Oregon Beach News, Thursday 4/14 – Driver Uninjured In Coos County Log Truck Crash, Man Who Murdered Juvenile In Astoria Over Two Decades Ago Seeking Early Release

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

Thursday, April 14, 2023

Oregon Beach Weather

Driver Uninjured In Coos County Log Truck Crash

According to the Coos County Sheriff’s Office, both lanes of Fairview Road at milepost 4 were closed Thursday afternoon after a fully-loaded log truck flipped onto its side.

Authorities said the crash happened on April 13 at about 1:22 p.m. The truck’s driver told a deputy that his brakes failed as he descended Hungry mountain, deputies said. The truck and its trailer struck a dirt bank, which caused the truck to flip on its side. The trailer spilled its logs across both travel lanes, authorities said.

Sheriff’s officials said that the driver was uninjured and no other vehicles were involved.

A tow truck and self-loader unit were brought in to remove the logs, truck and trailer from the scene, sheriff’s deputies said.

Deputies said Fairview Road is expected to be closed into the evening while the scene is cleared, and motorists are advised to use alternate routes.

A woman was found safe after her vehicle got stuck in the snow and she was forced to spend the night on a rural Coos County road.

According to the Coos County Sheriff’s Office, on the morning of April 13, dispatchers received a call from a woman who said she got lost on a remote road while traveling to Bandon from Interstate 5. She said her vehicle eventually got stuck in heavy snow and she had to spend the night along with her two dogs.

Eventually, the dispatchers determined the woman was located on Weaver Creek Road near milepost 10.

At about 9:30 a.m., a deputy found the woman and her dogs. Although cold, tired, and shaken up, the woman and her dogs were unharmed, the sheriff’s office said.

The deputy was able to pull the woman’s vehicle out of the snow bank and escort her back to Highway 42 where she was given directions to Bandon.

The sheriff’s office took the opportunity to remind travelers to pre-plan their trips and use  http://www.tripcheck.com to keep track of road conditions.

Man Who Murdered Juvenile In Astoria Over Two Decades Ago Seeking Early Release

A man who murdered a girl as a juvenile in Astoria over two decades ago underwent review by the Oregon Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision on Wednesday to determine if he should be granted early release.

Jessie Payne-Rana, who legally changed his name from Patrick Harned, kidnapped, sexually abused and strangled 7-year-old Ashley Ann Carlson in 1999 when he was 16 years old.

Payne-Rana, who was neighbors with Carlson and babysat her, joined law enforcement and her family in the search for Carlson before her body was found in the basement of the house he was living in.

He was convicted of aggravated murder in 2000 and sentenced to life without parole.

Payne-Rana’s sentencing is one of many that is being reassessed after former Gov. Kate Brown pushed for commutations and clemency near the end of her term.

A law passed in 2019 gives juveniles who commit Measure 11 offenses — severe crimes with mandatory minimum sentences like murder and rape — the opportunity to have their age and the circumstances of their crimes considered by judges during sentencing.

For some who were incarcerated for serious crimes as youths prior to the law being passed, Brown provided the opportunity to have their sentences reevaluated. Efforts from Brown looked to highlight cases of rehabilitation, but she received sharp criticism from some prosecutors and families of victims.

The remote hearing on Wednesday saw the parole board ask questions, hear testimony and gather feedback from Payne-Rana and a number of witnesses to determine whether he has demonstrated maturity and rehabilitation based on his age and immaturity at the time of the murder.

The decision on his parole, expected by early next week, will depend on a number of factors.

“I have hurt a lot of people and caused a lot of serious pain to my victim’s family and others, people that did no harm to me,” Payne-Rana said from the Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution in Pendleton at the start of the hearing. ” … I have learned through therapy … to take responsibility for the consequences of my actions as well as the actions themselves. I was found guilty long before I started feeling responsible. I owed it to my victim’s family and to those I have harmed in the community. I took advantage of how to change for the better with what I have available to me.”

Among those giving testimony was Clatsop County District Attorney Ron Brown, former District Attorney Josh Marquis, former Astoria police detective Joe Colistro, members of Carlson’s and Payne-Rana’s families and more.

Rehabilitation — Throughout the hourslong hearing, Payne-Rana described to the parole board his efforts to build skills and tools that he could apply outside of prison. Payne-Rana pointed to his involvement in several courses and programs while incarcerated, receiving his GED and developing a desire to help people and give back to the community.

One major topic during the hearing and the discussion around Payne-Rana’s rehabilitation was the substantial amount of sexual, physical and emotional abuse he endured as a child prior to Carlson’s murder.

John Bailey, a parole board member, described his history of abuse as more than “almost anyone (he has) ever seen.”

Jody Davis, Payne-Rana’s attorney, described him as having cognitive and developmental limitations as a result of the abuse he experienced, calling him a “broken child” at the time of the murder. Payne-Rana talked about dealing with anger management issues and borderline personality disorder.

“How would a 16-year-old be able to commit such a heinous form of murder is almost incomprehensible, except when you consider that Jessie himself had to experience this abuse on a regular basis,” Davis said. “What he went through in his own life, the abuse that he suffered, does not excuse his actions or the crime and Jessie knows this very clearly. But it is the necessary context to understand why, despite the horrible nature of what happened here, this is not the act of a crazed, psychopathic serial killer as was speculated to.”

Davis portrayed Payne-Rana as trying to become a better and more insightful person. She said he has shown remorse and accountability, and that he wants to continue to make progress.

Lt. Donald Harris, who has supervised Payne-Rana in prison, described him as “an impetuous young man” when he first met him.

“Since that time, over the years, I’ve noticed him changing … He shows a lot of insight, a lot of changes from what I saw previously in his incarceration,” Harris said. “He showed me a lot of maturity and a lot of growth.”

Despite seeing progress, Harris admitted to concerns about the learning curve in readjusting to society if he was released.

Payne-Rana said he would seek to utilize a strong support system if release was granted. His sister spoke at the hearing, saying that his family would provide an “insurmountable amount of support” if he were to be let out of prison.

“It’s our hope that the board will recognize that he does in fact have the ability to continue to grow and mature and will allow him the continued opportunity for skill building and emotional management in a context where he actually can receive that, such as accordance with his release plan and the structure he intends to build in his own life,” Davis said.

Disciplinary record — While parole board members were encouraged by Payne-Rana’s progress while in prison, they also expressed concern about his extensive disciplinary record.

Although Payne-Rana had not been written up for nearly two years, his record showed dozens of incidents related to poor behavior and breaking prison rules over the past two decades. Kelly Kuklenski, a parole member, also cited his history of making violent threats.

A psychological evaluation in January concluded that Payne-Rana showed a moderate to high risk of engaging in violence in the future.

Brown, the district attorney, pointed to his record in prison and the evaluation as serious concerns.

“The bottom line from my perspective is public safety. He’s got a lot of criminal-thinking errors in his past and I submit that he’s probably still going to have those in the future,” he said. “He’s got tremendous problems with anger and we live in kind of an angry world. I question how he would do if he were on the outside dealing with sources of stress and anger.”

Brown, along with Marquis, who was the district attorney at the time of the murder and sentencing, asked that the board deny Payne-Rana’s request for early release.

“Nobody in that courtroom, not Judge (Phil) Nelson, not me, not even his own lawyers, conceived that he could be released in just 23 years,” Marquis said. “Astoria and no community can afford the risk that Mr. Rana is asking this community, the state, the parole board to take when … (evaluators) say that his risk is high.”

Colistro, a former detective for the Astoria Police Department who was the lead investigator in the case, called Carlson’s murder “one of the most horrendous crimes” he had ever investigated.

Colistro underscored Payne-Rana’s deceptive behavior during the search for Carlson and his lack of remorse in the aftermath of the murder.

“My impression throughout this and at the end of it was that Patrick was a serial killer who got caught with his first victim,” he said ” … I had no doubt then and still have no doubt that, given the opportunity, he will commit crimes again.”

Several of Carlson’s family members were emotional in providing testimony, conveying anger and frustration with Payne-Rana’s bid for early release.

“I miss her so much and words cannot describe how this has torn my and my family’s hearts emotionally apart,” George Brugh, Carlson’s brother, said. “This has been a big factor in our lives, especially mine. I have been through many difficult and terrible tragedies because of the action he made.”

Brugh said he has been suicidal and dealt with crime and addiction because of the trauma from Carlson’s murder.

“I can’t stand you for what you did to my family,” Tessa Carlson, the victim’s mother, said to Payne-Rana before being asked to direct her comments to the parole board.

“Every February, it’s awful for everybody,” she said of the anniversary of the crime. “I was in a place where I was at peace with this and she’s at rest. I don’t want to do this again.

“… He doesn’t deserve to be out. He’s going to hurt someone else.” (SOURCE)

Video Shows Leak In Pacific Ocean Near Cascadia Subduction Zone

A hole in a 600-mile-long fault line has been discovered at the bottom of the Pacific ocean – and it could be the trigger of a magnitude-9 earthquake on the US coast .

Just outside of Oregon, ‘Pythias Oasis’ as it’s been named (after the ancient Greek oracle ), was discovered in 2015, but the new research is concerning.

“This liquid allows plates to move smoothly, but without it, ‘stress can build to create a damaging quake,” researchers from the University of Washington say. Experts are now remaining vigilant around the Cascadia Subduction Zone.

SEE VIDEO HERE: https://www.newsbreak.com/oregon-state/2991261411736-footage-shows-leak-in-pacific-ocean-that-could-unleash-magnitude-9-earthquake

Governor Kotek Signs Oregon CHIPS Act Into Law

Governor Kotek signed Senate Bill 4 – the Oregon CHIPS Act – into law during a ceremonial bill signing April 13 at the Capitol Building in Salem.

Both bills passed the Oregon House and Oregon Senate with bipartisan support last week.

Senate Bill 4 dedicates $190 million to develop a grant and loan program to support semiconductor businesses looking to expand in Oregon, providing the opportunity for significant federal funding support provided by the CHIPS and Science Act that Congress passed and President Biden signed in August 2022.

It also funds $10 million to help communities prepare land for manufacturing sites and $10 million for a University Innovation Research fund that will help public universities secure federal research grants.

The bill allocates $190 million to the Oregon CHIPS Fund to be distributed via grants and loans for: Development and acquisition of a site for semiconductor manufacturing – Semiconductor research and development -Workforce development, including internships and apprenticeships.

An additional $10 million is dedicated to the newly established Industrial Lands Loan Fund for financial assistance to local governments to prepare sites for semiconductor industrial development. The University Innovation Research Fund will also receive $10 million for public universities to leverage federal research grants.

The bill requires that projects funded by OR CHIPS commit to creating permanent, full-time jobs and have a net positive impact on local and state revenues.

Semiconductor research and manufacturing jobs are well-paying, stable careers that often do not require four-year degrees. An estimated 26,000 jobs would be created by a new semiconductor manufacturing facility in Oregon and could generate billions in state GDP, according to supporters of the legislation.

“Oregon has been at the center of the semiconductor industry in the United States for decades,” Kotek said. “This bill is an absolutely essential tool for leading a coordinated effort with the private sector to ensure we can compete for federal funds to expand advanced manufacturing in Oregon. We are poised to lay the foundation for the next generation of innovation and production of semiconductors. I want to thank Senators Sollman and Knopp, and Representatives Bynum and Wallan for championing this bill in the state legislature.”

Oregon Businesses Fined For COVID-19 Safety Rules Still Owe State $800,000

Earlier this month, Oregon Occupational Safety and Health officials ended the last workplace restrictions related to COVID-19. But OSHA is far from being done with the pandemic.

Several dozen citations linger and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines remain unpaid – just as they did a year ago.

Since March 2020, Oregon OSHA has issued more than 250 COVID-related citations to employers. The citations were based largely on about 32,000 complaints, 16 times more than the agency typically receives in a year. Some citations involved more than one violation, with the total fines close to $1 million.

Oregon OSHA has only collected $100,000, according to the latest agency data. Most of that money stems from violations that weren’t appealed, which accounted for more than two-thirds of the total.

Aaron Corvin, the agency’s spokesman, said before the pandemic, cases could take 18 to 30 months to resolve through the appeals process, which involves referral to an administrative law judge on the Workers’ Compensation Board. If the judge validates the citation and the company doesn’t pay, the case is sent to collections.

Nine cases have gone to collections and three of them involved willful defiance of the law, what the agency calls “willful violations.”

The slow pace of resolutions has a lot to do with the pandemic, Corvin said. In-person hearings stopped, and remote hearings have been held infrequently because of the complexity of certain cases.

“This situation created a backlog of pre-pandemic and COVID-related cases,” Corvin said.

He said the agency and Workers’ Compensation Board are working through the process, with the agency assigning extra staff to deal with the backlog.

“We’re committed to seeing the process through, and we’re going to see how it unfolds,” Corvin said.

Companies that willfully defied COVID restrictions, including restaurants that didn’t close or allowed indoor dining, accounted for about one-fifth of the total citations.

“The majority of the citations were not appealed. Overall there were a high number of willfuls and that penalty amount will be much higher,” Corvin said.

Willful violations account for about 90% of the unpaid fines, totaling $873,000, Corvin said.

Capitol Racquet Sports, Inc., with gyms in Salem and Keizer, was the biggest violator, with five citations in 2020 and 2021. It was fined nearly $200,000 for refusing to close despite an executive order to do so. Those cases are waiting to be resolved by the compensation board.

The second largest total fine, nearly $52,000 levied against Along Came Trudy, a Springfield restaurant, also is pending with the board. It was cited in February and May 2021, mostly for a willful violation.

But Corvin said a few cases involving willful violations recently have been resolved.

Central Christian School in Redmond, cited in February 2022 for refusing to enforce face covering requirements for staff and students, recently settled its case and paid a fine of $8,900, reduced from an initial $10,920.

And Oregon Ice Entertainment in Sherwood, cited in April 2021 for failing to close, also settled with the state, recently paying its $8,900 fine.

Corvin said a few other cases are close to being resolved, but he didn’t name them because they’re not officially wrapped up.

Corvin said complaints have slowed but are still higher than before the pandemic. This year the agency has received about 600 complaints a month compared with 200 in 2019.

“We are still pretty busy in terms of the non-COVID complaints we are seeing,” Corvin said. “That is due to the greater awareness the pandemic generated around Oregon OSHA’s complaint process and workplace safety and health requirements.”

Although face masks are no longer required in the workplace, Oregon OSHA tweaked its work clothing rules to allow employees to wear them if they choose. And in cases in which companies require employees to be masked, the employer must pay for them. (SOURCE)

Klamath County Sheriff’s Office Investigating The Death Of A 14-Year-Old Girl

The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office in southern Oregon is investigating the death of a 14-year-old girl who lived in squalid conditions with her four siblings in the tiny town of Keno.

The girl died late last month despite relatives contacting child protective services multiple times to report neglect and possible abuse. Multiple calls were made to 911 on March 30, the day of the girl’s death.

Heidi Vaughn, a protective services caseworker for Oregon child welfare, told a judge at a hearing earlier this month that the children did not attend school or receive medical care. The parents were abusive and the home was “generally unsafe for any aged child,” she said.

The girl’s maternal grandmother and great aunt said they called the state’s child abuse hotline five times over a four-year period, most recently in August, according to the Oregonian/OregonLive. Jake Sunderland, spokesperson for Oregon’s Department of Human Services, told the news outlet that the agency cannot comment on cases.

Child protective services placed the other four siblings with their paternal grandparents, who said they were unaware of their living conditions because they had not been to the property in a while. The sheriff’s office has not released any other details of the investigation. (SOURCE)

OLCC seeks input on increasing distilled spirits surcharge –  Revenue will go to state’s general fund

Written comments may be submitted until June 5, 2023 at 5 PM

Public Action: The Board of Commissioners of the Oregon Liquor & Cannabis Commission will accept written public comment on a possible increase of the current 50-cent surcharge on each bottle of distilled spirits to one dollar per bottle.

The Commissioners will listen to verbal comments on this potential increase at the April 20, 2023 & May 18, 2023 Commission Meeting. — Verbal Comment: In order to offer verbal testimony at the April 20th Commission meeting, please email laura.paul@oregon.gov by April 18, 2023 at 5 pm.

To speak at the May 18th Commission meeting, please email laura.paul@oregon.gov by May 16, 2023 at 5 pm.
Your name will be placed on the agenda for the meeting you ask to speak at.

Written Public Comment: Per OAR 845-015-0138, the Commission shall consider any written or verbal comments before implementing such a price increase.

Written comments can be submitted beginning April 12, 2023 through June 5, 2023 at 5 PM to:
Laura Paul, Executive Assistant
9079 SE McLoughlin Blvd.
Portland, OR 97222
laura.paul@oregon.gov

Commission Action: The Board of Commissioners will vote on the matter at the regularly scheduled June 15th
Commission Meeting.
Background:
• The current $0.50 per bottle ($0.25 per mini bottle) surcharge was recently extended through the 2023-25
biennium. The Commission will be considering an additional $0.50 per bottle surcharge ($0.25 per mini
bottle) for the 2023-25 biennium.
• If the surcharge is increased by an additional $0.50 per bottle ($0.25 per mini bottle), it is forecasted to
generate an additional $45.2 million for the 2023-2025 biennium. Surcharge revenue is distributed to the
State General Fund.

The seven citizen commissioners are the policy-making body of the OLCC. They meet monthly for one day to make decisions on liquor and marijuana licenses, rules, contested case hearings and appointments of liquor store agents. Commission meetings are held every month. Agenda items and meeting information can be obtained on-line at http://www.oregon.gov/OLCC/pages/public_meetings.aspx

## Did you know that in the last two years, the OLCC distributed more than $625 million to Oregon’s General Fund, Cities, Counties, and Drug and Alcohol Abuse Programs? See the distribution of dollars on OLCC’s Website

Bureau of Land Management is hiring 100 interns!

Portland, Ore. — Are you looking to kickstart a career in civil service? The Bureau of Land Management is hiring 100 interns nationwide in the next few weeks. Come work with us!

Anyone 16 years or older and enrolled or soon to be enrollment in school, don’t miss this opportunity! Interns that successfully complete the program are eligible for positions with the federal government.

If chosen for a role in the Pacific Northwest, interns will help to care for 16.1 million acres of public lands. These locations unfold into a rich tapestry of diverse landscapes, starting where the mighty Columbia River crosses into northeastern Washington from Canada and ending at the lush headwaters of the Chetco River near California. The BLM is charged with sustaining the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

The American people rely on the BLM to care for their public land, and BLM leaders are committed to building a team that represents all of America.

We are looking for interns in a variety of fields and functions, including:

• Civil Engineering
• Public Affairs
• Information Technology
• Survey
• Administration
• Land Law Examiner
• Natural Resources
• Land Surveyor
• Wildland Fire
• GIS
• Human Resources
• Grant Management
• Contracting
• Budget 
• Environment Protection

If more than one looks interesting, don’t hesitate to apply for them all. The opportunity to apply for these internships will close as early as Wednesday, April 19. So, don’t wait!

Anyone interested can find more information the BLM Internship Program here: https://bit.ly/41FGiNt
Or skip that step and apply for internships here: https://bit.ly/43tjCBr

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

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

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

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

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

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