The latest news stories and stories of interest in the Willamette Valley from the digital home of Southern Oregon, from Wynne Broadcasting’s WillametteValleyMagazine.com
Monday, September 13, 2021
Willamette Valley Weather
Today– Sunny, with a high near 74. Light north northwest wind becoming north 6 to 11 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday– Sunny, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming north 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday– Partly sunny, with a high near 74. Light north wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday– Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.
Friday– Rain likely, mainly after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69.
Lane County Motorcyclists Ride More Than 100 Miles In Honor Of 9/11 Victims
Motorcyclists gathered at the Eugene Springfield Fire Training Center Saturday morning for a ride that spanned more than 100 miles through Lane and Linn counties in honor of the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack.
“We are here to honor the events of September 11, and those that paid the sacrifice and probably more importantly, we want to pay tribute to them indefinitely, but we want to remember what it was like on September 12,” Dave Hall, one of the event’s organizers, said.
Hall described the emotions people around the country were feeling the day after the attack: “When we came together as a country and put aside all of the stuff that goes on on a daily basis and we were together as a country and that’s how we can best honor the people that lost their lives on September 11, as well as those that have lost their lives in the last 20 years since then,” Hall said.
This was the 5th year in a row the event has happened, according to Hall. He said he was expecting a larger than usual turnout since this year’s observance occurred on a weekend.
The motorcyclists departed from the training center just after noon and rode through several communities in Lane and Linn counties. They later returned to the training center for an appreciation dinner and a remembrance ceremony which Hall said included singers from the Oregon Children’s Concert Choir and honor guard.
Springfield Classic Car Parade Commemorates 9/11 First Responders
Dozens of community members gathered at the Springfield Elks Lodge Saturday morning to thank local first responders in observation of the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
About 30 classic cars paraded by several police and fire stations honking their horns and waving.
“We’re into classic cars. We like our cars, and what a fun day to do a ride plus pay our tributes all the first responders,” Jim Emery of the Springfield Elks Lodge who organized the ride said.
Moped Rider Dies After Crash With Truck In Springfield
One person had died following a crash involving a moped and a pickup truck in Springfield according to Springfield Police.
This happened around 1:20 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of Glenwood Boulevard and Franklin Boulevard.
Police said the male moped rider appeared to be attempting to execute a left turn from the northbound center turn lane of Glenwood Boulevard. They said he was not wearing a helmet when he collided with the pickup.
The man was transported to Riverbend Hospital following the crash and pronounced dead there, police said. The driver of the pickup truck was uninjured and cooperative, they said. Witness accounts reportedly lined up with accounts of the truck driver. Police said impairment does not seem to be a factor and the crash does not seem criminal in nature.
Glenwood Boulevard was closed for more than four hours following the crash while investigators collected evidence. Anyone with more information is asked to call Springfield Major Accident Investigation Team at 541-726-3714.
Man Arrested Selling Drugs In Eugene Park Had Meth and a Gun
Police found a half-pound of meth and a loaded firearm in a bag seized from a man that officers suspect of selling drugs in a public park.
Just after 5 p.m. Thursday, police say “a Eugene Police Street Crimes Unit was out working patrols focused on parks and noticed frequent short-stay traffic at MLK Park, 1000 block of Grant. Short-stay traffic can be an indicator of drug or illicit activity.”
The .8 acre park is nestled among homes in the Far West Neighborhood.
Police said an officer saw John Howard Carlson, 46, “engaged in hand-to-hand transactions.” As Carlson tried to leave the area, officers contacted him.
“He was verbally hostile, but otherwise taken into custody without incident,” police said.
Meanwhile, other officers contacted the man seen taking something from Carlson, who was later identified as 30-year-old Anthony Lee Barnack. He was arrested on a warrant and found in possession of meth.
“SCU K9 Officer Joe Kidd and Jack arrived and Jack did a sniff in the air of Carlson’s bag, alerting on narcotics, which turned out to be a half-pound of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm,” police said.
Carlson was booked into the Lane County Jail on charges of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Delivery of Methamphetamine, Possession of Controlled Substance Methamphetamine, and a warrant.
Ducks Beat Ohio State
With a 161-yard performance by CJ Verdell and no turnovers for quarterback Anthony Brown, the Ducks held off a late rally by the Buckeyes to come away with a 35-28 win.
In front of 100,482 at Ohio Stadium, Verdell racked up 161 yards on 20 carries and scored two rushing touchdowns and one receiving TD to lead the way in Oregon’s first victory against the Buckeyes in 10 all-time tries.
Offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead called a clinical attack that led to 505 yards of total offense. Oregon comes back to play in Eugene against Stony Brook next weekend.
The Ducks’ victory over Ohio State earned them a promotion from No. 12 to No. 4.
Oregon’s eight-rung leap came after its 35-28 win marks the biggest jump for a team entering the top five snce LSU went from No. 13 to No. 5 after it knocked off second-ranked Georgia in October 2018.
The Ducks have their highest ranking since they finished the 2014 season No. 2 as the national runner-up to Ohio State.
Oregon reports 2,453 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 20 new deaths
There are 20 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 3,414, the Oregon Health Authority reported Friday evening. Oregon Health Authority reported 2,453 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 bringing the state total to 296,825.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported are in the following counties: Baker (37), Benton (38), Clackamas (139), Clatsop (7), Columbia (38), Coos (34), Crook (31), Curry (8), Deschutes (199), Douglas (129), Grant (12), Harney (11), Hood River (7), Jackson (156), Jefferson (23), Josephine (77), Klamath (44), Lake (12), Lane (248), Lincoln (42), Linn (173), Malheur (24), Marion (201), Morrow (8), Multnomah (246), Polk (67), Sherman (1), Tillamook (37), Umatilla (89), Union (43), Wallowa (9), Wasco (28), Washington (190) and Yamhill (45).
Newest COVID-19 modeling report projects decrease in daily cases and hospitalizations
Today, OHA released its latest COVID-19 forecast, showing a projected decline in daily cases and hospitalizations through late September.
According to the report, the effective reproduction rate — the expected number of secondary cases that a single case generates — was estimated at .88 on Aug. 25, projecting a decline in the estimated growth of new cases and hospitalizations over last week’s modeling scenario.
At that level of transmission, the report estimates 490 cases per 100,000 people, or an average of 1,460 daily cases and 80 hospitalizations for the two-week period between Sept.15 and Sept. 28.
The modeling report labeled that projection “optimistic” because the projection was based on the lowest point of transmission.
The report proposed an alternative scenario factoring in assumptions around the impacts of reopening schools and many public events scheduled during the month of September. In that scenario, new cases are estimated at 635 per 100,000 people, or an average of 1,910 cases and 107 hospitalizations over the same period.
Vaccinations remain the most effective tool for slowing the spread of COVID-19. Oregonians are also encouraged to wear masks when in indoor public spaces and when outdoors among crowds.
State and local officials say it’s too early to tell exactly what impact President Biden’s mandate for COVID-19 vaccinations will have on cities and businesses.
Last week, the president said all businesses with 100 employees or more must require their employees be fully vaccinated or tested weekly. Officials with the Oregon Health Authority and Governor Kate Brown’s office say they’re still studying the order.
Portland Police Bureau officials say more than 75 percent of the force is fully vaccinated and at the Multnomah County Sheriff’s office, at least 72 percent of employees have been vaccinated. Numbers are much lower in other parts of the state and some Klamath County Firefighters have filed a class-action lawsuit against Brown.
Six Oregon workers subject to the state’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates are asking a federal judge to require Oregon to carve out an exception for people like them who have acquired some degree of natural immunity after they got sick with the virus.
They contend in a lawsuit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Eugene that the state must more narrowly tailor its school employee, healthcare worker and state government employee vaccination mandates to exempt workers who already have some immunity against the virus because they contracted and recovered from it.
The workers say in their lawsuit that the state vaccination rules, which Gov. Brown adopted last month, force workers like them “who have robust natural immunity, to choose between their health, their personal autonomy, and their careers.” To the employees, getting vaccinated “would involve more risks than benefits” and they are “exceedingly unlikely” to pass the virus to others, they wrote.
Some local companies are coming out in support of President Joe Biden’s new vaccination guidance for businesses, while other business owners say they are wary of its impact on an already struggling workforce. The president said the new vaccine mandate for businesses with more than 100 employees is an important step in the fight against COVID-19.
The mandate requires weekly COVID testing for unvaccinated employees. The Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association (ORLA) says it is not as straight forward as it sounds, adding that it could potentially be a few weeks until we find out how it will really work.
ORLA also says this could create and even more difficult hiring issue than business owners are already dealing with amid the pandemic. The association’s president, Jason Brandt, says that while they support vaccination, this one-size-fits-all approach needs to be flushed out.
The Cougar Peak Fire, which was discovered on Sept. 7, has grown to 83,339 acres, burning about 15 miles northwest of Lakeview on the Fremont-Winema National Forest. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Management and the Incident Commander have identified areas for
evacuations in the fire area. After a light rain in the morning, firefighters anticipated fire spread would be minimal Friday, due to the moderate weather.
As the temperatures ease back into seasonal norms, fire behavior will likely increase over the weekend, according to a news release from the fire incident command. Area residents and visitors are reminded that Public Use Restrictions are still in effect on the Fremont-Winema National Forest, as well as fire restrictions in effect on neighboring landscapes.
Fire Investigators Seek Information on Human-Caused Wildfires in Lake County
Fire investigators in Lake County are seeking information on wildfire starts in the area.
The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), Oregon State Police (OSP), U.S. Forest Service and Lake County Sheriff’s Office are investigating wildfire causes, including the Cougar Peak Fire.
This fire season has seen an increase in human-caused fire starts. To help with the investigations, the OSP has a phone line for area residents and visitors to call in with information that could help.
If you have information regarding a human-caused wildfire in Lake County, please call 1-800-442-0776 or OSP and reference Trooper Mike Hansen and OSP Case Number SP21-257103. Oregon State Police
— Isolated lightning with scattered precipitation in northeast Washington. Clouds covered western Washington bringing light precipitation. The rest of the geographic area saw scattered clouds. Gusty winds through Kittitas Valley, Columbia Gorge, and southeastern Oregon. Relative humidities in the teens in southeastern Oregon. Overnight humidity recoveries were good across the geographic area. Temperatures were 70-80 degrees, 60’s along the coastline and through western Washington. Large fires saw increasing activity as fuels dried out, but growth remained low.
— A sunny, but mild day is in store for most of the region today. Low clouds over the west side should dissipate through the day. A thermal trough along the southern Oregon coast will draw north to northeast winds into the area, accentuating warming and drying. Elsewhere, general winds should be light.
Temperatures will remain seasonable over the next few days, with relative humidities dropping back into the teens for southwestern and eastern Oregon. Another weak cold front arrives Wednesday with light rain for western Washington and a breezy winds on the east slopes of the Cascades, strongest where aligned with terrain. A stronger system brings a good chance for widespread precipitation over the coming weekend.
The potential for new significant fires will remain at or below normal levels through the week. Gusty winds, combined with low relative humidity could lead to elevated fire behavior in southwestern Oregon today.
Air Quality Advisories
Jackson, Klamath, and Lake counties are expected to be under an air quality advisory until at least Monday afternoon. To the east, Baker, Crook, Deschutes, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Malheur, Umatilla, Union and Wallowa counties could be under the advisory until at least Saturday morning. The eastern portions of Douglas, Lane, Linn, and Marion counties may also continue through Monday afternoon, depending on nearby fire activity.
According to DEQ, pollutants in smoke can cause burning eyes, runny nose, aggravate heart and lung diseases and aggravate other serious health conditions. Limit outdoor activities and keep children indoors if it is smoky. Consult a doctor and follow medical advice if you have a heart or lung condition. Health officials advise people to refill inhalers and air out homes and businesses when smoke levels improve to moderate or healthy (yellow or green on the Air Quality Index).
InciWeb has INFO on the larger fires still burning in Oregon.
This public lands link is super helpful to check before you head outdoors. The Keep Oregon Green website carries ODF’s public use restrictions. Click the link for up-to-date information: https://keeporegongreen.org/current-conditions/
Funding Announced For Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquake and Tsunami Preparedness
Oregon’s congressional Democrats announced federal funding to help Oregon prepare for a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake and tsunami.
The funds are being allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s FY2021 Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program. Oregon will receive $388,463 to support the development of a comprehensive logistics and supply chain management plan in the event of a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. The grants are highly competitive. Oregon is one of 15 state and local governments to be selected among 22 eligible applications.
“If a major earthquake hits along the Cascadia Subduction Zone, thousands could be killed and Oregon would suffer billions in economic damages,” said Rep. Peter DeFazio, who chairs the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, which has jurisdiction over FEMA. “This funding will allow the state to better prepare for a major earthquake and tsunami and develop a strategy to support supply chain management in the event of disaster.”
“The alarm that scientists are sounding about a potentially devastating earthquake hitting our state at some point demands a response that includes robust preparation to protect Oregonians and our communities,” Sen. Ron Wyden said. “I’m gratified that Oregon is receiving these FEMA funds to help with that needed preparation for a major quake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone that could also touch off a destructive tsunami slamming the coast.”
“Oregon’s preparedness for a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake is critical to the stability of our infrastructure and the safety of our communities,” Sen. Ron Merkley said. “I am pleased that this FEMA grant will go toward a comprehensive plan to protect Oregonians across the state, and ensure that we have the resources to manage any potential disaster and its aftermath.”
“The pandemic, the wildfires, and the extreme weather events over the last year prove the value of being as prepared as possible for catastrophic events,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “We must be ready for a potential Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake and related tsunami, so I’m grateful that Oregon was selected to receive this significant funding to help plan and prepare for a natural disaster that could strike at any time.”
Oregon’s greatest threat of earthquakes and tsunamis is from the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Stretching from northern California up into British Columbia, the Cascadia Subduction Zone “slips” roughly every 300 years causing major earthquakes. The last known major earthquake was in 1700 and evidence suggests it was a magnitude 8.7 to a 9.2.
Experts agree that Oregon is due for another major earthquake. Some forecasts suggest there is a ten to twenty percent chance of a magnitude 9 quake on the CSZ in the next fifty years, while others predict a twenty-five to forty percent chance of a major quake on the south end of the CSZ in the next fifty years.
The project receiving funding will focus primarily on the threats and vulnerabilities associated with a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake and tsunami, and the associated needs of socially vulnerable communities. Key federal, state, local, and tribal partners will be involved in project implementation.
Today 9/13 Is the Last Chance for Voters to Suggest How Oregon Should Draw Congressional Districts
The state’s population increase over the past decade means Oregon gets a sixth seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. State lawmakers now must draw the maps that determine where those congressional districts lie since the location of the districts determines how blue or red those districts are.
New boundaries will determine legislative districts and how many of Oregon’s six congressional seats will belong to each party. You can check this more info here: https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/redistricting-2022-maps/oregon/plan_a/
Maybe you have a better plan. The deadline to submit written testimony to the Legislature is 8:30 pm Monday, Sept. 13. Just email Oregon.Redistricting@Oregonlegislature.gov. (You can also sign up for a time slot to offer verbal testimony on Zoom during two virtual sessions tomorrow. Presumably, you can hold up maps to the Zoom camera.)
On Sept. 20, lawmakers from both parties will try to reach a compromise in a special redistricting session, focused both on congressional districts and state legislative districts.
Fatal Crash on Hwy 30-Clatsop County
On Friday, September 10th, 2021 at about 8:20am, Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a two-vehicle crash on Hwy 30 near milepost 94.
Preliminary investigation revealed that a Honda Civic passenger car, operated by Debra Livingston (67), of Astoria, was travelling eastbound on Hwy 30 when she lost control of her vehicle, went into the westbound lane, and struck a westbound Toyota Tacoma, operated by Robert Tikkala (57), of Astoria.
Livingston suffered significant injuries and was transported Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria where she was pronounced deceased. Tikkala was transported to Columbia Memorial Hospital with injuries.
Hwy 30 was closed for 2 hours following the crash. OSP was assisted by the Knappa Fire, Astoria Fire and ODOT.
Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division is requesting Public Assistance with a Poaching case of a Spike Elk in Lincoln County
The Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division is seeking the public’s assistance to identify the person(s) responsible for the unlawful taking and wasting of spike elk in the Logsden area in Lincoln County.
On August 16, 2021, the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division was notified of a deceased spike elk that had been shot with a firearm, gutted, and left to waste. The initial investigation determined the animal had been shot sometime between August 12 and August 15. The carcass was located on Fall Creek Road, northeast of the intersection of Fall Creek Road and Big Rock Creek Road, in a clear-cut area.
This area is heavily traveled, and other hunters are believed to have been in the area during this time frame. If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact the OSP TIP Hotline: 1-800-452-7888 or *OSP (677) or TIP E-Mail: TIP@state.or.us reference case # SP21233495.
** Report Wildlife and Habitat Law Violators**
The Oregon Hunters Association TIP reward offers preference points or 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.
Portland Names New Pedestrian Bridge After Simpson Character
Fans of the popular animated TV series, The Simpsons, will love the name of Portland’s newest pedestrian bridge.
City officials announced the pedestrian bridge over Interstate 405 in Northwest Portland will be named the Ned Flanders Crossing, after one of the long-running series’ most iconic characters.
The city described Flanders as a “beloved cartoon optimist, left-hander, beleaguered friend of Homer Simpson, and avatar of neighborliness,” in an announcement on Thursday, revealing the plaque on the city’s recently completed pedestrian and bicycle bridge.
The plaque shows Ned Flanders, smiling and waving, with his catchphrase “”Hi-Diddly-ho, neighborinos!” etched in.
You can see more info about the bridge on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ned_Flanders_Crossing
Portland is the home city of Simpsons creator Matt Groening, who embraced the idea of the new bridge’s name, the city said. The city has many unofficial streets and locations named after Simpsons characters.
“It’s a wonderful day for our city,” said Transportation Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty. “Naming this new bridge after Ned Flanders shows that Portland can build great things and have fun too. Thank you to Matt Groening and his team for embracing this idea.”