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 11, 2023
Willamette Valley Weather
Update on Cottage Grove High School Lockdown
It was a tense Monday morning for students and staff at Cottage Grove High School. Lane County Sheriff’s deputies say the school went into lock down after police responded to reports of a student entering the building with a gun.
Law enforcement officers from several agencies assisted, as Cottage Grove Police worked to clear the building. Sixteen minutes later, police gave the all clear and the lockdown was lifted.
School officials said there was no student with a gun. They say police determined that the item mistaken for a gun was in fact, a canned beverage.
Linn County Sheriff’s Office Investigates Haystack Fire Near Albany
Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reports on October 9, 2023, at 2:15 a.m., Linn County Dispatch received a report of a large haystack on fire near the 36000 block of Riverside Drive, west of Albany. Fire personnel and deputies responded to the area and found a large haystack fully engulfed in flames.
Albany Fire Department, Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police and Oregon State Fire Marshall’s Office consider the fire suspicious. Deputies will continue to investigate as leads develop and more information becomes available.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Matt Wilcox with the Linn County Sheriff’s office at (541) 967-3950.
Suspect Arrested in Death Investigation
*UPDATE* 10/10/2023 48-year-old Christopher Brown has been identified as a suspect in the death of a 52-year-old man that occurred at a residence on October 5, 2023, in the 2000blk of Harbor Dr. The victim had injuries consistent with an assault by a sharp object such as a knife. Lane County Sheriff’s detectives located Brown this morning shortly after 10:00am at a property in Chemult, Oregon. He was taken into custody without incident. Brown was transported to the Lane County Jail where he was lodged on charges including Assault in the First Degree, Manslaughter in the First Degree and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. This victim has been identified as Rowdy Eugene Schmit. –
LCSO Case #23-5280 — The death occurred Thursday 10/05/23
At approximately 11:30am today, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a deceased person at a residence in the 2000blk of Harbor Dr. south of Springfield. Upon arrival, responders located the body of a deceased adult. The victim had injuries consistent with recently being assaulted by an edged weapon.
LCSO detectives responded to the scene to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death. During the investigation they identified 48-year-old Christopher Paul Brown as a person of interest.
Brown is described as a white male adult with graying brown hair and brown eyes. He stands approximately 5’08” and weighs about 155lbs. He is believed to be in the company of a white Pitbull type of dog (depicted).
Brown should not be approached as he is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts or this case is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office. The identity of the deceased is being withheld at this time.
Corvallis Fire Station 2 Closed for Renovation
The Corvallis Fire Department closed Fire Station 2 Thursday for a major renovation. The station, located at 500 SW 35th St. on the west side of Oregon State University’s campus, will be closed for approximately 12 months.
During the closure, staff and equipment will be reassigned to other fire stations in Corvallis, although they will continue to respond to calls in the area of the community served by Fire Station 2. There will be increased response times in some areas due to the station closure but improved response times in other areas as Station 2 resources are being reassigned to other City Fire Stations.
The fire engine, backup ambulance, and other apparatus, together with the staff assigned to those units, will be temporarily reassigned to Fire Station 5, 4950 NW Fair Oaks Dr which was closed in 2012. The dedicated medic unit from Station 2 will be assigned to Fire Station 1.
The renovation project is the second in a series of planned City facility improvements designed to address longstanding building deficiencies that have accumulated over decades. At Fire Station 2, the focus will be on creating efficient, equitable, and safe indoor work areas, as well as adding an additional apparatus bay. A similar renovation project addressed these same issues earlier this year at Fire Station 3 on the north side of Corvallis.
The new apparatus bay will allow CFD’s brush truck, which is currently stored outdoors in an unprotected parking lot, to be moved indoors and to remain at the station year-round, rather than being stored off-site during the winter months.
Revamping the interior accommodations of Fire Station 2 will address longstanding issues of equity among staff. Most of the interior layout was created decades ago, when most firefighters were men, and women rarely entered the field. Dormitories, showers, and other indoor facilities will be upgraded to provide equitable workplace access.
The $5.1 million project was fully funded by the City Council through the use of federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Future projects aim to address civic and administrative facility needs, including public meeting spaces, staff offices, and court facilities.
For more information about the citywide facilities strategy, please visit www.corvallisoregon.gov/facilities.
ROAD CLOSURE: Clear Lake Road
Lane Co. Government
| Road Name: | Clear Lake Road (near Fern Ridge) |
| Location: | Long Tom River Bridge |
| Begin Closure: | Milepost 6.8 |
| End Closure: | Milepost 6.9 |
| Dates and times: | Monday, October 16, at 12:00 a.m. to Thursday, November 16, at 11:30 p.m. |
| Alternate routes: | Alvadore Road to Franklin Road and Territorial Highway |
| Reason for closure: | Bridge repair |
Eugene Police Department Career Night 10/12
Join us for Career Night on October 12th, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at 1705 West 2nd Avenue right here in Eugene. Get a glimpse into the world of 911 dispatch and find out how you can make a real difference in our community.
We’re excited to announce the opening of our Entry-Level Call Taker Position starting Tomorrow, October 6th! This is a fantastic opportunity to start your career in the world of 911 dispatch. Visit https://www.eugene-or.gov/917/Central-Lane-9-1-1 to find detailed information about how you can join our team in Eugene.
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
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.
State confirms $5.61 billion revenue surplus; taxpayers to receive record kicker credit on 2023 returns next year
Salem, OR—The Oregon Office of Economic Analysis (OEA) has confirmed a more than $5.61 billion revenue surplus in the 2021-2023 biennium, triggering a tax surplus credit, or “kicker,” for the 2023 tax year.
The surplus—the largest in state history—will be returned to taxpayers through a credit on their 2023 state personal income tax returns filed in 2024. The credit is based on tax liability for the 2022 tax year. Taxpayers who have not yet filed a 2022 tax return, should file now so they can claim their kicker credit when they file their 2023 tax return.
To calculate the amount of their credit, taxpayers can multiply their 2022 tax liability before any credits—line 22 on the 2022 Form OR-40—by 44.28 percent. This percentage is determined and certified by OEA. Taxpayers who claimed a credit for tax paid to another state would need to subtract the credit amount from their liability before calculating the credit.
Personal income taxpayers can also determine the amount of their kicker using a What’s My Kicker? Calculator available on Revenue Online. To use the calculator, taxpayers will need to enter their name, Social Security Number, and filing status for 2022 and 2023.
Taxpayers are eligible to claim the kicker if they filed a 2022 tax return and had tax due before credits. Even taxpayers who don’t have a filing obligation for 2023, still must file a 2023 tax return to claim their credit. The 2023 Oregon personal income tax return instructions will include detailed information on how to claim the credit on Form OR-40 for full-year Oregon residents, Form OR-40-P for part-year residents, and Form OR-40-N for nonresidents. Composite and fiduciary-income tax return filers are also eligible.
Taxpayers should keep in mind that the state may use all or part of their kicker to pay any state debt they owe, such as tax due for other years, child support, court fines, or school loans.
Taxpayers can donate their kicker with a checkbox on their tax return to the Oregon State School Fund for K-12 public education, but they must donate the entire amount. The donation is permanent and cannot be taken back.
Taxpayers also have the option of donating part or all of their refund to any or all of the 29 charities approved by the Charitable Checkoff Commission. Taxpayers use Form OR-DONATE to designate any amount or all of their refund to donate to charity.
Free tax preparation services are available for both federal and Oregon tax returns. Some software companies offer free software use and e-filing for eligible taxpayers. Visit the Department of Revenue website to take advantage of the software and free offers and get more information about free tax preparation services.
For more information, go to the Oregon surplus “kicker” credit page of the Department of Revenue website.
Visit www.oregon.gov/dor to get tax forms, check the status of your refund, or make tax payments; call 800-356-4222 toll-free from an Oregon prefix (English or Spanish); 503-378-4988 in Salem and outside Oregon; or email questions.dor@oregon.gov.
Suggest a Stop for Governor Kotek on Her “One Oregon Listening Tour”
Governor Tina Kotek visited Klamath and Lake counties last week as part of her One Oregon Listening Tour.
Governor Tina Kotek is committed to visiting every county in Oregon in her first year in office and building strong, working partnerships across our state. These efforts will focus on housing, mental health and addiction care, and education. You can suggest a stop here: https://www.oregon.gov/gov/pages/one-oregon-listening-tour.aspx
SAIF returns with free ag safety seminars and new construction safety seminars
SAIF will be touring the state during the next few months to offer free agriculture and construction safety sessions.
SAIF has offered the agricultural safety seminars for nearly 30 years, helping Oregon’s farm owners, managers, and workers stay safe in one of the most hazardous industries. SAIF is adding construction safety seminars after a successful pilot last year.
The seminars are designed primarily for people working in the two industries but are open to anyone interested in safety and health—they don’t have to be insured by SAIF.
New construction seminars coming to four cities – SAIF is offering seven free construction seminars in four cities. The first will be on October 31, and they’ll continue through May. Three of the seminars will be presented entirely in Spanish. SAIF is also hosting English and Spanish webinars online.
Topics include how to prepare for an injury-free workday and how to respond to incidents and analysis. The seminars—which will be in Wilsonville, Eugene, Central Point, and Newport—will run from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Construction Contractors Board (CCB) and regular producer continuing education credits will be available pending approval from CCB and the Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS).
More information, including registration details, can be found at saif.com/trainings under classroom trainings.
Ag seminars will be held in 17 cities – SAIF will conduct 30 free ag safety seminars in 17 cities across Oregon. The first will be on October 24. Seminars will continue through March and 10 of the seminars will be presented entirely in Spanish.
This year’s seminars will focus on four topics:
- Dealing with serious injuries and fatalities on the farm
- Anatomy of a “comprehensive consultation”
- Hot work/welding safety, including control measures, precautions, and PPE
- Driving safety—both on and off the farm
SAIF will also host online webinars in December and March in English and Spanish.
In-person seminars will be held in Bandon, Boring, Central Point, Corvallis, Eugene, Hermiston, Hillsboro, Hood River, Klamath Falls, Madras, Milton-Freewater, Mt. Angel, Ontario, Pendleton, Salem, The Dalles, and Wilsonville.
Spanish seminars will be held in Boring, Central Point, Hermiston, Hillsboro, Hood River, Madras, Mt. Angel, Salem, The Dalles, and Wilsonville.
All will run from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and lunch will be provided.
Employers with small ag businesses who attend the seminar, or watch the webinars, will meet OSHA’s instructional requirement—one of four requirements that exempt small agricultural operations from random OSHA inspections.
Three hours of technical and one hour of business continuing education credits are available from the Landscape Contractors Board. Four producer continuing education credit hours for licensed insurance agents are approved by DCBS.
More information—including registration details—can be found at saif.com/agseminars.
About SAIF – SAIF is Oregon’s not-for-profit workers’ compensation insurance company. For more than 100 years, we’ve been taking care of injured workers, helping people get back to work, and striving to make Oregon the safest and healthiest place to work. For more information, visit the About SAIF page on saif.com.
Oregon’s Vietnam Veterans War Memorial Hosts Fundraiser at Brothers Car Collection
The Vietnam War Memorial Fund (VWMF) will hold a fundraiser on Tues. Oct 24, 2023, 6-8 p.m. at Salem’s Brothers Car Collection to raise money for the memorial’s construction. Only 150 tickets will be sold for $50 each, with the hope that guests will learn more about the project and make additional donations on-site.
Steve Bates, President and co-founder of the VWMF, expressed the urgency of the fundraising efforts for the $5.5 million project that slowed due to COVID. “We hope to have the pre-construction process completed this fall so we can adopt an actual construction calendar for 2024,” said Bates. “But we must raise more funds to meet the 2024 construction goals. We are seeking support from additional charitable foundations and the public,” he added.
The Vietnam War Memorial will be in the southwest corner of the Willson Park portion of the State Capitol State Park, west of the Capitol Building, and south of the World War II Memorial. Bates said, “It is significant that these two wars be memorialized on the Oregon Capitol grounds as they are the two wars that caused the most Oregon casualties. The two memorials together will honor about 75% of Oregon’s war dead.”
The Brothers Car Collection is a private collection of more than 600 cars. Over 335 vehicles, including muscle cars and exotic sports cars, are on display in a 117,000-square-foot warehouse turned museum that is not open to the public.
Tickets are $50 and available in advance only at ocvvm.com/GAtix or on their Facebook event page. More details will be provided after ticket purchase in a confirmation email. Food will be available for purchase. The group is seeking raffle items as well as sponsors.
ABOUT THE MEMORIAL: The VWMF is a group of Oregonians committed to establishing the memorial to honor the men and women who served in the Vietnam War. The project aims to help bring peace to the suffering endured by those rejected after returning home. The 2021 Oregon State Legislature gave its final permissions by unanimously passing Senate Bill 319, establishing the Vietnam War Memorial on the Oregon State Capitol Grounds. On July 14, 2021, Governor Kate Brown signed that bill into law. Groundbreaking is tentatively scheduled for spring 2024.
ABOUT OREGON AND THE VIETNAM WAR: The Vietnam War was a tumultuous period in American history, spanning two decades and becoming the longest war in recorded history. It lasted from November 1955 to May 1975. By 1968, the United States had over 500,000 military personnel on the ground in Vietnam, with 2.7 million Americans serving during the conflict. Tragically, 58,318 Americans died, including 710 Oregonians killed in action. Four Oregon families lost two sons each.
ABOUT VWMF: Vietnam War Memorial Fund’s website at www.ocvvm.com. The VWMF Store is found here. The Vietnam War Memorial Fund is a recognized 501(c)3 organization. Donations are also accepted by check to the Vietnam War Memorial Fund – P O Box 1448 – Boring, Oregon 97009 or by credit card at www.ocvvm.com.
Local Students Can Register Now for IB Exams to Earn College Credits
The International Baccalaureate (IB) registration for junior and senior students is now open. The exams are scheduled for May 2024. Students who score 4 or above can earn college credits at public universities and community colleges in Oregon, and many global institutions. It’s recommended that students take exams in subjects they are studying.
Each exam costs $99. However, students eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch can take the exams at no cost. To be eligible, students need to complete the district’s Free or Reduced Lunch application this year. More details can be found in the provided link.
Registration forms for each grade level are available in PDF format via a link. Alternatively, students can use paper copies distributed in their classes. All forms and the required payment must be submitted by November 10, 2023.
For questions or concerns, students can email Kendall Lawless at lawless_k@4j.lane.edu. The start of the IB registration period is a crucial time for students who want to earn college credits.
In summary, the IB registration period is an important opportunity for students to earn college credits. Despite the demanding process, resources and support from school staff like Kendall Lawless can help.Visit here for more details – (SOURCE)
$1 Million Powerball Ticket Sold in Oregon with Jackpot at $1.725 Billion
Salem, Ore. – A $1 million winning Powerball ticket was sold in Mill City as the jackpot grows to the second largest Powerball jackpot in history – an estimated $1.725 billion for Wednesday’s drawing.
Oregon players also had three smaller tier wins in Monday’s drawing. They include the following:
$150,000 – Bend
$50,000 – Medford
$50,000 – Eugene
Since the current jackpot run up began on July 22, Oregon has produced a total of $7.1 million in winning Powerball prizes. This is the first time two consecutive jackpot runs have produced billion dollar jackpots in the Powerball game.
“Record-breaking Powerball jackpots create excitement, and it’s especially satisfying when we see significant, smaller prizes going to players across Oregon,” said Oregon Lottery’s Player Services Manager Heidi Quiring. “From trips to cars, our winners come in with dreams about how to spend their prize.”
Approximately a third of sales from the game will be returned to state beneficiaries to support economic development, education, veteran services, state parks and more.
Retailers who sell lottery tickets also earn commissions from the boost in ticket sales and bonus payments for lower tier wins. For instance, an Oregon retailer who sells a $1 million ticket would earn a $10,000 bonus.
Powerball is a multi-state jackpot operated by 44 states, plus the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The largest prize won in Oregon was a $340 million jackpot in 2005.
The Oregon Lottery recommends that you always sign the back of your ticket to ensure you can claim your prize. In the event of winning a jackpot, players should consult with a trusted financial planner or similar professional to develop a plan for their winnings. Players have a year to claim their prize.
Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned nearly $15.5 billion for economic development, public education, outdoor school, state parks, veteran services, and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org.
Two $50,000 Winning Tickets Sold in Oregon with Powerball Jackpot at $1.55 Billion
Five winning $50,000 Powerball tickets were sold in Oregon in recent weeks, with two over the weekend as tonight’s jackpot climbs to $1.55 billion. It’s the third largest Powerball jackpot in history.
Jay Haggard, 62 of Tillamook, won his $50,000 prize in the September 30, 2023 drawing and claimed it on Friday. After hearing there was a winning ticket purchased in Tillamook on the radio, Haggard broke the news to his son, “Hey, you know how someone hit the $50,000 Powerball in Tillamook? Well, I’m that guy!”He plans to use the money to take his family to a few Seattle Mariners games and pay bills.
One of the $50,000 winning tickets in Saturday’s drawing was purchased in Hillsboro, with the other sold in Beaverton. No one has won the top prize. Since the current jackpot run up began on July 22, Oregon has produced a total of $5.6 million in winning Powerball prizes. This is the first time two consecutive jackpot runs have produced billion dollar jackpots in the Powerball game.
Also in this latest run, the Oregon Lottery has sold more than $27 million in tickets. Approximately a third of sales from the game will be returned to state beneficiaries to support economic development, education, veteran services, state parks and more.
Retailers who sell lottery tickets also earn commissions from the boost in ticket sales and bonus payments for lower tier wins. For instance, an Oregon retailer who sells a $1 million ticket would earn a $10,000 bonus.
Powerball is a multi-state jackpot operated by 44 states, plus the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The largest prize won in Oregon was a $340 million jackpot in 2005.
The Oregon Lottery recommends that you always sign the back of your ticket to ensure you can claim your prize. In the event of winning a jackpot, players should consult with a trusted financial planner or similar professional to develop a plan for their winnings. Players have a year to claim their prize.
Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned nearly $15.5 billion for economic development, public education, outdoor school, state parks, veteran services, and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org.
https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2021R1/Measures/Overview/SB319
New pedestrian bridge at Smith Rock reconnects park to popular trails
The new, wider pedestrian bridge at Smith Rock is now open, and visitors can once again access popular trails and climbing areas on the other side of the Crooked River.
The new pedestrian bridge measures 8 feet wide and better accommodates life-saving equipment used during the frequent rescue operations at the park. The old bridge was built nearly 50 years ago and had significant wear and needed replacing.
“Smith Rock State Park is thrilled to have a beautiful footbridge that will increase safety and serve the public well into the future. The new bridge will accommodate the increased visitation by allowing for two-way traffic across the river, and it will continue to provide critical access to the park’s main climbing and hiking areas for many years to come,” said Park Manager Matt Davey.
Visitors can now access the hiking trails and climbing areas that were closed during construction including: River Trail, Misery Ridge, Mesa Verde, Summit Trail, Wolftree Trail and Burma Road Trail.
Access was closed for nearly eight weeks as crews worked hard to remove the old bridge and build the new one in a complicated environment that included sensitive habitat and protected species as well as large equipment in a narrow canyon.
“Thanks for everyone’s patience during this complex project. The contractor did an excellent job under very challenging conditions.”
“Restoration work will continue near the footbridge over the next couple of weeks, so expect to see contractors continuing work in the area. Please be considerate when passing through,” Davey said.
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.”
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.
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.
