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 15, 2022
Willamette Valley Weather
Everyone Evicted From Guesthouse Inn And Suites In Springfield
All residents and guests of GuestHouse Inn and Suites on Gateway Street were evicted Wednesday morning.
Residents at the property claim their doors were knocked on by officials with the Fire Marshal’s Office, who told them to exit the premises and leave their belongings behind.
According to a tenant, a judge found the 30-day notices placed on doors were legally invalid. And it is noted that there is a lawsuit filed by three residents claiming they’d been mistreated by managers. A judge has not ruled on that lawsuit yet.
The suit also questioned the legality of the notices. Residents on the scene said they were under the impression they would have to leave eventually, however they were unsure about the timeline.
One of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit said conditions in the hotel were close to, if not unlivable, due to squatters, drug users, and health risks such as black mold. They believe those issues are at the heart of the abrupt evictions.
We reported on this on November 21st:
Dozens Face Eviction As Guesthouse Inn & Suites In Springfield Prepares To Close Down
Dozens of people who are living at the GuestHouse Inn & Suites on Gateway Street in Springfield are facing eviction. Some said they were given notices on Oct. 31 informing them their leases would be terminated on Nov. 29. Those facing evictions include families with children, disabled people, and pets.
“90% of us don’t have any place to go,” one resident said. “And the homeless population, well there’s going to be a whole lot of people added. Plus a whole bunch of children.”
“There’s just no time,” Shane Nothwang said. “I have no time with this 30 days. I’m supposed to have 90 days and there’s no time to find anything.”
According to the notice, “Termination by the Landlord must be at least thirty (30) days from the next payment date, if and when terminating within the first year of occupancy. If terminating at any time after the first year, the Landlord must cite a cause and give a 90-day notice in accordance with subsections (5) and (6) of O.R.S. 40.427, or justify cause as otherwise prescribed by law.”
A number of the people living at the motel said they had lived there for longer than one year. Some said they had lived there for as long as three years.
“I’m trying to find a place,” Rebekah Burnell said. “I got my section 8, but even finding any housing is hard right now. I have two little ones and then other people have their little ones.”
Some residents said they were not provided with any resources to help them find a new place to live, and are worried about whether they will be able to find anywhere to go.
Property management said the looming closure is something people living there had known about since the summer, but residents said the first written notice they had received was the one given to them on Oct. 31.
According to the notice, the reason for termination is, “Guesthouse is being seized on November 30th 2022 by the landowner and the building is to be demolished.”
Plans indicate the building is expected to be demolished starting in February 2023. The Springfield-Eugene Tenant Association has a list of resources on their website for anyone facing eviction.
Update: Suspect Now in Custody After Fatal Hit and Run in Albany
The Albany Police Department received multiple tips from our community which led to the suspect and suspect vehicle being located today in Albany. Matthew James Dreyer, age 49, has been taken into custody. He was lodged at the Linn County Jail on criminal charges associated with the fatal hit and run that occurred in the early morning hours in the 1500 block of Geary St SE on December 10, 2022.
Investigators located the involved vehicle, a black 1997 Nissan pickup, at the time of his arrest. The investigation remains active and no further information is available at this time. The Albany Police Department would like to thank our community for providing information that led to the identification of the suspect in this incident.
Eugene Man Arrested On Warrant After Barricading Himself Inside Home
A man has been arrested after Eugene Police said he barricaded himself inside a home Tuesday morning.
According to EPD, a call came in just before 9:00 a.m. after reports of a man pointing a rifle toward several parked, unoccupied cars in the area of the 2500 block of Kincaid Street.
According to EPD, Nicholas Robert Nash, 32, was then seen walking inside a nearby home, before exiting again, when an EPD officer tried to intercept him. EPD said Nash had a warrant out for his arrest.
Police said Nash then went back inside and would not respond to officers trying to contact him. He was then seen pulling the blinds shut on the second floor.
Several on-duty EPD SWAT team members and EPD’s Crisis Negotiation Team responded. A woman was later seen leaving the home.
Police were able to get the door open and get inside the home. Nash eventually came out and was taken into custody. Police also determined that the rifle that he was seen with was actually a pellet rifle.
Nash was taken to the Lane County Jail on his warrant.
Operation Winter Survival Stockpile Still Needs Your Help
Lane County Health & Human Services, along with the First Christian Church of Eugene and Cahoots, would like to thank the many community members who have contributed to Operation Winter Survival Stockpile. To date, over 3,000 items have been donated and over 200 households served. There remains, however, a need for tents, sleeping bags, and blankets.
“We are humbled by the tremendous response to Operation Winter Survival Stockpile,” said Lane County Human Services Program Coordinator, Maria Cortez. “Despite the many donations, supplies that are essential to sleeping outside this time of the year are still in short supply. We need as many folks to help as possible.“
Every winter, individuals in our community who are unhoused experience terrible weather conditions and life-threatening temperatures. To address this, Lane County Health & Human Services, in partnership with the First Christian Church of Eugene’s Helping Hearts program and Cahoots, have launched Operation Winter Survival Stockpile.
Operation Winter Survival Stockpile is a community-driven effort to create a stockpile through donations of clothing and other supplies that will help those in our community who are unhoused to stay safe and warm this winter.
As a reminder, items can be dropped off Monday through Thursday between 10 am and 2 pm at the First Christian Church, located at 1166 Oak St. in downtown Eugene. (541) 344-1425.
Items can also be purchased on Amazon and sent to First Christian Church at 1166 Oak St. Eugene OR 97402 – Amazon Wish List https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2XR33GS1ULV8Z?ref_=wl_share
Distribution of items will be prioritized to homeless outreach providers such as CAHOOTS that come into direct contact with individuals who are unhoused and unsheltered.
Oregon’s Unemployment Rate Rises to 4.4% in November
Oregon’s unemployment rate rose to 4.4% in November from 4.1% in October. The unemployment rate increased 0.9 percentage point over the past four months from its recent low of 3.5% in May, June, and July. The last time Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.4% or more was in October 2021 when the rate was 4.4%. In contrast, the U.S. unemployment rate has remained below 4%, as it was 3.7% in both October and November of 2022.
In Oregon, nonfarm payroll employment rose by 8,500 jobs in November, following a gain of 5,500 jobs in October. The gains in November were largest in government (+2,900 jobs); health care and social assistance (+1,400); wholesale trade (+1,100); and leisure and hospitality (+1,000). None of the major industries cut a substantial number of jobs in November.
All major sectors of government grew. Federal government added 900 jobs in November, with several firms adding jobs when they normally would be shedding seasonal jobs heading into the winter slow period. State government added 300 jobs, continuing its slow growth this year. Local government added 1,700 jobs, but remained 2,400 jobs below November 2019, prior to the pandemic recession.
Oregon’s private sector added 5,600 jobs in November, reaching another all-time high of 1,688,400. This was 16,700 jobs, or 1.0%, above the pre-recession peak in February 2020.
Health care and social assistance continued its steady and rapid advances this year, adding 1,400 jobs in November, which was close to its average gain of 1,200 jobs per month this year. Social assistance grew the most, adding 5,100 jobs (+7.8%) in the past 12 months. Ambulatory health care services (+4,500 jobs, or 4.8%) and nursing and residential care facilities (+2,100 jobs, or 4.3%) also have expanded rapidly since November 2021.
Leisure and hospitality is still substantially below its pre-pandemic peak. But its revised gain of 2,000 jobs in October, coupled with its gain of 1,000 in November, put the industry back on its recent upward trajectory. Over the past 12 months it added 15,700 jobs, accounting for nearly a quarter of Oregon’s private-sector job gains during that time.
Notes: All numbers in the above narrative are seasonally adjusted, except for the industries within health care and social assistance.
The Oregon Employment Department and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) work cooperatively to develop and publish monthly Oregon payroll employment and labor force data. The estimates of monthly job gains and losses are based on a survey of businesses. The estimates of unemployment are based on a survey of households and other sources.
The Oregon Employment Department publishes payroll employment estimates that are revised by using employment counts from employer unemployment insurance tax records. All department publications use this Official Oregon Series data unless noted otherwise. This month’s release incorporates the October, November and December 2021 tax records data. The department continues to make the original nonfarm payroll employment series available; these data are produced by the BLS.
The PDF version of the news release can be found at QualityInfo.org/press-release. To obtain the data in other formats such as in Excel, visit QualityInfo.org, select Tools, then choose LAUS or CES under the Economy header. To request the press release as a Word document, contact the person shown at the top of this press release.
To file a claim for unemployment benefits or get more information about unemployment programs, visit unemployment.oregon.gov.
The Oregon Employment Department (OED) is an equal opportunity agency. OED provides free help so you can use our services. Some examples are sign language and spoken-language interpreters, written materials in other languages, large print, audio, and other formats. To get help, please call 503-947-1444. TTY users call 711. You can also send an email to communications@employ.oregon.gov.
El Departamento de Empleo de Oregon (OED) es una agencia de igualdad de oportunidades. El OED proporciona ayuda gratuita para que usted pueda utilizar nuestros servicios. Algunos ejemplos son intérpretes de lengua de señas e idiomas hablados, materiales escritos en otros idiomas, letra grande, audio y otros formatos. Para obtener ayuda, por favor llame al 503-947-1444. Usuarios de TTY pueden llamar al 711. También puede enviar un correo electrónico a communications@employ.oregon.gov.
Monthly COVID-19 reports released
Oregon Health Authority’s COVID-19 Monthly Data Report, released Thursday, shows an increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, but a decrease in deaths.
OHA reported 15,236 new cases of COVID-19 in November, a 13% increase from the 13,427 cases recorded in October.
During November, test positivity was 7.8%, up from 7.3% in October.
This month’s COVID-19 Congregate Care Setting Outbreak Report shows there were 140 active outbreaks in care facilities, senior living communities and congregate care living settings, a 40% increase from the prior month.
Data from the reports was included today on OHA’s COVID-19 data dashboards.
State Land Board Finally Approves The Creation Of The Elliott State Research Forest
following Tuesday’s decision by top state officials to finalize the redesignation of the Elliott State Forest in southwest Oregon into a place for scientific discovery, Oregon has what it’s calling North America’s largest research forest.
The creation of the 80,000-acre Elliott State Research Forest signals an end to a years-long debate over how to manage a state forest in southwest Oregon that was failing to generate revenue for public education.
The board approved the transition of the Elliott from a traditional state forest to a research site, decoupling the forest from the Common School Fund, which relies on revenue from the sale of timber on state forests, among other resources, to help pay for public education in Oregon.
The Elliott forest will remain in public ownership in collaboration with Oregon State University. State officials said the Elliott will continue to contribute to conservation, recreation, education, local economies and more as a publicly owned, working research forest.
The Elliott provides habitat to dwindling wildlife populations, including salmon, the northern spotted owl and the marbled murrelet. Oregon political leaders have been struggling for decades to find a way for the forest to comply with wildlife protection requirements while continuing to meet a legal obligation that the forest generate revenue for public schools.
“The Elliott will provide a better approach for working forest management, improve conservation protections and, significantly, keep the forest in public hands,” Treasurer Tobias Read said in a statement. “We can be proud that current and future generations of Oregonians will benefit from this valuable natural resource.”
Read was joined by Gov. Kate Brown and Secretary of State Shemia Fagan in approving the final plan.
The use of natural resources to pay for education in Oregon dates back to statehood in 1859. Revenues from logging on state forests have historically gone to the Common School Fund. While state income tax and local property tax now serve as major funding sources for education, the requirement to make up for the loss in revenue from timber harvest on the Elliott is significant.
Tuesday’s vote was enabled by the Legislature’s approval of a bill that transferred $221 million into the Common School Fund to replace revenue that logging on the Elliott might otherwise have generated.
Before the plan to turn the Elliott into a research forest, the land was no longer generating enough revenue to cover the costs of managing it, and the state considered selling much of it.
AAA Holiday Travel Forecast: Expect Busy Roads and Crowded Airports
AAA projects 112.7 million Americans (33.8% of the population) will travel for the Christmas and New Year holidays. This is up 3.3% from 2021 and closing in on pre-pandemic numbers.
About 1.6 million Oregonians will pack their sleighs for a holiday trip. 2022 is expected to be the third-busiest year for holiday travel since AAA began tracking in 2000, only trailing 2019 and 2018.
While about 90% of travelers will drive to their holiday destinations, air travel is seeing a jump this year, up 14% compared to 2021. The holiday travel period is defined as Friday, December. 23 through Monday, January 2.
“With Christmas Day and New Year’s Day falling on Sundays, many are taking long weekends to celebrate the holidays. And with hybrid work schedules, we’re seeing more flexibility with the days people are traveling because they can work remotely at their destinations,” says Doreen Loofburrow, senior vice president of travel for AAA Oregon/Idaho.
“Despite roller-coaster gas prices and a bumpy year for flights, people are ready to wrap up the year with a holiday trip. This will be one of the busiest times for holiday travel in the last two decades. Travelers should expect busy roads and crowded airports this holiday season,” says Marie Dodds, public affairs director for AAA Oregon/Idaho.
Peak traffic expected Dec. 23, 27, 28 and Jan. 2 — Travelers can expect the busiest roads on Dec. 23, 27 and 28 and on Jan. 2. Delays will be the longest in the afternoons and evenings, especially in urban areas, as travelers mix with commuters. Some metro areas across the U.S. could see more than double the delays versus typical drive times, and larger urban areas could experience three times the normal delays.
“Knowing the busiest drive times can help you avoid the stress of being stuck in stop-and-go traffic,” says Dodds.
Medical Examiner Says Body Of Woman Found In Portland Remains Unidentified – Seeks Public Help
The Multnomah County Medical Examiner’s Office is asking for the public’s help identifying the body of a woman who died Nov. 28 in Portland.
The Medical Examiner describes the woman as white, between the ages of 20 and 40 years old. They say she also was about 5′4″ tall, weighing 139 pounds. She had medium to long brown hair with brown eyes.
The woman also had pierced ears, with scars on both forearms and the following tattoos:
- Right wrist: Faith Hope Love
- Left wrist: Amirah
- Right Shoulder: Black and red butterfly
Anyone with information about the woman is asked to call the Multnomah County Medical Examiner’s Office at (503) 988-0055 and reference case number #MU-221128-812.
