Today at 4:17pm, Lebanon Fire District responded to a 0.25-acre brush fire in the 42000 block of Upper Berlin. Quick action from firefighters helped contain the blaze before it could spread further. The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) provided  assistance during the response.

The fire is now under control. No injuries were reported

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Granite Bay, California man was arrested and appeared in federal court Tuesday after he was indicted in Oregon for cyberstalking his ex-girlfriend and posting sexually explicit photos online.

Jason David Campos, 42, has been charged with stalking, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

According to court documents, between 2009 and 2023, Campos is alleged to have stalked and harassed the victim, a former intimate partner, by posting sexually explicit images and personal information online using social media platforms and public forum websites. 

In May 2007, while still in the relationship, Campos told the victim that the laptop containing the sexually explicit images had been stolen from his vehicle. Campos and the victim ended their relationship in 2008.

The following year, the victim searched her name online and discovered that sexually explicit images, taken by Campos during their relationship, had been posted to Facebook, Craigslist, Classmates.com, in sex ads, and a Swedish website, without the victim’s consent. Campos used the victim’s name, including her maiden name, to create accounts on several social media platforms and public forum websites. Over the next 14 years, Campos used these accounts to publish sexually explicit images of the victim online. In numerous instances, Campos asked viewers to contact the victim directly and shared her personal information in order to further harass the victim.

On July 16, 2021, Campos is further alleged to have created an email account using the victim’s name, which he used to contact the victim’s attorney in Oregon. Posing as the victim, Campos requested the client file which contained personal information including the victim’s address and information about a child. After obtaining the file, Campos contacted the victim directly.

On January 23, 2022, the victim received an email from an account later linked to Campos, in which he referred to the child by name and asked if the victim was the child’s mother. Additionally, Campos used the email account to post several sexually explicit images of the victim to an online message board. He asked viewers to print the images and post them around a neighborhood in Oregon that the victim was residing in at the time.

Campos was arrested in Granite Bay and made his initial appearance in federal court Tuesday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Sacramento, California. He was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered detained pending further court proceedings.

If convicted, Campos faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, three years’ supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 for wire fraud, a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison, three years’ supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 for stalking, and a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in federal prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 for aggravated identity theft.

The case is being investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Gregory R. Nyhus and Mira Chernick, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.

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

# # #

EUGENE, Ore.— Two companies responsible for the operation of the J.H. Baxter wood treatment facility in Eugene, Oregon, and their president, were sentenced Tuesday for hazardous waste and Clean Air Act violations. Collectively, they were ordered to pay a total of $1.5 million in criminal fines. In addition, the court ordered the companies to serve five years of probation and the companies’ president, Georgia Baxter-Krause, 62, of Deschutes County, Oregon, to serve 90 days in federal prison and one year of supervised release. 

Both companies — J.H. Baxter & Co. Inc. and J.H. Baxter & Co., A California Limited Partnership (collectively J.H. Baxter) — previously pleaded guilty to charges of illegally treating hazardous waste and knowingly violating the Clean Air Act’s regulations for hazardous air pollutants. Georgia Baxter-Krause previously pleaded guilty to two counts of making false statements in violation of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the federal statute governing hazardous waste management.

"On more than 100 different days, J.H. Baxter knowingly and illegally boiled off hazardous waste, emitting the discharge into the air,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “J.H. Baxter’s President, Georgia Baxter-Krause, then made false statements about the unlawful practice. Protecting the public’s health is among our highest priorities, and we will prosecute those who violate environmental laws." 

“The J.H. Baxter companies knowingly mishandled hazardous waste and repeatedly violated the Clean Air Act by venting hazardous substances directly into the air, right across the street from people’s homes. The company president then lied to cover up these crimes,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Jeffrey Hall for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Today’s sentencing highlights the significant penalties that Congress has provided for illegally treating or disposing of hazardous waste as well as the Agency’s continued efforts to ensure that Americans have clean air, land, and water.”

“The defendant companies boiled hazardous waste into our community’s air instead of properly dealing with it and Georgia Baxter-Krause lied when confronted about it,” said Nathan J. Lichvarcik, Chief of the Eugene and Medford Branches of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate and prosecute those who put Oregonians at risk in violation of federal law.”

According to court documents, J.H. Baxter used hazardous chemicals to treat and preserve wood at its Eugene facility. The wastewater from the wood preserving processes was hazardous waste.

To properly treat wastewater from its wood treatment process, J.H. Baxter operated a legal wastewater treatment unit to treat and evaporate the waste. For years, however, when J.H. Baxter had too much water on site, including process wastewater and precipitation, J.H. Baxter’s employees at the facility would transfer hazardous process wastewater to an available wood treatment retort to “boil it off,” greatly reducing its volume. J.H. Baxter would then remove the remaining waste from the retort, label it as hazardous waste and ship it offsite for disposal.

Photo sent to Georgia Baxter-Krause in 2019, depicting the inside of a J.H. Baxter retort after weeks of boiling hazardous waste, from the government’s sentencing memo in United States v. J.H. Baxter, et al., 6:24-cr-441 in U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon.

J.H. Baxter did not have a permit to treat its hazardous waste in this manner, as required by RCRA. Additionally, J.H. Baxter’s facility was subject to certain Clean Air Act emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants, which required it to minimize air pollution emissions. However, during the illegal treatment, employees were directed to open all vents on the retorts, allowing discharge to the surrounding air.

After Oregon inspectors discovered this activity, they requested information about the companies’ practice of boiling off hazardous wastewater. On two separate occasions, Georgia Baxter-Krause gave false information in response, which included information about the dates the practice took place and which retorts were used.

The investigation determined that Georgia Baxter-Krause knew J.H. Baxter maintained detailed daily production logs for each retort. From approximately January to October 2019, J.H. Baxter boiled off hazardous process wastewater in its wood treatment retorts on 136 known days. Georgia Baxter-Krause was also aware that during this time J.H. Baxter used four of its five retorts to boil off wastewater.

This case was investigated by the EPA Criminal Investigation Division with assistance from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Lane Regional Air Protection Agency, EPAs Pacific Northwest (Region 10) office, and the Oregon State Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. McLaren for the District of Oregon, Trial Attorneys Rachel Roberts and Stephen J. Foster of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section, and EPA Regional Criminal Enforcement Counsel Karla G. Perrin.

This case was an Environmental Crimes Task Force (ECTF) investigation. ECTF is an initiative in the District of Oregon that identifies, investigates, and prosecutes significant environmental, public lands, and wildlife crimes. ECTF leverages the resources and effort of federal, state and local regulatory agencies and law enforcement to protect human health, safeguard natural resources and wildlife and hold violators accountable.

# # #

It’s International Dark Sky Week, and there's no better place to celebrate than right here in Oregon. Did you know Oregon is home to the largest International Dark Sky Sanctuary on the planet? That’s right—the world. And the Bureau of Land Management Oregon/Washington has the privilege of caring for it!

Spanning an awe-inspiring 2.5 million acres of land in southeastern Oregon, the Oregon Outback Dark Sky Sanctuary—with 1.7 million acres proudly managed by the BLM Lakeview District—offers some of the clearest, most pristine views of the night sky you'll find anywhere. On a clear night, you might spot as many as 15,000 stars twinkling above. That’s a lot more than the 500 visible in most urban areas.

“I grew up just outside of Portland, and like most city kids, I never really saw the true night sky,” said Lisa McNee, BLM Public Affairs Specialist. “That all changed when I was 12 and went to a science camp in John Day. We were taken out about a mile from camp, laid on blankets under the stars, and used telescopes to look deep into the universe. That might have been the moment I fell in love with the firmament.”

Whether you’re a stargazing pro or someone who loves the calm of a clear night, there’s something special about seeing the stars the way they were meant to be seen: bright and wild, without city lights in the way.

"That night sky stayed with me,” McNee continued. “For a while, I even wanted to be an astronaut. Eventually, I realized that flying among the stars wasn’t in the cards for me—I like gravity, as it turns out. But even from Earth, I never stopped dreaming while looking up." 

Today, McNee calls the Oregon Outback home—a remote, rugged stretch of southeastern Oregon known for its wild beauty. As part of the BLM’s Lakeview District team, she helps manage the very lands where the night sky remains among the darkest and most pristine in the lower 48.

“We're committed to preserving not only the beauty of our lands but also the magic of the night sky,” said McNee. “Oregon offers some of the darkest, most awe-inspiring skies in the nation, and it's our privilege to help protect the starry sanctuary for future generations to enjoy.”

Know before you go

Venturing into the Oregon Outback or other remote BLM lands takes a little planning:

• Check the weather and road conditions.
• Bring extra water, warm layers, and a red-light flashlight.
• Let someone know your plans.
• Download maps and stargazing apps ahead of time – cell service can be limited.

-BLM-  

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. 

(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Child Welfare Director is sharing details of a broad effort underway to improve safety for children in foster care and children who come to the attention of Child Welfare through a call to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline.

“The safety of children is our highest priority, and while the Child Welfare system has significantly improved in recent years, we know there is more work to do to ensure children are safe, both in our care and in the community,” said ODHS Child Welfare Director, Aprille Flint-Gerner.

Improvement plans are focused on the following goals:

• Workforce development: Child Welfare needs a strong, supported workforce with access to resources, tools and knowledge to keep children safe. Initiatives in this area include enhanced training, changes to assessment policy and procedure, and technology improvements to help caseworkers work more efficiently.
   
• Public engagement and trust: To keep children safe, the community needs to understand how to build safety around families and how to report concerns to the Child Abuse Hotline. A new mandatory reporter training for the public, a companion “mandatory supporter training,” and more easily accessible information online about child safety and progress will help meet this goal.
   
• Vulnerable populations. Oregon faces multifaceted challenges around supporting families and children with complex needs. Child Welfare has safety initiatives around children who have been trafficked, children with disabilities, and children who need substance abuse treatment.

More details on these efforts can be found at this link.

Child Welfare is partnering with national experts to inform strategies and measure success of these ongoing efforts. Human Services Group (HSG) will partner with Child Welfare to conduct a review during the next 90-120 days to evaluate current safety-related practices, make recommendations that build on current practices and resources that help to safeguard vulnerable children in Oregon. The agency is also working with the neutral expert hired through in the collaborative agreement from the class action-lawsuit settled last year to conduct an initial review of the Oregon child welfare system and working with the department to develop outcome measures.

“Safety is core to the mission of the Oregon Department of Human Services, and our staff work hard each day to protect the most vulnerable populations, including children, older adults and people with disabilities,” said Fariborz Pakseresht, ODHS Director. “We are committed to continuously evaluating our work, to ensure we are doing all we can to support safety in all settings and communities.”

About the Oregon Department of Human Services

The mission of ODHS is to help Oregonians in their own communities achieve wellbeing and independence through opportunities that protect, empower, respect choice and preserve dignity. 

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Español a continuación

CORVALLIS, ORE.— April 7-13, 2025 marked the 30th anniversary of National Public Health Week, an annual awareness campaign that unites communities nationwide in celebrating public health contributions, addressing key health issues, and creating a vision for healthier communities.

On April 1, 2025, the Board of Commissioners proclaimed Public Health Week in Benton County. The proclamation was read by Public Health Division Director, Sara Hartstein.

“Benton County’s proclamation of National Public Health Week 2025 celebrates the leadership, dedication, and innovation of many partners throughout the County, including the Board of Commissioners, our County Health Department, other jurisdictions, community-based organizations, health systems, and many others,” said Hartstein.

Benton County celebrated with a presentation on the 2024-2028 Regional Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). On April 15, 2025, the Board of Commissioners heard about the latest regional CHIP, presented by Amy Young, Project Manager for the Partnership for Community Health of Linn, Benton & Lincoln Counties.

The recently published regional CHIP lays out a long-term vision for improving community health in the Linn-Benton-Lincoln region. Priorities in the regional CHIP are access to affordable housing; access to quality care; behavioral health; and inclusion, diversity, anti-racism, and equity (IDARE). The CHIP outlines how multi-jurisdictional agencies are working together to achieve these priority goals and help address the health challenges and disparities outlined in the plan.

“National Public Health Week is a great opportunity to share the Community Health Improvement Plan with the Board of Commissioners and our partners across the region,” said Young. “Attaining the highest level of health for a whole community involves all sectors uniting in places we live, work, learn, and play that promote well-being. This regional CHIP represents the community’s vision for a collaborative effort to address root causes of our health challenges.”

The regional CHIP is a project of the Partnership for Community Health of Linn, Benton & Lincoln Counties (PCH), a multiagency collaborative of local public health authorities, health systems, and key partners committed to improving community health in the region. The PCH was established in 2021 to promote a shared vision for community health and positive change.

In alignment with National Public Health Week and the regional CHIP presentation, Benton County was recently ranked among the top healthiest counties in the nation, by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s 2025 State and County Health Rankings and Roadmaps. This ranking considers population health and wellbeing, and community conditions including social and economic factors, physical environment, and health infrastructure.

“We are grateful for the many community members and organizations that support our community in achieving this ranking, and we know there is still much work to be done,” said Health Department Director April Holland. “The priorities outlined in the CHIP help us work toward a place where everyone in Benton County has the opportunity to be healthy.”

For more information about the regional CHIP, please visit the PCH website: https://www.lblpartnershipforhealth.org/

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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 the Public Information Office at 541-766-6800 or pioinfo@bentoncountyor.gov.

Portland, Ore., April 23, 2025 – The Oregon Spring Cleanup, presented by Portland General Electric, wrapped up this week with powerful results and even stronger community spirit. From April 12 to April 22, over 3,000 volunteers of all ages celebrated Earth Month by joining 130 cleanup and restoration events across Portland, SW Washington, the Oregon Coast, Southern and Eastern Oregon—and beyond. Together, they picked up over 15,000 pounds of litter and marine debris and removed 8 Mount Tabor Parks worth of invasive plant species (963,750 square feet) such as English Ivy and Himalayan Blackberry.

Thanks to the efforts of individuals, schools, businesses, and community groups, the Oregon Spring Cleanup once again showcased what's possible when communities unite for a cleaner, healthier environment.

Oregon Spring Cleanup event highlights

Pier Park Pick-Up: Hybrid Litter Cleanup & Habitat Restoration, April 19

The annual Pier Park Pick-Up, organized by Friends of Pier Park, brought neighbors, local businesses, and members of Portland's disc golf community together to give this beloved North Portland greenspace a spring refresh. Volunteers worked side by side to remove invasive plants, collect litter, plant native vegetation, and spread mulch in native beds. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson joined the effort as part of his first of three SOLVE event stops that day to support and spotlight the ongoing commitment to maintaining this treasured community park and to celebrate Earth Day weekend with purpose.

Litter Cleanup at Wallace Marine Park, Salem, April 19

In honor of Earth Day, Governor Tina Kotek, First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson, and Governor's Office staff joined over 50 volunteers for a litter cleanup focused on removing litter and debris from the park and nearby waterways.

"This Earth Day, I urge every Oregonian to get outside and lend a hand to keep our parks and natural areas clean and beautiful," said Governor Kotek. "Together, we can fight the impacts of climate change in big ways and small ways. Lowering our greenhouse gas emissions not only protects our environment for future generations of Oregonians but also keeps our communities healthy and safe. Oregon's air, water, natural lands, parks, and all of the beautiful neighborhoods that we call home must be protected and maintained. So let's all do our part, connect with our neighbors, and keep Oregon green."

Detrash Portland: Earth Day Cleanup at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, April 22

To conclude the Oregon Spring Cleanup on Earth Day, nearly 300 volunteers gathered at Tom McCall Waterfront Park for one of the largest Detrash Portland events to date. This monthly cleanup series focuses on revitalizing different areas of downtown Portland, and this Earth Day edition carried special significance as the final event of the 10-day Oregon Spring Cleanup. Volunteers collected approximately 700 pounds of litter, making a powerful, visible impact in one of the city's most iconic public spaces. With the energy of Earth Day and the collective spirit of community pride, this event showcased the ongoing commitment to keeping downtown Portland vibrant and clean.

"It's inspiring to see so many people come together to care for their communities," said Kris Carico, CEO of SOLVE. "Whether it's cleaning up downtown parks or restoring habitat along our rivers and beaches, every action makes a difference. Litter that starts in our neighborhoods often ends up in our waterways and on our beaches, so cleanups at every level matter. And with spring here, it's the perfect time to refresh the places we all enjoy."

Coastal Supply Hubs Make Cleanups More Accessible

SOLVE's new coastal supply hubs—established in partnership with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and supported by Knife River—are helping to make small-scale cleanups more accessible and sustainable. Located along the Oregon Coast, these hubs are stocked with essential tools to support groups of up to 20 volunteers, reducing the need for shipping single-use supplies and making it easier for local communities to take action year-round.

Keep the Momentum Going: Take the Trash Bag Challenge

SOLVE also launched a new initiative this year: the Trash Bag Challenge. Timed with the Oregon Spring Cleanup, the challenge encourages groups to join cleanups or host their own and then pass the challenge to another team or organization. Now that events have wrapped up, it's the perfect time to pass the bag and challenge others.

2025 supporters

The Oregon Spring Cleanup 2025 is made possible by the generous support of Portland General Electric and other event sponsors, including AAA Oregon/Idaho, CareOregon, Clean Water Services, Fred Meyer, Holman Enterprises, KOIN 6, The Oregonian, Lam Research Corporation, Metro, Lithia Driveway, Intel, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Swire Coca-Cola, The Standard, and PepsiCo.

About SOLVE 

SOLVE brings communities together to take care of our environment and enhance our waterways. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots initiative to a national model of volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon, and SW Washington, to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas, while empowering a community of environmental stewards for our state. Visit solveoregon.org for more information. 

Salem, Ore. – Oregon Lottery is celebrating a big milestone – it’s been 40 years since the first tickets were sold on April 25, 1985, creating dreams for future millionaires while supporting state programs and retailers.

To commemorate the anniversary, Oregon Lottery created a 40^th Anniversary Scratch-it, themed after Lottery’s very first game, Pot of Gold. The ticket is on sale now for $30 and features 25 top prizes of $40,000.   

With voter approval, Oregon Lottery was originally created to help jump-start the state’s economy by supporting economic development. It wasn’t until 1995 when voters approved an amendment to allocate Lottery funds for public education. Since then, other beneficiaries were added such as state parks, outdoor school, veterans services, and more. Lottery is now the state’s second largest funding source after personal income tax, contributing over $16.5 billion to state programs.

“For decades, Lottery revenue has helped support inspiring teachers, brave veterans, curious students, and innovative businesses,” said Oregon Lottery Director Mike Wells.  “As we look to the future, we remain committed to operating the lottery as a stable and reliable source of funding for our state.”

More than 200 retailers big and small have been with Oregon Lottery since the beginning, including well-known names such as Safeway, McKay’s Market, Plaid Pantry, Roth’s Fresh Markets, Thriftway, 7-Eleven, and Fred Meyer stores. 

"Fred Meyer is proud to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Oregon Lottery,” said Tiffany Sanders, corporate affairs manager for Fred Meyer. “Over the years, the Oregon Lottery has contributed significantly to education, parks, and vital state programs, making a lasting impact on the lives of Oregonians. Here's to 40 years of fun, excitement, and community growth, and to many more years of making a difference together!"

Greek Village is a locally-owned retailer near Cedar Hills. The restaurant/lounge was amongst the inaugural establishments to sell Oregon Lottery games and was founded by current owner Irene Pavlatos’ father in 1971. She now runs the business and is able to pay her cooks more than many competitors because of the boost from offering Lottery games. In one recent instance, she was able to help an employee who suffered a personal hardship with Lottery sales commissions paid to her business.

“We have that room to give her a bonus,” she said. “It allows us to do a lot of good that we wouldn’t be able to do without it.” 

Celebrating 40 years of selling games since April 25, 1985, Oregon Lottery has earned more than $16.5 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.  

JOHN DAY, Oregon— Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site welcomes visitors to its Interpretive Center and historic building for the 2025 season starting Friday, May 2.

The Kam Wah Chung building is a National Historic Landmark that preserves the home and businesses of two Chinese immigrants, Ing "Doc" Hay and Lung On. For more than 60 years the building was a social, medical and religious center for Oregon's Chinese community.

The Interpretive Center will be open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (closed 11 a.m. to noon for lunch). The historic building and Interpretive Center will be closed Monday through Thursday during May and possibly into June due to staffing levels at the site. Check the website for hours of operation throughout the season: https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=5

Tours of the historic building will run at the top of every hour, the last one beginning at 3 p.m. The free, 45-minute historic building tour begins at the Interpretive Center at 125 NW Canton Street in John Day. Space is limited to 8 people per tour.

For more information or questions about booking tours and operating hours, please call the park office at 541-575-2800.

For those who won't have the opportunity to visit this heritage site this season, you can learn more about the site and Chinese American history in Oregon through these online resources:

• Oregon Chinese Diaspora Project
• National Historic Landmark Nomination: Kam Wah Chung Company Building
• Oregon Encyclopedia: Chinese Americans in Oregon and Kam Wah Chung and Co.
• Oregon Historical Society: Beyond Chinatown: Uncovering Oregon’s Rural Chinese History and Centering Chinese History in Oregon and Herbs & Roots: A History of Chinese Doctors in the American Medical Marketplace

Average Oregon emergency department visit is 5.2 hours, dashboard shows 

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Celebrate National Train Day at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center
Steam Locomotives, Family Fun, and Living History!
Saturday, May 10, 2025 | 10:00AM–6:00PM
Oregon Rail Heritage Center, Portland, OR

PORTLAND, OR – All aboard for a one-of-a-kind celebration as the Oregon Rail Heritage Center (ORHC) hosts a full day of steam, history, and family fun in honor of National Train Day on Saturday, May 10, 2025, from 10:00AM to 6:00PM.

This family-friendly event invites guests to step into the golden age of railroading with train rides powered by the historic Polson #2 steam locomotive. Ride tickets are $40 for adults, $30 for children (children under 2 ride free as a lap child), $36 for seniors (65+) and active or retired military, and $115 for a family pass (includes two adults and two children). Ticket purchasers, you'll receive a coupon for 20% off our beloved Holiday Express Train—a festive tradition you won’t want to miss. Every dollar from your ticket supports the Oregon Rail Heritage Center’s mission—from restoring historic locomotives to sharing the magic of trains with visitors of all ages. Your ticket isn’t just a ride; it’s a way to help keep Portland’s rail legacy alive for generations to come.

Train rides depart every 90 minutes from 11:00AM to 5:00PM, taking guests on a 45-minute scenic journey along the Willamette River to Oaks Park and back, led by the 113-year-old Polson No. 2 steam locomotive with assistance from historic diesel locomotive OPR 100. OPR 100 has deep Portland roots—it was the engine that originally moved the city’s famous steam locomotives into Oaks Park for public display and later pulled them out to begin their restoration journey.

The celebration doesn't stop with the ride. Two of Portland’s legendary locomotives, the Southern Pacific 4449 and Spokane, Portland & Seattle 700, will be under steam and on display throughout the day. This year marks a significant milestone for SP 4449—the 50th anniversary of its return to service for the 1975–76 American Freedom Train, which toured the country in honor of the U.S. Bicentennial. Restored in 1974 after years on static display, SP 4449 traveled more than 24,000 miles across 21 states, serving as a powerful symbol of American innovation and unity. Today, it remains one of the most iconic steam locomotives in the world.

Joining these giants will be a very special guest from Union Pacific Railroad: the brand-new Lincoln Locomotive No. 1616, making its first public appearance as part of its official national debut tour—right here in Portland.

Unveiled on Presidents Day 2025, Union Pacific’s Locomotive No. 1616 is a striking commemorative engine honoring President Abraham Lincoln, who signed the Pacific Railway Act of 1862, creating Union Pacific and authorizing construction of the transcontinental railroad. This act helped unite the country during a pivotal moment in history and laid the groundwork for the nation’s explosive economic growth.

“America’s history is Union Pacific’s history,” said Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena. “By signing the Pacific Railway Act of 1862, President Lincoln created our railroad and ignited The Great Race to connect the country and fuel the economy – roles our industry still plays today.”

The Lincoln locomotive is the second presidential engine in Union Pacific’s Heritage Fleet, joining No. 4141, created in honor of President George H.W. Bush. No. 1616 features a unique paint scheme inspired by Lincoln’s era, with design elements that nod to locomotive No. 119, famously present at Promontory Summit, Utah, for the golden spike ceremony marking the completion of the first transcontinental railroad.

Painted by Union Pacific employees, No. 1616 will serve as a traveling ambassador for American railroading, and Portland is proud to be the first stop on its cross-country debut tour. This striking engine will visit communities across the nation to highlight the enduring impact of railroads on our country’s past, present, and future.

Bringing this locomotive to Portland is a significant honor, and its presence at National Train Day reflects Union Pacific’s ongoing commitment to community engagement, rail history, and innovation. John Turner, Sr. Vice President–Northern Region at Union Pacific, is scheduled to speak, alongside Rick Franklin, President of ORHF, and other civic and community leaders who will be joining us to mark this special occasion.

Visitors will also enjoy:

• Model railroad displays showcasing intricate train layouts
• Four food trucks with tasty offerings
• Tabling by rail-focused partners including Operation Lifesaver, Willow Creek Railroad, Union Pacific, Friends of the Washington Park and Zoo Railway, Santiam Excursions, and Albany & Eastern Railroad
• Hands-on activities, education, and railroad fun for the entire family

“This event is a celebration of the Pacific Northwest’s railroading legacy and the role Portland plays in preserving it,” said Rick Franklin, President of the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation. “We’re proud to make this living history accessible not just to our community, but to train lovers around the world. We value our relationship with this city and its residents, and we take immense pride in keeping these locomotives — and the stories they tell — alive and steaming ahead.”

Advance ticket purchase is highly recommended at www.orhf.org. A limited number of tickets may be available for sale on the day of the event.

Getting there is easy! Limited parking is available, but guests are strongly encouraged to use TriMet or the Portland Streetcar. The Center is located directly across from the OMSI MAX Station, offering easy access via public transit.

?️ Event Details at a Glance

What: National Train Day Celebration
When: Saturday, May 10, 2025 | 10:00AM–6:00PM
Where: Oregon Rail Heritage Center, 2250 SE Water Ave, Portland, OR
Admission: Free to attend

Train Ride Tickets:

• $40 for adults
• $30 for children (under 2 ride free as a lap child)
• $36 for seniors (65+) and active or retired military
• $115 for a family pass (includes two adults and two children)

Ticket purchasers, you'll receive a coupon for 20% off our beloved Holiday Express Train—a festive tradition you won’t want to miss. Every ticket purchased helps power the mission of the Oregon Rail Heritage Center—preserving Portland’s historic locomotives, bringing rail history to life, and inspiring future generations through hands-on experiences.

Tickets & Info: www.orhf.org | 503-233-1156 | info@orhf.org

Press Inquiries: rdevereux@orhf.org

PRIVATE SECURITY/INVESTIGATOR POLICY COMMITTEE

MEETING SCHEDULED

Notice of Regular Meeting

The Private Security/Investigator Policy Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 1:30 p.m., in the Governor Victor G. Atiyeh Boardroom at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST or Department) located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Juan Lopez at (503) 551-3167.

To view the Private Security/Investigator Policy Committee's live-stream and other recorded videos, please visit DPSST’s official YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/@DPSST?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery. Click or tap if you trust this link.">https://www.youtube.com/@DPSST.

Agenda Items:

1. Introductions

2. Approve February 18, 2025, Meeting Minutes

3. Christopher Mattison, Private Security Identification No. 088425

   Notice of Intent to Propose Civil Penalty

   Presented by Michael Holsapple

4. Adam Weyeneth, Private Security Identification No. 041697

   Notice of Intent to Propose Civil Penalty

   Presented by Michael Holsapple

5. Agency Update

6. Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting – August 19, 2025, at 1:30 p.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 Private Security/Private Investigations 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.

Mosier, Oregon – The Memaloose Rest Area, located near mile maker 72.9, on I-84, (six miles east of Mosier, OR), will temporarily close to allow for the completion of a rest room building renovation and expansion project. Eastbound parking lots and facilities will close starting on April 22, 2025. Westbound parking lots and facilities will close on or around May 1, 2025; however, the westbound exit will remain open to allow access to the entrance of Memaloose State Park. Both sides of the rest area will open to the public by July 1, 2025.  Travelers are advised to plan and make use of alternative rest areas or services in the vicinity. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience as these critical improvements are made.

The Memaloose Rest Area Building Renovation and Expansion Project will upgrade and expand the existing facilities to improve restroom capacity, ensure compliance with ADA standards, and implement necessary building improvements by adding approximately 200 square feet to the women's and men's facilities. The additions will add three standard stalls and one ADA stall to each facility, as well as upgraded toilets, urinals, lights, partitions, sinks, tile, and flooring.  This project will improve safety and decrease wait times by doubling the restroom capacity.

The Travel Information Council approved the expenditure of $1.7 million dollars for the project.  Funding for this capital project was allocated by the Oregon Legislature as part of HB 2017 to make improvements at rest areas.  After the open competitive bid process was completed, the project was awarded to Constructions Services Group of Vancouver, WA.  

The Travel Information Council, a semi-independent state agency, was created by the State of Oregon in the 1970s to operate the highway blue logo sign program following the Highway Beautification Act. The agency now also operates the Oregon Historical Marker and Heritage Tree Programs as well as 39 rest areas at 25 locations in Oregon, providing clean, safe, and inviting locations that are open and free to use 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Josephine County, Ore. 22 April 2025- Oregon State Police investigating officer involved shooting in Josephine County.

On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, just after 12:00 p.m., a Josephine County Sheriff’s Office Deputy encountered a wanted suspect with a felony warrant, near the O’Brien Country Store, in O’Brien.  The suspect, Clinten Anthony Robertson (33) of Grants Pass, evaded the deputy and used his vehicle to ram the deputy’s vehicle, resulting in an officer involved shooting. 

Robertson was struck by gunfire during the incident and transported to Three Rivers Hospital in Grants Pass for medical treatment.

No injuries to bystanders or law enforcement occurred during the incident.

The Josephine County Major Crime Team, which consists of the Josephine County District Attorney’s Office, the Grants Pass Police Department, the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oregon State Police has been activated.  The Oregon State Police is leading the investigation.  No additional details will be released at this time. 

Today, the Board of County Commissioners voted to issue a statement reaffirming Lane County’s commitment to upholding the Oregon Sanctuary Promise Act and supporting transgender community members.

Commissioners directed the creation of the statement in response to requests from members of and advocates for the immigrant and transgender communities. The statement was developed with insight shared during meetings with local community groups.

The statement recognizes the purpose of Lane County Government is to improve the lives of our community members. Every person in our community is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect. Every person in Lane County should feel safe to live authentically, enjoy public spaces, access public services, and participate in community life regardless of the language they speak, the color of their skin, their gender identity, or any other factor historically used to exclude people from services and community.

Lane County’s commitment is to:

• welcome diverse people into our community, including immigrant, refugee, and transgender people, and build our systems with all people in mind.

• uphold Oregon’s Sanctuary Promise Act to ensure immigrant and refugee communities do not fear local law enforcement and feel safe reporting crimes.

• not request immigration status of people seeking services, except as required by law.

• provide equal access to services and care, in the preferred language of the people seeking those services or care.

• provide accessible signage, public messages, documents, and forms in multiple languages.

• use every avenue permitted by law to support the State of Oregon in affirming the rights of transgender people of all ages to receive any gender affirming healthcare that has been deemed medically necessary by a qualified healthcare provider.

• uphold the rights of people to seek gender-affirming care in our community and not comply with any requests to seek, detain, or report people who come to our community seeking gender-affirming care.

• challenge federal policies that harm transgender people and agree to use every avenue permitted by law to assure equal access to healthcare, housing, education, and employment.

• update and create policies across Lane County to protect the rights of transgender people and immigrants.

Read the full statement and accompanying board memo online.

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Coburg – The Oregon Heritage Commission will meet May 4 in Eugene for a tour of the Museum of Natural and Cultural History and May 5 in Coburg for the Business Meeting.
 

The agenda includes an update on the 2026 Oregon Heritage Plan process, a presentation by the Lane County Parks Advisory Committee on the County covered bridges, a presentation by the Oregon Museums Association on the updated strategic plan, a report on the historic resources survey work in Cottage Grove, a tour of downtown Cottage Grove by Coburg Main Street, and more.
 

This meeting is open to the public and there is an opportunity at the beginning of the meeting for public comment. Public comment can be made in person, online, or by written submission. For online attendance, registration is required. To view the full agenda, register for the virtual meeting, or learn more about public comment options, visit here.

Special accommodations for the meeting – including translation services – may be made by calling (503) 986‐0690 or y.Newcomb@oprd.oregon.gov">Mary.Newcomb@oprd.oregon.gov at least 72 hours prior to the start of the meeting.
 

The Heritage Commission’s nine Governor appointed members represent a diversity of cultural, geographic, and institutional interests. The Commission’s nine advisory members include representatives from the Oregon State Library, Oregon State Archives, State Historical Records Advisory Board, Higher Education Coordinating Committee, Travel Oregon, Oregon Historical Society, Department of Education, State Historic Preservation Office, and the Department of Land Conservation and Development.
 

The Commission is the primary agency for coordination of heritage activities in the state. This includes carrying out the Oregon Heritage Plan, increasing efficiency and avoiding duplication among interest groups, developing plans for coordination among agencies and organizations, encouraging tourism related to heritage resources, and coordinating statewide anniversary commemorations.
 

More information about the Oregon Heritage Commission is available online at www.oregonheritage.org and from Commission coordinator Katie Henry at 503-877-8834 or katie.henry@oprd.oregon.gov. 
 

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Español a continuación

Benton County recently updated their Tobacco-Free Facilities and Grounds Policy to capture and include any product that can be smoked or vaped, including cannabis.

The goal of the updated policy is to continue promoting the health and safety of employees and the public by reducing the harmful effects of secondhand smoke and nicotine addiction.

Smoking and the use of other tobacco products remain the number one cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. The list of diseases linked to tobacco use is expanding, well beyond the general health risks of coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, and chronic lung disease. Even passive exposure to secondhand smoke is a major health risk.

Tobacco- and smoke-free spaces work to prevent initiation and promote tobacco cessation. They also work to change social norms around smoking, vaping, and tobacco use.

“Studies show that communities with more tobacco- and smoke-free spaces experience a positive impact, both in the success of individuals trying to quit and reducing youth nicotine addiction.” said Andy Chuinard, Tobacco Prevention and Education Program Coordinator for Benton County Health Department.

In addition to the direct health risks of tobacco use, smoking is estimated to be the number one cause of fire related death and injury in the United States and is a major cause of wild-land fire ignition.  The environmental impact of smoking is significant, as toxic cigarette filters are the most frequently littered item in the United States and have negative impacts on the environment and wildlife.

The original policy, “Tobacco-Free Facilities and Grounds,” was first adopted by the Benton County Board of Commissioners on January 1, 2013. Since then, the landscape of tobacco and nicotine products has changed significantly along with legalization of cannabis. The updated policy, “Smoke-, Vape-, and Tobacco-Free Facilities and Grounds,” responds to these changes by including emerging products such as synthetic nicotine, pouches, electronic smoking devices (or vapes), and cannabis in the referenced language.

The updated policy continues to apply to all properties owned and occupied by Benton County, including parks, natural areas, fairgrounds, and the courthouse. The policy aims to communicate, educate, and promote cessation resources for nicotine addiction. Updated public-facing signage including metal signs, posters, and decals will be installed at all County facilities this spring.

People who want to quit tobacco can contact their health care provider to see what options are available. Oregon Tobacco Quit Line is a telephone and web-based service that offers free quitting information, one-on-one telephone counseling, and referrals at https://quitnow.net/oregon or call 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669).

For more information, please contact: entonhealthycommunities@bentoncountyor.gov">bentonhealthycommunities@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 the Public Information Office at 541-766-6800 or pioinfo@bentoncountyor.gov.

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Español

El Condado de Benton actualiza su política de no fumar, vapear tabaco en sus instalaciones y propiedades

Martes, 22 de abril de 2025

CORVALLIS, OR.— El Condado de Benton actualizó recientemente su política de instalaciones y propiedades libres de tabaco para incluir cualquier producto que se pueda fumar o vapear, incluyendo la marihuana.

El objetivo de esta política actualizada es seguir promoviendo la salud y la seguridad de los empleados y del público, reduciendo los efectos dañinos del humo de segunda mano y la adicción a la nicotina en la comunidad.

Fumar y el consumo de otros productos de tabaco siguen siendo la principal causa de enfermedades y muertes prevenibles en Estados Unidos. La lista de enfermedades relacionadas con el consumo de tabaco se está ampliando, mucho más allá de los riesgos generales para la salud como enfermedades del corazón, derrame cerebrovascular, cáncer y enfermedad pulmonar crónica. Incluso la exposición pasiva al humo de segunda mano supone un riesgo importante para la salud.

Los espacios libres de tabaco y libres de humo contribuyen a prevenir el inicio del consumo de tabaco y a promover dejar de fumar y consumir. También contribuyen a cambiar las normas sociales en cuanto a fumar, vapear y el uso de tabaco.

“Los estudios demuestran que las comunidades con más espacios libres de tabaco y humo experimentan un impacto positivo, tanto en el éxito de quienes intentan dejar de fumar como en la reducción de la adicción a la nicotina entre los jóvenes”, afirmó Andy Chuinard, Coordinador del Programa de Prevención y Educación sobre el Tabaco del Departamento de Salud del Condado de Benton.

Además de los riesgos directos para la salud que conlleva el consumo de tabaco, se estima que fumar es la principal causa de muerte y lesiones relacionadas con incendios en Estados Unidos y una de las principales causas de incendios forestales. El impacto ambiental del tabaco es significativo, ya que los filtros de los cigarrillos son tóxicos y el artículo que se tira con más frecuencia en Estados Unidos y tienen un impacto negativo en el medio ambiente y la vida silvestre.

La política original, "Instalaciones y Propiedades Libres de Tabaco", fue adoptada por primera vez por la Junta de Comisionados del Condado de Benton el 1 de enero de 2013. Desde entonces, el panorama de los productos de tabaco con nicotina ha cambiado significativamente junto con la legalización de la marihuana. La política actualizada, "Instalaciones y Propiedades Libres de Humo, Vapeo y Tabaco", responde a estos cambios incluyendo productos emergentes como la nicotina sintética, las bolsitas de tabaco masticables, los dispositivos electrónicos para fumar sin importar su contenido y la marihuana.

La política actualizada continúa aplicándose a todas las propiedades que pertenecen y ocupa el Condado de Benton, incluyendo parques, áreas naturales, los terrenos de la feria y la corte. La política busca comunicar, educar y promover recursos para dejar de fumar y combatir la adicción a la nicotina. Esta primavera se instalará letreros actualizados, que incluye letreros metálicos, carteles y calcomanías en todas las instalaciones del condado.

Si está interesado en dejar el tabaco, contacte a su profesional de la salud para ver qué es lo más adecuado para usted. También puede visitar la Línea para Dejar de Fumar de Oregón, un servicio gratuito por teléfono y en línea que ofrece información gratuita para dejar de fumar, asesoramiento telefónico personalizado y referencias en https://quitnow.net/oregon o llamar al 1-800-DEJELO-YA (1-855-335-3569).

Para más información, escriba a: entonhealthycommunities@bentoncountyor.gov">bentonhealthycommunities@bentoncountyor.gov 

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El Condado de Benton es un empleador que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades y acción afirmativa y no discrimina por motivos de discapacidad en la admisión o el acceso a nuestros programas, servicios, actividades, contratación y prácticas de empleo. Este documento está disponible en formatos e idiomas alternativos a pedido. Comuníquese con la Oficina de Información Pública al 541-766-6800 o pioinfo@bentoncountyor.gov.

Update: On Monday, April 21, 2025, at 5:59 p.m., Oregon State Police arrested Jonathan James Dowdy. Dowdy was released from RiverBend Hospital after he was admitted and received care for injuries suffered during the crash on April 18. After his arrest, Dowdy was lodged in the Coos County Jail for the following crimes:

• ORS 163.118 Manslaughter in the First Degree (X2)
• ORS 163.175 Assault in the Second Degree (X3)
• ORS 163.165 Assault in the Third Degree (X5)
• ORS 163.195 Reckless Endangering of a Person (X14)
• ORS 163.196 Aggravated Driving While Suspended or Revoked
• ORS 813.010 Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants
• ORS 811.140 Reckless Driving
• ORS 811.182 Driving While Suspended – Misdemeanor
• ORS 164.354 Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree

Oregon State Police is actively investigating the fatal collision and does not have further information to release.

Coos County, Ore. 19 April 2025- On Friday, April 18, 2025, at 9:56 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 42, near milepost 23, in Coos County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a westbound Chevrolet Silverado, operated by Johnathan James Dowdy (32) of Coos Bay, crossed the centerline into the eastbound lane and struck an eastbound Chevrolet Express bus, operated by Jami Lea Strinz (46) of Roseburg, head-on. The bus was occupied with 10 members of the Umpqua Community College softball team. 

The operator of the Chevrolet Silverado (Dowdy) suffered serious injuries and was transported to an emergency medical center.

The operator of the Chevrolet Express (Strinz) was transported with critical injuries and was later declared deceased at the hospital.

A passenger of the Chevrolet Express, Kiley Nevaeh Jones (19) of Nampa (ID), was declared deceased at the scene.

The other 8 occupants of the Chevrolet Express, whose identities are not being released at this time, suffered moderate to serious injuries and were provided emergency medical services.

The highway was impacted for approximately five hours during the on-scene investigation. Impaired driving is considered a primary cause of the crash.

Due to the on-going criminal investigation, additional details related to the crash are not available for release.

OSP was assisted by Myrtle Point Police Department, Coquille Police Department, Coos County Sheriff's Office, Myrtle Point Fire, Coquille Fire, and ODOT.

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About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.

Josephine County, Ore. 21 April 2025- On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 5:40 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a vehicle versus pedestrian crash on Highway 199, near milepost 26, in Josephine County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a pedestrian, Kale Phillip Luke (31) of Grants Pass, was reportedly walking in the roadway when he was struck by a southbound Ford Escape, operated by Andrew Martin Vendrick (39) of Santa Rosa (CA).

The pedestrian (Luke) was declared deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Ford (Vendrick) was reportedly uninjured.

The highway was not impacted during the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by Illinois Valley Fire and ODOT.

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About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.

The funding is part of OnPoint’s Green Horizons initiative and will support nonprofits restoring nature, conserving wildlife and reducing e-waste  

PORTLAND, Ore., — April 22, 2025 — OnPoint Community Credit Union is giving $100,000 to four local environmental nonprofits to mark Earth Day 2025. The investment is through KGW’s Good Energy Campaign sponsorship. Friends of the Columbia Gorge, Oregon Wildlife Foundation, Free Geek and The Nature Conservancy in Oregon will each receive $25,000 to help protect natural resources and wildlife in Oregon and Southwest Washington. 

OnPoint’s Green Horizons initiative supports organizations whose vital work helps address climate change.  Since 2021, the program has provided green auto and solar financing for members, sustainability perks for employees and more $500,000 in funding for local nonprofits protecting our region’s natural resources. 

“Dealing with climate change and preserving our planet isn’t just something that happens at a national or global level. Each individual and organization plays a key role,” said Rob Stuart, president and CEO, OnPoint Community Credit Union. “Our Green Horizons initiative empowers local partners to continue their boots-on-the-ground efforts. We are proud to support the people and organizations that fight to keep our environment sustainable for generations to come.” 

Supporting local environment nonprofits with Green Horizons  

The Nature Conservancy in Oregon (TNCO) works to conserve the land and waters upon which all life depends. Since 2017, OnPoint’s donations of over $350,000 to TNCO have helped fund projects across Oregon, from restoration of our estuaries and forests to drought-resilient watersheds and community-driven climate solutions.

 “OnPoint’s continued contributions as part of Green Horizons makes a huge difference as we face urgent environmental challenges across the state,” said Derek Johnson, State Director of The Nature Conservancy in Oregon. “The steady support helps us focus on local solutions and strategies that build toward a better future Oregonians and the lands and waters we cherish.”

Oregon Wildlife Foundation drives lasting conservation of Oregon’s fish, wildlife, and citizen enjoyment of natural resources. Since 1981, it has partnered with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to ensure scientifically sound wildlife conservation projects are funded. OWF depends upon strong partnerships to help it use donations efficiently for projects, such as highway underpasses protecting endangered frogs and helicopter-assisted stream restoration. 

“OnPoint’s support is a vital part of helping us deliver on our mission to help save and even improve the resources we have here in Oregon,” said Oregon Wildlife Foundation Executive Director Tim Greseth. 

Free Geek, founded in Portland on Earth Day 2000, sustainably reuses technology and provides digital literacy education to bridge the digital divide. It diverts tech devices from landfills, refurbishes them and gives them back to the community at little or no cost. Equipment that can’t be reused or refurbished is broken into parts for recycling.  

“People know that Free Geek helps people, but they don’t always think about the more than 1.5 million pounds of tech equipment we’ve been able to keep out of the landfill,” said Free Geek executive director Juan Muro, Jr. “OnPoint’s Green Horizons donation will support reuse and recycling that has an immediate positive effect on both the environment and people’s day-to-day lives.” 

Friends of the Columbia Gorge led the fight to create the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area 40 years ago, but that was just the beginning. It continues to protect the gorge’s scenic, natural, cultural and recreational resources through land acquisition and stewardship, advocacy, education, volunteerism, and partnerships. Friends’ current Share the Wonder campaign permanently protects areas such as Heartleaf Bluffs and the Alashík Preserve, restoring habitat at Cape Horn and Catherine Creek and expanding the Gorge trail network.   

“This Green Horizons donation helps us carry the torch of Gorge protection to future generations,” said Friends’ executive director Kevin Gorman. “We rely on the strength and diversity of collaborators who share this vision for the Gorge’s future. We’re grateful that OnPoint is championing one of the world’s greatest natural treasures.” 

Increasing accessibility with auto and home special rate discounts  

OnPoint’s Green Horizons offers special rate discounts for members to make going green more accessible. The Green Auto Discount offers 0.25% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) off auto loan rates for new or used electric or hybrid vehicles financed through OnPoint. People in the market for electric or hybrid vehicles can also find additional incentives through Oregon and Washington state programs. 

OnPoint’s Green Horizons also makes it more affordable for homeowners to produce their own solar electricity. When homeowners apply for an EquityFlex Line of Credit for home improvements, they can fix a portion of their line of credit for the purchase of solar panels and receive a 0.25% discount off the EquityFlex Fixed Portion APR. Homeowners can find even more savings by looking at incentives and rebate programs in Oregon and Washington. 

For more information about OnPoint’s investment in building a greener future, such as telecommuting programs, employee volunteer opportunities, and other donations to environmentally-focused organizations, please visit: OnPoint Green Horizons. 

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About OnPoint Community Credit Union 

OnPoint Community Credit Union is the largest credit union in Oregon, serving over 603,000 members and with assets of $9.9 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 onpointcu.com or 503-228-7077 or 800-527-3932. 

Vehicles meeting OnPoint’s Green Auto Discount standards receive a 0.25% discount off stated APR (Annual Percentage Rate). All OnPoint loans are subject to credit terms and approval. Discount does not apply to existing OnPoint auto loans. 

Receive a 0.25% discount off stated EquityFlex Fixed Portion APR when proceeds are used to purchase solar panels. Review of purchase order or invoice required to qualify. Discount applies to invoice/purchase order amount, not to exceed $12,000. 

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Benton County Board of Commissioners is preparing for wildfire season with a wildfire awareness roundtable discussion on Tuesday, April 22. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m., with the discussion scheduled to start after two short items of business. The public is always welcome to attend BOC meetings in person or virtually.

The Board of Commissioners will dedicate most of their quarterly Information Sharing Meeting to the discussion including representatives of Benton County Emergency Operations, the Benton County Fire Defense Board, the Oregon State Fire Marshal and the Oregon Department of Forestry Representatives.

Topics of discussion will include the wildfire outlook, community preparedness, risks, highlights of department activities and the Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

Following the discussion, Benton County Emergency Services Manager Bryan Lee will ask the Board to officially proclaim May 2025 as Wildfire Awareness Month in Benton County.

Community members can attend the meeting in person at the County’s Kalapuya Building at 4500 SW Research Way in Corvallis. Those who wish to watch online should visit the Board of Commissioners online meeting portal.

A full recording of the discussion will be posted to the meeting portal within 48 hours after the end of the meeting.

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Due to ongoing impacts from the March 16, 2025, floods, mudslides, and power outages in Harney County, Oregon has received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to extend the 10-Day Timely Reporting requirement for requesting replacement of food purchased with SNAP benefits that was spoiled or destroyed.

New deadline for SNAP replacement benefits in Harney County
Households in Harney County now have until April 30, 2025, to report food losses related to this event and request replacement SNAP benefits.

Approved County for the waiver extension:
Residents of the following county are eligible for the extended deadline:

• Harney County

Counties not included in the waiver:
For individuals in all other Oregon counties, the standard 10-day reporting requirement remains in effect. Food spoiled or destroyed in disaster or misfortune must be reported within 10 days of the incident, and verification may be required.

How to request SNAP replacement benefits:
Individuals in affected areas can request replacement benefits using one of the following methods:

• By phone: Call 1-800-699-9075 or 711 (TTY)

• In person: Visit your local office (find locations at Oregon.gov)

• By mail: ONE Customer Service Center
  PO Box 14015 Salem, OR 97309

• By email: Send requests to Oregon.Benefits@odhsoha.oregon.gov

• Online: Submit requests via the ONE online portal

Download and use the updated Form 0349D to make a request:
https://sharedsystems.dhsoha.state.or.us/DHSForms/Served/de0349d.pdf

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) announced its Down Payment Assistance (DPA) program helped another 269 Oregonians buy a home in 2024.

DPA-funded organizations disbursed almost $10 million to homebuyers, with an average of $28,315 per homebuyer for homes across Oregon that cost, on average, $339,689. Additionally, 150 of the homebuyers identified as first-generation and 55% identified as people of color.

Angele Graham of White City in Jackson County was one homebuyer who was able to get a new home using DPA. Graham’s journey to homeownership began in 2017, but a series of financial and health setbacks, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, prevented her from realizing her dream. Her situation became worse after her landlord sold her rental home and the new owner raised her rent by 60%.

Graham was running out of options until ACCESS, a community action agency serving Jackson County, received a DPA grant from OHCS that she was able to use for a down payment. Coupled with a USDA Direct Loan and a housing voucher provided by the Housing Authority of Jackson County (HAJC), Graham was able to close on a place she could call her own.

“Angele has set a wonderful example of perseverance and hard work to pursue a dream,” said Denise Lupton, housing supervisor at ACCESS. “During her long journey, she faced a lot of challenges but never gave up hope. Combined with local and state programs, such as OHCS’ Down Payment Assistance, Angele’s path to homeownership is now a reality. My team and I are so proud of her and are grateful to have been part of her homebuying process.”

OHCS’ DPA program, which is now funded by the Home Ownership Assistance Program (HOAP) and Construction Excise Tax (CET) proceeds, was created in 2011 and since has helped 1,543 households.

“It’s truly inspiring to see Angele achieve her dream of homeownership. Her story highlights the vital role that OHCS’ Down Payment Assistance program plays in creating pathways to stability and generational opportunity,” said Keeble Giscombe, director of Homeownership at OHCS. “This program empowers historically underserved Oregonians to invest in themselves, their families, and their futures. I’m thrilled for Angele as she experiences the many joys and rewards of homeownership.”

To learn more about OHCS’ various DPA programs, including one for veterans, visit the OHCS website. View OHCS’ homeownership data dashboards at https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/oregon.housing.and.community.services/vizzes and click on the DPA tab to get more detailed information. 

About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS)  

OHCS is Oregon's housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. Visit OHCS’ website for more information.

CORVALLIS, Ore. – On Saturday, April 19, 2025, at 5:16 pm, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) responded to a two-vehicle crash with a fatality on Highway 34 near Grange Hall Road, Philomath.

A male juvenile, who was a backseat passenger in a 2006 Ford Escape, was pronounced deceased while being transported to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center (GSRMC) due to injuries sustained in the collision.

Preliminary investigation indicates that a 21-year-old female driver of a 1997 Ford F-350 was traveling westbound on Highway 34 when she struck the rear of the Ford Escape that was turning east onto Grange Hall Road.

The 26-year-old female driver of the Escape and her front-seat passenger sustained minor injuries and were treated at GSRMC.

The driver and passenger of the F-350 were not injured.

Highway 34 at Grange Hall Road was closed for approximately three hours while investigators processed the scene.

The BCSO would like to thank the Benton County District Attorney’s Office, Philomath Police Department, Philomath Fire Department, Corvallis Fire Department, and Willamette Valley First Responder Chaplains for their assistance.

The driver of the F-350 is cooperating with investigators. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Benton County Crash Team.

If you have any additional information or witnessed the crash, please contact BCSO at entonCoSheriff@bentoncountyor.gov">BentonCoSheriff@bentoncountyor.gov or their tip line at 541-753-8477, re: case #2025-01009.

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BOARD ON PUBLIC SAFETY STANDARDS AND TRAINING

MEETING SCHEDULED

The Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a regular meeting at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 24, 2025, 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 Juan Lopez at (503) 551-3167 or juan.lopez-hernandez@dpsst.oregon.gov.

To view the Board's live-stream and other recorded videos, please visit DPSST’s official YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/@DPSST.

Amended Agenda Items:

1. Introductions

2. Meeting Minutes

    Approve the January 23, 2025, Meeting Minutes

3. Fire Policy Committee

a. Fire Policy Committee Update – Dan Lenzen, Chair

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

A. John Cota, DPSST No. 44136; Tenmile RFPD – No Action

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the FPC on February 26, 2025.

B. Jesse McFarland, DPSST No. 44129; Scio RFPD – No Action

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the FPC on February 26, 2025.

C. Rhett Sunia, DPSST No. 41600; Coburg RFPD – No Action

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the FPC on February 26, 2025.

D. Proposed Rule Changes for OAR 259-009-0005, OAR 259-009-0062, and OAR 259-009-0065

Minimum Standard on Professional Qualifications for Firefighters

E. Committee Appointments

Fire Policy Committee

• • Levi Hopkins – Forest Protection Agencies, Appointment to the FPC, 1st term effective April 24, 2025.

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. Randall Broome, DPSST No. 56468; Lane County Sheriff's Office – No Action

Unanimous vote with one (1) recusal to recommend to the Board by the CPC on February 11, 2025.

B. Bradley McIntyre, DPSST No. 35126; Portland Police Bureau – Revoke

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the PPC on February 20, 2025.

C. Rafael Munoz, DPSST No. 60210; DOC/Coffee Creek Correctional Facility – Revoke

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the CPC on February 11, 2025.

D. Tyler Odom, DPSST No. 52085; Frontier Regional 9-1-1 – Revoke

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the TPC on February 5, 2025.

E. Jeremiah Oswald, DPSST No. 60805; Washington County Sheriff's Office – Revoke

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the PPC on PPC on February 20, 2025.

F. Matthew Paton, DPSST No. 44975; Marion County Sheriff's Office – Revoke

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the CPC on February 11, 2025.

G. Jeremy Pilon, DPSST No. 54019; Newberg-Dundee Police Department – No Action

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the PPC on February 20, 2025.

H. Marcus Risteen, DPSST No. 58653; Yamhill County Sheriff's Office – No Action

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the CPC on February 11, 2025.

I. Shelli Taleghani, DPSST No. 60679; TDOC/Two Rivers Correctional Institution – Revoke

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the CPC on February 11, 2025.

J. Approval for Changes to the Corrections Career Officer Development Self-Study Curriculum M23-25A

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

Codifying Board Approval of the Revisions to the Corrections Career Officer Development Self-Study Course

L. Approval for Changes to the Telecommunicator Field Training Manual and Addition of the Telecommunicator Guidebook

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

   To Adopt the 2024 Telecommunicator Field Training Manual

N. Committee Appointments

Telecommunications Policy Committee

• • Kathryn Fischer – Representing Telecommunicators, Appointment to the TPC, 1st term effective April 24, 2025.

5. Private Security/Investigator Policy Committee

a. Private Security Investigator Policy Committee Update – Dan Lenzen, Chair

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

A. Committee Appointments

Private Security/Investigators Policy Committee

• • Helena Snyder – Currently Licensed Private Investigator, Appointment to the PSIPC, 1st term effective July 27, 2025.
  • Travis Ralph – Armed Security Representative, Appointment to the PSIPC, 1st term effective July 27, 2025

6. Board on Public Safety Standards and Training Chair and Vice-Chair Nominations – Kathy McAlpine

7. Public Safety Memorial Fund Board Membership – Kathy McAlpine

8. Annual Director's Evaluation – Chair English

9. Agency Updates – Agency Director, Phil Castle

10. Next Meeting Date: July 24, 2025, 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.

Yamhill County, Ore. 21 April 2025- On Friday, April 18, 2025, at 3:50 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on Highway 99W, near the intersection with Northeast Youngman Lane, in Yamhill County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a northbound Toyota Corolla, operated by Dennis Giron-Cortes (36) of Woodburn, was in the slow lane when it lost control and left the roadway. The Toyota rolled onto it's roof before striking a utility pole which consequently broke the utility pole and dropped live power wires onto the roadway.

The operator of the Toyota was declared deceased at the scene.

The roadway was impacted for approximately 4.5 hours during the on-scene investigation. Speed is believed to be a primary cause of the crash.

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

# # #

About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.

SALEM, Ore. — The Certified Burn Manager Advisory Committee will meet on Monday, April 28, from 9 a.m. to noon at the ODF Headquarters, Building C, Tillamook Room, 2600 State Street, Salem. To join virtually, please use the Zoom video conference information found on the agenda.

The committee’s agenda includes:

• Welcome and introductions
• Overview of certification to date
• Curriculum updates and training delivery
• Prescribed Fire Liability Pilot Program
• Continuing education
• Review of approved CBM rule revisions
• Updates
  • Past and future course deliveries
  • Legislation
  • ODF prescribed fire policy development

The meeting is open to the public to attend either in-person or virtually. There will be a period for public comment. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting by contacting y.berry@odf.oregon.gov">Shelby Berry at 503-949-5181.

View more information on the CBMAC webpage.

Oregon's 2021 Legislature passed Senate Bill 762 requiring the Oregon Department of Forestry to establish a Certified Burn Manager Program. It is the duty of the Certified Burn Manager Advisory Committee to advise the Oregon Department of Forestry on the program and the collection of information and data surrounding prescribed burns and follow the progress toward meeting federal and state air quality standards.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Monday, April 21, 2025

Authors Beth Piatote, Dan Flores will be part of the award ceremony

BEND, OR — Time is running out! Writers exploring themes around desert landscapes are invited to enter the 11^th annual Waterston Desert Writing Prize. The submission window is open now through May 1, 2025, at 11:59 pm.

This prestigious award, a program of the High Desert Museum, celebrates proposals for outstanding literary nonfiction dedicated to the literal and figurative exploration of desert landscapes.

This year’s winner will receive a $3,000 cash award and be recognized with a reception and reading at the Museum in Bend, Oregon, on September 25, 2025. Tickets are available now at highdesertmuseum.org/waterston-award-ceremony-2025.

“The Waterston Desert Writing Prize is now in its 11^th year of celebrating desert regions and landscapes,” said Executive Director Dana Whitelaw, Ph.D. “These works recognize the vital role deserts play and have been engaging, eloquent reads. We look forward to seeing what this year’s submissions tell us.”

Serving as guest judge this year is Beth Piatote (Nez Perce, Colville Confederated Tribes). Writer, professor and language activist, Piatote is the author of two books: the scholarly monograph Domestic Subjects: Gender, Citizenship, and the Law in Native American Literature (2013) and a mixed-genre collection entitled The Beadworkers: Stories (2019). She has written a number of plays, including a Native American retelling of the ancient Greek play, Antigone. Antikoni premiered at the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles in 2024. Piatote is an associate professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Berkley. She has served as a guest judge on literary award panels including the PEN America and the Poetry Foundation.

Dan Flores, Ph.D., will serve as the 2025 keynote speaker. Originally from Louisiana but now based near Santa Fe, New Mexico, Flores was the A.B. Hammond Professor of the History of the American West at the University of Montana. A prolific writer with 11 books to his name, Flores’s most recent works were 2023 Rachel Carson Book Prize winner Wild New World: The Epic Story of Animals and People in America and New York Times bestseller, Coyote America: A Natural and Supernatural History (2016). His essays have appeared in newspapers and magazines across the country including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and Time Magazine. Flores focuses on nature writing and the biographies of animals. His work has earned him honors from Pen America, the Society of Environmental Journalists, the Sigurd Olsen Nature Writing Awards, the Great Plains Distinguished Book Awards, the National Outdoor Book Awards, and Phi Beta Kappa's Ralph Waldo Emerson Prizes.

The Prize was established in 2014, inspired by author and Oregon Poet Laureate Ellen Waterston’s love of the High Desert — a region that has been her muse for more than 40 years. The Waterston Desert Writing Prize celebrates writers whose nonfiction book proposal reflects a similar connection to a desert anywhere in the world.

“The tangible encouragement and important literary recognition the Prize provides gives the winner a needed boost on the way to realizing their proposed project,” said Waterston. “The Prize brings to light new perspectives on a wide range of desert-related topics, from the desertification of a reef in the ocean, the adaptability of certain desert flora and fauna, the effect of rising temperatures on particular life forms, or the timeless call of deserts worldwide as the place to meet oneself head on.”

Emerging, mid-career and established nonfiction writers who illustrate artistic excellence, sensitivity to place and desert literacy with the desert as both subject and setting are invited to apply. The award supports literary nonfiction writers who are completing, proposing or considering the creation of a book-length manuscript. It is recommended that the writing sample submitted is part of the proposed project or closely represents it in content and style.

Past winners of the Prize include Leath Tonino (2024), Anna Welch (2023) and Caroline Tracey (2022). A full-time freelance writer, Tonino’s submission Nooks and Crannies: Mapping the (Unmappable) Waterpocket Fold with Prose Vignettes is a documentation of his outdoor encounters in Utah’s Waterpocket Fold, the sandstone that forms the spine of Capitol Reef National Park. He was joined by keynote speaker Tucker Malarkey and guest judge Sam Waterston.

To learn more about the Waterston Desert Writing Prize and how to submit an entry, visit highdesertmuseum.org/waterston-prize.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM:

THE HIGH DESERT MUSEUM opened in Bend, Oregon in 1982. It brings together wildlife, cultures, art, history and the natural world to convey the wonder of North America’s High Desert. The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is a Smithsonian Affiliate, was the 2019 recipient of the Western Museums Association’s Charles Redd Award for Exhibition Excellence and was a 2021 recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. To learn more, visit highdesertmuseum.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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LANDMARK ARTS AND CULTURE FUNDING INFUSES $21M

‘Love Letter’ Delivers Funds to 315 Nonprofits Over Three Years
 

PORTLAND, Ore. – Oregon arts and culture nonprofits are finding new strength from a $53 million investment, as they continue the slow process of rebuilding from the pandemic. Oregon Community Foundation announced Monday that it has provided or committed its portion of that funding. OCF’s Oregon Arts and Culture Rebuilding Program has now sent $21 million in critical support to 315 organizations over three years.

Grants supported a wide range of needs, including:

• Flexible support for operations and immediate needs, including for small-budget organizations and those supporting historically marginalized communities
• Facility renovation, new equipment, deferred maintenance or building construction
• New or expanded initiatives to adapt, innovate, build resilience or boost impact

“When Oregon’s arts and culture leaders asked us to go beyond keeping the lights on, we listened,” said Lisa Mensah, OCF President and CEO. “We said ‘yes’ to going big, and they responded with vision, creativity and determination. We called this investment a ‘love letter’ to express our appreciation for how they help communities thrive. We’re proud to stand with our arts and culture partners every step of the way.”
 

The original funding announcement in March 2024 was a partnership with Oregon state lawmakers and the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation to pump a total of $52 million into Oregon’s arts and culture sector, which has been beleaguered by a slower-than-expected recovery from the pandemic. OCF originally allocated $20 million. Generous OCF donors contributed another $1 million in donations.
 

The plan provided immediate relief to major arts organizations, including the High Desert Museum, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Oregon Symphony, Portland Art Museum, Portland Center Stage and Portland Opera.
 

OCF launched the Oregon Arts and Culture Rebuilding Program in June 2024 to provide flexible funding for organizations of all sizes. In their applications, nonprofit leaders highlighted the role of arts and culture in community and workforce development, cultural preservation, individual well-being and local economies. Many organizations focused on new artistic work, accessibility and low-cost programming.
 

The Arts and Culture Rebuilding Program played a critical role in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s strategic recovery plan.
 

“These funds continue to help OBT not only address some of the short-term financial deficits left from the pandemic but also give shape to a new vision for the future of OBT and the critical role we play in the state of Oregon,” said Shane Jewell, Executive Director of Oregon Ballet Theatre. “When we look back at how arts organizations managed their post-pandemic recovery, the gift from OCF, combined with the Miller Foundation and the state, will stand out as a turning point.”
 

Organizations seeking support ranged from large urban organizations to small, rural and culturally specific nonprofits.
 

“The Oregon Arts and Culture Rebuilding Program helped us restore staffing to pre-COVID levels,” said Elizabeth A. Woody, Executive Director of The Museum at Warm Springs. “We were able to add a key staff member in our archives and collections departments, strengthening core operations and programming. We’re incredibly grateful.”
 

Among the grant recipients was Gallery Theater in McMinnville, which received funding to replace its 55-year-old elevator.
 

“Many of our community members couldn’t access key areas like our tech booth, dance studio or costume shop,” said board member Charity Livingston. “Thanks to OCF’s focus on infrastructure, we can finally welcome our full community back to every level of our theater.”
 

Read a full list of grants here.

About

Since 1973, Oregon Community Foundation has worked to improve the lives of all Oregonians through the power of philanthropy. In 2024, OCF distributed more than $211 million in grants and scholarships in every county in Oregon in partnership with donors and volunteers. Individuals, families, businesses and organizations can work with OCF to create charitable funds to support causes important to them. To learn more, visit oregoncf.org.
 

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Lane County’s Firewise Grant Incentive Program is accepting applications from residents in unincorporated Lane County beginning May 1 through 4:00 p.m. on May 30, 2025.

Firewise grants reimburse rural property owners for eligible costs related to reducing the risk of wildfire, such as clearing vegetation, replacing wood shake roofing, fire-resistant landscaping materials, noncombustible exterior siding, chimney spark arrestors, and more. Up to $15,500 in grant funding is available for each qualifying property.

Preference is provided to applications:

• from first-time applicants.
• to replace wood shake roofs.
• for dwellings outside of fire districts.
• for homes that burned in the Holiday Farm Fire
• from high fuels areas as mapped in the Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
• from applicants who recently received a letter from the Oregon Department of Forestry about the wildfire risk on their property.

People who have already received Firewise or Community Wildfire Risk Reduction grants are welcome to apply, but their applications will not be prioritized for funding.

Apply online at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/firewise. Paper applications are also available at the Lane County Public Works Customer Service Center (3050 North Delta Highway, Eugene).

Firewise grants are funded through Title III of the Federal Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Program - Section 601 of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. 

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The free Household Hazardous Waste Roundup will collect up to 35 gallons of household hazardous waste per customer on Saturday, April 26, in Lowell. Hazardous waste from businesses, schools, churches, government agencies or non-profits may be subject to disposal fees and those organizations must pre-register for the event.

When:  Saturday, April 26, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.

Where: Lowell Rural Fire Station, 389 N. Pioneer Street

Who: All community members are welcome to participate in the roundup.

What to bring:

Up to 35 gallons of paint, household cleaners, lawn and garden chemicals, car care products, arts and crafts products, pool chemicals, fluorescent lamps and other household hazardous waste. Check labels for words like flammable, corrosive, poison, caution, and danger.

Please don't bring:

Empty containers, drums, radioactive or infectious waste, asbestos, pressurized cylinders, or explosives. Any empty containers can be safely thrown in the trash. For information about disposal of radioactive waste, asbestos or explosives call 541-682-3828 or 541-682-3899.

What about hazardous waste from businesses?

Businesses that generate small amounts of hazardous waste may pre-register to bring that waste to this event. Businesses must pay for disposal of the waste, but most can save money by using this program rather than hiring a contractor.

Electronics recycling

The Cottage Grove, Creswell, Florence, Marcola, Oakridge, Rattlesnake, Veneta and Vida transfer stations accept the following items for free during normal operating hours: televisions, computer monitors, CPUs, printers, phones and laptops.  Maximum seven items per day. No commercial or floor-standing copiers, parts or dismantled units.

Please call 541-682-4120 for more information about hazardous waste disposal for households or businesses.

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ROSEBURG, Ore., Apr. 19, 2025—On April 18, 2025, while traveling from a softball game in Coos Bay, there was a tragic accident on the road involving members of Umpqua Community College’s athletics program.
 

“We are deeply saddened to confirm that one of our student-athletes, Kiley Jones, and one of our coaches, Jami Strinz, lost their lives in the accident. Additional staff and students remain in hospitals in Eugene and Portland. UCC hearts are breaking with this news, and we ask the community to keep the families and all of those affected in their thoughts and prayers,” said UCC President, Dr. Rachel Pokrandt.
 

“These individuals were cherished members of our campus—an exceptional student-athlete, and a passionate and talented coach. Our entire community is grieving this tragic loss, and our heartfelt condolences are with their families, teammates, and loved ones. We ask that you keep them in your thoughts and offer privacy for the families during this difficult time. Support services are available to all students, faculty, and staff. Please join us in holding space for grief and reflection as we honor these individuals.”
 

UCC is continuing to gather details and will provide updates as appropriate.
 

About Umpqua Community College
Nestled in the beautiful North Umpqua River Valley, Umpqua Community College is the regional center for higher education in Douglas County, Oregon. UCC provides high quality college degree programs, workforce development, and community learning opportunities. For more information, please visit us online at umpqua.edu.

Salem – The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) has issued a cease-and-desist order against a money transmitter and its owner. With the holiday weekend upon us, DFR is making consumers aware of the need to work with a licensed money transmitter when sending money domestically or internationally.

Brenda Lili Barrera Orantes, the owner and operator of La Popular, was arraigned in federal court in Portland on Thursday after being charged for laundering drug proceeds. More information on the arraignment is available on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website.

The division is ordering the business and Barrera Orantes to cease and desist all criminal and regulatory violations related to money transmission.

La Popular has several locations in Oregon, including Hillsboro, Canby, Odell, Woodburn, and Beaverton.

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About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation protects consumers and regulates insurance, depository institutions, trust companies, securities, and consumer financial products and services. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit dfr.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

The next meeting for the Douglas County Local Public Safety Coordinating Council’s (LPSCC) – Behavioral Health and Housing Subcommittee will take place on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 11:30 am via a virtual conference format.

In compliance with ORS 192.610 to 192.690, we will accommodate any member of the public who wishes to watch or listen to the meeting via video or by phone. For information on how you can watch or listen to this meeting, please see the agenda, 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.

Lincoln County, Ore. 18 April 2025- On Thursday, April 17, 2025, at 7:07 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a three-vehicle crash on Highway 20, near milepost 4, in Lincoln County.

The preliminary investigation indicated an eastbound GMC Terrace, operated by Heather Maria Paz Hosey (42) of Newport, crossed the centerline for unknown reasons and struck a westbound Dodge Journey, operated by Ruston Lee Thommen (46) of Halsey, head-on. The GMC rotated and was struck by a westbound Dodge Dakota, operated by Christian Layfield Sagrero (19) of Newport, that was following the Dodge Journey. The Dodge Journey caught fire due to the collision and became fully engulfed in flames. 

The operator of the GMC (Hosey) was declared deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Dodge Journey (Thommen), who was able to exit the vehicle, suffered unknown injuries and was transported to an area hospital.

The operator of the Dodge Dakota (Layfield Sagrero) suffered reportedly minor injuries and was transported for evaluation.

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

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

# # #

About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.

(Douglas County, Ore.)  Douglas County Commissioners Tim Freeman, Tom Kress, and Chris Boice are honored to recognize the retirement of a remarkable community volunteer, Bill Whitney, whose departure leaves a heartfelt void in the Meals on Wheels program at the Reedsport Bistro Sixty Dining Site. For more than two decades, Bill has been the steady, smiling face behind countless meal deliveries, providing not only nourishment but also compassion and companionship to local seniors.

Commissioner Tom Kress reflected on Bill’s retirement, saying, “Bill’s tireless years of enthusiastic service have made a lasting impact in our community. He’s been more than a volunteer here—he’s been a friend, a lifeline, and a shining example of what it means to serve with heart. We are incredibly grateful for his dedication and wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.”

Volunteers like Bill are the backbone of the Meals on Wheels program, and their commitment ensures that no senior in our community goes without a warm meal or a friendly face. Bill’s retirement leaves not just a gap in the delivery schedule—but a huge hole in the hearts of those he served. The need to fill his role is urgent, and the Reedsport Bistro Sixty Dining Site is actively seeking compassionate volunteers to step in and continue this vital work.

Originally from Antioch, California, Bill moved to Reedsport in 2010 and brought with him a passion for helping others. A retired auto mechanic technician, Bill, has volunteered with Meals on Wheels for over 25 years, including 20 years in Oregon. His favorite part of the job? “Making people happy,” he says.

As Bill steps into a well-earned retirement, he plans to travel more and spend time enjoying life on the road in his motorhome. While he’ll be missed by clients and staff alike, his legacy of service continues to inspire.

“Bill has been a great volunteer, always putting others first and bringing kindness and positivity with him. I hope he enjoys his retirement!” – Aidan Bright, FSW Reedsport

WE NEED YOU! The Reedsport Bistro Sixty Dining Site is actively seeking new volunteers to help deliver meals and brighten the lives of local seniors. If you’re looking for a meaningful way to give back, consider joining the team and continuing the tradition of service that volunteers like Bill have built.

            Our Douglas County Bistro Sixty Senior Dining Sites prepare meals on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at our seven rural dining site locations in Glide, Glendale, Reedsport, Riddle, Sutherlin, Winston, and Yoncalla. Senior Services staff know there are others in our communities who could benefit from their Douglas County Meals on Wheels delivery program and/or meals at their Douglas County Bistro Sixty Senior Dining Sites.  If residents know of friends or family who are unable to drive, need assistance with daily living activities, would benefit from hot meal delivery, or need other assistance, they are encouraged to call the Aging & Disabilities Resource Connection in the Douglas County Senior Services Department at (541) 440-3677 or by sending an email to c@douglascountyor.gov">adrc@douglascountyor.gov.

            Our seven rural Douglas County Bistro Sixty Senior Dining Sites and Douglas County Meals on Wheels programs are managed by Douglas County Senior Services Department staff but are successful because of the dedication of volunteers like Drew and Sandra. To get involved with Douglas County Bistro Sixty Senior Dining Sites and Meals on Wheels programs or to learn more about volunteer opportunities, contact Amanda Hilburn at urn@douglascountyor.gov">amanda.hilburn@douglascountyor.gov or (541) 440-4245 or Kellie Redifer at edifer@douglascountyor.gov">kellie.redifer@douglascountyor.gov or (541) 464-3893 in our Douglas County Senior Services Department. 

Thank you, Bill!

This morning, April 18, 2025, at approximately 7:10am officers responded to an incident at 29^th Ave and Pacific Blvd following a report of a bicycle being struck by a vehicle. The driver remained on scene and cooperated fully with Albany Police Department. The 13-year-old juvenile was transported to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center and is in stable condition.

The juvenile was operating an electric bike and wearing a full-face helmet, that likely saved his life. Preliminary investigation reports the collision occurred when the E bike failed to obey a traffic control device at the intersection and was drug underneath the pickup truck. 

We would like to thank ODOT for taking over traffic control to free up all officers at the scene and Albany Fire Department that quickly utilized the Jaws of Life to safely extract the juvenile from under the pickup truck. This collision remains under investigation at this time.

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(Cedar Mill, Oregon) The Travel Information Council and its volunteer Oregon Heritage Tree Committee are pleased to announce the acceptance of fruit trees at the Elizabeth Constable and John Quincy Adams Young House into the Oregon Heritage Tree Program. 

This designation includes three fruit trees- a Shellbark Hickory, a Bartlett Pear, and a Gravenstein Apple- that are landscape features of the historic Young House and estimated to be around 150 years old. These trees represent an example of early home management and food production, typical of an early farm or residential property of the period. Collectively, they are Oregon’s 85^th Heritage Tree Designation.

Built between 1863 and 1869, the Young House is listed in the National Register of Historic Places for its association with the early growth and community development of Cedar Mill in Washington County. The house served as the residence of the Young family from 1869-1874 and then as the first post office and a community store from 1874-1881. It is the oldest remaining historic resource in Cedar Mill.

These fruit trees provide clues to the ways people have used, changed, and interacted with their surroundings over time. Often when the built environment erodes, remaining fruit trees are a clue to historians where a house may have stood. The Young House trees are unique in that visitors can see a historic house still standing next to the remaining fruit trees on the property.

Oregon Heritage Tree Committee Chair Dave Hedberg encourages the public to visit the JQA Young House Trees: “Visiting an Oregon Heritage Tree is a chance to engage your senses and learn about local history in the real world – not just in books and on screens. It’s a way to honor the role trees play in our lives and Oregon’s history. When you visit the Young House, consider the proximity and relationship of the trees to the house. There are few remaining structures over 150 years old where you can see a house still standing next to the original fruit trees.”  

Keith Watson, support services manager with Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District (THPRD) adds, “The JQA Young House is the last remaining above-ground resource associated with the cedar mill for which the community was named. THPRD is pleased that the remaining fruit trees are part of the state Heritage Tree Program.”  

The public will be invited to participate in dedicating the trees this fall during the Cedar Mill Cider Festival, Sunday, September 21 noon-4pm. Michael Panhorst with the Friends of the Young House says, “The Cider Festival is a community event that brings history, entertainment, and family fun together. This fall we invite everyone to join in the 17^th year of the festival and a chance to view these trees.”

You can visit the Elizabeth Constable and John Quincy Adams Young House Trees at 12050 NW Cornell Road in Beaverton. Parking is available at the church next door. The site can also be accessed via the Cedar Mill Creek Greenway that features the Sue Conger Boardwalk with views of the Cedar Mill Falls.

The Oregon Heritage Tree Program is the first state-sponsored heritage tree program in the country. It was established in 1995 to increase public awareness of the important contribution of trees to Oregon’s history and the significant role they play in the quality of our daily life. The program is administered by the Oregon Travel Information Council and a committee of dedicated volunteers from across the state. For more information regarding the Heritage Tree program visit www.oregontic.com/oregon-heritage-trees.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) condemns the Trump administration’s proposed FY 2026 Health and Human Services budget, revealed in a leak of the White House Office of Management and Budget “passback” document, as a blatant attack on public health and nursing. If enacted, this plan would slash HHS’s discretionary funding by roughly one third, cutting the total from about $117 billion to $80 billion and endangering vital services nationwide.

Under this proposal, the National Institutes of Health budget would tumble from $47 billion to $27 billion, a 42% reduction, and eliminate the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) entirely. NINR is the only federal institute dedicated to nursing science, funding studies that improve symptom management for patients with chronic illness, develop equitable care models in rural and Indigenous communities, and drive innovations in patient safety. Without NINR, nurses lose the evidence base they rely on to deliver high-quality care.

All Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development programs, including scholarships, loan repayment, faculty development, advanced practice training, and the Nursing Workforce Diversity program, would also vanish. These programs recruit and retain students from underrepresented backgrounds, support nurse educators, and help place skilled nurses in medically underserved and rural areas. Eliminating them jeopardizes the future of a diverse nursing workforce precisely when Oregon and the nation face a chronic staffing shortage.

The draft also dismantles the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, rescinding over $1 billion in grants for overdose prevention, community mental health centers, school-based services, and harm reduction programs. This comes as one in five Americans experiences a mental health condition and recent data show U.S. overdose deaths had begun to decline, progress now at risk of reversal if proven prevention and treatment services are defunded.

Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would see its budget slashed from more than $9 billion to $5 billion, wiping out programs that combat diabetes, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, childhood lead poisoning, and emerging infectious threats. Removing these prevention efforts dismantles the very infrastructure that keeps communities safe and healthy.

We call on Congress to reject this proposal in full, restore funding for nursing research, workforce development, mental health and substance use services, and disease prevention, and protect the health of every community in Oregon and beyond.

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CORVALLIS, Ore.—Benton County invites all community members to dive into the past during Benton-Linn Preservation Month 2025. The Benton County Historic Resources Commission (HRC) and partner organizations will host more than 30 events for the May commemoration, starting April 24, that highlight the history of our area.

Established in 1973 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Historic Preservation Month is co-sponsored by local preservation groups, state historical societies, businesses and civic organizations across the country. Events throughout May promote historic places for the purpose of instilling national and community pride, promoting heritage tourism and showing the social and economic benefits of historic preservation.

Participants don’t have to be history buffs to appreciate the events in Benton and Linn Counties. These opportunities can be enjoyed by people with all levels of prior experience and historical knowledge. Scheduled events include:

• Exploring local restoration and renovation projects that will delight fans of HGTV and This Old House.
• Neighborhood and district walking tours that combine history with outdoor activity in the glorious spring weather.
• Opportunities to learn about early Benton County residents who don’t appear in history books, like people of color, women, queerfolk and immigrants.
• Hands-on project workshops: cleaning headstones at Crystal Lake Cemetery, repointing chimney brick, and restoring historic windows.

The Benton County HRC coordinates with the State Historic Preservation Office and property owners to promote the preservation of local historic sites, objects and culture. The group aims to inspire celebration of the rich history of our structures and places, and the people connected to them, encouraging interest in preserving them for future generations.

“Historic preservation benefits communities, socially and economically,” said Morgan Driggs, Benton County planner and Historic Resources Commission liaison. “It builds local pride, keeps historic commercial areas vital, emphasizes what is unique about each place, and creates strong feelings of connection with the areas where we live and work.”

Most events are free and open to the public; some require reservations as space is limited. For a complete schedule visit bit.ly/bentonhpm.

Keizer, the 16th-largest city in Oregon, has achieved a milestone in its ongoing work to bolster workplace safety and health: graduation from Oregon OSHA’s Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP).

SHARP, primarily set up to help small- and mid-sized employers, coaches employers on how to effectively manage workplace safety and health. The program encourages Oregon employers to work with their employees to identify and correct hazards and to continuously improve. In turn, companies are recognized for their success in reaching specific benchmarks during the five-year program. An employer may graduate from SHARP after five years of participation.

Keizer has completed its SHARP journey, graduating in April 2025. During Keizer’s SHARP process, the city – with guidance and assessments provided by Oregon OSHA safety and health consultants – engaged in numerous project and process improvements designed to strengthen on-the-job protections for its workers. Examples include everything from installation of eyewash stations at key locations and the completion of training for all new safety committee members to updates of the city’s respiratory protection program and implementation of safety protocols addressing the use of ATVs.

The positive impact of the city’s participation in SHARP includes a days away, restricted, or transferred (DART) rate of 2.21 in 2023 for the city’s police department, public works field staff, and City Hall staff. The rate was well below the national average of 3.1 and Oregon’s average of 2.7.

In assessing the city’s efforts as a SHARP participant and approving it as a SHARP graduate, Oregon OSHA consultants recently concluded that the city “has consistently followed through with all evaluations, training, programs, and procedures for the safety and health for all employees.”

“Graduating from the SHARP program is a reflection of the city of Keizer’s commitment to creating a culture where safety is at the heart of everything we do,” said Jeff Heyen, chairperson of the city’s safety committee. “It’s been a true team effort – staff across every department have worked hard to build and sustain safer workplaces, and this recognition reinforces that those efforts matter.”

The benefits of the SHARP program, which is part of Oregon OSHA’s free consultation services, include lower injury and illness rates, decreased workers’ compensation costs, increased employee morale, lower product losses, and community recognition.

Learn more about SHARP and Oregon OSHA’s free consultation services, which include hazard assessments, recommendations to control and eliminate hazards, written program evaluation, and hands-on training. Consultations involve no fault, no citations, and no penalties. Oregon OSHA consultants in workplace safety, industrial hygiene, and ergonomics can help employers reduce accidents and related costs and develop comprehensive programs to manage safety and health.
 

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About Oregon OSHA: Oregon OSHA enforces the state's workplace safety and health rules and works to improve workplace safety and health for all Oregon workers. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit osha.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

Salem, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Forestry is inviting public comment on planned projects, timber sales and other management activities in state-owned forests.  

Starting April 18 through 5 p.m. June 3, Oregonians can weigh in on draft Annual Operations Plans for state forests on the Astoria, Forest Grove, Klamath Falls, Tillamook, West Oregon, and Western Lane Districts. These plans lay out on-the-ground activities expected to take place in the coming fiscal year. State forests by law must provide economic, environmental, and social benefits to Oregonians. To achieve the legal mandate, these lands are managed to create healthy productive forests, high-quality habitat for native fish and wildlife, clean water, benefits and revenues to rural communities and timber related economies, as well as recreation and educational opportunities.

Overall management policies and management goals are established in long-range Forest Management Plans and Implementation Plans. Annual Operations Plans describe activities to achieve the policies and goals laid out in the longer-range plans. ODF is seeking input on the draft Annual Operations Plans summary documents, which can be viewed on the State Forests’ new Annual Operations Plans website.

Common topics in the Annual Operations Plan include:  

• Timber harvest operations  
• Recreation improvement and maintenance projects  
• Forest road construction, maintenance, and improvements  
• Reforestation/replanting and young stand management activities  

• Habitat improvement for native species  
• Invasive species management  

The most useful input will speak to these specific activities and whether they are consistent with longer-range plans, offer suggestions to improve efficiency or effectiveness, correct errors, provide additional information, and are solution oriented. Activities that affect fish and wildlife habitat are reviewed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, while operations that may affect threatened and endangered fish and wildlife habitat are shared with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  

This year the department worked to improve communications by adding clarity in the documents provided, improved the website, and issued notification to private landowners that share a property line with a proposed operation.

ODF is offering several avenues to comment on Annual Operations Plans:  

• Online comments can be submitted through ODF’s comments page.
• Comments can be emailed to: odf.sfcomments@oregon.gov
• Comments can also be mailed to ODF Public Affairs, 2600 State St., Salem, OR 97310. 

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 301 Glide Loop, Glide

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PORTLAND, Ore.—The owner and operator of La Popular, a money service business with locations in Oregon and Washington, was arraigned in federal court today after she was charged with laundering drug proceeds.

Brenda Lili Barrera Orantes, 39, a Guatemalan national residing in Beaverton, Oregon, has been charged by criminal complaint with money laundering.

According to court documents, between 2021 and 2024, Barrera Orantes is alleged to have accepted cash from drug proceeds and wired the funds through La Popular stores in Oregon and Washington. In return, Barrera Orantes charged a ten percent commission. Barrera Orantes is further alleged to have worked with others to divide large sums of money into several smaller transactions and used fictitious sender information to conceal her money laundering activities. Financial records indicate that Barrera Orantes transferred more than $89 million through her La Popular stores, including $18.5 million to regions in Mexico and Honduras that are associated with drug trafficking organizations.

“This investigation has revealed the pivotal role that money service businesses play in laundering the enormous proceeds of trafficking illegal drugs in our community,” said Katie de Villiers, Chief of the Asset Recovery and Money Laundering Division for the District of Oregon. “The amount of dirty money allegedly flowing through these small businesses and back to Mexico and Honduras is truly staggering. We intend to hold accountable the operators of these businesses who profit by assisting drug trafficking organizations in laundering their proceeds.”

“Because crime is such a coordinated effort, it is critical that we respond in kind,” said Special Agent in Charge Adam Jobes, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Seattle Field Office. “IRS-CI specializes in fighting illicit financial activity, and we are proud to partner closely with our law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe.”

“Money laundering allows drug traffickers to thrive in the shadows, and by severing their cash flow we are striking at the very thing that incentivizes their illicit pursuits,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Murphy. “By stopping those that try to conceal criminal profits, communities are protected from the violence, addiction, and instability caused by the drug trade.”

“The defendant in this case is suspected of providing financial support to overseas drug organizations under the guise of business transactions,” said FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson. “These are serious allegations that cause significant harm to our communities. We will never tolerate individuals who profit from activities that support a drug epidemic that harms our citizens.”

On April 16, 2025, investigators executed federal search warrants at Barrera Orantes’ residence and three La Popular stores located in Beaverton, Hillsboro, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington. Barrera Orantes was arrested in Beaverton without incident.

Barrera Orantes made her first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. She was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.

If convicted, Barrera Orantes faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, five years’ supervised release, and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the money laundered.

This case is being investigated by the IRS-CI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), FBI, and the Westside Interagency Narcotics team. It is being prosecuted by Christopher L. Cardani and Julia Jarrett, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.

The Westside Interagency Narcotics team is a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and is composed of members from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Beaverton Police Department, Hillsboro Police Department, FBI, HSI, and the Oregon National Guard. The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives.

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).

The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.

Since 2018, IRS-CI has maintained a Third Party Money Laundering (3PML) Project. This project focuses on Complicit Money Service Businesses (MSB) working for Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations. The purpose of this project is to develop high-impact 3PML cases for IRS-CI and other agencies across the United States, by utilizing data analytics.

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Commissioners Issue Proclamation For National

Child Abuse Prevention Month

April 2025

(Douglas County, Ore.) – Douglas County Commissioners Tim Freeman, Tom Kress, and Chris Boice were honored to issue a proclamation in honor of National Child Abuse Prevention Month during their weekly business meeting on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.  The proclamation acknowledges that child abuse and neglect are serious issues impacting every part of our community. It highlights that effective prevention efforts are only possible through strong partnerships and collaboration among local health and social service agencies, law enforcement, the District Attorney’s Office, public and private schools, the medical community, civic and faith-based organizations, the business sector, volunteer groups, and local families.   A copy of the live video from the presentation can be found on the Douglas County Government Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/DouglasCountyeGovernment.

Prior to the meeting, guests gathered with the Douglas County Commissioners on the front lawn of the courthouse to line the walkways with pinwheels—part of a nationwide tradition during Child Abuse Prevention Month. The annual “planting” of pinwheels raises awareness for children who endure abuse and neglect, while honoring the dedicated professionals and community members who work tirelessly to protect them. Introduced in 2008 by Prevent Child Abuse America through their Pinwheels for Prevention® campaign, the pinwheel has become a national symbol of child abuse prevention, representing the joy, playfulness, and spirit of childhood—and reminding us that every child deserves a safe and happy upbringing.

During the presentation, Commissioner Tim Freeman welcomed and thanked attendees for their commitment to this critical cause. Commissioner Chris Boice then read the official proclamation, followed by Commissioner Tom Kress who recognized 12 local agencies with “National Child Abuse Prevention Month” proclamation certificates, honoring their unwavering dedication to the children and families of Douglas County.

Representatives from the following agencies attended the Proclamation Presentation today: Family Faith & Relationship Advocates (FARA), Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Peace at Home Advocacy Center, UCAN Healthy Families, Douglas CARES, Douglas County Human Trafficking Task Force, Mercy Foundation – Up2UsNow Coalition, Mercy Medical Center, Family Development Center, Oregon Department of Human Services – Child Welfare Division, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and Roseburg Police Department.

Commissioner Freeman invited each agency representative to report on the work their agency does in this monumental effort to help and protect children. All the agencies emphasized the far-reaching impact of child abuse in Douglas County and the importance of a strong, multi-disciplinary response. According to Jessica Hunter, Program Manager for DHS Child Welfare Division, Child Welfare has already responded to 461 reports of abuse, including 33 allegations of sexual abuse and 99 of physical abuse. She expressed gratitude for the efforts of law enforcement, the District Attorney’s Office, and community partners who work tirelessly to protect children, support families, and promote safety and healing. Hunter highlighted the role of recovered families in building a more resilient and healthy community, thanking all who contribute to this vital work.

Marion Pearson, Violence Prevention Manager at Mercy Medical Center, emphasized the power of community partnerships in addressing abuse and exploitation. “There is no possible way to do any of this work in a silo. It is our strength in our community through our partnerships and through collaboration.” What began as a child abuse prevention coalition has grown into the Human Trafficking Task Force, focused on raising awareness, providing education, and establishing response protocols across agencies. Pearson highlighted the importance of identifying and supporting victims of all forms of abuse through comprehensive, wraparound services. She underscored the collaborative efforts of law enforcement, social services, the medical community, and local residents in reducing and responding to child abuse in Douglas County.

“Truly the work you all do is God’s work. You are the boots on the ground out there doing it quietly every day, often unbeknownst to most of the community. But hear this from the Board of Commissioners: we know what you’re doing, and we really appreciate it,” stated Commissioner Freeman.

PORTLAND, Ore.— Juan Jose Varela-Espinoza, 31, a Honduran national residing in Portland, was sentenced Wednesday to 120 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release for possessing nearly 16 pounds of powdered fentanyl, 57,700 fentanyl pills, and a stolen firearm.

According to court documents, in July 2023, the Multnomah County Dangerous Drug Team (DDT) learned that Varela-Espinoza was distributing thousands of fentanyl pills in Portland.

On July 25, 2023, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) requested assistance from Multnomah County DDT with locating and arresting Varela-Espinoza on an outstanding felony warrant for distributing dangerous drugs in Colorado. The same day, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant on Varela-Espinoza’s residence and vehicles. Investigators arrested Varela-Espinoza and seized nearly 16 pounds of powdered fentanyl, 57,700 fentanyl pills, $5,042 in cash, a stolen firearm, ammunition, and two pill press machines.

On August 8, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a three-count indictment charging Varela-Espinoza with conspiracy to possess and possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

On December 10, 2024, Varela-Espinoza pleaded guilty to possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute.

This case was investigated by the Multnomah County DDT and was prosecuted by Kemp L. Strickland, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

The Multnomah County DDT is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and is composed of members from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Multnomah County Parole and Probation, Gresham Police Department, the FBI and USMS.

The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives.

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MEDFORD, Ore.—A Romanian national residing in Garden Grove, California, was sentenced to federal prison today for stealing more than $176,000 by installing Automated Teller Machine (ATM) skimming devices throughout Oregon and Maine.

Florin George Ionita, 45, was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $176,922 in restitution to his victims.

According to court documents, between June and August 2023, Ionita installed skimming devices on ATMs and used the devices to steal account information and Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) from customers who conducted transactions at the ATMs. Ionita used the stolen information to produce counterfeit debit cards and withdraw cash from victims’ accounts. Over the course of his scheme, Ionita accessed hundreds of bank accounts and stole more than $176,000 from victims in Oregon and Maine.  

On August 22, 2023, the Medford Police Department (MPD) received a report of a masked individual installing a skimming device. Investigators received photos of the man and distributed a law enforcement bulletin to identify the unknown individual. The following day, investigators from Kennebunk Police Department in Kennebunk, Maine, identified Ionita and informed MPD investigators of their investigation of Ionita installing skimming devices in Maine. Investigators learned that due to his immigration status, Ionita was required to wear a Global Positioning System (GPS) monitor which confirmed his location at several banks where the ATM skimming devices were installed.

On November 2, 2023, a federal grand jury in Medford returned a nine-count indictment charging Ionita with bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

On March 20, 2024, a federal grand jury in the District of Maine returned a fifteen-count indictment charging Ionita with bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

On December 6, 2024, Ionita pleaded guilty to one count each of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft for his crimes in Oregon, and one count each of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft for his crimes in Maine.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Secret Service New England Cyber Fraud Task Force, the Medford Police Department Criminal Investigative Division, the Kennebunk Police Department, and the Freeport Police Department. It is being prosecuted by John C. Brassell, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine.

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MEDFORD, Ore.—Two San Antonio, Texas men were sentenced to federal prison and another San Antonio man pleaded guilty Wednesday for conspiring to travel from Texas to Southern Oregon to commit an armed robbery while disguised as agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). 

Nevin Cuevas Morales, 23, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release, and Michael Rey Acuna, 23, was sentenced to 64 months in federal prison and four years’ supervised release. The sum of restitution they each must pay to victims will be determined at a later date.

Juan Carlos Conchas, 23, pleaded guilty to conspiring to interfere with commerce by robbery and conspiring to possess marijuana with the intent to distribute. Conchas faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, a $5,000,000 fine and four years of supervised release. He will be sentenced on July 17, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Mustafa T. Kasubhai.

According to court documents, on March 12, 2022, deputies from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office responded to a rural address in Josephine County, Oregon after receiving reports of an armed robbery in progress. The deputies found a residence with a closed driveway gate and two empty vehicles with Texas license plates in the driveway with their doors open. Deputies saw several people running toward the back of the property and found victims inside the house. The victims reported that armed individuals dressed in what appeared to be DEA attire and wearing body armor arrived at the property and used zip ties and duct tape to restrain several of them.

The deputies searched the property and found large plastic totes containing packaged marijuana in the buildings and vehicles. They also found body armor, firearms, ammunition, shell casings, and badges that resembled those carried by DEA agents along the path that Morales, Acuna, Conchas and others used to flee the property.  

Investigators learned that in late February 2022, the group traveled from San Antonio to Southern Oregon to steal over 200 pounds of marijuana and recovered photographs taken by the group in which they posed with firearms while dressed as DEA agents.

On October 6, 2022, Morales and Acuna were located and arrested in San Antonio. One week later, on October 13, 2022, Conchas was also arrested in San Antonio.

On September 1, 2022, a federal grand jury in Medford returned a three-count indictment charging Morales, Acuna, Conchas and co-conspirators with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute, and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

On February 2, 2024, Morales pleaded guilty to conspiring to interfere with commerce by robbery and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

On November 6, 2024, Acuna pleaded guilty to conspiring to interfere with commerce by robbery and conspiring to possess marijuana with the intent to distribute.

In addition, three co-conspirators have pleaded guilty to felony charges stemming from their roles in the conspiracy. Two have been sentenced to federal prison and the third is awaiting sentencing.

This case was investigated by the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety. It is being prosecuted by Judith R. Harper, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

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April 17, 2025 

Media contact: Timothy Heider, 971-599-0459, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov 

OHA to issue algae warnings when dog deaths reported  

New notifications will indicate possible cyanobacteria blooms 

PORTLAND, Ore.— As summer approaches, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reminds people heading outdoors to enjoy the state’s lakes, rivers and reservoirs to be on the look-out for potentially toxic cyanobacteria blooms.  

To help, OHA is adding a tool reporting the possible presence of cyanobacteria in freshwater lakes and rivers statewide. Starting immediately, OHA will issue pre-emptive public warnings following reports of dog illnesses or deaths possibly resulting from cyanotoxin exposure.  

“Each year, we receive reports about dog illnesses or deaths linked to a water body that may be affected by cyanobacteria, but the deaths are often unexplained, or the cause of the death isn’t immediately known,” said Linda Novitski, Ph.D., a recreational waters specialist in OHA’s Environmental Public Health Section.  

“These pre-emptive warnings will help us immediately takes steps to inform the public about the possible presence of cyanobacteria in a water body,” she said.

Toxin testing is only possible for certain types of cyanobacteria. When testing is done, results are typically available within two weeks.

Cyanobacteria are beneficial bacteria found in all fresh water worldwide. The bacteria can multiply into blooms in any water body under the right conditions—warm weather, sunlight, water temperature, nutrients and water chemistry.  

Many blooms are harmless, but some can produce cyanotoxins that make people and animals sick. Exposure to cyanotoxins occurs when water or algae mat material is swallowed while swimming, or when people inhale water droplets during high-speed activities such as water-skiing or wakeboarding. Symptoms of exposure to cyanotoxins include:  

• Diarrhea
• Cramps
• Vomiting
• Numbness
• Dizziness and fainting

Although cyanotoxins are not known to be absorbed through the skin, people with sensitive skin can develop a red, raised rash when wading, playing or swimming in or around a bloom.  

Some species of cyanobacteria live in the water or float on the top of the water surface. Other cyanobacteria, called cyanoHAB mats, anchor themselves to the bottom of a water body, live in the sediment, or grow on rocks or aquatic plants can release toxins into clear water. These bloom mats contain toxins that, if ingested, can be fatal to dogs and can make people sick.  

Dogs can get extremely ill, and even die, within minutes to hours of exposure to cyanotoxins by drinking the water. Problem signs include licking their fur or eating the toxins from floating mats or dried crust along the shore.  

If, after swimming in a lake or stream, a dog exhibits symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, breathing problems, difficulty walking or standing, or loss of appetite, owners should get their pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible. 

“Enjoying lakes and rivers is such an important part of the Oregon experience,” said Novitski. “To have fun and stay safe this season, protect small children and dogs by avoiding anything you think might be a cyanobacteria harmful algae bloom in the water or in a mat attached to the bottom of the lake or river.” 

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

OHA advises recreational visitors to always be alert to signs of cyanobacteria blooms in the water and in mats attached to the ground or rocks. This is because blooms can develop and disappear on any water body at any time when bloom conditions are favorable.  

Only a fraction of water bodies 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) Blooms website at http://www.healthoregon.org/hab. 

An example of a cyanoHAB mat.

Mats like these can detach from rocks and float to the surface.

When recreating, people—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 green or brownish-red mats are visible, or bright green clumps are suspended in the water.  

If those signs are noticeable, people are encouraged to 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.

Community members looking for visual examples can find pictures of algae blooms in the Algae Bloom Photo Gallery or watch an explainer video on blooms at OHA’s official YouTube channel.

Those who are unsure should follow OHA’s guidance of “When in doubt, stay out.” 

OHA YouTube video, “When in Doubt, Stay Out: Cyanobacteria Blooms.”

Open recreational areas where blooms are identified can still be enjoyed for activities such as camping, hiking, biking, picnicking and bird watching.  

By being aware of signs of a bloom and taking appropriate precautions to reduce or eliminate exposure, local communities can enjoy water activities such as canoeing, boating and fishing, as long as boat speeds do not create excessive water spray, and fish are cleaned appropriately. 

For health information or to report an illness, contact OHA at 971-673-0440, or visit OHA’s Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms website.  

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On April 17, 2025, at about 12:00 PM, officers with the Roseburg Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, Sutherlin Police Department and Parole and Probation responded to a reported shooting in the1200 block of NW Highland. The investigation revealed the incident stemmed from a conflict between two males; there is no known ongoing threat to the public. The involved victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds, and a suspect has been taken into custody. The investigation is still active, and more information will be released when available.

2025 Board on Public Safety Standards & Training

 and Policy Committee

Open Vacancy – Recruitments

The Board on Public Safety Standards & Training (BPSST) and established Policy Committees have open vacancies looking to be filled before the end of the year! The current vacancies are as follows:

BPSST: All Board applications must be submitted through Workday.com

• One member who is a sheriff recommended to the Governor by the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association
• One person representing non-management law enforcement 
• Representative of the collective bargaining unit that represents the largest number of individual workers in the DOC
• Public Member

Policy Committees: All Policy Committee applications must be submitted by June 20, 2025.

Private Security/Investigator Policy Committee:

• One person representing the retail industry
• One person representing persons who monitor alarms
• One person who is a private investigator licensed under ORS 703.430, and is recommended by the Oregon State Bar (will also serve on the PI Sub-Committee upon appointment)
• One person representing the public who has never been employed or utilized as a private security provider or investigator

Telecommunications Policy Committee:

• One person representing recommended by and representing the Oregon State Police

Private Investigator Subcommittee:

• Currently licensed private investigator

To inquire about a vacancy, please visit Department of Public Safety Standards & Training : Board on Public Safety Standards & Training and Policy Committees : Boards and Committees : State of Oregon.

If interested in applying for a Policy Committee position, please complete and submit the Policy Committee Interest Form found under the ‘Board and Committee Resources’ section of the website listed above.

If interested in applying for a BPSST position, please complete the online application at Workday Board and Commission Opportunities. (Please note that an account may need to be created if not already in Workday)

For further information regarding the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training or its respective Policy Committees, please contact Juan Lopez at (503) 551-3167 or juan.lopez-hernandez@dpsst.oregon.gov.

Thank you,

DPSST Board & Committees Staff

Oregon Parks Forever is holding a series of special screenings of the award-winning documentary Out There: A National Parks Story during the first week of June.  The film maker will attend each screening and hold a Q&A after each screening. This film is a poignant reminder of why our National Parks are vital, especially given their current pressures.

Director & Cinematographer Brendan Hall and a childhood friend will take you on a breathtaking 10,000-mile journey through the heart of 15 of America’s national parks, capturing the landscapes, the people, and the powerful stories that define these treasured places.

What began as a quest to capture awe-inspiring landscapes evolves into a heartfelt exploration of the humans within them.

This visually stunning film is more than just a scenic road trip—it's a profound exploration of connection, conservation, and the human spirit. From park rangers and conservationists to adventurers and dreamers, experience firsthand how these spaces inspire, heal, and transform lives.

Out There connects audiences to all public lands, which in turn connects people to organizations like Oregon Parks Forever who work to preserve the natural world and enhance and preserve the experience of visiting them.

Screening Schedule:

? Monday, June 2 – Salem (Kroc Center) @ 6:30 PM
? Tuesday, June 3 – Eugene (Redwood Auditorium, UO) @ 6:30 PM
? Wednesday, June 4 – Bend (Tower Theater) @ 6:30 PM
? Thursday, June 5 – Portland (OMSI) @ 6:30 PM
? Friday, June 6 – Corvallis (Corvallis Museum) @ 6:30 PM
? Sunday, June 8 – Ashland (Southern Oregon University) @ 6:30 PM

✨ General Admission: $15 | Seniors (65+): $10

Tickets are available now and can be reserved at www.orparksforever.org

ABOUT THE FILMMAKER: Brendan Hall, Director, Cinematographer and Editor

Brendan Hall is a filmmaker sharing stories of our connection with the natural world. His work has brought audiences to the U.S. national parks, far corners of the earth, and beneath the sea. In his work, he is committed to sharing awe and empathy on our planet in hopes that we may be inspired to preserve it for future generations.

Brendan has led projects for leading global brands and non-profits including National Geographic, Adobe, and The Nature Conservancy. He has also contributed cinematography to feature-length documentaries including PBS’s Bill Nye: Science Guy and Apple TV’s Red Heaven. As a speaker, he has been featured on platforms including the TODAY Show, Global Exploration Summit, and Texas Eclipse. One of his most recent projects brought him to Antarctica, filming with Neil deGrasse Tyson and William Shatner.

In 2025, Brendan was named as part of the prestigious Explorers Club’s EC50, a renowned class of 50 individuals that “the world needs to know about.” 

Between film projects, he is a night sky photographer, scuba diver, and amateur juggler.

About Oregon Parks Forever (www.orparksforever.org)

Oregon Parks Forever is a 30-year old statewide nonprofit that seeks to enhance the expierience and accessibility of Oregon's Parks & Forests.

ROSEBURG, Ore., Apr. 17, 2025 – The Umpqua Community College Performing and Visual Arts presents the Vintage Singers performing in their spring concert on May 9 at 7:00 p.m. and May 11 at 3:00 p.m. at the Whipple Fine Arts Center on the UCC campus.
 

The program will feature a range of songs including madrigals, folk songs, spirituals, contemporary American composers, and works in Zulu and French. The concert is directed by Donna Spicer and accompanied by Gwen Soderberg-Chase.
 

Admission is available at the door or at umpqua.edu/community, $15.00 for general admission, $10.00 for seniors, and students are free. For more information, contact 541-440-4691 or music@umpqua.edu.
 

About Umpqua Community College
Nestled in the beautiful North Umpqua River Valley, Umpqua Community College is the regional center for higher education in Douglas County, Oregon. UCC provides high quality college degree programs, workforce development, and community learning opportunities. For more information, please visit us online at umpqua.edu.

April 17, 2025

Media Contact:  Kim Lippert:  erly.l.lippert@oha.oregon.gov" style="color: rgb(6, 66, 118); text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;">Kimberly.l.lippert@oha.oregon.gov; 971-323-3831

New project expands access to supportive housing in rural eastern Oregon

Ontario, Ore. - A housing facility scheduled to open this summer in Ontario will help address the shortage of safe, accessible housing for people facing substance abuse in rural Eastern Oregon. The Victor Fox Cultivate Housing Apartments and Harm Reduction Site, a seven-unit, short-term housing complex, will open an additional place for Oregonians to receive treatment in the region. 

“We need to make it easier for Oregonians to access short term care that helps them get into stable housing,” Governor Kotek said. “When there are more resources available in the communities where people need it, we know folks are able to find security and turn the page on the challenges they’re going through.”

This builds additional capacity for Behavioral Health Resource Networks (BHRNs), groups of providers around the state working together to provide comprehensive, community-based services to people who struggle with substance use.

The project broke ground on March 17 and the housing units are scheduled to open in July. The Ontario micro-homes provide temporary housing for 42 people, along with access to medical and behavioral health care. Most residents will stay for up to 180 days before moving on to permanent housing.

The complex is named after Victor Fox, a longtime Oregon Health Authority (OHA) employee who passed away in 2020 after battling cancer. Fox was known for his commitment to affordable housing for those in need.

“We have a great team providing services, and it will be a one-stop place where people are able to get housing and peer support,” said Kirt Toombs, chief executive officer, Eastern Oregon Center for Independent Living. Victor was one of the first people who made housing a priority in our state, and he had the wisdom to know that without secure housing individuals would not have access to medications and health care.”

Increasing access to supportive housing in rural areas demonstrates how the state is investing in pathways into long-term housing, a key goal in  OHA’s 2024-2027 Strategic Plan and one of Governor Tina Kotek’s top priorities.

The Victor Fox Cultivating Housing Complex is located at 463 South Park Boulevard, Ontario.  Photos of the groundbreaking can be found be found here.

The Governor was not in attendance of the event.

###

SPRING SCAM REMINDER

April showers bring May flowers but scams are always in-season. Ever year Oregonians fall victim to scams from criminals disguising themselves as legitimate organizations or businesses. They are quite savvy in getting you to provide your personal information and create a sense of urgency to get you to act quickly.

One popular scam we see in Lincoln County is via phone call. Scammers pretend to be from our agency or another organization calling regarding jury duty, an outstanding fees, etc. Then they pressure you to pay a fine or bail money, often in Bitcoin, gift cards, or other non-traditional payment forms. You should know our office will NOT ask for payment over the phone. Before you share any information with the caller, collect their name, agency, and reason for calling. Then hang up and look up the organization’s real contact information to confirm the call is legitimate. Save our contact information below so that you can quickly verify someone from our office calling.

Protect yourself from scams:

• Use caution, especially with those you are not familiar with.
  • When you receive unexpected contacts from people or businesses, over the phone, by mail, email, in person, or on social media, always consider the possibility that the interaction may be a scam.
  • Remember to call or log on to the organization’s real website to verify the information you’ve been given is accurate.
  • Verify the caller is from a legitimate organization before sharing any information. If you have trouble verifying an organization’s phone number or website, consider stopping by their office to speak with someone in person.
• Protect your passwords and personal information.
  • Always use password protection.
  • Don’t share access with others.
  • Update security software and back up content regularly.
  • Protect your Wi-Fi network with a password.
  • Avoid using public computers or Wi-Fi hotspots to access online banking or other personal information.
• Ignore unfamiliar attachments or links.
  • Don’t click on links, open attachments, attempt to unsubscribe, or call any telephone number listed in suspicious messages.
  • Do NOT give any money, credit card info, or other personal details.
  • When in doubt, look up the organization’s website or phone number and contact them directly.
• Save contact information from official organization’s ahead of time.
  • Anytime you open a bank account, work with a company, etc., save that organization’s phone number, website, and address so that you can reach out to them if you receive something suspicious or have questions about someone from their agency contacting you.
• Know what an organization will and won’t ask for over the phone or through email.
  • The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office will NOT ask you for payment over the phone.
  • Most government agencies will not ask for sensitive information such as social security numbers, passwords, etc. over the phone.
• Help friends and family learn how to spot a scam.
  • Protect others by helping them learn and follow scam prevention tips.
  • Encourage loved ones of all ages to tell you about or otherwise report suspicious calls, texts, emails, and social media messages. Remind them to verify the person or organization sending the message before they reply back, provide information, or click on any links.

How to know if information is really from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office:

• It is on our official website: lincolncountysheriff.net/
• Our staff can verify the information is true. Give us a call at 541-265-4277 if you have questions about a service or need to connect with someone in our Office.
• It comes directly from our Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, NOT a third party or a comment from another Facebook user.
•  It comes from one of our other Facebook accounts: Lincoln County Animal Shelter or Lincoln County Oregon Emergency Management

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

###

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, Larry Robert Morgan, died the afternoon of April 16, 2025. Morgan was incarcerated at Two Rivers Correctional Institution (TRCI) in Umatilla and passed away at a local hospital. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified.

Morgan entered DOC custody on March 26, 2015, from Linn County and with an earliest release date of July 7, 2027. Morgan was 82 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.

####

(Burns, OR) – The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is leading coordinated recovery efforts in Harney County, working to strengthen local capabilities and support communities impacted by recent flooding. The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is providing life sustaining supports to help Douglas and Harney counties and the Burns Paiute Tribe as they recover from recent flooding. In collaboration with OEM, the American Red Cross Cascades Region, Team Rubicon, faith-based organizations and Harney Hub - a Resilience Hubs and Networks grant recipient - ODHS Office of Resilience and Emergency Management (OREM) staff are participating in the Harney County Emergency Operations Center and helping connect people to the services they need to recover.
 

As of April 15, 2025, 37 ODHS staff have logged more than 2,683 hours of work dedicated to emergency response since flooding began on March 16, 2025. That is more than 67 full-time workweeks. Contaminated floodwaters created additional health and safety risks, placing early emphasis on shelter and sanitation support. In response, ODHS has provided 63 portable toilets, 33 handwashing stations, three shower trailers, and over 30,000 bottles of water. OREM also coordinated delivery of a 3,500-gallon water tank to Harney District Hospital.
 

While response efforts continue, OREM is supporting the transition to recovery through their State Recovery Function (Social Services). They have deployed Mass Care Response Team members who have worked with the Hines Fire Department to knock on 156 doors, finding 60 households that needed help with debris removal. They have also conducted long-term housing planning and case management for those most impacted.
 

OREM is one of seven State Recovery Functions operating under the coordination of OEM’s Regional Coordination Center (RCC),” OEM Voluntary Liaison Quinn Butler, said “Which helps ensure long-term recovery group development.”
 

OEM is also the lead agency for volunteer and donations management and has been working with philanthropic and private sector networks, as well as voluntary organizations across the nation to share the needs expressed by to these flood-impacted communities and connect them with much needed resources.
 

“I’m proud of the work our team has done to help support safety and health for individuals and families who have been impacted by the flooding – but we’re not in the clear yet,” said Ed Flick, Director of OREM. “As much of our focus now shifts to clean-up and long-term recovery, OREM remains ready to respond if flooding resumes.”
 

Another key component in response efforts is the government-to-government relationship between ODHS and the Burns Paiute Tribe. An ongoing sewage outage impacting the entire Burns Paiute Reservation and much of the City of Burns has further complicated the situation. In response, OREM has provided direct mass care assistance to the Tribe’s emergency manager. Together, they created and distributed a list of urgent community needs. Current priorities include restoring utilities, assessing housing damage, coordinating food and supply deliveries, and supporting long-term recovery planning. These efforts are strengthened through collaboration with partners such as the Oregon Health Authority, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Health Services, and Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board.

“We are committed to working in partnership with the Burns Paiute Tribe and ensuring that support is coordinated, respectful, and responsive to the community’s needs not just in the moments of crisis, but for the long-term,” said Eli Grove, ODHS OREM Tribal Emergency Coordinator. “It’s also been inspiring to see other Tribes across Oregon step up in solidarity. This kind of intertribal support truly reflects the strength and resilience of Tribal communities.”
 

If you have been impacted by flooding and need help finding resources, call 2-1-1 or visit 211info.org.
 

If you would like to help support survivors, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management has a list of ways you can contribute.
 

Governor Kotek visited Harney County last week. Read more about her support to the community in this news release.

PORTLAND, Ore. (April 17, 2025): Black Maternal Health Week (April 11-17) is a time to call attention to health outcomes for Black mothers who continue to face significantly higher risks during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. For instance, Black mothers are 3.5 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes compared to white mothers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The good news is that there are effective, evidence-based practices providers can implement that can reduce morbidity and mortality during pregnancy. If these practices are put into place, all women, especially those who face the greatest risks, are more likely to have a healthy pregnancy and delivery.

"Many women who are low income in both rural and urban communities face barriers to accessing prenatal care, as well as postpartum care for up to 3 months post-birth," said Dr. Christal Crooks, MD, family medicine physician with Kaiser Permanente in Portland, Ore. "These barriers include personal barriers (work, childcare, transportation, education, culture, language); health system barriers (limited hours of operation, lack of services); and environmental barriers (location and connectivity or cell phone coverage.)

“We’ve seen progress in maternal health outcomes due to advancements in medical technology, better access to prenatal care, and increased awareness of maternal health issues. But too many women -- especially Black mothers -- still face unacceptable risks of complications during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period."

Interviews available: 

Dr. Christal Crooks, MD, family medicine physician with Kaiser Permanente Northwest, is available for Zoom interviews on Thursday, April 17 from 10 a.m. to noon.  en.a.vitt@kp.org">Contact Karen Vitt to schedule.

Dr. Crooks is prepared to discuss:

• What is driving disparities in maternal health outcomes, and what can be done to improve care for all mothers

• Evidence-based practices that reduce preventable deaths and complications during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period

• Why Black women are 3.5 times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women, and why they are also more likely to experience preterm births, low birthweight births, and infant mortality 

• What tools and support are being implemented to improve health outcomes for mothers

ABOUT KAISER PERMANENTE  

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.4 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, please visit: about.kaiserpermanente.org 

I have thought a lot about what I want to say in the next three minutes in an attempt to describe what I have experienced internally over the past 9 months as the District Attorney. Three minutes is not long enough to give you an overview of the challenges I have faced and the roadblocks I have met. I wonder daily when I will stop paying for the sins of my predecessor. When I will be recognized and respected by you as the elected District Attorney of Lincoln County. When I will be given true latitude to make decisions for my office that have no budgetary impact. When your employees will stop signing documents on my behalf without my knowledge. When my emails will not be monitored by Human Resources or County Counsel. And when $34,000 will not be secretly deducted from my budget. To be honest, I don’t know if that day is coming.

You have allowed Kristin Yuille and David Collier to block me, stop me, control me, threaten me and attempt to silence me. And when I raised concerns about how I was being treated and the unethical conduct I was observing, instead of taking my concerns seriously and investigating the conduct, I was ignored, then dismissed, and told by your Director of Human Resources that if I did not stop voicing my concerns, I would be investigated. Your personnel rules devote pages to whistleblower protections that mean nothing in practice as applied to me or the employees in my office. Commissioner Miller is the only person who has repeatedly sought transparency and equality in policy and procedure for all Lincoln County employees, including elected officials. He has requested your board meet in executive session to discuss and address these concerns and has repeatedly been ignored. And when his requests for executive session didn’t work, Commissioner Miller raised questions publicly, and was immediately ostracized and vilified in an attempt to silence him from uncovering the truth.

I recognize that you don’t know me and it’s easy to think the worst of me when you are surrounded by an individual who has been unable to let go of the tumultuous relationship that predated my appointment. You probably have no idea why I became a prosecutor or why this career is so important to me. So, I would like to take a minute to give you some insight into me. When I was three, a federal search warrant was executed on my home, and it was discovered that my biological father was involved in an international child pornography crime ring. When I was seven, he was arrested again for sexually abusing one of my close friends. I can still recall naively playing video games while he led a 7-year-old into his bedroom. I couldn’t even tell you what excuse he told me to normalize this behavior. Additional victims came forward and he spent essentially the rest of his life in prison. I knew in high school I wanted to do something with my life to protect children, to protect the children I was unable to protect when I was a child. And I often think about how blessed I am that God put me in this position – to be a voice for vulnerable children and to hold predators accountable for their conduct. And maybe, just maybe protect another innocent child or adult from being victimized.

What you might not understand is that every time you allow others to interfere with my office and allow them to assert their power over me, you don’t hurt me. You hurt your employees. You hurt this community. You hurt victims. Because every time I have to stand up for myself, my office and my employees, it is time that I am not advocating for the victims and citizens of Lincoln County.

I have come to terms with the fact that there is nothing I can do to change the culture of Lincoln County until two of the three commissioners decide the current status quo is unacceptable. Ultimately, you don’t answer to me. You answer to the citizens of Lincoln County. You can leave this meeting and choose to look the other way and allow the concerns I have raised to remain beneath the shadows, or you can seek the truth and investigate the repeated conduct as I have requested on three separate occasions over the past five months.

As for me, I have done everything within my power to speak out and fight against the corruption in your County Counsel’s Office and Human Resources Department and I am tired of fighting for accountability and transparency when it is not a priority for 2/3rds of the former Board of Commissioners. I am hopeful with Commissioner Chuck joining the Board that things will change, and the majority will be in favor of seeking the truth not covering up the corruption. I know by speaking today I am risking further retaliation. But I am not scared of Kristin Yuille or David Collier, and I will not be controlled or silenced by either of them. If you chose to do nothing, I have no doubt that I will be investigated, and your employees will publish the predetermined results that satisfy their goal to deflect from their own unethical behavior. But I want you to know that I am not going anywhere. I will not be run out of office or pressured to resign. I will continue to show up every single day and advocate for the victims of Lincoln County because that is what the victims of Lincoln County deserve and that is what the people of Lincoln County elected me to do. Being an elected official is not about the power or the title or the photo op. It’s about seeking truth and justice in the face of adversity. It’s about putting others needs above your own self-serving interests. It’s about doing the next right thing regardless of the circumstances or personal consequences. Regardless of the adversity that I face, I will continue to do the next right thing regardless of the personal cost. Will you? 

            I had planned to make a public statement at the April 16, 2025 Board of Commissioner meeting and signed up for public comment. However, before I was able to address the Board and while an individual was providing public comment prior to me, Kristin Yuille advised that the Board of Commissioner’s meeting needed to be abruptly adjourned. Commissioner Chuck then addressed Yuille by stating, “Chair Yuille, I mean Counsel Yuille, is this something we should not be talking about?” After receiving direction from Yuille, Commissioner Chuck moved to adjourn the meeting, which was seconded by Commissioner Hall. I stood up and asked, “Are you not going to hear from the rest of us?” No one responded to my question. Commissioner Hall, Commissioner Chuck, Yuille, Kenneth Lipp and Kathleen Kelly were directed by Yuille to immediately leave the room and the recording of the meeting was shut off. The recording of this can be found at https://lincolncoor.portal.civicclerk.com/event/2661/media  at time stamp 57:39.

            Since Kristin Yuille ended the public meeting prior to my public statement, for which I had signed up to make today, I have included below a copy of my statement that I planned to verbally make to the Board of Commissioners. 

Since October 2024, I have made several formal complaints against Kristin Yuille and David Collier concerning allegations of dishonesty, misrepresentation of authority, misconduct, and retaliatory behavior. Over the past six months, Commissioner Miller has relentlessly sought executive sessions to discuss these allegations with the entire Board, but these requests have been ignored or denied by the very individual sought to be discussed.

My most recent request occurred on March 4, 2025, and on March 26, after no response, I made a public statement in hopes that the Board would take action, seek the unbiased truth, and order an external investigation. Since then, instead of investigating Yuille and Collier, Commissioner Hall has empowered Yuille and Collier to self-initiate investigations into three of my employees without any formal complaint and without my knowledge or approval. These investigations were only initiated by Yuille and Collier after I raised concerns regarding Yuille and Collier’s misconduct. Two of my employees were notified of their pending investigations after I spoke publicly about Yuille and Collier on March 26th. This is the very definition of retaliation. And to hear that after all the allegations I have made against Collier that he will decide whether to terminate my employees based on his own self-initiated internal investigations is illogical and unethical. 

On top of this, I was advised last Friday by Commissioner Hall that the Board has denied my request for an external investigation into the numerous complaints against Yuille and Collier. I was troubled to learn that this decision was not made by the entire Board, but by Commissioner Hall alone, as the Board still has not met in executive session to discuss the allegations.

Why is the BOC refusing to follow its own personnel rules? Why is the BOC refusing to initiate an outside investigation into Yuille and Collier? Are you afraid of what might be uncovered if Yuille and Collier were investigated by an unbiased individual? Would it implicate you in the process? Or are you afraid of the power Yuille and Collier possess to isolate you, mistreat you, and gaslight you? Why are you protecting Yuille and Collier at the expense of your employees? Are you at all aware that County Counsel and Human Resources have been weaponized to silence and retaliate against those who challenge their decisions or speak out against them?

Each of you have had 6 weeks to review the allegations and supporting documentation that I submitted. It is time to demonstrate to your employees that your personnel rules apply equally to all County employees, regardless of their position of power.

As the elected District Attorney of Lincoln County and as a Lincoln County citizen, I am asking that the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners vote today at this meeting and order an external independent investigation into the alleged personnel violations by Yuille and Collier.

            Prior to the Board meeting being adjourned, Commissioner Hall addressed concerns regarding whether she was making Board decisions by herself without Board input in the absence of a County Administrator. Commissioner Hall was adamant that the only decisions she has made unilaterally were administrative in nature. She described these decisions as to “keep the lights on” and things like signing travel vouchers and personnel forms. She was adamant she had not made any decisions that would require the entire Board’s approval. However, last week she unilaterally decided to not authorize an investigation into Yuille and Collier, personally opining that my claims had “no merit” without explanation. This type of unilateral decision does not appear to fall into the category of utility bills and travel vouchers. This should be made by the entire Board after a careful review of the facts, documentation, and exhibits, which include first-hand statements from Lincoln County elected officials at the time of the misconduct. 

            Since I spoke at the March 4th Board of Commissioner’s meeting, several County employees outside my department have approached me privately to thank me for speaking out about Yuille and Collier’s misconduct. They have commended my courage to raise concerns against the two most powerful County employees who are manipulating the decision-making process of the Board of Commissioners and harming this County in the process.

            Given the Board of Commissioners were unable to hear or respond to my statement today, I am urging the public to demand transparency and accountability and request the Board of Commissioners order an unbiased independent investigation into Yuille and Collier to determine whether there is merit to the allegations I have raised repeatedly regarding their conduct.

Recordings of these statements can be located at: https://www.youtube.com/@LincolnCountyDA