On Saturday, April 17, 2021 at approximately 11:51 P.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a pedestrian that had been struck on Hwy 101 near mile post Z49.

Preliminary investigation revealed a pedestrian, Quinten Hoptowit (23) of Warm Springs, was laying in the roadway when he was struck by a northbound vehicle.  The vehicle described as a dark color crew cab pickup with a short box, open bed, and inoperative passenger side tail light - left the scene.

Hoptowit sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.

OSP was assisted by Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office, Rockaway Beach Fire Department, Rockaway Beach Police Department and ODOT.

If you have any information regarding this incident or the described vehicle OSP requests you call the Oregon State Police Northern Command Center at 1-800-442-0776 or OSP and leave information for Trooper Jace Huseby - case # SP21-100770.

On Friday, April 16, 2021 at approximately 10:30 P.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a vehicle collision on Hwy 95 near milepost 98.

Preliminary investigation revealed a Subaru Tribeca, operated by Heidi Dunn (51) of Spokane Valley, Washington, was northbound passing in a no passing zone and collided with a southbound Toyota Tacoma operated by Hugh Moyes (19) of Battle Mountain, Nevada.

Moyes sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.

Dunn and a juvenile passenger were transported by air to a hospital.  Five other passengers were transported by ground to a hospital.    

OSP was assisted by Jordan Valley Ambulance, Humbolt County NV. EMS,  Life Flight, and ODOT.  

Our local COVID-19 updates represent the coordinated effort of the agencies that make up the DCCRT

JOINT INFORMATION CENTER PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 17, 2021

DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM - DAILY UPDATE

(Douglas County, Ore.)  DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 TEST RESULTS: As of 12:00 pm Today, Saturday, April 17, 2021, there are TWELVE (12) people with new positive test results and ONE (1) new presumptive to report since our noon case update yesterday.  The total number of cases of people with positive test results and presumptives in Douglas County is now at 3,048. Currently, there are SIX (6) Douglas County COVID-19 patients that are being hospitalized, three locally and three out-of-the-area. Our Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team, under the direction of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, continue to devote all resources available to our local COVID response.

Our daily update includes the total number of cases in Douglas County, which combines people with positive test results and presumptives, as well as a breakout of those case numbers. There will be times when a presumptive will move to a positive test result, and our total case number will not change because the case has already been counted.

LOCAL CONTACTS AND CASES BEING SUPPORTED IN ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE

Currently, DPHN is supporting 94 cases in isolation, as well as another 235 contacts in quarantine in Douglas County. Isolation is recommended for confirmed and presumptive cases, quarantine is recommended for contacts of confirmed or presumptive cases.  Currently, staff is supporting an astounding 329 total contacts and cases in isolation or quarantine.  This number represents a snapshot of the significant amount of work being done locally to help control the spread of COVID.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE

We continue encourage everyone, for the sake of our local businesses, services and residents, to gauge your risk level, and to make the best choice in order protect yourself and those around you from contracting or spreading coronavirus.  We have provided education on the widely proven COVID-19 safety measures, and encourage you to limit your contact with others not from your household, stay home if you are sick, and wear face coverings where recommended.  Click here, for a graphic on how to protect you and your family from the spread of COVID-19.  We know how important family, businesses and faith are to you, so we ask that you consider all options available in order to eliminate and minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus in our communities to help protect the ones you love, the businesses you love and the places you love to go.

COVID-19 FACEBOOK LIVE WITH DR. BOB

Tune in on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 6:00 pm for the next Facebook Live with Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, the Douglas County Public Health Officer.  For future Facebook Events with Dr. Bob, please submit your questions to: ookquestions@douglaspublichealthnetwork.org">Facebookquestions@douglaspublichealthnetwork.org.  Dr. Bob and the DPHN team will do their best to respond to as many questions as they can during the Facebook event.  The Facebook Events are hosted by DPHN on the DPHN Facebook page.

STATE AND FEDERAL COVID-19 INFORMATION

It is important to understand that Federal and State Government and their Agencies are the ones setting policy and issuing the guidelines for the pandemic. Locally, we are following the recommended guidance issued by the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA).  If you have questions about the current guidelines or the recommendations, contact the CDC or OHA directly for more information. OHA posts their daily updates at www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus.

Please do not call 911, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office or Douglas County Offices to report compliance issues with the State of Oregon, OHA or Governor’s orders. The Governor has directed the State offices for Oregon Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) to be the enforcement agencies responsible for ensuring restaurants, bars, and other businesses comply with the current State COVID guidelines.  If you have concerns, questions or wish to report compliance, issues contact these state agencies directly:  OSHA: (800) 922-2689 or OSHA website or OLCC (503) 872-5000 or OLCC website.

ACCESS TO LOCAL COVID-19 RESOURCES

Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer, DPHN and the DCCRT team have been working hard to cooperatively provide accurate and timely information to Douglas County residents since March 8, 2020.  

Local Online Access to Updates

Stay up to date with accurate and local COVID-19 information in Douglas County by visiting the Douglas County Government website or DCGOV Facebook page or the DPHN website or DPHN Facebook page. 

Free Local e-Newsletter Subscription

You can also sign up for the Douglas County e-Newsletter that publishes and sends out the daily update to our subscription base free.  You can sign up for the Douglas County e-Newsletter at www.co.douglas.or.us.  Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer, DPHN and the DCCRT have been working hard to cooperatively provide accurate and timely information to Douglas County residents since March 8, 2020. 

Douglas County COVID-19 Hotline (541) 464-6550

Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners and DPHN continue to offer a local resource hotline for Douglas County residents for COVID-19. The hotline provides answer to frequently asked questions, basic information and referrals to resources and services. Our local hotline number is (541) 464-6550 and is staffed from 8:00 am to 5: pm, 7 days a week.

###

Contact Tamara Howell, Public Information Officer, Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team, (541) 670-2804 cell (541) 957-4896 tjhowell@co.douglas.or.us   

Contact Vanessa Becker, Public Information Officer, Douglas Public Health Network, (541) 817-6552 cell (541) 440-3571 vanessa@douglaspublichealthnetwork.org

PORTLAND, Ore. — There are three new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 2,460 the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority reported 888 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today bringing the state total to 174,501.

Vaccinations in Oregon

Today, OHA reported that 44,308 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry. Of this total, 27,728 doses were administered on Apr.16 and 16,580 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry on Apr.16.

The 7-day running average is now 37,507 doses per day.

Oregon has now administered a total of 1,292,612 first and second doses of Pfizer, 1,109,671 first and second doses of Moderna and 88,104 single doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.

Cumulative daily totals can take several days to finalize because providers have 72 hours to report doses administered and technical challenges have caused many providers to lag in their reporting. OHA has been providing technical support to vaccination sites to improve the timeliness of their data entry into the state’s ALERT Immunization Information System (IIS).

To date, 1,535,625 doses of Pfizer, 1,318,100 doses of Moderna and 215,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines have been delivered to sites across Oregon.

These data are preliminary and subject to change.

OHA's dashboards provide regularly updated vaccination data, and Oregon’s dashboard has been updated today.

COVID-19 hospitalizations

The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 200, which is one more than yesterday. There are 47 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is five fewer than yesterday.

The total number of patients in hospital beds may fluctuate between report times. The numbers do not reflect admissions per day, nor the length of hospital stay. Staffing limitations are not captured in this data and may further limit bed capacity.

More information about hospital capacity can be found here.

Cases and Deaths

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (6), Benton (7), Clackamas (96), Clatsop (8), Columbia (7), Coos (2), Crook (10), Curry (2), Deschutes (94), Douglas (16), Gilliam (1), Grant (2), Harney (1), Jackson (58), Jefferson (6), Josephine (13), Klamath (45), Lane (75), Lincoln (5), Linn (37), Malheur (2), Marion (79), Morrow (1), Multnomah (161), Polk (12), Tillamook (4), Umatilla (15), Wasco (3), Washington (103), Yamhill (17).

Oregon’s 2458th COVID-19 death is a 66-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on Mar. 26 and died on Apr. 15 at Legacy Mt Hood Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 2459th COVID-19 death is a 68-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on Apr. 13 and died on Apr. 15 at Legacy Mt Hood Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 2460th COVID-19 death is a 58-year-old man in Yamhill County who tested positive on Feb. 19 and died on Apr. 7 at his residence. He had underlying conditions.

1 This includes cases confirmed by diagnostic testing and presumptive cases. Presumptive cases are those without a positive diagnostic test who present COVID-19-like symptoms and had close contact with a confirmed case. County of residence for cases may change as new information becomes available. If changes occur, we will update our counts accordingly.

2 For additional details on individuals who have died from COVID-19 in Oregon, please refer to our press releases

ELRs received 04/16/2021

Cumulative ELRs

Stay informed about COVID-19:

Oregon response: The Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Office of Emergency Management lead the state response.

United States response: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leads the U.S. response.

Global response: The World Health Organization guides the global response.

# # #

On Friday, April 16, 2021 at about 10:05pm, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office received multiple reports of gunshots and a gunshot victim from the 29000 block of Kelso Street in Eugene.  The Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of Oregon State and Eugene Police, responded to the location. A victim was found with gunshot wounds, transported to the hospital and is currently in stable condition.The victim is a male 56 years old from Eugene.  The suspect fled the scene prior to law enforcement arriving. The suspect is identified as 55 year old Darren Lee Woods.  The shooting is believed to be related to an ongoing feud between the involved. 

Woods is a white male, about 5’11” tall and 165 pounds with grey hair and green eyes.  He was last seen driving a white 1998 Dodge 1500 bearing Oregon license plate 125MEA.  The truck has a sticker across the back window with black lettering.  The wheels on the truck were described to be chrome and the truck is lifted and “sporty.”  The involved firearm remains outstanding so Woods should be considered armed and dangerous.

If anyone sees Woods please call 911.  If anyone knows any other relevant information, please call the sheriff’s office 541-682-4141.

On Friday, April 16, 2021 at approximately 11:00 P.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two vehicle crash on Hwy 97 near mile post 141.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a Subaru Legacy, operated by Tomas Fraley (25) of Bend, was southbound and a collision occurred with an also southbound Jeep Grand Cherokee operated by Jamie Caron-Clarkson (45) of Bend. 

Fraley was transported to St. Charles in Bend.

Caron–Clarkson, along with passengers Deanna Black (58) of CA. and Brett Cold (43) of Meridian, ID., were transported to St. Charles in Bend.     

OSP has received information that a black pickup was in the area at the time of the crash, stopped at the crash scene, and left before emergency personnel arrived.  The black pickup continued south on Hwy 97.  OSP would like to talk to the occupants of this vehicle.

If you witnessed the crash or any of the events, involving a black pickup, prior to the crash you are asked to call the Oregon State Police at 1-800-442-0776 and leave information for Sergeant Caleb Ratliff reference case #SP21-099724.     

On Friday, April 16, 2021 at approximately 8:40 P.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two vehicle crash on Hwy 99E at the intersection of Quail St, approximately one mile south of Brooks.

Preliminary investigation revealed a Ford F150 pickup, operated by Lazaro Gutierrez-Velasco (46) of Salem, was southbound and turned left into the path of a Honda Civic causing a collision. 

Gutierrez-Velasco was transported to the Salem Hospital. 

The operator of the Honda sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.  The name will be released when appropriate. 

After being released from the Salem Hospital, Gutierrez-Velasco was transported to the Marion County Jail where he was lodged for DUII, Manslaughter, Assault, Reckless Endangering, Reckless Driving, and Criminal Mischief .

OSP was assisted by the Marion County Sheriff's Office, Marion County Fire and ODOT.

April 16, 2021

Contact: OHA External Relations, covid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us" target="_blank">orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon reports 704 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 2 new deaths

PORTLAND, Ore. — There are two new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 2,457, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority reported 704 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 173,626.

Information from today’s media briefing

Here is a link to the recording and a link to the talking points from this morning’s media briefing, led by Gov. Kate Brown and the Oregon Health Authority.

More than 1.5 million Oregonians have received first dose of COVID-19 vaccine  

Today, OHA reported that 47,407 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry. Of this total, 28,146 doses were administered on April 15 and 19,261 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry on April 15.

The seven-day running average is now 38,239 doses per day.

Oregon has now administered a total of 1,268,433 doses of Pfizer, 1,089,987 doses of Moderna and 87,666 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines. As of today, 988,584 people have completed a COVID-19 vaccine series. There are 1,542,429 who have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Cumulative daily totals can take several days to finalize because providers have 72 hours to report doses administered and technical challenges have caused many providers to lag in their reporting. OHA has been providing technical support to vaccination sites to improve the timeliness of their data entry into the state’s ALERT Immunization Information System (IIS).

To date, 1,513,395 doses of Pfizer, 1,313,100 doses of Moderna and 215,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines have been delivered to sites across Oregon.

These data are preliminary and subject to change.

OHA's dashboards provide regularly updated vaccination data, and Oregon’s dashboard has been updated today.

COVID-19 hospitalizations

The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 199, which is four more than yesterday. There are 52 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is one fewer than yesterday.

The total number of patients in hospital beds may fluctuate between report times. The numbers do not reflect admissions per day, nor the length of hospital stay. Staffing limitations are not captured in this data and may further limit bed capacity.

More information about hospital capacity can be found here.

Cases and deaths

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (9), Benton (7), Clackamas (79), Clatsop (3), Columbia (6), Coos (6), Crook (15), Curry (3), Deschutes (59), Douglas (7), Grant (25), Hood River (3), Jackson (54), Jefferson (3), Josephine (29), Klamath (43), Lake (2), Lane (57), Lincoln (6), Linn (20), Malheur (1), Marion (63), Morrow (5), Multnomah (88), Polk (13), Tillamook (3), Umatilla (9), Union (2), Wallowa (1), Wasco (6), Washington (69) and Yamhill (8).

Oregon’s 2,456th COVID-19 death is a 45-year-old man in Columbia County who tested positive on April 12 and died on April 15. Location of death and presence of underlying conditions are being confirmed. 

Oregon’s 2,457th COVID-19 death is an 80-year-old man in Klamath County who tested positive on April 8 and died on April 12 at Sky Lakes Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.

Note: Due to a delay in laboratory reporting, OHA received roughly 4,400 electronic laboratory reports (ELRs) on April 15, 2021 from Josephine County. The reports are from Dec. 2020 to April 2021. As a result, daily ELR totals are higher and percent positivity is lower for April 15 than anticipated for Josephine County.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations? 

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine situation in Oregon, visit our webpage (English?or?Spanish), which has a breakdown of distribution and other information.

Firearms connected to defendant and accomplice linked to 17 Portland-area shootings

PORTLAND, Ore.—Aumontae Wayne Smith, 27, a known Hoover Criminal Gang member and resident of Portland, is facing federal drug and gun charges for his role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug.

On April 6, 2021, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Smith with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents and testimony, Smith and an unnamed accomplice conspired with one another to distribute fentanyl disguised as oxycodone pills in and around Portland. Smith advertised selling the fake oxycodone pills and guns via Snapchat posts that were observed by law enforcement. Investigators seized six firearms from Smith and his accomplice and, with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Further investigation revealed Smith purchased 16 firearms since 2019 that linked to 17 different shootings in the Portland area between April and December 2020.

Smith voluntarily surrendered to law enforcement today and made his initial appearance in federal court before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was arraigned and pleaded not guilty. A three-day jury trial is scheduled to begin on June 15, 2021.

This case was investigated by the Portland Police Bureau, FBI, and ATF. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

# # #

On the morning of 04.16.2021 Oregon State Police (OSP) and Lane County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) were dispatched to the McKenzie High School regarding the location of a stolen vehicle.  The involved 2020 GMC Traverse had been reported stolen out of Albany, Oregon.   An OSP Trooper arrived and began investigating.  School staff reviewed security footage and noticed the adult male associated with the stolen vehicle had earlier entered the main hallway of the school.   The current location of the male was unknown as were the male’s reason for entering the school.  Staff placed the school on lockdown and additional OSP Troopers and LCSO Deputies responded to McKenzie High School.  Further reviewing of security footage showed the suspect walking outside on school property.  An OSP Trooper located the suspect about a mile away from the school and took him into custody without incident.  The suspect was identified as 33 year old Joshua Walker-Graham of Portland, Oregon.  He was transported to the Lane County Jail and lodged on the charges listed below.  The school lifted the lockdown once Walker Graham was taken into custody and there is no ongoing threat to the school or area residents.   

Charges:

ORS #819.300     Possession of Stolen Vehicle

ORS #164.135     Unlawful Use Motor Vehicle

ORS #164.255     Trespass I

ORS #164.065A  Theft of Lost or Mislaid Property I

To our community and customers, this weekend’s weather is forecast to be great for all sorts of outside activities with higher than average temperatures, low humidy and high winds. With that said, these conditions are perfect for an increased risk of fire danger as well. Though burning has not been restricted yet, we are asking that everyone please do their part, and pause any burning until we see a change in weather patterns sometime next week. Thank you for your help!

(Springfield, Ore.) April 16, 2021—PacificSource announces that it will extend its special COVID-related benefit provisions for its commercial plan members to the end of 2021. PacificSource initiated special COVID-related benefit provisions in the spring of 2020 to support its members and providers during the initial phases of the pandemic.

“This expansion of these provisions serves as a critical means of support for our members as we continue to battle the pandemic,” said Ken Provencher, president and CEO of PacificSource. “While great strides towards mitigating the spread of COVID have been made with the introduction of several safe and effective vaccines, we recognize that it will take some time for everyone to get their vaccinations and therefore extended support for our members is still very much needed.”

The following is a summary of PacificSource benefit provisions that are currently in place for PacificSource’s commercial plan members and will be extended through the end of 2021 (There are no changes for Medicaid or Medicare members at this time):

• PacificSource will continue to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for COVID-19 testing and testing-related visits for our members at out-patient care sites (including primary care, urgent care, and emergency rooms). Further treatment may be subject to additional cost shares depending on the benefit plan.

• PacificSource will continue to allow members a one-time early refill for prescription drugs. (COVID vaccinations are offered at no cost to members.)

• PacificSource will continue to waive all copays for Teladoc visits for members who have Teladoc as a plan option.

• PacificSource providers have been instructed to not collect copay/coinsurance or deductibles for testing and testing-related services.

• Self-funded employers will have the option to opt-in to the provision that waives member out-of-pocket costs. For self-funded employer groups electing to extend these benefits, a plan amendment will be issued.

• PacificSource is reaching out by phone to all high-risk members who have not yet received their vaccines and assisting them with locating a clinic or resources within their county, as well as taking them through the steps of pre-registering for their vaccine as needed.

PacificSource is continuing to follow standards and recommendations from the state health authorities in addressing all issues surrounding COVID-19 and recommends that Members visit the Oregon Health Authority’s website at https://covidvaccine.oregon.gov/ for updates on the latest vaccination guidelines.

About PacificSource Health Plans: PacificSource Health Plans is an independent, not-for-profit community health plan serving the Northwest. Founded in 1933, PacificSource has local offices throughout Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Washington. The PacificSource family of companies employs more than 1,500 people and serves over 523,700 individuals throughout the Greater Northwest. For more information, visit PacificSource.com.

  TIP OF THE WEEK

Date:          April 16, 2021                            FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:     Sheriff Curtis Landers

                   541-265-0654

                   lcsheriff@co.lincoln.or.us

DISTRACTED DRIVING

This week's tip regarding distracted driving is especially important. The information comes from Oregon Impact.org.  So what is Distracted Driving?  It is any activity that takes the driver’s attention away from the primary task of driving in any of the following four ways:

• Visually  (keeping your eyes on the road)

• Manually  (keeping your hands on the steering wheel)

• Cognitively  (keeping your mind focused on driving)

• Auditorily  (hearing something not related to driving)

Eating, talking with passengers, grooming, watching a video, using a navigation system, and reading are all significant distractions; but cell phone use is the most dangerous because it distracts focus in all four ways: visually, manually, cognitively, and auditorily.

Texting and driving is one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving. So much so that the National Safety Council has declared April as "Distracted Driving Awareness Month". At any given moment across America, drivers are using or manipulating electronic devices while driving. Distracted driving has become a deadly epidemic on America’s roadways. From 2014-2018 there were 13,603 fatal and injury crashes that involved distracted drivers (all ages). Our youngest and most inexperienced drivers are most at risk: 10% of all distracted driving crashes involve drivers under the age of 20.

We urge drivers to learn more about the dangers of distracted driving and to take the following pledge to always drive free of distractions.

Take The Pledge

I pledge to:

• Protect lives by never texting, talking on a cell phone, reading, watching a video, or grooming while driving.

• Be a good passenger and speak out if the driver in my car is distracted.

• Encourage my friends and family to drive distraction-free.

For more information and tips, visit our website at www.lincolncountysheriff.net and Like us on Facebook at Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office – Oregon.

Our local COVID-19 updates represent the coordinated effort of the agencies that make up the DCCRT

JOINT INFORMATION CENTER PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 16, 2021

DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM - DAILY UPDATE

(Douglas County, Ore.)  DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 TEST RESULTS: As of 12:00 pm Today, Friday, April 16, 2021, there are SIX (6) people with new positive test results to report since our noon case update yesterday.  The total number of cases (people with positive test results and presumptives) in Douglas County is now at 3,035. Currently, there are SEVEN (7) Douglas County COVID-19 patients that are being hospitalized, five locally and two out-of-the-area. Our Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team, under the direction of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, continue to devote all resources available to our local COVID response.

Our daily update includes the total number of cases in Douglas County, which combines people with positive test results and presumptives, as well as a breakout of those case numbers. There will be times when a presumptive will move to a positive test result, and our total case number will not change because the case has already been counted.

LOCAL CONTACTS AND CASES BEING SUPPORTED IN ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE

Currently, DPHN is supporting 85 cases in isolation, as well as another 215 contacts in quarantine in Douglas County. Isolation is recommended for confirmed and presumptive cases, quarantine is recommended for contacts of confirmed or presumptive cases.  Currently, staff is supporting an astounding 300 total contacts and cases in isolation or quarantine.  This number represents a snapshot of the significant amount of work being done locally to help control the spread of COVID.

AVISTA OFFERS COVID-19 DEBT RELIEF GRANTS TO HELP RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS

Shared from Avista.  The pandemic has been financially hard on many people. Avista cares and is doing something about it—by providing COVID-19 Debt Relief grants to help residential customers who are behind on their energy bills.  If you have a past-due balance with Avista, you may qualify to receive funds to pay some or all of what you owe. The grants are available through September 30, 2022, or until funding runs out—whichever occurs first.  There are other ways Avista can help. Recognizing the uncertainty that the pandemic has created, they want to assure their customers that help is available for your current and future bills, as well.  They are offering to assist you with: Payment Arrangements - Short-term and long-term payment arrangements can be made on an individual basis. Comfort Level Billing – They divide your yearly energy costs into 12 equal and predictable monthly payments. Preferred Due Date - Aligns your bill’s due date with your payday to help your budgeting during the month. If you need additional assistance to pay your bill, contact your local community action agency to see if you may qualify for our other assistance programs. To find the agency nearest you, please visit their website at myavista.com/assistance or call (800) 227-9187.  Avista Customer Service Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

COMING SOON: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION FUND GRANTS

Shared from the SBA Office of Disaster Assistance and the National Restaurant Association.  One of the hardest-hit industries during the COVID-19 pandemic has been restaurants, with shutdowns and restrictions cutting off revenue opportunities. The newly passed American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) aims to help restaurants, bars and related businesses with a new grant program called the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). The Restaurant Revitalization Fund will offer $28.6 billion in grants to hard-hit restaurants and bars, with restaurants able to apply for grants based on lost revenue. Restaurants will not be required to acquire a System of Award Management (SAM) number.  As of April 15, 2021, there was still no specified release date for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund grant applications, according to SBA associate administrator Patrick Kelley.  But Kelley recently noted some important details operators need to know about where and how to apply when applications go live. The web application will be available at restaurants.sba.gov (when the link goes live) and SBA says they are “on the precipice of opening.”  For more information on RRF eligibility, documents applicants need to have on hand and how grants are calculated, check out the recent Q&A published by the National Restaurant Association.

“By our estimates, we've lost $250 billion in revenue from the beginning of the pandemic,” National Restaurant Association Executive Vice President Sean Kennedy said.  “From March until January of this year, 110,000 restaurants have been closed. … Our goal has always been an industry-specific solution, and the announcement of the passage of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund is a big step towards that.”

For more information on other pandemic relief programs for small businesses, log onto the SBA COVID-19 RELIEF OPTIONS website at: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-19-relief-options.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE

We continue encourage everyone, for the sake of our local businesses, services and residents, to gauge your risk level, and to make the best choice in order protect yourself and those around you from contracting or spreading coronavirus.  We have provided education on the widely proven COVID-19 safety measures, and encourage you to limit your contact with others not from your household, stay home if you are sick, and wear face coverings where recommended.  Click here, for a graphic on how to protect you and your family from the spread of COVID-19.  We know how important family, businesses and faith are to you, so we ask that you consider all options available in order to eliminate and minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus in our communities to help protect the ones you love, the businesses you love and the places you love to go.

DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 DRIVE-THRU TESTING CLINICS TAKING A PAUSE

Due to the widely available COVID-19 testing opportunities in Douglas County, your local public health authority and DPHN decided to step-back our drive-through testing clinics for the time being.  If needs increase, we are prepared to bring back testing on a weekly basis again.  As a reminder, if you are having symptoms of COVID-19 including cough, fever, shortness of breath, muscle aches and pains, diarrhea, sore throat or decreased sense of smell and taste, talk to your health care provider about being tested for COVID-19.  Patients without a Primary Care Provider that are looking for a COVID-19 test can contact the Sutherlin Aviva Health Clinic at (541) 459-3788. 

COVID-19 FACEBOOK LIVE WITH DR. BOB

Tune in on Friday, April 16, 2021 at 4:00 pm for the next Facebook Live with Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, the Douglas County Public Health Officer.  For future Facebook Events with Dr. Bob, please submit your questions to: ookquestions@douglaspublichealthnetwork.org">Facebookquestions@douglaspublichealthnetwork.org.  Dr. Bob and the DPHN team will do their best to respond to as many questions as they can during the Facebook event.  The Facebook Events are hosted by DPHN on the DPHN Facebook page.

STATE AND FEDERAL COVID-19 INFORMATION

It is important to understand that Federal and State Government and their Agencies are the ones setting policy and issuing the guidelines for the pandemic. Locally, we are following the recommended guidance issued by the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA).  If you have questions about the current guidelines or the recommendations, contact the CDC or OHA directly for more information. OHA posts their daily updates at www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus.

Please do not call 911, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office or Douglas County Offices to report compliance issues with the State of Oregon, OHA or Governor’s orders. The Governor has directed the State offices for Oregon Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) to be the enforcement agencies responsible for ensuring restaurants, bars, and other businesses comply with the current State COVID guidelines.  If you have concerns, questions or wish to report compliance, issues contact these state agencies directly:  OSHA: (800) 922-2689 or OSHA website or OLCC (503) 872-5000 or OLCC website.

ACCESS TO LOCAL COVID-19 RESOURCES

Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer, DPHN and the DCCRT team have been working hard to cooperatively provide accurate and timely information to Douglas County residents since March 8, 2020.  

Local Online Access to Updates

Stay up to date with accurate and local COVID-19 information in Douglas County by visiting the Douglas County Government website or DCGOV Facebook page or the DPHN website or DPHN Facebook page. 

Free Local e-Newsletter Subscription

You can also sign up for the Douglas County e-Newsletter that publishes and sends out the daily update to our subscription base free.  You can sign up for the Douglas County e-Newsletter at www.co.douglas.or.us.  Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer, DPHN and the DCCRT have been working hard to cooperatively provide accurate and timely information to Douglas County residents since March 8, 2020. 

Douglas County COVID-19 Hotline (541) 464-6550

Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners and DPHN continue to offer a local resource hotline for Douglas County residents for COVID-19. The hotline provides answer to frequently asked questions, basic information and referrals to resources and services. Our local hotline number is (541) 464-6550 and is staffed from 8:00 am to 5: pm, 7 days a week.

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Contact Tamara Howell, Public Information Officer, Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team, (541) 670-2804 cell (541) 957-4896 tjhowell@co.douglas.or.us   

Contact Vanessa Becker, Public Information Officer, Douglas Public Health Network, (541) 817-6552 cell (541) 440-3571 vanessa@douglaspublichealthnetwork.org

For Immediate Release                                        

April 15, 2021

Contact:  Mona Riesterer

               503-378-2431

Notice of Meeting Postponed

The Private Security/Investigator Policy Committee meeting scheduled for May 18, 2021 has been postponed until further notice.

The Oregon Board of Forestry’s new chairperson will welcome three new members at the April 21, 2021, board meeting.

Governor Kate Brown recently named Jim Kelly as the chair of the Oregon Board of Forestry. He replaces Tom Imeson, who served as the chair for more than eight years.

“With climate change and increasing wildfire, and the other critical forestry-related concerns Oregon is facing, the Board of Forestry’s work is more important than ever,” Kelly said. “My goal as the chair is to ensure the board is fulfilling its obligation to the people of Oregon, and that we provide the State Forester with both the direction and support needed for the Department of Forestry to be successful.”

“In my role as the board secretary, I work closely with the board, especially the chair,” explained State Forester Peter Daugherty. “I am looking forward to supporting Jim, and the board as a whole, as they build their team and work through the many complex forest policy issues that come before the board.”

Additionally, the board’s April 21, 2021, meeting will be the first for the new board members. Karla Chambers, Ben Deumling, and Chandra Ferrari will join Chair Kelly, Joe Justice, and Brenda McComb, nearly completing the Board of Forestry’s roster. There is one position still vacant.

The public is invited to watch the meeting online starting at 9 a.m. Board materials and a link to the livestream are available at https://www.oregon.gov/odf/board/pages/bofmeetings.aspx.

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Biographies

(Photographs are available at https://www.oregon.gov/odf/board/pages/aboutbof.aspx)

Jim Kelly, of Kimberly, joined the board in September 2018. He owns and manages a grass-fed beef ranch in rural Grant County. Previously he founded Rejuvenation Inc., a hardware and lighting company. He co-founded the Oregon Business Association and served on its board for 17 years. Kelly also co-founded the North Star Civic Foundation, a small Oregon non-profit involved with public policy issues. He has also served on the boards of 1000 Friends of Oregon, the Portland Housing Authority, and Business for Social Responsibility.

Karla Chambers, of Corvallis, has spent her career in food and agriculture, and her farming operation was the first in the U.S. to be third-party certified sustainable. She has served on the Oregon Board of Agriculture, the Portland Branch and Head Office of the San Francisco Federal Reserve Board, the Ford Family Foundation, and the Governor’s Council on Wildfire Response. She currently serves on the Hampton Resources Board. Chambers earned degrees in agriculture and resource economics and finance from Oregon State University.

Ben Deumling, of Rickreall, manages the family-owned Zena Forest, a 1,300-acre tract of forest in the heart of the Willamette Valley and has been actively engaged in forest policy matters for many years. He also runs Zena Forest Products, which is an onsite sawmill and millwork shop that processes hardwood logs into high-quality lumber and flooring. Deumling earned his bachelor's degree in natural resource policy in the western U.S. from Whitman College.

Chandra Ferrari, of Salem, is a senior policy advisor and attorney for Trout Unlimited (TU), where she specializes in the implementation and development of legal and policy reforms to protect and restore water quality and fish and wildlife habitat throughout Oregon. Previously, she was TU’s California Water Policy Director where she worked with diverse coalitions to enhance instream flows, promote multi-benefit projects and preserve recreational opportunities. She also worked as an attorney for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, specializing in endangered species listing and permitting matters. Ferrari earned her bachelor’s degree in animal science and management from the University of California - Davis and her law degree from the University of Pacific School of Law.

SALEM, Ore. – An Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) state forests advisory group will meet Friday, April 23 virtually via Zoom on a variety of state forest topics, including:

• An overview of Fiscal Year 2022 planned activities on state forests
• Continuations of current state forest Implementation Plans for the Tillamook, Astoria, Forest Grove, West Oregon, and Southwest Oregon districts
• Timelines for the Western Oregon State Forest Habitat Conservation Plan process, along with companion Forest Management Plan and Implementation Plan development
• Updates from the State Forests Division, including staffing and organizational changes and legislative matters
• Recreation, Education and Interpretation program updates
• Santiam State Forest restoration planning update

The State Forests Advisory Committee will meet at 8:30 a.m. via the Zoom virtual meeting platform. Instructions to view or listen to the meeting will be posted along with the full meeting agenda at http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Board/Pages/SFAC.aspx.

A public comment opportunity will be provided at the beginning of the meeting. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. Questions about accessibility or special accommodations for the meeting can be directed to the Oregon Department of Forestry at 503-945-7427.

SFAC’s role

The State Forests Advisory Committee (SFAC) includes citizens and representatives of timber, environmental and recreation groups. SFAC provides a forum to discuss issues, opportunities and concerns, and offer advice and guidance to ODF on the implementation of the Northwest Oregon State Forests Management Plan. The plan provides guidance for managing 616,000 acres within the Tillamook, Clatsop and Santiam State Forests, and several scattered state-owned forest tracts in Benton, Polk, Lincoln and Lane counties through a balanced approach to generate revenue while prioritizing environmental and social benefits.

The Oregon State Marine Board approved a construction grant for Westport County Park, a cost increase for the Port of Arlington, and Maintenance Assistance Program grant rules, in addition to a slow no-wake zone on Crescent Lake, during their quarterly Board meeting held virtually on April 14.

The Board conditionally approved, subject to legislative approval of the agency’s 2021-23 budget, $379,825.25 in Boating Facility Grant funds, $100,000.00 in Waterway Access Grant funds, and $200,000 in federal Boating Infrastructure Grants for Westport County Park. This amounts to a total of $679,825.25 from the 2021-23 Cycle One Boating Facility Grant funding which will be matched by $1,595,921.75 in cash and administrative match for a total project cost of $2,275,747.00. The Westport County Park facility upgrade includes a new two-lane concrete boat ramp, boarding docks, short-term tie-up docks, a nonmotorized launching dock system, paved parking, and flush restrooms. The facility construction is anticipated to begin this summer and be completed before the end of the year. The next closest facility upstream is Rainier at river mile 67.5 and downstream is Aldrich Point at river mile 30 and Port of Astoria East Basin at river mile 15.

The Board also approved a grant cost increase of $37,500 for the Port of Arlington to complete their previously approved grant for the replacement of the flush restroom, adding showers, renovating the parking area, adding sidewalks, enhancing nonmotorized boating access, and creating single car parking to serve the access and walking trail users. The Port has been working with a contractor to identify cost savings without reducing the scope of work and successfully reduced the cost by approximately half.

The Board also approved proposed rules to the Boating Facilities Maintenance Assistance Grant Program (MAG) to reflect a more streamlined and less burdensome administrative process for facility operators and agency staff. The MAG program offers financial assistance to facility owners/operators for routine maintenance of a boating facility, including small repairs and supplies. The Boating Facilities Section will be offering virtual training on how to apply for MAG funding soon.

In their final action, the Board approved a slow no-wake zone in a small cove, referred to as Tranquil Cove, on Crescent Lake in Klamath County, OAR 250-020-0204. The rules go into effect May 1, 2021.

To view meeting materials and a replay of the virtual meeting, visit the agency’s Public Meetings page.

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The Board of Directors of Douglas County Fire District No. 2 will hold its Regular Board meeting on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. Following current State and Federal guidelines on social physical distancing the meeting will be held virtually and can be attended through video conferencing or telephonically.  If you plan on attending the meeting please contact the business office at 541-673-5503 during normal business hours prior to 4:00pm on Tuesday April 20, 2021 for instructions.

The Board agenda to include but not limited to:         

1. Monthly Financials
2. COVID Vaccine update
3. Eifert Annexation
4. Resolution 03-2021 Authorizing Construction Fund Use
5. Resolution 04-2021 Authorizing Construction Fund Use
6. Resolution 05-2021 Authorizing Equipment Fund Use                                                                       

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released proposed regulations Wednesday to end the Title X gag rule. In 2019, the Trump administration finalized the domestic gag rule, which undermined the Title X program and denied people across the country access to affordable reproductive health care, such as birth control and lifesaving cancer screenings, through the program. In just under two years, it slashed the Title X network’s patient capacity nearly in half, creating unacceptable barriers to affordable care. 

The gag rule threatened the health care of 50,000 Oregonians who rely on the Title X program. Fortunately, we were able to work closely with state officials to create critical backstops and protect access to care for all Oregonians who need it. 

Statement from Lisa Gardner, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon: “Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon was proud to serve as the lead plaintiff in a national lawsuit to stop this cruel policy. Access to sexual and reproductive health care is inextricably tied to health and safety during the pandemic. After the close of the comment period, the Biden-Harris administration must move to swiftly end the gag rule and ensure the Title X program is able to meet people’s needs. This would be urgent in any environment, but it is all the more urgent as we continue to struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The proposed, updated regulations from HHS, when finalized, will end the Title X gag rule and make other modifications to strengthen the program and better ensure access to equitable, affordable, client-centered, quality healthcare services for patients under Title X. A 30-day comment period will allow the public to underline the harm the gag rule has wrought and emphasize why it must be ended as swiftly as possible.

As the nation’s only federal program dedicated to providing affordable birth control and other reproductive health care to people with low incomes, Title X is a critical piece of the social safety net that helps ensure equitable access to essential health care. Title X grants fund services like birth control, contraceptive counseling, STI treatment, breast and cervical cancer screenings, and pre-pregnancy care.

Title X disproportionately serves Black, Latino and Indigenous patients; patients with low incomes; and patients in rural areas. Because of centuries of systemic racism and inequities, people from these communities have always faced daunting barriers to getting the health care they need. Systemic racism and other inequities have also caused these communities the most harm from the COVID-19 pandemic, including a death rate of double or more that of white Americans and disproportionately harsh economic hardship.

Oregon is among six states that no longer have any Title X providers. Before the Trump administration implemented the gag rule, Planned Parenthood health centers across the country served approximately 40 percent of the program’s 4 million patients. After the gag rule, the patients receiving Title X services were forced to find new providers, or stopped receiving critical care entirely.

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Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon (PPSO) has been dedicated to providing expert reproductive health care and sexuality education in Southwestern Oregon for over 55 years.  PPSO provides more than 30,000 patient visits each year at five health centers.  PPSO is also the region’s most respected provider of medically accurate sexuality education for young people and adults, as well as training programs for professionals who work with youth and families.  Education and training programs make over 9,000 contacts each year, transforming the lives of young people in southwestern Oregon.  PPSO’s essential health services include breast and cervical cancer screenings, well-woman annual exams, birth control, abortion care, STI prevention, testing and treatment, pregnancy testing, PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis), HPV vaccinations and vasectomies. For more information, visit www.ppsworegon.org. 

April 15, 2021

Contact: OHA External Relations, covid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us" target="_blank">orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon reports 733 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 6 new deaths

PORTLAND, Ore. — There are six new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 2,455, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority reported 733 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 172,931.

Vaccinations in Oregon

Today, OHA reported that 44,971 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry. Of this total, 29,445 doses were administered on April 14 and 15,526 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry on April 14.

The seven-day running average is now 38,728 doses per day.

Oregon has now administered a total of 1,242,066 doses of Pfizer, 1,069,417 doses of Moderna and 87,339 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.As of today, 966,834 people have completed a COVID-19 vaccine series. There are 1,492,658 who have had at least one dose.

Cumulative daily totals can take several days to finalize because providers have 72 hours to report doses administered and technical challenges have caused many providers to lag in their reporting. OHA has been providing technical support to vaccination sites to improve the timeliness of their data entry into the state’s ALERT Immunization Information System (IIS).

To date, 1,499,355 doses of Pfizer, 1,301,500 doses of Moderna and 215,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines have been delivered to sites across Oregon.

These data are preliminary and subject to change.

OHA's dashboards provide regularly updated vaccination data, and Oregon’s dashboard has been updated today.

COVID-19 hospitalizations

The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 195, which is five fewer than yesterday. There are 53 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is one more than yesterday.

The total number of patients in hospital beds may fluctuate between report times. The numbers do not reflect admissions per day, nor the length of hospital stay. Staffing limitations are not captured in this data and may further limit bed capacity.

More information about hospital capacity can be found here.

Cases and deaths

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (16), Benton (18), Clackamas (63), Clatsop (3), Columbia (10), Coos (9), Crook (5), Curry (3), Deschutes (53), Douglas (10), Grant (1), Hood River (6), Jackson (34), Jefferson (5), Josephine (13), Klamath (46), Lane (74), Lincoln (6), Linn (23), Malheur (2), Marion (56), Morrow (1), Multnomah (120), Polk (22), Tillamook (3), Umatilla (9), Union (3), Wasco (8), Washington (98) and Yamhill (13).

Oregon’s 2,450th COVID-19 death is a 93-year-old woman in Clackamas County who tested positive on Jan. 14 and died on April 9 at her residence. The death certificate listed COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV-2 as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 2,451st COVID-19 death is a 71-year-old woman in Baker County who tested positive on April 7 and died on April 14 at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 2,452nd COVID-19 death is a 62-year-old man in Clackamas County who tested positive on March 22 and died on April 5 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 2,453rd COVID-19 death is a 52-year-old man in Jackson County who tested positive on March 24 and died on April 14 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 2,454th COVID-19 death is an 82-year-old man in Linn County who tested positive on March 24 and died on April 8 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 2,455th COVID-19 death is an 89-year-old man in Polk County who tested positive on March 31 and died on April 13 at Salem Hospital. He had underlying conditions.

Testing event at “The Cut” is a step to building trust with folks living on the street

A lot of people camp out and live along a bike path in the St. Johns neighborhood of Portland. The area is informally known as “The Cut.” In March, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) worked closely with grassroots activists and community organizations to test 49 people living there for COVID-19. 

It was an event that required careful planning to establish trust. “This is a population where we need to be especially mindful,” says Mehera Christian, regional testing coordinator at OHA. “These are individuals with complex physical and mental health issues. There is a lot of fear and mistrust. We work with community partners who know and serve the community to help connect with sensitivity and compassion.” 

Every Saturday, grassroots activists and organizations go to a central location along the path with services and supplies. People who live there go to get food, blankets and socks, or to recycle their bottles and cans to get money back.  

A couple weeks ahead of the testing event, OHA staff went out with trusted community partners to introduce themselves and spread the word about the upcoming testing event.  

“We were able to find out what some of their concerns were before the day of testing. They heard about the event and could ask questions, and then they knew some of our faces when we came back,” says Christian. 

One key partner was Portland People’s Outreach Project (PPOP). The all-volunteer organization has been doing emergency and outreach work directly along The Cut for two years. To reduce risk, they provide clean syringes, Naloxone (Narcan) and other supplies directly to users.  

That part of town, says PPOP volunteer Sam Junge, is especially short on low-barrier health services. The testing event, he says, was a start to establishing trust and affirms the need for health services in this area going forward. Junge also added that “it’s a testament to the importance of serving and investing in people who use drugs.” 

OHA staff brought a mobile lab to The Cut and tested 49 people in two hours using rapid results tests.   

“We were set up for motel referrals and had transportation arranged if people tested positive,” says Junge.   

But there were zero positive tests.  

“It’s just a big relief for people,” says Christian. “They’re aware of the risks and, of course, being on the street, they’re especially vulnerable. If we make it past the trust issue and people see you’re there and caring and wanting to help, there’s a real gratitude.” 

Our local COVID-19 updates represent the coordinated effort of the agencies that make up the DCCRT

JOINT INFORMATION CENTER PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 15, 2021

DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM - DAILY UPDATE

(Douglas County, Ore.)  DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 TEST RESULTS: As of 12:00 pm Today, Thursday, April 15, 2021, there are NINE (9) people with new positive test results to report since our noon case update yesterday.  The total number of cases (people with positive test results and presumptives) in Douglas County is now at 3,029. Currently, there are SEVEN (7) Douglas County COVID-19 patients that are being hospitalized, five locally and two out-of-the-area. Our Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team, under the direction of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, continue to devote all resources available to our local COVID response.

Our daily update includes the total number of cases in Douglas County, which combines people with positive test results and presumptives, as well as a breakout of those case numbers. There will be times when a presumptive will move to a positive test result, and our total case number will not change because the case has already been counted.

LOCAL CONTACTS AND CASES BEING SUPPORTED IN ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE

Currently, DPHN is supporting 84 cases in isolation, as well as another 221 contacts in quarantine in Douglas County. Isolation is recommended for confirmed and presumptive cases, quarantine is recommended for contacts of confirmed or presumptive cases.  Currently, staff is supporting an astounding 305 total contacts and cases in isolation or quarantine.  This number represents a snapshot of the significant amount of work being done locally to help control the spread of COVID.

CONTINUED CONCERN ABOUT LOCAL OUTBREAKS AND THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 IN DOUGLAS COUNTY

We have shared with our residents and readers on numerous occasions our concerns about specific sectors where we have seen surges in positive cases, as well as outbreaks in order to help them make better informed personal health and safety decisions.  We are not trying to pick-on specific sectors, we are just following and sharing the actual case data we have.  While we have seen a decline in cases in our county in the last few weeks, we are still not at a level of daily cases that we need to see in order to move closer to expanded freedoms from the State Risk-Level mandates.  Today, once again, we want to talk about the continued increase and reoccurrence of cases with some of our local faith-based communities, and how they can best practice their beliefs, while also keeping their staff and congregations safe from the spread of COVID. 

We know that hundreds of Douglas County citizens embrace worship as an essential part of their lives.  And in times of peril and uncertainty like we are facing now, faith can be the foundation that grounds and guides our existence.  For many of faith, the time they spend gathering together for worship is at the heart of what it means to be a community of faith.  But, the very thing that faith offers is also at the heart of how this terrible and indiscriminate virus is spread.  Due to the close-knit congregational nature of religious worship, as well as the duration of the service, and the inclination to express ourselves through singing; reciting psalms, prayers and verses; standing close to others, hugging or holding hands; and receiving communion, Eucharist or sacrament while gathering for in-person and often unprotected church services presents an added risk for increasing the spread of COVID-19.  We are not alone with outbreaks related to faith-based organizations, throughout the world, we are seeing that several large outbreaks have been tied to organizations and congregations related to religious gatherings. 

We recently passed the one-year mark for the COVID pandemic and during that year, our local team of epidemiologists at DPHN have recorded 10 church related outbreaks associated with 176 cases, 23 hospitalizations and sadly, 7 deaths.  This also means that DPHN staff has helped to support hundreds of church patrons and their families in isolation and quarantine directly related to those cases.  While household contacts and workplace outbreaks continue to be our leading cause of outbreaks locally, several outbreaks can also be tied to local churches. 

As we mentioned before, worship services pose a special risk with a very high potential for the spread of the COVID virus, in that it brings numerous households and age groups together, inside, in close-proximity for an hour or more during a service.  Plus, due to the multi-family and age range mix of church congregations, when COVID spreads at a church, the parishioners can bring the disease back to their homes, workplaces or schools, possibly exposing and infecting other family members, coworkers or classmates to the virus.   

Now, we are happy to report that some of our large local churches have chosen to consult with public health, and have instituted spacing requirements for services, have limited capacity for each service, added additional service options, offered virtual service options, issued mask requirements, and have gotten creative with music and sermons or have curtailed singing or group verbal recitation of psalms, verses and prayers during their services.  We applaud those churches for putting the health and safety of their congregation at the top of their priority list.  It is important to note that the churches that chose to consult with us, have had no identified outbreaks.  This is undeniable proof that you can still worship and participate in much needed faith gatherings, while working to prevent the spread of COVID.

But, as you can surmise, other local churches have not been as careful with preventing the spread of COVID, and we have seen cases, hospitalizations and deaths related to those church outbreaks.  Workplace, school and health care outbreaks are regularly reported, but following the OHA guidelines, we do not publish the name of those churches with outbreaks, so the visibility of our church outbreaks is limited.  This is especially worrisome and difficult when the DPHN staff conducts their case calls to those that test positive or were possibly exposed to COVID at their church, and discover that the parishioners were not told by their pastor or church staff that there had been positive cases of COVID identified within their congregation.  DPHN and Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, our Douglas County Public Officer are available and happy to visit with church staff, and help them create a plan for safer church services during COVID.   The process and implementation of COVID precautions are not that difficult to manage, and the added protection that you will be offering your congregation is priceless.   

DPHN is currently following several church outbreaks.  In one outbreak, over 15 people at one church have been infected, and secondary cases have then been noted at several local businesses, health care facilities and schools.  One of the people tied to that outbreak was identified to have the B 1.429 variant.  That variant was first noted in Southern California, and is 20% more contagious and has the ability to be more resistant to previous infection or vaccinations.

So, during this time of COVID, when faith is so very important, we want people to continue to worship, but we ask that you do so safely, and with kindness and consideration for the health and safety of others in your congregation.  We ask that local church leaders please look and learn from fellow religious leaders in our community who have managed to continue their worship services, and done so safely, by establishing a few simple safety protocols for distancing, masks and music.  Our future for a post-pandemic State guideline-free life depends on it.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE

We continue encourage everyone, for the sake of our local businesses, services and residents, to gauge your risk level, and to make the best choice in order protect yourself and those around you from contracting or spreading coronavirus.  We have provided education on the widely proven COVID-19 safety measures, and encourage you to limit your contact with others not from your household, stay home if you are sick, and wear face coverings where recommended.  Click here, for a graphic on how to protect you and your family from the spread of COVID-19.  We know how important family, businesses and faith are to you, so we ask that you consider all options available in order to eliminate and minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus in our communities to help protect the ones you love, the businesses you love and the places you love to go.

DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 DRIVE-THRU TESTING CLINICS TAKING A PAUSE

Due to the widely available COVID-19 testing opportunities in Douglas County, your local public health authority and DPHN decided to step-back our drive-through testing clinics for the time being.  If needs increase, we are prepared to bring back testing on a weekly basis again.  As a reminder, if you are having symptoms of COVID-19 including cough, fever, shortness of breath, muscle aches and pains, diarrhea, sore throat or decreased sense of smell and taste, talk to your health care provider about being tested for COVID-19.  Patients without a Primary Care Provider that are looking for a COVID-19 test can contact the Sutherlin Aviva Health Clinic at (541) 459-3788. 

COVID-19 FACEBOOK LIVE WITH DR. BOB

Tune in on Friday, April 16, 2021 at 4:00 pm for the next Facebook Live with Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, the Douglas County Public Health Officer.  For future Facebook Events with Dr. Bob, please submit your questions to: ookquestions@douglaspublichealthnetwork.org">Facebookquestions@douglaspublichealthnetwork.org.  Dr. Bob and the DPHN team will do their best to respond to as many questions as they can during the Facebook event.  The Facebook Events are hosted by DPHN on the DPHN Facebook page.

STATE AND FEDERAL COVID-19 INFORMATION

It is important to understand that Federal and State Government and their Agencies are the ones setting policy and issuing the guidelines for the pandemic. Locally, we are following the recommended guidance issued by the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA).  If you have questions about the current guidelines or the recommendations, contact the CDC or OHA directly for more information. OHA posts their daily updates at www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus.

Please do not call 911, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office or Douglas County Offices to report compliance issues with the State of Oregon, OHA or Governor’s orders. The Governor has directed the State offices for Oregon Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) to be the enforcement agencies responsible for ensuring restaurants, bars, and other businesses comply with the current State COVID guidelines.  If you have concerns, questions or wish to report compliance, issues contact these state agencies directly:  OSHA: (800) 922-2689 or OSHA website or OLCC (503) 872-5000 or OLCC website.

ACCESS TO LOCAL COVID-19 RESOURCES

Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer, DPHN and the DCCRT team have been working hard to cooperatively provide accurate and timely information to Douglas County residents since March 8, 2020.  

Local Online Access to Updates

Stay up to date with accurate and local COVID-19 information in Douglas County by visiting the Douglas County Government website or DCGOV Facebook page or the DPHN website or DPHN Facebook page. 

Free Local e-Newsletter Subscription

You can also sign up for the Douglas County e-Newsletter that publishes and sends out the daily update to our subscription base free.  You can sign up for the Douglas County e-Newsletter at www.co.douglas.or.us.  Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer, DPHN and the DCCRT have been working hard to cooperatively provide accurate and timely information to Douglas County residents since March 8, 2020. 

Douglas County COVID-19 Hotline (541) 464-6550

Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners and DPHN continue to offer a local resource hotline for Douglas County residents for COVID-19. The hotline provides answer to frequently asked questions, basic information and referrals to resources and services. Our local hotline number is (541) 464-6550 and is staffed from 8:00 am to 5: pm, 7 days a week.

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Contact Tamara Howell, Public Information Officer, Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team, (541) 670-2804 cell (541) 957-4896 tjhowell@co.douglas.or.us   

Contact Vanessa Becker, Public Information Officer, Douglas Public Health Network, (541) 817-6552 cell (541) 440-3571 vanessa@douglaspublichealthnetwork.org

Portland, Ore. – Registered anglers fishing near the Tri-Cities, Washington, can fish and turn in northern pikeminnow beginning April 19 as part of an early opening trial of the 2021 Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Fishery.

The early season opener is only available to anglers registered at the Columbia Point registration station near Richland, Washington, fishing within program boundaries above McNary Dam. The regular northern pikeminnow sport reward program begins May 1.

As in previous years, the program pays registered anglers $5 to $8 for each pikeminnow that is at least nine inches long. The more fish an angler catches, the more each pikeminnow is worth. And some fish have an even bigger payout. State fish and wildlife biologists have released specially tagged northern pikeminnow into the Columbia and Snake rivers, each worth $500.

Northern pikeminnow are voracious eaters, consuming millions of young salmon and steelhead each year. Since 1990, anglers paid through the program have removed nearly 5 million pikeminnow from the Columbia and Snake rivers. The program is funded by the Bonneville Power Administration and administered by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission in cooperation with the Washington and Oregon departments of fish and wildlife. It has reduced predation from pikeminnow on young salmon and steelhead by approximately 40% since it began.

If the early opener proves productive, additional stations may be considered for early opening in 2022, said Eric Winther, project lead with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

“Historically, large numbers of northern pikeminnow congregate near the mouth of the Yakima River early in the year,” said Winther. “We believe this early opener may provide anglers with some great harvests before those fish disperse from the area later in the season.”

Winther noted there have been several changes to station locations and operating hours for the 2021 season.

In addition to the eighteen full-time stations that operate during the five-month season, six new satellite stations will offer anglers additional pikeminnow harvest opportunities in areas with good fishing during short windows of time. These satellite stations will open at different times throughout the season. Interested anglers are encouraged to get the most up-to-date information on the program website, www.pikeminnow.org, before heading out.

Details on how to register for the program and applicable state fishing regulations are also available on the program website. Anglers will find resources on the site to help boost their fishing game, including maps, how-to videos and free fishing clinics.

For more information about the 2021 Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Fishery visit www.pikeminnow.org, or call 800-858-9015.

About BPA

The Bonneville Power Administration, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is a nonprofit federal power marketer that sells wholesale, carbon-free hydropower from 31 federal dams in the Columbia River Basin. It also markets the output of the region’s only nuclear plant. BPA delivers this power to more than 140 Northwest electric utilities, serving millions of consumers and businesses in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, western Montana and parts of California, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. BPA also owns and operates more than 15,000 circuit miles of high-voltage power lines and 261 substations, and provides transmission service to more than 300 customers. In all, BPA provides nearly a third of the power generated in the Northwest. To mitigate the impacts of the federal dams, BPA implements a fish and wildlife program that includes working with its partners to make the federal dams safer for fish passage. It also pursues cost-effective energy savings and operational solutions that help maintain safe, affordable, reliable electric power for the Northwest. www.bpa.gov  

At 7:28 a.m. on April 15, 2021, Roseburg Fire Department personnel responded to a reported residential structure fire at 2941 NE Yount Avenue.   The reporting party notified Douglas County Dispatch of a shop on fire adjacent to their residence.  Dispatch was notified that all residents were out of the structure.  While enroute, firefighters observed a large column of smoke in the vicinity of the reported residential structure fire.

Upon arrival on scene, firefighters found a detached garaged engulfed in flames and spreading to the single story residential structure.  Firefighters conducted a primary search to confirm no occupants were inside the structure.  Firefighters made an interior attack to extinguish the fire and completed overhaul.  The residential structure and shop sustained significant structural and water damage.  Two adults and three children were displaced; however, no one was injured in the fire.  The American Red Cross was notified and is assisting the residents.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, although all indicators are leading to a heat lamp inside a chicken coop.  Fourteen firefighters assisted with firefighting operations.  Other agencies assisting with the fire included Douglas County Fire District #2, Umpqua Valley Ambulance, Roseburg Police Department, Avista Utilities, Pacific Power, and the American Red Cross. 

The Roseburg Fire Department would like to remind everyone of the following fire safety tips to help reduce the hazards created by heat lamps for pets and livestock:

• Use UL-listed heat lamps and follow manufacturer’s instructions.
• Heat lamps with guards may provide some protection if the lamp falls into combustible bedding.
• Ensure heat lamps are installed in locations where they are far enough from any combustibles to preclude ignition.  Remember that wooden construction elements will eventually dry out and ignite from a heat lamp too.
• Ensure the installation is secure and the light cannot be knocked down.
• Run cords in locations where animals cannot reach them.
• Make sure electrical circuits are not overloaded.  Heat lamps use more amperage than regular lights.
• Keep all combustibles away from heat lamps and ensure kids doing chores are aware of the hazards.
• Check the lamp and mounting periodically to ensure it is secure.

If you have concerns about your heat lamp, stop and check it out.  Checking the lamp may save your pets, livestock, barn, or even your home.

Safety tips and information courtesy of Fire 9 Prevention

For the latest information regarding the City of Roseburg Fire Department, please visit our website at www.cityofroseburg.org or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/roseburgfire.

Lane County Public Health (LCPH) was notified of at least 75 additional positive cases of COVID-19.This makes a total of  ?eleven thousand four hundred and thirty cases. 224,035 doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in Lane County. 

Today’s press conference will feature and update of results from the University of Oregon Genomic & Cell Characterization Core Facility by Lane County Senior Public Health Officer, Dr. Patrick Luedtke.  

11,430 (+75) total cases - Note that this includes confirmed and presumptive.

Of our cases (confirmed and presumptive):

Hospitalized: 10 (-3)

·ICU: 2 (of the 10)

Deaths: 144

Infectious: 273 (+23)

HOSCAP COVID-positive Hospitalized Cases as of 4/15/2021

·Statewide:

o   Hospitalized: 196

o   ICU: 53

Total persons fully vaccinated: 86,187 (+1,156 since 4/14)
Total persons received first dose only: 57,642
Total doses administered: 224,035

Percentage of adult population receiving at least one dose: 46.52%
Percentage of Lane County adult population fully vaccinated: 27.88%
Percentage of Lane County total population fully vaccinated: 22.75%

Data regarding Lane County testing, patient status, case ZIP codes and more is available at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/localdata

The State of Oregon has created a COVID-19 web page with resources at http://coronavirus.oregon.gov.

High Risk Individuals who had contact with these community members will be contacted by Lane County Public Health so they can work with their health care providers on next steps. Communicable disease investigations are underway. If a public contact exposure point is identified, that information will be shared with the public.

Presumptive cases are people without a positive PCR test who have COVID-19-like symptoms and had close contact with a confirmed case. Though not confirmed by a positive diagnostic test, presumptive cases have a high likelihood of having COVID-19 because of the specific nature of the symptoms and known exposure.

KNOW WHAT’S BELOW, CALL 811 BEFORE YOU DIG
April is National Safe Digging Month

SALEM, Ore. – In honor of National Safe Digging Month, Oregon’s Public Utility Commission (PUC) reminds Oregonians to call 811 at least two business days before digging to have underground utility lines marked to avoid life-threatening injuries and prevent damage to necessary services.  

“With the continuation of the pandemic into 2021 and the return of nice weather, we recognize more people may be spending time doing yard-improvement projects, so we want to remind homeowners and contractors to call 811 before any digging is done to reduce the risk of striking an underground utility line,” said Megan Decker, PUC Chair. “This is essential to ensure utility services are not interrupted for community members as we continue to deal with COVID-19, as well as to avoid costly repair bills.”

The Oregon Utility Notification Center, who operates the free 811 one-call center, notifies the utility companies that serve the area of the planned project. Utility personnel then visit the project site to mark the approximate location of the underground lines, pipes and cables in the planned digging area at no cost to the homeowner. 

“Never assume a digging project is too shallow and won’t hit a utility line,” added Decker. “Whether planting a tree or a shrub, building a deck, or installing a fence, always call 811 at least two business days ahead to have your lines located. This is the only way to know what’s below.”

Statistics show that a majority of line strikes occur during the warmer months when excavation and construction work is being done. In 2019 an estimated 453,766 line strikes occurred nationwide, 22 percent of which were due to insufficient notice to the 811 service.

Call 811 or visit digsafelyoregon.com to submit a locate request or to learn more about safe digging practices.

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Four new in-store branches will open in late-April and early-May 2021

PORTLAND, Ore., April 15, 2021 – As part of the largest branch and service area expansion in its history, OnPoint Community Credit Union announced today it will open four more of its 20 new Fred Meyer branches in April and May. Two of the new branches will serve Northeast Portland in Fred Meyer's Hollywood store, located at 3030 NE Weidler Street, and its Glisan store, located at 6615 NE Glisan Street. The two additional new branches will serve Beaverton in Fred Meyer's Walker Road store, located on SW 158th Avenue and Walker Road, and in its Beaverton Town Square store, located at 11425 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Highway. With these four openings, OnPoint will operate 44 branches in communities across Oregon and Southwest Washington. OnPoint plans to open 12 additional branches within Fred Meyer locations in the coming months.

"Opening new branches across the region allows us to cultivate deeper relationships with our members and our community," said Rob Stuart, President and Chief Executive Officer, OnPoint Community Credit Union. "Being able to work with members face-to-face on financial wellness strategies builds a connection difficult to replicate virtually. Since the pandemic began, people have needed financial advice to navigate challenges quickly. Our new locations in Beaverton and Northeast Portland help us meet this need in a way that truly fits into the lives of our members."

Each in-store OnPoint branch will offer members a complete suite of financial services, including membership enrollment, consumer and commercial lending, mortgages, financial planning, ATM and notarization. OnPoint's new branches will offer existing and new members special grand opening offers through the end of the year, including a $200 bonus for new members.

With the opening of these four branches, OnPoint will create a total of 28 new jobs across these local economies. Visit the Careers section of OnPoint's website to learn more about becoming part of the OnPoint team at one of the new in-store branches.

Hollywood Branch, 3030 NE Weidler St., Portland, OR 97232

Opening April 28, 2021

Hannah Lewis has been with OnPoint since 2007 and will serve as the Branch Manager of the Hollywood Branch. Lewis has more than 14 years of experience in financial services. She lives in Northeast Portland with her two Labradoodles.

OnPoint will donate $2,500 to African American Alliance for Homeownership (AAAH), a non-profit and HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agency working to increase homeownership and economic stability for African Americans and other underserved individuals. AAAH's housing fairs, counseling, and classes help prepare prospective homeowners for the home buying process. It also partners with the VIDA collaborative through Casa of Oregon to provide matched savings accounts for first-time homebuyers.

67th & Glisan Branch, 6615 NE Glisan St., Portland, OR 97213

Opening April 30, 2021

Chris Dennett will serve as the Branch Manager of the 67th & Glisan Branch. Dennett has 10 years of experience in financial services. He and his wife Letty live in the Gresham area with their three kids and their dog.

OnPoint will donate $2,500 to the Sunshine Division, which has provided emergency food and clothing relief to Portland families and individuals in need since 1923. Whether due to the loss of a job, domestic crime, illness, or victims of fire or disaster, the Sunshine Division quickly and efficiently mobilizes to assist distressed Portlanders. It offers emergency food assistance six days a week at its North Portland warehouse and 24/7 through a partnership with the Portland Police Bureau, which stores food boxes at each precinct to be dispatched to people in need at any time. Besides food relief, it also offers new and gently used clothing to those in need at its North Portland facility.

158th & Walker Branch, 15995 SW Walker Rd., Beaverton, OR 97006

Opening May 5, 2021

Karmen Knutsen has been with OnPoint since 2016 and will serve as the Branch Manager of the 158th & Walker Branch. Knutsen has more than eight years of experience in financial services. She has lived in Beaverton for 13 years.

OnPoint will donate $2,500 to Oregon Friends of Shelter Animals (OFOSA), a non-profit working to provide the best possible outcome for healthy, happy animals and a successful adoption. OFOSA transports hundreds of animals every year out of overcrowded high kill shelters from as far away as California. It also has skilled and trained medical staff with a fully functioning spay and neuter clinic, providing hundreds of surgeries per year. With the help of its adoption partners, PetSmart, Petco and Fido's, along with its corps of dedicated volunteers, OFOSA has provided homes for over 99% of its rescued animals.

Beaverton Town Square Branch, 11425 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy., Beaverton, OR 97005

Opening May 7, 2021

Gabriel Casas will serve as the Branch Manager of the Beaverton Town Square Branch. Casas has more than 19 years of experience in financial services. Throughout his career, he has also served as a Teller, Banker, Teller Operations Specialist and Assistant Manager. Casas and his wife enjoy spending time with their two dogs, traveling the coast and watching all the local sports events.

OnPoint will donate $2,500 to Beaverton Library Foundation, which supports the activities and services of Beaverton City Library. Its annual Summer Reading program reaches more than 7,500 children and teens to help them retain their reading skills while school is out. The Beaverton Library Foundation also offers an annual scholarship to a graduating high school senior who volunteers at the library. Its literary contests for teens attract more than 500 submissions. Click here to read contest winners' writings on the foundation's blog.

ABOUT ONPOINT COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION

OnPoint Community Credit Union is the largest credit union in Oregon, serving over 432,000 members and with assets of $8.2 billion. Founded in 1932, OnPoint Community Credit Union's membership is available to anyone who lives or works in one of 28 Oregon counties (Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Wasco, Washington, Wheeler, and Yamhill) and two Washington counties (Skamania and Clark) and their immediate family members. More information is available at www.onpointcu.com or 503-228-7077 or 800-527-3932.

To qualify, individuals must open a new membership with a personal checking account and receive direct deposit of at least $500 to that account within 60 days of the open date. A bonus of $200 will be credited to their checking account approximately 60 days after new account is opened. Accounts must be open and in good standing at time of payout to receive bonus. As of 2/1/21, APY (annual percentage yield) for Interest Checking is 0.05%. APY is subject to change. $500 minimum balance for Interest Checking; no minimum balance for OnPoint Checking. When Interest Checking average monthly balance falls below $500, a $7 monthly service fee applies. Fees may reduce earnings. Bonus will be included on a 1099-INT for tax purposes. Cannot be combined with other offers for opening a new membership, such as OnPoint Savers or Refer a Friend. Offer only available at OnPoint Fred Meyer Branches. Offer valid through 12/31/21 and subject to change. Business bonus: To qualify, a new membership must be opened with a business checking account and receive $500 in deposits to that account within 60 days of the open date. A bonus of $200 will be credited to their business checking account approximately 60 days after new account is opened. Accounts must be open and in good standing at time of payout to receive bonus. Bonus will be included on a 1099-Int for tax purposes. Cannot be combined with other offers for opening a new membership, such as OnPoint Savers or Refer a Friend. Offer only available at OnPoint Fred Meyer Branches. Offer valid through 12/31/21 and subject to change.

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, Nikolaus Sean Heifner, died on the evening of April 14, 2021. Heifner was incarcerated at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF) and passed away at a local hospital. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified, and the Medical Examiner will determine cause of death.

Heifner entered DOC custody on April 1, 2021, from Multonmah County with an earliest release date of March 3, 2024. Heifner was 29 years old. Next of kin has been notified. No other details are available at this time.

DOC takes all in-custody deaths seriously. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of 12,600 individuals who are incarcerated in 14 institutions across the state. While crime information is public record, DOC elects to disclose only upon request out of respect for any family or victims.

CCCF is a multi-custody prison located in Wilsonville accommodating 1,260 adults in custody. The prison has cell and dormitory housing, work programs, skills training, treatment programs, health services, religious services, physical plant, a central records unit, and administrative areas. CCCF participates in prison industries with Oregon Corrections Enterprises, including a contact center, auto CAD, and document scanning. In addition, CCCF houses the state’s intake center, which provides intake and evaluation of all individuals committed to state custody by the courts. The intake center houses approximately 400 adults in custody. CCCF’s minimum facility opened in 2001, and the medium facility opened in 2002.

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EUGENE, Ore. April 15, 2021 - Most of us don’t realize we have just two minutes to escape a home fire – and they haven’t stopped during COVID-19. Across the Cascades Region, the Red Cross responds to, on average, 2-3 home fires every day.

That’s why the American Red Cross is encouraging families to take two simple steps now to help act quickly in the face of a home fire:

1. Practice your two-minute escape drill.
2. Test your smoke alarms monthly.

To help make homes safer, trained Red Cross volunteers are conducting free 1-on-1 preparedness sessions with interested individuals and families who register during our Sound the Alarm Campaign. This is an opportunity to talk through home fire safety tips, discuss a home fire escape plan and learn how to test your smoke alarms. These education sessions are available in both English and Spanish. 

Registering for an appointment is easy and can be done by visiting www.redcross.org/CascadesFireSafety or calling 541-749-4144.

Home fire safety tips:

• In your escape plan, include at least two ways to exit every room in your home.
• Select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone knows to meet.
• Place smoke alarms on each level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas. Change the batteries at least once a year, if your model requires it.
• Also check the manufacturer’s date of your smoke alarms. If they’re 10 years or older, they likely need to be replaced. Follow your alarm’s manufacturer instructions.

Learn more: Visit redcross.org/CascadesFireSafety for more information, including a home fire escape plan to create and practice with your household.

DETROIT — Limited camping at Detroit Lake State Recreation Area will reopen April 20 after being closed since September 2020 due to damage from the Santiam Canyon wildfires, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) announces. Visitors will be able to reserve some campsites up to six months in advance starting at 6 a.m. April 19 for all stays April 20 and beyond.

Sites will open according to the following timeline:

• April 20: Loops F & G
• May 28: Loops A, B, and part of Loops C and D
• June 18: Loops E, H and the rest of C Loop

Some sites are still closed to public use.

Reservations can be made from one day to six months in advance starting at 6 a.m. April 19 through OPRD’s partner site, oregonstateparks.reserveamerica.com, or by calling 800-452-5687.

Detroit Lake State Recreation Area was in the eye of the Santiam Canyon wildfires, but the park sustained far less damage than the nearby resort town of Detroit.

“For the most part, visitors won’t notice anything different from previous years,” said Park Manager Bob Rea.

The park remained closed while staff cleared burned vegetation and repaired a damaged water tank. Rea plans to replace the tank in the fall.

“Restoring drinking water soon as possible was our top priority,” he said. “I’m confident our water tank will carry us through the busy summer season.”

Located in the Cascade Mountains, Detroit Lake State Recreation Area offers nearly 300 campsites on the shore of a forest-ringed reservoir. More information about the park is on the Oregon State Parks official website at stateparks.oregon.gov.

Visitors should continue to follow COVID-19 safety protocols while visiting state parks: limit the size of gatherings, wear face coverings, give space to others and wash hands often. For more information on what to expect while visiting state parks during the pandemic, visit the Oregon State Parks COVID-19 FAQ page.

Kaiser Permanente Northwest is partnering with the Oregon Primary Care Association (OPCA) on an initiative to increase vaccination rates among underserved and BIPOC communities in Oregon.

OPCA, a non-profit membership association of Oregon’s 34 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), also known as community health centers (CHCs), will oversee the distribution of $1.1M in funding from KPNW to 11 CHCs throughout the region.

Oregon’s community health centers provide integrated medical, dental, and behavioral health services to over 466,000 Oregonians at over 270 sites across the state. As trusted partners in their communities, these clinics are well positioned to address equitable vaccination administration but need support to ramp up capacity quickly.  

“As we work toward equitably vaccinating our community, health centers like Central City Concern and Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center play a critical role,” said Wendy Watson, Chief Operating Officer, Kaiser Permanente Northwest. “We’ve made great progress toward reaching herd immunity through the All4Oregon mass vaccination site at the Oregon Convention Center, which has administered over 325,000 vaccinations, but we know more needs to be done to reach our underserved neighbors and communities of color.”

The grant dollars will be applied toward a range of needs, including:

• Hiring temporary staff to manage vaccination sites.
• Transporting patients to vaccination appointments.
• Community Health Workers to do outreach and help people navigate ever-changing guidelines, vaccine appointments, and locations.
• Language access resources for vaccination sites.
• Infrastructure, including PPE, storage and supplies.
• Mobile vaccine clinics.
• Partnering with other community-based organizations that serve “hard to reach” populations.

“As trusted community providers, Oregon’s community health centers (CHCs) are dedicated to equitably vaccinating patients and those in their community against COVID-19 as part of their ongoing effort to further reduce health disparities laid bare by COVID-19. CHCs, who deliver quality primary care to medically underserved and disproportionately affected populations, are uniquely positioned to assist in vaccinating Oregon’s vulnerable and hard-to-reach communities, including people experiencing homelessness and poverty, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), agricultural and migrant farm workers, and people living in rural and frontier communities,” said Joan Watson-Patko, Executive Director of the Oregon Primary Care Association (OPCA). “Funding from Kaiser Permanente allows health centers to build vaccination administration capacity and reach further into their communities to deliver vaccinations to individuals at highest risk for COVID-19.”
 

Participating Community Health Centers include:

Multnomah County:

• Multnomah County Health Department
• Central City Concern
• Outside In (also serves Clackamas County)
• Prism Health
• Wallace Medical Concern

Clackamas, Washington and Yamhill Counties:

• Clackamas County Health Centers
• Neighborhood Health Centers (Clackamas and Washington)
• Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center (Washington and Yamhill)

Marion County:

• NW Human Services

Lane County:

• White Bird Clinic
• Lane County Community Health Centers

About OPCA
OPCA is a non-profit membership association of Oregon’s 34 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), including two FQHC Look-Alikes. FQHCs are also known as community health centers (CHCs). The organization’s mission is to lead the transformation of primary care to achieve health equity for all.

OPCA believes all people, in Oregon and beyond, should have the chance to lead their healthiest lives and have access to equitable health care. Oregon Primary Care Association supports a network of community health centers that deliver exceptional health care to people in urban, rural and frontier communities who may otherwise not have access to services. By helping health centers apply innovative approaches to health care delivery and system challenges, OPCA is transforming primary care in Oregon and beyond. Follow us on Twitter @OregonPCA or on Facebook.

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.4 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health.

The below message is being sent on behalf of the Linn County Fire Defense Board:

The Linn County Fire Defense Board, made up of all the Fire Chiefs in Linn County, and with the support of Oregon Department of Forestry, have approved the decision to enact a ‘Burn Ban’ for all backyard burning starting at 0700 April 15th, lasting through 0700 April 19th, due to the high fire danger associated with the increased temperatures, low humidity, and breezy winds.

There have already been a number of fires in the area, most of which had very active fire behavior associated with them for this time of year. The Linn County Fire Defense Board feels that by refraining from burning these next few days, we will be able to prevent more of these fire events.

Larry Wooldridge

Linn County Fire Defense Board Chief

WINSTON, Ore. - On Tuesday, April 13, 2021, shortly before 11:30 pm, 9-1-1 dispatchers received a report of a single vehicle crash in the 5000-block of Willis Creek Road in Winston. 

When deputies arrived, they located a 1990's pickup which had been traveling northeast before leaving the roadway and striking a tree in a small ravine. The vehicle became engulfed in flames which also started a small grass fire. Deputies located one occupant inside of the vehicle, who was declared deceased at the scene. Speed is believed to be a contributing factor in the crash. 

The Douglas County Medical Examiner's Office is investigating the death and attempting to positively identify the occupant. Next of kin notification is pending.

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody who walked away from a South Fork Forest Camp (SFFC) work crew is back in custody. Jedaiah Lunn walked away from a work crew near Gales Creek Campground at approximately 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 14, 2021.

Oregon State Police and Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office arrested Lunn on Sauvie Island at approximately 10:37 p.m., Wednesday, April 14, 2021.

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An adult in custody walked away Wednesday, April 14, 2021, from South Fork Forest Camp (SFFC) in Tillamook. Jedaiah Lunn walked away from a work crew near Gales Creek Campground at approximately 2:30 p.m.

Around the same time in the same area, a carjacking occurred. Two victims were assaulted and their blue 2015 Subaru Legacy four-door sedan with license plate 799HSW was stolen. 

Lunn, 35, is a white male, 6 ft. 4 in., weighing 260 lbs. with blue eyes and brown hair. He was last seen wearing blue jeans with the word "inmate" stenciled on the knee in orange, a blue T-shirt, sweatshirt, and coat similarly stenciled.

Lunn entered DOC custody on August 24, 2020, on one count of robbery in the second degree out of Multnomah County. His earliest release date was October 15, 2023.

The Oregon Department of Corrections Fugitive Apprehension Unit and the Oregon State Police are investigating. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts should contact the Oregon State Police at 1-800-452-7888, the non-emergency number of their local police department, or the Oregon Department of Corrections Fugitive Apprehension Unit at 503-569-0734. The public is asked to call 911 if they see Lunn or the vehicle mentioned above. Do not approach the vehicle or the individual.

SFFC is minimum-security work camp that houses approximately 200 adults in custody who are within four years of release. Part of SFFC's mission is to supply a ready work force to combat forest or wild fires throughout the state. Crews provide critical support for statewide fire operations, recreation, and reforestation; as well as provide support for special projects such as sign making, metal fabrication, and tool or equipment repair. SFFC was established in 1951 and is a satellite facility to CRCI and managed jointly with the Oregon Department of Forestry. It is located approximately 28 miles east of Tillamook, just off of Highway 6 along the Wilson River in the Tillamook Forest.

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The Oregon Office of Emergency Management has posted the Oregon Wildfire Recovery Update for April 14, 2021, to the Oregon Wildfire Resources page. See today's Wildfire Recovery update here.

Photo Captions:

White City, Ore. - April 1, 2021 - Grass grows and trees bloom at Willow Estates in White City, Ore., where survivors in Jackson County have a temporary place to stay while they recover from the devastation caused by the 2020 Oregon wildfires. Eligible displaced families will be moved into manufactured homes and RV trailers as part of FEMA's direct temporary housing program for wildfire survivors. (Photo by FEMA)
File: DSC00356

Oregon Office of Emergency Management Wildfire Recovery Logo: Oregon Rising - Stronger Together.
File: OEM RISING LOGO JPG

With a recent spike in debris fires, it is a good time to get familiar with safe burning practices. (Image courtesy Oregon Department of Forestry)
File: Burning Safety Tips

April 14, 2021

Contact: OHA External Relations, phd.communications@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board’s Training Subcommittee meets April 23

What: A public meeting of the Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board, Training Subcommittee.

Agenda: TBD

When: Friday, April 23, 1-3 p.m. No public comment period available.

Where: Via Zoom Meeting:

https://www.zoomgov.com/j/16051729334

Meeting ID: 160 5172 9334

Background:

Established by Ballot Measure 109 (2020), the Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board makes recommendations to OHA on available scientific studies and research on the safety and efficacy of psilocybin in treating mental health conditions, and makes recommendations on the requirements, specifications and guidelines for providing psilocybin services in Oregon.

The Board will also develop a long-term strategic plan for ensuring that psilocybin services will become and remain a safe, accessible and affordable therapeutic option for all persons 21 years of age and older in this state for whom psilocybin may be appropriate; and monitor and study federal laws, regulations and policies regarding psilocybin.

# # #

Everyone has a right to know about and use Oregon Health Authority (OHA) programs and services. OHA provides free help. Some examples of the free help OHA can provide are:

• Sign language and spoken language interpreters.
• Written materials in other languages.
• Braille.
• Large print.
• Audio and other formats.

If you need help or have questions, please contact Nic Riley at 971-673-0404, 711 TTY, or iley@dhsoha.state.gov">nic.riley@dhsoha.state.gov, at least 48 hours before the meeting.

April 14, 2021

Contact: Jonathan Modie, 971-246-9139, PHD.Communications@state.or.us

Nurse Staffing Advisory Board’s quarterly meeting to be held virtually April 28

What: The Nurse Staffing Advisory Board is holding its quarterly meeting.

Agenda:

• Review minutes from January 2021 NSAB meeting
• Membership updates
• Status updates
• Committee updates
• Open Action Items
• Program Improvement
• Emerging issues in nurse staffing
• Public comment

The agenda will be available on www.healthoregon.org/nursestaffing

When: April 28, 1-5 p.m.

Where:

ZoomGov meeting; dial: 669-254-5252

Meeting ID: 161 091 4984

Passcode: 013800

Background: The Nurse Staffing Advisory Board advises Oregon Health Authority on the administration of Oregon’s nurse staffing laws; identifies trends, opportunities and concerns related to nurse staffing; makes recommendations to OHA based on those trends, opportunities and concerns; and reviews the enforcement powers and processes under Oregon’s nurse staffing laws.

Program contact: Kimberly Voelker erly.n.voelker@dhsoha.state.or.us">kimberly.n.voelker@dhsoha.state.or.us

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Everyone has a right to know about and use the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) programs and services. OHA provides free help. Some examples of the free help OHA can provide are:

• Sign language and spoken language interpreters
• Written material in other languages
• Braille
• Large print
• Audio and other formats

If you need help or have questions, please contact Kimberly Voelker, MPH at 971-803-0914, 711 TTY or erly.n.voelker@dhsoha.state.or.us">kimberly.n.voelker@dhsoha.state.or.us at least 48 hours before the meeting.

April 14, 2021

Contact: OHA External Relations, covid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us" target="_blank">orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon reports 816 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 3 new deaths

PORTLAND, Ore. — There are three new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 2,449, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority reported 816 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 172,206.

Vaccinations in Oregon

Today, OHA reported that 39,326 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry. Of this total, 24,097 doses were administered on April 13 and 15,229 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry on April 13.

The 7-day running average is now 38,392 doses per day.

Oregon has now administered a total of 1,215,804 doses of Pfizer, 1,052,206 doses of Moderna and 86,624 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines. As of today, 945, 453 people have completed a COVID-19 vaccine series. There are 1,492,658 who have had at least one dose.

Cumulative daily totals can take several days to finalize because providers have 72 hours to report doses administered and technical challenges have caused many providers to lag in their reporting. OHA has been providing technical support to vaccination sites to improve the timeliness of their data entry into the state’s ALERT Immunization Information System (IIS).

To date,1,499,355 doses of Pfizer,1,289,900 doses of Moderna and 215,500 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines have been delivered to sites across Oregon.

These data are preliminary and subject to change.

OHA's dashboards provide regularly updated vaccination data, and Oregon’s dashboard has been updated today.

COVID-19 hospitalizations

The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 200, which is three more than yesterday. There are 52 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is unchanged from yesterday.

The total number of patients in hospital beds may fluctuate between report times. The numbers do not reflect admissions per day, nor the length of hospital stay. Staffing limitations are not captured in this data and may further limit bed capacity.

More information about hospital capacity can be found here.

Weekly COVID-19 reports

The Oregon Health Authority’s COVID-19 Weekly Report, released today, shows a third consecutive week of surging daily cases, higher hospitalizations and higher deaths than the previous week.

OHA reported 3,722 new daily cases of COVID-19 during the week of Monday, April 5 through Sunday, April 11. That represents a 26% increase from the previous week.

New COVID-19 related hospitalizations rose to 156, up from 150 last week.

There were 47 reported COVID-19 related deaths, which is the highest weekly total in five weeks.

There were 103,928 tests for COVID-19 for the week of April 4 through April 10. The percentage of positive tests was 4.4%.

People 70 years of age and older have accounted for 40% of COVID-19 related hospitalizations and 76% of COVID-19 related deaths.

Today’s COVID-19 Weekly Outbreak Report shows 24 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.

Cases and deaths

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (14), Benton (25), Clackamas (97), Clatsop (2), Columbia (13), Coos (4), Crook (2), Curry (3), Deschutes (84), Douglas (8), Grant (32), Harney (1), Hood River (8), Jackson (50), Jefferson (3), Josephine (19), Klamath (27), Lane (49), Lincoln (6), Linn (23), Malheur (2), Marion (83), Morrow (1), Multnomah (126), Polk (18), Sherman (1), Tillamook (1), Umatilla (9), Union (2), Wasco (8), Washington (86) and Yamhill (9).

Oregon’s 2,447th COVID-19 death is a 66-year-old woman in Tillamook County who tested positive on March 17 and died on April 13 at Oregon Health & Science University Hospital. She had no underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 2,448th COVID-19 death is an 88-year-old woman in Union County who tested positive on February 22 and died on March 15. Location of death is being confirmed. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 2,449th COVID-19 death is a 56-year-old man in Klamath County who tested positive on March 1 and died on April 7 at Sky Lakes Medical Center. He had no underlying conditions.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations? 

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine situation in Oregon, visit our webpage (English or Spanish), which has a breakdown of distribution and other information.

Efforts to stabilize Oregon’s landscape continue as land management agencies work together toward fire recovery. 
Hazard tree felling helps remove threats as work to recover fire impacted lands continue.

SALEM, Ore. – The devastation from Oregon’s 2020 wildfires left more than a million burned acres across 9 counties. As communities and land managers look toward recovery and restoration, the first critical step is to remove remaining hazards, especially, weakened trees along roadways and popular recreation sites, threatening the safety of people, structures and infrastructure.  

Oregon’s wildfire recovery goals continue to prioritize human life and safety while striving to restore and recover the state’s natural and cultural resources across a broad landscape. Hazard tree removal is a top priority – these dead, dying or fire-weakened trees are likely to fall onto roadways, properties and recreation areas where people travel, live, or gather. Regardless of the jurisdiction, removing this danger is paramount to Oregon’s safe and successful long-term recovery. 

“The 2020 wildfires left behind a scope of damage unlike anything the state has experienced before,” said Andrew Phelps, Director of Oregon Office of Emergency Management. “Ensuring we stabilize the landscape and mitigate risk – both immediate and long-term – is imperative to getting Oregonians home safely, keeping our roadways secure for travel and removing barriers for infrastructure and emergency response functions. I continue to be impressed by the collaboration and partnership among federal, state, public and private partners striving to balance life safety with preserving our state’s natural landscape.”   

The State’s Debris Management Task Force, led by the Oregon Department of Transportation, is primarily focused on removing hazard trees along state highways and public roads near private residences, parks, schools, utilities, and around destroyed home sites.  

Federal and state land management agencies, including the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, are evaluating and removing hazard trees along roads, trails, parks and other popular recreation sites. 

Certified arborists assess each tree, then mark weakened or dead trees posing a threat to human life and safety following strict criteria and referencing field guides developed by federal and state agencies. The stability and health of a tree is difficult to judge from external damage so every marked tree goes under several rounds of inspections and evaluations from different arborists to avoid conflicting determinations. The goal is to mitigate risk by removing only hazard trees while leaving up as many strong, living trees as possible within the million-acre fire perimeter. 

Close collaboration with fish, wildlife and water quality experts help identify where felled trees can be left for protection of essential drinking water sources and native habitat restoration. Local agencies, communities and environmental partners also help define what recovery could entail, especially as it pertains to community safety and habitat restoration. 

Once hazards are removed and the landscape is stabilized, other recovery and restoration work such as hand planting or aerial reseeding can get safely underway. Post-fire planting usually begins one to two years after a fire, but a national seedling shortage has private landowners struggling to find enough supply for replanting. ODF is working with nurseries and others to increase supplies and fulfill long-range demand as reforestation progresses.  

The 2020 wildfires left behind damage unlike anything the state has experienced before. The road to recovery is long. It will be decades before forests grow back fully. Until then, land managers, communities, recreation enthusiasts and Oregonians will continue working together to restore natural areas and working forests while preserving Oregon’s landscape.  

For general information on the state’s recovery efforts, contact fire.info@state.or.us or visit https://wildfire.oregon.gov/ 

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Primary Contact: Jo Niehaus, Natural and Cultural Resources Recovery Task Force PIO, jo.niehaus@oregon.gov, 503-580-9210

Released: April 14, 2021

April is National Volunteer Month – an ideal time to renew and refresh a commitment to volunteering, especially virtual volunteering.

Throughout the U.S., volunteers work with nonprofits, charities, congregations, and schools to support vital community needs. Individuals and employers alike are realizing that the community benefits of volunteering also extend to health and wellness.

The positive impacts of volunteering, including virtual volunteering, extend beyond communities to one’s own mental and physical health. Volunteering is found to reduce stress, improve bonding with others, and even extend lifetimes, according to the Longitudinal Study of Aging.

“Spring, especially this year, is a time of renewal that can spark both community-care and self-care,” said Umpqua Bank’s Caitlin Back, VP, Corporate Responsibility director. “For us at Umpqua Bank, it’s an important time to come together in renewed support of our communities, continuing to foster a culture of service that elevates our associates’ sense of purpose and meaning.”

Any size business can rally employees to contribute to the greater good, while attracting and retaining talent. First, gauge employee interest in volunteering, then, structure volunteer opportunities that can be flexible and done remotely and as a team.

Umpqua Bank is in its the 18th year of its Connect Volunteer Program through which associates receive 40 hours of paid volunteer time annually. The Bank’s internal Community Action Hub serves as a resource to find virtual volunteer opportunities available across the Bank’s five-state footprint.

While much volunteering is still in-person, virtual volunteering options have expanded significantly. Now, thanks to virtual volunteering, potential volunteers with geographic or time constraints have new opportunities to help make a positive impact in their communities.

The following organizations are just a few of those that provide virtual volunteer opportunities:

FROM ANYWHERE – Catch a Fire, WeHero, Project Helping’s Kynd Kits, Operation Gratitude, MicroMentor by Mercy Corps, VolunteerMatch and others.

OREGON – Children’s Book Bank, Portland Rescue Mission, and Hands on Greater Portland of the United Way of the Willamette Valley

WASHINGTON - United Way of King County, Serve Washington’s Get Connected statewide platform connecting volunteers and organizations

Additional virtual volunteer information and resources are available on Umpqua Bank’s blog.

Spring into Action this April during National Volunteer Month with Umpqua Bank @UmpquaBank #VirtualVolunteer #SpringIntoAction. Learn more about Umpqua Bank’s commitment to community at www.UmpquaBank.com/community.

EUGENE, Ore.—Susan Tranberg, 62, of Eugene, Oregon, was sentenced to federal prison today for defrauding her former employer, the Weyerhaeuser Company, out of more than $4.5 million, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug.

Tranberg was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.

According to court documents, beginning as early as June 2004 and continuing to January 2019, Tranberg defrauded Weyerhaeuser out of more than $4.5 million by submitting fraudulent invoices for payment to a fake vendor she created. Tranberg had worked for Weyerhaeuser in Springfield, Oregon in various positions for more than 40 years. A financial analysis determined that the vast majority of the money was used to fund a lavish lifestyle of expensive dinners, vacations, six-figure wedding expenses, and shopping sprees.

At some point in or before June 2004, Tranberg created a fake timber contract between the company and a vendor she named after her mother, who was unaware of the scheme. Over the next 10 years, Tranberg would use her positions in the company’s accounting and finance departments to request cashier’s checks, which she then cashed into her own bank account. During this time period, Tranberg requested and received more than $2.6 million.

In June 2014, Weyerhaeuser transitioned to a new payment processing system. To continue her scheme, Tranberg set up a fake vendor account in the new system and attached a letter purportedly from her mother describing the documentation provided to set up the account. This documentation included a Form SSA-1099 Social Security Statement and a forged Form W-9 Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification. At the time Tranberg sent the letter and documentation, Tranberg’s mother had been deceased for five years.

After setting up the fake vendor account, Tranberg continued her scheme by forging colleagues’ signatures on check requests and using her colleagues’ computer login credentials without authorization to create requests and approve fraudulent payments. All requested cashier’s checks were sent via private or commercial interstate carrier directly to Tranberg. During these final five years, ending in January 2019, Tranberg requested and received nearly $1.9 million.

On January 29, 2020, Tranberg was charged by superseding criminal information with mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, and tax evasion. On January 30, 2020, she waived indictment and pleaded guilty to all three charges.

During sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. McShane also ordered Tranberg to pay more than $5.3 million in restitution, to include $775,984 to Weyerhaeuser, $3,805,223 to the Crime Victims Fund, and $807,033 to the IRS.

This case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and FBI, and prosecuted by Gavin W. Bruce, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

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PORTLAND, Ore.—A Washington County, Oregon man pleaded guilty today for using stolen bank checks and debit cards to defraud local residents and illegally possessing distribution quantities of methamphetamine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug.

William Anthony McCormack, Jr., 39, pleaded guilty to a superseding criminal information charging him with one count each of bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents, between June and September 2020, McCormack devised a scheme whereby he would steal bank checks and debit cards from community mailboxes, primarily in Washington County, and use them to make unauthorized withdrawals from victims’ bank accounts. On at least five separate occasions, McCormack deposited stolen checks into victims’ Rivermark Community Credit Union accounts and immediately made unauthorized withdrawals from the same accounts.

On September 29, 2020, during a traffic stop for speeding and driving with a suspended license, a Tualatin Police officer arrested McCormack pursuant to a federal arrest warrant. At the time of his arrest, McCormack possessed 30 small plastic baggies containing at least 5 grams of methamphetamine and two 9mm handguns in the glove compartment of his vehicle. Officers also found several driver’s licenses, U.S. passports, and pieces of mail that did not belong to him in McCormack’s trunk and hotel room.

McCormack faces a maximum sentence of 72 years in prison, a $6.25 million fine, and five years’ supervised release. He is subject to a mandatory minimum prison sentence of seven years. McCormack will be sentenced on July 27, 2021 before U.S. District Court Judge Anna J. Brown.

As part of his plea agreement, McCormack has agreed to pay restitution in full to his victims as ordered to the court.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. It is being prosecuted by Meredith Bateman and Scott Bradford, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.

If you or someone you know are the victim of or witness a mail-related crime, please contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service by visiting www.uspis.gov/report.

# # #

April 14, 2021

Media contact: Jonathan Modie, 971-246-9139,

PHD.Communications@dhsoha.state.or.us

OHA seeks input on which Oregon beaches to monitor in 2021

OHA invites public comment on proposed beach locations through April 26

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority’s Beach Monitoring Program invites public comment on a list of beaches it is proposing to monitor this summer.

The OHA Oregon Beach Monitoring Program (OBMP) works with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to pick beaches that need monitoring based on established criteria. These criteria include pollution hazards present; previous beach monitoring data that identify water quality concerns; type and amount of beach use; and public input.

As part of a flexible sampling plan, beaches and sampling locations are routinely re-evaluated to ensure available resources best protect public health. Based on OBMP’s evaluation criteria, the following list contains the proposed beaches for 2021 monitoring season; a copy of DEQ’s beach evaluation is available upon request:

• SEASIDE BEACH  – Seaside, Oregon – Clatsop County
• CANNON BEACH  – Cannon Beach, Oregon – Clatsop County
• TOLOVANA SP BEACH – Cannon Beach, Oregon – Clatsop County
• SHORT SAND SP BEACH – Arch Cape, Oregon – Tillamook County
• ROCKAWAY BEACH – Rockaway, Oregon – Tillamook County
• TWINS ROCKS BEACH – Twin Rocks, Oregon – Tillamook County
• NESKOWIN SP BEACH – Neskowin, Oregon – Tillamook County
• D RIVER SP BEACH – Lincoln City, Oregon – Lincoln County
• BEVERLY BEACH – Newport, Oregon – Lincoln County
• AGATE SP BEACH – Newport, Oregon – Lincoln County
• NYE BEACH – Newport, Oregon – Lincoln County
• SEAL ROCK  SP BEACH – Seal Rock, Oregon – Lincoln County
• HECETA BEACH  – Florence, Oregon – Lane County
• BASTENDORFF BEACH – Coos Bay, Oregon – Coos County
• SUNSET BAY SP BEACH – Coos Bay, Oregon – Coos County
• HUBBARD CREEK BEACH – Port Orford, Oregon – Curry County
• HARRIS BEACH SP – Brookings, Oregon – Curry County
• MILL BEACH – Brookings, Oregon – Curry County

The proposed list includes some of the most frequently visited beaches in Oregon, beaches where the program has found bacteria present, or beaches for which local partners and the public have requested monitoring due to potential pollution concerns.

OHA and DEQ use available resources to monitor as many beaches as possible. However, with more than 360 miles of coastline, more than 90 beaches and just one full-time sampling technician, not all beaches can be monitored.  

OBMP will accept public comments and suggestions on the proposed 2021 beaches through April 26, 2021. Contact OBMP by email at each.Health@state.or.us">Beach.Health@state.or.us or call 971-673-0400 to submit input.

DOUGLAS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 14, 2021

COMMISSIONERS DEDICATE OHV STAGING AREA TO FORMER COMMISSIONER DAN VAN SLYKE

(Douglas County, Ore.)  On Friday, April 9, 2021, the Douglas County Board of Commissioners officially changed the name of the Douglas County Parks, Umpqua Dunes OHV Staging Area in Winchester Bay to the “Dan Van Slyke OHV Staging Area County Park”, during a special dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony honoring the former Commissioner. 

Dan Van Slyke is a former Douglas County Commissioner, serving from 2003-2006, who’s passion and determination during his tenure as Commissioner resulted in the coordination and transfer of state and federally owned land to the county for management in 2004, and the subsequent development of a dedicated OHV access corridor on the dunes (Umpqua Sand Dunes Recreational Area); creation of a quiet space between the corridor and neighboring residents; an OHV accessible campground and a paved ‘launching pad’ staging area for OHV’s.  The very important staging area allows riders to park, unload their off-road vehicles and head to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area without having to ride along Salmon Harbor Drive.

Commissioner Tom Kress presided over the dedication ceremony and commented that, “Development of the Winchester Bay area has long been a priority for the Douglas County Commissioners.  The infrastructure projects, improvements and investments in the last 25 years has definitely shaped the economic vitality of our coastal communities and businesses, created recreational opportunities that are second to none, improved the safety of the roads and provided a destination for tourists.  We owe a lot of gratitude to Dan for his vision of what this area could become nearly 20 years ago, and that is why we have chosen to dedicate this area to him today.”

The dedication ceremony featured the unveiling of the new sign at the staging area and was attended by all three Douglas County Commissioners, Tom Kress, Tim Freeman and Chris Boice; the Douglas County Sheriff, John Hanlin, Undersheriff Jeff Frieze, Douglas County Parks Director, Rocky Houston, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Deputies, Douglas County Parks Department Staff, Former Douglas County Commissioner, Doug Robertson, Dan Van Slyke and his wife Tracee and several members of their family. The dedication ceremony comes on the heels of a Douglas County Park expansion project at the OHV Staging Area, which essentially doubles the capacity (now 37 spots) for the staging and parking of Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) trailers and trucks seeking access to the Umpqua Dunes portion of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.  The project is set to be completed in the next few weeks. 

Prior to 2004, the access corridor and staging area did not exist, and County Commissioners were concerned about the safety of both OHV riders and passenger vehicles utilizing the main road between Salmon Harbor and the dunes at the same time. The Commissioners were looking for a way to resolve the access problem and work with local residents and businesses, while still keeping the dunes area open for recreational access, at a time when the State was considering shutting it all down.  There were many hurdles, including multiple jurisdictions and the maze of rules and restrictions that needed to be transferred or changed.  But, Dan, a County Commissioner at the time, gladly took on the challenge that would ultimately improve access to the dunes and provide a benefit for both the County and the private business sector as well.  For more than a year he made it his mission to find a resolution, and when it was all said and done, Dan had negotiated and worked out a solution with local businesses, the State, the Governor, the Forest Service, the Coast Guard, the BLM and even the Department of Defense, and of course all of law enforcement agencies with responsibilities in the area, especially the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.  Dan's business background was in the private sector, and he also understood how important it was for the County to make every effort to work closely with the various private entities in the area, especially the RV Park that was adjacent to the dunes recreational area.

Former Douglas County Commissioner, Doug Robertson also joined the dedication ceremony and commented that, “What we see here today is the result of Dan’s vision, leadership, and commitment. Not just to improve the access and safety for the public, but to do it by recognizing the importance and value of the Government working with the private sector for the benefit of all involved.”

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Former Douglas County Commissioner Dan Van Slyke and his wife Tracee still reside in Douglas County, and are active in our community.  Dan has been the Executive Director of Wildlife Safari in Winston since 2007.

Media Contact: Tamara Howell, Douglas County Emergency Communications & Community Engagement Specialist (PIO)  (541) 670-2804 cell - (541) 957-4896 office - tjhowell@co.douglas.or.us

Photos:

1) New Sign at Dan Van Slyke OHV Staging Area.

Our local COVID-19 updates represent the coordinated effort of the agencies that make up the DCCRT

JOINT INFORMATION CENTER PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 14, 2021

DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM - DAILY UPDATE

(Douglas County, Ore.)  DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 TEST RESULTS: As of 12:00 pm Today, Wednesday, April 14, 2021, there are FIVE (5) people with new positive test results and ONE (1) new presumptive to report since our noon case update yesterday.  The total number of cases (people with positive test results and presumptives) in Douglas County is now at 3,020. Currently, there are SIX (6) Douglas County COVID-19 patients that are being hospitalized, five locally and one out-of-the-area. Our Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team, under the direction of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, continue to devote all resources available to our local COVID response.

Our daily update includes the total number of cases in Douglas County, which combines people with positive test results and presumptives, as well as a breakout of those case numbers. There will be times when a presumptive will move to a positive test result, and our total case number will not change because the case has already been counted.

LOCAL CONTACTS AND CASES BEING SUPPORTED IN ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE

Currently, DPHN is supporting 93 cases in isolation, as well as another 252 contacts in quarantine in Douglas County. Isolation is recommended for confirmed and presumptive cases, quarantine is recommended for contacts of confirmed or presumptive cases.  Currently, staff is supporting an astounding 345 total contacts and cases in isolation or quarantine.  This number represents a snapshot of the significant amount of work being done locally to help control the spread of COVID.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE

We continue encourage everyone, for the sake of our local businesses, services and residents, to gauge your risk level, and to make the best choice in order protect yourself and those around you from contracting or spreading coronavirus.  We have provided education on the widely proven COVID-19 safety measures, and encourage you to limit your contact with others not from your household, stay home if you are sick, and wear face coverings where recommended.  Click here, for a graphic on how to protect you and your family from the spread of COVID-19.  We know how important family, businesses and faith are to you, so we ask that you consider all options available in order to eliminate and minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus in our communities to help protect the ones you love, the businesses you love and the places you love to go.

DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 DRIVE-THRU TESTING CLINICS TAKING A PAUSE

Due to the widely available COVID-19 testing opportunities in Douglas County, your local public health authority and DPHN decided to step-back our drive-through testing clinics for the time being.  If needs increase, we are prepared to bring back testing on a weekly basis again.  As a reminder, if you are having symptoms of COVID-19 including cough, fever, shortness of breath, muscle aches and pains, diarrhea, sore throat or decreased sense of smell and taste, talk to your health care provider about being tested for COVID-19.  Patients without a Primary Care Provider that are looking for a COVID-19 test can contact the Sutherlin Aviva Health Clinic at (541) 459-3788. 

COVID-19 FACEBOOK LIVE WITH DR. BOB

Tune in on Friday, April 16, 2021 at 4:00 pm for the next Facebook Live with Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, the Douglas County Public Health Officer.  For future Facebook Events with Dr. Bob, please submit your questions to: ookquestions@douglaspublichealthnetwork.org">Facebookquestions@douglaspublichealthnetwork.org.  Dr. Bob and the DPHN team will do their best to respond to as many questions as they can during the Facebook event.  The Facebook Events are hosted by DPHN on the DPHN Facebook page.

STATE AND FEDERAL COVID-19 INFORMATION

It is important to understand that Federal and State Government and their Agencies are the ones setting policy and issuing the guidelines for the pandemic. Locally, we are following the recommended guidance issued by the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA).  If you have questions about the current guidelines or the recommendations, contact the CDC or OHA directly for more information. OHA posts their daily updates at www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus. Please do not call 911, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office or Douglas County Offices to report compliance issues with the State of Oregon, OHA or Governor’s orders. The Governor has directed the State offices for Oregon Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) to be the enforcement agencies responsible for ensuring restaurants, bars, and other businesses comply with the current State COVID guidelines.  If you have concerns, questions or wish to report compliance, issues contact these state agencies directly:  OSHA: (800) 922-2689 or OSHA website or OLCC (503) 872-5000 or OLCC website.

ACCESS TO LOCAL COVID-19 RESOURCES

Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer, DPHN and the DCCRT team have been working hard to cooperatively provide accurate and timely information to Douglas County residents since March 8, 2020.  

Local Online Access to Updates

Stay up to date with accurate and local COVID-19 information in Douglas County by visiting the Douglas County Government website or DCGOV Facebook page or the DPHN website or DPHN Facebook page. 

Free Local e-Newsletter Subscription

You can also sign up for the Douglas County e-Newsletter that publishes and sends out the daily update to our subscription base free.  You can sign up for the Douglas County e-Newsletter at www.co.douglas.or.us.  Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer, DPHN and the DCCRT have been working hard to cooperatively provide accurate and timely information to Douglas County residents since March 8, 2020. 

Douglas County COVID-19 Hotline (541) 464-6550

Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners and DPHN continue to offer a local resource hotline for Douglas County residents for COVID-19. The hotline provides answer to frequently asked questions, basic information and referrals to resources and services. Our local hotline number is (541) 464-6550 and is staffed from 8:00 am to 5: pm, 7 days a week.

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Contact Tamara Howell, Public Information Officer, Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team, (541) 670-2804 cell (541) 957-4896 tjhowell@co.douglas.or.us   

Contact Vanessa Becker, Public Information Officer, Douglas Public Health Network, (541) 817-6552 cell (541) 440-3571 vanessa@douglaspublichealthnetwork.org

April 13, 2021

Contact: OHA External Relations, phd.communications@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board meets April 28

What: A public meeting of the Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board.

Agenda: TBD

When: Wednesday, April 28, 1-4 p.m. No public comment period available.

Where: Via Zoom meeting https://www.zoomgov.com/j/16051729334

Meeting ID 160 5172 9334

Background: Established by Ballot Measure 109 (2020), the Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board makes recommendations to OHA on available scientific studies and research on the safety and efficacy of psilocybin in treating mental health conditions, and makes recommendations on the requirements, specifications and guidelines for providing psilocybin services in Oregon.

The Board will also develop a long-term strategic plan for ensuring that psilocybin services will become and remain a safe, accessible and affordable therapeutic option for all persons 21 years of age and older in this state for whom psilocybin may be appropriate; and monitor and study federal laws, regulations and policies regarding psilocybin.

# # #

Everyone has a right to know about and use Oregon Health Authority (OHA) programs and services. OHA provides free help. Some examples of the free help OHA can provide are:

• Sign language and spoken language interpreters.
• Written materials in other languages.
• Braille.
• Large print.
• Audio and other formats.

If you need help or have questions, please contact Nic Riley at 971-673-0404, 711 TTY, or iley@dhsoha.state.gov">nic.riley@dhsoha.state.gov, at least 48 hours before the meeting.

DOUGLAS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 14, 2021

Douglas County Commissioners Issue Proclamation for Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

            (Douglas County, Ore.) The Douglas County Board of Commissioners issued a proclamation today at the Weekly Business Meeting, calling upon all citizens of Douglas County to join us in honoring and thanking our 911 Communicators here at the Douglas County 911 Center, as well as our dispatchers that work for the City of Reedsport during Public Safety Telecommunicators Week,  April 11-17, 2021.   

            The proclamation was presented by Commissioner Chris Boice, on behalf of the Board and acknowledged that: “We know we can rely on the dedication and professionalism of our 911 communicators who answer 9-1-1 emergency calls for law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services, and dispatch the appropriate assistance as quickly as possible.  Our dedicated 911 communicators are often the sole lifeline to police, fire, and medical response personnel in the field, and serve as a vital link between our residents and the public safety providers who save lives, protect property, and apprehend criminals.”

            The proclamation was presented to Tom Cross, Douglas County 911 Communications Manager, Heather Gray, Douglas County Communications Supervisor, Advanced and Melissa Briggs, Communications Officer, Intermediate, in recognition of the valuable and critical role our 911 telecommunications operators provide in helping to protect and serve the residents of Douglas County.  

            The Commissioners extended a sincere thank you for the devotion and critical support these employees provide, not just in an emergency, but every day – 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, 365-days-a-year.

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Contact Tamara Howell, Emergency Communications & Community Engagement Specialist (PIO)(541) 670-2804 cell - (541) 957-4896 office - tjhowell@co.douglas.or.us

(Proclamation & Photo Attached)

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Forestry is putting to work in Lane County some of the $5 million it was granted in January by the Oregon Legislative Emergency Board (E-Board) for reducing wildfire risk. Of 37 total projects statewide, the agency has six in Lane County totaling $581,000.

The projects rely on partnerships to improve community resilience to wildfire and restore and maintain healthy, resilient forests. For example, a long list of partners is involved in fuels reduction in a project with the South Hills Eugene Fuels Mitigation Collaborative. Long Tom Watershed Council and private landowners are involved in fuels reduction projects in Crow, Fern Ridge, Noti, Powell Creek and Veneta. The USDA Forest Service’s Willamette National Forest is a partner with one project to do fuels reduction on private lands in the McKenzie Bridge area. Pure Water Partners is involved in a similar project also in the McKenzie watershed.

“The funds from the Emergency Board provide the state with an incredible opportunity to bring together public and private groups to complete some critical fuels mitigation work in advance of the 2021 fire season,” said Oregon State Forester Peter Daugherty. “This is shared stewardship in action. When we work together, we can treat more acres across ownership boundaries and have a greater impact on fire resiliency in communities and forests throughout the state.”

Partners in the department’s efforts include forest collaboratives, watershed councils, the Northwest Youth Corps, OSU, private landowners, counties, federal agencies, and the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde.  

After receiving the funds in January, ODF put out a call for proposals and received 93 applications totaling over $20 million. The 37 projects were chosen from among those applications.

Some 35 projects involve direct treatments on the land. ODF and its partners will employ various fuel treatment methods ranging from ODF fuel crews, landowner cost shares and rebates and/or contracted equipment services.

ODF expects that the projects collectively will result in:

• Over 7,000 acres being treated for fuel reduction, including use of prescribed fire
• 1,400 hours of volunteer work
• 750 trees felled during fuel reduction projects repurposed as logs for in-stream habitat restoration
• 500 hours of young adult training
• 20 miles of right-of-way fuel mitigation treatments
• 10 miles of hiking trails repaired after being damaged by Labor Day wildfires
• 1 post-fire effects study

In addition to funding fuel-treatment projects, ODF is directing investments to increase its organizational capacity, including equipment and full-time staff.

ODF Partnership and Planning Program Manager Jeff Burns said the funding will also allow ODF to increase its organizational capacity through equipment and adding a few full-time staff. “We’re hiring six field-based positions to address local capacity needs and two Salem administrative positions, which will support field operations. This is important given the increasing complexity of cross-boundary programs with multiple partners and funding sources.”

Burns said the field positions allow ODF to keep seasonal firefighters engaged outside of peak fire months. “That’s already paid off in central Oregon because we had trained firefighting staff doing fuels treatment work when a large wildfire was reported in late March. They were able to join the response, adding to our initial attack capability even as they reduce potential fire intensity with their fuels treatment.”

Burns added that ODF leverages significantly more federal funds than it receives in state general funds. Modest and consistent investment in forest restoration has resulted in considerable federal funding entering the state through grant programs, Good Neighbor Authority agreements and conservation partnerships.

                                                                        # # #

Wednesday morning at 6:13 am Linn County Dispatch received multiple 911 calls for a mobile home on fire at the Wagon Wheel Mobile Home Park in Sweet Home.  The 911 callers reported that the fire began on the front porch, but had spread to the home while they were making the call.  The single occupant of the home was awakened by her smoke detectors which had been replaced within the last month.  She was able to evacuate the structure with her dog, and there were no injuries reported.  A Sweet Home Police Officer who was on scene within minutes of the first 911 call, reported that the home was fully involved.  Sweet Home Fire responded with 4 engines and 15 personnel. The fire was quickly brought under control, however the structure and contents were a total loss.  The mobile homes on either side of the burning structure were exposed to extreme heat and both sustained minor damage, as did the occupant's vehicle parked nearby.  With the rapid spread of fire, it is very likely that without working smoke detectors this would have been a fatal incident.  Sweet Home Fire would like to take this opportunity to remind people of the importance of checking your smoke detectors.  This should be done twice a year, and smoke detectors should never be left disabled.

DALLAS, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Forestry is putting to work in Polk and Benton counties some of the $5 million it was granted in January by the Oregon Legislative Emergency Board (E-Board) for reducing wildfire risk. ODF is directing about $78,000 of spending toward two fuels reduction projects on private lands in the two counties. The projects are among 37 projects statewide that ODF is supporting using the E-board funding.

The first project involves Greater Polk County Wildfire Resilient Forests. The E-board grant allows ODF to fund a few projects that the federal Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) was not able to fully fund. Relying on earlier collaborative efforts, ODF was able to pull shovel-ready projects off the shelf for implementation. This included two large tracts in Polk County that NRCS had already organized, with the assistance of ODF stewardship foresters, to promote forest health and resilience and reduce fire hazard through thinning of overstocked stands and slash treatment projects (chipping).

The second is a continuation of fuels mitigation work begun in 2017 under a USDA Forest Service Western States Fire Managers grant. That work will be carried on at several locations in both Polk and Benton counties, including Dallas, Gooseneck Road, Soap Creek, Gold Creek, Mill Creek and Trillium.

“The funds from the Emergency Board provide the state with an incredible opportunity to bring together public and private groups to complete some critical fuels mitigation work in advance of the 2021 fire season,” said Oregon State Forester Peter Daugherty. “This is shared stewardship in action. When we work together, we can treat more acres across ownership boundaries and have a greater impact on fire resiliency in communities and forests throughout the state.”

Partners in the department’s efforts include forest collaboratives, watershed councils, the Northwest Youth Corps, OSU, private landowners, counties, federal agencies, and the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde. 

After receiving the funds in January, ODF put out a call for proposals and received 93 applications totaling over $20 million. The 37 projects were chosen from among those applications.

Some 35 projects involve direct treatments on the land. ODF and its partners will employ various fuel treatment methods ranging from ODF fuel crews, landowner cost shares and rebates and/or contracted equipment services. The projects rely on partnerships to improve community resilience to wildfire and restore and maintain healthy, resilient forests.

ODF expects that the projects collectively will result in:

• Over 7,000 acres being treated for fuel reduction, including use of prescribed fire
• 1,400 hours of volunteer work
• 750 trees felled during fuel reduction projects repurposed as logs for in-stream habitat restoration
• 500 hours of young adult training
• 20 miles of right-of-way fuel mitigation treatments
• 10 miles of hiking trails repaired after being damaged by Labor Day wildfires
• 1 post-fire effects study

In addition to funding fuel-treatment projects, ODF is directing investments to increase its organizational capacity, including equipment and full-time staff.

ODF Partnership and Planning Program Manager Jeff Burns said the funding will also allow ODF to increase its organizational capacity through equipment and adding a few full-time staff. “We’re hiring six field-based positions to address local capacity needs and two Salem administrative positions, which will support field operations. This is important given the increasing complexity of cross-boundary programs with multiple partners and funding sources.”

Burns said the field positions allow ODF to keep seasonal firefighters engaged outside of peak fire months. “That’s already paid off in central Oregon because we had trained firefighting staff doing fuels treatment work when a large wildfire was reported in late March. They were able to join the response, adding to our initial attack capability even as they reduce potential fire intensity with their fuels treatment.”

Burns added that ODF leverages significantly more federal funds than it receives in state general funds. Modest and consistent investment in forest restoration has resulted in considerable federal funding entering the state through grant programs, Good Neighbor Authority agreements and conservation partnerships.

                                                                        # # #

ROSEBURG, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Forestry is putting to work in Douglas County some of the funds it was granted in January by the Oregon Legislative Emergency Board (E-Board) for reducing wildfire risk. Of 37 total projects statewide, the agency has two in Douglas County totaling more than $63,000. ODF is partnering with the Douglas Forest Protective Association to complete both Douglas County projects, which focus on improving community resilience to wildfire and restoring and maintaining healthy, resilient forests.

Both projects in Douglas County are tied to existing Firewise communities and complement fuels-reduction treatments that were previously completed on private property. Crews from DFPA have already started the fuels-reduction treatments on additional private properties and anticipate the work to be completed by the end of April.

“The funds from the Emergency Board provide the state with an incredible opportunity to bring together public and private groups to complete some critical fuels mitigation work in advance of the 2021 fire season,” said Oregon State Forester Peter Daugherty. “This is shared stewardship in action. When we work together, we can treat more acres across ownership boundaries and have a greater impact on fire resiliency in communities and forests throughout the state.”

Partners in the department’s efforts include forest collaboratives, watershed councils, the Northwest Youth Corps, OSU, private landowners, counties, federal agencies, and the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde.  

After receiving the funds in January, ODF put out a call for proposals and received 93 applications totaling over $20 million. The 37 projects were chosen from among those applications.

Some 35 projects involve direct treatments on the land. ODF and its partners will employ various fuel treatment methods ranging from ODF fuel crews, landowner cost shares and rebates and/or contracted equipment services.

ODF expects that the projects collectively will result in:

• Over 7,000 acres being treated for fuel reduction, including use of prescribed fire
• 1,400 hours of volunteer work
• 750 trees repurposed from fuel reduction waste to logs for in-stream habitat restoration
• 500 hours of young adult training
• 20 miles of right-of-way fuel mitigation treatments
• 10 miles of hiking trails repaired after being damaged by Labor Day wildfires
• 1 post-fire effects study

In addition to funding fuel-treatment projects, ODF is directing investments to increase its organizational capacity, including equipment and full-time staff.

ODF Partnership and Planning Program Manager Jeff Burns said the funding will also allow ODF to increase its organizational capacity through equipment and adding a few full-time staff. “We’re hiring six field-based positions to address local capacity needs and two Salem administrative positions, which will support field operations. This is important given the increasing complexity of cross-boundary programs with multiple partners and funding sources.”

Burns said the field positions allow ODF to keep seasonal firefighters engaged outside of peak fire months. “That’s already paid off in central Oregon because we had trained firefighting staff doing fuels treatment work when a large wildfire was reported in late March. They were able to join the response, adding to our initial attack capability even as they reduce potential fire intensity with their fuels treatment.”

Burns added that ODF leverages significantly more federal funds than it receives in state general funds. Modest and consistent investment in forest restoration has resulted in considerable federal funding entering the state through grant programs, Good Neighbor Authority agreements and conservation partnerships.

                                                                        # # #

April, 13, 2021

Contact: OHA External Relations, covid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us" target="_blank">orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon reports 567 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 5 new deaths

PORTLAND, Ore. — There are five new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 2,446, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority reported 567 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 171,398.

Vaccinations in Oregon

Effective today, OHA has asked all of the state’s vaccine providers to immediately pause administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, following an announcement this morning from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Today, OHA reported that 29,935 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry. Of this total, 19,831 doses were administered on April 12 and 10,104 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry on April 12.

The seven-day running average is now 38,660 doses per day.

Oregon has now administered a total of 1,194,369 doses of Pfizer, 1,036,596 doses of Moderna and 85,148 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines. As of today, 916,207 people have completed a COVID-19 vaccine series. There are 1,447,624 who have had at least one dose.

Cumulative daily totals can take several days to finalize because providers have 72 hours to report doses administered and technical challenges have caused many providers to lag in their reporting. OHA has been providing technical support to vaccination sites to improve the timeliness of their data entry into the state’s ALERT Immunization Information System (IIS).

To date, 1,460,745 doses of Pfizer, 1,213,000 doses of Moderna and 213,300 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines have been delivered to sites across Oregon.

These data are preliminary and subject to change.

OHA's dashboards provide regularly updated vaccination data, and Oregon’s dashboard has been updated today.

COVID-19 hospitalizations

The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 197 which is 20 more than yesterday. There are 52 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is four more than yesterday.

The total number of patients in hospital beds may fluctuate between report times. The numbers do not reflect admissions per day, nor the length of hospital stay. Staffing limitations are not captured in this data and may further limit bed capacity.

More information about hospital capacity can be found here.

Cases and deaths

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (5), Benton (17), Clackamas (51), Clatsop (3), Columbia (6), Coos (12), Crook (7), Curry (7), Deschutes (34), Douglas (10), Grant (5), Harney (3), Hood River (8), Jackson (53), Jefferson (1), Josephine (7), Klamath (24), Lake (3), Lane (39), Lincoln (9), Linn (16), Malheur (5), Marion (35), Multnomah (83), Polk (6), Tillamook (2), Umatilla (11), Union (1), Wasco (3), Washington (95) and Yamhill (6).

Oregon’s 2,442nd COVID-19 death is a 72-year-old woman in Clackamas County who tested positive on Dec. 11, 2020 and died on Dec. 27, 2020 at Providence Portland Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 2,443rd COVID-19 death is an 80-year-old woman in Linn County who tested positive on Dec. 25, 2020 and died on Jan. 14 at Santiam Hospital. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 2,444th COVID-19 death is a 91-year-old woman in Marion County who tested positive on April 8 and died on April 7 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 2,445th COVID-19 death is a 93-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on Jan. 5 and died on Feb. 19 at Adventist Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 2,446th COVID-19 death is a 64-year-old woman in Coos County who tested positive on March 15 and died on April 11 at Bay Area Hospital. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon update vaccine waste disclosure1,2,3

Note: OHA has asked all of the state’s vaccine providers to immediately pause administration of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. OHA’s guidance to all providers recommended that Johnson & Johnson vaccine currently delivered to all sites not be discarded and that delivered doses of the vaccine should be stored pending the federal review of the vaccine.

1Updated: 4/6/21 

2Data source: ALERT Immunization Information System (IIS) 

3Data is preliminary and subject to change.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations? 

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine situation in Oregon, visit our webpage (English?or?Spanish), which has a breakdown of distribution and other information.

Springfield, Oregon.  Eugene Springfield Fire crews responded to a house fire in the 4000 block of Southway Lp in Springfield Tuesday afternoon.  Crews extinguished a fire on the second floor of the home that did not extend beyond the room of origin.  One occupant was transported emergently to RiverBend Hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.  There were working smoke detectors that alerted the occupant to the fire and prevented extensive damage to the home.  There were no other injuries reported and the fire is under investigation by the Eugene Springfield Fire Marshal's Office.

Coos Bay School District - Public Meeting Notice for April 2021

Coos Bay School District meetings are subject to the Public Meetings Law (ORS 192.610-192.710).  Notice of additional meetings will be sent out as necessary. The public is welcome to attend except where noted during executive session. Previous meetings can be viewed on the CBSD YouTube Page.

Policy Committee Meeting

Date: Thursday, April 15, 2021 at 4:00pm Thursday, April 22, 2021 at 4:00pm
Location: Milner Crest Education Center, 1255 Hemlock Ave., Coos Bay OR 97420

The purpose of this meeting is to review policies in order to make recommendations to the Board. For more information, contact Kim Brick at KimBr@coos-bay.k12.or.us or the Superintendent’s office at 541-267-1310.

Special School Board Meeting
Date: Monday, April 26, 2021
Start Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Video conference

The Coos Bay School District (CBSD) Board of Directors will hold a Special School Board on Monday, April 26, 2021 at 5:30pm. The agenda and packet will be posted HERE the Friday before the meeting.

A livestream will be available for the public on YouTube.

School Site Council Meetings – during the school year (Reference: ORS 329.704 (external Link))

Linn County Sheriff Jim Yon reports on April 9, 2021, his detectives arrested Gary Coomer, 48, of Sweet Home, for multiple sexual abuse crimes.  Detectives started this investigation in August 2020 when an 8-year-old female child and a 4-year-old female child disclosed they were sexually abused by Coomer.  Both children are known by Coomer. 

Coomer is lodged at the Linn County jail on two counts of Rape 1, three counts of Sex Abuse I, and one count of Sodomy I. 

Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to contact Detective Tracy White of the Linn County Sheriff’s Office at 541-917-6652. 

The Medcom Board of Directors will have a regular business meeting on April 15, 2021, 12:00 pm, located at 1290 NE Cedar Street.  Topics will include, but are not limited to, reviewing financial reports, approving provider distributions and approving the upcoming budget year budget calendar and appointing the budget officer and budget committee members. 

April 13, 2021

Contact: Philip Schmidt, 503-383-6079, philip.schmidt@dhsoha.state.or.us  (media inquiries)

Tara Chetock, 971-304-9917, a.a.chetock@dhsoha.state.or.us">tara.a.chetock@dhsoha.state.or.us (webinar information or accommodation)

Oregon Health Policy Board meets for an educational webinar April 20 via Zoom

What: A public meeting of the Oregon Health Policy Board.

When: April 20, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

Where: Virtual meeting only. The public can join remotely via Zoom or a conference line. To join via Zoom: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1615939260?pwd=LzJoUU1hN1c2Ri9LaEZudUxrWVdsUT09

One tap mobile: +16692545252,,1615939260#,,,,720519#

Purpose: This educational webinar will update the Oregon Health Policy Board (Board) and members of the public about Oregon’s Health Care Workforce Reporting Program (HWRP) and recent reporting from the program. The webinar will provide details about the HWRP, share the findings of the program’s most recent report on the diversity of the licensed health care workforce, and describe how this data has been used to inform work by Oregon’s Primary Care Office.

This educational webinar is for informational purposes only. Board member attendance is optional, and no official business will be conducted.

2020: The Diversity of Oregon’s Licensed Health Care Workforce report (published January 2021) link: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HPA/ANALYTICS/HealthCareWorkforceReporting/2021-Workforce-Diversity-for-web.pdf

For more information and meeting materials, please visit the OHPB meeting webpage at https://www.oregon.gov/oha/OHPB/Pages/index.aspx

# # #

Everyone has a right to know about and use Oregon Health Authority (OHA) programs and services. OHA provides free help. Some examples of the free help OHA can provide are:

• CART (live captions)
• Sign language and spoken language interpreters
• Written materials in other languages
• Braille
• Large print
• Audio and other formats

If you need help or have questions, please contact Tara Chetock at 971-304-9917, 711 TTY, a.a.chetock@dhsoha.state.or.us">tara.a.chetock@dhsoha.state.or.us, at least 48 hours before the meeting.

WHO:              David Gerstenfeld, Acting Director, Oregon Employment Department

WHEN:            Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at 1 p.m. PT

WHAT:            Oregon Employment Department Acting Director David Gerstenfeld will hold a video conference media briefing to share updates on economic and workforce-related trends, unemployment claims processing, claimant resources and more on April 14 at 1 p.m. PT.

WHERE:         Via Zoom video conference: Members of the media must RSVP for call information by emailing OED_Communications@oregon.gov by 12 p.m. PT on April 14. Video conference information will be provided to all reporters who RSVP.

OTHER:          The Oregon Employment Department is updating a claims processing progress data dashboard daily. Visit this link for weekday updates. A recording of the video conference will be emailed to reporters attending the briefing after the briefing concludes.

###

Media are invited to attend a media briefing at 2 p.m. today, April 13, with Dr. Paul Cieslak, senior health advisor and medical director, Acute and Communicable Disease and Immunizations, with the Oregon Health Authority. Dr. Cieslak will answer medical questions about the pause in administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Media will be able to join via this Zoom link: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1607240672?pwd=aitZSE9mYTU2RWVndFhXbDU5a3RjQT09. Media can also join by calling 669 254 5252, meeting ID: 160 724 0672.

Our local COVID-19 updates represent the coordinated effort of the agencies that make up the DCCRT

JOINT INFORMATION CENTER PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 13, 2021

DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM - DAILY UPDATE

(Douglas County, Ore.)  DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 TEST RESULTS: As of 12:00 pm Today, Tuesday, April 13, 2021, there are ELEVEN (11) people with new positive test results to report since our noon case update yesterday.  The total number of cases (people with positive test results and presumptives) in Douglas County is now at 3,014. Currently, there are SIX (6) Douglas County COVID-19 patients that are being hospitalized, four locally and two out-of-the-area. Our Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team, under the direction of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, continue to devote all resources available to our local COVID response.

Our daily update includes the total number of cases in Douglas County, which combines people with positive test results and presumptives, as well as a breakout of those case numbers. There will be times when a presumptive will move to a positive test result, and our total case number will not change because the case has already been counted.

LOCAL CONTACTS AND CASES BEING SUPPORTED IN ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE

Currently, DPHN is supporting 108 cases in isolation, as well as another 234 contacts in quarantine in Douglas County. Isolation is recommended for confirmed and presumptive cases, quarantine is recommended for contacts of confirmed or presumptive cases.  Currently, staff is supporting an astounding 342 total contacts and cases in isolation or quarantine.  This number represents a snapshot of the significant amount of work being done locally to help control the spread of COVID.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE

We continue encourage everyone, for the sake of our local businesses, services and residents, to gauge your risk level, and to make the best choice in order protect yourself and those around you from contracting or spreading coronavirus.  We have provided education on the widely proven COVID-19 safety measures, and encourage you to limit your contact with others not from your household, stay home if you are sick, and wear face coverings where recommended.  Click here, for a graphic on how to protect you and your family from the spread of COVID-19.  We know how important family, businesses and faith are to you, so we ask that you consider all options available in order to eliminate and minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus in our communities to help protect the ones you love, the businesses you love and the places you love to go.

DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 DRIVE-THRU TESTING CLINICS TAKING A PAUSE

Due to the widely available COVID-19 testing opportunities in Douglas County, your local public health authority and DPHN decided to step-back our drive-through testing clinics for the time being.  If needs increase, we are prepared to bring back testing on a weekly basis again.  As a reminder, if you are having symptoms of COVID-19 including cough, fever, shortness of breath, muscle aches and pains, diarrhea, sore throat or decreased sense of smell and taste, talk to your health care provider about being tested for COVID-19.  Patients without a Primary Care Provider that are looking for a COVID-19 test can contact the Sutherlin Aviva Health Clinic at (541) 459-3788. 

COVID-19 FACEBOOK LIVE WITH DR. BOB

Tune in on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at 6:00 pm for the next Facebook Live with Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, the Douglas County Public Health Officer.  For future Facebook Events with Dr. Bob, please submit your questions to: ookquestions@douglaspublichealthnetwork.org">Facebookquestions@douglaspublichealthnetwork.org.  Dr. Bob and the DPHN team will do their best to respond to as many questions as they can during the Facebook event.  The Facebook Events are hosted by DPHN on the DPHN Facebook page.

STATE AND FEDERAL COVID-19 INFORMATION

It is important to understand that Federal and State Government and their Agencies are the ones setting policy and issuing the guidelines for the pandemic. Locally, we are following the recommended guidance issued by the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA).  If you have questions about the current guidelines or the recommendations, contact the CDC or OHA directly for more information. OHA posts their daily updates at www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus. Please do not call 911, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office or Douglas County Offices to report compliance issues with the State of Oregon, OHA or Governor’s orders. The Governor has directed the State offices for Oregon Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) to be the enforcement agencies responsible for ensuring restaurants, bars, and other businesses comply with the current State COVID guidelines.  If you have concerns, questions or wish to report compliance, issues contact these state agencies directly:  OSHA: (800) 922-2689 or OSHA website or OLCC (503) 872-5000 or OLCC website.

ACCESS TO LOCAL COVID-19 RESOURCES

Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer, DPHN and the DCCRT team have been working hard to cooperatively provide accurate and timely information to Douglas County residents since March 8, 2020.  

Local Online Access to Updates

Stay up to date with accurate and local COVID-19 information in Douglas County by visiting the Douglas County Government website or DCGOV Facebook page or the DPHN website or DPHN Facebook page. 

Free Local e-Newsletter Subscription

You can also sign up for the Douglas County e-Newsletter that publishes and sends out the daily update to our subscription base free.  You can sign up for the Douglas County e-Newsletter at www.co.douglas.or.us.  Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer, DPHN and the DCCRT have been working hard to cooperatively provide accurate and timely information to Douglas County residents since March 8, 2020. 

Douglas County COVID-19 Hotline (541) 464-6550

Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners and DPHN continue to offer a local resource hotline for Douglas County residents for COVID-19. The hotline provides answer to frequently asked questions, basic information and referrals to resources and services. Our local hotline number is (541) 464-6550 and is staffed from 8:00 am to 5: pm, 7 days a week.

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Contact Tamara Howell, Public Information Officer, Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team, (541) 670-2804 cell (541) 957-4896 tjhowell@co.douglas.or.us   

Contact Vanessa Becker, Public Information Officer, Douglas Public Health Network, (541) 817-6552 cell (541) 440-3571 vanessa@douglaspublichealthnetwork.org

SALEM, Ore. - The Committee for Family Forestlands will meet virtually Wednesday, April 14 from 9 a.m. to noon. To join the call or provide public comment at this virtual meeting please contact Susan Dominique at 503-945-7502.

The committee’s agenda includes: 

• Private Forest Division update
• Legislative update
• 2021 Fire Season readiness and outlook
• Post-fire recovery update
• July report to Board of Forestry
• Committee and partner updates

The meeting is open to the public to attend online via Zoom. Public comments will be accepted near the start of the meeting after approval of the minutes. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting by calling Susan Dominique at 503-945-7502.

The 13-member committee researches policies that affect family forests, natural resources and forestry benefits. Based on its findings, the committee recommends actions to the Oregon Board of Forestry and the State Forester. You can find more information at 

https://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Board/Pages/CFF.aspx

SALEM, Ore. – The adage April showers bring May flowers is being tested this spring. And while the unseasonably dry weather is pulling Oregonians outside, it’s also spurring firefighters into action.

2021 has already produced nearly three times the average number of fires to date; many of which resulting from escaped backyard debris burn piles. As of today (April 13), 70 fires have burned 402 acres on Oregon Department of Forestry protected lands, 40 of which came from debris burning that accounted for 154 acres. The 10-year average for all fires is 24 fires for 225 acres.

While fire season has not officially started, experts say to watch the conditions and not the calendar.

“Just because fire season has not been declared does not mean fire danger does not exist,” said ODF Fire Prevention Coordinator Tom Fields. “The window of opportunity to clean up around homes and dispose of woody debris in a safe manner is narrowing each year. Now is the time to reassess and wait for better conditions.”

Fields says that if burning is your choice of debris disposal, the window to burn this spring may already be closed and that it may be best to wait until late fall or winter to burn debris safely. When conditions warrant, follow these simple steps.

• Place yard debris in an open area away from structures, trees and power lines.
• Create small piles (4’ x 4’) to better manage the burn.
• Cover portions of piles with polyethylene plastic (landscape material) to keep a portion dry for lighting later (preferably in late fall or winter).
• When conditions improve, check with your local fire agency for any regulations in place.
• Never burn under windy conditions.
• To maintain containment, create a perimeter around the pile at a minimum of 3 feet, scraped clear to bare mineral soil.
• Keep a shovel and charged hose nearby to manage the burn.
• Make sure the pile is dead out before leaving.
• Return periodically over several weeks to make sure the pile is still out: No heat, no smoke.

Stay informed by visiting local fire agency, protective association and ODF web pages as well as Keep Oregon Green and Office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal.

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Oregon’s unemployment rate edged down to 6.0% in March, from 6.1% in February. For the past three months, Oregon’s unemployment rate has ticked down by a tenth of a point each month. During the past 11 months the pace of recovery in Oregon’s unemployment rate has mirrored the national experience. The U.S. unemployment rate dropped to 6.0% in March, from 6.2% in February.

Nonfarm payroll employment rose 20,100 jobs in March, following a gain of 15,300, as revised, in February. Two-thirds of all the jobs gained in March were in leisure and hospitality (+13,900 jobs). Three other major industries each added more than 1,000 jobs: manufacturing (+2,000 jobs); professional and business services (+1,300); and transportation, warehousing, and utilities (+1,100). Construction and private educational services each added 700 jobs. All other major industries performed close to their normal seasonal patterns.

The 20,100 total nonfarm jobs added in March was Oregon’s largest monthly gain since 38,300 jobs were added in July. March’s gain was the third monthly increase, following a large drop in December that was the result of temporary, heightened restrictions at the time.

In March, Oregon’s nonfarm payroll employment totaled 1,840,600, a drop of 132,400 jobs, or 6.7% from the pre-recession peak in February 2020. Oregon’s employment dropped to a low of 1,687,500 by April 2020. Since then, Oregon has recovered 153,100 jobs, or 54% of the jobs lost between February and April 2020.

Over the past year, the employment gyrations in leisure and hospitality have accounted for a large share of the swings in Oregon’s total employment. This broad industry includes restaurants, bars, coffee shops, hotels, golf courses, and fitness centers. It employed a peak of 216,300 jobs in February 2020 which was 11% of total nonfarm payroll employment. Then, within two months, leisure and hospitality cut over half its jobs. Since then, the industry recovered about half the drop, to employ 165,200 jobs by November. Then, hit by renewed COVID restrictions, the industry retrenched to 136,800 jobs in December. Since then, the industry added 25,900 jobs over the past three months and is close to its recent high point from last November, but is still far below its February 2020 peak.

Next Press Releases

The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the March county and metropolitan area unemployment rates on Tuesday, Apr. 20, and the next statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for April on Tuesday, May 18.

The Oregon Employment Department and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) work cooperatively to develop and publish monthly Oregon payroll employment and labor force data. The estimates of monthly job gains and losses are based on a survey of businesses. The estimates of unemployment are based on a survey of households and other sources.

The PDF version of the news release can be found at QualityInfo.org/press-release. To obtain the data in other formats such as in Excel, visit QualityInfo.org, then within the top banner, select Economic Data, then choose LAUS or CES. To request the press release as a Word document, contact the person shown at the top of this press release.

To file a claim for unemployment benefits or get more information about unemployment programs, visit unemployment.oregon.gov.

Equal Opportunity program — auxiliary aids and services available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Contact: (503) 947-1794. For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, call 711 Telecommunications Relay Services.

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Lane County Public Health (LCPH) was notified of at least 40 additional positive cases of COVID-19.This makes a total of  ?eleven thousand three hundred and four cases. 

Following the recommendation from the Oregon Health Authority and in an abundance of caution, Lane County Public Health will pause administration of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine until further notice

11,304 (+40) total cases - Note that this includes confirmed and presumptive.

Of our cases (confirmed and presumptive):

Hospitalized: 15 (+9)

·ICU: 2 (+1)

Deaths: 144

Infectious: 242 (+4)

Vaccinations:

Adults receiving at least one dose: 44.13%

Percentage of Lane County adult population fully vaccinated: 26.89%

Total persons fully vaccinated: 83,120 
Total persons received first dose only: 53,324
Total doses administered: 214,270
 

HOSCAP COVID-positive Hospitalized Cases as of 4/13/2021 8:27 AM

·Statewide:

o   Hospitalized: 197

o   ICU: 52 

Data regarding Lane County testing, patient status, case ZIP codes and more is available at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/localdata

The State of Oregon has created a COVID-19 web page with resources at http://coronavirus.oregon.gov.

High Risk Individuals who had contact with these community members will be contacted by Lane County Public Health so they can work with their health care providers on next steps. Communicable disease investigations are underway. If a public contact exposure point is identified, that information will be shared with the public.

Presumptive cases are people without a positive PCR test who have COVID-19-like symptoms and had close contact with a confirmed case. Though not confirmed by a positive diagnostic test, presumptive cases have a high likelihood of having COVID-19 because of the specific nature of the symptoms and known exposure.

SALEM, Oregon – Limited reservable group camping and reservable group day-use areas in some parks will open to reservations April 15 for stays beginning May 1 and beyond.  Reservation availability will roll out between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. A list of parks and opening reservable group facilities is available on the Oregon State Parks website.

Group size limits will be temporarily reduced to 25 visitors for each open area, which is a change to the 50-200 visitor limit based on normal site capacity. The group limit is part of the overall Oregon Health Authority and Center for Disease Control guidelines to lessen the spread of COVID-19 and our commitment to help local communities during the pandemic. 

“Summer is quickly approaching and we want to give visitors plenty of time to plan their group events,” says Jason Resch, Communications manager for the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. “Although we can’t open all group areas in all parks and the lower group limits isn’t what we are used to, we ask for your patience as we move forward.”

Hiker/biker camping areas are also opening statewide. A list of parks and opening hiker/biker areas is also available at the  Oregon State Parks website. Hiker/biker sites are first-come, first-served.

The group facilities are reopening after being closed for more than a year due to revenue shortfalls and reduced staffing associated with COVID-19. For questions, call the Oregon State Parks Information Center at 1-800-551-6949, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Park visitors should continue to follow safety protocols while visiting state parks: limit the size of gatherings, wear face coverings, give space to others and wash hands often. For more information on what to expect while visiting state parks, visit the Oregon State Parks COVID-19 FAQ page.

# # #

In 2020, 9-1-1 telecommunication professionals in Oregon answered approximately 2-million emergency calls for law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services to protect the lives and property of Oregonians.  Since early in 2020, these essential frontline workers have been busier than ever responding to the pandemic, floods, historic wildfires and most recently a devastating winter storm.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown has issued a state proclamation to acknowledge these devoted professionals across the state who take emergency calls and/or dispatch appropriate police, fire and medical services to emergency locations. Each second week of April, this year April 11-17, public safety organizations in the U.S. and Canada recognize the crucial role of telecommunicators.

“When an emergency occurs, 9-1-1 operators are the unsung heroes who serve as the first point of contact in situations where seconds can save lives,” State 9-1-1 Program Section Manager Frank Kuchta said. “This week provides a chance to show these very important people some well-deserved gratitude.”

9-1-1 operators are a vital element of emergency services systems. The critical functions performed by professional telecommunicators also supports local, tribal, state and federal government agencies in the fields of emergency management, highway safety, search and rescue, and more.

“When we look at the professionalism and selfless service that our 9-1-1 operators exude, it is easy to see why this week worth celebrating,” said Kuchta.

The 9-1-1 program in Oregon was established by the 1981 Oregon Legislature, and is managed by the Oregon Office of Emergency Management.

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You can get this document in other languages, large print, braille or a format you prefer. Contact David Cardona, OEM Language Access Coordinator, at 971-719-1183 or email david.cardona@state.or.us. We accept all relay calls, or you can dial 711.

Welcome to the Oregon FBI’s Tech Tuesday segment. Today: Building a digital defense against COVID-19 vaccine ID card scams.

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center – or IC3.gov – has issued a warning about scams involving that oh-so-important piece of paper that millions of Americans are now carrying around in their wallets. 

The FBI – along with our partners at the Department of Health and Human Services – are seeing reports of individuals selling fake COVID-19 vaccination record cards and encouraging others to print fake cards at home. Fake vaccination record cards have been advertised on social media websites as well as e-commerce platforms and blogs.

Vaccination record cards are intended to provide recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine with information about the type of vaccine they received and when they may be able to receive a second dose of the vaccine. If you did not receive the vaccine, do not buy fake vaccine cards, do not make your own vaccine cards, and do not fill-in blank vaccination record cards with false information.

By misrepresenting yourself as vaccinated when entering schools, mass transit, workplaces, gyms, or places of worship, you put yourself and others around you at risk of contracting COVID-19. Additionally, the unauthorized use of an official government agency's seal (such as HHS or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)) is a crime and may be punishable under federal law.

Because individuals may use fake vaccine cards to misrepresent themselves as vaccinated, we strongly encourage businesses, schools, places of worship, and government agencies to follow CDC guidance and continue to maintain physical distancing and to use personal protective equipment.

If you did receive the vaccine, we also recommend you do not post photos of your vaccine card to social media. Your personal information could be stolen to commit fraud. More on that next week.

If you believe are a victim of an online scam, you should report the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov or call your FBI local office.

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Individuals, organizations, and projects that have made outstanding contributions to preserving Oregon heritage will receive Oregon Heritage Excellence Awards.

Awards recognize action taken to preserve and share Oregon’s heritage over and above the call of duty. “The award recipients represent individuals, organizations, and projects that serve as inspiration and models for preserving Oregon’s stories,” said Katie Henry, coordinator for the Oregon Heritage Commission. “This year has been especially tough for everyone, including Oregon’s heritage organizations, and being able to celebrate these heritage wins is critical as we hopefully move towards recovery.”

The recipients are:

-- Bobbie Dolp, Salem, for her dedicated work in establishing the Lord & Schryver Conservancy and preserving the legacy of Elizabeth Lord and Edith Schryver who established the first women-owned landscape architecture firm in the Northwest.

-- Caples House Museum Restoration Project, Columbia City, for extraordinary fundraising efforts resulting in the restoration of the National Register listed Caples House Museum preserving not only the structure but also the museum collection inside of it. 

-- University of Oregon’s Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project, Eugene, for documenting and preserving the contributions of the Eugene lesbian community to Oregon’s enduring cultural, political, and social innovations.

-- Johnny Edwards, Yamhill County, for his holistic and passionate approach to the preservation of the historic Lafayette and McMinnville Masonic Cemeteries.

-- Steven Greif, Coos Bay, for his dedicated volunteer service that has contributed to the growth and community impact of the Coos History Museum.

-- The Darcelle Project, Portland, a multi-dimensional project that preserves and honors the story of Walter Cole, also known as Darcelle, and his achievements as an entrepreneur, performer, Portland icon, and activist for the LGBTQ community.  

-- University of Oregon’s Institute for Policy Research and Engagement, Eugene, for their contributions in supporting community heritage preservation efforts through research, the RARE Americorps program, and disaster resilience planning. 

Sally Donovan Award for Historic Cemetery Preservation

The Oregon Heritage Excellence Awards are a project of Oregon Heritage, part of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. This year’s awards will be presented in conjunction with the Oregon Heritage Summit on April 29, 2021. The event has been moved to a virtual platform in response to COVID-19 meeting restrictions. During the Summit, videos of the award winning projects will be debuted and award winners will be able to do a live, virtual acceptance of the award. The videos can be accessed at www.oregonheritage.org following the event.

For more information, contact Kuri Gill at 503-986-0685 or i.gill@oregon.gov">kuri.gill@oregon.gov

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TO: All Media
Monday, April 12, 2021
For Immediate Release

House Fire 3300 Block of NE Avery Street

At 4:07 PM on Monday, April, 12, 2021, Newport Fire Department was dispatched to a report of smoke coming from a house on 3300 block of NE Avery Street in Pacific Homes Beach Club. While in route, dispatch advised one house had flames coming out and a second house was catching fire. Upon arrival, fire units observed a single-story residence with heavy smoke and fire that was being driven by a strong wind out of the NW and a second home to the north starting to catch fire. It was reported that everyone was out of both structures.
Fire crews established a water supply and used ground hose “monitors” and hose lines to stop the advance of the fire. Additional crews stopped the spread of the fire at the house to the north. Fire crews remained on scene for about 5 hours overhauling both structures. The house initially on fire was a total loss. The adjacent structure to the north suffered fire, smoke and water damage. A third home to the south suffered minor heat damage only. No injuries were reported. 2 families were displaced and staying with relatives.
Newport Fire Department received mutual aid response from Depoe Bay Fire District, Toledo Fire Dept., Central Oregon Coast Fire District, Seal Rock Fire District, & Siletz Valley Fire District. Lincoln County Sherriff’s Office, Central Lincoln PUD, Office of the State Fire Marshal, Newport Police Department and Pacific West Ambulance provided additional assistance. Newport Fire Department responded with 2 fire engines, 2 Rescues, 2 chief officers and 22 firefighters.
245 NW 10TH ST, NEWPORT OR 97365 – (541)-265-9461 – FAX (541) 265-9463
The cause of the fire was improperly discarded smoking debris. Newport Fire Department reminds you to have a working smoke detector and test it regularly, and properly discard smoking debris in a noncombustible container with a noncombustible lid.

Newport Fire Department
541-265-9461

On Monday, April 12, 2021 at approximately 6:50 P.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two vehicle crash on Highway 199 near mile post 25.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a Dodge Durango, operated by Billy Thornhill (60) of Kerby, was entering Hwy 199 from a driveway and pulled in front of a Freightliner dump truck (towing a 33' flatbed trailer), operated by Mark Tripp (51) of Grants Pass, was unable to stop and collided with the Durango. 

Thornhill sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.

Tripp was not injured. 

OSP was assisted by the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, Illinois Valley Fire District, and ODOT.

Springfield, Oregon.  A Eugene Springfield Fire crew spotted a fire in the attic of a metal fabrication business in Springfield while responding to another call for service.  The quick thinking crew was able to call a different crew for the initial response and stop the fire before it cause significant damage to the business.  There were no injuries reported, there was minimal loss to the building and the fire is under investigation.  

(Salem) – Oregon OSHA has fined Twisted River Saloon in Springfield $18,430 for violating three standards designed to protect employees from the coronavirus disease. In one of the violations, the employer willfully continued to potentially expose workers to the virus, despite a public health order limiting the capacity of indoor dining to zero in an “extreme risk” county.

The citation resulted from an inspection launched in response to multiple complaints about Twisted River Saloon (its legal name is JGB Enterprises LLC). The inspection documented the fact that the company, operating in Lane County, willfully began allowing indoor dining beginning on or around Jan. 4, 2021, and continuing until Feb. 26, 2021. During that time, Lane County was designated an “extreme risk” for transmission of the disease.

During the inspection, the business owner, James Butt, said he chose to reopen the restaurant, even though he was aware that it went against workplace health requirements.

Using his discretionary authority under state law, Oregon OSHA Administrator Michael Wood imposed a $17,800 penalty for the willful violation. That is twice the minimum penalty for such a violation. The decision reflects the need to ensure a more appropriate deterrent effect where employers insist on disregarding health and safety standards.

Such willful behavior puts employees at risk and enables the employer to achieve a competitive advantage over businesses that comply with the requirements.

“Most employers in Oregon are striving to do the right thing by following on-the-job safety standards designed to reduce the risk to workers of COVID-19. We thank them for their efforts as part of a project we all share to defeat this virus,” said Michael Wood, administrator for Oregon OSHA. “As for those employers that insist on disregarding standards and putting workers at risk, we will continue to take enforcement action where appropriate.”

Altogether, Oregon OSHA cited three violations of the division’s temporary rule to address COVID-19 risks in the workplace:

• In allowing indoor dining, Twisted River Saloon knowingly chose to disregard capacity limitations imposed by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) for such establishments in a county designated as extreme risk. It was a willful violation, carrying a discretionary penalty of $17,800.
• The company failed to develop and implement an infection control plan. Such a plan could include redesigning the workspace to enable physical distancing and reducing the use of shared surfaces and tools. It was a serious violation, carrying a penalty of $315.
• The company did not conduct any COVID-19 risk assessment to identify potential employee exposure to the virus and to address how to reduce such exposure. It was a serious violation, carrying a penalty of $315.

Ongoing refusals to correct violations and come into compliance with workplace health and safety standards can lead to additional higher penalties. Meanwhile, if an Oregon OSHA inspection documents violations while a county is at extreme risk, but the county’s risk level drops before the citation is issued, the citation will still be issued. The change in risk levels may affect how the violation needs to be corrected, but not whether it is cited.

Employers have 30 days to appeal citations.

In addition to its enforcement activities, Oregon OSHA offers employers and workers a variety of consultation, information, and education resources addressing COVID-19.

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Oregon OSHA, a division of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, enforces the state’s workplace safety and health rules and works to improve workplace safety and health for all Oregon workers. For more information, visit osha.oregon.gov.

The Department of Consumer and Business Services is Oregon’s largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. For more information, go to www.dcbs.oregon.gov.

(Salem) – Oregon OSHA has fined two Black Bear Diner sites – one in Bend and one in Redmond – more than $35,000 for violating standards designed to protect employees from the coronavirus disease. Both sites, under the same ownership, willfully continued to potentially expose workers to the virus, despite a public health order limiting the capacity of indoor dining to zero in an “extreme risk” county.

The citations, totaling $35,600 in fines, resulted from inspections launched in response to multiple complaints about the restaurants at Northeast Third Street in Bend and at West Cedar Avenue in Redmond.

The inspections found each site – operating under the legal name Bucc’N Dulge Inc. – willfully allowing indoor dining beginning on or around Jan. 13, 2021, and continuing through Feb. 11, 2021. During that time, Deschutes County was designated an “extreme risk” for transmission of the disease.

During an interview, the owner of the restaurants, Kathy Degree, said she was aware that indoor dining was not allowed in Deschutes County during that time.

Altogether, the inspections documented a total of four violations of workplace health and safety standards at both restaurants. As a result, the following citations were issued:

• In allowing indoor dining at both Black Bear Diner sites, the owner knowingly chose to disregard capacity limitations imposed by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) for such establishments in a county that was designated as extreme risk. Each restaurant was cited for a willful violation, carrying a penalty of $17,800, under Oregon OSHA’s temporary rule addressing COVID-19 risks in the workplace.
• The owner failed to establish and maintain a safety committee for the restaurants. Safety committees enable workers to regularly participate in addressing potential on-the-job hazards, including discussing such issues with managers. The other-than-serious violation was cited at each location.  

Using his discretionary authority under state law, Oregon OSHA Administrator Michael Wood imposed a $17,800 penalty for each of the willful violations. That is twice the minimum penalty for such a violation. The decision reflects the need to ensure a more appropriate deterrent effect where employers insist on disregarding public health measures.

Such willful behavior puts employees at risk and enables the employer to achieve a competitive advantage over businesses that comply with workplace health and safety standards.

“Most employers continue to follow worker health and safety standards as part of our ongoing work to defeat this disease. And we continue to make progress,” Wood said. “Unfortunately, some employers are choosing to defy standards and to put their workers at risk. As a result, we will continue to bring our enforcement tools to bear where appropriate.”

Ongoing refusals to correct violations and come into compliance with workplace health and safety standards can lead to additional higher penalties. Meanwhile, if an Oregon OSHA inspection documents violations while a county is at extreme risk, but the county’s risk level drops before the citation is issued, the citation will still be issued. The change in risk levels may affect how the violation needs to be corrected, but not whether it is cited.

Employers have 30 days to appeal citations.

In addition to its enforcement activities, Oregon OSHA offers employers and workers a variety of consultation, information, and education resources addressing COVID-19.

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Oregon OSHA, a division of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, enforces the state’s workplace safety and health rules and works to improve workplace safety and health for all Oregon workers. For more information, visit osha.oregon.gov.

The Department of Consumer and Business Services is Oregon’s largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. For more information, go to www.dcbs.oregon.gov.

SALEM, OR—With April 15 approaching, the Department of Revenue reminds taxpayers that the deadline for filing individual income tax returns for the 2020 tax year has been postponed to May 17, 2021. The IRS and Oregon both announced the postponements last month.

Individual taxpayers, including those who pay self-employment tax, can also postpone state income tax payments due on their 2020 tax year return until May 17, 2021. Individual taxpayers will automatically avoid interest and penalties as long as they pay all taxes due by the postponed deadline. Penalties and interest will begin to accrue on any unpaid balances as of May 18, 2021.

Oregon has not postponed the due date for first-quarter estimated income tax payments for 2021. Estimated tax payments are still due April 15, 2021. Taxpayers may choose to pay directly from their bank account or by credit card using Revenue Online. More information about the postponement of the individual income tax filing and payment due dates is available in a list of frequently asked questions the department’s website.

Update on 2020 unemployment benefits tax relief
Revenue has started adjusting 2020 income tax returns for Oregon taxpayers who paid taxes on exempted unemployment benefits, and thousands of refunds have already been issued. The manual process began March 30 and is on track to be completed over the next several weeks. The American Rescue Plan, signed into law March 11, exempts up to $10,200 of unemployment benefits received in 2020 per individual from taxes for households with less than $150,000 in modified adjusted gross income.

The change affects thousands of Oregon taxpayers who had already filed their state income tax returns, paying taxes on 2020 unemployment benefits before Congress made the change to the tax code. The department is adjusting the returns for those taxpayers. Affected taxpayers will receive refunds or have a lower tax bill.

Oregon taxpayers, who received unemployment in 2020 and have not yet filed their tax returns, can do so now following the instructions the IRS recently provided. Most e-file software providers have indicated they have the necessary software updates in place. Taxpayers should check with their tax preparer or software provider if they have questions about the updates.

E-filing and free filing
The department reminds taxpayers that e-filing your return and using direct deposit is the fastest way to get your Oregon tax refund. On average, taxpayers who e-file their returns and request their refund via direct deposit receive their refund sooner than those who file paper returns and request paper refund checks. More information about e-filing can be found on the agency’s website.

All Oregon taxpayers preparing their own returns can file electronically at no cost using Oregon’s free fillable forms. There are many free or low-cost preparation options available for both federal and Oregon tax returns. Some software companies offer free software use and e-filing for eligible taxpayers. More free filing information is available on the department’s website.

To get tax forms, check the status of your refund, or make tax payments, visit www.oregon.gov/dor or email questions.dor@oregon.gov. You also can call 800-356-4222 toll-free from an Oregon prefix (English or Spanish) or 503-378-4988 in Salem and outside Oregon. For TTY (hearing- or speech-impaired), we accept all relay calls.
 

The Nation’s Largest Interactive Learning festival will take place May 8 -16, 2021 in Oregon

Oregon, March 22nd, 2021 – After a most challenging year for education,STEM Week Oregon, in partnership with Remake Learning Days Across America (RLDAA) debuts this spring in 17+ regions, with family-friendly equitable learning events designed to engage caregivers, parents and kids around the country. The activities will tie to Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. This integrated approach to learning creates problem-solvers, innovators, critical thinkers and collaborative team players.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, [Art], and Math) Hubs across the state will host dozens of events during this learning festival between May 8-16, 2021. These events are designed for parents and caregivers to learn alongside their kids and offer relevant and engaging educational experiences for youth of all ages (pre-K through high school). The majority of events are free, and many will be virtual. 

STEM Week Oregon is actively recruiting hosts, activity leaders and participants. We are looking for ways to include multigenerational, diverse and underserved groups.

Any organization or individual hosting a public event during STEM Week may apply for Remake Learning Days mini-grant funding, totaling up to $250. Public events must be open to any and all participants (in-person or virtual), but may include event size limits. Public events that qualify for mini-grants include but are not limited to: academic clubs, arts organizations, community centers, early childhood learning centers, libraries, museums, non-government agencies, parks, post-secondary institutions, schools, science centers, etc. Mini-grant funding will be awarded on a rolling basis January 14 through May 1, 2021. Grant priority will be given to applicants that plan to engage underserved populations.

STEM Oregon’s festival of events will capture the theme(s) of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math and include events such as:

• Science Skills Sunday! 

  • Join Science Works Hand-On Museum for an exploration with microscopes! During the event participants will explore observation skills culminating with a microscope investigation. 

• Virtual Meet a Scientist

  • Interested in a career in the lab? Join the National Energy Laboratory to meet with scientists and engineers across the state! This event is targeted at High school students curious about becoming a scientist. 

• LEGO Follies 

  • Join Dallas Public Library for a series of LEGO challenges. Test your LEGO skills by creating LEGO art, practicing your Blind Building and a Spin Challenge! 

• Balloon Bonanza 

  • Discover hidden balloon messages with the power of baking soda and vinegar! This event focuses on hands-on experiments from home! 

Visit www.stemoregon.org/stemweek2021 to register your family, classroom, school, organization or yourself to host and lead a public or private event and/or to apply for a mini grant.

All entrants are eligible to win prizes donated by generous sponsors such as REI. The more activities planned means more chances to win!

Find a complete list of events and registration information here. 

Remake Learning Days Across America is led by Remake Learning (RL), a network that ignites engaging, relevant, and equitable learning practices in support of young people navigating rapid social and technological change. National partners of RLDAA include PBS Kids, Digital Promise, Common Sense Media, Learning Heroes and Noggin. RLDAA is generously supported by The Grable Foundation, The Hewlett Foundation, Schmidt Futures, Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Ford Foundation. Visit remakelearning.org for more information or follow RL on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For more information specifically on Remake Learning Days Across America, visit remakelearningdays.org or follow RLDAA on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and the hashtag #RemakeDays. 

For high resolution images, please click here.

For Immediate Release                                        

April 12, 2021

Contact: Mona Riesterer
                 503-378-2431

                 iesterer@state.or.us">Mona.riesterer@state.or.us

Notice of Meeting Canceled

The Applicant Review Committee meeting schedule for April 28, 2021 has been canceled. The next meeting is scheduled for May 26, 2021 @ 1:00 p.m.

PORTLAND, Ore.—Errol Andam, 49, of Beaverton, Oregon, a former marketing manager at Nike, Inc., pleaded guilty today to wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements on a loan application as part of a scheme to defraud his former employer, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug.

According to court documents, from 2001 until his termination in 2018, Andam was employed by Nike at its headquarters in Beaverton. Most recently, Andam worked as a manager in the company’s North American Retail Brand Marketing division wherein he managed the design, build-out, and operation of “pop-up” retail venues, temporary Nike shops situated near and tailored to sports competitions and other special events around the U.S.

In the summer of 2016, Andam recruited a childhood friend to establish a company to design and build the pop-up venues as an independent contractor for Nike. Andam used his authority as a manager at Nike to ensure that his friend’s company was consistently awarded the contracts for these jobs. Though he had no formal role in his friend’s company, Andam assumed control of much of the company’s financial operations, managing financial accounts and issuing invoices to Nike.

To conceal his role in the scheme, Andam used an alter ego, “Frank Little,” to invoice Nike and manage the contract company’s account with Square, Inc., a California-based provider of mobile credit-card-processing services. In 2016, Andam also renewed the lapsed registration of an Oregon-based limited liability corporation (LLC) he owned so that he could use the defunct entity as a shell company to funnel the proceeds diverted from Nike and his friend’s company to accounts under his personal control.

Beginning in September 2016, Andam caused credit-card sales at various pop-up venues around the U.S. to be run through card readers associated with a Square account owned by his friend’s company. These proceeds were transferred to Square in California and then to Andam’s LLC bank account in Oregon. Andam represented to both Nike and his friend that the proceeds of these sales were credited against the total amount Nike owed to his friend’s company. In truth, Andam simply pocketed the proceeds and, as “Frank Little,” invoiced Nike for the full cost of the contracted services.

From September 2016 through December 2018, Andam diverted and embezzled nearly $1.5 million in Nike proceeds for his own use. In July 2018, Andam submitted a fake financial statement from his LLC in support of a residential mortgage loan application. The financial statement falsely reflected as revenue checks for $194,000 drawn on a bank account owned by his friend’s business. Andam forged his friend’s signature on one of the checks and withdrew much of that money without his friend’s knowledge.

On February 4, 2021, Andam was charged by criminal information with wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements on a loan application.

Under the terms of Andam’s plea agreement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will recommend a sentence of 37 months in federal prison when he is sentenced on July 12, 2021. Andam will ask for a sentence of not less than 24 months. He has also agreed to pay more than $1.6 million in restitution and forfeit $212,838 in criminally-derived proceeds.

This case was investigated by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Ryan W. Bounds, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

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PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland resident and purveyor of Chinese homeopathic remedies pleaded guilty and was sentenced today for selling pangolin scales illegally imported into the U.S., announced Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug.

Agnes Yu, 53, was sentenced to three years’ federal probation and a $5,000 fine.

“Illegal trafficking poses a grave and persistent threat to wildlife populations across the globe. The purchase or sale of these animals is a serious crime and priority for federal law enforcement,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Asphaug.

“We commend the Department of Justice and all other agencies that played a role in aiding this investigation and prosecution,” said James Ashburner, a Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. “Trafficking of pangolins, and other protected species, is a huge part of global illegal wildlife trade. The Service will continue to use every tool at its disposal to fight wildlife trafficking and bring to justice the individuals who are depriving our planet of these magnificent creatures for their own profit.”

According to court documents, Yu and her husband operated Wing Ming Herbs, a store selling Chinese homeopathic remedies and other merchandise in Southeast Portland. On December 7, 2003, U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel screened Yu and her husband at the U.S.-Canada border. The inspection recovered 10 dried sea snakes and 49 dried big-toothed sea snakes. As a result of this encounter, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sent the Yus a letter informing them about federal laws and regulations governing the import and export of wildlife into and out of the U.S, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES lists each of the wildlife species whose trafficking it regulates under one of three appendices, with the most endangered and protected listed in Appendix I.

On November 14, 2017, an undercover Postal Inspector with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service went to Wing Ming and spoke with Yu in Chinese. The inspector covertly recorded and videotaped the meeting. In the course of their transaction, Yu sold the inspector thirty grams of pangolin scales for approximately $165. Personnel at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory later confirmed the scales had been taken from a pangolin, a species of scaled anteater-like mammals endemic to Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.  All species of pangolins (which form the genus Manis) are listed in CITES Appendix I, meaning that all commercial trafficking in pangolins is prohibited by the Convention.

Yu was aware of U.S. and foreign restrictions on the import, export, and sale of CITES-listed plants and wildlife but did not comply with those restrictions. Yu repeatedly exported American ginseng to customers in China in 2017 and 2018. American ginseng is listed on CITES appendix II, requiring exporters to obtain and ship such ginseng with a valid CITES certificate. Neither Yu nor Wing Ming Herbs procured such certificates.

On July 24, 2018, an undercover agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service went to Wing Ming Herbs and purchased giant sea horses, which are protected by CITES appendix II and fourteen shark fins, four of which originated from scalloped hammerhead sharks, which are protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA). On the same date, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted a search warrant at Wing Ming Herbs and seized additional pangolin scales, ground Asian elephant ivory which is protected by CITES Appendix I and ESA, eleven penises and fifteen gall bladders of red deer which are protected by ESA, and giant devil ray which is protected by CITES Appendix II. Yu agreed to abandon all the wildlife seized in the search warrant, which included thousands of additional wildlife items.

On March 22, 2021, Yu was charged by criminal information with recklessly selling pangolin illegally imported into the U.S. in violation of CITES.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Plant Protection Quarantine, and the Oregon State Police. It was prosecuted by Ryan W. Bounds, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for protecting America’s wildlife from poaching, illegal commercialization, and other kinds of wildlife crime. If you have information related to a wildlife crime, please call 1-844-FWS-TIPS (1-844-397-8477) or email fws_tips@fws.gov.

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SALEM, Oregon — Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) has formed a committee to review proposed changes to a federal grant program that funds outdoor recreation projects.

A Rule Advisory Committee will meet virtually April 19 to review and discuss proposed changes to the grant rules for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). LWCF grants are available for local jurisdictions to acquire or develop outdoor recreation facilities. OPRD administers the federally funded grant program.

The meeting starts at noon and is open to the public.  Anyone wishing to view the public meeting will need to register via https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GVHmqTT7ToWIqGs1LQ_GaA.

After the committee review, the rule will open for public comment. Details will be posted on the OPRD Proposed OPRD Rules web page.

The meeting agenda will include discussions about proposed rule changes, including updating defined terms; expanding applicant eligibility to include public educational institutions; raising the minimum federal share on a project; and expanding the organizations from which OPRD can seek nominations for membership to the grant advisory committee. The committee will also discuss any financial or economic effects of the proposed rules on local governments or other applicants.

OPRD appointed committee members from statewide recreation, local government and education interests.

The LWCF typically awards about $1.5 million to qualified projects every other year. More information is on the LWCF web page: oregon.gov/oprd/GRA/Pages/GRA-lwcf.aspx.

Individuals who require special accommodations to view the meetings should contact Katie Gauthier at least three days in advance of the meeting at 503-510-96 78 or katie.gauthier@oregon.gov.

(Springfield, Ore.) April 12, 2021— PacificSource Health Plans welcomes Sabrina Coleman as its new vice president and corporate compliance officer. In this role Coleman will be responsible for administering and managing the enterprise's compliance program, ensuring that PacificSource maintains full compliance with all governmental agencies, including all Federal and State regulatory agencies. She will also serve as the company's privacy officer.

Coleman most recently served as the senior director of delegation oversight for L.A. Care Health Plan, as well as senior director of compliance and audit services in an earlier role with that same company. Prior to that she served in compliance roles with the New York-based organizations Public Consulting Group, Montefiore Medical Center and Living Life Home Care. 

“We’re excited to have Sabrina join us during a time of significant growth in the Medicaid area of our business,” said Ken Provencher, president and CEO of PacificSource. “Her rich background will be a strong addition to both our compliance and executive leadership teams.”

Coleman earned her Bachelor of Arts in political science and Japanese from Lincoln University and her Juris Doctorate in Law from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, both in Pennsylvania. Outside of work she enjoys outdoor activities, travel, and trying new foods.

Coleman will begin her new role April 26 and will work out of PacificSource’s Springfield office.

About PacificSource Health Plans:

PacificSource Health Plans is an independent, not-for-profit community health plan serving the Northwest. Founded in 1933, PacificSource has local offices throughout Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Washington. The PacificSource family of companies employs more than 1,500 people and serves over 523,700 individuals throughout the Greater Northwest. For more information, visit PacificSource.com.

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Our local COVID-19 updates represent the coordinated effort of the agencies that make up the DCCRT

JOINT INFORMATION CENTER PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 12, 2021

DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM - DAILY UPDATE

(Douglas County, Ore.)  DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 TEST RESULTS: As of 12:00 pm Today, Monday, April 12, 2021, there are SEVEN (7) people with new positive test results to report since our noon case update yesterday.  The total number of cases (people with positive test results and presumptives) in Douglas County is now at 3,003. Currently, there are NINE (9) Douglas County COVID-19 patients that are being hospitalized, six locally and three out-of-the-area. Our Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team, under the direction of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, continue to devote all resources available to our local COVID response.

Our daily update includes the total number of cases in Douglas County, which combines people with positive test results and presumptives, as well as a breakout of those case numbers. There will be times when a presumptive will move to a positive test result, and our total case number will not change because the case has already been counted.

LOCAL CONTACTS AND CASES BEING SUPPORTED IN ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE

Currently, DPHN is supporting 106 cases in isolation, as well as another 259 contacts in quarantine in Douglas County. Isolation is recommended for confirmed and presumptive cases, quarantine is recommended for contacts of confirmed or presumptive cases.  Currently, staff is supporting an astounding 365 total contacts and cases in isolation or quarantine.  This number represents a snapshot of the significant amount of work being done locally to help control the spread of COVID.

REMINDER: AVIVA HEALTH HOSTING COVID-19 VACCINATION CLINICS FOR PEOPLE 18 AND OLDER

Shared from Aviva Health.  Aviva Health will be hosting two more mass-vaccination this next week, continuing its efforts to administer the vaccination to residents 18 and older in outlying areas of Douglas County.  For more information, log onto the Aviva Health Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/avivahealthor/

Today, Monday, April 12, 2021, Aviva and their vaccination team will be in Glide at the Glide Community Center, providing an opportunity for Glide area residents ages 18 years and older to get the COVID vaccine. The event will run from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (They will be closed for lunch between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.).  They plan to vaccinate as many as 300 area residents, regardless of whether they are currently Aviva Health patients. To register, please call (541) 672-9596 to schedule an appointment for the vaccine. Walk-ins are also welcome and should arrive no later than 3:00 p.m.

On Wednesday, April 14, 2021, Aviva and their vaccination team will be in Myrtle Creek at the Myrtle Creek Elks Lodge providing an opportunity for Myrtle Creek area residents ages 18 years and older to get the COVID vaccine. The event will run from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (They will be closed for lunch between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.).  They plan to vaccinate as many as 300 residents living in Myrtle Creek, regardless of whether they are currently Aviva Health patients. To register, Myrtle Creek residents must call (541) 672-9596 to schedule an appointment for the vaccine. Walk-ins are welcome and should arrive no later than 3:00 p.m.

DOUGLAS COUNTY TIGER TEAMS FINALIZE TRAINING AND ARE READY TO ROLL OUT

Previously, we mentioned the rolling out of a new program in Douglas County with regards to the COVID-19 vaccine outreach, called, Tiger Teams.  The Douglas County Board of Commissioners, who have led the charge for our Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team efforts since the beginning, announced at the end of March that they had acquired two mobile medical vans (MMV) and were coordinating with Douglas Public Health Network (DPHN) to organize and train a Tiger Team to manage our vaccine outreach efforts with ‘pop-up’ vaccine clinics in rural areas at small businesses, farms, fire stations and smaller communities in Douglas County.  The Tiger Team has been polishing their skills while shadowing a few small vaccine events in the area.  Our Tiger Team is made up of 6 handpicked individuals who each provide expertise in planning, facilitating and executing events.   The Team Leader is Mike Hansen, who has 45 years of experience in fire services, 18 of which was as a paramedic.  The rest of the team members are Stephanie Griggs, Rob Gandy, Mitchell Kilkenny, Annie Dannenhoffer and Bonnie Durick. 

This week the Douglas County Tiger Team will be hosting free pop up COVID vaccine clinics at the locations listed below and preregistration is not necessary:

Tuesday, April 13, 2021: Toketee and surrounding area. Clinic will be at PacifiCorp in Toketee at 7200 Toketee School Road in Idleyld Park from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. 

Wednesday, April 14, 2021: Camas Valley area. Clinic will be at the Camas Valley Fire Department at 142 Burma Road in Camas Valley from 8:00 am to 11:30 am.

Wednesday, April 14, 2021: Tenmile area. Clinic will be at the Tenmile Fire Department at 158 Reston Road, Roseburg from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Thursday, April 15, 2021: Melqua-Melrose area. Clinic will be at the Coles Valley Vineyards at 10003 Melqua Road, Umpqua starting at 7:00 am.

If you have any questions about our Tiger Teams and their pop up clinics, please call our local COVID-19 Hotline at (541) 464-6550. 

UMPQUA HEALTH PROVIDES MUCH NEEDED HEALTHCARE INTERPRETERS FOR OUR RESPONSE

Shared from Umpqua Health.  UHA believes that making the vaccine available and accessible to all is a critical step towards creating a healthy and safe community.  Umpqua Health Alliance has been a proud partner in our local COVID effort, and has been part of the Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team from the very beginning.  As we strive to make this vaccine accessible for all Douglas County residents, UHA recognizes the additional barriers members of our marginalized communities have faced during this pandemic, which includes those with Low English Proficiency (LEP).  Because we are aware that those with LEP struggle with access and navigation of the healthcare system, UHA is supporting interpreter services for Spanish-only speaking individuals at all of our local vaccination events.  It is well known and proven that Certified Healthcare Interpreters are associated with improved clinical care, and increased patient experience, and are a key component to narrowing health disparities. By having interpreters on site, Spanish-speaking members of our community will receive higher quality of care in a less stressful environment. UHA is proud to offer this service to ensure that all Douglas County residents have access to the right care, at the right time, in an environment that is patient centered regardless of their native language.  We also want to acknowledge our partners at DPHN, the DCCRT and our local health care network for recognizing this unmet need and collaborating with us to find a solution.

COVID-19 VACCINE ELIGIBILITY IN DOUGLAS COUNTY

As of today, according to the State of Oregon/OHA’s vaccination eligibility plan, residents in the following categories below are eligible to make an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine.  However, on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, both the Federal Government and the State of Oregon announced that they plan to open up the COVID-19 Vaccine eligibility to all Americans, 16 years and older, effective Monday, April 19, 2021, which moves the vaccine eligibility up from the original vaccine timeline by nearly two weeks.  This means that ALL Oregonians over the age of 16 will be eligible to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine starting on Monday, April 19, 2021.

• Phase 1-A, Groups 1-4: All health care facilities, providers and workers; first responders; EMS, skilled, long term and memory care facilities; correctional facility workers; tribal health programs; VA workers and qualifying Veterans;caregivers of medically fragile individuals who live at home; age-eligible individuals with a medical condition or disability who receive services in their homes.
• Phase 1-B, Group 1: Child care providers, early learning and K-12 educators and staff. 
• Phase 1-B, Groups 2-5: Residents 65-years-of-age or older
• Phase 1-B, Group 6: Adults 45-64, with underlying conditions; migrant/seasonal farm workers; seafood, agricultural and food processing workers; residents living in low-income, senior congregate and independent living facilities; those experiencing houselessness; residents displaced by wildfires, wildland firefighters and pregnant residents 16 and older.
• Phase 1-B, Group 7: Adults 16-44, with underlying conditions; frontline workers as defined by CDC and individuals living in a multigenerational household.

I AM ELIGIBLE, HOW DO I SIGN UP TO GET THE COVID-19 VACCINE?

Our local public health continue to follow the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) eligibility guidelines, and are scheduling appointments for residents that are listed on OHA’s list of currently eligible groups at this time.  Douglas County, DPHN or your Doctor’s Office did not set the guidelines for who is eligible to get the vaccine.  For more information on vaccine guidelines, contact the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Oregon Health Authority (OHA) directly.  As a reminder, eligibility dates and vaccine availability are always subject to change, and eligibility does not mean availability.  There are a number of options for local residents to get the COVID-19 vaccine, including several mobile clinics and events.

I Am Eligible for Phase 1-A, Groups 1-4

For those residents who are a part of Phase 1-A, but have not received their COVID-19 vaccine, please send an e-mail to vaccines@DouglasPublicHealthNetwork.org and DPHN will connect you with a local vaccine provider. Please only send a request to get a vaccine to this email if you are Phase 1-A eligible.  You can also check with your employer to see if they will be offering or referring employees to get vaccines.

I Am Eligible for Phase 1-B, Group 1

For those residents in Phase 1-B, Group 1: Educators, childcare and early education workers, you should have already received emails about your eligibility from DPHN or Douglas ESD.  If you are in that group and still want a vaccine, please send an email to vaccines@DouglasPublicHealthNetwork.org">educatorvaccines@DouglasPublicHealthNetwork.org.  If you did not receive an e-mail, please contact your employer.

I Am Eligible for Phase 1-B, Groups 2-5: Seniors 65 and Older

As of Monday, March 1, 2021, residents 65-years-of-age and older became eligible to schedule an appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Eligible seniors are asked to call and set up an appointment with their primary health care provider first, or ask for a referral to another health care provider, or set up an appointment with a local pharmacy listed on our vaccinators list or sign up for one of the vaccination clinics offered in Douglas County. We have update our list of COVID-19 vaccinators in Douglas County. Click here for our current list of COVID Vaccinators 

I Am Eligible for Phase 1-B, Groups 6-7

As of Tuesday, March 30, 2021, eligible residents listed in the State’s Phase 1-B, Groups 6-7 became eligible to schedule an appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Douglas County. Eligible residents in this group are asked to call and set up an appointment with their primary health care provider first, or ask for a referral to another health care provider, or set up an appointment with a local pharmacy listed on our vaccinators list or sign up for one of the vaccination clinics offered in Douglas County.   We have update our list of COVID-19 vaccinators in Douglas County. Click here for our current list of COVID Vaccinators.  

Local Tribal Health Vaccine Programs

If you are a member of the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians, please contact them for information on their COVID-19 testing and vaccination programs at (541) 672-9405 or log onto https://www.cowcreek-nsn.gov/public-health/.  Tribal Health Care Programs receive their vaccines directly from the Federal Government, and not through our local public health allocation from the State.

VA Workers and Eligible U.S. Military Veterans

The Roseburg VA Health Care System is setting up appointments for specific groups of veteran patients to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.  To find out if you qualify for the current round of COVID-19 vaccinations at the Roseburg VAMC, please call or email them directly.  VA Health Care Systems receive their vaccine directly from the Federal Government and not through our local public health allocation from the State.  For more information, call the Roseburg VAMC at (541) 440-1000 or log onto https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/.

NO ACCESS TO THE INTERNET TO SCHEDULE YOUR VACCINE APPOINTMENT? LOCAL HELP IS AVAILABLE

Not everyone is able to use the internet, a tablet, a computer or a smart phone to schedule a COVID vaccine appointment.  If you or someone you know needs to schedule an appointment for the COVID vaccine, and do not have access to the internet, you can call one of the numbers below to get help scheduling an appointment.

• Call our Douglas County COVID-19 Hotline at (541) 464-6550
• Coastal Residents can call the Lower Umpqua Hospital District COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center at (541) 271-2175
• U.S. Veterans can call the Roseburg VA Health Care Center at (541) 440-1000
• Members of the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians can call (541) 672-9405
• Seniors can call Douglas County Senior Services at (541) 440-3677

COVID-19 VACCINE AVAILABILITY AND ALLOCATION INFORMATION

Your Local Public Health Administrator and Douglas County Public Health Official, along with DPHN and our local health care partners have been working hard to acquire more vaccines, and vaccinate those that are eligible and want the vaccine.

We had another great week with COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Douglas County.  All vaccine doses received this week have been deployed to local approved vaccinators throughout the county.   It is also important to note, that in addition to the first dose vaccines that we receive from the State of Oregon on a weekly basis, we also receive our allocation of second doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, which are paired with the first doses, and are not counted in the overall total vaccines that we have receive each week.   Please note that our vaccine numbers do NOT include other vaccination sites like the Roseburg VA, Mercy Medical Center, EMS, Cow Creek Tribe, Pharmacies and local care facilities that have received their vaccines directly from the Federal or State Government.   

How Do I Get My Second Dose of the Pfizer or Moderna Vaccine?  

For those residents who have already received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, here are a few answers to questions about your second and final dose.

• We are told that those who get vaccinated can expect a second dose about 4-6 weeks after the first dose.
• You should have received a vaccination card when you received your first dose that details the brand of vaccine, its lot number, and the date the vaccine was administered.  This card is for your records only, and is not official proof that you have received the vaccine. Proof of your vaccination rests with the State Alert System, which is accessible by medical facilities.
• You should get your second dose from the same provider or organization from which you received your first. However, the physical address where you receive the second dose may change.
• You will be notified by the provider or organization that gave you your first dose about where and when you will receive your second dose.
• I got a first vaccine out of the area; can I get my second vaccine in Douglas County?  The second vaccine dose is “paired” to the first dose, and your second dose will be sent to wherever you got your first dose.  Therefore, except in rare circumstances, you will need to return to where you got your first dose.
• If you have questions, please contact the provider or organization where you received your first dose.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE

We are not able to say for sure when we will receive more vaccines, or when State guidelines might change or when we can start to resume some sort of normality in our lives.  However, we can continue encourage everyone, for the sake of our local businesses, services and residents, to gauge your risk level, and to make the best choice in order protect yourself and those around you from contracting or spreading coronavirus.  We have provided education on the widely proven COVID-19 safety measures, and encourage you to limit your contact with others not from your household, stay home if you are sick, and wear face coverings where recommended.  Click here, for a graphic on how to protect you and your family from the spread of COVID-19.  We know how important family, businesses and faith are to you, so we ask that you consider all options available in order to eliminate and minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus in our communities to help protect the ones you love, the businesses you love and the places you love to go.

LOCAL COVID-19 TESTING AND FACEBOOK LIVE

Douglas County COVID-19 Drive-Thru Testing Clinics Taking a Pause

As we mentioned before, we are taking a break from doing our weekly local drive-through COVID-19 testing clinics.  Due to the widely available COVID-19 testing opportunities in Douglas County, your local public health authority and DPHN decided to step-back our drive-through testing clinics for the time being.  If needs increase, we are prepared to bring back testing on a weekly basis again.  As we have reported before, we were one of the first counties in the state to do a drive-through COVID-19 testing clinic, and we have done 2-3 clinics a week since March 2020 in Roseburg, as well as drive-through testing clinics in Reedsport.  As a reminder, if you are having symptoms of COVID-19 including cough, fever, shortness of breath, muscle aches and pains, diarrhea, sore throat or decreased sense of smell and taste, talk to your health care provider about being tested for COVID-19.  Patients without a Primary Care Provider that are looking for a COVID-19 test can contact the Sutherlin Aviva Health Clinic at (541) 459-3788. 

COVID-19 Facebook LIVE with Dr. Bob

Tune in on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at 6:00 pm for the next Facebook Live with Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, the Douglas County Public Health Officer.  For future Facebook Events with Dr. Bob, please submit your questions to: ookquestions@douglaspublichealthnetwork.org">Facebookquestions@douglaspublichealthnetwork.org.  Dr. Bob and the DPHN team will do their best to respond to as many questions as they can during the Facebook event.  The Facebook Events are hosted by DPHN on the DPHN Facebook page.

STATE AND FEDERAL COVID-19 INFO

Again, it is important to note that we are not the ones setting the guidelines for vaccine eligibility or availability. We are following the current priority group guidelines and criteria set by the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Oregon Health Authority (OHA).  Go online or contact the CDC or OHA directly for more information.  OHA posts its COVID updates and reports at www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus.  

Please do not call 911, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office or Douglas County Offices to report compliance issues with the State of Oregon, OHA or Governor’s orders. The Governor has directed the State offices for Oregon Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) to be the enforcement agencies responsible for ensuring restaurants, bars, and other businesses comply with the current State COVID guidelines.  If you have concerns, questions or wish to report compliance, issues contact these state agencies directly:  OSHA: (800) 922-2689 or OSHA website or OLCC (503) 872-5000 or OLCC website.

LOCAL COVID-19 RESOURCES

Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer, DPHN and the DCCRT team have been working hard to cooperatively provide accurate and timely information to Douglas County residents since March 8, 2020.  

Local Online Access to Updates

Stay up to date with accurate and local COVID-19 information in Douglas County by visiting the Douglas County Government website or DCGOV Facebook page or the DPHN website or DPHN Facebook page. 

Free Local e-Newsletter Subscription

You can also sign up for the Douglas County e-Newsletter that publishes and sends out the daily update to our subscription base free.  You can sign up for the Douglas County e-Newsletter at www.co.douglas.or.us.  Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer, DPHN and the DCCRT have been working hard to cooperatively provide accurate and timely information to Douglas County residents since March 8, 2020. 

Douglas County COVID-19 Hotline (541) 464-6550

Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners and DPHN continue to offer a local resource hotline for Douglas County residents for COVID-19. The hotline provides answer to frequently asked questions, basic information and referrals to resources and services. Our local hotline number is (541) 464-6550 and is staffed from 8:00 am to 5: pm, 7 days a week.

Check Out DPHN’s Top Three COVID Vaccine Questions of the Day

In response to the huge increase in calls and emails that Douglas Public Health Network (DPHN), the DCCRT, Douglas County and our local COVID Hotline have received in the last few weeks regarding COVID vaccinations, DPHN added a new segment to their website that will highlight answers to the Top Three COVID Vaccine Questions of the Day. Click here to link to the DPHN website.

Aviva Health Offers Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions Webpage

Aviva Health has created an online FAQ page to answer questions related to COVID-19 regarding availability and scheduling.  Log onto https://aviva.health/covid-19-vaccine-faqs/

COVID Vaccine Call Center at Lower Umpqua Hospital District in Reedsport

Lower Umpqua Hospital District now has a COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center for COVID-19 vaccine information in the Reedsport, Douglas County Coastal area.  The LUHD COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center number is (541) 271-2175, and is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

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Contact Tamara Howell, Public Information Officer, Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team, (541) 670-2804 cell (541) 957-4896 tjhowell@co.douglas.or.us   

Contact Vanessa Becker, Public Information Officer, Douglas Public Health Network, (541) 817-6552 cell (541) 440-3571 vanessa@douglaspublichealthnetwork.org

EMBARGO until Tuesday, April 13, 2021

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Oregon Community Foundation to Administer $41.2 Million in State-Funded Grants for Summer Academic and Enrichment Programs

Program designed to address learning inequities with Oregon children and families

Portland, Ore. – Tuesday, April 13, 2021 – Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) announced today that it will administer $40 million of state-funded grants for community organizations to provide summer enrichment activities for K-12 aged students, such as day camps and outdoor programs as well as $1.2 million earmarked for parent-child summer programming for families with young children. The move is part of a substantial investment by the State of Oregon to address learning inequities and help mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Oregon children and families.

“The pandemic has caused widespread learning loss and social-emotional setbacks with youth, while also amplifying learning disparities across racial and socioeconomic lines,” says Lisa Bermudez, Development & Marketing Director, Bend Science Station. “The expertise, training and connections of OCF will help organizations to successfully re-engage youth¾particularly marginalized youth¾and make up for lost learning this summer.”

OCF will administer grants for two different allocations of state-funding for summer educational and enrichment programs:

K-12 Summer Learning Grants $40 Million

The K-12 Summer Learning Grants will prioritize community-based programs for underserved youth and families that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. The grants will be available to public and nonprofit organizations that provide community-based programming including:

• Support enrichment programs for learning outside of the classroom
• Support arts, sports, mentoring, workforce development, science, museum education and many other indoor and outdoor activities
•  A priority to programs that serve K-12 aged youth from communities of color, youth from low-income families, and youth living in under-resourced rural communities.

“Oregon Community Foundation has a history of investing in community-based out of school time and summer programs across the state. National and local data shows that this programming helps build a sense of belonging, develop critical social emotional skills, and promote greater school attendance and engagement,” says Belle Cantor, Senior Program Officer for Education, OCF. “The trauma of school disruption as well as living with an elevated level of anxiety and uncertainty can have long-term negative impacts on children. This is magnified for children who already experience racial inequity.”

Grants are intended to be used towards ensuring youth and families have access to summer learning and enrichment programs. The pandemic has had wide and varied impacts on youth and families across the state and therefore these grants are intended to ensure youth and families have opportunities to help them address the educational, social, emotional, and other impacts of the pandemic.

OCF will accept, review, and award grants on a rolling basis throughout the spring to ensure programs have funds in hand to begin planning and implementation. OCF will seek the advice of a diverse, community-based advisory committee throughout the granting process to ensure that the program is meeting community priorities.

The application form can be found on the OCF website at: https://oregoncf.org/grants-and-scholarships/grants/k-12-summer-learning-grant-program

Early Childhood Summer Support Grants $1.2M

The Early Childhood Summer Support Grants will support enrichment programs for learning by providing services for approximately 600 children (from birth to 5 years of age) and families. These grants will help deliver 12 weeks of parent-child summer programming, including group classes and activities that offer social and learning opportunities for young children and their parents, play groups and kindergarten readiness programs.

“The birth to five years are the most critical years for the development of young brains, and parent-child relationships are the foundation of healthy development,” says Mary Louise McClintock, Senior Education Strategy and Policy Advisor, Oregon Community Foundation. “Through Early Childhood Summer Support grants OCF will support opportunities for young children and their parents – especially those disproportionately impacted by the trauma and isolation of the pandemic – to play and learn with other children and families.”

To apply for a grant or learn more about this program, please visit:

https://oregoncf.org/grants-and-scholarships/grants/early-childhood-summer-support-grants

About Oregon’s Summer Learning and Child Care Package for Kids

The state of Oregon is seeking to fund programs that build trusting relationships, connection and care for children over the summer months, in the critical time between the end of this school year and the beginning of the next. To learn more, please see:

• https://www.oregon.gov/newsroom/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?newsid=54294
• https://mailchi.mp/oregon/news-releaseoregon-leaders-urge-support-250-million-summer-learning-and-child-care-package-for-kids-1005878?e=6031a07994

About Oregon Community Foundation

Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) puts donated money to work in Oregon – more than $100 million in grants and scholarships annually. Since 1973, OCF grantmaking, research, advocacy and community-advised solutions have helped individuals, families, businesses and organizations create charitable funds to improve lives for all Oregonians. Impactful giving–time, talent and resources from many generous Oregonians–creates measurable change. For more information about OCF, please visit: oregoncf.org.

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EMBARGO until Tuesday, April 13, 2021