The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Friday, January 28, 2022
Oregon Beach Weather
Today– Sunny, with a high near 57. East wind 5 to 8 mph becoming light and variable in the afternoon.
Saturday– Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. Calm wind becoming west northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday– Rain likely, mainly after 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. South southwest wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Monday– A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly after 10am. Snow level 2200 feet. Partly sunny, with a high near 48.
Tuesday– A slight chance of rain. Snow level 1800 feet. Mostly sunny, with a high near 47.
The Florence Winter Music Festival Starts Today
“Jam sessions are sure to reflect the diversity of styles with young and old alike participating,” said Florence Winter Music Festival chairperson Kirk Mlinek. “We have dedicated space for jamming at the Florence Events Center. The room will be clearly marked and available as soon as the doors open on Friday morning (Jan. 28) and close at 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. The River House Inn and the Lighthouse Inn are also hosting jam sessions. Don’t leave home without your instrument.”
“Our outstanding workshops are back too,” Mlinek added. “We are incredibly fortunate to have Linda Leavitt as our instructor and emcee for the workshops. Workshops are free to any person holding a ticket to any one of the main-stage shows; others may attend for $20 payable at the door.”
Workshops include:
- Beginner’s Bluegrass Jam with Linda Leavitt on Friday, Jan. 28, at 1 p.m.
- Songwriting workshop with award-winning duo Kristen Grainger and Dan Wetzel of True North on Saturday, Jan. 29, at 9 a.m.
- How to Play as a Duo with John Lowell and Ben Winship of Growling Old Men at 10:30 a.m. John and Ben will explain how it works to play in a duo as opposed to playing in a full band. They will work up a song on the spot to show the process of arranging the tune, figuring out harmony parts, when to play leads and the role of each player.
- Blues and Rags Guitar with Mary Flower at 11 a.m. Flower will delve into left and right-hand moves that drive both Delta and Piedmont guitar styles. Expect some of her original songs that will demonstrate syncopation, movable chords, alternating thumb and dead thumb. Students will come away with a few new tunes as well as tools to apply to their own arrangements. Both the ability to read tab and fingerpicking experience will be helpful. Students are encouraged to record the class (audio).
COVID-19 protocols will be in place for all jam sessions and workshops, including proof of vaccination or evidence of a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours of arrival at the venue. Social distancing is required and masks must be worn. Organizers said they will be grateful for the public’s understanding and cooperation and that persons unwilling to comply with these requirements will be asked to leave the building.
The festival also includes performance workshops and jam sessions. Workshop topics and schedules, and jam schedules, along with tickets and artist profiles, can be found online at WinterMusicFestival.org
New this year is a livestream option for each show and for the weekend as a whole. The event will not be recorded for later viewing.
On-site performances at the Florence Events Center are $98 for the two-day pass, $42 for reserved seating for Friday Bluegrass, $31 for Saturday afternoon Folk/Americana general admission, and $49 for Saturday evening’s reserved seating headliner show.
Livestreaming prices are $20 each for Friday night bluegrass, Saturday afternoon folk/Americana, and Saturday night headliner show. An all-access two-day livestream pass is $55. Links will be sent to each buyer in advance of each show.
Visit WinterMusicFestival.org for schedules, artist profiles, tickets and more.
OHA Reports COVID Outbreak at Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria
The Oregon Health Authority reported a COVID-19 outbreak affecting 18 employees at Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria in its latest weekly surveillance summary published Jan. 26.
The state health authority’s investigation started Jan. 16, with the most recent onset Jan. 19, according to the report. The health agency conducts weekly reports on workplace outbreaks among workplaces with at least 30 employees. Those with at least five confirmed COVID-19 cases are included in the report.
“As with most of our healthcare colleagues, CMH has had COVID-19 exposures due to the omicron variant,” the hospital said in a statement, adding that the exposures originated outside the hospital. Columbia Memorial Hospital said every caregiver who tested positive or was exposed “is following strict employee health guidelines.”
The outbreak has not affected care services, though, “Staffing has been affected,” the hospital said.
“We do have a bigger mass of people that are out, but those positions are being filled, and nothing has been short-staffed,” Nancee Long, the hospital’s director of communications states. “And sometimes people are working more shifts than normal, and everybody’s kind of watching out for each other.”
Columbia Memorial is a 25-bed critical access hospital. In its statement to The Astorian, the hospital cited a report from Oregon Health & Science University that estimates omicron will peak in the hospital’s region in early February, warning that hospital beds will likely be challenging to find in the area during that time.
“Please continue to practice safety, mask in public and curtail social activities to not overwhelm your local hospitals.”
Repairs Completed Ahead of Time and Windy Cove to Reopen Saturday
The Windy Cove Crab and Fishing Dock will officially reopen on Saturday, January 29th.
Douglas County Commissioners Tim Freeman, Chris Boice and Tom Kress, and the Douglas County Parks Department have announced they will be reopening the Douglas County Windy Cove Crab and Fishing Dock, located at 936 Salmon Harbor Drive in Windy Cove County Park in Winchester Bay, one month ahead of schedule.
The dock was temporarily closed for public use on Saturday, January 1, 2022, in order to undergo necessary infrastructure repairs and annual preventative maintenance.
The original closure notice projected that the temporary closure would last until Monday, February 28, 2022. But crews were able to efficiently expedite and complete the repair and maintenance project because of the favorable weather conditions in January that resulted in no weather-related delays, the county said.
“Starting Saturday, January 29, 2022, residents and visitors will once again be able to enjoy all areas of Windy Cove County Park for their recreational pleasure,” the county said. “Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to improve and preserve your recreational opportunities at our Douglas County Parks.”
Oregon reports 7,871 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 19 new deaths
PORTLAND, Ore. — There are 19 new COVID-19-related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 6,067, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported at 12:01 a.m. today.
OHA reported 7,871 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 613,221.
OHA hosts media availability
OHA will host a media availability at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 28, featuring Dr. Dean Sidelinger, state health officer and state epidemiologist. Members of the media can participate by joining this Zoom link.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (34), Benton (59), Clackamas (522), Clatsop (71), Columbia (76), Coos (151), Crook (106), Curry (47), Deschutes (454), Douglas (216), Grant (2), Harney (31), Hood River (35), Jackson (395), Jefferson (88), Josephine (144), Klamath (140), Lake (4), Lane (869), Lincoln (96), Linn (350), Malheur (96), Marion (989), Morrow (34), Multnomah (1,101), Polk (174), Sherman (5), Tillamook (35), Umatilla (179), Union (85), Wallowa (25), Wasco (44), Washington (936) and Yamhill (278).
A new study is revealing the road to “super immunity” has multiple paths as researchers are comparing the antibody response from both COVID-19 vaccination and natural infection.
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) studied people who were first vaccinated then infected or infected and then got the vaccine. They discovered that, regardless of the route, the immune response revealed antibody levels that were at least 10-times more potent than just the immune response from vaccines alone.
OHSU experts are suggesting the new findings are pointing to the end of the pandemic getting closer and closer as, over time, the virus will run into an ever-expanding pool of human immunity. The latest study of ‘super immunity’ was performed before the recent emergence of the Omicron coronavirus variant. It was published online Tuesday in the journal Science Immunology.
Oregon Health Authority: With so much information out there about COVID-19, it can be hard to keep track of what’s true and false. For instance, you may have heard that COVID-19 tests can’t detect the Omicron variant. Thankfully, that’s false! If you do test positive and have questions, visit our Test Positive page (govstatus.egov.com/or-oha-covid-19-positive-test) or call our COVID-19 Case Support Hotline at 866-917-8881.
Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day is January 28 — See if you qualify for up to $6,728
(Salem) – As the Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day approaches on Friday, January 28, the Oregon Department of Revenue and the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) are encouraging all workers with income in 2021 to check their Earned Income Tax Credit eligibility.
The Earned Income Tax Credit, which may give families up to $6,728 back when they file taxes, is a federal and state tax credit for people making less than $57,414 per year. Many Oregonians miss out because they simply don’t know about it, especially those that aren’t required to file taxes.
Even if you aren’t required to file taxes, you may still qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit. If you do, you will need to file a federal and state return in order to get this refundable credit.
Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day is a nationwide effort to increase awareness about the Earned Income Tax Credit and free tax preparation sites. There are volunteer organizations, such as Metropolitan Family Services and AARP that can help you file your taxes for free or at a reduced cost. More information can be found on the Oregon Department of Revenue website.
Basic qualifications for EITC include:
- All filing statuses are eligible, but some have specific requirements that must be met in order to qualify.
- You, your spouse, or any qualifying child must have a Social Security number.
- Your earned income in 2021 must be below certain limits based on your number of qualifying dependents.
- You may be eligible even if you do not have a qualifying child.
The Department of Revenue and ODHS are working with other state agencies and community partners to encourage taxpayers to learn more about this credit and find out if they’re eligible.
Taxpayers can use the IRS EITC Assistant to check their eligibility further. The assistant is available in English and Spanish.
CASH Oregon provides free or low-cost, in-person tax preparation services throughout Oregon. To see its locations, visit www.cashoregon.org. People can also dial 2-1-1 to find free tax return preparation sites.
For more information on the EITC, visit https://www.eitc.irs.gov/. For questions about Oregon taxes, call the Department of Revenue at 503-378-4988.
Employment Department Mailing 1099G Tax Forms
Jan. 26, 2022 (Salem, OR) — This month, the Oregon Employment Department will mail 1099G tax forms to the nearly 400,000 people who received unemployment insurance benefits in the 2021 tax year.
The 1099G form is used for filing both federal income taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and state income taxes to the Oregon Department of Revenue.
People can expect to receive the 1099G form by Jan. 31, 2022. Starting Feb. 1, the form will be on the Online Claims System under the tab “1099G Tax forms” toward the bottom of the page.
Sara Cromwell, unemployment insurance division deputy director for benefits, urges people to inform the Employment Department if they receive a 1099G and did not claim benefits in 2021.
“If you didn’t file a claim last year, this means someone may be trying to steal your ID. Please complete our online ID theft form or call 503-947-1995, so we can review the claim for possible fraud,” she said.
More information on the 1099G form is at unemployment.oregon.gov. For more information on what to do if your identity has been stolen, visit the IRS website and the department’s fraud resources web page.
OregonHealthCare.gov sees highest number of enrollees in years
Salem, Ore. – During the 2022 open enrollment period, 146,602 Oregonians enrolled in health insurance coverage, the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace announced today.
The federal government extended the open enrollment period for 2022 health coverage from 45 to 76 days (Nov. 1, 2021, to Jan. 15, 2022). This extra window of time enabled more Oregonians to enroll in health coverage than either of the past two years (141,089 people in 2021 and 145,264 people in 2020).
In addition, the American Rescue Plan Act (2021) has made health insurance purchased through the Marketplace more affordable than ever. Individuals and families will pay less for health insurance thanks to financial help available through OregonHealthCare.gov.
“I am elated to see more Oregonians taking advantage of the tremendous savings available on health coverage through the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace,” says Chiqui Flowers, administrator of the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace. “Health coverage is essential to helping Oregonians seek the care they need to stay healthy. We are encouraged to see the benefits the American Rescue Plan Act and extended open enrollment period will have on the ability for people to seek the care they need.”
People who missed the open enrollment deadline may still have an opportunity to get health coverage through the Marketplace if they experienced a qualifying life event such as moving, involuntarily losing health coverage, having or adopting a child, marriage, a change in citizenship, and being released from incarceration. Enrolled tribal members and Alaska natives can enroll in health coverage at any time throughout the year.
Oregonians can preview plans and savings available to them by answering a few short questions at OregonHealthCare.gov. The website is also the best place to find a health insurance experts who can give one-on-one help with the application and enrollment process by phone, email, or in person. Visit OregonHealthCare.gov today to get started.
The Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace, a part of state government, helps people get health insurance when they do not have job-based coverage, and do not qualify for the Oregon Health Plan or another program. The Marketplace is the state-level partner to HealthCare.gov. For more information, go to OregonHealthCare.gov.
Oregon Army National Guard soldiers have returned from a nine-month deployment in Poland.
They were working in support of the European Deterrence Initiative as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve. They arrived on Tuesday at the Portland Air National Guard Base and were part of nearly 130 soldiers that were formally mobilized in April of 2021. On January 2nd, about 120 Oregon Army National Guard soldiers deployed to Poland to support the same mission.
Oregon Zoo Unveils A New Plan To Save The Polar Bears
The Polar Bear Research Council (PBRC), composed of zoo professionals and polar bear researchers, released its 2022 master plan, developed to help protect polar bears through advanced research, according to an Oregon Zoo press release.
The PBRC 2022 Polar Bear Research Masterplan consists of research strategies and field techniques to collect data on polar bear health and welfare, physiological and behavioral ecology, and reproduction.
The Oregon Zoo stated that the collaboration between the council, zoo, and other scientists is imperative and urgent, “as climate change reduces Arctic Sea ice, polar bears struggle to find and catch seals, making it harder for them and their cubs to survive.”
U.S. Endangered Species Act classifies polar bears as a threatened species, and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Species Survival Commission reports the species is “at high risk of global extinction.”
“We still have gaps in understanding how climate change is affecting polar bears, so it’s essential that the bears in our care help scientists learn more about their species,” said Amy Cutting, interim director of animal care and conservation at the Oregon Zoo.
Cutting said that zoo bears are perfect candidates for research as they have helped scientists advance animal care. According to the Oregon Zoo, “In 2012, polar bears Conrad and Tasul became the first of their species to voluntarily give blood.”
According to an article from the Oregonian, zoo crews would traditionally need to hit polar bears with a tranquilizing dart to draw blood, as zoo experts say polar bears do not like to be touched. The Oregon Zoo said they designed a cage and trained the polar bears to lay their paw in a specific location, so it was easier for researchers to take blood samples while another zookeeper distracted the bear with treats.
After hearing about their research successes, polar bear scientist Karyn Rode said she contacted the zoo and asked Oregon Zoo for assistance.
The Oregon Zoo said in a press release that “polar bears are extremely difficult to observe in the wild, and Dr. Rode, a biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Changing Arctic Ecosystems initiative, believed the zoo’s training advances presented a unique opportunity to fill critical knowledge gaps.”
The polar bear named Tasul has been very helpful in finding how climate change affects wild polar bears by wearing “a high-tech collar to help calibrate tracking collars deployed on wild bears,” according to officials at the Oregon Zoo.
Nora and Amelia Gray, two polar bears, welcomed back in 2021 to the Oregon Zoo, have also helped scientists in their endeavors.
The Oregon Zoo said Nora helps scientists understand caloric requirements for polar bears in the wild by swimming in a chamber designed to measure oxygen. “Amelia Gray was outfitted with a “Burr on Fur,” a prototype tech innovation designed by 3M to give conservation scientists a better way to monitor wild bears,” according to an Oregon Zoo press release.
“We’re excited to be continuing our collaborations with our conservation science partners. And it’s a great way for zoo guests to see that important work in action,” Cutting said.
According to the Oregon Zoo, “many of the habitat’s features in the Polar Passage where Nora and Amelia Gray live were funded through donations to the Oregon Zoo Foundation from the community.” This Foundation states that it supports the zoo’s animal welfare, conservation, and education efforts. To learn more about the Oregon Zoo and its research, visit oregonzoo.org/recovery.
Klamath County Sheriff’s Office Asks for Public’s Help in Search For Trucker Suspect
The first real clue to come in on all the missing person cases in the area. Help Klamath Falls Oregon Sheriff Office ID this trucker. He was the last to see this woman alive and could be the key to not only solving this woman’s disappearance but a number of the hundred other women missing in PNW. IF you have any information, please call (541) 883-5130
A 17-year-old was reported missing in Salem and detectives say the teen might be the victim of an online catfishing scheme.
Ezra Mayhugh, 17, was last seen on October 15, 2021 after being dropped off in downtown Salem by a friend, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said. He was reported as a runaway the following day when he did not return home.
Investigators say he might be in Washington or California. They hope to reunite Ezra safely with family members.
He’s described as about 5-foot 11-inches tall, weighing 130 pounds, with blonde hair and brown eyes.
If you have had contact with Mayhugh since October 15 or have other helpful information on his whereabouts, the sheriff’s office asks you to contact Detective M.J. Sphoon at 503-588-6808 or to submit a tip by texting TIPMCSO and your tip to 847411.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Have-You-Seen-Me-Southern-Oregons-Missing-People-161249961222839/posts/