Oregon Beach News, Tuesday 11/1 – ODFW Issues More Warnings That Disease Outbreak In Sea Lions Has Potential To Be Spread To Dogs, Affordable Housing Project Breaks Ground In Lincoln City

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

Tuesday, November 1, 2022 

Oregon Beach Weather

ODFW Issues More Warnings That Disease Outbreak In Sea Lions Has Potential To Be Spread To Dogs

Wildlife officials always encourage humans and their pets to keep their distance from sea lions and other marine mammals on the beach. Now, a recent outbreak of disease among sea lion populations is giving people and their pets yet another reason to steer clear of marine mammals while they walk along the beach.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife reported an increase in the number of stranded sea lions along the entire Oregon Coast – from Brookings to Astoria. Many of these sick and deceased sea lions have suffered from leptospirosis – a disease that can be passed along to animals and people.

The Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network documented over 150 sick or dead sea lions along the Oregon coast since the current outbreak began in late July 2022. Necropsies on seven sea lions confirmed all tested positive for leptospirosis.

Meghan Durham, a representative for Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said leptospirosis is a naturally occurring bacteria that causes disease in sea lions and other wildlife.

“It can happen in small numbers every year, and sometimes you get larger sporadic outbreaks of the disease,” Durham said.

Although the outbreak is happening in numbers larger than usual, Durham said there isn’t any reason to believe it will impact the larger population of sea lions in Oregon.

There are no rescue and rehabilitation options for sick or injured seals and sea lions in Oregon. The state policy is to minimize disturbance from people and to let nature take its course, according to the Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network.

“There are currently no efforts to treat the sea lions (for leptospirosis) because it is something that occurs naturally,” Durham said.

She said to her knowledge there is no correlation between climate change or other ocean health issues that is currently contributing to the current disease outbreak.

But because leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease – meaning that people can get infected from animals and vice versa – wildlife officials are encouraging dog and horse owners to discuss the merits of vaccination for leptospirosis with their veterinarian.

Brookings, Oregon veterinarian technician assistant Robi Chance says the leptospirosis vaccine is common and recommended for dogs in areas along the Oregon Coast. Leptospirosis is a disease that is not only carried by sea lions, but other wildlife such as deer and raccoons.

Chance, who has been in the veterinary field for 30 years, said she encourages pet owners to keep their pets contained at the beach. “There’s a lot of things that they can get into on the beach that makes them sick,” she said.

There are a few possible ways dogs can contract leptospirosis, including if they “roll” in a deceased animals with the disease, bite or ingest parts of an animals with the disease, or by drinking water that is contaminated with urine from a diseased animal.

The veterinarians’ recommendation to contain their animals goes along with ODFW and Oregon Parks and Recreation guidelines to leash their dogs and keep at least 150 feet away from live or dead sea lions. Close encounters with people can be harmful and continued disturbances may cause stress, including causing mothers to abandon their pups.

Leptospirosis can be serious and fatal to dogs. Infection of the liver or kidneys can be fatal for animals if the infection progresses, causing severe damage to these organs. Veterinarian technician Chance says it is best to vaccinate dogs because if they do get the disease it can be difficult and expensive to treat. It is also rare but possible that dogs with leptospirosis can transmit the disease to their owners.

Sick or injured seals, sea lions, whales or dolphins can be reported to 1-800-452-7888.

For more information on wildlife diseases, contact ODFW’s wildlife health hotline at 1-866-968-2600.

Affordable Housing Project Breaks Ground In Lincoln City

Echo Mountain Fire survivors and Lincoln City residents will have an affordable apartment community in early 2024 with the groundbreaking of Wecoma Place.

Stewardship Development, Housing Authority of Lincoln County (HALC), Cornerstone Community Housing, and Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) celebrated today with other partners including Umpqua Bank, National Equity Fund (NEF), OTAK, and Walsh Construction.

“Stewardship has been serving people in their housing needs for more than three decades,” said Amanda Perkins, a partner with Stewardship Development. “We are honored to be able to collaborate in a strategic way with Oregon Housing and Community Services, Housing Authority of Lincoln County and Cornerstone Community Services to bring much needed quality affordable housing to our communities. We are committed to taking care of our residents in the way they deserve to be served.”

Wecoma Place—located at 2133 NE 29 Ave. in Lincoln City—is a 44-apartment community that will provide 100% affordable housing. The complex will consist of one- and two-bedroom units at 60% and 30% area median income. The site at NE 29 and Hwy 101 is in a prime location, close to public transportation, freeways, schools, and several shopping centers. The four-story building includes a vibrant community space, an elevator, a community courtyard with raised garden beds, and onsite parking. Units include energy efficient appliances and fixtures.

Residents will also benefit from culturally responsive services and outreach provided by Cornerstone Community Housing as well as supportive services from Community Services Consortium.

“Cornerstone Community Housing is thrilled to be working with Stewardship Development and our other partners to serve the Lincoln City community,” said Darcy Phillips, executive director of Cornerstone Community Housing. “This exciting new development will be a fantastic addition and provide much-needed affordable housing for many years to come.”

The development project was awarded 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credit Housing Disaster Tax Credits, as well as a wildfire direct and General Housing Account Program grants from OHCS.

“We have all been through a lot these past few years, both personally and professionally,” said OHCS Director Andrea Bell. “On top of navigating life during a pandemic, the Echo Mountain Fire devastated the community and forever changed many lives. We learned that we collectively were not prepared for the level of destruction we saw in the 2020 Labor Day fires.

“As we continue working toward recovery, it is important to develop housing, like Wecoma Place, that provides residents with access to supportive services. My vision for OHCS is that we serve as a beacon of hope, optimism, and resolve for equitably housing the people of Oregon.”

The affordable housing community was also awarded eight project-based vouchers to serve very-low-income families and individuals. Lincoln City has granted the project property tax exemption and System Development Charges waivers, reducing project costs and demonstrating the robust support for this type of project within the Lincoln City community.

Kathy Kowtko, executive director of the Housing Authority of Lincoln County expressed her support for the project stating, “HALC is excited to be a partner in this new development in Lincoln City, bringing much needed affordable housing to north county. The need for affordable one-bedroom units is exactly what we currently need to serve many of our residents who live on fixed or marginal incomes.”

County clerks throughout Oregon are seeing many forms of media that is incorrect and misleading voters regarding Oregon elections

Election Day is fast approaching and sadly so is all of the misinformation. The county clerks throughout Oregon are seeing many forms of media that is incorrect and misleading voters regarding Oregon elections. This includes but is not limited to texts, emails, calls and social media posts. Some are even made to look like they are from a trusted source.

Be cautious, know your trusted source. If you hear or see anything from a source other than the County Clerk’s Office or the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office, please verify the information with your County Clerk’s Office. Do not be misled.

All Oregon Voters Should Have Their Ballots by Now – Warned of Disinformation and Lies about Voting

Now that November election ballots are blanketing the state, Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan is sending out the message that voting here continues to be fair and secure. She says that Oregon has a robust system for ensuring the integrity of elections, including regularly updating voter rolls and checking voter signatures to validate the vote.

“Every single signature is checked. Every one. Not just a sample, not just a statistical amount. Every single signature is checked to make sure that’s the person who actually did vote.”

Former president Donald Trump and his supporters are continuing to repeat lies and disinformation about widespread fraud in U.S. elections and specifically about the security of mail-in voting, which Fagan says is affecting the job of county-level election officials here in Oregon.

“Sadly it’s a conspiracy that’s believed by about one in five Oregon voters and that’s a significant amount of our population,” she said. “We know it’s safe and secure here in Oregon. But yes, those conspiracy theories definitely are wearing on our county elections officials.”

Earlier this week, the Siuslaw News reported on a conservative group called the “Florence Liberty Alliance, which put up a post on its Facebook page asking for volunteers for a “Ballot Box Watch Team.” Fagan’s office is encouraging Oregon voters to “know their rights” and urging anyone who feels someone is trying to intimidate them at the ballot box or elsewhere to report it to her office online, by calling 503-986-1518 or emailing elections.sos@sos.oregon.gov.

“Intimidation can include aggressive or harassing questions about whether someone is qualified to vote that are intended to interfere with the right to vote … questions about citizenship status, criminal record, residency or other personal information or questions about how you intend to vote.”

Fagan says she hopes that their education campaign “Voting in Oregon Feels Good,” will resonate with Oregonians and encourage voter turnout. Ballots in the November election must be turned in or postmarked by Nov. 8.

All registered voters in Oregon should have received their ballots in the mail by now. Those who have their ballots must be sure to get them turned in or postmarked by 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 8, in order to have their votes counted. Ballots put into any official ballot drop box by 8 p.m. that night will be counted.

Anyone who did not get a ballot or received a damaged ballot should contact their county’s elections office to get a new one right away. Find your county elections office

According to the Oregon Secretary of State’s office, if someone requests a new ballot, their old ballot will be canceled, to prevent any attempts at voting more than once.

Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan assures Oregonians our upcoming election next week will be safe and fair. She outlined the process they are going through to assure election credibility. It starts with accurate voter registration records.

Oregon works with Federal, State and county elections officials to keep the list up to date and accurate. With accurate voter registration records we know only eligible voters are sent a ballot. Next, they take steps to prevent fraudulent voting. Every ballot envelope gets a unique barcode matched to a voter, and every signature on every returned ballot is verified.

These and other measures ensure that voter fraud in Oregon is exceedingly rare. When it happens, we catch it and the votes don’t count. Finally, they conduct post-election audits to verify the accuracy of the results. That’s how we know the results of the election match the will of the voters.

You can find this information in an infographic on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and I encourage you to share it. Knowing these basic facts helps prevent people from falling for false information they may encounter online. Learn more at http://Oregonvotes.gov/Integrity

Linn County Deputies Find Vehicle but Still Searching for Missing California Woman – Asks Public for Tips

After finding a vehicle connected to a missing woman from northern California, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to search for the woman and is asking the public for tips.

According to the LCSO, on October 29 deputies responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle on a dead-end Forest Service road off Highway 20 about 30 miles east of Sweet Home. Deputies said they found a gray Toyota Camry with California license plates, and discovered that it was connected to Tammy Pitkin, 54, of Tehama County, California. The LCSO says Pitkin was reported missing on October 26, but hadn’t been seen by family since October 14.

According to the LCSO, Pitkin was last seen in Sutherlin, Oregon, on October 17. Deputies said Pitkin has no connection to the Linn County area. The LCSO said search and rescue teams have been searching the area, but have found no sign of her.

Tammy Pitkin is described as standing 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighing 160 pounds, and having blond hair and hazel eyes. LCSO deputies said Pitkin likely has two dogs with here — a white, brown and black Jack Russell Terrier and another smaller white dog. Anyone with information about Pitkins’s whereabouts is asked to contact the LCSO at 541-967-3911.

Mayors From Cities Across Oregon To Press 2023 Legislature For More Help To Fight Homelessness

More than two dozen Oregon mayors want the state to provide consistent, ongoing money to cities to address the state’s homelessness crisis.

In a news conference on Monday, they said they hope to persuade the Legislature next year to allocate nearly $125 million, which would be distributed statewide based on the population. From there, they want cities to continue to receive annual funding. The money would allow local officials to use the money as they deem necessary based on local needs. Cities could staff homelessness outreach programs, stock food pantries, clean homeless camps or invest in affordable housing. Separately, they plan to develop a request for up to $175 million for shelter and housing projects statewide.

They said they need consistent, annual funding so cities can be nimble and flexible as they respond to the state’s growing homelessness crisis.

The Oregon Mayors Association homelessness task force, with input from 25 mayors, developed the bi-partisan proposal. The group represents urban centers like Portland and Eugene as well as small, rural communities like Hermiston and Vale. Tent cities with homeless people are a visible reminder of the crisis in Oregon’s urban areas, but homelessness also runs throughout the state’s mid-sized and rural communities.

“When it comes to Oregon’s homeless crisis, we must ensure the state funding can reach all corners of the state,” said Vale Mayor Tom Vialpando.

Homelessness is a key issue among candidates running for election Nov. 8, with Republicans bashing Oregon’s Democratic leadership for the problem. On any day as of January 2020, nearly 14,700 people in Oregon had no stable housing, according to the U.S. Interagency Council on Homeless. The group estimates about 4,300 were chronically homeless.

“We need funds that we can put to work as quickly as possible,” Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis said.

Here’s how it would work: Each city would get $40 per resident, with small communities guaranteed to receive at least $50,000.

The mayors said cities need funding they can depend on – and flexibility to use it based on local circumstances. Rather than a one-size-fits-all program, the money could go toward whatever cities determine is necessary. They want cities to have the flexibility to spend the money by working with community groups and advocates and shift tactics as needs evolve.

For Oregon’s small cities, the funding mechanism would be fairer than competitive grants for homelessness programs that favor larger cities with high profiles.

“All cities have residents struggling,” said Dayton Mayor Beth Wytoski, stressing that direct funding is key for cities to have flexibility.

City leaders say the annual funding would eliminate uncertainty that often surrounds grant-funded homelessness programs that may only have money for a limited period of time. With annual funding, a program can be discontinued – or a new one started without the need to apply for competitive grants.

In Eugene, efforts to combat homelessness include the establishment of designated “safe sleep sites” where people can pitch tents and sleep in vehicles legally.

“The danger that we’re facing is that without continued financial support from the state, we won’t be able to sustain the work that we’ve done,” Vinis said.

Mayors say the issue is nonpartisan and not tied to any political party or ideology. A recent survey reflects that. Thirty-seven percent of 1,878 Oregonians surveyed identified the state’s homelessness crisis as the state’s most pressing issue, according to a survey by the Portland-based nonpartisan Oregon Values and Beliefs Center.

Oregon’s next Legislature and governor will play a critical role in whether the proposal moves forward. Mayors have shared their proposal with each of the three gubernatorial candidates and legislative leaders✎ EditSign✎ EditSign

“I’m looking forward to partnering with mayors across the state to take on our homelessness crisis on day one – and I will hold everyone accountable for delivering results,” said Tina Kotek, former House speaker and Democratic gubernatorial candidate, in a statement.

Republican candidate Christine Drazan, former House minority leader, has criticized Democratic leaders, including Kotek, for the homelessness crisis.

“Christine Drazan will declare a homeless state of emergency to unlock all tools available to ensure homelessness is rare and temporary,” said John Burke, a spokesperson for Drazan’s campaign. “She looks forward to partnering and supporting local governments in their shared mission to get people off the street and into safe housing.”

Independent gubernatorial candidate Betsy Johnson said the state needs to “end inhumane, dangerous tent cities all across Oregon.” Her campaign didn’t directly indicate whether it’s open to the plan, but acknowledged that areas outside the Portland region need more help.

“Counties and cities outside the Portland tri-county area will need more financial support from the state to address homelessness,” Johnson said. “However, any distribution of funds would need to be through an objective process that doesn’t disadvantage small cities and there need to be real, measurable deliverables.”

Oregon’s New Veteran Dental Program Launches November 1

Oregon House Bill 4095, which creates the state’s first Veteran Dental Program for Oregon veterans who do not qualify for Oregon Health Plan (OHP), passed in the 2022 Legislative Session. Administered by Oregon Health Authority, this state-funded program is separate and distinct from the dental benefit offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Beginning November 1, 2022, veterans can apply for the program using the OHP application.

For veterans who qualify, dental care will start January 1, 2023. Eligible applicants must be veterans as described in Oregon Revised Statute 408.225, except the veteran may be discharged or released under honorable or other conditions and must be at or below 400% of the federal poverty guidelines.

To apply, veterans can visit one.oregon.gov to login or create an account or have an application mailed by calling OHP Customer Service at 1-800-699-9075. Help filling out an application is also available through a network of local certified community partners statewide. You can find a community partner at bit.ly/ohplocalhelp.

If approved for the Veteran Dental Program, members will be enrolled in a Coordinated Care Organization (CCO) to access dental care. The Veteran Dental Program offers the same dental care as OHP Plus, such as teeth cleanings, filling and extractions and emergency dental care. Individuals do not need to pay for dental care covered by the Veteran Dental Program.

Funding is limited for the program, so eligible individuals are encouraged to apply now.  

“The Oregon Veteran Dental Program will bridge a significant gap in veterans’ access to accessible and affordable oral care in Oregon, which is critical for physical health, confidence and their overall wellbeing,” said Kelly Fitzpatrick, Director of Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs. “This new program reflects our state’s continuing commitment to serve and support our Oregon veteran community.”

For more information, visit: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HSD/OHP/Pages/Dental-Programs.aspx.

Established in 1945, the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs is dedicated to serving Oregon’s diverse veteran community that spans five eras of service members. ODVA administers programs and provides special advocacy and assistance in accessing earned veteran benefits across the state. Learn about veteran benefits and services, or locate a local county or tribal veteran service office online at oregon.gov/odva.

Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team Make Meth Arrest

On Saturday, October 29th, Detectives with the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT) arrested two California men for trafficking large amounts of narcotics into Douglas County.  

As part of an ongoing investigation, DINT detectives contacted 53 year old Roberto Silva Diaz of Red Bluff, California, and 60 year old Feliciano Bobadilla, of Corning, California, in the parking lot of a business in the 3,000 block of Aviation Drive in Roseburg.  Detectives had information indicating the two were trafficking large amounts of methamphetamine and counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl.  

Roseburg Police K-9 “Trapper” searched the exterior of the suspects’ vehicle and gave an alert indicating he could smell the odor of narcotics coming from inside.  

A search of the vehicle revealed approximately 13.9 grams of suspected heroin, 300 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing suspected fentanyl, and 3 pounds of suspected methamphetamine.

Both suspects were lodged at the Douglas County Jail on charges of Possession and Delivery of Heroin, Possession and Delivery of Methamphetamine, Possession and Delivery of Sch. II Controlled Substance, and Conspiracy.  

The DINT team is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force that identifies, disrupts, and dismantles local, multi-state, and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency, prosecutor-supported approach.  DINT is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and is composed of members from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Roseburg Police Department, Oregon State Police, Bureau of Land Management, and the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office.  The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives, including DINT.  

Beaver Marsh Rest Area on Hwy 97 Closure

Oregon Travel Information Council (OTIC) has temporarily closed the Beaver Marsh Rest Area, which is located on U.S. Highway 97 South, 5 miles south of Chemult, Oregon. Both the northbound and southbound rest areas may be closed for up to four weeks. OTIC is committed to re-opening the rest area as soon as possible. OTIC regrets any inconvenience to the traveling public. Midland Rest Area south of Klamath Falls, Peter Skene Ogden Rest Area north of Terrebonne, and Cow Canyon Rest Area, north of Madras, will remain open. For further information, please contact OTIC at (503) 378-4508. Oregon Travel Information Council 

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