Oregon Beach News, Friday 2/24 – Snow Along Entire Oregon Coast! Pacific Power Crews at Work Restoring Lincoln City Customers, Newport Seafood & Wine Festival Going For It Today After Snow Delay

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

Friday, February 24, 2023

Oregon Beach Weather

Oregon Weather — Snow Along Entire Oregon Coast!

— Astoria reported more than three inches of snow. Snow also fell on Lincoln City, Newport, Seaside, and Garibaldi. Coos Bay/North Bend, Florence, Port Orford, and Brookings didn’t escape the snowfall either. Harris Beach near Brookings was closed due to the snowfall Thursday.

On the Oregon coast and in the Coast Range, downed trees closed several roads Thursday, including U.S. 101 north of Neskowin, from milepost 96 to 105; U.S. 20, from milepost 10 to 20; and Oregon 34, between milepost 5 and 28.

And in Newport, snow postponed the city’s seafood and wine festival. With icy roads expected organizers of the Seafood and Wine festival have decided to hold off on opening until Friday, February 24th, at noon.

”It’s been very successful. Each year it keeps getting bigger,” said Newport Mayor Dean Sawyer.  “About 20,000 people a year come here for this weekend.”

Astoria

The event, which has occurred for more than 40 years, will kick off tomorrow at noon and run through Sunday, according to organizers. Sawyer added that visitors should check road conditions before coming to town.

Temperatures along the coast and inland are expected to drop into the teens overnight. Any moisture still on the roadways will become icy. There are widespread power outages around Lincoln County and falling trees will continue to be a potential hazard. Highway 101 remains closed north of Neskowin. Highway 34 remains closed from mileposts 9-34. Lincoln County Schools will be closed again for Friday along with Oregon Coast Community College.

Empire OR

Pacific Power Crews at Work Restoring Lincoln City Customers after Snow and Wind Slam Coast

Portland area and from Roseburg south have potential for widespread outages as snow and wind ready for round two of storm.

“Right now, our major area of concentrated effort is the Lincoln City area,” said Allen Berreth, vice president of operations. “Initially system reports were indicating the outages in Lincoln City were larger than they actually were. But within an hour that issue was resolved. We are now looking at about 2,800 customers without power and we are working to get those homes and businesses restored as quickly and as safely as possible.”

Regionwide, the snowstorm dropped large amounts of snow, but it was less dense than the heavy wet snow that fell over the holidays. Fewer outages have occurred due to falling tree limbs than the December 2022 event.

However, the Pacific Power meteorology team is continuing to monitor the situation. An additional 2 to 4 inches of snow may fall from Portland to southern Oregon in the next 24 hours, accompanied by east winds up to 45 miles per hour. The potential for more outages in these areas remain.

“We are deploying crews and equipment based on these detailed forecasts to aid in any restoration efforts,” Berreth added. 

Pacific Power encourages customers to report outages by calling 1-877-508-5088 or text OUT to 722797Text STAT to 722797 to check the status of your outage. 

To ease the inconvenience of power outages and assist crews in restoring power, Pacific Power suggests the following tips and safety precautions:

  • Stay away from all downed power lines and utility lines. Even if the lines are not sparking, they could be energized and extremely dangerous. Call 911 and report the outage to Pacific Power at 1-877-508-5088
  • Don’t drive over downed power lines.
  • Maintain safe distances from workers. Repair work is being done under our COVID-19 safety protocols. Waves and acknowledgement are welcome, but please allow crews to do their work at an appropriate distance both for operational and COVID-19 safety.
  • If there is damage to your service mast or weather head, where the powerline connects to your home or business, you will need to contact a licensed electrician for repairs before service can be restored. Our crews can only work on company-owned equipment.
  • Check on your neighbors, especially those who may need special assistance. Also, check with others who have electricity, to see if you can visit.
  • If you have power at this time, keep mobile devices charged so that may be used in an emergency. Before anything happens, download the Pacific Power app to your smart device so you can have information readily available.
  • Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. Most food requiring refrigeration can be kept safely in a closed refrigerator for several hours. An unopened refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours. A full freezer will keep the temperature for about 48 hours. 
  • Remember your pets! Pets who spend a lot of time outdoors need more food in the winter because keeping warm depletes energy.
  • If you are using alternate heat or cooking sources, remember to allow plenty of ventilation. Never burn charcoal for heating or cooking indoors.
  • If you are using a generator, make sure to follow all manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure the generator is outside and not near any household air intakes. Do not connect the generator directly to your breaker box as this can create a dangerous situation for crews working on the powerlines. Instead, plug essential appliances directly into the generator.

About Pacific Power

Pacific Power provides safe and reliable electric service to more than 764,000 customers in Oregon, Washington, and California. The company supplies customers with electricity from a diverse portfolio of generating plants including hydroelectric, natural gas, coal, wind, geothermal and solar resources. Pacific Power is part of PacifiCorp, one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States, with 2 million customers in six western states. For more information, visit www.pacificpower.net.  

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The Newport Seafood & Wine Festival is Newport’s largest annual event. It started in 1977 with the intention to boost the local economy during the slowest time of the year.

Today, the four-day event draws thousands of visitors to Newport during the last full weekend February, boasting over 125 vendors: seafood vendors, craftspeople, and Northwest wineries all under a tented venue adjacent to the Rogue brewery in South Beach.

More than 300 volunteers, a dedicated volunteer committee, and local support from city and county agencies make this annual event possible. Presenting Sponsor Chinook Winds Casino Resort has generously supported the event for the past thirteen years. MORE INFO: Newport Seafood & Wine Festival

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Lincoln County Seedling Sale 2/26

The Lincoln County Chapter of the Oregon Small Woodlands Association is hosting its annual native tree seedling sale on Saturday at Table Mountain Forestry Shop at 247 NE Business Highway 20 in Toledo.

Many varieties of native tree seedlings and some native shrub species will be available. This annual event is designed to provide the public with affordable native tree seedlings, promote natural resource conservation awareness, and to increase forest owners’ knowledge and abilities as stewards of their land.

Most seedlings will be $2. MORE INFO: https://www.oswa.org/blog/events/lincoln-county-seedling-sale/

Oregon Weather

Icy conditions all over – Be Careful.

Schools were closed from Portland into Salem and as far south as Roseburg. Wednesday, schools from Medford to Roseburg were canceled due to snow on the valley floor.

Bus-Involved Accident in the Illinois Valley 2/23/2023 07:20:21; TA2 – Traffic Accident Lane Bl; 336 S KERBY AVE, Cave Junction;

Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response, Josephine County Sheriff, Oregon State Police, and Josephine County Animal Control responded to a vehicle into a school bus. No injuries to anyone.

With the combination of City of Cave Junction and Jerry’s Tow, they were able to bring the bus back up the hill.

Road crews from ODOT were hard-pressed to find a major route without abandoned vehicles that plows would need to navigate around in many areas.

In the higher elevations in Klamath County, Crater Lake has already hit the average seasonal peak of snow (105″ which normally falls around March 20) Much more snow is on the way tonight, Sunday and next week.

Travelers should prepare for winter driving conditions throughout the state over the next few days. Snow, low temperatures, and high winds are all in the forecast.

Valleys and other low elevation areas will likely have less snow, but low overnight temperatures can make roads icy. A clear road can still have ice, so slow down and budget extra time for your trip.

Many roads through high-elevation areas have packed snow and ice. High winds may cause snow drifts, too. Tire chain restrictions are in effect on most high-elevation roads. If you’re traveling this week, be winter-ready with water, snacks, warm clothing, medications, and other essentials.

Crews are plowing and treating the roads, but can’t be everywhere at once. Give snowplows and other vehicles space, and only stop to chain up your vehicle’s tires in designated areas. Driving conditions can change quickly during widespread winter weather.

—- Visit tripcheck.com for the latest on road conditions, chain restrictions, and other winter travel information.

It wasn’t just the traffic on the highways and roads that were affected statewide. Wednesday’s near-record snowfall in Portland has left the city’s runways gridlocked along with its roadways, with dozens of flights canceled or delayed at Portland International Airport.

The airport was still open Wednesday morning, but the online departures and arrivals board showed 128 canceled flights and 18 delayed flights as of about 9 a.m., including both inbound and outbound flights.
A message on the airport’s website urged travelers to contact their airlines and check their flight statuses before heading to the airport, and to allow extra time to arrive safely.

A few flights made it in and out in the early morning hours, according to the board, but the vast majority were canceled or delayed through about 10 a.m., with a mix of cancellations and on-time statuses for flights in the later morning or early afternoon.

The board showed that flights ran mostly uninterrupted Wednesday morning and early afternoon, with departure
cancellations beginning to pick up around 3 p.m. and arrival cancellations following suit about an hour later. Most departures after 4 p.m. and arrivals after 6 p.m. wound up being canceled.

Several flights were postponed or canceled at the Rogue Valley/Medford airport Wednesday and Thursday, leaving
travelers stranded.

Revenue Projections Are Up In Oregon

The Oregon Office of Economic Analysis released its updated revenue forecast this week. It said that since December 2022, combined revenues for the 2021 to 2023 and 2023 to 2025 budget cycles have increased by $696 million.The Oregon legislature uses data from this office to aid in its decision-making on fiscal issues.

Anthony Smith, Oregon state director for the National Federation of Independent Business, said the forecast means Oregon lawmakers should cut taxes.“State revenues are up again,” Smith said in an NFIB press release, “and now that legislators have several hundred million dollars to work with for the state’s next budget, now is the time to provide tax relief for Oregon’s small businesses that are still facing a variety of economic challenges, including supply-chain issues, inflation, and a very tight labor market.”

Smith said he wants to see cuts made to the estate tax and the Corporate Activity Tax.“The Corporate Activity Tax (CAT) and Oregon’s estate tax (death tax) are two tax policies in need of some practical revisions,” Smith said. “Thankfully, both the House and the Senate have already held public hearings on several bills that would make a big difference for Oregon’s small businesses without substantially impacting the state’s overall fiscal outlook.”

NFIB wants to raise the CAT filing and exemption thresholds. The state taxes businesses with sales in Oregon of at least $1 million, regardless of whether or not they show a profit. Additionally, NFIB wants to raise the estate tax exemption threshold, which is currently $1 million in Oregon.

Although the state is bringing in more revenue than previously expected, Governor Tina Kotek’s response to the news did not mention support for tax cuts. “As inflation continues to slow, this revenue forecast shows that we can anticipate having more predictability and stability for the coming budget cycle,” Kotek said in a press release issued by her office. “While this is encouraging news, the legislature still has some tough choices to make. We will have to keep focused and stay the course in order to make much-needed investments in Oregonians’ most urgent shared priorities: housing and homelessness, behavioral health and education.” MORE INFO: https://www.oregon.gov/das/OEA/Pages/Index.aspx

Marion County Sheriff’s Office looking for help in identifying deceased female found in a Jefferson field

On February 21, 2023, about 4:45pm, deputies from the Sheriff’s Office Enforcement Division, Jefferson Contract, along with detectives from the Criminal Investigations Unit responded to a report of a citizen finding a female, deceased, in a field at the dead-end of Tenth Street in Jefferson, Oregon. The Marion County Medical Examiner’s Office responded to assist.

Wednesday, an autopsy was performed by the State Medical Examiner and the death has been determined to be natural causes. The female found, was a white female, unknown age, 5’3 ½”, 128 pounds, wearing a red tank top, camo colored long sleeve shirt, Green sweatshirt, green sweatpants, and black tennis shoes. She was described as having a brooch attached to the green sweatshirt in the left chest area with a white pearl-looking piece in the middle of it.

We are asking anyone with information on a possible identify for this female to please call Deputy N. Morse, 971-720-0726.

Registration is Open for the 2023 Oregon Women Veterans Conference

Registration is now open for the 2023 Oregon Women Veterans Conference, which will be held on May 20 and 21 at the Salem Convention Center. Hosted by the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs, this free, biennial event is the largest gathering of women veterans in the state.

Women veterans from every branch of military service, era and background are invited to attend this free event celebrating the service and contributions of women who answered the call to serve throughout history. The conference will include informational workshops, keynote speakers and networking opportunities. 

This year’s theme, “Stronger Together — Voices of Service” is a testament to the continued strength, diversity and community of our women veterans, said ODVA Director Kelly Fitzpatrick, who is an Army veteran and the first woman to lead the state agency.

“Oregon continues to be a leader in recognizing, remembering and honoring the outstanding contributions of women who have served their country, and we are proud to be able to host this year’s conference in person again,” Fitzpatrick said. “Together, our collective voices achieve more, overcome challenges, and allow our stories to be shared.”

Women veterans make up one of the fastest-growing segments of the Oregon veteran community, with an estimated 25,000 women veterans living in the state today, representing nearly one-tenth of overall veteran population.

The first Oregon Women Veterans Conference was held 25 years ago in 1998. 

“The camaraderie and shared calling of service is what inspires our lives and is what continues to unite women veterans across every generation and era of service,” said ODVA Women Veterans Coordinator Jessica Bradley. 

The conference is an opportunity for women veterans to socialize, connect to resources, learn about their earned veteran benefits, and celebrate their service.

Attendance is free, but registration is required. Please visit wvc.oregondva.com to register and find additional event information on lodging and sponsorship and vendor opportunities.

Established in 1945, the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs is dedicated to serving Oregon’s diverse veteran community that spans five eras of service members. ODVA administers programs and provides special advocacy and assistance in accessing earned veteran benefits across the state. Learn about veteran benefits and services, or locate a local county or tribal veteran service office online at oregon.gov/odva

Hundreds Of Thousands Of Jobs At Risk Of Automation And AI Replacement In Oregon

The U.S. job market is about to enter an era of unprecedented change that could impact tens of millions of workers. As robotics and artificial intelligence technologies continue to advance, companies will be able to leverage new, cost effective tools to create and deliver their products to the market, while reducing their need for workers.

According to a recent report from NetVoucherCodes, a U.K.-based voucher code website, automation and AI pose a high risk to 285,850 jobs in Oregon in the coming years – or 18.9% of all jobs considered, the 22nd smallest share among states.

Several media and tech companies, including BuzzFeed and Microsoft, have already stated their intentions to use artificial intelligence to generate content and improve their products. And while BuzzFeed claims that AI will not impact the size of its workforce, the announcement came a month after the company laid off 12% of its employees to cut costs.

The advantages AI can offer businesses is undeniable, and the implications are impossible to ignore. AI is capable of automating a wide range of tasks that, until now, have been performed by humans. But unlike human beings, an AI does not need regular paychecks or breaks. And as AI capabilities continue to develop, virtually no industry will be left untouched. (Here is a look at the fastest growing industries in America .)

Distinct from AI, automation – such as the software used in automatic checkout counters or robotics used in manufacturing – poses risk to the largest number of jobs in the coming years. In Oregon, automation poses a high risk to 249,900 jobs, compared to 35,950 jobs exposed to risk from AI technology.

All data in this story was compiled by NetVoucherCodes . States are ranked on the share of all jobs that are at high risk of being replaced by AI or automation. Notably, NetVoucherCodes used an AI program to aid in its analysis. Source

Boosting Bighorn Numbers In Oregon

In southeastern Oregon, biologists are monitoring an important California bighorn sheep population. The Hart Mountain bighorn herd was the first successful reintroduction of California bighorns (Ovis canadensis californiana) in the state. Some 20 sheep were introduced in the 1950s, and they have since become the source for California bighorn reintroduction throughout Oregon, but in recent years it faced precipitous declines.

In January, biologists conducted capture-and-release work on Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge as part of ongoing efforts with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to increase the bighorn population there. The sheep are coping with encroachment of juniper and other invasive plants, which limit the availability of nutrients for them. The effort is part of an initiative spanning Idaho, Oregon and Nevada among state and federal agencies, Tribes, Oregon State University and wild sheep nonprofits. Source

https://www.oregon.gov/osp/missing/pages/missingpersons.aspx

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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