Willamette Valley News, Monday 10/3 – Two Men Arrested After Armed Carjacking In Gateway Area, United Airlines Suspending Service Between Los Angeles And Eugene

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, October 3, 2022

Willamette Valley Weather

Two Men Arrested After Armed Carjacking In Gateway Area

After a manhunt, two arrests have been made after an armed carjacking in the 3100 block of Gateway Street. 

On September 30th, 2022 at 12:26 p.m. the Springfield Police Department received reports of an armed carjacking in the 3100 block of Gateway Street in Springfield. Two men were said to have approached a woman who had just parked her vehicle to go into a store.

Police said one of the suspects pointed a gun and threatened her while telling her to get back in the vehicle. They ended up getting into the victim’s vehicle without her and drove away from the scene.

At 1:01 p.m., police said similar suspects were seen near the 800 block of Oakdale Ave in Springfield, only blocks away from the carjacking location.

A witness described the men and what they were carrying, which matched the two suspects and the victim’s property that had been in the stolen vehicle. The suspects went into an apartment briefly before driving away in the victim’s vehicle again.

Later, at 3:20 p.m., police said the involved stolen vehicle was located unoccupied at an apartment complex in Eugene, 1180 Willamette Street. A short time later, 20-year-old Johntae Carter-Hamilton of Portland, returned to the apartment on Oakdale and was taken into custody. He was found to be in possession of a concealed semi-automatic handgun. A search warrant was conducted at the apartment and additional evidence in the case was seized.

Due to the severity of the crimes committed SPD worked closely with the Eugene Police Department to locate the second suspect, 19-year-old Jayshawn Avington of Portland, who was thought to frequent downtown Eugene.

Police said the search stretched into the early morning hours of Saturday when Eugene’s Street Crimes Unit located Avington in a vehicle and conducted a traffic stop.

Avington ran away but was immediately taken into custody.

Both suspects were lodged at the Lane County Jail. Carter-Hamilton was lodged for Robbery I, Attempted Kidnapping I, Unlawful Use of Motor Vehicle, and False Information to Police. 

Avington was lodged for Robbery I, Attempted Kidnapping I, and Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle.

United Airlines Suspending Service Between Los Angeles And Eugene / Medford

United Airlines is going to be suspending route service to two Oregon airports. According to a report on ThePointsGuy.com, United will stop service between:

  • Los Angeles and Eugene
  • Los Angeles and Medford

Service between Chicago and Eugene had already been suspended according to United.

The route changes are among a bigger group of cuts and changes coming to America’s second-largest carrier.

“These are primarily seasonal changes and we plan to resume most of these routes at a future time,” said Maddie King, United spokeswoman. King added “We regularly adjust our schedule for a variety of reasons, including demand and the broader needs of our network.”

United says the changes will take place in January 2023.

Fatal Crash on Hwy 126E – Lane County

On Friday, September 30, 2022 at approximately 6:00 PM, Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two-vehicle crash on Hwy 126E near milepost 50.

Preliminary investigation revealed an eastbound blue Nissan VRS, operated by Vanessa East (45) of Mckenzie Bridge, was stopped waiting to turn left into a residential driveway when an eastbound Freightliner, operated by Joseph Garcia (62) of Junction City, rear-ended the Nissan. 

East and a male juvenile passenger were transported with injuries to an area hospital. The front passenger in the Nissan, Shaney Howard (52) of McKenzie Bridge, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased. Garcia was uninjured. 

Hwy 126E was affected for approximately 6 hours while the OSP Reconstruction Collision Unit investigated the scene. 

OSP was assisted by Mckenzie Fire Department, Lane County Sheriff’s Office, Coburg Police Department and ODOT. 

Fatal Traffic Crash Near Pleasant Hill

On September 30,2022 at approximately 23:11pm the Lane County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a single vehicle crash on Parkway Road near Valley Road in Pleasant Hill.  A white Chevrolet S10 was traveling northbound when it left the roadway for an unknown reason and rolled.

The driver of the involved vehicle, a 41 year old male, did not survive the crash and was pronounced deceased on scene.   The Lane County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Goshen-Pleasant Hill Fire.

Cedar Creek Fire Update

#CedarCreekFire October 3rd Morning Operational Briefing. Northwest Team 7 Operations Section Chief Scott Coulson gives a detailed look at the tactics being used on the East Zone of the Cedar Creek Fire as well as today’s planned operations. https://www.facebook.com/CedarCreekFire2022/videos/418288960377017

May be an image of nature
Photo of the Day -Monday, October 3, 2022:
An aerial look at the successful structure protection of Waldo Lake Lookout. 📸 Eric Hendrickson, Public Information Officer

Firefighters are working to keep the fire west of the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway and Cultus Lake recreational area and north of Highway 58 and Charleton Lake Road.

As of 5:30 AM, there are currently 896 firefighting personnel working to contain the #CedarCreekFire. The fire is now 120,694 acres and 32% contained. Resources assigned include: 17 Engines 14 Handcrews 3 Dozers 14 Masticators 7 Helicopters 1 Air Attack Platforms

Cedar Creek Fire Information https://www.facebook.com/nwteam7https://www.youtube.com/c/CedarCreekFire — https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8307/

"Navigating Long COVID" webinar features experts Dr. Aluko Hope, Medical Director at OHSU Long COVID Clinic; Dylan Morgan, Manager for Employer Assistance, Bureau of Labor and Industries; Emily Cooper, Legal Director, Disability Rights Oregon. OHA welcomes all participants. For any questions about accommodations call 971-352-5658 (voice/text) or email Eaen.Goss@dhsoha.state.or.us or Lynn.Russell@dhsoha.state.or.us.

Nearly one in five adults who’ve had COVID-19 report persistent symptoms, a condition known as long COVID-19. In the last two years, researchers have been studying long COVID to find out why it occurs and how to help those who live with it.

Join a free webinar on Wednesday, Oct. 5 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. to learn about the symptoms, treatments and advocacy tips for long COVID: http://ow.ly/RLok50KXCMl

Experts will discuss and answer questions about the latest research surrounding long COVID as well as workplace rights for those with long COVID under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

If you have questions about long COVID for the experts, submit them in advance here: http://ow.ly/8FSG50KXCMn

The webinar will offer Spanish translation, live captions/CART and American Sign Language interpretations. A recording will be available.

Oregon Roads Ranked 10th Among the Most Dangerous in the Country

Traffic deaths are on the rise in the United States, according to a recent report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. An estimated 20,175 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes from January through June 2022, the most in the first half of any year since 2006.

The latest increase in traffic fatalities comes as Americans are spending more time on the road. U.S. drivers traveled 43.2 billion more miles in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year.

The recent increase in traffic fatalities is a continuation of a troubling long-term trend. Deaths on American roads rose for seven consecutive quarters, from mid 2020 to early 2022. A recent survey conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that the trend is partially the result of rising instances of risky behavior among motorists – including speeding, distracted driving, and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Some states stand out for having especially high traffic fatality rates so far this year. According to the NHTSA, there were an estimated 250 traffic fatalities in Oregon in the first half of 2022, the 23rd fewest among states.

After adjusting for vehicle miles traveled, however, Oregon has the 10th highest traffic fatality rate in the country – with 1.45 roadway deaths for every 100 million miles traveled. For context, there were an estimated 1.27 deaths per 100 million miles nationwide in the first half of the year.

RankStateTraffic deaths per 100M VMT, first half of 2022Total traffic deaths, first half of 2022
1South Carolina1.71517
2Mississippi1.64341
3Arkansas1.63286
4Louisiana1.59432
5Florida1.581,951
6New Mexico1.58210
7Delaware1.5876
8Tennessee1.56636
9Texas1.52,183
10Oregon1.45250
11North Carolina1.44806
12West Virginia1.43121
13Kansas1.41205
14Georgia1.4901
15Nevada1.39194
16Alabama1.36486
17Kentucky1.34335
18Colorado1.32339
19California1.292,149
20Nebraska1.26127

Oregon Senators Announce More Than $1.1 Million Coming To Oregon For Emergency Preparedness

U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have announced that Oregon will receive a combined more than $1.1 million in Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration funds for emergency preparedness.

Wyden said, “The past few years of raging wildfires, floods, hail storms, power outages and ice have only reinforced the need to prepare our communities for emergencies like a pipeline incident threatening Oregonians and our homes, neighborhoods and small businesses”.

Merkley said, “This funding will provide critical support to enhance GIS mapping and training, as well as educating the public to help keep everyone safe”.

A release said the funds will be allocated with:

*Over $99,000 going to the City of Irrigon to develop ways to reduce risk of pipeline emergency incidents and the impact of a possible pipeline failure, and advance safety, public health and environmental sustainability.

*Nearly $43,000 to the City of Umatilla to help identify and evaluate the safety risks, develop and enforce standards for design, construction, operations and maintenance near hazardous pipelines.

*Over $669,000 to the Oregon Public Utilities Commission to reimburse the State for pipeline safety programs.

*Nearly $346,000 to the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal to design and implement emergency preparedness planning and training programs.

More information on the allocation is linked: https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-more-than-11-million-to-oregon-for-emergency-preparedness-with-pipelines

Pacific Power Offers a New Low-Income Discount Program to Help Manage Costs

Eligible customers will see power bill discounts ranging from 20% to 40% 

PORTLAND, Ore. (Sept.30) – Pacific Power is helping customers manage costs with a new low-income discount program, set to debut in October.  

Starting October 1, customers receiving energy relief from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Oregon Energy Assistance Program (OEAP) will automatically receive a 20% discount on their Pacific Power bills. The program will also give these participants the opportunity to qualify for a 40% discount if they meet additional income requirements.  

 “Our customers count on us every day for the energy they need, and we’re working to keep that power affordable, especially for customers experiencing income restraints,” said vice president of customer and community solutions Cory Scott. “The Low-Income Discount program will provide relief to customers who qualify on their power bills.” 

Eligible customers will receive the following discounts: 

  • A 20% discount if their income is between 21% and 60% of state median income
  • A 40% discount if their income is between 0% to 20% of state median income

To learn more about the program and see if they qualify, customers can visit http://pacificpower.net/LID starting October 1. Customers can also reach out to our customer care team at 1-888-221-7070 in English or 1-888-225-2611 in Spanish. Translation services are available in several additional languages.  

About Pacific Power  

Pacific Power provides safe and reliable electric service to more than 764,000 customers in Oregon, Washington, and California. The company supplies customers with electricity from a diverse portfolio of generating plants including hydroelectric, thermal, wind, geothermal, and solar resources. Pacific Power is part of PacifiCorp, one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States, with 2 million customers in six western states. For more information, visit www.pacificpower.net.  

National Public Lands Day Event Removes 1.7 Tons Of Metal From Public Lands Near Hart Mountain

The Bureau of Land Management Lakeview District and U.S. Forest Service Fremont-Winema National Forest announced recently that more than 1 ton of metal was removed from publics lands during the 29th annual National Public Lands Day.

Volunteers work together to remove a truck cab from a dumpsite adjacent to Anderson Lake near the Warner Wetlands during National Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 24.Bureau of Land Management Lakeview District

On Saturday, Sept. 24, volunteers worked at a dumpsite adjacent to Anderson Lake near the Warner Wetlands.
According to a press release, “The site located north of the Warner Wetlands Day Use Site on Hart Mountain Road contained a plethora of old metal cans, junk, wire, trash and a truck frame.

Ten volunteers spent four hours collecting and sorting items in the site and recycling the metal. A total of 1.7 tons of metal was recycled, in addition three truck loads of trash was removed.”

The work of those volunteers, the press release states, will help restore the public lands to their natural state. National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer event for public lands. The day was established in 1994 and held annually on the fourth Saturday in September.

New Online Portal Gives Access To Half Million Northwest Records And Photos

A digital portal is now online which gives people instant access to more than half a million records and historical photos from northwest history, the State Library of Oregon announced last week.

The project is a collaboration between the State Library of Oregon, Oregon Heritage Commission and Washington State Library, featuring archives from more than 150 institutions in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

Anyone can browse the site for documents, photos, maps, oral histories and more. Search options allow users to narrow their results across a variety of categories.

Evan Robb, project coordinator at the Washington State Library, said the platform is a unique, regional slice of the nationwide Digital Public Library of America. “Researchers can discover online historical materials and government documents from a variety of sources, some of which don’t rank prominently, or display at all, in search engine results,” Robb said.

Katie Henry with the Oregon Heritage Commission said she looks forward to how the tool will be an asset to anyone interested in the past. “Helping to make Oregon and Washington’s unique cultural heritage collections accessible to researchers, the public, and other organizations,” Henry said.

Study Shows Oregonians Watch Most Hours of Netflix In US

Oregonians watch more Netflix than any other state, with the average viewer watching 798 hours a year, according to numbers released by Netflix on Friday.

While residents of this state may win in the watch-hours category, Oregon ranks 11th for password sharing – 48% of Netflix users admit to sharing their login credentials with others. The winner of this dubious honor goes to Ohio, with 59% of subscribers saying they do it.

That, of course, assumes people are answering honestly.

The U.S. states that follow Oregon in watch hours are Utah, Arizona and Hawaii, with residents watching an average of 782, 777, and 777 hours respectively.

North Dakotans watch the least amount of Netflix, with an average of 662 hours per person.

People can explore more state’s numbers in an interactive map Netflix has released here.

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This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image-57.png

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.facebook.com/pg/Have-You-Seen-Me-Southern-Oregons-Missing-People-161249961222839/posts/

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