At 11:39 today (04/28/2025) the Vancouver Fire Department was dispatched to 1618 NE 107^th Ave in Vancouver, WA for the report of an electric powered scooter that was on fire next to a field.  The first arriving engine requested a HazMat Team Leader consult which resulted in the deployment of the regional hazmat team from Vancouver Fire.  The scooter appeared to be experiencing a thermal runaway in the battery compartment which resulted in a small fire and off-gassing from the cells.  Hazmat team members in chemical protective suits and self-contained breathing apparatus safely move the scooter to a salt-brine filled container to both cool the thermal runaway and discharge the remaining power in the battery cells.

Vancouver Fire would like to caution everyone that the smoke produced by some battery fires can be toxic and possibly flammable. 

To reduce the chance of scooter battery fires, always use approved batteries, chargers and follow manufacturer instructions. Store scooters away from flammable materials, exits and ensure they are not left unattended while charging. If you notice any signs of battery damage, like swelling, leakage, or overheating, stop using the scooter immediately and get away from it.

Bend Fire responded to a reported fire in the crawl space of a manufactured home at Rock Arbor Mobile Home Park on East Hwy 20 in Bend. Crews arrived to find black smoke coming from under the house. The fire had not spread to the interior of the house and was extinguished quickly. The homeowner and neighbors were clear of the house when we arrived.
 

The investigation determined that the owner and a neighbor were attempting to drive away rock chucks from under the house. A commercially available rodent smoke bomb was used as a means to drive them away. But this caught the plastic vapor barrier on fire under the home. By calling 911 immediately, they helped limit the damage to under the house and very little smoke damage inside. Damage is estimated at $10,000.

Bend Fire & Rescue reminds everyone to keep fire producing devices away from and under your house. Weed burners are the most common cause of these types of fires where a flame is used to remove a nuisance weed but the house is accidentally ignited, but these smoke bombs pose the same danger. This type of smoke bomb is designed to be used in fields and large open areas as a means to remove rodents. Ten feet of separation to all structures (decks, fences, houses, sheds, etc) shall be maintained for any open flame use, including rodent smoke bombs, to prevent these types of fire from happening. Never use any of these products during fire season.

Gresham, Ore.— The teenager killed in a Sunday morning shooting has been identified as 13-year-old William “Liam” Spahnle-Bailey.  Liam was sleeping in his father’s apartment when a shooting occurred in a neighboring unit.  Liam was stuck by gunfire that traveled through the wall between the two apartments.  Officers and paramedics rendered medical aid and he was transported to a local hospital.  Tragically, Liam was pronounced deceased shortly after arrival at the hospital. 

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Detective Lindsay Friderich at iderich@GreshamOregon.gov">Lindsay.Friderich@GreshamOregon.gov or Detective Martin Daly at

tin.Daly@GreshamOregon.gov">Martin.Daly@GreshamOregon.gov.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 

DATE: April 28, 2025

Update 04-28-2025 | 1515

Please note a correction to the following statement: Before a citation is sent to the vehicle’s driver notifying them of the incident, a recording of any violation identified by the system is verified by a police officer.

We apologize for any confusion and appreciate the opportunity to provide clarification.

# # #

Originally published 04-28-2025 | 1030

Photo enforcement program to expand at existing south Salem locations

Salem, Ore. — Salem’s longtime photo enforcement program is set to expand this week by increasing detection capability for red light and speed violations at two south Salem intersections.

Starting Thursday, May 1, the northbound-facing cameras at Commercial ST and Kuebler BV SE and Commercial ST at Madrona AV SE will detect whether vehicles stop for the red lights or exceed the posted speed limit.

For the first month, between May 1 and May 30, warnings will be issued to the northbound drivers who violate the stop light or the speed rule through those Commercial ST intersections. Before a citation is sent to the vehicle’s registered owner notifying them of the incident, a recording of any violation identified by the system is verified by a police officer.

In the 17 years since program was implemented, data from the sites indicates a steady decrease in crashes at those fixed traffic enforcement camera locations. Salem has six intersections with the automated technology:

• Center ST at Hawthorne AV NE
• Commercial ST at Kuebler BV SE
• Commercial ST at Madrona AV SE
• Commercial at Marion STS NE
• Mission at 25^th STS SE
• Silverton at Fisher RDS NE

Traffic safety and fatal collision reduction remains a Salem Police Department strategic priority and is a priority issue for the Salem community. An anonymous poll of Salem residents via the neighborhood social media platform Nextdoor in February provided insight into the community’s perception of the program. Sixty-one percent of respondents agreed with the use of the camera systems, and 59% would like to see more locations added.

# # #

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Transit Police Unit teamed up with several key partners on Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025, to conduct a public safety mission focused on the TriMet system in Northeast Portland. The collaborative effort aimed to address criminal activity and boost safety for riders and operators on MAX trains and buses and at transit stations.

The MCSO Transit Police Unit deputies worked alongside officers from the Port of Portland Police Department and the Multnomah County Department of Community Justice Adult Services Division, as well as TriMet security personnel. This unified approach allowed for a concentrated effort to address issues along the transit lines, creating a more visible and effective public safety presence across the transit system, from the platforms and trains to the connecting bus routes.

To ensure deputies and officers could remain focused on their field duties, MCSO Corrections Division personnel played a vital role by establishing a temporary booking facility. This strategic move streamlined the booking process, maximizing the time deputies and officers could spend actively patrolling and addressing public safety concerns on the transit lines during the mission.

The mission yielded significant results, demonstrating the impact of this collaborative strategy:

• 40+ warnings were issued for various violations.
• 22 arrests were made.
• 18 felony warrants were cleared.
• 7 misdemeanor warrants were cleared.
• 5 individuals were issued exclusions from the TriMet system.

During the mission, many TriMet riders, community members and business owners offered positive feedback and appreciation.

"This mission's success was a testament to the relentless efforts of front-line deputies and officers collaborating closely with our agency partners," said MCSO Captain Matt Jordan. "I value and appreciate the resources provided by each of these agencies and anticipate future collaborative missions aimed at enhancing the safety of our transit system.”

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Transit Police Unit remains committed to working with its partners to ensure a safe and secure transit environment for everyone in the community.

At 4:51 a.m. on Monday, April 28, callers to 911 reported a home on fire in the 19500 block of Southwest 68^th Avenue in Tualatin. Multiple callers reported hearing an explosion, and initial reports indicated that occupants had evacuated the residence. Due to the descriptions and number of callers, the call was upgraded to a first alarm to bring additional personnel and resources to the scene. Tualatin Police arrived and began assisting with evacuations.

Firefighters arrived within six minutes of being dispatched and found heavy smoke coming from the garage of a duplex, working quickly to extinguish the fire. They found heavy fire in the attic that extended to the neighboring unit of the duplex. At the same time, crews searched both residences and confirmed that no occupants remained in the structure.

A fire investigator determined the explosions that callers reported hearing came from aerosol cans near the fire area. The investigator determined the fire was accidental and started outside the home before spreading into the attic.

In total, nine residents and four pets between the two units are displaced and receiving assistance through the Red Cross. Additionally, one patient was treated and released at the scene. Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue would also like to thank Lake Oswego Fire and American Medical Response for their assistance.

###

Clackamas County, Ore. 28 April 2025- On Sunday, April 27, 2025, at 6:20 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on Interstate 5, near milepost 282, in Clackamas County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a northbound BMW 530i, operated by Alena Yesenia Gudino (28) of Woodburn, began to take the exit when it left the roadway, drove through the grassy shoulder, and struck several trees.

The operator of the BMW (Gudino) was declared deceased at the scene.

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

OSP was assisted by the Aurora Fire Department.

# # #

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 Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) has launched its first-ever interactive online training for the public about reporting suspected child abuse. The training rollout coincides with Child Abuse Awareness Month and the announcement of a new safety initiative underway in Child Welfare.

Safety priorities in the initiative include improving safety for children in foster care and children who come to the attention of Child Welfare, in addition to providing training to the public and professionals known as mandatory reporters. Mandatory reporters are required by law to report suspected child abuse, and include professionals in healthcare, law enforcement, social work and education fields, among others.

The new online training helps reporters recognize types of child abuse, how to report, and understand when a family needs material or economic assistance. Across the country and in Oregon, efforts to better distinguish between child abuse and neglect and family needs related to poverty are driving family support programs, sometimes called family preservation or prevention.

“We all contribute to child safety not only by being mandatory reporters, but by being mandatory supporters,” said Aprille Flint-Gerner, ODHS Child Welfare Division director. “This training provides the public with the tools needed to recognize signs of abuse that must be reported, as well as understanding when a family needs a community resource or support, rather than a report to the hotline.”

The interactive training takes about an hour to complete and is considered the official Oregon Health Authority and ODHS state course with the most up-to-date guidance on child abuse and effective reporting. Prior to the new training, ODHS used a shorter explanatory video about reporting child abuse.       

The course, Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse in Oregon, teaches:

• How to recognize signs of child abuse and understand the definitions.
• The role and impact of personal biases when determining whether a report is required.
• How to make a report and what information to provide to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline.
• What happens after a report is made.
• How to connect a family with resources.

The training also aims to prevent unnecessary abuse reports. The Oregon Child Abuse Hotline (ORCAH) receives a high number of calls that are neither reports of child abuse nor require Child Welfare intervention. In 2024, ORCAH, received 176,393 contacts, resulting in 96,246 documented screening reports. Of the documented reports, 46,483, or 27% resulted in Child Protective Services completing an assessment. ORCAH data shows that 80% of reports are from mandatory reporters, largely from representatives of law enforcement, education and the medical field.

Data in Oregon and nationally show that Black and/or African American and American Indian/Alaska Native families are disproportionately reported to child welfare. The training addresses how reporters can recognize their personal biases, including how they view a child or family in need.

“We hope the training will help reduce disproportionality in reporting and get families connected to the services they need to thrive,” Flint-Gerner said. “Child safety is about early intervention in communities whenever possible, so that children who are unsafe get help quickly, and families who need resources get connected to supports. Prevention and early intervention are where the public and mandatory reporters can really make a difference.”

The new training is available on the Reporting Child Abuse web page in partnership with Oregon State University’s Professional and Continuing Education (PACE).

Resources

• Additional materials about reporting child abuse 
• Find local resources, financial assistance, food pantry information and other free or reduced-cost help at 211info.org, via phone at 211, or via text 898211
• Information about how youth in foster care can file a complaint: email fco.info@odhsoha.oregon.gov or call 855-840-6036

About the Oregon Department of Human Services

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

Angel Garibay to Represent Oregon at National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta

Salem, Ore., April 28, 2025  — Angel Garibay, a Diesel Technology student at Chemeketa Community College’s Brooks Campus, has earned first place at the 2025 SkillsUSA State Championship, held April 11–12 at the Knife River Training Center in Albany, Oregon. The event drew Oregon’s most talented technical education students and highlighted the very best in career and technical education statewide.

Garibay led a clean sweep for Chemeketa, with teammates Joel Ropp securing second place and David Tribbett taking third.
 

Mastering the Mechanics—and More

The Diesel Technology competition tested students across a broad range of industry-critical skills, including engine diagnostics, electrical systems, brake and air systems, and hydraulics. Competitors demonstrated their abilities to tackle real-world challenges faced daily by diesel technicians.

In addition to technical tasks, students participated in a professional mock job interview, where they were evaluated on communication skills, professionalism, and problem-solving abilities—underscoring the importance of both technical expertise and soft skills in today's workforce.

Built on Strong Training Programs

Garibay’s success reflects the strength of Oregon’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, which emphasize hands-on, industry-relevant experience. His training at Chemeketa Community College’s Brooks campus—known for its exceptional Diesel Technology program—equipped him with the practical knowledge and confidence necessary to excel in the competition and the workforce beyond.

From Albany to Atlanta

As Oregon’s top Diesel student, Garibay will advance to represent the state at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta this June, competing against the best students from across the country. His trip to the national stage is sponsored in part by AGCO, a leading agricultural equipment manufacturer, demonstrating the company’s commitment to workforce development and student success.

Powered by Community and Industry

The SkillsUSA Championship’s success would not have been possible without support from industry partners and local organizations. Companies including RDO Equipment Co., Penske Truck Leasing, United Rentals, and Daimler Trucks North America generously contributed equipment, sponsorships, and volunteer efforts to ensure a high-quality, impactful experience for every participant.

A Victory Beyond the Podium

Garibay’s achievement is more than a competition win—it demonstrates the power of hands-on education, strong community support, and industry partnership. As he prepares for the national competition, his journey serves as an inspiring example of how passion, preparation, and opportunity can build a rewarding career.

Chemeketa’s champion, representing the State of Oregon, is ready to take the national stage.  The future of the Diesel Technology industry is in capable hands.

####

For more than 50 years, Chemeketa Community College has committed itself to transforming lives and our community through exceptional learning experiences in the Mid-Willamette Valley. As the second largest multi-campus district in Oregon, Chemeketa serves 17,000 students annually at its Salem and Yamhill Valley campuses, as well as Brooks, Eola, Winema, Dallas, Woodburn and Chemeketa Center for Business and Industry (CCBI).

Chemeketa Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educational institution.

On April 20, 2025, detectives with the Gladstone Police Department were notified by a local trauma center of a severely injured six-week-old infant that was admitted at their facility, tragically, the infant later passed. The infants injuries were determined to have occurred within the city limits of Gladstone and believed to be homicidal violence. 

During the course of the investigation, 19-year-old Maliki Skutley, the father of the infant, was arrested and initially charged with Assault in the First Degree on April 20^th, 2025. The infant passed away on April 23^rd , 2025, as a result of the injuries sustained. 

On April 25, 2025 Mr. Skutley was indicted on two counts of Murder in the 2^nd degree and one count of Assault in the 1^st degree. The investigation remains active and ongoing.

Mr. Skutley is currently lodged at the Clackamas County Jail.

The Gladstone Police Department is working in coordination with the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office. No further details will be released at this time to preserve the integrity of the investigation.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Gladstone Police Department at 503-557-2797.

The Washougal School Board announces the resignation of Board member Chuck Carpenter, effective June 30, 2025.  Carpenter has served on the school board since September 2020, representing district 5.

Carpenter said “As I look back, being a daily volunteer in our schools and having the opportunity to visit each of our schools every year has given me insight into the lives of students that has been invaluable to me as a school board member. I have been particularly impressed by the respect and courtesy shown by our students toward visitors – and each other. We have great kids and great schools!” 

Chuck brought extensive experience in education to his role, having served as a teacher, principal, human resources director, and superintendent. He drew on this background to thoughtfully guide his oversight of the district and support sound decision-making.

His passion for public education and unwavering support for our schools, staff, and students have been evident throughout his tenure. His experience, insight, and steadfast commitment to doing what’s best for our community have been invaluable.

Superintendent Aaron Hansen noted that Carpenter’s service to the community began before his service to the board. “Chuck has been an active and engaged community member, serving on boards and commissions, running community events, and volunteering in our schools for years, especially with youth serving organizations and in support of the arts in Washougal.”

After spending many hours in each school during board site visits and as a volunteer, Carpenter added, “...I have a renewed respect for the good work that is being done by students and staff every day.”

Board President Sadie McKenzie said, “Chuck will be deeply missed, and the board is sincerely grateful for the positive and lasting impact he has made.”

The Washougal School Board of Directors will follow their policy to fill the vacancy, and details about the process will be posted to the website and shared with the community once they are ready. 

One person is deceased following a shooting in Downtown Portland.

On Sunday, April 27, 2025, at approximately 10:20 p.m., Central Precinct officers responded to reports of a shooting near the intersection of South Harbor Drive and South Harrison Street in Downtown Portland. When they arrived, officers located an adult male who had been shot. The individual was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. The suspect or suspects fled the scene. 

On Monday, April 28, 2025, detectives learned the victim died. The Portland Police Bureau’s Homicide Unit is now investigating this incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Brent Christensen at rent.Christensen@police.portlandoregon.gov">Brent.Christensen@police.portlandoregon.gov or Detective Samantha Cater at Samantha.Cater@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 25-109370.

The identity of the victim will be released after the Medical Examiner has determined the cause and manner of death and next of kin has been notified.

###PPB###

Please join us in celebrating the achievements of Ridgefield School District’s exceptional student artists! The RSD Art Show will be open to the public on Thursday, May 8th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Ridgefield High School Performing Arts Center.
 

This exciting event will feature artwork from K-12 students. From drawings and paintings to sculptures and animations, you'll see a variety of creative pieces from the minds and talents of our community’s best young artists.

Join us for an evening of celebration and inspiration as we recognize outstanding student achievements with awards presented by our school board, community partners, and visual arts faculty. Our regional award winners from the high school ESD 112 Art Show will also be featured before they advance to OSPI’s Washington State Art Show at the end of May.

Drop by between 5:30 and 7:30 PM on Tuesday, May 8th, to see the incredible creativity of Ridgefield's young artists!

Event Details:

• Date: Tuesday, May 8th

• Time: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., drop in as desired

• Location: Ridgefield High School Performing Arts Center

Gresham, Ore.— Detectives are continuing to investigate the Sunday-morning shooting death of a local teen.  The shooting took place in an apartment in the 4700 block of SW 11^th St in southwest Gresham.  Multiple shots went through walls into a neighboring apartment, fatally wounding a sleeping 13-year-old.  Another person who was struck by gunfire was transported to a local hospital. 

“Today our entire community is mourning the killing of an innocent child.  Our thoughts are with his family, friends, classmates, and neighbors,” said Gresham Police Chief Travis Gullberg.  “This shooting is a tragic reminder of how the impact of gun violence reaches far beyond the shooters and their intended victims.  Our officers, detectives, and law enforcement partners will hold accountable everyone responsible for this child’s death.  The City of Gresham, the Ceasefire program, and our community partners will continue working to break the cycle of violence.” 

Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez said, “This an example of horrific violence in our community. It breaks my heart to see the loss of such a young life. Any time a child is lost in our community it's devastating. But when it occurs in such a senseless, violent manner it's absolutely infuriating.  We’ll do everything we can to get to the bottom of this and hold those who are responsible accountable for their actions.”

The East County Major Crimes Team is leading the investigation.  The Major Crimes Team is an interagency team of detectives from the Gresham Police Department, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Port of Portland Police Department, Oregon State Police, and attorneys from the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office.  Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Detective Lindsay Friderich at iderich@GreshamOregon.gov">Lindsay.Friderich@GreshamOregon.gov or Detective Martin Daly at tin.Daly@GreshamOregon.gov">Martin.Daly@GreshamOregon.gov.

The City of Gresham participates in the Ceasefire partnership.  This program unites community-based organizations, city leadership, law enforcement, and public health experts to implement violence prevention strategies.  Ceasefire is rooted in a public health framework and seeks to address the root causes of violence by providing necessary resources including employment opportunities, conflict resolution, and behavioral health support.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 28, 2025

Oregon’s Trade Economy Remains Strong Amid Global Uncertainty

New data shows 1 in 8 Oregon jobs tied to international trade

PORTLAND, Ore. – Oregon makes its mark in the global economy, according to the newly released 2025 State of Trade Report.

The report shows that over 270,000 Oregon jobs, roughly one in eight, are connected to international trade in goods and services, with export-driven industries driving higher-than-average wages and sustained economic growth across the state.

“Portland and Oregon are on the Pacific Rim, and international commerce is core to our economic and regional identity. Trade supports hundreds of thousands of families in both rural and urban areas,” said Andrew Hoan, President and CEO of the Portland Metro Chamber. “This latest report reinforces those facts. As we navigate an increasingly complex trade environment, we must expand these connections to keep our economy resilient.”

Key findings from the 2025 report include:

• $42 billion in goods and services exports in 2022 ($34.4 billion in goods and $8.2 billion in services).
• 88% of Oregon’s exporters are small and medium-sized businesses, demonstrating the critical role of local companies in global markets.
• 10.3% of Oregon’s GDP is tied to goods exports, with services exports estimated to add an additional 3–5%.
• Semiconductors remain Oregon’s top export, highlighting the state's central role in the global high-tech supply chain.

The report also underscores Oregon’s trade surplus, a distinction shared by only 11 states. Much of this surplus stems from high-value exports like semiconductors and transportation equipment, industries that also rely heavily on imports for parts and components.

The state’s evolving trade partnerships also come into focus. Exports to Mexico surged from $464 million in 2018 to $6.26 billion in 2025, now making Mexico Oregon’s top export destination. The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) has played a critical role in expanding access for Oregon goods, from motor vehicle parts to agricultural products.

However, new and proposed tariffs are raising red flags. Industries like agriculture and advanced manufacturing face growing exposure to retaliatory measures, disrupted supply chains, and rising costs.

“We continue hearing from countless Oregonians whose businesses and livelihoods depend on access to global markets—from distillers in Hood River who import bottles from Asia to fill with their products, to small companies in Portland and farmers statewide who face retaliatory tariffs on the Oregon-grown goods they export,” said Port of Portland Executive Director Curtis Robinhold. “Their stories underscore just how much international trade affects everyday Oregonians, their livelihoods and our state’s economy, and why we must do everything possible to support it.”

 
“Trade isn’t just a headline issue; it’s about jobs, wages, and the future of Oregon communities,” said Angela Wilhelms, president and CEO of Oregon Business & Industry. “To remain competitive, we must create a climate at the local, state and federal level where importers and exporters across Oregon can thrive.”

The Oregon State of Trade report offers a comprehensive look at how international trade supports Oregon’s economy, highlighting its role in driving job creation, wage growth, and global competitiveness. Compiled using federal data, economic modeling, and industry input, the report analyzes both goods and services exports across key industries and regions. It provides a detailed view of Oregon’s trade footprint, showing how sectors like semiconductors, agriculture and transportation equipment contribute to a diversified and globally connected economy. The report also maps out the impact on employment, revealing that trade-related jobs often pay higher wages and are vital to both urban centers and rural communities.

The State of Trade report is a key tool for strategic planning, policy development and business support. It helps guide investment in infrastructure, identifies vulnerable industries and underscores the importance of resilient trade relationships, especially with top partners like Mexico, China and Malaysia. As trade dynamics shift, the report equips the state with data-driven insights to navigate global uncertainties, advocate for local industries, and sustain the economic benefits of a robust trade network.

The full 2025 State of Trade Report is available online here.

About Portland Metro Chamber:

The Portland Metro Chamber (The Chamber) is greater Portland’s Chamber of Commerce and represents the largest, most diverse network of businesses in the region. The Chamber advocates for the health of our economy at all levels of government to support commerce, livability, community, and the region’s overall prosperity. We represent more than 2,200 members, from 27 counties, 13 states and virtually every industry sector. More than 80% of our members are small businesses.

Media Contact:

Connor McCarthy

Gard Communications

press@gardcommunications.com

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 28, 2025

Oregon’s Trade Economy Remains Strong Amid Global Uncertainty

New data shows 1 in 8 Oregon jobs tied to international trade

PORTLAND, Ore. – Oregon makes its mark in the global economy, according to the newly released 2024 State of Trade Report.

The report shows that over 270,000 Oregon jobs, roughly one in eight, are connected to international trade in goods and services, with export-driven industries driving higher-than-average wages and sustained economic growth across the state.

“Portland and Oregon are on the Pacific Rim, and international commerce is core to our economic and regional identity. Trade supports hundreds of thousands of families in both rural and urban areas,” said Andrew Hoan, President and CEO of the Portland Metro Chamber. “This latest report reinforces those facts. As we navigate an increasingly complex trade environment, we must expand these connections to keep our economy resilient.”

Key findings from the 2024 report include:

• $42 billion in goods and services exports in 2022 ($34.4 billion in goods and $8.2 billion in services).
• 88% of Oregon’s exporters are small and medium-sized businesses, demonstrating the critical role of local companies in global markets.
• 10.3% of Oregon’s GDP is tied to goods exports, with services exports estimated to add an additional 3–5%.
• Semiconductors remain Oregon’s top export, highlighting the state's central role in the global high-tech supply chain.

The report also underscores Oregon’s trade surplus, a distinction shared by only 11 states. Much of this surplus stems from high-value exports like semiconductors and transportation equipment, industries that also rely heavily on imports for parts and components.

The state’s evolving trade partnerships also come into focus. Exports to Mexico surged from $464 million in 2018 to $6.26 billion in 2024, now making Mexico Oregon’s top export destination. The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) has played a critical role in expanding access for Oregon goods, from motor vehicle parts to agricultural products.

However, new and proposed tariffs are raising red flags. Industries like agriculture and advanced manufacturing face growing exposure to retaliatory measures, disrupted supply chains, and rising costs.

“We continue hearing from countless Oregonians whose businesses and livelihoods depend on access to global markets—from distillers in Hood River who import bottles from Asia to fill with their products, to small companies in Portland and farmers statewide who face retaliatory tariffs on the Oregon-grown goods they export. Their stories underscore just how much international trade affects everyday Oregonians, their livelihoods and our state’s economy, and why we must do everything possible to support it.”

 
“Trade isn’t just a headline issue; it’s about jobs, wages, and the future of Oregon communities,” said Angela Wilhelms, president and CEO of Oregon Business & Industry. “To remain competitive, we must create a climate at the local, state and federal level where importers and exporters across Oregon can thrive.”

The Oregon State of Trade report offers a comprehensive look at how international trade supports Oregon’s economy, highlighting its role in driving job creation, wage growth, and global competitiveness. Compiled using federal data, economic modeling, and industry input, the report analyzes both goods and services exports across key industries and regions. It provides a detailed view of Oregon’s trade footprint, showing how sectors like semiconductors, agriculture and transportation equipment contribute to a diversified and globally connected economy. The report also maps out the impact on employment, revealing that trade-related jobs often pay higher wages and are vital to both urban centers and rural communities.

The State of Trade report is a key tool for strategic planning, policy development and business support. It helps guide investment in infrastructure, identifies vulnerable industries and underscores the importance of resilient trade relationships, especially with top partners like Mexico, China and Malaysia. As trade dynamics shift, the report equips the state with data-driven insights to navigate global uncertainties, advocate for local industries, and sustain the economic benefits of a robust trade network.

The full 2024 State of Trade Report is available online here.

About Portland Metro Chamber:

The Portland Metro Chamber (The Chamber) is greater Portland’s Chamber of Commerce and represents the largest, most diverse network of businesses in the region. The Chamber advocates for the health of our economy at all levels of government to support commerce, livability, community, and the region’s overall prosperity. We represent more than 2,200 members, from 27 counties, 13 states and virtually every industry sector. More than 80% of our members are small businesses.

Media Contact:

Connor McCarthy

Gard Communications

press@gardcommunications.com

SALEM, Ore. – May is Wildfire Awareness Month. Oregon experiences its heaviest wildfire activity during the summer months, but fires can occur at any time of year including spring. Keep Oregon Green, in partnership with federal, state, tribal and local fire and emergency response agencies, will be spreading the word about the steps we call can take to prevent the start of careless, unwanted wildfires this summer, and encouraging Oregonians to create defensible space around homes and outbuildings.

At stake: lives, property and scenic beauty

Before heading outdoors this summer, be sure to contact the agency or landowner who manages the land at your destination for an update on current fire restrictions or bans. Everyone should be familiar with these restrictions before building open fires or using equipment that could ignite a wildfire.

Only You Can Prevent Wildfires

Keep Oregon Green has been fighting wildfire with publicity since 1941, and this season the Association is reviving vintage billboard artwork from the 1950’s with Smokey’s timeless image and well-known slogan. This year’s campaign calls on the public to predict the outcome of their actions and do everything they can to prevent wildfire ignitions. Campaign artwork, PSAs, and additional wildfire safety tips can be found at keeporegongreen.org and its various social media platforms.

Coming soon: More Wildfire Awareness Month tips

During May, a new wildfire prevention topic will be shared each week to help homeowners and recreationists learn how to prevent their outdoor activities from sparking the next wildfire. For more information, visit the websites for Keep Oregon Green at www.keeporegongreen.org, the Oregon Department of Forestry at www.oregon.gov/odf, and the Oregon State Fire Marshal at https://www.oregon.gov/osfm/education/pages/prevent-wildfires.aspx.

Follow Oregon wildfire news and prevention updates on social media: @keeporegongreen, @ORDeptForestry and @OSFM.

Gresham-Barlow School District selects next principal of Gresham High School

Former Gresham High assistant principal returns to lead school

The Gresham-Barlow School District announced today that Aki Mori has been selected to be the next principal of Gresham High School. Mori currently serves as the principal of Raleigh Park Elementary in the Beaverton School District. He was also the principal at Beaverton’s McKinley Elementary. He has six years of experience serving as an assistant principal at the high school level, with three of those years at Gresham High.

"In Aki, we've found a leader whose comprehensive administrative expertise is matched by an exceptional talent for building bridges,” said Interim Superintendent John Koch.  “His commitment to understanding every individual, fostering growth, and cultivating strong relationships, coupled with his extensive experience in K-12 education, instills in me complete confidence. He's precisely the person to champion an inclusive environment where every student and each staff member can thrive."                                    

The school district used an extensive selection process to determine who should be GHS’s next principal. The district screened several candidates and selected an initial group to interview with district administrators. Finalists were then asked to engage with staff, students, and community members before meeting with the district’s executive leadership team. 

Gresham High School teacher Brad Cook was a part of the group of staff members who met with the candidates. He believes Mori is the right person to lead GHS into the future.

“He is a kind, humble, extremely intelligent individual,” said Cook. “He has a wealth of knowledge in all areas of education. He will be a pillar of this community.”                                                      

Before joining the administrative ranks, Mori taught at the middle school and high school levels in various special education roles. He earned his initial administrator's license from Concordia University. He has a master’s degree in special education from the University of California and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Georgetown University.

The son of immigrants, Mori values and understands the challenges of growing up in a multicultural and multilingual household. During his administrative career, he has worked to support students and families who may experience barriers to fully participating in a successful school life. 

Mori will begin serving as principal on July 1, 2025. Currently, Ted Zehr serves as the school’s interim principal.

OREGON CITY – In celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, Clackamas Community College invites the public to a free screening of the documentary “Island Soldier.” This free event is hosted by the college’s Cougar Leadership, Education and Advocacy for Progress (LEAP) Office in collaboration with Veterans Services.

The screening will take place Tuesday, May 6, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., in the McLoughlin Auditorium on the Oregon City campus. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. Snacks and beverages will be available, and a raffle for prizes will be held at the end of the screening. The event is open to all members of the community, but registration is required. Register at https://bit.ly/island-soldier. 

Directed by Nathan Fitch, “Island Soldier” follows the personal stories of U.S. military service members from the Freely Associated States — the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Palau. These island nations are connected to the United States through the Compact of Free Association, granting citizens a unique non-immigrant status that allows them to live and work in the U.S. indefinitely.

“‘Island Soldier’ illustrates a larger story of a remote region whose interests are caught in the ever-changing tides of international politics… [It] asks challenging questions while offering viewers a unique perspective on a globalized world,” according to the film’s official website.

To learn more about the film, visit the official website or watch the trailer. Potential trigger warning to former military service members and veterans, as there are short clips of war.

For questions or more information about the event, contact CCC’s LEAP Office at  diversity@clackamas.edu. CCC’s Veterans Services can be reached at vetinfo@clackamas.edu. For ADA accommodations, contact the Disability Resource Center at 503-594-6357 or c@clackamas.edu" style="text-decoration-line: none;">drc@clackamas.edu.

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Salem, Oregon— Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) and Oregon Trails Coalition will host eight virtual focus groups in May to better understand the needs of different types of trail users who use land and water trails throughout Oregon and not just at Oregon State Parks.

OPRD launched an online survey this month to collect feedback through April 30. The focus groups expand that effort and take a deeper dive into the needs of different trail users including mountain bikers, paddlers, hikers and adaptive equipment users.

The information from the survey and focus groups will help inform the Oregon Statewide Trails Plan, which provides guidance to OPRD as well as other federal, state, and local agencies and private sector partners. It outlines trends and issues, creates priorities for grant funding and recommends actions to improve trails over the next 10 years.  

Participants can join the 90-minute Zoom sessions to provide feedback. Anyone interested in joining, can register in advance using the links below:

• May 5: OHV / ATV Focus Group Noon to 1:30 p.m.
• May 7: BIPOC Nature Network Trails Plan Focus Group Noon to 1:30 p.m.
• May 8: Mountain Biking and Bikepacking Focus Group 4-5:30 p.m.
• May 14: Adaptive Equipment Users and Disability Trails Plan Focus Group Noon to 1:30 p.m.
• May 15: Winter/Snow Trail Focus Group (Non-motorized and motorized) Noon to 1:30 p.m.
• May 27: Hiking, Trail Running, Backpacking, Equestrian User Focus Group 4:30- 6 p.m.
• May 29: Paddling (Flat water and Whitewater) Focus Group 4-5:30 p.m.
• Agency Partners Trails Plan Focus Group Meeting TBD.

Check the website for more information including updates such as the time and link for the agency partners trails plan focus group: https://www.oregontrailscoalition.org/post/oregon-state-trails-plan-share-your-trail-user-experience-in-focus-groups-this-may

--- UPDATE ---

Gresham, Ore.— Shortly after 1:30 a.m. on April 27, Gresham Police responded to a report of a shooting in the 4700 block of SW 11^th St.  Officers learned a shooting had taken place inside an apartment.  Multiple rounds went through walls into a neighboring apartment. 

A teenager sleeping in the neighboring apartment was struck by gunfire.  Officers rendered immediate aid, and medical responders transported the 13-year-old victim to a local hospital; however, he did not survive.  The name of the victim is not being released at the request of family.

Officers located another person who had been struck by gunfire a short distance from the shooting scene.  That person was transported to a local hospital for treatment of serious, but not life-threatening injuries. 

The East County Major Crimes Team is investigating the shooting.  Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to contact Detective Lindsay Friderich at Lindsay.Friderich@ GreshamOregon.gov or Detective Martin Daly at tin.Daly@GreshamOregon.gov">Martin.Daly@GreshamOregon.gov. 

--- ORIGINAL RELEASE ---

Gresham, Ore.— Gresham Police responded to multiple reports of shots being fired in the 4700 block of SW 11^th St shortly after 1:30 Sunday morning.  Officers found two people at the scene who had suffered gunshot wounds.  They were both transported to local hospitals for treatment.  One person was pronounced deceased at the hospital.  The other remains hospitalized with injuries that are not believed to be life threatening. 

The East County Major Crimes Team is investigating the shooting.  Anyone with information can contact Detective Lindsay Friderich at iderich@GreshamOregon.gov">Lindsay.Friderich@GreshamOregon.gov or Detective Martin Daly at tin.Daly@GreshamOregon.gov">Martin.Daly@GreshamOregon.gov. 

COLUMBIA COUNTY, Ore. 27 April 2025 – On Saturday, April 26, 2025, at about 2:29 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 30 in Columbia County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a gray Volkswagen Jetta, operated by Daren James McLeod (48) of Clatskanie, was traveling eastbound on Hwy. 30 near milepost 62 when it crossed the center line into oncoming traffic. The Volkswagen crashed head-on into a black Ford F-350 pickup, operated by Michael Todd Olson (63) of Hammond, hauling a camping trailer.

The operator of the Volkswagen (McLeod) was declared deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Ford (Olson) had minor injuries and was not transported.

The highway was closed for about 4.5 hours for the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Columbia River Fire and Rescue, Columbia County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
 

# # #

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

At 11:28 on April 27^th, Vancouver Fire responded to a single vehicle rollover just east of 172^nd Ave on NE Ward Rd.  Battalion Chief 2 and Engine 4 arrived to find 1 sedan on its top with a passenger trapped in the vehicle.  The driver had been able to remove herself from the car and was uninjured.  The on scene crew worked to stabilize the car and gain access to the trapped person.  Truck 10 arrived and quickly formed a plan to carefully remove the passenger using electric extrication tools.  American Medical Response transported the patient to a local hospital in fair condition.  Investigation is being conducted by Clark County Sheriffs office.  Vancouver Fire would like to remind everyone that seatbelts save lives. 

Richard Cheung has been found safe and is now home. PPB would like to thank the community for their help.

###PPB###

Original Message Below

The Portland Police Bureau is seeking information about a missing man last seen in the Richmond Neighborhood.

Richard Cheung left his home in the 1800 block of Southeast Ladd Avenue at about 3:00 p.m. and was last seen around 7:48 p.m. in the 3200 block of Southeast Kelly Street after having contact with Portland Street Response, where he declined their services. Richard initially left his residence to search for cans and uses a dark blue baby stroller to transport them with. Richard usually searches for cans in the alleyways of Ladd’s Addition.

Richard Cheung is a 90-year-old Asian male, 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 100 lbs. Richard was last seen wearing multiple layers of jackets, but the colors are unknown. Richard had a stroke several years ago and is partially paralyzed on the right side. He takes some medications but is otherwise healthy.  Richard does not have memory or cognitive issues. He speaks Cantonese and his English is limited.  A DMV photo of Richard has been provided but he appears thinner now.

PPB efforts to locate Richard have so far been unsuccessful. If anyone sees Richard, please call 911. If anyone has non-time-sensitive information about him, please contact the Portland Police Missing Persons Unit by e-mail missing@police.portlandoregon.gov.
 

Photo: DMV Photo of Richard Cheung

Photo: Baby stroller similar to Richard’s

###PPB###

April 27, 2025

Portland, OR- Multnomah County Judge Andrew Lavin followed the State and victim’s family recommendation and sentenced Frederick Deatric Moore to 17.5 years in prison on April 25, 2025. 

He’ll serve 10 years for Manslaughter in the First Degree and another 7.5 years for Attempted Manslaughter in the Second Degree.

Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney isten.kyle-castelli@mcda.us" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Kristen Kyle-Castelli said: “I am grateful that Judge Lavin imposed the maximum sentence allowed by law and recognized the impact Moore’s action had on both victims in this case.”

Below is our earlier release from Moore’s conviction which has more context.

GUILTY VERDICT IN TRIAL OF MAN CHARGED WITH INTENTIONALLY RUNNING DOWN A PEDESTRIAN WITH HIS TRUCK NEAR EASTPORT PLAZA.

3/13/25

A Multnomah County jury today convicted Frederick Moore on multiple charges connected to the death of a pedestrian on June 6, 2022. 

The jury convicted Moore of Manslaughter in the First Degree, Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver- in this count an injury was involved,  Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Attempted Assault in the First Degree and Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver- in this count property damage was involved.

THE FACTS:

On June 6, 2022, Vincent Timothy was walking northbound on SE 82nd Street. Frederick

Moore had already turned into the parking lot of Eastport Plaza. When Timothy emerged from behind some buildings, Moore moved his vehicle onto SE Center St and waited about 30 feet behind the stop sign. As Timothy began walking on the sidewalk near the truck, Moore quickly accelerated and struck Timothy, who was dragged under Moore’s GMC Canyon. Timothy sustained significant injuries. Moore continued to drive across the street, conducted a U-turn and returned now facing eastbound. Witness Todd Henderson saw the incident and began yelling at the driver that he had killed the man. Moore then accelerated and aimed the truck at Henderson. Henderson jumped out of the way, but his bicycle was run over by Moore’s truck. Moore conducted another U-Turn and exited his truck.  A citizen followed Moore’s vehicle and the license plate was relayed to 911. 

Portland Police Bureau Detectives quickly learned that the suspect vehicle was registered to Moore’s wife.  Detectives executed a search warrant on June 7, 2022 to seize the suspect truck.  Detectives noticed damage that corresponded to evidence left at the scene.  

Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Kristen Kyle-Castelli prosecuted the case for the state.

“It was an incredibly violent act– hitting someone with your truck then aiming for a witness who shouted at you, is shocking. We still don't have a reason for why this happened. It leaves the family with a lot of questions. The fact that he is already a convicted murderer whose sentence ended in 2018, just four years before this incident is astounding,” said Kyle-Castelli.

“This is incredibly tragic. The deceased victim’s family is kind. The victim that survived was dedicated to seeing justice for the deceased man he did not know. I hope these convictions give them some level of closure,” Kyle-Castelli said. 

The District Attorney’s office would like to thank DA Investigator Colby Painter, DA Investigator Kirk Tonkin, and, DA Victim’s Advocate Allison Miller who did a phenomenal job helping the family during this difficult time.  The District Attorney’s Office would also like to thank Portland Police Bureau Detective Eric McDaniel, who remained dedicated to seeking justice for the victims in this case.

Frederick Moore is in custody and is scheduled to be sentenced April 25, 2025 at 9am.

He faces a minimum of 10 years in prison.

On Sunday, April 27, 2025 at 7:04 a.m., officers from the North Precinct responded to a call of a body found near the intersection of Flint Avenue and North Tillamook Street, on a grassy area next to Interstate 5. Police arrived at the location and found a person who was deceased.

Portland Police Bureau detectives responded to the scene to investigate. If anyone has information about this incident, they are asked to please contact Detective Ryan Foote at ryan.foote@police.portlandoregon.gov, (503) 823-0781 or Detective Matt Brown at matthew.brown@police.portlandoregon.gov (503) 823-0859. Please reference case number 25-108644.

The identity of the victim will be released after the Medical Examiner has confirmed the cause of death and after family members have been notified. The PIO is not responding to the scene. More information will be released when appropriate.

###PPB###

Tigard Police officers responded to a deadly crash this evening between a vehicle and a pedestrian on SW Gaarde Street.

At 7:16 PM today (4/26/25), officers responded to the crash in the 10800 block of SW Gaarde Street. Officers learned a 48-year-old man who was driving a minivan was heading westbound on Gaarde when he hit a pedestrian. Officers and emergency services attempted CPR, but sadly, the pedestrian died at the scene.

The driver stayed on the scene and is cooperating with the investigation. It does not appear that the driver was speeding or impaired at the time of the crash.

The pedestrian, an adult man, is not being identified at this time pending family notifications.

The Washington County Crash Analysis Reconstruction Team (CART) also responded to the scene, and SW Gaarde was closed temporarily until around 10:30 PM for their investigation.

###

EUGENE, Ore. - Members of the Oregon National Guard supported the University of Oregon Ducks annual spring football game on April 26, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. 

The Oregon National Guard held recruiting displays outside the stadium, giving the public a chance to interact with military equipment and speak with service members. 

“We get to showcase what we do, some of the vehicles we have, and what we’re capable of,” said Master Sgt. Brandon Chase, Oregon Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Noncommissioned Officer In Charge of Eugene, Springfield, and Corvallis. “We’re letting them know that we live here and we serve here and we’re huge Duck fans.”

Prior to kickoff, service members, veterans, and their families held a large U.S. flag in the center of the field as Oregon Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Duane Reno with the 234th Army Band sang the national anthem. As the flag was walked off the field, two F-15 Eagles assigned to the 173rd Fighter Wing at Klamath Falls flew overhead.

During halftime, new recruits and some currently serving members of the military took the Oath of Enlistment in the end field. 

At the conclusion of the game, more than 125 service members lined up with the football team to participate in an “End of Game Exchange.”

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 Lebanon Fire District crews responded Saturday  to a structure fire  in the 41000 block of Conser Hill Rd that was ignited by an unattended burn pile. The fire quickly spread, burning approximately one acre of surrounding grass and brush before firefighters were able to bring it under control.

Firefighters arrived on scene to find the blaze threatening nearby structures and vegetation. Crews acted swiftly to contain the fire, preventing it from causing further damage. No injuries were reported.

Lebanon Fire District would like to remind residents that burn piles should never be left unattended, and that fire safety guidelines must be followed, especially during dry conditions.

The cause of the fire has been confirmed as an improperly monitored burn pile. Lebanon Fire urges the community to remain vigilant to prevent future incidents

At 1:56pm, on Saturday April 26th, Forest Grove Fire & Rescue was dispatched to a reported brush fire on NW Agaard Road in rural Washington County. Crews arrived 17 minutes later to find fire burning in a clear cut and spreading up hill. Firefighters deployed hose lines around both sides of the fire. It took firefighters 20 minutes to stop the forward progress of the fire and have the perimeter of the fire covered by hose lines. It took firefighters another hour and a half of moping up hotspots and digging containment line around the fire perimeter. In total, the fire burned approximately 1/2 of an acre. This land was logged about a year ago and replanted with new trees over the winter. 

The fire came within 50 feet of a nearby house, but thankfully burned away from it. Through investigation, it was found the property owner was burning cardboard and spread to nearby vegetation on logging property owned by Stimson Lumber. With varying winds, the fire spread quickly up the hillside. 
 

This area is dual covered by Forest Grove Fire & Rescue and Oregon Department of Forestry. Because the fire started on one property and spread onto another, Forestry Officials fined the property owner.

We want to remind everyone, that if burning is allowed in your jurisdiction, follow local rules on what is and isn't allowed to be burn. If you're allowed to burn, never leave a burn pile unattended and have a shovel and water hose ready to be used. Also burn in an area away from vegetation that could catch fire.

Forest Grove Fire & Rescue was assisted on scene by Banks Fire District, Cornelius Fire Department, Oregon Department of Forestry, Gaston Fire District, Washington County Sheriffs Office and Oregon State Police.

 
Scene Information:

Brush Units: 6
Engines: 2
Water Tenders: 2
Chiefs: 2
 

Total Firefighters: 30

# # #

OREGON CITY – Writers of all levels are invited to gather inspiration, sharpen their skills and connect with fellow creatives at the annual Compose Creative Writing Conference on Saturday, May 17, hosted by the Clackamas Community College English Department.

This year's keynote speaker is Stephen Graham Jones, the New York Times-bestselling author of nearly 40 novels, short story collections, novellas and comic books, including “The Only Good Indians,” “My Heart is a Chainsaw,” “Mongrels,” “Earthdivers” and “I was a Teenage Slasher.” Jones is one of the most prolific authors in publishing and among its most decorated. He is a National Endowment for the Arts recipient and has won many awards for his fiction and graphic novels. He is the Ivena Baldwin Professor of English at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

In addition to the keynote address, the conference will feature a full day of workshops and panels, including:

• Panel discussion with Jones, Rene Denfeld and Terry Blas

• YES, AND keep writing: First draft as improv with Curtis Chen

• Writing and drawing: Starting a career in comics with Terry Blas

• Finding the enchanted: How to bring the poetic to your writing with Rene Denfeld

• Walking off the page: Crafting compelling characters with Rachel Attias

• Uncovering/recovering your story, your vision, your voice with Gina Ochsner

• Radical revision with Matthew Dickman

• Unwinding the line: Contemporary poetry and dissent with Jennifer Pons

Participants can customize their day by choosing sessions that best match their interests and creative goals.

Event details:

• Date: Saturday, May 17

• Time: 10 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

• Location: Clackamas Community College, Oregon City campus

• Registration: $25 general admission | $10 CCC students

Register online at www.clackamas.edu/register-compose. For more information about the event, visit www.clackamas.edu/compose. To learn more about the college’s English Department and offerings, visit www.clackamas.edu/english. Clackamas Community College is located at 19600 Molalla Ave., Oregon City.

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Over the weekend of April 19, 2025, the David Hill bell and placard on display at the Hillsboro School District Oak Street Campus (440 SE Oak St) was stolen. The bell is the original bell from the David Hill School.

Anyone with information is asked to call 503-629-0111 regarding case number 25-7891.

Vancouver, Wash. ̵ Clark County Treasurer Alishia Topper will open the drive-through tax-payment drop-off window for the final two days of April, adding a convenient payment option for customers to meet the April 30 property tax due date.

The drive-through kiosk will be available from 9 am to 4 pm on Tuesday, April 29, and Wednesday, April 30, at the east entrance of the parking structure at the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St.

This convenient option is for pre-written check payments only. No other forms of payment will be accepted at the kiosk.

For additional convenience, a secure drop box is located inside the Public Service Center on the first floor. Taxpayers may seal their check payments in an envelope and drop them off between 8 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

Online payment options are also available. Taxpayers may pay via:

• E-Check (free) from a checking or savings account
• Debit card for a flat fee of $3.95
• Credit card with a 2.39% vendor fee

To pay online, visit: www.clark.wa.gov/treasurer/payment-options or call 1.833.440.8685.
To receive your tax statement electronically and manage your property taxes online, visit: www.paydici.com/clark-county-wa/search/landing.

Tax payments can also be mailed to:
Clark County Treasurer
PO Box 35150
Seattle, WA 98124-5150

Please use the return envelope and payment coupon included with your statement.

For in-person assistance, the Joint Lobby is open Monday through Thursday, 9 am to 4 pm. It is on the second floor of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St.

The Treasurer’s Office is available by phone and email Monday through Friday, 9 am to 4:30 pm.
Visit clark.wa.gov/treasurer or call 564.397.2252 for more information.

To avoid interest charges, payments must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

DATE: Monday, April 28, 2025

TIME: 6:00 p.m.

LOCATION: Hockinson Community Center & Zoom (link on website calendar)

ADDRESS: 15916 NE 182nd Ave, Brush Prairie, WA 98606

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) conducted a search warrant in Troutdale, resulting in the recovery of stolen motorcycles, a firearm and prohibited weapons, and the arrest of a suspect.

The investigation began on April 8, 2025, when a MCSO deputy, currently assigned as the City of Troutdale Resource Deputy, conducted a traffic stop on Troutdale Road. The Harley Davidson motorcycle he stopped was not displaying a license plate. The deputy was unable to locate a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the motorcycle. Suspecting the motorcycle was stolen, the deputy seized the bike for a VIN inspection. The rider was connected to a home located in the 500 block of SE 18th St. in Troutdale. The deputy recognized the address as a location where he had previously arrested 42-year-old Michael G. Falk and had observed an unusually high number of motorcycles on the residential property.

The deputy collaborated with the Portland Police Bureau Auto Theft Task Force, who conducted a VIN inspection of the motorcycle and confirmed it had been reported stolen. Based on this finding, the deputy obtained a search warrant for Falk’s property, which was conducted on April 17, 2025.

During the search of the property, among around 15 motorcycles and motorcycle parts, law enforcement officials discovered two stolen motorcycles, two additional motorcycles with their VINs intentionally removed, a firearm and other prohibited weapons.

Michael Falk, who resides at the location with his elderly father, was arrested on an outstanding warrant. The following charges were directly presented to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office: two counts of Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, two counts of Trafficking in Vehicles with Altered VINs, two counts of Felon in Possession of Prohibited weapons and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Today, a Multnomah County grand jury indicted Falk on all charges.

The investigation also revealed concerning information regarding the welfare of Mr. Falk’s father. The deputy contacted Adult Protective Services to help the father in seeking the eviction of Mr. Falk from the property.

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office acknowledges the significant impact this situation has had on the neighborhood. During the search warrant, neighbors expressed their relief and appreciation for law enforcement intervention. The City of Troutdale Code Enforcement also responded to the scene and will be addressing code violations at the residence.

MCSO Captain Rob Stewart, City of Troutdale Chief of Police, commended the deputy for his diligent work, stating, "This deputy’s keen observation, thorough investigation and commitment to addressing both criminal activity and neighborhood livability issues are exemplary. This case showcases the dedication of our deputies to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our community."

Community policing is essential to strengthening trust, collaboration and long-term solutions to public safety concerns. Community Resource Deputies work closely with city leaders, neighborhood associations, businessowners and residents to increase participation in crime reduction efforts and improve coordination to resolve public safety challenges. By building lasting relationships and encouraging proactive problem-solving, our Community Resource Deputies help create safer, more connected communities.

The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) and Oregon AFL-CIO invite the public to attend the Workers Memorial Day observance on Monday, April 28, in Salem. The ceremony will recognize, remember, and honor those who died of work-related injuries and illnesses in 2024.

The event will take place at 12:30 p.m. at the Fallen Worker Memorial outside the Labor and Industries Building, 350 Winter St. NE, on the Capitol Mall. The memorial service, coordinated by Oregon AFL-CIO, will feature remarks from union leaders, safety and health advocates, elected officials, and faith leaders.

“Every day, people across Oregon go to work to provide for themselves and their families, to help their fellow Oregonians and make the state a thriving place to live,” Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said. “Today, we honor the Oregonians whose lives were tragically lost doing their job and offer our deepest condolences to their families. Today, we recommit to our efforts to make working conditions safer and protect workers across the state.”

During the ceremony, the names of Oregon workers who died on the job in 2024 will be read aloud. The event will include a reading of Gov. Kotek’s proclamation, and remarks by Oregon OSHA Administrator Renée Stapleton and Oregon AFL-CIO President Graham Trainor.  

Oregon workplaces are safer and healthier today than in previous decades. Yet, there are still far too many preventable on-the-job deaths each year.

“Job safety laws remain far too weak, allowing employers to endanger employees often without repercussion,” Trainor said. “Oregon’s unions will always stand up against any attack on the safety and health of working people. On this solemn day, we honor the workers who did not make it home and demand increased safety, more severe consequences for safety violators, and dignity at work.”

Through a partnership of government, labor, and business working together to improve workplace safety and health, Oregon’s fatality and injury and illness rates have steadily declined for decades.

Nevertheless, the annual Workers Memorial Day observance serves as a reminder to renew our call to protect workers from on-the-job hazards. Under the Oregon Safe Employment Act, employers must maintain safe and healthy workplaces, and workers have a right to safe and healthy working conditions.

“Workers Memorial Day is not just a day of remembrance,” Stapleton said. “It is a day to renew our call to action. It is a day to revitalize our commitment to our mission: to create safe and healthy workplaces, where the risk of death is eliminated and where every worker returns home at the end of their shift, safe and sound.”

The annual Workers Memorial Day serves as a nationwide day of remembrance. The observance is traditionally held on April 28 because the U.S. Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act on that date in 1970.

Oregon OSHA encourages employers and workers to use free workplace safety and health resources. Those resources include:

Oregon OSHA

• Rights and responsibilities
• Protect against retaliation
• Consultation services
• Technical services
• Keeping employees safe
• Education and training

DCBS Multicultural Communications Program

• Providing outreach to communities with limited English proficiency

Ombuds Office for Oregon Workers

• Independent advocate for Oregon workers, including guidance on workers’ rights and responsibilities in workers’ compensation and workplace safety and health

###

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.

About Oregon AFL-CIO: Oregon AFL-CIO is the statewide federation of affiliated unions, representing more than 300,000 working Oregonians. Visit https://www.oraflcio.org/.

MEDIA ADVISORY

Pacific Power to share wildfire season outlook

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 20 to April 23, one Cryptosporidium oocyst was detected in the sample collected on April 21. Cryptosporidium was not detected in the samples collected on April 20, April 22, or April 23. Prior to these detections, Cryptosporidium was last detected from the Bull Run Watershed intake on April 15, 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.

Update 4/25/2025 9:15am

The Clark County Sheriff's Office can confirm that the deceased person in this incident is Charles Gardiner, the Interim Chief of the Cowlitz Tribal Public Safety Department.

The Clark County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit is actively investigating this case, including the circumstances of why Gardiner was in the residence.

Due to the nature of this investigation, additional details cannot be released at this time. 

Additional updates will be released when more information is available.

On April 23^rd, at around 9:43 p.m., Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) deputies responded to a report of an occupied residential burglary in the 9000 block of NE 79^th Street in Northeast Vancouver. The caller reported a male subject inside the residence. The male subject fled the residence on foot.

As deputies and other law enforcement officers searched the area, they located a vehicle with a deceased person inside matching the subject’s description. Evidence suggests the individual died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The CCSO Major Crimes Unit is investigating the incident.

The Portland Office of Violence Prevention is now accepting applications for the 2025 Safer Portland Grant to help reduce gun violence through community-based prevention efforts.

A total of $1,000,000 is available. The grant will be comprised of $700,000 in large dollar grants and $300,000 in small dollar grants. Organizations can apply for up to $100,000 in the large grant category, or up to $50,000 in the small grant category. Each grant may vary based on the scope of work and number of community members served.

All applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on May 9, 2025. 

Due to the limited availability of funds, applicants are strongly encouraged to only apply to the appropriate grant amount necessary for direct program activities so the Office of Violence Prevention can maximize available resources.

The grant prioritizes prevention efforts in Cully, Hazelwood, Eliot, and Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhoods, along with other areas known for high gun violence rates, but organizations throughout Portland are encouraged to apply.

Examples of programs supported by the grant include, but are not limited, to:

• Wraparound services, including mental health/cognitive behavioral therapy, aftercare support for families of victims, and intervention support services.
• Social activities, including youth and adult mediation/mentoring, preventative events/programs/workshops, and arts/culture/recreation programs.
• Workforce development and economic mobility, including job training and readiness, job placement, and financial and basic needs support for families affected by gun violence.

Visit https://www.portland.gov/community-safety/ovp/safer-portland for instructions on how to apply.

SEASIDE, Oregon— Saddle Mountain State Natural Area is scheduled for multiple temporary closures due to construction and tree projects with the first one starting May 6 through May 10 and additional closures in late summer and fall 2025.

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is partnering with Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) in May to remove potentially hazardous trees along Highway 26 near Saddle Mountain.

The work will begin May 5 and include intermittent lane closures on Highway 26 and Saddle Mountain Road for the first few days of the project. Saddle Mountain State

Natural Area will be closed temporarily May 6 and is expected to reopen May 10.

The collaboration gives OPRD additional support in removing trees that pose a risk to park infrastructure, visitors and their property while providing an opportunity for ODOT sawyers to get tree felling training.

Saddle Mountain State Natural Area is also scheduled to close for several additional projects in late summer and fall 2025.

• August: Bridge repair work that is slated to last about one week.
• August/September: Road repair project that includes repaving or overlaying seven of the nine miles of Saddle Mountain Road as well as culvert repair and replacement of crushed stone along road shoulders. The work is scheduled to last about one month.
• Fall: Crews will remove hazard trees and fire-damaged trees and thin some areas for forest health. The work is slated to last two to four months depending on the weather and construction schedules.

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department will share additional information and dates for the closures as they become available. For updates, please check the park webpage at https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=140.

UPDATE
Missing 12-year-old has been located

.RELEASE DATE:               April 24, 2025
CASE NUMBER:                 25-16523

Gresham, Ore.— Gresham Police is asking for the public’s assistance with locating a missing 12-year-old who was last seen leaving her home in the 100 block of SE Hogan Rd.

Genevieve Scott left home just after 4 p.m. after getting upset and has not returned. She is described as a White female with blonde hair, is 5-feet and 4-inches tall and weighs 120 pounds. Genevieve was last seen wearing a T-shirt, black shorts, and black Ugg boots. It is not known if Genevieve brought her required medicine with her.

If anyone has information about Genevieve’s whereabouts, they are asked to call the non-emergency police line at 503-823-3333.

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• Road closures and lane restrictions are expected surrounding the Capitol Mall.
• Drivers should use extra caution in response to increased pedestrian traffic in the area.
• The permitted event in the public right-of-way is scheduled from 1 – 2:30 p.m. May 1.

Salem, Ore. — The City of Salem is alerting the public about street closures related to a planned one-day event May 1 near the Oregon State Capitol Mall. Permitted street closures for the event will include portions of State Street NE and Center Street NE between Cottage Street NE and 12th Street NE, and Church Street NE between Center and State streets. The closures will be in effect from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
 

Drivers should expect increased pedestrian traffic and some delays. Temporary signage indicating road closures and lane restrictions will be in place. Drivers are asked to plan accordingly and seek alternate routes during the listed event times. Please drive safely and watch for an increase in pedestrians in the area.

Closure Details

• Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025
• Time: 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Affected Streets: Center Street NE, Chemeketa Street NE, Court Street NE, State Street NE, Cottage Street NE, Capitol Street NE, Church Street NE, 12th Street NE, and Waverly Street NE, all in the vicinity of the Oregon State Capitol and Capitol Mall
• Details: Full or partial street closures will be in effect in the area bordered by Center, Cottage, State, Waverly, and Capitol streets northeast; this will accommodate the permitted activities and ensure the safety of all participants and visitors
   

The City of Salem appreciates your cooperation and patience during this event and is committed to ensuring the safety and accessibility for all residents and visitors.

If you have comments or questions, please contact the Public Works Department’s Public Information Office at oberts@cityofsalem.net">jproberts@cityofsalem.net or 503-588-6211 ext. 7630.

###

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Prospective college students are invited to Washington State University Vancouver’s Preview Day from 4 to 6 p.m. May 8. Check in begins at 3:30 p.m. in the Dengerink Administration Building. During the two-hour program, guests will learn about WSU Vancouver’s admissions process, what it’s like to be a student and the basics of paying for college. It’s not too late to apply for fall 2025!

Meet admissions counselors when they provide a campus overview, as well as admissions requirements and how to apply. Hear from financial aid experts about how to apply for grants, loans and scholarships to help make college affordable, and get help filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA). Student Ambassadors will provide optional campus tours. Other current students will give insight into campus life, academics and student support services. All registered prospective students will have the opportunity to go home with WSU prizes.

This event is free and open to the public. RSVP to vancouver.wsu.edu/preview. Registered guests will receive a free parking pass. WSU Vancouver is located at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave. in Vancouver, east of the 134th Street exit from either I-5 or I-205, or via C-Tran bus service. Find a campus map at vancouver.wsu.edu/map. For event accessibility, contact the Access Center at 360-546-9739 or van.access.center@wsu.edu.

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 Parkrose Board of Education of School District No. 3, Multnomah County, Oregon, will convene in a Board Business Meeting on Monday, April 28, 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: Senior Night & Student School Board Representatives recognitions, May recognitions - Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage month,  Teacher Appreciation month and #SchoolLunchHeroDay. Consent agenda, Student Investment Account Application, OSBA LPC update, OSAA preventing bias incidents framework, Education Foundation dinner recap, Parkrose advocacy, Board self evaluation discussion, July and August meeting dates, Cell phone HB 2251, Superintendent evaluation update and Legislative session update 

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.

The Oregon State Marine Board held its quarterly hybrid meeting in Salem at the agency’s office and via Microsoft Teams on April 24, 2025. The meeting agenda was mostly informational for the Board: boat operations and park access to Lake Oswego, update on abandoned derelict vessel removals on the Willamette River with allocated America’s Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, and a primer on mini-jet boats.

In its only decision-making item, the Board accepted a petition by the Siletz Tribes to consider rulemaking to prohibit the use of motors above Jack Morgan Park on the Siletz River. The use of a jet pump drive is currently prohibited. The Board accepted the petition and opened the rulemaking process, which included convening a rule advisory committee with a balance of representatives and agency partners to share perspectives and aid in developing proposed rule language or finding other creative solutions. The Board asked for staff to report back for its October meeting.  

To view the meeting replay and materials, visit the Marine Board’s Public Meetings page.
 

###

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) issued the following statement on the just-released Multnomah County Chair’s 2026 executive budget. The budget proposal includes significant cuts to critical public health programs like communicable disease prevention and tracing and sexually-transmitted disease prevention and treatment. It would also eliminate beloved, evidence-based public health programs like the County's Nurse-Family Partnership—which pays for itself through significant long-term savings and benefits:

“Slashing public health programs isn’t a cost-savings. It’s a disastrous, expensive gamble that puts people’s lives on the line. These cuts could end up costing our community millions of dollars and countless lives. 

We are already facing daunting cuts to our national public services. Cutting local and national public healthcare at the same time eliminates the main pillars which support our communities’ health and safety. Without them, our public health system will crumble and our communities will be left exposed to all kinds of costly, preventable health crises. The lesson coming out of COVID is to invest in prevention. These cuts set the stage for the next outbreak. 

We cannot afford to eliminate health programs which save taxpayer dollars and provide for our most vulnerable neighbors. Nurses in Multnomah’s County’s Nurse-Family Partnership offer home visits to expectant moms to provide the care and support they need to have a healthy pregnancy and teach healthy habits and life skills. This single, life-changing intervention leads to decades-long improvements for mothers, babies and families including better long-term health outcomes, increased earnings, higher academic achievement and less violence and substance use issues. 

Empowering first-time mothers to transform their lives and create better futures for themselves and their families pays off. For every $1 invested in Nurse-Family Partnership, we save $5.70 in future costs for the highest-risk families. When it comes to health and budgets, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This is the type of program everyone in our community can be proud to stand behind.

Nurses, public health advocates and community members are calling on the Multnomah County Commissioners to save our community’s safety net and stop proposed cuts to our public health."

Liberty House, the Children’s Advocacy Center serving Marion and Polk counties, invites the community to attend its beloved Cherish the Children Auction & Dinner on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at the Salem Convention Center. This inspiring evening supports Liberty House’s work with children and families facing concerns of abuse, neglect, trauma, or grief.

“Cherish the Children is a powerful and joyful gathering,” said Eva Corbin, Board Chair. The evening features a gourmet dinner, wine, dancing, and exciting silent and live auctions, all to benefit children in our region. Doors open at 6:00 PM.

Tickets are $100 per person or $750 for a table of ten, with all proceeds directly supporting Liberty House’s critical services and programs. Guests are encouraged to dress in spring cocktail attire.

“Cherish the Children is about more than fundraising; it’s about showing our community’s shared commitment to hope and healing,” said Alison Kelley, CEO of Liberty House. “We invite everyone to be a part of this mission, enjoy a beautiful evening, and help make a difference for children and families.”

Liberty House thanks its generous sponsors, including Platinum Sponsors: Scenic Valley Farms, Rich Duncan Construction, Inc., Batteries Plus Bulbs, BMW of Salem, and Tomson Burnham; and Gold Sponsors: OnPoint Community Credit Union, Lithia Motors, Gatti Law Firm, and Mountain West Center for Community Excellence.
To purchase tickets and learn more, visit: libertyhousecenter.org/auction
________________________________________
Event Details:
What: Cherish the Children Auction & Dinner
When: Thursday, May 8, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM
Where: Salem Convention Center, 200 Commercial St SE, Salem, OR
Tickets: $100 per person | $750 for a table of ten
Dress Code: Spring cocktail attire
Website: libertyhousecenter.org/auction

About Liberty House:
Liberty House is the Children’s Advocacy Center for Marion and Polk counties, providing expert assessments, therapy, prevention, and support services to children and families navigating concerns of abuse or trauma. Learn more at libertyhousecenter.org.

POLICE POLICY COMMITTEE

MEETING SCHEDULED

The Police Policy Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a regular meeting on May 22, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. 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 Police Policy Committee's live-stream and other recorded videos, please visit DPSST’s official YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/@DPSST.

1. Introductions

2. Approve February 20, 2025, Meeting Minutes

3. Administrative Closures Consent Agenda (The following items to be ratified by one vote)
    Presented by Jennifer Levario

    a) Gregory Baldwin; DPSST No. 23593
        Basic Police Certification

    b) Todd Brightbill; DPSST No. 30976
        Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, and Supervisory Police Certifications

    c) Brian Bryson; DPSST No. 33308
        Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, and Supervisory Police, and Basic Corrections Certification

    d) Dexter Dixon; DPSST No. 30571
        Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Police Certifications

    e) Garrick Garland; DPSST No. 32091
        Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Police Certifications

    f) Dina Kashuba; DPSST No. 58371
        Basic Police Certification

    g) Hannah Ramsdell; DPSST No. 62592
        Basic Police Certification

    h) Larry Seymore; DPSST No. 41243
        Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Supervisory, Management, and Executive Police Certifications

4. Randy Clark; DPSST No. 23388; Central Point Police Department
   Presented by Melissa Lang-Bacho

5. Almedina Javor; DPSST No. 61328; Columbia River Inter-Tribal Police Department
   Presented by Melissa Lang-Bacho

6. Michael Kendoll; DPSST No. 53144; Oregon State Police
    Presented by Jennifer Levario

7. Jeffrey Kienlen; DPSST No. 30358; The Dalles Police Department
    Presented by Melissa Lang-Bacho

8. Alan Lynn; DPSST No. 31664; Albany Police Department
    Presented by Melissa Lang-Bacho

9. Kent van der Kamp; DPSST No. 44640; Deschutes County Sheriff's Office
    Presented by Kathy McAlpine and Cindy Park

10. Applicant Review Committee Nominations

11. Agency Updates

12. Next Police Policy Committee Meeting – August 21, 2025, at 10:00 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 Police 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.

The Salem Clinic Medical Foundation is proud to present internationally acclaimed positive psychology expert and New York Times bestselling author Shawn Achor for a special free event on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at the historic Elsinore Theatre in downtown Salem.

Achor, renowned for his books:The Happiness Advantage and Big Potential, as well as his TED Talk “The Happy Secret to Better Work,” which has garnered over 25 million views, will share insights on how cultivating a positive mindset can unlock greater success and well-being in individuals and communities. His work has impacted audiences in over 50 countries, including Fortune 100 companies, Camp David, Harvard University, and underserved communities worldwide.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m., with the program starting at 7:00 p.m. The evening will commence with highlights of inspiring initiatives in Salem, followed by Achor’s keynote address and a community call to action. This event is not a fundraiser; attendees are simply encouraged to bring an open mind.

Tickets are free and can be obtained exclusively online. General admission seating begins at Row M on the main floor.

For more information and to reserve your tickets, please visit the Elsinore Theatre’s official event page: Elsinore Theatre.

About Salem Clinic Medical Foundation: The Salem Clinic Medical Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of Mid-Valley residents by fostering strategic partnerships and developing a legacy of impactful programming and initiatives. salemclinicmedicalfoundation.org

Two Battle Ground High School AFJROTC cadets have been selected to attend the Air Force Flight Academy this summer, marking the sixth consecutive year that Tigers will take to the skies.

Juniors Charlie Weiner and Jeremiah Norwood will attend the eight-week flight training program at Spartan College of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The program is sponsored by Headquarters Air Force Junior ROTC.

“I can now achieve my dream of flying commercial aircraft,” Weiner said, “and it gives me a great base to go to the Air Force Academy after high school.” Weiner is currently the flight commander of his class and attends the Cascadia Tech Aviation Program.

Lt .Col. (ret.) Andrew Woodrow, the senior aerospace science instructor, said Weiner has been “immersed in the study of aerospace science since his first day at Battle Ground.” Woodrow also noted Weiner’s involvement with the precision marksmanship team.

Norwood, a CAM Academy student who also served as a flight commander and flight sergeant, expressed gratitude for the opportunity. “When I heard about the flight academy, I jumped at the thought of actually obtaining a pilot’s license. The chance to step forward toward my dream career is hard to explain, but I marvel at the truth of God’s grace for giving me this opportunity.”

Woodrow said the cadets were “truly stunned” at the announcement made in class, adding, “I really think their classmates celebrated the opportunity with them.”

Each year, only 250 students nationwide are selected from nearly 1,100 applicants for the flight academy. Since the program began in 2019, 12 cadets from Battle Ground High School have completed the certification program.

“The flight academy is essentially a $22,000 scholarship applied to one of about 24 universities across the country,” Woodrow said, adding there are no obligations for the student except to focus on the flight training during the eight-week program.

Mark Norwood, Jeremiah Norwood’s father, said the scholarship program is “a fantastic opportunity for any cadet.” He added, “We are still a bit awed that the Air Force offers such a program and are beyond grateful that Jeremiah has been given the opportunity to participate.”

Ana Taylor, Charlie Weiner’s mother, said, “Attending an Air Force-sponsored flight school, on full scholarship as a junior in high school, marks the beginning of what we expect to be an exciting and rewarding career as a pilot. This is truly going to be a before-and-after experience in his life.”

April 24, 2025

CASE# 23CR53244 

Portland, OR-A Multnomah County Jury convicted Tyree Deonte Scott of several charges related to a shooting outside The Lounge, a strip club in NE Portland. 

The defendant was convicted of: 

• Assault in the 2nd Degree with a Firearm 

• Assault in the 2nd Degree with a Firearm 

• Unlawful Use of a weapon (discharge at a person) 

• Unlawful Use of a Weapon (discharge at a vehicle)

• Discharge of a Firearm in the City

The defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 70 months in prison. 

Deputy District Attorney Andrew Wood prosecuted the case for the state. After the conviction he said: “The defendant imposed senseless gun violence upon the victim in this case. The victim will continue to live with the physical and emotional injuries he has suffered from this incident, but I believe the verdict of the jury will provide him with a sense that justice has been served.”

The District Attorney’s Office would like to thank Portland Police Primary Detective Jennifer Pierce, (ECST Detectives Division). In addition, MCDA investigators Nathan Tobey and Heather Hughes played important roles in the investigation of the case. We’d also like to thank Victim Advocates Nang Dunn, Rocio Peguero, and Suzanne Rapgnani. All greatly contributed to the case.

THE FACTS:

On May 23, 2023 a man was out with a friend at a strip club. They were joined by two of the friend’s family members and all four eventually went to a second strip club on NE Columbia Boulevard in Portland. While at the second location, Tyree Scott was cut off from drinking by the bartender because he was becoming belligerent. Eventually all four men left the club and as the victim was driving away, Scott pulled out a gun and fired a single shot at the victim from about 70 feet away, breaking the driver’s side window glass and hitting the victim in the left hand.

The victim drove himself to the Salmon Creek hospital.

                                                                                            ###MCDA###

Tualatin, OR – On the morning of April 23, the City of Tualatin welcomed a full house to the Grand Hotel at Bridgeport for the 2025 State of the City Breakfast. The annual event brought together residents, business leaders, community partners, regional elected officials, and City representatives—both staff and elected—to celebrate achievements and share a vision for the future.
 

The energy in the room reflected the strength of Tualatin’s vibrant and engaged community. Attendees—both familiar faces and new—gathered to hear highlights from the past year and learn about continued progress across the City’s seven priority areas:

• Neighborhood Engagement
• Economic Development
• Environment
• Culture and Identity
• Housing
• Transportation
• Parks

“This event is a powerful reminder of how much we can achieve when we work together,” said Frank Bubenik, Mayor of Tualatin. “From new housing efforts to enhancements in parks and transportation, we’re seeing the results of our community-driven approach—and we’re just getting started.”
 

The State of the City also marked the kickoff to an exciting season of community events. This June, the popular Blender Dash returns with its fun run for kids ages 5–15. In July, ¡Viva Tualatin! will once again spotlight culture, food, and togetherness in a can’t-miss summer celebration.

With so much on the horizon, the City looks forward to a summer filled with connection, celebration, and continued collaboration.

Thank you to everyone who attended and supports our community. Together, we’re making Tualatin a place we’re all proud to call home.

For more information about upcoming City events, visit www.tualatinoregon.gov/calendar.

Astoria, OR. — Clatsop County is preparing for the May 20, 2025, Regular District Election, and voters are encouraged to take note of important deadlines and updates.

Key Dates:

• April 29 – Voter registration deadline
• April 30 – Ballots begin mailing to local voters
• May 20 – Election Day – Ballots must be postmarked or dropped off by 8 p.m.
• June 16 – Deadline to certify election results

Voters’ Pamphlet:

The Clatsop County Voters’ Pamphlet will be mailed to voters the week of April 21 and is also available online at clatsopcounty.gov/elections. The pamphlet includes candidate information and measure details to help voters make informed decisions.

How to Register to Vote:

• Online: Oregon Secretary of State – Register to Vote
• In person: Clatsop County Clerk & Elections Office, 820 Exchange Street, Astoria
• By mail: Registration forms must be postmarked by April 29

Voting by Mail or Drop Box:

Ballots must be postmarked by May 20 or returned to a drop box by 8 p.m. that day.

Official Ballot Drop Sites for the May 20, 2025 Election:

• Clatsop County Clerk & Elections Office – 820 Exchange St, Astoria
• Gearhart City Hall – 698 Pacific Way
• Seaside City Hall – 989 Broadway
• Warrenton City Hall – 225 S Main Ave (back parking lot)
• Knappa High School – 41535 Old Hwy 30
• Jewell School – 83874 Hwy 103
• Cannon Beach City Hall (Temporary Location during construction) – 295 E 2nd Street

For more election information and a complete list of ballot drop site locations and maps, visit clatsopcounty.gov/elections.

###

Please see attached document

Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) arrests two in Georgia custodial interference investigation- Josephine County

On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, the Oregon State Police received information from the Grants Pass Police Department of a custodial interference investigation which originated out of the Woodstock Police Department, Cherokee County, Georgia. OSP obtained additional information that the mother, Haley Noel Nelson (32), had illegally taken her two young children under the age of five (5), from Georgia, and fled to Josephine County. Nelson had an outstanding arrest warrant out of Cherokee County with two charges; Interference with Custody (Misdemeanor) and Interstate Interference with Custody (Felony). 

At approximately 1:30 p.m., RADE personnel observed Nelson with an adult male, Carlos Figueroa (28), and both children in downtown Cave Junction. RADE took Nelson into custody on her arrest warrant and detained Figueroa, without incident. During a subsequent search of the associated vehicle, a firearm was located in plain view. Figueroa, who is a convicted felon, was arrested for Felon in Possession of a Firearm (ORS 166.270). 

Both Nelson and Figueroa were transported to the Josephine County Jail where they were lodged. 

Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) Grants Pass-Child Welfare responded to assist with the children, who were unharmed. RADE was also assisted by the OSP Central Point Area Command-Major Crimes Section and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Medford Office Task Force. RADE is comprised of the Josephine County District Attorney’s Office, the Grants Police Department, the Oregon State Police and Josephine County Community Corrections. 

# # #

  
About the Oregon State Police

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
April 24, 2025 

Media Contact 
503-934-3310 
licinfo@oem.oregon.gov" target="_blank">OEM_Publicinfo@oem.oregon.gov 

SALEM, OR – The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) outlined the impact the April 4 announcement from FEMA canceling the fiscal year 2024 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program has on Oregon. The cancellation, detailed in a memo from Acting Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Cameron Hamilton, outlines a review of BRIC programs from fiscal years 2020 through 2023 for programs communities depend on across the state.  

In addition, FEMA issued an updated advisory on April 16 further clarifying that: "as the program is concluding, the Fiscal Year 2024 BRIC funding opportunity is cancelled, no applications submitted will be reviewed and no funds will be awarded. In addition, for all BRIC applications from Fiscal Years 2020-2023, if grant funds have not been distributed to states, tribes, territories and local communities, funds will be returned either to the Disaster Relief Fund or the U.S. Treasury.” 

The BRIC grant program gives money to help communities prepare for natural disasters before they happen. For example, BRIC funds can be used to build better levees to help prevent the kind of flooding we’ve seen recently in Harney County. BRIC helps build safer roads, buildings, and other important things to keep people and property safe during a disaster. Currently, the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program is unaffected in Oregon. 

What this means:  

• Projects that were selected but not yet awarded won’t receive funding. 
• Ongoing projects may be delayed or stopped short of construction. 
• Money set aside for managing these efforts could be pulled back.  
• Without extensions or continued support, communities across Oregon will face delays or cancellations in vital infrastructure improvements designed to reduce risk and protect lives. 

FEMA is conducting a full review of active and obligated BRIC projects before further work to help Oregonians prepare for disasters in the future can continue.   

“These decisions will significantly impact communities across Oregon working to reduce disaster risk and invest in safer, more resilient infrastructure,” said OEM Director Erin McMahon. “We are actively working with federal and state legislators to communicate these financial impacts and with FEMA partners to gain clarity on next steps and timelines. I have directed my team to conduct our own review to see what projects may fit within other Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants through federal partners that are currently funded like the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant or other state grant programs.” 

The Impact on Oregon: 

• Federal share of BRIC projects: $140 million  
• Local matching share of BRIC projects: $90 million  
• Total local sunk costs: 8 of the 26 projects have a combined total of $8 million in sunk costs (details below). 
• Impact on submitted budgets: Due to funding delays and their effect on project timelines, even if the grants were reinstated, some projects will be priced out as they locked cost estimates years ago when inflation and tariffs were lower, but those locked in prices are set to expire and the new cost could be significantly higher.   

During remarks yesterday to the media, Governor Kotek referenced cuts to the BRIC grants: “These are bipartisan or nonpartisan community projects that everybody supports. I have not heard one rationale from the Trump Administration as to why they cancelled the BRIC grants.” She was speaking specifically about a project in Mapleton that received grant funding to assist with necessary upgrades to the town’s water infrastructure. You can view the full remarks at around the 25-minute mark here. 

To stay informed, OEM encourages interested parties to sign up for alerts when updates are posted on the federal action webpage: https://www.oregon.gov/oem/Pages/Federal-Changes.aspx 

Details about the 8 projects with sunk costs: 

City of Port Orford  

Utility and Infrastructure Protection Project. This project aims to address vulnerabilities in the City of Port Orford’s drinking water supply infrastructure caused by earthquakes, drought, and wildfire. It includes the installation of water meters, as well as the design, replacement, and retrofit of strategic sections of the water distribution system. The grant would ensure that the city has sufficient water to meet average daily demand while maintaining adequate emergency storage to withstand and respond to natural hazards. The project would impact a population of 1,146 residents. 

• Federal Share: $6,566,537  
• Local Share: $691,214 
• Sunk cost: $273,350 

Medford Water Commission     

Utility and Infrastructure Protection Project. This project will conduct critical infrastructure improvements at four system locations as part of the Rogue Valley Water Supply Resiliency Program (RVWSRP). The goal is to enhance the resilience of the water system against seismic events, wildfires, and droughts caused by extreme weather conditions. 

• Federal Share: $34,806,505               
• Local Share: $14,516,834 
• Sunk cost $1,875,370  

City of Grants Pass           

Water Treatment Plant Relocation Project. This project aims to relocate the Water Treatment Plant outside the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) to prevent system failure during a flooding event. The City of Grants Pass has made substantial investments in the comprehensive design of the project, contributing over 50% of the required cost match. The loss of federal grant funds jeopardizes the broader system project scope, which exceeds twice the federal contribution. To date, the city has invested over $5 million in pre-award technical engineering and design, in addition to sunk costs incurred during the subapplication process.  

• Federal Share: $50,000,000               
• Local Share: $60,800,302 
• Sunk cost: $5,000,000 

Clatsop County Government / City of Astoria Columbie Memorial Hospital        

Tsunami Vertical Evacuation Refuge Structure (TVERS) Project. This project integrates a Tsunami Vertical Evacuation Refuge Structure (TVERS) into the Columbia Memorial Hospital expansion, creating a multi-purpose facility designed to shelter the impacted population at an elevated level above tsunami inundation zones. 

• Federal Share: $13,897,122               
• Local Share: $5,955,909 
• Sunk cost $817,846 

Oregon Department of Land Conservation & Development     

Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan. Updates to the Natural Hazard Mitigation Plans (NHMP) for the Burns Paiute Tribe, as well as Columbia and Umatilla Counties, aim to enhance emergency preparedness, response, and recovery efforts while mitigating the future impacts of natural disasters. 

• Federal Share: $488,653       
• Local Share: $152,704 
• Sunk cost $8,347 

Oregon Military Department - Office of Emergency Management (pre-OEM) 
FY2021 Grant Management Costs 

• Federal Share: $488,257       
• Sunk cost from the State of Oregon’s General Fund: $39,500  

Oregon Military Department - Office of Emergency Management (pre-OEM) 
FY 2022 Grant Management Costs   

• Federal Share: $19,695,731               
• Sunk cost from the State of Oregon’s General Fund: $73,141 

Oregon Military Department - Office of Emergency Management (pre-OEM) 
FY 2023 Grant Partnership Costs 

• Federal Share: $1,261,848  
  Sunk cost from the State of Oregon’s General Fund: $79,029 

# # #

It is the mission of Oregon Emergency Management to proactively develop emergency response, risk reduction and disaster recovery programs to better serve Oregonians during times of disaster. OEM prioritizes an equitable and inclusive culture of preparedness that empowers all Oregonians to thrive in times in crisis. The agency leads collaborative statewide efforts, inclusive of all partners and the communities we serve, to ensure the capability to get help in an emergency and to protect, mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies or disasters. For more information about the OEM, visit oregon.gov/oem.

You can get this document in other languages, large print, braille, or a format you prefer. For assistance, email licInfo@oem.oregon.gov" target="_blank">OEM_PublicInfo@oem.oregon.gov. We accept all relay calls, or you can dial 711.

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

•Traffic Stops

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

•Restoring the Peace

•Premise Checks

•Welfare Checks

•Flagged Down by Citizen

WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS    
 

Oregon had a record breaking 1.9 million acres burned by wildfire in 2024. That was the most acreage burned in 30 years and 18 times as much acreage as in 2023. The current year started with destructive fires in California and has continued in several areas of the country with nearly 823,000 acres burned so far.

May is a great time to learn about wildfires and prepare your home before the surrounding land dries out. Here are a few things to consider:

1. Have a Plan. Develop an emergency plan using this evacuation checklist as a guide. Include a communications plan with your family and friends and at least one person out of the area.

2. Know about evacuation levels and sign up for emergency alerts at oralert.gov.

3. Clear a defensible space around your home. Start with 5 feet around your home, then work your way up to a 30-foot distance. This is a buffer-zone that can protect your home in case a wildfire is coming. 

4. Use safe backyard burning practices. Escaped debris burning is the leading cause of human-caused wildfires in Oregon. 

5. Use care with power equipment. Do yard clean up in the spring, not in the summer. Equipment fire is usually the second leading cause of human-caused wildfire.  

6. Check your home address marker – can you see it from the street? If not, trim overgrown vegetation or move the marker so first responders can find you if they need to. 

7. Build a 72-hour kit for your family and pets. Get tips at www.ready.gov/kit . 

8. Document your possessions and store this digitally or away from your home. A video can work for this. 

9. Prepare financially for a disaster. The Division of Financial Regulation has information on insurance and other financial considerations

10. For more wildfire prevention tips, visit www.keeporegongreen.org

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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(Astoria, OR) - Clatsop County’s Courthouse Security Improvement Project moves into a new phase of construction scheduled to begin Monday, April 28, 2025.

As part of this phase, trench work to improve drainage around the south courthouse entrance will begin in the northeast portion of the Courthouse parking lot (entrance on 8^th Street). This work will impact both staff and public parking availability.

Because of the location of this work, the south stairway entrance and accessible entrance with the ADA ramp to the Courthouse from the parking lot will be temporarily closed.

Accessible parking will be temporarily relocated to the west side of the Courthouse on 7^th Street.

The north stairway entrance on Commercial St. will be open. Visitors and staff who need assistance with mobility or accessibility should use the west entrance of the Courthouse on 7^th Street. Visitors who need additional assistance are encouraged to call Clatsop County staff at 503-325-8555.

This trench work supports the single-entry project to enhance security and functionality in the Courthouse, including:

• Improve drainage in the parking lot to prevent basement flooding
• Refurbishment and reinstallation of historic courthouse windows (window work is scheduled through May)
• Elevator improvements expected to begin later this spring
• Installation of a single secure entry point

During this project, construction crews may use equipment such as man lifts that will require temporary changes to parking availability. Alternate parking is available at:

• 7th & Commercial Street lot (by the playground)
• Street parking on Duane Street

For more information visit clatsopcounty.gov.

###

On April 23, 2025 at 1650hrs, a caller reported an “out of control brush fire,” at the end of Clark Creek Road, Longview, WA. Cowlitz 911 dispatched a Battalion Chief, 3- Brush engines and a water tender from Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue (C2FR) to the incident.

During the response Firefighters spotted a large column of smoke from the area, indicating a large-scale incident. At that time 2 more Cowlitz 2 Tenders were added to the response, as well as a request for WA DNR and the availability of a DNR Helicopter.

First arriving unit was a Brush Engine from C2FR Station 22 and sized up the fire as: 2-acre, moderately moving, in brush and mixed fuels. 2-4’ foot flame lengths

Battalion Chief assumed command while brush engines began containing and suppressing the fire with hoselines and fire trailing. A short while after C2FR arrival, 2- WA DNR Overhead along with 2- DNR Brush engines  arrived and worked seamlessly, at all levels to continue containment efforts.

At 1823hrs fire was declared “Contained” at 3.4 acres

This incident was witnessed to have begun next to their residence and spread rapidly before any attempt to extinguish by residents could be attempted. The residence didn’t not occur any damage but all vegetation that wasn’t fully green was consumed up to and including less than 5 feet from 2 sides of the residence.

C2FR resources turned over fire fully to WA DNR at 1952hrs.

WA DNR will be investigating the incident and will be monitoring the fire perimeter over the next few days

Field weather was obtained at the start of containment efforts and revealed that humidities were 30% with upslope winds. These conditions are historically known to be indicators for potential “high fire growth potential” in Western WA

Battalion Chief Dan W Cothren

Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue

Salem, OR—With Tax Day in the rearview mirror, now is a good time for Oregon taxpayers to think about doing a paycheck checkup to make sure they are having the right amount of money withheld from each paycheck.

“If you received a large refund from the state and think that money could be put to better use in your monthly budget, or if you had to scrape money together to pay taxes due, then you might want to consider using our Withholding Calculator,” said Megan Denison, administrator of the Oregon Department of Revenue’s Personal Tax and Compliance Division.

A new Department of Revenue video explains how to use the calculator and what information taxpayers will need to complete their paycheck checkup. Taxpayers can be assured that the calculator doesn’t collect personal information—they won’t even be asked to enter their name—and the wage and deductions information taxpayers enter isn’t kept and stored by the department.

“Using the Withholding Calculator can help taxpayers have more of their hard earned money to pay their bills each month and it can help prevent the unwelcome surprise of a big state income tax bill next year,” Denison said.

The IRS also provides a free online tool that helps workers, independent contractors and retirees determine if they are having the right amount of federal income tax withheld from their paychecks.

To get tax forms, check the status of your refund, or make payments, visit our website or email questions.dor@dor.oregon.gov.

You can also call 800-356-4222 toll-free from an Oregon prefix (English or Spanish) or 503-378-4988 in Salem and outside Oregon. For TTY (hearing or speech impaired), we accept all relay calls.
 

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Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Assessor’s office property tax exemption specialists will make a presentation on the property tax relief program at an upcoming Vancouver City Council meeting at Vancouver City Hall.

The presentation is scheduled for 6:30 pm Monday, May 5, during the city council meeting at City Hall, 415 West Sixth St.

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.

Exemption specialists will be available to help enroll applicants in the program 9 am to 3 pm Friday, May 23, at the Luepke Senior Center, 1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd.

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/.

On May 8, 2025 the Oregon Historic Cemeteries Grant committee will meet to score and rank the applications for the Oregon Historic Cemeteries Grant program. The recommendations from the committee will be forwarded to the Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries for final review and approval on May 27, 2025. The meeting will be held online at 9:00 a.m. Interested parties may register to access the meeting by Zoom. The meeting agenda includes the registration information.

State law established the seven-member Commission to maintain a listing of all historic cemeteries and gravesites in Oregon; promote public education on the significance of historic cemeteries; and help obtain financial and technical assistance for restoring, improving and maintaining their appearances.

Special accommodations for the meeting – including translation services – may be made by calling 503-986-0690 at least 72 hours prior to the start of the meeting. 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.

Today at 4:17pm, Lebanon Fire District responded to a 0.25-acre brush fire in the 42000 block of Upper Berlin. Quick action from firefighters helped contain the blaze before it could spread further. The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) provided  assistance during the response.

The fire is now under control. No injuries were reported

At 6:57 PM on 4/23/2025 Vancouver Fire was dispatched to the report of a house fire at 15613 SE Evergreen Highway.  Initial crews arrived to find heavy fire coming from a house that was under construction, which made the scene more dangerous.  Crews attacked the fire from the exterior before moving interior to search for people and extinguish the fire.  The scene was deemed to be under control in just over fifty minutes.  Vancouver Fire had twelve units on scene with thirty personnel while Camas/Washougal Fire sent one engine.  No one was home and no firefighters were injured in the fire.  The Vancouver Fire Marshals office is on scene to investigate.

The Vancouver Fire Department would like to remind everyone to check for working smoke detectors twice a year and plan for evacuation in case of a house fire. 

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. 

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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.

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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

###PPB###

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.

# # #

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.

# # #

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.

# # #

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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