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
Friday, July 12, 2024
Willamette Valley Weather
Oregon Country Fair Kicks Off Today!
Immersive Fun for All Ages & Abilities
Oregon Country Fair is a wonderland of free expression and imagination for all to enjoy! From puppets to aerial acts to forested nooks for quiet contemplation, the Fair has a place for you.
We also want to mention: White Bird Clinic’s Cleveland Chicken at booth 916 is a fundraiser for the White Bird Clinic here in Eugene. All proceeds go to direct client services like cold weather gear and denture replacement.
Come see us for grilled chicken, corn, water melon and our lovely water melon & lime cooler or come say hello and learn about the services White Bird provides to our community
Tickets for the fair are still available https://aftontickets.com/ocf2024 The weather has cooled a bit so this will be fantastic weekend to visit this iconic Oregon event! http://www.oregoncountryfair.org —- FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064603245756
Eugene/Springfield Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics
The annual Eugene/Springfield Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Oregon took place Thursday!
Springfield Police Department kicked the event off and were joined at the start by several members of the Lane County Sheriff’s Office and then passed the torch off to our partners from the Eugene Police Department at the halfway point.
These departments are proud of their relationships with Special Olympics Oregon – Eugene/Springfield and thankful to our law enforcement partners’ dedication to such a worthy cause!
Fire Extinguished Near Fern Ridge Bike Path
Eugene Springfield Fire extinguished a small grass fire on the Fern Ridge bike path in West Eugene Thursday evening. Firefighters were called to the fire located between Bertelsen and Commerce Street at 8:44 PM. Fire crews were able to quickly take care of the fire which remained small. The pictures demonstrate the importance of mowing vegetation to limit the intensity and growth capability should a fire ignite.
Successful Sex Offender Sweep in Albany
In accordance with and pursuant to the Registered Offender Information Policy (Policy 0605.4), the Albany Police Detective Unit performed a compliance check (“sweep”) on a cross section of registered sex offenders living within or near the City of Albany on Thursday, June 27, 2024. This operation was supported via the efforts of the United States Marshals Service, the Oregon State Police Sex Offender Registration Section, the Oregon State Police (Albany), the Eugene Police Department, and Linn County Parole & Probation.
As of June 3, 2024, there were 607 sex offenders who last registered as residing in Albany. 161 offenders were identified as targets for verification of compliance based on the criteria described below.
- Offenders classified as Level 3 who are believed to be in compliance with reporting requirements.
- Offenders not classified as Level 3 or designated as Predatory but who have multiple sex crime convictions and/or a history of juvenile-aged victims.
- Offenders from the referenced criteria who are not in compliance but believed to still be residing in Albany.
- Offenders on supervision with Linn County Parole & Probation who also have arrest warrants issued or who fit into one of the aforementioned criteria.
- Offenders with federal/military/tribal sex crime convictions; and,
- Offenders whose compliance was not verified during operations in 2021, 2022, or 2023 but who meet one of the aforementioned criteria.
Of the 161 targeted individuals, 161 compliance checks were performed. Of these 161 compliance checks, 109 resulted in verification of an offender’s address, 32 resulted in verification that an offender did not live at the last registered address, and 20 were not able to verify an offender’s address. 2 arrests were made during the operation, with 1 criminal citation to appear in court issued, 1 arrest warrant served, and 4 warnings issued.
In Oregon, sex offenders are required to report when they move to a new address, change jobs or schools, change their name, plan on international travel or enroll in a higher education or vocational training program. They must also report to their local agencies upon being required to register as a sex offender, and they are required to submit an annual report to authorities to verify that they are complying with the law.
This joint effort with our law enforcement partners is important to pursue non-compliant offenders and we are always working diligently to keep our community safe. A major goal of these operations is to lower the risk non-complaint offenders and reduce the number of future incidents of reoffending.
Motorcyclist Killed in Collision With Truck in Salem
Salem, Ore. — At approximately 4:45 p.m. Thursday, Salem Police were called to the scene of a deadly collision involving a motorcycle rider and the driver of a pick-up truck.
The preliminary investigation by the Salem Police Traffic Team revealed a man riding a motorcycle was traveling eastbound on Market ST approaching 23rd ST NE. A woman driving a pick-up truck westbound on Market ST initiated a southbound turn onto 23rd ST when the motorcycle rider collided with the truck. Witnesses reported the motorcycle was traveling at a high rate of speed and struck the truck’s passenger door.
The motorcycle rider, identified as William Dale Ryan, age 44 of Salem, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The driver of the truck, 36-year-old Tania Vargas Campos of Salem, remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.
Market ST between 21st and 24th STS NE was closed to all traffic for approximately two-and-a-half hours for the crash investigation.
To date in 2024, the Salem Police Traffic Team has responded to 15 major traffic collisions resulting in 15 deaths.
Man Arrested After Intentional Crash
At 10:53 p.m. on July 9, Eugene Police responded to a single-vehicle crash at S. Bertelsen Road and W. 7th Avenue. Dispatch advised officers the male driver of the Toyota Camry had fled southbound on foot. Officers arrived and found the Toyota crashed into a fence on the northwest corner of the intersection.
The chain link fence was pushed inward, toward a sleep shelter site with numerous Conestoga-style shelters set up. Some of the shelters were an estimated 5-10 feet from the fence. A female passenger was discovered still inside the vehicle. It was difficult for her to get out, as her door was up against the fence. She was able to exit by getting out of the driver’s seat.
The Eugene Police K9 team of Officer Thomas and K9 Ayk tracked the driver, later identified as Craig Steven Parke, age 31, on W 7th Avenue from the location and ultimately located him and took him safely into custody. The Toyota was not insured.
An investigation found Parke, age 31, had intentionally crashed the vehicle during an argument with his girlfriend, the passenger. He was transported to Lane County Jail and lodged on charges that include Hit and Run Property Damage, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Reckless Driving, and Menacing APA (Abuse Prevention Act). Case 24-10031
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 Shearer If you have any pertinent information related to this case, please contact SPD at 541.726.3714 or police@springfield-or.gov
7/9/24 – LCSO Case #24-3633 – Woman arrested for bias crime after making threats
On July 9th at about 11 a.m., Lane County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a mobile home park in the 34900 block of Seavey Loop Road for a report of a resident who was yelling racial slurs and throwing tools in the direction of several construction workers at an adjacent mobile home.
Deputies developed probable cause to arrest the female, Rowena Lynn Hamilton, 61, for two counts of Bias Crime in the 2nd Degree. She was lodged at the Lane County Jail on the charges.
“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!
The Forest Service says since June, 100 wildfires in Oregon and Washington were caused by people, Though most of the time crews were “largely successful” in putting them out, officials are urging the public to help reduce the amount of preventable fires firefighters have to deal with.
The U.S. Forest Service says a surge of human-caused wildfires is stretching resources thin as extreme heat, dry conditions and lightning in the forecast increases the chances of wildfires.
Oregon State Fire Marshal sends two task forces to Cow Valley Fire
A fast-moving wildfire Thursday evening in Malheur County prompted the Oregon State Fire Marshal to mobilize two structural task forces to the Cow Valley Fire burning near the town of Brogan. The task forces from Umatilla and Multnomah counties are being sent through Immediate Response, a tool the state fire marshal uses to mobilize task forces outside of a conflagration.
“The east side of the state has faced challenging fire conditions over the last week. The Cow Valley Fire is being pushed by gusty winds and low humidity,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “We are using an essential tool and the power of the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System to provide added resources to the Cow Valley Fire. Firefighters funded through the 2024 Wildfire Season Staffing Grant allowed a quicker response for the local agencies.”
The fire is rapidly changing and estimated to be about 16,000 acres according to the Vale Bureau of Land Management District and threatening 30 to 50 homes.
According to the Malheur County Sheriff’s Office, the Cow Valley Fire changed direction early Thursday evening and headed east toward the town quickly. The sheriff’s office is advising those in Brogan and the surrounding areas to be prepared to leave their home if an evacuation order is made. Follow the Malheur County Sheriff’s Office for information about evacuations.
The Oregon Department of Transportation closed a stretch of Highway 26 in the area of the fire. The agency says the highway is expected to remain closed through the night.
The Umatilla County task force is made up of local fire agencies from Umatilla, Baker, Gilliam, Morrow, and Union counties.
The task force from Multnomah County was previously assigned to the Larch Creek Fire. The Oregon State Fire Marshal will continue to monitor the fire and is ready to provide more support if needed.
About Immediate Response
Immediate Response is made possible through the OSFM’s Response Ready Oregon program created through Oregon’s wildfire omnibus bill, Senate Bill 762, signed into law in 2021.
FEMA approves federal funding for Larch Creek Fire as wildfire continues to grow
“We’re entering a very dangerous time period in the Pacific Northwest wildfire season,” said Pacific Northwest Assistant Fire Director for Operations Ed Hiatt in a statement. “Mother Nature turned on the oven for a week in local forests and now we’re preparing for the potential of dry lightning and gusty winds across much of eastern Oregon.”
Deteriorating conditions, the possibility of lighting sparks igniting flames, and fires spreading more rapidly and intensely all mean firefighters don’t want to stretch thin their supply of needed engines, dozers, helicopters and other resources to respond to wildfires that are entirely preventable, officials said.
“It’s as dry as I’ve ever seen it,” Hiatt said. “From the Canadian border to southeast Oregon, multiple areas have broken daily records for forecasted fire intensity. Bottom line? If it starts, it’s going to burn hot and it’s going to burn fast.”
This weekend, the Forest Service said they will be sending fire managers to the area of Oregon whose boundaries include Klamath Falls, Bend and La Grande in anticipation of “dangerous dry lightning storms” arriving Saturday and lasting until Monday, officials said.
Amid these conditions, 13 regional national forests have implemented campfire restrictions to slow or stop the proliferation of preventable, human-caused fires.
Better weather helps progress on Larch Creek Fire, ODF Incident Management Team 2 will transition into unified command with OSFM Green Team
Dufur, Ore. – Throughout the evening winds subsided and the Larch Creek Fire growth slowed. Dozers working through the night made good progress putting in control line and engines patrolled near homes in the fire area.
Today structure task forces will continue to mop up and secure around homes in the fire area. Firefighters will be putting in hose lays and working with engines and water tenders to strengthen control lines. Dozers and crews will work on establishing line around the fire footprint on the east side of Highway 197. Air resources continue to be available and will engage as needed throughout the day.
The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Incident Management Team 2 will shadow the Central Oregon IMT today. This evening at 6 p.m. ODF Team 2 and OSFM Green Team will officially transition into unified command. A huge Thank You to the Central Oregon Type 3 Interagency IMT for their coordination and efforts on this quickly emerging incident.
The weather will moderate today with temperatures in the low 90’s with afternoon winds that should moderate into the evening. The next few days should see temperatures continuing to decrease and less substantial winds in the fire area, a very welcome forecast for firefighters. Yesterday there was one firefighter with heat related injuries who was transported to a local hospital.
Stay informed on updated evacuation alerts here:
https://www.facebook.com/WascoCountySheriff?ref=embed_page
A Red Cross shelter is open at Maupin High School for all community members effected by the current evacuations.
Sherman County Fairgrounds is open for evacuation of livestock and pets. Hood River Fairgrounds is also open to displaced animals. Hwy 197 is being closely monitored and may be closed or have traffic control, check Trip Check for updates. Road & Weather Conditions Map | TripCheck – Oregon Traveler Information
Be aware of the extreme fire danger we are currently experiencing! Know Before You Go and check for Fire Restrictions in your area.
Salt Creek Fire – Salt Creek Road, Eagle Point
14 Deaths in Oregon Linked to Heat Wave
Since a wave of excessive heat began late last week, 14 people in Oregon have died from suspected heat-related causes.
The Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office announced Thursday morning that four more deaths were reported on Wednesday.
Suspected heat-related deaths have now been reported in Coos, Jackson, Klamath, Linn, Multnomah, and Washington counties since last Friday.
One person, a 33-year-old man from Clackamas County, died after being taken to a Portland hospital.
The names of the 14 people have not been released. The medical examiner said the designation of these deaths is preliminary.
The actual cause of death in each case may take months to determine, the examiner’s office said, and may be unrelated to hyperthermia. Here is a table of the reported deaths:
Copyright 2024 Oregon Public Broadcasting
Hundreds of Crisis Calls in Oregon Go Unanswered
Almost a quarter of Oregon calls to the mental health crisis hotline have gone unanswered so far this year.
Why it matters: The revamped national suicide hotline, which launched in 2022 as 988, promised a quicker, more seamless crisis response in Oregon and across the country but remains a work in progress two years later.
By the numbers: Roughly 79% of the 5,500 Oregonians who called the 988 hotline in May were connected with an in-state counselor, according to data from the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
- Oregon’s year-to-date answer rate for 2024 is 76%. It’s a lower rate than most of the country, and even lower than the state’s previous records.
- In 2023 it was 85%.
The intrigue: While Oregon’s answer rate has fallen, the number of 988 calls increased nearly 21% locally between May 2023 and May 2024.
What they’re saying: Call volumes have “been rising more quickly than new staff can be hired and trained,” Dean Carson, a spokesperson for Oregon Health Authority, which oversees the state’s 988 system, told Axios.
- Oregon has two 988 call centers, Lines for Life and Northwest Human Services, with the latter only handling calls for Marion and Polk counties in the Salem area.
Zoom in: Lines for Life has answered “1,000 more contacts than this time last year,” Carson said, while Northwest Human Services has received 250 more calls per month — a sign more Oregonians may be becoming aware of the new hotline.
- The number of texts to Oregon 988 is also up — about 2,000 each month — which “means more young people are comfortable with just sending a text to get that emotional support,” he said.
The big picture: Oregon is one of few states that have made long-term funding commitments to sustain the program. The Legislature approved a 40-cent monthly tax on all phone bills to help expand 988 last year and started collecting the tax in January.
- Right now, 988 pulls from the state’s general fund for funding. The phone bill fee, however, could offset $26 million of the program’s costs by 2025, Carson said.
Between the lines: If you call from a 503 or 971 cellphone, your call will go to Oregon-based crisis counselors. If you have an out-of-state area code, your call will go to that area code — a challenge the FCC is working with telecom providers to fix via geo-routing.
- When local counselors don’t answer in Oregon, calls are routed to national crisis center experts who may not be familiar with local resources and treatment options.
What’s next: Carson said OHA will determine whether additional call centers will be added in the coming years based on need. (SOURCE)
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’s Labor Force: What Slower Population Growth
and Increasing Retirements Mean for the Workforce
The youngest members of the large Baby Boom Generation, born between 1946 and 1964, turn 60 years old in 2024. Workers in this age group have been, and are expected to continue, shifting into retirement and taking their skills and experience with them.
- In 1990, one out of 10 Oregon job holders was age 55 or older. By 2022, that share grew to 24%.
- In 2023, the number of Oregonians not in the labor force due to retirement reached 786,000, an all-time high. Over the past decade, the number of Oregonians not in the labor force due to retirement grew by 160,000 or 26%.
The workforce is aging nationally as well, but Oregon has been at a workforce advantage in boosting its labor force. Decades of population growth – driven primarily by net in-migration – has helped fuel labor force growth, even as the workforce has aged and overall labor force participation rates have generally declined.
- Oregon’s population grew by 40% between 1993 and 2023, compared with 30% for the U.S.
- Oregon’s natural increase in population turned negative in 2021 and 2022, with fewer births than deaths, as the COVID-19 pandemic met the long-term trends of an aging population and lower birth rates.
- In 2021, for the first time in almost four decades, population estimates showed negative net migration, and an overall decline in Oregon’s population.
The declines in natural increase, net migration, and population have contributed to slower labor force growth. Slower gains may be somewhat offset by greater labor force participation among the existing population.
- Oregon’s labor force participation rate was 62.4% in 2023, the highest in a decade. That’s still well below the peak of 68.9% in 1998.
During periods like the past couple of years, where low unemployment and relatively large numbers of job openings are paired with slow labor force growth, that creates a tighter labor market for Oregon employers. That makes it harder for employers to find enough workers to fill all their job openings.
These dynamics may have also contributed to Oregon’s slower job growth in recent years compared to the U.S. Nationally, total nonfarm payroll employment expanded by 3.4% between 2019 and 2023, while Oregon’s expanded jobs by 1.2%. This is a change; typically Oregon’s job (and labor force) growth exceeds the nation’s over business cycles. If recent labor force and unemployment trends continue, they might further limit Oregon’s growth potential relative to historic norms and the nation. More details are available in the full report at QualityInfo.org.
Burglars Targeting Local Licensed Marijuana Farms and Storage Facilities in Southern Oregon
SOUTHERN OREGON – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) detectives are investigating multiple burglaries of marijuana farms and storage facilities in Jackson and Josephine Counties. The suspects are targeting licensed marijuana farms during the nighttime hours and are possibly armed. Owners and workers of these facilities should be alert for these types of crimes and report unusual activity. Also, check perimeter fences and cameras to make sure they are intact and operational.
If you have any information on these burglaries or have not reported a previous burglary crime at a marijuana facility, call ECSO Dispatch non-emergency line at (541)776-7206 and ask to speak with a JCSO deputy. These cases are active and ongoing with detectives following additional leads. There is no more information available at this time.
Public comment sought on program serving older adults and people with disabilities
Salem, OR – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), along with the Oregon Health Authority, will hold a forum to receive feedback from the public on implementation of Oregon Project Independence – Medicaid (OPI-M).
OPI-M is being launched by the ODHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities this year as a result of an 1115 Demonstration Waiver. This forum for public input is referred to as a Post-Award Public Forum by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and is required by federal regulations. It will provide information on the implementation of OPI-M since the waiver was approved by CMS on Feb. 13, 2024, in addition to providing an opportunity for the public to provide feedback. OPI-M operates under the authority of section 1115(a) of the Social Security Act. The waiver is in effect from Feb. 13, 2024, to Jan. 31, 2029.
The forum will be held as a video conference on Zoom on Aug. 5, 2024, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Real-Time Captioning (CART) will also be provided. To request other accommodations, please contact Max Brown by email at rown@odhs.oregon.gov“>Max.Brown@odhs.oregon.gov or by phone at 971-707-1019 no later than 48 hours prior to the forum.
Meeting: OPI-M Post-Award Public Forum
When: Aug. 5, 2024, 3 to 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time
Where: Video conference meeting on Zoom
- To join by video conference: Join Zoom Meeting
- To join by phone: dial 669-254-5252; meeting ID: 161 701 1754; passcode: 664575
Additional resources and information about OPI-M:
- Draft Quarterly Monitoring Report (currently under CMS review)
- Read the ODHS news release: CMS approves expansion of program providing older adults and people with disabilities more options for support at home
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.”
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
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
