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, August 10, 2022
Willamette Valley Weather
Family and Friends of Young Man Who Drowned At Fern Ridge Start Life Vest Drive in His Honor
After Jeremy Van Brocklin drowned in the Fern Ridge Reservoir on August 1, family and friends swore to take steps to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.
Michelle Barton, the mother of Van Brocklin’s girlfriend and a volunteer at the Jeremy Van Brocklin Foundation, is organizing an event in Junction City where concerned citizens will be able to donate life jackets and other lifesaving devices to be placed at swimming holes and lakes for public use.
The event is scheduled for August 17 at Richardson Park on the Fern Ridge Reservoir from Noon to 5 p.m. Some life jackets and life preservers are already at the lake near Van Brocklin’s memorial.
The life preservers and life jackets are only one part of the efforts volunteers want to take for water safety. They are also seeking to place these flotation devices at kiosks specially built at lakes and swimming holes across Lane County. Some community members are already donating materials for the kiosks, according to Barton. She said the lifesaving devices will be free for all to use at-will. Volunteers will also check the stations regularly to make sure they are always stocked. Volunteers are still waiting on approval from officials before building the kiosks.
The Jeremy Van Brocklin Foundation is accepting donations of life jackets, life savers and first aid kits as well as financial donations and kiosk building materials. Anyone who wishes to donate can contact the foundation at jeremyfoundations@gmail.com, or via the GoFundMe, or visit their Facebook page, or call at 458-245-1559.
Suspect Still On The Loose After Multi-Agency Search Near Noti
A suspect remains on the loose after several law enforcement agencies carried out a search on Highway 126 West on Monday morning.
According to the Oregon State Police, a trooper attempted to stop a red Suzuki Aerio for speeding and reckless driving on Highway 126 West near Noti Lane at about 8:40 a.m. on August 8. OSP says the driver, who remains unidentified, stopped the car, got out and ran away on foot.
Officials say OSP troopers and personnel from several other law enforcement agencies carried out an exhaustive search of the area that included police dog units from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, but were unable to locate the suspect.
Oregon State Police say they are continuing an investigation into the identity of the suspect. Anyone with information about the incident or the suspect is urged to call OSP at 800-44-0776 and reference case number SP22-205397. OSP says there is no threat to the public’s safety at this time.
Eugene Starbucks Workers On Strike Again
Workers at the Starbucks on Willamette Street in Eugene officially went on strike Monday morning, claiming corporate leadership has been aggressive towards their union.
As of 4:30 a.m. on August 8, the partners at the 2830 Willamette St. Starbucks were on strike. They say they will stay on strike until Sunday, August 14. A worker said they are focused on changing the store’s hours and countering retaliatory actions from Starbucks management against the union.
Union organizers claim the response from Starbucks corporate leadership has been aggressive. As a result, they have filed an unfair labor practice charge with the local branch of the national labor relations board to get to the bottom of the allegations. In the meantime, workers are holding a picket demonstration that has forced the store to close and stay closed for the duration of the strike.
“We’re on strike because Starbucks has been increasing their disciplining at our store and across the country,” said Quentin Piccolo, a shift manager at the Eugene Starbucks. “At our store we’ve been experiencing firings and unjust write-ups. There’s definitely an attempt to get the turnover going before we can get a contract started.”
So far, only the Starbucks on Willamette Street is closed for the strike.
When asked about the strike, Starbucks said:
“We currently have a strike happening at the 29th and Willamette store location in Eugene, Oregon. Starbucks has great partners and we value their contributions. We respect our partners’ right to engage in any legally protected activity or protest without retaliation. We are grateful for each partner who continues to work and we always do our best to listen to the concerns of all our partners.”
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/aYS450Kgk6f
Taking some time to check your skin every month could save your life.If you see something, especially if it looks like it’s changing, get it checked out by a medical professional. To learn more, including skin cancer myths, tips for prevention and understanding high-risk factors, visit our blog: http://ow.ly/WUkO50Jt3ok
McKinney Fire Update
As the fight against the McKinney fire carries on, the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office is asking for your assistance in locating an unaccounted-for person.
Stanley Mortensen has been unaccounted for since the McKinney Fire began on July 29th. The Sheriff’s Office is asking for the assistance of the public in locating Mortensen.
If you have any information that could assist, please contact the Sheriff’s Office Dispatch at 530-841-2900.
The Sheriff’s Office has confirmed 4 deaths so far from the fire. The victims include a US Forest Service worker that was killed when the fire swept through Klamath River.
After 11 days of hard work, firefighters have accomplished 55% containment in the McKinney Fire and have constructed initial line around the entire 80-mile fire perimeter. The next step for fire personnel is to continue to maintain this line by aggressive and thorough mop-up with the intention to gain depth and keep the fire
in its existing footprint.
Crews continue to patrol and evaluate alternate lines, should the firefighters experience rolling burning material or any spot fires that could challenge their primary line. Fire crews along Scotts Bar and Oak Knoll are starting to assess contingency lines for repair.
Cedar Creek Fire August 10, 2022 Update – 8:00 AM
Acres: 3,772 | Contained: 0% | Total personnel: 520 |Start Date: August 1, 2022| Cause: Lightning | Location: 15 miles E of Oakridge, OR | Fuels: Heavy mixed conifer, ponderosa pine, brush, and grass
Highlights: Thunderstorms passed over the fire area yesterday and crews assigned to the Cedar Creek Fire were able to assist in providing a quick response to five new lightning caused fires east of the main fire. The Union Interagency Hotshot Crew (IHC) had been engaged in scouting for opportunities to construct fireline from East Black Creek Road (Forest Road 2421) through the Waldo Lake Wilderness to tie into the lake before they were diverted to a new fire. The Devils Staircase Wildland Fire Module that had been working north of the fire area near the lake were able to quickly respond to a new lightning start in that area. Keeping these new fire starts small is a priority for the Willamette National Forest. Most firefighters assigned to the incident were able to remain engaged in preparing roads as containment features.
Operations: Operations to prepare Black Creek Road as a containment line will continue today. Crews are clearing small diameter woody material on the north side of the road in anticipation of an eventual burnout operation that will contain the southern fire perimeter. Graders and tenders are also widening the road to assist crews that will eventually be tasked with holding and securing the fire perimeter. Firefighters are also continuing to prepare Forest Road 2417 as a potential containment line on the northern fire perimeter. Firefighters will also remain vigilant and respond to any new fire starts around the Cedar Creek Fire that may “hold over” or retain heat and ignite several days later. These “hold over” fires can ignite up to two weeks after the initial lightning strike.
Evacuations: Currently, there are no evacuations in place.
Weather: Cooler temperatures will return to the area with high temperatures in the mid-70s and relative humidity values from 30-40 percent. Winds are predicted to be generally southeast in the morning shifting to northwest 4 to 8 mph, gusting to 15 mph in the afternoon.
Closures: The entire Waldo Lake Wilderness area is closed due to the Cedar Creek Fire. This includes all trailheads and dispersed camping west and north of Waldo Lake. The lake itself, campgrounds, and trails (including the PCT) on the east side remain open. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place around the fire area.
Restrictions: Fire restrictions are in place on the Willamette National Forest with the exception of the Three Sisters, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, Waldo Lake, and Diamond Peak Wilderness areas. All campfires, charcoal or briquette fires, pellet fires, or any other fires will be prohibited, except in designated campgrounds. Portable cooking stoves, lanterns and heaters using liquefied or bottled fuel are still allowed if they can be switched on and off. Motorized vehicles may operate only on designated trails and roads, including within the Huckleberry Flats and Santiam Pass OHV areas.
Smoke: Smoke Forecast Outlooks (in both English and Spanish) are available at
https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook. Air quality in Oakridge, Oregon is expected to be good with the best time of day to recreate outdoors being late afternoon.
Fire Information: Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
Phone: 541-201-2335 |
Email: 2022.cedarcreek@firenet.gov |
Online: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8307/ |
https://www.facebook.com/willamettenf |
https://twitter.com/willametteNF |
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/99hdyvjn
All other fires … For information on all other Oregon wildfires, visit InciWeb maps for more.
Intense thunderstorms rumbled through parts of Oregon Tuesday afternoon and evening, hitting the region with hundreds of lightning strikes that had fire crews from numerous agencies scrambling to catch dozens of fires ignited around the area, stopping most at small sizes.
Central Oregon saw more than 800 lightning strikes Tuesday, igniting at least 70 fires crews responded to on the the Deschutes and Ochoco national forests, the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District and BLM’s Prineville District.
As of early Tuesday evening, all but one of the blazes was kept to less than a quarter-acre. The exception was the Doghouse Gulch Fire (Incident 626), which broke out near the south fork of the John Day River and had burned an estimated 15 acres.
The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag (fire weather) Warning that was in effect until 9 p.m.
The National Weather Service issued a special weather statement around 12:40 p.m., warning of a string of strong thunderstorms extending from east of Sunriver to east of Millican, moving north at 50 mph and packing winds gusting to 55 mph. Forecasters also reported another strong thunderstorm around 1:1 5p.m. near Tumalo, quickly moving north.
Jakki Carter, who works remotely from her home on Britta Street in northwest Bend, saw some flashes of lightning outside her home office window and caught on camera one strike that ignited a fire down a tall tree nearby.
It was one of many trees struck by lightning bolts around the region Tuesday afternoon as fire crews rushed to put them out. Some buildings apparently were hit as well.
Due to heavy rain, police said the Greenwood Avenue and Third Street underpasses were flooding and urged motorists to avoid the areas.
About 500 Pacific Power customers were without service at mid-afternoon, down to only about a dozen by evening.
Other utilities reported outages as well. Redmond-based Central Electric Cooperative had members affected in the Tumalo area, southeast Bend and the Marks Creek/Ochoco Ranger Station area. About 480 members were affected, said Brent ten Pas, CEC’s director of customer and energy services.
In southern Deschutes County, Midstate Electric Cooperative reported outages Tuesday evening from La Pine to the north, east and west. The utility urged people to not approached downed lines or debris in the lines, and instead keep a safe distance and call 800-752-5935 to report an outage, debris on a line or other issues.
The heavy rain also brought mudslides in southeast Oregon that closed a 13-mile stretch of state Highway 140 between Lakeview and Adel late Tuesday.
It had already been a busy day, with more than a dozen smoke reports checked earlier by Central Oregon fire crews around the region.
After a stormy, lightning-filled night in the Bend area, a lightning strike on a transmission line east of town Tuesday morning knocked out power to about 34,000 Pacific Power customers for up to almost two hours.
The outage began around 6:45 a.m., when lightning hit a transmission line by U.S. Highway 20 at Ward Road, utility spokesman Drew Hanson said.
At its height, 34,000 customers were without service, Hanson said, but “crews got to work right away” and restored power to about half of those affected within a half-hour. All were restored by about 8:30 a.m., although the outage map showed a few small scattered lingering outages affecting only about a dozen customers.
With A Shortage Of Bus Drivers, Oregon School Districts Try To Boost Pay And Incentives
There’s an urgent need for bus drivers in districts across Oregon and throughout the country. Many districts are doing what they can to make the job more attractive to new hires. A shortage of bus drivers in many parts of the state has shown just how valuable the ride to and from school is.
Districts and bus companies have been forced to combine or cancel routes, boost hourly pay and offer bonuses.
In the Beaverton School District, base pay for bus drivers has increased to $23.39 an hour. After each year, the pay goes up before topping out at just under $30 per hour. District officials said they are now the highest paying district in Washington County.
Additionally drivers get a pension and full benefits for family members. District officials hope the pay, pension and benefits are incentives for people on the fence about becoming a bus driver.
Melissa Cagle is a bus driver for the district. She was hired last school year after retiring from 30 or so years of working retail.
“I wanted to do something I enjoy because I love kids, and it gave me summers and holidays off so I can still be with the family,” said Cagle as she drove her morning route.
Rusty Bingham, with the district’s transportation department, hope to hire more people like Cagle.
“We are roughly 15-20 drivers short to start the school year,” Bingham said.
He said the Beaverton School District, like so many other districts across the country, is experiencing a dire bus driver shortage. It was an issue before COVID hit, but the pandemic has made it worse.
While many districts are experiencing a bus driver shortage, different districts offer varied pay and incentives. For instance, Salem-Keizer Public School officials say they’re offering incentives of up to $3000 to join their transportation team.
A 2019 report from School Bus Fleet found nationally, the average bus driver’s starting pay was $16.67 an hour.
First quarter 2022 data show rapid growth in operating expenses impacting hospital operating margins
Data released by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) show hospitals across the state are struggling with sharp growth in operating expenses. This has impacted operating margins throughout the state, resulting in over half of Oregon’s hospitals reporting operating losses on the quarter.
Net patient revenue (NPR) was $3.78 billion in the first quarter of 2022, an 8.2% increase from the first quarter of 2021. Total operating revenue was $4.13 billion in the first quarter of 2022, a 10.9% increase from the first quarter of 2021. An additional round of CARES Act funding, which began distribution in late December of 2021, contributed to the revenue growth.
While revenue was up compared with the first quarter of 2021, the rate of revenue growth is slowing. Net patient revenue amounts have been effectively flat from the second quarter of 2021 through the first quarter of 2022.
All in all, hospitals finished the first quarter with $103.5 million in operating losses. This sharp decline in margin is attributed to the equally sharp growth in expenses, particularly payroll expenses.
“OHA recognizes rising personnel expenses are a growing concern for Oregon’s hospitals,” said Dave Baden, OHA chief financial officer. “Anecdotally, we hear that temporary staffing costs made up a large portion of the increased expense. We hope that with a return to normal staffing some of the expense growth will taper off.”
Total operating expense grew $559.1 million compared with the first quarter of 2021, a 15.2% increase. Payroll was the largest contributor to this growth, accounting for $330 million (59%) of the increase. Statewide, payroll was up 23.4% compared with the first quarter of 2021, while at the same time the total number of payroll hours worked was down 2.5%.
All hospital types faced expense challenges, and operating expense growth was similar across all hospital types in Oregon.
OHA receives hospital financial data 90 days after a calendar quarter ends. Based on conversations with various hospital leaders, ongoing struggles with expense growth and hospital staffing is expected to persist through the second quarter and into the fall.
“Everyone was aware that the pandemic was likely to have long lasting effects on our health care system and cause challenges for institutions like hospitals,” added Baden. “In the wake of these data and the picture they paint of the hospital financial situation, OHA will be monitoring closely to ensure that Oregon patients’ experiences continue to be the same.”
Note: Shriner’s Children is excluded from this analysis due to its status as a charity children’s hospital and its resulting unique financials.
Oregon Community Foundation Issues $8.7 Million in Community Grants to 371 Nonprofits, Prioritizing Historically Underserved Communities
OCF donors step up with $2.4 million to help meet recovery needs
Portland, Ore. – August 9, 2022 – Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) announced today it is awarding over $8.7 million in new community grants including $2.4 million in donor funds to directly support community grant requests from 371 nonprofit organizations throughout the state. Prioritized grants are being issued to community organizations serving disproportionately impacted communities in Oregon, including communities of color and under-resourced rural communities. The awards will benefit communities and neighbors living in all 36 Oregon counties.
“Due to significant demand, it was clear that we would not be able to fund every critical funding request from the Community Grants program alone. Donors from every part of our state stepped forward to help close the gap of ongoing needs of communities” said Kirsten Kilchenstein, Chief Philanthropy Officer, Oregon Community Foundation. “The generosity of OCF donors clearly signals that they want their communities to thrive. This level of collaborative and responsive grantmaking affirms that we can do so much more for Oregon when we work together.”
“There is so much unmet need in the Santiam Canyon and surrounding community that has escalated after the wildfires, COVID and with increasing inflation,” said Lee Wipper, who advises on OCF grantmaking from the Doris J. Wipper Fund, established through her late mother’s estate plan. “It’s humbling and a privilege to support these requests, and I love the idea of different funds joining forces to fulfill the grants.”
“Many of our youth are struggling to grow up in an ever changing and, at times, chaotic world,” said donor Kathie Eckman of Bend, Oregon. “Joining resources with Oregon Community Foundation from our family’s donor advised funds was a given for us along with our deep appreciation and support for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend with their youth and community focus.”
Historic Volume of Community Grant Requests in 2022 Reflects Depth of Need
OCF’s Community Grants Program received an historic 960 applications representing $24.5 million in requests from Oregon nonprofits in 2022. The volume of applicants reveals the ongoing needs of communities recovering from past crises in Oregon and struggling to meet ongoing needs. “OCF’s 2022 Community Grant recipients reflect the responsive nature of a diverse base of nonprofits from every part of the state,” said John Chang, Senior Program Officer, Oregon Community Foundation, Oregon.
“We recognize the significant role nonprofits have in meeting ongoing and emerging needs in Oregon. Their deep roots in the communities they serve is critical, especially during this recovery period.”
OCF maintained a strong commitment to supporting historically underserved populations and awarded 61% of the grants to smaller, nimble nonprofits meeting key community needs. Selected grantees include nonprofits providing arts, cultural and educational programs, and those focused on equity, health, housing and human services.
Following is a small sampling of some of the 371 organizations in Oregon receiving 2022 Community Grants and donor funding from OCF. [A complete list of all 371 of the 2022 Community Grant recipients, organized by region, can be found in OCF’s online Press Room.]
Boys & Girls Club of Warm Springs, $20,000 OCF Community Grant
(Via Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County)
To expand the Healthy Kids Initiative to Native youth attending the Warm Springs Boys & Girls Club.
“Warm Springs youth are vibrant, strong and deserving of the same opportunities that other communities can access,” said Bill Tsoukalas, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County. “Support from Oregon Community Foundation allows us to provide enhanced services to the youth of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs completely free of charge, while implementing crucial academic success, STEM and healthy lifestyles programming.”
Bohemia Food Hub, $28,000 OCF Community Grant
To install safety upgrades on kitchen equipment, translate kitchen materials, and provide a funding match for a food truck.
“Bohemia Food Hub has developed an ecosystem for entrepreneurs from under-served groups to explore food business ideas at low risk, with resources in place to support them,” said Kim Johnson, Owner. “Oregon Community Foundation’s Community Grant will allow us to further professionalize our infrastructure; install safety upgrades to donated equipment; and develop multilingual onboarding materials, kitchen manuals and equipment guides.”
High Desert Partnership, $20,000 OCF Community Grant
To support coordination and program development of the Youth Community Collaborative for Harney County and Burns Paiute youth.
“The Community Grant from Oregon Community Foundation will help support a full time, dedicated coordinator to grow High Desert Partnership’s youth programming opportunities in Harney County,” said Brenda Smith, Ph.D., Executive Director. “This funding will support more students in career level internships, more entrepreneur students paired with mentors and build a natural resource-based summer internship program to include Burns Paiute Tribe youth as well as non-tribal youth.”
Josephine County Food Bank, $20,000 OCF Community Grant
To support the Youth Internship Program, a new job training program that will enhance social mobility and prepare youth to be career ready.
“Josephine County Food Bank aims to mitigate impacts of poverty through the Youth Internship Project, which empowers youth through a work-ready internship for Josephine County youth experiencing social and economic inequalities,” said Kristin Smith, Farm Manager. “Our mission is to connect low-income youth to monitorships and skills training to spark harmony where we gather to cultivate strengths, laughter, healthy and a resilient community.”
United Way of Southwestern Oregon, $50,000 OCF Community Grant
To help establish a new family relief nursery for Coos County.
“Coos County has one of the highest rates of individuals entering the foster care system,” said Sara Stephens, Coastal Families Relief Nursery founder and board member. “We look forward to opening Coastal Families Relief Nursery to invest in upstream, evidence-based programs to support children and families. We couldn’t do it without support from area foundations and donors like Oregon Community Foundation.”
Complete List OCF’s 2022 Community Grant Recipients
A complete list of all 371 of the 2022 Community Grant recipients, organized by region, can be found in OCF’s online Press Room.
About Donor Funding through Oregon Community Foundation
Oregon Community Foundation manages more than 3,100 charitable funds, stewarding donor contributions toward investments in communities across the state.
Donor co-funding of Community Grants in 2022 included $1.4 million in advised fund support and $1 million in unrestricted funds to the Oregon Community Recovery Fund.
About OCF’s Community Grants Evaluation Process and Program
For more than 20 years, OCF’s Community Grants program, with strong support of OCF donors, has invested in strengthening the social fabric of our communities by responding to emerging and pressing needs facing all Oregonians.
Local volunteers representing every region provide grant evaluation in partnership with OCF staff and Board, donating upwards of 5,000 hours of time to help their neighbors in need. This year, 152 volunteers generously donated time to OCF’s Community Grants evaluation process.
To learn more about volunteering with OCF, please visit: Resources for Volunteers » Oregon Community Foundation (oregoncf.org).
About Oregon Community Foundation
Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) works with donors and volunteers to award grants and scholarships to every county in Oregon. From 2020 to 2021, OCF distributed more than $560 million, supporting more than 4,000 nonprofits and 6,000 students. With OCF, individuals, families, businesses, and organizations create charitable funds that meet the needs of diverse communities statewide. Since its founding in 1973, OCF has distributed more than $2 billion toward advancing its mission to improve lives for all Oregonians. For more information, please visit: oregoncf.org.
More information has finally been released from the Klamath Falls Police Department regarding the shooting of a man by officers last Thursday as KFLS news first reported Monday of this week.
One man died in an officer-involved shooting in Klamath Falls on Thursday, Aug. 4. Officers with the Klamath Falls Police Department responded to a fight involving a knife at the White House Apartments, 224 S. Broad St., at approximately 8:35 p.m. Aug. 4. According to the report, one person was injured and the involved parties were
separated.
Upon arrival, uniformed officers attempted contact with the injured victim outside the complex. The suspected assailant, Matthew Vaughan, then charged at the officers while wielding a knife.
Officers commanded Matthew Vaughn to stop and drop the knife, but he refused to obey those commands. Perceived to be an imminent threat, officers fired their service weapons at Vaughan. Immediate life-saving measures were rendered, but Vaughan succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
No law enforcement officers were physically harmed in this incident. The Klamath County Major Crime Team was immediately activated and the investigation is ongoing. The Klamath County District Attorney anticipates the grand jury will review the incident in the near future. Per investigative protocol, the officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave and will be named at a later time.
Oregon Lottery Wins National Award for Multi-cultural Outreach Program
At the recent National Council on Problem Gambling Conference, the Oregon Lottery was recognized for its multi-cultural outreach responsible gaming program.
Each year the National Council on Problem Gambling honors individuals and organizations from across the US and the world for their work on problem gambling and responsible gambling.
The Oregon Lottery won for their “Coping with Problem Gambling” campaign which utilized statewide digital and print media platforms. With the population in Oregon growing and becoming more diverse, Oregon Lottery’s leadership says it is crucial for the Lottery to be culturally relevant to all Oregonians.
“We make it a priority to translate our digital content messaging, and our website in Spanish, our second most spoken language in Oregon,” said Oregon Lottery Responsible Gaming Program Manager Krystal Smith. “Topics translated include things like playing responsibly, problem gambling resources and help for others impacted by gambling behaviors.”
Over 600 individuals worldwide attended the oldest and largest annual conference on gambling addiction and responsible gambling. Now in its 36th year, the event brings together individuals and organizations working on prevention, education, treatment, responsible gambling, regulation, research, and recovery. This year’s event was held in Boston.
“The best way we have found is to connect with people is through content and messaging that resonates with them,” said Smith. “The Oregon Lottery Problem and Responsible Gaming overarching strategy is to connect with problem gamblers when and where they need it most. We also provide help to anyone impacted by someone else’s gambling. This is fundamental to how we operate and sell Oregon Lottery products. We know our products come with risk, and we have a responsibility to help people when they need it.”
Oregon Lottery proceeds provide funding for free, confidential, and effective problem gambling treatment programs statewide. Since 1992, over $120 million in Lottery funds has been directed to fund problem gambling treatment and prevention. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org
About the National Council on Problem Gambling
The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) is neutral on legalized gambling. Based in Washington DC, NCPG is the only national nonprofit organization that seeks to minimize the economic and social costs associated with gambling addiction. If you or someone you know may have a gambling problem, contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline, which offers hope and help without stigma or shame. Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.ncpgambling.org/chat. Help is available 24/7 – it is free and confidential. Oregon Lottery
Oregon State Police Ask for Your Vote in America’s Best-Looking Cruiser Contest
America’s Best-Looking Cruiser contest is waiting for you to vote for #YourOregonStatePolice! The American Association of State Troopers (AAST) is conducting its ninth annual Best Looking Cruiser contest.
Every state police agency submits a photo; the top 13 states to receive the most votes get to be featured in the 2023 AAST calendar with the top cruiser adorning the cover. All calendar proceeds benefit the American Association of State Troopers Foundation.
“As we would love 
for you to vote for #Oregon, there are some truly amazing photos of our partner agencies from all across the United States. “
To cast your vote for the Oregon State Police
1. Visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QHXV8ZS
2. Scroll to the bottom, find the dropdown menu, and select Oregon
3. Click done.
Voting ends at 5:00 PM (EST) on August 25, 2022. Voting can only be done once per device, so use all your devices to vote!
Women Missing Since May 1st 2022 between Medford, Grants Pass and Roseburg per Oregon State Police (Jackson, Josephine and Douglas County)
| MAKENNA KENDALL 5/3/2022 |
| ERICA LEE HUTCHINSON 5/26/2022 |
| MARIAH DANIELLE 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 FOUND MURDERED 7/21/2022 |
| CORI BOSHANE MCCANN 7/8/2022 |
| SHYHAILA SMITH 7/12/2022 |
| ALEZAE LILYANNE MARTINEZ 7/13/2022 |
| RAVEN RILEY 7/13/2022 |
| TAHUANA RILEY 7/13/2022 |
| DANIELLE NEWVILLE 7/14/2022 |
| CONNIE LORAINE BOND 7/19/2022 |
| KARIN DAWN RUSSELL 7/19/2022 |
| CHEYENNE SPRINGS 7/19/2022 |
| KAREN ANNETTE SCIORTINO 7/22/2022 |
| MARLENE HICKEY 7/23/2022 |
| MAKAYLA MAY VAUGHT 7/23/2022 |
| WENDY JEAN HAZEN 7/26/2022 |
| SHAHE SOPHIA CATRANIDES 7/27/2022 |
| NAVEAH LEIGH BILYEU 8/1/2022 |
| DEBI ANN HARPER 8/3/2022 |
| CHARLIZE D GIBSON 8/3/2022 |
Women Missing Since May 1st 2022 in Lane County per Oregon State Police
| REISA 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 |
| KARISSA RENEE ADAMS 7/6/2000 |
| VERONICA ESSYNCE DELERIO 7/6/2022 |
| AUBRIE HANNA STEPHENS 7/10/2022 |
| LARA IVEY STEINMETZ 7/11/2022 |
| SARA LINDSAY SCHAEFER 7/12/2022 |
| ANGELINA MARIE NAZAR 7/16/2022 |
| LUCIA MARTHA PANNIER 7/17/2022 |
| MALINA LINN COATS 7/20/2022 |
| KATHY A VERNACCHIO 7/23/2022 |
| JANE MARIE HOLLIMAN 7/23/2022 |
| ASHLEY MARIE SEELEY 7/27/2022 |
| LILLY ANNE WARMUTH 7/28/2022 |
| MALINA LINN COATS 7/29/2022 |
| JORDYN CLARA GOHL 7/31/2022 |
| QAVAH ALAH TILLILIE 7/31/2022 |
| TALYNN RYLIE MERTZ 8/1/2022 |
| YASINIA CALLISTA GUTIERREZ 8/3/2022 |
As of 8/9/2022, there are now 51women missing between Medford and Eugene. Sadly Kendra Hanks has been found murdered, though that takes her off the list. We send thoughts and prayers to her family as well as the families of all missing people in our area.
51 women missing in just less than 3 1/2 months. That averages out to 15 missing per month. Something needs to be done.
This is just a small compilation of missing women and their pictures in the area. There are of course women missing all over Oregon and men and children missing too. We don’t mean to dismiss that, however, there is an inordinate amount of women who go missing each week and there could possibly be a connection with an anomaly or two here and there. Sadly most of them never get any attention. Family and friends must keep any information going and lead investigations so that they aren’t just forgotten.
https://www.oregon.gov/osp/missing/pages/missingpersons.aspx
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Have-You-Seen-Me-Southern-Oregons-Missing-People-161249961222839/posts/
