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, September 29, 2021
Willamette Valley Weather
Today– Partly sunny, with a high near 68. Calm wind becoming south southwest around 6 mph in the morning.
Thursday– A 20 percent chance of rain after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 73. Calm wind becoming west northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday– Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. North wind 5 to 9 mph.
Saturday– Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.
Sunday– Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.
Man Arrested at Eugene Hotel Threatening To Kill People
Police took a man into custody at a motel in Eugene after reports the man had threatened to kill people – and claimed to have a knife.
A Springfield man is in custody after Eugene Police said he was threatening people with a knife at the Express Inn & Suites.
At about 7:30 a.m., police responded to the hotel on West 6th Avenue regarding a man who was yelling and threatening people at the hotel.
Responding officers learned that the suspect, Zachary Ryan Carter, 28, had scared several people in the area.
Carter was approached by a female employee regarding his behavior when he pulled out a knife and ran after her, police said. She was able to make it back safely to the office.
The Crisis Negotiation Team responded to help officers and made several attempts to contact Carter, who continued to present a threat to patrons and officers at the location, authorities said.
He was eventually taken into custody with the use of a Taser and resisted arrest. Carter was transported to the hospital for evaluation and subsequently transported to the Lane County Jail on the following charges:
- Unlawful Use of a Weapon
- Menacing
- Disorderly Conduct
- Resisting Arrest
- Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree
Eugene Police say Carter was renting a room at the motel. Officers negotiated with him for about 45 minutes before making the arrest.
Veneta Arson Suspect Flees Police
On 09/28/21 just prior to 10:30am a Lane County Sheriff’s Deputy spotted a yellow Nissan Sentra in the area of Hwy. 126 and Ellmaker Rd. in Veneta that has been linked a string of recent crimes including arson.
The deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop but the driver fled eastbound on Hwy. 126. The Nissan struck an occupied van near the intersection of W. 11th and Bertelsen Rd. before continuing northbound on Bertelsen Rd.
Deputies lost sight of the vehicle a short time later and it was found unoccupied near the intersection of Fairfield Ave. and Wood Ave.
The suspect is believed to be 38 year old Branden Paul Sherrill. Anyone with information regarding Sherrill’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150 opt. 1.
Deputies along with Eugene Police Officers are currently searching the area for the suspect. He is described as a white male adult possibly wearing a dark gray jacket. Residents are encouraged to report any suspicious activity to authorities.
The driver of the white van is being tended to and is not believed to have sustained serious injury. The Nissan has been recovered by police and it is no longer of interest. Lane Co. Sheriff’s Office
Lane County declares second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day
The Board of County Commissioners voted to declare the second Monday in each October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
“In spite of what many of us were taught as children, Christopher Columbus did not ‘discover’ the Americas. There were thriving and vibrant Indigenous cultures across this continent long before Europeans arrived,” said Board Chair Joe Berney. “This declaration is one step toward recognizing the many contributions Indigenous people have made to our community, particularly the Kalapuya peoples whose traditional homeland is where Lane County now stands.”
The declaration was brought forward at the request of the Board of County Commissioners and was drafted with help from Indigenous community leaders and others who have worked on similar efforts in the past.
The declaration reads, in part, as follows: “Lane County shall utilize the second Monday in October as an opportunity to reflect upon the ongoing struggles of Indigenous people of this land, to celebrate the thriving cultures and values of the Indigenous Peoples of our region, and to stand in solidarity with Indigenous peoples elsewhere.”
The concept of Indigenous Peoples’ Day was first proposed in 1977 by a delegation of Native Nations at the United Nations-sponsored International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas. Lane County joins the cities of Springfield, Eugene, Corvallis, Portland, the State of Oregon and others in recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Lane Co. Government
Oregon Missing Persons
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Have-You-Seen-Me-Southern-Oregons-Missing-People-161249961222839/posts/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/341658526970132
https://www.facebook.com/groups/letsfindmichaelbrysonofficial/media
Oregon reports 1,658 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 41 new deaths
There are 41 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 3,750. The Oregon Health Authority reported 1,658 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 bringing the state total to 326,191.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (15), Benton (22), Clackamas (88), Clatsop (9), Columbia (15), Coos (66), Crook (23), Curry (11), Deschutes (103), Douglas (81), Gilliam (1), Grant (7), Harney (28), Hood River (19), Jackson (55), Jefferson (27), Josephine (29), Klamath (109), Lake (21), Lane (141), Lincoln (11), Linn (68), Malheur (58), Marion (118), Morrow (5), Multnomah (115), Polk (31), Tillamook (5), Umatilla (167), Union (9), Wallowa (2), Wasco (26), Washington (103) and Yamhill (70).
Governor Brown press conference highlights new booster guidance
Governor Kate Brown held a press conference this morning with OHA Public Health Director Rachael Banks, Oregon Department of Education Director Colt Gill and OHA Deputy State Health Officer Dr. Tom Jeanne.
Director Banks provided an update on newly issued guidance for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots of the Pfizer vaccine for Oregonians currently eligible to receive one. This includes Oregonians who completed the Pfizer vaccine series at least six months ago and who are ages 65 and older and those who live in a long-term care facility, as well as those 18-64 who have underlying medical conditions and persons in occupational or institutional settings that put them at higher risk of COVID-19 exposure and transmission.
Dr. Jeanne provided an update on the ongoing COVID-19 surge and encouraged all Oregonians not yet vaccinated to schedule their shots to protect themselves and those around them against the infectious Delta variant. Talking points for the media availability can be found here.
Covid Cases From Pendleton Round-Up
Health officials in Umatilla County, Oregon, say they are starting to see COVID-19 cases linked to the Pendleton Round-Up. Umatilla County Public Health Director Joseph Fiumara told county commissioners Monday the county’s case count last week was 550 cases of COVID-19, and Fiumara said he had 151 pending cases from the weekend.
So far, there are 44 cases of the illness tied to the Pendleton Round-Up, most from Umatilla County and some from Wallowa County, and his staff will eventually parse out what parts of Round-Up yielded which cases of the virus, he said. The current number of cases associated with Round-Up includes those who got COVID-19 at the event and those who attended while already sick, he said.
Hospitals in the county are still relatively at full capacity, public health officer Dr. Jonathan Hitzman reported, noting with the mandate that healthcare workers must be vaccinated, there is possibility some services within St. Anthony Hospital and Good Shepherd Medical Center will have to close for lack of staff.
More Oregonians died with COVID-19 in September than in all but two other months of the pandemic, according to new state data released Monday.
September’s death toll now stands at 424 people, surpassing August for the third-most fatalities of the pandemic. And the carnage from the delta surge could push this month’s final tally past January, when 476 people died.
The monthly record, set in December, is 603 COVID-related fatalities.
Oregon’s summer coronavirus wave has largely killed the unvaccinated, and state officials continue to say vaccination offers the best protection against severe COVID-19.
With cooler weather and some rain, there are fewer major fire events in Oregon listed on Inciweb, the online tracker and information system. Containment has improved, and many evacuation levels and closure notices have been reduced or removed.
Kyle Reed of the Douglas Forest Protective Association says autumn often brings other conditions known as east wind events. “That’s when winds come down off the Cascades and they funnel down through the valleys and come down the hill, and as they come down they compress,” he explained.
“Which causes them to warm up, so it’s a warm wind. And typically it’s a strong wind. So it’s very similar to what we saw last year with the Labor Day storms, except that was a very severe case of east winds. But even a mild case could really accelerate fire behavior.”
Reed adds precipitation is also improving, though much of the heaviest rainfall so far has been closer to the coast. He says while fire crews had hoped for heavier rainfall in their area, they are currently at “LOW” fire risk, and gradually issuing permits for backyard debris burning.
“So those permits from DFPA are free. They do require an on-site inspection. We have to have a fire trail around those, make sure you have fire tools and water on-site, and have a chance to explain safe burning to the people before they actually do the burn.”
Reed says the fire season is winding down, and typically ends in mid-October. But that timeline could be extended if conditions run warmer and drier than usual.
Thanks to recent wetting rains and cooler temperatures, the South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership has reduced the fire danger from “extreme” to “high” in many areas in Klamath and Lake Counties.
Public use restrictions will be lifted on the Fremont-Winema National Forest, wildlife refuges and the Bureau of Land Management Lakeview District, with the exception of the Klamath River Canyon. Oregon Department of Forestry Regulated Use Closures remain in effect, according to a SCOFMP release.
That means campfires are now allowed in most areas. The Industrial Fire Precaution Level is also being reduced from Level III to Level II, having been knocked down from Level IV several weeks ago. Power saws, cable yarding, blasting, welding and metal cutting is allowed between 8 p.m. and 1 p.m.
Governor Brown Signs Redistricting Map
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed legislation to create 90 legislative districts as well as add a sixth congressional district. The bills passed largely along party lines.
OREGON LEGISLATURE
Republican lawmakers say the process is “rigged” to give Democrats an advantage in elections, but showed up to allow the passage. Despite a threat to block new political maps Republican state lawmakers returned to the Oregon Capitol as the Legislature passed legislative and congressional boundaries that included a new, sixth U.S. House seat. The new map includes four U.S. House seats that either are safe Democratic or lean in the party’s favor, one reliably blue seat and one seat that could be a toss-up.
SNAP benefits will increase permanently in October, most Oregonians receiving SNAP will continue to receive additional emergency SNAP benefits
Starting Oct. 1, Oregonians who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will see a permanent average increase of about $36 per month, per person to their regular SNAP benefits. This permanent increase is the result of federal changes to the Thrifty Food Plan.
- Oregonians who receive SNAP benefits will see a permanent average increase of about $36 per person, per month to their regular SNAP benefits.
- Most Oregonians who receive SNAP benefits will continue to receive emergency benefits in October.
- Find resources to meet your basic needs: Dial 2-1-1, or text your zip code to 898-211, www.211info.org
- Support and resources from the Oregon Department of Human Services
In addition, most SNAP recipients in Oregon will continue to receive additional emergency SNAP benefits in October.
The federal government has approved emergency allotments every month since March 2020. This gives SNAP recipients additional support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In October, approximately 408,000 SNAP households will receive approximately $64 million in extra food benefits in addition to their regular SNAP benefits.
“We are grateful to have the opportunity to increase regular SNAP benefits and to provide additional emergency benefits to most SNAP households in Oregon,” said Dan Haun, director of the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Self-Sufficiency Program. “We also know that many Oregonians are still struggling to meet their basic needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and we encourage them to contact our partners at 211 and the Oregon Food Bank for support during this difficult time.”
Emergency food benefits will be available on Oct. 12 for current SNAP households. New SNAP households will receive the emergency allotments Oct. 29 or Nov. 2.
SNAP recipients do not have to take any action to receive these benefits as they will be issued directly on their EBT cards.
More information about emergency allotments is available at https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/ASSISTANCE/FOOD-BENEFITS/Pages/About-SNAP.aspx.
Questions about your SNAP benefits should be directed to the ONE Customer Service Center at 1-800-699-9075.
If you are a SNAP household and your income or the number of people in your household has changed, it could impact your benefits. It is important to make sure ODHS has the most up-to-date information.
You can report any changes to your income or household in many ways:
- Online at: ONE.Oregon.gov
- By mail at: ONE Customer Service Center, PO Box 14015, Salem, OR 97309
- By fax at: 503-378-5628
- By phone at: 1-800-699-9075 or TTY 711
Resources to help meet basic needs
- Find a food pantry: foodfinder.oregonfoodbank.org
- Learn about government programs and community resources for older adults and people with disabilities: Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon at 1-855-673-2372 or www.adrcoforegon.org.
- Dial 2-1-1, or text your zip code to 898-211, www.211info.org
- Oregon Department of Human Services Resources
Administered by ODHS, SNAP is a federal program that provides food assistance to approximately 1 million eligible, low-income families and individuals in Oregon, including many older adults and people with disabilities. Oregonians in need can apply for benefits, including SNAP, child care, cash assistance and Medicaid. Learn more at https://govstatus.egov.com/or-dhs-benefits. For local resources in your area, such as food or shelter, please call 2-1-1 or reach out to the state’s Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) at 1-855-ORE-ADRC or 1-855-673-2372. — Oregon Department of Human Services
ODFW Cautions Collisions with Wildlife Becoming More Common
As the days grow shorter, Oregon deer are beginning their seasonal migration. That makes October and November peak months for collisions between vehicles and wildlife. Nearly 6,000 vehicles in Oregon crashed into wild animals last year.
Oregon experiences a higher rate of animal-vehicle collisions than any other West Coast state, according to one insurance industry report. “Oregon is working to reduce the risk of wildlife-vehicle collisions,” says Michelle Wheat of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. ODFW is mapping migrations to determine where they intersect with busy roads.
Most of those collisions killed the animal and took a chunk out of the car, according to a recent report from the Oregon Legislative Policy and Research Office. The average insurance cost from such collisions: $4,135.
There are certain hot spots on the 79,045 miles of roads that crisscross the state: near Roseburg and Klamath Falls and where Highways 20 and 97 meet in northern Deschutes County. As the state’s population increases and development encroaches on wilderness areas, collisions are becoming more common.
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One bright spot: Over the past decade, the Oregon Department of Transportation has installed three underpasses so animals can safely cross Highway 97 in Central Oregon. Those installations have led to a reduction in collisions of up to 95% in affected areas. DMV will soon offer a specialty wildlife license plate to help pay for improvements.
By far the most common victims in animal crashes: deer. But more exotic species such as eagles, mountain goats, and even bighorn sheep also get hit. (One change: A law allowing Oregonians to salvage roadkill for their dinner tables went into effect in 2019. But ODFW warns, “Intentionally hitting a deer or elk in order to salvage it remains unlawful.”)
North Coast Beaches Open for Razor Clamming
Clatsop beaches reopen to razor clamming October 1 with good news: domoic acid levels are below the closure threshold and razor clam abundance is the highest seen since 2004 when ODFW began assessing the population.
Extremely high juvenile recruitment and good survival rates of both juvenile and mature clams over the 2020-21 winter should lead to a very promising season. This year’s population has a large number of mature clams that average over four inches with a tremendous number of juvenile clams under three-and-a-half inches.
To increase the chance of only digging mature, larger clams, harvesters should be sure to dig the largest razor clam “shows.” Clammers are reminded the daily harvest limit is the first 15 razor clams dug regardless of size or condition. Each clammer must have their own container, dig their own clams, and may only possess one daily limit. View ODFW’s video on razor clamming basics:
The most popular razor clamming area in Oregon, Clatsop beaches stretch 18 miles between the Columbia River south jetty and Tillamook Head. These beaches closed Oct. 30, 2020 due to high levels of domoic acid that remained elevated until recently.
Each year since 1967, ODFW closes Clatsop beaches to razor clam harvest July 15 – Sept. 30. This conservation measure prevents disturbance of the young clams, increases chances of good survival rates, and helps ensure future harvest. During the closure, ODFW shellfish biologists conduct stock assessment surveys to determine population health and status. Learn more about the conservation closure on ODFW‘s video.
Other good opportunities to harvest razor clams include Agate Beach, North Jetty, and South Beach in the Newport area along with Cannon Beach, Cape Meares, and Yachats Beach.
Clammers should always check for toxin-related closures before harvesting clams or crabs by calling the shellfish safety hotline 1-800-448-2472 or visit ODA’s Recreation Shellfish page. Closures are also noted on ODFW’s Recreation Report – Clamming and Crabbing Report.
Oregon Department of Human Services urges Oregonians to help one another be prepared before the next disaster
Honor those impacted by the 2020 wildfires by proactively preparing for future disasters.
The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) joins the national observation of Preparedness Month during September by encouraging Oregonians to help one another in their readiness efforts.
“This past year’s extreme heat, wildfires and ice storms remind us of the importance of preparing ourselves for any kind of disaster, as well as our responsibility to help our neighbors, friends and family,” ODHS Director Fariborz Pakseresht said. “We urge Oregonians to use this heightened awareness and take action today to ensure their community is prepared before the next emergency strikes.”
“If you already have an emergency plan and kit, that’s great! Now’s the time to help others be prepared,” Ed Flick, director of ODHS’ emergency management unit said. “If you haven’t started, or haven’t finished your emergency planning, why not use this time to work with others to get it done? The experience of working together with another person can make this essential task easier.”
ODHS suggests Oregonians act now by taking these steps: · Be aware of potential hazards in the area and sign up for emergency alerts.
· Be “2 Weeks Ready” with at least two weeks’ worth of food, water and critical supplies. Learn how to assemble an emergency supply kit at Ready.gov or American Red Cross.
· Talk with your friends and family about being prepared. Ask if they have a plan yet and what concerns them about disasters. That can help you know where to prioritize planning efforts. · If your family or friends includes people with disabilities or older adults, learn about specific steps they might need to take to be prepared. Many of the tips for people with disabilities also apply to older adults. Understanding and preparing for needs like medications, mobility devices, equipment that needs electricity and specialized transportation can make the difference in a person being able to remain safely in place or evacuate.
· Do your friends, family or neighbors have language, cultural or religious considerations that need to be addressed? Have an early conversation about how to address those needs before disaster strikes.
· Talk with your neighbors. Are they prepared? Do any neighbors have specialized equipment, like a generator that could help another neighbor use their life-saving equipment? Or expertise like medical training? Develop a plan on who will check on neighbors in need during an emergency.
“Let’s all use the valuable lessons of the disasters we’ve experienced in 2021 to plan together so we can be more resilient and prepared for the future,” Flick said.
About ODHS and disasters: Oregon’s emergency and recovery plans give ODHS responsibility to support impacted Oregonians during emergencies and recovery, at the request of and in partnership with local and tribal governments. This is in keeping with the agency’s primary role to assist people in meeting their basic needs while moving toward independence. ODHS is responsible for supporting the sheltering, feeding, emergency assistance and human services needs of people impacted by disasters. In this role, ODHS coordinates efforts among local and Tribal governments and nongovernmental organizations. Oregon Department of Human Services