The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Monday, October 28, 2024
Oregon Beach Weather
Small Craft Advisory Issued: 2:16 AM Oct. 28, 2024 – National Weather Service
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT TUESDAY... * WHAT...Steep, swell dominated seas between 11 to 15 ft at 14 seconds. * WHERE...All areas. * WHEN...Until 11 AM PDT Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Steep seas could capsize or damage smaller vessels. * View the hazard area in detail at https://go.usa.gov/x6hks
The Storm Prediction Center at NOAA has identified a general thunderstorm risk again today for areas in light green on the map below. Most of these will be isolated in nature with gusty winds, and lightning.
Seasonal Climate Forecast October – December 2024
https://www.oregon.gov/oda/programs/naturalresources/documents/weather/dlongrange.pdf
Tillamook High School Football Game on Friday Ends at Halftime due to Allegations by Visiting Team of Racial Slurs and Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Statement from Tillamook School District #9 regarding Tillamook High School home football game Friday, October 25, 2024 against Milwuakie High School:
Last night (Oct. 25), a variety football game ended prematurely (at halftime) due to allegations of unsportsmanlike conduct and the use of racial epithets. While some of the details surrounding the nature of the event, and the involvement of athletes, coaches and officials are still unclear, we are committed to launching an investigation to resolve this matter.
These allegations, if true at any level, would mark a deviation from the standards we seek to uphold and are inconsistent with our values as an organization. Tillamook School District has a proud tradition of competing athletically and is committed to adhering to all OSAA guidelines that promote positive student-athlete experiences. We look forward to cooperating with OSAA on any investigation or efforts taken to resolve this matter and promote sportsmanship at athletic events.
~ Matt Ellis, Superintendent
Oregon Coast Shaken by 3.5 Earthquake Off Coast of Waldport
A mild earthquake with a 3.5 magnitude struck off the coast of Oregon early Sunday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The quake hit at a depth of 10 kilometers in the Pacific Ocean at 1:13 a.m. local time.
According to the USGS, the tremor occurred approximately 250 kilometers from the nearest populated areas, though some residents may have felt light shaking. It came from near Waldport. The agency encourages residents to report any sensations of the quake on its “Did You Feel It?” portal to help scientists gather data on regional seismic activity.
The community intensity map shows minimal impact onshore, but citizen reports contribute valuable information to ongoing research. Such feedback helps the USGS analyze how far inland the quake’s effects reached and improves earthquake response strategies.
While this offshore quake posed no immediate threat, it serves as a reminder of the active seismic zone near Oregon’s coast. The Cascadia Subduction Zone off the Pacific Northwest remains a key area of interest for geologists, who continue to monitor it closely for larger events.
For further details, residents are urged to visit the USGS website.
Yachats City Council OKs $370,000 Bid to Renovate City’s Little Log Church Museum
The Yachats city council has approved a bid to begin renovations on the city’s historic Little Log Church Museum despite the higher-than-expected cost.
During a public hearing at its Wednesday meeting, the council approved a $370,000 bid from Top to Bottom Contractors of Newport to begin renovations — weather willing — sometime this winter.
The city received two bids for the project, which Civil West Engineering Services estimated would cost about $263,000. The other bid from Lippincott Construction & North Pacific Woodworks was $460,000. But its bid was for a new log-cabin-style structure, which is not what the city requested.
Prior to its unanimous decision to accept the bid, the council heard from Civil West’s senior project manager Tim Gross and Top to Bottom’s Jose Gonzales. Gross stood by the company’s cost estimate and submitted documents advising council to reject both bids and instead seek new ones in the spring.
Gross said bids would be more competitive in the spring when companies were seeking summer work and have better weather to begin the project. It would also give Lippincott a chance to re-submit a bid for renovation only.
“I guess it depends on your position in the city,” Gross said. “If the city has the funds to do the work and you just want to get it done, I don’t think you’re going to make a bad decision to award the contract.”
And he added that by waiting, the city could be more intentional in finding local contractors to bid.
It’s a question of how quickly the city wants to get the project finished, Gross said, which he suggested would not take much longer if council decided to wait for bids in spring because of the approaching rainy season. There is only so much a contractor can accomplish in winter, he said.
Jose Gonzales with Top to Bottom told councilors he had reviewed Civil West’ estimate and believes it was low because it was completed in 2019 before the post-Covid increase in material costs.
“I pulled new numbers based on current prices for the same materials they had asked for and just for the siding alone, (it) came in at an extra $20,000,” Gonzales said. “Electrical came in at an extra $50,000 from the numbers that they had estimated. So that’s the reason why our estimate is a little bit higher than what their estimates came in at.”
He said he checked prices with the same suppliers used by Civil West in its estimate.
“And also, I think doing the project now, in the wintertime is also when we as the contractor have the most time,” Gonzales said. “Summertime is when we have the most amount of work so it might be harder to do during the summertime. We are ready to go if you guys decide to go for it.”
The company has a lot of experience with this type of renovation, he said, and is currently remodeling the homeless shelter in Newport, which will be finished in the next couple months. READ MORE: https://yachatsnews.com/yachats-council-oks-370000-bid-to-finally-renovate-citys-little-log-church-museum/
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Natural cover fire Coos Bay Wagon Rd and Flournoy Valley Rd.
Florence Woman Dies After Oil Spill From Crash On Hwy 126
A Florence woman has died in a head-on car crash Tuesday as a result of an oil spill on Highway 126 near milepost 19, east of Mapleton.
The Oregon State Police says troopers responded to the scene of a four-vehicle crash at 3:15 p.m. where they learned a westbound Kenworth log truck was passing through the Knowles Creek Tunnel when a catastrophic engine failure caused a 200-yard-long oil spill.
The log truck, operated by Billy Coder, 50 of Myrtle Point, exited the tunnel and parked along the side of the roadway.
A westbound Nissan Rogue, operated by Mary Dale, 65, of Florence, lost control in the oil slick and crashed into the logging truck before moving off the highway.
Another westbound vehicle, operated by Radiant Gaines, 48, of Eugene, lost control in the oil slick, crossed into the eastbound lane and struck an eastbound Chevrolet HHR, operated by Christine Weathers of Florence, head-on.
Weathers died at the scene, while Gaines suffered serious injuries and was taken to a medical center, officials said.
OSP said the highway was impacted for approximately 9.5 hours during an on-scene investigation.
Oregon Coast Aquarium – Our renovated Connected Coasts gallery and brand-new Sea Jelly gallery open this #Halloween!
This debut marks the completion of our gallery construction; as of October 31, guests will be able to view 
every exhibit we have. Celebrate with us by “dressing like a jelly” for the opening weekend! We encourage guests to visit in-costume from Oct. 31-Nov. 3. Learn more at https://aquarium.org/ocaq-unveils-connected-coasts-and-sea-jelly-galleries/
Mother of Waldport Woman Killed In January Crash With Yachats Ambulance Files $6 Million Lawsuit
The mother of a 25-year-old Waldport woman killed in a collision with a Yachats ambulance in January has filed a $6 million lawsuit against the Yachats Rural Fire Protection District and the private, nonprofit ambulance company that it staffs.
Kelsey R. Seibel Waldport died and Fokus Simmons, 16, of Waldport, was severely injured Jan. 11 when her northbound car ran into the side of the South Lincoln Ambulance as it was leaving the fire district station and pulling onto U.S. Highway 101 on the north edge of Yachats.
The lawsuit claims that Yachats firefighter/paramedic Casey Wittmier drove directly in front of Seibel’s Kia Soul and had not activated the ambulance’s overhead lights and siren when he pulled out from the station’s driveway onto Highway 101. An Oregon State Police investigation quoted Wittmier as having turned on the lights but not the siren.
Under a year-to-year contract between the fire district and the nonprofit ambulance organization, the ambulance is staffed by Yachats fire district firefighter/paramedics. It is believed to be the only such type of arrangement in Oregon.
The fire department’s two administrators, Frankie Petrick and Shelby Knife, also control the ambulance nonprofit as its secretary and president. It’s a decades-long arrangement that has brought a growing unease to a minority of the five-member fire board the last few years.
The lawsuit is not a surprise. In February, lawyers for Stocker and Simmons filed state-required tort claim notices that they intended to sue the fire district and ambulance company. Simmons’ attorneys have not yet filed any lawsuits.
Lawyers for Seibel’s mother, Heidi Stocker of Waldport, filed the lawsuit Oct. 16 in Lincoln County circuit court. She is represented Yaquina Law in Newport, whose attorneys asked for a jury trial.
Two days later the attorneys for South Lincoln Ambulance filed a response and cross-claim against the fire district contending the district’s board agreed in its yearly contract to hold the ambulance service “harmless for claims resulting from the actions of the YRFPD, its agents, employees and volunteers” and that the district and its employees failed to perform their obligations in the January wreck.
South Lincoln Ambulance’s motion was filed by Sheer Law of Seattle and asked for the nonprofit to be dismissed from the lawsuit. But if it was not, the lawyers said the fire district should have to pay any claims that the dead woman’s family might be awarded from it.
Petrick, as secretary of the ambulance nonprofit, and Katherine Guenther, as chair of the fire district board, both said Tuesday they could not comment on the lawsuit.
In the eight months since receiving the tort claim notice, the fire district’s board has not discussed the potential lawsuit or its implications for the district with its lawyers.
Collision on Highway 101 – The accident occurred at 5:16 p.m. Jan. 11 as the ambulance was responding to a priority call at Sea Aire Assisted Living Center just to the south of the Yachats fire station.
In a report by state police Trooper Nathan Goody, Wittmier said the ambulance was at the end of the driveway with no traffic approaching from the north and Seibel’s car approaching from the south.
“The Kia started to drive over the white line and it seemed to Wittmier the Kia had time to stop,” Goody wrote in his report. “The Kia had been over the white line for a few seconds. Wittmier checked back and forth before starting to pull out of the driveway onto U.S .101 to turn left to drive southbound. The Kia drove back from over the white line and back into the northbound lane of traffic. The Kia kept moving northbound and Wittmier tried to get the ambulance out of the way of the Kia. It seemed to Wittmier the driver of the Kia didn’t apply the brakes.”
Goody also interviewed Yachats firefighter/paramedic Mo Larmi, who was in the ambulance’s passenger seat.
“Prior to the collision, Larmi heard Wittmier exclaim about an oncoming vehicle,” Goody wrote in his report.
After the collision, Larmi said Wittmier told him that he “saw the Kia pull over the white line,” Goody said in his report. “Prior to the collision, Larmi was looking to his right to observe oncoming traffic southbound on U.S. 101. Larmi observed southbound traffic was ‘heeding our lights.’ Larmi saw the northbound Kia’s lights and it seemed to Larmi the Kia was pulling over to the side of the road. Larmi heard Wittmier say something to the effect of ‘Oh shit they’re gonna hit us’.”
The broadside collision lifted the ambulance off the ground, Goody’s report said.
The police investigation – Seibel died at the scene. Simmons was taken to the hospital in Corvallis where he remained for months. He is now back in the Waldport area but requiring constant care because of traumatic brain injuries.
Seibel had two children, boys age 5 and 3, when she died.
State police said neither were wearing seatbelts and Seibel’s Kia Soul’s airbags did not deploy.
Later that night, the state police investigation said, the staff at a Newport funeral home found a container with what was later determined to be crystal methamphetamine in Seibel’s clothes.
The state police report released to YachatsNews in a public records request has no mention of a toxicology report on Seibel or Simmons, but one was conducted by the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s office.
Whether the ambulance had its lights on is a matter of dispute.
The lawsuit says Wittmier never stopped the ambulance at the end of the driveway before entering the highway “nor did he activate the ambulance’s overhead lights or siren prior to the crash.”
The day after the accident, Wittmier told investigators that he turned on the ambulance’s overhead lights about 240 feet before the end of the fire station’s driveway. “He did not use his siren because of past complaints from the neighbors,” the police investigation said.
Immediately after the crash, Wittmier told police he turned off the power module switch in the ambulance but did not turn off the ignition.
Wade Kolar of Yachats, a retired California firefighter, heard of the crash on a scanner he monitors and got to the scene before any emergency responders, the investigation report said. He saw that the emergency lights for the ambulance were off, so reached into the cab and activated a master switch that turned on both the overhead lights and outside floodlights that illuminated the crash scene.
State police said in their report that they could not substantiate a tip from Stocker’s sister that a resident at Sea Aire had seen the ambulance leave the station without its lights on.
In asking for $6 million in damages, lawyers for Stocker say while Seibel “drove at a reasonable speed and remained in her appropriate lane of travel,” the ambulance was at fault for failing to yield the right of way when entering Highway 101 “when Ms. Seibel’s vehicle was approaching so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard” and that the ambulance failed to activate its lights and siren “without first waiting for traffic to clear the intersection prior to entering the highway.”
The lawsuit also faulted the district and ambulance company “in adopting or acquiescing to an unwritten policy of not activating an emergency vehicle’s siren near the Yachats Main Fire Station even when proceeding onto the highway …”
No court hearings have been scheduled on the lawsuit, but Stocker’s lawyers asked that the fire district and ambulance company respond within 30 days of their filings. (SOURCE)
Florence Woman Who Set Car On Fire With Child Inside Sentenced To Probation
According to court records, a mother in Florence who lit a car on fire with her child inside was sentenced on Monday, but will not be going to jail.
Back on August 6, Lane County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Oregon State Police troopers responded to a reported dispute on south Jetty Road near Florence. Court records said authorities arrived to find Lindsey Abigail Williston, 40, had left her two small children home alone earlier that day, which led to an argument with the children’s father.
When he showed up to pick the kids up that evening, Williston set a fire in the front seat of his SUV with her five-year-old still in the back seat. She then took her four-year-old inside the home and refused to come out. Court records said she fought with responding police, and even sprayed an officer with a fire extinguisher when he rescued the child through a window.
Williston was eventually arrested and jailed. She pleaded guilty on October 21 to charges of resisting arrest, reckless burning and recklessly endangering another person. She also pleaded guilty to burglary and theft charges for a separate unrelated case. Williston was sentenced to three years of probation and 30 days in jail. However, she received credit for time served, and has spent more than 30 days in jail since her arrest, so she will not be going back to jail as a result of the sentence.
Governor Kotek Releases Statement on $25 Million Award for Port of Coos Bay
Governor Kotek released a statement on the $25 million award to the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay from the Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects program (INFRA) through the U.S. Department of Transportation for the Pacific Coast Intermodal Port (PCIP) Terminal Planning Project.
This award will advance environmental review, permitting, and preliminary engineering and design for the intermodal terminal component of the larger PCIP project, including the railyard, container yard, wharf, and berths.
“When I visited with the Port of Coos Bay staff last year on the One Oregon Listening Tour, I was reminded of just how vital our state’s ports are to the economic growth and prosperity of our communities. Today’s exciting award announcement marks a critical step in the effort to establish a vital intermodal gateway for west coast imports and exports at the Port of Coos Bay,” Governor Kotek said. “Thanks to the leadership of Congresswoman Val Hoyle and our federal delegation, we are unlocking opportunities to alleviate highway congestion by modernizing infrastructure and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
“I am thrilled today that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded over $25 million for the Port of Coos Bay Intermodal Project,” U.S. Representative Val Hoyle said. “This project has the potential to bring over 8,000 jobs to Southwest Oregon’s coastal communities and to strengthen our nation’s supply chain. Today’s announcement brings us one step closer to rebuilding the South Coast as an economic engine for the state and introduces more pathways to the middle class.” She added, “I would like to thank Secretary Buttigieg, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the White House, and my partners in Congress for their support and persistence to help bring this project closer to fruition.”
The Pacific Coast Intermodal Port (PCIP) Terminal Planning Project will be designed to move nearly 100% of in and outbound containers by rail for land slide movements and utilize electrification or other green energy source for moving containers within the yard. This project will provide additional capacity for imports, create a new gateway for U.S. exports, and is anticipated to generate a significant economic impact in rural Oregon.
Additional information on the project can be found here.
Oregon State Police Investigating Officer Involved Shooting in Lincoln County
On Saturday, October 19th,2024, at approximately 12:22 p.m., the Lincoln City Police Department responded to report of a domestic disturbance between a male and female at the Motel 6, located at 3517 NW Highway 101, in Lincoln City, OR. Officers responded to the motel, identified the suspect, and discovered outstanding warrants for his arrest. The occupants of the room also appeared to be associated with a stolen vehicle located in the parking lot of the hotel.
At approximately 13:04 p.m., Lincoln City Police officers contacted the male suspect in the hotel room and he was noncompliant. During the contact, the suspect had two firearms in his waistband which he reached for and was shot by officers.
First aid was rendered at the scene and the suspect was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The suspect’s identification has not been released due to difficulties in making next of kin notification.
Per the Lincoln County Deadly Force Response Plan under Senate Bill 111, the Lincoln County Major Crime Team was activated for the investigation and the Oregon State Police has taken the role of the lead investigating agency. The Oregon State Police is being assisted by the Newport Police Department, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln City Police Department, the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office, and the Lincoln County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Coos Bay Sidewalk Replacement Project Starts
The City of Coos Bay Public Works Department has contracted with Freedom Builders, to replace the sidewalk between S. 6th Street & S. 7th Street on Anderson Avenue. Work will also include the addition of storm drain improvements and the removal and replanting of trees.
Work will begin the morning of October 21, 2024 and is expected to be completed in the middle of December. To complete the work, traffic control will be in place for vehicles and pedestrians. Please follow the direction of traffic control signage and please slow down and take caution when near the construction zone. Should you have any questions or want more information, please contact Greg Hamblet at (541) 269-1181 ext. 3541 or email ghamblet@coosbayor.gov.
Coast Guard May Discontinue Sound Signal at Yaquina Bay
The Coast Guard sound signal located on the South Jetty of Yaquina Bay has been part of the coastal ambiance for many years. Most people are quite familiar with the echoing sound emanating from the signal, serving as a way of guiding mariners back to port.
The U.S. Coast Guard Aids To Navigation Team installs the sound signal each spring, and then removes it in the fall so that it isn’t damaged in the winter storms. However, Coast Guard officials announced plans last February to discontinue the sound signal, saying that this would be its last season. The sound signal at Umpqua River was also scheduled to be discontinued.
According to a statement issued earlier this year by the Coast Guard, “The decision to discontinue these sound signals aligns with ongoing efforts to modernize and optimize navigational systems. The U.S. Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service operating under the Department of Homeland Security. Its primary responsibility is the safety and security of the maritime public, including environmental stewardship and enforcing maritime laws.”
Mariners and community members were encouraged to provide comments about these upcoming changes, as well as performance and operation of the aids to navigation.
The Lincoln County Leader reached out to the Coast Guard recently for an update on the plans for the sound signals, to verify whether this was, in fact, the last season they would be used. Thomas Booth, with the 13th Coast Guard District Waterways Management Branch, said in an email last week, “There has not been a firm decision on the sound signal at Newport. They are still analyzing and mulling it over as the major mariners there (NOAA and the commercial fishing fleet) have not responded.” In fact, he said the Coast Guard didn’t receive input from anyone regarding the sound signal at Yaquina Bay. (SOURCE)
Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Looking For Suspect in Sandstone Cliff Vandalism
Officials with the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge are asking for the community’s help identifying the person or persons responsible for vandalizing a rock face recently.
According to the refuge, the names ‘Luke’ and ‘Niko’ were carved deep into a sandstone headland, which is located on public land. The refuge says the rock that was vandalized is on a section of beach between the cities of Gold Beach and Brookings.
Vandalism on public lands is illegal, and penalties include fines and jail time. Anyone with information or
knows who is responsible, is asked to contact the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge by emailing oregoncoast@fws.gov.
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Seeking community feedback on Oregon State Parks in Curry County
CURRY COUNTY, Oregon— Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is seeking to understand how Curry County residents and visitors would like to enjoy and conserve the 20 state parks in Curry County through an online survey and three public meetings this month.
This feedback is the first of several opportunities to provide input during the two-year process to update the Curry County State Parks Master Plan adopted in 2003. The master planning process is an opportunity to assess natural, cultural and recreation resources as well as management goals and community needs.
The draft master plan is slated to be finished in late 2025 and will provide a 20-year vision with a menu of options that can be implemented over time as funds become available.
The public is invited to share feedback on how they use state parks in Curry County now as well as opportunities for the future. Options to provide feedback include:
Online
- Survey runs now through Nov. 15: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QMBPQC5
- Online meeting noon to 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28. Advance registration is required: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYpc-GorTIuHNZOIlBjaG8WZZOlgud19uFa#/registration
In-person meetings
- Noon to 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 at Southwestern Oregon Community College, 96082 Lone Ranch Pkwy, Brookings
- 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 at Port Orford Public Library, 1421 Oregon St, Port Orford
During each meeting, OPRD will share information about the master planning process and offer opportunities for community feedback and questions.
Oregon State Parks properties in Curry County include Cape Blanco, Humbug Mountain, Otter Point, Cape Sebastian, Pistol River, Samuel H. Boardman, Harris Beach, Crissey Field, Alfred A. Loeb and several others.
Once OPRD gathers this initial feedback, staff will incorporate it into the plan development. There will be additional opportunities to provide feedback during the planning phase and then again when the draft plan is available.
The draft master plan will balance the feedback received from stakeholders throughout the planning process. The management goals, strategies and development concepts proposed will incorporate priorities and concerns heard throughout the process.
Once the final draft master plan is complete, it will be be presented to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission for adoption.
For more details and information, follow the draft master planning process on our website: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/28dcf2137d3a4edfbe647ed660de3091
Coos County Sheriff’s Office · •••Scammer Alert•••
Coos County residents have reported receiving calls from scammers posing as Sheriff’s Office representatives, demanding payment via money transfer or cryptocurrency to settle warrants. This tactic is fraudulent and law enforcement will never request payment for warrant clearance. Report such incidents to your local authorities.
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
Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay
Ballot boxes set on fire in Oregon, Washington with hundreds of ballots burned
The Portland Police Bureau said on Monday morning, officers responded to reports of a fire at a ballot box located on the 1000 block of Southeast Morrison Street.
Security guards had extinguished the fire by the time officers had arrived.
Authorities said an incendiary device was placed inside the ballot box before the fire ignited. The police’s Explosive Disposal Unit came onto the scene and cleared the device.
Also, according to FOX 12, police in Vancouver, Washington, are also investigating a ballot box that was set on fire Monday morning.
The fire was set at the C-TRAN Park & Ride at Fisher’s Landing Transit Center, according to the outlet.
Someone told police that someone stuck a device outside the ballot box which set the fire.
Officials told the outlet that hundreds of ballots were burned. FOX 12 also reported that last time ballots were picked up from the box was 11 a.m. on Saturday.
The fires came after a similar instance in Arizona last week.
According to FOX 10 Phoenix, an arrest was made after a United States Postal Service mailbox in Phoenix was lit on fire last Thursday, damaging over a dozen ballots.
RELATED: Ballots damaged after USPS mailbox lit on fire in Phoenix; suspect arrested
The fire happened just before 1:30 a.m. on October 24 outside a post office near 7th Avenue and Indian School Road.
Phoenix Fire crews responded to the scene and extinguished the flames. Twenty electoral ballots, and other pieces of mail, were damaged in the fire.
“The Postal Inspector took possession of the damaged ballots and mail,” Phoenix Fire Capt. Rob McDade said. “The Phoenix Fire Investigations Task Force, which includes Phoenix Police detectives and Phoenix Fire investigators, are working with US Postal Inspectors.”
- The information in this story came from a news release provided by the Portland Police Bureau with additional reporting from FOX 12 in Portland, Oregon. FOX 10 Phoenix also contributed to this report. This story was reported from Los Angeles. https://www.fox5ny.com/news/ballot-boxes-fire-oregon-washington
FBI Statement on Ballot Box Fires
FBI – Oregon
The FBI is coordinating with federal, state and local partners to actively investigate the two incidents in Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, in the early morning hours of Monday, October 28th to determine who is responsible.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the nearest FBI office, provide information through tips.fbi.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324).
Audit Finds Oregon DMV Needs More Accessible Website and Higher Security
The Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division needs to do a better job translating its online web portal for people who don’t speak English and making sure customer data is secure, a mostly positive audit found.
The report released Wednesday by the Audits Division of the Secretary of State’s Office doesn’t address the DMV’s latest high-profile data issue: revelations that it wrongly sent information for 1,561 people who didn’t prove citizenship to election officials to automatically register them to vote. At least 10 of the incorrectly registered voters went on to vote, though election officials have since determined five of those 10 were citizens when they voted.
Gov. Tina Kotek ordered a pause to the automatic voter registration program until an independent external audit is completed. That report is expected by the end of the year.
The audit also didn’t address a May 2023 hack that put at risk personal information, including birthdates, addresses and driver’s license numbers, for approximately 3.5 million Oregonians. The hack of the file transfer service MOVEit affected more than 2,700 other agencies and organizations and more than 95 million individuals throughout the world.
Two Oregonians, Caery Evangelist and Brian Els, filed a class-action lawsuit in Marion County Circuit Court in April over the 2023 hack. The state is seeking to dismiss the lawsuit, and a judge has scheduled a call in November to set a date for a hearing on that motion.
Instead, the state audit looked at how the DMV — which has nearly 900 employees and a two-year budget of $311 million — assesses and collects fees and how well its recently expanded online services are working. Auditors found that the DMV and its computer systems are accurately assessing fees for the roughly 200,000 new drivers’ licenses and more than 350,000 renewals it processes each year, as well as for vehicle registrations, titles and license plates.
Fees for registrations and titles vary depending on the plate design, county where a driver lives, vehicle age and fuel efficiency. Auditors looked at all driver and vehicle transactions during the 2023 fiscal year — more than 20 million rows of data — and found that 99.6% of those transactions were complete, accurate and valid.
But they also found that Oregonians who don’t speak English or have limited English proficiency struggle to use the state’s online portal for renewing licenses, vehicle registrations and updating addresses. That portal, DMV2U, relies on Google Translate to translate directions to other languages, and auditors found that it didn’t work well on mobile devices and often failed to translate the site’s content.
The audit also found that the DMV wasn’t doing enough to make sure employees could access only data they needed and closing accounts when employees quit.
“Without robust access controls, unauthorized individuals can clandestinely access sensitive data, copy it and potentially make undetected alterations or deletions for malicious intent or personal gain,” the report said.
DMV Administrator Amy Joyce wrote in a letter attached to the audit that she agreed with each of the auditor’s recommendations, which included having a more diverse group of people test its online services and periodically reviewing access to DMV data. (SOURCE)
Oregon to Auction Off Defective Modular Homes in Medford As An Effort to Recoup Almost $24 Million
Oregon Housing and Community Services, the state’s housing agency, will auction off 140 defective modular homes in a series of two-week-long auctions.
The state purchased the homes in 2021, with most of them intended to rebuild Royal Oaks Mobile Manor in Phoenix, which was destroyed in the 2020 Almeda Fire. Families who lost their homes in the fire were prioritized for housing.
But last summer, the homes were found to be unfit to live in, due to mold, water leaks and other issues. There are unresolved questions about why the homes had defects.
Now, OHCS has announced it will auction off the defective homes in an effort to recoup some of the approximately $24 million dollars it says it spent on them.
Caleb Yant, deputy director of OHCS, said buyers will be informed about their quality.
“We’re very intentionally disclosing everything that we know, so there’s notices going out to all potential buyers of the different inspections that we’ve had, the code violations, the reports that we’ve done, had experts do on water intrusion, those sorts of things. So potential buyers know exactly the status of the units,” he said.
He said buyers will also have access to hundreds of photos of the units, and there will be an opportunity for buyers to inspect the units themselves and “bring whatever professionals that they need in order to really understand the current status of the units.”
After the homes were found to be defective, OHCS said in August 2023 that it planned to rebuild them with a different manufacturer. But in March, it changed tactics and announced it would replace the homes instead. A new manufacturer is currently building long-awaited new homes for Royal Oaks.
Originally, move-in for fire survivors was slated for September 2023. The new batch of modular homes could now be ready for move-in in April 2025.
OHCS says these auctions will occur in coordination with the state’s Department of Administrative Services (DAS) Surplus and a third-party service called GovDeals, which DAS regularly uses to sell state-owned equipment.
“We know that there is a number of parties who are interested in purchasing the homes and repair them,” OHCS said in a statement.
But it’s unclear how much these defective modular homes will sell for.
“It’s challenging to predict what the price point will be,” Yant said. “I don’t think that we’re expecting to recoup the entire amount [we spent on them].”
Meanwhile, OHCS and Oregon’s Department of Justice are in ongoing legal proceedings related to why the original batch of modular homes had defects, according to OHCS. Yant declined to comment on that litigation but said the auctions are not the only way OHCS is working to recoup funds.
Some have wondered if the state was negligent in caring for the original modular homes in the period between construction and installation. It took time to find a suitable location for them, so they were left sitting for months. OHCS said the problems were not due to the homes being unoccupied for so long but because of problems with the manufacturing.
The first two-week auction will begin on Oct. 29 and will include 33 homes. The next auction will begin on Nov. 7 and will include 35 homes. Those 68 homes are all currently being stored in Medford. There are also 72 additional homes that the state purchased from the manufacturer, Nashua Builders in Boise, that are still in Idaho. Yant says they will be moved into Oregon and auctioned off in the spring of 2025.
Anyone who would like to register to participate in the auction can do so here. (SOURCE)
Oregon Health Authority to launch new rental assistance program in November
Oregon will be the first in the nation to offer a statewide rental assistance program through Medicaid
The Oregon Health Authority is launching a new rental assistance program through its Medicaid plan that serves low-income Oregonians when medical crises impact their ability to pay rent.
The health authority’s plans are intended to keep people housed who need a short-term bridge to make ends meet and pay rent. Its goal is to help people maintain their health and their housing, which can lead to better long-term outcomes. People who face homelessness or the threat of eviction are 35% more likely to delay preventative health care, according to one national study.
To find out more about the housing program and eligibility, go here.
The program, which starts in November, will make Oregon the first state in the nation to offer a statewide rental assistance program through Medicaid. The Oregon Health Plan, the state’s Medicaid program, provides more than 1.4 million Oregonians with health care, dental care and behavioral health care services.
“It really is focusing on trying to keep those most at risk still housed, hopefully leading to them being able to have some short-term help,” said Dave Baden, the authority’s deputy director for policy and programs, in a recent press call with reporters.
The Oregon Health Authority is providing the program through its Medicaid waiver, which is a five-year plan that the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid approved. States can receive waivers as a tool to try new programs or approaches to Medicaid. Oregon’s current Medicaid waiver is in effect from Oct. 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2027.
During this period, Oregon has nearly $1 billion available for the rental assistance programs and other new programs within the Medicaid plan for air conditioners, air filters and food benefits. Most of the money — $904 million — is federal funding, with a state match of $71 million.
The program can cover rental and utility costs for up to six months, including past-due amounts. People also can receive medically necessary home improvements, including wheelchair ramps, pest control and heavy-duty cleaning.
The program covers rental assistance, but not new housing placements for people who are homeless.
“The goal of the housing benefit is really around keeping people housed and preventing houselessness,” said Steph Jarem, the authority’s waiver policy director.
Not everyone on Medicaid is eligible. To qualify, an Oregonian enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan would need to have a qualifying risk factor, such as complex medical condition, behavioral health condition, pregnancy or repeated emergency department trips.
The program can cover people who fall behind on rent because of a chronic condition or an injury that prevents them from working.
They also would need an income that is 30% or less than the median income of their region. For a family of four in Portland or Hillsboro, the cutoff is $35,400.
State officials estimate 22% of Oregon’s 618,278 households that rent have incomes that fall below the threshold and are potentially eligible.
In one example, a person who lives alone in Hood River and makes $18,000 a year could get help for missing work with a broken leg while also living with chronic heart disease.
The authority reached the eligibility determinations after negotiations with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (SOURCE)
Child Sexual Predator Eluded Capture in Idaho, Has Ties to Southern Oregon, He May Be Dressed as a Woman
– A fugitive with ties to the southern Oregon region is on-the-run after eluding capture Tuesday, October 22 in Idaho. Christian Bert Fischer, 42, is wanted in Florida for Traveling to Meet a Minor After Use of a Computer to Lure a Child.
Fischer is a white male, 5’10”, 200 lbs., has blonde hair and blue-colored eyes. He is also known to dress like a woman. Before heading to Idaho, Fischer was in the Portland area. This June and July, he was in Ashland, Lake of the Woods, and Wolf Creek.
U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) task forces throughout the country have joined the search, including the local Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force (PNVOTF). If you have any information on Fischer’s whereabouts, contact the local USMS office at (541) 776-4277, the USMS Communication Center at 1-800-336-0102, or USMS Tips at www.usmarshals.gov/tips.
PNVOTF includes personnel from the U.S. Marshals, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, and Central Point Police Department. The task force specializes in locating and arresting fugitives wanted for offenses including, but not limited to, murder, assault, sex crimes, failure to register as a sex offender, firearm violations, and probation violations.
For more information here is the USMS Release:
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho – The Hernando County Crime Stoppers in Florida is offering up a $5,000 reward for information directly leading to the arrest of Christian Bert FISCHER, a fugitive convicted in Florida for Traveling to Meet a Minor After Use of a Computer to Lure a Child. Crime Stoppers must be contacted first in order to be eligible for the cash rewards of up to $5,000.00. For additional information and instructions for the reward, please visit the following Crime Stoppers link:
http://www.hernandocountycrimestoppers.com/sitemenu.aspx?P=wanteds&ID=449&Sort=Name&F=&W=.
FISCHER is a white male, 5’10”, 200 lbs., has blonde hair and blue-colored eyes. FISCHER is also known to dress like a woman.
On the second day of FISCHER’s trial in Hernando County, Florida, he failed to appear in court and immediately fled the state the same day. Investigators learned he fled to California, Oregon and as of recently to North Idaho. FISCHER has been utilizing fictious name(s), likely utilizing cash and has had associates pay for certain expenses while he’s been on the run.
In North Idaho, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Greater Idaho Fugitive task force learned FISCHER has attempted to befriend multiple families in the area, to include those with children. Earlier this week, prior to the task force’s attempt to arrest FISCHER, he was seen carving pumpkins at his last known location off Kelso Rd in Athol with an unknown family. Investigators have not been able to identify the family yet and urge the family or anyone else who has had interactions with FISCHER to contact the local USMS office. All tips or information regarding this fugitive investigation case will remain anonymous.
The local task force is continuing to work closely with the USMS office in the Middle District of Florida, the Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force and the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office in Brooksville, Florida, as well as other investigators from multiple other states.
The following is a link to a short announcement on Facebook from Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis regarding fugitive Christian FISCHER:
https://www.facebook.com/HernandoSheriff/videos/manhunt-monday-02-12-2024/356273974034934/.
The USMS Greater Idaho Fugitive Task Force is a state-wide cooperative to locate and arrest violent offenders wanted for local, state and federal crimes. Member agencies throughout the State of Idaho include: the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, Coeur d’Alene Police Department, Idaho Department of Corrections, Idaho State Police, Nampa Police Department, Pocatello Police Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Anyone with information on FISCHER’s whereabouts is urged to contact the local USMS office at (208) 518-4024, the USMS Communication Center at 1-800-336-0102, or USMS Tips at www.usmarshals.gov/tips.
Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov.
ADVISORY: Oregon bats vie for ‘world record’ three-peat in BLM’s Bat Beauty Contest
When: October 24 – 31
Where: Virtual via Zoom, or
In person at theBLM Ashland Field Office, Oregon
Who: Emma Busk, Wildlife Technician
Contact: Jeanne Panfely, jpanfely@blm.gov
Ashland, Ore. – The Bureau of Land Management’s annual Bat Beauty Contest returns! Your local Oregon bats are here to defend their crown and try to take home the top prize for the third year in a row.
Each October, the BLM hosts a beauty contest to find the most stunning bat photographed on BLM public lands across the county. The event begins on October 24 and ends on Halloween. It also coincides with International Bat Week, which raises awareness about bat conservation and the essential role bats play in the natural world.
This year, there are two Oregon bats participating in the contest! Hoary Potter, a male hoary bat with a feisty personality, will compete in the first round of the contest October 24. Honey Bunches of Myotis, a long-eared myotis bat, will compete in the second round of the contest October 25.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, located primarily in 11 western states and Alaska. Those other states are working hard to end the batty three-peat. You can help Oregon bring home the crown by voting on the BLM National Facebook page or the BLM National Instagram page.
Last year, William ShakespEAR, a female Townsend’s big-eared bat from Butte Falls, took home the crown on the afternoon of October 31. During the final round, she beat out Gizmo, an Allen’s Big-Eared Bat. William was photographed by Emma Busk, BLM wildlife technician.
The year before, the BLM crowned Barbara, a canyon bat from Lake County, the 2022 Bat Beauty Contest Winner. Barbara was photographed by Kate Yates, BLM wildlife biologist.
Both of this year’s bats were photographed by Busk.
“It’s important that we fact check what we think we know about bats,” said Busk. “There are a lot of myths around bats, but they’re amazing wildlife and they contribute so much to our ecosystem.”
Bats play an essential role in Oregon. All bats in the Pacific Northwest are insectivorous, meaning they rid our world of pests like mosquitos, beetles, and moths. Just one bat can eat up to 1,200 mosquitoes in an hour!
Want to do your part? As we head into winter, avoid exploring mines and caves where bats may be hibernating.
“In your own backyard, you can have a bat house!” said Emma. “It’s a shelter that helps protect bats during the winter. You can also make your garden more bat friendly by planting native flowers to attract insects and turning off any unnecessary lights. Light pollution is not great for bats.”
Want to get involved? Follow the Bureau of Land Management Oregon/Washington on Facebook (@BLMOregonAndWashington) or Instagram (@BLMOregonWashington). We’ll be sharing how you can vote for Hoary Potter and Honey Bunches of Myotis and support your native Oregon species!
17 People Indicted for Conspiring to Steal More Than $2.4 Million in SNAP Benefits
—17 people are facing federal charges for conspiring to defraud the United States of more than $2.4 million in fraudulent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) purchases, announced the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
A coordinated, multi-agency law enforcement operation was conducted Tuesday to dismantle the interstate fraud organization that used skimming devices and stolen Electric Benefits Transfer (EBT) accounts to purchase SNAP-eligible products for resale on the black market.
“This group targeted a program that ensures access to healthy and affordable groceries for low-income and food insecure individuals and families,” said Natalie Wight, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “We thank all our partners for their commitment to protecting the integrity of vital public programs like SNAP.”
“The USDA OIG is working relentlessly with our law enforcement partners to dismantle organized skimming operations targeted at stealing EBT card information from victims relying on such benefits to feed their families. These conspirators used skimmed accounts to fraudulently purchase retail goods such as infant formula and energy drinks, and later resold the stolen goods for illicit gain. We thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, Homeland Security Investigations, Portland Police Bureau, Oregon Department of Justice, and Orange County District Attorney’s Office for our joint effort in pursuing and holding these conspirators accountable for defrauding American families and the Federal Government,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Shawn Dionida, U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General (USDA OIG).
“This kind of fraud cheats a system that is designed to help families and children who need assistance the most,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in the Pacific Northwest. “Every dollar stolen is a dollar that could have fed a child in need. I’m appreciative of our partnerships with federal and local law enforcement, as it is through investigations like this that we will be able to protect resources for those that rely on them, while making sure those who commit these abuses are held accountable.”
“Our role in this case started with the initiative and extensive follow-up by one of our detectives,” said Portland Police Bureau Chief Bob Day. “He then reached out to our federal partners, and as the investigation grew, more resources were brought in to assist. It soon became very apparent how many people were criminally involved and the wide scope of this investigation. This indictment ultimately was the result of an exhaustive amount of investigative work by our detective and federal authorities and I commend everyone involved for their dedication to this important case.”
The following individuals have been arrested and charged with conspiring to defraud the United States, for their roles in the fraud organization:
Ramirez Dumitru, 25; Giovanni Spirea, 28; Santa-Madalina Costache, 25; Florin Mareata, 25; Anita Vaduva, 36; Ion Paul Miclescu, 19; Nicolas Barbosu, 25; Alberto Tomescu, 27; Oana Aura Cristina Caldararu, 23; Roberta Elena Sardaru, 27; Salvis Foro Dunca, 26; Ana Patricia Escalante, 57; Jessica Gonzalez, 27; Edwin Lionel Santizo-Ralon, 54; Cristina Yesenia Escalante, 33; Edgar Basilio Hernandez, 33; and Marta Hernandez de Estrada, 53.
According to court documents, from August 2023 to October 2024, Ramirez Dumitru and his co-conspirators are alleged to have possessed skimming devices and stolen EBT accounts to illegally purchase items with stolen SNAP benefits. Dumitru shared information with other members of the organization who, along with him, used the stolen EBT accounts to purchase large quantities of infant formula, energy drinks, and other SNAP-eligible nonperishable food items from grocery stores in Oregon, Washington, and California, and through websites associated with grocery stores offering curb-side pickup.
Over the course of the conspiracy, the group purchased more than 120,000 pounds of goods and stored them at residential properties and storage units in Oregon and Washington until they were packaged and transported to California in private vehicles or via commercial carriers. The fraudulent goods, obtained with more than $2.4 million in stolen SNAP benefits, were then sold on the black market.
All seventeen members of the organization were arrested on Tuesday without incident and made their initial appearances in federal court this week before U.S. Magistrate Judges in Oregon, Washington and California. All have been arraigned and are pending a trial in the District of Oregon.
The case was investigated by USDA OIG, HSI, U.S. Marshals Service, Portland Police Bureau, Oregon Department of Justice, Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Vancouver Police Department, San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Gresham Police Department, and the Redmond, Washington Police Department Financial Fraud and Identification Theft Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Geoffrey A. Barrow and Nicholas D. Meyers, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Western District of Washington and Central District of California.
An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Wilsonville Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Laundering More Than $4.6 Million in Drug Proceeds
—A Wilsonville, Oregon woman was sentenced to federal prison today for laundering millions of dollars in drug proceeds as the chief money launderer for a drug trafficking organization operating in the Pacific Northwest and California.
Jacqueline Paola Rodriguez Barrientos, 44, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.
“We thank the coordinated efforts of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners actively combatting these drug trafficking organizations and the damage they inflict on our communities,” said Natalie Wight, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
“While people like Ms. Rodriguez Barrientos conceal the profits of drug enterprises, the losses fall on far too many Americans and their families,” said Adam Jobes, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Seattle Field Office. “We will continue doing our part to expose the finances of criminal organizations.”
According to court documents, beginning in fall 2021, special agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Portland began investigating a drug trafficking organization suspected of transporting counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and heroin from California into Oregon and Washington State for distribution.
A parallel financial investigation led by IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS:CI) revealed that Barrientos laundered money generated by the drug trafficking organization through the Mazatlán Beauty Salon in Tualatin, Oregon and by buying real estate that she converted into income-generating rentals. The real estate purchases were made with cashier’s checks funded by large cash deposits. Currency Transaction Reports generated by several banks showed that Barrientos made frequent cash deposits ranging from $10,000 to more than $373,000 into accounts held in her name or the name of her salon. These deposits totaled more than $3.5 million during a 9-month period in 2021.
Since February 2021, members of the drug trafficking organization also purchased a total of nine residential properties in Oregon, Washington and Nevada with an estimated total value of more than $4.6 million. All nine properties were purchased outright with no mortgages. Barrientos used laundered funds to purchase eight of these properties. She then used third-party property management companies to rent these properties and received approximately $10,000 per month in rental income.
On February 17, 2022, DEA agents arrested Barrientos and an associate at their Las Vegas residence. Agents found and seized two luxury vehicles, several loose receipts documenting high-end retail purchases, credit card statements documenting more than $16,000 spent on tickets to attend a professional boxing match, and other evidence memorializing the couple’s high-end lifestyle.
On February 9, 2022, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Barrientos with conspiracy to launder drug proceeds. She pleaded guilty on July 31, 2024.
Barrientos has agreed to forfeiture of the properties purchased with criminal proceeds as part of the resolution of her case. Some of the properties have been sold by the government; others are pending forfeiture and sale. The proceeds of forfeited assets are deposited in the Justice Department’s Assets Forfeiture Fund (AFF) and used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of other law enforcement purposes. To learn more about the AFF, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/afp/assets-forfeiture-fund-aff.
This case was investigated by DEA with assistance from the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), IRS:CI, Tigard Police Department, and Oregon State Police. It is being prosecuted by Peter D. Sax, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. Forfeiture proceedings are being handled by AUSA Katie De Villiers, also of the District of Oregon.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Retail Employee Facing Charges for Theft of Winning Oregon Lottery Ticket
– A store employee is facing charges after they were caught stealing a winning lottery ticket as part of a Retail Integrity Check operation conducted by Oregon State Police (OSP) and Oregon Lottery.
On Thursday, September 19, 2024, detectives from OSP’s Lottery security section presented a winning ticket to an employee at the Short Stop located at 1709 Gekeler Lane in La Grande. The employee scanned the tickets presented by the detective and advised there were no winners, keeping the ticket worth $25,000. Following the check, detectives had the ticket placed on “hold” by Oregon Lottery staff.
On September 26, 2024, the clerk mailed in the winning Lottery ticket in an attempt to redeem the $25,000 prize. Along with the winning ticket, the clerk also mailed in the Lottery Winner Claim Form and signed the declaration. After interviewing the clerk, OSP Lottery detectives cited the individual for Aggravated Theft 1 and Computer Crime. Additional charges of Theft by Deception and Forgery in the First Degree are being recommended to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office.
The business has been an Oregon Lottery retailer since 2005 and does not have a history of compliance issues.
“While it is rare to see an individual be dishonest at one of our retailers, we have a responsibility to ensure our games are played with fairness and integrity,” said Justin Hedlund, Oregon Lottery’s assistant director of security. “These checks are one way we accomplish that.”
Undercover checks are done routinely by OSP at Oregon Lottery retailers throughout the year, with more than 170 being conducted since 2020. OSP detectives assigned to Oregon Lottery help support the agency by ensuring fairness, integrity, security and honesty in the operation of the Lottery. The Oregon Lottery recommends that you sign the back of your ticket to ensure you can claim any prize.
Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned more than $15.5 billion for economic development, public education, outdoor school, state parks, veteran services, and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery, visit www.oregonlottery.org.
Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs to Host Statewide Veterans Day Ceremony at Oregon State Capitol Park
The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs will honor all veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces during its Statewide Veterans Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 11, in view of the Oregon State Capitol Building.
This event will feature remarks by dignitaries and special guests along with ceremonial elements including a color guard, singing of the national anthem, a wreath laying and the playing of “Taps.”
The celebration will honor Oregon veterans of all eras and will be hosted at the Oregon State Capitol State Park located on Court Street Northeast in Salem — directly in front of the main entrance of the Oregon State Capitol Building.
The event is open to the public and uncovered seating will be provided for attendees. Accessible pathways and seating areas for those needing accommodations will also be provided. Attendees are reminded to plan accordingly for Oregon weather.
For those unable to attend, the event will also be livestreamed on ODVA’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/odvavet. If you have any questions about this event, please contact ODVA at (800) 692-9666 or visit www.oregon.gov/odva.
BLM lifts some fire restrictions in northwest Oregon
– With recent cooler, wetter weather reducing fire danger levels, the Bureau of Land Management has lifted restrictions on certain activities on open BLM land in northwest Oregon. This change means that activities such as campfires, smoking, cross-country vehicle travel in designated areas, and the use of chainsaws will now be permitted.
However, a larger ban on incendiary devices—fireworks, exploding targets, and incendiary ammunition—remains in effect. This regional order is in place across the states of Oregon and Washington to ensure the continued safety of our public lands and neighboring communities due to the inherent fire risks associated these devises. This measure is crucial for preventing accidental fires and protecting the environment, wildlife, and the safety of individuals enjoying outdoor recreation.
Additionally, some BLM land in the region remains closed following this season’s wildfires. For example, all BLM public lands within the Lane One fire boundary are still off limits.
“I encourage everyone to stay informed and exercise caution while enjoying the changing seasons,” said Adam Johnson, fire management specialist with the BLM Northwest Oregon District. “Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as we work to keep our public lands safe for everyone.”
For the complete order and more information on seasonal fire restrictions and fire closures, please see www.blm.gov/orwafire.
To learn more about fire careers with BLM Oregon-Washington, please see https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire/state-info/oregon-washington/careers.
Since the outdoor burning restrictions were lifted in many Oregon counties – New Fire starts are daily due to outdoor burning piles causing grass fires.
Please use caution 
85% of all wildfires are human caused. Oregon still has over 70 fires and for most counties the fire season is not over yet.
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
https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/state/oregon
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.
OSP K-9 team seizes fentanyl and heroin – Douglas County
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. 23 Oct. 2024 – Yesterday, an Oregon State Police K-9 team intercepted fentanyl and heroin destined for Portland.
On Oct. 22, 2024, at about 11 a.m., an Oregon State Trooper stopped a vehicle for speeding on Interstate 5 northbound near milepost 135 in Douglas County. During the stop, the trooper observed signs of criminal activity and deployed a drug detection K-9.
The vehicle search resulted in the discovery of 5.8 pounds of fentanyl and 5 pounds of heroin with suspected fentanyl inside the vehicle.
The driver, Dago Rodrigo Rodrigues (22) of Oakland (CA), and passenger, Mateo Marin Peraza (20) also of Oakland (CA) were arrested for unlawful possession and delivery of fentanyl and heroin and lodged in the Douglas County Jail.
Groundbreaking Dedication Event for Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Oregon State Capitol- Friday, November 22, 2024 | 2:00 p.m.
The Oregon State Capitol will be the site of the highly anticipated dedication ceremony for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Friday, November 22, at 2:00 p.m. This momentous event will be the formal dedication of Phase 1 of the memorial, which honors the service and sacrifice of Oregon’s Vietnam veterans. The public ceremony will occur at Salem’s Willson Park memorial site on the Capitol grounds, at the corner of State and Cottage Street, with a reception to follow at the nearby Withnell Family YMCA.
The memorial pays tribute to 710 Oregonians who lost their lives in the Vietnam War, along with the more than 180,000 Oregonians who served in Vietnam and around the world from 1955-1975. The design features 46 black granite columns engraved with the names of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. It creates a reflective space for veterans, families, and the public to honor their memory.
The event will include comments from local veterans, state officials, and Vietnam War Memorial Fund members, who have been instrumental in making this project a reality. The event is hosted by the Oregon Vietnam War Memorial Fund and is supported by a grant of Transient Occupancy Tax from the City of Salem.
The Importance of the Memorial – The Vietnam War remains one of the most challenging and divisive periods in American history. Veterans returning from the conflict were often met with indifference or hostility, making this memorial an overdue recognition of their service. The memorial offers a space for healing and remembrance, honoring both the sacrifices of the fallen and the resilience of those who served. Steve Bates, President and co-founder of the Vietnam War Memorial Fund (VWMF), emphasized the emotional impact of this project. “This is about giving our veterans a place of rest and, for all of us, a place to heal,” Bates said. The memorial will not only commemorate the service of Vietnam veterans but also serve as a reminder of the war’s lasting impact on the state and its people.
Beyond its role as a place of remembrance, the memorial will also serve as an educational resource when Phase 2 is completed. Phase 2, the Exhibit Phase, aims to help future generations understand the human cost of war and the bravery of those who fought.
For more information, see a virtual tour or donate, visit ocvvm.com.
About the VWMF: Vietnam War Memorial Fund’s website at www.ocvvm.com. The Vietnam War Memorial Fund is a recognized 501(c)3 organization, and all donations are tax-deductible to the extent of applicable tax law. You can donate by sending a check to the Vietnam War Memorial Fund – P O Box 1448 – Boring, Oregon 97009 or by credit card at www.ocvvm.com.
Oregon Cannabis Testing Labs Face Shutdown
Three Oregon laboratories who certify the potency of marijuana before it lands in consumers’ pipes and bongs are under investigation for allegedly doctoring tests to show a stronger high.
That’s according to the Portland Business Journal, which first reported Wednesday that Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission regulators have taken the first step to shut down all three labs, which represent about a quarter of such facilities in the state.
Oregon requires pot to be tested for safe levels of pesticides, toxins and heavy metals before sale, but growers often focus on Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, better known as THC, because higher levels trigger heightened effects in the user (and fetch a greater sale price).
The state commission has put labs under the microscope after learning that testers were sprinkling “kief,” essentially high-potency cannabis dust, on top of samples in order to boost their scores, according to the Business Journal.
Oregon Housing and Community Services’ Homeowner Assistance Fund accepting final applications online
— Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) is reopening the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) online application portal to accept final applications directly from homeowners. Applications must be submitted by Oct. 31, 2024. New applications will be put on a waitlist and prioritized for homeowners most at risk of foreclosure or loss.
Homeowners can now review application criteria and apply directly online using a link on the HAF website: oregonhomeownerassistance.org. If homeowners need or would like assistance with an application, they can contact a HAF intake partner. A list of intake partners can be found at https://www.oregon.gov/ohcs/homeownership/Pages/Homeownership-Assistance-Fund.aspx.
“OHCS is reopening the online application portal through Oct. 31, 2024, to ensure we help as many Oregon families as possible,” said Ryan Vanden Brink, assistant director of Homeowner Assistance Programs. “With our average award of $26,500, we can assist approximately 250 additional households. Any further applications will be placed on a waitlist pending the availability of funds.”
HAF offers federal temporary COVID-19 pandemic relief to help homeowners who experienced financial hardship due to the pandemic. HAF can help homeowners become current on their mortgages, county taxes, homeowners’ (HOA) or condo associations, land sale contracts, secured manufactured home or floating home loans, and lot rent or moorage fees associated with homeowners in manufactured home parks or marinas. Financial hardship includes a reduction in income or an increase in housing costs resulting from the pandemic.
Homeowners are eligible to apply if they meet the program’s general eligibility criteria and are facing foreclosure, involved in a court case that threatens their home, in property tax foreclosure, in collections with their HOA, or in other high-risk situations identified by a housing counselor. Homeowners in foreclosure may have already received outreach letters from OHCS or their county assessor.
OHCS will make its final HAF payments in February 2025, limiting total assistance available to new applicants.OHCS encourages homeowners to explore all other options with their servicer or a housing counselor before applying for HAF. Applying for HAF does not guarantee approval or that a foreclosure will be postponed. HAF is administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury.
About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) – OHCS is Oregon’s housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. For more information, please visit: oregon.gov/ohcs.
Oregon Aging and People with Disabilities offers free help for Medicare Open Enrollment
(Salem) — Medicare Open Enrollment for the 2025 plan year begins Oct. 15 and remains open through Dec. 7, 2024. Medicare beneficiaries seeking to compare or change their existing Medicare plan can receive free help from the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS).
During the Medicare Open Enrollment period, people with Medicare can make changes to their health plan or prescription drug plan, pick a Medicare Advantage plan or choose Original Medicare. The ODHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities’ (APD) Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) program is available to help Oregonians understand their Medicare options and benefits, provide enrollment guidance and help people detect and avoid Medicare scams. Additionally, there are some key changes coming to Medicare in 2025 that APD’s SHIBA program counselors can assist people in understanding including:
- The new Manufacturer Discount Program which addresses the coverage gap, also known as the “donut hole;”
- The lower maximum to pay for covered drugs. The maximum amount for 2025 will be $2,000;
- Coverage for weight loss drugs when doctors prescribe them for people who meet certain conditions;
- Expanded coverage for family caregiver services through the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) model; and
- Increased access to mental health services by allowing more providers to bill Medicare for services.
“Our APD SHIBA team is devoted to helping people prepare for open enrollment and understand changes,” said Jane-ellen Weidanz, who oversees SHIBA as APD Deputy Director of Policy.
Oregonians who need help navigating Medicare open enrollment are encouraged to call SHIBA at 800-722-4134 (toll-free) or learn more by visiting the SHIBA website at SHIBA.Oregon.gov. The 2025 Oregon Guide to Medicare Insurance Plans will be available on the SHIBA website in the coming days and will be translated to multiple languages.
SHIBA certified counselors can also help people report scams to Medicare and educate people on how to avoid Medicare scams or fraud. According to the Senior Medicare Patrol, common scams include promising free durable medical equipment, such as knee braces and catheters, or offers of free genetic testing. The ultimate goal for the scammer is to get the beneficiary’s Medicare number to commit Medicare billing fraud. “SHIBA counselors are committed to ensuring Oregonians have the information they need to avoid becoming victims of fraud and report scams or suspected Medicare fraud,” said APD Director Dr. Nakeshia Knight-Coyle.
Help from SHIBA is available over the phone and through virtual and in-person appointments. Because high call volume during Open Enrollment may result in longer than usual wait times, Oregonians are also encouraged to access free resources on the SHIBA website such as Medicare frequently asked questions, an agent locator tool, a list of free virtual and in-person Medicare presentations and videos to help people understand their Medicare options. People who need Medicare help in a language other than English, including sign language, can call 833-685-0841 or send an email to odhs.languageaccess@odhsoha.oregon.gov; after placing a request, a translator will reach out in the requestor’s preferred language to provide assistance in communicating with SHIBA.
About the Oregon Department of Human Services – The mission of the Oregon Department of Human Services is to help Oregonians in their own communities achieve wellbeing and independence through opportunities that protect, empower, respect choice and preserve dignity.
About the Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance program – The Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) program is part of the ODHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities. It is a statewide network of certified counselors volunteering in their community to help all Oregonians make educated Medicare decisions. SHIBA offers free, objective, confidential and local one-on-one health insurance counseling and assistance to people with Medicare and their families.
https://www.oregon.gov/osp/missing/pages/missingpersons.aspx
Oregon’s Missing Persons
Many times you’ll see postings without case numbers or police contact. There is rarely a nefarious reason why (the nefarious ones are pretty obvious). Usually the loved one tried to call to report their missing person and they are either refused or told to wait a day or two by people who are unaware of SB 351 and the laws that they are bound to when answering the phone. Many people don’t bother calling LE if their loved one is homeless or in transition because they believe LE won’t care. The biggest myth is the 24 hour rule.
In Oregon we don’t have those rules and an officer or person answering the phone is not allowed to decide. The law decides. We have Senate Bill 351 and it states that the police CANNOT refuse a request for any reason and they must begin working on it within 12 hours. The person making the report does not have to be related to missing person either.
Here is SB 351 written by families of the missing here in Oregon in conjunction with Oregon law enforcement officers. This should be common knowledge, please make it this way. https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/…/SB351/Introduced
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