said in the court’s decision.
An attorney for the plaintiffs didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Congress passed the PREP Act in 2005 to encourage the development and deployment of medical countermeasures, including vaccines, during times of crisis by limiting legal liability from administrating such countermeasures, according to the ruling. The statute gives covered people immunity from lawsuits and claims for damages that result from the implementation of the relevant countermeasures.
This immunity also extends to claims for civil rights violations by state officials, the panel said.
The PREP Act recognizes that protecting public health in the middle of a pandemic inevitably requires hard choices, said Roy Kaufmann, a spokesman for Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum.
“We appreciate that the Ninth Circuit has agreed with us that the federal courts are not a forum for second-guessing the state’s decisions about vaccine priority,” Kaufmann said. “We will continue to vigorously defend the state’s power to address emergencies.”
Thursday’s decision in favor of Brown comes just weeks after a separate Ninth Circuit panel had ruled in a split decision that the former governor should be deposed by the prisoners’ lawyers.
The lawsuit, filed in April 2020, was brought by six inmates at Oregon Department of Corrections facilities and the representative of a deceased prisoner’s estate. They seek damages for Eighth Amendment violations incurred due to the policies of Brown and other state officials the plaintiffs say failed to protect them from the spread of Covid-19.
“During the pendency of the lawsuit, thousands of people housed at ODOC facilities have been infected with Covid-19,” the inmates wrote in their sixth amended complaint, adding that at least 44 inmates had died.
The suit seeks relief for two classes: one composed of prisoners who contracted Covid-19 and another made up of those who died from the virus or from Covid-related complications.
The other two judges on the Ninth Circuit panel were U.S. Circuit Judge Johnnie Rawlinson, a Bill Clinton appointee, and U.S. Circuit Judge Carlos Bea, a George W. Bush appointee. (SOURCE)
Mailing Error in Sending Tax Form 1099-G
On January 26, 2024, the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) announced that a mailing error occurred while sending the tax form 1099-G to those who received benefits from the Unemployment Insurance program in 2023. This error impacted 32,960 out of 122,245 mailings, meaning some individuals may have not received a tax form 1099-G at all, and others may have received an additional form not belonging to them.
A machine error caused a subset of those tax forms to go into envelopes already containing a tax form 1099-G. DAS was first notified of this error during the ongoing printing and mailing process for tax form 1099-G and called for an immediate halt, which prevented the majority of these forms from being impacted. For More Information: https://unemployment.oregon.gov/1099g-mailing-error#:~:text=This%20error%20impacted%2032%2C960%20out,a%20tax%20form%201099%2DG.
Missing Yachats Man’s Vehicle Found in North Lane County
On 08/25/2023, Dustin Steyding was reported missing to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office after he left work on 07/22/2023 and hadn’t been located since. Dustin was living and working in the Yachats area.
Dustin was reported to be in good physical condition, having previously worked as a hot shot firefighter in New Mexico. Dustin is very experienced in the woods and commonly goes out for hikes to stay in shape. Without means to locate Dustin, Deputies entered Dustin as a missing person in a national database.
On 09/04/2023, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office received a call from Dustin’s family after they located his vehicle on Keller Creek Rd, just outside of Lincoln County in Lane County. Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Deputies contacted the vehicle and determined it had been at the location for some time. Deputies were unable to determine Dustin’s direction of travel from the vehicle.
The vehicle having been located in Lane County, Lincoln County Deputies contacted the Lane County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team and arranged for their response the next day to started searching the area. After two days of searching, no clues to Dustin’s have been found.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Dustin Steyding should contact the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at 541-265-0777 and reference case number 23S-07321.
83-year-old Clarence Edward Pitts walked away from his home in Bandon on Tuesday, January 31 at around 1:00 p.m. Pitts is described as:
- 6′ 00″
- 150 lbs
- Gray hair
- Brown eyes
- Last seen wearing an orange beanie, plaid jacket, tan pants and white shoes
- May have a walking cane
- Has dementia and PTSD
Pitts may be in a vehicle that was also found to be missing from the home:
- 1999 Toyota Van
- White
- Oregon license plate: WYN 788
If you see Clarence or have any information pertaining to where he may be, please call the Coos County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center at 541-396-2106 or the Bandon Police Department at 541-347-3189.
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