Oregon Beach News, Friday 9/13 — Astoria High School Threat, Traveling Memorial Walls at Chinook Winds Casino Resort Through Sunday at Lincoln County’s Annual Celebration Of Honor Of Military Service & Other Local and Statewide News…

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

Friday, September 13, 2024

Oregon Beach Weather

Small Craft Advisory Issued: 2:03 AM Sep. 13, 2024 – National Weather Service

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT SATURDAY...

* WHAT...North winds 20 to 30 kt with gusts up to 35 kt and steep wind driven seas 6 to 9 ft at 6 seconds.

* WHERE...All areas south the Coquille River. Winds will be strongest and seas will be steepest south of Cape Blanco.

* WHEN...Until 11 AM PDT Saturday.

* IMPACTS...Gusty winds and steep seas could capsize or damage smaller vessels.

* View the hazard area in detail at https://go.usa.gov/x6hks

Seasonal Climate Forecast September – November 2024 https://www.oregon.gov/oda/programs/naturalresources/documents/weather/dlongrange.pdf

Wildfires continue to produce smoke in the Pacific Northwest. Breathe a little easier by keeping up to date on air quality conditions and concerns at Fire.AirNow.gov.

Please take precautions to avoid sparking a human-caused fire, be familiar with evacuation levels, and have a go-kit ready in case you need to leave your home.” — We’ve had an unprecedented fire season already. Don’t be that spark that could lead to a tragedy! Check Conditions

We’re not out of the woods yet – Please take precautions to avoid sparking a human-caused fire, be familiar with evacuation levels, and have a go-kit ready in case you need to leave your home.”

Traveling Memorial Walls at Chinook Winds Casino Resort Through Sunday at Lincoln County’s Annual Celebration Of Honor Of Military Service

Flags and two traveling memorial walls will be set up at Chinook Winds Casino Resort for the county’s annual Celebration of Honor of military service.

Each fall, the roar of motorcycle engines on U.S. Highway 101 signals the return of the Annual Celebration of Honor, Lincoln County’s solemn commemoration of military service.

As the event comes together, a motorcycle guard of honor escorts two traveling memorial walls to their temporary home at Chinook Winds Casino Resort — the Vietnam Veterans of America 805 Oregon Veteran Wall and the Vets Helping Vets HQ Wall of Honor.

The walls form the centerpiece of an event that Chinook Winds has spearheaded for 20 years, honoring active-duty personnel, military veterans and their families.

The Oregon Veteran Wall is a 24-by-8-foot replica of the national Vietnam War Memorial, engraved with the names of Oregon service members who died in the Vietnam War.

The Vets Helping Vets HQ Wall of Honor carries the names of service members killed in more recent conflicts, including Desert Storm, Desert Shield, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Both will be available to view on the front lawn at Chinook Winds from Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 12-14.

Visitors can also view a display of vintage and current-day military vehicles, provided by the American Infantry Soldier Group, as well as an array of military flags.

The veteran services tent is back this year, open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

And at 2 p.m. Saturday there will be a re-dedication ceremony for the Desert Storm memorial located in front of the casino.

Chinook Winds is also sponsoring movie tickets and popcorn for veterans and active duty personnel at the Historic Bijou Theatre through Sept. 19. Just show your military ID to get into to the theater.

Elsewhere in town, Explore Lincoln City is joining the celebration with a special Finders Keepers float drop. Stealthy volunteers will hide 50 red-white-and-blue glass floats on the beach for lucky searchers to find from Wednesday through Saturday.

And Saturday will also see the Lincoln City Kiwanis Parade of Flags line Highway 101 with U.S. flags in a colorful celebration of patriotic pride. (SOURCE)

Celebration of Honor 2024

At Chinook Winds Casino Resort. Honoring Active Duty Personnel and Military Veterans. Visit ChinookWindsCasino.com.

The 21st Annual Celebration of Honor, is an event to honor Active Duty Personnel and Military Veterans. Displays include the Vietnam Veterans of America 805 Oregon Veteran wall, military flags, and a display of vintage and current day military vehicles provided by the American Infantry Soldier Group.

Wednesday, Sept 11: Free buffet voucher will be available (with proof of service and Winners Circle registration).

Sept 12 – 19: Free movie and popcorn at the Bijou Theatre (with proof of service).

Saturday, Sept 14: The Lincoln City Kiwanis Parade of Flags will line the streets of Lincoln City with flags to celebrate the weeklong dedication. At 2pm the Re-dedication of the Desert Storm memorial will take place in front of the casino to honor those men and women who lost their lives serving our country.

https://www.facebook.com/events/3763017743982333

https://www.explorelincolncity.com/events/celebration-of-honor-2024/

This Saturday, September 14th is the Prepare Fair hosted by Prepare Lincoln City and North Lincoln Fire Rescue at the St. Clair fire station in Taft.

In addition to the valuable information being provided, there will be free giveaways, food, and games, and be sure to stop by our table to get some cool LCPD swag.

The U.S. Army North conducted their Mass Casualty Decontamination, Reconnaissance, and Surveillance training exercise at the Clatsop County Fair & Expo Property

The U.S. Army North conducted their Mass Casualty Decontamination, Reconnaissance, and Surveillance training exercise on the Clatsop County Fair & Expo property Thursday. The fair team had the opportunity to receive a walkthrough of the exercise, gaining valuable insight and seeing firsthand the dedication and skills our servicemen and women bring to such critical training. We are honored to support our military in their efforts to stay prepared and ready to protect our communities.

Armed Suspect Arrested in Astoria

Police have arrested a suspect in Astoria after previously warning the public Wednesday morning that he is believed to be armed, dangerous and on the loose.

A spokesperson for the Astoria Police Department confirmed that 37-year-old Shane Dunn was “taken into custody” after receiving a tip from a citizen.

Around 5:30 a.m., police said they flagged a stolen vehicle near Florence Avenue and Rivington Street. Officers said they attempted to stop and arrest the suspected driver, Dunn, but he took off.

Officers engaged in “a short foot pursuit” of the suspect leading up to the arrest, the Astoria police spokesperson said. During the escape attempt, authorities said Dunn almost hit an officer and his car became stuck in the grass, he then ran off.

Police’s search for Dunn lasted hours as they called on the public’s help to bring him in. Astoria police said the car Dunn had been driving had been stolen from Cowlitz County in Washington and had been involved in a chase with Longview police officers on Tuesday along with being associated with a burglary in Clatsop County. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact police.

Coos County Sheriff’s Office – DUII Crash

On 09/05/2024, around 3:00 am, CCSO deputies responded to a report of a single vehicle crash at the entrance/exit of the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. Deputies were informed the involved vehicle had also reportedly damaged resort property, the vehicle was currently blocking the resort exit and the suspected driver had been identified by resort security staff. CCSO Deputy B. Kent and Deputy Z. Smith responded to the crash scene.

Upon arrival and investigation, the driver was identified as Francis Neil (40). Deputies investigated the crash and were able to determine Mr. Neil was the driver of the involved vehicle. Mr. Neil was subsequently taken into custody on the requested charges of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Hit & Run – Property Damage and Criminal Mischief.

Mr. Neil was held at the Coos County Jail while Deputies Kent and Z. Smith applied for a Search Warrant to further the DUII portion of the criminal investigation. After the search warrant was granted to the Deputies, they were able to obtain additional evidence for their investigation.

Mr. Neil was issued a citation and referred to the District Attorney’s Office for charges.

“Police action is not indicative of guilt. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law”

Jewell School District Slated To Lose Timber Revenue Under Conservation Plan Spends To Sue State

The Jewell School District in the Clatsop State Forest predicts it could lose millions in revenue if a plan to scale back logging on Oregon’s western state forests is implemented. (Oregon Department of Forestry)

Officials with a tiny school district nestled in northwest Oregon’s Clatsop State Forest have paid tens of thousands of dollars to fight new state limits on logging and are prepared to “bet the farm” to support its lawsuit against the state, the Capital Chronicle has learned.

The Jewell School District has paid $148,000 and owes $3,000 more to lawyer John DiLorenzo for his work on its lawsuit that was filed in March, according to records obtained by the Capital Chronicle. Jewell’s superintendent, Cory Pederson, said the cost was justified.

“Whatever the district pays in fees will be well worth the chance to avoid what will otherwise be a catastrophic loss to Jewell and the local community,” Pederson said. “This is truly a ‘bet the farm’ issue for our district.”

DiLorenzo, who’s part of the David Wright Tremaine law firm, which has offices in Portland and New York, also defended his $955 per hour fee.

“You could hire a lawyer who doesn’t know anything about the area, even if it’s a lower rate, who spends three times as much time on it,” DiLorenzo said. “I’m used to working out of my New York office, and I tell you that rate certainly isn’t high in New York.”

The suit, filed in Clatsop County Circuit Court against the Oregon Department of Forestry, state forester Cal Mukumoto and state forest chief Mike Wilson, claims the logging limits in the Western State Forests Habitat Conservation Plan will drastically reduce revenue for the school district, forcing it to cut staff and services. For decades, the district has used logging revenue and not state money to fund its school budget, pumping it up beyond what other Oregon districts get from the state on a per-pupil basis.

DiLorenzo and district leaders would like to see the state scrap the conservation plan and restore previous timber harvests, allowing it to maintain its current funding.

“This litigation is one of the very few options the district has left to avoid a disastrous loss of revenues which will be the result of the Department of Forestry’s new harvest policies,” Pederson said in an email.

But Gov. Tina Kotek’s office and the Oregon Department of Education have said the state would ensure the district meets its state-mandated per-pupil funding requirement. Projections of how much money the district would actually lose year-over-year as logging is scaled back is still unknown. READ MORE: https://www.newsbreak.com/oregon-capital-chronicle-1590267/3592075744542-school-district-slated-to-lose-timber-revenue-under-conservation-plan-spends-big-to-sue-state

Lane County Parks partners with Oregon Coast Visitors Association to bring mobility mats to Heceta Beach

Lane County Parks rolled out its latest effort to make popular park locations more accessible by adding mobility mats at Heceta Beach County Park. 

“This project is a great example of making a park more welcoming and available to everyone in our community,” said Lane County Parks Manager Brett Henry. “It’s also an example of working together to make improvements that might not be possible alone. We’re really excited to be adding mobility mats to one of our popular coastal parks.”

Mobility mats are portable, non-slip pathways that make it easier for people using wheelchairs, strollers, or with limited mobility, to access sandy areas. They create a stable surface so that more people can enjoy the beach. 

The new mobility mats at Heceta Beach create a 6-foot-wide pathway that reaches 120 feet from the parking area and along the sandy path to the beach and ending just beyond the regular high tide line. 

The mobility mats were purchased using grant funds provided by the Oregon Coast Visitors Association, and Travel Lane County helped make the connection between the agencies. Lane County Parks installed the mats and plans to add more to expand their reach using levy funds.

Heceta Beach County Park is also the site of a David’s Chair location in partnership with Lane County Parks and Driftwood Shores. David’s Chair provides FREE access to all-terrain track chairs that can help people who otherwise would not be able to enjoy the beach spend time on the sand. Learn more about David and the organization at www.davidschair.org.

Oregon’s U.S. senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are denouncing the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) for the rushed process to get two zones off the coast leased on Oct. 15 for wind energy projects.

Below are statements from the senators.

 By rushing this leasing process, BOEM’s actions undermine state-led efforts to build the necessary consensus among coastal communities, fishermen, conservation groups, and Tribes. As I have said before, BOEM should not accept bids off the coast of Oregon until the state can facilitate a robust process with significant stakeholder engagement. This is the spirit of the Oregon Way, and the state must be able to evaluate whether offshore wind best serves our coast and communities. – Sen. Jeff Merkley (D)Oregonians living and working on the Coast expect far better from federal agencies than to get steamrolled from 3,000 miles away on decisions directly affecting their livelihoods. I will pull out all the stops to make sure that Oregonians’ legitimate concerns about this hasty decision and the run-up to it receive complete and acceptable responses before any project goes forward. The move to clean energy is essential in the face of the climate crisis, but abrupt and deeply flawed edicts like this do nothing to advance that move, and in fact hurt it. – Sen. Ron Wyden (D)

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BOEM has faced scrutiny for the lack of dialogue between the government organization and local partners. 

Brookings Mayor Isaac Hodges told NewsWatch 12 that at a previous meeting for the offshore wind energy projects, “not one” community member had a positive thing to say about the project or BOEM’s process so far. 

“I believe it’s the truth — we’re dealing with a government agency that truly doesn’t care about the community that they’re directly impacting,” said Hodges.

BOEM said in a news release on Aug. 13 that they were working with community partners.

In February, the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians said BOEM is failing its obligations to Tribal Nations and other community members by not answering questions and concerns processed during BOEM’s multiple submission periods. 

In this year’s legislative session, House Bill 4080 — titled “Offshore Wind Labor Standards & Roadmap” — was passed. Rep. Pam Marsh and Sen. Jeff Golden were sponsors on the bill. 

HB 4080 outlined Oregon’s goals to reach the goal of creating three gigawatts of green energy while still staying true to the state’s sustainability, community and environmental goals. 

Governor Kotek’s statement:  The Department of the Interior’s announcement is a significant step in the process of evaluating offshore wind in Oregon. Governor Kotek believes that climate change requires bold action to meet our state’s clean energy goals, so Oregonians are prepared for and resilient to the impacts we’re already seeing across the landscape. Offshore wind development is unprecedented in Oregon, and Governor Kotek believes that any federal agency decision to award a lease should be made in cooperation with Oregon’s federally recognized sovereign Tribal nations, local and impacted communities, and in close consultation with feedback from the state of Oregon – including ensuring alignment with the work of the state roadmap. -Gov. Tina Kotek (D)

The US Department of the Interior Sets Date for Floating Wind Energy Lease Auction

The US Department of the Interior (DOI) has released the scheduled date for the first-ever offshore wind energy lease auction off southern Oregon.

The two areas have the potential to provide up to 3.1 GW of generation capacity and, if fully developed, could power approximately one million homes with clean energy, according to DOI. Areas in the federal waters off Oregon are deemed most suitable for floating wind technology.

The two Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) in Oregon, the Coos Bay WEA and the Brookings WEA, will be auctioned on 15 October 2024 by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).

The Coos Bay (Lease Area P-OCS 0566) Wind Energy Area offshore Oregon is located approximately 32 miles (approximately 55 kilometres) from shore and covers 61,203 acres (approx. 248 square kilometres).

The bigger Brookings (Lease Area P-OCS 0567) Wind Energy Area spans 133,792 acres (approx. 541 square kilometres) and is located approximately 18 miles (approx. 29 kilometres) from shore. (READ MORE)

Oregon Coast Aquarium 

 In partnership with Nintendo of America, we’re hosting the Animal Crossing™: New Horizons Aquarium Tour! • Take photos with standees of familiar characters• Learn about in-game marine species • Check out the Animal Crossing: New Horizons photo opportunity, featuring a themed background with characters from the game.

The Tour is included with general admission and will be at the Oregon Coast Aquarium through October 20, 2024. Learn more at aquarium.org/animal-crossing — Stay tuned: aquarium.org/animal-crossing

Coos Bay Library Events

The Coos Bay Library is kicking off fall with a plethora of events in September! Have you been to see the Native Innovations display? If not come and check it out. This is an interactive display that is interesting and fun for all ages and features some innovations by local tribes! This display will remain up until mid-September.

Did you know that Coos Bay is celebrating its 150th birthday? To help celebrate the library is hosting a scavenger hunt of current and historically famous places here in Coos Bay. Beginning September 6 and running until September 16, solve the clues and take a picture of yourself at each place to win a prize. Bonus prizes will be given to anyone who posts their pictures on social media and tags the Coos Bay Public Library.

Trailblazers Come to Florence

Next Tuesday the 17^th the Portland Trailblazers will be in town to promote their upcoming NBA Season. Several members of the team will be on hand along with the voice of the trailblazers Travis Demers and the trailblazer mascot.  The team will head first to the Siuslaw Middle school and High School to participate in a PE takeover and then set up at the boardwalk for community interaction.

Non-Profit Seminar in Florence

If you are on the board of a non-profit here in western Lane County there will be a one day seminar to learn about valuable tools and resources available and to interact with other community members.  The event will be at the Florence Event Center on Friday September 20^th. the sessions will total 4 ½ hours with a lunch and networking. 

Topics will cover effective board management, and a look at board governance plans and transitions.  Siuslaw residents will have a cost of $25.00 to attend.  This includes Florence, Dunes City, Mapleton, Swisshome, and Deadwood.  You can contact Siuslaw Vision as vision@siuslawvision.org for information and a discount code.

Florence Festival of Books

The Florence Festival of Books will be at the Florence Events Center on September 28^th. it will feature Keynote speaker Dr. Scott Donaldson who has penned the book, Urological Surgery and Lite Haulin.  Stories of everyday people.  Donaldson has been compiling stories told by his patients for over 25 years and has been retelling them in book and audio form for more that a decade.  There is a basic $2 admission and a $5 cost for admission to speakers and exhibits.  A $10 all access pass includes speakers, exhibits, workshops and the keynote address. The event begins at 9:30 with Dr. Donaldson.

Rhododendron Festival Theme Sought

The Florence Area Chamber of commerce has announced that they will be looking for the theme of the 2025 Rhododendron Festival. 

Each year ideas are collected from the public with one person chosen for their creativity. 

The theme’s winner will receive a $100 prize for their submission.  Deadline for submissions is September 23^rd.

After the theme is chosen the chamber will then look to the public for a design of the 119^th annual rhododendron Festival Logo.  A form is available on the Florence Chamber website http://florencechamber.com

Southwestern Oregon Community College is offering free GED and Adult Basic Education classes fall term 2024

Coos Bay, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College is offering free GED® and Adult Basic Education classes fall term 2024. These classes prepare individuals to take the GED® exam and update skills to enroll in college or career training programs. Students enrolled in these classes can build a pipeline to enter college, training programs, and jobs in high-demand career areas.

We will have three options for GED® and Adult Basic Education classes next term:

1. MorningGED®Class – Monday through Thursday from 9am-11am
2. AfternoonGED®Class – Monday through Thursday from 12pm-2pm
3. EveningGED®Class – Tuesday through Thursday from 5pm-8pm

All classes will be live and in person on the Coos Campus. The afternoon class will also be live and in person on the Curry Campus.

For students who cannot make it to either campus, classes are offered via Zoom during all three sessions. Fall term starts September 16th and ends November 27th.

To register for orientation and classes, go to https://swoccapce.org/ and click GET STARTED. For questions, please email Adult & Pre-College Education at apce@socc.edu or call 541-888-1593.

New Exhibits at Columbia River Maritime Museum

ntsayka ili/i ukuk – This is our Place

Scheduled to open September 2024

A collaboration with the Chinook Indian Nation to share Chinook maritime traditions and culture as lived today ​through the photography of Amiran White.

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Cedar and Sea Exhibit: The Maritime Culture of the Indigenous People of the Pacific Northwest Coast

Scheduled to open October 2024

Pacific Northwest Coastal Indigenous People used their deep knowledge of their environment to harvest its natural wealth, developing sophisticated technologies that enabled them to create and maintain some of North America’s most complex and rich cultures.

Cedar and Sea features voices of contemporary Indigenous artisans presenting their work as part of their living traditions, demonstrating resilience as they blend old and new tools, technologies and knowledge to prosper in the face of continuing threats to traditional lifeways.

The exhibit will showcase tools and implements fashioned from stone, bone, shell, wood, and other natural materials, representing thousands of years of innovation by coast Indigenous People from Yakutat, Alaska to southern Oregon, as well as present-day materials and practices used by the living descendants today.

Columbia River Maritime Museum
1792 Marine Drive, Astoria, Oregon 97103
503.325.2323

Press Release: Make Waves — Registration for the 2024 Beach & Riverside Cleanup is Now Open

Portland, Ore., August 29, 2024 – SOLVE invites volunteers to make a global impact this September by joining the annual Beach & Riverside Cleanup. From September 20 through September 28, families, community members, student groups, and nature enthusiasts from all stages of life will gather across Oregon and Southwest Washington for a 10-day event series with a variety of projects to choose from. Registration is now open for this vital community effort to protect and restore our coastlines, rivers, and public lands.

Connecting Local Actions to Global Movements – September 21 is International Coastal Cleanup Day, uniting millions of volunteers worldwide to protect our coasts and waterways from harmful trash and debris. This global movement amplifies the impact of local efforts, uniting communities for cleaner environments. The Beach & Riverside Cleanup wraps up on September 28 with National Public Lands Day, the nation’s largest single-day volunteer event, focusing on trail maintenance, habitat restoration, and native tree planting.

Join the Effort – “After a season of heavy use, our rivers and beaches need care,” says Kris Carico, SOLVE’s Chief Executive Officer. “This event is a cherished tradition and a powerful force for change. We encourage everyone to get involved and make a lasting impact on our environment.”

SOLVE will host over 50 project sites across Oregon and SW Washington, from the Oregon Coast to the Willamette Valley and beyond. Last year, more than 1,500 volunteers removed 20,000 pounds of trash. Since 1986, the event has cleared over 2.5 million pounds of litter from Oregon’s natural areas. Volunteer registration is open for posted events and SOLVE is still seeking additional projects. Interested event leaders should register their events as soon as possible to fully maximize SOLVE’s support, resources, and everything needed to host a successful event. 

New Supply Hubs for Event Leaders – This year, SOLVE is making it easier for event leaders by launching five supply hubs at South Beach, Fort Stevens, Cape Lookout, Cape Blanco, and Sunset Bay. These hubs are equipped with reusable supplies like litter grabbers, vests, and buckets sponsored by Knife River. This partnership with Oregon Parks and Recreation strengthens SOLVE’s mission to provide even more volunteers with reusable supplies and host cleanup events with sustainability in mind.

Be Part of the Change – Join thousands of volunteers to protect our waterways, restore natural areas this September, and contribute to a cleaner, healthier Oregon. As the event dates approach, more details on project sites and opportunities will be released. For more information and to register, visit https://www.solveoregon.org/beach-riverside.

2024 Sponsors – SOLVE’s Beach & Riverside Cleanup 2024 is proudly supported by Chevron, Clean Water Services, Daimler Truck North America, Fred Meyer, Harper Houf Peterson Righellis Inc., Here is Oregon, Keen Footwear, Knife River, KOIN, Metro, NEEF, Oregon Parks and Recreation, and Owens Corning.

About SOLVE – SOLVE brings communities together to take care of our environment and enhance our waterways. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots group to a national model for volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains tens of thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon and Southwest Washington to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas and to build a legacy of stewardship for our state. Visit solveoregon.org for more information. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

OHA 2024 Oregon Beach Monitoring Season

Agency shares list of monitored beaches for May-September

—The Oregon Beach Monitoring Program (OBMP) is kicking off the 2024 beach monitoring season by announcing the list of coastal recreation areas it will be keeping an eye on for bacteria during summer and early fall.

The 24 beaches on the list that the OBMP, based at the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Public Health Division, is publishing includes some of the most frequently visited beaches in Oregon. It also includes beaches where the program has found bacteria present, or beaches for which local partners and the public have requested monitoring due to potential pollution concerns.

The following are Oregon beaches being monitored during 2024, including beach name, and the city and county in which they are located:

• Seaside Beach – Seaside, Clatsop County
• Cannon Beach – Cannon Beach, Clatsop County
• Tolovana Beach State Park– Cannon Beach, Clatsop County
• Short Sand Beach (Oswald West State Park) – Arch Cape, Tillamook County
• Manzanita Beach – Manzanita, Tillamook County
• Rockaway Beach – Rockaway, Tillamook County
• Twin Rocks Beach – Twin Rocks, Tillamook County
• Oceanside Beach – Oceanside, Tillamook County
• Cape Kiwanda Beach – Pacific City, Tillamook County
• Neskowin Beach – Neskowin, Tillamook County
• D River Beach – Lincoln City, Lincoln County
• Siletz Bay Beach – Lincoln City, Lincoln County
• Beverly Beach – Newport, Lincoln County
• Agate Beach – Newport, Lincoln County
• Nye Beach – Newport, Lincoln County
• Ona Beach (Brian Booth-Beaver Creek State Park) – Seal Rock, Lincoln County
• Seal Rock Beach – Seal Rock, Lincoln County
• Heceta Beach – Florence, Lane County
• Bastendorff Beach – Coos Bay, Coos County
• Sunset Bay State Park Beach – Coos Bay, Coos County
• Hubbard Creek Beach – Port Orford, Curry County
• Harris Beach State Park – Brookings, Curry County
• Mill Beach – Brookings, Curry County
• Crissey Fields State Recreation Site – Brookings, Curry County

Beach monitoring season runs from mid-May to mid-September. Beach advisories are only issued for beaches that are actively being monitored within this sampling window. Other beaches will be investigated for inclusion in the next beach monitoring season.

OBMP works with Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to identify beaches that need monitoring based on several established criteria. These criteria include: pollution hazards present; previous beach monitoring data that identify water quality concerns; type and amount of beach use; and public input.

As part of an adaptive sampling plan, beaches and sampling locations are routinely re-evaluated to ensure available resources best protect public health. A copy of DEQ’s beach evaluation is available upon request.

For more information and current beach monitoring conditions please visit: www.healthoregon.org/beach, or contact OBMP at each.Health@odhsoha.oregon.gov“>Beach.Health@odhsoha.oregon.gov or 971-673-0400.

Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay

Study Shows Oregon Seeing Higher Business Growth Than All Other States

A new study from DesignRush shows that Oregon had more business growth than any other U.S. state between September 2022 and 2023. The study, which used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, found that Oregon had a 9.9% increase in new businesses- that’s a net increase of 18,273 businesses.

Oregon is the best U.S. state for entrepreneurial success, according to the latest study published by leading B2B marketplace DesignRush.

Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, DesignRush conducted research to find the number of business establishments in U.S. states between September 2022 and 2023.

Each state was ranked based on the highest percentage increase of businesses over the period.

Oregon took the top spot with a 9.9% increase in business establishments with a net increase of 18,273 businesses, from 185,096 in 2022 to 203,369 in 2023.

Second on the list is Montana, with an estimated 9.4% gain in businesses (5,762 net increase) over the year. Montana was followed by Michigan and Hawaii, placing third (8.9% increase) and fourth (8.6% increase) respectively. 

The rest of the top 10 in the list are ranked as follows:

• Tennessee (8.0% increase)
• Idaho (7.9% increase)
• South Carolina (7.7% increase)
• Mississippi (7.4% increase)
• North Carolina (7.2% increase)
• Arizona (6.8% increase)

Gianluca Ferruggia, DesignRush’s General Manager, shared his insights on the study saying that with states from all areas of the U.S. making it to the top 10 list, this finding suggests the U.S. is well-equipped for entrepreneurs and business ventures. 

“It’ll be interesting to see if any new states make the ranking in the future as more establishments are founded,” Ferruggia said.

Some States Experience Major Business Decline

While most states performed well in terms of entrepreneurial success, there remain some that performed negatively. 

Virginia falls under this category, for example, experiencing a net loss of 16,522 — a 5% decrease from 2022 to 2023. Maryland and Iowa also experienced their fair share of losses, with a 1.1% and 0.6% decrease in businesses respectively. 

Expounding on the findings, Ferruggia cited geographical location as one of the many factors that can determine whether one’s business will take off or not. 

“At least five of the leading ten states are on the east side of the U.S. This indicates one of two things: it’s either extremely competitive in this region or the West is more suited for entrepreneurs and their fresh ideas. Perhaps new states will make the ranking in the future,” Ferruggia concludes. 

(SOURCE)

Husband and Wife Arrested for Witness Tampering in Child Sex Abuse Case

UPDATE 09/11/2024 8:30 PM

GARDINER, Ore. – On Monday, September 9, 2024, detectives with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office were made aware of an attempt to tamper with the female victim in this case. Detectives were advised that 36-year-old Eric Cumming and his wife, 38-year-old Tabitha Cumming, both of Gardiner, were conspiring to get the juvenile victim to change her story in order to get Eric released.

“Detectives launched an investigation into the allegations and determined that Eric, who is currently lodged in the Douglas County Jail was communicating with his wife via letters. In those letters they discussed having Tabitha persuade the victim into changing her story,” Lt. Kelley Bean said.

Bean says Tabitha went as far as to contact the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office and advise them that the juvenile had recanted her story and wanted to set the record straight. 

DCSO Detectives spoke with Tabitha and the juvenile, determining that Tabitha and Eric had in fact taken steps toward tampering with the witness/victim.

Tabitha was taken into custody and lodged in the Douglas County Jail on a single charge of Tampering With a Witness, a class C Felony. Eric, who was already in custody on the original charges was also charged with the crime of Tampering With a Witness. 

ORIGINAL RELEASE 08/19/2024 8:00 AM

GARDINER, Ore. – A Gardiner man has been arrested and lodged in the Douglas County Jail on sex crime charges.

On Saturday, August 17, 2024, at approximately 10:00 am, deputies were dispatched to a reported disturbance in the 70000-block of Highway 101 in Gardiner. After arriving, deputies determined there were no crimes committed during the disturbance.

As deputies were preparing to leave, they learned information that a juvenile had previously reported to an adult that they had been the victim of sexual assault by 36-year-old Eric Thomas Cumming of Gardiner. Cumming is known to the victim.

Deputies began investigating and developed probable cause for the arrest of Cumming. He was taken into custody and transported to the Douglas County Jail where he was lodged on the following charges:

• Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the First Degree x10
• Sexual Abuse in the First Degree x10

Cumming remains in custody at the Douglas County Jail.

Feds grant more than $9 million to Oregon for wildfire prevention

As wildfires continue to threaten homes, rangeland and communities in Oregon, the federal government has announced millions in new funding to prevent the blazes that have blackened a record amount of acreage.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Tuesday it has approved $100 million to reduce the threat of wildfires in 14 states, including Oregon. The money will be used for restoring forest health, prescribed burns and other wildfire prevention strategies in 18 national forests that border homes and communities. The USDA, which oversees the Forest Service, allocated $9.4 million to forests in eastern and southern Oregon and $345,000 for a project in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area in Washington, which is also expected to benefit Oregonians.

The news comes as Oregon’s wildfire season roars on, with Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek announcing Wednesday she again invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act, this time for the Service Fire in Wheeler County, one of five blazes in the Fossil Complex northwest of Spray. The Service Fire has scorched nearly 22,000 acres and prompted the Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office to issue Level 3, or go-now, evacuation orders for local residents.

This was the 17th time this year that Kotek has invoked the conflagration act in what has turned out to be a record fire season, with more than 1.7 million acres burned. Analysts say the threat of devastating wildfires in Oregon, California and elsewhere in the West is likely to continue with warmer weather and an extended drought in the region. 

The $100 million grant follows $500 million announced in February, including more than $38 million for Oregon, as part of the USDA’s wildfire prevention strategy from Oregon and Colorado to New Mexico and Tennessee. 

In announcing the latest funding, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack noted that states are again confronting challenging wildfires this year, underscoring the “urgent need to continue to protect our communities and infrastructure by restoring forest health across the country.” 

The biggest chunk of the Oregon grant – $4.9 million – will go toward a restoration project in the Elk Creek watershed in the Umpqua National Forest in southern Oregon. The project will build on an existing collaboration between the Forest Service and Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians and focus on prescribed burns and creating fire breaks in the watershed, which is a patchwork of private, tribal and national land.

Lindsay Campman, spokesperson for the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, said in an email that after the Milepost 97 Fire, which burned more than 13,000 acres in 2019, the tribe has worked to prevent another fire in the area and that this money will help with that endeavor.

“We are thrilled to continue working with our partners in forestry on this project,” she said.

The USDA allocated another $4.4 million for a project in a watershed in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. The money will be used for planning, hiring of staff and forest restoration in an area of conifer trees that have not been hit by wildfires for much of the past 125 years. As a result, they have high levels of live and dead vegetation that could pose a fire danger. 

The third Oregon project involves an allocation of nearly $133,000 for work in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. The money will allow officials to complete an environmental analysis in the La Grande Ranger District, paving the way for forest restoration work.

The Columbia River Gorge project in Washington will cover 5,000 acres now owned by the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, with the $345,000 going directly to tribal staff and businesses to foster their traditional work against wildfires and land maintenance.

Oregon’s Democratic U.S. senators, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, said the region needs the funding.

“Oregonians know all too well the threat of climate chaos, which is fueling increasingly frequent and severe wildfires that threaten our homes, businesses and way of life,” said Merkley, who chairs the Senate subcommittee that funds the Forest Service.

Wyden added: “Protecting lives and property from these destructive wildfires demands an all-out approach.”

Wyden has repeatedly pushed for wildfire funding, including in June, when he and Democratic U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier of Washington state introduced the National Prescribed Fire Act of 2024. The act would direct hundreds of millions of federal dollars to the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior for prescribed burns. This was Wyden’s third attempt to get the legislation passed after it died in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in 2020 and 2021. (SOURCE)

With around 5,000 firefighters currently dispatched across the state, they have worked for almost two months straight and are experiencing fatigue.

Kotek said that the state has been able to protect a lot of communities but the team has been pushed to the brink this season. She also predicts that fire seasons are not going to get easier and Orgeon must figure out how to have consistent funding to do the necessary work.

Kotek confirmed that Oregon received approval for seven FEMA grants that will provide help in the form of significant levels of reimbursement. Other states and even other countries like Australia and New Zealand have sent help to Oregon.

Wildfires have burned more than 1 million acres across the state, making Oregon by far the worst off out of all the states in terms of acres burned this summer.

Preventing wildfires requires a collective effort from everyone—help mitigate the risk of human-caused wildfires and protect our forests and communities.

Monitor Fires in Oregon – Updated Daily

Large Fires in Oregon Past 2 Weeks 9/13/24 9:00am per INCIWEB

Incident	Type	State	Incident Size	UpdatedSort ascending
Diamond Complex – ORUPF	Wildfire	Oregon	11141 Acres	38 seconds ago
Devils Knob and Milepost 98 Fires – ORUPF	Wildfire	Oregon	4130 Acres	5 minutes 3 seconds ago
Red Fire – ORDEF	Wildfire	Oregon	1743 Acres	9 minutes 1 second ago
Cottage Grove – Lane 1 – OR77S	Wildfire	Oregon	25927 Acres	9 minutes 10 seconds ago
Willamette Complex Fires – South – ORWIF	Wildfire	Oregon	23197 Acres	9 minutes 32 seconds ago
Homestead Complex – ORUPF	Wildfire	Oregon	9483 Acres	10 minutes 46 seconds ago
Middle Fork Fire – ORCLP	Wildfire	Oregon	5286 Acres	12 minutes 39 seconds ago
Buck Creek Fire – ORFWF	Wildfire	Oregon	5119 Acres	15 minutes 27 seconds ago
Milepost 98 – ORUPF	Wildfire	Oregon	250 Acres	26 minutes 20 seconds ago
Rail Ridge – OROCF	Wildfire	Oregon	161675 Acres	39 minutes 19 seconds ago
North Willamette Complex – ORWIF	Wildfire	Oregon	4631 Acres	40 minutes 56 seconds ago
Shoe Fly Fire – OR95S	Wildfire	Oregon	26774 Acres	45 minutes 25 seconds ago
Bachelor Complex Fires – ORDEF	Wildfire	Oregon	10333 Acres	1 hour 17 minutes ago
Flat Top and Firestone Fires – ORDEF	Wildfire	Oregon	Acres	1 hour 42 minutes ago
Fossil Complex – OR95S	Wildfire	Oregon	24059 Acres	11 hours 21 minutes ago
Whisky Creek Fire – ORMHF	Wildfire	Oregon	3047 Acres	12 hours 35 minutes ago
Wiley Flat – OROCF	Wildfire	Oregon	29904 Acres	13 hours 34 minutes ago
Sandstone Fire – ORMHF	Wildfire	Oregon	702 Acres	19 hours 18 minutes ago
Microwave Tower Fire – OR95S	Wildfire	Oregon	1313 Acres	1 day 22 hours ago
Copperfield Fire – OR98S	Wildfire	Oregon	3822 Acres	1 day 23 hours ago
Two Cabin – OR95S	Wildfire	Oregon	251 Acres	6 days 11 hours ago
Crazy Creek – OROCF	Wildfire	Oregon	86968 Acres	1 week 3 days ago
Lone Rock Fire – ORPRD	Wildfire	Oregon	137222 Acres	2 weeks 3 days ago

https://app.watchduty.org/

Please Help Prevent Wildfires!

In these dry conditions, a single spark can cause a lot of damage. Learn how you can prevent wildfires by visiting the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s wildfire prevention page. 

U.S. Forest Service Hiring in Oregon

The U.S. Forest Service is looking to shore up its wildland firefighting force in the Pacific Northwest.  Recruitment events will take place across Oregon next month, with stops in Bend, Sandy and La Grande on September 12th, in an effort to hire a couple hundred permanent seasonal positions.

“That’s our goal, is to hire up to 200, maybe even a little more if we can, into these what we call entry level, perm-fire-hire positions, which are typically your six to nine-month timeframe employment within the agency,” said Jason Heinz who works in regional workforce development for the Forest Service.  He added those jobs are spread around Oregon, Washington and Alaska, and in most cases fill a currently vacant position.  Heinz says several factors make it more difficult to recruit wildland crews.

“We are increasing the number of individuals that work for the agency, our fire seasons are getting longer, burnout is a real thing. And so, we’re trying to work on adding more capacity to our crews so that we can have a better work-life balance.”  — Applications can be submitted now through September 24th. Visit USAJobs.gov to apply.

Oregon Farm Bureau — Thanks to the generous support of our agricultural community, we are now receiving both monetary and feed donations through our Wildfire Relief Fund. If you are a farmer or rancher affected by the wildfires, please take a moment to complete our short application for relief. https://www.oregonfb.org/

OSP asking for the public’s help to locate wanted man —  Oregon State Police 

Suspect wanted for sex crimes in Oregon and Alabama

WASCO COUNTY, Ore. 9 Sept. 2024 – Oregon State Police and the Mobile (Alabama) Police Department are seeking the public’s help to locate Adam Renk (39) who is wanted in both states for sex crimes against child victims. 

On June 21, 2024, OSP detectives responded to a sexual abuse disclosure made by a minor. The minor disclosed Renk as the perpetrator. Renk has since been indicted on multiple crimes against a child victim under the age of 12. He is charged with Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the First Degree, Sodomy in the First Degree, and Sexual Abuse in the First Degree.

As part of their investigation, OSP detectives learned Renk had been charged in another case involving a minor victim in Mobile, Alabama. The Alabama charges include Child Sexual Abuse and Torture involving an 11-year-old victim. The victims in the two states are not related. Alabama law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Marshals Service are attempting to locate Renk who posted bond in Alabama and was released from pre-trial custody. 

Renk was last seen leaving Alabama on August 7, 2024. He has ties to Oregon and Wasco County. He is believed to be traveling in a converted Ford Ambulance that is now painted two-toned white over gray. Renk is a white male, 6 ft. 1 in. tall, 175 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair. 

Anyone with information about Renk’s whereabouts or information about possible additional victims is asked to contact the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office at 541-506-2580 or OSP Detective Cassie Bantz through dispatch at 800-442-0776 or by dialing OSP (677) on a mobile phone. 

Oregon Employment Department Resumes Taking Monday Calls As Hold Times Ease

The Oregon Employment Department reopened its phone lines on Mondays this week, declaring it has made progress on a large backlog of issues that were holding up jobless claims and paid leave benefits.

The agency stopped taking inbound calls on Mondays last June and cut the number of hours the phones were open by one hour each in the mornings and afternoons. At the time, it was facing a growing backlog of jobless claims and jammed phone lines as laid-off workers sought information about their stalled benefits.

By reducing phone hours, the employment department said it could devote more time to processing claims and resolving issues that stood in the way of it paying benefits. The change affected both jobless insurance claims and the new Paid Leave Oregon benefits program, which is also administered by the employment department.

The shorter phone hours confounded some unemployed Oregonians, who couldn’t get through on the phone lines to find out why they weren’t receiving their aid.

In June, more than a third of callers to the employment department spent over an hour on hold. Many others couldn’t get through at all.

Hold times began dropping, though, as the employment department finally began making progress on unresolved claims. The number of people on hold for an hour or more fell to 25% in August, the lowest point in a year — though some callers still get a busy signal or are immediately disconnected when lines are especially slammed.

The employment department blamed its declining performance on a falloff in federal pandemic funding, which prompted a steep reduction in the number of staffers processing claims.

August was the first month that the employment department had 70 new staff to process claims. Their positions were funded out of a $45 million allocation from the state Legislature this year.

Meanwhile, the employment department has resumed paying the vast majority claims within three weeks. That’s the federal standard for timely payments. Oregon paid 76% of unemployment claims within three weeks in August, according to the latest federal data, up from just 54% in April.

The employment department said this week that it is resolving issues with claims much faster than it did in the spring and is confident that it will continue making progress.   Daily hours remain shorter, though; the phone lines are open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.   (Source)

Task Force Busts Phoenix Black-Market Cannabis Grow Connected to Illegal Northern California Marijuana Operation; Code Enforcement Issues $26K in Fines 

Greenhouses

Video available for download: https://vimeo.com/1008640982?share=copy

IMET Case 24-14390 —-    PHOENIX, Ore. – Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET) detectives served a search warrant this morning at a black-market cannabis grow in the 4000 block of Fern Valley Road in rural Phoenix. IMET detectives seized approximately 6,054 illegal marijuana plants at the property in 20 greenhouses. During the initial investigation detectives learned the Phoenix property was connected to a black-market marijuana growing operation in Northern California. 

There was no licensing for any type of cannabis growing, handling, or processing at this location. IMET was assisted by Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies, and Oregon State Police (OSP) detectives.

IMET arrested one suspect on the property and charges are being referred to the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office for another suspect. The suspect arrested was Yuhua (AKA Shirley) Hong, 44, of Montague, Calif. She is charged with three felony counts including unlawful possession, distribution, and manufacture of a marijuana item. 

During the search warrant, Jackson County Code Enforcement responded to the scene and issued a total of $26,000 in fines to the responsible party. Fines were for violations related to unpermitted construction, solid waste, and operating a marijuana production area in violation of land use approvals. The Oregon Water Resources Department Enforcement section also responded to investigate the water usage. Further charges for water violations may be added at a later time.

While regulatory agencies investigate permitted cannabis operations, IMET is focusing on the black-market marijuana trade in the Rogue Valley. IMET is a multi-agency task force funded by a grant from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission. The task force includes personnel from JCSO, Homeland Security Investigations, OSP, Medford Police Department, and the Jackson County District Attorney’s office.

Investigations are open and ongoing with detectives working additional leads. No further information is currently available for release.

Illegal Marijuana Grow Site Bust In Bly

On Tuesday, September 10, 2024 the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at a property located on Maple Way in Bly, Oregon. Law enforcement surveillance of the property revealed what appeared to be an illegal outdoor marijuana grow site.

Gerado Javier Ceja-Caloca, 41, of Portland, Oregon and Raquel Rosales-Ceja, 44, of Vancouver, Washington are the listed owners of the property on Maple Way. Neither were located on scene and a recommendation of criminal charges was sent to the Klamath County District Attorney’s Office.

Ramon Arellano-Diaz, 46, of Madera, California and Miguel Cardoza-Romero, 37, of Hughson, California were located on scene. Both were arrested and charged with:

• Unlawful Possession of Marijuana (ORS 475B.337)
• Unlawful Manufacture of Marijuana (ORS 475B.349)

The on-scene investigation confirmed a large outdoor illegal marijuana grow site containing 5,350 marijuana plants. Three firearms and ammunition were seized during the search. Also discovered was the illegal use of water used to irrigate the marijuana plants from a domestic well. It is estimated that more than 706,000 gallons of water was illegally used to grow this amount of marijuana. The investigation for the crime of Unlawful Use or Appropriation of Ground Water (ORS 537.535) continues.

Investigators observed a considerable amount of trash and debris consisting of plastic coverings, toxic fertilizers and more scattered throughout the property. The property also showed evidence of future expansion and illegal manufacturing of marijuana.

The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Klamath County District Attorney’s Officer, Oregon State Police, Basin Inter-Agency Narcotics Enforcement Team, Klamath County Solid Waste, Klamath County Code Enforcement, Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon State Water Master.

Inside the Oregon Department of Corrections’ push to build a new state penitentiary

DOC leaders want lawmakers to see how much it would cost to repair or replace the state prison in Salem, saying it’s “oppressive” and aging.

Oregon Department of Corrections leaders are pushing for a new state prison, asking state lawmakers to add it to the top of their priority list and see how much it would cost to repair or replace the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem.

The big request — in the hundreds of millions of dollars — could both reshape the state’s budget plans and its criminal justice system. 

DOC Director Mike Reese said the Oregon State Penitentiary is “oppressive” and aging past the point of repair. Reese, the former Multnomah County Sheriff, toured all 12 DOC institutions when he assumed directorship in the fall of 2023. For him, OSP stood out as the worst of the bunch.

“I think this is the top priority for me, in terms of looking at that replacement or remodel,” Reese said. “Is this the right place for us to house adults in custody and is it also helping lead to better outcomes, or is the institution itself a barrier to a progressive correctional facility?”

The DOC estimates it would cost $624 million to replace OSP with a new state prison, which could take about 5-10 years to build.

The alternative, Reese said, is a backlog of more than $110 million in deferred maintenance requests at the current facility and tens of millions more in needed improvements and upgrades.

“We do that work and then what breaks next?” he said. “This institution has a vibe to it that makes it challenging to talk about rehabilitation and restoration of people’s humanity and dignity.”

The department is asking lawmakers to approve a feasibility study in the upcoming legislative session to evaluate the cost-benefit of a new or repaired state penitentiary.

State Senator Janeen Sollman, who co-chairs the Oregon Legislature’s Ways and Means subcommittee on public safety, said she visited the state prison and she supports the idea of building a one.

“It can’t be something we continue to ignore because it will go away, it only get more expensive,” Sollman said. “How much money do you continue putting into an aging facility?” 

Reese, in a letter to all DOC staff members, acknowledged that building a new state prison could be a fairly unpopular political proposition.

“The last major prison project in Oregon was the Snake River Correctional Institution expansion in 1994, its $175 million price tag was the largest public works project in the state’s history at the time, inviting a great deal of scrutiny,” Reese wrote. “The OSP replacement/rebuild will have an even larger price tag and will likely cause similar conversations with taxpayers and their representatives.” 

The Oregon State Penitentiary houses about 1,800 adults in custody. It’s the only maximum-security prison in the state, and about 460 DOC staff members work there.  (SOURCE)

Another lawsuit has been filed against Medford’s Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in the case involving a former nurse accused of giving patients non-sterile tap water instead of intravenous fentanyl.

In a Sept. 6 filing in Jackson County Circuit Court, an attorney for 63-year-old Candi Kay Palomares says former Asante nurse Dani Marie Schofield diverted fentanyl prescribed to Palomares for the severe respiratory distress that brought her to Asante’s intensive care unit on March 26, 2023.

The suit seeks $116 million for Palomares’ pain and suffering, future medical expenses and lost wages. By March 31, 2023, blood tests showed infections in Palomares, then a mobile home park manager in Brookings. By April 3, 2023, Palomares suffered from sepsis-induced brain dysfunction, the suit claims.

On April 14, 2023, a patient safety representative for Asante posted a notice online about what the hospital termed “water quality rumors.” Attorney Bruce Nishioka argues in court papers that Asante acted with negligence by failing to prevent “the foreseeable diversion of fentanyl.” Palomares can no longer work and also lost her home because it was part of her compensation for managing the mobile home park.

——-    In a related story, A stay has been granted by a judge for the former Asante nurse, accused of drug diversion at the hospital. The civil case of drug diversion in regards to Horace Earl Wilson, will be delayed until the criminal case of Dani Schofield has concluded.

The former Medford nurse accused of criminal assault of 44 hospital patients through drug diversion can “stay” or pause, the related civil case. Schofield is one of two defendants in a Jackson County civil court case, Patti L. Wilson for the Estate of Horace Earl Wilson, Plaintiff, v. Asante, an Oregon corporation; Dani Marie Schofield, R.N., Defendant, filed in February by Justin Idiart with Central Point’s Idiart Law Group.

Schofield also has 44 felony counts of criminal assault in Jackson County Circuit Court, accusing her of causing illness to 44 Asante Rogue Regional Medical Cnter (Asante) intensive care unit patients from diverting to herself fentanyl intended for them, replacing it with hospital tap water that could cause infection.

Oregon boosts emergency preparedness with new evacuation software

Oregon Emergency Mangers already seeing significant reduction in time to communicate evacuation information. 

Salem, Ore. – In honor of National Preparedness Month, the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is excited to announce a new contract that will provide advanced evacuation software to all of Oregon’s 36 counties and nine Tribes. The software, from Genasys Inc., will help manage emergency evacuations more effectively across the state.

As Oregon deals with more frequent and severe disasters, it’s essential to have a clear plan for evacuations and support services. While law enforcement handles the immediate evacuation of people, the ODHS Office of Resilience and Emergency Management (OREM) works with local communities to help identify people who need evacuation assistance and ensure people are evacuated to a location that meets their needs.  

“Even well-prepared communities face challenges with evacuations, especially when multiple areas are affected. We’re thrilled to offer this new software to all our counties and Tribes,” said Ed Flick, Director of OREM. “This tool will help emergency managers make quick and informed decisions to keep everyone safe. Over the last week the tool was used to coordinate evacuations for the Rail Ridge Fire in Grant, Crook and Wheeler Counties, which is Oregon’s top priority wildfire. National Preparedness Month is a great time for everyone to review their own emergency plans and supplies. For tips, check out Ready.gov.” 

The Genasys EVAC software helps with planning and managing evacuations. It allows emergency services to quickly create and update evacuation plans, run realistic simulations, and respond faster during an emergency.

Nick Vora, Emergency Manager for Union County, shared his enthusiasm: “Changing, exporting, and adding evacuation zones for alerts used to be slow and complicated. While there are many great mapping tools out there, they often made it time-consuming to update evacuation zones and get them ready for emergency alerts. It could take 15 to 30 minutes to make these changes and load them into the alert system. With Genasys, however, the process is much faster. You can select and adjust an area and get it ready for alerts in just a few minutes. This quick turnaround makes managing emergency alerts much easier and more efficient.”

“Genasys Protect was instrumental in notifying community members of evacuations during the Falls and Telephone Fires in Harney County. When time is of the essence, being able to instantly notify community members of updated evacuation levels is crucial. We loved the ease of use and the ability to train new staff members on how to use it under one minute. This is an essential tool during wildfires,” said Melinda Todd, Harney County Emergency Manager.

Ken Kehmna, a retired fire chief and advisor at Genasys, added, “After Oregon’s severe fires in 2020, we tested this software in Deschutes and Jackson counties. Both counties saw great results and adopted the software, leading to its statewide use.”

Michael Smith, Senior Vice President at Genasys Protect, emphasized the benefits: “EVAC’s planning and real-time communication features are vital for managing emergencies in any community, from small towns to large cities.”

This new software represents a significant step forward in making sure Oregon is ready for emergencies and can respond quickly and effectively.

About the ODHS Office of Resilience and Emergency Management

ODHS holds four distinct roles through its Office of Resilience and Emergency Management, all of which reduce the impact of disasters on people.

• Mass care:  Planning for and supporting people in the early stage and immediate aftermath of emergencies. Our work includes things like coordinating evacuation assistance, the distribution of life-sustaining goods and services, including hydration, feeding, sheltering, reunification, and distribution of emergency supplies. 
• Social services recovery:  Helping people and social services agencies recover. Our Social Services Recovery Coordinators work with survivors and their families to identify barriers to recovery, make a plan to address those barriers, and support the survivors on their journey. Our role also includes helping local social services agencies that may be impacted by the disasters to return to full functioning as soon as possible. 
• Continuity of operations:  Ensuring communities’ ongoing access to ODHS services. This includes making sure our offices are open and essential services continue, as well as supporting the agency programs and the case managers who ensure the safety of the tens of thousands of Oregonians who may need extra and early help in an emergency. 
• Legislatively directed resilience work:  Warming, cooling and cleaner air shelters; water distribution and resilience hubs. These situations don’t fit what’s traditionally been considered emergencies, but they can have significant impacts on people. The Legislature made OREM the lead for this type of work to help people. 

Across all these roles, ODHS develops and relies on partnerships and coordination with public and private organizations at the local and regional levels and with our state and Tribal Nation partners. 

3,000 Oregon state workers claim faulty state analysis left them underpaid

More than 3,000 Oregon state workers have filed claims alleging that they are underpaid due to an inaccurate evaluation of their experience and education in a recent state equal pay analysis.

The Oregon Department of Administrative Services conducts the analysis at least once every three years to ensure employees have the correct job classification and are fairly paid. The latest review, covering about 36,000 state employees and completed in June, resulted in salary increases for 8,789 workers, who were reclassified based on updated education and experience assessments, according to Bryanna Duke, public records manager for the agency.

The significant number of reclassifications marks a victory for the state’s public employee unions, which have successfully negotiated several changes to the equal pay analysis process, aiming to promote fairness and address wage disparities between male and female state employees, as well as between employees of color and their white counterparts.

However, 3,025 employees – or about 8.4% of employees covered by the analysis – have appealed, contending that the state miscalculated their experience, education level or both, according to Andrea Chiapella, spokesperson for the Department of Administrative Services.

Summer EBT application deadline extended to Sept. 30, 2024
(Salem) – The application deadline for the new Summer EBT program has been extended to midnight Sept. 30, 2024. The program offers $120 per child to help cover grocery costs when school food programs are not as easy to access. Eligible families should act now.

Thousands of families may be unaware that they qualify for this essential benefit. The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) urge families to check their eligibility and apply before the extended deadline. Remember, once benefits are received, they must be used within 122 days. 

Most eligible children received their benefits automatically on June 28, 2024, if their households:

1. Participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
2. Participate in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
3. Are Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) members in households with incomes under 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Level 

Children in foster care also automatically received Summer EBT. 

However, families who did not receive benefits automatically, particularly those with children enrolled in a school during the 2023-2024 school year who were eligible for the National School Lunch or Breakfast Programs, should still apply to determine their eligibility.

Families are encouraged to visit sebt.oregon.gov or contact the Summer EBT Call Center to verify their eligibility and apply. ODHS Director Fariborz Pakseresht said, “We are grateful to our federal partners for making this extension. The extra time is so important for us to reach families who may be eligible because we know access to nutritious food is critical.” 

“Staying engaged in school and active in life requires proper nutrition,” said ODE Director Dr. Charlene Williams. “We know that there are many more families out there who have children who may be eligible for the $120 Summer EBT benefit and this important extension boosts our opportunity to reach them.”

Since June 28, 2024, more than 336,198 eligible school-aged children have been issued $40.3 million in Summer EBT food benefits. More than 60 percent of families receiving benefits in the initial issuance were able to immediately use benefits on existing Oregon EBT cards; the rest received new cards in July.

Act now and don’t let this opportunity pass by. Make sure your family receives the assistance it deserves by applying for Summer EBT before midnight Sept. 30, 2024.

To learn more:

1. Call 833-ORE-SEBT (833-673-7328). The call center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time.
2. Visit sebt.oregon.gov.

 Oregon State Police are reminding parents and students of the SafeOregon hotline.

It takes reports of potential threats against students and schools. The tips can be made anonymously. They can include safety threats, fights, drugs, weapons on campus, cyberbullying and students considering self-harm or suicide. A technician reviews the reports and assigns them either to police or school administrators. Tips can be made by phone, text, email or on the website https://www.safeoregon.com

Oregon Senators Celebrate $11.5 Million To Boost Oregon Literacy Programs

On Friday, Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that $11.5 million is coming to Oregon to boost the state’s programs to close disparities in literacy for students.

A release said the U.S. Department of Education is awarding the Oregon Department of Education $11,578,036 to advance literacy skills, including pre-literacy skills, reading, and writing for students from birth through grade 12. The program will particularly focus on limited-English-proficient students, and students with disabilities, including dyslexia. Friday’s award is the first of an anticipated 5-year program that could total up to nearly $58 million.

Merkley said, “Reading is key to success in education and life”. Merkley said, “Making sure the Oregon Department of Education has the resources it needs to support students and students with disabilities, including dyslexia, benefits us all. I’ll never stop fighting for Oregon students to make certain every child has a solid start in life”.

Wyden said, “The road to a great future for young Oregonians begins with reading”. Wyden said, “Students throughout our state with learning disabilities, English language learners and other young Oregonians will all gain from these federal literacy funds. I’ll always battle for these kinds of opportunities to strengthen educational support in classrooms statewide”.

The release said planned activities include literacy coaching, utilizing research-based literacy instruction, and developing effective school transition practices. The State will partner with the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to align efforts with the Governor’s Early Literacy Educator Preparation Council.

Recreational Trails Program accepting grant applications for trail projects
SALEM, Oregon— The Recreational Trails Program is accepting grant applications through Nov. 15 for the approximately $1.6 million in grant funds available for the 2024 grant cycle. 

Grants are available for trail construction, heavy restoration, trailhead facilities, trail building and maintenance equipment, land or easement acquisitions, safety and education, trail assessments for accessibility or maintenance and water trails.

The federally funded reimbursement grant program provides matching grants to construct, expand or improve public trails for motorized and non-motorized use. Interested applicants must submit a letter of intent via https://oprdgrants.org by Sep. 30. Applications due Nov. 15.

An optional webinar is scheduled 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Sept. 11 to provide information on the program and how to navigate the application process. Registration is required: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_YcBVw4OpQseoi6GZQgYffg#/registration. A recording of the webinar will be posted on the Recreational Trails Program web page shortly afterward at https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/GRA/Pages/GRA-rtp.aspx

The grant program is open to local governments, park districts, state and federal agencies, tribal governments, other public land managers, and nonprofits.

The Recreational Trails Program is funded through the Federal Highway Administration and administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). Since 1993, the program has funded over 550 projects across Oregon.

Information about the program, including the grant manual, application instructions and program schedule, is on the Recreational Trails Program web page: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/GRA/Pages/GRA-rtp.aspx

Questions can be directed to Jodi Bellefeuille, Recreational Trails Program coordinator, at ellefeuille@oprd.oregon.gov“>jodi.bellefeuille@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-856-6316.

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