The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Wednesday, November 3, 2021
Oregon Beach Weather
Today– A chance of rain, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 5pm. High near 65. South southeast wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday– Rain, mainly before 2pm, then showers likely after 2pm. Steady temperature around 55. Very windy, with a southwest wind 35 to 40 mph decreasing to 21 to 26 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Friday– Rain. High near 56. Breezy, with a south wind 14 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Saturday– Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 54. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Sunday– Showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54.
Traveling Vaccine and Testing Clinic in Reedsport
A traveling COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Clinic will operate daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Sunday, the Douglas County Board of Commissioners and Douglas Public Health Network said.
The flu vaccine will also be available.
The clinic is being done in collaboration with Aviva Health, the City of Reedsport, Lower Umpqua Hospital District, the Oregon Health Authority and Federal Emergency Management Agency – Region 10.
“The traveling clinic will offer drive-through COVID-19 vaccinations, COVID-19 PCR testing and COVID-19 booster/3rd vaccine dose for those who are eligible in Reedsport this week. Additionally, thanks to the efforts of DPHN and Aviva Health, they will also have annual flu shots available,” the county said.
The drive-through clinic is located on Fir Avenue adjacent to the Douglas County Courthouse Annex at 680 Fir Avenue in Reedsport.
“This effort complements the great work that our local COVID-19 Response Team, Douglas County Board of Commissioners, DPHN and our local health care community are already doing in making vaccinations available for all those who want them,” Douglas County Commissioner Tim Freeman said.
The drive-through COVID-19 Mobile Vaccination and Testing Clinics will offer:
No pre-registration required. Vaccinations and testing are provided on a first-come-first served basis
Vaccines and testing are open to anyone 12-years-of-age and older. Please note for residents ages 12 to 14, this will require a parent or guardian to accompany them and give written consent for the vaccine. Under Oregon law, minors 15 years of age and older may consent to medical treatment, including vaccinations, when provided by a licensed medical professional; however, families are encouraged to make decisions about vaccinations together.
First and second doses of the Pfizer and Moderna Vaccines and single doses of Johnson and Johnson Vaccine.
COVID-19 PCR testing. This test is not a rapid test, and results will be returned in 3-4 business days.
COVID-19 Booster/3rd Dose vaccine recommendations. Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose: Pfizer, Moderna or J&J vaccines in the US. The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA), CDC and OHA’s recommendations: For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at 6 months or more after their initial series:
- 65 years and older
- Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings or who have underlying medical conditions or who work or live in high-risk settings. These include: health care workers, first responders, firefighters, law enforcement, congregate care staff, teachers, school support staff, daycare workers, food/agriculture workers, manufacturing workers, corrections staff, U.S. Postal Service employees, public transit workers and grocery store workers.
- For the nearly 15 million people who got the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are also recommended for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago.
For more information about the Reedsport Traveling COVID-19 Clinic, please call our Douglas County COVID-19 Hotline at (541) 464-6550.
District Attorneys Voice Concern Over Governor Shortening Prison Sentences
The Lane County district attorney on Tuesday expressed concerns about an effort by Gov. Kate Brown to shorten the prison sentences of people who committed serious crimes when they were under the age of 18.
“On October 20, 2021, Governor Kate Brown released the names of juvenile offenders who had committed violent crimes as 15-17 year olds for whom she is using her powers of Executive Clemency,” District Attorney Patty Perlow said in a statement. “That list was released to the public without any notification to the impacted victims. On that list of 75 individuals were eight from Lane County. Of those convicted, three were convicted of Murder, two of sex crimes against children and three of robberies with weapons, including a stabbing and a failed attempt to shoot a customer in a store.”
The concerns raised by Perlow resemble those brought up Monday by R. Paul Frasier, the district attorney in Coos County. Frasier noted one of the cases from his jurisdiction didn’t fit the governor’s criteria – and was a sentence the governor herself had declined to commute as recently as 2015.
“By issuing this order virtually the same day as the list was made available to the district attorneys, notifications to victims prior to the order being released was impossible,” Fraiser said in a statement Monday. “By so doing, the Governor has ignored the rights victims and their families have under the Oregon Constitution to be treated with due dignity and respect.”
Perlow had similar criticism of the governor’s timing and its impact on victims.
“The Oregon Department of Corrections today sent out the proposed rules for the Board of Parole to review these offenders for clemency. At no place in the proposed rules is victim impact from the crimes considered,” Perlow wrote.
She added: “Victims of crime in Oregon have Constitutional and statutory rights that are being ignored by Governor Brown, the Oregon Department of Corrections and the State Parole Board with a first priority to these offenders of a “meaningful opportunity to be released.” Victims of crime deserve the enforcement of their rights they fought so hard to have recognized.”
Perlow provided these descriptions of the Lane County cases on the governor’s list of commutations:
1. Earl Carnahan, age 17 at time of crime, convicted 1/26/1999 of murder. Sentenced to life with an opportunity for parole after 25 years. While sitting with the victim at a campfire, Carnahan became enraged at the victim and stabbed him repeatedly with a knife. Carnahan stated he had thought about killing the victim for several hours before he did it.
2. David Keever, age 17 at the time of the crime, convicted 12/20/2000 of Attempted Aggravated Murder, two counts of assault in the second degree, kidnapping in the first degree, robbery in the first degree and unauthorized use of a vehicle. The defendant and three co-defendants robbed a taxi driver at knife point. Keever stabbed the driver, then the group stole the vehicle, leaving the bleeding victim behind.
3. Brian Hardegger, age 17 at the time of the crime, convicted 9/11/2002 of Murder. Defendant and his father buried the victim, Hardegger’s mother, alive. When the victim tried to raise her head above the dirt, Hardegger pushed her head down with his foot so that he and his father could finish covering her up. Hardegger dug the hole beforehand.
4. Truett Watts, age 17 at the time of the crime, convicted 9/27/2004 of Murder. Watts admittedly stabbed the victim because he didn’t like something the victim said and intended to kill him. The victim was working on a car at the defendant’s house. Watts had been using methamphetamine and marijuana before the stabbing. Watts is being considered for clemency by the Governor under this process and has petitioned the Governor for a general clemency.
5. David Hauser, age 15 at the time of the crime, convicted 7/29/2009 of Sodomy in the First Degree (two counts) and Sex Abuse in the First Degree, two counts. Hauser admitted to sexually abusing an eleven year old at a foster home. Hauser’s prior history included killing a cat and the attempted murder of his step father, for which he does not appear to have been charged.
6. Connor Allen, age 17 at time of the crime, convicted 01/13/2016 of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. Seven year old disclosed to a family therapist that Allen had been orally sodomizing him and making the seven year old orally sodomize Allen.
7. Elaine Jeffers, age 17 at the time of the crime, convicted on 1/9/2018 of Robbery in the First Degree, five counts; Assault in the First Degree, three counts; Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle, and Felony Elude. Jeffers and three others robbed seven victims in Eugene, stabbing one. The crime spree was committed in a stolen vehicle and when police pursued the vehicle, Jeffers attempted to elude. Jeffers was identified as the primary instigator of the crime spree and also stabbed one of the robbery victims.
8. Edward Makarenko, age 17 at time of the crime, convicted 5/3/18 of Robbery in the First Degree, two counts and Attempted Robbery in the First Degree. Makarenko committed two robberies at area businesses with a handgun. In a third robbery attempt, Makarenko can be seen on video pointing the handgun at a customer and pulling the trigger but the gun misfired. Makarenko told a friend that he committed three robberies and that he tried to shoot a customer but “the gun didn’t work.”
Oregon reports 1,123 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 29 new deaths
There are 29 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 4,405. Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported 1,123 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 bringing the state total to 368,694.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (4), Benton (10), Clackamas (98), Clatsop (4), Columbia (18), Coos (26), Crook (24), Curry (1), Deschutes (55), Douglas (43), Gilliam (2), Grant (2), Harney (1), Hood River (10), Jackson (44), Jefferson (9), Josephine (27), Klamath (108), Lake (6), Lane (55), Lincoln (12), Linn (40), Malheur (22), Marion (94), Morrow (6), Multnomah (106), Polk (47), Sherman (7), Tillamook (8), Umatilla (40), Union (5), Wallowa (9), Wasco (25), Washington (83) and Yamhill (72).
Oregon children ages 5 through 11 expected to become eligible for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines; doses expected to be available this week
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted 14-0 to recommend the pediatric Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for 5- through 11-year-old children today. Once the approval process is complete, an estimated 330,000 children across Oregon will be eligible to receive the vaccine.
This afternoon, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) expects the CDC’s director to endorse ACIP’s decision. Then, the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup, composed of health experts in Oregon, Washington, California and Nevada, will meet this evening to consider the recommendation. If approved, Governor Brown’s office will announce the decision. As early as tomorrow, state health officials will issue standing orders that will allow providers to begin administering vaccinations to children 5 years and older as soon as supplies become available.
OHA is currently helping prepare provider sites around the state to begin administering the vaccine.
State health officials expressed their optimism about vaccinations for younger children. They also cautioned parents and caregivers to be patient as states await sufficient supplies of doses from the federal government in coming weeks.
“We are excited to be able to start immunizing school-age children against COVID-19, which should bring relief to many parents and guardians, and those who work in education and child care,” said OHA Director Patrick Allen. “We hope vaccinating kids will help our communities continue to build population immunity that will protect our children, help keep them in school and ultimately bring this pandemic to an end.”
The Food and Drug Administration authorized the vaccine for 5- through 11-year-olds on Oct. 26 after a Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee review that found it safe and effective for this age group.
The federal government has a standard allocation system across all states. Roughly 120,000 initial, pre-order doses are coming to Oregon and have been ordered by vaccination providers. With delivery anticipated this week through Nov. 8, the supply will go to approximately 350 provider sites across the state, guided by our goals to protect children and end health disparities among communities of color. Vaccines will also arrive in Oregon within days after the anticipated go-live for vaccinating children ages 5 through 11. Every county has sites receiving pre-order shipments, and every enrolled provider that filed a request for doses was offered vaccine.
In addition, 60,000 doses were offered to pharmacy chains by the federal government. Those were allocated via a federal process with orders going to 87 pharmacy sites in the state.
OHA estimates the 180,000 total Pfizer doses are likely a four- to six-week supply of vaccine. The state has been informed it will have access to tens of thousands of doses to order for shipment on Nov. 9, again on Nov. 18 and thereafter on a periodic basis.
“Once the COVID-19 pediatric vaccine gains final approval, it may take a few days before it will be widely available. We strongly recommend you contact your healthcare provider, community health center, clinic or local pharmacy before bringing your child in to be vaccinated,” said Director Allen. “OHA is also working with the Oregon Department of Education, local public health authorities, the health care industry, community-based organizations and additional vaccine providers to make doses readily available at public and private schools, child care facilities, community sites and other locations easily accessible to families and education providers. Your child should be able to be vaccinated within the next few weeks. It is extremely important that all eligible children have equitable access to the vaccine and we appreciate your patience as we go through this process.”
Billboards for Fauna Frey Who Is Missing Installed in Medford
Two digital Billboards went live Tuesday in Medford – One is at Crater Lake Hwy & Bullock Road. The other is on Biddle Road just south of Table Rock Road. Thanks to Ward Farrell at Lamar Advertising for making this happen.
None of this would happen if it weren’t for the efforts of people in the community who have stepped up to make sure Fauna isn’t forgotten. #findfaunafrey #bringfaunahome
Frey was last seen at the Umpqua Bank in Rogue River, Oregon on June 29, 2020. She had decided to take a trip as a way to cope with her brother’s unexpected death a few weeks earlier and mentioned to her father that she’d picked up a hitchhiker. She last had contact with her family on July 1.
In the days prior to her disappearance, Frey used her credit card twice to purchase camping equipment and personal items. She also used her credit card to reserve a room at the Weasku Inn in Grants Pass, Oregon, but she never showed up to claim her reservation. After she booked the room, her credit card was never used again. She was reported missing on July 5th.
Her vehicle, a blue 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo with two or three parking stickers on the windshield and the Oregon license plate number 339EYB, disappeared with her. A photo of it is posted with this case summary.
On September 23, almost three months later, the car was found on a dead-end spur off Reuben Mountain Road, a mining road about six miles past the Grave Creek Boat Landing in Josephine County. It was locked and some of her belongings, including food she’d purchased, were inside it. It appeared to have been parked there for a month or longer.
An extensive search turned up no indication of Frey’s whereabouts. Police have questioned the hitchhiker she picked up and the person isn’t a suspect in her case. Frey left her laptop and cellular phone behind, but her father stated she often didn’t use her phone and would use a burner phone to keep in touch with people.
Since Frey was last seen, her bank account has not been accessed. Authorities have found no evidence of foul play in her disappearance, which remains unsolved.
Oregon Has Third-Highest Rate Of Open Missing Person Cases In USA
Disturbing Number of Missing Women in Oregon in Past 2 Years — There are over 300 Women who are still reported missing in Oregon just in the last two years! There are 61 women over the age of 30 missing and 37 of them are missing in Southern Oregon
Of course, not only women are missing, as there are so many children and men missing too. And really missing people is a crisis that gets shoved aside as not enough resources and is a horrible thing to even think about.
This is an ongoing story and help from the public is needed to keep attention on this crisis and local law enforcement, state law enforcement, and the FBI need to make these investigations a priority. People don’t just go missing like this without someone somewhere knowing something.
Fauna’s family has set up an anonymous tip line 541-359-5638 and email address findfaunafrey@gmail.com for anyone who has any leads on Fauna’s disappearance. #findfaunafrey — Let’s bring Fauna home!
OHA Releases Final Policy Concepts for Medicaid Waiver
Proposals focus Oregon Health Plan on health equity – – Oregon Health Authority has published final policy concepts that will be the basis of an application to the federal government to focus the Oregon Health Plan on achieving health equity.
The five policy concept papers, linked below and released today, present a shared vision from a diverse range of health care and community voices for changes to the Medicaid system – often referred to as the Oregon Health Plan (OHP). OHA staff gathered this wide-ranging input and distilled these recommendations into a set of proposals the state will discuss with federal health officials.
OHA will conduct a formal public comment period starting Dec. 7, during which input is welcome on both the policy concepts and a formal application to the federal government. The application will be released in advance of the comment period. Planned opportunities for public comment are outlined below.
“OHA is proud of the vision that these policy papers represent – a vision for a more equitable, responsive and community-focused Medicaid system,” said OHA Director Patrick Allen. “We believe this vision, which we arrived at with extensive community input, will lead to significant improvements in community health, put more resources and decision-making power in the hands of community, and greatly enhance services to individual OHP members in times of need. In short, this is a powerful proposal to the federal government to orient our Medicaid system toward health equity.”
The policy concept papers are linked below with a short summary. All documents are available in 12 languages on OHA’s 1115 Demonstration Waiver renewal webpage.
Maximizing continuous and equitable access to coverage
It is only with continuous and equitable access to health insurance that people can access the care they need to stay healthy. OHA knows that people of color and communities most harmed by social injustices have lower health insurance rates. This approach will seek to eliminate inequitable access with strategies to extend coverage and services to every eligible child and adult in Oregon. READ MORE
Improving health outcomes by streamlining life and coverage transitions
Data show members of high-risk populations often lose coverage and access to care during life transitions and in transitions between systems, like incarceration or the state hospital. These disruptions come at great cost to the individual and to the system. By providing specific benefit packages, including extending eligibility to members in transition, we can ensure they stay covered, have important social determinants of health needs met and maintain access to care and medicine, which ultimately improves health outcomes. READ MORE
Moving to a value-based global budget
Compared with other states, Oregon has generated large savings from our approach to Medicaid. Our CCO model is both innovative and cost-effective. To maintain and build on our successes, we must continue to build a system that rewards spending on health equity and improving the health of communities rather than spending on medical procedures and services alone. READ MORE
Incentivizing Equitable Care
Oregon’s coordinated care model is built on incentivizing quality and access. OHP members and community members have continued to tell us that equity must be the focus across the system. OHA will revise our CCO metrics to focus on traditional quality and access for downstream health and also create a new set of equity-driven CCO performance metrics for upstream health factors. By taking these steps we can make significant progress in driving the system toward more equitable health outcomes. READ MORE
Improving health through focused equity investments led by communities
Oregon’s Medicaid system can do more to invest in community-based approaches to address social determinants of health that cause health inequity. With focused equity investments, Oregon will redistribute both funds and decision-making power to local communities. With this focus on community-driven solutions, OHA believes we can use funding to better address larger scale barriers to health and health equity. READ MORE
In addition to these policies, OHA is committed to working with the nine federally recognized Tribes of Oregon, and the Urban Indian Health Program (UIHP) to identify mechanisms to help ensure Tribal health care objectives are achieved, while honoring traditional Tribal practices and upholding the government-to-government relationship between the sovereign nations and the state.
Opportunities for input:
OHA welcomes feedback on the policy concept papers at any time via email at Renewal@dhsoha.state.or.us“>1115.WaiverRenewal@dhsoha.state.or.us. In December, OHA will conduct a formal public comment period on the waiver application, which is based on the policies outlined in its policy concept papers. As of today, the following meetings will be open for public comment on the waiver application. A full calendar of public meetings is available on our webpage Oregon.gov/1115WaiverRenewal.
- 7 – Oregon Health Policy Board
- 9 – Health Equity Committee
- 15 – Medicaid Advisory Committee
- 16 – Designing the future of OHP – Workshop 3.
- 4 – Oregon Health Policy Board
You can get this document in other languages, large print, braille or a format you prefer. Contact the Community Partner Outreach Program at community.outreach@dhsoha.state.or.us or by calling 1-833-647-3678. We accept all relay calls or you can dial 711.
A judge has found that new congressional districts meet all legal criteria
A judge has found that new congressional districts passed by Oregon Democrats meet all legal criteria, with little evidence they amount to blatant partisan gerrymandering. The tentative opinion, released Monday by retired state Judge Henry Breithaupt, is not the final word in an ongoing lawsuit, in which Republicans are seeking to have the new six-district congressional map redrawn. Breithaupt is acting as a “special master” in the case, tasked with making findings of fact for a five-judge panel that will decide the outcome.
Following the latest U.S. Census Oregon received an additional seat in the U.S. House— increasing the number of congressional districts from five to six. There are currently four Democratic U.S. House members from Oregon and one Republican.
The findings by Breithaupt suggest Republicans have failed to prove their insistence that Democrats purposefully stacked the new congressional maps in their own favor. A lawsuit filed on behalf of former Secretary of State Bev Clarno and three other former Republican elected officials called the map “a clear, egregious partisan gerrymander.”
The congressional map proposed by Democrats was a major sticking point in the special session lawmakers held to pass new political maps in September.
Counterfeit Oxycodone Pills Laced With Fentanyl Seized In Oregon From 2 Alleged Trafficking Networks
Federal agents working with local police in Oregon seized about 200,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills suspected to contain fentanyl following a nearly yearlong investigation that targeted two alleged drug trafficking groups with ties to Mexico.
Investigators said they arrested the leaders of separate distribution networks — Jesus Miramontes-Castaneda, 31, of Los Angeles and Horacio Luna-Perez, 39, of Hillsboro — and more than a dozen alleged associates since August.
They also seized more than $1.4 million in cash in suspected drug proceeds, authorities said.
Both cells obtained large amounts of oxycodone, heroin, methamphetamine and other illegal drugs from sources in Mexico, California and elsewhere, then transported the drugs by vehicle to Oregon, according to federal prosecutors.
Once in Oregon, the drugs were processed in stash houses and prepared for sale. Local drug dealers would then distribute user quantities of each drug, federal investigators said. The cells routinely changed stash locations and rotated cars and phones to avoid detection, they said.
On Aug. 11, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a four-count indictment charging Miramontes-Castaneda and five others with conspiring to traffic large quantities of heroin and methamphetamine from California for distribution in the Portland and Salem metropolitan areas. Miramontes-Castaneda and several of his associates were arrested the next day during the first takedown operation.
On Sept. 14, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a four-count indictment charging Luna-Perez and nine others with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Investigators allege Luna-Perez’s group imported counterfeit oxycodone with fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine from California for distribution in and around Portland and in Eastern Washington. The group also had ties to drug traffickers in Colorado, investigators said.
A second takedown operation targeted Luna-Perez on Oct. 7, according to prosecutors, and he and several associates were arrested
Luna-Perez’s brother and alleged associate, Ricardo Luna-Perez, 41, appeared Tuesday in federal court in Portland — the 18th defendant in the cases. RicardoLuna-Perez entered not guilty pleas. With his appearance, the court filings were unsealed.
During the course of arrests, authorities also seized 2 pounds of fentanyl powder, 40 pounds of methamphetamine, 45 pounds of heroin, 13 pounds of cocaine and nine guns, according to federal prosecutors.
“The drug trafficking cells targeted by this investigation are among the worst we’ve seen operating in Oregon,” said acting U.S. Attorney Scott E. Asphaug. “Counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl pose a severe risk of fatal overdose unmatched by any other type of widely available street drug.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration worked with Oregon State Police, Portland police, Tigard police and members of the Clackamas County Interagency Task Force in the investigations.
Fentanyl and heroin are leading causes of overdose deaths in the United States.
In September, the Drug Enforcement Administration issued its first public safety alert in six years, warning of a nationwide surge in fentanyl-laced counterfeit prescription pills.
Seizures of fake pills containing lethal doses of fentanyl increased by 275% between October 2020 and September 2021 in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska, the Seattle division of the DEA said in a statement.
In Oregon, 462 opioid deaths were recorded in 2020, up from the 208 reported in 2019. From January through April of this year, the state recorded 206 opioid overdose deaths, according to preliminary figures from the Oregon Health Authority.
Oregon identified its first fentanyl overdose death in 2014, with a peak of 73 fentanyl overdose deaths in 2018. In 2019, there were 62 deaths in Oregon due to fentanyl, according to the state figures.
In Multnomah County, there were 90 fentanyl-related overdose deaths recorded through the first seven months of this year, more than double the 40 recorded in the same period in 2020, according to county figures.
‘Lines for Life’ offers help to those with drug addictions at 1-800-923-4357, or visit www.linesforlife.org. Phone support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. People also can text “RecoveryNow” to 839863 between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. daily.
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