The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Friday, April 22, 2022
Oregon Beach Weather
Today– A slight chance of showers between 11am and 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. Calm wind becoming west northwest 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Saturday– Patchy fog between 8am and 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 60. Calm wind becoming west northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday– Partly sunny, with a high near 58. Calm wind becoming west southwest around 6 mph in the afternoon.
Monday– A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56.
Tuesday– Showers likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 53.
Maintenance Man At Lincoln City Senior Facility Arrested On Multiple Charges
Lincoln City Police arrested 61-year-old Alan T. Zimmerman of Lincoln City on Tuesday, April 19, on multiple charges stemming from an investigation into reported criminal activity he was involved in while working at the Dorchester House senior living apartments in Lincoln City.
In early March of this year, Lincoln City Police received information that thefts had been occurring from apartments within the apartment complex. An investigation ensued and information was learned that a number of residents had experienced burglaries and thefts from their apartment. During the investigation, probable cause was developed that the complex’s maintenance man was involved in these thefts, as well as other criminal activity at the complex.
On Tuesday morning, Lincoln City Police detectives and officers, along with assistance from detectives with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and the Toledo Police Department, served a search warrant at the Dorchester House and took Zimmerman into custody. During the subsequent search, stolen items were found in Zimmerman’s possession as well as a firearm, which he is prohibited from possessing.
As a result of the investigation, Zimmerman was subsequently transported to the Lincoln County Jail where he was lodged on charges of Burglary I, Theft III, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, two counts of Sex Abuse I, and four counts of Sex Abuse III.
The Lincoln City Police would like to thank the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and the Toledo Police Department for their assistance with the search warrant service. The case investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed. If you have any information regarding this case, contact Detective Bud Lane at 541-994-3636.
Spring Oregon Beach Cleanup This Weekend!
Spring Oregon Beach Cleanup, presented by Portland General Electric and SOLVE, will be hosted in Cannon Beach on Saturday, April 23rd and in many other cities along the coast.
A monumental effort to rid beaches of debris began over 30 years ago with a twice-annual clean-up. This event has its roots in the Spring Oregon Beach Cleanup (created in 1986) and SOLVE IT for Earth Day (started in 1990).
The two events are now partnered together to celebrate Earth Day weekend with cleanup events along the coast and around the State.
“I would encourage folks to get involved,” SOLVE Outreach and Communications Coordinator Larissa Gordon said. “Volunteering for a beach cleanup is a way to make your time on the sand even more enjoyable. It’s rewarding to fill a reused bag or bucket with marine debris; it provides instant gratification. And why wouldn’t you want to spend a day on the Oregon coast?”
On average, 6,500 volunteers pick up over 50 tons of litter and marine debris at various sites through these efforts each year. Over 100 volunteers participate specifically in the Cannon Beach area.
The Spring Oregon Beach Cleanup in Cannon Beach will take place from 10 am – 1 pm. Pre-registration is recommended. Check-in will be hosted at the City Hall on Gower St. Please stagger your check-in between 10-10:30. The Beach Captain will give you supplies, and directions depending on which beach you’d like to clean. Bathrooms are located to the west, across Hemlock.
Beaches to be cleaned range from the main Cannon Beach accesses, up to Ecola State Park, and down south to Arch Cape. Once checked in, volunteers will choose which beach to help clean.
The most commonly found items of trash found on Oregon beaches are tiny bits of plastic and cigarette butts, which can be harmful to shore birds and marine life. Bring an old colander to sift the sand for these items.
Volunteers should plan for all kinds of weather and wear clothing appropriate for getting dirty. SOLVE provides supplies including bags, gloves, tools and other items necessary for the project.
However, to make the event more sustainable, volunteers are welcome to bring reusable bags, buckets and gloves to use in lieu of the provided items. Participants are also encouraged to bring their own reusable water bottles.
This beach cleanup is family-friendly, and volunteers of all ages will find the event fun and rewarding. Remember ocean shores can be dangerous. Avoid logs in the water. Keep your distance from marine mammals, and never turn your back on the ocean! If you find any hazardous material, please alert your Beach Captain. And remember, it’s more fun to work as part of a team. Bring a buddy, stay safe and have fun!
Earth Day-weekend activities:
Oregon Coast Events
Apr 23rd: Depoe Bay – Otter Rock/Devils Punchbowl
Apr 23rd: Cannon Beach – Cannon Beach Clean Up for Oregon Spring Clean Up
Apr 23rd: Bandon – Bandon Beach Spring Cleanup with SEA (Shoreline Education for Awareness)
Apr 23rd: Bay City – Bay City Spring Cleanup
Apr 23rd: Garibaldi – Port of Garibaldi Spring Cleanup
Apr 23rd: Florence – Earth Day Master Recyclers Beach Clean up – Microplastics and More
Apr 23rd: Florence – North Jetty Beach Spring Clean Up
Apr 23rd: Florence – South Jetty Beach Cleanup
Apr 23rd: Florence – City of Florence Ivy and Trash Removal
Apr 23rd: Coos Bay – Surfrider Foundation /Coos Bay Chapter
Apr 23rd: Lincoln City – Lincoln City NW 15th St. Beach Cleanup
Apr 23rd: Lincoln City – D River Spring Cleanup
Apr 23rd: Tillamook – Tillamook-Cape Meares Beach and Jetty clean-up
Apr 23rd: Tillamook – NETARTS BAY AREA CLEANUP
Apr 23rd: Manzanita – Spring Oregon Cleanup!
Apr 23rd: Newport – South Beach State Park Cleanup
Apr 23rd: Newport – Beverly Beach Cleanup
Apr 23rd: Newport – Yaquina Beach Cleanup
Apr 23rd: Newport – Yaquina Bay Riverside Cleanup
Apr 23rd: Newport – Nye Beach Cleanup
Apr 23rd: Newport – Agate Beach Cleanup
Apr 23rd: Oceanside – Oceanside Spring 2022 Cleanup
Apr 23rd: Pacific City – Oregon Spring Cleanup at Cape Kiwanda
Apr 23rd: Pacific City – Sand Lake Cleanup
Apr 23rd: Reedsport – Oregon Dunes Spring Clean Up
Apr 23rd: Reedsport – Umpqua Dunes Spring Beach Clean Up
Apr 23rd: Rockaway Beach – Rockaway Beach Clean Up
Apr 23rd: Waldport – Obsidians Spring Beach Clean-Up with SOLVE *Private Event
Apr 23rd: Yachats – Take out the TRASH: Kindness to the Earth
Apr 23rd: Warrenton – Peter Iredale Beach Cleanup
Apr 23rd: Warrenton – Sunset Beach Cleanup
FOR MORE INFO: https://www.solveoregon.org/spring-cleanup
Sheriff’s Office Issues Door-To-Door Sales Safety Tips
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. – There have been several reports over the last couple days of door-to-door sales people selling aromatherapy/air purifier/diffuser products. In some of these reports, the sales person has pushed their way into the home of a person who has said they are not interested.
The sales person usually female and appears to be alone but when she leaves, she gets into a vehicle (a grey Chevy Suburban or a White Ford Explorer) that is occupied by two males. The legitimacy of these salespersons is unclear; what is clear is that their sales tactics are suspicious and that you should use caution when dealing with door-to-door sales people as a general rule.
Here are a few tips to help keep you safe when someone comes knocking at your door.
• Use peep-holes to determine who is at your door, and keep your porch light on in the evening.
• Refuse to open the door to anyone you don’t know or aren’t comfortable with.
• Talk to sales people through the door and let them know you aren’t interested. Most products being sold door-to-door can be obtained by contacting the company directly.
• Never give door-to-door salespeople personal information or disclose that you are home alone.
• Utilize “No Soliciting” signs near your door.
• If you suspect a door-to-door-salesperson is not legitimate, take note of details you can observe without opening your door, such as the person’s personal appearance including height, approximate weight, hair and eye color, clothing description, and description of a vehicle if applicable.
• Contact your neighbors and put them on alert!
Report suspicious persons or activities to your local law enforcement. Douglas Co. Sheriff’s Office
We want to keep you informed about COVID-19 in Oregon. Data are provisional and change frequently. For more information, including COVID-19 data by county, visit our dashboard: https://public.tableau.com/views/OregonCOVID-19Update/DailyDataUpdate?:language=en-US&:toolbar=n&:display_count=n&:origin=viz_share_link
Wednesday, Oregon Health Authority announced its latest COVID-19 findings, which reveals a steady increase in cases and a significant drop in COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Across Oregon, OHA finds 83% of adults have been vaccinated in the state. The OHA also wanted to remind Oregonians that the Test to Treat Program is still available across the state for people who want to be treated for COVID-19 symptoms. Public Information Officer Valeree Lane says that one of the great things about where we are in our response to COVID, is so many people have been vaccinated or have had COVID, that they have the anti-bodies, in their bodies right now, to respond to the virus in a way that’s not as troubling as it was a couple of years ago.
Oregon Health Authority officials say they are monitoring a rise in COVID-19 cases, including the now prevalent BA.2 subvariant. Deputy State Health Officer Dr. Tom Jeanne says Oregon averaged 600 new cases a day over the past
week, “It’s been a little bit more than four weeks since the lifting of mask use in most settings, and some of the jump we see in case counts is likely tied to less mask use and more Oregonians gathering indoors and returning to pre-pandemic social activities.” He says the OHA is aware there’s a level of underreporting, saying the proportion of cases reported to public health also has likely declined, with more home tests available.
According to Dr. Jeanne, that underreporting could mean the case count is as much as five- to 10-times higher than what’s reported. OHA Senior Health Advisor Dr. Paul Cieslak urges continued caution, especially the elderly and those with compromised immune systems, because it’s not possible to track home tests and those asymptomatic
people who don’t get tested. The OHA has no plans to reinstate mask mandates should COVID numbers spike again because more than 80% of the population has some level of immunity and there are more effective medical treatments available. Dr. Cieslak believes the best protection continues to come from getting vaccinated and boosted.
President Joe Biden Visited Oregon Yesterday
Biden arrived to highlight the historic growth and nearly 8 million jobs created as a result of his and Congressional Democrats’ actions, including the American Rescue Plan and bipartisan infrastructure law.
Governor Brown welcomed President Joseph R. Biden Jr. for a tour of the PDXNext project, which includes a new roof and expanded main terminal at the Portland International Airport. The Portland airport received significant improvement funds through the law.
The visit highlighted the opportunities to improve infrastructure in Oregon and underscored the importance of embedding equity in Oregon’s approach to implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The Governor was joined by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer, U.S. Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, U.S. Congressman Peter De Fazio, U.S. Congressman Kurt Schrader, and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler.
The President was joined at the airport by Governor Kate Brown, Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, and Congressman Kurt Schrader. The president also talked about efforts to reduce inflation.
He attended a fundraiser at Portland Yacht Club for the Democratic National Committee. On Friday – Earth Day – Biden heads to Seattle to discuss clean energy. This is his first visit as President to Oregon and Washington.
Oregon Will Receive An Additional $3.8 Million, Bringing The Total For Oregon — Including American Rescue Plan Funds — To $92.6 Million In LIHEAP Funding
The White House said Thursday that the Department of Health and Human Services will release $384 million more to a program to help low-income families with home energy cost.
The funds will go to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which received $4.5 billion earlier through the American Rescue Plan.
The infrastructure law passed this year will provide $500 million to the program in $100 million installments starting this year. That money is provided to states to help residents with energy costs.
President Joe Biden was expected to comment more on the efforts to fund the program during a trip to Portland on Thursday.
“Oregon, where the president is traveling today, will receive an additional $3.8 million, bringing the total for Oregon — including American Rescue Plan funds — to $92.6 million in LIHEAP funding,” the White House said. “Washington, where the president will travel [on Friday], will receive an additional $6.5 million, bringing its total to $151.2 million.”
The White House said the American Rescue Plan provided Emergency Rental Assistance programs $21.5 billion in funding to provide help with past-due utility bills or ongoing assistance with energy costs.
“The Treasury Department is also working with states and tribes to distribute $9.8 billion in funding for the Homeowners Assistance Fund, with a majority of approved plans including utility assistance to homeowners in need,” the White House said.
The White House also called on local and state governments to use the money from the programs to help residents avoid energy shutoffs and help provide more energy efficient appliances during the upcoming summer months.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is continuing a series of 100 actions, to be completed this year, that together will save families $100 every year with more efficient home appliances and equipment,” the White House said. “Today’s announcement also builds on the administration’s previous actions to ensure these historic resources are distributed swiftly and equitably.”
Man Found In Hand-Built Casket At Harrisburg Cemetery Identified
The man found dead inside a hand-built casket at a rural cemetery last month has been identified based on his fingerprints, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office said.
The sheriff said the deceased was 59-year-old Randall Louis Lloyd.
“Lloyd has ties to Washington, Idaho, and more recently Eugene, Oregon,” the sheriff’s office said. “Preliminary findings from the autopsy show Lloyd’s death was from natural causes, pending toxicology results.”
Detectives continue to investigate who left Lloyd’s body in the cemetery – and why. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Detective Division (541) 967-3950.
April 21 Oregon Employment Department Media Statement – Economic Update
On Tuesday, April 19, the Employment Department released March unemployment rates and jobs numbers for Oregon’s counties and metropolitan areas. In March, seasonally adjusted unemployment rates declined in 35 of Oregon’s 36 counties.
No Oregon county had its unemployment rate go up in March. Wheeler County’s unemployment rate did not decline, but it held steady over the month.
All across Oregon, unemployment rates are at or near record lows since at least 1990. Klamath County had Oregon’s highest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (5.3%) in March. Benton County registered the lowest unemployment in March, at 2.9%.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, nine out of 10 nonfarm payroll jobs gained in March were added in Oregon’s metropolitan areas. The Portland metro area added 2,600 jobs during the month. Eugene added 1,100 jobs.
The Bend metro area had 1,800 more jobs in March 2022 than before the pandemic recession. Other metro areas that have regained essentially all their recession losses include Salem, Grants Pass, and Albany.
A handful of rural counties – Gilliam, Klamath, Lake, Lincoln, and Sherman – had small job losses in March. All other rural counties held steady or had total nonfarm job gains over the month.
Several rural counties have regained all their recession job losses, and they had more jobs in March 2022 than in February 2020. They include Baker, Crook, Gilliam, Harney, Morrow, Wallowa, and Wheeler counties.
The Oregon Employment Department (OED) is an equal opportunity agency. Everyone has a right to use OED programs and services. OED provides free help. Some examples are sign language and spoken language interpreters, written materials in other languages, braille, large print, audio and other formats. If you need help, please call 971-673-6400. TTY users call 711. You can also ask for help at OED_Communications@employ.oregon.gov
Grants Pass Missing Person
The Grants Pass Police Department is seeking assistance from the public in locating 30 year old Noah Baker. Baker was despondent after an argument and left his residence in Grants Pass driving a silver Ford Fiesta with Oregon Plate 671MUR.
Baker is described as a white male adult, 5’09”, 170 lbs, brown hair and blue eyes and was last seen wearing black sweats, black shirt, black shoes and a black hat.
If anyone knows of his whereabouts or sees Baker, please call your local law enforcement agency or the Grants Pass Police at 541-450-6260. Reference case #2022-14203 Grants Pass Police Department
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
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Have-You-Seen-Me-Southern-Oregons-Missing-People-161249961222839/posts/