November 28, 2022

Contacts: Liz Gharst, 971-666-2476, eth.a.gharst@dhsoha.state.or.us">Elizabeth.a.gharst@dhsoha.state.or.us (media inquiries)

Tara Chetock, 971-304-9917, a.a.chetock@dhsoha.state.or.us">tara.a.chetock@dhsoha.state.or.us (meeting information or accommodation)

Oregon Health Policy Board meets December 6, via Zoom

What: A public meeting of the Oregon Health Policy Board.

When: December 6, 8:30 am – 12:00 pm

Where: Virtual meeting only. The public can join remotely via Zoom or a conference line.

To join via Zoom: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1604737337?pwd=WEJFeWJick9oVCsrT0RwcjEwaWdWZz09

To call in to the meeting on a mobile device, use the following number:

+16692545252,, 1604737337#,,,,,,0#,, 136235#

Proposed topics for the meeting agenda are listed below. The final meeting agenda and supporting materials will be posted on the OHPB website prior to the meeting. 

Agenda:

1. Roll Call, Welcome & Minutes Approval;
2. OHA Updates;
3. Post-Public Health Emergency (PHE) Eligibility Renewals Planning Updates;
4. OHA Government Relations: Leadership Transition and Legislative Preview;
5. Public Comment;
6. Health Equity Committee (HEC): Proposed Membership Slate & Charter Updates;
7. Oregon Coordinated Care Organization (CCO) Legislative Report Update;
8. Bridge Program: Task Force and Actuarial Analysis Update;
9. Closing Comments & Meeting Adjourn;

To provide public comment, please submit your request for public comment at least 48 hours prior to the meeting at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OHPB-Public-Comment

For more information and meeting materials, please visit the OHPB meeting webpage at https://www.oregon.gov/oha/OHPB/Pages/index.aspx

# # #

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

• Sign language and spoken language interpreters
• CART (Communication Access Real-time Translation)
• Written materials in other languages
• Braille
• Large print
• Audio and other formats

If you need help or have questions, please contact Tara Chetock at 971-304-9917, 711 TTY, a.a.chetock@dhsoha.state.or.us">tara.a.chetock@dhsoha.state.or.us, at least 48 hours before the meeting.

OREGON CITY - Clackamas Community College’s Associated Student Government and Multicultural Center are hosting a Harry-Potter-themed Yule Ball on Saturday, Dec. 3, 6-9 p.m.

The public is invited to this free, family-friendly event. There will be dancing, snacks, cookie decorating, crafts and games. Dress up, or come as you are.

The Yule Ball will be held in the Wacheno Welcome Center on the Oregon City campus, located at 19600 Molalla Ave. For questions, email asgcampact@clackamas.edu.

The members of Clackamas Community College's Associated Student Government spend the year coordinating services and activities at the college and representing the student body at the college levels. The ASG serves students in many ways, including offering grants, locker rentals, textbook library and a food and/or hygiene item pantry. They also host fun activities throughout the year to inspire student involvement and engagement.

The CCC Multicultural Center educates the college community about different cultures through monthly events and activities. Students from underrepresented populations are especially encouraged to join a leadership role within the Multicultural Center and use the center as a safe and welcoming space to gather, study, pray and learn.

For more information about Clackamas Community College, visit www.clackamas.edu. 

-30-

The Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Troopers from the Pendleton Area Command received information on several individuals who were unlawfully taking big game animals. In the summer of 2020 Troopers began gathering information and evidence over the following year, which led to the service of a search warrant at a Pendleton residence in December of 2021. Evidence seized from the search warrant included 6 sets of deer antlers, and 3 sets of elk antlers, including a 7x7 trophy bull elk, a rifle, a bow, and meat. The investigation and search warrant led to the indictment of Walker Erickson, (28) of Pendleton, Oregon, and Hunter Wagner, (23) of Pilot Rock, Oregon.

In October of 2022, Walker Erickson was indicted on the following:

-3 Counts of Unlawful Take of a Cow Elk

-4 Counts of Unlawful Take of a Whitetail Buck

-2 Counts of Unlawful Take of a Mule Deer Buck

-4 Counts of Unlawful Take of Bull Elk

-3 Counts of Waste of Game

-1 Count of Unlawful Possession of Big Game

-1 Count of Hunting While Criminally Trespassing

-1 Count of Hunting on Another’s Cultivated or Enclosed Land

-1 Count of Hunting from a Motor Vehicle

-2 Counts of Tampering with Physical Evidence

In October of 2022, Hunter Wagner was indicted on the following:

-7 Counts of Counseling, Aiding, or Assisting in Another’s Unlawful Take of a Big Game Animal

The Oregon State Police would like to thank the public for the tips regarding this large and extensive investigation. This case is being prosecuted by the Anti-Poaching Prosecutor with the Department of Justice in coordination with the Umatilla County District Attorney’s Office.

Report Wildlife and Habitat Law Violators

The Turn in Poachers (TIP) program offers preference points or cash rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation, to a suspect, for the unlawful killing of wildlife, and or waste of big game. Cash rewards can also be awarded for turning in people who destroy habitat, illegally obtain licenses/tags, and for unlawful lending/borrowing of big game tags. Learn more: https://www.oregon.gov/osp/programs/fw/Pages/tip.aspx

The Stop Poaching Campaign educates the public on how to recognize and report poaching. This campaign is a collaboration among state agencies, sportsmen, and other conservationists, landowners, and recreationists to engage the public in combatting Oregon's poaching problem. Our goal is to: Incentivize reporting on wildlife crimes through the TIP Line; Strengthen enforcement by increasing the number of OSP Fish and Wildlife Troopers, and Support prosecution in becoming an effective deterrent. The campaign helps to protect and enhance Oregon's fish and wildlife and their habitat for the enjoyment of present and future generations. 

Campaign Sponsors include Oregon State Police, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon State Marine Board, Oregon Hunters Association, Oregon Wildlife Coalition, and Oregon Outfitters & Guides Association.

Report a Wildlife or Habitat Law Violation or Suspicious Activity 

Dial 1-800-452-7888 or OSP (677) from a mobile phone or via email at TIP@osp.oregon.gov​

Please be advised that the Bulletin does not include all calls for service to which officers respond.  Many calls do not require that a report be written; such as:

•Traffic Stops

•Advising/Referring a Person to the Proper Agency to handle their request

•Restoring the Peace

•Premise Checks

•Welfare Checks

•Flagged Down by Citizen

For immediate release: Monday, Nov. 28, 2022 | Portland, Ore. After several weeks of relying on our supplemental water source, groundwater from the Columbia South Shore Well Field, the Portland Water Bureau returned to 100 percent Bull Run water last week. The groundwater system allowed us to provide clean, safe drinking water to the region despite two extreme weather events that impacted our Bull Run supply: record-breaking hot, dry temperatures that extended well into fall; and an atmospheric river of rainfall that resulted increased turbidity in the Bull Run supply. 

“Providing clean and safe drinking water to the region during these extremes is impressive,” Portland Water Bureau Director Gabriel Solmer said. She credits the bureau’s ability to respond to the unanticipated events of the last two months without service interruption to staff members’ excellent preparedness and skill and the community’s ongoing investment in the water system.

“We know that climate change and other unknown risks will threaten our water supply. When you pay your water bill, you’re investing in our community’s ability to endure these challenges now and in the future.”

Why we activated our groundwater system

In early November, intense storms flushed nearly seven billion gallons of water of into the Bull Run Reservoirs in a 24-hour period, bringing with it a significant amount of organic material that resulted in elevated turbidity (cloudiness) levels. Elevated turbidity makes water treatment less effective. 

On Nov. 5, we switched to groundwater to provide 100 percent of our water supply. This was the third activation of our groundwater system this year. The first activation, in August, was for the annual maintenance run to make sure wells and pumps were working properly. In October — the second activation — we relied on the system to supplement the Bull Run water supply as dry, hot temperatures persisted well into fall.

Take note! After a turbidity event, it can take up to two weeks to receive 100 percent Bull Run water, depending on your location. As the Bull Run water moves into the system, people may notice a slight tea-like color in the water. This discoloration is harmless and should clear as the reservoirs refill with new rainfall. If you have concerns about the quality of your water, contact us: waterline@portlandoregon.gov">wbwaterline@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-7525.

Water system investments matter 

Our ability to reliably provide clean, safe water for future generations relies on ongoing investments in our water system. 

The groundwater system is an important supplemental water source that allows us to stay flexible and adapt. It performed well but is not intended to be a primary water source and cannot meet long-term community demand for water. A new Bull Run water filtration facility will further improve our ability to respond to storms and treat for Cryptosporidium or other naturally occurring organisms that exist in the watershed. Construction on the facility will begin in 2023, and the facility is planned to be operational in 2027. 

Thankful for the water experts who make it happen

Supplying drinking water to nearly one million Oregonians requires a dedicated, highly skilled workforce. The Portland Water Bureau employs about 600 people.

“When you turn on the tap and the water is there without complication, it’s easy to overlook the complex work that makes it happen,” said Chris Wanner, Director of Operations. “Engineers, construction crews, planners, customer service staff, lab techs — the list of specific expertise is long. These public servants work hard every day to protect our health and safety.”

Learn more

Groundwater: portland.gov/water/groundwater

Bull Run Filtration: portland.gov/water/bullruntreatment/filtration 

Questions about water quality at your Portland property?

Call the Water Line at 503-823-7525 or email waterline@portlandoregon.gov">wbwaterline@portlandoregon.gov. 

About the Portland Water Bureau

The Portland Water Bureau serves water to almost a million people in the Portland area. Portland’s water system includes two great water sources, 53 tanks and reservoirs, and 2,200 miles of pipes. With 600 employees working on everything from water treatment to customer service, the Water Bureau is committed to serving excellent water every minute of every day.

On November 25, 2022 the Lane County Sheriff’s Office received information that an adult male had been struck by a train along the Union Pacific rail line by Salmon Creek Rd. in Oakridge.  Oregon State Troopers were first to arrive on scene and attempted life-saving efforts including CPR.   However, the male did not survive.

The involved male was identified as 57-year-old Derek Lee Berling of Oakridge. 

Preliminary investigation indicates that Berling was running westbound along the railroad tracks prior to being struck.  He was reportedly wearing headphones and did not respond when train operators sounded a horn multiple times.  Despite conducting an emergency stop, train operators were unable to stop the train in time to avoid a collision. 

EVERGREEN VIRTUAL ACADEMY

NOTICE OF MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

NOVEMBER 29, 2022, 6:30PM

Evergreen Virtual Academy Board Members are hereby notified that a Regular Meeting of the Board will be held via Zoom Webinar at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87254322950

Or Telephone:

Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):

US: +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 9128 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592

HILLSBORO, Ore.- 

On November 28, 2022, Washington County Circuit Judge Oscar Garcia sentenced Marcus Esa Paul, age 25, to 110 months in prison for his earlier convictions for Kidnapping, Criminal Mistreatment, and Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle.  Departing upward from the presumptive sentence, the judge cited the aggravated nature of the case and the vulnerability of the child victim.  The victim’s parents attended the sentencing hearing and made a statement to the court.

Mr. Paul will be supervised for three years of post-prison supervision when eventually released.  He will be transferred immediately to the Oregon Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence.

Original information:

On September 30, 2022, a Washington County jury found Marcus Esa Paul, age 25, guilty of all charges following a four-day trial.  Mr. Paul was convicted of Kidnapping in the Second Degree, three counts of Criminal Mistreatment in the First Degree and Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle. 

The incident began at 6:30 AM on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, in the city of Tualatin.  The victim’s father was picking up a dog at Oregon Dog Rescue on SW Nyberg Rd.  As he stood near his minivan, Mr. Paul jumped inside the vehicle and drove away.  The victim’s 9-month-old son was in a car seat in the van.  Mr. Paul sped away, eventually onto Interstate 205.  He exited the freeway in Oregon City and looked for a place to leave the child.  He found a relatively remote section of a residential area and abandoned the baby on the ground behind a guardrail, near the edge of a steep slope.  He then continued northbound on I-205, as police tracked him using cell phone technology.  Mr. Paul left the minivan at a location off NE Prescott St. known by police for stolen car transactions and fled on foot across rush-hour traffic on the I-205 freeway.  He attempted to hide underneath several bags of another person’s belongings on the Parkrose MAX platform, but he was soon apprehended by pursuing Portland and Tualatin Police officers.

A citizen who had been walking her dog in Oregon City found the infant in the brush and called 911. The child was uninjured.

This investigation was a collaboration between the Tualatin Police, the Portland Police Bureau, and the Oregon City Police Department.  The DA’s office would like to acknowledge the excellent work by all agencies.

Vancouver, Wash. – County Manger Kathleen Otto has presented her recommended 2023 budget to the county council for consideration. 

“The recommendations for the 2023 annual budget address appropriate level of reserves; minimizing impacts to services and residents; and critical needs,” Otto said during a presentation to council. “Additional budget items will be considered in early 2023 including compensation considerations, capital projects, and any outstanding jail transition-related items.”

The Clark County Council will consider the $721.2 million budget during public hearings that begin at 2 pm Monday, Dec. 5. At this first hearing, the county’s other elected officials will be first to testify on budgets proposed by their departments. Council will continue the public hearing to 10 am Tuesday, Dec. 6 in order to hear public testimony regarding the budget. If needed, the budget hearing will be continued to 10 am Wednesday, Dec. 7.

All hearings are held in a hybrid format with the option of attending in person or via Webex. Anyone wishing to attend in person may do so in the sixth-floor hearing room in the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St. Those wishing to participate in a virtual format can go to the county’s website at https://clark.wa.gov/councilors/clark-county-council-meetings and follow the instructions listed under the date of the hearing.

All hearings will be broadcast live on CVTV channel 23/323 and www.cvtv.org.

Details on the proposed budget are on the county’s website at https://clark.wa.gov/budget/2023-budget.

SALEM, Ore.—A $20 million landscape resiliency grant program is making Oregon’s landscapes more resistant to the threat of wildfire by treatments done through unique partnerships with private landowners and other local, county, state, and federal agencies.

Oregon’s 2021 Legislature invested nearly $195 million to address Oregon’s wildfire crisis through Senate Bill 762. Of this $195 million, $20 million created a two-year landscape resiliency and mitigation grant program that the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) has been administering. 

“Projects like this are a major step towards protecting communities and natural resources in Oregon by making forests healthier and more resilient in the face of changing climate and wildfire environment,” said Cal Mukumoto, Oregon’s State Forester,” said Cal Mukumoto, Oregon’s State Forester.

 Just over 200,000 acres of Oregon landscapes are planned to be treated by June 2023 when the program ends. These projects in some of the highest-risk landscapes will greatly reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire in those treated areas. Not only will it make the forestland around communities and resources safer, but it will also encourage forest health, resiliency, ecosystem health, and shared stewardship. 

Recently, a small group of experts that helped ODF design project criteria met on a cold sunny day in Sisters to see this program unfold.

“We went to see five different projects—five different stories of what landscape resiliency looks like,” said Jeff Burns, ODF’s All Lands Initiatives Unit Manager. “These five projects boasted just shy of 2,000 acres of fuels mitigation and resiliency work. However, the real highlight of the tour was the focus on what our partnerships and relationships can achieve together. The support and collaboration of these diverse groups are key to the success of getting this work done on the ground in such a short period of time.”

The tour highlighted innovative technology such as air curtain burners, fuels mitigation creating in-stream habitat, fuels reduction with an element of wildlife habitat management, slash burning, and mastication groundwork. 

Some of the projects visited included: 

• The Upper Deschutes Watershed Council removed trees on 58 acres that provided approximately 750 trees to be used for in-stream work and habitat restoration.
• The Ponderosa Land & Cattle Company project that included 727 acres of roadside brushing, thinning, mowing and mastication for fuel breaks. It also treated 590 acres of unit mowing, mastication, thinning and ladder fuels.
• The Black Butte Ranch project highlighted the use of an air curtain burner that can be used to dispose debris from their project of 79 acres of roadside brushing, thinning, stump grinding, limb removal, and mastication. Two other private landowners had projects concentrated on thinning and pruning pine trees, removal of juniper, mastication of ladder fuels such as bitterbrush, and burn piles. 
• The Ludwick Property Project treated 170 acres
• The Glynn Property Project treated 200 acres.

“Access to programs like this enable ODF to work closely with our public and private partners to support communities, local economies, and natural resources while making them safer from wildfires,” Burns said. “At the end of these projects, we hope we can show a level of success that will encourage future funding for this type of work.”

For more information visit ODF’s Landscape Resiliency Grant Program website.

PORTLAND, Ore., November 28, 2022—The 2022 holiday season is officially underway, and inflation has people shopping much more carefully than in past years. The average household plans to spend about the same amount while prioritizing social experiences and gifts for others, according to a survey by financial firm Deloitte. To help prepare consumers in Oregon and Southwest Washington for an increasingly expensive holiday season, OnPoint Community Credit Union offers tips for spreading cheer without breaking the bank. 

"Focusing on bringing joy to others this holiday season can help temper the ongoing financial impacts of inflation," says Meredith Bureau, Manager of OnPoint's Hillsdale Branch. "With a little planning and creativity, you can set yourself up for a festive yet cost-conscious holiday season. Create a budget, track your spending and get creative with your gift-giving. Making gifts or purchasing vintage items encourages a sense of community, saves money and is more sustainable."

Here are OnPoint's 10 tips for a joyful but affordable holiday season:

1. Create a holiday budget and stick to it: Have a serious talk with your family about what you can spend this year. Create a holiday budget by writing down and adding up every holiday-related expense, from hosting and travel, to special dinners, gifts and decorations. If the total is more the than the number you initially wrote down, prioritize your list and cut where possible. Once you set your budget, stick to it by tracking every holiday-related expense to avoid going over. If you share responsibility for gift buying with a partner, check your budget together regularly.
2. Curtail non-holiday extras now: Review your current spending. Can you hold off on dining out, delay large household purchases, limit travel, or pause regular nights at the movies, concerts or sports events? Doing so could free up a little extra cash for your holiday budget. OnPoint offers several online tools to help you identify where to make relatively painless cuts.
3. Cull your gift list: Determine gift-giving strategies with the people you'll be spending the holidays with in advance. Cull your list by buying gifts only for children, drawing names or regifting in an exchange of second-hand items. Inflation is impacting every budget, requiring us all to reevaluate our spending. Be honest with the people in your life about wanting to pare down this year—they will likely be thinking the same.
4. Want, need, wear, read: Consider limiting the number of gifts you give your children by following the "want, need, wear, read" approach. Each child gets four gifts: something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read. Determine how much you can spend on each child when you create your holiday budget and allot a specific amount to each category. Gifting in this way will ensure you don’t break your budget and help your kids be more cognizant about what they already have and what they really want.
5. Shop smart, not early: It seems logical that consumers who shop early in the season will spread their purchases out, find bargains and ease budget pressure. But Deloitte found in 2021 that those who begin shopping in October or earlier spend more than those who hold off until Thanksgiving when many of the sales begin. Unlike last year, shelves should be well-stocked, making it less risky to wait for prices to drop. Start monitoring prices on must-have gifts early, so you're ready to pounce when a good deal arises. If an item on your list goes out of stock, consider buying a gift card so the recipient can use it when the store restocks.
6. Get creative: Look for treasures at a local vintage store, flea market or thrift store. Regift presents that may not have suited you to someone who will love them. Are you crafty or artistic? Skip the expensive checkout at the mall or online and make your gifts at home. Or follow the lead of Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond: bake a big batch of cinnamon rolls and deliver them to friends and co-workers.
7. Send cards: Replace gifts with thoughtful holiday messages; that way, you can still send holiday greetings to those who have fallen off your gift list. Slipping a photo or two of your family in the card can make the special delivery even more meaningful.
8. Donate to a non-profit on someone's behalf: The number of people living in "extreme poverty" worldwide increased by 115 million in 2021. Now more than ever, people must have access to the social services needed to survive. As non-profits work tirelessly to meet a growing need, consider donating to a non-profit organization on behalf of your loved ones or colleagues instead of purchasing material gifts. Sending them a card letting them know you donated in their name will not only brighten their holiday, but also impact a worthy cause and maximize your tax deduction. 
9. Establish new traditions: Shift from buying gifts to hosting meaningful get-togethers that don't require you to plan a big meal. Try hosting a potluck for dinner or a cookie exchange in the afternoon with coffee and hot chocolate. Organize a book or an ornament exchange. They don't need to be complicated or perfect, just something that will create fond memories.
10. Plan for next year: Open a checking and debit account specifically for vacation or holiday spending and set up an automatic deposit from each paycheck. Hide it from yourself in your online banking system so you're not tempted to draw from it over the year. You'll be surprised how quickly the deposits add up, giving you a cushion as you enter the next holiday season. 

All of us are watching our budgets more carefully this holiday season, but that doesn’t mean you must give up on giving entirely. These tips are a great place to start, and if you’d like more personalized help creating a budget or ways to monitor your spending, visit any of OnPoint’s 55 branch locations where our knowledgeable staff are ready to find the solution that works best for you and your family.

ABOUT ONPOINT COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION

Founded in 1932, OnPoint Community Credit Union is the largest credit union in Oregon, serving more than 500,000 members and with assets of $9.1 billion. OnPoint membership is available to anyone who lives or works in one of 28 Oregon counties (Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Wasco, Washington, Wheeler and Yamhill) and two Washington counties (Skamania and Clark) and their immediate family members. More information is available at www.onpointcu.com or 800-527-3932.

###

BEND, OR — The High Desert Museum is bringing back Winter Nights every Thursday in December. For those looking for a unique evening out, the Museum will remain open until 7:30 pm with seasonal themes, a chance to see new exhibitions, activities for families and students and reduced admission rates.

In Winter Nights, the Museum offers people a break from the busy work week with a festive night out when they normally may not be able to visit. In addition, the Museum presently has one new exhibition and will open a second one on December 17. 

For this year’s Winter Nights:

December 1: Welcome to Winter – Rimrock Café will be open for folks to grab dinner or a treat and enjoy a wine tasting. The Museum store will also be open with discounts for all: Museum members will receive 20 percent off on most items and others 10 percent. Visitors will find kids activities, a free gift-wrapping station and a special tote-bag thank you for Museum members.

December 8: Sugar Cookie Shindig – Enjoy engaging activities for kids including High Desert-themed storytime, snowflake making and sugar cookie decorating. The Museum store, Silver Sage Trading, will also be open with discounts for all and a gift-wrapping station, and Rimrock Café will be ready for diners.

December 15: College Night – Students with college identification will receive free admission! Kids activities will still be happening, and the Museum store will also be open with discounts for all and a gift-wrapping station. Visitors can also enjoy a tasting of locally made hard ciders and try their hand at sugar cookie decoration.

December 22: Solstice Social – Explore the newest High Desert Museum exhibit Under the Snow. A meal, snack, beverage and beer tasting await in the Rimrock Café, and the Museum store will also be open with last-minute gift shopping, discounts for all, a gift-wrapping station and kids activities including story time and paper snowflake-making.

December 29: Après Snow – Get cozy after a day of snow play—explore temporary exhibits and get a tasty meal and beverage from the Rimrock Café. We will welcome Lava Terrace Cellars for wine tasting and families can still enjoy kids activities. The Museum store will also be open with discounts for all.

There is always something new to explore at the High Desert Museum with up to nine new exhibits every year. December is no exception: The newest exhibition opens Saturday, December 17, Under the Snow. The exhibit reveals the hidden world beneath the snow, called the subnivium. In this environment, animals create a matrix of tunnels to survive the winter’s frigid temperatures and hide from the predators that lurk above. Using interactive graphics, visitors will meet the species that depend on the snow, including a resilient mammal named Pika, an observant owl called Great Gray and a fruiting fungus known as Fuzzy Foot. Learn more at highdesertmuseum.org/under-the-snow.

Winter Nights visitors can also explore the original exhibit In the Arena: Photographs from America’s Only Touring Black Rodeo. Through the lens of San Francisco Bay area photographer Gabriela Hasbun, the exhibit documents the exhilarating atmosphere of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo—the only touring Black rodeo in the country—and the showstopping style and skill of the Black cowboys and cowgirls who compete in it year after year. Learn more at highdesertmuseum.org/in-the-arena.

Admission for Winter Nights is $10 general admission and $6 for ages 12 and under. Museum members are always free. Visitors who arrive earlier in the day may stay for Winter Nights without paying additional admission. The outdoor exhibits are closed during Winter Nights. Regular winter hours are 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Learn more at highdesertmuseum.org/winter-nights.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM:

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

###

On Wednesday, November 30, at 11:00 a.m., Jiffy Lube, in partnership with the Beaverton Police Department and the Clackamas, Clark, Multnomah, and Washington County Sheriff’s Offices will hold a joint press conference to provide information about catalytic converter theft prevention. 

Jiffy Lube and the agencies above will present the issues we face, the extent of the problem, and a deterrent in a press conference to be held at Jiffy Lube located at 13325 SW Canyon Road in Beaverton.  

Providence’s broken payroll system has systematically and repeatedly shortchanged Oregon’s nurses and other frontline health care workers for nearly 5 months.

(Portland, OR) – Earlier today, the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) asked the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office to launch an independent investigation of Providence Health & Services for ongoing wage theft against frontline nurses and other health care workers. Since July 2022, Providence systematically underpaid thousands of health care workers by using a faulty payroll system which resulted in unpaid hours; unpaid overtime; unpaid differentials; unpaid certifications; and other lost hours and benefits. In some cases, nurses and health care workers did not receive a paycheck at all despite working 40+ hour weeks. In other cases, Providence is failing to pay workers’ money owed to them for taking on advanced training and responsibilities at work. 

Due to Providence’s repeated payroll failures, frontline nurses and other hourly health care workers have incurred debt and shouldered added financial stress including having their bank accounts overdrawn and facing financial penalties, foregoing monthly payments and skipping essentials because of missed pay and underpayments. 

“It feels like we don’t matter. No one at Providence is accountable,” said ONA member Danica Trujillo, a registered nurse at Providence Portland Medical Center. “I’ve spent hours auditing my time cards. On my days off, I’m on the phone with Providence’s HR. I feel like I can’t afford to spend any money because I don’t know if I’ll receive the money I’ve earned next week or not. I’m working a job but I’m not getting paid for it. I don’t know what my future holds.” 

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office recently partnered with the statewide Bureau of Labor & Industries (BOLI) to investigate criminal charges for corporations who repeatedly or intentionally commit wage theft. 

This summer, Providence switched to a new Genesis payroll system which systematically underpays nurses and other frontline health care workers in Multnomah County and throughout the Providence system. ONA represents more than 4,000 frontline nurses working in 10 Providence Health System hospitals and facilities across the state, including Providence’s flagship hospital in Multnomah County–Providence Portland Medical Center. 

More than 200 ONA members across the state filed a class action lawsuit against Providence in August to recover lost wages and damages owed to all workers at Providence including nurses, allied health workers, technicians, housekeepers, food services staff, doctors and other workers who have suffered from Providence’s failure to pay workers the wages they are owed. While the exact amount of theft is too large to determine without a comprehensive audit, lost wages and penalties could be in the millions. Workers who have been victims of Providence’s wage theft do not have to be named in the lawsuit to benefit from a fair settlement. 

Since July, frontline workers throughout the Providence system have filed tens of thousands of HR payroll tickets about lost and inaccurate pay. Providence has responded by closing many pay tickets and informing workers it fixed the problem; only to underpay nurses again on their next check.  

“What’s frustrating to me is that they don’t seem to care. It shouldn’t take 3 months to get a payroll screw up fixed,” said ONA member Michelle McSherry, a veteran nurse who has worked at Providence Portland Medical Center for nearly 30 years. “I have never seen such disregard for staff as what is happening now. Not just with Genesis but in many matters like staffing shortages. Wage theft is just an ongoing issue we seem to get to deal with. It certainly makes me want to look elsewhere for employment.”

ONA nurses at all 10 ONA Providence bargaining units have also filed workplace grievances against Providence. The grievances offer Providence another way to solve its problems and ensure workers are paid the amount they’ve earned by:

• Reinstating the prior payroll system as a backup to ensure payroll records are accurate and to prevent Providence from continuing to underpay frontline nurses and health care workers.
• Conducting a comprehensive audit of all time card records since the implementation of the Genesis payroll system to determine and correct all improper wage deductions and restore any lost benefits including potential lost paid time off (PTO).
• Paying direct and indirect damages to all workers affected by Providence’s improper wage deductions, including but not limited to banking overdraft fees, fines for missed rent or mortgage payments and credit card late payment penalties.

Providence Health & Services/Providence St. Joseph Health is the third-largest health system in the US and one of the largest employers and companies in Oregon with tens of billions in annual revenue. Despite its national reach, Providence regularly collects more than half of its total profits from Oregonians. 

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) is the state’s largest and most influential nursing organization. We are a professional association and labor union which represents more than 15,000 nurses and allied health workers throughout the state, including more than 4,000 nurses working at 10 Providence Oregon health care facilities throughout the state. ONA’s mission is to advocate for nursing, quality health care and healthy communities. For more information visit: www.OregonRN.org.

###
 

Nov. 28, 2022

The next Housing Stability Council meeting will be from 9 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. The meeting will be held electronically due to the current COVID-19 health crisis. You can find all updated meeting materials on our website.

Webinar Meeting Only

Register in advance for this webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0gaTLc20SYSFgConBPN2kw 

AGENDA:

9 am: Meeting Called to Order - Roll Call 

9:05 am: Public Comment

9:30 am: Report of the Chair

9:45 am: Report of the Director

         • CEI Update

10 am: Affordable Rental Housing Division (pg. 05)

           Natasha Detweiler-Daby, Interim Director, Affordable Rental Housing

• MF Housing Transaction Recommendations: Tai Dunson-Strane, Production Manager    
  • Park Avenue
  • Gateway Phase 2
     
• Preservation Pools, Terrace Manor, Project Recommendation: Martin Jarvis, State Tax Credit Program Analyst; Amy Cole, State Development Resources Manager
• Subsidy Update for the Preservation of Manufactured Home Parks Program: Edward Brown, Program Analyst; Amy Cole, State Development Resources Manager
• Qualified Allocation Plan and 9% LIHTC Program Recommendations: Angela Parada, Senior Tax Credit Program Manager; Jacqueline Santiago, LIHTC Program Analyst; Roberto Franco, Assistant Director Development Resources and Production
• General Housing Account Program Oregon Administrative Rules, Bulk Approval Consent Agenda: Natasha Detweiler-Daby, Director Affordable Rental Housing

11:30 am: Break

11:45 am: Homeownership Division (pg. 45)
           Emese Perfecto, Director, Homeownership

• Homeownership Development Allocation & Timeline: Talia Kahn-Kravis, Operations & Policy Analyst
• Homeownership Development Incubator Program Rules: Talia Kahn-Kravis, Operations & Policy Analyst
• Increasing LIFT Homeownership Funding Caps: Talia Kahn-Kravis, Operations & Policy Analyst

12:20 pm: Disaster Recovery & Resilience (pg. 60)

Ryan Flynn, Assistant Director, Disaster Recovery & Resilience

• Depoe Townhomes: Ryan Flynn, Assistant Director, Disaster Recovery & Resilience and Lauren Dressen, Chief Recovery Officer
• Project MOSAIC: Ryan Flynn, Assistant Director, Disaster Recovery & Resilience and Lauren Dressen, Chief Recovery Officer

1:00 p.m. Housing Stabilization Division (pg. 78)

Jill Smith, Director, Housing Stabilization
• Housing Stabilization Administrative Rules: Jill Smith, Director, Housing Stabilization
• COVID Emergency Funding Programs: Tim Zimmer, Assistant Director of Energy Services, Jovany Lopez, Interim Assistant Director of Homeless Services

1:45 pm:   Meeting adjourned

SALEM, Oregon— Give the gift of the outdoors and save this season with the Oregon State Parks 12-month parking permit sale through December.

The permit hangtag once again features whimsical designs from Portland artist El Tran. Holiday shoppers can buy the annual parking permits for only $25, which is a $5 savings starting Dec. 1 and running through Dec. 31. The pass is good for 12 months starting in the month of purchase.

Purchasing passes is easy. Buy them online at the Oregon State Parks store. Parking permits are also sold at some state park friends' group stores and select local businesses throughout the state. For a complete list of vendors, visit stateparks.oregon.gov.

Parking costs $5 a day at 25 Oregon state parks unless you have a 12- or 24-month parking permit or a same-day camping receipt. The 24-month pass is $50 and is also available at store.oregonstateparks.org. The permits are transferable from vehicle to vehicle.

First meeting of Technical Housing Code Forum Series scheduled for Nov. 30

Vancouver, Wash. – On May 17, 2022, the Clark County Council approved the Housing Options Study and Action Plan (HOSAP) and directed staff to begin working on implementing strategies in the plan. The purpose of the plan is to encourage development of housing that is affordable to a variety of household incomes through the removal of regulatory barriers and/or implementation of other initiatives. 

County staff is working with consultants Steve Faust of 3J Consulting and Elizabeth Decker with JET Planning (who worked on the HOSAP) to draft code related to strategy implementation. 

The implementation process will include multiple public involvement steps to help clarify code concepts from the strategies outlined in the HOSAP and garner feedback on proposed code language to amend Clark County Title 40.

First steps include county staff hosting a Technical Housing Code Forum Series with members of the HOSAP Project Advisory Group, Clark County Planning Commission, and Development and Engineering  Advisory Board who have experience with Title 40 and/or housing development regulations, to discuss and provide feedback on code concepts and potential code language. The first of these discussions is scheduled for Nov. 30 at 3 pm and are open to the public to observe. Written comments can be submitted to staff at any time.

Following the forum series, project staff will draft proposed code amendments for public review and comment prior to the legislative process for adoption.

To stay updated on the implementation of the HOSAP, including the schedule of upcoming meetings and information on how to participate and provide input, please visit the project website at www.clark.wa.gov/housingoptions.

Kelso, WA – Firefighters from Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue and Longview Fire responded to a structure fire, a vacant house, Saturday afternoon at 2:41 pm in the 1200 block of South 6^th Avenue.  Firefighters arriving on scene reported heavy fire on the back side of the house, deployed multiple hose lines, and attacked the fire.  The house was searched, by firefighters confirming nobody was inside. The fire was fully extinguished in under 30 minutes.  Kelso police and Cowlitz County Public Utility District also responded to the fire. No injuries were reported; the fire is under investigation. 

Morning Fire in SE Portland

Portland Fire & Rescue was dispatched to a fire in deep SE Portland in the Lents Neighborhood at 7:16 AM today. The first arriving engine found a home with the front porch completely engulfed in flames that was extending to the nearby fence. The crew of this fire engine was able to connect to a nearby hydrant and begin an offensive fire attack to extinguish the fire. The second arriving engine found the electrical drop line to the home had been compromised and burned through. This severed power line on the ground posed a bit of a threat to the working crews so emergency tones were sounded and the officer the second fire engine remained near the downed power line to ensure no one in active firefighting duties stepped on the line and injured themselves.

The first arriving truck was sent to the roof to perform vertical ventilation if needed. As they climbed the ladders and positioned themselves on the roof of the home, they reported that the fire had self-vented through the roof. The fire had moved into the soffit above the porch and burned through the roof above the porch but was contained to this attic space and extinguished from the crews on the ground working. An engine company on the ground put ladders up on multiple sides of the home to make sure the roof crews had options of escape had the fire grown in nature and cut them off from their original ladder.

The second arriving truck performed a walkaround the house to aid the command chief in any exposure concerns and then performed a primary and secondary search of the first and second floors of the home. There were no occupants inside the structure and no fire had entered the interior of the home. The basement access was from an exterior door and the first arriving truck forced the door to find the basement space clear of both fire and occupants.

A responsible party arrived and indicated that a tenant of the building may have returned to the structure before the first arriving fire engine arrived and was unaccounted for. This prompted the commanding chief to request the search and rescue group to reenter the home and perform a thorough third search. After this third search of the building there was no one found on the inside and all occupants were out of the home.

The commanding officer was focused on making sure crews remained together and had a crew on the outside of the structure ready to relieve anyone who was becoming low on the available air in the bottle. At one point near the 25-minute mark the commanding officer directed the first crew to stop their tasks and exit the firefighting areas to be replaced by a fresh crew standing by who had a full complement of air available in their bottles to extend a safe working time for all crews on scene.

The power company arrived and was able to tape off the power line where it had been severed but was unable to cut off the power to the line until a few of the hose lines on the ground were moved to allow for the articulating bucket truck could be maneuvered close enough to the location of the elevated line. This moving of the hose lines and positioning the vehicle took mere minutes and shortly the power to the downed line had been cut off and all crews were safe to move in and around this powerline. 

This fire has been completely extinguished and crews are now cleaning up and obtaining new fresh air bottles from the chief’s rigs on scene to get back into service. An investigator has been requested and will work on a cause of the fire after their arrival.

Portland Fire & Rescue would like to thank the power company for their prompt callback to the scene and eliminating the power to the dropped line aiding in the safe extinguishment of the fire.

###

Date: Monday, November 28, 2022

Time: 6:00 pm

Place: Hockinson Community Center & Zoom

On November 25, 2022, employees of a 7-11 store in Hazel Dell reported a subject had applied a card reader skimmer to the card reader located at the register.  Deputies arrived and retrieved the item as well as evidence related to the suspect's activities at the store.  The item will be submitted for forensic processing and deputies will follow-up on any leads obtained from the device. Refer to the attached photos.

A short time later a second 7-11 store in Orchards reported the same type of device had been applied to their card reader machine.  Deputies were able to determine that the same suspect applied the device at both locations. Identifying information for the suspect will be released at a later time.

The Clark County Sheriff's Office would like to thank the 7-11 employees who were vigilant in checking their equipment following some suspicious activity and likely preventing additional people from being victimized.  Sheriff's deputies would like to talk to anyone who discovers that their financial information has been compromised following a visit to a 7-11 store.  The Sheriff's Office would also like to remind citizens to be very careful where they use bank cards and point out any suspicious looking card reader equipment to the employees of the location where the equipment might be located.      

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: November 24, 2022

Public appeal for help locating missing, endangered Salem teen

Update 11/25/2022 | 12:00 p.m.

Missing teenage, Kaylee Lien Brooks, was located early this morning by the Grants Pass Police Department. 

Our thanks to the agency for their work to locate Kaylee and efforts to reunite her with her family.

# # #

Originally published 11/24/2022 | 11:45 p.m.

Salem, Ore. — The Salem Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a Salem teenager reported missing today, November 24, 2022, shortly before 6:00 a.m.

Kaylee Lien Brooks, age 17, is described as follows:

• 5 ft. 3” in. in height
• Brown eyes
• Blonde hair
• Thin build

She was last seen wearing a green or gray hooded-sweatshirt, dark-colored pants, white and black sneakers. 

Kaylee left her residence in south Salem driving a 2017, white, four-door Toyota Camry with Oregon license plate 263-JSW. She was last known to be in the Josephine County area.

The teen, who is intellectually delayed, also requires medication; however, she did not take it with her.

If anyone sees Kaylee and or the vehicle she is driving, please call your local police department immediately. Refer to Salem Police case number 22-26066.

# # # 

AMBOY, WASHINGTON – On Saturday, November 5^th, the 35^th Annual Community Celebration Honoring Our Veterans was held, co-hosted by North Clark Historical Museum and Mt. Valley Grange #79.  There were 77 people in attendance, including 18 veterans.  All branches of the service were represented. Gift boxes from “Operation Gratitude”, donated by Kyle Andrews, were handed out to all Veterans.

Alan Hunter, United States Marine Corp, was the Veteran speaker.  He served from 1966 to 1968.  He spoke on his experiences at Camp Lejeune, Camp Pendleton, and Viet Nam.  The organization highlighted was the Friends of the Cedar Creek Grist Mill.  Pete Catching spoke on the history of the Grist Mill and on the renovation by the Friends group.  Entertainment was provided by the Amboy Middle School Band eighth grade students, Jeremey Gallagher, Director.  Danae Castle provided a beautiful Patriotic song medley. Flag presentation was by John Nanny, Doug Facundus, and Don Marsh of American Legion Tum Tum Post #168.

A Pie and Ice Cream Social before the program, and a Pie Auction held at the end of the program provided funds for Mt. Valley Grange.  A Door Prize Raffle benefited North Clark Historical Museum. 

A Patriotic Quilt, made and donated by the Chelatchie Quilters, was won by Ann Van Antwerp, United States Marine Corp and United States Army Reserves.

The raffle quilt, “Wild Flowers”, was won by Rachel Mendez of Battle Ground, WA.  She had attended the Fall Bazaar and Craft Show at the Museum in October and purchased her tickets there. The raffle quilt was made by the Chelatchie Quilters.  The quilt raffle sales benefit the Museum’s Capital Improvement Fund.

###

The North Clark Historical Museum was founded in 1988 and is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors. The doors were opened in June of 2000.  Mission Statement:   To preserve North Clark County’s natural and cultural history through collections and exhibits, and to sponsor educational programs and research opportunities for the enrichment of the public. 

 

The Grotto's Christmas Festival of Lights opens tonight. This annual event celebrates the true meaning of Christmas with music, lights and joy.

Known as the world's largest Christmas Choral Festival, more than 150 choirs will perform over the course of 35 nights in the Chapel of Mary, with its cathedral-like acoustics. 

There are nightly puppet shows, caroling in the pavilion tent, and music all around the grounds. And don't forget the millions of lights! New this year - a giant, walk-thru Christmas tree.

The Festival will be open nightly through Dec. 30, except Christmas Day.

Tickets are available at thegrotto.org.

Please bring a non-perishable food item for SnowCap.

Giving Tuesday is traditionally promotes giving to non-profit organizations.  However, Columbia Play Project, a social enterprise organization, is using Giving Tuesday as the first day of its First Annual 12 Days of Giving to its followers on social media. 

12 Days of Giving offers 12 different ideas for low-cost and beneficial activities for children and families. From craft idea to reading games to opportunities to support community, 12 Days of Giving promotes the joy of play. 

“Columbia Play Project’s mission is to create exploratory play opportunities.  12 Days of Giving is a way for CPP to spread the joy of play to everyone who follows our social media accounts” said Board Chair Jeanne Bennett. “It’s an opportunity for us to meet our mission and have fun creating great ways to support the community.” 

To participate in 12 Days of Giving, follow Columbia Play Project on Facebook or Instagram.  The first post will occur on Giving Tuesday, November 29, 2022. 

Clackamas Fire proudly announces the 2022 Operation Santa Claus toy and food drive. The program is organized by volunteer and employees and has been a mainstay within the community for more than 48 years. The season kicks off on Nov. 30 with Santa riding in a fire engine at four neighborhood parades. Different than previous years, donations will not be accepted during the parades.

The goal is to collect non-perishable food and new, unwrapped toys for families in need during the holidays. While the goal is the same as it has been for the last 48 years, the strategy to collect donations has shifted due to the pandemic. Clackamas Fire will be hosting five donation drop-off events throughout the fire district from Dec. 3-11. In addition, Clackamas Fire is discouraging community members from dropping off donations at any of their community fire stations this year. 

In 2021, more than 8,000 pounds of food and 3,000 toys were distributed. 

“As we look towards the holiday season, our focus is on hope, charity, and serving others. We know some families are struggling, and the need is as great as ever,” said Fire Chief Nick Browne. “Clackamas Fire’s Operation Santa Claus is an excellent opportunity to come together as a community to help those in need.”

Donations can be made a couple of ways:

• Accepting donations at five drop-off events from Dec. 3-11. For a complete list of locations and dates, click here.
• Accepting funds by mail. Checks can be made out to the “Clackamas Emergency Services Foundation,” noting “Operation Santa” on the memo line, and mailed to Clackamas Fire, c/o: Clackamas Emergency Services Foundation, 11300 SE Fuller Road, Milwaukie, OR 97222. The non-profit organization is associated with Clackamas Fire and other first responder agencies in Clackamas County.

For more information about Operation Santa Claus, donation drop-off events, and non-donation collection parades, visit www.clackamasfire.com/operation-santa/.

###

Portland Fire & Rescue battle fire in U-HAUL parking lot

At 1:47 AM, PF&R was called out to a “large fire” in the parking lot of a U-HAUL truck rental location on the corner of SE 48^th and Powell. The first arriving engine took command and noted that there were 3-4 box trucks in the center of the parking lot fully engulfed in flames and directed the crews begin stretching hose lines and offensively attack the fire and prevent the spread to adjacent trucks and then outbuildings associated with the property.

The next arriving officer was able to investigate by walking within the parking lot to see that the tight parking of all the box trucks on site was going to make firefighting activities difficult. The physical spaces between the trucks were so small a firefighter with their air bottle on would not be able to walk between the trucks to get to the fire burning in the middle of the lot. The decision was made to position a truck on the northern flank to use as an arial attack to prevent the spread of fire throughout the parking lot and into the neighboring structures. The parking lot was filled with various sizes of rental trucks parked 14” apart with the tailboard of one truck nearly touching the front bumper of the truck behind to help paint a picture of how tight spaces were making moving bodies and hoses quite difficult.

As the first arriving fire truck was repositioning, the arriving chief took command and asked for a second alarm assignment to provide enough firefighters on scene to prevent the fire spread if the use of the arial water stream was not able to contain the fire and prevent the exposures from becoming in danger. Crews on the ground continued to focus stretching multiple hose lines off the pumping engine to get water onto the fire and protect the exposures “from all flanks”.

The fire truck was in place and arial ladder set up with the required pumping engine attached to a fire hydrant having dry hose lines connected between the rigs. The truck officer radioed to the command post that they were ready to flow water but the crews working within the box trucks would need to withdraw so they could safely flow water from above. Radio reports from the ground crews indicated that they had been able to control the fire without the use of the arial ladder pipe and all the exposures, including the neighboring U-HAUL trucks, were safely protected and much of the fire had been extinguished.

The command officer released all second alarm companies except the Rehab Rig to provide air, drinking water, and nourishment to the crews working on scene. Minutes later the fire was completely under control and the crews began to break down the number of resources needed to finish extinguishment of the fire. U-HAUL personnel from the location were on site to aid in moving the trucks not affected by fire to allow for easier mobility in and around the box trucks on fire which required fewer companies on scene to finish up the firefighting process.

PF&R would like to thank our partners at PPB for providing traffic control on either side of the scene as well as the responding staff of the U-HAUL commercial business that helped us put a stop to the fire.

This fire is currently under investigation and there were no reported injuries.

###

Deputies are seeking information regarding a vehicle that was abandoned at the Walton Post Office on Hwy. 126W on or around Monday 11/21/22.

The vehicle is a dark gray or blue GMC Envoy SUV bearing OR Plate #682JKZ.

Anyone with information about this vehicle is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff's Office tip line at 541-682-4167.

For Immediate Release                                                                               Contact: Courtney Dodds 

November 23, 2022                                                                                               Cell: 971-275-2334

Union Gospel Mission Serving 300 Meals to Homeless Thanksgiving Day 

Portland, Ore., - Union Gospel Mission’s Thanksgiving Day meal for those experiencing homelessness will take place on Thursday, November 24 at 10:00 a.m. at 15 NW Third Avenue.

The meal includes traditional favorites like turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, tropical fruit salad, cranberry sauce, a dinner roll and butter, and pumpkin pie and whipped cream. Guests will have the choice to sit down and dine inside or take their meal to go. They will also receive a snack sack for later in the day. 

UGM began their Thanksgiving celebrations Wednesday, November 16^th at their overnight shelter in SE Portland with 80 Thanksgiving meals served. This week they are serving Thanksgiving meals all week on the Search + Rescue outreach in addition to the Thanksgiving Day meal at the downtown location. 

In all, they will serve around 1,000 Thanksgiving meals to those experiencing homelessness. They cooked about 85 turkeys in total and about 300 pounds of mashed potatoes. 

“I’m very thankful to everyone who has donated to UGM to help us provide every Thanksgiving meal. We could not do this without them,” says Lori Quinney Food Service Director for Union Gospel Mission 

If you would like to help the Mission provide meals to those in need visit www.ugmportland.org/donate, call 503-274-4483 or mail a check to 3 NW Third Avenue Portland, OR 97209.

About Union Gospel Mission: Union Gospel Mission’s purpose is “Feeding the hungry, restoring the addict and loving our neighbor.” Union Gospel Mission has been serving Portland since 1927. Union Gospel Mission provides meals and care for the homeless and operates LifeChange -- a transformative recovery community for men, women and children. Contact Union Gospel Mission at 503-274-4483, ugmportland.org or on social media @ugmpdx 

# # #

On Sunday 11/20/22, Lane County Sheriff's Deputies responded to the area of Wacker Point Rd. northwest of Noti after receiving reports that a hunter had located a deceased person in the woods. Wacker Point Rd. is located north of Hwy. 126 and is also known as the BLM 17-7-22 Rd.

Deputies responded and identified the deceased person to be a white male in his 30's. His identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

If you have any information about this case or traveled on Wacker Point Rd. on Friday 11/18/22 through Sunday 11/20/22, please contact the Lane County Sheriff's Office tip line at 541-682-4167.

Additional media resources: A video statement from Tamie Cline, Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) President and a registered nurse at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Hermiston, OR, is available for download here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/0aoxb9fwi8otkuk17cra8/h?dl=0&rlkey=7j2skonsl0e8i3dupaqln87ar

(Portland, Ore) - Respiratory infections and other illnesses—including the flu, RSV, and COVID-19—are on the rise in Oregon. Governor Kate Brown declared a public health emergency because “the statewide pediatric hospitalization rate has more than tripled and is likely to exceed its previously recorded weekly hospitalization rate imminently,” according to the Governor’s office. Across the state, hospitals are implementing “crisis standards of care” and nurses and other frontline health care workers are experiencing an influx of patients rivaling that of the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

That's why nurses are asking everyone to do their part to keep themselves, their families, and their communities safe.  

Regularly washing hands, wearing a mask, keeping your hands away from your face, disinfecting frequently used surfaces, getting a flu shot and other vaccines, avoiding large gatherings, asking friends and family who are sick to stay away from gatherings, and staying home when you get sick, can all help slow the spread of these illnesses. Parents and family members of infants should avoid frequent visitors and crowds.  

If you or a family member are experiencing mild symptoms, ONA is urging Oregonians to contact their primary care provider or an advice line first, before going to the emergency room. For those with severe symptoms, the emergency room is always the right choice.  

Hospitals must also take steps to ensure that their nursing staff and other frontline health care workers are supported during this challenging time. 

ONA is calling on hospitals to immediately hire traveling nurses. Oregon’s hospitals can, and should, hire these travelers now because the nationwide demand for travelers will only increase in the coming days and weeks.  

Health systems across the state should try everything they can to keep patients out of hospital beds, including by delaying all elective surgeries. They should also give more incentives for nurses who agree to work extra shifts, relieve nurses of non-nursing duties by hiring more support staff, incentivize more staff for pediatric outpatient clinics and urgent care clinics, increase advice line staff, and do more patient education on when to visit the ER.  

Everyone at ONA believes that patients, frontline health care workers, and all Oregonians deserve a happy and healthy holiday season.  

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) is the state’s largest and most influential nursing organization. We are a professional association and labor union which represents more than 15,000 nurses and allied health workers throughout the state. ONA’s mission is to advocate for nursing, quality health care and healthy communities. For more information visit: www.OregonRN.org. 

###

Warrant Service-

On 11/23/22 at approximately 10:45am deputies from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office learned that 39-year-old Justin Martinez was at an apartment in the 1700blk of 43rd St. in Florence.  Martinez had confirmed warrants for his arrest out of the Oregon State Parole Board and Florence Municipal Court.

Due to information that Martinez may have been armed, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team responded to execute the warrant.  Martinez initially refused to exit the apartment, but eventually surrendered shortly prior to 3:30pm and was taken into custody without incident.

The Lane County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Oregon State Police and Florence Police Department for their assistance with this investigation.

On Monday, November 21, 2022 at approximately 9:18 AM, Oregon State Police Troopers  responded to a suspicious object found by Oregon Department of Corrections cleanup crew on northbound Interstate 5 near milepost 260.

OSP Troopers with the Salem Area Command took possession of a small backpack that contained a human skull. 

The skull was transported to the  Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office who will continue to investigate the identity of the skull. The skull had no identifiable features, but was most likely that of a female in her late 30’s to 40’s. 

No further information is available at this time. 

(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, asks the public to help find Phoenyx Cannon, age 15, a child in foster care who went missing from Gresham on Nov. 12. She is believed to be in danger.

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

Phoenyx is suspected to be in the Portland metro area. She is known to spend time at the unhoused encampments in Southeast Portland, the downtown Portland area and around SE 82nd and Stark. She also frequently spends time at the Gateway Transit Center in Portland and in Beaverton.

Name: Phoenyx Cannon
Pronouns: she/her
Date of birth: May 1, 2007 
Height: 5-foot-8
Weight: 200 pounds 
Hair: Brown
Eye color: Brown 
Other identifying information: Phoenyx has long brown hair. 
Portland Police Bureau report number #2242304
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children #1465625

A small number of children in foster care may be in significant danger when they run away or have gone missing. As ODHS works to do everything it can to find these missing children and ensure 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. 

###

November 23, 2022

Media Contact: Erica Heartquist, 503-871-8843, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Health experts ask people to take action to lower risk for children as RSV, flu cases push hospitals to brink

Health officials issue call to action to protect kids ahead of post-holiday surge in serious respiratory illnesses that will worsen pediatric ICU bed shortages

PORTLAND, Ore. – State health officials are asking people to take immediate, urgent action to protect children and ensure there are pediatric intensive care beds available in Oregon hospitals to treat any child or youth with a serious illness or injury. Oregon health officials expect respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases to peak after the Thanksgiving holiday, which will further strain pediatric hospital intensive care units in the Portland area that are already at their limit.

In response to Oregon’s acute shortage of pediatric intensive care beds, state health officials recommend that people:

• Stay home when sick.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with the inside of your elbow, or with a tissue that you immediately throw away after use.
• Clean and disinfect all high-touch surfaces, including doorknobs, faucets, chairs, countertops and tables.
• Regularly wash hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer, especially after coughing or sneezing into a tissue.
• Get a flu shot and stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including new bivalent boosters. There is no vaccine for RSV.
• Consider wearing a mask in crowded indoor spaces.

The recommendations come as at least two Portland-area hospitals – Doernbecher Children’s Hospital at Oregon Health & Science University and Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center – notified OHA they have enacted crisis standards of care for their pediatric intensive care units. Crisis care standards allow hospitals to adjust their staffing to help treat as many critically ill children in the state as possible.

Patrick Allen, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) said, “Oregon children’s hospitals are pushed to the limit. If you have young children and they get sick, there may not be a hospital bed for them. Our recommendations are a call to action for Oregonians to help slow the spread of respiratory disease and make sure no child’s life is put at risk because every pediatric ICU bed in our state is full with another seriously ill kid.”

“Multiple respiratory infections circulating in our community are of great concern to all of us in health care, says Providence St. Vincent Medical Center’s Genevieve Buser, MDCM, a pediatric infectious disease specialist. “Children have been especially hard hit, and we are caring for unprecedented numbers of very sick young people in our hospitals, immediate care facilities, and clinics. Right now, more than half of our kids sick enough to be hospitalized have RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), and almost all of those are babies less than 6 months of age. It causes babies to need oxygen to breathe, and even stop breathing.”

Dr. Buser added that since the Oregon region is in a crisis for critical pediatric hospital beds, “we should do what we can as a community to slow transmission to our most vulnerable neighbors,” including getting COVID and flu vaccinations. “Older adults, too--especially those with chronic lung disease--can become very ill with RSV, in addition to COVID and flu.”

State health officials are working with hospitals to bring additional nurses into Oregon from out of state. OHA officials also are pursuing health care volunteers through Serv-OR, the state’s emergency volunteer registry. In addition, OHA is providing hospitals with recent legislatively appropriated funds to aid staffing.

Parents of children younger than 5, especially newborns to 6-month-olds, are especially advised to take precautions that keep their children safe and help to limit the spread of RSV and influenza in coming weeks. Young children, as well as older adults – people 65 and older – are at higher risk of severe illness from these respiratory viruses, including hospitalization and death.

Data showing that the RSV hospitalization rate for children quadrupled between Oct. 29 and Nov. 19, from 2.7 to 10.8 children per 100,000 population. RSV hospitalizations are expected to rise further over the next few weeks.

Hospitalizations are also being fueled by a rapid increase in influenza cases around the state. According to OHA’s weekly Flu Bites influenza surveillance report, the percentage of positive influenza tests has doubled each week since mid-October – it was 1% the week ending Oct. 22, 2% on Oct. 29, 4.5% on Nov. 5, 9.3% on Nov. 12 and 16.4% on Nov. 19.

A 5% positivity rate for influenza tests is considered a threshold for significant influenza circulation.

RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms, such as runny nose, coughing and sneezing. Most infections go away on their own in a week or two. Almost all children will have had an RSV infection by their second birthday.

People experiencing mild RSV symptoms should:

• Stay home from work or school, and avoid indoor and outdoor holiday gatherings and events.
• Manage fever and pain with over-the-counter fever reducers and pain relievers.
• Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
• Make sure to talk to your health care provider before giving your child over-the-counter cold medicines which are typically not indicated for this age group.

While cold-like symptoms are more typical of RSV infections, some children can experience severe symptoms requiring immediate care. Parents should call their pediatrician or seek care right away if child has any of the following symptoms:

• Difficulty breathing or increased work of breathing.
• Symptoms of dehydration, or fewer than one wet diaper every eight hours.
• Gray or blue color to tongue, lips or skin.
• Decreased activity and alertness.

Some children with RSV may be at increased risk of developing a bacterial infection, such as an ear infection. Call your pediatrician if your child has:

• Symptoms that worsen or do not start to improve after seven days.
• A fever of 100.4°F or higher if they are younger than 3 months old (12 weeks).
• A fever that rises above 104°F repeatedly for a child of any age.
• Poor sleep or fussiness, chest pain, ear tugging or ear drainage.

For more information about RSV, visit OHA’s RSV page. Information about influenza is available at OHA’s Flu Prevention page.

###

November 22, 2022 

Elisabeth Shepard, Communications Director 

eth.Shepard@mcda.us">Elisabeth.Shepard@mcda.us 

DA Schmidt announces guilty plea for ‘anarchist’ for riot, to pay nearly $50,000 in restitution

PORTLAND, Oregon – Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced that Darrell Anthony Kimberlin, 33, pled guilty to Riot and Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree. A Multnomah Circuit Court Judge sentenced Kimberlin to 18 months probation and $49,755.74 in restitution to the organizations and businesses that Kimberlin damaged. 

The charges stem from two incidents. In January 2020, Kimberlin vandalized the Democratic Party of Oregon headquarters in Southeast Portland by breaking windows and tagging the building with spray paint. In February 2021 Kimberlin vandalized a Chipotle, an Umpqua Bank, and property belonging to a security company. The restitution owed to each is as follows: 

“Kimberlin's extremist political views fueled him to commit crimes. Those crimes landed him with a bill to pay back the very institutions his ideology decries. There is a bright line between freedom of speech and criminal intent. Kimberlin’s actions were on the wrong side of that line, and now he’ll face the consequences. Justice was served today,” Stated office spokesperson, Elisabeth Shepard.

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s office issued nearly 200 protest-related cases between 2020 and 2022 for criminal prosecution. Each case is in various stages of the prosecutorial process, including pending trial, plea agreement, sentenced to prison or probation, or in warrant status. Visit MCDA’s press release page for both real-time information on protest cases and other cases of public interest and as an archive of past cases.

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office thanks the Portland Police Bureau for their work on this case.

#MCDA#

The Parkrose Board of Education of School District No. 3, Multnomah County, Oregon, will convene in an Executive and Board Business Meeting on Monday, November 28, 2022 in the Boardroom at the Parkrose District Office located at 10636 NE Prescott St., Portland, Oregon at the hour of 6:30pm. 

Guests and members of the public may participate in-person or virtually. 

Virtual Link - Please click this URL to join: https://zoom.us/j/94961285856 or join by phone: 1-253-215-8782 Webinar ID: 949-6128-5856

We encourage and welcome all members of our community to engage with our board. Please email questions@parkrose.k12.or.us or call 503.408.2100 to arrange for translation services at least 72 hours before the meeting. Closed captioning provided on zoom. Other appropriate auxiliary aids and services may be provided upon request and appropriate advance notice.

The agenda is posted on our website at: https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/1541?meeting=559030. Agenda items include, but are not limited to: Recognitions for Girls Volleyball & Boys Soccer, District Financial Auditor Report, Legislative Policy Committee update, OSBA Board update, Color Caucus update, Educational Foundation update, Principal for a day recap, Board and Superintendent evaluation discussion, NSBA conference, Budget committee vacancy preparation including a revision to the Budget calendar for additional outreach time, Student School Board Representatives Report, Committee reports, Finalizing Goals, Suicide prevention and awareness presentation and an adult meal rate change.   

Electronic/Virtual Public Comment Protocol - If you wish to submit a public comment before, or during this Board Meeting please fill out this electronic public comment form before "Public Comments" on the agenda:https://forms.gle/5sUjRZjxJikqmqVg9. If you don’t submit your comment in time we will read it at the next board meeting.

In-Person Public Comment Protocol - Upon arrival to the meeting, please fill out an Intent-to-Speak card and hand it to the Board Secretary prior to "In-person Public Comment" on the agenda. You will have a 3 minute time limit.

Board Meeting Video Recordings - For those of you who cannot participate virtually we will post a recording of the meeting on our website at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXajhxrPxMclOQ6J00JUszQ.

Questions welcomed, please email: questions@parkrose.k12.or.us or leave a voice message at 503-408-2114.

A previous version of this press release had the incorrect date of the incident.

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Transit Police Division (TPD) is asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect believed to be involved in a stabbing at the Hollywood Transit Center.

On October 20, 2022, around 12:00 a.m. at the Hollywood Transit Center MAX platform a male suspect stabbed another person in the chest causing serious physical injury. The man ran from the scene in an unknown direction. 

The suspect is around 5’10” tall, 155 lbs. and is believed to be in his 20s. He has a tattoo of a "bio-hazard" symbol which is visible on the outside of his left forearm, just below his elbow. At the time, he was wearing a gray beanie, green t-shirt, gray sweatpants, and gray and white high-top shoes similar to "Vans" shoes.

If you recognize this individual, please contact TPD by calling 503-962-7566 and reference case #22-800751 or by emailing Sgt. Lance Hemsworth at th@portofportland.com">lance.hemsworth@portofportland.com.

SCAPPOOSE, Ore. – After a national search, Patty Hawkins of Beaverton has been chosen to be the new director of Portland Community College’s Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Training Center, or known as the OMIC Training Center (34001 NE Wagner Ct.).

Hawkins, who began her new role on Nov. 14, has more than 22 years of experience at PCC working to help underserved students and communities. For the last 10 years she has served as a faculty department chair in the Adult Education Program and since 2021 has been active as an Educational Advisory Council (EAC) leader and chair of the curriculum committee. 

Prior to these roles, she served as a student resource specialist at the Cascade Campus in North Portland working with a wide variety of career and technical education programs and students. Hawkins also has extensive experience working with internal departments, industry and community partners to develop programming, and is deeply committed to social justice, equity and inclusion.

“I am thrilled to serve as the PCC OMIC Training Center director,” Hawkins said. “There are so many partners that have been and will continue to be integral to the success of the OMIC Training Center: OMIC R&D, many business and industry partners, the wonderful Columbia County community, K-12 partners, workforce development and the PCC district. I look forward to collaborating with these partners to bring innovative advanced manufacturing training opportunities to Columbia County and across the PCC district.”

In 2021, years of planning and construction paid off as the college opened the training center to in-person classes and credit offerings. The PCC facility is the educational and training arm of the Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center (OMIC) initiative — a collaboration of industry, higher education and government that combines applied research and development and workforce training. 

PCC’s facility is located within its Columbia County Center, which is the first permanent physical location for the college in the region. The 32,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing training facility houses a number of manufacturing-related programs, including machining, welding and mechatronics. It supports both traditional and work-based learning models like registered apprenticeship, pre-trades programs and internships, while providing introductory, intermediate and advanced training in machining, computer numerically controlled (CNC) lathe operation, CNC mill operation, welding and fabrication and other areas of advanced manufacturing.
 

The OMIC Training Center earned LEED Silver for its sustainable construction and operations. 

About Portland Community College: Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to more than 50,000 full- and part-time students in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia counties. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, 10 education centers or areas served, and approximately 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. The PCC district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses and life-long learning.
 

Visit PCC news on the web at http://news.pcc.edu/

Vancouver, Wash. – The City of Vancouver has completed construction of Ida Bell Jones Neighborhood Park at T Street & E. 35th Street. The new park is named after Ida Bell Jones, a matriarch of Vancouver's African American community who played a pivotal role in building trusted networks of support among Black residents post-World War II.

The park name was selected through a pilot project initiated in 2020, designed to increase civic engagement, highlight the diversity of the Vancouver community and honor the city’s history through park naming. Ida Bell Jones Park is the second site to be named through the pilot project, the first was Nikkei Park, which honors the history of Japanese American truck farmers in Vancouver. The Ida Bell Jones Park naming recommendation was presented to Vancouver City Council in October and adopted by resolution (M-4193) on October 10.

Ida Bell Jones Neighborhood Park officially opened to the public on Saturday, Nov. 19 with a celebration that brought together neighbors, community leaders and family members of Ida Bell Jones. Speakers at the ribbon cutting celebration included the Hon. Camara L. J. Banfield, Clark County Superior Court Judge and granddaughter of Ida Bell Jones; Jane Elder Wulff, author and co-founder of the First Families project; and Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle.

The new park is in the Rose Village neighborhood, where Ida Bell Jones lived and raised her family.

About Ida Bell Jones

Ida Bell Jones was a matriarch of the post-World War II African American community in Vancouver. Born in 1908 outside of Blackwell, Arkansas, she moved to Vancouver at age 34 to follow the economic opportunity created by the newly opened Kaiser Shipyards in 1942. 

Ida Bell Jones settled in the Rosemere neighborhood with her family, an area now known as Rose Village. She was quick to establish roots in both Vancouver and North Portland and was a founding member of the Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church in Portland and active in the Vancouver branch of the NAACP. Her community building efforts to create trusted networks of support on both sides of the river made it possible for Black families to find work and establish roots in Vancouver, despite the racism and discrimination they faced.

Ida Bell Jones died in 2018, at the age of 109. She was known for her warm smile, positive attitude and acceptance for all people who crossed her path. 

Information about this park project can be found at www.BeHeardVancouver.org/Rose-Village. 

###

UPDATE - 

Francisco Rafael Vasquez-Gomez, age 39, of Cornelius, was taken into custody near Forest Grove on 11/22/22 at 9:00 PM.  He was arrested without incident and was lodged in the Washington County Jail on the charge of Murder in the Second Degree. Members of the Washington County Sheriff's Office, Forest Grove Police Department, Cornelius Police Department, and the Washington County Tactical Negotiations Team were involved with the apprehension.  This investigation continues by Hillsboro Police Department detectives.

The victim in this shooting is identified as Erick Alcantar Vega, age 32, a resident of Hillsboro. 

The investigation of this murder is ongoing. No further information is available for release at this time.

During the early morning hours of November 12, 2022, officers from the Hillsboro Police Department were called to a reported shooting in the area of SE 10^th avenue and SE Walnut in Hillsboro. Upon arrival, officers located a single male victim who had suffered a gunshot wound. Officers attempted life saving measures, but the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. 

The Hillsboro Police Detective Division is investigating this homicide, which is in the initial phases. At this time, detectives are not releasing the name or age of the victim pending notification to his family. Witnesses to this crime are asked to contact Detective Becca Venable or Detective Devin Rigo at 503-681-6175.

Vancouver, Wash. – The county manager is seeking applicants to fill several positions on the volunteer Community Action Advisory Board. 

Positions include an elected official from the county’s fourth district, low-income representatives from the county’s third and fifth districts and a community representative from the county’s third and district. 

Term periods start Jan. 1, 2023, and are three years, ending Dec. 31, 2025. Incumbents have the opportunity for re-appointment to two additional three-year terms. 

The fifteen-member board makes recommendations about local government funding for basic needs, self-sufficiency, and housing programs. Members also advocate for services supporting low-income communities, families and persons at local, state and federal levels.

Clark County is looking to diversify the board composition and encourages people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives to apply, especially people of color and from historically oppressed or under-resourced communities. 

Interested residents must submit an application and résumé to Rebecca Royce, Clark County Community Services, P.O. Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666-5000 or ebecca.royce@clark.wa.gov">rebecca.royce@clark.wa.gov. 

Application information can be found at https://clark.wa.gov/community-services/caab-community-action-advisory-board or by calling Rebecca Royce at 564.397.7863.

Deadline is Thursday, Dec. 15.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: November 23, 2022

Woman struck, killed by passenger train

Salem, Ore. — Salem Police officers responded to the 1800 block of Bill Frey DR NE yesterday, November 22, shortly after 6:00 p.m., on the call of a person struck by a passenger train traveling through the city.

Patrol officers learned the Amtrak engineer sounded the horn when a woman was spotted sitting on the tracks. The woman, identified as Judith Araceli Mojica Abarca of Salem, stood up, however, not in sufficient time to avoid being struck by the fast-moving train. 

The 47-year-old Abarca was pronounced deceased at the scene.

# # # 

The next meeting of the Advisory Committee to the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs will be held Wednesday, December 7, 2022, via Zoom. The Zoom room will open at 9 a.m., but the meeting does not officially begin until 9:30 a.m.

The committee is made up of veterans appointed by the governor to provide counsel on veteran issues and represent veteran concerns across Oregon. Its nine members serve in a vital advisory role to the director and staff of the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

ODVA’s Reports to the Advisory Committee are available to the public on the ODVA website: https://issuu.com/odva/stacks/38107bb40c054695831edf5634865ca4

This meeting is being held virtually due to travel and gathering size restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic. The public is invited to attend.

To attend:

You will need to pre-register using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZctceuprT4iG9RuNrFZImfstIxavCPoN5CM

 Pre-registration is required. Once pre-registered, you will receive the meeting link.

Join by Zoom via Telephone: Dial 1 (253) 215-8782. When prompted, enter the meeting ID: 830 6213 5810# and password/participant ID: 277996#

You will be prompted to state your name. State your first and last name.

Meeting focus: Veteran Houselessness

Town Hall:

There will be a Town Hall at the end of the business meeting in which we invite you to ask questions of the committee and director. This time is set aside for individuals to bring up broader veteran community issues. Members of the community are also invited to submit written public comments to the Committee at the following email address: vaac@odva.state.or.us

More information can be found online at www.oregon.gov/odva/Pages/advisory.aspx or to contact the Advisory Committee, please email vaac@odva.state.or.us. 

Lo que debe saber

• La mayoría de los habitantes de Oregon que reciben beneficios de alimentos de SNAP continuarán recibiendo los beneficios adicionales temporales de emergencia en Diciembre
• Aproximadamente 426,000 hogares que reciben SNAP recibirán aproximadamente $70 millones en beneficios de alimentos adicionales además de sus beneficios regulares de SNAP
• Estos beneficios de emergencia son un apoyo temporal que Oregon puede dar debido a la emergencia de salud pública federal por el COVID-19
• Encuentre recursos para cubrir sus necesidades básicas: marque al 2-1-1 o envíe un mensaje de texto con su código postal al 898-21, www.211info.org 
• Centro de ayuda para el COVID-19 del Departamento de Servicios Humanos de Oregon

(Salem) – La mayoría de los habitantes de Oregon que reciben beneficios de alimentos del Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria (SNAP) recibirán pagos de emergencia en Diciembre.

El gobierno federal ha aprobado pagos de emergencia todos los meses desde marzo del 2020. Esto da a los beneficiarios de SNAP apoyo adicional durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Estos beneficios de emergencia son un apoyo temporal que Oregon puede dar debido a la emergencia de salud pública federal por el COVID-19.

Debido a que el gobierno federal aprobó estos beneficios de emergencia para Diciembre, Oregon también podrá darlos en Enero del 2023. Sin embargo, se espera que los beneficios de emergencia terminen cuando la emergencia de salud pública federal llegue a su fin.

En Diciembre, aproximadamente 426,000 hogares que reciben SNAP recibirán aproximadamente $70 millones en beneficios de alimentos adicionales además de sus beneficios regulares de SNAP.

“Sabemos que muchos dependen de estos beneficios adicionales de alimentos de emergencia para tener suficientes alimentos saludables para ellos y sus familias”, dijo Jana McLellan, Directora Interina de los Programas de Autosuficiencia del Departamento de Servicios Humanos de Oregon (ODHS). “También sabemos que muchos habitantes de Oregon todavía tienen dificultades para cubrir sus necesidades básicas y los alentamos a que se comuniquen con nuestros socios en el 211, el Banco de Alimentos de Oregon y su Agencia de Acción Comunitaria local para recibir apoyo durante este momento difícil”.

Los hogares que actualmente reciben SNAP recibirán el pago de emergencia el 13 de Diciembre. Los hogares que no recibieron beneficios en ese primer depósito mensual recibirán el pago de emergencia el 30 de Diciembre o el 4 de Enero del 2023.

Las personas que reciben SNAP no tienen que tomar ninguna acción para recibir estos beneficios adicionales ya que se depositarán directamente en sus tarjetas EBT.

Más información sobre los pagos de emergencia en https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/ASSISTANCE/FOOD-BENEFITS/Pages/Emergency-Allotments.aspx.

Si tiene preguntas sobre sus beneficios de alimentos de SNAP comuníquese con el Centro de Servicio al Cliente de ONE al 1-800-699-9075.

Si su hogar recibe SNAP y sus ingresos o la cantidad de personas que viven en su hogar ha cambiado, eso podría afectar sus beneficios. Es importante asegurar que ODHS tenga su información más reciente.

Puede notificar cualquier cambio en sus ingresos o en su hogar de muchas maneras:

• En línea: ONE.Oregon.gov
• Por correo: ONE Customer Service Center, PO Box 14015, Salem, OR 97309
• Por fax: 503-378-5628
• Por teléfono: 1-800-699-9075 or TTY 711

Recursos para ayudar a cubrir sus necesidades básicas

• Encuentre una despensa de alimentos: foodfinder.oregonfoodbank.org
• Infórmese sobre programas del gobierno y recursos en la comunidad para adultos mayores y personas con discapacidades: Conexión para Recursos de Envejecimiento y Discapacidad de Oregon al 1-855-673-2372 o www.adrcoforegon.org.
• Marque 2-1-1, mande un mesaje de texto con su código postal al 898-211, www.211info.org 
• Encuentre recursos locales y apoyo comunicándose con su Agencia de Acción Comunitaria local: www.caporegon.org/find-services/ 
• Centro de ayuda para el COVID-19 del Departamento de Servicios Humanos de Oregon

Administrado por ODHS, SNAP es un programa federal que brinda asistencia de alimentos a aproximadamente 1 millón de familias y personas elegibles de bajos ingresos en Oregon, incluyendo muchos adultos mayores y personas con discapacidades. Los habitantes de Oregon que lo necesiten pueden pedir beneficios como SNAP, cuidado infantil, asistencia en efectivo y Medicaid. Obtenga más información en https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/benefits/Pages/index.aspx.

Para información sobre recursos locales en su área, como alimentos o refugio, llame al 2-1-1 o comuníquese con la Conexión para Recursos de Envejecimiento y Discapacidad (ADRC por sus siglas en inglés) del estado al 1-855-ORE-ADRC o al 1-855-673-2372 .

###

On November 22, 2022 just prior to 5:45am, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a head-on traffic crash on Prairie Rd. near Maxwell Rd. in Eugene.  Medics responded and determined that the driver of one of the involved vehicles, 23-year old Eddie Lloyd Jenks of Fall Creek, had died. 

Preliminary investigation revealed that the1999 Pontiac Sunfire driven by Jenks had been traveling southbound on Prairie Rd. when it failed to negotiate a curve.  The Sunfire crossed into the oncoming northbound lane where it struck a 2010 Ford F150 pickup driven by 58-year old Harvey James Arnold of Eugene. 

Evidence at the scene indicated that Jenks was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash. 

People who use Portland water do not need to take any additional precautions at this time.          

Since 2017, the Portland Water Bureau has detected low levels of Cryptosporidium from routine monitoring of source water. The Portland Water Bureau received results from ongoing monitoring from the Bull Run Watershed intake for Cryptosporidium, a potentially disease-causing microorganism. Four Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in the 50 liters sampled on November 18, 2022. Prior to this detection, Cryptosporidium was last detected from the Bull Run drinking water source on July 10, 2022.

The Bull Run watershed is Portland’s primary source of drinking water. The Portland Water Bureau does not currently treat for Cryptosporidium, but is required to do so under drinking water regulations. Portland is working to install filtration by September 2027 under a compliance schedule with the Oregon Health Authority. In the meantime, Portland Water Bureau is implementing interim measures such as watershed protection and additional monitoring to protect public health. Consultation with public health officials has concluded that at this time, customers do not need to take any additional precautions. 

Exposure to Cryptosporidium can cause cryptosporidiosis, a serious illness. Symptoms can include diarrhea, vomiting, fever and stomach pain. People with healthy immune systems recover without medical treatment. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people with severely weakened immune systems are at risk for more serious disease. Symptoms may be more severe and could lead to serious or life-threatening illness. Examples of people with weakened immune systems include those with AIDS, those with inherited diseases that affect the immune system, and cancer and transplant patients who are taking certain immunosuppressive drugs.

The Environmental Protection Agency has estimated that a small percentage of the population could experience gastro-intestinal illness from Cryptosporidium and advises that customers who are immunocompromised and receive their drinking water from the Bull Run Watershed consult with their healthcare professional about the safety of drinking the tap water. The Portland Water Bureau and Burlington, City of Gresham, City of Sandy, City of Tualatin, Green Valley, GNR, Hideaway Hills, Lake Grove, Lorna Domestic Water, Lusted, Palatine Hill, Pleasant Home, Raleigh, Rockwood, Skyview Acres, Tualatin Valley, Two Rivers, Valley View and West Slope Water Districts receive all or part of their drinking water supply from Bull Run. To learn if your drinking water comes from Bull Run, please contact your local drinking water provider.

The public and the media are encouraged to view all sampling results posted to the City’s website at portland.gov/water/cryptoresults. The bureau will notify the media and public immediately should further test results indicate a risk to public health and precautions are necessary.

Customers with questions regarding water quality can call the Water Quality Line at 503-823-7525.

About the Portland Water Bureau

The Portland Water Bureau serves water to almost a million people in the Portland area. Portland’s water system includes two great water sources, 53 tanks and reservoirs, and 2,200 miles of pipes. With 600 employees working on everything from water treatment to customer service, the Water Bureau is committed to serving excellent water every minute of every day.

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Washington State University Vancouver will hold Scholarships 101 Information Night for prospective college students interested in learning how scholarships can help them pay for college. The event will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Dec. 7 in the Dengerink Administration Building, Room 110. It is free and open to everyone, no matter which college or university you plan to attend. Free parking will be available in Orange 2 lot. 

Guests will learn where to find the best scholarships, how to write award-winning essays and get helpful tips from prior award winners. 

Learn more about how to afford college at vancouver.wsu.edu/finaid.

About WSU Vancouver

WSU Vancouver is located at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave. in Vancouver, east of the 134^th Street exit from either I-5 or I-205, or via C-TRAN bus service. Find a campus map at vancouver.wsu.edu/map.

WSU Vancouver is in the homeland of Chinookan and Taidnapam peoples and the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. As one of six campuses of the WSU system, WSU Vancouver offers big-school resources in a small-school environment. The university provides affordable, high-quality baccalaureate- and graduate-level education to benefit the people and communities it serves. As the only four-year research university in Southwest Washington, WSU Vancouver helps drive economic growth through relationships with local businesses and industries, schools and nonprofit organizations. 

# # #

Update

Tristian Witt has been located and is safe.

Vancouver, Wash. – On Nov 9, 2022, at approximately 1:15 p.m., Vancouver Police responded to a report of a missing person/runaway, Tristian Witt, 15 years of age, 5’3”, 110 lbs., blond curly hair, blue eyes. Tristian was last seen in the 2900 block of General Anderson Ave., wearing a black coat, gray Seattle Seahawks sweatshirt, black sweatpants and blue shoes with white soles. Tristian takes regular medication, which he may not have with him. Attempts to locate him have not been successful. 

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Tristian Witt is asked to contact Vancouver Police Detective David Jensen at (360) 487-7446.

###

The Willamette Water Supply System Commission Board meeting will be held Thursday, December 1, 2022 at 12:00 noon.

Location: Meeting will be held virtually. If you wish to attend and need dial-in information, please contact annette.rehms@tvwd.org or call 971-222-5957 by 10:00 a.m. on December 1, 2022.

If you wish to address the WWSS Board, please request the Public Comment Form and return it 48 hours prior to the day of the meeting. 

The meeting is accessible to persons with disabilities and those who need qualified bilingual interpreters. A request for an interpreter for the hearing impaired, a bilingual interpreter or for other accommodations should be made at least 72 hours before the meeting to the contact listed above. 

The Board meeting agenda packet and additional information regarding the Willamette Water Supply System Commission are available on the WWSS Commission website: 

https://www.tvwd.org/administration/page/willamette-water-supply-system-commission

TIP OF THE WEEK

Date:          November 23, 2022                      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:      Sheriff Curtis Landers

                   541-265-0652

                   clanders@co.lincoln.or.us

Driving Drowsy

It is very important to stay alert while driving at all times, but especially during this time of year since weather conditions can rapidly become hazardous.  Here are several safety tips to keep in mind before hitting the road.  

Feeling sleepy is especially dangerous when you are driving.  Sleepiness slows your reaction time, decreases awareness, and impairs your judgment just like drugs or alcohol. People who are very sleepy behave in similar ways to people who are drunk. The impact that this has on traffic safety should not be underestimated.

 To remain alert and avoid drowsiness:

• Getting plenty of sleep (at least six hours) the night before a long trip
• Traveling at times when you are normally awake, and staying overnight rather than driving straight through
• Scheduling a break every two hours or every 100 miles
• Stop driving if you become sleepy; someone who is tired could fall asleep at any time – fatigue impacts reaction time, judgment, and vision, causing people who are very sleepy to behave in similar ways to those who are drunk
• Not planning to work all day and then drive all night
• Drink a caffeinated beverage. Since it takes about 30 minutes for caffeine to enter the bloodstream, find a safe place to take a 20-30 minute nap while you’re waiting for the caffeine to take effect
• Avoid sleepy times of day. Take a mid-afternoon nap and find a place to sleep between midnight and 6 a.m.
• Traveling with an awake passenger.

You are too tired to drive if you’re experiencing any or all of the following:

• Having trouble keeping your eyes open and focused
• The inability to keep your head up
• Daydreaming or having wandering, disconnected thoughts
• Drifting from your lane or off the road or tailgating
• Yawning frequently or rubbing your eyes repeatedly
• Missing signs or driving past your intended exit
• Feeling irritable and restless
• Being unable to remember how far you have traveled or what you have recently passed.

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

GRESHAM, Ore. – The holiday season is a special time of year, full of festivities and time with friends and family. But with the decreased daylight and inherent busyness, also comes the prospect of being vulnerable to theft and other crimes. 

“It’s easy to get distracted as we rush around this time of year,” says Gresham Police Chief Travis Gullberg. “By keeping in mind some simple safety tips, we hope to help our community avoid some of the most common crimes we see around the holidays.”

The Gresham Police Department wants everyone to enjoy a safe and peaceful holiday season. With that in mind, here are some safety tips to keep you and your loved ones merry and bright: 

Car break-in and theft prevention:

• Never leave your unattended car running.
• Do not leave valuables where they can be seen; lock them in the trunk or take them with you. (Including: purses, shopping bags, electronic devices, and firearms).
• Close and lock the windows and doors.
• Park in a well-lit area.
• Use an anti-theft device if possible.

Package theft prevention: 

• Request signature delivery.
• Deliver packages to a lockbox, office, or trusted neighbor.
• Consider installing a camera and flood light on your front porch.

Shopping safety:

• Shop during the daylight hours when possible.
• Dress casually and comfortably, not drawing unwanted attention to yourself.
• Use a credit card if possible.
• If you must use cash, keep it in your front pocket and do not carry large amounts.

Going out of town safety:

• Do not announce your trip on social media; post pictures after you return.
• Make sure all your doors and windows are closed and locked.
• Use a “mail hold” or ask a trusted neighbor to collect your mail and package delivery.
• Set indoor and outdoor lights on an automatic timer.

Above all, the Gresham Police Department is encouraging the community to be prepared and stay alert. If a crime does occur, please report it by calling 503-823-3333 or visiting GreshamOregon.gov/Police-Department. 

About Gresham:

Gresham is a welcoming community of hard-working people where tradition meets opportunity in Oregon's fourth largest city. Gresham’s residents care deeply about our roots and are committed to building a vibrant future. Today, Gresham is a dynamic, innovative, and rapidly growing city with a desire to thrive. To learn more, visit www.GreshamOregon.gov or visit us on Twitter at @CityofGresham.

###