The latest news stories and stories of interest in the Willamette Valley from the digital home of Southern Oregon, from Wynne Broadcasting’s WillametteValleyMagazine.com
Tuesday, January 2, 2024
Willamette Valley Weather
Embezzlement Leads to Staff Layoffs and Eugene Weekly Halting the Presses
The Eugene Weekly faced an abrupt and devastating setback when it discovered a former employee had embezzled funds from the publication in December. The shocking revelation forced the paper to lay off its entire staff and suspend its print edition, casting a shadow over its longstanding commitment to local journalism and the four decades it has served this community. https://eugeneweekly.com/
Just days before Christmas, the editor, Camilla Mortensen, stumbled upon discrepancies in the newspaper’s financial records. An investigation revealed that a former employee, significantly involved in managing the paper’s finances, had diverted approximately $90,000 from the company’s account for personal use since 2022. Moreover, the paper grappled with unpaid bills totaling over $100,000, including obligations to its printer, spanning several months. The gravity of the situation deepened as employees discovered that funds earmarked for their retirement accounts had never been deposited.
The dire financial state led to an agonizing decision to terminate all ten staff members and cease the print edition of the paper. Eugene Weekly, founded in 1982 and circulating 30,000 copies weekly in Eugene, played a crucial role in disseminating news freely within the community.
Mortensen expressed profound dismay, particularly over the devastating timing of the layoffs, which occurred just before the holiday season. The suspected employee, employed at the paper for four years, has since been dismissed, and investigations by the Eugene police department’s financial crimes unit and forensic accountants hired by the paper’s owners are underway to unravel the extent of the financial mismanagement.
The closure of Eugene Weekly echoes a larger trend of dwindling local news outlets nationwide, exacerbating information voids within communities and contributing to societal polarization. Tim Gleason, former dean of the University of Oregon’s journalism school, underscored the repercussions of declining local news, highlighting its role in fostering community connections.
However, despite the abrupt closure, the resilient Eugene Weekly staff, currently unpaid but undeterred, continues to labour in hopes of resurrecting the publication. They initiated a fundraising campaign through a GoFundMe page, garnering over $11,000 in just a day, showcasing the community’s support and the paper’s significance.
Todd Cooper, the paper’s art director, remains hopeful for the paper’s resurgence, expressing determination to revive and strengthen the publication’s foothold within the community. Amid uncertainties, there’s a collective aspiration among the staff that the paper will rise from this setback, sustain itself, and endure for many more years to come. (SOURCE)
Man Arrested After Threatening to Shoot People at Coburg Road Restaurant
At 6:35 p.m., on December 29, an officer was dispatched to 1500 Coburg Road to check the welfare of a man, later identified as Christopher James Koehn, age 39, of Eugene.
Koehn is reported to have asked a driver for a ride and when the driver declined, kicked the vehicle. Additionally, another call came in regarding a man threatening to fight and shoot people at Ta Ra Rin, at 1580 Coburg Road.
He was reported to have started focusing on a family in the restaurant with small children and then aggressed towards them. No weapons had been observed. The officer was flagged down by the employees.
When the officer attempted to stop Koehn, the man refused to take his hands out of his pockets, closed the gap between himself and the officer, and refused commands to get on the ground. Due to the earlier threats to shoot, the officer did not know if Koehn was armed. Koehn refused the officer’s commands and stepped toward him, lowering his hands. The officer deployed his taser, which didn’t have an effect, then took Koehn to the ground. Koehn resisted the officer’s efforts, but the officer was able to get control of him. Other arrived officers assisted in taking Koehn into custody. He was lodged at Lane County Jail for Menacing, Resisting Arrest, and Open Container. Case 23-19549
Fatal crash at Roosevelt and Fergus
At approximately 4 a.m. on January 1, Eugene Police and Eugene Springfield Fire were called to a single-vehicle crash into a power pole at Roosevelt Boulevard and Fergus Road.
The driver and sole occupant, a man in his 30s, was found deceased
.It appeared the vehicle was going east on Roosevelt Boulevard and veered off the roadway and struck the traffic light pole at the northeast corner of the intersection. EPD Major Collision Investigation team responded for a crash investigation. Case 24-00009
CAHOOTS Crisis Assistance Temporarily Suspending Medical Care
CAHOOTS has reported that on January 1, 2024 they are temporarily suspending medical care, including vitals monitoring and wound care. They anticipate this suspension to last several weeks.
CAHOOTS will still respond to crises related to mental health, behavioral health, substance use, family disputes, resource gaps and more, they tell us.
CAHOOTS states they are actively working to resolve the issue, and will provide more information as things proceed.
Nurses with Sacred Heart Home Care Services Vote to Authorize a Strike
After months of negotiations, nurses say they are fed up with unfair treatment by PeaceHealth executives
(Springfield, Ore.) – During a news conference this morning, nurse leaders announced that a significant majority of the more than 90 registered nurses at Sacred Heart Home Care Services voted to authorize their bargaining team to call a strike. The strike authorization vote ran Dec. 27 and 28. The home health and hospice nurses are represented by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA).
”For many years, the nurses at Sacred Heart Home Care Services were there to pick up the slack. We’ve taken on patients not only that no other home care company will take but cannot take because they do not have the nurses that have the expertise to take these patients that are coming out of the hospital,” said Jo Turner a hospice nurse and member of ONA’s executive committee at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services. “But as PeaceHealth continues to low-ball us and leave us without a contract, we’re losing the nurses we need to care for our most vulnerable community members.”
Nurses have been bargaining with PeaceHealth for almost a year and have been working under their old contract since it expired in April 2023. Despite their essential work, PeaceHealth continues to low-ball home care nurses with inequitable compensation offers. PeaceHealth is offering its home care nurses less than nurses at similar home health agencies and significantly less than PeaceHealth pays local hospital nurses–despite previously paying both home care and hospital nurses equally.
“We need wage equality to keep nurses and hire new ones. Nurses cannot afford to take a paycut to come work here. To recruit, retain nurses we need equality,” said Heather Herbert, a hospice nurse at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services. “I cannot stress enough we are not asking for more or special treatment, just what we have always had and the standard that all other PeaceHealth hospitals have had in Washington and Oregon.”
Nurses are calling for a fair contract that addresses PeaceHealth’s staffing crisis, raises safety standards, increases recruitment and retention of skilled nurses, and ensures all Oregonians have access to safe, affordable and accessible home health care.
“They are walking into a new situation every day because they care. They care about the patients, they care about our families and they care about the work they do,” said US Representative Val Hoyle. “We do need to recruit more nurses. We do need to retain those nurses which means good working conditions and fair pay so they don’t leave to other places where they can easily get paid more. And we need to respect the nurses we have and respect means paying them the same wage as other nurses get.”
If a strike is called, ONA will provide our community and PeaceHealth executives with a 10-day notice to allow PeaceHealth executives adequate time to connect our patients to alternate care options or to join us at the table and reach a fair agreement.
The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) is the state’s largest and most influential nursing organization. We are a professional association and labor union that represents more than 17,000 nurses and allied health workers throughout the state, including 1,500 frontline nurses at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center and Sacred Heart Home Care Services. ONA’s mission is to advocate for nursing, quality health care and healthy communities. For more information visit: www.OregonRN.org.
Operation Winter Survival Supply Stockpile Drive Need Ongoing
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.
“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.”
Items can 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
Hospital Nurse at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford Accused of Replacing Fentanyl with Tap Water Leading to at least 10 Patient Deaths
• A nurse at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Oregon is accused of replacing fentanyl with tap water, leading to the deaths of approximately ten patients.
• The tap water injections allegedly caused Pseudomonas infections, which can result in severe conditions like sepsis and pneumonia.
• The act of substituting medications, known as “drug diversion,” is a problem in the medical field, with fentanyl being one of the most commonly diverted drugs.
• No charges have been filed yet, but police are actively investigating the incident.
• The hospital has reported the issue to law enforcement, but details such as the exact number of affected patients have not been officially confirmed.
A nurse at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford allegedly swapped medication with tap water, resulting in the death of approximately ten patients, NBC5 reported.
Sources say the nurse used tap water to cover up the hospital’s misuse of medication.
Citing several anonymous sources, NBC5 reported that at least ten patients at the Medford hospital were allegedly injected with tap water in an attempt to cover up a nurse’s misuse of fentanyl, a pain medication.
According to NBC5, sources within the hospital said that the tap water, which is not sterile, led to Pseudomonas infections.
The Medical Center’s intensive care unit reported that up to nine or ten people caught infections and later died. The tap water that was used in the injections was reportedly not sterile and led to multiple infections of pseudomonas, which can be very dangerous to those with weak immune systems.
“It could cause sepsis, pneumonia, it could infect all the organs, so it could be a very severe infection,” said Dr. Robin Miller. The Asante Rogue Medical Center released a statement saying, “We were distressed to learn of this issue. We reported it to law enforcement and are working closely with them.”
As of press time, no one was arrested or charged, and Medford Police provided no more details. They only confirmed there’s an open investigation at the medical center.
Benedictine Sisters Entrust Historic Monastery and Property to Catholic Community Services of the Mid-Willamette Valley
The Benedictine Sisters of Mount Angel and Catholic Community Services of the Mid-Willamette Valley and Central Coast (CCS) today announced the official closing of the sale of Queen of Angels Monastery in Mt. Angel to CCS. The monastery, built in 1888, has been the home of the Benedictine Sisters as well as their central offices from which they undertook an impressive number of endeavors for the greater good including the Shalom at the Monastery retreat ministry, the Benedictine Nursing Center next door, and St. Joseph Shelter/Mission Benedict across the street.
The Sisters, who have moved to the Providence Benedictine Nursing Center’s Orchard House next door, will continue to have offices in the monastery and will help guide and sustain St. Joseph Shelter and Mission Benedict, ministries which they founded in 1988. The Sisters transferred day-to-day operations of these ministries to CCS in 2017.
A formal transfer ceremony is planned for March 20, 2024, during which CCS, the Benedictine Sisters and guests will come together to pray, celebrate and share hopes and dreams for the future of the monastery.
“The Benedictine Sisters have owned the historic monastery and grounds of Queen of Angels Monastery since 1887 when they purchased the property from Mount Angel Abbey. The sisters have shared their monastic buildings and grounds in ministry to countless guests, students, oblates, retreatants, family, and friends. Now the Benedictine Sisters entrust the mission and use of it to Catholic Community Services,” said Sister Jane Hibbard, Pastoral Administrator of the Benedictine Sisters. “The sisters look forward to seeing what develops and also promise to pray daily for what will emerge for the future use of the buildings and property. They are deeply grateful for the partnership with and commitment of CCS to the people of Mount Angel, Marion County and beyond as well as to the many people who continue to support the Benedictine Sisters.”
“We are honored and humbled by the confidence the Sisters have placed in us, and we look forward to our continued partnership to sustain the ministries they founded and to preserve the monastery as a place of hope and healing,” said CCS Chief Executive Officer Josh Graves.
About the Benedictine Sisters – The Benedictine Sisters of Mt. Angel are a Catholic religious community, which was established in Oregon in 1882. Queen of Angels Monastery, the Sisters’ historic home, dates to 1887. The Sisters’ major ministries are hospitality, prayer, service to the local community and Shalom at the Monastery, a retreat and spiritual renewal center. At present, the Benedictine Sisters have 19 professed members and 80 oblates.
About CCS – Catholic Community Services of the Mid-Willamette Valley and Central Coast is a non-profit, faith-based organization. Founded in Salem in 1938, today CCS offers 11 programs across 10 Oregon counties and serves more than 5,000 people each year. They operate with fidelity to the Principles of Catholic Social Teaching, which call them to work for the common good and to serve their neighbors who are the poorest and most vulnerable. CCS envisions a caring, resilient community, full of hope and connection where all people flourish.
A Call for Comprehensive Solutions in Homeless Crisis in Oregon and California
The homelessness crisis in Oregon and California has reached alarming levels, with Oregon experiencing a 12.15% increase in homelessness from 2022 to 2023. High housing costs and the pandemic have exacerbated the issue, with federal counts suggesting that the true extent may be even greater. This crisis has impacted families, veterans, and youth, with a significant number living unsheltered despite efforts to increase shelter beds and supportive housing. Similar trends are evident in nearby cities and counties, reflecting a broader regional struggle.
California, for instance, faces a substantial homeless population despite significant financial investments, including a $17.5 billion allocation aimed at addressing the problem. However, the persistence of homelessness indicates that funds alone are not enough, and systemic issues remain unaddressed. The economic impact of this crisis on local communities cannot be overstated. In Portland, nearly $1 billion is dedicated to homeless services, underscoring the strain on taxpayer resources.
The latest figures show that for every 10,000 people in Oregon, 48 are without a home. This adds up to 20,142 homeless individuals. Experts believe the real number might be higher. Homelessness in Oregon is a growing problem. Since 2007, the number of homeless people has gone up by 15%, and there was a big increase of 23% during the COVID-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2022.
In Oregon, 65% of homeless people were not in shelters, but in places like streets or cars.
The rate of homeless families with children is 9 per 10,000 residents. The next highest state is Idaho at 4 per 10,000 residents.
Since 2020, the number of homeless families in Oregon went up by 27% to 3,900. Almost 60% of them don’t have a safe place to stay. Both Oregon and Washington have many homeless families, but Oregon’s rate of those without shelter is much higher.
The cycle of homelessness affects local economies by deterring business, reducing consumer traffic, and impacting tourism, which in turn hampers revenue and growth. It also creates social barriers, perpetuating poverty and exclusion, and poses risks to public health systems, environmental resources, and social service capacities.
Long-term solutions require addressing the root causes of homelessness. While initiatives like Project Homekey represent positive steps, the housing shortage and systemic issues persist. To break the cycle and foster economic stability, communities must advocate for preventative measures and invest in inclusive strategies that promote prosperity for all residents. It’s clear that a financial fix isn’t enough; a multifaceted, strategic approach is essential to tackle this complex issue and prevent its economic and social ramifications from spiraling further. (SOURCE)
Census Data Shows Oregon’s Population Declined For Second Year In A Row
According to new numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau, Oregon’s once steady population growth has come to a halt in the last few years,
A little more than 6,000 people – or 0.1% of the population – left Oregon from July 2022 to July 2023, according to census data released Tuesday. Stretching back to 2021, overall census numbers estimate the state’s population went down by 0.5%, or about 23,000 people.
The numbers are different from Portland State University’s estimate that Oregon added a small number of residents over the same 12-month period.
“Of course these new Census estimates are in contrast to the population estimates from Portland State’s Population Research Center,” writes Josh Lehner, an Oregon state economist, in an analysis. “Their latest estimates showed Oregon’s population holding steady in 2022, following a downward revision, and then a moderate rebound in 2023.”
While U.S. Census Data is important in determining things like federal funding for certain programs or congressional seats, Oregon policymakers mostly use PSU’s numbers when drafting legislation or as a foundation for other official state business.
According to PSU’s Population Research Center, the state welcomed 23,397 people from July 2022 to July 2023, representing a 0.55% increase. PSU also crunched county-level data, which showed Multnomah County grew by 0.21% or 1,728 people.
Oregon employment economist Gail Krumenauer said both data sets show a big turnaround from historical trends.
“One of the advantages that Oregon has had relative to many other states – and overall in the U.S.,” Krumenauer said, “is that we’ve been able to grow our employment, grow jobs, at a greater rate over the course of the past few decades than the U.S. on average, and more than other states.”
Krumenauer said that’s because in past years, more people moved to Oregon than left the state. Economists call that net in-migration, and Krumenauer said that’s previously been the main driver for growth in the state’s labor force.
“Either case now, either very slow population growth or decline, is a very different story,” she said. “Either one of them spells lower labor force growth for us.” (SOURCE)
Many new consumer protection laws go into effect Jan. 1, 2024
Salem – When the clock strikes midnight on Jan. 1, 2024, many new laws immediately take effect. The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR), part of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) – the state’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency – is releasing an easy-to-follow guide on new consumer protection laws. https://dfr.oregon.gov/news/news2023/Pages/20231227-Many-new-consumer-protection-laws.aspx
Oregon DMV Raising Fees In 2024 To Cover Operating Costs
It will cost more to take a drivers’ test next year in Oregon. A number of fees are going up in 2024 under new legislation.
The increases are a result of legislation passed this year (House Bill 2100) designed to help DMV recover costs and temporarily avoid service reductions, ODOT says.
A behind-the-wheel test will increase from $9 to $45. Other fees are going up by a dollar or two.The increases are a result of legislation passed this year (House Bill 2100) designed to help DMV recover costs and temporarily avoid service reductions, ODOT says.
According to ODOT, statutory fees recovered by Oregon’s DMV have not kept pace with the actual cost to deliver services. Most DMV fee increases over the last 20 years have gone to transportation projects at the city, county, and state levels, not to DMV operating costs.
Godfrey encourages people to use the DMV’s website for more of their transactions. She said things like registration renewal are easily done online instead of in person.
Golden Retriever Rescued by Coast Guard Helicopter at Ecola State Park
A golden retriever fell off a cliff at Ecola State Park near Indian Point. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon, prompting a call to the U.S. Coast Guard.
First responders could not reach the dog due to the steep cliffs and inaccessible beach. The Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter, and a rescue swimmer was lowered to secure the dog in a rescue basket.
The dog was hoisted to safety, reunited with its owners, and had visible injuries, though the severity was not disclosed.
Manage State Benefits with the Oregon ONE Mobile app
People can now securely manage their medical, food, cash and child care benefits through the State of Oregon from the convenience of their mobile devices using the new Oregon ONE Mobile app. People first will need to apply for benefits online, in person at a local office or over the phone.
The app is available for free in the Apple and Android app stores. It is an official State of Oregon app created by the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS). The app’s development was partially funded by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
“At ODHS we are committed to meeting people in Oregon where they are with as many ways as possible to manage their benefits, check application status and share needed documentation, like when they get a request for information during a renewal,” said Nathan Singer (he/him), director of the ODHS Oregon Eligibility Partnership. “People can now manage their benefits in-person, by mail, by fax, by telephone, online and on their mobile phone using the Oregon ONE Mobile app, which is available in English and Spanish.”
Interview with OEP Director Singer available on YouTube
Oregon ONE Mobile app video on YouTube
New Oregon ONE Mobile app video link
- Create a ONE Online account.
- Access their existing ONE Online account.
- Report changes to household information including address, contact information and income.
- Upload requested documents using a smartphone camera.
- Get updates on application status and check if it is approved, denied, or pending, and what actions might need to be taken.
- See and download notices that were mailed.
- Find the next renewal date for their benefits.
- Get important, time-sensitive alerts and notifications about benefits on mobile devices.
- View benefit issuance history for food and cash payments.
People who serve as Authorized Representatives for people with benefits are also able to use the app.
How to manage your medical, food, cash and child care benefits:
- By phone at: 1-800-699-9075. All relay calls accepted.
- Online at: benefits.oregon.gov
- Through the free Oregon ONE Mobile app available on Apple and Android app stores
- In person at an office near you: Find an office.
- 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
Resources to help meet basic needs
- Find food resources in your community: needfood.oregon.gov.
- Learn about government programs and community resources for older adults and people with disabilities: Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon at 1-855-673-2372 or www.adrcoforegon.org.
- Dial 2-1-1, or text your zip code to 898-211, www.211info.org
- Find local resources and support by contacting your local Community Action Agency: www.caporegon.org/find-services/
- Oregon Department of Human Services help center
About the Oregon Department of Human Services – The mission of the Oregon Department of Human Services is to help Oregonians in their own communities achieve well-being and independence through opportunities that protect, empower, respect choice and preserve dignity.
About the Oregon Eligibility Partnership – The Oregon Eligibility Partnership (OEP) is part of the Oregon Department of Human Services. OEP supports state staff who determine eligibility for people applying for and receiving medical, food, cash and child care benefits. It also manages the ONE Eligibility System used to process applications and deliver benefits to eligible individuals and families in Oregon. One in three people in Oregon receive benefits through the ONE Eligibility System. OEP administers the ONE Eligibility system in partnership with the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC).###
Visitors can book same-day online reservations statewide starting in 2024
SALEM, Ore— Visitors hoping to camp last minute will soon have the chance to view and book same-day campsite openings online statewide starting Jan. 1, 2024.
Previously, most sites required booking 24 hours or more in advance of arrival when reserving online. Same-day online reservations started as a pilot project at two coastal parks and expanded last summer to all 17 coastal state park campgrounds.
“Same-day reservations at the coast gave those traveling the peace of mind that there was a place ready for them when they arrived,” said Coastal Region Director Dennis Comfort.
When the program expands statewide, it will include a total of 40 park campgrounds across Oregon. Some parks switch tent and RV campsites to first-come-first served during the winter and those sites will start offering same-day online reservations in the spring. Visitors can check park webpages for seasonal information on specific parks at https://stateparks.oregon.gov/
Eleven campgrounds will remain first-come-first served year-round: Jackson F. Kimball, Goose Lake, Bates, Cascara, Catherine Creek, Hilgard Junction, Jasper Point (except for the cabin), Minam, Red Bridge, Smith Rock and Ukiah-Dale.
The goal of same-day online reservations is to offer campers the flexibility to travel last minute when sites are available while giving them the security of knowing they have a site when they arrive. Same-day online reservations also have the potential to give park staff more time to offer interpretive opportunities, improve park facilities and increase time interacting with visitors.
“The transition to same-day reservations at Nehalem Bay State Park was nearly seamless and has been generally well received by guests,” said Park Manager Ben Cox.
Starting Jan. 1, 2024:
- Tent and RV campers can make a same-day online reservation up until 11:59 p.m. on the day they arrive by visiting https://oregonstateparks.reserveamerica.com. Yurt and cabin reservations must be made before 6 p.m. the day of arrival due to the staffing required to assist with keys or codes.
- All visitors can make reservations by calling (800) 452-5687 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- Visitors can also make same-day online reservations at parks statewide using mobile devices where they have cell reception or where Oregon State Parks’ free, limited Wi-Fi is available. Wi-Fi is provided at most parks for reservations only and is not guaranteed to be available 24/7. Signs at the park have login information. Since internet connectivity varies by park, it’s best to reserve campsites before arrival.
- Visitors can still pay with cash or checks at the park by finding a ranger or following posted instructions, which could include using self-registration envelopes only if instructed to do so. Ranger availability is limited depending on time and location.
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) will waive the $8 reservation fee for all same-day reservations.
If you have any questions about the new option, please contact the information center at k.info@oregon.gov“>park.info@oregon.gov. For more information about the option, please visit our online FAQs.
Missing child alert — Jerrica Landin is still missing and is believed to be in danger
The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, asks the public to help find Jerrica Landin, age 17, a child in foster care who went missing from Portland, Oregon on Aug. 21. She is believed to be in danger.
ODHS asks the public for help in the effort to find Jerrica and to contact 911 or local law enforcement if they believe they see her.
Jerrica may be in Portland or Eugene in Oregon. She may also be in Washington in Vancouver, Seattle or the Tri Cities.
Name: Jerrica Landin
Pronouns: She/her
Date of birth: Oct. 24, 2006
Height: 5-foot-6
Weight: 130 pounds
Hair: Reddish brown
Eye color: Brown
Other identifying information: Jerrica has a tattoo of a heart on her neck below her right ear. She often dyes her hair red, pink and purple.
Portland Police Bureau Case #23-803125
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children #1489518
Sometimes when a child is missing, they may be in significant danger and ODHS may need to locate them to assess and support their safety. As ODHS works to do everything it can to find these missing children and assess their safety, media alerts will be issued in some circumstances when it is determined necessary. Sometimes, in these situations, a child may go missing repeatedly, resulting in more than one media alert for the same child.
Report child abuse to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline by calling 1-855-503-SAFE (7233). This toll-free number allows you to report abuse of any child or adult to the Oregon Department of Human Services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.
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.
