Willamette Valley News, Wednesday 3/1 –Valley River Inn Suffers Significant Damage in Tuesday’s Fire, Eugene Police and Fire Department Respond To Exploding Propane Tanks Near Beltline & Roosevelt Blvd

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, March 1, 2023

Willamette Valley Weather

Valley River Inn Suffers Significant Damage in Tuesday’s Fire

Eugene Springfield Fire responded to a devastating fire at the Valley River Inn Tuesday morning.

Eugene Springfield Fire said the fire was reported at about 11:07 a.m. on February 28. Eugene Springfield Fire responded with all available fire crews and numerous emergency personnel. It took three hours to get the fire under control: At of 2:22 p.m., the fire was under control, Eugene Springfield Fire said. Several fire crews remained on scene to tend to hot spots and the building, and the Fire Marshal’s Office had started their investigation of the fire.

Eugene Springfield Fire said the fire started on the second floor on the south side of the building and quickly spread to the third floor and the attic. The fire was quickly upgraded to a three-alarm fire. Eugene Springfield Fire said the building’s sprinkler system was not activated, but the fire alarm did sound. This allowed for a successful evacuation of the building, with no injuries reported.

The hotel manager said all hotel guests were asked to pack their belongings and leave the building. They were all provided another room at a local hotel in the area. The manager said the hotel will be closed for a couple of weeks until further notice.

Eugene Springfield Fire said the building suffered extensive damage, including a partial roof collapse. The cause of the fire is currently unknown. There were no injuries or deaths reported. 

Eugene Police And Fire Department Respond To Exploding Propane Tanks Near Beltline & Roosevelt Blvd

Eugene Police responded to a “shots fired” call near Beltline Highway and Roosevelt Boulevard on February 28 at approximately 6:33 A.M.

According to the Eugene Police Department, while officers were on the way to the scene, dispatch updated information to them that no shots were fired — a fire had reportedly started near a set of propane tanks and they had exploded.

Upon arrival, Eugene Springfield Fire had been in the process of extinguishing the fire from the Beltline overpass and requested police to block traffic in that direction.

According to EPD, an investigation after the fire was extinguished found a small wooden hut with a single stove in the middle had caught fire, which spread to the propane tanks and touched them off. Police said there were no signs of an intentional fire.

Roseburg Officer Involved Shooting Investigation

A disturbance at the Roseburg Senior Center, which was being utilized as a temporary warming center for the night, resulted in an officer involved shooting early Tuesday morning. 

On Tuesday, February 28, 2023, at 12:45 a.m., 9-1-1 dispatchers received multiple reports of a disturbance at the Roseburg Senior Center where several individuals had been stabbed by a male who was utilizing the warming center. Officers from the Roseburg Police Department responded to the scene. A male suspect, whose identity is being withheld at this time, refused to comply with officer’s directives and attempts to de-escalate the situation and the use of non-lethal levels of force. Ultimately, an officer utilized lethal force against the subject who died at the scene despite lifesaving efforts. 

The involved officer has been placed on paid administrative leave in keeping with the involved agency’s policy.

The Douglas County Major Crimes Team was activated and is investigating the incident, with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office assigned as the lead investigating agency for the officer involved shooting. The Roseburg Police Department is investigating the assaults against those utilizing the warming center. 

The Douglas County Major Crimes Team consists of investigators from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Roseburg Police Department and Oregon State Police working in consultation with the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office.

Oregon Bill Would Fund Study Giving Homeless $1,000 A Month To Spend

A proposed Oregon bill would provide the state’s homeless population $1,000 per month that recipients could use at their own discretion.

The bill, introduced last month, would establish a People’s Housing Assistance Fund Demonstration Program to give 12 monthly thousand-dollar payments to those suffering from homelessness or who are on the brink of becoming homeless.

“Payments may be used for rent, emergency expenses, food, child care or other goods or services of the participant’s choosing,” the bill states.

People who spend more than 50 percent of their monthly household income on rent, and those who earn 60% or less of the area median income would also be eligible for the funding.

The legislation would also require the Portland State University Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative to study how effective the long-term cash assistance program would be across different demographics and household populations, as well as consider other circumstantial elements, such as domestic violence.

The program would last until January 2026, at which time the study would be due for presentation, the bill states.

Data shows as many as 14,650 people are experiencing homelessness in Oregon.

The state has been experiencing a long-lasting homeless issue for several years, especially in areas like Portland where up to 700 tent camps have taken over sections of the city.

Review Shows Oregon Bridges In Decline For 10th Straight Year

According to a report from the state Department of Transportation, the condition of Oregon’s bridges continued to decline last year.

Last year, the percentage of bridges in the state that were considered “distressed” hit a ten-year high. Structures with that designation frequently have restrictions on the weight of crossing vehicles.

ODOT said in 2021, 40 of the bridges it oversees were in “poor” condition and in need of improvements or replacing. The overwhelming majority are rated fair.

“Our bridge inspectors and our crews are out there working to keep bridges safe,” said Katherine Benenati with ODOT. “Just because a bridge is rated poor does not mean it’s unsafe. If we find a condition that would make a bridge unsafe, we would close that bridge.”

Over half of the bridges in service today were designed before 1970 and ODOT said older bridges weren’t designed to carry the traffic volumes and weights of larger vehicles common today.

ODOT said it’s managing its poor bridges “reasonably well,” but that the number of bridges moving from good condition to fair condition shows they can’t keep up with the maintenance required to keep bridges in good condition.

In the last two years, 53 bridges in Oregon had declining overall condition ratings compared to 25 bridges with improving condition ratings.

Most of the state’s 2,700 bridges are now at or exceeding their life expectancy — 800 of them are more than 60 years old. According to ODOT, Oregon’s bridges are regularly inspected and safe for public use. . ODOT has its own system for numbering highways, which can be found in the 2022 Bridge Log  —- FHWA’s 2022 National Bridge Inventory Data: chrome-extension://bdfcnmeidppjeaggnmidamkiddifkdib/viewer.html?file=https://artbabridgereport.org/reports/state/OR.pdfEditSign

Oregon Food Bank Preparing For End Of Pandemic Food Benefits Statewide

“Maybe 700,000 more people might need food assistance this coming month and we will be there.”

Today 3/1, pandemic-era emergency food assistance benefits are coming to an end. As SNAP recipients prepare to see, on average, a 40% decrease in their total food benefits, the Oregon Food Bank is preparing for the possibility of increase need for help.

“At the start of the pandemic, the federal government rushed in to help families that were struggling and one of the things they did was add more money into SNAP benefits,” said Susannah Morgan, CEO of the Oregon Food Bank. “Those of us in the anti-hunger world were thrilled, not just because more people would have grocery money then, but because we have been asking for decades for more money for SNAP. The SNAP dollars run out between week two and three. They don’t get a family all the way through the month. So this extra money, around $100, was really, really helpful to a lot of families around Oregon and it is ending across the nation. Maybe 700,000 more people might need food assistance this coming month and we will be there.”

Tuesday afternoon, the Oregon Food Bank’s statewide warehouse was bustling with volunteers hard at work.

“We have been in absolute high volume mode ever since the start of the pandemic,” said Morgan. “There was no point in the pandemic in which we shut down and weren’t able to get food out to our neighbors. So I am sure that will be the same in March that we will rise to meet the additional demand, but the only way we will be there is if the community stands behind us. We need community support and we need the state of Oregon to step up and ensure that those shelves stay full.”

For those who wish to help, you can donate monetarily or donate you time and volunteer.

“Food is available for you and your family,” said Morgan. “Please go to OregonFoodFinder.org or call 2-1-1 if that’s more convenient for you. Every food assistance site is located there. There will be one near you ready to help. I always think it’s a smart idea for folks who are worried that they won’t have enough money to get food through the month to go to the free sites first because we do not have everything. We have excess food, great food, really high quality food, but not as much variety as the grocery store. Please come see what we have first and then go to the grocery store second and it will stretch your grocery dollars.”

FBI Portland Division Now Accepting Applications for the FBI’s Teen Academy

PORTLAND, OREGON – Have you ever wanted to be part of a SWAT Team? Or fingerprint a suspect? Or learn how to catch a cyber-criminal? Then consider participating in the FBI Teen Academy.

The FBI Teen Academy program provides an excellent opportunity for rising high school juniors and seniors to learn about exciting careers in law enforcement within the FBI and beyond. Applicants chosen for the program actively engage with FBI agents and leaders in the Bureau to learn about case studies, crime prevention, evidence gathering, and investigative techniques related to criminal activity. The Teen Academy allows students to delve deeply into levels of law enforcement unavailable to them in a general classroom setting.

“We are excited to be able to offer the FBI’s Teen Academy program again this year,” said Kieran L. Ramsey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Portland Field Office. “It’s a great opportunity for these kids to learn about the FBI, engage with our Special Agents and develop leadership skills. We try to make this week-long program beneficial and useful for the students but we get so much out of it ourselves, hearing from this next generation of what their concerns are and how the FBI can do better, it’s a great opportunity for everyone.” 

Students will learn about how criminals are captured, hear from FBI agents about actual cases, and learn how to raise their self-awareness online and watch for cyber-predators. Graduates of the Teen Academy program develop a keen understanding of how the FBI interacts with local law enforcement agencies and how participants can raise crime prevention awareness in their communities. In addition, hands-on instruction by FBI experts and other law enforcement agents allows students to understand the importance of communication between national and local agencies. 

FBI Teen Academy members engage in group activities ranging from small group exercises to hands-on simulations. Participation is free to the applicants chosen, and volunteer organizations provide supplies for the events. As a result, students learn valuable life skills and increase their knowledge and understanding of how law enforcement agencies interact around the country.

To Apply

FBI Portland is currently accepting applications for its 2023 Teen Academy. The session will take place July 11, 2023 to July 14, 2023.

Submit your application to each.pd@fbi.gov“>outreach.pd@fbi.gov by Friday, April 14, 2023.

McMinnville Man Faces Federal Charges After Selling Fentanyl that Caused Seven to Overdose, One Fatally

PORTLAND, Ore.—A McMinnville, Oregon man is facing federal charges after selling fentanyl he claimed was cocaine that caused seven people to overdose, one fatally.

John Kyle Donnahoo, 28, has been charged by criminal complaint with distribution of fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury and death.

According to court documents, on February 10, 2023, Donnahoo sold powdered fentanyl he claimed was cocaine to an individual at a residence in McMinnville for $100. Seven individuals, including the buyer, were present in the residence during the sale. One of the individuals tested the powder twice using fentanyl “test kits,” but neither test produced a positive result. All seven individuals consumed and overdosed on the fentanyl. Four were treated with Narcan at the scene by responding police officers and medical personnel before being rushed to the hospital in critical condition. One of these victims later died and three were admitted to an intensive care unit. Donnahoo took the other three individuals to the hospital himself where they were treated and eventually discharged.

Donnahoo made his first appearance in federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman. Donnahoo was ordered detained as a danger to the community pending further court proceedings.

This case is being investigated jointly by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, McMinnville Police Department, and Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office.

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

Marion County Sheriff’s Office looking for help in identifying deceased female found in a Jefferson field

On February 21, 2023, about 4:45pm, deputies from the Sheriff’s Office Enforcement Division, Jefferson Contract, along with detectives from the Criminal Investigations Unit responded to a report of a citizen finding a female, deceased, in a field at the dead-end of Tenth Street in Jefferson, Oregon. The Marion County Medical Examiner’s Office responded to assist.

Wednesday, an autopsy was performed by the State Medical Examiner and the death has been determined to be natural causes.

The female found, was a white female, unknown age, 5’3 ½”, 128 pounds, wearing a red tank top, camo colored long sleeve shirt, Green sweatshirt, green sweatpants, and black tennis shoes. She was described as having a brooch attached to the green sweatshirt in the left chest area with a white pearl-looking piece in the middle of it.

We are asking anyone with information on a possible identify for this female to please call Deputy N. Morse, 971-720-0726.

Registration is Open for the 2023 Oregon Women Veterans Conference

Registration is now open for the 2023 Oregon Women Veterans Conference, which will be held on May 20 and 21 at the Salem Convention Center. Hosted by the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs, this free, biennial event is the largest gathering of women veterans in the state.

Women veterans from every branch of military service, era and background are invited to attend this free event celebrating the service and contributions of women who answered the call to serve throughout history. The conference will include informational workshops, keynote speakers and networking opportunities. 

This year’s theme, “Stronger Together — Voices of Service” is a testament to the continued strength, diversity and community of our women veterans, said ODVA Director Kelly Fitzpatrick, who is an Army veteran and the first woman to lead the state agency.

“Oregon continues to be a leader in recognizing, remembering and honoring the outstanding contributions of women who have served their country, and we are proud to be able to host this year’s conference in person again,” Fitzpatrick said. “Together, our collective voices achieve more, overcome challenges, and allow our stories to be shared.”

Women veterans make up one of the fastest-growing segments of the Oregon veteran community, with an estimated 25,000 women veterans living in the state today, representing nearly one-tenth of overall veteran population.

The first Oregon Women Veterans Conference was held 25 years ago in 1998. 

“The camaraderie and shared calling of service is what inspires our lives and is what continues to unite women veterans across every generation and era of service,” said ODVA Women Veterans Coordinator Jessica Bradley. 

The conference is an opportunity for women veterans to socialize, connect to resources, learn about their earned veteran benefits, and celebrate their service.

Attendance is free, but registration is required. Please visit wvc.oregondva.com to register and find additional event information on lodging and sponsorship and vendor opportunities.

Established in 1945, the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs is dedicated to serving Oregon’s diverse veteran community that spans five eras of service members. ODVA administers programs and provides special advocacy and assistance in accessing earned veteran benefits across the state. Learn about veteran benefits and services, or locate a local county or tribal veteran service office online at oregon.gov/odva

Fremont-Winema National Forest Seeks Camp Hosts for 2023 Season

The Fremont-Winema National Forest is outreaching for campground hosts at four locations across the Forest for the 2023 season.

Camp hosting is a great opportunity to spend your summer enjoying national forest lands while helping others do the same! Camp hosts are friendly, knowledgeable and available. They set a good example and help visitors feel at home while providing information, explaining fees and rules, and performing light maintenance such as cleaning campsites, picnic tables and grills, restocking toilet paper and fee envelopes, patrolling for litter, maintaining waste receptacles, and notifying forest service staff of maintenance needs.

Although volunteers are not paid a salary, they do receive a free camp site in the campground, propane, gas as well as a subsistence allowance. Applicants will need to supply their own RV or other self-contained camping setup and possess a valid driver’s license. A government vehicle will be provided to carry out camp host duties.

Applications are being accepted through April 30. Campground hosts typically start in mid-May and volunteer through Labor Day. Hosts take time off during the week, to ensure availability to campers over weekends. Hosts for Digit Point Campground will likely start closer to mid-June. Individuals or couples interested in serving for at least one month are encouraged to inquire. Retirees often find the camp host program an ideal way to spend summers getting to know new forests and new people.

To apply for the host positions at Williamson River or Digit Point Campgrounds, please contact Recreation Specialist Danilo Figueroa, 541-883-6702 or danilo.figueroa@usda.gov.

To apply for the host positions at Lofton Reservoir Campground or Cottonwood Meadows Campground, please contact Recreation Specialist Greg Campbell at 541-947-6359 or gregory.campbell@usda.gov. MORE INFO: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/fremont-winema/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1091210

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