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, July 10, 2024
Willamette Valley Weather
Over $200,000 Worth of Stolen Lego Sets Recovered From Store in Eugene
Springfield Police Department Officers carried out a search warrant at the Brick Builders storefront at 1133 Willamette Street on July 3. They recovered 4,153 sets of Legos, with a total value of over $200,000.
Officers and detectives uncovered evidence that operators at the store were knowingly purchasing new, unopened sets of Legos that had been stolen from local retail stores, according to a release issued by the Springfield Police Department.
INCIDENT REPORT SPRINGFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT Incident: Over $200,000 Worth of Stolen Lego Sets Recovered by SPD Crime Reduction Unit Location: 1133 Willamette Street | Brick Builders Case Number: #2402859 Date/Time: July 3, 2024 @ 1230Hrs
On July 3, 2024, at approximately 12:30 pm, Springfield Police Department’s Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) served a search warrant at the ‘Brick Builders’ storefront at 1133 Willamette Street in Eugene. The three-month investigation uncovered evidence that the store’s owner, Ammon Henrikson, was knowingly purchasing new, unopened sets of Legos that had been stolen from local retail stores.
In several instances, suspects stole hundreds of dollars’ worth of Legos and then immediately went to the Brick Builders store to exchange the stolen items for cash: most often at a fraction of their actual retail value. When interviewed, some suspects advised that Brick Builders’ staff knew the sets had recently been stolen. Officers learned that many of the suspects were utilizing the money they received to buy and use illegal drugs.
SPD partnered with loss prevention investigators from Target, Fred Meyer, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart to confirm that Henrikson was purchasing sets that were stolen from the aforementioned retailers. During the execution of the search warrant, SPD staff recovered 4,153 sets of Legos with a total value of over $200,000.“We all feel the impact of organized retail theft through the increasing cost of items we buy for our families. Recognizing this, SPD’s Crime Reduction Unit, with the support of our retail partners, works diligently to hold accountable those who make the choice to engage in or support retail theft. SPD is proud of the work of our officers, and we are committed to the pursuit of those behind these crimes in our community.”
Chief Andrew ShearerIf you have any pertinent information related to this case, please contact SPD at 541.726.3714 or police@springfield-or.gov
LCSO Case #24-3619 – Deputies Arrest Arson Suspect in the Cedar Flat Fires
On July 8th at about 4:45 p.m., Lane County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of an arson in the 87400 block of Cedar Flat Road. Fire personnel and witnesses advised a male had intentionally set two fires in dry grass on the property.
Deputies deployed a K9, and were assisted by Oregon State Police troopers as well as a Springfield Police K9 and drones from the Springfield and Eugene Police Departments.
Area residents began checking their security cameras and spreading the word to their neighbors as deputies, troopers, and officers searched the area. Eventually, the suspect was spotted in the 8700 block of Thurston Road. Deputies and officers quickly responded and arrested the suspect, identified as Michael David Dinwiddie, 41, of Springfield. He was lodged at the Lane County Jail for Arson in the 1st Degree and Burglary in the 2nd Degree.
Thanks to the many residents who watched out for their neighborhood and assisted with locating the suspect.
Lane County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue Save Fallen Climber with Coordination from Several Organizations
On Saturday, July 6th, Lane County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue mobilized to rescue a fallen climber at high elevation on the North Sister in the Three Sisters Wilderness. The climber likely had several broken bones and was on an exposed scree slide taking rockfall. He was able to call 911 and give updates on his location and condition.
A Lane County Sheriff’s SAR deputy deployed to high elevation via a LifeFlight helicopter, while Deschutes County Sheriff’s SAR volunteers deployed via an AirLink helicopter. An additional backup team of SAR volunteers began climbing to the location as well. Once the climber was located, the SAR personnel flown in by helicopters were able to climb to his location, provide medical care, and move him from the precarious slope.
An Oregon Army National Guard helicopter responded and airlifted the patient to an area hospital for additional medical care. AirLink retrieved the rescuers from the climber’s location, while the backup team climbed back down and hiked out.
This rescue required a great deal of coordination and staff, including the 3 involved helicopters. The Lane County Sheriff’s Office thanks our Search & Rescue volunteers, which includes Eugene Mountain Rescue, and thanks to the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue, LifeFlight, AirLink, and the Oregon Army National Guard. UPDATE – Photos of the rescue are available on Facebook at www.facebook.com/share/p/DnznpeahkF3ozmei/
Nearly every week, Sheriff’s Search & Rescue volunteers assist our residents in all types of environments. Learn more about our Search & Rescue program at https://www.lanecounty.org/government/county_departments/sheriff_s_office/volunteers/search_and_rescue
Eugene Police Department — · EPD Arson team is investigating a fire that was intentionally started in the front area of a home in the 3000 block of Antigua Drive around 2 a.m., on July 6. Eugene Springfield Fire responded to address the fire.
No one was injured. As arson was suspected, EPD Arson Team was contacted to respond and they are now handling the case. There were various surveillance cameras operational both during the first incident and a subsequent burglary on July 7. The cameras captured suspect information in both cases. If you have relevant information for these cases, please contact Officer David Clark at Dclark@eugene-or.gov Case 24-09823 (Arson), Case 24-09889 (Burglary).
Lebanon Fire District Receives First Type 6 Engine from Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Engine Program
The Lebanon Fire District has received one of the first Type 6 Engines from the Oregon State Fire Marshal‘s Engine Program. Chief Joseph Rodondi states, “We are proud to partner with the Oregon State Fire Marshal. This well-designed and well-built wildland fire engine will serve our community and help keep small fires small.”
The OSFM’s program is driven by insights from a comprehensive 2021 gap analysis survey, conducted in collaboration with Oregon fire defense boards. With input from a diverse committee of fire agencies, this ensured a careful and inclusive approach to improving fire response.
At its core, the OSFM’s program is dedicated to improving Oregon’s response to the increasing threat of wildfires. It focuses on supporting local response efforts, facilitating regional mutual aid, and effectively managing conflagrations. For more information about the OSFM Engine Program and its impact, visit www.oregon.gov/osfm/wildfire/pages/engine-program.aspx.
For an inside look at the delivery process and the Type 6 engine in action, check out this video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vglo145bylA.
Thank you again to the Oregon State Fire Marshal. We are looking forward to continuing our partnership and seeing the impact of this new engine.
Lane County Emergency Management will conduct a test of the subscriber-based local emergency alert system – Lane Alerts – on Thursday, July 11, at 2:00 p.m.
This test will include emails, recorded voice calls, and text messages, depending on each subscriber’s provided contact information. Residents are encouraged to visit www.LaneAlerts.org to create a free Lane Alerts account and choose their preferred methods of receiving emergency alerts.
Lane Alerts allows subscribers to opt-in for notifications via phone call, text message, and email, based on the locations they care about. At minimum, subscribers must provide their name and one method of contact. Multiple addresses can be added to receive notifications about emergency events that may affect their home, workplace, child’s school, and more. Types of emergencies covered include evacuations, severe weather, flooding, police activity, and other critical events. Stay informed and ensure your safety by signing up for Lane Alerts today.
Lane County Fleet Services earns EcoBiz certification for pollution prevention
Lane County Fleet Services, part of Lane County Government’s General Services Division, was recently certified via a voluntary state-supported program that recognizes government agencies and automotive repair and body shop businesses that adopt best practices to prevent and reduce hazardous waste, and air and water pollution.
Fleet Services—which provides vehicles, equipment, maintenance services, and fuel to County departments and several federal, state, and local partner agencies—recently earned EcoBiz Automotive Services Certification.
Lane County’s EcoBiz (short for Eco-Logical Business) chapter is supported by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and managed by Eugene nonprofit BRING, which contracts with the City of Eugene Wastewater Division to implement the program within city limits. BRING provides technical assistance and resources to participating local businesses and government agencies, while the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the City of Eugene support and approve certifications.
Additionally, BRING recently contracted with Oregon DEQ to expand its work to all Lane County automotive businesses.
While EcoBiz certification is free and voluntary, Fleet Services completed a lengthy checklist assessment of criteria to earn the distinction, including:
- Overhauling collection systems and labeling for various waste streams, including barrels containing oil, hazardous waste, and other materials to improve employee safety and better manage materials.
- Formalizing several waste reduction policies, such as prohibiting chlorinated solvents, promoting the use of less toxic products, and limiting hazardous material purchases.
- Servicing oil/water separators on-site to enhance wash bay drainage cleanliness and functionality, creating a regular schedule to maintain separators and servicing stormwater catch basins.
- Conducting staff-wide training to improve knowledge about proper hazardous waste disposal and stormwater/spill prevention.
- Improving spill containment practices by purchasing proper containment caddies and reducing the amount of storage barrels on the shop floor.
“It’s been an inspiring process assisting Fleet Services with this certification,” said Emily Reynolds, BRING rethink business coordinator. “Not only did they make important improvements to operations, equipment, and waste management systems, but leadership was also able to foster a culture shift around sustainability practices that protect the environment and their employees. We hope to show other local businesses that it can be easy to do the right thing. BRING can help take the guesswork out of sustainable practices.”
“Through our completion of the EcoBiz certification program, our team has become better equipped to manage spills, correctly dispose of hazardous waste materials, and reduce our environmental impact in simple but effective ways,” said Nathan Mitchell-Hooks, senior Public Works analyst. “BRING’s supportive and knowledgeable staff was there to guide us at every step, ensuring we had the tools, contacts, and direction needed to make their recommended changes. We’re proud to be able to call ourselves an EcoBiz-certified fleet, and would strongly encourage other organizations to inquire about the program.”
Any Lane County organizations interested in EcoBiz certification can visit www.ecobiz.org to learn more.
About Lane County Fleet Services
Fleet Services is responsible for providing Lane County Government with a modern, well-equipped vehicle and equipment fleet that is maintained and utilized at the lowest reasonable cost while minimizing environmental impacts. Fleet Services provides vehicles, equipment, maintenance services, and fuel to County departments and several federal, state, and local partner agencies. Learn more at www.lanecountyor.gov.
About EcoBiz
EcoBiz, short for Eco-Logical Business, is a certification recognizing businesses in Oregon that adopt best practices and protect the environment. The free and voluntary program seeks to help participating organizations prevent and minimize hazardous waste and air and water pollution. Lane County’s EcoBiz Program is provided by BRING, and currently coordinates with automotive businesses (including general repair, body and paint, radiator repair, and car wash). For more information, visit www.ecobiz.org.
Crews Extinguish Fast Moving Brush Fire in West Eugene
Eugene Springfield Fire responded to a fast moving, wind driven grass fire near the railroad tracks off highway 99 and Fairfield in West Eugene Monday evening. At 6:22 PM on July 8th, fire crews responded with a mixture of fire engines and brush engines, stopping the fire before it reached neighboring businesses. The fire is under control and investigation.
Today was the first “red flag warning” of the 2024 fire season. Red Flag Warnings alert fire crews to conditions that may lead to especially dangerous wildfire growth.
To issue a Red Flag Warning, we need low fuel moisture, low relative humidity and wind. ESF staffs an additional crew during Red Flag Warnings.
Introducing “When It Hits The Fan”: A New Podcast by Lane County Emergency Management
Lane County Emergency Management is excited to announce the launch of a new podcast, “When It Hits The Fan,” now available on all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
“When It Hits The Fan” is designed to equip listeners with essential knowledge and resources to be prepared and stay safe during a disaster. Whether you’re new to emergency preparedness or a seasoned prepper, the podcast offers can help you face the future with confidence.
“Our goal with ‘When It Hits The Fan’ is to reach community members in a format that’s accessible and engaging,” said Lane County Emergency Manager Tiffany Brown. “We want to provide digestible and actionable information that people can easily incorporate into their daily lives to ensure they are prepared for any emergency. We hope to foster a culture of preparedness and resilience within our community.”
Episodes are share monthly and, so far, include:
- “Welcome! And, what the heck is emergency management?” – An introduction to the world of emergency management.
- “What do you mean we should be two-weeks ready?!” – Practical tips for ensuring your household is prepared for emergencies.
Listen at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/fan.
About Lane County Emergency Management – Lane County Emergency Management is committed to preparing the community for emergencies and disasters through education, planning, and response coordination.
CAHOOTS and HOOTS Workers Rally for Wage Increase and Other Contract Issues
It has been more than a year since White Bird Clinic and its unionized crisis workers began negotiations and they still haven’t reached an agreement on a new contract.
Support CAHOOTS and HOOTS Workers Win a Fair First Contract NOW — PETITION
Did you know the $18/hr starting wage for CAHOOTS and HOOTS workers hasn’t changed since 2018? Sign this letter of support to help CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On the Streets) and HOOTS (Helping Out Our Teens in Schools) unionized workers win their first fair union contract with White Bird Clinic.
CAHOOTS medics and crisis workers have been proudly supporting their fellow community members on the streets and in the houses, schools, businesses, shelters, hospitals and healthcare offices of every neighborhood in Eugene since 1989. CAHOOTS later expanded service into Springfield in 2015 and soon founded its sister program HOOTS in 2017. These programs provide free crisis intervention, mental health and medical aid to whoever is in need (for CAHOOTS that’s an average of 20,000+ calls a year; HOOTS provides 28 clinics in 12 high schools).
Today, their workers need your support. Show your commitment to sustaining workers and protecting the integrity of the CAHOOTS model that has been called “the gold standard”* for alternative response models nationally. Sign here to ensure crisis workers and medics who are dedicating their lives towards helping others win a living wage. Learn more about our campaign
https://www.change.org/p/support-cahoots-and-hoots-workers-win-a-fair-first-contract-now
Fires Around the State
Please Help Prevent Wildfires!
Salt Creek Fire – Salt Creek Road, Eagle Point
ACRES – 3,815 CONTAINMENT – 7%
https://share.watchduty.org/i/25039
July 10, 2024 Morning Update: Salt Creek Firefighters Take Advantage of Overnight Conditions, Up Containment
EAGLE POINT, Ore. – Containment on the Salt Creek Fire has increased to 7% as firefighters continue to push forward on progress overnight. Mop-up operations on the west side of the fire has allowed for the change, and as these lined areas become more secure, resources that have been dedicated there will be strategically reassigned to other portions of the fire.
An infrared (IR) flight was conducted Tuesday, mapping the fire at 3,651 acres. This indicates slight growth from yesterday when conditions were pushing the fire in three significant areas. Firefighters have focused on building up those portions of line and will continue to bolster them today. With this work, 80% of the fire has line built around it, and as these boundaries are strengthened, containment will continue to increase.
For Wednesday’s day shift, 555 personnel are working on the fire, including twenty 20-person crews, 21 engines, 12 bulldozers, 13 water tenders. A Rogue Valley Task Force made up of local resources is also available if needed.
Temperatures are again expected to be in the triple digits and windy conditions are expected in the afternoon. Increased fire activity is projected during this time and firefighters will be on the lookout for spot fires and areas where fire may cross established lines. Structural firefighters remain dedicated to protecting nearby homes that have been placed in Level 1, “BE READY,” evacuation zones by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management. Learn more about evacuations at: https://protect.genasys.com/
Extreme fire danger is in effect; follow all current fire restrictions to prevent fires. Learn more at:
• The ODF Southwest Oregon District: https://swofire.com/
• The RRSNF Alerts and Notices page www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/rogue-siskiyou/alerts-notices and website homepage www.fs.usda.gov/rogue-siskiyou
• The BLM OR/WA Fire Management Page: www.blm.gov/orwafire
The Salt Creek Fire is located 10 miles east of Eagle Point and was first reported Sunday, July 7, just after 4 p.m. The cause is under investigation.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/7EHhTjV9hg3wCLo4/?mibextid=WC7FNe
Oregon among 27 states with illnesses linked to mushroom-derived candies
Prophet Premium Blends in California recalling Diamond Shruumz products
PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon is one of 27 states with cases of a severe acute illness associated with a brand of candies that contain a potentially harmful chemical found in mushrooms, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notified epidemiologists at the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Public Health Division July 5 that Oregon is now part of a nationwide FDA outbreak investigation involving products manufactured by Prophet Premium Blends of Santa Ana, Calif.
The company has issued a recall of chocolate bars, cones and gummies sold under the brand Diamond Shruumz, including “Micro- and Mega/Extreme-Dose” versions of the products. According to the FDA, the products contain muscimol, a chemical found in mushrooms of the genus Amanita, and which could cause symptoms consistent with those observed in persons who became ill after eating Diamond Shruumz products. These products are not regulated for consumer safety.
Reported symptoms that may be related to the recalled products have included those linked to seizures, agitation, involuntary muscle contractions, loss of consciousness, confusion, sleepiness, nausea and vomiting, abnormal heart rates, and hyper/hypotension.
Oregon has one case. The individual has recovered from the illness. CDC reports there now are 58 cases across the country, with 30 hospitalizations. One death also is being investigated.
The FDA says Diamond Shruumz-brand products should no longer be available for sale. The products were previously available online and in person at a variety of retail locations nationwide, including smoke/vape shops. They also were available at retailers that sell hemp-derived products such as cannabidiol (CBD) or delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-8 THC).
OHA and FDA are making the following recommendations:
- Consumers should not eat, sell or serve any flavor of Diamond Shruumz-brand chocolate bars, cones or gummies.
- Consumers should check their homes and discard these products, or return them to the company for a refund.
- These products may appeal to children and teenagers. Parents and caregivers should consider discussing the information in this advisory with their children and take extra care to prevent children from eating them.
- Retailers should not sell or distribute any flavor of Diamond Shruumz-brand chocolate bars, cones, or gummies, and should hold the product in a secure location and contact Diamond Shruumz to initiate the return and refund.
- Those who become ill after consuming these products should contact their health care provider and/or call the Oregon Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222. Let Poison Center staff know you have recently consumed the Diamond Shruumz-brand chocolate bars, cones, and/or gummies.
- Health care providers should report these illnesses to the Oregon Poison Center.
For more information:
- CDC investigation page, https://www.cdc.gov/environmental-health-studies/outbreak-investigation-diamond-shruumz-products/index.html#cdc_generic_section_1-outbreak-investigation-summary
- FDA investigation page, https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigation-illnesses-diamond-shruumz-brand-chocolate-bars-cones-gummies-june-2024
- FDA product recall page, https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/prophet-premium-blends-recalls-diamond-shruumz-products-because-possible-health-risk
Oregon youth suicide data shows action needed to close equity gaps
Despite culturally responsive suicide prevention efforts, racial inequities remain
Editor’s Note: If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available 24/7. Call or text 988 or chat online at 988Lifeline.org. Specialized support is also available through the Veterans Crisis Line (press 1 or text 838255), in Spanish (press 2 or text “AYUDA” to 988) and for LGBTQIA2S+ youth and young adults (press 3 or text “PRIDE” to 988). 988 is also available for individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing through American Sign Language videophone services.
Salem, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) Youth Suicide Intervention and Prevention Plan (YSIPP) annual report, which contains new analysis of 2022 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) death by suicide data, shows the risk of youth suicide continues to be a concern in Oregon, particularly for youth of color.
In 2022, the most recent year of finalized data from the CDC, 109 Oregon youth ages 24 and younger died by suicide, Oregon’s first year-to-year increase since 2018. Despite the 2022 increase (up from 95 deaths in 2021), there were 16% fewer youth deaths in 2022 compared with a peak of 129 deaths in 2018. Moreover, preliminary data, which will not be finalized until spring 2025, suggest that 2023 will not see a further year-to-year increase in youth suicide rates.
The 2022 data show that Oregon had the 12th highest youth suicide rate in the U.S. Suicide remains the second-leading cause of death in Oregon among this age group.
The YSIPP annual report also highlights Oregon’s investments in this area, including support for statewide programming in youth suicide prevention, intervention and postvention services. The report details important advances in youth suicide prevention in Oregon, such as the addition of 343 suicide prevention trainers in the state, including 67 who speak languages other than English.
In a letter to Oregonians accompanying the report, OHA Behavioral Health Director Ebony Clarke notes, “We have made some progress to create a system of suicide prevention that is better connected and better resourced. Yet, the tragedy of youth suicide remains. We need to do more, particularly for young people of color.”
Data highlighted in the report show that stark racial disparities remain, both in Oregon and nationwide. Oregon deaths by suicide for youth identified as white have decreased overall since the overall peak in 2018, but the number of suicides for youth of other races and ethnicities either remained similar to 2018 or have increased.
OHA’s suicide prevention team, along with the hundreds of suicide prevention trainers, advocates, community members and champions around the state, including the Oregon Alliance to Prevent Suicide, are working to implement key initiatives for youth suicide prevention discussed in the YSIPP. This includes programming that supports young people to find hope, help and strength, training programs to teach youth-serving adults how to recognize warning signs of suicide, and advanced skills training for providers to be equipped to help clients heal from thoughts of suicide.
OHA and its partners are also working hard to launch culturally specific initiatives to increase protective factors that support youth in Oregon. In 2023-24, these efforts have included:
- Tribal prevention programs amplifying “culture as prevention” and hosting train-the-trainers for OHA’s “Big River” youth suicide prevention programming, which is available across the state at low or no cost.
- Black, African and African American youth-serving adults creating and sustaining the Black Youth Suicide Prevention Coalition, which is helping to bring healing to Black communities and creating spaces for young people to gather and feel a sense of belonging. Oregon also was one of eight states invited to participate in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Black Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative Policy Academy, which was highlighted as a key “Health Equity in Suicide Prevention” strategy in the federal government’s recently released 10-year 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention.
- OHA infused an additional $500,000 of funding to increase the availability of suicide prevention training and trainers who are Latino/a/x, Spanish-speaking or both.
- Oregon’s suicide prevention leaders are also working with Joyce Chu and Chris Weaver of the Culture & Suicide Prevention Institute, to infuse their cultural theory and model for suicide prevention into existing trainings, policies and programming. This work, which will increase attention to culturally specific risk and protective factors in Oregon’s suicide prevention efforts, is also an equity initiative highlighted in the 2024 National Strategy.
Alfonso Ramirez, interim director of OHA’s Equity & Inclusion Division, reflected on the power of suicide prevention that centers connections to culture and belonging. Ramirez said, “Thanks to our community partners and leaders, we’ve recognized how important it is to also focus on the cultural strengths and wisdom that have been passed on for generations across communities. As we do work in this way, we experience a bit of healing ourselves.”
Grants awarded to historic property and archaeology projects across the state
Oregon Heritage, a division of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, awarded 18 grants totaling $299,999 for historic properties and archaeology projects. Six of the grants were awarded in the Diamonds in the Rough category. This grant funds façade enhancements that restore the historic character of the property. The other 12 grants were in the Preserving Oregon category for properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places and for archaeology projects.
Funded projects:
- Façade restoration grants in Baker City, Independence, Lebanon, The Dalles, Union, and Malheur County.
- One archaeology project:
- Southern Oregon University Lab for study of the Maxville site in Wallowa County.
- Preservation of 11 historic properties:
- Elks Lodge building, Medford
- Butler Perozzi Fountain, Ashland
- Giesy Store, Aurora
- Masonic Lodge building, Baker City
- Antelope School building, Antelope
- Eltrym Theater, baker City
- Santiam Pass Ski Lodge, Linn County
- Gordon House, Silverton
- Rock Creek Cemetery, Clackamas County
- Hanley Farm, Jackson County
- Old Post Office building, Weston
These grants are approved by the State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation, a nine-member group that reviews nominations to the National Register of Historic Places. The members are professionally recognized in the fields of history, architecture, archaeology and other related disciplines.
For more information about the grant program, visit www.oregonheritage.org or contact Kuri Gill at i.gill@oprd.oregon.gov“>Kuri.gill@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.
Ashland’s Winchester Inn has been nominated by USA Today as a 2024 Best Wine Country Hotel
Decades before Wine Enthusiast magazine included southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley as one of the 2022 top five wine regions in the world, the Winchester Inn in Ashland had been celebrating regional vintners and catering to people who travel here to savor award-winning red, white and sparkling wines.
Now, the Winchester Inn has been nominated by USA Today as a 2024 Best Wine Country Hotel. Nominees are selected by a panel of experts and voting by the public continues until 9 a.m. July 22.
Vote for The Winchester Inn
Best Wine Country Hotel — The Winchester Inn in Ashland, Oregon, offers a boutique hotel experience that combines comfort and charm, including a gourmet breakfast served each morning as part of the stay. Situated in downtown Ashland, the inn offers convenient access to nearby wineries, outdoor activities such as hiking and biking, and the renowned Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/
Diverse cannabis entrepreneurs receive a $110,000 boost from Oregon-based Nimble Distro
Oregon wholesale cannabis distribution company has directed 50 cents of every pack of KITES pre-rolls sold to local nonprofit NuProject since September 2021
Milwaukie, Ore., July 10, 2024—A $35,000 low-interest loan that allowed a Black woman-owned cannabis company to grow into a booming business. A networking event that opened doors for an Indigenous woman to grow her company’s market share.
More opportunities like these will be available in Oregon and beyond through a partnership between cannabis wholesaler Nimble Distro and NuProject, an Oregon-founded nonprofit that supports diverse cannabis entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship and network connections.
Nimble Distro has donated $110,000 to NuProject since September 2021. And the need is great. Black women, for example, received less than 1% of the $288 billion that venture capital firms funded in 2022, according to the Fearless Fund, a venture capital fund that awards Black women entrepreneurs.
“Intention is plenty; action that drives change is rare,” said Jeannette Ward, president and chief executive officer of NuProject. “Nimble is an example all companies should follow. Their regular, unrestricted funds have become the lifeblood of our organization. In turn, we have enabled the growth of a more diverse cannabis industry across the U.S.”
Nimble Distro donates to NuProject 50 cents for every sold pack of KITES, a 10-pack of pre-rolls sourced from producers who share the company’s values.
“We have built reparations into our cost of goods to help create generational wealth for communities disproportionately harmed by the War on Drugs,” said Joy Hudson, chief executive officer and co-founder of Nimble. “Our business and giving model allow us to make tangible and ongoing impacts on critical issues.”
Nimble’s contribution a game-changer for diverse founders – NuProject has funded more than $3.7 million to historically excluded founders primarily via low-interest loans and grants. NuProject has also delivered more than 2,500 hours of entrepreneur coaching to a network of more than 200 founders.
Nimble’s funding stream allows NuProject to fund diverse-owned businesses at a rate that eclipses traditional lenders. For instance, NuProject recently granted a $35,000 low-interest loan to Calyxeum, a Detroit-based cannabis grower, wholesaler, and retailer owned by Rebecca Colett and LaToyia Rucker, two Black women with degrees in science, health and technology.
NuProject’s loan covered Calyxeum’s start-up costs, allowing the business to boom in its first five years. Calyxeum now operates two cannabis growing facilities and one processing facility. It opened its first retail dispensary in April 2024 in Detroit. Beyond growing a booming business, Colett and Rucker have also created a business incubator for Black women in cannabis and a nonprofit that leads neighborhood improvement projects.
Growing an ecosystem for a better world — Nimble and NuProject have also supported Majik Edibles, an Oregon-based, Indigenous woman-owned producer of fine THC-infused baked goods. Majik co-founder and owner Christine Walsh came close to closing Majik’s doors in the fall of 2021 when shifts in the cannabis market made it nearly impossible to be competitive.
Walsh received an economic justice grant from NuProject, which she credits with saving her company. NuProject also introduced Walsh to Nimble co-founders Joy Hudson and Marissa Rodriguez at a networking event, and their connection was instantaneous. Nimble began distributing Majik’s products in October 2022.
“Our partnership with Nimble and NuProject is based on a shared purpose of forging the cannabis industry forward in a way that lifts up historically excluded founders and creates the space we deserve/need and the world we envision,” Walsh said.
Hudson refers to their partnership with Majik and NuProject as an ecosystem building a better, more equitable world. “Partnering with Majik is this really perfect completion for us of our global vision for Nimble of doing well and doing good,” said Hudson.
Support for additional nonprofits – Nimble supports other local nonprofits through sales of other in-house products, including Northwest Abortion Access and Pride Northwest. To date, Nimble has donated:
- Nearly $6,100 to the Northwest Abortion Access Fund through sales of Broomsticks, a high-end green witch-inspired 1-gram pre-roll.
- $5,530 during Pride Month 2023 to Pride Northwest through sales of Orchid Essentials, Nimble’s revolutionary vape cartridges and batteries designed and formulated to deliver the best user experience and ultimate satisfaction.
Learn more about Nimble by visiting www.nimbledistro.com.
About Nimble Distro — Nimble Distro is a leading wholesale distribution company in the cannabis industry. Powered by a proficient logistics and manufacturing engine, Nimble Distro drives profitability and positive social impact by forging collaborative partnerships with premier cannabis cultivators and processors. With a focus on product excellence and community engagement, Nimble Distro is committed to reshaping the future of the cannabis industry.
Ballot measures on cannabis unions, higher corporate taxes could be on November ballot
Election officials will determine whether backers of the two proposals collected enough valid signatures from Oregon voters
Just two of the more than 50 new laws proposed by Oregonians through the ballot initiative process stand a chance at appearing before voters in November.
Friday was the deadline for groups to submit the more than 100,000 petition signatures needed to give voters a chance to approve or reject ballot measures. Only two measures – one that would tax corporations more to give $750 annual payments to all Oregonians and one that would restrict union-busting in the cannabis industry – submitted signatures by Friday.
If the Secretary of State’s Office confirms that both proposals collected enough verified signatures from Oregon voters, they’ll join three legislative referrals on the November ballot. Lawmakers in 2023 opted to let voters decide whether to give the Legislature the power to impeach top officials, let an independent commission set salaries for elected officials and change the way candidates are elected.
Backers of high-profile measures to walk back Oregon’s drug decriminalization law and limit political spending used their signature gathering efforts as leverage to convince lawmakers to make the changes they wanted. Other proposed measures, including an attempt from the Republican state representative responsible for many of Oregon’s tough-on-crime laws to limit pretrial release and require state law enforcement to cooperate with immigration officials, ran out of time. And still other proposals, including a suggested constitutional amendment to quintuple the state House of Representatives, never stood a chance.
Cannabis unions
Backers of Initiative Petition 35, the only of several proposed ballot measures from the state’s largest private sector union to move forward, submitted about 160,000 signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office on Friday. It’s the latest attempt by United Food and Commercial Workers 555, the union that represents Oregon grocery workers, to make it easier to unionize the cannabis industry.
UFCW first tried to pass House Bill 3183, similarly worded to the ballot measure, during the 2023 legislative session. When state Rep. Paul Holvey, a Eugene Democrat and chair of the House Business and Labor Committee, tabled the bill over concerns that it would conflict with federal law, UFCW launched a recall campaign against him. Holvey won the recall with more than 90% of the vote, though he chose to retire instead of run for reelection.
The proposed ballot measure would require cannabis retailers and processors to remain neutral in communications to employees about labor organizations and mandate that cannabis companies present a “labor peace agreement” with a pledge of neutrality when they apply for or renew their state licenses. Failing to do so could result in fines or license suspension.
Michael Selvaggio, a lobbyist for the union, said Holvey’s concerns about the legality of this proposed law aren’t widely held and are a “non-issue” as far as he is concerned.
“California, New York and New Jersey have all had these kinds of provisions baked into their cannabis policy since it was adopted,” he said. “There have been zero challenges of any kind of merit to this structure of organizing rights.”
UFCW, the largest private-sector union in Oregon, has directed more than $2 million to the campaign.
Oregon rebate
The other ballot measure likely to move forward, Initiative Petition 17, submitted more than 168,000 signatures on Wednesday. It would increase corporate excise taxes to 3% on sales above $25 million and use the proceeds to send rebates to everyone in the state, including children.
Backers estimate the average annual rebate would be about $750, assuming it brings in $3 billion in new taxes and the state population of more than 4 million. But opponents, including the state’s main business lobby group Oregon Business and Industry, warned that higher taxes could drive corporations to leave the state.
The campaign has raised more than $700,000, most from out-of-state donors. More than half its funding is from Jones Holding LLC, a California-based company owned by Josh Jones, a venture capitalist who supports universal basic income. (SOURCE)
The wild sagebrush deserts of southeastern Oregon are a step closer toward additional environmental protections.
The Bureau of Land Management is updating its management plan for 3.2 million acres in Lake and Harney counties, as part of a 2010 legal settlement with the nonprofit Oregon Natural Desert Association — also called ONDA. The settlement required BLM to survey its southeast Oregon land that didn’t have wilderness protections, and then map out areas that are wild and natural enough for potential protections.
Through that mapping process, the BLM’s Lakeview District office determined that an additional 1.6 million acres had wilderness characteristics — meaning they are large, mostly natural areas with few manmade objects in sight.
Now the agency is asking the public how much of that land should have limits on offroading and mining. BLM outlined several options in a draft environmental analysis last month, all with varying levels of wildland protections, and highlighted one as its preference.
The agency’s preferred option would protect the natural characteristics of about 25% of the wild lands it mapped. Some environmental groups say that’s not enough.
ONDA program director Mark Salvo called it “a great start.”
“But are there more wilderness quality lands that should be protected as part of this planning process — as part of a balanced use of this landscape? We believe so,” he said.
Salvo is particularly concerned about protecting lands around the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in Oregon, as well as an area reaching down to a wildlife refuge in Nevada.
“These are some of the most important public lands in the West remaining for wildlife that depend on sagebrush steppe,” Salvo said. Sage grouse, pronghorn and pygmy rabbits live in these areas.
Although BLM highlights a preferred option, Lakeview district manager Todd Forbes said the public should study all management options on the table.
“It’s really helpful for me to hear people look at all the alternatives and describe how those alternatives impact their use of the land,” Forbes said. “And in addition to that, is there anything that we missed that we didn’t analyze that we should have?”
BLM is hosting several public meetings about the proposed plan through July. Public comments are due Sept. 5.
Earlier this year, BLM finalized a similar addition to its management plan covering 4.6 million acres in Malheur, Grant, Harney and Baker counties, including the Owyhee Canyonlands. That update was part of another legal settlement with ONDA. During that process, BLM determined that 1.2 million acres of public land had wilderness characteristics. It ultimately added protections for about 417,000 acres.
BLM is also working on its management plan for the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in southern Oregon. That monument was first designated by President Bill Clinton in 2000, and then expanded in 2017 by President Barack Obama. BLM is expected to complete that plan this fall, as reported by Jefferson Public Radio. (SOURCE)
One of Oregon’s most adorably iconic seabirds is coming to the front and back of a car near you. The Oregon Coast Aquarium has opened voucher sales for its new tufted puffin license plates.
The design, featuring a tufted puffin floating in the ocean and gazing down at some fish below, was created by the
aquarium’s graphic design and marketing coordinator, Cam Mullins.
Starring a tufted puffin—one of Oregon’s iconic seabirds–funds from the new license plate will benefit both the Aquarium’s animals and their wild counterparts. You can purchase a voucher now and exchange it at the DMV once the physical plates are available. We need to sell 3,000 vouchers to reach the production stage—meaning the sooner 3,000 vouchers are sold, the sooner production begins, and the sooner you’ll have your puffin plates in-hand. Read the full story at aquarium.org/puffin-plate-debut
: photo by OCAq’s Jeremy Burke
Tufted puffins are native to Oregon and nest on the rocky coast. The aquarium has a Seabird Aviary that sustains a flock of these sea birds and the profits from the license plates will go to benefit these puffins and their wild counterparts.
The voucher is available for purchase on the aquarium’s website. The cost covers the $40 surcharge fee and the money left over after the deduction of the DMV’s fees will go to support the Oregon Coast Aquarium’s
rehabilitation and conservation efforts. The aquarium is building a new marine wildlife rehabilitation center with
hopes of doubling the number of animal patients it can offer care to. FOLLOW on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/OregonCoastAquarium
Study Finds Northwest Ecosystems Changed Dramatically When Wolves Were Nearly Exterminated
The wolves kept other species in check, like deer and elk, and maintained a healthy environment
Ecosystems in the Northwest were heavily shaped by wolves before they were nearly wiped out of the region, a new study finds.
By the 1930s, gray wolves were nearly gone in Oregon and the rest of the West, leading to the multiplication of animals the wolves hunted and creating an imbalance in the environment, researchers at Oregon State University found.
But the full impact of their disappearance isn’t fully understood because ecological research from the last century largely left out the role of wolves on the landscape. Most of the research wasn’t done until the wolves were nearly gone.
This means our understanding of natural ecosystems in the Northwest is flawed, according to William Ripple, an Oregon State ecologist and the lead author of the study. He said that hampers habitat restoration projects in the Northwest and moves, for example, to reintroduce more gray wolves in the West.
“Since the presence or absence of wolves can dramatically affect ecosystem structure and function, we believe this is a major issue for restoration, conservation and management,” Ripple said in an email.
The study was published recently in the journal BioScience.
Gray wolves are listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act in most of central and western Oregon. Oregon’s population of gray wolves has only recently returned and grown following decades of absence. The first gray wolves to return to Oregon wandered into the eastern part of the state in the late 1990s, more than 50 years after they had been effectively hunted and pushed out of the U.S. By 2009, the wolf population in eastern Oregon became more established, but growth has leveled off.
The analysis looked into ecological studies between 1955 and 2021 at 11 national parks to see whether they mentioned or explored the effect of the wolves’ disappearance. Less than half – 39 of nearly 100 studies – included such data.
“We found that the historical presence of wolves was not considered in the majority of relevant publications that we analyzed,” he said.
Ripple said this lack of research has created a false baseline, with many scientists measuring ecosystem health based on the degraded conditions that spread after the wolves were gone. Without them, elk populations grew, leading to overgrazing; coyote numbers grew, shrinking populations of the small animals coyotes hunt; even trees struggled due to changes in animal populations and plant functions once the wolves were gone, the researchers found.
“The historical loss of wolves from Western landscapes is a major ecological issue,” he said.
Ripple and the researchers suggest more historical data needs to be identified and studied across the region to better understand the effect wolves and other large predators had on ecosystems in the Northwest and to adjust expectations of their health.
“It is important that we do not forget what ecosystems looked like before the loss of wolves. We need to document the shifting baseline and remember that we might now be studying landscapes that are a sick patient,” Ripple said. (SOURCE)
No longer considered predators, Oregon beavers get new protections from state
Oregon’s state animal has for years been classified as a “predator” by the state fish and wildlife agency, and that’s meant that the North American Beaver has lived largely unprotected from private landowners who can kill them at will.
That changed July 1 when new rules went into effect under House Bill 3464, the “beaver bill.” The bill passed the state Legislature in 2023, and the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission, which crafts regulations for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, approved new rules June 14 to reclassify and protect beavers from being killed at will by private landowners.
The beavers will now be classified solely as “furbearers,” an animal whose fur has commercial value, and no longer be classified as “predators.”
With this change, landowners can’t kill a beaver for being a nuisance, or because they’re worried the animal will gnaw through plants or crops. To kill a beaver, the landowner must go through a permitting process with the Fish and Wildlife Department, which will require the landowner to undertake non-lethal mitigation strategies first. These include placing fences and barriers around trees, repellent on trees and choosing different types of plants, according to Michelle Dennehy, a spokesperson for the agency.
The bill won’t affect the killing of beavers for their furs during the hunting season, which runs from Nov. 15 to March 15. It also won’t affect beaver trapping on public lands. Conservationists have over the last four years called on state and federal agencies to end the practice on federal lands.
Beavers are considered ecological engineers because of their ability to construct dams and create ponds. They can help manage water issues related to drought but they can also cause flooding and damage trees. They’re the largest rodent in North America, weighing between 35 and 65 pounds and measuring 2 to 3 feet in length in adulthood.
By the late 1800s, the North American Beaver was nearly extinct in Oregon due to fur trapping, according to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Their numbers across the continent have climbed in the last century from around 100,000 to about 15 million, today. There is no estimated population figure in Oregon.
For private landowners, some exceptions to the new permit requirement will exist. If a beaver’s gnawing, digging or dam building is “imminently threatening” to infrastructure or crops, or is damaging – or has the potential to damage – trees owned by small timber landowners, landowners can get permission from the agency to kill the animals without a permit.
Even in an instance when the state Fish and Wildlife Department determines a permit is not necessary, anyone who kills a beaver will have to report it to the agency, enabling it to collect data on all beaver kills in the state for the first time. The agency will also for the first time collect more detailed data on what kinds of damages beavers tend to be most responsible for, where beavers are distributed across the state, where conflicts have a pattern of arising and when and why Oregonians kill beavers.
The agency does not have much data on beaver kills and deaths each year, according to Dennehy, but the latest rules will change that. Beavers killed with a permit for their fur have remained low over the past decade, she said. An average of 1,100 beavers in Oregon have been killed each year between 2020 and 2023 for their fur. (SOURCE)
Oregon’s Missing Persons
Many times you’ll see postings without case numbers or police contact. There is rarely a nefarious reason why (the nefarious ones are pretty obvious). Usually the loved one tried to call to report their missing person and they are either refused or told to wait a day or two by people who are unaware of SB 351 and the laws that they are bound to when answering the phone. Many people don’t bother calling LE if their loved one is homeless or in transition because they believe LE won’t care. The biggest myth is the 24 hour rule.
In Oregon we don’t have those rules and an officer or person answering the phone is not allowed to decide. The law decides. We have Senate Bill 351 and it states that the police CANNOT refuse a request for any reason and they must begin working on it within 12 hours. The person making the report does not have to be related to missing person either.
Here is SB 351 written by families of the missing here in Oregon in conjunction with Oregon law enforcement officers. This should be common knowledge, please make it this way. https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/…/SB351/Introduced
