Oregon Beach News, Thursday 2/9 – Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for New Clatsop County Jail Friday 2/10, Coos County Sheriff’s Arrest Pipe-Wielding Attacker

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

Thursday, February 9, 2023

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Oregon Non-profit Receives Grant for Nearly a Million Dollars for New Transitional Housing in Lincoln County.

The Lincoln City HOPE Center at the LeRoy Benham campus will offer 69 beds, some in dorm-style rooms.

Alan Evans is the founder of Helping Hands Reentry Outreach Centers. He said the space will provide trauma-informed services to formerly homeless residents.

“We do full evaluations of the person that gets sent to us, then we customize a reentry plan for each person based on their story.”

Evans said Oregon’s coastal cities are in a housing crisis, and nonprofits have struggled to find long-term funding. The Lincoln City government gifted the building to Helping Hands in 2019, but costs for renovation were higher than expected.

This new grant comes from Project Turnkey 2.0, an initiative to create ten emergency shelters across Oregon. The legislature allotted $50 million for the program last year.

Evans expects the building to be ready in May.

Coos County Sheriff’s Arrest Pipe Wielding Attacker

Early Wednesday, at 12:37 a.m., the Coos County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) received a report of an assault in progress at a residence on Two Mile Lane, just south of Bandon. Sgt. S Moore with CCSO responded to the scene, where they learned that the suspect, Andrew R. Davee, 35, of Bandon, had already fled the scene.

During Sergeant Moore’s investigation, he spoke with the victim who stated that Davee had entered the residence by forcing the door open with a metal pipe.  Once the suspect was inside the victim said Davee threatened him with the metal pipe before striking him once, on the right side of his head.

Officials say though the victim’s injury was visible he refused medical treatment.

With the evidence Sergeant Moore gathered he was able to develop probable cause for the arrest of Davee.  Moore searched the surrounding area for Davee but was unable to locate him.  At Sgt. Moore’s request, the Coos County Sheriff’s Dispatch Center issued probable cause for Davee’s arrest..

CCSO says later in the day Officer Owens from the Bandon Police Department located Davee and arrested him on the probable cause issued by Sgt. Moore.  Davee was arrested on the following charges:

• Burglary I
• Assault II
• Menacing

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for New Clatsop County Jail Friday 2/10

The Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office invites the community to celebrate the completion of the new Clatsop County Jail. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held Friday, February 10th, 2023, at 1 pm to commemorate the completion of the facility.

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

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

Governor Kotek Fires OLCC Director and Staff Who Were Buying Rare Bourbon For Themselves

A thirst for rare bottles of bourbon appears set to have cost the executive director and other top officials of Oregon’s liquor and marijuana regulating agency their jobs.

An internal investigation by the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, obtained by The Associated Press via public records request Wednesday, concluded that Executive Director Steve Marks and five other agency officials had diverted sought-after bourbons, including Pappy Van Winkle’s 23-year-old whiskey, for their personal use.

The officials were paying for the whiskey, which can cost thousands of dollars a bottle, but they had used their knowledge and connections at the commission to obtain them, and consequently deprived members of the public of the spendy booze, the investigation said. And that violated Oregon statutes, including one that prohibits public officials from using confidential information for personal gain, the commission’s investigation said.

Governor Kotek on Wednesday asked the agency’s board of commissioners to remove Marks and the other implicated officials, alleging they “abused their position for personal gain.”

“This behavior is wholly unacceptable. I will not tolerate wrongful violations of our government ethics laws,” Kotek said in her letter to the board of commissioners.

In his responses to questions from the investigator, Marks denied that he had violated Oregon ethics laws and state policy. However, he acknowledged that he had received preferential treatment “to some extent” in obtaining the whiskey as a commission employee. Marks and the other officials said they never resold the whiskeys they obtained.

“This incident underlines the importance of having public accountability,” said agency spokesperson Mark Pettinger. “The OLCC will need to work on rebuilding and restoring our public trust … and adhere to Oregon’s ethics laws.”

After taking office last month, Kotek, a Democrat who was a long-serving Oregon House speaker, asked for Marks’ resignation, but no reason was announced. Kotek said she learned of this business about the bourbon afterward.

The board of commissioners is appointed by the governor and in turn selects the executive director, according to a commission spokesman. The commissioners’ next regular meeting is next Wednesday. The agency is the state’s third-largest revenue generator.

Kotek has asked Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum to conduct an independent civil investigation into the extent of any wrongdoing and recommend stronger protocols for ensuring ethics laws are followed.

February is the last month Oregonians will receive increased emergency food benefits

• Most Oregonians who receive SNAP benefits will receive increased emergency food benefits in February.
• Approximately 416,000 SNAP households will receive approximately $71 million in emergency food benefits in addition to their regular SNAP benefits in February.
• February is the last month that the federal government will allow Oregon to issue these emergency food benefits.
• Households who receive SNAP will continue to receive their regular SNAP benefits after February, typically this is the amount households get between the first and the ninth of each month.

(Salem) – Most Oregonians who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will receive emergency allotments in February. 

In February, approximately 416,000 SNAP households will receive approximately $71 million in extra food benefits in addition to their regular SNAP benefits. This will be the final emergency allotment provided to Oregonians.

March 2023 will be the first month since April 2020 that most people on SNAP in Oregon will only receive their regular SNAP food benefits. 

“We know that many rely on these additional emergency food benefits to get enough healthy food for themselves and their families,” said ODHS Director Fariborz Pakseresht (he/him). “As Oregon continues to be impacted by COVID-19 and the rising cost of food, we know that without these emergency food benefits some in Oregon may experience hardship and hunger. We encourage people who are concerned to start planning for this change today. Having a plan ahead of time will reduce the chance of experiencing an emergency or crisis later. There are food supports available to everyone in Oregon, you can find what is available in your community by contacting our partners at 211, the Oregon Food Bank or by visiting needfood.oregon.gov.”

“It’s critical that Oregonians facing reduced support for groceries know that food remains available to all who need it,” said Susannah Morgan (she/her), Oregon Food Bank CEO. “Across rural, urban and suburban communities, more than 1,400 free food markets, pantries and meal sites are moving mountains to make sure families have the resources we need to fill the gap. And everyone is welcome — regardless of race, gender, religion or immigration status.”

“The end of the emergency allotments, as we all know, will be a very hard time for many folks and families, but we know there are great people at 211, ODHS and our partner agencies who stand ready to help and will lead with compassion to help the community navigate this change,” said Kerry Hoeschen (she/her), 211info emergency management director. “At 211info we are available 24/7 to provide information and referrals to agencies offering support for a wide variety of needs such as rent and utility payment support. This includes more than 1,000 food resources across Oregon and Southwest Washington like food pantries, farmers markets, community gardens, fresh food distribution and summer food programs for all Oregonians. To find out more about general resources and food programs contact us! Language interpreters are available.”

Current SNAP households will receive emergency allotments on Feb. 10. Emergency allotments will be issued Feb. 27 or March 1 for households who did not receive benefits in the first monthly issuance.

Oregonians who receive SNAP are encouraged to prepare for this change in the amount of food benefits they receive. Having a plan ahead of time will reduce the chance of experiencing an emergency or crisis later.

Find out what your regular SNAP benefit amount is. Knowing your regular SNAP benefit can help you budget. You can check how much your regular benefits are by accessing your EBT account online at www.ebtEDGE.com or by logging into your ONE account at Benefits.oregon.gov.

Questions about your SNAP benefits can also be directed to the ONE Customer Service Center at 1-800-699-9075. The ONE Customer Service Center is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific Time. 

Regular SNAP benefits are added to EBT cards between the first and the ninth day of the month.

Tell ODHS if your income has decreased. A decrease in your income may mean you qualify for more SNAP benefits.

Tell ODHS if there are more people in your household. An increase to the number of people in your household may increase your SNAP food benefits.

You can report changes to your income or household in many ways: 

• Online at: Benefits.oregon.gov
• By mail at: ONE Customer Service Center, PO Box 14015, Salem, OR 97309
• By fax at: 503-378-5628
• By phone at: 1-800-699-9075 or TTY 711, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific Time.

Know what food supports are in your area. There are many different organizations providing food support in communities throughout Oregon:

• Find food resources in your community: needfood.oregon.gov
• Find a food pantry: foodfinder.oregonfoodbank.org
• Dial 2-1-1, or text your zip code to 898-211, www.211info.org

Remember that SNAP has changed since April 2020. In addition to the temporary emergency food benefits due to COVID-19, SNAP has experienced other permanent changes that will support people’s ability to get enough healthy food for themselves and their families. 

On October 1, 2021, regular SNAP food benefits were permanently increased by an average of about $36 per person, per month.

In January 2022, Oregon increased the income eligibility limit for SNAP up to 200% of the federal poverty level. This means that an individual with up to $2,265 in income per month, or a family of three with up to $3,838 in income per month, are eligible to receive SNAP food benefits. 

Why emergency food benefits are ending after February 2023

The federal government has approved emergency allotments every month since April 2020. The 2023 federal spending bill ended funding for emergency allotments. Due to this change, the federal government will no longer allow Oregon to issue emergency food benefits after February 2023. 

This means that February 2023 is the final month that ODHS is allowed to provide these emergency food benefits to people receiving SNAP in Oregon.  

These emergency food benefits have provided people in Oregon with $1.86 billion in additional money for food since April 2020. 

More information about emergency allotments is available at https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/ASSISTANCE/FOOD-BENEFITS/Pages/About-SNAP.aspx.

Resources to help meet basic needs

• Find food resources in your community: needfood.oregon.gov
• Find a food pantry: foodfinder.oregonfoodbank.org
• Learn about government programs and community resources for older adults and people with disabilities: Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon at 1-855-673-2372 or www.adrcoforegon.org.
• Dial 2-1-1, or text your zip code to 898-211, www.211info.org
• Find local resources and support by contacting your local Community Action Agency: www.caporegon.org/find-services/
• Oregon Department of Human Services COVID-19 help center 

Administered by ODHS, SNAP is a federal program that provides food assistance to approximately 1 million eligible, families and individuals with low incomes in Oregon, including many older adults and people with disabilities. Oregonians in need can apply for benefits, including SNAP, child care, cash assistance and Medicaid. Learn more at https://govstatus.egov.com/or-dhs-benefits. For local resources in your area, such as food or shelter, please call 2-1-1 or reach out to the state’s Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) at 1-855-ORE-ADRC or 1-855-673-2372.

Paid Leave Oregon offers website in six languages, adds new features

SALEM – Paid Leave Oregon has refreshed its website, PaidLeave.Oregon.gov. In response to community feedback, the updated website is now available in six languages: English, Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese.

Other new features include: 

• An interactive contributions calculator so employers and employees can figure out their payroll contributions 
• A safe exit or “quick escape” feature – these buttons are used on websites for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors. The button helps web users quickly exit the site they’re browsing and will automatically open another page.
• Detailed information for both employers and employees, as well as new sections for self-employed people, healthcare workers, and service providers
• Videos that feature real Oregon business owners in our communities

Paid Leave Oregon allows employees to take paid time off for some of life’s most important moments. It covers leave for the birth or adoption of a child, for serious illness or injury, for taking care of a seriously ill family member, and for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or harassment.

Contributions to the program by large employers and all employees, regardless of employer size, started January 1. Benefits will be available to employees in September 2023.

### The Oregon Employment Department (OED) is an equal opportunity agency. OED provides free help so you can use our services. Some examples are sign language and spoken-language interpreters, written materials in other languages, large print, audio, and other formats. To get help, please call 503-947-1444. TTY users call 711. You can also send an email to communications@employ.oregon.gov.

Study Shows Oregon Has Most Expensive Cheese Pizzas In U.S.

A new study shows Oregon has the highest average price for a large cheese pizza in the United States, according to MarketWatch .

The new study from Slice, a pizza delivery app and technology platform, took the average prices of pizzas across all 50 states and found that Oregon’s average price of a plain cheese pizza was $26.94 — over $3 more than the second most expensive slice.

A new study from Slice, the pizza-delivery app and technology platform, found that Oregon had the priciest pizza in the country, with the cost of a large cheese pie averaging $26.94 last year. That’s more than twice the price of a pizza in the state where it’s cheapest — Oklahoma, where a large cheese pie ran $12.70.

The release of the Slice study is timed to coincide with National Pizza Day on Feb. 9. The study looked at data from 2022 among the nearly 19,000 independent pizza shops that are part of the Slice network.

Other pricey pizza states in Slice’s analysis of the 2022 data: Washington ($23.34 for a large cheese pie), Illinois ($22.52), Alaska ($21.74), Colorado ($21.23) and California ($21.19).

And the states joining Oklahoma at the lower end of the price spectrum: Minnesota ($13.88), Alabama ($14.80), Kansas ($14.96), North Dakota ($15.35) and Mississippi ($15.50).

Why are some states pricier for pizza than others? Obviously, economies vary from state to state — and that affects the cost of a variety of goods. But the situation with pizza involves certain particulars, says Slice founder and chief Ilir Sela.According to Slice’s founder Ilir Sela, there is a reason why Portland pies are so expensive.

Sela said that the type of pizza being served played a key role in the rankings, and Oregon heavily emphasizes “artisanal pizza.” That means pizzas with higher-end ingredients or pizzas made to a higher standard.

Another factor in pizza price was the number of pizza shops per capita, according to Sela areas with fewer shops tended to have higher prices.

Other findings from Slice’s study showed that ranch dressing appeared to be rising in popularity with a 9.7% increase in orders, and that pickles are predicted to be a popular new pizza topping.

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.