The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Thursday, April 28, 2022
Oregon Beach Weather
Sites Off Coos Bay And Brookings Targeted For Offshore Wind
Two areas off the Oregon Coast are being targeted to host offshore wind farms as the Biden administration seeks to ramp up renewable energy production.
The U.S. Department of the Interior announced Wednesday that the locations being identified to potentially host wind farms are about 12 nautical miles offshore Coos Bay and Brookings.
The areas comprise about 1.16 million acres (468,787 hectares) in total.
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland described the upcoming steps taken toward possible leasing off the coast of Oregon as “another opportunity to strengthen the clean energy industry while creating good-paying union jobs.”
Any offers to lease waters off the Oregon Coast would require environmental review and consultations with local, state and tribal governments.
The agency is seeking public comments on how wind development would impact marine life and other ocean uses, such as commercial fishing in the areas, until June 29, 2022.
Late last year, the Dept. of the Interior said that the Oregon Coast was being targeted by the agency for offshore wind energy production as it has some of the best wind resources in the country.
On Wednesday, the agency also announced that it had also identified six areas for possible development off the Atlantic Coast.
The potential wind farm locations are part of President Joe Biden’s plan to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030, generating enough electricity to power more than 10 million homes.
Body Found On Lincoln City Beach Earlier This Month Identified By Investigators
A body found on a Lincoln City beach has been identified by investigators.
The body was first reported early on the morning of April 7 when the Lincoln City Dispatch received reports of someone finding what they believed to be a body in the sand on the beach area south of the Canyon Drive Park.
Officers from the Lincoln City Police Officers responded and discovered the body partially buried in the sand near the base of the cliff embankment.
Through fingerprints, officers were able to identify the body as 32-year-old Robert Ryan Leach, an apparent transient with ties to Washington.
Investigators say no identification was found Leach’s body at the time of discovery and an autopsy and toxicology report are being conducted by the State Medical Examiner. Officers say no indication of criminal activity were discovered during the autopsy.
The investigation is continuing and anyone with any information should contact Lincoln City Police Detective Bud Lane at 541-994-3636.
Public input sought for Action Plan for $422 million in disaster recovery funding
Public hearings scheduled for May
As part of the public comment process, OHCS will hold a series of public hearings to provide information on the plan and obtain feedback and comments during a 30-day public comment period. The schedule is as follows:
| Oregon CoastCC-North Campus Monday, May 16, 2022Door: 5 p.m.Public hearing: 6 p.m.Community Room (#108)3788 SE High School Drive, Lincoln City | Gates Community Christ Church Tuesday, May 17, 2022Door: 5 p.m.Public hearing: 6 p.m.40070 Gates School Road, Gates | McKenzie RiverCommunity School Wednesday, May 18, 2022Door: 5 p.m.Public hearing: 6 p.m.“New” Gym51187 Blue River Drive, Vida | Talent Community Center Thursday, May 19, 2022Door: 5 p.m.Public hearing: 6 p.m.(Behind City Hall)104 E. Main St., Talent |
Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) will publish on May 2 a draft Action Plan for a $422 million disaster recovery grant, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The effort, which will be known as “ReOregon,” will support individuals, households, and communities continue to recover from the 2020 Labor Day Fires. This will be accomplished primarily by providing new permanent housing in the areas most impacted by the disaster.
In May, OHCS will seek public comment on the draft Action Plan for spending the funds, which will come in the form of a Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR). Members of the public will be invited to provide their input on the draft Action Plan in person at public hearings (see below), online, or via telephone.
“Feedback from the community plays a critical role in the development of the plan and recovery programs,” said Alex Campbell, chief external affairs officer for Disaster Recovery and Resiliency at Oregon Housing and Community Services. “That is why we want to make it easy for Oregonians to do so in whatever format works best for them. In particular, we are very interested to hear from fire survivors themselves and will be visiting four of the most-impacted counties to hold public hearings.”
A short summary of the key elements of the plan and the entire draft Action Plan itself will be made available for review on OHCS’ website at:
https://www.oregon.gov/ohcs/housing-assistance/Pages/CDBG.aspx.
Printed copies of the plan will be available by request.
“The draft Action Plan lays out our initial plan for how we will use CDBG-DR funding,” said Ryan Flynn, assistant director of Disaster Recovery and Resiliency at OHCS. “These funds will replace hundreds of lost housing units, particularly for low- and moderate-income families and individuals. The Action Plan also includes funding to build new public infrastructure to support that new housing development and help make communities better prepared to withstand future disasters.”
The programs in the draft Action Plan will ensure that the housing needs of very low-, low- and moderate-income (LMI) households and vulnerable populations are addressed to the greatest extent feasible. The proposed programs will help survivors who were renters prior to the disaster or who lost a home that they owned. The draft plan also includes funds to assist with rent payments while homes are built or rebuilt and to provide recovery counseling and legal aid services to address a range of barriers that survivors might face.
Prior to the hearings, OHCS officials will be on hand to answer questions about the draft Action Plan. Partners will also be on hand to connect survivors with resources and programs that are already available to assist with recovery. The hearings will include a short presentation by OHCS officials, followed by acceptance of public comments.
All of the information presented at the public hearings will be available on the ReOregon website at:
https://www.oregon.gov/ohcs/housing-assistance/Pages/CDBG.aspx. Spanish and ASL translation services will be available at all of the public hearings. OHCS will publish through a forthcoming press release how attendees can request any additional accommodations they may need.
In addition to providing comment in person, the public will be able to do so by e-mail, web form, phone, or mail. Those details will be provided when the draft Action Plan is published. All comments must be submitted to OHCS no later than 11:59 p.m.June 1, 2022.
After the 30-day public comment period, feedback will be incorporated into the plan before OHCS submits it to HUD for review and approval. As required by HUD, OHCS will respond to all comments received. The state’s deadline to submit its Action Plan is June 8, 2022. The Oregon State Housing Stability Council, OHCS’ governing body, will review and approve the final Action Plan at its June 3 meeting.
To learn more about the Community Development Block Grant funding process, timeline, and upcoming presentations, visit the OHCS website or sign up to receive e-mail notifications.
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/qrO750ITUUq
If you test positive for COVID-19 and are at high risk of severe COVID-19 illness, you may be able to get treatment medication quickly. One option is for your health care provider to prescribe you the antiviral medication Paxlovid or Molnupiravir, which must be taken within five days of the onset of symptoms.
If you don’t have a health care provider, the federal Test-to-Treat program offers a one-stop-shop for COVID-19 testing, a medical evaluation and receiving the medication. To learn more, visit http://ow.ly/jsuA50ITWWS.
Oregon Department of Forestry Releases Video Series on Restoring Federal Forests
SALEM, Ore.— Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) has released four new videos including one made in southern Oregon as part of its Federal Forest Restoration (FFR) Program. The series is called “Forward Together: Restoring Oregon’s Federal Forests.” These videos show how the FFR Program is helping mitigate climate change and address federal forest health challenges in Oregon, including risk of catastrophic wildfire, insect pests, and disease.
Oregonians in many walks of life interact with and value their federal forests. The FFR Program works to conserve and protect these forests, which are critical to maintaining clean water, fish and wildfire habitat, jobs, and recreational opportunities.
“The video series highlights the collaborative work the FFR Program has accomplished through strong partnerships and a commitment to increasing the pace, scale and quality of forest restoration work to create heathier forests and safter communities,” said Kyle Sullivan, Federal Forest Restoration Program Lead.
The four video titles are:
- Restoring the Backyard Forest: Central Oregon
- Forward Together: Restoring Oregon’s Federal Forests
- Building Community: Oakridge and Westfir
Resilience in the Face of Change: Southern Oregon
Fostering strategic partnerships leads to more strategic treatments that protect communities, our firefighters, the water we drink, and the forests we recreate in. This video highlights the importance of the FFR Program’s investments in forest collaboratives. These collaboratives work to create a common language and common vision for how to solve federal forest health challenges.
Forward Together: Restoring Oregon’s Federal Forests
The videos showcase partners, stakeholders, and department representatives outlining the purpose and history of ODF’s Federal Forest Restoration Program and highlighting its goal of creating landscapes resilient to climate-driven disturbances.
Building Community: Oakridge and Westfir
Forest restoration and stewardship are important throughout the state. The restoration activities that ODF performs are of particular importance to rural, forest-dependent communities and provide benefits of improved fish and wildlife habitat, wildfire risk reduction, improved watershed conditions, and enhanced recreation for both rural and urban communities.
Restoring the Backyard Forest: Central Oregon
Historically, low-intensity wildfire was a frequent event in many of Oregon’s forests, which had adapted to such fires. The absence of frequent fire creates unnaturally dense forest weakened by drought, and attacks by insects and diseases. This puts them at high risk for a stand-replacing wildfire. This video shows that by mimicking historical low-intensity fire disturbance through mechanical thinning or other means, followed by the reintroduction of fire, we can restore natural ecological processes and make forests healthier. — Oregon Dept. of Forestry
The Oregon Court of Appeals Overturned a $1.1 billion Verdict Against the State Over Forest Management Practices
The Oregon Court of Appeals on Wednesday overturned a $1.1 billion verdict against the state over its forest management practices, the latest development in a decades-long dispute over the best use of vast tracts of forestland that cover much of the state’s rural areas.
A Linn County jury found in 2019 that Oregon breached its contract with 13 rural counties and 151 local taxing districts by failing to maximize timber harvests on state forests over the last two decades. The counties have said Oregon must manage more than 700,000 acres (28,327 hectares) of state forestland for maximum timber revenue, while the state Department of Forestry believes it has the discretion to manage the land for wildlife and recreation.
Gov. Brown applauded the reversal and said in a statement that Oregon manages its forests sustainably “not only for the benefit and prosperity of this generation but those to come.”
“Today’s decision by the Oregon Court of Appeals is a validation of the fact that a balanced, science-based approach to public forest management will produce the greatest long-term outcomes for all Oregonians, including the counties and taxing districts that receive revenue from state forests,” she said.
Roger Nyquist, chair of Linn County’s Board of Commissioners, one of the counties that sued the state, said plaintiffs will appeal to the Oregon Supreme Court.
At the heart of the dispute is an 80-year-old Forest Acquisition Act, which governed the transfer of county lands that now make up Oregon’s state forests.
The counties which stand to gain from timber revenue on those lands say the act represents a contract between the parties, and point to language in it that requires Oregon to manage the forest for their “greatest permanent value.” The state has maintained that the act was not a contractual agreement and that the counties don’t have standing to sue the state.
The appeals court, in its decision, wrote that the language and intent of that act in its history and context — and without any “useful” legislative action on the issue — “does not clearly and unmistakably create a contractual obligation.”
The law was originally enacted when hundreds of thousands of acres of Oregon forests were logged or burned by wildfire and the counties turned them over to the state in exchange for a share of revenue generated by the land. But the forests have now recovered and comprise some of the best timber stands in the state.
In 1998, the state board that oversees forest management policy adopted a rule stating that although timber harvest could be a valuable use of the forest, the term “greatest permanent value” also includes other beneficial uses that provide social and economic benefits.
Wednesday’s decision threatens to create further divisions between rural and urban Oregon that have arisen over clashes over logging. Timber harvests have declined steeply in rural areas of the state in recent decades due to environmental protections and both environmentalists and the timber industry have been closely watching the case.
The decision also comes after President Joe Biden issued an executive order during his visit to the Pacific Northwest last week that directed the Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture to create an inventory of mature and old-growth forests across the country and protect those forests from wildfire and climate change.
As of early April, more than a third of Oregon voters were registered as Nonaffiliated. With the voter registration deadline now passed, Nonaffiliated voters will be left out of partisan decisions in the May Primary.
Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan says they will still get a ballot, “There are a lot of nonpartisan races on the ballot this May. But we like to emphasize that so people are not confused when they receive their ballots and maybe it looks different than their spouse’s ballot or somebody living with them in their house. That they may be because they’re registered to different political parties or not registered to any political party at all.”
Fagan acknowledges not everyone wants to be registered as a Democrat or Republican, “They only have to be registered to a party for 21 days before the election. After the election, they can go right back on Oregonvotes.gov and change back to being a Nonaffiliated voter or whatever their preference is.” Democrat and Republican parties in Oregon have closed primaries, and Fagan says only the parties can change that system, “What we can do at the Secretary of State’s office is to make sure that it’s as accessible and easy as possible for people to change.”
Ballots are mailed to voters Wednesday. They must be dropped at an official drop site by 8 p.m. on May 17, or postmarked by that day and received by the county within seven days of Election Day.
Increased emergency SNAP benefits continue in May
- Most Oregonians who receive SNAP benefits will continue to receive temporarily increased emergency food benefits in May
- Approximately 406,000 SNAP households will receive approximately $66 million in extra food benefits in addition to their regular SNAP benefits
- These emergency benefits are a temporary support that Oregon can provide because of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency
- Find resources to meet your basic needs: Dial 2-1-1, or text your zip code to 898-211, www.211info.org
- Oregon Department of Human Services COVID-19 help center
(Salem) – Most Oregonians who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will receive emergency allotments in May.
The federal government has approved emergency allotments every month since March 2020. This gives SNAP recipients additional support during the COVID-19 pandemic. These emergency benefits are a temporary support that Oregon can provide because of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency.
Because the federal government approved these emergency benefits for May, Oregon will also be able to issue them in June. However, the emergency benefits are expected to end when the federal public health emergency ends.
In May, approximately 406,000 SNAP households will receive approximately $66 million in extra food benefits in addition to their regular SNAP benefits.
“We know that many rely on these additional emergency food benefits to get enough healthy food for themselves and their families,” said Claire Seguin, deputy director of the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Self-Sufficiency Programs. “We also know that many Oregonians are still struggling to meet their basic needs and we encourage them to contact our partners at 211 and the Oregon Food Bank for support during this difficult time.”
Current SNAP households will receive emergency allotments on May 11. Emergency allotments will be issued May 28 or June 2 for households who did not receive benefits in the first monthly issuance.
SNAP recipients do not have to take any action to receive these supplemental benefits as they will be issued directly on their EBT cards.
More information about emergency allotments is available at https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/ASSISTANCE/FOOD-BENEFITS/Pages/Emergency-Allotments.aspx.
Questions about your SNAP benefits should be directed to the ONE Customer Service Center at 1-800-699-9075.
If your household receives SNAP and your income or the number of people in your household has changed, it could impact your benefits. It is important to make sure ODHS has the most up-to-date information.
You can report any changes to your income or household in many ways:
- Online at: ONE.Oregon.gov
- By mail at: ONE Customer Service Center, PO Box 14015, Salem, OR 97309
- By fax at: 503-378-5628
- By phone at: 1-800-699-9075 or TTY 711
Resources to help meet basic needs
- Find a food pantry: foodfinder.oregonfoodbank.org
- Learn about government programs and community resources for older adults and people with disabilities: Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon at 1-855-673-2372 or www.adrcoforegon.org.
- Dial 2-1-1, or text your zip code to 898-211, www.211info.org
- Find local resources and support by contacting your local Community Action Agency: www.caporegon.org/find-services/
- Oregon Department of Human Services COVID-19 help center
Administered by ODHS, SNAP is a federal program that provides food assistance to approximately 1 million eligible, low-income families and individuals in Oregon, including many older adults and people with disabilities. Oregonians in need can apply for benefits, including SNAP, child care, cash assistance and Medicaid. Learn more at https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/benefits/Pages/index.aspx . For local resources in your area, such as food or shelter, please call 2-1-1 or reach out to the state’s Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) at 1-855-ORE-ADRC or 1-855-673-2372.
Deputy In Critical Condition After Beaverton Crash That Killed Two Southridge HS Students and Injured Three other Students
The deputy critically injured in an early morning Beaverton crash Wednesday was identified during a press conference held by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Washington County Sheriff Pat Garrett identified the injured deputy as Michael Trotter. Sheriff Garrett said Trotter began his career with WCSO as a reserve deputy in 2013 before becoming a full-time patrol deputy in 2015.
“He remains critical but stable condition,” Sheriff Garrett said at the press conference. “Deputy Trotter sustained life threatening injuries and has a long road to recovery.”
In total, two people died and four others, including Deputy Trotter, are in critical condition.
“This morning’s events are not only difficult for the sheriff’s office but also the Washington County community, especially members, family, friends of the Beaverton School District,” Sheriff Garrett said. “My heart goes out to the families and loved ones of 17-year-old Matthew Amaya and 16-year-old Juan Pacheco Aguilera who tragically lost their lives.”
The accident happened just before 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, when Beaverton police officers responded to a crash at the intersection of Southwest Tualatin Valley Highway and Southwest Murray Boulevard. Officers arrived and found a Washington County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle and a silver Nissan Altima had been involved in a crash.
Police said an investigation revealed the Nissan, which was occupied by five people, was traveling southbound on SW Murray when the driver ran a red light at SW TV Hwy and struck the WCSO patrol vehicle.
Both 16-year-old Juan Pacheco Aguilera and 17-year-old Matthew Amaya were pronounced dead at the scene. Three other people inside the car, including the driver, were taken to area hospitals and are in critical condition.
The Beaverton School District said the five people in the Nissan are students at Southridge High School. According to the school district, Amaya and Aguilera were juniors at Southridge.
“We are devastated to learn of these deaths. Our hearts go out to their families and friends, and our thoughts are with those who are currently hospitalized. We also want to extend our condolences and support to the Southridge community. We have extra counselors at school today to support all those in need,” Southridge Superintendent Don Grotting said in a statement.
The investigation is ongoing, and no additional details have been released at this time. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call 503-629-0111.
Missing At-Risk 14 Year Old Oregon Girl
Aaronaja Ziye Akerion Gray, age 14, is a child who went missing from Clackamas on March 31. The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, believes she is at risk and is searching for her to assess her safety.
ODHS asks the public for help in the effort to find Aaronaja and to contact 911, local law enforcement or the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline at 1-855-503-SAFE (7233) if they believe they see her.
Aaronaja is suspected to be in the Gresham or Portland area.
Name: Aaronaja (pronounced “Aaron-Asia”) Ziye Akerion Gray. She sometimes uses the last name Wells.
Pronouns: She/her
Date of birth: Dec. 19, 2007
Height: 5-foot-3
Weight: 122 pounds
Hair: Brown
Eye color: Brown
Other identifying information:
Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Case #22-007370
Report child abuse to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline by calling 1-855-503-SAFE (7233). This toll-free number allows you to report abuse of any child or adult to the Oregon Department of Human Services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.
Alert Issued for Missing Teenager
The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, asks the public to help find Payton Brazell Smith, age 16, a child in foster care who went missing from Junction City on April 9. She is believed to be in danger.
ODHS asks the public for help in the effort to find her and to contact 911 or local law enforcement if they believe they see her.
Payton is suspected to be in Portland, Junction City, The Dalles or Tillamook.
Name: Payton Brazell Smith
Pronouns: She/her
Date of birth: Dec. 27, 2005
Height: 5-foot-6
Weight: 145 pounds
Eye color: Green
Hair: Black, with blue and other colors
Payton has two nose piercings, a tattoo on her right inner arm that says “Hati,” and a tattoo of a heart on her left upper arm. Payton may be wearing a small black backpack, black Vans shoes with a blue butterfly on them and a grey hoodie sweatshirt that says “Junction City.”
Junction City Police Department Case #J202200295
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children #1447670
Anyone who suspects they have information about Payton’s location should call 911 or local law enforcement.
A small number of children in foster care may be in significant danger when they run away or have gone missing. As ODHS works to do everything it can to find these missing children and ensure their safety, media alerts will be issued in some circumstances when it is determined necessary. Sometimes, in these situations, a child may go missing repeatedly, resulting in more than one media alert for the same child.
Report child abuse to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline by calling 1-855-503-SAFE (7233). This toll-free number allows you to report abuse of any child or adult to the Oregon Department of Human Services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.
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/