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, March 30, 2022
Willamette Valley Weather
Today– A chance of rain before 11am, then a chance of showers after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. Calm wind becoming north northwest 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Thursday– Partly sunny, with a high near 54. Light north northeast wind becoming north 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Friday– Partly sunny, with a high near 59. Light and variable wind.
Saturday– Mostly sunny, with a high near 59.
Sunday– A chance of rain, mainly after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57.
Police Ask for Help in Investigation of Woman Who Was Doused with Acid
The woman doused with acid Monday morning has been released from the hospital, Eugene Police said Tuesday afternoon.
Investigators confirmed that the victim did not know her assailant, who remains unidentified.
Police said Monday that “it is believed this assault could be related to the victim’s ethnicity and is being investigated accordingly.” Investigators have so far declined to reveal what led them to that belief.
Police also declined to comment on whether the woman is expected to make a full recovery or suffered lasting injuries as a result of the attack. Investigators have confirmed that the woman’s dog will be fine.
Police said the woman was walking her dog near Arthur Street and W. 15th Court when a man splashed her with “an unknown acid substance.”
The suspect fled on foot. Police described him as a white male in his late teens or early 20s “with dirty blond hair and last seen wearing a black surgical face mask, jeans, black boots and black hoodie.”
Police made a public appeal for “any home security or vehicle cam footage that may help investigators.”
If you can help, police ask you to call (541) 682-5569 and refer to case 22-04892.
Lane County Sheriff’s Office Missing Person Reported
LCSO Case #22-1451 – Missing Person Have you seen Manuel Bayya? 47 year old Manuel Joseph Bayya has been reported as a missing person.
He was last seen in the Elmira area on March 7th, 2022.
He commonly travels on a red sport-bike motorcycle.Bayya is described as a Native American male standing approximately 5’10” and weighing approximately 170lbs.
He has brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information regarding Bayya’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150 opt. 1.
Office of State Fire Marshal to kick off wildfire preparedness webinar series
The Office of State Fire Marshal is kicking off a series of webinars this Thursday, March 31st, 2022, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. These educational webinars are designed to provide Oregonians and local community partners with tools to prepare themselves and their properties for wildfire.
In the first webinar, on Thursday, March 31st, 2022, the OSFM’s staff in the Community Risk Reduction Unit will focus on the home and the first 100 feet around it. The OSFM’s Fire Risk Reduction Specialists will show what can be done to better protect against wildfire. In addition, the team will highlight simple, easy solutions that could make a difference in the event of a wildfire.
More webinars will be scheduled over the coming months. The OSFM will be hosting discussions on various topics, including the importance of creating defensible space, wildfire prevention tips, and evacuation readiness.
To register:
Wildfire Risk Reduction Webinar – What is the Home Ignition Zone?
Thursday, March 31st, 2022 6:00PM – 7:00PM
The webinar will be recorded for those unable to attend.
Oregon reports 351 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 42 new deaths
PORTLAND, Ore. — There are 42 new COVID-19-related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 7,115, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported at 12:01 a.m. today.
OHA reported 351 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 703,465.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Benton (11), Clackamas (52), Clatsop (2), Columbia (2), Coos (4), Crook (2), Curry (2), Deschutes (16), Douglas (11), Grant (5), Hood River (2), Jackson (13), Jefferson (3), Josephine (9), Klamath (3), Lake (1), Lane (35), Linn (5), Malheur (1), Marion (22), Multnomah (108), Polk (1), Umatilla (2), Union (3), Wasco (4), Washington (27) and Yamhill (5).
Governor Brown to Lift COVID-19 Emergency Declaration, Effective April 1
Oregon’s COVID-19 emergency declaration ends this Friday, April 1, 2022. This decision does not affect the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) or its members and will not start the OHP redetermination process.
On Feb. 18, President Biden extended the federal emergency declaration beyond March 2022. The federal government has committed to giving states at least 60 days’ notice before the federal declaration ends. The OHP redetermination process will begin once Oregon receives this notice. Once redetermination begins, OHP members will be informed about their eligibility.
In the meantime, if you are an OHP member, please make sure your contact information is up to date so Oregon Health Authority, Oregon Department of Health and Human Services (ODHS) and your Coordinated Care Organization can contact you to make sure you can keep your benefits.
To update your contact information:
- Use your ONE account to report changes online.
- Visit an ODHS Self Sufficiency Office. Find the local office.
- Send a secure email (Oregon.Benefits@dhsoha.state.or.us).
- Call 800-699-9075 to report changes over the phone.
- Ask a community partner for help. Community partners are clinics, hospitals and other service organizations that help people apply for the Oregon Health Plan. To find a partner near you: Go to www.OregonHealthCare.gov and click “Find local help.” You can search by ZIP code for partners near you.
More detailed information about updating contact information can be found on this webpage: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HSD/OHP/Pages/Report-Changes.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Proposals Sought to Fund Innovative Projects Supporting Older Adults, People with Disabilities
Salem, OR ̶ Proposals are now being accepted through OregonBuys for Innovation Fund projects.
The Request for Grant Proposal solicitation is for innovative projects supporting older adults and people with disabilities. Of the $3 million available for projects, at least $2 million will be designated for equity-related proposals serving Oregonians who have experienced barriers in accessing services and supports.
Successful projects will be funded following a competitive process that is being managed by the Oregon Office of Contracts and Procurement. For more information:
Visit the OregonBuys web page and the page for the project at this link: #S-10000-00002389.
Find OregonBuys resources by visiting this link: instructions and guides.
Attend a voluntary pre-proposal informational webinar at 1 p.m. Pacific on Tuesday, April 26, 2022. Details on how to join this informational webinar, which is not mandatory for applicants, are the following:
• Online: Join the meeting
• By phone: 1-971-277-2343; Conference ID: 765517429# or use one-touch-dialing at +19712772343, 765517429#; with Conference ID: 765 517 429#
For all applicant questions about this opportunity or the informational webinar, including questions about accessibility during the informational meeting, contact Tabrina McPherson at rina.r.mcpherson@dhsoha.state.or.us“>tabrina.r.mcpherson@dhsoha.state.or.us or 1-971-208-4130.
For additional background information on the Innovation Fund, visit the Oregon Department of Human Services web page on funding opportunities with the Office of Aging and People with Disabilities. Oregon Department of Human Services
Candidates for Oregon Governor
The deadline to file to run in the 2022 Oregon Primary Election passed on March 10th. There are 20 Republicans and 15 Democrats who have officially filed and entered the race. This is far more candidates running for governor in a primary election than the state has seen going back as far as 1910.
GovernorBrown is term-limited and cannot run for re-election in 2022, leaving the position open for a replacement.
The Oregon Secretary of State’s Office said in 2018, at least 5% of eligible voters in the state were registered members of the Independent Party of Oregon, so the gubernatorial candidates for that party appeared on the primary election ballot. However, that is not the case in 2022. Independent Party of Oregon candidates make up less than 5% of voters, meaning the party does not meet the threshold required to maintain major party status and Independent candidates will not appear on the primary election ballot in 2022.
Here are the Republican and Democratic candidates voters can expect to see when they vote in the primaries on May 17th.
Democrat:
- Patrick Starnes
- Tina Kotek
- Michael Trimble
- Wilson Bright
- Tobias Read
- Keisha Lanell Merchant
- Peter W. Hall
- Michael Cross
- John Sweeney
- David Beem
- George Carrillo
- Ifeanyichukwu Diru
- David Stauffer
- Julian Bell
- Genevieve Wilson
Republican:
- William (Bud) Pierce
- Stan Pulliam
- Jessica Gomez
- Kerry McQuisten
- Paul Romero
- Marc Thielman
- Bridget Barton
- Amber Richardson
- Nick Hess
- Brandon Merritt
- David A. Burch
- Christine Drazan
- John Presco
- Bill Sizemore
- Stefan Strek
- Reed Christensen
- Raymond Baldwin
- Court Boice
- Tim McCloud
- Bob Tierman
Klamath County Receives Funding to Help Residents Fix Wells Due to Drought
Klamath County is receiving $4 million in funding via a state measure helping residents fixing domestic well problems because of the ongoing drought. The Klamath County Board of Commissioners will disperse grant awards.
The money is part of a $100 million drought relief package approved by the Oregon Legislature late last year. The program includes $12 million to help for drought-stricken wells and irrigation in the Klamath basin as well as $40 million in forgivable loans to farmers and irrigators.
The application period starts April 1 and runs through April 30. The county will pay up 75% of costs for
well improvements up to $40,000 per project. More information on is on the county’s website — KlamathCounty.org. The county commission will have an advisory committee help review the applications.
Governor Brown Encourages People to Donate Blood to Red Cross
“As we celebrate the last week of Red Cross Month, I challenge my fellow Governors and anyone else who is able to donate to roll up their sleeves and give blood. It’s easy, it’s painless, and most importantly, it saves lives. Make an appointment today: RedCrossBlood.org “
https://www.facebook.com/oregongovernor/videos/703996607681109
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
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Have-You-Seen-Me-Southern-Oregons-Missing-People-161249961222839/posts/