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, August 22, 2022
Willamette Valley Weather
Man Arrested After Shooting Two Women In West Eugene
Eugene Police state they arrested a 58-year-old Eugene man on Saturday after he allegedly shot two women during a property dispute at a storage unit facility in west Eugene.
A man called the police at about 3:56 p.m. Saturday, saying he had been involved in a shooting at a storage unit facility in the 29900 block of Willow Creek Road, according to a Eugene Police Department Press release.
Responding officers applied tourniquets to the women and they were transported by Eugene Springfield Fire Department to a local hospital. The release said both women were expected to survive.
Police said the man was compliant with officers and taken to the Lane County Jail on charges of assault in the first degree APA (Abuse Prevention Act, domestic violence) and assault in the first degree.
Woman Arrested as Salem Police Investigate Fatality at Local Park
Salem Police detectives arrested Branda Myshelle Myers, age 29 of Salem, on two charges of murder: first and second degree, respectively.
On Saturday, August 20, patrol officers responded to the report of a hit and run collision at Woodmansee Park in south Salem. Witnesses at the scene were able to direct officers to the location of the decedent, Vince Edward Fouts, age 38, of Salem, as well as Myers.
Detectives learned Myers and her former spouse, Fouts, were in a custody dispute and attempting to resolve matters that morning at the park. The argument between the two escalated, and Myers used her vehicle to run over Douts several times.
Myers was lodged at the Marion County Jail late Saturday night and is due to be arraigned Monday, August 22, at 2:30 p.m. at the Marion County Criminal Court Annex. With arraignment forthcoming, all further inquiries concerning this case must be directed to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office.
ROAD CLOSURE: East 18th Avenue (Junction City)
Lane Co. Government –
| Road Name: | East 18th Avenue |
| Location: | Union Pacific Railroad crossing on East 18th Avenue in Junction City |
| Begin Closure: | N/A |
| End Closure: | N/A |
| Dates and times: | Monday, August 22, at 6:00 a.m. through Tuesday, August 23 at 6:00 p.m. |
| Alternate routes: | Detour route in place |
| Reason for closure: | Crossing repair |
911 Outage in Douglas County
Sunday, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a telephone service outage that may disrupt the ability of residents affected to dial 9-1-1 from their landline telephones.
Households within the community of Days Creek and the surrounding area have been identified as being impacted by the service outage.
Residents who have cellular telephone service may be able to dial 9-1-1 from their cellular telephone to summon emergency services.
At this time, the telephone service provider is unable to provide an estimated time of repair.
23-Year-Old Phoenix Man Dies in Motorcycle Accident Near Roseburg
ROSEBURG, Ore. – A motorcycle crash Friday night has claimed the life of a 23-year-old Phoenix man.
On Friday, August 20, 2022, at approximately 11:45 pm, 911 dispatchers received a report of a single motorcycle crash in the 5000-block of Sunshine Road.
Deputies arrived to find a 2017 Husqvarna 501 Dual Sport dirtbike that had left the roadway after the operator failed to successfully negotiate a left-hand turn. The operator, later identified as 23-year-old Kaulynn Lyle Shreeve of Phoenix, Oregon was thrown from the bike during the crash. Despite the lifesaving efforts of bystanders and fire/medical personnel, Shreeve died at the scene.
Shreeve was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash and alcohol is believed to be a contributing factor.
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Douglas County Fire District #2 and the Douglas County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Missing Person Investigation – Rick Garrett Missing Near Tiller
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. – Search efforts continue for 63-year-old Rick Leroy Garrett who was reported missing on Thursday, August 18, 2022.
Garrett messaged a friend through Facebook that he was injured and needed help near Deer Lick Falls in the Tiller area. Search crews have searched the area and have been unable to locate him as of the time of this post.
He was last known to be in a tan/gold colored 1999 GMC Sierra Extended Cab pickup. The pickup has a lumber rack, silver toolbox and a Deadhead sticker. An actual photograph of the pickup has been obtained and is attached to this release.
Garrett is 5’9″ tall, 170 lbs, with gray hair and blue eyes. His clothing description is unknown.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 541-440-4471.
ORIGINAL RELEASE 08/19/2022 3:00pm
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. – The Sheriff’s Office is seeking information from the public which may assist in locating 63-year-old Rick Leroy Garrett who has been reported missing.
Garrett reported to a friend that he was injured and needed help near Dear Lick Falls in the Tiller area on Thursday, August 18, 2022. Deputies and Search & Rescue volunteers have searched the area, but have been unable to locate him.
He was last known to be in a 1999 GMC Sierra Extended Cab pickup. The pickup has a lumber rack, silver toolbox and a Deadhead sticker. Garrett is a white male adult described as 5’9″ tall, 170 lbs, with gray hair and blue eyes. His clothing description is unknown.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 541-440-4471 referencing case #22-3500
Recent Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) COVID-19 modeling estimates Oregon’s current wave of COVID-19 cases peaked July 13.
As of Aug. 17, there were 328 COVID-19-positive patients in Oregon hospitals, down from the peak of 464 reached July 17. Wastewater surveillance data collected through Aug. 10 shows viral concentrations have flattened or are declining in most communities.
Along with staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters, wearing well-fitting masks, particularly when you may be around others in indoor or crowded outdoor settings, can help protect you and those around you.
If you need help finding a vaccine or booster, visit http://ow.ly/wkM150Kos1X.To read the full report, visit http://ow.ly/5Ylp50Kos1V.
Oregon Humane Society Received A Plane-Load Of Beagles From A Historic Operation That Removed About 4,000 Beagles From A Mass-Breeding Facility In Virginia
On Saturday, Oregon received eighty beagles from a historic operation that removed about 4,000 of the little hounds from a mass-breeding facility in Virginia. The puppy mill sold dogs to laboratories, according to the Oregon Humane Society.
The Humane Society of The United States, which is leading the distribution of the rescued pups, reached out for help. OHS said that they have collaborated with the national organization in the past.
“Moving this many dogs is an ‘all hands on deck’ moment in animal welfare,” said Brian August, OHS chief operating officer. “As one Oregon Humane Society with two campuses, in Portland and Salem, we can help even more dogs from this case.”
Approximately 20 of the beagles will be delivered to the OHS Salem campus, and the remaining dogs will stay at the Portland campus.
This transfer plan comes after the Department of Justice sued the owner of the breeding facility in Virginia over animal welfare violations and planning to sell the dogs to testing labs. A judge ordered the 4,000 pups to be transferred to animal shelters nationwide, OHS said.
A plane carrying the rescued beagles flew into the PDX airport around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. In all, the flight held 148 dogs. While most of them went to OHS, four other rescues and shelters joined to take care of the rest.
The dogs will be available for adoption at OHS beginning Tuesday, August 23. There is currently no adoption waiting list for these dogs and they will soon be posted on the OHS website.
Oregon Receives $83.5 Million For Small Businesses From The U.S. Treasury
Oregon will receive $83.5 million from the federal government to help small business owners, the U.S. Treasury and Governor Brown announced Friday.
The influx in federal funding comes from the U.S. Treasury’s State Small Business Credit Initiative, a competitive program that provides seed money with the expectation that private investors will invest $10 for every $1 in federal spending. Colorado, Montana, and New York also received funds Friday.
Brown said during a press conference that Oregon will use the new federal money to “tackle systemic barriers to economic opportunity.”
Oregon plans to split its $83.5 million between innovative companies in their early stages and small local retail and manufacturing businesses that need help with start-up or expansion costs, Btown said. It includes two venture capital programs, according to a Treasury press release.
“What is most important is that these programs will focus on reducing economic wealth gaps, and that they also will be self-sustaining and revolving to continue to support our small businesses way into the future,” Brown said.
U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, said during the press conference that the new funding will “jumpstart” a new wave of entrepreneurship.
“Millennials and people across the country are starting small businesses and record numbers,” she said. “It’s exciting to hear their stories. Just yesterday, I sat down with the owners of a local small business who told me that the federal assistance they received during this pandemic kept their doors open and kept 58 people employed, and now they’re planning to expand and open another location.”
U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Oregon, also joined the event and said small businesses were hit hardest by the Covid pandemic. Federal assistance, including Paycheck Protection Program loans, helped many small businesses survive, he said, and now they’re ready to innovate.
The American Rescue Plan Act, the $1.9 trillion Covid relief package passed early in President Joe Biden’s tenure, is the first economic stimulus package that Schrader said specifically targets underrepresented and tribal communities to ensure equitable access to aid.
“The job market is wide open, yet people are holding back waiting to figure out what they really want to do with their lives going forward,” Schrader said. “Small business entrepreneurship flourishes in that environment. We’re going to see a whole wave of people being able to access capital for the first time.”
Oregon, which is home to 15% of the nation’s semiconductor workforce, also anticipates benefitting from billions more in federal and private investing as a result of the $280 billion CHIPS and Science Act that Biden signed earlier this month. On a state level, the Legislature approved a $200 million jobs bill this year to train women and racial and ethnic minorities in construction, health care and manufacturing.
Oregon Launches Third Round of American Rescue Plan Relief Funding For Live Events Industry
Oregon just opened up the portal for the third round of American Rescue Plan funding this week. Most of this will go to those working in the live events industry.
The loans will be prioritized based on need, providing businesses anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000. The portal will stay open to accept applications over the next few weeks. https://americanrescueplan.oregon.gov/Pages/default.aspx
Student Loan Ombuds Position to Help Borrowers and Hold Servicers in Compliance
A new position has been created with the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services to help people who have student loans and to make sure student loan servicers are in compliance.
The Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 485 in 2021 requiring all student loan servicers doing business in Oregon to obtain or renew a license. The bill also created the student loan ombuds position in the department’s Division of Financial Regulation (DFR).
The division hired Lane Thompson to kick off the program. She has a background as a housing counselor and saw how crippling student loan debt was for Oregonians trying to buy a home.
“People really have a tough time buying a home because they are buried in student loan debt,” Thompson said. “So, I really got to know the student loan side of it while working as a housing counselor.”
SB 485 gives the state the authority to keep student loan servicers in compliance. Thompson said there was a rash of class action lawsuits against federal and private student loan servicers and, as a result, many states created positions similar to this.
“The main issue was federal loan servicers were supposed to do certain things and they weren’t,” she said. “All federal loans are eligible for income driven repayment plans, meaning your payment is based on your income.”
But some federal servicers were pushing people to forbearance, which kicks their payments down the road while accruing interest.
Federal student loan servicers are private companies that have federal contracts. If they service loans for people who live in Oregon, SB 485 requires them to have a license in Oregon. This allows DFR to regulate student loan servicers in the same way the division regulates other financial services.
Thompson’s role as student loan ombuds is really a liaison, she said.
“I try to bring resolution of any conflict between the borrow and the servicer,” she said.
The ombuds is not a licensed student loan counselor, but is someone who accepts complaints and helps make sure servicers are in compliance.
Anyone who needs help with student loans is encouraged to go first to studentaid.gov, Thompson said. People still needing help can email .bankingproducthelp@dcbs.oregon.gov“>dfr.bankingproducthelp@dcbs.oregon.gov or call 888-877-4894 (toll-free).
### About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. Visit www.dcbs.oregon.gov and dfr.oregon.gov.
The United States Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has said that irrigation districts that provide water to family farms and national wildlife refuges should immediately cease all diversion of water from Upper Klamath Lake, the major water storage reservoir for the Klamath Project (Project).
The move is the latest chapter in a two-decade history of requiring ever-higher levels of flow in the Klamath River, and water surface elevations in Upper Klamath Lake, both ostensibly for protection of threatened or endangered fish species. The policy has caused severe damage to rural communities, food production, and terrestrial wildlife, with no identifiable benefit for the target fish species.
Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA) Executive Director and Counsel Paul Simmons said that drought is a factor this year, but in the Klamath Basin, reckless federal water management is the real problem.
“This irrigation season, there will be about 335,000 acre-feet of inflow to Upper Klamath Lake, yet the government is requiring that 407,000 acre-feet be released for Klamath River flows, and that Upper Klamath Lake end the year at elevations far above any level ever claimed to be necessary for endangered suckers species,” he said.
In mid-April, Reclamation announced that the water supply for producers and wildlife would be about 15 percent of the actual demand. KWUA estimates that about 100 square miles of otherwise productive Project farmland (roughly one-third of total Project acreage) will have received zero water this year, and all of the rest will receive very limited water.
KWUA President Ben DuVal said that farmers are mystified by the federal government’s insistence on shutting down farms, especially amid global food insecurity. “There are thousands and thousands of acres of some of the planet’s finest farmland that are infested with noxious weeds and literally blowing away in dust storms because of misguided federal water policy,” said Mr. DuVal. “We want to work. We are ready and willing to grow food. All we need to do is add water.”
Although Reclamation’s April 2022 announcement for water deliveries was disappointing to local water users, there was abundant precipitation in the basin between mid-April and June. This triggered hope within the local farming community that there would be more water available for diversion and delivery for food production and wildlife this year. Instead, the federal agencies made a decision that was based on politics, not science, and withheld readily available water from farmers who needed it.
Tulelake Irrigation District Manager Brad Kirby said that there is great concern that some food crops may die in the field. “For some crops like alfalfa, we are looking at severely reduced production,” said Mr. Kirby. “But for row crops like potatoes and onions, there is essentially no production unless you have water through the end of the irrigation season.”
Today’s federal action virtually guarantees that there will be no water deliveries to Lower Klamath and Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuges for the foreseeable future. For the first time ever, both refuges are bone dry.
Mr. DuVal said that farmers are sickened by denial of water that would support waterfowl, reptiles, and amphibians on both federal and non-federal land. “My farm is just down the road from Tulelake National Wildlife Refuge,” he said. “This area once hosted 80 percent of the Pacific Flyway’s migrating waterfowl. Now, I can’t bring myself to even go look at the federally-created disaster taking place on that refuge.”
This year’s water management comes on the heels of 2021, where the federal government shut down Project irrigation entirely.
“Last year, the government dictated zero Project water diversions for the first time in the 115 years of the Project,” said KWUA Vice President Ry Kliewer, a hay and grain producer. “Between last year and this year, my production is about 25 percent of normal. Meanwhile, the bills I have to pay are skyrocketing.”
Klamath Irrigation District Executive Director and Manager Gene Souza said that irrigation water management this year has been even more complicated because of ever-changing information. “Since April, there has been a cascade of confusing, conflicting information from the federal government, that has continued right through today,” said Mr. Souza, whose district operates A Canal, the Project’s largest diversion. “You can’t run an irrigation project, an irrigation district, or a farm this way. It’s irresponsible and absurd.”
Mr. Kirby added that the investment already made in crops that may fail is enormous.
According to Mr. Souza, districts and producers hope only that Project operations will be guided by law and science. “We in the Project pray for judicial clarity and an honest approach to science,” he said. “We will accept objective assessments when we have them, and we will move on from there.”
Mr. Souza, Mr. Kirby, and Klamath Drainage District Manager Scott White, all said that their governing boards are scrambling to schedule emergency meetings to evaluate their alternatives and responses to today’s federal instruction.
Woman Dies In Hit-And-Run Crash On I-84 Near Biggs Junction
Oregon State Police troopers are looking for a driver involved in a deadly hit-and-run crash that occurred early Friday morning near Biggs Junction.
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OSP says an investigation shows a pedestrian was struck by an unknown vehicle between 4 a.m. to 5:20 a.m. The pedestrian was found dead by a trooper near milepost 89 at about 9 a.m. The vehicle that belongs to the pedestrian was found in the area. She has been identified as 43-year-old Jennifer Johnston of Wellpinit, Wash
Anyone who may have witnessed the crash or had been traveling through the area and hit what they thought could be an animal during the timeframe is asked to call OSP (*677) or 800-442-0776. Reference case number SP22-217109.
Crater Lake National Park ‘Ride the Rim’ Event Will Have Shuttle Service
CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK – Bicyclists and others planning to participate in Ride the Rim on two Saturdays this September can take advantage of a shuttle service in the park.
Ride the Rim organizers said trolleys will be available to transport bicyclists, walkers, joggers and others Sept. 10 and 17. Trolleys will shuttle participants with stops at parking areas at park headquarters in Munson Valley, Picnic Hill in Rim Village and the North Junction. East Rim Drive will be closed to motor vehicles from the North Junction to park headquarters.
The free rides will be offered in both directions along West Rim Drive. Helmets are required for all ages, including adults. Because Rim Drive is closed for both Ride days from the North Junction to park headquarters, most participants begin from that location.
On both days, 25 miles of the 33-mile-long Rim Drive from the North Junction to park headquarters will be closed to motor vehicles from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Five rest stops will be available, but there will be no sag wagons. Basic bike repair tools and basic first aid kits will be available at the rest stops.
Unfenced bike corrals will be at both the North Junction and park headquarters. The corrals can be used to park bicycles while riding the shuttle to begin the ride and to retrieve parked vehicles.
In addition, organizers said a concessionaire, Explore Southern Oregon, will offer a round-trip shuttle Sept. 10 from Klamath Falls to Crater Lake and back for $99. Space is limited. Shuttles will leave at 6 and 9 a.m. For details and reservations, see southernoregontours.com.
Ride organizers also issued a list of “what to expect” items. Although snacks, water and other amenities are offered, the event relies on donations so “we do not have control over much, or little is provided. We suggest you bring a few things with you so you can be best prepared.” Among items participants should carry are refillable water bottles, snacks, layers of clothing in case of cool weather and bike repair tools.
Participants also are reminded that because of the park’s high elevation, people — especially those from lower elevations — may face possible symptoms of altitude sickness. The elevation at park headquarters is 6,450 feet. The elevation at both Rim Village, 3 miles from headquarters, and Discovery Point, 4.1 miles from headquarters, is 7,100 feet.
Other waypoints, with distances from park headquarters and elevation along Rim Drive, include: The Watchman Trailhead, 4.1 miles, 7,350; North Junction, 9.1 miles, 7,050; Cleetwood Cove, 13.7 miles, 6,850; Wineglass, 16.5 miles, 6,700; Skell Head, 17.9 miles, 7,100; Kerr Notch, 24.4 miles, 6,700; Dutton Ridge, 27 miles, 7,350; Vidae Falls, 30 miles, 6,600; and park headquarters, 33 miles, 6,450.
Organizers also note the Cloudcap Overlook, which veers off Rim Drive just past the Whitebark Pine Rest Stop, is a milelong one-way detour to the park’s highest road access overlook at an elevation of 7,700 feet. The overlook offers views of Wizard Island and Mount Scott.
Ride the Rim swag, including 2022 logo T-shirts and jerseys, are available, and images can be viewed at discoverklamath.com.
Ride the Rim participants can receive a $5 discount for admission to Klamath Basin Oktoberfest Sept. 17. To receive a discount, people must either show a Ride the Rim registration confirmation or a wristband, which will be available at park headquarters or the North Junction.
Preregistration for the annual Ride the Rim is available at ridetherimoregon.com/registration/. There is no fee, but a donation of $10 per participant is encouraged because, according to Discover Klamath Visitor & Convention Bureau, the event organizer, “Every little bit helps us provide an amazing event for you.” Registration also can be done at the event.
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/
