The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Oregon Beach Weather
GALE WARNING ISSUED: 2:44 AM APR. 5, 2023 – NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 5 PM PDT THIS AFTERNOON... ...GALE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM PDT THURSDAY... * WHAT...Early this afternoon, south winds 20 to 30 kt with gusts up to 35 kt and seas 6 to 9 ft at 6 seconds. This evening, south winds increasing to 30 to 40 kt with gusts up to 50 kt and seas building to 10 to 17 ft at 9 seconds. * WHERE...Small Craft Advisory beyond 8 nm from shore, except also near Cape Blanco. Gale Warning over all of the area. * WHEN...For the Small Craft Advisory, from 11 AM to 5 PM PDT Wednesday. For the Gale Warning, from 5 PM Wednesday to 8 PM PDT Thursday. * 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
Skeletal Remains of Local Man Recovered by Lincoln County Search and Rescue
On 03/24/2023, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office responded to a remote area off the 1000 Line Rd outside of Toledo, OR after a citizen reported finding bones consistent with a human skeleton.
The area the bones were located in is steep, brushy and heavily forested, leading the Sheriff’s Office to call out its volunteer-based Search and Rescue Team to safely access the area.
Search and Rescue Team members, in coordination with Sheriff’s Deputies, located the bones, determined they were human in origin, documented the area, and retrieved the remains.
Based on previous knowledge of the area, Sheriff’s Deputies coordinated with the Lincoln County Medical Examiner and the State Medical Examiner’s Office to identify the remains as 41-year-old Isaiah Eggert of Toledo, OR. Isaiah was reported missing from the Newport area in October of 2021. There are no suspicious circumstances in this case. Isaiah’s next of kin have been notified.
Astoria City Council Rejects Appeal On Affordable Housing Complex
A decision by the Astoria Historic Landmarks Commission to approve design plans for the expansion of the Owens-Adair, an affordable housing complex near downtown, was upheld by the City Council.
In a divided 3-2 vote Monday night, the City Council denied an appeal by neighboring property owners to the Historic Landmarks Commission’s January decision.
The Owens II, a new four-story, 50-unit apartment complex, would mirror the Northwest Oregon Housing Authority’s building on 15th and Exchange streets and serve low-income seniors and people with disabilities.
Design plans for the building had to go before the Historic Landmarks Commission to determine whether the proposed building design was compatible with adjacent historic buildings and suitable for the location. In a 6-1 vote in January, the commission agreed the design met the criteria, allowing the housing authority to move forward with applying for building and engineering permits. The decision came after the commission asked the applicant to revise the design plans during the first public hearing in December.- ADVERTISEMENT –
On Monday night, the City Council reviewed the decision based on the record from the Historic Landmarks Commission.
City staff said the Historic Landmarks Commission only considered relevant criteria in its purview and advised the City Council that unrelated issues should not be considered in making a decision on the appeal.
“The design and the architectural detail, the facade — I’m just not happy,” said Mayor Sean Fitzpatrick, who, along with City Councilor Tom Hilton, voted in favor of the appeal.
The mayor pointed to the character of the former St. Mary’s Hospital, which existed in a similar footprint as the proposed building until the east side was demolished in the 1970s.
“I see a blank facade broken up by two drain pipes and the setback and the garage entrance,” Fitzpatrick said of the proposed design. “So while maybe it has met the absolute bare minimum criteria on paper that the (Historic Landmarks Commission) felt that they had to work with, I don’t see compatibility with the surrounding properties.”
However, City Councilor Tom Brownson, Councilor Elisabeth Adams and Councilor Andy Davis found the criteria was properly applied by the Historic Landmarks Commission and that the proposed design is compatible.
The appeal was filed by Brian and Margarita Colonna and Bob and Cindy Magie, the owners of two properties across the street from the Owens-Adair.
Through their attorney, the Colonnas, who own the historic Capt. John Merriam residence, and the Magies, who own the historic Gilbaugh Building, argued that the proposed design was not compatible with neighboring properties. They also argued that the commission and council should consider concerns about the potential for the construction of a subgrade parking garage to disrupt the foundation of their properties, and disagreed with the city’s position that the issue is outside the Historic Landmark Commission’s purview.
Jeffrey Kleinman, a Portland attorney representing the Colonnas and Magies, argued that the city has a responsibility in its code to help preserve existing historic structures and districts and that approving a project that could cause damage to an adjacent historic property is a violation.
However, City Attorney Blair Henningsgaard argued that is a misread of the city’s code, and that the Historic Landmarks Commission can only review what is in its purview, independent of the section Kleinman was referring to.
“This is a project overall that my clients support,” Kleinman said. “It’s not a NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) situation. They support affordable housing. They support it at this location. That’s not an issue. The issue is the design and the related seismic and parking issues.”
Next steps — City staff noted that the next steps would include a review of construction documents, engineering plans and the application for a building permit. The building permit review includes assessements by multiple city departments, as well as consideration of geotechnical aspects of the project site.
If during the process it is determined changes need to be made to the design, there is a procedure in place to make those changes, city staff said. And depending on the size and scope of the changes, they could be reviewed by either staff or the Historic Landmarks Commission.
“If in the strange or unforeseeable circumstance that we get to building permit review and we can’t meet some of the Astoria development code standards for geotech, for parking, for transportation — that’s a risk we’re taking,” said Christen White, an attorney with Portland-based Radler White Parks & Alexander LLP, representing the project team.
“And as staff mentioned, and as is true under the code, we will then have to modify our development permit to be sure that we can make those findings. And if we have to do that, we’ll be back here. So trust us that we were smart enough to be sure we designed a project that would not require that we revisit the public process. We were sure that we could meet all of these standards.”
Upon opening the public hearing, Fitzpatrick disclosed that he had communication with the parties involved prior to the decision by the Historic Landmarks Commission, but has not discussed the issue with them since.
He said he is familiar with all of the buildings adjacent to the Owens-Adair, and has friends on both sides of the issue.
“Specifically and directly related to this appeal, David Oser is a member of the Northwest Oregon Housing Authority board, and I appointed Mr. Oser to the Astoria budget committee,” Fitzpatrick said. “Cindy Magie is one of the appellants. I appointed Mrs. Magie to the Astoria Planning Commission. Neither has spoken to me about the project since the appeal was filed. My wife and I are friends with both the Oser family and the Magie family.”
Fitzpatrick, who owns Wecoma Partners, also noted that he owns a number of apartments in Astoria. While the proposed project offers lower-income housing, he said his units are priced at market rate.
“The proposed project complements my properties, but does not compete with my properties,” the mayor said.
Fitzpatrick said he did not believe he had a conflict of interest and was able to vote impartially on the appeal.
The Astorian reported in August about a dispute between the Magies and the city over whether the units in the Gilbaugh Building can be rented as vacation rentals.
In the story, the newspaper reported that Fitzpatrick advised the Magies as part of his role as an adviser with the Clatsop Small Business Development Center. Fitzpatrick also wrote a letter of support for an application the Magies submitted to the city last year in an effort to get approval for the conversion of the property from housing to vacation rentals.
Fitzpatrick deferred to the city’s attorney and the appellant’s attorney before choosing not to recuse himself.
‘We’re not redesigning this’
In addition to taking issue with the design of the proposed building, Fitzpatrick also expressed concerns about the proposed setback of the building and potential traffic impacts on 16th Street. He said he is not convinced the setback meets the historical requirement.
Adams asked that the City Council stick to the information presented to the Historic Landmarks Commission.
“And specifically, mayor, in regards to some of the things you brought up about the parking and engineering, while those are incredibly important things that we are wanting to look at and discuss, we also have to remember that we’re not redesigning this,” she said.
Brownson reiterated that many of the issues raised by the appellants will be thoroughly and professionally addressed by city staff during the next steps for the project.
“To say otherwise, to bring in somebody and make conjectures about potentials — to me that just doesn’t hold water,” he said.
Brownson noted that the proposed design was signed off by the city’s historian, the Historic Landmarks Commission and State Historic Preservation Office, and that the appellants have not shared any analysis that undermines the credibility of those experts.
“It’s not about whether I like the design or not,” he said. “It’s not whether you like the design or not. It’s whether the design conforms to the criteria that were laid out for our Historic Landmarks Commission to apply.”
Davis said he does not see any valid reasons to reverse the Historic Landmarks Commission’s decision.
“I believe it is as compatible as you could get given the makeup of all the structures in the neighborhood — that you would always have incompatibility with some elements of the neighborhood,” he said. “So this is as high of a bar as I could expect.”
Hilton argued the proposed design is incompatible with the city, calling it a “giant box.”
“I’m just going to be straight honest,” he said. “I think that the design is just — I don’t like it at all. I think it’s horrible.”
He pointed to other examples of good architecture in the city, including the Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa in Uniontown.
“Of course I’m concerned about the neighbors’ integrity of their homes,” Hilton said. “I’m also concerned about the value of their homes, the investments they’ve built to put into that. And I would not want to look at a giant building that does fit the integrity of my community.” (SOURCE)
Lane Co. Sheriff’s Office Case #23-1702 — Menacing with a Firearm – North of Florence
On 04/01/2023 shortly beforer 8:00am, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office responded to the reports of shots fired at a residence in the 8900blk of Rustic Ln, a rural area north of Florence. A call taker could hear gunshots being fired in the background as the 911 call was received.
The person calling 911 reported that an intoxicated male, later identified as 64-year-old David Paul Williams, was shooting a gun inside of the house. He had also pointed the gun at the caller multiple times. The caller was able to flee from the residence and seek refuge at a neighbor’s house.
Deputies were able to surround the involved location and observe from a distance that Williams was still inside. They contacted him by telephone at which time he surrendered to them without further incident.
He was taken into custody and lodged at the Lane County Jail on charges including Menacing, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Reckless Endangering.
We would like to thank the Oregon State Police and Florence Police Department for their assistance with this investigation.
North Bend School District Public Meetings — April, 2023
Below are North Bend School District public meetings currently scheduled for April:
April 6, 2023
Regular School Board Meeting
North Bend City Council Chamber at 6:00 p.m.
835 California St., North Bend, OR
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89123168736
April 20, 2023
Special School Board Meeting
North Bend City Council Chamber at 6:00 p.m.
835 California St., North Bend, OR
The schedule is subject to change.
Please email mbryan@nbend.k12.or.us or visit www.nbend.k12.or.us for agenda information.
IRS, Oregon state income tax filing deadline just two weeks away
Salem, OR—The deadline to file state and federal personal income tax returns—April 18—is just two weeks away, with more than 1 million Oregon taxpayers still expected to file.
More than 1.1 million Oregonians have already filed their state personal income tax returns. The department is expecting over 2.2 million total returns this year. Of those 1.1 million taxpayers, more than 820,000 have received refunds, with other refunds still pending. A Where’s My Refund? tool is available on Revenue’s website for personal income tax filers now.
The department offers the following information for taxpayers who still need to file their state return.
File electronically.
E-filing is the fastest way for taxpayers to get their tax refund. On average, taxpayers who e-file their returns and request their refund via direct deposit receive their refund sooner than those who file paper returns and request paper refund checks. Taxpayers should file just once. Sending a paper return through the mail after e-filing will a delay a refund.
See if you qualify for free tax help.
Oregon personal income tax return filers with an adjusted gross income of $73,000 or less may qualify to file both their state and federal taxes electronically for free. There are four approved tax preparation software products that partner with Oregon to offer free electronic filing:
- 1040Now
- FreeTaxUSA.com
- IRS Free File Program
- OLT
Each vendor has different free filing criteria, so filers should do their research and choose the best vendor to fit their needs. Read about the free options listed to see if you are eligible.
Taxpayers that don’t meet the income requirements for guided preparation can file for free using Oregon Free Fillable Forms. Free Fillable Forms performs basic calculations and are ideal for taxpayers who don’t need help preparing their returns and want the convenience of filing electronically. A detailed series of steps for using free fillable forms are available on the agency’s electronic filing page. The IRS offers a similar option for filing federal taxes electronically.
Groups including the AARP , CASH Oregon , and the United Way also provide free tax preparation services to qualifying taxpayers. Find free or reduced price tax help with the department’s interactive map.
See if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Low- to moderate-income taxpayers be missing out on a bigger refund if they’re not claiming the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Eligibility information is available at the IRS website . Taxpayers who are eligible for the EITC can also claim Oregon’s Earned Income Credit (EIC). Oregon allows taxpayers who use an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) to file their taxes, or have a qualifying child with an ITIN, to claim the Oregon EIC. See more about tax benefits for families on the Department of Revenue website.
Filing an extension.
Individuals who are not able to file by April 18, 2023 can file an extension directly with the Oregon Department of Revenue or with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). If the IRS extension is granted, the Oregon extension is automatically granted. A timely filed extension moves the federal tax filing deadline and the Oregon filing deadline to October 16, 2023.
Only request an Oregon extension if you:
- Don’t have a federal extension.
- Owe Oregon taxes.
- Can’t file your return by April 18, 2023.
Remember that having a filing extension is not an extension to pay any tax owed. Taxpayers who can’t pay the full amount they owe, should file and pay what they can to avoid late filing penalties.
Visit www.oregon.gov/dor to get tax forms, see a list of approved tax preparation software products, check the status of your refund, or make tax payments, call 800-356-4222 toll-free (English or Spanish) or 503- 378-4988 or email questions.dor@oregon.gov. For TTY (hearing or speech impaired), call 1 800-886-7204. Due to the number of calls Revenue receives during tax season, you may experience extended wait times.
Note to editors: Video of the Oregon Department of Revenue tax return processing center is available at https://vimeo.com/813644107. Processing Center Manager Chris Wytoski is featured in a series of clips in the video, the best of which focuses on the benefits of electronic filing and begins at the 3:17 mark. Email obin.maxey@dor.oregon.gov“>robin.maxey@dor.oregon.gov for the password to download the video.
OSP Seeking the Public’s Assistance with Information in a Homicide Investigation- Cave Junction- Josephine County
On March 30, 2023, the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office received the report of a missing female, Aleah N. Aaron (25) of Cave Junction. The Oregon State Police Major Crimes Section was contacted and asked to lead the investigation. Investigators later found Ms. Aaron’s deceased body in rural Josephine County near Cave Junction.
On April 2, 2023, investigators arrested Thomas R. Fuertes (35) of O’Brien, Oregon in connection with Ms. Aaron’s death. Fuertes was lodged in the Josephine County Jail on charges of Murder and Abuse of a Corpse.
Due to the ongoing criminal investigation, we are unable to provide further information at this time.
The Oregon State Police seeking the public’s assistance and requesting anyone with information related to the disappearance and murder of Ms. Aaron to please contact the Oregon State Police Southern Command Center at 800-442-2068 or OSP (677) from your mobile phone. Reference case #SP23-092940.
Oregon Senate Passes Ban Of Foam Containers For Prepared Food
The Oregon Senate on Monday passed a bill that would ban prepared food vendors from using foam containers that can take centuries to decompose. (Amanda Loman/Oregon Capital Chronicle)The Oregon Senate on Monday passed a bill that would ban prepared food venders from using foam containers, which take centuries to decompose.
Senate Bill 543 banning polystyrene takeout containers, also called Styrofoam, a trademarked name, passed 20-9, with bipartisan support. It now goes to the House.
“Polystyrene is a threat to the health of our communities and our land,” said Sen. Janeen Sollman, D-Hillsboro, a chief sponsor of the bill. “This is a step towards a more sustainable and mindful approach to consumption and a commitment to preserving the health, beauty, and diversity of Oregon for generations to come.”
Polystyrene is a petroleum-based plastic and was commercially produced starting in the 1930s. The nonbiodegradable material has been in the crosshairs of environmentalists for decades. In 1986, the Environmental Protection Agency declared the polystyrene manufacturing process the fifth largest source of hazardous waste.
They are also a source of litter, and the foam can break down into tiny pieces, posing a hazard to wildlife and polluting waterways.
In areas where the containers are banned, vendors can use other options such as paper cups and cardboard food containers.
The measure, if passed, would go into effect in 2025 and apply to a variety of prepared food vendors, including restaurants, delis and food trucks and carts. Food vendors would face a fine of up to $100 a day for violations.
The nine senators opposed to the measure included eight Republicans and Sen. Brian Boquist, I-Dallas.
Sen. Art Robinson, R-Cave Junction, said the bill is another example of a restriction on businesses.
“Here we go again,” Robinson said in a statement explaining his vote. “Another small requirement. We are now deciding what disposable containers restaurants may use.”
Local ordinances banning polystyrene foam foodware products have passed in Oregon cities, including Portland, Ashland, Eugene, Florence, Lincoln City, Medford, Milwaukie, Newport and Silverton.
Other states have passed laws limiting polystyrene, including Washington, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Vermont and Virginia.
Source: Oregon Senate passes ban of foam containers for prepared food – Oregon Capital Chronicle
State Fire Marshal Announces Recipients for $25 Million Engine Program
SALEM, Ore – The Oregon State Fire Marshal announced awards for its $25 million Engine Program. Across Oregon, 76 local fire service agencies were selected to receive a new type 3, type 6, or water tender to boost firefighting capacity.
Local fire agencies were eligible to apply. A selection committee comprised of members from the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association, Oregon Volunteer Firefighters Association, and Oregon State Fire Fighters Council reviewed applications.
Applicants were selected based on four principles:
- Assuring statewide distribution and allocation based on local initial attack, regional mutual aid, and conflagration needs.
- Necessary infrastructure to maintain and protect the apparatus long term.
- Recent apparatus awards from the legislature and other legislative funding sources such as wildland-urban interface and omnibus legislation.
- The capacity to staff newly awarded apparatus.
“This investment in the Oregon fire service is critical as the state modernizes equipment and increases firefighting capacity to respond to incidents in our communities,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “Over the last three decades, more communities have been impacted by wildfire. This investment is a major step forward in achieving our mission to protect people, property, and the environment from fire and hazardous materials.”
The OSFM relies on the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System (OFMAS) when responding to wildfires or other disasters that could impact communities. More than 300 local fire service agencies make up the system across Oregon. These firefighters and equipment are mobilized under the Emergency Conflagration Act, pre-positioning, or immediate response assignments. OFMAS is used when a fire or disaster exceeds the local fire service agency’s capacity.
The OSFM Engine Program is a part of the agency’s Response Ready Oregon initiative, launched in 2021. The initiative is part of a multi-pronged approach to prepare, prevent, and respond to wildfires. The goal of Response Ready Oregon is to attack fires while they are small and keep them away from communities.
Award recipients will enter into a contract with the OSFM to support OFMAS mobilizations, boosting local, regional, and state response. This investment into the Oregon fire service will bring more resources, and the right resources, to a stretched system.
In January 2023, contracts were awarded to Rosenbauer to build the water tenders and type 3 engines. Skeeter was awarded the contract to build the type 6 engines. The OSFM anticipates deliveries to begin in 2023 through the first two quarters of 2024.
The OSFM Engine Program funding was made possible through Senate Bill 762, Oregon’s wildfire omnibus bill passed in 2021. — A list of recipients can be found here: OSFM Engine Program.
Hospitals Finish 2022 In The Red, No End In Sight For Losses
Lake Oswego, Ore. – April 4, 2023 – Rising expenses, workforce shortages, and stalled revenue cratered Oregon hospitals’ operating margins in 2022, putting hospitals in one of the worst overall financial positions seen since 1993.
Expenses have outpaced revenues for more than two years, or nine consecutive quarters. Hospitals’ median operating margin, which includes federal CARES Act funding, declined to -2.8% in 2022, compared to 3.2% in 2021 and 4.1% in 2020. The data is part of a new Apprise Health Insights report on calendar year 2022 financial results. The full report is attached.
“After two years of losses, hospitals are facing extraordinarily difficult choices,” said Becky Hultberg, OAHHS president and CEO. “Organizations will struggle to remain sustainable in this type of environment.”
Rising expenses, especially labor, negatively impacted hospitals all year long. Labor expenses per FTE increased 26% over pre-pandemic levels. The health care workforce shortage contributed to rising labor costs. Meanwhile, total operating expenses rose 11% compared to 2021, exceeding net patient revenue (which also increased, but only by 5.8%) by $1.6 billion.
At the same time, the inability to safely discharge patients to other settings continued to plague hospitals in 2022. Average length of stay (ALOS) was up 20%, and those longer stays often came with no additional reimbursement to pay for staff and other services necessary to care for those patient needs. Apprise Health Insights data show throughout 2022 between 600 and 700 patients statewide were either “boarding” or unable to be discharged, continuing to cause strain on hospitals and families focused on placing patients in the best care setting.
Amid these persistently poor financial conditions, OAHHS has proposed a package of bills in the 2023 legislature that will help rebuild the health care workforce, exempt certain labor costs from the state’s cost-growth target and create a task force to explore ways to increase capacity in care settings outside of hospitals.
“These record losses should create a sense of urgency for legislators to act,” said Hultberg. “Economists are predicting 2023 will also be a difficult year for hospitals. We can’t sit back and do nothing, waiting for things to improve.”
### About OAHHS: Founded in 1934, the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (OAHHS) is a mission-driven, nonprofit trade association representing Oregon’s 62 hospitals. Together, hospitals are the sixth largest private employer statewide, employing more than 70,000 employees.
Committed to fostering a stronger, safer Oregon with equitable access to quality health care, OAHHS provides services to Oregon’s hospitals ensuring all are able to deliver dependable, comprehensive health care to their communities; educates government officials and the public on the state’s health landscape and works collaboratively with policymakers, community based organizations and the health care community to build consensus on and advance health care policy benefiting the state’s 4 million residents.
About Apprise: Apprise Health Insights is the most reliable and complete source of hospital data in Oregon. As the data subsidiary of the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (OAHHS), Apprise staff have gathered and analyzed data about Oregon hospitals and health systems since 1985. We strive to provide data, tools, and expertise to help hospitals understand the healthcare landscape in the Pacific Northwest.
83-year-old Clarence Edward Pitts walked away from his home in Bandon on Tuesday, January 31 at around 1:00 p.m. Pitts is described as:
- 6′ 00″
- 150 lbs
- Gray hair
- Brown eyes
- Last seen wearing an orange beanie, plaid jacket, tan pants and white shoes
- May have a walking cane
- Has dementia and PTSD
Pitts may be in a vehicle that was also found to be missing from the home:
- 1999 Toyota Van
- White
- Oregon license plate: WYN 788
If you see Clarence or have any information pertaining to where he may be, please call the Coos County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center at 541-396-2106 or the Bandon Police Department at 541-347-3189.
