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, November 15, 2023
Willamette Valley Weather
Three Suspects Arrested In Connection With Noti Murder
On November 20, 2022 a body was located in the forest by hunters. The Lane County Sheriff’s Office detectives worked diligently on finding any leads on the case. With help from community members tips and hard work from the detectives they were able to gather probable cause on the murder suspects.
On November 13, 2023 A search warrant was served and with the assistance from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team three individuals were arrested in conjunction with the search warrant in the Noti area. The three individuals arrested were Timothy Bryce Shafer, Timothy Leon Shafer and Anna Mariateres Glica.
Timothy Leon Shafer and Anna Glica are charged with Abuse of a corpse 2, Tampering with physical evidence and Hindering prosecution. Timothy Bryce Shafer is charged with Murder 2 and all three are currently lodged at Lane County Adult Corrections.
These arrests were the culmination of a year-long investigation. This investigation was made possible by the collaboration of the Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon State Police Criminal Division and Crime Laboratory.
Fire Crews Respond To Possible Fire At The Lane County Court House
Eugene Springfield Fire crews responded to a possible fire at the Lane County court house on E 8th Ave in downtown Eugene Tuesday night. Sheriffs Deputies called reporting a strong smell of smoke in the building.
Fire crews arrived and found an HVAC unit on the roof had malfunctioned causing the smoke smell. There was no damage to the building, no injuries and the court house remains operational
Lane County Diverse Business Directory has Expanded
Head to www.LaneCountyOR.gov/DBD and discover a list of local businesses owned by people from diverse backgrounds.
The Diverse Business Directory can help connect you to businesses run by folks who identify with one or more of the following diverse identities: Asian, Black, Indigenous, Latino/a/e/x, LGBTQIA2S+, Pacific Islander, Person with a Disability, Veteran, and Women.
It’s organized by what the businesses do and where they are, making it super easy to find and support them. Right now, there are 44 listed, and more are joining every month! If you’re a business owner who is part of one or more of these communities and you want to be added to the Diverse Business Directory, go to www.LaneCountyOR.gov/DBD and fill out the form.
Operation Winter Survival Supply Stockpile Drive
Lane County Health & Human Services, in partnership with the First Christian Church of Eugene’s Helping Hearts program and White Bird, today announced the launch of Operation Winter Survival Stockpile. The operation is an effort to create a stockpile through donations of clothing and other supplies that will help those in our community experiencing homelessness better brave the elements.
“Every winter those in our community who are without shelter are faced with life-threatening temperatures and weather,” said Maria Cortez, Lane County Human Services Program Coordinator. “These donations will be absolutely crucial to helping these community members stay warm and stay alive.”
To help kick off Operation Winter Survival Stockpile, the First Christian Church (located at 1166 Oak St. in downtown Eugene) and Cahoots are hosting a one day donation drive event where community members can drop-off donations and enjoy refreshments this Wednesday, November 8th from 12 P.M. to 6 P.M.
“Having access to the severe weather stockpile is an indispensable resource for service providers in our county,” said White Bird Clinic Nest Program Interim Coordinator, Theresa Bordreau. “Having both hot and cold weather supplies, fills a much-needed gap for survival gear that are often in short supply. For any community member looking for ways you can support the most vulnerable in our community, I would encourage you to look at donating to this very important resource. It has been of great value to our clients here at the White Bird Clinic.”
After the donation drive, items can continue to be dropped off on weekdays between 10 A.M. and 2 P.M. or by appointment. Items can also be purchased on Amazon and sent to First Christian Church at 166 Oak St. Eugene, OR, 97402.
The Operation’s Amazon Wish List can be found at: 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.
Preferred donation items include:
- Clothing such as rain ponchos, wool socks, thermal underwear, gloves, beanies and footwear
- Items like tents, blankets, hand warmers, tarps, gift cards, and laundry cards
- Tools such as flashlights, batteries, and other survival supplies
For more information on Operation Winter Survival Stockpile, please contact Maria Cortez at ia.Cortez@lanecountyor.gov“>Maria.Cortez@lanecountyor.gov
PeaceHealth Announces More Closure Dates In Eugene
PeaceHealth says the inpatient rehabilitation unit at the University District hospital will relocate to RiverBend in Springfield on Dec. 15.
The transition will mark the official end of services at the main “hospital tower” at University District, which is Eugene’s only hospital. The healthcare organization announced in August that it would phase out services at the facility, but until recently, had not announced specific closure dates.
PeaceHealth previously announced that the University District emergency room would close on Dec. 1 at 7 a.m.
Services in outlying buildings at the Eugene location, including the inpatient behavioral health unit, will remain available.
Community leaders, as well as Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, have urged PeaceHealth to reconsider or delay the closure of the hospital. While there are two hospitals just several miles away in Springfield, including PeaceHealth’s RiverBend facility, officials in Eugene say the loss of a close-in emergency room could be potentially dangerous in emergency situations, or in the event of a major earthquake that damages or destroys bridges that cross the Willamette River.
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.
Eugene, Springfield and Lane County to begin leaf pickup
Lane County and the cities of Eugene and Springfield are preparing to kick-off their annual leaf collection efforts. Removing leaves from catch basins, grates and gutters allows storm water to run off and prevents flooding.
Keeping leaves out of the drainage system also improves water quality because decomposing leaves use up oxygen that is needed by aquatic life in local streams and rivers. And removing slippery leaves from streets and sidewalks makes travel safer for people walking, biking and driving.
In all three jurisdictions, property owners are responsible for leaves that are placed improperly in the street or cause safety or localized flooding hazards.
Eugene and Lane County allow residents to pile leaves in the street, while Springfield only allows bagged leaves to be set out for collection.
Leaves are the only items collected. Piles with branches, pine needles, trash, grass and other lawn debris are not accepted and will not be collected.
To get the best information for your property, determine which jurisdiction provides service in your area, and then contact that agency. Here are the details for each jurisdiction:
City of Eugene – Eugene’s leaf collection and delivery program begins Nov. 6. Eugene’s leaf program is funded by storm water fees because proper use and disposal of leaves keeps decaying leaves out of local creeks and rivers and helps prevent localized flooding caused by blocked storm drains.
After an initial focus on the central Eugene area, City crews will break into three groups to focus on designated sections of the city. Each crew has the staffing and equipment needed to collect and deliver leaves and sweep streets after the leaves have been picked up. This puts resources closer to neighborhoods and improves service on unimproved streets.
Online features allow Eugene residents to look up their address and see when they should pile their leaves neatly in a row parallel to the curb, order leaf deliveries, or report hazards such as leaves in a bike lane. People should place their leaves in the street the weekend before crews are scheduled to be in their neighborhood. The second round of leaf collection will start January 2. Safely pile remaining leaves in the street between December 31 and January 1.
For more information about Eugene’s leaf collection and delivery services, go to www.eugene-or.gov/leaf or call Eugene Public Works Maintenance at 541-682-4800.
City of Springfield – In Springfield, the City provides a leaf pickup service to residents within the city limits to help prevent flooding, protect water quality, and keep neighborhood streets safe for people walking, biking, and driving. Leaves are collected in two rounds in two areas — the west and east sides of town with 28th/31st Street as the dividing line.
Sanipac is contracted to pick up, haul, and recycle bagged leaves for residents within the city limits. Leaves must be put in medium-sized bags that contain only leaves. Bags containing other yard debris cannot be used for compost and will not be picked up.
Bags need to be placed curbside, not in the street, by 7:00 a.m. on Monday of the scheduled week for collection in that area. Not all bags will be picked up first thing Monday; it may take several days. Additionally, severe weather may cause delays. Landscaping, yard maintenance companies, property management companies, and residents are not allowed to blow or rake leaves into the streets.
Springfield residents can also pledge to properly dispose of their leaves for a chance to win one of two $100 gift cards from a local home improvement store. Residents can view this year’s informational flier for more details on how to enter.
The first round of leaf collection in Springfield starts November 27 west of 28th Street/31st Street, then December 4 east of 28th Street/31st Street. The second round starts January 8 west of 28th Street/31st Street, then January 15 east of 28th Street/31st Street.
For more information about leaf pickup in Springfield, visit www.springfield-or.gov/leafpickup, call 541-525-2658 or email ogram@springfield-or.gov“>leafpickupprogram@springfield-or.gov.
Lane County – Lane County Public Works will begin its annual leaf pick-up program on Monday, November 13. The County collects leaves in two rounds in two general areas: Santa Clara north of Beltline Highway and several Springfield locations generally just outside the city limits. Lane County crews may be working in your zone prior to official collection dates if time allows; however, crews will return to your zone as scheduled.
Lane County provides a leaf collection information line (541-682-8565) updated at 5:00 p.m. each Friday. It describes where leaf pickup begins on a weekly basis. For more information go to www.LaneCountyOR.gov/LeafPickUp, call 541-682-6905 or e-mail leafcollection@lanecountyor.gov.
Leaf Preparation Guidelines – Two priorities that are the same in all three jurisdictions are public safety and operational efficiency. Here are some tips to help meet those objectives:
- In Eugene and Lane County, leaves must be in the roadway but piled at least 15 feet away from parked vehicles. Do not bag leaves.
- In Lane County leaf pickup will be provided for paved curb-and-gutter streets only. In Eugene, unimproved streets are picked up during both rounds but equipment must be able to reach the leaves from the hard road surface.
- In Springfield, leaves need to be put in medium-sized bags that contain only leaves. The bags should be placed curbside, not in the street.
- Do not pile leaves in bike or traffic lanes or on curbs or sidewalks.
- Keep storm drains and gutters clear to prevent localized flooding.
- Do not mix in other debris such as branches, rocks, lawn clippings, pine needles, or trash.
- Leaves are not picked up in private yards.
- Wait to put leaves in the street until the weekend prior to collection.
- Consider recycling leaves as compost or mulch material.
Attached Media Files: Full press release with maps , 2023-10/6775/167460/Spfld_leaf_collection_zones.png , Lane County leaf map , Eugene leaf map
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Suspect In Custody After Shots Fired At Portland International Airport TSA Checkpoint
The Port of Portland is investigating after someone fired a gun at a security checkpoint inside the Portland International Airport at about 11 pm Tuesday night.
The shots were fired near the D and E gates TSA checkpoint prompting an immediate response by police. No one was hurt in the shooting and Port of Portland police have made an arrest.
A woman told news channels that she had just gotten off a flight when she heard at least three shots. After coming out from hiding, she took video of a person who is believed to be a woman being arrested and put into a police car outside of the airport.
The woman who heard the shots fired says all the people getting off the plane first ducked and ran for cover, and then many of them rushed back to the jet bridge for safety.
She said it was crowded and people were really scared. She says it was a few minutes later when someone opened the door, she went back into the airport and then outside and saw the arrest.
Police have not yet said what led up to the gunfire. The name of the suspect has not yet been released. The investigation is ongoing, and no other information has been provided at this time. (SOURCE)
Oregon Department of Forestry deployments to Kentucky and North Carolina
Though fire season has subsided in Oregon, other parts of the country are strained for resources as they hit their peak. In the last week, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) sent 68 firefighters to Kentucky and 10 firefighters to North Carolina to assist in their fire suppression efforts. The department is planning on sending more firefighters this week to both states.
The resources went to Kentucky and North Carolina under mutual assistance agreements between the states. Those sent out of state range from incident management team (IMT) members to single resources, which can be an individual, a piece of equipment and its personnel complement, or a crew/team of individuals. giving a wide variety of help to our partner states.
When wildfire activity is low in Oregon, such as during our rainy fall, firefighters can be spared to help in places experiencing high levels of wildfire. Before committing to any deployment, ODF makes sure that our own fire management system is prepared and ready to respond to fires here in Oregon.
Sending our firefighters on these out-of-state deployments helps them build relationships outside of our organization, learn new suppression tactics and gives them the opportunity to fight fire in a different landscape. These off-season deployments help keep their skills sharp and come back to Oregon with new knowledge that can be applied to our future fire seasons.
“During our peak season, Oregon can and has called on other states to send firefighters and equipment when wildfires exceed our local capacity. The hope with these deployments is to build strong relationships so when we need help, other states will answer our call to action” Blake Ellis, fire operations manager, said.
During the 2023 fire season, Oregon received over 80 firefighters from out of state to help with ODF fire support and the Tyee Ridge Complex.
This is all done through mutual assistance agreements with other states, including Alaska and NW Canadian territories, creating a cache of reciprocal resources and a larger, comprehensive fire management system. This is called the complete and coordinated fire system.
Wednesday Marks The Ninth Day That Children Have Been Out Of Portland Public Schools Due To The Ongoing Teachers Strike
The main issues involve pay, more planning time and smaller class sizes.
Roughly 44,000 children in Portland will be out of school again Wednesday since there’s no settlement agreement between Portland Public Schools and its teachers. Monday will be the seventh day of missed classes due to the teachers strike.
“We recognize this is a hardship for a lot of our community members, especially our kids,” said School Board Chair Gary Hollands.
The Portland Association of Teachers, which represents roughly 3,700 teachers, counselors and other employees wants higher wages, more planning time and reduced class sizes. The district claims it can’t afford the union’s proposal.
The district proposed a package that it claims addresses compensation, preparation time and class sizes. The district said the latest offer would cost an additional $147 million, requiring budget cuts over the next three years totaling almost $103 million. It’s not clear where those cuts would be made.
“We’re already taking a close look at administrative costs, discretionary spending, contracted services,” said PPS Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero.
Portland Public School teachers went on strike Nov. 1. District officials explained it is too early to determine whether the school year will be extended for make-up days.
FBI Portland Encourages Oregonians to Report Federal Hate Crimes
The Portland Division of the FBI is joining the FBI’s nationwide efforts to increase awareness about hate crimes and encourage reporting of hate incidents with advertising campaign across Oregon. The campaign, which began on November 6, includes billboards in Medford, Eugene, Corvallis, as well as static and digital displays reaching thousands of passengers daily at Portland International Airport.
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Hate crimes are the highest priority of the FBI’s civil rights program because of the devastating impact they have on families and communities. The FBI defines a hate crime as a criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity.
The FBI is the lead investigative agency for criminal violations of federal civil rights statutes and works closely with local, state, tribal, and other federal law enforcement partners in many of these cases, even when federal charges are not pursued.
“Violent acts motivated by hate are unacceptable in our communities. Sadly though, the amount of hate crimes reported here in Oregon has doubled from what it was just five years ago. Even still, the vast majority of these crimes are going underreported and that needs to change. That’s why we are spreading the word with this campaign,” said Kieran L. Ramsey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Portland Field Office. “The FBI serves to safeguard against hate and violence, but we can only do so if we know about any such threats or violent actions. Every person has the right to live without fear of violence or intimidation. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to hold those accountable whose hate-filled aggression violates the civil rights of others.”
This Oregon effort ties with a national FBI awareness campaign that hopes to drive education efforts and increase reporting: “Protecting Our Communities Together: Report Hate Crimes”.
2022 Hate Crime Statistics — The FBI recently released the 2022 Hate Crime Reportas part of its Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. In Oregon, 212 of 236 agencies voluntarily submitted data for this current 2022 report. The UCR program specifically defines a hate crime as a criminal offense motivated, in whole or in part, by the offender’s bias or biases against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity. In Oregon, there were 290 single bias incidents reported in 2022, and 287 single bias incidents reported in 2021. In Oregon, there were 428 reported victims in 2022, and 377 reported victims in 2021. (Note: These victim numbers include both single bias and multiple bias incidents.) Nationally, there were over 11,000 single-bias hate crime incidents involving 13,278 victims and 346 multiple-bias hate crime incidents that involved 433 victims. In 2022, the top three bias categories in single-bias incidents were race/ethnicity/ancestry, religion, and sexual-orientation. The top bias types within those bias categories by volume of reported hate crime incidents is Anti-Black or African American for race/ethnicity/ancestry bias, Anti-Jewish for religious bias, and Anti-Gay (male) for sexual-orientation bias.
Key Takeaways from 2022 Hate Crimes Report — The bias motivator in about 60% of Oregon incidents were race/ethnicity/ancestry. Victims perceived as Black were the racial group targeted most frequently. Religion was the motivator in about 10% of cases. Victims perceived as Jewish were the religious group targeted most frequently. Sexual orientation was the motivator in about 18% of reported Oregon incidents. Raw UCR reporting is available on FBI.gov and through the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer.
FBI Role in Investigating Hate Crimes — There are a number of federal laws that give the FBI the ability to investigate hate crimes. Those laws generally require some kind of criminal act AND a finding that the person committing the act did so because he/she was motivated by bias. The criminal act can include offenses such as murder, assault, arson, and it generally requires the use or threat of force or violence. For an incident to qualify as a federal hate crime, the subject(s) must have acted wholly or in part based on the victim’s actual or perceived status. This is generally consistent with state law. Under federal law, bias motivators include:
- Race
- Ethnicity
- National origin
- Disability
- Religion
- Gender
- Gender identity
- Sexual orientation
Anyone who has information about or believes they are a victim of a federal hate crime should contact the FBI by phone at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online
Oregon Gives Out $35M Grants To Programs Training Workers For High Demand Industries
Oregon is sending a total of $35 million in grant funding to 30 projects across the state designed to support workforce training in high-demand industries.
Meerah Powell
It’s the largest round of funding awarded so far under the Future Ready Oregon planapproved by state lawmakers in 2022. The legislation overall steers $200 million from the state’s general fund and federal pandemic relief aid to education and training for Oregonians.
The plan focuses on historically underserved communities, such as people of color, veterans and people living in rural areas. Future Ready Oregon’s director, Jennifer Purcell, says the program targets workforce training in three industries key to the state’s economy: health care, manufacturing and technology.
To be considered for a Workforce Ready grant from the program, Purcell said projects had to originate from community-based organizations, such as a community college.
“We really prioritized equity and innovation and partnerships,” she said. “Projects that really consider the whole person, the individual’s needs, and meeting people where they’re at, connecting them to the resources that they need to be successful, both in education and employment.”
Purcell says the chosen projects demonstrated partnerships among organizations that not only provide job training, but are also able to help people dealing with things like housing or food insecurity.
The state’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission is administering the package of investments included in the Future Ready Oregon legislation. The commission reported that more than 150 projects applied for the grant funding.
Projects at seven community colleges were among those to receive funding in this round of grants. For example, Mt. Hood Community College in east Multnomah County is creating a mobile training lab for advanced manufacturing careers with a focus on the semiconductor industry.
Other recipients include organizations like the Boys & Girls Club and tribal communities. The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation is on the list for its project partnering with industry and Pendleton-based Blue Mountain Community College to provide training and credentialing in unmanned aircraft systems. Purcell says another round of grant funding is expected early next year. (SOURCE)
OHCS releases report on state-funded wildfire assistance program
SALEM, Ore. — The state Wildfire Recovery and Resilience Account (WRRA) program supported hundreds of wildfire-affected households to find temporary housing or to recover fully from the massive devastation of the 2020 Labor Day Wildfires and Straight-line Winds, according to a new report published by Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS).
OHCS used $35.3 million of the $150 million made available by the Oregon Legislature through House Bill 5006 to begin implementing WRRA in the fall of 2021 and continued through summer 2023.
The report documents the assistance distributed through WRRA:
- The program supported 1,146 households with at least one type of support, such as rent assistance, home reconstruction, repair or replacement, flexible funding to replace lost or damaged household goods, or removal of hazard trees on a participant’s property.
- WRRA supported 450 households with intermediate or temporary housing and supported 867 households with their full recovery from the wildfires.
- Over 65% of the households supported by the WRRA program were low- or moderate-income.
“WRRA was developed to provide assistance to fire survivors most in need as quickly as possible through a network of local organizations to provide shelter services, interim housing and to help families complete their recovery whenever possible,” said Lauren Dressen, chief recovery officer of the OHCS Disaster Recovery and Resilience Division. “Thanks to a tremendous amount of work by our local partners, over a thousand families were served, including hundreds who were able to achieve full recovery.”
WRRA was one of the primary strategies pursued by OHCS to assist with fire recovery quickly. The others were to provide dedicated fire recovery funds to subsidize permanent affordable housing developments; award grants to local governments to fund recovery activities; and prioritize fire recovery within existing housing development funding programs. Over 1,000 additional units of affordable housing have been, or will be, built in fire-impacted communities as a result of these efforts.
To read the full report and learn more about WRRA, visit the OHCS website.
How to get help with state medical, food, cash, and child care benefits and avoid potentially high call wait times at the ONE Customer Service Center
(Salem) – With the end of the COVID-19 federal public health emergency, the state is required to review eligibility for all 1.5 million Oregonians who have Oregon Health Plan (OHP) and other Medicaid benefits. These medical renewals combined with the unprecedented levels of people applying for and receiving medical, food, cash, and child care benefits, have led to a historically high number of callers to the ONE Customer Service Center and is impacting call wait times.
The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is encouraging people in Oregon to use new alternate contact options given high call wait times at the ONE Customer Service Center. The ONE Customer Service Center provides phone support to people in Oregon calling to apply for or get help with their medical, food, cash, and child care benefits.
ODHS anticipates that wait times will remain high during open enrollment season for Medicare and the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace. While people can apply for OHP any time of year, both open enrollment events increase awareness of and interest in applying for OHP.
“We know that many people in Oregon depend on us when they have questions about their medical, food, cash and child care benefits,” said Nathan Singer (he/him) director of the Oregon Eligibility Partnership at ODHS which manages the ONE Customer Service Center. “We are doing everything we can to provide the best customer service possible on our phones and in our offices. We encourage people to create or use their ONE Online account, the Oregon ONE Mobile app or online chat bot when possible.”
OHP members are encouraged to respond as quickly as possible after they receive a request for information to avoid any possible delays. The fastest way members can provide an update is by going to benefits.oregon.gov and creating or logging into their ONE Online account. People can also create an ONE Online account and upload documents through the Oregon ONE Mobile app.
The ONE Customer Service Center can be reached by phone at 1-800-699-9075, Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call wait times are lowest in the morning between 7 and 8 a.m., especially on Tuesday mornings.
People are welcome to visit or call their local ODHS office with questions, find an office near you here.
The Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon is also available to provide support at 1-855-673-2372 or in-person, find a local office at www.adrcoforegon.org.
There are many other ways people can get support and information about their medical, food, cash, and child care benefits:
- Online at: benefits.oregon.gov
- Through the free Oregon ONE Mobile app available on Apple and Android app stores
- Visiting or calling an office near you: Find an office.
- Older adults and people with disabilities can get help through Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon at 1-855-673-2372 or www.adrcoforegon.org.
- In your language: Help in Your Language
- By mail at: ONE Customer Service Center, PO Box 14015, Salem, OR 97309
- By fax at: 503-378-5628
People also can seek free help with their medical benefits from a community partner. Find a community partner near you.
ODHS is committed to providing the best customer service and doing everything it can to support people who need help with their benefits in as timely way as possible, including:
- Creating an incident management team that is committed to ensuring we provide the best customer service possible by:
- Making as many staff as possible available to support people in Oregon who are contacting the ONE Customer Service Center for help with their benefits.
- Prioritizing any agency work like hiring, budget, training, or data analysis, that supports the ONE Customer Service Center.
- Ensuring workers have the best and latest information they need to support people contacting the ONE Customer Service Center.
- Bringing ODHS leaders together to problem solve and create short-, medium- and long-term solutions to meet our customer service goals.
- Launching Oregon ONE Mobile, an app in English and Spanish that allows people to manage benefits, respond to inquiries and get notifications. This free app is available on Apple and Android app stores.
- Adding a call back option to the ONE Customer Service Center, for some types of calls, so people don’t have to stay on hold when wait times are long.
- Sending text message reminders for critical matters such as appointments and key deadlines. People are now 1.25 times more likely to attend appointments and 1.7 times more likely to renew their cases on time since this was put in place.
- Adding a chat bot service assistant for people applying for or managing their benefits online.
- Emailing and texting people whose mail was returned to ask them to update their addresses so they can get important information about their benefits.
- Redesigning and adding a Spanish version of the benefits.oregon.gov website where people go to find information about applying for and managing their benefits.
- Adding 200 contracted staff to temporarily increase capacity in the ONE Customer Service Center.
- Making renewal notices easier to understand.
ODHS is committed to transparency. Dashboards with the latest wait times, customer service scores and medical renewal information are available online here.
About the Oregon Department of Human Services — The mission of ODHS is to help Oregonians in their own communities achieve wellbeing and independence through opportunities that protect, empower, respect choice and preserve dignity.
Oregon Food Bank Teams Up With Shari’s to Raise Donations and Educate About Hunger
Shari’s Restaurant is partnering with the Oregon Food Bank for an education campaign. They are working together to launch a series of public service announcements to educate the community about hunger and raise donations for the food bank.
– Shari’s Restaurants (“Shari’s”), one of the largest full-service community restaurant chains in the Pacific Northwest, today announced that it has partnered with Oregon Food Bank on an education campaign to raise awareness for the fight against hunger. Through the partnership, Shari’s and Oregon Food Bank will develop a series of public service announcements designed to tell the full story of hunger and the breadth of anti-hunger work and to mobilize local communities across the state to take action against food insecurity and its root causes.
Oregon Food Bank, which is a member of Feeding America®, seeks to provide access to nutritious food for all while building community power and working across systems and networks to eliminate hunger. From Oregon Food Bank’s 21 regional food banks, the organization distributes free food equitably across the Network in Oregon and SW Washington and advocates for policies and programs to address the root causes of hunger.
“Shari’s is a community-oriented, family-style restaurant at its core, and we recognize the importance of lending a helping hand to our neighbors in need,” said Sam Borgese, principal of Gather Holdings and owner of Shari’s. “We are proud to renew our partnership with Oregon Food Bank and to play a part in raising necessary awareness and funds in the critical fight against food insecurity.”
“We are so grateful to Shari‘s for joining Oregon Food Bank to spread the true story of hunger,” shared Oregon Food Bank President Susannah Morgan. “Distributing enough food today will not end hunger tomorrow. Together, we’re working to fundamentally shift common understanding of food insecurity, its root causes and the actions needed to end hunger for good.”
Shari’s first partnered with Oregon Food Bank alongside Sysco food distribution on a similar education campaign during the 2019 holiday season. The campaign raised approximately $13,500 to support Oregon Food Bank’s end-of-year efforts against hunger.
Oregon Approves Alternative to Bar Exam
Law school graduates will soon be able to practice law in Oregon without passing the bar exam, the Oregon Supreme Court decided Tuesday. The Oregon State Bar is one of the latest organizations to move away from traditional standardized testing.
The ruling comes at a time when questions about the equity and effectiveness of the bar exam and other standardized tests—and whether they are accurate measurements of ability and learning—are increasingly prominent in the discourse around higher ed.
Under the plan, which goes into effect in May 2024, anyone with a degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association, including those outside Oregon, will be able to get licensed to practice law under the new Supervised Practice Pathway program. Instead of taking the bar exam, law school graduates can spend 675 hours working with a licensed Oregon attorney and produce a portfolio of their work for evaluation by the Oregon State Board of Bar Examiners.
A second proposed pathway, which would require Oregon law school students to complete a specified curriculum and a capstone project, is still under review.
“The goal was to develop a licensure pathway that was as, if not more, rigorous than the current bar exam and prioritize equity in the process. Those twin pillars have always been the guideposts for this effort,” said Brian Gallini, dean of the Willamette University College of Law in Salem, Ore., and a member of the state Licensure Pathways Development Committee, which developed the pathway program.
“What I hope it accomplishes is that it provides a pathway that is more directly tied to the skills expected of newly licensed lawyers that do a better job of protecting the public than a multiple-choice and essay-based exam do,” he said. “And I hope that because of the transparency in grading and requirements, it does that in a more equitable manner.”
Only two states—Wisconsin and New Hampshire—already have permanent alternative pathways to practice law, and they are different from Oregon’s new plan.
Wisconsin is the only state that still offers diploma privilege—which allows law students to practice upon graduation—though it was a more common practice until the rise of the bar exam in the mid-20th century. Under the diploma-privilege policy, a graduate of one of the state’s two law schools who completes a specified curriculum with a certain grade point average and passes a character and fitness exam is granted a law license. According to Reuters, 62.9 percent of lawyers in Wisconsin used diploma privilege for admission to the bar.
Law students in the University of New Hampshire’s Daniel Webster Scholar honors program can bypass the traditional bar by completing specialized coursework and passing a two-day assessment process “consisting of interviews, testing and simulations before graduation,” according to the state judicial branch’s website.
While the bar examination has been the standard for evaluating the competency of would-be lawyers for generations, interest in alternatives has grown in recent years.
Numerous other states, including California, Minnesota and Washington, are also exploring possible alternatives to the bar exam similar to Oregon’s.
The new pathway, which is open to law graduates across the country, is also a potential recruitment tool in a state that doesn’t have enough lawyers.
More than 2,000 people facing criminal charges in Oregon do not have legal representation, according to data from the Oregon Circuit Courts. Last week, a federal judge ruled that if Oregon counties can’t appoint an attorney for a criminal defendant within a week of their first court appearance, they must be released from jail, according to the Associated Press.
“For those graduates who may be thinking about a practice in the West Coast, or thinking about the financial commitment of the bar exam, or leveraging their postgraduate experience for the benefit of employment, this will truly be the nation’s only opportunity to do that,” Gallini said.
Mae Lee Browning, legislative director for the Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, said in an email that the organization “is enthusiastic about this coming at a time when we need more attorneys, especially public defenders” and hopeful that it will increase the number of public defenders in the state. (SOURCE)
Oregon Heritage Commission to meet Nov. 27 for grant approvals
Salem, OR—The Oregon Heritage Commission will meet via zoom at 10:00 a.m. on November 27. Its agenda includes approval of 2023 Oregon Heritage. Interested parties must register through Zoom to receive access information. You can access the agenda and the registration information here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_e7rdqd…
The Heritage Commission is comprised of nine people representing Oregon’s heritage and geographical diversity who have been appointed by the Governor. There are nine advisory representatives from state agencies and statewide organizations. The mission of the Oregon Heritage Commission is to secure, sustain, and enhance Oregon’s heritage by ensuring coordination of heritage initiatives by public and private organizations; advocacy on its behalf; education of the public about its extent and value; and promotion and celebration of its diversity. For more information, contact coordinator Katie Henry at (503) 877-8834 or katie.henry@oprd.oregon.gov.
Special accommodations for the meeting – including translation services – may be made by calling (503) 986‐0690 at least 72 hours prior to the start of the meeting.
For more information about the commission, visit www.oregonheritage.org.
Oregon Main Street Announces New Application Round for Top Tier Communities
Oregon Main Street just opened applications for the Designated Main Street and Affiliated Main Street level communities for new communities who want to join the OMS Network at one of the Main Street Track levels or for existing communities that want to move up a level.. Applications are due on January 31, 2023.
Applications can be found on our website at www.oregonmainstreet or Clicking Here.
OMS will host an application workshop on Tuesday, November 14, at 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. The workshop will cover some of the requirements to participate at these tiers and provide tips on completing the application. You must register in advance to attend: Click Here to Register
Oregon Main Street has a tiered approach that allows communities to participate in ways that best meet their capacity and needs. The Main Street track, which includes Accredited, Designated, and Affiliated Main Street levels, is for communities that want to use the comprehensive Main Street Approach™ to sustain and enhance their historic downtown or traditional commercial neighborhood district.
There are specific criteria communities must meet to qualify and maintain status depending on the level of participation. Some of these criteria include:
Having an independent nonprofit focused on the historic core
Commitment to using the Main Street Four-Point™ structure
Adequate staffing levels
Participation in required trainings
There is also the Connected Communities level for communities that aren’t ready to use the Main Street™ structure but see value in participating in the OMS Network. A full list of communities participating in the OMS Network can be found at www.oregonmainstreet.org.
Acceptance into the Oregon Main Street Network, depending on the Tier, allows communities to participate in services such as training workshops, be eligible for community assessments and technical assistance, and compete for grants.
The Main Street Approach™, developed by Main Street America™, is a time-tested framework for community-driven, comprehensive revitalization. This proven approach emphasizes community organization, design, promotion, and economic vitality to create healthy and livable downtown commercial districts. This approach advocates a return to community self-reliance, empowerment and the rebuilding of commercial districts based on traditional assets, unique architecture, personal service, local ownership, and sense of community.
“We are excited about opening up applications for communities to participate in our Network at one of our advanced levels,” said Sheri Stuart, State Coordinator, Oregon Main Street. “Through a recent study of our Network, we know the difference our local main street organizations are having on their communities and welcome the opportunity to work more deeply with other communities that want to use the Main Street Approach™.” This study, culminating in the Impact of Oregon’s Main Streets Report, shares the story of how the Oregon Main Street Network strengthens community networks, bolsters the economy, generates state and local tax revenue, and fosters social connections across the state.
Oregon Main Street is part of Oregon Heritage in Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. For more information see our website at www.oregonmainstreet.org , or contact Sheri Stuart at sheri.stuart@oprd.oregon.gov or 503.986.0679.
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $2 Million In Housing Assistance For Six Oregon Counties
Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced a total of $2,366,528 in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program investments are heading to Clackamas, Douglas, Lane, Linn-Benton, Malheur, and Marion counties.
“As the affordable housing crisis continues to impact Oregon families in every corner of the state, I am encouraged to see these counties being awarded such critical housing assistance to provide shelter to those who need it most,” said Merkley. “I won’t stop working to secure federal resources that help put a roof over every Oregonian.”
“Housing is a human right, and it’s urgent business to invest real resources in making that statement a reality for Oregonians struggling to afford a roof over their heads and a floor under their feet,” Wyden said. “I am gratified that these federal housing funds are heading to Oregon and will keep battling to secure similar resources for the entire state.”
The HCV Program helps ensure that low-income families, the elderly, and Americans with disabilities are able to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing within the private market. This program also supports families and individuals who are currently in federally subsidized housing by ensuring they can continue to utilize these critical programs. Further, the program allows participants the opportunity to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments.
Individual awards for Oregon are as follows:
Housing Authority of Clackamas County
$266,534 – Oregon City
Housing Authority of Douglas County
$28,605 – Roseburg
Housing Authority & Communication Services of Lane County
$596,282 – Eugene
Linn-Benton Housing Authority
$280,650 – Albany
Housing Authority of Malheur County
$441,164 – Ontario
Marion County Housing Authority
$658,720 – Salem
Housing Authority of the City of Salem
$94,573 – Salem
Give blood, celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the film “Elf”
Exclusive “Elf” + Red Cross socks for donors Nov. 10-30 — Portland, OR (Nov. 10, 2023) — For many, watching the classic holiday movie “Elf” has been a heartwarming tradition for 20 years. This November, the American Red Cross is encouraging people to add a new tradition as the holiday season begins: Spread cheer with a blood or platelet donation.
Donations are critical to the blood supply as the holiday season draws near – a time when blood donations often decline. Donors of all blood types are urged to give, especially type O blood donors and those giving platelets.
To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the film “Elf,” and create holiday cheer, all who come to give Nov. 10-30 will receive an exclusive pair of “Elf” + Red Cross socks, while supplies last. For more details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/Elf.
It feels good to give a gift to someone else that truly means something. Those wishing to help patients receive lifesaving transfusions can book a blood or platelet donation appointment by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
How to donate blood — A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger must also meet certain height and weight requirements.
Amplify your impact − volunteer! — Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross is to become a volunteer blood donor ambassador at Red Cross blood drives. Blood donor ambassadors help greet, check-in and thank blood donors to ensure they have a positive donation experience.
Volunteers can also serve as transportation specialists, playing a vital role in ensuring lifesaving blood products are delivered to nearby hospitals. For more information and to apply for either position, contact or visit redcross.org/volunteertoday.
About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood and is the primary blood supplier to 65 hospitals throughout Washington and Oregon; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
“Elf” and all related characters and elements © & ™ New Line Productions, Inc.
Oregon is Searching for its Next Poet Laureate
Oregon is searching for its next Poet Laureate. Over the two-year-term, the Poet Laureate promotes the art of poetry, encourages literacy and learning, addresses issues relating to the humanities and reflects on public life in Oregon.
Information about the Poet Laureate program, how to nominate the next Poet Laureate, Anis, and how to request an appearance can be found on this website. Please also check out our Facebook page.
Nominations are accepted through January 8th, and poets are welcome to nominate themselves. The next Poet Laureate term begins in May. MORE INFO: https://culturaltrust.org/oregon-poet-laureate/?fbclid=IwAR0O-Gx81HjAKwXHwyrEVtxpgyXma9XRb5xwacG_o57ga3_lKUwIbPRMXks
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
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.
