The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Thursday, October 21, 2021
Oregon Beach Weather
Today– Rain, mainly after 11am. High near 67. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 8 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Friday– Showers. High near 58. South southeast wind 8 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Saturday– Rain before 11am, then showers likely after 11am. High near 58. Breezy, with a south wind 9 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Sunday– Rain before 11am, then showers after 11am. High near 59. Windy. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
Monday– Showers. Cloudy, with a high near 57. Breezy.
Interim Police Chief and Captain Named for North Bend
On Tuesday, North Bend City Administrator David Milliron named retired Coos Bay Police Chief Gary McCullough as interim police chief and Cal Mitts as interim police captain. The new command staff takes the helm on Wednesday.
This comes following the October 6 retirements of North Bend Chief Robert Kappelman and Captain Curt Bennett.
McCullough is a North Bend resident who began his law enforcement career in 1993 as a reserve police officer for the Coos Bay Police Department. He was sworn in as a full-time Police Officer in December of 1995 and promoted to Sergeant in 2002. In 2004, he was promoted to Captain, overseeing Patrol Operations and later Administrative Operations. In 2009, he was promoted to Chief of Police and faithfully served the department until retiring in June.
During his career with Coos Bay, Chief McCullough has held the positions of Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, Motorcycle Officer, Coos County Emergency Response Team member, Survival Skills Instructor, Patrol Sergeant, Operations Captain, and Administrative Captain.
Chief McCullough has an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Columbia Southern University, is a graduate of the Oregon Executive Development Institute, and holds his Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Supervisory, Management, and Executive Certificates with the Oregon Department of Safety Standards and Training, according to the City of North Bend.
Mitts retired in January after 25 years with the Coos Bay Police Department. He began his law enforcement career in 1994 as a Reserve Police Officer for Coos Bay and was sworn in as a full-time Police Officer in December of 1995. In 2004, he was promoted to Sergeant and then in 2008 to Captain, where he led Patrol Operations. In 2012, he was chosen to lead the South Coast Interagency Narcotics Team (SCINT) as its Executive Director.
During his career with Coos Bay and SCINT, Captain Mitts has held the positions of Patrol Officer, Detective, Narcotics Detective, Firearms Instructor, Patrol Sergeant, Operations Captain, and Executive Director. He was also a Coos County Emergency Response Team and Coos County Major Crimes Team member. Captain Mitts also served on the Women’s Safety and Resource Board of Directors.
Captain Mitts is a graduate of the Oregon Executive Development Institute and holds his Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, and Supervisory Certificates with the Oregon Department of Safety Standards and Training.
“Once we have a roadmap and the police department is stabilized, we can begin the collaborative process of recruiting and hiring a new police chief, which could take up to a year,” Milliron said. “I want to express my thanks and appreciation to Coos Bay City Manager Rodger Craddock, Coos Bay Police Chief Chris Chapanar, Police Captains Michael Shaffer and Tom Lindahl, and Coos County District Attorney R. Paul Frasier for their leadership and assistance during the past two weeks. Our strong, trusting, and authentic relationships came to light during this period of transition.”
The interim police chief and supervisory staff will have an opportunity to provide input into the request for proposal document before being put out for bid, according to Milliron.
Former North Bend Police Chief and Captain Explain Their Retirements
Shortly after they retired as the top officials in the North Bend Police Department, former Chief Robert Kappelman and former Capt. Curt Bennett explained the reason for their quick departure.
In a letter from their attorneys, the former leaders of North Bend police blamed City Administrator David Milliron for their quick departure.
The city and David Milliron know that Captain Bennett’s and Chief Kappelman’s retirements stem from their lack of confidence in David Milliron as North Bend city manager,” attorney Roland Iparraguirre wrote. “Specifically, the city and David Milliron know that Captain Bennett and Chief Kappelman (as well as other city personnel) have logged repeated complaints about David Milliron.”
The two former officers specifically referred to a June case, where four people were killed in three separate incidents. A man was later arrested after he turned himself in to authorities in Wisconsin.
“Chief Kappelman and Captain Bennett endured a year of David Milliron’s increasingly bizarre and abusive behavior, culminating in his inappropriate interjection into a quadruple homicide case in June of 2021,” the letter read.
The former officers also voiced concerns about the city council, saying the council ignored their concerns when they were raised.
The letter also said the North Bend Police Department flourished under the leadership of Kappelman and Bennet. Kappelman served as chief for eight years, while Bennett was an officer in North Bend for 29.
The retirement announcement came days after the North Bend City Council met in executive session before coming out and voting unanimously to hire an outside consultant to do a complete overview of the police department. The city announced the review would continue despite the changes in the department.
In their letter, the former officers said the review could be viewed as “retaliation.”
After their retirement, North Bend asked the city of Coos Bay for assistance. Coos Bay Police Chief Chris Chapanar agreed to oversee the department and offered one of his captains to run the day-to-day operations. Despite having no chief, operations have continued as normal.
The city has begun a search for an interim chief and is likely to name the interim chief in the near future. North Bend will begin the search for a permanent replacement after the review has been completed.
Fatal Crash in Coos County
On Monday, October 18, 2021 at approximately 12:43 PM, Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 42 near milepost 6. Preliminary investigation revealed an eastbound Dodge Ram, operated by Daniel Taylor (37) of North Bend, crossed into the westbound lanes and struck a Peterbilt CMV towing a loaded chip trailer, operated by Calvin Mitchell (52) of Coos Bay.
Florence Ready for Frank Herbert ‘Dune’ Celebration
“Dune” is the latest movie adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel of the same name, and its story was first inspired by encroaching sand dunes around Florence.
Dune officially premieres in theaters, including on IMAX screens, and on the streaming service HBO Max on Friday, October 22, 2021. Major film releases usually have showings the evening before their official release date. That is the case for Dune, which will have in-theater showtimes the night before.
Herbert’s “Dune” is a tale of intergalactic feudalism, vendetta and political intrigue set in a far future where a mind-bending drug found only on Arrakis is the only currency that matters.
The book’s masterpiece status has much to do with the themes it explores, from what makes one a human being to how religious forces control societies. But its foundational theme is that humans shape, and are shaped in return, by their physical environments.
Florence is bringing these themes into focus as it celebrates the “Dune” release.
“Our understanding of the planet does not always keep up with our actions, and I think ‘Dune’ and Frank Herbert have a lot to say about that,” said Meg Spencer, director of the Siuslaw Public Library District, which keeps a collection of Herbert’s research materials.
Merritt also connected the library district and the theater with Herbert’s grandson, Byron Merritt, a consultant on the new film. The library district and City Lights Cinemas produced a short introductory film starring Byron Merritt that will be screened this weekend.
“He talks about the power of the book and everything that it covers from politics to religions to ecology — everything involved with it and why it’s a such a global phenomenon,” said Jared Anderson, City Lights Cinemas education director.
Other Florence events celebrating “Dune” include a presentation by the Oregon Dunes Restoration Collaborative and library’s regular virtual book club will discuss the themes and meaning of “Dune.”
What: Events honoring the historical ties between the Florence dunes and the seminal science fiction classic that influenced a generation of books, music and films.
Exclusive film intro: The locally produced film features Byron Merritt, Herbert grandson’s and a consultant on the new film, discussing the legacy of “Dune” and Florence; 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21 and Friday, Oct. 22 at City Lights Cinemas.
Dunes preservation: Oregon Dunes Restoration Collaborative presentation at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23 screening.
Discussion: Library director Meg Spencer leads discussion contrasting the book and film at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24 screening.
Where: City Lights Cinemas, 1930 Highway 101, Florence
Tickets: On sale at citylightscinemas.com/dune-celebration.
Online book club: The library’s regular virtual book club will discuss the themes and meaning of “Dune” on Nov. 4. Contact ref@siuslawlibrary.org or call 541-997-3132 for meeting details.
Oregon reports 1,343 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 9 new deaths
There are nine new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 4,235. The Oregon Health Authority reported 1,343 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 bringing the state total to 354,681.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (15), Benton (17), Clackamas (108), Clatsop (12), Columbia (11), Coos (26), Crook (17), Curry (4), Deschutes (111), Douglas (60), Gilliam (1), Harney (2), Hood River (10), Jackson (76), Jefferson (30), Josephine (28), Klamath (52), Lake (7), Lane (79), Lincoln (18), Linn (59), Malheur (44), Marion (155), Morrow (7), Multnomah (132), Polk (51), Sherman (2), Tillamook (4), Umatilla (44), Union (8), Wallowa (6), Wasco (17), Washington (105) and Yamhill (25).
COVID-19 weekly cases and hospitalizations decline, deaths rise
The Oregon Health Authority’s COVID-19 Weekly Report, released today, shows decreases in daily cases and hospitalizations and an increase in deaths.
OHA reported 8,033 new cases of COVID-19 during the week of Monday, Oct. 11 through Sunday, Oct. 17. That represents an 11% decrease from the previous week and the seventh consecutive week of declining case counts.
The incidence of reported COVID-19 was higher in Oregon counties with population vaccination rates less than 50%.
There were 377 new COVID-19 hospitalizations, down from 416 last week, which marks a 9% reduction and the sixth consecutive week of declines.
There were 183 reported COVID-19 related deaths, up from 179 reported the previous week. This was the highest weekly death toll since the week of Jan. 11–17.
There were 139,727 tests for COVID-19 for the week of Oct. 10 through Oct. 16. The percentage of positive tests was 7.6%, down from 8.1% the previous week.
Today’s COVID-19 Weekly Outbreak Report shows 127 active COVID-19 outbreaks in senior living communities and congregate living settings, with three or more confirmed cases and one or more COVID-19 related deaths.
Oregon could achieve herd immunity for COVID-19 by December 26th. Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University say new modeling suggests the amount of vaccination and infection occurring in the state will lead to a continued decline in the infection rate. Currently, there are less than six-hundred hospitalized patients, which is
about half of what the state saw at the peak of the Delta variant surge.
As of Tuesday, the Oregon State Police had seen little fallout from the state’s vaccine deadline for state employees on Monday, according to numbers provided by the agency.
The news broke earlier in the day that OSP’s northern counterparts, the Washington State Patrol, had terminated the employment of 127 employees after reaching their own state-mandated deadline. According to OSP data provided on Tuesday, there were 1,267 employees who fell within the scope of Executive Order 21-29, which mandated vaccination against COVID-19. Of those, 78% provided proof of vaccination.
Almost all of the remaining OSP employees either had an exception approved or had submitted for an exception that is pending review. Of all in-scope OSP employees, 15% had an exception approved as of Monday night. The vast majority of those exceptions, 96%, were for a “sincerely held religious belief.” Only the remaining 4% were for medical reasons.
Exceptions pending review accounted for 7% of OSP’s employees within the scope of the mandate. The proportion for these pending exceptions was significantly different — 65% religious and 35% medical. According to OSP, employees in this category are considered to be in compliance with the mandate while still under review.
Great Oregon ShakeOut Earthquake Drill Today! 10/21 at 10:21
Oregonians have learned the importance of preparedness due to numerous recent hazards – including wildfire, drought, floods, ice storms and more. Though earthquakes are less common, they are top of mind in the Northwest due to the Cascadia subduction zone, a fault located off the Pacific Coast with the potential to deliver a 9.0+ magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami. Governor Kate Brown has proclaimed Thursday, Oct. 21, as Great Oregon ShakeOut Day to encourage Oregonians to learn and practice safe methods to use during an earthquake.
A global earthquake drill taking place at 10:21 a.m. this Thursday, the Great ShakeOut urges people to take the following simple but critical safety steps during an earthquake: “Drop, Cover and Hold On:”
- Drop onto hands and knees.
- Cover head and neck and crawl to a sturdy desk or table if one is nearby.
- Hold On until the shaking stops.
“The state of Oregon takes seriously its responsibility to help ensure the safety of its residents and visitors,” said Oregon Office of Emergency Management Director Andrew Phelps. “Understanding what to do in the first few moments after a disaster can mean the difference between being a survivor and a victim. As we work to build a culture of preparedness in Oregon, it is up to each of us – and all of us – to take action to reduce our risk. Participating in the Great Oregon ShakeOut is a proactive step anyone can, and should, take.”
More than 500,000 Oregonians – including schools, individuals, families and businesses – have committed to take part in this year’s ShakeOut drill, pledging to drop, cover and hold on wherever they are and whatever they’re doing.
“Knowing what to do before, during and after an earthquake can save your life,” said OEM Geologic Hazards Coordinator Althea Rizzo. “The event also serves as a reminder to review and update emergency preparedness plans and supplies.”
OEM’s 2 Weeks Ready program recommends citizens be informed and knowledgeable about the hazards where they live; make an emergency plan for themselves and their loved ones; and build an emergency kit with at least two weeks’ worth of food, water and other necessities.
The 2 Weeks Ready program offers several resources to help people prepare, including a free publication informing what actions to take in the event of an earthquake or tsunami. To learn more about earthquakes in Oregon and how to prepare, Living on Shaky Ground is available for download at OEM’s website, and hard copies may be obtained at county and Tribal emergency management offices.
Learn more about the Great Oregon ShakeOut and register as a participant at Shakeout.org/Oregon; the public can also view a webinar on the event hosted by OEM on YouTube in English and in Spanish. —- Oregon Office of Emergency Management
Barn Fire in Eugene Turns into Large Scale Illegal Marijuana Operation Discovery
On 10/19/2021 The Lane County Sheriff’s Office along with several local fire agencies responded to an address in the 81000 blk of Hwy. 99 south of Creswell regarding a structure fire. While on scene authorities observed evidence indicating the location to be involved in a large-scale criminal marijuana manufacturing and trafficking operation.
Deputies applied for and were able to obtain a search warrant to seize evidence related to this operation. Deputies executed the search warrant on the morning of 10/20/21 and seized a very high volume of marijuana. Over 2,000 marijuana plants were seized in addition to over 200lbs of processed, ready-to-sell marijuana.
The local street market value of the marijuana seized is estimated at over two million dollars. This value if sold outside the State of Oregon could easily be tripled. Evidence was also obtained that this was an unlicensed, non-medical marijuana operation.
This investigation is on-going and formal charges have not yet been filed. The Lane County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Oregon State Police Northwest Region Marijuana Team for their assistance with this investigation.
Limited Production Pinot Noir Cuvee Benefits Wildfire Relief and Prevention
Oregon Dept. of Forestry
Union Wine Company and six of Oregon’s top wineries partnered with Keep Oregon Green to introduce a limited production Oregon Pinot Noir Cuvee with 100% of sales going toward wildfire relief and prevention.
Keep Oregon Green® is collaborating with Union Wine Company and six of Oregon’s top wineries to introduce a limited production Oregon Pinot Noir cuvee with 100% of sales going toward wildfire relief and prevention.
Since 1941, the non-profit Keep Oregon Green Association has promoted healthy landscapes and safe communities by educating the public of our shared responsibility to prevent human-caused wildfires in the state. Over 70% of Oregon’s wildfire ignitions are attributed to people’s daily activities. This collaborative wine project is an opportunity to increase awareness among wine lovers of the need to prevent the next wildfire while supporting a worthy cause.
80% of the proceeds of this wine will go to the Oregon Community Foundation’s Community Rebuilding Fund, helping Oregonians whose communities have been leveled by wildfires. The remaining 20% will go to Keep Oregon Green® to help them with their mission of preventing human caused wildfires in Oregon through education and engagement.
“The 2020 wildfire season affected Oregon’s wine country, proving it’s not immune to a severe wildfire threat,” said Kristin Babbs, president of the Keep Oregon Green Association. “We are proud to introduce this 100% Oregon-grown Pinot Noir, where all ingredients and services were donated, and where 100% of the proceeds go toward relief, recovery, and wildfire prevention efforts.”
About the wine: The Oregon Pinot Noir is a blend of Oregon Pinot Noir grapes from Stoller Wine Group, Furioso Vineyards, Willamette Valley Vineyards, Ponzi Vineyards, A to Z Wineworks and Bjornson Vineyards, and packaged by Union Wine Company.
“At Stoller, we have a deep appreciation for our land and desire to support our community,” said Melissa Burr, vice president of winemaking for the Stoller Wine Group. “We were thrilled to participate and collaborate on this project.”
“2020 was a tough year for all of us here in Oregon, but it brought into light how amazing and supportive our wine community really is,” said Darin Dougherty, Marketing Director at Union Wine Company. “We can always find ways to learn, grow and be more aware of the impact we have on our ever-changing environment. We’re so excited to support Keep Oregon Green’s mission to drive awareness around human caused wildfires.”
Whether at home, on the job, or out having fun, Keep Oregon Green reminds Oregonians that it’s important to be able to predict the outcome of common outdoor activities that could possibly spark a wildfire. Babbs said that as the state’s population continues to grow, urban boundaries expand, and wildfires increase in frequency, intensity and cost, Keep Oregon Green’s message is more important than ever. “The power and responsibility of wildfire rests squarely in our hands.”
The wine is now available at select New Seasons Market and Market of Choice stores, the participating wineries’ tasting rooms, or online through Union Wine Company’s website at www.unionwinecompany.com
To learn more about wildfire prevention, go to www.keeporegongreen.org. — Oregon Dept. of Forestry
Earthquake Swarms at Mount Hood
Mount Hood, Oregon’s biggest volcano, is being rocked by a new swarm of earthquakes just months after a similar swarm struck the volcano. In the previous 30 days, 41 earthquakes have hit Mount Hood’s slopes and peaked; in the last 24 hours, 33 earthquakes have struck. The majority of the earthquakes have hit the southern flank of the stratovolcano in the previous 24 hours. The strongest of the earthquakes was a 2.5 that occurred earlier Wednesday.
The Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO) of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) keeps track of volcanoes in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. CVO has not modified the volcanic warning level or the aviation color code at Mount Hood, despite classifying it as a “very high danger potential.” Therefore, the current volcano warning level is just “NORMAL,” with “GREEN” as the aviation color code.
“Several tens of minor earthquakes have occurred near the peak of Mount Hood,” the USGS stated in a statement on the earthquake swarm. This isn’t a lava eruption. This swarm of earthquakes started late on Sunday, October 17th. The greatest magnitude so far has been M2.5, with depths ranging from 1-3 km below sea level (3-5 km below the surface). There have been no recorded earthquakes. Swarms at this depth and position are frequent at Mount Hood, and they do not signal an increase in the volcanic threat. Swarms in the past have lasted anything from a few days to a couple of weeks.”
According to the USGS, an earthquake swarm consists of largely minor earthquakes with no discernible mainshock. Swarms are typically short-lived, although they can last for days, weeks, or even months at a time. They frequently repeat in the same places.
The majority of swarms are linked to geothermal activity. Swarms aren’t always linked to earthquakes. A series of earthquakes that occur following a bigger mainshock on a fault is known as aftershocks.
Aftershocks occur in the fault zone where the mainshock ruptured and are part of the fault’s “readjustment process” following the main slide. With time, aftershocks become less frequent. However, they might last for days, weeks, months, or even years in the case of a big mainshock.
Mount Hood is the state’s highest mountain and the state’s biggest volcano. It’s roughly 50 miles east-southeast of Portland and was formed by a subduction zone on the Pacific Coast in the Pacific Northwest. Mount Hood rises to a height of 1,240 feet and is home to 12 recognized glaciers and snowfields. While the USGS classifies the volcano as “possibly active,” the peak is now considered inactive.
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