The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Friday, October 29, 2021
Oregon Beach Weather
Today– Rain likely, mainly before 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. North wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Saturday– A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 59. East wind 5 to 8 mph.
Sunday– Partly sunny, with a high near 60. Light east southeast wind.
Monday– Showers. High near 59. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Tuesday– A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61.
Crews Battle Structure Fire in Seaside
Seaside Fire & Rescue crews were on the scene of a structure fire on Edgewood Avenue around 6 a.m. By 7:20 a.m., Seaside Police said it was upgraded to a 2-alarm fire.
There is no word on any injuries or what caused the fire.
Police say a perimeter from Avenue A to Avenue G and from South Edgewood to South Franklin is being maintained while firefighters battle the flames down. Avoid the area if possible.
Few details are available at the moment as this is a developing story.
Tip From Public Lead To Suspect’s Arrest In Coos County
“The suspect, Robert Danford has been apprehended. The Coos County Sheriff’s Office, North Bend Police and Coquille Tribal Police were able to find and arrest Mr. Danford after a citizen tip resulted in his location,” Captain Gabe Fabrizio said. “We would like to thank everyone who helps capture a potentially dangerous suspect! The time from the initial request for assistance to capture was about 2.5 hours.”
10/28 NORTH BEND, OR – A man described as “armed and extremely dangerous” is wanted for attempted murder and other charges after kidnapping his ex-girlfriend and beating her, the sheriff’s office said.
Authorities say Robert Elliott Danford, 46, of North Bend kidnapped his ex-girlfriend after her shift at work. He was last seen wearing a black leather jacket, jeans and black Crocs sandals, the Coos County Sheriff’s Office said.
“Do not contact Mr. Danford as he is considered armed and extremely dangerous,” the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies responded just before 11 p.m. October 27 when a city called 911 after finding a woman with a bruised and bloodied face at the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve.
“She had been badly beatn and bludgeoned by her ex-boyfriend,” the sheriff’s office said.
The investigation found Danford kidnapped the woman as she finished work. The woman has a restraining order against Danford that bars him from coming within 150 feet of her.
“The victim was able to escape into the woods, where she hid for several hours,” the sheriff’s office said. “She sustained significant injuries to her face, eyes, neck and brain.”
Medics rushed the victim to Bay Area Hospital. She was later flown to Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend in Springfield.
K9 units searched the area for Danford, but were unable to locate him.
The sheriff’s office said deputies have probable cause to arrest Danford on charges of attempted murder, kidnap and assault.
Oregon reports 1,116 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 24 new deaths
There are 24 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 4,358. Oregon Health Authority reported 1,116 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 bringing the state total to 363,648.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (2), Benton (24), Clackamas (88), Clatsop (7), Columbia (13), Coos (22), Crook (24), Curry (4), Deschutes (117), Douglas (53), Gilliam (1), Hood River (4), Jackson (54), Jefferson (21), Josephine (24), Klamath (62), Lake (4), Lane (80), Lincoln (15), Linn (76), Malheur (24), Marion (70), Morrow (7), Multnomah (119), Polk (30), Tillamook (2), Umatilla (32), Union (10), Wallowa (4), Wasco (22), Washington (73) and Yamhill (28).
Mobile Vaccination Unit provides access, information and support
It may look like just another tour bus, but to those awaiting it, the big yellow rig is a ray of brightness in a world that sometimes seems to have run amok.
The FEMA Mobile Vaccination Unit (MVU) has been making the rounds throughout the state bringing vaccines free of charge to everyone who is eligible.
During a recent visit to Jackson County, more than 100 people were vaccinated.
Getting vaccinated is not an easy choice for everyone. Some have been frightened by misinformation; some are uncertain which of the three vaccines is best for them and some are scared of needles.
“We’ve certainly seen a lot of folks who are scared of needles,” said Chris Rushing, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) field operations manager and FEMA liaison. “I had one lady who asked, ‘Hey, will you hold my hand while I get the vaccination?’ So, I held her hand. It went great. There are a lot of stories like that. And, we certainly have a lot of instances of people wanting to get the information, then going home to think about it and coming back on another day. That’s really what we want — for people to make educated decisions about what is right for them.”
If the MVU comes to your town, here’s what you need to know:
- Everyone in Oregon 12 and older is eligible
- The vaccine is free
- No ID is necessary
- No appointment is necessary
To read the full story, visit Oregon Vaccine News.
To find a vaccine near you, go to Get Vaccinated Oregon
80% of Oregonians vaccinated against COVID-19
The Oregon Health Authority announced Thursday that 80% of Oregonians 18 and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, accounting for more than 2.68 million people.
OHA said that the achievement was measured through CDC data, which is slightly higher than numbers reported by the state itself. The CDC’s data includes vaccinations done through federal facilities, such as the Veteran’s Administration.
By total population, Oregon has now delivered at least one dose of a COVID-19 to 68% of all residents. Currently, children under the age of 12 remain ineligible for a vaccine.
The state ranks 20th in the nation for the percentage of residents who have received at least one shot. Fully vaccinated individuals make up 63% of all Oregon residents, and the state ranks 12th in the nation by this metric.
State officials said that they are encouraged that Oregon has reached the threshold of 80% of adults who have received at least a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccines, but health experts believe that Oregon and other similarly situated states are still below the level of “herd immunity” needed to halt viral transmission. The OHA continues to urge those who are unvaccinated to get a shot.
The Conquer COVID in Klamath campaign announces its winner for the week.
Kyle Hood of Klamath Falls won a $2,500 gift certificate for outdoor fun. Hood was selected in a random drawing of all Klamath County residents that have entered at conquercovidinklamath.com.
Each week the prize changes and this week it is a $2,500 gasoline card. The drawing for this week’s prize will take place on Monday morning.
Other Weekly winners to date include: Elizabeth Gaxiola of Bonanza, who won a big-screen TV, home theater System and pizza gift certificates; Gillian Bradford of Klamath Falls won $6,000 in groceries from Grocery Outlet; Nolan Napier of Chiloquin who won a Traeger Grill and 12 bags of premium pellets; Patricia Merrill of Klamath Falls won $4,800 in gasoline; Terri Torres of Klamath Falls won $5,000 worth of furniture; and Nicola Cherry of Klamath Falls won a $2,400 pellet stove.
There is a different prize each week along with the Grand Prize, which is the winners choice of a new Dodge RAM pickup or a new Dodge Durango SUV. There are numerous runner up prizes as well.
To enter Klamath County residents can go to conquercovidinklamath.com.
There is nothing to buy and no charge to enter. The site also lists all prizes, rules and vaccination sites.
Time To Renew Expired Oregon Licenses, IDs, And Vehicle Registration Ends December 31st
Time is running out to renew expired vehicle registration, driver licenses, and ID cards in Oregon before a year-end rush and the looming possibility of citation, the Oregon Department of Transportation reminded on Thursday.
Oregon has had a moratorium in place, started during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns, that kept law enforcement from citing for expired documentation. That moratorium ends December 31, and ODOT warns that it’s best to take care of any issues as soon as possible, before the rush sets in.
Starting in November, the DMV will mail about 300,000 Oregon residents who have expired vehicle registrations, urging them to renew before the end of the year. This mailing is in addition to the usual reminder that the DMV sends a few weeks before your vehicle’s tags expire.
There will not be a second reminder for expired licenses, permits and ID cards.
“You might receive a reminder in the mail even if it doesn’t seem to apply to you,” DMV Administrator Amy Joyce said. “Did you sell your car? If you didn’t notify DMV, we might still show you as the owner. Protect yourself from parking tickets and towing charges: go on-line and notify us of the sale.”
The current moratorium was passed by the legislature this year, but it is the last in a series of grace periods granted to give Oregonians more time to renew at the DMV while COVID-19 restrictions impact availability.
Oregon has added more online feature through the DMV to cut down on the in-person visits required. Before you go to a DMV office, visit DMV2U to see if you can get your service online – or make sure you have what you need to bring to an office.
“To help Oregonians get DMV services during the pandemic, we’ve added many new online options,” Joyce said. “We have caught up with the COVID-19 backlog enough that about half our visits to field offices are by appointment, and the other half are standby.”
“Going forward, customers will continue to have the option of making an appointment online through DMV2U or dropping by, as well as more choices online,” Joyce continued. “Anytime you need a DMV service, check DMV2U first and see if you can save yourself time and a trip.”
Also, starting in May of 2023, you will need a federally recognized form of identification to fly. This includes passports, but will otherwise require a Real ID-compliant identification card. This needs to be done in-person at a DMV location.
Many Oregon Restaurants Left Empty Handed as Federal Funding Runs Out
Many Oregon restaurant owners who applied for federal relief during the pandemic say they’re still waiting.
The Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association (ORLA) is pleading with the federal government to get this money to them.
Chief Executive Officer Jason Brandt said a $28.6 billion fund was created to help local restaurants across the country stay afloat during the pandemic. He said more than 2,600 restaurants that applied for relief from the federal government did not receive any funding from the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.
But on the other hand, about 2,300 restaurants did get that check in the mail, Brandt said. Those who did are now reportedly in a much better situation and can head into this winter season strong.
Brandt said the money ran out and added that the reasons are simple: politics and disagreements.
“Gosh, I think it’s an American staple to make sure you equitably take care of the industries that were most impacted across the board as opposed to leaving local restaurants hanging as a part of any bailout fund,” Brandt said.
He said they don’t have a timeline or any idea right now when they’ll hear back from the federal government. But he hopes to get an answer soon.
“If you have made it this far, you must be really connecting with your local residents who care about your restaurant, care about you personally and your teams,” Brandt said. “Just hang in there a little bit longer.”
He estimates they’ll need another 50 to 60 billion dollars to cover the 177,000 applicants nationally who have not received a cent.
STIHL Donates Trees Planted at Collier Memorial State Park
A group of volunteers and state parks staff planted hundreds of trees at Collier Memorial State Park on Wednesday as part of a fire rehabilitation effort.
Collier was heavily damaged by the Two Four Two Fire, which burned 14,473 acres in Sept. 2020. Now, the park, which offers access to crystal-clear Spring Creek, is getting a little boost as it continues to recover from the blaze.
A variety of native trees planted along the creek will help revitalize the ecosystem by providing shade and temperature variation for the variety of species that call the area home.
The saplings were hard to come by, but were acquired and donated by STIHL, a German company that manufactures
chainsaws and other outdoor equipment. STIHL Northwest donated 2,021 saplings to be planted in both Oregon and
California as part of forest restorations effort following massive wildfires throughout the region.
Time is limited to get all of the trees planted before winter settles in, but Roger Phelps, STIHL corporate communications manager, is confident the group will get them in the ground in time.
ODOT To Close Old McKenzie Pass Highway
With snow in the Oregon Cascades upon us, maintenance managers with the Oregon Department of Transportation have made the decision to close the entire Old McKenzie Pass Highway, OR 242, for the winter/snow season effective Monday, November 1.
The west side of McKenzie Pass Highway was closed on October 19.
ODOT’s records indicate that the earliest closure of the Old McKenzie Pass Highway occurred on October 18, 1996. The latest closure happened on January 10, 1939.
For more information, visit the McKenzie Highway website: https://www.oregon.gov/odot/regions/pages/mckenzie-highway.aspx
For current road conditions, visit tripcheck.com.
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