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
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
Willamette Valley Weather
Today– A 10 percent chance of showers after 4pm. Snow level 2500 feet rising to 3000 feet. Partly sunny, with a high near 48. Calm wind becoming north northwest 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday– A slight chance of rain before 10am, then a slight chance of showers after 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday– Patchy fog before 7am. Areas of frost before 7am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 50. Light and variable wind.
Friday– Partly sunny, with a high near 51.
Saturday– A chance of rain, mainly after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49.
Eugene Police Release Pictures Of Van Involved in Albertson Parking Lot Shooting
Police are looking for a man involved in a dispute and shooting in a grocery store parking lot Sunday evening in Eugene.
Officers responded to a report of a shooting at 7:11 p.m. on Feb. 13 to the parking lot of Albertson’s on W. 18th Avenue.
Eugene Police said a 44-year-old Eugene man had “been shot during a dispute.”
“The man sustained non-life threatening injuries and a bystander helped provide aid,” police said. “Once emergency responders arrived, they took over and the man was transported to a local hospital for treatment.”
According to police: “The other involved man fled the scene in a late 1990s white Ford conversion van. Multiple Eugene Police police officers responded to the scene, and subsequently the EPD Violent Crimes Unit was called out to begin an investigation.”
Police ask anyone with relevant tips in this case to call Detective Trevor Hart at (541) 682-5786 or email THart@eugene-or.gov.
OSP Seeks Public’s Help in Pedestrian Hit-and-Run off I-5 Near Eugene
Saturday afternoon at approximately 3:30 pm, Troopers were dispatched to a reported vehicle vs. pedestrian collision located on Interstate-5 northbound to Beltline Hwy. A preliminary investigation revealed a female driver came across a mattress blocking a lane on the flyover. She turned on her hazard lights and removed the mattress from the roadway. As she walked back to her vehicle, a red pickup came around the corner at a high rate of speed and struck the pedestrian.
The suspect, described as an elderly white male, stopped approximately 50ft from the crash scene, walked back to the victim, and saw her laying on the ground. He then ran back to his red truck and fled the scene. The pedestrian suffered extensive injuries as a result of the collision.
The Oregon State Police are seeking public assistance with information identifying the driver or vehicle. It is unknown the extent of damage to the truck. If you have any information, please contact the Oregon State Police Dispatch at 1-800-442-2068.
Missing Springfield Woman Found Safe
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office reached out to the public for help finding Deanna Larson, 79, Monday afternoon following her disappearance on Sunday.
By 2:15 p.m., deputies said search and rescue teams had located Larson and her dog in an area off Highway 58. They are in good health.
An earlier report indicated she may have been spotted in the Lowell area on Sunday afternoon.
State Representatives Pass Bill Making Housing More Flexible In Mobile Home Parks
The Oregon House of Representatives approved a bill designed to cut some of the red tape around mobile home parks in the wake of the 2020 wildfires that destroyed so many of these communities around the state.
House Bill 4064 A is designed to streamline local regulations on manufactured housing and clarify that Oregonians can place prefabricated homes in mobile home parks. House Democrats say that this will break down barriers to “more innovative housing options.”
The bill is also intended to help Oregonians in mobile home parks rebuild after the 2020 fires. It expands the use of Oregon’s manufactured dwelling replacement loan program, giving people who lost their mobile home the option of using the loan to rebuild outside of the disaster area.
“Even before the 2020 wildfires, the need for affordable housing was a crisis in our communities,” said Representative Pam Marsh (D-Southern Jackson County). “Manufactured housing is a tried and true housing option that can give Oregonians more options to find a safe and affordable place to call home.”
The Almeda Fire alone burned through 18 mobile home parks in the Rogue Valley, destroying between 1,500 and 1,700 manufactured homes or RVs. Across Oregon, there are about 140,000 manufactured homes. Nationally, the median annual income of manufactured residents is about half that of households living in single-family homes.
The bill passed the House in a 41-11 vote and goes on to the Senate for consideration.
PORTLAND, Ore. — There are 18 new COVID-19-related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 6,373, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported at 12:01 a.m. today.
OHA reported 4,756 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 679,241.
The 18 new deaths and 4,756 new cases reported today include data recorded by counties for the three-day period between Feb. 11 and Feb. 13.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (16), Benton (152), Clackamas (403), Clatsop (30), Columbia (47), Coos (74), Crook (55), Curry (29), Deschutes (280), Douglas (93), Harney (9), Hood River (25), Jackson (282), Jefferson (26), Josephine (110), Klamath (83), Lane (580), Lincoln (61), Linn (202), Malheur (17), Marion (395), Morrow (9), Multnomah (761), Polk (102), Sherman (1), Tillamook (33), Umatilla (59), Union (40), Wasco (21), Washington (629) and Yamhill (132).
Oregon reports 2,206 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases on Feb. 11, 1,655 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases on Feb. 12 and 895 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases on Feb. 13
Forestry Department announces $5 million in grant awards for small forestland owners to reduce risk of wildfire
The Oregon Department of Forestry has issued $5 million in grants authorized by Senate Bill 762. Awards are to owners of small forestlands for reducing the risk of high-severity wildfire through the reduction of hazardous fuels.
Approximately $4.2 million was awarded to 23 proposals submitted through grant sponsors, supporting over 600 landowners treating nearly 4,000 acres across Oregon.
Approximately $800,000 was awarded to 20 active Firewise USA communities in good standing that are outside of urban-growth boundaries. Awards are up to $75,000 per community and target treating over 2,000 acres through a variety of treatment approaches.
Details of the proposals and awards for both small forestland owners and Firewise USA communities can be found on ODF’s Small Forestland Grant Program website.
Senate Bill 762 is comprehensive legislation passed with bipartisan support that provides more than $200 million to help Oregon modernize and improve wildfire preparedness through three key strategies: creating fire-adapted communities, developing safe and effective response, and increasing the resiliency of Oregon’s landscapes. The bill is the product of years of hard work by many Oregonians, the Governor’s Council on Wildfire Response, the Legislature, and state agencies.
Additional information about Senate Bill 762 is available on ODF’s website.
Portland Man Charged After Attempting to Open Emergency Exit on Portland-Bound Flight
A Portland man is facing federal charges after attempting to open an emergency exit on a commercial airline flight from Salt Lake City, Utah to Portland.
Michael Brandon Demarre, 32, has been charged by criminal complaint with threatening to interfere and interfering with a flight crew and attendants.
According to court documents, on February 11, 2022, while on a Delta Airlines flight from Salt Lake City to Portland, Demarre attempted to open the aircraft’s emergency exit door while it was in flight. According to witness statements taken by police, Demarre removed the plastic covering over the emergency exit handle and forcefully pulled on the handle. A flight attendant demanded Demarre cease touching the handle and move to the rear of the aircraft. Demarre complied and was physically restrained by the flight crew. Once in Portland, Demarre told officers he created the disturbance so other passengers would video record him sharing his personal views.
Demarre made his initial appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.
Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case is being investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Portland Police Bureau. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mira Chernick is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. U.S. Attorney’s Office – District of Oregon
Two Small Wildfires Near Cave Junction
The Oregon Department of Forestry Wildland firefighters are working on two small fires burning on timberland northeast of Cave Junction.
The fires are located near Little Greyback Peak about 10 miles northeast of Cave Junction. ODF said that the first fire was holding at one-tenth of an acre on Bureau of Land Management land. The second fire, about 1.5 acres, is burning on private land.
“Firefighters are engaging in an aggressive initial attack, however, both fires are burning on steep ground with numerous hazards present, including snags, or trees that could easily fall with little to no notice, and the potential for rolling logs,” ODF said. “These factors will mean containment may take longer to ensure the safety of those on the line.”
Crews have seen minimal spread and no structures are threatened. ODF said that fire investigators are on the scene and will be working to determine the cause of both fires.
“These incidents are a good reminder that even this early in the year with cool and rainy conditions, fires can still start and spread,” ODF concluded. “Please be aware of the risks and help us to prevent pre-season fires!”
Oregon Gets $7.7 Million to Build EV Charging Stations
The U.S. Department of Energy is giving Oregon seven-point-seven million dollars to build charging stations for electric vehicles. Environment Oregon estimates that over 12-hundred fast chargers and nearly 21-thousand Level Two chargers will be needed by 2030 to meet the demand. Level Two chargers use an outlet similar to one needed for a dryer and can fully charge a vehicle in three to eight hours. Oregon currently has 36-thousand electric vehicles on the road.
For the first time in years, Oregon’s Dungeness crab season is bringing in a record-breaking haul
Fishermen have brought in about $80 million this season, which began December 1st, according to the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission. It’s the most revenue since the 2017-2018 season, which brought in $74 million for the entire season, according to the commission. The strong season is a welcome change for those in the crabbing industry, which has been plagued by delays to the start of the season over recent years due to a number of factors. Locals say cities up and down the Oregon coast benefit from a strong crab season.
Oregon has released draft rules for the therapeutic use of psilocybin commonly called magic mushrooms
Voters approved Measure 109 in November of 2020, giving the state two years to set up the framework to regulate legal magic mushrooms in the state. Researchers believe psilocybin could help treat depression, PTSD and addiction, and Oregon’s system would allow for consumption of the substance in a therapeutic setting for anyone 21 years or older. No prescription or diagnosis would be required to take part in the program.
The rules released last week by the Oregon Health Authority are not complete and are not yet adopted, but they give
a glimpse into what the program might look like. The draft rules deal with how training programs for those administering psilocybin will be evaluated and credentialed, what the psilocybin itself will be and how that substance will be tested.
Klamath County Sheriff’s Office Asks for Public’s Help in Search For Trucker Suspect
The first real clue to come in on all the missing person cases in the area. Help Klamath Falls Oregon Sheriff Office ID this trucker. He was the last to see this woman alive and could be the key to not only solving this woman’s disappearance but a number of the hundred other women missing in PNW. IF you have any information, please call (541) 883-5130
A 17-year-old was reported missing in Salem and detectives say the teen might be the victim of an online catfishing scheme.
Ezra Mayhugh, 17, was last seen on October 15, 2021 after being dropped off in downtown Salem by a friend, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said. He was reported as a runaway the following day when he did not return home.
Investigators say he might be in Washington or California. They hope to reunite Ezra safely with family members.
He’s described as about 5-foot 11-inches tall, weighing 130 pounds, with blonde hair and brown eyes.
If you have had contact with Mayhugh since October 15 or have other helpful information on his whereabouts, the sheriff’s office asks you to contact Detective M.J. Sphoon at 503-588-6808 or to submit a tip by texting TIPMCSO and your tip to 847411.
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