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
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Willamette Valley Weather
Snow Hits the Region
Many of us woke up to some snow this morning. Schools had posted delays and it’s a good reminder that we’re smack dab in the middle of winter still.
Low-elevation snow arrived in western Oregon mostly as expected Tuesday morning, bringing a dusting to about a half inch of snow in Willamette Valley cities while dropping considerably more in the foothills and mountains.
Most roads remained warm enough to avoid sticking snow and traffic is largely not impacted in the Portland, Salem, and Eugene corridor on Interstate 5.
Snow is having a bigger impact on Oregon’s mountain roads above 1,200 feet, especially near towns such as Detroit east of Salem and McKenzie Bridge east of Eugene.
High mountain passes, including Santiam Pass (Highway 20) and Willamette Pass (Highway 58) are largely snow-covered and gained about 14 inches of new snow. Advise to check TripCheck.com if you plan to travel.
Conditions appear to be far worse in southern Oregon, where snow on Interstate 5 has led to very impacted traffic conditions.
Northbound I-5 was being held at Oregon state line because of winter weather conditions.
Caltrans District 2 and the Siskiyou County Office of Emergency Services made the announcement around 7:30 am this morning. For more updates on road conditions, check QuickMap.dot.ca.gov in California and TripCheck.com in Oregon.
Eugene Police Seek Tips in Walgreens Armed Robbery Investigation
At 3:46 p.m. on February 9, a caller to 911 reported two males were robbing Walgreens, 1675 Coburg Road. Both males were reported armed with handguns and wearing surgical masks. They entered the pharmacy area and robbed the pharmacy of controlled prescription medications. During the robbery, employees and customers in the area were forced to get on the ground.
Both suspects were males with darker skin complexions, and reported wearing dark clothing. wearing dark colored jackets, dark grey pants, and masks.
The case remains under active investigation. If anyone has tips in the case they are asked to please call 541.682.5111.
Three People Shot And Hospitalized In Salem Shooting Incident
The Salem Police Department says three people were taken to the hospital after a reported shooting in Salem on Monday night.
Shortly before 9 p.m., Salem Police Violent Crimes Unit detectives received reports of gunfire in the area of Arbon Drive and Vallejo Street NE.
Responding officers found three gunshot victims, who were taken to the hospital. This is still under investigation.
LCSO Case #23-0846 — Fatal Traffic Crash
On 02/11/2023 at approximately 7:00pm, deputies from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a single vehicle traffic crash in the 37100blk of Row River Rd, near the Row River School. Preliminary investigation revealed that a silver 1992 Toyota pickup had been traveling westbound on Row River Rd. when it failed to negotiate a curve. The truck slid before rolling over and ejecting a passenger, who was pronounced deceased at the scene. Intoxication does not appear to be a factor in the crash. This investigation is ongoing and the identities of those involved are being withheld at this time.
While deputies were investigating the crash, a 1997 Ford pickup driven by 51-year-old Richard Eugene Watkins attempted to drive through the crash scene and nearly struck a patrol car. Deputies contacted Watkins and determined him to be under the influence of alcohol. Watkins was arrested for DUII (LCSO Case #23-0847).
Governor Orders Flags Flown Half-Staff For Gresham Firefighter
Governor Tina Kotek has ordered flags at public institutions flown at half-staff until sunset on February 15th to honor Gresham Firefighter Brandon Norbury. He died suffering cardiac arrest while on duty.
Here’s more from the announcement from the governor’s office.
Norbury dedicated his life to serving others. He was a member of the elite U.S. Navy SEAL Team 2, he was a Gresham Police officer for seven years and a Gresham Fire Department firefighter for nearly 15 years. Norbury’s memorial service is planned for Wednesday.
Brandon Norbury dedicated his life to the service of others. After graduating high school, Norbury joined the U.S. Navy, ultimately becoming a member of the elite Navy SEAL Team 2. During his military service, Brandon received his Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic certification and was honorably discharged in 2000 after 10 years of service to his country.
In 2001, Norbury graduated from the Police Academy in Monmouth and joined the Gresham Police Department. During his seven years with the department, Norbury served as a Patrol Officer, Firearms and Taser Instructor, Department Armorer, and a member and instructor for the Police Department’s Tactical team.
Norbury joined the Gresham Fire Department in 2008 and fearlessly served as a Gresham Firefighter and Paramedic for nearly 15 years, spending most of his time at Station 31 and Station 76.
“I am grateful to Brandon Norbury for his lifelong service and dedication to his community and country,” Governor Kotek said. “My thoughts are with Brandon’s family, loved ones, and colleagues in this moment of great loss.”
Oregon Lawmakers Working To Make A Deal On Major Housing And Homelessness Bill
Lawmakers are working quickly to pass a massive housing and homelessness bill: House Bill 2001 is a combination of five housing bills that adds on to Governor Tina Kotek’s proposals.
House Bill 2001, a combination of five housing bills, adds on to Gov. Tina Kotek’s emergency order she signed on her first full day in office last month. It includes a number of different initiatives that both parties and various stakeholders have reached compromises on.
Lawmakers say they want it to be on the governor’s desk for signature by the end of March.
Kotek’s homelessness state of emergency left out 26 rural counties in Oregon. Her order was based on point-in-time counts. Those counts are one-time physical counts of homeless individuals that every region does each year. It determines how most federal funding is distributed.
The governor’s order included only the regions that saw a 50% or more increase in unsheltered homelessness over six years. HB 2001 looks to set aside extra money for the rest of Oregon.
“This really allows the rest of Oregon that felt that the PIT counts are hard to do in really large areas where you don’t necessarily see people who are houseless from the road,” said Rep. Maxine Dexter, D-Portland. “It allows for them to get investments.”
How much money that will include has not yet been determined, but Dexter said it will be separate from the $130 million Kotek has asked for.
At the beginning of her term in office last month, Kotek urged lawmakers to spend $130 million to add 600 low-barrier shelter beds, keep nearly 9,000 at-risk families from becoming homeless and to help get 1,200 unsheltered Oregonians off the street by the end of this year.
The package of bills also increase eviction protections, adds more resources for homeless youth, and funnels money toward housing development.
Eviction protections sparked a lot of public interest from the start of this year’s legislative session. A few weeks ago, a public hearing on Senate Bill 799 was packed with landlords and tenants testifying for and against the bill. Lawmakers and stakeholders on both sides had to compromise, and a watered down version on that bill is now part of this larger package.
“The bill retains six of the critical issues that were in Senate Bill 799, and it removed two of the issues that were in Senate Bill 799,” said Sybil Hebb, an attorney with the Oregon Law Center.
For example, it removes a 60-day safe harbor period that would give tenants more time to seek rent assistance, but it increases the notice for nonpayment eviction from the current 72-hour notice to a 10-day notice.
Dexter, who is sponsoring the package, said it took a lot of work behind the scenes to reach an agreement.
“There were conversations that followed up on that hearing to get to a place where both tenants and landlords felt like they were moving a bill with the package that everyone could either be supportive of or neutral,” she said.
She said the best way the public can have influence in the conversation around these bills is to engage with the different advocacy groups that represent the different constituencies or the different stakeholders.
The five bills that fall under the umbrella of House Bill 2001 are:
- House Bill 2456 and House Bill 2454 cover resources for homeless youth;
- House Bill 2981 and Senate Bill 534 cover money for housing development;
- Senate Bill 799 extends time for eviction notice for nonpayment and also increases the amount of time before trial for evictions.
Have your voice heard. A public hearing in the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness is scheduled for House Bill 2001 Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 8 a.m. in HR F at the Capitol. Read more about the bill, register to testify and submit testimony here. Read the -1 amendment, which contains the details that will be discussed Tuesday.
Three Bills Being Considered In Oregon Would Ban Or Reduce The Use of Some Plastics
Three bills could soon make grocery shopping and dining out more sustainable.
Senate Bill 545 would allow consumers to use their own clean containers at grocery stores and restaurants.
SB 543 would ban the sale of prepared food in polystyrene foam containers, and the sale of those containers, as well as foam packing peanuts, in Oregon.
And SB 544 would create a program to reduce the use of single-use plastic food ware and packaging.
The public can weigh in on the proposals at a public hearing from 1-3 p.m. Feb. 14 in the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment, in Hearing Room B at the Oregon Capitol.
Study Shows “Slow Down, Move Over” Has Not Improved Tow Driver Safety In Oregon
New studies from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reveal just how dangerous it is to be stranded on the side of the road. Researchers say 60% of first responders and tow workers have experienced a roadside near-miss and 15% have survived being hit by a passing vehicle.
Between 2016 and 2020, more than 1,700 Americans were killed while outside a disabled vehicle; ten of those in Oregon. An average of two emergency responders are struck and killed every month in the U.S., including tow truck drivers.
Every state has its own version of “Slow Down, Move Over.” In Oregon, drivers are required to reduce their speed and change lanes, if possible, when going past a vehicle on the side of the road with flashing lights or other signs of distress. But the AAA Foundation found flashing lights, cones and flares caused drivers to change lanes but not slow down Bentley – now a Safety and Training Specialist for AAA-Oregon – says most people will move over if they see law enforcement on the side of the road, but not other emergency vehicles or a disabled motorist, “I think it comes down to: people don’t want to get a ticket, essentially. But I wouldn’t say the ‘Slow Down, Move Over’ rule has – I wouldn’t count on that one bit to have made a difference in our safety, day to day.”
The AAA Foundation found vehicle-mounted digital signs work best in getting people to obey the law. Bentley says that’s why drivers who break down need to take precautions before that help arrives, “Think of your safety, your passenger’s safety, because you’re really the one who’s looking out for yourself. So, get as far off the road as you can.”
For drivers passing disabled vehicles at highway speeds, he adds, “Whether it’s a tow driver or a construction zone or even just someone who’s broken down, I would recommend: be considerate, imagine it’s yourself in that position and react accordingly.”
