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
Monday, March 4, 2024
Willamette Valley Weather
EPD Investigating Suspect Pursuit Ending in Fatal Vehicle-Train Crash
At approximately 7:50 a.m., Sunday, March 3, an Oregon State Trooper stopped to contact the driver of a potentially disabled/illegally parked vehicle near the north end of the Eugene Airport on Greenhill Road. During the contact, the trooper discovered the driver had been out of compliance with sex offender registration since 2019.
When other troopers arrived to arrest the suspect, he didn’t comply, but fled in his vehicle. The OSP troopers lost sight of the suspect’s vehicle. The suspect was going eastbound and attempted to cross the railroad tracks at E. Meadow View Road, just west of Prairie Road, but collided with an oncoming, northbound Amtrack train.
The suspect is deceased, and Lane County Medical Examiner has responded. Eugene Police Major Collision Investigation team has also responded to the scene to investigate the crash. There were no injuries to the train’s passengers or crew. The train has been delayed due to the crash response and investigation. Case 24- 03200
02/28/24 – LCSO Case #23-3027 – Lane County Man Convicted of Attempted Murder
In June 2023, Lane County Sheriff’s Office Deputies and Detectives followed an anonymous tip to the 23000 block of Green Creek Road, Elmira. The tip indicated Jason Scott Page was at a residence in the area. Page was wanted by LCSO for several crimes including Attempted Murder.
A sergeant observed Page leaving in a vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. Page fled the stop on foot before shooting at deputies. After a brief exchange of gunfire, Page was taken into custody unharmed.
On February 28th, 2024, Page pled guilty to Attempted Murder, Assault in the First Degree, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver, and Reckless Driving. Page was sentenced to 10 years in the Oregon Department of Corrections.
Early Morning House Fire in Sweethome
At 4:13 AM Sunday morning Sweet Home Fire District responded to an early morning fire, finding a well involved structure with flames coming from the middle of the home and breaching the roof. Crews battled the blaze and was able to control it within the hour. All residents were outside safely prior to Fire Dept. arrival due to smoke detectors and a barking dog.
The fire damaged an outside service area, an enclosed garage and parts of the interior of the home. A second alarm was called for additional resources. Lebanon Fire District and Halsey Fire Dept. responded with crews. 6 pieces of apparatus responded to the scene with 17 personnel.
Eugene Police’s Street Crimes Unit Arrests Two Local Residents in Forgery Investigation
On February 29, Eugene Police’s Street Crimes Unit served a search warrant with EPD SWAT, Drones, and CNT teams in the 3600 block of West 13th Avenue.
The search warrant was the culmination of a forgery investigation and evidence seized included forged U.S. currency, printers, and ink. Christian Ronald Batchelder, age 31, and Emma Joy Connelly, age 24, both Eugene residents, were arrested and lodged at the Lane County Jail on charges of Forgery in the First Degree.
Eugene Police’s Street Crimes Unit is funded by Community Safety Payroll Tax. SCU partners with other services to help solve issues, maximize services, and meet community needs. The tax was passed to provide funds to support the Community Safety System. Funding will help provide faster, more efficient safety responses, deter crime, connect people to services, engage and help at-risk youth, support more investigations, and court services, and hold those who commit crimes accountable. https://www.eugene-or.gov/3946/Community-Safety-Initiative
The SCU focuses on prolific offenders, who are identified through intelligence-based policing, public tips, and other sources. They proactively respond across the city to quality-of-life issues as they arise, using all available resources and partners such as community groups, neighborhood associations and city services. SCU is dedicated to targeting immediate and acute community safety system issues while working toward mission-critical enhancements that need to be addressed through a longer-term and broader community safety initiative. https://www.eugene-or.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=6448
City Receives $2.7 Million for Amazon Creek Remediation
The City has been awarded $2.7 million in a Federal Emergency Management Agency Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant for a project that will return portions of Amazon Creek to a natural stream, providing resilience to the channel for decades to come.
The work will include removing the 65-year-old concrete channel of Amazon Creek that runs through Amazon Park from East 24th Avenue to East 20th Avenue. The bank of the creek will be sloped and replanted with native species, and a footbridge will be reconstructed south of 20th Avenue. The grant application was submitted in August 2020.
“Although we are excited to rebuild a section of Amazon Creek with a nature-based solution in the heart of Eugene, the project ultimately removes a potential hazard should the concrete channel eventually fail,” said project manager Sean Kovensky, a civil engineer with City of Eugene Public Works.
The section of the creek that will see remediation is within a major city park and adjacent to a high school, a middle school and a much-beloved trail system that often is used for educational purposes. The full cost of the project is estimated at $3.6 million. The FEMA grant will cover 75%; according to the grant, the remaining 25% must come from local sources, and in this case it’s coming from the stormwater utility fund, stormwater system development charges, and the 2018 Parks and Recreation Bond.
Learn more about the vision for Amazon Creek and Amazon Park on the city web page.
Downtown Springfield Could Soon be Added to Eugene PeaceHealth Bike Share system
Eugene’s PeaceHealth Bike Share program could soon expand to downtown Springfield.
Springfield leaders hope doing so would create a connection to the University of Oregon and could encourage visits. Right now, users are penalized for leaving bikes outside the official rideshare area, said Andrew Larson, transportation planner for the city of Springfield.
“There is data that shows that there are anywhere between 50 to 75 trips during summer months through Springfield,” Larson said, “but those trips cannot stop here without being charged $25.”
If City Council approves a three year pilot, Springfield would be allocated 25 bikes and riders would be able to leave bikes downtown without a fee.
Springfield city staff had initially proposed 100 bikes but scaled down the pilot after several council members raised concerns about costs.
During a city council meeting Monday, Mayor Sean VanGordon said he plans to support the scaled down plan, but would like to see regular reports on how many people are using bike share in Springfield.
“When we’ve got businesses downtown saying this helps them do business, that’s a good thing.” he said. “And if it makes it easier for people to get to Springfield and spend money, that’s a good thing.”
City Council President Joe Pishioneri said he still has concerns about cost and financial sustainability, saying numbers from the city of Eugene show the program costs more than it brings in from user fees.
Springfield’s share of the expansion is $16,558. The city of Eugene is also increasing its number of bikes. Eugene, Lane Transit District, and some outside groups and private sponsors are sharing the cost of increasing bike share access.
Larson said the bike share expansion pilot will go to a formal city council vote in April. He said Cascadia Mobility, the nonprofit that operates bike share, could roll out the program later that month. (SOURCE) PeaceHealth Rides
City of Eugene Opens Applications for Exemptions to Support Building Local Affordable Housing
Qualified local affordable housing projects can now apply for exemptions from local system development charges (SDCs) during the building permit process. Applications are available online and must be submitted by April 26, 2024. The SDC exemptions can go toward smaller single-unit projects, like accessory dwelling units or homes built for ownership, or toward larger, multi-unit housing projects.
Funding will be prioritized based on several criteria including the percentage of units serving the lowest income households and the percentage of units that are accessible to people with disabilities.
Each year, the City of Eugene supports the creation of more local housing that is affordable to people with lower incomes through the SDC exemption program. SDC exemptions can be used for rental housing for households earning 60% of the area median income (AMI) or below (50,580 for a family of four); or for homeownership housing for households earning 80% AMI or below (67,450 for a family of four).
Exemptions are limited, and the amount applied for often exceeds the amount available. For fiscal year (FY) 2024, approximately $824,046 is available for SDC exemptions. Half of the funding will be awarded to rental housing developments and half will go to home ownership developments. If the proposals awarded in one category do not use all the exemptions available for that category, the remaining SDC exemptions will be awarded in the other category.
To help provide a clear framework and process for projects interested in getting SDC exemptions, the City will be using a request for proposal (RFP) process to allocate funds. The RFP will collect information to help prioritize funding for projects that:
- offer the highest percentage of units serving the lowest income households.
- provide more than 5% of units to be accessible for people with physical disabilities.
- commit to longer affordability periods than the minimum 5 years.
- provide the most units within their category (rental or home ownership).
- provide housing affordable to low-income households in higher-income census tracts to support diverse housing opportunities.
Projects must:
- Be located in Eugene city limits.
- Have control of the property and be ready to start construction within 12 months of approval.
- Meet affordability criteria outlined in the application.
- Apply prior to permits being issued (SDC exemptions cannot be applied after permits are issued).
- Submit a complete application by the deadline.
The Request for Proposals is an open, competitive process. Proposals are reviewed, scored, and ranked based on the information provided in the application. More information on the Request for Proposal process and application is available online.
The City of Eugene began offering System Development Charge (SDC) exemptions in 1998 to support the creation of housing that was affordable to lower-income households. Since that time, the program has supported the creation of more than 1,490 affordable homes in Eugene with $6.6 million in exemptions and fee assistance. https://www.eugene-or.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=6447
02/23/24 – LCSO Case #24-0931 – Deputies Assist Lane County Animal Services with Animal Rescue, Cite Owner
Last Friday, Deputies responded with Lane County Animal Services to an address in the 34400 block of Highway 58. LCAS had received complaints of malnourished animals from area residents. The owner of the animals, Raina McKenzie Ott, was known to be on probation from a 2020 conviction for 11 counts of Animal Neglect in the Second Degree in which she was sentenced to 60 months of probation.
While LCAS typically does initial contact on animal neglect cases, LCSO assisted due to the likely probation violation and criminal neglect of the animals.
Deputies contacted Ott at the residence and discovered several malnourished cows and emaciated companion animals living in deplorable conditions. Several decomposing cow carcasses were also found. LCAS rehoused the companion animals and is working with Ott to remove the remaining cows from the property. Possession of the cows and companion animals was in violation of her probation as well.
Ott was cited in lieu of custody for Animal Neglect in the First Degree, Animal Neglect in the Second Degree, and Contempt of Court.
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.
Oregon Senators Announce $27 Million To Support Pacific Salmon Recovery
On Thursday, Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced an investment of $27 million from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to help support recovery efforts for Pacific salmon populations.
A joint release said the federal funds are available due to the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act.
This investment builds on several projects Senator Wyden has supported, including a $2.5 million grant in 2022 to replace larger culverts on five rivers in the Tillamook Bay basin to increase salmon and other fish habitat.
Wyden said, “This federal investment is going to go a long way in making sure the salmon, which is so central to our culture and economies here in Oregon, recover from the population decline we have seen year after year”. Wyden said, “We have much work to do, but these actions will help build on the past successful projects such as restoring spawning grounds, establishing a Salmon Superhighway, and easing stress on migration routes”.
Merkley said, “The health of communities across Oregon goes hand-in-hand with the health of our state’s waterways, fish habitats and infrastructure”. Merkley said, “These federal investments will support initiatives to help strengthen natural infrastructure and reconnect fish habitats and migration routes – initiatives critical to boosting salmon recovery efforts and investing in the long-term viability of Oregon’s coastal communities”.
The release said additional funding is allocated to research projects that will benefit salmon populations and recovery efforts. These investments by NOAA from the Inflation Reduction Act amount to a total investment of $42 million nationally to address issues with salmon populations and restoration programs. (SOURCE)
ODF sends Strike Team to Assist in Texas Wildfires
SALEM, Ore. – Today the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) deployed a strike team to Amarillo, Texas to assist in their wildfire suppression efforts. The strike team is equipped with five engines and a strike team leader, with a total of 16 firefighters traveling down to the state.
The firefighters are going to Texas under mutual assistance agreements, making it easier to share resources. When wildfire activity is low in Oregon, firefighters can be spared to help in other places experiencing high levels of wildfire response.
“We’re ready and willing to help whenever we receive the call from one of our partner states,” said Chris Cline, ODF’s Interim Fire Protection Division Chief. “It’s the right thing to respond when someone is in a time of need, and we are honored to have the opportunity to serve.”
So how does Oregon send resources to help other states? This is all done through mutual assistance agreements creating a cache of reciprocal resources and a larger more comprehensive fire management system. In this system, Oregon does not only send out resources, but also receives and has received helpful resources when local capacity becomes overwhelmed.
“The relationships built through our assistance in other states not only benefits them, but also Oregonians as we reach out for help when our fire season hits its peak.” Cline explained. In the 2023 fire season, Oregon received 173 out-of-state firefighters.
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 keep their skills sharp so they can come back to Oregon with new knowledge that can be applied to our future fire seasons.
More than 200 firefighters attend Winter Fire School training in Salem
More than 200 career and volunteer firefighters from nearly 100 fire agencies throughout Oregon attended the 19th annual Winter Fire School at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25, 2024.
The two-day event was hosted by the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) and included nine classes offered by the National Fire Academy, DPSST, and the City of Dallas Fire & EMS Department. Attendees included firefighters from city and tribal fire departments, fire districts, and wildland firefighters.
Classroom training sessions covered a wide range of topics including leadership, incident command, health and safety programs, tactical decision making, fire prevention education, and community risk reduction. The event also included hands-on training sessions on vehicle extrication, flammable gas and liquid emergencies, extinguishing vehicle fires, forceable entry, firefighter safety and survival, pumper operator simulations, and heavy vehicle operation.
Winter Fire School is offered free of charge and is held over the weekend to accommodate the schedules of volunteers who comprise most of the Oregon fire service.
“DPSST is proud to put on the annual Winter Fire School, which is the Fire Program’s biggest event of the year,” said Kayla Ballrot, DPSST’s interim Fire Program Manager. “Oregon’s firefighters will apply the knowledge gained from this weekend’s event, from hands-on classes to leadership training, to make their communities safer places to live. We received great student and instructor feedback and are already looking forward to next year.”
### About DPSST
The mission of the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) is to pursue excellence in training and accountability for public safety professionals. DPSST certifies and licenses police, corrections, and parole and probation officers, as well as regulatory specialists, emergency telecommunicators and medical dispatchers, criminal justice instructors, private security providers, private investigators, fire service professionals and polygraph examiners in the State of Oregon. DPSST works with public and private safety agencies around the state to provide basic, leadership and specialized training at the 237-acre Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem and regionally throughout the state.
USDA Issues Secretarial Natural Disaster Designation for Impacted Oregon Counties
Farmers in eligible counties have until October to apply for emergency loansSalem, OR—Today, Governor Tina Kotek announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has determined that losses during the 2023 crop year due to multiple weather events in nine counties across the state warrant a Secretarial natural disaster designation.
This determination was made in response to a September 2023 request from Governor Kotek that outlined the impacts of the weather events, such as the Oregon cherry harvest. The available harvest data showed a 35% loss due to poor fruit set.
“Oregon farmers faced serious economic losses during last year’s crop season,” Governor Kotek said. “Our agriculture community is invaluable to Oregon, feeding families across the state. This designation is critical to ensure that farmers are able to receive support from the federal government in recuperating those losses.”
Under the first designation, defined as excessive rain that occurred starting on July 7, 2023, Hood River County is listed as a primary county. Clackamas, Multnomah and Wasco counties have been designated as contingent counties.
Under the second designation, defined as drought, excessive heat, and high winds that occurred from July 5-15, 2023, Wasco County is listed as a primary county. Clackamas, Gilliam, Hood River, Jefferson, Marion, Sherman and Wheeler counties have been designated as continent counties. Farmers may be able to apply for loans if they produce crops in any of the primary or contingent counties included in the designation.
A Secretarial disaster designation makes farm operators in primary counties and those counties contiguous to such primary counties eligible to be considered for certain assistance from the Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met. This assistance includes FSA emergency loans.
The USDA issued this Secretarial disaster declaration on February 23, 2024. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of a Secretarial disaster declaration to apply for emergency loans. FSA considers each emergency loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of production losses on the farm and the security and repayment ability of the operator. Local FSA offices can provide affected farmers with further information.
Oregon Department of Human Services’ Office of Resilience and Emergency Management is announcing the opening of the Resilience Hubs and Networks grant
Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Office of Resilience and Emergency Management (OREM) is announcing the opening of the Resilience Hubs and Networks grant. This funding is intended to support communities and individuals as they work to prepare for disasters and emergencies.
“I’m excited that OREM, through the Oregon Legislature, can offer this funding. I know that communities across the state work every day to prepare for emergencies. This funding is intended to support and enhance that work,” said Ed Flick, OREM director.
A resilience hub is a location where people come together daily to share resources, support one another and find resources during emergencies. A resilience network is an association of facilities, organizations, resource providers or service providers outside of a physical resilience hub facility that collectively serve the purposes of a resilience hub.
Anyone who supports a resilience hub or network can apply for this grant funding. Communities who are traditionally underserved and/or are disproportionately impacted by emergencies are encouraged to apply. Applicants are encouraged to provide the exact address of their hub or network. Socioeconomic and demographic information about the community surrounding that address will be used to score applications. A total of $10,000,000 is available.
The application closes April 30, 2024.
OREM will host two information sessions to answer questions about the grant and the application process. These sessions are open to the public and all prospective grant applicants. These sessions will take place on:
- February 29, 2024 11:00 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
- March 12, 2024 9:30 – 11:00 A.M.
More information about these information sessions and a link to the application can be found at https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/emergency-management/Pages/resilience-grants.aspx
Questions about this grant opportunity can be sent to emgrants@odhs.oregon.gov“>oremgrants@odhs.oregon.gov.
The Oregon Employment Department’s website will go online again at 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 lawmakers could have up to $1.7 billion may be available for housing, addiction
Oregon lawmakers will have hundreds of millions of dollars to spend over the next year after another positive economic forecast released recently.
Lawmakers were eagerly anticipating the forecast, which came three days into the 35-day legislative session, as they fine-tune plans to spur housing production, boost homeless shelters and expand addiction treatment.
The forecast projects an ending balance of $1.66 billion in June 2025 based on current figures, or $1.34 billion assuming a transfer to the state’s rainy day fund. Sen. Elizabeth Steiner, the Portland Democrat who co-chairs the budget-writing Joint Ways and Means Committee, told the Capital Chronicle via text Wednesday that she was still parsing the numbers to determine just how much lawmakers can afford to spend in the current legislative session.
There are plenty of demands for that money. Gov. Tina Kotek is seeking $500 million to spur housing production and help the state meet her goal of building 36,000 homes annually, nearly double the number it’s built in recent years. Her plan will have its first public hearing on Thursday. She also wants another $100 million for homelessness, including $65 million to keep existing shelters operating and $35 million for rent assistance.
“It’s harder than ever for Oregonians to afford to live here, which is why we must take bold action on affordable housing,” Kotek said in a statement following the revenue forecast. “I look forward to working with legislators this session to make progress for Oregonians.”
Steiner said Monday lawmakers need to come up with a minimum of $78 million for a low-income child care program that instituted a waitlist last fall, while advocates say the true cost may be as high as $221 million.
Lawmakers working on expanding addiction treatment services haven’t yet shared how much they hope to spend, but growing those services will easily reach tens of millions of dollars, if not more. Just one aspect of the multifaceted plan, expanding transitional housing for people in recovery, carries a tentative price tag of $30 million.
Legislative leaders responded to the forecast with bipartisan cries for using the available money to spur housing and address addiction, though Republicans raised alarms about stagnant population growth. Oregon’s finances are stable now, but the state’s economy relies on new workers moving to Oregon as older workers retire.
“Republicans and Democrats are united in our commitment to increase housing supply and homelessness supports, helping families and individuals struggling with addiction and investing in Oregon’s future,” House Speaker Dan Rayfield, D-Corvallis, said in a statement. “This stable forecast coupled with a decade of good budgeting gives us the certainty and resources we need to invest in the priorities Oregonians care about most.” (SOURCE)
Santa Rosa Man Rescued by SAR After Following GPS to Avoid Travel Delays
AZALEA, Ore. – On March 2, 2024, shortly after midnight, Douglas County 9-1-1 received a text-to-911 from an individual stating he had gotten stuck in snow after following his GPS and was in need of assistance.
Deputies learned 34-year-old Juan Carlos Torres-Esquivel of Santa Rosa, California had purchased a 1996 Ford F150 in Corvallis and was enroute to his residence in Santa Rosa when he encountered weather related delays on I-5. Google maps recommended a detour which he selected that instructed him to take exit 88, drive east on Upper Cow Creek for approximately 13 miles, and turn south onto Snow Creek Rd.
Torres-Esquivel made it approximately 5 miles up Snow Creek Road before sliding the passenger side of the vehicle into a deep ditch and getting the vehicle stuck in approximately 24″ of snow. He was unprepared for the conditions and was unsuccessful in attempting to dig the vehicle out without a shovel.
Douglas County Search and Rescue was activated and responded to assist. SAR responded and was unable to make it to his location with the Snowcat due to a U-Haul truck being abandoned approximately 2 or 3 miles up Snow Creek Rd in the middle of the roadway. Members of the 4×4 team were able to maneuver around the U-Haul after airing down their tires and retrieved Torres-Esquivel.
Deputies provided Torres-Esquivel a courtesy ride to Seven Feathers.
The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind drivers of the dangers of blindly following GPS devices.
“GPS devices are often set to direct drivers through the fastest route to their destination. Oftentimes, this means direction through non-maintained road systems, including forest roads,” Lt. Brad O’Dell said. “Blindly following GPS navigation can potentially lead to dangerous situations and have serious consequences. Although travel delays can be disruptive, it is best to remain on routes that are maintained.”
The Medford Police Department is updating its criminal investigation of allegations of drug diversion at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center
The update follows a civil lawsuit filed this week by Idiart Law Group against the hospital and a former nurse. The lawsuit includes claims of personal injury and wrongful death of then 65-year-old Horace Wilson of Jacksonville in February 2022. It lists Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center (Asante) and its former nurse Dani Marie Schofield as co-defendants, claiming fentanyl intended for Wilson’s treatment was diverted from him and replaced with tap water, causing infection that led to his death.
s investigations examine cases of in-hospital infections at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center for possible criminal and civil recourse, one investigation by the state has been completed, with Asante’s help.
Oregon’s Occupational Safety and Health Division (OSHA) said it investigated Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center (ARRMC) water-based illness last spring. It also said its investigation started with concern from Asante staff.
OSHA Complaint No. 209463526 documentation shared with NewsWatch 12 via an open records request shows the initial “Hazard Description” for Asante as reported by staff to involve, “Recent bacterial contamination to ICU/IMCU (intensive care unit/intermediate care unit) department tap water. Unknown if other department’s water has been tested. An online water testing kit showed that the water is ‘highly likely that harmful bacteria are present’. Multiple staff in the department have reported new GI (gastro-intestinal/digestive) issues. Reports were made to the direct manager.”
“Learn and Earn” mobile education units to open new pathways to electrical careers for high school students in five southern Oregon counties
Support from Pacific Power, Pacific Power Foundation and IBEW Local 659 will ensure rural students from diverse backgrounds can access well-paying careers
Glide, Ore. (Feb. 29, 2024) — Four new “Learn and Earn” mobile education units will soon hit the roads that wind through southern Oregon, delivering new opportunities for well-paying electrical careers to rural high school students in small and outlying communities.
Each unit is a trailer the length of a large school bus, with learning and lab space inside for up to 15 students. Starting this fall, the units will deliver the Rural Electrical Pre-Apprenticeship – a Career and Technical Education course currently offered on-site at only two high schools – to students throughout Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Lake and Klamath counties.
The pre-apprenticeship launched at Glide High School in Douglas County in 2022 through a partnership between Pacific Power, the Pacific Power Foundation, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 659 and Crater Lake Electrical Training Center.
Recent contributions of $60,000 from Pacific Power, $40,000 from the Pacific Power Foundation and matching support from IBEW Local 659 helped unlock state and federal grants to fund the new mobile education units and expand the pre-apprenticeship to students who don’t typically have access to such opportunities during their school day.
Project partners shared the news about the “Learn and Earn” units at a student assembly Thursday at Glide High School, where 14 students completed the pre-apprenticeship last year.
“It’s common, especially in rural communities like Glide, for students to be unaware of higher-level job opportunities like electrical careers. We want to change that,” said Jeff Brown, a director at Pacific Power’s North Umpqua Hydroelectric Project, about 50 miles east of Glide. “By expanding this program to reach more students, we’re trying to remove barriers to opportunity for young people growing up in the rural areas that Pacific Power serves.”
Pre-apprenticeship removes barriers in rural communities — The Rural Electrical Pre-Apprenticeship, which is run by Crater Lake Electrical Training Center instructors, combines academics with hands-on learning to prepare students for apprentice electrician positions offered by trade unions and utilities. The course is open to all students, with an emphasis on recruiting women, students from Tribal communities, students of color and those from low-income backgrounds – all of whom are underrepresented in the skilled trades.
“We are thrilled to support the Crater Lake Electrical Training Center and local high schools in their efforts to prepare students from diverse backgrounds for energy-related careers. The utility industry needs them, and this is an excellent partnership to share these opportunities right here in their own communities,” said Sam Carter, Pacific Power regional business manager and a member of the Pacific Power Foundation’s Grant Champions committee.
Glide students on Thursday heard from Coby Pope, a 2023 Glide graduate, who landed a job with Pacific Power right out of high school, earning $37.03 per hour. Pope had his eyes opened to electrical careers as a pre-apprenticeship student at Glide, and the skills he gained helped him stand out in interviews. Of 50 applicants, he was one of four hired.
New units will deliver skills, exposure to electrical careers — The new “Learn and Earn” units will deliver the horizon-broadening experience that Pope had at Glide to potentially thousands more students throughout the region. Each unit will include mock framing inside so that students can practice bending conduit and running wire through walls. At least two of the units will have solar panels and handrails on the roof so that students can learn about renewable energy generation.
The job outlook for electricians overall is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations over the next decade, according to federal labor statistics. Some southern Oregon students have already been exposed to electrical careers because their parents or other relatives work in the skilled trades, including at Pacific Power projects in the region. It’s important to ensure that students without those connections have access to the same opportunities to build a stable, well-paying career, according to Lance Corley, training director at Crater Lake Electrical Training Center in Medford.
The four “Learn and Earn” units are being assembled by Transport Custom Designs, a Pennsylvania company. The first unit is expected to be on the road in southern Oregon by September 2024.
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.
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
