The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Monday, June 26, 2023
Oregon Beach Weather
Corgi Beach Day Has Big Turnout
Corgi Beach Takeover Day returned for its 10th year on the Oregon Coast with hundreds of Corgis taking over the beach on Saturday. The event was in Seaside this year as had outgrown the original Cannon Beach location.
The short-legged furry friends gathered at Seaside, and the event was sponsored by the Oregon Humane Society.
It was impossible to walk along the beach without seeing one of these cute dogs run by. Corgis and their owners participated in costume contests, raffles, and Corgi races. https://www.oregonhumane.org/corgi-beach-takeover/
Lincoln City Police To Conduct Active Shooter Response Training Tuesday and Wednesday
The Lincoln City Police will be conducting active shooter response training exercises on June 27 and 28, 2023 to better prepare officers to respond to an active shooter type event should one occur in our city.
This training exercise will be taking place at the Taft Elementary School campus in Lincoln City, and we want to alert the public in hopes of minimizing any alarm or confusion that may occur when people see a large concentration of officers and police vehicles at the school. The training exercise will be occurring during summer break when no students will be present at the school, and the only school staff that may be present will be those scheduled to take part in the exercise. Signs will be posted outside the school indicating that a training exercise is underway.
This training event is not open to the public and access to the school will be restricted while the training exercises are being conducted.
Should you have questions or concerns, please contact Lincoln City Police Department Lieutenant Jeffrey Winn or Lieutenant Eric Henderson at 541-994-3636.
The Lincoln City Police would like to extend a big thank you to the Lincoln County School District for allowing the use of their building for this training exercise. The cooperation of all our emergency response agencies and our school district partners is crucial to helping keep the communities and citizens of Lincoln County safe.
Crash on Hwy 101 North of Florence
U.S. Highway 101 was closed for several hours at milepost 185, about four miles north of Florence, due to a crash, Oregon Dept. of Transportation reports Saturday night.
Warrenton Woman Arrested After Allegedly Hoarding and Neglecting Animals Again
A Warrenton woman has been arrested after allegedly hoarding and neglecting animals, keeping six cats covered in their own feces locked in a closet together.
Nicole Banister, 23, has been charged with six counts of animal neglect after violating a court order not to own pets.
According to court documents, a maintenance worker at the Alder Manor Apartments, who entered the apartment to finish a work order, heard meowing coming from within the apartment on June 23.
Warrenton Police investigated and found six cats stuffed in a bedroom closet. Police say many of the cats were covered in feces and suffering from dehydration.
According to police, they believe 2 people may have delivered the cats to Banister around June 15.
The pets were taken to Clatsop County Animal Control for medical treatment and care.
Banister was banned from owning pets, according to a conditional release agreement she signed for a prior criminal case.
In the prior incident, Banister was charged with 38 counts of 2nd-degree animal neglect on April 21 for allegedly failing to provide minimum care for dozens of cats and dogs.
She also pled no contest to two counts of animal neglect in November 2022, and was sentenced to 18 months in probation. One of the conditions of her probation was that she could not own any cats.
Police are trying to find more information on how Banister obtained the cats, and ask anyone with information to contact Sergeant Jim Pierce at 503-861-2235.
Yachats Lions Club Hosts 4th of July Pancake Breakfast!
YACHATS, OR, July 4th – The Yachats Lions Club will host their “KTP Day” 4th of July Pancake Breakfast on July 4th from 7:30am – 11:00am at Yachats Lions Hall at 344 4th Street, Yachats OR 97498. There’s a $10 suggested donation to welcome folks for an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast!
This “Keep the Promise Day” event is part of a series of KTP Day events throughout Oregon. The goal is to celebrate the Lions’ connection to Helen Keller and their promise to address preventable blindness and hearing loss, in partnership with their Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation (OLSHF).
All proceeds from Yachats Lions Club’s annual fundraisers and their Yachats Lions Thrift Store makes giving back to their local community possible. They support Lions community service projects, which include scholarships to graduating seniors, food pantries, school programs, Yachats Youth & Family Services, South Lincoln Resources, Yachats Fire Department, and eyeglasses & exams for children & adults. With the motto “WE SERVE,” Yachats Lions Club is celebrating 73 years of service to Yachats and South Lincoln County.
Together, the Lions Clubs of Oregon, the statewide nonprofit OLSHF, and partners offer access to people for critical sight-saving surgeries and treatments, secure new eyeglasses, help people who can’t afford eyeglasses and hearing aids, and manage the largest vision screening program in the US.
To learn more about the Yachats Lions Club and their work in the local community, you can visit yachatslionsclub.org.
Oregon State Fire Marshal asks Oregonians to Keep Firework use Legal and Safe
“Keep it legal, keep it safe” is the message from the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM). The 2023 fireworks retail sales season begins June 23 and runs through July 6 in Oregon. The OSFM would like everyone to know which fireworks are legal to use, where fireworks can be used, and how to use them safely.
“We ask Oregonians to be responsible if they plan to use fireworks as part of their celebrations,” OSFM Assistant Chief Deputy Mark Johnston said. “Every year, we see fires and injuries because of improper use of fireworks or illegal fireworks. Our message is simple: keep it legal and keep it safe.”
To reduce the risk of starting a fire, some local governments in Oregon have firework sales or use restrictions in place. Check your local regulations and follow them where you live or where you may be traveling to celebrate the Fourth of July.
Consumer-legal fireworks can only be purchased from permitted fireworks retailers and stands. State regulations limit where those fireworks may be used. People who plan to visit public lands and parks are asked to leave all fireworks at home. The possession and use of fireworks are prohibited in national parks and forests, on Bureau of Land Management lands, on U.S. Fish and Wildlife properties, on state beaches, in state parks, and in state campgrounds. Fireworks are also prohibited on many private lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry.
For those who purchase legal fireworks, fire officials encourage everyone to practice the four Bs of safe fireworks use:
- Be prepared before lighting fireworks: keep water available by using a garden hose or bucket.
- Be safe when lighting fireworks: keep children and pets away from fireworks. Never use fireworks near or on dry grass or vegetation.
- Be responsible after lighting fireworks: never relight a dud. Please wait 15 to 20 minutes, then soak it in a bucket of water before disposal.
- Be aware: Use only legal fireworks in legal places.
Oregon law prohibits the possession, use, or sale of any firework that flies into the air, explodes, or travels more than 12 feet horizontally on the ground without a permit issued by the OSFM. Fireworks commonly called bottle rockets, Roman candles, and firecrackers are illegal in Oregon without a permit. Officials may seize illegal fireworks and charge offenders with a class B misdemeanor which could result in a fine of up to $2,500. Those who misuse fireworks or allow fireworks to cause damage are liable and may be required to pay fire suppression costs or other damages. Parents are also liable for fireworks damage caused by their children.
The OSFM has published resources on its website regarding the sale and legal use of consumer fireworks, retail sale permits, and state rules for firework use and enforcement activities. Safety messaging and activities for kids can also be found on the OSFM’s fireworks page.
Oregon Senate Passes First Bill of Historic Package That Supports Hospital Staff, Rebuilds Workforce
In a show of strong bipartisan support, the Oregon Senate late Thursday evening passed by a 19 to 5 vote House Bill 2697, a groundbreaking piece of legislation that will make significant advances in hospital staffing and patient care.
The bill is now headed to the desk of Gov. Tina Kotek.
The Senate is also expected to consider two other bills as part of this historic package, House Bill 3396 and House Bill 2045, which will help build a pipeline of much needed health care workers, begin to address hospitals’ capacity and discharge challenges, and remove barriers to investments in frontline health care workers.
“These bills will mean more sustainable careers for nurses and health workers, better care for our communities and a brighter future for Oregon,” said Tamie Cline, a registered nurse and president of the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA). “Nurses in every corner of the state demanded change with one voice, and together we have made real progress. As we move forward to implement these bills, we will make sure that nurses and health professionals have a real voice and role in the process.”
The collective package represents months of negotiations between the ONA, the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (OFNHP), Service Employees International Union Local 49 (SEIU) and the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (OAHHS). At the urging of Rep. Rob Nosse (D-Portland), chair of the House Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care, the groups worked together to solidify support for the package, forging a coalition of supporters that remains in place today and moving forward.
“We are excited to see that Oregon is taking steps towards addressing the biggest crisis facing health care professionals today: short staffing,” said Jonathon Baker, president of OFNHP – AFT 5017. “The success of this legislation shows that we can change our health care system for the better when we come together and act in solidarity.”
The package includes:
- House Bill 2697, which establishes first-in-the-nation nurse-to-patient and certified nursing assistant nurse-to-patient ratios in state statute for a wide range of hospital settings including emergency departments, intensive care units, labor and delivery units, operating rooms, and others. The bill also establishes committees for other hospital care providers like respiratory therapists, psychologists, pharmacists, environmental services workers, and many others to create clear standards to improve staffing for the entire hospital care team.
- House Bill 3396, a $25 million workforce package that leverages federal dollars to increase clinical education capacity at Oregon’s hospitals and health care facilities and supports the recruitment and retention of nurse faculty. This bill also creates a task force aimed at finding solutions for hospitals’ capacity and discharge challenges.
- House Bill 2045, which improves the health care cost growth target program to support investments in the health care workforce. HB 2045 makes changes to the state’s cost growth target program to report health care workforce costs for frontline caregivers, allowing hospitals and other health care providers to invest in their frontline staff without being penalized.
“We are proud of the collaborative efforts that led to this package of legislation, which will support our hospital staff who work so hard on behalf of patients,” said Becky Hultberg, OAHHS president and CEO. “The legislation also reduces many of the administrative burdens hospitals currently struggle with and builds partnerships that we hope will help ensure access to care for patients well into the future.”
The hospital staffing bill, House Bill 2697, becomes effective Sept. 1, but will be implemented in phases through July 1, 2026.
“We are proud to support this legislation and recognize how our collective efforts will make a difference for both patients and frontline caregivers throughout Oregon,” says Meg Niemi, president of Service Employees International Union Local 49. “By listening to the voices of frontline workers, this legislature has made historic investments in our workforce and for the first time ever included professional, technical, and service workers in staffing laws. We couldn’t be happier to be part of this agreement and celebrating a huge win for the health care industry.”
Oregon Self-Service Gas Bill Heads To Governor’s Desk
Oregonians may soon have the right to pump gas into their vehicles on their own throughout the state, under a bill that cleared the Legislature on Wednesday with approval in the Senate.
The measure, which passed the Senate with a 16-9 bipartisan vote, would allow Oregonians to pump their own gas or continue to get service from an attendant. The bill would allow gas stations to designate self-service pumps, but they still must offer attendant service for at least half of them. Lawmakers kept that requirement intact to help people who need or prefer full service.
“This bill strikes a balance between consumer preferences, business needs, and employment considerations,” the bill’s chief sponsor, Sen. Janeen Sollman, D-Hillsboro, said in a statement. “It provides Oregonians choice at the pump, while still protecting access for the elderly and disabled community members.”
The bill heads to Gov. Tina Kotek, who is expected to sign it.
Only Oregon and New Jersey now ban self-service gas, although Oregon has gradually loosened restrictions in recent years. In 2015, lawmakers allowed self-serve gas during nighttime hours in rural and coastal counties to help fuel retailers and drivers. Two years later, lawmakers expanded that to all hours for rural counties. Oregon also has made other exceptions, such as during wildfires, severe heat waves and COVID-19.
The bill would simplify the patchwork of regulations, supporters say.
Under the bill, stations in 16 of Oregon’s most heavily populated counties would need at least one attendant present to pump gas for customers who don’t want self-service. Customers in 20 rural counties and motorcycle operators would be able to pump their own gas regardless of whether an attendant is at the station. Those counties are: Baker, Clatsop, Crook, Curry, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco and Wheeler.
Gas stations would have to charge the same amount regardless of what option a customer selects.
A similar proposal failed in 2022 after the state fire marshal estimated the state would need more than $500,000 to regulate the change, a figure that state officials now say is only “minimal.” (SOURCE)
Legislature Approves New Limit On Rent Hikes In Oregon
Oregon lawmakers approved a bill Saturday to cap the amount landlords can increase rent on existing tenants to no more than 10% a year, sending it to Gov. Tina Kotek for final approval.
Senate Bill 611 limits annual rent increases to either 7% plus inflation or 10%, whichever is lower. It passed the Senate on a 17-8 vote Tuesday, then received 32-18 approval in the House Saturday following a heated discussion. Many of the lawmakers who spoke about the bill Saturday said they themselves are landlords.
Ten House members were excused and did not vote on the bill.
Andrea Valderrama, an east Portland Democrat, said the measure will help people stay in their homes, including children in low-income families who will be able to stay in the same elementary schools as they learn to read.
“If kids are continually priced out of their neighborhood schools, we may be the ones with a failing grade,” Valderrama said.
Landlords can raise rents as much as they wish between tenants, she noted.
But Kevin Mannix, a Salem Republican, said the state is undermining its aspirations to increase its anemic housing supply. Restricting landlords’ ability to charge market rate rents will dampen the number of people willing to create rental housing and prompt some landlords to exit the market, he said.
“We’re going to put the screws to” landlords, Mannix said. “That will make it harder for us to get more housing.”
Oregon’s existing rent control law, passed in 2019 as the nation’s first statewide rent control measure, is similarly tied to inflation but does not have an upper limit. It was billed as “rent stabilization,” a middle ground that prevented massive rent increases intended as de facto evictions.
With last year’s runaway inflation, though, the rent cap permitted landlords to raise rents by as much as 14.6%. Rents across the state on average have increased only about 3.6%, though some landlords opted to increase rent by the full amount permitted.
Like the existing rule, the updated rent cap policy wouldn’t apply to buildings built less than 15 years ago. (SOURCE)
Oregon Has A New State Vegetable
The Oregon State House on Thursday approved a resolution designating a new state vegetable — the potato.
While most may think of Idaho as the “potato state,” Oregon does, in fact, put the “Ore” in Ore-Ida, producing a large number of potatoes each year.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 3 passed Thursday and designated the potato as Oregon’s official vegetable.
Lawmakers had previously suggested the onion as the state’s official vegetable. The onion proposal had garnered so much attention that, until Thursday, Google searches returned official-looking results claiming that the onion was, in fact, Oregon’s vegetable mascot.
“More than 2.7 billion pounds of potatoes are grown annually” in Oregon, according to a statement submitted by Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena, and the state is responsible for “nearly 25% of all french fries exported from the U.S.”
Idaho, on the other hand, is the top potato producer in the country and produces around 13 billion pounds of potatoes each year, according to the Idaho Potato Commission.
Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Happy Valley, submitted a lighthearted “potential conflict of interest” statement, noting that as the owner of McDonald’s franchises, she has a vested interested in delicious potato products.
“At my several McDonald’s restaurants,” the statement read, “we sell many fries and breakfast hashbrowns every year, which are made from potatoes.”
After the resolution passed, lawmakers from both parties gathered to enjoy McDonald’s french fries, the Salem Statesman Journal reported.
No word yet on what Idaho thinks of the change. (SOURCE)
83-year-old Clarence Edward Pitts walked away from his home in Bandon on Tuesday, January 31 at around 1:00 p.m. Pitts is described as:
- 6′ 00″
- 150 lbs
- Gray hair
- Brown eyes
- Last seen wearing an orange beanie, plaid jacket, tan pants and white shoes
- May have a walking cane
- Has dementia and PTSD
Pitts may be in a vehicle that was also found to be missing from the home:
- 1999 Toyota Van
- White
- Oregon license plate: WYN 788
If you see Clarence or have any information pertaining to where he may be, please call the Coos County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center at 541-396-2106 or the Bandon Police Department at 541-347-3189.
Contact us: Info@OregonBeachMagazine.com