The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
Oregon Beach Weather
Man Rescued off Coast of Gold Beach
Curry County Sheriff’s Office said. a man whose boat stopped working off the turbulent coast of Gold Beach was rescued Sunday, Oct. 23rd after an Aquatic Marine Safety Officer swam out to him, saving his life.
Around 2:00 p.m., the Curry County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a citizen who saw the stranded boat through their binoculars. The caller said they watched the boat receive massive blows by large waves, warning that an individual inside the boat was getting sucked out to sea.
Two Gold Beach Police Officers spotted the boat from the beach south of the South Jetty, noting that the vessel was roughly 300 feet offshore and quickly drifting south.
Aquatic Marine Safety Officer Luke Martinez arrived at the scene and attempted to swim with his rescue board through the south side of the mouth of the Rogue River, but he kept getting pushed back by the water.
Martinez then tried an approach south of the jetty, staying in contact with Gold Beach officers and the SAR to help him find the boat.
The boat operator, 52-year-old Michael Malouf of Gold Beach jumped off the boat into the heavy surf just as Martinez paddled toward him.
Large waves struck the boat, engulfing it with water. Martinez reached Malouf in the crashing waves, helping him onto the rescue board and swimming him to the beach about a half mile south of the South Jetty near the Fairgrounds Event Center.
Malouf’s boat washed ashore nearby and some bystanders who had watched the rescue tied the boat to a beached log. Malouf was taken to a nearby hospital, attended by members of the Gold Beach Fire Department along with Cal Ore Life Flight Ambulance crew.
EMS said Malouf’s core body temperature was ninety-three degrees and was suffering from the effects of hypothermia.
Malouf was treated and released from the hospital a little while later. At the time of the release, Malouf’s boat was still on the beach; Ev’s High Tech Towing is working on recovering it.
“The quick response by SAR Member and Aquatic Safety Officer, Luke Martinez, undoubtably saved the life of Michael Malouf, who was wearing a life preserver during the incident,” said the Curry County Sheriff’s Office in a release.
Newport Police Officer Finds Bound Woman Crying For Help On Yaquina Bay Bridge
Cries for help coming from the Yaquina Bay Bridge in Newport on Friday night led a police officer to a bloodied woman with her hands tied behind her back.
The incident unfolded around 11 p.m., the Newport Police Department said in a release. The officer was in the area to deal with construction materials in the roadway when he heard the woman yelling. She was found with blood on her face and head, with her hands reportedly “hogtied” behind her with rope and shoelaces.
The woman was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital for treatment of her injuries.
Earlier in the night, police said the woman and a man identified as Thomas Brannies were walking together off the main path in Yaquina Bay State Park when she was struck in the head. She said she was told the assault would stop if she didn’t fight back.
After she was tied up and wounded, police said Brannies took all of her belongings and fled the area, leaving her there. She later managed to free her feet and get back on the Yaquina Bay Bridge where the officer found her, authorities said.
Shortly after 3 a.m., Brannies’ car was spotted at a grocery store, officials said. The woman’s stolen items were found in his car.
Brannies, 34, was arrested and booked at the Lincoln County Jail on five separate charges: 2nd-degree kidnapping, 2nd-degree assault, 2nd-degree theft, unlawful use of a weapon and a misdemeanor warrant.
Authorities also said Brannies had a previous outstanding warrant on an assault charge. A records search found Brannies has a long criminal record for a variety of charges dating back to 2009.
Spotlight on Delilah and KDUN in Reedsport on Radio Ink
Delilah Discusses Journey on Radio Podcast —- It was about a year ago that syndicated radio host Delilah bought a small market radio station. On the coast of Oregon, in a fading old lumber town of 4,000, Reedsport and KDUN-AM were both the hometown for Delilah and where she got her first radio job.
Now the radio superstar is trying to rejuvenate local radio in a small town.
On their most recent podcast episode, Jackson Weaver and Keith Samuels talk to Delilah about her journey home while maintaining a weekly audience for Premier Radio of 8 million weekly listeners.
Part one of the interview with Delilah drops today, part two on Friday. https://radioink.com/2022/10/24/delilah-discusses-journey-on-radio-podcast/
The Witches of Depoe Bay Annual Food Drive
The Witches of Depoe Bay are flying in for the 13th annual food drive to support the Depoe Bay Food Pantry.
Join the effort from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31, rain or shine. The Witches will be collecting cash, checks, and nonperishable food items at these locations:
Chester’s Market Parking Lot, 3950 US-101 Depoe BayIn Front of the Whale Fountain on US-101, Depoe BayIn Front of Re/Max Integrity, 110 N. HWY 101 Depoe Bay
Witches and Warlocks will be stationed in these three areas to collect donations.
Donated nonperishable foods include:
TunaTop ramenChiliCanned vegetables and fruitSpaghetti and spaghetti sauceCanned meatsSpamDry potato flakesMacaroni and cheesePasta and pasta sauceCerealSoupBaby foodJam or jelly
All proceeds will go directly to the Depoe Bay Food Pantry.
In 2021, the Whiches of Depoe Bay Food Drive collected 1,769 pounds of food and $6,025.
To donate food, checks or cash before or after the event, email Sandy De Muri at msdemuri@att.net to arrange pick up. For more information contact: Sandy De Muri, msdemuri@att.net, 510-508-3890. — https://www.cityofdepoebay.org/community/page/witches-depoe-bay-food-drive-monday-october-31st-200-500pm
Prepare now: Health coverage open enrollment begins Nov. 1
(Salem) – The annual open enrollment period for health coverage begins Nov. 1. Open enrollment is the only time when anyone who are not offered coverage from a job or a public program like the Oregon Health Plan or Medicare can enroll in health coverage through the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace, often with financial help.
Eligibility rules have changed this year, making health coverage more affordable for thousands of Oregonians. Previously, people offered health coverage through a spouse or parent’s employer could not access financial help if the least expensive plan offered to only the employee was considered affordable. New rules allow people who previously were ineligible for financial help through the Marketplace if that coverage is considered unaffordable to the enrollee.
“If you were previously not eligible for financial help, apply again,” says Chiqui Flowers, director of the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace. “Nearly 80 percent of Oregonians who applied for financial help qualified in 2022 averaging $483 per month. That could be you too!”
Sorting through health coverage options can be confusing, but Oregonians should know that there are tools. OregonHealthCare.gov offers a quick and easy-to-use window-shopping tool where users can preview what plans and savings are available to them. The tool also allows users to see which plans cover their prescription drugs and are networked with their preferred doctors or hospitals. A new tool available at OregonHealthCare.gov can help you figure out if job-based coverage is considered affordable.
Free expert help is available to make the process of signing up for health coverage and choosing a plan less stressful. Licensed insurance agents and trained community groups can be found at OregonHealthCare.gov/GetHelp.
### The Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace, a part of state government, helps people get health insurance when they do not have job-based coverage, and do not qualify for the Oregon Health Plan or another program. The Marketplace is the state level partner to HealthCare.gov. For more information, go to OregonHealthCare.gov.
Standardized Testing Scores In Oregon Drop Below Average
New standardized test results further confirm Oregon students are experiencing learning setbacks in reading and math — a trend seen around the country at historic levels, attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Scores from the National Assessment of Educational Progress — known as the “nation’s report card” — shows fourth graders and eighth graders in Oregon are below average in both reading and math.
The test quizzed hundreds of thousands of fourth and eighth graders across the country this year. It was the first time the test had been given since 2019, and it’s seen as the first nationally representative study of the pandemic’s impact on learning.
Across the country, math scores saw their largest decreases ever. Reading scores dropped to 1992 levels.
In Oregon, the results from the tests echo results from the state’s own assessment done in the spring and released in September, according to the Oregon Department of Education.
According to National Assessment of Educational Progress, Oregon fourth-grade students dropped eight points in math and seven points in reading, compared to scores in 2019. Only five other states and the District of Columbia ranked lower.
Eighth-grade students in Oregon went down nine points in math and seven points in reading. Researchers usually think of a 10-point gain or drop as equivalent to roughly a year of learning.
“In NAEP, when we experience a 1- or 2-point decline, we’re talking about it as a significant impact on a student’s achievement,” said Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, a branch of the Education Department, said in an interview.
These dropping scores aren’t surprising for Doctor Mike Franz, who’s a child psychiatrist with Regence.
“Kids are struggling and should be expected that they are going to struggle with being back in school and the expectations placed upon us,” Franz said.
He said the big factor in these low numbers is that many students were out of school for so long. Some just got back to in-person classes for the first time this year.
Increased emergency SNAP benefits continue in November
- Most Oregonians who receive SNAP benefits will continue to receive temporarily increased emergency food benefits in November
- Approximately 430,000 SNAP households will receive approximately $69 million in extra food benefits in addition to their regular SNAP benefits
- These emergency benefits are a temporary support that Oregon can provide because of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency
- Find resources to meet your basic needs: Dial 2-1-1, or text your zip code to 898-211, www.211info.org
- Oregon Department of Human Services COVID-19 help center
(Salem) – Most Oregonians who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will receive emergency allotments in November.
The federal government has approved emergency allotments every month since March 2020. This gives SNAP recipients additional support during the COVID-19 pandemic. These emergency benefits are a temporary support that Oregon can provide because of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency.
Because the federal government approved these emergency benefits for November, Oregon will also be able to issue them in December. However, the emergency benefits are expected to end when the federal public health emergency ends.
In November, approximately 430,000 SNAP households will receive approximately $69 million in extra food benefits in addition to their regular SNAP benefits.
“We know that many rely on these additional emergency food benefits to get enough healthy food for themselves and their families,” said Jana McLellan, interim director of the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Self-Sufficiency Programs. “We also know that many Oregonians are still struggling to meet their basic needs and we encourage them to contact our partners at 211, the Oregon Food Bank and their local Community Action Agency for support during this difficult time.”
Current SNAP households will receive emergency allotments on Nov. 11. Emergency allotments will be issued Nov. 30 or Dec. 2 for households who did not receive benefits in the first monthly issuance.
SNAP recipients do not have to take any action to receive these supplemental benefits as they will be issued directly on their EBT cards.
More information about emergency allotments is available at https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/ASSISTANCE/FOOD-BENEFITS/Pages/Emergency-Allotments.aspx.
Questions about your SNAP benefits should be directed to the ONE Customer Service Center at 1-800-699-9075.
If your household receives SNAP and your income or the number of people in your household has changed, it could impact your benefits. It is important to make sure ODHS has the most up-to-date information.
You can report any changes to your income or household in many ways:
- Online at: ONE.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
Resources to help meet basic needs
- 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, low-income families and individuals 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://www.oregon.gov/dhs/benefits/Pages/index.aspx . 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.
Oregon Gas Prices Fall Another 25 Cents In Past Week, Still $1.29 Per Gallon Higher Than Year Ago
Average gasoline prices in Oregon have fallen 25.1 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $5.05/gallon Monday, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 1,307 stations in Oregon.
But it said gas prices in Oregon are still 22.4 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand $1.29/g higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has risen 4.0 cents in the last week and stands at $5.30 per gallon.
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Oregon was priced at $3.95/g Sunday while the most expensive was $5.79/g, a difference of $1.84/g.
The national average price of gasoline has fallen 9.3 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.77/g Monday. The national average is up 10.2 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 41.2 cents per gallon higher than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.
Historical gasoline prices in Oregon and the national average going back ten years:
October 24, 2021: $3.76/g (U.S. Average: $3.36/g)
October 24, 2020: $2.48/g (U.S. Average: $2.15/g)
October 24, 2019: $3.33/g (U.S. Average: $2.61/g)
October 24, 2018: $3.34/g (U.S. Average: $2.84/g)
October 24, 2017: $2.71/g (U.S. Average: $2.45/g)
October 24, 2016: $2.54/g (U.S. Average: $2.22/g)
October 24, 2015: $2.32/g (U.S. Average: $2.20/g)
October 24, 2014: $3.26/g (U.S. Average: $3.06/g)
October 24, 2013: $3.46/g (U.S. Average: $3.31/g)
October 24, 2012: $3.94/g (U.S. Average: $3.62/g)
Oregon areas and their current gas prices:
Eugene- $4.99/g, down 35.3 cents per gallon from last week’s $5.34/g.
Salem- $4.76/g, down 37.4 cents per gallon from last week’s $5.14/g.
Portland- $5.20/g, down 21.4 cents per gallon from last week’s $5.42/g.
“Average gas prices have declined for the second straight week with significant declines in the West and Great Lakes having an oversized effect on the drop in the national average,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.
“With oil prices struggling a bit after reaching $93 after OPEC+’s decision to cut production, many regions could see falling gas prices again this week as demand continues to decline seasonally, especially if more data points to a significant economic slowdown.
“While gasoline prices have seen a large drop, diesel prices have been somewhat mixed, with prices heading higher in the Northeast as inventories drop to extremely tight levels ahead of the heating oil season. Motorists are reminded that the decline in gasoline prices is seasonal and should continue into the fall, and is unrelated to the coming election. Seasonality is king in driving prices, not the desires or hopes of politicians.”
GasBuddy is the authoritative voice for gas prices and the only source for station-level data. GasBuddy’s survey updates 288 times every day from the most diverse list of sources covering nearly 150,000 stations nationwide, the most comprehensive and up-to-date in the country. GasBuddy data is accessible at http://prices.GasBuddy.com.
Voting in Oregon feels GOOD
It’s time to get #VoteReady: Just grab your ballot and a blue or black pen!
You don’t even need a stamp It’s not a test: you can vote on every candidate and measure, or leave some blank How you vote is private. Make a plan to vote! http://OregonVotes.gov#TrustedInfo2022
