PORTLAND, Ore. - The Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing will conduct routine F-15 Eagle night training missions on January 30 to February 3 and February 7 to 9.

Night training allows the Citizen-Airmen pilots based at the Portland Air National Guard Base to stay current with mandatory Air Force requirements. Night flying is conducted as an essential training requirement for nighttime maneuvers to support mission and contingency response. Training flights will be completed each evening before 10:00 p.m.

For more information contact Master Sgt. Steph Sawyer, 503-335-4351

-30-

FILE PHOTO: 220421-Z-SP755-2004 A 123rd Fighter Squadron F-15C Eagle prepares for take-off during night flying operations at Portland Air National Guard Base, Ore., April 21, 2022. Night flying is an essential training requirement for Oregon Air National Guard pilot's nighttime competency maneuvers. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Steph Sawyer)

About the 142nd Wing:

The Portland Air National Guard Base employs around 1,500 Airmen who provide an economic impact of nearly $500 million to the region. The 142nd Wing defends our homeland with F-15 Eagle fighter jets, guarding the Pacific Northwest skies from Northern California to the Canadian border, as part of Air Combat Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Their mission is to provide unequalled, mission-ready units to sustain combat aerospace superiority and peacetime tasking any time, any place in service to our nation, state and community.

UPDATE​ Gary Wilson Found Safe

Many thanks to the Gresham resident who saw Gary using TriMet, and to TriMet and Clackamas County Sheriff's Office deputies who helped locate him and get him safely back home! 

RELEASE DATE:                Jan. 28, 2023
CONTACT PERSON:          On Duty PIO
CASE NUMBER:                23-04007

Gresham, Ore.— Gresham Police is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 63-year-old man who suffers from acute memory issues. Gary Wilson left his care home in the 400 block of SE Hale Dr. around 6:00 this morning to go for a walk and has not returned. He is familiar with how to use TriMet. Multnomah County Search and Rescue is assisting with finding Gary.

Gary is described as a White male who is approximately 6 feet tall and weighs 240 pounds. He has short gray hair, a gray beard, and blue eyes. Gary was last seen wearing a blue or gray sweatshirt and gray pants.

Anyone who knows of Gary Wilson’s whereabouts is asked to call 911 or non-emergency police dispatch at 503.823.3333.

###GPD###

On 1/28/23 the Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Traffic Unit was called out to investigate two separate serious injury motor vehicle collisions. 

The first incident involved a high-speed collision when a single vehicle left the roadway at about 1530 hrs near the 25600 Block of NE Manley Rd in Battle Ground, WA.  First responders with Clark-Cowlitz Fire and Rescue, American Medical Response (AMR) and CCSO arrived to find the two occupants still trapped in the vehicle and suffering serious injuries.  After working to free the occupants from the vehicle, they were both transported to an area hospital by ambulance with life threatening injuries.  Witnesses reported the vehicle, a silver Infinity sedan with a black front fender may have been driving recklessly in the area prior to the collision. 

While still investigating the first incident, CCSO Deputies were dispatched to a second collision that occurred at about 1730hrs near the 21900 block of NE 139^th Street in Brush Prairie, WA.  It was reported a green lifted 1978 Ford Bronco had also been driving recklessly before leaving the roadway and rolling.  First responders with Clark County Fire and Rescue, AMR and CCSO responded to the incident.  The occupants of the vehicle required major extraction before being transported to an area hospital with injuries.  The driver exhibited signs of impairment at the scene.

If you have information relevant to either collision or if you witnessed either of the involved vehicles, please contact CCSO Traffic Unit Detective Spak at 564-397-4597.

Both cases remain active pending further investigation by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit and Patrol Division.   Additional information may be released at a later date, pending further investigation.  All suspects remain innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

Tualatin - Every year in late January or early February, local Lions Clubs help re-stock the shelves of their local
food pantries at a time when that help is sorely needed. Shortly after the holidays the Tualatin Lions
Club, always serving their communities, challenges itself to a figurative “food fight” to collect more
pounds of food and more dollars to help battle hunger than the year before. This year’s Tualatin Lions
Club “Super Saturday” Food Drive will be at the Tigard Walmart, 7600 SW Dartmouth St., Tigard, and
the Sherwood Walmart store at 21320 SW Langer Farms Parkway, Sherwood, on Saturday,
February 11, 2023 from 9am to 3pm. The winner in this Lions “food fight” has always been their
community food bank partners in Southwest Washington County.

The 2023 “Super Saturday” Tualatin Lions Food Drive will benefit these three community food
pantries:
The Tualatin School House Pantry in Tualatin;
The Bethlehem House of Bread in Tigard, and
The St. Francis Community Food Pantry in Sherwood.

According to community hunger experts:
The rate of food insecurity (being without access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious
food) in Oregon is about 14.6%.
About 552,900 Oregonians are food insecure, of those 194,070 are children, (35%).
About 72% of the people who receive food have incomes below the federal poverty level.
18% of food pantry clients are seniors, 65 years old or older.
Of households utilizing food pantries, about 80% of them are able to meet their food needs for
the month with the help of a pantry.

Hunger in Oregon continues to be a significant threat, even with the waning of the Covid-19
pandemic. Due to safety protocols and procedures over the past 2+ years, there has been more need
than ever before.

Hunger hurts children, families, seniors, veterans and the disabled. While the economy has improved
for some people, there are still 1 in 7 neighbors facing food insecurity. Long-term unemployment,
persistent underemployment and the ever increasing cost of food, gas, utilities and rent continue to
plague people in Oregon and Clark County, Washington. Hunger starves the human spirit.
Communities thrive when people are nourished.

On Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023, the Tualatin Lions will be at both the Tigard Walmart Super Center at
7600 SW Dartmouth St. and the Sherwood Walmart Super Center at 21320 SW Langer Farms
Parkway, from 9am to 3pm. The Tualatin Lions will gladly accept non-perishable, nutritious food items
and will have shopping lists available. Best rule of thumb? Think about what you like to put on your
table to keep you and your family healthy. The Lions will also happily accept cash donations that will
go directly to the community food pantries in Tualatin, Tigard and Sherwood.

Help re-fill the shelves of local food pantries after a busy holiday season. Give your neighbors the gift
of nourishing food and see if you can help your local Lions win the “Food Fight”.

The Tualatin Lions are always looking for fun-loving people to join them in their mission to serve their
communities. The Tualatin Lions can be reached at tualatinlions@gmail.com.

See attached letter.

28 de enero de 2023 (Astoria, OR) - Con un frente de clima frío llegando al condado de Clatsop, el Departamento de Manejo de Emergencias se ha coordinado con el Departamento de Servicios Humanos de Oregón para expandir temporalmente el personal en el Centro de Calentamiento de Astoria durante el día.

El Centro de Calentamiento Astoria estará abierto las 24 horas del día a partir del domingo 29 de enero y hasta el miércoles 1 de febrero por la mañana.  "Agradecemos al Departamento de Servicios Humanos de Oregón por proporcionarnos una vez más personal y comidas durante un evento de clima frío. Este tipo de apoyo puede salvar vidas", dijo Justin Gibbs, director de manejo de emergencias del condado de Clatsop. 

Se espera que las temperaturas alcancen el punto de congelación el domingo y el lunes por la noche en partes del condado de Clatsop con vientos fríos que se sentirán bajos los veinte el domingo por la mañana y en los 20 grados el lunes por la mañana. No se pronostican precipitaciones significativas.

Debido a las temperaturas bajo cero, las horas de refugio se están ajustando. Del jueves 26 de enero al miércoles 1 de febrero:

1. Seaside Warming Center abrirá más temprano a las 4 p.m. y cerrará a la mañana siguiente a las 8:30 a.m. El centro está ubicado en 1530 S. Roosevelt Drive.
2. Seaside Helping Hands Drop-In Center abrirá durante el día hasta las 4 p.m. 

El Centro de Calentamiento Astoria ampliará los servicios a las 24 horas del día desde el domingo 29 de enero hasta las 8 a.m. del miércoles 1 de febrero. El Centro de Calentamiento Astoria está ubicado en 1076 Franklin Avenue.

Los servicios de LiFEBoat estarán cerrados durante este evento de clima frío debido a las reparaciones planificadas. 

Para obtener más información, comuníquese con 2-1-1  o visite el sitio web del condado de Clatsop.

###

January 28, 2023 (Astoria, OR) — With a cold weather front coming to Clatsop County, the Emergency Management Department has coordinated with the Oregon Dept. of Human Services to temporarily expand staffing at the Astoria Warming Center during the day.

The Astoria Warming Center will be open 24 hours a day starting Sunday, January 29 and ending Wednesday morning, February 1. “We thank the Oregon Dept. of Human Services for once again providing us with staffing and meals during a cold weather event. This kind of support can save lives,” said Justin Gibbs, Clatsop County emergency management director.

Temperatures are expected to reach below freezing on Sunday and Monday nights in parts of Clatsop County with wind chills in the upper teens on Sunday morning and lower 20’s on Monday morning. Significant precipitation is not forecasted.

Due to freezing temperatures, shelter hours are being adjusted. From Thursday, January 26 to Wednesday, February 1:
• Seaside Warming Center will open earlier at 4 p.m. and will close the following morning at 8:30 a.m. The center is located at 1530 S. Roosevelt Drive.
• Seaside Helping Hands Drop-In Center will open during the day until 4 p.m.

The Astoria Warming Center will expand services to 24 hours a day from Sunday, January 29 through 8 a.m. Wednesday, February 1. The Astoria Warming Center is located at 1076 Franklin Avenue.

LiFEBoat services will be closed during this cold weather event due to planned repairs.

For more information, contact 2-1-1 or visit the Clatsop County website.

###
 

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, John Anthony Duval Jr., passed away January 27, 2023. Duval was incarcerated at Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP) in Salem and passed away at the facility. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified, and the State Medical Examiner will determine cause of death. 

Duval entered DOC custody on September 7, 2021, from Jackson County, with an earliest release date of September 19, 2023. Duval was 44 years old. Next of kin has been notified.

DOC takes all in-custody deaths seriously. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of approximately 12,000 men and women who are incarcerated in 12 institutions across the state. While crime information is public record, DOC elects to disclose only upon request out of respect for any family or victims.

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

####

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                

DATE: January 28, 2023

CONTACT:  Marion County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer | mcsopio@co.marion.or.us

                     Salem Police Communications Office | spdmedia@cityofsalem.net

Police Chiefs and Sheriff issue a statement to the residents of Marion County

regarding the death of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tennessee

We, as a law enforcement community in Marion County, find the actions of the police officers involved in the death of Tyre Nichols to be unconscionable. Collectively, we commend Memphis Police Chief Davis for acting quickly to hold those involved accountable.

We hold a deep respect for the sanctity of human life and basic human dignity. Inhumane acts deeply impact all who understand and hold true to the responsibilities of the badge we wear.

We affirm that excessive force is not tolerated by our agencies. Multiple layers of review and accountability are in place to ensure such heinous acts do not occur. Lack of dignity and respect toward those we serve simply run completely counter to who we are as individual officers and deputies and as your law enforcement leaders.

The honorable men and women who work to safeguard the residents of Marion County will continue to work diligently and with conviction to build positive and trusting relationships with all our residents.

Sheriff Joe Kast, Marion County Sheriff's Office

Chief Trevor Womack, Salem Police Department

Chief Jim Anglemeier, Silverton Police Department

Chief Mark Chase, Gervais Police Department

Chief Mark Daniel, Mount Angel Police Department

Chief Damien Flowers, Aumsville Police Department

Chief Gwen Johns, Stayton Police Department

Chief Martin Pilcher, Woodburn Police Department

Chief David Rash, Hubbard Police Department

Chief Don Taylor, Turner Police Department

Chief John Teague, Keizer Police Department

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  

DATE: January 28, 2023

Police Chiefs and Sheriff issue a statement to the residents of Marion County

regarding the death of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tennessee

We, as a law enforcement community in Marion County, find the actions of the police officers involved in the death of Tyre Nichols to be unconscionable. Collectively, we commend Memphis Police Chief Davis for acting quickly to hold those involved accountable.

We hold a deep respect for the sanctity of human life and basic human dignity. Inhumane acts deeply impact all who understand and hold true to the responsibilities of the badge we wear.

We affirm that excessive force is not tolerated by our agencies. Multiple layers of review and accountability are in place to ensure such heinous acts do not occur. Lack of dignity and respect toward those we serve simply run completely counter to who we are as individual officers and deputies and as your law enforcement leaders.

The honorable men and women who work to safeguard the residents of Marion County will continue to work diligently and with conviction to build positive and trusting relationships with all our residents.

Sheriff Joe Kast, Marion County Sheriff’s Office                                                                 

Chief Trevor Womack, Salem Police Department

Chief Jim Anglemeier, Silverton Police Department 

Chief Mark Chase, Gervais Police Department

Chief Mark Daniel, Mount Angel Police Department                                                         

Chief Damien Flowers, Aumsville Police Department

Chief Gwen Johns, Stayton Police Department                                                               

Chief Martin Pilcher, Woodburn Police Department

Chief David Rash, Hubbard Police Department                                                                 

Chief Don Taylor, Turner Police Department

Chief John Teague, Keizer Police Department

City of Bend Police Department Chief Mike Krantz Issues Statement on Tyre Nichols' Death

To the Bend community: 

I want you to know that we at the Bend Police Department are appalled and disgusted by the terrible acts of violence perpetrated against Tyre Nichols by Memphis police officers. 

What we saw on that video is pure abuse of power and unconscionable violence, and there is no room in policing for the behavior we saw from those cops. I applaud the Memphis Police Chief for her swift decision to ensure those officers can no longer wear the badge.   

At the Bend Police Department, our officers are held to high standards and undergo extensive training. We empower our officers to intervene, to speak out when they see something go wrong, and to render aid. We strive for a culture that simply does not tolerate this type of police behavior.   

I know that when we see videos like this, it erodes trust in police nationwide, including in Bend. The City of Bend Police Department is committed to earning and keeping the trust of our community, and we will work every day to ensure that our community members are treated with compassion, dignity and respect. 

Mike Krantz
Chief, City of Bend Police Department

Please see the pdf attachment.

On 1/27/2023 at approximately 9:06 PM, a 911 caller reported a disturbance in a room at the Sunnyside Motel located at 12200 NE Highway 99. Clark County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded and located two males in the motel room who appeared to have been in a physical altercation. One male was detained by deputies, and the other exhibited substantial external injuries and was unconscious. Medical aid was rendered to the injured male by medics. Shortly thereafter, the male was pronounced deceased at the scene. 

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit responded to investigate. An on-scene witness described to detectives an altercation had occurred between the two males in the motel room and began looking for help from another motel guest to call 911. 

Jonathan D. Smith (40-year-old male,) was identified as the detained male from the hotel room. Smith invoked his right to remain silent when interviewed by detectives. Search Warrants were served on the crime scene location and on Jonathan D. Smith. Based the current investigation, Smith was arrested for RCW 9A.32.050, Murder in the Second Degree and booked into the Clark County Jail.

This is an ongoing active investigation by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit being assisted by the Washington State Patrol Crime Scene Response Team. The decedent’s name is not being released pending official identification and next of kin notification by the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office. There are no outstanding suspects and no danger to the public as a result of this incident. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, January 27, 2023 - Woodburn, OR - This evening, the Mayor of Woodburn issued the following statement to the Woodburn community in response to today's released footage of the brutal assault on Mr. Tyre Nichols by the Memphis, TN Police Department. 

We all have been shocked and angered by today's video of the brutal assault of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, which resulted in the arrest of five Memphis police officers, now charged with murder. There is no greater betrayal than being hurt by those we rely on to protect us. Our concerns and prayers go out to the families and communities affected by this tragic and unacceptable abuse of authority by law enforcement officers. I know that members of the Woodburn community will be deeply affected by the Memphis events.

As Mayor and on behalf of the City, I want to restate my expectation that all police officers and everyone associated with our law enforcement services uphold our constitutional rights and the dignity of those they serve with professionalism and compassion.

In light of these events, I ask that the Woodburn community continue to have faith and trust in our Police Department as they work to uphold the law in a manner consistent with our values and community expectations.

Frank Lonergan, Mayor
City of Woodburn

Later the same evening, the Woodburn City Administrator and Chief of Police issued the following joint statement to the Woodburn community: 

This evening, the video of the encounter between Memphis Police Officers and Tyre Nichols was released. Understandably, this incident has reignited nationwide concerns about the relationship between the police and the communities they serve. It is not lost on us that today's news impacts our local community or that this is not the first time we have had such instances occur in our nation.

The video of Mr. Nichols’ arrest is profoundly disturbing and should disgust everyone who serves in a law enforcement capacity. As Woodburn's Police Chief and City Administrator, we condemn the actions of these officers and applaud the efforts of those holding them accountable for their actions against Mr. Nichols.

The City of Woodburn believes that it is our responsibility to talk about these events, ask the hard questions, and to reflect on our own values and efforts to provide a Police Department consistent with the values and expectations of our community. Our work to build an inclusive community public safety program that reflects the diversity and values of our community, founded on honest community relationships, is never ending. This is an expectation of the City Council, the City Administrator and the Police Chief.

On behalf of the fine people working for the Woodburn Police Department, we want our community to know that our core values are: Integrity, Empathy, and Respect. Each member of our Police Department is expected to understand these values and reflect their meaning in their day-to-day work.

Our screening for new Police Officer recruits is rigorous. If you are a bigot, racist, or a bully, then you will not work for the City of Woodburn. Continuous training is also a top priority. Woodburn Police Officers are regularly trained in the proper use of force, communications skills, and de-escalation techniques. Further, our police officers are required to intervene if they see another Police Officer acting in a dangerous manner or behaving improperly.

In more than 60 years of combined public service, we have seen our share of tragedy and improper policing. We understand the damage that poor leadership, misaligned organizational culture, and poor training can do to our community, our police department, and to individual police officers. We know the trust and support of our community is not to be taken for granted; and when issues do arise, we deal with them swiftly and efficiently.

Accountability, professionalism, and transparency is our objective. Public safety is an honorable and difficult profession, and we are proud of the men and women who serve and protect Woodburn day-in and day-out. Every day we strive to improve community relationships, transparency, and accountability and greatly appreciate your support.

Scott Derickson
Woodburn City Administrator

Marty Pilcher
Woodburn Chief of Police

###

"Today the Memphis Police Department released the body cam video of a police use of force incident from January 7th, which resulted in the death of Tyre Nichols. The images in this video are disturbing. The force used by these officers was excessive and difficult to understand. After an internal investigation by their department, the officers involved have been fired, arrested, and charged with second-degree murder. This incident has caused investigations by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations, the FBI, and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.  

I hope the shameful actions of these five officers over two thousand miles away will not tarnish the image of the overwhelming majority of officers who serve their communities daily with honor. 

As your Sheriff, I am committed to working with community members, advocacy organizations, and elected officials to ensure we conduct police work with the highest ethical standards and professionalism. I am proud that our Sheriff’s Office employees are dedicated to treating all our community members professionally, respectfully, and with dignity.   

Our mission is to protect and safeguard our community. The actions of these Memphis officers are inexcusable and will not be tolerated in our profession."   

Sheriff John Horch

Statement from Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell:

The actions by the former Memphis, Tennessee, police officers are sickening; they are inhumane and indefensible. Frankly, the death of Tyre Nichols should have never happened.

These officers used excessive force, failed to intervene, and neglected to call for immediate medical attention.

As a public safety professional, I support the swift response by the Memphis Police Chief to terminate these officers, and the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office for filing criminal charges to hold these police officers accountable.

Accountability is central to public safety. Public trust in police agencies is vital to building and supporting safe and strong communities. The callous actions of these officers’ harm our community’s sense of safety and fracture trust in policing everywhere.

I want you to know, their actions are not reflective of our values at the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, and they go against our training and code of ethics, and everything we believe in.

The actions of the Memphis officers will likely reignite pain and anger from other excessive use of force events involving police officers, including the murder of George Floyd. We recognize people may use their individual and collective voices to express grief, outrage, and call for action. 

At the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, we are committed to the safety and well-being of the communities we serve, and we continue to hold ourselves and each other accountable every day.

I stand with Tyre Nichols’ family, and I have faith that justice will be served.

Video of full statement: https://youtu.be/chUCo-OXGbE​

Vancouver, Wash. – City of Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle and Police Chief Jeff Mori have issued statements following the release of the Tyre Nichols arrest video:

Statement from Mayor McEnerny-Ogle

“Like many in our community, I am angry and outraged by the death of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tennessee. On behalf of the City Council, I want to extend our condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Nichols and the communities affected by the repeated trauma of brutal and inhumane actions such as this. 

The disregard for Mr. Nichols’ life is unacceptable and horrendous. The criminal behavior exhibited by the five Memphis police officers would not be tolerated in Vancouver. 

We know statements cannot heal the pain and unspeakable grief that is being felt at the utter criminal disregard for the life of Tyre Nichols. But we do want to share our outrage at the act and our commitment to this not happening in Vancouver.” 

Mayor McEnerny-Ogle 

Statement from Police Chief Jeff Mori 

“As the video of the beating death of Tyre Nichols, at the hands of five Memphis Police Officers circulates, I want to express the profound sadness that I feel for Mr. Nichols' family and friends and for all those impacted by this tragedy. 

Understandably, this incident has once again brought to the surface the pain, anger, and frustration that many historically marginalized communities across the country are experiencing due to historical inequity and its consequences. 

As the Chief of Police for the Vancouver Police Department, I want to clearly say to the residents we serve the behavior demonstrated by the five Memphis police officers was criminal and completely unacceptable for anyone at the Vancouver Police Department. Our use of force policy speaks clearly to the behavior and compassion we expect from our officers when interacting with the public. 

The degree of force was against the law, egregious and inhumane. The disregard for Mr. Nichols’ life in no way reflects the level of conduct and professionalism that is demanded by those who wear the badge and swear to protect and serve in Vancouver.”

Chief Jeff Mori

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  

DATE: January 27, 2023

Armed robber arrested

Salem, Ore. — Detectives from the Violent Crimes Unit made an arrest today as part of an investigation into an armed robbery at Marion Parkade earlier this month.

On January 11, 2023 at approximately 5:45 p.m., a young man reported he was robbed of his belongings by a male individual he had recently met at the downtown mall. The victim and the suspect were at the roof of the parking structure when the suspect pulled a gun out of his pocket, racked the slide, and pointed it at the victim, demanding the property he carried.

The suspect, Jeffery Prach, age 19, was arrested early this morning when officers observed him walking in the downtown area. Prach was in possession of a firearm when officers took him into custody.

Prach is now lodged at the Marion County Jail on first-degree robbery and other related weapons charges.

# # #

January 27, 2023

PORTLAND, Oregon – Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt released a list of cases impacted by the public defense crisis. The data set includes cases dismissed by the court as a result of the crisis.

In November, DA Mike Schmidt called the public defense crisis, defined by a lack of public defenders to provide counsel to defendants, an urgent threat to public safety. Individuals suspected of a crime have the constitutional right to defense counsel. Victims have a right to justice. Absent counsel, criminal prosecutions cannot lawfully move forward and issued cases are routinely dismissed over prosecutor’s objections.

DA Schmidt also declared that his office would publish cases impacted by the crisis each week to advance the public’s understanding of the scope of the crisis. Here is a breakdown of the types of felonies getting dismissed.

There was 1 case dismissed by the court as a result of the public defense crisis between 1/20/2023 and 1/26/2023:

22-CR-49110

#MCDA#

SAN DIEGO—On January 26, 2023, a California man who evaded federal authorities for more than two decades after being convicted at trial and who was wanted in District of Oregon for perpetrating a real estate scam while a fugitive pleaded guilty in San Diego.

Robin James McPherson, a former resident of San Diego, pleaded guilty to failing to appear, willfully attempting to evade income taxes, and wire fraud, resolving three separate pending criminal cases.

According to court documents, in December 2000, McPherson and two co-conspirators were found guilty at trial in the Southern District of California of conspiring to defraud the IRS and tax evasion. Prior to being sentenced in March 2001, McPherson fled the U.S.

In early August 2019, special agents from FBI’s office in Eugene, Oregon began investigating McPherson after several individuals reported being the victims of a Costa Rican real estate fraud scheme with ties to the Eugene area. McPherson used a variety of marketing techniques, including cold calls, promotional websites, and Facebook advertisements, to find potential investors for an alleged Costa Rican real estate development opportunity called the Carara Parque Resort Corporation. After victims showed interest in the faux investment opportunity, McPherson would conduct sales calls, from Costa Rica, to explain the project.

McPherson directed victims to wire investment funds to a bank account in Oregon and then had the funds transferred to a bank account he controlled in Costa Rica. Between December 2015 and August 2019, approximately $1.2 million dollars were transmitted to the Oregon bank account. McPherson used many different excuses to explain to his investors why no resort villas had been constructed. He did not disclose to his investors that their contracts had not been honored and no villas were slated for construction. McPherson used his investors’ funds to pay for various personal expenses including his own mortgage.

On October 22, 2020, McPherson was charged by criminal complaint in the District of Oregon with wire fraud and money laundering. In May 2022, he was apprehended in Costa Rica and returned to San Diego.

Today, McPherson waived indictment and venue and pleaded guilty to wire fraud, a charge pending in the District of Oregon. He also pleaded guilty to failing to appear and willfully attempting to evade income taxes, charges pending in the Southern District of California. On April 28, 2023, McPherson will be sentenced in San Diego on all three charges of conviction.

Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. Tax evasion and failure to appear are each punishable by up to five years in federal prison. All three charges also carry maximum fines of up to $250,000 or twice a defendant’s gross gains or losses and three years’ supervised release.

This case was investigated by the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted in the District of Oregon by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gavin W. Bruce.

###

Building robots, creating colored flames with chemistry, and making intricate rangoli sand art designs. These may sound like descriptions from a high school or even a college class, but the  kid-sized goggles and gloves give it away. These are Lauren Pinkleton’s K-3 students at Wisdom Ridge Academy, Ridgefield School District’s K-12 alternative learning experience program, who are bringing school lessons to life with incredible enrichment activities.

For K-3 students at Wisdom Ridge, day-to-day classes are guided by Pinkleton but held online, so the onsite enrichment opportunities provide a welcome time to enjoy hands-on activities together. Their enrichment classes are largely self-guided, with students choosing what to do for independent time and discussing or voting when it comes to group activities.

Today, Archer Woods, Ammon Caine, and Jakob Wagoner gather around a tabletop pinball machine the class built last week. They arrange the pegs, rubber bands, and point markers in a new way, then take turns propeling a marble, trying to bounce it off rubber bands at the top into the highest point areas. “Did that work?” Archer asks. “Did you get 50 points?” Jakob and Ammon shake their heads. After some discussion, they reconfigure it and try again.

Sawyer Smith and Ele Kuhn are gathering crystals from another class experiment. There are white crystals where students poured a “diamond” solution on rocks a few days ago—but stray crystals have also grown on the table. This is puzzling, so they follow the small crystals under the rocks, onto a pencil, and even under the table before deciding the solution must have leaked and been exposed to air. Now it’s a different activity–carefully scraping and gathering the extra crystals into a bag to take home.

“I like to let students learn by doing it themselves,” Pinkleton said. “Which means sometimes the activities go in unexpected, but interesting directions.”

This flexible learning environment provides a great balance for some young students, allowing them to complete the same benchmarks as in-person school but with the benefits of a more customized path.

“I’ve been inspired by what it can do for families,” Pinkleton said. “The flexibility allows them to spend more time with their kids while also getting them really involved with their student’s learning. Cool things can happen!”

For those families, Wisdom Ridge provides more choices in how their students learn. “It’s not like Ridgefield Remote where students had to be in online class at a certain time every day,” Pinkleton said. “Now we can work with your family’s schedule. Parents can be more hands on at a time that works for them, and the kids get more one-on-one time with their teacher. Some kids really flourish in this environment and make substantial progress right away.”

Students can enroll in Wisdom Ridge Academy at any grade, and some Ridgefield families are surprised to learn that K-3 is an option. No matter whether students are at, above, or below grade level, they can still enroll.

“Wherever they are, that’s where they start,” Pinkleton said.

The close partnership between Wisdom Ridge and families helps guide students to success. Today’s enrichment class is almost over, and the students line up. They talk about what they did to help each other that day, and how soon they might earn a party for their acts of kindness.

Before they leave, Pinkleton asks what they would think about more students signing up to join their K-3 class at Wisdom Ridge. Sawyer beams with happiness. “I’m so excited!” she says, “because I would love to make new friends!”

Wisdom Ridge Academy is a flexible alternative learning option for families. WRA is a state approved school that meets the same academic standards and graduation requirements as in-person learning. WRA uses online learning platforms to allow students and families to access their work on their own schedule, and the program is available to all Washington residents in grades K-12. For more information on enrollment, please visit www.ridgefieldsd.org/o/wra/page/enrollment.

January 27, 2023

Contact:

Amy Bacher, 503.405.5403, acher2@oregon.gov">amy.bacher2@oregon.gov (media inquiries)

Kiari Chao, 503.931.3053, i.chao@dhsoha.state.or.us">kiari.chao@dhsoha.state.or.us (meeting information or accommodation)

Health Information Technology Oversight Council to meet February 2

What: The regular public meeting of Health Information Technology Oversight Council.

When: February 2, 12:30pm to 3:30pm

Where: By webinar and conference line. The public may join remotely through a webinar or conference line:

• Join the webinar at https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1613619570?pwd=S1UwSDg0eFhzUjdKYzZUZ1hZQmhYdz09
• Conference line: 669-254-5252, Meeting ID: 161 361 9570, Passcode: 140990

Agenda: Welcome, Introductions and HITOC Business (12:30-12:45); 2022-2027 Medicaid 1115 Demonstration Waiver (12:45-1:40); HITOC Member Panel on Waiver Implications (1:40-2:10); 10-Minute Break (2:10-2:20); Strategic Plan Update (2:20-2:40); Health Information Exchange (HIE) Workgroup Updates (2:40-2:55); House Bill 4150 Final Report (2:55-3:05); Legislative Update (3:05-3:15); HIT Policy & Program Updates (3:15-3:20); Public Comment (3:20-3:25); Closing Remarks and Meeting Adjourn (3:25-3:30)

For more information, please visit the committee's website at https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HPA/OHIT-HITOC/Pages/index.aspx.

# # #

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

• CART (live captions)
• Sign language and spoken language interpreters
• Written materials in other languages
• Braille
• Large print
• Audio and other formats

If you need help or have questions, please contact HITOC.INFO@odhsoha.oregon.gov or call 503.373.7859 at least 48 hours before the meeting. OHA will make every effort to provide services for requests made closer to the meeting.

Salem, Ore. — Join Salem’s Eagle Monitoring Team! A two-part training will start January 31. 

The first part starts with the technical side of the process on Tuesday, January 31, in Loucks Auditorium from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Volunteers will learn: 

• Information about bald eagles, their nesting patterns, and nesting timeline. 
• Learn where our eagle nests are located and the best locations for viewing them. 
• How to sign up for observation periods, equipment needs, and time commitment.  
• How to answer the questions in the field questionnaire based on your observations of the nest and eagle activity.
• How to use Survey123 on your personal cellular device or desktop computer to submit your observations. 

The second part of the training will be on-site at Minto Brown Island Park on Saturday, February 4, from 10 a.m. to noon, starting in Parking Lot 3. Volunteers will visit several observation stations and practice monitoring the Minto Brown Eagle Nest. Bring good walking shoes, a rain jacket, binoculars or a spotting scope, and anything else you need to be comfortable walking and standing outdoors for two hours.

Volunteers will have an opportunity to monitor two nests this year. In addition to the Minto-Brown Eagle Nest, a nest on Audubon property across from Riverfront Park is also included this year.

Monitoring started as a way to learn about the nesting pair at Minto Brown Island Park in order to determine how best to balance the needs of the bald eagle pair with recreation and park management needs. 

“Monitoring provides evidence that the things we’re doing are not impacting the eagles,” City Ranger Mike Zieker explained. “The volunteers sit out there and watch the eagle’s nest and the eagles. They check off boxes on behavior. Are the eagles perched? Working on the nest? Incubating? Feeding their young?” 

They also keep track of the kind of human activities that are occurring in the vicinity of the nest at the same time and noting anything that appears to cause disturbance. 

Eagles mate for life, using the same nest throughout their lifetime, so assuring their nests are undisturbed is particularly important, especially in the first few years. The first year the nest was identified in Minto Brown Island Park, the City worked in consultation with US Fish and Wildlife Service to create a perimeter around the nest tree and close trails on both sides during nesting season. 

On the second year, with a USFWS permit and monitoring program in place, the City opened one of the trails to use, keeping other trails closed. 

This year, which will be the third year since nest establishment, the City will be leaving all trails in the nest buffer open to general recreational use. This is largely due to the volunteer monitoring data collected last year that showed the eagle pair was not disturbed by most activities in their buffer and provided evidence that the pair successfully fledged its chick. 

“Every year the eagles come back, they get more and more comfortable and acclimated,” Mike said. Visitors on the trail are encouraged to stay on the trail and move along. If they want to watch, they should watch from at least 1,000 feet away. 

If you’d like to join the Eagle Monitoring Training, please contact Amanda Sitter, City of Salem Parks Volunteer coordinator, asitter@cityofsalem.net, 503-589-2197.

#          #          #

Community Technology group will host three informational sessions for interested organizations

Portland, Ore.— Beginning today, Friday, January 27, Portland’s community-based organizations can apply for up to $400,000 to build a neighborhood-managed, private Wi-Fi 6 or fixed-wireless network, part of the American-Rescue-Plan (ARPA) funded Digital Divide Response Project. Led by the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability’s (BPS) Community Technology group, this program helps Portlanders overcome barriers to getting online. Applications will remain open through Sunday, March 12, 2023.

When asked how the City of Portland could support dismantling the digital divide for priority populations, community members indicated access to a fast and affordable internet connection as essential to daily life. Using ARPA funds, this grant program will enable communities and neighborhoods to build secure, fast, community-owned Wi-Fi 6 and fixed-wireless networks. This funding opportunity is meant to meet an immediate need for capital investment in accessible high-speed internet access to stimulate community development.

“We are proud to launch another grant opportunity to help Portland’s most vulnerable community members get online,” said Chief Community Technology Officer Elisabeth Perez. “Portlanders told us exactly what they needed in order to have reliable and affordable online access, and this is one of many ways we’re making that happen.” 

Funding and applications

Applicants can apply for awards up to $400,000 to build a secure, private, neighbor-based, and community-managed Wi-Fi 6 or fixed-wireless network.  

To be eligible for funding, applicants must:

• Be a non-profit 501(c)(3),
• Serve people who live, work, worship, or access social services in Portland and are part of a priority community,
• Commit to meeting project-reporting requirements and a project-completion date no later than June 30, 2024, and,
• Apply here with a signature from a duly authorized representative of the applicant organization.

Information Sessions

Interested organizations can attend an information session hosted by the BPS Community Technology group by registering here:

• Feb. 9, 2023, 12 to 1 p.m.
• Feb. 24, 2023, 4 to 5 p.m.
• March 6, 2023, 1 to 2 p.m.

Interested organizations who have questions and are unable to attend a listening session can contact the Community Technology group directly by emailing tland@portlandoregon.gov">connectingportland@portlandoregon.gov.

Future opportunities

The BPS Community Technology group has plans to launch a similar program that individuals can apply for in the first quarter of 2023.

About the City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability

The Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) develops creative and practical solutions to enhance Portland’s livability, preserve distinctive places and plan for a resilient future. BPS collaborates with community partners to provide comprehensive land use, neighborhood, district, economic, historic, and environmental planning, and urban design; research, policy and technical services to advance green building, energy efficiency and the use of solar and renewable energy, waste prevention, composting and recycling, and a sustainable food system; and policy and actions to address climate change. 

At 05:46 am on January 27, 2023, Bend Fire & Rescue was dispatched to a reported structure fire in the area of 720 NW Florida.  Upon arrival, crews found brush and vegetation on fire, and were able to quickly extinguish the fire without damage to nearby structures or vehicles.  Upon investigation it was determined that the fire was intentionally set.  Further investigation is being conducted by the City of Bend Police Department and anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact them at (541) 322-2960.

El Servicio Meteorológico Nacional informa que un frente de clima frío llegará al condado de Clatsop el domingo por la mañana, 29 de enero, que durará hasta el jueves 2 de febrero. 

Se espera que las temperaturas alcancen el punto de congelación el domingo y el lunes por la noche en partes del condado de Clatsop con escalofríos en los adolescentes superiores el domingo por la mañana y en los 20 grados inferiores el lunes por la mañana. No se pronostican precipitaciones significativas.

"Con este clima muy frío, alentamos a las familias que chequeen a sus seres queridos", dijo Justin Gibbs, director de manejo de emergencias del condado de Clatsop. "Si usa un plan de usar un calentador de espacio para mantenerse caliente, asegúrese de que tenga un apagado automático por si se vuelca, se apague. Desenchufe los calentadores portátiles cuando no esté en uso, antes de acostarse o al salir de la habitación. Si viaja, mantenga un kit de supervivencia de invierno en su vehículo".

Debido a las temperaturas bajo cero, a partir del jueves 26 de enero hasta el miércoles 1 de febrero:

1. El Seaside Warming Center abrirá más temprano a las 4 p.m. y cerrará a la mañana siguiente a las 8:30 a.m. 
2. El Seaside Helping Hands Drop-In Center abrirá durante el día hasta las 4 p.m. El Seaside Warming Center está ubicado en 1530 S. Roosevelt Drive.
3. El Centro de Calentamiento Astoria estará abierto para refugio durante la noche de 7 p.m. a 8 a.m. El Centro de Calentamiento Astoria está ubicado en 1076 Franklin Avenue.

Los servicios de LiFEBoat estarán cerrados durante este evento de clima frío debido a las reparaciones planificadas. 

Para obtener más información, comuníquese con 2-1-1  o visite el sitio web del condado de Clatsop.

January 27, 2023 (Astoria, OR) — The National Weather service is reporting a cold weather front coming to Clatsop County on early Sunday morning, January 29 that will last through Thursday, February 2. 

Temperatures are expected to reach below freezing on Sunday and Monday nights in parts of Clatsop County with wind chills in the upper teens on Sunday morning and lower 20’s on Monday morning. Significant precipitation is not forecasted.

“With this very cold weather, we encourage families to check on loved ones,” said Justin Gibbs, Clatsop County emergency management director. “If you plan on using a space heater to stay warm, make sure it has an automatic shut-off so if its tipped over, it will shut off. Unplug portable space heaters when not in use, before going to bed, or when leaving the room. If you are traveling, keep a winter survival kit in your vehicle.”

Due to freezing temperatures, beginning Thursday, January 26 to Wednesday, February 1:

• The Seaside Warming Center will open earlier at 4 p.m. and will close the following morning at 8:30 a.m.
• The Seaside Helping Hands Drop-In Center will open during the day until 4 p.m. The Seaside Warming Center is located at 1530 S. Roosevelt Drive.
• The Astoria Warming Center will be open for overnight shelter at 7 p.m. through 8 a.m. The Astoria Warming Center is located at 1076 Franklin Avenue.

LiFEBoat services will be closed during this cold weather event due to planned repairs. 

For more information, contact 2-1-1 or visit the Clatsop County website.

Jan 27, 2023

Media contact: Timothy Heider, 971-599-0459, timothy.heider@oha.oregon.gov

Program contact: Anna Williams, 971-720-9654, anna.k.williams@dhsoha.state.or.us

System of Care Advisory Council to meet remotely February 7th

What: A regular public meeting of the System of Care Advisory Council

When: Tuesday February 7, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Where: By webinar at ZoomGov

Meeting ID: 160 988 8607, Passcode: 797793

Dial by your location +1 669 254 5252, US (San Jose)

Agenda: The Council will receive diversity, equity and inclusion training from an external facilitator, get an update about the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) Program and discuss contract revisions to local system of care, among other topics. There will be time set aside for public comment.

The full agenda can be found at here.

Background: In 2019 the Legislature established a Governor-appointed System of Care Advisory Council to improve the efficacy and effectiveness of the state and local continuum of care that provides services to youth and young adults.

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

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

If you need help or have questions, please contact Christy Hudson at 971-678-4347, 711 TTY, or isty.j.hudson@state.or.us">christy.j.hudson@state.or.us, at least two business days prior to the meeting.

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Of the 23,824 passenger vehicle occupants killed in the United States in 2020, 51% were not wearing seat belts. For drivers and front-seat passengers, using a lap and shoulder belt reduces the risk of fatal injury by 60 percent in an SUV, van or pickup and by 45 percent in a car according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The Lane County Sheriff’s Office, along with other agencies across Oregon will be utilizing federal grant funding to staff additional traffic safety patrols from January 30^th through February 12^th.  Deputies will be on the lookout for improper seatbelt use and all other dangerous driving behaviors. 

Please take the time to confirm that you and your children are properly restrained before setting out.  Drive sober and text-free!  Your lives are worth it!

Portland, OR, January 27, 2023 – Join KairosPDX Leaders, staff, and community members on February 9th from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm as KairosPDX holds their annual Spread the Love Fundraiser Gala presented by Raimore Construction and Colas Construction at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 300 N Ramsay Way, Portland, OR 97227. 

Hosted by Portland Trail Blazers analyst, Michael Holton, and with live music by Portland’s very own, Alonzo Chadwick & Zoulful Muzic, the evening will highlight the impact of KairosPDX on our community over the last decade and provide an opportunity to invest in the important work of KairosPDX. The event will also honor former Senator Maragert Carter, the first African-American woman elected to the Oregon Legislative Assembly with the KairosPDX Leadership Award. Mark Holloway, former CEO of Social Ventures Partners Portland will be honored with the KairosPDX Ambassador Service Award.

“We are looking forward to our families, community, business partners coming together to celebrate the 10 year milestone of cultivating systemic change in the way we educate our children, providing them with the foundation to reach their full potential.” Board Chair Tiffani Penson said. 

This year's gala brings the community back to an exciting in-person event to celebrate with joy and gratitude with special guest, Jalen Rose. Widely considered to be one of the hardest working people in sports & entertainment media, Jalen is a 13-year NBA veteran, NY Times best-selling author, philanthropist and TV personality. Mr. Rose is the Founder of the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, an open enrollment, tuition-free public charter high school in his hometown of Detroit, with a mission similar to KairosPDX. 

For more information on the event and purchase tickets, please go to: http://kairospdx.org/spread-the-love

###

About KairosPDX:

KairosPDX is an educational nonprofit, with a 501c3, focused on transforming education and elevating the voices of historically marginalized children, their families, and their communities. Founded in 2012 by 5 women, 4 Black, who observed a prolific achievement gap for Black children in Oregon. With tremendous support from families, neighbors, and educators, we have grown rapidly into a culturally focused organization and hub for our community.

The mission of KairosPDX is to eliminate the prolific racial achievement and opportunity gaps by cultivating confident, creative, compassionate leaders. Our vision is to engage and empower children, families and educators through a liberating education by which each individual is freed to bring their very best to their own goals and dreams. We are crafting a new narrative around children and families of color, placing strength, excellence, and achievement at the fore. We prioritize the following values in all our work and curricula: anti-racism, resilience cultivation, rehumanization, and culturally-affirming Blackness, and empowering education.

January 27, 2023

Contact: Erica Heartquist, (503) 871-8843, PHD.Communications@state.or.us

Public Health Advisory Board meets on Feb. 9, 2023

What: The Public Health Advisory Board will hold a meeting.

Agenda: Approve January meeting minutes; discuss PHAB subcommittees and workgroups; hear legislative updates; plan for public health vision development; hear from local public health authorities about public health modernization implementation.

When: Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023 from 3:00-5:30p.m. The meeting is open to the public. A public comment period will be held at the end of the meeting.

Where: Zoom https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1614044266?pwd=ekpYekxaMm92SHN0dngzTW9ZeldsUT09 or conference call: (669) 254-5252, participant code 1614044266#.

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

# # #

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

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

If you need help or have questions, please contact Cara Biddlecom: at (971) 673-2284, 711 TTY, or lichealth.policy@dhsoha.state.or.us">publichealth.policy@dhsoha.state.or.us, at least 48 hours before the meeting.

Date: Monday, January 30, 2023

Time: 6:00pm

Location: Hockinson School District Community Center & via Zoom 

Address: 17912 NE 159th St. Brush Prairie, WA 98606

Marion County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the following information pursuant to ORS163A.215, which authorizes Community Corrections to inform the public when the release of information will enhance public safety and protection. 

The individual who appears on this notification has been convicted of a sex offense that requires registration with the Sheriff’s Office. Additionally, this person’s criminal history places them in a classification level which reflects the potential to re-offend. This notification is not intended to increase fear; rather, it is our belief that an informed public is a safer public.

NAME: Murillo-Chavez, Miguel Angel 

SID#: 20260200 

DOB: 08/23/1992 

CURRENT AGE: 30 

RACE: H                       SEX: M 

HEIGHT: 5' 04''           WEIGHT: 145 lbs 

HAIR: BLK                    EYES: BRO 

RESIDENCE: 170 17TH ST SE 

Salem, OR 97301 

Miguel Angel Murillo-Chavez is on Post Prison Supervision for the crimes of: Rape III, Online Sexual Corruption of a Child I, and Using a Child in a Dispay of Sexually Explicit Conduct. 

This person was granted supervision on: 09/02/2022 

Supervision expiration date is: 09/01/2025 

Special restrictions include: [X] No contact with minors 

                                             [X] Do not go places where minors congregate 

Other: Murillo-Chavez’s offending history consists of juvenile females known to him.

UPDATE: 

Mr. Taylor has been located and is being evaluated by medical personnel.

Sherwood Police Department Asks for Help in Locating Missing and Endangered Man

January 26, 2023

On Thursday, January 26^th, 2023, at approximately 7:15PM Sherwood Officers were dispatched to a missing person call. Officers learned that 72-year-old Lenzie Taylor left his home on SW Fitch Ct in Sherwood around 11:08 a.m. Taylor left in a 2016 Black Toyota 4Runner, OR plate 042JRN. 

Mr. Taylor is considered endangered due to him being Type 2 Diabetic and he does not have access to his medication. Additionally, Mr. Taylor has started to experience early stages of dementia.  

Mr. Taylor’s cell phone is currently off and last pinged in the area of 11565 SW Pacific Highway in Tigard. It is unknown if he still has his cell phone with him. 

Mr. Taylor was last seen wearing a gray jacket, gray sweatpants, and a white baseball hat. 

Anyone with information about Mr. Taylor is asked to call non-emergency at 503 629-0111, please reference case # 230261137.

PORTLAND, ORE — Jan. 26, 2023 — Legacy Health, Providence Health & Services, PeaceHealth and St. Charles Health System are taking action in U.S. District Court today to continue fighting for vulnerable patients who are being denied the critical mental health care they need by the State of Oregon.

The hospital systems filed a lawsuit in September in the Oregon U.S. District Court in Eugene to protect the civil rights of Oregonians suffering from mental illness. The lawsuit seeks to ensure the Oregon Health Authority fulfills its legal obligation to provide adequate mental health treatment for civilly committed individuals.

The Oregon Health Authority filed a motion late last month asking the judge to dismiss the lawsuit. In today’s filing, the four hospital systems outline the proper legal principles for the court to consider and call out multiple inaccurate statements made by the Oregon Health Authority in its December filing. 

“Hospitals are taking this action because Oregon must increase capacity for civilly committed patients,” said Robin Henderson, PsyD, chief executive, behavioral health for Providence in Oregon. “Our psychiatric beds are full. We don’t have the ability to serve patients experiencing a mental health crisis because our beds, and our caregivers, must care for civilly committed patients stuck in our hospitals. We’re asking the state to stop using community hospitals as a warehouse for civilly committed patients, and partner with us to fulfill its legal obligation to provide appropriate access to mental health services in the community.”

Lawsuit Background 

Under Oregon law, individuals who are a danger to themselves or others may be civilly committed by the state for involuntary treatment for up to 180 days. More than 500 individuals with severe mental illnesses are civilly committed to the Oregon Health Authority for treatment each year. 

Acute care hospitals are often the first stop for many patients who require urgent medical care and short-term mental health stabilization. Once that is achieved, the state is legally required to place these individuals in facilities that specialize in long-term treatment, such as secure residential treatment facilities or the Oregon State Hospital. These facilities can give patients the appropriate and necessary care to enable them to regain their liberty.

Rather than transfer these individuals to appropriate settings, the state abandons them for weeks or months at a time in community hospitals, which are not appropriate settings for long-term psychiatric care. Community hospitals are not equipped, staffed or designed to provide long-term mental health treatment. The behavioral health units in these hospitals are intended to provide short-term, high-acuity care where patients in mental health crisis can be rapidly evaluated, stabilized and discharged to the next appropriate level of care. 

“We are taking this action because we need to care for more patients in our hospitals,” said Dr. Shane Coleman, clinical division director for psychiatry and behavioral health services at St. Charles. “We can’t do that currently because we are devoting beds and caregivers to civilly committed patients who no longer need hospital-level care or need to be in the state hospital. If the state chose to meet its legal obligation to provide care for civilly committed patients, then our local community hospitals could better meet the needs of our communities.”

Vancouver, Wash. – The board of the Clark County Public Facilities District will hold a public meeting 4-5 p.m. Monday, Monday Feb. 6, 2023.

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 C6WbW3 or call 1.213.262.7043 and use the access code 108 694 51#.

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 five-member board is comprised of two people appointed by Clark County and two appointed by the city of Vancouver. Those four appoint the fifth member.

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

For the 11th consecutive year, the four-year graduation rate of North Clackamas School District (NCSD) students surpassed the state average, exceeding it by 4.8 percent in 2021-22. The NCSD Class of 2022 graduated at a rate of 86.1 percent overall. 

“It has taken resilience and determination from our students these past few years,” NCSD superintendent Dr. Shay James said. “This class persevered through distance learning during their sophomore and junior years. We commend them and our dedicated staff for pulling together during a very difficult period.”

NCSD’s five-year graduation rate rose slightly from a year ago, climbing from 88.1 to 90 percent. That figure is the highest the district has recorded since the state adopted a cohort-based calculation approximately 10 years ago. Nearly every NCSD student group also outperformed the four-year state average in 2021-22.

These results reflect the district’s K-12 commitment to educating the whole child, fostering an inclusive learning environment, providing a wide range of career-technical education opportunities, maintaining high academic standards, and offering a variety of educational pathways in the district.

NCSD thanks the students, staff, parents/guardians, and community organizations for making these achievements possible.

For full statistics, visit the Oregon Department of Education website.

The Willamette Water Supply System Commission Board meeting will be held Thursday, February 2, 2023 at 12:00 noon.

Location: Meeting will be held virtually. If you wish to attend and need dial-in information, please contact annette.rehms@tvwd.org or call 971-222-5957 by 10:00 a.m. on February 2, 2023. 

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

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

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

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

Correction 2 Date of original incident incorrectly listed as July 2023, date was July 2022

Correction Cornwell is 43 years old

At shortly after 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 26, 2023, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team served a search warrant on S 7th Street near Greenwood Dr in Jefferson. The search warrant was in connection with an ongoing aggravated animal abuse investigation.

In July of 2022, deputies assigned to the City of Jefferson were called after a resident allegedly shot and killed their neighbor’s dog. Deputies identified the involved person as Jeremy Cornwell (41) of Jefferson. Since July, Cornwell’s family members have shared concerns for their safety due to his escalating behavior and his access to numerous firearms and other weapons.

This morning after assisting family members to safety from inside the residence, negotiators with the Sheriff’s Office began extensive efforts to get Cornwell to safely surrender. At approximately 8:30 a.m., Cornwell exited the shed he resides in on the property and safely surrendered to members of the SWAT team.

Investigators searching the shed recovered over 20 different weapons.

Cornwell has been lodged at the Marion County Jail for Aggravated Animal Abuse and Unlawful use of a Weapon. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday, January 27, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. at the Marion County Circuit Court Annex.

This investigation was coordinated by deputies assigned to the City of Jefferson. Marion County Sheriff’s Office is contracted to provide enhanced law enforcement services to the City of Jefferson. The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Woodburn Police Department for their assistance during this morning’s operation.

The Oregon State Marine Board conditionally approved two Cycle One boating facility grants and approved standardizing and reorganizing administrative rule language during their quarterly Board meeting, held on January 25, in Salem. 

Pending legislative approval of the agency’s 2023-2025 budget, the Board conditionally approved a boating facility grant for Mayer State Park. After several years to obtain the required permits, this improvement project will include design, engineering, and technical assistance by Marine Board facility engineers. The project will replace the boat ramp and boarding docks and include better circulation for parking and maneuvering. The parking area will be expanded with defined trailer and single-car spaces. Additionally, the vault toilet will be relocated to improve accessibility, to and from the parking area and launch ramp. The project also includes adding a swale for stormwater runoff. These facility improvements will greatly improve safety, launching and retrieving times, and vehicle circulation. The Board approved $342,000 in Boating Facility Grant funds, from the 2023-25 Boating Facility Grant funding, combined with $1,687,011 in cash and administrative match for a total project cost of $2,029,011.

The Board also conditionally approved a Cycle One grant application for the Port of Bandon’s Marina and boat ramp improvements. This is a complex, multi-faceted project to replace the boat ramp, boarding docks, abutment, and piling. Additionally, the marina will be replaced and reconfigured with a breakwater dock, short and long-term moorage docks, new piling, gangway, utilities, and a nonmotorized launch dock.  The pumpout and dump station will be reinstalled on new docks. The Board approved $1,020,899.31 in Boating Facility Grant funds, $145,100.59 in Waterway Access Grant funds, $762,283 in federal Boating Infrastructure Grant funds and $61,827 in federal Clean Vessel Act funds, for a total of $1,990,109.90 from the 2023-25 Boating Facility Grant funding. These funds, combined with $7,397,389.10 of applicant resources and administrative match for a total project cost of $9,387,499. The Board and Director Warren expressed their gratitude to the Port Manager, Jeff Griffin, for his diligent effort in working with the community and other partners on a significant funding match for this comprehensive project.

In its final agenda item, the also Board approved a staff proposal to reorganize administrative rules and standardize rule language with very few substantive changes. Nearly all the revisions are part of a reorganization and standardization effort and make no functional changes to local boating laws. Staff will file the proposed rules with the Secretary of State’s Office in February. 

For more detailed information, please see the meeting materials linked on the Marine Board’s Public Meetings page. 
 

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(Salem, Ore. – January 26, 2022) – The Salem Health Foundation’s annual Community Health Speaker Series presents Dr. Louise Aronson, author of the bestselling book, Elderhood, for a free lecture on Thursday, February 9 in Salem. 

Dr. Aronson will discuss how we look at aging, think and feel about medicine, and what it means to be a human across this lifespan – childhood, adulthood, elderhood. A geriatrician, Dr. Aronson’s 2019 book examines redefining aging, transforming medicine and reimagining life. Her lecture will also share how healthcare in elderhood differs from adulthood and ways you can better advocate for yourself or a loved one. 

The lecture will be held on February 9, 7:00 p.m., in Hudson Hall at Rogers Music Center on the Willamette University campus. Admission is free but seating must be reserved in advance. To reserve your free ticket, please go to communityhealthspeaker.eventbrite.com or the Salem Health Foundation website at www.salemhealthfoundation.org for more information.

The Salem Health Foundation, established in 1968 as a charitable, tax-exempt organization, works to improve the community's health. The Foundation's 12 volunteer directors help raise funds and manage the assets of the Foundation while distributing its resources according to donor intent.

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Downtown Portland saw some growth in its pedestrian traffic numbers over 2022 and while foot traffic steadily increased, we have not recovered to pre-pandemic levels. 

Overall, the number of people Downtown has increased by 25.7% from 2021. Large-scale events, dinner, and entertainment options helped propel a busier spring and summer for Downtown, with June being the busiest month of the year with 2.26M visits. Wednesday foot traffic rose to the third busiest day-of-the-week showing that workers are beginning to return to downtown offices.

Foot traffic within the Downtown Portland Clean & Safe District is close to 60% recovered from 2019 but is still behind other cities in recovery from the pandemic. Portland in-person traffic for retail businesses appears to be mirroring national trends with a rise in early shopping for the holiday season. Thanksgiving weekend, traditionally one of the busiest weekends of the year for retail, saw a minor increase in foot traffic with an 8% increase from 2021.

When we look at the busiest locations in our district for 2022, we see that much of the downtown traffic is centered around the core of Downtown. Pioneer Place, with luxury brand retail stores not found elsewhere in the state (Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Golden Goose), and Pioneer Courthouse Square, with popular concerts and events.  

In Old Town, we see an intense center of traffic around the Hoxton Hotel and on NW Ankeny Street where popular local stores like Voodoo Donuts, Bae’s Fried Chicken, AFURI, and Stumptown also overlap with locations that are popular evening destinations.

“Working with this data for foot traffic in the downtown area has given me a renewed appreciation for the diversity and richness of our 213-block district,” said Sydney Mead, Clean & Safe’s Director of Downtown Programs. “We have internationally known food carts within walking distance to high-end luxury retail, steps away from beloved small local retailers, who are around the corner from award-winning restaurants.    We are seeing in this data that both the core of the city is becoming more active, as well as the evening hot spots and entertainment venues. While we have several challenges we need to resolve as a community, seeing these numbers increase gives me hope for the future.”

KEY PEDESTRIAN COUNT RESULTS

• The amount of foot traffic in Downtown has increased by 25.7% compared to 2021.
• Large-scale events, dinner, and entertainment options helped propel a busier spring and summer for the city with June being the busiest month of 2022.
• Wednesday rose to the top as the third busiest day of the week, indicating that the workforce is edging towards a return to downtown offices.
• Foot traffic continued to increase throughout 2022, but we have not recovered to pre-pandemic levels.

To see the full report, visit: DowntownPortland.org/2022pedcounts/  

Downtown Portland Clean & Safe uses pedestrian counts to monitor changes in walking patterns throughout the year to better understand the flow of pedestrians through our city’s center to help guide retail activation and programming programs.

Now using Placer.ai data to monitor traffic and visit trends 24-hours a day, Clean & Safe has expanded its pedestrian count research to look at the entire 213-block district. Clean & Safe can now compare results from past years and even compare data to other cities, as well as look at times of day people visit downtown, which days are busier, and the spaces/venues people are frequenting.  Numbers reported are not unique visits but cumulative totals.  

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Downtown Portland Clean & Safe District 
The Downtown Portland Clean & Safe District was established in 1988 to support additional cleaning and security in a 213 block-area of Portland’s Central City. In addition to these important services, the district supports market research, retail recruitment and retention for Downtown Portland. The district is managed by the Portland Business Alliance under the direction of the district’s board of directors. Learn more at cleanandsafepdx.com. 

OREGON CITY – The Clackamas Community College Environmental Learning Center is hosting free weekly wildlife and water friendly garden workshops – just in time for the spring gardening season. Each week, professional landscapers and water quality experts will discuss ways in which gardens help wildlife. Workshops will be held virtually Thursdays, Jan. 26-March 9, noon-1 p.m. Sign up for one or more of the workshops at https://bit.ly/ELCgardenseries.  

Jan. 26, How to grow a sustainable lawn

By choosing the right style of lawn, care regimen and equipment, a sustainable lawn profile is possible. Learn key information about how to grow grass lawns and eco-lawns (grasses with broadleaf plants) including mowing, watering and fertilizing. 

Feb. 2, Encouraging beneficial insects, spiders and mini-creatures

A diverse fauna of mini creatures plays a huge role in keeping backyard habitats healthy and functional. Learn to be a good host to these critters and how a diverse, native plant-based garden is a bulwark to plant pest outbreaks.

Feb. 9, Avoiding invasives in the garden

Finding the right plant for the right location is key to garden success, but some are a little too successful and threaten to disrupt the desired outcome. Learn how proper plant choices can help prevent undesirable invasive species from taking over yards, and why this is important for the health of watersheds. 

Feb. 16, Drought-tolerant native plants for pollinators

Despite its reputation for being wet and gray, this region of Oregon has naturally dry summers, conditions that are being exacerbated by global warming. Discover drought-tolerant plants that can add resilience to the landscape in the face of changing weather patterns, as well as support bees and other pollinators. 

Feb. 23, Attracting birds while protecting watershed health

Birds provide many beneficial services, from pest-control to pollination. Creating a welcoming environment for our avian visitors doesn’t have to strain water budgets.  

March 2, Ways that we impact watersheds in our garden decisions

The choices people make in taking care of yards not only affects the long-term health and beauty of gardens, but also the health of the water supply. Learn why and how to be good environmental stewards through soil care practices, storm water management, water conservation, non-chemical fertilizer alternatives and best practices for pest management. 

March 9, Garden design considerations for managing stormwater and erosion

Sloping lawns and rivers of run-off can wreak havoc in yards. Learn how to manage storm water and erosion from an expert known for earth-friendly, water-wise designs. 

For questions, email elcatccc@clackamas.edu. The workshop series is sponsored by Clackamas County Water Environment Services and in partnership with Clackamas River Basin Council, Clackamas River Water Providers, Oak Lodge Water Services and North Clackamas Watersheds Council. 

About the Environmental Learning Center

The Environmental Learning Center has a rich history as an educational resource for Clackamas Community College, regional schools, industry and the community. Located on the former site of a Smucker's processing plant, the center was created to demonstrate what people could do to reclaim industrial sites, address stormwater issues and restore wildlife habitats in urban areas. Each year thousands of people visit to explore the 5-acre site and learn about watershed health. The site serves as an important stormwater facility for the college campus and provides critical wetland habitat for resident and migratory birds, such as the great blue heron, wood duck and merganser. For more information about the Environmental Learning Center, visit www.clackamas.edu/ELC. 

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Salem, Oregon – Leading a group of seven Oregon performing artists awarded 2023 Individual Artists Fellowships, jazz musician and educator Darrell Grant is the recipient of the Oregon Arts Commission’s honorary 2023 Joan Shipley Award. The other artists awarded 2023 Fellowships are David Bithell, Laura Cannon, Crystal Cortez, Samuel Hobbs, Gitanjali Hursh and Joe Kye. All 2023 Fellows receive $5,000 awards.

The Joan Shipley Award is named for Oregon arts leader Joan Shipley, who passed away in 2011. Shipley was a collector, philanthropist and supporter of many arts and humanities organizations. In 2005, she and her husband John received an Oregon Governor’s Arts Award. Many in the arts community also counted her as a mentor and friend.

The Arts Commission’s Fellowship program is open to more than 20,000 artists who call Oregon home. Applicants to the program are reviewed by a panel of Oregon arts professionals who consider artists of outstanding talent, demonstrated ability and commitment to the creation of new work(s). The Arts Commission reviews and acts on the panel’s recommendations for fellowship recipients. A total of 62 applications were received for 2023 Fellowships. Performing and visual artists are honored in alternating years. 

The review panel for 2023 Fellowships was Meagan Iverson, executive director, Sunriver Music Festival; Lydia Van Dreel, UofO professor of horn and previous Fellowship recipient; Scott Lewis, executive director, NW Dance Project; Michael Cavazos, theater maker, visual artist and previous Fellowship recipient; Akiko Hatakeyama, UofO assistant professor of music technology; and Evren Odcikin, associate artistic director and director of artistic programming, Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The panel chair was Roberta Lavadour, an Arts Commissioner from Pendleton. 

David Bithell is an interdisciplinary artist, composer and performer exploring the connections between visual art, music, theater and performance. Utilizing new technologies and real-time interactive environments, his work blends the precision and structure of contemporary music and audio practices with an understanding of performance, narrative and humor drawn from recent theater, live cinema and performance art. His output ranges from interactive installations, sound art and generative animation to live performance and experimental music.

Bithell’s works have been presented at major venues in the United States, Europe and Asia. Highlights include: the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity (Canada); the Portland Biennial; the Lucerne Festival (Switzerland); SPARK Festival of Electronic Music and Art (Minneapolis); Ghent International Film Festival; Pixilerations [v.6]; the Seoul International Computer Music Festival; the MANCA Festival (France); the IS ARTI Festival (Lithuania); and at numerous colleges and universities in the United States. He has received grants and commissions from Meet the Composer Commissioning Music / USA, the American Composerʼs Forum, the Ammerman Center for Arts and Technology and the Oregon Arts Commission.

He currently is a Professor of Art and Emerging Media at Southern Oregon University, where he chairs the Creative Arts Department and is a core faculty member of the Center for Emerging Media and Digital Arts (EMDA).

Laura Cannon is a dancer, choreographer and educator who has spent more than 20 years exploring site-specific work and innovative ways to create dance beyond the traditional boundaries of a stage. As the director of ProLab Dance, she is currently engaged in a multi-year site-specific performance study titled “Break to Build: Mapping Portland’s Landmark Shipyard at Zidell Shipyards” on Portland’s southwest waterfront. For this project Cannon has brought together a team of collaborating artists from various disciplines to explore and interpret the past, present and future of this historic site and turn those creative findings into an immersive Virtual Reality experience.

Cannon holds a BFA in Dance from the University Texas at Austin. She has performed with Sharir+Bustamante Danceworks, Deborah Hay and Blue Lapis Light among others. A prolific creator, she has received numerous awards for her choreography, performance, costume design and short films, including the prestigious John Bustin Award for Conspicuous Versatility in the Arts from the Austin Critic’s Table in 2006. With her wealth of experience in aerial harness dance techniques she launched the Echo Theatre Company’s robust harness dance programming in 2015.

Cannon founded ProLab Dance in 2019 with a mission to create and foster cross-disciplinary site-specific performances. Her short dance film, “Medusa” (2021), received an honorable mention at the Mobile Dance Film Festival at Harkness Dance Center in New York. “Garden Bed” (2021), a dance self-filmed during quarantine, has traveled the world and recently won Best Dancers at the Vesuvius International Film Festival in Italy and Best Film Shot on a Mobile Device at the Inspire International Film Festival in Sydney, Australia. 

Crystal Cortez is a sound, installation artist and programmer based out of Portland, Oregon. They are also a professor of Creative Coding & Sonic Arts at Portland Community College. Under their performance moniker Crystal Quartez, they create "Restorative Noise" by organizing drones and rhythms of mechanical life, natural voices and digital timbres into texture rich electronic music. Their sonic realms are windows into shared networks of reality, often separated by borders, time and perception. Recently, their work has involved translating live biodata from plants and static data from climate change into sound as well as building custom wearable instruments. Their work has been presented at NIME, La MaMa (NYC), Southern Exposure (SF), PICA, Navel (LA), On the Boards (Seattle) and more.

Darrell Grant has risen from the pianist in vocalist Betty Carter’s trio to an internationally recognized performer, composer and educator who channels the power of music to foster community, sustainability and social justice. Having performed with jazz luminaries including Frank Morgan, Tony Williams, Brian Blade, Esperanza Spalding and Nicholas Payton, he followed his 1994 New York Times Top 10 Jazz Album Black Art with seven albums receiving critical acclaim from The Village Voice and DownBeat Magazine. He has toured as a bandleader and solo artist throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe as well as in Turkey and Japan in venues from Paris’s La Villa jazz club to the Havana Jazz Festival.

Dedicated to themes of hope, community and place, Grant’s compositions include his 2012 “Step by Step: The Ruby Bridges Suite” honoring the civil rights icon. Also in 2012, he won a Chamber Music America grant for his composition “The Territory,” which explores the geographic and cultural history of Oregon. Committed to civically engaged art, Grant has driven pianos deep into state forests to support the environment, arranged protest anthems and shared the stage with Bishop Desmond Tutu.

Grant lives in Portland, Oregon, where he was inducted into the Jazz Society of Oregon Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2017, he received a Northwest Regional Emmy for his composition in the Oregon Public Broadcasting special “Jazz Town” and was also named Portland Jazz Hero by the Jazz Journalists Association. In 2019, he was named Portland Jazz Master by PDX Jazz and was awarded a MAP Fund grant for his 2022 jazz chamber opera Sanctuaries. In 2020, he received the Governor’s Arts Award, Oregon’s highest arts honor. He has served as Vice President of the board of Chamber Music America and is a Professor of Music at Portland State University where he directs the Artist as Citizen Initiative.

Samuel Hobbs is an Oregon-born multidisciplinary artist, educator, presenter and manual therapist, and is the founder and Artistic Director of the push/FOLD dance company (www.pushfold.org) and the Union PDX - Festival of Contemporary Dance. In the US and internationally, Samuel works to develop Dance, Art and movement education around concepts of Strength and Power, investigating the sensations of identity, relationships, self and gender dynamics. Working with professional artists and companies (recently Oregon Ballet Theater), immersive moodscapes, abstract storytelling and athletic dance performance with original sound compositions are the hallmarks of Samuel's body of work. As a choreographer, Hobbs draws from their training in athletics and dance (Track, Swimming, Martial Arts, and West African, Street, Contemporary Dance and Ballet) and integrates their background in Osteopathy, creating the movement method called Visceral Movement Theory™ (VMT). Reframing functional movement via visceral biomechanics, VMT focuses on increasing career longevity and power and efficiency in athletics, dance and everyday movement.

As an arts advocate, Hobbs works with audiences, councils, foundations, directors, artists, students and educators, seeking to generate abundance-thinking that centers service and reframed leadership with the understanding that everyone is fed when we all give more than we receive. Hobbs’ generative practice grows from stewardship, challenge and the discovery of Power in simple messages.

Gitanjali Hursh is an artist who has been working in Portland since the 1990s. She made her public debut as DJ Anjali in December of 2000. Her work is primarily concerned with connecting our collective memory through songs, dance and imagery while pushing forward a working class, immigrant feminist agenda on the dance floor.  She is a dancer and choreographer, blending her influences as the daughter of a classically trained Indian Kathak dancer with the powerful folk dance styles of Panjab, mainly Bhangra and Giddha. She moves between two styles of performance, from behind the decks as a DJ to the front of the stage as a dancer, all the while exploring her own identity through the power of sound and dance. She uses the dance floor as a place to build solidarity between communities of color. Music and movement have long been her tools to explore and share her unique identity as a mixed Desi immigrant daughter. With her partner, The Incredible Kid, she hosts TROPITAAL! A Desi Latino Soundclash & ANDAZ, two of the Northwest's longest running dance parties. She also teaches weekly at The Viscount Dance Studio. Archives of her years spent as a radio host on XRAY & KBOO can be found online.

Portland-based violinist-looper, vocalist and community organizer Joe Kye discharges worlds of emotion with his lush string loops and eclectic style. From viral TikTok jingles skewering microaggressions to delivering keynote speeches about creativity, community and identity, Kye’s work taps into an inner core, inspiring audiences to compassion and empathy. Drawing upon his immigrant upbringing, Kye weaves together electronic and acoustic textures, catchy melodies and vocals to uplift and empower listeners. His band, Joe Kye & the Givers, features some of Portland’s most acclaimed musicians, supercharging Joe’s music with intensity and power. Kye’s children’s music project Hi Joe Kye! introduces families to his story of hope and joy with an electro-pop sound, embracing the creative power of looping with songs inspired by the audience. In 2022, Kye launched Tiger Tiger PDX, a festival featuring Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander artists, performers and chefs. Kye has opened for Yo-Yo Ma, recorded a Tedx Talk, and been featured on NPR. 

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

EDITORS: State and local health officials will answer questions during a media availability today from 11 to noon through Zoom; members of the public can view a livestream on YouTube. Samples of contaminated products will be displayed and photos available for download.

January 26, 2023

Media contacts

Jonathan Modie, OHA, 971-246-9139, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Sarah Dean, Multnomah County, 971-349-0287, ah.dean@multco.us">sarah.dean@multco.us

Wendy Gordon, Washington County, 503-849-9117, don@washingtoncountyor.gov">wendy_gordon@washingtoncountyor.gov

High lead levels found in two tubes of Diep Bao cream used to treat eczema in babies

Health officials warning parents about skin cream product

PORTLAND, Ore.—High levels of lead have been found in two tubes of a skin cream known as Diep Bao that’s advertised as treatment for eczema in young children. State and local health officials are warning parents to avoid using the product while its safety is investigated.

Two Portland-area children were recently found to have elevated blood lead levels. The children, one in Washington County and one in Multnomah County, are both younger than a year old. During investigations by state and local lead experts, parents of the children pointed to Diep Bao as the product they recently used on their babies’ faces to treat eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, a condition common in young children that causes dry, itchy and inflamed skin.

Ryan Barker, Oregon Health Authority’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program coordinator, said laboratory tests on samples of the product provided by the families showed the product in the Washington County case contained 9,670 parts per million (ppm) lead, while the Multnomah County sample contained 7,370 ppm lead. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been alerted and is investigating. Only the two tubes of the cream have been tested so far, so whether lead is present in other tubes of Diep Bao is still being investigated.

Downloadable video clips of Barker discussing this investigation as well as photos of the product are available on OHA’s Media Resources page. 

Clips of an interview with Hai, the mother of the Multnomah County child, are available on the county’s YouTube page: with Vietnamese interpreter, https://youtu.be/Izy5JvtjEqw (viewers should adjust the volume to hear the interpreter’s voice, which is in the background); without interpreter, https://youtu.be/ExhPIoSAw-Q.

Diep Bao is promoted primarily by online retailers in Singapore and Vietnam, with one seller advertising it as “a cream that supports skin problems such as eczema, heat rash, rash, redness, dry chapped skin, skin care, skin cooling, skin healing.” Health investigators say the product is manufactured in Vietnam.

OHA, Washington County Public Health and the Multnomah County Health Department are jointly investigating the cases. They are asking families who have the product to avoid using it while its safety is investigated. Parents can help the investigation by providing tubes of Diep Bao in their possession to investigators so the product can be tested. They also are asking parents to learn about the risks of exposure to other lead-tainted products and make sure children’s blood levels are tested if they have been exposed to them.

“We are concerned this product caused or significantly contributed to the elevated blood lead levels in these children,” Barker said. “Any product containing high lead levels should be considered extremely dangerous and parents should immediately stop using it on their children or any other family member.”

There is no Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory limit on lead in medications, but for cosmetics it’s 10 ppm. This means the two creams that were tested contained nearly 1,000 times the maximum allowable amount of lead in cosmetics. It’s unclear whether Diep Bao is considered a cosmetic under federal law.

The Washington County case was found to have a blood lead level of 11.8 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL), while the Multnomah County case had a blood lead level of 7.3 µg/dL. Oregon's case definition for lead poisoning has been a blood lead level of 5 µg/dL or greater, which is when public health agencies investigate and provide case management to families. However, out of an abundance of caution – and to align with lead poisoning definitions of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and FDA – public health agencies in Oregon have recently begun investigating cases with blood lead levels above 3.5 µg/dL.

People with high blood levels of lead may show no symptoms, but the condition may cause damage to the nervous system and internal organs. Acute lead poisoning may cause a wide range of symptoms, including abdominal pain, muscle weakness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and bloody or decreased urinary output.

Children are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning. If a child is exposed to enough lead for a protracted period (e.g., weeks to months), permanent damage to the central nervous system can occur. This can result in learning disorders, developmental defects, and other long-term health problems.

“If your child has a skin condition like eczema, consult with your health care provider about prevention and treatment options,” said Christina Baumann, M.D., Washington County health officer. "If you have been using this Diep Bao cream, please talk to your provider about getting a blood lead test for your child.”

Perry Cabot, senior program specialist at Multnomah County Health Department and an investigator on the lead exposures, said the lead poisoning cases were discovered through a combination of regular pediatric check-ups, parent engagement, and public health follow-up to “connect the dots.”

“All these factors highlight the importance of staying engaged in your children's health, whether it's you, your medical provider, or your local or state health program,” Cabot said.

OHA and county health officials are working with the FDA to investigate the cases and test more products as they become available. Until the source and scope of the lead contamination are better understood, local health officials are also asking anyone selling these products to stop selling them and remove them from their websites to protect their customers.

Local health officials are working with culturally specific community groups and other partners to warn residents of potential risks associated with the eczema cream. People who have a tube of Diep Bao, or other concerns about lead, can contact the following:

• Multnomah County Leadline: 503-988-4000 or leadline@multco.us. Interpretation is free. Those submitting product will get instructions on where to drop it off. More information about lead is at leadline.org.
• FDA: Consumers who have a complaint regarding the use of Diep Bao cream are encouraged to call the Oregon Consumer Complaint Coordinator or report the product through FDA’s Safety Reporting Portal.

Risk of lead

Oregon health care providers and laboratories are required by law to report certain diseases and conditions, including lead poisoning, to local health departments. On average, 270 Oregonians are diagnosed with lead poisoning each year; about a third are children younger than 6. The most common cases are due to ingesting paint and paint dust containing lead, but exposures from traditional cosmetics and informally imported spices have been identified.

For more information, visit the CDC’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program page.

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Benton County is scheduled to host a Justice System Improvement Program (JSIP) Open House for community members to share highlights about County plans for holistic improvements to community safety, mental health, and homelessness services.

The open house will be held Wednesday, Feb. 8, from 6-8 p.m. at the Benton County Kalapuya Building, 4500 SW Research Way. Registration is not required, but the public and media are encouraged to RSVP by contacting pioinfo@co.benton.or.us.

Benton County elected officials, subject matter experts, and staff will be available to share plans for the new Mental Health Crisis Center, Courthouse, and District Attorney’s office and provide information about proposed safety, mental health, and homelessness services facilities to be included in a May 2023 bond measure. Stations at the event will include information about the new Courthouse and District Attorney's office design, the proposed plan for a new correctional facility with a Sheriff's Office and Emergency Operation Center, the new Benton County Crisis Center design plan, homelessness services facilities, and financial stewardship. 

The Justice System Improvement Program is a comprehensive effort to create a more equitable, effective, and safe justice system throughout Benton County. 

• Learn about what’s included in the May bond measure 
• View the timeline with key JSIP milestones

Questions or RSVPs may be directed to pioinfo@co.benton.or.us.

Sign up for important updates and information from Benton County

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Benton County is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to our programs, services, activities, hiring and employment practices. This document is available in alternative formats and languages upon request. Please contact Cory Grogan at 541-745-4468 or pioinfo@co.benton.or.us.

The return to in-person learning, equitable grading practices, and robust summer offerings credited with strong rebound in on-time graduation rates 

January 26, 2023, Hillsboro, OR - After experiencing a “pandemic dip” along with many other districts in 2021, the Hillsboro School District is once again on a trajectory of increasing its on-time graduation rates with the class of 2022. Districtwide, 86.27% of students who first entered high school in the 2018-19 school year graduated in four years. This represents an increase of 3.61 percentage points from 2021, is less than one percentage point away from the District’s all-time high of 87.07% in 2020, and is 4.93 percentage points above the state average. 

Other completers category includes students earning an Adult HS Diploma, Extended Diploma, or GED.

Gains were seen at each HSD high school, with Hilhi experiencing the largest increase of 5.03 percentage points for a graduation rate of 86.06%. Perhaps most encouraging are the increases seen among many of our historically marginalized students. Students identifying as Hispanic/Latino had higher graduation rates at every high school in 2022 versus 2021, as did Former English Learners and Students with Disabilities. 

Assistant Superintendent Audrea Neville cites several factors as contributing to the boost in graduates, including the return to full-time in-person instruction in the 2021-22 school year, equitable grading practices, and robust summer school programs. 

“Our high school staff worked incredibly hard to support our students in meeting standards,” Neville notes. “We were also able to leverage our Oak Street Campus and new Pathways Center to offer unique programming and alternative pathways to credit attainment for students who may have been struggling.”

A significant infusion of money from the state for summer programs was critical for providing students access to coursework to get back on track; more students than ever before were served through summer credit recovery offerings at the high school level. 

“And, of course, there is simply no substitute for being able to interact with students in person. The level of engagement and the quality of relationships increases dramatically, allowing for a more effective learning environment,” shares Neville.

The District is committed to continually enhancing its efforts to support students along their path to graduation.

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For disaggregated data, comparison to other districts, and historical data, please refer to the document 2022 comparative grad rates, and to understand more about the cohort graduation rate calculation, please refer to the document understanding graduation rates. 

(Salem, OR) – As Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day approaches on Friday, January 27, the Oregon Department of Revenue and the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) are encouraging all workers with income in 2022 to check their Earned Income Tax Credit eligibility. 

The Department of Revenue and ODHS are working with other state agencies and community partners to encourage taxpayers to learn more about this credit and find out if they’re eligible. Many Oregonians miss out because they simply don’t know about it, especially those that aren’t required to file taxes.

The Earned Income Tax Credit is a federal and state tax credit for people making less than $59,187 in 2022. Families may be eligible for a maximum refundable credit of $6935 on their federal tax return, and a maximum Oregon Earned Income Credit of $807 on their state tax return. Certain taxpayers without children may also be eligible for these credits. 

Individuals may qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, even if they are not required to file. To receive the refundable credits, however, they must file a federal and state tax return.

Basic qualifications for EITC include:

• All filing statuses are eligible, but some have specific requirements that must be met in order to qualify. 
• You, your spouse, or any qualifying child must have a Social Security number to claim the federal credit. 
• Your earned income in 2022 must be below certain limits based on your number of qualifying dependents.
• You may be eligible even if you do not have a qualifying child.

Taxpayers can use the IRS EITC Assistant to check their eligibility further. The assistant is available in English and Spanish. 

Many of the basic qualifications for the Federal EITC are the same as those for the Oregon EIC, but Oregon also allows taxpayers who use an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) to file their taxes, or have a qualifying child with an ITIN, to claim the Oregon EIC. If you have an ITIN, claim the Oregon EIC using schedule OR-EIC-ITIN.

Taxpayers can visit the Earned Income Credit page of the Revenue website for more information on the Oregon EIC, as well as more information about their eligibility

Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day is a nationwide effort to increase awareness about the Earned Income Tax Credit and free tax preparation sites. There are volunteer organizations, such as CASH Oregon and AARP, that can help you file your taxes for free or at a reduced cost. CASH Oregon provides free or low-cost, in-person and virtual tax preparation services throughout Oregon. For more information, visit www.cashoregon.org. 

People can also dial 2-1-1 or visit the Oregon Department of Revenue website to find free tax return preparation sites by using our interactive map. For more information on the EITC, visit https://www.eitc.irs.gov/. For questions about Oregon taxes, call the Department of Revenue at 503-378-4988.

To get tax forms, check the status of your refund, or make tax payments, visit www.oregon.gov/dor or email questions.dor@oregon.gov. You also can 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.

TIP OF THE WEEK

Date:           January 26, 2023                   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:       Sheriff Curtis Landers

                   541-265-0652

                   s@co.lincoln.or.us">lcsheriff@co.lincoln.or.us

VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday)

VINE – Victim Information and Notification Everyday is the nation’s leading automated victim notification solution and is available in Oregon. VINE allows crime victims across the country to obtain timely, reliable information about criminal cases and the custody status of offenders.

Victims often wish to know the status of an offender that is in the system.  Until VINE, it was difficult for officers to provide accurate information to victims. 

VINE makes information about the booking and release of inmates housed in county jails and state prisons available to victims at no cost either by telephone or the web. Offender information is collected automatically in near real-time from jail and prison booking systems.

Crime victims can access offender information, any time of the day or night simply by making a telephone call at 1-877-OR-4-VINE (1-877-674-8463) or by accessing the web at www.vinelink.com. Victims can call to inquire whether an offender is held in jail as well as the facility’s location. 

Users also can register to be notified immediately of a change in the inmate’s status, such as a release or escape. When a notification is triggered, VINE automatically calls the number or numbers the victim has provided. Calls continue until the victim acknowledges the call by entering a PIN.

VINE supports multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Mandarin Chinese, and others, so victims from many ethnicities have access to the system.

A free smartphone app is available to iPhone and Droid users called “MobilePatrol”.  One of the features of this app is access to the VINE service so you can be notified on your smart device (tablet or phone).  The app is available from the Droid “Play Store” and Apple “App Store”.  Once the app is downloaded, select Oregon as your state and then select Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.  The VINE feature and other features will appear as you scan through the pages of the app.

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

On 1/25/2023 at approximately 11:41pm, Clark County Sheriff’s Deputies responded along with East County Fire Rescue and American Medical Response to a report of a serious injury motor vehicle collision along NE Boulder Creek Rd near the Jones Creek trailhead in Clark County, Washington. The initial report came from an occupant of the vehicle who was self-described as “covered in blood” and they reported at least one other person was still inside the vehicle, unconscious. 

Deputies located a gray Mitsubishi Lancer down an embankment, partially in Boulder Creek, with two passengers still inside. The deputies helped extricate the passengers who were evaluated by EMS at the scene. A preliminary investigation showed there had been four occupants in the vehicle when it was traveling west on NE Boulder Creek Rd before leaving the roadway and entering Boulder Creek. The driver was identified as Ryan Shepherd (23), of Vancouver, and he exhibited signs of impairment at the scene.

All four occupants were transported to area hospitals by ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries. A search warrant was executed for a sample of Shepherd’s blood. This case remains active pending further investigation by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division and Traffic Homicide Unit. 

Additional information will be released at a later date, pending further investigation. All suspects remain innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

The Southwest Washington Independent Investigative Response Team (SWIIRT), in compliance with WAC 139-12, is issuing the fifth weekly update related to the Kelso officer-involved shooting investigation from 12/17/22. 

This remains an active and ongoing investigation. Detectives are still working on reviewing transcripts and incident video. They are also still awaiting the medical examiner’s report.  

There is no further information to be released at this time and updates will continue each week until the case is forwarded to the Prosecuting Attorney’s office.

Longview, WA- Firefighters from Cowlitz 2 Fire and Rescue and Cowlitz Fire District 5 rescued a 61-year-old male involved in an ATV accident in the 2000 block of Abernathy Creek Rd at 11:13 Wednesday morning.  The man was unreachable by emergency apparatus due to the terrain, so firefighters reached the man on foot and used ropes and a rescue basket to pull the man up to level ground.   Cowlitz Fire District 5 responded with their side-by-side ATV and coordinated a safe landing zone for a rescue helicopter.  The man was then flown, by Life flight Network, to Peace Health Southwest Medical Center where he is being treated for rib and hip injuries.  The man was wearing a helmet.  A medic unit, a fire engine, a Chief Officer, a side-by-side ATV, and two Cowlitz County Deputies responded to the incident.  No other injuries were reported. 

To help maintain the health of Hillsboro’s water system, the City of Hillsboro Water Department officially implemented a new, year-round unidirectional flushing (UDF) program this week. 

UDF involves flushing water mains – or the underground pipes that deliver drinking water to homes and businesses – through fire hydrants. UDF is a standard industry maintenance practice that helps maintain water quality and improve the carrying capacity of water mains. Flushing will also prepare Hillsboro’s water system for the integration of the Willamette Water Supply System in 2026.

“Over time, small amounts of sediment from mineral deposits and organic matter can settle out of the water and accumulate in the bottom of water mains,” said Jessica Dorsey, Hillsboro Water Resources Division Manager. 

“Sediment can build up in water mains and eventually affect the amount of chlorine in the water and impede water flow. This can cause taste and discoloration issues and lead to reduced water flow for fire protection. Flushing helps remove this buildup to keep water clean, safe, and flowing.”

UDF flushing includes:

• Opening and closing water valves to isolate a specific section of water main
• Attaching a large hose to a specific fire hydrant and drawing water through to flush the isolated section of water main
• Draining flushed water into the City’s Stormwater infrastructure after chlorine has been removed

“Flushing water mains helps to extend their useful life,” said Kevin Meeuwsen, a Hillsboro Water Engineer. “Unidirectional flushing is a more effective way of cleaning than other flushing methods. UDF isolates each water main to create flow in a single direction to clean our main network quickly and efficiently.” 

What Water Customers can Expect

Several days before flushing begins, signage will be posted in the immediate vicinity of the flushing area. During flushing, customers’ water service will not be disrupted, and customers can continue to use water.

Flushing may temporarily affect water pressure and stir up sediment in the pipeline, causing discolored water at customer’s taps. Although the discoloration does not pose a health risk, customers in the immediate flushing area are encouraged to: 

• Avoid running the washing machine or dishwasher until flushing is complete
• Flush all taps for up to 10 minutes to clear the pipes after flushing is complete
• Unscrew and clean sediment from faucet aerators – or the small screens that are attached at the base of your kitchen or bathroom faucet spout – after flushing is complete

The UDF program is supported by Hillsboro Water’s current budget. Water rates and system development charges will not be increased to pay for the new UDF program.

UDF flushing will begin in the southeast area of the City. When crews complete flushing in this area, they will move to a new zone in the City. Flushing the more than 300 miles of water mains in Hillsboro Water’s service area is expected to take approximately three to four years. Flushing will occur Monday through Friday, between 8 am and 5 pm, throughout the year. 

Additional information and a flushing area map are available at Hillsboro-Oregon.gov/Flushing.

January 25, 2023

Media contact: Amy Coven, 503-943-0164, amy.coven2@dhsoha.state.or.us

Open enrollment has ended for 2023 health coverage: Enrollment options still available for many people

(Salem) – During the 2023 open enrollment period, 141,963 Oregonians enrolled in health insurance coverage, the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace announced today.

The open enrollment period was from Nov. 1, 2022 to Jan. 15, 2023 for 2023 health coverage. People who missed the open enrollment deadline may still have an opportunity to get health coverage through the Marketplace if they experienced a qualifying life event such as moving, involuntarily losing health coverage, having or adopting a child, marriage, a change in citizenship, and being released from incarceration. Enrolled Tribal members, Alaska natives, and people who have lower income can enroll in health coverage at any time throughout the year.

Oregonians can preview plans and savings available to them by answering a few short questions at OregonHealthCare.gov. The website is also the best place to find a health insurance expert who can give one-on-one help with the application and enrollment process by phone, email, or in person. Visit OregonHealthCare.gov today to get started.

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The Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace, a part of state government, helps people get health insurance when they do not have job-based coverage, and do not qualify for the Oregon Health Plan or another program. The Marketplace is the state-level partner to HealthCare.gov. For more information, go to OregonHealthCare.gov.

CORVALLIS, Ore. – On Wednesday, January 25, 2023, at approximately 12:20 p.m., Alex Cameron Greig, 19, of Albany reported he had physically assaulted his girlfriend.

Officers from the Albany Police Department (APD) responded to the residence on Valley View Drive NW in Albany. Upon arrival, Officers reported shots fired from inside the residence. One APD Officer was injured by flying glass and transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of minor injuries. 

Greig surrendered to Officers on scene and was taken into custody without further incident. 

“We are very fortunate that no police officers were seriously injured and the suspect is in custody. We appreciate the professionalism of both Albany Police Officers on scene and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office who is taking the lead on the investigation”, Chief Harnden, APD.

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) is conducting the ongoing investigation of the incident and will release more information as it is available. 

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Honduran man residing in Portland is facing federal charges after he was arrested moving two kilograms of rainbow-colored fentanyl and several firearms between two Portland-area motels.

Jose Isidro Zuniga Torres, 47, has been charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to possess and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.

According to court documents, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Tigard Police Department are engaged in an ongoing investigation into the suspected trafficking of illegal narcotics from Mexico for distribution and sale in Oregon and Washington state. To date, law enforcement officials have charged or arrested eight individuals with connections to an international drug trafficking organization and seized more than five kilograms of powdered fentanyl, four and a half kilograms of heroin, three kilograms each of cocaine and crystal methamphetamine, 45,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, and 12 firearms.

As part of this investigation, on January 23, 2023, investigators were surveilling a motel in Portland when they observed two men, one later identified as Zuniga, exit a room carrying multiple boxes. The two men loaded the boxes and several additional bags into a vehicle and began driving toward another area motel. The investigators followed the vehicle and observed the two men unload the boxes and bags into a room at the second motel.

The next day, on January 24, 2023, investigators executed a federal search warrant on the second motel room. After making entry into the room, Zuniga was arrested without incident. Investigators located and seized more than 2 kilograms of hard, rainbow-colored fentanyl packaged for distribution, 417 grams of counterfeit oxycodone pills (M30s) containing fentanyl, 393 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 49 grams of cocaine, and eight firearms. 

Zuniga admitted to possessing most of the drugs found in the motel room. He further told investigators the firearms were to be shipped to Honduras and were wrapped in tinfoil and clothing to avoid detection by law enforcement.

Zuniga made his first appearance in federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jolie A. Russo. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.

This case is being investigated by the DEA, HSI, and Tigard Police Department. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

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

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PUC ENCOURAGING OREGONIANS TO SUBMIT INTERNET DATA TO FASTER INTERNET OREGON CAMPAIGN
Speed test, survey will inform future broadband funding and planning to improve internet access 

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) is encouraging Oregonians to report their home internet speed data or lack of internet service as part of Faster Internet Oregon’s internet speed test and broadband mapping survey. This information will help secure infrastructure funding and ensure it is allocated so every Oregon resident has access to fast, affordable internet service. 

Congress’s bipartisan broadband infrastructure funding bills are distributing billions to the states with the goal of making equitable internet access for all Americans a reality. These broadband funding programs present an unprecedented opportunity to overcome the enormous challenges that have kept reliable, affordable Internet service out of reach for many rural and Tribal communities due to low household incomes, low population density, remote locations, difficult terrain, among other roadblocks. Having accurate data to identify where broadband service is and is not available is an important first step in helping state and local decision-makers determine how to allocate funding to deliver broadband services equitably.

The Faster Internet Oregon speed test and survey, offered in both English and Spanish, is easy, free, and safe to complete. In addition to running the internet speed test, respondents are asked whether they have home internet service, an estimate of the monthly cost, and address where the speed test is taken. This data, which is protected from use for any other purpose, will be mapped to identify gaps in service and used to estimate project costs for future broadband expansion. 

“We encourage all Oregonians to take part in the Faster Internet Oregon effort. The data provided will be invaluable as our state looks to make significant improvements in broadband infrastructure connectivity for all Oregon residents, improving access to healthcare, jobs, education, and numerous community resources,” said Megan Decker, PUC Chair.

To start the speed test and survey, visit: www.fasterinternetoregon.org/#speed-test. Additionally, inform Oregon-based friends, family, and colleagues to help ensure greater participation across the state in this effort.

# # #

Faster Internet Oregon was launched in 2022 by a partnership of non-profit and public organizations including Oregon’s Economic Development Districts, Onward Eugene, SpeedUpAmerica, and Link Oregon, among others. The project's partners will use this data, along with software that assists in mapping as well as in designing and budgeting for broadband infrastructure builds, to prepare compelling grant proposals for funding. For more information, visit www.FasterInternetOregon.org or email info@FasterInternetOregon.org. 

The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) regulates customer rates and services of the state’s investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities, including Portland General Electric, Idaho Power, Pacific Power, Avista, Cascade Natural, and NW Natural. The PUC also regulates landline telephone providers and select water companies. The PUC’s mission is to ensure Oregonians have access to safe, reliable, and fairly priced utility services that advance state policy and promote the public interest. We use an inclusive process to evaluate differing viewpoints and visions of the public interest and arrive at balanced, well-reasoned, independent decisions supported by fact and law. For more information about the PUC, visit oregon.gov/puc.

On January 4, 2023, Chaplain Cari Arnsparger was sworn-in with an Honorary Commission by Clark County Sheriff John Horch.  Cari is the first designated Chaplain specifically assigned to assist employees, their families, and the public for the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

Cari comes to CCSO through her volunteer work at County-Wide Chaplaincy and her fit with the agency.  She has been with County-Wide Chaplaincy as a police and fire Chaplain for five years. She has completed an extensive two-year training program through County-Wide Chaplaincy and the Responders Resource Program. Cari is a graduate of the Police and Fire Chaplain Academy at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission in Burien, Washington.  She is also an ordained and commissioned Police Chaplain, receiving her ordination through Freedom Community Church.

As the CCSO Chaplain, Cari will be assigned to the Peer Support Team and will provide counseling and or emotional support to employees of the agency, their families, and members of the public.  The Honorary Commission gives no law enforcement authority but allows her to be an emotional support per the Revised Code of Washington.  CCSO has outfitted Chaplain Cari with a Class A uniform for ceremonies and Class B uniforms for patrol as well as protective gear. 

For the past several months, Cari has been riding along with deputies on different shifts, getting to know the deputies, and helping people on calls when she can.  Her compassion for others is already seen by many of the deputies and citizens.  She has already assisted on calls providing comfort to individuals and even performing CPR.  Cari is a veteran of the United States Coast Guard, and it is here where her passion for helping others began.

In her free time, Cari likes to ride horses and quads, and spending time with her family. 

On January 4, 2023, Chaplain Cari Arnsparger was sworn-in with an Honorary Commission by Clark County Sheriff John Horch.  Cari is the first designated Chaplain specifically assigned to assist employees, their families, and the public for the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

Cari comes to CCSO through her volunteer work at County-Wide Chaplaincy and her fit with the agency.  She has been with County-Wide Chaplaincy as a police and fire Chaplain for five years. She has completed an extensive two-year training program through County-Wide Chaplaincy and the Responders Resource Program. Cari is a graduate of the Police and Fire Chaplain Academy at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission in Burien, Washington.  She is also an ordained and commissioned Police Chaplain, receiving her ordination through Freedom Community Church.

As the CCSO Chaplain, Cari will be assigned to the Peer Support Team and will provide counseling and or emotional support to employees of the agency, their families, and members of the public.  The Honorary Commission gives no law enforcement authority but allows her to be an emotional support per the Revised Code of Washington.  CCSO has outfitted Chaplain Cari with a Class A uniform for ceremonies and Class B uniforms for patrol as well as protective gear. 

For the past several months, Cari has been riding along with deputies on different shifts, getting to know the deputies, and helping people on calls when she can.  Her compassion for others is already seen by many of the deputies and citizens.  She has already assisted on calls providing comfort to individuals and even performing CPR.  Cari is a veteran of the United States Coast Guard, and it is here where her passion for helping others began.

In her free time, Cari likes to ride horses and quads, and spending time with her family. 

Lane County Sheriff’s Office detectives recently received information from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force that approximately 30 separate files of child pornography had been uploaded to the internet using the messaging platform ‘Kik’ from a residence in Veneta.  Detectives served a search warrant on the house and were able to develop information indicating that a former resident, 45-year-old Lon Curtis Coffey, had uploaded the images. 

Detectives additionally learned that approximately two years ago, Coffey had attempted to groom an 11-year-old girl to solicit sex. With permission from the child’s guardian, detectives used the child’s Facebook account to message with the suspect. Within two days of messaging, Coffey stated he wanted to have sex with the now 13-year-old girl and advised he would drive down to the Eugene area from Albany to meet. Detectives confronted Coffey upon his arrival and he was taken into custody.

Coffey admitted to uploading the child pornography from the house in Veneta.  He additionally advised he has been involved in child pornography for over 10 years and has exchanged thousands of files.

Please contact Lane County Sheriff’s Office detectives at 541-682-4150 if your child has had contact with Lon Coffey.       

(SALEM, Ore.) – At first glance, Scout might look like he’s a typical, playful pup, but this 18-month-old, black Lab is developing a nose for crime. Meet the newest member of the Oregon State Police (OSP) Fish & Wildlife Conservation K-9 team. Scout along with his handler, Trooper Shae Ross will be following in the footsteps of the first anti-poaching team in Oregon made up of K-9 Buck and Senior Trooper Josh Wolcott.

The OSP Fish & Wildlife Division, the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW) Stop Poaching Campaign, and the Oregon Wildlife Foundation (OWF) held a joint press conference to announce the expansion of the OSP Fish & Wildlife Conservation K-9 team Jan. 25 at ODFW headquarters in Salem.  

“Adding another wildlife detection K-9 team provides another asset to our division to address poaching issues and increase awareness across the state,” said OSP Fish & Wildlife Division Captain Casey Thomas. “Senior Trooper Wolcott and K-9 Buck have done a great job of getting this program started. Adding a second team will increase the program's efficiency and reduce the excessive travel strain of the current team. I want to thank everyone involved in establishing, maintaining, and supporting OSP’s Conservation K9 program,” continued Thomas. “This program wouldn’t be possible without them and these strong partnerships.”

Speakers at the event included: Senior Trooper Wolcott, Trooper Ross, Stop Poaching Campaign Coordinator for the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife Yvonne Shaw and Oregon Wildlife Foundation Executive Director Tim Greseth. A demonstration by Buck and Senior Trooper Wolcott followed the presentations. 

“Oregon’s fish, wildlife and other natural resources belong to all of us,” stated Stop Poaching Campaign Coordinator for the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife Yvonne Shaw. “The partnership between Oregon Wildlife Foundation and the OSP F&W Conservation K9 program helps to protect these natural resources for current and future generations. OWF’s generous donors recognize the value of these dogs, which offer a unique connection between law enforcement and the communities they serve,” continued Shaw.

OWF, in collaboration with OSP Fish & Wildlife Division, launched Oregon’s first Wildlife K-9 team in 2019. K-9 Buck and Senior Trooper Wolcott have conducted numerous poaching investigations and logged hundreds of hours in the field since the inception of the program. The current team is located at OSP’s Springfield Area Command but has worked across the state over the last 2.5 years.

The effectiveness of the K-9 program led OSP leadership to the recent approval of the additional team (Scout and Trooper Ross) at the OSP Area Command in Bend. As with the inaugural team, OWF donors have generously agreed to help cover the costs of this program expansion. Ongoing canine expenses, primarily veterinary care, are financed by public donations to OWF.

"Oregon Wildlife Foundation is pleased to be able to support the OSP Fish & Wildlife Conservation K-9 program and our partnership with Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division," said OWF Executive Director Tim Greseth. “We greatly appreciate generous donors stepping up, once again, to expand this successful program and help us introduce a new K-9 team to the public."

Oregon Wildlife Foundation accepts public donations to the OSP Fish & Wildlife Conservation K-9 Fund to offset expenses associated with the canine members of the teams. Donations to the fund help defray the costs of veterinary care, training equipment and related supplies. To support and learn more about the OSP Fish & Wildlife Conservation K-9 program visit www.myowf.org/k9team. 

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Battle Ground Public Schools director resigns; board seeks applicants for open position 

Battle Ground Public Schools Board Director Rob Henrikson announced his resignation at the Jan. 23 school board meeting. His resignation is effective Feb. 28. 

Henrikson has represented district 2 since he was appointed in March 2019. He was later elected to the position in November 2019. During his time on the board, he served on several committees, including the audit and legislative committees and has represented the school board as an ex officio member of the Battle Ground Education Foundation’s board of directors.

“Rob has positively affected thousands of staff members and students during his tenure through his thoughtful decision making and commitment to what’s best for those whom he represents,” said Battle Ground Superintendent Denny Waters. "We are grateful for his service."

Requirements 
The board of directors is now accepting applications to fill the vacant district 2 director position. Applicants must be registered to vote and live in director district 2, which serves central and eastern portions of the district (see directions for determining which director district serves your residential address). 

By law, school district employees are not eligible to serve as board members.

Please note that this is a temporary appointment. The director position will be up for election in the August primary (if applicable) and November 2023 general election.

Process 
By 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 10, applicants should submit the following:

• Letter of interest
• Resume with full name, physical address (including zip code), email address and telephone number where they can be reached during the day
• List of three references with contact information 

Materials may be submitted to Sandy U’Ren, executive assistant to the superintendent and board of directors, by emailing en.sandy@battlegroundps.org">uren.sandy@battlegroundps.org.

Applicants who wish to mail hard copies should send their materials to the following address:

Battle Ground Public Schools board of directors
c/o Sandy U’Ren
P. O. Box 200, Battle Ground, WA 98604

The appointment process follows the district’s policy 1114, “Board member resignation and vacancy.” Should a board member rescind their letter of resignation before the designated resignation date, the search for a new director will be terminated.

Timeline

• Feb. 10: Applications are due by 4:30 p.m.
• Feb. 14-17: Applicants are notified if they are selected for an interview
• Feb. 21-24 (date to be determined): Board interviews candidates and selects appointee
• March 13: New director is sworn in

Learn about serving on the BGPS board.

January 25, 2023

Media Contact: Jonathan Modie, 971-246-9139,

PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Housing authority’s radon procedures manual inspires state protocol

OHA gives nod to Home Forward in testing plan for multifamily buildings

PORTLAND, Ore.— In 2017, Home Forward began testing its Portland public housing buildings for radon to prepare for a major rehabilitation project. The agency discovered some buildings had elevated levels of radon, but guidance on addressing it was limited.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) had issued recommendations for radon testing in 2013, but there was no requirement specific to testing public housing properties.

So, Home Forward took a proactive approach to addressing elevated radon levels, creating a policy to test, mitigate where necessary, and re-test all the properties it owns – more than 100 buildings. That spawned the Home Forward Radon Procedures Manual.

“The only way of knowing if a property or a unit has high levels of radon is by testing,” said Carolina Gomez, Home Forward’s director of Integrated Facilities Services and Safety who helped draft both the policy and the procedures manual. “We don't know where we're going to find it until we test, so we are in the process of testing all our properties.”

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is recognizing National Radon Action Month during January to highlight the dangers of the colorless, odorless and invisible radioactive gas. Winter is the best time to test for radon because windows and doors are closed tight, and HVAC systems can create interior pressure differences that cause more radon to be sucked up through a home’s foundation.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates radon is responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the United States.

The Home Forward Radon Procedures Manual lays out detailed procedures for initial testing, mitigation, post-mitigation testing and ongoing testing, as well as requirements for notifying residents about testing and mitigation, and procedures for procurement of radon contracting services, ensuring safety, and maintenance. The manual also describes each Home Forward department’s responsibility regarding radon testing and mitigation.

Home Forward is now on track to completing testing and abatement at all its properties – home to some 14,000 households – by the end of 2023.

OHA took notice of Home Forward’s success in developing its radon policy and procedures manual. In late 2022, OHA published its own Radon Testing for Multifamily Buildings guide – available on OHA’s Radon Resources page – to help multifamily building owners and managers in the state accurately test their buildings for elevated radon.

“What inspired us was the Oregonian’s “Cancer Cloud” article, and then learning about Home Forward’s commitment to test their buildings for radon,” said Jara Popinga, OHA’s Radon Awareness Program coordinator. “It was clear that local housing authorities could use more support and encouragement for radon testing.”

OHA had recently finished the protocols and procedures document for testing radon levels in schools – as part of ORS 332.341 and 332.345 – and a risk communication tool kit. It was an opportunity for the agency to reconstruct those resources to make something geared toward property owners and tenants. Because Home Forward has experience with radon testing in multifamily buildings and communicating with tenants, “we thought they would be a great partner to work with to build these resources. Lucky for us, they agreed to provide support and input on our materials,” Popinga said.

HUD points to a document created by the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (AARST), Protocol for Conduction Measurements of Radon and Radon Decay Products in Multifamily Buildings, for recommendations on how to test larger properties. But it’s technical, and copies are expensive.

“We wanted to make a document that stuck to the AARST protocols but was less technical, easier to digest and free to use,” Popinga said. “Our goal is to create a packet of useful information that’s easy to read, contains AARST standards for testing multifamily buildings, has fillable documents that help to organize and plan for testing, and materials to help communicate with tenants. We want to remove barriers and make it easier for property owners to test for radon.”

The guide, developed with funding from the EPA, follows national guidelines for measuring radon in multifamily apartment buildings. It provides step-by-step instructions and other tools to help property owners and managers plan and carry out radon testing.

“It’s not a requirement for private housing rental companies to test for radon. In addition, it’s not a requirement for them to fix high levels of radon, if detected. However, we hope that the document will encourage such companies to seek radon testing and make it easier to take action when testing a property,” Popinga said.

Having a guide for multifamily building owners and managers is important because radon levels can vary widely from building to building, as many parts of Oregon remain at risk of high radon. For example, one multifamily apartment building can have low or no elevated radon levels, while the building next door can have dangerously high levels.

For Home Forward, regular communication with residents was paramount to developing and successfully implementing its Radon Procedures Manual.

“Now we have a policy in place where we have timelines in which we are going to notify residents as soon as we can” about testing and abating at their properties, Gomez said. “It’s active communication. There is less stress on residents in that they know we are taking care of the problem.”

For more information on areas of the state at moderate to high risk of elevated radon levels, radon testing and mitigation or to order a test kit online, contact the Radon Awareness Program at adon.program@state.or.us">radon.program@state.or.us or visit its webpage.

Visit Home Forward’s radon page for information about the housing authority’s work, policy and manual, and links to resources.

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January 25, 2023

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

Mobile unit compliance deadline prompts new interest in rules

Jan. 1 effective date follows three-year grace period for food cart operators

PORTLAND, Ore.— New statewide mobile food unit rules officially went into effect Jan. 1, following a three-year grace period to give operators time to come into compliance.

The new rules for mobile food units, or food carts, were established Feb. 1, 2020, so counties statewide could strengthen enforcement and protect the public.

OHA and local public health agencies continue to be supportive and are ready to work with operators on compliance schedules to give them more time. Mobile units will not be closed immediately if they are not in compliance with these new rules if they are actively working on a solution that has been approved by the Local Public Health Authority.   

Mobile food units make up a diverse and thriving industry that Oregon is nationally known for. Oregon Health Authority (OHA) supports their growth statewide. The agency is unique in that it does not automatically require a unit to have a commissary – a licensed kitchen where dishes can be washed, food is prepared in advance, and food and equipment are stored – if operators can show their units can be self-sufficient. Operators must, however, keep everything “integral” to the unit and operate within the capacity of the unit.

Integral

Integral means that all equipment associated with a mobile unit is rigidly and physically attached to the unit without restricting the mobility of the unit while in transit.

In the state, there have been challenges with non-integral items sitting on the ground around mobile units, which creates gathering places for insects and rodents. Because of this, OHA has strengthened enforcement for violations with the support of the Rule Advisory Committee.

The rules

All mobile food units must be designed with integrated, on-board potable and wastewater tanks. A mobile unit may also connect to water and sewer if available at the operating location, but the tanks must always remain on the unit. One exception applies to mobile food units licensed prior to Feb. 1, 2020, in which the water tanks and associated plumbing were removed prior to that date. Those units are not required to reinstall the tanks and associated plumbing if the unit is still connected to an approved water and sewer system in its original licensing location.

A mobile food unit may not connect to a freshwater system without also connecting to an approved sewer system.

Because all operations and equipment must be integral parts of the mobile food unit, those that use potable and wastewater storage tanks that are not integral to the unit must discontinue the use of these tanks.  Properly sized tanks may need to be installed on the unit to meet their current needs for fresh and wastewater.

A mobile food unit may use folding shelves or small tables that are integral to the unit for display of non-potentially hazardous condiments and customer single-use articles, such as disposable utensils and napkins. The shelves or small tables must be designed and installed so they do not impede the mobility of the unit when retracted.

What hasn’t changed

Off-unit items such as refrigerators, freezers and water/wastewater tanks have never been allowed, and there is no change to the requirements. These violations are now a higher priority in the Food Sanitation Rules, allowing county inspectors greater ability to enforce them.  Additionally, off unit water tanks become a public health problem when wastewater spills or there is improper disposal on site.  

Background

In 2018, the OHA Foodborne Illness Prevention Program formed a Rules Advisory Committee that included mobile food unit operators, interested parties, industry association representatives and regulators. The following year, OHA conducted informational meetings, inviting every mobile unit operator statewide to attend. The meetings – in Bend, Medford and Salem – included presentations and discussions about the proposed rules, the timeline of the rulemaking process and a question-and-answer session.

After hearing formal testimony on the proposed rules during a public meeting, OHA created a document outlining the major rule changes. These rule changes have been available online for the public since 2019 and the significant changes document was given to operators by local environmental health inspection staff during inspections. 

Operators and the public can learn more about the food and safety rules for mobile food units here: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HEALTHYENVIRONMENTS/FOODSAFETY/Documents/foodsanitationrulesweb.pdf

A link to the significant changes document can be found here: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HEALTHYENVIRONMENTS/FOODSAFETY/Documents/musignifchangenglish.pdf

Here is a link to OHA’s food safety webpage: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HEALTHYENVIRONMENTS/FOODSAFETY/Pages/index.aspx

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January 25, 2023

Media contact: Erica Heartquist, 503-871-8843 phd.communications@oha.oregon.gov

Get immunizations updated before School Exclusion Day Feb. 15

Parents must provide schools, child care facilities with kids’ vaccine records

Portland, Ore. – The third Wednesday of February (Feb. 15) is School Exclusion Day, and the Oregon Immunization Program reminds parents that children may not be able to attend school or child care that day if their records show missing immunizations.

Under state law, all children in public and private schools, preschools, Head Start and certified child care facilities must have up-to-date documentation on their immunizations or have an exemption.

“Immunization is the best way to protect children against vaccine-preventable diseases such as whooping cough and measles,” said Stacy de Assis Matthews, school law coordinator at the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Public Health Division.

“Just a few years ago, we saw several measles cases in the Northwest, and Central Ohio just experienced a severe measles outbreak with more than 30 unvaccinated children hospitalized,” Matthews said. “There also were recent polio cases in New York state. We don’t want another disease outbreak in Oregon of on top of COVID-19. Immunizations are the most effective way to stop the spread of measles and other diseases, to keep kids and school communities healthy and safe.”

If a child’s school and child care vaccination records are not up to date by Feb. 15, the child will be sent home if they don’t have an exemption. In 2022, local health departments sent 26,149 letters to parents and guardians informing them that their children needed immunizations to stay in school or child care.

A total of 5,118 children were kept out of school or child care until the necessary immunization information was turned in to the schools or child care facilities. This year, reminder letters to parent will be mailed by Feb. 1.

COVID-19 vaccinations are not required for students in Oregon schools or child care. OHA strongly recommends everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 immunizations. Parents can check with their health care provider or pharmacist about current COVID-19 recommendations.

Parents seeking immunizations for their children should contact their child’s pediatrician or local health department, or contact 211Info by dialing 211 or visiting to 211info.org. No one can be turned away from a local health department because of the inability to pay for required vaccines. Many pharmacists can immunize children 7 and older; parents can contact their neighborhood pharmacy for details.

Additional information on school immunizations can be found at the Immunization Program website.

Statewide school vaccination data is available on the OHA website, or at OHA’s new School Law Immunization Dashboard.

Personal stories on why people in Oregon are deciding to vaccinate can be viewed by visiting OHA’s Facebook and Twitter pages. OHA also invites people to join the conversation and share why they vaccinate by using the hashtag #ORVaccinates on social media.

As a parent, Dr. Choo talks about why she vaccinates her children: https://youtu.be/aDy7sseKs24

Reverend Dr. Currie discusses whether there are legitimate reasons for religious exemptions: https://youtu.be/D6XnPm1N4iQ

Hear how Sarah’s powerful conversations changed her mom’s long-held views on vaccinations: https://youtu.be/dPB2sfySwJQ

WASHOUGAL, Wash., January 25, 2023 - Throughout the school year, the Washougal School District Board of Directors visits Washougal schools to observe impacts of board decisions and inform future decision-making with on-site experiences. Board members use the school site visits as opportunities to better understand how educational improvement strategies play out in real time, observe adjustments for student needs that teachers make throughout a lesson, and engage with students in honest conversations about ideas they have for improvement. Board members review the school goals prior to the visit and conclude each visit with a debrief. As School Board Appreciation Month comes to a close, Washougal School District recognizes the positive impacts of board leadership on the educational experience of Washougal youth.

“We value opportunities to engage on-site with students and teachers very highly,” said Cory Chase, board president. “It helps us to make decisions that best serve our students and our community.” The board gains on-site insight and experiences at Washougal school visits, speaking with students and staff while observing how board decisions impact school programs. Washougal School Board visits schools to spend time in classrooms with students and teachers, seeing firsthand the excellent learning opportunities students have in our schools each day.

“Student voice is very important to our team,” said Sadie McKenzie, board member. “Students have unique insight into school programs and policies. We enjoy the opportunity to speak openly with them.” Board members eat lunch with students during school site visits, which provides a less formal opportunity to engage with students and listen to their experiences while enjoying the chef-inspired, scratch-made meals provided by the WSD Culinary Department.

“The site visits align with the strategic plan adopted by the board, which prioritizes student voice and agency,” said Washougal School District superintendent Mary Templeton. “This authentic listening ensures that Washougal knows, nurtures, and challenges all students to rise.” Student board representatives also regularly attend Washougal school board meetings, providing valuable student insight on how policy and procedures are impacting school climate. This open communication benefits our schools and community by creating a decision-making process informed by student input.

The Washougal school board consists of five citizens of the school district, elected from director districts for a four-year term. Board members volunteer their time to guide high-quality education for students in Washougal. The Washougal School District Board of Education members are Cory Chase, Jim Cooper, Angela Hancock, Sadie McKenzie, and Chuck Carpenter.

The Washougal School Board has been recognized by the Washington State School Directors Association (WSSDA) as a Board of Distinction two years in a row for their focus on student achievement for all learners. School improvement plans, the district strategic plan, and guiding pillars frame decision-making processes which achieve results for student success.

The Washougal School District Board of Education plans to visit each school in Washougal over the course of the year, and will be at Gause Elementary School in March 2023 for a visit.

PORTLAND, Ore. (January 25, 2023) – Bring your “fronds” and let’s have some “fern”! Al’s Garden & Home will be hosting a Houseplant Swap at all four store locations, Gresham, Sherwood, Wilsonville, and Woodburn, Saturday, January 28, 2023, from 1:00-3:00 pm. Bring your pest-free, disease-free plants and pups to find them a new home. Discover a new plant project for yourself while meeting like-minded houseplant enthusiasts.

“We’re excited to connect plant experts and plant enthusiasts with such a great community event.” said Jennifer Harmon, Director of Marketing of Al’s Garden & Home. “We are bringing together our plant experts, along with other local nurseries and partners to swap houseplants, advice, witha mutual obsession with unique houseplants.” Community partners from Amro Nursery, Espoma, Rita Lee’s Nursey, and Little Prince of Oregon will be in attendance offering great advice and story swapping.

Swap for your new plant, pick up a pot, and perhaps adopt a new one. Enter to win great prizes from Espoma and Al’s like a 2.5”-inch Philodendron “Pink Princess”, valued at $25.00, an Espoma package, or a 4” Epipremnum pinnatum Albo. Online registration is open now at https://als-gardencenter.com/pages/als-houseplant-swap for attendees. We can’t wait to meet you and introduce you to our plant partners. We’re “rooting” for you! #Alsplantswap23 #Espomaorganic

ABOUT AL’S GARDEN & HOME

Al's Garden & Home Center, established in Woodburn, Oregon, is family owned-and-operated since 1948. Today, our local garden centers can be found in four locations in Oregon– Woodburn, Sherwood, Gresham, and Wilsonville. Besides offering the highest quality of plants and gardening supplies, we are also committed to providing the best service to our growing community of customers and gardening enthusiasts. For more information and a list of upcoming events, visit als-gardencenter.com. 

SALEM, Ore.— The Oregon Legislature will be considering a number of recommendations for changes related to the statewide wildfire risk map during the 2023 session, some of which would substantively change the map itself. Following conversations last week with the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire Programs Advisory Council, the state has decided to postpone the release of an updated draft of the map, which was planned for March 2023.

“As we’ve been working with Oregon State University on technical adjustments to the map and planning for community outreach and engagement, we’ve also been keeping a close eye on the policy conversations happening in different venues,” explained Cal Mukumoto, Oregon State Forester and director of the Oregon Department of Forestry. “There were some great recommendations that came out of the Wildfire Programs Advisory Council’s first annual report and opportunities identified by Wildfire Programs Director Doug Grafe related to the map that I hope the Legislature gets the opportunity to explore during this session.” 

Those recommendations are in addition to several bills proposing a variety of changes ranging from which areas are assigned a risk classification to abolishing the map entirely. “We want to avoid expending resources on work that may not align with new direction that may come from the Legislature this session,” Mukumoto said. Without knowing what decisions will be made by the Legislature, the department does not yet know how long it will take to implement that direction.

Members of both the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and the Wildfire Programs Advisory Council have expressed support for continued mapping of wildfire hazards to identify where to direct investments in wildfire mitigation activities including fuels reduction and building defensible space. 

“Our goal this session is to get resources and expertise to Oregonians already doing good work on the ground to protect their properties and neighborhoods,” said Sen. Jeff Golden (D), Ashland. Golden chairs the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and was the chief sponsor of SB 762. “It’s important to get that done and to do all we can to ease the homeowner insurance challenges that the era of megafires has brought us before moving forward with any map.”

There is also broad recognition of the need for increased outreach, education and engagement with communities. “We need an integrated, coordinated and robust communications and outreach effort across all Senate Bill 762 programs to help property owners understand what their classification means, how they can better protect their homes and what resources are available to help them with that work,” said Mark Bennett, chair of the Wildfire Programs Advisory Council.

OSU, ODF’s partner in the development of the map, will lend technical expertise to upcoming educational efforts related to wildfire risk and hazard. "We are prepared to support state agencies in education plans and will help develop and implement an operational plan as needed,” said Tom DeLuca, dean of OSU’s College of Forestry. Other state agencies with SB 762 responsibilities that have a nexus to the map are Office of the State Fire Marshal, Department of Consumer and Business Services – Building Codes Division and the Department of Land Conservation and Development.

“The success of this whole program depends on strong collaboration between state government, local leaders and property owners in wildfire-prone areas. Building that partnership has to be job number one over the coming months,” Golden explained. “When we feel like we’re pulling in the same direction, we’ll be ready for a much better conversation about the map.”

While the Legislature is in session, the department will:

• Continue to work with OSU on exploring technical adjustments in response to feedback received on the initial map, including concerns related to irrigated lands and classification differences on adjacent lots. 
• Follow the progress of bills related to the risk map to plan quickly and appropriately for any rulemaking actions or other activities required to implement new or changed legislative direction.
• Work with the Wildfire Programs Advisory Council to identify community needs and with partner agencies to leverage opportunities for outreach, education and engagement.

Beaverton Police Officers have been wearing body cameras in Beaverton for years now, but this is the first time a Beaverton officer has been in the running for an award by the body camera company, Axon.

At approximately 2:30 a.m. on August 30, 2022, Beaverton Police Officers and Washington County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a single vehicle roll-over crash near the intersection of SW Hocken Avenue and SW Jenkins Road. Officers arrived to find the vehicle was on its side and engulfed in flames. A single occupant was trapped inside. Officer Nicholas Jacobs approached the vehicle multiple times, fighting back heat and small explosions from the fire, until he was eventually able to pull the occupant out of the vehicle’s sunroof to safety. As a result of Officer Jacobs’ heroic action, the occupant only sustained minor injuries.

Every year Axon accepts nominations for the RISE Awards. Heroic actions captured on body cameras worn by officers around the nation are reviewed and voted on by the community. Officer Jacobs is in the community voting portion of the awards process, and he needs your vote to win!

Community members, friends and family may each vote for one entry per day through February 6. The top 10 finalists with the most votes in each category will then be reviewed by a panel of judges. Three winners will be selected in early February and recognized at the Axon Accelerate Conference.

If Officer Jacobs wins, he and a guest will receive an all-expense paid trip to the Axon Accelerate Conference in Phoenix, AZ (April 11-13, 2023).

To watch Officer Jacobs body camera footage and to vote, please visit the link below: 

https://riseawards.us.launchpad6.com/awards2023/entry/325?fbclid=PAAaZJAK0FZhDHYRnyTTwZaPQ3ihfCZbYvzMVuK3QrDm-z14pQ5O2hY64KWvA

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Re-inventing The Menu And Making Quick Steps To Avoid Shutdown, Husband and Wife Team Double Down On Being a Local’s Favorite Social Spot.

Newberg, OR –Local duo, Danny and Robin Sikkens, are taking the best out of a hard situation and re-inventing a unique menu making mouth-watering Detroit-style pizzas while combining local, fresh ingredients from local farms and markets all while pairing with over 40 different local beer, wine and cider options to thrive in 2023.

Bringing life to downtown Newberg, Social Goods Market started in 2015 and has evolved into a local’s favorite meeting place of which its concept was completely created off the polling of the local residents. Social Goods Market suffered as all businesses did during the covid-19 mandatory shutdown, but opens into 2023 to realize a thriving demand for great food and beverages 

“We are your living room away from your living room.” Says Danny Sikkens, “we realized that a great spot that is all welcoming was greatly needed, especially in todays environment. We combine that welcoming environment with great food and beverages. No one was doing Detroit pizzas in our area, an area known for its amazing foods and I thought now is the time to recreate our menu and bring this amazing dish to the Valley” …

“This success story brings a highlight on Oregonian’s ingenuity and ability to come back even when things get hard”. Says Robin Sikkens, “We have all been through a lot, and being able to see the smiles on the faces of our customers really brings joy to me and is proof we are on the right path”.

Social Goods is open Monday through Sunday and is available for private events, private catering, and beverage catering along with creative custom menus made specifically for a client’s needs. Known for a great live music scene, weekly trivia challenges, or just simply a meeting spot outside of the work wall, this local jewel brings families and people together from all backgrounds for great exchanges of information, all over a taste of Detroit in their pizzas.

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If you would like more information about this Detroit Pizzas, or local beers and wines, or make a reservation, please contact Danny Sikkens at 971-333-8466 or email at danny@vinooregon.com.

On January 10, 2023, Marion County Circuit Court Judge, Courtland Geyer, sentenced Chase Gasperetti for several sexual assaults he committed against an Aumsville woman in June of 2021. 

On December 21, 2022, after presiding over a multi-day trial, Judge Geyer found Chase Gasperetti guilty of three counts of Rape in the First Degree, one count of Sodomy in the First Degree, and one count of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. 

These convictions were based on Chase Gasperetti’s repeated sexual assaults on a physically helpless and mentally incapacitated woman in her own home. Following the guilty verdict, Judge Geyer remanded Chase Gasperetti into custody pending sentencing. At the sentencing hearing on January 10, 2023, Judge Geyer sentenced Chase Gasperetti to a total sentence of 20 years in prison. 

This case was investigated by the Aumsville Police Department. Aumsville Police Officer Shane Bird led the investigation. The Oregon State Crime Lab also assisted in this investigation. 

January 25, 2023

Media contact: Timothy Heider, 971-599-0459, timothy.heider@oha.oregon.gov

OHA offers licensing fees waivers for social workers

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is partnering with the Oregon Board of Licensed Social Workers to pay the licensing application fees for aspiring social workers.

The license is required for anyone seeking to enter the behavioral health field as a social worker in Oregon.

The license ensures that clinical social workers have received the appropriate education and professional experience. Applicants also undergo a criminal background check.

Fees run between $200 and $460 depending on the license.

The program is intended to remove barriers for potential applicants.  Approximately $620,000 has been set aside to pay application fees starting Feb.1, 2023, through Feb. 19, 2024.

Applicants will see the benefits of this program when they submit their licensing application for payment and see zero balance due.

This program is offered in conjunction with a similar program announced earlier this month to pay the testing fees for social worker candidates over the same period.

The program is part of a larger effort to rebuild and retool a behavioral health workforce that was decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Funding comes from $60 million allocated by the Oregon Legislature under House Bill 4071 (2022) to develop a diverse behavioral health workforce in licensed and non-licensed occupations through scholarships, loan repayment, professional development, other incentives, and peer workforce development. 

More about this program can be found on the Behavioral Health Workforce Initiative web page.  

General questions about the application fee waiver program can be directed to: h.workforceinitiative@odhsoha.oregon.gov">bh.workforceinitiative@odhsoha.oregon.gov. Technical questions about how the benefit works can be directed to the Oregon Board of Licensed Social Workers: oregon.blsw@blsw.oregon.gov

The Oregon State Hospital is looking to hire psychiatric social workers at its Salem and Junction City campuses.

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PORTLAND, Ore.—On January 24, 2023, a Willamette Valley grass seed marketing and distribution company pleaded guilty and was sentenced in federal court for its role in a scheme to defraud the J.R. Simplot Company and its former subsidiary the Jacklin Seed Company.

Ground Zero Seeds Int’l, Inc. (GZI) pleaded guilty to one count of misprision of felony and was sentenced to one year of probation. The Yamhill, Oregon company was also ordered to pay a $40,000 fine and $516,000 in restitution to Simplot.

According to court documents, GZI and its president, founder, and owner, Gregory McCarthy, maintained longstanding commercial relations with the Jacklin Seed Company, a subsidiary of Simplot based in Liberty Lake, Washington. GZI and McCarthy routinely contracted with Jacklin for the purchase and sale of grass seed. These contracts were typically negotiated with Richard Dunham, a former Jacklin employee who oversaw the company’s order-fulfillment and warehousing operations in Oregon and had the authority to purchase grass seed from certain Oregon growers over others.

Beginning in April 2015, McCarthy and Dunham agreed that GZI would pay Dunham a per pound kickback for grass seed purchased by Jacklin. These kickbacks were built into the prices reflected on GZI’s invoices to Jacklin. Dunham artificially inflated the price Jacklin paid GZI for seed or reduced the price at which Jacklin sold seed to GZI. To help conceal the scheme from Jacklin, Dunham registered a separate business entity through which he purported to offer consulting and grass seed brokering services. Dunham used the company and a checking account in the company’s name to accept kickbacks from GZI, McCarthy, and others.

Between April 2015 and September 2019, McCarthy caused GZI to pay Dunham approximately $191,790.

Prior to GZI pleading guilty and being sentenced, a one-count superseding criminal information was filed charging the company with misprision of felony.

On April 29, 2022, Dunham was charged by criminal information with two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and on July 7, 2022, he pleaded guilty to both charges. Dunham will be sentenced on June 21, 2023.

This case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Ryan W. Bounds, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

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PORTLAND, Ore.—On January 24, 2023, an Illinois-based company that operates an aluminum processing facility in The Dalles, Oregon, pleaded guilty to violating the Clean Air Act by negligently releasing a hazardous air pollutant from its facility, endangering employees and nearby community members.

Hydro Extrusion USA (Hydro), a limited liability corporation based in Rosemont, Illinois, pleaded guilty to negligent endangerment by discharging a hazardous pollutant.

“No cost savings or competitive advantage are worth the risk posed to the health and safety of Hydro’s workers or members of the community,” said Ethan Knight, Chief of the Economic Crimes Unit for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “We will continue working closely with our partners at the EPA to ensure all businesses play by the rules.”

“By illegally melting contaminated scrap metal, the defendant knowingly and unlawfully violated environmental regulations and in doing so exposed their workers and the local community to hazardous air pollutants,” said Special Agent in Charge Scot Adair of the Environmental Protection Agency’s criminal investigation program in Oregon. “EPA, along with its state partners, are committed to holding companies accountable when they endanger the health of their employees and local communities.”

According to court documents, Hydro operates a secondary aluminum processing facility in The Dalles where it melts aluminum scrap in induction furnaces to produce reusable aluminum billets. While operating, air emissions from the company’s furnaces were open to the interior of the building and did not pass through any pollution control devices before reaching employees or being vented to ambient air.

Under the Clean Air Act, secondary aluminum production facilities are only permitted to use “clean charge,” aluminum scrap free of paints, coatings or lubricants. Despite this requirement, from July 2018 through June 2019, Hydro acquired and melted scrap aluminum coated in a mineral-oil based mixture that, when combusted, produced hazardous smoke. Hydro saved approximately $466,000 purchasing the unclean charge. During this time, Hydro employees noticed excessive smoke in the facility. Despite being notified by inspectors from EPA and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (Oregon DEQ), Hydro continued melting the unclean charge.

On August 23, 2022, after fully cooperating with the government’s investigation of this matter and agreeing to plead guilty, Hydro was charged by federal criminal information with one count of negligent endangerment.

Negligent endangerment under the Clean Air Act is punishable by a fine of up to $200,000 or twice the gross gains or losses resulting from the offense. As part of its plea agreement, Hydro has agreed to pay $550,125 prior to sentencing. The company will be sentenced on April 24, 2023, by U.S. District Court Judge Michael W. Mosman.

This case was investigated by the EPA Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID) with assistance from Oregon DEQ. It is being prosecuted by Ryan W. Bounds, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

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Earlier this month, Lane County Sheriff’s Office investigators received information about a man that was believed to be dealing drugs to children.  Detectives conducted a follow up investigation and learned that the man had been allegedly parking his RV in various locations between South Eugene High School and Roosevelt Middle School and selling various drugs to juveniles in the South Eugene area He was additionally found to have been frequenting the Amazon Skate Park. 

The man was identified as 47-year-old Jeremy Lee Linville. 

Detectives served a search warrant on Linville and his RV in the 600blk of E. 22^nd Ave. in Eugene on January 19th.  During the warrant service, Linville was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and several pounds of marijuana.  A stolen firearm was also found in Linville’s RV. 

Linville was arrested and lodged at the Lane County Jail on charges including Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, Unlawful Delivery of Marijuana, and Delivery of MDMA within 1,000 feet of a School.     

Clatsop County Emergency Management is reminding residents that the anniversary of the last Cascadia Earthquake is around the corner.

“This Thursday it will be 323 years since our area experienced the earthquake and tsunami,” said Justin Gibbs, Clatsop County emergency management director.

At around 9 p.m. Tuesday, January 26, 1700, a severe earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 8.7-9.2 occurred in Clatsop County. The severe shaking caused subsidence—that means the land dropped by about 6 feet—and a tsunami arrived ashore approximately 15-25 minutes later. 

“Today, living in Clatsop County means you probably are aware of a potential Cascadia earthquake. Cascadia Earthquake Awareness Day was created to encourage people to create a disaster plan and prepare for emergencies,” he said.

While experts cannot predict when the next “big one” will occur, they agree that the region is overdue for another catastrophic earthquake and tsunami. 

“As the County increases its ability to prepare for such an event, we encourage you to take a few moments this Thursday, January 26 to increase your level of preparedness,” Gibbs said. 

Some steps you can take are:

• Practice! Drop Cover and Hold On
• Beat the Wave! Look up Tsunami Evacuation Routes that are near your home, work and school. Then walk the routes.
• Start or update your disaster plan.

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Jan. 24, 2023 (Astoria, OR) — The closure of Cullaby Lake County Park boarding docks at the boat ramp has been extended through Friday, Feb. 10 for maintenance and repairs due to a delay in the shipping of the dock repair materials.

“We know what a valuable resource Cullaby Lake is to our community and we are doing our best to open the docks safely and as quickly as possible,” said Steve Meshke, Clatsop County Natural Resources Manager.

The Cullaby Lake ramp will remain open for public use.

Cullaby Lake County Park is located off U.S. Highway 101 between Astoria and Seaside. The park has 165 acres, offering public access to Cullaby Lake boat launch and docks, four-stall flush restrooms, picnic shelters, barbecue pits, horseshoe pits, play areas, fishing, swimming, nature observation of beavers, bald eagles, deer, and waterfowl, and is home to the Lindgren Cabin, a Finnish-American heritage site.

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Last night deputies and Lane County Sheriff Search and Rescue personnel responded to the Willamette River near Ferry Street Bridge to assist in the search of a person in the water. Bystanders said that a man reportedly went underwater and did not resurface.  Rescuers extensively searched the area but were unable to find the man. 

Sheriff Search and Rescue personnel returned to the area this morning and resumed the search.  The body of a deceased male was found underwater by divers shortly after 1:00pm. 

The identity of the involved has not yet been determined. 

For information regarding the investigation, contact the Eugene Police Department.  Questions related to LCSO Search and Rescue can be directed to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office.

Public comment period open until Feb. 8 

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Community Planning is starting the process of updating the local Comprehensive Growth Management Plan, as required by the state’s Growth Management Act (GMA). The plan, last updated in 2016, is a long-range policy guide for how the county plans to manage growth and development over a twenty-year period. 

The GMA requires jurisdictions to periodically update their comprehensive plan and development regulations to bring them up to date with changes to state law; changes to land use; population growth; and housing needs projections. 

To begin the periodic update process, the county will adopt a Public Participation Plan (PPP) that would clearly identify the scope of the proposed update, when legislative action is expected, and how the public can participate or comment.

The public is invited to review and provide feedback on the draft PPP. The public comment period will close on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 5 p.m.

After the public comment period, Community Planning staff will prepare a final draft of the PPP to present to the County Council at a work session and then for final approval at a public hearing.

The document can be viewed on the project webpage along with information on the various ways the public can provide comment at https://clark.wa.gov/community-planning/2025-update. 

SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Forestry invites you to a virtual meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 7, to learn about forest management planning for state forestlands west of the Cascades. 

This meeting is open to the public and primarily intended for those with an interest in management of Oregon’s state forests. RSVP is requested.

This meeting will provide updates on the Forest Management Plan (FMP), the Western Oregon State Forests Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process focused on that HCP. 

As part of our public engagement process, we invite you to this meeting to hear updates on the Western Oregon State Forests management planning efforts and ask questions. The meeting will be an opportunity to:  

• Learn about the FMP development process
• Hear updates on the Western Oregon State Forests HCP 
• Hear updates on the HCP NEPA process

This meeting is one of many anticipated future opportunities to engage in state forests planning and is meant to provide an update to the process. 

Date and time: Tuesday, Feb. 7 from 1-4 p.m. The meeting will include: 

• 1 – 3 p.m.: Background information, process updates, presentations, and an opportunity for Questions & Answers discussion.
• 3 – 4 p.m.: An informal discussion period to provide participants with an open discussion on any topics presented during the meeting. 
  
   

Where: Virtual only by Zoom or call-in. We ask that you join the meeting a few minutes early to troubleshoot any issues and to ensure the meeting starts on time. View the meeting instructions, tips, and protocols. 

• To view and participate in the meeting, go to: https://odf.zoom.us/j/94877694967
• Use computer audio or call-in from your phone using the following call-in information: 
  • Dial: 1 (253) 215-8782
  • Meeting ID: 948 7769 4967

Meeting Recording: A post-meeting recording will be posted on the ODF YouTube channel.

Background: 

State Forests are sustainably managed to provide social, economic, and environmental benefits to all Oregonians. In October of 2020, the Board of Forestry (BOF) directed the State Forests Division to begin the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for the draft Western Oregon State Forests Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and continue developing an associated Forest Management Plan (FMP). These parallel planning processes have been closely coordinated to ensure alignment and consistency in management goals, objectives, and strategies. ODF recognizes that public engagement is a key element in developing an HCP and FMP that reflect the values of all Oregonians, and is committed to providing information and engaging in dialogue with those who have an interest in these important planning efforts. 

More information: More information is available by contacting the project leaders or online: 

Western Oregon Forest Management Plan & Implementation Plans

Jennifer McAdoo

503-855-7060 

.McAdoo@icf.com">jennifer.mcadoo@icf.com

Western Oregon Habitat Conservation Plan

Cindy Kolomechuk 

503-945-7731 

cindy.kolomechuk@odf.oregon.gov

Online resources:

• Western Oregon State Forests Habitat Conservation Plan Website
• Western Oregon State Forest Management Plan Website

(SPRINGFIELD, Ore.) January 24, 2023— PacificSource is pleased to announce Dr. John “Espi” Espinola as the organization’s new president and CEO, effective April 3, 2023. In this role, Espinola will provide leadership, strategic guidance, and direction for PacificSource’s overall operations and will hold primary responsibility for profit and loss and fulfilling the organization’s commitment to its mission, vision and values. 

Espinola comes to PacificSource with more than 20 years of leadership experience in healthcare. He most recently served in a dual role as executive vice president, chief strategy and product officer with Premera Blue Cross and as CEO of Kinwell Physician Network, a wholly owned subsidiary of Premera. Prior to his 12 years spent with Premera, he served as the national medical director for Essence Healthcare and before that as executive director and medical director of Evercare, a division of UnitedHealth Group.

“It is with great pleasure that we welcome Espi to the PacificSource family,” said PacificSource Board Chair Jack Friedman. “His extraordinary leadership experience and lifelong dedication to improving health outcomes is a perfect fit for PacificSource’s ongoing mission to be a lifelong trusted partner of our members and communities, now and well into the future.”

“PacificSource was founded by a small group of physicians 90 years ago and as a doctor, it is a great honor to carry on their legacy,” said Dr. Espinola. “I look forward to working with the outstanding group of people that make up PacificSource and being a part of their incredible teamwork and dedication to helping others.” 

Espinola received his bachelor’s degree from the College of the Holy Cross (Worcester, MA), his medical degree and master of public health from Tufts University School of Medicine (Boston, MA), and his master of business administration from the University of Washington (Seattle).

Espinola will replace Ken Provencher, who has served as PacificSource’s president and CEO for 21 years. Provencher announced his retirement in late 2022 after a total of 28 years dedicated to PacificSource. During his tenure, he was consistently recognized for providing exemplary leadership and greatly expanded the health plan’s membership to more than 600,000 members in four states. He will continue to serve as president and CEO until March 31, 2023. 

About PacificSource Health Plans:

PacificSource Health Plans is an independent, not-for-profit community health plan serving the Northwest. Founded in 1933, PacificSource has local offices throughout Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and Washington. The PacificSource family of companies employs more than 1,700 people and serves over 600,000 individuals throughout the Greater Northwest. For more information, visit PacificSource.com.

A Vietnamese refugee who became a successful executive in the United States and a Marine Corps veteran will join for a special presentation on Pacific University’s Forest Grove Campus on Feb. 8 at 6:30 p.m.

The event will include Khiem “Tim” Tran’s stories of survival as he escaped from Communist Vietnam and went on to become an American success story. Tran, who graduated from Pacific in 1974 along with his wife Cathy, last year published American Dreamer: How I Escaped Communist Vietnam and Built a Successful Life in America, a sometimes-harrowing story of that journey. It took four attempts for the Trans to escape Vietnam, and in the effort, his father was killed. Tran, for whom Pacific’s Tran Library is named, went on to a career as a financial executive in Oregon. He is a Pacific University trustee.

Bob Ferguson, a Marine Corps officer who grew up in rural Oregon, will join Tran for the program. Ferguson is the author of the often-humorous memoir of his upbringing and service in Vietnam, Some Days Chicken, Some Days Feathers. 

The program will include a question-and-answer session, and both authors will stay to sign books and meet with members of the audience. A limited number of books will be available for purchase.

The event in the Tim & Cathy Tran Library is free but advance registration is requested. 

PORTLAND, Ore.—Dennis “Denny” Doyle, the former mayor of Beaverton, Oregon, was sentenced to federal prison today for illegally possessing child pornography.

Doyle, 74, a Beaverton resident, was sentenced to six months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release. Doyle was also ordered to pay $22,000 in restitution to his victims.

According to court documents, in late January 2022, the Beaverton Police Department was notified by a local business that a USB thumb drive containing possible child pornography had been found. The business provided the thumb drive to law enforcement, and it was determined that did indeed contain child pornography. Additionally, the drive contained personal photographs that appeared to belong to Doyle. Law enforcement also determined the images of child pornography were downloaded onto the thumb drive between November 2014 and December 2015, while Doyle was serving as the Beaverton mayor.

After the Beaverton Police Department referred the case to the FBI, special agents from FBI Portland’s Child Exploitation Task Force (CETF) contacted Doyle at his home. Doyle was immediately truthful with the agents, admitting the drive was his and that he had personally downloaded child pornography from his home computer. No further evidence of child pornography was located on Doyle’s digital devices.

On March 3, 2022, Doyle was charged by criminal information with one count of possession of child pornography and, on October 11, 2022, pleaded guilty to the single charge.

This case was investigated by FBI Portland’s CETF with assistance from the Beaverton Police Department. It was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. 

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. Child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, child victims suffer re-victimization each time the image of their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the NCMEC’s website at www.missingkids.org.

FBI Portland’s CETF conducts sexual exploitation investigations, many of them undercover, in coordination with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. CETF is committed to locating and arresting those who prey on children as well as recovering and assisting victims of sex trafficking and child exploitation.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

###

City crews last night responded to an overflow of water and sewage that was contained within the parking lot of a church at SW Jefferson and 18th Avenue. 

Warning signs placed in the parking lot at the site of the spill. 

Crews responded around 10 p.m. and stopped the flow around 2 a.m. Clean up continues.

Warning signs have been posted in and around the parking lot advising passersby to avoid the area of the spill. The signs will be removed when clean up is complete. 

The release is estimated at 40,000 gallons. City crews had been repairing a sunken area of roadway. A water main at the site ruptured and the flow backed up into a sewer line, sending the mixture to the parking lot.  

About Environmental Services: The City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services - your sewer and stormwater utility - provides Portland residents with programs to protect water quality and public health, including wastewater collection and treatment, sewer construction and maintenance, stormwater management, and stream and watershed restoration. 

NEWS RELEASE
January 24, 2023

CONTACT
Eden Dabbs
Public Information Officer, BPS
503-871-4326
bs@portlandoregon.gov">eden.dabbs@portlandoregon.gov 

Proposal to increase EV charging facilities in new multi-family construction heads to City Council on Jan. 25 @ 2 p.m.

Public invited to testify in person via Zoom or at City Hall, or in writing via the Map App. 

Portland, Ore. — On Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 2 p.m., City Council will hear public testimony on the Electric Vehicle (EV) Ready Code Project. This proposal would amend Portland Zoning Code (Title 33) to require all new multi-dwelling and mixed use development with five or more units — that include onsite parking — to provide electric vehicle (EV)-ready charging infrastructure. 

The Planning and Sustainability Commission recommended the amendments unanimously on Oct. 25, 2022. The new rules would supplement recent state legislation that requires new multi-family development to provide EV-charging conduit in a percentage of parking spaces for residents by requiring a slightly higher percentage of parking to be “EV-ready” in new development. 

Community members are invited to testify on the proposal in person at the hearing at City Hall or via Zoom. The public can also testify in writing via the Map App or U.S. Mail. Learn more. 

Why this matters 

Oregon’s transportation sector accounts for 40% of greenhouse gas emissions, making it the largest single source in the state. In response, the City of Portland has adopted policy direction that supports the use of electric vehicles, prioritizing zero-emission vehicles over fossil-fueled cars for their higher efficiency and reduced air quality impacts. 

According to the State dashboard, as of October 2022, there were more than 59,400 electric vehicles in Oregon, 19,578 of which were registered in Portland. And last year, EVs made up about 8% of new vehicle sales for cars, trucks and SUVs in the state. 

Furthermore, most vehicle manufacturers are ramping up the sale of EVs, and many states, including Oregon, have committed to phase out the sale of passenger internal combustion engine vehicles by 2030 or 2035. So, Portland will need to rapidly scale up access to EV charging, especially in residential buildings , to meet climate goals and keep up with the demand resulting from current and future EV use.

Research shows that access to convenient charging is key to purchasing an electric vehicle. The EV Ready Code Project amends the zoning code to increase the requirement for new multi-dwelling and mixed-use development with at least five units and onsite parking. These developments would need to ensure 50% of the available parking has EV-ready infrastructure. Smaller parking areas with six or fewer spaces would need to provide this infrastructure to all parking spaces. 

Federal and state tax credits of up to $7,500 for a new electric vehicle or $4,000 for a used vehicle are available. That’s good news for low- and moderate-income households in Portland, making it more affordable to purchase electric vehicles. Requiring that future multi-family housing units provide EV-charging facilities ensures that these households can not only purchase an electric vehicle, but conveniently charge it as well. 

Learn more about EV charging 

About the City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability

The Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) develops creative and practical solutions to enhance Portland’s livability, preserve distinctive places and plan for a resilient future. BPS collaborates with community partners to provide comprehensive land use, neighborhood, district, economic, historic and environmental planning, and urban design; research, policy and technical services to advance green building, energy efficiency and the use of solar and renewable energy, waste prevention, composting and recycling, and a sustainable food system; and policy and actions to address climate change. 

# # #

Since 2017, the Portland Water Bureau has detected 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 Jan. 15 to Jan. 18, seven Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in each of the samples collected on Jan. 15 and Jan. 16 and four oocysts were detected in the sample collected on Jan. 18. Cryptosporidium was not detected in the sample collected on Jan. 17. Prior to these detections, Cryptosporidium was last detected from the Bull Run Watershed intake on Jan. 11, 2023.

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

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

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

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

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

About the Portland Water Bureau

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

January 24, 2023

Contact: Jonathan Modie, 971-246-9139, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Public Health Advisory Board meets Feb. 9

What: The Public Health Advisory Board is holding a meeting.

Agenda: Approve January meeting minutes; discuss PHAB subcommittees and workgroups; hear legislative updates; plan for public health vision development; hear from local public health authorities about public health modernization implementation.

When: Thursday, Feb. 9, 3-5:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public. A public comment period will be held at the end of the meeting.

Where: Zoom https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1614044266?pwd=ekpYekxaMm92SHN0dngzTW9ZeldsUT09 or conference call: (669) 254-5252, participant code 1614044266#.

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

# # #

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

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

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

24 de enero de 2023

Las agencias estatales, OHCS y ODHS, se unen para apoyar a jóvenes sin hogar

(Salem) – El Departamento de Vivienda y Servicios Comunitarios (OHCS) recientemente realizo una transferencia de fondos con un valor de $9 millones a los Programas de Autosuficiencia del Departamento de Servicios Humanos de Oregón (ODHS), para apoyar las necesidades de vivienda de jóvenes en Oregón.  

El Programa de Jóvenes que Experimentan la Carencia de Hogar de ODHS se encarga de la coordinación a nivel estatal de servicios para jóvenes sin hogar que son menores de 25 años. El programa trabaja en conjunto con jóvenes afectados, organizaciones comunitarias y otras agencias estatales para apoyar y otorgar fondos a iniciativas dentro del sistema para servir a jóvenes que carecen hogar.   

ODHS utilizará los fondos para apoyar a programas locales en el estado, al igual que a nuevas iniciativas y servicios de apoyo para jóvenes que carecen de hogar al invertir en:  

• Servicios de prevención
• Intervenciones de crisis y de largo plazo
• Iniciativas específicas en el ámbito de vivienda para la juventud
• Apoyo a la ejecución de transferencias directas de efectivo 
• Capacitación laboral y habilidades de vida
• Apoyo integral
• Programas de alojamiento en hogar anfitrión proporcionan viviendas temporales para jóvenes 

La inversión también apoyará al Programa de Alquileres Asequibles para Estudiantes Universitarios de College Housing Northwest, el cual está pagando el alquiler por un año de 25 estudiantes experimentando carencia de hogar. El programa es conocido en inglés como Affordable Rents for College Students Program (ARCS). Además de vivienda, cada estudiante en el programa recibirá amplios servicios de atención por medio de New Avenues for Youth y Native American Youth Association. Ambas organizaciones apoyarán y ayudarán a los estudiantes a conectarse con otros servicios que necesiten para prosperar y lograr su potencial. También se refuerza un convenio entre ODHS y ARCS, en el cual se reservan 21 viviendas para jóvenes a un precio de bajo costo por 25 años.   

Este tipo de colaboraciones innovadoras en la vivienda son posibles gracias a la transferencia institucional de fondos.  

"En Oregón, no aceptamos la carencia de hogar como un hecho, y la realidad es que demasiados de nuestros jóvenes viven en las calles o en situaciones inestables y no deseadas”, dijo la directora de OHCS Andrea Bell. "La magnitud de este asunto requiere que nuestras agencias estatales y lideres comunitarios aporten soluciones—es nuestra responsabilidad colectiva unirnos y resolver la carencia de hogar que enfrentan los jóvenes de Oregón. Nuestra inversión en apoyar la juventud que carece vivienda es una manera pequeña de cómo podemos apoyar esta importante labor”. 

"A todos nos interesa tener una comunidad donde la juventud tiene acceso a viviendas estables y seguras para que puedan alcanzar sus objetivos y desarrollar todo su potencial”, dijo el director de ODHS Fariborz Pakseresht. “La experiencia de jóvenes sin hogar no siempre sigue una trayectoria lineal y los servicios de apoyo disponibles a ellos deben ser flexibles para encontrarlos y apoyarlos donde se encuentren. Es nuestra responsabilidad como comunidad unirnos para apoyar a los jóvenes y proporcionarles oportunidades de vivienda. Cuando hacemos esto, les daremos la estabilidad y seguridad que necesitan para que aprendan, crezcan, y ayuden a nuestra comunidad a prosperar. Las colaboraciones de naturaleza intencional entre agencias estatales pueden llegar muy lejos cuando son usadas de manera creativa y esta inversión lograra justo esto”.

En 2021, ODHS completo la primera evaluación de necesidades estatal enfocada en la experiencia de jóvenes sin hogar. Por medio de evaluación, se calculó que hay más de 8,200 individuos sin hogar menores de 25 años quienes probablemente necesiten una vivienda segura y de costo económico, al igual que servicios para mantener la estabilidad. Viviendas de largo plazo fue una de las necesidades identificadas y de acuerdo con la evaluación, se calcula que el costo sistemático para cubrir las necesidades de vivienda es de aproximadamente $154 millones.                                                                                                                              

Acerca del Departamento de Servicios Humanos de Oregón

La misión del Departamento de Servicios Humanos de Oregón es ayudar a residentes en sus propias comunidades conseguir su bienestar e independencia por medio de oportunidades que protegen, capacitan, respetan la elección propia y preservan la dignidad. 

Acerca del Departamento de Vivienda y Servicios Comunitarios

El Departamento de Vivienda y Servicios Comunitarios de Oregón proporciona recursos a residentes del estado para reducir la pobreza e incrementar el acceso a una vivienda estable. Nuestro enfoque intencional en la vivienda y servicios comunitarios nos permite servir a los residentes de una manera holísticamente, incluyendo prevenir y eliminar la carencia de hogar, asistir con servicios públicos, proporcionar apoyos de estabilidad para la vivienda, otorgar fondos para la construcción de vivienda multifamiliar de bajo costo y fomentar la compra de viviendas. 

###

PORTLAND, Oregon—The U.S. Army Recruiting Command, Portland Battalion, is scheduled to participate in the Tualatin Invitational Wrestling Tournament, Jan. 28, 2023, where they will highlight career opportunities in the U.S. Army.

Tualatin High School is scheduled to host the tournament. The address is 22300 SW Boones Ferry Rd, in Tualatin Oregon.

The US Army Recruiting Team will host an exhibit space at the event, which will feature US Army-branded wrestling mats for the tournament. The event will host 17 teams from high schools across the region, and medals for first, second and third place finishers, and a trophy for the overall team champion.

Many athletes don’t realize the US Army has a World Class Athlete Program which features NCAA All-Americans, National and Armed Forces Champions and a World Team and US Olympic Team members on their own wrestling roster, which is comprised of men’s and women’s wrestling events.

Recently, the U.S. Army raised its enlistment bonus to $50,000 for qualified individuals who enlist for a six-year active duty commitment. For some high priority specialties, the Army is offering career-based incentives that range from $1,000 up to $40,000.

Aside from the career-based bonuses, there are “quick ship” bonuses for those who are prepared to head to Basic Combat Training within 90 days of up to $25,000. As part of the Army Civilian Acquired Skills Program, foreign language skills can be worth up to $40,000 for certain career paths.

The Army also has a two-year enlistment option for 84 different career fields, ranging from infantry and combat engineers to paralegals and aviation operations specialists. Those who choose the two-year plan will serve two years full-time on active duty and then two years in the Army Reserve. Officials say this shorter enlistment opportunity allows individuals the ability to see if the Army is a good fit for them without immediately committing to a three- or six-year enlistment.

Additionally, the previous Department of Defense policy which mandated a COVID-19 vaccination for all incoming and current DoD members has been rescinded. Applicants enlisting into the US Army no longer have to agree to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Jan. 24, 2023

OHCS and ODHS partner to support youth experiencing homelessness

(Salem) - Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) recently completed a $9 million interagency funds transfer to the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Self-Sufficiency Programs, Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program to support the housing needs of young people across Oregon.

The ODHS Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program is tasked with coordinating statewide planning for delivery of services to youth experiencing homelessness under the age of 25. It partners with impacted youth, community organizations and other state agencies to support and fund initiatives and programs within the youth homelessness system.

ODHS will use the $9 million to support local programs across the state, as well as newer initiatives and supports for youth experiencing homelessness across Oregon by investing in: 

• Prevention
• Crisis and long-term interventions
• Youth specific housing initiatives
• Direct cash implementation support
• Job and life skills training
• Wrap around supports
• Host home programs that provide temporary housing for youth

The investment will also support College Housing Northwest’s Affordable Rents for College Students program (ARCS), which pays rent for up to one year for 25 college students experiencing homelessness. In addition to housing, each student in the program will receive case management services through New Avenues for Youth and Native American Youth Association that will support them and help them connect with other services they need to thrive and reach their full potential. It also solidifies an agreement between ODHS and ARCS that holds up to 21 housing units specifically for youth at an affordable rate for 25 years. 

This type of innovative housing partnership is possible thanks to the interagency funds transfer. 

"In Oregon, we do not accept homelessness as a fact of life and the reality is far too many of our youth are living outside as well as in unstable or undesirable situations," said OHCS Director Andrea Bell. "The magnitude of this issue requires our state agencies and local community leaders to bring solutions to the table—it is our collective responsibility to come together and solve the issues facing youth in Oregon. Our investment in supporting young people who are experiencing homelessness is just a small way we can assist in this critical work."

"We all have an interest in a community in which young people have access to stable and safe housing so that they can pursue their life’s goals and reach their full potential,” said ODHS Director Fariborz Pakseresht. “A young person’s experience with homelessness does not always follow a linear path and the supports available to them need to be flexible to meet and support them where they are. It is our responsibility as a community to come together to support young people and provide housing opportunities. When we do this, we will give them the stability and safety they need to learn and grow and help our community thrive. Intentional partnership between state agencies can go a long way when used creatively and this investment will do just that."

In 2021, ODHS completed the state's first needs assessment focused on youth experiencing homelessness. The assessment estimated that there are over 8,200 unhoused individuals under 25 who are likely to need safe, affordable housing and services to maintain stability. Long-term housing was identified as one of the greatest needs, and based on the assessment, an estimated system cost to meet the need would total approximately $154 million.

About the Oregon Department of Human Services

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

About Oregon Housing and Community Services

Oregon Housing and Community Services provides resources for Oregonians to reduce poverty and increase access to stable housing. Our intentional focus on both housing and community services allows us to serve Oregonians holistically across the housing continuum, including preventing and ending homelessness, assisting with utilities, providing housing stability support, financing multifamily affordable housing and encouraging homeownership.

###

Date: Tuesday, February 7th, 2023

Time: 7 pm

Location: Kiggins Theatre Vancouver, Wa

Tickets: $15-$45

Event Website: https://www.scienceontaporwa.org/events/kiggins_feb_7_attach/

We all have an attachment style that impacts how we behave and feel in relationships.  Though attachment styles are formed during childhood, awareness of our attachment style and tendencies can support the development of a healthy relationship through adulthood. 

At this Science on Tap, Leah Haas, a mental health provider and sex educator, will discuss how each attachment style develops and the behaviors associated with them so participants can walk away with ideas to make their relationships more secure and satisfying.  

Leah Haas (she/her) works in mental health as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) specializing in sexuality and gender at Inner Awareness Therapy. She works in youth sexual health for the State of Oregon and is a co-founder of Beyond the Talk which provides sex education to adults. In her free time, Leah loves backpacking, music, and hanging out with her dog Leto.

Recorded live shows are available to Patreon members sometime after the show.

COVID Policy:

Verbal vaccine confirmation required; masks encouraged.

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

PORTLAND, Ore.—The U.S. Army Recruiting Command, Portland Battalion, kicks off a two-week visit to local schools throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington with their US Army Adventure Semi. The interactive display includes an Oculus Rift VR System, Apache Helicopter Flight Simulator and the interactive Army Occupational Specialty Navigator.

The event starts today with Washougal High School in Washougal Wash, and continues with Battleground High School, also in Washington, on Jan. 25, Sabin-Shallenberg Center in Milwaukie, Ore., on Jan. 26, North Salem High school in Salem, Ore., on Jan. 27, South Albany High School in Albany, Ore., on Jan. 31, Lebanon High School on Feb. 1, and concludes with Sheldon High School in Eugene, Ore., on Feb. 2.

Recently, the U.S. Army raised its enlistment bonus to $50,000 for qualified individuals who enlist for a six-year active duty commitment. For some high priority specialties, the Army is offering career-based incentives that range from $1,000 up to $40,000.

Aside from the career-based bonuses, there are “quick ship” bonuses for those who are prepared to head to Basic Combat Training within 90 days of up to $25,000. As part of the Army Civilian Acquired Skills Program, foreign language skills can be worth up to $40,000 for certain career paths.

The Army also has a two-year enlistment option for 84 different career fields, ranging from infantry and combat engineers to paralegals and aviation operations specialists. Those who choose the two-year plan will serve two years full-time on active duty and then two years in the Army Reserve. Officials say this shorter enlistment opportunity allows individuals the ability to see if the Army is a good fit for them without immediately committing to a three- or six-year enlistment.

Additionally, the previous Department of Defense policy which mandated a COVID-19 vaccination for all incoming and current DoD members has been rescinded. Applicants enlisting into the US Army no longer have to agree to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

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

Notice of Regular Meeting 

The Fire Policy Committee (FPC) of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training (BPSST) will hold a regular meeting at 9:00 a.m. February 22, 2023, 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 more information, please contact Julia Budlong at (503) 378-2408.

The Fire Policy Committee meeting will be live streamed on the DPSST Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/DPSSTOregon

Agenda Items:

1. Introductions

2. Approval of Minutes of November 30, 2022 Meeting

3. Cantelon, Nicholas E. DPSST #32751
Presented by Brooke Bell-Uribe

4. Moore, Skyler DPSST #42135
Presented by Brooke Bell-Uribe

5. Proposed Rule Changes for Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 259-009-0120
Presented by Jennifer Howald

6. Agency Updates

7. Next Fire Policy Committee Meeting- May 24, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.

Administrative Announcement

This is a public meeting, subject to the public meeting law and it will be recorded. Deliberation of issues will only be conducted by Fire 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.

PORTLAND, Ore.—The U.S. Army Recruiting Command, Portland Battalion, kicks off a two-week visit to local schools throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington with their US Army Adventure Semi. The interactive display includes an Oculus Rift VR System, Apache Helicopter Flight Simulator and the interactive Army Occupational Specialty Navigator.

The event starts today with Washougal High School in Washougal Wash, and continues with Battleground High School, also in Washington, on Jan. 25, Sabin-Shallenberg Center in Milwaukie, Ore., on Jan. 26, North Salem High school in Salem, Ore., on Jan. 27, South Albany High School in Albany, Ore., on Jan. 31, Lebanon High School on Feb. 1, and concludes with Sheldon High School in Eugene, Ore., on Feb. 2.

Recently, the U.S. Army raised its enlistment bonus to $50,000 for qualified individuals who enlist for a six-year active duty commitment. For some high priority specialties, the Army is offering career-based incentives that range from $1,000 up to $40,000.

Aside from the career-based bonuses, there are “quick ship” bonuses for those who are prepared to head to Basic Combat Training within 90 days of up to $25,000. As part of the Army Civilian Acquired Skills Program, foreign language skills can be worth up to $40,000 for certain career paths.

The Army also has a two-year enlistment option for 84 different career fields, ranging from infantry and combat engineers to paralegals and aviation operations specialists. Those who choose the two-year plan will serve two years full-time on active duty and then two years in the Army Reserve. Officials say this shorter enlistment opportunity allows individuals the ability to see if the Army is a good fit for them without immediately committing to a three- or six-year enlistment.

Additionally, the previous Department of Defense policy which mandated a COVID-19 vaccination for all incoming and current DoD members has been rescinded. Applicants enlisting into the US Army no longer have to agree to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

POLICE POLICY COMMITTEE

MEETING SCHEDULED

Notice of Regular Meeting

The Police Policy Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a regular meeting at 9:00 a.m. February 16, 2023, 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 Shelby Wright at (503) 378-2191.

The Police Policy Committee meeting will be live streamed on the DPSST Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/DPSSTOregon

Amended Agenda

1. Introductions

2. Approve the October 5, 2022, and November 17, 2022, Meeting Minutes

3. Administrative Closures (The following items to be ratified by one vote)

    Presented by Melissa Lang-Bacho

a. Richard Beal; DPSST No. 38240

    Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Police Certifications

b. Thomas Harrison; DPSST No. 33424

    Basic Police Certification

4. Changes to the Basic Police Firearms Assessment

    Presented by Noel Aher - Information Only

5. Police Policy Committee Bylaws Proposed Revisions

    Presented by Suzy Herring

6. Agency Update

7. Next Police Policy Committee Meeting – May 18, 2023, 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.

WILSONVILLE, Ore. – After more than 20 years hiatus, federal financial aid (Pell Grants) for higher education of people in prisons is back and Portland Community College is at the center of a state-funded program to help transition adults in custody back into society with the skills they need.

A portion of a $2.8 million Future Ready Oregon grant to PCC is funding a pilot program that prepares for the July 2023 reinstatement of Pell Grants for academically eligible, incarcerated students. With this state support, the college is providing four faculty members to teach at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF) this winter with more faculty to be added in the spring to ready students.

PCC's grant from Future Ready Oregon is a small component of a statewide comprehensive $200 million investment package that supports the education and training of Oregonians for family-wage careers with strategic and targeted investments focused on advancing opportunities for historically underserved communities like these women.

The Future Ready Oregon Career Pathways Grant is focused on capacity building, including the pilot program at Coffee Creek, Integrated Education and Training (IET) programs in welding and pre-trades advanced manufacturing, curriculum development in several areas, equipment and contracted services purchases, and staffing for student success and retention.

“We'll be kicking off the winter quarter with four class offerings: a writing class and a study skills class (“College Readiness”) in the minimum security facility and the same in the medium security facility," said Lisa Regan-Vienop, manager of Corrections Education Transitions who has been with the college for more than 10 years.

“We have a mix of faculty, those who have worked with corrections before and those who are new to corrections education,” she continued. “We have about 40 students, some of whom are taking both courses, who have signed up.”

One such experienced member is English faculty chair and writing instructor Tara McDowell. She taught previously at CCCF and said it is one of the most rewarding experiences she has had in a classroom in decades of teaching.

“Coffee Creek students are focused and dedicated; willing to do the hard work that it takes to truly improve their writing,” McDowell said. “Nearly all of the CCCF students I have worked with are genuinely excited to receive feedback on their work and often want to discuss and reflect on their writing process. I believe, for many college students, the weekly constructive comments and positive feedback they receive on their writing projects chip away at years of negative connotation, which is all too often associated with writing due to prior negative experiences in an English classroom. A little boost in self-esteem can make such a positive impact in all our lives.”

The women in the “College Readiness” course, which is limited to 15 students, will learn study skills and essentials like stress management and time management. It's a chance to change their fortune around as life on the inside is tough -- there is no internet access, laptops, and very limited time on prison phones.

“These are all barriers,” added Regan-Vienop. “For teachers, it’s a low-tech environment for security reasons. It has taken a real collaborative effort to launch these courses, but despite the obstacles, this teaching is rewarding because the Coffee Creek women are creating opportunities through education for not just themselves but their families and communities at home, too.”

The college is aligned with this holistic effort. A team of enrollment, advising and financial aid specialists are poised to meet CCCF student needs. The team also hopes to visit in person regularly to ensure equitable access to vital PCC services. In addition, the program aims to expand offerings for the women by adding math and health courses in spring as well.

“As a college, it’s our mission to serve marginalized and underrepresented people – and this group has definite access issues," Regan-Vienop said. “Coffee Creek will have close to 100 adults in custody, or AICs, released over the next 18 months to the PCC service district. The college, in partnership with the Department of Corrections, is well positioned to strengthen transitions for AICs re-entering society by creating clear pathways to the college and promoting continued education to increase the economic mobility of AICs.”

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

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

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January 24, 2023

Media contact: Timothy Heider, 971-599-0459, timothy.heider@oha.oregon.gov

Measure 110 Oversight and Accountability Council to hold meetings in February

What: Public meetings of the Drug Treatment and Recovery Act (Measure 110) Oversight and Accountability Council.

Agenda: Agendas will be posted on the Oversight and Accountability Council web page prior to each meeting.

When/Where:

Virtual meetings are Wednesdays from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Feb 8 –   https://youtu.be/uAMUJurYpyg

Feb 22–  https://youtu.be/fKMhD0XgOC8

Purpose: The Drug Treatment and Recovery Act (Measure 110) Oversight and Accountability Council (OAC) oversees the establishment of Behavioral Health Resource Networks throughout Oregon.

Read more about the OAC. Read more about Measure 110.

Questions? Contact e110@dhsoha.state.or.us">OHA.Measure110@dhsoha.state.or.us

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

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

If you need help or have questions, please contact Jessica Carroll at 503-580-9883, 711 TTY or roll@dhsoha.state.or.us">jessica.a.carroll@dhsoha.state.or.us at least 48 hours before the meeting.

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The levy would fund additional firefighters, support wildfire mitigation, and quick response vehicles

Tuesday, January 24 – Last night, the Clackamas Fire District Board of Directors voted unanimously to refer an emergency services levy to the May 2023 ballot. 

Clackamas Fire District leadership asked the Board to consider the levy to better serve the community. Based on increased wildfire risk, a growing county population, and to implement national best practices, Clackamas Fire District developed a levy that reflected district needs. If passed, the levy would fund 62 additional firefighters, directly address increased wildfire risk, and invest in quick response vehicles. 

“I am grateful to the Board of Directors for their support and willingness to refer this important levy to the May 2023 ballot,” said Clackamas Fire District Chief Nick Browne. “This levy will allow Clackamas Fire District to hire more firefighters, fight wildfires, and invest in equipment that will improve response times.” 

A survey, conducted in November by DHM Research, revealed district-wide support for the proposed levy, especially after voters learned what it would fund.

“The Chief and members of the leadership team have done their due diligence to ensure this is a robust, safety-driven levy,” said Director Chris Hawes, who participated in developing the levy. “It’s clear everyone has made a concerted effort to evaluate Clackamas Fire District’s future needs, conduct community outreach, and ensure that the levy remain affordable.”

If passed, the five-year emergency services levy would provide annual funding of $14.5 million at a cost of $0.52 per thousand of assessed valuation, or about $138 each year for the typical homeowner at the median assessed value. Levy funds would be used to hire additional firefighters and first responders in all parts of the district to help prevent dangerous wildfires from spreading and ensure fast responses to medical emergencies. 

Clackamas Fire District conducted extensive community engagement and outreach efforts. Over the last three months, Clackamas Fire District held three community forums and an open house, where district leaders spoke to hundreds about the proposed levy. Clackamas Fire District also conducted a community survey that evaluated priorities and asked for comments about the potential levy, with the intent to provide all community members the opportunity to provide feedback. 

To learn more about the proposed levy, visit the Clackamas Fire District website.

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On 1/24/2023 at approximately 01:42am, a Clark County Sheriff’s Sergeant spotted a stolen vehicle which was occupied by a male and a female in the parking lot of the 7-Eleven located at 4500 NE St Johns Rd in Vancouver, Clark County, WA. The male occupant was seen exiting the vehicle and walking into the store. Deputies contacted the vehicle and detained the female occupant without incident. 

When the male exited the store, deputies attempted to contact him and he fled on foot. The male, who was later identified as John McKenner (40) of Vancouver, WA, was apprehended after a brief foot pursuit. During the arrest, McKenner was observed reaching for multiple knives which were on his person. 

A search of McKenner’s person, incident to arrest, yielded the following:

Approximately 300+ blue pills which were suspected to contain Fentanyl.

Multiple baggies containing a white crystalline substance which was suspected to be Methamphetamine.

A baggy of brown powdered substance which yielded positive presumptive results for the presence of Heroin.

A baggy containing suspected psilocybin mushrooms.

A baggy containing an unidentified substance. 

Two spring-bladed knives.

Multiple credit cards bearing the names of other persons.

A Washington State Identification Card bearing the likeness and identity of another person. 

Over $3,200 in cash, consisting of various denominations of US currency. 

McKenner was evaluated by EMS at the scene prior to being transported to the Clark County Jail where he was booked for Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle, Obstructing a Law Enforcement Officer, Resisting Arrest, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver (3 counts), Possession of Stolen Property in the second degree (3 counts), Identity Theft in the second degree, and an outstanding arrest warrant. The female was released from the scene at the conclusion of the investigation. 

There were no injuries reported as a result of this incident other than minor scrapes.  

Lebanon Firefighters responded to two different house fires and one fully involved motorhome fire in a five-hour period in the early morning hours of Monday. At 0245 Monday morning Lebanon Firefighters were dispatched to a possible house fire in the Tennessee Road area with the residents waking to screaming smoke detectors and a house filled with smoke. Dispatch reports that occupants were evacuating the home. The Battalion Chief arrived to find a ranch style home with no fire showing. The Incident Commander noticed the occupants still in the residence and contacted the homeowner outside the residence. Prior to the Firefighters arriving, the homeowner located the source of the smoke which was coming from a melted plastic filter in the furnace. Firefighters checked the home for any fire and found above average heat temperatures in the furnace motor area with the use of a thermal imagining camera. The homeowner secured the power to the furnace and firefighters cleared the scene after one resident was evaluated for smoke inhalation. 1 ladder truck, 1 engine and an ALS ambulance responded along with 2 staff officers and a heavy rescue.

At 0528 firefighters were dispatched to a motorhome blaze around West A and South 6^th streets. The Battalion Chief arrived and found a fully involved motorhome, next to a residence and camp trailer. The IC instructed the first due engine to take a hydrant when approaching the blaze for additional water. Firefighters from the engine and a ladder truck quickly brought the fire under control and began overhauling the RV to completely extinguish the blaze. Firefighters were on the scene for approximately one and half hours. No injuries were reported. Firefighters responded with 1 ladder truck, 1 engine and a staff officer. Firefighters were assisted by Lebanon Police for traffic control.

At 0751 the Lebanon Firefighters were dispatched to another residential structure fire in rural area of Lacomb on Green Mountain Drive. Firefighters from the Lacomb sub-station arrived to find a home with smoke coming from the eves and attic area. The firefighters quickly deployed a hose line and threw a ladder to the gable end of the house to be at the ready to fight the blaze. A Battalion Chief and additional fire crews with engines and water tenders arrived and began investigating to determine where the origin of the smoke in the attic was coming from. Firefighters quickly located the fire in the attic under insulation, near the flue of the family’s woodstove and extinguished the fire. Firefighters were on scene for two hours doing overhaul and to further investigate the fire. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and no injuries were reported.

Lebanon Fire District responded to the Green Mountain blaze with 21 personnel on 1 ladder truck, 4 engines, 2 ALS ambulances, 3 water tenders, 1 heavy rescue and 2 staff vehicles. Lebanon Fire was assisted at the scene by Pacific Power, while Albany Fire Department helped the district by covering additional 911 emergency calls. The Lebanon Fire District would like to remind its residents of the importance of working smoke detectors and having your chimney cleaned and inspected.

On January 23, 2023, Marion County Circuit Court, Judge Lindsey R. Partridge, sentenced 16-year-old Kye Ray Alfaro to 90 months in prison for his role in a 2021 shooting incident. Alfaro pled guilty to Attempted Assault in the First Degree with a Firearm.  He was sentenced pursuant to a stipulated agreement where Alfaro agreed to be convicted in Marion County Circuit Court as an adult. 

At about 9:30 pm, on 11/4/21, Salem Police responded to a call of shots fired near ARCO/AM-PM on Portland Road. Officers were able to determine that 4 shots had been fired at an occupied vehicle outside the ARCO/AM-PM. The shots missed the intended target, but struck an unrelated, unoccupied vehicle, as well as an ice machine directly in front of the business. The occupied vehicle left the scene, the driver having escaped injury. Witnesses reported the shooter running from the scene.  After a lengthy investigation by the Salem Police Department, Alfaro  was determined to be involved and ultimately admitted to being the shooter.  Alfaro, who was 15-years-old at the time of the shooting, had previously been committed to the Oregon Youth Authority, and, as was announced today in open court during his sentencing, Alfaro was also on parole from the Oregon Youth Authority at the time. 

By operation of law, Alfaro will begin his sentence within the Oregon Youth Authority.  He is eligible to remain within the Oregon Youth Authority until his 25th birthday. Of note, he will complete his sentence before he must be transferred from the Youth Authority to the Department of Corrections. Furthermore, he will be eligible for release after 45-months in prison, half-way through his 90-month sentence, a legal process known as “second look.”   “Second Look” proceedings occur by operation of law for any individual under the age of 18 sentenced as an adult pursuant to the changes announced in SB 1008 (2019). In addition to second look, SB 1008 also makes this population eligible for parole after 15 years, no matter how long the original sentence or how many victims were injured.  (Because Alfaro’s sentence is less than 15 years, this parole hearing isn’t applicable in this case.) 

This morning just after 9:30am, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office received the report of a school shooting threat involving a student at Crow High School.  Investigators responded and learned that the involved student had made a social media post three days ago, asking other students if they would like to help shoot up the school.  The involved student was identified and his parents were contacted. 

Deputies took the involved juvenile into custody for Disorderly Conduct in the First Degree.  He was transported to the SERBU juvenile detention facility and lodged on the listed charge.  Investigators have been working closely with school officials to ensure the safety of the community.  There is believed to be no ongoing threat at this time.       

Monday, January 23, 2023-Woodland, WA-Woodland’s public schools implement strategies and techniques to identify struggling students and help them recover learning lost due to remote school resulting from the pandemic lockdown. Schools nationwide face a crisis of students, particularly in younger grades, who read, write, and perform math well below their grade level and need help to catch up.

Many elementary students fell behind in reading due to remote learning and mask-wearing

Elementary students, particularly those who were in kindergarten and first grade during the 2020 lockdowns, fell behind in reading. “We’ve seen the greatest impact on third graders because they were kindergartners during 2019-2020,” explained Ashley Kleinschmidt, instructional coach for Columbia Elementary School. “Since effective reading evolves from creating sounds to creating words in kindergarten, first, and second grades, our current third graders were impacted most from both remote learning and mask learning.”

Many of this year’s second graders who entered kindergarten in 2020 are also struggling, not from the impacts of remote learning, but from mask learning. Malinda Huddleston, Kleinschmidt’s colleague and instructional coach for North Fork Elementary School, explained how remote learning and masked learning impacted reading skills, “Virtual instruction does not give teachers the opportunity to ensure all students are actively engaged and there’s no way to assess their reading skills by reading with them one-on-one,” she said. “When we returned to school but had to wear masks, teachers could not teach students how to articulate their mouths to make sounds and words since the masks prevented teachers from seeing students’ mouth movements.”

Additionally, research shows younger students can fall behind significantly for their entire academic career if they cannot read proficiently by the third grade. “As a district, we knew we had to take action to help our students recover from pandemic learning,” said Huddleston. “We have introduced screener tests, phonics surveys, and multisensory interventions to meet students where they are and improve their skills.”

Once teachers identify struggling students, interventions being implemented by both teachers and paraeducators provide additional instruction with a variety of activities. “We use tiles and letter boards so kids learn how to blend and segment their reading,” said Huddleston. “We also use software which uses audio and video so kids are seeing, hearing, and manipulating during their lessons, and this empowers teachers to reach kids using whatever learning style is most effective for each individual student.”

In addition to interventions, Woodland’s elementary schools adopted new curriculum and instructional materials highly aligned with reading skills. Teachers receive ongoing professional development to strengthen their skill sets to more effectively help both struggling students as well as those who may need additional challenges. “The investment the district is making in professional development for teachers has been incredibly impactful,” said Huddleston. 

At Columbia Elementary School, special attention was given to the school’s Dual Language Program where native English and Spanish speaking students learn fluency in both languages. “Remote learning was especially difficult on our dual-language students, particularly our native Spanish-speakers,” said Kleinschmidt. “This year, we’ve dedicated extra time to those struggling students and use data-informed decisions so we can truly address those kids’ needs and we’re already seeing significantly better growth than last year.”

The renewed focus on improved teaching strategies has led to significant learning gains for students. “Thanks to the new curriculum and professional development strategies, this year’s kindergarteners are performing exceptionally well, outperforming even when compared to pre-pandemic classes,” said Huddleston.

Throughout the district’s elementary schools, teachers focus on strengthening their core instruction to help boost students’ reading abilities. “Our teachers have worked exceptionally hard to ensure they understand where their students are so they can differentiate and tailor lessons to the student's needs,” said Kleinschmidt. “They’re fully dedicated to helping fill any learning gaps their students have.”

At the state level, legislators increased efforts to help schools identify students suffering from dyslexia and other learning challenges. Beginning in the 2021-22 school year, RCW 28A.320.260 directs school districts to use multitiered systems of support specifically targeting students in kindergarten through second grade to ensure struggling students receive additional interventions and learning recovery.

Woodland Middle School targets the specific needs of struggling students at each grade level

During the pandemic, remote learning required the team at Woodland Middle School to make significant adjustments to the schedule to address student and family needs. Once back in school full-time, the team analyzed and restructured the daily class schedule to better serve students. “We are extremely pleased to be back on track,” said Tara Eilts, Title Coordinator and Instructional Coach for the middle school. “By following our effective schedule structure, we’ve been able to build our students back to the level they were performing at pre-pandemic and far beyond it.”

Woodland’s elementary schools collaborate closely with Woodland Middle School to assess significant reading gaps of incoming students or classes. “This way, we can design and implement unified instruction plans for our most struggling readers in CORE, Reading Intervention, and mutilingual classes before the school year even starts,” said Eilts.

All fifth and sixth graders enroll in a block of two classes for both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. For those sixth graders excelling in math, they may qualify for an advanced math class during their two-period math block. “Research shows students need 90+ minutes of effective instruction in ELA and Math every day in order to make adequate progress,” explained Eilts. “With two class periods set aside for each ELA and Math, students are receiving an average of 94 minutes per day in each subject.”

Fifth and sixth graders needing additional support in reading are enrolled in a Reading Intervention class. “These classes are intentionally small in order to allow teachers to perform explicit, targeted instruction designed to increase student achievement and bring them back up to grade level,” said Eilts.

For seventh and eighth graders demonstrating consistent performance in ELA and Math, students take one class of each every day, averaging 47 minutes per day in each subject. Students who need additional support take two periods of Math and/or ELA every day which provides 94 minutes per day, five days a week. “Students who need assistance with reading take dedicated classes with a specialized reading teacher,” said Eilts. “Just like the younger grades, these specialized reading classes are kept intentionally small so teachers can utilize explicit, targeted instruction with their students specifically based on the student’s assessed need.”

Woodland High School uses deliberate curriculum design and intervention programs to improve learning

Just like students in younger grades, Woodland’s high schoolers receive support and intervention from a variety of ways. For entering freshmen, the school’s Positive Academic Support System (PASS) identifies struggling students and pairs them with a staff member who serves as an in-school coach. The school introduced PASS in 2019 to support students with the goal of reducing the failing of classes in their first year. “Students who end their ninth year on-track passing all of their courses are 3.5 times more likely to graduate from high school than peers who fail one or more classes,” explained Dan Uhlenkott, WHS’s Assistant Principal who helped develop PASS. “Many PASS students actually refer to their PASS mentors as ‘school moms’ who provide students with the push they need to succeed each school day.”

Throughout every grade at the high school, teachers intentionally design course curricula to meet and exceed standard expectations of learning. “We’re working deliberately to align all courses within a department so we can improve student learning and better diagnose what holes may exist in our curriculum,” Sharon “Shari” Conditt, government teacher and one of the teaching coaches for the school. “With a well-supported curriculum, we can better align our assignments and take all the necessary steps to ensure teachers identify, address, and support our students’ needs.”

Partnering with families remains instrumental for student learning in school and at home

In order to involve families and ensure parents and guardians can partner with schools to improve student learning, the district introduced a dedicated two-way communication tool called Talking Points at the beginning of the school year. 

Talking Points provides a secure method for teachers and administrators to text parents and students as well as send video messages without concerns of lack of encryption or failed recordkeeping, issues which cannot be presented when using traditional text messaging or social media platforms. Additionally, both parents and students can ask questions and have two-way conversations with their teachers and school administrators.

“In order to fully recover loss learning, it is essential for families and schools to partner  and jointly support struggling students so they receive the help and support they need both at home and school,” said Michael Green, Superintendent for Woodland Public Schools. “We introduced Talking Points this year to provide the key communication solution both our teachers and families need to enhance this learning partnership, and it’s proven incredibly effective.”

By using Talking Points, teachers directly message parents and students to quickly identify areas where students may be struggling, help work through challenges facing students at school or home, and much more. “Frequent, active family involvement makes a huge difference in the success of students,” explained Eilts. “Talking Points makes it easier than ever to have effective, efficient, and consistent two-way communication with all families.”

The Talking Points platform also empowers principals and administrators to send schoolwide messages and updates to families immediately, an important tool for emergency communication with families.

Learn more about how Woodland Public Schools educates our students and serves the community by visiting our dedicated news webpage at www.woodlandschools.org/news/wsd

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Vancouver, Wash. – On June 17, 2022, Vancouver Police conducted a welfare check to substantiate information related to a criminal investigation and account for the whereabouts and welfare of Breadson John, 8 years of age. Since June 2022, Vancouver Police Detectives have attempted to contact multiple family members to determine if Breadson is with family or is truly missing. To date, the family members that have been contacted have not provided investigators information related to the whereabouts of Breadson and he has not been located. In December 2022, charges of Custodial Interference were filed against Breadson’s Grandparents, who were his last known guardians and persons of interest regarding the initial criminal allegation.  

The Vancouver Police Department has also partnered with the FBI to assist with locating Breadson John. 

Anyone with information concerning Breadson John is asked to contact Vancouver Police Detective James Dewey; james.dewey@cityofvancouver.us; (360) 487-7446 or 9-1-1.

Salem Police Department Use of Deadly Force Incident

Salem, Ore. — At approximately 9:00 a.m., on January 23, 2023, Salem Police Department officers were involved in a deadly use of force incident resulting in the death of a suspect.

Officers responded to the Walmart parking lot, located at 5250 Commercial Street SE.  Initial dispatch information indicated that there was an armed robbery and carjacking in progress at that location. Additional information was then relayed that the suspect was now north of Walmart at the Planet Fitness parking lot and that he attempted to steal another vehicle at that location. As officers responded, the suspect then fled Planet Fitness on foot and ran across Commercial Street to Napa Auto Parts.

Responding officers pursued the suspect, who matched the description from the calls, to the parking lot of the Napa Auto Parts Store, located at 5105 Commercial Street SE.  A confrontation ensued and the suspect fired at least once at officers.  At least one patrol vehicle was hit in the windshield. Officers also fired and the suspect was struck and died at the scene.

A black handgun was later located under the suspect and a loaded magazine was located inside his pocket. 

No bystanders, citizens, or officers were injured in the incident. The Salem Police Officers involved in the incident were:

• Senior Officer Justin Carney, 22 years of service; 
• Corporal Kristy Fitzpatrick, 14 years of service;
• Officer Reece Mathis, 1 year of service;
• Corporal Adam Waite, 15 years of service;
• Senior Robert Acosta, 17 years of service.

The suspect has been identified as Michael James Compton, 27 years old.  Next of kin have been notified. A Family Services Coordinator from the Marion County District Attorney’s Office has been made available to the decedent’s family to answer their questions and communicate appropriate information from the investigation.  

Compton was found to have multiple warrants for his arrest out of Clackamas and Lane counties. 

Pursuant to Marion County SB 111 protocols, the Marion County District Attorney’s Office appointed the Oregon State Police to investigate this incident. Investigators from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Keizer Police Department assisted with the investigation.   The involved Salem Police Officers have been placed on paid administrative leave as is standard in these situations. Like every incident of officer use of deadly force in Marion County, the circumstances of this investigation will ultimately be presented to a Marion County Grand Jury to determine whether the officers’ use of deadly force was lawful. 

This incident remains an active investigation. The scene is still being processed and additional investigation is occurring.  Therefore, no additional information will be released to preserve a grand jury’s objective analysis of the incident. 

PACIFIC CITY, Ore— A small sink hole measuring 20-feet wide and 15-feet deep was discovered at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area Sunday in the lower northwest corner of the dune.

Oregon Park and Recreation Department staff were alerted to the presence of the sink hole Sunday morning and cordoned off the area for safety. We ask that visitors respect this barrier and all park safety barriers. Also, please keep pets on leashes and children away from the edges. 

“The cape is a dynamic environment. Please be aware of your surroundings, stay clear of any dangerous areas, including this one,” said Park Manager Jason Elkins. 

 “Obviously people are curious and may want to see if for themselves,” he said, “but we ask that you respect the barriers that are in place and observe from a distance.”

Cape Kiwanda is a rarity for the Oregon Coast: a sandstone outcropping. Sandstone is naturally much weaker and prone to sudden changes compared with hardier rock like basalt. While any natural area carries risk, enjoying Cape Kiwanda safely requires visitors to pay special attention.

Even though the spot is marked with barriers, this hole could change at any moment, and others could appear. If you see something that concerns you, leave the area and report it to Cape Lookout State Park staff at 503-842-4981. In an emergency, call 911.

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is looking into possible causes of the sink hole, and we are continuing to monitor the situation. We will share additional details as they become available. 

Fentanyl has been called “the deadliest drug threat facing this country” by the Drug Enforcement Administration. This cheap, synthetic drug is especially dangerous to young people and is taking a deadly toll not only nationally, but here in Clark County.

To help you learn about this ongoing threat, we are offering a presentation by Sgt. Bill Sofianos of the Clark County Sheriff's Office, whose powerful sessions on fentanyl have become a popular educational tool in school districts in Southwest Washington. Sgt. Sofianos will hold two informational sessions:

• Tuesday, February 7: at Fort Vancouver High School auditorium, 7 p.m. (park in west parking lot and enter through west entrance)
• Thursday, February 9: at Evergreen High School auditorium, 7 p.m.

All members of the Clark County community are invited to attend. An American Sign Language interpreter will be at both sites. We encourage parents and families to attend, but please be warned that some of the material could be too intense for younger children.

In addition, we will hold separate presentations on those dates featuring Russian and Spanish speaking officers:

• Russian: February 7, at Fort Vancouver , Room 279 West Forum, 7 p.m. (park in west parking lot and enter through west entrance)
• Spanish: February 9, at Evergreen High School Student Center, 7 p.m.

If you would prefer to watch from home, the English sessions will be live-streamed on the YouTube channels of Vancouver Public Schools and Evergreen Public Schools, Recordings of all four presentations will be available after the events.

These presentations are co-sponsored by Vancouver Public Schools, Evergreen Public Schools, Education Service District 112, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office and the Vancouver Police Department.

We urge you to attend or view one of these presentations. Being informed is vital to protecting our kids from the dangers of fentanyl.

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, Thomas James Kjersten, passed away January 23, 2023. Kjersten was incarcerated at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution (EOCI) in Pendleton and passed away at the facility. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified, and the State Medical Examiner will determine cause of death. 

Kjersten entered DOC custody on October 4, 2018, from Yamhill County, with an earliest release date of January 30, 2031. Kjersten was 62 years old. Next of kin has been notified.

DOC takes all in-custody deaths seriously. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of approximately 12,000 men and women who are incarcerated in 12 institutions across the state. While crime information is public record, DOC elects to disclose only upon request out of respect for any family or victims.

EOCI is a multi-custody prison located in Pendleton that houses over 1,550 adults in custody. The institution is known for its Oregon Corrections Enterprises industries, including a garment factory that produces Prison Blues©, whose products are sold in and outside the United States. Other industries are its embroidery and laundry facilities. EOCI provides a range of correctional programs and services including education, drug and alcohol treatment, mental health treatment, religious services, and work crews. The buildings that make up EOCI were constructed in 1912 and 1913 and were originally used as a state mental hospital. After two years of renovation, EOCI received its first occupants in June 1985.

####

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  

DATE: January 23, 2023

Late evening hit and run collision in southeast Salem

Salem, Ore. — Salem Police and other emergency responders were called to the intersection of Lancaster DR & Rickey ST SE at approximately 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 21, on the report of a hit and run involving a pedestrian. 

Arriving officers located a woman, identified as 26-year-old Julia Wade, with significant injuries. She was transported to Salem Health by paramedics. Wade was later transferred to Oregon Health Sciences University Hospital for further medical care.

Witnesses to the incident reported the pedestrian was struck by a pick-up truck driven by an adult man who did not stop and fled the scene. A witness was able to provide officers with details about the direction of travel of the suspect vehicle. Officers from the Keizer Police Department were able to locate and detain the suspect in the 1900 block of Claxter RD NE where he was arrested by Salem Police officers.

The driver is identified as 49-year-old Eric Raymond Webb. He was lodged at the Marion County Jail on the following charges:

• Assault in the second degree
• Reckless driving
• Failure to perform the duties of driver to injured persons
• Criminal driving while suspended or revoked 
• Attempt to elude police officer

The incident remains under investigation by the Salem Police Traffic Team, and no further details are available for release.

# # #

At 11:38 on 01/23/2023 Vancouver Fire was dispatched to the intersection of NE 104^th Ave and SE Mill Plain for the report of a gas line that had been compromised by construction equipment. Vancouver Fire arrived to find high levels of natural gas in the area.  Fire and police crews moved quickly to isolate the intersection and evacuate nearby businesses.  Vancouver Fire is on scene to assist Northwest Natural Gas.   

In the past few years, there has been an alarming increase in serious injury vehicle crashes across the nation, including the state of Oregon.  During the month of February, members of the Keizer Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit will be enhancing patrol efforts to enforce traffic laws that lead to injury crashes such as distracted driving and speeding.  The unit will also focus on drivers/occupants who are not wearing their seatbelt.  These extra patrols are in conjunction with the nationwide “Click-It-or-Ticket” campaign, which begins January 30 and runs through February 12, 2023.

As always, we hope everyone remains safe on the roadways.  For more information regarding seatbelt safety, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFC2K2AfdJM&feature=youtu.be

For questions concerning traffic safety, please contact Sgt. David LeDay at 503-390- 3713 ext. 3482 or email at Ledayd@keizer.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  

DATE: January 23, 2023

Armed robbery response leads to suspect shot 

Salem, Ore. — At approximately 9:00 a.m. today, Salem Police officers were involved in a deadly use of force incident resulting in the death of a suspect.

Officers were called to the scene of an armed robbery in progress in the parking lot of the Walmart store at 5250 block of Commercial ST SE. The suspect then moved north to the Planet Fitness as officers responded.

The suspect then ran to the Napa Auto Parts Store at 5105 Commercial ST SE. Officers confronted the suspect in the parking lot and gunfire was exchanged. The suspect was struck and died at the scene.

No officers were injured in the incident.

The names of the suspect and the officers involved will not be released at this time.

The Marion County Law Enforcement Officer Deadly Use of Force Plan under Senate Bill 111 has been initiated for this incident, and Oregon State Police will be conducting the primary investigation. 

Additionally, per the use of force plan protocol, all future case updates will be provided by the Oregon State Police. 

# # #

SAIF visited workplaces across the state to create a new YouTube series, Oregon Odd Jobs. The series showcases uniquely Oregon jobs and how they’re done safely.  

“While safety is everyone's responsibility, we all go about it differently depending on the job we do,” says SAIF safety consultant Dawn Jacobs. “Oregon Odd Jobs highlights the weird and wonderful while giving us a look at how Oregonians stay safe.” 

Among other things, the videos teach how these businesses find safety success as they combat complacency, stay alert to surrounding hazards, keep up with safety innovations, and put safety redundancies in place.  

The first three episodes feature Homestead Log Homes in Central Point, Oregon Potato Company in Boardman, and Oaks Park Amusement Park in Portland. Host Corey Jenkins, SAIF’s creative services supervisor, tries his hand at building log homes, grinding potatoes, and inspecting roller coasters.  

SAIF will publish new episodes every two weeks. Future episodes include wrangling llamas, blowing glass, and feeding sharks. 

Subscribe to SAIF’s YouTube page for future episodes and other safety-related videos. 

About SAIF 

SAIF is Oregon's not-for-profit workers' compensation insurance company. Since 1914, we've been taking care of injured workers, helping people get back to work, and striving to make Oregon the safest and healthiest place to work. For more information, visit the About SAIF page on saif.com.

Press and VIP guests are invited to join Washougal School District for a ribbon cutting press conference for the new student-run food truck at Washougal High School. Please use this link to RSVP online: https://forms.gle/pvcaWQ4q1Rz8ciLN7 

WHEN: Thursday, February 2, 2023 from 3 to 4 pm

WHAT: Washougal School District will celebrate the opening of Panthers’ Shoug Shack, the district’s first student-run food truck, with an official ribbon cutting ceremony on February 2, 2023. Meet Washougal High School students involved in applying classroom learning to plan and operate this new food truck. Immediately following the ribbon cutting, guests are invited to taste freshly prepared food and refreshments served by students out of the Shoug Shack. Please monitor local weather conditions and dress warmly.

WHO: Students in Culinary Arts, a Career & Technical Education (CTE) program at Washougal High School, will serve food and refreshments to guests out of the Shoug Shack food truck. Washougal High School students in the Future Business Leaders of America club will be present for event assistance. Guest speakers include superintendent Mary Templeton, mayor David Stuebe, Washougal School District director of Career & Technical Education Margaret Rice, and Washougal School District board president Cory Chase and board member Sadie McKenzie. Mayor David Stuebe plans to make a special announcement during the event. Meet students from the Associated Student Body and an array of Career & Technical Education programs at the event. This event is for the press and VIP guests.

WHERE: In front of the Excelsior Building at Washougal High School: 1201 39th Street, Washougal, Washington 98671.

BACKGROUND: Washougal School District is an emerging leader in Career & Technical Education, with programs that allow students to explore meaningful job readiness skills by supporting the 16 national CTE career clusters. Students in Career & Technical Education programs including Digital Photography, Social Media Marketing and Culinary Arts applied classroom learning to solve real world problems by planning and preparing this student-run food truck at Washougal High School. Students learned the process of creating a brand, marketing, business management, restaurant operation, and teamwork through this hands-on project. Following the ribbon cutting, the Shoug Shack will be used as an extension of the Advanced Culinary Classroom where, on occasion, students will create and serve meals in collaboration with WSD Culinary Services during lunchtimes at all district schools and eventually leading to participation at community events.
 

NOTICE OF MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

JANUARY 24, 2023, 6:30PM

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

Or Telephone:

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

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

Come to give in January for chance to win a trip to Super Bowl LVII in Arizona 

Portland, OR (Jan. 23, 2023) — As National Blood Donor Month continues this January, the American Red Cross celebrates those who give blood and platelets to help save lives − especially now, as we work to ensure a stable blood supply amid the threat of icy winter weather and severe seasonal illness. Donors of all blood types – particularly type O blood donors, the most needed blood group by hospitals – and platelet donors are needed daily to meet demand.

The start of the new year is one of the most challenging times to collect enough blood products, despite the constant demand. One in 7 patients entering a hospital will need a blood transfusion – yet only 3% of the public gives blood. 

Don’t wait until there’s a crisis to donate. To book a time to give blood or platelets, visit RedCrossBlood.org, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or call 1-800-RED CROSS. 

In partnership with the National Football League (NFL), those who come to give blood, platelets or plasma through Jan. 31, 2023, will be automatically entered to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LVII in Arizona, including access to day-of, in-stadium pre-game activities, tickets to the official Super Bowl Experience, round-trip airfare to Phoenix, three-night hotel accommodations (Feb. 10-13, 2023), plus a $500 gift card for expenses.  

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Jan. 23-31

January 24

Hotel Vance, 1455 SW Broadway, Portland, OR, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Bateman Carroll, 520 W Powell Blvd, Gresham, OR, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

January 25

Big Pink, 111 SW 5^th Ave., Portland, OR, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Abernathy Grange 346, 15745 Harley Ave., Oregon City, OR, 1:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Northwest Medical Homes, 2644 Suzanne Way, Eugene, OR, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

January 26

Fred Meyer, 11565 SW Pacific Hwy., Tigard, OR, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Happy Valley Library, 13793 SE Sieben Park Way, Happy Valley, OR, 10:45 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.

Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center, 701 Black Oak Dr., Medford, OR, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

January 27

Lloyd Center Mall, 2201 Lloyd Center, Portland, OR, 12:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 255 Maxwell Rd., Eugene, OR, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

January 30

Starbucks, 16798 SW Edy Rd., Sherwood, OR, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

US Digital, 1400 NE 136^th Ave., Vancouver, WA, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

City of Bend Police Dept., 555 NE 15^th St., Bend, OR, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

January 31

Vancouver Toyota, 10455 NE 53^rd St., Vancouver, WA, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Even Hotel, 2133 Centennial Plaza, Eugene, OR, 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Lausmann Annex, 200 S Ivy St., Medford, OR, 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Visit RedCrossBlood.org and put in your zip code to find a donation site near you. 

Click here for b-roll of people giving blood.

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass^® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

Oregon and Washington still require face masks be worn at all blood drives and donation sites.

Amplify your impact − volunteer! 

Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross is to become a volunteer blood donor ambassador at Red Cross blood drives. Blood donor ambassadors help greet, check-in and thank blood donors to ensure they have a positive donation experience. 

Volunteers can also serve as transportation specialists, playing a vital role in ensuring lifesaving blood products are delivered to nearby hospitals. For more information and to apply for either position, visit redcross.org/volunteertoday. 

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

# # #

Terms apply. Visit RedCrossBlood.org/SuperBowl for details. 

Reduce the risk of tax ID fraud with a few simple, proactive steps 

With the 2022 tax filing season officially open as of Jan. 23, it’s an opportune time to take some basic security measures to avoid becoming a victim of tax identity fraud. 

Tax ID fraud is one of many types of general tax scams, which keeps government enforcement agencies very busy. Late-last year, the IRS’s Criminal Investigation division announced it identified $5.7 billion in tax fraud for fiscal year 2022, versus $2.3 billion from two years earlier. 

Tax ID fraud occurs when a perpetrator uses the Social Security number (SSN) and other personally identifiable information (PII) of an individual to file a fraudulent tax return and claim a refund. Other PII could include key items such as W-2 tax forms, addresses, and date of birth. The criminals will attempt to file a refund early in the filing season before the real taxpayer files their own return. 

What Criminals Are Doing

Criminals resort to different methods to illegally obtain PII and perpetrate the tax fraud. Once they obtain PII, it’s off to the races. In one case, a man was convicted for filing more than 30 fraudulent income tax returns in the names of 12 different trusts, according to the IRS Criminal Investigation's report for the fiscal year 2022 (ended Sept. 2022). In another scam, a computer consultant wrote a program to store stolen identities and automatically file tax returns, with refunds deposited onto prepaid debit cards. Another perpetrator was sentenced for stealing the PII of 65,000 employees of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, then selling the data on the dark web to conspirators, who promptly filed hundreds of false 1040 forms in 2014. 

Often, victims of such scams find out only after their taxes have been filed either by themselves or a hired preparer, only to receive a letter of rejection from the IRS due to multiple filings. This happens year after year, notes Kathryn Albright, Global Payments and Deposits Executive with Umpqua Bank, a Portland, Ore.-based institution with $32 billion in assets.

“Criminals unfortunately will aggressively prey on sensitive information they can use to perpetrate identity theft, and filing early tax returns at this time of year is one ruse they keep coming back to,” Albright notes. “Consumers, businesses, trusts, non-profits – basically anybody who has to file – could end up being a victim.” 

Tips to Avoid Tax ID Fraud

Here are some ways you can help protect yourself from tax ID fraud for this and future tax seasons: 
 

• File your taxes as early as possible. Many reporting schedules such as 1099s won’t be made available until mid-February, but you should receive them well ahead of this year’s April 18 federal filing deadline. Speed can be critical to securing your tax filings—and identity. If you beat fraudsters to filing your own taxes, they likely won’t control where your refund goes. 
   
• Consider using an Identity Theft (IP) PIN. The code is a six-digit number that prevents someone else from filing a tax return using your SSN or tax-ID number. These PINs used to be assigned to victims of identity theft to help them confirm their identity, but now everyone is eligible. You first must pass an identity verification process. The PIN is valid for one calendar year, with a new one generated each January. More information is here.
   
• Research potential tax preparers before providing them with sensitive personal information. If you elect to have somebody else do your taxes, be sure they’re a qualified, trusted, and reputable preparer. Use the IRS’s searchable directory to help you find a qualified tax professional if necessary.
   
• Watch for schemes to take your SSN. There are numerous scams aimed at stealing SSNs (and other sensitive personal information). Don’t provide such information to unfamiliar contacts—especially if you’re unexpectedly asked to do so by a stranger via email, text message, or even on social media. The IRS doesn’t use those methods to contact individuals.
   
• Use secure, trusted devices when filing your taxes online. When collecting your tax documents and then filing online, be sure you’re using as secure a computer as possible. That includes running the most updated versions of security software, internet browsers, and operating systems, and that your computer is connected to a trusted, safe internet connection. (For example, if possible, consider using a personal laptop connected to your home Wi-Fi network rather than a shared computer with a public internet connection.)
   
• Place a security freeze on your credit reports. Freezing your credit reports with the top three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) could help prevent further damages if a fraudster does steal your identity. When you place a freeze, you’ll set up an account with each of the agencies. Store the passwords to each of the sites in a safe place. You can always temporarily unfreeze your report in order to get any credit needs approved. 

“Start preparing your taxes as soon as possible so that when you do have all of the documents, you’ll be ready to file much earlier than the April deadline,” Albright says. “Use checklists to help keep track of all of the incoming documents. Throughout the tax season, keep an extra watchful eye on your credit reports and bank account details to make sure there’s no unexpected or unusual activity that could be linked to fraud. It’s a little bit of extra work that will help you feel more secure, and less stressed.”

What to Do if You Become a Victim 

If you make the unfortunate discovery that somebody stole your identity to file your taxes, consider performing the following actions as soon as possible:

• Contact the IRS and complete form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) or call (800) 908-4490 for specialized assistance.
   
• Follow the instructions that you receive in any letter from the IRS alerting you of a potential stolen tax identity theft situation. Then, report the situation to both the IRS and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at identitytheft.gov to initiate a recovery plan.
   
• Secure your IP PIN and any other details you receive from the IRS and other federal agencies/law enforcement to prevent future identity theft. 
   
• Place a fraud alert on your credit reports—and consider freezing them altogether if you haven’t already done so. 

Additional Resources

For more information about preventing tax fraud, visit these additional FTC and IRS resources. 

Salem, OR— All Oregon resident taxpayers preparing their own returns in 2023 can file electronically at no cost using one of Oregon’s free file options, the Oregon Department of Revenue announced today. The department will begin processing 2022 state income tax returns today, the same day the IRS will begin processing federal returns.

Free electronic filing options

Several free file options are available on the department’s website www.oregon.gov/dor. Free guided tax preparation is available from several companies for taxpayers that meet income requirements. Using links from the department’s website ensures that both taxpayers’ federal and state return will be filed for free.

Free fillable forms

Taxpayers that don’t meet the income requirements for guided preparation can file for free using Oregon Free Fillable Forms. Free Fillable Forms performs basic calculations and are ideal for taxpayers who don’t need help preparing their returns and want the convenience of filing electronically. A detailed series of steps for using free fillable forms are available on the agency’s electronic filing page. The IRS offers a similar option for filing federal taxes electronically.

Other free options

The IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals. Low- to moderate-income taxpayers can also access preparation services through AARP and CASH Oregon. United Way also offers free tax help through their MyFreeTaxes program. More information on these options is available on the department’s website.

E-filing is the fastest way for a taxpayer to get their refund. On average, taxpayers who e-file their returns and request their refund via direct deposit receive their refund 34 days sooner than taxpayers who mail their paper return and request paper refund checks.

Refunds will be issued starting February 15. A refund hold is part of the department’s tax fraud prevention efforts and allows for confirmation that the amounts claimed on tax returns matches what employers report on Forms W-2 and 1099.

To check the status of your refund or make payments, visit Revenue’s website. 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.

On Saturday, January 21, 2023, at approximately 2:10 P.M., the Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on Hwy 47, near milepost 87, in Washington County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a Dodge Avenger, operated by Glennard Devon Purvee (28) of Banks, was involved in a minor rear-end style collision just north of Banks.  The vehicle fled the scene and traveled southbound on Hwy 47 through the city of Banks.  The vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed when it drove off the shoulder of the roadway and collided with a tree on westbound side of the roadway, near milepost 87.  The operator of the vehicle was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash.

The roadway was impacted for approximately 3 hours while the on-scene investigation was being conducted.

OSP was assisted by the Washington County Sheriffs' Office, Banks Fire, Forest Grove Fire, and ODOT.