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
Friday, December 10, 2021
Willamette Valley Weather
Today– Showers likely, mainly before 10am. Snow level 3100 feet. Cloudy, with a high near 46. South southwest wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday– Rain. High near 48. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 9 to 14 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
Sunday– Rain. Snow level 2500 feet. High near 45. West southwest wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Monday– Rain. Snow level 2600 feet. High near 44. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
Tuesday– A chance of rain and snow before 10am, then rain likely. Snow level 1200 feet rising to 1700 feet in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43.
Police Investigating Death at Eugene Apartment Complex
Police are investigating the death of a man at Roosevelt Gardens Apartments in Eugene on Thursday.
The report came in just after noon in the 2200 block of Roosevelt Boulevard. Police have confirmed the man was a resident of the complex.
Police have not confirmed if a crime has occurred, though the death has been labeled suspicious. Police also say there is no ongoing threat to the area. The investigation is ongoing.
Fires at UO Residence Hall Were Intentionally Set
Eugene Springfield Fire responded to three small fires at Hamilton Hall on the University of Oregon campus on Thursday. Fires were started in the basement.
The fire marshal’s office has determined that the fires were set intentionally, and the University of Oregon Police Department is investigating. A $1,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the identification of the person or people responsible.
At about 1:10 a.m., firefighters headed to campus after a fire alarm notification at the residence hall. Students evacuated the building after hearing the alert.
Crews put out the fires in the basement and searched the area to make sure there were no more fires in the building. Officials said the fires were contained and did not cause significant damage. No injuries were reported.
This isn’t the first time fires have been reported at the hall. Police said there have been other similar incidents at Hamilton Hall over fall term, but the causes for those fires remain undetermined.
Police will be providing enhanced monitoring at the hall for the next day and a half at least. If you have any information, contact police at 541-346-2919 or the anonymous tip line at 541-525-8178.
Missing Person Crisis in Southern Oregon
Jackson County Search & Rescue teams are trying to find 30-year-old Samuel E. McKown, last seen in the Shady Cove area on December 1.
McKown is considered missing and endangered, according to the Sheriff’s Office. At the time of his disappearance, McKown was driving a 1989 Nissan truck with Oregon license plate number 361CUG. A missing poster for McKown described him as a white man, 6-feet tall, about 215 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes.
If you have seen McKown, please contact Sergeant Shawn Richards at (541) 774-6801 or through Dispatch at (541) 776-7206.
There are dozens and dozens of missing people in Southern Oregon. Here’s just a few that have gone missing in the last two years:
Missing in Southern Oregon: *https://www.facebook.com/Have-You-Seen-Me-Southern-Oregons-Missing-People-161249961222839/
If you have any information about any of the cases listed, we strongly encourage you to contact the Jackson County Tip Line at (541) 774-8333. Or contact the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office at 541-474-58123
Single Vehicle Crash Claims the Life of a Roseburg Woman
WINSTON – A Roseburg woman died this morning in a single vehicle crash on Willis Creek Road near Winston.
On Thursday, December 9, 2021, shortly after 8:00 am, 9-1-1 dispatchers received a report of a single vehicle crash in the 3400-block of Willis Creek Road.
Deputies arrived on scene to find a 2000 GMC Envoy approximately 10′ off of the eastbound shoulder. Fire and EMS on scene determined the female driver, 23-year-old Roseburg resident Samantha Star Cole, had died at the scene.
Deputies determined Cole had been traveling northbound on Willis Creek Road, when for an unknown reason, the vehicle went off of the roadway striking a tree. Next of kin has been notified.
The crash remains under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at (541) 440-4471 referencing case #21-5473. Douglas Co. Sheriff’s Office
Oregon reports 901 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 38 new deaths
PORTLAND, Ore. — There are 38 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 5,356, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported at 12:01 a.m. today.
OHA reported 901 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today bringing the state total to 399,361.
Note: The summary tables for some OHA COVID-19 dashboards will be temporarily unavailable Friday December 10 from 5 to 11:59 p.m. while Tableau engineers perform routine maintenance. OHA appreciates your patience.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (2), Benton (16), Clackamas (94), Clatsop (8), Columbia (11), Coos (34), Crook (13), Deschutes (55), Douglas (43), Grant (2), Harney (4), Hood River (9), Jackson (57), Jefferson (8), Josephine (13), Klamath (13), Lane (61), Lincoln (9), Linn (69), Malheur (4), Marion (88), Morrow (2), Multnomah (127), Polk (23), Tillamook (8), Umatilla (6), Wallowa (1), Wasco (7), Washington (92), and Yamhill (22).
COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths increased over the last week in Oregon. The Oregon Health Authority reports the number of new cases increased 50-percent, which was probably due to a rebound from Thanksgiving weekend when cases were unusually low. The number of positive COVID-19 tests was five-point-nine percent, up slightly from the week before.
There are 38 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 5,356. OHA reported 901 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of yesterday bringing the state total to 399,361. Emergency departments in Oregon are under significant strain. If you have a medical condition that doesn’t require emergency
care, contact your provider. An urgent care center may also help you get the care you need and will save emergency departments from added strain.
COVID-19 booster doses authorized for 16- and 17-year-olds
Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) authorized the use of booster doses of Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccines for persons 16 and 17 years of age who have already completed their vaccination series.
Shortly after the boosters were authorized for the new age group, the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup, including Oregon, Washington, California and Nevada, released a statement supporting the CDC’s recommendation.
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) released updated guidance for providers so that Oregonians aged 16 and 17 who have completed their initial Pfizer vaccination series at least six months earlier can immediately begin receiving a booster dose.
Boosters were authorized last month for all persons in the United States 18 years and older by the two federal agencies and by the workgroup for eligible adults in the four Western states.
A booster is a vaccine dose given to a person whose immune response from the primary vaccine series has waned over time. Booster doses help people maintain strong immunity to disease longer. The first vaccine series builds up the immune system to make the antibodies needed to fight the disease. Over time, the immune response weakens. A booster dose stimulates the initial response and tends to result in higher antibody levels that help people maintain their immunity longer.
“The scientists, medical experts and health officials who reviewed studies on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines have determined that the benefits provided by a booster merit their use for this group,” said Dr. Dean Sidelinger, state health officer and state epidemiologist. “We already know that protection can wane over time, and the boosters will continue to provide younger Oregonians continued protection, just as boosters are doing for Oregonians 18 years and older.”
There are an estimated 100,000 Oregonians ages 16 and 17. Of this group, approximately 25,000 are now eligible for boosters following today’s approvals. Another 25,000 persons in this age group will be eligible by the end of this month, and up to 7,000 persons who are 16 and 17 years of age will become eligible for boosters through first part of 2022.
“This is another step in expanding the numbers of persons who are protected, as we continue to deal with the Delta variant in our communities and plan for the arrival of the Omicron variant, which is already found in more than a third of states,” said Sidelinger.
All COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective and free. They are available throughout the state at pharmacies, health providers, Tribal clinics and community vaccination clinics.
Because of the recent expansion of booster eligibility to those 18 years and older and the authorization of pediatric vaccine for persons ages 5 to 11, residents may experience temporary delays scheduling an appointment.
OHA asks everyone to be patient as the state’s vaccine providers work to address the increased demand for vaccinations. Anyone who is eligible to receive their primary, booster or third doses will be able to receive one.
Visit our boosters and third doses webpage for more information.
Oregon pays more than $170 million in federal emergency rental assistance
Close to 25,000 households have received funds to pay rent due to hardship from pandemic
SALEM, Ore. — 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 Dec. 8, OHCS and LPAs have paid $170.2 million in federal emergency rental assistance to 24,705 applicants, up from $157.5 million and 23,155 applicants last week. OERAP continues to be one of the nation’s leading programs and is ranked 6th in the nation, up from 8th in the nation last week, in the percentage of ERA funds paid out and obligated, as tracked by the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
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, 150 PPL staff are processing applications with a focus on applications outside the 60-/90-day safe harbor period. In the past week, PPL processed close to 850 applications. exceeding their 500-application target. This is in addition to the applications paid out by Community Action Agencies working across the state to finish paying out ERA 1 funds.
To date, OHCS and LPAs have:
- Paid $170,274,579 to landlords and tenants to help 24,705 Oregon households.
- Processed and obligated an additional $21.1 million in funds for 2,465 households.
- Received more than 58,849 completed applications.
Visit the OERAP dashboard for more data.
Applications in review process
About 22,470 applications are in the review process. 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. As proxy, OHCS is tracking when a tenant completes an OERAP application and the number of applicants who have not been paid outside of the 60-day window (90 days in Multnomah County and unincorporated areas of Washington County). Applications outside the 60-/90-day window are being moved from the LPA in their county to PPL.
The graph below shows an estimate of the geographic areas with the most applications outside the 60- and 90-day windows of protection as of Dec. 8. This graph does not include applications outside the 60-/90-day window from counties that received ERA funding directly from the U.S. Treasury.
Below is a graphic that shows average application processing times of Local Program Administrators 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 an estimated 57 days from when they received the application. Improvements are underway to track PPL processing times that take into account they are taking over the processing of the oldest applications that were not processed by Local Program Administrators.
The earthquake swarm off the Oregon coast continues — with almost 100 quakes in the past 3 days — but experts say not to worry
While the major concern with big earthquakes this far from land is the possibility of tsunamis, “events the size that have so far occurred in this swarm will not generate noticeable tsunamis,” writes the United States Geological Survey.
In addition, the fault line where the swarm is taking place — the Blanco Fracture Zone — moves side to side and isn’t the type of megathrust fault that displaces ocean water to form tsunamis. Such tsunami-producing earthquakes are
more common on a nearby fault line.
Meantime, the Blanco Fracture Zone shaking “can continue for days to weeks, or it can stop suddenly any time,” writes the USGS. The series of quakes, which began early Tuesday morning and continued into Thursday, is
clustered between 200 and 250 miles west of the coastal town of Newport, Oregon — far enough away to be mostly undetected on land.
Oregon Officials Search For Missing Infant and Parents
An infant was reported missing with her mother and father Thursday, and the nearly 3-month-old is believed to be at risk, according to the Oregon Department of Human Services.
Zelylah Johnson is believed to be with her mother, Brittany Medley and her father, Lucas Johnson. ODHS is searching for the child and her parents to assess her safety.
ODHS’ Child Welfare Division said Zelylah was last seen in McMinnville. She is 20 inches long and just over 8 lbs.
Anyone with information about the location of Zelylah or her parents should call 911 or the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline at 1-855-503-7233.
Justice Department Awards More than $17.5 Million to Support Project Safe Neighborhoods
Nearly $200,000 awarded for projects in the District of Oregon
The Department of Justice announced today that it has awarded more than $17.5 million in grants to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program. Funding will support efforts across the country to address violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. The Oregon Criminal Justice Commission (CJC) was awarded $199,137 in PSN grant funds to administer in the District of Oregon.
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), part of the department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), will administer the 88 grant awards, which are being made to designated fiscal agents to support local PSN projects that work in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices.
“This latest Project Safe Neighborhoods grant is critical to addressing the violent crime threatening cities and towns all across our country,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Ensuring the safety of all Americans is the highest priority for the Department of Justice, but when it comes to violent crime, there is not a one-size-fits-all solution. We have to work closely with local public safety agencies as well as community organizations to craft individual strategies unique to each community’s needs. Programs like Project Safe Neighborhoods and the funding it provides allow us to do just that.”
“Local law enforcement agencies in Oregon are working tirelessly within their capability and resources to combat violent crime and ensure the safety of all Oregonians. Despite those efforts, gun violence in Portland, Gresham, and areas surrounding are at an all-time high. This year’s Project Safe Neighborhoods grant funds will be directed toward gun violence reduction efforts in those communities,” said Scott Erik Asphaug, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “The goal of Project Safe Neighborhoods is to reduce violent crime and victimhood across the U.S., including here in Oregon. It remains a top priority for our office and the entire federal law enforcement community.”
Grant funds will support new and existing crime-reduction and victim-support programs in the Portland-Gresham area. With BJA approval, CJC will begin the process of making subawards for PSN grant projects.
“Investing in our communities, supporting victims and building a justice system that both keeps people safe and earns their trust – these are mutually reinforcing goals that stand at the heart of Project Safe Neighborhoods,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Solomon for OJP. “The Office of Justice Programs is pleased to join with our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, and with jurisdictions across the country, as we work together to meet the challenges of crime and violence and achieve our shared aspirations of public safety and community trust.”
In May 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced a new effort to reduce violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. Integral to that effort was the reinvigoration of PSN, a two-decade old evidence-based and community-oriented program focused on reducing violent crime. The updated PSN approach, outlined in the department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime issued by Deputy Attorney General Monaco, is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
This fall, U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country have enhanced their violent crime reduction efforts to ensure alignment with the department’s comprehensive violent crime reduction strategy. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices have engaged in outreach to law enforcement and other agencies and organizations serving communities to identify the most significant drivers of violence in their districts. Working together with a broad coalition of stakeholders, the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are addressing the most pressing violent crime issues in their district to make our neighborhoods safer for all.
PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies, community stakeholders and other agencies and organizations that work to reduce violent crime.
For a list of all grantees, please visit: https://go.usa.gov/xe7Wr.
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
Douglas County Drug Dealer Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison
A Winston, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, which he had been selling in and around Douglas County, Oregon.
Steven Dwayne Lander, 60, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, over the course of several months, the Douglas County Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT) and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated Lander and his drug dealing in Douglas County. Following extensive surveillance, arrests of his customers and associates, and the monitoring of his movements, investigators executed multiple search warrants on Lander and his properties. More than 15 pounds of methamphetamine and a half pound of heroin were seized from his storage unit, vehicle, and person.
Lander has prior felony convictions for delivering and manufacturing controlled substances and illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and was previously sentenced to more than four years in prison.
On November 8, 2019, Lander was charged by criminal complaint and he was indicted on November 20, 2019. On November 7, 2021, Lander pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by DEA and DINT. It was prosecuted by Jeffrey S. Sweet, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, in close coordination with Douglas County Senior Deputy District Attorney Allison D. Eichmann.
The Greater Idaho movement to make parts of Eastern and Southern Oregon part of Idaho has will be on the ballot in Klamath County in May 2022
On Thursday, advocates for the movement submitted a petition with 2,897 signatures to the Klamath County Clerk to force a ballot initiative next spring. If the ballot initiative is approved by voters, Greater Idaho said the county would create a board to evaluate the benefits to the county of moving the state border.
McCarter said the Klamath County Board of Commissioners would be in charge of deciding who and how many would join the board. McCarter said the Greater Idaho movement’s goal is to take the movement county by county to gauge what kind of support there is for changing the state borders.
The next step, he said, is bringing the matter to the state legislature. The Greater Idaho movement expects three or four counties in eastern and southern Oregon to vote on similar initiatives come May, the movement said in a release Thursday. So far, eight counties have voted for ballot measures submitted by the movement, the release
added.