The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Monday, October 23, 2023
Oregon Beach Weather
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY ISSUED: 2:36 AM OCT. 23, 2023 – NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...North winds 10 to 20 kt with gusts to 25 kt and seas 6 to 9 ft at 10 seconds expected. * WHERE...All of the area. * WHEN...From 11 PM this evening to 11 PM PDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds and/or steep seas could capsize or damage smaller vessels. * View the hazard area in detail at https://go.usa.gov/x6hks
Woman Saves Girl As Sneaker Wave Carries Her Away On Coast Near Yachats
A woman’s stop at the beach to run her dog turned harrowing Thursday when a sneaker wave knocked people down and snatched a small child from her grandmother’s grip and tumbled her below the surface of the Yachats River.
Angela Wynia, a 50-year-old physician assistant from Portland, was in town to visit her mother-in-law Marje “Manna” Takei. Wynia was leaving to head to the Bay Area when she made the last-minute stop to take her labradoodle Vesper to the beach below Yachats Ocean Road.
Despite blue skies, sun and warm temperatures there were not many people on the beach when the pair arrived at mid-tide around 12:30 p.m. Two men walked their dogs in the soft sand while down by the shore break there was a woman with a baby in a backpack and an older woman holding the hand of a small child.
“They were pretty far from me,” Wynia said. “I kind of noted they were pretty close to the shore break and thought, ‘OK, hopefully they know what they’re doing.’ I do remember having that thought.”
Wynia and Vesper were not far from the stairs leading down to the beach when she just happened to look back toward the surf and saw that the woman with the baby was on the ground and trying to get back up as water streamed all around her.
“And then I heard some screaming,” Wynia said. “And I was like, ‘Are they excited screaming?’
“But the other woman with the child was on the ground in the shore break clearly having trouble getting up. And then the small person — it was a child but I couldn’t tell how old — was being washed up the river.”
A huge wave had come in and torn the child from the woman’s grasp. Following it were several more sets of waves that crashed against the riprap on the north bank of the river. It was “impressive,” said Wynia, who kept watching and trying to figure out whether it was a child or adolescent in the river.
“The river was not terribly deep and I thought maybe they can get up,” Wynia said. “And I’m walking toward them but I’m not yet scared and I’m just kind of watching and all of a sudden, the mom looks at me and yells – ‘We need help!’ And she starts screaming.”
Wynia ripped off her sweater and took her phone from her pocket and threw them in the sand as she raced toward the river.
“It was quite far,” she said. “And the mom was pretty far too.”
As Wynia drew closer she could see it was a young child, perhaps 5 years of age. Only the child’s face bobbed above the water. And then she went under.
“I ran into the river, which my dog thought was very exciting,” Wynia said.
The river was about mid-thigh deep when she reached the child.
“I grabbed her and tried to pull her up and she’s unbelievably heavy,” Wynia said. “She was wearing this fur-lined coat, like a child’s coat but it was soggy, it must have weighed 10 pounds. And her pant legs were completely full of sand, like she could not bend her legs to stand up. It was unbelievable. I could barely pick her up.
“Her eyes were open but her face was under water so I pulled her out and it took her a couple seconds and then she breathed and then she threw up a bunch of salt water. And then she was gasping but she was OK, she was breathing.”
Wynia tried to get the child to right herself but ended up having to pick her up and carry her out of the water to the beach.
“And at this point she was so scared,” Wynia said. “Oh my god. She was like, ‘I think my granny’s dead! I think my granny’s dead!’ And I’m like, ‘No no, here she is, she’s coming up the beach, she’s OK.’ She’s like, ‘I don’t think it’s a good idea to go to the water today!’ (while sobbing). I said, ‘I think you’re right.’ She was terrified.
“I really thought I was going to have to resuscitate her. It was very, very scary. I have had to do CPR on people before but this was definitely the closest I’ve been to child resuscitation. It was very scary.”
BETTER WAVE WARNINGS
Wynia said she was talking to YachatsNews about the incident, which she did by phone on the road from Arcata, California, because she hopes to get better notice about sneaker waves.
“I don’t need a thanks, I don’t want anything,” Wynia said. “I actually just want more education around sneaker waves.”
The term “sneaker wave” derives from the observation that they can sneak up on unwary beachgoers. While there were sneaker wave warnings earlier in the week by the National Weather Service in Portland, there was no warning Thursday.
Sneaker waves first appear smaller than they actually are and can suddenly knock people down and even sweep them out to sea. The waves carry lots of sand and gravel, which can fill a person’s clothes and weigh them down.
Wynia said she practically raised her kids on the beach in Yachats and now has a house in Manzanita.
“We’re beach people. But every year these sneaker waves steal some kids and people just really don’t know, they don’t get the message. We just need really good signage and lots more education around sneaker waves, especially in town where a lot of tourists come. And especially on beautiful days, on these transition days.
“I think people get a false sense of calm around the ocean, particularly in spring and fall,” she said. “But it just tugs at my soul every time we lose children. … It’s really, really hard and thankfully this one ended well. But that was seconds away from being a total tragedy.”
The other message Mynia wants to get out is for people to learn CPR.
“I rushed into that situation fully confident that I could save that child’s life because I know CPR.”
At the beach, Wynia, who had been monitoring the child’s breathing and determined she looked fine, passed the child to mother and grandmother.
“They all looked very, very stunned and shocked when they met with me on the beach,” she said. “And I said, ‘See grandma is OK’ and I just handed her off and I walked back to the car with them, just trying to give the little girl some assurance. And then they went to their car and I left.”
The identity of the child and her family is unknown — for now. Wynia went back to her mother-in-law’s house for a hot shower and then got back on the road. (SOURCE)
Join the Newport Recreation Center for a Virtual Pumpkin Carving Contest
Join the Newport Recreation Center for a Virtual Pumpkin Carving Contest between October 20th and November 1st! This is a free community event. Sharpen those knives and get creative with your pumpkin! Once you have your pumpkin carved, take it out to one of Newport’s city parks for a scenic fall photoshoot and email it to j.remillard@newportoregon.gov
Pumpkins can be lit or unlit, but must be carved. The contest features three age categories; 6-12, 13-18, and 18+. First place in each category wins a $20 gift certificate generously donated by 2 Kids Candy Store. All photos will be posted on the City of Newport Parks and Recreation Facebook page on November 2nd. The photo in each category with the most likes by 10 a.m. on November 6th wins!
Newport Oregon Police Department · We need your help in identifying these two individuals.
At approximately 12:38 a.m. on October 15th, between Saturday night and Sunday morning, these two subjects were caught on surveillance camera entering a home on NE Coos Street in the Pacific Homes Beach Club subdivision while the owners were away. Approximately $5,000 to $8,000 of jewelry was taken.
The first subject (suspect #1) who entered the home was wearing a ball cap with a logo on the front (possibly a ship), a dark jacket, a colored work undershirt, long pants, and outdoor style hiking shoes. The subject appeared to have a mustache. The subject appeared to be a 55 – 60-year-old white male. The subject had a medium build. The subject was wearing gloves on his hands.
The second subject (suspect #2) was a younger white male approximately 30 years old. The second subject was approximately 5’10” and a slender build. He had short dark hair and short dark facial hair. There is a visible tattoo or marking on the right side of the subject’s neck. The tattoo appears to be blocky and higher on his neck just below his hair line underneath his ear. The subject was wearing a hoody-style jacket, long pants, and shoes. There were no distinct markings on the subject’s clothes and the subject was wearing thicker style gloves with a rubber coating on the palms.
The surveillance video shows the older male walk in carefully and slowly into the home. The subject appeared to have a slight limp while walking. The second subject appeared to be the lookout, however, he fully entered the home with both feet standing inside the living room. The younger male noticed the camera and shined a flashlight directly at the camera. The younger male then placed his hood over his face.
If you have any information on the identity of either of these subjects or any other information regarding the burglary, please contact Officer Darren Cicerone at 541-574-3348 or email d.cicerone@newportpolice.net and reference case number 23N-07201. You may also submit information via our Tip Line at 541-574-5455, or Text-a-Tip at 541-270-1856 or tipline@newportpolice.net. Please do not post the names of anyone you believe could be the suspect in the comments.
Florence Scare-Venger Hunt
The City of Florence is putting the Scare in Halloween. From now until the end of the month people can join the hunt for pumpkins around city parks clues went out on the 6th of October and new clues will be released each week on the 13th, 20th and 27th.
The Great Pumpkin Scare-venger Hunt requires participants to look for the word jumble on Friday’s at the City’s Facebook page and Instagram page solve the puzzle and then go hunting.
“We place it in a few different parks throughout the month, we have prizes that come out and it’s a great way to encourage people to get out and explore our different parks.”
Winner will be drawn from completed entries on Tuesdays following each week’s clue release. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=645947607659713&set=a.188801770040968
Art Exhibit Celebrates Clatsop Community College and Pacific Northwest College Collaboration
The Royal Nebeker Art Gallery at Clatsop Community College, partnering with Center for Contemporary Art & Culture at Pacific Northwest College of Art, is thrilled to announce a fall exhibition titled Mind and Hand: PNCA Community Showcase. The public is invited to the show’s Reception on Thursday, October 19 starting at 6pm for refreshments and celebration.
This exhibition – displaying over 30 pieces from PNCA students, faculty, staff and alumni – is brought to CCC’s campus gallery as a special collaboration to celebrate the PNCA + Clatsop Community College Transfer Agreement where students from Clatsop Community College will now have easier access to a BFA from Pacific Northwest College of Art.
The CCC Royal Nebeker Gallery, located at 1799 Lexington Avenue in Astoria, is ADA accessible. The gallery hours are from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and on weekends and holidays by appointment only. For more information, please contact Kristin Shauck by phone (503-338-2472) or e-mail kshauck@clatsopcc.edu.
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Accepting Public Comments on Updates to Marine Plant and Seaweed Collection Rules on the Ocean Shore
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) proposes updates to rules for collection of marine plants and macroalgae in marine reserves and marine protected areas (OAR 736-021-0090).
Updates to Oregon’s Territorial Sea Plan earlier this year changed regulations and management practices in certain protected areas. The department’s proposed rule changes will allow for collection of marine plants and macroalgae in marine protected areas if allowed under management plans for the area.
(Oregon’s territorial sea is a 3 mile wide strip of ocean under state jurisdiction that reaches from the shoreline out to sea. This area and the resources within it are managed by state and federal agencies in trust for the public.)
Proposed rules also eliminate outdated requirements for enrolled members of federally recognized tribes in Oregon to seek a permit before collecting marine plants along the ocean shore.
OPRD is accepting comments until 5 p.m. Nov. 3, 2023, and they can be made online, at a public hearing, in writing or via email.
- Online: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/PRP/Pages/PRP-rulemaking.aspx
- Virtual Public hearing: Thursday, October 26, 2 PM: Registration required at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RVGhrw-KR9eYDdaTobepew
- In writing: Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, attn.: Katie Gauthier, 725 Summer St NE, Suite C, Salem OR 97301
- Email: D.publiccomment@oprd.oregon.gov“>OPRD.publiccomment@oprd.oregon.gov.
After reviewing public comments, agency staff plan to present a final amended rule for consideration by the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission at its November 2023 business meeting.
The full text of the amendment to Oregon Administrative Rule 736-021-0090 is available online at https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/PRP/Pages/PRP-rulemaking.aspx.
Scammers Targeting Public Benefits At New Paid Leave Oregon Program
Some Oregonians have reported getting a letter saying they’ve been approved for paid leave benefits that they never applied for, a warning sign of identity theft.
Oregon’s Paid Leave program has sent out more than $28 million in benefits so far — but scammers are among those trying to cash in on the state’s new program.
Public benefits have long been a target of fraudsters who attempt to illegally gain access to personal data in order to file fraudulent applications for things like unemployment insurance or food benefits. Officials with Paid Leave Oregon said it is experiencing the same type of attempted fraud, and are asking Oregonians who receive a letter regarding benefits they didn’t actually apply for to report it on the program’s website.
The program started paying out benefits last month and has approved more than 15,000 applications so far. Eligible Oregon employees can take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for family, medical or “safe leave” — the program’s term for people seeking financial support to escape domestic or sexual violence. Workers taking paid time off for pregnancy may be eligible for up to 14 weeks of leave.
Workers seeking benefits must send in certain documentation that corresponds to the type of leave they’re taking, such as a birth certificate for a new child. Once an application is submitted, the employment department reviews all the documents and verifies the identity of the applicant. It also notifies the employer.
But some Oregonians have reported getting a letter saying they’ve been approved for paid leave benefits that they never applied for. That’s a warning sign a person’s identity has been compromised. A spokesperson for the program said Oregonians should keep an eye on their mailboxes and report any letters regarding benefits they didn’t apply for.
OPB has heard from at least one employer who reported feeling suspicious after receiving a letter from Paid Leave Oregon regarding an employee who was not planning to be away from work.
Employment department officials declined to provide a count of potentially fraudulent applications they’ve received. But they believe they are catching the fraud attempts in the screening process, before money goes out.
The Oregon Department of Justice suggests checking personal credit reports frequently for any anomalies, and urges suspected victims of identity theft to report it to local authorities and the Federal Trade Commission. (SOURCE)
FAA Investigating Dangerous Close Call Between 2 Passenger Jets Over Portland Airport
Investigation underway as two passenger jets have a dangerous close call over Oregon, coming within several hundred feet of each other. The FAA is now reviewing the nation’s Aerospace system, raising renewed questions about air safety. Both flights landed safely.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Approves Controversial Pipeline Expansion Project In The Pacific Northwest
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved a controversial natural gas pipeline expansion project in the Pacific Northwest on Thursday, despite opposition from Democrats who said the project would imperil their states’ climate goals.
The $335 million Gas Transmission Northwest XPress Project from TC Energy was one of several natural gas projects approved by FERC at its monthly meeting. Commissioners also advanced the Plaquemines LNG terminal project in Louisiana, as well as a new rule to protect grid reliability amid an influx of renewable resources.
The gas project known as GTN Xpress would expand an existing pipeline system in parts of Idaho, Washington state and Oregon to export natural gas from British Columbia, increasing the system’s capacity by 150 million cubic feet of gas per day. The developer says the expansion is necessary to meet growing fuel demand, while some elected officials from the region have expressed concerns about greenhouse gas emissions.
The project was approved by all four commissioners.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) said in an interview that the GTN Xpress decision showed that FERC was a “completely captured agency” that is “one huge rubber stamp” for fossil fuel projects. Merkley said he intends to hold conversations in Congress about changing FERC, which is an independent commission whose members are appointed by presidents and confirmed by senators.
“I think they need to be scrapped so we can start over with an agency that actually exists in sync with our need to take on climate change,” Merkley said. “If our national policy is that we are going to take on climate change, we have to dump an agency that greenlights fossil fuel project after fossil fuel project.”
FERC has been blasted by Republicans and Democrats over the years over which projects were approved or rejected and whether climate-warming emissions were adequately considered. Currently, the two parties each have two seats on the commission. One spot is vacant.
Merkley — along with Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) — sent a letter this week asking FERC to reject the project, citing the climate impacts, potential safety risks and a lack of consultation with tribes. In previous comments on the pipeline docket, the attorneys general of California, Oregon and Washington said FERC had not done enough to evaluate the pipeline’s climate change impacts by not accounting for emissions associated with natural gas after it is shipped.
“It’s just inconsistent with what the West Coast is doing in trying to develop a clean energy economy,” Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) said in an interview Thursday. “It strikes right at the heart of our West Coast plans.”
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, FERC acting Chair Willie Phillips said that the commission understood the concerns but had to “act on the record.” There was nothing in the agency’s environmental review, he said, that indicated the project would “significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions” since there were agreements to purchase all gas going through the pipeline.
Idaho, which will purchase at least half of the gas, supported the project, said Phillips, a Democrat. “We considered and balanced all the information on the record, and the commission determined this project was needed and therefore we supported its approval,” he said.
FERC spokesperson Mary O’Driscoll said the agency did not have a response to Merkley’s comments.
Some Republicans from the region applauded the decision, which was delayed after being put on FERC’s agenda in July. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.) said in a statement that the pipeline “will support domestic energy production, which boosts our energy security while also helping lower utility bills for Oregon families.”
The current GTN pipeline is 1,377 miles long and transports natural gas from Canada to communities in Washington, Oregon and California. Canada-based TC Energy has said the project will deliver enough gas to serve half a million homes and meet regional demand that has grown more than 26 percent since 2014.
“The GTN XPress project will play a critical role in keeping energy affordable and reliable for consumers in California and the Pacific Northwest,” said TC Energy spokesperson Michael Tadeo in an email. “We appreciate FERC’s bipartisan action today to approve the project and will work diligently to place it into service as soon as possible.”
In a statement Thursday, several environmental groups led by Columbia Riverkeeper said they intended to file a petition for rehearing to challenge FERC’s ruling. Inslee likewise said he is talking with his state’s attorney general about legal options. (SOURCE)
New Funding of $41.4M for Oregon Mass Timber Modular Housing
The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded the Oregon Mass Timber Coalition (OMTC) $41.4 million to develop and expand Oregon’s emerging Mass Timber industry.
This grant through the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, is specifically focused on utilizing mass timber products in prefabricated, modular home construction.
The Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) is utilizing a portion of the funding through this grant to help cities update and modernize local development codes to encourage the use of mass timber modular housing through the Code-UP project.
Working with a consulting team and the Department of Consumer and Business Services in 2022, DLCD staff and a consulting team audited the development codes of five cities to identify local regulatory barriers to developing mass timber and modular housing. Starting this fall, the Code-UP project team will continue this work by providing additional jurisdictions with code audits, amendment recommendations, and community engagement services.
Ten jurisdictions that have been selected to receive technical assistance this year: Chiloquin, Clatsop County, Creswell, Gates, Lincoln City, Mt. Vernon, Phoenix, Rufus, Sandy, and Talent. Consistent with the federal grant award, staff prioritized assistance to wildfire-affected and rural communities.
DLCD is committed to assisting a total of thirty jurisdictions over the next five years through a model code funded by the grant and encourages communities to reach out with interest.
Next Steps — Project consultants MIG and Cascadia Partners, DLCD’s Mass Timber Coordinator, and DLCD specialists and regional staff will support the Code-UP project team to complete the following tasks for each selected community.
Provide Adoption-Ready Code Amendments: Consultants will audit local code to understand potential barriers and opportunities for modular mass timber housing and prepare draft code amendments based off those findings.
Engage Community Members Equitably: Consultants will gather local data and information to assist in engaging traditionally underserved communities. They and DLCD staff will use a range of methods to engage community members.
Provide Additional Capacity: DLCD regional representatives and the AmeriCorps Resource Assistance for Rural Environments Mass Timber Coordinator will assist in local planning commission and city council work sessions and adoption hearings.
Oregon’s statewide land use planning program — originated in 1973 under Senate Bill 100 — protects farm and forest lands, conserves natural resources, promotes livable communities, facilitates orderly and efficient development, helps coordination among local governments, and enables community engagement.
The program affords all Oregonians predictability and sustainability to the development process by ensuring allocation of urban land for industrial, commercial, and housing development.
The Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) administers the program. A seven-member volunteer citizen board known as the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) guides DLCD.
Under the program, all cities and counties have adopted comprehensive plans that meet mandatory state standards. The standards are 19 Statewide Planning Goals that deal with land use, development, housing, transportation, and conservation of natural resources. Technical assistance in the form of grants to local jurisdictions is a key element of the program. (SOURCE)
Police Arrest Rock Climber Who Plotted To Kill People At Popular Mountaineering Event In Oregon
- An Oregon rock climber was arrested and charged on Thursday, according to multiple reports.
- Samson Zebturiah Garner was plotting to kill several climbers at a rock climbing event, police said.
- Police said they found several weapons in the back of Garner’s car. His motives are not known.
A rock climber plotted to kill several people at a popular mountaineering event in Oregon this weekend, Deschutes County Sheriff’s deputies alleged.
Samson Zebturiah Garner, 39, was arrested on attempted murder and other charges on Thursday, police said, according to local media.
He was planning on shooting attendees of the annual Craggin’ Classic event in Smith Rock, located in central Oregon’s High Desert.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said they were tipped off by two people who had heard Garner speaking about his plan to attack the climbers during another climbing event earlier in the week.
They said they found several weapons in his vehicle, including a Beretta and Sig Sauer 9mm handguns and an AR-15 rifle.
Police recovered journal entries that indicate Garner was “planning a violent attack,” Sergeant Jason Wall told reporters on Friday . Garner was not planning to target specific people, but had a “generalized anger,” Wall added.
Garber’s exact motives are not known, Wall said.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.
Garner was charged with attempted murder of multiple victims, attempted first-degree assault, attempted second-degree assault, and unlawful use of a weapon and is scheduled to appear in court on October 27.
The 39-year-old is a Portland resident who has worked in IT and is an avid climber.
He has a membership with the Mazamas, a mountaineering education nonprofit, according to its executive director, Rebekah Phillips. She said while Garner’s membership was current, his involvement with the group had been “limited since 2018,” according to Gripped Magazine.
The Craggin’ Classic event in Smith Rock is organized by The American Alpine Club and held annually. It includes films, presentations, and vendor villages and people climb in the area, according to its website.
Smith Rock is considered the birthplace of American sport climbing.Read the original article on Business Insider
Klamath River Dam Removal Project Update
The dam removal project along the Klamath River is running on schedule, according to the Klamath River Renewal Corporation. It marks the largest dam removal project in world history.
Copco 2 was the first of four dams to be removed. The KRRC said the three remaining dams, Copco 1, Iron Gate Dam and the J.C. Boyle Dam will be removed by November of 2024.
“About a year from now, we will have re-established a free flowing condition throughout the hydroelectric reach on the Klamath River for the first time in over 100 years,” said Mark Bransom, CEO of the KRRC.
Bransom said there are two main goals for the project: Re-establishing a fish passage that runs both upstream and downstream of the river, and improving overall water quality.
Native tribes along the Klamath River have been advocating for dam removal for generations, hoping to see the salmon population return to the river. Bransom said the relationship between the tribes and the KRRC is an extremely important element of the project.
“We are simply standing on the shoulders of the tribes that have been advocating for and active on this work for two decades in some cases,” he said.
Right now crews are focusing on drawdown preparation. This means crews will lower the water levels of the reservoirs, before they start chipping away at the dams.
“In order to create a safe condition, we need to slowly reduce the level of water in the reservoirs until they’re completely drained out,” Bransom said. “By May or June of 2024, after we return to a low, summer flow condition, then we can begin the removal of the dams.”
Explosives will be used to help break up Copco 1 and the J.C. Boyle Dam. However, that won’t be necessary for the Iron Gate Dam. Iron Gate Dam is made up of organic material that will be taken apart and returned to the area it originally came from.
Aside from removing the dams from the river, the KRRC said environmental restoration work will continue for several years, possibly until 2031.
“Dam removal is the first phase of this overall project, and we expect to be around for at least another seven to eight years,” Bransom said. (SOURCE)
Oregon Wildlife Officials Urge Residents To Be Bear-Aware
Oregon wildlife officials are urging residents to be bear-aware. This is the season when bears fatten up before hibernating for the winter. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is reminding people living in bear country to make sure they aren’t leaving out food that will attract bears.
Garbage cans should be put out just before they’re picked up; chicken feed, pet food and other livestock feed should be secured; remove bird feeders; pickup downed fruit; and store barbecues inside. If you see a bear, give it plenty of space, don’t run, don’t make eye contact, and if you are attacked fight back with rocks, sticks and your hands. MORE INFO: https://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/living_with/black_bears.asp
Missing Yachats Man’s Vehicle Found in North Lane County
On 08/25/2023, Dustin Steyding was reported missing to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office after he left work on 07/22/2023 and hadn’t been located since. Dustin was living and working in the Yachats area.
Dustin was reported to be in good physical condition, having previously worked as a hot shot firefighter in New Mexico. Dustin is very experienced in the woods and commonly goes out for hikes to stay in shape. Without means to locate Dustin, Deputies entered Dustin as a missing person in a national database.
On 09/04/2023, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office received a call from Dustin’s family after they located his vehicle on Keller Creek Rd, just outside of Lincoln County in Lane County. Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Deputies contacted the vehicle and determined it had been at the location for some time. Deputies were unable to determine Dustin’s direction of travel from the vehicle.
The vehicle having been located in Lane County, Lincoln County Deputies contacted the Lane County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team and arranged for their response the next day to started searching the area. After two days of searching, no clues to Dustin’s have been found.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Dustin Steyding should contact the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at 541-265-0777 and reference case number 23S-07321.
83-year-old Clarence Edward Pitts walked away from his home in Bandon on Tuesday, January 31 at around 1:00 p.m. Pitts is described as:
- 6′ 00″
- 150 lbs
- Gray hair
- Brown eyes
- Last seen wearing an orange beanie, plaid jacket, tan pants and white shoes
- May have a walking cane
- Has dementia and PTSD
Pitts may be in a vehicle that was also found to be missing from the home:
- 1999 Toyota Van
- White
- Oregon license plate: WYN 788
If you see Clarence or have any information pertaining to where he may be, please call the Coos County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center at 541-396-2106 or the Bandon Police Department at 541-347-3189.
Contact us: Info@OregonBeachMagazine.com