TRI-CITY, Ore. - Douglas Public Health Network and Douglas County Emergency Management have teamed up once again to provide a FREE drive-thru flu shot clinic on Saturday, October 19, 2019 from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at the Tri-City Fire Department (140 S. Old Pacific Highway, Myrtle Creek). 

The clinic is an exercise for Public Health Officials and County Emergency Management to simulate mass inoculation in the event of a public health emergency such as an epidemic. If a widespread disease or other emergency were to occur, it may be necessary for the local health department to activate point of dispensing (PODs) to dispense large amounts of vaccine, antibiotics, or other medicines to the community. This POD exercise allows county officials to practice emergency plans and is a great opportunity for community members to get vaccinated against the flu and be involved in emergency preparedness in Douglas County.

“Influenza comes around every year and can be very dangerous for some seniors, those with weak immune systems and the occasional otherwise healthy child or young adult who gets a severe case of the flu." said Public Health Officer, Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer. "The very best thing you can do to protect yourself and others in the community is to get a flu shot."

The flu vaccines are completely free of charge and the process takes very little time. Those who intend to take advantage of the event are encouraged to download the dispense assist app to pre-fill out the check-in form. Insurance is not required for this event. 

For additional information, please contact the Douglas Public Health Network at 541-440-3571.

Participating agencies include: Douglas County Emergency Management, Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians, Oregon Health Authority, Aviva Health, Mercy Medical Center, Mercy Home Health, Umpqua Community College, SERV-OR, Red Cross and Amedisys Home Health.

DRAIN, Ore. - Within hours of posting about an abandoned boat found dumped on public lands managed by the BLM, deputies received a tip which lead to solving the case. 

Deputies initially learned about the boat, a 1979 24' Reinell cabin cruiser named Red Rover II, on October 5th and began an investigation. The boat had not been registered with the Oregon State Marine Board since 2008. 

On Tuesday, October 15th, a photograph of the boat and a request for assistance from the public was posted the Sheriff's Office Facebook and Instagram pages. The Sheriff's Office later received information which led them to contact 38 year-old Ryan W. Powers of Reedsport and 46 year-old Michael L. Saben of Winston. Powers and Saben admitted to finding the boat abandoned on Paradise Creek and moving the boat to the location where it was found. Additionally, they admitted to taking the trailer the boat had been on. 

Powers and Saben were ultimately booked and released at the Douglas County Jail on a charge of Depositing Trash Within 1000' of a Waterway (Class B Misdemeanor). 

The Sheriff's Office would like to thank the public for their assistance in solving this case. Deputies are still interested in determining who was last in possession of the boat and left it abandoned on Paradise Creek. Anyone who recognizes the vessel or has information is asked to contact the Sheriff's Office at 541-440-4471 referencing case #19-4776.

GLENDALE, Ore. - On Wednesday, October 16, 2019, Douglas County Sheriff's Office Detectives contacted 39 year-old Glendale resident, Paul Allan Wertz regarding a sex crime investigation. 

Detectives had been investigating a report that Wertz was in possession of pornographic images of a minor child on his cell phone. During the course of their investigation, Detectives confirmed that Wertz had taken nude photos of a five year-old female who was known to him. 

Wertz was taken into custody and lodged at the Douglas County Jail on a charge of Possession of Materials Depicting Sexually Explicit Conduct of a Child in the First Degree.    

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

October is cyber security month in the U.S., and in recognition of that, we are spending some time talking about how you can protect yourself online. This week: e-skimming.  

This warning is specifically targeted to small and medium-sized businesses and government agencies that take credit card payments online. E-skimming occurs when cyber criminals inject malicious code onto a website. The bad actor may have gained access via a phishing attack targeting your employees – or through a vulnerable third-party vendor attached to your company’s server. 

Regardless, once he is in, he can load the malicious code and capture the credit card data in real time as the user enters it. He either then sells the data on the darknet or uses it to make fraudulent purchases himself.  

Here’s what businesses and agencies can do to protect themselves: 

• Update and patch all systems with the latest security software. Anti-virus and anti-malware need to be up-to-date and firewalls strong. 

• Change default login credentials on all systems. 

• Educate employees about safe cyber practices. Most importantly, do not click on links or unexpected attachments in messages.  

• Segregate and segment network systems to limit how easily cyber criminals can move from one to another. 

If you have been a victim of this online scam or any other fraud, report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.IC3.gov or call your local FBI office. 

###

Update: October 21, 2019 

Mark Hudson has been located by his family and is no longer missing. 
 

MISSING PERSON:  Mark Henry Hudson

CASE: 19002027

AGE: 26                   

HEIGHT: 5’11” WEIGHT: 210

HAIR: Dark Brown

EYE COLOR: Brown

TATTOO:   Various tattoos including back of neck and “Lord of the Rings” style writing on right bicep

VEH: 1993 White Dodge Dakota Pickup with canopy.  The truck has a dented right front fender and OR PLATE 223JKX

The vehicle in the attached picture is not the exact vehicle but the one he is driving may be similar.

DETAILS:  Last contact with Mark was on September 14, 2019 at 6 a.m. when he left his residence in his vehicle for National Guard training in Ashland, Oregon.  Mark was last seen wearing his National Guard uniform.  No one has had any contact with Mark since. If you have any information, please contact the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and refer to Case 19002027.

IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION PLEASE CALL THE JOSEPHINE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE AT 541-474-5123 OR CALL 911 IF YOU CONTACT THE SUBJECT

The Lincoln City Police Department will be participating in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 26, 2019. Lincoln City Police will be set up at the Community Center from 10am to 2pm with a collection box to accept expired or otherwise unused over-the-counter or prescription medication that you may have in your home.  When these items are improperly disposed of in our landfills or through our waste treatment centers, they can end up leaching potentially harmful chemical compounds into our environment. By collecting and properly disposing of these medications, we are helping to ensure that these potentially harmful chemical compounds stay out of our environment where they do not belong.

Items that we will not be accepting are any sharps, liquids, or radiation drugs. Other drug items should be dropped off in a sealed container or sealed plastic bag. National Take-Back Day is a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs while also educating the public about the dangers of improper disposal of medications and the potential abuse of prescription drugs.

In addition to the National Take-Back Day, The Lincoln City Police Department has a prescription drug drop off receptacle in the lobby of the police department that citizens can access and dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs seven days a week.   

Submitted By: Sergeant Jeffrey Winn

Pet Safety on the Road

You buckle up when you get in your vehicle. Make sure your pet is just as safe. Many dog owners let their dog run loose in an open truck bed, not thinking about the dangers. No matter how well-trained or coordinated you think your dog is, he or she can still fall or jump out of the back of a truck.

Oregon law requires a dog to be protected by a carrier or other restraint if transported on "the external part of a vehicle" on a highway.

A carrier or cage is most ideal, but if you use a leash or lead, make sure it is of a length that doesn’t allow the dog to go over the side. A two-point restraint works best to ensure the animal can’t jump or be thrown in the event of a sudden stop or collision.

If your pet travels inside the vehicle with you, remember that driving with any live animal on your lap presents a distraction and puts the pet, the driver, other passengers and other drivers at significant risk for a collision. A collision that would otherwise be preventable.

There are numerous pet-specific vehicle restraints that work with your existing seatbelts and can be purchased either online or in pet stores.

Our pets love to be on the go with us. Show them how much you care by always considering their safety whenever you take them on the road with you.

For more information and tips visit our website at: www.lincolncountysheriff.net

and like us on Facebook: Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office - Oregon

At approximately 2:30 pm this afternoon, Search and Rescue teams successfully located a missing hiker after he called 911 the day prior reporting he was lost.  The hiker was located along the Pacific Crest Trail in the Willamette National Forest after fresh footprints were discovered in the snow by searchers.

The hiker, Robert Campbell, 50, told deputies he has been following the Pacific Crest Trail since May.  Campbell started his journey near the Mexico border and has traveled just over 2000 miles to where he was located. 

Campbell told deputies he lost the trail after encountering blizzard like conditions yesterday.  At the time he was located by searchers, Campbell had no food and had lost some of his hiking equipment due to the treacherous weather conditions. 

Campbell was evaluated by medics in the field and has declined any further medical treatment.  Deputies have taken Campbell to Detroit where a local motel provided a complimentary room for him to recover in for the night.

On October 17th, 2019 at approximately 1:30 pm, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a male reporting to be lost in the woods near Detroit, in the Willamette National Forest.   

Search and Rescue teams were activated a very short time after the call was received and remained on scene until after midnight when search efforts were suspended for the night.  This morning teams have returned to the area and search efforts have resumed. 

The identity and description of the missing person has not been confirmed at this time, though deputies believe they may be named Robert Campbell.  Detectives from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office have been called in to assist with determining the identity of the caller.

At this time the area of focus is very expansive and there is limited information available.

At approximately 9:40 am this morning, October 18th, deputies were dispatched to a two vehicle; roll over crash in the 8100 block of Silverton Road NE.  When emergency crews arrived on scene they determined one passenger was still trapped in one of the involved vehicles, a Toyota Prius.  Fire personnel worked to extricate the passenger from the Prius, the passenger was transported with serious injuries.  The driver of the Prius was not injured during the crash. 

The other involved vehicle, a Volkswagon Jetta, had two occupants in it at the time of the crash.  Both the driver and passenger were transported to an area hospital for evaluation. 

The initial investigation at the scene indicates both involved vehicles were westbound on Silverton Road prior to the collision.  The driver of the Volkswagen Jetta is reported to have slowed down to make a left turn onto 81st Ave NE and was struck by the Toyota Prius.  Deputies are continuing to investigate the crash.

Silverton Road was fully reopened to traffic shortly before 11:30 am.  The Marion County Sheriff’s Office was assisted during this incident by Silverton Fire District, Woodburn Ambulance, Marion County Fire District #1, and LifeFlight.

On October 20, 2019, an Oregon State Police (OSP) Fish & Wildlife trooper responded to a report of a buck deer being dumped along Signal Tree Road near Camas Valley.  The trooper located the carcass of a buck deer with only the head removed.  The meat was wasted and left to rot.

Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact Senior Trooper Kyle Bachmeier through the Turn in Poachers (TIP) hotline at 1-800-452-7888 or OSP (677).

Report Wildlife and Habitat Law Violators 

The TIP program offers preference point rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of big game mammals.

Preference Point Rewards:

5 Points-Bighorn Sheep

5 Points-Rocky Mountain Goat

5 Points-Moose

5 Points-Wolf

4 Points-Elk

4 Points-Deer

4 Points-Antelope

4 Points-Bear

4 Points-Cougar

Or the Oregon Hunters Association TIP reward fund also offers cash rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of Bighorn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Goat, Moose, Elk, Deer, Antelope, Bear, Cougar, Wolf, Upland Birds, Waterfowl, Furbearers, Game Fish and Shellfish.  Cash rewards can also be awarded for turning in people who destroy habitat, illegally obtain licenses/tags and for the unlawful lending/borrowing of big game tags.

CASH REWARDS:
$1,000 Bighorn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Goat and Moose

$500 Elk, Deer and Antelope

$300 Bear, Cougar and Wolf 
$300 Habitat Destruction

$200 Illegally Obtaining License/Tag(s)

$200 Unlawful Lend/Borrow Big Game Tags(s) 
$100 Upland Birds and Waterfowl 
$100 Furbearers 

$100 Game Fish and Shellfish 

How to Report a Wildlife and/or Habitat Law Violation or Suspicious Activity: 

TIP Hotline: 1-800-452-7888 or OSP(677)

TIP E-Mail: TIP@state.or.us (Monitored M-F 8:00AM - 5:00PM)

### www.oregon.gov/OSP ### 
Twitter: @ORStatePolice 
Facebook: @ospsocial

Those involved in the fatal crash on Saturday October 19, 2019 on Highway 3 are as follows:

Dodge Pickup Driver – Dylan L DENTON, age 24, from Joseph, Deceased.

Dodge Pickup Passenger – Triston M DENNING, age 19, from Joseph, Undisclosed Injuries.

ODOT Snowplow Driver – Monte L RADFORD, age 69, from Enterprise, Serious Injuries. 

This is an on-going investigation and no further information is available for release. 

No photographs available for release. 

Previous Release:

Oregon State Police (OSP) is continuing the investigation into this morning’s two vehicle fatal crash involving an Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Snowplow on Highway 3 in Wallowa County. 

On October 19, 2019 at about 8:08 AM, OSP troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two vehicle crash on Highway 3 near milepost 15. 

Preliminary investigation revealed that an ODOT Snowplow was southbound on Highway 3.  A Dodge pickup, with two occupants, was northbound negotiating a curve when it lost control and went into the on-coming lane and into the path of the ODOT Snowplow. 

The driver of the Dodge pickup died from his injuries at the scene.  The passenger of the Dodge pickup was transported to an unknown hospital via air ambulance.  The driver of the snowplow was transported via ground ambulance to Wallowa Memorial Hospital with serious injuries.

Highway 3 was closed for nearly six (6) hours during the investigation. 

OSP was assisted by ODOT, Wallow County Sheriff’s Office and Wallowa County Fire.

Names are being withheld to provide time for extended family next of kin notifications.

This is an on-going investigation and no further information is available for release. 

No photographs available for release.  

### www.oregon.gov/OSP ### 
Twitter: @ORStatePolice 
Facebook: @ospsocial

Oregon State Police (OSP) is continuing the investigation into Saturday evening’s fatal two vehicle crash on Highway 22E and Fern Ridge Road SE near Stayton. 

On Saturday, October 19, 2019 at about 5:35 pm, OSP troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a two vehicle fatal crash on Highway 22E at Fern Ridge Rd SE. 

Preliminary investigation revealed that a Mercury Marquis, operated by Mark HIGLEY, age 88, from Stayton, was traveling westbound on Highway 22E attempting to turn westbound onto Fern Ridge Rd SE.  A Chevrolet Suburban, operated by Windy DETHMAN, age 49, from Culver, was traveling eastbound on Highway 22E.  HIGLEY turned directly into the path of the oncoming Suburban and was struck nearly head-on. 

A passenger in HIGLEY’S vehicle, Ella HIGLEY, age 86, from Stayton, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.  Mark HIGLEY was not injured. 

Two adult passengers in DETHMAN’S vehicle are identified as Robert DETHMAN, age 52 and Neoma MILLER, age 33, both form Culver.  Robert DETHMAN received serious injuries.  Windy DETHMAN and Neoma MILLER were uninjured.  In addition, there were four (4) children in DETHMAN’S vehicle that were not injured. 

Highway 22E was closed for four hours (4) following the crash. 

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

Photograph provided by OSP.

### www.oregon.gov/OSP ### 
Twitter: @ORStatePolice 
Facebook: @ospsocial

The deceased male suspect involved in the officer involved shooting is identified as follows:

Marcus Phillip HARTSFIELD, age 27, from Oakridge.

The location of the incident was in the 76000 block of Rainbow Road, Oakridge. 

This is still an on-going investigation.  Further information and releases will be put out by the Lane County District Attorney's Office. 

No further information available for release. 

Previous Release-

On Thursday October 17, 2019 at about 7:39pm, Oregon State Police and the Lane County Sheriff’s Office responded to an emergency request for assistance from an officer with the Oakridge Police Department who responded to a domestic disturbance.  The Oakridge officer reported shots were fired and was requesting emergency assistance.  Troopers and Deputies arrived on scene and preliminary investigation revealed the suspect in the domestic disturbance was deceased after being shot by the officer.  The officer was not injured. 

The Lane County Inter-Agency Deadly Force Investigation Team (IDFIT) was activated and detectives with the Oregon State Police, Lane County Sheriff’s Office, Eugene Police Department, Springfield Police Department, Cottage Grove Police Department, and the Florence Police Department responded to conduct the investigation. 

Additional assistance was provided at the scene by Oakridge Fire, Lane County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Lane County District Attorney’s Office. 

This is an ongoing investigation and more information will be released when available. 

No further information available for release. 

### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###
Twitter: @ORStatePolice
Facebook: @ospsocial

The drivers have been idetified as follows:

Chevy Tahoe - J Ivan AGUILAR-DIMAS, age 33, from California

Pertbuilt Truck and Semi-Trailer - Carl BIBOW, age 57, from Riddle

Photograph provided by OSP.

### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###
Twitter: @ORStatePolice
Facebook: @ospsocial

Previous Release:

Oregon State Police (OSP) is continuing the investigation into this morning’s critical injury two vehicle crash on I-5 near Gervais. 

On October 16, 2019 at 4:15 AM, OSP troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two vehicle crash on I-5 northbound near milepost 267. 

Preliminary investigation revealed that a Chevy Tahoe, occupied by an adult male, was parked on the shoulder of I-5.  A Peterbuilt Truck and Semi-Trailer was northbound and for unknown reasons left the roadway and went onto the shoulder where it crashed into the parked Chevy Tahoe. 

The occupant of the Chevrolet Tahoe was transported to Salem Hospital by air ambulance with critical injuries.  The operator of the Peterbuilt Truck and Semi-Trailer received minor injuries.   

Names of those involved are being withheld pending notifications to family members. 

This is an active investigation and more information will be released when available.

### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###
Twitter: @ORStatePolice
Facebook: @ospsocial

Oregon State Police (OSP) is continuing the investigation into Tuesday afternoon’s crash involving two Commercial Motor Vehicles on I-5 near Woodburn. 

On Tuesday October 15, 2019 at about 3:57 PM, OSP troopers and emergency personnel responded to a serious injury crash involving two Commercial Motor Vehicles on I-5 southbound at about milepost 273.   

Preliminary investigation revealed that a Volvo Truck and Semi-trailer, operated by Gagandeep SINGH, age 24, from California, was southbound on I-5 and pulled to the shoulder due to smoke coming from under the truck.  Gagandeep SINGH and his passenger, Baljit SINGH, age 38, from California, exited the truck and discovered that it was on fire. 

A Freightliner Truck and Semi-trailer, operated by Rex HOLLOPETER, age 51, from Salem, was southbound in the far right lane when it sideswiped the Volvo Truck and Semi-Trailer.  The Freightliner Truck and Semi-trailer caught fire and came to rest blocking all southbound lanes of the freeway.  Both Commercial Motor Vehicles ultimately burned after the crash. 

HOLLOPETER was transported by air ambulance to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland for serious injuries.  Both Gagandeep SINGH and Baljit SINGH were outside of their truck and were uninjured. 

Southbound lanes of I-5 are expected to be closed indefinitely until ODOT personnel can assess the damage to the roadway.  

OSP was assisted by Woodburn Fire and Medics, Aurora Fire Department, Hubbard Fire Department, Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, Salem Police Department, Woodburn Police Department and ODOT. 

Photographs provided by OSP.

### www.oregon.gov/OSP ### 
Twitter: @ORStatePolice 
Facebook: @ospsocial

At 12:27 a.m. on October 16, 2019, Roseburg Fire Department was dispatched to a residential structure fire at 1748 NW Otie Street.  Residents reported the fire after being awakened by a working smoke alarm.  Residents had exited the residential structure and notified nearby neighbors of possible exposure.

Firefighters arrived on scene to find heavy fire venting from a south window and causing exposure to the south, neighboring residential home.  Pressurized black smoke was also seen emitting from the attic vents. Firefighters made an interior attack to extinguish the fire, conducted a primary and secondary search, and completed overhaul.  The primary home sustained structural and water damage.  The neighboring home suffered damage to the exterior siding.  One adult, two teenage children, and a dog were displaced due to the fire; however, no one was injured in the fire.  Unfortunately, two pet hamsters did not survive the fire.

A total of 13 firefighters assisted with firefighting operations.  Other agencies assisting with the fire included Douglas County Fire District #2, Umpqua Valley Ambulance, Roseburg Police Department, Pacific Power, and the American Red Cross.

The structure suffered approximately $60,000 in damage.  Fire investigators were on scene and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The Roseburg Fire Department would like to remind everyone of the importance of working smoke alarms and ensuring you have the appropriate number of smoke alarms installed in the home.  Remember to make sure you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home, outside each sleeping area and in every bedroom.  Roseburg Fire Department recommends that homeowners consider a home fire sprinkler system for increased protection.

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

All lanes of Mission Street in Salem, OR 22, are open again following a crash that closed the road between 25th Street and Airport Road. 

New report highlights significant economic gains for America from public lands

WASHINGTON – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced today an increase in the number of jobs supported through BLM activities in fiscal year 2018 as well as the total output for the American economy. Socioeconomic figures in a newly-released report highlight a 9% increase over Fiscal Year 2017.

The report, entitled “The BLM: A Sound Investment for America 2019,” was released today and can be found here. It indicates that in 2018, BLM activities on public lands supported approximately 471,000 full- and part-time jobs, up from 468,000 jobs in 2017.  Additionally, these activities resulted in $105 billion in total economic output, a sharp increase from $95.6 billion in 2017.

“The BLM remains committed to the sustainable development of America’s energy and natural resources,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Casey Hammond. “These numbers indicate that we are achieving those objectives, while increasing revenues to the United States Treasury and benefitting families across the nation.”

“America’s public lands are a key driver of the nation’s economy, particularly in states across the West. The jobs and communities these lands support are vital to millions of Americans, and the Bureau of Land Management is proud to make sure economic activities continue in a sustainable, environmentally-sound manner,” said BLM Deputy Director for Policy and Programs William Perry Pendley.

A primary contributor to the economic uptick was the production of energy and natural resources on BLM-managed lands, many of which saw dramatic increases in 2018. In fiscal year 2018, the BLM offered nearly 13 million acres for leasing. Federal onshore oil production increased to 214.1 million barrels of oil during fiscal year 2018, compared to 174 million barrels in fiscal year 2017, due to the BLM’s implementation of energy priorities. New renewable energy projects were also initiated. Other areas, such as grazing and timber production experienced significant increases as well.

Outdoor recreation is also a significant source of jobs and revenue for local communities from public lands, generating more than $6.8 billion in total economic output in fiscal year 2018. Public lands managed by the BLM offer more recreational opportunities than lands managed by any other Federal agency, with over 99% available for recreation with no fee. In fiscal year 2018, BLM lands received nearly 68 million recreation-related visits.
 

###
 

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In fiscal year 2018, the diverse activities authorized on BLM-managed lands generated $105 billion in economic output across the country. This economic activity supported 471,000 jobs and contributed substantial revenue to the U.S. Treasury and state governments, mostly through royalties on minerals. 

The Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) is pleased to announce the graduation of its 392nd Basic Police Class.

The Basic Police Class is 16-weeks in length and includes dozens of training areas including survival skills, firearms, emergency vehicle operations, ethics, cultural diversity, problem solving, community policing, elder abuse, drug recognition, and dozens of other subjects.

Basic Police Class 392 will graduate at the Oregon Public Safety Academy at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE in Salem, Oregon on Friday, November 1, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. with a reception immediately following the graduation.  Chief Kathy McAlpine of the Tigard Police Department will be the speaker. 

The Department of Public Safety Standards and Training would like to invite you to join us in observing the ceremony and congratulating Basic Police #BP392 on their successful completion of basic training.

The graduating students appreciate the family, friends and guests who make graduation an appropriate conclusion to their basic training at the Oregon Public Safety Academy.

Graduating members of BP392:

Trooper Brandon Beovich

Oregon State Police

Police Officer Julianna Bredahl

Portland Police Bureau

Police Officer Kirsten Cardwell

Eugene Police Department

Police Officer Robert Carrigan

Hillsboro Police Department

Trooper Jered Coates

Oregon State Police

Police Officer Christian Crawford

 Eugene Police Department

Trooper Austin Daugherty

Oregon State Police

Deputy Sheriff Joseph DeLance

Deschutes County Sheriff's Office

Trooper Chance Duty

Oregon State Police

Trooper Carter Ellis

Oregon State Police

Police Officer Klayton Fink

Tigard Police Department

Trooper Dylan Hansen

Oregon State Police

Trooper Jace Huseby

Oregon State Police

Trooper Erica Judah

Oregon State Police

Deputy Sheriff Derek Klein

Linn County Sheriff's Office

Trooper Ian Lamb

Oregon State Police

Trooper Justin Lindquist

Oregon State Police

Police Officer Katelyn Loper

Eugene Police Department

Police Officer Christopher Manella

Eugene Police Department

Trooper Jonathan Martin

Oregon State Police

Police Officer Dustyn Matlock

Portland Police Bureau

Trooper Alexander Mendiola

Oregon State Police

Trooper Jason Mitro

Oregon State Police

Trooper Mackenzie Moore

Oregon State Police

Police Officer Nicholas Morales

Portland Police Bureau

Police Officer Margaret Mueth

Eugene Police Department

Police Officer William Priser

Eugene Police Department
 

Police Officer Dean Ramirez

Portland Police Bureau

Police Officer Jacob Roberson

 Eugene Police Department

Police Officer Andrew Roberts

 Eugene Police Department

Trooper Josiah Smith

Oregon State Police

Police Officer Jackson Stramler

Eugene Police Department

Trooper Zachary Taylor

Oregon State Police

Trooper Marcus Tiktin-Mitchell

Oregon State Police

Trooper Jared Vera

Oregon State Police

Deputy Sheriff Dane Wright

Marion County Sheriff's Office

Police Officer Wesley Youngbloom

Eugene Police Department

## Background Information on the 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 Patricia Patrick-Joling, public citizen representative, 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.

For Immediate Release                                        

October 15, 2019

Contact:     Mona Riesterer  
                  (503) 378-2431

Notice of Regular Meeting

The Telecommunications Policy Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a regular meeting on November 6, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. in the Governor Victor G. Atiyeh Boardroom at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Mona Riesterer at (503) 378-2431.

1.  Introductions

2.  Approve Minutes of May 1, 2019

3.  Proposed Rule Changes for OAR 259-008-0010, 259-008-0010, 259-008-0011 and 259-008-0067: Establishing the Expiration of DPSST Public Safety Professional Certifications

Presented by Jennifer Howald

4.  Proposed Rule Changes for OAR 259-008-0015: Background Investigations

Presented by Jennifer Howald

5.  Proposed Rule Changes for OAR 259-008-0060 and 259-008-0064: First Aid & CPR 

Requirements for DPSST Telecommunicator and EMD Certifications

Presented by Jennifer Howald

6.  Proposed Rule Changes for OAR 259-0070: Criminal Justice Moral Fitness Workgroup Recommendations and Review of Comments

Presented by Jennifer Howald

7.  Administrative Closures – Emergency Medical Dispatcher

Presented by Kristen Hibberds

8.  Department Update

9.  Next Telecommunications Policy Committee Meeting TBD

Administrative Announcement

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

(Salem, Ore.) – Since it launched in August 2018, the statewide Oregon Child Abuse Hotline has made significant progress in protecting Oregon’s children by implementing a system that ensures the best possible safety decisions, that calls are handled consistently, and callers are respected and responded to in a timely manner. Dropped call rates have decreased, average call waits have gotten shorter, and 98,404 calls reporting concerns of child safety were screened by hotline staff.

This data is available in the recently released Oregon Child Abuse Hotline Annual Report.

“As the Hotline reflects on progress made during its first year, we also acknowledge that there is still much room for improvement,” said DHS Director Fariborz Pakseresht. “We will continue to use data, customer feedback, predictive analytics, and training to better serve and protect the children in our communities.”

The statewide hotline resulted from the centralization of 15 previously independent, regional hotlines in order to improve consistency in how rule and procedure were applied, including screening reports of child abuse. When someone calls the Hotline, a screener gathers sufficient information to assess whether the allegation meets the criteria of suspected abuse and whether there is imminent danger to the safety of the child. Calls can remain anonymous.

Over the last year, DHS partnered with Action for Child Protection, Portland State University, and other community partners to develop a 56-hour training for DHS screeners. This training, along with the centralization, has increased screening consistency, decreased the potential for bias, and integrated robust and intentional data in the Hotline’s efforts to keep children safe. Along with predictive analytics and access to past reports from multiple sources, screeners now have more information in assessing safety for children at their fingertips.

The management consulting firm hired to assist DHS through Governor Brown’s Executive Order on Child Welfare performed significant work to track and analyze hotline call data to improve screening outcomes. The Hotline will also soon be adding an additional queue for more general child welfare questions, so that screeners can focus on calls that require immediate attention.

Screeners also can now receive reports of child abuse and neglect in multiple languages. By adding an additional queue for Spanish speakers to speak with Spanish speaking screeners this summer, more children are now represented and protected.

Other highlights of the hotline’s first year include the final hiring and training phase of 18 staff expected in November and newly created advanced screener training modules on Tribal Engagement, Commercial Sexual Exploitation, Substance Abuse Disorder, and Domestic Violence.

While great progress has been made, the Hotline is still facing challenges. For example, in September as children returned to school and interfaced with more mandatory reporters, the Hotline saw average wait times increase to approximately 7 minutes. Still, even with the spike in September, more than 60 percent of the calls were answered within 2 minutes. The maximum wait time in September was 100 minutes, an outlier in the month’s average data, and an issue DHS is addressing.

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

###

Gov. Kate Brown and the director of the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs are seeking interested veterans to serve as members of the Veterans’ Affairs Advisory Committee.

Members of this committee serve the Oregon veteran population by advocating for veteran issues and sharing insight on veteran concerns with the director and staff of ODVA. Established in 1945, the advisory committee’s members are military veterans who are appointed by the governor.

The advisory committee’s meetings are held throughout the state on the first Wednesday in March, June and December, and the second week of September. For more information about the Veterans’ Affairs Advisory Committee, please visit ODVA’s website at http://www.oregon.gov/odva/Connect/Pages/Advisory-Committee.aspx.  

The governor and the director of the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs are committed to ensuring that members of the Veterans’ Affairs Advisory Committee bring diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives in order to represent Oregonians around the state.

ORS 406.210 also states that the executive committees of congressionally chartered veterans’ organizations that maintain an Oregon state headquarters may submit a list of not more than three persons nominated by each executive committee.

This is an open and ongoing recruitment for qualified veteran applicants, and there is no deadline to apply. All veterans are welcome to apply for this committee and are also encouraged to review vacancies on the many other boards and commissions that help shape and guide the work of the State of Oregon.

Interest forms and the application process can be reviewed at the Governor’s Executive Appointments office website: http://www.oregon.gov/gov/admin/Pages/How_To_Apply.aspx.

Want to know what Veterans Day events are being held in your area, or do you want greater visibility for the event you are organizing?

The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs is putting together its annual list of statewide Veterans Day ceremonies, parades and other special events, which is shared on ODVA's blog, social media and with news organizations across the state.

The directory includes an interactive map as well as detailed information about each event. You can check it out on the ODVA blog at https://oregondva.com/2019/10/11/2019-veterans-day-statewide-events/.

To submit an event, visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/EventSubmissions. Events will appear online with details as provided, so please ensure accuracy.

ODVA will again be hosting its annual Statewide Veterans Day Celebration at 3 p.m. Nov. 11 at the World War II Memorial on the grounds of the Oregon State Capitol in Salem.

The event will include a color guard presentation by North Salem High School JROTC, the playing of “Taps,” the pledge of allegiance and other patriotic observances. State Rep. Marty Wilde, of District 11 representing central Lane and Linn counties, will deliver the keynote address.

(Portland) – The Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace, a part of state government, today launched a window shopping website for people who need insurance or to re-enroll in insurance. The site shows what plans are available in your area and estimates how much you are likely to pay for that plan, including whether you qualify for a subsidy. The site is available at www.OregonHealthCare.gov/windowshop.

When you use Oregon’s window shop before enrolling, you will be ready to log in and enroll or re-enroll at HealthCare.gov when open enrollment starts. Open enrollment runs from Nov. 1 through Dec. 15 and is the only time of year most people can buy health insurance. In 2019, Oregonians who got subsidies paid an average of $140 per month for their coverage.

Visiting www.OregonHealthCare.gov/windowshop can help you answer these questions:

• How can I save money on health insurance?
• What would my health plan cover?
• Once I know what I can afford, what’s next?

“People who do not qualify for the Oregon Health Plan and do not get health insurance at work may qualify for a subsidy through the Marketplace,” said Chiqui Flowers, Marketplace administrator. “This tool helps get specific about costs and benefits for those Oregonians.”

###

The Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace is the state-level partner to HealthCare.gov and a division of the Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS). For more information, go to OregonHealthCare.gov.

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, Stephen Gregory Johnston, died the morning of October 17, 2019. Johnston was incarcerated at Snake River Correctional Institution (SRCI) in Ontario and passed away at a local hospital while on hospice. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified. 

Johnston entered DOC custody on February 20, 2018, from Jackson County with an earliest release date of October 4, 2021. Johnston was 59 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 14,700 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.

SRCI is a multi-custody prison in Ontario that houses approximately 3,000 adults in custody. SRCI has multiple special housing units including disciplinary segregation, intensive management, infirmary (with hospice) with 24-hour nursing care, and an administrative segregation unit. SRCI participates in prison industries with Oregon Corrections Enterprises including a contact center, laundry, and sign shop. SRCI specializes in incentive housing, specialized housing, individuals with mental health/medical vulnerabilities, education and trades programs, cognitive and parenting programs, and institution work programs. SRCI opened in 1991 and is the largest correctional institution in the state.

####

FOREST GROVE, Ore. — The Northwest Oregon Regional Forest Practices Committee will meet Wednesday, Oct. 30 at the Oregon Department of Forestry office, 801 Gales Creek Road in Forest Grove starting at 9 a.m. Topics to be covered include:

• Selection of Operator of the Year
• Updates on a variety of other topics, including:
  • Reforestation implementation study
  • Siskiyou project
  • Western Oregon Desired Future Condition/Large-wood project
  • Interagency work on water quality and mercury levels
  • Wildlife food plot rules
  • Interagency agreements regarding fish passage
  • Marbled murrelet rule analysis process

There will be an opportunity for public comment near the beginning of the meeting. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. Questions about accessibility or special accommodations for the meeting can be directed to Susan Dominique at 503-945-7502 or susan.dominique@oregon.gov.
 

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

Oregon’s forests are among the state’s most valued resources, providing a balanced mix of environmental, economic and social benefits.  Additional information about ODF’s Regional Forest Practice Committees is available on the Oregon Department of Forestry’s web site: http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Board/Pages/RFPC.aspx.

                                                                                 # # #

SALEM, Ore – An Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) state forests advisory group will meet Friday, Oct. 25 in Forest Grove to receive updates on ODF Annual Operations Plan accomplishments for fiscal year 2019 and state forest issues, including:

• Public engagement strategy
• Recreation in State Forests
• Habitat Conservation Plan update
• Implementation Update on Workforce Futuring (State Forests organizational restructuring)
• State Forests Business: Cash Flow and Forest Management Plan workshop

Opportunity for public comment is also on the agenda and is currently scheduled for 12:15 p.m. The full agenda will be posted at http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Board/Pages/SFAC.aspx.

Meeting details

The State Forests Advisory Committee will meet at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 25, at the Forest Grove Community Auditorium, 1915 Main St., Forest Grove 97116.

SFAC’s role

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

The meeting location is accessible to persons with disabilities. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. Questions about accessibility or special accommodations for the meeting can be directed to the Oregon Department of Forestry at 503-745-7427.

SALEM, Ore. - Due to scheduling challenges related to upcoming litigation, Forest Trust Land Advisory Committee Chair David Yamamoto is cancelling scheduled FTLAC meetings on October 25 and November 22.

NEWS RELEASE – for immediate release

Media Contact:

Ken Armstrong, Communications Manager, 503-881-2623, mstrong@state.or.us">ken.armstrong@state.or.us

Oct. 17, 2019

DSL Stevens Road property will be subject of evening public meeting in Bend on Oct. 29

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Department of State Lands will host a public meeting on the status of over 640 acres of state-owned property in Bend on Tuesday, Oct. 29 in Bend. The meeting will be informational but coincides with a 30-day public comment period from Oct. 17 to Nov. 15.

On Dec. 18 the State Land Board will consider moving forward with the sale of the parcel. This meeting will help inform that decision.

Stevens Road is a 643.7-acre parcel of land located southeast of the intersection of 27th Avenue and Stevens Road. The purpose of the meeting is to share with the public the current status of the parcel and possible options for the future. Part of the parcel was included in the Urban Growth Boundary expansion in 2016, a key step in bringing development to the land. Department staff will be available at the meeting to provide information and help answer questions.

Meeting date/location:

Tuesday, Oct. 29

5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Nativity Lutheran Church, Fellowship Hall

60850 Brosterhous Rd.

Bend, OR 97702

Oral testimony will not be taken at this meeting, but public comment forms will be available and comments may be submitted via email to ealproperty@dsl.state.or.us">realproperty@dsl.state.or.us, or may be submitted through DSL's web site, which also has information on the property.

About the State Land Board and the Department of State Lands: The State Land Board consists of Governor Kate Brown, Secretary of State Bev Clarno and State Treasurer Tobias Read. The Department of State Lands administers diverse natural and fiscal resources. Many of the resources generate revenue for the Common School Fund, such as state-owned rangelands and timberlands, waterway leases, estates for which no will or heirs exist, and unclaimed property. Twice a year, the agency distributes fund investment earnings to support K-12 public schools. The agency also administers Oregon’s Removal-Fill Law, which requires people removing or filling certain amounts of material in waters of the state to obtain a permit.

###

www.oregon.gov/dsl

Spanish / Español

Videos

Don't let flu take you out of the picture

No permitas que la influenza (gripe) te deje fuera de la foto.

October 22, 2019

Media contact: Delia Hernández, 503-422-7179, phd.communications@dhsoha.state.or.us

Protect people around you: Get a flu vaccine

OHA officials urge everyone 6 months and older to get immunized

Portland, Ore. – Health officials say they have started to see cases of flu in Oregon. They recommend everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine.

People who get vaccinated not only protect themselves but may also protect those around them. People at higher risk of severe illness include babies and young children, adults older than 65, pregnant women, and those with chronic medical conditions or weak immune systems.

"Healthy adults who get vaccinated help prevent the flu from spreading quickly. But only a third of adults 18 to 49 get the flu vaccine," says Ann Thomas, M.D., public health physician at the Oregon Health Authority Public Health Division. “Even if adults do not get a vaccine for themselves, they may want to get vaccinated to protect those they love."

The flu vaccine may take up to two weeks to become effective, so getting it earlier in the season is ideal. Flu vaccine is available from health care providers, local health departments and many pharmacies. The vaccine is free or low cost with most health insurance plans. To find flu vaccine clinic, visit http://www.flu.oregon.gov/ and use OHA’s flu vaccine locator tool.

Flu is a virus that causes mild to severe respiratory illness. In severe cases it can lead to hospitalization and even death. The virus kills thousands of people in the U.S. each year. Oregon had two flu-related deaths of children during the 2018-2019 flu season.

Flu vaccines can be life-saving for children. A 2017 study was the first of its kind to show that flu vaccines can significantly reduce a child’s risk of dying from influenza. Studies have also shown flu vaccines reduce the severity of illness in people who get vaccinated but still get sick, preventing thousands of hospitalizations each year.

Public health officials also encourage health care workers to get vaccinated for the flu. Immunized health care workers help prevent the spread of influenza in health care settings, particularly among hospitalized patients at high risk for complications from the flu. Data on 2017-2018 Oregon health care worker influenza vaccination rates are available in the Oregon Health Care Worker Influenza Vaccination report.

Additional ways people can help prevent the spread of flu:

• Stay home from work or school when you are sick and limit contact with others.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue out when you are done.
• Wash hands with soap and water. Use an alcohol-based hand rub if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may have flu germs on them.
• Avoid getting coughed and sneezed on.

October 18, 2019

Media contact: Jonathan Modie, 971-246-9139, phd.communications@dhsoha.state.or.us

OHA accepting applications for Public Health Advisory Board

The Oregon Health Authority Public Health Division is seeking applicants for the state Public Health Advisory Board (PHAB)

OHA invites applications from people who meet the following criteria:

• A public health expert in academia.
• A local public health administrator who supervises public health programs and activities in Benton, Clackamas, Deschutes, Jackson, Lane, Marion, Multnomah or Washington counties.

This position serves a four-year term that begins on Jan. 1, 2020. Board members are appointed by the Governor.

To apply, submit the following documentation to executive.appointments@oregon.gov by Dec. 1:

1. A completed executive appointment interest form, which is available on the Governor’s office website.
2. A resume or brief biographical sketch.
3. A brief statement of interest.

Information about the Public Health Advisory Board is available on the board’s webpage at http://www.healthoregon.org/phab

For more information, contact Cara Biddlecom at 971-673-2284 or a.m.biddlecom@dhsoha.state.or.us">cara.m.biddlecom@dhsoha.state.or.us.

October 17, 2019

Media contact: Saerom England, 971-239-6483, om.y.england@dhsoha.state.or.us">saerom.y.england@dhsoha.state.or.us

Regional Behavioral Health Collaborative Medical Community Collaboration Workgroup meets October 22

What: A public meeting of the Tri-County Regional Behavioral Health Collaborative Medical Community Collaboration Workgroup.

Agenda: Brainstorm and discuss content for a resource document to assist medical settings and recovery peer agencies that are adding or contemplating adding recovery peers to enhance medical responses to individuals with substance use disorders.

When: October 22, 1-4 p.m.

Where: Tabor Space, 5441 SE Belmont Street, Portland.

The Tri-County Regional Behavioral Health Collaborative brings together multiple sectors across the Portland metro area to collectively address and prevent behavioral health challenges, with a focus on peer-delivered services and substance use disorder activities that can make an impact in 12 to 24 months.

For more information, visit the RBHC websit.

# # #

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 Summer Boslaugh at 503-753-9688, 711 TTY or email .h.boslaugh@dhsoha.state.or.us">summer.h.boslaugh@dhsoha.state.or.us at least 48 hours before the meeting.

October 18, 2019

Media contact: Delia Hernández, 503-422-7179, phd.communications@dhsoha.state.or.us

Program contact: Lisa Bui, 971-673-3397, ootg.info@dhsoha.state.or.us (meeting information or accommodation

Oregon Opioid Taper Guidelines Task Force meets October 25

What: A public meeting of the Oregon Opioid Taper Guidelines Task Force.

When: October 25, 9 a.m. to noon.

Where: Portland State Office Building, Room 177, 800 NE Oregon Street, Portland.

Agenda: Welcome, taskforce purpose and outcomes, agenda review, introductions, background on formation of the task force, principles for guidelines, key components for inclusion in the guidelines, next steps and summary. There will be time for public comment at the beginning of the meeting at approximately 9:05 a.m.

For more information, please visit the Opioid Prescribing Guidelines Task Force webpage.

# # #

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 Lisa Bui at 971-673-3397, 711 TTY, ootg.info@dhsoha.state.or.us, at least 48 hours before the meeting.

October 17, 2019

OHA issues corrective action plan to Health Share of Oregon

Plan addresses OHP members' transportation problems

Salem, Ore. -- The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has issued a corrective action plan that requires Health Share of Oregon to improve non-emergent medical transportation (NEMT) services that it provides to Oregon Health Plan (OHP) members.

Health Share of Oregon (HSO) is a coordinated care organization that serves approximately 309,000 OHP members in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties. NEMT is a core benefit of the Oregon Health Plan. Members can access these transportation services for rides to their medical, dental and behavioral health appointments.

Health Share of Oregon has been working with OHA to improve this critical service for its members. Health Share has been meeting with OHA to provide monitoring data and discuss improvements it has made in the program.

In issuing the corrective action plan, OHA found that Health Share did not provide reliable non-emergent transportation services to covered appointments and that access to care for members has been, and continues to be, disrupted.

OHP members in Health Share’s service area have notified OHA of problems they have experienced arranging transportation to non-emergency health care appointments including: transportation providers failing to pick members up for appointments or after appointments to return home, late arrivals, cancellation of rides with short notice, long call center wait times, and lack of appropriate equipment in vehicles to support members' needs. Transportation providers have complained that Health Share’s vendor, GridWorks, has not paid them for rides.

Health Share is required to provide OHA a turn-around plan within 14 days to correct the current non-compliance with NEMT contract requirements and rules. OHA recommends Health Share hire a consultant experienced in NEMT to help improve services for OHP members.

OHA is requiring Health Share to provide weekly reports that include the following performance data, which HSO began reporting Sept. 13:

• On time, late or “no shows” performance.
• Total ridership by mode.
• Total call volume.
• Average speed to answer calls.
• Call center service level.
• Average call handle time.

# # #

October 17, 2019

Contact: Pete Edlund, 503-931-8873, .m.edlund@dhsoha.state.or.us">peter.m.edlund@dhsoha.state.or.us (meeting information or accommodation)

What: The regular public meeting of the Oregon Health Authority’s CCO Metrics and Scoring Committee.

When: October 18, 9 a.m. to noon.

Where: Five Oak Building, Suite 775 Transformation Training Room, 421 SW Oak St., Portland. The public also may join remotely through a webinar at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/3895887851300669185 and listen-only conference line at 888-204-5984, access code 1277166.

Agenda: Welcome, review minutes, and general updates; public testimony; Quality Incentive Program and CCO 2.0; obesity measure update; new travel reimbursement policy; continuous enrollment for 2020; documenting reasons for 2020 measure retirement; adjourn.

For more information, please visit the committee's website at https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HPA/ANALYTICS/Pages/Metrics-Scoring-Committee.aspx.

# # #

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

• 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 Pete Edlund at 503-931-8873, 711 TTY, .m.edlund@dhsoha.state.or.us">peter.m.edlund@dhsoha.state.or.us, at least 48 hours before the meeting.

October 16, 2019

The patient reported missing Monday by Oregon State Hospital has been located. Please reference Eugene Police Department Case Number EPD 19-16811.

On Tuesday, Oct. 15, an employee of the hospital recognized the patient at Washington Jefferson Park in Eugene. The staff member called police, who took him into custody at about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The patient is at the Lane County Jail, awaiting transport back to the hospital.

# # #

October 16, 2019

Media contact: Delia Hernández, 503-422-7179, phd.communications@dhsoha.state.or.us

Recreational use advisory issued October 16 for North Tenmile Lake

The Oregon Health Authority issued a recreational use health advisory today for North Tenmile Lake due to the presence of a cyanobacterial (harmful algae) bloom and cyanotoxins (harmful algae toxins) above recreational guideline values for human exposure. The lake is in Coos County.

People should avoid swimming and high-speed water activities, such as water skiing or power boating, in areas of the lake where blooms are identified. Although toxins are not absorbed through the skin, people who have skin sensitivities may experience a puffy red rash.

People are encouraged to visit North Tenmile Lake and enjoy activities such as fishing, camping, hiking, biking, picnicking, and bird watching. Boating is safe as long as speeds do not create excessive water spray, which could lead to inhalation risk.

Drinking water

Drinking water directly from areas of the lake affected by a bloom is especially dangerous. Toxins cannot be removed by boiling, filtering or treating water with camping-style filters. Contact campground management or the local health department with questions about water available at nearby campgrounds or day use areas.

People who are not on a well or a public water system and draw in-home water directly from an affected area are advised to use an alternative water source because not all private treatment systems are proven effective in removing cyanotoxins.

Children and pets

Children and pets are at increased risk for exposure because of their size and level of activity. People who bring their pets to a lake with areas affected by a bloom for recreation activities, regardless of whether a recreational use health advisory is in place, should take special precautions to keep them from drinking from or swimming in these areas. Dogs can also be exposed to cyanotoxins when present by licking their fur, licking cyanobacteria off rocks or eating cells from a bloom.

Fishing

Fish caught from areas where cyanobacterial blooms are present should have fat, skin and organs removed before cooking or freezing, as toxins are more likely to collect in these tissues. Fillets should also be rinsed with clean water.

Symptoms

Exposure to cyanotoxins can be serious and result in a range of symptoms, from those similar to food poisoning such as stomach cramping, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, to more serious symptoms like numbness, tingling, dizziness and shortness of breath that may require medical attention.

For health information or to report an illness, contact the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) at 971-673-0482.

Learn more here.

Salem, OR, Oct. 16, 2019: Oregon Lottery Scoreboard, the state’s first and only, legal online sportsbook launched today – offering players myriad opportunities to wager on their favorite professional sports. A Scoreboard mobile app is available for both iOS and Android devices, and a desktop version is accessible from the Lottery website. While the iOS app is available in Apple’s App Store, Android users will download their app directly from Lottery’s website.

This is the Oregon Lottery’s first entry into online sales and gameplay with plans to add in-venue sports betting at select Oregon Lottery retail locations in 2020.

Upon online registration and verification, players may fund their accounts and set wagers on a variety of professional sports including NFL, NBA, MLS, NWSL, MLB and even NASCAR. Betting options cover a wide variety as well, including single-game wagers, parlay, live, in-game betting and more. Geolocation services ensure Oregon Lottery Scoreboard play occurs within state boundaries, and not on Tribal lands.

“This is an exciting day for Lottery, as we launch a new game and a new sales channel, “noted Director Barry Pack. “This game allows Lottery to attract new players – increasing revenue for important state programs without relying on current players to play or wager more.”

In order to ensure the highest level of security, Lottery has set the automatic identification validation to the most stringent setting. Players who input incorrect or incomplete data may be required to validate identification through a manual process to establish an account.

Media is invited to observe students "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" during the Great Shakeout earthquake drill on October 17 at 10:17 a.m. at River Road/El Camino del Río Elementary School in Eugene.

More than 710,000 Oregonians are already registered for the ShakeOut! If you would like to register or learn more go to: https://www.shakeout.org/oregon/

Where: River Road/El Camino del Río Elementary School 120 West Hilliard Lane, Eugene, OR 97404
When: 9:45 a.m., drill starts at 10:17 a.m.

Media interested in attending please contact Hillary Johnson, Communications Specialist, Eugene School District 4J at (541) 790-7734: johnson_hi.lane.edu.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Marion County District Attorney’s Office have been investigating the death of Tricia Carver, DOB 10/14/1971, since her body was located nearly one year ago in a field in St. Paul, Oregon.  After an exhaustive criminal investigation, the Marion County District Attorney has determined that the sole person responsible for Tricia Carver’s death was her estranged husband, Lemarr Carver, who killed himself at his residence in Hillsboro, Oregon shortly after killing his estranged wife.  Since the only suspect in Tricia Carver’s murder is deceased, there will be no criminal prosecution and this criminal case will be considered closed.

Below is a summary of the facts from the investigation.

On the morning of November 5, 2018, the body of an adult female was located in a field off of Vachter Road NE, a gravel road near River Road NE in St. Paul, Marion County.  The deceased had no identification on her but was wearing a watch and jewelry that investigators hoped would be recognizable to a friend or family member.

At 4:32 p.m. that afternoon, Darlene Borde reported to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office that she had not heard from her daughter, 47 year old Tricia Lynn Carver, in 24 hours.  Ms. Borde told police Tricia Carver had been staying with her while going through a divorce from her husband, Lemarr Carver, a criminal defense attorney who practiced in Salem and other parts of Oregon.  Ms. Borde reported that her daughter had left her residence in Millersburg, Oregon the day before (Sunday, November 4, 2018) at approximately 4:30 p.m.

The Linn County Sheriff’s Office then contacted Tricia Carver’s best friend Jessica Bauer.  Ms. Bauer told them that she had seen Tricia Carver on the afternoon November 4, 2018.  At that time Tricia Carver told her that she had plans to meet her estranged husband, Lemarr Carver for dinner that evening and that she was considering reconciling with him.

Ms. Bauer said that she last spoke with Tricia Carver at 5:21 p.m. on November 4, 2018 and that Tricia Carver was in her car on her way to meet Lemarr Carver.  Tricia Carver told Ms. Bauer that she had learned details about the woman Lemarr Carver was having an affair with and was unsure of what to do. Ms. Bauer said that Tricia Carver ended the phone call abruptly, saying that she had to get off the phone because “he is coming.”

Ms. Bauer described Lemarr Carver as being emotionally abusive and very controlling of Tricia Carver during their marriage.

The Linn County Sheriff’s Office then asked Hillsboro Police Department to attempt to make contact with Lemarr Carver at his residence in Hillsboro.  When a Hillsboro Police officer went to Lemarr Carver’s residence nobody was home.  However, the officer did locate a report from Tigard Police Department from earlier that day (November 5, 2018) where Lemarr Carver was brought to the ER due to a reported anxiety attack because he was “worried” about his estranged wife who was “missing.”

It should be noted that, despite this claim of concern, Lemarr Carver never made a report to any law enforcement agency regarding his wife’s disappearance.

At 9:38 p.m. on November 5, 2018, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office learned about the unidentified deceased female that had been found that morning in Marion County, and notified the Marion County Sheriff’s Office that the unidentified female may be their missing person - Tricia Carver.

At 2:30 a.m. on November 6, 2018, Tricia Carver’s vehicle was located in the parking lot of the Elmer’s restaurant near the Woodburn Outlet mall, approximately five miles from where the body was found.[1] 

Later on the morning of November 6, 2018, an autopsy conducted at the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that the deceased female was Tricia Carver.  Dr. Rebecca Milius ruled Tricia Carver’s death a homicide caused by blunt force injury of the head and neck.  Tricia Carver’s injuries included a deep laceration to the scalp, subarachnoid hemorrhages and a fractured hyoid bone, consistent with manual strangulation.  Additionally, Dr. Milius noted numerous contusions and abrasions to Tricia Carver’s torso, extremities and head.[2]

Law Enforcement officials made multiple attempts throughout the day on November 6, 2018 to locate Lemarr Carver, both in person and over the phone, all of which were unsuccessful.

The following morning, November 7, 2018 at 8:22 a.m., Lemarr Carver called investigators and stated, “I hear you have some information for me.”  Investigators wanted to speak to him in person, so they offered to come to him.  Lemarr Carver refused but said that he would come to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office at 3:00 p.m. that day.  During the call Lemarr Carver sounded flustered and he was talking quickly and excitedly; his voice was shaking.

Throughout the day on November 7, 2018 the investigation continued as police awaited Lemarr Carver’s arrival to the 3:00 p.m. appointment. 

That investigation included getting Lemarr Carver’s phone records which showed phone calls to a Les Schwab in Woodburn, Oregon on November 5, 2018.[3]  Investigators contacted employees at the Les Schwab and learned that a woman named Elizabeth Ramirez (Lemarr Carver’s girlfriend) had dropped off Lemarr Carver’s burgundy Hyundai Genesis shortly after 8:00 a.m. on November 5, 2018.  Ms. Ramirez wanted new tires put on the car, wanted to pay in cash, and wanted to have the transaction put under her name. 

When the Les Schwab employees noticed that the tires on Lemarr Carver’s car were essentially brand new, they contacted Lemarr Carver to tell him that the purchase was unnecessary.  Despite this fact, Lemarr Carver insisted that he wanted the tires replaced and told them to “get rid of” the ones on the car.  At 11:16 a.m. that morning, Lemarr Carver picked up his car from Les Schwab and paid $1,098 cash for the new tires.

Also, discovered through the investigation was the fact that Pastor Christopher Davies had gone to Lemarr Carver’s residence in Hillsboro in the late morning / early afternoon of November 7, 2018.  “Pastor Chris” explained that Lemarr Carver told him that he had met Tricia Carver in a parking lot in Woodburn on Sunday. “Pastor Chris” said that Lemarr Carver began crying, was rambling and that he was making little sense and that he talked about trying to give Tricia Carver a good life.  “Pastor Chris” went on to say that Lemarr Carver told him “something” about harming Tricia Carver or causing her harm.  Lemarr Carver also acknowledged that he was supposed to meet with detectives that afternoon but that he was not sure if he was going to go.

“Pastor Chris” told investigators that he offered to pray with Lemarr Carver, asking him if he wanted to get “right with God,” and that the two of them prayed together and then   hugged.  After the hug, “Pastor Chris” explained there was a dramatic change in Lemarr Carver’s demeanor as Lemarr Carver firmly told him that he (“Pastor Chris”) needed to leave.

“Pastor Chris” explained that he later found a car key fob in the jacket he had been wearing at Lemarr Carver’s residence.  “Pastor Chris” believed the key may have belonged to Lemarr Carver and Lemarr Carver may have slipped it into his jacket when they embraced.  Investigators later confirmed that the key fob found by “Pastor Chris” was in fact the key fob for Lemarr Carver’s Hyundai Genesis. 

Lemarr Carver never showed up for his 3:00 meeting at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office that afternoon.  As a result, investigators began writing a search warrant for Lemarr Carver’s residence while others traveled north to Hillsboro to locate him.

At 9:10 p.m. on November 7, 2018, a search warrant was granted authorizing law enforcement to enter and search Lemarr Carver’s residence.  A tactical team with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office made initial entry and found Lemarr Carver deceased just inside the entrance to his home.  Lemarr Carver’s body was laying on the ground and a Glock 9mm semi-automatic handgun was found near his left hand.  There was a single gunshot wound to his left temple and a 9 mm casing located in his clothing.  A bullet fragment was found lodged in the wall on the opposite side of the room.  Lemarr Carver was dressed in a suit, tie and dress shoes.  The residence was otherwise undisturbed and there was no sign of any forced entry other than the entry made by law enforcement.

The Oregon State Medical Examiner’s office ruled that Lemarr Carver’s death was a suicide. 

[1]  Tricia Carver’s purse, cell phone and clothing were never located. 

[2]  Subsequent DNA testing from the autopsy of Tricia Carver failed to reveal the presence of any male DNA on her neck or body.

[3] Additional information from Lemarr Carver’s phone records later revealed that Lemarr Carver left his cell phone at his residence when he went to meet Tricia Carver in Woodburn on Sunday afternoon.

WASHINGTON— Today, the Department of Justice announced it has awarded more than $85.3 million to bolster school security—including funding to educate and train students and faculty—and support first responders who arrive on the scene of a school shooting or other violent incident.

Lane County School District was among the award recipients, receiving $370,289 under the department’s STOP Violence Prevention and Mental Health Training Program.

“These federal resources will help to prevent school violence and give our students the support they need to learn, grow, and thrive,’ said Attorney General William P. Barr. “By training faculty, students and first responders, and by improving school security measures, we can make schools and their communities safer.”

“These awards are an important first step toward addressing the epidemic of school and community violence in our country. We cannot stop until every last student goes to school knowing it is a safe place to learn and grow. It saddens me to know this is not the current reality for many young people. I’m encourage by the work of the Lane County School District and other educators who are working diligently to change this narrative and reality. Congratulations and keep up the great work” said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

President Trump signed the STOP School Violence Act into law in March 2018, authorizing grants that are designed to improve threat assessments, train students and faculty to provide tips and leads, and prepare law enforcement officers and emergency professionals to respond to school shootings and other violent incidents. The grant programs are managed by OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance, within the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services manage the programs and administer the grants, which include funds to:

• Develop school threat assessment teams and pursue technological solutions to improve reporting of suspicious activity in and around schools;
• Implement or improve school safety measures, including coordination with law enforcement, as well as the use of metal detectors, locks, lighting and other deterrent measures;
• Train law enforcement to help deter student violence against others and themselves;
• Improve notification to first responders through implementation of technology that expedites emergency notifications;
• Develop and operate anonymous reporting systems to encourage safe reporting of potential school threats;
• Train school officials to intervene when mentally ill individuals threaten school safety; and
• Provide training and technical assistance to schools and other awardees in helping implement these programs.

For more details about these individual award programs, as well as listings of individual 2019 awardees, visit https://go.usa.gov/xVJuV.

About the Office of Justice Programs:

The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal justice system. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

About the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services:

The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 130,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training and technical assistance. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit www.cops.usdoj.gov.

# # #

PORTLAND, Ore.—Quan Jiang, 30, a Chinese national and former engineering student at Linn Benton Community College in Albany, Oregon, was sentenced today to 37 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release for trafficking fake and altered Apple iPhones.

According to court documents, between January 1, 2016, and February 1, 2018, Jiang would regularly receive packages containing between 20 and 30 counterfeit iPhones from associates in Hong Kong. Using various assumed names, Jiang would submit each iPhone to Apple in person or online for a warranty replacement; he would then ship the genuine replacement devices he received back to China for resale. In exchange for his service, Jiang’s associate would pay Jiang’s mother, also residing in China, who would in turn deposit the money into Jiang’s bank account.

Jiang’s scheme first came to the attention of law enforcement on April 20, 2017, when U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized a shipment of 28 iPhone 6 devices en route to Jiang in Corvallis, Oregon. Later, on October 23, 2017, CBP seized a similar shipment of 25 iPhone 7 Plus devices addressed to Jiang. In both instances, CBP sent Jiang a notice of seizure, indicating that Apple representatives had confirmed the phones were counterfeit. Nevertheless, three more shipments—each with 29 iPhones—were seized by CBP in November 2017.

Jiang later admitted to investigators that he knew the devices were counterfeit and that it was illegal to submit them to Apple as genuine products still under warranty. In just over two years, Jiang imported more than 2,000 inoperable counterfeit iPhones. He ultimately obtained approximately 1,500 genuine replacement iPhones, each with an approximate resale value of $600.

On April 25, 2018, Jiang pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in counterfeit goods.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) and prosecuted by Ryan W. Bounds, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

# # #

More than $3.3 million awarded to six Oregon tribes and one tribal commission

WASHINGTON—The Department of Justice announced today that it has awarded over $273.4 million in grants to improve public safety, serve victims of crime, combat violence against women and support youth programs in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

Six tribes and one tribal commission in the District of Oregon were awarded over $3.3 million in funding. Award recipients include the Burns Paiute Tribe; Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission; Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians; Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon; Coquille Indian Tribe; Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians; and the Klamath Tribes.

“Violent crime and domestic abuse in American Indian and Alaska Native communities remain at unacceptably high levels, and they demand a response that is both clear and comprehensive,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “We will continue to work closely with our tribal partners to guarantee they have the resources they need to curb violence and bring healing to the victims most profoundly affected by it.”

“These awards underscore the Justice Department’s sincere commitment to improving public safety in tribal communities throughout the U.S. Pursuing justice on behalf of tribal crime victims in Oregon remains a key focus of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. We will not stop until all tribes have the resources they need to keep their communities safe and effectively enforce the administration of justice on tribal land,” said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Nationwide, 236 grants were awarded to 149 American Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages and other tribal designees through the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation, a streamlined application for tribal-specific grant programs. Of the $118 million awarded via CTAS, just over $62.6 million comes from the Office of Justice Programs, about $33.1 million from the Office on Violence Against Women and more than $23.2 million from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. A portion of the funding will support tribal youth mentoring and intervention services, help native communities implement requirements of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, and provide training and technical assistance to tribal communities. Another $5.5 million was funded by OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance to provide training and technical assistance to CTAS awardees.

The Department also announced awards and other programming totaling $167.2 million in a set-aside program to serve victims of crime. The awards are intended to help tribes develop, expand and improve services to victims by supporting programming and technical assistance. About $25.6 million of these awards were awarded under CTAS and are included in the $118 million detailed above.

CTAS funding helps tribes develop and strengthen their justice systems’ response to crime, while expanding services to meet their communities’ public safety needs. The awards cover 10 purpose areas: public safety and community policing; justice systems planning; alcohol and substance abuse; corrections and correctional alternatives; children’s justice act partnerships; services for victims of crime; violence against women; juvenile justice; violent crime reduction; and tribal youth programs.

The Department also provided $6.1 million to help tribes to comply with federal law on sex offender registration and notification, $1.7 million in separate funding to assist tribal youth and nearly $500,000 to support tribal research on missing and murdered indigenous women and children and other public safety-related topics.

Today’s announcement is part of the Justice Department’s ongoing initiative to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

A listing of today’s announced CTAS awards is available at: https://www.justice.gov/tribal/awards. A listing of all other announced tribal awards are available at: https://go.usa.gov/xVJuE.

# # #

PORTLAND, Ore.—Kristopher Ives, 33, of Portland, pleaded guilty today to fraud in connection with computers for illegally accessing the computer network and data of his former employer, Gearbox Studios, after being terminated.

According to court documents, in 2008, Ives began working as a computer programmer for Gearbox Studios, a Portland-based digital marketing agency. Ives eventually became Gearbox Studio’s lead programmer for server architecture and support, a position of trust with access to the computer networks and data of both the company and the company’s clients.

Between February and May 2015, after being terminated from his position, Ives illegally accessed Gearbox’s computers to steal and tamper with data. He used this data to attack Gearbox’s servers and various websites belonging to Gearbox customers. Ives deleted nearly 20,000 products from customer websites and changed prices for various items. Ives also stole names and credit card numbers from these Gearbox customer websites and threatened to release the information unless Gearbox made payment to a bitcoin address.

Ives faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced on January 22, 2020 before U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Simon.

As part of the plea agreement, Ives has agreed to pay restitution to his victims as ordered by the court.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Oregon Cybercrime Task Force and is being prosecuted by Quinn P. Harrington, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Any public or private entity suspecting a cyber intrusion or attack should contact the FBI through the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov or by calling your nearest FBI office.

# # #

PORTLAND, Ore.—Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, announced today the indictment of three people for their roles in a complex scheme to launder proceeds from the sale of illegal narcotics by facilitating the transfer of bulk cash from Mexican drug trafficking organizations to Chinese nationals residing in the U.S.

Shefeng Su, Xinhua Li Yan, and Xiancong Su, are each charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering. Shefeng Su and Li Yan were residents of Portland during the timeframe alleged in the indictment.

According to the indictment, the defendants’ money laundering scheme was designed to remedy two separate problems: drug trafficking organizations’ inability to repatriate drug proceeds into the Mexican banking system and wealthy Chinese nationals restricted by China’s capital flight laws from transferring large sums of money held in Chinese bank accounts for use abroad.

The first group, drug traffickers, are challenged by their inability to transport U.S. currency acquired from the sale of illegal narcotics in the U.S. to Mexico while avoiding detection by law enforcement and Mexican banking regulators. Mexico’s anti-money laundering regulations limit the amount of cash deposits of U.S. dollars that Mexican financial institutions can receive. As a result, drug trafficking organizations work with professional money launderers to bundle and sell bulk U.S. dollars in order to convert them to pesos, a more readily depositable currency in Mexico.

The second group, Chinese nationals living outside China, are challenged by China’s limit on the amount of personal funds that can be transferred out of Chinese bank accounts for use in a foreign country. Currently, China limits these transfers to $50,000 per year. As a result, some Chinese nationals have a need to acquire large quantities of U.S. dollars via other means.

The defendants’ scheme facilitated the transfer of cash between these two groups. Their money laundering organization would facilitate the transfer of funds from the buyer’s Chinese bank account to another Chinese bank account held by the money laundering organization. Once the Chinese renminbi (RMB) were transferred between these bank accounts, the funds were repatriated back to Mexico and converted to pesos to complete the money laundering cycle. This scheme has been described by some as the “Chinese Underground Banking System.”

All three defendants are at-large and believed to be outside the U.S.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

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

# # #

(SPRINGFIELD, Ore.) Oct. 21, 2019— PacificSource Health Plans is pleased to announce the 12 healthcare organizations that will receive a combined total of more than $600,000 in funding as part of its annual Community Health Excellence (CHE) program for the 2019-2020 cycle. Now in its 10th year, the CHE program has awarded more than $5 million in community grant awards to improve community health by awarding financial support to providers advancing healthcare delivery innovations in Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and, Washington.

Through the CHE program, funding is made available for a variety of care delivery innovations including trauma-informed and culturally appropriate care, health care integration, palliative care, and chronic disease management. Applications are independently evaluated and awards go to organizations that prioritize advancing the Triple Aim and demonstrate significant positive impact for their patients, regardless of their insurance or PacificSource member status.

“I’m proud to see this wonderful community program reach its decade milestone,” said Ken Provencher, president and CEO of PacificSource. “Over the years since its inception, we’ve been able to see the positive results of the remarkable work being done by the grant awardees, and the profound impact their programs have had on the patients and communities they serve.”

The 2019-2020 CHE program grant awards include: All Season Family Care (ID), Bozeman Health Foundation (MT), Children’s Health Foundation (OR), Kaniksu Health Services (ID), La Pine Community Health Center (OR), Mercy Foundation (OR), North Bend Medical Center (OR), Oregon Medical Group (OR), Partners in Care (OR), Partnership Health Center (MT), Praxis Medical Group (OR), and Summit Medical Group (OR).

Three additional CHE grants totaling $111,000 were awarded through a contribution from Pacific Health Associates, a tax-exempt organization affiliated with PacificSource. Those grant recipients are Emergency Responders Health Center (ID), Mid-Columbia Medical Center (OR), and Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch (MT).

To be considered for the CHE program, providers must complete an online application including a detailed budget. Initial review and scoring of all applications are conducted by an independent panel of physicians with expertise and interest in community health. The next CHE grant cycle will open in January 2020. For more information, visit https://www.pacificsource.com/che-program/

About PacificSource Health Plans:

PacificSource Health Plans is an independent, not-for-profit community health plan serving the Northwest. Founded in 1933, PacificSource has local offices in Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Washington. The PacificSource family of companies employs more than 1100 people, serves more than 300,000 individuals, and has 3,900 employer clients throughout the Northwest. For more information visit PacificSource.com.

Roseburg, Ore.— With a multitude of flavors available and discrete devices that can easily be concealed, e-cigarette use among youth, also known as vaping, has become a national epidemic.  According to the 2017 Oregon Healthy Teens Survey, 9% of eighth graders and 12% of eleventh graders in Douglas County currently use e-cigarettes. For eleventh graders, this was higher than the percentage using traditional tobacco cigarettes.

To help youth and young adults quit e-cigarettes, DPHN, Blue Zones Project, and CHI Mercy Health are partnering with Truth Initiative to bring Douglas County “This is Quitting,” a free mobile program designed to help young people quit vaping, officially launched October 1st. The first-of-its-kind text messaging program incorporates messages from other young people like them who have attempted to, or successfully quit, e-cigarettes. The messages show the real side of quitting, both the good and the bad, to help young people feel motivated, inspired and supported throughout their quitting process. The program also sends young people evidence-based tips and strategies to quit and stay quit. Since the program was released in January 2019, more than 54,000 young people have enrolled nationwide. 

This resource is particularly important for teens and young adults, for whom nicotine is especially dangerous. Research shows that exposure to nicotine among youth is particularly dangerous since it has been shown to have an effect on key brain receptors, making young people more susceptible to nicotine addiction. Unfortunately, nicotine is highly addictive and found in high concentrations in some e-cigarettes, making quitting vaping incredibly difficult. This is Quitting helps participants feel less alone and supported without judgment as they go through the quitting process. Thousands of young people have submitted their own messages of advice, encouragement and support to add to the program.

Those interested in enrolling in the program can simply text “VAPEFREEDC” to 88709. Users may set a quit date by texting in the desired date. They receive one support text per day for a week prior to and at least 30 days after their set quit date. If someone is looking to end their relationship with JUUL but is not yet ready to set a quit date, the program will still send at least two weeks of messages to help the user become more confident and prepared to take the next steps to quit. Users can receive on-demand support for cravings, stress, and slips in addition to their scheduled interactive messages.

Flyers and palm cards with the text code and number will be distributed to schools and other community partners across Douglas County who engage with youth and young adults.  For more information about the program or to request materials contact Bailey Burkhalter at Bailey@DouglasPublicHealthNetwork or 541-677-5825.

The Blue Zones Project Tobacco Policy Committee is a community-led coalition with representatives from CHI Mercy Health, Douglas Public Health Network, Adapt, Aviva Health, Umpqua Health Alliance, Roseburg Public Schools, and community members interested in supporting a healthier community.

###

SALEM, Ore. – Oct. 17, 2019 – In celebration of Oregon Community Bank Week taking place this October and sponsored by the Community Banks of Oregon, Willamette Community Bank in Albany is holding a free document shredding event to help community members fight identify theft.

According to a 2018 Shred-it Fraud Awareness Week Survey, nearly 30% of consumers do not shred paper or physical documents containing sensitive information before throwing them away. With identify fraud on the rise and now effecting 16.7 million U.S. consumers, securely destroying documents that contain personal information is one of the best ways consumers can protect themselves from would-be identity thieves.

Willamette Community Bank invites community members to have their paper documents securely destroyed and recycled by a mobile shredding truck on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 200 Ferry Street S.W. For more information, contact Trina Henderson at son@willamettecommunitybank.com">THenderson@willamettecommunitybank.com.

About the Community Banks of Oregon

Community Banks of Oregon (CBO) serves banks headquartered in Oregon. The principle mission of CBO is to support and promote community banking in Oregon. CBO advocates for community banks, provides a forum to address issues unique to community banks, and promotes community banks through initiatives like Oregon Community Bank Week. For more information, please visit www.oregonbankers.com/local.