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, February 23, 2022
Willamette Valley Weather
Today– Sunny, with a high near 38. North northwest wind 6 to 10 mph.
Thursday– Mostly sunny, with a high near 44. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday– Widespread frost before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 50. Light and variable wind.
Saturday– A 20 percent chance of rain after 10am. Snow level 1800 feet rising to 3300 feet in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52.
Sunday– Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 54.
Eugene’s New Sleep Site Opens Just In Time As Coldest Weather Of The Season Hits This Week
The new sleep site at 410 Garfield Street and its opening couldn’t have come at a better time. With the temperatures expected to drop and more warming centers activating this week, the new site will allow those residents to get out of the elements.
Many of the residents currently at Washington Jefferson Park, which is being closed down, will likely end up at Eugene’s newest safe sleep site after the City of Eugene decided to close the park for restoration. Initially reserved for current campers at Washington Jefferson Park, the site is the first of its kind for Eugene.
“It’s kind of a new model. It’s 86 tents indoors,” explains Joel Gorthy, Development Coordinator at St. Vincent de Paul.
Organizers say this will be a major improvement, especially with the winter weather advisories in the area.
“We’ve got 4 or 5 nights of temperatures going below freezing and our warming centers going to be open for the next probably 4-5 nights,” says Gorthy.
“It’s going to be nice to be able to get folks who have been living at Washington Jefferson Park outside for well over a year now and be able to get them into an indoor space,” says Kelly McIver with City of Eugene. He’s the Communications Manager for Unhoused Response.
Occupants also have access to on-site showers, bathrooms, laundry vouchers, a daily provided meal and even Wi-Fi access.
Eugene Electric Vehicle Maker Arcimoto Expands Production
Electric vehicle maker Arcimoto cut the ribbon on a production line at a new facility in Eugene on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, at 2:22 p.m.
U.S. Congressman Peter Defazio, Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis, and Arcimoto Founder Mark Frohnmayer officially cut the ribbon on Arcimoto’s new facility: the RAMP, which has a target production capacity of 50,000 vehicles per year in 2025.
The RAMP will encompass approximately 250,000 square feet on more than 10 acres in Eugene. More than five times as large as Arcimoto’s current manufacturing facilities, the RAMP will be instrumental in achieving mass production of Arcimoto’s ultra-efficient electric vehicles.
“Today’s opening of Arcimoto’s new RAMP mass production facility heralds a new era in defossilized transportation right here in Eugene,” said Congressman Peter Defazio. “While the recently passed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will provide the first major investment in a national EV charging network to reduce carbon pollution in the transportation sector, Arcimoto’s mass-produced FUVs can help reduce individual carbon footprints right here, right now. Tackling the climate crisis will involve many different strategies. Arcimoto vehicles just happen to be the most fun.”
Hit and Run Crash Driver in Blue River Hits Deputy’s Car
LCSO Case #22-1091/1092 – Hit & Run, Elude by Vehicle
On Tuesday, 02/22/22 just before 5:00pm, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office was advised of a hit and run crash that had just occurred near the intersection of Mill Rd. and McKenzie Hwy. in Blue River. The suspect vehicle, a white U-Haul box van, left westbound on McKenzie Hwy. after striking a parked vehicle.
A Lane County Sheriff’s McKenzie District deputy observed the suspect vehicle driving westbound on McKenzie Hwy. in the Vida area about 10 minutes after receiving the report. The deputy initiated a traffic stop. At first the driver pulled over, but sped away moments into the traffic stop. The deputy began to pursue the driver with his emergency lights and siren activated.
After about one mile, the driver stopped the van and reversed, intentionally striking the front of the deputy’s patrol vehicle. The driver then fled again westbound on McKenzie Hwy. Although damaged, the deputy’s vehicle was not disabled and he was able to continue following the fleeing van. The driver crashed the van near the intersection of Main St. and 69th St. in Springfield.
The driver was taken into custody on multiple charges including: Hit & Run, Elude by Vehicle, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering, Criminal Mischief in the 1st Degree, and Assault on a Public Safety Officer.
The driver was identified as 30 year old Jeffrey Feaster. Feaster’s last known address is in Chicago, IL. Feaster was transported and lodged at the Lane County Jail.
Oregon reports 3,400 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 29 new deaths
PORTLAND, Ore. — There are 29 new COVID-19-related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 6,485, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported at 12:01 a.m. today.
OHA reported 3,400 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 689,325. The 3,400 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 include those from Feb. 18, Feb. 19, Feb. 20 and Feb. 21.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (15), Benton (89), Clackamas (287), Clatsop (27), Columbia (44), Coos (64), Crook (23), Curry (22), Deschutes (202), Douglas (110), Harney (11), Hood River (21), Jackson (283), Jefferson (7), Josephine (99), Klamath (58), Lake (10), Lane (360), Lincoln (37), Linn (177), Malheur (8), Marion (218), Morrow (3), Multnomah (513), Polk (73), Sherman (1), Tillamook (16), Umatilla (54), Union (12), Wallowa (8), Wasco (17), Washington (420) and Yamhill (111).
Oregon reports 1,379 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases on Feb.18. Oregon reports 794 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases on Feb. 19. Oregon reports 494 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases on Feb. 20. Oregon reports 733 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases on Feb. 21.
School Masks Debate — School leaders across the state are five weeks away from having permission to make masks optional for students and staff without the risk of fines or the loss of COVID relief funds. Still, school boards in Molalla, Alsea and Redmond have decided to skip the wait and accept the risks to allow for optional masking early.
It’s a move that puts their district superintendents in a difficult position: Follow Gov. Kate Brown’s executive order to mask in schools until March 31 and risk being fired by their school board, or follow their school board’s decision and risk losing some school funding, their superintendent’s license and owing fines of up to $500 per day.
Marc Seigel, communications director at the Oregon Department of Education, said agency officials would release further guidance for districts next week. Cline hopes the department will accelerate the mask policy change, sparing him a tough decision.
UPDATE: Oregon State Police & Local Public Safety agencies working several multi-vehicle crashes along I-84 between Pendleton and La Grande
The Oregon State Police along with several local agencies worked together throughout the night to get Interstate 84 open and cleared of vehicles. Troopers from the Pendleton and La Grande Area Commands along with crews from the below-listed agencies worked all night to get them over 170 vehicles out of the 1.75 mile stretch of the interstate.
Uninjured persons who could not otherwise drive from the scene due to the blockage or damaged vehicles were transported to the Pendleton Convention Center for reunification. A local taxi company and a church provided vans to transport persons from the convention center to local hotels as needed.
A total of 71 people were transported from the crash scene to the reunification center via buses. Initial numbers collected were that there were 17 patients transported from the crash scene to the hospital with an additional 2 transported after having arrived at the reunification center.
There are still several sections of Interstate 84 with extreme winter road conditions, so traveling is still hazardous. If you don’t have to travel, we recommend staying home. If you do have to travel use www.tripcheck.com for road conditions or to find an alternate route.
The Umatilla County Emergency Operations Center was activated for this incident. Several agencies worked together to coordinate this large-scale incident.
Explosion At Hermiston Potato Chip Plant
Umatilla County Fire District #1 said at about 12:50 p.m. Tuesday it responded to Shearer’s Foods, one of the largest potato chip plants in the area for reports of an explosion. Evacuations were put in place for the people who live south of the plant and a nearby hotel.
Firefighters said six people were hurt in the explosion and were taken to a nearby hospital. The cause of the explosion was a portable boiler that was fueled by natural gas, according to Umatilla County Fire District #1.
Firefighters said this was the largest fire the district has responded to in the last decade.
Man Charged in Deadly Portland Shooting
The Oregon man accused of killing one person and injuring five after opening fire on demonstrators in Portland was charged Tuesday with murder and other crimes, authorities said. Benjamin Smith, 43, was charged with second-degree murder, four counts of attempted murder and multiple counts of assault, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office said in a statement.
The statement said Smith allegedly “confronted a group of people engaged” in a demonstration protesting the death of Amir Locke, a Black Minneapolis man who was fatally shot by tactical officers carrying out a “no-knock” warrant last month.
Citing video evidence, the prosecutor’s office said Smith allegedly told protesters who had gathered at a park northeast of downtown Portland on Saturday to leave the area.
“Several participants asked Smith to leave them alone,” the statement says. “Moments later, Smith drew a firearm and fired at the crowd, striking five people.”
The shooting ended after someone returned fire, hitting Smith in the hip area, the statement says. Smith remained hospitalized in critical condition, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt said earlier Tuesday.
In a separate statement, the Portland Police Bureau identified the person who was killed as Brandy Knightly, 60. The district attorney’s office said she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities initially said the confrontation erupted between an armed resident and armed protesters, but Tuesday’s statement from the prosecutor’s office didn’t specify if the people who told Smith to leave them alone were armed.
During a news conference Tuesday, Police Chief Chuck Lovell described the scene as “challenging and dangerous” for investigators. “Officers didn’t know who the shooters were, how many, where they were at,” he told reporters. Lovell added that “many” witnesses were uncooperative with authorities and some took “critical” evidence from the scene.
The Brother of MAX Train Murderer Jeremy Christian Is Suspect in February 16th Fatal Shooting in Portland
The brother of Jeremy Christian, who is serving life in prison for murdering two people and seriously injuring another on a crowded MAX train in 2017, is suspected in a Feb. 16 North Portland homicide.
“I can confirm that the name of the individual involved in the Feb. 16 shooting is David Christian,” said Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Elisabeth Shepard. “This case is an open investigation, and we are unable to provide further comment at this time.”
On Monday, the Portland Police Bureau identified the victim of the Feb. 16 shooting as 30-year-old Zachary Steven Moore. Police have not yet released the suspected shooter’s name. The bureau said in a press release last week that, at 12:20 am on Feb. 16, officers responded to a shooting call in the St. Johns neighborhood near the intersection of North Mohawk Avenue and Fessenden Street.
“When officers arrived they located a male victim who was deceased,” PPB said. “A person involved in the shooting remained at the scene and is cooperating.”
David Christian is not in custody, and it does not appear as though police consider him dangerous: “At this time, police are not looking for any suspects and there is no threat to the community,” PPB said in its press release.
The DA’s office did not confirm that David Christian, 47, is related to Jeremy Christian, now 39. But public records indicate that the two are indeed siblings.
Separate court records from 2017 for Jeremy Christian and David Christian, whose name also appears as Jonathan David Christian, list the same North Portland residential address. Court records for David Christian dating back to 2005 also list that address.
A recognizance release from 2017 for David Christian says his mother is Mary Christian. Multiple news articles about Jeremy Christian identify his mother as Mary. And Multnomah County property records show that Mary Christian and Donald Christian are the homeowners of the property that Jeremy and David listed as their residence in court records.
A November 2017 psychiatric evaluation report for Jeremy Christian says he is “the third of four sons born to the marriage of his parents.”
“He has been variously residing in his parents’ home or staying with friends when not in custody since his release from the Oregon Department of Corrections in 2010,” the evaluation says. “His brothers also reside in the family home or with extended family.”
Oregon Small Enterprise Fund (SEF) has Reopened
Oregon Small Enterprise Fund (SEF) has reopened for financial relief to Oregon businesses excluded from federal pandemic relief assistance programs due to the owners’ immigration status.
The non-profit Oregon Worker Relief (OWR) will administer the fund as crucial aid for those businesses. The Small Enterprise Fund has $1.5-million for one-time relief grants to Oregon businesses excluded from federal relief assistance such as the Paycheck Protection Program.
Call center agents have started contacting people on the fund’s waitlist since it first opened March 2021. SEF will take new applications starting today, Feb. 22. Eligible immigrant-owned small businesses owners can call 1-888-274-7292 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday to apply for the fund.
Oregon’s Legislature is sending a bill to the Governor to change lawn and landscape sprinkler systems in the state as part of a drought remediation effort.
Ashland Representative Pam Marsh authored House Bill 4057 which passed the State Senate today after passing the State House February 10. The measure adopts efficiency standards for urban landscaping with new requirements for sprinklers to reduce water and energy consumption, thus reducing those costs.
When signed into law, House Bill 4057 would authorize the Oregon Department of Energy to adopt efficiency standards for landscape irrigation sprinkler system devices.
Marsh says the Oregon Landscape Contractors Association supports HB 4057, which establishes water-saving and energy efficiency standards for residential and commercial spray sprinklers. It requires sprinklers made and installed in Oregon after January 1, 2023 to meet Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense program product specifications.
Medical Drone Delivery To Transport Lab Samples In Oregon
Oregon-based Interpath Laboratory is joining forces with Spright, the drone division of air medical service provider Air Methods, to launch a drone delivery network that can transport lab specimens from remote and rural areas quickly.
A BVLOS 15-mile test flight conducted last week with the Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center to Interpath’s main medical laboratory location in Oregon’s Pendleton saw a Wingcopter 198 drone being used to reduce the turnaround time of critical diagnostic test results greatly.
The current process for Interpath laboratory services works something like this: Patient samples are taken throughout the day, and then they are batched together for pick-up by ground vehicles in the evening for delivery to the lab. These vehicles typically drive thousands of miles each day across the region to pick up specimens from numerous clinics, hospitals, and facilities.
In contrast, the new medical drone delivery initiative will enable samples to be picked up repeatedly and delivered to Interpath throughout the day. Not only will this improve patient satisfaction and enable healthcare providers to implement follow-up care in a timelier manner, but the green solution will also remove gasoline-powered vehicles from roads and lessens local traffic, the companies say.
Joe Resnik, president of Spright, explains: “Many communities located in remote or rural areas lack timely and convenient access to essential medical supplies and services. We look forward to this proof-of-concept, showcasing drone delivery’s ability to solve many of healthcare’s existing access and efficiency challenges, while also improving patient care and experience.”
If successful, the new drone delivery approach will allow Interpath Laboratory to transport patient samples throughout the day, rather than primarily overnight. Maximizing daytime sample processing abilities will lead to more efficient laboratory operations, while benefiting patients and healthcare providers with faster delivery of vital test results.
While Aaron Hines, CEO of Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center, points out that the initiative can help to provide high-quality, primary healthcare for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), Interpath Laboratory’s president, Tom Kennedy, says: “Medical laboratory services in rural areas frequently must invest intensive time and resources into sample pick-up. We anticipate Spright’s drone delivery service will alleviate many of the drawbacks and costs associated with automobile-based delivery.”
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.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Have-You-Seen-Me-Southern-Oregons-Missing-People-161249961222839/posts/