September 19, 2018

Healthcare-Associated Infections Advisory Committee meets September 26

What: The quarterly public meeting of the Healthcare-Associated Infections Advisory Committee (HAIAC)

Agenda: Discuss how Oregon health care facilities use National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) data for performance benchmarking; review Legacy Health’s development of its role as an Ebola Assessment Center; summarize 2016-17 Oregon health care worker influenza vaccination data; revisit travel screening activities in Oregon health care facilities; report data and discuss future opportunities for Targeted Assessment for Prevention (TAP) assessment work; brainstorm topics to address at future meetings and for future reports; public comment.

When: Wednesday, Sept. 26, 1-3 p.m. A 10-minute public comment period is at 2:55 p.m.; comments are limited to five minutes.

Where: Portland State Office Building, Room 1B, 800 NE Oregon St., Portland. A conference call line is available at 877-873-8018, access code 7872333.

OHA provides oversight and support for the mandatory reporting of healthcare-associated infections in Oregon via the Healthcare-Associated Infections Program. The program convenes its advisory board on a quarterly basis; the purpose of the board is to make recommendations to OHA regarding infection measures reportable by health care facilities.

Program contact: Roza Tammer, 971-673-1074, oza.p.tammer@dhsoha.state.or.us">roza.p.tammer@dhsoha.state.or.us

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Everyone has a right to know about and use 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 Diane Roy at 971-673-1093, 711 TTY or oy@dhsoha.state.or.us">diane.m.roy@dhsoha.state.or.us at least 48 hours before the meeting.

The Governing Board of the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) will meet on Monday, October 1 at 8:30 a.m. at DOGAMI's Portland offices, 800 NE Oregon St., Suite 965.

The meeting agenda is available at www.OregonGeology.org.

The DOGAMI Governing Board sets policy and oversees general operations, and adopts a strategic plan every six years. The Board meets at least quarterly. As active members of their communities, Board members provide an important connection between Oregonians and DOGAMI's mission of providing earth science information and regulation to make Oregon safe and prosperous.

RIDDLE, Ore. - A telephone service outage in the Riddle area is affecting approximately 293 Frontier customers. The outage may prevent those affected from dialing 9-1-1. Those customers can still reach emergency dispatchers by dialing 9-1-1 from a cell phone, if they have service. Otherwise, the Riddle Fire Department has been staffed with personnel until further notice. 

The Oregon Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial will be held tomorrow, September 20, at the Oregon Public Safety Academy (4190 Aumsville Highway SE, Salem). The ceremony begins at 1:00 p.m. and the public is welcome.

The Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial is a tribute to the ultimate sacrifice made by fire service professional, career and volunteer, across our state. A time to honor and remember these brave men and women and to support their families.

Please join us as we pause to remember these five members from Eugene Springfield Fire that died protecting our community.

FF Rex Reed died as the result of a collision between the fire engine he was driving and a train while enroute to a fire on November 28, 1928. (Eugene Fire & EMS)

Capt. Donovan Hodgson died on October 28, 1957 of a heart attack while reporting in at the fire station for a general alarm blaze. (Springfield Fire & Life Safety)

FF Leland Christensen died on October 11, 1966 of a heart attack while fighting a general alarm blaze at the Kendall Ford dealership. (Eugene Fire & EMS)

FF Harold “Bucky” Stinson died October 11, 1966 when a concrete wall collapsed and crushed while fighting the blaze at the Kendall Ford dealership. (Eugene Fire & EMS)

Capt. Horst Rech died September 21, 1978 when the ceiling collapsed on him during his second entry into the fire at DJ’s Market. (Springfield Fire & Life Safety)

Eugene Springfield Fire is proud to have four members and Fire Dog Casey serving as part of the Oregon Fire Service Honor Guard. A team made of fire service members from around the state that come together as a unified group to honor our fallen and provide assistance to their families.

Investigation revealed  that a red 1999 Mercury Sable, operated by a 17 year old female, was southbound on HWY 99W behind a box truck. A John Deere tractor, operated by Christopher Current, age 49, of McMinnville, was on Mineral Springs Rd attempting to turn left to go northbound on HWY 99W.  After the box truck made a right turn on to Mineral Springs Rd, the tractor entered the intersection colliding with front passenger side of the Mercury Sable.

The front passenger of the Mercury Sable, a 17 year old male, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The third occupant of the Mercury Sable, a 16 year old male, along with the driver, were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

OSP was assisted by McMinnville Police Department,  McMinnville Fire Department and ODOT.

Oregon State Police and emergency personnel are on scene of a motor vehicle crash involving a tractor on Hwy 99W near mile post 33 - approximately 1 mile south of Lafayette.

There is one confirmed fatality.

ODOT has set up a detour in the area but delays and intermittent closures should be expected.

This crash occurred at approximately 8:15 AM.

On Monday, September 17, 2018 at approximately 1800 hours, The Red Cross responded to a disaster that occurred in the 53,000 block of Crocket Rd in Milton-Freewater, Oregon.

The Red Cross provided temporary resources to help address the immediate basic needs of those affected such as temporary housing, food, clothing, comfort kits with toiletry items, information about recovery services and health and mental health services.

Additional information about this incident, if available, may be obtained from the localfirst responding agency/fire department.

The Red Cross in Oregon and Southwest Washington (The Cascades Region) helps an average of three families affected by disasters, like home fires, every day. The Red Cross advocates emergency preparedness and offers the installation of free smoke alarms in our community. Residents may call (503)528-5783 or complete an online form at www.redcross.org/GetAnAlarm to schedule an appointment.

The Red Cross provided assistance for temporary lodging, along with disaster health services to address immediate basic needs for one adult affected by a multi-family fire on Tuesday, September 18, at aopproximately 15:30 hours near the 2000 block of South Second Street in Lebanon, OR.

Additional information about this incident, if available, may be obtained from the local first responding agency/fire departent.

WHITE CITY, Ore. – An arrest in White City caps off a three-month investigation into theft and fraud.  Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) detectives say a woman stole mail from at least 100 people and used personal and financial information to steal identities and make fake checks.  

On Tuesday, September 18, 2018, at 9:59 a.m., Amanda Marie Sims, 36, was arrested in White City.  She was lodged in jail on 100 counts of mail theft, six counts of identity theft, six counts of forgery, and one count of criminal possession of a forgery device.  Bail at lodging was $847,500.

The case began on June 22 when a woman attempted to cash a forged check at a White City convenience store.  Deputies traced the check back to Sims.  On July 1, deputies served a search warrant at Sims’ residence.  They found stolen mail and equipment used to make or alter checks. 

JCSO detectives continued the investigation, which included obtaining bank records and other documents, and interviewing witnesses.  They learned Sims received at least $10,000 by cashing or depositing fraudulent checks.  She also used stolen bank information to pay bills, and gave forged checks to other people.  Detectives are still working to determine the total amount of losses to victims in the case.

On Tuesday, members of the Pacific Northwest Violent Offenders Task Force, a local multi-agency team funded by the U. S. Marshal’s Office, found Sims hiding in a mobile home park in the 3200-block of Antelope Road.  Sims was arrested without incident and lodged in the Jackson County Jail on charges related to this case. 

Two men at the residence were found to have warrants for their arrest.  Moises Rodriguez-Regalado, 29, and Edgar Limon Sigala, 23, were lodged in jail.  Detectives do not believe they are involved in the fraud case.  

Detectives say the mail stolen by Sims in relation to this case came from mailboxes in the Eagle Point and Upper Rogue areas.  They would like to hear from anyone who believes they may have been a victim.  Callers can contact Detective Gabe Burchfiel at (541) 770-8939. Refer to case #18-12702.

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The City of Roseburg Fire Department will begin issuing residential burn permits, beginning on October 1, 2018 and ending on October 31, 2018.

These permits are issued for seven (7) days at a cost of $73.00.  Residential yard waste is the only material that may be burned. Prohibited items include standing berry vines, paper, wood, plastics, tires, standing grass, weeds, construction material, and material from lot clearing.  Burning may not be done on vacant lots or the property of another.  Fires must be monitored by a competent adult and extinguished prior to darkness. Tools to control or extinguish the fire must be on-site whenever there is material burning.

Burn barrels are never allowed inside City limits, and anyone burning trash or burning without a permit may be subject to a fine and/or legal action.  Additionally, due diligence must be exercised while burning, even with a permit, as fire can quickly get out of control, and the person responsible for the fire may be subject to fines, legal action, or restitution.

If possible, residents are urged to utilize alternatives to burning, such as composting, chipping, mulching, or transporting the debris to the Douglas County Landfill.  More information on these options can be found at http://www.recyclepower.org/wood.asp.

To request a burning permit in the City of Roseburg, call (541) 492-6770 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. 

September 18, 2018

Recreational use health advisory for water contact at Twin Rocks Beach lifted September 18

Testing shows fecal bacteria levels have subsided

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) today lifted a recreational use health advisory for contact with marine water at Twin Rocks Beach, located in Tillamook County. The health authority issued the advisory September 11 after water samples showed higher-than-normal levels of fecal bacteria in ocean waters.

Results from later samples taken by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) showed lower bacteria levels. Contact with the water no longer poses a higher-than-normal risk. However, officials recommend staying out of large pools on the beach that are frequented by birds, and runoff from those pools, because the water may contain increased bacteria from fecal matter.

State officials continue to encourage other recreational activities at all Oregon beaches, suggesting only that water contact be avoided when advisories are in effect.

Since 2003 state officials have used a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant to monitor popular Oregon beaches and make timely reports to the public about elevated levels of fecal bacteria. Oregon state agencies participating in this program are OHA, DEQ and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

For more information, visit the Oregon Beach Monitoring Program website at http://www.healthoregon.org/beach or call 971-673-0482, or call the OHA toll-free information line at 877-290-6767.

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September 18, 2018

Recreational use health advisory for water contact at D River Beach lifted September 18

Testing shows fecal bacteria levels have subsided

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) today lifted a recreational use health advisory for contact with marine water at D River Beach, located in Lincoln County. The health authority issued the advisory September 11 after water samples showed higher-than-normal levels of fecal bacteria in ocean waters.

Results from later samples taken by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) showed lower bacteria levels. Contact with the water no longer poses a higher-than-normal risk. However, officials recommend staying out of large pools on the beach that are frequented by birds, and runoff from those pools, because the water may contain increased bacteria from fecal matter.

State officials continue to encourage other recreational activities at all Oregon beaches, suggesting only that water contact be avoided when advisories are in effect.

Since 2003 state officials have used a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant to monitor popular Oregon beaches and make timely reports to the public about elevated levels of fecal bacteria. Oregon state agencies participating in this program are OHA, DEQ and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

For more information, visit the Oregon Beach Monitoring Program website at http://www.healthoregon.org/beach or call 971-673-0482, or call the OHA toll-free information line at 877-290-6767.

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WASHINGTON - As part of the Trump Administration’s ongoing goal to reduce the regulatory burden on the American people and foster economic growth and energy development by using innovation, best science, and best practices, the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today announced a final rule that revises the 2016 Waste Prevention Rule (also known as the Venting and Flaring Rule).  The new rule, which included a 60-day public comment period, will reduce unnecessary burdens on the private sector and restore proven regulations at a time when investment in Federal onshore oil and gas is skyrocketing.

“Sadly, the flawed 2016 rule was a radical assertion of legal authority that stood in stark contrast to the longstanding understanding of Interior’s own lawyers,” said Deputy Secretary David Bernhardt. “The Trump Administration is committed to innovative regulatory improvement and environmental stewardship, while appropriately respecting the clear and distinct authorities of the States, Tribes, as well as the direction we receive from Congress.”

The BLM reviewed the 2016 rule and found that it had considerable overlap in existing State, Tribal and Federal regulations. Additionally, the agency determined that the previous administration underestimated the cost in the 2016 rule.  

The rule was reviewed as part of Executive Order 13771, Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs, Executive Order 13783, Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth, and Secretarial Order 3349, American Energy Independence, issued March 29, 2017.  The BLM found that many parts of the 2016 rule were unnecessarily burdensome on the private sector.

Publication of the final rule in the Federal Register is forthcoming. The rule is effective 60 days after publication. A pre-publication version of the final rule can be found at https://go.usa.gov/xP2qE.

The Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) was honored to host more than 140 emergency vehicle operations (EVO) instructors from around the nation at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem today.  The group is in Oregon as part of the A.L.E.R.T. International Conference being held in Portland. 

A.L.E.R.T. International is dedicated to the encouragement and correlation of research and development as well as the sharing of information, ideas and innovations in the area of emergency vehicle response operation. Additionally, A.L.E.R.T.’s mission is to provide assistance to states in establishing effective and defensible standards for employment and training of law enforcement officers in the field of emergency vehicle operations. Another aspect of the mission is the promotion of a positive, professional image of emergency response trainers.

DPSST Director Eriks Gabliks said "DPSST has been active in ALERT International for more than 25 years.  We have gained lots of information from this organization that has been implemented within our training programs.  Sadly we know each year a large percentage of law enforcement officers die in the line of duty responding to emergency incidents.   Research done by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund found that traffic-related incidents were the leading cause of death for officers in 15 of the past 20 years.  We are committed to reducing the number of line of duty deaths by providing up to date training programs."

Presentations offered as part of the 2018 ALERT Conference included:  Vehicle Based Problem Solving (Oregon State Police), Building an Emergency Vehicle Operations Program from Scratch (Maryland Police Training Commission), Vehicle ambush (Lake Oswego Police Department), Vehicle Box-In Techniques (Portland Police Bureau), Changing the Way We Instruct Driver Training (Federal Law Enforcement Training Center), Cognitive Driver Training - Updated Research by Dr. Jonathan Page (Cognitive Neuroscientist and Author) and many others.

For more information on ALERT http://www.alertinternational.com/

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The Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) operates the Oregon Public Safety Academy which spans more than 235 acres in Salem. The Academy is nationally recognized for its innovative training programs and active stakeholder involvement. Eriks Gabliks serves as the Director, and Sheriff Jason Myers of the Marion County Sheriff's Office serves as the Chair of the Board. The department implements minimum standards established by the Board for the training and certification of more than 40,000 city, tribal, county and state law enforcement officers, corrections officers, parole and probation officers, fire service personnel, telecommunicators, emergency medical dispatchers and private security providers.

DPSST provides training to more than 25,000 students each year throughout Oregon and at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem: certifies qualified officers at various levels from basic through executive; certifies qualified instructors; and reviews and accredits training programs throughout the state based on standards established by the Board.

The FBI and Cottage Grove Police Department are asking for the public's help identifying a man who attempted to rob a Wells Fargo Bank branch on Monday, September 17th. This branch is located inside the Safeway store at 1500 E. Main Street, Cottage Grove. At approximately 4:40 pm, the man approached the teller desk and demanded cash. Once the bank employees triggered the alarm, the man got spooked and left before police arrived.

Witnesses described him as:

Race: White

Age: Mid to late 30's

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 175 pounds

Eyes: Blue

Hair: Blond

Facial hair: May have light beard/mustache

Clothing: Baseball-style hat with the word "Alaska" on it, white short sleeved shirt over a long-sleeved black shirt, and khaki shorts over black sweat pants

The wanted flyer for this suspect can be seen on the FBI's Bank Robbery website at https://bankrobbers.fbi.gov/robbers-container/2018-09-18.5004412284

Anyone with information about the man's identity is asked to call the FBI at (541) 343-5222 or the Cottage Grove Police Department at (541) 942-9145. Tips may also be submitted at tips.fbi.gov

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Due to Hurricane Florence and emergency East Coast response efforts, FEMA has postponed their mobile 'Presidential Alert' to October 3rd at 11:18 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time. 

FEMA and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct a test broadcast via radio, TV, cable stations, and wireless carriers.  This is the first nationwide test of the wireless system.  These systems ensure critical information is shared during extreme emergency situations.   Albany residents who have iPhones and Androids will receive a text message.   We stress that no action is required by the public.  Please refer to the Android and iPhone photos for examples of the wireless messages that will be sent.

For more information visit https://www.fema.gov/emergency-alert-test.  Questions can be answered by the Oregon Office of Emergency Management at 503-383-6608 or 503-871-8689. 

Welcome to the Oregon FBI’s Tech Tuesday segment. This week: building a digital defense against charity fraud.

With Hurricane Florence hitting the east coast last week… and the on-going disaster recovery efforts stretching from Hawaii to Puerto Rico… you need to be able to tell the legitimate charities from the frauds.

It is no secret that charity scams spike after significant events, particularly natural disasters. The news and your social media feeds are filled with photos of chaos and destruction. You feel helpless, and the fraudster knows it. These criminals will create fake social media accounts and websites to make it easy for you to give. Just click the link, and you will feel like you’ve made a difference. Unfortunately, if you pick the wrong organization, those most in need will never see your donation.

Along with the Federal Trade Commission, FEMA and other partner agencies, we offer these tips for safe giving:

• Donate to charities you know and trust.
• Designate the donation to go to a specific disaster relief effort as opposed to a general fund.
• Never click on links or open attachments in unsolicited e-mail or social media posts.
• Verify the legitimacy of any e-mail or social media solicitation by contacting the organization directly through a trusted contact number.
• Beware of organizations with copycat names similar to, but not exactly the same as, those of reputable charities.
• Avoid cash donations if possible. Pay by credit card or write a check directly to the charity. Do not make checks payable to individuals.
• Legitimate charities do not normally solicit donations via money transfer services. They also won’t ask for donations via gift cards.
• Most legitimate charity websites end in .org rather than .com.
• Make contributions directly, rather than relying on others to make a contribution on your behalf.

Those affected by recent disasters can use your help – and there are plenty of legitimate charities out there to do that work. You just need to do your research before giving.

If you have been victimized by a charity fraud scam or any other online scam, be sure to file a report at the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov or call your FBI local office.

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 3.8 percent in August, which was Oregon’s lowest unemployment rate since comparable records began in 1976. Oregon’s July unemployment rate was 3.9 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.9 percent in both July and August.

The number of Oregonians unemployed shrank in recent months. In August, the number of unemployed people dropped to 80,500, which is down from 88,000 in August 2017. The low number of unemployed reflects a very tight job market. Many people just entering the labor force are getting snapped up by employers. In August, there were only about 20,000 new entrants to the labor force who were unemployed; this was only one-third the number of such “unemployed entrants” seen in the early 2010s. This means that there are far fewer Oregonians just entering the workforce who can’t find a job. Meanwhile in August, of the unemployed Oregonians, 28,000 had lost their job—a historically low level, given that in 2009 there were five times the number of unemployed due to job loss. 

In August, Oregon’s nonfarm payroll employment grew by a modest 900 jobs, following a revised gain of 3,400 jobs in July. Monthly gains in August were concentrated in construction, which added 800 jobs, and trade, which added 800 jobs in wholesale trade and 700 jobs in retail trade. These gains were offset by losses in leisure and hospitality (-1,100 jobs) and government (-600 jobs).

Oregon’s nonfarm payroll employment increased by 42,000 jobs, or 2.2 percent, since August 2017. More than one-quarter of payroll employment growth was in the construction industry, which added 11,400 jobs, expanding by 11.6 percent. Over the year, no other industry has grown nearly as fast as construction. Next in line are four major industries that each grew slightly slower than 3 percent: manufacturing (+5,500 jobs, or 2.9%); professional and business services (+6,900 jobs, or 2.8%); leisure and hospitality (+5,700 jobs, or 2.8%); and health care and social assistance (+6,400 jobs, or 2.7%). Rapid growth across the industries isn’t universal, as several industries remained close to their year-ago job totals, including wholesale trade (700 jobs, or 0.9%); retail trade (+1,200 jobs, or 0.6%); transportation, warehousing, and utilities (+300 jobs, or 0.5%); government (no change in jobs, or 0.0%); and information (-200 jobs, or -0.6%).

Next Press Releases
The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the August county and metropolitan area unemployment rates on Tuesday, September 25th, and the next statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for September on Tuesday, October 16th. 

Notes: 
All numbers in the above narrative are seasonally adjusted.

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 Oregon Employment Department publishes payroll employment estimates that are revised quarterly by using employment counts from employer unemployment insurance tax records. All department publications use this Official Oregon Series data unless noted otherwise. This month’s release incorporates the January, February, and March 2018 tax records data. The department continues to make the original nonfarm payroll employment series available; these data are produced by the BLS.

Effective with the January 2018 data, employment of Oregon’s approximately 17,000 home care workers are counted in private health care and social assistance instead of state government. The change was due to legislative action clarifying that for purposes of workforce and labor market information, home care workers are not employees of state government. The reclassification affects private sector and government monthly change figures for January 2018 and will affect over-the-year change figures through December 2018. It does not affect total payroll employment levels.

The PDF version of the news release, including tables and graphs, can be found at www.QualityInfo.org/press-release. To obtain the data in other formats such as in Excel, visit www.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.

For help finding jobs and training resources, visit one of the state's WorkSource Oregon centers or go to: www.WorkSourceOregon.org.

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.

On Monday September 17, 2018, the Newport Area Command received information a missing child, from Orange County, California was possibly in the Lincoln County area. Kaia Fina (age 11) was reported to still be with her biological mother Sera Fina (age 42). There was an active felony warrant for Sera Fina’s arrest for child abduction.

Information received was Kaia Fina was reported missing on September 6, 2018 at approximately 10:30 PM from San Clemente, California. Her foster parent was last to have seen Kaia and it was believe Sera had picked Kaia up. An attempt to locate was provided to law enforcement agencies with descriptions and vehicle information.

Oregon State Police, Newport Police Department, Lincoln City Police Department, and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s office spent the majority on Monday, September 17, 2018 trying to locate Kaia and Sera Fina in a black 2007 BMW. At approximately 7:40 PM, Trooper Wertz conducted a welfare check on a 2006 Lincoln Navigator parked on the shoulder of US HWY 101 near Beverly Beach State Park. Trooper Wertz quickly identified both Kaia and Sera from photos from Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

Sera Fina was taken into custody and lodged at the Lincoln County Jail on the issued child abduction warrant and fugitive complaint. The bail was listed as $150,000. The Department of Human Services responded to care for Kaia. It was discovered Sera Fina had recently purchased the vehicle they were found in and no longer had the suspected vehicle.

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(Salem) – More than 500,000 acres have been burned, and approximately 4,000 Oregonians have been warned to evacuate their homes this wildfire season. Over 300 earthquakes have also shaken the state this year, including a 6.2 magnitude quake just off the coast in August. These alarming facts mean it is critical for Oregonians to get prepared for both natural and human-caused disasters.

National Preparedness Month has arrived, and Sept. 16-22 is Home Inventory Week. This week is designated to an often overlooked part of disaster preparation, protecting your personal property.

To recognize this week, the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation encourages Oregonians to do two simple tasks that will save time, money, and stress when disaster strikes:

1. Build a home inventory – Take video or photos of each room in your home, paying close attention to walls, drawers, closets, and storage areas. Recalling your personal property is a daunting task following a disaster. A home inventory eases the post-disaster stress, and enables your insurance company to move forward with processing your claim.   
2. Review your insurance coverage – Take time to discuss your policies with your insurance company or agent. Make sure you have the right coverage and know what to expect when you file a claim for disasters such as fire, earthquake, flood, tornado, theft, and ice storms.

“These simple projects are easy to do, and should be an essential part of every Oregonian’s disaster prep,” said Insurance Commissioner Andrew Stolfi. “Home Inventory Week is an ideal time to add these money-saving, stress-reducing tasks to your to-do list.”

Oregonians are encouraged to visit dfr.oregon.gov/preparenow for videos, apps, and resources to help complete these simple tasks. The site also provides social media tools to help residents share their experience and encourage their families, friends, and neighbors to get prepared as well.

The division is joined in this effort by the League of Oregon Cities, Oregon Sheriffs Association, Oregon Office of Emergency Management, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

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About DCBS: The Department of Consumer and Business Services is Oregon's largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. For more information, visit www.dcbs.oregon.gov. 

About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. Visit www.dcbs.oregon.gov and http://dfr.oregon.gov/Pages/index.aspx.

`                                               Space Goat Productions Fails to Deliver Product to Supporters  

Eugene, Oregon —?Sept. 18, 2018?A start-up company that promised to deliver board games based on the popular sci-fi movies “The Terminator” and “Evil Dead 2” failed to deliver on its promise, earning itself an F rating from Better Business Bureau.  

The company, Space Goat Production has received 14 complaints from consumers who allege the company failed to deliver products promised to backers of their Kickstarter campaign. The Bellingham-based business launched the fundraising campaigns in 2016. They asked for monetary donations in order to launch their board game company. “The Terminator” board game received more than $220,000 pledges, while the “Evil Dead 2” game received more than $722,600. The company received pledges from more than 8,200 customers.  

An Oregon man reports he was an original backer on the company's Kickstarter campaign to help fund the product. He paid $80 but never received the product. He is asking for a full refund.  

Consumers report the company never delivered on their promise. While some customers did receive a refund, others report they never received more than one, or any, communication about the status of the game.  

Before supporting a startup’s crowdfunding request, BBB recommends doing your research. When you donate to a startup, it’s important to know who is behind the call for investors. Research the person or company behind the campaign to see if they have a track record for fulfilling promises. You also want to know if they have had successful campaigns in the past.  

To file a complaint, visit bbb.org/complaints.

ABOUT BBB:?For more than 100 years, the Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands,?and?charities they can trust. In 2017, people turned to BBB more than 160 million times for BBB Business Profiles on more than 5.2 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at?bbb.org. There are local, independent BBBs across the United States, Canada,?and?Mexico, including BBB Northwest & Pacific, which serves more than 15 million consumers in Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Hawaii and Western Wyoming.??? 

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Summary: Training in Medford will focus on payroll reporting and injury prevention.

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From payroll reporting to work visas, the reforestation industry has a lot of complex employment issues. SAIF is hoping to help employers by offering a free half-day forum to discuss top concerns.

“We are hearing from employers there is a lot of confusion around workers’ compensation and reforestation,” said David Jordan, regional office director for SAIF’s Southern region. “We want to create an opportunity to discuss those collectively.”

The forum will feature educational sessions on state subjectivity, class code reporting, and industry loss trends and prevention, as well as a panel discussing intersections between the H-2B visa program and workers’ compensation.

There will also be an open forum discussion on the customer experience with SAIF.

SAIF is offering two sessions—one in English from 9 a.m. to noon, and one in Spanish from 1 to 4 p.m.—on Tuesday, October 9, at the Smullin Center, 2825 E Barnett Rd., Medford. Lunch will be offered from noon to 1 p.m. for attendees of either session.

Reservations are required as space is limited. Employers interested in attending the forum can register by phone at 541.857.4204 or online by visiting saif.com/trainings, selecting “classroom,” and then clicking on Medford trainings.

 About SAIF

SAIF is Oregon's not-for-profit workers' compensation insurance company. Since 1914, we've been taking care of injured workers, helping people get back to work, and striving to make Oregon the safest and healthiest place to work. For more information, visit the About SAIF page on saif.com.   

Investigation shows that a 2004 Honda Civic, operated by Eric Ellis (57) of Detroit was eastbound on Hwy 22E when it went into the westbound lane and sideswiped a 2012 Ford PU pulling a travel trailer, operated by Owen Barth (48) of Dallas.  The Honda Civic continued and hit a 2014 GMC PU, operated by Ryan Wolvert (41) of Oregon City.

Ellis sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Barth and Wolvert were not injured.

Hwy 22E  was closed for about 3.5 hours following the crash.  OSP was assisted by Gates Fire, ODOT, Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Keizer P.D.

Oregon State Police and emergency personnel are on the scene of a three vehicle crash on Hwy 22E near mile post 37 - east of Gates.

One person has sustained fatal injuries and has been pronounced deceased at the scene.

The crash occurred at approximately 1:30 PM.  Expect delays and closures for several hours.

No more information is available at this time.

Salem, OR. – Sept. 17, 2018 – The nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) has been postponed until October 3 due to ongoing response efforts to Hurricane Florence. The test will be conducted by FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

In Oregon, the WEA portion of the test commences at 11:18 a.m. Pacific Time, and the EAS portion follows at 11:20 a.m. Pacific Time. The test will assess the operational readiness of the infrastructure for distribution of a national message and determine whether improvements are needed.  

The test was originally scheduled to take place this Thursday, September 20, although FEMA held October 3 as a back-up date. According to FEMA, a backup date was planned in case of widespread severe weather or other significant events on the primary test date.

For further information on the test, go to https://www.fema.gov/emergency-alert-test.

What: New Fire Station Community Outreach Meeting

When: October 2, 2018 at 5:30 PM

Where: Fire Station 31, 1050 W. Oak St., Lebanon, OR

The Lebanon Fire District is planning on replacing Fire Station 31 and we need your input. We invite you to come to a community meeting to learn about the District’s plan to improve capabilities to meet the community’s needs.

Fire Station 31 is the main fire station for the District and houses administrative and management staff as well as emergency response fire and EMS crews. The fire station was originally built in 1975 and has served the District well, but is due for replacement based on seismic, life safety, size, and workflow concerns. Construction is currently planned to begin in 2021. 

You are asked to give your input on the overall design of the new station at a Community Outreach meeting on October 2, 2018 at 5:30 PM. The current fire station will be open for tours, and a community discussion will be led by the District’s consulting architect who will help direct staff in the overall design of the new fire station. 

Please come to learn more about the District needs and provide your input for your fire station. Your input is important to us.

PORTLAND, Ore. – Dominic Caputo, 46, of Clackamas County, Oregon, was indicted today on allegations that, as a civilian program manager for the Oregon National Guard Oregon Sustainment Maintenance Site (OSMS), he submitted false reimbursement requests to the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) and misrepresented the operational status of equipment used to maintain a war-ready posture.

The court unsealed a five-count indictment alleging Caputo falsely certified that the refurbishment of equipment was complete or in-process. Caputo’s certifications prompted CECOM to remit payment for more than 1,300 pieces of equipment at a cost of more than $6 million to OSMS with the expectation the equipment was ready to be shipped to other military installations and put back into service, when it was not.

Caputo faces four counts of wire fraud, and one count of false statements in a document.

Caputo made his initial appearance in federal court today before U.S Magistrate Judge Beckerman and was released pending trial. A 7-day jury trial is scheduled for November 20, 2018 before U.S. District Court Judge Anna J. Brown.

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

# # #

On September 16, 2018 at about 3:55 PM, Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two vehicle crash involving a motor cycle and passenger car on US 395 near milepost 141. 

The preliminary investigation revealed that a blue 2015 Harley Davidson motorcycle, operated by Jacob Alexander Lepeilbet (26) from Caldwell, Idaho, was traveling northbound on US 395 near milepost 141 when, for an unknown reason, failed to stop for a white 1995 Ford Taurus stopped in the northbound lane signaling to turn left. The motorcycle impacted the rear of the Taurus at highway speed. 

The passenger on the motorcycle, Hailey Michelle Ernest (35) from Boise, Idaho, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene. 

Lepeilbet suffered significant injuries and was transported to the Lake District Hospital and later flown to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend, Oregon. 

The driver of the Taurus, Ronald Allen Foltz (59) from Lakeview, Oregon, sustained minor injuries.

US 395 was closed for over three hours following the crash. 

OSP was assisted by ODOT and Lake County Sheriff's Office. 

The Oregon Fire Service Honor Guard and the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) extend an invitation to attend the State's 13th annual Oregon Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial this Thursday, September 20, 2018 at 1 p.m. The ceremony will be held at the Oregon Public Safety Academy, 4190 Aumsville Highway SE, Salem. We are honored to have Doug Grafe, Chief of Fire Protection for the Oregon Department of Forestry, as this year’s guest speaker. 

DPSST Director Eriks Gabliks said "The Oregon Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial stands as a daily reminder of the sacrifices made by 169 men and women who died in the line of duty protecting our communities, airports and natural resources around our great state.  The memorial also allows us to honor a pledge made to the families of the fallen - we will never forget!  We are thankful that no names are being added to the Oregon memorial during this year’s ceremony which signifies that Oregon did not suffer a firefighter line of duty death in 2017.  Sadly we know that is not the case on a national level as the names of 103 career and volunteer firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2017 and previous years will be honored at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial at the National Fire Academy on October 6 and 7, 2018 in Emmitsburg, Maryland."

Please note the event is held outside rain or shine.

If you have any questions regarding the Memorial, please contact Julie Olsen, Fire Program Manager, at 503-378-2297 or by email at julie.olsen-fink@state.or.us

For More Information on Oregon and National Firefighter Memorials:

Oregon Fallen Firefighter Memorial  https://www.oregon.gov/DPSST/FC/pages/fallenfirefightermemorial.aspx

National Fallen Firefighter Foundation – National memorial https://www.firehero.org/2018/08/28/2018-flag-raising-national-fallen-firefighters-foundation/

Those honored on the State memorial include:

The public is invited to a program with Haida master weaver Delores Churchill and her daughter Evelyn Vanderhoop, a master textile weaver.

Churchill, who received a National Heritage Fellowship Award from the National Endowment for the Arts, will present “Basketry to Ravenstail,” a retrospective of her work.

Vanderhoop, chosen to be an artist in residence at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., will discuss Raven’s Tail and Naaxiin (Chilkat) weaving.

The program is Thursday, October 18, 7 p.m., at the Multnomah Arts Center, 7688 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland. The free presentation ($5 donation suggested) is sponsored by the Columbia Basin Basketry Guild.

Preserving Native Weaving Techniques

Churchill, a Haida elder from Ketchikan, Alaska, has devoted much of her life to mastering the art of weaving and to preserving her cultural heritage. She weaves baskets, hats, robes, and other regalia. Using such materials as spruce root, cedar bark, wool, and natural dyes, she creates utilitarian and ceremonial objects of unmatched beauty and cultural significance. She also has worked to preserve the Haida language.

In 2017 Churchill completed a replica of a spruce root hat found with ancient remains in 1999 in a British Columbia park. The original hat was discovered in a melting glacier by three hunters in a British Columbia park. Mummified human remains were found with it, and a helicopter was sent to retrieve the remains and artifacts. Churchill says when she heard about the hat, she wanted to learn more. She was granted permission to study the hat and discovered, though mostly of Tlingit design, a variety of weaving techniques were used.

“Haidas weave counterclockwise and Tlingit weave clockwise. But there’s an area down near the edge of the hat where there are two rows that are going counterclockwise. So whoever did this hat knew both Haida and Tlingit techniques,” Churchill says.

Raven’s Tail and Naaxiin Robes

Vanderhoop specializes in weaving the chief's robe of the Haida people. She teaches and weaves Raven's Tail (northern geometric weaving) and Naaxiin (Chilkat). She has done extensive research into the history of northern coast robes. Vanderhoop has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Western Washington University and has had successful parallel careers as a weaver and watercolor artist. She studied watercolor painting in Europe, and one of her paintings was chosen by the United States Postal Service for a stamp to commemorate Native American dance. She comes from a long line of Haida weavers, including her grandmother Selina Peratrovich and her mother, Delores Churchill. She has also studied weaving with Cheryl Samuel.

Churchill learned her weaving from her mother, Selina Peratrovich, a nationally recognized master weaver. Peratrovich asked her daughter to burn her baskets for the first five years of the apprenticeship. "I am well known for my baskets," Peratrovich told her daughter. "If you say you learned from me, you better be good."

Churchill went on to study traditional Tsimshian weaving from masters Flora Matthew and Brenda White.  Churchill further studied at the British Museum and learned six-strand weave. After retiring from a bookkeeping career and raising her family, Churchill turned her attention back to basketry at a time when Haida basket weaving was in serious decline as an art form.

She continues to teach young people the knowledge and skills related to the weaving tradition, observing: "As long as Native art remains in museums, it will be thought of in the past tense."

For more information, contact iaBasinBasketryGuild@gmail.com">ColumbiaBasinBasketryGuild@gmail.com

Oregon’s first state-legal retail marijuana proprietor sentenced for federal tax crimes

PORTLAND, Ore. – Matthew Price, 32, of Portland, was sentenced today to seven months in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $262,000 for willfully failing to file federal income tax returns in four consecutive years.

“Matthew Price attempted to live a double life—advising OLCC officials on how to regulate state-legal marijuana sales, while privately evading his personal and business tax obligations,” said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “Marijuana businesses and business owners are subject to the same federal tax laws as every other business and will be scrutinized for criminal wrongdoing. Tax cheaters will not be tolerated in any industry.”         

According to court documents, in 2010, Price, then 25 years old, came to Portland with the financial backing of a business partner in Colorado to start a state-legal marijuana business in anticipation of Oregon’s full retail legalization. Price had previously been working in a marijuana store in Colorado owned by his business partner. In December 2010, Price began operating a marijuana farmers market in Portland called Cannabliss. In mid-2013, Price and his business partner converted the business to a medical marijuana dispensary. In 2014, the pair opened two additional Cannabliss dispensaries, a second in Portland and one in Eugene, Oregon.

Price failed to file personal income tax returns in four consecutive years between 2011 and 2014, despite retaining the services of three different certified public accountants. Price’s taxable income steadily grew from $42,000 in 2011 to $590,000 in 2014. In 2015, Price was a member of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission’s (OLCC) Recreational Marijuana Technical Advisory Retail Subcommittee. In this capacity, Price, with other retailers, advised the OLCC in its rulemaking process for Oregon Measure 91, the Control, Regulation, and Taxation of Marijuana and Industrial Hemp Act.

Price previously pleaded guilty to four counts of willfully failing to file personal income tax returns in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7203 on May 31, 2018. Upon completion of his prison sentence, Price will be on supervised release for three years with six months of home detention.

The IRS Criminal Investigations investigated this case. It was prosecuted by Seth D. Uram, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

# # #

Rosemary Johnson of Astoria has been appointed by Governor Kate Brown to a four-year term on the Oregon Heritage Commission.

Johnson was the Planner and Historic Preservation Officer for the City of Astoria until her retirement in September 2014, after 35 years with the City. She staffed the Planning Commission, Historic Landmarks Commission, and Design Review Committee for the City for over 27 years. Johnson currently works as a contract planning consultant for the City of Astoria and serves as a project manager for larger projects such as restoration of the Doughboy Monument and the design and construction of the Scandinavian Heritage Park. Having helped to complete the Astoria Riverfront Vision Plan and implementation of codes for three of the four Riverfront Districts, she is currently working on completing the code implementation for the last Urban Core District. She is also an active volunteer at the Clatsop County Historical Society’s Flavel House Museum.

“I am excited to be part of the Oregon Heritage Commission,” Johnson noted about her appointment. “I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember. I believe we are a product of our past and we need to preserve the history of our State and Nation to help form our future. Preservation is not just preserving structures. It is about people, our cultural history and the built environment.”

“Johnson has engaged with many of the Commission’s programs through her work and brings a wealth of preservation experience to the group,” said Beth Dehn, Heritage Commission Coordinator. “We are pleased to have her on the Heritage Commission.” 

The Heritage Commission is comprised of nine people representing Oregon's heritage and geographical diversity. There are also nine advisory representatives from state agencies and statewide organizations.

The mission of the Heritage Commission is to secure, sustain, and enhance Oregon's heritage by ensuring coordination of heritage initiatives by public and private organizations; advocacy on its behalf; education of the public about its extent and value; and promotion and celebration of its diversity. For more information, commission coordinator Beth Dehn at 503-986-0696 or eth.Dehn@Oregon.gov">Beth.Dehn@Oregon.gov or visit the Commission’s website at www.oregonheritage.org.

HOSPITAL CHARITY CARE SPENDING CONTINUES TO CLIMB IN Q2

Oregon’s community hospitals are again spending more on charity care despite having one of the lowest rates of uninsured residents in the country, according to a newly released financial performance report by Apprise Health Insights from the second quarter of 2018. Despite the increase, median operating margins held steady from the same period last year.

Median charity care as a percentage of total charges increased to 1.7% (compared to 1.6% in Q2 2016). Seven of the last eight quarters have seen an increase in seasonally adjusted Charity Care.

Meanwhile, operating margins stabilized after large drops in 2017. Median margins came in at 4.5% in Q2 2018 after a drop to -0.8% in the final quarter of last year. The overall median operating margin for Oregon hospitals in 2017 was 0.5%. 

“These numbers show that, despite expanded coverage, many Oregonians are uninsured or can’t pay the deductible in their health plan,” said Andy Van Pelt, executive vice president of the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems. “Hospitals treat everyone regardless of ability to pay, but it’s important to note the increases in charity care indicate lack of adequate coverage. That’s an issue our state needs to continue to tackle.”

The charity care numbers stand in contrast to the widely held view that charity care has been essentially eliminated in Oregon due to the Affordable Care Act. While charity care costs are below pre-ACA levels, they are on an upward trend as many patients continue to need free or reduced-price services.

Inpatient discharges continue to decline in Q2 2018 over last year, dropping by some 100,000. That corresponds with an increase in outpatient visits, which rose by around 200,000 in Q2 2018 over the same quarter in 2017. Outpatient utilization has climbed steadily in Oregon for several years.

To read the entire report, visit OregonHospitalGuide.org under “Understanding the Data” or click here.

##

At the annual Oregon Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officers (APCO) and National Emergency Number Association (NENA) conference last Wednesday night in Bend, DPSST’s Telecommunications Training Program Coordinator Tami Atkinson received the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award. 

The Lifetime Achievement Award is Oregon APCO-NENA’s highest award, created to recognize a distinguished member of the chapter who has demonstrated a commitment to the advancement of emergency communications in Oregon.  Candidates are chapter members who have demonstrated outstanding leadership within the chapter and who have made significant contributions to emergency communications in Oregon and the Oregon APCO-NENA chapter over his/her lifetime.

Tami began her public safety communications career as a dispatcher with Lincoln County Communications (LinCom) in 1984.  During the past 34 years Tami has accomplished a lot.  While at LinCom, Tami was actively engaged as a trainer, coach, supervisor, and also served as acting director.  She also worked on the consolidation of LinCom into Willamette Valley Communications Center in Salem.  Tami has served as Oregon APCO/NENA President and she co-chaired the training committee for the organization’s recent Western Regional APCO conference.  Tami’s career path would eventually lead her to DPSST where she serves as our Telecommunications Training Program Coordinator.

In her role at DPSST, Tami oversees the State's 9-1-1 Training Program that provides basic and advanced training to more than 900 men and women around Oregon who answer our calls for emergency assistance. 

DPSST's Director Eriks Gabliks said "Oregon's 9-1-1 and emergency medical dispatch standards and training program is used as a national benchmark of excellence in large part due to Tami's hard work and dedication and the partnerships she has created and maintains with our public safety partners around the state.  We are very proud to have Tami on our team and are excited that the Oregon Chapter of APCO and NENA has honored her with their Lifetime Achievement Award." 

# # #

The Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) operates the Oregon Public Safety Academy which spans more than 235 acres in Salem. The Academy is nationally recognized for its innovative training programs and active stakeholder involvement. Eriks Gabliks serves as the Director, and Sheriff Jason Myers of the Marion County Sheriff's Office serves as the Chair of the Board. The department implements minimum standards established by the Board for the training and certification of more than 40,000 city, tribal, county and state law enforcement officers, corrections officers, parole and probation officers, fire service personnel, telecommunicators, emergency medical dispatchers and private security providers.

DPSST provides training to more than 25,000 students each year throughout Oregon and at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem: certifies qualified officers at various levels from basic through executive; certifies qualified instructors; and reviews and accredits training programs throughout the state based on standards established by the Board.

September 17, 2018

Recreational use health advisory lifted for Willow Creek Reservoir

Testing confirms reduced cyanotoxins in Morrow County lake

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has lifted the recreational use health advisory issued July 26 for Willow Creek Reservoir, located just east of the town of Heppner in Morrow County.

Water monitoring has confirmed that the level of cyanotoxins (harmful algae toxins) in the lake is below recreational guideline values for human exposure.

Although the advisory has been lifted, conditions can change rapidly due to changes in weather and nutrients in the lake. People should always be aware that blooms can develop on any water body under the right environmental conditions, and can grow and disappear throughout the season.

People should always be aware of their surroundings before entering a water body, especially around shorelines, shallow water areas, coves and physical structures such as docks, as these are areas where blooms tend to develop, officials say. You are your own best advocate when it comes to keeping you and your family safe while recreating.

People, and especially small children, and pets should avoid recreating in areas where the water is foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green, blue-green or brownish red in color, if a thick mat of blue-green algae is visible in the water, or bright green cells are suspended in the water column. If you observe these signs in the water you are encouraged to avoid activities that cause you to swallow water or inhale droplets, such as swimming or high-speed water activities.

It's possible cyanotoxins can still exist in clear water. Sometimes, cyanobacteria can move into another area, making water that once looked foamy, scummy or discolored now look clear. However, when a bloom dies elsewhere in the water body, it can release toxins that may reach into the clear water. There also are species of cyanobacteria that anchor themselves at the bottom of a water body, live in the sediment, or can grow on aquatic plants and release toxins into clear water near the surface.

For recreational health information, to report human or pet illnesses due to blooms or cyanotoxins in recreational waters, contact the Oregon Health Authority at 971-673-0440.

For information about recreational advisories issued or lifted for the season, contact the Oregon Public Health toll-free information line at 877-290-6767 or visit the Harmful Algae Blooms website at http://healthoregon.org/hab and select "Algae Bloom Advisories."

# # #

http://bit.ly/2xoABa1

Oregon State Police Lieutenant Jeff Fitzgerald recently completed one of the toughest challenges available to local law enforcement officers: the FBI National Academy. In mid-September, Lt. Fitzgerald and two other Oregon law enforcement officers completed a ten-week training session at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

There is a highly competitive process local law enforcement officers must go through to be selected for this honor. That process includes a nomination by a supervisor; interviews with the candidate and co-workers to determine leadership skills and abilities; a background check; a determination of physical fitness; and the support of former National Academy graduates within the candidate's organization.

"Only a few law enforcement officers from Oregon have the opportunity to attend the National Academy each year," said Renn Cannon, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Oregon. "The Academy gives them the chance to share best practices and explore many facets of law enforcement leadership with others from across the country and the world."

Lt. Fitzgerald started his law enforcement career more than 19 years ago with the Oregon State Police. He was assigned as a trooper out of Grants Pass in 1999 and promoted to patrol sergeant in Central Point in 2005. Later in 2005, he transferred Grants Pass and held that position for six years. In 2011, he transferred to the Major Crimes Section in Central Point for four years before OSP promoted him to the Patrol Lieutenant position in Grants Pass. In 2018, he transferred to his current position of SW Region Criminal Lieutenant where his responsibilities include the supervision of major crimes, drug enforcement and arson detectives in Southwest Oregon. His area encompasses the Springfield, Coos Bay, Gold Beach, Roseburg, Grants Pass, Central Point, Klamath Falls and Lakeview offices. 

"The Oregon State Police is honored to have our agency represented at the FBI National Academy by Lieutenant Jeff Fitzgerald. Jeff is an exceptional leader and typifies the agency values of Honor, Loyalty, Dedication, Compassion and Integrity,” said Travis Hampton, Oregon State Police Superintendent. “We'll be glad to have him home to begin application of his new skills and professional relationships. The OSP treasures our relationship with the FBI and pleased to supply quality applicants to the program.”

During the ten weeks of training, local executive-level law enforcement officers spend most of their time in the classroom. Lt. Fitzgerald’s National Academy classes included: Leadership in Investigations For Violent Crimes; Behavioral Science For Law Enforcement Leaders; Essentials For Law Enforcement Leaders; Contemporary Issues in Police and Media Relations; Contemporary Issues in Law Enforcement and Fitness in Law Enforcement. The program allows participants the opportunity to earn college credits through the University of Virginia for some of those studies. In addition to the classroom work, participants have physical training courses and activities.

Each year, the FBI sponsors four sessions of the National Academy. Each session includes about 220 local law enforcement officers from around the United States and around the world. While in the academy, the officers and deputies live in a dorm-like setting. The FBI does not charge U.S. students for tuition, books, equipment, meals, lodging or travel to and from their home.

Today around 3 p.m., Deputies with the Marion County Sheriff's Office received an attempt to locate of a vehicle involved in an incident in Washington County. The vehicle was located by our Traffic Safety Team on Interstate 5 in northern Marion County.  At the time the vehicle was located deputies elected not to pursue due to the erratic nature of the driver. 

The vehicle later traveled south and struck a vehicle at Chemawa Road NE and Portland Road NE. Soon after an Oregon State Trooper located the vehicle at a service station on Portland Road near Ward Drive when the Trooper attempted to contact the driver. The driver rammed the Troopers vehicle and fled the scene. A short time later the vehicle was located parked at a Space Age gas station on Cordon Road near Gaffin Road .Deputies located the river inside of the store where he was seized by a K9 and taken into custody. 

The man Gale Merrill, 59 of Beaverton in currently in custody for multiple crimes. Merrill is at the Salem Hospital where he is expected to remain while he undergoes a psychological evaluation . The Sheriff's Office does not anticipate releasing any additional details. 

On September 15, 2018 at approximately 1:10pm Oregon State Police, McMinnville PD, Yamhill Co. S.O., Amity PD, and ODOT responded to a two vehicle head on collision on HWY 18 near Milepost 48.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a silver 2001 Pontiac Grand Am driven by Joseph Hawkins (19) of Salem, with no passengers, was traveling eastbound when he crossed into the westbound lanes hitting a 2005 Subaru Legacy head on.

Hawkins sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The driver of the Subaru, Roger Verdier (70) of Vancouver, WA. was transported to Willamette Valley Medical Center with serious injuries. 

His two passengers, Mary Verdier (59) of Vancouver,WA. and Susan Heffel (60) of McMinnville, both sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced deceased at the scene.

The reason Hawkins entered the oncoming lanes is unknown at this time. 

Oregon State Police and emergency personnel are on scene of a fatal vehicle crash on Hwy 18 mile post 48 - near the McMinnville airport. 

Expect delays and intermittent closures in the area while the investigation continues.

Lebanon Fire District rescues two occupants from a second story apartment fire.

Around 2:19 am this morning, the Lebanon Fire District responded to the report of a small fire at 2051 S. 2nd St. Upon arrival, the first engine reported a two story apartment fire with occupants hanging out of multiple second story windows. That engine immediately initiated rescue operations. With the help of the Lebanon Police Department the engine crew was able to rescue two occupants from two different second story windows. Another occupant jumped from a second story window prior to the rescue operations. Two people were transported to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

The incident commander called for a second alarm and received mutual aid from the Albany Fire Department and the Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District. It took firefighters approximately two and a half hours to control the blaze. No firefighters were injured during the operations.

The apartment building contained five units, four of which were occupied at the time of the fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

GLIDE, Ore. - Two men lost their lives Friday night in a serious crash on Little River Road. 

Emergency dispatchers received multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting a crash in the 2300-block of Little River Road at about 9:00 pm. 

Deputies along with fire and EMS personnel responded to find a 2004 Mazda M3 sedan which had significant damage and struck a tree. 

An investigation revealed the vehicle was being operated by 20 year-old Cody James Scheler (also known as Cody Cunningham) of Glide. Both Scheler and his 21 year-old passenger, Isaac Alan Hartwick of Roseburg, were pronounced deceased at the scene.

Deputies are continuing their investigation and believe speed is a contributing factor. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff's Office at 541-440-4471, referencing case number 18-4106.

Glide Fire Department, Douglas County Fire District #2, Bay Cities Ambulance, and REACH Air Ambulance.

On September 13, 2018, Oregon State Police Detectives arrested Blake V. Northway, age 55 of Medford, on multiple counts of Sodomy.

Northway is a Deportation Officer with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) assigned to the Medford office.

The arrest is a result of a joint investigation between the Oregon State Police and ICE - Office of Professional Responsibility.   “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold its officers to the highest standards of professional conduct and does not tolerate those who violate the law, said ICE Public Affairs Officer Tanya Roman.  ICE will continue to cooperate until this case has been resolved. “

Northway has been relieved of all authority and will be placed on leave pending the results of the criminal investigation.

Northway was lodged in the Jackson County Jail.  

These charges are not related to Northway’s position with ICE. 

On Friday September 14, 2018 at about 4:30 pm, Oregon State Police along with the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene of a two vehicle crash on Highway 97 near Odem Avenue, south of Terrebonne. 

The investigation revealed that a black 2008 Harley Davidson motorcycle, operated by 68 year old Terrebonne resident Robert Constant, had been traveling northbound when traffic congestion forced vehicles in front of him to slow.  Constant lost control of the motorcycle and laid it down while attempting to stop.  The motorcycle slid and crashed into a green 1995 Geo Metro, operated by 51 year old Culver resident Traci Sauls, who sustained minor injury.

Constant was transported by ground ambulance to a Redmond Area Hospital and then was transported via air ambulance to a Bend Area Hospital.  Constant was pronounced deceased at the hospital as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. 

Speed and following distance are believed to be a contributing factor in the crash.  The Oregon State Police were assisted at the scene by the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Redmond Fire and Rescue, and ODOT.

September 14, 2018

Recreational use health advisory lifted for Cullaby Lake

Testing confirms reduced cyanotoxins in Clatsop County lake

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has lifted the recreational use health advisory issued August 21 for Cullaby Lake. Cullaby Lake is located just off Highway 101 between Astoria and Seaside in Clatsop County.

Water monitoring has confirmed that the level of cyanotoxins (harmful algae toxins) in Cullaby Lake are below recreational guideline values for human exposure. However, the cyanotoxin level in the lake remains well above the OHA guideline value for dogs, so health officials recommend keeping pets out of the lake.

Although the advisory has been lifted, conditions can change rapidly due to changes in weather and nutrients in the lake. People should always be aware that blooms can develop on any water body under the right environmental conditions and can grow and disappear throughout the season.

People should always be aware of their surroundings before entering a water body, especially around shorelines, shallow water areas, coves and physical structures such as docks, as these are areas where blooms tend to develop, officials say. You are your own best advocate when it comes to keeping you and your family safe while recreating.

People, and especially small children, and pets should avoid recreating in areas where the water is foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green, blue-green or brownish red in color, if a thick mat of cyanobacteria is visible in the water, or bright green cells are suspended in the water column. If you observe these signs in the water you are encouraged to avoid activities that cause you to swallow water or inhale droplets, such as swimming or high-speed water activities.

It's possible cyanotoxins can still exist in clear water. Sometimes, cyanobacteria can move into another area, making water that once looked foamy, scummy or discolored now look clear. However, when a bloom dies elsewhere in the water body, it can release toxins that may reach into the clear water. There also are species of cyanobacteria that anchor themselves at the bottom of a water body, live in the sediment, or can grow on aquatic plants and release toxins into clear water near the surface.

For recreational health information, to report human or pet illnesses due to blooms or cyanotoxins in recreational waters, contact the Oregon Health Authority at 971-673-0440.

For information about recreational advisories issued or lifted for the season, contact the Oregon Public Health toll-free information line at 877-290-6767 or visit the Harmful Algae Blooms website at http://healthoregon.org/hab and select "Algae Bloom Advisories."

# # #

http://bit.ly/2xjiPoF

(Salem) – A three-day event in southern Oregon will feature a variety of workshops and presentations designed to help employers and workers improve on-the-job safety and health. Topics include everything from fall protection and safety committees to forklift safety and combustible dust.

Oregon’s Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) encourages employers, workers, and safety professionals to mark their calendars for the Oct. 16-18 Southern Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Conference at the Ashland Hills Hotel and Suites in Ashland.

On Wednesday, Oct. 17, Bob Edwards, a human and organizational performance consultant, will deliver the keynote presentation, “Failure and Success: They Aren’t that Different!” Edwards draws on a range of experiences from the military and corporate worlds to show organizations that, when people make errors, it’s important to shift the focus from blaming them to examining the systems in which they work.

Other conference topics include:

• Hearing conservation and noise control
• Chemical hazards
• Scaffold user safety awareness
• Advanced accident investigation for safety committees
• Prevention of heat stress injuries and illnesses
• Recordkeeping update

The Southern Oregon Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals and Oregon OSHA are co-sponsoring the conference. Registration for the conference, on Wednesday and Thursday, is $175. Optional pre-conference workshops range from $50 to $130. For more information or to register go to http://safetyseries.cvent.com/southern18.

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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 www.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.

IDLEYLD PARK, Ore. - The body of 23 year-old Brian Lewinstein of Berkeley, California was recovered from Toketee Falls late Thursday night. 

Lewinstein fell into the first pool at Toketee Falls after crossing a safety fence to take a photograph from above the falls on Sunday, August 12, 2018. A large scale search and rescue mission was performed by members of Douglas County Search and Rescue in the days and weeks following the initial response. 

On Thursday, September 13, 2018, at about 5:45 pm, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office received a call reporting two hikers observed Lewinstein's body in the second pool of the falls. Deputies along with Search and Rescue personnel immediately responded to perform a recovery mission, which included steep angle rappelling. At approximately 10:00 pm, mountain rescue personnel brought Lewinstein's body back to the trail. 

The Douglas County Medical Examiner's Office has positively identified Lewinstein and his family has been notified. 

"We are glad that we were able to provide his family with some answers and sincerely hope that they are able to find some comfort in the fact that he was located. Our heartfelt thoughts go out to his family and friends," said Sgt. Brad O'Dell.

 Local Red Cross sends nearly 40 to help; Holds trainings to recruit new volunteers to deploy

EUGENE, Ore., September 14, 2018 — The American Red Cross is helping people in multiple states as Hurricane Florence pummels the Carolinas with strong winds, heavy rain and dangerous tidal surges. More than 20,000 people sought refuge in more than 200 Red Cross and community shelters Thursday night. As of midnight, 14,000 people were in 124 shelters in North Carolina, and 5,600 people in 59 shelters in South Carolina. An additional 430 people stayed in 23 shelters in Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee and Maryland.

Thirty-six local Red Cross Cascades Region (serving Oregon and Southwest Washington) disaster responders from Albany, Astoria, Beaverton, Bend, Clatskanie, Eugene, Florence, Gold Beach, Grants Pass, Happy Valley, Hillsboro, Junction City, Medford, Monmouth, Newberg, North Plains, Portland, Salem, and St. Helens, Oregon; and Lyle, Longview, and Vancouver, Washington, are already on the ground in Hawaii, North Carolina and South Carolina to assist with hurricane preparations.

RED CROSS RESPONSE About 2,000 Red Cross disaster workers from all over the country have been mobilized to help shelter, feed and support people affected by Florence. Working with partners, the Red Cross has served 47,000 meals and snacks in North Carolina and South Carolina. To bolster relief efforts, the Red Cross is mobilizing nearly 100 emergency response vehicles and more than 120 trailers of equipment and supplies, including 100,000 ready-to-eat meals and enough cots and blankets for more than 42,000 people.

In order to be ready to assist in the relief efforts related to these potential disasters, the local Red Cross is recruiting volunteer disaster responders. People interested in volunteering for the Red Cross as a disaster responder are encouraged to attend one of several training sessions taking place across the region next week.

Tuesday, September 18, 2018 – EUGENE/SPRINGFIELD
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Riverbend Annex in the Rainer Conference Room
123 International Way
Springfield, OR 97477
Register: https://medfordredcrossorientation.eventbrite.com

Wednesday, September 19, 2018 – SALEM
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Red Cross West Salem Office
675 Orchard Heights Rd. NW
Suite #200
Salem, OR 97304
Register: https://salemredcrossorientation2.eventbrite.com

Wednesday, September 19, 2018 – LA GRANDE
1 – 4 p.m.
Red Cross La Grande Office
1806 Cove Ave.
La Grande, OR 97850
Register: https://lagranderedcrossorientation.eventbrite.com

Friday, September 21, 2018 – PORTLAND
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Red Cross Portland Office
3131 N Vancouver Ave.
Portland, OR 97227
Register: https://portlandredcrossorientation2.eventbrite.com   

Friday, September 21, 2018 – ASTORIA
6 - 9 p.m.
Clatsop Community College
Astoria Campus
1651 Lexington Ave.
Astoria, OR 97103
Register: https://astoriaredcrossorientation.eventbrite.com   

HOW YOU CAN HELP The Red Cross depends on financial donations to be able to provide disaster relief immediately. Help people affected by Hurricane Florence by visiting redcross.org, calling 1- 800-RED CROSS or texting the word FLORENCE to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster. The Red Cross honors donor intent. Donors can designate their donation to Hurricane Florence relief efforts by choosing that option when donating on redcross.org or on 1-800-RED CROSS.

The best way to ensure your donation will go to a specific disaster is to write the specific disaster name in the memo line of a check. We also recommend completing and mailing the donation form on redcross.org with your check.

PLEASE GIVE BLOOD More than 140 blood drives have been canceled through early next week due to Hurricane Florence, resulting in over 4,200 uncollected blood and platelet donations. Eligible donors in unaffected areas are urged to make an appointment now to give blood or platelets to help maintain the nation’s blood supply. There is a critical need to platelet and type O blood donations. Appointments can be made by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

MAKE A DONATION The Red Cross depends on donations to provide immediate relief. Help people

affected by Hurricane Matthew in the U.S. by visiting redcross.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS to make

a donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this

disaster.

DOWNLOAD EMERGENCY APP Everyone should download the Red Cross Emergency App to have

safety information available on their mobile device, including emergency weather alerts, preparedness

information and shelter locations. Red Cross apps are available in smartphone app stores by searching

for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies

about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian

aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that

depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more

information, please visit redcross.org/Cascades or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossCasc.

September 14, 2018

Deadline extended for Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee applications

The Oregon Health Authority Public Health Division has extended the deadline for applications for the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee. The deadline has been extended to allow time for additional applications across all the recommended areas of expertise as outlined in HB 4133.

OHA invites applications from people who meet the criteria outlined in HB 4133, Section (3).

Board members are appointed by the Governor. Member terms are, in general, four years each. As this is a new committee, initial terms of office will be assigned by the Governor so that terms expire at staggered intervals.

To apply, submit the following to executive.appointments@oregon.gov by Oct. 15:

1. A completed executive appointment interest form, available on the Governor’s Office website at http://www.oregon.gov/gov/admin/Pages/How_To_Apply.aspx.
2. A resume or brief biographical sketch.
3. A brief statement of interest.

Information about the legislation is available on the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee website at https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HEALTHYPEOPLEFAMILIES/DATAREPORTS/Pages/Maternal-Mortality-Morbidity-Review-Committee.aspx.

For more information, contact Cate Wilcox, OHA Public Health Division, at 971-673-0299 or cate.s.wilcox@dhsoha.state.or.us.

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On Tuesday, September 25^th, from 9:00am to 12:30pm, Connected Lane County and Lane Arts Council will guide 50 students from seven area high schools on a tour of the Hult Center for the Performing Arts, Oregon Contemporary Theater, New Zone Gallery, and HiFi Music Hall.  Additional guest speakers will represent local visual, graphic and performing arts careers in Lane County.

 After the tour, students will experience several short performances from Ballet Fantastique, the Eugene Poetry Slam, and local vocal performer Laura Wayte, with the opportunity to hear from the performers themselves in a facilitated discussion about arts careers post-performance.

 The tour was made possible by additional support from the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, Lane Community College, the Arts and Business Alliance of Eugene, the Eugene Symphony, and the Materials Exchange Center for the Community Arts (MECCA). 

“Our community is made stronger by the variety of professional artists and arts organizations that call Lane County home. Connecting students with professionals in our community provides valuable career insight and empowers students' creative futures. This event feeds the future creative leaders of our community,” said Eric Braman Arts Education Program Coordinator at Lane Arts Council.

Both Lane Arts Council and Connected Lane County work with Lane County schools to help students understand how art intersects with other disciplines such as technology, manufacturing, and other STEM fields. Lane Arts Council focuses on connecting professional artists and students for high-quality, meaningful arts education experiences, such as their Product of Eugene Arts Apprenticeship Program, open to middle and high school students with interest in product design. Working with professional artists is at the core of all of their arts education programs.

Connected Lane County collaborates with a variety of community partners to orchestrate opportunities for high school students to learn more about careers in Lane County as part of the Elevate Lane County program.  This tour is the first of three “Experience Oregon” tours this fall, including Experience Oregon Manufacturing in celebration of National Manufacturing Day on October 5^th, and Experience Oregon Tech in partnership with the Technology Association of Oregon on October 18^th.