BOARD ON PUBLIC SAFETY STANDARDS AND TRAINING

MEETING SCHEDULED

Notice of Regular Meeting

The Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a regular meeting at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 26, 2023, in the Governor Victor G. Atiyeh Boardroom at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Shelby Wright at (503) 378-2191 or shelby.wright@dpsst.oregon.gov.

The meeting will be live-streamed on the DPSST Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/DPSSTOregon/ 

Amended Agenda Items:

1. Introductions

2. Meeting Minutes

     Approve minutes from the July 27, 2023, Meeting

3. Fire Policy Committee

a. Fire Policy Committee Update – Brian Henson, Deputy Director

b. Consent Agenda (The following items to be ratified by one vote)

A. Dakota Brotherton, DPSST #42387; Junction City Fire Department – Revoke

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the FPC on August 23, 2023.

B. Scott Durocher, DPSST #42128; Lakeview Fire Department – Revoke

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the FPC on August 23, 2023.

C. Andrew Lawrie, DPSST #42329; Cannon Beach Rural Fire Protection District – Revoke

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the FPC on August 23, 2023.

4. Criminal Justice Policy Committees

a. Police Policy Committee Update – Scotty Nowning, Chair

b. Telecommunications Policy Committee Update – Michael Fletcher, Chair

c. Corrections Policy Committee Update – Matthew English, Chair

d. Consent Agenda (The following items to be ratified by one vote)

A. Steven Larsen, DPSST No. 49075; Morrow County Sheriff’s Office – No Action

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the PPC on August 17, 2023.

B. Troy Page, DPSST No. 58639; Linn County Sheriff’s Office – Revoke

Unanimous vote with 1 (one) recusal, to recommend to the Board by the CPC on August 8, 2023.

C. Peter Robinson, DPSST No. 48227; Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office– No Action

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the PPC on August 17, 2023.

D. Maria Sanchez, DPSST No. 26550; DOC/Coffee Creek Correctional Facility – Revoke

7 (seven) to 3 (three) vote to recommend to the Board by the CPC on August 8, 2023.

E. Aaron Smith, DPSST No. 44175; McMinnville Police Department – Revoke

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the PPC on August 17, 2023.

F. Dennis Viereck, DPSST No. 36201; Scappoose Police Department – Revoke

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the PPC on August 17, 2023.

G. Proposed Rule Changes for Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 259-008-0085

   Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the PPC on August 17, 2023.

H. Law Enforcement Memorial Wall Nomination; Joseph W. Johnson, DPSST No. 48952 - Nyssa Police Department

Determine eligibility for addition to Oregon’s Law Enforcement Memorial Wall

I. Committee Appointments

Telecommunications Policy Committee

- Gary Bell – Oregon Association Chief’s of Police Representative, Appointment to the TPC, 1^st term effective October 28, 2023.

5. Private Security/Investigator Policy Committee

a. Private Security Investigator Policy Committee Update – Chris Brodniak, Professional Standards Division Director

b. Consent Agenda (The following items to be ratified by one vote)

A. Proposed Rule Changes for Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 259-060-0025, 259-060-0060, and 259-060-0136

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the PSIPC on August 15, 2023.

B. Proposed Rule Changes for Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 259-061-0005 and 259-061-0240

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the PSIPC on August 15, 2023.

c. Proposed Rule Changes for Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) Chapter 259 Division

             Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the PSIPC on August 15, 2023.

             Presented by Jennifer Howald

8. Agency Updates - Agency Director, Phil Castle

9. Next Meeting Date: January 25, 2023, at 9:00 a.m.
 

Administrative Announcement

This is a public meeting, subject to the public meeting law and it will be recorded. Deliberation of issues will only be conducted by Board members unless permitted by the Chair. Individuals who engage in disruptive behavior that impedes official business will be asked to stop being disruptive or leave the meeting. Additional measures may be taken to have disruptive individuals removed if their continued presence poses a safety risk to the other persons in the room or makes it impossible to continue the meeting.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media hotline: 503-813-6018

Pacific Power's Blue Sky participants receive national recognition for green power sales

PORTLAND, Ore. (Oct 3, 2023) — Thanks to Pacific Power’s Blue Sky program participants, the popular Blue Sky renewable energy program ranked first in overall green pricing sales in a national study by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

NREL recently released its ranking of leading utility green power programs based on 2022 data and recognized the top ten outstanding green power programs. For the 21st consecutive year, PacifiCorp’s Blue Sky program – which includes participation by Pacific Power and Rocky Mountain Power customers – is being recognized. 

“Blue Sky participants are making an impact by supporting additional renewable energy and local community projects,” said Cory Scott, vice president of customer & community solutions. “We’re proud of our Blue Sky participants for their continued commitment to renewables that helped achieve this national recognition.

“Our Blue Sky participants voluntarily support this program and continue to bring renewable energy awareness into the forefront of everyday life and lead the way toward a more robust renewable energy future while making meaningful changes in our communities,” said Scott. 

PacifiCorp scored first in the top 10 list for green power sales based on December 2022 data. 

How Blue Sky works

Blue Sky allows participants to match their energy usage with the purchase of renewable energy credits. It’s an effortless way for participants to support renewable energy in the West, above and beyond Pacific Power’s substantial and growing commitment to renewables.

In addition to supporting renewable energy in the West, funds from Blue Sky participants’ support have allowed Pacific Power to partner with community organizations to fund more than 145 local renewable energy projects over the years. These projects have helped community organizations save money on electricity costs and reinvest those funds to support their missions in the communities Pacific Power serves. 

Pacific Power customers who want to participate in Blue Sky can call toll free at 1-888-221-7070 or visit Blue Sky Renewable Energy.

The top 10 utility green pricing program listing is compiled by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in the following categories: total sales of renewable energy, total number of customer participants, customer participation rate, green power as a percentage of overall sales, price premium and percentage of solar energy.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory green power rankings are available at www.nrel.gov. 

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About Pacific Power

Pacific Power provides safe and reliable electric service to more than 800,000 customers in 243 communities across Oregon, Washington and California. Pacific Power is part of PacifiCorp, one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States, serving nearly two million customers in six western states as the largest regulated utility owner of wind power in the West. For more information, visit www.pacificpower.net.

Salem, Oregon – Awards totaling $1,382,696 will be distributed to 171 Oregon arts organizations through the Oregon Arts Commission’s Operating Support Program for fiscal year 2024. 

Ranging from $3,000 to $25,000, the unrestricted awards are available to nonprofit organizations with arts at the core of their mission and budgets of more than $150,000. The Arts Commission determines awards based on number of applications and available grant funds.

“Operating support is crucial to organizations as these funds can be used at their discretion to sustain artistic programming," said Arts Commission Chair Subashini Ganesan-Forbes. “Grant recipients (and their peers) also see this grant as a sign of our trust in their vision, capacity and importance to the Oregon arts ecosystem.” 

There are 13 organizations new to the program this year, as the number of eligible organizations has grown.

FY2024 Operating Support Grants by region:

Central

BendFilm, Bend: $6,963

Cascades Theatrical Company, Bend: $3,000 

Central Oregon Symphony Association, Bend: $3,781

High Desert Chamber Music, $3,781

Scalehouse, Bend: $4,466

Sisters Folk Festival, Inc., Sisters: $10,047 

Sunriver Music Festival, Sunriver: $4,128 

The High Desert Museum, Bend: $25,000

The Museum at Warm Springs, Warm Springs: $7,163 

Tower Theatre Foundation, Inc., Bend: $13,380

Greater Eastern – North

Arts Council of Pendleton, Pendleton: $9,215 

Crow's Shadow Institute of the Arts, Pendleton: $4,575 

Oregon East Symphony, Inc., Pendleton: $4,128

Greater Eastern – South

Painted Sky Center for the Arts, Canyon City: $4,835

Portland Metro

45th Parallel, Portland: $4,128 

Advance Gender Equity in the Arts, Portland: $3,781

Alberta Abbey Foundation, Portland: $5,180 

All Ages Music Portland, Portland: $6,401

All Classical Public Media, Inc., Portland: $18,656

Artists Repertory Theatre, Portland: $13,896

Arts Action Alliance Foundation, Oregon City: $7,045

A-WOL Dance Collective, Inc., Clackamas: $4,128 

Bag & Baggage Productions, Inc., Hillsboro: $6,933 

Beaverton Arts Foundation, Beaverton: $16,461

BodyVox Inc. , Portland: $11,394 

Bosco-Milligan Foundation, Portland: $4,580 

Broadway Rose Theatre Company, Tigard: $14,648

Caldera, Portland: $18,977 

Cappella Romana Inc., Portland: $7,275 

Chamber Music Northwest , Portland: $14,548 

Children's Healing Art Project, Portland: $4,594 

Clackamas Repertory Theatre, Oregon City: $4,128 

CoHo Productions Ltd, Portland: $4,128

Corrib Theatre, Portland: $4,128

Cracked Pots, Inc, Portland: $3,000 

Curious Comedy Productions, Portland: $5,610 

Echo Theater Company, Portland: $4,736 

Film Action Oregon dba Hollywood Theatre, Portland: $14,140 

Friends of Chamber Music, Portland: $7,753 

Hand2Mouth, Portland: $4,128 

Imago the Theatre Mask Ensemble, Portland: $5,463 

In a Landscape, Portland: $5,614 

Independent Publishing Resource Center Inc., Portland: $6,177 

Japanese Garden Society of Oregon, Portland: $25,000

Lakewood Theatre Company, Lake Oswego: $12,829 

Literary Arts Inc., Portland: $22,017 

Live Wire Radio, Portland: $7,335 

Metroarts Inc, Portland: $4,635

MetroEast Community Media, Gresham: $12,522 

Metropolitan Youth Symphony, Portland: $8,781

Michael Allen Harrison’s Play It Forward, Beaverton: $5,477 

Miracle Theatre Group, Portland: $17,573 

Music Workshop, Portland: $4,128 

My Voice Music, Portland: $5,771

North Pole Studio, Portland: $4,411 

Northwest Children's Theater & School Inc., Portland: $15,165 

Northwest Professional Dance Project, Portland: $9,476 

Old Church Society, Inc., Portland: $7,220

Open Signal, Portland: $21,188 

Opera Theater of Oregon, Portland: $5,047

Oregon Arts Watch, Portland: $3,781

Oregon Ballet Theatre, Portland: $15,411 

Oregon BRAVO Youth Orchestras, Portland: $12,044 

Oregon Center for Contemporary Art, Portland: $9,278 

Oregon Center for the Photographic Arts, Portland: $5,154 

Oregon Children's Theatre Company, Portland: $16,655 

Oregon Repertory Singers, Gladstone: $4,550 

Oregon Society of Artists, Portland: $3,781

Oregon Symphony Association, Portland: $25,000 

Oregon Symphony Association in Salem, Portland: $4,889

Outside the Frame, Portland: $5,552 

Pacific Youth Choir, Portland: $6,330 

PassinArt: A Theatre Company, Portland: $3,781

PHAME Academy, Portland: $7,852 

PlayWrite, Portland: $4,803

Polaris Dance Company, Portland: $6,601 

Portland Actors Conservatory, Portland: $4,128 

Portland Art Museum, Portland: $25,000 

Portland Baroque Orchestra, Portland: $9,806 

Portland Center Stage at The Armory, Portland: $25,000 

Portland Columbia Symphony, Portland: $4,128 

Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble, Portland: $4,128 

Portland Gay Men's Chorus Inc., Portland: $6,584 

Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, Portland: $15,202

Portland Jazz Festival, Inc. dba PDX Jazz, Portland: $7,645 

Portland Opera Association, Portland: $25,000 

Portland Piano International, Portland: $5,428 

Portland Playhouse, Portland: $12,175 

Portland Revels, Portland: $4,835

Portland Street Art Alliance, Portland: $5,273 

Portland Youth Philharmonic, Portland: $9,331 

Profile Theatre Project, Portland: $6,565 

Regional Arts & Culture Council, Portland: $25,000 

Resonance Vocal Ensemble, Portland: $4,492 

SCRAP Creative Reuse, Portland: $7,506

Shaking the Tree Theatre, Portland: $4,148 

Stumptown Stages, Lake Oswego: $4,128 

The Portland Ballet, Portland: $7,303 

The Red Door Project, Portland: $7,812 

Third Angle New Music Ensemble, Portland: $4,396 

Third Rail Repertory Theatre, Portland: $7,256 

triangle productions, Portland: $5,206 

Tualatin Valley Creates, Beaverton: $4,635

Vibe of Portland, Portland: $4,128 

Western Alliance of Arts Administrators Foundation, Portland: $6,134 

White Bird, Portland: $11,299

Willamette Writers, Portland: $3,781 

Write Around Portland, Portland: $8,277 

Young Audiences of Oregon, Portland: $13,476 

Young Musicians & Artists, Portland: $4,140 

Youth Music Project , West Linn: $11,394

Mid-Valley

Chehalem Center Association, Newberg: $7,642 

Children's Educational Theatre, Salem: $4,128 

Enlightened Theatrics, Salem: $3,781 

Historic Elsinore Theatre Inc., Salem: $9,546 

Salem Art Association, Salem: $9,922 

Salem Multicultural Institute, Salem: $5,959 

Willamette Art Center, Salem: $4,128 

Willamette University/Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Salem: $8,468

North Central 

Columbia Center for the Arts, Hood River: $5,858

North Coast

Coaster Theatre Playhouse, Cannon Beach: $5,002

Hoffman Center for the Arts, Manzanita: $3,781

Liberty Restoration Inc., Astoria: $11,443

Northeast

Crossroads Creative and Performing Arts Center Inc., Baker City: $4,128 

Eastern Oregon Regional Arts Council, Inc., La Grande: $4,128 

Fishtrap Inc., Enterprise: $5,857 

Friends of the Opera House, Elgin: $3,792

Josephy Center for Arts and Culture, Joseph: $4,128

South Central

Ross Ragland Theater, Klamath Falls: $10,791

South Coast

Artula Institute for Art and Environmental Education, Bandon: $5,623

Coos Art Museum, Coos Bay: $4,717

Umpqua Valley Arts Association, Roseburg: $5,391

South Valley/Mid Coast

Ballet Fantastique, Eugene: $6,395 

Chamber Music Amici, Eugene: $3,000 

Community Center for the Performing Arts, Eugene: $6,030 

Comunidad y Herencia Cultural, Springfield: $4,604

Corvallis Arts Center Inc., Corvallis: $5,687 

Corvallis Youth Symphony Association, Corvallis: $4,128 

Cottage Theatre, Cottage Grove: $7,914 

Delgani String Quartet, Eugene: $4,216 

Eugene Ballet Company, Eugene: $12,656 

Eugene Concert Choir Inc., Eugene: $5,342 

Eugene Opera, Eugene: $3,000 

Eugene-Springfield Youth Orchestras, Eugene: $4,472

Eugene Symphony Association, Inc., Eugene: $19,159 

Joint Forces Dance Company, Eugene: $4,461 

Lane Arts Council, Eugene: $15,787 

Lincoln City Cultural Center, Lincoln City: $4,814 

Maude I. Kerns Art Center, Eugene: $4,128 

Maxtivity, Philomath: $3,781

Newport Symphony Orchestra, Newport: $4,128 

Oregon Coast Council for the Arts, Newport: $10,015

Oregon Contemporary Theatre, Eugene: $5,891 

Shedd Institute for the Arts, The John G. , Eugene: $14,460

Siletz Bay Music Festival, Lincoln City: $3,781 

Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, Otis: $9,300 

The Very Little Theatre, Eugene: $4,128 

University of Oregon Foundation – Oregon Bach Festival, Eugene: $16,834

Whiteside Theatre Foundation, Corvallis: $3,781

Wordcrafters in Eugene, Eugene: $3,781

Southern

Anima Mundi Productions, Phoenix: $3,781

Collaborative Theatre Project Inc., Medford: $4,128

Grants Pass Museum of Art, Grants Pass: $4,128 

Oregon Shakespeare Festival Association, Ashland: $25,000 

Peter Britt Gardens Arts and Music Festival Association, Medford: $20,949

Rogue Valley Art Association, Medford: $5,316 

Rogue Valley Chorale Association, Medford: $4,128 

Rogue World Music, Ashland: $4,128 

Southern Oregon Repertory Singers, Ashland: $4,128 

Southern Oregon University/ Chamber Music Concerts, Ashland: $4,128 

Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon, Medford: $4,128

Region and counties key: 

Central (Jefferson, Deschutes and Crook Counties)

Greater Eastern North (Gilliam, Morrow, Umatilla, Wheeler and Grant Counties)

Greater Eastern South (Harney and Malheur Counties)

Portland Metro (Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas Counties)   

Mid-Valley (Yamhill, Polk and Marion Counties) 

North Central (Hood River, Wasco and Sherman Counties)

North Coast (Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook Counties) 

Northeast (Wallowa, Union and Baker Counties)

South Central (Klamath and Lake Counties) 

South Coast (Douglas, Coos and Curry Counties) 

South Valley/Mid-Coast (Lincoln, Benton, Linn and Lane Counties) 

Southern (Josephine and Jackson Counties) 

The Oregon Arts Commission provides leadership, funding and arts programs through its grants, special initiatives and services. Nine commissioners, appointed by the Governor, determine arts needs and establish policies for public support of the arts. The Arts Commission became part of Business Oregon (formerly Oregon Economic and Community Development Department) in 1993, in recognition of the expanding role the arts play in the broader social, economic and educational arenas of Oregon communities. In 2003, the Oregon Legislature moved the operations of the Oregon Cultural Trust to the Arts Commission, streamlining operations and making use of the Commission’s expertise in grantmaking, arts and cultural information and community cultural development. 

The Arts Commission is supported with general funds appropriated by the Oregon legislature and with federal funds from the National Endowment for the Arts as well as funds from the Oregon Cultural Trust. More information about the Oregon Arts Commission is available online at artscommission.oregon.gov.

On Monday, October 2, 2023 at around 5:07 PM, a Lincoln City Police Officer spotted 33-year-old Ryan Downey of Lincoln City walking in the area of 1700 SW Hwy 101. The Officer was aware there was an active felony warrant for Downey’s arrest issued out of Lincoln County for Burglary and other miscellaneous charges. It was further known there was information purporting Downey may be carrying a weapon.  

As other officers began responding to the area, Downey realized law enforcement was looking for him and he fled east across the highway where he was last seen in the area of SE 16^th Street. Responding officers set up a perimeter,  and K-9 Nato was deployed to search for Downey. K-9 Nato successfully tracked Downey’s path and ultimately located him hiding in the brush along a fence line. Downey was advised that a K-9 was present and ordered to come out from hiding. Downey peacefully surrendered and was taken into custody without further incident.

After being taken into custody, Downey was transported to the Lincoln County Jail where he was lodged on the felony warrant and on additional charges of Theft in the second degree stemming from an unrelated incident.   

This incident highlights the importance of having the police K-9 available here in Lincoln City which allowed officers to quickly locate and safely take into custody a wanted person. The Lincoln City Police are grateful for the incredible community support that allowed us to implement the K-9 program.

Submitted by:  Lieutenant Jeffrey Winn

OREGON - The FBI is announcing the results of Operation Not Forgotten, which dedicated over 40 FBI Special Agents, Intelligence Analysts, Staff Operations Specialists, and Victim Specialists to 10 FBI Field Offices whose designated regions support women and children in indigenous communities, including the FBI Portland Field Office. During Operation Not Forgotten, over 220 cases were handled by investigators during the resource surge. During the operation, resources were added to FBI Portland's Bend Resident Agency to focus on Indian Country in Oregon. 

Recognizing the importance of a comprehensive approach to combating crime in Indian Country, investigative personnel and victim specialists collectively deployed to tribal areas to examine cases and focus resources on seeking justice for women and children who have been victims of crime.

“The FBI’s efforts in Indian Country in the state of Oregon are ever present. Operation Not Forgotten amplified our existing commitment to the indigenous communities in our area by serving as a force multiplier to investigate cases of missing women and children in Indian Country,” said Kieran L. Ramsey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Portland Field Office. “The increased effort resulted in several arrests, including that of a fugitive who had been on the run for years. However, the true measure of success is seeing justice brought to families in conjunction with the FBI’s surge in resources.”

“Operation Not Forgotten reflects the FBI’s relentless and continued commitment to ensuring the safety and security of women and children in indigenous communities,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. “By expanding our presence in Indian Country and working closely with tribal law enforcement agencies and community advocates, the FBI aims to achieve meaningful and impactful progress in solving these cases and bringing justice for victims and their families and loved ones.”

This initiative, along with the FBI's broader Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) strategy, emphasizes the FBI’s continued dedication to address the violence impacting indigenous communities. The FBI is committed to maintaining close collaboration with tribal law enforcement agencies, tribal governments, and community members to build safer communities and protect the rights of all individuals. 

FBI field offices that received dedicated personnel: 

• Albuquerque
• Detroit
• Denver
• Minneapolis
• Oklahoma City
• Omaha
• Phoenix
• Portland
• Seattle
• Salt Lake City

Individuals with any relevant information are encouraged to visit tips.fbi.gov to submit an online tip or contact their local FBI office. 

Resources: 

FBI Indian Country Crime - https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/violent-crime/indian-country-crime

FBI Indian Country in Judicial Districts - https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/indian-country-in-judicial-districts.pdf/view

FBI Victim Services - https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/victim-services 

FBI Indian Country News - https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/violent-crime/indian-country-crime/indian-country-news

Lebanon, Ore.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and all month long you’ll be seeing your #BestFirefightersAround in these pink duty shirts to help spread awareness, but we also want to take a moment to highlight all cancers, and the increased risk of cancer for firefighters.

On average, firefighters have a 9% higher risk of developing cancer, and a 14% higher risk of dying from cancer compared to the general public, according to the US Fire Administration. In fact, according to the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), 60% of the firefighters added to the Fallen Firefighter Memorial Wall of Honor since 2002 have succumbed to cancer, making it the number one cause of firefighter line-of-duty deaths. Occupational cancers firefighters are most susceptible to include respiratory cancers, oral, esophageal and intestinal cancers, kidney cancer, testicular cancer, skin cancer, brain cancer, colon cancer and more.

Why is the occurrence of cancer so much higher in firefighters than the general public? Even with protective gear, firefighters are exposed to much higher levels of carcinogens when entering burning buildings. These contaminants can linger on gear and skin and be absorbed through physical contact, or inhaled when on fire scenes. Additionally, PFAS, known commonly as “forever chemicals,” are often used when making fire-resistant safety gear that adds to a firefighter’s risk of developing cancer. 

At the Lebanon Fire District, we are committed to the safety and wellness of our firefighters who serve this community. Members of the District have traveled to conferences dedicated to firefighter health and safety and brought back valuable information when it comes to preventing occupational cancer. The new station being built will include a “clean” room, where firefighters will have the opportunity to perform gross decontamination procedures before entering the living quarters of the station. Exhaust fans that do a better job of filtering out harmful exhaust in the bays will also be installed. For our firefighters’ gear, our PPE procurement teams have already begun working with manufacturers to purchase gear that protects firefighters from contaminants during the next replacement cycles. 

So, if you see your firefighters out and about in pink shirts this month, know that we are committed to spreading awareness of all types of cancers, and preventing occupational cancers of our own. Taking care of our firefighters’ health and wellness means they can take care of you.

Sandy, Ore.  – The Bureau of Land Management is pleased to announce the reopening of the Sandy Ridge Trail System today. The popular recreation site has been closed since late August due to fire operations associated with the nearby Camp Creek Fire. 

“We appreciate everyone’s patience with the closure. People are eager to get back on the trails and we are happy we can reopen safely today,” said Amanda Hoffman, Cascades Field Office Manager. 

The Sandy Ridge Recreation Site is 11 miles east of Sandy, Ore. on U.S. Highway 26. The site includes 17 miles of single-track mountain bike trails. 

Please visit https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/mountainbike/sandyridge for additional information on the Sandy Ridge Recreation Site. 

Additional information on the Camp Creek Fire can be found at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/ormhf-camp-creek-fire

-BLM-

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The agency’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Diverse activities authorized on these lands generated $75 billion in sales of goods and services throughout the American economy in fiscal year 2016—more than any other agency in the Department of the Interior. These activities supported more than 372,000 jobs.

The Benton County Developmental Diversity Program will hold an open house event on Friday, October 20, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Benton County Sunset Building at 4077 SW Research Way in Corvallis. They invite the community to join them in their new office location, after resettling from their move in February 2023.

The event is open to all ages and will include free food, music, and fun activities for all. Community members are invited to tour the new space, learn more about the Developmental Diversity Program, ask questions, and get to know the team.

“We’re excited to welcome folks in to share our new space, build community, and celebrate developmental diversity together,” said Developmental Diversity Division Manager, Jasper Smith.

The event coincides with National Disability Employment Month, celebrated every year in October to highlight the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities past and present and showcases supportive, inclusive employment policies and practices that benefit employers and employees.

The Benton County Developmental Diversity Program provides support for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities that meet state criteria for eligibility. The program serves as the point of access to services and support for people in Benton County, including employment connections and supports.

Benton County was the first county in the state to launch a program for people with developmental disabilities. It began in 1971 as a pilot and after two years, counties all over the state began adopting the program. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the statewide program.

We encourage you to learn more about the program and services and attend the open house event. For Open House information and accommodations, contact healthdeptcommunications@bentoncountyor.gov.

Diversidad del Desarrollo del Condado de Benton presentación de las oficinas

El Programa de Diversidad del Desarrollo del Condado de Benton llevará a cabo una presentación de sus nuevas oficinas el viernes 20 de octubre de 2023 de 4:00 p.m. a 6:00 p.m. en el edificio Sunset del Condado de Benton en el 4077 SW Research Way en Corvallis. Toda la comunidad está invitada a venir a la nueva ubicación de sus oficinas, después de haberse movido y reinstalado en febrero de 2023.

El evento es para todas las edades e incluye comida, música y divertidas actividades gratis para todos. Los miembros de la comunidad están invitados a recorrer el nuevo espacio, aprender más sobre el Programa de Diversidad del Desarrollo, hacer preguntas y conocer al equipo.
"Estamos entusiasmados de darle la bienvenida a la gente para que comparta nuestro nuevo espacio, construir una comunidad y celebrar juntos la diversidad del desarrollo", dijo el gerente de la División de Diversidad del Desarrollo, Jasper Smith.

El evento coincide con el Mes Nacional del Empleo para Personas con Discapacidad, que se celebra cada año en octubre para resaltar las contribuciones de los trabajadores con discapacidades del pasado y del presente de Estados Unidos y muestra políticas y prácticas de empleo inclusivas y de apoyo que benefician a empleadores y empleados.
El Programa de Diversidad del Desarrollo del Condado de Benton brinda apoyo a niños y adultos con discapacidades intelectuales y del desarrollo que cumplen con los criterios estatales de elegibilidad. El programa sirve como punto de acceso a servicios y apoyo para las personas en el Condado de Benton, incluyendo conexiones y apoyos de trabajo.

El Condado de Benton fue el primer condado del estado en lanzar un programa para personas con discapacidades del desarrollo. Comenzó en 1971 como programa piloto y después de dos años, condados de todo el estado comenzaron a adoptar el programa. Este año se cumple el 50 aniversario del programa estatal.

Para obtener más información sobre el programa y los servicios, asista a la presentación de las oficinas o visite: https://www.co.benton.or.us/health/page/programa-de-diversidades-de-desarollo.

Para obtener información sobre la jornada de la presentación y adaptaciones, healthdeptcommunications@bentoncountyor.gov.

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Benton County is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to our programs, services, activities, hiring and employment practices. This document is available in alternative formats and languages upon request. Please contact Cory Grogan at 541-745-4468 or pioinfo@co.benton.or.us.

EDITORS: OHA and ODHS experts will be available to answer reporters’ questions about the LUBGWMA outreach, education and testing campaign during a virtual media availability at 11 a.m. today (Tuesday, Oct. 3). Interested reporters can join the availability via Zoom at this link. 

October 3, 2023

Media contacts: 

Jonathan Modie, OHA, 971-246-9139, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Sherryll Hoar, ODHS, 504-779-9317, em.odhs@odhsoha.oregon.gov

Domestic well water awareness and testing campaign in Umatilla and Morrow counties increases well testing, information in region 

More than 50% of domestic well users in Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area issued testing voucher following 6-month campaign

PORTLAND, Ore.— Following a directive from Gov. Tina Kotek, a coalition of state, local and community partners had met its goal of meaningfully offering water testing to all 3,300 identified domestic well-using households in Morrow and Umatilla counties within the Lower Umatilla Groundwater Management Area (LUBGWMA).

The goal of the effort – in which state agencies partnered with local public health departments and community organizations on an intensive bilingual canvassing, outreach and communications campaign – was to increase awareness about the risk of exposure to high nitrate levels in domestic well water and the availability of free water testing. For households with well water testing above the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) maximum contaminant level of 10 milligrams per liter of water, the state is paying for bottled water delivery and, where effective, free in-home water treatment systems.

Groundwater in the LUBGWMA contains elevated levels of nitrate. High levels of nitrate consumption can be harmful to human health, especially for infants and pregnant women.

At Gov. Kotek’s request, the Oregon Legislature allocated funding through June 2025 to support testing, water provisioning and treatment systems, as well as continued outreach and education by state and local public health authorities and community-based organizations. Residents will be offered free repeat nitrate testing of their private well water and continued delivery of free drinking water to those whose nitrate levels test higher than 10 mg/liter. 

The campaign, which kicked off in March, focused on quickly increasing information in the LUBGWMA about the dangers of drinking water that is high in nitrate levels and how residents can receive a voucher for free laboratory testing from the state.

“This campaign has been so important to increase awareness about the public health risks for all residents, and especially pregnant women and babies” said Sandra Hernandes, Ph.D., executive director of Doulas Latinas International. “It’s been a huge value to work with other community-based organizations, local county public health, and the state to quickly spread the word and educate our communities in various languages, such as Spanish, Mam, Quiche', and English about health risks and how to access free resources.

“Bringing teams to canvass all neighborhoods, going door-to-door and making sure everyone in the Lower Umatilla Basin is given an opportunity for well testing has been a great support resource from the state,” said Robin Canaday, Morrow County Public Health director. “Now that we have a sense of which households are testing above the recommended limit, we’re able to understand where we need to re-test moving forward and what communities still need additional information.”

A coalition of state agencies, local public health authorities and community-based organizations that have been involved in the campaign will continue to provide educational information about health risks from nitrates in domestic well water in the LUBGWMA and encourage domestic well users to get their water tested.

The state will continue to advertise access to free water testing, water delivery and treatment, and to help residents with applying for testing, collecting water samples, delivering samples to a lab for analysis, and supporting Morrow and Umatilla counties’ public health departments in signing up people for water delivery if nitrate levels in their well water test above 10 mg/L.

So far, the drinking water of 235 households has tested above 10 mg/L; 341 households are receiving water delivery; and treatment systems have been installed in 28 homes. We expect this number to increase significantly in the next couple of weeks, as we work through the backlog and check the results for validity. Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) TestMyWell.Oregon.gov website will continue to be updated with the most recent metrics as they are available.

Well users in Morrow County have been receiving water deliveries since before the state’s campaign began, after the county issued a domestic well emergency declaration in June 2022 and tested 500 wells. The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) provided funding for county water delivery to households with nitrate over 10 mg/L.

Taking lessons from the COVID-19 campaign, this awareness effort included:

• Bilingual social media and digital advertising.
• Print media advertisements in local publication.
• Partnerships with local community-based organizations for outreach and events, including: Doulas Latinas International, Eastern Oregon Center for Independent Living, Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides, and Oregon Rural Action.
• Two contaminated domestic well open house community forums, attended by 400 residents and tabling by partners at more than two dozen community events.
• Direct door-to-door canvassing of all LUBGWMA residents outside areas served by public water systems.
• A contract with 211 for residents to get help completing a testing voucher application and schedule an appointment for well water collection and delivery to a state-contracted laboratory.
• Outreach materials designed with community input and provided to partners, including posters, yard signs, tabling event banners, educational magnets, water bottles, and more.

Outreach metrics of note include:

• 5,400 visits to addresses, including repeat visits to households where residents were not home.
• Health information provided at all 5,400 attempted contacts. Door hangers with contact information left when residents were not home.
• 1,000 water samples collected throughout the campaign.
• 1,200 households that were inaccessible (no trespassing signs or hostile dogs) identified for follow-up via specialized mailing campaigns.
• Identified 3,291 residences dependent on domestic wells in the LUBGWMA.

Communications metrics of note include:

• Three direct-mail postcards to all households in the LUBGWMA.
• 3,030,688 impressions on paid digital communications.
• 15,379 website visits to OHA’s English and Spanish websites.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality designated the LUBGWMA in 1990 under Oregon’s Groundwater Quality Protection Act of 1989 due to regional nitrate-nitrogen concentrations in groundwater that exceeded 7 mg/L.

LUBGWMA nitrate level health information

Households in the LUBGWMA that rely on domestic well water for drinking and cooking, and with nitrate test results above 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of water, are eligible to receive water deliveries. Households with test results between 10 mg/L and 25 mg/L of nitrate can get vouchers for in-home water treatment systems. End-of-tap treatment systems are not effective when nitrate levels are above 25 mg/L.

Water with nitrate levels up to 10 mg/L is considered safe for all uses, including drinking, cooking and toothbrushing. Water with more than 10 mg/L is safe for other uses, such as bathing, washing dishes, laundry and garden irrigation, and also for toothbrushing by adults and older children who can brush without swallowing water.

Well users in the LUBGWMA can schedule a free well water test appointment by calling 211. Well users also can apply for a voucher online, by email, or by phone to get a free well water testing voucher for nitrate. OHA is also paying on a one-time basis for other recommended domestic well contaminants (arsenic, bacteria, lead), as well as hardness, iron and manganese to inform treatment system decisions. OHA will pay for repeat testing of nitrate in the future as needed:

• Online: https://testmywell.oregon.gov 
• Email: Wells@odhsoha.oregon.gov
• Phone: 211 for help completing a voucher and setting as appointment for the state to collect a water sample and deliver it to the laboratory.

For more information, contact the OHA Domestic Well Safety Program at 971-673-0440 or Domestic.Wells@odhsoha.oregon.gov.

Canvassers went door-to-door across the Lower Umatilla Basin to identify households that depend on domestic well water. OHA and ODHS consider this total to be “the ground-truthed" number of residences that rely on domestic wells in the Lower Umatilla Basin; previous to the campaign this information was unavailable. This number is subject to change in the future as informal residences may be identified.

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SALEM, Ore. – Oct. 3, 2023 — Oregon is home to several fault lines that cause dozens of earthquakes every year. The most known earthquake threat is the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a 700-mile fault located off the Pacific coast that puts Oregon at risk for a 9.0+ magnitude earthquake. A quake of that size could cause five to seven minutes of shaking, followed by a tsunami that would devastate coastal areas. October features several events reminding Oregonians to prepare and protect themselves before the ground starts shaking.

Wireless Emergency Alerts
“One of the most important steps people can take is to enable Wireless Emergency Alerts, or WEA, on their cell phones,” said Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) Director Erin McMahon. “WEA are short emergency messages sent to your phone to warn of an impending natural or human-made disaster, like an earthquake. WEA messages can provide immediate, life-saving information.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is conducting a nationwide WEA test on all consumer cell phones at 11:20 a.m. on Oct. 4. People will see a message on their phones that reads “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” Phones with the main menu set to Spanish will display: “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción.” 

At the same time, FEMA will also test the Emergency Alert System (EAS) that broadcasts on radios and televisions. The message will read, “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.”

ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning Notifications
People in Oregon, Washington and California who’ve opted into WEA automatically receive ShakeAlert earthquake early warning notifications for earthquakes in their area with a magnitude of 4.5 or greater, which can offer critical seconds of warning to seek cover from falling objects and brace themselves. ShakeAlert uses science and technology to detect significant earthquakes quickly and sends an alert to people on their cell phones. The alert makes a distinctive sound and displays a text message reading, “Earthquake detected! Drop, cover, hold on. Protect yourself.” This message is also available in Spanish for phones set to receive alerts in that language. Some cell phones with text-to-voice capability may read out the message text.

Great Oregon ShakeOut
An effective and no-cost way for individuals and families to practice earthquake safety is to register for The Great Oregon ShakeOut, a self-led earthquake drill taking place at 10:19 a.m. on Oct. 19. Nearly half a million Oregonians have already registered, pledging to Drop, Cover and Hold On for at least 60 seconds as if a major earthquake was occurring at that moment.

“Knowing what to do when the earth starts shaking helps people reduce their risk and better protect themselves to prepare for earthquakes,” said Director McMahon. “Most emergency management experts and official preparedness organizations agree that Drop, Cover and Hold On is the appropriate action to reduce the chance of injury from falling objects and flying debris during earthquakes. When people practice these simple steps, it becomes a routine that allows instincts to kick in when shaking starts.”

When the ground starts to shake, or you receive an earthquake alert on a cell phone:

• Drop immediately onto hands and knees. This position protects you from being knocked down and allows you to stay low and crawl to a nearby shelter. If you use a wheelchair or walker, lock your wheels.
• Cover your head and neck with one arm and hand. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter. If there is no nearby shelter, crawl next to an interior wall away from windows. Remain on your knees and bend over to protect vital organs.
• Hold On until the shaking stops. If under a shelter, hold onto it with one hand and be ready to move with the shelter if it shifts. If there is no shelter, hold onto your head and neck with both arms and hands.

If you're near the ocean and feel a large earthquake, Drop, Cover and Hold On until the shaking stops. Then walk inland and up to high ground. Do not wait for an official warning, as a tsunami could come ashore in a few minutes. Learn more about earthquake preparedness on OEM’s website.

ORAlert and Be 2 Weeks Ready
OEM also encourages people in Oregon to sign up for local emergency alerts from their county or tribe at ORAlert.gov; be informed and knowledgeable about the hazards where they live; and have an emergency plan and enough food, water and supplies to survive for at least two weeks following any disaster. The agency’s Be 2 Weeks Ready program offers several resources in multiple languages to help people prepare.

Learn more at oregon.gov/oem.

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OEM Geological Hazards Program Coordinator Althea Rizzo is available for interviews on Oct. 3. Please contact Chris Crabb to make arrangements.

By Maureen Brakke 

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University is proud to partner with the nation’s largest scholarship and success program for immigrant youth, TheDream.US, to help more Dreamers achieve their college and career goals. This year, Western Oregon University will welcome 13 new scholars to campus, joining the dozens of other returning scholars at Western.

The new Scholars starting their academic journeys at Western are part of the largest-ever cohort of TheDream.US Scholars - more than 1,800 new scholars across the country are attending more than 80 institutions. 

“It is an honor to work with The Dream.US to support a pathway for undocumented students to pursue their college education,” said Vice President for Student Affairs, Tina Fuchs. “ Our dedicated staff and faculty walk side-by-side with our Dreamer scholars on their journey at Western, celebrating every important milestone along the way. We stand committed to providing ongoing support and assistance to address their academic, financial, and personal needs, culminating in the completion of their college degree.”

Gaby Pacheco, director of Advocacy, Communications, and Development at TheDream.US, stated, “We are proud to partner with Western Oregon University and our other partner colleges to support talented Dreamers’ pursuit of higher education and career success. Despite many obstacles that have been put in their way, our scholars continue to persevere and succeed, demonstrating in the process why expanding opportunities for Dreamers is so important for the nation.”

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About Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University, founded in 1856 in Monmouth, is the state’s oldest public university. Serving about 4,000 students, WOU is a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution with about 70% of the student population being from Oregon. A significant portion of attendees are members of under-represented groups, veterans, or non-traditional students. WOU is Oregon’s campus of choice for those seeking a transformative education in a supportive, student-centered learning community where classes are taught by faculty. Together we succeed.

https://wou.edu/2023/10/03/western-oregon-university-welcomes-new-scholars/

Lane County Public Health Communicable Disease section will be providing youth COVID and Influenza immunizations through Vaccines For Children (VFC) program at various clinics at Lane County Public Health. The COVID immunization will be the updated monovalent version.Children 6 months to 18 years of age who are uninsured, underinsured, Medicaid, and/or Native/Alaskan American will be eligible to receive these immunizations free of charge. LCPH will also be providing COVID and Influenza vaccines to privately insured children.

“We are exited to be able to offer this opportunity to children across Lane County,” said Lane County Public Health Communicable Disease Supervisor, Nicole Sticka. “VFC allows us to insure children of families who have significant barriers to basic healthcare can receive vital protection going into this respiratory disease season.”

While influenza immunizations are currently available, the updated COVID vaccine will not be available through LCPH until later this month. Pharmacies are also approved to provide these vaccines to anyone over the age of 7 and LCPH encourages those who are able to do so to seek services via their healthcare provider or a pharmacy.

Now that the COVID vaccine is widely available coupled with the effect of Federal and State funding cuts to COVID funding, LCPH is currently unable to provide privately insured/Medicaid/Medicare COVID vaccine for adults (age 19 and over). Instead, LCPH will be using what limited resources are available to focus on those in the community with the highest need based on access and uninsured status.

Thanks to funding through the CDC Bridge Access Program and OHA’s Special Projects Program, LCPH will be able to provide adult COVID and influenza vaccinations to uninsured Lane County residents through targeted outreach to areas where access is limited. These vaccines will be provided by the Lane County Mobile Public Health unit in cooperation with community partners who already have relationships with the target populations. It is important to note that appointments will not be available for these vaccines via LCPH as they will be scheduled through the community based organizations LCPH is partnering with.

To find out what clinics are available for the VFC program or to make an appointment with Communicable Disease call: 541-682-4041.

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is accepting public comment on proposed updates to the rules for excluding individuals from Oregon State Parks who commit violations, including endangering the safety of visitors and staff (OAR 736-010-0020 and 736-021-0040). 

The Exclusion Rule Advisory Committee, which includes representatives from the mental health community, attorneys, agency safety staff and park hosts, developed a set of recommendations to update the exclusion rules during a series of three public meetings.

The proposed updates will clarify the process for excluding individuals from Oregon State Parks who commit rule violations that endanger the safety of visitors, staff or park resources; provide clear information on how excluded individuals may request an appeal and how the appeals will be processed.

OPRD is accepting comments until 5 p.m. Nov. 3, 2023, and they can be made online, at a public hearing, in writing or via email:

Online: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/PRP/pages/PRP-rulemaking.aspx

Mail: OPRD Department, attn: Katie Gauthier, 725 Summer St NE, Suite C, Salem OR 97301

Email: D.Publiccomment@oprd.oregon.gov">OPRD.Publiccomment@oprd.oregon.gov

Virtual Public Hearing:  2 p.m. Oct. 30. Must register in advance to receive conference link. Register at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_eWNdOpNMSlqyK1hWS2RExg

Individuals who require special accommodations for the meeting should contact Helena Kesch at least three days in advance of the meeting at Helena.KESCH@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-881-4637.

UPDATE-

The Oregon State Police major crimes section is providing an update to the active officer involved shooting investigation in Polk County.

The suspect vehicle was occupied by the following:

              Isaac Ivan Ocegueda (18) of Carlton- Declared deceased at the scene.

              Jose Manuel Coral Zavala (20) of Salem

              Female Juvenile (17)

The Polk County Deputy has been identified as Deputy Mike Smith; an 8 year veteran of the agency, who has been placed on administrative leave per SB111 protocols.

During the investigation, limited information is available for release in order to preserve the investigation itself. 

OSP Investigating Officer Involved Shooting- Polk County

The Oregon State Police major crimes section is actively investigating an officer involved shooting at the request of the Polk County District Attorney’s Office- in accordance with SB111 protocols.

On Saturday, September 30, at approximately 1:30 A.M., an Independence Police Officer initiated a traffic stop and the suspect vehicle fled.  The pursuit ended after officers deployed spike strips, disabling the vehicle, and the suspect fled on foot. Law enforcement officers responded to the area and located the suspect as he attempted to flee the area in another vehicle. The suspect opened fire on responding officers, striking a Polk County Deputy and law enforcement officers discharged their weapons in response. 

As a result of the gunfire exchange, one suspect is deceased, another is injured, and the original suspect has been arrested. 

There is no reason to believe there is any danger to the public at this time.

Due to the on-going investigation, further details are currently unavailable.  All future releases will come from the Polk County District Attorney’s Office.

The Lane County Sheriff’s Office received the report of an armed robbery on the morning of 09/28/2023. An adult victim reported that they were driving on River Rd. at about 3:45am when they were flagged down by two men that had been standing in the middle of the road.  The men asked for a ride to which the victim agreed. 

As they were near Lone Pine Dr. one of the suspects produced a handgun and pointed it at the victim. The suspects then stole the victim’s cell phone and car.  The victim was allowed to exit the vehicle at which time he went to a nearby house to call 911.  The vehicle was abandoned later in the morning in Cowlitz County, Washington.

The suspects in this case are both described as black males in their twenties.  One suspect had curly black hair, while the other had short black hair. 

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150 opt. 1. 

(Springfield, Ore.) Oct. 2, 2023-PacificSource Community Solutions, part of the PacificSource family of companies that provides Medicaid services, will pay out more than $72 million dollars to care providers in Central Oregon, the Columbia Gorge, Lane County, Marion County and Polk County. The payouts will support quality initiatives strategically aimed at improving the health of individuals within each region’s respective Coordinated Care Organizations (CCO). The funds were initially received by PacificSource Community Solutions in late 2023 as Quality Pool payments made by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to recognize the CCOs’ care providers’ quality performance during 2022. 

Each respective region’s payouts will be as follows:

• Central Oregon – $20,232,932 
• Columbia Gorge –$4,443,492
• Lane –$18,507,765
• Marion and Polk –$28,988,982 

Quality measures are used by the OHA to determine how successful CCOs and their provider networks have been at improving care, making quality care accessible, eliminating health disparities, and curbing the rising cost of healthcare for the populations they serve. PacificSource works with Health Councils in each region to determine the distribution of these funds.

“We are pleased to reinvest in our regional partners who consistently deliver high-quality care year-over-year,” said PacificSource Vice President of Medicaid Erin Fair Taylor. “Their tireless and ongoing efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of underserved communities deserves recognition and gratitude.”

Medicaid, which is government-funded health insurance for low-income individuals and families, currently covers approximately one in four residents in the four counties.

The OHA has published a Performance Report that includes all of Oregon’s CCOs. It can be found online at https://shorturl.at/fjqsF 

About PacificSource Community Solutions

PacificSource Community Solutions is part of the PacificSource family of companies that provides Medicaid services to Central Oregon and the Columbia Gorge, as well as Lane, Marion, and Polk Counties. PacificSource Health Plans is an independent, not-for-profit community health plan serving the Northwest. Founded in 1933, PacificSource is based in Springfield, Oregon, with local offices throughout Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Washington. The PacificSource family of companies employs over 1,500 people and serves more than 600,000 individuals throughout the Greater Northwest. For more information, visit PacificSource.com.

Lebanon, Ore.

Last Thursday, September 28, 2023, the Lebanon Fire District was pleased to share the badge pinning and swearing in of three new firefighter recruits with their families and friends. 

Firefighters Jacob Graff, Juan Garcia-Olivares, and Nicole Sonneman were sworn in after completing a rigorous weeks long academy. Fire Chief Joseph Rodondi and Professional Firefighters Local 2163 President Stacy Porchia shared words of advice and encouragement to the new recruits, before Division Chief of Operations John Tacy administered the Firefighter’s Oath of Office. Each new firefighter was then pinned by a family member. Read on to learn more about the three newest best firefighters around.

Firefighter Jacob Graff: FF Graff began his career in the fire service serving as a resident volunteer at North Bend Fire Department in Coos County. When he’s not on shift, Jacob enjoys golfing, and even golfed in college during his time at Southwestern Oregon Community College.

Firefighter Juan Garcia-Olivares: FF Garcia-Olivares served as a resident volunteer here at the Lebanon Fire District while attending Lane Community College before being hired full-time. This past summer, Juan was assigned to our Wildfire Prevention team, and assisted with programs such as free address markers and home wildfire readiness evaluations. Firefighter Garcia-Olivares enjoys hanging out with his family and girlfriend, hunting, and drawing.

Firefighter Nicole Sonneman: FF Sonneman has been with the Lebanon Fire District since July of 2022 serving as a Single Role Paramedic before successfully completing the competitive hiring process as a dual-role firefighter. She’s been a teacher and leader at the Linn County Young Women’s Fire Academy as a member of the Halsey-Shedd Fire District. When she’s not on shift, Firefighter Sonneman enjoys skiing and trips to the sand dunes.

Salem, Ore. –  Oregonians have a chance to win the fourth largest Powerball jackpot in history with tonight’s drawing estimated at $1.04 billion.

A $50,000 winning Powerball ticket was purchased in Tillamook in Saturday’s drawing, but no one claimed the top prize. Since the current jackpot run up began on July 22, Oregon has seen 439,688 winners and more than $4.7 million in total Powerball game winnings. This is the first time two consecutive jackpot runs have produced billion dollar jackpots in the Powerball game.

In this latest run, the Oregon Lottery has sold $18.49 million in tickets. Approximately a third of sales from the game will be returned to state beneficiaries to support economic development, education, veteran services, state parks and more. 

Retailers who sell lottery tickets also earn commissions from the boost in ticket sales and bonus payments for lower tier wins. For instance, an Oregon retailer who sells a $1 million ticket would earn a $10,000 bonus. 

Powerball is a multi-state jackpot operated by 44 states, plus the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The largest prize won in Oregon was a $340 million jackpot in 2005. 

The Oregon Lottery recommends that you always sign the back of your ticket to ensure you can claim your prize. In the event of winning a jackpot, players should consult with a trusted financial planner or similar professional to develop a plan for their winnings. Players have a year to claim their prize. 

Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned nearly $15.5 billion for economic development, public education, outdoor school, state parks, veteran services, and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org. 

 OnPoint’s eBook provides guidance on protecting against the newest cybersecurity techniques

PORTLAND, Ore., October 2, 2023 — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received more than 2.4 million fraud reports from consumers in 2022. Consumers nearly lost $8.8 billion from fraud, an increase of 30 percent from the $6.1 billion lost the previous year. 

This increase in fraud losses is a stark reminder of why consumers need to continue to be vigilant when it comes to their personal online security, says Damian Laviolette, Chief Information Security Officer for OnPoint Community Credit Union.

OnPoint today released its 2023 “The OnPoint Guide to Personal Cybersecurity” eBook to help consumers protect themselves in an ever-evolving cybercrime landscape. OnPoint updates the free eBook every October in observance of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month to keep the community informed of the latest online threats. 

“Protecting yourself from fraud is crucial in today's digital age,” Laviolette said. “As cybercriminals refine their attack methods, we remain committed to sharing best practices and resources to help the community stay ahead of emerging trends, and safeguard their identities and financial assets.”

The latest trends in online fraud include:                                                                                                                                                                         

• Smishing remains a critical threat. In 2022, fraudsters sent a record-breaking 225.7 billion smishing texts. Smishing attacks often involve misleading messages designed to deceive recipients into clicking malicious links, downloading malware or revealing sensitive information. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced new rules to mitigate spam texting, which will require mobile service providers to block text messages from suspicious sources. 
• AI-driven cybercrime. Cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting artificial intelligence tools. They leverage Natural Language Processing (NLP) models like ChatGPT to create convincing messages that mimic human communication. AI can be employed to create and adapt malware to evade detection, with the ability to analyze target environments and deliver the most effective attacks. AI-driven tools also can automate cyberattacks by using bots to continuously scan the internet for vulnerable systems to target.
• Phishing-as-a-service. Phishing remains one of the most common forms of cybercrime, with an estimated 3.4 billion spam emails sent every day. Now, cybercriminals are using phishing-as-a-service platforms that offer ready-made kits with all the code, graphics, email templates, landing pages and other relevant information necessary to execute a phishing scam. These kits are readily available on dark web forums and make it easy for anyone to use.

Top Four Tips for Cybersecurity:

• Never trust, always verify. Imposter scams topped the list of fraud cases in 2022. These scams come in the form of emails, texts or phone calls, claiming to be a legitimate company or institution. They either want you to hand over personal information or click on a link containing hidden malware. If it’s email, always double-check the sender’s address and domain name and never rely on the display name. You can hover over a link to see if the URL looks legitimate or has common tricks like a zero in place of the letter “o” or an “s” added to the end of a word like onpoints.com. Watch out for any offer or notification that is unsolicited or is full of grammatical errors and typos. And if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Strengthen your passwords or consider using passphrases. It’s common to use the same username and password across sites. But if one account is breached, the rest could follow. Use a password manager to keep track of different passwords. Passphrases can be an even stronger way to protect your accounts. Passphrases are longer than a password, can contain spaces between words and should be easy to remember. Consider song lyrics, a quotation or anything memorable to you like “My 1st pet dog was F!d0,” mixing in symbols and numbers in place of some letters. 
• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA). Activate MFA wherever possible, especially for your email, financial and social media accounts. MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring you to enter a one-time code or use a biometric method to access your account. This additional security helps protect your accounts from unauthorized access.
• Stay proactive and vigilant. Regularly review your bank and credit card statements for unauthorized transactions. Report any discrepancies immediately to your financial institution. You can also set up text or email alerts on your accounts to receive immediate notifications of abnormal activity. Consider using a credit monitoring service, which tracks internet traffic for personal information being shopped on the dark web. These services can’t prevent fraud once it’s happened, but they can alert you to take action.

Remember that fraudsters continually evolve their tactics, so it's essential to stay vigilant and adapt to new threats. To explore additional ways to protect yourself and your family, download The OnPoint Guide to Cybersecurity eBook or consult with a staff member at your nearest OnPoint branch. 

ABOUT ONPOINT COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION

OnPoint Community Credit Union is the largest credit union in Oregon, serving over 522,000 members and with assets of $8.7 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. OnPoint Community Credit Union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). More information is available at www.onpointcu.com or 503-228-7077 or 800-527-3932.

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On Saturday, September 30^th, 2023, at around 9:30am, officers from the Albany Police Department responded to a request for a welfare check in the 1900 block of Washington Street SW, Albany. Upon arrival, officers heard sounds of a disturbance and suspected gunshots inside the residence. Officers immediately entered the residence, locating one male deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. Officers attempted life saving measures on a female inside the residence, but she later died at the scene. No other persons were located, and investigators determined there was no threat to the community. 

Preliminary investigation revealed Mark Brooner, 75 years old of Albany fatally shot his longtime girlfriend, Pauline Golliher, 63 years old of Albany, before taking his own life. 

Albany Police is working with the Linn County District Attorney’s Office and the Linn County Medical Examiner’s Office as the investigation continues. We would like to thank the Albany Fire Department for their assistance in this incident. 

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An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, Frank Ali Abdul-Rahmaan, died the afternoon of September 30, 2023. Abdul-Rahmaan was incarcerated at Two Rivers Correctional Institution (TRCI) in Umatilla and passed away at a local hospital while on hospice care. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified.

Abdul-Rahmaan entered DOC custody on June 27, 1986, from Multnomah County with an earliest released date of September 30, 2043. Abdul-Rahmaan was 75 years old. Next of kin has been notified.

DOC takes all in-custody deaths seriously. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of 12,000 individuals who are incarcerated in 12 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.

TRCI is a multi-custody prison in Umatilla that houses approximately 1,800 adults in custody. TRCI participates in prison industries with Oregon Corrections Enterprises including institution and industrial laundry, mattress manufacturing, and sewing. Other institution work programs include reparation and cleaning of irrigation ditches, maintenance of local baseball fields, and work with local cities and the Hermiston School District. The facility provides a range of correctional programs and services including education, religious services, and behavioral health services. TRCI opened in 2000.

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SALEM, Ore— Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) proposes updates to rules for collection of marine plants and macroalgae in marine reserves and marine protected areas (OAR 736-021-0090).

Updates to Oregon’s Territorial Sea Plan earlier this year changed regulations and management practices in certain protected areas. The department’s proposed rule changes will allow for collection of marine plants and macroalgae in marine protected areas if allowed under management plans for the area. 

Proposed rules also eliminate outdated requirements for enrolled members of federally recognized tribes in Oregon to seek a permit before collecting marine plants along the ocean shore. 

OPRD is accepting comments until 5 p.m. Nov. 3, 2023, and they can be made online, at a public hearing, in writing or via email.

• Online: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/PRP/Pages/PRP-rulemaking.aspx
   
• Virtual Public hearing: Thursday, October 26, 2 PM: Registration required at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RVGhrw-KR9eYDdaTobepew 
   
• In writing: Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, attn.: Katie Gauthier, 725 Summer St NE, Suite C, Salem OR 97301
   
• Email: D.publiccomment@oprd.oregon.gov">OPRD.publiccomment@oprd.oregon.gov.

After reviewing public comments, agency staff plan to present a final amended rule for consideration by the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission at its November 2023 business meeting.

The full text of the amendment to Oregon Administrative Rule 736-021-0090 is available online at https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/PRP/Pages/PRP-rulemaking.aspx.

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SALEM, Ore. - The Oregon Dept. of Forestry is now seeking nominations for its new Oregon Climate Smart Award. The award will recognize landowners, land managers, researchers, operators, or other forestry professionals who use climate change-adapted practices, or develop innovative methods for carbon capture, retention, or reduced carbon release. Nominations are due by Dec. 31, 2023.

“The goal of this award is to encourage, improve, and recognize climate and carbon practices,” says ODF State Forester Cal Mukumoto. 

In March 2020, Governor Brown signed an executive order that highlighted that the state is experiencing an increase in frequency and severity of wildfires that endangers public health and safety and damage rural economies. The order directed agencies, including ODF, to prepare and plan for the impacts of climate change and to take actions to encourage carbon sequestration and storage. 

“From that executive order the Oregon Board of Forestry in the fall of 2021 adopted ODF’s Climate Change and Carbon Plan. The idea for an awards program arose in response to that plan,” says Mukumoto. 

Christine Buhl is a member of the selection committee that will review nominations. In her work as a forest entomologist she already sees signs of stress on trees in Oregon forests from extreme heat waves and prolonged droughts. She said, “With these awards, we hope to encourage reductions in emissions and help forests and communities adapt and become more climate resilient.”

Buhl said specific actions that will be considered for recognition under the award program include:

• Efforts to improve the climate resilience of forestlands and restore ecological functions
• Climate Smart forestry practices in growing and maintaining trees
• Wildfire management, response, and fire or smoke adaptation
• Carbon reduction or capture in forest operations, such as logging or thinning
• Innovative research or products that reduce emissions or increase climate resilience

Buhl’s co-lead on the selection committee is ODF Monitoring Specialist Emily Martin. Martin said nominees may include universities, educators, consulting and research agencies, fabricators, forest operators, and private industry firms working on non-federal lands across the state. “Anyone can be nominated who’s doing climate-related mitigation and adaptation work or research, and anyone can nominate them.”

Find details and the nomination form here.

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Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is seeking public comment now on a proposed rule change that would remove the description of ATV classes from the rule due to frequent updates to that information, which require a rule change process for each change. 

Instead of describing each class in OAR 736-004-0015, the rule would refer to the definition of ATV (All-Terrain Vehicles) in the Oregon Vehicle Code. The definitions are listed under ORS.801.190; ORS.801.193 and ORS.801.194.

The proposed change would allow the agency to maintain a greater level of accuracy in its rules. It was also inspired by the most recent change in ATV definitions adopted by the Legislature in Senate Bill 899.

Public comments will be accepted now through 5 p.m. November 3, 2023, and can be submitted:

Online: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/PRP/pages/PRP-rulemaking.aspx

Mail: OPRD Department, attn: Katie Gauthier, 725 Summer St NE, Suite C, Salem OR 97301

Email: D.Publiccomment@oprd.oregon.gov">OPRD.Publiccomment@oprd.oregon.gov

There will be no public hearing. Once the public comment period ends, the proposal with any incorporated updates is slated to go to Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission in November for possible adoption.

SALEM, Ore. – As we usher in fall, the Oregon State Fire Marshal and the Oregon fire service want to remind everyone of the importance of fire safety when cooking. Each year, October is designated as Fire Prevention Month in Oregon, with four weeks dedicated to learning about fire safety. 

This year's theme for Fire Prevention Month is "Cooking Safety Starts with You. Pay Attention to Fire Prevention."

The importance of cooking fire safety for all Oregonians should be top of mind. It's the number one cause of home fires in our state. In 2022, of the 2,924 reported residential fires in Oregon, 537 were connected to cooking. 

"In Oregon, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and causes on average $5.4 million in losses to homeowners annually," Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. "This October, we're raising awareness and asking Oregonians to take action to prevent kitchen disasters."

There are a few simple steps home chefs can take to keep their food edible and avoid a kitchen fire: 

• Keep a close eye on what you’re cooking. 
• Never leave cooking unattended. 
• Clear the cooking area of things that can burn, like dish towels, food packaging, oven mitts, etc. 
• Create a three-foot kid- and pet-free zone around the cooking area. 
• Have a lid or cookie sheet within reach while cooking (to smother flames) in case of a fire. 
• Don’t put water on a grease fire. 

For more information about Fire Prevention Month and cooking safety resources, visit our website. 

Lane County Elections is conducting a recall election for State Representative Paul Holvey (House District 8) following a successful petition process. The date of the recall election is Tuesday, October 3, 2023. 

As a reminder, only voters who live within House District 8 will receive ballots. Voters living outside that district are not eligible to vote in this recall election. 

In order to be counted, ballots must be received at Lane County Elections by:

• Regular mail. Ballots must be postmarked no later than October 3, 2023 and received no later than October 10, 2023. 
• A 24/7 ballot drop box. There are 13 available ballot drop boxes for this election. A list was included with each ballot. 
• Lane County Elections. Ballots can be turned in directly to the Lane County Elections Office during business hours. 

Voters can also monitor the election process by using the online ballot return dashboard or watching the livestream of the Lane County Elections Office on YouTube. 

The ballot return dashboard tracks how many ballots have been returned and by what method, how many ballots have been returned per precinct, signature challenges, and more. As of September 29, 8,973 ballots of a possible 40,030 had been returned – making voter turnout to that point 21 percent. 

The 24/7 livestream allows viewers to monitor the activity in the ballot processing areas of the Lane County Elections Office. Viewers can view the tentative ballot processing schedule to see when they might be most interested in tuning in. The livestream will remain available until both this recall election and the November 7 Special Election are certified. 

The first election results will be made available at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/elections at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 3. 

About the Lane County Elections Office:

The Elections Office, located at 275 W. 10^th Avenue in Eugene, is responsible for conducting elections in Lane County.  The Elections Office manages voter registration, the processing of mail ballots, recruitment and training of election workers, and certification of elections.

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Lane County Parks, in cooperation with the Friends of Buford Park and Mt. Pisgah, as well as US Fish & Wildlife Service and Rivers to Ridges partners, will be conducting an ecological – or prescribed – burn at the Howard Buford Recreation Area (HBRA) today, weather permitting. The ecological burn will help enhance prairie and savanna habitats within the park.

“Howard Buford Recreation Area supports one of the largest remaining blocks of prairie and oak habitats in the Willamette Valley, and fire is a regular and natural part of the environment of these habitats,” said Lane County Parks Natural Areas Coordinator Ed Alverson. “We work closely with Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority and our Rivers to Ridges partners throughout the area to make sure the burn is safely implemented and will not disrupt the community.”

Lane County parks and partners have conducted more than a dozen prescribed burns in HBRA since 1999. Ecological burns are always dependent on weather and ensuring atmospheric conditions will disperse smoke upward and away from densely populated areas. If postponed, an update will be provided to the community by notification to the media.

For the safety of park visitors, the following trail closures will be in place during day of the ecological burn:

Meadowlark East and Meadowlark South Closures:

• Trail 2 east of the intersection with Trail 24
• Trail 3 south and east of the intersection with Trail 36
• Trail 4 east of the intersection with Trail 24
• Trail 5 south and east of the intersection with the South Bottomlands trail system
• Trail 6 south and east of the intersection with Trail 36

Signs will be posted at the park notifying visitors of the trail closures.

Visitors to the park should be aware of localized smoky conditions and the presence of fire crews within the park during the burn. 

Follow Lane County Parks on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

Other partners in this effort include EcoStudies Institute and The Nature Conservancy.

Why the County conducts ecological burning:

Ecological burns are an essential management tool to sustain and expand native plant communities in these rare Willamette Valley habitats. The Willamette Valley was once dominated by savannas and prairies rich with diverse grass and wildflower species. These now-rare ecosystems require regular disturbance, such as fire, to maintain native species and to prevent conversion of open prairie to a closed woodland or forest. Historically, disturbance was provided through regular intentional burning by Native people or ignition by lightning. Many of our native prairie wildflowers, such as camas and Bradshaw’s lomatium, have evolved with fire for thousands of years and flourish after a site is burned. 

Ecological burns in the park’s prairies accomplish several biological and fire safety goals including improved seed germination, removal of built up thatch, and short-term soil fertilization.  All of these factors help native, grassland species thrive, including the declining Western Meadowlark (Oregon’s state bird), which nests in prairies and other open grassland habitats. In addition, prescribed burns protect the open prairie structure, as well as reduce the future risk of high intensity wildfires through the removal of standing, dead vegetation.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 29, 2023

Notice of Meeting

Douglas County Local Public Safety Coordinating Council (LPSCC)

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

(Douglas County, Ore.) The next meeting of the Douglas County Local Public Safety Coordinating Council (LPSCC) will take place on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, at 11:30 am, in Room 310 at the Douglas County Courthouse located at 1036 SE Douglas Avenue in Roseburg, Oregon. 

In compliance with ORS 192.610 to 192.690, we will accommodate any member of the public who wishes to watch the meeting via video conference or listen via phone.  Members of the public who wish to watch or listen to this meeting can do so by accessing the options listed on the attached agenda.  For more information about the LPSCC program click here to access their webpage on the county website at or contact Koree Tate at ee.tate@douglascountyor.gov">koree.tate@douglascountyor.gov or call (541) 957-7790.

The meeting agenda is attached and can also be found at www.douglascountyor.gov.

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Program Contact:ee.tate@douglascountyor.gov">Koree Tate | LPSCC Program & Partnership Coordinator | Douglas County Juvenile Department Phone: (541) 957-7790 | Email: ee.tate@douglascountyor.gov">koree.tate@douglascountyor.gov

Media Contact: Tamara Howell | Douglas County Emergency Communications & Community Engagement Specialist | Public Information Officer | Phone: (541) 957-4896 | Cell: (541) 670-2804 | Email: tamara.howell@douglascountyor.gov

UPDATE: This release includes updated information about where they are believed to be. They are now to be in the Portland, Oregon; Vancouver, Washington; Memphis, Tennessee; or Las Vegas, Nevada.

(Salem) – Declan Colby Duckett, a newborn, went missing with his mother Markishia Duckett and her partner Declan Harris from Portland on Sept. 5. The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division still believes that he may be at risk and is searching for Declan Colby Duckett to assess his safety.

ODHS asks the public to help in the effort to find Declan Colby Duckett. Anyone who suspects they have information about the location of him or his parents should call 911 or the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline at 1-855-503-SAFE (7233). 

They are believed to be in the Portland, Oregon; Vancouver, Washington; Memphis, Tennessee; or Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Name: Declan Colby Duckett
Pronouns: He/him
Date of birth: Aug. 31, 2023
Height: 20 inches
Weight: 7 pounds
Hair: Black
Eye color: Brown
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children #2000188

Sometimes when a child is missing they may be in significant danger and ODHS may need to locate them to assess and support their safety. As ODHS works to do everything it can to find these missing children and assess their safety, media alerts will be issued in some circumstances when it is determined necessary. Sometimes, in these situations, a child may go missing repeatedly, resulting in more than one media alert for the same child.

Report child abuse to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline by calling 1-855-503-SAFE (7233).  This toll-free number allows you to report abuse of any child or adult to the Oregon Department of Human Services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. 

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JCSO Cases 23-1656, 22-7462, 22-0731, 22-1482, 22-4223

ROGUE VALLEY, Ore. – The Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) joint inter-agency task force arrested five separate suspects today on 42 encouraging child sexual abuse felony charges. Investigations led the task force throughout the Rogue Valley including addresses in Medford, Central Point, and Grants Pass. Although the cases are not connected, total felony charges included 32 counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse, 10 counts of second-degree encouraging child sexual abuse, 16 counts of first-degree invasion of personal privacy, and a felon in possession of a firearm.

Six local and federal law enforcement agencies assisted SOCET with today’s arrests including Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the United States Marshals Service (USMS) Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force (PNVOTF), Medford Police Department, Central Point Police Department, and the Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force (SOHTCTF). 

Each investigation began when SOCET received tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which led to subpoenas, followed by search warrants at the respective residences. Investigators seized digital devices during the searches and applied for additional warrants to examine the devices. Once the additional search warrants were signed, SOHTCTF forensically examined the devices for further evidence of child exploitation. At that point SOCET took each case through a Grand Jury hearing and the courts issued warrants for each suspect’s arrest. 

The first arrest came when SOCET received a tip that a suspect was leaving his residence in the 60 block of Jeanette Avenue in Medford. The task force located and arrested Steven Wesley Rambo, 60, of Medford, on nine felony counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse. He is now lodged at the Jackson County Jail. Investigators have reason to believe Rambo may have other child victims. If you have any information on the suspect, contact investigators through the Sheriff’s App “Submit a Tip” feature. Download the App here: https://apps.myocv.com/share/a72997501. You can also call the JCSO Tip Line at (541) 774-8333 and reference case number 22-7462.

Next, the task force located a suspect’s vehicle near his residence in the 20 block of Washington Street in Medford. The task force arrested Michael David Robertson, 45, of Medford, for three felony counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse, and 16 counts of first-degree invasion of personal privacy. He is now lodged at the Jackson County Jail. Previously, a NCMEC cyber tip led investigators to serve a search warrant at Robertson’s former residence in the 800 block of Forest Glen Drive in Central Point where numerous child exploitation images were uploaded. During the search warrant investigators discovered a hidden camera in the bathroom of the residence which led to the invasion of personal privacy charges. During the course of the investigation there are still two unidentified victims. If you have any information about the suspect or victims, submit a tip on the Sheriff’s App or call the JCSO Tip Line at (541) 774-8333 and reference case number 23-1656.

The task force then located and arrested David Anthony Price, 40, at his residence in the 1000 block of Morgan Lane in Grants Pass, for 10 felony counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Previously, a NCMEC cyber tip led investigators to his former residence in the 700 block of North River Road in Rogue River where numerous child exploitation images were uploaded. He is now lodged at the Jackson County Jail.

The next arrest came when Mark Joseph Harding, 37, of Central Point, turned himself in at the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office in Central Point. Harding is charged with 10 felony counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse. Previously, a NCMEC cyber tip led investigators to his residence in the 800 block of South Haskell Street in Central Point where numerous child exploitation images were uploaded. He is now lodged at the Jackson County Jail.

The final arrest for the sweep came when investigators contacted David Michael Painter, 62, at his residence in the 2500 block of Rabun Way in Central Point. Painter is charged with 10 felony counts of second-degree encouraging child sexual abuse. He is now lodged in the Jackson County Jail.

SOCET is a joint inter-agency task force that started in June of 2020 to combat child exploitation and human trafficking. The task force consists of investigators from JCSO and HSI; as well as prosecutors from our local, state and federal law enforcement partners in Jackson and Josephine County.

Benton County is thrilled to introduce its new County Administrator, Rachel McEneny, to the community. Rachel's journey to Oregon, documented through an engaging video blog alongside her father and trusty companion, Yaeger the dog, is an opportunity to learn a little about Rachel before she starts her leadership role with the County next week.

The video blog and photos offer an opportunity to get better acquainted with Rachel and provide a glimpse into her journey. View and download the photos and video of Rachel's journey on the Benton County Flickr page.

Rachel brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role as Benton County Administrator, and we look forward to her contributions to serving the community.

Get to know a litte bit about Rachel on her journey with dad and Yaeger: (15) New Benton County Administrator documents journey to Oregon - YouTube

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Benton County is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to our programs, services, activities, hiring and employment practices. This document is available in alternative formats and languages upon request. Please contact Cory Grogan at 541-745-4468 or pioinfo@co.benton.or.us.

On Thursday, September 28, 2023, at approximately 8:00 P.M., the Oregon State Police responded to a crash involving two commercial motor vehicles on Interstate-84, near milepost 226, in Umatilla County.

The preliminary investigation indicated an eastbound commercial motor vehicle and trailer, operated by Ruslan Basarab (49) of Renton (WA), was traveling in the slow lane when it struck the rear-end of Peterbilt commercial motor vehicle and trailer, operated by Francisco Rivera Atilano Jr. (20) of Hermiston.  

The primary commercial motor vehicle caught fire as a result of the collision and burned so badly it was unidentifiable. The operator was removed from the vehicle and later declared deceased after being transported to an area hospital. 

The operator of the Peterbilt was not injured.

The highway was impacted for approximately 6 hours during the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by Umatilla Tribal Police Department, Umatilla Tribal Fire Department, and ODOT.

SALEM, Ore. – Sept. 29, 2023 – Today, the Oregon Senate confirmed Erin McMahon as Director of the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM). McMahon was appointed to the position by Governor Kotek in August.

A retired general officer for the Oregon National Guard and retired brigadier general for the U.S. Army, McMahon has two dozen years of experience advising state and national leaders on emergent and active emergencies requiring operational and civilian support. At the National Guard Bureau and the Oregon National Guard, she coordinated with other military and federal departments while working directly with all U.S. states, territories and the District of Columbia to provide military support when requested in support of declared emergencies and disasters.

McMahon's team supported every major disaster and national incident that impacted the nation – from wildfires to the pandemic to the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. Throughout that time, she progressed from an action officer to a division chief to the chief of staff, culminating as the principal deputy general counsel for the chief of the National Guard Bureau.

“My experiences these past 24 years have culminated in this moment, with this opportunity to take OEM to the next level of efficiency and excellence; a level that captures our team’s experience and commitment and better integrates it with the expertise provided by our local, city, county and tribal partners,” said McMahon. “Together, we’ll advance our networks, update our systems, improve our preparedness and strengthen our lines of communication. My top priority is to continue supporting OEM’s mission to help the state better serve all Oregonians as emergencies become more frequent and destructive.”

One of McMahon’s first actions was onboarding Patence Winningham as OEM’s new deputy director. Winningham previously served as Lane County Emergency Manager since 2019 after having worked with the City of Eugene as an emergency management specialist for more than a decade. She has extensive experience in disaster preparedness, including leading Lane County’s response and communication with the state Emergency Coordination Center during a historic winter storm, flooding, the COVID-19 Pandemic, the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire and the 2022 Cedar Creek Fire. She has also supported emergency planning efforts for multiple Olympic Trials and the World Athletics Championship.

“I’m honored to serve in this position at an agency I’ve worked so closely with on many emergencies,” said Winningham. “I believe my passion for helping the community and connecting with individuals and partners will help fulfill OEM’s mission and increase Oregon’s readiness and resiliency.”

Deputy Director Winningham’s extensive local knowledge will complement Director McMahon’s federal experience, providing the relatively new department with a strong executive leadership team. OEM transitioned from a division of the Oregon Military Department to a stand-alone cabinet-level department reporting directly to the governor in July 2022.

“Patence will be critical in supporting me as we work together to improve partnerships to enhance coordination for the delivery of essential services across the state in times of crisis and in preparation for our worst days,” said McMahon. “She is a capable and experienced leader, communicator, problem-solver and collaborator who has earned the respect of other emergency managers statewide. She’s also a tireless activist for disaster preparedness, hazard mitigation and other initiatives to reduce risk across the state.”

A portrait of Director McMahon can be viewed and downloaded here; Deputy Director Winningham’s portrait can be viewed and downloaded here. Learn more about OEM at www.oregon.gov/oem.
 

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Photo Captions
Oregon Emergency Management Logo
Erin McMahon is confirmed by the Oregon Senate as OEM Director.
Patence Winningham is appointed OEM Deputy Director.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Media Hotline: 503-813-5050 

Tips for a safe fall season at home

PORTLAND, Ore. (September 29, 2023) — Fall season brings on the return of pumpkin spice-everything while the leaves change across the Pacific Northwest.  Many of us consider fall the start of the holiday season. And the holidays often bring an increase in outdoor activity, whether it be from trick-or-treaters skipping up the porch steps or relatives stopping by for a Thanksgiving dinner. That’s why we should take extra care and precaution when maintaining the structures and landscaping around our home. 

“Now is a great time to prune any trees that could cause trouble once the storms start coming in,” said Joe Cissna, Pacific Power’s health and safety manager. “Winter storms bringing down branches are a big cause of power outages. Check around your property to see if any trees or branches could harm power lines if they fell. Some preventive work now could save more headaches and power outages later.

“Use caution when pruning trees. Don't use pruning tools or ladders near power lines. Always keep yourself and anything you're handling at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines. Never try to remove a branch that is tangled or lying across a power line. Instead, call Pacific Power at 1-888-221-7070. We'll be happy to remove it for you.

Some additional tips for fall safety:

• Treat all electric lines with caution.
• Use only wooden and fiberglass ladders. Metal ladders conduct electricity.
• Never use electrical equipment or tools near a pool or other wet areas. Additionally, make sure outlets are equipped with a ground fault circuit interrupter, designed to automatically disconnect if the tool comes into contact with water.
• Be aware and steer clear of overhead electrical wires when installing, removing, cleaning or repairing gutters.
• Have help when installing or adjusting a satellite dish or antenna. Make sure you’re working at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines.
• Plant trees and shrubs away from meters, switching cabinets and boxed transformers. Vegetation that blocks electrical equipment makes repairs and maintenance challenging and sometimes dangerous for utility workers.
• Underground power lines are just as dangerous as overhead ones. If your project involves digging, make sure the locations of underground power lines are marked. Call 811 to have underground utilities located and marked for free.

For more safety tips or to order free Pacific Power safety materials, call toll free at 800-375-7085 or visit pacificpower.net/safety.

SALEM, Ore.— The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) is closing some campground operations on the Clatsop, Tillamook, and Santiam state forests as it does each year as part of its transition to winter operations. On Oct. 2 all seasonal developed campgrounds will be closing, followed by the closure of all seasonal Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) campgrounds on Oct. 31. One exception to the closure plan will be Northrup Creek Horse Camp Campground in the Clatsop State Forest, which will remain open until Dec. 1. 

The closures are primarily done for public safety and are impacted by seasonal staffing levels. “As we move into fall, keeping Oregonians safe in the forest is important. With snowfall, high winds, and heavy rainfall it’s essential that we close some campgrounds as conditions change and many become inaccessible,” said Joe Offer, ODF’s Recreation Operations Manager.

Even with the closures, some camping opportunities will remain open and available through the winter months.

Tillamook State Forest

• Closing Oct. 2
  • Jones Creek Campground
  • Nehalem Falls Campground
  • Morrison Eddy Campground
  • Gales Creek Campground
  • Reehers Camp Campground
• Closing Oct. 31
  • Browns Camp Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Campground
  • Jordan Creek OHV Campground
• Open Year-Round
  • Keenig Creek Campground
  • Elk Creek Campground
  • Diamond Mill OHV Campground
  • Stagecoach Horse Campground

Clatsop State Forest

• Closing Oct. 2
  • Spruce Run Campground – Loops B & C
  • Beaver Eddy Campground
• Closing Dec. 1
  • Northrup Creek Horse Campground
• Open Year-Round Season
  • Spruce Run Campground – Loops A & D
  • Gnat Creek Campground
  • Viewpoint OHV Campground

Santiam State Forest

• Closing Oct. 2
  • Santiam Horse Camp
  • Rock Creek Campground

More information on recreation opportunities at State Forest campgrounds can be found on our website, ODF Campgrounds. 

EUGENE, Ore.—On September 28, 2023, a Baker County, Oregon man with a lengthy criminal history, who fled from a traffic stop at more than 100 mph and threatened a shootout with police, was sentenced to more than 15 years in federal prison for illegally possessing methamphetamine and firearms.

Zachary Charles Persicke, 38, was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.

According to court documents, in late September 2021, as part of an investigation of Persicke for dealing drugs and illegally possessing firearms, Baker County law enforcement obtained a state search warrant for Persicke’s person and an associated residence. Law enforcement observed Persicke in a vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. While fleeing from police and reaching speeds of more than 100 mph, Persicke called 911, told the dispatcher he had a weapon, and threatened to engage in a shootout. After driving over a spike strip placed by law enforcement, Persicke pulled over and surrendered without incident. In a search of Persicke’s vehicle, officers located and seized more than 300 grams of methamphetamine, a loaded .45 caliber pistol, and an assault-style rifle.

On November 18, 2021, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a three-count indictment charging Persicke with possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On April 5, 2023, Persicke pleaded guilty to a two-count superseding criminal information charging him with possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

This case was investigated by the Baker City Police Department with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Oregon State Police and the Baker County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Jeffrey S. Sweet, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

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TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY COMMITTEE

MEETING SCHEDULED

Notice of Regular Meeting

The Telecommunications Policy Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a regular meeting on November 1, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. in the Governor Victor G. Atiyeh Boardroom at the Oregon Public Safety Academy located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Shelby Wright at (503) 378-2191.

The Telecommunications Policy Committee meeting will be live streamed on the DPSST Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/DPSSTOregon/

Agenda Items

1. Introductions

2. Approve March 16, 2023, Meeting Minutes

3. Administrative Closures (The following items to be ratified by one vote)

      Presented by Melissa Lang-Bacho

a. Renee Elizabeth Heidy; DPSST No. 43198

    Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Telecommunicator; Basic Emergency Medical Dispatcher; and Instructor Certifications

b. Teonna Johnson; DPSST No. 56804

    Basic Telecommunicator and Emergency Medical Dispatcher Certifications

4. Applicant Review Committee Member Nominations

      Presented by Chris Brodniak

5. Program Manager Updates

6. Agency Updates

7. Next Telecommunications Policy Committee Meeting: February 7, 2024, at 9:00 a.m.

Administrative Announcement

This is a public meeting, subject to the public meeting law and it will be recorded. Deliberation of issues will only be conducted by Telecommunications Policy Committee members unless permitted by the Chair. Individuals who engage in disruptive behavior that impedes official business will be asked to stop being disruptive or leave the meeting. Additional measures may be taken to have disruptive individuals removed if their continued presence poses a safety risk to the other persons in the room or makes it impossible to continue the meeting.

North Bend School District Public Meetings – October 2023 

Below are North Bend School District public meetings currently scheduled for October:

October 5, 2023

Regular Board Meeting with Executive Session

North Bend City Hall Council Chambers at 6:00 p.m.

835 California Ave., North Bend, OR

October 19, 2023

Special Meeting/Work Session

North Bend School District at 6:00 p.m.

1913 Meade Ave., North Bend, OR

The schedule is subject to change.

Please email rix@nbend.k12.or.us">mbrix@nbend.k12.or.usor visit the NBSD Website: https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Organization/1573 for agenda information.

PLEASE NOTE: The earlier version of this press release erroneously mentioned that Medicare Advantage includes transportation benefits. That is incorrect and has been removed from the release below.

Members will see no disruption to care or coverage—Medicare Advantage plans will automatically renew for 2024 with no action required 

(Bend, Ore.) Sept. 29, 2023—Today, PacificSource announced it has worked out an agreement with St. Charles Health System to ensure that its Medicare Advantage plans will continue in Central Oregon with no disruption in care or coverage to members. PacificSource Medicare Advantage members will automatically be reenrolled for 2024 plans with no action required. 

While St. Charles Health System had previously stated it was reevaluating its ongoing participation in Medicare Advantage contracts, PacificSource worked with St. Charles to ensure continuity of coverage and services for PacificSource Medicare Advantage members through the entirety of 2024.

“This agreement is a positive result for our region’s Medicare-eligible seniors, and also some of its most vulnerable community members,” said Dr. John “Espi” Espinola, PacificSource’s president and CEO. “PacificSource will continue to advocate for our members to make certain that they can continue to access affordable, high-quality healthcare in Central Oregon. We are pleased to have secured this successful outcome with St. Charles and will continue to work with them to improve the Medicare Advantage experience for their patients.”

Medicare Advantage is for seniors and people with disabilities under 65 and offers more benefits than Original Medicare. PacificSource has 15,500 Medicare Advantage members of which 2500 are dual-eligible seniors, who qualify for extra benefits due to health, income or disability needs. People choose Medicare Advantage because these plans offer more benefits with less cost. PacificSource Medicare Advantage plans offer vision, dental, hearing, and gym membership benefits that would cost thousands more per year with Original Medicare. Dual-eligible members of PacificSource also qualify for essential benefits such as grocery stipends. 

“As a local nonprofit serving Central Oregon for more than 25 years, PacificSource is proud of our track record of creative problem-solving to improve the health systems in our community,” said Dr. Espinola. “We are always ready to work collaboratively with our partners and never lose sight of who is most important when we discuss care and coverage—our members and their families. Serving them will remain our priority.”

About PacificSource

PacificSource is an independent, not-for-profit community health plan serving the Northwest. Founded in 1933, PacificSource has local offices throughout Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and Washington. The PacificSource family of companies employs more than 1,800 people and serves over 600,000 individuals throughout the Greater Northwest. For more information, visit PacificSource.com.

September 29, 2023

Media contact: Afiq Hisham, 971-273-3374, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

OHA seeks input on Oregon beaches to monitor in 2024 & 2025

Public comment on proposed beach locations welcome through October 13.

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Beach Monitoring Program (OBMP) invites public comment on a list of proposed beaches to monitor for health risks in 2024 and 2025.

The list was created based on established criteria such as high recreational use, nearby pollution hazards, previously measured high bacteria levels and public input.

OBMP is a multi-agency effort with Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to monitor the waters along Oregon's coastline for the presence of fecal bacteria and report elevated levels to the public. Through this program, DEQ regularly samples marine water and freshwater at 20 beaches along Oregon’s 360 miles of coastline between May and September. To protect public health, OHA issues advisories at beaches where bacteria levels are high.

This year, DEQ used the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) environmental justice screening tool to assess the potential for the OBMP efforts to benefit vulnerable and underserved populations. With this in mind, OBMP is also asking for the public to comment on the extent to which information generated from the proposed beach monitoring would serve vulnerable and underserved communities.

OHA and DEQ routinely reevaluate beaches and sampling locations to direct available resources most effectively toward public health protection. The proposed list includes some of the most frequently visited beaches in Oregon, beaches where the program has previously found bacteria present, or beaches for which local partners and the public have requested monitoring due to potential pollution concerns. Based on OBMP’s evaluation criteria and preliminary environmental justice screening, OHA and DEQ propose sampling the following beaches for the 2024/2025 monitoring season:

Clatsop County

• SEASIDE BEACH – Seaside
• CANNON BEACH  – Cannon Beach
• TOLOVANA SP BEACH – Cannon Beach

Coos County

• BASTENDORFF BEACH  –  Coos Bay
• SUNSET BAY SP BEACH  –  Coos Bay

Curry County

• HUBBARD CREEK BEACH – Port Orford
• HARRIS BEACH SP – Brookings
• MILL BEACH – Brookings
• CRISSEY FIELD RECREATION SITE – Brookings (new for 2024/2025)

Lane County

• HECETA BEACH  – Florence

Lincoln County

• D RIVER SP BEACH   – Lincoln City
• BEVERLY BEACH – Newport
• AGATE SP BEACH – Newport
• NYE BEACH – Newport
• SEAL ROCK SP BEACH – Seal Rock
• SILETZ BAY – Lincoln City (new for 2024/2025)
• ONA BEACH (Brian Booth – Beaver Creek State Park) – Seal Rock (new for 2024/2025)

Tillamook County

• SHORT SAND SP BEACH – Arch Cape
• MANZANITA BEACH – Manzanita
• ROCKAWAY BEACH – Rockaway
• TWINS ROCKS BEACH– Twin Rocks
• OCEANSIDE – Oceanside
• CAPE KIWANDA – Pacific City
• NESKOWIN SP BEACH – Neskowin

Note: Beaches marked with ‘’ refer to those with potential environmental justice communities that may be likely to recreate at the beach.

To add beaches to the list and continue to operate within available OBMP resources, DEQ would need to reduce sampling locations at other beaches. If  locations are removed from the list, it would be only locations where historical data show low risk. The three beaches proposed for addition to OBMP, which are included in the list above, are:

• ONA BEACH
• CRISSEY FIELD RECREATION SITE
• SILETZ BAY

OBMP will accept public comments and suggestions on the proposed 2024/2025 beaches through Oct. 13. Contact OBMP by email at each.Health@oha.oregon.gov">Beach.Health@oha.oregon.gov or call 971-673-0400 to submit input.

For more information about OBMP, visit the program website at http://www.healthoregon.org/beach or call 971-673-0440, or call OHA toll-free information line at 877-290-6767.

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(PORTLAND, Ore.) – Nearly 250 doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants at all eight Legacy Health hospitals across Oregon and Washington are headed towards a union election. 

An overwhelming majority of Legacy Health’s hospital doctors and advanced practice providers filed union authorization cards with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Sept. 29.  Health care professionals at Legacy are unionizing to improve patient care and ensure providers at the bedside have a voice in decisions that impact patient care, community health and their colleagues' working conditions. 

“The hospital works best when physicians have a strong voice. Legacy truly needs our help running the hospital and fixing its many systemic issues. Forming a union gives us the best means to do so,” said Dr. Rob Morgan, an internal medicine physician at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center and Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland. “I love working at Legacy and I love our team. It's my sincerest hope to work here for the rest of my career in medicine. Through our union, I hope we can build a strong long-term relationship with hospital leadership that prioritizes our wellbeing and necessary resources for providing safe, sustainable, high-quality patient care now and in the future.”

The providers include frontline doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants at: 

• Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center in Portland
• Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland
• Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland
• Legacy Unity Center for Behavioral Health in Portland
• Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center in Tualatin
• Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center in Gresham
• Legacy Silverton Medical Center in Silverton
• Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center in Vancouver, WA

The group will be represented by the Pacific Northwest Hospital Medicine Association (PNWHMA)—a physician and advanced practice provider union represented by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT Local 6552) and serviced by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA).  

“Our pursuit in medicine has always been to deliver high-quality, equitable care to the members of our community. The climate of health care is changing and our mission is increasingly difficult to achieve. With changes to benefit infrastructure and hour requirements, it is our duty to ensure these changes are progressive and consistent with the ideals surrounding patient safety, care quality, and physician wellbeing,” said Dr. Eduardo Serpa, an internal medicine physician at Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center in Vancouver, Washington. “We are unionizing to have a significant seat at the table and to prioritize meaningful engagement regarding changes to how we operate and deliver care. Our unified voice strengthens our advocacy and in turn galvanizes our resolve towards a better future for physicians and our patients.”

The providers will meet with the NLRB in the coming weeks to confirm unit details and schedule an election date. If approved, they will join the nearly 700 ONA union nurses and mental and behavioral health professionals working in the Legacy Health system and add to the list of recent physician and advanced practice provider unionization wins in Oregon including successful organizing efforts at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center and Providence Women’s Clinics in the Portland metro area; Providence Home Health and Hospice professionals who work throughout the Portland metro, North Coast, Yamhill County and the Columbia River Gorge areas; and Providence Medford Medical Center in Southern Oregon. 

Although unionized nurses have been advocating for better patient care and working conditions in Oregon for more than 100 years, new groups of Oregon health care workers are now joining or forming their own unions in large numbers. Twenty years ago, few US physicians were part of a union, but as health care systems have become larger and more corporate, doctors see collective bargaining as the best way to ensure their voices are heard in decisions that affect their profession and their patients.

• Click here for a Union 101 Fact Sheet

Legacy Health is a private nonprofit health system which operates eight hospitals and more than 70 clinics in Oregon and Washington. It recently made news after unlawfully attempting to close the Family Birth Center at Legacy Mt. Hood, the horrific acts of violence in the workplace at Legacy Good Samaritan, and its announced intent to merge with Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU).

During the pandemic, Legacy collected more than $400 million in profits between 2020-2022 including nearly $100 million in taxpayer bailouts via the CARES Act. Prior to 2020, Legacy’s hospital profits averaged between $44 million to $79 million per year. Legacy also owns a significant $1 billion + investment portfolio. 

The Pacific Northwest Hospital Medicine Association (PNWHMA) started as the first hospitalist-specific labor union in the United States. PNWHMA is affiliated with AFT Nurses and Health Professionals—the fastest-growing healthcare union in the country—which represents more than 200,000 members in 100 locals in 18 states and territories. 

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) is the state’s largest and most influential nursing organization. We are a professional association and labor union which represents more than 16,000 nurses and allied health workers throughout the state. ONA’s mission is to advocate for nursing, quality health care and healthy communities. For more information visit: www.OregonRN.org.

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Local businesses have until October 31 to opt in to a new, reduced-cost storm drain cleaning program. Lane County’s Stormwater Management Program has partnered with Stormwater Protection Systems (SPS) to provide discounted storm drain cleaning. This voluntary program allows county businesses to clean their private storm drains for a reduced flat fee of $65 per drain. 

Stormwater often drains directly into rivers and streams without treatment, resulting in pollutants from parking lots and roadways contributing to water quality issues. Storm drain cleaning and maintenance are vital in ensuring clean waterways by removing contaminants like oil, pesticides, and fertilizers. 

Businesses are responsible for cleaning and maintaining privately owned storm drains in their parking lots. Removing debris and sediment from storm drains reduces flooding by increasing stormwater system capacity during heavy rainfall. The program aims to make this service more affordable and encourage bi-annual cleanings—improving critical streams and rivers. 

Businesses are eligible to sign up each fall and spring in anticipation of heavy rainfall and more water entering the storm drain systems. To register a company for the fall program, visit www.LaneCountyOR.gov/SCAP and sign up by October 31.

The $65-per-drain fee covers debris removal from standard parking lot drains, power washing in and around the drain, and disposal of all contaminated sediment. The program does not cover additional fees for jetting, repair, or oversized storm drains. 

About the Lane County Stormwater Management Program 

The Lane County Stormwater Management Program was created in 2007 to comply with Phase II of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). The NPDES is a federal permit under the Clean Water Act that requires municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) operators to implement best management practices to prevent contaminants from reaching streams via stormwater runoff.  The Phase II permit requires all affected municipalities to create and implement a Stormwater Management Program (SWMP), which addresses six minimum control measures to significantly reduce pollutants discharged into water bodies. More information is available online.

About Stormwater Protection Systems

Stormwater Protection Systems offers a range of services to manage and maintain stormwater drainage systems for businesses, public agencies, and schools in Lane County. Formally known as Gibson Steel Basins, SPS has been operating locally for 20 years. In addition to storm drain cleaning, they specialize in stormwater filtration services, repair, erosion control products, site inspections, and maintenance programs to benefit local streams and rivers. For more information, visit sps-maintenance.com.

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JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. – Law enforcement agencies from throughout the region are participating in a joint saturation patrol on Highway 62 tomorrow (Friday, September 29) and Saturday. The coverage area will be primarily Hwy. 62 from the Big X intersection in Medford (Highways 62, 238, 99) to Shady Cove. So far this year, there have been 75 motor vehicle crashes on Hwy. 62 from the Big X to Shady Cove. These crashes led to 18 injuries and three fatalities. This joint operation is funded by a grant from the Oregon Department of Transportation.

This joint operation will focus on the enforcement of OSP’s Fatal 5 - Speed, Occupant Safety, Lane Usage, Impaired Driving, and Distracted Driving. These categories of traffic violations have been proven to be the primary contributors to serious injury and fatal crashes. The law enforcement agencies participating include Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police (OSP), as well as Medford, Central Point, Phoenix, and Eagle Point police departments.

Note: Contact PIO Aaron Lewis to schedule interviews, b-roll, police ride-along.

September 28, 2023

Media Contact: Afiq Hisham, 971-273-3374, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Recreational use advisory lifted for Ross Island Lagoon Sept. 28

PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has lifted the recreational use health advisory issued for Ross Island Lagoon in Multnomah County. As of today, there are no other advisories in place for the Willamette River.

OHA first issued the advisory for Ross Island Lagoon on Aug. 9.

Water monitoring has confirmed that the level of cyanotoxins in the Ross Island Lagoon are below recreational guideline values for people.

OHA advises recreational visitors to continually be alert to signs of cyanobacteria blooms. This is because blooms can develop and disappear on any water body at any time when bloom conditions are favorable. Be aware that only a fraction of waterbodies in Oregon are monitored for blooms and toxins, so it’s important for people to become familiar with signs of a bloom, exposures and symptoms by visiting OHA’s Cyanobacteria Harmful Algae Bloom website at http://www.healthoregon.org/hab.

When recreating, people and especially small children and pets should avoid areas where the water is foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green or blue-green, or if thick brownish-red mats are visible or bright green clumps are suspended in the water. If you see these signs, avoid activities that cause you to swallow water or inhale droplets, such as swimming or high-speed water activities, and keep pets out of the area.

Cyanotoxins can still exist in clear water. When a bloom dies, toxins released may reach into clear water around the bloom. Blooms can be pushed into other areas, leaving behind the toxins released. 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.

For health information or to report an illness, contact OHA at 971-673-0482.

(Salem) – Orange Shirt Day is a day for truth and reconciliation highlighting the effects of the Indian boarding school system. It opens the door for a global conversation about all aspects of the Indian boarding school system which caused Indigenous populations to lose their cultural identities through policies of forced assimilation. It is an opportunity to create meaningful discussion about the legacy of these schools on Indigenous communities.

On Sept. 29, staff at the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) will wear orange to honor the survivors and victims of the federal Indian boarding school system. Orange Shirt Day falls on the final day of the annual ODHS Tribal-State ICWA Conference in Grande Ronde. The conference, held from Sept. 27-29, focuses on training and education related to ICWA (Indian Child Welfare Act) and ORICWA (Oregon Indian Child Welfare Act).

ODHS’ commitment to dismantling all forms of systemic racism is led by reconciliation and collaboration with all Tribal communities within Oregon and is strengthened by our Equity North Star, which is our agency wide vision that leads to a more equitable Oregon for all.

“Orange Shirt Day represents a powerful Indigenous movement throughout the United States and Canada,” said Adam Becenti, ODHS Office of Tribal Affairs Director. “Orange Shirt Day is a call to action and awareness, but more importantly an opportunity to honor the lives taken and those who survived this atrocity.”

“We will be wearing orange to honor the survivors and victims of the Indian boarding school system and to recognize the trauma it caused for generations of Tribal families and children,” said Aprille Flint-Gerner, ODHS Child Welfare Director. “In Oregon, our Child Welfare Division’s Vision for Transformation commits us to doing the work of dismantling oppressive practices that contribute to disparate and disproportionate outcomes for Tribal children. Our commitment is to repair, improve and move forward in partnership with the Nine Tribes of Oregon.”

According to the U.S. Department of the Interior’s 2022 investigation report, between 1819 and 1969, the federal Indian boarding school system operated more than 400 schools across 37 states or then-territories. During this time thousands of Indigenous children were separated from their families and placed in the school system, many did not survive. The investigation identified marked and unmarked burial sites at approximately 53 different schools across the school system.

The federal Indian boarding school system deployed systematic militarized and identity-alteration methodologies in an attempt to assimilate American Indian and Alaska Native children through education, including but not limited to renaming Tribal children English names; cutting the hair of Tribal children; discouraging or preventing the use of Tribal languages, religions and cultural practices; and organizing children into units to perform military drills.

As early as 1874, a boarding school was built at Warm Springs in Oregon, and others were later constructed at Siletz, Grand Ronde, Klamath, and Umatilla. Today, Chemawa Indian School, located in Salem, Oregon is an accredited high school that serves American Indian and Alaska Native students. Chemawa is the oldest continuously operated off-reservation boarding school in the United States.

For Orange Shirt Day press kit materials and stories from Indigenous Oregonians, go to the ODHS Tribal Affairs web page. 

About the ODHS Office Tribal Affairs

The Office of Tribal Affairs within the ODHS Director’s Office is a team committed to all Oregon Tribal communities thriving mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Tribal Affairs works with all five ODHS programs to create and provide Tribally appropriate programming, services, policies and support. Through Tribal consultation with Nine Federally Recognized Tribes of Oregon, ODHS ensures programming, services, and policies meet the needs of Oregon Tribal communities.
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September 28, 2023

Media contacts: Afiq Hisham, 971-273-3374, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Tolovana State Park health advisory lifted Sept. 28

PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon Health Authority (OHA) today lifted a public health advisory for contact with ocean water at Tolovana State Park, located in Clatsop County.

The health authority issued the advisory Sept. 26, after water samples showed higher-than-normal levels of fecal bacteria in ocean waters.

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

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. 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 971-673-0440, or call OHA toll-free information line at 877-290-6767.

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MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University announces the undergraduate students that have been named to the Honor Roll and President’s List for their academic honors for summer 2023. In recognition of academic achievement, the university makes public at the close of each term an honor roll of undergraduate students who earn 12 or more credits which are not of a pass/no pass nature and who earn a grade point average of 3.50 or higher

The following Western students have been named to the Honor Roll List:

Mohammed Alaqlan

Zoya Altuhova  

Esmeralda Amescua

Christine Anders

Jessica Armfield

Lynzey Arp

Leela Ayres  

​​Adam Barnett                          

Yasmin Castaneda Benavides   

Larenda Bennett 

Abigail Bethke

Nicholas Beyer

Hailey Blue

Raymond Bourke

Breanne Bridge

Andrea Capellino

Alexis Chilcote

Jonathan Contreras

Christian Conway

Rachael Cox 

Parbata Dahal  

Elizabeth Doty

Johanna Easter

Sinikka Edelen

Jessie Eschweiler

Audrey Fasching

Measia Fenn

Yeudiel Alvarez Flores  

Cavan Fowler 

Aiden Grabill    

Avery Green    

Tayler Hart      

Candace Hastings

Amber Houghtaling

Ashley Hulse

Malino Jacinto 

Nora Jamal 

Megan Kaiser

Natalie Katon

Bailey Keator   

Muhammad Khan

Tyler Lane

Ashlie Lee        

Camryn Lien   

Regan Luoma  

Tia Mack

Savannah Manning    

Sydney Martin 

Maizie McCoy

Tessa McCoy

Laurel McGuigan

Christopher Means

Angela Mendoza 

Cameron Merritt

Alex Michaels  

Ririko Miyamoto

Charles Moody

Lisa Moya

Kayli Nagel

Ryan Naugle

Ashlynn Norton

Amanda Oliver 

Reyna Blaylock-Ortega 

Justice Presley

Thomas Segovia

Danielle Pastre 

Allison Peterson

Jaden Perez 

Anahi Ponce                                                                                                    

Sierra Porter    

Daniel Pruneda

Aubrey Rainville                      

Shelbie Reddick

Tyler Renfro

Dylan Renfro                                                                                                            

Elisabeth Robischon     

Mercedes Rodne

Yesenia Romero  

Katherine Russell 

Ammon Saboe  

Patricia Salinas                               

Noah Schnell

Jasmine Scott

Shyla Sell 

Brittany Smith

Lauren Smith

Jessica Smith 

Courtney Stalmann 

​​Samantha Stinson  

Grace Tallman 

Rachel Thijssen                          

Noa Thomas 

Lily Toma 

Amanda Vanderhoof  

Megan Van Krieken                                                                                                        

Kaylie Vaughan

​​Ylianna Veliz 

Amrit Virk

Hope Warrick   

Emily Webb                                                                                                                                                                                                                

James Wollenweber                                      

Macee Woods

Students from Oregon cities 

Albany

Jessica Armfield  

Yasmin Castaneda Benavides 

Alexis Chilcote  

Camryn Lien                                                                             

Tessa McCoy                         

Lisa Moya  

Reyna Blaylock-Ortega                                                                

Rachel Thijssen

Alsea

Shyla Sell

Aurora 

Breanne Bridge 

Beaverton

Jonathan Contreras

Muhammad Khan

Bend

Alex Michaels

Clatskanie

Natalie Katon                         

Grace Tallman

Corvallis 

Leela Ayres                           

Raymond Bourke                        

Rachael Johnson Cox                              

Elizabeth Doty                           

Megan Kaiser    

Cameron Merritt                   

Mercedes Rodne

Dallas 

Measia Fenn                            

Ashlie Lee                              

Allison Peterson                                  

Thomas Segovia                        

Courtney Stalmann

Lily Toma                         

Emily Webb     

Eugene

Sinikka Edelen                        

Cavan Fowler       

Falls City

Amber Houghtaling     

Forest Grove

Audrey Fasching

Avery Green

Gresham

Abigail Bethke

Hillsboro 

Christine Anders                     

Amanda Vanderhoof                             

Independence   

Lynzey Arp

Angela Mendoza                               

Elisabeth Robischon                                

Brittany Smith           

Keizer              

Christian Conway                       

Yesenia Romero     

​​Noah Schnell                        

Jasmine Scott              

Lebanon       

​​Zoya Altuhova               

Laurel McGuigan        

Monmouth

Esmeralda Amescua                                 

Parbata Dahal                          

Noa Thomas  

Myrtle Creek

Aubrey Rainville                 

Oregon City                 

Jessie Eschweiler   

Pendleton

Anahi Ponce                             

Salem              

Johanna Easter 

Yeudiel Flores 

Aiden Grabill                                                 

Nora Jamal                          

Regan Luoma

Maizie McCoy

Christopher Means 

Kayli Nagel

Jaden Perez  

Sierra Porter                          

Justice Presley                         

Katherine Russell                         

Patricia Salinas                         

Jessica Smith

Hope Warrick                          

James Wollenweber                           

Scio                 

Larenda Bennett  

Danielle Pastre 

Shedd

Kaylie Vaughan 

Sheridan

Shelbie Reddick                                 

Sherwood                    

Hailey Blue                            

Silverton                     

Adam Barnett 

Ammon Saboe       

Springfield

Ashlynn Norton                  

St. Helens                     

Nicholas Beyer   

Savannah Manning                       

Stayton            

Charles Moody      

Sutherlin

Candace Hastings    

Warren

Amanda Oliver 

Warrenton 

Tyler Lane            

Willamina                    

Andrea Capellino                                

Wilsonville                   

Megan Van Krieken                              

Woodburn                   

Ylianna Veliz

Yachats

Daniel Pruneda

Students from states other than Oregon

California 

Petaluma - Ryan Naugle

Temecula - Tyler Renfro

Temecula - Dylan Renfro

Hawaii

Lahaina - Malino Jacinto 

Wailuku - Bailey Keator 

Utah

Midvale - Lauren Smith 

Washington

Olympia - Tia Mack

Olympia - Tayler Hart

Renton - Samantha Stinson

Ridgefield - Sydney Martin 

Seattle - Amrit Virk

Vancouver - Ashley Hulse

Vancouver - Amalia Woods

International Students

Saudi Arabia

AL RASS - Mohammed Alaglan

Japan

TOKYO - Machida - Ririko Miyamoto 

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About Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University, founded in 1856 in Monmouth, is the state’s oldest public university. Serving about 4,000 students, WOU is a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution with about 70% of the student population being from Oregon. A significant portion of attendees are members of under-represented groups, veterans, or non-traditional students. WOU is Oregon’s campus of choice for those seeking a transformative education in a supportive, student-centered learning community where classes are taught by faculty. Together we succeed.

SALEM, Ore.— The Small Forestland Grant Program received $2.5 million through House Bill 5020 to help reduce wildfire risks for owners of small forestland acreage and people can now apply for the grants.

“The Small Forestland Grant Program is offering funding for projects that reduce wildfire risk through the restoration of landscape resiliency and the reduction of hazardous fuels (vegetation),” said Jenna Trentadue, Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) state initiatives grant coordinator.

The grant program is taking applications now through Nov. 3. Projects must support “small forestland owner(s)” defined as an individual, group or federally recognized Indian tribe in Oregon, who owns up to 160 acres west of the crest of the Cascade Mountains or up to 640 acres east of the crest of the Cascade Mountains.  The funding is a new allocation continuing work described in Section 24 of Senate Bill 762.

“The projects may treat multiple private ownerships as long as each owner receiving treatment meets the small forestland owner’s definition,” said Trentadue.  “It is beneficial to work together with other landowners or with a sponsor for the application, selection of a contractor, and final reporting requirements.”

Like all government grant submissions, eligibility requirements must be met for this program, here are some of the main ones:

• Projects must reduce the risk of high severity wildfire by treating hazardous fuels and at least 75 percent of project costs must go towards this.
• Total other expenses for the project, including indirect and service costs, are not to exceed 25 percent.
• Requested funding is more than $10,000 and up to $300,000.
• 25 percent leverage is strongly suggested. Sponsor in-kind expenses, landowner labor rates, fuels mitigation, and other state funds are eligible with the exception of the Landscape Resiliency Grant Program. 
• All project work would need to be completed by May, 2025.
• Project does not generate net revenue.
• Equipment costs (Equipment is considered a single item over $5,000) are applicable if it meets the intent of the grant to support small forestland owners in reducing wildfire risk through the restoration of landscape resiliency and the reduction of hazardous fuels on the owners’ property, prescribed fire equipment is applicable, however fire suppression equipment is not. 

For a complete application package and all requirements visit the ODF small forestland grant website.

“Projects covered by these grants are a major step toward protecting people, their homes, and natural resources in Oregon by making private forestland healthier and more resilient in the face of changing climate and wildfire environment,” said Trentadue. “I highly encourage people to apply and take advantage of this grant program.”

A special section of the Oregon Historical Society’s Oregon Historical Quarterly highlights sea otter history in the Pacific Northwest

Portland, OR — Oregon’s nearshore waters were once the homeland to thousands of sea otters, an iconic species in the history of what is now known as Oregon. Sea otters have held a special role in the cultural, spiritual, and economic life of coastal Native American communities, with oral traditions documenting the species’ significance. Their lustrous pelts brought great wealth in late eighteenth- and nineteenth-century China, motivating Euro-Americans to broker some of the earliest contact and trade between themselves and Native American people along the Oregon coast. Over a century of zealous hunting and trading of sea otters, by Native people and Euro-Americans, eliminated the species from Oregon’s coastal waters over 100 years ago.  

In a special section of the Fall 2023 issue of the Oregon Historical Quarterly (OHQ), “Sea Otters in Oregon,” local scholars explore the existence and significance of the species in the region, drawing on academic work, archival records, archaeological findings, and Native oral tradition to trace the history of this now-absent ecological and cultural keystone species. Although most accounts of the extirpation of sea otters from the Oregon coast focus on the well-documented international maritime fur trade of the late eighteenth and early twentieth centuries, the authors reveal historical records that demonstrate sea otters persisted much later. 

In “Glimpses of Oregon’s Sea Otters,” Cameron La Follette and Douglas Deur introduce the history of Oregon’s now-extinct sea otter population, describing the emergence of the Chinese market that created and sustained the hunt, the British discovery of potential profits of trading sea otter pelts, and the rise of American traders. 

Douglas Deur, Peter Hatch (Hanis Coos, Siuslaw), and Hannah Wellman explore the complimentary lines of evidence of sea otters’ significance among Native oral tradition and archaeological findings in “The House Full of Otters: Recalling Human-Sea Otter Relationships on an Indigenous Oregon Coast.” Native oral traditions recall a rich history of human encounters with sea otters and speak of the species’ ubiquity, significance, and sentience. Archaeological evidence of sea otter use, found on sites along the Oregon coast, further attest to this longstanding relationship. 

In “The Invisible Slaughter: Local Sea Otter Hunters on the Oregon Coast,” Cameron La Follette, Richard Ravalli, Peter Hatch, Douglas Deur, and Ryan Tucker Jones uncover a long-ignored history of sea otters continuing to inhabit the Oregon coast, although in diminishing numbers, much later than the early nineteenth century, when well-documented accounts associated with international maritime history place their drastic decline and regional extirpation. Their research suggests that sea otter extinction on the Oregon coast (and Washington and California as well) resulted from household-scale hunting by Native Americans and Euro-American settlers from the mid-nineteenth century until around 1910. 

Many of the authors of the special section are board members or advisors of the Elakha Alliance, a nonprofit organization with a mission to “restore a healthy population of sea otters to the Oregon coast and to thereby make Oregon’s marine and coastal ecosystem more robust and resilient.” Elakha (ee-LAK-uh), a Chinook word for sea otter, was resurrected in 2018 after some inactive years by tribal, nonprofit, and conservation leaders who are aware that the sea otter is considered a keystone species, and that Oregon’s nearshore marine ecosystem has suffered as a result of their absence. 

As the journal of record for Oregon history, the Oregon Historical Quarterly publishes well-researched, well-written history about Oregon and the Pacific Northwest for both scholars and general readers. Nearing its 125th volume year, OHQ amplifies knowledge and perspectives that traditional scholarship has often silenced and sparks relevant conversations about history.

The Fall 2023 issue of the Oregon Historical Quarterly is now available for purchase in the Oregon Historical Society’s Museum Store for $10, and a subscription to OHQ is a benefit of Oregon Historical Society membership. Abstracts for the articles featured in this special issue are available online. 

About the Oregon Historical Society

For more than a century, the Oregon Historical Society has served as the state’s collective memory, preserving a vast collection of objects, photographs, maps, manuscript materials, books, films, and oral histories. Our research library, museum, digital platforms, educational programming, and historical journal make Oregon’s history open and accessible to all. We exist because history is powerful, and because a history as deep and rich as Oregon’s cannot be contained within a single story or point of view. 

SALEM, Ore. – The Regional Forest Practice Committee for eastern Oregon will meet at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 5 in the John Day Unit office, 415 Patterson Bridge Road, John Day, OR 97845. To join virtually, please use the Zoom video conference information found on the agenda. To provide public comment, please email estresources.committees@odf.oregon.gov">forestresources.committees@odf.oregon.gov. 

The committee’s agenda includes:

• Operator of the Year selection
• Review forest practices technical guidance – Working group debrief
• Division updates

The public may attend in-person or online via Zoom. Public comments will be accepted. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 72 hours before the meeting by emailing estresources.committees@odf.oregon.gov">forestresources.committees@odf.oregon.gov.

Regional Forest Practices Committees are panels of citizens – mandated under Oregon law – that advise the Oregon Board of Forestry on current forestry issues and forest management approaches. In 1971, the legislature enacted Oregon’s Forest Practices Act which includes three Regional Forest Practices Committees, serving the Eastern, Northwest and Southwest regions of the state. Under Oregon law, a majority of the committees’ members must be private forest landowners and logging or forest operations companies.

Oregon’s forests are among the state’s most valued resources, providing a balanced mix of environmental, economic and social benefits. View more information on the RFPC webpage.

On September 6^th, 2023, Commander Bergmann was promoted to Undersheriff and will serve as second in command of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.  He will be succeeding Undersheriff Jeff Wood, who is retiring in October 2023 after a 29-year career.  As Undersheriff, Bergmann will be responsible for overseeing the internal operations of the Sheriff’s Office, including the Community Corrections, Enforcement, Institutions, and Operations Divisions.  Undersheriff Bergmann will also represent the Sheriff’s Office and participate in numerous committees, work groups, and boards at both the local and state levels. 

Undersheriff Bergmann began his career in law enforcement in 1999 with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, where he worked as a deputy in parole and probation.  In 2003, he briefly joined the Lane County Sheriff’s Office until he arrived at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in 2004, where he worked as a Deputy Sheriff in our Community Corrections Division as a parole and probation deputy.  Undersheriff Bergmann has been an instructor for the Sheriff’s Office in Firearms, Use of Force, Effective Practices in Community Supervision (EPICS), and Core Correctional Practices (CCP).   

Undersheriff Bergmann’s experience includes supervising our survival skills programs for eight years and serving on S.W.A.T. on the tactical team before becoming the Team Leader of the Tactical Negotiations Team from 2011-2016.  Undersheriff Bergmann worked his way up through the ranks as he was promoted to Sergeant in 2008, Lieutenant in 2015, and Commander in 2022.  As Lieutenant, he managed and led our Transition Center team and served in the Operations Division until he was promoted to Commander and returned to lead Community Corrections. 

Congratulations, Undersheriff Bergmann, on your promotion. We look forward to your leadership. 

ST. PAUL, Ore. —As the J.E. Schroeder Seed Orchard marks its 50th anniversary, its impressive history of forest conservation and genetic mastery in Oregon's Willamette Valley is in the spotlight. 

Initially envisioned for a state prison, the 400-acre site near St. Paul was bought by Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) in 1973, becoming one of Oregon's main sources for tree seeds. Today, it aids in regrowing forests critical to the state's economy, environment, and societal well-being. 

Don Kaczmarek, ODF Geneticist, emphasized the orchard’s commitment to traditional breeding, stating, "Currently the orchard is in its third breeding cycle. The first cycle was from wild parent trees that are tested to determine which produce the best progeny, then placing them in the orchard. The second cycle crosses the best selected progenies from the first cycle. The third cycle is currently being monitored with in-place progeny tests and will be monitored for the next 10 years or so. Douglas-fir and Western hemlock are our two most advanced breeding programs." 

The orchard refrains from genetic modifications, focusing on natural traits like increased growth rates, widespread adaptability, and insect and disease resistance. Such efforts have addressed challenges like the Swiss needle cast, a disease notorious for defoliating Douglas-firs in their first and second years. 

From its inception, the seed orchard has thrived as a cooperative venture. Today, it boasts 38 separate seed orchards, with 70 percent of efforts going towards improved Douglas-fir. Each orchard is monitored and maintained for a diverse group of 28 cooperators, including federal agencies, ODF, tribes, and private companies. 

Over the last 20 years, 28,000 pounds of Douglas-fir seeds have been harvested, capable of reforesting around 1.3 million acres in the western regions of Oregon and Washington. "Roughly 95 percent of the Douglas-fir in these regions originates from improved seeds from orchards like ours," Kaczmarek said. 

Beyond seed production, the seed orchard aims to become the most cost-effective seed producer in the Pacific Northwest. Staff are refining techniques and collaborating with partners like Oregon State University to pinpoint the best genetic sources, ensuring the future of Oregon's forests remains green and resilient and is an invaluable asset to a sustainable timber industry in Oregon. 

J.E. Schroeder Seed Orchard will host its 50th anniversary celebration in May 2024. The event will be hosted by Casara Nichols, J.E. Schroeder Seed Orchard Manager, and seed orchard staff.

Along with the official start of fall brings comes our rainy season. For some, driving in the rain, especially in the dark, causes anxiety. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, “nearly 5,700 people are killed and more than 544,700 people are injured in crashes on wet pavement” each year.

But being behind the wheel while its raining doesn’t have to be a nerve-racking experience. Here are some tips for driving in a downpour:

1. Think. Drivers need to stay alert and focused on what’s going on around them, especially during rain and other stormy weather. 
    
2. Turn on headlights. It’s the law in all states to turn on headlights when visibility is low. Many states also require having headlights on when the windshield wipers are in use. While Oregon does not require motorists to turn on headlights when wipers are used, this can help increase visibility. Well-working wipers are a essential when driving in rain.
    
3. Beware of hydroplaning. Hydroplaning is what occurs when your tires are getting more traction on the layer of water on the road than on the road itself and the result is your car begins to slide uncontrollably. It’s easy enough to hydroplane: All you need is one-twelfth of an inch of rain on the road and a speed of more than 35 miles per hour. If you start to hydroplane, let off the accelerator slowly and steer straight until you regain control. Before rain, snow, or freezing temperatures begin, it is important to have quality tires for increased traction and safety. 
    
4. Turn off cruise control. On rain, snow, ice, or other slick surfaces, cruise control may cause you to lose control. If you hydroplane while in cruise control, your car will actually go faster.
    
5. Slow down. Speed limits are designed for ideal conditions. That means driving when there is little traffic and good visibility. Plan for more time to get to your destination when it is raining.

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