The Lincoln City Police Department plans on using the first of their 2024-2025 DUII Enforcement Grant funds during the up-coming Christmas / New Year’s holiday season. These enforcement operations are part of the national “High Visibility Enforcement,” which runs from December 11, 2024 through January 1, 2025.  The national High Visibility Enforcement events are designed to increase the number of patrol officers on the streets nationwide with an emphasis on seeking out drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs and removing them from the roadways. The holiday season is known for being merry and bright, but it is also a time when increased numbers of impaired drivers may be on the roadways. The Lincoln City Police Department is pleased to be joining forces with other law enforcement agencies across the nation to crack down on impaired drivers. Our goal is simple: to save lives and prevent injuries. Drunk driving is simply not worth the risk; if you drive drunk, you will be arrested.

DUII Enforcement Grant funds from the previous grant allocation were last used during the 2024 Labor Day weekend, resulting in one driver being arrested for DUII and several citations issued for various traffic violations. 

The members of the Lincoln City Police Department are committed to the safety of our citizens and visitors, and these grant funds are a valuable resource that assist us in improving the traffic safety in our community. These grant funds are made possible through Oregon Impact and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Submitted By: Lieutenant Jeffrey G. Winn

Grant County, Ore 3 Dec 24- On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 8:06 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on Hwy 26, near milepost 128, in Grant County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a westbound Ford Crown Victoria, operated by Anthony Montague (62) of John Day, lost control while attempting to pass another vehicle, left the roadway, went down an embankment, sheared a power pole at the base, and rolled onto its top. 

The operator of the Ford (Montague) was declared deceased at the scene.

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

OSP was assisted by ODOT.

# # #

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

Josephine County, Ore 22 Nov 24- On Friday, November 22, 2024, at 2:00 p.m., Josephine County Sheriff's Office and Oregon State Police responded to stabbing on Grave Creek Road, near milepost 7, in Josephine County.

Daniel Wayne Finney (34) of Wolf Creek was located near his vehicle with multiple stab wounds. Finney was able to communicate with the reporting party prior to passing away at the scene. Investigators arrived on scene and located additional evidence of the crime before identifying Keandra Demetrius Blanding (29) of Springfield as the primary suspect. 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office requested the Oregon State Police Major Crimes Section lead the investigation. At approximately 12:00 a.m., on Saturday, November 23, detectives located Blanding's vehicle in White City. At approximately 1:00 a.m., Blanding was arrested and lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

Blanding was arrested for Murder in the Second Degree and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. On November 24, Blanding was indicted by a grand jury in Josephine County.

OSP was assisted by the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, State Medical Examiner, and the OSP Forensic Services Division.

Due to the on-going criminal prosecution, no further information is available for release.

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

RELEASE DATE:                  Dec. 4, 2024
CONTACT PERSON:            On-duty PIO
CASE NUMBER:                   23-52228
 

Gresham, Ore.—Traffic investigators are releasing additional video showing the driver and passengers involved in a hit-and-run crash in late 2023. A motorcyclist was critically injured by a hit-and-run driver on New Years Eve in Gresham. On Dec. 31, 2023, at approximately 10:30 p.m., Gresham police officers and medical personnel responded to a report of a traffic collision involving a red Chevy Sonic (similar to a Chevy Aveo) and a motorcycle on SE Division St. and SE 202 Ave. The driver of the Sonic rear-ended the rider, knocking him off his motorcycle, then ran over the rider before fleeing the scene. The motorcycle rider was transported to the hospital where he remained for more than a month.

The East Metro Vehicular Crimes Team (VCT) is investigating the case and initially released a video showing the suspect and a passenger abandoning the vehicle on a nearby side street. Traffic investigators are releasing additional video from a doorbell camera showing the suspect and passengers as they fled the scene. A passenger can be heard calling to another passenger “Gio,” or “Tio,” or something similar, as they encouraged another passenger to hurry up. 

Investigators found a receipt from an area liquor store in the suspect vehicle. They are releasing a photo of a person of interest obtained from the liquor store video surveillance system. 

The victim of the hit-and-run is still working to regain the use of his legs as the one-year anniversary of the crime approaches. “As someone who has seen video of the crash, I can say the victim is lucky to be alive,” Officer Adam Oblack stated. Oblack is the lead investigator on the case. “We’re hoping the release of additional video and photos will renew interest in the case and encourage someone to come forward to identify the suspect,” he added.

If anyone recognizes the suspect, passengers, or the person of interest from the liquor store, they are asked to call the Gresham Police Tip-Line at 503.618.2719. 

Gresham Police Department partners with Crimestoppers of Oregon. Information can be anonymously report through their website at http://www.crimestoppersoforegon.com or by using their mobile app.

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Douglas County, Ore 2 Dec 24- On Monday, December 2, 2024, at 11:43 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 5, near milepost 161, in Douglas County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a southbound Volvo commercial motor vehicle and trailer, operated by Sargis Sargsyan (51) of Glendale (CA), left the roadway for unknown reasons and struck the rear end of a parked Peterbilt commercial motor vehicle and trailer, occupied by Oleksandra Kepina (29) and Ihor Vasylevskyi (36) of Rockville (MD). 

The operator of the Volvo (Sargsyan) was declared deceased at the scene.

The occupants of the Peterbilt were reportedly uninjured.

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

OSP was the primary investigating agency.

# # #

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

December 4, 2024

Media contact: Media Contact: Amy Bacher, acher2@oha.oregon.gov">amy.bacher2@oha.oregon.gov

OHA accepting applications for community review boards

(Portland, Ore.) – OHA’s Health Care Market Oversight (HCMO) program is seeking applicants for two community review boards for a proposed Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU)-Legacy Health (Legacy) transaction and a separate, but related, transaction involving Legacy and PacificSource.

Through the HCMO program, OHA reviews proposed health care business transactions to make sure they support Oregon’s goals of health equity, lower costs, increased access, and better care.  Community review boards provide input about transactions and make a recommendation to OHA about whether a transaction should be approved. Board members can include people who live and work in affected communities, consumer advocates, health care experts and health care providers. Board members may not be employed by any of the entities involved in the transaction or by any similarly sized competitors.

Applications for the community review boards are due January 10, 2025. OHA expects to convene the community review boards in the first quarter of 2025. Selected members need to be available for up to ten virtual meetings and two virtual public hearings. For more information about the selection process, member expectations and qualifications, visit the OHA OHSU-Legacy and Legacy-PacificSource transaction pages.

OHSU-Legacy

OHSU is proposing to buy Legacy. If approved, this means that Legacy would be a fully owned business of OHSU, and Legacy would be fully integrated into the OHSU system. People interested in participating in the community review board for the OHSU-Legacy transaction can apply here.

Legacy-PacificSource

Legacy is proposing to transfer its 50% ownership of PacificSource to the Legacy Health Foundation, which would become an independent organization if approved. Those interested in joining the community review board for the Legacy-PacificSource transaction can apply here.

Public comments

Anyone can submit a public comment about these transactions. OHA will accept and post public comments throughout the review periods for both transactions. Public input is crucial to help OHA understand potential impacts on the cost and quality of health care, access to services and health equity. Public comment can be provided through one of the following ways:

• Fill out the public comment form
• Email hcmo.info@oha.oregon.gov
• Call 503-945-6161

If your public comment is regarding the Legacy and PacificSource transaction, include the word “PacificSource” in your message. If your public comment is regarding the OHSU-Legacy transaction, include the word “OHSU” or “OHSU-Legacy” in your message.

Launched in 2022, the HCMO program reviews proposed health care transactions, such as mergers and acquisitions, to make sure they support statewide goals related to cost, health equity, access, and quality.  Information about the program can be found on the HCMO website. Subscribe to receive program updates here.

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Salem, Oregon – Three eye-catching sculptural artworks, including a giant microscope, now grace exterior locations at the newly renovated and updated Department of Administrative Services North Valley Complex in Wilsonville. The works were commissioned through Oregon’s Percent for Art in Public Places program.

The artwork trio includes “MegaScope” by Pete Beeman of Portland, “Interconnected” by Sue Taves of Langley, Washington, and “Ballads of Small Worlds” by Crystal Schenk and Shelby Davis of Milwaukie, Oregon.

Beeman, a large-scale sculpturer, chose a microscope as the classic symbol of scientific scrutiny to represent the many labs on site at the North Valley Complex. His 32-foot-tall “MegaScope” is slightly off-kilter and built of rusting steel. “The style and design of the sculpture is intended to give it both monumentality and majesty,” Beeman explained. The sculpture is topped off with a Megarhyssa wasp, which is known to feed on invasive borer beetles in Oregon and, through research, have been encouraged to help manage a problematic beetle infestation.

Taves, a stone carver, tries to capture the natural essence of stone through design and to discover cohesive forms that use shape and texture to translate feelings, create moods and invite people to be drawn in. About her “Interconnected,” piece she said: “It’s a meditation on place and purpose, weaving the flow of the Willamette River with the cycles of nature and growth. The first view of the sculpture is the stylized river – its polished curves and textured folds capture the dual essence of nature, constant yet ever-shifting.” A parade of insects along the sculpture’s base serves as a reminder that “the ecosystem comprises both the grand and the minute, and we are part of this chain.”

“Ballads of Small Worlds,” the metal sculpture collaboration between Schenk and Davis, comes out of a shared interest in storytelling, history and symbolism. The husband-and-wife team said, “Inspired by hidden worlds discovered under magnification, this artwork reflects natural growth systems – pulling imagery from beehives, cells, plant structures and molecular architecture. With their fanciful shift of scale, the pattern of each sculpture zooms in on these intricate forms, mimicking them and creating new perspectives on what isn’t always visible to the naked eye.”

Multiple state agencies will be housed within the North Valley Complex and will make use of the building for offices, laboratories and warehousing, including the Department of Agriculture.

The goals of the Percent for Art in Public Places Program are to:

• Acquire engaging and enduring artworks that are valued by Oregon’s diverse communities;
• Encourage dialogue, creativity and a sense of place by integrating art experiences into people’s everyday lives;
• Incorporate diversity, equity and inclusion policies and practices into art acquisition and collection management;
• Advance and support artists’ development, recognition and economic stability;
• Enliven and enhance state buildings through the arts; and 
• Promote public awareness, understanding and appreciation of the arts.​​​​​

​​The Arts Commission promotes access to the collection through a publicly searchable database of artworks​.

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. 

The Arts Commission is supported with general funds appropriated by the Oregon Legislature and with federal funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as funds from the Oregon Cultural Trust. More information about the Oregon Arts Commission is available online at artscommission.oregon.gov.

Gresham, Ore.— Yesterday afternoon, officers and detectives with the Gresham Police Department arrested 20-year-old Habib Habibi for two violent attacks on workers at different local health spas. 

The first incident took place on November 13^th when Habibi entered a spa located in the 300 block of SE 181^st Ave and attacked the lone worker in the business.  Detectives began investigating the incident, collecting surveillance videos, and attempting to identify the suspect. 

On November 28^th Habibi went to a different spa, located in the 19200 block of SE Stark St, and attacked one of the employees.  The employee was able to fight back, and the sound of the disturbance drew the attention of other spa employees and patrons.  Surveillance video from the spa confirmed the same suspect was responsible for both attacks. 

On December 3^rd, detectives were able to positively identify Habibi as the suspect.  He was arrested in the 700 block of SE 185^th Ave shortly after 5 p.m. on December 3^rd.   Habibi was charged with Rape in the First Degree, Sodomy in the First Degree, Robbery in the Second Degree, Coercion, Strangulation, Attempted Rape in the Frist Degree, and Attempted Sexual Abuse in the First Degree.

Detectives are concerned there may be other similar incidents involving Habibi which have not been reported to law enforcement.  Anyone with information about similar incidents is asked to contact Detective Justin Pick at justin.pick@greshamoregon.gov or Detective Lindsay Friderich at iderich@greshamoregon.gov">lindsay.friderich@greshamoregon.gov.

No additional information is being released at this time.

The Police Activities League of Southwest Washington (PAL) will host the Southwest Regional Shop with a Cop event on Saturday, December 7th, 2024, at 8:00 AM at the East Vancouver Walmart located at 430 SE 192nd Ave.

Approximately 100 local youth, pre-selected through partnerships with local school districts and youth-serving organizations, will have the opportunity to shop with law enforcement officers. 

This program aims to provide youth with an opportunity to shop without the stress of financial hardships. Youth are paired with a law enforcement officer and allotted $125 to spend on whatever they wish to purchase. Some youth choose to purchase necessities like shampoo, conditioner, underwear, and socks; some youth choose to purchase gifts for other family members; some youth opt for new toys and clothing.

As law enforcement and youth shop throughout the store together, youth are given an opportunity to experience positive interactions with our law enforcement partners.

Law enforcement agencies supporting this year's event include:

• Vancouver Police Department
• Clark County Sheriff's Office
• Washington State Patrol
• Washougal Police Department
• Camas Police Department
• Ridgefield Police Department

The Shop with a Cop program provides youth with a unique opportunity to engage in positive interactions with local law enforcement while addressing potential financial hardships during the holiday season.

This event was made possible thanks to our generous sponsors:

• Street Parking
• Twinstar Credit Union
• Childers and Hess Team
• Evergreen School District Foundation
• Walmart
• Vancouver Police Officers Guild (VPOG)

The Police Activities League of Southwest Washington (PAL) mission is "To foster and facilitate positive relationships between law enforcement and youth." PAL offers year-round programs to children and youth at free or low cost.

Contract negotiations have been ongoing for more than a year, with many bargaining units working without contracts.  

Portland, OR – Nearly 5,000 frontline caregivers from seven hospitals and six clinics across Oregon have made the difficult decision to authorize strikes because Providence executives have refused to offer a fair contract that improves patient care, raises staffing standards, and creates a competitive compensation package to recruit and retain more staff.

These Providence employees are ready to continue negotiations and have not set a date for the strike but are increasingly frustrated with Providence executives' lack of serious offers at the bargaining table. If a strike is called, it would be the largest healthcare strike, and the first doctors' strike in Oregon history.

WHAT: Representatives from several of the Providence bargaining units, including doctors and nurses, will be available to talk with the media about what the strike authorization votes mean, how Providence management has failed the communities they are supposed to serve, and what frontline caregivers are asking for in negotiations.

WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 4 from 10:30 a.m. – Noon  

WHERE: Oregon AFL-CIO - 3645 SE 32nd Ave. Portland, OR 97202 (Downstairs conference room) 

Media who are unable to attend in person can schedule a time to talk with a doctor or nurse from a Providence bargaining unit via video conference or phone during the allotted time by emailing Myrna Jensen at Jensen@OregonRN.org

WHO: Doctors and nurses from Providence Oregon facilities.  

WHY: Providence is a $30 billion corporation whose top executives make million-dollar salaries and are too focused on profits and not enough on high-quality patient care. The corporatization of healthcare has left many Providence employees frustrated and burnt out as they are being told to spend less and less time with patients and more time trying to drive up profits.  

From dangerous practices like understaffing critical care units and emergency rooms that delay care and endanger patients, Providence has ignored its responsibilities to workers and Oregonians. Healthcare workers are asking Providence to invest more in patient safety, to follow Oregon’s landmark Safe Staffing Law, and offer regionally competitive wages and benefits to be able to recruit and retain more staff.

Over the last decade, frontline caregivers have lost a tremendous amount of autonomy, respect, and authority to best care for their patients and create a satisfying professional career. Instead, they have been forced into a corporate health care model that is causing moral injury and exhaustion. Due to Providence’s repeated failures to listen to and bargain with frontline workers ONA has filed multiple unfair labor practices with the National Labor Relations Board alleging the following: refusal to bargain, bargaining in bad faith, unilateral implementation of mandatory subjects, denial of access to employee representatives, and retaliation against union leaders.

Striking is a last resort, and these employees are eager to settle this at the bargaining table. The Oregon Nurses Association is committed to bargaining around the clock to ensure this strike is averted but Providence must be willing to come to the table with a serious offer.

The strike authorizations come on the heels of more than 3,000 nurses at six Providence facilities striking in June of 2024 and 1500 nurses striking at two Providence Oregon hospitals in 2023.

Nearly 5,000 healthcare professionals at nine Providence bargaining units represented by Oregon Nurses Association or Pacific Northwest Hospital Medicine Association have passed strike authorization votes.  

This includes:

• Doctors, Nurses, Certified Nurse Midwives at Providence Women’s Clinics. Vote passed October 11, 2024.
• Doctors, Physican Associates, and Nurse Practitioners at Providence St. Vincent. Vote passed October 22, 2024.
• Nurses at Providence St. Vincent. Vote passed October 31, 2024.
• Nurses at Providence Milwaukie. Vote passed November 11, 2024.
• Nurses at Providence Willamette Falls. Vote passed November 12, 2024.
• Nurses at Providence Newberg. Vote passed November 14, 2024.
• Nurses at Providence Hood River. Vote passed November 22, 2024.
• Nurses at Providence Portland Medical Center. Vote passed November 27, 2024
• Nurses at Providence Seaside. Vote passed December 3, 2024.

Nurses at Providence Medford launched their strike authorization vote on December 4.  

The passage of a strike authorization vote does not mean a strike is imminent. Leaders of individual bargaining units must discuss with their members the timing of any strike. When a date is set, a 10-day notice will be issued to Providence management. All nine bargaining units want to avoid a strike and will continue to be available to meet Providence management at the bargaining table.  

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) represents a diverse community of 20,000 nurses, and healthcare professionals throughout Oregon. Together, we use our collective power to advocate for critical issues impacting patients, nurses, and health care professionals including a more effective, affordable and accessible healthcare system; better working conditions for all health care professionals; and healthier communities. For more information visit www.OregonRN.org. 

The Pacific Northwest Hospital Medicine Association (PNWHMA) was created in 2015 as the first hospitalist-specific labor union in the United States. It has since expanded to represent more doctors and advanced practice providers. PNWHMA is affiliated with AFT Healthcare—the fastest-growing healthcare union in the country. AFT Healthcare represents more than 200,000 members in 100 locals in 18 states and territories.  

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Press Log

Media Invitation: Video and Interview Opportunity

Hillsboro Fire & Rescue is set to begin construction on our newest fire station, Station 9, and will mark the start of this project with a ceremonial groundbreaking event.

Strategically located, South Hillsboro Station 9 will serve Hillsboro’s newest communities in the growing area of southern Hillsboro. Designed by architecture, planning, and design firm Rice Fergus Miller, the approximately 18,000-square-foot, single-story building incorporates trauma-informed design principles, including plentiful views of nature, variable lighting to prioritize daylight, residential finishes to counteract negative association with institutional spaces, and common areas that allow for ample flow and movement. The building features multi-use spaces for interdepartmental usage, a meeting and training classroom, and accommodations for future growth. The three-bay station will initially house a single-engine company staffed by a four-person crew providing paramedics and advanced life support. It can accommodate additional emergency apparatus and up to 11 personnel, providing a 24-hour response to emergencies and calls for service.

Designed and constructed to be disaster resilient, the station includes administrative spaces for fire and rescue staff and a Department Operations Center (DOC) for the City of Hillsboro Building Division. The multi-purpose building will feature remote workspaces for other City departments, including Police and Information Services. The sustainable building features include photovoltaic arrays, recycled materials, carbon sequestering structural elements, and non-volatile organic compound (non-VOC) emitting interior finishes. The building grounds will provide sustainable landscaping with enhanced landscape buffers and abundant parking for guests and personnel with electric vehicle charging stations. 

South Hillsboro Station 9 is being constructed by Inline Construction and is expected to open for service in December 2025. 

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Update Mr. Cox was located by deputies and is safe and uninjured. Thank you to all the community for sharing. 

Deputies are searching for a missing 91-year-old male who has memory loss. Mr. Lee Cox was last seen around 1 PM today, he was last seen near Auburn Rd NE, Salem. Mr. Cox is described as a white male, 5'10", thin build, last seen wearing a jacket, and blue jeans. If you see Mr. Cox, please keep him in sight and call 911 to let us know.

Portland, OR — The Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation (ORHF) is thrilled to announce that it has entered into a sales agreement to acquire the Oregon Pacific Railroad (OPR), marking a significant step forward in our mission to preserve and celebrate Oregon’s rich railroading heritage. This acquisition will open the door to an exciting array of new experiences for our community, including increased rail excursions, expanded volunteer roles, and fresh opportunities to connect with Oregon's rich rail history.

Continuing a Legacy of Railroad History

The Oregon Pacific Railroad has a celebrated history of serving Portland and surrounding communities, dating back to 1904 when the Oregon Water Power and Railroad Company first built the line to connect local towns and attractions. Thanks to Richard “Dick” Samuels, who revitalized the line in the late 20th century, OPR preserves the last five miles of Portland's historic rail network, which once extended to places like Oregon City, Gladstone, and Estacada. Under Samuels’ leadership in the 1990s, the line thrived again, launching memorable excursions like the “Samtrak” route between OMSI and Sellwood.

By bringing OPR into the ORHF family, we are honored to continue this legacy and enhance our organization’s capacity to engage, educate, and inspire visitors and volunteers alike. With the railroad now under ORHF’s stewardship, we’ll be able to operate more frequent and diverse excursions, providing guests with unique opportunities to ride the rails on historic Oregon lines.

Expanding Volunteer and Engagement Opportunities

This acquisition also paves the way for many new ways to get involved. Volunteers can participate in hands-on rail work, including track maintenance and rail yard support roles, creating valuable experiences for anyone passionate about rail preservation. These new volunteer positions will be essential in operating and maintaining the railroad and will play a key role in keeping our rail lines active, accessible, and well-preserved.

Investing in Oregon’s Rail Future: Your Help Matters

As a non-profit organization, ORHF relies on the generous support of donors, members, and volunteers to bring our mission to life. To finalize this purchase and expand the scope of our offerings, we need your support. Your donation will help us complete the acquisition, fund essential track upgrades, and support increased excursion services.

Join us in making this vision a reality! Your contributions will ensure that the Oregon Pacific Railroad thrives as a dynamic piece of Oregon’s rail history. Donations of any size are invaluable and deeply appreciated.

Visit orhf.org to donate or learn more about how you can help.

About the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation

The Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation (ORHF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Oregon’s rail history and inspiring future generations through education, hands-on experiences, and public engagement. ORHF operates the Oregon Rail Heritage Center in Portland, showcasing historic locomotives and hosting community events that connect people to the region’s rich railroad heritage.

APPLICANT REVIEW COMMITTEE

MEETING SCHEDULED

Notice of Regular Meeting

The Applicant Review Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a regular meeting at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Juan Lopez (503) 551-3167.

Effective Jan. 1, 2024, the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training will be live streaming all public meetings via YouTube. Meetings will no longer be streamed on Facebook. To view the Applicant Review Committee's live-stream and other recorded videos, please visit DPSST’s official YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/@DPSST.

1. Introductions

2. Approve November 20, 2024, Meeting Minutes

3. Arturo Aguilar, DPSST No. 65775; DOC/Oregon State Correctional Institution

    Presented by Cindy Park

4. Chesterlein Green, DPSST No. 65576; Bureau of Emergency Communication

    Presented by Cindy Park

5. Inquiry Closure Memos - Informational Only

    Presented by Cindy Park

6. Next Applicant Review Committee Meeting – January 22, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.

Administrative Announcement

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

YouTube Video Link: Name Our K-9: Violet and Millie 

Oregon State Sr. Trooper Scott Show needed an official name for his new drug-detection K-9. He had the idea to let Oregon elementary school students name the two-year-old female Belgian Malinois. On Oct. 17, 2024, OSP launched the “Name Our K-9” contest. At the time, no one knew we would end up with a very special name for one family.   

After almost 800 entries and a week of online voting, the winning entry of “Millie” was selected. Receiving almost half the votes cast, the winning entry was submitted by five-year-old Violet of Winston in honor of her twin sister Millie, who unexpectedly passed away earlier this year. 

Kylee Stewart, Violet and Millie’s mother, said, “Millie and Violet were inseparable. Although they were complete opposites, they shared a love of animals. When we came across the “Name Our K-9” contest, Violet knew she wanted to enter her sister’s name.”

“Nobody planned for there to be this much meaning behind naming the K-9,” said Sr. Trooper Show. “To have our dog end up with a name that’s got some significance and is meaningful to this family is really wonderful.” 

K-9 Millie is certified through the Oregon Police Canine Association as a drug-detection dog. She and Sr. Trooper Show are assigned to the Albany Patrol Office for drug interdiction along Interstate 5 and throughout the state. As an ongoing tribute, OSP will recognize K-9 Millie’s drug seizures, when possible, with a special nod to the little girl who inspired her name.   

“On behalf of myself and the entire Oregon State Police family, it is an honor to be part of this special memorial to Millie Melton,” said Superintendent Casey Codding. In recognition for winning the naming contest, Violet received a letter and certificate from Superintendent Codding and an OSP uniform patch. She also received a Belgian Malinois plushie personalized with the OSP logo and the name “Millie” generously donated by Hero Industries. 

OSP is continuing to recognize the contest finalists with presentations to students across the state. We send a heartfelt thank you to the 778 students who submitted entries in the “Name Our K-9” contest. “K-9 teams play an important role in keeping our communities safe and it was exciting to have so many students participate in the contest in such an engaging and meaningful way,” said Superintendent Codding. 

Contest finalists: 

• “True” submitted by Michael B. from Creswell Christian Academy in Creswell. 
• “Showtime” submitted by KariAnn G. from Eastwood Elementary in Roseburg. 
• “Pearl” submitted by Bailey P. from Jefferson Elementary in Medford. 
• “Mable” submitted by Mrs. Moles's second-grade class from Prairie City Elementary in Prairie City. 
• The school with the most entries: Hillcrest Elementary in North Bend. 

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Note to media partners: The family graciously allowed Oregon State Police to tell their story. However, they request privacy for their family and do not wish to participate in additional interviews. Media outlets may request a copy of the video without music or titles by emailing osppio@osp.oregon.gov. 

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

Fifteen Kelso kids ages 6 to 11 will get to bring presents home to put under the tree after shopping with Kelso Police Officers on Saturday, December 7, at the Kelso Target. The tradition, now in its 16^th year, helps lower income families experience more holiday joy while building positive relationships with local law enforcement. Students selected are referred by school counselors based on need.

“Shop with a Cop holds a special place in our hearts," said Officer Shayda Panah. "It provides an opportunity for law enforcement officers to positively connect with children within our community on a personal level. This helps foster a positive relationship between the police and local youth.” 

Shop With a Cop: December 7

• Children and will ride a school bus from City Hall with Kelso High School’s Police Science students to Target and shop for an hour with officers before the store is open to the public. 
• Students ride the school bus back to City Hall with a Police escort. Presents will be wrapped by volunteers while children enjoy snacks, crafts and photos with Santa.
• Group photo in front of City Hall for students and officers.
• Parents arrive to pick up their kids.

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

State Land Board to meet December 10 in Salem

Agenda items include rules on leasing land for communication site facilities and annual program updates

SALEM, Ore. – The State Land Board will meet on Tuesday, December 10 at 10:00 a.m. at the Department of State Lands building in Salem.

Agenda items the Land Board will consider include: 

• Adopt new and amended rules that guide how communication site facilities are leased on State-owned land.
  Communication site facilities lease lands managed by the Department, and the leases generate revenue for the state’s Common School Fund. These facilities support wireless cellular service, internet service, emergency communications, technologies that detect wildfires or seismic activities, cable and radio broadcast, local radio users, and more. New and expanded rules are needed for this complex and rapidly evolving industry.
   
• Adopt amended rules that authorize special uses on State-owned land. 
  As a result of adopting a new division of rules specific to communication sites in OAR 141-126, it’s necessary to also amend OAR 141-125 to remove reference to those rules.
   

The Land Board will also hear the annual report of our aquatic resource management program, as well as guest presentations from the Oregon State Treasury regarding the performance of the Common School Fund investments and a presentation from the Department of Geology and Mineral Industries on geologic carbon sequestration.

Meeting Details and Agenda 

Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.
Department of State Lands
Land Board Room
775 Summer St. NE, Salem

The full meeting agenda and materials are available on the DSL website. The meeting will be livestreamed to the DSL YouTube channel. 

The public may submit written testimony or sign up to provide spoken testimony (in person, by video, or phone) during the meeting. Advanced sign-up is required, and the deadline is 10 a.m. on Monday, December 9.

If you need assistance to participate in this meeting due to a disability, please contact Arin Smith at 503-986-5224 or in.n.smith@dsl.oregon.gov">arin.n.smith@dsl.oregon.gov at least two working days prior to the meeting. 

Visitors are not permitted to bring backpacks, bags, or large purses into the Department of State Lands building prior to, during, or following Land Board meetings. Purses, medical bags, and diaper bags are permitted, but may be subject to inspection by the Oregon State Police.

About the State Land Board and the Department of State Lands: The State Land Board consists of Governor Tina Kotek, Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade, and State Treasurer Tobias Read. Established by the Oregon Constitution in 1859, the Land Board oversees the state’s Common School Fund. The Department of State Lands is the Land Board’s administrative agency, managing the lands and resources that help fund Oregon’s public schools and protecting the state’s waterways and wetlands for the many benefits they provide.

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www.oregon.gov/dsl

Forming in 2019 from a cross-section of our community, the HOPE Advisory Board (Home, Opportunity, Planning and Equity) was tasked with developing recommendations for responding to issues related to homelessness in our community. In 2021 the HOPE Advisory Board offered their recommendations, including prioritizing collaboration and coordination of providers and partners with routine meetings for improved care coordination. The foundation of this recommendation was based on work done in other communities using the Situation Table model that has become widespread in Canada and is growing in the United States.

The Situation Table is a risk-based, rapid triage model that regularly brings together multiple human service providers to address situations where individuals and/or families are experiencing acutely elevated risk. The well-structured process focuses on evaluating risk factors and identifying a team of community partners to connect that person or family with services to help them with their specific needs. The response team is tasked with contacting the at-risk individual or family within 24 to 48 hours to help engage them with services if possible. Captain Joel Goodwin with the Corvallis Police Department shared, “the strength of the Situation Table model is that it utilizes resources we already have in our community, tailoring a solution to meet the specific needs of the person or family at risk rather than waiting for them to navigate getting help on their own.”

The CORE Team (Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement), which pairs a Corvallis Police officer with a Benton County Qualified Mental Health Practitioner, was identified to facilitate the weekly meetings of the Situation Table since they would be likely to both encounter people at acutely elevated risk and respond as part of the engagement team.  IHN-CCO generously funded the training, which took place on October 19^th and 20^th, 2023. The first Corvallis/Benton County Situation Table was held on October 29^th, 2023, and continues to meet on a near-weekly basis. Dan Easdale, the Program Director for Corvallis Housing First, recalls, “I admit I was a little skeptical. However, the Situation Table has proven to be a valuable community tool, breaking down silos in our community.”

During the first year, over 25 local agencies have participated the Corvallis/Benton County Situation Table, reviewing a total of 54 situations. Data from this first year shows:

• 70 people were supported
• Each situation had an average of nine risk factors
• Families were identified as at risk in 15% of situations, 85% as individuals
• Half of the people served were in the 40-60 age range
• Most common risk factors included homelessness, mental health, physical health, a criminal nexus (as a victim and/or offender), and substance use
• Outreach teams were able to lower risk in nearly 60% of situations

Once the person or family is connected with services to reduce their risk, the involved community partners take over case management consistent with their agency procedure “The Situation Table is really about getting people to the starting line, then each agency can then help people get to the finish line – which could take months or even longer,” Captain Goodwin said.

The initial success of the Corvallis/Benton County Situation Table has also contributed to a new Situation Table starting in Albany last month. With expected service overlaps, some agencies are planning on supporting both Situation Tables. As service providers continue to learn of people experiencing acutely elevated risk, they will continue to bring those situations forward to the Situation Table to work towards solutions. Ty Pos, the Director of Contracts and Outreach for Community Outreach Inc. (COI) sums up the work of the Situation Table as “…experienced providers who handle the toughest cases in our community” and has come to see the effort as “compassionate souls trying to bring light into darkness.”

Klamath County Fire District 1 (KCFD1) was recently notified that it has received an improved Public Protection Classification (PPC) score of Class 2 from the Insurance Services Office (ISO) within the Klamath Falls City limits and suburban areas of Klamath Falls, located within 5 road miles of a fire station.

“The improved ISO rating reflects our Fire District’s continued commitment to delivering the best fire and emergency medical services possible with the funding provided, while our department focuses on creating and supporting a work environment that attracts and maintains excellence. The citizens of our community deserve the best, and we continue to put forth efforts to provide that” says Fire Chief Greg Davis.

The comprehensive review from the ISO highlights the outstanding efforts from the staff at KCFD1, Klamath County 911 and our local water purveyors.

KCFD1 previously scored an ISO rating of Class 3. “Achieving an ISO Class 2 rating is a significant accomplishment for our Fire District, and the improved mark represents a major accomplishment” says KCFD1 Board President Gloria Storey.

Nationwide, less than 2% of all fire departments achieve an ISO rating of 2 or lower. Currently, in the State of Oregon, there are no communities with an ISO Class 1 rating. 

What does this mean for our community? The new Class 2 rating may result in a decrease in annual fire insurance premiums within portions of the KCFD1 fire response area. Residential and commercial property owners are encouraged to contact their insurance providers to inquire if their premiums will be impacted by the improved classification rating. It’s important to understand that each insurance company independently determines the premiums it charges its policyholders. The new ISO Class 2 rating will go into effect on March 1, 2025.

ISO is an independent company that provides underwriting, ratings, and statistical information to the property and casualty insurance industry in the United States. When conducting an ISO review, ISO collects information about a community’s public fire protection capabilities and analyzes the data using its Fire Suppression Rating Schedule - which quantifies the community’s fire suppression resources, risk reduction programs, 911 capabilities and water supply systems.

AMBOY, WASHINGTON – North Clark Historical Museum is in upper Amboy at 21416 NE 399^th St. in the renovated 1910 United Brethren Church. The Museum was incorporated in 1988 and opened to the public in June of 2000. 

Music is the Voice of the Soul!

First Friday Open Mic Music Night     December 6, 2024

Performer sign-ups 6:00 to 7:00 pm  Music 7:00 to 10:00 pm

Host: Wayne Hoffman

All ages welcome.  It is a fun filled evening with talented artists playing the guitar, banjo, autoharp, fiddle, piano, and singing.  The Dora Young Chapel resonates with the sound of music.

No Admission Fee.                          Donations appreciated.                                Wheelchair accessible.

For more information, please contact 360-247-5800 and leave a message or email museumnch88@gmail.com.

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

 

People who live in certain Oregon counties and lost food purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) due to the Nov. 19-20, 2024, severe weather event have 30 days to request replacement benefits from the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS).

Households who live in the following counties now have until Dec. 18, 2024, to request replacement food benefits:

• Benton
• Clackamas
• Clatsop
• Coos
• Deschutes
• Douglas
• Jackson
• Jefferson
• Josephine
• Klamath
• Lake
• Lane
• Lincoln
• Linn
• Malheur
• Marion
• Multnomah
• Polk
• Tillamook
• Umatilla
• Washington
• Yamhill

ODHS received federal approval to waive the usual 10-day replacement benefit request deadline to help support people impacted by the strong winds and heavy rainfall that caused power outages for more than 25,000 households. Households who live outside the counties listed above must follow the usual process and request replacement benefits within 10 days of the loss.

Anyone who disposed of food bought with SNAP that was destroyed due to a disaster can request replacement benefits for the cost of the lost food. Requestors should be prepared to provide the total cost of the food lost and may have to provide proof of the event that destroyed the food if they don’t reside in one of the approved counties.

Replacement SNAP benefits may be requested by:

• Calling 800-699-9075
• Filling out a request form and emailing it to egon.benefits@odhsoha.oregon.gov">oregon.benefits@odhsoha.oregon.gov
• Visiting a local ODHS office

Once approved, replacement benefits are added to the household’s existing Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. The maximum replacement amount is the cost of the food lost, not to exceed the household's normal monthly SNAP benefit.

Resources to help meet basic needs

• Find a food pantry: Visit oregonfoodbank.org
• Learn about government programs and community resources for older adults and people with disabilities: Call 1-855-673-2372 or visit adrcoforegon.org.
• Find more resources near you: Dial 211, text your zip code to 898-211, or visit 211info.org

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Administered by ODHS, SNAP is a federal program that provides food assistance to approximately 1 in 5 eligible, low-income families and individuals in Oregon, including many older adults and people with disabilities. Individuals in need can apply for benefits, including SNAP, child care, cash assistance and Medicaid. Learn more at benefits.oregon.gov.

AMBOY, WASHINGTON – North Clark Historical Museum is in upper Amboy at 21416 NE 399^th St. in the renovated 1910 United Brethren Church. The Museum was incorporated in 1988 and opened to the public in June of 2000. 

The Museum will close to the public on Saturdays from December 7, 2024 through January 31, 2025 to allow Board members and volunteers to work on projects and plans for next year.

Tours will be available upon request:              contact 360-247-5800 and leave a message to schedule 

                       or email museumnch88@gmail.com

First Friday Open Mic Music Night:          6:30-7:00 pm performer sign-up        7:00 pm Music   

                       December 6, 2024

                                                                January 3, 2025     22^nd Anniversary              

Open Door Stitchery Circle will meet again on February 8, 2025                 1:00 – 4:00 pm

Bring your project to work on, share ideas, learn something new, join in lively conversation, and make new friends.

Board meetings: 

Thursday, December 12th                            7:00 pm               via Zoom

                                                                                Contact museumnch88@gmail.com for link

Thursday, January 9th                                   7:00 pm               via Zoom

                                                                                Contact museumnch88@gmail.com for link

Wednesday, January 22nd                           2:00-4:00 pm     at the Museum

                                                                                Short Business Meeting/Work Session

No Admission Fee.                          Donations appreciated.                                Wheelchair accessible.

Visit website at northclarkhistoricalmuseum.com.

For more information, please contact 360-247-5800 and leave a message or email museumnch88@gmail.com.

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

 

December 3, 2024

Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt today released the 2024 Multnomah County Corrections Grand Jury Report. Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 132.440 requires an annual grand jury inquiry into the condition and management of every adult and youth correctional facility in the county. These facilities are:

• Multnomah County Detention Center (operated by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office)
• Multnomah County Inverness Jail (operated by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office)
• Donald E. Long Juvenile Justice Center (operated by the Multnomah County Department of Community Justice Juvenile Division)
• Columbia River Correctional Institution (operated by the Oregon Department of Corrections) 

The court selected seven jurors to serve as the Corrections Grand Jury (CGJ). They spent over 100 hours touring facilities, receiving sworn testimony, and compiling their report. This year the CGJ focused on a wide scope of issues including staffing, facility maintenance, compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act, access to treatment and programming, meals, medical services, and safety.

“The Corrections Grand Jury is an important, independent practice that gives the community an understanding of the operations and conditions of our local correctional facilities,” said DA Schmidt. “The result is recommendations for improving the effectiveness of those facilities, while also reflecting the values and expectations of the community. I would like to thank the facility leadership and staff who assisted this year’s grand jury and to specifically recognize Sheriff Morrisey O’Donnell for her commitment to transparency and to working with local, state, and federal partners to achieve health and safety goals.”

A full copy of the grand jury report, in compliance with ORS 132.440, can be obtained on the MCDA website. Sheriff Nicole Morissey O’Donnell’s response is also available.

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office recognizes the seven grand jurors for their dedicated efforts. Furthermore, we recognize Multnomah County Deputy District Attorneys Jeffrey Lowe and Travis Sewell for assisting and advising the CGJ.

#MCDA#

Since 2017, the Portland Water Bureau has detected low levels of Cryptosporidium from routine monitoring of source water. The Portland Water Bureau received results from ongoing monitoring from the Bull Run Watershed intake for Cryptosporidium, a potentially disease-causing microorganism. Two Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in the 50 liters collected on November 26 and one Cryptosporidium oocyst was detected in the 50 liters collected on November 27. Prior to this detection, Cryptosporidium was last detected from the Bull Run Watershed intake on November 25, 2024.

The Bull Run Watershed is Portland’s primary source of drinking water. The Portland Water Bureau does not currently treat for Cryptosporidium, but is required to do so under drinking water regulations. Portland is working to install filtration by September 30, 2027 under a compliance schedule with the Oregon Health Authority. In the meantime, Portland Water Bureau is implementing interim measures such as watershed protection and additional monitoring to protect public health. Consultation with public health officials has concluded that at this time, customers do not need to take any additional precautions. 

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

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

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

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

About the Portland Water Bureau

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

Tigard, Ore., December 3, 2024 – In celebration of “Giving Tuesday,” Unitus Community Credit Union and quarterback Dillon Gabriel have made a $2,500 donation to Kidsports of Eugene, Oregon. The non-profit organization is committed to offering all children the opportunity to play youth sports by removing barriers.

The contribution follows a special Meet & Greet with Gabriel for Kidsports’ youth football players. During the event, participants got to run an agility course, catch passes from Gabriel, meet the quarterback, and take photos with him. Unitus President and CEO, Steven Stapp, announced the donation at the event, underscoring Gabriel’s commitment to community.

“We are honored to partner with Dillon to make this donation to Kidsports,” explained Mr. Stapp. “Understanding how much youth sports played a role in his accomplishments, we know this donation will help inspire the next generation of young athletes who play sports here.”

“I’ve been so supported by this community and I’m glad I can help support Kidsports,” said Dillon Gabriel. “Being out here and getting to spend time with these kids is one of the things I love most about my role. I hope they had as much fun as I did.”

Kidsports’ Executive Director Bev Smith thanked Gabriel and Unitus for the financial contribution, noting Gabriel’s involvement with the organization has demonstrated the importance of participating in youth sports.

“He got his start doing exactly what our kids do,” noted Ms. Smith. “Learning the value of teamwork, commitment, and sportsmanship through youth sports builds skills and character that last a lifetime.”

Unitus first partnered with Dillon Gabriel in July, naming him a Financial Education Ambassador for the credit union. Gabriel has produced a series of financial education videos for social media. He believes financial education is crucial at any age, and his videos encourage young people to set them up for success in the future. The financial education series is available on Unitus’ social media channels, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and LinkedIn. Mr. Gabriel is active on Instagram and X.

Earlier this year, Gabriel and Unitus partnered to make a donation to the Ke Kukui Foundation, an organization committed to preserving and sharing Hawaiian/Polynesian culture through education in music, dance, language, and arts.

Photos and video of the Dillon Gabriel Meet & Greet at Kidsports are available through this link.

About Unitus Community Credit Union

At Unitus, we’re dedicated to improving lives in the communities we serve. As a member-owned local credit union, we invest in people by doing the right thing. Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations, we provide support for community groups through volunteerism and financial donations. Our 105,000 members count on us to serve them and their communities; our 300+ employees share that passion for service. Learn about the local impact Unitus makes by visiting unitusccu.com.

About Kidsports

Kidsports is a private non-profit organization in Oregon that provides youth sports programs for pre-K through 12th graders in Eugene/Springfield and surrounding areas. Kidsports teaches children and families the value of physical fitness, sportsmanship, practice and teamwork through sports and activities. Knowledgeable coaches and officials allow each player to achieve their personal best while having fun. All children have the opportunity to play. Sports programs and activities are open to any child who is able to participate regardless of race, religion, creed, sex, ability, or financial status.

Clatsop County, Ore 30 Nov 24- On Saturday, November 30, 2024, at 3:46 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a three-vehicle crash on Hwy 101, near milepost 32, in Clatsop County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a northbound Honda Shadow, operated by Wesley Dalton Leraas (30) of Gearhart, and Yamaha V-Star, operated by Daniel Walter Whitehouse (45) of Bay City, were attempting to pass a northbound vehicle and entered the southbound lane. The motorcycles were passing in a curved area and encountered a southbound GMC Sierra, operated by Daniel Ray Mullins (71) of Rockaway beach. The motorcycles made contact with each other as they attempted to reenter the northbound lane. The operator of the Honda lost control and struck the GMC head-on. The operator of the Yamaha temporarily lost control but was able to reenter the northbound lane and avoid a collision with the GMC.

The operator of the Honda (Leraas) was declared deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Yamaha (Whitehouse) was reportedly not injured.

The operator of the GMC (Mullins) and passengers were reportedly uninjured.

The highway was impacted for approximately four hours during the on-scene investigation. The primary cause of the crash being considered is unsafe passing and speed.

OSP was assisted by the Clatsop County Sheriff's Office, Cannon Beach Fire, and ODOT.

# # #

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

Vancouver, Wash. – Vancouver’s downtown Main Street from 5th Street to 15th Street will start transforming into a corridor that provides a safe, accessible and connected transportation system supporting its businesses and providing for a vibrant destination. The City and its partners in the Main Street Promise Project will celebrate the start of construction with a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, Dec. 6, from 3 to 4 p.m. in front of Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main St., Vancouver, WA 98660. 

“A thoroughfare named ‘Main Street’ runs through most every city nationwide, and our city is no exception,” said Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle. “With downtown moving into a new era, the project will create a safer, more welcoming and timeless place that respects its storied surroundings and historic legacy. It’s also paving the way towards a vibrant future for the many small businesses that are our local economy's heart and soul.” 

A community-led effort nearly 30 years in the making, this $21 million project is bringing a long-awaited, complete makeover to lower main street in downtown Vancouver that supports Main Street businesses and creates a welcoming destination. The roadway, sidewalks and adjacent outdoor spaces will be reconfigured to improve safety, foster a sense of community and ensure economic prosperity. This project builds on planning work that began in 1993 to improve and invigorate a vital part of Vancouver. 

Expected speakers include:

• Anne McEnerny-Ogle, Mayor
• Ryan Lopossa, Vancouver Transportation Engineering Manager
• Shannon Buell, Nutter Corporation, General Manager 
• Jason Irving, MacKay Sposito Engineers, Project Manager
• Crystal Humble Lary, Eryngium Papeterie Owner
• Jon and Kelsey Jennings, Ronald Records Co-owners
• Patrick Quinton, Vancouver Economic, Prosperity and Housing Director
• Michael Walker, Vancouver's Downtown Association Executive Director

A construction contract was awarded to Nutter Corporation in October. This project will include approximately 9,500 hours of apprentice time, just over 15% of the total applicable labor hours. By providing for apprenticeships on public works projects, the City is creating opportunities for training and experience to help ensure that a trained workforce will be available in sufficient numbers to construct future public works projects.

The Main Street streetscape design was developed and refined through community input heard through project advisory group meetings, open house events and numerous touchpoints with property owners, businesses, commissions and community members who walk, bike, roll, drive and use public transit to visit Main Street. 

View a virtual flyover animation of the Main Street Promise project.

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PGE to celebrate Project Zero internship program five-year anniversary with transition announcement.

PORTLAND, Ore. (Dec. 3 2024) — After nearly five years providing area youth with hands-on experience in the green career sector, Portland General Electric’s Project Zero internship program will transition ownership to longtime community partner, Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center (POIC).

PGE and POIC will celebrate the five-year anniversary and current internship cohort graduation at 5 p.m. at the World Trade Center on Thursday, Dec. 5.

PGE’s Project Zero internship program was developed in 2020 in collaboration with regional environmental, workforce, and youth development partners to meet the call of area youth looking to create cleaner, greener, and more equitable communities. Funded in part by PGE’s philanthropic arm, the PGE Foundation, the internship program supports individuals faced with barriers to success in school or work by providing an opportunity to work full-time for six months with local environmental justice and stewardship organizations.

Throughout the program, interns receive professional and career development coaching, as well as support from social service experts who address an array of needs ranging from homelessness to food insufficiency to transportation. Since the internship program’s inception, PGE has partnered with 43 community organizations to support 64 individuals in hands-on internship opportunities in the green career sector. Nearly half are now employed full-time in that area.

To meet the growing demand from area youth, PGE and POIC made the strategic decision to transfer the internship program ownership to POIC, an organizational leader in workforce development with a history of providing community-based training to underserved area youth and community members in the Portland-area.

“By working together with POIC and many other youth development partners, we’ve built an inclusive and innovative internship program that is driving our region's clean energy future forward,” said Kregg Arntson, executive director, PGE Foundation. “POIC has a long history of investing in area youth, especially those from underserved communities. The great leaders at POIC will continue to grow this program, shaping the green workforce and cultivating passionate advocates for a sustainable future.”

Since 1967, POIC has been committed to the success of underserved youth, adults, and families in the Portland-area, providing the highest quality services in education, employment training, community safety, and family wellness. PGE and POIC’s community partnership dates back to 2008. Throughout this partnership, the PGE Foundation has supported POIC community programs, such as culturally specific education and workforce initiatives and pre-apprenticeship programs. In addition, POIC was an early supporter of the Project Zero internship program and worked with PGE to develop the program. With deep roots within the community, POIC is an excellent fit to continue this internship program. 

"POIC is thrilled to be working in partnership with PGE and take on Project Zero as the backbone organization. Green jobs are the future of workforce and POIC looks forward to continuing our work supporting young adults as they strive to enter the workforce in green careers,” said Megan Bell, POIC director of employment and training.

POIC is looking to develop more partnerships so that, in time, more young adults can be supported. The organization intends to scale up the number of internships available to the participants it currently serves and, in turn, work to place those interested in green jobs into educational pathways and actual careers once the internships are complete. PGE will continue to support the internship program, as one of many community partners, providing hands-on career experience for area youth interested in green careers.  

About Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center

POIC (Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center) was founded in 1967 as a local chapter of the OIC of America [oicofamerica.org]. From 1967 to 1983, POIC served as a community-based training center for adults, providing education, training, and job placement services to disadvantaged and underserved members of the Portland community. 

In 1983, it added an alternative high school, now called Rosemary Anderson Prep, in honor of its founding executive director.

Annually, POIC serves over 3,000 students, trainees, and families across the Portland metro area. We remain committed to the success of underserved youth, adults, and families and provide the highest-quality services in education, employment and training, community safety, and family and wellness.

Learn more at portlandoic.org [portlandoic.org] 

About Portland General Electric Company 

Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) is an integrated energy company that generates, transmits and distributes electricity to over 930,000 customers serving an area of 1.9 million Oregonians. For more than 130 years, Portland General Electric (PGE) has powered social progress, delivering safe, affordable, reliable and increasingly clean electricity while working to transform energy systems to meet evolving customer needs. PGE customers have set the standard for prioritizing clean energy with the No. 1 voluntary renewable energy program in the country. PGE is committed to reducing emissions from its retail power supply by 80% by 2030 and 100% by 2040. PGE is recognized by the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index for the company’s commitment to creating a more equal, inclusive workplace and was ranked the No. 1 utility in the 2024 Forrester U.S. Customer Experience Index. In 2023, PGE employees, retirees and the PGE Foundation donated nearly $4.6 million and volunteered over 23,000 volunteer hours to more than 400 nonprofit organizations. For information: portlandgeneral.com/news.   

From November to early December 2024, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office used decoy social media accounts for online child luring investigations.  During the investigation, Deputies posed as underage children on various online social media platforms and were contacted by an adult male who was offering to meet for sexual encounters. 

On December 2nd, 58-year-old Danny Hicks, of Dallas, Oregon, was arrested and charged with the crimes of Luring a Minor, Online Sexual Corruption of a Child in the second degree, Encouraging Sexual Abuse of Animals, and Attempted Using a child in display of sexually explicit conduct.  At the time of his arrest, Danny was already lodged at the Lincoln County Jail with similar charges stemming from a similar investigation conducted by the Lincoln City Police Department.

The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office wants to encourage parents to monitor their children’s social media activity and discuss with them the possible dangers of communicating with strangers online. These investigations are conducted in an effort to reduce criminal activity and to further enhance the safety of our community.

PORTLAND, Ore. – Tetiana (Tanya) Kishinets couldn’t stop smiling.

After immigrating to Oregon from Ukraine just prior to Russia’s invasion, Kishinets searched for a training opportunity to transition into a better career. She found what she needed in Portland Community College’s new CNC Operator Readiness Essentials (CORE) Program and is a member of the first graduating class – the cause of her happiness.

The CORE training program, based at the Sylvania Campus, provides a blend of essential skills and technical skills for success in manufacturing. The curriculum covered key manufacturing skills, such as general tool knowledge, precision measuring techniques, shop safety and cleanliness, and basic blueprint reading. Additionally, students received guidance in developing resumes, preparing for interviews and sharpening soft skills such as time management.  

“It was well-organized and structured,” said Kishinets, who had been working as a social worker for the Ukrainian Foundation. “We covered a lot in such a short period of time. At some points it seems to be overwhelming and time consuming but we did it. We worked hard. By the end of the course, I’m much more confident.”

CORE was launched as part of the 10-month-old Community to Careers (C2C), a project of the Future Ready Oregon (FRO) Workforce Ready Grant funded by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. C2C aims to support the education and training of historically underserved Oregonians and promote the accessibility of family-wage careers with a focus on manufacturing, healthcare and technology.

In 2022, a first round of Future Ready Oregon funding allowed staff to reach out to community based organizations about supporting the training needs of workers and industry partners in manufacturing. In 2023, a second round of Future Ready Oregon funding allowed PCC staff from the Opportunity Centers to collaborate with the Machine Manufacturing Technology Program and local employers on the CORE training development.

In this two-week intensive training, students gain technical and essential skills for careers as Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) machine operators. The course employed a range of learning methods, integrating a self-paced online platform from Haas with in-class lectures, independent work utilizing packets and hands-on activities. Each student completed practical projects on a lathe and a mill, crafting a metal spinning top and a bottle opener. Each student got a 30-minute interview with a group of employers, which included A-dec, AGC, Align Precision, Coorstek and Davis Tool. 

The first cohort consisted of nine students chosen from a list of 37 screened candidates from around the Portland metro area.

“Our goal is to connect folks to family-wage careers,” said Patti Hawkins, program dean of PCC Electronics, Mechatronics, Advanced Manufacturing. “And our industry partners are amazingly important in this process. At PCC, our goal is to provide industry-informed training and having that partnership piece is so essential.”

Executive Director of the Columbia Economic Team Paul Vogel said, “We are very pleased to be part of this effort, which is not only tangible but valuable to employers. I see the value of CORE being generated by PCC, accessing available funding to leverage its industry knowledge, education capacity and collaborative ethic to better serve its communities.”

After the group interview, Kishinets has accepted a new job at Align Precision. She said she will connect with her community so more can take advantage of the CORE training.

“So many incredibly smart Ukrainians here feel helpless because they don’t know the starting point for this career or how to enter it,” she said. “This course is perfect to just get started. It is a gentle push for people who need it.”

Learn more about PCC’s Opportunity Centers by visiting https://www.pcc.edu/opportunity-center/ 

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

Salem, Ore. – The Oregon Lottery will return more than $947 million to the state for the 2024 fiscal year – a $48 million increase from the previous year. Lottery generated $940 million in profit and reduced reserves nearly $8 million, enabling the higher return. Unclaimed prizes for the year totaled $8 million and will also go back to the state. The funding directly benefits state parks and natural habitats, public schools, veteran services, outdoor school, and economic development. Oregon Lottery is self-funded through the sale of games, not tax dollars, and voters and the Legislature designate where the money goes. 

“Oregonians help support the state programs they care about by playing our games,” said Oregon Lottery Director Mike Wells. “We continue to celebrate the wins of our players, the retailers who sell our games, and the public programs lifted up by these funds in our communities.”       

Lucky lottery players earned payouts totaling nearly $16 billion for the year. Including a record-breaking $1.3 billion Powerball win in the spring, 13 players took home prizes worth $1 million or more. Prizes big and small account for about 92% of the Lottery dollars played. 

Sales commissions on Lottery games also support retailers, many of whom are small business owners. The 3,800 Lottery retailers across Oregon collectively earned close to $310 million in commissions this year.  

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

The Lottery’s financial year runs from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. A final audited report is posted to Oregon Lottery’s website under “Proceeds and Financials.”

Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned nearly $15.5 billion for economic development, public education, outdoor school, state parks, veteran services, and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org. 

Dec. 3, 2024  

Contact: Colin Fogarty 

Director of Communications 

ty@oregoncf.org">cfogarty@oregoncf.org  

NORTHERN WILLAMETTE VALLEY NONPROFITS RECEIVE $700,000 BOOST 

Oregon Community Foundation Distributes Record Investments in 2024, Announces New Grant Opportunities for 2025 

SALEM, Ore. – Expanded hours for youth services. Support for families in need. Legal advice for immigrants. These are just a few of the programs in Northern Willamette Valley receiving a $700,000 boost from the 2024 Fall Cycle of Community Grants from Oregon Community Foundation. The statewide funder has distributed 30 new grants in Northern Willamette Valley to support capacity building, small capital and new or expanding projects by nonprofits.  

The announcement comes on #GivingTuesday, an international day of generosity that follows Thanksgiving.  

Statewide, the new round of funding includes 248 grants for nearly $5.8 million. That brings the total awarded in Community Grants by OCF to a record $11.1 million for the year, including funding previously announced in the spring.  

“The fundamental idea of Oregon Community Foundation is that we are stronger together,” says OCF Board Chair Lane Shetterly, an attorney in Dallas and former state representative.  

“Responsive grantmaking in the Willamette Valley and across our state provides critical support for our nonprofit partners helping people in need and strengthening our communities.”   

The grants are possible because of the generosity of Oregon Community Foundation donors. 

Just as the new funding reaches Oregon nonprofits, OCF has opened the next round of Community Grants to be distributed in spring 2025. The deadline is Jan. 14, 2025. Find details here. The goal is to provide equitable access to flexible funding for organizations serving communities’ most pressing needs throughout Oregon. 

Find the full list of fall 2024 grantees here. The list below of representative grants demonstrates the breadth of impact the funding has on nearly every aspect of life for Oregonians.  

Yamhill Community Action Partnership | McMinnville | $25,000 

To hire additional part-time staff and expand the hours of operation for the youth drop-in center. 

“YCAP is grateful for the opportunity to expand resources to at-risk youth in Yamhill County. Unfortunately, we have seen a recent increase in mental health disorders and suicide among local teens. This funding will provide a safe, supportive environment for youth to access resources and find a place of belonging.” 

~Amber Hansen-Moore, Deputy Director 

Contact: Laverne Pitts 

neP@yamhillcap.org">LaverneP@yamhillcap.org 

Centro de Servicios Para Campesinos | Woodburn | $35,000 

For Centro de Servicios Para Campesinos, to support an in-house attorney position to provide legal services and educational outreach programs 

"During these challenging times that we are heading into, it has been amazing being able to work with colleagues that have the same values and are here to give back to our communities. Centering each other and giving each other the space to heal, grief, and be in community is what we are in need at this moment." 

~Debbie D. Cabrales, Executive Director 

503-902-0768 

biec@centrodspc.org">debbiec@centrodspc.org 

Total for Fall 2024: 248 grants of $5,789,074 

• Northern Willamette Valley: $700,000  
• Central Oregon: $394,562 
• Southern Willamette Valley: $965,200 
• South Coast: $206,000 
• Southern Oregon: $545,000 
• Eastern Oregon: $322,617 
• Portland Metro: $2,349,889 
• North Coast $265,806 
• Out of State: $40,000 

About OCF’s Community Grants Program  

For 27 years, OCF’s Community Grants program has invested in community livability and vitality by listening and responding to people closest to innovating opportunities they want to advance. As Oregon has grown, so too has the complexity of issues facing so many Oregonians. Compounding these challenges is a history of systems that have not benefited everyone equitably. OCF recognizes this reality. The Community Grants program continues to provide funding for nonprofits addressing the pressing needs of communities across Oregon, informed by the voices of people who know their communities the best. 

Since 1973, Oregon Community Foundation has worked to improve the lives of all Oregonians through the power of philanthropy. In partnership with donors and volunteers, OCF strengthens communities in every county in Oregon through grantmaking, scholarships and research. In 2023, OCF distributed $225 million in grants and scholarships. Individuals, families, businesses and organizations can work with OCF to create charitable funds to support causes important to them. To learn more, please visit oregoncf.org.  

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PORTLAND METRO, NORTH COAST NONPROFITS RECEIVE $2.6M BOOST 

Oregon Community Foundation Distributes Record Investments in 2024, Announces New Grant Opportunities for 2025 

PORTLAND, Ore. – Culinary training for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Peer mentorship for unhoused adults in Washington County. Mental health counseling for survivors of sex abuse. These are just a few of the projects and programs in the Portland Metro region and North Coast receiving a $2,615,695 boost from the 2024 Fall Cycle of Community Grants from Oregon Community Foundation. The statewide funder has distributed 105 new grants in the Portland Metro region and North Coast to support capacity building, small capital and new or expanding projects by nonprofits.  

The announcement comes on #GivingTuesday, an international day of generosity that follows Thanksgiving.  

Statewide, the new round of funding includes 248 grants for nearly $5.8 million. That brings the total awarded in Community Grants by OCF to a record $11.1 million for the year, including funding previously announced in the spring.  

“Collectively, these projects support community resources that help to build a sense of belonging in the communities we serve,” says OCF Board Member Karis Stoudamire-Phillips, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Community Initiatives at Moda Health and Delta Dental of Oregon.  

“From job training to mental health support to services to people experiencing homelessness, Oregon Community Foundation is extremely proud to support our nonprofit partners making a difference in the metro region and all across our state.”   

The grants are possible because of the generosity of Oregon Community Foundation donors. 

Just as the new funding reaches Oregon nonprofits, OCF has opened the next round of Community Grants to be distributed in spring 2025. The deadline is Jan. 14, 2025. Find details here. The goal is to provide equitable access to flexible funding for organizations serving communities’ most pressing needs throughout Oregon. 

Find the full list of fall 2024 grantees here. The list below of representative grants demonstrates the breadth of impact the funding has on nearly every aspect of life for Oregonians.  

Germaine’s Culinary | Portland | $20,000 

To support culinary training program for people experiencing intellectual or developmental disabilities. 

"Germaine's Culinary Inc. provides hands-on training to people experiencing intellectual or developmental disabilities. Students work alongside professional chefs to gain skills that prepare them for community-based employment, which in turn translates to empowerment and independence. Our mission is to ensure that people with disabilities not only live and work in their communities but thrive. Germaine's Culinary has a critical secondary mission: to relieve food insecurity in Portland. While students learn marketable skills, they prepare hot meals for those in need." 

~Lori Irish Bauman, Founder and Board Chair 

Germaine's Culinary Inc. 

www.germainesculinary.org 

United Way of Columbia County | Rainier | $20,690 

To increase capacity to recruit and train additional volunteers for the Senior Volunteer Program. 

"This program has made such a difference for Grandma June.  As a 92-year-old, she has made friendships and built support that she needs to stay healthy.  She loves her quilting team on Wednesday mornings and appreciates the ability to carpool with others.  Grandma felt especially special at the Fair Pageant.  She was treated like a true princess.  My grandmother taught me so much about community and helping others--she continues to do that through this program."  

~James, Adult Grandson of a Senior Volunteer 

Contact: Claire Catt, Executive Director 
United Way of Columbia County 
www.unitedwayofcolumbiacounty.com 

LIFEBoat Services | Astoria | $35,000 

To expand current services by establishing a new Daytime Navigation Services Center to help community members address their housing and health needs. 

“LIFEBoat Services provides the only true low-barrier shelter and stand-alone peer-support program in Clatsop County.  Our trauma-informed, peer-to-peer approach gives us the unique opportunity to build relationships with some of the most vulnerable individuals in our communities.” 

~Erin Carlsen, Associate Director 

Contact: Osarch Orak 

Executive Director 

503-741-3572 

oz@lifeboat-services.org 

Nehalem Bay Health Center & Pharmacy | Wheeler | $40,000 

To open a new dental and pediatric dental service clinic. 

“Many of our patients face barriers to health care, and having dental care available locally – particularly care focused on our pediatric population – will help set the stage for lifelong dental health and will improve the overall health of our community.” 

~Gail Nelson, CEO 

Total for Fall 2024: 248 grants of $5,789,074 

• Portland Metro: $2,349,889  
• North Coast $265,806  
• Central Oregon: $394,562 
• Southern Willamette Valley: $965,200 
• South Coast: $206,000 
• Southern Oregon: $545,000 
• Eastern Oregon: $322,617 
• Northern Willamette Valley: $700,000 
• Out of State: $40,000 

About OCF’s Community Grants Program  

For 27 years, OCF’s Community Grants program has invested in community livability and vitality by listening and responding to people closest to innovating opportunities they want to advance. As Oregon has grown, so too has the complexity of issues facing so many Oregonians. Compounding these challenges is a history of systems that have not benefited everyone equitably. OCF recognizes this reality. The Community Grants program continues to provide funding for nonprofits addressing the pressing needs of communities across Oregon, informed by the voices of people who know their communities the best. 

Since 1973, Oregon Community Foundation has worked to improve the lives of all Oregonians through the power of philanthropy. In partnership with donors and volunteers, OCF strengthens communities in every county in Oregon through grantmaking, scholarships and research. In 2023, OCF distributed $225 million in grants and scholarships. Individuals, families, businesses and organizations can work with OCF to create charitable funds to support causes important to them. To learn more, please visit oregoncf.org.  

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Press Log

Preparations to create Oregon City’s first quiet zone will necessitate the closure of Singer Hill for about six hours on Thursday, Dec. 12. 

The Quiet Zone project been a City Commission Goal since 2019. The creation of a quiet zone is an expansive process requiring extensive coordination with the railroad and federal regulatory agencies. The project includes comprehensive safety improvements to crossings. Some of these improvements include four-quadrant gates that prevent vehicles from driving around barriers, raised medians and advanced warning systems. 

City staff have been undertaking some of the first steps in the process, which include ample coordination with interested agencies. Some of the first physical steps will commence on Dec. 12 when crews will conduct geotechnical investigations to assess soil conditions prior to completing the project design. 

“In order to gather the necessary soil data to advance the design of the improvements, we’ll have to close Singer Hill/10th Street from High St. to Main,” said Public Works Director Dayna Webb. “Closing roads is not something our team takes lightly, so our crews will be performing other work at the same time to prevent the need for future traffic impacts,” she said.

While the geotechnical borings are being taken, additional Public Works crews will take advantage of the closure to perform other maintenance tasks. That work will include cleaning of catch basins and storm drains, projects that would need further traffic restrictions if done at another time. 

The closure is expected to last 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Additional information on the project can be found here. 

HILLSBORO, Ore- On November 22, 2024, a Washington County jury found David Keith Hilton, age 39, guilty of sodomy in the first degree constituting domestic violence, sexual abuse in the first and third degree constituting domestic violence, and harassment constituting domestic violence. On November 25, 2024, Judge Brandon Thompson sentenced the defendant to 100 months in prison. Deputy District Attorney Katherine Miller, a member of the Domestic Violence Team, prosecuted this case.

The defendant engaged in sexual relations while the victim slept and without her consent. The victim called Hillsboro police on an unrelated matter and told them of these incidents. Investigators spoke with the defendant, and he admitted to initiating sexual contact while the victim was asleep. 

While in custody at the Washington County Jail, the defendant violated a no-contact order when he made several calls to the victim. In one call, he urged her to drop the charges against him. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office wishes to commend the victim in this case for the bravery shown throughout the legal process. This office also acknowledges the work of the Hillsboro Police Department. 

In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Thompson also ordered the defendant to register as a sex offender and to serve post-prison supervision upon his release. 

Yamhill County, Ore 1 Dec 24- On Sunday, December 1, 2024, at 9:41 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two vehicle crash on Hwy 18, near the intersection with Hwy 99 at McDougall Rd, in Yamhill County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a Mercury Grand Marquis, operated by Francisco Nava (45) of Newberg, turned onto westbound Hwy 18 from southbound Hwy 99 and lost control after traveling a short distance. The Mercury spun into the eastbound lane of Hwy 18 and was struck at the rear end of the vehicle by an eastbound Chevrolet Bounder RV, operated by Terra Wippert (45) of Browning (MT).

The operator of the Mercury (Nava) was transported for medical treatment and was later declared deceased. 

The operator of the Bounder RV (Wippert) was reportedly not injured. A female juvenile (5) passenger reportedly suffered minor injuries and was transported for evaluation. A female juvenile (15) and a male juvenile (3) were reportedly uninjured.

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

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

# # #

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

Albany, Oregon – December 2, 2024 – Today, the Albany Police Department proudly announces the launch of MyPDConnect, a cutting-edge online reporting platform designed to allow you to report low-level crimes online right from your phone, tablet or desktop!

MyPDConnect empowers victims of crime to quickly and easily report crimes directly to local law enforcement without having to wait for an officer response or spend unnecessary time calling dispatch.

Key Features of MyPDConnect:

 

• Report Crime Easily: Report low-level crimes such as Damaged Property, Theft, Graffiti, Shoplifting and other crimes right from your mobile device, tablet or desktop.
   
• Upload Unlimited Pictures, Videos and Documents: An unlimited number of pictures, videos and documents can be uploaded with each report to easily provide information to law enforcement.
  
   
• Multi-Language Support: Submit the report one of the available languages such as English, Spanish, French, German, Korean and Chinese. Additional languages available!
  
   
• Instant Notification: Receive text and e-mail updates when your report has been processed and completed.
  
   

You may text the word report to 541-981-5860 to receive a text link to file a report, or you scan a QR code on our website. 

“We are thrilled to launch MyPDConnect, a platform that will truly enhance the way we can serve our community,” said Chief Marcia Harnden. “With MyPDConnect, we are providing additional ways for the community to connect easily with our department to report crime and receive faster service.”

You may visit https://albanypd.mypdconnect.com to report a crime at any time.

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For Immediate Release 

Holiday lights, celebrations, and festive events are filling Gresham with community spirit. But December also brings shorter days and more distractions, which can increase the risk of theft and other crimes. 

“The holidays are a time for joy, but they can also create opportunities for crime,” says Gresham Police Chief Travis Gullberg. “By staying alert and following a few simple safety tips, we can all help make the season safer and more enjoyable.” 

The Gresham Police Department wants everyone to have a safe and peaceful holiday season. Here are some simple tips to keep you and your loved ones safe. 

Car break-in and theft prevention: 

Never leave your unattended car running. 

Do not leave valuables where they can be seen; lock them in the trunk or take them with you. (Including: purses, shopping bags, electronic devices, and firearms). 

Close and lock the windows and doors.  

Park in a well-lit area.  

Find your keys before heading to your car.  

Use an anti-theft device if possible. 

Package theft prevention:  

Request signature delivery.  

Deliver packages to a lockbox, office, or trusted neighbor.  

Consider installing a camera and flood light on your front porch.  

Shopping safety: 

Stay alert and aware of your surroundings.  

If shopping at night, take extra caution.   

Use a credit card if possible.  

If you must use cash, keep it in the front or inside pocket and do not carry large amounts.  

Going out of town safety: 

Do not announce your trip on social media; post pictures after you return. 

Make sure all your doors and windows are closed and locked.  

Use a “mail hold” or ask a trusted neighbor to collect your mail and package delivery. 

Set indoor and outdoor lights on an automatic timer.  

Avoid driving if you are fatigued.  

Celebrate responsibly: 

It can be tough to speak up, but your courage could save a life. Don’t let friends and family drink and drive.  

Arrange for alternative transportation or a designated driver ahead of time. 

Only time will eliminate alcohol from your body. 

Protect your personal information: 

Avoid giving personal information over the phone, via email, or social media.  

Be suspicious of texts or emails requiring immediate action.

Be suspicious of requests to transfer money.

Contact your bank directly if you are concerned about fraud.  

Monitor your transaction activity.  

Safeguard your passwords and utilize multifactor authentication.  

Verify requests for donations. Use sites like Charity Navigator. 

Take precautions while shopping online: 

Be sure you are visiting a legitimate website. 

Verify site security. 

Avoid shopping on public Wi-Fi. 

Set account alerts to monitor transactions. 

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

 About Gresham: 

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

GRESHAM, Ore. – As the winter months approach, the City of Gresham wants to encourage the community to take the time to prepare, stay informed, and have a safe winter.  

“Winter storms are becoming all too common and as we’ve learned over the past few years, these storms can cause a considerable amount of damage,” said Gresham Emergency Manager Kelle Landavazo. “We’re hoping by getting this information out into our community now, we can lessen the severity of the impacts winter weather can bring.” 

Here are resources for ways to prepare and prevent the most common concerns that arise during severe winter storms, as well as what to do if a problem occurs.  

Freezing pipes:  

• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. 
• When the weather is very cold outside, let water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. 
• Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage. 
• Insulate pipes and faucets. 
• If a pipe bursts, turn off the main water valve. If you cannot locate the main valve or in case of an emergency, call 503-618-2626 during business hours and call 503-823-3333 after hours and weekends. 

Trees: 

• Prune trees to remove dead or damaged branches and reduce the risk of branches breaking during a storm.
• Wrap your trees in a breathable material like burlap to protect them from strong winds, ice storms, and heavy snow.
• Young and weak trees may need structural reinforcement to withstand winter conditions.
• If a downed tree is blocking the road, call 9-1-1 and do not attempt to drive under. 
• If a downed tree is on a power line, call PGE at 800-542-8818. 
• Trees on your property or behind the curb are the homeowners' responsibility. 

 Transportation: 

• Stay home when conditions are dangerous to travel safely. 
• If you must travel, check road conditions at TripCheck.com. 
• The City’s plowing route consists of three categories: 
  • Priority 1: hospital and emergency routes, arterial streets, and bridges. 
  • Priority 2: through and collector streets and steep grades 
  • Priority 3: residential streets, cul-de-sacs, and dead ends 
• Use the City’s interactive plow map to see if your street is a primary, secondary or neighborhood street. 
• If inclement weather persists, crews may focus on Priority 1 and Priority 2 streets until the weather improves. Depending on the severity of the weather event, the City may not be able to anti-ice, sand, or plow residential streets, cul-de-sacs and dead ends. 

Flooding: 

• Keep storm drains clear to prevent flooding. 
• To help protect your property, the City’s sandbag station is open and free to Gresham residents from November to March. The City provides sand and bags, but residents need to bring shovels. The sandbag station is located at 2123 SE Hogan Rd.  
• To report broken City mains, a rain hazard or flooding in the public right-of-way, call 503-618-2626 during business hours and 503-661-3906 after hours or weekends.  

Staying warm: 

• Prepare your home to keep out the cold with insulation, caulking, and weather stripping. 
• Stay indoors and drink warm fluids. 
• Avoid travel. 
• Have a plan for where you will go if your home becomes too cold. You could go to a friend’s house, a public library, or a warming center. Please call 2-1-1 to find the resources nearest you. 

Shelter: 

• Those in need of shelter, transportation to shelter or additional resources, please call 2-1-1. 

Stay informed: 

• Follow the City of Gresham Facebook page. 
• Subscribe to Flash Alerts. 
• Sign up for PublicAlerts. 
• Check the Multnomah County Winter Weather page.  

 For more information, visit GreshamOregon.gov/Severe-Weather.  

About Gresham: 

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

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PORTLAND, Ore.—The Hospital Association of Oregon applauds Gov. Tina Kotek for including funding in her 2025 budget to support maintaining health care services in Oregon. Taking action to fully fund the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) and increasing OHP payments to community hospitals is critical for protecting access to vital health services, such as maternity care, in communities across the state. 

“Adequate funding of the Oregon health plan is not just about access to care for vulnerable Oregonians, but about the availability of services for us all,” said Becky Hultberg, president and CEO of the Hospital Association of Oregon. “Absent meaningful steps like these to help hospitals cover the cost of providing care, Oregon’s community hospitals will be forced to make tough decisions about what services they can provide.” 

For the past five years, Oregon’s community hospitals have struggled to cover the cost of providing care. About half of Oregon hospitals consistently lose money and many more barely make ends meet. The state’s insurance program, OHP, contributes to hospitals’ financial distress by paying hospitals only 70 cents for every dollar of care they provide to OHP members. 

 “As enrollment in OHP continues to grow, it is becoming more urgent for the state to commit to covering the cost of this program. The governor’s recommended budget is a step in the right direction,” Hultberg said.

Since 2020, OHP enrollment has grown from 1.1 million to more than 1.4 million, making it Oregon’s largest insurance provider. OHP covers one in three Oregonians, including 56% of Oregon kids.

“Unfortunately, we’re reaching a point in our state where having health insurance doesn’t mean you have access to care,” Hultberg said. “We urge legislators to take important actions like the ones outlined in the governor’s budget to help stabilize our community hospitals and protect Oregonians’ access to the services they and their families rely on.” 

December 2, 2024

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

Recreational use advisory issued for South Tenmile Lake Dec. 2

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority (OHA) issued a recreational use health advisory today for South Tenmile Lake due to the presence of a cyanobacteria bloom and microcystins above recreational use values for human and animal exposure. The lake is in Coos County.

People should avoid swimming and high-speed water activities, such as water skiing or power boating, in areas of the reservoir where blooms are present, as the major route of exposure is ingestion of water. Toxins are not absorbed through the skin. However, those with skin sensitivities may get a puffy red rash.

OHA encourages people to visit South Tenmile Lake and enjoy activities such as fishing, camping, hiking, biking, picnicking, bird watching, canoeing, and kayaking. Boating is safe as long as speeds do not create excessive water spray. Sprays could lead to the risk of inhaling cyanotoxins.

Drinking water

Drinking water directly from areas of the reservoir affected by a bloom is especially dangerous. Toxins cannot be removed by boiling, filtering or treating water with camping-style filters. Contact campground management or the local health department with questions about water available at nearby campgrounds or day use areas.

Not all private treatment systems are effective at removing cyanotoxins. People who do not use a well or public water system and draw in-home water directly from an affected area are advised to use an alternative water source.

Children and pets

Children and pets are at increased risk for exposure because of their size and level of activity. Dogs can get extremely ill and even die within minutes to hours of exposure to cyanotoxins by drinking the water, licking their fur, or eating the toxins from floating mats or dried crust along the shore. This is regardless of a recreational use health advisory in place.

Dogs can become ill and die from water intoxication after drinking excessive amounts of water while swimming or fetching objects for long periods of time. Intoxication is a potentially fatal disturbance in brain function resulting from an imbalance of electrolytes in the body. Water intoxication and heat stroke can cause similar symptoms as exposure to cyanotoxins.

Symptoms

Exposure to cyanotoxins can be serious and cause a range of symptoms. Symptoms may be similar to food poisoning such as stomach cramping, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Symptoms may also be more serious, such as numbness, tingling, dizziness and shortness of breath. These symptoms may require medical attention.

Dogs can experience weakness, difficulty walking, seizures, lethargy, loss of appetite and more. If a dog exhibits symptoms, veterinary treatment should be sought as quickly as possible.

Fishing

Fish caught from areas where cyanobacteria blooms are present may pose unknown health risks, so OHA recommends not eating fish from those areas. Those who decide to eat the fish should remove fat, skin and organs before cooking or freezing. Toxins are more likely to collect in these tissues. Fillets should also be rinsed with clean water.

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

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Thousands of Oregonians, including medical professionals themselves, turn to The Oregon Clinic for specialty medical care 

Portland, OR – December 2, 2024 — One hundred and thirty-five (135) doctors and nurses from The Oregon Clinic (TOC) were recognized on Portland Monthly Magazine’s “Top Medical Providers” list for 2025. All practitioners licensed by the Oregon Medical Board in Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas Counties were asked, “If you or a loved one needed care, whom would you choose?”  After tallying votes and vetting the nominees, the final list represents the top vote recipients across 75 medical specialties. 

“We appreciate being trusted by so many of our medical colleagues,” said Dr. Richard Jamison, General Surgeon and President of The Oregon Clinic. “We pride ourselves in providing compassionate, expert care to our patients, and recognition like this reinforces that we’re taking excellent care of our patients.”  

Portland Monthly’s 2025 list includes TOC physicians and other practitioners across 19 specialties, including Dermatology; Ear, Nose and Throat; Gastroenterology; General Surgery; Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine; Sleep Medicine; Urogynecology; Urology; and many more.  

The “Top Doctors” list created by Portland Monthly Magazine has been a trusted resource in the region for many years for those looking to find a new primary care doctor or specialist. Each year, thousands of Oregonians read the list and search the online database.    

Congratulations to The Oregon Clinic’s 135 Top Doctors & Nurses: 

Cardiology 

Peter Banitt, MD 

Sandeep Garg, MD 

Hillary Jenson, NP 

Rachel Tull Brown, NP 

Dermatology 

Michael Adler, MD 

Jonathan Alexander, MD 

Rebecca Bremner, MD 

Renée Chang, MD 

Cindi Chapman, MD 

R. Samuel Hopkins, MD 

Ken K. Lee, MD 

Tatyana Shaw, MD 

Ear, Nose & Throat 

Bobak Ghaheri, MD 

Bridget Gharst, NP 

Joseph Gullerud, PA 

Edsel Kim, MD 

Andrew Pedersen, MD 

Erica Scandalios, PA 

Brian T. Shaffer, MD 

Sonali Sharma, PA 

Samuel G. Shiley, MD 

Brian Stater, MD 

Frank Warren, MD 

Roger Wobig, MD 

Gastroenterology 

Deron Amador, MD 

Brian Applebaum, MD 

Gene Bakis, MD 

Molly Beilby, PA 

Harry Bray, MD 

Mark Cahill, MD 

Ashley Davis, NP 

Brintha Enestvedt, MD 

Jessica Haraga, MD 

Jeremy Holden, MD 

Elliot Joo, MD 

Betty Kim, MD 

Jennifer Kuhn, NP 

Tiffany Lambrou, MD 

T. Domi Le, MD 

Sarah Lee, MD 

Ronald Lew, MD 

Shannon Lewis, MD 

Donald Lum, MD 

Shannon Lunders, PA 

Izabela Maciolek, PA 

Brian Marshall, NP 

Sara Meerdter, PA 

Nima Motamedi, MD 

Asuka Murata, PA 

Josh Nicholson, PA 

Michael Phillips, MD 

Ken Reckard, PA 

Swapna Reddy, MD 

James Regan, MD 

Sarah "Betsy" Rodriguez, MD 

Branden Tarlow, MD 

Erik Van Kleek, MD 

Bradley Zwahlen, NP 

Obstetrics & Gynecology 

Kimberlynn Heller, DO 

Lara Williams, MD 

Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine 

Jeffrey M. Bluhm, MD 

William Bowerfind, MD 

Granthem Farr, DO 

Caitlin Fields, PA 

Bradford Glavan, MD 

David Hotchkin, MD 

Marc Jacobs, MD 

Jared A. Shipley, MD 

Michael Skokan, MD 

Wayne Strauss, MD 

Radiation Oncology 

Marka Crittenden, MD 

Eric Hansen, MD 

Matthew Solhjem, MD 

Amar Srivastava, MD 

Alice Wang-Chesebro, MD 

Kristina Young, MD 

Sleep Medicine 

William Bowerfind, MD 

Caitlin Fields, PA 

Michael Lefor, MD 

Joshua A. Ramseyer, MD 

Lynette Spjut, PA 

Surgery - Bariatric 

Daniel Davila Bradley, MD 

Melissa DeSouza, MD 

Kevin Reavis, MD 

Surgery - Breast 

Shaghayegh Aliabadi, MD 

Surgery - Cancer 

Shaghayegh Aliabadi, MD 

Surgery - Colon & Rectal 

Rehan S. Ahmad, MD 

Amanda V. Hayman, MD 

Maria Ximena Traa Kiely, MD 

Michael Munly, MD 

David O'Brien, MD 

Rodrigo Pedraza, MD 

Mark H. Whiteford, MD 

Surgery - General 

Shaghayegh Aliabadi, MD 

James Craven, MD 

Niknam Eshraghi, MD 

Chelsea Hardin, MD 

Richard Jamison, MD 

Lauren Orr, MD 

Scott Soot, MD 

Sean Watters, MD 

Douglas York, MD 

Kelvin Yu, MD 

Heather Zarour, MD 

Karen Zink, MD 

Surgery - Hand 

Samuel Bartholomew, MD 

Hetal Fichadia, MD 

Surgery - Neuro & Spine 

David Antezana, MD 

Martin Baggenstos, MD 

Vivek Deshmukh, MD 

Pankaj Gore, MD 

Zachary Medress, MD 

Jane Ng, MBBS 

Seth Oliveria, MD 

Michael Sandquist, MD 

Ann-Marie Yost, MD 

Surgery - Orthopedic 

Sean Conley, PA 

Samantha Consol, PA 

Anthony Eames, PA 

Jeffrey Mercer, MD 

John O'Shea, MD 

Surgery - Plastic & Reconstructive  

Samuel Bartholomew, MD 

Hetal Fichadia, MD 

Rachel Guffey, PA 

Sean McNally, MD 

Michael Schmitt, MD 

Whitney Temple, PA 

Urogynecology 

Rebecca Posthuma Batalden, MD 

Sarah Boyles, MD 

Bhumy Davé Heliker, MD 

Aubree Larson, PA 

Liz Miller, PA 

Urology 

Gregory Cost, MD 

Sajal Dutta, MD 

Bruce Fernstrom, PA 

Won Hwee, PA 

David Jiang, MD 

Jin-Hee Kim, MD 

Melanie Mix, PA 

Savannah Tran, PA 

Amanda VanDlac, MD 

To view the entire list of recommendations, visit https://www.pdxmonthly.com/doctors. 

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About The Oregon Clinic:  

The Oregon Clinic is the largest private specialty physician practice in Oregon. Over 315 physicians and advanced practitioners provide respectful, compassionate care in more than 30 specialty areas, resulting in more than 625,000 patient visits each year. Founded in Portland in 1994, The Oregon Clinic is committed to delivering the highest quality patient care, practicing evidence-based medicine, and providing leadership for the healthcare community. We collaborate with primary care physicians and use a team approach to address health conditions at 50 specialty clinic locations across northwest Oregon. Call 503-935-8000 or visit www.oregonclinic.com for more information. 

Portland, OR—The Focused Intervention Team Community Oversight Group (FITCOG), will host its annual meeting and listening session from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at Portland Community College Cascade Campus, 705 North Killingsworth Street, Terrell Auditorium Room 122, Portland, OR 97217.

The FITCOG was created by Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler in June 2021 to ensure the community had a meaningful role in developing and shaping how the Portland Police Bureau’s Focused Intervention Team (FIT) works to stop gun violence. The FITCOG works with the FIT in real time to select FIT members, review FIT training, and oversee how the FIT engages with the community. Based on this work, FITCOG also makes recommendations to reduce gun violence through prevention, intervention, and response. 

The annual meeting will open with Chairperson Kimberly Dixon sharing significant highlights from the group's history, achievements, and the impacts of its work. Then, Vice-chairperson Dr. Gina Ronning will discuss FITCOG's performance, current initiatives, and plans for the future. Former FITCOG chairperson Terrence Hayes will serve as moderator.

The second half of the meeting will provide the opportunity for the community to share insights, give feedback, and ask questions.

Special guests include Mayor Ted Wheeler (invited), Mayor-elect Keith Wilson (invited), and Lt. Israel Hill of PPB's Focus Intervention Team.

This event is free and open to the public. Free parking is available in parking lot 1, and light refreshments will be provided. For more information, please contact Edith Thrower at 503.823.1222 or FITCOGinfo@portlandoregon.gov.  Information about the FITCOG is available at https://www.portland.gov/fitcog. 

At its Nov. 25 regular meeting, Battle Ground Public Schools’ board of directors voted unanimously on a resolution to place a replacement education and operations levy on the ballot. Proposition 8 will appear on the ballot for the special election on Feb. 11, 2025. If voters approve the levy, it would replace the expiring education and operations levy, which ends in December 2025. The replacement levy would begin in 2026 and end after 2029. 

Education and operations levies fill the gap between state funding and what it actually costs to educate students. If approved, the replacement levy would fund student safety, instructional/support staff, class sizes, curriculum, nursing, mental health support, special education, busing, sports, the arts and more. It would provide funding for programs and services that affect students in every BGPS school.

If approved, the replacement levy would collect the following amounts:

• $38.30 million in 2026
• $40.40 million in 2027
• $42.60 million in 2028
• $44.98 million in 2029

The levy represents about 13% of the district’s operating budget. The district cannot collect more than the amount that voters approve. Property value increases do not generate more revenue for the district.

Battle Ground Public Schools currently has about $40.8 million in services and programs that are not covered by state or federal funding, including areas of basic education, special education, mental health support, busing, sports and more. 

In addition, operating costs have seen increases. For example, the district’s insurance costs (including liability, property, equipment and other types) have collectively risen 84% in the past five years. 

State funding has not increased proportionately. State funding, adjusted for inflation, now provides less per student than it did in 2018.

To pay for these services and programs, the district is using its expiring education and operations levy as well as some of its unassigned fund balance, which has already been tapped to maintain services for students and retain staff. 

Voters last approved an education and operations levy for BGPS in 2021 at an estimated rate of $1.99 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The actual rate in the first year of the levy was $1.97.

The estimated rate for the replacement levy is $1.95 per assessed property value for each of the four years of collection. The following chart provides an example of the amount that the owner of a property might pay toward this levy per month in the first year if it is approved. 

Levy information is available on the district's website, social media accounts and through public presentations. 

Some seniors and disabled homeowners who are disabled may be eligible for a property tax exemption based on income. Learn more.

Across Washington, approximately 97% of school districts rely on levy money to provide student programs and services. 

Learn more about the levy, view details on all school-related taxes and calculate the taxes for your property.

MONMOUTH, Ore. –Western Oregon University’s College of Education has been awarded a $650,000 Latinx Student Success Grant from the Oregon Department of Education, to enhance partnerships with Central School District and the communities of Monmouth and Independence, to expand resources and programs for bilingual education.

The grant will facilitate a range of initiatives within Central School District, including:

• Equity-Centered Professional Development: Planning and delivering training for educators to promote equity in the classroom.
• Advisory Board Establishment: Creating a student and family advisory board to ensure community input.
• Peer Mentoring Program: Establishing a mentoring program that pairs high school students with elementary students to foster academic growth and support.
• Community Events: Organizing events that promote literacy, school attendance, and post-secondary education opportunities.
• Coaching in ESOL and Bilingual Education: Providing targeted coaching for educators in English for Speakers of Other Languages and bilingual education.
• Policy Evaluation: Conducting evaluations with the district’s equity team to enhance educational practices and policies.
• MECHA Programming Expansion: MECHA is a Mexican-American student organization that promotes unity and empowerment through civic engagement. It will expand its program to middle schools, promoting cultural awareness and academic success.
• Afterschool Literacy Support: Offering support for afterschool programs focused on literacy development.
• Grow Your Own Multilingual Future Teachers Program: Establishing a program to cultivate future multilingual educators within the community.
• Post-Secondary Connections: Creating peer-tutoring opportunities and connections between MECHA and Latiné college students at Western Oregon University.

Professors Jessica Dougherty, Marie LeJeune, and Mandy Olsen, all co-PI’s who will manage the grant, look forward to collaborating with colleagues and community partners to implement impactful strategies that empower Latiné students. “This grant represents a significant investment in the future of Latiné students in the region and reflects Western's commitment to fostering an inclusive educational environment,” they shared. 

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About Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University, established in Monmouth in 1856, proudly stands as Oregon’s oldest public university. Hosting around 4,000 students, Western embodies a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution, with approximately 80% of its students hailing from within the state. Notably, its diverse student body comprises individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, veterans, and non-traditional learners. Western stands as the preferred campus in Oregon for those pursuing an enriching education within a nurturing, student-focused environment, characterized by faculty-led instruction. Where YOU belong.

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This year marks 50 years of Operation Santa! 50 years of parades and 50 years of collecting and helping distribute toys and non-perishable food donations throughout the communities we serve!

Clackamas Fire is honored to use our platform to bring a little joy to those who may not get to celebrate otherwise. In addition, we are excited to bring some real-time holiday cheer to our communities by way of our Operation Santa parades! This year we will be hosting five parades throughout our communities and, because we are no longer collecting toys and food during the parades, we will be supporting five donation drop-off events. 

For information on when and where these events will be held, please visit the link to our website: 2024 Operation Santa Claus - Clackamas Fire District.  Here you can also read about some of the history of Operation Santa! 

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Re-Imagined Radio’s popular holiday tradition returns Dec. 16 with “A Radio Christmas Sampler Vol. 4.” The episode, which draws on three vintage radio programs, premiers at 1 p.m. on KXRW-FM (99.9), Vancouver, and KXRY-FM (91.1 and 107.1), Portland. Subsequent broadcasts and streams will be provided by local, regional and international broadcast partners.

The program samples Christmas episodes from the following radio shows:

• “This Is Your FBI” (“The Return of St. Nick,” which originally aired on Dec. 24, 1948)
• “Lux Radio Theatre” (“It’s a Wonderful Life,” March 10, 1947, starring Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed and Victor Moore)
• “Richard Diamond, Private Detective” (“A Christmas Carol,” Dec. 24, 1949, starring Richard Powell)

“We've offered some version of ‘A Christmas Carol’ every holiday season since 2013,” said John Barber, producer and host. “This year’s version, from ‘Richard Diamond, Private Detective,’ brings a hard-boiled cast of characters. And Powell, as Diamond, sings at the end! It’s a nice holiday treat!"

Re-Imagined Radio premieres episodes on the third Monday of the month on community radio stations KXRW-FM and KXRY-FM. Each episode is streamed globally and is then available as a podcast. Information and listening opportunities are available at reimaginedradio.fm. 

Community Partners

Re-Imagined Radio draws on community voice actors, Foley artists, musicians, sound artists and engineers. Partners include KXRW-FM, KXRY-FM, Fuse Audio Design, the Electronic Literature Lab at WSU Vancouver, Marc Rose and Holly Slocum Design, with Sidney Nguyen.

About Re-Imagined Radio

Re-Imagined Radio was begun by Barber, faculty member in the Creative Media and Digital Culture program at WSU Vancouver, in 2013 to celebrate radio storytelling.  ”We select, produce and perform classic and contemporary stories across a spectrum of radio genres, from dramas to comedies, from oral to aural histories, from documentaries to fictions, from soundscapes to sonic journeys, from radio to sound art,” Barber said. 

About WSU Vancouver

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

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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UPDATE: December 2, 2024 | 1115

Death investigation ruled homicide, suspect in custody

Apartment fire leads to suspicious death investigation

Update: Detectives arrested a California man for his role in the death of a Salem resident in his apartment early Saturday morning.

The victim, Kristopher Douglas Stokes was found deceased inside his dwelling unit after firefighters responded to a blaze at the apartment building. An autopsy performed by the State Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the cause of Stokes’ death as a homicide. 

The investigation led detectives to a suspect in the case, David James Damon Alexander, age 45. Alexander was spotted in the 700 block of Commercial ST NE by a Salem Police officer. He was taken into custody without incident.

Alexander is lodged at the Marion County Jail on charges of second-degree murder and third-degree robbery.

No further information regarding the investigation which led to Alexander’s arrest is available for release. 

The cause of the fire remains an ongoing investigation.

# # #

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED 12/01/2024 | 1330

Apartment fire leads to suspicious death investigation

Salem, Ore. — Salem Police detectives are currently investigating the death of a Salem man in a fire at residential apartment building yesterday, November 30.

At approximately 2:45 a.m. Saturday morning, Salem police and firefighters responded to an apartment fire in the 1100 block of Chemeketa ST NE. Personnel located a deceased 38-year-old man in one of the units.

Due to the suspicious nature of the victim’s death and origin of the fire, the incident is being handled by the Salem Police Violent Crimes Unit as a suspicious death investigation. Separately, the cause of the fire is being investigated in conjunction with the Salem Fire Department.

No further information is being released in either case.

# # #

Portland, OR — Kick off the holiday season on Sunday, December 8 at Holiday Cheer: A Celebration of Oregon Authors. Visit with more than 60 local writers as you sip on hot cocoa, listen to carols, and get a jump on your holiday shopping!  

For 55 years, OHS has celebrated the state’s rich literary talents at this annual book signing event. This year, some of the Pacific Northwest’s most prominent authors will be at OHS selling everything from children’s books to guidebooks to mysteries to histories! View a full list of participating authors at ohs.org/holidaycheer.

To add to the holiday cheer, The Dickens Carolers will be strolling through the museum performing lively holiday songs from 1:30pm–2:30pm, and Santaland is back on view!  Visit this nostalgic vignette, which features items from the original Meier & Frank Santaland including Rudolph, animatronic elves, holiday decor, a model of the famous monorail, and even the famous Cinnamon Bear costume! Each year, our museum team adds a new “Easter egg” to the display; can you spot the difference this year?

Book sales at Holiday Cheer support the Oregon Historical Society’s mission to preserve our state’s history and make it accessible to everyone in ways that advance knowledge and inspire curiosity about all the people, places, and events that have shaped Oregon.

Holiday Cheer begins at noon and authors will be signing until 4pm. Admission is free to both the book sale and to visit museum exhibitions, with OHS’s galleries open until 5pm. In addition to Santaland, current exhibitions include A Fountain of Creativity: Oregon’s 20th Century Artists and the Legacy of Arlene Schnitzer and Crossing Boundaries: Portraits of a Transgender West.

About the Oregon Historical Society

For nearly 125 years, the Oregon Historical Society has served as the state’s collective memory, preserving a vast collection of objects, photographs, maps, manuscript materials, books, films, and oral histories. Our research library, museum, digital platforms, educational programming, and historical journal make Oregon’s history open and accessible to all. We exist because history is powerful, and because a history as deep and complex as Oregon’s cannot be contained within a single story or point of view. 

The drama department at Battle Ground High School is thrilled to announce its upcoming production of Clue: On Stage, a fun and suspenseful theatrical adaptation of the 1985 film based on the popular board game. Under the direction of Stephan “Cash” Henry, this production promises an evening of laughter, mystery and unforgettable entertainment.

“Clue: On Stage is a fun, silly, suspenseful piece of theater that is great for all ages,” said Henry. “The students were really interested in doing this show, and I wanted to choose something they would enjoy. It’s nostalgic for me as well—Clue was one of my family’s go-to board games on game nights when I was a kid.”

Performance dates and ticket information

• Dates: 
  • Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 5, 6, 7  
  • Thursday and Friday, Dec. 12 and 13
• Time: 7 p.m. on all dates with an additional 12 noon matinee showing on Saturday, Dec. 7
• Location: The Lair at Battle Ground High School (300 W Main St., Battle Ground, WA 98604)
• Tickets: $7 each, available at the door or online in advance.

A production full of challenges and triumphs

Bringing Clue: On Stage to life has been no small feat for the cast and crew. The production features the most intricate set designed at BGHS since their pre-COVID production of The Game’s Afoot: Holmes for the Holidays. “We even pushed out the opening date to ensure the set and props would look the way this show deserves,” Henry shared.

The hard work has paid off, thanks to the creativity and dedication of the students. “The crew has really stepped up, with impressive ideas and incredible dedication to creating the set, costumes and props,” said Henry. “They’ve truly brought this production to the next level.”

Henry wanted to give a special shout out to senior Ven Sherman for his design of the poster for the show.

Anticipation for opening night

As the curtain prepares to rise, Henry is eager to see the students shine. “I’m excited to watch these amazing kids bring this show to life, to see the audience enjoy an evening of theater and to witness all the hard work come together. I’m so proud of all of them.”

Don’t miss your chance to see Clue: On Stage at Battle Ground High School. Join us for an evening filled with mystery, humor and outstanding performances by our talented students.

SALEM, Ore. — The Adaptive Management Program Committee will meet at noon on Monday, Dec. 9 in the Clatsop Room, Building C, at the Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters, located at 2600 State St. in Salem. To join virtually, please use the Zoom video conference information found on the agenda.

The committee’s agenda includes:

• 2024 Year in review
• 2025 Work Plan
• Discuss amphibians research questions package

The meeting is open to the public to attend in person and online via Zoom. Public comments will be accepted near the start of the meeting. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting at 503-945-7200 or by email at ogram@odf.oregon.gov">adaptivemanagementprogram@odf.oregon.gov.

The 13-member committee The Adaptive Management Program Committee helps determine if forest practices are meeting their goals to protect natural resources through a science-based and transparent process. The committee sets the research agenda that the Independent Research and Science Team (IRST) implements. View more information on the AMPC webpage.

(Note: You can also find this release at https://www.usa.skanska.com/who-we-are/media/press-releases/285353/Skanska-USA-Building-names-Trevor-Wyckoff-as-new-Executive-Vice-President-and-General-Manager-for-Oregon--Southwest-Washington/)

----Press Release----

December 2, 2024

Skanska USA Building names Trevor Wyckoff as new Executive Vice President 

and General Manager for Oregon and Southwest Washington

From Skanska intern to General Manager, Wyckoff’s skills and experience propelled him to new role

Portland, Ore. – Skanska, a leading global construction and development firm, has named Trevor Wyckoff, a 24-year company veteran, executive vice president and general manager overseeing its building operations in Oregon and Southwest Washington. 

In this role, Wyckoff will develop and implement Skanska’s business plan in Oregon, driving strategic growth statewide and throughout the region, while remaining committed to excellence, safety, integrity, sustainability, and creating places that make a positive contribution to our communities. 

“Trevor brings a wealth of both operational and strategic experience to his new role,” said Jim Link, Regional Executive Officer, Skanska USA Building. Throughout his career, he has consistently proven himself to be a strong communicator and partner, qualities that will serve him well as he steps into this leadership role. I am confident Trevor will continue to build on the legacy we’ve established in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest as a whole, and we are excited to see where he will lead us.”

Wyckoff’s work with key business leaders in the construction and built environment community has solidified his reputation in the industry, earning him the respect of major decision makers who are shaping the future of the city. As a Portland native, Wyckoff has a deep understanding of the community’s needs and is fully committed to improving the neighborhoods in which Skanska does business. 

“Skanska has been my home for almost 25 years and as someone who started my career here as an intern, I can’t think of a more exciting job than leading this office into the future,” said Wyckoff. “We have a fantastic team here in Oregon and as I take on this new role, I look forward to helping us grow and build new opportunities for our organization.”

In addition to Oregon, Wyckoff has managed projects in Arizona, California, and Washington and as an active member of Skanska’s Healthcare Advisory Council and the National Operations Leadership Council, he has developed a solid reputation across the company. 

Wyckoff started his career as an intern in Skanska’s Portland office in 1998 before joining the company full time as a Project Engineer in 2000. He most recently served as Senior Vice President and Account Manager for Skanska in Portland, spearheading several marquee projects for key Skanska clients in the healthcare, education, and commercial sectors, among others. 

Wyckoff is a graduate of Beaverton High School and Washington State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in construction management.

For further information, please contact:

Dianne Danowski Smith, Publix Northwest PR + PA, dianne@publixnw.com, (503) 201-7019

Daniela Arellano, Skanska USA, 213.317.4977, ellano@skanska.com">daniela.arellano@skanska.com

This can also be found at 

https://www.usa.skanska.com/who-we-are/media/press-releases/285353/Skanska-USA-Building-names-Trevor-Wyckoff-as-new-Executive-Vice-President-and-General-Manager-for-Oregon--Southwest-Washington/. Skanska's news can always be found at https://www.usa.skanska.com/who-we-are/media/.

About Skanska

Skanska uses knowledge -and foresight to shape the way people live, work, and connect. More than 135 years in the making, we’re one of the world’s largest development and construction companies. We operate in select markets throughout the Nordics, Europe and the United States. Skanska in the U.S. is headquartered in New York City with 28 offices around the country. In 2023, construction in the U.S. generated $7.1 billion in revenue, and as a developer in the U.S., Skanska has invested a total value of $4.6 billion in commercial and multi-family projects. Together with our customers and the collective expertise of our 6,500 teammates in the U.S. and 27,000 globally, we create innovative and sustainable solutions that support healthy living beyond our lifetime. To learn more, visit Skanska in the US | www.usa.skanska.com.

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SILVERTON, Oregon— Enjoy guided nature hikes, seasonal crafts and educational activities at the Silver Falls State Park Winter Festival 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 14 and 15. 

Visitors will have a chance to learn about the park in winter including the changing landscapes and habitats for resident and migratory birds and animals. 

Activities include guided walks and classes; building bird nest boxes; making bird feeders and paper bird crafts and creating wreaths. All activities will be held in South Falls day-use area. 

Schedule of Activities:

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

All activities are free, but a day-use parking permit is required. Permits cost $5 per day; annual permits, normally $30, are on sale for $25 in the month of December and are available at the park. For more information, visit the event page on our calendar at stateparks.oregon.gov or call 503-874-0201.

Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Board of Health is extending the deadline to submit applications for a Public Health Advisory Council position representing the educational community. The term for the volunteer position begins as soon as it’s filled and ends Sept. 30, 2027. 

The Public Health Advisory Council meets 5:30-7:30 pm via Zoom on the fourth Tuesday of each month, except the month of December. One meeting each quarter will be in-person at locations across the county. Members may also join council committees that meet periodically throughout the year depending on committee scope and priorities.

The Public Health Advisory Council reviews priority public health needs and makes periodic recommendations to the Board of Health to enhance community health and wellbeing. The council may provide community forums or establish community task forces, as assigned by the Board of Health. And the council reviews and makes recommendations to Clark County Public Health and the Board of Health for the annual budget and fees.  

Clark County Public Health promotes healthy communities and environments, health equity, and disease and injury prevention. With community partners, Public Health works to promote healthier choices; ensure the safety of food and water; reduce environmental waste and contamination; and protect people from disease outbreaks through monitoring, early detection and swift response. 

Those interested in an appointment to the advisory council should submit a brief letter of interest and résumé to Michelle Pfenning, County Manager’s Office, PO Box 5000, Vancouver 98666-5000. Applications can also be emailed to michelle.pfenning@clark.wa.gov. For questions about council participation and what to expect as a member, email PHACAdmin@clark.wa.gov. 

The application deadline is 5 pm Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024.

Salem, Ore. - The Oregon State Fire Marshal is extending its incentive program to help Oregonians pay for defensible space projects in more communities in Oregon. The 2024 wildfire season comes as a reminder of the importance of defensible space and completing projects at home and at the community level to be better protected.

While supplies last, home and property owners in select wildfire-vulnerable communities may be eligible to receive a $250 payment following a defensible space assessment by the agency or a participating fire agency. The assessments are free and can be easily scheduled online at oregondefensiblespace.org. 

“On the heels of a record-breaking wildfire season, we know that now is the time to prepare our homes for next season,” said State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple. “We strongly encourage home and property owners to schedule an assessment. Taking this first step can make a significant difference in protecting your home and neighborhood from wildfire risks."

Defensible space is the area around your home and buildings managed to keep embers from having a place to land and catch fire. Creating and maintaining defensible space is one of the most effective ways to protect a home during a wildfire. The Oregon State Fire Marshal understands that money may be a barrier to complete these projects and the incentive is designed to encourage people to implement the recommendations received during their assessment.

The OSFM’s defensible space program is a crucial step toward building more fire-adapted communities in the face of increasing wildfire risks. By empowering Oregonians to take proactive measures, we will reduce the impact of wildfires on lives, property, and the environment.

Eligible communities were chosen based on their vulnerability to wildfire to get money to those who need it the most. After the assessment is complete, those who qualify will receive the payment in the mail. For a full list of communities and eligibility requirements, click here.

Press Log

On Sunday, November 24, 2024, at 9:41 p.m., a Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputy assigned to the Traffic Safety Unit was following a suspected impaired driver on SW Hall Blvd. in the city of Tigard. When the vehicle reached a dead end, the driver suddenly reversed, striking the deputy’s patrol car. Fortunately, the deputy was not seriously injured.

After further investigation, Henrry Ochoa-Avila, 31, of Beaverton, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII) and Reckless Driving. He later provided a breath sample that registered a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .19, more than twice the legal limit. 

In a separate incident on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at 1:49 a.m., deputies working in the city of Cornelius observed a car that was failing to maintain its lane. They noted that one tire on the car was flat and another tire was shredded. As the driver continued, the car was traveling on the rim, causing it to bounce noticeably. Deputies determined that just 20 minutes earlier, this same car had been driven on railroad tracks in the city of Hillsboro.

Deputies stopped the vehicle and later arrested the driver, Ricardo Ocampo-Jaimes, 45, of Forest Grove, for DUII and Reckless Driving. The investigating deputy applied for and obtained a search warrant to collect blood evidence from the driver in this case. 

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reminds the public to not get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or any substance that impairs their ability to drive. Plan ahead by designating a sober driver or using a rideshare service to ensure you arrive safely at your destination.

The Multnomah Education Service District Board Equity and Inclusion Committee will meet at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 5, 2024.
This meeting will be held virtually via Zoom.

https://multnomahesd-org.zoom.us/j/82314464435?pwd=2jdaF05kxdQwiL2c0eYc7RWkaCnVeb.1
Passcode: 534845

Update - Alex Jimenez has been located and is safe. | 60-year-old, Alex Jimenez walked away from his residence in the Orenco area of Hillsboro at approximately 12:45 PM today. He was last seen wearing a white shirt, black pants, and black shoes. Jimenez is a Hispanic male, 5'4" 180 pounds and is diagnosed with Dementia and Alzheimer’s. If anyone has information about Jimenez's whereabouts, they're asked to contact HPD at 503-629-0111 regarding case number 24-23981.

Press Log

At 0725 on Saturday, November 30th Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue responded to a single vehicle crash in the area of milepost 12 on Lewisville Hwy (SR 503).   Engine 22 found a single vehicle with significant front end damage that was fully involved in fire and partially overhanging a steep embankment with an unknown number of occupants on arrival.  With a total of 3 engines, 1 truck with special rescue vehicle, and 2 Chief officers, fire crews extinguished the fire; stabilized the vehicle; performed a search over the embankment with ropes and specialized equipment including a drone from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office; extricated the victim; and performed traffic control.   CCFR was assisted on scene by Fire District 3, AMR, and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.   Unfortunately, the only occupant of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene.  The scene was turned over to WSP and the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office for investigation.   CCFR extends our deepest sympathy to the family of the victim in this incident.  

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Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue (CCFR) serves 50,000 people over 125 square miles, including the cities of La Center, Ridgefield, Woodland, and the Cowlitz Indian Reservation. Our combination department includes full-time and volunteer firefighters responding to an average of 5400 fire and emergency medical calls a year. CCFR also provides a wide array of Community Risk Reduction programs including fire inspections, building plan reviews, and a Community Paramedic program. CCFR operates under a balanced budget and has a history of passing independent financial audits by the state.

Correction

The incident occurred on November 27, 2024, not November 24, 2024.

On November 24, 2024 at about 2051 hours the Newport Police Department responded to 207 NW 15^th St. in Newport regarding a disturbance. Newport Officers arrived on scene and contacted the persons present.  Officers spoke with a tenant, Jeffrey Sutton.  He relayed that Mark Rodgers was at his house and described him as intoxicated and belligerent.  Sutton told Rodgers to leave his residence, and Rodgers began repeatedly punching Sutton in the head and body.  While Sutton spoke with officers, he began to have a hard time breathing and showed signs of respiratory distress.  Officers requested medics and rendered aid to Sutton.

Sutton became unresponsive as Officers spoke with him. Medics arrived on scene and began CPR. At 2133 hours, Sutton was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Based on witness statements and evidence gathered at the scene, Officers learned Rodgers had struck Sutton repeatedly with a closed fist in the face and body.

Mark Rodgers, 68, was taken into custody and lodged at the Lincoln County Jail on the following charges:

• Murder 2
• Assault 2

The Lincoln County Major Crime Team responded to assist with the investigation.  If you have any information regarding this case, contact the Newport Police Department at 541-574-3348. The Newport Police Tip Line is available at 541-574-5455, or Text-a-Tip at 541-270-1856 or tipline@newportpolice.net.

CLACKAMAS COUNTY, Ore. 30 Nov. 2024 – On Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, at about 5:13 p.m., Oregon State Troopers responded to a three-vehicle crash on Hwy. 213 southbound near milepost 10.5 in Clackamas County. 

The preliminary investigation indicated a black Mazda MZ6, operated by Delfino Palacios Navarro (54), of Molalla, was traveling southbound when it crossed into the northbound travel lanes while attempting to negotiate a curve. The Mazda struck a white Ram CS5, operated by Ryan Lynch (37) of Oregon City. The impact caused the Ram to turn into the southbound lane and crash head-on into a silver Ford Escape, operated by Stacy Flintjer (60) of Mulino. 

The Mazda is believed to be the same vehicle associated with a driving complaint reported a few minutes before the crash. The driver of the Mazda (Navarro) was transported by air ambulance to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased. 

The driver of the Ford (Flintjer) was transported to an area hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. 

The highway was impacted for approximately four hours during the on-scene investigation by OSP’s Collision Reconstruction Unit.  
 

OSP was assisted by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Molalla Fire Department, Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office, Clackamas County Medical Examiner’s Office, Life Flight, and the Oregon Department of Transportation. 

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

CLACKAMAS COUNTY, Ore. 30 Nov. 2024 – Oregon State Police responds to a two-vehicle fatal crash on Hwy. 213 near Mulino. 

On Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at about 6:57 a.m., Oregon State Troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash on Hwy. 213 northbound near milepost 10 in Clackamas County. 

The preliminary investigation indicated a silver Ford Focus, operated by Lyndsey Gail Mohler (23) of Molalla, was heading southbound on Hwy. 213 when the driver lost control of the vehicle negotiating a curve and entered the northbound lanes. The vehicle collided head-on with a blue Subaru Crosstrek, operated by Shelby Ray Edwards (28) of Gresham, headed northbound.  

The operator of the Ford (Mohler) was declared deceased at the scene. 

The driver of the Subaru (Edwards) and a passenger were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 

The highway was impacted for approximately three hours during the on-scene investigation by OSP’s Collision Reconstruction Unit.  

OSP was assisted by Clackamas Fire, Molalla Fire, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oregon Department of Transportation. 
 

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

Press Log

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  

DATE: November 29, 2024

One deceased in single-vehicle crash on the parkway

Salem, Ore. — At approximately 7:30 a.m. today, officers and other emergency personnel responded to a collision on the Martin Luther King JR Parkway. 

Witnesses reported the driver of a pickup truck traveling southbound slowly drove off the roadway after passing through the intersection at Broadway ST NE. The truck struck a tree and traveled back onto the roadway where the vehicle stopped. Passersby attempted to provide medical aid to the unresponsive driver before the arrival of paramedics. 

The driver, 37-year-old Brett David Dhone of Canby, was transported to Salem Health where he later died. 

The Traffic Team’s preliminary investigation indicates Dhone suffered a medical event prior to the collision. 

The parkway was closed for approximately two hours between Liberty and Broadway STS NE with the assistance of an Oregon Department of Transportation traffic control crew.

The investigation into the collision is ongoing, and there are no other details available for release.

Today’s traffic incident is the twentieth fatal collision of 2024. In all, these collisions have resulted in 21 deaths, a marked increase when compared to the same time frame in 2023 which had 11 deadly crashes resulting in 12 fatalities.

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Date: Monday, Dec. 2, 2024

Time: 11:00 a.m.

Location: TVF&R Training Center, 12400 SW Tonquin Rd, Sherwood, OR 97140

RSVP To: Public Information Officer, 503-259-1111

Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVF&R) is inviting local media to a live demonstration of the fire hazards posed by dry Christmas trees. During this demonstration, firefighters will ignite a dry Christmas tree under controlled conditions to showcase how quickly it can be engulfed in flames. This visual event highlights the importance of tree safety, including watering Christmas trees daily and keeping them away from heat sources such as candles, space heaters, and fireplaces.

“Every year, Christmas tree fires cause millions of dollars in property damage and can even be deadly,” Deputy Fire Marshal Stephanie McKee, said. “We don’t want to see anyone’s holiday season ruined by an unexpected fire that could be prevented with a few simple safety measures.” 

Media are invited to attend the live Christmas tree fire demonstration and interview Deputy McKee regarding holiday safety advice. Please RSVP to pio@tvfr.com if your organization plans to attend. 

Key Safety Tips for Holiday Trees:

• Water Your Tree: A well-watered tree is far less likely to catch fire than a dry one.
• Check Lights and Wires: Inspect holiday lights for fraying or damage and avoid overloading electrical outlets.
• Keep Away from Heat Sources: Ensure your tree is placed at least three feet away from any heat source.
• Dispose of Trees Properly: Once the holidays are over, promptly recycle or dispose of dry trees to reduce fire risk.

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The Grotto's Christmas Festival of Lights opens tonight. Celebrating Christmas with music, lights, and joy, the Festival runs nightly through Dec. 30, from 5-9:30 p.m.

Known as the world's largest Christmas Choral Festival, more than 150 choirs will perform over the course of 31 nights in the chapel.

 There are nightly puppet shows and caroling in the pavilion tent.

And don't forget the two million lights, including the giant walk-thru Christmas tree.

Tickets available at thegrotto.org.

Please bring a non-perishable food item for SnowCap.

The Grotto's Christmas Festival of Lights opens tonight. Celebrating Christmas with music, lights, and joy, the Festival runs nightly through Dec. 30, from 5-9:30 p.m.

Known as the world's largest Christmas Choral Festival, more than 150 choirs will perform over the course of 31 nights in the chapel.

 There are nightly puppet shows and caroling in the pavilion tent.

And don't forget the two million lights, including the giant walk-thru Christmas tree.

Tickets available at thegrotto.org.

Please bring a non-perishable food item for SnowCap.

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, Angel M. Gomez, died November 28, 2024. Gomez was incarcerated at Snake River Correctional Institution (SRCI) in Ontario and passed away in the infirmary while on hospice care. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified, and the State Medical Examiner will determine cause of death.

Gomez entered DOC custody on August 16, 2024, from Multnomah County with an earliest release date of March 27, 2025. Gomez was 72 years old. 

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

SRCI is a multi-custody prison in Ontario that houses approximately 3,000 adults in custody. SRCI has multiple special housing units including disciplinary segregation, intensive management, infirmary (with hospice) with 24-hour nursing care, and an administrative segregation unit. SRCI participates in prison industries with Oregon Corrections Enterprises including a contact center, laundry, and sign shop. SRCI specializes in incentive housing, specialized housing, individuals with mental health/medical vulnerabilities, education and trades programs, cognitive and parenting programs, and institution work programs. SRCI opened in 1991 and is the largest correctional institution in the state.

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Press Log

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) rescued a lost, visually impaired hiker near Wahkeena Falls on Wednesday, November 27.

At approximately 5:30 p.m., MCSO responded to a 911 call from a man saying he was lost on a hiking trail near Wahkeena Falls. The man, who reported being visually impaired, said that he was using his cell phone’s flashlight to find his way, but was unable to see the trail markers. He also mentioned that he was hiking with alone. His wife, who he’d been hiking with, returned to the car.

One deputy located the man’s wife at the Multnomah Falls welcome center, while the second deputy contacted the man through text message. They advised him to stop moving and stay put until help arrived. Deputies were able to get his location using cell phone data.

At 6:55 p.m., a small team of deputies known as the Green Hornets deployed to locate the man. The MCSO Green Hornets consists of a team of highly trained deputies with extensive wilderness and search and rescue experience. The Green Hornets team reached the lost hiker at 7:45 p.m. He was not hurt, and they safely guided him back to the trailhead, where he was reunited with his wife. 

The Green Hornets team is a special team within the MCSO Search and Rescue operations. They are called upon to assist with quick, foot searches for missing or lost hikers, and they work alongside the larger Search and Rescue team when needed. Many of the deputies are backcountry trail runners and considered navigational experts.

MCSO is grateful for the quick thinking and teamwork of our deputies that led to the successful rescue of this hiker. 

If you are ever lost or in distress while hiking, remember to stay where you are and call 911 for help. Read more about our Search and Rescue program and the Ten Essentials, on our website. 

Watch a video about the Green Hornets, here.

Photo Description: MCSO Green Hornets training on Dog Mountain in 2022.

DRIVING DROWSY

It is always important to stay alert while driving, especially during this time of year when weather conditions can rapidly become hazardous. Driving while drowsy or tired is especially dangerous. Sleepiness slows your reaction time, decreases awareness, and impairs your judgment just like drugs or alcohol. People who are very sleepy behave in similar ways to people who are drunk. Below are several safety tips to keep in mind before hitting the road. 

To remain alert and avoid drowsiness:

• Getting plenty of sleep the night before a long trip.
• If you are tired, find a safe place to stop and take a nap or have an alert passenger drive.
• Traveling at times when you are normally awake and staying overnight rather than driving straight through.
• Schedule a break every two hours or every 100 miles.
• Stop driving if you become sleepy. Someone who is tired could fall asleep at any time. Fatigue impacts reaction time, judgment, and vision, causing people who are very sleepy to behave in similar ways to those who are drunk.
• Avoid working all day and then driving all night.
• Drink a caffeinated beverage. Since it takes about 30 minutes for caffeine to enter the bloodstream, find a safe place to take a 20-30 minute nap while you’re waiting for the caffeine to take effect.
• Avoid sleepy times of day. Take a mid-afternoon nap and find a place to sleep between midnight and 6 a.m.
• Traveling with an awake passenger.

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

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

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

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Press Log