Oregon Beach News, Monday 3/10 – No New Updates on Search for Missing Siletz Child, Newport Police Department Issues 2024 Annual Report, Clatsop County Job & Career Fair on Tuesday & Other Local and Statewide News…

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

Monday, March 10, 2025

Oregon Beach Weather

Small Craft Advisory Issued: 3:11 AM Mar. 10, 2025 – National Weather Service

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT THIS MORNING...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM TUESDAY TO 11 PM PDT WEDNESDAY...

* WHAT...For the first Small Craft Advisory, steep seas 9 to 10 ft. For the second Small Craft Advisory, south to southwest winds 20 to 30 kt with gusts up to 35 kt and steep seas 10 to 13 ft.
* WHERE...All areas.
* WHEN...For the Small Craft Advisory, until 11 AM PDT this morning. For the Small Craft Advisory, from 5 PM Tuesday to 11 PM PDT Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Gusty winds and/or steep seas could capsize or
damage smaller vessels.
* View the hazard area in detail at https://go.usa.gov/x6hks

Search for Missing Siletz Child Ongoing

Last UPDATE 3/8— Search for Dane Paulse – Search Remains Ongoing

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and partnering agencies are continuing search operations for Dane Paulsen. Investigators continue to follow up on informational tips alongside search efforts. Daily water searches utilizing watercraft with specialized equipment and trained personnel will continue until further notice.

Some efforts focusing on the search on the river include: • A boat running methodical searches over long spans. In addition to searching today, this boat covered an approximate 14 mile stretch of river yesterday (3/7/25). • A boat running underwater sonar and underwater drones/remotely operated vehicles with underwater cameras.• Many community members are also searching the river with personal watercraft, expanding the coverage area to include the lower Siletz River.

TALKING POINTS FROM COMMUNITY AND MEDIA UPDATE 3/4/25, 6:00PM – Siletz Oregon https://www.flashalert.net/images/news/2025-03/5490/179447/03.04.25_-6pm_Update-_Talking_Points_from_Community_and_Media_Briefing.pdf

At this time, Dane is still missing. Investigators are following up on numerous leads, including investigating various leads provided by our community. We have multiple Search and Rescue Teams and Sheriff’s Posse, along with community volunteers, searching the area. Marine Teams and divers are searching the river. The Lincoln County Major Crime Team and the FBI are also assisting with investigative leads.

How Can the Community Help: Although our teams will continue to work through the evening, community members are not encouraged to continue their search until daylight tomorrow.- Those that are interested in joining search efforts can go to the staging area and check in with the camp host at Elks Toketee Illahee campground at 20590 Siletz Hwy, Siletz, Oregon 97380.- Continue to report information that is relevant to Dane’s disappearance or may bring him home to the tip line: 541-265-0669 — Once again, we thank our community for their compassion and assistance. Our team and the community are working tirelessly to bring Dane home.

Newport Oregon Police Department 

 Our 2024 Annual Report is now available to read online.

The report provides a message from the Chief of Police, snapshots of Department personnel and community events, highlights accomplishments of our Officers and Department, and provides summaries of crime statistics for the City of Newport.

As an example, the section on our Community Service Officers displays statistics and photos pertaining to City ordinance violations. In 2024, the CSOs addressed 612 ordinance-related issues. The Newport Police Department recorded a total of 211 complaints regarding abandoned vehicles. Of these, 176 cases were successfully addressed by the Community Service Officer (CSO) reaching out to the registered owners, who subsequently relocated their vehicles, thereby rectifying the violation. However, 35 vehicles were impounded due to the registered owners’ failure to adhere to the CSO’s repeated requests. Eleven of the towed vehicles were abandoned motor homes.

Included in the total number of ordinance issues, 94 involved Nuisance Ordinance – Debris, Rubbish, Vegetation, and 128 involved Nuisance Ordinance Affecting Public Health and Offensive Littering violations which consisted of illegal dumping of trash on public property. The total cost for removal of the debris, abandoned vehicles, boats, recreational vehicles, and fees paid to Thompson Sanitary Service, Table Mountain Forestry, towing companies, and City and County worker’s payroll amounted to $83,864 for the year, an increase of $36,256 from the amount spent in 2023.You may read the full report at https://newportoregon.gov/…/pdfs/Annual_Report_2024.pdf

Clatsop County Job & Career Fair 2025

March 11 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Explore career options and job opportunities in your local community. Bring copies of your resume for an opportunity to meet with 70+ employers who are ready to hire in manufacturing, human resources, healthcare, construction, hospitality, seafood processing, forest & wood products, production, and more!

Go to: Clatsop County Job & Career Fair – Job & Career Fair for more information.

Beginning March 10, 2025 through April 10, 2025, the Coos Bay-North Bend Water Board crews will continue routine maintenance flushing of water lines within its distribution system in Coos Bay.

Flushing of water lines will be from Isthmus Heights Cutoff Rd, north to Coos River Hwy. and from Harpole St, east to Applewood Dr in Eastside. Flushing will begin in the morning each day around 7:30 a.m. and end at approximately 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. In some locations flushing may begin earlier in the morning and end earlier in the afternoon.

Customers within the affected areas may experience periods of reduced pressure and may notice a discoloration of the water during these flushing periods. Customers should avoid doing laundry if their water appears discolored. If the discoloration does not clear up promptly, please notify the Water Board at (541) 267-3128.

Coos County Sheriff’s Office Cites Driver After Traffic Stop Involving UTV

On March 8, 2025, around 7:00 PM, Deputy Francis conducted a traffic stop on a UTV driving on S Barview Rd, pulling it over at Travis Ln and Misty Rd . The driver, Gary Fredrickson (64), was with his two grandchildren. Deputy Francis noticed signs of impairment and called Deputy Freerksen for backup .

When Deputy Freerksen arrived, he observed Fredrickson’s slurred speech, glossy red eyes, and the smell of alcohol . Fredrickson agreed to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST), and after completing them, he was arrested. He was taken to the Coos Bay Police Department for further testing.

Gary was issued criminal citations for DUII, Reckless Endangerment (x2), and traffic violations . He’s now facing charges, but police action doesn’t imply guilt. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

Coos County Sheriff’s Office Arrests Man for Unlawful Firearm Possession and DUII

On March 6, 2025, around 10:50 PM, Sgt. Boswell was driving east on Southwest Blvd near W Lockhart Ave in Coos Bay when he spotted a white Chevrolet Blazer speeding west . The vehicle, well over the 30 MPH limit, swerved to avoid a guardrail. Sgt. Boswell flipped on his emergency lights and turned to pursue.

The Blazer sped up, ignoring the lights, and crossed the center line near Minnesota Ave before pulling into the Englewood Market parking lot. Sgt. Boswell approached the driver, Matthew Daniel Sharbono (44), noting bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and the smell of alcohol .

Matthew was evasive and fidgety during the stop.Deputy Starr arrived as backup and spotted Matthew trying to hide a handgun . With help from a Coos Bay PD officer, Matthew was arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm. He admitted to drinking at the Blue Moon bar earlier that night.

Sgt. Boswell took Matthew to Coos County Jail . When asked to cooperate with a DUII investigation and provide a breath sample, Matthew refused. Sgt. Boswell obtained a search warrant for a blood sample, which was executed at the hospital . Matthew was then returned to jail where he was booked and released. Police action does not imply guilt. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

Fishery Managers Worry About Effects of NOAA Cuts

The long term impacts of recent staff cuts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are still unknown, but fishery managers on the West Coast called the situation troubling. 

On Thursday, NOAA laid off more than 800 workers as the Trump administration continues its push to reduce the federal workforce.

West Coast lawmakers have warned that the cuts — and the potential for more layoffs in the future — could endanger lives and threaten maritime commerce and the fishing industry. NOAA manages federal tribal, commercial and recreational fisheries and includes the National Weather Service, which provides weather forecast data.

For West Coast fisheries, the firings have created uncertainty for fishery management now. (SOURCE)

A continued freeze on federal funds and uncertainty about the future of Medicaid have put a North Coast hospital in a wait-and-see situation.

Columbia Memorial Hospital, or CMH, is in the middle of a massive expansion and renovation project at its Astoria campus. The hospital is due to receive a $20 million resiliency grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. While that funding still seems likely to come through, a request for matching funds from the state is not as certain.

CMH plans to ask the Oregon Legislature for $6 million in matching funds during the current session. So far, the proposal has received positive support from a number of lawmakers.

“Six million is a lot to ask for a single project in any community, but I think this one rises to the top of the type of project they like to see,” said state Rep. Cyrus Javadi. 

One thing that might get in the way, however, is uncertainty over Medicaid.

House Republicans adopted a federal budget resolution at the end of February that suggests Medicaid could face major cuts.

Around 1.4 million Oregonians rely on Medicaid — through the Oregon Health Plan — for their health care. That includes just over half of the state’s children. According to data collected by the Oregon Health Authority, nearly one third of the residents of Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook Counties are enrolled in Medicaid — nearly 40,000 people across the three counties.

In Clatsop County, around 34% of the population, or more than 14,000 people, are enrolled. Of these, nearly 5,000 are children. 

The Oregon Health Plan is funded by state resources that are matched by federal dollars. Cuts to Medicaid would push costs onto the states — and the need to absorb those costs could mean requests like CMH’s fall farther down the priority list or are not considered at all. (READ MORE)

Volunteers are being sought to help prepare and serve lunch three times a week at the Florence Senior and Activity Center.  

They serve lunch Monday, Wednesday, and Friday each week. Both programs, the in-house dining known as Cafe 60, and Meals on Wheels, are very important in helping promote socialization and nutrition for older adults in Lane County.  Volunteer drivers for Meals on Wheels use their own vehicles, but they can be reimbursed for their mileage.  The Lane Council of Governments operates the Senior and Disabled Services in Lane County.  Alisa Andrion encourages potential volunteers to give her a call at L-COG, 541-682-1366.

WILD COAST FILM FESTIVAL: Celebrating Nature on the Big Screen!

The Columbia River Maritime Museum is proud to be a sponsor of this year’s Wild Coast Film Festival, March 14-16, 2025, at the Columbian Theater, 1102 Marine Drive, Astoria, OR.

Make plans to attend this unforgettable journey into the natural world. Walk on the wild side with grizzly bears, experience a 1,000-mile whitewater adventure, and fly alongside backyard hummingbirds – all through the magic of film! With 23 short films showcasing breathtaking wildlife, the festival also supports the Wildlife Center of the North Coast, dedicated to wildlife rescue efforts.

“This festival brings together the world’s best nature films, while celebrating the artistry, livelihoods, and conservation work that make the North Coast so special,” says Morgan Heim, National Geographic Explorer and co-founder of the festival. “Life isn’t complete until you see it.”

But it’s not just about films! • Guided nature & photo walks• Raffle prizes & locally foraged seaweed tasting• Opportunities to meet filmmakers & conservation organizations

For every ticket sold, you’re helping support the only wildlife care hospital serving coastal communities from Astoria to Pacific City! Get your tickets today at wildcoastfilm.org, and don’t miss out on a chance to celebrate wildlife and conservation. Virtual passes are also available for those who can’t attend in person.

 Calling All Vendors!

Astor Street Opry Company is hosting a Spring Craft & Vendor Market and we’re looking for amazing vendors to join us!

 Dates:
March 22 | 11 AM – 6 PM
March 23 | 10 AM – 4 PM

 Location: Astor Street Opry Company

 Cost: $25 per 6 ft table

Spaces are limited — don’t miss your chance to be part of this fun event! To reserve your spot, message us today! https://www.facebook.com/AstorStreetOpryCompany

The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce has announced that longtime community figure Wayne Sharpe will serve as Grand Marshal for the 118th annual Florence Rhododendron Festival Parade on May 18.

Sharpe’s extensive involvement includes hosting Coast Radio’s morning show, covering Siuslaw Vikings sports, and engaging with civic groups like Rotary and the city’s budget committee. A former pastor and Marine Corps veteran, he’s also co-founded the Oregon Coast Military History Museum and helped revive the Florence Veterans Day Parade.

Sharpe says he’s honored by the recognition, calling Florence a special place that’s grown tremendously since he arrived in 1992. This year’s Rhododendron Festival, themed “Rhodies on the River,” runs May 15-18, featuring parades, a carnival, classic cars, and a rhododendron showcase.

Siuslaw schools are collecting unwanted, unused, or broken electronics now through April 8th in partnership with Lane County Waste Management and NextStep Recycling.

The school that collects the most e-waste will win a sustainability grant of up to $500. Accepted items include TVs, computers, printers, cellphones, game consoles, and more—excluding plastic non-electronic items. Donations are repaired or recycled for community use. Drop-offs are accepted at NextStep Recycling in Eugene, and businesses can request a free pickup. More details at wastewiselane.org/ERC.

The Astoria Police Department is now hiring for Police Cadet-Parking Enforcement. For more information and to apply, visit: https://astoria.applicantpool.com/jobs/

Company Petitions to Revive Jordan Cove LNG Project Through Southern Oregon

On February 24, 2025, OA Partners LLC – a LNG transportation startup based in Arizona – filed a petition with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to retroactively revive the Jordan Cove LNG Terminal project in Coos County, Oregon.

The project was canceled in 2021 after failing to secure the necessary environmental permits and years of opposition from local residents.

The petition cites President Trump’s Executive Order to unleash American energy and expedite permitting for LNG export projects, and asks the court to waive Oregon’s state permitting requirements under the Clean Water Act.

If built, the Jordan Cove terminal would have been able to export up to 7.8 million metric tons of LNG every year; natural gas would have been supplied to the facility by a new 229-mile-long pipeline. (SOURCE)

SWIFTY and Yachats Lions Club Partner for Bird Nesting Boxes
Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation 

SWIFTY (Swallows in Flight to Yachats) in conjunction with students from Newport High School and 4-H of Waldport, and with support from the Yachats Lions Club, we have put together two programs to build and install bird nesting boxes.

The project with the 4-H group is to build 16 Tree Swallow nesting boxes to replace existing, failing, boxes at the Tami Wagner Wildlife Area (Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife) along the Yachats River, which is the only state-owned elk refuge on the Oregon Coast. Under SWIFTY’s direction, cedar swallow boxes were assembled by 4-H kids at the Yachats Lions Club Hall in Yachats on February 17th.

The installation at the Tami Wildlife area is provisionally scheduled for March 1st. In addition there is an educational component to the project where the kids will be doing posters on different facets of the life and ecology of tree swallows. The topics are: Migration, Nesting and Nest Boxes, Feathers and Flight, Threats, Feeding, Breeding and Behavior. The Yachats Lions Club paid for the cost of the construction materials.

SWIFTY has also arranged with Newport High School special education teacher Violet Brown and assistant Matt Bouvier to have students in the E.C.E.L. program construct 14 nesting boxes for Purple Martins, our largest North American swallows. The boxes are constructed from cedar lumber according to a design that is in widespread use in British Columbia. The boxes will replace dilapidated boxes on pilings in the Siletz River near Kernville. The box installation will be carried out by boat at a high tide during March, in time for the return of the birds from their migration to Brazil. The Yachats Lions Club paid for the cost of all the construction materials.

SWIFTY is a group of local wildlife enthusiasts who in 2020 started building birdhouses for swallows. Our motivation is to bring attention to the need to help cavity nesters such as swallows, wood ducks and chickadees, who have experienced declining forest habitat for nesting. In addition, many of these cavity nesting birds are migratory and have seen declining numbers due to the warming of the planet particularly in the Western US where lack of water, forest fires, and pollution impacts their survival across long distances. SWIFTY works with public and non-profit conservation and land management groups. We currently have several hundred boxes installed in Lincoln County, monitoring over 200 yearly.

The mission of the Lions Clubs is to empower Lions Clubs, volunteers and partners to improve health and wellbeing, strengthen communities, and support those in need through humanitarian service and grants that impact lives globally and encourage peace and international understanding.

4’H is the largest youth empowerment program in the US. It is delivered by Cooperative Extension–a community of more than 100 public universities across the nation that provides experiences where young people learn by doing. For more than 100 years, 4??’H has welcomed young people of all beliefs and backgrounds, giving kids a voice to express who they are and how they make their lives and communities better.

Clatsop Community College

 · The CCC Upward Bound program is seeking a catering service for their summer academy that gives high school students a start to achieving their college goals. Catering would be from June 16- July 25 (Mon-Thurs) and serving breakfast and lunch. They are looking for healthy, balanced meals with vegetarian options.

Please submit your interest in catering by April 7, 2025. Follow the link for more details: https://drive.google.com/…/1nE3p7GLlRT… Contact Amy Magnussen at amagnussen@clatsopcc.edu or 503-325-2898 for questions or further details.

Efforts to Bring Back Sea Otters to the Oregon Coast are Underway

The Elakha Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Oregon, founded by tribal leaders, conservationists, and nonprofit advocates united by a powerful vision. We imagine an Oregon coast where future generations thrive alongside a restored sea otter population and a resilient marine ecosystem.

After being absent for more than a century, an effort to repopulate the Oregon Coast with sea otters is in the works.

Oregon non-profit The Elakha Alliance was founded in 2018 by Tribal leaders and conservationists to restore the sea otter population on the coast. The Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians, Defenders of Wildlife, Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Suislaw Indians, as well as the Yurok Tribe, Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation, Oregon Coast Aquarium and Oregon Zoo are also participating in the effort.

After being hunted in the 19th century as part of the maritime fur trade, sea otters have been absent from the coast for over 100 years. Elakha Alliance Executive Director Jane Bacchieri says many people are surprised to find out this fact. Since sea otters would likely be a protected species, Bacchieri says hunting would no longer be a concern.

She also says re-introducing sea otters would help reduce sea urchin over-population, since sea urchins are one of the primary food sources for sea otters. As a result, this would produce healthier kelp forests.

For reintroduction to be successful, Bacchieri stresses that there must be enough prey and habitat resources available. Additionally, the non-profit would examine the socio-economic implications of reintroducing the species. Bacchieri says a realistic time frame for this to occur would be gradually over about 10 years.

Since sea otters don’t migrate, she says there’s a very good chance they could be a thriving, self-sustaining population if re-introduced successfully. MORE INFO: https://www.elakhaalliance.org/

The Columbia River Maritime Museum is looking for its newest crew member!

MUSEUM EDUCATOR — Full Time, Salary Position reporting to Director of Education

Full job description and employment application are available on our website – https://www.crmm.org/join-our-crew.html

Coos Bay Police Department –  WE’RE HIRING 9-1-1 DISPATCHERS

$4684 – $5972/Month DOQ — We offer:•A dynamic team environment •Alternative schedule benefiting work/life balance •Up to 5 weeks paid time off per year after the first year •The opportunity to serve your community

Our team members have come from a variety of work fields- no experience necessary! For additional information from the North Coos 9-1-1 Recruitment Team or to schedule a ride-along please email: join911@coosbayor.govhttps://www.coosbayor.gov/…/Compon…/JobPosts/Job/126/107

Gleneden Beach Community Club Events

Look what’s coming up soon at the Club… (sign up at glenedenbeach.org)

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

Follow on Facebook: Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay

Station Wagon Pulled from River May Belong to Oregon Family Missing for Nearly 70 Years

Authorities pulled a station wagon from the Columbia River Friday that’s believed to have belonged to an Oregon family of five who disappeared nearly 70 years ago while they were out searching for Christmas greenery.

Deputy Pete Hughes of the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office said the salvage crew working near the Cascade Locks Marine Park believes the chassis and motor they pulled from the Columbia River around 3:45 p.m. did, in fact, belong to the Portland family. Officials won’t be able to confirm that it’s the car, which fell apart as they were recovering it, until they check the VIN number stamped on the engine.

VIDEO: https://www.facebook.com/katunews/videos/9081258175333867 — https://www.facebook.com/reel/1111488933995173

The search for the Martin family was a national news story at the time and led some to speculate about the possibility of foul play, with a $1,000 reward offered for information about their whereabouts.

The Martins took their daughters Barbara, 14, Virginia, 13, and Sue, 11, on a ride to the mountains on Dec. 7, 1958, to collect Christmas greenery, according to AP stories from the time. They never returned.

Officials narrowed their search for the family after learning that Ken Martin had used a credit card to buy gas at a station near Cascade Locks, a small Columbia River community about 40 miles east of Portland.

“Police have speculated that Martin’s red and white station wagon might have plunged into an isolated canyon or river,” the AP reported. “The credit card purchase was the only thing to pin-point the family’s movements.” (READ MORE)

Oregon’s Unemployment Rate Rises to 4.4% in January

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.4% in January and 4.3%, as revised, in December, after rising gradually over the past year from 4.1% in January 2024. Oregon’s 4.4% unemployment rate was the highest since September 2021, when the rate was also 4.4%. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.1% in December 2024 and 4.0% in January 2025.

In January, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 2,400 jobs, following a revised decline of 2,000 jobs in December. January’s gains were largest in professional and business services (+1,400 jobs); leisure and hospitality (+1,200); retail trade (+900); and private educational services (+900). Declines were largest in manufacturing (-2,200) and health care and social assistance (-1,300).

Oregon’s private sector added 12,700 jobs, or 0.8%, between January 2024 and January 2025. Job gains during 2024 were less than previously indicated, as annual data revisions resulted in an average reduction of 15,600 jobs per month during the second half of 2024.

During the past three years, health care and social assistance was by far the fastest growing sector of Oregon’s economy, adding 15,100 jobs, or 5.2%, in the 12 months through January. However, a large strike at a major health care provider contributed to the one-month drop of 1,300 jobs in this industry during January.

Industries that grew moderately during the most recent 12 months included other services (+2,100 jobs, or 3.2%); private educational services (+1,100 jobs, or 3.0%); professional and business services (+2,900 jobs, or 1.1%); and construction (+900 jobs, or 0.8%).

Manufacturing continued its decline of the past two years, cutting 6,900 jobs (-3.7%) in the 12 months through January, while retail trade shed 2,300 jobs (-1.1%) during that time.

Dysentery outbreak in Oregon leaves at least 40 sickened

Two dozen new cases of Shigella, which can cause dysentery, have been reported in Oregon since the start of the new year, according to health officials.

Cases have been on the rise since 2012 and the illness has spread to the Portland Metro areas. Health officials say the increase “is concerning.” 

Shigella bacteria cause shigellosis, which is an illness that impacts the intestines, according to the Mayo Clinic. 

Shigella can cause a range of systems, including, but not exclusively, dysentery.

Other symptoms can also include: 

• Fever
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea

Where did the outbreak begin? 

Shigella cases have been rising in Multnomah County, Oregon, since 2012, according to a county official.

“High case counts throughout 2024 reflected two separate outbreaks of different strains of Shigella. The cases that we are seeing in 2025 are the result of transmission of a strain of Shigella sonnei strain that was introduced into Oregon in the spring of 2024,” the spokesperson told FOX TV Stations.

The disease eventually spread to the Portland Metro area in the summer of 2024 and has spread within and between housed and unhoused populations in the region since then, they added. 

How many cases are in Oregon? 

There are 197 total cases nationally with this particular strain.

Sixty-one percent of the cases have been in Multnomah County.

There are at least 14 distinct subclusters, which means that there are several pathways of transmission within different groups of people.

In 2024, there were 158 confirmed cases in Multnomah County. 

What we know:

As of January, 40 new cases were reported.

What we don’t know:

Data for February is not finalized. 

However, preliminary data shows that there are six confirmed cases and “three cases without culture-confirmed illness developed illness and were reported in February.”

“Even though the data are not yet finalized, the number of cases in February 2025 appears to represent a decline from the number of cases in January,” the spokesperson said. 

What caused the outbreak in Multnomah? 

Health officials said there are several ways the Shigella bacteria spread throughout the county. 

• Some cases are contracted through international travel to lower-resource countries (less than 20%). 
• Among cases without international travel, fecal-oral spread through intimate (including sexual) contact may account for between half and more than two-thirds of all cases.
• About one-third to half of cases in the past year have been in people experiencing either homelessness or housing instability.  
• We have also identified spread among housed and unhoused social groups who use drugs.

The cases of Shigella are being spread between people rather than from one outbreak source, such as a restaurant, the spokesperson explained. 

How to stop the spread

Since the most common source of transmission for Shigella is human to human among several subgroups, “there is no single, easy answer to stop all illness from spreading,” according to the spokesperson. 

What’s next:

The Multnomah County Health Department provides educational resources to teach people about avoiding the transmission of any disease.

“They counsel people to avoid preparing food, limit sexual contact, and stay out of pools and other communal water bodies for at least two weeks after symptoms stop. People who work in food, childcare or healthcare facilities are restricted from work until they test negative,” the spokesperson said.

For unhoused people, the department can provide additional support through short-term housing, which health officials explained is the “best intervention for reducing spread.” 

Other prevention tips include: 

• Frequent handwashing
• Throw away soiled diapers in a covered, lined garbage bin
• Disinfect diaper-changing areas right after use
• Avoid ingesting water from ponds, lakes or untreated pools
• Avoid sexual contact with anyone who has been suffering from diarrhea or recently recovered

Who is at risk?

Most people are able to recover from dysentery within a few days. However, if it goes untreated for a prolonged period, it can be fatal, according to the Cleveland Clinic. 

The people who are most at risk of suffering from serious complications of dysentery include: 

• Young children
• People over 50
• Dehydrated or malnourished people

The Source: Information for this report was gathered from an email received from the Multnomah County press office on March 6, 2025, the Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic.

Oregon State Parks to hire more than 200 seasonal Rangers, Ranger Assistants

Oregon State Parks will hire more than 200 seasonal Rangers and Ranger Assistants for positions across the state for the 2025 season.

Hiring starts as soon as this month and runs through about June with new positions listed on a rolling basis on the website. The positions last anywhere from four to nine months. Most seasonal staff work April through September, but some start as early as this month or work as late as December.

Seasonal staff help visitors access world-class experiences and ensure clean and safe park areas for everyone to enjoy. Duties include janitorial work, landscape maintenance, visitor education and visitor services.

Salaries start at $19.78 per hour for seasonal assistants and $23.21 for seasonal rangers. Both positions include comprehensive medical, vision and dental plans for employees and qualified family members. The positions also include paid sick leave, vacation, personal leave and 11 paid holidays per year. Student workers, ages 16 and older, start at $19.77 or more per hour depending on experience.

Several of Oregon State Parks’ top leaders started their careers as seasonal employees including all three Region Directors.

“We believe in growing leadership from within. We invest in our staff and provide pathways for advancement whether you’re here for a season or your entire career,” said Director Lisa Sumption.

Seasonal staff gain valuable skills working with experienced Rangers at parks around the state. The first wave of openings include positions along the coast from Washburne to Cape Lookout; the Willamette Valley including Silver Falls and Detroit Lake; the Columbia River Gorge and Eastern Oregon including Wallowa Lake and Lake Owyhee.

For more information about current openings, visit stateparks.oregon.gov. If you have any questions or need additional assistance in accessibility or alternative formats, please email Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Recruiting D.Recruiting@oprd.oregon.gov“>OPRD.Recruiting@oprd.oregon.gov.

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, committed to diversity and pay equity.

Active-Duty and Former U.S. Army Soldiers Arrested for Theft of Government Property and Bribery Scheme

PORTLAND, Ore.— Jian Zhao and Li Tian, active-duty U.S. Army soldiers stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, along with Ruoyu Duan, a former U.S. Army soldier, were arrested today following indictments by federal grand juries in the District of Oregon and the Western District of Washington. Tian and Duan were charged in the District of Oregon for conspiring to commit bribery and theft of government property. Zhao was charged in the Western District of Washington for conspiring to obtain and transmit national defense information to an individual not authorized to receive it, and also for bribery and theft of government property.

“The defendants arrested today are accused of betraying our country, actively working to weaken America’s defense capabilities and empowering our adversaries in China,” said Attorney General Pamela J. Bondi. “They will face swift, severe, and comprehensive justice.”

“While bribery and corruption have thrived under China’s Communist Party, this behavior cannot be tolerated with our service members who are entrusted with sensitive military information, including national defense information,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The FBI and our partners will continue to work to uncover attempts by those in China to steal sensitive U.S. military information and hold all accountable who play a role in betraying our national defense. The FBI would like to thank U.S. Army Counterintelligence for their close partnership during this investigation.”

“These arrests underscore the persistent and increasing foreign intelligence threat facing our Army and nation,” said Brig. Gen. Rhett R. Cox, Commanding General, Army Counterintelligence Command. “Along with the Department of Justice and FBI, Army Counterintelligence Command will continue to work tirelessly to hold those accountable who irresponsibly and selfishly abandon the Army values and choose personal gain over duty to our nation. We remind all members of the Army team to increase their vigilance and protect our Army by reporting suspicious activity.”

The indictment in the District of Oregon alleges that beginning on or about Nov. 28, 2021, and continuing to at least on or about Dec. 19, 2024, Duan and Tian along with others, known and unknown to the grand jury conspired with each other to surreptitiously gather sensitive military information related to the United States Army’s operational capabilities, including technical manuals and other sensitive information, and that Tian transmitted this information to Duan in return for money, in violation of his official duties as an active-duty U.S. Army officer. Specifically, Tian was tasked with gathering information related U.S. military weapon systems, including information related to the Bradley and Stryker U.S. Army fighting vehicles, and transmitting them to Duan.

The indictment in the Western District of Washington alleges that beginning in or about July 2024, and continuing to the date of the arrest, Jian Zhao, an active-duty U.S. Army Supply Sergeant, conspired with others known and unknown to the grand jury to obtain and transmit national defense information to individuals based in China. Zhao is further alleged to have committed bribery and theft of government property.

Specifically, Zhao was charged for his conspiracy to collect and transmit several classified hard drives, including hard drives marked “SECRET” and “TOP SECRET”, negotiating with individuals based in China for their sale, and agreeing to send the classified hard drives to the individuals in China. In exchange for the sale of the classified hard drives, Zhao received at least $10,000. Zhao is further alleged to have conspired to sell an encryption capable computer that was stolen from the U.S. Government, and sensitive U.S. military documents and information, including information related to the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), and information related to U.S. military readiness in the event of a conflict with the People’s Republic of China. Zhao is alleged to have violated his duties as a U.S. Army Soldier and public official to protect sensitive military information in exchange for money. In total, Zhao is alleged to have corruptly received and accepted payments totaling at least $15,000.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks the FBI and the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command for their hard work on this investigation and commitment to protecting our national security,” said Acting U.S. Attorney William M. Narus for the District of Oregon. 

“As former and current members of the U.S. Army, Ruoyu Duan and Li Tian betrayed the oath of military service they had taken,” said Douglas A. Olson, Special Agent in Charge  of the FBI’s Portland Field Office. “Their actions caused significant risk and damage to U.S. National Security and violated the oath they took as military members to protect the American people.”

“It is unconscionable that a person who wears the uniform of a U.S. Army soldier would betray our country and the trust of his fellow soldiers,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle Field Office. “These arrests should send a message to would-be spies that we and our partners have the will and the ability to find you, track you down, and hold you to account. Protecting the nation’s secrets, especially those necessary to preserve our military advantage and protect our troops, is one of the FBI’s top priorities.”

The cases were investigated by the FBI Portland and Seattle Field Offices and U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command, with assistance from the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Seattle Field Office, CBP Office of Professional Responsibility, United States Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, and Naval Criminal Investigative Service. They are being prosecuted by Geoffrey A. Barrow and Katherine A. Rykken, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon, and Christopher Cook and Yifei Zheng, Trial Attorneys for the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Fatal Crash – Highway 140 – Jackson County

– On Friday, March 7, 2025, at 6:04 a.m., the Oregon State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash involving a pedestrian in Jackson County.  

The preliminary investigation indicated that a white Nissan Frontier pickup truck, operated by Jerid William Gunter (47) of Medford, was traveling eastbound on Hwy 140 near Blackwell Road when it struck a pedestrian. The crash occurred in a non-lit area of the roadway.  

The pedestrian, Naomi Hope Gomez (39) of Glendale, was declared deceased at the scene.

The highway was impacted for about two hours for the on-scene investigation. OSP was assisted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.

A state Senate Committee heard from Oregonians this week about a bill to specify how landlords can verify a prospective tenant’s identity.

Supporters say it would prohibit landlords from asking about the immigration status of a tenant applicant of a household member. Under the bill, landlords could run credit checks, but also designates taxpayer ID number cards from the IRS, immigration visas and driver licenses and others as acceptable forms of identity.

A Portland couple that ran a chauffeur business has been sentenced to federal prison for stealing 34-million-dollars from two former clients.

Sergey Lebedenko and Galina Lebedenko ran Astra Car Service. They met the victims driving them to the airport and continued to chauffeur them on a near daily basis for several years. The victim allowed them to charge his American Express card without giving invoices. They used the money to buy 14 homes, seven vehicles and other luxury items. They pleaded guilty and were both sentenced to nearly five years in prison.

New Exhibition Photographically Documents the Effects of Climate Change on Oregon’s Landscape

A Changing Landscape is on view now at the Oregon Historical Society through November 23, 2025.

— See how climate change has altered Oregon’s geography in A Changing Landscape, on view at the Oregon Historical Society in downtown Portland now through November 23, 2025. This dramatic installation uses modern and historical photographs to visually compare 100 years of environmental change across some of Oregon’s most recognized mountains, lakes, and glaciers.

In the summer of 1920, the U.S. Forest Service launched a three-month expedition to lay the groundwork for a scenic road between Crater Lake and the Columbia River Highway. Led by recreational planner Frederick Cleator, the “Skyline Party” traversed north along the high country of the Cascade Range, with Cleator taking 700 photographs documenting the terrain and scenery. 

While the scenic highway never came to be, a recreational trail known as the Oregon Skyline Trail opened to travelers in the summer of 1921. Highlighting the beauty of the Cascades, the Oregon Skyline Trail includes dramatic peaks, glacial lakes, and alpine meadows, connecting Oregonians and tourists to the natural wonders of the state.

One hundred years later, geologist Jim O’Connor followed Cleator’s footsteps and recreated 75 of his Skyline Trail photographs — many taken on the same day and at the same time as the original photographs. A Changing Landscape features a selection of Cleator and O’Connor’s photographs, showing this picturesque stretch of geography, and the ways climate change has altered the mountains, lakes, and terrain throughout the past century. 

As explained by O’Connor: I’ve been motivated by the century of change revealed in these matched pairs, and the photographs tell these stories much more vividly than words. Plus, I revel in the challenge of finding the exact places that previous photographers like Cleator have set up their cameras, in some instances probably places that have known few footsteps since his. In this quest, I have been revisiting the central Oregon Cascades for the last 30 years with family, friends, and colleagues, photographing and rephotographing scenes first recorded in the early 1900s, at first to document changes in the glaciers in the Three Sisters area, but also becoming increasingly intrigued by other landscape changes — vegetation, lakes and streams as well as human uses of the high country. But it’s more than just two-dimensional images; the project is enriched by stories behind the photos, especially the interactions among the landscape and people, which I try to bring out with the accompanying descriptions. 

O’Connor’s documentation of Oregon’s glaciers is profiled in the Winter 2013 issue of the Oregon Historical Quarterly in the article, “‘Our Vanishing Glaciers’: One Hundred Years of Glacier Retreat in the Three Sisters Area, Oregon Cascade Range.” In the essay, O’Connor asserts that “glaciers exist by the grace of climate,” and through a close examination of the history of the region’s glaciers, he provides an intriguing glimpse into the history of geological surveys and glacial studies in the Pacific Northwest, including their connection to significant scientific advances of the nineteenth century.

For those unable to visit in person, the exhibition is accessible as both an audio tour and transcript (with built in translations) through OHS’s free digital guide available through Bloomberg Connects.

To learn more about Oregon’s changing climate, The Oregon Encyclopedia has curated a digital exhibit on Climate Change in Oregon that features entries by regional experts who have spent their careers researching and sharing their work on the effects of a warming planet.

The Oregon Historical Society’s museum is open daily in downtown Portland, from 10am to 5pm Monday through Saturday and 12pm to 5pm on Sunday. Admission is free every day for youth 17 and under, OHS members, and residents of Multnomah County. Learn more and plan your visit at ohs.org/visit.

About the Oregon Historical Society – For more than 125 years, the Oregon Historical Society has served as the state’s collective memory, preserving a vast collection of objects, photographs, maps, manuscript materials, books, films, and oral histories. Our research library, museum, digital platforms, educational programming, and historical journal make Oregon’s history open and accessible to all. We exist because history is powerful, and because a history as deep and complex as Oregon’s cannot be contained within a single story or point of view.

Oregon has thousands of federal jobs across the state, and state economists are shedding light on what areas will be hit the hardest amid federal layoffs. In the first quarter of 2024, Oregon had a total of 28,750 federal jobs and the sector made up 1.5% of the state’s employment.

While it remain unclear how many job and which agencies would see cuts due to the Trump administration’s efforts to scale back government spending, impacts of job revenue loss may be felt more heavily in rural areas according to a report from Oregon State Employment Economist. 

The report notes that across Oregon, federal jobs pay 36% more than the average wages, but the gap is even more pronounced in rural areas.  It is unclear which agencies would be impacted, the memo excludes the US Postal Service, the Military and Federal Law Enforcement. It directs agencies or components that provide direct services to citizens (such as Social Security, Medicare, and veterans’ health care) to delay implementation of staff cuts until the plans are approved.

Though the Oregon Employment Department does not have a count of how many federal workers have applied for unemployment benefits so far, they’re tracking and preparing.

In Oregon, there are more than 29,000 people in the state who work for the federal government — including 7,000 in the U.S. Postal Service; 6,400 in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and 3,400 in the U.S. Forest Service. Department leaders say they are ready to help, no matter how Oregonians lose their jobs.  The earliest the department thinks it will see those numbers will be in late March.

The Oregon Employment Department will also be looking for other workers affected by funding cuts in groups that rely on federal dollars, like researchers at universities and other organizations. But specifically for federal workers, there is a page on the Oregon Employment Department website meant to help them go through the process if they lose their jobs.

State treasurers from Oregon, Illinois, Nevada and Colorado are urging the Trump administration to end a tumultuous trade war with Canada, Mexico and China.

Oregon Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner told media last week that “Canada, Mexico and China are three of our Oregon’s top four trading partners, accounting for more than 15 billion a year each in exports from our state.  Tariff price hikes are likely to increase the cost of items that consumers and businesses depend on, such as electronics, clothing, appliances and other products we all use every day.”

A study from the Peterson Institute for International Economics predicts Trump’s tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China would cost the typical U.S. household more than $1,200 per year. That’s a price that Steiner says could devastate the average Oregon household, which can’t afford an emergency expense of more than $500, according to the 2025 Oregon Financial Wellness Scorecard survey.

ODF proposes revised state forest implementation plans, opens 30-day comment period

SALEM, Ore.–The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) opens a 30-day comment period on proposed Implementation Plan revisions for the Astoria, Forest Grove, Tillamook, North Cascade, West Oregon, and Western Lane (including the Veneta and Southwest units) state forest districts. Implementation plans describe forest management activities such as timber harvest targets, road construction and maintenance, reforestation and young stand management, recreation, aquatic habitat restoration and protection strategies for species of concern.

The comment period begins Feb. 20 and ends March 21 at 5 p.m. The implementation plans are available on ODF’s website. Comments can be submitted online by using this form,  emailing ODF.SFComments@oregon.gov, or mailing comments to ODF Public Affairs, 2600 State St., Salem, OR 97310.

State forests by law must provide social, economic, and environmental benefits to Oregonians, and are managed under long-range forest management plans, mid-range implementation plans, and annual operations plans.

At the direction of the Board of Forestry, ODF is continuing the development of a draft Western Oregon State Forests Habitat Conservation Plan and Forest Management Plan for Western Oregon State Forests. The draft Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) is currently going through the National Environmental Policy Act process.  Finalization of this process and issuance of Incidental Take Permits is expected to occur within fiscal year 2026. Revising the current implementation plans allows the agency to continue operations during this time of transition and further align with the draft HCP while focusing resources on developing a new forest management plan and accompanying implementation plans required to implement the draft HCP.

The revisions to the current Implementation Plans include new information on the district land base and forest resources, updated Species of Concern strategies and associated Forest Land Management Classification map, clarified timber harvest target descriptions, and changes to the mapped landscape design of the desired future condition. These changes align with Division policy, current Forest Management Plans and draft HCP objectives. In order to cover the HCP approval timeline, the new Forest Management Plan and new Implementation Plan development timelines, the revised Implementation Plans have been extended through June 30, 2027.

Registration is closing soon for the Bob Ross-inspired Happy Little (Virtual) 5K

Oregon Parks Forever — Inspired by American painter and PBS television personality Bob Ross’ love of the outdoors, Oregon Parks Forever is sponsoring a virtual 5K race to help plant trees in Oregon’s parks & forests.  Registration is now open for the 2025 Run for the Trees at www.orparksforever.org.

Inspired by American painter and PBS television personality Bob Ross’ love of the outdoors, Oregon Parks Forever is sponsoring a virtual 5K race to help plant trees in Oregon’s parks & forests.  You must register by April 1^st in order to get your shirts and medal before the event.

Participants can walk, run, paddle or roll to complete their 5K anywhere outdoors anytime between April 19 and 27 (covering Earth Day and Arbor Day).   Participants are encouraged to register by April 1 to ensure that your swag arrives before the event week.  If you register after April 1, you may not receive your swag before race week. Registration will close on April 15.

For $36 per person, each participant will receive a keepsake Happy Little T-shirt, a commemorative bib number and a finisher’s medal. All Oregon race proceeds support tree planting and forest protection efforts in Oregon parks.  Ten trees will be planted in Oregon for each registration.  This year, the trees will be planted in the Santiam Canyon.

Initially, the “Happy Little Trees” program began with a partnership between the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Bob Ross Inc., with hundreds of volunteers helping to plant “happy little trees” at locations hard-hit by invasive pests and tree diseases. The partnership quickly expanded to include the Run for the Trees / Happy Little (Virtual) 5K.

As the Happy Little 5K gained popularity, more states have joined the effort. Now in its fifth year, the Happy Little 5K has expanded its reach to include eleven other states. Together, Michigan, Oregon, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Maryland, Virginia and Tennessee will “lock arms” as they help raise awareness and funding for stewardship efforts in each state’s parks.

“We are thrilled to partner with Bob Ross, Inc. and these other eleven states on the Happy Little 5K concept as a way to honor the late Bob Ross and create a legacy event to plant trees,” said Seth Miller, Executive Director of Oregon Parks Forever.”

Oregon Parks Forever is joining this event as an expansion of our efforts to fund the replanting of trees killed by wildfires, heat domes and invasive insects.  Over the past two years, Oregon Parks Forever has been able to fund the replanting of more than 800,000 trees across Oregon.

“The official Bob Ross 5K is probably our most favorite initiative,” says Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Company. “It’s the perfect blend of everything Bob held dear; nature, taking care of the environment, and happy trees too of course. He would have been so pleased to see how it’s getting so popular around the world.”

Learn more about the program at www.orparksforever.org.

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