Oregon Beach News, Monday 2/6 – Man Suspected Of Stealing Watercraft Is Rescued By Coast Guard and Wanted by Canadian Police, Man Checking Into Astoria Warming Center Stabs Employee

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

Monday, February 6, 2023

Oregon Beach Weather

Man Suspected Of Stealing Watercraft Is Rescued By Coast Guard and Wanted by Canadian Police

Mobile Aviation Training Center Coast Guardsmen participated in an unusual rescue in Oregon. A guy who was pulled from the sinking vessel is now under suspicion of theft. On Friday morning, officials believe the guy stole the boat off the Oregon coast and sent a mayday signal, leading to his recovery.

A 35-year-old man who was rescued Friday morning by the U.S. Coast Guard after a stolen boat capsized in the Columbia River mouth was arrested Friday evening, according to Astoria police.

At about 1 p.m., the Coast Guard shared the dramatic rescue story on Twitter: they’d received a “Mayday” broadcast from a boat floundering in the waves, near where two Coast Guard aircrews were on a training mission. The man on the boat, the P/C Sandpiper, was later identified as Jericho Labonte.

The crews immediately notified authorities at Cape Disappointment, who launched rescue boats.The Sandpiper, a damaged watercraft of 35 feet, was then capsized by a breaking wave, and the crew was rescued by a combined effort of many units.

To save him, the Coast Guard dispatched ATC air personnel. Because he was standing on the edge of the boat, it tipped over. His alleged theft of the boat wasn’t discovered until after he was released from the hospital where he was detained. Shortly thereafter, he was taken into custody.

Launched from Station Cape Disappointment were a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew from the Advanced Rescue Helicopter School. Several training crews from the National Motor Lifeboat School were also diverted to assist. At approximately 10:40 in the morning, Coast Guard teams arrived.

Rescuers on the site were able to establish radio contact with the stranded sailor and learn that his ship was taking on water. There were 20-foot waves and hurricane-force gusts, according to reports from the area.

A student from the Advanced Helicopter Rescue School was winched into the ocean and then swam toward the ship. A wave washed over the boat just as the swimmer was about to board. The mariner was thrown from the ship and bruised and scratched himself in the process.

The swimmer then went ahead and retrieved the mariner from the sea, and the two were winched up to the chopper. The survivor was moved from Coast Guard care to the steady hands of emergency medical professionals at Air Station Astoria.

The suspect is also said to have posted a video showing himself putting a dead fish on the front porch of a house from the 1985 film “The Goonies.” Officials in the area have reported the mariner’s possible theft of the vessel to the Coast Guard after he was discharged to the hands of emergency medical services. In his capacity as a rescue swimmer, John “Branch” Walton rescued his first human life. A few hours later, he and his classmates all received their diplomas from the Advanced Rescue Helicopter School.

Man Checking Into Astoria Warming Center Stabs Employee

According to the Astoria Police Department, an Astoria warming center employee was stabbed by a man checking in to stay on Friday night.

Police said officers responded to the shelter in the 1000 block of Franklin Street at 9:15 p.m. Friday. When they arrived, they found a man with multiple stab wounds to the arm and back. He was treated on-scene by the Astoria Fire Department.

Officers said they learned the victim was an employee at the warming center. They said as 58-year-old Dwayne Douglas Blair was checking in, he got into an argument with the employee over established rules and stabbed him. Medics were called in for Blair, who was incoherent and had a cut to his arm. Police also said one of their officers was assaulted while helping Blair.

Blair was taken to the hospital to be cleared before being taken to the Clatsop County Jail. He was arrested for the following charges:

· Assault II

· Unlawful Use of a Weapon

· Assault IV

· Attempted Assault on a Public Safety Officer

· Resisting Arrest

APD said jail staff released Blair while officers were still at the jail through Clatsop County’s electronic monitoring program. Officers worked with hospital staff to find a place to stay where he could continue his medical care without violating the conditions of his release.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for New Clatsop County Jail 2/10

The Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office invites the community to celebrate the completion of the new Clatsop County Jail.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held Friday, February 10th, 2023, at 1 pm to commemorate the completion of the facility.

The new jail project began after voters approved a $20 million-dollar jail bond in 2018. DLR Group provided architectural and engineering services while Emerick Construction Co. served as the general contractor. Cornerstone Management Group represented the County during the process.

The new Clatsop County Jail is located at 1250 SE 19th St., Warrenton Oregon, directly across from the Clatsop County Animal Shelter.

Oregon Governor and other distinguished officials host over 120 Oregon Army Guard Soldiers during demobilization ceremony

Clackamas, Ore.–Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and other distinguished officials address more than 120 Soldiers in Charlie Company, 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, Oregon Army National Guard, during a demobilization ceremony at the 41st Infantry Division, Armed Forces Readiness Center, Camp Withycombe, Clackamas, Ore., Feb. 4.

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, Oregon, and Maj. Gen. Michael E. Stencel, Adjutant General, Oregon, also served as official hosts for the event. The event was held to acknowledge the Soldiers’ efforts to support United States NATO Allies, while building readiness and enhancing bonds with partner nations as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve in Poland.

The Soldiers first mobilized for this nearly yearlong deployment in early January 2022, and supported efforts to deter Russian aggression after the initial invasion into Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. This deployment was one of the largest mobilizations of Oregon National Guard Citizen-Soldiers since Operation Enduring Freedom in 2006. The event was live-streamed and may be viewed at this link.

For more information on Atlantic Resolve, click here. 

Image 7616862: Soldiers in Charlie Company, 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, Oregon Army National Guard, shake hands with distinguished guests and elected officials during a demobilization ceremony at the 41st Infantry Division, Armed Forces Readiness Center, Camp Withycombe, Clackamas, Ore., Feb. 4. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, Oregon, and Maj. Gen. Michael E. Stencel, Adjutant General, Oregon, served as official hosts for the event. The event was held to acknowledge the Soldiers’ efforts to support United States NATO Allies, while building readiness and enhancing bonds with partner nations as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve in Poland. The Soldiers first mobilized for this nearly yearlong deployment in early January 2022, and supported efforts to deter Russian aggression after the initial invasion into Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. This deployment was one of the largest mobilizations of Oregon National Guard Citizen-Soldiers since Operation Enduring Freedom in 2006. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Hunter Bomar)

Image 7616863: Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek poses with Soldiers in Charlie Company, 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, Oregon Army National Guard, after their demobilization ceremony at the 41st Infantry Division Armed Forces Readiness Center, Camp Withycombe, Clackamas, Ore., Feb. 4. Kotek, along with U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, Oregon, and Maj. Gen. Michael E. Stencel, Adjutant General, Oregon, served as official hosts for the event. The event was held to acknowledge the Soldiers’ efforts to support United States NATO Allies, while building readiness and enhancing bonds with partner nations as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve in Poland. The Soldiers first mobilized for this nearly yearlong deployment in early January 2022, and supported efforts to deter Russian aggression after the initial invasion into Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. This deployment was one of the largest mobilizations of Oregon National Guard Citizen-Soldiers since Operation Enduring Freedom in 2006. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Hunter Bomar)

Image 7616866: Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek addresses more than 120 Soldiers in Charlie Company, 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, Oregon Army National Guard, during a demobilization ceremony at the 41st Infantry Division, Armed Forces Readiness Center, Camp Withycombe, Clackamas, Ore., Feb. 4. U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, Oregon, and Maj. Gen. Michael E. Stencel, Adjutant General, Oregon, also served as official hosts for the event. The event was held to acknowledge the Soldiers’ efforts to support United States NATO Allies, while building readiness and enhancing bonds with partner nations as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve in Poland. The Soldiers first mobilized for this nearly yearlong deployment in early January 2022, and supported efforts to deter Russian aggression after the initial invasion into Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. This deployment was one of the largest mobilizations of Oregon National Guard Citizen-Soldiers since Operation Enduring Freedom in 2006. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Hunter Bomar)

Governor Kotek Proposes $13.5 Billion For Education

Governor Kotek wants to invest more money in education for the state’s youngest learners, ensure ninth graders are on-track to graduate, and address racial inequities for students and educators over the next two years. She also wants to improve literacy rates and lower childcare costs.

She’s proposing a budget that represents a historic high in school funding during a time of historic need. But some K-12 and higher education experts argue it isn’t enough.

“Every child deserves a safe place to learn. And every family needs access to affordable child care,” Kotek said in a press conference after releasing her 2023-25 budget. “After years of pandemic disruptions, we have a lot of work to do to build toward that vision.”

Education accounts for $13.5 billion, more than 40% of her proposed $32.1 billion in spending of the state’s general and lottery funds.

Highlights include $100 million for preschools, elementary schools, community-based organizations and tribes to teach children to read and $20 million for summer school programs focused on literacy. Her budget also calls for more than $200 million for early childhood education and care.

But most of the money – an historic $9.9 billion – is devoted to the State School Fund, which pays for educating Oregon’s 550,000 K-12 students and for district operating expenses, transportation costs and other needs.

Every child deserves a safe place to learn. And every family needs access to affordable child care.

The $9.9 billion marks an overall $600 million increase in K-12 spending for the biennium and would average out to about $9,682 per student in 2023-24 and roughly $10,000 per student in 2024-25, according to preliminary estimates from the Oregon Department of Education.

The state is paying $9,468 per student in the current 2022-23 school year.

“Today, our state invests more to provide for the needs of children than at any other time in our state’s history,” the budget reads. “The value we place on early childhood services and K-12 education continues to be a marker of who we are as Oregonians.”

Kotek said last week that her budget is “realistic” and focuses on core services that Republican and Democratic leaders agree should be prioritized. She also said her proposal for the State School Fund is a starting point.

Kotek expects to reach a higher number in working with legislators, who are responsible for approving state spending. Lawmakers have to agree on a budget over the next five months.

Leaders with the Oregon Education Association, Oregon School Boards Association and other groups say the budget marks a move “in the right direction” but is still not enough to correct a history of underfunding.

Oregon’s public university presidents said last week that the proposed public university funding and financial aid levels in Kotek’s budget would result in lost opportunities for Oregon’s students and workforce.

Oregon ranks 45th in the nation in per-student state funding of public universities, spending $5,580 per student in 2021 compared to the U.S. average of $8,859. Oregon also invests $475 per student per year in financial aid – less than half the national average of $1,138, according to the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association.

University leaders say more money needs to be invested by the state for financial aid, academic support and career development. Underfunding, and relying on rising tuition costs, especially hurts historically underserved students, they said.

Kotek’s budget would allocate $933.2 million to the Public University Support Fund. This money goes to seven state universities – including Eastern Oregon, Portland State, Oregon State, University of Oregon and Western Oregon – for instruction, research, public services and operations. Altogether, these schools serve about 96,590 graduate and undergraduate students.

That allocation represents a 1.4% increase from about $920.2 million in 2021-2023, but university leaders with the Oregon Council of Presidents are pushing for $1.05 billion, a 14% increase.

Dana Richardson, executive director of the council, said that with rising costs and inflation, the universities will need $972 million just to retain the status quo – nearly $40 million more than Kotek’s proposal.

“We are asking that the state stop forcing students and their families to pay more tuition to make up for the shortfall in state funding,” Richardson said.

According to the state’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission, full-time, undergraduate students at Oregon colleges and universities currently spend between $6,169 and $32,095 every year on tuition and fees. The amount depends on whether they are paying in- or out-of-state tuition at a community college or university, with nonresident students at universities spending the most.

That’s nearly doubled in the last decade, with the range between $3,720 and $19,194 in 2010-11.

What’s more, the percentage that students cover has increased dramatically. In 1990, the state paid for more than 61% of public universities’ educational and general operations; students paid for 28.7%. By 2021, the roles were reversed, with students paying 65.3% and the state covering 26.1%.

Under Kotek’s proposed budget, students’ portion would climb to 68.5%, and the state’s would decrease to 23.4%.

Oregon education leaders also want more funding for the state’s 17 community colleges, major renovation projects and the Oregon Opportunity Grant.

The opportunity grant , established in 1971, is the largest and oldest state-funded, need-based grant program. According to budget documents, the program each year helps about 40,000 Oregon students pay for tuition, fees, books, supplies, room and board and other school needs. The money is meant for undergraduate students from low-income households who attend an Oregon community college or university.

Kotek’s budget proposes a $100 million investment in the grant and would ensure the Oregon Tribal Student Grant program continues with a $40.2 million investment, funding the cost of attendance for all eligible members of Oregon’s nine federally recognized tribes. Leaders like Richardson want to see at least this amount allocated.

Nagi Naganathan, president of the Oregon Institute of Technology and chairman of the Oregon Council of Presidents, said institutions require more support today as they serve an increasingly diverse student body.

“It is important that our legislative leaders deliver investments that will make higher education attainable for every aspiring student,” he said.

Victim Information and Notification Everyday App (VINE) is Available in Oregon Now

VINE – Victim Information and Notification Everyday is the nation’s leading automated victim notification solution and is available in Oregon.

VINE allows crime victims across the country to obtain timely, reliable information about criminal cases and the custody status of offenders.

Victims often wish to know the status of an offender that is in the system. Until VINE, it was difficult for officers to provide accurate information to victims.

VINE makes information about the booking and release of inmates housed in county jails and state prisons available to victims at no cost either by telephone or the web. Offender information is collected automatically in near real-time from jail and prison booking systems.

Crime victims can access offender information, any time of the day or night simply by making a telephone call at 1-877-OR-4-VINE (1-877-674-8463) or by accessing the web at http://www.vinelink.com . Victims can call to inquire whether an offender is held in jail as well as the facility’s location.

Users also can register to be notified immediately of a change in the inmate’s status, such as a release or escape. When a notification is triggered, VINE automatically calls the number or numbers the victim has provided. Calls continue until the victim acknowledges the call by entering a PIN.

VINE supports multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Mandarin Chinese, and others, so victims from many ethnicities have access to the system.

A free smartphone app is available to iPhone and Droid users called MobilePatrol. One of the features of this app is access to the VINE service so you can be notified on your smart device (tablet or phone). The app is available from the Droid Play Store and Apple App Store. http://www.vinelink.com

Naked Man Arrested After Attempting to Gain Control of Deputy’s Firearm Near Sutherlin

SUTHERLIN, OR– A Salem man was arrested and charged with attempted assault on a public safety officer Saturday afternoon. 

On Saturday, February 4, 2023, shortly before 5:00 p.m., dispatchers received multiple calls of a male who had stripped his clothing and was wondering around nude on the side of the road in the 4000-block of Nonpareil Road. Deputies, along with officers from the Sutherlin Police Department, responded to the area and located the man. 

The male was identified as 36-year-old Keith Daniel Donald of Salem, Oregon. Deputies attempted to communicate with Donald without success. While the deputy was attempting to assist by determining if there was someone they could call for Donald, he lunged at the deputy and attempted to gain control of the firearm on their duty belt. Donald then turned his attention to another officer on scene and attempted to gain control of that officer’s firearm. Donald was subdued by law enforcement officers and taken into custody after a brief struggle. 

Donald was lodged at the Douglas County Jail and lodged on the following charges: 

• Attempted Assault on Public Safety Officer x2
• Disorderly Conduct II

BLM waives day use fees in observance of Washington’s Birthday

— In honor of George Washington’s birthday and to increase recreational access to public land, the Bureau of Land Management is waiving recreation standard amenity and day-use fees for visitors on Feb. 20, 2023. The BLM invites the public to visit the unique and diverse natural landscapes and visitor facilities on BLM-managed lands to celebrate the life of the first U.S. President George Washington.

This marks the second of the BLM’s fee-free days of 2023. Fee-free days refer to the waiver of standard amenity fees and day-use fees, such as visitor centers, picnic/day use areas, and National Conservation Lands units where fees are charged. Expanded amenity fees and other fees, like group day use, overnight camping, cabin rentals, and individual special recreation permits, will remain in effect unless the authorized officer determines it is appropriate to waive them.

BLM’s public lands offer spectacular beauty in the colder months. Find a map of BLM’s top recreation locations in the snow, rain, or ice here:
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/766c58075f574db2b52f3d2e13b75bb8

Winter recreation on public lands

Be prepared:

• Know before you go. Check with local offices for current conditions, including closures and travel restrictions.
• Make sure tires have adequate traction for road conditions.
• Ensure that a friend or family member is aware of your adventure plans.
• Ensure you have the 10 essentials before venturing out: navigation tools (map, GPS, personal locator beacon), headlamp, sun protection (sunglasses and sunscreen, especially against snow glare!), first aid kit, knife/gear repair kit, fire essentials (fire starter, matches, lighter, etc.), shelter (i.e., an emergency blanket that folds up extremely small), extra food, extra water (beyond the minimum expectation), and extra clothes (layer up!).

Recommendations on where to go with snow (NOTE: these locations may or may not have fees): 

• Burns: Steens Mountain offers an array of winter recreation opportunities, including snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and skiing. Individual permits must be obtained through the Burns District Office.
• Lakeview: Gerber Recreation Site is popular for ice fishing and open year-round for camping. The paved roads are not plowed but remain clear of snow most winters. Wood River Wetland offers hiking, dog walking, bird watching, hunting, and (when there’s enough snow) snowshoeing. Be aware that the parking area is not plowed in the winter, so parking is not always available.
• Medford: Cross country skiing and snowshoeing are available at the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument and Table Mountain Winter Play Area.
• Washington State: Split Rock Recreation Site at Palmer Lake offers ice fishing (or regular fishing if there is no ice). Visitors can also hike on the Similkameen Rail Trail from Oroville to the Enloe Dam or on the Cowiche Canyon Trail (where there is usually little to no snow). The Yakima River Canyon Recreation Site is a great location for winter camping. If winter is mild, the Juniper Dunes Off-Highway Vehicle Area is a good option for recreation, and if the winter is cold, the Fishtrap Recreation Area offers ice fishing and cross-country skiing.

Recommendations on where to go with little to no snow (NOTE: these locations may or may not have fees):  

• Northwest Oregon: The West Eugene Wetlands offer disc golf, the Sandy Ridge Trail System offers mountain biking, Shotgun Creek Recreation Site is open to off-highway vehicles, and the Wildwood Recreation Site has an underwater salmon viewing chamber.
• Medford: Sites such as the Upper and Lower Table Rocks, Cathedral Hills, and Mountain of the Rogue offer winter hiking and tend to be free of snow.

In 2023, BLM will waive recreation standard amenity and day use fees for visitors on: 

• January 16 (Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.)
• February 20 (Washington’s Birthday)
• June 19 (Juneteenth National Independence Day)
• August 4 (Great American Outdoors Day)
• September 23 (National Public Lands Day)
• November 11 (Veterans Day)

For more information about the BLM’s recreation fee program, please visit https: //www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/permits-and-fees.

-BLM-

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

83-year-old Clarence Edward Pitts walked away from his home in Bandon on Tuesday, January 31 at around 1:00 p.m.

Pitts is described as:

• 6′ 00″
• 150 lbs
• Gray hair
• Brown eyes
• Last seen wearing an orange beanie, plaid jacket, tan pants and white shoes
• May have a walking cane
• Has dementia and PTSD

Pitts may be in a vehicle that was also found to be missing from the home:

• 1999 Toyota Van
• White
• Oregon license plate: WYN 788

If you see Clarence or have any information pertaining to where he may be, please call the Coos County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center at 541-396-2106 or the Bandon Police Department at 541-347-3189.