ROSEBURG, Ore., Aug. 18, 2025 — Umpqua Community College (UCC) officially launched construction of its new Welcome Center and Medical Careers Hub on August 14 with the demolition of the Del Blanchard Administration Building and a celebration ceremony.

The $21.5 million project will serve as both a new front door to campus and a vital hub for healthcare workforce training in Douglas County. The facility is scheduled for completion in December 2026, with a grand opening in early 2027.

“This is so much more than a building project —it’s a commitment to student success and to meeting critical workforce needs in Douglas County,” said UCC President, Dr. Rachel Pokrandt. “When completed, the Welcome Center and Medical Careers Hub will open doors—literally and figuratively—for generations to come.”

The building’s first floor will house UCC’s new Welcome Center, a one-stop resource for prospective and incoming students. This welcoming “front door” will streamline enrollment, advising, and support services.

The second floor will feature the Medical Careers Hub, expanding UCC’s medical training programs with state-of-the-art simulation labs, skills training rooms, and technology-rich classrooms. This space will address the region’s shortage of trained healthcare professionals and create pathways to family-thriving-wage careers. Equipment for the Medical Careers Hub is funded through Congressionally Directed Spending championed by U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden.

This investment in the future of Douglas County is made possible through the generosity of lead donors and partners, including:

Aviva Health

Mercy Medical Center

Umpqua Health Alliance

City of Roseburg

John and Jean Loosley Charitable Foundation

The Ford Family Foundation Fund of OCF

Jillian Bruce

Briggs Loosley Foundation

Crane Creek Family Fund of OCF

These donations helped secure an $8M matching grant from the Oregon legislature, bringing the fundraising total to more than $18M, and fundraising efforts continue.

“This project has resonated with so many community members and partners who understand the criticality of access to training and healthcare for our community. We are overwhelmed by the generosity and support we have received so far,” Pokrandt added.

The Welcome Center and Medical Careers Hub is part of a broader UCC investment in facilities that serve students and the community. Additional projects on the UCC main campus include the renovation of an existing building into an Advanced Manufacturing & Forestry Hub, an interdisciplinary facility that will bring together high-demand programs in mechatronics, computer science, forestry, and engineering. Completion of additional housing facilities in Downtown Roseburg and a new track and field complex that will serve UCC athletics, community stakeholders, and host local, regional, and national events.

About Umpqua Community College
Nestled in the beautiful North Umpqua River Valley, Umpqua Community College is the regional center for higher education in Douglas County, Oregon. UCC provides high quality college degree programs, workforce development, and community learning opportunities. For more information, please visit us online at www.umpqua.edu

Contact:
Suzi Pritchard, Exec. Dir. Marketing & Communications, Umpqua Community College
keting@umpqua.edu">marketing@umpqua.edu

Download additional photos and video of the demolition: umpqua.edu/newsroom

 

Group Photo:
A group of supporters are pictured in front of the location of the new UCC Welcome Center & Medical Careers Hub building under construction. UCC supporters include CHI Mercy Health, Umpqua Health Alliance, Aviva Health, City of Roseburg, The Ford Family Foundation, John and Jean Loosely Charitable Foundation, Jillian Bruce, Briggs-Loosely Foundation, and the Crane Creek Family Foundation.

CLACKAMAS COUNTY, Ore. (Aug. 18, 2025)- On Saturday, August 16, 2025, at 2:21 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on Highway 224, near milepost 45, in Clackamas County.

The preliminary investigation indicated an eastbound Suzuki GSXR-1000, operated by Tony James Gonzalez (52) of Molalla, failed to negotiate a curve, left the roadway for unknown reasons and struck the guardrail. 

The operator of the Suzuki (Gonzalez) was declared deceased at the scene.

The highway was impacted for approximately three hours during the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, Estacada Fire, and ODOT.

# # #

About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.

Lane County’s 2025–2026 Community & Economic Development (CED) Grant Program solicitation will officially open for applications on September 3, 2025, with a submission deadline of October 8, 2025 at noon. Application materials are available now to give interested agencies a chance to prepare.

The CED Grant Program offers competitive funding to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and government entities that serve Lane County. The program supports projects and initiatives that strengthen our local economy, foster innovation, support entrepreneurs and small businesses, invest in workforce training, and revitalize Main Streets and downtowns across the region.

With a total of $200,000 available for the 2026 grant cycle, individual grant awards will range from $5,000 to $30,000. Priority will be given to proposals that:

• grow employment or wages in key sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, technology, food and beverage, biosciences, and childcare;
• support small businesses and entrepreneurs through technical assistance and incubation;
• foster innovation and industry engagement; and
• enhance Lane County’s downtowns and commercial corridors.

“We are really excited to launch this program again,” said Jason Harris, Community and Economic Development manager for Lane County. “These grants enable us to support innovative projects in our community that might not otherwise have funding. We encourage potential applicants to begin preparing their proposals and take full advantage of this year’s offerings.”

More details, including application materials and FAQs, are available now at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/CEDgrant or by contacting CED@LaneCountyOR.gov. Applications will be accepted via Lane County’s procurement site, Bidlocker, between September 3, 2025 and October 8, 2025.

Las solicitudes y aplicaciones también están disponibles en Español.

About Lane County Community and Economic Development
Lane County Community and Economic Development is your Oregon Video Lottery dollars at work! Community and Economic Development programs support building vibrant communities by partnering with local business support organizations, cities, special districts and economic development agencies to facilitate community development and create economic prosperity. This program fosters economic opportunity across Lane County with a specific focus on rural and unincorporated communities.

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ROSEBURG, Ore., Aug. 18, 2025—The Art Gallery at Umpqua Community College presents a series of assemblage art pieces by Ralf Huber about the atrocities of child labor, past and present, in “Turning the/into Tools.“

The show will be on display at the Whipple Fine Arts Center at UCC from Sept. 15 – Oct. 15. Gallery hours are Mon. – Fri., 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

A reception and artist talk will take place on Sept. 25 from 5-6:30 p.m. Admission is free.

Ralf Huber was born in Laufenburg, Switzerland and lived in Germany until he moved to the United State in 2003, he has lived in Eugene, Oregon since 2010. Huber spent almost 30 years designing commemorative coins before he started creating his own art in 2020.

Huber’s mixed media assemblage art draws heavily from the time of the industrial revolution of the 19th century into the early 20th century and addresses the issue of industry using children as human capital. 

About The Art Gallery

The UCC Art Gallery is located in the Whipple Fine Arts Building at Umpqua Community College, 1140 Umpqua College Road, Roseburg, OR, 97470. The Art Gallery is a 1100 square-foot exhibition space that features six exhibitions per year, showcasing a variety of media from emerging to established artists. The primary focus of the Art Gallery is to exhibit high-quality artwork for the education and cultural benefit of the students of UCC and the residents of Douglas County.

On Sunday around 1pm, firefighters were dispatched to a pickup truck fire threatening a travel trailer and starting a grass fire on the 32000 block of Berlin Rd. Crews quickly deployed hose lines down a steep driveway, knocked down the flames, and prevented major damage to the trailer. Two propane tanks were damaged, venting flames; firefighters used a protective fog hose pattern that shielded them from the flames so they could turn off the valves. The family escaped with most of their pets prior to our arrival, but there were still two cats missing. Firefighter entered the trailer to check on the cats and found them doing what cats do best- hiding, but safe and unharmed. The trailer itself sustained minimal interior damage.  The fire appears to have started near a portable generator in the bed of the truck.  The cause is still under investigation. 

Three hours later, firefighters assisted Lebanon Police with a person in distress in the canal near Oak Street and South Main Street. The individual, who was experiencing medical and cognitive challenges, had jumped in the water and was unable to get out. Rescuers entered the water and brought the man safely to shore. He was treated and transported to Lebanon Community Hospital.

No responders were injured in either incident. Lebanon Fire would like to thank Albany Fire and Sweet Home Fire for covering the district and responding to calls while LFD was engaged in these two incidents.

The Lebanon Fire District reminds everyone to use caution around rivers and canals, as cold water, even in summer, can quickly lower the body’s temperature.  Life jackets should be worn in the water and can be borrowed and returned at LFD’s kiosks at Gill’s Landing and Waterloo Park.

Portland, Ore. – More than two years after forming their union and after 21 months of bargaining, 400 registered nurses (RNs) at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, citing Legacy Health’s refusal to make meaningful investments in recruiting and retaining frontline caregivers, patient care, and fair wages and benefits.

Frontline nurses at Legacy Mount Hood are represented by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA). 

“Mount Hood nurses have been more than patient. After nearly two years at the bargaining table, Legacy executives still refuse to address critical issues like fair pay and caps on insurance premiums—changes we need to recruit and retain the skilled nurses our patients rely on,” said Lillie Charron, a nurse at Legacy Mount Hood and ONA vice-chair of the bargaining team. “We don’t want to strike, but if management continues to slow-roll negotiations, we are united and ready to act.”

Nurses at Legacy Mount Hood are demanding: 

• A voice in decision-making about patient care and workplace conditions 
• Fair compensation that is competitive with other health systems to recruit and retain more nurses
• Quality, affordable healthcare
• Protections against shifts being unilaterally shortened by management 
• Appropriate compensation for RNs who work during times of crisis including inclement weather. 

“We’re the ones at the bedside every day — we know our patients best,” Charron said. “We formed our union to speak up for the people we care for. A fair contract will help recruit and retain the nurses our community depends on, so every patient gets the safe, quality care they deserve.”

The vote does not set a strike date. Nurses are hoping upcoming mediation sessions on August 22 and 28 will result in a fair agreement and avert a strike. If a deal is not reached, nurses say they are prepared to act—and they have the support of RNs and frontline caregivers across the Legacy system.

Background on Legacy Mt Hood RNs 

In January 2023, Legacy announced plans to close Mount Hood’s Family Birth Center—a move nurses, and the community successfully opposed, prompting the Oregon Health Authority to block the closure. The center reopened in April 2023. Nurses say the fight underscored the need for a strong union voice in patient care decisions. They won their union election and joined the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) that same month, with bargaining for their first contract beginning in December 2023. 

Background on Legacy Health 

Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center, located in Gresham, is part of Legacy Health, the Portland metro area’s second-largest healthcare system, serving hundreds of thousands of patients and employing more than 14,000 people.

The strike authorization comes amid a broader push for frontline caregivers at Legacy Health to unionize. Eleven ONA bargaining units—representing nearly 3,400 caregivers—are currently negotiating with Legacy, seeking improvements in staffing, wages, benefits, transparency, and workplace safety. ONA’s sister union, Northwest Medicine United (NWMU), represents another 475 healthcare professionals, including physicians, who are also bargaining their first contracts with Legacy.

In recent years, Legacy executives have dramatically increased their own compensation—with executive spending growing by 90% from 2019-2023—even as they delay fair contracts for nurses and frontline caregivers.

Despite executives’ claims of financial hardship, Legacy reports having “a strong balance sheet,” more than 180 days of cash on hand, and a $1.3 billion investment portfolio that has generated $436 million in returns since 2019 — profits not counted in operating income.

Interviews are available upon request. 

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DESCHUTES COUNTY, Ore. (Aug. 16, 2025) – On Thursday, August 14, 2025, at 9:49 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle fatal crash on Highway 97 near milepost 145 in Deschutes County.

The preliminary investigation indicated that a silver Honda Accord, operated by Felicia Devin Nicholson (33) of Bend, was traveling northbound on Hwy. 97 near milepost 145 when it drifted across the center line for an unknown reason and struck a southbound silver Honda Odyssey, operated by Earl Leone Christison IV (46) of Oregon City.

The operator of the Accord (Nicholson) was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Odyssey (Earl Christison) was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.

Odyssey passenger Erin Ruth Christison (45) of Oregon City was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries.

Four female juvenile passengers (ages 17, 14, 11, and 9) in the Odyssey were also transported to a local hospital with serious injuries.

The highway was impacted for approximately three hours during the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Bend Police Department, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Sunriver Police Department, and multiple area emergency medical service responders.
 

# # #
 

About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in documenting, investigating, and analyzing complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in using advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR-accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.

August 15, 2025

PORTLAND, Ore.— Oregon Health Authority (OHA) issued a recreational use health advisory for Eckman Lake on July 31, due to the presence of cyanobacteria, and is providing an update on August 15, due to very high saxitoxin (PSP) levels. The lake is in Lincoln County.

People should avoid swimming and high-speed water activities, such as water skiing or power boating, in areas of the reservoir where blooms are present, as the major route of exposure is ingestion of water. Toxins are not absorbed through the skin. However, those with skin sensitivities may get a puffy red rash.

OHA encourages people to visit Eckman Lake and enjoy activities such as camping, hiking, biking, picnicking, bird watching, canoeing, and kayaking. Boating is safe as long as speeds do not create excessive water spray. Sprays could lead to the risk of inhaling cyanotoxins.

Drinking water

Drinking water directly from areas of the lake affected by a bloom is especially dangerous. Toxins cannot be removed by boiling, filtering or treating water with camping-style filters. Contact campground management or the local health department with questions about water available at nearby campgrounds or day use areas.

Not all private treatment systems are effective at removing cyanotoxins. People who do not use a well or public water system and draw in-home water directly from an affected area are advised to use an alternative water source.

Children and pets

Children and pets are at increased risk for exposure because of their size and level of activity. Dogs can get extremely ill and even die within minutes to hours of exposure to cyanotoxins by drinking the water, licking their fur, or eating the toxins from floating mats or dried crust along the shore. This is regardless of a recreational use health advisory in place.

Dogs can become ill and die from water intoxication after drinking excessive amounts of water while swimming or fetching objects for long periods of time. Intoxication is a potentially fatal disturbance in brain function resulting from an imbalance of electrolytes in the body. Water intoxication and heat stroke can cause similar symptoms as exposure to cyanotoxins.

Symptoms

Exposure to cyanotoxins can be serious and cause a range of symptoms. Symptoms may be similar to food poisoning such as stomach cramping, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Symptoms may also be more serious, such as numbness, tingling, dizziness and shortness of breath. These symptoms may require medical attention.

Dogs can experience weakness, difficulty walking, seizures, lethargy, loss of appetite and more. If a dog exhibits symptoms, veterinary treatment should be sought as quickly as possible.

Fishing

Fish caught from areas where cyanobacteria blooms are present may pose unknown health risks, so OHA recommends not eating fish from those areas. Those who decide to eat the fish should remove fat, skin and organs before cooking or freezing. Toxins are more likely to collect in these tissues. Fillets should also be rinsed with clean water.

For health information or to report an illness, contact OHA at 1-877-290-6767, or visit OHA’s Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms website.

SANDY, Ore. – The roar of CH-47 Chinook rotors filled the air at Sandy River Airport as Oregon Army National Guard aviators and Clackamas Fire's Water Rescue Team completed groundbreaking training that could revolutionize the state's response to flood emergencies.

The Aug. 12 exercise marked the culmination of a two-phase joint training program designed to develop rapid deployment capabilities for water rescue operations across Oregon and beyond. The partnership between Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment, and Clackamas Fire demonstrates how military aviation assets can quickly deliver specialized rescue teams to disaster-affected areas.

"This operation would go such that we would get a phone call from a state authority saying that they need to utilize our water rescue team for, let's say, a flood event," said Lt. Mike Gasperson, a firefighter with Station 19's Water Rescue Team. "We could rally our team, get all our gear ready in a relatively quick time frame, and utilize the Guard to get us to where we need to go."

The training began on July 24 at Aurora State Airport, focusing on equipment familiarization and loading procedures. Fire rescue personnel learned aircraft safety protocols while Guard crew members inspected water rescue equipment to determine optimal loading configurations and weight distribution.

"The biggest thing it did is open the door to communication," said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Anthony Ives, pilot-in-command for the Aug. 12 mission. "Now we have some phone numbers. We have some emails, and with obviously recent events happening in the United States, with floods and the ever-present possibility of a Cascadia tsunami, we could go pick them up."

The August exercise simulated a real-world deployment scenario. Guard aviators transported six water rescue specialists and their equipment, including inflatable rafts, chainsaws, rope rescue gear, and emergency medical supplies, from Aurora to Sandy River Airport in approximately 15 minutes – a journey that would take significantly longer by ground transportation.

"We have night vision capabilities so that if we need to operate at night, we have that. So we've got a lot of tools at our disposal if we need them," Gasperson said, describing the team's comprehensive equipment package.

Division Chief Kyle Olson, who oversees Clackamas Fire's special operations teams, said the partnership addresses a critical capability gap identified in recent flooding events nationwide. The Texas flooding earlier this year helped spark conversations about rapid deployment strategies.

"The idea is we need to be able to deploy fast and not have to drive 18 hours and hopefully get there and help," Olson said. "Whether we can at that point, we're going to deploy quickly and get out around Oregon or the Northwest or even go further."

The training revealed both capabilities and challenges. While equipment loading and transport proceeded smoothly, radio communication between military and civilian agencies required workarounds and remains an area for continued development.

"Communication, I think, is probably the number one challenge dated back since the Civil War, and it's still a problem, whether it's civilian or military," Ives said. "The biggest problem that we had was they were calling a frequency something that they were familiar with, and we were calling it something different that we were familiar with."

Despite communication challenges, the exercise demonstrated significant tactical advantages. The CH-47's auxiliary fuel tanks provide approximately four hours of flight time, enabling deployment anywhere in Oregon on a single tank of fuel.

"Within six or seven hours we could be picking them up and deploying them in the event of an emergency," Ives said.

The Water Rescue Team, headquartered at Station 19 in Damascus, operates as part of a regional consortium including agencies from across Clackamas County. The 16-member team has provided mutual aid for 30 years, responding to a range of incidents, from river rescues to major flooding events.

"We are a regional team, and have been for 30 years," Olson said. "It takes way more agency help to be able to pull some of these things off."

For Guard aviators, the training provided valuable experience working with civilian emergency responders while fulfilling their state mission.

"We're a big helicopter. We're loud," Ives said. "The biggest thing is when I think back to flight school the first time you turn those engines on and the rotors start turning, it even intimidates us sometimes. So from the standpoint of a civilian that's never hot loaded on even a Black Hawk, a CH-47, it's very intimidating."

The successful training establishes a foundation for future cooperation. Plans call for annual exercises to familiarize additional personnel with aircraft loading capabilities and procedures.

"All the training flights we go on, when we go on a real-world mission, whether it's a fire or a rescue, it makes the training pay off," Ives said. "For us, it makes what we do every day worth it."

Oregon National Guard members serve part-time, typically one weekend a month and two weeks a year, while maintaining civilian careers. They stand ready to respond to state emergencies such as wildfires and floods, while also training to defend the nation when called to federal service. Guard members live and work in the same communities they serve, creating a unique connection between military service and local communities.

The Aug. 12 crew included Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jeremiah Williams, Sgt. 1st Class Marcus Hickman, and Staff Sgt. Skyler Leasy is also working alongside Ives to ensure mission success.

"This just adds on one more thing that will benefit the state, being able to load the rescue team and the raft and take them anywhere in the state," Ives said. "Now we've established a working relationship."

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Released B-Roll Video: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/973757/oregon-guard-aviation-partners-with-local-fire-department-enhance-flood-response-capabilities

Released Social Media Short Form Info Video: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/973758/oregon-national-guard-clackamas-fire-water-rescue-training-emergency-response-interagency-cooperation

Released Photos: 

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Sgt. 1st Class Marcus Hickman, a crew chief with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment, gives a preflight safety briefing to Clackamas Fire Water Rescue Team members during joint training at Aurora State Airport, Oregon, July 24, 2025. The training exercise focused on developing efficient procedures for rapidly loading water rescue equipment and personnel aboard CH-47 Chinook helicopters during emergency response scenarios. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

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Oregon Army National Guard crew members inspect and secure Water Rescue Team equipment during static load training at Aurora State Airport, Oregon, July 24, 2025. The crew methodically checked tie-down procedures and weight distribution as part of joint training between Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment, and Clackamas Fire's Water Rescue Team to develop standardized loading procedures for emergency flood response operations. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

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Members of Clackamas Fire's Water Rescue Team practice hot load procedures with rotors turning during joint training at Aurora State Airport, Oregon, July 24, 2025. The hot load training allowed firefighters to experience loading equipment and personnel aboard a CH-47 Chinook helicopter under operational conditions, preparing them for rapid deployment scenarios during actual emergency responses. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Jeremiah Tanael, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

250724-Z-ZJ128-1004
Members of Clackamas Fire's Water Rescue Team and Oregon Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook crew stand together following successful joint training at Aurora State Airport, Oregon, July 24, 2025. The training focused on developing procedures for transporting water rescue personnel and equipment, including inflatable rafts and specialized gear, aboard military aircraft to enhance rapid deployment capabilities for flood response operations across Oregon. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

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Clackamas Fire Water Rescue Team members load their inflatable raft into a fire department vehicle at Sandy River Airport, Oregon, Aug. 12, 2025, as an Oregon Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter prepares for departure in the background. The exercise demonstrated the team's ability to rapidly offload, reconstitute equipment, and prepare for deployment to simulated flood rescue operations after being transported by military aircraft. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

For the remaining days in August through the end of September the Roseburg Police Department will have some extra patrols out working traffic enforcement, with a specific focus on safety belt use, distracted driving, speeding and driving under the influence.  These focused patrols are made available due to grants received from Oregon Impact and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Seat belts have been proven to be one of the best ways to save your life in a crash. Yet many still don’t buckle up. Worse still, not wearing a seat belt is a habit that will pass on to impressionable youth, who in turn will think it’s safe to not buckle up.

Distracted driving is one of the fastest growing safety issues on the roads today. Distracted drivers aren’t just a threat to themselves: they’re a danger to everyone else on the road. The national distracted driving effort focuses on ways to change the behavior of drivers through legislation, enforcement, public awareness, and education.

Be on the lookout for specific enforcement campaigns over the next two months. 

The Oregon Heritage Commission (OHC) and the Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries (OCHC) seek volunteers to fill multiple positions.
 

Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries

The OCHC is seeking two new members, one for the position representing Eastern Oregon and one representing the Portland Metro area.

The commission is seeking members with knowledge related to, or interest in:

• cemeteries;
• historic preservation;
• genealogy;
• cultural and burial practices of ethnic groups found in Oregon;
• landscape and native plants; and
• history.

The OCHC is comprised of seven citizens. It is empowered by the Legislature to maintain a listing of all historic cemeteries in Oregon, make recommendations for funding, seek legislative appropriations for historic cemeteries, and assist in the coordination of restoration, renovation and maintenance of historic cemeteries statewide. The commission develops online resources, offers workshops, and promotes the value of historic cemeteries through storytelling.
 

The group meets four times per year in different locations around the state and online. There may be an occasional additional meeting for extra projects, programs, and grant selection. Commissioners are also asked to organize informal meetings in their regions or work on other projects outside of meeting time. Travel costs are reimbursed.
 

To apply, send a letter of interest and resume to commission coordinator Kuri Gill at i.Gill@oprd.oregon.gov">Kuri.Gill@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-986-0685. Please include your reasons for wanting to serve on the commission, any skills or knowledge you will bring to its work, and ideas or goals you have for your participation. Please submit your information before September 12, 2025. More information about the Historic Cemeteries program is available online www.oregonheritage.org.
 

Oregon Heritage Commission

The Heritage Commission currently has three vacancies and is especially seeking members with knowledge and experience related to community institutions, heritage tourism, or education/higher education and who have experience working with diverse cultural groups. The Commission seeks applications from those that live in the Southern Oregon area, the Portland Metro area, and the Mid/South Willamette Valley area.
 

The Heritage Commission’s nine members represent a diversity of cultural, geographic, and institutional interests. The Commission is the primary agency for coordination of heritage activities in the state. This includes carrying out the Oregon Heritage Plan, increasing efficiency and avoiding duplication among interest groups, developing plans for coordination among agencies and organizations, encouraging tourism related to heritage resources, and coordinating statewide anniversary celebrations.
 

The group meets four-six times per year in changing locations around the state and will offer virtual options to attend meetings. Commissioners are also asked to occasionally participate in meetings or events in their regions and work on other projects outside of meeting time. Appointed Commissioners are reimbursed for their travel and related expenses while conducting official commission business.
 

More information about the Oregon Heritage Commission is available online at www.oregonheritage.org and from Commission coordinator Katie Henry at 503-877-8834 or katie.henry@oprd.oregon.gov. 
 

To request appointment, go to Governor Tina Kotek’s Boards and Commissions webpage at https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Pages/board-list.aspx. 

MEDFORD, Ore.—Two San Antonio, Texas, men were sentenced to federal prison Thursday for conspiring to travel from Texas to Southern Oregon to commit an armed robbery while disguised as agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Jose Manuel Lopez, 24, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison and four years’ supervised release, and Juan Carlos Conchas, 23, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison and four years’ supervised release. Restitution to the victim was ordered to be paid jointly.

According to court documents, on March 12, 2022, deputies from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office responded to a rural address in Josephine County, Oregon after receiving reports of an armed robbery in progress. The deputies found a residence with a closed driveway gate and two empty vehicles with Texas license plates in the driveway with their doors open. Deputies saw several people running toward the back of the property and found victims inside the house. The victims reported that armed individuals dressed in what appeared to be DEA attire and wearing body armor arrived at the property and used zip ties and duct tape to restrain several of them.

The deputies searched the property and found large plastic totes containing packaged marijuana in the buildings and vehicles. They also found body armor, firearms, ammunition, shell casings, and badges that resembled those carried by DEA agents along the path that the defendants used to flee the property.

Investigators learned that in late February 2022, the group traveled from San Antonio to Southern Oregon to steal over 200 pounds of marijuana and recovered photographs taken by the group in which they posed with firearms while dressed as DEA agents.

On October 13, 2022, Lopez and Conchas were located and arrested in San Antonio.

On September 1, 2022, a federal grand jury in Medford returned a three-count indictment charging Morales, Acuna, Conchas and co-conspirators with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute, and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

On December 6, 2024, Lopez pleaded guilty to conspiring to interfere with commerce by robbery and conspiring to possess marijuana with the intent to distribute.

On April 16, 2025, Conchas pleaded guilty to conspiring to interfere with commerce by robbery and conspiring to possess marijuana with the intent to distribute.

In addition, four co-conspirators have pleaded guilty and been sentenced on felony charges stemming from their roles in the conspiracy.

This case was investigated by the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety. It is being prosecuted by Judith R. Harper, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

# # #

BEND, OR — Heather Quinn, a Minnesota-based writer, photographer and filmmaker, has been officially selected as the winner of the 11th annual Waterston Desert Writing Prize by guest judge and author Beth Piatote, Ph.D.

The Waterston Desert Writing Prize, established in 2014 by author and Oregon Poet Laureate Ellen Waterston, honors and fosters literary nonfiction that celebrates desert landscapes.  

Quinn’s winning submission is titled This Is How You Disappear, a project about the California desert. Quinn, who receives a $3,000 cash prize, will give a reading and discuss their project at the Waterston Desert Writing Prize ceremony on Thursday, September 25, 2025.

The event features award-winning author Dan Flores, Ph.D., who will give a talk titled, “The Coyote Is the Dude, the Dude Abides, and the Adventures Continue,” during the ceremony.

Flores, author of Coyote America and Wild New World, has spent his career exploring the connections between people and the natural world in America and the West. His books have won several awards including the Rachel Carson Environmental Book Prize and the Sigurd Olson Nature Writing Prize. The author of 11 books, Flores has also written for the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune and Time Magazine.

His presentation at the award ceremony will delve into how coyotes have preserved wildness in modern America, making a case for understanding wild animals as distinctive individuals.

Quinn, who lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with their husband and two young daughters, writes personal and lyric essays. They approach nonfiction from a journalistic background, including a deep appreciation of truth telling.

The winning submission This Is How You Disappear is an essay blending personal narrative, reporting and historical research to explore trauma, ecological collapse and memory in the California desert, particularly around the Salton Sea. For over two decades, Quinn has documented the region through writing, photography and film, bearing witness to its shifting landscapes and layered histories.

Quinn earned their Master of Fine Arts at Portland State University, and they were a 2021 McKnight Artist Fellow, a 2023 Writing Resident at Art Omi, and a 2022 Tin House Winter Workshop Scholar. Their work has appeared in Fourth Genre, Vela, Longreads and elsewhere. 

Waterston said that Quinn’s piece “promises fearless writing that skillfully enlists the landscape of the Salton Sea as backdrop to their quest for understanding” an emotional moment in their life.

Piatote, a Nez Perce scholar, writer, professor and language activist, will also speak during the Waterston event at the Museum. Piatote is the author of two books, including a mixed-genre collection entitled The Beadworkers: Stories (2019), which was featured on NPR and was selected as the “one read” for multiple university and community programs. Dedicated to Nez Perce language and literature, she cofounded the Designated Emphasis in Indigenous Language Revitalization at the University of California Berkeley, where she teaches English and Comparative Literature.

"We are honored to welcome our outstanding winner Heather Quinn and award-winning authors Dan Flores and Beth Piatote to this year’s Waterston Desert Writing Prize ceremony," said Museum Executive Director Dana Whitelaw, Ph.D. "Their passionate exploration of the natural world aligns perfectly with the Prize’s mission to celebrate and elevate desert landscapes through the power of literary nonfiction."

The two finalists for this year’s Prize are Taylor Luck and Charles Hood.

Luck, a journalist living in the Middle East, blends narrative writing with authentic storytelling. His submission, Beyond the Jordan, focuses on modern-day Jordan and the varied groups of people navigating a region in upheaval. Luck weaves his personal journey of belonging into the narrative.

Located in Palmdale, California, Hood has traveled the world for his writings, from the high Arctic to the South Pole, and from Tibet to West Africa and the Amazon. His submission, Desert Fire, takes him closer to home as it delves into the past, present and future role of fire in Western American deserts.

A writer with continued contributions to nonfiction prose about desert regions, Hood is being recognized this year for the first-ever Obsidian Prize, a $2,000 award in honor of his contributions to the Waterston Desert Writing Prize. A prolific poet and essayist, Hood has written several books, including the essay collection A Salad Only the Devil Would Eat: The Joys of Ugly Nature, which was named the Nonfiction Book of the Year by the editors of Foreword book review.  

In 2020, the High Desert Museum—which has long hosted events for the Prize—adopted the program. The mission and goals of the Prize complement those of the High Desert Museum, emphasizing the importance of protecting deserts and creating important conversations about the issues affecting them.

To learn more about the Waterston Desert Writing Prize and to purchase your tickets to the Waterston Desert Writing Prize Ceremony, visit: highdesertmuseum.org/waterston-prize.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM:

The HIGH DESERT MUSEUM opened in Bend, Oregon in 1982. It brings together wildlife, cultures, art, history and the natural world to convey the wonder of North America’s High Desert. The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is a Smithsonian Affiliate, was the 2019 recipient of the Western Museums Association’s Charles Redd Award for Exhibition Excellence and was a 2021 recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. To learn more, visit highdesertmuseum.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

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On Wednesday afternoon, August 13th, detectives with the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT) arrested two men in the Curtin area.  

Detectives had developed reason to believe criminal activity was taking place at the location and obtained a search warrant for the property.  At approximately 3:00 PM, detectives executed the search warrant, with assistance from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.  Eight people were detained at the property.  

A search of the location revealed approximately 30 growing marijuana plants, 12 grams of suspected methamphetamine, and multiple firearms.  None of the marijuana was being grown legally under Oregon law.  

52 year old Jason Newman, of Curtin, was suspected to be responsible for some of the illegally growing marijuana plants.  He was cited and released from the scene for Unlawful Possession and Unlawful Manufacture of Marijuana.  

47 year old Shaun Borg, of Curtin, was also suspected to be responsible for the marijuana plants, as well as the suspected methamphetamine found at the location.  Borg was also found to be in possession of 4 firearms.  As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms under Oregon law.  Borg was arrested and lodged at the Douglas County Jail on the following charges:

• Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine
• Unlawful Possession of Marijuana
• Unlawful Manufacture of Marijuana
• Felon in Possession of Firearm (4 counts)

All others were released at the scene.  

A joint meeting of the Board of Directors of Central Douglas Fire & Rescue Authority and Local Contract Review Board will hold its meeting at its headquarters located at 250 SE Main St. Winston, OR 97496 on Monday August 18, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.  To comply with House Bill 2560, those that wish to participate can attend through videoconferencing or telephonically. If you plan on attending the meeting, please call the business office at 541-673-5503 during normal business hours prior to 4:00 p.m. on Monday August 18, 2025, for instructions.

The Board agenda to include but not limited to:

1. Monthly Financials
2. Auditor Communication During Planning
3. Holiday Accrual MOU
4. Vacation increase request – Per Section 9A
5. Surplus 2008 Ford Expedition & 2005 Ford Ambulance

The meeting location is accessible to persons with disabilities. A request for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or for other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting to administration at 541-673-5503.

A joint meeting of the Board of Directors of Douglas County Fire District No. 2 and Local Contract Review Board will hold its meeting at its headquarters located at 250 SE Main St. Winston, OR 97496 on Monday August 18, 2025, at 5:30 pm. To comply with House Bill 2560, those that wish to participate can attend through videoconferencing or telephonically. If you plan on attending the meeting, please call the business office at 541-673-5503 during normal business hours prior to 4:00 p.m. on Monday August 18, 2025, for instructions.

The Board agenda to include but not limited to:

1. Monthly Financials
2. Authorize CDFR Surplus 2008 Ford Expedition & 2005 Ford Ambulance
3. Auditor Communication During Planning
4. SB1068 Annexation Approval Request – 1200 Florence Lane

The meeting location is accessible to persons with disabilities. A request for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or for other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting to DCFD #2 at 541-673-5503.

A meeting of the Board of Directors of Winston Dillard Fire District will hold its meeting at its headquarters located at 250 SE Main St., Winston, OR on Monday, August 18, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. To comply with House Bill 2560, those that wish to participate can attend through videoconferencing or telephonically. If you plan on attending the meeting, please call the business office at 541-679-8721 during normal business hours prior to 4:00 p.m. on Monday August 18, 2025, for instructions.

The Board agenda to include but not limited to:

   1. Monthly Financials

   2. Auditor Communication During Planning

   3. Select Board Member – Position 5

The meeting location is accessible to person with disabilities. A request for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or for other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting to Winston-Dillard Fire District No. 5 at 541-679-8721

TILLAMOOK STATE FOREST, Ore.—Four volunteers were recognized for their efforts to steward recreational opportunities across Oregon state forests through the first Forest Champions Volunteer Award. The award, sponsored by the State Forests Trust of Oregon, was proudly presented to Richard Chapman, Nathan Frechen, Nelson Kline and Tom Brauner.

“Each of this year’s honorees reflects the heart of volunteerism and the spirit of Oregon’s working forests,” said Kelly Lau, executive director of the State Forests Trust of Oregon. “Their dedication ensures that trails remain safe, available, and inspiring for all who explore, enjoy and appreciate time spent on these public lands.”

Each year volunteers contribute more than 15,000 hours to help Oregon Department of Forestry’s Recreation, Education, and Interpretation Program maintain and improve the state forests’ trail systems, camping areas, and other recreational facilities. Additionally, many of the educational and interpretation programs hosted at the Tillamook Forest Center also rely heavily on volunteers.

“Our volunteers are amazing,” said Joe Offer, ODF’s Recreation, Education, and Interpretation Program Manager. “They are out in the forests in all kinds of weather doing hard, physical work, so all Oregonians can enjoy our state forests safely. Our small number of ODF recreational staff couldn’t keep the more than 700 miles of hiking, biking, off-road vehicle and equestrian trails open without their help. We greatly appreciate their dedication and commitment to everything that makes our state forests so special.”

Here are the 2025 Forest Champions:

Richard Chapman

The Trust partnered with the Oregon Motorcycle Riders Association (OMRA) to create the Lyon Payne Trail Volunteer of the Year Award in memory of longtime OMRA member Lyon Payne. Known for his quiet, steadfast dedication to trail maintenance, Lyon passed away in 2022 after years of working behind the scenes to keep state forests trails open for all. Richard, who worked closely with Lyon, has carried on that legacy without missing a beat. From maintaining OMRA’s tools to covering countless hidden costs out of pocket, Richard’s service reflects a humble, hands-on approach that puts others and state forest trails first. Without seeking recognition, he has ensured that ODF’s trail network continues to thrive. The award honors both Lyon’s enduring impact and Richard’s commitment to carrying the torch.

 Nathan Frechen

A leading volunteer with the Northwest Trail Alliance (NWTA), Nathan contributes over 150 hours annually, organizing and leading large volunteer crews in trail restoration and maintenance. His ability to mobilize teams of 30–50 people has made a measurable difference in the health of the Tillamook State Forest non-motorized trail system. But Nathan’s influence goes far beyond the worksite. His inclusive leadership style has helped cultivate a broader network of volunteers and partners dedicated to equitable outdoor access and long-term stewardship. Through his passion, organization, and generosity of spirit, Nathan is helping ensure that ODF’s trails remain welcoming and sustainable for future generations.

 Nelson Kline and Tom Brauner

Volunteers with Trailkeepers of Oregon (TKO), Tom and Nelson have made extraordinary efforts to restore the Shellburg Falls Trail system in the Santiam State Forest. Severely damaged by the 2020 Labor Day fires, the Shellburg network has become a model of grassroots restoration thanks to their leadership.

Nelson, who began volunteering with TKO in 2019, has led 47 trail parties with volunteers who have contributed over 1,600 hours. Tom joined TKO in 2022 and has since logged over 2,000 hours. His contributions include leading crews, designing bridges and box steps, and coordinating closely with the Oregon Department of Forestry. Together, Nelson and Tom oversaw the construction of two new 30-foot bridges—critical to safely reopening the area. This duo continues to attract new volunteers, especially from the Salem area, and they remain committed to ongoing restoration work as winter storms and lingering fire damage continue to affect the Santiam.

 For more information on volunteering in Oregon’s State Forest see the Trust’s Get Involved webpage and the ODF volunteer page.

(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, is thankful for the community support to find Brittan Arrington.

Brittan Arrington, age 14, is a child who went missing from Gresham on July 29. She was found Aug. 13.

Sometimes when a child is missing they may be in significant danger and ODHS may need to locate them to assess and support their safety. As ODHS works to do everything it can to find these missing children and assess their safety, media alerts will be issued in some circumstances when it is determined necessary. Sometimes, in these situations, a child may go missing repeatedly, resulting in more than one media alert for the same child.

Report child abuse to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline by calling 1-855-503-SAFE (7233).  This toll-free number allows you to report abuse of any child or adult to the Oregon Department of Human Services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.

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LINN COUNTY, Ore. (Aug. 14, 2025)- On Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at 10:41 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on Highway 126, near milepost 0, in Linn County.

The preliminary investigation indicated an eastbound Harley Davidson motorcycle, operated by Jan Dwight McSilvers (72) of Springfield, failed to negotiate a curve and left the roadway. The motorcycle rolled on top of the operator after exiting the roadway.

The operator of the Harley Davidson (McSilvers) was declared deceased at the scene.

The highway was impacted for approximately one hour during the on-scene investigation. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

OSP was assisted by Black Butte EMS and ODOT.

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About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Effective immediately, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) will no longer offer fingerprinting services on Thursdays. Instead, non-criminal fingerprinting will now be available only on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

This service, provided by BCSO volunteer reserve deputies, is intended for purposes such as employment, licensing, and volunteer work. It does not apply to concealed handgun licensing, which remains unchanged.

Fingerprinting is offered on a first-come, first-served basis, with only one appointment allowed inside the office at a time while others wait outside. No entries will be accepted after 9:00 a.m.

What to Bring:

• Valid Photo ID – Government-issued identification such as a driver’s license, passport, or state ID.
• Social Security Number – Card not required, but you must know your number.
• Payment – $20.00 for the first set of prints (card provided by BCSO) and $5.00 for each additional copy. All proceeds support the Reserve Deputy Program. Payments accepted: credit card, debit card, exact-change cash, or checks made out to “BCSOR.”
• Location – BCSO Concealed Handgun License Office, 180 NW 5th St, Corvallis, OR 97330.
• Plan Ahead – Check for closure dates before visiting: BCSO Fingerprinting Services.

Interested in serving your community? Learn more about the BCSO Reserve Deputy Program here: Reserve Deputy Program.

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August 14, 2025

Media contact: Timothy Heider, 971-599-0459, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

OHA issues recreational use advisory for Odell Lake

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority (OHA) issued a recreational use health advisory today for Odell Lake in Klamath County, due to the presence of microcystin.

People should avoid swimming and high-speed water activities, such as water skiing or power boating, in areas of the reservoir where blooms are present, as the major route of exposure is ingestion of water. Toxins are not absorbed through the skin. However, those with skin sensitivities may get a puffy red rash.

OHA encourages people to visit Odell Lake and enjoy activities such as fishing, camping, hiking, biking, picnicking, bird watching, canoeing, and kayaking. Boating is safe as long as speeds do not create excessive water spray. Sprays could lead to the risk of inhaling cyanotoxins.

Drinking water

Drinking water directly from areas of the lake affected by a bloom is especially dangerous. Toxins cannot be removed by boiling, filtering or treating water with camping-style filters. Contact campground management or the local health department with questions about water available at nearby campgrounds or day use areas.

Not all private treatment systems are effective at removing cyanotoxins. People who do not use a well or public water system and draw in-home water directly from an affected area are advised to use an alternative water source.

Children and pets

Children and pets are at increased risk for exposure because of their size and level of activity. Dogs can get extremely ill and even die within minutes to hours of exposure to cyanotoxins by drinking the water, licking their fur, or eating the toxins from floating mats or dried crust along the shore. This is regardless of a recreational use health advisory in place.

Dogs can become ill and die from water intoxication after drinking excessive amounts of water while swimming or fetching objects for long periods of time. Intoxication is a potentially fatal disturbance in brain function resulting from an imbalance of electrolytes in the body. Water intoxication and heat stroke can cause similar symptoms as exposure to cyanotoxins.

Symptoms

Exposure to cyanotoxins can be serious and cause a range of symptoms. Symptoms may be similar to food poisoning such as stomach cramping, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Symptoms may also be more serious, such as numbness, tingling, dizziness and shortness of breath. These symptoms may require medical attention.

Dogs can experience weakness, difficulty walking, seizures, lethargy, loss of appetite and more. If a dog exhibits symptoms, veterinary treatment should be sought as quickly as possible.

Fishing

Fish caught from areas where cyanobacteria blooms are present may pose unknown health risks, so OHA recommends not eating fish from those areas. Those who decide to eat the fish should remove fat, skin and organs before cooking or freezing. Toxins are more likely to collect in these tissues. Fillets should also be rinsed with clean water.

For health information or to report an illness, contact OHA at 1-877-290-6767, or visit OHA’s Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms website.

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ODOT WORK ZONES
 

As you gear up for that final summer road trip or just make your way home from work, you may run into roadwork and traffic delays. That may mean reduced speed limits and traffic delays in work zones. Did you know 4 out of 5 work zone crash victims are NOT the workers? It is actually the drivers and their passengers traveling through the work zone areas. Inattention and speed are the most common causes of work zone crashes.

Work zones are dangerous for everyone even when workers are not visible. That is why Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) lowers the speed limits in work zones. Exceeding work zone speed limits can be especially hazardous for numerous reasons:

• Traffic patterns may change day to day
• Roads may be rough, uneven or covered with debris
• Temporary lanes may be narrow with abrupt edges
• Roadside equipment may obstruct views

Commuters are often caught off guard by work zone hazards. Distracted driving and driving over the speed limit reduces the necessary reaction time to avoid a crash. When you see orange signs, cones, and barrels on the roadway, PAY EXTRA ATTENTION! Those are your clues to be prepared for unexpected obstacles and stopped or slowing cars. Slow down, stay alert, and avoid distractions.

For more information about work zone safety, go to ODOT's website at: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/Safety/Pages/Work-Zone.aspx  

For more information and tips visit our website at www.lincolncountysheriff.net and like us on Facebook at Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office – Oregon.

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August 13, 2025

Media contact: Erica Heartquist, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Recreational use advisory expanded for Willamette River to include Ross Island Bridge downriver to Wapato Bridge and Kelley Point Park

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority (OHA) expanded a recreational use health advisory today for the Willamette River to include Ross Island Bridge downriver to Wapato Bridge and Kelley Point Park.

While collecting samples today for laboratory testing, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality staff took photos that OHA staff subsequently confirmed to show a cyanobacteria bloom in the water. Results of testing will either confirm the advisory or allow OHA to lift it. Areas of the river affected by the advisory are in Multnomah County.

People should avoid swimming and high-speed water activities, such as water skiing or power boating, in areas where blooms are present, as the major route of exposure is ingestion of water. Toxins are not absorbed through the skin. However, those with skin sensitivities may get a puffy red rash.

OHA encourages people to visit the Willamette River to enjoy activities such as fishing, hiking, biking, picnicking, bird watching, canoeing and kayaking. Boating is safe as long as speeds do not create excessive water spray, which increases the risk of inhaling cyanotoxins.

Drinking water

Drinking water directly from areas of the river affected by a bloom is especially dangerous. Toxins cannot be removed by boiling, filtering or treating water with camping-style filters. Contact campground management or the local health department with questions about water available at nearby campgrounds or day use areas.

Not all private treatment systems are effective at removing cyanotoxins. People who do not use a well or public water system and draw in-home water directly from an affected area are advised to use an alternative water source.

Children and pets

Children and pets are at increased risk for exposure because of their size and level of activity. Dogs can get extremely ill and even die within minutes to hours of exposure to cyanotoxins by drinking the water, licking their fur, or eating the toxins from floating mats or dried crust along the shore. This is regardless of a recreational use health advisory in place.

Dogs can become ill and die from water intoxication after drinking excessive amounts of water while swimming or fetching objects for long periods of time. Intoxication is a potentially fatal disturbance in brain function resulting from an imbalance of electrolytes in the body. Water intoxication and heat stroke can cause similar symptoms as exposure to cyanotoxins.

Symptoms

Exposure to cyanotoxins can be serious and cause a range of symptoms. Symptoms may be similar to food poisoning such as stomach cramping, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Symptoms may also be more serious, such as numbness, tingling, dizziness and shortness of breath. These symptoms may require medical attention.

Dogs can experience weakness, difficulty walking, seizures, lethargy, loss of appetite and more. If a dog exhibits symptoms, veterinary treatment should be sought as quickly as possible.

Fishing

Fish caught from areas where cyanobacteria blooms are present may pose unknown health risks, so OHA recommends not eating fish from those areas. Those who decide to eat the fish should remove fat, skin and organs before cooking or freezing. Toxins are more likely to collect in these tissues. Fillets should also be rinsed with clean water.

For health information or to report an illness, contact OHA at 1-877-290-6767, or visit OHA’s Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms website.

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JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. (Aug. 13, 2025)- On Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at 12:24 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on Highway 62, near milepost 32, in Jackson County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a westbound Chevrolet Suburban, operated by Daniel Charles Forgey (28) of Prospect, left the roadway for unknown reasons, struck the guardrail, and rolled. The operator was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle as it rolled.

The operator of the Chevrolet (Forgey) was declared deceased at the scene.

The highway was not impacted during the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Jackson County Fire District 4, and Mercy Flights.

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About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.

UPDATE: Updated to correct OSP contact number to 800-442-0776.

JOSEPHINE COUNTY, Ore. (Aug. 12, 2025)- Oregon State Police is leading murder-suicide investigation in Josephine County.

On Monday, August 11, 2025, at 9:37 a.m., Josephine County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the 200 block of Hussey Lane, in the Picket Creek area, after receiving a request to check the welfare of the residents.  It was reported an adult female at the residence had uncharacteristically not shown up for work on Monday, August 11.

Deputies and Oregon State Police responded to the address and entered the residence to check the welfare of the occupants after observing suspicious conditions around the premise. Upon entry, law enforcement discovered five persons who appeared to have been killed by a firearm. The deceased victims, Hannah Marie Behee (42), a male juvenile (11), a male juvenile (9), and a female juvenile (7), were discovered in the residence with gunshot wounds. The deceased adult male, Chad Scott Behee (40), is believed to be the suspect in a murder-suicide incident.

The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office has requested the Oregon State Police lead the investigation with the assistance of the Grants Pass Police Department.

The investigation is on-going and any person with information related to the incident is asked to contact the Oregon State Police at 800-442-0776 or OSP (677) and reference case number SP25-366471.

# # #

  
About the Oregon State Police

Oregon State Police (OSP) is a multi-disciplined organization that protects Oregon's people, wildlife, and natural resources. OSP enforces traffic laws on the state’s roadways, investigates and solves crime, conducts postmortem examinations and forensic analysis, and provides background checks, and law enforcement data. The agency regulates gaming and enforces fish, wildlife, and natural resource laws. OSP is comprised of more than 1,400 staff members – including troopers, investigators, and professional staff – who provide a full range of policing and public safety services to Oregon and other law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon. 

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Benton County Planning Division has received an appeal of the Planning Commission’s decision to deny LU-24-027, the application to expand the Coffin Butte Landfill. The applicant, Republic Services, filed the appeal with the County on Tuesday, August 12.

The Planning Commission adopted the decision on Tuesday, July 29, opening a 14-day window in which any party could file an appeal to be heard before the Benton County Board of Commissioners.

Along with the appeal, the applicant requested a 60-day extension of the process, which was granted by the County. This gives all parties more time to fully consider evidence both before and after the public hearing. Prior to the extension, September 27 was the deadline to complete the quasi-judicial land use application process. The new deadline is November 26.

A public hearing before the Board of Commissioners will be scheduled for late October and announced as soon as date, time and location are finalized.

Virtual participation in the meetings will be provided through Zoom. Once hearing dates are set, those interested can visit the County website to register for Zoom meetings.

Ex parte communication rules regarding direct communication with the Benton County Commissioners remain in effect. As such, written testimony should be submitted to landfillappeals@bentoncountyor.gov or via the three other identified avenues on our website.

For more forthcoming information about the appeal hearing and instructions for giving written or verbal testimony, visit bentoncountyor.gov/coffin-butte-landfill or sign up as an interested party on our website.

APPLICANT REVIEW COMMITTEE

MEETING CANCELLED

The Applicant Review Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training meeting scheduled for August 27, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., has been cancelled due to a lack of agenda items.

The next Applicant Review Committee meeting is scheduled for September 24, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.

.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 

DATE: August 13, 2025

Robbery suspect apprehended

Salem, Ore. — Frank Donovan Eckel of Salem was arrested yesterday, August 12, by Salem Police detectives for his involvement in a violent robbery that occurred last week outside Wallace Marine Park.

In the early morning hours of August 3, a victim reported being approached by a man who then assaulted and threatened them with a knife. The suspect, identified as the 28-year-old Eckel, then fled the scene with the victim’s backpack containing personal property.

The victim was transported to Salem Health with various physical injuries.

On Tuesday afternoon, Violent Crimes Unit detectives served a search warrant at a residence in the 1500 block of Brush College RD NW, apprehending him without incident.

Eckel was lodged at the Polk County Jail on the following charges:

• Robbery, first-degree
• Assault, second-degree
• Unlawful use of a weapon

With the suspect in custody, all inquiries about this case should be directed to the Polk County District Attorney’s Office.

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 13, 2025

CONTACT INFORMATION:

umenauer@employ.oregon.gov">Gail Krumenauer, State Employment Economist

(971) 301-3771

Video and Audio available at 10 a.m. PT

David Cooke, Economist (971) 375-5288

Oregon’s Nonfarm Payroll Employment Drops by 2,700 in July

In July, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment declined by 2,700 jobs, following a revised loss of 8,600 jobs in June. July’s losses were largest in financial activities (-2,700 jobs); professional and business services (-1,400); and health care and social assistance (-1,100). Gains were largest in construction (+2,900 jobs) and transportation, warehousing, and utilities (+800).

Construction employed 112,700 in July, rebounding from its relatively weak prior two months, but landing well below its average level of 117,500 jobs during the prior two years.

Professional and business services has been on a declining trend since early 2023. Accounting for 254,100 jobs in July, it is down 14,800 jobs, or 5.5%, since its peak employment in March 2023. Each of its three component industries dropped by a similar percentage during that period.

Newly revised numbers for this year show lower employment levels than previously estimated for most industries. Since July 2024, Oregon’s total nonfarm payroll employment dropped 24,600 jobs, or -1.2%. Manufacturing lost 9,400 jobs, or 5.0%. Each of these industries cut between 3% and 4%: information, private education, wholesale trade, financial activities, and construction. In that time, only two major industries expanded: health care and social assistance (+9,800 jobs, or 3.2%) and leisure and hospitality (+2,000 jobs, or 1.0%).

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 5.0% in July and 4.9% in June, after rising gradually over the past year from 4.2% in July 2024. Oregon’s 5.0% unemployment rate was 1.4 percentage points higher than the recent low of 3.6% during spring 2023. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.1% in June and 4.2% in July.

Next Press Releases

The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the July county and metropolitan area unemployment rates on Tuesday, Aug. 19, and the next statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for August on Wednesday, Sept. 17.

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Recreational use advisory issued for Ross Island Lagoon, Willamette river south of lagoon downriver to Ross Island Bridge

EUGENE, Ore.—Dusty Jacaway, 29, of Springfield, Oregon, was sentenced to 250 months in federal prison today for producing child pornography.

According to court documents, in October 2024, Lane County Sheriff’s Office deputies located Jacaway in a vehicle with 13-year-old child (MV1). Officers secured the cell phones of Jacaway and MV1. Subsequent analysis of the cell phones revealed two videos Jacaway had curated, displaying him having sexual intercourse with MV1 in the back seat of his car.

A forensic interview with MV1 revealed the extent of Jacaway’s abuse. Jacaway met MV1 online when the child was 12 years old and began having sexual intercourse with MV1 soon after. Jacaway also provided MV1 with methamphetamine. He would regularly traffic MV1 to a local pornography shop where he accepted money and drugs from men in exchange for allowing them to sexually abuse MV1. Jacaway kept the money and threatened to kill MV1 if he were ever arrested.

Following the completion of his prison sentence, Jacaway will begin a life term of supervised release. He must also pay $3,000 in restitution to his victim.

The case was investigated by the Lane County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. It was prosecuted by Adam Delph, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

# # #

PORTLAND, Ore.— A previously-convicted sex offender was sentenced to federal prison today after pleading guilty to one count of receiving child pornography.

U.S. District Judge Michael Simon sentenced John Christopher Christensen, 49, to 210 months in prison, followed by a 15-year term of supervised release.

According to court documents, in December 2022, investigators with the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) gained access to an online chatroom dedicated to trading in images of child sexual abuse. Christensen was one of many participants in the chatroom. Investigators eventually determined Christensen’s true name, and discovered that he was a registered sex offender living in Salem, Oregon who had previously been convicted of a sex offense against a minor. They also learned he had been arrested by Salem police on January 1, 2023, and charged with new offenses involving minors. In mid-January 2023, investigators served a federal search warrant at Christensen’s residence and recovered several devices that contained child pornography, including some of the same child pornography that had been posted in the chatroom.

Christensen appeared in federal court in August 2024 after serving a state sentence for luring a minor. He pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography in federal court in May 2025.

The federal case was investigated by HSI, with assistance from the Salem Police Department. It was prosecuted by Gary Sussman, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

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EUGENE, Ore.— An Albany, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today for sexually abusing a toddler on at least five separate occasions and sharing videos of the abuse online.

Kevin Walter Taylor, 35, was sentenced to 504 months in federal prison and a life term of supervised release.

“The sexual abuse of this young child is reprehensible and is deserving of every month of the sentence that has been imposed by the court,” Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office recognizes and thanks the Albany police officers and HSI special agents for rescuing this child within hours of learning of the abuse.”

“HSI is unwavering in our commitment to protecting children and ensuring that those who exploit them are brought to justice,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle Acting Special Agent in Charge Colin Jackson. “I am proud of the dedication and expertise demonstrated by our agents, analysts, and law enforcement partners in rescuing the victim from horrific sexual exploitation.”

According to court documents, on the morning of September 8, 2023, special agents from HSI discovered material online depicting child sexual abuse and determined that Taylor was likely committing the abuse from his home in Albany.

Within hours, HSI agents obtained and executed a federal search warrant on Taylor’s residence with the assistance of officers from the Albany Police Department. The same night, HSI and Albany Police arrested Taylor and rescued the toddler victim, who was still wearing the clothes depicted in the abuse material produced and distributed by Taylor just hours earlier.

Upon review of Taylor’s cell phone, agents discovered evidence of the abuse that occurred the day of his arrest as well as videos taken almost every day during the preceding week. Agents also discovered chats in which Taylor openly discussed his abuse of the toddler victim and shared the videos he made.

Agents discovered additional chats in which Taylor discussed his plans to kidnap and rape other children as well as his interest in filming children in stores in the community. Consistent with those chats, agents discovered videos taken in what appeared to be grocery stores, focused and zoomed in on children’s mid-sections. Agents also discovered videos in which Taylor recorded himself tossing fluids onto unaware women in public. The children and women filmed without their knowledge could not be identified.

On October 19, 2023, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a ten-count indictment charging Taylor with sexually exploiting a child, distributing child pornography, and possessing child pornography. On December 10, 2024, Taylor pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting a child, distributing child pornography, and possessing child pornography.

This case was investigated by HSI Portland in conjunction with HSI Charlotte, the Boone Police Department in North Carolina, and the Albany Police Department. It was prosecuted by William M. McLaren, Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon, in coordination with the Linn County District Attorney’s Office.

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to contact HSI at (866) 347-2423 or submit a tip online at report.cybertip.org.

Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

NEWPORT, Oregon— Crane operators carefully lifted the 11,000-pound lantern to the top of Yaquina Bay Lighthouse early this morning as part of the final stages of the historic building’s exterior restoration.

Dense fog surrounded the lighthouse, but there was no wind to impede the lantern’s progress to the top. The lift was postponed Monday due to high winds.

It took less than five minutes for the crane to place the lantern. Crews secured the lantern to the lighthouse — its final resting place after traveling to Alabama and back for restoration. Allen Architectural Metals in Alabama is nationally renowned for its expertise in cast metal restoration.

Soon the scaffolding and plastic will be removed from the lighthouse, and visitors will see the results of the $1.8 million complete exterior restoration. The work included repairs to the roof framing, chimney, brick foundation, lantern, siding, doors and windows as well as a new roof and exterior paint to protect the more than 150-year-old structure from the elements.

“In the next couple of weeks, we will finish up the remaining carpentry work on the exterior, touch up small areas with paint and remove the scaffolding. We’re excited to reopen the historic structure to visitors,” said Brian McBeth, historic architecture project manager. “This restoration will help protect the lighthouse for generations to come."

The Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, built in 1871, is the only wooden lighthouse still intact on the Oregon Coast, and it’s the last example in the state of the combined lighthouse and living quarters

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) maintains hundreds of historic buildings across the state including four lighthouses: Cape Meares Lighthouse, Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, Heceta Head Lighthouse and Coquille River Lighthouse.

OPRD’s mission includes maintaining historic structures like the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse for the enjoyment and education of current and future generations.

Each biennium, the department spends a portion of its project funds on historic restoration and maintenance. Another upcoming project is the Cape Foulweather Gift Shop at Otter Crest.

For updates on lighthouse hours, visit the park page. Video and photos available in this folder and this folder.

Roseburg, OR – September 20, 2025

The Roseburg Lions Club, in partnership with Umpqua Community College, invites the community to celebrate the start of a new school year at the Back-to-School Community Car Show & Street Fair on Saturday, September 20, 2025, beginning at 9:00 AM at Umpqua Community College.

This free, family-friendly event promises a day full of community spirit, entertainment, and giving back. All cars, trucks, and motorcycles are welcome, with traditional show classes plus fun new categories like “Mom’s Taxi” and “Low Riders.” Whether you’re showing off a polished classic or a one-of-a-kind custom build, everyone is invited to participate.

Alongside the car show, guests can enjoy a lively Street Fair with local vendors offering crafts, handmade goods, and delicious treats. There will be family-oriented activities and games for all ages. The Roseburg Lions Club will also be serving their crowd-favorite frozen chocolate-covered bananas, the perfect way to cool off while supporting sight and hearing programs in our community.

Proceeds from this event will benefit:

• UCC Endowment Funds and Memorial Maintenance

• UCC General Fund for Student Activities

• Roseburg Lions Club charitable programs, including the Sight and Hearing Program and other community initiatives

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025

• Time: 9:00 AM start

• Location: Umpqua Community College, Roseburg, OR

• Admission & Registration: Free for both participants and spectators

For more information about participating, vending, or volunteering, please contact:

• Melvin Wilcox – wilcoxme3@gmail.com

• Steve Tronnes – stronnes49@msn.com

Eugene, OR – The Eugene Public Library and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Oregon welcomed Oregon's First Lady for an inspiring community reading event celebrating early childhood literacy on August, 1st 2025. Families gathered for an engaging morning of storytelling as the First Lady shared "The Rabbit Listened", written and illustrated by Cori Doerrfeld with enthusiastic young listeners.

"Every child deserves access to quality books and the joy of shared reading experiences," stated Oregon's First Lady. "It's wonderful to join the community in celebrating the incredible impact of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. This program exemplifies how we can work together to ensure every Oregon child has the foundation they need to succeed. Supporting early literacy initiatives like this is an investment in the bright future of our entire state."

The Imagination Library program delivers carefully selected, age-appropriate books at no cost to enrolled children from birth to age five, now reaching families in every Oregon county and zip code. The Eugene Public Library has been a dedicated advocate for connecting local families with this transformative literacy resource. The morning included an interactive story session led by the First Lady, along with opportunities for families to learn about enrolling their children in the complimentary book program.

"Today's event perfectly captures what public libraries are all about—bringing our community together around shared values of learning and literacy," said Dana Fleming, Executive Director of Eugene Public Library Foundation. "Our partnership with the Imagination Library allows us to extend our reach beyond our physical walls, ensuring that every child in Eugene has books in their home from their earliest days. When we see families engaging with stories together, we know we're building the foundation for a stronger, more literate community."

"When we see children's faces light up during story time like this, we're reminded why the Imagination Library matters so deeply," said Kaylee Chrystal, Community Engagement Coordinator for Imagination Library of Oregon. "Each monthly book delivery represents hope and possibility, creating pathways to learning that extend far beyond the pages. Having Oregon's First Lady join us today amplifies our shared commitment to ensuring no child in Oregon grows up without access to quality books and the transformative power of reading."

The program currently serves more than 68,000 Oregon children—representing approximately 32% of the state's children under five years old—who receive monthly book deliveries through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Families pay nothing for participation, with program expenses supported through collaborative funding from local community partners, The Dollywood Foundation, and the State of Oregon via the Department of Early Learning and Care.

To learn more or to enroll your child, visit www.imaginationlibrary.com/oregon. For the latest Oregon specific content, follow us on Facebook and Instagram. 

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About Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book-gifting program in the world. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has gifted over 280 million free books in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and The Republic of Ireland. This is achieved through funding shared by The Dollywood Foundation and Local Community Partners.  The Imagination Library mails more than 3 million high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to children’s homes each month. Each child enrolled in the program receives one book per month from birth to age five - at no cost to families.  Dolly envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading and inspiring children to Dream More, Learn More, Care More, Be More(™).

The program’s impact has been widely researched, and results demonstrate its positive impact on early childhood development and literacy skills. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. For more information, please visit imaginationlibrary.com.

JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. (Aug. 12, 2025)- On Sunday, August 10, 2025, at 4:50 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a vehicle versus pedestrian crash on Interstate 5, near milepost 35, in Jackson County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a northbound Freightliner commercial motor vehicle and trailer, operated by Gerardo Alemanurieta (37) of Riverside (CA), struck a pedestrian, Scarlet Laresia Guenther (50) of Eagle Point, who was standing in the lane of travel.

The pedestrian (Guenther) was declared deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Freightliner (Alemanurieta) and passenger, Alfonso Casteneda (38), were reportedly uninjured.

The highway was not impacted during the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office.

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About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.

CLACKAMAS COUNTY, Ore. (Aug. 12, 2025)- On Saturday, August 9, 2025, at 6:00 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 5, near milepost 282, in Clackamas County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a northbound Chevrolet Avalanche, operated by Ricardo Hernandez (28) of Keizer, left the roadway and struck the rear end of a parked Kenworth commercial motor vehicle and trailer, occupied by Rebecca Kious (57) and Bryan Kelly Kious (58) of Elk City (OK).

The operator of the Chevrolet (Hernandez) was declared deceased at the scene.

The occupants of the Kenworth (B. Kious and R. Kious) were reportedly uninjured.

The highway was not impacted during the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Aurora Fire Department and ODOT.

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About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.