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, April 3, 2024

Willamette Valley Weather

Eugene Police Department Warning Again   · Scam Alert – “Police Call”

We have received some calls about scammers stating they were with the Eugene Police Department and needed to speak with them about a legal matter or a warrant. The person calling identified themselves as an EPD sergeant by name. Please don’t fall for this. The scam has actually been around for a while and crops back up like a weed in our community. It is called the “Police Call” scam.

Often victims are told they are required to pay money to avoid criminal charges. They use the names of retired and current EPD officers and command staff, often calling from a spoofed number that looks like it’s coming from the police department including starting with ‘541.682’ and getting victims to pay through Apple Pay and Zelle. Victims could also be asked to pay through other means, such as cryptocurrency or gift cards.

Police caution the public to not fall for the “police call” scam. This is where an unknown suspect or suspects calls a victim’s cell phone or home phone, identifies themselves as police or an EPD officer (by name of a real officer working for EPD) and communicates with you about an issue, trying to scam you into parting with money, usually to avoid being arrested or having criminal charges.

This is a variation on other scams where victims report being called by the IRS, police or government agency, with the scammer demanding payment over the phone or face a warrant for arrest. These scams have at times had second calls that show the caller’s ID as ‘911’ or a police number, but these are spoof calls. Eugene Police would like to remind the public that EPD or any other government agency would never call someone and demand payment immediately, and do not call and advise people they have a warrant for their arrest.

There are so many scams out there. Many scams try to alarm you or scare you. Others just prey on your situation. A list of scams is provided on EPD’s website (http://www.eugene-or.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11128). This document covers some of the most common scams we’ve seen in our area, but new ones are popping-up all the time. It is easy to get taken in, even if you are usually suspicious of scams.

If you receive a phone call and recognize that the call is a scam, please hang up immediately and report the information to www.ic3.gov If you are the victim of a scam and have incurred a loss, please call the EPD non-emergency at 541.682.5111.

Lane County Sheriff’s Office —  · We will NEVER ask for money by phone, text, or email. We will NEVER call you about missed jury duty.

Our community continues to be targeted by phone scammers identifying themselves as employees of the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, typically claiming to be sergeants. 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. They often already have some personal information based on the phone number they called.

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.Please share with your friends and family!

Stay sharp and scam free! EPD CSO is offering scam prevention classes

Get ready to outsmart those scammers! Eugene Police Community Service Officer Colin Woolston has taken one too many scam reports. He says one was enough and has spent some time preparing a scam prevention training for EPD to offer for free to help safeguard residents from the pervasive and ever-changing world of scams. With scams evolving and proliferating in the digital age, these educational sessions aim to empower Eugene residents and groups with the latest in intel on scams, and with essential knowledge and strategies to identify, avoid, and report scams effectively.

CSO Woolston’s dedication to ensuring the safety and well-being of Eugene’s residents underscores the commitment of local law enforcement to serve and protect the community. The classes promise to equip attendees with the tools necessary to navigate the complex landscape of scams and frauds, fostering a stronger, more resilient Eugene community.To schedule a presentation by CSO Woolston, please email him at CWoolston@eugene-or.gov or call 541.682.5352.

Food Waste Prevention Week launches to champion regional food waste reduction efforts

Waste Wise Lane County—part of the Lane County Waste Management Division—and the City of Eugene are partnering with organizations and governments locally and nationwide during Food Waste Prevention Week (April 1-7) to reduce wasted food at home, work, and throughout Lane County communities. 

Efforts will focus on social media activities and outreach events in Eugene and Springfield in coordination with BRING and Sanipac. Additionally, mayors in Eugene and Springfield have made Food Waste Prevention Week proclamations.

Wednesday, April 3

PublicHouse, Springfield (418 A St.) | 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Enjoy live music, food, drink, and visit an information table staffed by local leaders from the City of Eugene, BRING, Sanipac, and Waste Wise Lane County, who will provide valuable insights on diverting food waste within our community.

Saturday, April 6

Lane County Farmers Market, Eugene (85 E 8th Ave) | 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Purchase fresh local produce, wares, delicious foods and stop by an information table staffed by local leaders from City of Eugene, BRING, Sanipac, and Waste Wise Lane County, who will share food waste diversion information.

“For people who worry about climate change, reducing food waste is one of the most powerful actions we can take to address the issue,” said Daniel Hiestand, Lane County waste reduction outreach coordinator. “It’s empowering to know that controlling what happens in your kitchen is not only great for the planet, it also saves money.”

Food waste facts

• Tackling wasted food is integrated into Lane County’s Climate Action Plan and Solid Waste Management Plan.
• Between 30 to 40 percent of food grown in the U.S. goes uneaten, and wasted food makes up nearly 20 percent of Lane County’s garbage stream.
• A family of four can save an average of nearly $2,000 annually by eating all the food they buy. 
• In Oregon, as much as 70 percent of all discarded food might have been eaten if it was stored well, not forgotten, or frozen for later use.
• In the U.S., one in five people lacks consistent access to nutritious food, while up to 3 million tons of wasted food goes to landfills annually.

Follow the campaign on WasteWise Lane County’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

About Waste Wise Lane County – Waste Wise Lane County offers education, tools, and resources that residents, schools, and businesses can use to reduce waste, conserve resources, and live more sustainably. Learn more about Waste Wise Lane County tips to curb wasted food at www.eatsmartwasteless.tips.

About City of Eugene Waste Prevention and Green Building – The City of Eugene Waste Prevention Program is dedicated to promoting sustainable waste management practices and fostering community partnerships to create a cleaner, healthier, and more prosperous environment for all residents. Through its regulatory oversight, educational initiatives, and community outreach efforts, the program strives to advance conservation as an essential community value and inspire collective action toward a greener future.  Learn more at www.eugenerecycles.org.

About Food Waste Prevention Week – From education to government agencies to nonprofits, Food Waste Prevention Week represents a variety of stakeholders across the food and environmental education sectors that share a passion for conserving food, saving families money, and supporting a healthier environment. Learn more at www.foodwastepreventionweek.com.

The young black bear spotted around Cottage Grove over the last month has been located by authorities and killed.

Oregon State Police were called to a front porch on South 22nd Street just after 10:30 p.m. on April 1 for a report of a black bear. According to the OSP dispatch logs, a trooper noted he was able to approach the bear and confirm it was “completely habituated and was not afraid of humans.”

The trooper noted that based on that fact and the fact that residents of Cottage Grove have been hand-feeding the bear, causing a nuisance, the bear was killed at the request of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

ODFW District Biologist Christopher Ye said the bear was first spotted in town on March 5. ODFW worked with Cottage Grove police to warn residents not to feed the bear, which turns a wild animal into a domestic one. Some residents, Ye said, heeded that advice while others did not. The intentional feeding of the bear by the public, he said, created a public safety threat, as the bear became accustomed to people, cornering residents on porches and sleeping in front of doors.

“It really forced our hand to do what we had to do,” Ye said. “And it’s a real shame.” The bear’s carcass is now being brought to the state’s veterinary office for an exam.

The bear had been spotted all over Cottage Grove the past month, with folks posting pictures of the bear on social media, encouraging residents to call and report the bear with hopes it would be relocated.

Ye said in the state of Oregon, however, problem bears are not relocated. “Once they are habituated, they do not lose that behavior,” Ye said.

He said they either find their way back to where they were, or they repeat that behavior in campgrounds or other areas where people are. PLEASE Don’t FEED the BEARS

Eugene Police’s Street Crimes Unit arrests man after trailer shop search warrant

At around 5:30 p.m. on March 26, Eugene Police Street Crimes Unit served a search warrant for possession and delivery of methamphetamine at Wheeless Trailer Sales, 3560 Main Street, Springfield. SCU had been investigating a long-time employee, 51-year-old Grant Wayne Wheeless, who lives on the property in an attached apartment.

During the warrant service SCU located more than 3.4 pounds of suspected methamphetamine, more than $11,000 in cash, five operational digital scales with crystal residue on the weighing surface, various-sized unused plastic baggies (Packaging), and a stolen rifle. Wheeless was charged with Manufacture, Delivery, and Possession of Methamphetamine (Commercial Drug Offense) and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Case 24-04009

SCU partners with other services to help solve issues, maximize services, and meet community needs. The Community Safety Payroll 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.

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.

Trauma Intervention Programs of Lane County Needs Volunteers

Trauma Intervention Programs of Lane County (TIP) is actively recruiting for volunteers. TIP volunteers are called by law enforcement, fire, medical and hospital personnel to respond to scenes of sudden or unexpected death (natural, homicide, suicide, accidental, infant) industrial accidents, sexual assaults, overdoses, violent crime and other traumatic incidents to provide immediate emotional and practical support to families, friends, witnesses and survivors. By ensuring those who are emotionally traumatized in emergencies receive the immediate assistance they need, TIP volunteers make an invaluable contribution to the health and well-being of Lane County. 

TIP wants volunteers of all different backgrounds who can pass a background check and are interested in helping provide needed support alongside first responders. For those interested in becoming a volunteer, TIP is holding a series of spring training opportunities dubbed the TIP Training Academy. The Academy is held at Eugene Police Department, located at 300 Country Club Road in Eugene. A full list of Academy training times is available below, or on the TIP website, www.tiplanecounty.org

For more information or to sign-up for an Academy training time, please contact Bridget Byfield, Director, TIP of Lane County at bridget@tiplanecounty.org or 541-286-6416.

TIP Spring Training Academy

The Academy is held at Eugene Police Dept.

300 Country Club Road, Eugene

 Thursday…….April 4………………6:30 pm -09:30 pm

Friday………..April 5………………6:00 pm -09:00 pm

Saturday…….April 6………………9:00 am -05:00 pm

Sunday……….April 7………………9:00 am -02:00 pm

Wednesday….April 10…………….6:00 pm -09:00 pm

Thursday…….April 11…………….6:00 pm -09:00 pm

Friday………..April 12…………….6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Saturday…….April 13…………….9:00 am – 03:00 pm

Career Fair Invitation at Emerald’s Home Games

You’re invited to table at our Region’s next Career Fair. We are hosting two career fairs at Emeralds home games on Wednesday, April 17th, and Sunday, August 18th at PK Park in Eugene. Parking and game tickets will be FREE to anyone who mentions the Career Highlight Night at the Box Office. To reserve a space is $300 for one of the days or both days for $400. To register please visit the event page: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/career-highlight-night-tickets-863277545377

To logon to iMatchSkills click the iMatchSkills link on www.Employment.Oregon.gov. You may call your local WorkSource Oregon Employment Department office at (541) 686-7601 for further assistance. TTY/TDD – dial 7-1-1 toll free relay service access free online relay service at: https://www.sprintip.com. Llame al 7-1-1 para asistencia gratuita TTY/TDD para personas con dificultades auditivas. Obtenga acceso gratis en Internet por medio del siguiente sitio: https://www.sprintip.com.

WorkSource Oregon is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services, alternate formats and language services are available to individuals with disabilities and limited English proficiency free of cost upon request. WorkSource Oregon es un programa que respeta la igualdad de oportunidades. Disponemos de servicios o ayudas auxiliares, formatos alternos y asistencia de idiomas para personas con discapacidades o conocimiento limitado del inglés, a pedido y sin costo.

LCOG Senior & Disability Services requests community input for future planning

EUGENE, Oregon – Senior & Disability Services, a division of Lane Council of Governments (LCOG), is collecting information to learn about the needs of people with disabilities, older adults, and their caregivers. The survey is available online and in hard copy at all S&DS offices. It will remain open through June 12, 2024.  

Link to survey: http://tinyurl.com/SDS2024CommunityNeeds  

The information gathered through this survey will be used by LCOG Senior & Disability Services to identify gaps, leverage resources, and prioritize services. The strategic plan that will be created to meet the needs identified in this survey will be called the 2025-2029 Senior & Disability Services Area Plan. It is a requirement under the Older Americans Act (OAA).

The OAA stipulates that a multi-year, comprehensive Area Plan be developed for each planning and service area. The Community Needs Assessment, along with various data from the US Census, focus groups, current service levels, and information from key stakeholders helps inform specific service goals and objectives for the next four years.  

Community members who need to take this survey in another language or need any other accommodation or assistance, please call 541-682-4512.

Senior & Disability Services is the designated Area Agency on Aging for Lane County, Oregon and provides services, information, and assistance to Lane County’s older adult population, adults with physical disabilities, and their caregivers. To learn more about Senior & Disability Services, please visit their website at www.lcog.org/sdslane.  

MORE INFO: https://www.lcog.org/sdslane/page/senior-disability-services-seeks-input-future-planning

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. 

Best Places To Watch The 2024 Solar Eclipse In And Around Eugene

The partial eclipse over Oregon on April 8 from beginning to end will be just shy of of two hours, beginning around 10:30 a.m. until about 12:15 p.m.

Peak coverage in Oregon will range from 11:20 to 11:30 a.m. when the sun is pretty high, so we should be able to see the eclipse pretty much anywhere, weather permitted.

Among the places that should be popular viewing areas in and around Eugene are:

• Skinner’s Butte in Eugene.
• Spencer Butte south of Eugene.
• College Hill Reservoir on Lawrence Street between 24th and 25th avenues in Eugene.

“You don’t need to go on top of the mountains or anything, but maybe on top of a hill … anywhere that you’ve got a nice, open view of the southern sky,” said University of Oregon astronomy professor Scott Fisher.

Because Oregon is already so far from this eclipse’s path of totality, Fisher said there’s also no need drive any where for a better view. Across the entire state, the difference in percent coverage at peak is only about 5%.

“We’re sort of out on the fringe of the eclipse this time where we’re only getting this sort of 25% coverage,” he said.

The entire partial eclipse from start to finish will be about three hours in Oregon. The moon will begin covering the sun at about 10:30 a.m. and move away at about 12:15 p.m.

Viewers in Eugene will see a peak of 24% coverage at 11:23 a.m. In Salem, the peak will be at 11:24 a.m. Across all of Oregon, the peak will range from around 11:20 to 11:30 a.m.

Weather permitting, the sun will be high in the sky at the time of the eclipse, however, cloud coverage could affect the viewing experience. According to the National Weather Service, both the Eugene and Salem areas are usually overcast 50% of the time in April and only clear about 10% of the time.

NASA will have live coverage of the eclipse from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. as the eclipse travels through Mexico and across the United States.

Coverage will include live views across the path, expert commentary and live demonstrations

Solar Eclipse Viewing Safety Tips

• Never look directly at the sun without proper eye protection, as it is harmful to your eyes at any time during a partial eclipse.
• Regular sunglasses, no matter how dark tinted, are not safe for viewing.
• Eclipse glasses are the best option. Be sure they are made by companies recommended by the American Astronomical Society and NASA certified. These glasses should have the International Organization for Standardization icon and must have the ISO reference number 12312-2.
• Always inspect your eclipse glasses or handheld viewer before use. If torn, scratched or otherwise damaged, discard the device.
• Without eclipse glasses, a simple and safe way to view the eclipse is to watch the sun’s image projected onto a piece of paper. Poke a small hole in an index card with a pencil point, face it toward the sun and hold a second card 3 or 4 feet behind it in its shadow. You will see a projected image of the sun on the second card.
• Do not look at the sun through a camera lens, telescope, binoculars or any other optical device while wearing eclipse glasses or using a handheld solar viewer, as the concentrated solar rays will burn through the filter and cause serious eye injury. These require different types of solar filters that attach to the front of the device.

https://www.newsbreak.com/eugene-or/3386582761913-best-places-to-watch-the-2024-solar-eclipse-from-in-and-around-eugene

This April: U Drive. U Text. U Pay National High Visibility Enforcement Mobilization

U Drive. U Text. U Pay is a campaign Oregon Department of Transportation is bringing to the state. April is Oregon Impact’s “Distracted Driving Awareness Month” and Eugene Police Traffic Safety Unit and others across the state will be conducting special enforcement this April to make the roads safer and reinforce safer driving behavior.

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Eugene Police, in alignment with this, will be providing education and enforcement to focus on how dangerous it is to drive distracted. Eugene Police Traffic Safety Unit will conduct several enforcements in April and will be posting for overtime enforcement throughout the month to support these efforts.

When someone diverts their attention from driving to something else, they are in the danger zone – for crashes, and for citations. It is illegal in Oregon to drive while holding or using an electronic device (e.g. cell phone, tablet, GPS, laptop). There are some exceptions, but for the most part, it’s best just to turn off your device when you are driving. Distracted driving is one of the fastest growing safety issues on the roads today. Distracted drivers are not just a threat to themselves; they are a danger to everyone else on the road.

The national distracted driving effort focuses on ways to change the behavior of drivers through legislation, enforcement, public awareness, and education. Resource page: https://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/…/u-drive-u-text…

Here are a few cases where the law does not apply:

• When using hands-free or built-in devices, if you are 18 years of age or older.

• Use of a single touch or swipe to activate or deactivate the device.

• When parked safely, i.e., stopped in a designated parking spot. – However, it is NOT legal to use the device when stopped at a stop light, stop sign, in traffic, etc.

• While providing or summoning medical help and no one else is available to make the call.

• Police, fire, EMS providers in the scope of employment, (can include when in a personal vehicle if, for example, when responding to an emergency call).

 • To truck or bus drivers following the federal rules for CDL holders.

• When using a two-way radio if you are a CB user, school bus driver, utility truck driver in scope of employment.

• If you are a HAM radio operator age 18 years or older.

Violations: A first offense that doesn’t contribute to a crash is a Class B violation and the Eugene fine is $300 or maximum fine of $1,000. A second offense, or if the first offense contributes to a crash, is Class A violation with a fine of $500 or maximum fine of $2,500. A third offense in ten years is a Class B misdemeanor and could result in a $6,250 fine and up to one year in jail.

For a first offense that does not contribute to a crash, the court may suspend the fine* if the driver completes an approved distracted driving avoidance class, and shows proof to the court, within four months. *Only the fine is suspended – the violation will still be recorded on the offender’s driving record.

Local Communities Connect to Prevent Food Waste in Oregon

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is once again excited to recognize National Food Waste Prevention Week. This year’s observance will span the week of April 1-7, 2024 and will feature a dynamic schedule of virtual and in-person educational events for a variety of audiences. Events include workshops, student art contests, food waste trivia and quizzes, upcycled food events, and a new video contest open to all kindergarten-12^th grade students and teachers in the State of Oregon. Partner organizations have the opportunity to utilize a robust communications toolkit with digital advertising materials, event and messaging templates, and more. This year’s partner resources also include many materials in Spanish.

“We’re so pleased to continue to support this major national event highlighting an issue of importance in the State of Oregon,” said Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Senior Policy and Program Analyst, Elaine Blatt. “The resources available through Food Waste Prevention Week really help us augment our outreach efforts for food waste education.”

The inaugural Food Heroes: Save Food, Save the Planet Video Contest will accept video entries until May 10, 2024. Students and teachers will create short videos with messages related to food waste and how to prevent waste in their communities and upload the video to an approved streaming platform through DEQ’s dontletgoodfoodgobad.org/contest website. Prizes for submissions include a $100 gift card for individuals, a $200 gift card for groups, and a $300 gift card for classrooms.

Additional virtual and in-person events around the State of Oregon will include, but are not limited to:

• Food Waste Prevention Week PublicHouse Event hosted by Lane County and City of Eugene
  • Date: April 3, 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
  • Location: PublicHouse, 418 A St #4606, Springfield, OR 97477
• Sustainable Living Series – Community Composting: A Hero for the Future hosted by Southern Oregon Food Solutions
  • Date: April 3, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
  • Location: 569 Hanley Rd, Central Point, OR 97502 (Auditorium)
• Come Mejor Ahorrando Más – Semana de Prevención de Desperdicio de Alimentos hosted by Washington County
  • Date: April 4, 6:00 p.m.
  • Location: Virtual Webinar
• Bread to Tap Event hosted by No Food Left Behind Corvallis, Old World Deli, Oregon Trails Brewery
  • Date: April 6, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Location: Old World Deli: 341 SW 2nd Street, Corvallis, OR 97333
• Food Waste Prevention Week Storytime hosted by the City of Gresham
  • Date: April 6, 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  • Location: Maggie Mae’s Bookshop: 50 NW 1^st St, Gresham, OR 97030
• Food Waste Prevention Week Lane County Farmers Market Booth hosted by Lane County and City of Eugene
  • Date: April 6, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  • Location: Lane County Farmer’s Market, 85 E 8th Ave, Eugene, OR 97401
• Umpqua Valley Farmers’ Market Booth hosted by Thrive Umpqua, Umpqua Valley Farm to School, HealTerra & Umpqua Valley Farmers’ Market
  • Date: April 6, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
  • Location: Umpqua Valley Farmers Market, 1771 W Harvard Ave, Roseburg, OR 97471
• Thrifty Gardening Workshop
  • Date: April 13, 1:00 p.m.
  • Location: Roseburg Senior Center, 1614 SE Stephens St, Roseburg, OR 97470
• Vermicomposting Workshop hosted by Thrive Umpqua, Umpqua Valley Farm to School, HealTerra & Umpqua Valley Farmers’ Market
  • Date: April 19, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Location: HealTerra, 13921 Glide Disposal Site Rd, Roseburg, OR 97470
• The Green Fork Initiative, a short film by Chef Andre Uribe of Rebel Root Films, hosted by Hillsboro Farmer’s Markets and Washington County
  • Date/Location: Individuals can use the link to view the film on Vimeo throughout Food Waste Prevention Week

OHCS celebrates April as Fair Housing Month

This month also marks 56 years since the passage of the Fair Housing Act

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) celebrates April as Fair Housing Month in Oregon following Governor Tina Kotek’s proclamation. The declaration recognizes the state’s continuous efforts to provide fair and equal housing opportunities to all.

“Celebrating Fair Housing Month is a reminder to uphold fairness and equity every day,” said Director Andrea Bell. “Fair housing ensures access to housing regardless of any outside biases or stereotypes, creating communities where all can thrive.”

Each April, OHCS along with fair housing advocates, communities, and organizations across Oregon recognize Fair Housing Month by hosting events to commemorate its significance and impact.

OHCS and the Fair Housing Council of Oregon are offering a series of fair housing trainings throughout 2024. These are free webinars for anyone interested in learning more about fair housing issues statewide and how to prevent illegal discrimination in Oregon. For more information about fair housing rights, visit the Fair Housing Council of Oregon website.

OHCS will also be posting fair housing resources throughout the month on social media.

This year’s commemoration coincides with the 56th anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the landmark civil rights law on April 11, 1968. It made discrimination in housing transactions unlawful. Fair housing guarantees that regardless of race, sex, national origin, religion, family situation, or level of ability, everyone has the right to housing that fits their needs.

Nationally, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) kicked off Fair Housing Month 2024 with this year’s theme, “The Act in Action.”

comunicado de prensa en español

About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS)  — OHCS is Oregon’s housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. For more information, please visit: oregon.gov/ohcs. 

Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade Launches Public Information Campaign for May Primary Election

With the May Primary Election right around the corner, the Secretary of State’s Office is launching a public information campaign aimed at providing Oregon voters with accurate and trusted information about elections.

“False information is as prolific as ever, meaning it’s more important than ever that Oregonians know where to get accurate information from a trusted source,” said Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade. “Voting in Oregon feels good, and this is just one way we’re spreading the word.”

This campaign is part of a larger initiative with the Secretary’s In Oregon, this campaign includes:

1. Continuing the success of our public service announcements done in partnership with Happylucky, a Portland-based design firm. These include animated videos, radio spots, and graphics for print and social media in the most commonly spoken languages in Oregon.

These PSAs are a fun way to inform voters with accurate information from an official, trusted source. In 2022, the campaign generated a 259% increase in the number of people visiting OregonVotes.gov. Research shows this approach can limit the impact of false information.

The latest PSA highlights all the ways we work to keep elections accurate, safe, and secure. Previous PSAs have shared information about closed primaries and the postmark rule. The Elections Division encourages media outlets to air these materials as part of the effort to combat false information.

The Legislature allocated $150,000 for the 2024 PSA campaign. The Secretary of State’s Office is working with Gard Communications on the PSAs, which launched today.

1. A social media campaign designed to reach voters with accurate information in easy to understand — and easy to share — formats. You can follow the campaign on the Election Division’s Facebook and Twitter.

The Elections Division continues to share plain language information on how elections in Oregon work and debunking common myths. The division’s website, OregonVotes.gov, is the best source of accurate information from a trusted source that strives to keep Oregonians informed and answer any questions.

What you need to know about the May 2024 primary election

• The deadline to register to vote, update your voter registration, or register with a political party is April 30, 2024.
• Both the Republican and Democratic parties in Oregon choose to hold closed primaries. That means you won’t see those candidates on your ballot unless you are a registered member of the party.
• Ballots will be sent out starting May 1, 2024.
• Election Day is May 21, 2024. Ballots must be received by 8 p.m. or postmarked on this day to be counted.
• Return your ballot in the mail, at a county clerk’s office, or at any of the secure, official drop boxes available throughout the state. Your ballot will be routed to the county in which you are registered to vote for processing.
• The postmark rule, passed in 2021, allows ballots postmarked on or before Election Day to count even if they are received up to seven days later. These ballots are not late — they were cast on time and will be counted alongside every other vote cast before 8 p.m. on Election Day. For this reason, election results may be delayed because it will take a few days for all the votes to be counted.
• Preliminary results will be available on the Secretary of State website starting at 8 p.m. on Election Day.
• The last day for the Secretary to certify election results is June 27, 2024.
• The 2024 elections will be the most secure elections in history. Learn all the ways we protect your vote at OregonVotes.gov/Integrity

Oregon to get portion of $21 billion for early and postsecondary education allocated by Congress

Education agencies, institutions and nonprofits in Oregon are slated to a portion of more than $21.3 billion from Congress for the current year.

The money is part of a $1.2 trillion federal spending package recently approved by Congress. It includes billions for child care, preschool, special education and higher education programs, as well as money for bolstering the workforce and health care projects, including in Oregon.

A news release from Oregon’s U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden said the money is aimed to help rural, coastal, and underserved communities in particular.

The funding follows the state’s short session that ended with little new money for education programs. Oregon’s 197 school districts got $30 million to fund summer school – $20 million less than Gov. Tina Kotek had requested – and $171 million for a program to help working parents afford childcare – $50 million less than what advocates had hoped. 

As part of the federal spending package, Oregon will get a portion of more than $8.7 billion in grants for child care centers and to help families with children younger than 6 – and whose income falls below 85% of the state’s median income – afford child care. In Oregon that would apply to household income of up to about $65,000 a year.

More than $12 billion will go to federal Head Start and Early Head Start child care and preschool programs for low-income families nationwide. The programs will get an additional $315 million to grow all manner of preschool programs. 

Nearly $376 million will be funneled into nonprofits, community colleges and universities to provide scholarships for migrant students and seasonal farmworkers and their children to pursue higher education or earn their GED, an alternative to a four-year high school diploma. In Oregon, money will flow to Oregon State University, Chemeketa Community College, Portland Community College and Treasure Valley Community College.

More than $14 billion is allocated for special education programs nationwide. It’s $20 million more than the Congress allocated during the 2023 fiscal year. 

Still, advocates said, it’s less than what is needed.

“While a $20 million increase in federal funding is welcome, the funding falls far short of what Congress promised in 1975 and what children with disabilities need today,” Jake Cornett, executive director of Disability Rights Oregon, said in an email. “When Congress passed the federal special education law it set a target of funding 40% of the average per-pupil cost, yet $14.2 billion in funding only represents 12%. Congress has got a long way to go to make good on their 40% goal.”

About $1.2 billion will go to federal TRIO programs that support first-generation college students and students from disadvantaged backgrounds, such as low-income and homeless students.

Merkley, a member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee since 2013, noted in the news release that he’s the first in his family with a college degree. 

“Merkley knows firsthand the value of this type of support and has been a fierce advocate for the funding,” the news release said. (SOURCE)

$6 Million Worth of Oregon Properties Forfeited in Connection to Interstate Marijuana Trafficking Organization

PORTLAND, Ore.—The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon announced today that it has forfeited on behalf of the United States 14 real properties located in Oregon—together worth more than $5.7 million—that were used by an interstate drug trafficking organization to illegally grow marijuana for redistribution and sale in other states. The owner of a 15th property agreed to pay the government $400,000 in lieu of having their property forfeited.

Beginning at an unknown time, and continuing until September 2021, the properties, located in Clatsop, Columbia, Linn, Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties, were used as illegal marijuana grow houses by an interstate drug trafficking organization led by Fayao “Paul” Rong, 53, of Houston, Texas. On July 19, 2023, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana, Rong was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.

“This prosecution and yearslong effort to forfeit properties used by the Rong organization to grow and process thousands of pounds of marijuana demonstrate the long reach of our commitment to holding drug traffickers accountable and mitigating the damage these criminal organizations inflict on neighborhoods and communities,” said Natalie Wight, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

“The goal of drug traffickers is to generate profits through their crimes,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Seattle Field Division. “The DEA and our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon and the Oregon State Police worked hard in this case to investigate and forfeit the ill-gotten gains of this organization, benefiting our entire community.”

“The Oregon State Police is committed to disrupting and dismantling drug trafficking organizations operating within our state. Our priorities include safeguarding Oregon’s natural resources and mitigating the impact illicit marijuana has on them,” said Tyler Bechtel, Oregon State Police (OSP) Lieutenant. “This case is a great example of the results that can be achieved when all levels of law enforcement work together toward our common goals.”

According to court documents, Rong purchased numerous residential houses in Oregon using several different identities and, with others in his organization, used them to grow and process marijuana and prepare it for transport to states where its use remains illegal. In a 12-month period beginning August 2020, Rong’s organization trafficked more than $13.2 million dollars in black market marijuana.

In early September 2021, a coordinated law enforcement operation led by DEA and OSP targeted Rong’s organization. Federal, state, and local law enforcement partners executed search warrants on 25 Oregon residences and Rong’s home in Houston. During the precipitating investigation and ensuing search warrants, investigators seized nearly 33,000 marijuana plants, 1,800 pounds of packaged marijuana, 23 firearms, nine vehicles, $20,000 in money orders, and more than $591,000 in cash.

The Rong organization takedown followed a 14-month investigation initiated by OSP after the agency learned of excessive electricity use at the various properties, which, in several instances, resulted in transformer explosions. Multiple citizen complaints corroborated law enforcement’s belief that Rong was leading a large black market marijuana operation. With the assistance of the Columbia and Polk County Sheriff’s Offices, OSP found associated marijuana grows in Clatsop, Columbia, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, and Polk Counties. On February 18, 2022, Rong was arrested by DEA agents in Houston.

This case was investigated by DEA, OSP, and the U.S. Marshals Service with assistance from the FBI; Homeland Security Investigations; Oregon Department of Justice; Portland Police Bureau; the Yamhill, Clatsop, Marion, Multnomah, Columbia, and Polk County Sheriff’s Offices; Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team; and Linn Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team. It was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. Forfeiture proceedings were handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Asset Recovery and Money Laundering Division.

The proceeds of forfeited assets are deposited in the Justice Department’s Assets Forfeiture Fund (AFF) and used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of other law enforcement purposes. To learn more about the AFF, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/afp/assets-forfeiture-fund-aff.

This prosecution is the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the U.S. by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Feds plan to kill half a million barred owls in West Coast states over the next three decades

A federal government plan for hunters to kill thousands of invasive owls to protect the rapidly declining northern spotted owl has ruffled the feathers of dozens of animal advocacy groups.

On Monday, a coalition of 75 animal rights and wildlife protection organizations sent a letter to U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland asking her to scrap what they describe as a “reckless plan” to wipe out half a million barred owls in West Coast states over the next three decades.

The letter, spearheaded by the Animal Wellness Action group and the Center for a Humane Economy, lambastes the plan for being unworkable and short-sighted, arguing that it will lead to the wrong owls being shot and disruption to nesting behavior.

“Implementing a decades-long plan to unleash untold numbers of ‘hunters’ in sensitive forest ecosystems is a case of single-species myopia regarding wildlife control,” states the letter, signed by Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action, and Scott Edwards, general counsel for the Center for a Humane Economy.

Federal wildlife officials believe the action is necessary to control the population of the barred owl — which they consider invasive — and give the threatened northern spotted owls a fighting chance on their home turf.

The proposal is also intended to prevent declines of the California spotted owl, which wildlife officials say is also facing encroachment from the larger, more aggressive barred owl in the Sierra Nevada.

“Extirpation of northern spotted owls from major portions of their historical range is likely in the near future without management of barred owls,” the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wrote in its proposal, citing a recent demographic analysis.

In 1990, northern spotted owls were listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act in 1990. They were listed as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act in 2016.

There’s broad agreement the native owls are at risk, but the animal rights organizations behind the opposition letter this week say killing barred owls is not the answer. Instead, the groups advocate for nonlethal means to protect the spotted owls, including safeguarding their habitat.

“The plan to kill barred owls is a colossally reckless action … it should be sidelined with all deliberate speed, and non-lethal management actions to protect spotted owls and their habitats should be made the priority actions.”

Not all wildlife protection groups agree, however.

Tom Wheeler, executive director of the Environmental Protection Information Center, called the letter criticizing the proposal to beat back barred owls “factually misleading” and “divorced from what’s actually being proposed.”

The letter reports that there will be “mistaken-identity kills,” potentially of the spotted owls they seek to protect, but Wheeler said the proposal outlines a strategy to avoid this.

Those opposing the plan also decry lead poisoning that could result from the shot used by hunters. According to Wheeler, the plan calls for the owl carcasses to be removed from the area where they’re shot. California has banned hunting with lead ammunition.

The proposal — which remains a draft — would not result in the immediate slaughter of barred owls.

Instead, it removes the permitting burden for others to remove the birds, Wheeler said.

Public land managers, such as the federal Fish and Wildlife Service and Forest Service, as well as private landowners, “will be able to more expeditiously engage in this activity,” he said.

Wheeler said he recognized the issue was morally fraught, but doesn’t feel there’s an alternative. If nothing is done to control the barred owls, he believes the northern spotted owl will go extinct in his lifetime.

His organization wants federal wildlife officials to take even more aggressive steps to stop the forward march of the invasive owls.

“We have a functional choice, which is the extinction of one species, or we could have both species continue to exist on the landscape,” he said. (SOURCE)

West Coast whale population recovers 5 years after hundreds washed up ashore

 Federal researchers indicate the gray whale population along the West Coast is showing signs of recovery five years after hundreds washed up dead on beaches from Alaska to Mexico.

The increase in population numbers comes after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association determined in November that the “unusual mortality event” that began in 2019 has ended.

“It’s nice to be able to report some good news the last couple of years,” Aimee Lang, a research biologist with NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center, told The Seattle Times.

The agency has estimated the total number of eastern north Pacific Gray whales to be between 17,400 to 21,300, an increase from an estimated 13,200 to 15,960 whales last year.

The population began to decline after numbering about 27,000 whales in 2016. The mortality event hits its peak between Dec. 17, 2018, and Dec. 31, 2020, the agency said. It involved 690 dead gray whales that washed ashore from Alaska to Mexico. Of those, 347 were in the U.S., 316 in Mexico and 27 in Canada.

In an average year, about 35 whales washed up dead in the U.S. Five years ago, those whales washed up on coastlines in California, Oregon, Washington state and Alaska.

Every year in late September, whales migrate 10,000 miles (16,093 km) from feeding grounds in the Arctic to birth their calves along Mexico’s Baja Peninsula.

NOAA researchers said the mortality event was due to ecosystem changes in the northern Bering and Chukchi seas off northern Alaska, which changed access to and quality of prey.

“These changes contributed to the poor nutritional condition observed in live whales in the wintering areas of Mexico and dead stranded gray whales in all three countries,” NOAA said. “This malnutrition led to increased mortality during the whales’ annual northward migration (from Mexico to Alaska) and decreased production of calves. This resulted in an overall decline in population abundance.”

The eastern North Pacific gray whales were removed from the endangered species list in 1994, after recovering from the whaling era. (SOURCE)

The Oregon Department of Transportation’s Bridge Condition Report Provides A Snapshot Of The Condition Of Bridges In Oregon

The Oregon Department of Transportation’s annual bridge report says the agency is “losing ground” to manage the state’s bridge system, as many are nearing the end of their life spans and planners are trying to keep up with new safety measures and seismic standards.

“With only an average of three bridges replaced annually ODOT
continues to lose ground in the eff ort to manage the system. Although a significant
portion of these bridges are in fair condition at this time, in the following decades, the
agency will be burdened with a huge responsibility to maintain or replace the 40% of
the inventory built between 1951-1970, as they continue to deteriorate.”

The 2023 Bridge Condition Report provides a snapshot of the condition of bridges in Oregon that are on state highways. Condition information is measured by Oregon’s Bridge Key Performance Measure and by the National
Bridge Performance Measure. In addition to condition information, there is information on bridge programs that are in place to manage and preserve state highway bridges. These include Major Bridge Maintenance, Bridge Preservation, the Seismic Program, and Load Rating. Eff orts to maintain and preserve existing bridges are critical, as an average of just three bridges are replaced each year. With adequate funding, approximately 27 state highway bridges could be replaced annually which is consistent with a 100-year service life.

According to ODOT’s 2023 Bridge Condition Report, a significant number of the more than 2,700 bridges in Oregon are in “fair” condition, but likely to transition to “poor” condition in the future.

40% of the bridges across the state need to be replaced in the coming decades, as a majority of them were built between 1950 and 1970 according to the report.

According to the report, there has been a “steady decline” in Oregon’s bridge conditions since 2016. There was some slight improvement in 2023 when nine bridges in “poor condition” were replaced, but ODOT does not have the funding to keep up with bride replacement. With adequate funding, ODOT could replace 27 bridges a year, but current funding levels pay on average for only three bridge replacements a year. At this rate, a bridge will need to stay in service for over 900 years, well beyond the expected service life of 75-100 years.

One of the serious causes of bridge deterioration is “scouring” or erosion of the bridge’s foundation due to fast moving water and gravel. ODOT officials said there are nearly 500 bridges that are unstable due to scouring.

ODOT officials said that as standards are constantly changing, and costs continue to rise, the bridges’ needs outpace their resources. READ MORE: https://www.oregon.gov/odot/Bridge/Documents/2023BCR.pdf

Efforts to Locate Glide Teacher Rachel Merchant-Ly Continue

𝐈𝐃𝐋𝐄𝐘𝐋𝐃 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊, 𝐎𝐫𝐞. – Search and Rescue efforts continue in the search for Rachel Merchant-Ly, a Glide Elementary kindergarten teacher whose vehicle was found crashed in the North Umpqua River.

Merchant-Ly was reported missing on Thursday, February 29th when she didn’t arrive at school. A Douglas County Sheriff’s deputy located signs of a motor vehicle crash near milepost 41 on Highway 138E.

On Friday, March 1, 2024, Merchant-Ly’s vehicle was recovered from the North Umpqua River, but she was not found inside.

Since that time, nearly 300 hours volunteer hours of searching has taken place. Douglas County Search and Rescue has been using various methods of searching to include drone, ground and K9. The Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol has conducted water searches as well. Volunteers have searched along the riverbank from the crash site to Idleyld Park Trading Post; approximately 21 miles.

“We all want to find Mrs. Merchant-Ly and return her to her family,” Sheriff John Hanlin said. “Our deputies are in constant communication with her family and providing them with updates as to our efforts. We will continue searching and using all means necessary to accomplish our mission,” Hanlin added.

In addition to the efforts of DCSO and Search and Rescue volunteers, several community members have been actively looking for Merchant-Ly.

“We are aware of rafting guides and groups of rafters who have been launching all in an attempt to assist in finding her. We have also been contacting community members who are walking along the North Umpqua Trail and the highway,” Hanlin said. “As always this community steps forward to care for each other.”

As the weather turns more springlike, the Sheriff’s Office encourages those recreating around the area to be aware Merchant-Ly is still missing and to report anything which may assist in concluding this missing person case.

Oregon Offers Electric Car Rebates Again – Apply Now Until June 3rd

Due to high demand and limited funding, OCVRP will be open for a short time in 2024. Vehicles must be purchased or leased between April 3, 2024, to June 3, 2024, to be eligible for a rebate.

Applicants have six months from their date of purchase or lease to apply. Low- and moderate-income households can prequalify for the $5,000 Charge Ahead rebate by completing the application now at https://apps.oregon.gov/DEQ/Voucher/apply.

Oregon to Honor Fallen Law Enforcement Officers May 7th, 2024

Every year, the Oregon Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony honors the state’s law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. This year’s ceremony will be held Tuesday, May 7 at 1 p.m. at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem.

The annual event commemorates the more than 190 fallen officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the state of Oregon since the 1860s. This includes law enforcement, corrections, and parole and probation officers from city, county, state, tribal and federal law enforcement agencies.

The Department of Public Safety Standards and Training is proud to host the ceremony in partnership with the Oregon Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, Oregon Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), Oregon Fallen Badge Foundation, and various statewide law enforcement associations.

SOLVE invites volunteers to register for their annual Earth Day celebration: The Oregon Spring Cleanup

From April 13 to April 22, families, community members, neighborhood associations, and environmental enthusiasts are invited to engage in a signature event in SOLVE’s annual calendar: The Oregon Spring Cleanup, presented by Portland General Electric. Registration for this environmentally conscious event series is now open.

Participants are invited to join SOLVE, event leaders, and partners from across the Pacific Northwest in a collective celebration of Earth Day. The SOLVE calendar showcases a variety of events throughout Oregon and SW Washington between April 13 and April 22, with the majority of events culminating on April 20. Diverse initiatives address specific environmental needs with opportunities ranging from beach cleanups to neighborhood and city litter pickups. Further activities include restoring natural habitats through native tree and shrub plantings, weed pulls, and mulching projects. Each project contributes to the enhancement of our shared surroundings.

With a variety of projects already online, the Oregon Spring Cleanup invites enthusiastic volunteers to contribute to a cleaner, greener, and brighter planet. Interested individuals can browse the map of projects to find events near them, learn about each opportunity, and sign up for a meaningful contribution to the environment. Participating in the Oregon Spring Cleanup provides an excellent opportunity to bond with family members, coworkers, and neighbors, while collectively contributing to preserving some of Oregon’s most stunning locations.

As SOLVE anticipates another successful event, valued partner Portland General Electric, shares their commitment to the cause: ” PGE proudly supports SOLVE’s efforts to make our communities cleaner and greener. In 2023, our employees and their families volunteered with SOLVE for more than 220 hours. We’re excited to join community members again this Earth Day to help improve our beautiful state.” said Kristen Sheeran, Senior Director of Policy Planning and Sustainability, Portland General Electric.

For those inspired to host an event, SOLVE is still accepting new volunteer-led projects. The sooner projects are submitted, the faster SOLVE can care for the rest. Event leaders receive full support, including free supplies, access to project funding, disposal assistance, and help with volunteer recruitment. 

For more information, please visit solveoregon.org/oregon-spring and be part of the collective effort to create a cleaner, greener planet.

Along with Portland General Electric, other event sponsors include Clean Water Services, AAA Oregon/Idaho, Fred Meyer, Metro, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, KOIN, The Standard, Swire Coca-Cola, Holman, Demarini-Wilson, Trimet, and PepsiCo.

About SOLVE – SOLVE is a statewide non-profit organization that brings people together to improve our environment and build a legacy of stewardship. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots group to a national model for volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains tens of thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon and Southwest Washington to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas and to build a legacy of stewardship for our state. Visit solveoregon.org for more information. 

LCSO Case #24-1671 – Missing Person from west Eugene

The Lane County Sheriff’s Office is looking for 39-year-old Brian John Fierke.  He last had contact with his family on March 26^th, 2024.  Deputies, detectives, and Sheriff’s Search & Rescue have searched extensively for Fierke without success.   

Fierke is described as a white male adult, standing approximately 6’4” tall and weighing about 185 pounds.  Fierke has brown hair and blue eyes.  He may have brown facial hair.  

Anyone with information about Fierke’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150, option 1, and reference LCSO Case #24-1671.

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.

READ MORE HERE: https://www.newsweek.com/exclusive-what-happened-fauna-frey-new-clues-uncovered-1827197?fbclid=IwAR3Z3Glru5lIgqiYXbs_nA1Fj8JuCIzM11OHSVHfwIucfq2f_G5y9y5bnmQ

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