The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Monday, May 10, 2021
Oregon Beach Weather
Today- Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. Breezy, with a north wind 9 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.
Tuesday- Sunny, with a high near 64. Breezy, with a north wind 8 to 13 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 31 mph.
Wednesday- Sunny, with a high near 65. North wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday- Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.
Friday- Partly sunny, with a high near 61.
Oregon reports 610 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, two new deaths
There are two new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 2,530 the Oregon Health Authority reported 610 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 bringing the state total to 191,405.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Benton (13), Clackamas (78), Columbia (10), Coos (3), Crook (8), Curry (1), Deschutes (35), Douglas (5), Harney (1), Hood River (2), Jackson (16), Jefferson (3), Josephine (6), KIamath (22), Lane (40), Lincoln (1), Linn (31), Malheur (6), Marion (76), Morrow (1), Multnomah (144), Polk (10), Tillamook (4), Washington (81) and Yamhill (13).
Vaccinations in Oregon
Today, OHA reported that 37,726 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry. Of this total, 13,606 doses were administered on May 8 and 24,120 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry on May 8.
As of today, there are 1,968,933 people who have had at least one dose of a vaccine. A total of 1,340,794 have received a second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
The seven-day running average is now 33,133 doses per day.
Oregon has now administered a total of 3,315,448 million vaccine doses, which includes: 1,812,149 first and second doses of Pfizer, 1,393,975 first and second doses of Moderna and 107,870 single doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines (1,454 doses were administered but did not specify product information).
Cumulative daily totals can take several days to finalize because providers have 72 hours to report doses administered and technical challenges have caused many providers to lag in their reporting. OHA has been providing technical support to vaccination sites to improve the timeliness of their data entry into the state’s ALERT Immunization Information System (IIS).
These data are preliminary and subject to change. OHA’s dashboards provide regularly updated vaccination data, and Oregon’s dashboard has been updated today.
COVID-19 hospitalizations
The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 318, which is 11 fewer than yesterday. There are 76 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is eight fewer than yesterday.
The total number of COVID-19 positive patient bed-days in the most recent seven days is 2,325, which is a 0.1% increase from the previous seven days. The peak daily number of beds occupied by COVID-19 positive patients in the most recent seven days is 351.
The total number of patients in hospital beds may fluctuate between report times. The numbers do not reflect admissions per day, nor the length of hospital stay. Staffing limitations are not captured in this data and may further limit bed capacity. More information about hospital capacity can be found here.
Governor Kate Brown has approved new guidance for indoor recreation and indoor entertainment facilities. In Moderate Risk counties, they can have 20-percent occupancy or 100 people, whichever is larger. In High Risk counties, they can have ten-percent occupancy or a maximum of 50 people. The new rules took effect on Wednesday.
LOCAL HEADLINES:
Puffins are the Subject in Friends of Haystack Rock’s Lecture May 12th
“How do you monitor puffins?” That is a topical question and the title of the latest series of lectures from the World of Haystack Rock Library set to take over your digital radio waves on May 12th. The virtual lectures will continue, this time with the bird expert Tim Halloran – from 7 p.m. on the Friends of Heustaufen Facebook page.
Tim will answer this common question, share his experiences on the beach and highlight the puffin behavior he has seen. Puffin research around the world is described, with particular emphasis on the Cannon Beach data. If you have been wondering why so many seabirds in our lives have declined by 90% when you are concerned about the fate of our puffin colony, this talk will be a lot for thought.
Halloran is from Chicago and started out as a bird watcher at Western Illinois University in 1969. He taught biology in high school for 14 years, and his career in administration eventually led him to the university level. After retiring, he and his wife moved to Portland in 2010 to welcome their first grandchild. 2011 was his first summer volunteering at HRAP and he started monitoring puffins on USFW in 2012. Tim lives in Vancouver, Washington and maintains an apartment in Cannon Beach.
Friends of Haystack Rock is a non-profit organization focused on keeping Haystack Rock healthy and prosperous. Our mission is to promote the conservation and protection of the tidal life and the birds that live in the Marine Garden and Oregon Wildlife National Wildlife Refuge at Haystack Rock. We do this in collaboration with the Haystack Rock Awareness Program (HRAP) and other partnerships.
Friends of Haystack Rock has expanded the lecture series this year. The Northern Oregon Coast Group has declared 2021 the “Year of the Puffin” to raise awareness of the rapid decline in the puffin population in the lower 48. The extended series of lectures will focus on puffins.
The rest of the series:
On June 9th, Amy Eberling & Amanda Colbert of the Salish Sea School present “The State of Endangered Puffins in Washington”.
On July 14th, Shawn Stephenson will present “Tufted Puffin Research Studies of the Oregon Coast” with US Fish and Wildlife.
August 11, speaker to be determined.
On September 8th, Rachael Orben & Noah Dolinajec will present, “Seabird Seafood: Studying the Diet of Puffin Chicks at Haystack Rock through Non-Invasive, Community-Oriented Activities.
Brookings Man Dies In Crash On Highway 101 In Curry County
On Saturday, May 8 at approximately 8:50 A.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two vehicle crash on Hwy 101 near milepost 342.
Preliminary investigation revealed a Ford Flex, operated by 53 year old Robert Pope III from Brookings, was northbound and crossed into the southbound lane and collided with a Ford F250 operated by 56 year old Robie Sell of Coos Bay.
Pope III sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.
Sell and his passenger, 62 year old Robin Sell of Coos Bay, received minor injuries and were not transported.
OSP was assisted by Curry County Sheriff’s Office, Gold Beach Fire Department, and ODOT.
AROUND the STATE of OREGON
Wyden and Merkley Announce Major Disaster Declaration For Oregon
Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden have announced that President Biden has granted a Major Disaster Declaration for Oregon following the severe winter storm that occurred in February.
A release said the move will free up federal funding to assist communities’ recovery and resilience to future storms.
Merkley said that February’s extreme storm killed four people and left over two hundred thousand Oregonians without power. Merkley said, “From clearing debris to restoring and rebuilding impacted buildings, we still have a lot of work ahead of us to put this storm behind us”. Merkley said he will continue to work with the administration and local leaders to make sure Oregonians get the assistance they need to get back on their feet.
Wyden said he is gratified the Biden administration has declared the devastation a major disaster, “…releasing the flow of federal help that Oregon communities need for a full recovery”.
The release said that communities in Benton, Clackamas, Linn, Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties are eligible for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities. In addition, all areas in Oregon are eligible to apply for hazard mitigation assistance, which include steps to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural hazards during future national disasters.
Funds will be distributed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Oregon to Cut Wild Horse Herd in Half Under New Forest Service Plan
A herd of more than 120 horses roaming free in the Ochoco National Forest will be cut in half as part of a management plan to control their numbers.
The 2021 Ochoco Wild Horse Management Plan will establish a management level of 47 to 57 horses that can reside in the national forest, according to a news release on Friday from the U.S. Forest Service.
The Big Summit herd is the only one in Oregon and Washington to be managed solely by the U.S. Forest Service. Most of the other wild horse herds in the Pacific Northwest are managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
The number of horses permitted in the herd takes into account forage availability in winter and the management of a lack of genetic variability in the horse herd. The decision also includes an emergency action plan that provides protocols for how the Forest Service will intervene on behalf of sick, injured or starving horses.
The herd is located about 25 to 30 miles east of Prineville and grazes on 27,000 acres of land located at 4,000 to 7,000 feet in elevation.
The management plan, which became effective on Friday, updates the original herd management plan drafted 46 years ago.
The horses are believed to have first appeared in the area in the 1920s, when it is believed that ranchers at that time turned loose quality animals from a good breeding stock to ensure a future supply of good horses.
“In general, wild horses and burros are descendants of animals released by or escaped from Spanish explorers, ranchers, miners or Native Americans,” said Kassidy Kern, a spokesperson for the Ochoco National Forest.
While horse lovers are fond of seeing the animals roaming wild in the forest, the Forest Service says the herd is damaging riparian areas by chewing up forage along river banks.
“The horses will be managed through gathers beginning in the fall of 2021,” said Kern. “It will likely take five years or more to gather down to the appropriate management level set out in this plan.”
Kern said about 100 horses will need to be removed over that five-year period. The current herd size is between 120 to 150 horses.
“Gathering a little at a time allows us to gather valuable genetic information to work with wild horse genetics experts to ensure that we have adequate genetic variability in the herd,” said Kern. “Additionally, when we bait the horses into the corrals, we typically only get smaller bands of 5-10 at a time. Gathering this way minimizes stress on the animals.”
According to the decision notice, horses removed from the territory may end up in one of three places. These include the Bureau of Land Management corral facility in Burns or a Forest Service corral. A third option could see the horses transported to leased or contracted private facilities, where they will be prepared for adoption or sale.
After removal of the horses, the numbers will be maintained through contraception and sterilization.
For more information on the project and to view the decision notice, visit the project web page: go.usa.gov/xH375
Federal Judge Denies Klamath Tribes Efforts to Keep Water Flow for Spawning
A federal judge denied the Klamath Tribes’ efforts on Thursday to have the Bureau of Reclamation reduce flows on the Klamath River and keep Upper Klamath Lake’s elevation more suitable for spring sucker spawning. “Here, the Defendant Bureau, in coordination with expert agencies and all competing interests, is better equipped to serve the public interest than a judge with a law degree,” wrote United States District Judge Michael McShane.
The Tribes sued the Bureau earlier this year on Endangered Species Act grounds, arguing that the agency violated Sections 7 and 9 of the law by allowing Upper Klamath Lake to dip below 4,142 feet in elevation during April and May
in two consecutive years: 2020 and 2021. Those levels were established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2020 biological opinion, based on research showing that low lake levels in the spring result in reduced spawning activity among C’waam and Koptu.
The BiOp had stated that failing to meet those conditions would put the Bureau in violation of the incidental take statement and thus in violation of the ESA, the Tribes argued.
Homicide Investigation at Concert in Cave Junction
INCIDENT DATE AND TIME: May 9, 2021 at 12:01 AM
INCIDENT LOCATION: 1300 Block of Rockydale Road, Cave Junction
REPORTING DEPUTY: Undersheriff Travis Snyder
ARRESTED: Trenton Cole Kepple, 27 year-old-male
DETAILS:
On Sunday, May 9, 2021 at approximately 12:01 AM Deputies from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a reported shooting incident in the 1300 block of Rockydale road in Cave Junction, OR. Information reported to Deputies was that a person had been shot at a concert. Upon arrival, a deceased person was located at the concert.
Detectives from the Oregon State Police responded to the Sheriff’s Office request for investigative assistance with this incident. The above listed subject was arrested by Oregon State Police for the charges of 1st Degree Murder and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. The name of the victim will not be released at this time. Oregon State Police personnel along with Sheriff’s Office personnel continue to investigate this incident.
No other details are available at this time. Josephine Co. Sheriff’s Office
Train Trestle Fire in Springfield
Investigators are working to figure out what caused a Union Pacific Rail Road trestle at South 2nd Street in Springfield to go up in flames Monday morning.
Reports of the fire came in around 1:08 a.m. The fire was threatening Hexion Chemical and crews were able to stop the spread of fire toward the plant.
Rail traffic was stopped and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
“The fire is under control and contained to the wooden ties above land. The bridge is being inspected and train traffic has resumed at a slower speed as a precaution,” a spokesperson for the railway said. There is no word on what caused the fire.
Travel Oregon, Portland International Airport and AARP Offering Webinar for Summer Traveling
With vaccination rates increasing, people are making summer plans again.
A webinar is offering Oregonians tips to keep in mind when traveling. The webinar is Tuesday at 11:30 a.m., sponsored by AARP, Portland International Airport and Travel Oregon.
Walter Marchbanks, passenger programs and services manager for the Port of Portland, sensed there’s a lot of pent-up demand, since many didn’t take trips last year.
He also recognized travel during the pandemic can be stressful, so the Portland airport is doing what it can to make people feel comfortable.
“We look at it as being able to provide some information,” Marchbanks outlined. “Some resources about what the airport is doing to help keep people safe, the types of cleaning that we’re doing, the safety protocols and measures that we put in place.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people delay travel until they are fully vaccinated.
Marchbanks noted one of the changes at the airport is people greeting travelers are not permitted.
“Only by exception, if they’re providing assistance to people that might need help,” Marchbanks explained. “So if you have to help a family member to the ticket counter so that they can get a wheelchair or meet somebody that’s coming off a flight and greeting the wheelchair provider and, you know, that type of thing.”
Marchbanks added people can check out the Portland airport’s website to learn more about what to expect, especially if they have accessibility issues and need more details on arrangements. He also pointed out there are people in the airport who can answer questions.
“The website will get you so far, but people need direct help. They need direct service,” Marchbanks acknowledged.
Oregon Beach News, Monday 10/9 – Art Exhibit Celebrates Clatsop Community College and Pacific Northwest College Collaboration & Other Local and Statewide News…