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 10, 2021
Willamette Valley Weather
Today– A chance of showers before 10am, then rain, mainly after 1pm. High near 54. Southeast wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Veterans Day– Rain, mainly before 10am. High near 62. South wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday– Rain. High near 60. South wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Saturday– A 20 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 61.
Sunday– A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62.
Cold Case Volunteers Focusing on Three Cases – This is One of Eugene Police Volunteer Positions Open
There is a trio of cold cases on the docket for retired law enforcement officers Rick Gilliam and Drew Tracy. The two volunteer as cold case investigators for the Eugene Police Department.
The Whiteside case is among those they are focusing on. Someone strangled Karen Whiteside as she walked to a friend’s house on March 21, 1978. Janitors found the 16-year-old’s body at Fairfield Elementary School the next morning. Now 43 years later, no one has ever been charged with her murder.
“I can tell you at least on two of these cases we’ve put in well over a thousand hours each,” Tracy said.
Investigators have developed a person of interest in the Whiteside case. That person is currently in prison.
But one of the goals of the cold case team is to gather enough evidence to allow prosecutors to take the case to court – and seek justice for the victim’s family.
There are 30 open homicide cases in Eugene.
Along with the Whiteside case, investigators have focused on a pair of murders from 1992. Karen Whiteside. Sharon Hiller. Octaviano Zaragoza: Their lives were cut short decades ago in Eugene – and so far their killers have not been brought to justice. The Eugene Police cold case squad is working to gather evidence to change that.
That’s recent enough that Gilliam worked on the cases himself during his career.
“I do vividly remember a lot of the victims families,” Gilliam said, “and for me personally that would be the greatest reward if we solve these cases: for their family to know that the victim got some justice.”
But a lot has changed in 30 years. Investigators hope DNA evidence – and popular genealogy websites and services – will crack some cold cases wide open.
One of those is the death of Sharon Hiller in November 1992. Hiller, a dancer at the Alaskan Bush Company in Eugene, was found dead in the Willamette River.
Another is the case of Octaviano Zaragoza, who was attending a Halloween party in 1992. He was found the next morning badly beaten and later died. But investigators believe people who attended the party might have seen something – and have yet to share those memories with law enforcement.
It’s a tall order, solving a crime decades after it was committed. But the cold case squad aims to expand by adding a third volunteer. It’s one of several volunteer positions now open with Eugene Police.
Blasting Resumes on EWEB Water Storage Project
The Eugene Water & Electric Board expects underground blasting to resume again after the utility and its contractor investigated an incident where a blast sent debris flying, damaging the siding on a nearby home.
“The blasting contractor has submitted a plan to EWEB for preventing incidents like what happened on Nov. 2 from occurring again,” EWEB told residents Sunday. “The plan includes expanding the footprint of blast mats to extend 20 feet past the last loaded hole, and retraining workers to ensure they mark any drill hole anomalies with visible flags. EWEB’s Safety Office has reviewed the contractor’s plan and we are satisfied that these corrective actions are appropriate to prevent future incidents.”
Blasting is expected to happen twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. However, blasting will not happen this Thursday on Veterans Day, a federal holiday.
“It’s possible that a second blast might be rescheduled for another day during the week of Nov. 8 (to make up for the missed 11/11 blast). If a second blast is planned, we will inform neighbors in advance,” according to EWEB. “As a reminder, scheduled blasts will occur between 1-1:30 p.m. The actual blast will last only a couple of seconds. Horn safety signals will sound 5 minutes and 1 minute before the blast and at the conclusion of the blast. If you are near the construction site and hear a horn signal, please be aware blasting activity will occur shortly and follow instructions of site personnel or any additional signage that may be posted.
Contractors have also paved the entrance to the site. “The paved entrance in intended to reduce the amount of sediment leaving the site and entering the gutter. With this new erosion control measure in place, excavation will continue,” EWEB told residents. “Please be prepared for a resumption of dump truck traffic.”
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Introduces New K9 Eros
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The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has a new K9 on patrol and would like to introduce the community to K9 Eros.
Eros, a 3-year-old German Shepherd from Germany was acquired by DCSO last week after testing several available dogs in California. Funding for the new K9 was made possible to a generous gift by an anonymous member of the community.
Deputy Oscar Rosas, an experienced K9 handler, and Eros will be partnered together.
“The team will bond and train together over the next several months before beginning to patrol together,” Lt. Brad O’Dell said. “For now, the team will focus building a bond and interacting with each other. Deputy Rosas and Eros will then undergo a several week training program with a master trainer to become certified by the Oregon Police Canine Association,” O’Dell added.
K9 Eros joins K9s Zoro and Ozzy at the Sheriff’s Office. The current Sheriff’s K9 program began in 2013 when the agency acquired K9 Grim, who passed away unexpectedly in September after serving over 8 years.
“I’m very excited for this opportunity to have K9 Eros as a partner and thankful for the opportunity to handle another dog,” Deputy Rosas said.
Lt. O’Dell said “The support of our community who sees the value of these dogs as a policing tool is amazing. We are grateful for the support”
The Sheriff’s Office K9 program, consisting of three K9 teams, is supported financially by private donations and the Friends of Umpqua Valley Police K9 Programs, a non-profit organization whose mission is to support local police K9 teams. Bailey’s Veterinary Clinic provides medical care for the Sheriff’s Office K9 program while Coastal Farm and Ranch Supply provides food. Douglas Co. Sheriff’s Office
Oregon reports 1,120 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 35 new deaths
There are 35 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 4,655. The Oregon Health Authority reported 1,120 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 bringing the state total to 375,357.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (5), Benton (11), Clackamas (62), Clatsop (6), Columbia (19), Coos (20), Crook (24), Curry (3), Deschutes (77), Douglas (42), Grant (30), Hood River (16), Jackson (68), Jefferson (13), Josephine (19), Klamath (98), Lake (6), Lane (57), Lincoln (22), Linn (59), Malheur (9), Marion (122), Morrow (7), Multnomah (96), Polk (40), Tillamook (7), Umatilla (47), Union (3), Wasco (18), Washington (67) and Yamhill (47).
OSP Marijuana Team & Marion County Sheriff’s Office serve a search warrant on illegal marijuana grow in Marion County
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The Oregon State Police’s NW Region Marijuana Team in cooperation with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at an illicit indoor marijuana grow near Jefferson, Oregon.
The team seized 2,158 live plants, 196 pounds of packaged/bulk marijuana, and $25,560 US currency.
The grow operators, Lily An Lee (54) and Yong Sheng Huang (54), both of Talbot, were lodged at Marion County Jail and are charged with ORS 475B.349 – Unlawful Manufacture of Marijuana Item, ORS 475B.337 – Unlawful Possession of Marijuana Item, and Oregon HB 3000 (2021), Sect. 41 – Unlawful Production of Marijuana
This case originated from citizen complaints. These types of illegal marijuana grows impact communities all across Oregon and contribute to criminal enterprises. Many other dangerous and illegal activities go hand in hand with these types of illegal grows, such as numerous water diversion issues and dangerous living conditions. Oregon State Police
Nick Kristof Raises Over $1M for Oregon Governor Race
Journalist Nick Kristof has raised more than $1 million in less than a month for his bid to become Oregon’s next governor, the Associated Press reported.
Kristof, who announced his candidacy in late October, has received donations from across the country, including from the Angelina Jolie Family Trust, which gifted him $10,000 in support, according to the AP.
Kristof’s camp said that 2,522 Oregon residents in every county except Sherman County have contributed to his campaign and that they have received many donations from small donors who have given less than $100. Some contributions are reported in lump sums, rather than individually.
The campaign also reported a $50,000 contribution from philanthropist Melinda French Gates and a $5,000 donation from former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers.
In total, Kristof reported $1,010,999 raised since October 15, a heavy advantage compared to the amount raised by his two most prominent Democratic rivals.
Kristof was a columnist for The New York Times for 20 years and was a longtime foreign correspondent for the newspaper. The two-time Pulitzer prize winner is known for his articles calling for social justice and focusing on subjects such as human rights, health, women’s rights, and global affairs.
Candidates Running for Governor
28 people had either filed as candidates to run or filed their committee for the governor’s race as of Nov. 9, 2021. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown is term-limited and cannot run for re-election in 2022, leaving the position open for a replacement. Here are the candidates who have pitched their hats into the race:
Republican :
Bud Pierce – Bud Pierce lives in Salem and is a senior partner and physician at Oregon Oncology Specialists of Salem where he treats cancer patients. He received his doctoral degree from UCLA Medical School. He does not have any prior governmental experience but previously lost to Kate Brown in the 2016 governor’s race. He told KOIN 6 News that he’s a legacy Republican and if he’s elected governor, he’d like to focus on improving public safety, addressing homelessness, helping businesses succeed, and managing forestland better.
Stan Pulliam – Stan Pulliam is the current mayor of Sandy and currently works as an insurance executive. According to his candidate filing with the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office, Pulliam received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon and has previously worked as a local, state and national Republican campaign staffer. According to his website, Pulliam is pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, pro-medical freedom and pro-property rights.
Jessica Gomez – In a campaign video, Jessica Gomez says she grew up as a homeless teenager and became a CEO by age 26. She and her husband started a microchip manufacturing facility in Southern Oregon in 2003. The company now employs 26 people in Medford. Gomez ran for Oregon State Senate District 3 in 2018 but was defeated by Democrat Jeff Golden. According to her website, Gomez says the state needs a public safety system where the appropriate first responders are deployed, a comprehensive plan to address homelessness, and better teacher-to-student ratio standards.
John Fosdick III – According to his social media pages, John Fosdick III says he was born in Albany, is a father of two, and served previously in the Oregon National Guard. The Oregon Secretary of State’s records show he has not previously filed to run for state office.
Kerry McQuisten – Kerry McQuisten is the mayor of Baker City and says she grew up in Baker County and received a bachelor’s degree from Willamette University. After college, she worked overseas and across the U.S. in teaching, publishing and marketing before returning to Baker City and founding a publishing company. According to her campaign website, McQuisten says she’s against COVID-19-related mandates, would ban the teaching of critical race theory, and is against defunding the police.
Paul Romero – Paul Romero lives in Roseburg and is the CEO of Youwalk Today, a walker and wheelchair product. Romero served 10 years in the Navy and previously worked as a car salesman, project manager and handyman. In a “contract with Oregon” posted on his campaign website, Romero says if elected governor he will audit the state’s budget, improve state computer systems and work to make Oregon an income tax- and property tax-free state.
Marc Thielman – Marc Thielman is the superintendent of the Alsea School District. He’s spent 27 years working in public information, according to his candidate filing, and has a bachelor’s degree from Whitworth University, a master’s degree from Eastern Washington University and a professional degree from Washington State University. According to his campaign website, Thielman supports school choice, health care choice and plans to fight for affordable housing.
Bridget Barton – Bridget Barton is an editor and publisher who lives in West Linn. She grew up in Virginia and received her bachelor’s degree and teaching certificate from the College of William and Mary. According to her campaign website, Barton has focused much of her career on improving education and has advocated for more charter schools in Oregon. She currently publishes a conservative magazine, Brainstorm NW. She says she supports helping the homeless find safe places to sleep, better job opportunities for Oregonians and an economy where all state residents can thrive.
Amber Richardson – Amber Richardson was born in Corvallis, raised in Central Point and currently lives in White City. She works as a massage therapist at a chiropractic clinic in Medford. According to her campaign website, Richardson has worked two jobs her entire adult life and wants better for the next generation of Oregonians. She supports in-person voting, changing forest management practices, and gun rights, and does not support defunding the police.
Jim Huggins – Jim Huggins filed a candidate committee with the Oregon Secretary of State’s office for his 2022 run for governor. The filing says he lives in Redmond and is a film producer for New Shepherd Films in Salem.
Nick Hess – Nick Hess says he’s the owner and CEO of SureTech, an IT support and services provider. He says he and his wife own and operate a cooking class business in Tigard. According to his campaign website, Hess said he’d like Oregon to be more transparent with how tax
Brandon Merritt – Brandon Merritt is a social media, marketing and fundraising consultant who is self-employed and lives in Bend, according to his candidate filing record. He received a bachelor’s degree from Berklee College of Music.
David Burch – David Burch lives in Salem and is unemployed, according to his filing record with the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office.
Democrat:
Michael David – Michael David lives in Ashland. He works as a fleet commander and the dean of admissions at New World University in Grants Pass, according to his candidate committee filing with the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office.
Casey Kulla – Casey Kulla is a Yamhill County Commissioner, farmer and small business owner. He was born and raised in Lincoln City. Before starting his farm, Kulla earned a master’s degree in forest ecology and a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Western Washington University. He says he’s researched the effects of climate change on the North Cascades. According to his campaign website, Kulla would like to focus on building a better, more affordable healthcare system in Oregon. He’d also like to focus on providing more child care throughout the state to help women get back to work after the pandemic.
Patrick Starnes – Patrick Starnes is a self-employed home restorer who lives in Brownsville. He ran for governor in 2018, but shortly before the election, he asked his supporters to instead vote for Kate Brown’s re-election.
Tina Kotek – Tina Kotek is the current Oregon House Speaker and is the state representative for District 44. She lives in Portland and on her campaign website she says she’s running for governor because she knows that “together, we can reckon with the legacies of injustice and inequality to build a great future for Oregon.” She says she wants to prioritize affordable housing, expand access to quality healthcare and tackle the climate crisis.
Michael Trimble – Michael Trimble lives in Portland and is a customer service representative for CareOregon. He says he was born in St. Petersburg, Russia without arms due to the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown. He was adopted and says he suffered abuse before he was placed in juvenile protective services. He moved to Portland in 2015. Trimble says he’d like to expand Medicaid to all Oregonians who make under $93,000, would like to provide additional rent relief and fortify the cycling pedestrian infrastructure.
Wilson Bright – Wilson Bright lives in Portland and is currently retired. He once owned and operated Rose City Textiles and RCT Fabrics.
Tobias Read – Tobias Read is the current Oregon State Treasurer and lives in Portland. He previously served in the Oregon House of Representatives. During his time in the House, he says he championed legislation to invest in public education. In his campaign for governor, Read is promising more investment in kids’ education. He says he wants to make pre-K available to all Oregon children and expand apprenticeships and vocational training. Read wants to confront climate change and build more affordable housing units.
Nicholas Kristof – Nick Kristof is a journalist, author and farmer who grew up in Yamhill. Kristof worked for decades as a columnist for the New York Times and traveled the world as he covered the news. He left the Times days after filing paperwork to form a political action committee. Kristof says he wants to make Oregon a place that awards American values like hard work and initiative. Kristof raises more than $1 million for Oregon gubernatorial run.
Keisha Lanell Merchant – Keisha Lanell Merchant, or Coach Kay, is an artist who lives in Albany. According to her candidate information submitted to the Oregon Secretary of State’s office, she’s previously worked as a health care practitioner, a marketing distributor and a motivational coach. She has a master’s degree in business communication from Jones International University and a bachelor’s degree in women’s studies from Oregon State University.
Dave Lavinsky – Dave Lavinsky lives in Bend and works for Growthink, Inc. He has a master’s degree in business from UCLA Anderson and a bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of Virginia, according to his candidate filing information.
Peter Hall – Peter Hall is a city councilor in Haines and is a director on the board of the League of Oregon Cities, according to his candidate filing information. Hall grew up outside of Seattle and received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington. On his campaign website, Hall says he believes social welfare programs need to be based on cost instead of just income. He’d like to change the culture of police departments to help recruit officers who will do the job ethically.
Michael Cross – Michael Cross is a software designer and commercial driver who lives in Salem. He’s previously worked as an entrepreneur, business owner and writer, according to his candidate filing information. According to his campaign website, Cross believes businesses should not be fined for operating in violation of COVID-19 mandates and that “defunding the police is insanity.” He’d like to reopen the state fully, with or without masks.
Independent:
Tim Harrold – Tim Harrold is an operations manager at Executive Security Services, Inc. in Milwaukie and lives in Dundee, according to his candidate committee filing. Harrold was born in California and moved to North Carolina to pursue a career as a police officer. His wife is from Oregon and they decided to move back to the Beaver State to raise their children. On his website, Harrold says he would like to increase classrooms and teachers to improve the teacher-to-student ratio. He wants to find solutions for homelessness and believes police need to be correctly trained and supported.
Betsy Johnson – Betsy Johnson is a current Oregon state senator for District 16 and lives in Scappoose. She currently serves in the Senate as a Democrat but is running for Oregon as an Independent. She previously served in the House before she was appointed to the Senate. Johnson was born in Redmond and attended Carleton College in Minnesota. She received a law degree from Lewis & Clark College.
Kevin Levy – Kevin Levy is a real estate broker who lives in Portland. According to his campaign website, Levy is running for governor because he wants to expand economic growth in all Oregon counties, address homelessness and create more affordable housing. He also wants to help more high school students enter higher education and supports after-school programs.
The U-S Forest Service is waiving fees at day-use recreation sites in Oregon and Washington on November 11th, Veterans Day.
The fee waiver includes many Forest Service picnic areas, boat launches, trailheads, and visitor centers. Fees for camping, cabin rentals, or other permits still apply. There are 17 National Forests in Oregon and Washington.
The Biden administration has tossed out Trump-era changes to federal protections for the northern spotted owl, a threatened species native to old-growth forests along the coastal Pacific Northwest.
In 2019, the federal Department of the Interior began a series of rule changes chipping away at protections under the Endangered Species Act, saying that the move would improve the efficiency of oversight.
In January, just before President Biden took office, the US Fish & Wildlife Service published a revised critical habitat designation for the northern spotted owl, reducing the protected area by more than 3.4 million acres — much of it in Oregon.
Conservation groups sued the federal government in protest earlier this year. But this week, the USFWS filed to withdraw the final rule that would have gone into effect on December 15 — reducing the habitat rollbacks from 3.4
million acres to 204,294 acres in Oregon exclusively.
The northern spotted owl first received a threatened designation under the Endangered Species Act in 1990. Conflict
over the species’ protected habitat and logging concerns has continued ever since, as the owl’s natural habitat lies in prized old-growth forests.
Despite protections, the spotted owl’s population has continued to dwindle over the decades. Along with the threat of habitat loss, the spotted owl has increasingly suffered from competition posed by the more robust barred owl, an invasive species native to the eastern U.S. that has moved into the spotted owl’s habitat
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