The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Friday, June 3, 2022
Oregon Beach Weather
New K-9 Officer on Patrol in Lincoln City
The Lincoln City Police Department is pleased to introduce the newest handler in our department’s K-9 unit—Officer Jarett Villafane, who is the new partner of K9 Nato.
Officer Villafane, who joined LCPD as a lateral hire in 2020, was selected to be K9 Nato’s handler after completing a thorough selection process. Officer Villafane and K9 Nato were immediately sent to an in-state, six-week long K-9 team certification training course, which is required before the K-9 team can start their patrol duties together. Officer Villafane and K9 Nato have successfully completed that certification course, and are now patrolling the city together.
K9 Nato and Officer Villafane join K9 Nix and Officer Cody Snidow to make up the two Lincoln City K-9 teams, both of which are patrol K-9s specially trained in tracking and apprehension. However, these K-9s are not only used to track and apprehend criminal suspects, but can also be used to track and find missing persons as well.
The members of the Lincoln City Police Department are grateful for the overwhelming support we receive from our community and its citizens, and from our City Council members and City Administration who make it possible for LCPD to employ resources, such as our K-9 teams, to better serve our community. Lincoln City Police
Coos County’s Pelican Harbor Food Bank Needs New Building To House Donations And Supplies
Coos County non-profit Pelican Harbor Food Bank distributes food to over 500 families each week. Now they have just a matter of weeks to find a new building.
Residents in and around North Bend know they can pick up free items like bread, beans and cereal every Thursday morning in the Pony Village Mall parking lot. This without any income requirements involved.
But the co-founder and director of the volunteer-staffed food bank, Laurel Broman, says storing food donations and supplies has become a matter of safety, and they’ll soon have to remove their donations from the old Macy’s store.
“Another company moved in the same space, and the fire marshal came over, and he wasn’t happy. And we don’t have the money to do any improvements. I said, we’ll just gracefully bow out. We could squeeze into 10,000 square feet, but boy it would be really tight again. 20,000 would be just perfect,” said Broman.
Broman says for now, they’re just in need of a temporary space, but the food bank intends to obtain grant funding to build their own warehouse.
They served over two million pounds of food last year with numbers stacking up to meet or exceed that amount this year. Because they’re a non-profit, any building offered for free use would be free of property taxes.
Anyone who would like to help may call 541-456-6696 or email noemptytummies@yahoo.com. — https://www.facebook.com/Pelican-Harbor-Food-Bank-106236318391109/
‘Message In A Bottle’ Hosted By The Bandon Chamber Visitor Center
‘Message in a Bottle‘ is the new program hosted by the Bandon Chamber Visitor Center, where handcrafted bottles are carefully placed along the sandy shoreline of the southern Oregon coast town. Inside each one there is a treasure.
Each bottle contains an upbeat message with a beach theme, which could in turn win you a prize. Bring the bottle you find to any participating business in Bandon and you’ll get a set of mini-lights that go inside the bottle and illuminate it for more visual reveals, created by local artists.
When you find a bottle, register it on the registration page on Bandon’s visitor website. You will then be in the pool for a chance to win a random prize. You can also call them to register at 541-347-9616, or in person at the Bandon Chamber Visitor Center, 300 Second Street SE, Old Town Bandon. They are open 7 days a week, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Chamber said that their bottle fairies only hide them during the day and do not come out at night. They will be found somewhere near one of the public beach accesses in Bandon, above the high tide line but below the embankment.
These are left on the beaches of Bandon wherever and whenever, and it happens every day whatever the weather.
You will find your registration number at the bottom of each bottle.
The Chamber also said to be careful with the beach environment and to take into account the coastal flora and fauna: important plant life is not destroyed or crushed.
Once you find your message in a bottle, be sure to share a photo on social media like Twitter (@BandonOregon), Instagram (@BandonOregon) or Bandon Visitor’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BandonOregon/ Use the hashtag #BandonMIAB.
DMV in Dire Need to Fill Job Openings in Your Area
“DMV has been experiencing the same shortage of applicants for job openings as other employers statewide and nationwide,” Joyce said. “The people working at your local DMV live in your community – and could use your help.”
Apply for a job at ODOT today at www.odotjobs.com – select “Department of Transportation” under the Company menu.
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: http://ow.ly/otU050JoGot
OHA releases biweekly COVID-19 reports
The COVID-19 Biweekly Data Report, released today, shows an increase COVID-19-related cases, hospitalizations and deaths since the previous biweekly period.
Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported 22,845 new cases of COVID-19 from May 16 to May 29, a 24% increase over the previous biweekly total of 18,447.
There were 549 new COVID-19-related hospitalizations during the biweekly period, more than double from the 208 reported during the previous two-week period.
“The increases we are seeing with COVID-19 cases statewide confirm that the virus is still widespread through Oregon, even though many of us are ready to move on,” said Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at OHA. “With our healthcare partners, we continue to monitor hospitalization numbers that are rising gradually. We anticipate, based on the latest modeling, that hospitalizations will peak around the second week of June and then start to come down.”
There were 58 COVID-19-related deaths, up from the 50 reported during the previous two weeks.
During the two-week period of May 15 through May 28, 196,549 tests for COVID-19 were reported to OHA; of those, 12.1% were positive — up from the 10.5% positivity rate reported during the previous two-week period.
“Being up to date with your vaccinations and boosters is still your best way to prevent serious disease,” added Cieslak. “Persons who are at higher risk should make a plan for getting tested and treated quickly should they develop COVID-19 symptoms despite vaccination. Paxlovid and other treatments are now widely available in Oregon with a doctor’s prescription or through test-to-treat sites.”
Today’s COVID-19 Biweekly Outbreak Report shows 153 active outbreaks in care facilities, senior living communities and congregate care living settings with three or more confirmed COVID-19 cases or one or more COVID-19-related deaths.
OHA updates COVID-19 Data Reports
OHA has identified a discrepancy in its labeling of age groups in tables and charts published in the COVID-19 Data Reports. The age group labels in the Data Reports indicate ages 0-9 and 10-19, but the case counts are from people ages 0-10 and 11-19. Information on the COVID-19 dashboards was not affected.
The error started in late 2020, when OHA transitioned from manually creating the reports to an automated process. OHA identified the scripting error in late May this year.
OHA will update all affected archived Data Reports, in both English and Spanish, with statements noting that data labels for the age groups should be for ages 0-10 and 11-19, and include a link to the dashboards for up-to-date information. OHA also will update its 2020 Annual COVID-19 Data Report to incorporate these changes.
Age groups and case counts in this week’s and all future Data Reports will align with OHA’s Case Demographics, Hospitalizations and Deaths dashboards. OHA also has updated its quality control processes to provide additional levels of review for all reports.
Law To Combat Water Theft Used For Illegal Cannabis Grows Goes Into Effect Today
Water suppliers and haulers for agricultural purposes, nurseries, and garden irrigation throughout the state will be legally required to document each sale, what the crop of the water was used for, and other information related to the water transaction starting today June 3rd.
In February, House Bill 4061 was unanimously passed through the Oregon House and Senate after the state saw thousands of illegal cannabis grows pop up, either stealing water or providing false licensing documents to purchase it.
“Water, really, is owned by everyone in Oregon, and the state really wanted to take a look at what we can do to curtail that illegal use of water,” Alyssa Rash, the public information and resiliency specialist for the Oregon Water Resource Department (OWRD) said. “For an unlicensed cannabis operation, if they don’t have a water right in Oregon, they are stealing water by applying it to their cannabis.”
She explained the new law requires water supplies and haulers to document the purchase’s location, date, name, and contact information for the person the water was delivered to, the quantity, and the water’s use (including the plant type).
“We will also have rules that those water haulers are checking to see if they providing water to cannabis, is this a licensed cannabis operation,” Rash said.
The bill also establishes new penalties for those that break the law, depending on what role the individual played in the illegal purchase of water.
If a person is found to use water illegally for an unregistered grow, they can receive Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to one year in prison with a maximum fine of $25,000.
She explained that the law will not apply to certain water transactions, including firefighting efforts.
Rash said OWRD provides water suppliers and haulers with resources to be able to identify if a buyer is using fake licensing documents. The first objective the agency will take is to educate water suppliers.
“We recognize that this is a pretty big lift that is now going to be required of them under this new law,” Rash said. “We are really partnering with them and helping them understand what new requirements they have.”
Rash added the agency will request the required records when investigating possible illegal use and/or responding to a complaint.
The new law, which officially goes into effect June 3, 2022, requires water suppliers and haulers to save all their records and documents for one year.
Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal launches grant opportunity to bolster wildfire response staffing
SALEM, Ore. – As the heat of summer nears, and the threat of wildfire increases, the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is announcing a grant to help bolster capacity at local fire departments across the state.
As part of the OSFM’s Response Ready Oregon Initiative, roughly $4 million is available to local fire districts and departments to bring on additional staff during the 2022 wildfire season. When applying for this grant, local fire agencies can request up to $35,000 to support upstaffing.
This additional funding will increase on-duty capacity throughout the fire season at the local level and allow agencies to mobilize quickly to fires at the local, regional, and state (conflagration) level. Having more on-duty firefighters will help keep fires small before they can impact communities.
“The Office of State Fire Marshal is taking a multipronged approach to combating wildfire in Oregon,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said, “We’re investing in communities through risk reduction programs and firefighting equipment and people to keep Oregonians protected from wildfire. This grant opportunity will give the Oregon fire service much needed capacity during a critical time of year.”
All 306 of Oregon’s local fire service agencies are eligible for this grant opportunity. For additional information or the grant application please visit https://www.oregon.gov/osp/programs/sfm/Pages/OSFM-Grants.aspx.
Current staff and volunteers would be eligible for additional hours under the grant using the current agency staffing model and pay scale. The application review will begin June 6, 2022. Applications may be considered through August 12, 2022, subject to the availability of funds. Applications will be periodically reviewed during the application window. Funding awards will be distributed on a rolling basis as applications are reviewed and approved.
Funding for this upstaffing grant opportunity was made possible through the Oregon Legislature and Senate Bill 762.
ABOUT RESPONSE READY OREGON
The OSFM’s Response Ready Oregon initiative was created to help bolster capacity and modernize wildfire response within the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System (OFMAS). The goal of Response Ready Oregon is to attack fires while they are small and keep them out of communities.
Few Oregon Schools Have Opted To Ban Guns On Campus
Every public school district in Oregon last year was given the option to ban guns from their properties, but most have declined to do so. Since a change to Oregon law in September, only 13% of the state’s public school districts have opted to close an exemption that allows holders of a concealed handgun license to carry weapons onto public property where possessing a gun would otherwise be a felony, OPB reported.
According to an analysis by OPB, the list of districts that have banned guns includes some in the Portland metro area — though not yet Portland Public Schools — along with more rural school systems. Among the 25 that have banned guns are districts in Klamath Falls, Myrtle Point, Tillamook, Pendleton, Tigard-Tualatin, Lake Oswego and Woodburn. The vast majority of the state’’s 197 public school districts have, to date, taken no action.
Phil Knight Makes Offer to Buy Portland Trail Blazers
Nike founder Phil Knight has made a $2 billion-plus offer to buy the Portland Trail Blazers and negotiation discussions are ongoing, according to ESPN. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports the offer is being discussed with the trust of Paul Allen, the Trail Blazers owner who passed away in 2018.
The report says it is a written offer made by Knight in tandem with Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Alan Smolinisky,
sources tell ESPN. Wojnarowski writes the presence of Phil Knight in the proposed ownership group speaks to its desire to keep the Blazers in Portland. Knight, 84, is the chairman emeritus of Nike, Inc., and was previously CEO of the company. According to Forbes, Knight is the 27th-richest person in the world with an estimated net worth of
$47.3 billion. He was born in Portland.
Two Oregon Men Sue Google
Two Oregon men — including one from Klamath Falls — have filed a class action lawsuit against Google and YouTube over automatic renewal fees. Victor Walkingeagle, of Portland, and Nathan Briggs, of Klamath Falls, filed the suit in federal court in Portland on May 25.
They are represented by Stanton Gallegos, an attorney with the Oregon-based law firm Markowitz Herbold PC, according to court documents. Gallegos has not yet responded to a request for comment on the civil lawsuit. The suit alleges Google and YouTube automatic renewal procedures for various subscription services mislead consumers and violate Oregon’s automatic renewal law.
The social media platforms offer paid subscription services for ad-free content for music, videos and special programming. Oregon and California have aggressive renewal laws that require clear disclosures from companies aimed at helping consumers. They have also sparked some lawsuits. Briggs and Walkingeagle are seeking $5 million in damages, according to court filings. Google and YouTube — which are both owned by parent company
Alphabet Inc — did not respond to a request for comment.
ODFW Says Many Oregon Wildlife Rehabilitators Are Not Accepting Waterfowl Due To Avian Flu Risk
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) says many wildlife rehabilitation facilities are not accepting waterfowl due to the spread of avian flu in wild birds.
ODFW reminds the public that if they see healthy ducklings or goslings without a parent, to leave them alone and let the parents find them.
Injured ducks and geese may be brought to an ODFW office for euthanasia. ODFW asks that you call ahead if you are bringing in injured waterfowl.
If you see sick or dead wild birds, ODFW says, “do not collect or handle them but report the incident directly to your local ODFW office or the Wildlife Health lab at 866-968-2600
In Oregon, avian flu was first detected in wild birds in Canada goose goslings at Alton Baker Park in Eugene and it was also found in several red-tailed hawks in May. Infected birds can shed avian influenza A viruses in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces.
Free Fishing Days This Weekend
Grab your crab pots, fishing rods and your bait! Oregon celebrates Free Fishing Days this weekend. You don’t need a license to fish, clam or crab in Oregon Saturday, June 4, or Sunday, June 5.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife designates the first weekend in June for free fishing. Area closures, bag limits and all other fishing regulations still apply. Free fishing opportunities are available for both state residents and non-residents.
Families who would like to practice together can attend one of ODWF’s Family Fishing events.
Saturday June 4
- Estacada, Small Fry Lake, Promontory Park, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Directions: 7 miles east of Estacada on Highway 224.
- Eugene, Alton Baker Canoe Canal, 9 a.m.- 2 p.m.
- Hebo Lake, 9 am.-2 p.m. Directions: Take Hwy 101 to Hwy 22 at Hebo. Travel 1/4 mile east on Hwy 22 to Forest Service Rd. 14. Travel east 4.5 miles on Forest Service Rd. 14 to the entrance of the Hebo Lake Campground.
- Forest Grove/Washington County, Henry Hagg Lake, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Directions: From Hwy 47 south of Dilley near Forest Grove, follow Scoggins Valley Rd. about 3 miles to the lake.
- Silverton Reservoir, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. There is no on-site parking at this event. Free shuttles will run every half hour 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Roth’s Market, Robert Frost School, Library, Church of the Nazarene in Silverton.
- Toledo/Newport, Ollala Lake, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Directions: 9 miles northeast of Newport. From Newport, take Hwy. 20 east for approximately six miles, then head north on Olalla Road for about three miles.
Sunday, June 5
- Forest Grove/Washington County, Henry Hagg Lake, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Directions: From Hwy 47 south of Dilley near Forest Grove, follow Scoggins Valley Rd. about 3 miles to the lake.
- Klamath Falls/Medford, Lake of the Woods, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Directions: Lake of the Woods is located off of State Rte. 140 mid-way between Medford and Klamath Falls.
- Free fishing opportunities are available for both state residents and non-residents.
Learn More: Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations – Recreation Report Southwest Zone – Crabbing and Clamming
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