The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Thursday, September 1, 2022
Oregon Beach Weather
Curry County Sheriffs Rescue Man From 300′ Rock Cliff
Video released by the Curry County Sheriff today shows the rescue effort for the man stranded on a 300′ rock face. A drone is part of the rescue effort that helped a Brookings man get safely off a Pacific Ocean cliff
The Curry County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) says the rescue took five hours yesterday to get 41-year-old Anthony (Tony) Lohman from a sheer rock cliff south of Lone Ranch Beach parking lot. It says Lowman was stuck about 200 feet from the cliff top and about 90 feet from rocks below.
CCSP says, “Four SAR members risked their lives on the thin steep ridge to establish a tail hold by wrapping a 150’ section of rope around the top edge of the rock bluff.” A rappeler lowered to Lohman to attach a harness to him, and the both of them descended to the beach below.
CCSO says its rescue started when its dispatch received a 911 call transfer from the Brookings Police Department from Lohman saying he was stuck on a cliff north of Brookings where he’d tried to climb up a cliff and, “Lohman told dispatch he was not able to climb any higher and could not go back down. Dispatch kept Lohman on the phone, assuring him that Search and Rescue would find and help him.”
CCSO says deputies worked with Lohman by sending photos to help determine his exact location before its Search and Rescue (SAR) crew support arrived. SAR arrived and put a plan in place to get him off the side of the cliff.
SAR used a drone to take video of the location and rescue, communicating with Lowman using the radio speaker on the drone.
Though the U.S. Coast Guard sent a helicopter from North Bend, Oregon, to help, fog kept it from joining Lohman’s rescue.
SAR used its original rescue plan to get above Lohman on the hog back ridge he was under and lower the rappeler who helped him lower to safety.
CCSO says the rescue took about five hours, ending in the dark, noting, “A total of eight SAR members were involved in the rescue and it is amazing how they were able to safely get Lowman off the ledge he was on and back to safety. These men and women who volunteer their time and experience to save lives is remarkable and I could not be prouder of them.”
Coos Bay School District’s New Superintendent Putting Plans in Place
Coos Bay School District starts the new school year with a new superintendent, and she has big plans to strengthen the district by listening closely to the community.
In July, Charis McGaughy took the helm of Coos Bay School District, and she has her mind set on creating the school district parents and staff want to see.
One of her first orders of business, showing the community what their generosity through their school bond funded; three new schools the district will officially present this fall.
“September 20th, we’re going to be inviting the community in to Eastside Elementary School, beautiful new school from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., and then later on in the fall, we’ll be inviting the community to do open houses at the new Marshfield Junior High and also Madison Elementary.”
Each school in the district will boast an added safety component. “We’re actually adding safety vestibules in order to secure the entrance in all of our schools.”
For the past year, McGaughy was the interim superintendent at the South Coast Education School District in Coos Bay. Before that, assistant superintendent of Eugene School District.
In her new role, she says she’ll engage families and staff through listening sessions to guide the creation of the district’s 4-year strategic plan.
Also new this year as students continue to recover from isolation and other effects of the pandemic, more resources.
“We have added an additional mental health therapist with the Coos Health and Wellness has partnered with us. We have a brand new one starting will be working at the junior high.”
McGaughy says they’ll take a holistic approach with all students to not only meet academic needs but behavioral and social emotional health needs.
And though fully staffed, the Coos Bay School District is also putting out a call to beef up its roster of bus drivers.
“We currently still need about 9 more bus drivers to help us with substitutes and to help us with the athletics and the activities after school.”
First Student spokesman Jay Brock says the starting wage for First Student drivers is $15.00 an hr. For someone with a CDL they’re offering a $3,250 sign-on bonus. For those without a CDL, a $2,000 sign-on bonus.
First Student offers paid training to those who need to obtain their CDL. To learn more visit workatfirst.com
Lincoln City Police Announce Enhanced DUII Enforcement Patrols to be Conducted over Labor Day Weekend
The Lincoln City Police Department will be utilizing grant funds to step up their enforcement efforts against drunk driving as part of a national crackdown over the Labor Day weekend time period. In partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Oregon Department of Transportation, and Oregon Impact, the enhanced enforcement efforts are designed to curb drunken driving, decrease crashes, reduce injuries, and save lives.
During the upcoming Labor Day weekend, law enforcement agencies nationwide will be out in force looking to get drunk and impaired drivers off the roadways. During this time period, Lincoln City Police officers will be putting extra focus on seeking out drivers who are impaired by alcohol or drugs. Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII) continues to be a leading cause of motor vehicle crash injuries and deaths throughout the nation.
The Lincoln City Police Department last used these grant funds during the Memorial Day Weekend HVE time period, running two enhanced enforcement operations. During those two operations, officers conducted 30 traffic stops and issued multiple citations for various traffic violations, but no DUII arrests were made.
The members of the Lincoln City Police Department are committed to the safety of our citizens and visitors. The DUII Enforcement grant funds are a valuable resource that assists us in improving the traffic safety in our community. Our goal is simple: to save lives and prevent injuries caused by DUII crashes. These grant funds were made possible through the Oregon Department of Transportation and Oregon Impact. Lincoln City Police
Work On Koosbay Boulevard In Coos Bay May Cause Traffic Delays Friday
Drivers are advised that they could see minor delays on KoosBay Boulevard in Coos Bay on Friday, September 2nd.
The City of Coos Bay says the Water Quality Collections crew will be working in the westbound travel lane of KoosBay Boulevard between North 8th and 6th Street. Work is expected to start at 8:00 a.m. and end no later than 3:00 p.m.
Flaggers will be onsite and traffic will be reduced to one lane. Drivers are asked to exercise caution around the work zone. For questions, please contact Public Works at (541) 269-1181, extension 2503.
We want to keep you informed about COVID-19 in Oregon. Data are provisional and change frequently. Note: This week’s Omicron BA.5 estimates of 100% is higher than expected due to a small number of specimens (n=2) available in GISAID during the most recent week. OHA does not believe this estimate to be accurate.
CDC’s COVID Data Tracker (https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/…) Nowcast model estimates that approximately 88.7% of SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating in the US during the last week were the Omicron BA.5 lineage. OHA believes our true Omicron BA.5 estimates to be similar to the national figure. For more information, including COVID-19 data by county, visit our dashboard: http://ow.ly/UpGw50KxhuW
Bend Shooting Investigation Update
The Safeway employee who was one of two people killed in a Bend, Oregon, supermarket shooting had time to flee but instead hid behind a produce cart and attacked the assailant with a produce knife, an action that likely saved lives, authorities said Tuesday.
Surveillance video shows that 66-year-old Donald Ray Surrett Jr., a two-decade U.S. Army veteran, waited in his hiding spot until the gunman looked the other way. Surrett then emerged with the knife that he drew from his hip, police spokeswoman Sheila Miller said.
The gunman, identified as 20-year-old Ethan Blair Miller, on Sunday evening fatally shot Surrett and then killed himself as police closed in. Officers found an AR-15-style rifle and a shotgun near his body and police said he had four 30-round magazines for the rifle on his body when he died.
Surveillance video also shows two people going back into the Safeway as the shooting unfolded to pull out the other victim, 84-year-old Glenn Edward Bennett, who had been shot just inside the store’s entrance.
Authorities continued to collect evidence from the crime scene. More than 100 bullet casings have been recovered so far, police said.
Authorities also confirmed Tuesday that the gunman had worked at the Safeway for a short time in recent years; one high school acquaintance told The Associated Press he saw him gathering up carts in the parking lot in 2020.
The shooter lived in an apartment complex behind The Forum Shopping Center.
He fired shots into his own car on Sunday evening as soon as he left the complex and continued firing as he entered the shopping complex’s parking lot and then went into the Safeway. Bennett was killed at the store’s entrance, police said, and the shooter then moved through the aisles “spraying shots” from the assault rifle until Surrett confronted him.
Police entered the supermarket from the front and rear as shots were still being fired. The entire incident, from the first 911 calls to the gunman’s suicide, lasted just four minutes, police have said. In addition to the guns in the store, the shooter had a sawed-off shotgun and three Molotov cocktails in his car, police said. Fifty shotgun shells total were found between his car and apartment and 150 additional rounds of ammunition were in his apartment.
All the guns were purchased legally, authorities said. Police have previously said the gunman had no criminal history and police had not been contacted about him prior to the shooting. After the shooting, acquaintances recalled the gunman as a loner who was passionate about mixed martial arts and was known for getting into fights at the high school where he graduated in 2020. Police have previously said they are also investigating the “shooter’s writings” but have declined to comment further on postings on several online platforms that appear to have been written by him in recent months.
In posts on several sites, someone who appears to be the gunman says he’s struggled to recover from the isolation and loneliness of the pandemic, expresses hatred for himself and indicates he planned to attack his alma mater next week, but couldn’t wait until then because “the Rage has become uncontrollable.”
Authorities sought a search warrant for digital devices found at the gunman’s apartment and it will take several days to go through those materials and develop a clearer picture, said Police Chief Mike Krantz.
Student DIes at Lewis & Clark College
Authorities say a brick column collapsed at Lewis & Clark College in Portland killing one student who was in a hammock hanging from the column.
Portland Fire & Rescue said two other people were injured Monday, Aug. 29. Fire and rescue crews
responded to the scene about 8:15 p.m. Six people were in three hammocks hanging from the column, authorities said. A 19-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. Two 18-year-old women were hospitalized.
Monday was the first day of class at the campus of the private liberal arts college. About 2,000 students attend the school. In a statement, the college said it was working to contact families of the victims and was “deeply saddened by the shocking loss of a member of our community.”
Fatal hit and run crash on Interstate 5-Seeking public assistance-Marion County
On Tuesday, August 30, 2022 at approximately 12:42 PM, Oregon State Police Troopers responded to a report of a deceased individual located on southbound Interstate 5 near milepost 253.
Preliminary investigation revealed a pedestrian, identified as Cassandra Sullivan (35) of Salem, was struck by a vehicle. Sullivan sustained fatal injuries and was discovered by a litter crew on the shoulder of the road. It is believed that she was struck sometime during the evening of August 29 or the morning of August 30.
OSP investigators are seeking public assistance in locating the vehicle that struck her. The suspect vehicle is believed to be a:
- Subaru: 2012-16 Impreza, 2013-2017 Cross Trek or a 2014-2018 Forrester
- crystal white pearl in color
- damage to the right front
- was traveling southbound on Interstate 5 on evening of August 29 to morning of August 30, 2022.
Witnesses or anyone with information are encouraged to contact the Oregon State Police Dispatch Center at 800-442-0776 or OSP (677) from your mobile phone. Reference case number SP22-229957.
Klamath County Major Crime Team-Death investigation-Klamath County
On Tuesday, August 30, 2022, at 5:55 PM, Klamath County 911 received a report a female had just been shot at 12009 Clovis Drive.
Klamath County Sheriff’s Deputies and Oregon State Police Troopers responded and located Shannon Renee Cobillas-Graham (41) and Robert Lee Cudo (63) deceased in the yard at 12009 Clovis Drive. The Klamath County Major Crime Team was activated to investigate the incident.
Preliminary investigation indicates that Shannon Renee Cobillas-Graham was shot and killed by Robert Lee Cudo, then Mr. Cudo died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. This investigation is ongoing.
The Klamath County Major Crime Team consists of the Oregon State Police, the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office, the Klamath Falls City Police Department, Klamath County Community Corrections, and the Klamath County District Attorney’s Office
Oregon Drivers Will Pay Record Gas Prices Over Labor Day Despite Recent Price Drops
Gas prices are continuing to fall in Oregon, but that doesn’t mean drivers will see many bargains at the pump this Labor Day weekend.
The average price has fallen 11 weeks in a row, according to the latest figures from AAA Oregon/Idaho. But that’s not the entire story.
“We will be paying the most for gas for Labor Day ever,” said AAA spokesperson Marie Dodds.
The statewide average in Oregon is $4.78 a gallon, down nearly 80 cents from the all-time state record set in mid-June. Still, Dodds said that’s far more than the previous Labor Day record of $4.02, set in 2012.
“That’s the only other time that we will have paid above four dollars a gallon on Labor Day,” she said.
Oregon’s prices remain well above the national average of $3.84 per gallon. The highest gas prices can be found in Portland and Medford, according to AAA, while the cheapest average prices are in Salem. Eugene is near the middle of the pack at around $4.66 per gallon.
Dodds said she doesn’t expect the price to significantly impact Labor Day travel plans, which tend to be more muted than the other summer holiday weekends.
“We tend to see much bigger travel volumes for Memorial Day and the Fourth of July than we do for Labor Day,” she said. “Labor Day is still a very busy travel season, but the volume is always smaller than the other two holidays.”
https://www.oregon.gov/osp/missing/pages/missingpersons.aspx
This is just a small compilation of missing women and their pictures in the area. There are of course women missing all over Oregon and men and children missing too. We don’t mean to dismiss that, however, there is an inordinate amount of women who go missing each week and there could possibly be a connection with an anomaly or two here and there. Sadly most of them never get any attention. Family and friends must keep any information going and lead investigations so that they aren’t just forgotten.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Have-You-Seen-Me-Southern-Oregons-Missing-People-161249961222839/posts/
