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, December 7, 2022
Willamette Valley Weather
Kidnapping Suspect Arrested In Lane County After Fleeing Authorities In Vancouver
Tuesday morning shortly after 1:00am, Lane County Sheriff’s deputies received information from the Vancouver, Washington Police Department that a kidnapping suspect was believed to be in Lane County along with his three victims. The suspect had managed to elude police earlier in Washington State. The victims were an adult female and her two young children.
Deputies located the suspect, 53-year-old Bart Allen Stephanie, driving on Jasper Rd. near Pengra Rd. about 30 minutes later. Stephanie attempted to elude deputies and eventually drove through a privately owned yard in the area of Place Rd. and Church Rd, then continued on through a fence and into a pasture. Deputies were able to use their patrol vehicles to pin Stephanie’s rented pickup and forced him to come to a stop.
All three of Stephanie’s victims were found in the vehicle. The adult female had an injury to her head from Stephanie assaulting her, and the children were unharmed. Deputies transported the victims to an area hotel where they were provided temporary housing using a community assistance fund donated by the University Fellowship Church of Eugene.
Stephanie was lodged at the Lane County Jail after being treated for minor injuries at an area hospital. His local charges include: Three counts of Kidnapping in the 2nd Degree, Elude by Vehicle, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering, Criminal Trespass in the 2nd Degree and Criminal Mischief in the 1st Degree.
Residents Rally To Bring Awareness To Unsafe Driving Near Amazon Parkway
Residents that included parents, students, and employees from local public schools and the University of Oregon gathered Tuesday to bring awareness to excessive speeding in the Amazon Parkway area near Charlemagne Elementary school and alongside the wider Amazon Parkway Area.
“We are gathering of concerned residents asking drivers to please slow down,” said Kristin Allen, the organizer of the rally .”We’d like support from the City of Eugene by painting bold lines in the crosswalks and adding some flashing lights. And we’d like support from the Eugene Police Department by coming out and issuing speeding tickets.”
Allen says that many in the area feel unsafe while walking or biking, especially kids who are walking to and from school. Those in the rally gathered together wearing red, and other high visibility colors, holding signs asking for drivers to slow down while on that stretch of Amazon Parkway.
30th Avenue To See Safety Improvements After Lane County Commissioners Approve It
Lane County government officials are trying to address its most dangerous road — 30th Avenue — through traffic easements to reduce car crashes and improvements to increase safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.
The Lane County Board of County Commissioners discussed a plan at its Dec. 6 virtual and in-person meeting that would add safety improvements for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists. Commissioners unanimously approved it, but there are more steps ahead as the county searches for funding, reviews transit plans and works with property owners.
“There have been more people who have died or have been injured while walking and biking on this stretch of 30th Avenue than any other road under Lane County’s jurisdiction, countywide,” said senior transportation planner Becky Taylor at the Dec. 6 meeting. “To improve safety for people walking and biking along this high speed facility, we really need to have a more substantial protected space.”
The area of 30th Avenue under consideration for transit planning runs from Spring Drive (near Laurelwood Golf Course) to McVay Highway (by the I-5). The county worked on the transit plan for about 18 months, according to board materials, and included three community meetings and a public hearing. Most of the area is near Lane Community College and has a posted speed limit of 45 mph.
Taylor said the county also saw a higher number of crash density at three intersections along 30th that runs from Albertsons to LCC: at Forest Boulevard, Bloomberg and Eldon Schafer — one of the entrances to LCC. “We are proposing treatments at those three locations to reduce crash severity and frequency,” she added.
The plan would require the county to coordinate with the city of Eugene and Oregon Department of Transportation, as some of the road falls in those agencies’ jurisdiction. Some of the plan requires adding sidewalks along 30th.
The county’s plan includes a wider shoulder along 30th to add a 13-foot shared use path for walking, biking and other active forms of transportation. This would include a concrete barrier as protection from fast-moving vehicle speed. Although the county doesn’t have a final cost for the project, the meeting materials report that it has secured $906,382 from Central Lane Metropolitan Planning Organization of Lane Council of Governments (LCOG); the county is pitching in $103,739.
Taylor said the plan also includes constructing a roundabout at 30th and Eldon Schafer, an entry way to LCC and Oak Hill School, as a way to address car crashes there, where drivers often speed through traffic signals at around 55 mph. “A roundabout reduces crash severity because the roundabout speeds are significantly lower, about 15 miles per hour,” she added.
The plan still has years to go until fruition. Commissioners approved an early step that allows Lane County officials to begin negotiating with affected property owners and refining transit plans, according to board materials. County officials will also start seeking grant funds to pay for the improvements.
Details Released In Tillamook Murder As Suspects Caught And Charged
The Tillamook County District Attorney’s Office has released details on the December 2 Tillamook State Forest murder in which two women who had been living in the forest were apprehended and charged with murder after going on the run.
The Scene of the Crime — On December 2nd at around 10:30 a.m. a Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted to contact some long-term campers that had been staying at designated campsite #3 in Tillamook State Forest.
The deputy found a deceased 52-year-old man at campsite #3. He was able to identify this man from previous interactions and knew he had been living at campsite #2 for about six months – which was located about 100 feet northwest of campsite #3.
The victim was lying on his back in front of a silver-colored Hyundai Santa Fe with an Oregon license plate. The victim was holding a set of jumper cables in his hands, and was fully dressed in winter clothing.
The deputy observed that the victim’s face, head, and neck were covered in dried blood. There were also several empty .38 special shell casings in the area around the body.
Further observation revealed that the victim’s pockets had been rifled through, and his wallet and identification were missing. The deputy then observed that the victim’s blue Toyota minivan, which the deputy had seen the victim in multiple times, was also missing.
As the deputy investigated the scene, he realized that the two women who lived in campsite #3 were gone, and that the remaining Hyundai Santa Fe with Oregon license plates was their vehicle.
Possible Suspects and Motive Emerge — The women had been living in the Hyundai Santa Fe at campsite #3, and the deputy had previously made contact with them while they were in the car.
The deputy had talked with one woman in the driver’s seat, who would only partially roll down the window of the vehicle, and had observed another woman in the back seat. The two women had claimed the Hyundai Santa Fe had starter issues and they were stuck at the campsite, and demanded help from the deputy.
The deputy offered to arrange a ride and a tow to the Tillamook City area on November 24, but the women refused when it became apparent that one would have to ride in the patrol car and the other would have to ride in the tow truck.
Later, the license plate of the Hyundai was run, and it was discovered to be registered to the two women, Alyssa Zipporah Sturgill and Lisa Marie Peaslee.
As well as the victim’s Toyota minivan, the deputy noticed that a dog belonging to the women and the mobility walker belonging to Peaslee, who was disabled and couldn’t move without it, were no longer at the campsite.
Police investigating the scene found items mainly belonging to Lisa Peaslee in the abandoned Hyundai Santa Fe. They also found a bag that was full of unspent .38 special ammunition that matched the shells found near the victim’s body.
Police recovered the firearm used in the murder a short distance away from the victim’s body, partially buried underneath leaves, debris, and a small wagon. The firearm had one spent case and one unspent case that matched the cases found around the body and in the car.
The victim’s body was collected and sent in for an autopsy. He was found to have been shot once in the head and once in the neck, and his death was ruled a homicide.
Police then began seeking the whereabouts of Alyssa Sturgill and Lisa Peaslee in relation to the vehicle theft and murder.
Police Apprehend the Women on the Run — On December 4th, 2022 at approximately 2:30 p.m. the minivan was stopped by police in Hawthorn, Nevada.
Both Sturgill and Peaslee were found in possession of the victim’s stolen vehicle.
The women were arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle and immediately invoked the right to remain silent. Sturgill and Peaslee were lodged 1n the Mineral County Jail on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle.
Shortly after, detectives from the Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office traveled to Nevada to serve Alyssa Sturgill and Lisa Peaslee with arrest warrants for murder and begin the process of extradition to Oregon. The investigation into the Tillamook State Forest homicide is ongoing.
State Judge Places Hold On Oregon’s Gun Law – State To Appeal
A ruling by a state court judge placed Oregon’s tough new voter-approved gun law on hold late Tuesday, just hours after a federal court judge allowed the ban on the sale and transfer of high-capacity magazines to take effect this week.
The ruling by Harney County Judge Robert Raschio threw the implementation of Measure 114 — set for Thursday — into limbo and Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said on Twitter that her office will urgently appeal to the Oregon Supreme Court. That filing is likely to come Wednesday morning.
“It’s been a busy day for Measure 114, Oregon’s new gun safety law, which is supposed to go into effect Thursday. A federal and a state judge both issued rulings today,” the Twitter thread said. “As of now, the law cannot go into effect on Thursday.”
The lawsuit in Harney County, filed by Gun Owners of America Inc., the Gun Owners Foundation and several individual gun owners, sought to have the entire law placed on hold while its constitutionality is decided. The state lawsuit specifically makes the claims under the Oregon Constitution, not the U.S. Constitution — and that means for now, Raschio’s ruling is binding in the entire state.
Earlier Tuesday, a federal judge in Portland had delivered an initial victory to proponents of the sweeping gun-control measure narrowly approved by Oregon voters last month.
U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut allowed the ban on the sale and transfer of new high-capacity magazines to take effect Thursday. She also granted a 30-day delay before the law’s permit-to-purchase mandate takes effect, but did not quash it entirely as gun rights advocates had wanted.
Measure 114 requires a permit, criminal background check, fingerprinting and hands-on training course for new firearms buyers. It also bans the sale, transfer or import of gun magazines over 10 rounds unless they are owned by law enforcement or a military member or were owned before the measure’s passage. Those who already own high-capacity magazines can only possess them in their homes or use them at a firing range, in shooting competitions or for hunting as allowed by state law after the measure takes effect.
Gun sales and requests for background checks soared in the weeks since the measure was approved because of fears the new law would prevent or significantly delay the purchase of new firearms under the permitting system.
Multiple gun rights groups, local sheriffs and gun store owners have sued, saying the law violates Americans’ constitutional right to bear arms. All of those lawsuits were filed in federal courts except for the one in Harney County, a gun rights group said late Tuesday.
“We are, of course, deeply troubled by the ruling that came out of the Federal Court today. We are also grateful for the opposing ruling from the Harney County Judge this afternoon,” the Oregon Firearms Federation wrote. “But no matter what, there is a long way to go.”
The interfaith coalition that placed Measure 114 on the ballot said earlier Tuesday it appreciated the federal judge’s ruling and understood the need for a delay in the permit-to-purchase provision to sort out the process.
“We’d like to see the permitting in place this week because that would save lives, but at the same time we understand that it will take longer to do it well,” said Mark Knutson, chairman of the Lift Every Voice Oregon campaign and pastor at Portland’s Augustana Lutheran Church. “For us, it’s all about saving lives and safety.”
Knutson did not return a call late Tuesday about the state ruling.
Amid the uncertainty, gun sales spiked in Oregon in the past month.
The Oregon State Police reported more than 35,000 pending background check transactions for gun purchases as of last week and was averaging 3,000 requests a day compared to less than 900 a day the week before Measure 114 passed, according to agency data. On Black Friday, the agency received 6,000 background check requests alone, OSP Capt. Kyle Kennedy said in an email.
Gun store owners also reported a run on guns, with sales in some stores increasing four- or five-fold in recent weeks.
Measure 114′s fate is being carefully watched by both gun rights advocates and those who want stricter limits on gun ownership because it is one of the first to take effect after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June that struck down a New York law that placed limits on carrying guns outside the home.
The June ruling signaled a shift in the way the nation’s high court will evaluate Second Amendment infringement claims, with the Supreme Court’s conservative majority finding judges should no longer consider whether the law serves public interests like enhancing public safety.
Instead, judges should only weigh whether the law is “consistent with the Second Amendment’s text and historical understanding.”
Gun-rights supporters have called the June ruling a “wrecking ball” for firearms restrictions. Since then, federal judges in Texas have struck down a law against adults under 21 carrying handguns and a ban on people under indictment buying firearms. Judges have also blocked measures in West Virginia, Delaware and Colorado.
Other gun regulations have survived challenges since the ruling, however, including one involving ghost guns in California and one on non-violent felons owning guns in Pennsylvania.
Still, the Supreme Court also sent back to a lower court for review a California ban on high-capacity magazines that’s similar to Oregon’s new law.
Governor-Elect Tina Kotek Announces Chief Of Staff And Other Members Of Transition Team
Oregon Governor-elect Tina Kotek announced that Andrea Cooper will be joining her administration as her incoming chief of staff and identified additional members of her transition team.
Cooper brings 15 years of experience in Oregon government and public service, including several leadership roles serving in the Oregon Legislature, advocating on behalf of working families, and most recently working as the deputy chief of staff to Governor Kate Brown. Cooper will become the first Black woman to serve in this top executive role in Oregon.
In her volunteer life, Cooper has served as Board Chair for Bradley Angle, a domestic violence agency that empowers survivors of domestic abuse. She also served on the boards of Emerge Oregon, a statewide group dedicated to empowering Democratic women to run for office, and the Alliance for Youth, a national organization working to strengthen local youth organizing and power.
Cooper grew up in Oregon and California and is a lifelong fan of the Portland Trail Blazers. She received her B.A. from the University of Portland with a major in Political Science.
“Andrea Cooper is a skilled manager and a strategic, collaborative leader. She is ready to build a team of problem-solvers who will always put the needs of the people of Oregon first,” said Governor-elect Kotek. “I’m thrilled to have her coming on board.”
In addition, Kotek named several key hires for her transition team, which will focus on setting up the incoming administration to start delivering results for Oregonians on Day One. The following people are joining Transition Director Tim Inman,who is taking a partial leave from his current role as the University Secretary and Advisor to the President of the University of Oregon to lead the transition:
- Annaliese Dolph – Behavioral Health Lead. Dolph previously served as a policy advisor in the Speaker’s Office and is an attorney with over a decade of experience working on health policy. She will continue to serve in the incoming Kotek administration after assisting with the transition.
- Karin Power – Policy Lead. Power, the outgoing State Representative for HD 41 and Interim Executive Director of Business for a Better Portland, is volunteering her time to assist with policy work during the transition.
- Taylor Smiley Wolfe – Housing and Homelessness Lead. Smiley Wolfe previously served as policy director in the Speaker’s Office and Director of Policy and Planning at Home Forward. She will continue to serve in the incoming Kotek administration after assisting with the transition.
- Abby Tibbs – Budget Lead. Tibbs, an attorney with over 20 years of public affairs and operations experience, has taken a temporary leave from her position as vice president of public affairs at Oregon Health and Science University to assist with the development of the Governor’s Recommended Budget.
The transition team is also convening work groups with a broader cross-section of leaders to advise on systems and structures that will set up the incoming Kotek administration for success in driving her agenda, improving service delivery for Oregonians, and increasing accountability across state government.
“This team works hard, leads with integrity, and knows how to deliver results. I’m grateful for their service to Oregon and we are ready to get to work,” said Governor-elect Kotek. “In the weeks leading up to inauguration, our focus will be on getting ready to address issues of shared concern across our state: homelessness, mental health and addiction, and successful schools.”
Senator Merkley Introduces Legislation To Ban Hedge Fund Ownership Of Residential Housing
Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley has introduced a new piece of legislation to his colleagues aimed at limiting hedge fund ownership of residential housing.
“Everyone should have a safe, affordable place to call home,” said Senator Merkley. “In every corner of the country, giant financial corporations are buying up housing and driving up both rents and home prices. They’re pouring fuel on the fire of the affordable housing crisis that so many of our communities are facing, leaving working families behind. The housing in our neighborhoods should be homes for people, not profit centers for Wall Street. It’s time for Congress to put in place commonsense guardrails that ensure all families have a fair chance to buy or rent a home in their community at a price they can afford.”
The “End Hedge Fund Control of American Homes Act”, if passed, the Act would ban hedge funds and private equity investors from owning large numbers of homes by establishing a $20,000 federal tax penalty for each single family home owned by a single company and its affiliates over 100 homes. The bill also would allow companies with large portfolios to sell homes over several years to come into compliance so there’s an orderly exit, and includes incentives to make sure buyers of divested homes are ordinary people who will live in the home.
The tax penalties collected will be used to provide down payment assistance to homebuyers.
“Everyone deserves a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home. Private equity firms, however, have instead devised a business model that prioritizes profits over people, regardless of the economic consequences that fall on our communities. The presence of private equity firms engaging in the housing market is one of the most concerning threats to financial stability among Oregonian families, especially for renters, prospective homebuyers, and Oregonians living on low or fixed incomes. This bold piece of legislation will help change the tide of our national housing market and will protect families from predatory investment practices that contribute to our ongoing housing and affordability crises here in Oregon and in other communities across the country,” said Loren Naldoza, Legislative & Communications Manager with Neighborhood Partnerships.
Car Insurance Premiums to Increase in Oregon
Drivers are facing car insurance premium hikes in 2023 as more expensive vehicles and higher rates of crashes translate into more expensive coverage.
Car owners in some states will fare better than others. Oregon, Maryland and Virginia are poised to experience average increases of 26% in 2023, while Michigan — the most expensive state for insurance — is set for a 1% increase, according to Insurify’s projections.
Why it matters: Drivers can’t avoid insurance costs, so increases tend to hurt low-income and fixed-income people more than others.
Driving the news: The average driver is expected to pay $1,895 per vehicle for car insurance in 2023, according to a study by Insurify, which analyzed 69 million rates in 50 states.
- That’s up 7% from 2022 and up 29.5% from 2020, and marks the first time average insurance premiums will top $150 monthly.
The big picture: Vehicle prices have spiked since the pandemic due to production shortfalls and shoppers gravitating toward larger rides.
- New vehicle prices hit a record high of more than $47,000 this summer, according to Edmunds.
- “If the vehicle is more expensive, if it’s newer, if it has more expensive parts, then it’s going to cost more to repair or replace in the event of an accident — and that’s a huge factor why insurance costs have increased more in the past couple years,” Insurify’s Chase Gardner tells Axios.
Between the lines: Other factors are at play, as well, including more serious crashes as auto safety watchdogs have reported increased speeding and reckless driving during the pandemic.
- 2020 and 2021 were the deadliest years on the road in the U.S. since 2007 based on the rate of fatalities per miles driven, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- “That’s leading to more claims being made to insurance companies,” Gardner says. “So they need to raise rates to offset that.”
Be smart: Drivers can quickly price-shop for insurance online to save a few bucks. They can also save money by agreeing to install a remotely monitored mileage-gauge on their vehicle to prove that their driving habits are deserving of lower premiums.
- Another way to save on insurance is to drive a cheaper vehicle.
- “Making sure you’re driving a vehicle that makes sense for your budget,” Gardner says. “An older sedan is going to be much, much cheaper to insure than something new or flashy.”
The bottom line: After record highs for vehicles prices and gasoline costs in 2022, insurance increases are poised to make transportation costs even higher.
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