Oregon Beach News, Monday 7/1 – Rare Sighting of Sea Otters Near Ecola Point, Macy’s Puts Florence Mall Stores Up For Sale & 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, July 1, 2024

Oregon Beach Weather

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY ISSUED – NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 5 AM PDT THURSDAY...

* WHAT...North winds 15 to 25 kt with gusts up to 35 kt and wind driven seas 5 to 8 ft.

* WHERE...All areas.

* WHEN...From 5 PM Monday to 5 AM PDT Thursday.

* 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

Rare Sighting of Sea Otters Near Ecola Point

Two sea otters were seen near Ecola Point on Friday. There has not been an established population of sea otters on the Oregon coast since the early 1900s when the local population was wiped out by fur traders, according to the Elakha Alliance, an Oregon nonprofit that is working on the restoration and conservation of sea otters.

The sea otters were first seen by volunteers and then spotted by marine biologist Chanel Hason, the director of outreach and community relations for the Elakha Alliance.

The alliance says that the sea otters likely swam south from Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, where about 2,000 otters live. They are not a migratory species, so the Oregon sighting is rare despite the relative proximity of a well-established population, according to the alliance.

Hundreds of thousands of sea otters once lived in coastal waters in the northern Pacific Ocean, but they were hunted to the brink of extinction in the 1920s, according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. They were even thought to be extinct for a while, until about 50 sea otters were discovered near Big Sur, California, in 1938, according to the aquarium.

Today, sea otters are listed as a threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

“We are thrilled about this rare and wonderful sighting,” said Jane Bacchieri, executive director of the Elakha Alliance, in a news release. “It highlights the resilience of sea otters and the potential for their return to the Oregon coast. This event also underscores the importance of ongoingconservation efforts for our nearshore marine ecosystems.”

Macy’s Puts Florence Mall Stores Up For Sale

Macy’s Inc. is seeking a buyer for its two stores at Florence Mall, an indication that both could be among the 150 stores it plans to close in the next three years.

Macy’s announced in February that it will close 50 stores this year and an additional 100 by the end of 2026.

A sales brochure, circulated recently by the commercial real estate firm Lee & Associates, seeks $8 million for Macy’s 15-acre department store property and $5 million for its 7.5 acre furniture store at Florence Mall. Both properties include parking lots that accommodate about 1,150 vehicles, according to the brochure, obtained by the WCPO 9 I-Team.

Macy’s did not address the I-Team’s questions about a potential sale but said any store closures at Florence Mall would not take place this year.

“Our new strategy is designed to create a more modern Macy’s, Inc. and enhance the customer experience. We intend to close approximately 150 Macy’s stores while further investing in our 350 go-forward fleet over the next three years. A final decision on specific locations has yet to be made.”

Florence City Manager Josh Hunt declined to comment on the potential sale, citing a non-disclosure agreement the city signed with the brokers marketing mall properties. Hunt said he didn’t want to interfere with potential developments that could take place at the mall, but declined to elaborate.

Florence Mall’s management office also declined to comment.

Retail consultant Stan Eichelbaum said Macy’s willingness to sell points to a likelihood of closure.

“You can read the tea leaves,” said Eichelbaum, president of Marketing Developments/Planning Developments Inc. in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. “They wouldn’t be selling them if they thought there was high potential.”

But Eichelbaum said the mall could benefit from a Macy’s sale and closure in the long run.

“Malls are being adjusted with residential towers, senior towers, college facilities, medical facilities, everything else,” Eichelbaum said. “So, if the buildings meet a due diligence for being adaptable, there’s great potential for them to go in another direction.”

Lee & Associates’ sales brochure touts the Macy’s stores for their redevelopment potential, with 364,461 people within a 10-mile radius of the mall and a median household income of $72,467. It highlights Florence as Kentucky’s 8th largest city with more than 2,500 businesses.

“It’s a strong market,” Eichelbaum said. “There’s good wealth around it, good density around it. It’s not Manhattan or Chicago, but it has good bones as a site. It has great highway exposure.”

Built in 1976, Florence Mall is the region’s second-largest shopping center, with 930,000 square feet of gross leasable space. Its two Macy’s stores occupy 259,425 square feet, so the mall’s vacancy rate would increase by more than 25% with a closure.

In 2020, Florence Mall was the region’s second-strongest shopping center, according to the I-Team’s analysis of the region’s most endangered malls. But it’s had problems since then.

In 2021, lenders took ownership of the property after its longtime owner, Brookfield Properties, defaulted on $90 million in commercial mortgage-backed securities debt. That led to the mall’s $38 million purchase by an ownership group that includes Mason Asset Management and Namdar Realty Group.

On a visit to the mall at noon Thursday, the food court was active and retail spaces in the Macy’s wing were mostly full. But Union resident Emma Finkenstadt said the mall is declining under its new owners.

“I don’t think it’s the worst mall, I’ve seen worse,” she said. “I just hope they don’t close because this is like the only mall around town besides like Kenwood.” This story originally appeared at WCPO.com.

Siuslaw Library Summer Reading Program

City of Florence Environmental Management Advisory Committee (EMAC) members, Vicki Philben, Ivy Medow and City Councilor Sally Wantz, as well as Master Recycler, Britte Kirsch, are partnering with Miss Gayle at the Siuslaw Public Library in this year’s Summer Reading Program. 

Using the “Read, Renew, Repeat” curriculum, these volunteers will be hosting 5 interactive events on such topics as bugs & bees, dirt, recycling, worms, and native plants.  Children of all ages are encouraged to attend these and all the other events from June through July.  All programs are free and held at the Florence location’s Bromley Room unless otherwise specified.  For more information, call the Siuslaw Library at 541-999-3132. 

Oregon State Police Major Crimes Section Leading Investigation of Officer Involved Shooting in Tillamook

On Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at 6:37pm, Tillamook Police Officers, Tillamook County Sheriff’s Deputies and the Oregon State Troopers attempted to stop a white Toyota Tacoma in the parking lot of Fred Meyer near Highway 101 and Makinster Rd.  Officers had probable cause to arrest the suspect for previously eluding law enforcement over the last few days. 

During the traffic stop, the suspect fired a pistol striking multiple law enforcement vehicles.  An exchange of gunfire ensued between the suspect and officers from the Tillamook Police Department and deputies from Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office.  The suspect fled the scene and was pursued by TPD, TCSO and OSP.  The pursuit traveled Southbound on Highway 101 for approximately five miles before the suspect’s vehicle was partially disabled by deployed spike strips.

The suspect, now known as Joey De La Rosa Rodriguez (37) of Damascus, received non-life-threatening injuries during the exchange of gunfire.  The suspect was treated at a local medical facility before being lodged at the Tillamook County Jail for felony warrants issued by Clackamas and Yamhill Counties and Attempt to Elude. 

No law enforcement members were injured during this incident. 

Pursuant to the Tillamook County Deadly Physical Force Plan (SB 111 2007), the Oregon State Police is investigating the officer-involved shooting, and any criminal charges concerning the suspect during the incident.

Involved law enforcement members have been placed on paid administrative leave by their respective agencies.  Any further information will be released by the Tillamook County District Attorney’s Office or the Oregon State Police.

Boaters Reminded of Duties After an Incident

The Oregon State Marine Board wants to remind boaters that it’s state law to help and render aid in cases where another boat is swamped, capsizes or is involved in another incident with property damage or personal injury.  It’s also about being a “good neighbor” on the water.   

Failure to fulfill the duties of the boat operator (ORS 830.475) could result in a Class A misdemeanor citation. In cases where the boat operator leaves the scene of a boat accident where there is personal injury or death, the boater may be charged with a Class C felony.

 “Boaters need to pay close attention to other people recreating on the water around them, and in many cases, everyday boaters become heroes when others go overboard, helping avert further tragedy,” said Brian Paulsen, Boating Safety Program Manager for the Marine Board. 

Oregon’s waterways are increasingly congested, but everyone has the same right to recreate. Please be mindful and remember to share the waterways while recreating responsibly. 

Learn more about the Marine Board, the agency’s programs and marine law enforcement partners. 

Yachats Lions Club Hosts 4th of July Pancake Breakfast

The Yachats Lions Club will host their “KTP Day” 4^th of July Pancake Breakfast on July 4^th from 7:30am – 11:00am at Yachats Lions Hall at 344 4^th Street, Yachats OR 97498. There’s a $10 suggested donation to welcome folks for an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast (pancakes, sausages, ham, eggs, milk, OJ & coffee)!

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 74 years of service to Yachats and South Lincoln County.

Last year at the pancake breakfast, the Lions served over 400 people and raised about $2,000 which helped fund scholarships for Waldport High School students ($5,000 given in total for this year).

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 

LCPD Plans Pedestrian Safety Operation

The Lincoln City Police Department plans to conduct a Pedestrian Safety Operation on Tuesday, July 9^th, 2024, on Hwy 101 in the area between N 10^th Street and N 14th Street.

The primary focus of this operation is to raise awareness of pedestrian safety in drivers. The use of a decoy pedestrian will allow the Lincoln City Police Department to educate and enforce pedestrian right-of-way laws. The operation will be conducted between the hours of 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Warning signs will be posted prior to entering the pedestrian safety operation zone. 

LCPD last conducted a pedestrian safety operation on September 19, 2023. During that operation, nine citations and three written warnings were issued for violations of the crosswalk laws (Failing to stop for pedestrian in crosswalk or Passing vehicle stopped at a crosswalk). 

Drivers need to be aware of pedestrians when approaching crosswalks while traveling through Lincoln City and ODOT has installed several safe pedestrian crossings, with lights and pedestrian refuges in the center of the roadway.  The members of the Lincoln City Police Department are dedicated to enhancing the safety of our citizens and guests of the city, and these safety operations are conducted in an effort to reduce the potential for injuries or death caused from traffic collisions.

Funding for the pedestrian safety operations are made possible through traffic safety grants provided by the Oregon Department of Transportation and Oregon Impact.

Governor Kotek Appoints Lincoln County District Attorney

Governor Tina Kotek announced that she will appoint Jenna Wallace as District Attorney of Lincoln County. Wallace will fill a vacancy created by the upcoming resignation of Lanee Danforth. Wallace received 55% of the vote in the May primary. The appointment reflects the majority of voters in Lincoln County. The appointment is effective June 21, 2024

Governor Kotek Appoints Judge to the Columbia County Circuit Court

Governor Tina Kotek announced that she will appoint Nickolas A. Brajcich to the Columbia County Circuit Court. Brajcich will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Cathleen B. Callahan. The appointment is effective immediately.

Brajcich (he/him) graduated from Clatskanie High School. Brajcich is currently a Columbia County Deputy District Attorney. He has established community relationships with law enforcement, substance abuse treatment providers, and mental health treatment providers.

UPDATE TEMPORARY CLOSURE — Windy Cove Crab and Fishing Dock Repairs

(Winchester Bay, Oregon) The Douglas County Parks Department would like to provide an update on the temporary closure of the Windy Cove Crab and Fishing Dock, located at 936 Salmon Harbor Drive in Winchester Bay, Oregon.

Last week, a required joint permit application was successfully completed and submitted to the State of Oregon Department of State Lands (ODSL). This marks a critical step forward in our efforts to repair the crab dock to maintain our community’s recreational facilities.  The submitted application will be posted to ODSL’s website in early July for a mandatory 30-day public comment period. This review period allows for community input and ensures transparency in the permitting process. We anticipate receiving an approved permit in August, contingent upon the successful completion of the review period, which could be delayed based on any potential issues that might come out of the review.

Construction and engineering plans are on track to be finalized by June 25. However, we must wait for the permit issuance to determine if there are any new terms and conditions that will be imposed on the project based on public comments. These terms and conditions, if any, will be carefully reviewed and incorporated into the project scope of work as necessary. Once the terms of the permit are known, we will proceed with drafting a bid prospectus to solicit a vendor to facilitate the necessary dock repairs. This process will involve a Request for Bids (RFB) procurement process, which will add some additional time to our timeline.

Considering the necessary steps and potential adjustments, our best-case scenario is to have the project out for bid and awarded by mid-August. Depending on contractor availability, we hope to begin the dock repairs in late August, however, it is more likely that the work will begin sometime in September.  We understand that the Windy Cove Crab and Fishing Dock is a favorite spot for both locals and visitors. During the closure, we recommend Dock 9 near the west boat launch in Salmon Harbor for crabbing without a boat. Additionally, some fishermen have reported success using fishing pole crab traps from the jetties and riverbanks.  A video of the update featuring our Douglas County Parks Director Mark Wall, can be found on the Douglas County Government website at: https://video.ibm.com/recorded/133738243. 

Public safety remains our top priority. The Windy Cove Crab and Fishing Dock will remain closed until repairs are completed and the dock is no longer deemed unsafe and hazardous for public use. The surrounding parking lot, day-use area, and beach access at Windy Cove County Park remain open. We ask for the community’s cooperation in respecting the closure and staying off the dock until it is officially reopened.  We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding as we navigate these procedural requirements to ensure a thorough and compliant repair process. The Douglas County Parks Department remains committed to providing safe and enjoyable recreational facilities for all residents and visitors.  Updates will be released monthly until repairs are finalized and a public notice will be issued once the dock is safe and ready for use again. 

More Areas Reopen for Shellfish Harvest as Bay Clams Open On North Coast and Razor Clams On South Coast

Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announce new shellfish openings after tests showed clams in these areas are safe to eat.

Bay clamming has been reopened on the north coast and is now open from the Washington border to Cascade Head. Levels of the marine biotoxin paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) have tested below the closure limit on two consecutive rounds of testing.

Also, razor clam harvesting has reopened on the south coast and is now open from Cape Blanco to the California border.

Levels of the marine biotoxin domoic acid have continued to test below the closure limit. Razor clamming also remains open from the Washington border to Yachats River.

Razor clam harvesting is closed from the Yachats River to Cape Blanco. Bay clam harvesting is closed from Cascade Head to the California border. Mussel harvesting remains closed along the entire Oregon coast.

Crab harvesting is open along the entire Oregon coast including bays and estuaries.

Oregon Department of Agriculture will continue to test for shellfish toxins weekly, as tides and weather permit. Reopening an area closed for biotoxins requires two consecutive tests with results below the closure limit.

Remember to always call Oregon Department of Agriculture’s (ODA) shellfish biotoxin safety hotline at (800) 448-2474, the Food Safety Shellfish Desk at (503) 986-4726, or check the ODA recreational shellfish biotoxin closures webpage before clamming or crabbing.

Florence Food Share Empty Bowls 2024 Call for Artists for Poster Art

We are currently making plans for Florence Food Share’s annual Empty Bowls event, which has been a successful fundraiser for 29 years. Local artists contribute handmade ceramic, wood, and fused glass bowls along with other art for sale during the first weekend of December.

For over a decade, we have featured the work of a local artist on the poster advertising the event. The art created for the event serves as the focal point for the poster and is later raffled off at the event to generate extra revenue for the Florence Food Share. In return, the artist receives recognition in local and regional publications and a tax deduction, of course.

We are searching for artwork that conveys the message of the event and the mission of Florence Food Share, which is to provide nutritious food to those in need because “no one should go hungry.” We welcome any medium, as long as it can be photographed, and the original artwork can be donated to the event. We will handle the framing, with input from the artist.

To be considered for creating the poster art for 2024, please send us your concept, including the medium and a description of the proposed image. Additionally, attach a photo of one of your previous works to give us an idea of your style. Please email your submissions to Desiree Clifton at dclifton@windemere.com by August 25, 2024. The
completed, unframed artwork should be submitted no later than September 30, 2024.

We are grateful to all the artists who have participated in Empty Bowls over the years and eagerly anticipate the participation of new artists in this year’s event. For any questions regarding submitting artwork, please reach out via email to dclifton@windemere.com. Florence Food Share Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/florencefood.share/?locale=ro_RO

Beverly Beach State Park Remains Closed Until End of July

Due to delays in construction, Beverly Beach State Park will now be closed through the end of July, according to Oregon Parks & Recreation.

Located just seven miles north of Newport, the popular campground and day-use area has been closed since September 2023. The construction work included moving power lines underground and replacing water lines. The park is now slated to reopen on August 1.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office to Host Hiring Event in July

We are looking for individuals with strong character, motivation, and integrity to join our Sheriff’s Office team. With multiple positions open, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a hiring event on Saturday, July 20, 2024. This event is a great opportunity to learn about the rewarding careers our team has to offer. 

Those interested in participating are encouraged to complete an application before the event. To submit an application, visit www.co.lincoln.or.us/748/Join-the-Team. Join us at this hiring event to jumpstart your successful career in Law Enforcement.  

All applicants are invited to meet our team, have lunch, and learn more about our career opportunities. Deputy applicants ages 21 years and older are invited to complete the physical testing requirements during this event. Participants in this event experience a significantly expedited application process. In addition to completing the required physical test for free, participants have the opportunity to meet our team, ask questions, receive more information on perks and benefits, and enjoy free lunch and snacks. All participants need to bring ID and deputy applicants need to bring athletic clothes and shoes.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, July 20, 2024
Time: 11:00am – 2:00pm 

• Check in anytime between 11:00am and 1:30pm.
• Deputy applicants will complete the physical testing for free (testing takes less than 15 minutes per participant).
• Enjoy lunch and network with our team.
• Ask questions and get a feel of what your future career looks like.

Location: Search and Rescue Building, 830 NE 7th St., Newport

What to Bring:

• Government Issued Identification
• Athletic clothes and shoes if applying for a deputy position
• Interest in joining our team

Registration for this event is encouraged but not required. For questions or to register, contact Jess Palma at 541-265-0652 or jpalma@co.lincoln.or.us

Lincoln County Accepting Grant Funding Applications for Share Of $398,000 in ARPA Funds for Local Water and Sewer Projects

$398,000 in funds from the American Rescue Plan Ac (ARPA) are set to be distributed to eligible districts in Lincoln County to invest in local water, sewer and drainage projects.

The American Rescue Plan Act was signed into law in March of 2021 and provided states, cities, and counties with federal money to support pandemic recovery efforts and economic stimulus. One allowed use for ARPA dollars is to support public water, sewer and drainage projects.

Lincoln County is accepting grant funding applications from local water, sewer and drainage districts in unincorporated Lincoln County for water and sewer projects. Eligible projects must meet the ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) eligible funding requirements.

Districts must be in good standing with State of Oregon financial reporting requirements and show proof of complying with public meeting law requirements. The county has a total of $398,000 to provide for eligible projects from districts. Applications will be reviewed by a committee selected by Lincoln County to look at the financial stability of the organization, the engineering feasibility of the project, and if the project meets ARPA requirements.

The county is planning to use an open grant process to award the funds. Starting June 10 applications will open, they will be awarded on a first come, first served basis to qualifying districts and projects; applications will close once all funds have been allocated.

The county says each eligible district can ask up to $50-thousand total. Projects can be stand-alone projects or a discrete portion of a larger project. Applications will be reviewed by county administrative, legal, and engineering staff to ensure projects meet American Rescue Plan Act, legal and technical requirements. All projects must adhere to federal procurement rules and Davis-Bacon Act requirements.

County officials say they will execute contracts with awarded districts before December 31, 2024. All work on the awarded projects must be completed by subrecipients before December 2026. To apply for the Local Water, Sewer and Drainage Districts’ Grant click here.

OHA 2024 Oregon Beach Monitoring Season

Agency shares list of monitored beaches for May-September

—The Oregon Beach Monitoring Program (OBMP) is kicking off the 2024 beach monitoring season by announcing the list of coastal recreation areas it will be keeping an eye on for bacteria during summer and early fall.

The 24 beaches on the list that the OBMP, based at the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Public Health Division, is publishing includes some of the most frequently visited beaches in Oregon. It also includes beaches where the program has found bacteria present, or beaches for which local partners and the public have requested monitoring due to potential pollution concerns.

The following are Oregon beaches being monitored during 2024, including beach name, and the city and county in which they are located:

• Seaside Beach – Seaside, Clatsop County
• Cannon Beach – Cannon Beach, Clatsop County
• Tolovana Beach State Park– Cannon Beach, Clatsop County
• Short Sand Beach (Oswald West State Park) – Arch Cape, Tillamook County
• Manzanita Beach – Manzanita, Tillamook County
• Rockaway Beach – Rockaway, Tillamook County
• Twin Rocks Beach – Twin Rocks, Tillamook County
• Oceanside Beach – Oceanside, Tillamook County
• Cape Kiwanda Beach – Pacific City, Tillamook County
• Neskowin Beach – Neskowin, Tillamook County
• D River Beach – Lincoln City, Lincoln County
• Siletz Bay Beach – Lincoln City, Lincoln County
• Beverly Beach – Newport, Lincoln County
• Agate Beach – Newport, Lincoln County
• Nye Beach – Newport, Lincoln County
• Ona Beach (Brian Booth-Beaver Creek State Park) – Seal Rock, Lincoln County
• Seal Rock Beach – Seal Rock, Lincoln County
• Heceta Beach – Florence, Lane County
• Bastendorff Beach – Coos Bay, Coos County
• Sunset Bay State Park Beach – Coos Bay, Coos County
• Hubbard Creek Beach – Port Orford, Curry County
• Harris Beach State Park – Brookings, Curry County
• Mill Beach – Brookings, Curry County
• Crissey Fields State Recreation Site – Brookings, Curry County

Beach monitoring season runs from mid-May to mid-September. Beach advisories are only issued for beaches that are actively being monitored within this sampling window. Other beaches will be investigated for inclusion in the next beach monitoring season.

OBMP works with Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to identify beaches that need monitoring based on several established criteria. These criteria include: pollution hazards present; previous beach monitoring data that identify water quality concerns; type and amount of beach use; and public input.

As part of an adaptive sampling plan, beaches and sampling locations are routinely re-evaluated to ensure available resources best protect public health. A copy of DEQ’s beach evaluation is available upon request.

For more information and current beach monitoring conditions please visit: www.healthoregon.org/beach, or contact OBMP at each.Health@odhsoha.oregon.gov“>Beach.Health@odhsoha.oregon.gov or 971-673-0400.

Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay

Oregon Housing and Community Services responds to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling allowing cities to ban people from sleeping outdoors

The United States Supreme Court made its ruling today in City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson. In response to the decision, Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) Executive Director Andrea Bell issued the following statement.

“For many, we knew this day was coming, and yet it is still devastating. This is a wake-up call for all of us – cities in particular. We cannot succumb to cynicism or confuse this ruling as a mandate. Many of us have either experienced the struggle to make ends meet or know someone who has. In the face of this shared reality, out-of-sight, out-of-mind positions that criminalize sleeping or sheltering in public spaces only exacerbates the experiences of homelessness.

“OHCS’ position remains unchanged – we reject homelessness as an inevitable outcome. Every person, regardless of their background or where they come from, deserves a place to call home. Oregon’s shared values serve as a guidepost of hope and progress. In cities, suburbs, and rural towns across the state, our economies and communities are strongest when everyone’s fundamental needs are met. To the people of Oregon struggling to get by: We see you. We value your life. We will continue to work tirelessly on your behalf.”

In 2023, Oregon prevented more than 9,000 households from becoming homeless, created over 1,000 new shelter beds, and helped some 2,000 people move from homeless to housed. This was done in partnership with Governor Tina Kotek, the Oregon Legislature, numerous state agencies, and many local community partners who implemented the funding and policy developed through the Governor’s homelessness state of emergency (EO 23-02) and the Affordable Housing and Emergency Homelessness Response Package (HB 2001 and HB 5019, 2023).

About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS)
OHCS is Oregon’s housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. For more information, please visit: oregon.gov/ohcs.

U.S. Supreme Court Sides With Grants Pass, Allows Ban On Homeless People Sleeping Outdoors

The U.S. Supreme Court Friday sided with a local ordinance in Oregon that bans homeless people from sleeping outdoors, and local governments will be allowed to enforce those laws.

In a 6-3 decision, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the opinion that the enforcement of those local laws that regulate camping on public property does not violate the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.

“Homelessness is complex. Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it,” he wrote. “The Constitution’s Eighth Amendment serves many important functions, but it does not authorize federal judges to wrest those rights and responsibilities from the American people and in their place dictate this Nation’s homelessness policy.”

The case originated in Grants Pass, a city in Oregon that argued its ordinance is a solution to the city’s homelessness crisis, which includes fines and potential jail time for repeat offenders who camp or sleep outdoors.

Attorney Theane Evangelis, who represented the city, said in a statement to States Newsroom that the ruling would provide relief to local communities trying to address the issues of encampments of homeless people.

“The Court has now restored the ability of cities on the frontlines of this crisis to develop lasting solutions that meet the needs of the most vulnerable members of their communities, while also keeping our public spaces safe and clean,” she said. “Years from now, I hope that we will look back on today’s watershed ruling as the turning point in America’s homelessness crisis.”

Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a dissent arguing that the ordinance against camping and a separate ordinance against using blankets on public property targets the status of being homeless and is therefore a violation of the Eighth Amendment.

“Grants Pass’s Ordinances criminalize being homeless,” she wrote. “The Ordinances’ purpose, text, and enforcement confirm that they target status, not conduct. For someone with no available shelter, the only way to comply with the Ordinances is to leave Grants Pass altogether.”

During oral arguments, the justices seemed split along ideological lines.

The conservative justices sided with the town in Oregon, arguing that policies and ordinances around homelessness are complex, and should be left up to local elected representatives rather than the courts.

The liberal justices argued the Grants Pass ordinances criminalized the status of being homeless and criticized the city’s argument that homelessness is not a status protected under the Eighth Amendment.

The Biden administration took the middle ground in the case, and U.S. Deputy Solicitor General Edwin Kneedler offered partial support for the city.

“It’s the municipality’s determination, certainly in the first instance with a great deal of flexibility, how to address the question of homelessness,” he said during oral arguments in late April.

Homelessness crisis

The ruling, which was split along ideological lines, reverses the 9th Circuit’s decision that previously blocked the local law because it found the ordinance criminalized the status of being homeless and was therefore a violation of the Eighth Amendment’s bar on cruel and unusual punishment.

The Grants Pass ordinances prohibited people from camping and sleeping in parks and on public property and barred those people from using blankets, pillows or other materials to sleep outdoors. A violation carried a $295 file, and if not paid, could be increased to $530. Repeat offenders could also risk jail.

But the city, and a coalition of leaders from red and blue Western states, including Montana and California, petitioned the Supreme Court to review the case.

“Cities across the West report that the Ninth Circuit’s involuntariness test has created intolerable uncertainty for them,” Gorsuch wrote.

Cities across the U.S., particularly in the West, are grappling with an increasing homelessness crisis. It’s estimated that 650,000 people were homeless on a single night in January of 2023, a 12% increase from 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

“HUD data indicates that the rise in overall homelessness is largely due to a sharp rise in the number of people who became homeless for the first time,” according to the agency.

States with the highest rates of homelessness include California, Oregon, Washington and Montana, according to five-year estimates in the American Community Survey.

Gorsuch argued that the case the 9th Circuit relied on in Martin v. City of Boise had a “poor foundation” for using the Eighth Amendment as its basis. In that case, homeless plaintiffs sued the city of Boise, Idaho, after it fined them under a camping ordinance.

“The Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause focuses on the question what ‘method or kind of punishment’ a government may impose after a criminal conviction, not on the question whether a government may criminalize particular behavior in the first place,” he wrote. “The Court cannot say that the punishments Grants Pass imposes here qualify as cruel and unusual.”

Sotomayor argued that the ruling focuses only on the needs of local officials and “leaves the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested.”

“The Constitution provides a baseline of rights for all Americans rich and poor, housed and unhoused,” she wrote. “This Court must safeguard those rights even when, and perhaps especially when, doing so is uncomfortable or unpopular.”

Advocacy groups expressed their frustration and disappointment in Friday’s decision, and raised concerns that it could lead to homeless people being criminalized for sleeping outdoors when they have nowhere else to go.

The president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Diane Yentel, strongly condemned the court’s decision and argued it would only worsen the crisis.

“It gives cover to elected officials who choose political expediency over real solutions by merely moving unhoused people out of public view rather than working to solve their homelessness,” Yentel said in a statement. “These ineffective and inhumane tactics exacerbate homelessness by saddling unhoused people with debt they can’t pay, while further isolating them from the services and support they need to become stably housed.”

The Southern Poverty Law Center’s deputy legal director for economic justice, Kirsten Anderson, said in a statement that the ruling will set a precedent for criminalizing homeless people.

“The Supreme Court held that it is a crime to be homeless — at a moment in which housing is unaffordable for half the people in the country — proving that it continues to be out of touch with the American public,” Anderson said.

Rosanne Haggerty, the president of Community Solutions, a nonprofit that works to end homelessness, expressed disappointment in the decision.

“Arresting or fining people for experiencing homelessness is cruel — and it won’t solve the problem,” Haggerty said in a statement. (SOURCE)

Oregon’s 2024 Minimum Wage Increase Takes Effect Today July 1st

A 50-cent hike to Oregon’s minimum wage will bring baseline pay in the Portland area just to the doorstep of $16 an hour this summer.

Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industries announced Tuesday that the minimum wage in the Portland area will rise to $15.95. In urban counties outside the Portland area, the minimum wage will be $14.70 an hour. And in rural counties, the minimum will be $13.70. The change takes effect July 1.

Oregon has had a tiered minimum wage since 2017, when the state Legislature approved a series of minimum wage increases but kept the minimum lower in more rural parts of the state, reasoning that the cost of living was lower, too.

Since 2023, annual increases in the minimum wage have been tied to the rate of inflation. The Consumer Price Index, the inflation measure used to calculate the increase, rose 3.5% over the past year.

The increases announced Tuesday range from 2.9% for the Portland metro to 3.8% raise in rural areas.

The average Oregon hourly wage is much higher than the minimum, $31.17 last year, according to the state employment department. The federal minimum wage has been $7.25 an hour since 2009. (SOURCE)

Fires Around the State

Due to cooler temperatures and thanks to aggressive firefighting and the crews, many of last week’s fires are now in mop up stage.

Please Help Prevent Wildfires!

U.S. Olympic Track And Field Team Trials Final Results

RESULTS: https://olympics.com/en/news/usa-olympic-team-trials-2024-track-field-all-results-complete-list

Again, can’t say it enough…Hearing the roar of the crowd appreciating the incredible athletes in each event as they competed to represent the U.S. Olympic Team in Paris has been amazing. And watching the kids who wait for their favorite athletes to come sign their hats and t-shirts on the sideline showed how much the games represent the best of people and diversity. Now, on to Paris and the 2024 Summer Olympics!

Wyden, Merkley Announce $30.1 Million in PILT Payments to Support Vital Services in Oregon

Program provides funds to communities that support Oregon’s public lands, waters; invests in firefighters, police, schools, road construction

WASHINGTON D.C.— U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced counties throughout Oregon will receive more than $30.1 million in Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding for 2024. Because local governments cannot tax federal lands, annual PILT payments help to defray the costs associated with maintaining important community services. 

“Oregonians cherish our public lands, and we need to make sure local communities have all the tools they need to help improve quality of life and steward our natural treasures,” Wyden said. “These PILT payments are vital to help local governments carry out necessary services like firefighting, search-and-rescue operations, road construction, schools and police protection. I’m gratified to see PILT payments to Oregon are up nearly $3 million over 2023, and I’ll continue to monitor payments to ensure each county gets its fair share.”   

“Public lands are a treasure in rural Oregon, but they must not prevent communities from having the resources they need to pay for quality schools, emergency services, and safe infrastructure,” Merkley said. “This federal investment is vital for Oregonian’s communities. I will keep working to protect PILT payments so communities and families across Oregon have the stability they deserve.”

PILT payments are made for tax-exempt federal lands administered by federal bureaus including the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Payments are calculated based on the number of acres of federal land within each county or jurisdiction and the population of that county or jurisdiction. 

Individual payments may vary from year to year as a result of changes in acreage data, which are updated annually by the federal agency administering the land; prior-year federal revenue-sharing payments reported annually by the governor of each state; and inflationary adjustments using the Consumer Price Index and population data, which are updated using information from the U.S. Census Bureau. Senators Wyden and Merkley continue to monitor PILT payments closely and will advocate for fair payments for every county.  

For a breakdown of PILT payments per Oregon county: https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-announce-301-million-in-pilt-payments-to-support-vital-services-in-oregon

A full list of funding by state and county is available on the Department’s Payments in Lieu of Taxes page. 

Pedestrian Struck, Killed by Van Outside Ashland

JCSO Case 24-3504 – ASHLAND, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) is investigating a fatal motor vehicle crash after a pedestrian was struck and killed last night outside Ashland. ECSO Dispatch received a call on Saturday, June 29 at 9:35 PM for a pedestrian injured and the suspect vehicle still on scene in the 500 block of South Valley View Road. 

JCSO deputies, Ashland Police Department officers, and an Ashland Fire ambulance responded to the scene. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Next-of-kin has been notified. The victim is Mark David Langille, 50, of New Mexico. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.

Jackson County Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) Team and JCSO Medical Examiner detectives responded to assist with the investigation. The driver of the suspect minivan was taken into custody and a search warrant for a blood draw was granted.

Potential charges for the suspect are pending further investigation, toxicology reports, and a mechanical inspection of the vehicle. The suspect’s name will be released if and when charges are filed.

The STAR Team consists of investigators from JCSO, Medford Police Department, and Central Point Police Department. This case is under further investigation with deputies and the STAR Team following additional leads. There is no further information available at this time.

Unusual coin toss determines outcome of 7-7 tie in Oregon House primary

The winner, Democrat Doyle Canning, can’t accept the nomination because she lost her primary race

On Thursday morning, one Oregon primary election came down to an anticlimactic and ultimately meaningless coin flip. 

Republicans didn’t field a candidate in the heavily Democratic 8th House District in Eugene, which meant whichever qualified candidate received the most write-in votes could claim the Republican nomination. Of the 103 names written in by Republicans, the two highest vote-getters were Democratic nominee Lisa Fragala and her Democratic opponent Doyle Canning. 

Under state law, election officials needed to decide “by lot.” Past ties have been settled by rolling dice, but in this case election officials decided a coin toss was the fairest outcome. 

Neither Canning nor Fragala drove from Eugene to watch the coin flip, so employees of the Secretary of State’s Office served as proxies. In a basement conference room, a small group of employees, government nerds and one reporter watched as Luke Belant, the state’s deputy elections director, pulled a quarter from his wallet.

After both proxies agreed that the coin – minted in 2013 to commemorate Master Commandant Oliver Hazard Perry’s victory at Lake Erie in the War of 1812 – was acceptable, Belant tossed it in the air. It landed tails up – a victory for Canning. 

But that victory was to be short-lived: Because she lost the Democratic nomination, Canning is barred from accepting the nomination of any other party under the state’s sore loser law. Instead, Republican precinct committee persons – the elected local party officials who vote on party business, including nominating replacements for candidates or elected officials who don’t finish their terms – could choose a Republican nominee to appear on the general election ballot. 

Canning, laughing when she heard the results from a Capital Chronicle reporter, said she was shocked but proud that the Secretary of State administered elections so consistently, fairly and transparently. 

“Even though we’re talking about seven votes, it’s great that we can all be so confident that the laws and procedures are so dutifully followed,” she said. 

She still has no idea who the seven Republicans who voted for her are, but she said the tie vote coin flip should be a lesson for political parties to compete in every district. 

“The lesson here for any political party is to field a candidate,” Canning said. “I’m sure, had the Republicans fielded a candidate, they would have gotten more than seven votes.”

It’s rare, though not unheard of, for an election to end in a game of chance. It last happened in Oregon in 2016, when both Democratic candidate Janeen Sollman and Republican Dan Mason earned 41 votes from members of the Independent Party of Oregon. 

In that case, election officials decided to have each candidate roll a die. Mason won the roll with a six to Sollman’s three, Northwest News Network reported at the time, but Sollman, now a state senator, won with voters in November.  (SOURCE)

FBI Seeking Individual Who May Have Information Regarding the Identity of a Child Sexual Assault Victim

PORTLAND, OREGON – The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is seeking the public’s assistance with obtaining identifying information regarding an unknown male who may have critical information pertaining to the identity of a child victim in an ongoing sexual exploitation investigation. Photographs and an informational poster depicting the unknown individual, known only as John Doe 48, are being disseminated to the public and can be found online at the FBI website at http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/ecap.

Initial video of the unidentified male, John Doe 48, first recorded by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in December of 2023. The EXIF data embedded within the video file indicated that the file was produced in October of 2023.

John Doe 48 is described as a White male between the ages of 45 and 65 years old, with dark hair, and a gray beard. He has a tattoo on each of his forearms. He is seen in the back of a 2018-2019 Nissan NV Cargo Van wearing a blue t-shirt and a dark-colored hat. He is heard speaking English in the video.

Anyone with information to provide should submit a tip online at https://tips.fbi.gov/ or call the FBI’s toll-free tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). The public is reminded no charges have been filed in this case and the pictured individual is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

This individual is being sought as part of the FBI’s Operation Rescue Me and Endangered Child Alert Program (ECAP) initiatives. Operation Rescue Me focuses on utilizing clues obtained through in-depth image analysis to identify the child victims depicted in child exploitation material, while ECAP seeks national and international media exposure of unknown adults (referred to as John/Jane Does) who visibly display their faces and/or other distinguishing characteristics in association with child pornography images. — UNKNOWN INDIVIDUAL – JOHN DOE 48 — FBI

Proposed ballot measure to raise corporate taxes, give every Oregonian $750 a year likely to make November ballot

Oregon voters will likely decide in November whether to establish a historic universal basic income program that would give every state resident roughly $750 annually from increased corporate taxes.

Proponents of the concept say they likely have enough signatures to place it on the ballot this fall, and opponents are taking them seriously.

State business advocacy groups are preparing to launch a campaign against the proposed measure, arguing that it would harm Oregon’s business landscape and economy.

The proposal, Initiative Petition 17, would establish a 3% tax on corporations’ sales in Oregon above $25 million and distribute that money equally among Oregonians of all ages. As of Friday, its backers had turned in more than 135,000 signatures, which is higher than the 117,173 required to land on the ballot. The validity of those signatures must still be certified by the Secretary of State’s Office.

“It’s looking really good. It’s really exciting,” said Anna Martinez, a Portland hairstylist who helped form the group behind the campaign, Oregon People’s Rebate, in 2020. If approved by voters, the program would go into effect in January 2025.

Martinez and other supporters say the financial boost would help Oregon families buy groceries, afford rent and pay for basic necessities. “This will put money back in the local economy. It will help small businesses,” she said. “Some people say, ‘Well it’s only $750.’ But that’s huge if you really need it.”

The state Department of Revenue would be responsible for distributing the money. Every Oregon resident would be able to claim the money either in cash or as a refundable tax credit, regardless of whether they have filed personal incomes taxes, according to the ballot initiative draft.

The initiative proposal draft states that any leftover funding from the rebate would “be used to provide additional funding for services for senior citizens, health care, public early childhood education and public kindergarten through grade 12 education.” (READ MORE)

What Is Your Home’s Wildfire Risk?

by Claire Carlson, The Daily Yonder July 1, 2024

A newly updated wildfire risk map could help level the playing field for rural communities who don’t have the resources to conduct their own wildfire risk assessments, according to the independent research group Headwaters Economics.

The map, first created by the U.S. Forest Service under the direction of Congress in 2018, shows wildfire risks at the county level and ways to mitigate those risks. Every U.S. county and tribal area is included in the map. 

“With this tool, the data is available for everyone to use, no matter whether you have your own staffing and expertise to produce these kinds of resources or not,” said Kelly Pohl, associate director of Headwaters Economics, in a Daily Yonder interview. 

Headwaters Economics was brought on as a partner in the mapping project in 2020. The group made the map’s new updates by incorporating the latest vegetation and climate data, advancements in wildfire hazard simulation modeling, and the most recent building and housing unit information from the Census Bureau. 

Wildfire Risk Is Increasing

Better understanding local wildfire risk could be more important for communities than ever because of the map’s recent findings, which shows that about one-third of all Americans live in counties with high wildfire risk.

“There are a lot of states in the East, especially in the Southeast, that have wildfire risk,” Pohl said. “And we do see parts of the country have higher wildfire risk than we previously understood.” Oregon and Washington are two such states, according to Pohl. 

In many parts of the country, climate change has caused hotter temperatures and drier conditions. This exacerbates wildfire risk. 

Grant Opportunities

The Biden administration has implemented several grant programs to better equip communities with wildfire resilience tools in light of this increasing risk. 

In February 2024, the administration launched a $5 million pilot program for rural emergency response agencies to convert vehicles to wildland fire engines using slip-on water tank units. 

In May 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) allocated another $250 million to the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program that supports communities to develop wildfire protection plans and remove vegetation. 

The wildfire risk map’s new data underscores the need for the federal government to “continue these efforts through Community Wildfire Defense Grants and our work to increase the pace and scale of hazardous fuels reduction on federal and non-federal lands,” according to USDA’s Forest Service Chief Randy Moore, who was quoted in a press release. 

Information about the grant programs and other funding opportunities can be found on the wildfire risk map’s website. 

This article first appeared on The Daily Yonder and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

HGTV names Jacksonville Oregon among the most charming small towns in the US

From cities with quaint shops to “fascinating histories,” HGTV released a list of the top 50 charming small towns in the United States, with one southern Oregon hidden gem making the cut.

“There’s something special about small towns,” HGTV said about the list. “Whether it’s the simplicity, the character or the people, they are a quintessential part of American life.”

Located in Southern Oregon’s wine county, the historic Jacksonville, Ore. scored a spot on the list, as first reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive.

The small town received a shout-out for agritourism like the Applegate Valley Wine Trail and a “premier” arts fest.

“Come in the summer to enjoy the Britt Music & Arts Festival, the Pacific Northwest’s premier outdoor summer performing arts event, or explore the town’s independently owned shops, restaurants and hiking and biking trails year-round,” HGTV said, noting the city has also been named among America’s 10 “coolest small towns.”

Cities topping the list include Fairhope, Ala., Unalaska, Alaska, Winslow, Ariz., Eureka Springs, Ark., and Carmel, Calif.

Cookie Recall Map as Health Warning Issued in Six States

A cookie mix product has been recalled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to the presence of an undeclared major allergen.

The product, The Perfect Chocolate Chunk Cookie Mix Cravings by Chrissy Teigen, was recalled after it was found to contain undeclared coconut, a tree nut, which is one of the FDA’s designated major allergens. More than 20,000 units produced by California based Penguin Natural Foods Inc. were first voluntarily recalled on June 21 before being categorized as a Class II risk on June 27.

Classifications are given to indicate the seriousness of the risk to the public when a food item is recalled. Under the FDA’s definition, a Class II recall is issued in “a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.” The product was sold in six U.S. states, most of which are in the West: Arizona, California, Colorado, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington. (SOURCE)

The Oregon Health Athority is rasising awareness for one of the most common forms of financial fraud: Medicare fraud. 

OHA says Medicare loses $60 billion a year to fraud, errors and abuse. 

Raising awareness on 6/5 and the week after signifies the 65-yr-old and older population since most people become eligable for Medicare at 65-yrs-old.  To learn more, read the OHA blog here: https://ow.ly/VIRu50Sc7pS

Oregonians Targeted By Text Tolling Scam

A new nationwide texting scam is targeting Oregon drivers now. Ellen Klem, with the Oregon Attorney General’s Office says the phishing scheme started in the midwest earlier in the spring. “I’m honestly not surprised it’s happening now, because now is the time where everyone is gearing up to drive.”

The text claims to be from “Oregon Toll Service” and says the recipient owes an $11.69 outstanding balance; they face a $50 late fee if they don’t click on a link and pay up. Klem says some people may identify the fraud right away, because Oregon doesn’t have tolling, “But, we live next to all these other states that have tolls.” And she worries some will fall for it. 

“They are not interested in the $11,” says Klem, “They are interested in much, much more.” She believes the scammers want your personal information, and clicking on the link could allow them to access other data on your phone.

The text has all the markers of a scam, like contact out of the blue from an unknown agency. “There’s a lot of really cheap or free technology out there that allows the scammers to pretend to be somebody they’re not. So, in this case, they’re pretending to be associated with an agency that administers tolls in the state of Oregon. But that doesn’t exist,” says Klem, “Second sign: There’s some sort of emergency. In this case, you have an unpaid bill; that’s frightening to a lot of people.”

She suggests not being in such a rush to respond to every text or email, “These phones, they’re everywhere and we have this sort of automatic response to click on a link or to pick up every phone call. And, I want to remind people just to slow down and think before you click on anything.” Klem adds, “Really, at the end of the day, this is a text message that you can and you should ignore.”

If you get a text, email or phone call you’re not sure is legit, call the Oregon Department of Justice Consumer hotline at 877-877-9392. Volunteer experts are available weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Contact us: Info@OregonBeachMagazine.com