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, March 12, 2025
Willamette Valley Weather
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LCSO Case #25-1168 – Deputies Recover Deceased Person from Fern Ridge Reservoir
On March 8th at about 4 p.m., Lane County Sheriff’s deputies responded to Fern Ridge Reservoir for a report of a deceased person in the lake. Deputies recovered the person and are investigating the incident. The identity of the involved is being withheld pending next of kin notification.
LCSO Case #25-0250 – Lane County Sheriff Serves Search Warrant at Illegal Butane Extraction Lab East of Cottage Grove
On March 5th, Lane County Sheriff’s detectives and deputies served a search warrant at a residence in the 32300 block of Woodson Lane, east of Cottage Grove. Detectives had conducted a months-long investigation of the property after receiving information of an illegal butane THC extraction lab at the location.
As witnessed previously in our area, BHO labs are extremely dangerous and can result in catastrophic and deadly explosions. The lab was dismantled and removed during the service of the search warrant. Deputies also located 1.6 pounds of suspected cocaine and a stolen firearm.
The suspects were identified as Jonathan Tyler Sirois, 38, and Brandon Charles Shaneyfelt, 35, both of Cottage Grove. Sirios was arrested for: – Unlawful Manufacture of Cannabinoid / Marijuana Item – Unlawful Possession of Marijuana – Unlawful Delivery of Marijuana – Unlawful Possession of Cocaine – Unlawful Delivery of Cocaine – Theft in the 1st Degree Shaneyfelt was arrested for: – Unlawful Manufacture of Cannabinoid / Marijuana Item – Unlawful Possession of Marijuana – Unlawful Delivery of Marijuana
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on this case by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Oregon State Police, and Springfield Police Department. This investigation would not have been possible without the ongoing grant funding from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission’s Illegal Marijuana Market Grant (IMMEG).
This grant was created in 2018 by the Oregon Legislature to assist local law enforcement agencies and district attorneys’ offices in their efforts to address the illegal marijuana market in Oregon. This is an ongoing investigation, and no further details will be provided at this time. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact LCSO at 541-682-4141 and reference case #25-0250.
Man Arrested after High Street Stabbing
At 5:30 p.m. on March 9, a person reported being stabbed in the 1500 block of High Street. Multiple Eugene Police units and Eugene Springfield Fire responded. The suspect was last seen running eastbound on 16th Avenue. An LCSO K9 was requested to search but the suspect was not located.
The suspect Michael Joseph Schlimmer, age 56, called to advise of his location outside Lane County Jail and he was compliant and taken into custody at 8:27 p.m. He was lodged for Assault in the First Degree. The victim, age 21, was transported to a local hospital for treatment of a stab wound. 25-03867
3/10/25 – LCSO Case #25-1184 Deputies arrest suspected DUI driver after crash on Royal Avenue
On March 10th, a Lane County Sheriff’s deputy contacted several young adults with vehicles at the dead end of Royal Avenue, west of Eugene. As the deputy was leaving from the area, he observed a vehicle driving west on Royal Avenue – toward the dead end – at over 100 miles per hour.
The vehicle narrowly avoided striking the deputy’s patrol car or any of the parked cars or people, but struck a heavy metal gate, destroying it and the vehicle. The driver suffered only minor injuries. After investigating the incident, deputies arrested the driver, Daniel Michael Brumley, 41, of Eugene, and lodged him at the Lane County Jail on the following charges: – DUI – Reckless Driving – Five counts of Reckless Endangering – Two counts of Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree
3/8/25 – LCSO Cases 25-1170, 25-1171, 25-1174 Deputies arrest two after vehicle crashes, stabbing in Veneta
On March 8th at about 7 p.m., Lane County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a vehicle crash in the area of Territorial Road and Highway 126. When they arrived, the vehicle was no longer on scene.
About an hour later, another crash was reported in the area of Jeans Road and Vista Drive, with a matching vehicle description to the first crash. The vehicle, a red 1990 Toyota pickup, was unoccupied when they arrived, and they were unable to locate anyone in the area.
About an hour after the second crash, deputies responded to a stabbing at a residence in the 29600 block of Jeans Road. As they investigated the stabbing, deputies learned the incidents were all connected. Deputies arrested the driver of the vehicle, Emma Kathleen Gunson-Anderson, 39, of Veneta, for DUI and Hit and Run – Property Damage related to the crashes. She was also arrested for Assault in the 4th Degree, Menacing, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon related to the stabbing. Deputies also arrested Kimberly Lynn Griffin, 52, of Veneta, for DUI after she attempted to leave the scene of the stabbing in the victim’s vehicle.
Eugene Deli Robbery Suspect Arrested in Coos Bay
At 9:45 p.m. on March 6, Eugene Police responded to a robbery reported at Richard’s Deli, 3666 W. 11th Avenue. An unknown man had robbed the deli of cash at gunpoint and left. EPD Property Crimes Unit detectives arrived on scene and took over the investigation.
They developed a suspect in the case, Andre Kevin Outland, age 61, of Coos Bay. A detective wrote and applied for a search warrant from a judge, which was granted. Coos Bay Police Department and surrounding agencies on the Oregon coast assisted EPD with the case in Coos Bay.
A vehicle associated with Outland was located in Coos Bay. Coos County Metro SWAT attempted to stop the vehicle, but it failed to yield, and a pursuit was initiated. Outland was subsequently stopped and arrested. The Metro SWAT team responded to the residence and secured the scene, and EPD detectives followed up on the search warrant. Numerous items of evidence from the robbery were recovered during the search. Outland was lodged for Robbery in the First Degree, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Use Weapon, and Menacing. Case 24-03715
Saturday, March 15th • 9 AM to 4 PMSunday, March 16th • 9 AM to 4 PM~ LOCATION ~Lane County Events Center Auditorium796 W 13th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97402Google link: https://goo.gl/maps/cwDngQw9e5s1fPvZ6
~ ADMISSION ~Tickets can be purchased at the door. Credit/Debit/Cash • Adult Admission $10 • Children 6-12 $8 • Seniors $8 Children under 6 are free. Family 4 pack $30 (2 adults, 2 children 6-12) or •Skip the line and buy online: mckenzie-river-cc.ticketleap.com/eugene-cat-show-25/
Come see 120 purebred and household pet cats compete for top cat in 4 different judging rings throughout each day. Meet Maine Coon Cats, Devon Rex, Persians, Siamese, Ragdolls, Bengals, and up to 30 other breeds!
Catholic Community Services of Lane County, Inc. (CCS) · 
Shamrocks & Shenanigans 2025!
Lane County’s biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebration returns with Irish Echo’s live Celtic rock, traditional Irish buffet, and full bar. Every $40 ticket supports @CatholicCommunityServices local programs.March 15, 5:30 PM | Marist High School Tickets: http://ccslc.org/irishecho
New Code Allowing the Placement of Rental RVs for Rural Lane County Properties
Beginning Thursday, February 27, properties in unincorporated Lane County (meaning outside city limits and urban growth boundaries) that are zoned Rural Residential may be able to add a rental recreational vehicle (RV) to their property.
“We know access to affordable housing is a critical need throughout Lane County,” said Board of County Commissioners Chair David Loveall. “This new code, made possible by recent changes to state law, allows us to open up long-term housing opportunities in rural communities while at the same time providing guardrails to ensure that it doesn’t negatively affect the character of our rural areas.”
The new code was passed by the Board of County Commissioners in January. It can be found in Lane Code Chapter 16.290 (9).
To take advantage of this new program, properties must meet the following criteria:
- Only one RV is allowed on lots zoned Rural Residential in conjunction with a primary single-family dwelling.
- The single-family dwelling must be the primary residence of the property owner.
- No other dwelling units may exist on the property, including a temporary medical hardship or an ADU, and no portion of the single-family dwelling may be rented for residential tenancy. The property may not be in an urban reserves area.
- Rental RVs are not allowed in the regulatory floodplain.
- The RV must be licensed and ready for highway use.
- The RV cannot be used for vacation occupancy, meaning the stay must exceed 45 days.
- The property owner must provide essential services (sewage disposal, water, electric, and if required by applicable law, a drainage system) to the RV space.
- The RV must contain a toilet and sink or the property owner must make these facilities available to the tenant.
- The RV must be located on a paved or graveled parking pad.
- There are special setbacks of 30 feet from the RV and resource zoned properties.
- There must be a rental agreement between the owner of the property and the tenant of the rental RV and the RV must be owned or leased by the tenant.
Interested property owners can contact Lane County Land Management at 541-682-3577 or stop by the Customer Service Center at 3050 N. Delta Highway in Eugene between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday–Friday. More information is also available at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/LMD.
Catholic Community Services of Lane County · 
Call for Donations
Our **No-Cost Clothing Closet** is running low on supplies, and we need your help to keep serving our community! 
We’re looking for:
Gently used or new clothes for all ages and sizes Coats, sweaters, sweatshirts Socks, gloves
**Drop-off Location:** 1025 G Street, Springfield, OR
**Hours:** M – F 9a-12p
Every item you donate brings warmth, dignity, and hope to someone in need. Let’s make a difference together!
Please share this post to help us spread the word!
Lane County Government — Part of being prepared for an emergency is knowing how you will receive emergency alerts and life safety information. Lane County uses several tools to alert residents.
Watch the video below to learn more about those tools and decide which ones you will rely on in the event of an emergency or disaster. 
https://vimeo.com/565852770 Sign up to receive Lane Alerts emergency alerts at www.LaneAlerts.org#NationalPreparednessMonth
Eugene Springfield Fire · ESF’s Young Women’s Fire Camp is now accepting applications.
The camp will run from June 23rd – June 27th this year. The deadline for sign up is May 1, 2025. You can sign up on our website at: https://www.eugene-or.gov/2983/Young-Womens-Fire-Camp.
“When It Hits The Fan”: Podcast by Lane County Emergency Management
This month on Lane County Emergency Management’s 𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝐼𝑡 𝐻𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐹𝑎𝑛, Emergency Manager Tiffany Brown shares essential tips on what to do in an emergency.
Get ready, stay informed, and make sure you’re prepared for anything! 
Listen now: www.LaneCountyOR.gov/fan or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube
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. Listen at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/fan.
White Bird Clinic – · Crisis intervention is a 24/7 need in our community, and CAHOOTS, as part of White Bird Crisis Intervention programs, responds.
White Bird CAHOOTS Springfield Coverage: 11 am – 11 pm, 7 days a week (541-726-3714) — Eugene Coverage: 24/7 (541-682-5111)
Starting in the new year, White Bird Dental Clinic will offer more walk-in clinic times. Currently, we offer walk-in clinics at 1415 Pearl St. every Monday and Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. In January, we will also add every other Friday at 7:30 a.m. Find more information at whitebirdclinic.org/dental
Youth Empowerment Programs, City of Eugene
Registration open for our FREE programs.
Some programs are drop-in, so no registration is required—just show up and get involved!
For more information and links to register, visit our website: https://www.eugene-or.gov/4888/Youth-Empowerment-Program
MISSING CHILD DANE PAULSEN FOUND DECEASED
March 11, 2025 – Siletz Oregon
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the discovery of Dane Paulsen, who had been missing since March 1, 2025 around 4:25pm. After an extensive search and investigation by local authorities, along with the help of community volunteers, Dane was found today at approximately 11:13am in the Siletz River approximately 3 miles downstream from the family’s property. Sadly, he was found deceased.
Juan Heredia, with Angels Recovery Dive Team offered his dive services to Dane’s family. After connecting with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Jaun was escorted onto the river by a local river guide and began searching areas of the Siletz River downstream from where Sheriff’s Office drivers had thoroughly combed.
Sheriff’s Office investigators are currently processing the scene. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is working in partnership with the Lincoln County Medical Examiners Office. As is standard with ongoing investigations, additional details are not available at this time.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office expresses its deepest sympathies to Dane’s family and loved ones. The impact of this loss is felt by the entire community, and we join those grieving this unimaginable tragedy.
“Our thoughts are with the family, who are facing an unbearable sorrow,” said Sheriff Adam Shanks. “We are deeply grateful for the support and dedication shown by the search teams and our communities throughout this difficult time, though we wish it was under different circumstances.”
We understand that this news is incredibly painful, especially for Dane’s family and those who knew him. Dane’s family has been notified. Out of respect for the family’s privacy during this profoundly difficult time, we ask the public and media to respect their need for space and time to grieve.
Should Homelessness Be Criminalized? | Dr. Phil Primetime — Talks About Grants Pass
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkVpBS_Y6Pw
Paid Leave Oregon Surpasses $1 Billion in Benefits Paid to Oregon Workers
— As of March 11, Paid Leave Oregon has delivered more than $1 billion in benefits to Oregon workers, marking a significant milestone in supporting people and families across the state. To date, over 150,000 people have received Paid Leave benefits.
“This milestone is a measure of the state’s commitment to supporting Oregon’s workforce,” said David Gerstenfeld, Director of the Oregon Employment Department. “$1 billion in benefits demonstrates the significant impact this program has had, not only on employees and their families, but also on Oregon businesses and the broader economy. By providing financial security during critical times, Paid Leave Oregon helps employers retain workers, reduce turnover costs, and strengthen the economic stability of communities across the state.”
“Paid Leave Oregon makes our state healthier, happier, and more prosperous by ensuring people don’t have to choose between their health, their families, and their paychecks,” said Karen Madden Humelbaugh, Director of Paid Leave Oregon. “Reaching the $1 billion mark shows that we’ve built something stable and strong. Whether they are recovering from an illness, welcoming a new child, or caring for a loved one, Oregonians can count on Paid Leave Oregon to be there for them during life’s most important moments.”
Paid Leave Oregon continues to be a national model for state-administered paid leave programs, ensuring equitable access to benefits for workers. The program is funded through contributions from employers and employees, ensuring a sustainable and robust support system for Oregonians who take paid leave.
Every dollar goes to someone facing a serious health condition, caring for a family member, bonding with a new child, or dealing with the impacts of domestic violence, stalking, harassment, or sexual assault.
Since its launch in January 2023, Paid Leave has paid benefits to more than 150,000 Oregonians. Of the approved applications, 45% have been for medical leave, 28% for bonding with a new child, 14% to care for a family member with a serious health condition, 12% for leave due to pregnancy, and 1% for safe leave.
Paid Leave Oregon continues to expand its outreach and services to ensure more workers and businesses understand and use the program when they need it. For more information, visit paidleave.oregon.gov.
### The Oregon Employment Department (OED) is an equal opportunity agency. OED provides free help so you can use our services. Some examples are sign language and spoken-language interpreters, written materials in other languages, large print, audio, and other formats. To get help, please call 503-947-1444. TTY users call 711. You can also send an email to communications@employ.oregon.gov.
Station Wagon Pulled from River May Belong to Oregon Family Missing for Nearly 70 Years
Authorities pulled a station wagon from the Columbia River Friday that’s believed to have belonged to an Oregon family of five who disappeared nearly 70 years ago while they were out searching for Christmas greenery.
Deputy Pete Hughes of the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office said the salvage crew working near the Cascade Locks Marine Park believes the chassis and motor they pulled from the Columbia River around 3:45 p.m. did, in fact, belong to the Portland family. Officials won’t be able to confirm that it’s the car, which fell apart as they were recovering it, until they check the VIN number stamped on the engine.
VIDEO: https://www.facebook.com/katunews/videos/9081258175333867 — https://www.facebook.com/reel/1111488933995173
The search for the Martin family was a national news story at the time and led some to speculate about the possibility of foul play, with a $1,000 reward offered for information about their whereabouts.
The Martins took their daughters Barbara, 14, Virginia, 13, and Sue, 11, on a ride to the mountains on Dec. 7, 1958, to collect Christmas greenery, according to AP stories from the time. They never returned.
Officials narrowed their search for the family after learning that Ken Martin had used a credit card to buy gas at a station near Cascade Locks, a small Columbia River community about 40 miles east of Portland.
“Police have speculated that Martin’s red and white station wagon might have plunged into an isolated canyon or river,” the AP reported. “The credit card purchase was the only thing to pin-point the family’s movements.” (READ MORE)
Crash Kills Juvenile, Father Arrested in Glendale (Photo)
Douglas Co. Sheriff’s Office – 03/11/25 2:10 PMDCSO NEWS RELEASE.jpg
GLENDALE, Ore. – A 55-year-old Wolf Creek man was arrested on charges of second-degree manslaughter after a pickup truck crash killed his 11-year-old daughter Monday afternoon. Driver impairment is considered a factor in the crash.
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were called to a motor vehicle crash on Oregon Department of Forestry land bordering the 1200 block of Tunnel Road in Glendale at about 1:30 pm Monday, March 10, 2025. The pickup, a green Ford F250, was reportedly occupied by the driver, Ian Anthony Fleming, and three juvenile females when the crash occurred.
The three juvenile passengers were thrown from the vehicle as it rolled multiple times down an embankment. All juveniles sustained injuries. Fleming was able to get out of the vehicle on his own and he then attempted to get medical care for his seriously injured daughter. He used a borrowed vehicle to drive his daughter to the ambulance station on Tunnel Road. Glendale Ambulance paramedics declared her deceased shortly after.
The two other juveniles were transported by Glendale Ambulance to Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford for treatment.
DCSO Detectives responded to the scene after deputies reported Fleming had fled. Fleming later returned to the location of the crash and was interviewed. Detectives determined alcohol and drugs were a factor in the crash and arrested Fleming for Manslaughter II. He was lodged at the Douglas County jail.
Oregon’s Unemployment Rate Rises to 4.4% in January
Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.4% in January and 4.3%, as revised, in December, after rising gradually over the past year from 4.1% in January 2024. Oregon’s 4.4% unemployment rate was the highest since September 2021, when the rate was also 4.4%. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.1% in December 2024 and 4.0% in January 2025.
In January, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 2,400 jobs, following a revised decline of 2,000 jobs in December. January’s gains were largest in professional and business services (+1,400 jobs); leisure and hospitality (+1,200); retail trade (+900); and private educational services (+900). Declines were largest in manufacturing (-2,200) and health care and social assistance (-1,300).
Oregon’s private sector added 12,700 jobs, or 0.8%, between January 2024 and January 2025. Job gains during 2024 were less than previously indicated, as annual data revisions resulted in an average reduction of 15,600 jobs per month during the second half of 2024.
During the past three years, health care and social assistance was by far the fastest growing sector of Oregon’s economy, adding 15,100 jobs, or 5.2%, in the 12 months through January. However, a large strike at a major health care provider contributed to the one-month drop of 1,300 jobs in this industry during January.
Industries that grew moderately during the most recent 12 months included other services (+2,100 jobs, or 3.2%); private educational services (+1,100 jobs, or 3.0%); professional and business services (+2,900 jobs, or 1.1%); and construction (+900 jobs, or 0.8%).
Manufacturing continued its decline of the past two years, cutting 6,900 jobs (-3.7%) in the 12 months through January, while retail trade shed 2,300 jobs (-1.1%) during that time.
Dysentery outbreak in Oregon leaves at least 40 sickened
Two dozen new cases of Shigella, which can cause dysentery, have been reported in Oregon since the start of the new year, according to health officials.
Cases have been on the rise since 2012 and the illness has spread to the Portland Metro areas. Health officials say the increase “is concerning.”
Shigella bacteria cause shigellosis, which is an illness that impacts the intestines, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Shigella can cause a range of systems, including, but not exclusively, dysentery.
Other symptoms can also include:
- Fever
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhea
Where did the outbreak begin?
Shigella cases have been rising in Multnomah County, Oregon, since 2012, according to a county official.
“High case counts throughout 2024 reflected two separate outbreaks of different strains of Shigella. The cases that we are seeing in 2025 are the result of transmission of a strain of Shigella sonnei strain that was introduced into Oregon in the spring of 2024,” the spokesperson told FOX TV Stations.
The disease eventually spread to the Portland Metro area in the summer of 2024 and has spread within and between housed and unhoused populations in the region since then, they added.
How many cases are in Oregon?
There are 197 total cases nationally with this particular strain.
Sixty-one percent of the cases have been in Multnomah County.
There are at least 14 distinct subclusters, which means that there are several pathways of transmission within different groups of people.
In 2024, there were 158 confirmed cases in Multnomah County.
What we know:
As of January, 40 new cases were reported.
What we don’t know:
Data for February is not finalized.
However, preliminary data shows that there are six confirmed cases and “three cases without culture-confirmed illness developed illness and were reported in February.”
“Even though the data are not yet finalized, the number of cases in February 2025 appears to represent a decline from the number of cases in January,” the spokesperson said.
What caused the outbreak in Multnomah?
Health officials said there are several ways the Shigella bacteria spread throughout the county.
- Some cases are contracted through international travel to lower-resource countries (less than 20%).
- Among cases without international travel, fecal-oral spread through intimate (including sexual) contact may account for between half and more than two-thirds of all cases.
- About one-third to half of cases in the past year have been in people experiencing either homelessness or housing instability.
- We have also identified spread among housed and unhoused social groups who use drugs.
The cases of Shigella are being spread between people rather than from one outbreak source, such as a restaurant, the spokesperson explained.
How to stop the spread
Since the most common source of transmission for Shigella is human to human among several subgroups, “there is no single, easy answer to stop all illness from spreading,” according to the spokesperson.
What’s next:
The Multnomah County Health Department provides educational resources to teach people about avoiding the transmission of any disease.
“They counsel people to avoid preparing food, limit sexual contact, and stay out of pools and other communal water bodies for at least two weeks after symptoms stop. People who work in food, childcare or healthcare facilities are restricted from work until they test negative,” the spokesperson said.
For unhoused people, the department can provide additional support through short-term housing, which health officials explained is the “best intervention for reducing spread.”
Other prevention tips include:
- Frequent handwashing
- Throw away soiled diapers in a covered, lined garbage bin
- Disinfect diaper-changing areas right after use
- Avoid ingesting water from ponds, lakes or untreated pools
- Avoid sexual contact with anyone who has been suffering from diarrhea or recently recovered
Who is at risk?
Most people are able to recover from dysentery within a few days. However, if it goes untreated for a prolonged period, it can be fatal, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The people who are most at risk of suffering from serious complications of dysentery include:
- Young children
- People over 50
- Dehydrated or malnourished people
The Source: Information for this report was gathered from an email received from the Multnomah County press office on March 6, 2025, the Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic.
Oregon State Parks to hire more than 200 seasonal Rangers, Ranger Assistants
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Oregon State Parks will hire more than 200 seasonal Rangers and Ranger Assistants for positions across the state for the 2025 season.
Hiring starts as soon as this month and runs through about June with new positions listed on a rolling basis on the website. The positions last anywhere from four to nine months. Most seasonal staff work April through September, but some start as early as this month or work as late as December.
Seasonal staff help visitors access world-class experiences and ensure clean and safe park areas for everyone to enjoy. Duties include janitorial work, landscape maintenance, visitor education and visitor services.
Salaries start at $19.78 per hour for seasonal assistants and $23.21 for seasonal rangers. Both positions include comprehensive medical, vision and dental plans for employees and qualified family members. The positions also include paid sick leave, vacation, personal leave and 11 paid holidays per year. Student workers, ages 16 and older, start at $19.77 or more per hour depending on experience.
“We believe in growing leadership from within. We invest in our staff and provide pathways for advancement whether you’re here for a season or your entire career,” said Director Lisa Sumption.
Seasonal staff gain valuable skills working with experienced Rangers at parks around the state. The first wave of openings include positions along the coast from Washburne to Cape Lookout; the Willamette Valley including Silver Falls and Detroit Lake; the Columbia River Gorge and Eastern Oregon including Wallowa Lake and Lake Owyhee.
For more information about current openings, visit stateparks.oregon.gov. If you have any questions or need additional assistance in accessibility or alternative formats, please email Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Recruiting D.Recruiting@oprd.oregon.gov“>OPRD.Recruiting@oprd.oregon.gov.
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, committed to diversity and pay equity.
State treasurers from Oregon, Illinois, Nevada and Colorado are urging the Trump administration to end a tumultuous trade war with Canada, Mexico and China.
Oregon Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner told media last week that “Canada, Mexico and China are three of our Oregon’s top four trading partners, accounting for more than 15 billion a year each in exports from our state. Tariff price hikes are likely to increase the cost of items that consumers and businesses depend on, such as electronics, clothing, appliances and other products we all use every day.”
A study from the Peterson Institute for International Economics predicts Trump’s tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China would cost the typical U.S. household more than $1,200 per year. That’s a price that Steiner says could devastate the average Oregon household, which can’t afford an emergency expense of more than $500, according to the 2025 Oregon Financial Wellness Scorecard survey.
Trump wants to increase logging in national forests and on public lands, including by bypassing endangered species protections.
To do that, the federal government would have to activate a seldom-used committee nicknamed the “God Squad” because it can approve federal projects even if it leads to extinction of a species otherwise protected by the Endangered Species Act. But environmentalists say there are strict procedural requirements — and no provision under law to proactively use the committee to bypass protections.
The president just signed actions to increase domestic lumber production in national forests and other public lands, directing federal agencies to look for ways to bypass protections for endangered species.
Officially called the Endangered Species Committee, it was established in 1978 as a way to exempt projects from Endangered Species Act protections if a cost-benefit analysis concluded it was the only way to achieve net economic benefits in the national or regional interest.
In the case of logging, the analysis also should determine if the benefits of cutting trees outweigh the economic value of watershed and other protections provided by standing timber, said Patrick Parenteau, an emeritus professor at the Vermont Law and Graduate School who helped write criteria for the God Squad.
ODF proposes revised state forest implementation plans, opens 30-day comment period
SALEM, Ore.–The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) opens a 30-day comment period on proposed Implementation Plan revisions for the Astoria, Forest Grove, Tillamook, North Cascade, West Oregon, and Western Lane (including the Veneta and Southwest units) state forest districts. Implementation plans describe forest management activities such as timber harvest targets, road construction and maintenance, reforestation and young stand management, recreation, aquatic habitat restoration and protection strategies for species of concern.
The comment period begins Feb. 20 and ends March 21 at 5 p.m. The implementation plans are available on ODF’s website. Comments can be submitted online by using this form, emailing ODF.SFComments@oregon.gov, or mailing comments to ODF Public Affairs, 2600 State St., Salem, OR 97310.
State forests by law must provide social, economic, and environmental benefits to Oregonians, and are managed under long-range forest management plans, mid-range implementation plans, and annual operations plans.
At the direction of the Board of Forestry, ODF is continuing the development of a draft Western Oregon State Forests Habitat Conservation Plan and Forest Management Plan for Western Oregon State Forests. The draft Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) is currently going through the National Environmental Policy Act process. Finalization of this process and issuance of Incidental Take Permits is expected to occur within fiscal year 2026. Revising the current implementation plans allows the agency to continue operations during this time of transition and further align with the draft HCP while focusing resources on developing a new forest management plan and accompanying implementation plans required to implement the draft HCP.
The revisions to the current Implementation Plans include new information on the district land base and forest resources, updated Species of Concern strategies and associated Forest Land Management Classification map, clarified timber harvest target descriptions, and changes to the mapped landscape design of the desired future condition. These changes align with Division policy, current Forest Management Plans and draft HCP objectives. In order to cover the HCP approval timeline, the new Forest Management Plan and new Implementation Plan development timelines, the revised Implementation Plans have been extended through June 30, 2027.
A man has been sentenced to three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole after a Klamath County jury found him guilty of sex crimes against children — one of the longest sentences in Oregon history for sex crimes.
Richard Travis Carlson was sentenced after a two-day trial starting Feb. 26. The Klamath County District Attorney’s office said on Monday that a jury found him guilty of eight separate counts of first-degree sodomy from 2018 to 2023.
These eight counts included three separate victims all under the age of 12 during the offenses.
The District Attorney’s office said the sentence was aggravated because Carlson was previously convicted in 1998 in the state of Washington for felony rape of a child. The victim in that case was also under the age of twelve during the incident.
The investigation began in 2023 with reports to the Oregon Department of Human Services, with those reports being investigated by the Oregon State Police (OSP) and the Klamath Falls Police Department (KFPD). Carlson is serving his sentence in the Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC).
A bill to make Oregon one of a small number of states that have banned the sale of flavored tobacco drew passionate support but also very personal objections during a public hearing this week.
Proponents of the bill told a legislative committee that flavored tobacco “smells like candy” and addicts children as young as elementary school age while setting them on a path toward early death.
But opponents argued flavored tobacco, which often is ingested through vaping or packets that are sucked on, offers adults a less harmful alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes and the problem resides with stores that violate the law by selling it to Oregonians under age 21.
Chief among the bill’s opponents is Sen. David Brock Smith, a Port Orford Republican, who told the Senate Committee On Early Childhood and Behavioral Health that vaping flavored tobacco allowed him to kick a 30-year habit of smoking that was passed on to him from his dad.
Richard Burke, executive director of the 21+ Tobacco and Vapor Retail Association of Oregon, said banning flavored tobacco takes away “bodily autonomy” for adults and even the National Health Service in the United Kingdom has started a “Swap to Stop” program where it gives smokers vaping products in exchange for their traditional cigarettes. Burke also said a prohibition could create an underground trade.
Senate Bill 702 supporters who testified Tuesday were people of all ages, including parents, teens and doctors. They said not only do the fruity and sweet flavors hook youth under 21, the flavored tobacco impacts their ability to focus at school and be productive later in life.
Youth have little trouble getting around Oregon’s age restrictions on sales by getting the products from adults or buying the products at stores that are lackadaisical about enforcement, proponents of the bill said.
OREGON DIVISION OF FINANCIAL REGULATION CREATES COMMERCIAL INSURANCE GUIDES FOR BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS
Salem – The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) recently released a series of new consumer guides focused on commercial property and casualty insurance. The five new guides can be found on DFR’s website:
- Guides to commercial property and casualty insurance
- Shelters – Guide to commercial property and casualty insurance
- Nonprofits – Guide to commercial property and casualty insurance
- Child care providers – Guide to commercial property and casualty insurance
- Restaurants – Guide to commercial property and casualty insurance
These guides explain key features of commercial insurance policies, how to plan for and purchase coverage, and what to do if you are having difficulty finding insurance for your business. It also includes useful descriptions of different types of coverage and what factors insurers use to determine what premium you pay. Individual guides are also available that define special considerations for shelters, nonprofits, child care facilities, and restaurants. These provide tips for overcoming distinct challenges encountered with these types of organizations and businesses.
“By taking proactive measures, business owners and nonprofits can better manage their risks and ensure they have the necessary protection in place,” said Andrew Stolfi, Oregon’s insurance commissioner and director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. “We are hopeful these guides can help people navigate the intricacies of insurance and better understand terminology, technicalities, and how to get coverage if a commercial entity is struggling to obtain coverage in traditional markets.”
DFR has a variety of other publications to help consumers with auto insurance, health and life insurance, disaster resources, student loans, managing your finances, and more on its website.
If you have questions about your insurance, contact your insurance company or agent, or you can contact one of DFR’s consumer advocates at 1-888-877-4894 (toll-free) or at dfr.insurancehelp@dcbs.oregon.gov.
Registration is closing soon for the Bob Ross-inspired Happy Little (Virtual) 5K
Oregon Parks Forever — Inspired by American painter and PBS television personality Bob Ross’ love of the outdoors, Oregon Parks Forever is sponsoring a virtual 5K race to help plant trees in Oregon’s parks & forests. Registration is now open for the 2025 Run for the Trees at www.orparksforever.org.
Inspired by American painter and PBS television personality Bob Ross’ love of the outdoors, Oregon Parks Forever is sponsoring a virtual 5K race to help plant trees in Oregon’s parks & forests. You must register by April 1st in order to get your shirts and medal before the event.
Participants can walk, run, paddle or roll to complete their 5K anywhere outdoors anytime between April 19 and 27 (covering Earth Day and Arbor Day). Participants are encouraged to register by April 1 to ensure that your swag arrives before the event week. If you register after April 1, you may not receive your swag before race week. Registration will close on April 15.
For $36 per person, each participant will receive a keepsake Happy Little T-shirt, a commemorative bib number and a finisher’s medal. All Oregon race proceeds support tree planting and forest protection efforts in Oregon parks. Ten trees will be planted in Oregon for each registration. This year, the trees will be planted in the Santiam Canyon.
Initially, the “Happy Little Trees” program began with a partnership between the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Bob Ross Inc., with hundreds of volunteers helping to plant “happy little trees” at locations hard-hit by invasive pests and tree diseases. The partnership quickly expanded to include the Run for the Trees / Happy Little (Virtual) 5K.
As the Happy Little 5K gained popularity, more states have joined the effort. Now in its fifth year, the Happy Little 5K has expanded its reach to include eleven other states. Together, Michigan, Oregon, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Maryland, Virginia and Tennessee will “lock arms” as they help raise awareness and funding for stewardship efforts in each state’s parks.
“We are thrilled to partner with Bob Ross, Inc. and these other eleven states on the Happy Little 5K concept as a way to honor the late Bob Ross and create a legacy event to plant trees,” said Seth Miller, Executive Director of Oregon Parks Forever.”
Oregon Parks Forever is joining this event as an expansion of our efforts to fund the replanting of trees killed by wildfires, heat domes and invasive insects. Over the past two years, Oregon Parks Forever has been able to fund the replanting of more than 800,000 trees across Oregon.
“The official Bob Ross 5K is probably our most favorite initiative,” says Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Company. “It’s the perfect blend of everything Bob held dear; nature, taking care of the environment, and happy trees too of course. He would have been so pleased to see how it’s getting so popular around the world.”
Learn more about the program at www.orparksforever.org.
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
Oregon State Police are reminding parents and students of the SafeOregon hotline.
It takes reports of potential threats against students and schools. The tips can be made anonymously. They can include safety threats, fights, drugs, weapons on campus, cyberbullying and students considering self-harm or suicide. A technician reviews the reports and assigns them either to police or school administrators. Tips can be made by phone, text, email or on the website https://www.safeoregon.com
