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, February 28, 2024
Willamette Valley Weather
Suspect in Custody on Multiple Measure 11 Sex Crimes
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Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at 11:23am Albany Fire Department notified Albany Police they were responding to a residence in the 1800 block of SW 16th Ave for a trauma injury to the leg that was a result of an assault. Officers arrived and determined the suspect had attempted to sexually assault a female at the location and fled on foot approximately 20 minutes prior to the 911 call. Albany Fire Personnel transported her to a local area hospital for further treatment of her injuries.
Officers continued to search the area and alerted the community via Nixle text alerts and social media messages. At approximately 1:40pm, a resident called to report a suspicious male was hiding in his backyard.
Officers and Detectives began an immediate search of the area for the suspect, who was identified by the victim as Brandon Taylor Beckner, age 37 of Albany.
Officers located Brandon Beckner walking in the 1000 block of 8th Ave where he was taken into custody without incident. He is being held at the Linn County Jail on Attempted Rape I, Sodomy I, Sex Abuse I, Unlawful Sexual Penetration I, Coercion, and Strangulation.
Greater Albany Public Schools was notified to ensure the safety of our children of ongoing police activity in the surrounding area. GAPS notified parents as a precautionary measure that kids that walked or biked to school in the area should be picked up after school or until the suspect had been captured. As soon as the suspect was arrested, the schools were notified that there was no longer a safety concern.
This is an active investigation and no further information about this case will be released at this time.
Anyone with information regarding this incident or any unreported incidents involving Brandon Beckner, please contact Albany Police Investigations Unit at 541-917-7686.
Nixle is an emergency message alert system that sends local critical information via text. You can sign up by texting your zip code to 888777 or on the City of Albany website.
Eugene Mayoral Candidate Involved in 1984 Gay Bashing Incident Says He’s Changed
Douglas Barr, a candidate for mayor of Eugene, Ore., was involved in an antigay hate crime in 1984 that resulted in the death of a San Francisco activist, although he was found not guilty of murder.
Barr talked about the crime to The Daily Emerald, the student newspaper at the University of Oregon, saying he’s educated himself and changed since then.
The attack on gay activist John Dennis O’Connell occurred July 29, 1984, in San Francisco. Four young men beat O’Connell simply because he was gay, and he fell to the ground and hit his head on a curb, causing his death, according to a contemporary account in the Los Angeles Times.
Three of the men were found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison, but Barr was acquitted. However, that same night, the four men attacked three others they perceived to be gay. Prosecutors said the assailants participated in a night of “homophobic rage.” Barr pleaded guilty to assault in those attacks. He was sentenced to seven years in prison but did not serve the full term. He was 19 at the time of the crime.
Barr has “strived to be better” since then, he told the Emerald. He said he has “educated” himself but did not offer details.
“We have to give people a second chance, especially if they’re trying to do good,” he said. “We have to reach back and include them. If they have ideas, we need to know that we need to participate. … We want to uplift them anyway.”
“A lot of people want to frown upon [me] because I was a felon,” he continued. [“But] do we want to frown? Do we want to stop people who come out of prison, [from] helping our community? I have a lot of good thoughts about how to cure the homeless. Should I just be on the sidelines and not step up?”
Barr received federal disability benefits after being released from prison and lived in subsidized housing for a time. He has gotten involved with a “network of good-doers” and become a volunteer driver for Food for Lane County. He collects unused food from University of Oregon cafeterias and distributes it to unhoused people. He is also on the board of a food pantry.
If he becomes mayor, his priorities would be addressing Eugene’s homelessness crisis and attracting a hospital to the city. Its only hospital closed last year, and the nearest hospitals are in the neighboring towns of Springfield and Cottage Grove.
Barr received federal disability benefits after being released from prison and lived in subsidized housing for a time. He has gotten involved with a “network of good-doers” and become a volunteer driver for Food for Lane County. He collects unused food from University of Oregon cafeterias and distributes it to unhoused people. He is also on the board of a food pantry.
If he becomes mayor, his priorities would be addressing Eugene’s homelessness crisis and attracting a hospital to the city. Its only hospital closed last year, and the nearest hospitals are in the neighboring towns of Springfield and Cottage Grove. (SOURCE)
Eugene Springfield Fire responded to the scene of a house fire caused by an explosion in the home’s garage Tuesday afternoon
Dispatch records show numerous firefighters responding to an address on Dartmoor Drive near Harlow Road at about 4:17 p.m. on February 27. Arriving firefighters were able to contain the fire relatively quickly. Fire officials said the fire started in the garage, and neighbors reported hearing an explosion. Firefighters are still working to investigate the fire.
Threat at UCC Determined Not Credible, Originated Outside of United States
ROSEBURG, Ore. On Monday, February 26, 2024, the Sheriff’s Office was notified by Umpqua Community College staff of a security threat to the campus. In an effort to prioritize the safety of students, staff and faculty, the College elected to cancel all classes, events, and activities until further notice.
The Sheriff’s Office is working in partnership with the College regarding the threat. There is an increased law enforcement presence on the campus today.
“The Sheriff’s Office takes seriously any threat directed toward the safety of our schools, whether kindergarten or higher education institutions,” Sheriff Hanlin said. “The Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the FBI, has determined the source of the email originated from outside the country. At this time the threatening email is not considered credible, and there is no immediate threat to the college.”
The specifics of the security threat will not be released by the Sheriff’s Office in order to protect the integrity of the investigation.
“We are committed to taking all necessary precautions to ensure safe learning and working environments for everyone. We understand that this closure may cause inconvenience to the academic and personal lives of our community, and we appreciate your cooperation and understanding,” said UCC President, Dr. Rachel Pokrandt.
Anyone with information may contact the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office at 541-440-4471.
02/26/24 – LCSO Case #17-8456 – Lane County Investigation Leads to 20-Year Sentence for Idaho Man
In late 2017, a ranger with the Bureau of Land Management contacted a teenage juvenile at an illegal camp near Sharps Creek, Cottage Grove. The juvenile told the ranger she had been living there with an adult male for months. The camp was in disarray.
Concerned for her well-being, the ranger contacted the Department of Human Services. DHS had an open case involving the juvenile. She was taken into DHS custody and placed with her mother.
Due to the condition of the campsite, the adult male, Lucas Anthony Lloyd, was arrested and lodged at the Lane County Jail for Littering within 100 Yards of a Waterway.
Detectives with the Lane County Sheriff’s Office began investigating. The juvenile was interviewed by the Kids FIRST Children’s Advocacy Center. Although she appeared uncomfortable and tested positive for methamphetamine, she did not disclose any abuse. Two years later, in 2019, she opened up to a counselor and disclosed that Lloyd had sexually abused her repetitively. Lloyd was then in custody with the Idaho Department of Corrections for taking the juvenile from another state to Oregon, violating his custody agreement.
LCSO detectives interviewed Lloyd with assistance from the Idaho Department of Corrections. During the interview, Lloyd admitted to having sex with the juvenile. The case could not be prosecuted, however, as the juvenile had not provided a statement to law enforcement. Detectives continued following up on the case while Lloyd was still in prison.
In 2022, the juvenile advised she was ready to talk. She gave detectives a detailed account of how Lloyd sexually abused her and regularly provided her with methamphetamine in the Cottage Grove area. The case was presented to a Grand Jury and Lloyd was indicted.
Lloyd finished his 60-month Idaho prison sentence and was immediately transported to the Lane County Jail. On February 26, 2024, Lloyd pled guilty to one count of Rape in the First Degree, one count of Sodomy in the First Degree, one count of Unlawful Delivery of Methamphetamine, and one count of Criminal Mistreatment in the First Degree. Lloyd was sentenced to 20 years in the Oregon Department of Corrections.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office would like to the thank the many law enforcement officers and partner agencies that assisted with this case, all of whom came together to find justice for the victim.
To simplify where to report different issues there are two super resources that avoid calls to the non-emergency line:
Illegal camping (vehicles, public property, parks, private property)Parkwatch – https://www.eugene-or.gov/4902/Report-ConcernsCrime reports (vandalism, theft, theft from vehicle, ID theft, shoplifting and graffiti)My PD Connect – https://epd.mypdconnect.com/
Home Care Nurses Candlelight Vigil at PeaceHealth
Nurses and elected officials are calling on PeaceHealth to commit to a fair contract agreement that improves community health and safety and addresses its staffing and care crises.
Striking home care nurses, elected leaders and community allies held a candlelight vigil near PeaceHealth’s offices in Springfield Friday, Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. The event included speeches and media availability and marks the end of nurses’ limited duration strike at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services.
Home health and hospice nurses at PeaceHealth declared a strike Feb. 10 – 24 to protect their community’s health and safety, combat care delays, secure equitable pay and address PeaceHealth’s staffing crisis at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services.
The more than 90 registered nurses at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services are represented by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA).
Nurses are not discouraging patients from seeking care during the strike, however PeaceHealth patients may experience delays, cancellations or substandard care as PeaceHealth refused to temporarily transfer patients to other home health agencies and is relying on scab workers from an out-of-state, for-profit company.
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 18,000 nurses and allied health workers throughout the state, including more than 90 nurses at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services and nearly 1,500 frontline nurses at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center. ONA’s mission is to advocate for nursing, quality health care and healthy communities. For more information visit: www.OregonRN.org. FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/OregonNursesAssociation
4J School Board Makes It Public That Superintendent Andy Dey Faces a Review
The Eugene School District 4J board has quietly investigated whether Superintendent Andy Dey retaliated against a female middle school teacher who had accused this district of discrimination under his watch.
Last week, the district delivered its answer: Yes, Dey did retaliate against the teacher. The school board voted unanimously to reprimand Dey and order him to go through training around issues of retaliation.
But the board did so without naming Dey or even hinting the superintendent it had hired less than two years ago had done anything wrong.
That might be changing. For the first time, Eugene school board members have signaled that Dey is under scrutiny.
Last week, the board announced it will meet in a closed-door executive session Monday night to “review and evaluate the employment-related performance of the chief executive officer.” 4J considers the superintendent to be the chief executive.
Since the start of the year, the school board met five times in executive session described only as considering “the dismissal or disciplining of, or to hear complaints or charges brought against, a public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent.”
As EW first reported Jan. 26, the school board had been reviewing the results of its investigation into evidence Dey discriminated against the teacher and then targeted her for retaliation.
The notice for the Feb. 26 meeting is the first to indicate Dey is the focus of the board members’ attention. Moving forward, the question of Dey’s remaining contract with the district still hangs in the balance.
The board has yet to address whether it will seek to remove Dey from his superintendent position.
To view EW’s earlier coverage of the Dey investigation, click here. (SOURCE)
Springfield Police Department Ask For Help In Search For Missing Woman
On February 23, the Springfield Police Department said they are searching for an endangered missing woman in the Springfield area who departed her home via car before abandoning her vehicle.
38-year-old Christina Ciriello recently moved in with family in the Springfield area. She moved from Texas. Her family said that she has recently been exhibiting some concerning behaviors.
According to the Police Department, she departed in her car, which was later located and towed in the Marion County area as a hazard. The Springfield Police Department said there were no signs of her in the car and no communication from Ciriello since she departed.
The Police Department said Cirello is described as a white, 5’3″, 230 pound, female. She was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt, black sweatpants, and black Ugg boots. She did not have a change of clothing when she departed her residence. They said her phone has been shut off since she went missing.
The Springfield Police Department said she has been entered into the missing person database. If you have any information, please call (541) 726-3714
Lane County Human Services Announces Winter Blanket Drive
Lane County Human Service Division, in partnership with The First Christian Church, Egan Warming Center, and St. Vincent DePaul, announced today a Winter Blanket Drive. The collaborative effort seeks to gather washable blankets suitable for winter use, sleeping bags, boots (sizes 8-12), sweatshirts (S/M/L), sweatpants (S/M/L), rain gear (S/M/L), tarps, and tents. The goal is to collect 500 blankets and other necessities to support those in need during the harsh winter conditions.The drive will take place February 26 through 29th, with drop-off donations accepted between 10 am and 2 pm at the First Christian Church at 1166 Oak Street, Eugene, OR 97401.
“All too often, our unhoused neighbors endure the brunt of winter’s harshest elements without adequate protection. This drive represents not just a collection of goods, but a gathering of community spirit to provide warmth and shelter,” said Lane County Human Services Program Services Coordinator, Maria Cortez
The blankets and supplies that are collected will be distributed to community members in need through direct service organizations. Specifically, Egan Warming Centers will use the blankets to help guests stay warm.
For more information about donating, please call the First Christian Church of Eugene’s Helping Hearts program at: 541-344-1425.
The Small Business Administration Opens Recovery Centers Related to Winter Storm
The Small Business Administration (SBA) is opening recovery centers in Lane County to help local businesses that were affected by the January winter storm.
Business owners can drop in to learn about SBA’s disaster loan program and get help completing the application.
**Eugene** – Lane County Public Service Building 
February 20, February 26, and February 27 
8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.*
*Springfield** – Springfield Public Library Meeting Room February 21 and February 28 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
**Cottage Grove** – Cottage Grove Library February 22 and February 29 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM. –
Cottage Grove Community Center February 23 and March 1 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
There’s also a virtual help center for those who can’t make it to a recovery center. Details: https://www.lanecountyor.gov/cms/One.aspx?portalId=3585881&pageId=12717921&fbclid=IwAR18OVCBHkF_bEPhOHjbrifop1KvWUHwaaKuh0FI7hd6Cqvlfw9KSMU7iyY
02/19/24 – LCSO Case #24-0851 – Death Investigation on Sweet Creek Falls Trail
On Monday, February 19th around 11:30 a.m., a hiker in the Sweet Creek Falls area located a person down on the trail who was unresponsive. Fire personnel responded and determined the male was deceased. Investigating deputies identified the male as Adan Miranda-Gonzalez, 29, of Eugene.
They were later able to notify next of kin. Due to the hazardous trail, Lane County Sheriff Search & Rescue volunteers were called out to assist with transporting Miranda-Gonzalez back to the trailhead. The death does not appear suspicious at this time.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150 opt. 1.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office will never ask for money or compensation of any kind by telephone, text, or email.
Our community continues to be targeted by scammers identifying themselves over the phone as employees of the Lane County Sheriff’s Office. Scammers have in the past also used text and email. The scammers claim there are warrants, missed jury duty, or unsettled legal issues.
The scammers then ask for payment or personal information, often to avoid arrest. In some instances, the scammers appear to call from official phone numbers or provide fraudulent callback numbers with official-sounding voicemail inboxes.
If you are contacted by someone claiming to be a Lane County Sheriff’s Office employee and you think you are being scammed, please hang up and contact our dispatch center at 541-682-4150 opt. 1.
SCAM ALERT! Pet owners in Lane County, BEWARE!
Scammers posing as Lane County Animal Services are preying on pet owners who’ve shared info about lost pets online. 
“Jack Richardson” claims your pet needs urgent care, demands CashApp payment 
, and threatens to withhold treatment.
This is a SCAM! Lane County Animal Services would NEVER:
Demand payment via CashApp or gift cards.
Withhold emergency care pending payment.
Contact residents via text without prior arrangement.
Details of the scam: Name: Fake “Jack Richardson” from Lane County Animal Services. 
Scammer’s Caller ID number: 541-623-9114. CashApp account: $LCanimalserv, with reference numbers like LCAS-174752.
HOW TO REPORT: Contact the FBI at www.ic3.gov to report cybercrime. For local reports, contact your local law enforcement agency. Spread the word and help keep pet owners from falling for this scam!
Become a temporary election worker and help democracy thrive
The Lane County Elections Office is hiring temporary election workers to assist with the May 21, 2024 Primary Election.
“Temporary election workers are critical to the success of elections,” said County Clerk Dena Dawson. “We want to build a more diverse pool of people that is representative of our community. Retirees are always welcome, but so are students, stay-at-home parents, gig workers, and anyone who just wants to learn more about elections or earn a few bucks.”
Available positions include customer service, data entry, ballot processing, and ballot collection. Some positions require a few weeks of availability and others only require a few days, or even just one night. Lane County does not use volunteers to conduct elections; all temporary election worker positions are paid.
Temporary election workers are hired before each election cycle. Another round of hiring will begin in August for the November 5 Presidential Election.
Detailed job descriptions, instructions, and more details for applying can be found at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/elections under the “Election Temporary Jobs” section.
Lane County Elections holding student contest to create “I Voted” coloring page
Local students, kindergarten through college, are invited to create an “I Voted” coloring page for the Lane County Elections Office.
Four winning entries will be used to create a coloring page that will accompany ballots for the November 5, 2024 Presidential Election.
“I’m excited about this creative way for Lane County voters to celebrate voting,” said Lane County Clerk Dena Dawson. “I can’t wait to see what students come up with and I hope we blow up social media in November with the colorful versions voters create.”
There are four categories for student submissions:
- Category 1: Kindergarten–5th Grade
- Category 2: 6th Grade–8th Grade
- Category 3: 9th Grade–12th Grade
- Category 4: College or vocational school students
Submissions are due by April 1, 2024 and may be provided by email, mail or in-person. All entries must be submitted on the official entry form and must be signed by a parent or guardian if the entrant is under 18 years old.
Submissions must be original artwork and on a plain white background with black outlines so voters can color the artwork in November and share on social media using #LaneCountyVotes.
The entry form and more detail about how to submit artwork can be found at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/elections under the “I Voted Coloring Contest” section.
The Oregon Employment Department’s website will be going offline for several days. The Employment Department says starting at 5:00 Wednesday night (2/28/24) the website will go offline until 8 a.m. on Monday, March 4.
OED says this is in preparation for the new system for unemployment benefits, which includes claims and questions for Paid Leave Oregon.
The new system, Frances Online, is scheduled to go live on March 4. People will not be able to file, restart, check, or make changes to claim information until next Monday. Customer service, along with making payments or ID verification will also be unavailable. https://www.oregon.gov/employ/pages/default.aspx
Oregon Senate Passes Anti-Book-Ban Bill Over Republican Objections
The measure would prohibit banning books because the author or subjects are part of a protected class
Oregon school districts would be unable to ban books simply because authors or characters are immigrants, people of color, LGBTQ+, disabled or from other protected classes under a bill passed by Senate Democrats on Tuesday.
Sen. Lew Frederick, D-Portland, describes Senate Bill 1583 as a “simple” defense of free speech and a way to guarantee that all children in Oregon have the ability to see themselves represented in books they find in school libraries and classrooms. But it quickly became one of the most controversial issues of the five-week legislative session, with more than 1,600 Oregonians submitting written testimony about it.
“I want to see kids reading and getting books out of their libraries, and I lament that this bill has been politicized,” Frederick said. “This bill is not about politics for me. It’s about kids reading.”
The bill passed the Senate on a 17-12 party line vote on Tuesday after a heated hour-long debate that included one Republican accusing his Democratic colleagues of wanting to encourage pedophilia and another saying racism is “insignificant.” The bill now heads to the House, where Frederick said he expects it will soon pass out of the House Rules Committee and the full House.
It comes amid a sharp increase in school book bans in Oregon and nationwide. The Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse, run by the Oregon State Library, tracked attempts to remove 93 separate titles from schools and libraries between July 2022 and June 2023. Nationally, the free speech advocacy group PEN America reported nearly 3,400 instances of book bans in the 2022-23 school year, up from 2,500 in the 2021-22 school year.
In Oregon, more than 70% of the challenged titles were about or written by people of color, LGBTQ+ people, women, people with disabilities and other underrepresented groups, according to the state library.
It’s a personal issue for Frederick: His sharecropper grandparents left Mississippi almost exactly 100 years ago because they were threatened with arrest if they continued trying to teach Black children to read. They moved to the boot heel of Missouri, where they taught his father and other children with free books thrown out by white schools and established an expectation in Frederick’s family that children should learn more than their parents.
“I tell that story because in some places in this country, that story would not be allowed in a school,” Frederick said. “That story would not be allowed in a book in a school, and that story and stories like it are banned from books in schools across the country.”
Sen. Kayse Jama, a Portland Democrat who came to the U.S. as a refugee from the Somali civil war, said passing the bill sends a message to people like him and his children that they’re Oregonians and their culture and history matter.
“There is such a limited selection of books talking about my culture, my religion and my background,” Jama said. “And I want my children to have access to see their culture and their religion reflected through the materials that are in our libraries and our schools.”
Attempt at amendment — Sen. Art Robinson, R-Cave Junction, rejected the premise that books are excluded for discriminatory reasons, saying no Oregon community would remove books because of the author’s race.
“Despite claims made for political reasons, actual racism in America is insignificant,” Robinson said. “There is no community in Oregon that is going to accept removing books just because they were written by minority authors. It is an insult to tell our communities that a law is needed to protect this.”
Republicans tried to introduce their own amendment to replace the bill with a new measure creating a task force that would recommend legislation to “better establish standards for age-appropriate curriculum” and limit books that “contain graphic violence, are sexually explicit, contain vulgar language or lack literary merit or educational value.”
Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp, R-Bend, said the Republican amendment was necessary because Frederick’s bill would eliminate parental rights and local control.
“I think we all know that across the nation there have been different states that have handled this in different ways, but we think Oregon should take a little more time and make sure that the values or our communities are being respected,” Knopp said.
The Republican proposal also included a number of statements indicating the Legislature’s intent, including declarations that the Legislature believes that some unnamed books should not be in schools and that Canby “exhibited the best of Oregon” when it temporarily removed 36 books from school libraries.
Sen. Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, questioned whether lawmakers consider pedophilia a sexual orientation. He described how the Canby School District ultimately removed just one book from its library: Vladimir Nabokov’s polarizing 1955 novel “Lolita,” narrated by a middle-aged professor who kidnaps and sexually abuses a 12-year-old girl.
“This book paints this man as somebody that is empathetic,” Bonham said. “Is that something we want to teach to our children, that we should empathize with someone who has sexual attraction to a minor?”
Pedephilia is not a sexual orientation, which is defined in Oregon law as “an individual’s actual or perceived heterosexuality, homosexuality or bisexuality.”
Sen. Elizabeth Steiner, D-Portland, recalled how one of her sixth grade classmates left the classroom every time the class read from a book about the Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert in Africa because the book included references to menstruation that her classmate’s parents didn’t want her to know about. Parents still would be able to keep their own children from reading certain books.
“Parents still, under this bill, will have the right to make decisions about their own children and promote their own personal values about what they want their children to read or not read,” she said. “But what they won’t have is the right for a very small number of people to make decisions for any other group about how they parent their children and what values they convey to their children.” (SOURCE)
$11.5 Million Suit Alleges Asante Hospital Nurse Replaced Fentanyl With Tap Water Killing Patient
The estate of a 65-year-old man who died while hospitalized at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center sued the hospital system and a nurse on Monday, alleging the nurse replaced his prescribed fentanyl with tap water.
The wrongful death suit is the first to be filed against the Medford hospital since the shocking disclosure by Medford police last month that they were investigating potential crimes against patients involving the theft of “controlled substances,” which may have led to “adverse” outcomes for some.
It’s not clear how many people were affected; Medford police and Asante representatives have declined to say. Medford Lt. Geoffrey Kirkpatrick on Monday declined to answer any questions. “We’re holding off on releasing anything because a lot of it is really unclear,” he said.
Justin Idiart, a southern Oregon lawyer representing the estate of Horace E. Wilson, said he has nine clients whose medication was swapped out. He said another five have reached out for possible representation. He said the clients include loved ones of those who died as well as people who survived.
The lawsuit was filed in Jackson County Circuit Court on behalf of the estate of Wilson, who was treated at the hospital after he fell off a ladder and died of an infection. Wilson, a founder of a cannabis company called Decibel Farms in Jacksonville, was known as “Buddy.”
Schofield lives in Medford and has not been charged. On Nov. 22, Schofield voluntarily agreed to refrain from practicing nursing “pending the completion of an investigation,” Oregon Board of Nursing records show.
Neither Schofield nor Asante could immediately be reached for comment. State records show Schofield started working at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center on Dec. 31, 2015, after working at a rehabilitation center between Sept. 1 and Dec. 1, 2015.
The lawsuit seeks $11.5 million in damages. Idiart said patients who were deprived of medication suffered as a result of the medication diversion. In Wilson’s case, his family believed “he was in pain” even though he was “supposed to be sedated,” Idiart said.
He said the cases involve patients who were treated for health concerns that were survivable. He accused the hospital system of failing to be transparent with patients and their loved ones.
The suit names the hospital and nurse Dani Marie Schofield as defendants. Idiart said Schofield helped care for each of his clients.
“Their frustration is the lack of communication,” he said. “They saw loved ones in the hospital for conditions that usually seem like they could have recovered from.”
On Feb. 3, Wilson’s condition deteriorated, prompting three operations to “treat a breakdown of his surgical repair, requiring him to be intubated again during the third procedure,” the suit states.
He remained in intensive care and showed signs of suffering from an infection, including sepsis, according to the suit. A blood culture tested positive for bacterial growth later identified as Staphylococcus epidermidis, the suit states.
While Wilson was treated in the intensive care unit, Schofield was directed to administer the opioid fentanyl through his central line. The medication was to be given through a “hang bag,” according to the suit.
Schofield noted in Wilson’s medical charts that she administered the potent drug to Wilson on several occasions beginning Jan. 29, the suit states.
The lawsuit alleges Schofield replaced the medication with tap water, “thus reintroducing new inoculums of the bacterium Staphylococcus epidermidis into Horace Wilson’s bloodstream via his central line each time she administered the solution.” When their conditions deteriorated, the hospital and staff failed to communicate what had happened, he said.
The suit states that Asante last December contacted Medford police regarding a former employee “that they believe was involved in the theft of fentanyl prescribed to patients resulting in some adverse patient outcomes.”
That month, hospital representatives “began contacting patients and their relatives telling them a nurse had replaced fentanyl with tap water causing bacterial infections.” (SOURCE)
The 20th annual Oregon Chocolate Festival is this Friday, March 1st through Sunday at the Ashland Hills Hotel
There’s something for everyone including a Chocolate Brunch at the Stardust Lounge where you get to enjoy a delicious buffet-style menu by Ashland’s award-winning Executive Chef, David Georgeson, and savor a variety of chocolate-infused delights, from savory to sweet.
There are also vendors to explore, the First Friday Art Walk, or you can participate in the Charlie’s Chocolate Run taking place at Emigrant Lake. Race distances include a 1-mile fun run, a 5K and a 10K. All participants will receive a chocolate bar at the end of the race with the potential of finding that one and only golden ticket.
You can purchase tickets for the events and find out more information at the Oregon Chocolate Festival website. https://www.oregonchocolatefestival.com/schedule/
Nearly 300,000 Oregon Kids Await Approval Of Summer Food Benefits
A program that would provide food benefits to kids during the summer still needs funding approval from the Oregon Legislature.
The state has already approved the Summer EBT program, but needs to agree to pay for half the administrative costs in order to get access to federal funds.
It would help the families of nearly 300,000 kids receive about $40 for food each month over the summer.
Charlie Krouse, a community organizer with Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon, said child hunger spikes during the summer months.
“When they’re fed throughout the school year and they have access to meals throughout the school year, it’s only fair that they have access to food throughout the summer,” said Krouse. “Their income level doesn’t drastically change in the summer – they still need access to support, and access to food.”
Krouse said there have been bipartisan calls to fund the program. The state would get access to about $35 million a year from the federal government for benefits.
The legislative session is scheduled to adjourn on March 10.
Matt Newell-Ching, senior policy manager with Oregon Food Bank, said Summer EBT benefits would be especially helpful for families in rural areas.
“While we love and are big proponents of summer meal sites, we also know that a lot of them are inaccessible,” said Newell-Ching. “And so, this new program was meant specifically to address gaps like that.”
Newell-Ching said everything else is in place – they just need the final piece from lawmakers.
“Ensuring that Oregon contributes its share of the administrative funding makes this all happen and builds on that groundwork,” said Newell-Ching. “And so, basically we’re asking legislators to do the right thing for 294,000 kids, make sure that that funding is there, so we can get this across the finish line and kids can get the support during the summer.” (SOURCE)
Campaign To Open Oregon Primaries Suspends Signature Gathering
Yet again, the campaign to open Oregon’s party primaries to all voters has foundered.
All Oregon Votes, the political campaign behind a ballot measure on open primaries, announced Monday that it is suspending signature gathering on Initiative Petition 26 due to a lack of resources. The initiative would have asked voters to approve a constitutional amendment requiring all voters to receive primary ballots with all candidates running for office, regardless of the voter’s political affiliation.
About 1.3 million voters in Oregon cannot cast ballots in either the Democratic or Republican primaries because they are not registered with those parties. About 80% of them are nonaffiliated voters who represent the biggest voting bloc in Oregon. In Oregon, as in many states, most races are effectively decided in the primary.
The campaign has been trying since 2020 to get an open primary initiative on the ballot. The current effort dates to September 2022, but backers didn’t like the ballot title written by the attorney general’s office. Ballot titles, a crucial part of the process, can make or break an initiative because many voters don’t read the summaries or media stories on initiatives, analysts say. The group felt the title muddied the intent of the initiative and appealed to the state Supreme Court, which upheld the title.
Last April, the group came up with the current initiative. Michael Calcagno, a working dad who joined the effort in 2022, told the Capital Chronicle the repeated failures are frustrating.
“It’s incredibly disheartening,” Calcagno said. “To silence 1.3 million legal eligible registered voters is absurd.”
Survey data released last week by the nonpartisan Oregon Values and Beliefs Center found that 63% of respondents, including a majority of Democrats and Republicans, agree with opening primaries.
The suspension announcement comes about three months before Oregon’s primary election and just over four months before the deadline for turning in signatures for an initiative to make it on the November ballot. As a proposed constitutional amendment, the campaign would need about 160,000 valid signatures to get the initiative on the ballot. That means it would have had to collect 200,000 signatures to ensure it had enough, Calcagno said.
“The validity rate is around 80%,” Calcagno said. The campaign is made up of individuals, including many retirees, Calcagno said, and lacks big donors needed to pay signature gatherers.
“No ballot measure can qualify without paid signature gathering,” Calcagno said. “Unless you’ve got a special interest group or a wealthy donor who’s willing to pay for signature gathering to happen, then you have to rely on volunteers.”
The last time an open primary ballot measure made it onto the Oregon ballot was Measure 90 in 2014, which would have eliminated the Democratic and Republican primaries and replaced it with a nonpartisan primary open to all voters. The top two vote getters would have battled it out in the general election.
Voters trounced it by 70%. A similar effort in 2008 also failed. Nevertheless, Calcagno said the campaign is not giving up and will try again in another two years.
“We are not stopping,” he said. “What’s wrong yesterday will be wrong tomorrow. We will talk to state lawmakers, political donors, philanthropic groups outside the state and see if we can’t move the needle.”
In a release, the campaign urged voters to contact their state lawmakers, voicing support for open primaries. The campaign also asked supporters to follow the group on social media.
Oregon is among nine states nationwide that have closed primaries. Calcagno said he’s been heartened by some recent successes. Alaska eliminated closed primaries in 2020, and Nevadans voted in favor of opening primaries in 2022. In November, voters there will vote again, confirming the choice. “Nationally, the wind is at our backs,” Calcagno said. (SOURCE)
Milwaukie Man Wins $8.4 Million Oregon Megabucks Jackpot
– A Milwaukie retiree is the latest winner of Oregon’s Game Megabucks, with a winning ticket worth $8.4 million.
David Schultze, 68, said he didn’t know he was sitting on millions until he checked his ticket last Friday morning. The winning numbers were drawn back on January 24, 2024. He spent the whole weekend in shock and claimed his prize on Monday at Oregon Lottery’s Wilsonville office.
He doesn’t play much, but when he sees the jackpot “getting up there,” he can’t help but buy a ticket – just in case. Schultze purchased the ticket at Safeway in Gladstone. The store earned a $84,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
When asked about his plans for the winnings, Schultze said he will invest most of it. There are no plans for any big splurges.
Oregon’s Game Megabucks has some of the most favorable big prize jackpot game odds in the world. The jackpot resets to $1 million after someone wins.
The Oregon Lottery recommends that you sign the back of your ticket to ensure you can claim any 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 more than $15.5 billion for economic development, public schools, outdoor school, state parks, veteran services, and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org.
Oregon State Parks recruiting about 250 seasonal park rangers and assistants for 2024
SALEM, Oregon— Oregon State Parks is not just a beautiful place to visit – it’s also a spectacular place to work.
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is recruiting 250 seasonal park rangers and assistants for positions across the state that range anywhere from four to nine months. The peak season is from April to September, but some of the positions start as early as March and run as late as December.
Seasonal staff help visitors access world-class experiences and ensure clean and safe park areas for everyone to enjoy. Duties include janitorial work, landscape maintenance, visitor education and visitor services.
Salaries start at $17.34 per hour for seasonal assistants and $20.06 for seasonal rangers. Both positions include comprehensive medical, vision and dental plans for employees and qualified family members. The positions also include paid sick leave, vacation, personal leave and 11 paid holidays per year. Student workers, ages 16 and older, start at $17.32 or more per hour depending on experience (no benefits).
OPRD promotes from within and several of our top leaders started as seasonal employees.
“We love what we do at Oregon Parks and Recreation Department,” said Director Lisa Sumption. “We get to preserve and share some of Oregon’s most treasured landscapes and resources. Whether you’re here for a season or your entire career, you’re part of that OPRD family.”
For more information about current openings, visit stateparks.oregon.gov. If you have any questions or need additional assistance in accessibility or alternative formats, please email Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Recruiting D.Recruiting@oprd.oregon.gov“>OPRD.Recruiting@oprd.oregon.gov.
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, committed to diversity and pay equity.
Oregon Marijuana Sales Fall Again
Oregon’s struggling cannabis industry endured another difficult year in 2023, and there’s no indication conditions will ease in the foreseeable future.
Prices remain severely depressed, under $4 a gram for 11 consecutive months. Sales fell by nearly 4% last year. And harvests remain elevated, which means supply is likely to continue outstripping demand – making life tough for those who grow and sell recreational marijuana.
“Given these market conditions of oversupply, (retail) saturation, and stable consumer demand, low prices make it difficult for businesses to be profitable,” the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis wrote in its most recent report this month.
The market bloomed in the first years after Oregon voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2014. Sales began in 2015 and climbed for four subsequent years, with a jump that brought sales above $1 billion for the first time in 2020 as people embraced new forms of entertainment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sales fell sharply in 2022 and 2023, dropping by 19% as market conditions returned to more normal patterns. But since Oregon put no limits on how many businesses may grow or sell cannabis, and since marijuana grows like a weed — so to speak — in many parts of Oregon, the state quickly had a cannabis glut.
The marijuana industry has long hoped that federal legalization, or some half-step that allowed cannabis to be sold across state lines, could create a national market for Oregon’s crop. But while individual states continue to move toward legalizing marijuana, changes on the national level appear unlikely anytime soon given the intense partisan divide in Congress. (READ MORE)
Oregon Homeowners Face Soaring Premiums And Few Property Insurance Options Over Wildfires
Homeowners in central, southern and eastern Oregon who have faced higher annual premiums or had their policies canceled when they came up for renewal, with some insurers no longer writing new policies. That change came after the 2020 Labor Day Fires destroyed more than 4,000 homes, becoming the state’s most expensive natural disaster in history, according to state and federal emergency response agencies.
Since then, insurance markets in parts of Oregon have begun to look more like those in California, where some of the largest insurance companies in the country are no longer renewing or writing new policies, and where the number of people turning to a state-backed insurer of last resort has doubled in recent years.
“If you want to know what the next five years look like in Oregon, look at southern California,” said Perry Rhodes, who has sold property insurance policies for Farmers in Bend for the last two decades. “If you want to know what this looks like if things get even worse, look back east to Florida,” he added. Farmers announced last year it would limit new property insurance policies in California and no longer sell any new property policies in Florida.
Rhodes said it used to be extremely rare to find a customer whose property was at such a high risk that he had to refer them to other companies. Now, he said, he sends about half of potential customers to other insurers because Farmers won’t cover them.
“The only homes that we know for sure are going to be eligible are the ones that are, so to speak, right in the middle of town, and right next to the fire department,” he said.
Oregon’s insurance commissioner, Andrew Stolfi, told the Capital Chronicle the exodus of companies offering coverage in parts of Oregon is not as severe as in California, which has been driven by high payouts for recent wildfire losses and state consumer protection laws that previously capped annual insurance premium hikes.
In Oregon, premiums are up an average of nearly 30% since 2020, according to the state’s Department of Consumer and Business Services. It reflects nationwide increases, according to several insurance marketplace reports. But in Bend, Ashland, Medford and Hood River, agents said premiums for most people have doubled or quadrupled due to the wildfire risk, and policies under $1,000 per year have become extremely rare.
Agents said policies on some homes near Ashland have risen as much as 600% in the last four years. (READ MORE)
FBI-Portland Offers Sextortion Prevention Tips
FBI-Portland is ramping up efforts to prevent child sextortion, after seeing a massive increase in sextortion in recent years. “From out to Prineville, to Bend, to Medford to Eugene and here in Portland, to the coast. It is happening everywhere,” Supervisory Special Agent Travis Ostrem told parents during a Wednesday webinar.
The crime involving explicit images of children boils down to blackmail and there are two forms: Financial and Traditional. “Financial sextortion, where the predators are looking for monetary gain from the children, to stop them from sending images. We’ve also sextortion, which is the typical child exploitation of sexual images, where they’re asking for additional images.”
He urges parents to start talking with kids early about the dangers of sending any photos online. Predators target victims as young as 11. He also suggested parents monitor the apps children are using, set parental controls and know who kids are talking to online, “Technology is growing faster than we can control it. But you all can get ahead of it. Look out for your children.”
A similar webinar was offered last week to school administrators. “We’re trying to be proactive because we don’t want any more of these cases. If we can eliminate it, just like getting drugs out of the schools from our kids, eliminate sextortion,” said Ostrem. “Sextortion is on a massive rise. We’re seeing it throughout, not just the country but in Oregon too. In every portion of the state, if there is some type of wifi or cellular connection to the internet, children can be sextorted.” He notes Oregon cases have increased by 20%, and at least 20 resulted in the victim taking their own life. “One suicide is too many. One child being sextorted is too many. The damage that can do to mental health is horrible. What we see normally is one predator will target up to a hundred victims.”
FBI-Portland hosted a chat on X – formerly Twitter – Thursday at noon to answer more questions about protecting kids from sextortion. (SOURCE)
Oregon Blue Book Cover Photo Contest Underway
The front cover of the 2023-2024 Oregon Blue Book showcases a hillside covered in beautiful balsam root and lupine flowers at Rowena Crest, captured by Oregon photographer Micah Lundsted of Eugene. The book’s back cover shows an image of three rockfish made at the Oregon Coast Aquarium by Dale George of Grants Pass.
Which images will cover the 2025-2026 Oregon Blue Book? The Oregon Blue Book cover photo contest kicks off today, giving amateur photographers the chance to submit their photos to answer that question. Photo contest winners will be selected in October 2024 by Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade.
“Choosing the cover photos for the Oregon Blue Book is an honor,” said Secretary Griffin-Valade. “The images are a chance to see our beautiful state through the lens of the many talented amateur photographers who live in Oregon.”
The contest is open to Oregon residents of any age who earn less than half their income from photography. Images must be Oregon related and should be submitted in the portrait, rather than landscape, orientation. Two images will be selected for the cover: one for the front and one for the back. Visit the Oregon Blue Book Photo Contest guidelines for more information: https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/about-conte…
Images can be submitted through the Oregon Blue Book website portal or via U.S. mail. The deadline to submit photos for consideration is October 27, 2024. Contact the Oregon Blue Book Managing Editor at Oregon.Bluebook@sos.oregon.gov with questions or for additional information.
DETAILS
What: 2025-2026 Oregon Blue Book Cover Photo Contest
Who: Amateur photographers who live in Oregon
When: February 7, 2024-October 27, 2024
Where: Submit online or through U.S. Mail
Why: Photo on the cover of the 2025-2026 Oregon Blue Book
ODFW Announces Stamp Art Competitions
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is making a call to area artists to compete in one, or all three, of ODFW’s 2025 stamp art competitions.
The winning artist in each contest receives a $2,000 award and their winning artwork is used to produce collector’s stamps and other promotional items, sales of which benefit Oregon’s fish, wildlife, and their habitats.
For more information on contest rules and to order stamps and art prints, visit: https://www.dfw.state.or.us/stamp_contest/index.asp.
Entries will be accepted beginning Aug. 30 through Sept. 27 by 5 p.m., at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife headquarters, 4034 Fairview Industrial Dr., SE, Salem, OR 97302.
Entries can be mailed or hand delivered. If you hand-deliver your entry, call ahead to make arrangements at 503-947-6314.
Here’s a look at the three categories:
Habitat Conservation Stamp
Art entries must feature a “Strategy Species” identified in the Oregon Conservation Strategy in its appropriate habitat. Not all species in the strategy are eligible, so use the qualifying list of species.
See contest rules and entry form for more information and a list of eligible species at
https://www.dfw.state.or.us/conservationstrategy/habitat_conservation_stamp.asp.
Waterfowl Stamp Contest
Art entries must feature one of the following species in its natural habitat setting: Ring-necked Duck, White-winged Scoter, or Barrow’s Goldeneye.
See contest rules and entry form for more information at
https://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/waterfowl/contest/index.asp.
Upland Game Bird Stamp Contest
Art entries must feature California Quail in its natural habitat setting.
See contest rules and entry form for more information at https://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/upland_bird/contest/index.asp
Artists should not the highlighted new for 2025 information in the contest rules and the final page for packaging tips.
A panel will judge artwork based on artistic composition, anatomical accuracy of the species and general appeal.
Collector’s stamps, art prints and other promotional materials are produced from first-place artwork. Proceeds from product sales are used for habitat improvement, research surveys and conservation projects.
Interested artists are encouraged to visit ODFW’s stamp art competition website for more information on the contests and to view entries from previous years. https://www.dfw.state.or.us/stamp_contest/index.asp
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
