Oregon Beach News, Wednesday 7/19 – Curry County Commissioners Take Stance On Wind Energy Leases, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Hiring Event Saturday July 20th & 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

Friday, July 19, 2024

Oregon Beach Weather

Curry County Commissioners Take Stance On Wind Energy Leases

The Curry County Board of Commissioners held a lengthy discussion over BOEM and the wind energy area leasing schedule that has brought a lot of concern to coastal communities in Southern Oregon.

The commissioners placed emphasis on the lack of support locally and emphasized the importance of the leases themselves. Commissioner Jay Trost expressed that he thinks that is a point of no return.

“The problem is, as soon as those call areas are leased, its game over for access. Once those call areas are leased, on let’s say a 25-year basis, if there’s a change in administration they may sit on them, because they’ll have them locked up for a certain amount of time… If it’s a 50-year lease, you literally could put a buoy out there that says ‘environmental impact study’, lock up that area. And we may not be looking at windmills, but we don’t have access to our fishing area, or our recreational area,” said Trost on the subject.

Public comment for the evening was dedicated entirely to the concern over the leasing effort.

The first public commenter, Lynn Coker, a local real estate broker, went to the lengths of vetting each of the companies rumored to be bidding on the offshore leases. His comment was both a rallying call to action, and a sobering reality check.

“I’m here to remind all of us that we need to keep our neighbors fully informed, engaged, aware, and motivated to join us in what could be a protracted, three-to-five-year fight, to do our part in offsetting the power of those global corporations that are attempting to take over 200,000 acres of our shoreline,” advised Coker.

Another public comment gave an idea of who those companies are, and the kind of tactics they can expect them to use.

Patrick Hollinger, a Brookings-Harbor Port Commissioner detailed a story about a corporation that contacted him through a local attorney. They invited him, along with government officials and other groups with an interest in the lease areas, on a trip to Scotland, reportedly to see the windmill infrastructure there.

Offering international trips to local decision-makers is an example of a tried-and-true lobbying tactic of deep-pocketed corporations. Greasing palms and lining pockets, whether through ‘business trips’, ‘gifts’, or other means, is just one way to get powerful people on their side.

The current issue at hand is the leasing schedule, BOEM has stated they want the land leased by October, 2024. Once the land is paid and spoken for, legal challenges against the development will become much harder.

The other issue with the leasing schedule, as the Commission sees it, is the long period of ambiguity that will follow. According to BOEM’s schedule, companies are encouraged to take a 3-5 year period for environmental assessment before actual infrastructure can be proposed.

That could mean a 3–5-year stall on development for the coast as, for instance, the proposed container port expansion in Coos Bay would be undoubtedly affected by the new wind energy leases.

“We have hundreds and thousands fishermen and companies trying to run businesses off our shore, and this entire 130 miles of shoreline, for a period of 5 years, can be clouded in a thick fog of ambiguity as to what is going to happen there,” said Coker.

“If you think as a Port Authority member or as a local business person on the coast, that I’ll be able to invite somebody to invest in my undertaking to make this coast the best that it can be, with this cloud of ambiguity over the business environment, you’re wrong. Lenders hate ambiguity, and they will walk away until the cloud lifts. And they may or may not come back.”

The Commission agreed with Coker on these points and seems to have taken a unified stance against the leases as planned. The best course of action, as determined by the Commission, is to draft a ballot item for the community. This would allow the voters of Curry County to unequivocally have their voices heard in an official capacity. (SOURCE)

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Hiring Event Saturday July 20th

We are looking for individuals with strong character, motivation, and integrity to join our Sheriff’s Office team. With multiple positions open, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a hiring event on Saturday, July 20, 2024. This event is a great opportunity to learn about the rewarding careers our team has to offer. 

Those interested in participating are encouraged to complete an application before the event. To submit an application, visit www.co.lincoln.or.us/748/Join-the-Team. Join us at this hiring event to jumpstart your successful career in Law Enforcement.  

All applicants are invited to meet our team, have lunch, and learn more about our career opportunities. Deputy applicants ages 21 years and older are invited to complete the physical testing requirements during this event. Participants in this event experience a significantly expedited application process. In addition to completing the required physical test for free, participants have the opportunity to meet our team, ask questions, receive more information on perks and benefits, and enjoy free lunch and snacks. All participants need to bring ID and deputy applicants need to bring athletic clothes and shoes.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, July 20, 2024
Time: 11:00am – 2:00pm 

• Check in anytime between 11:00am and 1:30pm.
• Deputy applicants will complete the physical testing for free (testing takes less than 15 minutes per participant).
• Enjoy lunch and network with our team.
• Ask questions and get a feel of what your future career looks like.

Location: Search and Rescue Building, 830 NE 7th St., Newport

What to Bring:

• Government Issued Identification
• Athletic clothes and shoes if applying for a deputy position
• Interest in joining our team

Registration for this event is encouraged but not required. For questions or to register, contact Jess Palma at 541-265-0652 or jpalma@co.lincoln.or.us

Florence Safeway On List Of Stores To Be Sold In Planned Merger

Florence’s Safeway location at 700 US 101 was included on a list of 579 stores across the nation and 62 across Oregon proposed for sale as part of a planned merger between parent company Albertsons Company and Kroger.

Stores would be sold to C&S Wholesale Grocers, LLC, a New Hampshire based company that operates an extensive grocery supply operation, as well as grocery stores in the Midwest, South and Northeast.

Attempts to merge the two grocery giants began in October 2022, when the companies announced that Kroger planned to acquire Albertsons for $24.6 billion.

The announcement drew regulatory scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which requested additional information on the merger in December of that year.

This led the companies to develop a list of 413 stores that they would sell to C&S as part of the divestiture process that was submitted to the FTC in September of last year. A list of specific stores slated for sale was not released at that time, but a release indicated that 49 Kroger and Albertsons stores would be affected in Oregon.

However, in February the FTC announced that it was suing to block the merger, alleging that it would eliminate competition between the two companies leading to higher grocery prices for consumers.

Kroger responded with a press release, part of a concerted public relations push surrounding the proposed merger, claiming that blocking the merger would lead to higher prices and store closures.

The FTC’s opposition led Kroger and Albertsons to reevaluate divestiture plans, leading to the new list. Proposed store sales in Oregon grew from 49 to 62, with Washington state seeing the most proposed sales at 124 and 19 states affected in total.

The proposed sale would see the QFC, Mariano’s, Carrs and Haggen brand names transferred to C&S, and the Safeway name being licensed to the company in Arizona and Colorado, but naming plans for Oregon stores were not immediately announced.

A new review by FTC officials will now proceed to determine whether the proposed divestiture plan meets statutory requirements. (SOURCE)

Operation Ship Shape Enhanced Patrols, Round II

The Oregon State Marine Board, in partnership with 31 county sheriff’s offices and the Oregon State Police, will be looking for expired boat registrations and required equipment compliance on state waterways as part of a second round of “Operation Ship Shape.” 

“The agency leverages technology to improve boating safety as we can see boater compliance geospatially in real-time where our marine law enforcement partners are patrolling,” says Brian Paulsen, Boating Safety Program Manager for the Marine Board. “This data helps the agency work with our law enforcement partners for enhanced patrols in locations where there’s low compliance. Make sure you’ve renewed your registration and put the decals on your boat correctly, or you could face a $265 citation.” 

Any boat powered by a motor – electric, gas, diesel, and all sailboats 12 feet and longer must be currently registered when on the water, even when docked or moored. This includes any kayaks and drift boats with an electric motor. Paulsen added, “Each current boat registration brings in additional funding beyond the registration dollars which go back to boaters in the form of services such as life jacket loaner stations or boat ramp access improvements.” 

Paddlers with boats 10 feet and longer must carry a Waterway Access Permit. Three permit options are available: One week for $5, one calendar year for $17, and two calendar years for $30. Permit revenue goes into a dedicated fund for grants to eligible applicants to develop or improve nonmotorized access and on-water education programs specific to paddlers’ needs. 

Marine officers will also be looking for the required safety equipment. “Life jackets are the most important safety equipment boaters must carry, and there must be enough on board that properly fit every passenger,” Paulsen adds. “Looking at the boating fatalities so far this year, almost all the victims were not wearing a life jacket. Even though life jackets are required to be worn for kids 12 and younger, if everyone wore one, we’d see significantly fewer recreational boating deaths.” In 2023, 11 out of 13 victims were not wearing a life jacket. 

Boaters can renew their registration or purchase Waterway Access Permits through the agency’s Boat Oregon Store for the fastest service. After completing their online transaction, boaters with motorized boats can print off a temporary permit. Waterway Access Permits can be printed directly after purchase. Multiple purchases can be made under one online transaction. The agency’s online store has a $1.50 portal provider fee. If you need assistance online, please contact the Marine Board at ine.board@boat.oregon.gov“>marine.board@boat.oregon.gov or call 503-378-8587. There’s also an online help page acclimating new users to the store. 

For any titling and registration questions, visit Boat.Oregon.gov and click on the Title & Registration tab at the top of the page.

Coos County Sheriff’s Office –  •••Deputies recovered a stolen camping trailer near Lakeside which had been reported stolen from Junction City. Suspects have been identified, and an investigation is continuing•••

On July 16th, 2024, Deputy B. Freerksen was on routine patrol on U.S. Hwy 101 near Lakeside when he observed a Jayco Baja camper on a property near the Hwy. Deputy Freerksen noticed this trailer looked similar to one stolen out of Junction City, Oregon, who reported it to the Coos County Sheriff’s Office as a “Be on the lookout” (BOLO).

Deputy B. Freerksen conducted some preliminary investigation, revealing the trailer was very likely the reported stolen trailer. Deputies J. Lee and K. Mong responded to assist. After an extensive investigation and interviews, deputies confirmed that the vehicle identification number (VIN) on the Jayco Camper matched the stolen trailer from Junction City, Oregon.

The suspects in the case have been identified, and follow-up is being conducted to ensure a successful prosecution. The trailer was towed from the location and recovered by the owners.

“Police action is not indicative of guilt. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”

A 45-year-old Coos County woman accused of harboring a man with outstanding out-of-state warrants was arrested on Wednesday afternoon in Coos Bay, according to the Coos County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities said that deputies responded at 2:30 p.m. on July 17 to a Centennial Road home to arrest a man known to have an outstanding out-of-state warrant. When deputies arrived, they reportedly saw the suspect, identified as Thomas L. Shupe, 42, run back inside the home, deputies said. CCSO officials said that Shupe’s significant other, identified as Andrea L. Kraft, came out of the home to speak with deputies who had asked that Shupe come out of the home. After Kraft allegedly refused the deputies’ request, an additional deputy responded to the scene and a search warrant was obtained for the home, authorities said.

CCSO officials said that Kraft became agitated while deputies executed the warrant and reportedly attempted to bodily block them from the home’s entrance. Kraft was arrested for allegedly hindering prosecution and later charged with resisting arrest for her behavior after being told she was under arrest, according to sheriff’s deputies.

Court records said that Kraft also allegedly attempted to bribe a deputy. Coos County sheriff’s officials said that Shupe was found hiding in a closet near the back bedroom of the home and was arrested for his outstanding warrants. Court records show that Kraft faces one count of bribe giving and one count of resisting arrest.

Lincoln Co. Sheriff’s Office – Tip of the Week for the week of July 22, 2024 – Summer Scam Reminder

SUMMER SCAM REMINDER

Summer can be a time for relaxation, adventure, reconnecting with loved ones, and time for taking those anticipated summer vacations. Even with the nice weather, scammers aren’t taking time off. This means you have to be aware and cautious throughout the year. Here are some common summer scams to watch for and tips on how to avoid them:

1. Law Enforcement Scams:

• Scammers pose as law enforcement agencies and claim you missed jury duty, owe fees, or someone needs bail money. They urge you to pay the “fees” quickly to avoid serious consequences and accept bitcoin, gift cards, or other non-traditional payment forms.
• Scammers pose as animal shelters or rescue organizations and claim they can reunite you with your lost pet for a large fee.
• Prevent these by scams by
  • Verifying information is coming from an official source. When in doubt, hang up, look up the agency’s contact information and call or stop by their office to verify someone is trying to contact you. 
  • Save our contact information to quickly verify information is coming from the Sheriff’s Office:
    • LCSO Website: lincolncountysheriff.net/
    • LCSO Main Office: 541-265-4277 
    • LCSO Animal Shelter: 541-265-6610

2. Vacation Rental Scams:

• Scammers post vacation rentals online at enticing prices.
• They ask for advance payment via wire transfer, but the rental either doesn’t exist or is not available.
• Prevent this by using reputable rental platforms or companies. 
   

3. Home Improvement Scams:

• Contractors offer very low-cost services such as driveway repaving, house painting, etc.
• Contractors claim repairs are urgently needed and encourage you to act quickly to avoid further damage or before prices increase.
• They may take your money without completing the work, work without proper permits, or do low quality work.
• Prevent this byavoiding unsolicited offers, getting multiple referrals or bids, and researching companies and contractors.

4. Employment Scams:

• Scammers exploit job seekers by offering fake summer jobs.
• Scammers post opportunities that promise high pay for minimal effort.
• Prevent this by verifying job postings, researching organizations, and avoid sharing personal information until you have verified the company and posting is legitimate.
   

5.Travel Scams:

• Beware of unsolicited travel deals or sweepstakes claiming you’ve won a free vacation.
• Prevent this by verifying offers and information before sharing your personal information or payment.

6. Ticket and Event Scams:

• Scammers sell counterfeit tickets to concerts, festivals, sporting events, and other activities.
• Prevent this by purchasing tickets from authorized sellers and verifying websites or vendors before purchasing.

Staying informed, being cautious, and helping family and friends learn how to spot scams can help protect everyone throughout the year. 

For more information and tips visit our website at www.lincolncountysheriff.net and like us on Facebook at Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office – Oregon. 

Coast, Columbia River at risk of flooding from climate change, sea level rise, scientists find

In Oregon, up to 142 critical infrastructure sites could be impacted along the coast by the end of the century, mostly in the state’s northwest corner

Hospitals, schools and other critical infrastructure and services along the Oregon Coast and in parts of the Columbia River Gorge are at risk of repeat flooding if nothing is done to rapidly curb greenhouse gas emissions causing climate change, scientists find.

An analysis of flood risks around the U.S. under various climate change scenarios was published June 25 by the Massachusetts-based Union of Concerned Scientists, a national nonprofit that includes about 250 scientists, analysts and policy experts. The researchers looked at the possibility that essential facilities – including medical facilities, government buildings, fire stations and public housing – would be flooded at least twice a year. 

In Oregon alone, up to 142 critical infrastructure sites could be impacted along the coast by the end of the century, primarily in the state’s northwest corner. More than 130,000 people live in the three counties – Clatsop, Coos and Tillamook – that would be most impacted, the analysis said. 

The scientists analyzed the flood risk of critical coastal infrastructure through the end of the century under three scenarios. The first considered a lowering of greenhouse gas emissions, creating relatively low sea level rise by 2100 of about 1.6 feet. The second scenario projected a medium sea level rise to 3.2 feet by the end of the century. The third – a worse-case scenario – envisioned a rise in greenhouse gas emissions during the second half of the century causing a 6.5 foot increase in sea levels by 2100. 

Across the U.S., more than 15,000 critical infrastructure sites could be impacted if sea levels rise more than 6 feet by 2100, the study said. The researchers found that twice as many critical infrastructure sites were in areas with predominantly Black, Hispanic or Latino and Native American populations.

In Warrenton, a key wastewater treatment plant could face flooding once every two weeks by 2100 in the low sea level rise scenario. The Knappa Fire District Station in Astoria and the Cannon Beach Post Office on North Hemlock Street could be flooded as often as every two weeks in the highest risk scenario. The same would apply to two apartment buildings offering affordable housing in Seaside.

“In truth, our collective willingness to stop polluting now will determine the scale of the problem late this century,” the scientists wrote. 

The EN-ROADS simulator developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology also shows flooding from rising sea levels and climate change moving deeper into the Columbia River Gorge by 2100 if climate change continues to worsen and oceans rise. According to the simulator, the single most effective policy decision to slow climate change would be to tax carbon dioxide emissions by the ton and charge heavily polluting industries, such as those in the oil and gas sector, forcing them to decarbonize. 

In the report, the Union of Concerned Scientists recommended that policymakers, planners and technical experts collaborate and invest to safeguard critical infrastructure in high-risk areas and to start working now on moving people and services as needed to areas with more protection. More broadly, they called for a rapid phasing out of fossil fuels, holding heavy greenhouse gas emitters accountable for their pollution and costs and ramping up clean energy investments. (SOURCE)

Highway 101 Work

Traveling south on the coast this week will likely come with some delays as the Oregon Department of Transportation is doing some grinding and paving of portions of highway 38 and highway 101 in Reedsport.  During daytime hours ODOT will be working on the section from Highway 38 to Winchester Bay on 101.  The City of Reedsport issued the notice and asked for travelers to use an alternative route when possible.

Tribal Leaders on The Coast Call For Action to Return Sea Otters to Oregon

Leaders of two federally recognized Oregon coastal Indian tribes have called upon U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to “take all appropriate actions” to direct the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to return sea otters — known to tribal ancestors as Xulh-t’ush, Giye’we, or Ela-ke’ — to the Oregon coast within the next five years.

The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians (CTCLUSI) and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians (CTSI) have sent letters to Haaland. In the letters, Bradley Kneaper, chairman of the CTCLUSI Council, and Delores Pigsley, chairman of the CTSI Council, cited the cultural ties between coastal Indian people and sea otters extending back thousands of years. 

“Our ancestors knew Xulh-t’ush as a relative who brought prosperity and plenty to our people,” Pigsley and Kneaper said in a statement issued last week, noting the critical importance of sea otters to the ecological health of the ocean. “Science teaches us what our ancestors knew, that these creatures are indeed a keystone species that creates and maintains kelp forest habitat conditions in nearshore ecosystems. Sea otters were thus central to the way of life our ancestors enjoyed for thousands of years, until both sea otters and the way of life they supported were destroyed in the 1800s.”

Once found across the North Pacific Ocean from Japan to Mexico, sea otters were hunted nearly to extinction for their valuable fur more than a century ago. They have recovered on the central California coast and, thanks to reintroduction in the late 1960s and early 1970s, on the coasts of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, Vancouver Island, and Southeast Alaska.

But the tribal leaders point out that sea otters remain absent from the entire Oregon and northern California coastline and as a result, “our nearshore ecosystem has experienced dramatic changes.”

“Without sea otters, instead of productive kelp forests, our rocky seafloor is covered in ‘urchin barrens,’ biological deserts of purple sea urchins that have devoured these kelp forests and all that they provide to the ecosystem,” Kneaper and Pigsley said. “We feel strongly that the time has come to bring Xulh-t’ush back to Oregon and call on Secretary Haaland to direct the USFWS to prioritize returning sea otters to the Oregon coast, set a timeline, prepare a plan, and take other steps necessary to pursue this act of environmental and cultural reconciliation.”

The otters are a keystone species, meaning many other marine species largely depend on them, and their absence has myriad effects, especially on kelp and seagrass forests and species that depend on those oceanic forests. The otters eat sea urchins that attack kelp.

The otter has been listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act since 1977. They were nearly hunted to extinction for their fur throughout the 1700s and 1800s.

Southern sea otters consume more than 150 different species, including mussels, crabs and clams. The reintroduction of the otters could also result in restrictions or prohibitions on some fishing gear to protect the otters from becoming caught or hurt, according to the news release.

Scientists from the agency concluded in a feasibility study that the benefits of their reintroduction outweigh the potential negative impacts to fishing and shellfish harvesting. As a keystone species, their return would enhance the health of kelp and seagrass ecosystems and the fish that depend on them, potentially increasing some fish populations. Growing kelp and seagrass forests is also helpful for reducing ocean acidification and for trapping climate change causing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service held eight open houses along the Oregon coast in June 2023 to share a proposal for reintroducing southern sea otters — one of three subspecies of sea otter — to the Pacific Coast from San Francisco and up through northern Oregon. (SOURCE)

Curry County Sued Over Citations For Homeless People

In a lawsuit filed on Thursday in federal court, John Malaer claims that in July 2022 he was living on property owned by Curry County in the small, coastal community of Harbor, Oregon, across the river from Brookings.

He says the county’s code enforcement officer posted a trespassing notice outside his tent that did not comply with state law. The lawsuit says that notice was later rescinded.

On the same day, the county then leased that property to a private individual for $1 a year, turning it into private property. The lawsuit argues the county did not give adequate notice of this change before then threatening to arrest those camping on the property and issuing a criminal citation to Malaer later that night.

Alicia LeDuc Montgomery, the lead attorney representing Malaer, said for the county to lease property, it has to be in the public interest.

“How can they possibly say that leasing public property, where the public is using it for the basic necessity of being able to sleep somewhere at night or access services that they need to survive, is outweighed by a $1 revenue stream per year?” she said.

The lawsuit was filed against the county, Sheriff John Ward, two men who were sheriff’s deputies at the time, former County Commissioner Christopher Paasch and the former Code Enforcement Officer Melvin Trover.

The Board of Commissioners and Ward did not respond to a request for comment.

According to an agenda item from a July 6, 2022 Board of Commissioners meeting, Trover sought to have the county vacate the property and lease it to property manager Ron Reel. The goal was to “address the tents.”

Instead, the property was leased to Ue Ching Ow, who appears to be an anesthesiologist in Monterey, California. The site is near Shopping Center Avenue and Zimmerman Lane in Harbor, near a liquor store.

“The County engaged in this leasing as a bad faith attempt to levy criminal charges against unhoused campers, including Mr. Malaer, and avoid complying with state laws intended to protect the rights of individuals camping on public property, simply because Mr. Malaer and others remained camping in public view on public property for lack of other housing or resource options and asserted their rights,” the lawsuit reads.

The lawsuit also claims the county violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, since Malaer is disabled and “could not physically comply with the order or move all of his property in the time demanded.”

LeDuc Montgomery said they’re seeking a jury trial, as well as economic and compensatory damages of an unspecified amount. (SOURCE)

Construction is Underway at Oregon State University Wave Energy Test Site

Oregon State University PacWave South testing site being built off the coast of Newport is the first pre-permitted, utility-scale, grid-connected wave energy test site in the United States.

Workers will install power and data cables for Oregon State University’s new testing facility in the coming week. This will allow researchers to develop new ways to harness the power of ocean waves and transfer that energy into the local electrical grid.

OSU Professor Burke Hales called the site one more asset in the country’s portfolio of green energy. “We have a carbon problem,” Burke said. “We’re changing the climate, we’re changing the chemistry of the oceans and the only effective way to resolve that problem is to stop producing so much carbon.”

The test facility is located north of Waldport and it will connect to four power and data cables stretching 10 to 13 miles out into the ocean. Once installed, the cables can test up to 20 different wave energy devices at the same time. The test site was placed on a sandy-bottomed stretch of the Pacific Ocean, away from popular commercial and recreational fishing reefs, the university said. All boaters are advised to avoid the area while the construction is in progress.

The Louisiana-based subsea cable services contractor R.T. Casey will start the installation later this month. PacWave Deputy Director Dan Hellin said that the public will likely see three different vessels working about 7 miles off the coast south of Newport as crews spend the next six to seven weeks installing the cables. “We are asking all mariners in the area to maintain a minimum distance of 500 yards from any vessel involved in the cable installation process,” Hellin said. “While these vessels will be moving very slowly, they will be laying cables and have equipment operating on the seafloor, so they will be unable to stop operations or deviate from their planned route.”

Wave energy tests are expected to begin at the facility in 2026. The PacWave South site was funded by more than $100 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Energy, the State of Oregon and other public and private entities.

“Wave energy has the potential to provide clean, reliable electricity to help meet the world’s rising energy demands,” OSU stated in a press release. “Oregon State has pursued development of a wave energy test facility for more than a decade to accelerate the development of this industry. There currently is no U.S. facility for developers to measure the electrical and environmental performance of their devices at this scale.” FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://today.oregonstate.edu/news/cable-installation-set-begin-osu-led-wave-energy-testing-facility-oregon-coast

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

CAST for Kids Foundation needs five additional boat captains to take a disabled child and their parents crabbing for a few hours on Sunday, July 28th.

If you and your family would like to volunteer, please register online at castforkids.org/event/yaquinabay

The C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation (C.A.S.T. = Catch A Special Thrill) is a public charity that was formed in 1991 to join volunteers who love to fish with children who have special needs and disadvantages for a day of fishing in the outdoors. Children with special needs (ages 6-18) and their caretakers come together with community volunteers for a fun day of fishing they may not otherwise experience. These events provide a refreshing break from their daily challenges. Spreading a positive message that kids with disabilities can accomplish anything, we include all children, despite their limitations. This is all made possible through national and local sponsors-people who want to make a big difference in the lives of kids with special needs thus strengthening their community. https://www.facebook.com/castforkidsfoundation

Siuslaw Library Summer Reading Program

City of Florence Environmental Management Advisory Committee (EMAC) members, Vicki Philben, Ivy Medow and City Councilor Sally Wantz, as well as Master Recycler, Britte Kirsch, are partnering with Miss Gayle at the Siuslaw Public Library in this year’s Summer Reading Program. 

Using the “Read, Renew, Repeat” curriculum, these volunteers will be hosting 5 interactive events on such topics as bugs & bees, dirt, recycling, worms, and native plants.  Children of all ages are encouraged to attend these and all the other events from June through July.  All programs are free and held at the Florence location’s Bromley Room unless otherwise specified.  For more information, call the Siuslaw Library at 541-999-3132. 

Florence Food Share Empty Bowls 2024 Call for Artists for Poster Art

We are currently making plans for Florence Food Share’s annual Empty Bowls event, which has been a successful fundraiser for 29 years. Local artists contribute handmade ceramic, wood, and fused glass bowls along with other art for sale during the first weekend of December.

For over a decade, we have featured the work of a local artist on the poster advertising the event. The art created for the event serves as the focal point for the poster and is later raffled off at the event to generate extra revenue for the Florence Food Share. In return, the artist receives recognition in local and regional publications and a tax deduction, of course.

We are searching for artwork that conveys the message of the event and the mission of Florence Food Share, which is to provide nutritious food to those in need because “no one should go hungry.” We welcome any medium, as long as it can be photographed, and the original artwork can be donated to the event. We will handle the framing, with input from the artist.

To be considered for creating the poster art for 2024, please send us your concept, including the medium and a description of the proposed image. Additionally, attach a photo of one of your previous works to give us an idea of your style. Please email your submissions to Desiree Clifton at dclifton@windemere.com by August 25, 2024. The
completed, unframed artwork should be submitted no later than September 30, 2024.

We are grateful to all the artists who have participated in Empty Bowls over the years and eagerly anticipate the participation of new artists in this year’s event. For any questions regarding submitting artwork, please reach out via email to dclifton@windemere.com. Florence Food Share Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/florencefood.share/?locale=ro_RO

Beverly Beach State Park Remains Closed Until End of July

Due to delays in construction, Beverly Beach State Park will now be closed through the end of July, according to Oregon Parks & Recreation.

Located just seven miles north of Newport, the popular campground and day-use area has been closed since September 2023. The construction work included moving power lines underground and replacing water lines. The park is now slated to reopen on August 1.

Lincoln County Accepting Grant Funding Applications for Share Of $398,000 in ARPA Funds for Local Water and Sewer Projects

$398,000 in funds from the American Rescue Plan Ac (ARPA) are set to be distributed to eligible districts in Lincoln County to invest in local water, sewer and drainage projects.

The American Rescue Plan Act was signed into law in March of 2021 and provided states, cities, and counties with federal money to support pandemic recovery efforts and economic stimulus. One allowed use for ARPA dollars is to support public water, sewer and drainage projects.

Lincoln County is accepting grant funding applications from local water, sewer and drainage districts in unincorporated Lincoln County for water and sewer projects. Eligible projects must meet the ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) eligible funding requirements.

Districts must be in good standing with State of Oregon financial reporting requirements and show proof of complying with public meeting law requirements. The county has a total of $398,000 to provide for eligible projects from districts. Applications will be reviewed by a committee selected by Lincoln County to look at the financial stability of the organization, the engineering feasibility of the project, and if the project meets ARPA requirements.

The county is planning to use an open grant process to award the funds. Starting June 10 applications will open, they will be awarded on a first come, first served basis to qualifying districts and projects; applications will close once all funds have been allocated.

The county says each eligible district can ask up to $50-thousand total. Projects can be stand-alone projects or a discrete portion of a larger project. Applications will be reviewed by county administrative, legal, and engineering staff to ensure projects meet American Rescue Plan Act, legal and technical requirements. All projects must adhere to federal procurement rules and Davis-Bacon Act requirements.

County officials say they will execute contracts with awarded districts before December 31, 2024. All work on the awarded projects must be completed by subrecipients before December 2026. To apply for the Local Water, Sewer and Drainage Districts’ Grant click here.

OHA 2024 Oregon Beach Monitoring Season

Agency shares list of monitored beaches for May-September

—The Oregon Beach Monitoring Program (OBMP) is kicking off the 2024 beach monitoring season by announcing the list of coastal recreation areas it will be keeping an eye on for bacteria during summer and early fall.

The 24 beaches on the list that the OBMP, based at the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Public Health Division, is publishing includes some of the most frequently visited beaches in Oregon. It also includes beaches where the program has found bacteria present, or beaches for which local partners and the public have requested monitoring due to potential pollution concerns.

The following are Oregon beaches being monitored during 2024, including beach name, and the city and county in which they are located:

• Seaside Beach – Seaside, Clatsop County
• Cannon Beach – Cannon Beach, Clatsop County
• Tolovana Beach State Park– Cannon Beach, Clatsop County
• Short Sand Beach (Oswald West State Park) – Arch Cape, Tillamook County
• Manzanita Beach – Manzanita, Tillamook County
• Rockaway Beach – Rockaway, Tillamook County
• Twin Rocks Beach – Twin Rocks, Tillamook County
• Oceanside Beach – Oceanside, Tillamook County
• Cape Kiwanda Beach – Pacific City, Tillamook County
• Neskowin Beach – Neskowin, Tillamook County
• D River Beach – Lincoln City, Lincoln County
• Siletz Bay Beach – Lincoln City, Lincoln County
• Beverly Beach – Newport, Lincoln County
• Agate Beach – Newport, Lincoln County
• Nye Beach – Newport, Lincoln County
• Ona Beach (Brian Booth-Beaver Creek State Park) – Seal Rock, Lincoln County
• Seal Rock Beach – Seal Rock, Lincoln County
• Heceta Beach – Florence, Lane County
• Bastendorff Beach – Coos Bay, Coos County
• Sunset Bay State Park Beach – Coos Bay, Coos County
• Hubbard Creek Beach – Port Orford, Curry County
• Harris Beach State Park – Brookings, Curry County
• Mill Beach – Brookings, Curry County
• Crissey Fields State Recreation Site – Brookings, Curry County

Beach monitoring season runs from mid-May to mid-September. Beach advisories are only issued for beaches that are actively being monitored within this sampling window. Other beaches will be investigated for inclusion in the next beach monitoring season.

OBMP works with Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to identify beaches that need monitoring based on several established criteria. These criteria include: pollution hazards present; previous beach monitoring data that identify water quality concerns; type and amount of beach use; and public input.

As part of an adaptive sampling plan, beaches and sampling locations are routinely re-evaluated to ensure available resources best protect public health. A copy of DEQ’s beach evaluation is available upon request.

For more information and current beach monitoring conditions please visit: www.healthoregon.org/beach, or contact OBMP at each.Health@odhsoha.oregon.gov“>Beach.Health@odhsoha.oregon.gov or 971-673-0400.

Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay

If you are taking a young child to a big event, local Fairs, Six Flags, theme park, Fenway Park or any other busy location … Write your phone number on their wrist and cover it with liquid band aid in case you get separated. Also, take a photo of them using your cell phone the morning of the event so you have their clothing, hair style and up to date photo. Just in case they get lost. Stay safe this summer! #BePrepared#TipofTheDay

Fires Around the State

Large Fires per INCIWEB

Type	State	Incident Size	UpdatedSort ascending
Falls Fire – ORMAF	Wildfire	Oregon	114236 Acres	10 minutes 27 seconds ago
Durkee Fire – ORVAD	Wildfire	Oregon	2699 Acres	11 minutes 8 seconds ago
Cow Valley Fire – ORVAD	Wildfire	Oregon	133408 Acres	17 minutes 7 seconds ago
Lone Rock Fire – ORPRD	Wildfire	Oregon	83922 Acres	37 minutes 4 seconds ago
Larch Creek Fire – OR95S	Wildfire	Oregon	18286 Acres	2 hours 16 minutes ago
Battle Mountain Complex – OR97S	Wildfire	Oregon	1786 Acres	11 hours 35 minutes ago
Salt Creek – OR710S	Wildfire	Oregon	4102 Acres	1 day 23 hours ago

Please Help Prevent Wildfires!

The Forest Service says since June, hundreds of wildfires in Oregon and Washington were caused by people, Though most of the time crews were “largely successful” in putting them out, officials are urging the public to help reduce the amount of preventable fires firefighters have to deal with.

The U.S. Forest Service says a surge of human-caused wildfires is stretching resources thin as extreme heat, dry conditions and lightning in the forecast increases the chances of wildfires.

In these dry conditions, a single spark can cause a lot of damage. Learn how you can prevent wildfires by visiting the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s wildfire prevention page. 

Draft wildfire hazard maps posted for public comment – Oregon Dept. of Forestry

SALEM, Ore. — Draft versions of the statewide wildfire hazard and wildland-urban interface maps are available to the public for review and comment starting today on Oregon State University’s Wildfire Risk Explorer website. 

The wildfire hazard map’s purposes are to:

• Educate Oregon residents and property owners about the level of hazard where they live.
• Assist in prioritizing fire adaptation and mitigation resources for the most vulnerable locations.
• Identify where defensible space standards and home hardening codes will apply.

A series of open houses about the state’s new community wildfire risk reduction programs were held from June 3 to July 1 throughout Oregon. It was an opportunity to learn about wildfire hazard assessments, new defensible space and home hardening programs and standards, insurance concerns, and statewide wildfire policy. 

“Defensible space around your home and property is just one of the ways Oregonians can be better prepared for wildfire,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “No matter where you live, the simple actions you take to limit where an ember can land and catch fire can make all the difference, saving your home and protecting your community.”

“Home hardening standards are extremely important because they help reduce the risk of ignition to the most vulnerable parts of a home by the embers of a wildfire,” said Andrew Stolfi, director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. “Once the map is finalized, we will then initiate rulemaking to adopt the home hardening standards, which will be followed by a six-month phase-in period for education and outreach. Importantly, the standards will not apply retroactively. They will be required only in new construction, major additions, and such things as replacing a roof or siding if the home is in both a high wildfire hazard zone and the wildland-urban interface.”

Representatives from OSU, ODF, Oregon State Fire Marshal, Department of Consumer and Business Services Building Codes Division and Division of Financial Regulation, and the Wildfire Programs Advisory Council addressed hours of questions at the events and engaged with over 500 community members. 

“The level of engagement at these community meetings was impressive. I attended them all and hundreds of Oregonians had their questions addressed about community wildfire risk reduction programs and how the map supports protecting Oregon’s communities at highest hazard of experiencing wildfire,” said Dave Hunnicutt, Chair of the Wildfire Programs Advisory Council.

At those meetings, early maps depicting wildfire hazard were available, but property tax lot level maps were not yet available. However, draft maps are now ready for Oregonians to see the hazard designation of their specific address, and whether they’re in the wildland-urban interface.

“The maps are still drafts,” said Andy McEvoy, wildfire research scientist at Oregon State University. “The maps won’t become final until we receive input from counties on potential local anomalies, administrative rules are adopted by the Board of Forestry, and we evaluate input from the public.”

The draft maps reflect revisions from the last two years based on input received in 2022 from county governments and the public. Updates include:

• Adjustments for hay and pasturelands.
• Adjustments for northwest Oregon forest fuels.
• Changes based on draft rules to include irrigation of agricultural crops as a mitigating factor in wildfire hazard assessments. Final maps will reflect rules as adopted by the Board of Forestry.

“Work on the wildfire hazard map hasn’t ceased over the last two years,” said Kyle Williams, Deputy Director of Fire Operations at ODF. “ODF and our partners at OSU have worked diligently to evaluate and address concerns about the accuracy of the map. These drafts are still based on the core principles of wildfire science but have been pored through to address expressed concerns. With one more round of public input, we will be well situated to finalize a hazard map that will contribute to advancing wildfire protection in Oregon as the Legislature intended.”

Comments can be sent to dmap@odf.oregon.gov“>hazardmap@odf.oregon.gov. Find more information on ODF’s wildfire hazard web page.

30,000 Children In Low-Income Oregon Families Missing Out On Extra Food Benefits

Thousands of low-income Oregon families are leaving food money on the table this summer. The Department of Human Services said Monday that families with 320,000 children have received extra food assistance for the summer but families with another 30,000 children who qualify need to apply. 

The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children, or Summer EBT, pays a one-time payment of $120 per child to help low-income families cover food costs over the three-month summer period when children are not in school and don’t have access to those free meals. The payment adds to other assistance, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. The summer program totals about $35 million in aid a year and is funded entirely by the federal government.

A pilot run of the program in Oregon showed it reduced child hunger by one-third, said Iván Hernández, a spokesman for the Oregon Food Bank.Apply for benefits

Families can apply online in​ English and Spanish. 

For other languages, use the paper application​. 

Call  833-673-7328 to find out if your child qualifies or for more information.

Allow up to 30 days for applications to be processed.

Families can also obtain other free food this summer by texting “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 304-304, visit summerfoodoregon.org or go to  food resources​.

“Part of why this is so effective is because it provides households with extra funds to purchase foods of their choice from retailers like grocery stores or farmers’ markets, which means kids won’t have to travel to summer meal sites that might not meet their dietary needs/preferences or be culturally appropriate,” Hernández said.

This spring, the Oregon Food Bank estimated that one in five children in the state face hunger, but Feeding America says it’s one in six.

In January, Oregon officials applied for the program, and this spring the Legislature agreed to the federal requirement to pay for half of the administrative costs, about $13 million over two years. 

Families who are already on SNAP, the Oregon Health Plan or Medicaid, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, have received automatic $120 payments earlier this month. But these other children qualify as well:

• Children in foster care.
• Children who attend a school in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program and:
  • Have a monthly income of $3,152 for a family of two, $3,981 for a family of three, $4,810 for a family of four or $5,640 for a family of five. 
  • Are enrolled in migrant programs.
  • Are homeless.
  • Attend Head Start.
  • Participate in food distribution programs on Native American reservations. 

Department of Human Services officials are sending letters to families that qualify by the end of this month. Officials are adding the payments to SNAP cards or, for others, mailing debit cards with the money on them to families. 

Officials do not ask for a child’s or family’s immigration status on the application or to determine eligibility, and enrollment in the program also does not affect a child’s immigration status, DHS said, nor does the so-called public charge rule apply. The rule can be used to deny visas or legal residency to families that lack economic resources.

Families can check to see whether they received the benefits by checking their EBT card. The deadline to apply is Sept. 2. (SOURCE)

After 30 years, one of Oregon DOC’s Most Wanted Fugitives has been arrested in the state of Georgia

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody who fled from a work crew in 1994 is back in custody. Steven Craig Johnson fled from a work crew at the Mill Creek Correctional Facility (MCCF) in Salem on November 29, 1994. 

Johnson was arrested in Macon, Georgia by the U.S. Marshals Service, Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force (USMS SERFTF) on July 16, 2024. He was booked into the Bibb County Jail and is awaiting extradition back to Oregon. 

According to the USMS Steven Craig Johnson aka “William Cox,” 70, was taken into custody by the USMS SERFTF on July 16, 2024, at approximately 2:00 p.m. at an apartment complex located at 2087 Vineville Ave. in Macon. Johnson had been a resident there and living under the alias of William Cox since 2011. Johnson was wanted on an Oregon arrest warrant for escape. A copy of the USMS press release is attached. A copy of the DOC wanted poster is also attached.

MCCF was a minimum-security prison located five miles southeast of Salem on 2,089 acres. The facility was unfenced and housed approximately 290 adults in custody who were within four years of release. MCCF opened in 1929 as the Farm Annex of the Oregon State Penitentiary. The prison closed June 30, 2021, by order of Governor Kate Brown.

DOC is responsible for the care and custody of approximately 12,000 individuals who are incarcerated in 12 institutions across the state. 

Oregon’s measles outbreak, biggest in five years, expands to six people

Five of the patients are children and no one in the Marion County outbreak is vaccinated.

After only one measles case in Oregon last year, it now has six and could very well have more in the next few weeks.

The outbreak comes amid others also involving a preventable disease – pertussis or whooping cough – which has infected more than 350 people in just over a dozen counties this year.

The measles outbreak – the biggest in Oregon since 2019 – is centered in Marion County and emerged in mid-June, when the Oregon Health Authority announced that an unvaccinated adult and child in the same household became sick. They live in Clackamas County, but Oregon Health Authority officials said they were infected in Marion County. 

County officials announced a separate case involving an unvaccinated child at the same time.

Within the past week, Marion County health officials said three more unvaccinated children have been infected. Melissa Gable, a county spokeswoman, said the cases involve children in separate households between the ages of 4 to 14 years old.

“Our communicable disease team is actively investigating all cases but currently there are no known connections between them,” Gable said.

That means others could be infected or that more cases could emerge, state officials said.

“I think we expect we will see more measles cases due to the infectiousness of the disease but we certainly hope we don’t,” said Jonathan Modie, a spokesman for the Oregon Health Authority.

The whooping cough outbreaks might not be over, either, health officials said. Modie said there have been 12 outbreaks in Lane, Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington, Deschutes, Jefferson, Josephine, Marion, Linn, Columbia, Hood River, Benton and Yamhill counties in descending order based on the number of cases, with more than 130 in Lane County.

Both diseases spread through the air when an infected individual coughs or sneezes, with measles particles able to stay airborne for two hours, making it especially infectious. It can cause a fever, cough, runny nose or red eyes and is usually associated with a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. It also can cause more severe symptoms, including ear infections, pneumonia, and, in rare instances, swelling of the brain. 

Whooping cough spreads much the same way and is also associated with a cough, often violent and associated with a “whooping sound,” that can last for weeks or months. Other symptoms include sneezing, a running nose, fever and watery eyes.

People are contagious with whooping cough when they have cold-like symptoms and can remain so up to three weeks after they start coughing. 

Patients with measles are contagious for four days before a rash appears and up to four days afterward.

Both diseases are preventable with vaccines. For whooping cough, doctors recommend five doses of the DTaP, or diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, for children and one for preteens. Full vaccination is about 85% effective in preventing disease while the measles vaccine is even more effective – 97%. Officials recommend two doses of the measles, mumps, rubella or MMR vaccine, first between when children are 12 to 15 months old and the second starting at 4 years though 6. People are considered immune to measles if they were born before 1957 before the widespread use of the vaccine, have been vaccinated or have been infected.

With widespread vaccine campaigns, the World Health Organization declared the disease eradicated in the U.S. in 2000. But it has reemerged, with people bringing the disease in from abroad and an increasing number of parents not getting their kids vaccinated. 

Oregon has required children entering kindergarten since 1998 to have two doses of the measles-containing vaccine, though parents can opt-out by obtaining a medical or nonmedical exemption. Measles vaccination is also required for children attending child care facilities and for students in post-secondary colleges or universities.

There are currently measles outbreaks in 24 states, including Oregon, in the West, Midwest, East Coast and South, with nearly 170 people infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (SOURCE)

Oregon’s Unemployment Situation Sees Little Change

A release from the Oregon Employment Department said the rate has been in a tight range between 4.0 percent and 4.2 percent since October of 2023. Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in June and 4.2 percent in May.

In June, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 600 jobs, following a gain of 4,000 jobs in May. State Employment Economist Gail Krumenauer said June’s gains were largest in three sectors. Krumenauer said they increased by 1,200 jobs in health care and social assistance, 800 in financial activities and 700 in leisure and hospitality. Declines in were largest in professional and business services and manufacturing which shed 1,800 and 600 jobs respectively.

OED said health care and social assistance continued its rapid expansion. During the two-and-half year period between January of 2022 through June of 2024, it added 34,000 jobs or 12.8 percent. Employment gains in social assistance have accelerated in recent months. The industry added 8,800 jobs or 12.2 percent during the past 12 months. Meanwhile, the three health care component industries each added more than 2,000 jobs since June 2023: Nursing and residential care facilities added 2,700 jobs or 5.1 percent, ambulatory health care services gained 2,700 jobs and hospitals added 2,200 jobs or 3.7 percent.

Krumenauer said despite gains in health care and a few other industries recently, the list of declining industries is growing. Six major industries cut a substantial number of jobs in the past 12 months. Three of the major industries each declined by about 3,600 jobs since June 2023: Retail trade lost 3,600 jobs or 1.7 percent, professional and business services shed 3,600 jobs or 1.3 percent and manufacturing lost 3,500 jobs or 2.8 percent. Krumenauer said the other major industries cutting at least 700 jobs in that time were construction which lost 2,700 jobs or 2.3 percent, transportation, warehousing and utilities which shed 1,100 jobs or 1.4 percent and information which lost 700 jobs or 1.9 percent.

The U.S. unemployment rate in June was 4.1 percent, which changed little from May.

Governor Kotek proposes changes to Oregon school funding and half billion dollar boost in next budget

The proposal aims to narrow district funding gaps caused by rising costs and an end of extra federal funding in September

With Oregon’s public schools staring down a fiscal cliff this school year as the historic federal investment from the last few years expires, Gov. Tina Kotek is proposing changes.

She’d like to help schools keep up with rising costs in the years ahead by updating the way schools are funded. She estimates that those changes would bring a $515 million boost to the State School Fund during the 2025-27 school years.

The state’s 197 school districts have spent nearly all of their portions of the $1.6 billion in federal COVID relief money awarded to the state since 2020. The money expires in September and with it, some of the services, programs and staff that it has paid for. 

“Across the country, school districts are facing budget shortages caused by the expiration of federal pandemic relief dollars, declining enrollment, increasing costs due to inflation and many other factors,” Kotek said in a news release Wednesday announcing the changes.

They come amid growing calls for funding help from districts. After teachers in the state’s largest district, Portland Public Schools, went on strike for more than a month last fall – in part because of low pay and poor working conditions – Kotek vowed she would review school funding and compensation issues in Oregon. 

Leaders in other big districts also issued warnings about their dire budget predicaments following the strike, and in May, several superintendents released a video calling school funding in the state a “crisis” as they explained their decisions to cut hundreds of jobs to keep schools solvent.

They implored the Legislature to increase education spending. 

“This is a terrible and devastating, heartbreaking moment for us,” Salem-Keizer Public Schools’ Superintendent Andrea Castañeda said in the video, “and it is not one we’re using to levy blame. It’s one that we’re using to ask for help.”

Officials from various education groups in Oregon expressed relief and gratitude over Kotek’s announcement. 

Morgan Allen, deputy executive director of the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators, said it was “hugely positive.” Emielle Nischik, interim executive director of the Oregon School Boards Association, called it a good start. 

“The essential work we do for students has to be tied to adequate and reliable funding,” Nischik said in an email. “This doesn’t fix our funding challenge, but it will facilitate a more honest State School Fund debate in the Legislature.” 

Years of underfunding

During the long legislative session in 2023, lawmakers passed a $10.2 billion school funding package, the largest public K-12 education budget ever allocated in Oregon. Of that, more than $8.8 billion went to the State School Fund, which pays for the bulk of district budgets. 

But school leaders afterwards said that was still not enough following years of underfunding and rising costs due to inflation. Legislators have historically not fully allocated to schools the amount recommended by the state’s Education Quality Commission, which is tasked with ensuring Oregon operates “a system of highly-effective schools” and presents a proposed budget to the governor and the Legislature every two-years.

Oregon school funding has further been stymied by two voter-approved ballot measures passed in the 1990s that have capped the state’s ability to tax property to fund schools. School funding from property taxes dropped by two-thirds in the following years, with the Legislature drawing a greater share of funding from the state’s general fund, which is needed for myriad services in the state. 

Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland, chair of the Senate Education Committee and the Statewide Educator Salary Task Force formed by the Legislature in 2023, said improvements to the State School Fund are desperately needed. But he said he’s concerned about where the additional money will come from with no new tax increases or revenue streams proposed alongside them. 

“It’s an open question as to what else in the budget might have to be cut in order to bring in this extra half a billion dollars,” he said. “Personally, I worry that it could come from higher education, which is already very much underfunded.”

Proposed changes 

The first change Kotek proposes to the State School Fund is to give schools 49% of their allocated budget in the first year of the two-year budget cycle, and then the remaining 51% in the second year, rather than splitting them evenly each year. She said this would help boost funding in subsequent two-year budgets since they are based on the amount allocated for the second year of the previous education budget. This would also help schools cover expenses that might be higher by the second year of a two-year budget. This change would give districts at least $217 million more in their 2025-27 budgets, Kotek’s advisers estimate. 

The second proposed change would involve data the state uses to project future compensation. By narrowing the data the state uses for its projections – using the last 10 years of salary data instead of 20 – about $500 million would be added to the money available to schools to hire teachers and classified and administrative staff in the 2025-27 budget. 

Lastly, Kotek proposes that the Legislature incorporate annual changes in local property tax revenues. Historically, the Legislature has only taken into account revenue from the first year of a biennial budget when considering what to allocate in the next budget. This limits the state’s ability to send schools more money if property tax revenues rise during a year that’s not counted. 

By accounting for local revenue changes every year, state officials could bring in an additional $55 million to the State School Fund for the 2025-27 school year, Kotek’s office estimated. 

“The governor said she was committed to this, and she is showing that she is,” Dembrow said of the latest changes. “Looking at how this gets funded in her budget, which will come out in December, will be really interesting to see, because obviously that’s where the proof in the pudding will be.” (SOURCE)

Bags of rice recalled in seven US states as they may contain ‘rodent parts’

Wehah Farms has issued a recall of 4,600 cases of its Lundberg Family Farms Sustainable Wild Blend Gourmet Rice in seven states . This is due to the potential presence of a “foreign object that appears to be of rodent origin.”

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified this as a Class II risk recall, indicating that the product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.

The affected products are sold in 1lb bags with the lot code 231004 and a best-before date of October 4, 2024. The recall affects products sold in Arizona, California , Florida , Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, and Wisconsin, according to Newsweek.

It remains unclear how the product became contaminated with rodent parts. FDA recalls are classified into three levels, with Class II being the second most serious type.

The FDA sets limits on the amount of “extraneous materials” that can be present in food, stating: “maximum levels for these defects in foods produced under current good manufacturing practice and uses these levels in deciding whether to recommend regulatory action.”

According to the FDA: “Extraneous materials include any foreign matter in a product associated with objectionable conditions or practices in production, storage, or distribution.”

They provide examples such as “Examples of filth may include any objectionable matter contributed by animal contamination such as rodent, insect, or bird matter; or any other objectionable matter contributed by unsanitary conditions.”

The FDA stated: “Some foods, even if they are produced in acceptable conditions, may contain natural or unavoidable defects that at low levels are not hazardous to health.”

Contact us: Info@OregonBeachMagazine.com