The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Friday, April 7, 2023
Oregon Beach Weather
Astoria’s State Social Services Office Closes Indefinitely Over Building Safety Concern
The Oregon Department of Human Services has closed its Astoria office indefinitely due to a building safety concern.
The state said employees are working remotely while the issue is being investigated, but declined to provide any other details or specify which day the office closed.
One of the owners of the building on Marine Drive, however, told The Astorian that the issue stemmed from a cracked heat exchanger, which was causing noncombustible gas to escape into the building.
Kathy Schroeder, of Portland-based Marine Street LLC, which owns the building, said the issue was not obvious at first and that there has been urgency over the past few weeks to identify the problem after some people started experiencing symptoms such as headaches.
She said work is being done to get the issue repaired.
The Astoria office provides help for food, medical and child care benefits and has child welfare and vocational rehabilitation offices.
“The Oregon Department of Human Services takes the health and safety of our clients and staff seriously,” Jake Sunderland, a spokesman for the department, said in a statement. “We will share details about where members of the community can get in-person support and services as soon as we are able to.”
He said people can still get services while the office is closed.
The Astoria office is locked and signs posted on the door tell people not to enter and that no staff are on the premises. It is unclear when the office first closed, and when, or if, it reopened before closing again.
The Department of Human Services posted a notice on Facebook on March 16 saying the office would be closed until March 17 for facility maintenance.
On March 20, the state shared another Facebook post saying the office continued to be closed due to an ongoing facility issue.
The state announced on Facebook Tuesday afternoon that the office would be closed until further notice.
People familiar with the issue say the department is searching for spaces people can receive help in-person. (SOURCE)
Authorities Reportedly Investigating Video Showing Boat Charging Sea Lions On Columbia River
Federal and Multnomah County law enforcement officers reportedly are investigating a boat that apparently targeted sea lions on the Columbia River at high speed.
A video on Twitter showed the boat charging repeatedly at surfaced sea lions, and KGW reported that federal and county authorities were investigating. Officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Multnomah County did not immediately respond to messages left by The Oregonian/OregonLive on Tuesday evening. While deterring sea lions during sportfishing excursions is legal, within strict guidelines, targeting them is not. (SOURCE)
Salmon Fishing Season Canceled For Most Of the West Coast
A federal regulatory group voted Thursday to officially close king salmon fishing season along much of the West Coast after near-record low numbers of the fish, also known as chinook, returned to California’s rivers last year.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council approved the closure of the 2023 season for all commercial and most recreational chinook fishing along the coast from Cape Falcon in northern Oregon to the California-Mexico border. Limited recreational salmon fishing will be allowed off Southern Oregon in the fall.
“The forecasts for Chinook returning to California rivers this year are near record lows,” Council Chair Marc Gorelnik said after the vote in a news release. “The poor conditions in the freshwater environment that contributed to these low forecasted returns are unfortunately not something that the Council can, or has authority to, control.”
California had already last month issued a salmon fishing ban for the remainder of the season. According to CBS Bay Area, it marked only the second time in state history that California had canceled its salmon fishing season, with the last ban taking place between 2008 and 2009, also due to drought conditions.
Biologists say the chinook salmon population has declined dramatically after years of drought. Many in the fishing industry say Trump-era rules that allowed more water to be diverted from the Sacramento River Basin to agriculture caused even more harm.A Chinook salmon leaps from the water in a holding pond at Coleman National Fish Hatchery on Jan. 19, 2022, in Anderson, California. Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
The closure applies to adult fall-run chinook and deals a blow to the Pacific Northwest’s salmon fishing industry.
Much of the salmon caught off Oregon originate in California’s Klamath and Sacramento rivers. After hatching in freshwater, they spend three years on average maturing in the Pacific, where many are snagged by commercial fishermen, before migrating back to their spawning grounds, where conditions are more ideal to give birth. After laying eggs, they die.
The council is an advisory group to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, which makes the final decision, but historically has followed the council’s rulings. The secretary’s decision will be posted in the Federal Register within days.
Experts fear native California salmon are in a spiral toward extinction. Already California’s spring-run chinook are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, while winter-run chinook are endangered along with the Central California Coast coho salmon, which has been off-limits to California commercial fishers since the 1990s.
Recreational fishing is expected to be allowed in Oregon only for coho salmon during the summer and for chinook after Sept. 1. Salmon season is expected to open as usual north of Cape Falcon, including in the Columbia River and off Washington’s coast.
Though the closure will affect tens of thousands of jobs, few are opposed to it. Many fishers say they want to take action now to guarantee healthy stocks in the future.
They hope the unusually wet winter in California that has mostly freed the state of drought will bring relief. An unprecedented series of powerful storms has replenished most of California’s reservoirs, dumping record amounts of rain and snow and busting a severe three-year drought. But too much water running through the rivers could kills eggs and young hatchlings.
ODHS provides $2.6 million of grants to community-based organizations and Tribal governments to assist low-income individuals with tax preparation for the 2023 tax season
(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) has provided $2.6 million in grant funding to culturally specific and responsive organizations that provide tax navigation and preparation services to people with low income in Oregon for the 2023 tax season.
The grant program was made possible by House Bill 4117 (HB 4117) of the 2022 Oregon Legislative Session. HB 4117 created a grant program to help people in Oregon navigate both state and federal tax systems, provide free tax preparation and education about federal earned income tax credits and other tax benefits available to individuals with low income.
The organizations who received a portion of the $2.6 million of grant funding include:
- Centro de Servicios Para Campesinos
- The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
- Hacienda Community Development Corporation
- The Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization
- Latino Community Association
- Legal Aid Services of Oregon
- Metropolitan Family Services
- NW Family Services
- Oregon State University – Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program
- South Coast Business Employment Corporation
- United Way Jackson County
About the Oregon Department of Human Services – The mission of the Oregon Department of Human Services is to help Oregonians in their own communities achieve wellbeing and independence through opportunities that protect, empower, respect choice and preserve dignity.
$544,000 in funding available for culturally-specific organizations that provide domestic violence and sexual assault survivor services
(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Self-Sufficiency Programs, Survivor Investment Partnership is inviting culturally-specific organizations that provide domestic violence and sexual assault survivor services to apply for one of eight grants of up to $544,000 in funding.
The deadline to apply for the grant funds is April 26, 2023 at 3:30 p.m. and the application can be found online.
A webinar will be held on April 7, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. PDT to provide information about the Survivor Investment Partnership, explain the grant process and answer any questions applicants may have. Interested applicants can join the webinar using the Zoom link (Meeting ID: 160 472 7316. Passcode: 377177). The webinar will also be recorded and available online.
This grant program is intended to increase the accessibility of services and meaningful financial support to American Indian and Alaska Native, Indigenous, Black, and Person of Color domestic violence and sexual assault survivors and survivors from other historically marginalized communities.
Survivor Investment Partnership grant funds will be used to support staffing for survivor services and to offer financial assistance to vulnerable populations for resources including but not limited to housing, legal fees, immigration fees, penalties, lock changes, cameras, rental assistance, moving costs, plane tickets, license fees, housing applications and emergency hotel stays.
About the Oregon Department of Human Services – The mission of the Oregon Department of Human Services is to help Oregonians in their own communities achieve wellbeing and independence through opportunities that protect, empower, respect choice and preserve dignity.
Wyden And Merkley Announce University Of Oregon Receives $800,000 To Launch New Wildfire Research Center
A new research center launched on Thursday at the University of Oregon (UO) will focus on the impacts of wildfire smoke, according to state officials.
Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said that the UO received $800,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on April 6 to officially launch the new Center for Wildfire Smoke Research and Practice.
“Nearly every Oregonian has in some way experienced the growing threat that wildfires pose to our lives, livelihoods, and health,” said Sen. Merkley, Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee chair. “This critical funding for the University of Oregon’s Center for Wildfire Smoke Research and Practice will help to expand our understanding and improve our abilities to mitigate and reduce the harmful effects wildfire smoke has on Oregonians across the state.”
Goals of the center will focus on the effects and management of wildfire smoke as a health hazard, state officials said. State officials said those with respiratory diseases, asthma and the homeless are particularly prone to the effects wildfire smoke.
The center will serve as a communications hub for the development of better wildfire smoke event management practices, state officials said.
“At the University of Oregon, we are so excited to launch the Center for Wildfire Smoke Research and Practice with the goal of supporting Oregon communities to become more resilient in the face of increasing wildfire smoke,” said Cassandra Moseley, Research Professor and Vice Provost of Academic Operations and Strategy at the University of Oregon. “We will conduct research driven by community needs and support the growing collaborative networks of practitioners and researchers working to improve conditions for vulnerable community members.”
Moseley will lead the new Wildfire Smoke Research and Practice Center, state officials said.
Wildfire smoke from not only Oregon’s fires but also those from surrounding states and even Canada are becoming a particular hazard during the wildfire season each summer, officials said.
Senators Merkley and Wyden said the new center’s research will focus on community planning and preparation during wildfire events, communication and evaluation of past response to smoke events for better future management practices.
Sen. Merkley led the drafting of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies portion of the Consolidated Appropriations Act in 2022 that provided for the EPA funding, state officials said.
Oregon House of Representatives Passes Oregon CHIPS (Senate Bill 4) to Boost Oregon Semiconductor Industry on Bipartisan Vote
SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon House passed Oregon CHIPS (Senate Bill 4) with bipartisan support today. Oregon CHIPS strategically invests $210 million to bolster Oregon’s semiconductor industry. Having already passed the Senate, Senate Bill 4 now heads to the Governor’s desk for signature. (SOURCE)
Oregonians Save $1 Million for Higher Education through Recycled Bottles and Cans
BottleDrop and the Oregon College Savings Plan announced that the program has reached a milestone $1 million saved for higher education through the convenient redemption of bottles and cans. This accomplishment comes little more than three years after launching its collaboration in November 2019, and just in time to celebrate Earth Month.
This innovative program allows individuals and families from across the state to leverage their Oregon Bottle Bill container redemptions to save for future education expenses. Participants can set up automatic fund transfers from their BottleDrop account to one or more Oregon College Savings Plan (OCSP) accounts. To date, 10 million beverage containers have been redeemed and recycled through the partnership, with the funds being transferred to OCSP accounts, to the benefit of more than 5,000 Oregonians saving for higher education expenses.
“We are excited to see bottle and can redemptions continuing to turn into big returns for Oregon College Savings Plan participants,” said Oregon State Treasurer Tobias Read. “Saving a combined $1 million toward education and training after high school is a significant accomplishment, and one that comes with an important bonus conservation benefit. While this is still the beginning of our collaboration and it is gratifying to see Oregonians’ early enthusiasm for this creative savings opportunity with our partner, BottleDrop—Let’s keep saving!”
“This is the only place in the world where people can so directly connect recycling and environmental stewardship with education savings,” said Jules Bailey, President and Chief Executive Officer for the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative, which operates the BottleDrop network. “The power of Oregon’s Bottle Bill, coupled with the creativity of the State Treasurer’s Office, made way for a truly unique partnership that is helping families across Oregon save for education.”
BottleDrop account holders can save for themselves, for their kids, for their grandkids, or as a gift to anyone with an OCSP account. Setting up a new OCSP account takes about 15 minutes. Participants can access a link to the sign-up page through their BottleDrop account and then immediately begin saving. A
single BottleDrop account can contribute to multiple OCSP accounts, further streamlining the contribution process.
Among the thousands of account holders that have saved for education since the program launched, one example is the Branams in Portland; by partnering with their neighbors, friends, and family members to collect containers, Ceci (11) and Eli (7) have saved more than $3,500 for college in just two years!
“We saw this as an opportunity to help Ceci and Eli learn more about being good stewards of the environment, building community with our neighbors, and contributing to their college savings accounts,” says their dad, John Branam. “Learning how to take a difficult challenge like paying for college, and addressing it through incremental progress is a powerful, and important, life lesson for kids.”
In addition to saving for education, Oregonians also have the option to contribute to a tax-friendly Oregon ABLE Savings Plan account to help people with disabilities and their families save money. As with OCSP, anyone who makes contributions to an Oregon ABLE account can earn the state’s refundable tax credit worth up to $300.
Oregonians can accrue funds for their OCSP and Oregon ABLE accounts by returning their empty beverage containers in Green Bags at any of BottleDrop’s 97 convenient bag drop locations across the state. Account holders with a minimum balance of $5 in their BottleDrop account can do a one-time manual transfer or set up a monthly, recurring transfer to eligible OCSP or Oregon ABLE accounts.
“We’re proud to have built this innovative partnership with BottleDrop, an effort focused on breaking down barriers to saving for families across the state,” said Michael Parker, Executive Director for the Oregon Treasury Savings Network. “The $1 million dollars we’re celebrating are real dollars saved by real people. Every dollar in an Oregon College Savings Plan account adds up for families saving for their kid’s future and is given the opportunity to grow.”
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.
