BOARD REGULAR MEETING NOTICE

The Board of Directors of Douglas County Fire District No. 2 will hold its Regular Board meeting at DCFD#2 Fire Station 655 at 6000 Garden Valley Rd., Roseburg, OR on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at 5:30 p.m.

 

The Board agenda to include but not limited to:              

1. Monthly Financials
2. 2018 Audit Review
3. Annexation Request Approvals
4. FEMA Update
5. GEMT Update

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 673-5503.

 

NOTICE OF MEETING OF THE MEDCOM BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the MedCom Ambulance Authority Board of Directors will hold a regular meeting on Thursday, November 21, 2019, at 12:00 p.m.  The meetings will be held in the Bay Cities Ambulance’s administrative conference room at 1290 NE Cedar.

Agenda items include monthly financials, FireMed Update, Provider reports, MedCom Administrator Update

Anyone desiring more information regarding the meeting should contact the MedCom Administrator at (541) 673-5503.

 

The Board of Directors of Winston-Dillard Fire District No. 5 will hold its Regular Board meeting at their fire station, 250 SE Main St., Winston, OR on Monday, November 18, 2019 at 5:30 p.m.

The agenda to include but not limited to:                                                                           

1. Monthly Financial Report
2. Hiring process Update
3. Annexation Request

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 Winston Dillard Fire District No. 5 at 541-679-8721.

WINSTON, Ore. - On Wednesday, November 13, 2019, at 12:37 PM, 911 dispatchers received a report of a two vehicle crash in the 1300-block of Willis Creek Road near Winston. 

Deputies arrived on scene and discovered a 1994 Chevrolet pickup and a 2012 Dodge 3500 pickup which were involved in a head-on collision. An investigation indicates the Chevrolet pickup, operated by 58 year-old Richard Dean Chastain of Winston, was traveling southbound when the vehicle drifted into the oncoming path of the Dodge for an unknown reason. The Dodge was operated by 28 year-old Steven Snawder of Roseburg. 

Snawder was transported to Mercy Medical Center for treatment and was later released. Chastain and his two dogs were pronounced deceased at the scene. Next of kin has been notified.

The crash is still under investigation, however intoxicants do not appear to be a contributing factor. Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to call 541-440-4471 referencing case number 19-5249.

ROSEBURG, Ore. - On Wednesday, November 13, 2019, at approximately 11:30 AM, a deputy searching for Sean and Madison Moss located vehicle debris indicative of a vehicle crash along the riverbank of the main Umpqua River in the 11500-block of Garden Valley Road. This area is commonly referred to as Crow Rapids. 

Additional resources were dispatched, including the Sheriff's Office dive team. At approximately 2:00 PM, divers located a vehicle approximately 12 feet under the water in a narrow canal. 

Despite efforts, attempts to recover the vehicle proved difficult due to the terrain of the riverbed and surrounding landscape and had  to be canceled as the sun set. 

On Thursday, November 14, 2019, at 7:30 AM, efforts resumed and at approximately 10:00, the vehicle was recovered to the shore. The vehicle was confirmed to be the 2002 Chevy Trailblazer registered to Sean Moss. The bodies of both 29 year-old Sean Moss and 2 year-old Madison Moss were located in the vehicle. 

The Douglas County Medical Examiner's Office is conducting a death investigation at this time. The cause of the crash is also under investigation. Next of kin has been notified. 

The Sheriff's Office was assisted by Search and Rescue, Oregon State Police, Douglas County Fire District #2, Kokua Towing and Puddle Jumper Towing. 

Sean and Madison were reported missing to the Sheriff's Office on Monday, August 12 at 10:18 am. They had been last seen by Moss' co-worker on the evening of Friday, August 9th. Family members were expecting Sean and Madison to attend the Douglas County Fair on August 10th, but they did not arrive. 

Welcome to the Oregon FBI’s Tech Tuesday segment.? Today:? Building a digital defense ?for those who have given so much to defend our country.? 

Veterans Day allows us to celebrate the service of U.S. military members and honor the sacrifices that they – and their families – have made. It is also a time to educate military families about those who wish to profit off their service.  

Unfortunately, military families may be more vulnerable to scams than the average American. A 2018 study by the Federal Trade Commission showed service members lost more than $25 million to just imposter scams over the course of a year. The median loss for a military member: about $700… $200 more than the median loss for the average person. 

Imposter fraud is a pretty simple scam. The bad guy pretends to be someone else, gains your trust, and convinces you to send money. He can pose as a potential employer offering a much-needed job, a lottery official promising a big prize, or even a government agent threatening arrest. No matter who he impersonates, his goal is to always get you to pay up. 

What can you do to protect yourself? 

• Be wary of any call from someone claiming to be from the government who requests personal info or money. 

• Think twice before paying any supposed debt or fee with a wire transfer or gift card.  

• Don’t trust caller ID or the name on the email address or user ID. All can be faked. 

• If in doubt, call the business or agency back from a publicly-available number to confirm what you’ve been offered or threatened with. 

Finally – some good news for veterans. Our friends at the FTC announced just a few weeks ago that the three major U.S. consumer reporting agencies will soon start offering free credit monitoring to active duty U.S. military members and members of the National Guard. To qualify as an active duty member – you must be assigned away from your usual duty station. All members of the National Guard will qualify regardless of where you are stationed. 

As always, if you have been victimized by a cyber fraud, be sure to report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at? www.IC3.gov ?or call your local FBI office.? 

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These are the links service members can use to access the credit reporting agencies' military programs:

https://www.experian.com/lp/military.html 

https://www.equifax.com/personal/military-credit-monitoring/ 

https://www.transunion.com/active-duty-military-credit-monitoring 

This is an introductory message from Mike Moran in regards to a new Public Information Officer at Jackson Counth Sheriff's Office. With the departure of Sgt Julie Denney, I have been assigned as the PIO. My role will be an interim position as options to fill the position permanently are explored.

 I know many of you from my prior postions in law enforcement with Talent PD and Medford PD. I look forward to serving the ciitizens of Jackson County.

SHADY COVE, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) detectives arrested a Shady Cove man Tuesday on charges related to the death of his roommate.  Detectives say Shane Ryan Micheal Wayman, 21, killed Destiny Anne Finch, 20, in their home, and then left her remains in a wooded area north of Trail.

On Monday, November 11, 2019, at 6:51 p.m., dispatch received a call from a family member reporting that Finch was missing from her home in the first block of Brophy Way, Shady Cove.  Deputies responded and found evidence that an assault had occurred there. 

Deputies learned that Finch and Wayman had an argument earlier in the day; neither were present at the residence at the time of the missing person report.  Finch and her fiancé lived together in the home, along with Wayman and another male adult. 

JCSO detectives activated the Major Assault and Death Investigation Unit (MADIU) Monday evening.  Personnel from the Oregon State Police, the Medford Police Department, and the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office responded to assist in the investigation. 

On Tuesday, November 12, at approximately 6:15 a.m., Medford Police detectives located Wayman walking along Highway 62 at mile marker 24.  He was detained without incident.  Moments later, JCSO detectives found Wayman’s vehicle, a white 1999 Hyundai Sonata, parked along Highway 62 near the Prospect Ranger Station.  

Detectives located Finch’s remains just before noon on Tuesday in a wooded area near Highway 227 in Douglas County, just north of the county line.  After consultation with authorities in Douglas County, Jackson County investigators continued as the lead agency for the investigation.

An investigator with the Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office responded to the scene.  An autopsy is planned for Wednesday afternoon to confirm the cause and manner of death.  Detectives have notified Finch’s family of her death. 

JCSO detectives lodged Wayman in the Jackson County jail on charges of murder, first degree assault, second degree abuse of a corpse, and unlawful use of a weapon.  The investigation is ongoing. 

Detectives would like to hear from anyone who may have video footage that could assist in the investigation.  They are specifically looking for footage of the following roadways:  Highway 62 from mile marker 18 to Highway 230;  Highway 227 between Highway 62 and the Douglas County line; Highway 230 between Highway 62 and Highway 138.  Anyone with video cameras in those areas, or any other information about the case, can call the JCSO tip line at (541) 770-8333. 

Case #19-23784

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A driver traveling on Santiam Highway Monday afternoon noticed light smoke coming from a commercial building on Burdell Boulevard and dialed 911 to report the incident at 2:50 pm. Firefighters responded to the former Champion Mil site behind Walgreens where the first arriving unit reported heavy smoke from the lone 8,500 square foot commercial structure remaining on the old mill property. Due to the potential for a large-scale fire, the incident commander called for a second alarm to bring additional resources to the scene and to cover the Lebanon Fire District while on-duty crews battled the fire. Fortunately, fire crews were able to make a rapid, aggressive attack on the fire from the exterior of the structure which stopped the blaze in its tracks and saved the structure. Damage was limited to some interior structural components with some heat and smoke damage to the metal structure. The property is believed to have been recently remitted to Linn County due to unpaid taxes.

Firefighters had to cut locks from large bay doors to make access to the structure while additional crews used powerful circular saws to cut access holes in the metal structure and direct water streams on the fire burning inside. The fire district’s new ladder truck was used to combat the fire as well. Crews extended the ladder into the structure from ground level where they could then use the remote nozzle to direct fire streams upwards towards the ceiling where heavy fire had built. Once the main body of fire was knocked down, crews entered the structure with hoses to finish extinguishing the fire and mop up remaining hot spots.

The Lebanon Fire Investigation Team was activated and four fire investigators remined on scene to determine the cause and origin of the fire. According to Lebanon Fire Marshal Jason Bolen, investigators were able to determine the area of origin of the fire but extensive damage from both fire and suppression efforts prevented investigators from singling out a specific cause. There were signs of forced entry into the structure through a wall panel, and the building was known to the Lebanon Police Department to be a home to transients.  “Based on the information gathered from our investigation it is possible that this fire was caused by a warming fire which was either left unattended and spread or simply got out of control.” said Bolen. “We were unable to determine a credible source of ignition, which unfortunately means that the cause of this fire will remain undetermined unless someone comes forward with additional information.”

Lebanon firefighters were assisted on scene by the Sweet Home Fire & Ambulance District and the Albany Fire Department. Officers from the Lebanon Police Department also assisted on scene. Firefighters from the Scio Fire District stood by at Station 31 and the Albany Fire Department provided a medic unit for district coverage. Fire crews had the blaze under control in about an hour and were on scene for three hours. There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians.

For HD Video of this and other LFD incidents, please subscribe to the Lebanon Fire District YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjTxDBuPbD3DPAybCkCgEvg

For HD photos of this and other LFD incidents, please follow the Lebanon Fire District Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LebanonFireDistrict/?ref=bookmarks

For updates on large scale incidents within the Lebanon Fire District, follow us on Twitter: @LebanonFD

On November 13, 2019 at about 10:30 AM Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a reported suicidal subject thought to be in the Yachat's area.   The suicidal subject had reached a friend in Maryland stating he had self-inflicted lacerations to his neck. Law enforcement in Montgomery County, Maryland provided the description of the vehicle he was associated with and were making efforts to determine the subject’s cell phone location.  Deputy Akin quickly responded to Yachats and was able to locate the vehicle prior to the subject’s phone “ping” results. The vehicle was parked in the corner of Yachat's State Park and inside the vehicle he located the subject bleeding heavily from his neck and left arm.  He had lost a large amount of blood and was lethargic.  Deputy Akin, who maintains his paramedic certification in addition to his law enforcement certifications, immediately secured the nearby knife and administered first aid while requesting emergency ambulance response.  Deputy Akin was able to apply a tourniquet to the subject’s left arm.  Tourniquets, along with other life-saving tools and training, are provided to Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputies for medical emergencies.

Yachat's Fire and Rescue responded to the location and transported the subject to Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport in critical condition.  Yachat’s Fire and Rescue submitted a written commendation citing Deputy Akin as acting swiftly and assisting by providing advanced medical aid in a very serious situation.   

The Oregon State Police arrived and assisted with the scene. 

###

Respectfully submitted by:

Mark Meister
Lincoln County Sheriff's Office

Administrative Patrol Sergeant

Phone 541-265-0684

WWW.Lincolncountysheriff.net

225 We. Olive St. Newport, OR 97365

PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND RIGHT-OF-WAY LAWS

With the end of Daylight Savings Time, many of us are leaving work after dusk.

As always, it’s important that we take an extra moment to consider pedestrians. 

Too often, in collisions with cars, pedestrians end up the losers.

Oregon crosswalk laws were written to provide a buffer of safety for pedestrians on the roadway.

 

What’s the law for drivers?

• A crosswalk exists at any public street intersection, whether marked with paint or unmarked.  Crosswalks also exist between intersections (mid-block) only if they are marked with white painted lines.  Under Oregon law (ORS 811.028) a driver has specific duties to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, whether marked or unmarked.
• When turning at a traffic signal, drivers must stop and remain stopped for pedestrians until they have cleared the lane into which the vehicle is turning and at least six feet of the next lane.  
• At any other crosswalks-whether marked with paint or unmarked - drivers must stop and remain stopped for pedestrians until they have cleared the lane in which the vehicle is traveling and the next lane.  Stop and remain stopped for students as directed by a crossing guard.  Stop and remain stopped for a blind pedestrian using a white cane or a guide dog until the pedestrian is completely across the roadway. 
• Drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians may be issued a citation carrying a hefty fine.

What’s the law for pedestrians?

• Oregon laws affect pedestrians too; even though vehicles are always required to use due care when operating around pedestrians.
• Pedestrians are required to obey traffic signals and walk safely. 
• Pedestrians are also required to yield to vehicles.  Pedestrians are prohibited from suddenly moving from a place of safety into the path of a vehicle so close as to constitute a hazard.  Pedestrians are also required to yield to a vehicle when crossing the roadway at any point other than a crosswalk.
• Pedestrians who fail to comply with laws governing pedestrian movement may be issued a citation carrying a fine.

 

Safety Tips:

• Remember; under Oregon law there is a crosswalk at every intersection.
• Don’t pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk.  A stopped car may be a clue that a pedestrian is crossing.  When stopped for a crosswalk on a multi-lane road, you should stop about 30 feet before the crosswalk so you don’t block visibility to a driver in a second lane.
• When stopping at an intersection, don’t block the crosswalk.  This forces pedestrians to go around your vehicle and puts them in a dangerous situation.
• Watch for pedestrians, especially children, when exiting driveways or when backing out of parking spaces in parking lots.
• Pedestrians move at different speeds.  Be alert to children who may suddenly dart into the street.  Be patient with older adults who take extra time to cross the street.

 

When motorists and pedestrians work as a team, everyone benefits!

 

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

                         

 

 

Please see the attached media release for full information and links to referenced resources. 

Lincoln County and other counties around the state are transitioning from summer wildfire to our winter weather preparedness season. With this transition comes our annual partnership with local public works/road departments, Oregon Department of Transportation, utility service providers and the National Weather Service (NWS)-Portland office.

At the beginning of each winter season these agencies along with public safety response partners promote winter preparedness within their agencies and for local communities.

Winter Weather Outlook:

The National Weather Service provided a winter weather outlook briefing for public safety and local officials the morning of October 22nd.

This briefing was specifically coordinated for the Lincoln County communities and was followed by a tabletop exercise for the attendees. The exercise was modeled after the snow event that occurred primarily in Lane County, February 2019.  The winter weather outlook briefing is available for the public to review and can be found on the Lincoln County website – Emergency Management at: https://www.co.lincoln.or.us/emergencymanagement/page/whats-happening-now

Lincoln County Information Guide – Flooding (Updated Nov. 2019):

The flooding guide is specifically developed for Lincoln County Communities by the Emergency Management Division of the Sheriff’s Office and provides the A-Z of information needed for before, during and after a flooding event occurs. The guide is intended as a one-stop shop for educating yourself on insurance opportunities, flood plain mapping, how to access current river level information, and how to protect yourself and your property.

One of the most important aspects of protection is reviewing your insurance policies to ensure you are adequately covered; the National Flood Insurance Program recently underwent a website upgrade and provides very valuable information to help you decide if you should have a policy in place.

Flood insurance is not just for those property owners who live in the flood plain; it can protect many home and business owners from other events such as a tsunami or other water saturation events. Standard homeowners’ insurance may not cover these events. The following is a list of the sections in the flooding guide.

Lincoln County Self-Serve Public Sandbagging Station:

Sandbagging is one of the most versatile of flood fighting tools and is a simple, effective way to prevent or reduce flood water damage. Although sandbags do not guarantee a watertight seal, they are a proven deterrent to costly water damage. Sandbags have been used to:

• Prevent overtopping of levees
• Direct a river's current flow to specific areas
• Redirect storm water runoff to storm drains or redirect overflowing storm runoff drains from personal property
• Reduce seepage at closure structures

Location and Hours:  Mid-October through mid-April, 510 NE Harney St, Newport, access to sand is 24/7

Community members may pick up to 10 sandbags per person, per season. Those in need of more than 10 sandbags at a time are encouraged to reach out to local hardware stores and purchase them in advance.  Community members are reminded protection of private property is the property owners’ responsibility and begins prior to storm events.  If you have a water run off hazard or your home or structure is in flood path then you should assess your property in advance, educate yourself regarding sandbag quantities, sandbag placement techniques and the help you might need to accomplish the task. Properly placed, sandbags will redirect water and minor debris flow away from property improvements.  Waiting until the water is at your door step is too late; there won’t be enough time or resources to effectively mitigate the water or debris run off. 

###

Respectfully submitted,

Virginia "Jenny" Demaris
Emergency Manager
Lincoln County Sheriff's Office
Emergency Management
225 W. Olive St.
Newport, Oregon 97365
is@co.lincoln.or.us" target="_blank">vdemaris@co.lincoln.or.us
(541) 265-4199 Office

During the week of November 4 - 8, 2019 members of the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Toledo Police Department, and Benton County Behavioral Health participated in a 40 hour Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training coordinated by Lincoln County Health and Human Services and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.   

The week started with an 8-hour Mental Health First Aid segment which brought additional participants from the Newport Police Department and Lincoln City Police Department.

This CIT course is designed to:

• Provide police officers more tools to do their job safely and effectively. Research shows that CIT is associated with improved officer attitude and knowledge about mental illness  
• Keep law enforcement’s focus on crime. Some communities have found that CIT has reduced the time officers spend responding to a mental health call, this puts officers back into the community more quickly
• Produce cost savings. It’s difficult to estimate exactly how much diversion programs can save communities. But incarceration is costly compared to community-based treatment

Additional courses throughout the week covered a variety of topics, Crisis Intervention and De-escalation; Listening Skills; Legal Considerations; Suicide Assessment and Self Care to name a few.  Representatives from the local and valley chapters of The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) were present to provide information relating to NAMI as well as sharing their story from a personal and family perspective as it relates to first responders interactions with individuals experiencing a crisis. Members of Communities Helping Addicts Negotiate Change Effectively (C.H.A.N.C.E) were also present to share their lived experience when involved in crisis situations.

The final day of training involved a wrap up of the weeks skills and allowed students to participate in scenarios that are most commonly responded to by first responders. Volunteers from the Sheriff’s Office Community Advisory Group as well as Emergency Management assisted with our scenarios.

The students were provided with resource guides which included state and local contact information as well as quick assessment guides and information related to commonly used medications, all of this with the intention of further enhancing the tools each attendee has available to them when responding to crisis situations or evaluating their own health and wellness.

###

Jamie Russell

Jail Commander

541-265-0701

jrussell@co.lincoln.or.us

Linn County Undersheriff Paul Timm reports his deputies responded to Mari-Linn Elementary School in Lyons, for a report of shots fired at 6:26 a.m., this morning.  The caller reported hearing a gunshot and saw what she believed to be a muzzle  flash just outside the school.  There were only a few staff members at the school and children were just starting to arrive.  Deputies responded along with Oregon State Police and began investigating the incident, when Pacific Power arrived to check on a blown transformer. 

The transformer that blew was in the same location the caller said the “shots” came from.  After further investigation, it was confirmed the transformer had made the loud noise and flashed, which is what the caller thought was a “muzzle flash”.  Students were locked in a safe place as they arrived and there was no real threat to the school.  The school was determined to be safe about an hour after the call was made.

Linn County Undersheriff Paul Timm reports that on November 14, 2019, detectives arrested Megan Marie Moeller, 39, a residence of Corvallis, in connection with a forgery investigation. 

In 2016, Megan Moeller, who was then Megan Perry, was a licensed attorney and had an office in downtown Albany.  Megan Moeller was hired by a client to provide representation in regards to a child custody issue.  Detectives found that during that representation, Megan Moeller provided her client with documents “proving” that legal papers had been served on the other party.  The investigation revealed that signatures on those documents had been forged and that the legal papers had not actually been served on the other party. 

Megan Moeller was arrested and charged with three counts of Identity Theft. 

In 2018, Megan Moeller submitted her resignation to the Oregon State Bar after facing multiple complaints from clients. At that time, Megan Moeller was disbarred from practicing law in Oregon. 

Linn County Undersheriff Paul Timm reports last night at 11:29 p.m., his deputies investigated a fatal motor vehicle crash on Rock Hill Drive, west of Lebanon. 

Deputies were driving by the location when they saw a vehicle pulled over with its hazard lights on and a female standing outside.  They stopped to assist, and the female stated her boyfriend, 27-year-old, Steven Marlen of Lebanon, and her brother, 20-year-old Jacob Wibbens of Brownsville were overdue and not answering their phones.  She used a cell phone locator application for Marlen’s phone that brought her to the Rock Hill Drive location.  She told deputies Marlen was driving a red Toyota MR2.

The deputies were not able to immediately see the crashed vehicle, but after a few minutes of searching, discovered it about fifty yards off the roadway in blackberry bushes.  Medics from Lebanon Fire Department were requested to respond.  The deputies found the vehicle was upside down on its top and discovered Marlen and Wibbens were deceased inside. 

The investigation revealed Marlen was travelling westbound on Rock Hill Drive when his vehicle drove off the shoulder and lost control.  The vehicle rolled several times coming to rest on its roof. 

Both Marlen and Wibbens were wearing their seatbelts.  Lebanon Fire Department personnel had to extricate both males from the vehicle.  Huston-Jost Funeral Home assisted and transported them to their facility.

It is unknown what caused Marlen to drive off the roadway.  Speed may have been a factor in the crash.  No other vehicles were involved.

 

On Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at approximately 6:00 P.M. Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel  responded to a report of a vehicle that struck a pedestrian on Hwy 99 near milepost 11 in Phoenix, Oregon. 

Preliminary investigation revealed that a Honda Accord, operated by Bonnie Knudsen (58) of Medford, was northbound on Hwy 99 when a male pedestrian, identified as Mark Cooper (57) no home town known,  walked in front of the vehicle and was struck.

Cooper was transported to Rogue Regional Hospital in Medford where he was pronounced deceased.

OSP was assisted by Talent Police Department, Phoenix Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff's Office and ODOT.

  

On Wednesday November 13, 2019 at approximately 7:54 P.M. Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a report of a two vehicle crash on Hwy 99E near Concomly Rd NE. 

Preliminary investigation revealed that a silver 2002 GMC Envoy, operated by Nicolas Martinez-Rivera (56) of Woodburn, was traveling northbound on Hwy 99E near Concomly Rd NE when for unknown reasons the Envoy veered into the southbound lanes.  The Envoy collided head-on with a 2009 Ford F-150 pickup operated by Kaleefa Chernishoff (26) of Brooks. 

Chernishoff suffered serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to the Salem Hospital. 

Martinez-Rivera suffered critical injuries and was transported by air to Legacy Emmanuel in Portland.

OSP was assisted by Woodburn Fire and Medics and ODOT.

 

On Wednesday,  November 13, 2019 at approximately 1:45 P.M. Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a single vehicle crash on Hwy 20 near mile post 84.5.

Preliminary investigation revelealed that a 1992 Chevrolet Corvette, operated by Gerald Gates (75) of Salem, was westbound on Hwy 20 when it left the roadway and struck a tree.  

Gates sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

OSP was assisted by the Hines Fire Deparment, Harney County Sheriff's Office,and ODOT 

On Monday, November 11, 2019 at approximately 5:45 pm, Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a single vehicle crash involving a pedestiran on I-84 near MP 104.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a red and white 2016 Peterbilt Commerical Motor Vehicle, operated by Keith Allen Hille, age 31, of Moscow Mills, Missouri, was traveling westbound on I-84 in the slow lane, when he noticed a reflective vest moving around in the lane of travel. He initially thought the vest was blowing around then realized the vest was being worn by a pedestrian, identified as Alejandro Lozano Rivas, age 33, of Biggs Junction, Oregon. Hille swerved to avoid Lozano Rivas, but was unable to avoid striking him. Lozano Rivas suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Hille stopped immediately after the collison and is cooperating with the investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Sherman County Sheriff's Office, the Sherman County District Attorney's Office and ODOT.  

On Saturday, November 9, 2019, at approximately 2:45 P.M. Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a single vehicle crash on Hwy 38 near mile post 25 approximately 10 miles west of Elkton.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2016 GMC Canyon Pickup, operated by John Norlin (84) of Roseburg, was traveling on Hwy 38 when for unknown reasons left the roadway and struck a tree.

Norlin sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.

One lane of Hwy 38 was closed for approximately four hours after the crash.

OSP was assisted Scottsburg FD, ODOT, and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

(No photos are available)

 

On Saturday, November 9, 2019, at approximately 10:48 P.M. Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a single vehicle crash on Hwy 97 near mile post 281. 

Preliminary investigation revealed that a red Honda Civic, operated by William Ogle (23) of Klamath Falls, was traveling north on Hwy 97 when for unknown reasons left the roadway and rolled several times.

Ogle sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.

Hwy 97 was reduced to one lane for approximately one hour following the crash.

OSP was assisted by Klamath County Fire District #1 and ODOT.

 

 

New giving season underway to help those in need

PORTLAND, Ore. — This past year NW Natural customers and shareholders contributed more than $143,000 to the Gas Assistance Program to help low-income families and seniors in the Pacific Northwest pay their heating bills during the cold winter months.

"Thanks to the generosity of our customers and the support of community action networks, we’ve been able to help those most in need with their heating costs for the past 37 years,” said Mary Moerlins, NW Natural corporate citizen manager. “We know the need will be great again this coming year so we’re committed to helping raise funds and match the first $60,000 in contributions this giving season.”

The new giving season is underway now through Aug. 31, 2020. NW Natural shareholders will match the first $60,000 in GAP contributions. Tax-deductible donations can be made via United Way at connect.unitedway-pdx.org/GAP or mailing a check to: Gas Assistance Program, 619 SW 11th Ave., Room 300, Portland, Oregon 97205-2646.

Also this season, in support of GAP, NW Natural is proudly sponsoring Christmas in the Garden at the Oregon Garden in historic Silverton, Oregon, where NW Natural employees will be onsite Dec. 14-15, 5-9 p.m., giving out holiday treats and GAP program information.

Since it began in 1982, NW Natural’s GAP has raised more than $6.3 million for community action groups that distribute the funds directly to those in need. NW Natural covers programs administrative costs so 100% of the funds can be donated.

Donation funds are distributed to the following community action networks, which screen all low-income recipients:

• Clackamas County Social Services Division — Clackamas County
• Clark Public Utilities District — Clark County
• Community Action Organization — Washington County
• Community Action Team, Inc. — Clatsop and Columbia Counties
• Community Services Consortium — Benton, Lincoln and Linn Counties
• Human Solutions, Inc. — Multnomah County
• Impact Northwest — Multnomah County
• Lane County Human Services Commission — Lane County
• Mid-Columbia Community Action Council — Hood River, Wasco and Sherman Counties
• Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action — Marion and Polk Counties
• Self Enhancement, Inc. — Multnomah County
• Yamhill Community Action Partnership — Yamhill County

About NW Natural

NW Natural provides natural gas service to approximately 2.5 million people in more than 140 communities through 750,000 meters in Oregon and Southwest Washington with one of the most modern pipeline systems in the nation. It consistently leads the industry with high J.D. Power & Associates customer satisfaction scores. NW Natural is part of Northwest Natural Holding Company, (NYSE: NWN) (NW Natural Holdings), which is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and owns NW Natural, NW Natural Water Company, and other business interests and activities.

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The replacement of  variable message boards/signs at three locations on Interstate 5 in the mid Willamette Valley will cause evening delays over the next two weeks.   To safely remove the old boards and install the new ones, there will need to be evening lane closures.  The work is scheduled as follows:

Southbound I-5 at Arndt Road, milepost 281

The variable message board/sign will be replaced on Sunday-Tuesday, November 17-19 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. each evening.  At least one lane will remain open during the work.  Travelers should expect delays.

Northbound I-5 at Perkins Road, milepost 262

The variable message board/sign will be replaced on Wednesday-Thursday, November 20-21 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. each evening.  At least one lane will remain open during the work.  Travelers should expect delays.

Northbound at Lake Creek, milepost 214

The variable message board/sign will be replaced on Sunday-Wednesday, November 24-27 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. each evening.  One lane will remain open during the work.  In addition, there will be evening rolling traffic slowdowns starting at the Randy Pape Beltline (OR 569) in Eugene. Travelers should expect delays.

Travelers are encouraged to visit TripCheck.com for the very latest on traffic conditions. 

 

 

SALEM, Ore. - Members of the Oregon National Guard participated in Veterans Day ceremonies and special events around the State of Oregon, honoring the service of military veterans of the armed forces, Nov. 11, 2019. 

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

191111-Z-CM403: Oregon Army National Guard Col. Alan Gronewold, Director of Aviation and Safety for the Oregon National Guard, delivers remarks to veterans and guest attending the Vietnams Day ceremony held at the Vietnam Era Veterans Memorial, Canby, Ore., Nov. 11, 2019. Gronewold served as the guest speaker for the ceremony. (National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Perkins, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

191111-Z-CM403-170: Two U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagle fighter jets, assigned to the 142nd Fighter Wing base at the Portland Air National Guard Base, perform a Veterans Day ceremonial flyover at the Vietnam Era Veterans Memorial, Canby, Ore., Nov. 11, 2019. (National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Perkins, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

191111-Z-LM216-001: Veterans, and members of Mt. Angel American Legion Post #89 color guard post the colors during a Veterans Day celebration hosted by post #89, Mt. Angel, Ore., Nov. 11, 2019. Veterans Day began 100 years ago as "Armistice Day" on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. (National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Zach Holden, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

191111-Z-LM216-002: Veterans observe as the colors are posted during a Veterans Day celebration hosted by the Mt. Angel American Legion post #89, Mt. Angel, Ore., Nov. 11, 2019. Veterans Day began 100 years ago as "Armistice Day" on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. (National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Zach Holden, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

191111-Z-LM216-003: Oregon Air National Guard Lt. Col James E. McDonald (left), deputy director of the Oregon National Guard's State Partnership Program, speaks with Col. (ret.) William Mercer Harris IV, during a Veterans Day celebration hosted by the Mt. Angel American Legion post #89, Mt. Angel, Ore., Nov. 11, 2019. Mercer, a veteran with 40 years of service, started flying bombers with the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II, and later flew fighter jets with the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. (National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Zach Holden, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

191111-Z-PL933-002: Oregon National Guard Full-time Support Chaplain, Maj. Cody Roach, leads a crowd of gathered veterans, family members and others during the traditional moment of silence and playing of taps during the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs ceremonial wreath laying on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2019. (National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Jason van Mourik, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

191111-Z-PL933-003: Oregon National Guard Full-time Support Chaplain, Maj. Cody Roach, leads a crowd of gathered veterans, family members and others during the traditional moment of silence and playing of taps during the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs ceremonial wreath laying on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2019. (National Guard photo by, Tech. Sgt. Jason van Mourik, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

191111-Z-AJ128-1001: 2nd Battalion, 218th Field Artillery, Oregon Army National Guard perform a gun salute during the Albany Veterans Day Memorial Service at Timber-Linn Park on Nov. 11, 2019. The Service consisted of guest speakers; Albany Mayor Sharon Konopa and Oregon Army National Guard Col. Karl Pond, laying of the Gold Star and POW/MIA wreaths, and a detachment of "Oregon's Own" 234th Band Army National Guard playing all the military service songs. (National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs)

191111-Z-AJ128-1002: A Color Guard team and members of the Oregon Army National Guard assemble and stand ready to participate and march in the Albany Veterans Day Parade in Albany, Ore., Nov. 11, 2019. The Parade is largest Veterans Day Parade ‘West of the Mississippi River,’ and the third largest in the country. The first Albany Veterans Parade stated in 1951 and the Oregon National Guard has been a part a central part from the beginning. (National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs)

191111-Z-AJ128-1003: A team member of the 102nd Civil Support Team (WMD) Oregon National Guard “High-Fives” many of the spectators watching the Albany Veterans Day Parade, Albany, Ore., Nov. 11, 2019. The mission of the 102nd Civil Support Team is to support civil authorities at domestic chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) incident sites by identifying, assessing, advising and assisting during incidents involving the intentional or unintentional release of CBRNE. (National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs)

Vancouver, Wash. — The Bonneville Power Administration’s innovative approach to recycling saved Northwest electric ratepayers nearly $3 million in 2018, with more savings projected for 2019. The agency’s sustainability efforts – from recycling transmission conductor and tower parts to auctioning off used equipment – are winning national sustainability awards.

One of BPA’s innovative approaches to recycling is its use of a machine known as the linear chopper. The device’s technology uses magnets to separate the aluminum and steel components of used high-voltage conductor wire – something BPA has a lot of. The agency owns 15,000 miles of transmission line across the west.

Once the used line is fed into the chopper, bits of steel and aluminum are separated and spewed out on opposite sides of the machine. The metal is then sent to regional smelters where it can fetch a healthy price. Since March of 2018, the machine has recovered more than 375 tons of aluminum valued at $700,000. That’s a lot of aluminum when you consider the Statue of Liberty weighs 225 tons.

“Our sustainability efforts go hand-in-hand with our commitment to being responsible stewards of the environment and accountable to our ratepayers,” says Robin Furrer, BPA’s chief administrative officer. “We recover approximately 90% of our used materials, so we throw away very little.”

Aside from the chopper, the agency’s other recycling efforts include auctioning off used equipment, recycling components from computers and electronic waste and donating used furniture.

In 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency honored BPA with the Federal Green Challenge Materials Management Award. The EPA is honoring BPA again in 2019 for its outstanding sustainability efforts and care for the environment.

Video of the linear chopper is available upon request.

Contact David Wilson at wilson@bpa.gov">dbwilson@bpa.gov

About BPA

The Bonneville Power Administration, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is a nonprofit federal power marketer that sells wholesale, carbon-free hydropower from 31 federal dams in the Columbia River Basin. It also markets the output of the region’s only nuclear plant. BPA delivers this power to more than 140 Northwest electric utilities, serving millions of consumers and businesses in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, western Montana and parts of California, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. BPA also owns and operates more than 15,000 circuit miles of high-voltage power lines and 262 substations, and provides transmission service to more than 500 customers. In all, BPA provides nearly a third of the power generated in the Northwest. To mitigate the impacts of the federal dams, BPA implements a fish and wildlife program that includes working with its partners to make the federal dams safer for fish passage. It also pursues cost-effective energy savings and operational solutions that help maintain safe, affordable, reliable electric power for the Northwest. www.bpa.gov

Medford OR - The Bureau of Land Management and United States Forest Service are hosting the biennial Rogue River User Meeting on Thursday, November 21, 2019, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. PST at the BLM/Forest Service Interagency Office, 2164 NE Spalding Avenue, Grants Pass, Oregon.

This meeting is for permitted commercial guides, outfitters and private parties that utilize the Rogue River. Potential meeting topics include permitting, Leave No Trace, user etiquette, trail use, animal interaction, and how to get involved.

Teleconference participation is available for the first 25 callers for the first hour of the meeting. Phone lines open 5 minutes before the meeting starts.  The call-in number and other pertinent information will be available the day before the event on the BLM Rogue River Recreation web page: https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/permits-and-passes/lotteries-and-permit-systems/oregon-washington/rogue-river

We appreciate your interest in the Rogue River and look forward to your participation in the upcoming meeting. If you have questions, please contact BLM Commercial Permit Administrator,

For additional information please contact Patrick Kollodge, at 541-471-6648 or BLM_OR_MD_Rogue_River_Mail@blm.gov.

-BLM-

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The agency’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. In fiscal year 2018, the diverse activities authorized on BLM-managed lands generated $105 billion in economic output across the country. This economic activity supported 471,000 jobs and contributed substantial revenue to the U.S. Treasury and state governments, mostly through royalties on minerals.

The Private Security/Private Investigators Policy Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a WebEx/Telephonic meeting on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE Salem, Oregon.  The public is welcome to view the meeting through Facebook Livestream on the Department of Public Safety Standards & Training page. For more information, contact Mona Riesterer at (503) 378-2431.

Committee Members:

Thomas Thomas, Chair, Private Security Industry

Myron Sanders, Investigator, OSB Appointed

Jeremy Grahn, Retail Industry

Fred Kuest, Private Business or Governmental Entity That Utilizes Private Security Services

Daniel Lenzen, Hospitality Representative

Melvin Levinson, Alarm Monitor Industry

William “Mac” McKnight, Armed Security Representative

Steven Swenson, Private Investigator

Edward Sharpe, Health Care Industry

Richard Valencia, Unarmed Security Representative

Les Youngbar, Public Member

 ?>

Administrative Announcement

This is a public meeting, subject to the public meeting law and it will be recorded. Deliberation of issues will only be conducted by Private Security/Private Investigations Policy Committee members unless permitted by the Chair. Individuals who engage in disruptive behavior that impedes official business will be asked to stop being disruptive or leave the meeting. Additional measures may be taken to have disruptive individuals removed if their continued presence poses a safety risk to the other persons in the room or makes it impossible to continue the meeting.

1.  Introductions

2.  Minutes – August 20, 2019

Approve the minutes of the August 20, 2019 Private Security/Private Investigations Policy Committee   

meeting.

3.  Review of Public Comment for the Proposed Rule Changes to OAR Chapter 259 Division 60 Adding the Event & Entertainment Private Security Professional Certification to the Private Security Provider Administrative Rules

Presented by Jennifer Howald

4.  Department Update

5.  Subcommittee Reports

6.  Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting – February 18, 2020 at 1:30 p.m.

## Background Information on the DPSST ##

The Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) operates the Oregon Public Safety Academy which spans more than 235 acres in Salem. The Academy is nationally recognized for its innovative training programs and active stakeholder involvement. Eriks Gabliks serves as the Director, and Patricia Patrick-Joling, Private Citizen member, serves as the Chair of the Board. The department implements minimum standards established by the Board for the training and certification of more than 40,000 city, tribal, county and state law enforcement officers, corrections officers, parole and probation officers, fire service personnel, telecommunicators, emergency medical dispatchers and private security providers.

DPSST provides training to more than 25,000 students each year throughout Oregon and at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem: certifies qualified officers at various levels from basic through executive; certifies qualified instructors; and reviews and accredits training programs throughout the state based on standards established by the Board.

 

For Immediate Release                                        

November 12, 2019

Contact:  Linsay Hale   
               (503) 378-2427

Notice of Regular Meeting

The Criminal Justice Background Investigation Workgroup will hold a meeting on November 19, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. in the Victor G. Atiyeh Boardroom at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Linsay Hale at (503) 378-2427.

Teleconference Information:

Call-In: 888-273-3658

Access Code: 4711910

Agenda Items:

1. Issues/Discussion Points (Continued)

  Presented by Linsay Hale

• Establishing/Defining Moral Fitness for Applicants
• Process for Reviewing Professional Standards Cases involving Applicants
• Fingerprint-Based Criminal History Checks: Employment vs. Certification
• Disclosing Records from Previous Employment – CA/CO Laws

2. Next Workgroup Meeting: TBD

Administrative Announcement

This is a public meeting, subject to the public meeting law and it will be recorded. Deliberation of issues will only be conducted by the Criminal Justice Background Investigation Workgroup members unless permitted by the Chair. Individuals who engage in disruptive behavior that impedes official business will be asked to stop being disruptive or leave the meeting. Additional measures may be taken to have -disruptive individuals removed if their continued presence poses a safety risk to the other persons in the room or makes it impossible to continue the meeting.

Salem, Oregon – Harlen Springer, the chair of the Florence Public Arts Committee and a founding member and past president of the Florence Regional Arts Alliance, has been appointed to the Oregon Arts Commission by Gov. Kate Brown.

Springer is a retired corporate executive with extensive experience leading artistic and consumer products companies including Portal Publications, Numi Organic Tea and Boing Designs. Prior to that, Springer held senior management positions at Fortune 500 companies such as Procter and Gamble, Clorox and Unilever.

As a founding member and the current Chair of the City of Florence Public Arts Committee, Springer has worked with city government, local utilities, civic groups and private individuals to complete 10 projects over the past four years, including sculptures, murals and youth projects. The group received the “Innovation in Business” award for 2018 from the Chamber of Commerce in recognition of their contributions to the city.

Springer also helped to found the Florence Regional Arts Alliance, which now has more than 175 members and sponsors, and operates a gallery where they conduct classes and workshops in all visual mediums, in addition to literary events.

“Since his retirement, Harlen has devoted his time and significant business acumen to the development of the Florence arts community,” said Commission Chair Anne Taylor. “We are incredibly grateful to him and fortunate to enlist his energy in our statewide effort to enrich the lives of Oregonians through the arts.”

“I am honored and humbled by this appointment,” said Springer. “My work in Florence has given me the opportunity to interact with several current Arts Commissioners and it is clear the Commission attracts strong people with a passion for the arts combined with a practical approach to strengthening communities by utilizing the arts to stimulate economic vitality. I share this same passion and desire to have the arts touch the lives of all Oregonians.”

Springer holds a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Oregon and an MBA from Seattle University. He began his four-year term on Nov. 7.

                   

The Oregon Arts Commission provides leadership, funding and arts programs through its grants, special initiatives and services. Nine commissioners, appointed by the Governor, determine arts needs and establish policies for public support of the arts. The Arts Commission became part of Business Oregon (formerly Oregon Economic and Community Development Department) in 1993, in recognition of the expanding role the arts play in the broader social, economic and educational arenas of Oregon communities. In 2003, the Oregon legislature moved the operations of the Oregon Cultural Trust to the Arts Commission, streamlining operations and making use of the Commission’s expertise in grantmaking, arts and cultural information and community cultural development. 

The Arts Commission is supported with general funds appropriated by the Oregon legislature and with federal funds from the National Endowment for the Arts as well as funds from the Oregon Cultural Trust. More information about the Oregon Arts Commission is available online at:  www.oregonartscommission.org.

 

(Salem) – Employers and workers in Oregon’s roofing industry now have a free and convenient way to boost their ability to address fall hazards, thanks to an online video training course launched by Oregon OSHA.

The course, “Fall Protection for Roofing,” is the latest in a series of online educational offerings created by the division to help address fall hazards across specific industries and different on-the-job situations.

“Whether you’re interested in strengthening an existing safety program or just getting started, our roofing course – just like our other online fall protection courses – provides a solid foundation to build on,” said Roy Kroker, consultation and public education manager for Oregon OSHA.

The course, which includes insights from industry leaders, covers a full range of topics. Those topics include hazard identification, fall protection equipment and systems, safe access, and training.

The human and economic costs of failing to account for fall protection are clear. In 2017, for example, there were 5,780 accepted disabling claims in Oregon due to slips, trips, and falls. The average cost of those claims was $23,570.

The roofing course includes the opportunity to receive a certificate of completion. It is the third of five planned online courses about fall protection. The other two that are available are “Fundamentals of Fall Protection” and “Ladder Safety.”

“Fall Protection for Roofing” is available online

Explore the “Fall Protection Suite,” which encompasses the roofing course, and the fundamentals and ladder courses.

Oregon OSHA encourages the use of online training. 

Oregon OSHA’s technical staff members can answer questions to help employers understand how to apply rules to their workplace:

Phone: 503-378-3272

Toll-free in Oregon: 800-922-2689

Email: tech.web@oregon.gov

Online contact form 

Employers may also contact Oregon OSHA’s no-cost consultation services for help with safety and health programs:

Phone: 503-378-3272

Toll-free in Oregon: 800-922-2689

Field office locations and phone numbers 

Email: consult.web@oregon.gov

###

Oregon OSHA, a division of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, enforces the state’s workplace safety and health rules and works to improve workplace safety and health for all Oregon workers. For more information, visit www.osha.oregon.gov.

 

 

(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services will be hosting its first hearing on prescription drug prices on Tuesday, Nov. 19, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oregonians are encouraged to participate in this inaugural event in two ways.

Make your voice heard. The department set up a brief survey for consumers to ask questions and share their stories regarding rising prescription drug prices. Drug prices play a major role in the health care decisions of Oregonians and the cost of prescription drugs have steadily increased in the past 10 years. The department wants to know what questions you have about the increase in prescription drugs and how has it affected you and your family.

For example: Have you had to skip medication in the past 12 months due to the high cost, or have you experienced a heavy hit to your savings in order to pay for prescription drugs?

Submit your questions as soon as possible and they will be included in the public hearing.

Tune in to the hearing. The department is providing multiple ways to tune in to the hearing on Tuesday:  

1. You can attend the event at the Capitol in Salem
2. Watch a live stream at community locations in Astoria, Medford, and Pendleton
3. Watch online, Oregon State Legislature live feed

Ask your questions today and visit dfr.oregon.gov for hearing location information and access to the live stream. 

###

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, Martin Lucien Sanders, died the morning of November 14, 2019. Sanders was incarcerated at Oregon State Penitentiary and passed away in the infirmary while on hospice. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified.

Sanders entered DOC custody on January 17, 2013, from Washington County, with an earliest release date of March 14, 2021. Sanders was 61 years old. Next of kin has been notified.                                                                       

DOC takes all in-custody deaths seriously. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of 14,700 individuals who are incarcerated in 14 institutions across the state. While crime information is public record, DOC elects to disclose only upon request out of respect for any family or victims.

OSP is Oregon's only maximum-security prison, located in Salem, and houses over 2,000 individuals. OSP is surrounded by a 25-foot-high wall with 10 towers. The facility has multiple special housing units including death row, disciplinary segregation, behavioral health, intermediate care housing, and an infirmary (with hospice) with 24-hour nursing care. OSP participates in prison industries with Oregon Corrections Enterprises including the furniture factory, laundry, metal shop, and contact center. It provides a range of correctional programs and services including education, work-based education, inmate work crews, and pre-release services. OSP was established in 1866 and, until 1959, was Oregon's only prison.

####

SALEM, Ore. – The Committee for Family Forestlands will meet Thursday, Nov. 21 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Salem. The meeting will be in the Santiam Room of Building D on the campus of the Oregon Department of Forestry, 2600 State Street.  The committee’s agenda includes:  

• Private Forest Division update
• Update on availability of tree seed and seedlings
• Update on Governor’s Council on Wildfire Response
• Review of draft changes to the committee’s charter and discussion of vacancies
• Monitoring program updates
• Outreach for House Bill 2469

The meeting is open to the public. Public comments will be accepted near the start of the meeting after approval of the minutes. The meeting space is accessible to persons with disabilities. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting by calling Susan Dominique at 503-945-7502.

The 13-member committee researches policies that affect family forests, natural resources and forestry benefits. Based on its findings, the committee recommends actions to the Oregon Board of Forestry and the State Forester. You can find more information at  https://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Board/Pages/CFF.aspx

                                                               # # #

SALEM, Ore. – The Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee will meet Monday, Nov. 18, from 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Tillamook Room, Building C on the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Salem headquarters campus, 2600 State Street.

The committee will discuss the following topics:

• Forest Legacy Program updates
• Updates from the Private Forests Division
• State Forest Action Plan updates
• Stewardship Program updates
• Coordinating with the Committee for Family Forestlands

This is a public meeting, everyone is welcome. The meeting space is accessible to persons with disabilities. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting. For more information about attending the meeting please contact Susan Dominique at 503-945-7502.

The Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee advises the State Forester on policy and procedures for the U.S. Forest Service State and Private Forestry programs, such as Forest Legacy and Forest Stewardship. The committee consists of representatives from state and federal natural resource agencies, private forest landowners, consulting foresters, and forest industry and conservation organizations. You can find more information at: www.oregon.gov/ODF/Board/Pages/SCC.aspx.

                                                                                               # # #

Unemployment tax rates for employers subject to Oregon payroll tax will move to tax schedule two for the 2020 calendar year. Tax schedule two includes an average rate of 1.73 percent for the first $42,100 paid to each employee. The specific rate each employer will pay under the new schedule depends on how much they have used the unemployment insurance system. 

Oregon adjusts employer tax rates annually using eight tax schedules based on the solvency of the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. Movement between the eight schedules of tax rates represents part of the self-balancing aspects of Oregon’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund law. Each September, a formula contained in statute, determines how much should be collected during the next year to maintain a solvent fund. Each schedule has a range of tax rates based on an employer’s previous unemployment insurance experience. Employers with more unemployment insurance claims have a higher tax rate than those with fewer claims. 

As a result of this approach, Oregon has one of the strongest trust funds in the nation. The trust fund provides support for temporarily unemployed workers, their families, and communities while minimizing the impact on employers. This approach allows support without having to reduce benefits to workers, increase employer taxes, or borrow from the federal government, as most other states had to do for the Great Recession. 

Because of Oregon’s innovative Unemployment Trust Fund model, we are well positioned to pay benefits in the next recession. Unlike other states, where employers had to pay additional taxes or surcharges when states borrowed to pay benefits, Oregon’s trust fund is earning interest. This reduces the amount that needs to be collected from Oregon employers to maintain the trust fund. 

Oregon’s unemployment rate has fluctuated slightly, generally remaining at or near a record low for three years. The low number of unemployed workers reflects a very tight job market. This creates some challenges for employers growing their workforce, and means far fewer Oregonians who unable to find a job. The jobs employers provide contribute to a vibrant Oregon economy and support the quality of life for Oregonians.

The Oregon Employment Department mailed notifications to businesses regarding their individual tax rates and encourages employers to wait until they receive their individual notice before attempting to contact the department with questions. Any employer who has not received their notice within the next couple of weeks should contact the Oregon Employment Department Unemployment Insurance Tax Section. Contact information may be found online at www.oregon.gov/employ.

###

Oregon Employment Department is an equal opportunity employer/program.

Oregon Employment Department es un programa/empleador que respeta la igualdad de oportunidades.

(Salem, OR) — On November 14, 2019, Director Kay Erickson of the Oregon Employment Department announced the members of a committee charged with advising the department on implementing the new paid family and medical leave insurance program in Oregon.

“All Oregonians should have access to paid family and medical leave insurance. We all need time to give or receive care at some point in our lives. The new program is designed to help Oregonians take paid time off when it’s most important, and to help Oregon businesses support their workers while thriving and growing through increased workforce participation and employee retention,” said Director Erickson.

Oregon is the ninth state (including Washington D.C.) to pass legislation and work to implement a paid family and medical leave insurance program. “Oregon is at the forefront of implementing this critical program, serving as a model for the nation. This new program will help support workers as they bond with their children during the first year after that child’s birth or adoption, care for a family member who has a serious health condition, deal with their own serious health condition, or issues related to the need for ‘safe leave’ such as domestic violence, stalking, harassment, or sexual assault,” added Director Erickson.

The advisory committee includes: a chair from the Oregon Employment Department, four members representing employee interests, and four members representing employer interests, at least one of whom represents employers that have fewer than 25 employees. This citizen and stakeholder led advisory committee was established by House Bill 2005, passed during the 2019 legislative session.

“More than 50 people submitted interest in participating on the advisory committee. It is encouraging to see such strong interest in, and commitment to, this new program and it was a difficult process to choose members from a qualified group of candidates. We sought people who could bring forward their perspectives, represent those in other groups of workers and businesses, and who can collaborate on difficult issues to help make paid family and medical leave insurance work for all Oregonians,” said David Gerstenfeld, Interim Director of the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance program.

The department also anticipates that the advisory committee will sponsor workgroups that will involve more people beyond committee members. “It simply is not possible to fully represent all of the situations Oregon workers and businesses face with only nine committee members. We hope the many qualified people who expressed interest in serving on the advisory committee, along with other citizens and stakeholders, will help by providing their suggestions and insights as the department continues to implement this exciting new program,” said Gerstenfeld.

Paid Family and Medical Leave Advisory Committee:

• David Gerstenfeld, Oregon Employment Department, Chair
• Amanda Dalton, Dalton Advocacy
• Jenny Dresler, Public Affairs Counsel
• Linda Herrera, Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN)
• Eric Hunter, CareOregon
• Andrea Paluso, Family Forward Oregon
• Eva Rippeteau, Oregon American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
• Paloma Sparks, Oregon Business & Industry
• Jessica Giannettino Villatoro, Oregon American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)

For more information on the new paid family and medical leave insurance program in Oregon, to sign up for updates, and follow the advisory committee, visit the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance page on the Oregon Employment Department’s website. 

 

###

The Oregon Employment Department is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services, and alternate formats are available to individuals with disabilities, and language services to individuals with limited English proficiency, free of cost upon request. TTY/TDD - dial 7-1-1 toll free relay service. Access free online relay service at: http://www.sprintrelayonline.com/

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. This service is provided to you at no charge by the Oregon Employment Department.

Oregon’s Unemployment Rate Has Stayed Near 4 Percent for Three Years  

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in September and October. The rate has been between 4.0 percent and 4.4 percent for an unprecedented 36 consecutive months dating back to November 2016. The U.S. unemployment rate ticked up from 3.5 percent in September to 3.6 percent in October.

Other measures of Oregon’s labor force also indicated a tight labor market in recent months. Fewer individuals are remaining unemployed for extended periods: The number of individuals unemployed for 52 weeks or more dropped to 6,000 in October, which was the lowest level in a dozen years and well below the peak of 70,000 in 2010. The number of unemployed who lost their job has remained close to 32,000 for the past three years, which was less than one-quarter of those unemployed due to a job loss in 2009. Meanwhile, the number of people who were unemployed due to leaving their job voluntarily has recently risen above 16,000, up from an average of 12,000 during the prior six calendar years. The increase in the number of people leaving their jobs voluntarily could indicate increasing confidence among workers of being able to easily find another job if they quit their current job.

Oregon’s nonfarm payroll employment rose by 4,400 jobs in October, following an upwardly revised gain of 3,300 jobs in September. Gains in October were concentrated in leisure and hospitality (+2,400 jobs), government (+2,300), and wholesale trade (+1,000). These monthly gains were partially offset by job losses of 700 each in construction and health care and social assistance, and a loss of 900 jobs in retail trade.

In addition to the strong monthly gains in September and October, quarterly revisions boosted the level of reported employment by 6,400 jobs for June and subsequent months.

Oregon’s payroll employment grew by 27,800 jobs, or 1.4 percent, over the past 12 months. This growth rate was slightly slower than the 1.7 percent average annual growth rate Oregon’s economy experienced over the past 19 months. During the five years prior to that, employment grew much faster—at an average of 2.8 percent per year. Oregon has added jobs at the same pace as the U.S. over the past year.

 

Next Press Releases

The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the October county and metropolitan area unemployment rates on Tuesday, November 19th, and the next statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for November on Tuesday, December 17th.

 

Notes: 

All numbers in the above narrative are seasonally adjusted.

The Oregon Employment Department and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) work cooperatively to develop and publish monthly Oregon payroll employment and labor force data. The estimates of monthly job gains and losses are based on a survey of businesses. The estimates of unemployment are based on a survey of households and other sources. 

The Oregon Employment Department publishes payroll employment estimates that are revised quarterly by using employment counts from employer unemployment insurance tax records. All department publications use this Official Oregon Series data unless noted otherwise. This month’s release incorporates the April, May, and June 2019 tax records data. The department continues to make the original nonfarm payroll employment series available; these data are produced by the BLS.

The PDF version of the news release, including tables and graphs, can be found at www.QualityInfo.org/press-release. To obtain the data in other formats such as in Excel, visit www.QualityInfo.org, then within the top banner, select Economic Data, then choose LAUS or CES. To request the press release as a Word document, contact the person shown at the top of this press release.

For help finding jobs and training resources, visit one of the state's WorkSource Oregon centers or go to: www.WorkSourceOregon.org.

Equal Opportunity program — auxiliary aids and services available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Contact: (503) 947-1794. For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, call 711 Telecommunications Relay Services.

November 14, 2019

Media contact: Jonathan Modie, 971-246-9139, phd.communications@dhsoha.state.or.us

New Seasons expands ground beef recall prompted by E. coli illnesses

PORTLAND, Ore. -- New Seasons Market has expanded its recall of fresh ground beef sold at Portland-area stores after new tests show some of the meat contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 was available for sale as recently as Nov. 8.

New Seasons is recommending customers who bought the ground beef between Oct. 19 and Nov. 8 return the recalled product for a full refund; receipts are not required for the return. Consumers with questions may contact the company at talktous@newseasonsmarket.com.

An additional illness, closely associated with one of the three confirmed illnesses, has been identified. That brings the total number of people who reported illness after eating ground beef purchased at different New Seasons outlets to four. All have recovered.

The implicated products include New Seasons Market’s fresh in-house ground beef and ground beef products sold at all New Seasons Markets Oregon, Washington and California locations, in bulk from the meat cases and packaged from grab and go cases. The ground beef and ground beef products are marked with three days' shelf life from purchase. The recalled products were sold with “Packed On” dates of Oct. 19, 2019, to Nov. 8, 2019, and “Sell By” dates starting Oct. 23, 2019, up to and including Nov. 11, 2019.

OHA identified the outbreak after tests conducted at the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory determined that an identical strain of E. coli O157:H7 was present in all three patients. On Nov. 13 OHA received preliminary laboratory results of tests on product samples that were positive for E. coli O157:H7.

New Seasons Market has suspended sale of the product while the Oregon Department of Agriculture and OHA continue their investigation into the cause of the outbreak.

To be sure all bacteria in ground beef are destroyed, cook it to a safe minimum internal temperature of at least 160 F (71.1 C). Use a food thermometer to check that they have reached a safe internal temperature.

E. coli O157:H7 causes a diarrheal illness often with bloody stools. Although most healthy adults can recover completely within a week, some people can develop a form of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The condition is most likely to occur in young children and the elderly, and it can lead to serious kidney damage and even death.

People who ate the product but did not get sick do not need to do anything. If you developed diarrhea after eating it, you should consult your health care provider and tell him or her about the exposure.

For more information on the recall, E. coli, and food safety please visit:

• New Seasons Market recall page.
• CDC E. coli page.
• Foodsafety.gov.

November 14, 2019

Media contact: Delia Hernández, 503-422-7179, phd.communications@dhsoha.state.or.us

Public Health Advisory Board meets November 21

What: A public meeting of the Public Health Advisory Board.

Agenda: Discuss public health modernization funding to federally recognized tribes and Native American Rehabilitation Association (NARA) during the 2019-21 biennium; discuss public health modernization work underway with local public health authorities; discuss the use of syndromic surveillance to determine hepatitis C prevention activities in Eastern Oregon.

When: Thursday, Nov. 21, 2-5 p.m. The meeting is open to the public. A public comment period will be held at the end of the meeting.

Where: Portland State Office Building, Room 177, 800 NE Oregon St., Portland. Also available remotely by telephone at 877-873-8017, access code 767068, and by webinar.

Oregon’s Public Health Advisory Board provides guidance for Oregon’s governmental public health system and oversees the implementation of public health modernization and Oregon’s State Health Improvement Plan.

# # #

Everyone has a right to know about and use Oregon Health Authority (OHA) programs and services. OHA provides free help. Some examples of the free help OHA can provide are:

• Sign language and spoken language interpreters
• Written materials in other languages
• Braille
• Large print
• Audio and other formats

If you need help or have questions, please contact Cara Biddlecom at 971-673-2284, 711 TTY, or a.m.biddlecom@dhsoha.state.or.us">cara.m.biddlecom@dhsoha.state.or.us, at least 48 hours before the meeting.

November 14, 2019

Media contact: Jonathan Modie, 971-246-9139, phd.communications@dhsoha.state.or.us

Nurse Staffing Advisory Board meets in Portland November 20

What: The quarterly public meeting of the Nurse Staffing Advisory Board.

Agenda: Review of minutes from August 28 meeting; membership updates; status updates on surveys and complaints; committee updates; open action items; nurse staffing surveyor discussion; emerging issues in nurse staffing; public comment. The agenda is available on the OHA nurse staffing website.

When: Nov. 20, 1-5 p.m. A public comment period will be at the end of the meeting.

Where: Portland State Office Building, Room 177, 800 NE Oregon St., Portland; by conference call at 877-336-1829, access code 2075141.

Background: The board advises the Oregon Health Authority on the administration of Oregon’s nurse staffing laws; identifies trends, opportunities and concerns related to nurse staffing; makes recommendations to the Oregon Health Authority on the basis of those trends, opportunities and concerns; and reviews the enforcement powers and processes under Oregon’s nurse staffing laws.

For more information, see the agency nurse staffing website at http://www.healthoregon.org/nursestaffing.

Program contact: Matt Gilman, 971-673-2317, matt.s.gilman@dhsoha.state.or.us

# # #

Everyone has a right to know about and use Oregon Health Authority (OHA) programs and services. OHA provides free help. Some examples of the free help OHA can provide are:

• Sign language and spoken language interpreters
• Written materials in other languages
• Braille
• Large print
• Audio and other formats

If you need help or have questions, please contact Matt Gilman, at 971-673-2317, 711 TTY or matt.s.gilman@dhsoha.state.or.us at least 48 hours before the meeting.

Spanish / Español

November 12, 2019

Media contact: Delia Hernández, 503-422-7179, phd.communications@dhsoha.state.or.us

2020-2024 State Health Improvement Plan subcommittee meetings

What: Subcommittees of the 2020-2024 State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) are tasked with identifying strategies and measures, and developing work plans for implementing the SHIP. Each of the five subcommittees is focused on one of the following priority areas:

• Access to equitable preventive health care.
• Adversity, trauma and toxic stress.
• Behavioral health.
• Economic drivers of health.
• Institutional bias.

Agenda: Continue identifying key indicators and exploring possible strategies.

Where: All meetings are held at the Portland State Office Building, 800 NE Oregon St., Portland. Meetings are also available remotely. For remote meeting attendance, visit the subcommittee meeting page:

• Institutional bias.
• Adversity, trauma and toxic stress.
• Economic drivers of health (including issues related to housing, living wage, food security and transportation).
• Access to equitable preventive health care.
• Behavioral health (including mental health and substance use).

When:

• Institutional Bias Subcommittee: Wednesday, Nov. 20, 10 a.m. to noon, Room 915.
• Behavioral Health Subcommittee: Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2-4 p.m., Room 900.
• Economic Drivers of Health Subcommittee: Friday, Nov. 22, 1-3 p.m., Room 900.
• Access to Equitable Preventive Health Care Subcommittee: Monday, Nov. 25, 1-3 p.m., Room 900.
• Adversity, Trauma and Toxic Stress Subcommittee: Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2-4 p.m., Room 900.

All meetings are open to the public. A five-minute public comment period will be held near the end of each meeting; comments are limited to one minute.

Background: Oregon’s SHIP identifies interventions and strategies to address health-related priorities in the state. The SHIP serves as a basis for taking collective action with cross-sector partners to improve the heath of people in Oregon. The SHIP is based on findings of the State Health Assessment.

Program contact: Christy Hudson, 971-678-4347, isty.j.hudson@dhsoha.state.or.us">Christy.j.hudson@dhsoha.state.or.us

# # #

Everyone has a right to know about and use Oregon Health Authority (OHA) programs and services. OHA provides free help. Some examples of the free help OHA can provide are:

• Sign language and spoken language interpreters
• Written materials in other languages
• Braille
• Large print
• Audio and other formats

If you need help or have questions, please contact Catherine Moyer at 971-673-1132, ine.moyer@dhsoha.state.or.us">Catherine.moyer@dhsoha.state.or.us, at least 48 hours before the meeting.

Nov. 13, 2019

Media contact: Rebeka Gipson-King, 503-945-7141, ebeka.gipson-king@dhsoha.state.or.us">rebeka.gipson-king@dhsoha.state.or.us

Program contact: Jacee Vangestel, 503-945-2852, jacee.m.vangestel@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon State Hospital Advisory Board meets November 21 in Salem

What: A public meeting of the Oregon State Hospital Advisory Board.

When: Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019, 1-5 p.m.

Where: Oregon State Hospital, Callan Conference Room, 2600 Center Street NE, Salem. The public can also attend via toll-free conference line at 888-278-0296, access code 4294893.

Agenda: After the public comment period, topics will include maintaining mental health stability for staff, maintaining confidentiality in an open landscape environment, employment requirements for nursing staff and a report by the Peer Advisory Council.

Details: The Oregon State Hospital Advisory Board advises the superintendent, Oregon Health Authority director and legislators on issues related to the safety, security and care of patients. Members include consumers, providers, advocates, legislators, community members, consumer families and OSH union members.

For more information, see the board’s website at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/osh/Pages/advisory-board.aspx.

# # #

Everyone has a right to know about and use Oregon Health Authority (OHA) programs and services. OHA provides free help. Some examples of the free help OHA can provide are:

• Sign language and spoken language interpreters
• Written materials in other languages
• Braille
• Large print
• Audio and other formats

If you need help or have questions, please contact Jacee Vangestel at 503-945-2852, 711 TTY or jacee.m.vangestel@dhsoha.state.or.us at least 48 hours before the meeting.

November 12, 2019

Media contact: Allyson Hagen, 503-449-6457, allyson.hagen@dhsoha.state.or.us

Health Plan Quality Metrics Committee meets November 14

What: The regular public meeting of the Oregon Health Authority’s Health Plan Quality Metrics Committee (HPQMC).

When: November 14, 1-3:30 p.m.

Where: Clackamas Community College Wilsonville Training Center, Room 210, 29353 SW Town Center, Loop E., Wilsonville. The public also may join remotely through a webinar and listen-only conference line at 877-336-1828, access code 9657836.

Agenda: Welcome and roll call/introductions; review agenda and approve minutes; discussion: extend meeting time to three hours beginning in December; public comment 1:20-1:30 p.m.; update from obesity evidence-based measure development workgroup; update on health equity measure development work; Oregon’s health system transformation; adjourn.

For more information, please visit the committee's website.

# # #

Everyone has a right to know about and use Oregon Health Authority (OHA) programs and services. OHA provides free help. Some examples of the free help OHA can provide are:

 

• Sign language and spoken language interpreters
• Written materials in other languages
• Braille
• Large print
• Audio and other formats

If you need help or have questions, please contact Pete Edlund at 503-931-8873, 711 TTY, .m.edlund@dhsoha.state.or.u">peter.m.edlund@dhsoha.state.or.u, at least 48 hours before the meeting.

November 12, 2019

Media contact: Allyson Hagen, 503-449-6457, allyson.hagen@dhsoha.state.or.us

CCO Metrics and Scoring Committee meets November 15

What: The regular public meeting of the Oregon Health Authority’s CCO Metrics and Scoring Committee.

When: November 15, 9 a.m. to noon.

Where: Five Oak Building, Suite 775, Transformation Training Room, 421 SW Oak St., Portland. The public also may join remotely through a webinar and listen-only conference line at 888-204-5984, access code 1277166.

Agenda: Welcome, consent agenda, and general updates; committee feedback on HPQMC new and innovative measures criteria; public testimony (10-10:10 a.m.); performance improvement projects (PIPs); 2020 continuous enrollment specifications; kindergarten readiness strategy update; equity measure update; adjourn.

For more information, please visit the committee's website.

# # #

Everyone has a right to know about and use Oregon Health Authority (OHA) programs and services. OHA provides free help. Some examples of the free help OHA can provide are:

• Sign language and spoken language interpreters
• Written materials in other languages
• Braille
• Large print
• Audio and other formats

If you need help or have questions, please contact Pete Edlund at 503-931-8873, 711 TTY, .m.edlund@dhsoha.state.or.us">peter.m.edlund@dhsoha.state.or.u, at least 48 hours before the meeting.

November 11, 2020

Contact: Robb Cowie, 503-421-7684; obb.cowie@dhsoha.state.or.us"> robb.cowie@dhsoha.state.or.us

OHA reassigns Oregon Health Plan members in 5 counties to new coordinated care organizations for 2020 to preserve access to care

Oregon Health Plan (OHP) members in 5 counties will be reassigned to different coordinated care organizations (CCOs), when new contracts for Medicaid health plans begin on January 1, 2020. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is moving members because the CCOs to which some OHP members were originally assigned (or members had chosen during the current member choice period) do not have health care provider contracts in place to serve them.

The changes include:

• Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties: Trillium Community Health Plan will be ineligible to enroll members until at least April 1, 2020. All members currently slated to be enrolled in Trillium beginning January 1, 2020 (approximately 40,000 members) will be reassigned to Health Share of Oregon, the other CCO that is contracted to operate in the tri-counties at the start of 2020. The Oregon Health Authority is taking this action because Trillium Community Health Plan does not have a hospital in its provider network.
  • On November 8, 2019, the Oregon Health Authority notified Trillium Community Health Plan that the CCO will have until June 30, 2020 to contract with a hospital and meet other network requirements. If not, the CCO would lose its ability to serve the tri-county region over the next 5 years.

• Jackson County: More than 10,000 members of AllCare CCO will be reassigned to Jackson Care Connect CCO, starting January 1, 2020. Members will be shifted between CCOs to preserve their current provider relationships: the provider network that currently serves the AllCare members affected by this change will no longer have a primary care contract with AllCare at the start of the new year, but will continue to contract with Jackson Care Connect. AllCare will retain OHP members who are served by other providers in Jackson County.

• Lane County: Members of Trillium Community Health Plan who are served by a primary care provider network, which will no longer have a contract with the CCO in 2020, will be moved to Pacific Source of Lane County. The move is effective January 1, 2020. This change will ensure members continue to have access to their current providers. Trillium will continue to serve other OHP members in Lane County who are not affected by this change in Trillium’s Lane county network.

OHA will notify all affected members of changes in their enrollment in coming weeks, before new CCO contracts take effect on January 1, 2020.

OHA Director Patrick Allen said, “Our top priority during the transition to new CCO contracts has been to make sure OHP members continue to have access to high-quality, well-coordinated health care. OHP members depend on their CCOs to offer the doctors, counselors and other providers they need to ensure health and well-being for themselves, their families and their communities. We are doing everything we can to make sure nothing disrupts those vital provider relationships.”

On July 9, 2019, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced its intent to award 15 organizations contracts to serve as coordinated care organizations (CCOs) for the Oregon Health Plan’s nearly 1 million members. CCOs have been undergoing “readiness review,” which includes examination of their updated provider networks, since the summer. CCOs signed new contracts, totaling more than $6 billion for the 2020 contract year, prior to October 1, 2020. Contracts remain contingent on successful completion of the readiness review process.

About coordinated care organizations: Oregon first established CCOs in 2012 to transform health care delivery in the state. CCOs bring together physical, behavioral, and oral health providers to coordinate care for people on the Oregon Health Plan. They improve health and reduce costs by providing more coordinated, flexible and innovative services. CCOs are rewarded for achieving specific health outcomes and quality measures.

PORTLAND, Ore.—New Seasons Market is recalling fresh ground beef sold at meat counters in three of its stores because it may be contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7.

Three people in the Portland metro area have become ill with E. coli O157:H7 infection after having eaten ground beef purchased at different New Seasons outlets. All are recovering from the illness.

E. coli O157:H7 causes a diarrheal illness often with bloody stools. Although most healthy adults can recover completely within a week, some people can develop a form of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The condition is most likely to occur in young children and the elderly, and it can lead to serious kidney damage and even death.

The recalled fresh ground beef was sold at the company’s North Lombard, North Interstate and Cedar Hills locations. The product comes in 5%, 10% and 20% fat content varieties and is ground at the stores prior to sale. The products implicated were purchased between Oct. 19 and Oct. 23. OHA recommends customers who purchased the ground beef between these dates throw it away immediately.

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) identified the outbreak after laboratory tests conducted at the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory determined that an identical strain of E. coli O157:H7 was present in all three patients.

New Seasons Market has reported to OHA that it suspended the sale of the product while Oregon Department of Agriculture continues its investigation into the cause of the outbreak.

People who ate the product but did not get sick do not need to do anything. If you developed diarrhea after eating it, you should consult your health care provider and tell him or her about the exposure.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at talktous@newseasonsmarket.com.

• New Seasons Market recall page: https://www.newseasonsmarket.com/product-recalls/new-seasons-market-fresh-bulk-ground-beef-and-ground-beef-products/
• CDC E. coli page: https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/
• Foodsafety.gov: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/meat-preparation/ground-beef-and-food-safety

State Announces Winter Shelter Awards and Homelessness Data

OHCS distributed over $1.7 million statewide to strengthen winter shelter capacity

 

SALEM, OR – Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) provided over $1.7 million to organizations across the state that provide shelter to those without homes. To help ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of Oregonians experiencing homelessness, these investments will strengthen winter shelters by securing facilities to operate shelter, increasing the number of shelter beds, expanding operating hours, providing extended outreach, funding shelter staff, and purchasing bedding, mats, and blankets.

 

“Temperatures have dropped below freezing across the state, and I am heartbroken for those without a roof over their heads,” said Director Margaret Salazar. “These resources will bring in Oregonians from the cold and allow local communities to address local needs.”

 

OHCS made the following awards:

• Central Oregon Continuum of Care (Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson Counties), NeighborImpact – $150,000
• Clackamas County Continuum of Care – $150,000
• Jackson County Continuum of Care – $150,000
• Lane County Continuum of Care – $150,000
• Portland/Multnomah County Continuum of Care – $150,000
• Washington County Continuum of Care – $150,000
• Rural Oregon Continuum of Care (Balance of State) – $877, 696 total
  • Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency (Marion and Polk Counties) – $150,000
  • Yamhill Community Action Partnership – $145,000
  • Community Connection of Northeast Oregon (Baker, Grant, Union, and Wallowa Counties) – $55,790
  • Oregon Coast Community Action (Coos and Curry Counties) – $100,000
  • United Community Action Network (Douglas and Josephine Counties) – $75,000
  • Hood River Shelter - $11,000
  • Community Services Consortium (Linn, Benn, and Lincoln Counties) – $141,454
  • Community Action Team (Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook Counties) – $86,500
  • KLCAS (Klamath and Lake Counties) – $27,952

• Helping Hands (Tillamook, Clatsop, Yamhill, and Lincoln Counties) – $85,000

 

These funds are from a one-time allocation of $5 million made to OHCS during the 2019 Legislative Session to address statewide winter shelter capacity. OHCS will release the remainder of these funds through a competitive process in 2020, using the recently released Statewide Shelter Study to prioritize investments. The Shelter Study found that Oregon needs an additional 5,814 shelter beds to provide relief to Oregonians experiencing homelessness identified in the Point-in-Time Count.

 

The Point-in-Time Count attempts to capture both sheltered and unsheltered persons experiencing homelessness to provide a snapshot of homelessness in the United States. The 2019 Point-In-Time Count data demonstrates the continued need for shelter across the state. While the Point-in-Time Count provides critical information about those who cannot find a permanent place to call home on a given night in January, it does not tell the full story of homelessness in each community. Counting those impacted by homelessness is difficult due to a variety of factors and the intention of the Count is to give a general sense of homeless trends in Oregon and across the country.

The Oregon State Marine Board mailed approximately 37,000 boat registration renewal notices to boaters whose motorboat registration expires on December 31, 2019.  Each renewal notice is unique to the owner and their boat. Additionally, registration renewals will also be sent electronically to 38,000 boat owners with emails on file in an effort to encourage online renewal.      

Renewing online using the Marine Board’s online store is fast and easy.  After completing the transaction, boat owners can print a temporary permit and go boating right away.  There is no transaction fee when using a credit or debit card online.  Another option is to mail the payment and coupon to the Marine Board. Registration decals are mailed within 7-10 business days from the date of receipt but may take an additional 2-4 weeks to arrive by US Mail.

Any watercraft with a motor or sailboats 12 feet or longer are required to title and register with the Marine Board. Registration fees vary based on boat length. The average boat length in Oregon is 16 feet, so the cost of a two-year registration is $100.20. 

Boat owners who renew their boat registration online receive their registration decals through the mail, faster. This method is also more cost-efficient, allowing the agency to leverage registration dollars toward boating facility improvement projects and on-water marine law enforcement services. Fees also support the aquatic invasive species prevention and abandoned derelict vessel programs

Access the online store directly at https://www.boatoregon.com/store. View the registration fee table at https://www.oregon.gov/osmb/Pages/Boat-Fees.aspx.

###

The Marine Board is directly funded by boaters in the form of registration, title, and permit fees, as well as through marine fuel taxes. No lottery, general fund tax dollars or local facility parking fees support the agency or its programs. Boater-paid fees support the boating public through boating safety services (on-the-water law enforcement, training, and equipment), boating safety education, grants for the construction and maintenance of boating access facilities, and environmental protection programs. For more information about the Marine Board and its programs, visit www.boatoregon.com.

Oregon Heritage Commission has awarded $379,785 in grants to 32 organizations throughout the state. The grants will help fund a variety of projects including collection preservation and access, research, education, exhibits, and film projects. Award amounts ranged $2,020 - $20,000.

Funded projects:

• Abernethy Elementary School PTA, in Portland, for conservation of a WPA mural.
• Architectural Heritage Center, in Portland, for an exhibit about the evolution of South Portland in the 20th century.
• Astoria Scandinavian Heritage Association, in Astoria, for construction of a Nordic Heritage Park.
• Bend Parks and Recreation District for collections care and interpretation of the Hollinshead-Matson Historic House.
• Clackamas County Historical Society, in Oregon City, for proper storage of the textile collection at the Museum of the Oregon Territory.
• Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, in The Dalles, for digitization of The Dalles Chronicle photographs, dating from 1940s to 1970s.
• Four Rivers Cultural Center, in Ontario, to provide folk arts programming.
• Frazier Farmstead Museum, in Milton-Freewater, to publish history booklets.
• Harney County Library Foundation, in Burns, to digitize local oral history interviews.
• High Desert Museum, near Bend, to develop an interpretive pan for the renovation of the museum’s permanent exhibition on the Indigenous Plateau.
• Independence Heritage Museum, in Independence, to catalog and digitize the archival collection.
• Josephy Center for Arts and Culture, in Joseph, to catalog and digitize the collections.
• Lincoln County Historical Society, in Newport, to produce three videos.
• METRO historic cemeteries, in Portland, to research historic records that highlight the history of women buried in METRO historic cemeteries.
• Nehalem Valley Historical Society, in Manazanita, to complete a heritage memoir film about Mary Gerritse.
• City of Oregon City to purchase and implement cemetery management software at Mountain View Cemetery.
• Oregon Historical Society, in Portland, to provide teacher training through workshops.
• Oregon Jewish Museum, in Portland, to create and install the “To Bear Witness: Extraordinary Lives” exhibit.
• Oregon Paleo Lands institute, in Fossil, to create and install the exhibit “John Day, A River Flows Free.”
• Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation, in Portland, to install a historic turntable.
• Portland Japanese Garden to purchase whisper touring devises and design a new map and brochure.
• Portland Youth Philharmonic to preserve sound recordings.
• Restore Oregon, in Portland, to complete phase one of the Jantzen Beach Carousel preservation project.
• City of Salem to stabilize the Ben Maxwell digital image collection.
• Save the PT Boat, Inc., in Portland, to expand interpretive programming.
• Southern Oregon University, in Ashland, to develop the Rogue Valley Women’s Movement Oral History project.
• Talent Historical Society to develop local history curriculum.
• The Vanport Mosaic, in Portland, to hold a gathering of people and organizations documenting Oregon’s past.
• City of Tillamook for conservation of a mural and an art exhibit.
• Tillamook County Pioneer Museum to create and install “Her-Story, The Women’s Suffrage Movement in Oregon and What It Means Today” exhibit and companion book.
• University of Portland to digitize the student-run paper, The Beacon.
• Vanport Placemaking Project, in Portland, to develop design content for interpretation at the Vanport site.

This competitive grant program is for qualifying organizations, and is offered once per biennium for projects that conserve, develop or interpret Oregon’s heritage. It is a program of the Oregon Heritage Commission. The Commission works to secure, sustain and enhance Oregon’s heritage. The Commission consists of nine members appointed by the governor and nine agency advisors. Members are chosen from state agencies and statewide organizations, and represent diverse geographical and cultural backgrounds.

The Commission is part of Oregon Heritage, a division of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. To learn more about the Oregon Heritage Grant or the Oregon Heritage Commission, visit www.oregonheritage.org or contact Kuri Gill at i.gill@oregon.gov">Kuri.gill@oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) invites Oregonians to ditch the shopping bags and lace up their hiking boots to celebrate “Green Friday” Nov. 29. OPRD will waive day-use parking fees that day in 25 state parks across Oregon. 

“Fall weather brings a different flavor to many state parks and we’re encouraging folks to get outside and explore,” said Lisa Sumption, OPRD director. “This is our fifth year celebrating Green Friday and we’re excited to continue the post-holiday tradition.”

Parking is free year-round at almost all state parks; the waiver applies to the 25 parks that charge $5 daily for parking. The waiver applies from open to close on Nov. 29, except at Shore Acres State Park, where it expires at 3 p.m. for the Holiday Lights event that runs Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve. A list of parks that charge the $5 parking fee is available online.

Learn more about Oregon State Parks on oregonstateparks.org.

Editors: follow the link for an online gallery of fall photos from Oregon State Parks: link. Feel free to download and use any photos; credit Oregon State Parks.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The Governor’s Task Force on the Outdoors will hold their fifth meeting of the year 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at Running Y Ranch, 5500 Running Y Road, Klamath Falls. The meeting is open to the public.

On the agenda: agreeing on a process timeline, including an overview of outcomes from future meetings; refining strategic plan framework and reviewing actions; consideration of adding a fourth strategic goal; and time for public comments. View the full agenda online.

The meeting is the latest in a planned series; subsequent meetings will be held throughout Oregon. The group met for their inaugural meeting in May at Silver Falls State Park, near Silverton. 

Gov. Brown established the task force earlier this year, with the directive to explore long-term strategies for elevating outdoor recreation in the state. Task force members were appointed by the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission. The governor tapped the Office of Outdoor Recreation, established in 2017 within the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), to guide the task force.

The task force is composed of private and public sector representatives and is chaired by Commissioner Jon Blasher of the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission. Cailin O'Brien-Feeney, director of the Office of Outdoor Recreation, will manage the task force. View the full membership list online: oregon.gov/orec/Pages/Governors-Task-Force.aspx.

Building on and uniting other statewide outdoor recreation efforts, the task force will deliver its final report in April 2020 on recommendations for legislation, investment of existing public and private resources, future funding, and high-level management strategies. Top recommendations will be presented to the governor, state legislature and the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission.

Individuals who require special accommodations to attend the meeting should contact Carrie Lovellette, OPRD support specialist, Carrie.Lovellette@oregon.gov or 503-986-0733 at least three days in advance.

Silver Falls State Park will open its Silver Creek Youth Camp to Outdoor School students in 2020, part of a pilot project in partnership with Salem-based Straub Outdoors.  

Four schools in the Salem-Keizer and Dallas school districts will participate in the spring 2020 pilot program. Fifth- and sixth-grade students who attend school in Marion, Polk, Yamhill, Linn and Benton Counties will stay overnight at the camp Tuesday – Thursday during May and September for hands-on science and math education.

"Partnering with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department for Outdoor School will benefit students from diverse cultural, racial, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, many of whom have never before visited a state park,” said Rick Bastasch, Board President of Straub Outdoors. “Outdoor School is a place where learning, social-emotional growth and appreciation of Oregon's natural resources all come together. This partnership will help level the playing field so more students in our region can experience these important benefits."  

The public is able to reserve the facility Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. This is a change from recent years, when the facility was available for reservations every night in May and September. The reservation process has not changed: reservations can be made up to nine months in advance by calling 800-452-5687.

Camp facilities sit on 60 acres in the secluded southeast corner of the park. Built in 1938, the camp accommodates 250 youth and includes 34 rustic cabins, a recreation hall, a dining hall with commercial kitchen, a swimming pool and a pond. 

“This facility was designed with the sole purpose of connecting youth with the outdoors,” said Silver Falls State Park manager Guy Rodrigue. “I am excited about the idea and potential for the camp to be used fully for the purpose in which it was intended, and that Oregon State Parks can help connect diverse groups of young people to this unique environment.” 

The YMCA has used the facility for summer camp in June, July and August since 1938. In May and September, the facility was open for reservations, but often sat unused. The partnership with Straub Outdoors will bring in consistent revenue to help cover the cost of deferred maintenance and historic preservation of the buildings, which were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The camp is listed on the National Register as a Historic District.

Outdoor School is an immersive outdoor education experience for Oregon’s fifth and sixth graders in the world’s greatest classroom: nature. Students learn about themselves and their peers; the environment and natural resources; and the intersection of science, technology, engineering, the arts and math (STEAM). 

Straub Outdoors is a nonprofit educational service provider based in Salem that offers residential and non-residential outdoor school at several natural areas in western Oregon. Inquiry-based lessons at Straub Outdoor School highlight wildlife, habitats and ecosystems in the Willamette Valley and Cascade Foothills. Straub Outdoors field instructors have expertise in science, natural resources and humanities. The organization's focus is helping to close academic achievement gaps for underserved students through equitable and inclusive educational opportunities.

EDITORS: Photos of the youth camp are available here.
 

Initiative emphasizes enforcing gun prohibitions based on domestic violence convictions and mental health denials

WASHINGTON—Today, Attorney General William P. Barr announced the launch of Project Guardian, a new initiative designed to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws across the country. Specifically, Project Guardian focuses on investigating, prosecuting, and preventing gun crimes.

Reducing gun violence and enforcing federal firearms laws have always been among the Department’s highest priorities. In order to develop a new and robust effort to promote and ensure public safety, the Department reviewed and adapted some of the successes of past strategies to curb gun violence. Project Guardian draws on the Department’s earlier achievements, such as the “Triggerlock” program, and it serves as a complementary effort to the success of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In addition, the initiative emphasizes the importance of using all modern technologies available to law enforcement to promote gun crime intelligence.

“Gun crime remains a pervasive problem in too many communities across America. Today, the Department of Justice is redoubling its commitment to tackling this issue through the launch of Project Guardian,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Building on the success of past programs like Triggerlock, Project Guardian will strengthen our efforts to reduce gun violence by allowing the federal government and our state and local partners to better target offenders who use guns in crimes and those who try to buy guns illegally.”

“We are pleased to join Attorney General Barr in announcing Project Guardian—a critical initiative aimed at reducing gun violence in communities across the country. Oregonians are no strangers to the heartbreaking impact gun violence has on the lives of its many victims. Enough is enough; continued violence on our streets is simply unacceptable,” said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “We will work closely with our Justice Department colleagues to ensure a speedy rollout of Project Guardian so it can begin saving Oregon lives immediately. I believe it will.”

“ATF has a long history of strong partnerships in the law enforcement community,” said Acting Director Regina Lombardo. “Make no mistake, the women and men of ATF remain steadfast to our core mission of getting crime guns off of our streets. ATF and U.S. Attorneys nationwide will leverage these partnerships even further through enhanced community outreach initiatives and coordination with local, state, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors to cut the pipeline of crime guns from those violent individuals who seek to terrorize our communities. Project Guardian will enhance ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence, to include identifying, investigating and prosecuting those involved in the straw purchases of firearms, lying on federal firearms transaction forms, and those subject to the mental health prohibition of possessing firearms.”

Project Guardian’s implementation is based on five principles:

1. Coordinated Prosecution

Federal prosecutors and law enforcement will coordinate with state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors to consider potential federal prosecution for new cases involving a defendant who: a) was arrested in possession of a firearm; b) is believed to have used a firearm in committing a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime prosecutable in federal court; or c) is suspected of actively committing violent crime(s) in the community on behalf of a criminal organization.

2. Enforcing the Background Check System

United States Attorneys, in consultation with the Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in their district, will create new, or review existing, guidelines for intake and prosecution of federal cases involving false statements (including lie-and-try, lie-and-buy, and straw purchasers) made during the acquisition or attempted acquisition of firearms from Federal Firearms Licensees.

Particular emphasis is placed on individuals convicted of violent felonies or misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence, individuals subject to protective orders, and individuals who are fugitives where the underlying offense is a felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence; individuals suspected of involvement in criminal organizations or of providing firearms to criminal organizations; and individuals involved in repeat denials.

3. Improved Information Sharing

On a regular basis, and as often as practicable given current technical limitations, ATF will provide to state law enforcement fusion centers a report listing individuals for whom the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) has issued denials, including the basis for the denial, so that state and local law enforcement can take appropriate steps under their laws.

4. Coordinated Response to Mental Health Denials

Each United States Attorney will ensure that whenever there is federal case information regarding individuals who are prohibited from possessing a firearm under the mental health prohibition, such information continues to be entered timely and accurately into the United States Attorneys’ Offices’ case-management system for prompt submission to NICS. ATF should engage in additional outreach to state and local law enforcement on how to use this denial information to better assure public safety.

Additionally, United States Attorneys will consult with relevant district stakeholders to assess feasibility of adopting disruption of early engagement programs to address mental-health-prohibited individuals who attempt to acquire a firearm. United States Attorneys should consider, when appropriate, recommending court-ordered mental health treatment for any sentences issued to individuals prohibited based on mental health.

5. Crime Gun Intelligence Coordination

Federal, state, local, and tribal prosecutors and law enforcement will work together to ensure effective use of the ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Centers (CGICs), and all related resources, to maximize the use of modern intelligence tools and technology. These tools can greatly enhance the speed and effectiveness in identifying trigger-pullers and finding their guns, but the success depends in large part on state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners sharing ballistic evidence and firearm recovery data with the ATF.

Federal law enforcement represents only about 15% of all law enforcement resources nationwide. Therefore, partnerships with state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the communities they serve are critical to addressing gun crime. The Department recognizes that sharing information with our state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners at every level will enhance public safety, and provide a greater depth of resources available to address gun crime on a national level.

For more information on Project Guardian, see the Attorney General’s memorandum at: https://www.justice.gov/ag/project-guardian-memo-2019/download.

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PORTLAND, Ore.—Jared Elias Case, 26, of Umatilla, Oregon, was sentenced today to 37 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release after repeatedly assaulting his significant other.

According to court documents, on July 19, 2018, Case punched his then-significant other in the face, breaking her nose and causing other injuries. Case was charged and later convicted of fourth-degree misdemeanor assault in Umatilla County Circuit Court and a domestic abuse protection order was issued by the Umatilla Tribal Court. The protection order prohibited Case from having contact with the crime victim pending a full hearing.

One month later, on August 22, 2018, Case went to a party with the crime victim in violation of the protection order. He began drinking and started arguing with her. While she was seated in a chair, Case put his hands around her neck and strangled her until she blacked out. When she regained consciousness, she got up to leave. Case followed her outside, grabbed her by the shoulders and repeatedly punched her in the face until she again lost consciousness. Case fled, abandoning the crime victim who was lying unconscious in a driveway. He later turned himself in to the Umatilla Tribal Police Department.

On July 9, 2019, Case pleaded guilty to one count of assault by strangulation. As part of his plea agreement, Case will pay restitution his victim as ordered by the court. A restitution hearing has been scheduled for February 10, 2020.

This case was investigated by the Umatilla Tribal Police Department and FBI Portland’s Safe Trails Task Force. It was prosecuted by Jennifer Martin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Domestic violence is a serious violent crime that includes both physical and emotional abuse. It is frequently hidden from public view. Many survivors suffer in silence, afraid to seek help or not knowing where to turn. The traumatic effects of domestic violence also extend beyond the abused person, impacting family members and communities.

If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, please call 911.

If you need assistance or know someone who needs help, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Many communities throughout the country have developed support networks to assist survivors in the process of recovery.

The StrongHearts Native Helpline offers culturally specific support and advocacy for American Indian and Alaska Native survivors of domestic violence. Please call 1-844-762-8483 or visit www.strongheartshelpline.org for more information.

The Safe Trails Task Force (STTF) unites FBI and federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies in a collaborative effort to combat the growth of crime in Indian Country. STTF allows participating agencies to combine limited resources and increase investigative coordination in Indian Country to target violent crime, drugs, gangs and gaming violations.

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PORTLAND, Ore., November 12, 2019—OnPoint Community Credit Union announced today that Jackie Dunckley will serve as Chief Talent Officer, a new position that serves on the credit union’s Executive Team. OnPoint, the largest credit union headquartered in Oregon with more than 383,000 members and $6.1 billion in assets, created the position to demonstrate its dedication to employee and member experiences during the company’s incredible growth.

“We believe investing in our people makes us even better at serving our members and community. The Chief Talent Officer will ensure that commitment is met as we grow well into the future,” said OnPoint President and CEO Rob Stuart. “Jackie has demonstrated purpose and excellence in leading OnPoint’s Human Resources team over the past five years, and she is uniquely qualified for this role.”

Since joining OnPoint in 2014, Dunckley has made important contributions to OnPoint as Vice President of Human Resources, including building partnerships across the organization, as well as developing systems and practices to support effective talent management. As part of her new role, she will lead efforts to promote OnPoint’s work around diversity, equity and inclusion. She will also lead the Member Services team, which includes more than 70 team members in OnPoint’s Contact Center. With more than 15 years of experience in Human Resources, Dunckley will continue to cultivate talent and provide excellent service to members.

“Our members and employees are the heart of OnPoint, and when we do what’s right for our employees, they are empowered to do what’s right for our members,” said Dunckley. “That is why the commitment to grow and retain OnPoint’s exceptional talent is at the core of our five-year strategy and I’m proud to be leading that effort.”

Prior to OnPoint, Dunckley earned her B.S. from Northern Arizona University and her Juris Doctorate from the Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law. She was admitted to the Arizona State Bar in 1998. Following a brief legal career, she took her expertise in-house to develop a diverse HR career in the newspaper, high tech, biotech and finance industries.

Dunckley also has a strong passion for education and serves as chair of the Board of Trustees at De La Salle North Catholic High School in Portland. Dunckley lives in Beaverton with her husband Curtis and three children.

The OnPoint Executive Team is comprised of the following members:

• Rob Stuart, President/Chief Executive Officer
• Jim Armstrong, Senior Vice President/Chief Information Officer
• Jackie Dunckley, Senior Vice President/ Chief Talent Officer
• Veronica Ervin, Senior Vice President/Chief Risk Officer
• Jim Hunt, Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer
• Steve Leugers, Senior Vice President/Chief Credit Officer
• Tory McVay, Senior Vice President/Chief Retail Officer

ABOUT ONPOINT COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION

OnPoint Community Credit Union is the largest credit union in Oregon, serving more than 383,000 members and with assets of $6.1 billion. Founded in 1932, OnPoint Community Credit Union’s membership is available to anyone who lives or works in one of 13 Oregon counties (Benton, Clackamas, Columbia, Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson, Lane, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington and Yamhill) and two Washington counties (Skamania and Clark) and their immediate family members. More information is available at: 503-228-7077 or 800-527-3932.

Contact: Colby Reade, APR

M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust

yr@murdocktrust.org">colbyr@murdocktrust.org

360.694.8415

 

M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust Honors Standout Educators and Students in Science Fields

 

Pacific Lutheran and Reed professors headline awards given for outstanding efforts in science research and education

Students from Whitworth University, University of Puget Sound, Walla Walla University, University of Portland, George Fox University, Whitman College, Trinity Western University, Pacific Lutheran University, Eastern Washington University, Willamette University and University of Alaska Anchorage recognized for outstanding research

 

For Immediate Release

 

November 11, 2019 – This week, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust continued its commitment to support and honor the important work of scientific research at predominantly undergraduate Pacific Northwest Universities at the twenty-eighth annual Murdock College Science Research Program Conference.

 

This year’s conference, themed “Collaboration–A Key to Success in Undergraduate Research,” included multiple awards for outstanding college and university educators as well as exciting news about a new program designed to increase collaboration among scientific institutions.

 

“Our benefactor, Jack Murdock, believed deeply in the importance of scientific research as a source of innovation and inspiration to help improve the lives of all individuals, families and communities,” said Dr. Steve Moore, executive director, M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. “We are grateful to have the opportunity to recognize, honor and celebrate the tireless work of the outstanding researchers and educators who seek to serve the common good of our region through science.”

 

Pacific Lutheran and Reed Professors Honored

 

Dr. Dean Waldow, Professor of Chemistry, Pacific Lutheran University received the Lynwood W. Swanson Scientific Research Award for his exemplary research in the field of polymer chemistry and his commitment as a mentor to students over more than 25 years. Dr. Alison Crocker, Assistant Professor of Physics, Reed College was honored with the Lynwood W. Swanson Promise for Scientific Research Award for her research regarding the relationship between star formation and galaxy structure and for her investment in involving undergraduate students in her work.

 

The prestigious honors were established in 2016 to recognize two exemplary educators from the Pacific Northwest. The “Swanson Award” highlights a senior faculty exemplar with an established, productive and nationally recognized research program, while the “Swanson Promise Award” calls out a junior faculty member who has demonstrated exceptional potential in these areas through early research and work with students. Both awards were named in honor of noted educator, researcher, entrepreneur, and former trustee, Dr. Lynwood Swanson, upon his retirement from the Murdock Trust.

 

“It is an honor to recognize the valuable work of both Dr. Waldow and Dr. Crocker,” said Dr. Moses Lee, Senior Program Director for Scientific Research and Enrichment Programs, M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. “Throughout his career, Dr. Swanson inspired and engaged students and young people through his own passion for science and discovery. He believes strongly in the ability of science to solve real world challenges and for educators to serve as mentors to the next generation of researchers. We are so proud to be able to honor Dr. Swanson’s legacy and recognize the outstanding work of those who seek to continue that effort, such as Dr. Waldow and Dr. Crocker.”

 

Dr. Dean Waldow will receive a $15,000 cash prize as part of his award and Dr. Alison Crocker will receive a $7,500 cash prize. A portion of each cash award is set aside specifically to help fund further student research and supplies.  

 

The awards were formally presented at the 2019 Murdock College Science Research Program (MCSRP) Conference in Vancouver, WA. The annual conference drew hundreds of college students and science educators from across the Pacific Northwest.

 

In addition to the two faculty awards, The Murdock Trust also honored several college students for research presentations delivered at the event. They include:

 

The 2019 John Van Zytveld Award in the Physical Sciences

“A transparent UVA-1 biocompatible photoresin towards 3D printed lab-on-a-chip”

Name: Samartha Shrestha and Christopher Roberts

Institution: Whitworth University

Mentor: Dr. Philip Measor

 

The 2019 John Van Zytveld Award in the Life Sciences

 “Song recognition and hybridization in a new secondary contact zone of white-crowned sparrows, Zonotrichia leucophrys”

Name: Will Brooks

Institution: University of Puget Sound

Mentor: Dr. Peter Wimberger

 

Murdock Poster Prize 2019 - Ecology-Evolution-Biodiversity

“Potential Factors Impacting the Severity of Seagrass Wasting Disease in the Salish Sea”

Name: Kallan Richards (presenter) and Noah Cline

Institution: Walla Walla University

Mentor: Dr. Cecilia Brothers

 

Murdock Poster Prize 2019 - Ecology-Evolution-Biodiversity

“Structural and spatial characteristics of Acer macrophyllum influence epiphyte communities in the Hoh temperate rainforest”

Name: Kaela Hamilton

Institution: University of Puget Sound

Mentor: Dr. Carrie Woods

 

Murdock Poster Prize 2019 - Developmental Biology-physiology

“Identifying How Sonic Hedgehog Signaling Affects Cardiac Neural Crest Migration Following Fetal Alcohol Exposure”

Names: Pia Fornell

Institution: University of Portland

Mentor: Dr. Laura Dyer

 

Murdock Poster Prize 2019 - Molecular and Cell Biology

 “Regulation of Functional hERG Isoform Expression by Poly(A) Binding Protein N1”

Name: Laney Search and Rachel Drgastin (co-presenters)

Institution: George Fox University

Mentor: Dr. Matthew Stump

 

Murdock Poster Prize 2019 - Neuroscience-Psychology-Exercise Science

“'The Role of Endolysosomal Trafficking protein Rab7A in DLX 5/6 Interneuron Development”

Name: Andrew Neumann

Institution: George Fox University

Mentor: Dr. Jim Smart

 

Murdock Poster Prize 2019 - Biochemistry

“Quantitative NMR Analysis Reveals New Trends in Substrate Specificity of Benzoate Dioxygenase”

Name: James Bent

Institution: Whitman College

Mentor: Dr. Jon Collins

 

Murdock Poster Prize 2019 - Organic Chemistry

“A practical synthesis of fluorinated catechol derivatives using silver(I) fluoride”

Name: Alan Brooke

Institution: Trinity Western University

Mentor: Dr. Chadron Friesen

 

Murdock Poster Prize 2019 - Analytical-Inorganic-Physical Chemistry

“Physicochemical properties of 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-quinones appended with phosphonato groups”

Names: Kailin Mooney

Institution: University of Portland

Mentor: Dr. Eugene Urnezius

 

Murdock Poster Prize 2019 - Analytical-Inorganic-Physical Chemistry

“Endothermic singlet fission in di-benzoic acid perylene oligomers”

Name: Jennica Kelm

Institution: Pacific Lutheran University

Mentor: Dr. Nadia Korovina

 

Murdock Poster Prize 2019 - Environmental Science-Geology

“sUAV Mapping of the Porcupine Bay Road Landslide Complex”

Names: Ethan Ducken

Institution: Eastern Washington University

Mentor: Dr. Chad Pritchard

 

Murdock Poster Prize 2019 - Microbiology

“Microbial community composition of Oregon marine sediment: In search of novel archaea”

Name: Helen Madeen (presenter), Cassie Cosler, Jamie Smith, Mayely Polanco, and Alexandra Bless

Institution: Willamette University

Mentor: Dr. Rosa Leon Zayas

 

Murdock Poster Prize 2019 - Physics and Engineering

“PIC Simulations of Multipole Plasma Trap Diagnostics and Loading Methods”

Name: Henrique Miller

Institution: University of Alaska Anchorage

Mentor: Dr. Nathaniel Hicks

 

Inspiring Collaboration

 

In addition to honoring work completed by faculty and students, the 2019 MCSR Conference introduced a renewed commitment to inspire and support new research that has yet to begin. Leaders from numerous scientific institutions joined together to unveil RAISE (Research Across Institutions for Scientific Empowerment).

 

Formerly known as the Collaborative Research Alliance, RAISE seeks to create opportunities for researchers at mainly private colleges and universities and a few public research-active, primarily undergraduate institutions around the Pacific Northwest to connect and collaborate on new projects.

 

“Science does not exist in a vacuum,” said Dr. Lee. “The best research and findings often come when teams working on similar areas of research are able to combine their efforts, share their findings, and inspire one another to pursue new and cutting-edge tracks of discovery. RAISE will present a variety of opportunities for educators and researchers around the Pacific Northwest to grow and expand their work.”

 

For more information about the MCSRP Conference and how the Murdock Trust invests in science education and research, please visit www.murdocktrust.org.

 

About the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust

The Murdock Trust, created by the will of the late Melvin J. (Jack) Murdock, provides grants to organizations in five states of the Pacific Northwest—Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington—that seek to strengthen the region’s educational and cultural base in creative and sustainable ways. Since its inception in 1975, the Trust has awarded more than 6,700 grants totaling more than $1 billion of which about $200 million supported projects in scientific research. For more information, find the Murdock Trust on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and on our website.

 

About Dr. Lynwood Swanson

After starting his career as a professor and administrator at Linfield College, Dr. Swanson moved to Oregon Graduate Institute before co-founding FEI, a world-leader in electron optics and focused ion beam technologies in scanning and transmission electron microscopies. In conjunction with his extensive career in science education and research, Dr. Swanson served as a tireless advocate for these fields as a trustee for thirty years.

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Animals Shouldn’t Be Able to Sue Owners says Farm Bureau

Oregon Farm Bureau issues statement on Justice the horse’s lawsuit against its former owner.

SALEM, OREGON, Nov. 14, 2019 — Last week, the Oregon Farm Bureau, Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, and Oregon Dairy Farmers Association partnered to draft a friend of the court brief on precedent setting litigation pending in the Oregon Court of Appeals. The case squarely addresses whether a horse has a right to sue his owner in court for damages relating to the horse’s neglect. The case, Justice, an American Quarter Horse v. Gwendolyn Vercher, is an attempt by the Animal Legal Defense Fund to set precedent in Oregon that animals have legal personhood, including the right to sue humans in court. This case could open the door to expansive and significant litigation regarding the ability to own and manage livestock, produce meat or dairy products, participate in rodeos or FFA, and even have working dogs. It could even subject pet owners to private rights of action and allow activist groups to bring lawsuits under the guise of animals seeking to vindicate nonexistent rights.

If successful, this case puts the livestock industry and rural Oregon at risk. Moreover, Oregon would become the first state in the country to grant animals legal personhood, which would have a profound impact on our society and legal system. Our organizations got involved to ensure that the Court understands the history and context of Oregon’s animal welfare statutes and to ensure the Court understands the expansive, far reaching implications of this case for the livestock industry.

To be clear, the facts of this case were abhorrent, and the defendant was rightfully prosecuted for the neglect of her horse. However, Oregon law already has severe consequences for those who abuse and neglect animals and there is a mechanism for those who rescue neglected animals to be compensated for their care. But these legitimate concerns are not what this case is about. This case is simply an effort by animals rights activists to pull the ultimate thread in a longstanding effort to unravel and halt livestock operations in Oregon. We will continue to stand strong to protect the livestock industry from the significant precedent set by this case.

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Note to Editors: “Farm Bureau” is a registered trademark; please capitalize in all cases.

Oregon Farm Bureau (OFB) is a grassroots, nonpartisan, nonprofit, general farm organization representing the interests of farming and ranching families in the public and policymaking arenas. First established in Oregon at the county level in 1919 and the state level in 1932, Farm Bureau is organized in all 36 counties.

Oregon Farm Bureau President Sharon Waterman is an OFB Hall of Fame honoree and operates a Century Ranch raising sheep, cattle, and timber in Bandon. She is OFB’s 16th president.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Farmers, ranchers, and foresters are invited to a free farm and ranch succession planning workshop on Dec. 10 as part of the Oregon Farm Bureau Convention at the Salishan Resort in Gleneden Beach. 

Changing Hands: Succession Planning Workshop

It’s never too early or late to begin planning for the future of your farm or ranch. With proper planning, you can provide for the future harmony of your family and viability of your farm business. Whether you have heirs or a business successor yet or not, this workshop will give you the legal, financial, and interpersonal tools you need to take the next step in succession planning. 

This is a fantastic opportunity for farmers, ranchers, and foresters to learn from the state's leading experts in the field:

• Maria Schidlkofer, Attorney at Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt PC
• Diana Tourney, Accountant and Farm Succession Coordinator at Clackamas Small Business Development Center
• Mark Wickman, Founder and Counselor at Family Business Counsel
• Nellie McAdams, Staff at Oregon Agricultural Trust

The event will take place as part of the 2019 Oregon Farm Bureau Convention.  

When: Tuesday, December 10, 2019.

Workshop from 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Happy Hour from 4:45 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at the Salishan Lounge for farmers of all generations thinking about non-family succession and business partnerships.

Where: Salishan Lodge 7760 North Highway 101, Gleneden Beach

Who: All are welcome. Please RSVP! 

RSVP to Nellie McAdams, nellie@oregonagtrust.org, 971.409.6806

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