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
Thursday, November 11, 2021
Willamette Valley Weather
Veterans Day– A 50 percent chance of rain, mainly after 2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 63. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Friday– Rain. Steady temperature around 57. West southwest wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Saturday– A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61. Light and variable wind becoming east northeast around 5 mph in the morning.
Sunday– A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63.
Monday– Rain. Cloudy, with a high near 58.
Crews Rescue Person From Springfield House Fire
Eugene Springfield Fire crews rescued one victim from a house fire in the 700 block of G Street Wednesday night.
Arriving crews found a resident outside reporting smoke from a room with one victim inside.
Crews rescued the victim and a waiting ambulance transported them to River Bend for treatment.
A cat was also rescued after the fire was extinguished. The cause is under investigation. Eugene Springfield Fire
Police Seize 2 Million Dollars Worth Of Illegal Marijuana Near Albany
Law enforcement officers seized 2,800 pounds of marijuana after finding it in the back of a U-Haul truck near Albany.
On November 3rd, a detective from the Linn Interagency Narcotics Enforcement (LINE) team was following a U-Haul truck south on I-5 and noticed a smell coming from the vehicle.
After coordinating with other law enforcement, they arranged for the U-Haul to be stopped and checked. The two men inside the truck claimed that they were carrying furniture and that the smell was possibly coming from the driver’s t-shirt.
The truck was opened up and 2,800 pounds of black-market marijuana in 173 large black garbage bags, with an estimated street value of 2.2 million dollars was seized.
Police said 31-year-old Vidal Gonzales-Tetlctle of Hermiston, and 20-year-old Jose Guadalupe-Alatorre of Redway, California, were both charged with Unlawful Possession and Delivery of Marijuana and Criminal Conspiracy and lodged at the Linn County Jail.
In 2015, Linn County was designated as a HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) County and the LINE team was established to dismantle large-scale drug trafficking organizations in the area.
When the LINE Task Force investigates marijuana-related crime, they focus on the big picture, which includes money laundering, racketeering, or other greed-related criminal conduct.
Often, money made from large-scale black market marijuana operations in Oregon is linked to more serious crimes all over the country and internationally, including gang and cartel-related violence and Human Trafficking.
Thousands of Dollars Worth of Bikes Stolen from Eugene Bike Store
Someone stole as many as 21 bikes worth over $100,000 combined from long-time and locally owned and operated Eugene bike shop Hutch’s Bicycles downtown location overnight according to Eugene Police.
“This is a pretty big hit to us,” said Jay Loew, a partner at Hutch’s Bicycle store in Eugene, Oregon. “It’s always been a mom and pop or family-owned business in the community for coming on 100 years.”
“Eugene Police were called to investigate the theft of approximately 21 bikes from locally owned and operated Hutch’s Bicycles, 960 Charnelton,” police said in a statement. “The bikes were stolen during the night and the estimated cost of the theft so far is around $100,000, including several very expensive and specialized bikes.”
If you have any tips in the case, police ask you to contact Detective Shawn Trotter at (541) 682-5168 or STrotter@eugene-or.gov
Oregon Office of Emergency Management Advisory: Weather conditions call for awareness of potential hazards
Oregon’s Office of Emergency Management advises residents to be aware – and prepared – for potential hazards due to heavy rains forecasted this week across the state.
According to the National Weather Service, expected rainfall amounts from 5 p.m. tonight through Friday may cause potential flooding of creeks and rivers in northwest Oregon, especially along the coastal terrain and Cascades. Rain amounts may be high enough to cause flooding Thursday and Friday.
Heavy rain can trigger debris flows and landslides in steep terrain, and the risk is higher in wildfire burn areas. There is potential for debris flows in the burned areas of the Cascades, including the Beachie Creek, Echo Mountain, Lionshead and Riverside fire sites. Eagle Creek and Holiday Farm fire areas may also be potentially impacted.
The public can remain safe using basic preparedness actions, including staying informed, being aware of surroundings, having a plan for emergencies and being prepared with an emergency kit.
Stay informed
- Monitor the weather forecast for watches, warnings or advisories at https://www.weather.gov.
- Sign up for local emergency alerts at https://oralert.gov.
- If told to evacuate, do so immediately.
Drive with caution
- Be aware of the latest road conditions before driving by checking http://tripcheck.com.
- Be alert when driving; embankments along roadsides may fail, sending rock and debris onto the road.
- Turn on lights, increase following distance and slow down.
- Don’t drive through flood water; just 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult, and a foot of rushing water can carry away most cars.
Heed flood watches and warnings
- A Flood Advisory is issued when a specific weather event that is forecast to occur may become a nuisance: Be aware.
- A Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding to occur: Be prepared.
- A Flood Warning is issued when flooding is imminent or already occurring: Take action.
Know the signs of landslides
- Look for changes in landscape like leaning trees, land movement, or a trickle of falling mud or debris.
- Pay attention if the water in streams or creeks suddenly turns muddy or the water flow suddenly decreases or increases.
- Listen for unusual sounds, such as trees cracking or boulders knocking together, that might indicate moving debris.
For more information about flood risk and mitigation, visit https://www.ready.gov/floods. For information on landslides and debris flow, visit https://www.ready.gov/landslides-debris-flow. For information on flood insurance, visit https://www.floodsmart.gov. — Oregon Office of Emergency Management
Oregon reports 1,033 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 75 new deaths
There are 75 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 4,730. The Oregon Health Authority reported 1,033 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 bringing the state total to 376,372.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (7), Benton (16), Clackamas (91), Clatsop (7), Columbia (15), Coos (23), Crook (2), Curry (8), Deschutes (111), Douglas (49), Gilliam (1), Grant (1), Harney (5), Hood River (3), Jackson (54), Jefferson (12), Josephine (28), Klamath (16), Lake (13), Lane (62), Lincoln (17), Linn (45), Malheur (12), Marion (79), Morrow (3), Multnomah (136), Polk (27), Sherman (1), Tillamook (8), Umatilla (27), Union (1), Wallowa (2), Wasco (7), Washington (100) and Yamhill (44).
Reminder: State health officials to add more than 500 COVID-19 deaths due to technical error
Over the coming weeks, OHA will report approximately 550 deaths among people who died with COVID-19, but whose deaths only became recently known to state epidemiologists due to a technical computer error.
This will result in higher death totals as the backlog is resolved. More details can be found here.
Scheduling note: OHA will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 11, so employees may commemorate Veterans Day with family and friends. For this reason, there will be no Daily Media Release, Oregon Coronavirus Update or other OHA reports and communications tomorrow. OHA will be open regular hours on Friday.
There will also be no OHA e-newsletters, reports or other communications on Thursday, Nov. 25 (Thanksgiving Day) and Friday, Nov. 26. Thank you for understanding.
Oregon Judges And Court Staff Among Most Vaccinated Of All State Workers
According to a report, more than 92% of some 1,800 state court employees and judges across Oregon are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 now that a mandate handed down by state Supreme Court Chief Justice Martha Walters took full effect last Friday.
That represents an increase of about six percentage points since Walters issued her order in mid-September — and elevates the state court system to one of the most vaccinated big departments in the state.
State courts produced a higher vaccination rate than Oregon’s executive branch, which stood at only 85% as of two days after its vaccination mandate took effect. Gov. Kate Brown’s executive-branch order applies to more than 40,000 state employees, but not the judicial branch, which required its own directive from Walters.
The state courts rate also is notably higher than individual executive branch agencies employing more than 1,000 workers — including, as of Oct. 20, the Department of Corrections at 75%, the Department of Transportation at 81%, the Department of Human Services at 86%, and the Department of Justice at 89%.
The state courts vaccination rate, too, exceeds the reported rate of every category of health care worker, with the exception of Oregon dentists, with 94% fully vaccinated, according to state data through Nov. 1.
In comparison, 72% of adult Oregonians statewide are fully vaccinated.
While vaccination rates have been publicly available for all executive branch departments, health care workers, and now judicial employees, collective vaccination rates are unknown for at least one other profession with inoculation requirements:K-12 educators. Brown required school employees to get vaccinated by Oct. 18, as well, but no state agency is tracking compliance rates.
14 Oregon Employers Recognized for Hiring Veterans
Fourteen Oregon companies that work with the Oregon Employment Department are being recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor today with the HIRE Vets Medallion Award for their investment in recruiting, employing, and providing long-term career opportunities to our nation’s veterans.
“We are pleased to see the result of our employees’ efforts to help businesses see the value of hiring veterans. Last year, 10 companies received this award, and we are pleased to report that this year, four more companies are investing in and valuing veterans as employees,” said David Gerstenfeld, acting director of the Employment Department.
Oregon’s HIRE Vets Medallion companies are in all parts of the state and include small or medium-sized businesses.
“A&M Transport has always focused on hiring Veterans, as it is a small way we can show our appreciation for all they have done for all of us. We value Veterans for their service to this Country and for their exceptional work ethics they bring to the table,” said Gaylene Nixon, who is responsible for driver development and recruiting for A & M Transport, a Glendale based company.
The City of Tigard also was recognized. “Tigard is excited to be recognized as a HIRE Vets Medallion recipient! We have a long history of hiring our nation’s military veterans and value their important contribution to Team Tigard. We look forward to continuing our efforts to hire, retain, and support our veterans,” said Brandi, Leos, Senior Human Resources Business Partner at the City of Tigard.
“When recruiting veterans, we know we’re getting someone who is reliable, trainable and has a sense of ownership over the work they produce,” said Brad Scardino, Flux program manager. “Flux believes this so much, we’ve created a program for veteran engagement so we can ensure we are continuously attracting veteran talent and the skills and experiences they bring.”
“Cayuse Holdings understands the value that veterans bring to the workplace, and we are proud to support veteran careers,” said Billy Nerenberg, chief executive officer of Cayuse Holdings. “Many of our leaders are veterans, and many current employees still serve. These veterans inherently act as mentors in their roles, setting an example for our employees. We support our veteran employees in several ways, including education incentives, a wellness program for them and their families, and a staff liaison who provides valuable resources. We recruit new employees using targeted language and sites to find veterans, and we offer a referral bonus for employees that help us hire other veterans.”
Local Veterans’ Employer Representatives (LVERs) at the Employment Department are dedicated staff who assist businesses in filling their workforce needs with job-seeking veterans. As veterans, they use their own knowledge and expertise to perform a wide range of duties on behalf of businesses, including promoting the HIRE Vets Medallion Program and guiding employers on the process. The next application period is early next year.
More information can be found at oregon.gov/jobs/pages/veterans or HIREVets.gov.
| 2021 HIRE Vets Medallion Recipients | |
| EMPLOYER | OREGON CITY |
| A&M Transport | Glendale |
| Bullet Rental & Sales, Inc | Klamath Falls |
| Cayuse Holdings, LLC | Pendleton |
| City of Tigard | Tigard |
| ENERGYneering Solutions Inc. | Sisters |
| Flux Resources, LLC | Lake Oswego |
| Hood River Consulting Engineers (GDM, Inc.) | Hood River |
| Marathon Coach, Inc. | Coburg |
| Mark Ronning LLC (Northwest Veterans Law) | Salem |
| NORTH AMERICA MATTRESS CORP | Clackamas |
| Ondadottedline, LLC | Salem |
| Portland Patrol | Portland |
| Roseburg Urban Sanitary Authority | Roseburg |
| TP Trucking LLC | Central Point |
Equal Opportunity program — auxiliary aids and services available upon request at no cost to individuals with disabilities. Contact: 971-673-6400. For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, call 711 Telecommunications Relay Services. Oregon Employment Department
Oregon Pays More than $130 million in Federal Emergency Rental Assistance
More than 19,600 applicants have received funds to pay rent
Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) and Local Program Administrators (LPAs) continue to make strong progress on processing applications for the Oregon Emergency Rental Assistance Program (OERAP).
As of today, OHCS and LPAs have paid $130.6 million in federal emergency rental assistance to 19,613 applicants, up from $119.9 million and 18,203 applicants since Nov. 4. The agency is ranked 7th in the nation in the percentage of funds paid and obligated.
Progress and Updated Numbers
Through its three-point plan, OHCS and its processing partner, Public Partnerships LLC (PPL), have made significant strides to drive rapid application processing in the past several weeks. Currently 105 PPL staff are processing applications on behalf of counties with applications outside the 60-/90-day safe harbor period. In the past week, PPL processed close to 800 applications, exceeding their 500-application target.
To date, OHCS and LPAs have:
- Paid $130,614,471 to landlords and tenants to help 19,613 Oregon households, over $20 million in the past two weeks alone.
- Processed and obligated an additional $31.9 million in funds for 3,796 households.
- Received more than $364.4 million in funding requests via applications.
- Received more than 48,184 completed applications.
Visit the OERAP dashboard for more data.
Applications in Review Process
About 20,086 applications are in the review process. Our agency is tracking when a tenant completes an OERAP application and the number of applicants that have not been paid outside of the 60-day window (90 days in Multnomah County and unincorporated areas of Washington County). The 60-/90-day window of protection begins when a tenant shows proof they applied for the program. However, this data is not currently available. Applications outside the 60-/90-day window are being moved from the LPA in their county to PPL.
The graph below shows the geographic areas with the highest numbers of applications outside the 60- and 90-day windows of protection as of Nov. 10. This graph does not include applications outside the 60-/90-day window from counties that received ERA funding directly from the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Below is a graphic that shows average application processing times for each county for the OERAP program as of this week.
Multnomah County is not included in this as a comparison because they have a 90-day window. Their average processing time is 75 days. On average, PPL processed applications within 57 days from when they received the application.
Oregon Community Foundation and Community Rebuilding Fund Deploy $2.3 Million in Third Round of Relief for Fire Impacted Communities
Oregon Community Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust, The Ford Family Foundation and American Red Cross Address Long-Term Recovery Needs
The Community Rebuilding Fund, a joint effort led by Oregon Community Foundation in partnership with Meyer Memorial Trust, The Ford Family Foundation and American Red Cross, today announced an additional $2,299,607 in a third round of grants to support 27 more nonprofit organizations helping Oregon communities rebuild from the devastation of the 2020 fires. This latest round of funding, augmented by more OCF donors, brings the total to date to $8,479,974 to 62 organizations.
“The devastation of the wildfires has been matched by the generosity of hundreds of donors,” said Dee Anne Everson, Member, Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) Board of Directors.
While Oregon Community Foundation has deployed most of the grants available from this fund, the recovery and rebuilding process will take years. There is still a tremendous amount of unmet need. Therefore, contributions to the Community Rebuilding Fund are still being accepted and can be made online at: www.oregoncf.org/rebuilding.
“The American Red Cross is proud to support Oregon’s recovery from these devastating wildfires,” said Amanda Ree, Executive Director, Wildfire Recovery Programs for the American Red Cross. “No one organization can possibly meet the multitude of needs created by the impact of such destructive fires. The strong partnership through the Community Rebuilding Fund increases our collective ability to fund a wide range of vital recovery services and alleviate human suffering.”
Following is a snapshot of some of the community organizations delivering critical services to Oregonians in need:
The Children’s Museum of Southern Oregon (formerly Kid Time) | $112,500
To build capacity for early learning, supporting healthy social-emotional development for children and their families in a region that has experienced significant loss following the 2020 fires.
“This funding helps us address a widening void in our community. The loss of childcare, early learning activities – particularly those offered in Spanish, as well as English – has been crippling in Southern Oregon,” said Sunny Spicer, Executive Director, The Children’s Museum of Southern Oregon. “With childcare, parents can readily access employment and meet the economic needs of their families. With supportive educational and developmental opportunities, we can avert learning delays and long-term hardships for the young children in our communities.”
City of Detroit (Oregon), https://detroitoregon.us/| $150,000
To rebuild the City of Detroit’s municipal water storage reservoir which was destroyed by the Lionshead wildfire in September 2020. The City is currently operating with only 30% of its pre-fire water storage capacity. The City is also expecting support via insurance and is seeking additional support through FEMA.
“Water is a basic, essential need that we must provide for with humans, wildlife and vegetation in our region” said Michele Tesdal, Detroit City Council. “This project is vitally important and will increase protection, resilience and safety for all that call Santiam Canyon home.”
Farmworker Housing Development Corporation | $100,000
To commission a feasibility study to look at rebuilding a 36-unit farmworker family community that was destroyed by fires in Talent, Oregon as well as acquire an 82-unit community in Medford, Oregon.
“As we continue to listen and learn, we are called to be part of the healing solutions that Oregon farmworkers and Latino communities affected by climate change and the ravages of fire need,” said Maria Elena Guerra, Executive Director, Farmworker Housing Development Corporation.
See a complete list of grantees (as of November 10, 2021) online in OCF Press Room: https://oregoncf.org/press-room/
About the 2020 Community Rebuilding Fund
The 2020 Community Rebuilding Fund launched in response to Oregon’s devastating 2020 wildfire season which forever changed many of Oregon’s vibrant rural communities. Recognizing equitable, inclusive and resiliency-based rebuilding is essential, the 2020 Community Rebuilding Fund centers the needs of Oregon’s vulnerable residents most impacted – including Latino/a/x, Tribal and rural community members. The Fund supports community-led rebuilding that engages residents in shaping the future of the diverse and dynamic places they call home. The 2020 Community Rebuilding Fund is led by Oregon Community Foundation, in partnership with Meyer Memorial Trust, The Ford Family Foundation and American Red Cross and in addition to each partner, is primarily funded through individual, corporate and foundation support. To learn more, please visit: Community Rebuilding Fundhttps://oregoncf.org/grants-and-scholarships/grants/community-rebuilding-fund-grants/community-rebuilding-fund-values/.
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