The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Oregon Beach Weather
Astoria Still Working on Homeless Camping Ordinance
The Astoria City Council advanced a camping ordinance that regulates where the homeless can and cannot sleep outdoors, but appeared to be in consensus that adding shelter beds is the ultimate solution.
The ordinance is in response to federal court rulings and state legislation that prohibited enforcement of illegal camping on public property in jurisdictions without adequate shelter spaces.
Cities, like Astoria, that do not have adequate shelter space have the option of detailing the time, place and manner people can sleep outdoors so camping can be enforced everywhere else.
“For me, this is what we can do for now,” City Councilor Roger Rocka said following a public hearing on the issue Monday night. “But it can’t be our endgame. The only way we can say what I think some of our business people would like us to be able to say — to say, ‘You can’t camp on Commercial Street,’ or, ‘You can’t camp on Duane’ — is if we have enough shelter beds.
“We have to have enough shelter beds for our homeless population, then we can say, ‘no.’ And by the way, that’s the most humane thing for our homeless population who, after all, are human beings.”
The City Council established the time and manner provisions in June, which allow people to set up temporary camps overnight from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. with bedrolls or sleeping bags, tarps, or small tents.
The place component, which the city chose to handle separately, would make the vast majority of the city off limits to camping.
Camping would be allowed on public rights of way in commercial areas, which the city has outlined in a map. People could only sleep on sidewalks if 6 feet of space can be maintained, with 10 feet from building entrances and stairwells. The City Council expects to adopt the ordinance addressing the place component in the coming weeks.
Brookings City Council Directs Attorney To Initiate Termination Of City Manager Amid Theft Allegation
The Brookings City Council directed their city attorney to initiate the separation of Janell Howard from her position as city manager during a special council meeting on Monday, Oct. 17.
The motion was passed after a series of difficult conversations between council members which involved two separate public workshops and two executive sessions held behind closed doors.
Howard last appeared in court on Aug. 1 on a third-degree theft charge that reportedly originated from a citation with the Brookings Police Department and Fred Meyer loss team. Her case has since been delayed multiple times. While she hasn’t been working, she has been continuing to receive tax-payer paid wages for her position of at least $125,000 annually – according to her employment contract.
Council members voted to start an independent investigation into Howard’s theft allegation and her employment with the city with an agreement with Ferraris Investigations and Consulting company during a special council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
City staff and council members have remained tight-lipped during public meeting sessions as they navigated the process and legalities of their finance director facing charges of theft. But with paid administrative leave wages mounting – and delays in the legal process ongoing, council members felt the pressure of a decision weighing in on them.
During the first open public meeting on Oct. 17, Mayor Ron Hedenskog made a motion asking his fellow council members to agree to keep Howard on with employment by the city, but under a new “administrative” position that would be responsible for overseeing and applying for grants. This position would be supervised by a new city manager, he said, arguing it would absolve Howard of financial control from city assets but would allow the city to keep her institutional knowledge.
“The compensation would be set at the highest level of payment according to the adopted management comp plan, and all of her accumulated benefits such as sick and vacation pay would roll over to the new position,” Hedenskog said.
Mayor Hedenskog’s motion to consider Howard’s reassignment to a new job position failed to 3-2. McKinney’s motion directing the city manager to initiate conversation with Howard regarding termination passed with a 3 to 2 vote in favor. Howard continues to be on paid leave with the City of Brookings.
Mapleton School Board Meeting Tonight
This evening the Mapleton School Board will review proposed revisions to school policies regarding the administration of medications to students by school staff. The changes are in response to recent changes in state law and other recommendations by the Oregon School Boards Association.
Other topics up for discussion during the six pm meeting will be the Mapleton Pool Building, Community Engagement, State Testing, Equity and the board goals for this school year. The board meeting is open to the public and is held at Mapleton High School.
In Case You are Traveling Today — I-5 Shut Down Between Junction City and Harrisburg Due to Fatal Multiple Vehicle Crash
Currently, the Oregon State Police is reporting a horrific accident, involving multiple vehicles on I-5 south. Last updated at 8:19 am by Trip check, there is a crash that has closed the road and a detour is in place.
All lanes on I-5 southbound are reportedly shut down. OSP has reported there is at least one fatality confirmed. Thick fog was a factor in the crash.
Various reports are suggesting there are multiple semi trucks involved in the accident, which occurred at 7:42 am near exit 209. Traffic is being rerouted from the Halsey hwy 228 exit off Interstate 5 down Hwy 99 through Harrisburg due, to I-5 being closed from the Hwy 228 exit to the Coburg exit. EXPECT CLOSURE to Last for Hours. This is currently a developing news story.
Candidates For Oregon Governor Meet Tonight For The Last Televised Debate
This will be the last televised debate between Republican Christine Drazan, unaffiliated candidate Betsy Johnson, and Democrat Tina Kotek.
The three candidates running to be Oregon’s next governor meet Wednesday night for a televised debate hosted by KGW and The Oregonian. This is the fourth and final televised debate featuring Republican Christine Drazan, unaffiliated candidate Betsy Johnson and Democrat Tina Kotek — and it’s set to happen as ballots are in the mail, bound for Oregon voters.
Like most statewide offices, for decades Oregon’s governorship has been a lock for Democrats. But former Democratic state senator Betsy Johnson’s well-funded centrist bid has changed the race into a true toss-up. While the latest polling put Johnson at the rear of a three-way race, Drazan had a slight lead over Kotek — albeit a lead hovering around the margin of error.
The debate will be moderated by Laurel Porter, KGW evening anchor and host of the “Straight Talk” public affairs show, and Hillary Borrud, state government and politics reporter at The Oregonian. Porter’s evening co-anchor, David Molko, will host the broadcast.
The debate airs live on KGW at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, and will be streaming on kgw.com and the KGW+ app.
Watch the full debate streaming live here
Oregon’s Supreme Court Chief Justice To Retire
Oregon Supreme Court Chief Justice Martha Walters announced Tuesday that she’ll retire at the end of the year.
Walters, who became the first woman to serve as chief justice of the Supreme Court in 2018, is the second justice this month to announce a retirement, giving Democrat Gov. Kate Brown two appointments to the state’s high court before she leaves office.
“I have loved the job of advocating for our courts and the critical need for access to the services we provide,” Walters said during remarks at a judicial conference where she made the announcement.
Walters’ plan to retire comes amid an uncertain political future for the state because of the November gubernatorial election. With unaffiliated candidate Betsy Johnson likely to draw votes, polls have indicated that Republican candidate Christine Drazan and Democratic Tina Kotek are locked in a tight race.
By retiring, Walters has ensured Brown will name a replacement who is likely to be aligned with Walters’ jurisprudence.
“Chief Justice Martha Walters has been an incredible advocate for Oregonians seeking access to justice, showing steadfast leadership as the first woman to serve as chief justice of the Supreme Court,” Brown said in statement.
Judges in Oregon must retire by the end of the year after they turn 75. Walters turns 72 next week, so if she stayed, that would give Oregon’s next governor the ability to appoint Walters’ replacement.
Earlier this month, Oregon Supreme Court Justice Thomas Balmer, 70, announced his retirement. In July, Justice Adrienne Nelson was nominated by President Joe Biden to the federal bench. If the U.S. Senate votes to confirm her before the end of year, Brown could name her replacement.
Justice Meagan Flynn, 55, will become the next chief justice, whose tasks include overseeing the Oregon Judicial Department. In the state’s public defense system, she will appoint commissioners who oversee the state Office of Public Defense Services, an agency that has reached a breaking point.
Oregon’s public defender system is the only one in the county that relies entirely on contractors. An ongoing public defender shortage due to workload, poor pay and late payments prompted criminal defendants to sue the state earlier this year, saying it is violating their constitutional right to legal counsel and a speedy trial.
Walters has said “systemic change” is needed and that the commission must collaborate with Oregon’s executive and legislative branches and the public defense community “to create a better system for public defense providers.”
In August, Walters called on the commission to fire former executive director Stephen Singer, who ran the agency for eight months. When they didn’t, she dismissed the commission and reappointed mostly members who had voted to fire Singer. The new commission then fired Singer. Last week, Singer filed a lawsuit arguing his dismissal violated state law.
Two Children Killed In Central Oregon Home Fire
Authorities are investigating the cause of a house fire in central Oregon that killed two children. Reports state that members of the children’s family escaped the home near the unincorporated community of Alfalfa during the fire early Saturday. At this time the cause is unknown.
Crook County sheriff’s deputies and firefighters arrived to find the home fully engulfed by flames. The children’s ages weren’t immediately released. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the fire to contact the Crook County Sheriff’s Office: (541) 447-6398
Even Though Cedar Creek Fire Still Smoldering, Oregon has Mildest Fire Season in Last Decade
The Cedar Creek Fire is now 125,867 acres and is 50% contained. Fire crews are holding and securing any areas of increased heat and air operations have been engaged, offering support for firefighters on the ground when it is safe enough to fly.
Fire officials expect increased fire activity with lower humidity and the increase of warmer temperatures on Wednesday. They say that precipitation is expected for the area over the weekend, with 1-1/2″-2″ of rain Saturday afternoon through Sunday evening. Officials say snow is possible on Saturday above 4000′. Even with a significant amount of smoke in the air, officials say that the fire remains within containment lines.
On Monday, October 17, fire resources assisted in response to a new start of fire south of Waldo Lake. According to fire officials six smokejumpers dropped in near Maiden Peak and were able to catch and hold the new fire at approximately a tenth of an acre.
Fire fighters are focusing their efforts to hold and secure lines that have previously challenged containment along the southern edge of the fire. Officials say that crews will continue to monitor the areas that experienced
a Red Flag warning over the past weekend. Crews continue to assess and repair road systems along the norther edge of the fire. Road systems and chipping operations continue on the west side of the fire perimeter.
Authorities report that the 2022 wildfire season in Oregon has been among the mildest in the last decade, with human-caused fires down nearly 20% from the 10-year average, according to state data. Humans are the number one cause of wildfires in Oregon and across the country.
The Oregon Department of Forestry credits the decline to a wetter than normal spring, statewide investments in the firefighting workforce, aircraft and detection cameras and an expansive public messaging campaign about wildfire risks by the department.
In the year to date, it has responded to 806 wildfires in Oregon, down from the 10-year average of 973. Humans caused 587 of this year’s fires, down from the 10 year average of 717 and down nearly 35% from a high of 898 last year. Lightning strikes caused the other 219 fires this year, according to the forestry department.
At a recent hearing of the state Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire Recovery, chief of fire protection for the department, Mike Shaw, said it’s tough to know how much of a role each factor played, but credited much of the decline in human-caused wildfires to the public information campaign.
Police Warn Oregon Seeing Uptick Of Rainbow Fentanyl
As Halloween draws closer and closer, a new drug that looks “colorful & safe” is on the rise in Oregon, rainbow fentanyl.
According to Medford Police, officers have seen an uptick of the drug in recent months. Although the drug is no more powerful than its original counterpart, its color make it more alluring.
“The problem with rainbow fentanyl is the color,” said Lt. Rebecca Pietila. “It’s the fact that it’s colored similarly to vape that are marketed towards children.”
MPD could not give specifics on how much of an increase they’ve seen with the drug, but did explain that right now, they are only finding the drug in a powdered/block form and not in pill form.
Across the nation, the pill form of rainbow fentanyl is causing concern that the drug could make its way into children’s baskets this Halloween. The reason is because the drug looks very similar to some candies.
However, back in the Rogue Valley MPD says they are not concerned of this possibility.
“I wouldn’t say that we are overarchingly concerned about that in our community,” said Pietila. “We haven’t seen the fentanyl that looks similar to candy like they have in national news.”
Although concerns are low, MPD says that parents should still check their children’s candy by making sure that they are labeled with main brands, look for any unusual appearance or discoloration, check for tiny pinholes or tears in wrappers and if there is any doubt throw the candy out.
Study Finds Milder COVID Cases And Lower Viral Loads In Vaccinated Frontline Workers
A study of essential and frontline workers in six U.S. states who tested positive for COVID-19 and received two or three mRNA vaccine doses before delta infections and three doses before omicron infections suggests that they had significantly milder infections and lower viral loads than their unvaccinated peers.
In the study, published today in JAMA, HEROES-RECOVER Network researchers analyzed the weekly self-collected nasal swabs and whole-genome sequencing results from 1,199 frontline workers infected with COVID-19 from Dec 14, 2020, to Apr 19, 2022, with follow-up until May 9.
The workers, primarily health care professionals and first responders, were located in Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, Oregon, Texas, and Utah. Median age was 41 years, 59.5% were women, 72.6% were White, 19.3% were Hispanic, 14% were infected with the wild-type strain, 24.0% had a delta variant case, and 62.0% had omicron.
More symptom-free days — Of the 352 COVID-19 infections among the unvaccinated, 12.5% were asymptomatic, and 6.8% had uncharacteristic symptoms. Asymptomatic cases were more often linked to omicron than delta infections (odds ratio [OR], 5.6).
Among participants with symptoms, those with omicron infections had symptoms for, on average, 12.3 days, compared with 15.6 days with wild-type infections and 16.4 days with delta. Omicron-infected participants reported an average of 2.6 days sick in bed, 1.2 days fewer than those with wild-type infections and 2.0 days fewer than those with delta. Vaccinated patients had milder delta illnesses, but the precision of the estimates varied.
Workers who received their second vaccine dose 14 to 149 days before delta infection were significantly less likely than their unvaccinated participants to have symptoms (77.8% vs 96.1%; OR, 0.13). When they were symptomatic, third-dose recipients were significantly less likely to have fever or chills (38.5% vs 84.9%; OR, 0.07), had symptoms for fewer days (10.2 vs 16.4; difference, -6.1), and reported fewer hours of work missed (47.1 vs 62.8; difference, -15.2).
Among omicron-infected workers, the risk of symptoms didn’t differ significantly between two-dose compared with unvaccinated participants but was significantly higher for three-dose recipients (88.4% vs 79.4%; OR, 2.0). Workers with symptomatic omicron infections who received a third vaccine dose 7 to 149 days earlier were significantly less likely to have fever or chills than the unvaccinated (51.5% vs 79.0%; OR, 0.25) and were less likely to seek medical attention (14.6% vs 24.7%; OR, 0.45).
Symptoms tied to higher viral loads — “In a cohort of US essential and frontline workers with SARS-CoV-2 infections, recent vaccination with two or three mRNA vaccine doses less than 150 days before infection with delta or omicron variants, compared with being unvaccinated, was associated with attenuated symptoms, duration of illness, medical care seeking, or viral load for some comparisons, although the precision and statistical significance of specific estimates varied,” the researchers wrote.
Symptomatic participants had significantly higher average viral loads than those with no symptoms. delta- and omicron-infected workers who received a second vaccine dose 14 to 149 days earlier had a significantly lower average viral load than their unvaccinated counterparts.
“Although viral RNA shedding cannot be directly attributable to transmission, the relatively high viral load of omicron infections together with the higher frequency of asymptomatic infection supports previous studies suggesting an association with increased transmission, particularly during the first three to five days when viral load peaked,” the authors concluded.
Oregon Lottery Earns Big Returns for State in 2022
Salem, Ore. – The Oregon Lottery announced a return of nearly $909 million dollars to the state for the 2022 fiscal year – a return to pre-pandemic levels and 81% year over year growth. The funding directly benefits state parks and natural habitats, public schools, veteran services, outdoor school, and economic development. Oregon Lottery is self-funded through the sale of games, not tax dollars, and voters and the Legislature designate where the money goes.
“Lottery funds are dedicated to support some of Oregonians’ most treasured programs,” said Oregon Lottery Director Barry Pack. “The sales rebound this year shows our players continue to find relevancy in our games and value the reliable revenue they provide to help make our state a great place to live.”
Lottery players also won big, with payouts totaling nearing $16 billion for the year. Five players in Oregon won prizes over $250,000 and five won prizes $1 million or over. Prizes big and small account for 91% of the Lottery dollars played.
Sales commissions on Lottery games also support retailers, many of whom are small business owners. The 3,800 Lottery retailers across Oregon collectively earned more than $313 million this year.
Demonstrating a commitment to responsible play, the World Lottery Association recognized the Oregon Lottery in 2022 with the highest certification level for its Responsible Gaming programs. The Oregon Lottery was one of only eight lotteries in the United States to reach this level.
The Lottery’s financial year runs from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. A final audited report will be posted to the Oregon Lottery’s website.
Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned nearly $15 billion for economic development, public education, outdoor school, state parks, veteran services, and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org.
