The latest news stories and stories of interest in Eugene-Springfield area and around the state of Oregon from the online digital home of the valley, WillametteValleyMagazine.com
Friday, November 20, 2020
Willamette Valley Weather
Today– Widespread dense fog before noon. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 49. Calm wind becoming northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday– Widespread dense fog, mainly before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 47. Light northwest wind.
Sunday– A 40 percent chance of rain after 10am. Cloudy, with a high near 47. South wind around 5 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Monday– A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 50.
Tuesday– Rain likely, mainly after 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53.
Today’s Headlines
Lane County Public Health is working closely with the Oregon Health Authority to monitor COVID‑19.
What does it mean?
Increased cases, including spread in the community. Available but stressed capacity in health care facilities.
Take measures to limit most contact and modify everyday activities to reduce personal exposure.
The Oregon Health Authority today is reporting the largest daily number of COVID-19 cases and deaths since the beginning of the pandemic in Oregon. COVID-19 has claimed 20 more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 808, the Oregon Health Authority reported yesterday. Oregon Health Authority reported 1225 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of yesterday, bringing the state total to 60,873.
Jackson County Public Health reported an unprecedented seven more people dead from coronavirus as of Thursday, bringing the county’s death toll to 19 since the beginning of the pandemic.
Some of the details on those deaths were not yet available on Thursday, but only one of the cases died in a hospital. Six of them died at their residences — possibly homes, but likely several at long-term care facilities. Based on Jackson County Public Health’s data, outbreaks at long-term care facilities have spurred many of the recent deaths.
As of Thursday, officials reported six deaths from Avamere at Three Fountains, one from Avamere Health Services of Rogue Valley, and four from Table Rock Memory Care — all three facilities with dozens of cases among both residents and staff.
The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Oregon has surpassed 400, the highest number since the pandemic began and a 137% increase since the beginning of November, according to state health data released Wednesday.
The Oregon Health Authority said Wednesday that 406 people were hospitalized, with 94 in intensive care. On Nov. 1, Oregon had 171 people in the hospital with COVID-19. A week ago, 290 people were hospitalized. The news came as health officials announced 1,099 new cases of the virus Wednesday and 10 deaths.
The biggest increase in hospitalizations was in the Portland metropolitan area, the Willamette Valley and in Jackson and Josephine counties to the southwest.
Supporting Local Businesses in Eugene May Never Be as Important as this Holiday Season
After enduring months of COVID-19-depressed sales, Eugene merchants hope to get a boost from holiday shoppers in the weeks ahead, even as the pandemic continues and they operate under new restrictions. For some merchants, the seasonal sales could make the difference between them staying open or closing permanently. Downtown Eugene merchants are experiencing this along with the rest of the community and share some of their experiences below.
“Supporting businesses downtown is really important because some people have already closed their doors because of the pandemic,” said Liisa John, owner of Mosaic Fair Trade Collection, 28 E. Broadway. “To help keep downtown alive and to help us all stay in business, it’s a great thing that the community can do.”
The heart of the city has plenty of shopping options, with an eclectic variety of locally owned stores in a relatively small area. Shoppers can find clothing, toys, hats, jewelry, housewares, footwear, art, wine, furniture, bicycles, household décor, wellness products, and much more, all within a few blocks of each other.
“There are a lot of great shops downtown and people ought to get out and explore, because there are some amazing things that you aren’t going to find anywhere else,” said Priya Makyadath, owner of shoe-a-holic, 957 Willamette St.
And this holiday season, shoppers will have more gift-buying options downtown than usual; The Holiday Market, with its extensive array of craftspeople, returns to its downtown roots by moving from its indoor venue at the Lane Events Center to the outdoor Park Blocks.
The Holiday Market – the holiday version of Saturday Market – has been at the Lane Events Center since the mid-1980s.
The move was requested by market craftspeople concerned about selling indoors during the pandemic. The Holiday Market will be open at the Park Blocks from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays, from Nov. 21 to Dec. 19.
Eugene merchants are following state guidelines to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 by requiring customers to wear masks and limiting the number of people allowed in stores at one time. The Holiday Market will also require people to wear face coverings and adhere to social distancing.
Keeping people apart means that about half the normal number of vendors will be present each Saturday during the Holiday Market. Shoppers can visit the Saturday Market website and click on the “Weekly Live Map of Artisans” link to learn which vendors will be at the next market and where they will be located on the Park Blocks.
To make shopping convenient, several downtown stores and many across the community are offering curbside pickup. The City of Eugene is supporting downtown commerce by allowing free parking in the Overpark and Parkade garages seven days a week and offering free reserved on street parking for curbside pickup citywide (businesses can request this by emailing parking@eugene-or.gov).
John, of Mosaic Fair Trade Collection, hopes that the Holiday Market’s return to the Park Blocks helps downtown merchants in the same way Saturday Market has a positive economic effect on the area for much of the year.
“It creates traffic down here, and it’s a nice positive energy,” John said. “People seem to be a good mood when they come down to the market. You see more families. It’s always a positive thing.”
Small Business Saturday, which encourages people to support small businesses, will take place on Nov. 28.
By supporting local merchants, shoppers also help the economy close to home. Local businesses recirculate a greater share of every dollar in the regional economy by creating locally owned supply chains and investing in their employees, according to studies cited by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.
“As a small business owner and a member of your community, I encourage you to shop small this holiday season,” said Brenda Stebbeds, owner of Urban Therapeutic, 749 Willamette St. “Help keep our community strong and vibrant, while we keep each other safe and healthy.”
“And even if we are wearing a mask, there are smiles underneath, because small businesses are driven by a passion for what we do and who we serve.”
https://www.eugene-or.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=4716
Around the State of Oregon
The Oregon Employment Department estimates that up to 70,000 workers could lose their jobless benefits on the day after Christmas, when a major federal coronavirus relief program ends. When Congress passed the CARES Act in March, it extended the period during which people are eligible for regular unemployment assistance from 26 to 39 weeks. Congress also created a new program, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, for self-employed workers and others who aren’t usually eligible for jobless benefits. Both those programs expire at the end of the year, so benefits would end on Dec. 26. That’s because the following week extends past Jan. 1. PUA recipients face a hard cutoff but the employment department said many Oregon workers on the 13-week extension may qualify for 20 weeks from a similar program called Extended Benefits. The employment department says it will move eligible workers to that other program automatically when the 13-week extension expires and send them a letter notifying them of the shift.
On Wednesday, November 18, 2020 at approximately 4:15 P.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a single vehicle crash on Hwy 42 near milepost 32.
Preliminary investigation revealed that an Audi Q7, operated by Seth Hale (41) from Grants Pass, was eastbound when it went off the roadway and crashed.
Hale was transported to Mercy Hospital in Roseburg where on November 19, 2020 he was pronounced deceased.
On Thursday, November 19, 2020 at approximately 5:15 P.M., Oregon State Police and emergency personnel responded to a multi-vehicle crash on Hwy 97 near milepost 137.
Preliminary investigation revealed a BMW, operated by Jonathan Short (39) of Bend, was northbound merging onto Hwy 97 from the Colorado Rd onramp. The BMW merged through the right (slow) lane and into the left (fast) lane and struck a Chevrolet pickup operated by Kevin Schultz (47) of Bend. The Chevrolet pickup crossed the center median into the southbound lane and collided with a Ford Transit van operated by Christopher Rodea (37) of Bend.
Two more southbound vehicles were involved in the crash and one more northbound vehicle was involved in the crash. None of these operators or passengers were seriously injured.
Rodea sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.
Schultz was transported to St Charles Hospital in Bend with serious injuries.
Short was not transported for injuries.
Hwy 97 was closed for approximately 8 hours.
OSP was assisted by the Bend Police Department, Bend Fire Department, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and ODOT.
On Thursday, November 19, 2020 at approximately 7:25 P.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a crash on Hwy 99E near SE Boardman Ave in Clackamas County.
Preliminary investigation revealed a Toyota Tundra, operated by Bob Weber (54) of Milwaukie, was northbound when he struck a pedestrian, Tetteh Kofi (35) of Portland, walking eastbound across Hwy 99E near the intersection of SE Boardman Ave.
Kofi sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.
This year the Sunday after Thanksgiving is all about shopping for art. The Oregon Arts Commission is proud to be one of 330 nationwide partners for Artists Sunday, a new national movement to promote local art as holiday gifts on Sunday, Nov. 29.
The movement joins Black Friday, Small Business Saturday® and Cyber Monday to create the biggest shopping weekend of the year. It also supports artists as entrepreneurs at a time when many have suffered great losses as a result of the ongoing pandemic.
Artists Sunday is a day dedicated to encouraging consumers to shop with artisans and craftspeople to give something special, unique and hand-crafted this holiday season. The Arts Commission recognizes the culture artists create and the impact they have on our local community, while adding expression and beauty to our lives.
“Supporting working artists is an active part of our mission,” said Brian Rogers, executive director of the Arts Commission. “We are excited to be one of the inaugural partners for Artists Sunday in showcasing art as a unique and meaningful holiday gift.”
Artists from across the country, including more than 100 from Oregon (number growing daily) are participating in Artists Sunday, representing a full range of art, hand-crafted items, and performances. The diversity of artisans allows consumers ample opportunity to browse online this Artists Sunday and find the perfect gift for that special someone in their life.
Other Artists Sunday partners in Oregon include: Alberta Abbey Foundation, Portland; Arts & Business Alliance of Eugene; Charlene Larsen Center for the Performing Arts, Astoria; City of Monmouth; City of Troutdale; Clackamas County Arts Alliance; East Winds Virtual Music, Portland; Emerald Art Center, Springfield; Gallery Calapooia, Albany; IN A LANDSCAPE: Classical Music in the Wild, Portland; Josephy Center for Arts and Culture, Joseph; Lane Arts Council, Eugene; Portland Saturday Market, Portland; and Salem Art Association.
The Arts Commission invites you to search and discover Oregon artists. New artist and partner signups are welcome; artist and partner participation is free and includes toolkits for promotion and marketing.
Cancer and rheumatoid arthritis drugs continue to be the most costly
Salem — $43,525 per prescription makes the brand-name drug Yervoy, used to treat melanoma, the most expensive prescription drug for Oregon health insurance carriers, based on data released by the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation.
For the second year in a row, the brand-name drug Humira, commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, was the most costly prescription drug reported by Oregon’s health insurance companies, as well as the most prescribed specialty drug. Its 17,435 prescriptions in Oregon cost insurance companies approximately $81 million.
The division also released data on the most costly and most prescribed generic medications. These prescriptions typically cost less than comparable brand names. Glatiramer, used to treat multiple sclerosis, was the most expensive generic drug reported, costing insurance companies approximately $2,800 per prescription. Dextroamphetamine, a common drug for attention deficit disorder, was the most costly generic prescription for Oregon insurers, claims for this drug total more than $6 million annually. Levothyroxine, used to treat thyroid activity, is the most prescribed generic with approximately 232,000 prescriptions statewide.
“The data from our insurers is an important piece to understanding which prescription drugs have the biggest effect on our health care costs; we appreciate their willingness to share this information.,” said Andrew Stolfi, insurance commissioner and director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. “The more data we receive the better informed all of us are, that is why consumer reporting is an important piece of our drug transparency program, especially leading up to the public hearing.”
On Wednesday, Dec. 16, the division will host a virtual public hearing on prescription drug prices. Oregonians are encouraged to participate by asking questions and sharing their stories of how prescription drug prices have affected them. Visit Questions and stories on prescription drug prices to post questions and share your experience.
Responses will be used to prepare for the public hearing. The questions and stories will be shared with legislators at the hearing, but personally identifiable information will be kept anonymous.
The division released lists of the most expensive, most costly, and most prescribed drugs which are reported annually by health insurance companies that offer individual and small group plans in Oregon.
To determine what insurers paid on average for each prescription and to identify the most expensive prescriptions, the program team examined claims data for drugs prescribed to 10 or more enrollees and compared the total dollars spent by insurers to the corresponding prescription counts for each drug.
To learn more about the program or view the most expensive, most costly, and most prescribed drug lists, visit the program’s website – dfr.oregon.gov/drugtransparency.
To report a specific increase in the cost of a prescription drug:
- Email Rx.prices@oregon.gov
- Call 833-210-4560 (toll-free)
- Visit dfr.oregon.gov/drugtransparency
November 20, 2020 – OnPoint Community Credit Union announced today it will open 20 new branches located within Fred Meyer stores across Oregon and Southwest Washington in 2021.
This is the largest branch expansion in OnPoint’s history and the news reinforces the credit union’s commitment to its members and the Northwest region. As Oregon’s largest credit union, OnPoint currently operates 36 branches, with four locations having opened in 2020 alone, and serves more than 415,000 members.
“As part of our unwavering commitment to Oregon and SW Washington, we are always looking for new ways to expand our services and grow our presence to better assist our members,” said Rob Stuart, President and Chief Executive Officer, OnPoint Community Credit Union. “Fred Meyer serves as a community staple across the region, and when an opportunity arose to work with this local company while at the same time be more accessible to our members, we were thrilled to embark upon this new partnership.”
OnPoint’s new in-store branches will open on a rolling basis throughout the first half of 2021, with construction set to begin in January. Each branch will offer members a complete suite of financial services, including membership enrollment, consumer and commercial lending, mortgages, financial planning, ATMs and notarization.
“We are honored to be selected as Fred Meyer’s community credit union partner,” said Tory McVay, OnPoint’s Senior Vice President and Chief Retail Officer. “Co-locating with a major regional supermarket will provide our growing membership and the communities we serve with convenient one-stop access to essential financial services. We are proud to not only help our members achieve their financial goals, but to also invest more deeply in our region and provide up to 200 new jobs to members of our community.”
OnPoint’s expansion comes on the heels of the credit union adding 15 counties to its charter in June 2020, increasing the total to 28 across Oregon and two in Southwest Washington. With this charter expansion, more than four million Oregonians are now eligible for OnPoint membership. The 15 counties added to OnPoint’s charter are Clatsop, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Gilliam, Hood River, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Lincoln, Morrow, Sherman, Tillamook, Wasco and Wheeler.
“We are excited to welcome OnPoint Community Credit Union into our stores,” stated Jeffery Temple, Director of Corporate Affairs for Fred Meyer Stores, Inc. “Our customers rely on Fred Meyer to provide one-stop-shopping, so we look forward to offering a trusted community credit union to fulfill our customers’ financial needs.”
Additional details regarding the new Fred Meyer in-store branches will be shared in January 2021.
ABOUT ONPOINT COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION
OnPoint Community Credit Union is the largest credit union in Oregon, serving over 415,000 members and with assets of $7.7 billion. Founded in 1932, OnPoint Community Credit Union’s membership is available to anyone who lives or works in one of 28 Oregon counties (Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Wasco, Washington, Wheeler, and Yamhill) and two Washington counties (Skamania and Clark) and their immediate family members. More information is available at www.onpointcu.com or 503-228-7077 or 800-527-3932.