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, October 4, 2023
Willamette Valley Weather
FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) on October 4, 2023, at 11:20 a.m. PST. The national test will consist of testing both WEA and EAS capabilities.
FEMA and the FCC are coordinating with EAS participants, wireless providers, emergency managers, and other stakeholders in preparation for this national test to minimize confusion and to maximize the public safety value of the test. The purpose of the test is to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level.
The WEA portion of the test will be directed to all consumer cell phones. The test message will display in either English or in Spanish, depending on the language settings of the wireless handset. All wireless phones should receive the message only once.
• For consumers, the message that appears on their phones will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
• Phones with the main menu set to Spanish will display: “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción.”
Important information about the EAS test:
• The EAS portion of the test is scheduled to last approximately one minute and will be conducted with the participation of radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers and wireline video providers.
• The test message will be similar to the regular monthly EAS test messages with which the public is familiar. It will state: “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 14:20 to 14:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.”
Albany Police Investigates Fatal Double Shooting
On Saturday, September 30th, 2023, at around 9:30am, officers from the Albany Police Department responded to a request for a welfare check in the 1900 block of Washington Street SW, Albany. Upon arrival, officers heard sounds of a disturbance and suspected gunshots inside the residence. Officers immediately entered the residence, locating one male deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. Officers attempted life saving measures on a female inside the residence, but she later died at the scene. No other persons were located, and investigators determined there was no threat to the community.
Preliminary investigation revealed Mark Brooner, 75 years old of Albany fatally shot his longtime girlfriend, Pauline Golliher, 63 years old of Albany, before taking his own life.
Albany Police is working with the Linn County District Attorney’s Office and the Linn County Medical Examiner’s Office as the investigation continues. We would like to thank the Albany Fire Department for their assistance in this incident.
LCSO Case #23-5134 — Armed Suspects Steal Victim’s Car in the River Road Area
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office received the report of an armed robbery on the morning of 09/28/2023. An adult victim reported that they were driving on River Rd. at about 3:45am when they were flagged down by two men that had been standing in the middle of the road. The men asked for a ride to which the victim agreed.
As they were near Lone Pine Dr. one of the suspects produced a handgun and pointed it at the victim. The suspects then stole the victim’s cell phone and car. The victim was allowed to exit the vehicle at which time he went to a nearby house to call 911. The vehicle was abandoned later in the morning in Cowlitz County, Washington.
The suspects in this case are both described as black males in their twenties. One suspect had curly black hair, while the other had short black hair.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150 opt. 1.
PART 2 – Newsweek Podcast Focusing on The Disappearance of Fauna Frey From Lane County
Here One Minute, Gone the Next —– PART 2 – Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel joins investigative journalist Alex Rogue to speak with Here One Minute, Gone the Next about the disappearance of Fauna Frey, the growing friction between citizen investigators and law enforcement, and the lack of resources in missing persons cases. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-disappearance-of-fauna-frey-pt2-feat-sheriff/id1707094441?i=1000630100040
PART 1 – John Frey joins Newsweek to discuss exclusive details about the case of his missing daughter that until now have been unavailable to the general public.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of Fauna Frey, call the anonymous tip line at 541-539-5638 or email FindFaunaFrey@gmail.com.
Help Find Fauna Frey #FindFaunaFrey FACEBOOK GROUP
Lane County Public Health to Offer COVID/Flu Immunizations to Underinsured/Uninsured Children At No Cost
Lane County Public Health Communicable Disease section will be providing youth COVID and Influenza immunizations through Vaccines For Children (VFC) program at various clinics at Lane County Public Health. The COVID immunization will be the updated monovalent version.Children 6 months to 18 years of age who are uninsured, underinsured, Medicaid, and/or Native/Alaskan American will be eligible to receive these immunizations free of charge. LCPH will also be providing COVID and Influenza vaccines to privately insured children.
“We are exited to be able to offer this opportunity to children across Lane County,” said Lane County Public Health Communicable Disease Supervisor, Nicole Sticka. “VFC allows us to insure children of families who have significant barriers to basic healthcare can receive vital protection going into this respiratory disease season.”
While influenza immunizations are currently available, the updated COVID vaccine will not be available through LCPH until later this month. Pharmacies are also approved to provide these vaccines to anyone over the age of 7 and LCPH encourages those who are able to do so to seek services via their healthcare provider or a pharmacy.
Now that the COVID vaccine is widely available coupled with the effect of Federal and State funding cuts to COVID funding, LCPH is currently unable to provide privately insured/Medicaid/Medicare COVID vaccine for adults (age 19 and over). Instead, LCPH will be using what limited resources are available to focus on those in the community with the highest need based on access and uninsured status.
Thanks to funding through the CDC Bridge Access Program and OHA’s Special Projects Program, LCPH will be able to provide adult COVID and influenza vaccinations to uninsured Lane County residents through targeted outreach to areas where access is limited. These vaccines will be provided by the Lane County Mobile Public Health unit in cooperation with community partners who already have relationships with the target populations. It is important to note that appointments will not be available for these vaccines via LCPH as they will be scheduled through the community based organizations LCPH is partnering with.
To find out what clinics are available for the VFC program or to make an appointment with Communicable Disease call: 541-682-4041.
Quick Response by Lebanon Firefighters Saves Home
Lebanon, OR — At approximately 00:39 hours on Wednesday October 4th, 2023, Lebanon Fire District responded to a house fire at 530 S 12th Street in Lebanon.
Caller reported they saw a lot of smoke and flames were coming from the roof. First arriving units found smoke coming from the eaves and flames coming from two bedroom windows. Firefighters quickly knocked down the fire, limiting fire damage to the bedrooms and a hallway. Lebanon Fire District units remained on scene for two additional hours overhauling the structure and retrieving personal items for the homeowners. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Lebanon Fire responded with 17 firefighters on 7 apparatus and 3 chief officers. The homeowners safely evacuated the house and no firefighters were injured.
Lebanon Fire would like to remind everyone of the importance of keeping bedroom doors closed at night. The Firefighter Safety Research Institute (FRSI) has studied the effects of closing a door, showing this simple practice can limit the spread of a fire, slow the progression of a fire, and can give you time to escape. Visit www.closeyourdoor.org for more information.
Save Eugene’s Hospital
Join us in asking the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Governor Tina Kotek to do everything in their power to prevent PeaceHealth’s from closing Eugene’s only hospital!
Use this easy tool to email OHA and ask them to save Eugene’s hospital and protect Lane County residents: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/save-eugenes-hospital?source=direct_link&
- Learn more at www.SaveEugenesHospital.com.
1st press conference was livestreamed on the Oregon Nurses Association’s (ONA’s) Facebook page here.
The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) is the state’s largest and most influential nursing organization. We are a professional association and labor union which represents more than 16,000 nurses and allied health workers throughout Oregon. ONA’s mission is to advocate for nursing, quality health care and healthy communities. For more information visit: www.OregonRN.org.
Lookout, Bedrock, Horse Creek, Pothole Fire Updates
October Events Raise Awareness About Earthquake Preparedness
Oregon is home to several fault lines that cause dozens of earthquakes every year. The most known earthquake threat is the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a 700-mile fault located off the Pacific coast that puts Oregon at risk for a 9.0+ magnitude earthquake.
A quake of that size could cause five to seven minutes of shaking, followed by a tsunami that would devastate coastal areas. October features several events reminding Oregonians to prepare and protect themselves before the ground starts shaking.
Wireless Emergency Alerts
“One of the most important steps people can take is to enable Wireless Emergency Alerts, or WEA, on their cell phones,” said Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) Director Erin McMahon. “WEA are short emergency messages sent to your phone to warn of an impending natural or human-made disaster, like an earthquake. WEA messages can provide immediate, life-saving information.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is conducting a nationwide WEA test on all consumer cell phones at 11:20 a.m. on Oct. 4. People will see a message on their phones that reads “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” Phones with the main menu set to Spanish will display: “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción.”
At the same time, FEMA will also test the Emergency Alert System (EAS) that broadcasts on radios and televisions. The message will read, “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.”
ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning Notifications
People in Oregon, Washington and California who’ve opted into WEA automatically receive ShakeAlert earthquake early warning notifications for earthquakes in their area with a magnitude of 4.5 or greater, which can offer critical seconds of warning to seek cover from falling objects and brace themselves. ShakeAlert uses science and technology to detect significant earthquakes quickly and sends an alert to people on their cell phones. The alert makes a distinctive sound and displays a text message reading, “Earthquake detected! Drop, cover, hold on. Protect yourself.” This message is also available in Spanish for phones set to receive alerts in that language. Some cell phones with text-to-voice capability may read out the message text.
Great Oregon ShakeOut
An effective and no-cost way for individuals and families to practice earthquake safety is to register for The Great Oregon ShakeOut, a self-led earthquake drill taking place at 10:19 a.m. on Oct. 19. Nearly half a million Oregonians have already registered, pledging to Drop, Cover and Hold On for at least 60 seconds as if a major earthquake was occurring at that moment.
“Knowing what to do when the earth starts shaking helps people reduce their risk and better protect themselves to prepare for earthquakes,” said Director McMahon. “Most emergency management experts and official preparedness organizations agree that Drop, Cover and Hold On is the appropriate action to reduce the chance of injury from falling objects and flying debris during earthquakes. When people practice these simple steps, it becomes a routine that allows instincts to kick in when shaking starts.”
When the ground starts to shake, or you receive an earthquake alert on a cell phone:
- Drop immediately onto hands and knees. This position protects you from being knocked down and allows you to stay low and crawl to a nearby shelter. If you use a wheelchair or walker, lock your wheels.
- Cover your head and neck with one arm and hand. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter. If there is no nearby shelter, crawl next to an interior wall away from windows. Remain on your knees and bend over to protect vital organs.
- Hold On until the shaking stops. If under a shelter, hold onto it with one hand and be ready to move with the shelter if it shifts. If there is no shelter, hold onto your head and neck with both arms and hands.
If you’re near the ocean and feel a large earthquake, Drop, Cover and Hold On until the shaking stops. Then walk inland and up to high ground. Do not wait for an official warning, as a tsunami could come ashore in a few minutes. Learn more about earthquake preparedness on OEM’s website.
ORAlert and Be 2 Weeks Ready
OEM also encourages people in Oregon to sign up for local emergency alerts from their county or tribe at ORAlert.gov; be informed and knowledgeable about the hazards where they live; and have an emergency plan and enough food, water and supplies to survive for at least two weeks following any disaster. The agency’s Be 2 Weeks Ready program offers several resources in multiple languages to help people prepare.
Learn more at oregon.gov/oem.
WILDFIRE UPDATE of the 2023 season of all the fires that are still active currently.
Flat Fire (Rogue Siskiyou area): 34,242 acres, 88% contained
Lookout Fire (McKenzie area): 25,750 acres, 50% contained
Anvil Fire (Port Orford area): 22,092 acres, 43% contained
Tyee Ridge Complex (Sutherlin area): 7,945 acres, 90% contained
Pete’s Lake Fire (Three Sisters Wilderness): 3,254 acres, 80% contained
Camp Creek Fire (Sandy area): 2,055 acres, 62% contained
Chilcoot Fire (Glide area): 1,940 acres, 82% contained
Brice Creek Fire (Cottage Grove/Brice Creek area): 571 acres, 95% contained
Dinner Fire (Dorena/Cottage Grove area): 304 acres, 95% contained
Ridge Fire (Toketee Lake area): 214 acres, 95% contained
Grizzly Fire (Brice Creek/Bohemia area): 324 acres, 0% contained
Please visit Inciweb for the latest fire and closure information. Please call 911 to report any signs of new fires.
A list of fire restrictions and closure orders for BLM Oregon-Washington public lands are available at https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions.
75,000 Kaiser Permanente workers walk off the job. It’s the largest health care worker strike in US history
On Wednesday, more than 75,000 unionized employees of Kaiser Permanente, one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit health providers, walked off the job, marking the largest health care worker strike in US history. More than 4,000 of them are in Oregon.
The striking employees, who work across California, Colorado, Washington, Virginia, Oregon and Washington, DC, are represented by a coalition of eight unions that comprise 40% of Kaiser Permanente’s total staff. The vast majority of the striking workers are in West Coast states. The strike began at 6 am local time, and will run through Saturday morning.
The unprecedented strike comes at a time of heightened labor activity across the United States, with tens of thousands of workers across multiple industries taking to the picket lines for better pay and benefits. In the wake of pandemic, however, health care workers in particular have been fighting for safer and more secure work environments. They are demanding improved staffing levels, arguing that current staff shortages are compromising patient care and taking many workers to a breaking point.
Employees on the picket lines include nursing staff, dietary workers, receptionists, optometrists, and pharmacists. The strike effort comes after the workers’ union contracts expired at 11:59 pm PT on September 30. Negotiations between the union and Kaiser Permanente continued into Wednesday, according to James Santos, field coordinator for the coalition of Kaiser unions in Virginia, but he said no deal to avert the strike had yet been reached.
The strike is temporary. Kaiser Permanente workers will return to work on October 7 at 6 am local time in each state that joins the strike. However, a “longer, stronger” strike may come in November if a deal between the coalition and Kaiser Permanente is not reached after this strike effort, according to communications from SEIU-UHW, the largest union in the coalition. (SOURCE)
The City of Klamath Falls didn’t expect porta-potties to become a difficult situation
While the idea was to help those that may need it most, the city of Klamath Falls has run into issues with porta-potties.
The City of Klamath Falls didn’t expect porta-potties to become a difficult situation. City Parks Staff began putting portable toilets in some City Parks to help individuals in our community meet their basic needs, including ADA accessible porta-potties.
In a Facebook post, the city said they thought the community would be proud of how we are helping our neighbors – but that’s not what has happened. Units have been burned, spray painted, items stolen from inside, and objects thrown in the toilets, making them unusable. The City leases the units and pays maintenance fees to keep the units in usable condition. Repeat visits begin to add up.
Even with the attacks on portable toilets, the City says they are undeterred in its mission to provide for the basic needs of people who visit public parks. If you witness individuals vandalizing amenities such as these, please contact law enforcement.
Medford Police Arrest Armed Male Following Barricade Incident
On Monday, October 2 at 11:18 a.m., Medford Police Officers responded to a report of a disorderly subject vandalizing property of a neighbor near a residence on the 400 block of King Street. While responding, Officers learned from the caller that the suspect, 43-year-old Timothy Tracy Russell, was armed with a black, semi-automatic rifle with a drum magazine.
Upon arrival, officers made contact with Russell as he was walking back to his residence. Russell refused to drop the rifle and fled into his residence while telling officers that he wanted them to shoot him. The house was contained and elements of MPD’s SWAT team, detectives, and negotiators responded to assist.
After several hours of negotiation, Russell eventually exited the residence after officers deployed gas into it and was taken into custody. He resisted heavily and was hit with a less lethal 40-millimeter round. A K9 was also deployed. Once Russell is medically cleared, he will be lodged at the jail.
OSP Investigating Officer Involved Shooting- Polk County UPDATE-
The Oregon State Police major crimes section is providing an update to the active officer involved shooting investigation in Polk County.
The suspect vehicle was occupied by the following:
Isaac Ivan Ocegueda (18) of Carlton- Declared deceased at the scene.
Jose Manuel Coral Zavala (20) of Salem
Female Juvenile (17)
The Polk County Deputy has been identified as Deputy Mike Smith; an 8 year veteran of the agency, who has been placed on administrative leave per SB111 protocols. During the investigation, limited information is available for release in order to preserve the investigation itself.
OSP Investigating Officer Involved Shooting- Polk County
The Oregon State Police major crimes section is actively investigating an officer involved shooting at the request of the Polk County District Attorney’s Office- in accordance with SB111 protocols.
On Saturday, September 30, at approximately 1:30 A.M., an Independence Police Officer initiated a traffic stop and the suspect vehicle fled. The pursuit ended after officers deployed spike strips, disabling the vehicle, and the suspect fled on foot. Law enforcement officers responded to the area and located the suspect as he attempted to flee the area in another vehicle. The suspect opened fire on responding officers, striking a Polk County Deputy and law enforcement officers discharged their weapons in response.
As a result of the gunfire exchange, one suspect is deceased, another is injured, and the original suspect has been arrested. There is no reason to believe there is any danger to the public at this time.
Due to the on-going investigation, further details are currently unavailable. All future releases will come from the Polk County District Attorney’s Office.
Oregon to Receive $157 Million for Broadband Infrastructure Expansion
U.S. Treasury’s ARPA Capital Projects Fund award will expand broadband in areas that lack access to adequate service.
The United States Department of the Treasury announced that Oregon will be awarded $156.7 million to expand broadband infrastructure across the state through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Capital Projects Fund.
The funding will go to the Oregon Broadband Office, housed within Business Oregon, to secure high-speed internet access to an estimated 17,000+ new locations in the state.
“This unprecedented funding will strengthen Oregon’s broadband infrastructure and expand access to quality internet service,” Governor Kotek said. “This award, which is part of President Biden’s Investing in America effort, will help rural and low-income communities across Oregon develop high-quality modern broadband infrastructure and expand access to telehealth, job opportunities, education, and so much more.”
“This award is the latest in federal support towards broadband access and will enable Oregon to continue our work to close the digital divide and provide digital equity for all Oregonians,” said Sophorn Cheang, Business Oregon Director. “We look forward to collaborating with our local and regional partners across the state as we put these funds to work for Oregon.”
For more information on the Oregon Broadband Office, click here.
U.S. Postal Service Hiring Across Oregon
The U.S. Postal Service welcomed job-seekers to job fairs at dozens of post office locations throughout the state Thursday. The USPS is trying to fill thousands of openings for full-time, part-time and seasonal jobs. Salaries range around $19.94 to $24.05 an hour, depending on the position.
The Postal Service continues to aggressively hire in many locations across the country. With a workforce of more than 635,000, USPS is one of the nation’s largest employers with ongoing attrition needs. And combined with the ongoing nationwide challenges faced by most employers, we are hiring for the holidays — and beyond.
A postal job offers employees the ability to work where they live, good pay, stability, lifelong benefits and career advancement opportunities throughout the entire agency.
Our employees are our greatest asset, and we are investing in our new personnel by providing robust training and on-the-job support. The Postal Service offers stability, competitive wages and benefits, and career advancement opportunities.
Starting pay varies depending on the job. But starting pay for carriers ranges between $19 and $20 per hour paid bi-weekly. Applications are accepted online at www.usps.com/careers.
Applicants must be 18 years of age and be able to pass drug screening and a criminal background investigation. Although in some instances, interested candidates can also be 16 with a high school diploma.
Applicants must be available to work weekends and holidays. Refer to the job announcement for full details, duties, responsibilities, job requirements, and benefits information. Job postings are updated frequently, so check back often for additional opportunities.
For additional information regarding available positions in all areas, applicants can go to our website at www.usps.com/careers. Jobs are uploaded every other Tuesday until filled. Potential applicants can also visit any Post Office location for more information.
Stabilizing our workforce to ensure we consistently service nearly 165 million addresses across the country is one part of the Postal Service’s 10-year Delivering for America plan to achieve financial stability and service excellence.
# # # Please Note: The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to nearly 165 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America’s most valued and trusted brands.
The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel and like us on Facebook. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com.
Oregon State Parks ready for Oct. 14, 2023, annular solar eclipse
Oregon State Parks offers prime viewing spots for the Oct. 14, 2023, annular solar eclipse. Visitors to parks within the path of annularity will watch the moon partially cover the sun, which creates a ‘ring of fire’ because the moon appears slightly smaller as it passes.
“Our park staff are ready to help visitors safely view this phenomenon,” said JR Collier, deputy of Statewide Operations.
He added that a limited number of free eclipse glasses will be available at Oregon State Parks on the day of the event.
He also emphasizes that safety is crucial while observing an eclipse.
Use ISO 12312-2 certified solar filters, avoid damaged filters, and consider projection methods. The eclipse glasses from the 2017 event are expired and shouldn’t be used.
Travelers coming to Oregon should prepare for potential traffic congestion, check local weather conditions, and pack essentials, including water, food, sunscreen, and bug spray.
Whether you’re an experienced eclipse enthusiast or a first-time observer, prioritize safety, and plan your trip to witness the ‘ring of fire’ against Oregon’s breathtaking landscapes and clear skies.
For more information and updates about viewing the eclipse from an Oregon state park, please visit https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=v.feature-article&articleId=327.
Missing Yachats Man’s Vehicle Found in North Lane County
On 08/25/2023, Dustin Steyding was reported missing to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office after he left work on 07/22/2023 and hadn’t been located since. Dustin was living and working in the Yachats area.
Dustin was reported to be in good physical condition, having previously worked as a hot shot firefighter in New Mexico. Dustin is very experienced in the woods and commonly goes out for hikes to stay in shape. Without means to locate Dustin, Deputies entered Dustin as a missing person in a national database.
On 09/04/2023, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office received a call from Dustin’s family after they located his vehicle on Keller Creek Rd, just outside of Lincoln County in Lane County. Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Deputies contacted the vehicle and determined it had been at the location for some time. Deputies were unable to determine Dustin’s direction of travel from the vehicle.
The vehicle having been located in Lane County, Lincoln County Deputies contacted the Lane County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team and arranged for their response the next day to started searching the area. After two days of searching, no clues to Dustin’s have been found.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Dustin Steyding should contact the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at 541-265-0777 and reference case number 23S-07321.
