Willamette Valley News, Monday 7/11 – Suspect in Leaburg Murder Now in Custody, Woman Walks Over 4 Miles To Find Help After Being Beaten And Shot At Near Detroit Lake

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

Monday, July 11, 2022

Willamette Valley Weather

Suspect in Leaburg Murder Now in Custody

The man accused of murder near Leaburg is now in custody.

The murder happened up Angels Flight Rd. Around 10 p.m. on July 8th. Lane County Sheriff’s Office investigators were called to a home in the 44,000 block of McKenzie highway for reports of an assault. When they arrived, a man in his 70’s was found dead.

They were able to identify 37-year-old Nickolas Jessee as the suspect, who took off before investigators arrived. They searched for Jessee throughout the night and finally took him into custody Saturday morning, July 9.

Deputies said more details about this disturbing case will be released in the coming days. Jessee is facing multiple charges including second-degree murder.

According to court documents, Jessee has been convicted of several crimes in the past including sexual abuse, assault, DUII, and burglary.

Woman Walks Over 4 Miles To Find Help After Being Beaten And Shot At Near Detroit Lake

Police said a woman walked over four miles to find help after being beaten and shot at by her boyfriend near Detroit Lake.

The Linn County Sheriff’s Office said it received a 911 call Saturday morning regarding a domestic disturbance that occurred at an unimproved campsite in Linn County, near Detroit Lake.

The caller told dispatch that a woman had walked to their campsite asking for help as she had been beaten up and shot at by her boyfriend. The caller said she had walked several miles trying to find help.

Deputies from the Linn County Sheriff’s Office met with the woman, and they say they saw evidence related to what had been reported. The woman did not want medical services but was later treated at the Santiam Memorial Hospital for injuries related to this incident.

Sheriff’s deputies located the campsite on Forest Service Road NF-634, located on the south side of Detroit Lake. Officials say the campsite was approximately four-and-a-half miles from Highway 22.

Deputies located Christopher Ryan Favor, 36, of Mill City, and was taken into custody without incident.

Christopher Favor was taken to the Linn County Jail on the following charges:

  • Assault in the second degree
  • Strangulation
  • Kidnapping in the second degree
  • Unlawful use of a weapon
  • Felon in possession of a firearm
  • Reckless endangering
  • Criminal mischief in the first degree

The sheriff’s office said the investigation is ongoing.

The Great Dane Rescued From Hot Car is Now Recovering

The Eugene Police Department reports that officers were called out to Valley River Center today, July 8, on a report of a dog locked in a car that was parked in direct sunlight.

Police say they found a 4-year-old Great Dane named Hercules in obvious distress in the car, which had allegedly reached a temperature of 113 degrees Fahrenheit when officers arrived.

Officers were able to open the car and extract him, where they poured water on him and took him to an emergency vet. As of 4 p.m. July 8, Hercules is being treated for life-threatening injuries, police say.

The EPD says the owners returned to their vehicle at about 12:40 p.m. to find an officer waiting to speak to them. The police department says the officer found the owners had been inside the center at a movie theater since about 10:20 a.m. One owner was reportedly arrested and jailed on a charge of first-degree animal neglect.

Officials with the Eugene Police Department have updated information and say ‘Hercules’ is doing better, and will likely not suffer any long-term effects. 

His owner is now facing an animal neglect charge, accused of leaving Hercules in a car that reached 113 degrees. They say he locked his dog inside his car, which was parked in direct sunlight at the Valley River Center. 

Women Missing Since May between Medford, Grants Pass and Roseburg per Oregon State Police

MAKENNA KENDALL                                   5/3/2022
ERICA LEE  HUTCHINSON                          5/26/2022                          
DANIELLE MARIAH SHARP                          6/12/2022          
KAITLYN RAE NELSON                                  6/14/2022                 
BROOKLYN JOHNS                                     6/14/2022
DONNA LEPP                                               6/27/2022  
BARBARA  DELEPINE                                    7/4/2022                     
KENDRA MARIE HANKS                              7/7/2022
CORI BOSHANE MCCANN                             7/8/2022

Women Missing Since May in Lane County per Oregon State Police

BREISA RAQUEAL SIKEL                            5/3/2022
HANNAH MARIE RHOTEN                             5/17/2022
MARISSA ALEESA DAMBROSIO                  5/18/2022
ISABELLA BROSOWSKEYOUNGBLOOD    6/7/2022             
LOUISA DAY AVA                                           5/28/2022             
AMY CHRISTINA SULLIVAN                          6/1/2022
NIKKI ELIZABETH  ZEREBNY                              6/6/2022
SHADOW STAR SEVIGNY                               6/17/2022
SHAUNA LEAH HOGAN                             6/17/2022
AIRIONNA CHEALSEY RHODES                    6/27/2022           
VERONICA ESSYNCE DELERIO                      7/6/2022             
KAHEALANI WASSMANKALILI                    7/7/2022             
ANGELA SADE RUIZ                                        7/9/2022              

That’s 22 women missing in 2 1/2 months between Medford and the Eugene area. That averages out to 8 women missing per month in Southern Oregon. https://www.oregon.gov/osp/missing/pages/missingpersons.aspx

We want to keep you informed about COVID-19 in Oregon. Data are provisional and change frequently. For more information, including COVID-19 data by county, visit our dashboard: http://ow.ly/uBoq50JRVy1

Screen shot of linked dashboard shows an increase trend in cases and hospitalizations.  Test positivity and vaccinations have plateaued. Please visit healthoregon.org/coronavirus for more.
hMPXV can affect anyone. Spread primarily via close skin-to-skin contact. Contact with objects used by someone with hMPXV, large respiratory droplets or oral fluids may also spread. If attending an event, consider amount of close, personal, skin-to-skin contact. If you're feeling sick and notice new rashes, especially on genitals or around anus, avoid skin-to-skin contact and talk to a health care provider (or 211).

Oregon has seen one confirmed and five presumptive cases of hMPXV, known as monkeypox, as of Thursday morning, and now the Oregon Health Authority is warning people to limit skin-to-skin contact with others.

This warning comes right before the Oregon Country Fair kicked off this weekend, and before thousands of people will be in Eugene for this week for the World Athletics Championships.

Three of the six  monkeypox  cases are in Lane County. The virus is transmitted during close, skin to skin contact with someone who has symptoms. Contact with towels, bedding or clothes used by a person with the virus can also transmit it. Warning signs include fever, headache, exhaustion and a rash. The virus can spread from the time symptoms start to when the sores are healed.

Meanwhile, The number of COVID-19 cases in Oregon is expected to rise due to the Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5, according to a new report released by Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU).

Cases are expected to peak by the middle of this month. According to OHSU’s model, the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants
began growing in predominance in early May. Officials say BA.4 and BA.5 are the most transmissible of the
COVID-19 variants so far.

According to OHSU, 423 people in Oregon are currently hospitalized with COVID-19. That number could rise to 479 by mid-July. The number of deaths is subsequently expected to rise as well.

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Red Cross Collects 12% Fewer Blood Donations Than Needed in June

Chance at Shark Week merchandise package for those who come to give thanks to Discovery  

The American Red Cross and Discovery are partnering for Shark Week and invite people to dive in to help save lives by giving blood or platelets in July. The Red Cross saw a steep drop in blood and platelet donations last month, and donors are asked to make appointments now to prevent a blood shortage this summer.

In June, the Red Cross collected approximately 12% fewer blood donations than needed – one of the largest monthly blood donation shortfalls in recent years. Here in the Cascades Region, 4% less donations were made than expected. When less people answer the call to donate, the blood supply shrinks – and that could mean blood products aren’t ready for hospital staff to reach for in emergencies. 

Thanks to Discovery, all who come to give blood or platelets in July will automatically be entered for a chance to win an exclusive Shark Week merchandise package that includes:

  • Beach bike
  • Smokeless portable fire pit
  • Paddle board
  • Kayak
  • $500 gift card to put toward accessories

Those who come to give July 21-24 will get an exclusive Shark Week T-shirt from Discovery, while supplies last. Details are available at rcblood.org/sharkweek

By making and keeping blood and platelet donation appointments in July, donors can connect with patients through a lifesaving gift. To book a time to give, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). 

Upcoming blood donation opportunities July 7-31:

July 11

Fred Meyer – Hawthorne, 3805 SE Hawthorne, Portland, OR, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Vancouver Blood Donation Center, 5109 NE 82nd Ave, Vancouver, WA, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

July 13

MODA Tower Portland, 601 SW 2nd Ave, Portland, OR, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 

New Harvest Church, 4290 Portland Rd. NE, Salem, OR, 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

VA SORCC, 8495 Crater Lake Hwy, White City, OR, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Eugene Elks, 2470 W 11th, Eugene, OR, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. 

July 14

Fred Meyer, Inc, 3500 SE 26th Ave, Portland, OR, 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 

Comfort Suites, 100 Opal Ct. NE, Albany, OR, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter your zip code to find a donation opportunity near you.

B-roll of people donating blood can be found here.

Blood drive safety 

The Red Cross follows a high standard of safety and infection control. The Red Cross will continue to socially distance wherever possible at blood drives, donation centers and facilities. While donors are no longer required to wear a face mask, individuals may choose to continue to wear a mask for any reason. The Red Cross will also adhere to more stringent face mask requirements per state and/or local guidance, or at the request of blood drive sponsors. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at a drive.  

Oregon and Washington still require that face masks be worn at all blood drive and donation sites.

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

Amplify Your Impact − Volunteer!

Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross is to become a volunteer blood donor ambassador at Red Cross blood drives. Blood donor ambassadors help greet, check-in and thank blood donors to ensure they have a positive donation experience.

Volunteers can also serve as transportation specialists, playing a vital role in ensuring lifesaving blood products are delivered to nearby hospitals. For more information and to apply for a either position, visit https://www.redcross.org/volunteertoday.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

‘Rethink the Drink’ aims to change the conversation about drinking alcohol

Oregon Health Authority launches campaign to help build healthier communities

PORTLAND, Ore.—The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) just launched “Rethink the Drink,” an innovative statewide campaign to build healthier communities by calling attention to the harms caused by excessive alcohol drinking. Rethink the Drink asks people living in Oregon to consider the role of alcohol in their own lives and communities. Oregon is the first state in the country to launch a campaign of this scale, which will target adults aged 21 and older.

“Summer is often a busy time for events and occasions that are celebrated with excessive drinking, from festivals to weddings, river outings and BBQs. Our research shows people are ready to talk about drinking and the way alcohol affects our lives,” said Dr. Tom Jeanne, OHA’s Deputy State Health Officer and Deputy State Epidemiologist. “We have heard from many community groups that appreciate we are encouraging people to have healthy conversations about excessive alcohol use.”

People living in Oregon may be drinking excessively and not realize it.

The share of Oregon adults who drink excessively is bigger than most of us realize, more than 1 in 5. Most people in this group are not affected by alcoholism or an alcohol use disorder. However, by drinking excessively, people increase their odds of developing an alcohol use disorder later in life. It’s not just a problem for high school and college kids: people in their 30s and 40s binge drink at close to the same rates as younger people.

OHA uses the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) definition of excessive alcohol use. Excessive drinking includes both heavy drinking and binge drinking:

  • Heavy drinking, which can lead to chronic diseases and other problems over time, is 8 or more drinks per week for women or 15 or more drinks per week for men.
  • Binge drinking is consuming 4 or more drinks on one occasion for women or 5 or more drinks on one occasion for men.

The CDC numbers are different for men and women because their bodies process alcohol differently. However, it’s important to point out that the CDC numbers refer to cisgender males and females. “Cisgender” means that the gender you identify with matches the sex assigned to you at birth. When it comes to gender nonconforming individuals, more research is needed to assess the impact of excessive drinking. It’s also true that for some people, drinking any alcohol is too much. And no matter who you are, drinking less is better for your health than drinking more.

“We need a new way to think about alcohol,” said Rachael Banks, MPA, OHA’s Public Health Director. “Many cross the line into drinking too much, partly because society makes it so easy. We aren’t telling people to stop drinking; we are asking that they pause for a moment, learn about how much drinking is harmful, and think about the way alcohol is prevalent in their lives and communities.”

During the pandemic, the policy environment changed across the nation and in Oregon to allow for cocktails to go and expanded home delivery of alcohol. “With those changes to Oregon law, the education environment and tools available must evolve too,” adds Dr. Reginald Richardson, Executive Director for the Oregon Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission. “That’s why this effort to start a new conversation about excessive alcohol use is so crucial.”

Data reveal the unjust harms of excessive drinking

National data show that alcohol consumption increased during the pandemic as people coped with the stress and changes to daily life caused by the virus. This was exacerbated as alcohol became more easily available due to policy changes. Certain populations experience more unjust stressors and disadvantages due to racism and discrimination, which has led to higher rates of alcohol-related harms. These include Black and Indigenous communities, as well as people with lower incomes and less education.

Excessive drinking causes health harms that include increased risks for cancer, liver failure, heart disease and depression. Beyond the health harms to the individual, excessive drinking affects the entire community, costing Oregon $4.8 billion per year from lost earnings for workers and revenue for businesses, health care expenses, criminal justice costs, and car crashes. That’s $1,100 for every person in Oregon, according to a report by ECONorthwest.  

“We recognize that the alcohol industry provides thousands of jobs for Oregonians and that we make some of the world’s finest beers, wines and spirits,” added Dr. Jeanne. “At the same time, excessive drinking carries heavy costs for all of us, whether we drink or not. It affects everyone from children and families to businesses and taxpayers. This effort encourages people to consider whether we could be handling alcohol use in different ways than we are now.”

Rethink the Drink advances Healthier Together Oregon (HTO), the 2020–2024 State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP). HTO’s Behavioral Health priority strategies specific to alcohol and substance use can be found in Oregon’s Strategic Plan for Substance Use Services as developed by Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission.

Elements of the Rethink the Drink campaign include:

  • Website: rethinkthedrink.com
  • Statewide TV, radio, digital and print advertisements
  • Facebook and Instagram pages
  • Information for county health departments, community-based organizations, and Tribes to localize the campaign for their communities

Extensive research and statewide focus groups by OHA and DHM Research, plus robust involvement by community partners throughout the state, informed the development of this campaign.

Note: If you or someone you care about is suffering from alcohol dependence or an alcohol use disorder, free confidential resources and support are available online or by calling or 1-800-923-435.

About Rethink the Drink

Rethink the Drink is an initiative of the Oregon Health Authority’s Public Health Division with a goal to build healthier communities by decreasing excessive drinking and the harm it causes to individuals, families and communities. Recognizing the value of Oregon’s beer, wine and alcohol producers and businesses to the state’s economy, culture and identity, Rethink the Drink is not asking people not to drink. While Oregonians of all education and income levels drink excessively, certain populations experience higher rates of alcohol-related diseases. These include Black and Indigenous communities, as well as people with lower incomes and less education.

About the Oregon Health Authority Public Health Division

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is a state government agency with a single overarching strategic goal: eliminate health inequities in Oregon by 2030. The mission of OHA’s Public Health Division is to promote health and prevent the leading causes of death, disease and injury in our state. We do this by creating environments, policies and systems that support healthy communities and wellness for everyone, including access to healthy food, physical activity, immunizations, safe water and clean air. For more information, please visit the Public Health Division website.

About the Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission

The Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission (ADPC) is an independent state agency created by the Oregon Legislature to improve the effectiveness of substance use services for all Oregonians. In 2018, the Legislature directed ADPC to develop a statewide, comprehensive strategic plan for substance use services, which ADPC completed in 2020. The strategic plan is called Oregon’s Strategic Plan for Substance Use Services. For more information, please visit https://www.oregon.gov/adpc/pages/index.aspx.  

Judge Dismisses Oregon Grazing Lawsuit

U.S. District Judge Michael McShane has dismissed a lawsuit filed by environmental advocates who claimed the U.S. Forest Service unlawfully authorized grazing in the 165,000-acre Antelope Allotment of the Fremont-Winema National Forest.

“The Forest Service made a rational decision when it decided on a course of action that included continued grazing in the Antelope Allotment,” McShane said.

The most recent grazing plans for the allotment opened up more land for grazing to encourage cattle to disperse instead of congregating in areas inhabited by the threatened Oregon spotted frog.

The Concerned Friends of the Winema and four other environmental nonprofits filed a federal lawsuit in 2019 alleging the agency’s grazing plans were “unsupported and irrational” in violation of the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act and National Forest Management Act.

The judge has now rejected all those arguments, ruling that the government adequately analyzed livestock impacts on the threatened Oregon spotted frog in light of climate change and other stressors.

The effects of climate change were front and center during oral arguments between the environmental plaintiffs and the Forest Service in May.

McShane has now disagreed with allegations that climate change was ignored in the “BiOp,” or biological opinion, that examined whether grazing would jeopardize the spotted frog’s existence under the Endangered Species Act.

The BiOp recognized that drought was “probably the most severe threat” to the population of frogs in Jack Creek, which runs through the allotment, and that historic population losses may potentially be attributed to climate change and invasive species, the judge said.

As to the specific future effect of climate change on the species, the plaintiffs “failed to point to any study” that federal officials should have consulted, he said. The absence of research on this subject led the government to conclude that any predictions would be “uncertain.”

“As no studies at the time examined the effects of climate change on the Oregon spotted frog, any further discussion by the agency on this issue would have been speculative,” McShane said.

Even so, the government took a “hard look” at past weather data as well as “future expected trends of increased average temperatures, reduced snowpack, and other effects of climate change” in an environmental study required by NEPA, the judge said.

Aside from climate change, this “final environmental impact statement,” or FEIS, also complied with the legal requirements of the National Forest Management Act, the judge said.

“The Forest Service adequately assessed the viability of Oregon spotted frog, sensitive plants, mollusks, and other sensitive species in the FEIS and expert botany report, ultimately finding that the new grazing framework would not impair these species’ viability,” McShane said.

Contrary to the lawsuit’s claims, the government did not disregard the national forest plan’s goals improve conditions in riparian areas, including wetlands and moist meadows, the judge said.

“Plaintiffs’ argument plainly ignores the agency’s findings that the grazing plan will result in ‘greater periods of forage recovery as well as reduced impacts to soils associated with trampling,’ and ‘more efficient use of resources and a greater likelihood of population recovery’ as compared to the status quo,” he said.

The environmental groups argued there’s no “scientific or practical support” for the most recent grazing plan allowing livestock onto 20,000 additional acres of the allotment, but the judge rejected this claim.

“The administrative record contains sufficient support for the Forest Service to rationally predict that better dispersal, and therefore decreased impacts, will occur under the new grazing management plan as compared to status quo grazing,” he said.

Remains Of Orca Found Again Off The Coast Near Coquille River

A dead orca has been sighted again along the coast after being adrift at sea for 11 days.

Mark Milstein of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says a fisherman spotted the killer whale’s carcass 10 miles southwest from the mouth of the Coquille River on Thursday.

The body of an orca first spotted off of Newport on June 27 by a fisherman was discovered again July 7 near the mouth of the Coquille River, over 100 miles south.
NOAA Fisheries

Photos of the orca were sent to an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife office in Charleston. The crew who spotted the body removed fishing or crabbing gear entangling it, and described it as sport rather than commercial.

Milstein says Oregon State University will examine the gear to see if there are any remnants of the orca, which they will then analyze. The carcass remains at sea.

The mammal’s body was first photographed by a fisherman off of Newport on June 27. It’s believed to be the first instance of a dead and entangled orca found in Oregon coastal waters.

The Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative 2022 Oregon Hidden Bottle Hunt

Six commemorative bottles have been hidden around the state of Oregon to celebrate more than a half-century of Oregon’s Bottle Bill. Each bottle has been placed in parks and trails throughout the state.

Five daily clues as to the bottles’ locations will be revealed through Sunday 7/11. All clues can be found on the BottleDrop website.

The hunt is divided into six geographical zones. Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook and Harney counties are in Zone 4. Klamath, Lake, Josephine and Jackson counties are in Zone 3. Eastern Oregon is in Zone 5. Southwest Oregon is in Zone 2 while Zone 1 has been split into an east and west region covering Portland and Northwest Oregon.

Oregon Hidden Bottle Hunt 2022 Zone Map
Oregon Hidden Bottle Hunt 2022 Zone Map (Credit: Oregon BottleDrop)

The green, refillable bottles come with a small, Oregon-shaped tag that says “The Oregon Bottle Bill: Promoting a legacy of recycling since 1971.” They will come with a small bag to keep the bottle in.

The winners get to keep the bottle and will get to choose one of the 5,000 BottleDrop Give nonprofit partners to receive a $1,000 donation.

Important Bottle Hunt rules

  • Do not trespass on private property. All bottles are hidden in parks or trails open to the public.
  • Do not go inside any buildings to look for bottles. All bottles are hidden outside.
  • Do not dig for the bottles or otherwise damage/destroy any plants or structures at the park/trail, and bottles will not be hidden in any community garden spaces. The bottles may be concealed but will not be hidden in places that require damaging property in any way. You do not need to dig underground or destroy anything to access the bottles, and doing so is prohibited.
  • Abide by any park/trail hours while you are hunting.

The Oregon Bottle Bill, signed into law on July 2, 1971, was the nation’s first beverage container redemption system that allowed people to get money back for returning bottles.

OBRC said the Oregon redemption rate was  83.9% in 2021, with Oregonians returning nearly 2 billion containers for recycling.

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