The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Monday, December 26, 2022
Oregon Beach Weather
Fatal Accident Closes Broadway In Seaside This Morning
Seaside Police and Fire responded to a serious single-vehicle accident at approximately 5:59 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 26 at 1005 Broadway in Seaside.
A vehicle had impacted the structure at Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare, causing the vehicle to flip on its side. The sole occupant, Brian Michael Moore, 42, was pronounced deceased at the scene. There were no other injuries.
Broadway from S. Lincoln to Highway 101 was closed for more than four hours to allow investigators from Oregon State Police to reconstruct the accident.
Seaside Public Works assisted the Seaside Police and Fire Departments on this call. Police and the Clatsop County Medicolegal Death Investigator (MDI) continue to investigate the incident.
Highway 18 Reopened Following Landslide Just North Of Lincoln City
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is urging drivers to be watchful for unstable hillsides along Oregon roadways following a landslide along Highway 18 just north of Lincoln City.
ODOT reported the highway was partially blocked following the landslide at approximately 9 a.m, Saturday morning, Dec. 24. ODOT crews were able to reopen the highway later in the day, but the transportation agency warned drivers that flaggers would be directing traffic around fallen earth and rock.
ODOT urges travelers to always check TripCheck.com just before they leave for their journey to find out the latest highway conditions.
Oregon State Parks Will Have Staff And Volunteers At 17 Whale Watching Sites For Five Days Starting Wednesday 12/28
For the first time in two years, Oregon State Parks will have staff and volunteers at 17 locations along the Oregon coast for its “Whale Watch Week” starting Wednesday 12/28 through Sunday 1/1.
Park rangers and volunteers will be at the official sites – although experienced whale watchers can use any unobstructed view, of course — along the Oregon Coast for five days to help people spot gray whales migrating south through Oregon’s waters. The trained volunteers will be stationed at most of the sites to answer questions, share information and to help spot whales.
A map of volunteer-staffed sites is available on the Oregon State Parks website.
“We really enjoy getting folks out to the coast for Whale Watch Week,” said park ranger Peter McBride in a news release from Oregon State Parks. “It’s something that Oregon State Parks has been doing for more than 40 years now, and we’re really glad to be able to bring it back in person.”
The yearly event was canceled during the pandemic.
Over the next several weeks, an estimated 18,000 gray whales are expected to swim through Oregon’s waters during their annual migration south to warm calving lagoons near Baja, Mexico. The end of December is the peak time for their migration with roughly 30 whales passing by per hour.
Spring watching begins in late March as the gray whales return north on their way towards Alaska. The first surge swims past Oregon around the end of March and lasts until June.
In Depoe Bay, the Whale Watching Center will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday during Whale Watch Week. Visitors can experience interactive whale exhibits and panoramic ocean views.
Here are the locations in north Lane and Lincoln counties where volunteers will be available to help catch a glimpse of the whales:
- Heceta Head Lighthouse
- Cape Perpetua Turnout
- Yachats State Park
- Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint
- Depoe Bay, whale watching center
- Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint
- Cape Foulweather
Whale spotting tips: There are four things to be on the lookout for when whale watching, according to Oregon State Parks:
The blow: Gray whales usually surface every 20 seconds as they swim but will often stay under for 3 to 5 minutes when they are eating. If they have been down for 5 minutes, they usually blow five times when they surface to replenish their oxygen supply. The blow, or spout, shoots nearly 12 feet high and expels 400 liters of air in a single blast. The whales take a few breaths at the surface then dive again. If they are frightened, they can stay down for 30 minutes, hiding on the bottom or traveling great distances.
The breach: The ultimate in whale sightings is a breach. This is when a whale launches itself out of the water in a spectacular show of power and grace. Scientists aren’t sure why whales breach. Possibly they do it to remove parasites, communicate with each other, or maybe it’s just for fun. Gray whales aren’t known for breaching nearly as often as Humpback whales, but young gray whales seem to be the most common breachers along the Oregon Coast.
The spyhop: Whales are intelligent and curious and are often seen “spyhopping,” or lifting their heads above the surface of the water. They like to rise out of the water to get a better sense of their surroundings. During the summer, gray whales have been known to spyhop regularly, especially when local tour boats are near.
The dive: A deep dive, also known as sounding or fluking, happens when a whale lifts its tail flukes out of the water. This helps propel the whale downward at a steep angle to the bottom, where they feed on zooplankton and amphipods. After the flukes disappear under the water, the turbulence of the dive will cause a circle of smooth water, known as a fluke-print.
FOR MORE INFO: https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=v.feature-article&articleId=304
One Lane Of Hwy 30 Will Remain Open With Flaggers Through Christmas And New Year’s Day
Clean-up continues on Hwy 30 between Astoria and Clatskanie in Oregon, weeks after a landslide thwarted driver’s post-Thanksgiving plans, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation.
One lane of U.S. Highway 30 will remain open with flaggers through Christmas and New Year’s Day even when landslide repair work between Astoria and Clatskanie pauses for the holidays.
“Please plan for extra travel time between the Portland area and north coast no matter what route you take as holiday travel season gets busy,” a release from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) states. “On U.S. 30, please watch for flaggers and expect delays 24 hours a day.” Before you travel, visit http://TripCheck.com
Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving
The weeks leading up to the holiday season are a busy period on America’s roads. To help keep drivers safe, our local law enforcement departments will work with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) during the national Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving drunk-driving-awareness campaign.
If you plan to go out and include alcohol in your celebration, make sure you refrain from driving. Review these facts and spread the word about the dangers of drunk driving.
- During the 2016-2020 December months, more than 4,400 people were killed in drunk-driving-related crashes.
- Drunk male drivers were involved in fatal crashes at a much higher rate (660) in December 2020 compared to female drivers (191).
- Approximately one-third of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers (with BACs at or above .08). In 2020, there were 11,654 people killed in drunk-driving crashes.
- Although it’s illegal to drive when impaired by alcohol, in 2020 one person was killed every 45 minutes in a drunk-driving crash on our nation’s roads.
- The rate of alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2020 was 3.1 times higher at night than during the day.
Plan for a Safe Celebration
Always remember to plan ahead when you will be celebrating with alcohol. If you plan to drink, make arrangements for a sober driver to take you home. Before you start celebrating this holiday season, look over these safety tips to keep you, your loved ones, and everyone else safe on the road.
- Plan ahead: If you wait until you’ve been drinking to make a smart decision, you might not. Before you have one drink, designate a sober driver who won’t be drinking.
- If it’s your turn to be the designated driver, take your job seriously, and don’t drink.
- If you see a drunk driver on the road, 911 immediately.
- Do you have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and let a sober driver get your friend home safely.
Atmospheric River To Bring Series of Storms and Wet Weather To The West
From freezing rain to the warmest Christmas day on record in Eugene happening all in one week, it’s been quite the start of winter so far.
It will be a wet week in the West as a series of low-pressure systems will bring stormy weather to the region.
An atmospheric river will bring rain to parts of Washington, Oregon and California starting Monday and overspreading more of the region with wet weather on Tuesday. Several inches of rain are possible throughout Monday and Tuesday.
In higher elevations, moderate to heavy snow is forecast for the Cascades and the Siskiyou Mountains. A Winter Storm Watch was issued ahead of the storm as the NWS expects snow upwards of 4 feet above 8,000 feet.
Strong winds are also expected, along with the threat of flooding and feet of snow.
“Very strong winds will become a concern as well on Tuesday,” the NWS warned. “Especially near the coast and at higher elevations as the center of this potent low is forecast to reach coastal Washington later on Tuesday.”
High Wind Warnings have already been posted ahead of the incoming system in parts of Oregon, California and Nevada.
And while there may be a lull in precipitation midweek, another low-pressure system will bring more rain and high-elevation snow by the end of the workweek and into the weekend.
Federal Study Confirms Oregon Spike In Homelessness
A recently released national report shows the number of people experiencing homelessness nationwide has remained relatively steady since 2016 despite the pandemic.
The report also shows what most Oregonians already know: The number of people sleeping on the streets in this state has spiked.
There were 582,462 people sleeping on the streets nationally during a single night in January this year, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — a 0.3% increase since 2020.
Point-in-time counts are meant to provide a snapshot of who is sleeping on the streets on any given night, and they are often considered an undercount.
In Oregon, according to federal data, there were 14,655 people, an increase of 22.5% since 2020.
Margaret Salazar, who recently ran the Oregon Housing and Community Services state agency and now works for the federal Housing and Urban Development office as a Northwest regional administrator, said the numbers are “heartbreaking.”
She said a new plan from the federal government should help Oregon combat the crisis unfolding on the streets.
“We’re very excited about it. It’s bold,” Salazar told OPB.
The plan sets the goal of reducing homelessness by 25% by 2025 and encourages states to use the federal plan as a strategic guide.
The plan includes ideas on how to boost affordable housing and emergency shelters, but the real focus will be trying to keep people on the verge of losing their home keep it. The federal government also plans to offer more support to state agencies through both technical assistance, using available data to gain a sense of the problem, and also by providing more human power — sending people who can reach out to the unhoused population and help connect them with resources.
There was one notable semi-brighter spot in the federal data: The report shows a decrease of about 18.9% or 248 unaccompanied homeless youth in Oregon. Kids experiencing homelessness, however, are often referred to as “invisible children” because many intentionally try to go unnoticed.
Oregon Gov.-elect Tina Kotek has promised to make addressing the homeless crisis a priority.
Oregon Among States Raising Their Minimum Wages In 2023
Amid inflation and no changes on the federal level, multiple states will be raising their minimum wages in 2023.
The federal minimum wage in the U.S. is $7.25 , a rate that hasn’t changed since 2009. As of fall 2022, 15 states have minimum wage rates that match the federal minimum wage, down from 16 last year .
In the new year, 27 states will see an increase in their minimum wage. Most will take effect on January 1, but others will have to wait until further into 2023.
California will have the highest minimum wage rate at $15.50, up from the $15 it set in 2022. Only Washington, D.C. has a higher minimum wage of $16.10. D.C.’s wage will rise again in July, 2023 in proportion to the increase in the Consumer Price Index, according to its Department of Employment Services .
Oregon and Nevada won’t see their minimum wages increase until July, 2023. Then, Oregon’s rate will rise from the current $13.50 to a yet-to-be-determined number based on the Consumer Price Index, a figure released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Free Ranger-Guided Hikes at 20 Oregon State Parks On New Year’s Day
Rangers will guide hikes at Oregon state parks on New Year’s Day to kick off 2023. Choose from 24 hikes in 21 parks across the state. All hikes will be guided by a park ranger or volunteer who will share stories about the park’s history, geology, wildlife, and plants.
Known as “First Day Hikes,” the trips typically cover just a few miles and are considered family-friendly.
The tours are free and the $5 day-use parking fee is also being waived on New Year’s Day at every state park that normally requires a fee. A few of the guided hikes do require registration.
Rangers will cover park history, geology, wildlife and plants during the hikes at parks around the state from the high desert to the coast, according to a news release.
“A guided hike is great way to kick off 2023 in the outdoors and begin a new tradition or continue a longstanding family tradition,” said Lisa Sumption, director of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. “As our centennial year comes to a close, we’re excited to begin the next 100 years of Oregon State Parks and continue to offer year-round recreation.”
The hikes begin at different times and locations. To get information on each of the different treks, including length, difficulty and whether you need to register, go to https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=v.feature-article&articleId=263
“Remember to plan for winter weather, dress in layers, wear sturdy shoes, bring water and carry binoculars for viewing wildlife,” the news release said.
Here’s a list of the planned hikes at each state park.
Portland area
- L.L. Stub Stewart State Park: 10 a.m., meet at the Dairy Creek West meeting hall
- Milo McIver State Park: 10 a.m., meet at the Dog Creek Trailhead in the Riverside Day-Use Area.
- Milo McIver State Park: 1 p.m., meet at the Dog Creek Trailhead in the Riverside Day-use Area.
Columbia River Gorge
- Deschutes River State Recreation Area: 11 a.m., meet at the Oregon Trail Kiosk. Registration required.
- Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail: 10 a.m., meet at the Mark O. Hatfield East Trailhead on Rock Creek Road, Mosier. Bring your snowshoes or cross-country skis if there’s snow.
Willamette Valley/West Cascades
- Elijah Bristow State Park, Equestrian Ride: 11 a.m., foot in stirrup at noon, meet at the equestrian parking area for horse riding (bring your own horse).
- Elijah Bristow State Park: 10 a.m., meet at the main parking lot at the end of the park road near group picnic areas.
- Detroit Lake State Park: 11 a.m., meet at the Campground Visitor Center.
- Silver Falls State Park, Historic District Hike: 10 a.m., meet at the South Falls Lodge porch.
- Silver Falls State Park, Geology Hike: 10 a.m., meet at the South Falls Lodge porch.
Oregon Coast
- Bullards Beach State Park: 1 p.m., meet at the amphitheater.
- Fort Stevens State Park: 10 a.m., meet at the main parking lot next to the museum and visitor center.
- Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park: 10 a.m., meet at the Cleawox Lodge.
- Nehalem Bay State Park: 9 a.m., meet at the main parking lot.
- South Beach State Park, South Jetty: 10 a.m., meet at the new Jetty Trailhead, South Jetty Day-use Area.
- Sitka Sedge State Natural Area: 12 p.m., meet at the parking lot.
Southern Oregon
- Collier Memorial State Park: 10 a.m., meet at the Logging Museum parking lot. Call the park office, 541-783-2471 X21 to register by Dec. 30. Leave a message that includes name, contact info and number of people attending.
- TouVelle State Park: 1:30 p.m., meet at the day-use area by Area F at the far end of the park.
- Valley of the Rogue State Park: 10 a.m., meet at the amphitheater fire pit in the program area.
Eastern/Central Oregon
- Cottonwood Canyon State Park: 10 a.m., meet at the Experience Center.
- LaPine State Park: 10 a.m., meet at the Cougar Woods Trailhead. Registration required.
- Smith Rock State Park: 9 a.m., meet at the Welcome Center Yurt. Registration required.
- Tumalo State Park: 1 p.m., meet at the day-use entrance near the fee machine.
