The latest news stories and stories of interest in the Willamette Valley from the digital home of Southern Oregon, from Wynne Broadcasting’s WillametteValleyMagazine.com
Thursday, December 1, 2022
Willamette Valley Weather
70th Annual Springfield Christmas Parade Set for Saturday
The Springfield Christmas Parade is set to entertain crowds of people this Saturday. The parade kicks off at 1 p.m. and follows a route from northeast Springfield into the downtown area. This is the 70th year in a row for the parade.
Organizers call it the “Oldest and Coldest” parade in Oregon. The parade will be held rain or shine. As of Wednesday afternoon, the forecast for Saturday in Springfield is for an 80% chance of showers and a high of 44.
“There’s nothing like going to the parade and having ten, twenty, thirty thousand people alongside there, and you’re just there to enjoy some fun., “said Brenda Hughey, director of the Oregon Riders Society, a non-profit that organizes the annual event. “Life is so stressful, so many things going on, but this is just a couple of hours of pure enjoyment.”
Hughey said the parade is still looking for additional entries. She says small businesses or community organizations are especially welcome to sign up. An application form is available on the Oregon Riders Society homepage. — https://springfield-or.gov/event/70th-annual-springfield-christmas-parade/
Man Charged For Stabbing His Father In Cottage Grove
A 31-year-old man has been charged for allegedly stabbing his father Tuesday afternoon at a Cottage Grove residence, according to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office.
Cottage Grove Police responded to a report of a stabbing at a home in the 600 block of 8th Street where police found a man in front of the house who had been stabbed, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The Sheriff’s Office said police found the victim’s adult son, Evan Clark Smith, located inside the home. Both the victim and Smith were taken to a hospital. The condition of the victim was not immediately known.
Smith was arrested and taken to Lane County Jail. He was arraigned on Wednesday for charges of alleged first degree assault, assault in the fourth degree and unlawful use of a weapon. Smith is set to appear in court in January.
WasteWise ‘Simplify the Holidays’ Campaign: Fight Food Waste to Beat Inflation
Lane County’s “Simplify the Holidays” campaign hopes to help residents and businesses reduce food waste during the holiday season—and ease the financial burden of high inflation.
Over the past year, U.S. food prices have risen more than 10 percent, according to the Labor Department’s consumer price index (CPI). This data presents real challenges for people coming together during the holidays. Food waste only exacerbates the issue.
For example:
- ReFed estimated that 305 million pounds of Thanksgiving food were thrown out in 2022.
- Environmentally, producing this food generates more than 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, the same as driving 169,000 cars for an entire year.
- The Lane County Solid Waste Management Plan lists food waste as the county’s highest individually categorized part of the waste stream at nearly 18 percent.
“Putting food on the table is not easy for many of our friends and neighbors,” said Daniel Hiestand, Lane County waste reduction outreach coordinator. “Fortunately, curbing food waste in households and businesses can dramatically help ease this burden.”
In addition to the Simplify the Holidays website (simplifytheholidays.org)—which has information on curbing food waste—Lane County’s Eat Smart, Waste Less website (eatsmartwasteless.tips) lists tips and tools to help people realize food waste savings.
“Both websites can help Lane County residents,” Hiestand said. “Visitors can learn food shopping, storage, and preparation skills. It’s good for the wallet and the planet. A holiday win-win.”
About WasteWise Lane County
WasteWise Lane County offers education, tools, and resources that residents, schools, and businesses can use to reduce waste, conserve resources, and live more sustainably. Learn more at facebook.com/WasteWiseLaneCounty.
About Simplify the Holidays
Simplify the Holidays is an award-winning program of the Center for Biological Diversity. Aligned with our belief in the interconnectedness of human life with nature, Simplify the Holidays seeks to empower individuals and families to be more conscious of the impacts of holiday traditions and, in doing so, reconnect with meaningful and lasting celebrations. Learn more at simplifytheholidays.org.
Hunt For Holiday Ornaments Hidden On Trails In Willamette And Umpqua National Forests
Two hundred ornaments have been hidden on hiking trails throughout the Willamette and Umpqua national forests outside Salem and Eugene in what’s become an annual winter tradition by the Willamette Valley Visitor’s Association.
The ornaments are placed on popular routes that don’t normally get a ton of snow — although after this week’s low-elevation snowstorm, plenty will at least temporarily be under a blanket of white. The trails include hikes to Tamolitch Falls, Stahlman Point and Hackleman Old Growth Trail, among 19 pathways in the Cottage Grove, Detroit, Middle Fork, Sweet Home and McKenzie River ranger districts.
The hunt kicked off Nov. 25 and lasts until Dec. 31 (or until all the ornaments are found).
A full list of hikes with ornaments can be found at willamettevalley.org/ornament/#where-to-find. Anyone who finds an ornament can register to win a grand prize that includes a two-night stay and family-friendly adventure in the Willamette Valley, according to a news release.
The visitor’s association is also encouraging people who come out to hunt the trail to look at an online itinerary “for fun activities and stops in each region.” For a list of hikes, tips and adventures nearby the hikes and how to register ornaments that are found, visit willamettevalley.org/ornament.
The First Christian Church in Eugene is partnering with Lane County Health and Human Services and CAHOOTS to help with the newly-announced Operation Winter Survival Stockpile, an effort to have plenty of warm winter clothing and supplies through donations that will help people experiencing homelessness.
Some of the items they need include things like tents, blankets, sleeping bags, hand warmers, and anything else that can be used to keep someone warm as well as other survival supplies. Lane County officials say the supplies would be distributed to homeless outreach providers like CAHOOTS that have direct contact with individuals in need.
Some items that Operation Winter Survival Stockpile’s looking for are:
- Tents – preferably 2 person
- Blankets – preferably wool
- Rain ponchos
- Sleeping Bags
- Hand Warmers
- Socks – preferably wool
- Tarps
- Gift Cards
- Laundry Cards
- Footwear
- Thermal Underwear
- Flashlights/ Batteries
- Beanies/Warm Hats
- Gloves
- Other survival supplies
Items can continued to be dropped off on weekdays between the hours if 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at First Christian Church, at 1166 Oak Street in Eugene.
For more information on Operation Winter Survival Stockpile contact Maria Cortex at Maria.Cortez@lanecountyor.gov
For those who don’t wish to donate in-person, or are just looking for ideas on what to donate, the church has set up an Amazon wish list for Operation Winter Stockpile.
More Winter Weather On The Way For Oregon
Heavy wind and rain tapered off in the Portland metro area but it already caused widespread power outages and traffic issues. As of 7 a.m. Wednesday, reports were about 9,000 people were without power in Oregon and Southwest Washington.
U.S. 26 has reopened after downed power lines were cleared from the roadway between the Sylvan overpass and the Vista Ridge Tunnel. U.S. 30 is closed about halfway between Astoria and Clatskanie, due to a landslide. Traffic officials Wednesday morning had no estimate for when that highway would reopen.
Two more strong weather systems will move through Oregon and Washington over the next few days.
While lower elevations will see very limited snow showers, people traveling through the Gorge, the Cascade Passes, and the Coast Range should prepare for snow sticking around on roadways through at least Sunday. Drivers should also expect hazardous travel conditions in Eastern Oregon.
Starting Wednesday night, heavy showers will move through Northwest Oregon again, and some places will see those showers in the form of snowflakes. A similar system will move through Thursday night into Friday morning.
Friday afternoon and evening should be rainy and blustery, with heavy wind gusts especially along the Coast Range. Then another cold weather system will move through Friday night and Saturday morning, dropping several more inches along the Gorge and in the Cascades, where it could stick around for several days.
Anybody planning to drive, especially at higher elevations, should prepare for winter conditions. Even if there’s no snow, moisture on the roads can freeze in the early morning hours.
$6.1 Million Going To Small Cities For Roads And Sidewalks
Small cities around the state are receiving $6.1 million in funding after the Small City Allotment Advisory Committee approved the latest round of recommendations in the 2023 Small City Allotment program. The approved 27 projects range from adding sidewalks to chip-sealing roads, from paving city streets to improving intersections – all in communities with populations of 5,000 or less.
For this sixth round of funding, ODOT received 84 applications requesting a total of $18,920,300. The annual amount available for the program is $5 million. For this round, additional funds were available from projects canceled due to high construction costs.
“Also due to inflation, we increased the maximum award amount from $100,000 to $250,000,” said SCA Program Manager Deanna Edgar. “That resulted in fewer awards – but these awards can really make a difference in today’s environment.”
Oregon’s historic transportation funding package, HB 2017 from the 2017 Oregon Legislature, created the Small City Allotment program to help communities fix local roads that are inadequate for the capacity they serve or in a condition detrimental to safety. To include as many cities as possible, the program does not require matching funds. MORE INFO: https://www.oregon.gov/odot/LocalGov/Pages/SCA_Program.aspx
Portland Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Covid Relief Funds While on Supervised Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland woman was sentenced to federal prison today for violating the terms of her post-prison supervised release by submitting two fraudulent applications for loans intended to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tiairre Travonne Chaney, 35, was sentenced to six months in federal prison followed by a 24-month term of supervised release.
According to court documents, in September 2015, Chaney was charged by criminal information with one count of wire fraud after she submitted 35 fraudulent income tax returns and caused the IRS to pay her more than $155,000 in unwarranted tax refunds. One month later, Chaney pleaded guilty to the single charge and, in February 2016, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Chaney was released from prison in November 2016.
By June 2018, Chaney was found to have violated her supervised release conditions by failing to pay restitution, failing to file true and correct taxes, and failing to report to her probation officer. As a result, she was placed on GPS monitoring for 30 days. In December 2019, Chaney violated her supervision terms a second time by again failing to report to her probation officer and pay restitution and also failing to obtain lawful employment. She was sentenced to three months in prison and her 33-month term of supervised release was reimposed.
In January and May 2021, Chaney violated her supervised release a third time by submitting to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) two fraudulent applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs)for Tncw Baked Goods, LLC, a straw entity she formed after the onset of the pandemic. In her applications, Chaney falsely denied being on supervised release and denied her felony conviction. In the second application, she falsely claimed Tncw Baked Goods, LLC, realized gross revenues of $45,663 in 2020 when in fact it had done no business whatsoever.
This case was investigated by the SBA Office of Inspector General and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). It was prosecuted by Ryan W. Bounds, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
OSP is seeking the public’s assistance with a death investigation in Douglas County
The Oregon State Police is asking for #publicassistance with a death investigation that occurred on November 30, 2021. OSP is hoping with the 1st anniversary of this incident that someone will come forward with new information.
On November 30, 2021, at approximately 1:00 P.M., Larry Mell was traveling westbound in his red 2003 Dodge Ram truck on Hwy 38 near Putnam Valley Rd, just west of Drain, Oregon, when he was shot. Mr. Mell later died as a result of his injuries. The Oregon State Police’s preliminary investigation suggests this incident appears to be accidental.
Mr. Mell was 72 at the time of his death. He had 8 children, several grandchildren, and a great-grandchild. Mr. Mell’s family described him as a Navy veteran who served in the Vietnam War. Mr. Mell loved fishing and crabbing and is greatly missed. Mr. Mell’s family said he was a strong survivor who had overcome heart surgery, a brain injury, and cancer.
The Oregon State Police along with Mr. Mell’s family is requesting if anyone was shooting or who knows of someone who was shooting in the area of Hwy 38 and Putnam Valley Rd on November 30, 2021, call us.
Help provide some closure to this family who is desperately seeking answers to what happened. If you think you might have some information on this incident, we urge you to call the Oregon State Police at 800-442-2068 or OSP from your mobile phone. Reference case # SP21-335049.
Two Men Were Arrested This Week As Part Of An Investigation Into Several Robberies In Klamath Falls
The Klamath Falls Police Department said Wednesday, Nov. 30 in a press release that Samuel J. McConathy, 27, and Geoffrey W. McKay, 25, were Tuesday, Nov. 29.
According to the press release, the reported robberies began Tuesday, Nov. 22 and continued through Monday, Nov. 28 at the following locations: The Yellow Flamingo Lottery Bar at 1819 Avalon St., the Tyler Texas BBQ at 1414 Oregon Ave. twice, the Oregon Avenue Food Mart at 2123 Oregon Ave. and the Stop-N-Go store at 1710 Oregon Ave.
“All five reports described an unknown white male adult wearing similar clothing, and he would demand money from the employees once he entered the businesses,” the press release stated. “No weapons were seen, but it was believed the subject was possibly armed during the incidents. During three of the reported robberies, the subject left the scene with a large amount of cash. During the other two incidents, the unknown subject fled the scene after the employees threatened to defend themselves with a weapon or call the police.”
Tuesday, KFPD detectives identified and arrested McConathy and McKay in connection to the robberies. The two men were contacted after McConathy reported his van stolen shortly after a report of a robbery at the Speedway Express at approximately 5 that morning.
“The initial investigation reported a male subject entering the location, removing the cash register and fleeing the area in a silver van,” the press release states. “The subjects later dumped the register out of the vehicle.”
Before this incident, KFPD detectives were conducting surveillance operations during the late evening and early morning hours due to the recent robberies, according to the press release.
“KFPD detectives observed the same van in the area during their surveillance of a local business,” the press release states. “In a joint effort, KFPD and [Klamath County Sheriff’s Office] detectives were able to link both subjects to all three robberies and two attempted robberies in the city limits, and a theft and initiating a false report within the urban growth boundary.”
McConathy was lodged in the Klamath County Jail for four counts of Second-degree Robbery, Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, Second-degree Attempted Theft, Third-degree Criminal Mischief and Initiating a False Report.
McKay was lodged in the Klamath County Jail for for five counts of Second-degree Robbery, Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, Second-degree Attempted Theft and Third-degree Criminal Mischief.
Anyone with additional information regarding these robberies is encouraged to call the Klamath Falls Police Department at 541-883-5336 or the anonymous tip line at 541-883-5334.
Oregon State Parks offers $5 off annual parking permit purchases in December
SALEM, Oregon— Give the gift of the outdoors and save this season with the Oregon State Parks 12-month parking permit sale through December.
The permit hangtag once again features whimsical designs from Portland artist El Tran. Holiday shoppers can buy the annual parking permits for only $25, which is a $5 savings starting Dec. 1 and running through Dec. 31. The pass is good for 12 months starting in the month of purchase.
Purchasing passes is easy. Buy them online at the Oregon State Parks store. Parking permits are also sold at some state park friends’ group stores and select local businesses throughout the state. For a complete list of vendors, visit stateparks.oregon.gov.
Parking costs $5 a day at 25 Oregon state parks unless you have a 12- or 24-month parking permit or a same-day camping receipt. The 24-month pass is $50 and is also available at store.oregonstateparks.org. The permits are transferable from vehicle to vehicle.
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