The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Friday, August 25, 2023
Oregon Beach Weather
Oregon Sets Up Evacuation Assembly Point for Disasters in Tillamook
Oregon now has additional resources if a disaster were to strike. The state just set up its first evacuation assembly point, a short-term location for people to gather during emergencies like wildfires, flooding or a catastrophic earthquake while first responders work to access the impacted area.
The state’s Office of Resilience and Emergency Management (OREM) supplied Tillamook County with two boxes that contain food, water, tents and medical supplies to support 100 people in the evacuation assembly point, or EAP, for two weeks in the event of an emergency.
“It could happened 100 years from now, it can happen next week, so it’s incumbent upon us to prepare,” said Mary Faith Bell, a Tillamook County commissioner.
The evacuation assembly point is located at Tillamook Municipal Airport.
All 17 EAP tents were set up on Tuesday and Wednesday as part of an emergency preparedness exercise. OREM, the lead state agency for mass care (e.g. shelter, food and water) has staged these supplies in Tillamook because coastal communities will be isolated from responders in the immediate aftermath of a Cascadia earthquake.
“There’s a triage here, there’s a comms center, there are tents, there’s a shower system, which is pretty cool,” said Bell.
During this exercise, OREM trained 38 community leaders and volunteers on how to set up the EAP. It took them less than four hours.
“I think it’s awesome for the community,” said Tillamook County resident, Kaylin Hammond. “We have a small community but we all love to come together so that’s going to be honor through this process.”
Commissioner Bell told KGW if an earthquake hits and bridges fail, people may not be able to reach the airport and supplies— but there’s a solution for that: drones.
“Load-bearing drones are really exciting because the state will bring the supplies here, and then will be able to use load-bearing drones and helicopters to take supplies to isolated communities along the coast,” said Bell.
The director of Oregon Department of Human Services said the 2020 wildfires in Oregon jump-started the preparedness efforts that may be needed in the future.
“A devastating event, but it was also a good wake-up call for a lot of us— as to what level of readiness, equipment and staffing we need,” said Fariborz Pkseresht.
Florence Municipal Airport Pavement Rehabilitation Project Just About Finished
During the course of construction, the airport was closed effectively Monday, August 21st and should reopen Monday, August 28th. This is a full closure of the airport due to the surfacing sealing of the runway and taxiway which requires a complete cure of the sealcoat prior to allowing aircraft on the surfaces.
This $1,024,386 project is being funded by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Improvement
Program (AIP) grant valued at $921,947 and an Oregon Department of Aviation Critical Oregon Airport
Relief (COAR) grant for $92,195. The remaining $10,244 to fund the project will be paid by the City from
the airport fund.
Bat Found In Clatsop County Tested Positive For Rabies
Rabies is a fatal but preventable viral disease. Rabies virus is transmitted through the bite or scratch of an infected animal and while post exposure vaccination is effective, the best plan is prevention. In Oregon, the main reservoir of rabies is bats.
Clatsop County Public Health Department reminds you to take necessary precautions to protect yourself and your pets from rabies:
Avoid physical contact with bats – healthy, sick, alive, or dead. Be sure to keep children and pets away from bats.Do not hand feed or otherwise handle stray animals and wildlife.Vaccinate all dogs and cats against rabies. This protects them and provides an immune barrier between humans and wild animals.
While bats play a valuable role in nature, contact with humans should be avoided. Sick bats may be seen flopping around on the ground or otherwise acting unusual.
If you find a sick bat or other sick wildlife on your property, take children and pets indoors and call the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife at 541-388-6363 or contact Clatsop County Animal Control for a list of local resources at 503-861-7387.
If a pet comes in physical contact with a bat report it to Clatsop County Animal Control at 503-861-7387.
To protect your pet, make sure their rabies vaccinations are up to date. Dogs, cats, and ferrets should be vaccinated against rabies at three to six months of age. After initial vaccination, a booster is required in one year and then every three years after that.
Under Oregon law, dogs and cats that do not have current vaccinations and are suspected of exposure to rabies must be euthanized or placed under strict quarantine for four months.
If a person does come in physical contact with a bat or is bitten by an animal, promptly report it to Clatsop County Department of Public Health at 503-325-8500. (SOURCE)
41st Annual Hood To Coast Relay Kicks Off Saturday Morning
The Hood to Coast is this weekend, known as the “Mother of All Relays”. Teams will travel 196 miles from the top of Mt. Hood to Seaside on the Oregon Coast.
This is the 41st year of the race. MORE INFO: https://hoodtocoast.com
If you’re not racing, be prepared for some road closures or runners on the road.
Officials are reminding motorists to make sure to stay alert and give plenty of distance to those in the race.
A route map is available on the Hood to Coast website.
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office to Host Hiring Event in September
We are looking for individuals with strong character, motivation, and integrity to join our Sheriff’s Office team. With multiple positions open, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a hiring event on Saturday, September 30, 2023. This event is a great opportunity for interested applicants to meet our team, ask questions, and get a better idea of the rewarding careers with our team.
Deputy applicants ages 21 years and older are invited to complete the written and physical testing requirements for free. Participants in this event experience a significantly expedited application process. In addition to completing required tests for free, participants will also have the opportunity to meet our team, ask questions, receive more information on perks and benefits, and enjoy free lunch and snacks. All participants need to bring ID and deputy applicants need to bring athletic clothes and shoes.
We also encourage anyone interested in our medical positions to attend this event. While there are no testing requirements for qualified nursing candidates, applicants will have the chance to meet our team and complete an application.
Those interested in participating can complete an application before or after the event. For those that would like to submit an application before, visit www.co.lincoln.or.us/748/Join-the-Team. Join us at this hiring event to jumpstart your successful career in Law Enforcement.
Event Details:
Date: Saturday, September 30, 2023
Time: 10:30am – 4:00pm
10:30am – 11:00am Check in and Meet and Greet
11:00am – 1:00pm Written Exam (tests for applicants interested in deputy positions)
1:00pm – 1:30pm Lunch and Networking
1:30pm – 4:00pm Physical Test (physical testing for applicants interested in deputy positions. Testing takes less than 30 minutes per participant).
Location: Search and Rescue Building, 830 NE 7th St., Newport
What to Bring:
- Government Issued Identification
- Athletic clothes and shoes if applying for a deputy position
- Interest in joining our team as a Corrections or Patrol Deputy, Corrections Nurse, or Cook.
Registration for this event is encouraged but not required. For questions or to register, contact Jess Palma at 541-265-0652 or jpalma@co.lincoln.or.us
Fleet Advisory For Fixed-Gear Commercial And Recreational Fisheries Thru 9/1
During recent surveys researchers observed aggregations of both blue and humpback, in addition to other large whales in waters as shallow as 20 fathoms (36 m). These sightings were primarily in waters off the southern Oregon coast from Charleston to Gold Beach. However, because these observations only provide information within a small survey area and time span be aware that whale aggregations may exist in un-surveyed areas and may shift over short periods of time.
ODFW is issuing this fleet advisory for both recreational and commercial fixed-gear fisheries from Charleston south to Gold Beach. Fishing vessels should remain vigilant and move or avoid setting gear in areas where whales are transiting or foraging to minimize risk of entanglement as much as possible. This advisory is effective immediately and will remain in effect through September 1, 2023. We want to remind fishery participants about best fixed-gear fishing practices to help reduce risk of entanglements at all times, but especially when higher numbers of ESA-listed humpback whales and blue whales are present off Oregon.
Please remember to:
• Remove any fishing gear that you are not actively tending and promptly remove all gear from the ocean when finished fishing.
• Use the minimum amount of scope required to compensate for tides, currents, and weather.
• Adjust the length of buoy lines when moving gear to shallower water to maintain taut vertical lines.
• Minimize surface gear and ensure no excess line is floating at the surface.
• Avoid setting gear in the vicinity of large feeding aggregations of whales.
• Maintain gear to ensure lines and buoys are in good working condition and clearly marked.
• Report any derelict gear to ODFW by emailing Joel.A.Prickett@odfw.oregon.gov.
• If commercially licensed: o Bring in derelict gear to shore; o Participate in derelict gear recovery by getting a permit to recover gear or reporting locations of derelict gear for permitted vessels to target for removal.
Please share this advisory and reminders about fixed-gear fishing best practices to reduce risk of marine life entanglements with your networks. Also, consider reporting whale sightings using the WhaleAlert app and sharing the locations of unusually high whale or sea turtle activity with ODFW and with other fishermen. All entangled marine mammals or sea turtles should be promptly reported by calling 1-877-SOS-WHALe (1-877-767-9425). Thank you for taking these important, proactive steps to avoid entanglements with fishing gear.
Yachats Lions Labor Day Breakfast on September 3rd
Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation – 08/18/23 9:39 AM
Yachats Lions Club – Pancake Breakfast on September 3rd
Yachats Lions Club – Pancake Breakfast on September 3rd
YACHATS, OR, September 3rd – The Yachats Lions Club will host their Labor Day Pancake Breakfast on September 3rd from 7:30am – 11:00am at Yachats Lions Hall at 344 4th Street, Yachats OR 97498. There’s a $10 suggested donation to welcome folks for an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast!
All proceeds from Yachats Lions Club’s annual fundraisers and their Yachats Lions Thrift Store makes giving back to their local community possible. We support Lions community service projects, which include scholarships to graduating seniors, food pantries, school programs, Yachats Youth & Family Services, South Lincoln Resources, Yachats Fire Department, and eyeglasses & exams for children & adults. With the motto “WE SERVE,” Yachats Lions Club is celebrating 73 years of service to Yachats and South Lincoln County.
Together, the Lions Clubs of Oregon, the statewide nonprofit OLSHF, and partners offer access to people for critical sight-saving surgeries and treatments, secure new eyeglasses, help people who can’t afford eyeglasses and hearing aids, and manage the largest vision screening program in the US.
To learn more about the Yachats Lions Club and their work in the local community, you can visit yachatslionsclub.org.
Rod’s N Rhodies Car Show
The annual Rod’s N Rhodies car show event is coming September 8th and 9th to the Old Town Area. The 15th annual event will feature hot rods and classic custom vehicles from all over the west.
The annual event goes towards supporting Transportation Solutions which provides car repairs for families in need. Transportation Solutions works with local families on a referral basis to fix most maintenance problems so that individuals can get to work, transport kids to school, and other activities. Information on the mission of Transportation Solutions can be found at rodsnrhodies.org/transportation-solutions.
Florence Annual Yard Sale
If you want to participate in the annual City Wide Garage Sale September 8-10, then you have to act quickly. In order to be included in the map that is distributed in the Siuslaw News the deadline for registration is this coming Monday, August 21st. due to print deadlines information has to be in to make the September 1st and September 8th publications. This is the 10th year the community garage sale has gone on and participants will receive recognition on the map and two signs for their $15 fee.
An overdose awareness event to shed the spotlight on lives lost to overdoses is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Thursday, August 31, at the Barbey Maritime Center in Astoria.
“We invite the community to come together to remember and celebrate loved ones we lost to an overdose. Together we can prevent future losses of life,” said Jenna King, Clatsop County Public Health Department harm reduction coordinator.
“Clatsop County Public Health and our community partners are committed to showing people how they can help save the lives of loved ones and to provide those resources. Help us end the stigma of addiction,” she said.
Clatsop County Senior Sheriff Deputy Chance Moore and Sergeant Nate Baldwin will share their experiences saving lives by reversing an overdose with naloxone.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a photo of someone they loved who died by overdose. Photos will be displayed on a memorial wall so their story can be shared at the Overdose Awareness Day event.
Event activities include:
- Music
- Narcan supplies and training
- Art projects and activities
- Keynote address by Alison Noise, CODA inc. executive director
- Free food and beverages provided
- Community resources available
- Giveaways
- Candlelight Vigil
For more information, contact Jill Quackenbush at 503-325-8500. (SOURCE)
Lincoln City Police Department Will Conduct Enhanced DUII Enforcement Over Labor Day Weekend
The Lincoln City Police Department will be utilizing grant funds to step up their enforcement efforts against drunk driving over the Labor Day weekend. This additional enforcement effort is being conducted in conjunction with national crackdown efforts that are designed to curb drunken driving, decrease crashes, reduce injuries, and save lives.
During the upcoming Labor Day weekend, law enforcement agencies nationwide will be out in force looking to get drunk and impaired drivers off the roadways. Lincoln City Police officers will be putting extra focus on seeking out drivers who are impaired by alcohol or drugs. Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII) continues to be a leading cause of motor vehicle crash injuries and deaths throughout the nation.
The Lincoln City Police Department last used these grant funds during the weekend of the Newport Seafood and Wine Festival. During that operation, the officer conducted multiple traffic stops, but no DUII arrests were made.
The members of the Lincoln City Police Department are committed to the safety of our citizens and visitors. The DUII Enforcement grant funds are a valuable resource that assists us in improving the traffic safety in our community. Our goal is simple: to save lives and prevent injuries caused by DUII crashes. These grant funds were made possible through the Oregon Department of Transportation and Oregon Impact.
Man Accused Of Kidnapping Seattle Woman Caught Trying To Break Out Of Jail
Adult-In-Custody Caught Attempting to Break Through Jail Window
Jackson Co. Sheriff’s Office – 08/24/23 4:50 PM JCSO Case 23-4860
MEDFORD, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) Corrections deputies caught an Adult-In-Custody (AIC) attempting to break through the glass in his cell window at the Jackson County Jail Tuesday afternoon. Negasi Zuberi, 29, an AIC in Jail on a federal hold, is charged with second-degree attempted escape and first-degree disorderly conduct. The Jail’s exterior windows are made of reinforced glass so Zuberi was only able to damage the interior layer of the window.
Around 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday, a Jackson County Maintenance worker outside the building notified deputies that a suspicious noise was coming from inside one of the cells. Deputies responded to investigate and discovered Zuberi standing on his bunk bed near a chipped window in his cell. Deputies detained Zuberi, sent him through the full-body scanner, and moved him to a hard cell with no exterior windows. While searching the cell further, deputies found an improvised tool that was suspected to have been used to damage the window.
This case is under further investigation and there is no additional information available for release.
Just south of the Oregon border along Hwy 199, the Diamond, Holiday, Kelly, and Prescott fires along with multiple other fires in the area have been grouped together in the “Smith River Complex.” The fires have now spread into Southern Oregon. This is along the route from Grants Pass to the coast.
Red Cross Opens Shelter For Smith River Complex Fire
The Red Cross has set up a shelter at Rogue Community College, Redwood Campus in Grants Pass for people evacuated by the Smith River Complex Fire southwest of Obrien in Josephine County.
Anyone who needs shelter from this wildfire should go to the college at 3345 Redwood Hwy, Grants Pass, OR 97527 or call 1-800-Red Cross.
Preparedness info can be found here: https://redcrossblog.org/disaster/
Josephine County Emergency Management
· Notice from Josephine County Sheriff:
Level 1 – BE READY Smith River North Complex FireNotice from Josephine County Sheriff. Level 1 – BE READY notice for: Forested area from Lone Mountain Road to Buckskin Peak.Monitor conditions. Find preparedness resources at RVEM.org. Act early if there is any reason you might need extra time. Leave right away if you feel you are in immediate danger.If conditions change quickly, this may be the only alert you receive.For more information, visit: www.rvem.org
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest (RRSNF), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) resources continue to be proactive by reopening old fire containment features and identifying areas of opportunity in protection of life and property.
Oregon State Fire Marshal protecting communities with air tankers and task forces mobilized to two different wildfires
SALEM, Ore. – With the state of Oregon entering the heart of wildfire season, the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) mobilized suppression resources through its Response Ready Oregon initiative to keep fires small and protect communities.
The Liberty fire broke out near Salem, OR, prompting evacuations on Wednesday afternoon. With the risk to life and property, OSFM has mobilized multiple aerial firefighting resources, including two single engine air tankers (SEATs), one type one helicopter, and an air attack resource. Getting aircraft up and to these fires immediately is critical in supporting the local firefighters on the ground. This is possible through our Response Ready Oregon initiative and agreements with the Oregon Department of Forestry.
Additionally, with the Smith River Complex growing, OSFM is mobilizing two structural task forces to Josephine County through immediate response starting Thursday, August 24th. The task forces are from Marion and Polk counties. These firefighters and equipment will be mobilized as surge resources to bolster capacity in Oregon communities impacted by the Smith River Complex.
“The new response tools our agency has been deploying are making a difference in protecting Oregon communities,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “We have seen the power of the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System protecting communities during this wildfire season. We are thankful to the Oregon fire service and our Oregon Department of Forestry partners for the work they have accomplished so far this summer.”
As of Wednesday evening, the Liberty Fire is estimated at 10 acres; additionally, the Smith River Complex is made up of 27 wildfires, burning in two states, and is estimated at 47,277 acres.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office has level 3 evacuation notices for those near the Liberty Fire. For updates, follow their social media: https://www.facebook.com/MCSOInTheKnow.
More information on the Smith River Complex is available on Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/casrf-smith-river-complex.
ABOUT RESPONSE READY OREGON — The OSFM’s Response Ready Oregon initiative made these firefighting resources possible. It was launched through Immediate Response, a tool developed with funding from Senate Bill 762 (2021). The goal is to boost response to wildfires and keep fires small and away from communities.
Help your wildland firefighters. Most human-caused fires are avoidable. Help your wildland firefighters by actively practicing wildfire prevention. The fewer human-caused fires they have to respond to, the less our resources are strained and the more we can protect our firefighters from fatigue and burnout.
As Oregon fires rage, US Rep Chavez-DeRemer joins push for higher firefighter pay
Federal wildland firefighters received temporary raises last year that are set to expire at the end of September
As fires rage in Oregon, U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer joined a bipartisan group of senators and representatives pushing to permanently boost pay for wildland firefighters.
Federal wildland firefighters received temporary pay boosts through the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law of 2021, which ensured they make at least $15 per hour – wildland firefighters work a base 40 hours. They also received temporary raises of $20,000 or 50% of their base pay a year, whichever was less, in 2022.
But those raises are set to expire on Sept. 30. Legislation proposed in the U.S. House and Senate aim to permanently increase pay for wildland firefighters and provide supplemental pay boosts for each day a firefighter is deployed to a fire.
“I’m honored to join this bipartisan effort in support of our wildland firefighters, who run towards danger to keep our communities safe,” Chavez-DeRemer said in a statement. “Unfortunately, time is running out to ensure they continue receiving the pay they deserve.”
The Senate version of the bill, spearheaded by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Arizona, received a favorable vote out of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee in July and is expected to be considered by the full Senate after it returns from its August recess. The House version, led by Democratic Rep. Joe Neguse of Colorado, was introduced last week and hasn’t yet been considered by any committees.
So far, Chavez-DeRemer is the only member of Oregon’s congressional delegation signed on to either bill.
At least eight wildfires were burning in the state as of Tuesday afternoon, including the newly ignited Fuzztail Fire burning 5 miles south of Bend. The largest uncontained fire, the Bedrock Fire, has burned more than 22,000 acres in the Cascade foothills east of Eugene and was only 20% contained.
The Bedrock Fire, as well as two others in eastern Lane County – the 135-acre Salmon Fire and 2,720-acre Lookout Fire – resulted in air quality alerts in the Eugene area and contributed to smoky conditions in Salem. About 140 homes are under evacuation notices because of the Lookout Fire and Bedrock Fire, according to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office.
To the southwest, the Flat Fire has burned nearly 34,000 acres in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest since mid-July and is expected to be fully contained by Sept. 1.
The 2,100-acre Golden Fire east of Medford, 129-acre Boulder Fire southwest of Dufur and the 95-acre Ben Harrison Fire west of Baker City are both under control, though fire crews in eastern Oregon are paying close attention to the Ben Harrison Fire because the subalpine fir trees in the area are notorious for holding onto heat and reigniting.
Much of the state is under red flag warnings because of hot, dry and windy conditions. Nearly every state park has a fire ban, as does Crater Lake National Park and public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
Extreme heat has plagued western Oregon since Monday, but cooler temperatures are expected beginning late Friday. State and local health officials recommend drinking plenty of water, limiting time outside and physical activity if possible and finding cool places, such as public libraries and designated cooling centers, if they don’t have air conditioning at home. Oregonians can find information about hot weather resources in their area at 211info.org. — (SOURCE)
Governor Kotek Discusses Managed Urban Homeless Camps During Oregon Tour
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek continued her multiday trip through Central Oregon by spending most of Thursday in Redmond, holding meetings at City Hall and spending the afternoon at an under-construction homeless shelter.
“We’re spending a lot of time in Redmond on this trip,” said Kotek, who has been traveling through parts of rural Oregon since the legislative session ended June 25. “Deschutes County is not just Bend.”
The governor met with the Latino Community Association at City Hall, then had lunch with Deschutes County Commissioner Patti Adair, Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch and Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler. Kotek said the group talked about a range of issues in Central Oregon and the state, from housing to education and from economic development to St. Charles Health System possibly withdrawing from the Medicare Advantage program.
Kotek spent part of the afternoon at Redmond’s first proposed low barrier homeless shelter, run by the nonprofit Shepherd’s House Ministries and currently under construction off U.S. Highway 97. According to Dave Notari, director of development for Shepherd’s House, the new facility may be ready to open by early October. All the electrical work and the kitchen is finished, he said.
“We just need to start adding furniture and we’re there,” said Notari.
Kotek sat with Shepherd’s House staff and other service providers, which she said helped her gain perspective on the issue of homelessness in Central Oregon.
“We have been funding communities around the state with emergency resources to have more shelter capacity, more services,” she said. “And I have to say Central Oregon has a strong plan, strong partnerships that are really making things happen here. And my job as governor is just to be helpful, be supportive, make sure they can get done what they need to get done.”
Kotek has differed from local leaders, however, by rejecting their calls to allow homeless shelters outside urban growth boundaries around Bend, Redmond, Sisters and La Pine. In Redmond, city officials have said building managed camps and affordable housing developments outside city limits could help ease the crisis. Kotek argued that managed camps outside cities often leave people too far from other services.
“This isn’t about saying go far away,” she said. “This is about come in, get connected to services, let’s help get you get housed. This is about long-term stability. So being outside the urban growth boundary, far away, is not probably the best way to go about it.”
She also said that thinking of middle-income housing outside UGBs may not be the answer either.
“I think we have to be open to new ideas when it comes to the land supply,” said Kotek. “But what I do know is that it’s not just about land supply. Even if you have the land, you need to have the infrastructure. You need to have some resources to develop the land so it can be used for housing.”
Kotek also talked about the CORE3 project in Redmond spearheaded by the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council. It would create a base of operations and emergency response center in the case of a large-scale regional disaster.
“I think it’s smart to think about it here in Redmond,” she said. “I think we have to figure out how to fund it long term. I’m definitely interested in the concept. I think we’re going to continue to deal with major wildfires. We’re going to have that major earthquake somewhere down the line, and Central Oregon’s going to be a key piece of that recovery. So I think we have to figure out how to get it done.”
Roseburg Fire Department Announces Hiring of First Female Fire Marshal
The City of Roseburg Fire Department is pleased to announce the hiring of new Fire Marshal Cheryl Flick.
“Today is a remarkable day for our fire department and our community as a whole. We celebrate a significant milestone in our journey- the appointment of our first female Fire Marshal. As we stand on the edge of progress, it is essential to reflect on how far we have come as an organization. Our fire department has a legacy built upon dedication, courage, and unwavering commitment to service. Today, that legacy takes a bold step forward.” said Fire Chief Tyler Christopherson.
Chief Christopherson added, “As we welcome her into this new role, let us remember that diversity is our strength. Our fire department is an organization that values different perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. With each new addition to our team, we expand our knowledge and enrich our capabilities.”
Cheryl joins more than 11,000 women across the United States who work as career firefighters and officers in the fire service, including the Oregon State Fire Marshal Marianna Ruiz-Temple.
Fire Marshal Flick received advanced education from Oregon State University, Chemeketa Community College, and Lane Community College. She holds certification as a Fire and Life Safety Plans Examiner, Commercial Building Inspector, and Commercial Mechanical Inspector, in addition to several more certifications from the State of Oregon and the International Code Council.
Before starting with the Fire Department, Fire Marshal Flick worked as a full time Plans Examiner for Douglas County Building Department. Cheryl also worked as a Building Inspector for Douglas County before accepting her past role as Plans Examiner. Fire Marshal Flick has previously worked for the City of Corvallis and the City of Salem in various inspector roles. Cheryl’s strong work ethic, experience in customer service, and ability to effectively communicate fire and life safety code will be valuable in her new role.
In her new position as Fire Marshal, Cheryl will serve as a fire inspector, arson investigator, fire safety educator, instructor, and more. She will oversee the Fire Prevention Division and supervise the Deputy Fire Marshal, as they work together to improve fire and life safety within our community.
When she is not studying fire code and working in her new position as Fire Marshal, Cheryl spends her free time with her family. They enjoy camping, hiking, and riding all-terrain vehicles. Please join us in welcoming Fire Marshal Flick to the department. She will serve our community well.
The Oregon Employment Department provided updates on the new Paid Leave Oregon program.
Paid Leave Oregon aims to give workers and employers opportunities to take time for their families and personal needs. Applications opened earlier this month and the meeting, today gave more insight into how it works.
The program recognizes three types of leave: Family, Medical and Safe leave. If you’re eligible, you can take up to 12 weeks of paid leave, over a 52-week period.
It works through paying into the program, that’s called your ‘contribution rate’ which is one percent of your gross wages. If you work for a large employer, they are required to help you pay 40 percent of this amount.
At the meeting, staff behind the program say they are making sure each application is thoroughly reviewed.
Paid Leave Oregon director, Karen Humelbaugh said, “We received 4,631 applications and we have approved two thus far, which might seem small but it’s due to ramping up of processing, ID verification behind the scenes and thoroughly making sure we’ve trained our staff with real and complex claims.
Those who are eligible, can take paid leave as soon as September 3rd. You can see specific qualifications and the step-by-step process on their website: https://paidleave.oregon.gov
The Shaniko Hotel Reopens
If you’ve driven between Klamath Falls and the Washington border using Highway 97, you’ve driven through Shaniko.
After 16 years of closure, the Shaniko Hotel , located in Oregon’s famous ghost town, has reopened, this time under the management of the town’s volunteer firefighters.
If that sounds like an unusual arrangement, well, nothing in Shaniko is usual.
Shaniko remains a functioning municipality with about two dozen full-time residents. They practically take turns running the city.
Consisting of a handful of buildings dating to around 1900, Shaniko most likely survives because of its location along U.S. 97, which still brings traffic past the town.
Staff will tell you the hotel is definitely haunted, and it’s hard to tell if that’s because of actual spirits or a sales tactic. It does make an overnight stay more exciting.
While the town is small, Julianne Herman, secretary of South Wasco Fire & Rescue (and also employee of the hotel, and also Long’s girlfriend), said the town’s handful of firefighters responded to about 80 calls last year. Most of those were medical calls and highway crashes (such as the semi-truck that barreled through two buildings next to the Shaniko Hotel last fall.)
Visitors might notice a small blue rubber ball in one of the hotel hallways. Staff says this ball seemingly moves around on its own, played with by an unseen girl whom they call Amelia. Room 14, they said, is supposedly haunted by a woman named Nettie.
Thinking about an overnight stay? Shaniko is 215 miles north on U.S. Highway 97 from Klamath Falls. https://www.shanikohotel.com/
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.
Contact us: Info@OregonBeachMagazine.com