CORVALLIS, Ore. – On July 6, 2020, at 2:13 pm, deputies from the Benton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a single-vehicle rollover crash, south of Corvallis.

Ashley Kropf, 23, of Halsey, Oregon, was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Kropf was delivering mail for the US Postal Service on Llewellyn Rd, one mile west of Highway 99W, when for unknown reasons, left the road and rolled her 1990 Nissan passenger-vehicle.

There is no indication of alcohol or drugs as being a factor in the crash.

Llewellyn Road was closed for ­­approximately five hours while the Benton County Sheriff’s Office Crash Team investigated. 

Anyone who witnessed the crash is encouraged to contact Deputy Horn at 541-766-6858 or email brian.horn@co.benton.or.us. 

XXX

NOTICE OF MEETING OF THE MEDCOM BOARD OF DIRECTORS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the MedCom Ambulance Authority Board of Directors will hold a regular meeting on Thursday, July 16, 2020, at 12:00 p.m.  The meeting will be held in the Bay Cities Ambulance’s administrative conference room at 1290 NE Cedar. Due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements, masks will be required to be worn at the meeting and everyone will be asked to maintain social distancing.

Agenda items include monthly financials, FireMed Update, and Provider reports.

Anyone desiring more information regarding the meeting should contact the MedCom Administrator at (541) 673-5503.

Please see attached press release.

Thank-you

On Friday, July 3, 2020 at approximately 2250 hours, Douglas County Emergency Communications Center (911) received a call that Kenneth Hale (63 yoa, Roseburg) had been assaulted by the neighbors while at Hale’s residence located at 4355 Depriest Street, Roseburg.

Kenneth Hale was transported to Mercy Medical Center with facial injuries and a severe injury to his eye. Hale was alert and responsive and stated that Aaron Pfannenstiel (31 yoa male, Roseburg) walked onto his porch and banged on the door after a verbal argument regarding fireworks. Hale said Pfannenstiel reached inside Hale’s home and grabbed Hale by the throat. Hale took Pfannenstiel to the ground to protect himself. Pfannenstiel yelled for assistance and Lynzey Pier (39 yoa female, Roseburg), Gaige Jackson (21 yoa male, Roseburg), and 2 juvenile males ran over and begain striking Hale in the face and body. After the assault the individuals involved fled to their residence and would not respond to law enforcement.

On Saturday, July 4th, Detectives executed a search warrant at 4364 Depriest Street, Roseburg. During the execution of the warrant Detectives arrested Aaron Pfannenstiel, Lynzey Pier, Gaige Jackson, and one of the juvenile males in conjunction with the assault to Kenneth Hale. The second juvenile male was arrested away from the residence. Aaron Pfannenstiel was charged and lodged on Burglary I and Assault II charges. Lynzey Pier and Gaige Jackson were charged with Assault II and lodged at the Douglas County Jail. The two male juveniles were arrested for Assault II and lodged at the Douglas County Juvenile Detention Center.

###

UPDATE 07/04/2020 2:30 PM

DRAIN, Ore. - On Friday, July 3, 2020, at approximately 10:00 pm, Douglas County Sheriff's Office Deputies were notified that Taylor Cosby had returned home. Deputies made contact with Cosby and determined she was in good health and unharmed. 

The Sheriff's Office thanks the community for their assistance and concern in locating Cosby.

###

ORIGINAL RELEASE 07/03/2020 10:00 AM

DRAIN, Ore. - Deputies are seeking information as to the whereabouts of a missing 15-year-old from Drain. 

On Thursday, July 2, 2020, deputies were contacted regarding 15-year-old Taylor Cosby who has been missing since June 25, 2020. Cosby reportedly ran away from her home in the 300-block of Highway 38 and has not been heard from since. Family suspects she is still in the Drain area.

Cosby is described as Caucasian, 5'2'' tall, weighing 130lbs, with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last known to be wearing a black hat, green t-shirt and tall black gardening boots. 

Deputies ask anyone who has information about Cosby's whereabouts to call law enforcement immediately at (541) 440-4471. The Sheriff's Office is being assisted by Douglas County Search and Rescue. 

Case #20-2945

###

DIAMOND LAKE, Ore. - The search for Jared Bruce Boria, a missing kayaker presumed drowned, is still underway. 

The 37 year-old went missing Tuesday, June 30, 2020, after he launched his kayak from his camping space at Diamond Lake Campground and paddled out onto the lake. At approximately 10:20 PM, dispatchers began receiving reports of a male yelling for help from the water. Boria was later reported as missing by his wife. 

Search efforts are in the fourth day since the the initial report. Searchers have located his kayak, his paddle and shoes, but have not found Boria. 

"There are factors which make this a difficult search mission. The primary difficulty we are currently facing is that no one observed where Jared was on the lake when he was calling for help," said Sgt. Brad O'Dell. "Searches usually begin at the point where the individual was last seen. In this case, it was too dark and witnesses could only hear requests for help, therefore we are making assumptions as to where he may have became distressed". 

The Sheriff's Office is grateful for the assistance which has been provided to help locate Boria. Efforts to locate him have included marine deputies and searchers with specialized underwater scanning capabilities, dive team efforts, Search and Rescue crews from multiple counties and air assets. The following agencies have assisted in the search. 

• DCSO Marine Division
• DCSO Dive Team
• Douglas County Search and Rescue
• Coos County Search and Rescue
• Klamath County Search and Rescue
• Jackson County Search and Rescue
• Diamond Lake Resort
• Oregon State Police - Fish and Game Division
• United States Forest Service Law Enforcement
• REACH Air Medical Services

Search efforts are expected to continue over the holiday weekend. Anyone recreating in the area is asked to report any possible signs of Boria by dialing 9-1-1. 

###

ORIGINAL RELEASE 07/02/2020 - 7:00 AM

DIAMOND LAKE, Ore. - A Vancouver, Washington man is missing after taking his kayak onto the lake late Tuesday night. 

At approximately 10:20 PM, 9-1-1 dispatchers received reports of a man yelling for help from the water at Diamond Lake. No one was able to see the man, but reported he sounded as if he was in distress. 

Shortly after the initial report, dispatchers received a report of a missing person at Diamond Lake.

Deputies learned 37 year-old Jared Bruce Boria of Vancouver, Washington was camping at Diamond Lake Campground. Shortly before the 9-1-1 calls, Boria had put his kayak in the water and paddled into the lake. He was not wearing a life jacket at the time. 

Deputies spoke to several witnesses who reported hearing a male in distress yelling from the water, but were unable to see anyone. 

An initial search was conducted by Marine and Timber Deputies, Douglas County Fire District #2 and Diamond Lake First Responders, however they were unable to locate Boria or his kayak. 

On Wednesday, July 1, 2020, Marine Deputies, Sheriff's Office Divers, Search & Rescue Personnel from Douglas, Josephine and Coos Counties and Oregon State Police Fish and Game Troopers conducted an exhaustive search of the lake. Boria's kayak, paddle and his shoes were located during the search; however, Boria is still missing at this time.

Boria is described as a hispanic male approximately 6'0'' tall, 160lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes. 

Search efforts will resume Thursday, July 2nd. Anyone recreating in the area is asked to be aware of the missing person report and call 9-1-1 with any information which may help the search effort.

###

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. - Deputies with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office Marine Division will be participating in a national campaign to combat boating under the influence of intoxicants this weekend. The campaign, Operation Dry Water, focuses efforts over the holiday weekend to detect and deter boaters who are operating while impaired. Operation Dry Water begins Friday, July 3, 2020 and runs through Sunday, July 5, 2020. 

While Marine Deputies are always looking for boaters who are impaired, this weekend's BUII patrols will be enhanced and specifically focused. The mission is to reduce the number of alcohol and drug related deaths on the water. The incidents that result from Boating Under the Influence of Intoxicants is 100% preventable. 

"We want those people recreating on the water to enjoy everything that Douglas County has to offer; but safely,", Marine Division Sergeant Brad O'Dell said. "Boating while intoxicated not only places your life at risk, but those in your boat and as well as those innocent people sharing the water with you. The Sheriff's Office will absolutely not tolerate impaired boating operation, ever."

As a reminder, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office Marine Division encourages boaters to always wear a life jacket. 

The Portland FBI Field Office has launched a new opportunity for high school students to engage with us during this time of physical distancing: the FBI Virtual Teen Series (FBI VTS). Students from various high schools within the state of Oregon joined in this virtual session to learn about how to avoid the risks of online sexual exploitation. Over the next three weeks, teens will have the chance to join us for more once-a-week online learning sessions designed to let them explore the world of law enforcement, build leadership skills, and become positive role models in our shared community. 

Space is limited. Registration is required. Email ajfabiankreamier@fbi.gov to register.

Oregon high school students who have a student email account are eligible to participate.

• Session Two: Chasing the Dragon - The Life of and Opiate Addict 
  • Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2020 
  • Time: 1 - 2 p.m. 
• Session Three: Life as an FBI Agent 
  • Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2020 
  • Time: 1 - 2 p.m. 
• Session Four: Intelligence - Identifying and Prioritizing Today's Threats 
  • Date: Wednesday, July 29, 2020 
  • Time: 1 - 2 p.m.

###

Welcome to the Oregon FBI’s Tech Tuesday segment. This week: knowing your risks when using mobile banking apps. 

Mobile banking apps are popular: they make it easy to deposit funds, pay bills, and transfer money. In fact, U.S. financial technology providers estimate more than 75 percent of Americans used mobile banking in some form in 2019. Given stay-at-home orders and physical distancing requirements, even more Americans have become willing to use mobile banking as an alternative to physically visiting branch locations. To that point: One U.S. financial study has shown a 50% rise in mobile banking just since the beginning of the year.  

With increased use, though, comes increased risk. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov) is warning consumers that mobile banking presents a prime opportunity for fraudsters to exploit customers. There are two primary concerns: app-based Trojans and fake banking apps. 

App-based banking trojans infect your smartphone or tablet when you download malware with what otherwise looks to be a legitimate game or tool. When you try to access the real banking app, the malware activates – giving you a false login page to capture your ID and password. You likely won’t even know that you have given the scammer your info because the malware then directs you to your legitimate banking site. 

The second concern is a little more straight forward: fake banking apps created to look like your bank’s real app. Once you enter your ID and password, you will see an error message and the app will work to bypass security codes sent to you. Fraudulent banking apps are one of the fastest growing smartphone-based scams. In 2018, U.S. security research organizations found an estimated 65,000 fake apps on major app stores. 

What can you do to stay safe? 

• Go to your bank’s website to download the app directly. 

• Use a trusted, official app store if you otherwise need to download apps. 

• Enable multi-factor authentication on devices and accounts. Use biometrics, hardware tokens, or authentication apps whenever possible. Layering different authentication standards is a stronger security option. 

• Monitor where your Personal Identifiable Information (PII) is stored and only share the most necessary information with financial institutions. 

• Use the strongest password possible and create unique passwords for all financial accounts. 

• Don’t ever click on attachments or links in emails, texts, or social media posts. Don’t give your password to anyone. Financial institutions will not ask you for this information over the phone or by text message. 

If you encounter what you believe to be a suspicious banking app, call your bank using contact information publicly available on its webpage. 

If you have fallen victim to mobile banking app exploitation or any other online fraud, report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov) at www.IC3.gov or call your local FBI office. 

###

Update 7/8/2020 at 1:05 p.m.:

The deceased in the shooting that occurred off Smithoak Street in Eugene on Sunday 7/5/2020 has been identified as 62 year old Thomas Robert Michaud of Eugene.  

Posted 7/6/2020:

On 7/5/2020 at 7:03 p.m., the Lane County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a gunshot wound at a residence on Smithoak Street in North Eugene.  Deputies arrived and located a deceased male with a gunshot wound and two other males at the home.  Initial investigation indicates the three males lived together and were engaged in a physical dispute over living arrangements just prior to the shooting. 

Deputies investigated the death and have arrested 59 year old Martin Joyce of Eugene who was lodged at the Lane County Jail on Murder.  Deputies are notifying family of the deceased prior to releasing his name. 

This investigation is ongoing, but there is no indication of a continued threat to the community in connection with this case. 

Lane County Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol deputies are advising boaters of low water levels at Fern Ridge Reservoir that could present a hazard.  There are several partially exposed tree stumps in the water and potentially many more just under the surface that could be dangerous for boaters and skiers, particularly on northwest section of the reservoir.  Boaters are asked to please use caution when boating in the area.  Marine Patrol deputies are working to place markers near known hazards, but boaters towing skiers, wakeboarders, etc. are encouraged to stay in the deeper sections. 

On Sunday, July 5, 2020, Lincoln City Police responded to a report of possible identity theft by two suspects at the Shearwater Inn.

Officer Tolzman arrived in the area a few minutes later and located the male suspect. The Officer asked the suspect to stop, but the suspect instead started running away. During the foot chase, the suspect dropped a handgun from his waistband. When the Officer caught up to the suspect, the suspect continued to fight the Officer and resist arrest.

The struggle continued into the parking lot, where the suspect was able to create distance between himself and the Officer. The suspect then tried to swing at the Officer's head with a fist. The Officer attempted to use a Taser to stop the suspect, but the suspect’s girlfriend was nearby and punched the Taser out of the Officer’s hand and then hit the Officer in the chest.

Officer Craig arrived to assist Officer Tolzman and Officer Tolzman was able to retrieve his Taser from the ground and deploy the Taser after the male suspect continued to disobey commands. The Taser deployment was successful and the male suspect was detained in handcuffs without serious injury.

The male suspect refused to identify himself, but was later identified as 40-year-old Daniel Lloyd Howton Jr of Salem and Portland. Howton also had warrants for his arrest out of Marion County and Multnomah County.

The female suspect/girlfriend was identified as 28-year-old Emily Ruth Huse of Vancouver, WA.

During the investigation, Officers learned the handgun dropped by Howton was reported as stolen from Portland in March of 2020.

Howton was lodged at the Lincoln County Jail for Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Attempted Assault on a Police Officer, Attempted Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Identity Theft, Interfering with Police, Disorderly Conduct II, Harassment and the two warrants. His bail was set at $262,500.00.

Huse was lodged at the Lincoln City Police Department for Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument. There will be other pending charges for interfering with the apprehension of Howton. The Lincoln County Jail denied entry to Huse due to COVID-19 procedures and she was issued a criminal citation and released later on 7/5/20.

The Lincoln City Police Department would like to thank the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, PacWest Medical, and North Lincoln Fire for their assistance during this incident.

Submitted By:  Sergeant Jeffrey Winn

The Lincoln City Police Department has an update regarding subjects arrested during a disturbance on the ocean beach area in front of the Inn at Spanish Head on July 4th. A group of seven subjects were arrested as a result of the incident. At the time of the arrests, one of those in the group refused to identify himself. That subject was transported to the Lincoln County Jail and lodged there pending his identification.

Once the subject was down at the jail he was identified to be Oleg Saranchuk (45) of Clark County Washington. It was determined that due to a language barrier and some lack of cooperation the subject originally identified as Oleg Saranchuk (in the original mug shot photo spread) had been misidentified, and was in fact Andrey I. Leonchik (41) of Clark County, Washington. Both men were charged with the following crimes: Riot, Interfering with Police, Disorderly Conduct II, Harassment, Possession of Illegal Fireworks, and Offensive Littering. Andrey Leonchik was cited and released from the Lincoln City Police Department. Oleg Saranchuk was later released from the Lincoln County Jail.    

The case investigation is being referred to the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office for further review and determination of charges. Attached is an initial media release from the District Attorney’s Office, and all further information regarding this case will be released by them.

The Lincoln City Police would like to thank the community members and other citizens for their support and positive encouragement.

Submitted By:  Sergeant Jeffrey Winn

On Saturday, July 4th, 2020 at about 9:33 PM, Lincoln City Police were dispatched to the ocean beach area in front of the Inn at Spanish Head on a report of group of people shooting off illegal fireworks and causing a disturbance with other citizens on the beach. 

The initial officers arriving on scene in one of the Lincoln City Police Department’s beach ATV’s were immediately surrounded by this group of about 10 people who began taunting and challenging the officers for seizing illegal fireworks. Several other officers arrived on scene and learned that this same group of white people had been taunting and challenging a family of black persons by yelling racial slurs at them, insulting them and using Nazi salutes towards them. The black family advised they felt intimidated by the actions this group had displayed towards them. The on scene officers formed a line between the group of white persons and the black family allowing the black family to safely leave the beach and return to their room. During this time several in the group of white persons continued to taunt the officers, trying to challenge them to fight. Other members from the group of white persons then began shooting off multiple large illegal aerial fireworks in front of the officers. After several more officers arrived on scene, they moved in on the confrontational and highly intoxicated group and began placing them under arrest for a variety of criminal charges.  

Gennadiy Kachankov (30), Antoliy Kachankov (28), Andrey Zaytsev (28), Oleg Saranchuk (45), Ruslan Tkachenko (22), all of Clark County Washington were charged with the following crimes, Riot, Interfering with Police, Disorderly Conduct II, Harassment, Possession of Illegal Fireworks, and Offensive Littering. They were cited and later released. An additional male, who refused to identify himself and who had no ID on his person, was transported to the Lincoln County Jail for fingerprint identification and charged with the above listed crimes. In addition Yuriy Kachankov (30) of Clark County Washington was also charged the above listed charges along with Resisting arrest. He was also cited and later released.

The Lincoln City Police would like to thank the members of the Toledo Police Department and Lincoln County Parole and Probation, who assisted us with the 4th of July coverage and this incident. 

Submitted By:  Sergeant Jeffrey Winn

Under Authority Of:  Chief Jerry Palmer  
 

TIP OF THE WEEK

Date:            July 9, 2020                FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:     Sheriff Curtis Landers

                   541-265-0652

                   clanders@co.lincoln.or.us

                                                    DOCUMENTING YOUR VALUABLES

Lincoln County is no different than other areas of the state in that we can all become victims of theft and burglary.  Unfortunately, these crimes occur all over Lincoln County on a daily basis.  It’s important to make sure you take steps to prevent thefts or burglaries, but in the event they do occur, it’s important to have your valuables documented. 

Documenting your valuables will help law enforcement solve the crime and possibly return your items. It will also help you identify what is missing so you can provide a list to law enforcement and your insurance company.  This means all items of value, including firearms, jewelry, tools, electronics, furniture, etc. 

Digital cameras can document your items electronically very easily.  Store the information away someplace safe so you can recover it if ever needed.  This could be a USB thumb drive, SD card, “cloud” storage, etc.  If you are the victim of a crime and can give the police the serial numbers of your stolen property, the items can be entered into the law enforcement computer system. When this is accomplished, the odds of your property being returned to you greatly increases.  It may even turn up in another jurisdiction during an unrelated search warrant, in a pawnshop, or even during a traffic stop.

If an officer runs the serial number to an item, and it is stolen, he or she can seize the item and contact the investigating agency. In many instances when a crime has been committed and there are no investigative leads, the case has been solved because of one documented serial number.

We know that people shouldn’t have to go to this kind of trouble, but the plain fact of the matter is that we should.  So please do your part to make it more difficult for those who prey on others.  Take a few moments to mark and document your valuables.

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

On July 4, 2020 at approximately 1:49 PM the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Newport Police Department, and Oregon State Police responded to a hit and run vehicle accident near the north end of the Yaquina Bay Bridge in Newport. Multiple 911 calls were received reporting a maroon Chevrolet pickup had struck multiple vehicles in the area injuring 2 juveniles and 1 adult. As the event unfolded bystanders observed the driver of the suspect vehicle flee from Chevrolet pickup into dense foliage nearby.

Deputy Akin and his K9 partner Bonni deployed to assist Newport Police officers in locating the suspect. K9 Bonni successfully tracked, located and apprehended the suspect identified as Dylan A. Johnston age 26 of Toledo.

Johnston was transported to Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries sustained during the K9 apprehension. 

Johnston was charged with two counts of Assault III, Hit and Run, Assault on a Public Safety Officer, Possession of a Concealed Weapon, and DUII. His bail was set at $330,000

####

Karl Vertner, Patrol Sergeant

541 265 0681

Linn County Sheriff Jim Yon reports his Office is investigating a shooting in the area of Fuller Lane and Russell drive, Lebanon.  This morning at 04:20 a.m., the Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call reporting the shooting of a male.

Linn County Deputies and Lebanon Police Officers responded to the area where the victim was located.  The Lebanon Fire Department transported the victim with non-life threatening injuries to Corvallis Good Samaritan Hospital.  The assailant left the area prior to our arrival.  Detectives are continuing the investigation into the matter. 

If anyone has information on this incident, please contact Detective Lovik at 541-967-3950.

The Linn County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Lebanon Police Department and Lebanon Fire Department. 

On July 7th, 2020, at approximately 10:34 pm, deputies were called to the 4800 block of Brooklake Road NE to the report of an unconscious person lying in the road.  While waiting for emergency responders to arrive at the scene, the anonymous caller reported witnessing a white 2000’s Chevrolet Camaro leave the scene after running over the man.  Marion County Fire District #1 arrived on scene while deputies were still responding and determined the victim was deceased.

The victim, an adult male in his 30’s, is not being identified at this time pending notification of their next of kin.

Brooklake Road was closed to traffic until just after 4:00 am while investigators from the Marion County Multi-Agency CRASH Team processed the scene.  Investigators are asking anyone with information about the hit and run, including the original anonymous caller, to contact the Sheriff’s Office non-emergency number at 503-588-5032.

On July 8, 2020 investigators developed information that Hagenno might be associated with a vehicle.  Investigators located that vehicle at approximately 2:00 P.M., on Hwy 238 near Jaynes Dr.  OSP with assistance of the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety made contact with vehicle and Hagenno was inside and taken into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on charges of Murder 2, Unlawful use of a Weapon, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

Bret Alan Hagenno was taken into custody today - July 8, 2020.  The details of the arrest will be posted when they are available.

On June 24, 2020 at approximately 3:45 P.M., a shooting occurred at Pinecrest Drive and Tiffany Way in Grants Pass OR. Detectives located Theodore Homer Robison (55) from Josephine County there shot several times and he was pronounced deceased..

Investigators have identified as a suspect and believe he could be armed and dangerous.

Hagenno is described as 6 foot tall, approximately 250 pounds and balding. He may or may not have a beard and is known to frequent Josephine and Jackson Counties.

Oregon State Police Major Crimes Section Detectives are asking for the public’s help in locating Hagenno who is wanted for Murder II in Josephine County. If anyone has seen Hagenno or knows his whereabouts, they are asked to contact the Oregon State Police Southern Command Center at 541-664-4600 and reference case SP-20-173329.

Hagenno is considered to be armed and dangerous. If located, do not contact and call the police (911).

Previous Release from June 15, 2020

On June 24, 2020, at approximately 4:00 P.M., Josephine County law enforcement responded to the area of Pinecrest Drive and Tiffany Way for a homicide investigation. 

The deceased has been identified as Theodore Homer Robison (55) from Josephine County.

Investigators are asking for the public's assistance.  If anyone in the area of Pinecrest Drive and Plumtree Lane has video surveillance cameras, they are asked to contact investigators.  

The Oregon State Police are the lead investigators and are being assisted by the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety, Josephine County Sheriff's Office and the Josephine County District Attorney's Office.  

If anyone has any information they are asked to contact the Oregon State Police Dispatch Center at 541-664-4600. Reference case number SP20-173329.

On Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at approximately 7:11 P.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two vehicle crash on Hwy 101 near milepost 19, in Gearhart. 

Preliminary investigation revealed a northbound Honda motorcycle, operated by Matthew Elinsky (53) of Manzanita, collided with the back of a Jeep Cherokee, operated by Sydney Villegas (21) of Seaside, that was stopped due to traffic ahead.

Elinsky sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.

Villegas was not injured. 

OSP was assisted by Gearhart Fire and Police Departments, ODOT, and Medix.  

On Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at approximately 4:53 P.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two vehicle crash on Hwy 20W at milepost 1.5.

Preliminary investigation revealed a 2007 Harley Davidson motorcycle, operated by Michael Smith (70) of Redmond, collided with the back of a 2018 Ford 250, operated by a juvenile male, that was stopped waiting to turn left onto Jordan Rd.

Sisters-Camp Sherman medics responded and transported Smith to an air ambulance in Sisters but was pronounced deceased prior to the flight.

The operator of the Ford was not injured.

OSP was assisted by Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Department, ODOT, and Central Oregon Police Chaplaincy.  

On Monday, July 6, 2020 at 10:03 P.M., Lake County 911 received an emergency call reporting a shooting at 11 North G Street in Lakeview, OR.

Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies and Oregon State Police Troopers responded and found Jacob Wheat (26) of Lakeview, OR. laying in the parking lot.  Wheat was critically injured and died while responding officers attempted first aid.

The Lake County Major Crime Team was activated to investigate.

Law enforcement believes there is no active threat to the community.

The Lake County Major Crime Team consists of the Lake County District Attorney’s Office, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon State Police.

Anyone who has information regarding this investigation or was in the area of the incident, and has not been contacted by police is encouraged to contact the Lake County 911 non-emergency line at 541-947-2222 or the Oregon State Police Southern Command Center at 541-883-5711.

On Monday, July 6, 2020 at approximately 6:20 P.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two vehicle crash on Hwy 20 near milepost 75 - at the Hwy 20 and Hwy 22 Junction.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a Dodge Ram 1500, operated by Corey Brett (51)  of Creswell, OR. was westbound on Hwy 20 when it turned left (across Hwy 22 to stay on Hwy 20) and into the path of a Nissan Rouge, operated by Kaitlyn Allen (20) of Salem, OR. that was eastbound on Hwy 22.

Allen was transported by Air Ambulance to St. Charles in Bend where she was pronounced deceased. 

Brett had no known injuries as a result of the crash..

OSP was assisted by Sisters Fire and Rescue and ODOT.

On Monday, July 6, 2020 at approximately 8:50 P.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two vehicle crash on Hwy 97 near milepost 118.  

Preliminary investigation revealed a Hyundai Accent, operated by Beauden Yetter (21) of Terrebonne, was southbound when it crossed into the northbound lane and collided with a Chevrolet Suburban operated by Surun Roth (57) of Stockton, CA.

Roth and his passenger Mean Sok (68) of Stockton, CA. were transported to St. Charles with non-life threatening injuries.

Yetter sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.  

OSP was assisted by the Redmond Police Department, Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Redmond Fire/Rescue and ODOT.  

The Freightliner operator is being identified as Christopher Parks (31) of Portland. 

On Saturday, July 4, 2020 at approximately 9:13 A.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a single vehicle crash on Hwy 101 at milepost 91, south of Pacific City.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a white 2020 Freightliner rental truck was being driven northbound on Hwy 101 when for unknown reasons the Freightliner crossed the southbound lane, went off the road, and struck a tree.

The operator sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.  The name will be released when we ensure family has been notified.

Hwy 101 traffic was slowed at this location but remained open during the investigation.

OSP was assisted by Nestucca Fire and Rescue, Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office, and ODOT.

On Saturday, July 4, 2020 at approximately 2:30 P.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a crash on Hwy 197 near milepost 38.

Preliminary investigation showed that a Harley Davidson motorcycle, operated by Nathan Pyle (46) of Dallas, OR. was riding northbound in a group of motorcycles.  The riders were slowing to turn left onto Juniper Flat Rd.  Pyle was not able to stop and crashed avoiding the other motorcycles.

Pyle sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.

OSP was assisted by the Wasco County Sheriff's Office, South Wasco Ambulance, Juniper Flat and Fire and Rescue, and ODOT.

The Oregon State Police is aware of a concern an OSP Trooper made a hand signal that some could interpret as racist or sympathizing with racist ideology. The OSP condemns all racist behavior and ideology, so we of course were alarmed and concerned by the reports- which accompanied a small video snippet of a larger event. The OSP Trooper identified in the video did not engage in any white supremacy behavior, implicitly or explicitly. 

The agency commissioned an immediate review of the event, which occurred during a protest at Oregon's Capitol on Saturday July 4th- as OSP troopers were policing an event that attracted counter- protestors.

The body camera of the involved trooper was reviewed- in addition to the body cameras of troopers in the general vicinity.  Information indicates the trooper had just witnessed two protestors engaged in a physical altercation and one man was knocked to the ground.  Troopers arrested Christopher Davis (50) of Salem on charges of Disorderly Conduct and Harassment and he was transported the Marion County Jail. The man that was knocked to the ground recovered his footing and interacted with troopers in the vicinity (the portion of the video that is being displayed by the media and social media).  An OSP trooper approached the man and asked if he was unharmed- while simultaneously displaying the hand signal commonly associated with "okay." The trooper was wearing a face covering and operating in a noisy environment. Another trooper advised the man they would be taking his information, which they did for a criminal investigation.  

Best available evidence indicates the trooper was simply checking on the man's status and used the universal signal to signify this inquiry, which the man gestured he was- then patted this trooper and a second trooper on their shoulders in an apparent signal of appreciation. The man was the victim of a crime.

OSP condemns all racist behaviors and does not allow white supremacist behaviors by our officers and staff. We  appreciate that the public would be concerned and rightfully outraged if an OSP trooper were to flash an offensive gesture.  We would share in that outrage and concern. In this instance, we would ask the public await the complete information before condemning a trooper with an irreparable and harmful label. Additionally, some members of the public are misidentifying the trooper in the video with another trooper who was working the event.

Link to YouTube footage of troopers body camera. https://bit.ly/3gypVut

On July 9th, 2020 around 0200 hours, emergency personnel from the Roseburg Police and Roseburg Fire Departments responded to a single vehicle rollover accident in the 1600 block of SE Pine Street in Roseburg.

The accident involved a 1999 Honda CRV that was reportedly driving at a high rate of speed, southbound on Pine Street.  The vehicle left the roadway in the 1600 block, striking the guardrail and sending the vehicle airborne.  The vehicle landed upside down on a lower access road, trapping both occupants inside.  The passenger in the vehicle, 25 year old Jacob Bickell of Myrtle Creek, was pronounced deceased at the scene.  The driver, 21 year old Michael McCollum also of Myrtle Creek, was transported to Mercy via ambulance for severe injuries he sustained in the accident.  McCollum was later life-flighted to Sacred Heart Riverbend in Springfield for further treatment.  Next of kin for Bickell have been notified.

The Oregon State Police assisted in the investigation by conducting an accident reconstruction, which is standard for all accidents involving a fatality.  Driver impairment is suspected in this case, and the investigation is still ongoing. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Hotline: 503-813-6018

PacifiCorp issues largest request for new energy projects in company history

 Request for proposals will add enough renewable energy to power more than three million homes

PORTLAND, Ore. (July 7, 2020) — PacifiCorp today issued the largest request for proposals for energy projects in company history, seeking competitively priced resources that can connect to its 10-state transmission system. Pacific Power is a division of PacifiCorp, which is already the largest regulated utility owner of wind power in the West. These projects will significantly increase the amount of renewable energy resources serving Pacific Power customers.

PacifiCorp’s most recent Integrated Resource Plan outlines the company’s plans to add 1,823 megawatts of new solar resources, 595 megawatts of new battery energy storage and 1,920 megawatts of new wind resources by the end of 2023. This is enough to power nearly three million typical homes with renewable energy.

The company will accept bids featuring different resource types and bid structures, including forms of power-purchase, battery storage, and build-transfer agreements. PacifiCorp will not be submitting any self-build resources and therefore won’t be competing with independent developers on their projects. Projects must be able to achieve commercial operation by December 31, 2024. Long-lead projects, such as pumped storage, can submit offers with commercial operation dates beyond December 31, 2024.

“These projects represent PacifiCorp’s longstanding and enduring commitment to create an energy future that is affordable, reliable and increasingly sustainable,” said Rick Link, PacifiCorp vice president of resource planning. “Our All-Source RFP is a catalyst to help realize that future and enable our customers and communities across the West to benefit from lower-cost renewable energy to grow their economies, run their businesses and homes.”

The 2020 all-source request for proposals is based on findings from a broad range of studies and technical analyses developed through an open and extensive public process, with input from an active and diverse group of stakeholders, including customer advocacy groups, community members, regulatory staff, and other interested parties. PacifiCorp met with stakeholders in five states and hosted 18 public-input meetings over nearly two years to develop a plan to provide the cleanest, least-risk and lowest-cost electricity for customers.

While it is anticipated that most bids will feature wind and solar resources, projects of any variety of qualifying energy production will be considered, allowing developers to present technologies and resources that fit their business model and best position them to compete in the energy market. PacifiCorp anticipates a robust response and a diversity of proposals.

Detailed information about the 2020 all-source request for proposals is available here: https://www.pacificorp.com/suppliers/rfps/all-source-rfp.html

# # #

ABOUT PACIFIC POWER

Pacific Power provides safe and reliable electric service to more than 773,000 customers in 243 communities across Oregon, Washington and California. Pacific Power is part of PacifiCorp, one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States, serving nearly two million customers in six western states as the largest regulated utility owner of wind power in the West. For more information, visit www.pacificpower.net.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Soldier who was supporting Operation Joint Guardian.

Oregon Army National Guard Pfc. Alexander Blake Klass, 20, from Willamina, Oregon, died as the result of a non-combat related incident, July 4, 2020, at Camp Novo Selo, Kosovo. The incident is under investigation.

Pfc. Klass was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oregon National Guard, Springfield, Oregon. 

Klass joined the Oregon Army National Guard on Jan. 19, 2019 as an Infantryman. He mobilized in January of 2020 and was scheduled to return home from Kosovo in November.

“This is a tragic situation and our primary focus is supporting the family during this difficult time," said Brig. Gen. William J. Prendergast IV, Land Component Commander, Oregon Army National Guard.

The family has requested a period of privacy for healing and reflection. We ask that the community respects the family’s wishes at this time.

For more information regarding Pfc. Alexander Blake Klass, media may contact Maj. Stephen S. Bomar, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs at omar.mil@mail.mil">stephen.s.bomar.mil@mail.mil; agpa@mil.state.or.us, or at (503) 584-3885.

Attached Photo: Pfc. Alexander B. Klass

Defenses.gov Newsroom Release:

https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2261512/dod-identifies-army-casualty/

-30-

SALEM, Ore. - Soldiers from the Oregon National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment and the 2nd Battalion, 218th Field Artillery Regiment are due to arrive home from deployment on July 4, after serving in Jordan.

The 38 Oregon Soldiers returning home are members of the Scout platoon, Headquarters Company 2-162 Infantry and the 2-218 Field Artillery Fire Support Section. 

The Soldiers were part of the Jordanian Operational Engagement Program, deploying in various rotations from September 2019 to July of 2020. The Soldiers trained with the Jordanian Security Forces and Armed Forces, completing essential Soldier tasks such as basic rifle marksmanship, crew serves weapons and medical proficiency skills at the platoon and squadron level.

The Oregon Guardsmen had just come from Fort Bliss, in El Paso, Texas, where they were quarantined for 14 days, in accordance with COVID-19 federal guidelines, which included additional medical screening and current procedures as they return home to Oregon.

For media inquires and additional information regarding family homecomings with Soldiers returning; please contact Capt. Jessica Clarke at 503-584-3917. 

The Oregon Guardsmen from the 2-162 and 2-218 deployed with members of the 1st Squadron, 303rd Cavalry Regiment from the Washington Army National Guard, who started returning home on July 2nd.

-30-

PORTLAND, Ore.—In separate criminal cases, three men, Mitch Bryan Schoonover, 37, of Portland; Isaiah Holt, 32, also of Portland; and Jay Rodney Ferdig, 44, of Salem, Oregon; were sentenced this week to federal prison for illegally possessing firearms as convicted felons, announced U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams.

“The goal of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program is to reduce violent crime and victimization across Oregon,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “A key pillar of our strategy is to reduce illegal gun ownership. With the assistance of our federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners, we have made significant progress toward this goal.”

U.S. v. Schoonover

On July 6, 2020, Schoonover was sentenced to 18 months in prison and three years’ supervised release. According to court documents, on January 1, 2020, Gresham Police officers stopped Schoonover for a traffic violation and on suspicion that the vehicle he was driving was stolen. Officers searched the vehicle after confirming it was stolen and found a .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol, a loaded magazine, and a clear glass pipe containing methamphetamine residue.

In 2005, after learning that another man had spent the night with his girlfriend, Schoonover shot and killed the man at short range with a rifle. He was convicted in Multnomah County Circuit Court of first degree manslaughter and sentenced to 15 years in state prison.

This case was investigated by the Gresham Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis S. Burkhart.

U.S. v. Ferdig

Ferdig was sentenced today to 30 months in prison and three years’ supervised release. According to court documents, on August 2, 2019, Ferdig and his fiancée were staying at a Salem motel with their 11-month- and three-year-old children. They left both children in the care of an extremely intoxicated cousin and went to a local park to inject methamphetamine. The children wandered away and a motel guest brought both children inside for their protection and to prevent the three-year-old from running into the street. During a subsequent welfare check, police discovered the children were barefoot and had not had their diapers changed for hours. Ferdig and his fiancée were arrested upon their return to the motel.

Police discovered drug packaging on Ferdig’s person and a .22 caliber pistol with a round in the chamber, two boxes of ammunition, plastic bags with shards of methamphetamine, two digital scales, hypodermic needles, and a stun gun in his vehicle.

Ferdig’s criminal history spans more than two decades. He is prohibited from possessing a firearm after numerous felony convictions for assault, sex offenses, drug offenses, robbery, burglary, and other crimes.

This case was investigated by the Salem Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Byron G. Chatfield.

U.S. v. Holt

Holt was sentenced today to 37 months in prison and three years’ supervised release for money laundering, drug trafficking, and illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. According to court documents, beginning in July 2016 and continuing until his arrest in April 2018, Holt used his association with a licensed marijuana producer in Portland to divert state-legal marijuana into the black market. Holt sold marijuana in-person to out-of-state customers traveling to Oregon and by mail to remote customers using the U.S. Postal Service.

The investigation started when Holt directed his girlfriend to purchase a handgun for him. In April 2018, ATF agents obtained and executed a search warrant on Holt’s Northeast Portland residence. They found 11.5 grams of cocaine and nearly $2,000 in cash on Holt’s person and three firearms, drug packaging materials, shipping labels, 14 pounds of marijuana, and $46,100 in cash in the residence.

After his arrest and federal indictment, Holt continued to distribute cocaine. From April to August 2019, law enforcement conducted three controlled purchases of cocaine from Holt. In total, law enforcement purchased or recovered from Holt approximately 158 grams of cocaine during these purchases.

Holt is prohibited from possessing a firearm after several felony convictions in Multnomah County Circuit Court in 2007 for selling marijuana and shooting an individual during an altercation.

This case was investigated by ATF, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Portland Police Bureau. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julia E. Jarrett and Leah K. Bolstad.

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

# # #

Charges include assaults on law enforcement officers, destruction of federal property, and disorderly conduct

PORTLAND, Ore.—U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams announced today that seven people have been arrested and face federal charges for their roles in weekend riots at the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse in Portland.

According to court documents, since May 26, 2020, protests in downtown Portland have regularly been followed by nightly criminal activity including assaults on law enforcement officers, destruction of property, looting, arson, and vandalism.

Rowan Olsen, 19, of Portland, is charged with disorderly conduct, creating a hazard on federal property, and failing to obey a lawful order; Shant Singh Ahuja, 28, of Oceanside, California, is charged with destruction of federal property; and Andrew Steven Faulkner, 24, of Beaverton, Oregon; Gretchen Margaret Blank, 29, of Seattle, Washington; Christopher Fellini, 31, of Portland; Cody Porter, 28, of Portland; and Taimane Jame Teo, 24, of Eugene, Oregon, are charged with assaulting federal officers.

The Hatfield Federal Courthouse has been a repeated target of vandalism, sustaining extensive damage. U.S. Marshals Service deputies and officers from the Federal Protective Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection working to protect the courthouse have been subjected to threats; aerial fireworks including mortars; high intensity lasers targeting officers’ eyes; thrown rocks, bottles, and balloons filled with paint from demonstrators while performing their duties.

On July 2-3, 2020, Olsen is accused of using his body to push on and hold a glass door at the Hatfield Courthouse closed, preventing officers from exiting the building and causing the door to shatter. With the door broken, a mortar firework entered the courthouse, detonating near the officers. The officers used shields and their bodies to block the open doorway for approximately six hours until demonstrators dispersed.

On July 4, 2020, Ahuja is accused of willfully destroying a closed-circuit video camera mounted on the exterior of the Hatfield Courthouse.

On July 5, 2020, Blank is accused of assaulting a federal officer with a shield while the officer was attempting to arrest another protestor.

On July 5-6, 2020, Faulkner, Fellini, Porter, and Teo are accused of assaulting federal officers with high intensity lasers. At the time of his arrest, Faulkner also possessed a sheathed machete.

All seven defendants made their first appearances in federal court on July 6, 2020 and were released pending trial.

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

These cases are being investigated jointly by the U.S. Marshals Service; FBI; U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Federal Protective Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and Homeland Security Investigations.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

# # #

Photo descriptions (attached):

1. Glass courthouse door broken by Olsen
2. Pyrotechnic mortar exploding in courthouse lobby after glass door was broken by Olsen
3. Fellini possessions seized during arrest
4. Front of shield used by Blank to assault federal officer
5. Back of shield use by Blank to assault federal officer

Please note the corrections below to the defendant's name and age. At the time of his arrest, Olsen presented officers with a false name (Kiefer Alan Moore) and date of birth.

PORTLAND, Ore.—U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams announced today that a Portland man has been arrested for his role in an overnight attack on the Hatfield Federal Courthouse.

“The lawless and violent acts of extremists across the political spectrum cannot continue. Violence directed at federal, state, and local law enforcement and property destruction is inconsistent with the aims of social justice,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “These are criminal acts and individuals who engage in them will be held accountable.”

Rowan M. Olsen, 19, aka Kiefer Alan Moore, was arrested by Federal Protective Service officers in the early morning hours of July 3, 2020, and a criminal complaint alleging destruction of government property is being presented to a U.S. Magistrate Judge. Olsen will remain in custody until his first appearance in federal court on July 6, 2020.

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

Last night’s demonstration marked a significant escalation in violence against federal property in Portland. Officers from the Federal Protective Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as well as U.S. Marshals, were assaulted with bottles, rocks, commercial-grade fireworks, and improvised explosives. Other incendiary devices were thrown into the Hatfield Federal Courthouse.

These actions are illegal and will not be tolerated. Perpetrators of violence against federal law enforcement officers and property will face arrest and prosecution.

# # #

As part of the State's coordinated and comprehensive wildfire suppression efforts, and thanks to funds allocated by the federal government, more than 400 citizen-soldiers and citizen-airmen from the Oregon National Guard (Guard) will be trained as wildland firefighters next week at the Oregon Public Safety Academy (Academy) in Salem. 

Approximately 180 members of the Guard will be at the Academy on July 11, and 12, 2020.  This group has already received the wildland firefighter training in the past and need a refresher course to maintain their certification.  

More than 300 Guard members, who have not been previously trained, will arrive at the Academy on July 13 and will complete their training on July 17, 2020.

It is important to note this training will be managed using COVID-19 health and safety protocols that will cover not only classroom and hands-on training but also meals and lodging on the DPSST campus.

Federal funds were allocated, at the request of state officials, to help prepare members of the National Guard in case their assistance will be needed to support wildland firefighting efforts around the state.

The training is being provided by the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) and is the same training required of all public and private wildland firefighters. Because of the size of the group, DPSST is supplementing its training cadre and is utilizing additional instructors from the Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon Military Department Wildland Firefighting Section, United States Forest Service, Illinois Fire Service Institute, and the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.  The training the members of the Oregon National Guard will be receiving is often known as "red card" training and consists of both classroom and hands-on sessions.

DPSST’s Director Eriks Gabliks said “The training we will be providing will allow these citizen-soldiers and citizen-airmen to be safe and effective in their work in case they are required this year to help support the efforts of wildland firefighters around the state. We salute the men and women from the Guard for their dedicated service to our country, both at home and around the globe.” Gabliks also said “we applaud the leadership of Oregon’s congressional delegation on Capitol Hill for ensuring that these funds were allocated for this important mission and the leadership Oregon has shown to prepare members of the Guard as we begin wildfire season just in case their assistance is needed.”

The Oregon National Guard has a proven track record of supporting wildfire suppression efforts, from the air and on the ground, around the state in recent years. In 2015, members of the Oregon National Guard assisted with wildfire suppression efforts in John Day and Enterprise. In 2017, more than 400 citizen-soldiers and citizen-airmen supported Oregon's firefighting efforts (air and ground) at High Cascades Complex (near Crater Lake), Chetco Bar, Blanket Creek, Horse Prairie, and Milli fires.

The Oregon National Guard has a long-standing agreement with the Oregon Department of Forestry known as Operation Plan Smokey, which stipulates the details of how Oregon National Guard members will be utilized to assist in annual firefighting efforts if needed. This agreement is reviewed on an annual basis by both agencies and the Governor's Office.

What is different this year is that funds were requested by state officials, and approved by the federal government, to provide training to members of the National Guard ahead of the need. This will allow these wildland firefighter trained citizen-soldiers and citizen-airmen to be activated and deployed much faster should the need arise for their assistance.

After the week-long training is completed, the citizen-soldiers and citizen-airmen will return to their respective armories and air bases and full-time careers and be on stand-by for deployment should their assistance be needed during fire season.

DPSST will be reimbursed for its expenses by the Oregon Military Department.

DPSST is honored to help support this important mission and has a proven record of success in training over 1,000 members of the Guard for wildland firefighting duties over the past five years.

We have attached some photos from previous years to give you an look at what the training will entail.

For questions specific the Oregon Military Department Public Affairs Office by phone at 503-584-3917 or email at  AGPA@mil.state.or.us 

Media Note:  We will send out a notice next week and invite media to visit the Guard during the live-burn training which is tentatively scheduled for Thursday.

## Background Information on the BPSST and DPSST ##

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

DPSST, recognized as one of North America's most innovative state public safety standards and training organizations, provides training to more than 25,000 students each year throughout Oregon and at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem, certifies qualified officers at various levels from basic through executive; certifies qualified instructors; and reviews and accredits training programs throughout the state based on standards established by the Board.

Oregon is served by more than 13,000 career and volunteer firefighters who are members of more than 300 fire departments and fire protection districts across the state. Approximately 80% of Oregon's firefighters are volunteers.  Polk County is no exception where career and volunteer firefighters work together on a daily basis to serve residents in need of fire and emergency medical assistance.

Last night, DPSST brought its new car fire training prop to Dallas so that more than 30 new and seasoned volunteer and career firefighters could hone their skills.

DPSST Director Eriks Gabliks said "Vehicle manufacturers continue to design and implement technology to levels that are far more complicated each year. In addition to that standard flammable liquids in fuel, engine lubricants and tires there are battery operated cars and new materials that increase the flame intensity and increased smoke production. These changes require DPSST's Fire Service Training team to continually create new techniques and advancements for any potential vehicle fires. The vehicle fire training simulator that was brought to Dallas provides DPSST the ability to deliver hands-on, realistic, training to career and volunteer firefighters to repeatedly test and perfect the skills they need to serve Oregonians."

DPSST's car fire prop allows for the delivery of high-level firefighter training in a safe and controlled environment with a multitude of training objectives for participants and instructors.  The car fire prop uses propane as a fuel source which allows the training to be offered in an environmentally friendly manner.

This new training prop was made possible thanks to funding DPSST received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program.  DPSST received two of these new car fire props.  One is based in Salem and is used to support career and volunteer firefighter training west of the Cascades, the other is based in Redmond and supports training needs on the east side of the state.

DPSST helps support local fire agencies, in every corner of the state, by offering a variety of training classes.  DPSST has more than a dozen mobile props that enable firefighters to receive realistic hands-on training.  DPSST's fire training is offered free of charge to all fire agencies in Oregon because of funding made possible through the State's Fire Insurance Premium Tax.

One of the most difficult tasks in the fire service is to provide personnel with realistic training to prepare them for field operations. Certainly, providing live-fire training is an important component. For combination and volunteer organizations, especially those in rural areas, the ability to provide live-fire training can be an extremely complex problem.  In the past many fire agencies had access to homes and buildings in their local communities that were going to be demolished that provided excellent hands-on training opportunities for firefighters.  The same is true of burning old cars for training that are made of plastics, fuels, foam inside seats, and tires.  Environmental and neighborhood concerns, building materials, and a variety of other safety considerations have changed this so the use of safe props is the way to go.

Gabliks said that "the State of Oregon, through DPSST, has a progressive fire training program that reaches more than 6,000 career and volunteer firefighters around the state on an annual basis free of charge thanks to the state's Fire Insurance Premium Tax."

## Background Information on the BPSST and DPSST ##

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

DPSST, recognized as one of North America's most innovative state public safety standards and training organizations, provides training to more than 25,000 students each year throughout Oregon and at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem, certifies qualified officers at various levels from basic through executive; certifies qualified instructors; and reviews and accredits training programs throughout the state based on standards established by the Board.

The Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) has created and published a statewide, online database of DPSST Professional Standards actions in accordance with HB 4207 which passed during the 2020 Special Session of the Oregon Legislative Assembly.

The database will include the names of all public safety officers who have been the subject of a DPSST certification action, their employing agency (when applicable), and a link to the DPSST investigation and Final Order once issued (which will include a description of the facts underlying the denial, suspension or revocation action) occurring on or after June 30, 2020 (The effective date of HB 4207). A sample case has been uploaded as a placeholder.

For broader transparency, a listing of all individuals who were the subject of a DPSST professional standards action prior to June, 2020 has also been published, along with a list of open, pending DPSST professional standards cases.

The database can be found on-line at https://www.oregon.gov/dpsst/cj/pages/professionalStandards.aspx

DPSST’s Director Eriks Gabliks said “Today’s announcement is the latest step in Oregon’s ongoing efforts to strengthen trust between law enforcement and community.  DPSST, in partnership with the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training (BPSST), over the past few years has implemented a number of transparency initiatives including the implementation of Information Resource Inquiry System (IRIS) to show officer training, certification and employment history, the installation of equipment allowing livestreaming of Board and Policy Committee meetings, the publishing basic curriculums on DPSST webpage and the continued monthly publication of DPSST Ethics Bulletins as an educational resource.

Additional information relating to DPSST’s professional standards processes, instructions on how to make a public records request, links to previous Board and Policy Committee meeting minutes and information on how to subscribe to receive notifications from DPSST, to include agency updates, meeting minutes and public comment opportunities are also available at https://www.oregon.gov/dpsst

# # # DPSST Web Ex Sessions On-Line: Basic Police Training, Police Use-of-Force Training, Police Accountability # # #

The tragic death of George Floyd due to the actions of Minneapolis police officers has led to lots of discussions, both in Oregon and around the nation, regarding police training and accountability.  The actions of the Minneapolis police officers are inexcusable.  While DPSST has always actively engaged with stakeholders, it was of the utmost importance for us to pause our work as we mourned the death of Mr. Floyd and listened to the questions and concerns being raised about policing in our state and nation.  Many of the questions within our state have been regarding the training and accountability of Oregon law enforcement officers. 

To address these questions, to share information, and to answer questions, last month DPSST held a number of virtual sessions specifically for local community leaders, elected officials, state legislators, and media.  One session addressed Oregon’s criminal justice professional standards system.  Another focused specifically on police use of force training in Oregon offered by DPSST.  And the last covered the basic police training program offered at DPSST to all newly hired city, county, state, tribal, and university law enforcement professionals.  Participants had the ability to ask questions of DPSST staff during each of these sessions.

Each of the sessions were recorded and have been posted for viewing on the DPSST webpage at https://www.oregon.gov/dpsst/CJ/Pages/InformationalFiles.aspx   While each of the presentations covered the same information, each generated different questions based on the background and specific interests of those participating.  We have also posted the responses to the questions that were asked and are in the process of completing this document as we gather the information for those questions that need an answer.

## Background Information on the BPSST and DPSST ##

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

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

Board on Public Safety Standards and Training

Agenda

July 23, 2020

The Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a regular meeting at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 23, 2020 in the Boardroom at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem.  For further information, please contact Theresa Janda at (503) 373-1553 or esa.janda@state.or.us">theresa.janda@state.or.us.

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.

The meeting will be live-streamed on the DPSST Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/DPSSTOregon/

1.  Introductions

2.   Executive Session      

 The Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold an executive session to consider exempt public records. The executive session is being held pursuant to ORS 162.660(2)(f). This session is closed to the public.   

        General Session   

3.   David Fuller DPSST No 16332 – Withdraw NOI/Administrative Closure

Recommended to the Board unanimously by the PPC on June 18, 2020.

4.   Minutes

Approve minutes from the April 23, 2020 Meeting.

5.  Fire Policy Committee

    a.  Fire Policy Committee Update – James Oeder, Chair

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

      A.Elijah Cronin DPSST #F38682 (Lebanon Fire District)  - Deny

      Recommended to the Board unanimously by the FPC on June 9, 2020.

      B. Taeton R. Harrington DPSST #F38068 (Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue) - Deny

      Recommended to the Board unanimously by the FPC on June 9, 2020.

      C. Anthony D. Monroe DPSST #F18280 (Toledo Fire Department) - Revoke

     Recommended to the Board unanimously by the FPC on June 9.

      D. Kelly R. Vallance DPSST #F34182 (McMinville Fire Department) - Revoke

      Recommended to the Board unanimously by the FPC on June 9.

6.  Criminal Justice Policy Committees

    a. Police Policy Committee Update – John Teague, Chair

    b. Telecommunications Policy Committee Update – Linsay Hale

    c. Corrections Policy Committee Update – Nadine Purington, Chair

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

        A. Nigel Deluna DPSST#54679 (Mt. Angel Police Department) – No Action

        Recommended to the Board unanimously by the PPC on June 18, 2020

        B. Thomas Houpt DPSST#60473 (Grant County Sheriff’s Office) – No Action

        Recommended to the Board unanimously by the PPC on June 18, 2020

        C. Robert Johnson DPSST#50633 (Medford Police Department) – No Action

        Recommended to the Board in an 8/2 vote by the PPC on June 18, 2020.

        D. Corbin Lantz DPSST#42610 (Department of Public Safety Standards & Training) – Revoke

        Recommended to the Board unanimously by the PPC on June 18, 2020

        E. Terry Lohf DPSST#27923 (Lakeview Police Department) – No Action

        Recommended to the Board in a 6/4 vote by the PPC on June 18, 2020.

        F. Sebastian Precup DPSST#60628 (Portland Police Bureau) – No Action

        Recommended to the Board unanimously by the PPC on June 18, 2020.

        G. Patricia Lyon DPSST#57573 (Coffee Creek Correctional Facility) – Revoke

        Recommended to the Board in a 7/6 vote by the CPC on June 16, 2020

        H. Lianna Mechanic DPSST#53161 (Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office) – No Action

        Recommended to the Board in a 12/1 vote by the CPC on June 16, 2020

         I. Michael Payne DPSST#34804 (Snake River Correctional Institution) – No Action

        Recommended to the Board unanimously by the CPC on June 16, 2020.

        J. Sara Stewart DPSST#60771 (Curry County Sheriff’s Office) – No Action

        Recommended to the Board unanimously by the PPC on June 18, 2020

        K. OAR 259-006-0000, 259-008-0290, 259-008-0067 – Proposed Rule Change - Approve.

        Establishing DPSST applicant moral fitness standards.

        Recommended to the Board by the TPC on June 10, 2020; Recommended to the Board by the CPC on June 16,      2020; Recommended to the Board by the PPC on June 18, 2020;. 

        L. Law Enforcement Memorial Wall Nomination – Marshal Zacharia H. Stroud, Harney City

        Recommended to the Board unanimously by the PPC on June 18, 2020.

        M. Committee Appointments

•  Zachary Kenney, representing non-management Law enforcement; Re-Appointment to the PPC; 2nd term effective 7/23/20
• Erica Stohlhand, representing APCO; Re-Appointment to the TPC; 2nd term effective 7/23/20
• Tim Svenson, representing OSSA; Re-Appointment to the TPC; 2nd term effective 7/23/20

    e. Administrative Rules Relating to Certification and Licensure Requirements Impacted by the COVID-19     (Coronavirus) State of Emergency - Approve

    Adopts new rules to address additional discretionary needs and extend the temporary provisions for certification         maintenance in all disciplines impacted.

   f. OAR 259-012-0035 – Proposed Rule Change - Approve

    Student dismissal and appeal.

   g. OAR Chapter 259 Proposed Rule Changes  – Approve

    Establishing required use of legal name.

7.  Private Security/Investigator Policy Committee

   a. Private Security Investigator Policy Committee Update – Thomas, Chair

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

       A.  Committee Appointments

• Michael Holsapple to fill vacant position representing Private Investigators; Appointment to the PSIPC; 1st term effective

8.  Administrative

    a.  Citizen Correspondence – Information Only

9.  Director's Report - Director Gabliks

10.  Next Meeting Date:  October 22, 2020

The Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) will be offering wildfire training to members of the Oregon National Guard starting Saturday (7/11) through (7/17). As part of this training there will be two live-fire (field burn) training sessions on the 12th and the 16th. Again these two burns are planning training events that will be held at the Oregon Public Safety Academy at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, OR.

Note: People with breathing difficulties in the immediate area may need to take precautions. This should last from approximately 1pm to 9pm on both days.

The live-fire training is part of the wildland firefighter training the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) is providing to 400 citizen-soldiers and citizen-airmen from the Oregon National Guard being proactively trained in case their assistance is needed to support wildland firefighting efforts around the state.

The request for DPSST’s assistance was made by the Oregon Military Department which received federal funds to proactively train members of their organization in case their assistance will be needed by the Oregon Department of Forestry to support wildfire suppression efforts around the state.

The state has a long standing agreement between the Oregon National Guard and Oregon Department of Forestry known as Operation Plan Smokey.  This plan stipulates the details of how Oregon National Guard members will be utilized to assist in firefighting efforts. This agreement is reviewed annually by the leadership of both agencies and Governor Kate Brown’s Office.

The training provided to the members of the Oregon National Guard by DPSST is the same training that is required of all public and private wildland firefighters. Many people call this "red card" training. Training will include classroom, hands-on, and live fire training elements.

McKenzie Fire & Rescue Chief Darren Bucich was selected by the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training (BPSST) at their last meeting on April 23, 2020 to serve as the new Chair.  He replaces outgoing Chair, Patricia Patrick-Joling, public member representative from Lincoln County, starting July 1, 2020.  Darren has served one three-year term on the Board, representing the Oregon Fire Chief’s Association and will be serving a second term.  Darren has been active in the Oregon fire service since 1999.  He is also the Past-President of the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association.

Officer DaNeshia Barrett of the Beaverton Police Department was selected by the Board to serve as the new Vice Chair.  She will replace Sheriff Brian Wolfe of Malheur County who was on the Board representing the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association.  Sheriff Wolfe's second, three-year, term expired on June 30, 2020.  DaNeshia Barrett is serving her first term on the BPSST, representing Non-Management Law Enforcement.  DaNeshia started her law enforcement career in 2010 with Beaverton where she has served in various assignments.  She is also a Police Legitimacy & Procedural Justice instructor.

The Board consists of 24 members representing Oregon’s public and private safety professionals, and includes a representative from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a City Manager, a District Attorney, an elected Fire District Director, and a private citizen.  All members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate.

The Board is responsible for the establishment of minimum standards for the training and certification and for making determinations regarding the denial, suspension or revocation of public and private safety certifications and licenses for Oregon’s 42,000 police officers, corrections officers, parole and probation officers, fire service personnel, telecommunicators, emergency medical dispatchers, regulatory specialists of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, private security providers, private investigator and polygraph examiners.

The Board is supported by five policy committees and a number of sub-committees representing the public and private safety disciplines, which provide technical expertise and serve as vital links to public safety organizations.

The Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) is responsible for the implementation of the standards established by the Board for training and certification. DPSST provides training to more than 25,000 students each year throughout Oregon and at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem; certifies or licenses qualified individuals at various levels from basic through executive and certifies qualified instructors. Eriks Gabliks serves as the Director of DPSST.

In two rounds of FY2020 Career Opportunity Program grant awards, the Oregon Arts Commission and The Ford Family Foundation have collectively awarded $112,342 to 40 artists for career development projects. The awards include $55,121 from the Oregon Arts Commission and $57,221 in supplemental funding for 19 established visual artists through a partnership with The Ford Family Foundation’s Visual Arts Program. Individual grants range from $1,000 to $8,000.

Career Opportunity Grants support individual Oregon artists by enabling them to take advantage of timely opportunities that enhance their artistic careers. Most grants support the artists’ participation in residencies, exhibitions or performance opportunities.

“This grant program invests in the career growth of talented Oregon artists,” said Anne Taylor, Chair of the Arts Commission. “We also are so proud to support artists in representing Oregon outside of the region and internationally.”

The Ford Family Foundation funds are available to established Oregon visual artists who are producing new work in the fields of contemporary art and craft.

“We see these critical investments in artists’ careers as a core element of our Visual Arts Program,” said Anne C. Kubisch, president of The Ford Family Foundation. “We hope the funding leverages other support and successes for them.”

FY2020 Career Opportunity Program grant award recipients are:

Laura Aguero, Salem

Oregon Arts Commission $1,459

To support a guest-soloist performance with the Orquesta Universitaria de Musical Popular in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.

May Anuntarungsun, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500   

The Ford Family Foundation $200  

To support an eight-week residency and exhibition, “The United,” at the Pittsburgh Glass Center. The Center will host Anuntarungsun for the creation of new works and pay for one-way shipping.

Olivia Awbrey, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support the debut album release promotion for the Olivia Awbrey band, which includes traveling to the Treefort Music Festival and a UK tour.

Jill Baker, Corvallis

Oregon Arts Commission $1,245

To support fees and travel for an immersive drawing workshop for practicing artists in Northern New Mexico to take place in May of 2021. Baker will be one of six artists participating in a session focusing on craft, materials and ideas relative to drawing.

Claire Barrera, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support Barrera’s weeklong residency at Greywood Arts in Cork, Ireland, to research their project "tu eres mi otro yo."

Simon Boas, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support travel for Boas’ solo exhibition/new media art installation about masculinity and sexual consent at the ArtMill in Prague, Czech Republic.

Michael Boonstra, Eugene

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

The Ford Family Foundation $2,500

To support material costs of a new body of work planned for exhibition in November of 2020 at the Truckenbrod Gallery in Corvallis.

Mike Bray, Eugene

The Ford Family Foundation $4,400

To support a solo exhibition of Bray’s work at Gallery Fourteen30 in February 2021.

Paula Bullwinkel, Bend

Oregon Arts Commission $1,117

To support travel and shipping materials for an artist residency at The Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, Vermont.

Lyra Butler-Denman, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support post-production of the short film “BARDO” to be submitted to the National Organization for Arts in Health conference.

Rachael Carnes, Eugene

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support the further development and performance of a full-length immersive theatrical experience based on the life of Sarah “Sally” Hemings in collaboration with the Director of the African American Experience and Slavery at Monticello, regional performers and the people of Charlottesville.

Susan Chan, Tigard

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support travel to Germany for residencies at three music institutions as well as to present and perform a lecture-recital at the European Piano Teachers Association 42nd International Conference that celebrates the 250th birthday of Ludwig van Beethoven.

Lisa Conway, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500   

The Ford Family Foundation $750

To support participation in an Artist-Invites-Artists residency session at the Red Lodge Center Clay Center in Red Lodge, Montana.

Fernanda D'Agostino, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

The Ford Family Foundation $5,500

To support a solo show in Lisbon, Portugal, for the Environmental Biennial as part of the International Green City Initiative 2020. The exhibition will take place at the Museum of Water and will include a 10-day residency.

keyon gaskin, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,450

To support the production of a new performance and textile work commissioned by Lucy Cotter, the curator-inresidence at Disjecta Contemporary Art Center. The site-specific, architecturally engaged performance, with a working title of "Faint Feel," will take place at Disjecta in December 2020.

Bean Gilsdorf, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500   

To support the completion of work for a December 2020 body-themed exhibition at Disjecta Contemporary Art Center, as well as inclusion in the subsequent exhibition catalog.

Anne Greenwood, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

The Ford Family Foundation $2,840

To support documentation of Greenwood’s new work, “Lunar Maria,” for the exhibition SPOR | TRACES in Iceland, as well as travel to attend the opening and to conduct lichen research for new work “Enmesh” for SCIENCE STORIES exhibit and to promote the call for participation in “FLIGHT: What Migratory Birds Show Us.”

Sabina Haque, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

The Ford Family Foundation $3,600

To support (Un) Belonging, a multimedia installation at Paragon Gallery in late 2020. In partnership with Portland Community College’s DACA Dream Center, Haque will present a large drawing installation with video projections of hand-drawn animated borders, exploring our essential desire to belong.

Diane Jacobs, Portland

The Ford Family Foundation $4,050

To support the completion of a multifaceted artist book celebrating Mt. Hood’s ecological richness and cultural importance for a January 2021 exhibit at Passages Bookshop Gallery in Portland.

Michael Kelly, Beaverton

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support the preparation of work, specifically framing and a catalogue, for a solo exhibition of Kelly’s work at Imprint Gallery in Astoria in March and April of 2021.

Anya Kivarkis, Eugene

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500   

The Ford Family Foundation $6,500

To support travel and the production of work for two exhibitions in Munich, Germany, that coincide with Schmuck 2020, the most significant annual international jewelry event in the world.

Kendra Larson, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support an exhibition of paintings at the Art Gallery at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg in February and March of 2021. The award will support travel, documentation and a catalogue.

Bethany Marcel, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support two writing residencies, a two-week residency in January 2020 at the Vermont Studio Center, the largest arts and writing residency program in the U.S., and a one-week residency in November 2019 at Spruce Art in Pennsylvania.

Sarah Marguier, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,000   

To support travel for a two-week residency at Espace en Cours, a performing art residency space in Paris, in collaboration with choreographer Maya M. Carroll.

Robbie McClaran, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

The Ford Family Foundation $2,810

To support preparation and framing of exhibition materials, photographs, maps, texts and for a series of four scheduled exhibitions of McClaran’s "The Great River of the West, a photographic survey of the Columbia River, from its source in British Columbia to its confluence with the Pacific Ocean."

Laura Medina, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,250

To support the purchase of materials for installation of a new immersive Mixed Reality experience during Medina’s exhibition at Fuller Rosen Gallery alongside Devin Harclerode in fall 2020.

Luz Mendoza, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support the studio recording of a new choral work created in collaboration with the Camas High School Choir.

Andrew Myers, Corvallis

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

The Ford Family Foundation $1,000

To support professional photography of a curated solo exhibition of Myers’ work at the Bush Barn Art Center in Salem, including the design and publication of an exhibition catalogue.

Whitney Nye, Bend

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

The Ford Family Foundation $2,000

To support the purchase of materials, shipping, documentation and cataloguing of new work during Nye’s fellowship at Vermont Studio Center in November 2019.

Julia Oldham, Eugene

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500   

The Ford Family Foundation $1,000

To support "SHTF," a multi-media solo exhibition for which Oldham will create an installation exploring the fall of civilization, climate change and artificial intelligence/deep learning at Smack Mellon in Brooklyn, NY, in January 2020 in collaboration with Brooklyn-based artist Chad Stayrook.

Vanessa Renwick, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

The Ford Family Foundation $5,000

To support the exhibition of large paintings on fabric for the Stumptown Fellowship show in January/February 2020 and the Painted Desert Project on the Navajo Nation.

Anya Roberts-Toney, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

The Ford Family Foundation $225

To support Roberts-Toney’s solo exhibition of new paintings at Nationale, a contemporary art gallery in SE Portland.

Laura Ross-Paul, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500   

The Ford Family Foundation $3,000

To support the creation of a 60-image catalogue combining various bodies of work that were inspired by Ross-Paul’s experience as a patient pioneer and advocate for treating breast cancer using cryoablation. The catalogue will include a critical essay by writer Sue Taylor and an interview by curator Linda Tesner.

David Rueter, Eugene

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500   

The Ford Family Foundation $6,000

To support three months in São Paulo for the production of an exhibition at the 34th Bienal de São Paulo and at the artist-run space Um Trabalho|Um Texto. The exhibitions will bring significant new international exposure and opportunities for Rueter and his two collaborators.

Christina Rusnak, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,100

To support travel to a residency at the Visby International Centre for Composers in Visby Sweden.

Arvie Smith, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500   

The Ford Family Foundation $2,550

To support the creation of a 32-page publication based on Smith’s Ground Beneath Us 2019 residency in Waterford, Virginia, for release in time for his public lecture at The Ground Beneath Us Summer Fellowship Institute in Waterford, Virginia, in August 2020.

Kate Speranza, Astoria

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support airfare, materials/shipping and the residency program fee at Arteles Creative Center in Finland for a month-long residency in February 2020.

Jennifer Vaughn, Eugene

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support the exhibition/travel costs for exhibition at two galleries in Pittsburgh: Phosphor Project Space and Casey Droege Projects. Vaughn will also be in residence at Casey Droege Projects.

Kate Wagle, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

The Ford Family Foundation $3,296

To support materials, production, printing and framing for a solo exhibition of current work at the new Center for Art Research at the University of Oregon in Eugene.

Bobbi Woods, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support production and travel for Woods’ work using language as material to challenge established structures of power in a solo exhibition at Flood Plain in St. Louis, Missouri.

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The Oregon Arts Commission provides leadership, funding and arts programs through its grants, services, and special initiatives. The Arts Commission is supported with general funds appropriated by the Oregon legislature and with federal funds from the National Endowment for the Arts as well as funds from the Oregon Cultural Trust.

(Salem, Ore.) — In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Oregon Disabilities Commission and the Northwest ADA Center are hosting weekly Lunch and Learn sessions in July.

“The ADA was a crucial civil rights law in 1990 and it remains an essential resource for people with disabilities in securing full rights for participation in society,” said Michael Richardson, director of the NW ADA Center.

“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we needed to switch from a large event to something that would allow us to maintain physical distancing,” said Joseph Lowe, staff to the Oregon Disabilities Commission.

Instead of a one-day event in the Human Services Building in Salem, there will be four weekly Lunch & Learn sessions, from noon until 1 p.m., via Zoom.

“The Zoom sessions will help more Oregonians have access to this important information,” Lowe said. “The topics will be useful to people who aren’t familiar with the ADA and to those who have been involved since the beginning. We hope to get a large turnout to further ADA knowledge in Oregon.”

Lunch and Learn registration: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItcuCvrzsqGTXMtF-0R7vZbxuzVk0XloM

Here’s the schedule:

Tuesday, July 7  
ADA History
Michael Richardson, Director, NW ADA Center

Tuesday, July 14  
Disability Language & Etiquette
Linda Clemon-Karp, Continuing Education Coordinator, NW ADA Center

Tuesday, July 21: 
Assistive Technology & Universal Design
Brian Sacre, Access Technologies, Inc.

Tuesday, July 28
Effective Communications & COVID-19:  Lessons Learned
Emily Cooper, Legal Director, Disability Rights Oregon

These sessions will be accessible to people with disabilities. Captioning and American Sign Language interpretation will be provided. For questions about accessibility, or to request an accommodation, please contact egonDisabilities.Commission@dhsoha.state.or.us">OregonDisabilities.Commission@dhsoha.state.or.egonDisabilities.Commission@dhsoha.state.or.us">us. Requests should be made at least 48 hours in advance of the meetings.

About the event sponsors:

The Oregon Disabilities Commission is charged by state statute to advise the Department of Human Services, the Governor, the Legislative Assembly and appropriate state agency administrators on issues related to achieving the full economic, social, legal and political equity of individuals with disabilities. ODC also acts as a coordinating link between and among public and private organizations serving individuals with disabilities.

The Northwest ADA Center is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), and is part of the ADA National Network. The ADA National Network Centers are a national platform of ten centers comprised of ADA professionals and experts charged with assisting businesses, state and local governments, and people with disabilities as they manage the process of changing our culture to be user friendly to disability and the effect the variety of health conditions can have on society.

# # #

Salem — The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation announced today that preliminary rate decisions for 2021 individual and small employer health insurance plans will remain as currently filed by the state’s health insurance companies.

Preliminary rate decisions are for individuals who buy their own coverage, rather than getting it through an employer, and for small businesses. The division must review and approve these rates before they can be charged to policyholders.

In the individual market, preliminary decisions for the six companies range from an average 3.5 percent decrease to an average 11.1 percent increase, for a weighted average of 1.8 percent. Under the preliminary decisions, Silver Standard Plan premiums for a 40-year-old in Portland would range from $425 to $466 a month.

In the small group market, the preliminary decisions for the nine companies range from an average 1.1 percent decrease to an average 7.0 percent increase, for a weighted average of 3.7 percent. Under the preliminary decisions, Silver Standard Plan premiums for a 40-year-old in Portland would range from $335 to $405 a month.

See our chart for a full list of preliminary decisions.

“Our transparent rate review process has been critical to understanding how health rates will be set for 2021,” said Andrew Stolfi, insurance commissioner and Department of Consumer and Business Services director. “We look forward to gathering more information from insurers and the public during the upcoming hearings before final decisions on 2021 rates are made.”

These preliminary decisions will undergo continued review and discussion through virtual public hearings streamed online Tuesday, July 7, and Wednesday, July 8. All Oregonians are encouraged to participate in the public comment period and view the public hearings.

The public comment period closes on July 8 at 11:59 p.m. There are two ways to comment on a company’s rate request:

• During the virtual meeting: To testify by phone or email, send an email to stephen.w.kooyman@oregon.gov on Monday, July 6. Include your name and phone number in the email, and join the web meeting at the link posted on the day of the hearing. The division will call on you during the public testimony portion of the hearing.
• Online. Click here to comment online and view the company's rate request documents.

Visit the division’s health rate public hearing page, to review each insurance company’s public hearing schedule, and submit comments regarding specific health insurance company’s rates.

Final decisions will be announced by early August.

                                                                                                         ###

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

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

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, David L. Letcher, died the morning of July 7, 2020. Letcher was incarcerated at Deer Ridge Correctional Institution (DRCI) in Madras. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified, and the medical examiner will determine cause of death.

Letcher entered DOC custody on September 3, 2014, from Multnomah County with an earliest release date of April 21, 2021. Letcher was 60 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 14,500 individuals who are incarcerated in 14 institutions across the state. While crime information is public record, DOC elects to disclose only upon request out of respect for any family or victims.

Deer Ridge Correctional Institution (DRCI) is located four miles east of Madras in central Oregon. DRCI is a multi-custody prison that currently houses 947 minimum-custody incarcerated adults. DRCI provides a range of correctional programs and services including education and trades programs, mental health treatment, cognitive and parenting programs, and institution work crews. Construction began in October 2005 with the first minimum-security adults in custody (AICs) arriving in September 2007. DRCI is the largest minimum-custody facility in the state and Oregon’s fourteenth prison.

####

FOR NEWS EDITORS - 

During the summer fire season (usually until early October), to reach the Oregon Department of Forestry's state-level Public Affairs office with fire-related questions or interview requests, please call our fire information duty officer at:

     503-945-7201

We try to return calls within 10 to 15 minutes.

The phone is answered between the following hours. 

• Non-holiday weekdays (Monday through Friday) - 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Weekends and holidays - 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

NOTE: Some ODF districts have their own fire public information officers, such as the Douglas Forest Protective Association in Douglas County and ODF's Central Oregon, Northeast Oregon and Southwest Oregon districts. If so, please continue to contact those district officers directly for information about local fires in those districts.

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Governing Board of the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) will meet on Monday, July 13 at 8:30 a.m. To adhere to the state’s social distancing requirements and to slow the spread of COVID-19, this public meeting will be conducted as a virtual meeting.

The meeting agenda is available at https://www.oregongeology.org.

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

###

Salem, OR—As the deadline approaches to make estimated Corporate Activity Tax (CAT) payments for the second quarter, the Oregon Department of Revenue reminds taxpayers of relief available to those businesses negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As adopted in administrative rule 150-317-1500, the department will honor a business taxpayer’s good-faith efforts to comply with the CAT and not assess penalties if they document their efforts to comply, including how COVID-19 has impacted their business.

If businesses know they’ll owe $10,000 or more in annual corporate activity tax in 2020 and can pay, they should make estimated quarterly payments and comply with the law to the fullest extent possible.

However, penalties will not be assessed for underestimated quarterly payments or for not making a quarterly payment for the Corporate Activity Tax, if businesses don’t have the financial ability to make the estimated payment.

If businesses have been impacted by COVID-19 and are finding it difficult to calculate or pay an estimated quarterly payment, they should keep documentation showing:

• Their inability to pay a quarterly payment because of insufficient funds due to COVID-19.
• Their inability to reasonably calculate a quarterly payment or annual tax liability due to their business being impacted by COVID-19.
• That the taxpayer is unclear at this time whether the business will owe corporate activity tax in April 2020 due to COVID-19 impacts, after taking into consideration exclusions and subtractions in the law.

Businesses uncertain about their economic future due to the COVID-19 crisis, or those that have been closed during this crisis and have no ability to determine that they will owe a tax this year, won’t be penalized.

Registration for the CAT is still required. Businesses must register within 30 days of reaching $750,000 in Oregon commercial activity in the calendar year. Registration is available through Revenue Online and the department offers a series of online resources to help with registration on the CAT page of the agency’s website.

The CAT webpage also includes links to the administrative rules that govern the tax, a list of basic frequently asked questions (FAQ), and a Beyond the FAQ section that includes high-level summaries of the rules and other topics to help answer taxpayer questions.

Taxpayers with general questions about the CAT can email cat.help.dor@oregon.gov or call 503-945-8005.

Visit www.oregon.gov/dor to get tax forms, check the status of your refund, or make tax payments; call 800-356-4222 toll-free from an Oregon prefix (English or Spanish); 503-378-4988 in Salem and outside Oregon; or email questions.dor@oregon.gov. For TTY (hearing or speech impaired), call 800-886-7204.

WHO:              David Gerstenfeld, Acting Director, Oregon Employment Department

WHEN:            Wed., July 8, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. PT

WHAT:            Oregon Employment Department Acting Director David Gerstenfeld will hold a video conference media briefing to share updates on unemployment claims processing on Wed., July 8 at 1:00 p.m. PT. Gerstenfeld will provide an update on the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program claims processing as well as several other updates about the customer service experience.

WHERE:         Via Zoom video conference; Members of the media must RSVP for call information by emailing OED_Communications@oregon.gov by 12:00 p.m. PT on Wed., July 8. Video conference information will be provided to all reporters who RSVP.

OTHER:          The Oregon Employment Department is updating a claims processing progress data dashboard daily. Visit this link for week day updates. A recording of the video conference will be sent out shortly after the media briefing concludes.

###

July 8, 2020

Program contact: Jacee Vangestel, 503-945-2852, jacee.m.vangestel@dhsoha.state.or.us

What: A public meeting of the Oregon State Hospital Advisory Board.

When: July 16, 1-3 p.m.

Where: The public can attend via toll-free conference line at 503-934-1400, participant code 20123340#.

Agenda: After the public comment period, the board will discuss an OSH update on the COVID-19 response and take questions.

Details: The Oregon State Hospital Advisory Board advises the superintendent, Oregon Health Authority director and legislators on issues related to the safety, security and care of patients. Members include consumers, providers, advocates, legislators, community members, consumer families and OSH union members.

For more information, see the board’s website at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/osh/Pages/advisory-board.aspx.

# # #

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

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

If you need help or have questions, please contact Jacee Vangestel at 503-945-2852, 711 TTY or jacee.m.vangestel@dhsoha.state.or.us at least 48 hours before the meeting.

July 8, 2020

Media contact: OHA External Relations 971-673-2097, covid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us">orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon reports 217 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 4 new deaths

PORTLAND, Ore. — COVID-19 has claimed four more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 224, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority reported 217 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today bringing the state total to 10,817.

The new cases are in the following counties: Baker (3), Clackamas (19), Clatsop (1), Columbia (1), Coos (2), Curry (1), Deschutes (3), Douglas (2), Harney (1), Hood River (1), Jackson (5), Jefferson (1), Josephine (2), Lane (10), Lincoln (3), Linn (8), Malheur (12), Marion (15), Morrow (10), Multnomah (30), Umatilla (43), Union (3), Wasco (1), Washington (31), Yamhill (9).

Oregon’s 221st COVID-19 death is an 85-year-old woman in Benton County who tested positive on May 31 and died on June 28, at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 222nd COVID-19 death is a 55-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on June 22 and died on June 28, at his residence. He had underlying medical conditions.

Oregon’s 223rd COVID-19 death is a 91-year-old woman in Marion County who tested positive on June 18 and died on July 5, at her residence. She had underlying medical conditions.

Oregon’s 224th COVID-19 death is a 36-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on June 3 and died on July 7, at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. He had underlying medical conditions.

Weekly Report released

Today, OHA released its Weekly Report which showed that during the week of June 29 to July 5, 32,355 persons were tested for COVID-19 in Oregon with 5 percent recording a positive result.

COVID 19 continued to surge during that week with 1,910 new cases an increase of 51 percent over the previous week. In addition, 11 Oregonians were reported to have died, one fewer than the previous week.

OHA to host media call

OHA Director Patrick Allen will hold a weekly media availability at 11:15 a.m. Friday, July 10. To participate, media are invited to call 844-721-7239, access code 6939096.

Stay informed about COVID-19:

Oregon response: The Oregon Health Authority leads the state response.

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

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

The daily total has been corrected from 219 cases to 218.

July 7, 2020

Media contact: OHA External Relations 971-673-2097, covid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us">orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon reports 218 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 5 new deaths

PORTLAND, Ore. — COVID-19 has claimed five more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 220, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority reported 218 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today bringing the state total to 10,605.

The new cases are in the following counties: Benton (2), Clackamas (18), Columbia (2), Coos (4), Crook (1), Douglas (3), Hood River (3), Jefferson (2), Josephine (3), Klamath (1), Lake (1), Lane (15), Lincoln (1), Linn (1), Malheur (7), Marion (23), Morrow (2), Multnomah (52), Polk (6), Umatilla (20), Union (5), Wallowa (1), Wasco (2), Washington (27), Yamhill (16).

Oregon’s 216th COVID-19 death is a 93-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on June 25 and died on June 30, at Providence Portland Medical Center. He had underlying medical conditions.

Oregon’s 217th COVID-19 death is a 74-year-old woman in Yamhill County who tested positive on June 23 and died on June 30, at Willamette Valley Medical Center. She had underlying medical conditions.

Oregon’s 218th COVID-19 death is a 56-year-old woman in Linn County who tested positive on May 27 and died on July 5, at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. She had underlying medical conditions.

Oregon’s 219th COVID-19 death is an 80-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive on June 14 and died on July 6, at his residence. He had underlying medical conditions.

Oregon’s 220th COVID-19 death is a 62-year-old woman in Marion County who tested positive on June 10 and died on July 6, at Salem Hospital. She had underlying medical conditions.

OHA investigating workplace outbreak

An outbreak of 22 cases of COVID-19 has been reported at Columbia River Processing in Morrow County. The cases include all persons linked to the outbreak, which may include household members and other close contacts to an employee. The outbreak investigation started on June 16, but the initial case count was below the threshold for public disclosure.

State and county public health officials are working with the business to address the outbreak and protect the health of the employees.

Stay informed about COVID-19:

Oregon response: The Oregon Health Authority leads the state response.

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

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

July 6, 2020

What: A regular public meeting of the Public Health Advisory Board.

Agenda: Approve June meeting minutes; discuss racism as a public health crisis; determine next steps for updating PHAB Health Equity Review policy and procedure; discuss the COVID-19 response; approve 2020 Public Health Accountability Metrics Report; receive an update from the Incentives and Funding Subcommittee; PHAB member discussion.

When: July 16, 2-4 p.m. A public comment period will be held at the end of the meeting.

Where: By Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/730818593, meeting ID 730 818 593; or by conference call at 669-900-6833, meeting ID 730 818 593.

Oregon’s Public Health Advisory Board provides guidance for Oregon’s governmental public health system and oversees the implementation of public health modernization and Oregon’s State Health Improvement Plan.

# # #

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

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

If you need help or have questions, please contact Cara Biddlecom at 971-673-2284, 711 TTY, or a.m.biddlecom@state.or.us">cara.m.biddlecom@state.or.us, at least 48 hours before the meeting.

July 6, 2020

What: A public meeting of the Oregon Cannabis Commission via conference call.

Agenda: TBD.

When: July 20, 1-4 p.m.

Where: By telephone conference call at 877-848-7030, access code 753428.

Background: The Oregon Cannabis Commission was established in the 2017 legislative session through HB 2198. The commission consists of the state health officer or designee, and an eight-member panel appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The commission is tasked with determining a possible framework for future governance of the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, and steps to address research on cannabis in areas of public health policy and public safety policy, agronomic and horticultural best practices, and medical and pharmacopoeia best practices. The commission also provides advice to the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission regarding statutes governing medical and retail cannabis. Visit the commission's website at http://www.healthoregon.org/cannabiscommission for more information.

# # #

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

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

If you need help or have questions, please contact Shannon McFadden at 971-673-3181, 711 TTY or shannon.m.mcfadden@state.or.us at least 48 hours before the meeting.

July 6, 2020

Media contact: OHA External Relations 971-673-2097, covid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us">orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon reports 168 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 0 new deaths

PORTLAND, Ore. — The state’s death toll from COVID-19 is unchanged from yesterday and remains at 215, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority reported 168 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today bringing the state total to 10,395. The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Benton (1), Clackamas (16), Clatsop (3), Columbia (3), Deschutes (2), Douglas (1), Hood River (1), Jackson (1), Jefferson (1), Josephine (3), Lane (10), Malheur (10), Marion (16), Morrow (4), Multnomah (41), Polk (1), Tillamook (1), Umatilla (16), Wasco (3), Washington (34).

OHA Releases Weekly Testing Summary

OHA released its Weekly Testing Summary today, which showed that for the week of 6/28-7/5, 39,914 tests were conducted. Of those tests 5.3 percent were positive. Oregon’s number of tests performed has been steadily increasing, but the number of positive cases and the test positivity rate have increased significantly since late May. This suggests increasing numbers of individuals with COVID-19, which is expected now that all counties are in Phase 1 or Phase 2 of reopening. Recent large outbreaks around the state have also contributed to these increases.

Stay informed about COVID-19:

Oregon response: The Oregon Health Authority leads the state response.

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

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

July 6, 2020

What: A public meeting of the PartnerSHIP, which is tasked with developing the 2020-2024 State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP), to review and approve strategies for the 2020-2024 SHIP.

Agenda: Review priority populations and recommendation to center Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC); provide feedback on implementation framework; and review and approve final strategies.

When: July 9, 1-4 p.m. The meeting is open to the public. A five-minute public comment period will be held at about 1:10 p.m. Comments are limited to two minutes each.

Where: By Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/94742586748, meeting ID 947 4258 6748; or by phone at 669-900-6833, 94742586748#.

Oregon’s State Health Improvement Plan identifies interventions and strategies to address health related priorities in our state. The SHIP serves as a basis for taking collective action with cross-sector partners to advance health equity. The SHIP will be based on findings from the State Health Assessment.

Health departments develop and implement a health improvement plan at least once every five years.

The Public Health Division is using the Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) framework, widely used by CCOs and local health departments. The MAPP framework uses six phases. The SHA is developed over the first three phases, while the SHIP is developed and implemented over the second three phases.

Information about the PartnerSHIP can be found at healthoregon.org/2020ship.

# # #

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

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

If you need help or have questions, please contact Catherine Moyer at 971-673-1132, ine.moyer@dhsoha.state.or.us">catherine.moyer@dhsoha.state.or.us, at least 48 hours before the meeting.

July 5, 2020

PORTLAND, Ore. — COVID-19 has claimed two more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 215, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority reported 301 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today bringing the state total to 10,230.

The new cases are in the following counties: Clackamas (25), Columbia (3), Crook (1), Deschutes (8), Douglas (4), Hood River (5), Jackson (3), Jefferson (1), Josephine (3), Lane (10), Malheur (15), Marion (38), Morrow (9), Multnomah (72), Sherman (1), Umatilla (41), Union (1), Wasco (3), Washington (51), Yamhill (7).

See table below for total cases, deaths, and negative tests by county.

Oregon’s 214th COVID-19 death is 96-year-old woman in Lincoln County who tested positive on June 30 and died on July 2, in her residence. She had underlying medical conditions.

Oregon’s 215th COVID-19 death is a 70-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive on June 11 and died on July 3, at Salem Hospital. He had underlying medical conditions.

More information is known about Oregon’s 213th COVID-19 death. She is an 86-year-old woman in Lincoln County who tested positive on June 29 and died on July 1, at Samaritan Pacific Community Hospital. She had underlying medical conditions.

Note: Technical issues prevented negative test results from being processed and reported yesterday; those results were processed into the database yesterday. Today’s total includes negative test results for 7/3/20 and 7/4/20. We do not have a separate figure for yesterday.

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

2 - This includes cases who test negative and are not epi-linked to a confirmed case.

Stay informed about COVID-19:

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

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

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

# # #

Corrected table to reflect total deaths as 213.

July 4, 2020

PORTLAND, Ore. — COVID-19 has claimed four more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 213, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority reported 303 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today bringing the state total to 9,930.

The new cases are in the following counties: Baker (1), Benton (2), Clackamas (26), Clatsop (2), Columbia (2), Deschutes (11), Douglas (1), Gilliam (1), Jackson (7), Jefferson (1), Josephine (8), Klamath (5), Lake (1), Lane (12), Lincoln (1), Linn (1), Malheur (31), Marion (18), Morrow (11), Multnomah (58), Polk (3), Tillamook (1), Umatilla (49), Wasco (4), and Washington (46).

See table below for total cases, deaths, and negative tests by county.

Oregon’s 210th COVID-19 death is 93-year-old man in Umatilla County who tested positive on June 27 and died on July 1, in his residence. He had underlying medical conditions.

Oregon’s 211th COVID-19 death is a 74-year-old man in Umatilla County who tested positive on June 21 and died on June 26, at Good Shepherd Medical Center. He had underlying medical conditions.

Oregon’s 212th COVID-19 death is a 94-year-old woman in Clackamas County who tested positive on June 16 and died on June 29, in her residence. She had underlying medical conditions.

Oregon’s 213th COVID-19 death is an 86-year-old woman in Lincoln County who tested positive on June 29. Her date and place of death, and underlying medical conditions are being confirmed.

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

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

3 - This includes cases who test negative and are not epi-linked to a confirmed case.

4 - Negative test results are pending due to a technical issue with the test reporting database.

Stay informed about COVID-19:

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

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

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

# # #

PORTLAND, Ore. — The state’s death toll from COVID-19 is unchanged from yesterday and remains at 209, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority reported 344 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 9,636.

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Benton (7), Clackamas (22), Clatsop (1), Columbia (3), Coos (1), Crook (1), Deschutes (9), Douglas (1), Jackson (9), Jefferson (5), Josephine (3), Klamath (2), Lake (1), Lane (16), Lincoln (18), Linn (2), Malheur (20), Marion (32), Morrow (10), Multnomah (59), Polk (5), Sherman (1), Tillamook (1), Umatilla (49), Union (8), Wasco (10), Washington (46), and Yamhill (1).

The Health Authority also released a table showing recent trends in cases by county between mid-June and the beginning of July.

These trends show where the COVID-19 virus is spreading at the fastest rate and which counties have the highest rates of “sporadic” transmission – i.e., cases that do not have a clear epidemiological link to other outbreaks or clusters of infections and therefore indicate that the virus is spreading uncontained in a community.

Governor Kate Brown identified eight counties that will be placed on a “Watch List” based on these data: Jefferson, Lake, Lincoln, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Wasco. State and local health officials will closely monitor the situation in these counties in coming days and prioritize additional resources to suppress the virus in these hotspot communities.

Recent Data on COVID-19 Spread by County

(June 18, 2020-July 1, 2020)

See the table below for total cumulative cases, deaths, and negative tests by county, as of July 3, 2020.

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

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

3This includes cases who test negative and are not epi-linked to a confirmed case.

Stay informed about COVID-19:

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

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

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

JOINT INFORMATION CENTER PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 9, 2020

DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM - NOON CASE UPDATE

Our local COVID-19 updates represent the coordinated effort of the 14 agencies that make up the DCCRT

Douglas County COVID-19 Test Results: It is Thursday, July 9, 2020, and as of 12:00 pm today, there are TWO new confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported since our noon case update yesterday. The total number of cases (confirmed and presumptive) in Douglas County is now at 58.  

OHA expanded their reporting for COVID-19 case management to now include presumptive COVID-19 cases in their total case number.  DPHN is reporting confirmed and presumptive cases and uses the OHA’s definition of presumptive as having had close contact with a known, confirmed COVID-19 case, showing symptoms and not yet having a positive nasal swab/PCR test for COVID-19.  Testing continues, as DPHN has been holding 2-3 clinics a week and hospitals, urgent cares and clinics continue to test.  DPHN continues their epidemiologic investigations, identifying individuals who may have had close contact with individuals that have tested positive for COVID-19, advising and supporting quarantine and isolation.

Our daily update includes the total number of cases in Douglas County, which combines confirmed and presumptive cases.  We provide a breakout of the confirmed and presumptive cases in the chart below. Please note there will be times when a presumptive case moves to a confirmed case, and our total case number will not change because the case has already been counted, instead you will see an adjustment to our breakout numbers for confirmed and presumptive cases.

DPHN is following Oregon Health Authority’s policy related to outbreaks and will be reporting workplace outbreaks with 5 or more cases and only for workplaces where there are at least 30 employees. Previously, we used the OHA definition for recovered that considered people recovered if they were 10 days from onset and symptoms were improving.  As more is learned about COVID, the clinical definition of recovery is evolving.  Due to the evolving nature of this definition, we have removed the column in our chart listing our recovered cases.  We added the number of those in isolation that roughly correlates with the number of active cases.  The DCCRT noon case and daily update will report the number of confirmed cases (as of 12:00 pm that day), the number of presumptive cases, total COVID-19 deaths, total currently hospitalized, total negative test results, and the number of people in isolation in Douglas County.  Currently, DPHN is supporting 18 cases in isolation.

Getting Tested & Testing Clinics

The next drive-through testing clinic will be Friday, July 10, 2020.  As a reminder, if you are having symptoms of COVID-19 including cough, fever, shortness of breath, muscle aches and pains, diarrhea, sore throat or decreased sense of smell and taste, talk to your health care provider about being tested for COVID-19.  Patients without a Primary Care Provider, that are looking for a COVID-19 test should contact the Sutherlin Aviva Health Clinic at (541) 459-3788. The first drive-through testing site was piloted in the county on March 17, 2020, there have been 945 people tested in 45 drive-through clinics, while additional testing continues in hospitals, urgent cares and clinics.  The drive-through clinics are led by DPHN, in conjunction with partner agencies including; Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team, Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Public Works, local volunteers and local health professionals.

Oregon COVID-19 Case Update

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reports new cases once a day on their website at www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus. OHA also releases a daily situation status report and a weekly report that details the overall picture of the COVID-19 outbreak within our state.  The daily report details positive and presumptive cases, as well as deaths by county and statewide, while the weekly report is more in depth and includes statistical data related the severity of cases by age, gender, zip codes, ethnicity, as well as information on workplace and senior care facility outbreaks in Oregon. Find additional information on state or federal COVID-19 response from the following websites: Oregon Health Authority, Centers for Disease Control, and by calling or logging onto 211Info.

Stay Informed with Local Accurate Information

Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer and the Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team have been working hard to cooperatively provide accurate and timely information to Douglas County residents since March 8, 2020.  Our local COVID-19 updates represent the coordinated effort of the 14 agencies that make up the DCCRT.

Local COVID-19 Hotline: If you have questions about resources available, call the COVID-19 hotline, staffed by local volunteers at (541) 464-6550 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, 7 days a week.

Got Questions about the Governor’s Phased Reopening Plans?

If you have questions or need more information about the Governor’s Phased Reopening Plans, Sector Specific or other State Orders go to the Governor’s COVID-19 website at https://govstatus.egov.com/reopening-oregon or call Business Oregon's Navigator Hotline at (833) 604-0880. 

Who Do You Contact to Report Compliance Issues with the Governor’s Orders?

Please do not call 911, local law enforcement agencies or Douglas County Government to report issues with the Governor’s orders.  The Governor has directed the State of Oregon offices of Oregon Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) to be the enforcement agencies responsible for ensuring restaurants, bars, and other businesses comply with COVID-related rules.  Read the Governor’s official press release on enforcement here.

For more information or to report compliance issues concerning the Governor’s COVID-19 orders directly contact:

OSHA at (800) 922-2689 or log onto the OSHA website

OLCC at (503) 872-5000 or log onto the OLCC website 

###

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

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

Our local COVID-19 updates represent the coordinated effort of the 14 agencies that make up the DCCRT

JOINT INFORMATION CENTER PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 8, 2020

DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM - DAILY LOCAL UPDATE

(Douglas County, Ore.)  We continue to see a surge in COVID cases throughout the United States, with national cases quickly approaching the 3 million mark.  In the DCCRT Special Report we released yesterday, we mentioned that many of our local cases were attributed to residents traveling outside of our county.  As we learn more from local, regional and national data sources, we realize that this is not just a local trend.  We encourage you to take the time to access your risk for contracting COVID-19 before you decide to travel outside Douglas County.  There have been several charts and graphics created by medical organizations that access the risk associated with common activities and travel during COVID-19, we found this one from the Texas Medical Association to be quite interesting. 

Douglas County COVID-19 Test Results: It is Wednesday, July 8, 2020, and as of 12:00 pm today, there is ONE new confirmed case of COVID-19, and two new presumptive cases in Douglas County since yesterday at noon. The total number of cases (confirmed and presumptive) in Douglas County is now at 56.  OHA expanded their reporting for COVID-19 case management to now include presumptive COVID-19 cases in their total case number.  DPHN is reporting confirmed and presumptive cases and uses the OHA’s definition of presumptive as having had close contact with a known, confirmed COVID-19 case, showing symptoms and not yet having a positive nasal swab/PCR test for COVID-19.  Testing continues, as DPHN has been holding 2-3 clinics a week and hospitals, urgent cares and clinics continue to test.  DPHN continues their epidemiologic investigations, identifying individuals who may have had close contact with individuals that have tested positive for COVID-19, advising and supporting quarantine and isolation.

Our daily update includes the total number of cases in Douglas County, which combines confirmed and presumptive cases.  We provide a breakout of the confirmed and presumptive cases in the chart below. Please note there will be times when our total case number will not change when we report a new case, but our breakout for confirmed and presumptive cases will be updated.

DPHN is following Oregon Health Authority’s policy related to outbreaks and will be reporting workplace outbreaks with 5 or more cases and only for workplaces where there are at least 30 employees.  Previously, we used the OHA definition for recovered that considered people recovered if they were 10 days from onset and symptoms were improving.  As more is learned about COVID, the clinical definition of recovery is evolving.  Due to the evolving nature of this definition, we have removed the column in our chart listing our recovered cases.  The DCCRT noon case and daily update will report the number of confirmed cases (as of 12:00 pm that day), the number of presumptive cases, total COVID-19 deaths, total currently hospitalized, total negative test results, and the number of people in isolation in Douglas County.  Currently, DPHN is supporting 16 cases in isolation.

Getting Tested & Testing Clinics

The next drive-through testing clinic will be Friday, July 10, 2020.  As a reminder, if you are having symptoms of COVID-19 including cough, fever, shortness of breath, muscle aches and pains, diarrhea, sore throat or decreased sense of smell and taste, talk to your health care provider about being tested for COVID-19.  Patients without a Primary Care Provider, that are looking for a COVID-19 test should contact the Sutherlin Aviva Health Clinic at (541) 459-3788. The first drive-through testing site was piloted in the county on March 17, 2020, there have been 945 people tested in 45 drive-through clinics, while additional testing continues in hospitals, urgent cares and clinics.  The drive-through clinics are led by DPHN, in conjunction with partner agencies including; Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team, Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Public Works, local volunteers and local health professionals.

Oregon COVID-19 Case Update

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reports new cases once a day on their website: www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus. OHA also releases a daily situation status report and a weekly report that details the overall picture of the COVID-19 outbreak within our state.  The daily report details positive and presumptive cases, as well as deaths by county and statewide, while the weekly report is more in depth and includes statistical data related the severity of cases by age, gender, zip codes, ethnicity, as well as information on workplace and senior care facility outbreaks in Oregon.

Oregon Schools Reopening Council Holds First Meeting

Oregon’s Healthy Schools Reopening Council convened for its first meeting yesterday, Tuesday, July 7, 2020 via remote access. The council is charged with advising the Governor and the Oregon Department of Education as school districts develop their plans for a safe return to school for Oregon’s students under the Ready Schools, Safe Learners K-12 schools reopening process. Local school districts are in the process of developing multi-faceted plans for in-person instruction, remote instruction, or a combination of the two.  The council includes state and local officials, public health experts, public members from a diverse range of backgrounds, and members from the education community, including representatives of students, parents, support staff, school administrators, school board members, teachers, counselors, and school nurses. The full membership of the Healthy Schools Reopening Council is available here.

“With the current rise in COVID-19 cases across Oregon’s urban and rural communities, it is clear that we have our work cut out for us in terms of figuring out how students, educators, and staff can return to classrooms safely this fall.  And what measures we can put into place to help make our schools safe, but whether students can return to classrooms or not at the start of the school year is up to each and every one of us,” commented the Governor.  As more information is made available from the Healthy Schools Reopening Council and on the status of reopening our schools, we will pass along the information to our readers.

Latest Update from the Oregon DMV

The Oregon DMV released an update on the status of their services recently.  They understand that the coronavirus has impacted many of the services that our residents are used to accessing in person. Starting this week, a host of online services are now available at DMV2U, enabling Oregonians to handle more of their DMV business from home.

Now Oregon DMV customers can: 

• Schedule a DMV appointment
• Replace a lost, mutilated or stolen license/ID card
• Upload a commercial driver medical examiner certificate
• Order a driving record
• Pay a reinstatement fee
• Begin a driver license or identification card application for an initial issuance
• See all the services DMV offers online at www.oregondmv.com/dmv2u.

If a service can be accomplished by mail or online, DMV is requiring customers to use those avenues at this time. Find information and instructions for how to complete common transactions like titling and registering a vehicle in Oregon at www.OregonDMV.com. DMV does not charge any service fees for online forms or use of their online services. Please make sure you are on the official Oregon DMV webpage.

Here are a couple of helpful how-to videos for doing business at DMV offices:

• Watch this video to see how to use the new appointment scheduler.
• This video outlines what to expect for customer and employee safety when you visit a DMV office. You should be prepared to wear a face covering/mask at all DMV offices.

Reminder: Grace period in effect to October 1:

A law enforcement grace period on expired licenses and vehicle registration is in effect through at least October 1, 2020. The grace period is intended to allow Oregon residents to continue driving while waiting for an appointment or allow some people to delay visiting DMV while it works through the backlog due to COVID-19 restrictions. Law enforcement can verify the status of a driver or vehicle electronically during a traffic stop.

Reminder: July 15 is the Deadline for Filing and Paying Your State and Federal Income Taxes

The Oregon Department of Revenue (ODR) issued a press release reminding Oregon residents that the deadline for filing your 2019 income taxes in one week away.  If you have not already filed or paid your income taxes, Wednesday, July 15 is the deadline. Oregon extended the deadline when the IRS extended the deadline to file and pay federal income taxes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For personal income taxpayers:

• The Oregon return filing due date for tax year 2019 is July 15, 2020.
• The Oregon tax payment deadline for payments due with the 2019 tax year is July 15, 2020.
• The tax year 2019 six-month extension to file until October 15, 2020, if requested, extends only to the filing (not payment) deadline.

The deadline to file your federal income taxes is also July 15. On June 29, the IRS announced the deadline would not be postponed. People unable to meet the July 15 due date can request an automatic extension from the IRS until Oct. 15. The Oregon Department of Revenue has more information about this year’s tax deadlines.

Stay Informed with the Accurate Information

Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer and the Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team have been working hard to cooperatively provide accurate and timely information to Douglas County residents since March 8, 2020.  Local COVID-19 Hotline: If you have questions about resources available, call the COVID-19 hotline, staffed by local volunteers at (541) 464-6550 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, 7 days a week.   Stay up to date on COVID-19 in Douglas County on the Douglas County Government website or the DPHN website.  Find additional information on state or federal COVID-19 response from the following websites: Oregon Health Authority, Centers for Disease Control, and by calling or logging onto 211Info.  If you have questions or need more information about the Governor’s Phased Reopening Plans or Sector Specific Guidelines go to https://govstatus.egov.com/reopening-oregon.  There is also a video presentation about Phase Two available here. Or you may contact the Governor’s Office, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) or the Oregon State Office responsible for regulating your business or agency, or the business or venue that you wish to visit.

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

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

Our local COVID-19 updates represent the coordinated effort of the 14 agencies that make up the DCCRT

JOINT INFORMATION CENTER PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 8, 2020

DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM - NOON CASE UPDATE

Douglas County COVID-19 Test Results: It is Wednesday, July 8, 2020, and as of 12:00 pm today, there is ONE new confirmed case of COVID-19, and two new presumptive cases in Douglas County since yesterday at noon. The total number of cases (confirmed and presumptive) in Douglas County is now at 56.  OHA expanded their reporting for COVID-19 case management to now include presumptive COVID-19 cases in their total case number.  DPHN is reporting confirmed and presumptive cases and uses the OHA’s definition of presumptive as having had close contact with a known, confirmed COVID-19 case, showing symptoms and not yet having a positive nasal swab/PCR test for COVID-19.  Testing continues, as DPHN has been holding 2-3 clinics a week and hospitals, urgent cares and clinics continue to test.  DPHN continues their epidemiologic investigations, identifying individuals who may have had close contact with individuals that have tested positive for COVID-19, advising and supporting quarantine and isolation. Our daily update includes the total number of cases in Douglas County, which combines confirmed and presumptive cases.  We provide a breakout of the confirmed and presumptive cases in the chart below. Please note there will be times when our total case number will not change when we report a new case, but our breakout for confirmed and presumptive cases will be updated.

DPHN is following Oregon Health Authority’s policy related to outbreaks and will be reporting workplace outbreaks with 5 or more cases and only for workplaces where there are at least 30 employees.  Previously, we used the OHA definition for recovered that considered people recovered if they were 10 days from onset and symptoms were improving.  As more is learned about COVID, the clinical definition of recovery is evolving.  Due to the evolving nature of this definition, we have removed the column in our chart listing our recovered cases.  The DCCRT noon case and daily update will report the number of confirmed cases (as of 12:00 pm that day), the number of presumptive cases, total COVID-19 deaths, total currently hospitalized, total negative test results, and the number of people in isolation in Douglas County.  Currently, DPHN is supporting 16 cases in isolation.

Getting Tested & Testing Clinics

The next drive-through testing clinic will be Friday, July 10, 2020.  As a reminder, if you are having symptoms of COVID-19 including cough, fever, shortness of breath, muscle aches and pains, diarrhea, sore throat or decreased sense of smell and taste, talk to your health care provider about being tested for COVID-19.  Patients without a Primary Care Provider, that are looking for a COVID-19 test should contact the Sutherlin Aviva Health Clinic at (541) 459-3788. The first drive-through testing site was piloted in the county on March 17, 2020, there have been 945 people tested in 45 drive-through clinics, while additional testing continues in hospitals, urgent cares and clinics.  The drive-through clinics are led by DPHN, in conjunction with partner agencies including; Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team, Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Public Works, local volunteers and local health professionals.

Oregon COVID-19 Case Update

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reports new cases once a day on their website at www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus. OHA also releases a daily situation status report and a weekly report that details the overall picture of the COVID-19 outbreak within our state.  The daily report details positive and presumptive cases, as well as deaths by county and statewide, while the weekly report is more in depth and includes statistical data related the severity of cases by age, gender, zip codes, ethnicity, as well as information on workplace and senior care facility outbreaks in Oregon.

Stay Informed with the Accurate Information

Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer and the Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team have been working hard to cooperatively provide accurate and timely information

to Douglas County residents since March 8, 2020. Local COVID-19 Hotline: If you have questions about resources available, call the COVID-19 hotline, staffed by local volunteers at (541) 464-6550 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, 7 days a week. Stay up to date on COVID-19 in Douglas County on the Douglas County Government website or the DPHN website.  Find additional information on state or federal COVID-19 response from the following websites: Oregon Health Authority, Centers for Disease Control, and by calling or logging onto 211Info. If you have questions or need more information about the Governor’s Phased Reopening Plans or Sector Specific Guidelines go to https://govstatus.egov.com/reopening-oregon.  Or directly contact the Governor’s Office or Oregon Health Authority.

###

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

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

JOINT INFORMATION CENTER PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 7, 2020

DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM - NOON CASE UPDATE

Our local COVID-19 updates represent the coordinated effort of the 14 agencies that make up the DCCRT

Douglas County COVID-19 Test Results: It is Tuesday, July 7, 2020, and as of 12:00 pm today, there are NO new confirmed cases of COVID-19, and two new presumptive cases, since yesterday at noon, in Douglas County.  The total number of cases (confirmed and presumptive) in Douglas County is now at 54. OHA recently expanded their reporting for COVID-19 case management to now include presumptive COVID-19 cases in their total case number.  DPHN is reporting confirmed and presumptive cases and uses the OHA’s definition of presumptive as having had close contact with a known, confirmed COVID-19 case, showing symptoms and not yet having a positive nasal swab/PCR test for COVID-19.  Testing continues, as DPHN has been holding 2-3 clinics a week and hospitals, urgent cares and clinics continue to test.  DPHN continues their epidemiologic investigations, identifying individuals who may have had close contact with individuals that have tested positive for COVID-19, advising and supporting quarantine and isolation.

DPHN is following Oregon Health Authority’s policy related to outbreaks and will be reporting workplace outbreaks with 5 or more cases and only for workplaces where there are at least 30 employees.  Previously, we used the OHA definition for recovered that considered people recovered if they were 10 days from onset and symptoms were improving.  As more is learned about COVID, the clinical definition of recovery is evolving.  Due to the evolving nature of this definition, we have removed the column in our chart listing our recovered cases.  The DCCRT noon case and daily update will report the number of confirmed cases (as of 12:00 pm that day), the number of presumptive cases, total COVID-19 deaths, total currently hospitalized, total negative test results, and the number of people in isolation in Douglas County.  Currently, DPHN is supporting 16 cases in isolation.

Please Note: The negatives are the same as the day prior as the state system was stuck and not reporting negatives when DPHN pulled numbers for the daily report.

Getting Tested & Testing Clinics

The next drive-through testing clinic will be today, Tuesday, July 7, 2020.  As a reminder, if you are having symptoms of COVID-19 including cough, fever, shortness of breath, muscle aches and pains, diarrhea, sore throat or decreased sense of smell and taste, talk to your health care provider about being tested for COVID-19.  Patients without a Primary Care Provider, that are looking for a COVID-19 test should contact the Sutherlin Aviva Health Clinic at (541) 459-3788. The first drive-through testing site was piloted in the county on March 17, 2020, there have been 866 people tested in 41 drive-through clinics, while additional testing continues in hospitals, urgent cares and clinics.  The drive-through clinics are led by DPHN, in conjunction with partner agencies including; Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team, Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Public Works, local volunteers and local health professionals.

Oregon COVID-19 Case Update

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reports new cases once a day on their website at www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus. OHA also releases a daily situation status report and a weekly report that details the overall picture of the COVID-19 outbreak within our state.  The daily report details positive and presumptive cases, as well as deaths by county and statewide, while the weekly report is more in depth and includes statistical data related the severity of cases by age, gender, zip codes, ethnicity, as well as information on workplace and senior care facility outbreaks in Oregon.

Stay Informed with the Accurate Information

Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer and the Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team have been working hard to cooperatively provide accurate and timely information

to Douglas County residents since March 8, 2020. Local COVID-19 Hotline: If you have questions about resources available, call the COVID-19 hotline, staffed by local volunteers at (541) 464-6550 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, 7 days a week. Stay up to date on COVID-19 in Douglas County on the Douglas County Government website or the DPHN website.  Find additional information on state or federal COVID-19 response from the following websites: Oregon Health Authority, Centers for Disease Control, and by calling or logging onto 211Info. If you have questions or need more information about the Governor’s Phased Reopening Plans or Sector Specific Guidelines go to https://govstatus.egov.com/reopening-oregon.  Or directly contact the Governor’s Office or Oregon Health Authority.

###

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

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

JOINT INFORMATION CENTER PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 7, 2020

DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM  SPECIAL REPORT

THE THREAT OF CORONAVIRUS SPREADING IN OUR COUNTY IS STILL HERE

            (Douglas County, Ore.)  Many of our residents have been asking why we have seen a steady increase in our positive confirmed cases in the last few weeks.  The answer is TRAVEL!  Yes, the majority of our recent cases have been directly linked to travel outside Douglas County, and especially those residents that have chosen to travel outside of Oregon.

            It’s no surprise that with the onset of summer, schools releasing students and staff for summer vacation, and the recent approval for our county to enter Phase TWO of the Governor’s Phased Reopening plan, that we are seeing a surge in the number of people that are traveling in and out of our county for vacations, getaways, camping trips, family reunions, weddings and more.  Whatever your reason for traveling, we encourage you to please do so in a COVID-19 safe manner.  We have shared a number of articles and infographics about continued COVID-19 safety and travel in recent weeks, but we felt it necessary to provide a press release to address the issue of travel directly.

            “We have enjoyed a very low attack rate in Douglas County thus far, but every time someone decides to travel or make a stopover in a highly infected COVID-19 area, they run a very high risk of contracting the virus and then bringing it back to Douglas County,” stated Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, our Douglas County Public Health Officer. 

            As we have stressed before, the COVID-19 virus is still here, still infectious and will be around for quite some time. Current data from CDC and OHA shows that traveling and coming into contact with people from other areas does significantly increase your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. So, before you travel, attend a party or invite your relatives from out of state to visit, you need to assess the risk to you, your family and to your local community. The bottom line is that each and every person needs to take personal responsibility for their actions and adopt the proper precautionary measures for COVID-19 protection.

            “We know it has been difficult, and we know you are anxious to get back to living your life, but we ask that you please continue to be vigilant in helping us to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our county,” commented Chris Boice, Chair of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners.

A FEW THINGS TO CONSIDER IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO TRAVEL DURING COVID-19:

1. Why are you traveling? Are you traveling to visit a sick relative or attend a wedding?  You need to weigh the risk of travel with the risk of getting sick.

2. Are you sick?  The same advice applies to going to work, to the store and to travel, if you are sick, stay home.

3. When will you be traveling? If you plan to travel in the next few weeks or in the next few months, make sure you know what the status is for the area you intend to visit.  Make sure to track the COVID-19 case data for the area you are traveling to and if there is a significant spike in cases, you need to consider whether you are willing to take the chance of being exposed. Also, check on local restrictions and guidelines. Make sure you know the guidelines for dining, shopping and travel before you go.

4. Where will you be traveling to? Are you traveling to the next city, county or to another state?  The farther you travel from home the more risk you have for being exposed to the virus.  Again, make sure to track the COVID-19 case data for the area you are traveling to and if there is a significant spike in cases, you need to consider whether you are willing to take the chance of being exposed.

5. How are you getting there?  Currently, the CDC is reporting that the highest rate of transmission is from proximity contact on mass transit systems.  They are not sure if one type of travel is safer than others; however, airplanes and airports, buses and bus stations, trains and train stations, cabs and rest stops are all places travelers can be exposed to the virus. These are locations where it can be hard to social distance (keep 6 feet apart from other people) and where surfaces like doors, rails, faucets, tables, seats and handles are touched on a more frequent basis.  Check to see what COVID-19 safety precautions the mode of travel you are taking has implemented, and make sure they are disinfecting on a regular schedule, promoting and enforcing minimal contact and have put distance measures in place.

6. Who is traveling?  People that are at a higher risk for severe illness, like our elderly population and those with compromised immune systems need to take extra precautions or consider staying home.  Traveling to visit family may be especially dangerous if you or your loved ones are more likely to get very ill from COVID-19.

7. What should I take with me to protect myself?  It is always a good idea to be prepared for any situation you encounter when traveling, and with COVID-19 it is even more important to protect you and your families’ health.  This means making sure you pack your own hand sanitizer, soap, disinfectant wipes, tissues, toilet paper and face coverings.  Remember, a place is only as clean as the last person that used it.  Make sure to go over guidelines with those traveling with you, especially children.  Let them know that they need to keep their distance, limit what they touch and wash their hands often.  

8. What should I do when I return?  We always recommend that you consult and follow your doctor’s advice prior to travel, as well as upon your return home.  Additionally, some businesses and employers have implemented strict pandemic or COVID-19 policies regarding employees that travel outside the area.  Make sure to check with your supervisor about what those guidelines might be before you travel. Some physicians or employers are recommending that people self-quarantine for two weeks (14 days) upon return from a highly infected area.  If you feel like you are getting sick, or if you get sick, or if you had direct contact with someone that has COVID-19, contact your doctor or a local clinic and inquire about being tested.

For additional information and tips about traveling safely during COVID-19 visit the Center for Disease Control’s COVID-19 travel webpage.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THESE TIPS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19:

1. Please Stay Home if you are sick or feeling ill
2. Keep your distance (six-feet please) from others not in your household
3. Cover your cough and sneezes
4. Minimize interactions with others not in your household
5. Wash your hands frequently
6. Clean frequently used surfaces with disinfectant
7. Limit travel, especially out of state
8. Try to keep your trips local and select venues that have ample social distance
9. Get tested if you are having symptoms of the COVID-19 virus, including cough, fever, shortness of breath, muscle aches and pains, diarrhea, sore throat or decreased sense of smell and taste.

We will continue to provide the latest case updates, as well as health, safety and information tips to our residents as long as the COVID-19 virus continues to pose a threat to the health and wellbeing of our residents.

Stay Informed with the Accurate Information

Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer and the Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team have been working hard to cooperatively provide accurate and timely information to Douglas County residents since March 8, 2020.

Local COVID-19 Hotline: If you have questions about resources available, call the COVID-19 hotline, staffed by local volunteers at (541) 464-6550 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, 7 days a week.

Stay up to date on COVID-19 in Douglas County on the Douglas County Government website or the DPHN website.  Find additional information on state or federal COVID-19 response from the following websites: Oregon Health Authority, Centers for Disease Control, and by calling or logging onto 211Info.

Got Questions about the Governor’s Phased Reopening Plans? If you have questions or need more information about the Governor’s Phased Reopening Plans or Sector Specific Guidelines go to https://govstatus.egov.com/reopening-oregon.  Or directly contact the Governor’s Office or Oregon Health Authority

###

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

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

A CORRECTION has been made to the joint press release from the Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team (DCCRT), via our Joint Information Center.    The update includes a correction for the number of new cases today, July 6, 2020.  We had two new confirmed cases since our last update at noon on Sunday, July 5, 2020.  The chart and the case count in our press release from earlier today correctly listed our total cases.  As of noon today, July 6, 2020, we are at 52 total cases with 46 confirmed and 6 presumptive in Douglas County.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.  Our local COVID-19 updates represent the coordinated effort of the 14 agencies that make up the DCCRT.

_________

Our local COVID-19 updates represent the coordinated effort of the 14 agencies that make up the DCCRT

JOINT INFORMATION CENTER PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 6, 2020

DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM - NOON CASE UPDATE

Douglas County COVID-19 Test Results: It is Monday, July 6, 2020, and as of 12:00 pm today, there are TWO new confirmed case of COVID-19 in Douglas County.  The total number of cases (confirmed and presumptive) in Douglas County is now at 52. OHA recently expanded their reporting for COVID-19 case management to now include presumptive COVID-19 cases in their total case number.  DPHN is reporting confirmed and presumptive cases and uses the OHA’s definition of presumptive as having had close contact with a known, confirmed COVID-19 case, showing symptoms and not yet having a positive nasal swab/PCR test for COVID-19.  Testing continues, as DPHN has been holding 2-3 clinics a week and hospitals, urgent cares and clinics continue to test.  DPHN continues their epidemiologic investigations, identifying individuals who may have had close contact with individuals that have tested positive for COVID-19, advising and supporting quarantine and isolation.

DPHN is following Oregon Health Authority’s policy related to outbreaks and will be reporting workplace outbreaks with 5 or more cases and only for workplaces where there are at least 30 employees.  Previously, we used the OHA definition for recovered that considered people recovered if they were 10 days from onset and symptoms were improving.  As more is learned about COVID, the clinical definition of recovery is evolving.  Due to the evolving nature of this definition, we have removed the column in our chart listing our recovered cases.  The DCCRT noon case and daily update will report the number of confirmed cases (as of 12:00 pm that day), the number of presumptive cases, total COVID-19 deaths, total currently hospitalized, total negative test results, and the number of people in isolation in Douglas County.  Currently, DPHN is supporting 14 cases in isolation.

Getting Tested & Testing Clinics

The next drive-through testing clinic will be Tuesday, July 7, 2020.  As a reminder, if you are having symptoms of COVID-19 including cough, fever, shortness of breath, muscle aches and pains, diarrhea, sore throat or decreased sense of smell and taste, talk to your health care provider about being tested for COVID-19.  Patients without a Primary Care Provider, that are looking for a COVID-19 test should contact the Sutherlin Aviva Health Clinic at (541) 459-3788. The first drive-through testing site was piloted in the county on March 17, 2020, there have been 866 people tested in 41 drive-through clinics, while additional testing continues in hospitals, urgent cares and clinics.  The drive-through clinics are led by DPHN, in conjunction with partner agencies including; Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team, Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Public Works, local volunteers and local health professionals.

Oregon COVID-19 Case Update

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reports new cases once a day on their website at www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus. OHA also releases a daily situation status report and a weekly report that details the overall picture of the COVID-19 outbreak within our state.  The daily report details positive and presumptive cases, as well as deaths by county and statewide, while the weekly report is more in depth and includes statistical data related the severity of cases by age, gender, zip codes, ethnicity, as well as information on workplace and senior care facility outbreaks in Oregon.

Stay Informed with the Accurate Information

Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer and the Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team have been working hard to cooperatively provide accurate and timely information to Douglas County residents since March 8, 2020. Local COVID-19 Hotline: If you have questions about resources available, call the COVID-19 hotline, staffed by local volunteers at (541) 464-6550 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, 7 days a week. Stay up to date on COVID-19 in Douglas County on the Douglas County Government website or the DPHN website.  Find additional information on state or federal COVID-19 response from the following websites: Oregon Health Authority, Centers for Disease Control, and by calling or logging onto 211Info. Got Questions about the Governor’s Phased Reopening Plans? If you have questions or need more information about the Governor’s Phased Reopening Plans or Sector Specific Guidelines go to https://govstatus.egov.com/reopening-oregon.  Or directly contact the Governor’s Office or Oregon Health Authority.

###

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

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

DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM - NOON CASE & DAILY UPDATE

JOINT INFORMATION CENTER PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 5, 2020

Our local COVID-19 updates represent the coordinated effort of the 14 agencies that make up the DCCRT

Douglas County COVID-19 Test Results: It is Sunday, July 5, 2020, and as of 12:00 pm today, there is one new confirmed case of COVID-19 in Douglas County.  The total number of cases (confirmed and presumptive) in Douglas County is now at 50. OHA recently expanded their reporting for COVID-19 case management to now include presumptive COVID-19 cases in their total case number.  DPHN is reporting confirmed and presumptive cases and uses the OHA’s definition of presumptive as having had close contact with a known, confirmed COVID-19 case, showing symptoms and not yet having a positive nasal swab/PCR test for COVID-19. 

Testing continues, as DPHN has been holding 2-3 clinics a week and hospitals, urgent cares and clinics continue to test.  DPHN continues their epidemiologic investigations, identifying individuals who may have had close contact with individuals that have tested positive for COVID-19, advising and supporting quarantine and isolation.

Here are the current numbers for Douglas County:

DPHN is following Oregon Health Authority’s policy related to outbreaks and will be reporting workplace outbreaks with 5 or more cases and only for workplaces where there are at least 30 employees.  Previously, we used the OHA definition for recovered that considered people recovered if they were 10 days from onset and symptoms were improving.  As more is learned about COVID, the clinical definition of recovery is evolving.  Due to the evolving nature of this definition, we have removed the column in our chart listing our recovered cases. 

From here forward, the DCCRT noon case and daily update will report the number of confirmed cases, the number of presumptive cases, total COVID-19 deaths, total currently hospitalized, total negative test results, and the number of people in isolation in Douglas County.  Currently, DPHN is supporting 12 cases in isolation.

Getting Tested & Testing Clinics

The next drive-through testing clinic will be Tuesday, July 7, 2020.  As a reminder, if you are having symptoms of COVID-19 including cough, fever, shortness of breath, muscle aches and pains, diarrhea, sore throat or decreased sense of smell and

taste, talk to your health care provider about being tested for COVID-19.  Patients without a Primary Care Provider, that are looking for a COVID-19 test should contact the Sutherlin Aviva Health Clinic at (541) 459-3788. The first drive-through testing site was piloted in the county on March 17, 2020, there have been 866 people tested in 41 drive-through clinics, while additional testing continues in hospitals, urgent cares and clinics.

The drive-through clinics are led by DPHN, in conjunction with partner agencies including; Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team, Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Public Works, local volunteers and local health professionals.

Oregon COVID-19 Case Update

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reports new cases once a day on their website at www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus. OHA also releases a daily situation status report and a weekly report that details the overall picture of the COVID-19 outbreak within our state.  The daily report details positive and presumptive cases, as well as deaths by county and statewide, while the weekly report is more in depth and includes statistical data related the severity of cases by age, gender, zip codes, ethnicity, as well as information on workplace and senior care facility outbreaks in Oregon.

Stay Informed with the Accurate Information

Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer and the Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team have been working hard to cooperatively provide accurate and timely information to Douglas County residents since March 8, 2020.  

Local COVID-19 Hotline: If you have questions about resources available, call the COVID-19 hotline, staffed by local volunteers at (541) 464-6550 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, 7 days a week.

Stay up to date on COVID-19 in Douglas County on the Douglas County Government website or the DPHN website.  Find additional information on state or federal COVID-19 response from the following websites: Oregon Health Authority, Centers for Disease Control, and by calling or logging onto 211Info. 

Got Questions about the Governor’s Phased Reopening Plans?

If you have questions or need more information about the Governor’s Phased Reopening Plans or Sector Specific Guidelines go to https://govstatus.egov.com/reopening-oregon.  There is also a video presentation about Phase Two available here. Or you may contact the Governor’s Office, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) or the Oregon State Office responsible for regulating your business or agency, or the business or venue that you wish to visit.

###

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

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

DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM - NOON CASE & DAILY UPDATE

JOINT INFORMATION CENTER PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 4, 2020

Our local COVID-19 updates represent the coordinated effort of the 14 agencies that make up the DCCRT

(Douglas County, Ore.) The Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team, under the direction of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, would like to wish everyone a safe, happy and healthy Fourth of July holiday.  We all encourage citizens to safely and responsibly participate in Independence Day celebrations to honor our great nation, our freedoms and our patriotism.  We released a helpful guide on “How to Keep Your Independence Day Celebrations COVID-19 Safe”, in our Thursday, July 18, 2020 COVID-19 Daily Local Update.  So, if you're planning a family gathering, camping trip or holiday bash to celebrate the Fourth of July, we encourage you to please do so safely.  It’s no secret that most of us are more than a little restless and are eager to shake off the caution fatigue caused from all the guidelines associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, but remember, the virus is still here, and in order to keep COVID-19 from crashing your party, everyone should continue to include health and safety guidelines as a part of their event planning. Click here to read the DCCRT article about safe July 4th Celebrations.

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners would like to wish everyone a safe, happy and healthy Fourth of July holiday.  They encourage citizens to safely and responsibly participate in Independence Day celebrations to honor our great nation, our freedoms and our patriotism.

Douglas County COVID-19 Test Results: It is Saturday, July 4, 2020, and as of 12:00 pm today, there are 3 new confirmed cases and three new presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Douglas County.  The total number of cases (confirmed and presumptive) in Douglas County is now at 49. OHA recently expanded their reporting for COVID-19 case management to now include presumptive COVID-19 cases in their total case number.  DPHN is reporting confirmed and presumptive cases and uses the OHA’s definition of presumptive as having had close contact with a known, confirmed COVID-19 case, showing symptoms and not yet having a positive nasal swab/PCR test for COVID-19. 

Testing continues, as DPHN has been holding 2-3 clinics a week and hospitals, urgent cares and clinics continue to test.  DPHN continues their epidemiologic investigations, identifying individuals who may have had close contact with individuals that have tested positive for COVID-19, advising and supporting quarantine and isolation.

Here are the current numbers for Douglas County:

DPHN is following Oregon Health Authority’s policy related to outbreaks and will be reporting workplace outbreaks with 5 or more cases and only for workplaces where there are at least 30 employees.  Previously, we used the OHA definition for recovered that considered people recovered if they were 10 days from onset and symptoms were improving.  As more is learned about COVID, the clinical definition of recovery is evolving.  Due to the evolving nature of this definition, we have removed the column in our chart listing our recovered cases. 

From here forward, the DCCRT noon case and daily update will report the number of confirmed cases, the number of presumptive cases, total COVID-19 deaths, total currently hospitalized, total negative test results, and the number of people in isolation in Douglas County.  Currently, DPHN is supporting 11 cases in isolation.

Getting Tested & Testing Clinics

The next drive-through testing clinic will be Tuesday, July 7, 2020.  As a reminder, if you are having symptoms of COVID-19 including cough, fever, shortness of breath, muscle aches and pains, diarrhea, sore throat or decreased sense of smell and taste, talk to your health care provider about being tested for COVID-19.  Patients without a Primary Care Provider, that are looking for a COVID-19 test should contact the Sutherlin Aviva Health Clinic at (541) 459-3788. The first drive-through testing site was piloted in the county on March 17, 2020, there have been 866 people tested in 41 drive-through clinics, while additional testing continues in hospitals, urgent cares and clinics.

The drive-through clinics are led by DPHN, in conjunction with partner agencies including; Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team, Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Public Works, local volunteers and local health professionals.

Oregon COVID-19 Case Update

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reports new cases once a day on their website at www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus. OHA also releases a daily situation status report and a weekly report that details the overall picture of the COVID-19 outbreak within our state.  The daily report details positive and presumptive cases, as well as deaths by county and statewide, while the weekly report is more in depth and includes statistical data related the severity of cases by age, gender, zip codes, ethnicity, as well as information on workplace and senior care facility outbreaks in Oregon.

Stay Informed with the Accurate Information

Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer and the Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team have been working hard to cooperatively provide accurate and timely information to Douglas County residents since March 8, 2020.  

Local COVID-19 Hotline: If you have questions about resources available, call the COVID-19 hotline, staffed by local volunteers at (541) 464-6550 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, 7 days a week.

Stay up to date on COVID-19 in Douglas County on the Douglas County Government website or the DPHN website.  Find additional information on state or federal COVID-19 response from the following websites: Oregon Health Authority, Centers for Disease Control, and by calling or logging onto 211Info. 

Got Questions about the Governor’s Phased Reopening Plans?

If you have questions or need more information about the Governor’s Phased Reopening Plans or Sector Specific Guidelines go to https://govstatus.egov.com/reopening-oregon.  There is also a video presentation about Phase Two available here. Or you may contact the Governor’s Office, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) or the Oregon State Office responsible for regulating your business or agency, or the business or venue that you wish to visit.

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

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

DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM - NOON CASE & DAILY UPDATE

JOINT INFORMATION CENTER PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 3, 2020

Our local COVID-19 updates represent the coordinated effort of the 14 agencies that make up the DCCRT

(Douglas County, Ore.) Douglas County COVID-19 Test Results: It is Friday, July 3, 2020, and as of 12:00 pm today, there are 0 new confirmed cases and two new presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Douglas County.  The total number of cases (confirmed and presumptive) in Douglas County is now at 45. OHA recently expanded their reporting for COVID-19 case management to now include presumptive COVID-19 cases in their total case number.  DPHN is reporting confirmed and presumptive cases and uses the OHA’s definition of presumptive as having had close contact with a known, confirmed COVID-19 case, showing symptoms and not yet having a positive nasal swab/PCR test for COVID-19. 

Testing continues, as DPHN has been holding 2-3 clinics a week and hospitals, urgent cares and clinics continue to test.  DPHN continues their epidemiologic investigations, identifying individuals who may have had close contact with individuals that have tested positive for COVID-19, advising and supporting quarantine and isolation.

Here are the current numbers for Douglas County:

DPHN is following Oregon Health Authority’s policy related to outbreaks and will be reporting workplace outbreaks with 5 or more cases and only for workplaces where there are at least 30 employees. Previously, we used the OHA definition for recovered that considered people recovered if they were 10 days from onset and symptoms were improving.  As more is learned about COVID, the clinical definition of recovery is evolving.  Due to the evolving nature of this definition, we have removed the column in our chart listing our recovered cases. 

From here forward, the DCCRT noon case and daily update will report the number of confirmed cases, the number of presumptive cases, total COVID-19 deaths, total currently hospitalized, total negative test results, and the number of people in isolation in Douglas County.  Currently, DPHN is supporting 11 cases in isolation.

Getting Tested & Testing Clinics

The next drive-through testing clinic will be Tuesday, July 7, 2020.  As a reminder, if you are having symptoms of COVID-19 including cough, fever, shortness of breath, muscle aches and pains, diarrhea, sore throat or decreased sense of smell and taste, talk to your health care provider about being tested for COVID-19.  Patients without a Primary Care Provider, that are looking for a COVID-19 test should contact the Sutherlin Aviva Health Clinic at (541) 459-3788. The first drive-through testing site was piloted in the county on March 17, 2020, there have been 866 people tested in 41 drive-through clinics, while additional testing continues in hospitals, urgent cares and clinics.

The drive-through clinics are led by DPHN, in conjunction with partner agencies including; Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team, Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Public Works, local volunteers and local health professionals.

Oregon COVID-19 Case Update

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reports new cases once a day on their website at www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus. OHA also releases a daily situation status report and a weekly report that details the overall picture of the COVID-19 outbreak within our state.  The daily report details positive and presumptive cases, as well as deaths by county and statewide, while the weekly report is more in depth and includes statistical data related the severity of cases by age, gender, zip codes, ethnicity, as well as information on workplace and senior care facility outbreaks in Oregon.

Stay Informed with the Accurate Information

Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer and the Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team have been working hard to cooperatively provide accurate and timely information to Douglas County residents since March 8, 2020.  

Local COVID-19 Hotline: If you have questions about resources available, call the COVID-19 hotline, staffed by local volunteers at (541) 464-6550 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, 7 days a week.

Stay up to date on COVID-19 in Douglas County on the Douglas County Government website or the DPHN website.  Find additional information on state or federal COVID-19 response from the following websites: Oregon Health Authority, Centers for Disease Control, and by calling or logging onto 211Info. 

Got Questions about the Governor’s Phased Reopening Plans?

If you have questions or need more information about the Governor’s Phased Reopening Plans or Sector Specific Guidelines go to https://govstatus.egov.com/reopening-oregon.  There is also a video presentation about Phase Two available here. Or you may contact the Governor’s Office, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) or the Oregon State Office responsible for regulating your business or agency, or the business or venue that you wish to visit.

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

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

The Lane County Public Health COVID-19 (Coronavirus) press conference held on Thursday, July 9, is now available to view online at www.lanecountyor.gov/coronavirus or at https://vimeo.com/436883940.

It is also available to view at http://www.facebook.com/LaneCountyGovernment.

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Lane County Public Health (LCPH) was notified of 10 additional positive cases of COVID-19 and one new workplace cluster. This makes a total of two hundred and fifty three (253) positive tests. 

253 total cases-  Note that this includes confirmed and presumptive.

Of our cases (confirmed and presumptive): 

Hospitalized: 1                    

Deaths: 3

Infectious: 63

27,085 (total individuals tested)

One new workplace cluster was identified through LCPH disease investigations. El Torito Grocery Store, located at 1333 OR-99 in Eugene, has had 7 staff members test positive for COVID-19. Per OHA guidelines, any workplace which has 5 or more cases will be publicly announced. Management at El Torito has been very cooperative during this process and is taking all recommended health procedures.  

We are now inquiring about attendance at large gatherings as part of our disease investigations and will make that information publicly available. To date, none of our confirmed cases have attended large gatherings such as protests, or rallies. We believe that the majority of our new points of transmission are from house parties predominantly associated with end of school year celebrations.

To see data related to COVID-19 in Lane County, please visit www.LaneCountyOR.gov/data.

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

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Please note: Lane County will no longer provide proactive case updates on Saturday and Sunday as long as new case numbers remain low. New numbers will be published once per day on the weekends in the data table available atwww.LaneCountyOR.gov/data. Daily updates will still occur s://5">Monday–Friday.

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The Lane County Public Health COVID-19 (Coronavirus) press conference held on Tuesday, July 7, is now available to view online at www.lanecountyor.gov/coronavirus or at https://vimeo.com/436200517.

It is also available to view at http://www.facebook.com/LaneCountyGovernment.

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Lane County Public Health (LCPH) was notified of 48 additional positive test results for COVID-19 over the holiday weekend For a total of 228 cases 
 

Note that this includes confirmed and presumptive. 

Of our cases (confirmed and presumptive): 

Hospitalized: 0   

Deaths: 3

Infectious: 61. This is our new sick at home/vs recovered measure. 

At least 26,013 negative tests (total individuals tested by result)

We are now inquiring about attendance at large gatherings as part of our disease investigations and will make that information publicly available. To date, none of our confirmed cases have attended large gatherings such as protests, or rallies. We believe that the majority of our new points of transmission are from house parties predominantly associated with end of school year celebrations.

To see data related to COVID-19 in Lane County, please visit www.LaneCountyOR.gov/data.

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

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Please note: Lane County will no longer provide proactive case updates on Saturday and Sunday as long as new case numbers remain low. New numbers will be published once per day on the weekends in the data table available atwww.LaneCountyOR.gov/data. Daily updates will still occur s://5">Monday–Friday.

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Portland, OR – After nearly four months closed, the Oregon Historical Society plans to re-open its museum to the public on Saturday, July 11, 2020 at 10am. Following re-opening, public museum and store hours will be Wednesdays – Saturdays from 10am – 5pm and Sundays from 12pm – 5pm. The OHS Research Library remains closed for renovations that began in January 2020. More information on library services that are available during the renovation can be found at ohs.org/libraryreno.

Following the guidance and requirements of the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) for cultural attractions and museums, the Oregon Historical Society has implemented important safety protocols for the health of our staff and visitors. New safety protocols are detailed at the bottom of this press release as well as at ohs.org/reopening.

When the Oregon Historical Society closed on Saturday, March 14, the museum was about to debut a new original exhibition, Nevertheless, They Persisted: Women’s Voting Rights and the 19th Amendment, which chronicles the complicated history of woman suffrage and broad voting rights and profiles the brave activists who fought for woman suffrage. Now extended through mid-2021, this exhibit shows the many ways Oregon history connects to the national history of woman suffrage and to the complex history of American democracy.

“In this election year, Nevertheless, They Persisted will prompt visitors to reflect on voting rights and the many ways that activists have fought to universalize this basic right of citizenship,” said OHS Executive Director Kerry Tymchuk. “We were excited to open this exhibition in March, and four months later, the important messages of the power of activism shared in Nevertheless, They Persisted feel even more relevant today.”

Oregon women gained the right to vote in 1912, the initiative passing with a 52% majority after five prior failed attempts spanning nearly 30 years. It was not until the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, however, that women across the country gained the right to vote in local and national elections. Even then, these rights did not extend to all women — restrictions on citizenship continued for Native Americans and first-generation Asian Americans well into the twentieth century, and frequently used voter-suppression methods were outlawed by the 1965 Voting Rights Act (itself weakened by the 2013 Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder).

Nevertheless, They Persisted, and the Oregon Historical Society’s recently renovated permanent exhibition, Experience Oregon, give visitors an honest, and often difficult, look at our state’s history. In a recent statement on racial justice and equality, Tymchuk and OHS Board President Mary Faulkner wrote, “The Oregon Historical Society recommits itself to being a valuable resource by documenting, preserving, and sharing our state’s history, from all perspectives, and in all its complexities. We hope that everyone will continue to help guide us in providing knowledge of the past and working to build a more just and equitable society in the future.”

The Oregon Historical Society is excited to re-open its museum to share these exhibitions with visitors, while continuing its efforts to provide programs and content virtually for those who are not able to visit in person. For a full schedule of upcoming virtual programs, visit ohs.org/events, and to read up on what has been keeping OHS staff-members busy during our closure, visit ohs.org/blog.

New Health and Safety Protocols

Visitors to the Oregon Historical Society will be asked to adhere to the following guidelines in an effort to keep our staff and visitors as safe as possible: 

Wear A Face Covering: Pursuant to the Governor’s executive order, all visitors age twelve and older are required to wear a face covering. In compliance with ADA requirements, guests who have a physical or mental health condition, including disability, that prevents them from putting on, taking off, or wearing a face covering or are unable to wear a face covering for medical reasons will be exempt. If visitors do not have a face covering, single-use face coverings will be provided at no charge.

Maintain Distance: Signage through the museum will remind visitors to keep six feet of distance between themselves and visitors outside of their party. Per OHA guidelines, groups of up to 10 within the same party are not required to maintain six feet of physical distance.

Modified Exhibit Access: For the safety of our visitors, high touch hands-on interactive features in open exhibitions are closed until further notice. Our History Hub exhibit will be closed due to the hands-on nature of this exhibition, as will our Photo Hallway gallery due to the inability for visitors to easily maintain six feet of distance. 

Museum Store: The Oregon Historical Society Museum Store will maintain the same public hours as the museum. During this time, there will be a limit of four customers in the store at one time. We are eager to welcome shoppers back to the museum store, as all sales in our store provide critical funding in support of our mission.

Other Safety Precautions Include:

• Additional hand sanitizing stations installed at the museum’s entrance and throughout the building;
• Plexiglas sneeze guards installed at point of sale stations;
• Designated one-way paths to maintain required distancing as visitors enter, exit, and enjoy our exhibitions;
• Limited contact transactions; at this time, we will be discouraging cash/check transactions; and
• Limiting building capacity to a maximum of 150 visitors in the museum at one time.

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

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld two Trump administration rules that allow employers and universities to push their religious or moral beliefs on employees and students by denying them access to insurance that covers birth control. Employers and universities will be able to decide — based on their own objections — if their health insurance plans cover birth control. 

The Affordable Care Act’s birth control benefit expanded contraceptive coverage with no out-of-pocket costs for more than 62 million women, including 17 million Latinas and 15 million Black women. Because of this decision, many more businesses and universities will have the opportunity to opt out of providing this critical coverage. 

Oregon is among 26 states that have passed laws to provide critical protections of contraceptive coverage. The Reproductive Health Equity Act, which was passed in 2017, requires commercial health plans regulated by the State of Oregon to continue covering birth control at no out-of-pocket cost, regardless of what happens at the federal level. However, the law does not apply to federal health plans, such as the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), TRICARE or Civilian Health or Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS), nor does it apply to self-funded plans or other plans subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon is working with coalition partners and state leaders to determine the scope of the ruling’s impact on Oregonians.

Statement from Lisa Gardner, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon:

“Today’s ruling is egregious — people rely on birth control for their health, for their livelihoods and for their ability to determine their own futures. This decision further divides our country into those who have and those who have not. Birth control should not be restricted to only those who are wealthy enough to pay for it themselves.”

Statement from Anne Udall, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette:

“We will not stop until everyone who needs birth control and other sexual and reproductive health care can access it — no matter who you work for, where you go to school, how much money you make or the color of your skin. You have the right to make your own decisions about your body, your health care and your future.”

Statement from Emily McLain, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon:

“It is clear today that access to all sexual and reproductive health care is under attack. Restrictions like this target Black and Latinx people who are more likely to be low income and for whom basic health care has always remained out of reach, because of historic structural racism and continued underinvestment in access to affordable care. We are ready and will never back down from this fight.”

An overwhelming majority of Americans believe women should have birth control coverage, regardless of their employer’s objections. This ruling is in direct opposition to what Americans want. Granting employers and universities the right to take away coverage for essential and time-sensitive medication like birth control will complicate healthcare needs. It will also add to the economic hardships many face during the COVID-19 pandemic — access to birth control is responsible for one-third of women’s wage gains relative to men’s since the 1960s. 

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