PORTLAND, Ore.—A Wilsonville, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today after a federal jury in Portland found him guilty of transporting and possessing photos and videos depicting child sexual abuse.

Joshan Rohani, 41, was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison and 10 years of supervised release.

According to court documents and testimony at trial, between July and December 2021, Rohani participated in at least 34 chatrooms, some of which were focused on sharing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and the sexual exploitation of children, on the New Zealand-based cloud storage and file hosting service Mega. Additionally, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents discovered that Rohani had multiple accounts that had been suspended by Mega due to suspected CSAM.

On May 24, 2022, HSI agents executed a search warrant at Rohani’s residence. Investigators found CSAM on several of the devices seized from Rohani’s residence.

On October 16, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a six-count indictment charging Rohani with distributing, transporting, accessing with intent to view, and possessing child pornography.

Following a five-day jury trial from December 2 to December 6, 2024, Rohani was convicted of transporting, accessing with intent to view, and possessing child pornography.

“Protecting our children remains our highest priority in the District of Oregon,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott E. Bradford. “Today’s sentence marks an important step to hold this defendant accountable and seek a measure of justice for the victims. Our efforts to combat child exploitation within our community will continue.”

“Securing this lengthy sentence for transporting and possessing child sexual abuse material is a direct result of the incredible partnership between HSI and the District of Oregon to seek justice for the innocent,” said HSI Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller. “The outstanding outcome of HSI’s investigation reaffirms our commitment to protecting children and holding offenders accountable.”

This case was investigated by HSI with assistance from the Newberg-Dundee Police Department and the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs. It was prosecuted by Gary Y. Sussman and Mira Chernick, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.

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

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

This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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In the early morning hours of Thursday, December 4th, 2025, deputies with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office investigated a suspicious death that occurred in the 5000 block of Grange Road in the Green District.  34 year old Zachary Slaymaker was found deceased in his residence.  Evidence at the scene led deputies to believe the cause of death was likely a drug overdose, and fentanyl was the suspected culprit.

Detectives with the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT) were called in to investigate and were able to largely determine Slaymaker's whereabouts and activities during the previous 24 hours.  Detectives developed evidence leading them to believe Slaymaker purchased fentanyl from 39 year old Roseburg resident George Perez a short time before his death.

As the investigation focused on Perez, detectives developed reason to believe he was in the Roseburg area and was still selling small quantities of fentanyl.  At approximetaly 4:00 PM on Friday, December 5th, detectives located Perez in the parking lot of a business in the 3300 block of NW Aviation Drive in Roseburg.  Detectives contacted Perez and took him into custody without incident.  Detectives located a small amount of suspected fentanyl on Perez, and believe he was intending to sell it at the time of his arrest. 

Perez was lodged at the Douglas County Jail on the following charges:
 

• 2 counts of Unlawful Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance
• 2 counts of unlawful Delivery of a Schedule II Controlled Substance

This investigation is ongoing, and more arrests and/or charges are possible.  

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Just 2 milligrams of fentanyl, equal to 10 to15 grains of table salt, is considered a lethal dose.  

The Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT) is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force that identifies, disrupts, and dismantles local, multi-state, and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency prosecutor-supported approach.  DINT is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and the Douglas County Board of Commissioners.  DINT is composed of members from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Roseburg Police Department, Oregon State Police, Douglas County District Attorney’s Office, and the Bureau of Land Management.

The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives, including DINT.

Lane County, Ore. (Dec. 8, 2025)- On Friday, December 5, 2025, at 2:14 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on Highway 58, near milepost 51, in Lane County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a westbound Audi Q5, operated by Jessica Nicole Ingoglia (37) of Klamath Falls, left the lane of travel for unknown reasons, crossed the eastbound lane, and struck a dirt embankment.

The operator of the Audi (Jessica Ingoglia), who was not wearing a seatbelt, was declared deceased at the scene.

A passenger in the vehicle, Clifford Gary Ingoglia (37) of Klamath Falls, who was not wearing a seatbelt, suffered critical injuries and was transported to an area hospital.

A female juvenile (8) passenger suffered critical injuries and was transported to an area hospital.

The highway was impacted for two hours during the on-scene investigation. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

OSP was assisted by Oakridge Fire and EMS.

# # #

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

Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reports that on December 5, 2025, at approximately 9:06 p.m., Linn County Dispatch received a 911 call reporting a two-vehicle collision with occupants trapped at the intersection of Berlin Road and McDowell Creek Drive.

Deputies arrived and located a 2017 Ram 3500 that had been struck in the intersection by a 2002 Mazda B-Series pickup. Deputies learned that the operator of the Mazda, Zayne Hannah-Gray, age 19 of Lebanon, sustained fatal injuries in the crash. A passenger in the Mazda was transported to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.

The operator of the Ram 3500 was transported to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center with serious injuries. An 11-year-old female passenger from the Ram was transported to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland with life-threatening injuries.

The investigation revealed that the Ram 3500 was struck at a high rate of speed on the passenger side by the Mazda, which failed to stop at the posted stop sign. Alcohol has also been determined to be a factor in the crash. Due to the seriousness of the crash, the Multi-Agency Investigation Team was called to assist with the investigation.

Deputies were also assisted at the scene by the Sweet Home Fire Department and the Lebanon Fire Department.

Anyone with information about this crash is encouraged to contact the Linn County Sheriff’s Office at 541-967-3950.

Douglas County, Ore. (Dec. 8, 2025)- On Thursday, December 4, 2025, at 11:13 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on Highway 138E, near milepost 12, in Douglas County.

The preliminary investigation indicated an eastbound Chrysler 200, operated by Domonik Randsome Wright (30) of Roseburg, left the roadway for unknown reasons, went airborne, landed in a field, and rolled before becoming fully engulfed in flames. 

The operator of the Chrysler (Wright) was declared deceased at the scene.

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

OSP was assisted by the Glide Volunteer Fire Department and Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

# # #

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

(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, asks the public to help find Tyler Shoop, age 15, a child in foster care who went missing from Molalla on Dec. 8. Tyler Shoop (he/him) is believed to be in danger.

ODHS asks the public for help in the effort to find Tyler Shoop and to contact 911 or local law enforcement if they believe they see Tyler Shoop.

Tyler Shoop is suspected to be in Molalla or Bend area.

Name: Tyler Shoop
Pronouns: he/him
Date of birth: 3/3/2010
Height: 5-foot-9
Weight: 148 pounds
Hair: Blonde
Eye color: Blue Eyes
Other identifying information: Tyler’s hair is cut short and is a reddish tint. He typically wears jeans that are really stained and a hat.
Molalla Police Department # 25-024563
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children #2070863

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

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

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North Bend School District Public Meetings – December 2025

Below are North Bend School District public meetings currently scheduled for December:
 

December 11, 2025

Executive Session

North Bend School District at 5:00 p.m.

1913 Meade Ave., North Bend, OR

To review and evaluate the employment-related performance of the chief executive officer of any public body, a public officer, employee or staff member who does not request an open hearing. 192.660(2)(i).

To consider the employment of a public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent. 192.660(2)(a)
 

Representatives of the news media and designated staff shall/shall not be allowed to attend. All other members of the audience are asked to leave the room. Representatives of the news media are specifically directed to not report on any of the deliberations during the executive session, except to state the general subject of the session as previously announced. No decision may be made in executive session, except for a student expulsion. At the end of the executive session, we will return to open session.

"Shall not" refers to the four exceptions: student expulsions, consultation with labor negotiators, discussing student medical or educational records, and cases in which they or their media organization are involved in litigation with the district that will be discussed during the executive session.

December 11, 2025

Regular Board Meeting

North Bend City Hall Council Chambers at 6:00 p.m.

835 California Ave., North Bend, OR

DOORS WILL OPEN AT 5:45PM

The schedule is subject to change.

Please email rix@nbend.k12.or.us">mbrix@nbend.k12.or.us or visit the NBSD Website: https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Organization/1573 for agenda information.

Portland, OR – DOGAMI and other state permitting agencies have issued draft permits for the Grassy Mountain project; DOGAMI is accepting public comments through February 6, 2026, as outlined in the public notice.

The public notice and related documents are available at: https://www.oregon.gov/dogami/mlrr/Pages/Calico-GrassyMtn_projectDocuments.aspx 

For further information, contact the DOGAMI Albany office at (541) 967-2083 or email: information.grassymtn@dogami.oregon.gov.

Silverton, Oregon— Enjoy guided nature hikes, seasonal crafts and educational activities at the Silver Falls State Park Winter Festival 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 13 and 14.

Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the park in winter, including the changing landscapes and habitats of resident and migratory birds and animals.

Activities at the South Falls District include guided walks and classes; building bird nest boxes; making bird feeders, paper bird crafts and creating wreaths. Activities at Smith Creek Village (1.5 miles from South Falls District) include native plant propagation and gingerbread and sugar cookie decorating. Hot food will be available for purchase at Bigleaf Market and Grill.

Schedule of Activities:

• Make a wreath at the Evergreen Picnic Shelter
• Build a bird nest box at the Creekside Shelter
• Make a bird feeder or paper bird craft in the Stone Kitchen Shelter
• Attend a guided walk at the South Falls Lodge Courtyard:
  • 11 a.m.: Winter Tree ID hike (1-hour hike)
  • 12 p.m.: Mushroom ID hike (1-hour hike)
  • 1 p.m.: Winter Tree ID hike (1-hour hike, Saturday only)
  • 2 p.m.: Mushroom ID hike (1-hour hike)
• Visit discovery tables to learn about the waterfalls in winter, the winter solstice and other seasonal topics
• Learn how maple syrup is made from native bigleaf maple trees (Saturday only)
• Earn a commemorative Silver Falls ornament by taking part in at least eight of the above activities

All activities are free, but a day-use parking permit is required. Permits cost $10 per day for Oregon residents and $12 for non-residents; annual permits are available for sale at the park for $30 through December 31, 2025. For more information, visit the event page on our calendar at stateparks.oregon.gov or call 503-874-0201.

###

(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, asks the public to help find Chayton Owings, age 13, a child in foster care who went missing from Portland on Oct. 02. Chayton is believed to be in danger.

ODHS asks the public for help in the effort to find him and to contact 911 or local law enforcement if they believe they see him.

Chayton is suspected to be in the outlying areas of the Portland Metro area and is known to frequent forest areas.

Name: Chayton Owings
Pronouns: He/him
Date of birth: Feb. 1, 2012
Height: 4-foot-9
Weight: 94 pounds
Hair: Brown
Eye color: Blue gray
Portland Police Bureau #25-272053
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children #2063587

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

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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 8, 2025

Meeting Notice

Douglas County Veterans Advisory Committee

Tuesday, December 9, 2025

(Douglas County, Ore.) Douglas County Commissioners Tim Freeman, Tom Kress, and Chris Boice are pleased to inform the public that the next Douglas County Veterans Advisory Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 3:00 pm in Room 216 of the Douglas County Courthouse located at 1036 SE Douglas Avenue in Roseburg, Oregon. 

In compliance with ORS 192.610 to 192.690, we will accommodate any member of the public who wishes to view the meeting.  To view the live stream or post meeting recording, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/@douglascountyoregongov. 

For additional information please contact the Douglas County Veterans Service Office by calling (541) 440-4219 or email at ans@douglascountyor.gov">veterans@douglascountyor.gov.   The meeting agenda is attached and can be found on the Douglas County government website at https://douglascountyor.gov/.

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Media Contact: Tamara Howell | Douglas County Emergency Communications & Community Engagement Specialist | Public Information Officer | Phone: (541) 957-4896 | Cell: (541) 670-2804 | Email: tamara.howell@douglascountyor.gov

Portland, OR—The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for portions of Oregon from 10:00 AM PST Monday (12/8/2025) through late Thursday (12/11/2025) night. Heavy rainfall may result in landslides and debris flows in areas of steep terrain, as well as debris flows in and near burned areas from recent wildfires. The watch area includes the following Oregon counties: Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Hood River, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, and Yamhill.

Find the latest information here: https://www.weather.gov/pqr/

Debris flows are rapidly moving, extremely destructive landslides. They can contain boulders and logs transported in a fast-moving soil and water slurry down steep hillsides and through narrow canyons. They can easily travel a mile or more. A debris flow moves faster than a person can run. People, structures, and roads located below steep slopes in canyons and near the mouths of canyons may be at serious risk.

If your home, work, or travel route is in a watch area:

• Stay alert. Track the flood watch by radio, TV, weather radio, or online. If told to evacuate, do so immediately.
• Listen. Unusual sounds might indicate moving debris, such as trees cracking or boulders knocking together. A trickle of falling mud or debris may precede larger landslides. If you think there is danger of a landslide, leave immediately.
• Watch the water. If water in a stream or creek suddenly turns muddy or the amount of water flowing suddenly decreases or increases, this is a warning that the flow has been affected upstream. You should immediately leave the area because a debris flow may soon be coming downstream.
• Travel with extreme caution. Assume roads are not safe. Be alert when driving, especially at night. Embankments along roadsides may fail, sending rock and debris onto the road.

For more landslide and debris flow information: https://www.oregon.gov/dogami/landslide/Pages/debrisflow.aspx

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SALEM, Oregon — The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission will convene online at 8 a.m. on December 15 for a special business meeting.

The draft agenda includes requests to: appoint an interim agency director effective January 1, 2026 to June 30, 2026.

The full agenda and supporting documents will be posted on the commission web page before the meeting.

People who wish to attend may watch the meeting live on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@oprddirectorsoffice5783/streams, or come to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department office at 725 Summer St NE, Salem OR 97301 to observe the video livestream.

Please submit written public comments by 5 p.m. December 14 to C.PublicComment@OPRD.oregon.gov">OPRC.PublicComment@OPRD.oregon.gov. Verbal public comments will not be accepted live during this special meeting, but comments will be accepted as usual at the regularly scheduled meeting in February.

The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission promotes outdoor recreation and heritage by establishing policies, adopting rules, and setting the budget for the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The seven members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Oregon Senate. They serve four-year terms and meet several times a year at locations across the state.

2025 Board on Public Safety Standards & Training

 and Policy Committee

Open Vacancy – Recruitments

The Board on Public Safety Standards & Training (BPSST) and established Policy Committees have open vacancies looking to be filled before the end of the year! The current vacancies are as follows:

BPSST: All Board applications must be submitted through Workday.com 

• One member who is a representative of the collective bargaining unit that represents the largest number of individual workers in the DOC
• One member of the Oregon State Fire Fighters Council recommended to the Governor by the executive body of the council
• One member who is a representative of nonmanagement law enforcement
• One member recommended by and representing the private security industry
• Public Member

Policy Committees: All Policy Committee applications must be submitted by December 18, 2025.

Corrections Policy Committee:

• One person representing the public who has never been employed or utilized as a corrections officer

Private Security/Investigator Policy Committee:

• One person representing the retail industry
• One person who is a private investigator licensed under ORS 703.430, and is recommended by the Oregon State Bar (will also serve on the PI Sub-Committee upon appointment)
• One person representing the public who has never been employed or utilized as a private security provider or investigator
• One person representing the manufacturing industry
• One person representing the hospitality industry

Private Investigator Subcommittee:

• Currently licensed private investigator

Telecommunications Policy Committee:

• One person representing Emergency Medical Services & Trauma 

To inquire about a vacancy, please visit Department of Public Safety Standards & Training : Board on Public Safety Standards & Training and Policy Committees : Boards and Committees : State of Oregon.

If interested in applying for a Policy Committee position, please complete and submit the Policy Committee Interest Form found under the ‘Board and Committee Resources’ section of the website listed above.

If interested in applying for a BPSST position, please complete the online application at Workday Board and Commission Opportunities. (Please note that an account may need to be created if not already in Workday)

For further information regarding the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training or its respective Policy Committees, please contact Juan Lopez at (503) 551-3167 or juan.lopez-hernandez@dpsst.oregon.gov.

Thank you,

DPSST Board & Committees Staff

EUGENE, Ore. (December 8, 2025) ~ As respiratory-illness season gets under way, physicians at Kaiser Permanente Northwest remind our communities that a safe and effective vaccine is available to prevent serious lung infections caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, commonly called pneumococcal disease – including pneumonia.

“Pneumonia infections can be life-threatening, especially for older adults and people with chronic health conditions,” said Dr. Mark Mueller of Kaiser Permanente Northwest. “Vaccination gives strong protection from the most common type of pneumonia, and it’s one of the smartest things you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones this time of year.”

Pneumonia is of the most common and dangerous respiratory infections in the U.S., often striking suddenly and leading to hospitalization or death, particularly among older adults and people with chronic illnesses. (The recent deaths of Diane Keaton, 79, and Dick Cheney, 84, have brought more attention to the serious nature of the lung infection.) Because the infection spreads easily through coughing or close contact, experts say vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and those around you before illness strikes. 

The CDC recommends pneumococcal vaccination for children younger than 5 years and adults 50 years or older. The CDC also recommends pneumococcal vaccination for children and adults at increased risk for pneumococcal disease. Children also receive pneumococcal conjugate vaccines as part of the routine immunization schedule. Even healthy adults should review their vaccination history with their care team, as recommendations depend on age, medical history, and prior vaccines.

Interviews available:  

Dr. Mark Mueller, physician with Kaiser Permanente Northwest in Eugene, is available for Zoom interviews on Tuesday, December 9 from 12:30 to 2:00 pm. erly.mounts@kp.org">Contact Kim Mounts to schedule. 

Dr. Mueller is prepared to discuss: 

• The latest pneumococcal-vaccine recommendations for adults and children 
• Why pneumonia remains a serious threat despite being preventable 
• How the vaccine fits into broader respiratory-illness prevention (including flu and COVID) 
• Who is at greatest risk and what individuals can do to protect themselves  

About Kaiser Permanente 
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve nearly 12.6 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, please visit: about.kaiserpermanente.org. 

December 8, 2025 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Paige Parker, Public Relations Manager

Oregon Community Foundation, ker@oregoncf.org">pparker@oregoncf.org  

OREGON NONPROFITS STRENGTHEN THEIR COMMUNITIES WITH FALL FUNDING FROM OCF

Oregon Community Foundation Awards $5.1 Million in Grants to Support Education, Housing, Economic Opportunity, Arts and More

PORTLAND, Ore. — From classrooms and concert halls to food banks and housing services, 260 Oregon nonprofits will get a boost this fall. Oregon Community Foundation is awarding $5.1 million through its Community Grants program to organizations working to expand access to education, health services, economic opportunity, arts and culture and more. Grants awarded in rural towns and urban neighborhoods reflect OCF’s commitment to strengthening communities and tackling urgent needs.

“We are so inspired by the hard work our nonprofits are doing to improve the lives of all Oregonians,” said Marcy Bradley, OCF’s Chief Community Engagement and Equity Officer. “Community Grants is our open door for new ideas and the ‘what if’ dreams of our communities. We are proud to stand with the problem solvers in our state.”

For 28 years, OCF’s Community Grants program has supported nonprofits, Tribal organizations and government agencies in all 36 Oregon counties.  The 2025 Fall Cycle prioritized small capital projects (under $500,000), capacity building and new or expanding programs and projects.

Donors to Oregon Community Foundation make OCF’s Community Grants program possible. Grant applications were reviewed by regional OCF staff and volunteers in every region of Oregon.

The next cycle of Community Grants from OCF will prioritize general operating support for small rural organizations, culturally specific organizations and culturally responsive organizations. Program applications opened on December 2, 2025, and will close on January 13, 2026, at 5 p.m. PST.  Grants will be awarded in May 2026. Learn more here.

Find the full list of 2025 Fall grantees here.

Fall 2025 Community Grants Will Support

• 99 first-time OCF nonprofit grantees
• 22 housing-related nonprofits
• 23 food and nutrition service organizations
• 5 library projects
• 14 nonprofits that work with immigrants and refugees
• 14 nonprofits that work in economic development
• 11 environment nonprofits
• 8 mobile programs such as mobile clinics, laundry trucks, libraries and food hubs

Community Grants Breakdown by Region with Representative Nonprofits

Central Oregon | 21 Nonprofits | $366,768

• Columbia River Institute for Indigenous Development Foundation will expand the Kuskuspum program and launch a full-day, year-round early learning center designed by and for the Warm Springs community.
  
  “Language classes helped me mentally in many different ways, such as helping me learn more about my culture, and really made me feel closer to my grandma and helped come out of my bubble and talk to more people and get closer to new people.” — Cassidy Dixon, CRÍID youth participant
   
• Council on Aging of Central Oregon will grow its Caring Connections program that matches a volunteer with a client who has been identified as lonely or isolated.

“If it weren’t for this program, I would feel totally alone.” — Prineville client Kay B.

Bend client Pam T. says she and a volunteer “have been talking for two and a half years. He keeps me going, he listens to me, we laugh together and get along great ... I don't know what to do without him, I've never had a friend for this long.”

Eastern Oregon | 17 Nonprofits | $265,889

• Four Rivers Community Radio will purchase equipment to launch a community radio station in the Western Treasure Valley.
  
  "Four Rivers Community Radio is much more than a radio station providing passive listening opportunities. We are a medium for community members to connect to one another, build a shared identity across the region, and begin to understand and meet the varying needs of one another. Our service area is a region that has been under-resourced and ignored for many years, contributing to the deepening divisions we see spreading across the country. Through the dedication and support of our volunteers and local community members, we believe FRCR can change these trends and are deeply grateful to the Oregon Community Foundation for supporting that critical vision." — Andi M. Walsh, Board Secretary 

• Wallowa Valley Center for Wellness will create a Wellness Park and Community Garden.

Metro Portland | 100 Nonprofits | $2,225,112

• Centro Cultural will increase access to culturally specific wellness services and free meals for low-income seniors through its Edad de Oro program.
   
• New Narrative will modernize its commercial kitchen, which serves 2,000 meals weekly to residents in transitional and permanent housing.
  
  “It’s been a major challenge, but New Narrative has been a huge part of the positive experience through [my son's mental health] journey. Having a clinician involved on-site, talking about his goals and medications with him, it made an incredible difference. For New Narrative’s staff, this is their passion.” — Father of a New Narrative participant
  
  “New Narrative's decades of experience position us as an expert in what works and what doesn't. We are seeing more people in the region with a serious and complex set of mental health needs, and we are determined to meet those needs. No one deserves to be ostracized or stigmatized because of their mental health situation. Everyone deserves dignity, community and a roof over their heads.” — Julie Ibrahim, CEO

• Workforce Investment Council of Clackamas County will expand legal services for criminal and eviction expungement and immigration needs in rural areas.
  
  “Through Clean Slate Clackamas, it is our role to educate the population and help to create a more equitable workforce and true system change. Now a fully expunged ‘graduate’ of Clean Slate Clackamas, Mike has access to doors he thought were closed forever – better employment opportunities, access to housing, even a better credit score. Mike credits Clean Slate Clackamas with helping turn his life around and giving him the tools he needed to overcome this barrier.” – Amanda Wall, Communications Director, Clackamas Workforce Partnership

North Coast | 12 Nonprofits | $211,535

• Lower Columbia Youth Soccer Association will replace lighting for a community soccer field serving more than 600 youth.
  
  “The amount of growth that we have seen our daughter make is remarkable. (Coach) Danielle‘s positive attitude, correct level of competitiveness and love for the game is contagious, and it shows in the joy that her players exhibit on the field. We’ve seen the game of soccer finally click for many of these girls this year, and it’s due to the support and effort Danielle puts in every week.” — Player's parent
   
• Amani Child Abuse Assessment Center will expand outreach across Columbia County.

Northern Willamette Valley | 32 Nonprofits | $583,682

• St. Francis Shelter will become fully powered by solar energy and plan to reinvest savings into programs for houseless individuals.
  
  “Our work makes a difference because it works. Last year, 27 of the 29 families who lived at St. Francis transitioned into permanent housing — and remain housed today. When families have a safe place to live, consistent support, and the chance to rebuild the skills and confidence stolen by trauma and homelessness, they are able to create the stability their children deserve.” — Kim Lemman, Executive Director
   
• Salem for Refugees will expand employment and student support services for refugee families.
  
  “My name is Anina, and I am from Syria. When I arrived, everything was new and overwhelming, but Salem for Refugees welcomed me like family. They didn’t just help me with housing and basic needs, they supported me emotionally, encouraged me, and made me feel safe again. Their help gave me hope for my future.” — Amina, Salem for Refugees client
  
  “Since launching in 2016, Salem for Refugees has walked alongside thousands of newcomers from nearly every region of the world. Today, we serve more than 2,000 refugee and immigrant clients across the Salem and Corvallis areas. We provide initial resettlement, case management, housing, employment and education services. Our mission is far more than providing services — we strive to create a community of belonging, safety and opportunity for families who have endured immense hardship.” — Luke Glaze, Executive Director, Salem for Refugees

South Coast | 8 Nonprofits | $152,500

• Bay Area Enterprises will launch a landscaping program to help rural Oregonians with disabilities access paid employment.
   
• Camp Myrtlewood will complete the Dogwood Cabin, a year-round bunkhouse serving low-income and under-resourced people through outdoor school and retreats.

Southern Oregon | 24 Nonprofits | $419,500

• Klamath Falls City Schools will pair high school students with downtown businesses to provide marketing services and career experience.
  
  “KU Digital Media turns classrooms into creative studios and our city into a campus. Students design real campaigns for local nonprofits and small businesses, learning professional skills while strengthening the community they call home.” ─ Dan Stearns, CTE Digital Media Teacher and Program Lead, Klamath Union High School
  
  “Working with real clients taught me how to listen, design to a brief, and deliver on deadline. I now see a creative career path that feels possible — and local partners cheer us on every step of the way.” ─ Isabella Armijo, KU Digital Media student
   
• A Greater Applegate will support a mobile food hub delivering local produce to rural pantries and neighborhoods in an isolated area.
  
  “A Greater Applegate's mission is to build community by sustaining and enhancing the local connections that promote the environmental, economic and social vitality of the Applegate Valley. We are building networks that expand access to local food and business resources and facilitating all-ages fairs and markets that bring families of the Applegate Valley together and help small businesses thrive.” — Megan Fehrman, Executive Director

Southern Willamette Valley | 46 Nonprofits | $848,700
 

• Calapooia Watershed Council will hire an eco-wellness instructor for its freshwater snorkeling program serving youth involved with the Juvenile Department.
  
  “As an environmental science teacher, I can think of few programs that have been as valuable and impactful on so many levels as the snorkeling program. The evolution of their understanding of the connections between the life below the surface, the surrounding forest and themselves in the city of Albany is exactly what environmental science is about.” ─ Gareth Engler, West Albany HS teacher
  
  “After we got back to school, everyone could not stop talking about how great it was!” ─ Gracie, fifth grade student
   
• PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center Foundation will expand its Telestroke Program to connect rural hospitals with neurology experts.
  
  “You never know when or where a medical emergency may occur or who will be there to assist. Time is of the essence.” — Sally Hampton, PeaceHealth Sacred Heart patient and aneurysm survivor

About Oregon Community Foundation

Since 1973, Oregon Community Foundation has worked to improve the lives of all Oregonians through the power of philanthropy. In 2024, OCF distributed more than $211 million in grants and scholarships in every county in Oregon in partnership with donors and volunteers. Individuals, families, businesses and organizations can work with OCF to create charitable funds to support causes important to them. To learn more, visit oregoncf.org.
 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
View the Future Announces the 16th Annual New Year's Day Peace Hike: A Community Commemoration of Resilience and Remembrance

Held each January, the Peace Hike commemorates the cultural history and enduring resilience of the Tribal peoples who once lived in the lands we now call home. This year’s event continues that legacy, honoring stories of remembrance while celebrating the strength of community stewardship.

Event Details

• Event: 16th Annual New Year's Day Peace Hike

• Date:  January 1, 2026 - 8:30am-1pm

• Location:  Yachats, Oregon

About View the Future

View the Future is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting natural lands, restoring ecosystems, and ensuring long-term community resilience. Through conservation work, public education, and meaningful partnerships, View the Future strives to safeguard the places we love for generations to come.

Just hours after completing its Volunteer Fall Fire Academy, the Lebanon Fire District (LFD) put its newest recruits to the test during a real emergency.

The academy concluded yesterday with six new volunteers successfully finishing their final live-fire training exercise — a crucial benchmark that certifies them to respond to structure fires and other emergencies within the district.

Shortly after crews finished restoring equipment from the training, LFD was dispatched to a structure fire in the 31000 block of Waterloo Road. Thanks to the large number of volunteers still at the station, the district was able to assemble and deploy personnel quickly.

Accessing the fire, however, proved challenging. The residence sat at the top of a long, narrow, and steep driveway, limiting apparatus access. LFD managed to get one engine and one tender to the top, while additional firefighters, tools, and equipment had to be shuttled up the driveway using staff vehicles.

Despite the difficult terrain, firefighters contained and extinguished the fire quickly. Crews remained on scene for approximately three hours to fully extinguish hot spots and ensure the structure was safe.

The fire was determined to have been caused by an improperly discarded cigarette butt.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. - The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is seeking public assistance in locating a missing Christmas Valley man after his vehicle was found in the Elliott State Forest. 

On Sunday, November 30, 2025, deputies responded to a report of a white 2002 Ford utility pickup found unoccupied by hunters on an unmaintained roadway in the Elliott State Forest near Loon Lake. Deputies identified the vehicle as belonging to 61-year-old Robert Cotter of Christmas Valley, Oregon. 

Cotter, who operates the business Robert C Handyman & Paint, had been providing handyman services to clients in the Reedsport and Elkton communities in Douglas County. He was last seen captured on security footage at a gas station in Christmas Valley on Sunday, November 2, 2025. 

The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who may have seen Cotter or his vehicle since November 2nd to come forward. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office at (541) 440-4471 and reference case number 25-4113.

PORTLAND, Ore.— A Portland, Oregon, man appeared in federal court today after being charged and arrested for sex trafficking of a child.

Tyler Matthew Mandera, 25, made his initial appearance in court today after being charged by a federal grand jury for sex trafficking of a child. He was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered detained pending a jury trial scheduled to begin on February 3, 2026.

According to court documents, from October 11, 2025, until October 14, 2025, Mandera recruited and enticed a minor victim to engage in commercial sex acts.    

If convicted, Mandera faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison, a life-term of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case with assistance from Tigard Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliza Carmen Rodriguez is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.  

If you or someone you know are victims of human trafficking or have information about a potential human trafficking situation, please call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also submit a tip on the NHTRC website.

# # #

West Coast Health Alliance, OHA, leading national medical organizations continue to recommend hepatitis B vaccination for newborns

ROSEBURG, Ore. - On Thursday, December 4^th, 2025, at approximately 11:20 AM members of Douglas County Search and Rescue located Lori Sharman deceased while conducting a follow up search. Deputies confirmed her death and have notified her next of kin.
 

The Douglas County Medical Examiner's Office has been notified and is investigating the death. There are no indications of foul play at this time.
 

The Sheriff's Office would like to thank the many volunteers and community members for their efforts in trying to locate Lori. The men and women of the Sheriff's Office extend their deepest sympathies to Lori’s family.

No further information is expected to be released at this time.

SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is issuing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits on its normal monthly schedule in December, following disruptions in November due to the federal government shutdown. SNAP plays a major role in Oregon’s food security and economy. Every $1 in SNAP benefits generates $1.50 to $1.80 in local economic activity, contributing an estimated $1.6 billion to Oregon’s economy each year.

“Every month hundreds of thousands of children, older adults and hard-working families and individuals depend on getting their SNAP food benefits on time to get enough food,” said ODHS Director Liesl Wendt. “After last month’s uncertainty and disruptions, we are grateful to be able to return to issuing SNAP food benefits when and how people expect us to. We also recommend that people take simple steps today to protect their EBT cards. By changing your PIN, locking your cards and blocking online and out-of-state purchases you can keep your benefits safe.”

SNAP is entirely federally funded and helps more than 1 in 6 people in Oregon, about 18 percent of households, buy groceries, including children, working families, older adults and people with disabilities.

At the same time, with a significant amount of theft by skimming of EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) cards in Oregon and nationwide, ODHS is doing everything it can to protect people. This week, ODHS turned off and replaced more than 1,300 EBT cards after detecting card-skimming activity in the Coos Bay and North Bend area.

EBT cards compromised by skimmers were turned off and replaced to protect benefits.

On Dec. 2, ODHS turned off 1,350 EBT cards from the Coos Bay and North Bend area that were known to be compromised by EBT card skimming due to devices being attached on payment machines. ODHS automatically sent new EBT cards to households whose cards were turned off to prevent fraud and they should be received by mail in five days. People who need a new EBT card urgently can visit their local ODHS office to get a replacement card right away.

If your EBT card suddenly stops working:

• Check your EBT balance at https://ebtEDGE.com or using the ebtEDGE mobile app. If you see a balance amount that is different than what you expected, your benefits may have been stolen. ODHS does not support any other EBT management apps or websites.
• If you see a balance, but your EBT card is still not working, it may have been turned off to prevent fraud. You can call the ONE Customer Service Center (800-699-9075) or your local ODHS office (https://bit.ly/ODHSoffices) to determine if that was the case.

Most theft occurs in the beginning of the month immediately after SNAP and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits are issued to EBT cards. Criminals use methods like skimming devices, internet scams and fake websites to steal card numbers and personal identification numbers (PIN). Once they have this information, they use online or out-of-state purchases to drain SNAP food and TANF cash benefits from a person’s card.

ODHS recommends that everyone with an EBT card take these steps to keep their benefits safe:

• Only use the official ebtEDGE website and mobile app for Apple or Android. ODHS does not guarantee the safety of any other EBT management apps or websites.
• Freeze your card between uses: When you’re not using your EBT card, consider freezing it as an extra layer of protection. Simply unfreeze it when you’re ready to make a purchase. To do this, visit the ebtEDGE website or use the mobile app and look for "Freeze Card" under "Account Services."
• Block out-of-state and online purchases: You have the option to block transactions made outside of Oregon and online purchases to safeguard your card from unauthorized use. To do this, visit the ebtEDGE website or use the mobile app and look for “Protect My Account" under “Account Services." You can remove the blocks later.
• Change your PIN regularly: Get into the habit of updating your PIN often. This can help protect your account if someone does gain access to your card number. Here are the ways you can ​change your PIN:​
  • Call 888-997-4447;
  • Log into the ebtEDGE website;
  • Take your EBT card to the closest ODHS benefits office​.
• Keep your PIN secret: Never share your PIN or write it on your card. Cover the keypad whenever entering your PIN in a public setting. Thieves may use small cameras to capture your PIN entry.
• Inspect card readers carefully: Before swiping your card at an ATM or other card reader, check for anything unusual. Skimming devices are often placed on top of existing card readers. If you see anything that looks out of place or tampered with, avoid using it and let the business know.
• Monitor your EBT account activity: Make it a habit to check your account regularly for any unusual charges. If you see a charge you didn’t make, report it immediately, cancel your card and request a replacement. Here are the ways you can ​get a new card:​
  • Call the EBT Replacement Line at 1-855-328-6715;
  • Go to an ODHS benefits office​.​
• Don’t respond to suspicious texts: If you receive a text message asking for your EBT card number or PIN, ignore it. ODHS will never ask for your information this way.
• Avoid social media scams: Only trust posts and messages about your benefits from official ODHS accounts. ODHS will never ask for your benefits case number, PIN or other card information on social media.

More information is available on the Protect Your EBT Card and Benefits webpage. There is a brochure, flyer and wallet card available in many languages. There are also short videos about using an EBT card, how to replace an EBT card and all the ways to protect your EBT benefits. These are posted in the How-to Videos section of benefits.oregon.gov.

How to request replacement for TANF benefits

ODHS can replace TANF benefits that are lost due to fraud. TANF families who believe benefits have been stolen from their EBT card should contact ODHS to request replacement benefits within 30 days of the benefits being stolen. Information on card safety and how to request replacement TANF benefits can be found online here: https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/benefits/Pages/protect.aspx

ODHS cannot replace SNAP benefits

The federal funding to replace benefits ran out on Dec. 21, 2024, and ODHS is no longer authorized to replace stolen SNAP benefits.

###

MPD Case 25-5748

MEDFORD, Ore. – The Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) joint inter-agency task force and Medford Police Department (MPD) arrested a suspect Thursday, December 4 at the Jackson County Parole and Probation Office in Medford. The suspect, Brennan Alan Humes, 47, of Medford, is charged with 10 counts of second-degree encouraging child sexual abuse, and a parole violation for first-degree possession of materials depicting sexually explicit conduct of a child. He is lodged in the Jackson County Jail.

The arrest followed a search warrant served by SOCET after investigators discovered images of child exploitation had been uploaded from a residence in Medford. Detectives interviewed possible witnesses and involved parties, and continued their investigation. According to witness statements, the suspect moved to Oregon due to the sex offender laws.

SOCET, MPD, and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) detectives served the search warrant Thursday, May 8, at a residence in the 300 block of Golf View Drive. SOCET and MPD began the investigation after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children which led to subpoenas, followed by the search warrant at the residence. While investigators served the search warrant, Jackson County Parole and Probation assisted with the suspect interview.

The Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force (SOHTCTF) also assisted in the investigation. During the warrant, investigators seized digital devices which were forensically examined by SOHTCTF for further evidence of child exploitation. During their examination, SOHTCTF located numerous Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) images and videos on multiple devices.  

SOCET is a joint inter-agency task force that started in June of 2020 to combat child exploitation. The task force consists of investigators from JCSO, MPD, Oregon Department of Justice Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), as well as prosecutors from our local, state and federal law enforcement partners in Jackson and Josephine County. SOHTCTF is a joint inter-agency task force that consists of investigators from JCSO, HSI, and MPD. There is no further information available for release.

###

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, Geoffrey Don House, died the morning of December 5, 2025. House was incarcerated at Snake River Correctional Institution (SRCI) in Ontario and passed away in the infirmary while on hospice care. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified, and the State Medical Examiner will determine cause of death.

House entered DOC custody on May 22, 2020, from Clackamas County with an earliest release date of July 9, 2039. House was 64 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 approximately 12,000 individuals who are incarcerated in 12 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.

SRCI is a multi-custody prison in Ontario. Additional information about the Oregon Department of Corrections can be found at www.oregon.gov/doc.

###

The Umpqua Community College Board of Education will have a regular meeting on December 10, 2025. The meeting will begin at 5:00 pm in room 17 of Tapʰòytʰaʼ Hall (TAP). Pertinent meeting information can be found at umpqua.edu/board-meetings.

RE-SENT FOR AN UPDATED VERSION

New fee reductions and expanded cutting areas offer meaningful savings for families this winter

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Bureau of Land Management has announced a series of holiday affordability measures that will help families save money, enjoy public lands, and support wildfire prevention efforts across Oregon and Washington during the 2025–2026 winter season.

Effective immediately through January 31, the BLM is reducing many personal-use permit fees to just $1, including Christmas tree permits and firewood permits. Local BLM offices are also opening new cutting areas in overstocked woodlands to provide families with more opportunities to gather their own firewood and Christmas trees, while also supporting forest thinning and hazardous fuel reduction.

 “Here in Oregon and Washington, families rely on public lands for tradition, recreation, and essential resources,” said Barry Bushue, BLM OR/WA State Director. “These fee reductions and expanded access make it easier for people to gather firewood and Christmas trees close to home, all while helping us reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health.”

These actions align with the Trump administration’s mission to lower costs for American families and will contribute to national savings estimated at more than $9.4 million this holiday season.

Effective immediately, the BLM will:

• Reduce fees for personal-use Christmas tree and firewood permits.
• Increase household limits to up to 10 cords of firewood and up to three Christmas trees, with flexibility to adjust limits in areas with abundant resources.

These steps will help reduce household costs, expand access to local woodlands, and improve forest conditions by removing overstocked or hazardous fuels. The BLM will continue coordinating with community partners, tribal governments and local organizations to share information about permit availability and new cutting areas.

Residents can find up-to-date information on permit locations, cutting area maps, and safety guidance at: https://www.blm.gov/programs/natural-resources/forests-and-woodlands/forest-product-permits/oregon-christmas-trees

-BLM-

The BLM manages roughly 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

UPDATE

The suspect's full name is Chandler Scott Corwin Miller.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

On Thursday, December 4^th, 2025, at approximately 2:45 PM, Roseburg Police Officers were dispatched to a disturbance involving a gunshot in the 1000 block of NE Stephens.  A Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputy was in the area and confronted 30 year old Chandler Corwin in the parking lot of Bobalou Billards.  This contact resulted in a Deputy involved shooting. 

No one was injured and Corwin was located in the area, arrested on gun related charges and lodged at Douglas County Corrections. 

There is no on-going threat to the public. 

Roseburg Police, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, Winston Police and the Cow Creek Tribal Police assisted with this investigation. 

No further details are being released at this time.

APPLICANT REVIEW COMMITTEE

MEETING SCHEDULED

The Applicant Review Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a regular meeting at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Juan Lopez (503) 551-3167.

To view the Applicant Review Committee's live-stream and other recorded videos, please visit DPSST’s official YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/@DPSST.

Agenda Items:

1. Introductions

2. Approve October 22, 2025, Meeting Minutes

3. Taylor Babb, DPSST No. 66836; Umatilla County Sheriff's Office

    Presented by Cindy Park

4. Anthony Mazzola, DPSST No. 66886; Douglas County Sheriff's Office

    Presented by Cindy Park

5. Davon Taylor, DPSST No. 66344; ODOC/Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution

    Presented by Cindy Park

6. Inquiry Closure Memos – Information Only

    Presented by Cindy Park

7. Next Applicant Review Committee Meeting – January 21, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.

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 Applicant Review 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.

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) strongly condemns the recent decisions to close Vibra Specialty Hospital in Portland and to eliminate inpatient surgical services and the birthing center at Asante Ashland Community Hospital. These closures represent a devastating loss of critical healthcare access for Oregonians, forcing patients to travel farther for care, increasing risks in emergencies, and placing additional strain on an already overburdened health system.

Vibra Specialty Hospital, Oregon’s only long-term acute care facility, is slated to shut down on February 1, 2026. This closure will eliminate 310 jobs, including positions for nurses, therapists, and support staff, while forcing medically complex patients who require extended, specialized care to remain longer in traditional hospitals or seek treatment out of state. Similarly, Asante’s Ashland Community Hospital closure threatens essential services in Southern Oregon, compounding the impact of rural hospital closures statewide and forcing patients to travel farther for necessary care.

These closures are part of a broader crisis fueled by healthcare funding cuts under the Trump administration and the increasing corporatization of healthcare, which prioritizes profit over patients and community needs. The result is fewer local options for patients and a strained healthcare system.

Oregon’s patients and healthcare workers deserve a system that prioritizes public health over profit. We need robust, long-term investments in healthcare—not hospital closures and funding cuts. 

###

RICKREALL, Ore. - The Oregon Tree Farm System (OTFS) recently honored Roje Gootee from northern Grant County as Oregon’s 2026 Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year. The honor was bestowed at the organization’s annual meeting held Nov. 15^th at the Polk County Fair Grounds in Rickreall.

Gootee, owner of Rush Creek Ranch, was recognized for her 28 years spent restoring and managing her property for a wide range of conservation objectives, as well as for her leadership in promoting the health of forest and rangelands in the Blue Mountains of Northeast Oregon.

Gootee first purchased 1,962 acres of forest and range in 1997.

“As a 17-year-old freshman studying Forestry at Utah State University, I began saving so I could one day own my own forest,” she said.

Over an 18-year period she expanded her ranch to 3,345 acres, of which approximately 2,000 acres are forested, the rest in range.

She has restored ponderosa pine forests that were over-harvested by the previous owner, restored abandoned farm fields to forests, improved water quality through restoring riparian habitat and protecting upland springs, controlled invasive weeds, reduced the risk of wildfire, and removed invasive Western juniper encroaching on rangeland and forests.

Gootee has done much to improve the long term health of her property and its watershed. She said, ”For me it’s just such joy to see the land respond.”

Beyond her own property, she has helped neighbors develop stewardship plans for their properties and has played key roles in promoting the management of all private and public lands in Oregon’s Blue Mountain region.

In 1976, Gootee earned a B.S. degree in Forest Resource Management with a minor in Range Management from Utah State University, and in 2009, a PhD in Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences from Washington State University.

Through her natural resource academic studies, USDA Forest Service career in forest and range management, and managing her own property, Gootee has developed invaluable insights on how best to manage Oregon’s dryland forests.

She continues to share her insights through serving on numerous local, state and national private and public natural resource-related boards and commissions. She also works with local landowners and resource professionals.

“Roje is so humble for a person that has done so much for our forests,” reported Bob Parker, the local forester who recommended that she be honored for her land management and community accomplishments.

In addition to honoring Gootee, OTFS awarded Dell and Linda Jensen a Silver Award for management of their 185-acre John Downing Tree Farm near Marcola in Lane County. While the property has been in the family since 1908, the Jensens took charge of its management when inheriting it in 2022. They have spent a tremendous amount of time and energy in developing a sustainable timber harvest, improving its road system for active management, and converting brushy areas back to Douglas-fir forest.

Others who were recognized include:

Additional County Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year

•     Laird-Shepherd Family of Columbia County, and

•     Allan and Kathleen Crandall of Yamhill County

Oregon Inspector of the Year – Tim Gurton

            Oregon Tree Farm inspectors are volunteer foresters who visit family forest landowners providing insights on how they can meet their forestland goals, and to certify that their forest meets the American Tree Farm System’s standards. Gurton visited and certified 25 landowners.

Pollinator Award – Mary Chamness

            This award is given to an individual whose volunteer efforts played a key role in the management of the organization.

Hagenstein Family Forestlands Achievement Award - Steve and Wylda Cafferata

This award is presented to an individual(s) for outstanding contributions in promoting, supporting, and sustaining Oregon’s family owned forestlands.

About the Oregon Tree Farm System

OTFS is a chapter of the American Tree Farm System which operates an internationally recognized forest certification program overseen by and for family forest landowners to promote sustainable forest management through education, recognition, and assistance.

For 59 years, OTFS has recognized family forest landowners who provide forest benefits and products using sound forestry management. Along with the Oregon Dept. of Forestry they work to promote sustainable forestry in Oregon.

For more information on the Oregon Tree Farm System, visit www.otfs.org

                                                          # # #

MARCOLA, Ore. - The Oregon Tree Farm System (OTFS) recently honored Dell and Linda Jensen of Lane County with a Silver Award for management of their 185-acre tree farm near Marcola. The honor was bestowed at the organization’s annual meeting held Nov. 15^th at the Polk County Fair Grounds in Rickreall.

While the Jensen property has been in the family since 1908, the Jensens took charge of its management when inheriting it in 2022. They have spent a tremendous amount of time and energy in developing a sustainable timber harvest, improving its road system for active management, and converting brush areas back to Douglas-fir forests.

In addition to honoring the Jensens, OTFS named Roje Gootee from northern Grant County as Oregon’s 2026 Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year.

Gootee, owner of Rush Creek Ranch, was recognized for her 28 years spent restoring and managing her property for a wide range of conservation objectives, as well as for her leadership in promoting the health of forest and rangeland in the Blue Mountains of Northeast Oregon.  

Gootee expanded her ranch from 1,962 acres in 1997 to 3,345 acres, of which approximately 2,000 are forested, the rest in range. She has restored ponderosa pine forests that were over-harvested by the previous owner, restored abandoned farm fields to forests, improved water quality through restoring riparian habitat and protecting upland springs, controlled invasive weeds, reduced the risk of wildfire, and removed invasive Western juniper encroaching on rangeland and forests.

Beyond her own property, she has helped neighbors develop stewardship plans for their properties and has played key roles in promoting the management of all private and public lands in Oregon’s Blue Mountain region.

She continues to share her insights through serving on numerous local, state and national private and public natural resource-related boards and commissions. She also works with local landowners and resource professionals.

Additional County Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year

•     Laird-Shepherd Family of Columbia County, and

•     Allan and Kathleen Crandall of Yamhill County

Oregon Inspector of the Year – Tim Gurton

            Oregon Tree Farm inspectors are volunteer foresters who visit family forest landowners providing insights on how they can meet their forestland goals, and to certify that their forest meets the American Tree Farm System’s standards. Gurton visited and certified 25 landowners.

Pollinator Award – Mary Chamness

            This award is given to an individual whose volunteer efforts played a key role in the management of the organization.

Hagenstein Family Forestlands Achievement Award - Steve and Wylda Cafferata

This award is presented to an individual(s) for outstanding contributions in promoting, supporting, and sustaining Oregon’s family owned forestlands.

About the Oregon Tree Farm System

OTFS is a chapter of the American Tree Farm System which operates an internationally recognized forest certification program overseen by and for family forest landowners to promote sustainable forest management through education, recognition, and assistance.

For 59 years, OTFS has recognized family forest landowners who provide forest benefits and products using sound forestry management.  Along with the Oregon Dept. of Forestry they work to promote sustainable forestry in Oregon.

For more information on the Oregon Tree Farm System, visit www.otfs.org

                                                          # # #

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, Hannah Linn Bazzi, died the evening of December 3, 2025. Bazzi was incarcerated at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville and passed away at the institution. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified and the Medical Examiner will determine cause of death.

Bazzi entered DOC custody on May 29, 2020, from Washington County with an earliest release date of December 20, 2032. Bazzi was 32 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 12,000 individuals who are incarcerated in 12 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.

CCCF is a multi-custody prison located in Wilsonville. Additional information about the Oregon Department of Corrections can be found at www.oregon.gov/doc.

####

Dec. 4, 2025

Media Contact: Communications@employ.oregon.gov

MEDIA ADVISORY
OED announces release of statewide employment report for September on Dec. 10
 

SALEM, Ore. — After being delayed by the federal shutdown, the Oregon Employment Department (OED) will release the monthly employment report for September at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10.

Video and audio versions of the release will also be published at 10 a.m., and reporters can reach out to state employment economist Gail Krumenauer or economist David Cooke with follow-up questions, but OED will not host a media availability.

County reports for September will be released on Tuesday, December 16th at 10:00 AM.

Revised news release dates are also posted here on the QualityInfo.org website.

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The Oregon Employment Department (OED) is an equal opportunity agency. OED provides free help so you can use our services. Some examples are sign language and spoken language interpreters, written materials in other languages, large print, audio, and other formats. To get help, please call 503-947-1444. TTY users call 711. You can also send an email to communications@employ.oregon.gov.

El Departamento de Empleo de Oregon (OED) es una agencia de igualdad de oportunidades. El OED proporciona ayuda gratuita para que usted pueda utilizar nuestros servicios. Algunos ejemplos son intérpretes de lengua de señas e idiomas hablados, materiales escritos en otros idiomas, letra grande, audio y otros formatos. Para obtener ayuda, por favor llame al 503-947-1444. Usuarios de TTY pueden llamar al 711. También puede enviar un correo electrónico a communications@employ.oregon.gov.

PROTECTING PETS IN WINTER WEATHER

Winter weather can mean fun in the snow, but it is also a time we should pay close attention to the safety of our pets. Here are some safety tips to follow as the weather gets colder:
 

1. Monitor your pet’s food intake. Pets who live outdoors should be fed a bit more in the winter because they need the extra calories to stay warm. Indoor pets typically receive less exercise during cold weather and may require fewer calories.
2. Oregon law requires all companion animals be provided shelter from the elements. They should have fresh water put out a couple of times a day. Consider a special bowl that prevents the water from freezing.
3. In severe weather, allow outdoor pets in your house or garage.
4. If your pet goes outdoors, be aware of the temperature. Pets can get frostbite very easily on the ears, tail, and paws.
5. When walking your dog in freezing conditions, check their paws to make sure ice is not building up between toes and that salt or gravel is not irritating the skin.
6. If your dog is a swimmer, keep them on a leash around open water or unstable ice. Hypothermia can set in quickly and your dog may be unable to get out of the water.
7. Before you start your car, ensure no cats are napping in the warm place your car provides by honking the horn or banging on the hood.
8. If you are decorating for the holidays, keep ornaments out of the reach of your pets. Remember that poinsettias, holly, mistletoe, and other plants can be toxic if ingested.
9. Ingesting anti-freeze can be fatal for dogs and cats. It has a sweet taste and even a small amount can cause severe kidney damage or death. You can use a

pet-safe antifreeze, look for brands containing propylene glycol instead of ethylene glycol. If you spill anti-freeze, soak it up immediately. Clay cat litter

works well to absorb spills, discard the litter once the anti-freeze has been absorbed.

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

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The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the following information pursuant to ORS 163A.215, which authorizes Community Corrections to inform the public when the release of such information will enhance public safety and protection.

The individual listed below has been convicted of a sex offense requiring registration with the Oregon State Police. Based on their criminal history, this person has been classified at a level indicating a potential to re-offend. This notification is not intended to increase fear, but rather to support public awareness and safety.

NAME: Patrick Finegan
SID#: 22406607
DOB: 12/18/1997
Current Age: 27
Race: Hispanic
Sex: Male
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 160 lbs
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown

Residence:
245 Holder Lane SE
Salem, OR 97306

Supervision Status:
Patrick Finegan is currently on Post-Prison Supervision for the following crimes:
• Attempted Use of a Child in Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct
• Attempt to Encourage Child Sexual Abuse I
• Attempted Sexual Abuse I
• Luring a Minor (two counts)

Supervision began: 10/10/2025
Supervision expires: 10/09/2027

Victim Information:
Finegan’s known victims were minor females known to him.

Special Conditions:
☒ No contact with minors
☒ Do not frequent places where minors congregate
☒ No intoxicating substances

December 4, 2025

Media contact: Timothy Heider, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov  

OHA urges vaccinations as flu activity rises, holidays approach  

PORTLAND, Ore – As influenza activity increases over the next two months before its expected peak in early spring, health officials urge everyone to get their flu vaccine, particularly as people gather indoors to celebrate the holidays. 

So far, hospitalizations remain low. But the percentage of positive flu tests is on the rise.

“The flu season generally continues into the spring, which means flu activity will continue to increase for many months,” said Howard Chiou, M.D., Ph.D., medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at Oregon Health Authority’s Public Health Division. “That’s why it’s never too late to get the flu vaccine.”

Chiou added that getting vaccinated now is especially important. “People will leave Thanksgiving, not only with leftovers, but also with the flu. It’s not too late to get your flu shot, especially before the upcoming holidays. The flu shot is the best way to help make sure you don’t miss out on holiday festivities or get other people sick.”

Last year’s flu season in Oregon was the worst in the state’s recent history. OHA releases the latest information on the flu season in its weekly FluBites report. Information on flu activity can also be found on Oregon’s Respiratory Virus Data dashboard.

Flu is a contagious, respiratory tract infection caused by the influenza virus.

Symptoms can include fever, cough, sore throat, stuffy and runny nose, muscle aches, headache and fatigue. It can result in mild to severe illness, including hospitalization and death.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) recommend seasonal flu vaccination for everyone ages 6 months or older.

Nearly 1 million people in Oregon have been vaccinated so far this year, which is about 5% lower than at the same time last year. The flu vaccination rate has been in decline for several years.

Certain groups, including older adults, young children, pregnant people and people with certain health conditions, are at higher risk for serious complications from influenza.

The hospitalization rate is highest for people ages 65 and older, but flu seasons are unpredictable and even young and healthy people can develop severe disease.

The best way people can protect themselves and others is by getting a flu vaccine every year.

People can get the COVID-19, influenza and RSV vaccines by contacting their health plan, health care provider, county public health clinic or federally qualified health center. Parents and caregivers of children can also search for a clinic by calling 211 or visiting 211info.org. 

This video reminds people not to let influenza take us out of the picture this year. 

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This holiday season the Lincoln City Police Department is urging drivers to drive safe and drive sober as they commute to and from holiday gatherings. Not only can the average DUII arrest cost a driver thousands of dollars in legal costs, a DUII crash can shatter a community.

In the most recent data available from the Oregon Department of Transportation (2023), Lincoln County saw a 300% increase in serious injury crashes involving drug impairment and a 50% increase in fatal crashes involving drug impairment compared to the previous year. Let’s fight the trend. If you or a loved one chooses to partake, be the voice of reason. You could save a life.

During the month of December, the Lincoln City Police Department plans on using DUII Enforcement Grant funds made available through the Oregon Department of Transportation. These enforcement operations are part of national High Visibility Enforcement Events which run from mid-December through New Years Day. These events are designed to increase the number of patrol officers on the streets nationwide with an emphasis on seeking out drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs and removing them from the roadways.

December 3, 2025

Media contact: Jonathan Modie PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Recreational use advisory lifted for Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge

Pets should continue to be kept away as detected levels remain above educational guideline values for animals

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority has lifted the recreational use health advisory issued for Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge in Klamath County.

OHA issued the advisory July 9.

Water monitoring has confirmed that the level of cyanotoxins in Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge is below recreational guideline values for people. However, detected levels are still above OHA’s educational guideline values for dogs, and owners should keep their pets away from these areas.

OHA advises recreational visitors to continually be alert to signs of cyanobacteria blooms. This is because blooms can develop and disappear on any water body at any time when bloom conditions are favorable. Only a fraction of water bodies in Oregon are monitored for blooms and toxins, so it’s important for people to become familiar with signs of a bloom, exposures and symptoms by visiting OHA’s Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms website at http://www.healthoregon.org/hab.

When recreating, people, and especially small children, and pets should avoid areas where the water is foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green or blue-green, or if thick brownish-red mats are visible or bright green clumps are suspended in the water. If you see these signs, avoid activities that cause you to swallow water or inhale droplets, such as swimming or high-speed water activities, and keep pets out of the area.

Cyanotoxins can still exist in clear water. When a bloom dies, toxins released may reach into clear water around the bloom. Blooms can be pushed into other areas, leaving toxins behind. There also are species of cyanobacteria that anchor themselves at the bottom of a water body, live in the sediment, or can grow on aquatic plants and release toxins into clear water.

For health information or to report an illness, contact OHA at 971-673-0482, or visit OHA’s Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms website.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 3, 2025

37 YEARS AND COUNTING…
Douglas County Receives National Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting

(Douglas County, Ore.) Douglas County Commissioners Tim Freeman, Tom Kress, and Chris Boice had the opportunity today to recognize our Chief Financial Officer, Dan Wilson and the Douglas County Management and Finance Department for winning the prestigious Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting (COA) by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada for their Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the year ending June 30, 2024. A copy of the report can be found on the Douglas County, Oregon website at: https://douglascountyor.gov/620/ACFR

According to GFOA, “The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.” The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting was awarded to Douglas County Government earlier this year. The Douglas County Board of Commissioners have designated Dan and his dedicated team as the ones responsible for preparing the annual comprehensive financial report. This year marks the 37th year in a row that Douglas County’s Management and Finance Department has achieved this recognition.

“Everything we accomplish is rooted in the collaborative work of a team committed to excellence and accuracy,” said Commissioner Tim Freeman. “This is a significant achievement—the highest honor in government accounting, and one that not every county attains. Dan and his dedicated team play a crucial role in maintaining, balancing, and executing Douglas County’s financial accounting and reporting. We deeply appreciate their exceptional work in carrying out this important responsibility and congratulate them on receiving this distinguished honor,” stated Commissioner Tim Freeman.
The ACFR was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive "spirit of full disclosure" to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the ACFR.

“This award opportunity is tied to our annual audit, which is just one of the many audits we undergo each year. This particular audit includes three components: 1) Overall accounting; 2) Internal Controls—evaluating the adequacy of our systems that provide checks and balances to ensure financial integrity 3) A Specialized Municipal Audit—covering public investing, public contracting, and revenues. Our financial activities are continually audited, and the employees in my department don’t simply meet the minimum standards. As this award demonstrates, we consistently go above and beyond,” commented Dan Wilson, Douglas County Chief Financial Officer and Management & Finance Department Director.

The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), founded in 1906, represents public finance officials throughout the United States and Canada. The association's more than 28,000 members are federal, state/provincial, and local finance officials deeply involved in planning, financing, and implementing thousands of governmental operations in each of their jurisdictions. GFOA's mission is to advance excellence in public finance. GFOA advances excellence in government finance by providing best practices, professional development, resources, and practical research for their members and the communities they serve. For more information about GFOA, visit https://www.gfoa.org/.

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Media Contact: Tamara Howell, Douglas County Emergency Communications & Community Engagement Specialist, Douglas County Public Affairs Office | Office: (541) 957-4896 | Email: tamara.howell@douglascountupr.gov
Award Letter, Certificate, and Photo Attached. Photo: T.Howell/Douglas County
Photo: Commissioner Tim Freeman presents Dan Wilson with the 2025 GFOA Award.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 3, 2025

Commissioners Issue Proclamation for Wreaths Across America Day

(Douglas County, Ore.) – The Douglas County Commissioners Tim Freeman, Tom Kress, and Chris Boice issued a proclamation today, Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at the Weekly Business Meeting calling upon all citizens of Douglas County to observe Wreaths Across America Day, in celebration of the Annual Wreaths Across America (WAA) event taking place on Saturday, December 13, 2025.  The mission of Wreaths Across America is to “REMEMBER the Fallen, HONOR Those Who Serve and TEACH Our Children the Value of Freedom” with the laying of remembrance Christmas wreaths on veterans’ graves on the second or third Saturday of December each year.  The Commissioners are honored to support the National Wreaths Across America event, especially the efforts of our local community in placing wreaths on veterans’ graves at the Roseburg National Cemetery. 

“Wreaths Across America has been a joy for me to be able to participate in and something I look forward to every year.  It has grown into a community effort, which is great.  And it is something we all take an immense amount of pride in doing.  It’s an honor for me to have the opportunity to start with the reading of our Wreaths Across America proclamation. All of the people that helped last year were absolutely instrumental in making the event operate smoothly.  And every one of them that we have called to help this year said yes, again. We could not have been able to accomplish our goals without the community support that we have here in Douglas County!” – Commissioner Boice

The proclamation was presented by Commissioner Boice, on behalf of the Board and acknowledged, “we recognize that the mission of Wreaths Across America is to Remember, Honor, Teach.  “REMEMBER the fallen. HONOR those who serve. TEACH the next generation the value of freedom”.  The 2025 Wreaths Across America theme is LIVE WITH PURPOSE.  This year’s local ceremony honors the legacy of United States Air Force Veteran, John Pierson, whose passion project to ensure every veteran’s grave at our Roseburg National Cemetery receives a wreath every December ignited a local movement. In his memory, the 2025 local event has been officially named the John Pierson Memorial Wreaths Across America Event”  Following the reading of the proclamation a video from the national Wreaths Across America nonprofit organization was played.  The video explains why the wreath is a symbol of honor, respect and victory. Visit the following link to watch the video: What is a Veteran's Wreath? | Wreaths Across America Veterans' Wreaths.  Additionally, a copy of the proclamation presentation can be found on the Douglas County Government Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DouglasCountyeGovernment.

Commissioner Boice acknowledged the generous support of our local sponsors who have made the purchasing and laying of our 7,000 wreaths an annual tradition and legacy project in Roseburg.  He then presented the attending title sponsors with a photo book from the 2024 Douglas County Wreaths Across America Event and a specially designed Douglas County Wreaths Across America coin.  WAA Sponsors attending: Toby Luther, Lone Rock Resources; Denny Austin, Roseburg School District; Garrett Hanna, Timber Country Coca-Cola; Jamie Stweart, Roseburg Disposal; Tammy Turner (US Air Force veteran); Ben Cooper, Romtec; Mark Tsuchiya, Sarah Holborow, and Daleen Thomas, AVIVA Health; and Sarah Pytalski, Ford Family Foundation.  He then presented proclamation certificates to Douglas County WAA location coordinators, himself and Shelley Johnson (Roseburg Sea Cadets); Dougals County WAA Committee - Commissioner Chris Boice, Shelley Johnson, Kellie Trenkle, Tamara Howell, Dan Loomis, and Eric Bagwell; Douglas County WAA event participants: Vietnam Veterans of America – Umpqua Valley Chapter #805, Heidi Wood, Ron Dukes, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff John Hanlin, Undersheriff Brad O’Dell, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard, Roger Boucock, Dan Loomis, and Commissioner Tim Freeman. After the certificate presentation, a special 2024 commemorative headstone honoring John Pierson was presented to his brother, Rex Pierson. 

            The proclamation presented today is a reminder that the freedoms and liberties we enjoy as Americans owe a debt of gratitude to the courageous men and women who have and currently serve our nation in all branches of our United States Armed Forces, including our reserves.  Today and every day, we especially encourage citizens to support veterans and the local Wreaths Across America effort to honor our veterans. For more information about Wreaths Across America, log onto the Wreaths Across America 's website here.

“I have had the honor to attend almost every one of the Wreaths laying events here in Roseburg over the years.  As Commissioner Boice mentioned, they are meaningful.  One of the most important things with Wreaths Across America is the mission to Remember, Honor and Teach - by remembering the fallen, honoring those who served and teaching the next generation the value of freedom.  I think it’s also important for us to remember the veterans who are with us still and the sacrifices they have made. It’s important to honor veterans every single day and to teach the next generation to find and seek out those veterans that are still with us to learn from them, listen to their stories, and gain knowledge from them.” – Commissioner Freeman

            The John Pierson Memorial Wreaths Across America Event will take place on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at the Roseburg National Cemetery starting at 1:00 pm.  We encourage you to join us in honoring our veterans.  Sign up to volunteer or purchase a wreath for the 2026 ceremony at https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/17097.

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Media Contact:     Tamara Howell, Douglas County Emergency Communications & Community Engagement Specialist,

Douglas County Public Affairs Office | Office: (541) 957-4896 | Cell: (541) 670-2804 | Email: a.howell@douglascountyor.gov">tamara.howell@douglascountyor.gov 

Proclamation Attached. Photos © K.Tate/Douglas County. Individual photos are available upon request.

ODOJ Case CJD1473-25

CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – The Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) along with the Oregon Department of Justice’s (ODOJ) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force served a search warrant yesterday morning in rural Central Point. Investigators served the search warrant after discovering Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) images were uploaded from the address. Investigators interviewed possible witnesses and involved parties, and investigations are ongoing.

SOCET served the search warrant the morning of Tuesday, December 2 at a mobile home park in the 300 block of West Gregory Road in Central Point. SOCET began the investigation after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children which led to subpoenas, followed by the search warrant at the residence.

SOCET was assisted by Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Medford Police Department (MPD), ODOJ ICAC, Ashland Police Department, Talent Police Department, and the Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force (SOHTCTF). During the warrant, investigators seized digital devices which will be forensically examined by SOHTCTF for further evidence of child exploitation.

SOCET is a joint inter-agency task force that started in June of 2020 to combat child exploitation. The task force consists of investigators from JCSO, MPD, ODOJ ICAC, and HSI, as well as prosecutors from our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners in Jackson and Josephine County. SOHTCTF is a joint inter-agency task force that consists of investigators from JCSO, HSI, and MPD.

Investigators continue to examine seized devices and interview witnesses as the investigation moves forward. No further details will be released at this time.

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Umatilla County, Ore. (Dec. 3, 2025)- On Monday, December 1, 2025, at 5:53 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a vehicle versus pedestrian crash on Highway 395, near milepost 2, in Umatilla County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a pedestrian, Breann Hailey Mayberry (31) of Umatilla, was located deceased on the northbound shoulder of the highway. Evidence at the scene led investigators to believe a white commercial motor vehicle was involved in the collision and had fled the scene.

While still at the scene, investigators observed a white Freightliner commercial motor vehicle and trailer being towed down the highway. The damage to the Freightliner was consistent with the scene evidence and the vehicle was seized. The operator, Timothy Alvin Brown (66) of Yakima (WA), was later located and arrested for Fail to Perform Duties of a Driver.

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

The operator of the Freightliner (Brown) was reportedly uninjured.

The highway was impacted for approximately five hours during the on-scene investigation. The investigation is active and no additional information is available for release.

OSP was assisted by the Hermiston Police Department, Umatilla County Fire District 1, and ODOT.

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

Salem –  The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation has joined the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) in a multimillion dollar settlement with five investment institutions. The settlement resulted from an investigation by state securities regulators into the practice of charging unreasonable commissions to retail customers on small-dollar transactions by Edward Jones, LPL Financial, RBC, Stifel, and TD Ameritrade. In the five-year period covered by the investigation, data shows that, nationwide, the firms charged approximately $19 million to process $1.12 million small-dollar equity transactions and trades.

The signed consent orders totaled over $361,000 going back to Oregonians. Oregon DFR Administrator TK Keen said it is important that states continue to work together.

“Oregonians work hard for their money, and deserve a fair deal every time they invest or make a trade,” Keen said. “When Oregonians were charged excessive commissions on everyday transactions, this office and our fellow regulators nationwide quickly stepped in and got restitution back to harmed Oregon investors.”

The following consent orders were entered:

• Edward Jones will repay Oregon investors $203,494.79 (plus 6 percent interest) and pay a civil penalty of $100,000 to DFR.
• LPL Financial will repay Oregon investors $31,526.08 (plus 6 percent interest) and pay a civil penalty of $20,000 to DFR.  
• Stifel will repay Oregon investors $9,752.39 (plus 6 percent interest) and pay a civil penalty of $20,000 to DFR.
• TD Ameritrade will repay Oregon investors $11,220.85 (plus 6 percent interest) and pay a civil penalty of $15,000 to DFR.
• RBC will repay Oregon investors $105,309.85 (plus 6 percent interest) and pay a civil penalty of $20,000 to DFR.

The consent orders censure the firms for their actions and require the firms to review and improve their policies, procedures, and supervision efforts relating to commissions on equity transactions to prevent similar overcharges in the future. The firms are responsible for directly notifying and providing restitution to affected Oregon customers. In most cases, affected Oregon investors will not need to take any action to receive their funds.  Further, DFR will receive a report detailing the restitution paid, which will include dates, amounts, and methods of transfer of funds for all restitution payments.

Keen encourages all investors to review their account statements and trade confirmations and contact the division if they believe they have been overcharged or misled.

“Whether it’s a few hundred dollars or a few thousand, the division will stand up for Oregon’s investors and hold firms accountable when they break the rules,” he said. “We will continue to aggressively police unreasonable fees and commissions and protect Oregon families from financial harm.”

DFR’s consumer advocates are available to help people by phone at 1-888-877-4894 (toll-free) or email at .insurancehelp@dcbs.oregon.gov">dfr.insurancehelp@dcbs.oregon.gov or .financialserviceshelp@dcbs.oregon.gov">dfr.financialserviceshelp@dcbs.oregon.gov.

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About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation protects consumers and regulates insurance, depository institutions, trust companies, securities, and consumer financial products and services. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit dfr.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

SALEM, Ore. – Two loggers and a forest road builder have been chosen as Operator of the Year for their respective region of Oregon. Three regional advisory committees to the Oregon Board of Forestry selected the trio earlier this fall. The recipients will be recognized in Salem at the January meeting of the Board. The honorees are: 

• Northwest Oregon—Quality Excavation, Inc., out of Seaside, Ore.  
• Southwest Oregon—Roseburg-based Weber Logging and Construction, Inc. 
• Eastern Oregon—Boulder Ridge, LLC, headquartered in Bend, Ore.

The award recognizes forest operators who, while harvesting timber or doing other forestry work, have an excellent track record of protecting natural resources and improving forest health at a level that consistently meets or exceeds requirements of the Oregon Forest Practices Act . That law requires people to manage forests responsibly and protect streams and water quality, protect and enhance habitat, and reduce landslide risks. The law also requires landowners to replant forests after harvesting.  

Videos about each of the three Operators of the Year and five Merit Award winners can be viewed on the ODF website at https://www.oregon.gov/odf/Working/Pages/default.aspx 

Rick Dennis of RDL Northwest, headquartered in Lebanon, Ore., was one of two logging companies which received the Merit Award for the Northwest Oregon Region. Dennis was honored for his careful planning of units to be logged. Nominators cited how he employs multiple logging methods and different types of machinery on steep units and consistently protects stream buffers and soils from disturbance.

The other Merit Award winner for Northwest Oregon is Emerald Valley Thinning based in Philomath, Ore. That firm earned the Merit Award for harvesting extremely steep slopes in the Coast Range using tethered logging and hand cutting to protect buffer trees along the Siuslaw River. They also succeeded in following new Forest Practice Act rules protecting trees in the harvest unit located in steep slope areas at risk of sliding.

Northwest Oregon Operator of the Year

ODF Stewardship Foresters Craig Sorter and Bryce Rodgers co-nominated Quality Excavation for Operator of the Year for the Northwest Oregon Region. Sorter said, “Small culverts installed in the first half of the 20^th century before current rules were in place often blocked fish passage, preventing fish from spawning in upstream habitat. When landowner Lewis and Clark Timberlands wanted to log a parcel in the Coast Range, they knew they would need to upgrade the road to allow hauling and replace the old culvert beneath it. So their timber management company Nuveen called on the highly experienced firm of Quality Excavation.” 

With an eye toward the future of the company, Quality Excavation’s founder Jay Bergeson entrusted the work of replacing the failing culvert on the North Fork of the Necanicum River in the Coast Range to his 28-year-old son Cole. Cole, who had been learning the business alongside his father from a young age, and a Quality Excavation crew, replaced the culvert with a massive new one. They then rebuilt the logging road over it to allow the landowner to harvest trees beyond that point.

Sorter said Quality Excavation had to divert the stream during the project through hundreds of yards of pipe, then dig out the old culvert, including old-growth logs that it had been placed atop. Cole then had to dig a new bed and place the larger, extra-long new culvert at an angle and level that would allow stream flow and fish passage through it. Then he anchored it in place with stone quarried on site, building the haul road back up to grade.

“Quality Excavation did an excellent job, even hiring a bobcat to lay a natural bed of rock in the pipe to make fish passage easier,” Sorter said. “No sediment got in the stream during the work and now fish are able to get to habitat upstream that was previously blocked.”

Watch a video about the company’s work at Northwest Oregon Operator of the Year for 2025, Winner - Quality Excavation, Inc. 

Eastern Oregon 

Landowner Shanda Asset Management nominated for Operator of the Year Boulder Ridge’s work thinning nearly 2,000 acres of overcrowded ponderosa pine and white fir on the eastern slopes of the Cascades. The selection committee agreed the work was exemplary and chose the firm as this year’s winner for Eastern Oregon.

“This harvest was a challenge because there wasn’t capacity at the one local mill to take all the harvested logs, so Boulder had to schedule 14 different trucks heading to Gilchrist, Sisters, Culver, Christmas Valley, and as far away as Roseburg,” said Aidan Myers, Director of Timber Operations for Shanda.

Besides reducing risk of catastrophic wildfire by reducing overcrowding, Myers also cited Boulder’s improving the health of the forest by carefully removing trees infested with dwarf mistletoe, which can kill or weaken trees, and which spreads more easily in crowded stands.

View a video of the company’s work at Eastern Oregon Operator of the Year for 2025, Winner - Boulder Ridge LLC - YouTube

Southwest Oregon 

Austin Weber and his company Weber Logging and Construction were chosen as Operator of the Year for the Southwest Oregon Region for successfully working under new Forest Practices Act rules requiring him to protect a half dozen stands of trees in especially steep areas at risk of landslides. Leaving trees in those stands served various purposes, including protecting soils from erosion and downstream water from sediments. Trees left standing would also be available when they eventually fell over to deliver woody debris for future fish habitat. To do so, Weber had to set up multiple yarding sites and haul logs up to landings on the side of the road above the harvest unit.

Michael Williams of Roseburg Forest Products, who nominated Weber, said he also protected a fish-bearing stream in the unit, avoiding damage to trees in the stream buffer. Williams noted that Weber has for almost 20 years consistently excelled at protecting natural resources while harvesting in some of the most challenging situations in the region.

View video about Weber’s work at Southwest Oregon Operator of the Year for 2025, Winner - Weber Logging and Construction

ODF Forest Resources Division Chief Josh Barnard said, “the selection committees worked very hard this year when choosing these honors, given the high quality of the nominees.” 

Barnard said nominees showed they could meet the challenge of working under new rules that came into effect this year. The updated Oregon Forest Practices Act rules provide more protection for forest resources, such as protecting trees and soil in especially steep areas at risk of sliding.  

“Many of the harvest sites this year had quite challenging terrain,” said Barnard. “The Operators of the Year showed extraordinary care and diligence to protect slopes and streams, reduce risk of catastrophic wildfire, and improve forest health to meet landowner objectives. We’re proud to recognize those efforts.” 

Merit Awards

Merit Awards were also given to three other companies. 

Eastern Oregon 

• Forestry consultant Jeff Maben earned the Merit Award for his work with private landowners in and around Grant County, helping them improve forest health by removing encroaching juniper and thinning of overcrowded ponderosa pine stands. His work increased water flow in local creeks, rejuvenated aspen groves, and reduced shade on mountain mahogany, an important source of winter browse for elk. It also reduced risk of catastrophic wildfire.
• Staton Forestry received the Merit Award for a thinning operation on the Gilchrist State Forest that included removing overcrowded lodgepole and ponderosa pine trees and brush to improve forest health by reducing drought stress among remaining trees, and improved habitat for deer and elk. It also protected neighboring communities by lowering the risk of catastrophic wildfire.

 Southwest Oregon 

• Dave Wilkerson Logging, LLC, based in Eagle Point, Ore. won the Merit Award for stopping work a number of times during an especially west spring to avoid rutting and soil damage. He was also commended for doing an excellent job protecting young trees in the mixed-aged stand on the western slopes of the Cascades. He also fully protected a fish-bearing stream bordering the harvest unit.

Oregon enacted the Forest Practices Act in 1971 as a national model for forest management laws. The law focuses on ensuring responsible forest operations and protecting natural resources in forestland. The Act has been updated many times based on new scientific information and values to create a balanced approach to natural resource management. 

                                                         # # # 

12/03/2025 11:05 AM

Media Contact:

Lieutenant Ben Harvey, Corvallis Police Department

(541) 766-6556 / cpdpio@corvallisoregon.gov

Corvallis Police Arrest Suspect After High-Speed Elude; No Injuries Reported

Corvallis, Ore. – On December 2, 2025, at approximately 7:34 p.m., Corvallis Police Department (CPD) officers assisted regional law enforcement partners in apprehending a suspect following a prolonged high speed elude incident that began outside city limits and continued into Corvallis.

The incident began when Monmouth Police Department reported a black Cadillac SUV had fled from their officers toward Corvallis. Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) deputies located the vehicle north of Corvallis, where the driver again attempted to elude law enforcement. The vehicle entered Corvallis traveling at speeds estimated between 90 and 95 miles per hour.

At the intersection of NW 4th Street and NW Buchanan Avenue, CPD officers successfully deployed spike strips. Despite significant tire deflation, the suspect vehicle continued into the downtown area, where it collided with another vehicle near NW 4th Street and NW Monroe Avenue. The driver fled the scene of that crash and continued westbound onto SW Philomath Boulevard. While attempting to pass a semi-truck, the suspect collided the trailer, rendering the vehicle inoperable.

Officers detained the driver, identified as 30-year-old Michael Anthony Skinner of Independence, Oregon. Skinner was taken into custody without further incident. No injuries were reported because of the crashes.

A judge authorized a search warrant for a blood draw to determine Skinner’s blood alcohol content. While at the hospital, Skinner attempted to spit on medical staff and was additionally charged in connection with that incident.

Skinner was transported to and lodged at the Benton County Jail where he was charged with the following crimes by the Corvallis Police Department:

• ORS 813.010 – Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants
• ORS 811.700 – Failure to Perform Duties of a Driver
• ORS 163.195 – Recklessly Endangering Another Person
• ORS 166.070 – Aggravated Harassment

Skinner is also expected to face additional charges from other law enforcement agencies involved in this incident. The Corvallis Police Department thanks the Monmouth Police Department and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance.

SALEM, Ore. – Two loggers and a forest road builder have been chosen as Operator of the Year for their respective region of Oregon. Three regional advisory committees to the Oregon Board of Forestry selected the trio earlier this fall. The recipients will be recognized in Salem at the January meeting of the Board. The honorees are: 

• Northwest Oregon—Quality Excavation, Inc., out of Seaside, Ore.  
• Southwest Oregon—Roseburg-based Weber Logging and Construction, Inc. 
• Eastern Oregon—Boulder Ridge, LLC, headquartered in Bend, Ore.

The award recognizes forest operators who, while harvesting timber or doing other forestry work, have an excellent track record protecting natural resources and improving forest health at a level that consistently meets or exceeds requirements of the Oregon Forest Practices Act . That law requires people to manage forests responsibly and protect streams and water quality, protect and enhance habitat, and reduce landslide risks. The law also requires landowners to replant forests after harvesting.  

Videos about each of the three Operators of the Year and five Merit Award winners can be viewed on the ODF website at https://www.oregon.gov/odf/Working/Pages/default.aspx 

Emerald Valley Thinning, based in Philomath, is one of two logging companies which received the Merit Award for the Northwest Oregon Region. Owner earned the Merit Award for harvesting extremely steep slopes in the Coast Range using tethered logging and hand cutting to protect buffer trees along the Siuslaw River. They also succeeded in following new Forest Practice Act rules protecting trees in the harvest unit located in steep slope areas at risk of sliding.

The other Merit Award winner for Northwest Oregon is Rick Dennis, owner of RDL Northwest based in Lebanon, Ore. Dennis was honored for his careful planning of units to be logged. Nominators cited how he employs multiple logging methods and different types of machinery on steep units and consistently protects stream buffers and soils from disturbance.

Northwest Oregon Operator of the Year

ODF Stewardship Foresters Craig Sorter and Bryce Rodgers co-nominated Quality Excavation for Operator of the Year for the Northwest Oregon Region. Sorter said, “Small culverts installed in the first half of the 20^th century before current rules were in place often blocked fish passage, preventing fish from spawning in upstream habitat. When landowner Lewis and Clark Timberlands wanted to log a parcel in the Coast Range, they knew they would need to upgrade the road to allow hauling and replace the old culvert beneath it. So their timber management company, Nuveen, called on the highly experienced firm of Quality Excavation.” 

With an eye toward the future of the company, Quality Excavation’s founder Jay Bergeson entrusted the work of replacing the failing culvert on the North Fork of the Necanicum River in the Coast Range to his 28-year-old son Cole. Cole, who had been learning the business alongside his father from a young age, and a Quality Excavation crew, replaced the culvert with a massive new one. They then rebuilt the logging road over it to allow the landowner to harvest trees beyond that point.

Sorter said Quality Excavation had to divert the stream during the project through hundreds of yards of pipe, then dig out the old culvert, including old-growth logs that it had been placed atop. Cole then had to dig a new bed and place the larger, extra-long new culvert at an angle and level that would allow stream flow and fish passage through it. Then he anchored it in place with stone quarried on site, building the haul road back up to grade.

“Quality Excavation did an excellent job, even hiring a bobcat to lay a natural bed of rock in the pipe to make fish passage easier,” Sorter said. “No sediment got in the stream during the work and now fish are able to get to habitat upstream that was previously blocked.”

Watch a video about the company’s work at Northwest Oregon Operator of the Year for 2025, Winner - Quality Excavation, Inc. 

Eastern Oregon 

Landowner Shanda Asset Management nominated for Operator of the Year Boulder Ridge’s work thinning nearly 2,000 acres of overcrowded ponderosa pine and white fir on the eastern slopes of the Cascades. The selection committee agreed the work was exemplary and chose the firm as this year’s winner for Eastern Oregon.

“This harvest was a challenge because there wasn’t capacity at the one local mill to take all the harvested logs, so Boulder had to schedule 14 different trucks heading to Gilchrist, Sisters, Culver, Christmas Valley, and as far away as Roseburg,” said Aidan Myers, Director of Timber Operations for Shanda.

Besides reducing risk of catastrophic wildfire by reducing overcrowding, Myers also cited Boulder’s improving the health of the forest by carefully removing trees infested with dwarf mistletoe, which can kill or weaken trees, and which spreads more easily in crowded stands.

View a video of the company’s work at Eastern Oregon Operator of the Year for 2025, Winner - Boulder Ridge LLC - YouTube

Southwest Oregon 

Austin Weber and his company Weber Logging and Construction were chosen as Operator of the Year for the Southwest Oregon Region for successfully working under new Forest Practices Act rules requiring him to protect a half dozen stands of trees in especially steep areas at risk of landslides. Leaving trees in those stands served various purposes, including protecting soils from erosion and downstream water from sediments. Trees left standing would also be available when they eventually fell over to deliver woody debris for future fish habitat. To do so, Weber had to set up multiple yarding sites and haul logs up to landings on the side of the road above the harvest unit.

Michael Williams of Roseburg Forest Products, who nominated Weber, said he also protected a fish-bearing stream in the unit, avoiding damage to trees in the stream buffer.  Williams noted that Weber has for almost 20 years consistently excelled at protecting natural resources while harvesting in some of the most challenging situations in the region.

View video about Weber’s work at Southwest Oregon Operator of the Year for 2025, Winner - Weber Logging and Construction

ODF Forest Resources Division Chief Josh Barnard said, “The selection committees worked very hard this year when choosing these honors, given the high quality of the nominees.” 

Barnard said nominees showed they could meet the challenge of working under new rules that came into effect this year. The updated Oregon Forest Practices Act rules provide more protection for forest resources, such as protecting trees and soil in especially steep areas at risk of sliding.  

“Many of the harvest sites this year had quite challenging terrain,” said Barnard. “The Operators of the Year showed extraordinary care and diligence to protect slopes and streams, reduce risk of catastrophic wildfire, and improve forest health to meet landowner objectives. We’re proud to recognize those efforts.” 

Merit Awards

Merit Awards were also given to three other companies. 

Eastern Oregon 

• Forestry consultant Jeff Maben earned the Merit Award for his work with private landowners in and around Grant County, helping them improve forest health through removal of encroaching juniper and thinning of overcrowded ponderosa pine stands. His work increased water flow in local creeks, rejuvenated aspen groves, and reduced shade on mountain mahogany, an important source of winter browse for elk. It also reduced the risk of catastrophic wildfire.
• Staton Forestry received the Merit Award for a thinning operation on the Gilchrist State Forest that included removing overcrowded lodgepole and ponderosa pine trees and brush to improve forest health by reducing drought stress among remaining trees, and improved habitat for deer and elk. The work also protected neighboring communities by lowering the risk of catastrophic wildfire.

 Southwest Oregon 

• Dave Wilkerson Logging, LLC, based in Eagle Point, Ore. won the Merit Award for stopping work a number of times during an especially wet spring to avoid rutting and soil damage. He was also commended for doing an excellent job of protecting young trees in the mixed-aged stand on the western slopes of the Cascades. He also fully protected a fish-bearing stream bordering the harvest unit.

Oregon enacted the Forest Practices Act in 1971 as a national model for forest management laws. The law focuses on ensuring responsible forest operations and protecting natural resources in forestland. The Act has been updated many times based on new scientific information and values to create a balanced approach to natural resource management. 

                                                         # # # 

New webpage spotlights 2020 Labor Day Disaster survivors that OHCS has helped

SALEM, Ore. – December is the last month for survivors of the 2020 Labor Day wildfires and straight-line winds to submit new applications for the Homeowner Assistance and Reconstruction Program (HARP).

HARP is part of a suite of wildfire recovery programs called ReOregon, which is funded by a $422 million Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HARP, which opened in March 2024, helps survivor homeowners of the 2020 disasters rebuild, repair, replace, or buy a new home, as well as be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred during their recovery. OHCS has expanded eligibility criteria for these recovery pathways to help more survivors apply before the deadline.

“We really want to encourage survivors of the 2020 wildfires to apply for HARP as soon as possible before the Eligibility Questionnaire closes on Dec. 31,” said Shannon Marheine, director of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at OHCS. “The last thing we want is for a survivor not to get the help they need because they didn’t know about the program. We know some applicants heard about HARP from others, so if you know someone who is a survivor and has not yet applied, please let them know about this program.” 

If there are people hesitant about applying, OHCS urges them to visit a new webpage highlighting survivors who have been through the process and received a HARP award for a new home.

Dierdri Muñoz is a survivor from Jackson County who heard about HARP through word of mouth while out at a restaurant.

“I had just gotten my order of alfredo when I overheard a waitress talking about how her mother-in-law got help to rebuild her home,” Muñoz recalled. “I asked her about it, and she told me about ReOregon. It sounded too good to be true, but I went for it. I can only imagine where I’d be if I hadn’t gone to dinner that night.” 

With help from ACCESS, a ReOregon partner, Muñoz applied for HARP and was approved for a new home to replace the one she had lost to the Almeda Fire just two months after getting it. She moved into her home in June 2025 and is already looking forward to celebrating her first Christmas there with her granddaughter.  

“It’s such a blessing to have her through all of this,” Muñoz said. “She’s a miracle. This new house is a miracle.” 

Applying for HARP is a two-part process. First, the survivor fills out an Eligibility Questionnaire, which will help ReOregon determine whether a homeowner is qualified to apply. If found to be eligible, they will receive an email invitation to begin the full application process. OHCS encourages survivors to start the HARP application process as soon as possible, as it may take some time to gather their documentation for the application. Regional HARP Intake Centers are available to assist survivors.

During the past several months, HARP has helped 70 survivors buy a new home, and 31 other homeowners have received reimbursement funds. Some survivors have started or are close to completing reconstruction, while many more are making their way through the application process. To learn more about the application process and expanded eligibility, visit the HARP website.

To learn more about all of ReOregon’s programs, visit re.oregon.gov.

SALEM, Ore. – Two loggers and a forest road builder have been chosen as Operator of is the Year for their respective region of Oregon. Three regional advisory committees to the Oregon Board of Forestry selected the trio earlier this fall. The recipients will be recognized in Salem at the January meeting of the Board. The honorees are: 

• Southwest Oregon—Roseburg-based Weber Logging and Construction, Inc. 
• Eastern Oregon—Boulder Ridge Logging, LLC, headquartered in Bend, Ore.
• Northwest Oregon—Quality Excavation, Inc., out of Seaside, Ore.  

The award recognizes forest operators who, while harvesting timber or doing other forestry work, have an excellent track record of protecting natural resources and improving forest health at a level that consistently meets or exceeds requirements of the Oregon Forest Practices Act . That law requires people to manage forests responsibly and protect streams and water quality, protect and enhance habitat, and reduce landslide risks. The law also requires landowners to replant forests after harvesting.  

Videos about each of the three Operators of the Year and five Merit Award winners, including Dave Wilkerson Logging, LLC, based in Eagle Point, can be viewed on the ODF website at https://www.oregon.gov/odf/Working/Pages/default.aspx 

Southwest Oregon 

Austin Weber and his company Weber Logging and Construction were chosen as Operator of the Year for the Southwest Oregon Region for successfully working under new Forest Practices Act rules requiring him to protect a half dozen stands of trees in especially steep areas at risk of landslides. Leaving trees in those stands served various purposes, including protecting soils from erosion and downstream water from sediments. Trees left standing would also be available when they eventually fell over to deliver woody debris for future fish habitat. To do so, Weber had to set up multiple yarding sites and haul logs up to landings on the side of the road above the harvest unit.

Michael Williams of Roseburg Forest Products, who nominated Weber, said he also protected a fish-bearing stream in the unit, avoiding damage to trees in the stream buffer. Williams noted that Weber has for almost 20 years consistently excelled at protecting natural resources while harvesting in some of the most challenging situations in the region.

View video about Weber’s work at Southwest Oregon Operator of the Year for 2025, Winner - Weber Logging and Construction

Eastern Oregon 

Landowner Shanda Asset Management nominated for Operator of the Year Boulder Ridge’s work thinning nearly 2,000 acres of overcrowded ponderosa pine and white fir on the eastern slopes of the Cascades. The selection committee agreed the work was exemplary and chose the firm as this year’s winner for Eastern Oregon.

“This harvest was a challenge because there wasn’t capacity at the one local mill to take all the harvested logs, so Boulder had to schedule 14 different trucks heading to Gilchrist, Sisters, Culver, Christmas Valley, and as far away as Roseburg,” said Aidan Myers, Director of Timber Operations for Shanda.

Besides reducing risk of catastrophic wildfire by reducing overcrowding, Myers also cited Boulder’s improving the health of the forest by carefully removing trees infested with dwarf mistletoe, which can kill or weaken trees, and which spreads more easily in crowded stands.

View a video of the company’s work at Eastern Oregon Operator of the Year for 2025, Winner - Boulder Ridge LLC - YouTube

Northwest Oregon 

ODF Stewardship Foresters Craig Sorter and Bryce Rodgers co-nominated Quality Excavation for Operator of the Year for the Northwest Oregon Region. Sorter said, “Small culverts installed in the first half of the 20^th century before current rules were in place often blocked fish passage, preventing fish from spawning in upstream habitat. When landowner Lewis and Clark Timberlands wanted to log a parcel in the Coast Range, they knew they would need to upgrade the road to allow hauling and replace the old culvert beneath it. So their timber management company Nuveen called on the highly experienced firm of Quality Excavation.” 

With an eye toward the future of the company, Quality Excavation’s founder Jay Bergeson entrusted the work of replacing the failing culvert on the North Fork of the Necanicum River in the Coast Range to his 28-year-old son Cole. Cole, who had been learning the business alongside his father from a young age, and a Quality Excavation crew, replaced the culvert with a massive new one. They then rebuilt the logging road over it to allow the landowner to harvest trees beyond that point.

Sorter said Quality Excavation had to divert the stream during the project through hundreds of yards of pipe, then dig out the old culvert, including old-growth logs that it had been placed atop. Cole then had to dig a new bed and place the larger, extra-long new culvert at an angle and level that would allow stream flow and fish passage through it. Then he anchored it in place with stone quarried on site, building the haul road back up to grade.

Watch a video about the company’s work at Northwest Oregon Operator of the Year for 2025, Winner - Quality Excavation, Inc. 

ODF Forest Resources Division Chief Josh Barnard said, “The selection committees worked very hard this year when choosing these honors, given the high quality of the nominees.” 

Barnard said nominees showed they could meet the challenge of working under new rules that came into effect this year. The updated Oregon Forest Practices Act rules provide more protection for forest resources, such as protecting trees and soil in especially steep areas at risk of sliding.  

“Many of the harvest sites this year had quite challenging terrain,” said Barnard. “The Operators of the Year showed extraordinary care and diligence to protect slopes and streams, reduce risk of catastrophic wildfire, and improve forest health to meet landowner objectives. We’re proud to recognize those efforts.” 

Merit Awards

Merit Awards were also given to five other companies. 

 Southwest Oregon 

• Dave Wilkerson Logging, LLC, based in Eagle Point, Ore. won the Merit Award for stopping work a number of times during an especially wet spring to avoid rutting and soil damage. He was also commended for doing an excellent job of protecting young trees in the mixed-aged stand on the western slopes of the Cascades. He also fully protected a fish-bearing stream bordering the harvest unit.

Eastern Oregon 

• Forestry consultant Jeff Maben earned the Merit Award for his work with private landowners in and around Grant County, helping them improve forest health through removal of encroaching juniper and thinning of overcrowded ponderosa pine stands. His work increased water flow in local creeks, rejuvenated aspen groves, and reduced shade on mountain mahogany, an important source of winter browse for elk. It also reduced the risk of catastrophic wildfire.
• Staton Forestry received the Merit Award for a thinning operation on the Gilchrist State Forest that included removing overcrowded lodgepole and ponderosa pine trees and brush to improve forest health by reducing drought stress among remaining trees, and improve habitat for deer and elk. It also protected neighboring communities by lowering the risk of catastrophic wildfire.

Northwest Oregon 

• Emerald Valley Thinning based in Philomath, Ore., earned the Merit Award for harvesting extremely steep slopes in the Coast Range using tethered logging and hand cutting to protect buffer trees along the Siuslaw River. They also succeeded in following new Forest Practice Act rules protecting trees in the harvest unit located in steep slope areas at risk of sliding.
• Rick Dennis of RDL Northwest, headquartered in Lebanon, Ore., received the Merit Award for his careful planning of units to be harvested. Nominators cited how he employs multiple logging methods and different types of machinery on steep units and consistently protects stream buffers and soils from disturbance.

Oregon enacted the Forest Practices Act in 1971 as a national model for forest management laws. The law focuses on ensuring responsible forest operations and protecting natural resources in forestland. The Act has been updated many times based on new scientific information and values to create a balanced approach to natural resource management. 

                                                         # # # 

SALEM, Ore. – Two loggers and a forest road builder have been chosen as Operator of is the Year for their respective region of Oregon. Three regional advisory committees to the Oregon Board of Forestry selected the trio earlier this fall. The recipients will be recognized in Salem at the January meeting of the Board. The honorees are: 

• Eastern Oregon—Boulder Ridge, LLC, headquartered in Bend, Ore.
• Southwest Oregon—Roseburg-based Weber Logging and Construction, Inc. 
• Northwest Oregon—Quality Excavation, Inc., out of Seaside, Ore.  

The award recognizes forest operators who, while harvesting timber or doing other forestry work, protect natural resources at a level that consistently meets or exceeds requirements of the Oregon Forest Practices Act . That law requires people to manage forests responsibly and protect streams and water quality, protect and enhance habitat, and reduce landslide risks. The law also requires landowners to replant forests after harvesting.  

Videos about each of the three Operators of the Year and five Merit Award winners, including Jeff Maben in Grant County and Staton Forestry for work done on the Gilchrist State Forest, can be viewed on the ODF website at https://www.oregon.gov/odf/Working/Pages/default.aspx 

Eastern Oregon 

Landowner Shanda Asset Management nominated for Operator of the Year Boulder Ridge’s work thinning nearly 2,000 acres of overcrowded ponderosa pine and white fir on the eastern slopes of the Cascades. The selection committee agreed the work was exemplary and chose the firm as this year’s top operator for Eastern Oregon.

“This harvest was a challenge because there wasn’t capacity at the one local mill to take all the harvested logs, so Boulder had to schedule 14 different trucks heading to Gilchrist, Sisters, Culver, Christmas Valley, and as far away as Roseburg,” said Aidan Myers, Director of Timber Operations for Shanda.

Besides reducing risk of catastrophic wildfire by reducing overcrowding, Myers also cited Boulder’s improving the health of the forest by carefully removing trees infested with dwarf mistletoe, which can kill or weaken trees, and which spreads more easily in crowded stands.

View a video of the company’s work at Eastern Oregon Operator of the Year for 2025, Winner - Boulder Ridge LLC - YouTube

Southwest Oregon 

Austin Weber and his company Weber Logging and Construction were chosen as Operator of the Year for the Southwest Oregon Region for successfully working under new Forest Practices Act rules requiring him to protect a half dozen stands of trees in especially steep areas at risk of landslides. Leaving trees in those stands served various purposes, including protecting soils from erosion and downstream water from sediments. Trees left standing would also be available when they eventually fell over to deliver woody debris for future fish habitat. To do so, Weber had to set up multiple yarding sites and haul logs up to landings on the side of the road above the harvest unit.

Michael Williams of Roseburg Forest Products, who nominated Weber, said he also protected a fish-bearing stream in the unit, avoiding damage to trees in the stream buffer. Williams noted that Weber has for almost 20 years consistently excelled at protecting natural resources while harvesting in some of the most challenging situations in the region.

View video about Weber’s work at Southwest Oregon Operator of the Year for 2025, Winner - Weber Logging and Construction

a

Northwest Oregon 

ODF Stewardship Foresters Craig Sorter and Bryce Rodgers co-nominated Quality Excavation for Operator of the Year for the Northwest Oregon Region. Sorter said, “Small culverts installed in the first half of the 20^th century before current rules were in place often blocked fish passage, preventing fish from spawning in upstream habitat. When landowner Lewis and Clark Timberlands wanted to log a parcel in the Coast Range, they knew they would need to upgrade the road to allow hauling and replace the old culvert beneath it. So their timber management company Nuveen called on the highly experienced firm of Quality Excavation.” 

With an eye toward the future of the company, Quality Excavation’s founder Jay Bergeson entrusted the work of replacing the failing culvert on the North Fork of the Necanicum River in the Coast Range to his 28-year-old son Cole. Cole, who had been learning the business alongside his father from a young age, and a Quality Excavation crew, replaced the culvert with a massive new one. They then rebuilt the logging road over it to allow the landowner to harvest trees beyond that point.

Sorter said Quality Excavation had to divert the stream during the project through hundreds of yards of pipe, then dig out the old culvert, including old-growth logs that it had been placed atop. Cole then had to dig a new bed and place the larger, extra-long new culvert at an angle and level that would allow stream flow and fish passage through it. Then he anchored it in place with stone quarried on site, building the haul road back up to grade.

“Quality Excavation did an excellent job, even hiring a bobcat to lay a natural bed of rock in the pipe to make fish passage easier,” Sorter said. “No sediment got in the stream during the work and now fish are able to get to habitat upstream that was previously blocked.”

Watch a video about the company’s work at Northwest Oregon Operator of the Year for 2025, Winner - Quality Excavation, Inc. 

ODF Forest Resources Division Chief Josh Barnard said, “the selection committees worked very hard this year when choosing these honors, given the high quality of the nominees.” 

Barnard said nominees showed they could meet the challenge of working under new rules that came into effect this year. The updated Oregon Forest Practices Act rules provide more protection for forest resources, such as protecting trees and soil in especially steep areas at risk of sliding.  

“Many of the harvest sites this year had quite challenging terrain,” said Barnard. “The Operators of the Year showed extraordinary care and diligence to protect slopes and streams, reduce risk of catastrophic wildfire, and improve forest health to meet landowner objectives. We’re proud to recognize those efforts.” 

Merit Awards

Merit Awards were also given to five other companies. 

Eastern Oregon 

• Forestry consultant Jeff Maben earned the Merit Award for his work with private landowners in and around Grant County, helping them improve forest health through removal of encroaching juniper and thinning of overcrowded ponderosa pine stands. His work increased water flow in local creeks, rejuvenated aspen groves, and reduced shade on mountain mahogany, an important source of winter browse for elk. It also reduced the risk of catastrophic wildfire.
• Staton Forestry received the Merit Award for a thinning operation on the Gilchrist State Forest that included removing overcrowded lodgepole and ponderosa pine trees and brush to improve forest health by reducing drought stress among remaining trees while improving habitat for deer and elk. It also protected neighboring communities by lowering the risk of catastrophic wildfire.

Southwest Oregon 

• Dave Wilkerson Logging, LLC, based in Eagle Point, Ore. won the Merit Award for stopping work a number of times during an especially wet spring to avoid rutting and soil damage. He was also commended for doing an excellent job of protecting young trees in the mixed-aged stand on the western slopes of the Cascades. He also fully protected a fish-bearing stream bordering the harvest unit.

Northwest Oregon 

• Emerald Valley Thinning based in Philomath, Ore., earned the Merit Award for harvesting extremely steep slopes in the Coast Range using tethered logging and hand cutting to protect buffer trees along the Siuslaw River. They also succeeded in following new Forest Practice Act rules protecting trees in the harvest unit located in steep slope areas at risk of sliding.
• Rick Dennis of RDL Northwest, headquartered in Lebanon, Ore., received the Merit Award for his careful planning of units to be harvested. Nominators cited how he employs multiple logging methods and different types of machinery on steep units and consistently protects stream buffers and soils from disturbance.

Oregon enacted the Forest Practices Act in 1971 as a national model for forest management laws. The law focuses on ensuring responsible forest operations and protecting natural resources in forestland. The Act has been updated many times based on new scientific information and values to create a balanced approach to natural resource management. 

                                                         # # # 

SALEM, Ore. – Two loggers and a forest road builder have been chosen as Operator of the Year for their respective region of Oregon. Three regional advisory committees to the Oregon Board of Forestry selected the trio earlier this fall. The recipients will be recognized in Salem at the January meeting of the Board. The honorees are: 

• Eastern Oregon—Boulder Ridge, LLC, headquartered in Bend, Ore.

• Northwest Oregon—Quality Excavation, Inc., out of Seaside, Ore.  

• Southwest Oregon—Weber Logging and Construction, Inc. of Roseburg, Ore.

The award recognizes forest operators who, while harvesting timber or doing other forestry work, have an excellent track record of protecting natural resources and improving forest health at a level that consistently meets or exceeds requirements of the Oregon Forest Practices Act . That law requires people to manage forests responsibly and protect streams and water quality, protect and enhance habitat, and reduce landslide risks. The law also requires landowners to replant forests after harvesting.  

Videos about each of the three Operators of the Year and five Merit Award winners can be viewed on the ODF website at https://www.oregon.gov/odf/Working/Pages/default.aspx 

Eastern Oregon 

Landowner Shanda Asset Management nominated for Operator of the Year Boulder Ridge’s work thinning nearly 2,000 acres of overcrowded ponderosa pine and white fir on the eastern slopes of the Cascades. The selection committee agreed the work was exemplary and chose the firm as this year’s winner for Eastern Oregon.

“This harvest was a challenge because there wasn’t capacity at the one local mill to take all the harvested logs, so Boulder had to schedule 14 different trucks heading to Gilchrist, Sisters, Culver, Christmas Valley, and as far away as Roseburg,” said Aidan Myers, Director of Timber Operations for Shanda.

Besides reducing risk of catastrophic wildfire by reducing overcrowding, Myers also cited Boulder’s improving the health of the forest by carefully removing trees infested with dwarf mistletoe, which can kill or weaken trees, and which spreads more easily in crowded stands.

View a video of the company’s work at Eastern Oregon Operator of the Year for 2025, Winner - Boulder Ridge LLC - YouTube

Northwest Oregon 

ODF Stewardship Foresters Craig Sorter and Bryce Rodgers co-nominated Quality Excavation for Operator of the Year for the Northwest Oregon Region. Sorter said, “Small culverts installed in the first half of the 20^th century before current rules were in place often blocked fish passage, preventing fish from spawning in upstream habitat. When landowner Lewis and Clark Timberlands wanted to log a parcel in the Coast Range, they knew they would need to upgrade the road to allow hauling and replace the old culvert beneath it. So their timber management company Nuveen called on the highly experienced firm of Quality Excavation.” 

With an eye toward the future of the company, Quality Excavation’s founder Jay Bergeson entrusted the work of replacing the failing culvert on the North Fork of the Necanicum River in the Coast Range to his 28-year-old son Cole. Cole, who had been learning the business alongside his father from a young age, and a Quality Excavation crew, replaced the culvert with a massive new one. They then rebuilt the logging road over it to allow the landowner to harvest trees beyond that point.

Sorter said Quality Excavation had to divert the stream during the project through hundreds of yards of pipe, then dig out the old culvert, including old-growth logs that it had been placed atop. Cole then had to dig a new bed and place the larger, extra-long new culvert at an angle and level that would allow stream flow and fish passage through it. Then he anchored it in place with stone quarried on site, building the haul road back up to grade.

“Quality Excavation did an excellent job, even hiring a bobcat to lay a natural bed of rock in the pipe to make fish passage easier,” Sorter said. “No sediment got in the stream during the work and now fish are able to get to habitat upstream that was previously blocked.”

Watch a video about the company’s work at Northwest Oregon Operator of the Year for 2025, Winner - Quality Excavation, Inc. 

Southwest Oregon 

Austin Weber and his company Weber Logging and Construction were chosen as Operator of the Year for the Southwest Oregon Region for successfully working under new Forest Practices Act rules requiring him to protect a half dozen stands of trees in especially steep areas at risk of landslides. Leaving trees in those stands served various purposes, including protecting soils from erosion and downstream water from sediments. Trees left standing would also be available when they eventually fell over to deliver woody debris for future fish habitat. To do so, Weber had to set up multiple yarding sites and haul logs up to landings on the side of the road above the harvest unit.

Michael Williams of Roseburg Forest Products, who nominated Weber, said he also protected a fish-bearing stream in the unit, avoiding damage to trees in the stream buffer. Williams noted that Weber has for almost 20 years consistently excelled at protecting natural resources while harvesting in some of the most challenging situations in the region.

View video about Weber’s work at Southwest Oregon Operator of the Year for 2025, Winner - Weber Logging and Construction

Merit Awards

Merit Awards were also given to five other companies. 

Eastern Oregon 

• Forestry consultant Jeff Maben earned the Merit Award for his work with private landowners in and around Grant County, helping them improve forest health through removal of encroaching juniper and thinning of overcrowded ponderosa pine stands. His work increased water flow in local creeks, rejuvenated aspen groves, and reduced shade on mountain mahogany, an important source of winter browse for elk. It also reduced the risk of catastrophic wildfire.
• Staton Forestry received the Merit Award for a thinning operation on the Gilchrist State Forest that included removing overcrowded lodgepole and ponderosa pine trees and brush to improve forest health by reducing drought stress among remaining trees while improving habitat for deer and elk. The thinning also protected neighboring communities from the risk of catastrophic wildfire.

Northwest Oregon 

• Emerald Valley Thinning based in Philomath, Ore., earned the Merit Award for harvesting extremely steep slopes in the Coast Range using tethered logging and hand cutting to protect buffer trees along the Siuslaw River. They also succeeded in following new Forest Practice Act rules protecting trees in the harvest unit located in steep slope areas at risk of sliding.
• Rick Dennis of RDL Northwest, headquartered in Lebanon, Ore., received the Merit Award for his careful planning of units to be harvested. Nominators cited how he employs multiple logging methods and different types of machinery on steep units and consistently protects stream buffers and soils from disturbance.

 Southwest Oregon 

• Dave Wilkerson Logging, LLC, based in Eagle Point, Ore. won the Merit Award for stopping work a number of times during an especially wet spring to avoid rutting and soil damage. He was also commended for doing an excellent job of protecting young trees in the mixed-aged stand on the western slopes of the Cascades. He also fully protected a fish-bearing stream bordering the harvest unit.

ODF Forest Resources Division Chief Josh Barnard said, “the selection committees worked very hard this year when choosing these honors, given the high quality of the nominees.” 

Barnard said nominees showed they could meet the challenge of working under new rules that came into effect this year. The updated Oregon Forest Practices Act rules provide more protection for forest resources, such as protecting trees and soil in especially steep areas at risk of sliding.  

“Many of the harvest sites this year had quite challenging terrain,” said Barnard. “The Operators of the Year showed extraordinary care and diligence to protect slopes and streams, reduce risk of catastrophic wildfire, and improve forest health to meet landowner objectives. We’re proud to recognize those efforts.” 

Oregon enacted the Forest Practices Act in 1971 as a national model for forest management laws. The law focuses on ensuring responsible forest operations and protecting natural resources in forestland. The Act has been updated many times based on new scientific information and values to create a balanced approach to natural resource management. 

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CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying an adult male found deceased in the Willamette River on November 29, 2025.

At approximately 4:15 p.m., deputies responded to the west side of the river near Hyak Park after receiving a report from a river-goer of a body floating at river mile 122. Patrol deputies located the individual by boat and recovered the body.

Investigators have released the following identifying details:

• Two tattoos: one on the upper left arm and one on the right ribcage
• A scar on the abdomen near the navel
• Race is undetermined at this time

Based on available information and limited descriptors, the Sheriff’s Office has been unsuccessful in identifying this male. A Benton County Deputy Medical Examiner estimates the man has likely been in the water over a week. The cause of death is currently undetermined.

Anyone with information that may help identify this individual is urged to contact BCSO at BentonCoSheriff@bentoncountyor.gov or call 541-753-8477 (TIPS). The man’s name will be released once identification is confirmed and next of kin are notified.

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Salem, Ore. – The Oregon Lottery will return more than $887 million to the state for the 2025 fiscal year. Compared to the previous year, the transfer is approximately $60 million less due largely to 2024 administrative savings that weren’t available this year. The transferred amount includes unclaimed prizes totaling $9 million.

The funding directly benefits state parks and natural habitats, public schools, veteran services, outdoor school, and economic development. Oregon Lottery is self-funded through the sale of games, not tax dollars, and voters and the Legislature designate where the money goes.

“Playing Oregon Lottery games helps fund critical Oregon programs,” said Oregon Lottery Director Mike Wells. “Wins don’t just benefit players, they also boost local retailers and contribute directly to local communities.”

Oregon had 12 players who took home prizes worth $1 million or more, including four Powerball wins and four Oregon Megabucks wins. Overall, lucky lottery players earned payouts totaling nearly $15.9 billion for the year. Prizes account for about 92% of the Lottery dollars played.

Sales commissions on Lottery games also support retailers, many of whom are small business owners. The 3,800 Lottery retailers across Oregon collectively earned $306 million in commissions this year. 

Since 2016, Oregon Lottery has maintained the highest level of accreditation for responsible gambling from both the National Association of State and Provincial Lotteries/National Council on Problem Gambling and the World Lottery Association’s (WLA) Responsible Gambling programs. Oregon is one of only 11 lotteries in the U.S. to reach this level by the WLA.

The Lottery’s financial year runs from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. A final audited report is posted to Oregon Lottery’s website under “Proceeds and Financials.”

Celebrating 40 years of selling games since April 25, 1985, Oregon Lottery has earned nearly $16.5 billion for economic development, public education, outdoor school, state parks, veteran services, and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org.

The Oregon State Marine Board received a petition on October 24, 2025, regarding the administrative rules (OAR) affecting Ana Reservoir in Lake County. Petitioners are asking the Marine Board to update OAR 250-020-0211: “Ana Reservoir:  A person must not operate a motorboat in excess of a slow-no wake speed.”

The comment period closes December 31, 2025, at 11:59 pm. The Board will consider the petition during its January 29, 2026, board meeting, being held in Salem. If the Board votes to accept the petition and initiate rulemaking, there will be additional opportunities for public comment and engagement prior to adoption of new rule language.

Written comments can be submitted by email to .cooper@boat.oregon.gov">jennifer.cooper@boat.oregon.gov or by U.S. mail to: Jennifer Cooper, Administrative Rules Coordinator, Oregon State Marine Board, 435 Commercial Street NE, Salem, OR 97301.

To view the petition, visit the Marine Board’s Rulemaking and Public Notices page.

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