The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Tuesday, January 3, 2023
Oregon Beach Weather
STORM WATCH ISSUED: 3:19 AM JAN. 3, 2023 – NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST WEDNESDAY... ...HAZARDOUS SEAS WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM PST THIS EVENING... ...STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... * WHAT...South winds 15 to 25 kt and steep seas of 13 to 15 ft at14 seconds into this morning. Then, south winds 25 to 30 kt with gusts up to 35 kt with steep to very steep seas of 10 to 15 ft due to a mix of wind seas and west swell later this morning into this evening. Steep seas with gusty south winds of 15 to 30 kt expected Tuesday night into Wednesday. Then, southerly storm force winds and very steep seas up to 30 feet are possible Wednesday night into Thursday. * WHERE...Small craft advisory level conditions continues for all areas. Very steep hazardous seas will affect most all the waters later this morning into this evening, except for slightly lower, steep seas beyond 40 nm from shore south of Coos Bay and within 2 nm of shore south of Gold Beach and north of Cape Blanco. Very steep, very high seas and storm force winds possible for all areas beginning late Wednesday afternoon. * WHEN...For the Hazardous Seas Warning, from 10 AM to 8 PM PST Tuesday. For the Small Craft Advisory, until 4 PM PST Wednesday. For the Storm Watch, from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday evening. * IMPACTS...Very strong winds and very steep seas could capsize or damage vessels. Visibilities may be significantly reduced. * View the hazard area in detail at https://go.usa.gov/x6hks
Yaquina Head Lighthouse Celebrates 150th Anniversary
2023 marks the 150th anniversary of Oregon’s tallest lighthouse and one of the most popular landmarks on Oregon’s Central Coast.
The following is from State Rep. David Gomberg’s latest newsletter:
The 93-foot tall Yaquina Head Lighthouse was completed in 1872, but the lamp on top wasn’t lit until the following year because of a 19th-century version of, get this, supply chain problems.
The sesquicentennial celebration will build up to August 20, which is the day in 1873 when the Yaquina Head Lighthouse finally entered service. Leading up to that date will be a variety of events and ongoing restoration.
The lighthouse stands at the end of a point that juts nearly a mile out into the Pacific Ocean within the Bureau of Land Management-administered Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area. The 100-acre park’s trails, sweeping views, bird life, and visitor center attract upwards of 500,000 people every year.
People in the Newport community immediately noticed one change that has already happened. It’s the switch out of the lighthouse beacon from a 1,000-watt halogen bulb to a new energy-saving, long-lasting LED stack.
The Yaquina Hed Lighthouse is located at 750 NW Lighthouse Drive in Newport. The lighthouse may be reached at 541-574-3100.
Federal Funding to Help Projects in Warrenton and Astoria
Several local projects will receive boosts in funding from a $1.7 trillion omnibus federal spending package signed by President Joe Biden on Thursday. The bipartisan agreement will inject over $2 million into local development by Warrenton and Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria.
A pedestrian corridor project that seeks to connect downtown to Warrenton High School will receive nearly $1.4 million. The project was one of 15 that U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, an Oregon Democrat who represents the North Coast, had advocated for in the package.
“We really appreciate and couldn’t have done this without Congresswoman Bonamici’s help,” Warrenton Mayor Henry Balensifer said. “Her office was very dogged and determined in making sure that this got put forward and so we really appreciate her office’s assistance in making this project a reality. We’re excited to get building on it.”
While constructing a pedestrian route and an enhanced crosswalk at the high school, the project will also make improvements to bus stops and accessibility for wheelchair users.
The city has sought to improve pedestrian safety on S. Main Avenue between downtown and the high school for decades.
In 2021, the city received $500,000 in grant money from the Oregon Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School program to get the project off the ground.
Construction of the first phase, which is under review by the state, will go to bid this winter, Balensifer said. The federal money will entirely fund the second phase.
Challenges with meeting state guidelines, Balensifer said, caused delays in the project. While the city originally planned to build sidewalks on both sides of the street, only one will be constructed on the west side of S. Main Avenue.
A second pedestrian corridor — along E. Harbor Drive between downtown and Fred Meyer — has been engineered and designed, Balensifer said. The city will seek more project funding to advance it.
In Astoria, Columbia Memorial Hospital will receive $750,000 in federal funding to help renovate and advance emergency preparedness at a building on Exchange Street.
The funding was secured by U.S. Sen Jeff Merkley and U.S. Sen Ron Wyden, both Oregon Democrats.
“Columbia Memorial Hospital is incredibly grateful to Senators Merkley and Wyden for their support of this critical funding,” Erik Thorsen, the CEO of the hospital, said in a statement.
About two years ago, the hospital announced the purchase of the structure that formerly housed Lum’s Auto Center on Exchange and 16th streets.
The funds will be used to renovate the building and turn the structure into an emergency operations center, a logistics and supply hub and a patient evacuation site, Thorsen said.
The hospital’s primary health care center is located within the designated tsunami inundation zone and at the base of an area that has long been prone to landslides.
“These risks could limit CMH’s ability to provide lifesaving health care services during and immediately after a natural disaster,” Thorsen said, noting that the former auto center is located outside of the tsunami inundation zone.
The entire project is estimated to cost over $2.1 million.
Included in Wyden and Merkley’s advocacy were also a number of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects, including $4 million for channel improvements along the Columbia River. An additional $50,000 was secured to allow the Army Corps to undergo work at the Skipanon Channel.
Balensifer said the project will help ensure that fishing fleets can get in and out of the Skipanon Channel in Warrenton, which he said has been a “constant battle” due to siltation.
The winner of the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce 2022 photo contest has been announced.
This year’s photo depicts a family watching the sunset on the beach. The photo was taken by Florence resident Crystal Bradley. Bradley says the photo was taken on her daughter’s birthday after a long day of scavenger hunting that began in Dunes City and ended up at Strawberry Hill where the photo was taken.
The photo will be featured in the chamber’s visitors resource guide along with other printed pieces, on the Chamber’s website, and in social media. Bradley received a $250.00 cash prize.
Missing OSU Student Found Deceased
Benton County Sheriff’s Office confirms that Klamath Falls native and Oregon State University student Steven Mainwaring was found dead Sunday afternoon near Mary’s Peak, in the coastal range near Alsea.
After two weeks of searching, deputies responded at 4:54 p.m. to a remote area of Mary’s Peak where volunteers searching reported finding Mainwaring’s Ford Bronco. When deputies arrived, they found Mainwaring’s body near the vehicle. According to BCSO, there is no evidence of criminal activity or foul play.
Mainwaring last spoke to his family Friday, Dec. 16. He was reported missing Sunday, Dec. 18, and his last cellphone activity was pinged off a tower in the Alsea area.
Mainwaring was an engineering student at Oregon State University while also serving as a senior airman first class in the Oregon Air National Guard 173rd Fighter Wing. He attended high school in Klamath County.
Activity on the Help Us Find Steven Mainwaring Facebook page was paused Monday. His father, Gabe Mainwaring, posted a short message late Sunday, Jan. 1. “Thank you to everyone who searched for my son,” Gabe
Mainwaring wrote. “Nothing can be put into words the grief that we feel as family.”
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Steven’s family.
Oregon Utilities Raise Rates
Your next electricity bill could be anywhere from 7% to 20% higher, depending on your service provider and household electricity usage. Turning on the lights or charging your phone is going to cost a little more for Oregonians this year.
The Oregon Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has approved rate increases for the state’s two largest electric utilities. The new prices for customers of Portland General Electric and Pacific Power went into effect Jan. 1.
With the price of seemingly everything climbing, PUC Chair Megan Decker acknowledged that the rate hikes aren’t going to be welcome news for most customers.
“We recognize that increasing rates at a time when Oregonians are already dealing with high inflation presents challenges for many customers,” she said in a statement. “Unfortunately, fuel cost increases and supply chain delays caused by global events, combined with increasing volatility in regional electricity markets, drive the price for utilities to produce and purchase electricity.”
With the price of seemingly everything climbing, PUC Chair Megan Decker acknowledged that the rate hikes aren’t going to be welcome news for most customers.
“We recognize that increasing rates at a time when Oregonians are already dealing with high inflation presents challenges for many customers,” she said in a statement. “Unfortunately, fuel cost increases and supply chain delays caused by global events, combined with increasing volatility in regional electricity markets, drive the price for utilities to produce and purchase electricity.”
or a typical residential PGE customer using 780 kilowatt hours per month, monthly bills are expected to increase from $114.54 to $122.60, or about 7% more than in 2022.
For customers of Pacific Power using around 900 kilowatt hours per month, bills are expected to increase from $91.89 to $111.34, a jump of more than 20%.
The PUC noted that increases will vary from customer to customer depending on electricity use. Decker also pointed out that both utilities have programs that can provide discounts to low-income households.
PGE offers a bill discount program ranging from 15 to 25% for low-income customers. The discount applies for gross annual household incomes at or below 60% of the State Median Income as of Oct. 2022. A four-person household, for example, would need to make $60,126 or under to qualify. For someone living alone, the income cutoff is $31,266.
Pacific Power has a similar program using the same eligibility criteria as PGE, which offers discounts between 20 and 40%.
There are also bill support programs offered by other agencies, like the Oregon Energy Fund, Oregon Energy Assistance Program, COVID Energy Assistance Program and Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
OHA launches Hospital Community Benefit Program, and patient protections
New report shows the collaboration with hospitals creates greater opportunity for financial assistance, consumer rights for people in Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore. – A new Oregon Health Authority (OHA) report highlights the implementation of House Bill 3076, a law the Oregon Legislature enacted in 2019 that requires a percentage of nonprofit hospital funds to be reinvested in communities.
Under HB 3076, OHA established minimum spending requirements for nonprofit hospitals and worked with them to develop policies that offer financial assistance to more patients, including those with income up to 400% of the federal poverty level. The new guidelines also give people in Oregon medical debt protections; under the law, hospitals are prohibited from referring patients to collections prior to screening them for financial assistance eligibility.
“We know medical debt is a major issue for many Oregonians,” said David Baden, chief financial officer at OHA. “New financial assistance policies are now in place that can really make a difference. OHA will continue to work on awareness and compliance to further the goal of greater health equity in our communities.”
To establish the new Hospital Community Benefit Program, OHA began a formal rulemaking process in September 2020. The agency did outreach in all Oregon counties to solicit member applications for the Rules Advisory Committee (RAC), which then established a method for assigning minimum community benefit spending. Throughout the process, OHA partnered with Oregon’s nonprofit hospitals, patient advocates and health care economists. In July 2022, OHA convened a community benefit summit to provide guidance to hospitals during the transition.
The report includes the following key findings:
- Hospital financial assistance policies are largely in alignment with new legal requirements. Hospitals have updated their policies with requirements for minimum levels of financial assistance. Most hospital policies pertaining to medical debt have also been updated to incorporate the added protections against referrals to collection and interest charges.
- Patients continue to experience challenges with accessing financial assistance. While trends related to medical debt and consumer impacts are improving, inequities remain and must be addressed. OHA will continue working to ensure patients are aware of their rights, with a focus on monitoring the compliance of medical debt requirements, ensuring eligible patients are screened for financial assistance, and recommending that applications and processes are simplified.
- All Oregon nonprofit hospitals have accepted their assigned minimum spending requirements for current fiscal years. As of December 2022, all participating hospitals have accepted their spending floors. Despite the program’s start during the COVID-19 pandemic, strong engagement with partners has allowed for a successful launch.
OHA will continue to work closely with hospitals to provide guidance about requirements under HB 3076. Data for the first year of implementation will be released after September 2023. Read the full report here.
11 New Laws in Oregon for 2023
When the clock strikes midnight every New Year immediately there are brand new laws and revisions that go into effect. Below are 11 new Oregon laws that could affect your life.
1) Mandatory Overtime — Senate Bill 1513 won’t allow employers to penalize their tortilla plant workers or bakers if they refuse to work on short notice when overtime is required.
2) Paid Leave — Senate Bill 1515 modified the definition of, “benefit year” for paid family and medical leave insurance programs to begin providing coverage in September of 2023 with full 52-week consecutive weeks of coverage
3) Dental Care — Senate Bill 1538 was created for Oregon’s Health Plan Program which will provide dental care to low-income citizens of the island nations in the Compact of Free Association (Micronesia (FSM) and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI)) who are residing in Oregon
4) Newborns — Senate Bill 1555 requires that a health benefits plan is available that will reimburse the full cost to providers that deliver in-home nurse visits, which are fully available to all families with an infant in Oregon
5) Noncitizens — Senate Bill 1560 requires the term “alien” no longer be used in official documents as of January 1st and should be replaced by “noncitizen” the wording will be updated by state agencies and the verbiage completely replaced in their rules by July 1st, 2023
6) Sexual Assault Kit — Senate Bill 1574 will now allow the state to include specific injury documentation, evidence collection, and forensic exam history in a sexual assault forensic evidence kit if requested by the victim
7) Settlements — Senate Bill 1586 dives deeper into Oregon’s Workplace Fairness Act so it is now unlawful for an employer to require former employees to enter into an agreement where they would not disclose information about discrimination or harassment
8) Fishing Licenses — House Bill 4072 lowers the cost of a one-day angling and shellfish license and requires certain steelhead anglers to get new validation and harvest cards
9) Restitution — House Bill 4075 will make it easier for crime victims, which will include small businesses that are burglarized and damaged in part by making sure the victims are paid in full before convicted criminals pay court fine fees
10) Traffic Citations — House Bill 4105 appoints “duly authorized traffic enforcement agencies” who aren’t police officers to review photograph evidence at red light cameras including speeding and issue citations
11) Voter Registration — House Bill 4133 makes registering and voting online in Oregon easier by using only the last four digits of their social security number including an image of their signature
Oregon Zoo Gets $2M In Federal Funding To Help Save California Condors
The Oregon Zoo has received $2 million from the federal government to further support the conservation of the California condor, a critically endangered species.
Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden helped secure the funds for the zoo’s Condor Restoration Resiliency Project, and other statewide community programs, through the $1.7 trillion bipartisan year-end spending package passed by the U.S. Senate in December.
“The funding, included in the year-end omnibus bill signed into law by President Biden, will ensure the zoo’s condor recovery efforts can continue uninterrupted,” the Oregon Zoo said.
Part of the funding will reportedly be put toward modernizing the zoo’s offsite Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation in rural Clackamas County. Oregon Zoo director Heidi Rahn said that the center, which is the second-largest condor breeding facility in the U.S., has been forced to evacuate its employees numerous times in recent years due to wildfires and power outages caused by winter storms.
“Thanks to Senator Merkley and Wyden’s support for this project, our center will be better equipped to withstand weather-related events, protecting condors and staff so that recovery efforts can continue,” Rahn said. “Each chick hatched at the center is a lifeline for the species.”
The California condor was included in the initial Endangered Species Act in 1973. By 1982, it was estimated that 22 of these birds still existed in the wild. In 1987, the last-remaining condors were captured and cared for by scientists in order to preserve the species.
In 2003, the Oregon Zoo partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s condor recovery effort with the goal of “hatching and releasing as many condors as possible,” the zoo said. Since that time, the species’ population has rebounded to 500, with more than 300 condors existing in the wild.
In 2022, the zoo hatched a record 12 condor chicks . The zoo also released eight condors into the wild, including the three birds used for the Yurok Tribe’s historic reintroduction in Humboldt County, Calif.
The Oregon Zoo’s lead condor keeper Kelli Walker said in August of 2022, that the hatchlings spend at least eight months with their parents and another year in outdoor “pre-release pens” before they are released into the wilds of California and Arizona.
“Some of the chicks are still big fluffy balls of fury,” Walker said. “But they’ll be full-fledged condors before long. Once they’re flying on their own, they’ll practice in larger enclosures until they’re finally ready to soar into the wild.”
74-Year-Old Woman Charged In New Year’s Eve Shooting In Ruch
The suspect in Saturday’s shooting was lodged in the Jackson County Jail Sunday night. The suspect, Cassie Lyn Ryker, 74, of Ruch, has been charged with attempted murder, first-degree assault, and unlawful use of a weapon.
This case is active and ongoing with detectives following additional leads. Further information will come from the Jackson County District Attorney’s office.
Video from Scene: https://vimeo.com/785606117
Original Release: Detectives Investigating Rural Jacksonville Shooting
JCSO Case 22-7579
RUCH, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) detectives are investigating a shooting that occurred this afternoon in the 400 block of China Gulch Road in Ruch near Jacksonville, Ore. The suspect is in custody, the victim has been transported to a local hospital and is in stable condition.
At 12:20 p.m. ECSO dispatch received a call for a gunshot victim being transported to the hospital and a potentially armed suspect back at the location of the shooting. JCSO Patrol deputies, SWAT, and the Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT) responded to the address along with nearby Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers. Just after 1 p.m. the suspect was taken into custody without incident. JCSO detectives are on scene investigating the shooting. More information to follow.
Crater Lake National Park Has Moved To a Fully Cashless Fee Collection System
Starting Sunday, January 1, Crater Lake National Park will transition to a fully cashless fee system and only accept mobile or electronic payments for entrance and permit fees.
Acceptable payment forms include credit and debit cards, as well as payment apps on mobile devices.
Passes for Crater Lake National Park can be purchased in advance at Recreation.gov. The America the Beautiful Pass, which is good at all national park sites and other federal land areas, is also available at the USGS Store.
Entrance fees are an important source of revenue used to improve the visitor experience in national parks, including road and facility repairs and maintenance, trail improvements, installation of accessible exhibits, visitor and resource protection services, and more.
Moving to a cashless system allows parks to be better stewards of visitor dollars by reducing the amount of time park staff spend managing cash, increasing the amount of fee revenue available to support critical projects and visitor services, and improving accountability and reducing risk.
