After a national search, the Tigard City Council has selected Brent Stockwell to serve as the next City Manager. Brent has been Assistant City Manager with the City of Scottsdale, Arizona since 2015.

Stockwell holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Washington and is an International City/Council Management Association Credentialed Manager. His education is complemented by the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at Harvard.

The City Council voted to approve Brent’s contract at their meeting on April 23, 2025; he will officially begin work with Tigard on June 1, 2025.

As City Manager, Stockwell will oversee the day-to-day operations of the city and work closely with the seven-member City Council, Tigard team members, and community members to implement council priorities and community initiatives.

“We’re excited to have Brent Stockwell join us as City Manager,” said Mayor Heidi Lueb. “Brent brings great experience and new energy to this critical role for our community. He will help us move our goals forward for housing, economic opportunity, livability, and delivering our new Police and Public Works facility. We look forward to working with Brent to continue doing great things in Tigard. Welcome Brent!”

Brent Stockwell said, “I’m honored by the trust of the Mayor and City Council and excited to serve the Tigard community. I’ve spent my career collaborating with communities, building strong relationships, responding to needs and delivering results. That approach aligns with Tigard’s way of doing things – and I’m excited to move forward together.”

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Granite Bay, California man was arrested and appeared in federal court Tuesday after he was indicted in Oregon for cyberstalking his ex-girlfriend and posting sexually explicit photos online.

Jason David Campos, 42, has been charged with stalking, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

According to court documents, between 2009 and 2023, Campos is alleged to have stalked and harassed the victim, a former intimate partner, by posting sexually explicit images and personal information online using social media platforms and public forum websites. 

In May 2007, while still in the relationship, Campos told the victim that the laptop containing the sexually explicit images had been stolen from his vehicle. Campos and the victim ended their relationship in 2008.

The following year, the victim searched her name online and discovered that sexually explicit images, taken by Campos during their relationship, had been posted to Facebook, Craigslist, Classmates.com, in sex ads, and a Swedish website, without the victim’s consent. Campos used the victim’s name, including her maiden name, to create accounts on several social media platforms and public forum websites. Over the next 14 years, Campos used these accounts to publish sexually explicit images of the victim online. In numerous instances, Campos asked viewers to contact the victim directly and shared her personal information in order to further harass the victim.

On July 16, 2021, Campos is further alleged to have created an email account using the victim’s name, which he used to contact the victim’s attorney in Oregon. Posing as the victim, Campos requested the client file which contained personal information including the victim’s address and information about a child. After obtaining the file, Campos contacted the victim directly.

On January 23, 2022, the victim received an email from an account later linked to Campos, in which he referred to the child by name and asked if the victim was the child’s mother. Additionally, Campos used the email account to post several sexually explicit images of the victim to an online message board. He asked viewers to print the images and post them around a neighborhood in Oregon that the victim was residing in at the time.

Campos was arrested in Granite Bay and made his initial appearance in federal court Tuesday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Sacramento, California. He was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered detained pending further court proceedings.

If convicted, Campos faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, three years’ supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 for wire fraud, a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison, three years’ supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 for stalking, and a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in federal prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 for aggravated identity theft.

The case is being investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Gregory R. Nyhus and Mira Chernick, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.

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

# # #

Evergreen Virtual Academy - 04/24/25
 

EVERGREEN VIRTUAL ACADEMY NOTICE OF MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS April 24, 2025, 6:30PM Evergreen Virtual Academy Board Members are Hereby notified that a Session of the Board will be held via Zoom Webinar at https://evergreenvirtual-org.zoom.us/j/86346138790
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

Bend Fire & Rescue was dispatched for a reported fire in Web Cyclery at 157 NW Franklin Ave this morning. The bike shop is located in the historic Old Stone Church in downtown Bend, originally built in 1912.  Staff at the store reported a fire in a light fixture in the attic of the building. They attempted a fire extinguisher, stopping the flames that were first noticed in a ceiling light fixture. But the fire had spread to nearby stored goods by then. All employees and customers evacuated safely before fire crews arrived. Crews found the attic space full of smoke when they arrived and stretched hoses into the building to extinguish the fire. Bend Fire's ladder truck set up and opened holes in the roof to allow smoke out of the attic to aid in extinguishing the fire. The fire was extinguished in approximately 30 minutes. 
 

Bend Fire & Rescue investigators determined the fire to have started when a fluorescent light fixture in the attic storage room failed. The light caught fire, and the flames then spread to adjacent boxes and stored goods in the space. The quick actions of the staff by using an extinguisher while calling 911 at the same time prevented this fire from getting any worse. Damage to the building is estimated to be about $25,000. The damage to the contents of the retail space is considered extensive due to the smoke from the fire. Several dozen high end mountain bikes were destroyed in the attic space due to catching fire. But there is a potential for all clothing and soft goods in the entire building to be considered a loss if they can’t be cleaned of the smoke. This damage could range from $100,000 to $500,000 depending on the extent of damage to the retail items and whether they can be restored for retail use again or not. The business is fully insured and the insurance company had been contacted by the time Bend Fire left the scene.
 

Bend Fire & Rescue commends the actions of the staff of Web Cyclery for their quick actions in preventing this fire from getting any worse. They investigated the smell as soon as it was known. They used an extinguisher for what was a small fire to start off with. But most importantly, they started evacuating the building and calling 911 at the same time another employee was using the extinguisher. These actions ensured everyone was out safe and the fire department was on its way in the event the extinguisher wasn’t enough, as it turned out to be. Bend Fire reminds anyone that uses a fire extinguisher on a fire to call 911 at the same time. If the extinguisher puts the fire out completely, the fire department can ensure the fire didn’t spread and help with the initial clean up. If the extinguisher doesn’t put the fire out completely, we are on the way sooner than later to extinguish the fire completely.

On March 27, 2025, Officers responded to an assault that occurred at a care facility located in the 5300 Block of NE Prescott.  Officers arrested Reynaldo Silva, 66; Silva was later indicted for Assault II by a Multnomah County Grand Jury. 

On April 10, 2025, the victim of the assault, Galen Pixler, 68, died and the medical examiner ruled his death a homicide due to delayed complications from the assault. Additional charges may now be sought in this case.

Anyone with information about this case, who has not yet spoken with investigators, is asked to contact Detective Eric McDaniel at ic.mcdaniel@police.portlandoregon.gov">eric.mcdaniel@police.portlandoregon.gov 503-823-0833 or Detective Sterling Farrar at (503) 823-0710 or ling.Farrar@police.portlandoregon.gov">Sterling.Farrar@police.portlandoregon.gov  

The family of Galen Pixler has been notified of his death and is requesting privacy at this time.

###PPB###

EUGENE, Ore.— Two companies responsible for the operation of the J.H. Baxter wood treatment facility in Eugene, Oregon, and their president, were sentenced Tuesday for hazardous waste and Clean Air Act violations. Collectively, they were ordered to pay a total of $1.5 million in criminal fines. In addition, the court ordered the companies to serve five years of probation and the companies’ president, Georgia Baxter-Krause, 62, of Deschutes County, Oregon, to serve 90 days in federal prison and one year of supervised release. 

Both companies — J.H. Baxter & Co. Inc. and J.H. Baxter & Co., A California Limited Partnership (collectively J.H. Baxter) — previously pleaded guilty to charges of illegally treating hazardous waste and knowingly violating the Clean Air Act’s regulations for hazardous air pollutants. Georgia Baxter-Krause previously pleaded guilty to two counts of making false statements in violation of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the federal statute governing hazardous waste management.

"On more than 100 different days, J.H. Baxter knowingly and illegally boiled off hazardous waste, emitting the discharge into the air,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “J.H. Baxter’s President, Georgia Baxter-Krause, then made false statements about the unlawful practice. Protecting the public’s health is among our highest priorities, and we will prosecute those who violate environmental laws." 

“The J.H. Baxter companies knowingly mishandled hazardous waste and repeatedly violated the Clean Air Act by venting hazardous substances directly into the air, right across the street from people’s homes. The company president then lied to cover up these crimes,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Jeffrey Hall for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Today’s sentencing highlights the significant penalties that Congress has provided for illegally treating or disposing of hazardous waste as well as the Agency’s continued efforts to ensure that Americans have clean air, land, and water.”

“The defendant companies boiled hazardous waste into our community’s air instead of properly dealing with it and Georgia Baxter-Krause lied when confronted about it,” said Nathan J. Lichvarcik, Chief of the Eugene and Medford Branches of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate and prosecute those who put Oregonians at risk in violation of federal law.”

According to court documents, J.H. Baxter used hazardous chemicals to treat and preserve wood at its Eugene facility. The wastewater from the wood preserving processes was hazardous waste.

To properly treat wastewater from its wood treatment process, J.H. Baxter operated a legal wastewater treatment unit to treat and evaporate the waste. For years, however, when J.H. Baxter had too much water on site, including process wastewater and precipitation, J.H. Baxter’s employees at the facility would transfer hazardous process wastewater to an available wood treatment retort to “boil it off,” greatly reducing its volume. J.H. Baxter would then remove the remaining waste from the retort, label it as hazardous waste and ship it offsite for disposal.

Photo sent to Georgia Baxter-Krause in 2019, depicting the inside of a J.H. Baxter retort after weeks of boiling hazardous waste, from the government’s sentencing memo in United States v. J.H. Baxter, et al., 6:24-cr-441 in U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon.

J.H. Baxter did not have a permit to treat its hazardous waste in this manner, as required by RCRA. Additionally, J.H. Baxter’s facility was subject to certain Clean Air Act emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants, which required it to minimize air pollution emissions. However, during the illegal treatment, employees were directed to open all vents on the retorts, allowing discharge to the surrounding air.

After Oregon inspectors discovered this activity, they requested information about the companies’ practice of boiling off hazardous wastewater. On two separate occasions, Georgia Baxter-Krause gave false information in response, which included information about the dates the practice took place and which retorts were used.

The investigation determined that Georgia Baxter-Krause knew J.H. Baxter maintained detailed daily production logs for each retort. From approximately January to October 2019, J.H. Baxter boiled off hazardous process wastewater in its wood treatment retorts on 136 known days. Georgia Baxter-Krause was also aware that during this time J.H. Baxter used four of its five retorts to boil off wastewater.

This case was investigated by the EPA Criminal Investigation Division with assistance from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Lane Regional Air Protection Agency, EPAs Pacific Northwest (Region 10) office, and the Oregon State Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. McLaren for the District of Oregon, Trial Attorneys Rachel Roberts and Stephen J. Foster of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section, and EPA Regional Criminal Enforcement Counsel Karla G. Perrin.

This case was an Environmental Crimes Task Force (ECTF) investigation. ECTF is an initiative in the District of Oregon that identifies, investigates, and prosecutes significant environmental, public lands, and wildlife crimes. ECTF leverages the resources and effort of federal, state and local regulatory agencies and law enforcement to protect human health, safeguard natural resources and wildlife and hold violators accountable.

# # #

It’s International Dark Sky Week, and there's no better place to celebrate than right here in Oregon. Did you know Oregon is home to the largest International Dark Sky Sanctuary on the planet? That’s right—the world. And the Bureau of Land Management Oregon/Washington has the privilege of caring for it!

Spanning an awe-inspiring 2.5 million acres of land in southeastern Oregon, the Oregon Outback Dark Sky Sanctuary—with 1.7 million acres proudly managed by the BLM Lakeview District—offers some of the clearest, most pristine views of the night sky you'll find anywhere. On a clear night, you might spot as many as 15,000 stars twinkling above. That’s a lot more than the 500 visible in most urban areas.

“I grew up just outside of Portland, and like most city kids, I never really saw the true night sky,” said Lisa McNee, BLM Public Affairs Specialist. “That all changed when I was 12 and went to a science camp in John Day. We were taken out about a mile from camp, laid on blankets under the stars, and used telescopes to look deep into the universe. That might have been the moment I fell in love with the firmament.”

Whether you’re a stargazing pro or someone who loves the calm of a clear night, there’s something special about seeing the stars the way they were meant to be seen: bright and wild, without city lights in the way.

"That night sky stayed with me,” McNee continued. “For a while, I even wanted to be an astronaut. Eventually, I realized that flying among the stars wasn’t in the cards for me—I like gravity, as it turns out. But even from Earth, I never stopped dreaming while looking up." 

Today, McNee calls the Oregon Outback home—a remote, rugged stretch of southeastern Oregon known for its wild beauty. As part of the BLM’s Lakeview District team, she helps manage the very lands where the night sky remains among the darkest and most pristine in the lower 48.

“We're committed to preserving not only the beauty of our lands but also the magic of the night sky,” said McNee. “Oregon offers some of the darkest, most awe-inspiring skies in the nation, and it's our privilege to help protect the starry sanctuary for future generations to enjoy.”

Know before you go

Venturing into the Oregon Outback or other remote BLM lands takes a little planning:

• Check the weather and road conditions.
• Bring extra water, warm layers, and a red-light flashlight.
• Let someone know your plans.
• Download maps and stargazing apps ahead of time – cell service can be limited.

-BLM-  

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

Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Council and Planning Commission have scheduled work sessions on climate change planning.

With the passage of HB 1181 during the 2023 Washington State legislative session, Clark County is now required to add a climate change element into its Comprehensive Plan. The new climate chapter will include actions the county can take over the next 20 years to improve community resilience, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and benefit overburdened communities that will be disproportionately affected by the compounding environmental impacts and natural hazards due to climate change. This work will be integrated into the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Review project.

The council work session is scheduled for the morning of Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Council work sessions begin that day at 9 a.m. The climate change work session will be second on the agenda. This work session is intended as an informational briefing for council on the climate change planning project to provide a project update.

The meeting will be held in a hybrid format. Attendees can join in person in the sixth-floor hearing room of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St., or virtually via Webex.

The meeting materials can be found at https://clark.wa.gov/community-planning/2025-update-meeting-and-event-information.

Information on how to attend the meeting can be found on the council’s meeting page at https://clark.wa.gov/councilors/clark-county-council-meetings. A recording of the meeting will also be posted on this webpage for viewing later.

The Planning Commission will hold two work sessions that are scheduled for 5:30 pm Thursday, May 1, and Thursday, June 5, 2025.

The work sessions are intended as an informational briefing for planning commission on the climate change planning project. Key focus areas for each work session are as follows:

• May 1: Project update and review of proposed climate chapter countywide planning policies
• June 5: Review of proposed climate chapter 20-year county planning policies

The Planning Commission meetings will be held in a hybrid format. Attendees can join in person in the sixth-floor training room of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St., or virtually via Webex.

Meeting materials and information on how to attend each meeting will be available on the Planning Commission’s meeting page at https://clark.wa.gov/community-planning/planning-commission-hearings-and-meeting-notes. A recording of each meeting will also be posted on the webpage for viewing later.

All three work sessions are open to the public, however there will be no public comment as part of the events.

To learn more about the 2025 update and to sign up for project updates, please visit the project website at www.clark.wa.gov/2025update

To learn more about county climate planning, please visit the project website at https://clark.wa.gov/community-planning/climate-change-planning.

The county’s Climate Project is being funded by a state grant. The Washington Department of Commerce climate planning grant is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA). The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.

(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Child Welfare Director is sharing details of a broad effort underway to improve safety for children in foster care and children who come to the attention of Child Welfare through a call to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline.

“The safety of children is our highest priority, and while the Child Welfare system has significantly improved in recent years, we know there is more work to do to ensure children are safe, both in our care and in the community,” said ODHS Child Welfare Director, Aprille Flint-Gerner.

Improvement plans are focused on the following goals:

• Workforce development: Child Welfare needs a strong, supported workforce with access to resources, tools and knowledge to keep children safe. Initiatives in this area include enhanced training, changes to assessment policy and procedure, and technology improvements to help caseworkers work more efficiently.
   
• Public engagement and trust: To keep children safe, the community needs to understand how to build safety around families and how to report concerns to the Child Abuse Hotline. A new mandatory reporter training for the public, a companion “mandatory supporter training,” and more easily accessible information online about child safety and progress will help meet this goal.
   
• Vulnerable populations. Oregon faces multifaceted challenges around supporting families and children with complex needs. Child Welfare has safety initiatives around children who have been trafficked, children with disabilities, and children who need substance abuse treatment.

More details on these efforts can be found at this link.

Child Welfare is partnering with national experts to inform strategies and measure success of these ongoing efforts. Human Services Group (HSG) will partner with Child Welfare to conduct a review during the next 90-120 days to evaluate current safety-related practices, make recommendations that build on current practices and resources that help to safeguard vulnerable children in Oregon. The agency is also working with the neutral expert hired through in the collaborative agreement from the class action-lawsuit settled last year to conduct an initial review of the Oregon child welfare system and working with the department to develop outcome measures.

“Safety is core to the mission of the Oregon Department of Human Services, and our staff work hard each day to protect the most vulnerable populations, including children, older adults and people with disabilities,” said Fariborz Pakseresht, ODHS Director. “We are committed to continuously evaluating our work, to ensure we are doing all we can to support safety in all settings and communities.”

About the Oregon Department of Human Services

The mission of ODHS is to help Oregonians in their own communities achieve wellbeing and independence through opportunities that protect, empower, respect choice and preserve dignity. 

###

Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Assessor’s office property tax exemption specialists will be available to answer questions and enroll property owners in the county’s property tax relief program at upcoming events in Washougal.

The Tax Exemption Program for senior citizens and people with disabilities can reduce property tax liability for qualifying homeowners. Eligibility is based on age or disability, home ownership, residency, and income. Participants are not required to repay the taxes, and their homes are not subject to property liens.

The presentation will be 7 pm on Monday, April 28, at the Washougal City Council meeting in Washougal Council Chambers 1701 C St.

Exemption specialists will be available to help enroll applicants at Washougal Community Center, 1681 C St. from 9 am to 1 pm Friday, May 16.

To schedule an appointment for the enrollment event, call 564.397.2391 or email eduction@clark.wa.gov">taxreduction@clark.wa.gov. Walk-ins also are welcome. Homeowners interested in attending should bring photo ID, federal tax return, W-2 and/or 1099, and any deduction documentation. 

Learn more about the program and apply online at https://assessor-property-tax-exemption-program-clarkcountywa.hub.arcgis.com/.

Vancouver, Wash. – The board of the Clark County Public Facilities District will hold a public meeting 4-5 p.m. Monday, May 5, 2025.

The meeting will be on the Teams platform. Anyone wishing to attend the meeting can click here to join the meeting and use the meeting password Ht2v4yn6 or call +1.213.262.7043 and use the access code 679 906 417#.

The Public Facilities District was formed in 2002 for the purpose of participating in the study, planning and development of one or more regional centers that would promote tourism, such as the convention center in downtown Vancouver and exhibition hall at the Clark County Fairgrounds.

The board is comprised of five-members and an alternate member.

The board typically tries to meet on the first Monday of February, May, August and November. 

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Washington State University Vancouver will honor 759 graduating students this year. The honorees include graduates from the fall 2024 and spring and summer 2025 terms.

Commencement begins at 1 p.m. May 3 at Cascades Amphitheater, 17200 NE Delfel Rd., Ridgefield, Wash. No tickets are required, and parking is free. The seating area opens at 11:30 a.m.; parking opens at 11 a.m. The ceremony will also be streamed on WSU Vancouver’s YouTube channel: youtube.com/user/wsuvancouver.

Guests as well as graduates will walk through a metal detector at entry. Carry-in belongings will be searched. Only small clutches, wristlets or fanny packs no bigger than 4.5 x 6.5 inches or clear plastic bags no bigger than 12 x 12 x 6 inches will be allowed inside. Do not bring balloons, gift bags, fireworks, outside food or drink, coolers, laser pointers, pets, weapons, umbrellas, strollers or playpens, skateboards or inline skates. These items must be returned to their vehicle.

About the Graduates    

The 2025 graduates include 52 doctoral candidates in the areas of anthropology, biology, educational leadership, experimental psychology, math and science education, neuroscience, nursing practice, prevention science, psychology, and teaching and learning.

The 58 master’s candidates will receive degrees in anthropology, biology, business administration, computer science, education, electrical engineering, environmental and natural resource sciences, psychology, mechanical engineering, nursing, prevention science, psychology, strategic communication, and elementary and secondary teaching.

The 649 bachelor’s candidates will receive degrees in anthropology, art, biology, business administration, civil engineering, computer science, criminal justice and criminology, data analytics, digital technology and culture, earth and environmental science, education, electrical engineering, English, history, hospitality business management, human biology, human development, humanities, mathematics, mechanical engineering, neuroscience, nursing, political science, psychology, public affairs, social sciences, sociology and strategic communication.

About WSU Vancouver

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. 

WSU Vancouver is located on the homelands of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and Peoples of the Lower Columbia Valley. We acknowledge their presence here. WSU Vancouver expresses its respect towards these original and current caretakers of the region. We pledge that these relationships will be built on mutual trust and respect.

# # #

Date: 4/23/25

Case #: 21CR27231     

Portland, OR-Manuel Jesus Huchin-Interian pled guilty Friday April 18, 2025 to Assault in the Second Degree Constituting Domestic Violence. 

Under Ballot Measure 11, he will be sentenced to 70 months in prison and three years post prison supervision. 

Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Robin Beck Skarstad prosecuted the case for the state. She noted that Huchin-Interian accepted the plea offer the afternoon before his case went to trial. 

She said: "This case underscores the devastating impact domestic violence has on children in the home.  The victim’s young daughter showed bravery and resilience that truly inspires us to work hard every day to interrupt the cycle of abuse and to keep families safe.” 

The Multnomah County District Attorney's Office would like to thank the Gresham Police Department, particularly the lead investigator Sabrina Homewytewa, who is now with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, and MCDA Victim Advocate Rocio Peguero for their compassion and empathy in helping the victims of this case. 

THE FACTS:

On June 7, 2021, police were called to a family home in Gresham by numerous 911 callers, including a call from the couple’s 10-year-old daughter who reported that her parents were arguing and dad stabbed mom. The 10-year old reported that she grabbed a knife herself and tried to stab the defendant but the knife was too dull so she dropped it and ran to her room with her little siblings and locked the door. She emerged whtn defendant left and stayed on the line with 911, rendering aid to her mom.  When police arrived, they found the victim "lifeless,” face down in a pool of blood, with a deep 8-inch cut to her neck. It was unclear whether she was going to survive but she did. The victim later told police the defendant had accused her of cheating and took a knife and cut her throat. While doing so he said he was going to "finish her" and then "finish the kids." Huchin-Interian fled and was later located and arrested in San Francisco in March 2024. 

Sentencing is set for Monday, April 28 at 1:00.

                                ###MCDA###

CASE # 23CR29179

Portland, OR- Multnomah County Judge Kelly Skye on Friday, April 18, 2025 sentenced Zenn Matthew Vicknair to 420 months in prison (35  years) for sexually abusing his stepdaughter over multiple years. 

Judge Kyle convicted Vicknair after a bench trial on May 31, 2024 but his sentencing was delayed for nearly a year by a variety of factors.

Vicknair was convicted on two counts of Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the First Degree, two counts of Sodomy in the First Degree, and five counts of Sex Abuse in the First Degree. The abuse began when the stepdaughter was 9 years old. 

Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Robin Skarstad prosecuted the case for the state. After the sentencing she said: 

“The 35 year sentence is an acknowledgement of the repeated instances of egregious sexual abuse committed by the defendant against the most vulnerable of victims. We are so grateful for the strength this now young-woman showed in seeking justice and safety for our community and hope that this verdict brings her some peace.”

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office would like to thank Detective Kathryne Manus for her patient work with this victim over many years.  

MCDA would also like to acknowledge the kind and caring work done by MCDA Victim Advocate Alie Aguilera on this case.

THE FACTS:

The facts brought out in trial proved incidents of sexual assault that started when the child was just 9 years old, and continued for years, allegedly even after the family moved to Renton, Washington in 2012. Vicknair stepped into the victim’s need for love and affection and filled it with pervasive, almost normalized sexual abuse for years of her young life – destroying her sense of self and the bonds of her family. The abuse first was reported in 2016, when the victim’s mother called the Department of Human Services hotline to report that her then 15-year old had disclosed ongoing sexual contact with the defendant.  After learning the defendant had attempted suicide and was experiencing seizures, the victim recanted the allegations during a therapy session.  The case was reopened in 2021 when the victim reached out to law enforcement concerned for her younger brother’s welfare.  

                                     ###MCDA###

Kinderpalooza, a fun event for Kelso kindergartners, early learners, and their families, is Tuesday, May 6, at Coweeman Middle School (2000 Allen St, Kelso) from 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm. The highly-anticipated event is a great way to introduce young learners to Kelso School District and get them excited about entering kindergarten.

Every elementary school in Kelso will have a table with kinder teachers, fun ideas, give-aways, and even some school mascots will be present. Community organizations and resources will also be on-site, including Cowlitz Indian Tribe, Girl Scouts, Head Start, Kelso Public Library, Red Cross, and Youth and Family Link.

At this event you can:

• Register for school if needed (even if you’ve already registered, please come)

• Meet Kelso staff

• Board and ride a school bus

• Learn about summer learning activities in our community

• Get information about the breakfast and lunch program

• Learn how to become a parent volunteer

• Talk to a school nurse about medications and immunizations

• Take a picture at the Class of 2038 photo booth

• Enjoy some snacks

• AND MORE!!!!

For additional information or questions, families can contact their school office or email ly.learning@kelsosd.org">early.learning@kelsosd.org.

Can’t make it to Kinderpalooza?

Kindergarten registration is open in Kelso for children who will be five years old by August 31, 2025.  There are two ways to register:

1. Fill out a paper packet. Enrollment packets may be picked up at any elementary school or downloaded from the Kelso School District (KSD) website at bit.ly/enrollatksd.

2. Enroll online at bit.ly/enrollatksd.

To determine which school children should attend, families can enter their address at bit.ly/school-site. Documents needed for enrollment include: birth certificate, proof of residency, and immunization records.

Applications opened on March 1 for Transition to Kindergarten (TK) and Preschool Pups. These programs serve early learners ages 3 to 4.  

TRANSITION TO KINDERGARTEN (TK)

Transition to Kindergarten (TK) is a FREE pre-kindergarten program for children who will be four years old by August 31, 2024, and would benefit from additional preparation to be successful in kindergarten the following year. Classrooms are staffed by certificated teachers and paraeducators.

• Full day, five days a week

• Access to transportation (for those not in identified walking boundaries), specialists, recess, lunch, and all aspects of the kindergarten school day

• To the greatest extent possible, students will be placed for TK at their home school

Families can learn more at bit.ly/ksd-early and can apply for the program online at bit.ly/ksd-tk-app.

PRESCHOOL PUPS

Preschool Pups is a FREE, inclusive preschool program comprised of typically-developing children who play and learn alongside children with disabilities. This program is housed at Catlin site and open to all Kelso families.

• Open to three- and four-year-olds, must turn three by August 31, 2024

• Morning and afternoon sessions, four half-days a week

• Morning session provides breakfast; afternoon session provides lunch

Families can learn more at bit.ly/ksd-early and can enroll for the program online at Catlin.

Not sure which program is right for your child? For a detailed comparison between TK, Preschool Pups, and Head Start—including program staffing, calendars, and qualifications—visit bit.ly/ksd-early or click here for the document pdf.

About Kelso School District
Kelso School District has a goal of 100% (bit.ly/ksd-100) of students graduating high school and having post-secondary plans for college, career, trades, or military. Our mission is to prepare every student for living, learning, and achieving success as a citizen of our changing world.  When we asked students and staff what makes Kelso strong, with 45 voices, there was one clear answer (bit.ly/ksd-strong).

Portland, Ore., April 23, 2025 – The Oregon Spring Cleanup, presented by Portland General Electric, wrapped up this week with powerful results and even stronger community spirit. From April 12 to April 22, over 3,000 volunteers of all ages celebrated Earth Month by joining 130 cleanup and restoration events across Portland, SW Washington, the Oregon Coast, Southern and Eastern Oregon—and beyond. Together, they picked up over 15,000 pounds of litter and marine debris and removed 8 Mount Tabor Parks worth of invasive plant species (963,750 square feet) such as English Ivy and Himalayan Blackberry.

Thanks to the efforts of individuals, schools, businesses, and community groups, the Oregon Spring Cleanup once again showcased what's possible when communities unite for a cleaner, healthier environment.

Oregon Spring Cleanup event highlights

Pier Park Pick-Up: Hybrid Litter Cleanup & Habitat Restoration, April 19

The annual Pier Park Pick-Up, organized by Friends of Pier Park, brought neighbors, local businesses, and members of Portland's disc golf community together to give this beloved North Portland greenspace a spring refresh. Volunteers worked side by side to remove invasive plants, collect litter, plant native vegetation, and spread mulch in native beds. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson joined the effort as part of his first of three SOLVE event stops that day to support and spotlight the ongoing commitment to maintaining this treasured community park and to celebrate Earth Day weekend with purpose.

Litter Cleanup at Wallace Marine Park, Salem, April 19

In honor of Earth Day, Governor Tina Kotek, First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson, and Governor's Office staff joined over 50 volunteers for a litter cleanup focused on removing litter and debris from the park and nearby waterways.

"This Earth Day, I urge every Oregonian to get outside and lend a hand to keep our parks and natural areas clean and beautiful," said Governor Kotek. "Together, we can fight the impacts of climate change in big ways and small ways. Lowering our greenhouse gas emissions not only protects our environment for future generations of Oregonians but also keeps our communities healthy and safe. Oregon's air, water, natural lands, parks, and all of the beautiful neighborhoods that we call home must be protected and maintained. So let's all do our part, connect with our neighbors, and keep Oregon green."

Detrash Portland: Earth Day Cleanup at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, April 22

To conclude the Oregon Spring Cleanup on Earth Day, nearly 300 volunteers gathered at Tom McCall Waterfront Park for one of the largest Detrash Portland events to date. This monthly cleanup series focuses on revitalizing different areas of downtown Portland, and this Earth Day edition carried special significance as the final event of the 10-day Oregon Spring Cleanup. Volunteers collected approximately 700 pounds of litter, making a powerful, visible impact in one of the city's most iconic public spaces. With the energy of Earth Day and the collective spirit of community pride, this event showcased the ongoing commitment to keeping downtown Portland vibrant and clean.

"It's inspiring to see so many people come together to care for their communities," said Kris Carico, CEO of SOLVE. "Whether it's cleaning up downtown parks or restoring habitat along our rivers and beaches, every action makes a difference. Litter that starts in our neighborhoods often ends up in our waterways and on our beaches, so cleanups at every level matter. And with spring here, it's the perfect time to refresh the places we all enjoy."

Coastal Supply Hubs Make Cleanups More Accessible

SOLVE's new coastal supply hubs—established in partnership with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and supported by Knife River—are helping to make small-scale cleanups more accessible and sustainable. Located along the Oregon Coast, these hubs are stocked with essential tools to support groups of up to 20 volunteers, reducing the need for shipping single-use supplies and making it easier for local communities to take action year-round.

Keep the Momentum Going: Take the Trash Bag Challenge

SOLVE also launched a new initiative this year: the Trash Bag Challenge. Timed with the Oregon Spring Cleanup, the challenge encourages groups to join cleanups or host their own and then pass the challenge to another team or organization. Now that events have wrapped up, it's the perfect time to pass the bag and challenge others.

2025 supporters

The Oregon Spring Cleanup 2025 is made possible by the generous support of Portland General Electric and other event sponsors, including AAA Oregon/Idaho, CareOregon, Clean Water Services, Fred Meyer, Holman Enterprises, KOIN 6, The Oregonian, Lam Research Corporation, Metro, Lithia Driveway, Intel, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Swire Coca-Cola, The Standard, and PepsiCo.

About SOLVE 

SOLVE brings communities together to take care of our environment and enhance our waterways. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots initiative to a national model of volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon, and SW Washington, to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas, while empowering a community of environmental stewards for our state. Visit solveoregon.org for more information. 

ALOHA, Ore. – Portland Community College student and Oregon native Andres Garcia Perez has made history as the first PCC student selected for the prestigious National High School Equivalency Program (HEP)/College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) Association Internship Program.

Perez, who lives in Aloha, is one of only six students nationwide chosen for this highly competitive internship, designed for first-year post-secondary students. He will spend 10 weeks this summer in Washington, D.C., developing advocacy and leadership skills by interning with the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the oldest and largest Hispanic civil rights organization in the U.S. The HEP/CAMP internship covers round-trip travel, housing at George Washington University, and a $4,500 stipend to support professional development.

“It is truly such an honor and privilege to be interning for LULAC,” said Perez. “With my aspirations of owning a law firm and becoming an immigration attorney, this opportunity will develop my leadership and professional skills significantly. I’m excited to network with leaders in D.C. and bring back everything I learn to share with my community.”

PCC’s HEP Program helps students earn their high school equivalency credentials, serving over 6,000 students nationally each year. CAMP supports first-year college students through mentorship and academic resources. PCC's CAMP serves approximately 45 students annually, and nearly 75% of participants go on to complete a bachelor's degree. 

“Thanks to CAMP and their mentorship, I have been guided towards a successful college career,” Perez said. “They laid out the steps required for me to reach my professional goals, making it easy to focus on studies and prepare for opportunities like this one.”

PCC CAMP Director Greg Contreras is proud of Perez's academic development. Contreras, who can submit just one student recommendation annually, emphasized the historic nature of Perez’s accomplishment. He said that Perez's selection will open doors not only for him, but for others.

“Andres is a natural leader, deeply rooted in doing good for his community—through church, charity, or school,” said Contreras. “This selection shows what’s possible for students in our program and inspires others to aim high."

The Aloha High School graduate and sports star, Perez hopes to actively participate in policy discussions, staff meetings and advocacy efforts impacting Latino communities across the nation. Despite facing personal challenges—he is partially deaf and visually impaired even with corrective lenses -- Perez has enjoyed academic success. He excels academically, musically and in leadership, proficiently playing guitar, bass, piano, ukulele and drums.

“Everything has been good about this experience—from CAMP orientation to networking opportunities,” Perez said. Recently, he attended the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute in Chicago, meeting figures like Emmy-winning journalist Gaby Natale and Oregon's first Mexican-American District Attorney John Haroldson.

Perez said he wouldn't know where he'd be in his academic journey without CAMP. He said he wouldn’t have the connections, friendships and experiences that he now has thanks to the program's support. 

"CAMP gave me confidence, organizational skills and space to grow both personally and professionally,” Perez said.

Perez, 19, is deeply committed to community service, a value he attributes to his upbringing. Born in Oregon, he comes from a family of seven, the child of Mexican migrant farmworkers—his mother from Oaxaca and father from Tlaxcala. 

“Andres recognizes the toil of hard labor his parents have endured harvesting fruit,” wrote Contreras in his recommendation. “He is compelled to elevate his family through education.”

Perez was captain of the Aloha High School baseball team, earned the Oregon State Seal of Biliteracy, and is now coaching junior varsity baseball there. Perez began at PCC with a scholarship from Aloha High and financial aid from Oregon Promise, plus a federal Pell Grant. He earned a place on PCC’s President’s List last fall, carrying a 3.75 grade-point average while taking 18 credits and volunteering with the Western Farm Workers Association.

“My dream is for my parents to retire comfortably, and for me to own one of the most successful law firms in the nation,” Perez said. “I want to inspire students like me to pursue careers in law or criminal justice and create a scholarship for migrant-background students in Oregon who aspire to attend law school.”

Perez describes himself as “a proud Latino student who has lived in Oregon my whole life. As the child of migrant farmworkers, I understand firsthand the transformative power of education. It is not just about personal success; it's about the responsibility I carry to uplift others along the way.”

For more information, visit the CAMP webpage or the HEP Program page.

About Portland Community College: Founded in 1961, Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to more than 53,000 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/

For B-ROLL footage, visit PCC campus and student life highlight reel.

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Bend Fire & Rescue, in partnership with the Central Oregon Fire Prevention Co-op, will host a Wildfire Preparedness Fair on Wednesday, April 30 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Central Oregon Community College Mazama Gym (2600 NW College Way, Bend).

The fair is free to attend and will feature giveaways, presentations and tables throughout the evening with important safety information on topics such as:

• Protecting your home before the fire occurs
• Preparing for an evacuation with your family (including pets!)
• Staying healthy when there are high levels of smoke 
• Navigating wildfire insurance
• Grant opportunities to help keep you and your neighborhood prepared

The Central Oregon Fire Prevention Co-Op is a coordinated effort between several public safety agencies whose goal is to promote an interagency exchange of ideas and resources, like wildfire preparedness, by actively participating through coordinated fire and life safety education programs, projects and presentations. Bend Fire & Rescue is a proud partner of this organization and plays an important role in bringing wildfire safety information to Central Oregon residents.

For questions, please contact Bend Fire & Rescue Fire Investigator Melissa Steele at msteele@bendoregon.gov.

Salem, Ore. – Oregon Lottery is celebrating a big milestone – it’s been 40 years since the first tickets were sold on April 25, 1985, creating dreams for future millionaires while supporting state programs and retailers.

To commemorate the anniversary, Oregon Lottery created a 40^th Anniversary Scratch-it, themed after Lottery’s very first game, Pot of Gold. The ticket is on sale now for $30 and features 25 top prizes of $40,000.   

With voter approval, Oregon Lottery was originally created to help jump-start the state’s economy by supporting economic development. It wasn’t until 1995 when voters approved an amendment to allocate Lottery funds for public education. Since then, other beneficiaries were added such as state parks, outdoor school, veterans services, and more. Lottery is now the state’s second largest funding source after personal income tax, contributing over $16.5 billion to state programs.

“For decades, Lottery revenue has helped support inspiring teachers, brave veterans, curious students, and innovative businesses,” said Oregon Lottery Director Mike Wells.  “As we look to the future, we remain committed to operating the lottery as a stable and reliable source of funding for our state.”

More than 200 retailers big and small have been with Oregon Lottery since the beginning, including well-known names such as Safeway, McKay’s Market, Plaid Pantry, Roth’s Fresh Markets, Thriftway, 7-Eleven, and Fred Meyer stores. 

"Fred Meyer is proud to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Oregon Lottery,” said Tiffany Sanders, corporate affairs manager for Fred Meyer. “Over the years, the Oregon Lottery has contributed significantly to education, parks, and vital state programs, making a lasting impact on the lives of Oregonians. Here's to 40 years of fun, excitement, and community growth, and to many more years of making a difference together!"

Greek Village is a locally-owned retailer near Cedar Hills. The restaurant/lounge was amongst the inaugural establishments to sell Oregon Lottery games and was founded by current owner Irene Pavlatos’ father in 1971. She now runs the business and is able to pay her cooks more than many competitors because of the boost from offering Lottery games. In one recent instance, she was able to help an employee who suffered a personal hardship with Lottery sales commissions paid to her business.

“We have that room to give her a bonus,” she said. “It allows us to do a lot of good that we wouldn’t be able to do without it.” 

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

Vancouver, Wash. – Vancouver Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services has been selected as one of just 52 recreation agencies nationwide to participate in the prestigious Million Coaches Challenge, an initiative that aims to equip one million coaches with essential youth development training in 2025.

As a participant in the initiative, recreation staff and youth sports volunteers will receive high-quality, no-cost coach training through the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and a coalition of top national training organizations. The goal is to better support staff and volunteers who lead youth sports programs, ensuring they have the tools to create inclusive, safe and developmentally supportive environments where every young athlete can thrive.

“Sports have the power to build confidence, connection and life skills,” said Stacey Allington, City recreation coordinator. “This opportunity is about more than just coaching. With this training, we’re creating a stronger foundation so all kids can benefit from everything youth sports have to offer.”

By participating in the Million Coaches Challenge, Vancouver Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services will be empowered to continue cultivating a youth sports culture where all children can succeed, on and off the field.

The Million Coaches Challenge is powered by the Susan Crown Exchange (SCE), with additional funding from ESPN’s Take Back Sports youth sports initiative. NRPA joined the effort in 2024 to help expand its reach across park and recreation agencies.

For more information about local youth sports programs or volunteer coaching opportunities, visit www.cityofvancouver.us/activities.

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JOHN DAY, Oregon— Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site welcomes visitors to its Interpretive Center and historic building for the 2025 season starting Friday, May 2.

The Kam Wah Chung building is a National Historic Landmark that preserves the home and businesses of two Chinese immigrants, Ing "Doc" Hay and Lung On. For more than 60 years the building was a social, medical and religious center for Oregon's Chinese community.

The Interpretive Center will be open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (closed 11 a.m. to noon for lunch). The historic building and Interpretive Center will be closed Monday through Thursday during May and possibly into June due to staffing levels at the site. Check the website for hours of operation throughout the season: https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=5

Tours of the historic building will run at the top of every hour, the last one beginning at 3 p.m. The free, 45-minute historic building tour begins at the Interpretive Center at 125 NW Canton Street in John Day. Space is limited to 8 people per tour.

For more information or questions about booking tours and operating hours, please call the park office at 541-575-2800.

For those who won't have the opportunity to visit this heritage site this season, you can learn more about the site and Chinese American history in Oregon through these online resources:

• Oregon Chinese Diaspora Project
• National Historic Landmark Nomination: Kam Wah Chung Company Building
• Oregon Encyclopedia: Chinese Americans in Oregon and Kam Wah Chung and Co.
• Oregon Historical Society: Beyond Chinatown: Uncovering Oregon’s Rural Chinese History and Centering Chinese History in Oregon and Herbs & Roots: A History of Chinese Doctors in the American Medical Marketplace

Average Oregon emergency department visit is 5.2 hours, dashboard shows 

RELEASE DATE:               April 23, 2025
CASE NUMBER:                 25-16311
 

Gresham, Ore.—Gresham Police is asking for the public’s assistance with locating a missing 67-year-old male, David Round.  David’s caretakers discovered he was missing from the 1000 block of SE 213 Ave., this morning. David has a cognitive disability and is missing his required daily medication. He is familiar with TriMet.

David is described as a Black male who is 5-feet and 10-inches tall and weighs approximately 190 pounds. He is bald with brown eyes and it is believed he is wearing dark clothing.

Anyone who knows of David’s whereabouts is asked to call 911 or non-emergency at 503-823-3333

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PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Celebrate National Train Day at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center
Steam Locomotives, Family Fun, and Living History!
Saturday, May 10, 2025 | 10:00AM–6:00PM
Oregon Rail Heritage Center, Portland, OR

PORTLAND, OR – All aboard for a one-of-a-kind celebration as the Oregon Rail Heritage Center (ORHC) hosts a full day of steam, history, and family fun in honor of National Train Day on Saturday, May 10, 2025, from 10:00AM to 6:00PM.

This family-friendly event invites guests to step into the golden age of railroading with train rides powered by the historic Polson #2 steam locomotive. Ride tickets are $40 for adults, $30 for children (children under 2 ride free as a lap child), $36 for seniors (65+) and active or retired military, and $115 for a family pass (includes two adults and two children). Ticket purchasers, you'll receive a coupon for 20% off our beloved Holiday Express Train—a festive tradition you won’t want to miss. Every dollar from your ticket supports the Oregon Rail Heritage Center’s mission—from restoring historic locomotives to sharing the magic of trains with visitors of all ages. Your ticket isn’t just a ride; it’s a way to help keep Portland’s rail legacy alive for generations to come.

Train rides depart every 90 minutes from 11:00AM to 5:00PM, taking guests on a 45-minute scenic journey along the Willamette River to Oaks Park and back, led by the 113-year-old Polson No. 2 steam locomotive with assistance from historic diesel locomotive OPR 100. OPR 100 has deep Portland roots—it was the engine that originally moved the city’s famous steam locomotives into Oaks Park for public display and later pulled them out to begin their restoration journey.

The celebration doesn't stop with the ride. Two of Portland’s legendary locomotives, the Southern Pacific 4449 and Spokane, Portland & Seattle 700, will be under steam and on display throughout the day. This year marks a significant milestone for SP 4449—the 50th anniversary of its return to service for the 1975–76 American Freedom Train, which toured the country in honor of the U.S. Bicentennial. Restored in 1974 after years on static display, SP 4449 traveled more than 24,000 miles across 21 states, serving as a powerful symbol of American innovation and unity. Today, it remains one of the most iconic steam locomotives in the world.

Joining these giants will be a very special guest from Union Pacific Railroad: the brand-new Lincoln Locomotive No. 1616, making its first public appearance as part of its official national debut tour—right here in Portland.

Unveiled on Presidents Day 2025, Union Pacific’s Locomotive No. 1616 is a striking commemorative engine honoring President Abraham Lincoln, who signed the Pacific Railway Act of 1862, creating Union Pacific and authorizing construction of the transcontinental railroad. This act helped unite the country during a pivotal moment in history and laid the groundwork for the nation’s explosive economic growth.

“America’s history is Union Pacific’s history,” said Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena. “By signing the Pacific Railway Act of 1862, President Lincoln created our railroad and ignited The Great Race to connect the country and fuel the economy – roles our industry still plays today.”

The Lincoln locomotive is the second presidential engine in Union Pacific’s Heritage Fleet, joining No. 4141, created in honor of President George H.W. Bush. No. 1616 features a unique paint scheme inspired by Lincoln’s era, with design elements that nod to locomotive No. 119, famously present at Promontory Summit, Utah, for the golden spike ceremony marking the completion of the first transcontinental railroad.

Painted by Union Pacific employees, No. 1616 will serve as a traveling ambassador for American railroading, and Portland is proud to be the first stop on its cross-country debut tour. This striking engine will visit communities across the nation to highlight the enduring impact of railroads on our country’s past, present, and future.

Bringing this locomotive to Portland is a significant honor, and its presence at National Train Day reflects Union Pacific’s ongoing commitment to community engagement, rail history, and innovation. John Turner, Sr. Vice President–Northern Region at Union Pacific, is scheduled to speak, alongside Rick Franklin, President of ORHF, and other civic and community leaders who will be joining us to mark this special occasion.

Visitors will also enjoy:

• Model railroad displays showcasing intricate train layouts
• Four food trucks with tasty offerings
• Tabling by rail-focused partners including Operation Lifesaver, Willow Creek Railroad, Union Pacific, Friends of the Washington Park and Zoo Railway, Santiam Excursions, and Albany & Eastern Railroad
• Hands-on activities, education, and railroad fun for the entire family

“This event is a celebration of the Pacific Northwest’s railroading legacy and the role Portland plays in preserving it,” said Rick Franklin, President of the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation. “We’re proud to make this living history accessible not just to our community, but to train lovers around the world. We value our relationship with this city and its residents, and we take immense pride in keeping these locomotives — and the stories they tell — alive and steaming ahead.”

Advance ticket purchase is highly recommended at www.orhf.org. A limited number of tickets may be available for sale on the day of the event.

Getting there is easy! Limited parking is available, but guests are strongly encouraged to use TriMet or the Portland Streetcar. The Center is located directly across from the OMSI MAX Station, offering easy access via public transit.

?️ Event Details at a Glance

What: National Train Day Celebration
When: Saturday, May 10, 2025 | 10:00AM–6:00PM
Where: Oregon Rail Heritage Center, 2250 SE Water Ave, Portland, OR
Admission: Free to attend

Train Ride Tickets:

• $40 for adults
• $30 for children (under 2 ride free as a lap child)
• $36 for seniors (65+) and active or retired military
• $115 for a family pass (includes two adults and two children)

Ticket purchasers, you'll receive a coupon for 20% off our beloved Holiday Express Train—a festive tradition you won’t want to miss. Every ticket purchased helps power the mission of the Oregon Rail Heritage Center—preserving Portland’s historic locomotives, bringing rail history to life, and inspiring future generations through hands-on experiences.

Tickets & Info: www.orhf.org | 503-233-1156 | info@orhf.org

Press Inquiries: rdevereux@orhf.org

PRIVATE SECURITY/INVESTIGATOR POLICY COMMITTEE

MEETING SCHEDULED

Notice of Regular Meeting

The Private Security/Investigator Policy Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 1:30 p.m., in the Governor Victor G. Atiyeh Boardroom at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST or Department) located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Juan Lopez at (503) 551-3167.

To view the Private Security/Investigator Policy Committee's live-stream and other recorded videos, please visit DPSST’s official YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/@DPSST?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery. Click or tap if you trust this link.">https://www.youtube.com/@DPSST.

Agenda Items:

1. Introductions

2. Approve February 18, 2025, Meeting Minutes

3. Christopher Mattison, Private Security Identification No. 088425

   Notice of Intent to Propose Civil Penalty

   Presented by Michael Holsapple

4. Adam Weyeneth, Private Security Identification No. 041697

   Notice of Intent to Propose Civil Penalty

   Presented by Michael Holsapple

5. Agency Update

6. Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting – August 19, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.

Administrative Announcement

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

Reference Coordinating Council

Online

April 28, 2025, 11:00 a.m.

AGENDA

11:00 am         Welcome and introductions

11:15 am         General Business

• Updates
• Approve minutes from Fall 2024 meeting
• Select future meeting dates

11:45 am         Wrap up

12:00 pm         Adjourn

Mosier, Oregon – The Memaloose Rest Area, located near mile maker 72.9, on I-84, (six miles east of Mosier, OR), will temporarily close to allow for the completion of a rest room building renovation and expansion project. Eastbound parking lots and facilities will close starting on April 22, 2025. Westbound parking lots and facilities will close on or around May 1, 2025; however, the westbound exit will remain open to allow access to the entrance of Memaloose State Park. Both sides of the rest area will open to the public by July 1, 2025.  Travelers are advised to plan and make use of alternative rest areas or services in the vicinity. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience as these critical improvements are made.

The Memaloose Rest Area Building Renovation and Expansion Project will upgrade and expand the existing facilities to improve restroom capacity, ensure compliance with ADA standards, and implement necessary building improvements by adding approximately 200 square feet to the women's and men's facilities. The additions will add three standard stalls and one ADA stall to each facility, as well as upgraded toilets, urinals, lights, partitions, sinks, tile, and flooring.  This project will improve safety and decrease wait times by doubling the restroom capacity.

The Travel Information Council approved the expenditure of $1.7 million dollars for the project.  Funding for this capital project was allocated by the Oregon Legislature as part of HB 2017 to make improvements at rest areas.  After the open competitive bid process was completed, the project was awarded to Constructions Services Group of Vancouver, WA.  

The Travel Information Council, a semi-independent state agency, was created by the State of Oregon in the 1970s to operate the highway blue logo sign program following the Highway Beautification Act. The agency now also operates the Oregon Historical Marker and Heritage Tree Programs as well as 39 rest areas at 25 locations in Oregon, providing clean, safe, and inviting locations that are open and free to use 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Josephine County, Ore. 22 April 2025- Oregon State Police investigating officer involved shooting in Josephine County.

On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, just after 12:00 p.m., a Josephine County Sheriff’s Office Deputy encountered a wanted suspect with a felony warrant, near the O’Brien Country Store, in O’Brien.  The suspect, Clinten Anthony Robertson (33) of Grants Pass, evaded the deputy and used his vehicle to ram the deputy’s vehicle, resulting in an officer involved shooting. 

Robertson was struck by gunfire during the incident and transported to Three Rivers Hospital in Grants Pass for medical treatment.

No injuries to bystanders or law enforcement occurred during the incident.

The Josephine County Major Crime Team, which consists of the Josephine County District Attorney’s Office, the Grants Pass Police Department, the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oregon State Police has been activated.  The Oregon State Police is leading the investigation.  No additional details will be released at this time. 

A multi-agency fentanyl enforcement operation resulted in dozens of arrests, as well as the seizure of drugs, firearms, and cash.

In a coordinated effort to protect the public from the deadly impact of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs, the Portland Police Bureau (PPB), in collaboration with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, conducted a series of drug enforcement missions in the month of February. These missions, a result of fentanyl and other drugs flooding the region due to Honduran drug trafficking organizations working with the Sinaloa Cartel, led to dozens of arrests and the seizure of substantial amounts of fentanyl powder and pills, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin. Firearms and cash were seized, as well.

Driven by a shared commitment to community safety, these joint missions resulted in:

•             46 arrests

•             20 firearms seized

•             $204,007 in cash seized

•             44 pounds of fentanyl powder seized

•             2,507 fentanyl pills seized

•             22 pounds of methamphetamine seized

•             9 pounds of cocaine seized

•             2 pounds of heroin seized

“Fentanyl has no place in our city. Our partnership with local, state, and federal agencies makes our collective response stronger,” Portland Police Chief Bob Day said. “This operation was a success, but it is only one step in a larger, sustained effort to keep Portland safe.”

“I am proud of the work by our deputies. Law enforcement has an important role in combatting fentanyl, and the violence and crime it brings with it,” Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell said. “The success of these operations proves the strength of our partnerships and our shared commitment to keeping our community safe.”

"This has been a priority of my office from day one. And I'm glad to see that we're making progress,” Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez added. “We have more work to do but we remain dedicated to this effort.”

"We echo our partner's sentiments about collaboration - partnerships have always been central to the FBI's success," said FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson. "Coming together on a major disruption like this benefits our community and is the most effective way for law enforcement to combat the fentanyl epidemic. We look forward to working with our partners to continue these efforts."

"Fentanyl, as we all know, is an incredibly addictive, destructive, and deadly drug that's absolutely devastating our communities," said Scott Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Oregon.

“Fentanyl traffickers prey on our communities by peddling potentially lethal drugs,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “The fentanyl seized by our team in this case could have yielded over 1.5 million lethal doses – enough to kill everyone in Portland twice.  I am proud that the DEA could help our partners bring this surge to a successful conclusion, saving lives here in Portland and throughout Oregon.”

PPB would like to thank its partners for their commitment to public safety and public health, including HIDTA. The HIDTA Interdiction Team (HIT) is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force that identifies, disrupts, and dismantles local, multi-state, and international drug trafficking organizations using intelligence-driven, multi-agency, prosecutor-supported approaches. HIT is supported by Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) which is composed of members from the Portland Police Bureau, Homeland Security Investigations, Oregon State Police, Internal Revenue Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, Amtrak Police, and Oregon National Guard Counter-Drug Task Force. The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives, including HIT.

Photo description: K9 and drugs seized      

Photo description: Drugs seized

Photo description: Drugs seized

Photo description: Drugs seized

Photo description: Firearm seized

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The Parkrose Board of Education of School District No. 3, Multnomah County, Oregon, will convene in an Organizational Budget Committee Meeting on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at the Parkrose School District Office located at 10636 NE Prescott Street, Portland, Oregon at the hour of 6:30pm.

Guests and members of the public may attend 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 this 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: LINK.

Agenda items include but are not limited to: Election/appointment of officers, Superintendent’s budget message, 2025-2026 Proposed Budget Book, possible action to approve the 25-26 fiscal year budget as presented and levying taxes   

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 at the meeting, please fill out an Intent-to-Speak card and hand it to the Board Assistant 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 attend 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.

DALLAS, Oregon (April 22)

Are you passionate about serving your community and making a difference in Dallas? Now is your opportunity to join the Dallas City Council! Qualified applicants interested in becoming a City Councilor are encouraged to fill out an application. All applications must be received by 5:00 pm on May 12, 2025.

Requirements:

• Applicants must have lived in Dallas City limits for at least 12 months

• Be a registered voter in the City of Dallas

Don’t pass up this exciting opportunity to help shape the future of Dallas! All qualified candidates will be expected to attend the Dallas City Council meeting on day, May 19th at 7:00 pm. Please come prepared to provide a 5-minute statement about yourself and why you would like to serve on the City Council. The candidate who is chosen to serve on the City Council will immediately be sworn in and participate in the meeting.

Complete the candidate form at www.dallasor.gov and submit it to the City Manager’s Office at City Hall or email it to ecorder@dallasor.gov">recorder@dallasor.gov.

For more information, contact Kim Herring, City Recorder, at 503.831.3502 or ecorder@dallasor.gov">recorder@dallasor.gov.

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Coburg – The Oregon Heritage Commission will meet May 4 in Eugene for a tour of the Museum of Natural and Cultural History and May 5 in Coburg for the Business Meeting.
 

The agenda includes an update on the 2026 Oregon Heritage Plan process, a presentation by the Lane County Parks Advisory Committee on the County covered bridges, a presentation by the Oregon Museums Association on the updated strategic plan, a report on the historic resources survey work in Cottage Grove, a tour of downtown Cottage Grove by Coburg Main Street, and more.
 

This meeting is open to the public and there is an opportunity at the beginning of the meeting for public comment. Public comment can be made in person, online, or by written submission. For online attendance, registration is required. To view the full agenda, register for the virtual meeting, or learn more about public comment options, visit here.

Special accommodations for the meeting – including translation services – may be made by calling (503) 986‐0690 or y.Newcomb@oprd.oregon.gov">Mary.Newcomb@oprd.oregon.gov at least 72 hours prior to the start of the meeting.
 

The Heritage Commission’s nine Governor appointed members represent a diversity of cultural, geographic, and institutional interests. The Commission’s nine advisory members include representatives from the Oregon State Library, Oregon State Archives, State Historical Records Advisory Board, Higher Education Coordinating Committee, Travel Oregon, Oregon Historical Society, Department of Education, State Historic Preservation Office, and the Department of Land Conservation and Development.
 

The Commission is the primary agency for coordination of heritage activities in the state. This includes carrying out the Oregon Heritage Plan, increasing efficiency and avoiding duplication among interest groups, developing plans for coordination among agencies and organizations, encouraging tourism related to heritage resources, and coordinating statewide anniversary commemorations.
 

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

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The City of Jefferson has received a grant through the federal Historic Preservation Fund, administered by Oregon State Historic Preservation Office to fund the following local preservation projects.

City of Jefferson
Conser House – 114 N Main St.
$16,000
Add HVAC, Electrical, and removable insulation to the second story.

This notice serves to make the public aware of the projects and solicit comments pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. The comment period is open for 30 days from the date of this announcement. To provide comments or learn more information about this project visit the federal grant public comment section of our website or contact Kuri Gill at i.Gill@oprd.oregon.gov">Kuri.Gill@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.

The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 authorizes a program of federal matching grants, known as the Historic Preservation Fund, to assist the various states in carrying out historic preservation activities. The Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, and in Oregon, is administered through the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office. For information about the grants contact Kuri Gill at 503-986-0685 or by e-mail: i.Gill@oprd.oregon.gov">Kuri.Gill@oprd.oregon.gov.

Update: On Monday, April 21, 2025, at 5:59 p.m., Oregon State Police arrested Jonathan James Dowdy. Dowdy was released from RiverBend Hospital after he was admitted and received care for injuries suffered during the crash on April 18. After his arrest, Dowdy was lodged in the Coos County Jail for the following crimes:

• ORS 163.118 Manslaughter in the First Degree (X2)
• ORS 163.175 Assault in the Second Degree (X3)
• ORS 163.165 Assault in the Third Degree (X5)
• ORS 163.195 Reckless Endangering of a Person (X14)
• ORS 163.196 Aggravated Driving While Suspended or Revoked
• ORS 813.010 Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants
• ORS 811.140 Reckless Driving
• ORS 811.182 Driving While Suspended – Misdemeanor
• ORS 164.354 Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree

Oregon State Police is actively investigating the fatal collision and does not have further information to release.

Coos County, Ore. 19 April 2025- On Friday, April 18, 2025, at 9:56 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 42, near milepost 23, in Coos County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a westbound Chevrolet Silverado, operated by Johnathan James Dowdy (32) of Coos Bay, crossed the centerline into the eastbound lane and struck an eastbound Chevrolet Express bus, operated by Jami Lea Strinz (46) of Roseburg, head-on. The bus was occupied with 10 members of the Umpqua Community College softball team. 

The operator of the Chevrolet Silverado (Dowdy) suffered serious injuries and was transported to an emergency medical center.

The operator of the Chevrolet Express (Strinz) was transported with critical injuries and was later declared deceased at the hospital.

A passenger of the Chevrolet Express, Kiley Nevaeh Jones (19) of Nampa (ID), was declared deceased at the scene.

The other 8 occupants of the Chevrolet Express, whose identities are not being released at this time, suffered moderate to serious injuries and were provided emergency medical services.

The highway was impacted for approximately five hours during the on-scene investigation. Impaired driving is considered a primary cause of the crash.

Due to the on-going criminal investigation, additional details related to the crash are not available for release.

OSP was assisted by Myrtle Point Police Department, Coquille Police Department, Coos County Sheriff's Office, Myrtle Point Fire, Coquille Fire, and ODOT.

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

[PORTLAND, OR] – On Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the City of Portland’s Safe Blocks Program and the Portland Police Bureau are partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration to host the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day at the Portland Police Bureau’s North Precinct. They will be collecting tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines.

What: National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

When: Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Who: Safe Blocks Program & Portland Police Bureau

Where: Portland Police Bureau North Precinct (449 NE Emerson St, Portland, OR 97211)

In partnership with local law enforcement, Take Back Day has removed 19.2 million pounds (9,600 tons) of medication from circulation since inception. It offers free and anonymous disposal of unneeded medications at more than 5,000 local drop-off locations nationwide. For more than a decade, these events have helped Americans easily rid their homes of unneeded medications—those that are old, unwanted, or expired—that too often become a gateway to addiction.

Collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps, and illicit drugs. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. The cap must be tightly sealed to prevent leakage.

The Sunshine Division will also be available for donations of canned food, dry pasta, or boxed food for local families in need (tax deduction forms will be provided).

Can’t make it to this event? Visit www.DEATakeBack.com  for an authorized year-round drug disposal location near you.

Note: This event will not be offering shredding services, accepting furniture donations, or disposing of any electronics.

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Josephine County, Ore. 21 April 2025- On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 5:40 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a vehicle versus pedestrian crash on Highway 199, near milepost 26, in Josephine County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a pedestrian, Kale Phillip Luke (31) of Grants Pass, was reportedly walking in the roadway when he was struck by a southbound Ford Escape, operated by Andrew Martin Vendrick (39) of Santa Rosa (CA).

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

The operator of the Ford (Vendrick) was reportedly uninjured.

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

OSP was assisted by Illinois Valley Fire and ODOT.

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

The funding is part of OnPoint’s Green Horizons initiative and will support nonprofits restoring nature, conserving wildlife and reducing e-waste  

PORTLAND, Ore., — April 22, 2025 — OnPoint Community Credit Union is giving $100,000 to four local environmental nonprofits to mark Earth Day 2025. The investment is through KGW’s Good Energy Campaign sponsorship. Friends of the Columbia Gorge, Oregon Wildlife Foundation, Free Geek and The Nature Conservancy in Oregon will each receive $25,000 to help protect natural resources and wildlife in Oregon and Southwest Washington. 

OnPoint’s Green Horizons initiative supports organizations whose vital work helps address climate change.  Since 2021, the program has provided green auto and solar financing for members, sustainability perks for employees and more $500,000 in funding for local nonprofits protecting our region’s natural resources. 

“Dealing with climate change and preserving our planet isn’t just something that happens at a national or global level. Each individual and organization plays a key role,” said Rob Stuart, president and CEO, OnPoint Community Credit Union. “Our Green Horizons initiative empowers local partners to continue their boots-on-the-ground efforts. We are proud to support the people and organizations that fight to keep our environment sustainable for generations to come.” 

Supporting local environment nonprofits with Green Horizons  

The Nature Conservancy in Oregon (TNCO) works to conserve the land and waters upon which all life depends. Since 2017, OnPoint’s donations of over $350,000 to TNCO have helped fund projects across Oregon, from restoration of our estuaries and forests to drought-resilient watersheds and community-driven climate solutions.

 “OnPoint’s continued contributions as part of Green Horizons makes a huge difference as we face urgent environmental challenges across the state,” said Derek Johnson, State Director of The Nature Conservancy in Oregon. “The steady support helps us focus on local solutions and strategies that build toward a better future Oregonians and the lands and waters we cherish.”

Oregon Wildlife Foundation drives lasting conservation of Oregon’s fish, wildlife, and citizen enjoyment of natural resources. Since 1981, it has partnered with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to ensure scientifically sound wildlife conservation projects are funded. OWF depends upon strong partnerships to help it use donations efficiently for projects, such as highway underpasses protecting endangered frogs and helicopter-assisted stream restoration. 

“OnPoint’s support is a vital part of helping us deliver on our mission to help save and even improve the resources we have here in Oregon,” said Oregon Wildlife Foundation Executive Director Tim Greseth. 

Free Geek, founded in Portland on Earth Day 2000, sustainably reuses technology and provides digital literacy education to bridge the digital divide. It diverts tech devices from landfills, refurbishes them and gives them back to the community at little or no cost. Equipment that can’t be reused or refurbished is broken into parts for recycling.  

“People know that Free Geek helps people, but they don’t always think about the more than 1.5 million pounds of tech equipment we’ve been able to keep out of the landfill,” said Free Geek executive director Juan Muro, Jr. “OnPoint’s Green Horizons donation will support reuse and recycling that has an immediate positive effect on both the environment and people’s day-to-day lives.” 

Friends of the Columbia Gorge led the fight to create the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area 40 years ago, but that was just the beginning. It continues to protect the gorge’s scenic, natural, cultural and recreational resources through land acquisition and stewardship, advocacy, education, volunteerism, and partnerships. Friends’ current Share the Wonder campaign permanently protects areas such as Heartleaf Bluffs and the Alashík Preserve, restoring habitat at Cape Horn and Catherine Creek and expanding the Gorge trail network.   

“This Green Horizons donation helps us carry the torch of Gorge protection to future generations,” said Friends’ executive director Kevin Gorman. “We rely on the strength and diversity of collaborators who share this vision for the Gorge’s future. We’re grateful that OnPoint is championing one of the world’s greatest natural treasures.” 

Increasing accessibility with auto and home special rate discounts  

OnPoint’s Green Horizons offers special rate discounts for members to make going green more accessible. The Green Auto Discount offers 0.25% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) off auto loan rates for new or used electric or hybrid vehicles financed through OnPoint. People in the market for electric or hybrid vehicles can also find additional incentives through Oregon and Washington state programs. 

OnPoint’s Green Horizons also makes it more affordable for homeowners to produce their own solar electricity. When homeowners apply for an EquityFlex Line of Credit for home improvements, they can fix a portion of their line of credit for the purchase of solar panels and receive a 0.25% discount off the EquityFlex Fixed Portion APR. Homeowners can find even more savings by looking at incentives and rebate programs in Oregon and Washington. 

For more information about OnPoint’s investment in building a greener future, such as telecommuting programs, employee volunteer opportunities, and other donations to environmentally-focused organizations, please visit: OnPoint Green Horizons. 

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About OnPoint Community Credit Union 

OnPoint Community Credit Union is the largest credit union in Oregon, serving over 603,000 members and with assets of $9.9 billion. Founded in 1932, OnPoint Community Credit Union’s 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. OnPoint Community Credit Union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). More information is available at onpointcu.com or 503-228-7077 or 800-527-3932. 

Vehicles meeting OnPoint’s Green Auto Discount standards receive a 0.25% discount off stated APR (Annual Percentage Rate). All OnPoint loans are subject to credit terms and approval. Discount does not apply to existing OnPoint auto loans. 

Receive a 0.25% discount off stated EquityFlex Fixed Portion APR when proceeds are used to purchase solar panels. Review of purchase order or invoice required to qualify. Discount applies to invoice/purchase order amount, not to exceed $12,000. 

Results are now available from a recent retail theft mission conducted by the Tigard Police Department.

On March 28^th, detectives with the TPD Commercial Crimes Unit conducted the mission at the Target store on SW Hall Boulevard, with support from patrol officers and in partnership with loss prevention employees.

During the one-day proactive enforcement, 10 people were arrested on theft charges and a total of 37 stolen items were recovered, worth more than $600 dollars:

1. Zia Iqbal Ahmad, theft 2, lodged
2. Patricia Trumper, trespass and theft, lodged
3. Juvenile, theft 3, referred to the juvenile department
4. Juvenile, theft 3, referred to the juvenile department
5. Dashawnaa Hudson, theft 3, cited
6. Keondra Spina Denson, failure to return drivers license, cited
7. Alexandra Lee, theft 2, lodged
8. Juvenile, theft 3, referred to the juvenile department
9. Justin Altman, theft 3, cited
10. Holli Ann Pinkston, theft 3, cited

Members of the Commercial Crimes Unit (CCU) participate in retail theft missions throughout the year, to proactively address shoplifting, theft, robbery and other business crime. To learn more about their work, visit www.tigard-or.gov/CCU.

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On Monday, April 21, 2025, at 10:19 p.m., officers from the North Precinct responded to reports of a vehicle crash involving a pedestrian in the 3100 block of North Going Street. Officers arrived to find that the pedestrian died at the scene. The driver of the involved vehicle remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation.

The Portland Police Bureau Major Crash Team has responded to the scene to investigate. During the investigation, the area around North Going Street, North Basin Avenue, North Lagoon Avenue, and North Channel Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic.

If anyone has information about the incident, please contact crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov, attention Traffic Investigations Unit, and reference case number 25-103320.

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OREGON CITY — The community at Clackamas Community College is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Oregon State Sen. Aaron Woods. He was a dedicated public servant, a champion for education and a valued member of the CCC Board of Education.​

“During his time on our board, he brought wisdom, compassion and a deep belief in the power of education to transform lives,” CCC Board Chair Jane Reid said. “I know I speak for the entire board when I say we will miss him deeply.”

Sen. Woods began serving on the CCC Board in 2020, bringing with him a wealth of experience from his career in the U.S. Army and the technology sector, including leadership roles at Tektronix and Xerox. His commitment to innovation, workforce development and equitable access to education was evident in his contributions to the college and the broader community.

During his tenure at CCC, Sen. Woods helped the college navigate COVID, ice storms, wildfires and excessive heat. The college also passed a bond and saw rebounding enrollment. His commitment to the vitality of the Wilsonville campus and the business community positively influenced work and connection to the district. 

"Throughout his time at CCC, Senator Woods was a champion for diversity, equity and inclusion, working to ensure our communities are places where all can succeed. His advocacy with the Wilsonville Alliance for Inclusive Communities and service on state and national committees — from veterans' services to information management and economic development — underscore the breadth and depth of his commitment,” CCC President Dr. Tim Cook said. "His passion for service and his unwavering dedication to our students and community will be profoundly missed."​

Elected to the Oregon State Senate in 2022, Sen. Woods continued to advocate for education and technology initiatives, including legislation to enhance broadband access and cybersecurity readiness. His efforts have left a lasting impact on the state's educational landscape.​

“The CCC community extends its heartfelt condolences to his family and all who were touched by his remarkable life and service,” Cook said.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 21, 2025

CLARK COUNTY FAIR (WA.) CONTACT:

Dianne Danowski Smith, 503-202-7019  (media use only)

HEADLINER CONCERTS ANNOUNCED AND MUSIC TICKET SALES OPENING FOR THE 2025 CLARK COUNTY FAIR

Sales open April 25, 2025- see below for links to graphic /promotional assets

(Ridgefield, Wash.)  -  Spend a few of ‘The Best 10 Days of Summer’ at any of the three headlining, live concerts happening August 1, 2 and 3, at the Clark County Fairground’s Toyota Grandstands during the 2025 Clark County Fair happening in August. The concert series is sponsored by Your Party Center. The full Fair dates run August 1-10.

Ticket sales launch Friday, April 25 with these beloved country, blues rock-and-roll and americana classic rock coming live this summer!

Friday, Aug. 1; 7 p.m. – Brothers Osborne

Brothers Osborne, with hits such as “Younger Me” and “Stay A Little Longer” are one of country music’s most consistently adventurous bands, brothers John and T.J. Osborne are industry award winners in the progressive and still classic country music world, and the faces of the new generation of Nashville.

• The Fair admission provides general concert access. Reserved seating is $30 or $40 per person, and includes Fair admission.
• Graphic assets can be found here (for media use only)

Saturday, Aug. 2; 7 p.m. – George Thorogood and The Destroyers

Bluesy rock that’s influenced generations of musicians, George Thorogood and The Destroyers will bring their ‘traditional rock/blues rhythms, rockabilly energy and boogie-woogie grooves’ to the Pacific Northwest with much beloved, fan favorite hits such as “Bad To The Bone” and “Move It On Over.”

• The Fair admission provides general concert access. Reserved seating is $30 or $40 per person, and includes Fair admission.
• Graphic assets can be found here. Username = marketing; password = thorogood  (for media use only)

Sunday, Aug. 3; 7 p.m. – Kansas

Kansas, called ‘America’s legendary rock band,’ and arguably a top American icon and classic, has topped its success in selling more than 30-million albums worldwide over its 52 years. Their well-known hits include, “Dust In The Wind,” “Carry On Wayward Son” and many more.

• The Fair admission provides general concert access. Reserved seating is $30 or $40 per person, and includes Fair admission.
• Graphic assets can be found here  (for media use only)

Beginning April 25, tickets can be purchased online at https://www.clarkcoeventcenter.com/p/tickets. The Your Party Center concert series happens at the Toyota Grandstands at the Clark County Fairgrounds. Cancellations and/or ticket refunds will not be allowed.

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About the 2025 Clark County Fair

Celebrating 156 years as the region’s classic summer community event, the 2025 Clark County Fair promises its Your Party Center’s sponsored signature concert series at the Toyota Grandstands, carnival rides, community stage entertainment, thrills, great eats, contests, family-friendly fun, educational exhibits, farm shows and award-winning home and textile showings.

Sponsors include Fred Meyer, Maletis Beverage, C-TRAN, Star Rentals, Waste Connections, Toyota, Rodda Paint, Vancouver Mall, Coca Cola, People's Community Federal Credit Union, Gaynor's Automotive, Odom Corporation, EZ Propane, Your Party Center, Riverview Bank, Breaking Ground Excavation, Mattress Firm, Addiction Powersports NW, Wilco Farms, Cecilia Adalyn, Dot Donuts,

La Quinta/Wyndam Hotels, Tractor Supply, JW World/NW Getaways, Pacific Office Automation,

International Graphics & Nameplates Inc., Herc Rentals, Excavator Rental Services, Port of Vancouver, River City Environmental, SW Learning Center, Sierra Springs, Quality Inn, Vancouver Midwives, Hampton Inn By Hilton & Suites Portland/Vancouver, American Red Cross, Freedom Towing, Heathman Lodge, Peterson CAT and U.S. Army.

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Public Works, Parks and Nature is beginning construction on a parking lot and safety improvement project at Harmony Sports Complex.

This summer, 200 paved parking stalls will be added, drive lanes in the parking lot will be paved, and a new access point will be constructed at the intersection of Northeast 192nd Avenue and Northeast 13th Street.

Work begins on the site on Monday, April 21. Though a portion of the parking lot will be closed during construction, the county, Harmony Sports Association and the contractor are coordinating to allow the complex to remain open during work and minimize, where possible, the impacts to parking and traffic.

The Harmony Sports Complex is approximately 58 acres located at 1500 NE 192nd Avenue. While the property is county-owned, it is located within the city limits of Vancouver. The Harmony Sports Association has leased, managed and operated the sports complex in partnership with Clark County since 1982. The facility operates year-round and provides facilities for baseball, and soccer. 

More information and construction updates can be found on the project webpage at clark.wa.gov/public-works/harmony-sports-complex.

For information about road and park projects, closures, opportunities for community input, and more, residents can follow Public Works on X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook and Instagram and view information on Nextdoor.

Go to clark.wa.gov/public-works/news to read this information in another language. Click the button in the top right of the page that says “Change language” next to a globe icon and choose your preferred language.

Vaya a clark.wa.gov/public-works/news para leer esta información en español. Haga clic en el botón en la parte superior a la derecha de la página que dice "Change language " junto al icono de globo terráqueo y elija su idioma preferido.

Чтобы прочитать эту информацию на русском языке, зайдите на сайт clark.wa.gov/public-works/news. Нажмите на кнопку Change language (“Изменить язык”) в правом верхнем углу страницы рядом с символом земного шара и выберите свой язык.

Перейдіть на сторінку clark.wa.gov/public-works/news, щоб прочитати цю інформацію українською. Натисніть кнопку Change language (Змінити мову) зі значком глобуса у верхньому правому куті сторінки та виберіть потрібну мову.

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Bureau’s progress toward net zero is ahead of schedule

Tired of reading about impending climate-related doom? This Earth Day, the Portland Water Bureau has a plan to create water system resilience and reduce greenhouse gases—and now we have a tool that lets the public track our progress toward net zero.

The Water Bureau’s Net Zero Strategy outlines our plan to cut emissions in half by 2030 (compared to a 2007 baseline)—and we’re on track to meet that goal! Portlanders can track our progress using the Portland Water Bureau emissions dashboard, with an interactive breakdown of our electricity use, natural gas use, and fleet metrics, as well as engaging infographics.

Portland Water’s Adaptive Planning, Demand Management and Climate Manager Kavita Heyn is a national leader in resilience. In addition to her role with the Water Bureau, she serves as the staff chair of the Water Utility Climate Alliance, a national coalition of 12 large water utilities that collectively serve drinking water to 50 million people throughout the United States. She is eager to share the tangible steps Portland Water is taking to reduce emissions. 

What’s driving our progress? We are…

• Investing in supply resilience and reliability through adaptive planning, our groundwater system and a new filtration facility that will reduce outages of the Bull Run supply after wildfires, landslides and turbidity.
• Investing in climate resilience to drought, heatwaves, wildfires, floods, supply chain disruptions and climate-related financial risk.
• Investing in decarbonization and renewable energy to reduce emissions, increase efficiencies, reduce operating costs, generate clean energy and save our customers money in the long run.

What specific actions are we taking to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions? We are…

• Building smarter. We used low-carbon concrete in the new Washington Park Reservoir seismic upgrades to decrease the total project greenhouse gas emissions. Building this reservoir with low-carbon concretesaved the same amount of carbon as taking 750 cars off the road for a year.
• Reducing electricity use through energy savings contracts and energy management programs, water loss prevention, and climate-smart planning and design practices.
• Increasing renewable energy generation by looking for new solar and micro-hydro opportunities. The Washington Park micro-hydro project alone will generate 230,000 kWh per year, saving the Portland Water Bureau the equivalent of $130,000 per year in electricity bills in the first 10 years of operation.
• Reducing fleet emissions by transitioning to electric and high-efficiency vehicles. 
• Beginning to phase out natural gas by switching to electric heating sources.

The following digital assets can help with your reporting:

• Our Microsoft Power BI emissions tracking dashboard, which gives an interactive breakdown of our electricity use, natural gas use, and fleet metrics, as well as infographics on our progress so far.
• An image-heavy climate story map describing the scope of the challenge we face and how we’re preparing to meet that challenge.
• The full text of our Net Zero Strategy), including steps to neutralize emissions, enhance water system resilience, improve system efficiency, and reduce costs for our customers and ratepayers.

About the Portland Water Bureau

The Portland Water Bureau serves water to almost one million people in the Portland area. Portland’s water system includes two great water sources, 54 tanks and reservoirs, and 2,250 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. 

Due to ongoing impacts from the March 16, 2025, floods, mudslides, and power outages in Harney County, Oregon has received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to extend the 10-Day Timely Reporting requirement for requesting replacement of food purchased with SNAP benefits that was spoiled or destroyed.

New deadline for SNAP replacement benefits in Harney County
Households in Harney County now have until April 30, 2025, to report food losses related to this event and request replacement SNAP benefits.

Approved County for the waiver extension:
Residents of the following county are eligible for the extended deadline:

• Harney County

Counties not included in the waiver:
For individuals in all other Oregon counties, the standard 10-day reporting requirement remains in effect. Food spoiled or destroyed in disaster or misfortune must be reported within 10 days of the incident, and verification may be required.

How to request SNAP replacement benefits:
Individuals in affected areas can request replacement benefits using one of the following methods:

• By phone: Call 1-800-699-9075 or 711 (TTY)

• In person: Visit your local office (find locations at Oregon.gov)

• By mail: ONE Customer Service Center
  PO Box 14015 Salem, OR 97309

• By email: Send requests to Oregon.Benefits@odhsoha.oregon.gov

• Online: Submit requests via the ONE online portal

Download and use the updated Form 0349D to make a request:
https://sharedsystems.dhsoha.state.or.us/DHSForms/Served/de0349d.pdf

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) announced its Down Payment Assistance (DPA) program helped another 269 Oregonians buy a home in 2024.

DPA-funded organizations disbursed almost $10 million to homebuyers, with an average of $28,315 per homebuyer for homes across Oregon that cost, on average, $339,689. Additionally, 150 of the homebuyers identified as first-generation and 55% identified as people of color.

Angele Graham of White City in Jackson County was one homebuyer who was able to get a new home using DPA. Graham’s journey to homeownership began in 2017, but a series of financial and health setbacks, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, prevented her from realizing her dream. Her situation became worse after her landlord sold her rental home and the new owner raised her rent by 60%.

Graham was running out of options until ACCESS, a community action agency serving Jackson County, received a DPA grant from OHCS that she was able to use for a down payment. Coupled with a USDA Direct Loan and a housing voucher provided by the Housing Authority of Jackson County (HAJC), Graham was able to close on a place she could call her own.

“Angele has set a wonderful example of perseverance and hard work to pursue a dream,” said Denise Lupton, housing supervisor at ACCESS. “During her long journey, she faced a lot of challenges but never gave up hope. Combined with local and state programs, such as OHCS’ Down Payment Assistance, Angele’s path to homeownership is now a reality. My team and I are so proud of her and are grateful to have been part of her homebuying process.”

OHCS’ DPA program, which is now funded by the Home Ownership Assistance Program (HOAP) and Construction Excise Tax (CET) proceeds, was created in 2011 and since has helped 1,543 households.

“It’s truly inspiring to see Angele achieve her dream of homeownership. Her story highlights the vital role that OHCS’ Down Payment Assistance program plays in creating pathways to stability and generational opportunity,” said Keeble Giscombe, director of Homeownership at OHCS. “This program empowers historically underserved Oregonians to invest in themselves, their families, and their futures. I’m thrilled for Angele as she experiences the many joys and rewards of homeownership.”

To learn more about OHCS’ various DPA programs, including one for veterans, visit the OHCS website. View OHCS’ homeownership data dashboards at https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/oregon.housing.and.community.services/vizzes and click on the DPA tab to get more detailed information. 

About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS)  

OHCS is Oregon's housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. Visit OHCS’ website for more information.

CORVALLIS, Ore. – On Saturday, April 19, 2025, at 5:16 pm, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) responded to a two-vehicle crash with a fatality on Highway 34 near Grange Hall Road, Philomath.

A male juvenile, who was a backseat passenger in a 2006 Ford Escape, was pronounced deceased while being transported to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center (GSRMC) due to injuries sustained in the collision.

Preliminary investigation indicates that a 21-year-old female driver of a 1997 Ford F-350 was traveling westbound on Highway 34 when she struck the rear of the Ford Escape that was turning east onto Grange Hall Road.

The 26-year-old female driver of the Escape and her front-seat passenger sustained minor injuries and were treated at GSRMC.

The driver and passenger of the F-350 were not injured.

Highway 34 at Grange Hall Road was closed for approximately three hours while investigators processed the scene.

The BCSO would like to thank the Benton County District Attorney’s Office, Philomath Police Department, Philomath Fire Department, Corvallis Fire Department, and Willamette Valley First Responder Chaplains for their assistance.

The driver of the F-350 is cooperating with investigators. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Benton County Crash Team.

If you have any additional information or witnessed the crash, please contact BCSO at entonCoSheriff@bentoncountyor.gov">BentonCoSheriff@bentoncountyor.gov or their tip line at 541-753-8477, re: case #2025-01009.

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The Portland Police Bureau needs the public’s help in locating two individuals who are wanted in connection with a non-fatal fentanyl overdose involving their child. 

The incident occurred at the family's apartment in the 12000 block of Southeast Powell Court in June 2023. A three-year-old child suffered a non-fatal fentanyl overdose that resulted in a severe brain injury. The young boy is now five years old and under the guardianship of a DHS caretaker, and he requires 24-hour medical care.

Following a criminal investigation, the boy’s parents, De’Lone Kelley and Samantha Smith, pled guilty to Assault in the Third Degree and Criminal Mistreatment in the First Degree. The couple was supposed to turn themselves in earlier this month, but they have failed to do so, and their whereabouts are currently unknown.

The Portland Police Bureau is seeking the public's help in locating Kelley and Smith. Anyone with information regarding their location is urged to contact Detective Michael Jones at michael.jones@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 23-166659.

Photo description: De’Lone Kelley

Photo description: Samantha Smith

###PPB###

The driver who died in the crash in the East Columbia Neighborhood on March 13, 2025, has been identified as Michael Wayne Boyd, Sr., 65, of Portland.  His family has been notified of his death.

No further information will be released at this time.

###PPB###

Original Message Below

A fatal crash investigation is underway in the East Columbia Neighborhood near Delta Park.

On Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 6:51 p.m., Portland Police officers from North Precinct responded to a report of a crash on North Martin Luther King, Jr Boulevard at North Union Court. They located the crashed vehicle off the roadway south of North Marine Drive. The driver of the vehicle was deceased at the scene. Preliminary investigation indicates that it was a single vehicle crash.

The Portland Police Traffic Division Major Crash Team is responding to the scene to investigate the crash. During the investigation, the southbound lane of North Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard is closed between North Marine Way and North Union Court.

If anyone has information about this crash and have not spoken to police, please e-mail imetips@police.portlandoregon.gov">crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov attn: Traffic Investigations Unit (TIU) and reference case number 25-65287.

The PIO is not responding to the scene. Additional information will be released when appropriate.

###PPB###

Vancouver, Wash. – On Saturday April 19^th, at around 11:15 a.m., Vancouver Police responded to a multiple vehicle crash in the area of NE 162^nd Avenue/NE 7^th Street. The driver of a Subaru Impreza was traveling northbound on NE 164^th Ave. when he lost control of the vehicle due to speed. His vehicle skidded sideways for approximately 200 feet, hit the center median, jumped over the curb and landed on top of a Honda Civic that was traveling southbound on NE 164 Avenue, crushing the passenger side and top of the car. After the Subaru Impreza hit the Honda, it also hit a Subaru Forester that was traveling just behind the Honda.

The driver of the Impreza was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries and remains hospitalized. The driver of the Subaru Forester suffered multiple fractures and a broken vertebra and remains hospitalized.  The driver of the Honda suffered a few minor cuts and did not require medical treatment.

The Vancouver Police Department Traffic Unit is continuing the investigation.

Photos of the crash are on Vancouver Police Department (@vancouverpoliceusa) • Instagram photos and videos.

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Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County is performing required maintenance on more than one mile of track on the county-owned Chelatchie Prairie Railroad, from milepost 23.16 to milepost 24.3. The project also includes tree trimming and clearing brush and vegetation.

As the railroad's owner, the county is required by law to maintain the infrastructure to meet regulatory requirements.

Construction is scheduled to begin in April/May and is weather-dependent. Impacts to the public will be minimal. During construction, drivers may experience short delays at the railroad crossing at Lucia Falls Road when construction equipment accesses the rail at the crossing or an excursion train passes. The automatic lights and crossing arm will be disabled during construction, and flaggers will stop traffic for the train to pass.

Maintenance work on the railroad this spring also includes painting bridge bearings on the railroad bridge crossing Northeast Highway 99 just south of Northeast 63rd Street. Lane closures on Highway 99 will be required during work; at least one lane in each direction will be open at all times. More information will be posted on the project webpage as it becomes available.

Updates will be posted on the project webpage at clark.wa.gov/public-works/railroad-projects.

For information about road and park projects, closures, opportunities for community input, and more, residents can follow Public Works on X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook and Instagram and view information on Nextdoor.

Go to clark.wa.gov/public-works/news to read this information in another language. Click the button in the top right of the page that says “Change language” next to a globe icon and choose your preferred language.

Vaya a clark.wa.gov/public-works/news para leer esta información en español. Haga clic en el botón en la parte superior a la derecha de la página que dice "Change language " junto al icono de globo terráqueo y elija su idioma preferido.

Чтобы прочитать эту информацию на русском языке, зайдите на сайт clark.wa.gov/public-works/news. Нажмите на кнопку Change language (“Изменить язык”) в правом верхнем углу страницы рядом с символом земного шара и выберите свой язык.

Перейдіть на сторінку clark.wa.gov/public-works/news, щоб прочитати цю інформацію українською. Натисніть кнопку Change language (Змінити мову) зі значком глобуса у верхньому правому куті сторінки та виберіть потрібну мову.

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BOARD ON PUBLIC SAFETY STANDARDS AND TRAINING

MEETING SCHEDULED

The Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a regular meeting at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 24, 2025, in the Governor Victor G. Atiyeh Boardroom at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Juan Lopez at (503) 551-3167 or juan.lopez-hernandez@dpsst.oregon.gov.

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

Amended Agenda Items:

1. Introductions

2. Meeting Minutes

    Approve the January 23, 2025, Meeting Minutes

3. Fire Policy Committee

a. Fire Policy Committee Update – Dan Lenzen, Chair

b. Consent Agenda (The following items to be ratified by one vote)

A. John Cota, DPSST No. 44136; Tenmile RFPD – No Action

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the FPC on February 26, 2025.

B. Jesse McFarland, DPSST No. 44129; Scio RFPD – No Action

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the FPC on February 26, 2025.

C. Rhett Sunia, DPSST No. 41600; Coburg RFPD – No Action

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the FPC on February 26, 2025.

D. Proposed Rule Changes for OAR 259-009-0005, OAR 259-009-0062, and OAR 259-009-0065

Minimum Standard on Professional Qualifications for Firefighters

E. Committee Appointments

Fire Policy Committee

• • Levi Hopkins – Forest Protection Agencies, Appointment to the FPC, 1st term effective April 24, 2025.

4. Criminal Justice Policy Committees

a. Police Policy Committee Update – Scotty Nowning, Chair

b. Telecommunications Policy Committee Update – Michael Fletcher, Chair

c. Corrections Policy Committee Update – Matthew English, Chair

d. Consent Agenda (The following items to be ratified by one vote)

A. Randall Broome, DPSST No. 56468; Lane County Sheriff's Office – No Action

Unanimous vote with one (1) recusal to recommend to the Board by the CPC on February 11, 2025.

B. Bradley McIntyre, DPSST No. 35126; Portland Police Bureau – Revoke

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the PPC on February 20, 2025.

C. Rafael Munoz, DPSST No. 60210; DOC/Coffee Creek Correctional Facility – Revoke

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the CPC on February 11, 2025.

D. Tyler Odom, DPSST No. 52085; Frontier Regional 9-1-1 – Revoke

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the TPC on February 5, 2025.

E. Jeremiah Oswald, DPSST No. 60805; Washington County Sheriff's Office – Revoke

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the PPC on PPC on February 20, 2025.

F. Matthew Paton, DPSST No. 44975; Marion County Sheriff's Office – Revoke

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the CPC on February 11, 2025.

G. Jeremy Pilon, DPSST No. 54019; Newberg-Dundee Police Department – No Action

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the PPC on February 20, 2025.

H. Marcus Risteen, DPSST No. 58653; Yamhill County Sheriff's Office – No Action

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the CPC on February 11, 2025.

I. Shelli Taleghani, DPSST No. 60679; TDOC/Two Rivers Correctional Institution – Revoke

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the CPC on February 11, 2025.

J. Approval for Changes to the Corrections Career Officer Development Self-Study Curriculum M23-25A

K. Proposed Rule Changes for Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 259-008-0085

Codifying Board Approval of the Revisions to the Corrections Career Officer Development Self-Study Course

L. Approval for Changes to the Telecommunicator Field Training Manual and Addition of the Telecommunicator Guidebook

M. Proposed Rule Changes for Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 259-008-0085

   To Adopt the 2024 Telecommunicator Field Training Manual

N. Committee Appointments

Telecommunications Policy Committee

• • Kathryn Fischer – Representing Telecommunicators, Appointment to the TPC, 1st term effective April 24, 2025.

5. Private Security/Investigator Policy Committee

a. Private Security Investigator Policy Committee Update – Dan Lenzen, Chair

b. Consent Agenda (The following items to be ratified by one vote).

A. Committee Appointments

Private Security/Investigators Policy Committee

• • Helena Snyder – Currently Licensed Private Investigator, Appointment to the PSIPC, 1st term effective July 27, 2025.
  • Travis Ralph – Armed Security Representative, Appointment to the PSIPC, 1st term effective July 27, 2025

6. Board on Public Safety Standards and Training Chair and Vice-Chair Nominations – Kathy McAlpine

7. Public Safety Memorial Fund Board Membership – Kathy McAlpine

8. Annual Director's Evaluation – Chair English

9. Agency Updates – Agency Director, Phil Castle

10. Next Meeting Date: July 24, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.

Administrative Announcement

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

Protect workers, protect yourself: slow down in work zones

The public servants building projects that improve our lives have family to protect and support, just like you. That’s why Portland Public Works is reminding the public to keep their distance from crews at work and slow down when traveling through work zones to mark the 2025 National Work Zone Awareness Week.

Construction season is kicking into high-gear, and crews will be out in neighborhoods across the city doing the critical work of improving, replacing, and maintaining our transportation, water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure that Portlanders rely on every hour of every day.

“Together, Portland’s Public Works teams—across transportation, water, sewer, and stormwater—are building and maintaining the infrastructure our city depends on,” said Deputy City Administrator for Public Works Priya Dhanapal. “These crews work hard, often in dangerous conditions, to serve all of us. We owe it to them to slow down and stay alert.”

Most people killed in work zone crashes are drivers and their passengers. In 2021, 778 drivers and their passengers died in work zones (based on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data), making it even more important for drivers to slow down and stay focused while approaching and passing through a roadway work zone.

Work zones play a crucial role in separating construction and maintenance activities from traffic. They provide a safe area for workers and a safe route for all road users (people walking, bicycling, rolling, and driving. However, work zones also frequently involve changes in traffic patterns and rights of way. Those changes, combined with the presence of workers and the frequent movement of work vehicles, may lead to crashes, injuries, and fatalities.

Portland and cities across the nation continue to see a rise in fatal traffic crashes that defy historical trends. Through the Vision Zero program, the City of Portland and our partners are working to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries on our streets.

To further protect yourself and city workers from death and injury, the Public Works Service Area bureaus (PBOT, BES, and PWB) ask Portlanders to follow these safety steps: 

• SLOW DOWN. Speed is the number one factor in fatal work zone crashes.
• GIVE SPACE. Don’t tailgate and keep clear of construction workers and equipment.
• PUT PHONES AWAY. Distraction is deadly—and illegal.
• FOLLOW THE SIGNS. Signs and flaggers are there for a reason.
• CHOOSE ANOTHER ROUTE. If you can, steer clear of active work zones.
• BE KIND. Expect delays and give crews grace—they’re working for you.

Watch this video from Public Works crews working to keep the street safe, the water on, and sharing why safety around work zones is so important:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPzP2XhmeCI

About National Work Zone Awareness Week 

National Work Zone Awareness Week runs from April 21-25, 2025. Work zones play a key role in maintaining and upgrading Portland's roadways, water, and sewer infrastructure and more. Unfortunately, daily changes in traffic patterns, narrowed rights-of-way, and other construction activities often create a combination of factors resulting in crashes, injuries, and even fatalities. These crashes also cause excessive delays, especially given the constrained driving environment.

Recent statistics from the National Highway Safety Administration show that between 2020 and 2021, work zone fatalities increased by 10.8 percent while overall roadway fatalities increased by 10.3 percent.

About PBOT 

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is the steward of the City’s transportation system, and a community partner in shaping a livable city. We plan, build, manage and maintain an effective and safe transportation system that provides access and mobility. Learn more at portland.gov/transportation.

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, 54 tanks and reservoirs, and 2,250 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. 

The 15-panel traveling exhibit will be displayed at Oregon Historical Society’s Patricia Reser and William Westphal Pavilion from April 28 through April 30 and highlighted at a free public event on April 30 at 6:00 pm, “50 Years of Vietnamese Contributions to Oregon.” 

Portland, OR — The Oregon Historical Society (OHS) is hosting This is Vietnamese Portland, a 15-panel traveling exhibit highlighting stories from the Vietnamese Portland: Memory, History, Community archive housed at Lewis & Clark College’s Watzek Library. The bilingual (English and Vietnamese) exhibit will be on display at OHS’ Patricia Reser and William Westphal Pavilion from April 28 through April 30 for all to see without museum admission. OHS is also hosting an event on April 30 at 6pm that highlights the art of Lê Quang Vinh called 50 Years of Vietnamese Contributions to Oregon. This free public event features community leaders Paul Vu and Representative Thuy Tran, as well as Zoë Maughan BA ‘19, who works in special collections at Watzek and is the project manager of Vietnamese Portland.

“The war in Vietnam deeply affected the lives not only of Vietnamese people but also of many Americans who served in the military during that time, and of their loved ones,” said Kerry Tymchuk, OHS Boyle Family Executive Director. “Like all history, the story of how the war in Vietnam shaped the lives of Oregonians cannot be contained in a single point of view. This program’s focus is on a few of those points of view — Vietnamese Oregonians who have shaped the state during the 50 years since the end of the war — and OHS remains committed to sharing these as well as other perspectives on this history, across formats, in the future.”  

One of the goals of Vietnamese Portland, an archive housed as a special collection at Watzek Library at Lewis & Clark, is to make that impact visible. The multi-year oral history project, now in its eighth year, seeks “to document the history and experiences of Vietnamese Portlanders.” While it includes documents, photographs, and other archival materials, it is mostly made up of oral histories of Vietnamese Portlanders telling their stories in their own words. There are now more than 130 interviews that make up the archive.

“Pursuing my Master of Library and Information Science degree led me to an interest in archival silence, and what does it mean to look at our collections and see what's missing, and how do we kind of fill in those gaps?” said Maughan. “What I love about the Vietnamese Portland project is that it’s a very active project. It’s distinct in that it’s an ongoing living archive. A lot of the work I do is to find ways to bring archives like this into nontraditional archival places like community centers.”

While many Lewis & Clark students have worked on the project over the years, the two current student archive assistants, Nhân Hàn ‘27 and Thoan Nguyễn ’27, have curated the traveling exhibit which features oral histories highlighting Vietnamese contributions to Portland. The exhibit was initially created to tour Multnomah County libraries. It now has expanded to include Washington County libraries and specific events like a three-part series hosted by the Vietnamese Cultural Arts Alliance. 

Working on the exhibit has been a transformative experience for both Hàn and Nguyễn.

“It’s not just about the history, but it’s also about representation of all the voices and communities that have been left out of the stories,” says Hàn, who came to Lewis & Clark in 2023 from Ho Chi Minh City, and is studying economics and entrepreneurship.  

This past year, Hàn and Nguyễn have worked to identify the stories that exemplify three main themes that have emerged over the years: entrepreneurship, creativity, and community leadership. 

“I was born in Vietnam,” says Nguyễn, who is studying mathematics, economics, and computer science. “But I came here and got to know the Vietnamese Portland project, and I felt like ‘Oh, the history that I learned in Vietnam is just one perspective.’ Hearing people’s stories broadened my perspective.”

“The Vietnamese Portland project grew out of a desire by Watzek collections staff to broaden the stories of people told both at Watzek and in Oregon more generally,” said Maughan.

“We have the resources and knowledge at our disposal to get the grant funding that kicked off the project,” said Maughan. “We recognized there was a major need for Portland's greater history to reflect the impact of the Vietnamese population.”
 

Maughan and her colleagues are sensitive to the fact that the history belongs to the Vietnamese community. They always work in close collaboration with community partners, such as Vietnamese Community of Oregon, Asian and Pacific American Network of Oregon, Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, Vietnamese Senior Association of Oregon, Hội Phụ Huynh, and Vietnamese Cultural Arts Alliance to ensure that the Vietnamese community of Portland is benefiting from the archive and that the archive is a collaborative project with the community.

The eight-panel English-only version will be on display in the Watzek Atrium from April 28 to May 12.

Yamhill County, Ore. 21 April 2025- On Friday, April 18, 2025, at 3:50 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on Highway 99W, near the intersection with Northeast Youngman Lane, in Yamhill County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a northbound Toyota Corolla, operated by Dennis Giron-Cortes (36) of Woodburn, was in the slow lane when it lost control and left the roadway. The Toyota rolled onto it's roof before striking a utility pole which consequently broke the utility pole and dropped live power wires onto the roadway.

The operator of the Toyota was declared deceased at the scene.

The roadway was impacted for approximately 4.5 hours during the on-scene investigation. Speed is believed to be a primary cause of the crash.

OSP was assisted by the Yamhill County Sheriff's Office, McMinnville Fire, and ODOT.

# # #

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

SALEM, Ore. — The Certified Burn Manager Advisory Committee will meet on Monday, April 28, from 9 a.m. to noon at the ODF Headquarters, Building C, Tillamook Room, 2600 State Street, Salem. To join virtually, please use the Zoom video conference information found on the agenda.

The committee’s agenda includes:

• Welcome and introductions
• Overview of certification to date
• Curriculum updates and training delivery
• Prescribed Fire Liability Pilot Program
• Continuing education
• Review of approved CBM rule revisions
• Updates
  • Past and future course deliveries
  • Legislation
  • ODF prescribed fire policy development

The meeting is open to the public to attend either in-person or virtually. There will be a period for public comment. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting by contacting y.berry@odf.oregon.gov">Shelby Berry at 503-949-5181.

View more information on the CBMAC webpage.

Oregon's 2021 Legislature passed Senate Bill 762 requiring the Oregon Department of Forestry to establish a Certified Burn Manager Program. It is the duty of the Certified Burn Manager Advisory Committee to advise the Oregon Department of Forestry on the program and the collection of information and data surrounding prescribed burns and follow the progress toward meeting federal and state air quality standards.

Media Advisory – All Media Are Invited

What: Detrash Portland, Earth Day Celebration

When: Tuesday, April 22, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Where: 2 NW Naito Parkway Portland, OR 97209 | Map Link

Event Description: The annual Oregon Spring Cleanup, celebrating Earth Month, wraps up with Detrash Portland on Earth Day, April 22, 2025. Media are invited to document environmentally engaged citizens and interview SOLVE staff and partners.

Between April 12 and 22, over 100 litter cleanups and restoration projects spanned Portland and SW Washington, the entire Oregon Coast from Astoria to Brookings, the Willamette National Forest, Southern and Eastern Oregon. Families, community and corporate groups were encouraged to participate in this collective effort to keep our region clean, and beautiful.

Why: This hallmark event, celebrating Earth Day, unites volunteers and partners from the Pacific Northwest to contribute to a cleaner, greener planet. Rooted in SOLVE's rich history, this event series merges two cherished events: the Spring Oregon Beach Cleanup (1986) and SOLVE IT for Earth Day (1990). It's an excellent opportunity for families, coworkers, and neighbors to bond while preserving our region's stunning locations.

Media Crews: Arrive by 9:45 am at the fountain where the Saturday Market is to see approximately 200 volunteers of all ages checking in, collecting their cleanup supplies, receiving a safety speech and event overview, and then heading out in groups to pick up litter in the surrounding area. The event will run from 10 am to 12 pm, with volunteers expected to spread along the Portland Waterfront and adjacent areas.

This event will have plenty of visuals of volunteers picking up litter, making for great community packages, VOs, and VOSOTS.

Available interviewees: 

• Kris Carico, Chief Executive Officer, SOLVE
• Lena Ulvi, SOLVE Board Chair, Skanska USA

The Detrash Portland - Oregon Spring Cleanup event 2025 is made possible by the generous support of Portland General Electric and other event sponsors, including AAA Oregon/Idaho, CareOregon, Clean Water Services, Fred Meyer, Holman Enterprises, KOIN 6, The Oregonian, Lam Research Corporation, Metro, Lithia Driveway, Miller Nash, Intel, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Swire Coca-Cola, The Standard, and PepsiCo.

Visit Detrash Portland / Oregon Spring Cleanup on the SOLVE website and the event registration page for more information.

About SOLVE:

SOLVE brings communities together to take care of our environment and enhance our waterways. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots initiative to a national model of volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon, and SW Washington, to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas, while empowering a community of environmental stewards for our state. You can follow SOLVE on Instagram at @SOLVEinOregon, Facebook at @SOLVEOregon, or at www.solveoregon.org. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Monday, April 21, 2025

Authors Beth Piatote, Dan Flores will be part of the award ceremony

BEND, OR — Time is running out! Writers exploring themes around desert landscapes are invited to enter the 11^th annual Waterston Desert Writing Prize. The submission window is open now through May 1, 2025, at 11:59 pm.

This prestigious award, a program of the High Desert Museum, celebrates proposals for outstanding literary nonfiction dedicated to the literal and figurative exploration of desert landscapes.

This year’s winner will receive a $3,000 cash award and be recognized with a reception and reading at the Museum in Bend, Oregon, on September 25, 2025. Tickets are available now at highdesertmuseum.org/waterston-award-ceremony-2025.

“The Waterston Desert Writing Prize is now in its 11^th year of celebrating desert regions and landscapes,” said Executive Director Dana Whitelaw, Ph.D. “These works recognize the vital role deserts play and have been engaging, eloquent reads. We look forward to seeing what this year’s submissions tell us.”

Serving as guest judge this year is Beth Piatote (Nez Perce, Colville Confederated Tribes). Writer, professor and language activist, Piatote is the author of two books: the scholarly monograph Domestic Subjects: Gender, Citizenship, and the Law in Native American Literature (2013) and a mixed-genre collection entitled The Beadworkers: Stories (2019). She has written a number of plays, including a Native American retelling of the ancient Greek play, Antigone. Antikoni premiered at the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles in 2024. Piatote is an associate professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Berkley. She has served as a guest judge on literary award panels including the PEN America and the Poetry Foundation.

Dan Flores, Ph.D., will serve as the 2025 keynote speaker. Originally from Louisiana but now based near Santa Fe, New Mexico, Flores was the A.B. Hammond Professor of the History of the American West at the University of Montana. A prolific writer with 11 books to his name, Flores’s most recent works were 2023 Rachel Carson Book Prize winner Wild New World: The Epic Story of Animals and People in America and New York Times bestseller, Coyote America: A Natural and Supernatural History (2016). His essays have appeared in newspapers and magazines across the country including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and Time Magazine. Flores focuses on nature writing and the biographies of animals. His work has earned him honors from Pen America, the Society of Environmental Journalists, the Sigurd Olsen Nature Writing Awards, the Great Plains Distinguished Book Awards, the National Outdoor Book Awards, and Phi Beta Kappa's Ralph Waldo Emerson Prizes.

The Prize was established in 2014, inspired by author and Oregon Poet Laureate Ellen Waterston’s love of the High Desert — a region that has been her muse for more than 40 years. The Waterston Desert Writing Prize celebrates writers whose nonfiction book proposal reflects a similar connection to a desert anywhere in the world.

“The tangible encouragement and important literary recognition the Prize provides gives the winner a needed boost on the way to realizing their proposed project,” said Waterston. “The Prize brings to light new perspectives on a wide range of desert-related topics, from the desertification of a reef in the ocean, the adaptability of certain desert flora and fauna, the effect of rising temperatures on particular life forms, or the timeless call of deserts worldwide as the place to meet oneself head on.”

Emerging, mid-career and established nonfiction writers who illustrate artistic excellence, sensitivity to place and desert literacy with the desert as both subject and setting are invited to apply. The award supports literary nonfiction writers who are completing, proposing or considering the creation of a book-length manuscript. It is recommended that the writing sample submitted is part of the proposed project or closely represents it in content and style.

Past winners of the Prize include Leath Tonino (2024), Anna Welch (2023) and Caroline Tracey (2022). A full-time freelance writer, Tonino’s submission Nooks and Crannies: Mapping the (Unmappable) Waterpocket Fold with Prose Vignettes is a documentation of his outdoor encounters in Utah’s Waterpocket Fold, the sandstone that forms the spine of Capitol Reef National Park. He was joined by keynote speaker Tucker Malarkey and guest judge Sam Waterston.

To learn more about the Waterston Desert Writing Prize and how to submit an entry, visit highdesertmuseum.org/waterston-prize.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM:

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

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Vancouver, Wash. –  The Clark County Green Business program is celebrating Earth Day by recognizing local leaders in environmental sustainability with Green Awards. The annual awards feature four new categories this year. The new categories demonstrate the ongoing journey businesses must embark on to consistently reduce their environmental impacts and engage with employees and community members to set and achieve new sustainability goals. 

Here are the 2025 Green Awards winners:  

PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center – Seeds of Sustainability  
PeaceHealth is a not-for-profit health care system with medical centers, critical access hospitals and medical clinics in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. PeaceHealth is always exploring opportunities to reduce waste sent to landfill and increase reuse and recycling. They now divert over 5.8 tons of polypropylene surgical “blue wrap” annually and have reduced the need for 371 tons of disposable surgical supplies by switching to sterilizable items that can be reused. They keep food out of the landfill and reduce gas emissions by using an anaerobic digester and sending kitchen food scraps to a local farm to be used for animal feed. They have also reduced water and energy consumption by improving their lighting and HVAC systems, installing smart water sprinklers, and implementing water reduction practices in their laboratory.  

Simply Thyme Catering – Sustainability Legacy  
Simply Thyme Catering is committed to providing high-quality, sustainable and customized meal solutions. They specialize in creating fresh and dietary-conscious meals while prioritizing environmental responsibility in every aspect of the business. From locally sourced ingredients to eco-friendly packaging, Simply Thyme Catering integrates sustainability into their daily operations. At Simply Thyme Catering, every usable food scrap is repurposed — whether incorporated into broths, frozen for future use, or composted. If food is no longer fit for human consumption, it is fed to goats, chickens and cows, ensuring that nothing goes to waste. Additionally, Simply Thyme Catering tackles plastic waste head-on. Catering requires significant use of plastic wrap, but they mitigate the use by collecting, reusing and recycling plastic responsibly.  

TSMC Washington – Sustainability Trailblazer   
TSMC Washington is a semiconductor manufacturer on 260 acres in Camas. The company’s 1-million-square-foot fabrication complex includes approximately 130,000 square feet of clean room space to manufacture computer chips. TSMC Washington's pursuit of a "Zero Waste-to-Landfill" certification, combined with the implementation of composting, color-coded waste sorting systems and staff education on waste reduction makes them a standout leader in waste reduction practices in Clark County. Through innovative and trailblazing sustainability solutions, they have diverted 1.25 million pounds of wastewater filter cakes for reuse, launched a sitewide color-coded waste sorting system, operated on 100% renewable energy since 2018 and added nine greenhouse gas abatement units to reduce their emissions even further. 

Evergreen Habitat for Humanity, Clark County store – Community Champion  
The Clark County Habitat for Humanity Store is a home improvement store and donation center that sells new and gently used furniture, home decor, appliances, building materials and more at discounted prices. Proceeds from the store support the organization's homebuilding and repair programs, directly contributing to affordable housing in the county. They divert over 100 tons of waste from unsellable items every year, thanks in part to their volunteer-run recycling station that disassembles these items for material-specific recycling. The store also offers free community drop-off options for recycling household batteries and paint – recycling over 4,000 pounds of paint each year. They partner with local nonprofits and small businesses to find creative reuse opportunities for items that can't be sold or recycled, including donating slow-selling dishes to "rage rooms." In 2024, they reduced their own operational waste by 57 tons compared to 2023 – nearly doubling their goal for the year. 

The four award winners will be honored at a ceremony in May. The Clark County Green Business program thanks the businesses and organizations that submitted applications for this year’s Green Awards and encourages applicants to apply again next year.  

Visit the Green Business website to learn more about the program and see past Green Awards winners.  

Reading under a canopy of trees is now a possibility for students at Hathaway Elementary School thanks to generous support from the Camas-Washougal Rotary. 

The Camas-Washougal Rotary donated $2,875 to create a “Nature in the Classroom” scene in the Hathaway school library. Hathway third grader Kinzlee Kalian said, “The display is really nice, it's very relaxing when we look up, and it makes me really calm.” Barb Crozier, a long-time Rotarian, volunteer, and Washougal resident, spearheaded this thoughtful initiative. Her inquiry to Hathaway Elementary School Principal Wendy Morrill was met with an enthusiastic “yes,” and the project quickly moved forward. 

A student survey conducted by Morrill asked which tree scene would be most desired, and the students overwhelmingly selected the majestic MacDonald Oak tree. Kalian added that, “it was really neat for students to be asked, and that the school wanted to know what students thought about the different choices for the ceiling."

This special nature scene was made possible through the Camas-Washougal Rotary’s financial support and was installed by the Washougal School District’s maintenance team. The location of the tree mural in the library ensures that all students and staff who visit the space each week will benefit from the calming effects of nature.

Research supports the idea behind the project, as studies have shown that exposure to nature—whether through direct views of the outdoors or immersive natural imagery—can improve attention, focus, creativity, and emotional well-being. The installation reflects the district’s commitment to providing students with an enriching environment that promotes both academic and emotional growth.

“This donation highlights the positive impact that strong community partnerships can have on our students’ learning experiences,” said Aaron Hansen, Superintendent of Washougal School District. “We are incredibly grateful to the Camas-Washougal Rotary for their continued dedication to supporting our schools and the district.”

The Camas-Washougal Rotary has long been a valued partner in the district, making countless contributions that support both students and staff. This donation, which enhances the learning environment at Hathaway Elementary, is just one of many ways the Rotary continues to make a difference in the community.

"We are so pleased to support this wonderful project that will bring a little bit of nature into Hathaway Elementary’s library," said Ernesto Rodriguez, Rotary member and community advocate. "We believe this will not only brighten the space but also contribute to the well-being of students for years to come."

For more information about the Camas-Washougal Rotary and their community initiatives, visit https://www.cwrotary.com/.  Further information about classroom tree ceilings can be found at https://www.natureintheclassroom.org.

LANDMARK ARTS AND CULTURE FUNDING INFUSES $21M

‘Love Letter’ Delivers Funds to 315 Nonprofits Over Three Years
 

PORTLAND, Ore. – Oregon arts and culture nonprofits are finding new strength from a $53 million investment, as they continue the slow process of rebuilding from the pandemic. Oregon Community Foundation announced Monday that it has provided or committed its portion of that funding. OCF’s Oregon Arts and Culture Rebuilding Program has now sent $21 million in critical support to 315 organizations over three years.

Grants supported a wide range of needs, including:

• Flexible support for operations and immediate needs, including for small-budget organizations and those supporting historically marginalized communities
• Facility renovation, new equipment, deferred maintenance or building construction
• New or expanded initiatives to adapt, innovate, build resilience or boost impact

“When Oregon’s arts and culture leaders asked us to go beyond keeping the lights on, we listened,” said Lisa Mensah, OCF President and CEO. “We said ‘yes’ to going big, and they responded with vision, creativity and determination. We called this investment a ‘love letter’ to express our appreciation for how they help communities thrive. We’re proud to stand with our arts and culture partners every step of the way.”
 

The original funding announcement in March 2024 was a partnership with Oregon state lawmakers and the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation to pump a total of $52 million into Oregon’s arts and culture sector, which has been beleaguered by a slower-than-expected recovery from the pandemic. OCF originally allocated $20 million. Generous OCF donors contributed another $1 million in donations.
 

The plan provided immediate relief to major arts organizations, including the High Desert Museum, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Oregon Symphony, Portland Art Museum, Portland Center Stage and Portland Opera.
 

OCF launched the Oregon Arts and Culture Rebuilding Program in June 2024 to provide flexible funding for organizations of all sizes. In their applications, nonprofit leaders highlighted the role of arts and culture in community and workforce development, cultural preservation, individual well-being and local economies. Many organizations focused on new artistic work, accessibility and low-cost programming.
 

The Arts and Culture Rebuilding Program played a critical role in Oregon Ballet Theatre’s strategic recovery plan.
 

“These funds continue to help OBT not only address some of the short-term financial deficits left from the pandemic but also give shape to a new vision for the future of OBT and the critical role we play in the state of Oregon,” said Shane Jewell, Executive Director of Oregon Ballet Theatre. “When we look back at how arts organizations managed their post-pandemic recovery, the gift from OCF, combined with the Miller Foundation and the state, will stand out as a turning point.”
 

Organizations seeking support ranged from large urban organizations to small, rural and culturally specific nonprofits.
 

“The Oregon Arts and Culture Rebuilding Program helped us restore staffing to pre-COVID levels,” said Elizabeth A. Woody, Executive Director of The Museum at Warm Springs. “We were able to add a key staff member in our archives and collections departments, strengthening core operations and programming. We’re incredibly grateful.”
 

Among the grant recipients was Gallery Theater in McMinnville, which received funding to replace its 55-year-old elevator.
 

“Many of our community members couldn’t access key areas like our tech booth, dance studio or costume shop,” said board member Charity Livingston. “Thanks to OCF’s focus on infrastructure, we can finally welcome our full community back to every level of our theater.”
 

Read a full list of grants here.

About

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

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Saturday night’s street racing prevention mission successfully disrupted efforts of participants to conduct any large-scale street takeovers.

On the evening of Saturday, April 19, 2025, mission units proactively sought out street takeover gatherings and began conducting lawful traffic violation stops on drivers. The following statistics are preliminary and may change after additional reports come in.

Of the 37 traffic stops made, six drivers attempted to elude. There was one traffic pursuit. Almost all of the eluding drivers were caught and arrested and their cars were towed. Seven people were arrested, 32 traffic citations were written, nine vehicles were towed (including one that is in the criminal forfeiture process). Four firearms were seized. Suspects were charged with crimes ranging from Reckless Driving, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Attempt to Elude Police by Vehicle, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful possession of a Firearm, Possession of a Loaded Firearm in a Public Place (city code), and Driving While Suspended.

PPB is sincerely grateful for the assistance of our partner agencies, including the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, the Vancouver Police Department, and the Gresham Police Department.

###PPB###

Original Message Below

The Portland Police Bureau has learned of a planned illegal street racing/street takeover event scheduled for Saturday night and will be conducting a special enforcement mission to address this dangerous behavior. 

The event, deemed “Swing into Easter” and “PDX is Everyone,” is expected to draw people from across the region. PPB will use personnel from multiple units and additional resources to address criminal behavior. PPB wants to remind participants that street takeovers can result in jail time, fines, tows, and forfeited vehicles.
 

“Street racing and street takeovers are dangerous and pose a safety risk to our community,” said Chief Bob Day. “This reckless behavior endangers not only the participants but also innocent drivers who share the road, turning what should be a normal commute into potentially life-threatening situations. Our officers will be taking decisive enforcement action this weekend to address this illegal behavior.”

You can watch a video here of a past mission.

PPB has worked with our partners at the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office to pursue criminal forfeiture of cars involved in certain circumstances, meaning the owners could lose their cars permanently. Under the new Reckless Driving law (811.140), a vehicle used in a street racing-like activity is subject to criminal forfeiture. The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office is coordinating with PPB to use criminal forfeiture to, where appropriate, prevent these drivers from retrieving their vehicles. Since the law went into effect, four vehicles have been forfeited, three have been returned to lien holders, and five remain in the forfeiture process.

It's not just the drivers that can face consequences. ORS 811.127 addresses individuals who are facilitating or aiding another to engage in speed racing on a highway or reckless driving and individuals who obstruct or place a barricade on a highway or assist with placing an obstruction or barricade on a highway. The first offense is a misdemeanor while the second offense is a felony if committed within five years of the first offense.
 

In addition to that state statute and others, Portland City Code addresses this dangerous activity.
 

1. Unlawful street takeover event means an activity that is:
a. Unpermitted;
b. Preplanned or contemporaneously coordinated by two or more persons; and
c. Involves one or more persons demonstrating, exhibiting, or comparing the maneuverability or power of one or more motor vehicles in a curved direction, in a circular direction, or around corners, including but not limited to by breaking traction in a curved or circular direction or around corners.
 

2. A person commits the offense of an Unlawful Street Takeover if, in a public place or upon a highway, the person knowingly operates a motor vehicle while engaged in an unlawful street takeover event.
 

3.1. Highway means the entire width of a public right-of-way when any portion thereof is intended for motor vehicle movement or motor vehicle access to abutting property.
 

3.2. Public place means an area, whether publicly or privately owned, generally open to the public and includes, without limitation, the grounds surrounding buildings or dwellings, streets, sidewalks, bridges, tunnels, alleys, plazas, parks, driveways, and parking lots.
 

The Portland Police Bureau has updated its vehicle towing policy and now authorizes towing vehicles of drivers operating without valid driving privileges and lack of insurance, and to address street takeovers.
 

The Bureau recently substantially revised Directive 0630.60, Vehicle Dispositions. Most significantly, the revised directive has the following changes:
 

1. The directive authorizes towing for certain offenses, such as unlicensed drivers, suspended drivers, and lack of insurance.
   2) The directive authorizes towing for violating new Portland City Code, 14A.30.080, Unlawful Street Takeover and Unlawful Staging of a Street Takeover Event.
   3) The directive provides new guidance on responding to stolen vehicles reported at tow lots, temporary holds for VIN inspections, and abandoned vehicle towing.
    
2. The most noteworthy change to revised Directive 0630.60 is the newly authorized towing for certain offenses such as driving uninsured, suspended, without a license, or in a street takeover pursuant to a new Portland City Code provision, 14A.30.080. This change brings the Bureau in line with both neighboring law enforcement agency common practice and state law authorization for towing. Additionally, the change was supported in public comments and among internal subject matter experts and stakeholders within the Bureau, and will serve as an additional tool for the Bureau to increase traffic safety.
    
3. While the policy allows for tows in circumstances where they were not permitted before, the policy does not require them in most cases. The policy specifically encourages Police Bureau members to exercise discretion in impounding vehicles under circumstances that may create undue hardship or risk to the occupants. Such circumstances may include, but are not limited to: the presence of young children, elderly, or disabled persons; vehicles equipped for use by such persons; and vehicles used as homes.
    

Members of the public are encouraged, before driving on public roads, to verify that their driver's license is current and valid and that they have current proof of insurance.
 

PPB has previously released a video about this ordinance. See it here. 
 

Photo description: Photo of yellow vehicle seized in a prior mission

Photo of Black vehicle with officer talking to driver from prior mission

Photo of suspect handcuffed from prior mission

###PPB###

Around 0800 hours on 4/20 Kaylee returned home. The Vancouver Police will continue to investigate

The Vancouver Police are attempting to locate an endangered teen thought to be currently traveling between Vancouver and Seattle, WA. Kaylee McPhillips was last seen in Vancouver in the early morning hours of 04/18/2025. Attached are recent images of Kaylee. If you know Kaylee's whereabouts, please call 911.

At 11:29 on 04/19/2025 Vancouver Fire was dispatched to the report of a three-car collision at the intersection of NE 162^nd Ave and NE 7^th St.  Upon arrival, firefighters found three vehicles that all suffered major damage.  The Vancouver Police Department provided traffic control.  Fire department paramedics quickly triaged the patients and began to immediately render aid.  The first patient treated was in critical condition and transported by American Medical Response with two fire department paramedics to a local trauma center.  A second patient was treated and transported in a second ambulance with the third patient declining ambulance transport. 

As expected, several thousand people gathered in Pioneer Courthouse Square Saturday for a peaceful gathering and march. Participants and Dialogue Officers successfully collaborated to ensure a safe event. PPB is grateful to those who shared information about the march route, allowing officers to successfully use police vehicles to control traffic and avoid any potentially dangerous conflicts. Members of the Rapid Response Team, the Traffic Division, the Air Support Unit, and others were on hand to assist. PPB was also able to share real-time updates on its events account on X (formally Twitter). No injuries were reported and no arrests were made.

Photo descriptions:

-A Dialogue officer in a white uniform hands a sticker to a boy wearing an orange shirt, tan pants, and cool sunglasses

-A Dialogue officer in a white uniform shirt speaks to a couple of event participants

-A member of the Rapid Response Team uses his police vehicle to block traffic and prevent conflicts with motorists and marchers

-A Dialogue officer in a white uniform shirt converses with an event participant

###PPB###

Original Message Below

The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) is preparing for a planned Downtown Portland gathering and march that may impact traffic on Saturday afternoon.

PPB is aware of multiple groups who are planning to gather in Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 Southwest 6^th Avenue, on Saturday, April 19, 2025 sometime after 11:00 a.m. Some groups have stated they plan to march. The expected attendance is unknown, but could reach into the thousands as was seen on April 5, 2025 (find out more about that event here). Exact timing and route information is not known at this time.

As with previous events, PPB Dialogue Officers, who are specially trained police officers who serve as liaisons for demonstration participants, have reached out to organizers and anticipated participants. Communication allows the Police Bureau to plan ahead and have adequate resources on hand to ensure a safe event. PPB Liaisons can be reached at liaison@police.portlandoregon.gov">ppbliaison@police.portlandoregon.gov. Any information shared is sincerely appreciated. As of this writing, PPB is not aware of any permits for a march being issued. Organizers obtaining a permit can help ensure safety for participants because officers can control traffic ahead of the march to avoid any injuries or conflicts with vehicles. It also allows emergency vehicles such as fire and medical responders to plan alternate routes and reach people in need faster.  Permit applications can be made here, or organizers can reach out to Dialogue Officers for assistance.

On Saturday, participants should expect to see Dialogue Officers in white uniform shirts, as well as patrol officers on bicycles, motorcycles, and in patrol SUVs. Officers are there to facilitate safety, assist with traffic control as needed, and address any criminal behavior should it happen. Participants should feel free to discuss public safety concerns or planning information with any available officer.

Should there be a need to send out event related information from PPB, announcements may be made on a marked Portland Police Bureau vehicle equipped with a loudspeaker. We will post on PPB’s events account on X (formally Twitter).

On Friday, April 4, 2025, prior to the April 5^th event, PPB hosted a news conference previewing the planning process. At the press conference, we introduced an internationally recognized expert on public order policing, as well as the psychology and dynamics of crowd behavior. Clifford Stott is a professor of Social Psychology at Keele University in the United Kingdom, and he spent the week in Portland conducting training workshops for PPB, helping further improve our response to public order events.

Photo descriptions:

Two Dialogue Officers in white uniform shirts walk along outside of a march on the sidewalk

Professor Stott at April 4^th News Conference

###PPB###

ROSEBURG, Ore., Apr. 19, 2025—On April 18, 2025, while traveling from a softball game in Coos Bay, there was a tragic accident on the road involving members of Umpqua Community College’s athletics program.
 

“We are deeply saddened to confirm that one of our student-athletes, Kiley Jones, and one of our coaches, Jami Strinz, lost their lives in the accident. Additional staff and students remain in hospitals in Eugene and Portland. UCC hearts are breaking with this news, and we ask the community to keep the families and all of those affected in their thoughts and prayers,” said UCC President, Dr. Rachel Pokrandt.
 

“These individuals were cherished members of our campus—an exceptional student-athlete, and a passionate and talented coach. Our entire community is grieving this tragic loss, and our heartfelt condolences are with their families, teammates, and loved ones. We ask that you keep them in your thoughts and offer privacy for the families during this difficult time. Support services are available to all students, faculty, and staff. Please join us in holding space for grief and reflection as we honor these individuals.”
 

UCC is continuing to gather details and will provide updates as appropriate.
 

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

April 18, 2025

Portland, OR- A Multnomah County jury today found James Donald Jackson (dob May 19, 1964)  guilty on charges of Rape in the First Degree and Sex Abuse in the First Degree, which stemmed from an incident that occurred in June of 1994. 

The case was retried because the jury who heard the case in 1995  did not return unanimous convictions on all counts. Some were unanimous and some were not.

In 2020, the US Supreme Court ruled in Ramos v. Louisiana, that the Sixth Amendment’s right to a jury trial requires a unanimous verdict on every count in state criminal trials. As a result, significant convictions have been overturned, necessitating new trials when public safety and victim protection is impacted by the reversals.

The jury verdict today was unanimous. 

Deputy District Attorneys Jazmyn Ortiz and Chris Rothfus prosecuted the case for the state. 

After the verdict Rothfus said: “This verdict is a testament to the victim's strength and courage to come back to court more than 30 years later and tell the jury this crime did happen, to hold James Donald Jackson accountable and to ensure that he cannot hurt anyone else.”

Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Melissa Marrero supervises the prosecutors on the case and followed it closely.

After the verdict, she said:

“We are extremely thankful that the jury was clearly able to see the terror experienced by Ms. Countryman in 1994. She has shown extraordinary strength both when she was an 18 year old girl, and now more than 30 years later in holding her rapist accountable.”

“I am exceptionally proud of our deputies for the work put into this case and we’re thankful for the good work of the Portland Police Detectives back in 1994. I’m also thankful for the willingness of Ms. Countryman and all the witnesses to come back to ensure that justice is done and a dangerous individual is kept off the streets.”

The victim is Amy Countryman. She has given us permission to use her name here. She arrived in Portland back in 1994 from Indiana. She moved to Portland because she had friends here and was hoping to find a job and start her future. She met the defendant at Pioneer Courthouse Square and he seemed nice.

Then he took her to a playground, threatened her with a gun and raped her. 

After the verdict today Amy Countryman said:

“I would like to thank the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office and notably Melissa Marrero, DDA’s Jazmyn Ortiz and Chris Rothfus, as well as Victim Advocate Suzanne Rapagnani for their incredible perseverance, hard work, and support as they fought to keep rapist James Donald Jackson behind bars. Portland is a safer place thanks to them! Going through this trial is one of the hardest things I have ever done, and I am so grateful for all their work and care.”

After his original convictions for these crimes Jackson was sentenced as a Dangerous Offender and could have been held in prison more than 50 years,  potentially until 2048. If he was found not guilty of these charges in this current trial, he could have been released by the end of this year.

With the guilty verdicts, he will now have another Dangerous Offender hearing at a later date.

                           #### MCDA ####

Salem – The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) has issued a cease-and-desist order against a money transmitter and its owner. With the holiday weekend upon us, DFR is making consumers aware of the need to work with a licensed money transmitter when sending money domestically or internationally.

Brenda Lili Barrera Orantes, the owner and operator of La Popular, was arraigned in federal court in Portland on Thursday after being charged for laundering drug proceeds. More information on the arraignment is available on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website.

The division is ordering the business and Barrera Orantes to cease and desist all criminal and regulatory violations related to money transmission.

La Popular has several locations in Oregon, including Hillsboro, Canby, Odell, Woodburn, and Beaverton.

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

The Centennial School District Governing Board will convene for a Work Session on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. 

Please be aware that a Budget Committee Meeting will take place (virtually) from 6:00 - 7:30 pm prior to the Work Session. If you are interested in more information regarding the Budget Meeting you can find it on our website

The full board meeting packet is available for reference on the Centennial School District website at www.csd28j.org and can be found on the School Board page.

All attendees will participate virtually via the Zoom app.  If you are interested in joining either meeting, please click on the link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86521160187?pwd=K3FGMTUrOVdKRUVDUW80SmtFSTdFZz09
Passcode:601772

Or Telephone, dial:
  +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799

Webinar ID: 865 2116 0187
Passcode: 601772

To view the agenda and accompanying documents, click or paste this link into your browser: https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Organization/1561. The meeting agenda and associated documents may be updated as necessary.

For information about the agenda, email dan@csd28j.org">melissa_grindle@csd28j.org or oard@csd28j.org">board@csd28j.org.

DALLAS (OR) – Francisco Javier Morales-Hernandez, 39, has been sentenced to serve 18 months in prison for assaulting three Monmouth police officers as they were taking him into custody for outstanding felony warrants.

Morales-Hernandez, was sentenced by Polk County Circuit Judge Rafael A. Caso, after a jury found him guilty of Assaulting a Public Safety Office (2 counts), Assault in the Fourth Degree, and Resisting Arrest.  At the District Attorney’s request, Judge Caso ordered Morarales-Hernandez to serve an enhanced sentence. He will also be required to serve a two year term of Post-Prison Supervision.

The case was investigated by the Monmouth Police Department and prosecuted by Polk County Deputy District Attorney Garrett Lewellen.

• Comment on Capital Improvement Plan at April 23 meeting
• Hear report on efficiency and effectiveness on April 21

Salem, Ore. – On April 16, the City of Salem Budget Committee started its discussion of the Interim City Manager's proposed budget for the 2026 Fiscal Year. The discussion focused on plans to address a $13.8 million budget shortfall.

In the three stories below, we will recap the last budget meeting and preview two upcoming meetings that are important to the budget process:

1. Monday, April 21, 6 p.m. - Work session on Efficiency and Effectiveness measures aimed at making the most of our resources.
2. Wednesday, April 23, 6 p.m. - Budget Committee meeting where the budget conversation continues

All of these meetings will be available for viewing on YouTube.
 

April 16 Budget Committee: Community Services Face Deep Cuts

At the April 16 Budget Committee meeting, the focus was on the big impact of potential cuts to Salem’s community services, including the Salem Public Library, parks, recreation programs and Center 50+, among others.

“This is an incredibly difficult moment for our community, staff and everyone here tonight,” said Interim City Manager Krishna Namburi. “Every reduction reflects people, programs, unmet service needs and the values we deeply care about. These are not the choices we wanted to make, but this is the reality in front of us.”

The cuts stem from a $13.8 million shortfall projected for Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. As required by state law, the Interim City Manager proposed a balanced budget.

Recent cost-saving measures and one-time revenues reduced the gap and saved 41 full-time-equivalent (FTE) jobs. However, the Proposed Budget still included significant reductions and could result in the loss of 51 additional FTE positions; 37 of these positions are filled and represent people and their livelihoods.

The cuts identified to balance the budget were made based on data gathered from the 2024 Revenue Task Force, polls and surveys that consistently ranked public safety as the community’s top priority.

The proposed budget does not account for the possibility of revenues from a local option levy on the May 20 special election ballot. If the levy passes, property tax revenue will be dedicated to preserving these services. If it fails, services will not continue at current levels of service.

Community members at the meeting shared how these services have positively impacted their lives and expressed frustration over the potential cuts. Library advocates also questioned the viability of deep cuts in staffing and hours.

Budget Committee members also raised questions on topics, including the what Library schedule would be like with 20 hours per week and the impact of a nearly 30% cut to the parks and recreation budget, which would end most City-sponsored recreation programs and reduce park maintenance.  The City will provide responses to some of these questions at the April 23 Budget Committee meeting.
 

Council Work Session Focuses on Efficiency and Effectiveness

The Salem City Council will hold a work session on Monday, April 21, at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers to hear a report on performance auditing. The City Council’s Finance Committee regularly evaluates priorities for the City’s performance auditing program and provides periodic updates to the full Council. In September 2024, the committee identified key focus areas, including:

• Savings in the General Fund
• Efficiencies and cost savings by program budget and employee count
• Potential enterprise-wide impacts
• Alignment with the City’s strategic goals and Council priorities
• Negative impacts on other programs or services
• Legal mandates

For more details, visit the City’s Efficiency and Effectiveness Measures webpage.
 

Comment on the Capital Improvement Plan at April 23 Budget Committee Meeting

The Wednesday, April 23, Budget Committee meeting will start at 6 p.m. in Counciil Chambers The meeting will provide a chance to comment during a public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan.

The Capital Improvement Plan is a five-year forecast that identifies major (capital) projects requiring the use of public funds over and above routine annual operating expenses.

A capital project creates, improves, replaces, repairs or permanently adds to City assets including land, site improvements, parks, buildings, streets, bike paths, bridges, utility improvements, major equipment, computer hardware and communication systems purchases.

The Capital Improvement Fund document and resources online can provide information about upcoming projects.
 
The Budget Committee will also review Strong and Diverse Economy, Urban Renewal Agency, Safe Reliable and Efficient Infrastructure result areas.
 
The Budget Committee will resume its work on April 30 and May 7.  

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Lincoln County, Ore. 18 April 2025- On Thursday, April 17, 2025, at 7:07 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a three-vehicle crash on Highway 20, near milepost 4, in Lincoln County.

The preliminary investigation indicated an eastbound GMC Terrace, operated by Heather Maria Paz Hosey (42) of Newport, crossed the centerline for unknown reasons and struck a westbound Dodge Journey, operated by Ruston Lee Thommen (46) of Halsey, head-on. The GMC rotated and was struck by a westbound Dodge Dakota, operated by Christian Layfield Sagrero (19) of Newport, that was following the Dodge Journey. The Dodge Journey caught fire due to the collision and became fully engulfed in flames. 

The operator of the GMC (Hosey) was declared deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Dodge Journey (Thommen), who was able to exit the vehicle, suffered unknown injuries and was transported to an area hospital.

The operator of the Dodge Dakota (Layfield Sagrero) suffered reportedly minor injuries and was transported for evaluation.

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

OSP was assisted by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Newport Fire, and ODOT.

# # #

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

VANCOUVER, WA — In celebration of May Day—International Workers’ Day, the Clark County Historical Museum (CCHM) proudly presents the next installment in its Speaker Series: “The Union Makes Us Stronger – Labor History in Clark County and the Pacific Northwest,” a fascinating talk by distinguished historian Dr. Laurie Mercier.

Join us on Wednesday, May 1, 2025, as Dr. Mercier explores how labor unions and working people have shaped the history of Clark County and the broader Pacific Northwest. Drawing from her research and the museum’s exhibit Labor: A Working History, she’ll reveal the rich and often surprising stories of local workers—connecting regional struggles for better conditions and the eight-hour workday to global movements for workers’ rights.

Laurie Mercier is the Claudius O. and Mary W. Johnson Distinguished Professor of History at Washington State University Vancouver, where since 1995 she has taught the history of the United States, the Pacific Northwest, immigration and migration, women, and labor. She is the former associate director of the Center for Columbia River History, a former president of the Oral History Association, former co-director of the WSUV Center for Social and Environmental Justice, and co-director of the WSUV Columbia River Basin Ethnic History Archive project.

Mercier has authored numerous publications that explore the intersections of class, race, gender, and region, and about memory and oral history, including the books Speaking History: The American Past through Oral Histories, 1865-2001; Mining Women: Gender in the Development of a Global Industry, 1670-2000; and Anaconda: Labor, Community, and Culture in Montana’s Smelter City. Over the years she has collaborated often with the Museum, including co-curating the exhibits Labor: A Working History (2013-15) and Bridging the Gap: the History of the I-5 Columbia River Bridge (2011-12).

This event is free and open to the public.

Event Details:
What: CCHM Speaker Series: The Union Makes Us Stronger – Labor History in Clark County and the Pacific Northwest
When: Wednesday, May 1, 2025

Time: 7 PM (Doors open at 6 PM)
Where: Clark County Historical Museum
Cost: Free and open to all

For more information, visit: www.cchmuseum.org

Media contact:

Sammuel Hawkins, Outreach & Public Programs Manager, Clark County Historical Museum

Outreach@cchmuseum.org

360-993-5679

A man who was posting videos of himself recklessly driving on metro area roadways has been arrested.

PPB began an investigation in late March 2025 following tips from the public and news media about the suspect’s concerning posts. Videos showed the suspect speeding, passing illegally, failing to maintain lanes, hanging out of the window of his moving truck, driving through parks, and other reckless conduct throughout the Portland metropolitan area that put the community and himself at risk. Information about the suspect was distributed to officers throughout the Bureau.

On Friday, April 18, 2025 at 11:43 a.m., Portland Police officers from Central Precinct responded to a report of a hit and run in the 3700 block of Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard. The officer recognized the name of the caller, Oscar Burell, Jr, 33, as the suspect who was wanted. The officer called for additional cover units and arrested Burell. His investigation determined that Burell was involved in a confrontation with another driver on Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard. The other driver sideswiped Burell, who was standing in the roadway, as he drove away. Burell did not report any injuries. The other driver has not yet been located.

Burell’s truck, a 1994 GMC Sierra pickup (photos), was towed as evidence.

Burell was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of Reckless Driving (3 counts), Criminal Mischief in the First Degree, and Reckless Endangering Another Person.

PPB Traffic Division is continuing its investigation into Burell’s driving. If anyone has first-hand information about crimes committed by Burell, including dashboard camera or other video evidence, please e-mail imetips@police.portlandoregon.gov">crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 25-89041. Please do not send social media posts, links to websites, or any secondhand information.

Photo descriptions:

Three photos of the suspect’s blue 1994 GMC pickup with worn paint and numerous objects in the truck bed

  ###PPB###

This morning, April 18, 2025, at approximately 7:10am officers responded to an incident at 29^th Ave and Pacific Blvd following a report of a bicycle being struck by a vehicle. The driver remained on scene and cooperated fully with Albany Police Department. The 13-year-old juvenile was transported to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center and is in stable condition.

The juvenile was operating an electric bike and wearing a full-face helmet, that likely saved his life. Preliminary investigation reports the collision occurred when the E bike failed to obey a traffic control device at the intersection and was drug underneath the pickup truck. 

We would like to thank ODOT for taking over traffic control to free up all officers at the scene and Albany Fire Department that quickly utilized the Jaws of Life to safely extract the juvenile from under the pickup truck. This collision remains under investigation at this time.

                                                                                                                                                               #  #  #

(Cedar Mill, Oregon) The Travel Information Council and its volunteer Oregon Heritage Tree Committee are pleased to announce the acceptance of fruit trees at the Elizabeth Constable and John Quincy Adams Young House into the Oregon Heritage Tree Program. 

This designation includes three fruit trees- a Shellbark Hickory, a Bartlett Pear, and a Gravenstein Apple- that are landscape features of the historic Young House and estimated to be around 150 years old. These trees represent an example of early home management and food production, typical of an early farm or residential property of the period. Collectively, they are Oregon’s 85^th Heritage Tree Designation.

Built between 1863 and 1869, the Young House is listed in the National Register of Historic Places for its association with the early growth and community development of Cedar Mill in Washington County. The house served as the residence of the Young family from 1869-1874 and then as the first post office and a community store from 1874-1881. It is the oldest remaining historic resource in Cedar Mill.

These fruit trees provide clues to the ways people have used, changed, and interacted with their surroundings over time. Often when the built environment erodes, remaining fruit trees are a clue to historians where a house may have stood. The Young House trees are unique in that visitors can see a historic house still standing next to the remaining fruit trees on the property.

Oregon Heritage Tree Committee Chair Dave Hedberg encourages the public to visit the JQA Young House Trees: “Visiting an Oregon Heritage Tree is a chance to engage your senses and learn about local history in the real world – not just in books and on screens. It’s a way to honor the role trees play in our lives and Oregon’s history. When you visit the Young House, consider the proximity and relationship of the trees to the house. There are few remaining structures over 150 years old where you can see a house still standing next to the original fruit trees.”  

Keith Watson, support services manager with Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District (THPRD) adds, “The JQA Young House is the last remaining above-ground resource associated with the cedar mill for which the community was named. THPRD is pleased that the remaining fruit trees are part of the state Heritage Tree Program.”  

The public will be invited to participate in dedicating the trees this fall during the Cedar Mill Cider Festival, Sunday, September 21 noon-4pm. Michael Panhorst with the Friends of the Young House says, “The Cider Festival is a community event that brings history, entertainment, and family fun together. This fall we invite everyone to join in the 17^th year of the festival and a chance to view these trees.”

You can visit the Elizabeth Constable and John Quincy Adams Young House Trees at 12050 NW Cornell Road in Beaverton. Parking is available at the church next door. The site can also be accessed via the Cedar Mill Creek Greenway that features the Sue Conger Boardwalk with views of the Cedar Mill Falls.

The Oregon Heritage Tree Program is the first state-sponsored heritage tree program in the country. It was established in 1995 to increase public awareness of the important contribution of trees to Oregon’s history and the significant role they play in the quality of our daily life. The program is administered by the Oregon Travel Information Council and a committee of dedicated volunteers from across the state. For more information regarding the Heritage Tree program visit www.oregontic.com/oregon-heritage-trees.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) condemns the Trump administration’s proposed FY 2026 Health and Human Services budget, revealed in a leak of the White House Office of Management and Budget “passback” document, as a blatant attack on public health and nursing. If enacted, this plan would slash HHS’s discretionary funding by roughly one third, cutting the total from about $117 billion to $80 billion and endangering vital services nationwide.

Under this proposal, the National Institutes of Health budget would tumble from $47 billion to $27 billion, a 42% reduction, and eliminate the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) entirely. NINR is the only federal institute dedicated to nursing science, funding studies that improve symptom management for patients with chronic illness, develop equitable care models in rural and Indigenous communities, and drive innovations in patient safety. Without NINR, nurses lose the evidence base they rely on to deliver high-quality care.

All Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development programs, including scholarships, loan repayment, faculty development, advanced practice training, and the Nursing Workforce Diversity program, would also vanish. These programs recruit and retain students from underrepresented backgrounds, support nurse educators, and help place skilled nurses in medically underserved and rural areas. Eliminating them jeopardizes the future of a diverse nursing workforce precisely when Oregon and the nation face a chronic staffing shortage.

The draft also dismantles the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, rescinding over $1 billion in grants for overdose prevention, community mental health centers, school-based services, and harm reduction programs. This comes as one in five Americans experiences a mental health condition and recent data show U.S. overdose deaths had begun to decline, progress now at risk of reversal if proven prevention and treatment services are defunded.

Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would see its budget slashed from more than $9 billion to $5 billion, wiping out programs that combat diabetes, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, childhood lead poisoning, and emerging infectious threats. Removing these prevention efforts dismantles the very infrastructure that keeps communities safe and healthy.

We call on Congress to reject this proposal in full, restore funding for nursing research, workforce development, mental health and substance use services, and disease prevention, and protect the health of every community in Oregon and beyond.

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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. In the 50 liters sampled each day from April 13 to April 16, one Cryptosporidium oocyst was detected in the sample collected on April 15. Cryptosporidium was not detected in the samples collected on April 13, April 14, or April 16. Prior to these detections, Cryptosporidium was last detected from the Bull Run Watershed intake on March 26, 2025.

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 30, 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 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.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 18, 2025

Clark County Historical Museum Presents: “History on Tap – Vancouver’s First Black Families” with Historian Melissa Williams

Vancouver, WA – The Clark County Historical Museum is proud to announce the next installment of its popular History on Tap series, Vancouver’s First Black Families, featuring historian Melissa Williams. The event will take place on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:00 p.m.) at Kiggins Theatre, located at 1011 Main Street, Vancouver, WA 98660.

In this thought-provoking presentation, Williams will explore the African American experience in Vancouver from 1940 to 1960. Attendees will learn about the formation of Black communities during World War II, the systemic challenges many families faced after the war, and the enduring legacies left by Vancouver’s first Black residents.

Melissa Williams (she/her) is a respected U.S. historian with a focus on African American history. Over the past two decades, she has contributed to a wide range of community-based historical projects and has worked with organizations such as the Center for Columbia River History, Vancouver NAACP #1139, and Portland State University. She holds a B.A. in History from the University of Washington, an M.A. in Public History from Washington State University Vancouver, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Educational Leadership at Portland State University. Williams also serves as the Policy Associate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.

Event Admission:

● Free for CCHM members
● $5 in advance for the general public
● $10 at the door

Tickets available at: www.kigginstheatre.com

For more information about the event and the Clark County Historical Museum, visit www.cchmuseum.org.

The 2025 History on Tap season is presented by Vancouver’s Downtown Association, with generous support from Heritage Bank and Versa Events. This program is sponsored by C-Tran, The Arts Centered, Clark College Foundation, and Fourth Plain Forward.

About the Clark County Historical Museum:

The Clark County Historical Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the diverse stories of Clark County’s past. Through dynamic exhibits, public programs, and community partnerships, the museum engages people of all ages in exploring the history and heritage of Southwest Washington.

Media Contact:

Sammuel Hawkins

Outreach & Public Programs Manager, Clark County Historical Museum

outreach@cchmuseum.org

360-993-5679

Keizer, the 16th-largest city in Oregon, has achieved a milestone in its ongoing work to bolster workplace safety and health: graduation from Oregon OSHA’s Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP).

SHARP, primarily set up to help small- and mid-sized employers, coaches employers on how to effectively manage workplace safety and health. The program encourages Oregon employers to work with their employees to identify and correct hazards and to continuously improve. In turn, companies are recognized for their success in reaching specific benchmarks during the five-year program. An employer may graduate from SHARP after five years of participation.

Keizer has completed its SHARP journey, graduating in April 2025. During Keizer’s SHARP process, the city – with guidance and assessments provided by Oregon OSHA safety and health consultants – engaged in numerous project and process improvements designed to strengthen on-the-job protections for its workers. Examples include everything from installation of eyewash stations at key locations and the completion of training for all new safety committee members to updates of the city’s respiratory protection program and implementation of safety protocols addressing the use of ATVs.

The positive impact of the city’s participation in SHARP includes a days away, restricted, or transferred (DART) rate of 2.21 in 2023 for the city’s police department, public works field staff, and City Hall staff. The rate was well below the national average of 3.1 and Oregon’s average of 2.7.

In assessing the city’s efforts as a SHARP participant and approving it as a SHARP graduate, Oregon OSHA consultants recently concluded that the city “has consistently followed through with all evaluations, training, programs, and procedures for the safety and health for all employees.”

“Graduating from the SHARP program is a reflection of the city of Keizer’s commitment to creating a culture where safety is at the heart of everything we do,” said Jeff Heyen, chairperson of the city’s safety committee. “It’s been a true team effort – staff across every department have worked hard to build and sustain safer workplaces, and this recognition reinforces that those efforts matter.”

The benefits of the SHARP program, which is part of Oregon OSHA’s free consultation services, include lower injury and illness rates, decreased workers’ compensation costs, increased employee morale, lower product losses, and community recognition.

Learn more about SHARP and Oregon OSHA’s free consultation services, which include hazard assessments, recommendations to control and eliminate hazards, written program evaluation, and hands-on training. Consultations involve no fault, no citations, and no penalties. Oregon OSHA consultants in workplace safety, industrial hygiene, and ergonomics can help employers reduce accidents and related costs and develop comprehensive programs to manage safety and health.
 

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About Oregon OSHA: Oregon OSHA enforces the state's workplace safety and health rules and works to improve workplace safety and health for all Oregon workers. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit osha.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

Date: TUES, May 6th, 2025

Time: 7 pm

Location: Kiggins Theatre Vancouver, Wa

Tickets: $15-$45

Event Website: https://www.scienceontaporwa.org/events/kiggins_may_6_weather/

The Pacific Northwest has a reputation for being damp, dark, and cold. However, there’s much more to it. From the dry summers to highly localized wind storms, bomb cyclones, surprise snow storms, and the inland desert, Washington and Oregon have a lot of weather to offer.

• Why do weather apps often fail in the Northwest?
• What makes weather in this region so difficult to forecast?
• How do these difficulties manifest themselves in wind and solar power?

Lack of data and widespread mountainous terrain makes it so weather apps often leave much to be desired. It can even be hard to interpret what a human forecaster is trying to say. After the challenge of forecasting weather, meteorologists in the region are met with the almost harder challenge of conveying that forecast.
 

This diversity of weather is a significant renewable energy asset, with numerous companies scrambling to harness the power of Columbia Gorge wind and Columbia Basin sunshine. As our energy infrastructure becomes more weather-dependent, it is more important than ever to understand and tackle these regional issues to maintain a reliable electrical grid during North America’s transition to green energy sources.
 

Mark Ingalls is a Vancouver, B.C.-based meteorologist forecasting in the energy sector focused on the NE U.S. Before moving to Canada, he forecasted wind and solar energy generation at Avangrid Renewables in Portland, which owns wind and solar parks in the Eastern Columbia Gorge. He is a contributor to the weekly Canadian TV/radio program The Comedeorological Report and operates a blog focused on PNW weather at ingallswx.com.

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Science on Tap is a science lecture series where you can sit back, drink a pint, and enjoy learning. Listen to experts talk about the science in your neighborhood and around the world. You don't have to be a science geek to have fun--all you need is a thirst for knowledge! For more information on this event or about Science on Tap, visit Science on Tap OR WA.

Salem, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Forestry is inviting public comment on planned projects, timber sales and other management activities in state-owned forests.  

Starting April 18 through 5 p.m. June 3, Oregonians can weigh in on draft Annual Operations Plans for state forests on the Astoria, Forest Grove, Klamath Falls, Tillamook, West Oregon, and Western Lane Districts. These plans lay out on-the-ground activities expected to take place in the coming fiscal year. State forests by law must provide economic, environmental, and social benefits to Oregonians. To achieve the legal mandate, these lands are managed to create healthy productive forests, high-quality habitat for native fish and wildlife, clean water, benefits and revenues to rural communities and timber related economies, as well as recreation and educational opportunities.

Overall management policies and management goals are established in long-range Forest Management Plans and Implementation Plans. Annual Operations Plans describe activities to achieve the policies and goals laid out in the longer-range plans. ODF is seeking input on the draft Annual Operations Plans summary documents, which can be viewed on the State Forests’ new Annual Operations Plans website.

Common topics in the Annual Operations Plan include:  

• Timber harvest operations  
• Recreation improvement and maintenance projects  
• Forest road construction, maintenance, and improvements  
• Reforestation/replanting and young stand management activities  

• Habitat improvement for native species  
• Invasive species management  

The most useful input will speak to these specific activities and whether they are consistent with longer-range plans, offer suggestions to improve efficiency or effectiveness, correct errors, provide additional information, and are solution oriented. Activities that affect fish and wildlife habitat are reviewed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, while operations that may affect threatened and endangered fish and wildlife habitat are shared with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  

This year the department worked to improve communications by adding clarity in the documents provided, improved the website, and issued notification to private landowners that share a property line with a proposed operation.

ODF is offering several avenues to comment on Annual Operations Plans:  

• Online comments can be submitted through ODF’s comments page.
• Comments can be emailed to: odf.sfcomments@oregon.gov
• Comments can also be mailed to ODF Public Affairs, 2600 State St., Salem, OR 97310. 

# # #

HILLSBORO, Ore- On April 17, 2025, following a three-week trial, a Washington County jury found Robert Atrops, age 70, guilty of murder in the second degree in the 1988 murder of his estranged wife, Deborah Atrops. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 20, 2025. Senior Deputy District Attorneys Allison Brown and Chris Lewman prosecuted this case before Judge Oscar Garcia.
 

At the time of her murder, the victim was married to the defendant, but they had separated, and she was making plans for divorce. They shared an infant daughter they had recently adopted. Their separation was caused by marital problems, including physical abuse. Leading up to her murder, friends and coworkers witnessed concerning domestic violence behavior.  She had also started a new relationship with a coworker and told friends that the defendant had confronted her about the relationship and that she was worried he would kill her. 
 

On November 29, 1988, the victim left her job in Sherwood for a 5:15 p.m. hair appointment in Tigard. She left the salon around 7 p.m. with plans to go to the defendant’s house in Sherwood to pick up their daughter. Around 9:30 p.m., Mr. Atrops started calling friends, family, and 911, to report the victim missing. He claimed he made these calls from his home phone, but there was no record of the calls. Investigators believe he was not at home when he made these calls.

On December 1, 1988, police responded to a remote Beaverton construction site after multiple reports of a suspicious vehicle. The vehicle had no plates, the windows were frosted, and the window was open with the keys inside. The vehicle belonged to the victim, and her body was found inside the trunk. Her clothing was covered in mud, and the car had noticeable amounts of mud smeared on the hood, steering wheel, gear shift, and front right tire. Mud samples were collected from the car, the body recovery location, and the defendant’s home. The Oregon State Medical Examiner determined she was killed by manual strangulation.

The defendant told police he never saw the victim that night, but his alibi was not fully confirmed. Eventually, the investigation stalled, although there were no other suspects as detectives cleared others close to the victim, including the person with whom she had been in a romantic relationship. Over time, the case was reviewed by various investigators with no new significant leads.  

In 2020, Cold Case Detective Kevin Winfield reviewed the case. He completed an exhaustive investigation with the help of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. He located additional witnesses and new information to shed light on the circumstances of the victim's murder. Detective Winfield submitted additional items for forensic analysis, including the victim’s clothing and soil samples collected in 1988. Ultimately, the defendant’s DNA was connected to the coat the victim was wearing when she was murdered. In addition, the FBI lab concluded that the mud collected from the victim’s vehicle was indistinguishable from the mud collected at the defendant’s home.  Detective Winfield also located information that the defendant sold roofing materials at construction sites near the location where the victim's body was found.  The defendant was interviewed by Detective Winfield in 2022, and there were significant discrepancies from his version of events in 1988. Robert Atrops was indicted by a Grand Jury and arrested for murder in the second degree on March 23, 2023.
 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office commends the work of Detective Kevin Winfield, the Washington County Cold Case Unit, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.  We also thank other partners for their assistance, including the FBI, Beaverton Police Department, Oregon State Police Forensic Lab, Oregon Medical Examiner, and Washington County Major Crimes Team.
 

This investigation was made possible due to grant funding from the federal government to investigate and prosecute violent crime cold cases that involve identified DNA associated with a possible suspect. The grant, “Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA,” is funded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance. Visit our website to learn more. 

PORTLAND, Ore.—The owner and operator of La Popular, a money service business with locations in Oregon and Washington, was arraigned in federal court today after she was charged with laundering drug proceeds.

Brenda Lili Barrera Orantes, 39, a Guatemalan national residing in Beaverton, Oregon, has been charged by criminal complaint with money laundering.

According to court documents, between 2021 and 2024, Barrera Orantes is alleged to have accepted cash from drug proceeds and wired the funds through La Popular stores in Oregon and Washington. In return, Barrera Orantes charged a ten percent commission. Barrera Orantes is further alleged to have worked with others to divide large sums of money into several smaller transactions and used fictitious sender information to conceal her money laundering activities. Financial records indicate that Barrera Orantes transferred more than $89 million through her La Popular stores, including $18.5 million to regions in Mexico and Honduras that are associated with drug trafficking organizations.

“This investigation has revealed the pivotal role that money service businesses play in laundering the enormous proceeds of trafficking illegal drugs in our community,” said Katie de Villiers, Chief of the Asset Recovery and Money Laundering Division for the District of Oregon. “The amount of dirty money allegedly flowing through these small businesses and back to Mexico and Honduras is truly staggering. We intend to hold accountable the operators of these businesses who profit by assisting drug trafficking organizations in laundering their proceeds.”

“Because crime is such a coordinated effort, it is critical that we respond in kind,” said Special Agent in Charge Adam Jobes, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Seattle Field Office. “IRS-CI specializes in fighting illicit financial activity, and we are proud to partner closely with our law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe.”

“Money laundering allows drug traffickers to thrive in the shadows, and by severing their cash flow we are striking at the very thing that incentivizes their illicit pursuits,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Murphy. “By stopping those that try to conceal criminal profits, communities are protected from the violence, addiction, and instability caused by the drug trade.”

“The defendant in this case is suspected of providing financial support to overseas drug organizations under the guise of business transactions,” said FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson. “These are serious allegations that cause significant harm to our communities. We will never tolerate individuals who profit from activities that support a drug epidemic that harms our citizens.”

On April 16, 2025, investigators executed federal search warrants at Barrera Orantes’ residence and three La Popular stores located in Beaverton, Hillsboro, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington. Barrera Orantes was arrested in Beaverton without incident.

Barrera Orantes made her first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. She was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.

If convicted, Barrera Orantes faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, five years’ supervised release, and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the money laundered.

This case is being investigated by the IRS-CI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), FBI, and the Westside Interagency Narcotics team. It is being prosecuted by Christopher L. Cardani and Julia Jarrett, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.

The Westside Interagency Narcotics team is a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and is composed of members from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Beaverton Police Department, Hillsboro Police Department, FBI, HSI, and the Oregon National Guard. The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives.

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).

The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.

Since 2018, IRS-CI has maintained a Third Party Money Laundering (3PML) Project. This project focuses on Complicit Money Service Businesses (MSB) working for Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations. The purpose of this project is to develop high-impact 3PML cases for IRS-CI and other agencies across the United States, by utilizing data analytics.

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                                                                                                4/17/25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Portland, OR- The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office is proud to announce the official launch of the Multnomah County Veterans Treatment Court (VTC), a specialized court designed to support justice-involved veterans through treatment, accountability, and community support.

Following two years of collaboration and planning, the VTC is now fully operational and actively accepting participants.

Air Force veteran Judge Christopher Ramras will preside over the court. Representing the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office is Deputy District Attorney Chris Huettemeyer, a 20-year U.S. Army veteran. Defense representation will be provided by attorneys from Metropolitan Public Defenders and Multnomah Defenders, Inc., both of whom have also shown strong support for the initiative.

Staffed by a team with deep ties to military service, the VTC is built on the belief that honoring the sacrifices of our veterans means ensuring they receive the resources and care they need. Court sessions will be held every other Thursday at 1:30 PM.

The Veterans Treatment Court is grounded in the philosophy that public safety is best served by addressing the root causes of criminal behavior among qualifying veterans—particularly untreated trauma, substance use disorders, and mental health challenges. By offering treatment-focused supervision rather than incarceration, the VTC aims to break the cycle of reoffending and create lasting change.

“The goal is to help veterans change the behaviors that led to their involvement in the justice system,” said DDA Chris Huettemeyer. “This program gives them the structure and support they need to address mental health and substance use issues, while holding them accountable in a meaningful way. It’s a way of turning ‘thank you for your service’ into real action.”

Huettemeyer added:

“I’m very excited to be part of this Veterans Treatment Court. I did 20 years in the Army as a helicopter pilot and deployed four times. This program honors our victims, improves public safety, and gives our veterans a chance to address the issues that brought them here. The collaborative nature of this court—between prosecutors, defense attorneys, the judge, and service providers—is what will make it successful.”

Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez echoed that sentiment:

“In my 25 years as a prosecutor, I’ve seen many cases involving veterans where I knew services were out there—I just wished we had a way to connect them. This court makes that connection. It’s about more than accountability; it’s about building a pathway to healing, both for the individual and for our community.”

The Multnomah County Veterans Treatment Court stands as a commitment to those who served, and a recognition that supporting their successful reintegration makes all of us safer and stronger.

                                       #####MCDA######

PORTLAND, Ore.— Juan Jose Varela-Espinoza, 31, a Honduran national residing in Portland, was sentenced Wednesday to 120 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release for possessing nearly 16 pounds of powdered fentanyl, 57,700 fentanyl pills, and a stolen firearm.

According to court documents, in July 2023, the Multnomah County Dangerous Drug Team (DDT) learned that Varela-Espinoza was distributing thousands of fentanyl pills in Portland.

On July 25, 2023, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) requested assistance from Multnomah County DDT with locating and arresting Varela-Espinoza on an outstanding felony warrant for distributing dangerous drugs in Colorado. The same day, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant on Varela-Espinoza’s residence and vehicles. Investigators arrested Varela-Espinoza and seized nearly 16 pounds of powdered fentanyl, 57,700 fentanyl pills, $5,042 in cash, a stolen firearm, ammunition, and two pill press machines.

On August 8, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a three-count indictment charging Varela-Espinoza with conspiracy to possess and possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

On December 10, 2024, Varela-Espinoza pleaded guilty to possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute.

This case was investigated by the Multnomah County DDT and was prosecuted by Kemp L. Strickland, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

The Multnomah County DDT is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and is composed of members from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Multnomah County Parole and Probation, Gresham Police Department, the FBI and USMS.

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

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DALLAS, Oregon (April 17, 2025)

On April 7, 2025, the Dallas Police Department responded of a report of a male driver traveling at a high rate of speed in the area of SW Church Street. The vehicle was located and stopped by officers, and the driver initially claimed to be out of gas. The reporting party noted that the male exhibited signs of alcohol impairment.

A DUII (Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants) investigation was initiated based on signs of intoxication of the driver. During the search, officers located a loaded .45 caliber handgun, controlled substances, and alcohol.

The driver, identified as Jesse Shelton of Mapleton, Oregon, was found to have multiple prior felony convictions. He was arrested and lodged at the Polk County Jail on the following charges:

• DUII
• Felon in Possession of a Firearm
• Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon
• Reckless Driving
• Reckless Endangering (x2)
• Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor (x2)
• Failure to Carry or Present a Driver’s License

Two juvenile females, who were not related to Shelton, were also in the vehicle at the time of the stop. The two juveniles were safely returned to their families with the assistance of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

This incident underscores the critical role DUII enforcement plays in uncovering broader criminal activity. It also highlights the strong working relationships between Dallas Police and Polk County Sheriffs.

The Dallas Police Department remains committed to proactive enforcement efforts that protect the safety and well-being of our community and beyond.

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MEDFORD, Ore.—A Romanian national residing in Garden Grove, California, was sentenced to federal prison today for stealing more than $176,000 by installing Automated Teller Machine (ATM) skimming devices throughout Oregon and Maine.

Florin George Ionita, 45, was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $176,922 in restitution to his victims.

According to court documents, between June and August 2023, Ionita installed skimming devices on ATMs and used the devices to steal account information and Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) from customers who conducted transactions at the ATMs. Ionita used the stolen information to produce counterfeit debit cards and withdraw cash from victims’ accounts. Over the course of his scheme, Ionita accessed hundreds of bank accounts and stole more than $176,000 from victims in Oregon and Maine.  

On August 22, 2023, the Medford Police Department (MPD) received a report of a masked individual installing a skimming device. Investigators received photos of the man and distributed a law enforcement bulletin to identify the unknown individual. The following day, investigators from Kennebunk Police Department in Kennebunk, Maine, identified Ionita and informed MPD investigators of their investigation of Ionita installing skimming devices in Maine. Investigators learned that due to his immigration status, Ionita was required to wear a Global Positioning System (GPS) monitor which confirmed his location at several banks where the ATM skimming devices were installed.

On November 2, 2023, a federal grand jury in Medford returned a nine-count indictment charging Ionita with bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

On March 20, 2024, a federal grand jury in the District of Maine returned a fifteen-count indictment charging Ionita with bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

On December 6, 2024, Ionita pleaded guilty to one count each of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft for his crimes in Oregon, and one count each of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft for his crimes in Maine.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Secret Service New England Cyber Fraud Task Force, the Medford Police Department Criminal Investigative Division, the Kennebunk Police Department, and the Freeport Police Department. It is being prosecuted by John C. Brassell, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine.

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Portland, OR - In response to recent remarks by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., local autism advocates are pushing back against misinformation.

“Autism is a neurotype, not a disease to be cured and rigorous research has confirmed repeatedly that it is not caused by vaccines. Identification of autistic people has improved since the 1960s, to finally include girls, BIPOC people, and adults. What has been confirmed by families is that they need more support to help their loved ones have a rich life - not a cure,” said Mara McLoughlin, Founder of IRL Social Skills, which provides proven coaching that builds confidence, independence, and real-world social success for autistic and neurodivergent teens, adults, and their families.

In his remarks, Secretary Kennedy said "Autism destroys families, and more importantly, it destroys our greatest resource, which is our children. These are children who should not be suffering like this," he said. “These are kids who will never pay taxes. They'll never hold a job. They'll never play baseball. They'll never write a poem. They'll never go out on a date. Many of them will never use a toilet unassisted." 

These remarks are demonstratively false, and the families that McLoughlin works with at IRL Social Skills prove it. Many of the autistic individuals and their families are able to lead full lives. 

The spread of this type of misinformation and focus on a “cure” reinforces negative stereotypes instead of placing the focus and resources on support for autistic individuals and their families.

About IRL Social Skills: IRL Social Skills is a supportive community where autistic and other neurodivergent teens, young adults, and adults can learn, practice, and refine social skills. Each program has no more than 12 participants and their parents/caregivers. While teens/young adults are receiving instruction and practicing their new skills with peers and IRL coaches, parents join a breakout room to receive research-backed guidance to support their loved ones across social settings.

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Expert Warns Interstate Bridge Replacement Tolls Could Reach $20

Neighbors for a Better Crossing is advocating for a Cost-Effective Redesign

[Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA] Bob Ortblad, MSCE, MBA, a civil engineering and business expert, has raised concerns about the cost for tolls on the Interstate Bridge.  The Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) program’s 2023 Financial Plan and analysis suggested toll could range from $1.50 to $3.55 per crossing, depending on funding scenarios and project costs.  Ortblad argues that this estimate significantly understates the potential toll costs, which could climb to as high as $20 per crossing due to escalating project expenses and funding shortfalls. Letter: ‘The IBR needs a more cost-effective design’

“The Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) program’s financial projections are overly optimistic and fail to account for a looming $1 billion shortfall,” said Ortblad. “With costs likely to hit $9.4 billion by 2025 and limited state and federal funding, tolls could soar to an unsustainable $20 per crossing, placing a heavy burden on commuters.”

The IBR’s 2023 Financial Plan estimates $6.5 billion in available funds against a projected $7.5 billion in costs, leaving a $1 billion deficit. Ortblad notes that a hoped-for $1 billion Federal Transit Administration grant is unlikely due to low ridership projections, impractical station designs, and freeway-adjacent park-and-ride facilities that encourage urban sprawl. To bridge the gap, the Washington Legislature has proposed $2.5 billion in toll bonds—a $1.3 billion increase over the IBR’s original plan.

Compounding the issue, the IBR’s last cost estimate from 2022 is outdated, with a new estimate due in July 2025. Ortblad predicts that recent tariffs and cost escalations will inflate the project’s price tag by at least 25%, pushing total costs to approximately $9.4 billion. With both Washington and Oregon facing transportation budget constraints and little prospect of additional federal support, tolls may need to cover up to $5 billion of the project’s cost.

Ortblad advocates for a more affordable and sustainable approach. “The IBR’s current plan to widen five miles of freeway, reconstruct five interchanges, and build oversized bridge approaches is unnecessarily expensive,” he said. “A smarter solution is to preserve the existing six-lane bridges and construct a four- or six-lane immersed tunnel. This would cut costs significantly while delivering environmental and safety benefits.”

Ortblad urges policymakers to rethink the IBR’s design to protect commuters from exorbitant tolls and ensure a financially viable project. “We need a plan that balances fiscal responsibility with the region’s long-term needs,” he concluded.

About Bob Ortblad: Bob Ortblad, MSCE, MBA, retired P.E., CPA with extensive experience analyzing infrastructure projects. His insights focus on cost-effective and sustainable solutions for transportation challenges. Follow on X: @BOrtblad

About Neighbors for a Better Crossing: a grassroots coalition of concerned residents and businesses from Oregon and Washington, united in advocating for an Immersed Tube Tunnel—an innovative solution that will save billions in taxpayer dollars, eliminate the need for tolls, safeguard the Columbia River’s delicate ecosystem and marine life, and preserve the historic I-5 Bridge as a car-free gateway for tourism, pedestrians and cyclists between Oregon and Washington. Follow on X: @N4BetterXing

Background information:

Drilling Cost Overruns: A Looming Financial Disaster

The IBR’s proposed 100+ drill shafts for bridge pilings present a severe cost risk. The Abernethy Bridge project on I-205, which required only 12 drill shafts, has already caused multi-year delays and cost overruns soaring from $248 million to nearly $1 billion. This was due to encountering difficult bedrock and large boulders—the same geological conditions identified in the Columbia River Crossing’s (CRC) 2013 test drilling under the Interstate Bridge.  

Each drill shaft costs between $2.5 million and $3 million and takes approximately one month to complete, adding at least $300 million to the IBR’s estimated $6–$7.5 billion budget. With delays and additional challenges, total costs could exceed $9 billion. Oregon and Washington taxpayers will each bear at least $2 billion in bond debt—before inevitable cost increases drive tolls and debt even higher. Shockingly, this critical drill shaft issue was omitted from the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) despite IBR officials being aware of it since May 2024. Letter: IBR’s billion-dollar risk, another Abernethy Bridge financial disaster?

Tolls Will Harm Businesses & Communities

Tolls on I-5, set to begin in early 2026, will cost the average commuter approximately $2,350 per year, placing an undue financial burden on residents, businesses, and commercial transportation. These costs will be passed down to consumers, increasing prices across both states. Furthermore, toll avoidance will push more drivers to I-205, worsening congestion and harming businesses along the I-5 corridor from Tualatin to Salmon Creek.

Community and business groups—including the Hayden Island Neighborhood Network, the Hayden Island Community Safety Initiative, the Just Crossing Alliance & Endorsing Partners, and our own Neighbors For A Better Crossing—have major concerns with a toll on I-5. Efforts to block or regulate tolling are already underway:

• Oregon: The Vote Before Tolls Initiative seeks to give Oregonians the right to vote on toll implementation before it takes effect.
• Washington: Representative John Ley has introduced HB 1559: No Tolls on the Interstate Bridge to prohibit tolling on this vital transportation route.

Currently, there are no tolls on I-5 between Mexico and Canada. Implementing them here would create a financial hardship for residents and businesses, with no real congestion relief in return.

The Mega Bridge: High Cost, Minimal Benefit

For a potential $9 billion price tag, the proposed bridge provides only one additional lane per direction—offering little relief for congestion. Additionally, its steep bike and pedestrian ramps, transit stations 30 feet above Hayden Island and 100 feet above Vancouver, and reliance on elevators vulnerable to outages make it far from user-friendly.

Worse, the new bridge’s vessel clearance will be reduced from 178 feet to 116 feet, restricting commercial river traffic that supports businesses upstream (see the attached 2023 U.S. Coast Guard rejection letter and their recommendation for a tunnel alternative).

A Smarter Solution: The Immersed Tube Tunnel (ITT)

Instead of an overpriced mega bridge, Oregon and Washington should pursue an Immersed Tube Tunnel (ITT)—a proven alternative used worldwide, including the $3 billion Fraser River Tunnel project underway in Vancouver, BC.

An Immersed Tube Tunnel offers numerous advantages:

✔ More cost-effective – Avoids drill shaft cost overruns and saves billions.

✔ Potential for toll-free travel – Cost savings could eliminate the need for tolls.

✔ Earthquake-resilient – Far safer than a tall bridge in the event of a Cascadia Seduction Zone earthquake (37% probability of a 7.1+ magnitude quake within 50 years).

✔ Easily expandable – Unlike a bridge, additional tunnel tubes can be added to accommodate future traffic growth.

✔ Environmentally friendly – No in-river pilings, and hazardous waste from demolition, minimizing harm to fish habitats.

✔ Faster construction – ITTs are prefabricated off-site, floated into position, and installed quickly—cutting build time in half compared to a bridge.

✔ Preserves the Historic I-5 Bridge – The existing bridge, recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, has over 70 years of remaining service life. It can be repurposed as a pedestrian, bike, and transit corridor, generating revenue through public events and tourism rather than being demolished.

Call to Action: Demand an Independent Tunnel Review

The IBR project has remained biased in favor of a bridge, despite its own 2020 engineering study confirming an Immersed Tube Tunnel is a viable alternative. With Oregon and Washington financial resources already strained and the uncertainty of Federal DOT funding under the Trump Administration, has the IBR already put its entire project at risk?  Given the immense financial, environmental, and transportation benefits, we are urging legislators to convene an independent commission to evaluate the ITT alternative before locking taxpayers into a $9 billion+ financial disaster. Our organization is sponsoring public meetings to hear from tunnel experts. It's time to get the facts and cost estimates for an immersed tube tunnel!

The destruction of our historic I-5 Bridge and the construction of an unsightly, over-budget mega bridge is not the legacy Oregon and Washington should leave behind. By preserving our existing bridge and embracing smarter solutions, we can create a landmark—not a landfill.

Get your green thumbs ready, Battle Ground Public Schools’ annual plant and greenhouse sales kick off starting Saturday, April 26. A variety of annual and perennial bedding and flowering plants will be available, along with vegetable starts and hanging baskets. All items are grown by district students and staff.

All sales will be drop-in, with no prior registration required. The bare root trees, shrubs and perennial sale on the CASEE campus will have hours set aside for NatureScaping Northwest members. Visit their website for details.

Money raised from these sales supports the district's horticulture and FFA programs and welding teams. Students and staff from Battle Ground High School, Prairie High School and the FFA program grow tens of thousands of plants each year. Some of these plants are used in landscaping projects on school campuses, while the rest are sold at annual public sales.

CENTER FOR AGRICULTURE, SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Saturday, April 26:

• 9-10 a.m. (members only with sign-up)

• 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Open to the public (no appointment necessary)

Sunday, April 27:

• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Open to the public (no appointment necessary)

CASEE is located at 11104 N.E. 149th Street in Brush Prairie.

Payment options: Cash, checks and credit/debit cards accepted. Cash payments must be exact change.

Held in conjunction with NatureScaping of SW Washington's Bare Root trees, shrubs and perennials sale, CASEE will have northwest native flowers, ground covers, shrubs and trees available. CASEE prices are $5, $7, $10 and $15.

BATTLE GROUND HIGH SCHOOL

• Saturday, May 3, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The BGHS greenhouses are located at 300 W Main St., Battle Ground.
Payment options: Cash, check and debit/credit cards accepted.

Battle Ground High School’s agriculture department has a large selection of hanging baskets in various sizes available for sale this year. They will also have gift arrangements available for Mother’s Day. Other plants available will include a wide assortment of geraniums, succulents, perennials, vegetable starts, herbs, Pacific Northwest native plants, flowering patio pots and assorted houseplants

PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL

• Friday, May 2 - 3-6 p.m.

• Saturday, May 3 - 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Mon.-Tues., May 5-6 - 3-6 p.m.

The PHS greenhouse is located in the southwest corner of the campus at 11311 NE 119th St. in Vancouver. Signs will be out to help direct traffic.
Payment options: Cash (exact change only), check and debit/credit cards accepted

The Prairie greenhouse has been busy growing hanging baskets, table planters, geraniums, fuchsias, succulents, perennial plants, ornamental grasses, annual bedding plants and vegetables.

Vancouver, Wash. – Every summer, drivers encounter work zones on state highways and local roads. Increasingly, driver behavior is making work zones more dangerous for everyone. The top three causes of work zone collisions in 2024 were following too closely, excessive speed, and inattention or distracted driving.

On April 17, Clark County Public Works, Washington State Department of Transportation, Vancouver Public Works, Portland Bureau of Transportation, Washington State Patrol and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office came together ahead of National Work Zone Awareness Week to urge the community to drive safely through work zones. After the speakers shared their remarks, reporters, photographers and videographers were invited to a work zone on Northeast Padden Parkway to experience firsthand what it’s like to work near high-speed traffic.

“In 2024, Washington state saw a 17% increase of crashes in work zones across the state, and a 36% increase in just the serious injury crash category,” said WSDOT Southwest Region Administrator Carley Francis. “Serious injury crashes mean that people and their families have been severely impacted, maybe for the rest of their lives. And it was all preventable. Please slow down and help us make sure all people traveling on or repairing our roadways get home safely.”

“If you read a text while driving at just 35 mph for even six seconds, you'll travel the length of a football field without your eyes on the road,” said County Engineer Jeremy Provenzola. “A lot can happen in six seconds - vehicles pulling out of driveways, traffic stopping suddenly for something in the road, or a child running out into the road after a ball. You may pass a worker doing their job in the roadway, meaning drifting even inches out of your lane could have disastrous consequences. One text isn't worth the risk. As serious injury and fatal collisions increase across the state, including right here in Clark County, it is more important than ever that you check your speed and keep your eyes on the road whenever you get behind the wheel. When you're driving, you hold more than just the wheel in your hands. You hold your life and the lives of others. You're controlling thousands of pounds of metal traveling at speeds that can seriously injure or kill.”

Clark County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit Detective Brian Durbin and Clark County Highway Maintenance Crew Chief Ben Kemp shared personal stories about their vehicles or coworkers being struck in work zones by distracted or reckless drivers.

“Our crews are out filling potholes, repairing pavement, cleaning storm basins, and painting lanes. When you see a work zone pop-up on your street, pay attention to the signs, follow the instructions of the flaggers, slow down and give room to the workers,” said Vancouver Public Works Transportation Division Manager Ryan Lopossa.

At Thursday’s event, WSDOT also spoke about the new Work Zone Speed Camera Program, which will provide the Washington State Patrol with images and data about vehicles speeding in work zones. The law enforcement agency will send a notice of infraction to the driver if it determines that a speed violation has been committed. Six cameras will be activated across the state by this summer. The trailer-mounted cameras will rotate through construction, maintenance and emergency projects throughout the state where speeding is a problem.

While unsafe driving in work zones can earn drivers monetary fines, the consequences can be much more severe. Drivers need to remember that their choices behind the wheel mean the difference between life and death, not only for workers but also for themselves. When crews work on the roads, lives are on the line.

The partners are asking the community and press to help share this critical safety message. Any organization or outlet that would like to share information is encouraged to contact Clark County Public Works communications manager Kaley McLachlan-Burton, at urton@clark.wa.gov">kaley.mclachlan-burton@clark.wa.gov or 564.397.4398, for additional images, video clips and other multimedia.

Clark County Public Works and WSDOT host webpages with additional information about driving safely in work zones, at wsdot.wa.gov/about/seasonal-events-programs/give-em-brake and clark.wa.gov/public-works/drive-safely-work-zones.

For information about road and park projects, closures, opportunities for community input, and more, residents can follow Public Works on X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook and Instagram and view information on Nextdoor.

Go to clark.wa.gov/public-works/news to read this information in another language. Click the button in the top right of the page that says “Change language” next to a globe icon and choose your preferred language.

Vaya a clark.wa.gov/public-works/news para leer esta información en español. Haga clic en el botón en la parte superior a la derecha de la página que dice "Change language " junto al icono de globo terráqueo y elija su idioma preferido.

Чтобы прочитать эту информацию на русском языке, зайдите на сайт clark.wa.gov/public-works/news. Нажмите на кнопку Change language (“Изменить язык”) в правом верхнем углу страницы рядом с символом земного шара и выберите свой язык.

Перейдіть на сторінку clark.wa.gov/public-works/news, щоб прочитати цю інформацію українською. Натисніть кнопку Change language (Змінити мову) зі значком глобуса у верхньому правому куті сторінки та виберіть потрібну мову.

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

Nevin Cuevas Morales, 23, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release, and Michael Rey Acuna, 23, was sentenced to 64 months in federal prison and four years’ supervised release. The sum of restitution they each must pay to victims will be determined at a later date.

Juan Carlos Conchas, 23, pleaded guilty to conspiring to interfere with commerce by robbery and conspiring to possess marijuana with the intent to distribute. Conchas faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, a $5,000,000 fine and four years of supervised release. He will be sentenced on July 17, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Mustafa T. Kasubhai.

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

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

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

On October 6, 2022, Morales and Acuna were located and arrested in San Antonio. One week later, on October 13, 2022, Conchas was also arrested in San Antonio.

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

On February 2, 2024, Morales pleaded guilty to conspiring to interfere with commerce by robbery and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

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

In addition, three co-conspirators have pleaded guilty to felony charges stemming from their roles in the conspiracy. Two have been sentenced to federal prison and the third is awaiting sentencing.

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

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April 17, 2025 

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

OHA to issue algae warnings when dog deaths reported  

New notifications will indicate possible cyanobacteria blooms 

PORTLAND, Ore.— As summer approaches, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reminds people heading outdoors to enjoy the state’s lakes, rivers and reservoirs to be on the look-out for potentially toxic cyanobacteria blooms.  

To help, OHA is adding a tool reporting the possible presence of cyanobacteria in freshwater lakes and rivers statewide. Starting immediately, OHA will issue pre-emptive public warnings following reports of dog illnesses or deaths possibly resulting from cyanotoxin exposure.  

“Each year, we receive reports about dog illnesses or deaths linked to a water body that may be affected by cyanobacteria, but the deaths are often unexplained, or the cause of the death isn’t immediately known,” said Linda Novitski, Ph.D., a recreational waters specialist in OHA’s Environmental Public Health Section.  

“These pre-emptive warnings will help us immediately takes steps to inform the public about the possible presence of cyanobacteria in a water body,” she said.

Toxin testing is only possible for certain types of cyanobacteria. When testing is done, results are typically available within two weeks.

Cyanobacteria are beneficial bacteria found in all fresh water worldwide. The bacteria can multiply into blooms in any water body under the right conditions—warm weather, sunlight, water temperature, nutrients and water chemistry.  

Many blooms are harmless, but some can produce cyanotoxins that make people and animals sick. Exposure to cyanotoxins occurs when water or algae mat material is swallowed while swimming, or when people inhale water droplets during high-speed activities such as water-skiing or wakeboarding. Symptoms of exposure to cyanotoxins include:  

• Diarrhea
• Cramps
• Vomiting
• Numbness
• Dizziness and fainting

Although cyanotoxins are not known to be absorbed through the skin, people with sensitive skin can develop a red, raised rash when wading, playing or swimming in or around a bloom.  

Some species of cyanobacteria live in the water or float on the top of the water surface. Other cyanobacteria, called cyanoHAB mats, anchor themselves to the bottom of a water body, live in the sediment, or grow on rocks or aquatic plants can release toxins into clear water. These bloom mats contain toxins that, if ingested, can be fatal to dogs and can make people sick.  

Dogs can get extremely ill, and even die, within minutes to hours of exposure to cyanotoxins by drinking the water. Problem signs include licking their fur or eating the toxins from floating mats or dried crust along the shore.  

If, after swimming in a lake or stream, a dog exhibits symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, breathing problems, difficulty walking or standing, or loss of appetite, owners should get their pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible. 

“Enjoying lakes and rivers is such an important part of the Oregon experience,” said Novitski. “To have fun and stay safe this season, protect small children and dogs by avoiding anything you think might be a cyanobacteria harmful algae bloom in the water or in a mat attached to the bottom of the lake or river.” 

Cyanotoxins can still exist in clear water. When a bloom dies, toxins it released may reach into clear water around the bloom. Blooms can be pushed into other areas, leaving toxins behind. 

OHA advises recreational visitors to always be alert to signs of cyanobacteria blooms in the water and in mats attached to the ground or rocks. This is because blooms can develop and disappear on any water body at any time when bloom conditions are favorable.  

Only a fraction of water bodies in Oregon are monitored for blooms and toxins, so it’s important for people to become familiar with signs of a bloom, exposures and symptoms by visiting OHA’s Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms website at http://www.healthoregon.org/hab. 

An example of a cyanoHAB mat.

Mats like these can detach from rocks and float to the surface.

When recreating, people—especially small children—and pets should avoid areas where the water is foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green or blue-green, or if thick green or brownish-red mats are visible, or bright green clumps are suspended in the water.  

If those signs are noticeable, people are encouraged to avoid activities that cause you to swallow water or inhale droplets, such as swimming or high-speed water activities, and keep pets out of the area.

Community members looking for visual examples can find pictures of algae blooms in the Algae Bloom Photo Gallery or watch an explainer video on blooms at OHA’s official YouTube channel.

Those who are unsure should follow OHA’s guidance of “When in doubt, stay out.” 

OHA YouTube video, “When in Doubt, Stay Out: Cyanobacteria Blooms.”

Open recreational areas where blooms are identified can still be enjoyed for activities such as camping, hiking, biking, picnicking and bird watching.  

By being aware of signs of a bloom and taking appropriate precautions to reduce or eliminate exposure, local communities can enjoy water activities such as canoeing, boating and fishing, as long as boat speeds do not create excessive water spray, and fish are cleaned appropriately. 

For health information or to report an illness, contact OHA at 971-673-0440, or visit OHA’s Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms website.  

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Corrects Date

Media Hotline: 503-813-6018

Pacific Power to host customer forum on wildfire prevention

Hood River, OR (April 17, 2025) – Pacific Power will host a public forum in Hood River on Thursday, April17 to discuss our efforts to protect customers and communities against the threat of wildfire. During this conversation, company representatives will detail the important steps we take during wildfire season to keep customers and communities safe. This forum is an opportunity to learn about our comprehensive wildfire mitigation plan in Oregon.

Topics of conversation: 

• Our ongoing work to strengthen our system.
• Our advanced weather monitoring capabilities.
• Our enhanced vegetation management practices.
• Our enhanced safety settings for wildfire season.
• Our emergency de-energization procedures during active wildfires.
• How Public Safety Power Shutoffs work – an important tool when wildfire risk makes it necessary to turn off power to ensure customer and community safety.

Event details:

    Thursday, April 17 – 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

    Hood River Inn Best Western   

    1108 East Marina Way

    Hood River, OR 97031

Livestream:

Webinar Registration - Zoom

ASL and Spanish translation services will be available for this event.

Protecting our customers and communities while providing safe, reliable power is our highest priority. If you have any questions or would like to request a reasonable accommodation to attend this event, please contact us at 1-888-221-7070.

About Pacific Power 

Pacific Power provides safe and reliable electric service to 800,000 customers in Oregon, Washington and California. The company supplies customers with electricity from a diverse portfolio of generating plants including hydroelectric, thermal, wind, geothermal and solar resources. Pacific Power is part of PacifiCorp, one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States, with 2 million customers in six western states. For more information, visit PacificPower.net. 

2025 Board on Public Safety Standards & Training

 and Policy Committee

Open Vacancy – Recruitments

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

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

• One member who is a sheriff recommended to the Governor by the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association
• One person representing non-management law enforcement 
• Representative of the collective bargaining unit that represents the largest number of individual workers in the DOC
• Public Member

Policy Committees: All Policy Committee applications must be submitted by June 20, 2025.

Private Security/Investigator Policy Committee:

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

Telecommunications Policy Committee:

• One person representing recommended by and representing the Oregon State Police

Private Investigator Subcommittee:

• Currently licensed private investigator

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

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

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

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

Thank you,

DPSST Board & Committees Staff

Oregon Parks Forever is holding a series of special screenings of the award-winning documentary Out There: A National Parks Story during the first week of June.  The film maker will attend each screening and hold a Q&A after each screening. This film is a poignant reminder of why our National Parks are vital, especially given their current pressures.

Director & Cinematographer Brendan Hall and a childhood friend will take you on a breathtaking 10,000-mile journey through the heart of 15 of America’s national parks, capturing the landscapes, the people, and the powerful stories that define these treasured places.

What began as a quest to capture awe-inspiring landscapes evolves into a heartfelt exploration of the humans within them.

This visually stunning film is more than just a scenic road trip—it's a profound exploration of connection, conservation, and the human spirit. From park rangers and conservationists to adventurers and dreamers, experience firsthand how these spaces inspire, heal, and transform lives.

Out There connects audiences to all public lands, which in turn connects people to organizations like Oregon Parks Forever who work to preserve the natural world and enhance and preserve the experience of visiting them.

Screening Schedule:

? Monday, June 2 – Salem (Kroc Center) @ 6:30 PM
? Tuesday, June 3 – Eugene (Redwood Auditorium, UO) @ 6:30 PM
? Wednesday, June 4 – Bend (Tower Theater) @ 6:30 PM
? Thursday, June 5 – Portland (OMSI) @ 6:30 PM
? Friday, June 6 – Corvallis (Corvallis Museum) @ 6:30 PM
? Sunday, June 8 – Ashland (Southern Oregon University) @ 6:30 PM

✨ General Admission: $15 | Seniors (65+): $10

Tickets are available now and can be reserved at www.orparksforever.org

ABOUT THE FILMMAKER: Brendan Hall, Director, Cinematographer and Editor

Brendan Hall is a filmmaker sharing stories of our connection with the natural world. His work has brought audiences to the U.S. national parks, far corners of the earth, and beneath the sea. In his work, he is committed to sharing awe and empathy on our planet in hopes that we may be inspired to preserve it for future generations.

Brendan has led projects for leading global brands and non-profits including National Geographic, Adobe, and The Nature Conservancy. He has also contributed cinematography to feature-length documentaries including PBS’s Bill Nye: Science Guy and Apple TV’s Red Heaven. As a speaker, he has been featured on platforms including the TODAY Show, Global Exploration Summit, and Texas Eclipse. One of his most recent projects brought him to Antarctica, filming with Neil deGrasse Tyson and William Shatner.

In 2025, Brendan was named as part of the prestigious Explorers Club’s EC50, a renowned class of 50 individuals that “the world needs to know about.” 

Between film projects, he is a night sky photographer, scuba diver, and amateur juggler.

About Oregon Parks Forever (www.orparksforever.org)

Oregon Parks Forever is a 30-year old statewide nonprofit that seeks to enhance the expierience and accessibility of Oregon's Parks & Forests.

VANCOUVER, WASH. — Washington State University Vancouver will present its 2025 awards for equity, research, student achievement and teaching at this year’s Commencement ceremony on May 3. Each of the following will receive a Chancellor’s Medallion:

Chancellor’s Award for Advancing Equity—Praveen Sekhar, associate professor, School of Engineering and Computer Science

Chancellor’s Award for Research Excellence—Kristin Lesseig, associate professor and academic director, College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences

Chancellor’s Award for Student Achievement—Faith Yang, B.A., Education

Students’ Award for Teaching Excellence—Praveen Sekhar, associate professor, School of Engineering and Computer Science

Chancellor’s Award for Advancing Equity

This annual award honors a faculty or staff member for excellence in contributing to a community of equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging at WSU Vancouver.

Praveen Sekhar has devoted his career and his life to ensuring that equity and diversity are recognized, celebrated and advanced. That commitment pervades everything he does as teacher, scholar, research scientist, board and committee member and mentor. Unfailingly respectful and kind, he is also persuasive and influential.

Sekhar embeds community engagement into his engineering courses, identifying organizations to partner with to give his students hands-on experience with community-driven projects and goals that match the course objectives. In his research and academic writing, Sekhar collaborates with and mentors a wide variety of scholars. He stresses the importance of outreach to make sure more students can pursue STEM degrees and create a knowledgeable workforce that can replace our currently aging workforce. He is an executive board member of iUrbanTeen, a national organization that encourages underrepresented middle and high school students to pursue STEM careers. 

Sekhar has received three of WSU Vancouver’s highest honors: the Chancellor’s Award for Advancing Equity and the Students’ Award for Teaching Excellence this year and the Chancellor’s Award for Research Excellence in 2024.

Chancellor’s Award for Research Excellence

Each year, WSU Vancouver gives its highest research honor to recognize a faculty member’s exemplary research quality and quantity as well as positive influence on the broader community.

Kristin Lesseig has earned a national reputation in such areas as mathematical argumentation, teacher learning and access. She has published more than 30 articles in nationally and internationally recognized journals and has made presentations at nearly 50 national and international conferences, often to capacity audiences.

A key area of Lesseig’s research involves analysis of student reasoning and sense-making through argumentation practices. Her findings have a profound influence on the teaching of mathematics. Her goal, broadly, is to make math more approachable and help students not to fear it but to become more confident in using math in their everyday lives. Another key research area aims to diversify and strengthen the mathematics teacher workforce to better meet the needs of today’s students—a great need in Washington state and elsewhere.

Lesseig’s scholarship reaches beyond her research activity. In mentoring other faculty and working with the community, she is generous with her time and knowledge.

Chancellor’s Award for Student Achievement

The student achievement award annually recognizes one student’s love of learning, persistence to overcome barriers in pursuit of academic goals, leadership potential and involvement in campus life.

To her teachers, Faith Yang is a model student, an active class participant who is always prepared with incisive questions. To her mentor at Woodburn Elementary School in Camas, Wash., where she did her student teaching, she is becoming a model teacher as well.

Yang grew up in Vancouver and enrolled at WSU Vancouver in 2022, after studying at Clark College and Whatcom Community College. She felt called to become a teacher and a desire to educate and empower future generations. “School was difficult for me,” Yang said, “but I always found joy at church when working with younger children and was always passionate about helping people succeed in a safe and fun environment.”

True to her calling, Yang displays a curiosity for learning and regularly visits her professors to ask critical questions. She has maintained high grades and is seen as a leader among her peers. In short, her teachers say, Yang is the kind of student who makes classes better.

Students’ Award for Teaching Excellence

Students honor a faculty member each year with the teaching excellence award. The award recognizes exceptional dedication to students and infectious enthusiasm for the subject matter.

To many people, electrical engineering might seem like a difficult subject to make exciting and fun, but not so for Praveen Sekhar, who loves his subject as well as his students. All aspects of Sekhar’s professional life—academic research, campus activities, business relationships, community connections, volunteerism—come together in the classroom. While his standards are high, students see him as human before professorial.

“Dr. Sekhar is empathetic and understands life issues and makes reasonable accommodations without being unfair to others,” a student wrote in nominating him. He pays special attention to make sure that no one falls behind in class.

Sekhar is strongly committed to students’ career readiness. In designing one course, he reached out to local industries to ask what topics and skills they look for when hiring. He asks students whom they’d like to hear from and brings in speakers from those companies. Students benefit not only from the knowledge imparted but also from the contacts they make in their chosen field.

Commencement Details

Commencement will be held at 1 p.m. May 3 at the Cascades Amphitheater located at 17200 NE Delfel Road, Ridgefield, WA 98642. The event is free and open to the public. No tickets are required. It will also be livestreamed on WSU Vancouver’s YouTube channel.

About WSU Vancouver

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. 

WSU Vancouver is located on the homelands of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and Peoples of the Lower Columbia Valley. We acknowledge their presence here. WSU Vancouver expresses its respect towards these original and current caretakers of the region. We pledge that these relationships will be built on mutual trust and respect.

# # #

The next regular public meeting of the FVRLibraries Board of Trustees will be held on Monday, April 21, 6:00 p.m. at Washougal Community Library. It will be a hybrid (in-person/online) meeting. 

You can view the agenda and meeting materials at: https://www.fvrl.org/board-trustees

Press Release   
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
April 17, 2025

LEMONADE DAY GREATER VANCOUVER OPENS REGISTRATION FOR YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS IN SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON

Free youth entrepreneurship program teaches essential business skills to kids ages 6-16.

VANCOUVER, Wash.  — Lemonade Day Greater Vancouver, an engaging and empowering youth entrepreneurship program, is thrilled to announce that registration is now open for aspiring young business owners ages 6-16. Hosted by the Greater Vancouver Chamber (GVC), this hands-on experience equips kids with the skills to start, own, and operate their own businesses — completely free of charge!

Since launching in 2021, this initiative has engaged more than 3,500 young entrepreneurs across Southwest Washington, teaching essential business and financial literacy skills while fostering creativity, leadership, and problem-solving. Through the My Lemonade Day app and workbooks, participants learn step-by-step how to launch a business, guided by mentors who help them set goals, manage finances, and bring their ideas to life.

At the end of the program, young CEOs will showcase their businesses on Lemonade Day 2025, set for Saturday, June 7, at the Junior Market, co-located with the Vancouver Farmers Market. To date, participants have collectively generated nearly $90,000 in sales, with profits reinvested into their education, savings, or donated to causes they care about.

Returning for the third consecutive year as the Main Squeeze & Presenting Sponsor, OnPoint Community Credit Union continues to champion the program’s mission of inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs.

“This group of young business owners showcases the creativity and innovation that can happen when a great idea is combined with the right financial education,” said Rob Stuart, CEO & president, OnPoint Community Credit Union. “We’re proud to sponsor Lemonade Day and witness the innovative projects and enthusiasm from these young entrepreneurs. We have no doubt they are the future leaders of our community.”

"Lemonade Day is about empowering kids to create something of their own, take ownership, and build confidence in their abilities. Every year, we see fresh ideas come to life, and it’s truly inspiring to watch these young entrepreneurs in action. Registrations are rolling in, but our goal is to once again register thousands of kids — each launching their own business and making an impact across Southwest Washington,” said Janet Kenefsky, chief operating officer for the Chamber and city director of Lemonade Day Greater Vancouver. 

Anyone can be involved in My Lemonade Day. These young entrepreneurs need mentors, investors, business partners, locations, volunteers, and customers. For more information about My Lemonade Day & Junior Market and sponsorship opportunities, please contact the Chamber at Chamber@VancouverUSA.com" rel="noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 167, 181); text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">YourChamber@VancouverUSA.com or go to VancouverUSA.com/LemonadeDay.

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My Lemonade Day Greater Vancouver is proud partners with: Main Squeeze Investor OnPoint Community Credit Union; Lemon Drop Investor, Blue Mountain Community Management; Marketing Competition Sponsor, Unitus Community Credit Union; Pitch Contest Sponsor, Palm Beach Tan; Pucker Pal Investor, The Columbian; Spoonful of Sugar Investors, Clear Choice Dental Implant Center, Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries, PeaceHealth, Port of Vancouver USA, Securus Systems, Share the Flame, Urban Air Adventure Park, US BANK, Vancouver Farmers Market, When the Shoe Fits, Wolff Wealth Advisors; Junior Market Stage Sponsor, Chick-Fil-A; Junior Market Business Results Contest Sponsor, Columbia Credit Union; Junior Market Bag Sponsors, Grassa and Perkins & Co; Junior Market Bag Provider, NOVOLEX; Junior Market Tent Sponsor, Waste Connections; Junior Market Pen Sponsor, Lifetime Exteriors; and Transportation Sponsor, ANC Movers.

About Lemonade Day Greater Vancouver 

Since its inception in 2021, Lemonade Day Greater Vancouver has been rooted in entrepreneurial spirit. Engaging over 3,500 young minds across Southwest Washington, kids ages 6-16 have been learning the essential ABCs of business skills, fueling their creativity, and fostering their understanding of entrepreneurship. We take pride in the fact that 35% of our participants hail from diverse backgrounds, reflecting our commitment to inclusivity and community empowerment. Our initiative has made a SPLASH, generating a whopping $90,000 in sales, directly benefiting charities, and lining the pockets of these budding CEOs! We are more than just a program - we are making a difference one junior-business at a time. For additional details, please visit https://www.vancouverusa.com/annual-events/lemonadeday/. 

About the Greater Vancouver Chamber 

SW Washington’s largest business organization, the Greater Vancouver Chamber (GVC), with nearly 1000 members, has been Moving Business Forward in southwest Washington for over 130 years through business advocacy, community building, education, and creating visibility for our members. The Chamber is a supportive alliance of diverse member businesses, individuals, and organizations, working together toward long-term business prosperity. The GVC is the heart of Clark County’s business community, advocating for sound, sensible and dynamic policies that ensure a vital economic climate and prosperity for all. For more information, please visit VancouverUSA.com. 

About OnPoint Community Credit Union 

OnPoint Community Credit Union is the largest credit union in Oregon, serving over 594,000 members and with assets of $9.7 billion. Founded in 1932, OnPoint Community Credit Union’s 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. OnPoint Community Credit Union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). More information is available at onpointcu.com or 503-228-7077 or 800-527-3932.

Media Assets
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13x6SPe8vKvjnbPcZEYhWb4SKEwgQU-RP?usp=sharing

Official Event Link
https://www.vancouverusa.com/annual-events/lemonade-day/

My Lemonade Day Participant App, iOs
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/my-lemonade-day/id1465714143

My Lemonade Day Mentors App, iOs
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lemonade-day-mentors/id1326900393

My Lemonade Day App, Android
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.lemonadeday.mylemonadeday&hl=en_US&gl=US

Lemonade Day Video | Presented by Main Squeeze OnPoint Community Credit Union
https://youtu.be/CPaUIF7Ub5A?si=YxmCwWqrq374laBP

Vancouver, Wash. – PeaceHealth and Lifepoint Rehabilitation, a business unit of Lifepoint Health, are excited to announce that they have received state regulatory approval of the Certificate of Need to construct a 67,000-square foot inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Vancouver.

The stand-alone building, which will feature 50 inpatient beds, will be located at 3400 Main Street, Vancouver, the site occupied by the now closed PeaceHealth Memorial Urgent Care. Demolition of the building at the site is expected this fall, with projected completion of the new facility mid-year 2027.

Upon completion of the new hospital, PeaceHealth Southwest will shift its 14 existing beds to the new stand-alone facility. This expansion will allow PeaceHealth and Lifepoint Rehabilitation to increase access to inpatient rehabilitation services in the region, addressing a significant community need.

“We are excited about moving this partnership forward,” says Cherelle Montanye, PeaceHealth Southwest Chief Hospital Executive. “Both PeaceHealth and Lifepoint Rehabilitation share a strong commitment of delivering high-quality care, and the construction of this hospital helps ensure we are meeting the needs of our community without them having to travel out of the area for care.”

This is the second joint venture partnership between PeaceHealth and Lifepoint Rehabilitation. Currently, construction is underway on a 42-bed acute inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Springfield, Oregon, set to open next year.

“Receiving regulatory approval for this project is further confirmation of the community need for increased access to specialized rehabilitation care,” said David Stark, chief operating officer, Lifepoint Rehabilitation. “This facility will enable us to care for more medically complex rehabilitation patients and serve patients in a facility wholly dedicated to their recovery, and we look forward to breaking ground on this transformative new chapter.”

The hospital, which will be majority owned by PeaceHealth through a joint venture with Lifepoint Rehabilitation, will provide intensive nursing, physical, occupational and speech pathology services for adults recovering from conditions such as stroke, neurological disease, brain or spinal cord injury, and other debilitating illnesses or injuries. Lifepoint Rehabilitation will manage day-to-day operations of the facility.

Upon completion, this new PeaceHealth facility will join Lifepoint Rehabilitation’s growing network of more than 45 inpatient rehabilitation facilities across the country.    

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 About PeaceHealth: PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, Wash., is a not-for-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. PeaceHealth has approximately 16,000 caregivers, a medical group practice with more than 1,100 providers and nine medical centers serving both urban and rural communities throughout the Northwest. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. The Sisters shared expertise and transferred wisdom from one medical center to another, always finding the best way to serve the unmet need for healthcare in their communities. Today, PeaceHealth is the legacy of the founding Sisters and continues with a spirit of respect, stewardship, collaboration and social justice in fulfilling its Mission. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.

About Lifepoint Rehabilitation: With more than 45 freestanding inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs), Lifepoint Rehabilitation is a partner of choice for many major hospital systems in the creation of joint venture operations that are industry-leading in clinical and financial outcomes. Through its IRFs and more than 250 hospital-based rehabilitation units, medical/surgical and outpatient therapy settings, Lifepoint Rehabilitation brings proven rehabilitation management and services expertise to help our patients recover and return home quickly from a number of conditions, including strokes, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, orthopedic injuries, neurological conditions, amputations and trauma. Lifepoint Rehabilitation is a business unit of Brentwood, Tennessee-based Lifepoint Health.

April 17, 2025

Media Contact:  Kim Lippert:  erly.l.lippert@oha.oregon.gov" style="color: rgb(6, 66, 118); text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;">Kimberly.l.lippert@oha.oregon.gov; 971-323-3831

New project expands access to supportive housing in rural eastern Oregon

Ontario, Ore. - A housing facility scheduled to open this summer in Ontario will help address the shortage of safe, accessible housing for people facing substance abuse in rural Eastern Oregon. The Victor Fox Cultivate Housing Apartments and Harm Reduction Site, a seven-unit, short-term housing complex, will open an additional place for Oregonians to receive treatment in the region. 

“We need to make it easier for Oregonians to access short term care that helps them get into stable housing,” Governor Kotek said. “When there are more resources available in the communities where people need it, we know folks are able to find security and turn the page on the challenges they’re going through.”

This builds additional capacity for Behavioral Health Resource Networks (BHRNs), groups of providers around the state working together to provide comprehensive, community-based services to people who struggle with substance use.

The project broke ground on March 17 and the housing units are scheduled to open in July. The Ontario micro-homes provide temporary housing for 42 people, along with access to medical and behavioral health care. Most residents will stay for up to 180 days before moving on to permanent housing.

The complex is named after Victor Fox, a longtime Oregon Health Authority (OHA) employee who passed away in 2020 after battling cancer. Fox was known for his commitment to affordable housing for those in need.

“We have a great team providing services, and it will be a one-stop place where people are able to get housing and peer support,” said Kirt Toombs, chief executive officer, Eastern Oregon Center for Independent Living. Victor was one of the first people who made housing a priority in our state, and he had the wisdom to know that without secure housing individuals would not have access to medications and health care.”

Increasing access to supportive housing in rural areas demonstrates how the state is investing in pathways into long-term housing, a key goal in  OHA’s 2024-2027 Strategic Plan and one of Governor Tina Kotek’s top priorities.

The Victor Fox Cultivating Housing Complex is located at 463 South Park Boulevard, Ontario.  Photos of the groundbreaking can be found be found here.

The Governor was not in attendance of the event.

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Ridgefield High School submitted fourteen works of art to the ESD 112 Regional Art Show in January. All works may be viewed in the ESD 112 Virtual Gallery.  Winners were announced via a virtual presentation on April 9th. Seven RHS artists won eight total awards, a major accomplishment.  

Community members may attend the RSD Art Show on the evening of May 8th in the RHS Performing Arts Center to view these pieces and more from our K-12 artists.

Ridgefield High School Nominees

These fourteen exceptional artists represented RHS at the ESD 112 Art Show.

Lilly Adams, Ivy to I-Beams, watercolor and ink

Elina Caine, What Needs Revival, watercolor and ink

Addie Carvel, Menace 2 Society, watercolor

Kingston Chapman, Diminishing Glare, graphite

Larkin Costa, TranquiliTea, ceramic

Piper Gannon, Escaping Destruction, ceramic and fabric

Ella Hill, The Hills are Alive, graphite and watercolor

Molly Jung, Take a Breath. Take it in., watercolor

Macie Regino, Free to Express, mixed media

Opal Ruddy, Blizzard Swirl, ceramic

Boston Seppala, Draper Utah, April 18th, 2021, mixed media

Emma Ulmer, Burning Out, acrylic

Wilkins, Her, digital photography

Stellablue Woods, Alone in a Crowded Room, digital photography

Regional Award

Lilly Adams’s watercolor and ink landscape, “Ivy to I-Beams,” qualified for OSPI’s Washington State Art Show by scoring in the top fifteen of all artwork submitted in the Southwest Washington Educational Service District. Tune in for the digital awards presentation Thursday, May 14th at 4:00 on YouTube Live.

ESD 112 Award

These two students received ESD 112 awards for scoring in the top thirty of all artwork submitted in the Southwest Washington Educational Service District.  

Ella Hill, “The Hills are Alive”

Molly Jung, “Take a Breath. Take it in.”

Honorable Mention

These four students received awards in recognition of their outstanding scores for creativity, composition, and technique within the top forty-seven pieces in the regional show. 

Elina Caine, “What Needs Revival”

Emma Ulmer, “Burning Out”

Kingston Chapman, “Diminishing Glare”

Piper Gannon, “Escaping Destruction”

Central Washington University Department of Art + Design Scholarship Awards

In addition to an impressive ESD 112 Award, Molly Jung’s triptych watercolor portrait, “Take a Breath. Take it in.” was selected to receive a $2000 scholarship for future enrollment at CWU.  Only ten total student artists were honored with this award.

SPRING SCAM REMINDER

April showers bring May flowers but scams are always in-season. Ever year Oregonians fall victim to scams from criminals disguising themselves as legitimate organizations or businesses. They are quite savvy in getting you to provide your personal information and create a sense of urgency to get you to act quickly.

One popular scam we see in Lincoln County is via phone call. Scammers pretend to be from our agency or another organization calling regarding jury duty, an outstanding fees, etc. Then they pressure you to pay a fine or bail money, often in Bitcoin, gift cards, or other non-traditional payment forms. You should know our office will NOT ask for payment over the phone. Before you share any information with the caller, collect their name, agency, and reason for calling. Then hang up and look up the organization’s real contact information to confirm the call is legitimate. Save our contact information below so that you can quickly verify someone from our office calling.

Protect yourself from scams:

• Use caution, especially with those you are not familiar with.
  • When you receive unexpected contacts from people or businesses, over the phone, by mail, email, in person, or on social media, always consider the possibility that the interaction may be a scam.
  • Remember to call or log on to the organization’s real website to verify the information you’ve been given is accurate.
  • Verify the caller is from a legitimate organization before sharing any information. If you have trouble verifying an organization’s phone number or website, consider stopping by their office to speak with someone in person.
• Protect your passwords and personal information.
  • Always use password protection.
  • Don’t share access with others.
  • Update security software and back up content regularly.
  • Protect your Wi-Fi network with a password.
  • Avoid using public computers or Wi-Fi hotspots to access online banking or other personal information.
• Ignore unfamiliar attachments or links.
  • Don’t click on links, open attachments, attempt to unsubscribe, or call any telephone number listed in suspicious messages.
  • Do NOT give any money, credit card info, or other personal details.
  • When in doubt, look up the organization’s website or phone number and contact them directly.
• Save contact information from official organization’s ahead of time.
  • Anytime you open a bank account, work with a company, etc., save that organization’s phone number, website, and address so that you can reach out to them if you receive something suspicious or have questions about someone from their agency contacting you.
• Know what an organization will and won’t ask for over the phone or through email.
  • The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office will NOT ask you for payment over the phone.
  • Most government agencies will not ask for sensitive information such as social security numbers, passwords, etc. over the phone.
• Help friends and family learn how to spot a scam.
  • Protect others by helping them learn and follow scam prevention tips.
  • Encourage loved ones of all ages to tell you about or otherwise report suspicious calls, texts, emails, and social media messages. Remind them to verify the person or organization sending the message before they reply back, provide information, or click on any links.

How to know if information is really from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office:

• It is on our official website: lincolncountysheriff.net/
• Our staff can verify the information is true. Give us a call at 541-265-4277 if you have questions about a service or need to connect with someone in our Office.
• It comes directly from our Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, NOT a third party or a comment from another Facebook user.
•  It comes from one of our other Facebook accounts: Lincoln County Animal Shelter or Lincoln County Oregon Emergency Management

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

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An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, Larry Robert Morgan, died the afternoon of April 16, 2025. Morgan was incarcerated at Two Rivers Correctional Institution (TRCI) in Umatilla and passed away at a local hospital. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified.

Morgan entered DOC custody on March 26, 2015, from Linn County and with an earliest release date of July 7, 2027. Morgan was 82 years old. Next of kin has been notified.

DOC takes all in-custody deaths seriously. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of 12,000 individuals who are incarcerated in 12 institutions across the state. While crime information is public record, DOC elects to disclose only upon request out of respect for any family or victims.

TRCI is a multi-custody prison in Umatilla that houses approximately 1,800 adults in custody. TRCI participates in prison industries with Oregon Corrections Enterprises including institution and industrial laundry, mattress manufacturing, and sewing. Other institution work programs include reparation and cleaning of irrigation ditches, maintenance of local baseball fields, and work with local cities and the Hermiston School District. The facility provides a range of correctional programs and services including education, religious services, and behavioral health services. TRCI opened in 2000.

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(Burns, OR) – The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is leading coordinated recovery efforts in Harney County, working to strengthen local capabilities and support communities impacted by recent flooding. The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is providing life sustaining supports to help Douglas and Harney counties and the Burns Paiute Tribe as they recover from recent flooding. In collaboration with OEM, the American Red Cross Cascades Region, Team Rubicon, faith-based organizations and Harney Hub - a Resilience Hubs and Networks grant recipient - ODHS Office of Resilience and Emergency Management (OREM) staff are participating in the Harney County Emergency Operations Center and helping connect people to the services they need to recover.
 

As of April 15, 2025, 37 ODHS staff have logged more than 2,683 hours of work dedicated to emergency response since flooding began on March 16, 2025. That is more than 67 full-time workweeks. Contaminated floodwaters created additional health and safety risks, placing early emphasis on shelter and sanitation support. In response, ODHS has provided 63 portable toilets, 33 handwashing stations, three shower trailers, and over 30,000 bottles of water. OREM also coordinated delivery of a 3,500-gallon water tank to Harney District Hospital.
 

While response efforts continue, OREM is supporting the transition to recovery through their State Recovery Function (Social Services). They have deployed Mass Care Response Team members who have worked with the Hines Fire Department to knock on 156 doors, finding 60 households that needed help with debris removal. They have also conducted long-term housing planning and case management for those most impacted.
 

OREM is one of seven State Recovery Functions operating under the coordination of OEM’s Regional Coordination Center (RCC),” OEM Voluntary Liaison Quinn Butler, said “Which helps ensure long-term recovery group development.”
 

OEM is also the lead agency for volunteer and donations management and has been working with philanthropic and private sector networks, as well as voluntary organizations across the nation to share the needs expressed by to these flood-impacted communities and connect them with much needed resources.
 

“I’m proud of the work our team has done to help support safety and health for individuals and families who have been impacted by the flooding – but we’re not in the clear yet,” said Ed Flick, Director of OREM. “As much of our focus now shifts to clean-up and long-term recovery, OREM remains ready to respond if flooding resumes.”
 

Another key component in response efforts is the government-to-government relationship between ODHS and the Burns Paiute Tribe. An ongoing sewage outage impacting the entire Burns Paiute Reservation and much of the City of Burns has further complicated the situation. In response, OREM has provided direct mass care assistance to the Tribe’s emergency manager. Together, they created and distributed a list of urgent community needs. Current priorities include restoring utilities, assessing housing damage, coordinating food and supply deliveries, and supporting long-term recovery planning. These efforts are strengthened through collaboration with partners such as the Oregon Health Authority, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Health Services, and Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board.

“We are committed to working in partnership with the Burns Paiute Tribe and ensuring that support is coordinated, respectful, and responsive to the community’s needs not just in the moments of crisis, but for the long-term,” said Eli Grove, ODHS OREM Tribal Emergency Coordinator. “It’s also been inspiring to see other Tribes across Oregon step up in solidarity. This kind of intertribal support truly reflects the strength and resilience of Tribal communities.”
 

If you have been impacted by flooding and need help finding resources, call 2-1-1 or visit 211info.org.
 

If you would like to help support survivors, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management has a list of ways you can contribute.
 

Governor Kotek visited Harney County last week. Read more about her support to the community in this news release.

The Tigard Police Department would like to congratulate Lieutenant Monty Fox on his recent graduation from the 293^rd session of the prestigious FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Internationally known for its academic excellence, the National Academy offers 10 weeks of advanced communication, leadership and fitness training. Participants must have proven records as professionals within their agencies to attend. On average, these officers have 21 years of law enforcement experience and usually return to their agencies to serve in executive-level positions.

Lt. Fox joined the Tigard Police Department in 2000 after first working as a high school teacher. Over the years, he has supervised all patrol shifts, School Resource Officers, K-9 teams and detectives. He has served as a field training officer, firearms instructor, force-on-force instructor, a member of the Washington County Mobile Response Team and a founding member of both the Tigard Police Force-on-Force Training Team and the Peer Support Team.

In 2009, he finished his Master of Management in Public Administration degree from the University of Phoenix. He helped design the curriculum for, and teach at, the Metro Sergeants Academy, which provides instruction and training to sergeants from several departments across the region. As sergeant, he led Tigard PD’s Criminal Investigation Unit, then became the department’s first Professional Standards Sergeant before his promotion to lieutenant in December 2021. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his two adult children and his wife.

Lt. Fox joins other Tigard Police leaders who have also graduated from the FBI National Academy, including Chief Jamey McDonald (266^th session), Commander Robert Rogers (242^nd session) and Commander Brad Sitton (277^th session).

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Media Hotline: 503-813-6018

MEDIA ADVISORY (DATE CORRECTION)

###

PORTLAND, Ore. (April 17, 2025): Black Maternal Health Week (April 11-17) is a time to call attention to health outcomes for Black mothers who continue to face significantly higher risks during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. For instance, Black mothers are 3.5 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes compared to white mothers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The good news is that there are effective, evidence-based practices providers can implement that can reduce morbidity and mortality during pregnancy. If these practices are put into place, all women, especially those who face the greatest risks, are more likely to have a healthy pregnancy and delivery.

"Many women who are low income in both rural and urban communities face barriers to accessing prenatal care, as well as postpartum care for up to 3 months post-birth," said Dr. Christal Crooks, MD, family medicine physician with Kaiser Permanente in Portland, Ore. "These barriers include personal barriers (work, childcare, transportation, education, culture, language); health system barriers (limited hours of operation, lack of services); and environmental barriers (location and connectivity or cell phone coverage.)

“We’ve seen progress in maternal health outcomes due to advancements in medical technology, better access to prenatal care, and increased awareness of maternal health issues. But too many women -- especially Black mothers -- still face unacceptable risks of complications during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period."

Interviews available: 

Dr. Christal Crooks, MD, family medicine physician with Kaiser Permanente Northwest, is available for Zoom interviews on Thursday, April 17 from 10 a.m. to noon.  en.a.vitt@kp.org">Contact Karen Vitt to schedule.

Dr. Crooks is prepared to discuss:

• What is driving disparities in maternal health outcomes, and what can be done to improve care for all mothers

• Evidence-based practices that reduce preventable deaths and complications during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period

• Why Black women are 3.5 times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women, and why they are also more likely to experience preterm births, low birthweight births, and infant mortality 

• What tools and support are being implemented to improve health outcomes for mothers

ABOUT KAISER PERMANENTE  

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.4 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, please visit: about.kaiserpermanente.org 

WHAT:
The Jefferson Dancers launch their 2025 Spring Concert Series with a free student matinee on Thursday, April 17, welcoming nearly 880 Portland Public Schools students to the Newmark Theatre.

This annual tradition prioritizes Jefferson High School feeder schools, Title I schools, and schools with dance programs—offering many students a rare opportunity to experience live, professional-level dance.

The matinee kicks off a weekend of public performances featuring nine brand-new works, many choreographed by Jefferson Dancers alumni. Audiences will experience a wide range of styles, from classical ballet to contemporary and high-energy hip-hop—reflecting the creative legacy of this nationally recognized program.

Also featured are two student pieces recently selected for the Outstanding Student Choreography Showcase at the National High School Dance Festival:

• Not Without Reason by Piper Bott

• We Tried by Henry Roth

WHEN & WHERE:
Student Matinee:
Thursday, April 17 at 11:00 A.M.

Public Performances:

• Thursday, April 17 at 7:30 P.M.

• Friday, April 18 at 7:30 P.M.

• Saturday, April 19 at 2:00 P.M. & 7:30 P.M.

Venue:
Portland'5 Newmark Theatre
1111 SW Broadway, Portland, OR

VISUALS & COVERAGE OPPORTUNITIES:

• Nearly 900 students attending a live performance

• Dynamic choreography by both alumni and student artists

• Interviews with artistic director, Steve Gonzales, dancers, and choreographers

• Behind-the-scenes access to one of Portland’s longest-running youth arts programs

GET TICKETS TO PUBLIC PERFORMANCES:
$27 adults / $12 students & seniors
https://www.portland5.com/newmark-theatre/events/jefferson-dancers

ABOUT THE JEFFERSON DANCERS:
The Jefferson Dancers are the elite performance company of Jefferson High School’s nationally recognized dance program. For nearly 50 years, the company has trained Portland’s most advanced young dancers, ages 14–18, in various dance disciplines. The Spring Concert is an annual highlight, showcasing the passion, artistry, and exceptional talent of Portland’s next generation of performers.

For Immediate Release                                                                                     Contact: Matt Stein  

April 17, 2025                                                                                                    Cell: 503-442-2131

Union Gospel Mission to Serve 400 Meals Easter Sunday, Mayor Wilson to Visit

Portland, Ore., - Union Gospel Mission (UGM) will hold its annual Easter Brunch on Sunday, April 20 at 12pm at 3 NW Third Avenue in Portland. UGM is working to make the holiday a little extra special for those experiencing homelessness, especially since many are separated from family and can’t have a typical celebration. Mayor Keith Wilson plans to attend to greet guests and serve meals.

In all, Union Gospel Mission will provide more than 3,300 special holiday meals. The holiday meal service kicked off Friday, April 11 when the Mission packed 500 Easter food baskets, which provide 2,500 Easter meals for families who are housed but unable to provide Easter meals for their families. This week, leading up to Easter, the Mission is serving more than 400 Easter meals during their Search + Rescue mobile outreach to camps.

UGM is preparing to serve at least 400 meals Easter Sunday which will include scrambled eggs with diced ham and cheddar cheese, biscuits and sausage gravy, fruit salad, a pastry, coffee, juice, and a snack sack for later in the day. Guests will have the option of dining in or taking a meal to go. 

“We are looking forward to celebrating Easter with our neighbors and thankful that Mayor Wilson’s presence reminds them that Portland cares,” said Matt Stein Executive Director

If you would like to help the Mission provide meals and food boxes 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 has been serving Portland since 1927. Union Gospel Mission provides meals, shelter, and recovery for those experiencing hunger, homelessness, addiction, and abuse. Contact Union Gospel Mission at 503-274-4483, ugmportland.org or on social media @ugmpdx

# # #

The suspect arrested this afternoon is identified as Raul Nava, Jr., 44. He was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on his arrest warrants.

###PPB###

Original Message Below

The man wanted following an armed standoff on Monday is in police custody facing numerous criminal charges.

On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at approximately 1:51 p.m., PPB’s Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT), Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT), and Central Precinct Neighborhood Response Team (NRT) responded to the area of Northwest 21^st Avenue and Northwest Hoyt Street. The teams were there to facilitate the arrest of a 44-year-old man who was involved in an armed stand-off with Central Precinct officers in the same area earlier this week.

Officers closed Northwest 21^st Avenue and Northwest Hoyt Street to ensure safety of the public. Some businesses were evacuated as a precaution. Officers notified the school across the street of the police activity, and a PPB School Liaison Officer responded to the school to ensure active communication with school staff. The school secured its perimeter, allowing the students and staff to continue their normal day inside. At the end of scheduled classes, students were released on the south side of the school, away from the police activity.

SERT moved in and utilized armored vehicles to surround the tent, which ensured the suspect could not run away from officers again. Officers announced themselves and tried to convince the man to surrender, utilizing CNT to communicate with him. Numerous attempts were not successful, so some tools were used in a careful, coordinated fashion over time. Those tools included a flash-sound diversion device, a K9 unit, police robots, OC gas, and CS gas. The tools used were successful in prompting the suspect to surrender. SERT was able to safely take the suspect into custody at 4:25 p.m.

The man was transported to the hospital for an evaluation under police guard, and he will be booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on his outstanding arrest warrants, including a newly signed warrant for Attempted Assault on a Public Safety Officer, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Unlawful Use of Mace in the First Degree, Escape in the Third Degree, Menacing, and Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree.

PPB NRT requested an emergency abatement of the campsite, which happened immediately. Inside the tent, officers located and seized evidence, including two knives and a can of bear mace (photos).

This recent interaction with the man began on Monday, April 14, 2025, at 5:58 p.m., when Officers spotted him near Northwest 21st Avenue and Northwest Hoyt Street, knowing he had a warrant for felony Identity Theft and another misdemeanor warrant for Resisting Arrest. As officers approached and told him he was under arrest, the suspect sprayed bear mace at the officers and tried to ride away on a bicycle. Officers were able push him off the bike, but he displayed a knife and lunged at the officers. Officers deployed a conducted electrical weapon (Taser) twice, which was briefly effective but he was still able to get up and run. The man tried to elude police officers on foot toward a restaurant at Northwest 21st Avenue and Northwest Irving Street where diners were sitting outside. Officers evacuated the restaurant, secured the area, and sent a shelter-in-place notice to nearby businesses and residents. Officers trained in enhanced crisis negotiations attempted to de-escalate the man, who had barricaded himself against a door with a table.

After a couple of hours, the Incident Commander made the decision to deescalate the situation by strategically disengaging, as it was determined that the presence of police was escalating the suspect’s behavior. The suspect remained noncompliant if police remained on-scene but agreed to leave his location and retreat if officers left. The decision also took into account that less-lethal options had been used without success, and continuing engagement could lead to a greater use of force.

Given that officers were familiar with him and his usual location, the Incident Commander determined that PPB personnel would develop a plan to arrest him at a future time that would be safer for both him, the officers involved, and the greater public.

Although officers withdrew from direct contact, some continued monitoring the suspect from a distance to ensure he did not pose a threat to public safety.

“I understand the concerns of local businesses and residents who sought a more timely resolution,” said Chief Bob Day. “However, these situations are complex, and we always try to make thoughtful decisions that balance the severity of the situation with potential negative outcomes. Our top priority is always a safe resolution for everyone involved. I’m grateful for all the work that went into ensuring a safe resolution.”

Photo descriptions:

Suspect in handcuffs being escorted by two uniformed Portland Police Officers

SERT officers using armored vehicles surround tent shortly before the suspect was taken into custody

A can of bear mace

A dagger with silver blade and an ornamental handle

A tactical fixed blade knife with black plastic handle and serrated black blade

###PPB###  

I have thought a lot about what I want to say in the next three minutes in an attempt to describe what I have experienced internally over the past 9 months as the District Attorney. Three minutes is not long enough to give you an overview of the challenges I have faced and the roadblocks I have met. I wonder daily when I will stop paying for the sins of my predecessor. When I will be recognized and respected by you as the elected District Attorney of Lincoln County. When I will be given true latitude to make decisions for my office that have no budgetary impact. When your employees will stop signing documents on my behalf without my knowledge. When my emails will not be monitored by Human Resources or County Counsel. And when $34,000 will not be secretly deducted from my budget. To be honest, I don’t know if that day is coming.

You have allowed Kristin Yuille and David Collier to block me, stop me, control me, threaten me and attempt to silence me. And when I raised concerns about how I was being treated and the unethical conduct I was observing, instead of taking my concerns seriously and investigating the conduct, I was ignored, then dismissed, and told by your Director of Human Resources that if I did not stop voicing my concerns, I would be investigated. Your personnel rules devote pages to whistleblower protections that mean nothing in practice as applied to me or the employees in my office. Commissioner Miller is the only person who has repeatedly sought transparency and equality in policy and procedure for all Lincoln County employees, including elected officials. He has requested your board meet in executive session to discuss and address these concerns and has repeatedly been ignored. And when his requests for executive session didn’t work, Commissioner Miller raised questions publicly, and was immediately ostracized and vilified in an attempt to silence him from uncovering the truth.

I recognize that you don’t know me and it’s easy to think the worst of me when you are surrounded by an individual who has been unable to let go of the tumultuous relationship that predated my appointment. You probably have no idea why I became a prosecutor or why this career is so important to me. So, I would like to take a minute to give you some insight into me. When I was three, a federal search warrant was executed on my home, and it was discovered that my biological father was involved in an international child pornography crime ring. When I was seven, he was arrested again for sexually abusing one of my close friends. I can still recall naively playing video games while he led a 7-year-old into his bedroom. I couldn’t even tell you what excuse he told me to normalize this behavior. Additional victims came forward and he spent essentially the rest of his life in prison. I knew in high school I wanted to do something with my life to protect children, to protect the children I was unable to protect when I was a child. And I often think about how blessed I am that God put me in this position – to be a voice for vulnerable children and to hold predators accountable for their conduct. And maybe, just maybe protect another innocent child or adult from being victimized.

What you might not understand is that every time you allow others to interfere with my office and allow them to assert their power over me, you don’t hurt me. You hurt your employees. You hurt this community. You hurt victims. Because every time I have to stand up for myself, my office and my employees, it is time that I am not advocating for the victims and citizens of Lincoln County.

I have come to terms with the fact that there is nothing I can do to change the culture of Lincoln County until two of the three commissioners decide the current status quo is unacceptable. Ultimately, you don’t answer to me. You answer to the citizens of Lincoln County. You can leave this meeting and choose to look the other way and allow the concerns I have raised to remain beneath the shadows, or you can seek the truth and investigate the repeated conduct as I have requested on three separate occasions over the past five months.

As for me, I have done everything within my power to speak out and fight against the corruption in your County Counsel’s Office and Human Resources Department and I am tired of fighting for accountability and transparency when it is not a priority for 2/3rds of the former Board of Commissioners. I am hopeful with Commissioner Chuck joining the Board that things will change, and the majority will be in favor of seeking the truth not covering up the corruption. I know by speaking today I am risking further retaliation. But I am not scared of Kristin Yuille or David Collier, and I will not be controlled or silenced by either of them. If you chose to do nothing, I have no doubt that I will be investigated, and your employees will publish the predetermined results that satisfy their goal to deflect from their own unethical behavior. But I want you to know that I am not going anywhere. I will not be run out of office or pressured to resign. I will continue to show up every single day and advocate for the victims of Lincoln County because that is what the victims of Lincoln County deserve and that is what the people of Lincoln County elected me to do. Being an elected official is not about the power or the title or the photo op. It’s about seeking truth and justice in the face of adversity. It’s about putting others needs above your own self-serving interests. It’s about doing the next right thing regardless of the circumstances or personal consequences. Regardless of the adversity that I face, I will continue to do the next right thing regardless of the personal cost. Will you? 

            I had planned to make a public statement at the April 16, 2025 Board of Commissioner meeting and signed up for public comment. However, before I was able to address the Board and while an individual was providing public comment prior to me, Kristin Yuille advised that the Board of Commissioner’s meeting needed to be abruptly adjourned. Commissioner Chuck then addressed Yuille by stating, “Chair Yuille, I mean Counsel Yuille, is this something we should not be talking about?” After receiving direction from Yuille, Commissioner Chuck moved to adjourn the meeting, which was seconded by Commissioner Hall. I stood up and asked, “Are you not going to hear from the rest of us?” No one responded to my question. Commissioner Hall, Commissioner Chuck, Yuille, Kenneth Lipp and Kathleen Kelly were directed by Yuille to immediately leave the room and the recording of the meeting was shut off. The recording of this can be found at https://lincolncoor.portal.civicclerk.com/event/2661/media  at time stamp 57:39.

            Since Kristin Yuille ended the public meeting prior to my public statement, for which I had signed up to make today, I have included below a copy of my statement that I planned to verbally make to the Board of Commissioners. 

Since October 2024, I have made several formal complaints against Kristin Yuille and David Collier concerning allegations of dishonesty, misrepresentation of authority, misconduct, and retaliatory behavior. Over the past six months, Commissioner Miller has relentlessly sought executive sessions to discuss these allegations with the entire Board, but these requests have been ignored or denied by the very individual sought to be discussed.

My most recent request occurred on March 4, 2025, and on March 26, after no response, I made a public statement in hopes that the Board would take action, seek the unbiased truth, and order an external investigation. Since then, instead of investigating Yuille and Collier, Commissioner Hall has empowered Yuille and Collier to self-initiate investigations into three of my employees without any formal complaint and without my knowledge or approval. These investigations were only initiated by Yuille and Collier after I raised concerns regarding Yuille and Collier’s misconduct. Two of my employees were notified of their pending investigations after I spoke publicly about Yuille and Collier on March 26th. This is the very definition of retaliation. And to hear that after all the allegations I have made against Collier that he will decide whether to terminate my employees based on his own self-initiated internal investigations is illogical and unethical. 

On top of this, I was advised last Friday by Commissioner Hall that the Board has denied my request for an external investigation into the numerous complaints against Yuille and Collier. I was troubled to learn that this decision was not made by the entire Board, but by Commissioner Hall alone, as the Board still has not met in executive session to discuss the allegations.

Why is the BOC refusing to follow its own personnel rules? Why is the BOC refusing to initiate an outside investigation into Yuille and Collier? Are you afraid of what might be uncovered if Yuille and Collier were investigated by an unbiased individual? Would it implicate you in the process? Or are you afraid of the power Yuille and Collier possess to isolate you, mistreat you, and gaslight you? Why are you protecting Yuille and Collier at the expense of your employees? Are you at all aware that County Counsel and Human Resources have been weaponized to silence and retaliate against those who challenge their decisions or speak out against them?

Each of you have had 6 weeks to review the allegations and supporting documentation that I submitted. It is time to demonstrate to your employees that your personnel rules apply equally to all County employees, regardless of their position of power.

As the elected District Attorney of Lincoln County and as a Lincoln County citizen, I am asking that the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners vote today at this meeting and order an external independent investigation into the alleged personnel violations by Yuille and Collier.

            Prior to the Board meeting being adjourned, Commissioner Hall addressed concerns regarding whether she was making Board decisions by herself without Board input in the absence of a County Administrator. Commissioner Hall was adamant that the only decisions she has made unilaterally were administrative in nature. She described these decisions as to “keep the lights on” and things like signing travel vouchers and personnel forms. She was adamant she had not made any decisions that would require the entire Board’s approval. However, last week she unilaterally decided to not authorize an investigation into Yuille and Collier, personally opining that my claims had “no merit” without explanation. This type of unilateral decision does not appear to fall into the category of utility bills and travel vouchers. This should be made by the entire Board after a careful review of the facts, documentation, and exhibits, which include first-hand statements from Lincoln County elected officials at the time of the misconduct. 

            Since I spoke at the March 4th Board of Commissioner’s meeting, several County employees outside my department have approached me privately to thank me for speaking out about Yuille and Collier’s misconduct. They have commended my courage to raise concerns against the two most powerful County employees who are manipulating the decision-making process of the Board of Commissioners and harming this County in the process.

            Given the Board of Commissioners were unable to hear or respond to my statement today, I am urging the public to demand transparency and accountability and request the Board of Commissioners order an unbiased independent investigation into Yuille and Collier to determine whether there is merit to the allegations I have raised repeatedly regarding their conduct.

Recordings of these statements can be located at: https://www.youtube.com/@LincolnCountyDA