Willamette Valley News, Wednesday 11/16 – Eugene Police Report Stabbing Fight On 16th Avenue, Safety Work to Begin at Busy Springfield Intersection, and other news…

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

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Willamette Valley Weather

Eugene Police Report Stabbing Fight On 16th Avenue

According to the Eugene Police Department, two people are receiving medical treatment after a three-person fight that left one with stab wounds and another with serious but non-life-threatening injuries Monday.

According to the EPD, at about 3:33 p.m. on November 14, a man and his girlfriend were walking on 16th Avenue near High Street when two other men, who police say were known to the couple, began following them. Police said the following men got into a fight with the male half of the couple, and during the fight one of them was stabbed more than once. Police said the male half of the couple sustained serious but not-life-threatening injuries.

Eugene police say they set up an investigation near the scene of the altercation, and members of the public were asked to avoid the area while the investigation was underway. Police say the man who was stabbed was taken to a nearby hospital via private vehicle, then flown to another hospital for more advanced care. The male half of the couple was also taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for his injuries. Police say there is no threat to the public, but an investigation is ongoing.

Safety Work to Begin at Busy Springfield Intersection

Safety installations and traffic modifications are set to be installed starting on November 20 at the intersection of Gateway Street and Kruse Way in Springfield.

Springfield officials say work will begin on Sunday, November 20, and go through Thursday, November 24 between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. Officials say the project will eliminate left turns into and out of Kruse Way due to a large number of crashes at the intersection with Gateway Street, and will install a rapid flashing beacon pedestrian crossing to allow pedestrians to cross Gateway Street. Officials ask residents to drive carefully and follow all traffic controls in the work zone.

Officials say access to buildings within the area will remain open during the project, but lane closures will be necessary as work progresses. Officials say that pedestrians, including pedestrians with disabilities, will be able to walk through or around the work zone during construction. More information about the project is available at the city of Springfield’s website.

OSU Researchers Develop New Method To Fight Tumors

Oregon State University researchers report that they have improved upon a method of cancer treatment that uses microscopic magnetic particles to heat up and kill tumors deep within the body.

This image provided by OSU College of Pharmacy researchers depicts magnetic nanoparticles in a tumor, where upon exposure to an alternating magnetic field they can heat to the cancer-killing temperature of 50 degrees Celsius.

According to OSU researchers, magnetic nanoparticles have shown potential to fight cancer for years. Scientists say that once injected into a tumor, the nanoparticles – some as small as one-billionth of a meter – are exposed to an alternating magnetic field which causes them to heat up to about 122 degrees Fahrenheit. Scientists say this heat weakens the cancer cells, making them more vulnerable to treatment, or destroys them outright.

“Magnetic hyperthermia shows great promise for the treatment of many types of cancer,” said Olena Taratula, a lead researcher in a preclinical study of the method. “Many preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated its potential to either kill cancer cells directly or enhance their susceptibility to radiation and chemotherapy.”

OSU researchers say that at present, a major flaw in the magnetic nanoparticle treatment is that it can only be used against tumors that can be reached by a hypodermic needle. This means that it currently cannot be used on tumors deep within the body, such as those found in metastatic ovarian cancer.

“With currently available magnetic nanoparticles, the required therapeutic temperatures – above 44 degrees Celsius – can only be achieved by direct injection into the tumor,” Said Oleh Taratula, another lead researcher of the method. “The nanoparticles have only moderate heating efficiency, which means you need a high concentration of them in the tumor to generate enough heat. And numerous studies have shown that only a small percentage of systemically injected nanoparticles accumulate in tumors, making it a challenge to get that high concentration.”

Researchers said they are working to resolve this problem, and have developed an new way to manufacture the nanoparticles that results in greater heating efficiency. OSU said the researchers were able to demonstrate that these new nanoparticles accumulated in metastatic ovarian tumors in lab mice, and they were able to reach the needed temperature when exposed to the magnetic treatment.

“To our knowledge, this is the first time it’s been shown that magnetic nanoparticles injected intravenously at a clinically recommended dose are capable of increasing the temperature of cancer tissue above 44 degrees Celsius,” Olena Taratula said. “And we also demonstrated that our novel method could be used for the synthesis of various core-shell nanoparticles. It could serve as a foundation for the development of novel nanoparticles with high heating performance, further advancing systemic magnetic hyperthermia for treating cancer.”

Vehicle Crashes into a Building – 764 NW Garden Valley Boulevard -Roseburg

At 3:30 p.m. on November 15, 2022, personnel from the Roseburg Fire Department, Roseburg Police Department, and Umpqua Valley Ambulance responded to a vehicle into a building at 764 NW Garden Valley Boulevard.  Dispatch reported a vehicle had drove into Seven Thai restaurant striking patrons inside the restaurant.

Firefighters arrived on scene to find a Toyota Sienna minivan, driven by Jeanne Wallace (94 years of age), had driven through the glass pane front of the Seven Thai restaurant and struck several people that were seated at tables inside the restaurant.  Two patients were found to be trapped under the vehicle.  Five patients were injured and three were transported, two of which were trauma patients. 

Statements to police officers on scene revealed the driver had inadvertently pushed down on the gas pedal instead of the brake pedal.  The driver was uninjured and cited for careless driving.  The vehicle was removed from the building by Roseburg Towing personnel. 

Egan Warming Centers Urgently Need More Volunteers

Image result for Egan Warming Centers

Two Egan Warming Centers – the Eugene-Springfield area’s only emergency winter, low-barrier shelters – were activated Monday but could only open two locations because of a volunteer shortage.

Egan Warming Centers is a program of St. Vincent de Paul whose mission is simple: ensure that unsheltered people in Lane County have a place to sleep indoors when temperatures drop below 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

Egan Warming Centers are open throughout an operational season that typically begins Nov. 15 and ends March 31, with nighttime activation as necessary during that period. The program was named in honor of Maj. Tom Egan, a local man who died in freezing weather in 2008 while sleeping outside.

More information about Egan Warming Centers is available at https://www.svdp.us/services/shelter-assistance/egan-warming-centers/

Paid Leave Oregon launches statewide campaign to help employers prepare for paid leave

This week, Paid Leave Oregon launched a statewide campaign aimed at notifying Oregon employers about their role and responsibilities in the new program, which begins in just six weeks, on Jan. 1.

To make sure employers are ready to participate in the program, the statewide campaign includes social and digital advertising featuring Oregon employers. High-resolution photos for media from the campaign are available at this link.

Paid Leave Oregon also has a new online employer toolkit, a one-stop place for employers to find all the resources they need to prepare. The toolkit includes the required notice poster, an employer guidebook, a new video, and sample social posts that employers and partners can use to share information with their employees and networks, and much more. Resources for employers are available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, simplified Chinese, and traditional Chinese.

“Paid Leave Oregon is here to support employers so they can help their employees prepare for this new program,” said Karen Madden Humelbaugh, director of Paid Leave Oregon. “We are excited to share all of these new resources with employers, who we know are still learning about the program and how it will help Oregonians.”

Paid Leave Oregon allows employees to take paid time off for some of life’s most important moments. It covers leave for the birth or adoption of a child, for serious illness or injury, for taking care of a seriously ill family member, and for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or harassment.

The new campaign targets employers, because all employers, regardless of size, will collect contributions from employees starting Jan. 1. Both employers and employees fund Paid Leave Oregon with a total contribution rate of 1 percent of gross payroll. Employees will pay 60 percent, and large employers will pay 40 percent, of the 1 percent contribution rate. For example, if an employee makes $5,000, the employee will pay $30, and the employer will pay $20.

However, only employers with 25 or more employees also will contribute to the program. Small employers with fewer than 25 employees are not required to make contributions, but they can choose to participate in coverage as a benefit to their employees.

“Paid Leave Oregon will make it easy for business owners like us to support employees, and that helps keep trained folks on our team,” said Kathryn Weeks of Peoria Gardens in Linn County. 

Peoria Gardens is one of the local Oregon employers featured in the Paid Leave campaign. 

“Without this program we could not afford such comprehensive coverage, and we know that our workers are also contributing,” Weeks said. “The state will confirm a worker qualifies, and of course pay for the leave itself out of the fund. This is a real service, both for us and for our employees.”

Paid Leave Oregon will administer the program, including paying employees while they are on leave and determining their eligibility for benefits. Benefits will be available to employees in September 2023. Another statewide campaign focusing on employee outreach begins in 2023.

### The Oregon Employment Department (OED) is an equal opportunity agency. OED provides free help so you can use our services. Some examples are sign language and spoken-language interpreters, written materials in other languages, large print, audio, and other formats. To get help, please call 503-947-1444. TTY users call 711. You can also send an email to communications@employ.oregon.gov. — MORE INFO: https://paidleave.oregon.gov/Pages/default.aspx

OHA offers telehealth visits to improve access to COVID-19 therapy

Agency partners with Color Health to provide free clinician appointments so people can find out if they’re eligible for oral antivirals

PORTLAND, Ore. – Oregon Health Authority (OHA) now offers free telehealth visits statewide for those at increased risk for severe COVID-19 illness. This provides easier access to potentially life-saving treatment.

OHA partnered with Color Health to launch the new program Monday. Through this program, any person in Oregon, regardless of health insurance status, can make a no-cost telehealth appointment with a clinician. During the appointment, they can find out if they are eligible for COVID-19 oral antiviral medicine.

People at increased risk of severe COVID-19 illness whose symptoms started in the prior five days are eligible for treatment. If a clinician confirms the patient is eligible for treatment, the clinician can prescribe the medication.

“These medicines can help prevent severe COVID-19 illness, hospitalization and even death,” said Andrea Lara, M.D., M.P.H., therapeutics clinical and equity lead with Oregon Health Authority. “They should be available for free for anyone who needs them, whether or not the person has health insurance.”

She added that the service will especially benefit communities hit hardest by COVID-19. This includes Tribal nations and communities of color.

OHA recommends people with COVID-19 symptoms or a positive COVID test first call or visit a health care provider. If they don’t have a provider or are unable to quickly get an appointment, they can find a federal Test to Treat site.

If there is no Test to Treat site nearby or they can’t get to one, they can make a telehealth appointment through Color. The process is as follows:

  1. Visit Color.com/COVID-19-treatment-OR and take the survey, or call 833-273-6330 and describe your symptoms.
  2. Join the video or phone call.
  3. Those given a prescription can pick it up at their local pharmacy or get home delivery.

Telehealth visit hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. Consultation is offered in 17 languages. You can visit OHA’s COVID-19 treatments page, or call Color at 833-273-6330 for more information.

For people who can’t use the service or who need additional assistance or accessibility accommodations, there is another option. They can find participating federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) on the Test to Treat site. They should look for sites that say “HRSA supported health center” or read OHA’s monthly COVID-19 Therapeutics Newsletter, found on OHA’s COVID-19 Treatments page, for a list.

Oregon’s Doctors and Nurses Join Together, Ask Oregonians to be Vigilant Against RSV, Other Illnesses

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA)

(Portland, Ore.) – Across the state, hospitals are seeing a serious surge in cases of respiratory syncytial virus, also known as RSV. RSV is a common airborne respiratory virus. Young children are especially vulnerable to RSV, with children under the age of two at increased risk for severe symptoms. Combined with increased risk for cases of influenza and COVID-19, hospitals are on the verge of being overwhelmed, if they aren’t already. Public health officials across the country are warning that winter could see a “triple-demic” that will add overwhelming stress to an already stressed health care system in Oregon.

The Oregon Medical Association (OMA) and the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) are joining together to call on Oregonians to take steps to protect themselves and their children from the threats of RSV, flu, and COVID-19 – not only for their own health, but also to reduce the impact on the physicians and nurses who are facing unprecedented patient numbers in hospitals and clinics.

“All signs indicate that we are at the very beginning of this RSV surge,” said Marianne Parshley, MD, internal medicine specialist and President of the OMA. “Public health officials believe we won’t see the peak of this surge for another 10 to 12 weeks, until well past the holidays. Physicians and physician assistants across the state join their nursing colleagues in asking all Oregonians to take extra precautions now to help reduce the impact of these illnesses on our health care workers and prevent further strain on hospitals and clinics.”  

A crucial step for Oregonians is to know when (and when not) to go to the emergency room. “Our ERs are overflowing with patients right now,” said Tamie Cline, RN, President of the ONA Board of Directors. “It is important for people to know when they should head to the ER and when it is better to visit urgent care, call an advice nurse, see your primary care provider, or simply stay at home and care for yourself.” 

“If you suspect you or your child has been exposed to RSV, call your primary care physician or nurse advice line rather than coming into the ER where you will face a long wait, or even risk exposing yourself and your child to other illnesses like COVID-19 or the flu,” said Parshley. “Your doctor or advice nurse can run through a checklist of warning signs and symptoms and make suggestions for potential at-home treatments or recommend other steps, like visiting an urgent care clinic or coming to the ER, as needed.”

A serious symptom of RSV includes working extra hard to breathe – like flaring of the nostrils, grunting while inhaling or exhaling, or when skin between the ribs or collarbone pulls in and out. If an individual experiences such symptoms, they should be seen by a medical professional immediately. Check with your primary care provider or advice nurse if you have any questions about other symptoms.

“Just as we have been for the past two years, we are all in this together,” said Cline. “Physicians and nurses are asking everyone to take precautions like voluntarily wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, washing your hands frequently, keeping your hands away from your face, disinfecting frequently used surfaces, staying home from work or school if you suspect you might be ill, and, of course, make sure you get your flu shot and your COVID-19 booster. Spreading the message now, before this surge gets worse, is essential if Oregon is to avoid the worst impacts of an overwhelmed health care system.”

The Oregon Medical Association (OMA) is the state’s largest professional organization engaging in advocacy, policy, community-building, and networking opportunities for Oregon’s physicians, physician assistants, medical students, and physician assistant students. In the state capitol of Salem and in Washington, DC, the OMA’s members speak with one voice as they advocate for policies that improve access to quality patient care and reduce administrative burdens on medical professionals. For more information visit: www.TheOMA.org

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) is the state’s largest and most influential nursing organization. We are a professional association and labor union which represents more than 15,000 nurses and allied health workers throughout the state. ONA’s mission is to advocate for nursing, quality health care and healthy communities. For more information visit: www.OregonRN.org.

FBI Investigating Suspicious Death on Warm Springs Reservation

WARM SPRINGS, OR – The Federal Bureau of Investigation, partnered with the Warm Springs Tribal Police, are investigating the death of a man on the Warm Springs Reservation.

Warm Springs Tribal Police received a call Monday night notifying that a man had died in a home on Dry Creek Trail Road. 

Once police arrived they noticed a wound to the man’s head. The man is identified as 43-year-old Diamond Tewee. 

The FBI’s Evidence Response Team is processing the scene. As this is an ongoing investigation, no further information will be released at this time. FBI – Oregon

Reynolds High School Teacher Arrested In Bend In Online Sex Sting

A Reynolds High School teacher faces possible attempted rape and other charges after being arrested last Friday in an “online sex sting” operation, the Bend Police Department said Monday in a statement.

Edward Hernandez-Corchado, 26, began messaging a Bend police officer on November 4, with the officer posing as a 15-year-old girl, according to the statement. Over the course of the week, Hernandez-Corchado “continued contacting the officer and making sexual statements, and then began making plans to meet up in person at Target in Bend to engage in sexual acts with her,” police added.

The Portland-area teacher and the officer posing as the teen girl agreed to meet Friday evening “so he could take her to a hotel,” officials said. Police arrested him when he arrived at the agreed meeting spot.

Police said they took Hernandez-Corchado into custody on charges including online corruption of a child, attempted rape and luring a minor for sexual conduct. The Portland State graduate has been teaching social studies at Reynolds since 2019, according to a LinkedIn profile.

In a message to parents and staff, Reynolds High School said the teacher has been put on leave.

Police say there may be victims who have not been identified and ask anyone with possible information to contact the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office at 503-988-0560.

Free parking at Oregon State Parks the day after Thanksgiving

SALEM, Oregon – Oregon Parks and Recreation Department invites Oregonians to head outside the day after Thanksgiving, Nov. 25.

North Falls at Silver Falls State Park
North Falls at Silver Falls State Park

Popularly known as “Green Friday,” the day after Thanksgiving has become a tradition in recent years. Oregon state parks will once again waive day-use parking fees in the 24 parks that are open and charge for parking on that day.

“We’re proud to promote this tradition and offer Oregonians an alternative to the busiest shopping day of the year,” said Lisa Sumption, director of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

Parking is free year-round at almost all state parks; the waiver applies to the parks that charge $5 daily for parking. Fee parks include popular destinations such as Fort Stevens, Cape Lookout, Silver Falls, Champoeg, L.L. Stub Stewart, Smith Rock and Milo McIver. A complete list of parks that require day-use parking permits is available online at stateparks.oregon.gov (Fall Creek is listed, but closed for the season).

The fee waiver applies from open to close on Nov. 25, except at Shore Acres State Park, where it expires at 4 p.m. for the Holiday Lights event that runs Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve. 

Use #OptOutside and #OregonStateParks on social media to share your adventures.  Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept. 

Applications Open for the 2023 Oregon FFA Scholarships

Applications are currently open for the 2023 Oregon FFA Scholarships. High school FFA students, and some alumni, with an interest in agriculture or a similar field, have an opportunity to get a jump start on their advanced education.

Available scholarships and a brief description of their purpose All scholarship applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. January 31, 2023. For more information https://oregonffa.com/scholarships-2/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1109674113319848

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