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, April 14, 2022
Willamette Valley Weather
Today– Scattered showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Some of the storms could produce small hail. Patchy fog before 10am. Snow level 1500 feet rising to 2000 feet in the afternoon. High near 51. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday– Patchy fog between 8am and 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 54. Calm wind becoming north 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday– Rain likely before 3pm, then showers likely after 3pm. Snow level 1500 feet rising to 2500 feet in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. West southwest wind 5 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Sunday– Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57.
Monday– Rain likely, mainly after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 59.
Two Men Stabbed to Death in Fight at Springfield Mobile Home Park
A man found holding a bloody knife Tuesday night was arrested after a report of a dispute at a mobile home park on 28th Street in Springfield now faces accusations he stabbed two men to death.
Officers responded at 9:15 p.m. to 911 calls reporting a dispute at 775 28th St. in Springfield.
“Witnesses reported a man with a knife had stabbed another subject,” police said. “Patrol officers quickly responded and found a man, later identified as Robin Roberts, in a parking area, holding a bloody knife. Through verbal de-escalation, Officers successfully got the man to drop the knife and detained him.”
Police located two other men – later identified as Richard Brumbach, 65, and Joshuah Vining, 47 – “unconscious and covered in blood, having, apparently, been stabbed, multiple times.”
“Officers rendered aid until the arrival of medics with Eugene Springfield Fire but, despite life-saving efforts, the two subjects succumbed to their injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene,” police said.
Police booked Roberts, 42, into the Lane County Jail on two counts of first degree Murder.
Police ask witnesses or anyone with information related to the case to call (541) 726-3714.
Eugene Starbucks First in Oregon to Unionize
Baristas and other employees at a Eugene Starbucks have voted to unionize, the first in the state and the latest in a nationwide push to organize the coffee shop chain.
Reports state the South Eugene Starbucks unanimously approved the formation of a union Wednesday.
This is the fourth U.S. Starbucks location in the past three days to win their union vote unanimously, including one in Pittsburgh that also voted to unionize Wednesday.
They are the latest stores at which employees have voted in favor of unionizing with Workers United, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union.
We want to keep you informed about #COVID19 in Oregon. Data are provisional and change frequently. For more information, including COVID-19 data by county, visit our dashboard: https://public.tableau.com/views/OregonCOVID-19Update/DailyDataUpdate?:language=en-US&:toolbar=n&:display_count=n&:origin=viz_share_link
Oregon’s Unemployment Rate Drops to 3.8% in March
Oregon’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.8% in March, down from 4.0% in February, continuing its rapid decline of recent months. The March unemployment rate is well below the 6.1% it reached a year ago and is the lowest since prior to the pandemic-induced recession two years ago, in March 2020, when it was 3.5%. The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.6% in March and 3.8% in February.
In March, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 5,600 jobs, following a revised gain of 9,700 jobs in February. In March, gains were largest in construction (+1,500 jobs), financial activities (+1,400), leisure and hospitality (+900), other services (+900), manufacturing (+800), and government (+700). The only major industry to cut a substantial number of jobs was professional and business services (-900 jobs).
Construction reached another record high of 117,500 jobs in March. Since March 2021, construction added 6,100 jobs, or 5.5%. Over the year, construction of buildings added 1,900 jobs, or 10.8%, which was the fastest growth rate of all construction component industries. Building equipment contractors also grew rapidly, adding 3,100 jobs, or 9.9%, during the past 12 months.
Financial activities employment was boosted by the hot real estate sector. Real estate and rental and leasing added 1,400 jobs in March to reach 50,300 jobs. Meanwhile, the more steady finance and insurance was flat at 56,700 jobs, near where it has remained for the past dozen years.
Leisure and hospitality cooled, at least temporarily, its rapid comeback of the past two years. Despite only adding 900 jobs in March, it is up 38,400 jobs since March 2021, which accounts for more than half of the private sector’s job gains in that time.
Professional and business services cut 900 jobs, but at 256,500 jobs, the sector was still near an all-time high. In March, administrative and waste services cut 1,800 jobs, after adding nearly as many in the prior two months.
Oregon Department of Transportation Reminds Supporters About Political Sign Placement
(Release from ODOT) With elections approaching, the Oregon Department of Transportation reminds property owners and campaign supporters that temporary political signs may not be placed on state highway right of way.
Additionally, there are restrictions for signs on private property that are visible from state highways, as well as time limits on how long signs can be posted.
State highway right of way width varies. In some cities it ranges from curb to curb; in other locations, it can extend 200 feet or more.
Political signs placed on state highway right of way may be removed without notice and stored at a local ODOT maintenance office for 30 days.
Signs are prohibited on trees, utility poles, fence posts and natural features within highway right of way. They also are prohibited within view of a designated scenic area.
On private property, temporary political signs are allowed within view of state highways under these restrictions:
•New signs are limited to 12 square feet.
•No compensation may be exchanged for the right to place the sign or the message displayed.
•No flashing or intermittent lights, animated or moving parts are allowed.
•Signs must not imitate an official highway sign or device.
•Signs are not allowed in scenic corridors.
More information about ODOT’s Outdoor Advertising Sign Program is online at www.oregon.gov/odot/ROW/Pages/Sign-Resources.aspx.
Google Plans To Invest More Than $50M In Oregon
Google announced plans Wednesday to invest more than $50 million in Oregon in 2022.
According to a release Google also announced plans to invest about $9.5 billion in offices and data centers and create at least 12,000 new full-time Google jobs across the U.S. this year.
“Google’s offices and data centers provide vital anchors to our local communities and help us contribute to their economies,” said Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet.
“As we embrace more flexibility in how we work, we believe it’s more important than ever to invest in our campuses and that doing so will make for better products, a greater quality of life for our employees, and stronger communities.”
Google has called Oregon home for more than 15 years, creating more than 200 jobs.
Under recent agreements with The City of the Dalles and Wasco County, Google will have the option to build up to two additional data centers near its existing site.
More employees have recently returned to the Portland office as the company began its transition to its new hybrid approach on April 4th.
“We’re excited to see Google welcoming employees back to its office in downtown Portland as it continues its growth here and across our state. Returning workers are critical for the revitalization and vibrancy of our downtown,” said Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler.
“Google’s innovation is part of the engine that powers so many other businesses and industries and we’re grateful for their commitment to our region and its future.”
Google also released the 2021 Economic Impact Report for Oregon today, sharing how it helped provide $6.2 billion of economic activity in 2021 for tens of thousands of businesses, publishers, and nonprofits in Oregon who used Google products last year to increase their online presence and connect with the people and communities they serve.
The Economic Impact Report details Google’s national and local impact in all 50 U.S. states, plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Friday is the deadline to apply for a position on the Local Government Grant Program Advisory Committee with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.
An OPRD release said the eleven-member committee allocates funding to public park and recreation projects throughout the state.
They are seeking one county representative from east of the Cascades and two representatives of the public, one of whom represents a historically under-represented community.
Public-at-large positions may be held by a recreation professional or any citizen with a background or interest in outdoor recreation.
OPRD said the main function of the committee is to read, assess and score grant applications submitted to LGGP and attend a three-day grant application presentation meeting typically held in Salem each June.
An interest form is linked at: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/GRA/Documents/LGGP-Committee-Interest-form-w-References.pdf✎ EditSign
Call 503-951-1317 or email: mark.cowan@oprd.oregon.gov for more information.
Popcorn Recalled Over Allergen Concerns
The Food and Drug Administration warns that Popcorn that hit grocery store shelves in a number of U.S. states is now under recall due to possible contamination.
Snak King Corporation issued the voluntary recall after discovering that certain five-ounce packages of O Organics Sea Salt Organic Popcorn may have an undeclared milk allergen.
The recalled items were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington DC, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Idaho.
Popcorn bags, which all have the “best by” dates of 9/24/2022 – 9/25/2022, landed on shelves in ACME, Safeway, King’s, Balducci’s, Jewel-Osco, Andronico’s Community Markets, Vons, Pak ‘N Save, Albertsons, Eagle, Carrs-Safeway, Haggen and Pavilions locations.
The UPC number for the recalled items is 079893 403038.
While a milk allergen may be seriously harmful and even life-threatening for people who are allergic, as of Tuesday there were no reports of illness.
Anyone who bought a now-recalled O Organics bag of popcorn is urged not to eat it, and to return it to the store where it was purchased for a full refund.
Consumers can call the company with any questions at (626) 363-7711.
Grants Pass Missing Person
The Grants Pass Police Department is seeking assistance from the public in locating 30 year old Noah Baker. Baker was despondent after an argument and left his residence in Grants Pass driving a silver Ford Fiesta with Oregon Plate 671MUR.
Baker is described as a white male adult, 5’09”, 170 lbs, brown hair and blue eyes and was last seen wearing black sweats, black shirt, black shoes and a black hat.
If anyone knows of his whereabouts or sees Baker, please call your local law enforcement agency or the Grants Pass Police at 541-450-6260. Reference case #2022-14203 Grants Pass Police Department
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/