Oregon Beach News, Wednesday 3/12 – Missing Child Dane Paulsen Found Deceased, Respect Nesting Areas to Protect Threatened Snowy Plover & Other Local and Statewide News…

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

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Oregon Beach Weather

Gale Warning Issued: 1:40 AM Mar. 12, 2025 – National Weather Service

...GALE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT THIS MORNING...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 5 AM PDT FRIDAY...

* WHAT...For the Gale Warning, south winds 25 to 35 kt with gusts up to 45 kt and seas 10 to 14 ft at 7 seconds expected. For the Small Craft Advisory, steep seas 9 to 13 ft.
* WHERE...All areas.
* WHEN...For the Gale Warning, from 11 PM Tuesday to 11 AM PDT Wednesday. For the Small Craft Advisory, from 11 AM Wednesday to 5 AM PDT Friday.
* IMPACTS...Strong winds and very steep seas could capsize or damage vessels. Low visibility conditions are expected.
* View the hazard area in detail at https://go.usa.gov/x6hks

Missing Child Dane Paulsen Found Deceased

March 11, 2025 – Siletz Oregon

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the discovery of Dane Paulsen, who had been missing since March 1, 2025 around 4:25pm. After an extensive search and investigation by local authorities, along with the help of community volunteers, Dane was found today at approximately 11:13am in the Siletz River approximately 3 miles downstream from the family’s property. Sadly, he was found deceased.

Juan Heredia, with Angels Recovery Dive Team offered his dive services to Dane’s family. After connecting with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Jaun was escorted onto the river by a local river guide and began searching areas of the Siletz River downstream from where Sheriff’s Office drivers had thoroughly combed.  

Sheriff’s Office investigators are currently processing the scene. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is working in partnership with the Lincoln County Medical Examiners Office. As is standard with ongoing investigations, additional details are not available at this time.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office expresses its deepest sympathies to Dane’s family and loved ones. The impact of this loss is felt by the entire community, and we join those grieving this unimaginable tragedy.

“Our thoughts are with the family, who are facing an unbearable sorrow,” said Sheriff Adam Shanks. “We are deeply grateful for the support and dedication shown by the search teams and our communities throughout this difficult time, though we wish it was under different circumstances.”

We understand that this news is incredibly painful, especially for Dane’s family and those who knew him. Dane’s family has been notified. Out of respect for the family’s privacy during this profoundly difficult time, we ask the public and media to respect their need for space and time to grieve.

Respect Nesting Areas to Protect Threatened Snowy Plover on the Oregon Coast March 15 – Sept. 15

 – The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and Siuslaw National Forest remind visitors to the Oregon coast that it is plover nesting season ­— beachgoers can help recovery efforts for the threatened western snowy plover March 15 to Sept. 15.

Sensitive plover nesting areas are identified on maps for the northern Oregon Coast and southern Oregon Coast. Signs may be present at trailheads with additional rules and limits, such as staying on the wet sand and no dogs even on a leash, to help protect the small shorebirds and their exposed nests during this crucial period. Visitors may also see rope fencing in dry sand areas; this fencing delineates some, but not all, of the critical plover habitat that should be avoided.

Recreation restrictions occur in designated plover management areas: stretches of beach along the coastline where plovers nest or might nest. These areas combined make up about 40 miles of Oregon’s 362 miles of shoreline.

Seasonal recreation restrictions have helped protect these small birds that nest on open sand along Oregon’s beaches. Nests, and especially chicks, are well-camouflaged. During the nesting season, human disturbances can flush adult plovers away from their nests as they attempt to defend their young. Left alone too long, or too often, eggs or chicks can die from exposure, predators or people.

Reminders for recreation on designated plover beaches March 15-Sept. 15:

• The following are not permitted: dogs (even on a leash), driving a vehicle, riding a bicycle, operating electric-assisted bicycles, camping, burning wood, flying kites or operating drones.
• Foot and equestrian traffic are permitted below the high-tide line on hard packed sand.
• Respect signs and barriers to protect nesting habitat.

“With the support of the public and improvements to plover habitat, we’re making great strides in reversing the decline of this species,” said Cindy Burns, Siuslaw National Forest wildlife biologist. “Keep doing your part to understand nesting season rules and to share the beach this spring and summer.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed western snowy plovers as a threatened species in 1993, when officials counted only 45 breeding adults. The numbers of breeding adults have steadily increased since then due to ongoing efforts. Officials counted 440 during the breeding season survey in 2024.

“We appreciate visitors’ support in keeping these shorebirds safe in the combined 40 miles of protected area along the coast. We invite visitors to enjoy permitted recreation in those areas or to recreate without seasonal restrictions on the hundreds of miles of beaches not designated as plover nesting areas,” said Laurel Hillmann, ocean shore specialist for Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

More information on the snowy plover, including detailed maps of nesting sites, can be found on the Oregon State Parks website (oregon.gov/plovers) and on the Siuslaw National Forest website (https://t.ly/AKPAN). Visitors to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and Sand Lake Recreation Area can review Off-highway Vehicle (OHV) maps to identify unrestricted recreation areas and information on riding motor vehicles on the sand.

New plover activity   

Plovers have been found nesting in new or historical nesting sites. For example, plover nests have been identified at the Sand Lake Recreation Area, near the lake’s inlet, every year the last few years. Beachgoers can protect these birds by recreating on the wet sand areas, avoiding roped off nesting areas, observing trail kiosks and signs, packing all trash out and keeping dogs on leash.

Background on plover protections

Several land managers oversee beach activity for plover protection, primarily the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFW).

Habitat loss from invasive plants — as well as human disturbances, including litter and discarded food scraps that attract predators — have contributed to the birds’ decline. The Oregon Dunes Restoration Collaborative, saveoregondunes.org, is working with land managers on a restoration strategy and to raise public awareness about the need to restore the dunes ecosystem for western snowy plovers, rare plants and animals and the unique recreation

Deputy Freerksen’s Quick Action Stops Armed Suspect in Coos Bay Traffic Stop

On March 10, 2025, at 3:15 PM, Deputy B. Freerksen, while patrolling the Barview area of Coos Bay, spotted a white Chevy Silverado without plates driving on Cape Arago Highway. After activating lights and sirens, the vehicle stopped on Bruce Rd. The driver, Richard Brant (51), had a handgun on the dash and partially lowered his window but refused to lower it further. Dispatch confirmed a misdemeanor warrant and revoked driving status.

Deputy Freerksen ordered Brant to exit the vehicle, but he refused, locking the door.When Freerksen reached to remove the pistol from the dash, Brant grabbed his wrist, prompting Freerksen to draw his weapon. Brant used his right hand to reach for another potential weapon. Freerksen broke the window with a baton, secured the handgun, and arrested Brant after a struggle. A short-barreled rifle (under 26” overall, barrel less than 16”) with a suppressor and a modified short-barreled shotgun were visible in the vehicle.

At 5:00 PM, Sgt. Boswell and K9 Poe arrived; Poe alerted on the vehicle. A search warrant revealed the rifle, three concealed Kershaw daggers, a loaded SCCY CPX-1 9mm, a modified JC Higgins 12-gauge, suspected meth with a pipe, and assorted ammo. Brant was booked and lodged at the Coos County Jail for Unlawful Possession of a Short-Barreled Rife, Carrying Concealed Weapons, Possession of Meth, Interfering with Police, Menacing, Harassment, Resist Arrest, Driving While Suspended, and the Misdemeanor Warrant.

Great work by Freerksen, Boswell, and K9 Poe, with Freerksen’s restraint preventing escalation.“Police action is not indicative of guilt. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”

Coos Bay Woman Arrested for Domestic Strangulation and Harassment After Assaulting Partner

On March 10, 2025, at approximately 8:25 PM, Deputy Z. Smith responded to a disturbance call at a residence on Crown Point Road in Coos Bay. The reporting party, a male resident, contacted North Coos Dispatch, alleging that he had been assaulted and strangled by his significant other in the presence of their child.

Deputy Smith interviewed the victim, who reported a physical altercation during which Amy Holt (45) grabbed and twisted a glass necklace he was wearing, leaving visible red marks and scratches on his neck. The victim stated that he briefly struggled to breathe, experiencing lightheadedness and panic. He also reported that Holt attempted to kick him. Deputy Smith and Sergeant S. Moore then contacted Holt inside the residence, where she provided vague and inconsistent details about the incident.

Following the investigation, Holt was arrested and transported to the Coos County Jail, where she was booked and lodged for Domestic Strangulation, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Harassment.“Police action is not indicative of guilt. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”

Newport Oregon Police Department –  Our 2024 Annual Report is now available to read online.

The report provides a message from the Chief of Police, snapshots of Department personnel and community events, highlights accomplishments of our Officers and Department, and provides summaries of crime statistics for the City of Newport.

As an example, the section on our Community Service Officers displays statistics and photos pertaining to City ordinance violations. In 2024, the CSOs addressed 612 ordinance-related issues. The Newport Police Department recorded a total of 211 complaints regarding abandoned vehicles. Of these, 176 cases were successfully addressed by the Community Service Officer (CSO) reaching out to the registered owners, who subsequently relocated their vehicles, thereby rectifying the violation. However, 35 vehicles were impounded due to the registered owners’ failure to adhere to the CSO’s repeated requests. Eleven of the towed vehicles were abandoned motor homes.

Included in the total number of ordinance issues, 94 involved Nuisance Ordinance – Debris, Rubbish, Vegetation, and 128 involved Nuisance Ordinance Affecting Public Health and Offensive Littering violations which consisted of illegal dumping of trash on public property. The total cost for removal of the debris, abandoned vehicles, boats, recreational vehicles, and fees paid to Thompson Sanitary Service, Table Mountain Forestry, towing companies, and City and County worker’s payroll amounted to $83,864 for the year, an increase of $36,256 from the amount spent in 2023.You may read the full report at https://newportoregon.gov/…/pdfs/Annual_Report_2024.pdf

Beginning March 10, 2025 through April 10, 2025, the Coos Bay-North Bend Water Board crews will continue routine maintenance flushing of water lines within its distribution system in Coos Bay.

Flushing of water lines will be from Isthmus Heights Cutoff Rd, north to Coos River Hwy. and from Harpole St, east to Applewood Dr in Eastside. Flushing will begin in the morning each day around 7:30 a.m. and end at approximately 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. In some locations flushing may begin earlier in the morning and end earlier in the afternoon.

Customers within the affected areas may experience periods of reduced pressure and may notice a discoloration of the water during these flushing periods. Customers should avoid doing laundry if their water appears discolored. If the discoloration does not clear up promptly, please notify the Water Board at (541) 267-3128.

Fishery Managers Worry About Effects of NOAA Cuts

The long term impacts of recent staff cuts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are still unknown, but fishery managers on the West Coast called the situation troubling. 

On Thursday, NOAA laid off more than 800 workers as the Trump administration continues its push to reduce the federal workforce.

West Coast lawmakers have warned that the cuts — and the potential for more layoffs in the future — could endanger lives and threaten maritime commerce and the fishing industry. NOAA manages federal tribal, commercial and recreational fisheries and includes the National Weather Service, which provides weather forecast data.

For West Coast fisheries, the firings have created uncertainty for fishery management now. (SOURCE)

A continued freeze on federal funds and uncertainty about the future of Medicaid have put a North Coast hospital in a wait-and-see situation.

Columbia Memorial Hospital, or CMH, is in the middle of a massive expansion and renovation project at its Astoria campus. The hospital is due to receive a $20 million resiliency grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. While that funding still seems likely to come through, a request for matching funds from the state is not as certain.

CMH plans to ask the Oregon Legislature for $6 million in matching funds during the current session. So far, the proposal has received positive support from a number of lawmakers.

“Six million is a lot to ask for a single project in any community, but I think this one rises to the top of the type of project they like to see,” said state Rep. Cyrus Javadi. 

One thing that might get in the way, however, is uncertainty over Medicaid.

House Republicans adopted a federal budget resolution at the end of February that suggests Medicaid could face major cuts.

Around 1.4 million Oregonians rely on Medicaid — through the Oregon Health Plan — for their health care. That includes just over half of the state’s children. According to data collected by the Oregon Health Authority, nearly one third of the residents of Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook Counties are enrolled in Medicaid — nearly 40,000 people across the three counties.

In Clatsop County, around 34% of the population, or more than 14,000 people, are enrolled. Of these, nearly 5,000 are children. 

The Oregon Health Plan is funded by state resources that are matched by federal dollars. Cuts to Medicaid would push costs onto the states — and the need to absorb those costs could mean requests like CMH’s fall farther down the priority list or are not considered at all. (READ MORE)

Volunteers are being sought to help prepare and serve lunch three times a week at the Florence Senior and Activity Center.  

They serve lunch Monday, Wednesday, and Friday each week. Both programs, the in-house dining known as Cafe 60, and Meals on Wheels, are very important in helping promote socialization and nutrition for older adults in Lane County.  Volunteer drivers for Meals on Wheels use their own vehicles, but they can be reimbursed for their mileage.  The Lane Council of Governments operates the Senior and Disabled Services in Lane County.  Alisa Andrion encourages potential volunteers to give her a call at L-COG, 541-682-1366.

WILD COAST FILM FESTIVAL: Celebrating Nature on the Big Screen!

The Columbia River Maritime Museum is proud to be a sponsor of this year’s Wild Coast Film Festival, March 14-16, 2025, at the Columbian Theater, 1102 Marine Drive, Astoria, OR.

Make plans to attend this unforgettable journey into the natural world. Walk on the wild side with grizzly bears, experience a 1,000-mile whitewater adventure, and fly alongside backyard hummingbirds – all through the magic of film! With 23 short films showcasing breathtaking wildlife, the festival also supports the Wildlife Center of the North Coast, dedicated to wildlife rescue efforts.

“This festival brings together the world’s best nature films, while celebrating the artistry, livelihoods, and conservation work that make the North Coast so special,” says Morgan Heim, National Geographic Explorer and co-founder of the festival. “Life isn’t complete until you see it.”

But it’s not just about films! • Guided nature & photo walks• Raffle prizes & locally foraged seaweed tasting• Opportunities to meet filmmakers & conservation organizations

For every ticket sold, you’re helping support the only wildlife care hospital serving coastal communities from Astoria to Pacific City! Get your tickets today at wildcoastfilm.org, and don’t miss out on a chance to celebrate wildlife and conservation. Virtual passes are also available for those who can’t attend in person.

 Calling All Vendors!

Astor Street Opry Company is hosting a Spring Craft & Vendor Market and we’re looking for amazing vendors to join us!

 Dates:
March 22 | 11 AM – 6 PM
March 23 | 10 AM – 4 PM

 Location: Astor Street Opry Company

 Cost: $25 per 6 ft table

Spaces are limited — don’t miss your chance to be part of this fun event! To reserve your spot, message us today! https://www.facebook.com/AstorStreetOpryCompany

The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce has announced that longtime community figure Wayne Sharpe will serve as Grand Marshal for the 118th annual Florence Rhododendron Festival Parade on May 18.

Sharpe’s extensive involvement includes hosting Coast Radio’s morning show, covering Siuslaw Vikings sports, and engaging with civic groups like Rotary and the city’s budget committee. A former pastor and Marine Corps veteran, he’s also co-founded the Oregon Coast Military History Museum and helped revive the Florence Veterans Day Parade.

Sharpe says he’s honored by the recognition, calling Florence a special place that’s grown tremendously since he arrived in 1992. This year’s Rhododendron Festival, themed “Rhodies on the River,” runs May 15-18, featuring parades, a carnival, classic cars, and a rhododendron showcase.

Siuslaw schools are collecting unwanted, unused, or broken electronics now through April 8th in partnership with Lane County Waste Management and NextStep Recycling.

The school that collects the most e-waste will win a sustainability grant of up to $500. Accepted items include TVs, computers, printers, cellphones, game consoles, and more—excluding plastic non-electronic items. Donations are repaired or recycled for community use. Drop-offs are accepted at NextStep Recycling in Eugene, and businesses can request a free pickup. More details at wastewiselane.org/ERC.

Company Petitions to Revive Jordan Cove LNG Project Through Southern Oregon

On February 24, 2025, OA Partners LLC – a LNG transportation startup based in Arizona – filed a petition with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to retroactively revive the Jordan Cove LNG Terminal project in Coos County, Oregon.

The project was canceled in 2021 after failing to secure the necessary environmental permits and years of opposition from local residents.

The petition cites President Trump’s Executive Order to unleash American energy and expedite permitting for LNG export projects, and asks the court to waive Oregon’s state permitting requirements under the Clean Water Act.

If built, the Jordan Cove terminal would have been able to export up to 7.8 million metric tons of LNG every year; natural gas would have been supplied to the facility by a new 229-mile-long pipeline. (SOURCE)

SWIFTY and Yachats Lions Club Partner for Bird Nesting Boxes
Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation 

SWIFTY (Swallows in Flight to Yachats) in conjunction with students from Newport High School and 4-H of Waldport, and with support from the Yachats Lions Club, we have put together two programs to build and install bird nesting boxes.

The project with the 4-H group is to build 16 Tree Swallow nesting boxes to replace existing, failing, boxes at the Tami Wagner Wildlife Area (Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife) along the Yachats River, which is the only state-owned elk refuge on the Oregon Coast. Under SWIFTY’s direction, cedar swallow boxes were assembled by 4-H kids at the Yachats Lions Club Hall in Yachats on February 17th.

The installation at the Tami Wildlife area is provisionally scheduled for March 1st. In addition there is an educational component to the project where the kids will be doing posters on different facets of the life and ecology of tree swallows. The topics are: Migration, Nesting and Nest Boxes, Feathers and Flight, Threats, Feeding, Breeding and Behavior. The Yachats Lions Club paid for the cost of the construction materials.

SWIFTY has also arranged with Newport High School special education teacher Violet Brown and assistant Matt Bouvier to have students in the E.C.E.L. program construct 14 nesting boxes for Purple Martins, our largest North American swallows. The boxes are constructed from cedar lumber according to a design that is in widespread use in British Columbia. The boxes will replace dilapidated boxes on pilings in the Siletz River near Kernville. The box installation will be carried out by boat at a high tide during March, in time for the return of the birds from their migration to Brazil. The Yachats Lions Club paid for the cost of all the construction materials.

SWIFTY is a group of local wildlife enthusiasts who in 2020 started building birdhouses for swallows. Our motivation is to bring attention to the need to help cavity nesters such as swallows, wood ducks and chickadees, who have experienced declining forest habitat for nesting. In addition, many of these cavity nesting birds are migratory and have seen declining numbers due to the warming of the planet particularly in the Western US where lack of water, forest fires, and pollution impacts their survival across long distances. SWIFTY works with public and non-profit conservation and land management groups. We currently have several hundred boxes installed in Lincoln County, monitoring over 200 yearly.

The mission of the Lions Clubs is to empower Lions Clubs, volunteers and partners to improve health and wellbeing, strengthen communities, and support those in need through humanitarian service and grants that impact lives globally and encourage peace and international understanding.

4’H is the largest youth empowerment program in the US. It is delivered by Cooperative Extension–a community of more than 100 public universities across the nation that provides experiences where young people learn by doing. For more than 100 years, 4??’H has welcomed young people of all beliefs and backgrounds, giving kids a voice to express who they are and how they make their lives and communities better.

Clatsop Community College

 · The CCC Upward Bound program is seeking a catering service for their summer academy that gives high school students a start to achieving their college goals. Catering would be from June 16- July 25 (Mon-Thurs) and serving breakfast and lunch. They are looking for healthy, balanced meals with vegetarian options.

Please submit your interest in catering by April 7, 2025. Follow the link for more details: https://drive.google.com/…/1nE3p7GLlRT… Contact Amy Magnussen at amagnussen@clatsopcc.edu or 503-325-2898 for questions or further details.

Efforts to Bring Back Sea Otters to the Oregon Coast are Underway

The Elakha Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Oregon, founded by tribal leaders, conservationists, and nonprofit advocates united by a powerful vision. We imagine an Oregon coast where future generations thrive alongside a restored sea otter population and a resilient marine ecosystem.

After being absent for more than a century, an effort to repopulate the Oregon Coast with sea otters is in the works.

Oregon non-profit The Elakha Alliance was founded in 2018 by Tribal leaders and conservationists to restore the sea otter population on the coast. The Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians, Defenders of Wildlife, Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Suislaw Indians, as well as the Yurok Tribe, Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation, Oregon Coast Aquarium and Oregon Zoo are also participating in the effort.

After being hunted in the 19th century as part of the maritime fur trade, sea otters have been absent from the coast for over 100 years. Elakha Alliance Executive Director Jane Bacchieri says many people are surprised to find out this fact. Since sea otters would likely be a protected species, Bacchieri says hunting would no longer be a concern.

She also says re-introducing sea otters would help reduce sea urchin over-population, since sea urchins are one of the primary food sources for sea otters. As a result, this would produce healthier kelp forests.

For reintroduction to be successful, Bacchieri stresses that there must be enough prey and habitat resources available. Additionally, the non-profit would examine the socio-economic implications of reintroducing the species. Bacchieri says a realistic time frame for this to occur would be gradually over about 10 years.

Since sea otters don’t migrate, she says there’s a very good chance they could be a thriving, self-sustaining population if re-introduced successfully. MORE INFO: https://www.elakhaalliance.org/

The Columbia River Maritime Museum is looking for its newest crew member!

MUSEUM EDUCATOR — Full Time, Salary Position reporting to Director of Education

Full job description and employment application are available on our website – https://www.crmm.org/join-our-crew.html

Coos Bay Police Department –  WE’RE HIRING 9-1-1 DISPATCHERS

$4684 – $5972/Month DOQ — We offer:•A dynamic team environment •Alternative schedule benefiting work/life balance •Up to 5 weeks paid time off per year after the first year •The opportunity to serve your community

Our team members have come from a variety of work fields- no experience necessary! For additional information from the North Coos 9-1-1 Recruitment Team or to schedule a ride-along please email: join911@coosbayor.govhttps://www.coosbayor.gov/…/Compon…/JobPosts/Job/126/107

Gleneden Beach Community Club Events

Look what’s coming up soon at the Club… (sign up at glenedenbeach.org)

The Oregon Coast Aquarium New Tufted Puffin Oregon License Plates on Sale

One of Oregon’s most adorably iconic seabirds is coming to the front and back of a car near you. The Oregon Coast Aquarium has opened voucher sales for its new tufted puffin license plates.

The design, featuring a tufted puffin floating in the ocean and gazing down at some fish below, was created by the
aquarium’s graphic design and marketing coordinator, Cam Mullins.

Starring a tufted puffin—one of Oregon’s iconic seabirds–funds from the new license plate will benefit both the Aquarium’s animals and their wild counterparts. You can purchase a voucher now and exchange it at the DMV once the physical plates are available. We need to sell 3,000 vouchers to reach the production stage—meaning the sooner 3,000 vouchers are sold, the sooner production begins, and the sooner you’ll have your puffin plates in-hand. Read the full story at aquarium.org/puffin-plate-debut: photo by OCAq’s Jeremy Burke

Tufted puffins are native to Oregon and nest on the rocky coast. The aquarium has a Seabird Aviary that sustains a flock of these sea birds and the profits from the license plates will go to benefit these puffins and their wild counterparts.

The voucher is available for purchase on the aquarium’s website. The cost covers the $40 surcharge fee and the money left over after the deduction of the DMV’s fees will go to support the Oregon Coast Aquarium’s
rehabilitation and conservation efforts. The aquarium is building a new marine wildlife rehabilitation center with
hopes of doubling the number of animal patients it can offer care to. FOLLOW on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/OregonCoastAquarium

Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay

Follow on Facebook: Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay

Should Homelessness Be Criminalized? | Dr. Phil Primetime — Focus on Grants Pass

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkVpBS_Y6Pw
 

Paid Leave Oregon Surpasses $1 Billion in Benefits Paid to Oregon Workers 

— As of March 11, Paid Leave Oregon has delivered more than $1 billion in benefits to Oregon workers, marking a significant milestone in supporting people and families across the state. To date, over 150,000 people have received Paid Leave benefits.

“This milestone is a measure of the state’s commitment to supporting Oregon’s workforce,” said David Gerstenfeld, Director of the Oregon Employment Department. “$1 billion in benefits demonstrates the significant impact this program has had, not only on employees and their families, but also on Oregon businesses and the broader economy. By providing financial security during critical times, Paid Leave Oregon helps employers retain workers, reduce turnover costs, and strengthen the economic stability of communities across the state.” 

“Paid Leave Oregon makes our state healthier, happier, and more prosperous by ensuring people don’t have to choose between their health, their families, and their paychecks,” said Karen Madden Humelbaugh, Director of Paid Leave Oregon. “Reaching the $1 billion mark shows that we’ve built something stable and strong. Whether they are recovering from an illness, welcoming a new child, or caring for a loved one, Oregonians can count on Paid Leave Oregon to be there for them during life’s most important moments.” 

Paid Leave Oregon continues to be a national model for state-administered paid leave programs, ensuring equitable access to benefits for workers. The program is funded through contributions from employers and employees, ensuring a sustainable and robust support system for Oregonians who take paid leave. 

Every dollar goes to someone facing a serious health condition, caring for a family member, bonding with a new child, or dealing with the impacts of domestic violence, stalking, harassment, or sexual assault.

Since its launch in January 2023, Paid Leave has paid benefits to more than 150,000 Oregonians. Of the approved applications, 45% have been for medical leave, 28% for bonding with a new child, 14% to care for a family member with a serious health condition, 12% for leave due to pregnancy, and 1% for safe leave. 

Paid Leave Oregon continues to expand its outreach and services to ensure more workers and businesses understand and use the program when they need it. For more information, visit paidleave.oregon.gov.  

### The Oregon Employment Department (OED) is an equal opportunity agency. OED provides free help so you can use our services. Some examples are sign language and spoken-language interpreters, written materials in other languages, large print, audio, and other formats. To get help, please call 503-947-1444. TTY users call 711. You can also send an email to communications@employ.oregon.gov.

Station Wagon Pulled from River May Belong to Oregon Family Missing for Nearly 70 Years

Authorities pulled a station wagon from the Columbia River Friday that’s believed to have belonged to an Oregon family of five who disappeared nearly 70 years ago while they were out searching for Christmas greenery.

Deputy Pete Hughes of the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office said the salvage crew working near the Cascade Locks Marine Park believes the chassis and motor they pulled from the Columbia River around 3:45 p.m. did, in fact, belong to the Portland family. Officials won’t be able to confirm that it’s the car, which fell apart as they were recovering it, until they check the VIN number stamped on the engine.

VIDEO: https://www.facebook.com/katunews/videos/9081258175333867 — https://www.facebook.com/reel/1111488933995173

The search for the Martin family was a national news story at the time and led some to speculate about the possibility of foul play, with a $1,000 reward offered for information about their whereabouts.

The Martins took their daughters Barbara, 14, Virginia, 13, and Sue, 11, on a ride to the mountains on Dec. 7, 1958, to collect Christmas greenery, according to AP stories from the time. They never returned.

Officials narrowed their search for the family after learning that Ken Martin had used a credit card to buy gas at a station near Cascade Locks, a small Columbia River community about 40 miles east of Portland.

“Police have speculated that Martin’s red and white station wagon might have plunged into an isolated canyon or river,” the AP reported. “The credit card purchase was the only thing to pin-point the family’s movements.” (READ MORE)

Crash Kills Juvenile, Father Arrested in Glendale

GLENDALE, Ore. – A 55-year-old Wolf Creek man was arrested on charges of second-degree manslaughter after a pickup truck crash killed his 11-year-old daughter Monday afternoon. Driver impairment is considered a factor in the crash.

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were called to a motor vehicle crash on Oregon Department of Forestry land bordering the 1200 block of Tunnel Road in Glendale at about 1:30 pm Monday, March 10, 2025. The pickup, a green Ford F250, was reportedly occupied by the driver, Ian Anthony Fleming, and three juvenile females when the crash occurred.

The three juvenile passengers were thrown from the vehicle as it rolled multiple times down an embankment.  All juveniles sustained injuries. Fleming was able to get out of the vehicle on his own and he then attempted to get medical care for his seriously injured daughter. He used a borrowed vehicle to drive his daughter to the ambulance station on Tunnel Road. Glendale Ambulance paramedics declared her deceased shortly after.

The two other juveniles were transported by Glendale Ambulance to Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford for treatment.

DCSO Detectives responded to the scene after deputies reported Fleming had fled. Fleming later returned to the location of the crash and was interviewed. Detectives determined alcohol and drugs were a factor in the crash and arrested Fleming for Manslaughter II. He was lodged at the Douglas County jail.

Oregon’s Unemployment Rate Rises to 4.4% in January

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.4% in January and 4.3%, as revised, in December, after rising gradually over the past year from 4.1% in January 2024. Oregon’s 4.4% unemployment rate was the highest since September 2021, when the rate was also 4.4%. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.1% in December 2024 and 4.0% in January 2025.

In January, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 2,400 jobs, following a revised decline of 2,000 jobs in December. January’s gains were largest in professional and business services (+1,400 jobs); leisure and hospitality (+1,200); retail trade (+900); and private educational services (+900). Declines were largest in manufacturing (-2,200) and health care and social assistance (-1,300).

Oregon’s private sector added 12,700 jobs, or 0.8%, between January 2024 and January 2025. Job gains during 2024 were less than previously indicated, as annual data revisions resulted in an average reduction of 15,600 jobs per month during the second half of 2024.

During the past three years, health care and social assistance was by far the fastest growing sector of Oregon’s economy, adding 15,100 jobs, or 5.2%, in the 12 months through January. However, a large strike at a major health care provider contributed to the one-month drop of 1,300 jobs in this industry during January.

Industries that grew moderately during the most recent 12 months included other services (+2,100 jobs, or 3.2%); private educational services (+1,100 jobs, or 3.0%); professional and business services (+2,900 jobs, or 1.1%); and construction (+900 jobs, or 0.8%).

Manufacturing continued its decline of the past two years, cutting 6,900 jobs (-3.7%) in the 12 months through January, while retail trade shed 2,300 jobs (-1.1%) during that time.

Dysentery outbreak in Oregon leaves dozens sickened

Two dozen new cases of Shigella, which can cause dysentery, have been reported in Oregon since the start of the new year, according to health officials.

Cases have been on the rise since 2012 and the illness has spread to the Portland Metro areas. Health officials say the increase “is concerning.” 

Shigella bacteria cause shigellosis, which is an illness that impacts the intestines, according to the Mayo Clinic. 

Shigella can cause a range of systems, including, but not exclusively, dysentery.

Other symptoms can also include: 

• Fever
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea

Where did the outbreak begin? 

Shigella cases have been rising in Multnomah County, Oregon, since 2012, according to a county official.

“High case counts throughout 2024 reflected two separate outbreaks of different strains of Shigella. The cases that we are seeing in 2025 are the result of transmission of a strain of Shigella sonnei strain that was introduced into Oregon in the spring of 2024,” the spokesperson told FOX TV Stations.

The disease eventually spread to the Portland Metro area in the summer of 2024 and has spread within and between housed and unhoused populations in the region since then, they added. 

How many cases are in Oregon? 

There are 197 total cases nationally with this particular strain.

Sixty-one percent of the cases have been in Multnomah County.

There are at least 14 distinct subclusters, which means that there are several pathways of transmission within different groups of people.

In 2024, there were 158 confirmed cases in Multnomah County. 

What we know:

As of January, 40 new cases were reported.

What we don’t know:

Data for February is not finalized. 

However, preliminary data shows that there are six confirmed cases and “three cases without culture-confirmed illness developed illness and were reported in February.”

“Even though the data are not yet finalized, the number of cases in February 2025 appears to represent a decline from the number of cases in January,” the spokesperson said. 

What caused the outbreak in Multnomah? 

Health officials said there are several ways the Shigella bacteria spread throughout the county. 

• Some cases are contracted through international travel to lower-resource countries (less than 20%). 
• Among cases without international travel, fecal-oral spread through intimate (including sexual) contact may account for between half and more than two-thirds of all cases.
• About one-third to half of cases in the past year have been in people experiencing either homelessness or housing instability.  
• We have also identified spread among housed and unhoused social groups who use drugs.

The cases of Shigella are being spread between people rather than from one outbreak source, such as a restaurant, the spokesperson explained. 

How to stop the spread

Since the most common source of transmission for Shigella is human to human among several subgroups, “there is no single, easy answer to stop all illness from spreading,” according to the spokesperson. 

What’s next:

The Multnomah County Health Department provides educational resources to teach people about avoiding the transmission of any disease.

“They counsel people to avoid preparing food, limit sexual contact, and stay out of pools and other communal water bodies for at least two weeks after symptoms stop. People who work in food, childcare or healthcare facilities are restricted from work until they test negative,” the spokesperson said.

For unhoused people, the department can provide additional support through short-term housing, which health officials explained is the “best intervention for reducing spread.” 

Other prevention tips include: 

• Frequent handwashing
• Throw away soiled diapers in a covered, lined garbage bin
• Disinfect diaper-changing areas right after use
• Avoid ingesting water from ponds, lakes or untreated pools
• Avoid sexual contact with anyone who has been suffering from diarrhea or recently recovered

Who is at risk?

Most people are able to recover from dysentery within a few days. However, if it goes untreated for a prolonged period, it can be fatal, according to the Cleveland Clinic. 

The people who are most at risk of suffering from serious complications of dysentery include: 

• Young children
• People over 50
• Dehydrated or malnourished people

The Source: Information for this report was gathered from an email received from the Multnomah County press office on March 6, 2025, the Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic.

Oregon State Parks to hire more than 200 seasonal Rangers, Ranger Assistants

Oregon State Parks will hire more than 200 seasonal Rangers and Ranger Assistants for positions across the state for the 2025 season.

Hiring starts as soon as this month and runs through about June with new positions listed on a rolling basis on the website. The positions last anywhere from four to nine months. Most seasonal staff work April through September, but some start as early as this month or work as late as December.

Seasonal staff help visitors access world-class experiences and ensure clean and safe park areas for everyone to enjoy. Duties include janitorial work, landscape maintenance, visitor education and visitor services.

Salaries start at $19.78 per hour for seasonal assistants and $23.21 for seasonal rangers. Both positions include comprehensive medical, vision and dental plans for employees and qualified family members. The positions also include paid sick leave, vacation, personal leave and 11 paid holidays per year. Student workers, ages 16 and older, start at $19.77 or more per hour depending on experience.

Several of Oregon State Parks’ top leaders started their careers as seasonal employees including all three Region Directors.

“We believe in growing leadership from within. We invest in our staff and provide pathways for advancement whether you’re here for a season or your entire career,” said Director Lisa Sumption.

Seasonal staff gain valuable skills working with experienced Rangers at parks around the state. The first wave of openings include positions along the coast from Washburne to Cape Lookout; the Willamette Valley including Silver Falls and Detroit Lake; the Columbia River Gorge and Eastern Oregon including Wallowa Lake and Lake Owyhee.

For more information about current openings, visit stateparks.oregon.gov. If you have any questions or need additional assistance in accessibility or alternative formats, please email Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Recruiting D.Recruiting@oprd.oregon.gov“>OPRD.Recruiting@oprd.oregon.gov.

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, committed to diversity and pay equity.

State treasurers from Oregon, Illinois, Nevada and Colorado are urging the Trump administration to end a tumultuous trade war with Canada, Mexico and China.

Oregon Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner told media last week that “Canada, Mexico and China are three of our Oregon’s top four trading partners, accounting for more than 15 billion a year each in exports from our state.  Tariff price hikes are likely to increase the cost of items that consumers and businesses depend on, such as electronics, clothing, appliances and other products we all use every day.”

A study from the Peterson Institute for International Economics predicts Trump’s tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China would cost the typical U.S. household more than $1,200 per year. That’s a price that Steiner says could devastate the average Oregon household, which can’t afford an emergency expense of more than $500, according to the 2025 Oregon Financial Wellness Scorecard survey.

Trump wants to increase logging in national forests and on public lands, including by bypassing endangered species protections.

To do that, the federal government would have to activate a seldom-used committee nicknamed the “God Squad” because it can approve federal projects even if it leads to extinction of a species otherwise protected by the Endangered Species Act. But environmentalists say there are strict procedural requirements — and no provision under law to proactively use the committee to bypass protections. 

The president just signed actions to increase domestic lumber production in national forests and other public lands, directing federal agencies to look for ways to bypass protections for endangered species. 

Officially called the Endangered Species Committee, it was established in 1978 as a way to exempt projects from Endangered Species Act protections if a cost-benefit analysis concluded it was the only way to achieve net economic benefits in the national or regional interest.

In the case of logging, the analysis also should determine if the benefits of cutting trees outweigh the economic value of watershed and other protections provided by standing timber, said Patrick Parenteau, an emeritus professor at the Vermont Law and Graduate School who helped write criteria for the God Squad.

ODF proposes revised state forest implementation plans, opens 30-day comment period

SALEM, Ore.–The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) opens a 30-day comment period on proposed Implementation Plan revisions for the Astoria, Forest Grove, Tillamook, North Cascade, West Oregon, and Western Lane (including the Veneta and Southwest units) state forest districts. Implementation plans describe forest management activities such as timber harvest targets, road construction and maintenance, reforestation and young stand management, recreation, aquatic habitat restoration and protection strategies for species of concern.

The comment period begins Feb. 20 and ends March 21 at 5 p.m. The implementation plans are available on ODF’s website. Comments can be submitted online by using this form,  emailing ODF.SFComments@oregon.gov, or mailing comments to ODF Public Affairs, 2600 State St., Salem, OR 97310.

State forests by law must provide social, economic, and environmental benefits to Oregonians, and are managed under long-range forest management plans, mid-range implementation plans, and annual operations plans.

At the direction of the Board of Forestry, ODF is continuing the development of a draft Western Oregon State Forests Habitat Conservation Plan and Forest Management Plan for Western Oregon State Forests. The draft Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) is currently going through the National Environmental Policy Act process.  Finalization of this process and issuance of Incidental Take Permits is expected to occur within fiscal year 2026. Revising the current implementation plans allows the agency to continue operations during this time of transition and further align with the draft HCP while focusing resources on developing a new forest management plan and accompanying implementation plans required to implement the draft HCP.

The revisions to the current Implementation Plans include new information on the district land base and forest resources, updated Species of Concern strategies and associated Forest Land Management Classification map, clarified timber harvest target descriptions, and changes to the mapped landscape design of the desired future condition. These changes align with Division policy, current Forest Management Plans and draft HCP objectives. In order to cover the HCP approval timeline, the new Forest Management Plan and new Implementation Plan development timelines, the revised Implementation Plans have been extended through June 30, 2027.

A man has been sentenced to three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole after a Klamath County jury found him guilty of sex crimes against children — one of the longest sentences in Oregon history for sex crimes. 

Richard Travis Carlson was sentenced after a two-day trial starting Feb. 26. The Klamath County District Attorney’s office said on Monday that a jury found him guilty of eight separate counts of first-degree sodomy from 2018 to 2023.

These eight counts included three separate victims all under the age of 12 during the offenses.  

The District Attorney’s office said the sentence was aggravated because Carlson was previously convicted in 1998 in the state of Washington for felony rape of a child. The victim in that case was also under the age of twelve during the incident.

The investigation began in 2023 with reports to the Oregon Department of Human Services, with those reports being investigated by the Oregon State Police (OSP) and the Klamath Falls Police Department (KFPD).  Carlson is serving his sentence in the Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC).

A bill to make Oregon one of a small number of states that have banned the sale of flavored tobacco drew passionate support but also very personal objections during a public hearing this week.

Proponents of the bill told a legislative committee that flavored tobacco “smells like candy” and addicts children as young as elementary school age while setting them on a path toward early death.

But opponents argued flavored tobacco, which often is ingested through vaping or packets that are sucked on, offers adults a less harmful alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes and the problem resides with stores that violate the law by selling it to Oregonians under age 21.

Chief among the bill’s opponents is Sen. David Brock Smith, a Port Orford Republican, who told the Senate Committee On Early Childhood and Behavioral Health that vaping flavored tobacco allowed him to kick a 30-year habit of smoking that was passed on to him from his dad.

Richard Burke, executive director of the 21+ Tobacco and Vapor Retail Association of Oregon, said banning flavored tobacco takes away “bodily autonomy” for adults and even the National Health Service in the United Kingdom has started a “Swap to Stop” program where it gives smokers vaping products in exchange for their traditional cigarettes. Burke also said a prohibition could create an underground trade.

Senate Bill 702 supporters who testified Tuesday were people of all ages, including parents, teens and doctors. They said not only do the fruity and sweet flavors hook youth under 21, the flavored tobacco impacts their ability to focus at school and be productive later in life.

Youth have little trouble getting around Oregon’s age restrictions on sales by getting the products from adults or buying the products at stores that are lackadaisical about enforcement, proponents of the bill said.

OREGON DIVISION OF FINANCIAL REGULATION CREATES COMMERCIAL INSURANCE GUIDES FOR BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS

Salem – The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) recently released a series of new consumer guides focused on commercial property and casualty insurance. The five new guides can be found on DFR’s website:

• Guides to commercial property and casualty insurance
• Shelters – Guide to commercial property and casualty insurance
• Nonprofits – Guide to commercial property and casualty insurance
• Child care providers – Guide to commercial property and casualty insurance
• Restaurants – Guide to commercial property and casualty insurance

These guides explain key features of commercial insurance policies, how to plan for and purchase coverage, and what to do if you are having difficulty finding insurance for your business. It also includes useful descriptions of different types of coverage and what factors insurers use to determine what premium you pay. Individual guides are also available that define special considerations for shelters, nonprofits, child care facilities, and restaurants. These provide tips for overcoming distinct challenges encountered with these types of organizations and businesses. 

“By taking proactive measures, business owners and nonprofits can better manage their risks and ensure they have the necessary protection in place,” said Andrew Stolfi, Oregon’s insurance commissioner and director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. “We are hopeful these guides can help people navigate the intricacies of insurance and better understand terminology, technicalities, and how to get coverage if a commercial entity is struggling to obtain coverage in traditional markets.”

DFR has a variety of other publications to help consumers with auto insurance, health and life insurance, disaster resources, student loans, managing your finances, and more on its website.

If you have questions about your insurance, contact your insurance company or agent, or you can contact one of DFR’s consumer advocates at 1-888-877-4894 (toll-free) or at dfr.insurancehelp@dcbs.oregon.gov.

Registration is closing soon for the Bob Ross-inspired Happy Little (Virtual) 5K

Oregon Parks Forever — Inspired by American painter and PBS television personality Bob Ross’ love of the outdoors, Oregon Parks Forever is sponsoring a virtual 5K race to help plant trees in Oregon’s parks & forests.  Registration is now open for the 2025 Run for the Trees at www.orparksforever.org.

Inspired by American painter and PBS television personality Bob Ross’ love of the outdoors, Oregon Parks Forever is sponsoring a virtual 5K race to help plant trees in Oregon’s parks & forests.  You must register by April 1^st in order to get your shirts and medal before the event.

Participants can walk, run, paddle or roll to complete their 5K anywhere outdoors anytime between April 19 and 27 (covering Earth Day and Arbor Day).   Participants are encouraged to register by April 1 to ensure that your swag arrives before the event week.  If you register after April 1, you may not receive your swag before race week. Registration will close on April 15.

For $36 per person, each participant will receive a keepsake Happy Little T-shirt, a commemorative bib number and a finisher’s medal. All Oregon race proceeds support tree planting and forest protection efforts in Oregon parks.  Ten trees will be planted in Oregon for each registration.  This year, the trees will be planted in the Santiam Canyon.

Initially, the “Happy Little Trees” program began with a partnership between the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Bob Ross Inc., with hundreds of volunteers helping to plant “happy little trees” at locations hard-hit by invasive pests and tree diseases. The partnership quickly expanded to include the Run for the Trees / Happy Little (Virtual) 5K.

As the Happy Little 5K gained popularity, more states have joined the effort. Now in its fifth year, the Happy Little 5K has expanded its reach to include eleven other states. Together, Michigan, Oregon, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Maryland, Virginia and Tennessee will “lock arms” as they help raise awareness and funding for stewardship efforts in each state’s parks.

“We are thrilled to partner with Bob Ross, Inc. and these other eleven states on the Happy Little 5K concept as a way to honor the late Bob Ross and create a legacy event to plant trees,” said Seth Miller, Executive Director of Oregon Parks Forever.”

Oregon Parks Forever is joining this event as an expansion of our efforts to fund the replanting of trees killed by wildfires, heat domes and invasive insects.  Over the past two years, Oregon Parks Forever has been able to fund the replanting of more than 800,000 trees across Oregon.

“The official Bob Ross 5K is probably our most favorite initiative,” says Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Company. “It’s the perfect blend of everything Bob held dear; nature, taking care of the environment, and happy trees too of course. He would have been so pleased to see how it’s getting so popular around the world.”

Learn more about the program at www.orparksforever.org.

Contact us: Info@OregonBeachMagazine.com