On January 24, 2022 at about 12:48 P.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a two-vehicle crash on Highway 199 near milepost 10. 

Preliminary investigation revealed that a white Toyota Corolla, driven by Eddie Bartley (72) of Grants Pass was driving north on Highway 199 and crossed into the oncoming, southbound lane of travel for unknown reasons. The Corolla impacted the front driver side of a blue Hyundai Elantra, driven by Kelly Martin (49) of Dallas. 

Bartley sustained fatal injuries as a result of the crash and was pronounced deceased. Martin suffered severe injuries and was transported to Rogue Regional Hospital by ambulance. 

Hwy 199 was completely closed for approximately 1 hour following the crash and traffic was reduced and controlled by Oregon Department of Transportation for approximately 3 hours upon opening the highway.

OSP was assisted by the Oregon Department of Transportation, Josephine County Sheriff's Office and Rural Metro Fire.

At 3:18 pm today, Crews from Gresham and Portland Fire Responded to a reported fire at a Duplex just north of E Burnside at 157th Ave. This fire was called in by the neighbor of the duplex that saw flames from the back of the home.  Crews arrived and had heavy smoke from the eaves and the back of the structure. They were able to do a quick knockdown of the fire and search both apartments.  The fire did extend into the roof structure and crews were met with difficulty when the power supply continued to arc at the back of the structure.  The Power company was called and had to shut power off to a city block to allow crews to completely extinguish the fire.  The Arson investigator was called to help determine the cause.  No injuries were reported and the cause is still under investigation.

Public Safety Reminder… During this cold time of year, Portlander residents are reminded to keep space heaters away from combustibles and never leave candles unattended. 

Vancouver, Wash. –On January 24, 2022, at approximately 10:20 a.m. several callers to 9-1-1 reported a dark green truck driving erratically in the Cascade Park area of Vancouver. Callers reported the vehicle going through the Chkalov area Fred Meyer parking lot and through the surrounding neighborhoods at excessive speeds. At times the driver was driving in the wrong lane and drove toward pedestrians who narrowly escaped being hit. The truck continued driving at excessive speeds, hit a parked vehicle and city light pole before crossing the lane of travel and striking a retaining wall in the 14100 block of SE McGillivray Blvd. The driver continued through the retaining wall into the next house, colliding with a parked vehicle, moving it out of the driveway. The truck hit the garage door, causing the residence significant damage. The truck finally came to rest as it struck a residence on SE McGillivray, taking out the corner section of the garage. 

The driver managed to crawl out of the passenger side window and briefly hide under the truck before being taken into custody by police. He was transported to an area hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Impairment and speed were factors. There were no reported injuries to members of the public related to this incident. 

The driver will be booked into the Clark County Jail, upon release from the hospital, for DUI and multiple charges of Hit and Run. The suspect’s identity will not be released until after he is booked into jail. 

The Vancouver Police Department Traffic Unit is continuing the investigation. Anyone who was the victim of hit and run or property damage related to this incident, and who has not spoken to police yet, should call 3-1-1 to make a report. 

###

January 24, 2022

Contact: OHA External Relations, covid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us">orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon reports 19,400 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 17 new deaths

PORTLAND, Ore. — There are 17 new COVID-19-related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 5,953, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

OHA reported 19,400 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 590,270.

The 17 new deaths and 19,400 new cases reported today include data recorded by counties for the three-day period between Jan. 21 and Jan. 23.

More Oregonians receive COVID-19 booster doses

Oregon continues to move closer to meeting Gov. Kate Brown’s goal, announced Dec. 17, of getting 1 million more people in the state a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of January.

When the challenge began, 949,749 people had received a booster dose. Since then, 451,268 Oregonians have received a booster.

As of today, Oregon needs 548,732 people to get a booster to reach the goal and make our state safer from the Omicron variant. Find a booster here.

COVID-19 hospitalizations

The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 1,045, which is 19 more than yesterday. There are 161 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is two more than yesterday.

There are 48 available adult ICU beds out of 643 total (7% availability) and 243 available adult non-ICU beds out of 4,096 (6% availability).

Statewide regions are as follows:

Region 1: Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Multnomah, Tillamook and Washington counties

Region 2: Benton, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties

Region 3: Coos, Curry, Douglas and Lane counties

Region 5: Jackson and Josephine counties

Region 6: Hood River, Gilliam, Sherman and Wasco counties

Region 7: Crook, Deschutes, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake and Wheeler counties

Region 9: Baker, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla, Union and Wallowa counties

The total number of patients in hospital beds may fluctuate between report times. The numbers do not reflect admissions per day, nor the length of hospital stay. Staffing limitations are not captured in this data and may further limit bed capacity.

Note: Please do not visit an emergency department for COVID-19 testing, unless you require emergency care for your symptoms.

Emergency departments in Oregon are under significant strain. You can find a test here. If you have a medical condition that doesn’t require emergency care, contact your provider. An urgent care center may also help you get the care you need and will save emergency departments from added strain.

More information about hospital capacity can be found here.

Vaccinations in Oregon

Today, OHA reported that 5,285 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry on Jan. 23. Of that total, 352 were initial doses, 261 were second doses and 1,644 were third doses and booster doses. The remaining 3,005 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry Jan. 23.

The seven-day running average is now 12,159 doses per day.

Oregon has now administered 4,003,118 doses of Pfizer Comirnaty, 202,343 doses of Pfizer pediatric, 2,632,405 doses of Moderna and 263,464 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.

As of today, 3,112,692 people have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 2,814,714 people have completed a COVID-19 vaccine series.

These data are preliminary and subject to change.

Updated vaccination data are provided on Oregon’s COVID-19 data dashboards and have been updated today.

Cases and deaths

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (41), Benton (461), Clackamas (1,532), Clatsop (104), Columbia (165), Coos (204), Crook (200), Curry (64), Deschutes (1,402), Douglas (228), Gilliam (14), Grant (36), Harney (28), Hood River (64), Jackson (1,113), Jefferson (105), Josephine (343), Klamath (448), Lake (4), Lane (2,048), Lincoln (213), Linn (834), Malheur (188), Marion (1,940), Morrow (71), Multnomah (2,940), Polk (425), Sherman (37), Tillamook (66), Umatilla (541), Union (125), Wallowa (28), Wasco (209), Washington (2,722) and Yamhill (457).

Oregon reports 4,922 confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases on Jan. 21, 10,862 confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases on Jan. 22 and 3,616 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases on Jan. 23.

Note: More information about the cases and deaths will be provided in an updated news release.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations  

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine situation in Oregon, visit our web page (English or Spanish), which has a breakdown of distribution and other information.

####

January 21, 2022

This is an updated news release with additional information about cases and deaths.

Contact: OHA External Relations, covid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us">orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon reports 10,947 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 20 new deaths

PORTLAND, Ore. — There are 20 new COVID-19-related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 5,936, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

OHA reported 10,947 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 570,892.

OHA briefs media on rising hospitalizations, surging cases

Health Officer and State Epidemiologist Dean Sidelinger, M.D., M.S.Ed., briefed media today on the latest developments in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although cases and hospitalizations are surging, Sidelinger spoke about the difference Oregonians are making by wearing masks, indoors and outdoors, by restricting gatherings and by staying home when sick or upon a positive test.

“There is some light at the end of this very dark tunnel. The recent modeling suggests that cases could peak within the next week or so with hospitalizations – a lagging indicator – peaking in the following weeks,” he said.

More importantly, the forecast shows the difference everyone in Oregon is making by continuing to take preventive steps. The projected peak for hospitalizations is about 1,500 in early February.

Without the widespread adherence the state has seen from Oregonians, the curve would be much steeper – about 1,900 hospitalizations.

“The critical difference here in Oregon is you,” Sidelinger said.

His full comments can be found here. A recording of the briefing is here.

More Oregonians receive COVID-19 booster doses

Oregon continues to move closer to meeting Gov. Kate Brown’s goal, announced Dec. 17, of getting 1 million more people in the state a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of January.

When the challenge began, 949,749 people had received a booster dose. Since then, 428,592 Oregonians have received a booster.

As of today, Oregon needs 571,408 people to get a booster to reach the goal and make our state safer from the Omicron variant. Find a booster here.

COVID-19 hospitalizations

The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 1,091, which is 38 more than yesterday. There are 144 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is two more than yesterday.

There are 46 available adult ICU beds out of 664 total (7% availability) and 281 available adult non-ICU beds out of 4,118 (7% availability).

Statewide regions are as follows:

Region 1: Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Multnomah, Tillamook and Washington counties

Region 2: Benton, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties

Region 3: Coos, Curry, Douglas and Lane counties

Region 5: Jackson and Josephine counties

Region 6: Hood River, Gilliam, Sherman and Wasco counties

Region 7: Crook, Deschutes, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake and Wheeler counties

Region 9: Baker, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla, Union and Wallowa counties

The total number of patients in hospital beds may fluctuate between report times. The numbers do not reflect admissions per day, nor the length of hospital stay. Staffing limitations are not captured in this data and may further limit bed capacity.

Note: Please do not visit an emergency department for COVID-19 testing, unless you require emergency care for your symptoms.

Emergency departments in Oregon are under significant strain. You can find a test here. If you have a medical condition that doesn’t require emergency care, contact your provider. An urgent care center may also help you get the care you need and will save emergency departments from added strain.

More information about hospital capacity can be found here.

Vaccinations in Oregon

Today, OHA reported that 18,631 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry on Jan. 20. Of that total, 1,378 were initial doses, 947 were second doses and 5,835 were third doses and booster doses. The remaining 10,376 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry Jan. 20.

The seven-day running average is now 14,408 doses per day.

Oregon has now administered 3,984,841 doses of Pfizer Comirnaty, 199,476 doses of Pfizer pediatric, 2,622,243 doses of Moderna and 262,847 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.

As of today, 3,106,988 people have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 2,811,310 people have completed a COVID-19 vaccine series.

These data are preliminary and subject to change.

Updated vaccination data are provided on Oregon’s COVID-19 data dashboards and have been updated today.

Cases and deaths

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (40), Benton (181), Clackamas (845), Clatsop (80), Columbia (201), Coos (200), Crook (114), Curry (28), Deschutes (663), Douglas (226), Gilliam (1), Harney (1), Hood River (43), Jackson (661), Jefferson (213), Josephine (243), Klamath (253), Lake (11), Lane (1,196), Lincoln (109), Linn (480), Malheur (99), Marion (1,221), Morrow (43), Multnomah (1,487), Polk (261), Tillamook (38), Umatilla (317), Union (68), Wallowa (20), Wasco (72), Washington (1,280) and Yamhill (252).

Oregon’s 5,917th COVID-19-related death is a 71-year-old woman from Multnomah County who tested positive Nov. 19, 2021, and died Dec. 1, 2021, at Providence Portland Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,918th COVID-19-related death is a 67-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive Dec. 3, 2021, and died Dec. 6, 2021, at Providence Portland Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,919th COVID-19-related death is a 73-year-old woman from Marion County who tested positive Sept. 10, 2021, and died Dec. 6, 2021, at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,920th COVID-19-related death is a 78-year-old woman from Columbia County who tested positive Nov. 26, 2021, and died Dec. 2, 2021, at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,921st COVID-19-related death is a 53-year-old woman from Jackson County who tested positive Oct. 6, 2021, and died Nov. 30, 2021, at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,922nd COVID-19-related death is a 95-year-old woman from Multnomah County who tested positive Sept. 2, 2021, and died Nov. 26, 2021, at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,923rd COVID-19-related death is a 57-year-old man from Klamath County who tested positive Nov. 6, 2021, and died Nov. 21, 2021, at St. Charles Bend. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,924th COVID-19-related death is an 88-year-old man from Polk County who tested positive Jan. 7 and died Jan. 13 at Salem Hospital. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,925th COVID-19-related death is a 64-year-old man from Polk County who tested positive Jan. 5 and died Jan. 18 at Salem Hospital. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,926th COVID-19-related death is a 66-year-old man from Polk County who tested positive Dec. 31, 2021, and died Jan. 19 at Salem Hospital. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,927th COVID-19-related death is a 77-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive Jan. 7 and died Jan. 17 at Adventist Health Portland. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,928th COVID-19-related death is an 86-year-old woman from Multnomah County who tested positive Jan. 3 and died Jan. 17 at Adventist Health Portland. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,929th COVID-19-related death is a 77-year-old woman from Marion County who tested positive Jan. 11 and died Jan. 18 at Salem Hospital. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,930th COVID-19-related death is a 61-year-old woman from Jefferson County who tested positive Jan. 12 and died Jan. 11 at her residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,931st COVID-19-related death is a 77-year-old woman from Jackson County who died Dec. 22, 2021, at her residence. The death certificate listed COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV-2 as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,932nd COVID-19-related death is a 60-year-old man from Jackson County who tested positive Jan. 6 and died Jan. 19 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,933rd COVID-19-related death is a 53-year-old man from Jackson County who tested positive Dec. 22, 2021, and died Dec. 31, 2021, at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,934th COVID-19-related death is a 70-year-old woman from Jackson County who tested positive Dec. 11, 2021, and died Dec. 29, 2021, at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,935th COVID-19-related death is a 97-year-old man from Jackson County who tested positive Nov. 15, 2021, and died Dec. 20, 2021, at his residence. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,936th COVID-19-related death is an 80-year-old man from Harney County who tested positive Jan. 9 and died Jan. 10 at St Charles Bend Hospital. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations  

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine situation in Oregon, visit our web page (English or Spanish), which has a breakdown of distribution and other information.

####

On January 23, 2022 at about 1255 hours emergency responders with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Clark County Fire District 6, and American Medical Response (AMR) responded to a two-vehicle serious injury hit and run collision at NE Highway 99 and NE 88th Cir in Vancouver, Clark County, Washington.  Emergency responders discovered a gold 2005 Ford F250,  which had been reported stolen out of Washington County Sheriff’s Office,  was being operated south on NE Highway 99 in the outside lane when it went through a red traffic signal at NE 88th St and struck a gray 2013 Mercedes sedan operated by eastbound on NE 88th St by 52-year-old William Stevens of Vancouver, Washington. William Stevens had to be extricated from his Mercedes and was transported to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center where he died of his injuries.  The driver and lone occupant of the stolen Ford F250 fled on foot eastbound on NE 88th St from NE Highway 99.

Witnesses described the suspect as a white male adult, wearing a dark colored stocking cap, light blue hoodie, dark colored backpack, and blue jeans.

Numerous resources to include a police K9 converged on the area to search for the suspect but were unsuccessful in located him.

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office is requesting assistance from the public with identifying and apprehending the suspect.

Information related to this investigation can be directed to Detective Todd Young at todd.young@clark.wa.gov or 564-397-1624.
 

Video surveillance is available upon request. 

2020 Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Northwest Power Plants Were Lowest In Decades

https://www.nwcouncil.org/news/2020-carbon-dioxide-emissions-northwest-power-plants-were-lowest-decades

In 2020, carbon dioxide emissions from Pacific Northwest power plants that burn coal and natural gas totaled 45.64 million metric tons, the lowest in at least 25 years and a roughly 20-percent decline from emissions in 2019.

Comments Question Assumptions About Power System Reliability In Draft Power Plan

https://www.nwcouncil.org/news/comments-question-assumptions-about-power-system-reliability-draft-power-plan.

As the Council moves toward finalizing the 2021 Northwest Power Plan in the next month or two after a nearly four-year effort, the discussion at the January meeting focused on several issues that received a lot of attention during the public comment period on the draft plan late last year. Among these, the issue that attracted the most concern was whether the recommendations in the plan will assure that the region’s electricity supply remains adequate and reliable.

Washington and Montana Members Will Lead Council In 2022

https://www.nwcouncil.org/news/washingon-and-montana-members-will-lead-council-2022

At its January meeting, the Council elected Guy Norman, a Washington member, Chair and Doug Grob, a Montana member, vice chair for 2022.

On Wednesday, January 19, 2022, at approximately 6:40 p.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a burglary in progress on SW 199^th Court in Aloha. This is near the intersection of SW 198^th Avenue and SW Farmington Road in the Enhanced Sheriff’s Patrol District (ESPD).

A woman called 9-1-1 to report her home had been entered and she wasn’t sure if they were still inside. Deputies arrived very quickly to search the area, including a member of the K-9 team. Unfortunately, no suspect was located.

After searching the home, the homeowner discovered that some jewelry had been stolen, including an urn that contained the remains of her late husband.

The stolen urn (similar in size and shape to the ones pictured) is described as heart-shaped, brush-painted blue, but still metallic looking, and engraved with “James Arthur Bishop, My Love.”

If anyone has any information about this burglary or the location of the stolen urn, please contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 503-629-0111. Case No. 50-22-951. 

Josh Tyler, a Lieutenant with Clackamas Fire, has become a certified Georgia Smoke Diver – a distinction no other Oregon firefighter claims. Since the creation of the Georgia Smoke Diver program in 1978, there have been 59 classes and over 1,100 students completing the course. The idea behind the training is to raise up "thinking" firefighters, says Tyler. The grueling training pushes participants to their limits, both physically and mentally, to become better firefighters. On average, fewer than half pass the training, and Tyler did just that.

The Georgia Smoke Diver course is a six-day, 60-hour program that included between 10-12 hour drills each day designed for the experienced firefighter, providing realistic training in self-survival (including full water submersion in firefighting gear), firefighter rescue, advanced search and rescue, thermal imaging, emergency procedures, teamwork, discipline, situational awareness, and decision-making, as well as to function within the elements of the Incident Command System, all of which takes place after a 3-hr rigorous morning routine that includes high-repetition calisthenics in full firefighting gear, a 3-5 mile run and a 16-station obstacle course which is designed to test the candidate's common firefighting skills such as search, forcible entery and flashover scenarios. While being one of the most intense training courses a firefighter can experience, the result is a more competent and confident firefighter, who is able to maintain composure in high stress
 

In addition to the physical and mental preparation required for the week of training, Lieutenant Tyler had to make some other sacrifices as well. "You're away from your family, not only during the program but for the hours of preparation weekly leading up to the time you're away." Each participant is also responsible for the financial requirements which include, but are not limited to, travel and fees that come with the program.

Clackamas Fire Chief Nick Browne states "Words can't express the pride I feel for Lieutenant Josh Tyler in completing the Georgia Smoke Diver program. The mental toughness, fortitude, dedication and service that Lt. Tyler demonstrates on a daily basis exemplifies what this program stands for. The GSD program emphasizes preparation and servant leadership and how they are tied together. Servant leadership is about putting the needs of others first. It's about being at war with mediocrity because in doing so you are better prepared to serve others and make those around you successful. It also represents the culture that exists at all levels here at Clackamas Fire. This is why Clackamas Fire is such an amazing place to be a part of and to serve in."

To find out more about the Georgia Smoke Diver program, visit: www.georgiasmokediver.com
 

Vancouver, Wash. – The City of Vancouver, in partnership with Clark County Public Health and the Vancouver Housing Authority, has advanced its Brownfields Assessment Project to support local property owners in determining whether soil groundwater or building materials on their land might be contaminated with potentially hazardous materials, like oil, gasoline, mercury, lead and other harmful substances. 

The City has hired Maul Foster & Alongi, Inc. to implement a three-year $600,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help further the City’s commitment to environmental stewardship and safety.

Brownfields is a term used by the EPA to describe land that may be difficult to develop or reuse because of past contamination from hazardous materials. Local property owners can now contact the project team to see if their properties qualify for grant-funded environmental site assessments.

Grant funds can be used county-wide but will be concentrated in the project’s focus area around Fourth Plain Boulevard between Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 to support the city and county’s ongoing initiatives related to equitable development and healthy living.

If you think your property might be contaminated and would like to see if you qualify for a grant-funded site assessment, please contact Shannon Williams, associate planner at shannon.williams@cityofvancouver.us or 360-487-7898. The community is also invited to visit the City’s new project webpage, www.beheardvancouver.org/brownfields, to learn more about brownfields and sign up to receive project updates by email. 

Later this year, the project team will start area-wide assessment and cleanup plans for at least one identified property in the focus area. Community members will be invited to help create an overall vision for what the space could become in the future. Other future site cleanup plans may follow.

###

January 24, 2022

Media contact: Aria Seligmann, 503-910-9239, i.l.seligmann@dhsoha.state.or.us">ari.l.seligmann@dhsoha.state.or.us

Program contact: Hilary Harrison, 503-209-1949, y.harrison@dhsoha.state.or.us">hilary.harrison@dhsoha.state.or.us  

System of Care Advisory Council meets remotely Tuesday February 1, 2022

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

When: Tuesday, Feb. 1, 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Where: By webinar at ZoomGov

Meeting ID: 160 347 3675, Passcode: 123456

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

Agenda: The full agenda can be found at https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HSD/BH-Child-Family/Pages/SOCAC.aspx. The meeting will include time for public comment.

Details: Senate Bill 1 (2019) established a Governor-appointed System of Care Advisory Council to improve the efficacy and effectiveness of the state and local continuum of care that provides services to youth and young adults.

The council will be working on elements of the System of Care Plan for Oregon.

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

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

If you need help or have questions, please contact Hilary Harrison at 503-209-1949, 711 TTY, or y.harrison@dhsoha.state.or.us">hilary.harrison@dhsoha.state.or.us at least two business days before the meeting.

January 24, 2022

Contact: Jonathan Modie, 971-246-9139, PHD.Communications@dhsoha.state.or.us

Nurse Staffing Advisory Board sets quarterly meeting

What: The Nurse Staffing Advisory Board is holding its quarterly meeting.

Agenda: Membership and program updates; status updates; 2021 year-in-review presentation; committee updates (NSAB Civil Monetary Penalties Committee); updates on nurse staffing rulemaking; open action items (OHA complaint process, federal vs. state complaints; emerging issues in nurse staffing; public comment

The agenda will be available on www.healthoregon.org/nursestaffing.

When: Jan. 26, 1-5 p.m.

Where:

To receive meeting login information, register for the meeting here:

https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItfuiupjsqGeRg6xPIa6s5Xyr9k1aPQaM

Background: The Nurse Staffing Advisory Board advises the Oregon Health Authority on the administration of Oregon’s nurse staffing laws; identifies trends, opportunities and concerns related to nurse staffing; makes recommendations to the Oregon Health Authority based on those trends, opportunities and concerns; and reviews the enforcement powers and processes under Oregon’s nurse staffing laws.

Program contact: Kimberly Voelker, ox.nursestaffing@state.or.us">Mailbox.nursestaffing@state.or.us

####

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

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

If you need help or have questions, please contact Kimberly Voelker, MPH at 971-803-0914, 711 TTY or erly.n.voelker@dhsoha.state.or.us">kimberly.n.voelker@dhsoha.state.or.us at least 48 hours before the meeting.

PORTLAND, Ore. (January 25, 2022): Amid the COVID-19 Omicron surge in Oregon, concerns about testing also are on the rise. As two new testing centers opened in Portland Monday and free rapid tests from the government begin shipping, many are still wondering when to get tested, which test to take, how reliable are the results and what to do if they test positive.

Dr. Katie Sharff, Chief of Infectious Disease with Kaiser Permanente in Portland, Ore., has been on the front lines of the pandemic from the beginning, treating patients and studying emerging data, and she is making herself available to address media questions about testing this week as the pandemic nears its peak in Oregon. 

Dr. Sharff is prepared to discuss:

Testing:

• When should you take a test? (ie, how long after exposure, etc.)
   
• When is an at-home rapid test recommended vs. PCR?
   
• How reliable are rapid tests, and is one brand better than another?
   
• Can you really trust a negative result?
   
• Do you need to confirm a positive/negative test with a PCR test?
   
• Where can you find a test, and are they free?
   
• What to do if you can’t get a test.

Interviews available:
Dr. Katie Sharff, Chief of Infectious Disease for Kaiser Permanente Northwest, is available for interviews on Monday, Jan. 24 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; and Wednesday, Jan. 26 from 10:30 a.m.-noon.

ABOUT KAISER PERMANENTE 
For 75 years, Kaiser Permanente has been committed to shaping the future of health and health care — and helping our members, patients, and communities experience more healthy years. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Since July 21, 1945, Kaiser Permanente’s mission has been to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.4 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health.

For more information, please visit: about.kaiserpermanente.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE:      January 24, 2022

Salem, Ore. — Local donut shop, Dude Donut City at Carson and Lancaster DRS SE was robbed last month by the same suspect in two separate incidents. 

The first robbery occurred on December 13, 2021 when the male suspect displayed a gun to the shop clerk and demanded money from the register. The employee complied and the suspect left on foot. Then on December 18, 2021, the male suspect again displayed a handgun to the shop employee and demanded money. Once the suspect took the money, he fled on foot. Patrol officers searched and perimeter tracks were conducted by a K-9 team after each incident but were unsuccessful. 

Employees provided the following physical description of the suspect:

• White, male adult
• Age, approximately 30 to 35 years
• Hair color, unknown due to a jacket hood pulled over the head
• Height, 5’10” to 5’11”
• Weight, approximately 160-180 pounds

In the December 13 incident, the suspect was reported as wearing a black jacket with large front pockets and dark pants, both described as being in a dirty condition, and dark shoes. On December 18, the suspect’s clothing description included a blue sweatshirt over a dark hooded jacket, dark tan pants, red mittens, and dark shoes.

Detectives are working all available leads and now ask for the public’s help in identifying the suspect in these armed robbery cases. If a member of the public knows the individual in the photograph and video, or has information about the cases, please call the Salem Police Tips Line at 503-588-8477.

# # #

Attachments and links:

salem-police_smp21027541_suspect-image-1.jpg

salem-police_smp21027099­_ smp21027541_video

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Cascade Festival of African Films (CFAF), marking its 32nd year as the longest-running African film festival in the United States, will return this February. 

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, CFAF will be a hybrid festival this year, offering both virtual and in-person events. This free, five-week celebration of African cinema will run from Feb. 4 through March 5 and offer a glimpse of “Africa through African lenses.”

It features a curated collection of 30 films by African directors from more than 18 nations. There will be live interviews with filmmakers, community conversations and a virtual marketplace featuring local vendors and more. CFAF is a rare opportunity for Portland viewers to discover the diverse vibrancy of African culture. In its virtual format, CFAF films will become available for viewing on specific dates, and remain available for viewing anytime – from the comfort and safety of festival-goers’ homes – until the following Wednesday, up to a prescribed number of viewings. 

In 2022 – after a year spent in a fully online format – the festival will return with a limited number of in-person events, while also maintaining its connections over distance virtually. This year’s festival will focus on a theme of “Diaspora,” celebrating people of African descent living around the world, including in the United States.

CFAF’s opening-night film, “DiaTribe” (USA, 2020), is a concert documentary featuring the evolutionary lineage between African dance traditions and the dance styles of today's youth. Los Angeles-based filmmaker and poet poet A.J. Wone is joined by Portland-based Master Drummer Obo Addy and MC Mic Crenshaw, who converge to present a history of African music and dance dating back to its traditional roots.

“We felt that a film not only connecting the African continent with the diaspora, but also one that uplifted and celebrated local Portland artists, was exactly what we needed as we come back together as a community,” said CFAF Coordinator Tracy Francis.

Opening night will once again take place at the Hollywood Theatre, 4122 N.E. Sandy Blvd., at 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 4. The film will also be available virtually on CFAF’s Eventive platform, as well as a livestream of the pre- and post-film festivities and discussion (visit www.africanfilmfestival.org for more information). Director A.J. Wone will join viewers in person for a post-film discussion. 

“The concept and mission of ‘DiaTribe’ is to serve as a groundbreaker, using rhythm and soulful spirit with respect to unveiling an impermeable foundation bridging the continent with North America,” said A.J. Wone in his director’s statement. 

Additional in-person events include the festival’s centerpiece weekend, featuring  “Lingui, the Sacred Bonds” (Chad, 2021), by acclaimed Chadian director Mahamet Saleh Haroun on Friday, Feb. 18 at the Hollywood Theatre; and “Night Of Kings” (Ivory Coast, 2020) on Saturday, Feb. 19, at the Clinton Street Theatre, 2522 S.E. Clinton St. The closing-night film, “Min Alesh?” (Ethiopia, 2021), from up-and-coming director Amleset Muchie, will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 4 at the Clinton Theatre. In-person events will require proof of vaccination or a recent negative PCR COVID-19 test.

In 1991, the first CFAF drew approximately 400 people and today, sustained by a small staff and an army of dedicated volunteers, it has grown to 5,000 attendees.

For more information on viewing films or attending events, visit www.africanfilmfestival.org.

(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, is thankful for the community support to find Katelyn N. Smith. 

Katelyn, age 17, is a child in foster care who went missing from Coos Bay on Jan. 20. She was found Jan. 23.

A small number of children in foster care may be in significant danger when they run away or have gone missing. As ODHS works to do everything it can to find these missing children and ensure their safety, media alerts will be issued in some circumstances when it is determined necessary. Sometimes, in these situations, a child may go missing repeatedly, resulting in more than one media alert for the same child.

Report child abuse to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline by calling 1-855-503-SAFE (7233).  This toll-free number allows you to report abuse of any child or adult to the Oregon Department of Human Services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. 

###

The Centennial School District Governing Board will meet in executive session on Tuesday, January 25, 2022 virtually via the Zoom app at 11:30 a.m. under ORS 192.660(k) - to consider matters relating to school safety or a plan that responds to safety threats made toward a school. Media may attend but may not report on items discussed during executive session. 

To join the meeting if you are with the media, please click the link below or paste it into your browser.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83390570673?pwd=UjduV0lhL05lNC9uQ3JrcTNmTUhJZz09
Passcode: 394247

To join by phone, dial:
1 253 215 8782 or 1 346 248 7799
Webinar ID: 833 9057 0673  Passcode: 394247

To view the agenda and accompanying documents, click or paste this link into your browser: https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Organization/1561.  

The meeting agenda may be updated as needed. Additional board meeting documents will be added as they become available.   

For information about the agenda email pamela_jordan@csd28j.org or board@csd28j.org. 
 

Due to the recent outbreak of the Omicron virus in Clark County, the annual Project Homeless Connect resource and service event originally scheduled for this week has been rescheduled for Thursday, Feb. 24. 

In addition, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued a waiver for local communities to postpone the Point in Time Count until February 24 as well. The Point in Time Count is mandated by HUD as an annual census of people who are unhoused in Clark County. 

“With input from Clark County Public Health and the planning partners for both events, we made the determination to postpone for one month,” states Siobhana McEwen, advocacy and equity director for Council for the Homeless. She continues, “We look forward to applying the planning in place already this year and bringing the events to the community in February.”

About the Council for the Homeless

Council for the Homeless is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide community leadership, compelling advocacy, and practical solutions to prevent and end homelessness in Clark County, Wash. https://www.councilforthehomeless.org

On Saturday, January 22, 2022, at approximately 5:40 PM, Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a three-vehicle collision on Hwy 18 near milepost 17.

Preliminary investigation revealed a westbound black Mercedes 4D, operated by Gary Young (76) of Naches, Washington, crossed into the eastbound lane and collided with a grey Dodge van, operated by Cheryl Kaesemeyer (49) of Monmouth. After the initial collision a GMC pickup, operated by Jason Foidel (50) of Vancouver, Washington, struck the Dodge van. 

Young sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased. A passenger in the Mercedes, Judy Zazzaro (63) of Naches, Washington was injured and transported to a local hospital. Kaesemeyer and her passenger Raymond Kaesemeyer Jr. (53) were both injured and transported to a local area hospital. Foidel and his passenger, Becky Lindsay (58) of Vancouver, Washington were uninjured. 

Hwy 18 was closed for approximately 4 hours. 

OSP was assisted by Grand Ronde Fire Department, Grand Ronde Police Department and ODOT. 

Hwy 18 was closed for approximately 4 hours. 

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Registration is now open for the six noncredit certificate courses to be offered this spring through Washington State University Vancouver’s Professional and Corporate Education (PACE) program. 

Introducing such topics as Power BI, data science and communication, the courses will be offered online in the evenings via Zoom videoconference beginning Feb. 28. The format and schedule are designed to accommodate working professionals. 

Spring courses are:

Effective Communication Skills for Business—Gain comprehensive, practical and effective tools for clear, authentic and powerful communication and collaboration. Classes meet from 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays for eight weeks, starting Feb. 28. Cost: $995.

Business Analytics with Power BI—Power BI gives the Excel business user the ability to create and automate analytics in the Microsoft cloud. Classes meet from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays for six weeks, starting March 1. Cost: $995.

Python for Beginners—The course uses the Python programming language to explore the basics of programming. Classes meet from 6 to 9 p.m. for eight Tuesdays over nine weeks, starting March 1. Cost: $995.

SQL for Beginners—The course introduces relational database systems using MySQL with an emphasis on application of relational database methods and theories to practical real-world problems. Classes meet from 6 to 9 p.m. for eight Wednesdays over nine weeks, starting March 2. Cost: $995.

Data Science for Business Analytics—Learn how to gain a deeper understanding of your company’s data and learn to use it to generate insights and react quickly to customer and market feedback. Classes meet from 6 to 9 p.m. for eight Thursdays over nine weeks, starting March 3. Cost: $995.

Leadership Development Series—This course is designed for new and emerging leaders, with an emphasis on key principles and interaction essentials required to lead diverse and dynamic work teams. There will be one in-person session and seven online sessions. Classes meet from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, with eight sessions over 11 weeks, starting March 3. Cost: $1,195.

To register, complete the online form at vancouver.wsu.edu/pace. Space is limited. For more information, visit the website or email pace.info@wsu.edu.

About WSU Vancouver

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

# # #

The Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries is offering grants for qualified historic cemeteries. The annual grants fund projects that preserve historic cemeteries. Projects funded in the past include marker repair workshops, fencing, signs, interpretive panels and brochures, security lighting, access improvements, records management, and more. 

Awards typically range between $1,000 and $8,000, but have been higher. Anyone may apply for a grant. Projects must be related to historic cemeteries listed with the Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries. Recent projects include marker repair and workshops in several cemeteries, installations of signs and informational kiosks, a preservation plan, and a fence replacement. 

“Our goal is to preserve Oregon’s historic cemeteries and offer support throughout the application process,” said historic cemeteries program coordinator Kuri Gill. Last year’s awards included projects in in Benton, Clackamas, Columbia, Jackson, Klamath, Linn, Malheur, Marion, Polk, Tillamook, Umatilla, and Yamhill Counties.

The online grant application is simple to use and includes plenty of support.  A free, online workshop specific to this grant and how to use the online grant application system will be offered February 9, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Registration is required. Recorded trainings and tips are also online.

State law established the seven-member historic cemeteries commission to maintain a listing of all historic cemeteries and gravesites in Oregon; promote public education on the significance of historic cemeteries; and help obtain financial and technical assistance for restoring, improving and maintaining their appearances. These grants support the goals of the Oregon Historic Preservation Plan and the Oregon Heritage Plan. 

To learn more about the grants or workshops visit www.oregonheritage.org or contact Kuri Gill at i.Gill@oprd.oregon.gov">Kuri.Gill@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.

Vancouver, Wash. – Brrrurgers, Bites & Brews is back for another year (presented and supported by our friends at iQ Credit Union) as a weeklong cash back event for Police Activities League of SW Washington (PAL of SWWA). 

For one week (January 30th - February 5th) folx can visit a participating brewery or taphouse (listed below) and when they order the PAL Special, 20% of the purchase will come back to PAL!

We even created a passport to encourage you to visit multiple locations over the week. Visit FOUR locations and upload your completed passport (link below) by February 8th to be entered for a brew-quet (12-24 beers curated by Michael Perozzo of Zzeppelin). Visit ALL the locations and triple your chances!

2022 Participating Locations:

• Barlow's Public House
• Fortside Brewing Company with Taco Spaceship
• Grains of Wrath
• Heathen Brewing
• Loowit Brewing
• Mav's Taphouse
• Mahoney's Public House
• Mt. Tabor Vancouver Pub
• Northwood Public House
• Taps Beer Reserve in Ridgefield
• Taps Growler House in Vancouver

Learn more by visiting https://palofswwa.org/bbb2022/ or upload your passport HERE. 

On January 23, 2022, at approximately 10:34 am The Oregon State Police began a pursuit with a black Nissan Pathfinder after the driver was observed assaulting a female passenger. The pursuit began in Eugene, entered Springfield, and then returned to Eugene. The vehicle drove onto a bike path behind the Valley River Mall endangering bicyclists and pedestrians while continuing to elude. Due to the ongoing danger to the community, an Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife pickup contacted the vehicle. The Pathfinder lost control and spun to a stop down an embankment. 

The male driver was taken into custody without further incident. The female passenger was found to be a missing 17-year-old juvenile, who was released to the Department of Human Services.   The driver was identified as Timothy Wayne Emra (45) of Eugene. Emra was taken into custody for eluding, reckless driving, reckless endangering x9, felon in possession of a weapon, kidnapping, coercion, assault 4, PCS methamphetamine, DUII, criminal driving while suspended, tampering with physical evidence, and interfering.

  The Oregon State Police are seeking public assistance with information from individuals, who were on the bike path during the pursuit. If you were utilizing the bike path and were passed by the pursuit, please contact the Oregon State Police Dispatch at 1-800-442-2068 or OSP (677). Reference Case # SP22018204.

The Oregon State Police were assisted by Lane County Sheriff’s Office, Eugene Police Department, Springfield Police Department, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

On January 22, 2022 at approximately 7:40 a.m., the Keizer Police Department responded to a vehicle crash in the 5600 block of Trail Ave NE. Officers arrived and conducted an investigation which led to the arrest of 41 year-old, Andrew Modine of Keizer.

It was determined that Mr. Modine was traveling east on Lockhaven Dr NE before his vehicle left the roadway and drove up onto a landscaped area in the 700 block.  The vehicle re-entered Lockhaven and veered onto Trail Ave NE where it once again left the roadway and struck a power pole before careening into the home located at 5695 Trail Ave NE.  Two individuals were located in the home; 63 year-old George Heitz and 67 year-old Moira Hughes.  Mr. Heitz was transported to the Salem Hospital Emergency Department with serious injuries but is in stable condition.  Ms. Hughes was pronounced deceased on scene.

Mr. Modine is currently lodged at the Marion County Correctional Facility on the following charges:

• Manslaughter I 
• Assault II
• Reckless Endangering 
• Reckless Driving 
• Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants 
• Driving While Criminally Suspended 
• Criminal Mischief II 
• Probation Violation

This case has been sent to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office.  Future inquiries should be directed to their office. 
 

At 7:28 a.m. on January 21, 2022, SW Polk Fire District was dispatched to a two-vehicle crash on Hwy 22 and Smithfield. One patient was transported to the hospital. Hwy 22 was closed for approximately 20 minutes. Mutual aid was provided by Dallas Fire & EMS. Oregon State Police, Polk County Sherriff and ODOT assisted on scene. Driving conditions were poor due to weather, please take extra precautions when driving during low visibility.

At 5:57 a.m. on January 21, 2022, SW Polk Fire District was dispatched a two-vehicle crash on Rickreall and Ford Road. One patient was extricated and transported to the hospital. Mutual aid was provided by Dallas Fire & EMS and Polk County Sherriff also assisted on scene. 

Law enforcement and family are looking for 37-year-old Zachary Childers who has not been seen since 2:00 pm on Friday, January 21st, 2022.

Childers was last seen by a family member at the Vancouver Clinic 700 NE 87th Ave, Vancouver WA. He is autistic and forgets his name, where he lives, and becomes agitated when tired and hungry. He also has mental health issues and takes medication for medical issues.

He was last seen wearing a tan jacket, jeans, and white sneakers with red and blue trim. Childers is carrying a wallet with his ID and address inside. He is 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs approximately 225 pounds. He is balding with short brown hair and brown eyes. If you see him please call 911. VPD Case #2022-01866.

UPDATE

With the remarkable assistance of the Vancouver Police Departments Neighbors on Watch (NOW) volunteers, Zachary Childers was located safely. 

Vancouver, Wash. – The City of Vancouver is seeking applicants to fill vacancies on the Aviation Advisory Committee. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on March 11.

The Aviation Advisory Committee is appointed by the Vancouver City Council to provide advice and recommendations to the airport manager, city manager and city council, as well as other city departments, regarding the management and operations of the Pearson Field Airport (201A East Reserve Street Vancouver, WA 98661) and other aviation-related issues affecting the airport and the City of Vancouver. 

Applicants for this vacancy should demonstrate interest in the airport, and/or aviation and aeronautical activities, and preferably have skills in one or more relevant areas, such as: airport management, legal, marketing, finance, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) knowledge, real estate, business, and engineering. 

There is no city residency requirement to serve but interested applicants must be available for an online interview with Vancouver City Councilmembers. This recruitment is for seats with terms that vary in length (one to three years); all seats will have the option to seek reappointment for another full, three-year term. 

To apply online, visit www.cityofvancouver.us/boardsandcommissions. To request a paper application or for more information, contact the boards and commissions coordinator at Vancouver City Hall, P.O. Box 1995, Vancouver, WA 98668, c_coordinator@cityofvancouver.us">bc_coordinator@cityofvancouver.us or 360-487-8600. 

For more information about the Aviation Advisory Committee, please visit www.cityofvancouver.us/aac

###

About Pearson Field Airport:

Pearson Field is one of the oldest operating airfields in the U.S.  Located directly east of I-5 and just north of Highway 14 and the Columbia River, the airport is easily accessible by land and air. Each year, Pearson Field and Museum attract 39,500 visitors to Vancouver, generates $26,998,080 and supports roughly 460 jobs. The airport is operated by the City of Vancouver, which owns 61.8 acres of the 134.4-acre airport site. The remaining 72.6 acres are owned by the National Park Service and lie within the Vancouver National Historic Reserve.

January 21, 2022

Contact: OHA External Relations, covid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us">orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon reports 10,947 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 20 new deaths

PORTLAND, Ore. — There are 20 new COVID-19-related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 5,936, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

OHA reported 10,947 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 570,892.

OHA briefs media on rising hospitalizations, surging cases

Health Officer and State Epidemiologist Dean Sidelinger, M.D., M.S.Ed., briefed media today on the latest developments in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although cases and hospitalizations are surging, Sidelinger spoke about the difference Oregonians are making by wearing masks, indoors and outdoors, by restricting gatherings and by staying home when sick or upon a positive test.

“There is some light at the end of this very dark tunnel. The recent modeling suggests that cases could peak within the next week or so with hospitalizations – a lagging indicator – peaking in the following weeks,” he said.

More importantly, the forecast shows the difference everyone in Oregon is making by continuing to take preventive steps. The projected peak for hospitalizations is about 1,500 in early February.

Without the widespread adherence the state has seen from Oregonians, the curve would be much steeper – about 1,900 hospitalizations.

“The critical difference here in Oregon is you,” Sidelinger said.

His full comments can be found here. A recording of the briefing is here.

More Oregonians receive COVID-19 booster doses

Oregon continues to move closer to meeting Gov. Kate Brown’s goal, announced Dec. 17, of getting 1 million more people in the state a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of January.

When the challenge began, 949,749 people had received a booster dose. Since then, 428,592 Oregonians have received a booster.

As of today, Oregon needs 571,408 people to get a booster to reach the goal and make our state safer from the Omicron variant. Find a booster here.

COVID-19 hospitalizations

The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 1,091, which is 38 more than yesterday. There are 144 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is two more than yesterday.

There are 46 available adult ICU beds out of 664 total (7% availability) and 281 available adult non-ICU beds out of 4,118 (7% availability).

Statewide regions are as follows:

Region 1: Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Multnomah, Tillamook and Washington counties

Region 2: Benton, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties

Region 3: Coos, Curry, Douglas and Lane counties

Region 5: Jackson and Josephine counties

Region 6: Hood River, Gilliam, Sherman and Wasco counties

Region 7: Crook, Deschutes, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake and Wheeler counties

Region 9: Baker, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla, Union and Wallowa counties

The total number of patients in hospital beds may fluctuate between report times. The numbers do not reflect admissions per day, nor the length of hospital stay. Staffing limitations are not captured in this data and may further limit bed capacity.

Note: Please do not visit an emergency department for COVID-19 testing, unless you require emergency care for your symptoms.

Emergency departments in Oregon are under significant strain. You can find a test here. If you have a medical condition that doesn’t require emergency care, contact your provider. An urgent care center may also help you get the care you need and will save emergency departments from added strain.

More information about hospital capacity can be found here.

Vaccinations in Oregon

Today, OHA reported that 18,631 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry on Jan. 20. Of that total, 1,378 were initial doses, 947 were second doses and 5,835 were third doses and booster doses. The remaining 10,376 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry Jan. 20.

The seven-day running average is now 14,408 doses per day.

Oregon has now administered 3,984,841 doses of Pfizer Comirnaty, 199,476 doses of Pfizer pediatric, 2,622,243 doses of Moderna and 262,847 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.

As of today, 3,106,988 people have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 2,811,310 people have completed a COVID-19 vaccine series.

These data are preliminary and subject to change.

Updated vaccination data are provided on Oregon’s COVID-19 data dashboards and have been updated today.

Cases and deaths

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (40), Benton (181), Clackamas (845), Clatsop (80), Columbia (201), Coos (200), Crook (114), Curry (28), Deschutes (663), Douglas (226), Gilliam (1), Harney (1), Hood River (43), Jackson (661), Jefferson (213), Josephine (243), Klamath (253), Lake (11), Lane (1,196), Lincoln (109), Linn (480), Malheur (99), Marion (1,221), Morrow (43), Multnomah (1,487), Polk (261), Tillamook (38), Umatilla (317), Union (68), Wallowa (20), Wasco (72), Washington (1,280) and Yamhill (252).

Note: Additional information about cases and deaths to follow in an updated news release.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations  

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine situation in Oregon, visit our web page (English or Spanish), which has a breakdown of distribution and other information.

####

The Centennial School District Governing Board will meet in regular session on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 virtually via the Zoom app at 6:30 p.m.  

To join the meeting, please click or paste the link below into your browser:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83390570673?pwd=UjduV0lhL05lNC9uQ3JrcTNmTUhJZz09  

Passcode: 394247   

To join by phone, dial: 

1 253 215 8782 or 1 346 248 7799  

Webinar ID: 833 9057 0673   

Passcode: 394247 

To view the agenda and accompanying documents, click or paste this link into your browser: https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Organization/1561.  

The meeting agenda may be updated as needed. Additional board meeting documents will be added as they become available.   

For information about the agenda email pamela_jordan@csd28j.org or board@csd28j.org. 

Notice of Regular Meeting

The Fire Policy Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a regular meeting on February 23, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. in the Governor Victor G. Atiyeh Boardroom at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Julia Budlong (503)-378-2408.

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

Agenda Items:

1. Introductions

2. Approval of Minutes of November 17, 2021 Meeting

3. Administrative Actions

Presented by Brooke Bell-Uribe

4. William E. Eddy, DPSST No. 25304

Presented by Brooke Bell-Uribe

5. Proposed Rule Change for OAR 259-009-0059 - Minimum Standards for Certification

Presented by Jennifer Howald

6. OAR 259-009-0120 and OAR 259-009-0125 - Policy Review of Application for Certification Following a Denial or Revocation for Falsification

Presented by Jennifer Howald

7. Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Wall Nomination-Frumencio Ruiz Carapia – G.E. Forestry Inc. 

Presented by Julie Olsen

8. Director Update

9. Department Update

10. Next scheduled FPC meeting – May 25, 2022

Administrative Announcement

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

(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, asks the public to help find Katelyn N. Smith, age 17, a child in foster care who went missing from Coos Bay on Jan. 20. Katelyn is believed to be in danger.

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

Katelyn is suspected to be in the Coos Bay area. She may be in the presence of a 17-year-old male, or Trayton W. Glass, age 20. 

Name: Katelyn N. Smith
Pronouns: She/her
Date of birth: Aug. 3, 2004
Height: 5-foot-six
Weight: 120 pounds
Hair: Blue
Eye color: Brown 
Other identifying information: Katelyn’s lower lip is pierced; she has a nose piercing.
Coos Bay Police Department Case #P20220240
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children #1441272

A small number of children in foster care may be in significant danger when they run away or have gone missing. As ODHS works to do everything it can to find these missing children and ensure their safety, media alerts will be issued in some circumstances when it is determined necessary. Sometimes, in these situations, a child may go missing repeatedly, resulting in more than one media alert for the same child.

Report child abuse to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline by calling 1-855-503-SAFE (7233).  This toll-free number allows you to report abuse of any child or adult to the Oregon Department of Human Services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. 

###

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OREGON VIRTUAL ACADEMY

NOTICE OF REGULAR SESSION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

JANUARY 25^th, 2022 @ 6:30 p.m.

Oregon Virtual Academy Board Members are hereby notified that a Regular Session of the Board will be held via Zoom Webinar at

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87254322950 

Or Telephone:

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

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

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Process to request a speaking slot:

• Members of the community who wish to speak to the board during the public comment period should sign up at https://forms.gle/w6NK7v7RzJturs1c7 by 8am on the Monday prior to the meeting. A link to an electronic sign-up sheet will be available on the published meeting agenda. A list of speakers will be posted.
• When the board is ready, the chair will refer to the sign-up sheet and call out the names of participants that have confirmed a speaking slot.
• If more than 5 speakers sign up, those who have previously spoken within the past two board meetings will be moved to the bottom of the list, and the remaining will be randomized for the top 5.
   

Seaside, Ore. – January 21, 2022 – On Thursday, January 20, 2022, at approximately 11 a.m., detectives from the Seaside, Warrenton, and Cannon Beach Police Departments, as well as the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office with joint assistance from Oregon and Washington’s Department of Justice (DOJ) and Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Investigators, conducted a search warrant at the residence of John M. Dailey (DOB 1/20/1961), located at 2561 N. Roosevelt, #204, in Seaside, Oregon. 

Seaside Detectives began building a case against Dailey when an ICAC tip was received regarding him downloading and distributing child pornography using various computer devices in his residence. The extensive investigation resulted in the issuance of a search warrant for Dailey’s residence to be searched and for specific items related to child pornography to be seized and analyzed. 

During the execution of the search warrant, evidence of nine counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse 1 (ORS 163.684) and nine counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse 2 (163.686) were seized and analyzed. With the assistance of Oregon DHS, two juvenile dependents were taken into protective custody. 

Dailey was arrested for the charges without incident and transported to the Clatsop County Jail. This remains an ongoing investigation with potential future pending charges.

The Seaside Police Department would like to thank the above-mentioned agencies for their assistance and commitment to making our communities safer. 

If you have information regarding this investigation, please contact Detective Jess Vaughan at 503-738-6311 or email at jvaughan@cityofseaside.us.

end of release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE:      Thursday, January 20, 2022

Salem, Ore. — Salem Police detectives are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a male connected with two commercial robberies which occurred in late 2021. A photograph of surveillance footage from one of the robberies captured the image of the male suspect.

The first robbery occurred around 10:00 p.m. on November 20, 2021 at the United Market and Cigs on Silverton RD NE. The second incident took place approximately a month later on December 21, 2021 at the 76 Gas Station on Portland RD NE at approximately 4:00 a.m. No injuries were reported as a result of either robbery. 

Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding the robberies or the identity of the individual in the photographs to call the Salem Police Tips Line at 503-588-8477.

# # #

Attachments and links:

salem-police_smp21025163_suspect-image-1.jpg

salem-police_smp21025163_suspect-image-2.jpg

salem-police_smp21025163_video

The Parkrose Board of Education of School District No. 3, Multnomah County, Oregon, will convene in a Board Business Meeting on Monday, January 24th, 2022 at the hour of 6:30 pm.  

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

The agenda is posted on our website at: https://www.parkrose.k12.or.us/index.php?id=275. Agenda items include, but are not limited to: February Black History Month Resolution, ASB Report, PERS Pension Bond, Local Option, Monthly District General Fund Financial Report, OSBA conference, Regional Equity, OSBA Board, Color Caucus, NSBA Committee, Legislative Advocacy day, MESD budget committee, Board self evaluation and safeschools trainings, Reopening Update, State Board Bus Allowance draft request, annual Restraint & Seclusion Report, Reimbursement rate changes, District Weapons in Schools Policy and Trillium Family Services Sole Source request. 

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

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

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

On January 20th the Oregon Department of Education released high school graduation rates for the Class of 2021. The graduation rate for the Estacada School District is the highest in district history at 87%, and outperforms the state by more than 7%. Estacada High School’s graduation rate was 84.92%, also outperforming the state. 

These numbers represent respectable growth and a tremendous amount of work across the district, even failing to take into consideration the challenging context of student achievement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Estacada High School Principal Amy Hudson attributes much of this success to “The perseverance of our Class of 2021, as well as our district and staff’s collective commitment to executing our strategic plan and holding our students accountable to high levels of learning.” 

Districtwide graduation rates have continued to rise each year. Since 2017, the district’s graduation rate has improved by more than 33%. The district and Estacada High School have also experienced notable success in closing achievement gaps- with students in poverty, students with disabilities, and hispanic/latino graduation rates soaring above the state average for those historically underserved populations. 

District Superintendent Ryan Carpenter notes “The incredible growth and outcomes that we are seeing are strong evidence that the improvement measures that we have put in place are working. We are closing gaps with a true dedication to inclusive practices and committing ourselves to the success of each and every child. Our workforce and community can be proud that our system of improvement is leading to significantly better outcomes for our children and for our community.”

In August of 2020, the Washington County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) proactively contracted with Polis Solutions to thoroughly review all elements of Washington County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) operations, and administration related to the use of force. This forward-thinking decision ensures WCSO policies, procedures, standards, training, evaluation, and accountability related to the use of force strongly align with best practices.

As stated in the report, "Sheriff Pat Garrett gave clear directions to the Polis team to generate a report that would include practical, actionable recommendations with significant potential to measurably improve how WCSO manages the use of force." Additionally, Polis stated their "…primary recommendation would eventually be this: work deliberately to foster internal trust within the Sheriff's Office, and external trust between WCSO and the people of Washington County." Notably, the Sheriff's Office's Vision is in alignment, "Enhancing public safety by fostering a culture of professionalism, compassion and trust within the communities we serve and our Sheriff's Office team."

In December 2021, WCSO received the final report from Polis Solutions and has been actively evaluating all the recommendations. Over the next several months, WCSO will assess each recommendation and begin implementation. While some of the recommendations will be implemented in the near future, other recommendations will take longer to implement. WCSO asks the community to allow time to assess the recommended changes and make any appropriate decisions.

Polis Solutions' review found "Overall, reported use of force rates in Washington County [Sheriff's Office] are significantly lower than the estimated national average of police use of force, which is generally thought to occur or be threatened in approximately 1 - 2% of police-community contacts."

Sheriff Garrett said he was not surprised when he initially reviewed the report from Polis Solutions and read, "…throughout all of our interviews and conversations with the members of the WCSO, deputies spoke of the Washington County community with gratitude, respect, and appreciation for the level of public support they feel they have. The Polis team is hard-pressed to think of another agency where personnel express such unequivocal high regard for the community they serve."

You can find a copy of the report from Polis Solutions on the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Accountability web page.

Sheriff's Office Partners With Nationally Recognized Use of Force Experts

November 17, 2020

The Washington County Sheriff's Office recognizes public trust and accountability are of the utmost importance.

To ensure that all Washington County Sheriff's Office policies, procedures, standards, training, evaluation, and accountability related to the use of force align with best practices, the Sheriff's Office has contracted with Polis Solutions. After conducting a national search, receiving proposals from five vendors, and conducting a thorough evaluation, Polis was awarded the $149,700 contract. Under the contract, Polis will thoroughly review all elements of WCSO operations and administration related to the use of force.

Polis Solutions is a national research and training company that develops and implements customized, evidence-based programs for police, criminal justice, and other government and private organizations designed to improve public trust and safety. Polis Solutions' diverse team integrates experience and expertise in policing, training and education, social science, technology development, and organizational leadership and reform. Polis is nationally known for its innovative programs in areas such as de-escalation, community trust-building, use of force, and officer decision-making.

For the past 175 years, the Washington County Sheriff's Office has been pioneers in law enforcement. We continuously strive to facilitate deeper engagement with internal and external stakeholders across our community. The Sheriff's Office commits to assess and improve practices in order to foster community trust and safety.

Sheriff Pat Garrett stated, "Our decision to invite nationally recognized experts to review our use of force training and policy supports our vision of enhancing public safety by fostering a culture of professionalism, compassion, and trust within our Sheriff's Office team and the communities we serve. This project aligns with our community's interest regarding police use of force, and our commitment to being a learning organization focused on continuous improvement."

Over the next six months, Polis Solutions will interview key Sheriff's Office stakeholders and a diverse range of community members, visit our facilities, review policies and procedures, and analyze use of force data. In April 2021, Polis Solutions will present a final report with their findings and recommendations and will work with the Sheriff's Office to develop an implementation plan. The report will be made available to the public.

We look forward to working with Polis Solutions on this progressive effort and invite inquiries from the media and all interested parties. Polis also invites direct inquiries, comments, and questions about this project via email at info@polis-solutions.com.

The Tigard Police Department has now completed its internal review of the officer-involved shooting that took place on January 6, 2021, resulting in the death of Jacob Macduff.

As shared in previous news releases, the Attorney General’s Office convened a grand jury to hear testimony and review evidence in the case. In mid-September, the grand jury determined criminal charges were not warranted against the officer. Upon the conclusion of that criminal investigation, the Tigard Police Department began an internal review of the case, which is routine department policy for every use of force. To allow members of the Use of Force Review Board to thoroughly review the hundreds of pages of investigative materials, the Board convened on December 28, 2021. The Board was comprised of five people, including a representative from an outside police agency.

The Board reviewed several Tigard Police Department policies in evaluating this case to determine if any policy violations occurred. They found that the force used in this case, including initial less lethal rounds and the subsequent deadly use of force, were both within department policy. As is common in many force response reviews, the Board identified potential opportunities for future training. They also noted issues with aging audio equipment which has since been resolved with the upgrade and expansion of the department’s body worn camera program.

“First and foremost, I want to acknowledge that any loss of life is tragic. I know the Macduff family continues to endure that painful loss,” said Chief Kathy McAlpine. “Although the actions of the officers were within policy, we will bring subject matter experts together to provide additional training relating to barricaded subjects. I am thankful to the members of the Washington County Major Crimes Team, Washington County District Attorney’s Office, Oregon Department of Justice, grand jury and the internal Use of Force Review Board for their thoughtful and comprehensive review of this case.”

###

SALEM, Ore. – Jan. 21, 2022 – On Thursday night, January 20, the Gates City Council approved a variance in the city’s code, allowing for temporary housing to support residents of the Santiam Canyon who were displaced as a result of the Labor Day 2020 Wildfires.

As part of recovery efforts, Marion County was presented the opportunity to use the former Oak Park Motel property in Gates for temporary housing use. With the variance approval, Marion County Housing Authority will now be able to manage 16 Tiny Homes occupied by wildfire survivors for a period of 3-5 years, beginning summer of 2022.

Survivors that live in these units will have the ability to work with a variety of service organizations that will assist them in finding permanent housing in a rental or ownership capacity. 

Commissioner Danielle Bethell, chair, said, “The work being done to recover the Santiam Canyon has been a tremendous and emotional lift for all. The support from the City of Gates for this temporary housing site goes to show the flexibility and desire to recover as quickly as possible and bring survivors back to their communities, where they can begin to heal together. I am grateful to Mayor Carmickle and Mr. and Mrs. Evans for bringing this concept to fruition last spring.”

Marion County is finalizing construction documents for the planned development. The variance now allows the county to acquire building permits and a water pollution control facility permit from DEQ the development’s new septic system, both of which must be acquired before construction begins. 

For more information, contact the Board of Commissioners Office at (503) 588-5212 or email s@co.marion.or.us">commissioners@co.marion.or.us.

Correction (1.21.22): Please note the corrected spelling of defendant's last name below. O'Neill has two L's.

PORTLAND, Ore.—On January 18, 2022, a Springfield, Oregon man pleaded guilty for distributing marijuana on the dark web and laundering his cryptocurrency proceeds.

Robert Kelly O’Neill, 59, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and money laundering.

According to court documents, beginning around January 2016, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) began investigating the widespread importation and online distribution of controlled substances on dark web marketplaces. As part of the investigation, HSI and USPIS exposed widespread laundering of illicit digital currency proceeds across the country, including in Oregon. 

The investigation uncovered a money laundering operation involving a dark net vendor, GOLD, who exchanged Bitcoin for cash. GOLD received Bitcoin from customers and, in exchange for a fee, would mail or ship cash to a physical mailing address provided by the customer.

As the investigation continued, agents identified an individual using the alias “Resinate” who employed GOLD’s money laundering services. Resinate used various addresses, including several Oregon addresses, to receive cash shipments. Following delivery of the cash packages, known and unknown coconspirators would retrieve and deliver the packages to Resinate.

In October 2016, GOLD was arrested and an HSI agent in New York assumed his identity and continued conducting deals with Resinate. Between September 2015 and May 2018, Resinate laundered more than $725,000 in illicit proceeds through GOLD and another $167,000 in Bitcoin through a co-conspirator in Springfield. In addition, records from the dark web sites Silk Road and Silk Road 2.0 confirmed that, in 2013 and 2014, Resinate earned $390,000 in Bitcoin from the sale of marijuana.

In June 2018, law enforcement executed numerous federal search warrants at nominee house addresses and on O’Neill’s Springfield residence. Investigators discovered a marijuana processing and packaging operation in O’Neill’s garage and seized dozens of computers and electronic storage devices from O’Neill’s residence. Agents also found handwritten notes identifying O’Neill as Resinate. A forensic examination of O’Neill’s electronic devices returned Bitcoin wallet addresses, images and details of O’Neill’s various dark web marketplace vendor accounts, encrypted emails between O’Neill and the undercover HSI agent, and cryptocurrency wallet backups. 

In addition to the electronic and physical evidence, investigators identified and seized more than $21,469 in U.S. currency, six Bitcoin, and 458 Bitcoin Cash.

On September 3, 2021, O’Neill was charged by criminal information with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and money laundering. He will be sentenced on April 26, 2022 before U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. McShane.

Possession with intent to distribute marijuana is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine, and five years’ supervised release. Money laundering is punishable by up to 20 years in prison; a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved, whichever is greater; and three years’ supervised release.

As part of his plea agreement, O’Neill has agreed to forfeit the U.S. currency, Bitcoin, and Bitcoin Cash seized by agents.

U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.

This case was investigated by HSI, USPIS, IRS Criminal Investigation, in addition to assistance by numerous state and local law enforcement agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gavin W. Bruce prosecuted the case. 

This case is part of Operation Dark Gold, a coordinated, national law enforcement operation, announced in June 2018, that used the first nationwide undercover action to target vendors of illicit goods on the dark web. HSI special agents in New York, in coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, posed as a money launderer on dark web market sites, exchanging U.S. currency for virtual currency. Through this operation, HSI New York identified numerous vendors of illicit goods, leading to more than 90 criminal cases across the country.

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE:      January 21, 2022

Salem, Ore. — The Salem Police Department is aware of recent Portland-area media reports concerning an offensive image and meme related to protests. We understand the concerns and questions the captioned-image raises with our community. It is important for our community to know that no Salem Police staff was involved in the development or presentation of the offensive graphic.

A statewide basic crowd control training event is commonly hosted by several agencies and attended by officers from across the state of Oregon. The Salem Police Department provides instructors and instruction material for portions of this multi-day training. Salem Police instructors present their own materials and do not routinely co-present or co-produce with other agencies. No Salem Police staff provided instruction for the presentation module in question.

More importantly, the image and the meme do not reflect the values of the Salem Police Department or our expectation of conduct displayed by officers during any contact with the community. We take seriously our responsibility to protect the community while respecting individuals’ right to free speech and assembly, and our commitment to strengthening the public’s trust and confidence continues to be our focus and priority.

# # #

The Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division is seeking public assistance identifying the person(s) responsible for the unlawful taking of four antelope in Harney County.  

On January 17, 2022, a Fish and Wildlife Trooper from Burns responded to a report of two dead, and two injured antelope on private property adjacent to Highway 78 near milepost 33 and Rodeo Lane.  This location is about four miles south of Crane, Oregon.

The two severely injured antelope had to be euthanized due to their injuries and none of the antelope could be salvaged.

The unlawful take is believed to have occurred sometime during the evening of January 16 to the early morning hours of January 17.                                                                     

OSP is urging anyone with information regarding this case to call the Oregon State Police Tip-line at 1-800-452-7888, OSP (677), or email at TIP@state.or.us. Reference case # SP22-013307.

Report Wildlife and Habitat Law Violators

The Oregon Hunters Association TIP reward offers preference points or cash rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of Bighorn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Goat, Moose, Elk, Deer, Antelope, Bear, Cougar, Wolf, Upland Birds, Waterfowl, Furbearers, Game Fish and Shellfish. Cash rewards can also be awarded for turning in people who destroy habitat, illegally obtain licenses/tags, and for the unlawful lending/borrowing of big game tags.

PREFERENCE POINT REWARDS:

5 Points-Mountain Sheep

5 Points-Mountain Goat

5 Points-Moose

5 Points-Wolf

4 Points-Elk

4 Points-Deer

4 Points-Antelope

4 Points-Bear

4 Points-Cougar

 CASH REWARDS:

$1,000 Mountain Sheep, Mountain Goat and Moose

$500 Elk, Deer, and Antelope

$300 Bear, Cougar, and Wolf

$300 Habitat Destruction

$100 Upland Birds and Waterfowl

$100 Furbearers

$100 Game Fish and Shellfish

Salem, Oregon – Small grants that often make a large difference in ensuring arts access for Oregonians, especially in rural areas, have been awarded to 109 statewide arts organizations by the Oregon Arts Commission for FY2022. Twelve more small arts organizations qualified than in FY2021.

Awarded to arts organizations in virtually every region of the state, Small Operating Grants are designed to provide support to arts organizations with budgets under $150,000. Eligibility is limited to organizations who have operated as an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit for two years or more and provide ongoing, sustained artistic programming and outreach programs. Each organization received $2,178, slightly more than twice the amount awarded in FY2021. 

“The Arts Commission’s Small Operating Grants allow minuscule, all-volunteer organizations to have an outsized impact,” said Erin Scheessele, executive director of Orgelkids USA. “It frees us up to dream bigger and to bring a bit of wonder to our communities. For Orgelkids, that meant we could focus resources on designing and building a bike for our pipe organ so that we could continue our outreach and education through the pandemic.” 

“Although the Drexel H. Foundation and our community is rural and small compared to other parts of Oregon, our impact is HUGE,” said Sandijean Fuson, president of the Drexel H. Foundation. “Operating costs during COVID increased when we could not rely on our traditional volunteer base. This grant enabled us to keep an unbroken existence of programs we have had for over 25 years, reminding our community they are important.” 

“This grant program was developed to increase the Arts Commission’s support of Oregon’s small but mighty arts providers,” said Arts Commission Chair Jenny Green. “These organizations frequently represent the only arts presenter for remote and underserved regions of the state.”

For more information about the Small Operating Grant Program, contact Liora Sponko at (971) 345-1641 or via email at liora.sponko@biz.oregon.gov.

FY2022 Small Operating Grants were awarded to:

Airlie Press, Portland

Anima Mundi Productions, Phoenix

Applegate Regional Theatre Inc., Veneta

Art Accelerated, Tillamook

Art in Oregon, Oregon City

Arts and Business Alliance of Eugene, Eugene

Ashland New Plays Festival, Ashland

Astoria Arts and Movement Center, Astoria

Astoria Visual Arts, Inc., Astoria

Bach Cantata Choir, Portland

Ballet Folklórico Ritmo Alegre, Medford

Bandon Showcase, Inc., Bandon

Beaverton Symphony Orchestra, Beaverton

Blueprint Ensemble Arts & Theatre Initiative, Portland

Boom Arts, Portland

Bridgetown Conservatory of Musical Theatre, Portland

Bump in the Road Theatre, Portland

C.C. Stern Type Foundry, Portland

Cannon Beach Arts Association, Cannon Beach

Cascadia Center for Arts and Crafts, Government Camp

Cascadia Chapter of National Association of Composers, Portland

Cascadia Concert Opera, Astoria

Cathedral Park Performing Arts Collective, Portland

Ceili of the Valley Society, Salem

Choro in Schola, Portland

Classical Up Close, Tigard

Columbia Arts Guild, Columbia City

Columbia Gorge Orchestra Association, Hood River

Conchords Chorale, Tualatin

Corvallis Guitar Society, Corvallis

Corvallis Repertory Singers, Corvallis

CymaSpace, Portland

Dance Wire PDX, Portland

Drexel H. Foundation, Vale

Eastside Theater Company, Gresham

Emerald Empire Art Association, Springfield

Experience Theatre Project, Beaverton

Fear No Music , Portland

Festival Chorale Oregon, Salem

Future Prairie, Portland

Gallery Calapooia, Albany

Grande Ronde Symphony Association, La Grande

Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre Northwest, Portland

High Desert Chamber Music, Bend

Hillsboro Symphony Orchestra, Hillsboro

Hoffman Center for the Arts, Manzanita

Inland Northwest Musicians Inc., Hermiston

Integrated Arts (DBA Harmonic Laboratory), Eugene

Keizer Creative Art Association, Salem

Klamath Film, Klamath Falls

Live On Stage, Portland

Media-Rites, Portland

Michael Allen Harrison's Play It Forward, Beaverton

Mid-Valley Prelude Sinfonia Inc., Albany

Montavilla Jazz Festival, Portland

Morpheus Youth Project, Portland

Music Education & Performing Artists Association, Eugene

North Coast Chorale, Astoria

Opal Center for Arts and Education, Cottage Grove

Open Hearts Open Minds, Portland

OperaBend, Bend

Orchestra Next, Eugene

Oregon Artists Series Foundation, Salem

Oregon Arts Watch, Portland

Oregon Brass Society, Eugene

Oregon Children's Choir Association, Eugene

Oregon Coast Children's Theatre, Toledo

Oregon Coast Youth Symphony Festival Association, Newport

Oregon Spirit Chorus, Salem

Oregon Symphonic Band, Beaverton

Orgelkids USA, Corvallis

Partners for the PAC, Astoria

PDX Contemporary Ballet, Portland

Performance Works NorthWest, Portland

Peruvian Cultural Festival and Events, Beaverton

Piano Santa Foundation, Portland

PlayWrite, Portland

Portland Chamber Music, Portland

Portland Chamber Orchestra, Portland

Portland Festival Symphony, Portland

Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble , Portland

Portland Taiko , Portland

Portland Wind Symphony, Portland

Rasika Society for Arts of India, Hillsboro

Resonance Vocal Ensemble, Portland

Risk-Reward, Portland

Riverbend Live!, Winston

Salem Philharmonia Orchestra, Salem

Salem Pops Orchestra, Salem

Salem Symphonic Winds, Salem

Salem Youth Symphony Association, Salem

Scalehouse, Bend

Southern Oregon Guild, Cave Junction

Steps for Youth, Portland

The Dalles Art Association, The Dalles

The Geezer Gallery, Portland

The Verona Studio, Salem

Tolovana Arts Colony, Cannon Beach

Tualatin Valley Community Band, Tigard

Tualatin Valley Creates, Beaverton

Twilight Theater Company, Portland

Umpqua Symphony Association, Roseburg

Valley Art Association , Forest Grove

Willamette Jazz Society, Eugene

Willamette University, Salem

Willamette Valley Symphony, Albany

Women in Film-Portland, Portland

Wordcrafters in Eugene, Eugene

ZENAZEZZA INC., Portland

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:  www.oregonartscommission.org.

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is seeking volunteers for two positions on the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Grants Advisory Committee. 

The committee is seeking a snowmobile representative and water trail representative to join the ten-member committee charged with evaluating grant proposals for statewide trail projects. It meets once or twice a year, virtually or at locations throughout the state. Time commitment varies and includes reviewing and evaluating 25-40 grant applications each annual funding cycle. Committee members serve three-year terms and are eligible to serve a second term.

Ideal candidates can live anywhere in Oregon with experience in at least one of the following areas: land management, recreation planning, trail planning and recreation-related volunteerism. Trail enthusiasts qualified to evaluate project proposals are also encouraged to apply. Candidates should demonstrate an awareness of the needs and trends of the recreation type they represent and of broad statewide trail needs. 

Those interested in serving must submit an OPRD grant advisory committee appointment interest form by Monday, Feb. 28. The form is available online at oregon.gov/oprd/GRA/Pages/GRA-rtp.aspx#8

The competitive grant program is funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration and administered by OPRD. Grants are awarded to non-profit organizations and governments for motorized and non-motorized trail projects, including building new trails, improving existing trails and developing or improving trail facilities.

For more information about the advisory committee or application process, contact Jodi Bellefeuille, program coordinator, at ellefeuille@oprd.oregon.gov">Jodi.bellefeuille@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-856-6316.

Since 2017, the Portland Water Bureau has detected low levels of Cryptosporidium from routine monitoring of source water. The Portland Water Bureau received results from ongoing monitoring from the Bull Run Watershed intake for Cryptosporidium, a potentially disease-causing microorganism. In the 50 liters sampled each day from Jan. 16 to Jan. 19, one Cryptosporidium oocyst was detected in each of the samples collected on Jan. 16 and Jan. 17 and two oocysts were detected in the sample collected on Jan. 19. Cryptosporidium was not detected in the sample collected on Jan. 18. Prior to these detections, Cryptosporidium was last detected from the Bull Run Watershed intake on Jan. 11, 2022.

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

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

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

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

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

About the Portland Water Bureau

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

SALEM, Oregon – The Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries will meet via online meeting on February 4 at 1:00 p.m. The agenda includes discussion of invasion species and future workplan items. The meeting is open to the public and the agenda includes an opportunity for public comment. Meeting information is on the agenda or you can follow this link to register for contact. 

State law established the seven-member Commission to maintain a listing of all historic cemeteries and gravesites in Oregon; promote public education on the significance of historic cemeteries; and help obtain financial and technical assistance for restoring, improving and maintaining their appearances. For more information about commission activities, contact coordinator Kuri Gill at 503-986-0685 or by e-mail at i.gill@oprd.oregon.gov">kuri.gill@oprd.oregon.gov.

Special accommodations for the meeting – including translation services – may be made by calling (503) 986‐0690 at least 72 hours prior to the start of the meeting. For call-in details and the agenda or more information about the commission, visit www.oregonheritage.org.

January 20, 2022

Contact: OHA External Relations, covid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us">orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon reports 10,034 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 8 new deaths

PORTLAND, Ore. — There are eight new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 5,916, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority reported 10,034 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 559,960.

OHA hosts media availability

OHA will host a media availability at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 21, featuring Dr. Dean Sidelinger, state health officer and state epidemiologist. Members of the media can participate by joining this Zoom link.

COVID-19 weekly cases rise, hospitalizations and deaths decline

OHA’s COVID-19 Weekly Report released today shows an increase in daily cases and a drop in hospitalizations and deaths.

OHA reported 52,337 new cases of COVID-19 during the week of Monday, Jan. 10, through Sunday, Jan. 16. That is an 11% increase from the previous week and another weekly high for the pandemic.

There were 320,710 tests for COVID-19 for the week of Jan. 9 through Jan. 15, a 24% increase over the previous week and a new weekly high. The percentage of positive tests rose to 22%, up from 21% last week.

There were 441 new COVID-19 hospitalizations, down from 486 last week.

There were 83 reported COVID-19-related deaths, down from the 113 reported the previous week.

Today’s COVID-19 Weekly Outbreak Report shows 210 active COVID-19 outbreaks in senior living communities and congregate living settings, with three or more confirmed cases and one or more COVID-19 related deaths.

OHA releases new COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough report

OHA’s most recent update on COVID-19 breakthrough cases, released today, reported 55,612 cases of COVID-19 during the week of Jan. 9 to Jan.15.

Of those cases, 45,042, or 81%, were unvaccinated people and 10,570, or 19%, were vaccine breakthrough cases.

The average age of the breakthrough cases during that period was 38. Fifty-three breakthrough cases involved residents of care facilities, senior living communities or other congregate care settings. There were 958 cases in people aged 12 to 17.

To date, there have been 88,293 COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough cases in Oregon. The average age of all cases is 42. Breakthrough cases have been reported in all 36 counties.

Cases of COVID-19 are far more common in unvaccinated people. The report shows that the rate of COVID-19 in unvaccinated people is more than five times higher than in vaccinated people.

To date, 3.2% of all vaccine breakthrough cases have been hospitalized and 0.8% have died. The average age of vaccinated people who have died is 81.

Vaccination remains the most effective tool to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Oregonians are encouraged to get vaccinated and, if eligible, to get a booster shot.

The latest breakthrough report can be found here.

Pediatric cases update

COVID-19 cases continue to be high among children ages 0 to 17 with the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant, according to the latest weekly dashboard report of pediatric COVID-19 case data in Oregon.

Pediatric dashboard and Weekly Data Report update

In the face of rapidly rising Omicron cases, public health authorities are focused on responding to outbreaks in high-risk settings and no longer required to interview individual cases and conduct contact tracing.

With the transition to an opt-in model of case investigation, data on timely public health follow-up (percentage of COVID-19 cases where public health initiated follow-up within 24 hours) and the percentage of COVID-19 cases traced to a known source (cases with an epidemiologic link other than sporadic) will not be collected in the same way moving forward. As a result, we will no longer be reporting on these metrics and have updated the following reports to reflect this change.

• The Epidemiologic Link visualization in the Pediatric Dashboard has been removed.
• In the Weekly Data Report, the Epidemiologic Link, Interview and Follow-up sections have been removed as well.

More Oregonians receive COVID-19 booster doses

Oregon continues to move closer to meeting Gov. Kate Brown’s goal, announced Dec. 17, of getting 1 million more people in the state a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of January.

When the challenge began, 949,749 people had received a booster dose. Since then, 415,696 Oregonians have received a booster.

As of today, Oregon needs 584,304 people to get a booster to reach the goal and make our state safer from the Omicron variant. Find a booster here.

COVID-19 hospitalizations

The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 981, which is 60 more than yesterday. There are 142 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is eight more than yesterday.

There are 45 available adult ICU beds out of 648 total (7% availability) and 251 available adult non-ICU beds out of 4,146 (6% availability).

Statewide regions are as follows:

Region 1: Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Multnomah, Tillamook and Washington counties

Region 2: Benton, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties

Region 3: Coos, Curry, Douglas and Lane counties

Region 5: Jackson and Josephine counties

Region 6: Hood River, Gilliam, Sherman and Wasco counties

Region 7: Crook, Deschutes, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake and Wheeler counties

Region 9: Baker, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla, Union and Wallowa counties

The total number of patients in hospital beds may fluctuate between report times. The numbers do not reflect admissions per day, nor the length of hospital stay. Staffing limitations are not captured in this data and may further limit bed capacity.

Note: Please do not visit an emergency department for COVID-19 testing, unless you require emergency care for your symptoms.

Emergency departments in Oregon are under significant strain. You can find a test here. If you have a medical condition that doesn’t require emergency care, contact your provider. An urgent care center may also help you get the care you need and will save emergency departments from added strain.

More information about hospital capacity can be found here.

Vaccinations in Oregon

Today, OHA reported that 18,244 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry on Jan. 19. Of that total, 1,398 were initial doses, 941 were second doses and 5,509 were third doses and booster doses. The remaining 7,950 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry Jan. 19.

The seven-day running average is now 14,865 doses per day.

Oregon has now administered 3,974,479 doses of Pfizer Comirnaty, 197,799 doses of Pfizer pediatric, 2,616,235 doses of Moderna and 262,498 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.

As of today, 3,103,690 people have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 2,809,173 people have completed a COVID-19 vaccine series.

These data are preliminary and subject to change.

Updated vaccination data are provided on Oregon’s COVID-19 data dashboards and have been updated today.

Cases and deaths

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (25), Benton (278), Clackamas (776), Clatsop (79), Columbia (107), Coos (142), Crook (45), Curry (38), Deschutes (675), Douglas (204), Grant (65), Harney (4), Hood River (52), Jackson (508), Jefferson (128), Josephine (157), Klamath (146), Lake (4), Lane (747), Lincoln (169), Linn (575), Malheur (143), Marion (1,073), Morrow (50), Multnomah (1,434), Polk (226), Sherman (3), Tillamook (54), Umatilla (288), Union (61), Wallowa (13), Wasco (65), Washington (1,400), Wheeler (7) and Yamhill (293).

Oregon’s 5,909th COVID-19 related death is a 92-year-old woman from Jackson County who tested positive Jan. 11 and died Jan. 13 at her residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,910th COVID-19 related death is an 85-year-old man from Jackson County who tested positive Jan. 3 and died Jan. 17 at Providence Medford Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,911th COVID-19 related death is an 83-year-old man from Grant County who tested positive Dec. 26, 2021, and died Jan. 7 at St. Charles Bend. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,912th COVID-19 related death is a 71-year-old woman from Douglas County who tested positive Jan. 5, 2022, and died Dec. 30, 2021, at her residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,913th COVID-19 related death is a 71-year-old woman from Curry County who tested positive Jan. 13 and died Jan. 15 at her residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,914th COVID-19 related death is an 80-year-old man from Malheur County who tested positive Jan. 9 and died Jan. 16 at his residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,915th COVID-19 related death is a 65-year-old man from Lane County who tested positive Dec. 29, 2021, and died Jan. 18 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,916th COVID-19 related death is a 69-year-old woman from Josephine County who tested positive Dec. 23, 2021, and died Jan. 18 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations  

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine situation in Oregon, visit our web page (English or Spanish), which has a breakdown of distribution and other information.

Update: In response to community input, the application deadline for the Strategic Plan Advisory Committee has been extended to 11:59 pm on January 29. 

Vancouver, Washington—If you are someone who cares about Vancouver and is interested in helping shape the future of our community, we invite you to apply for a spot on the committee. Members will be appointed to a 2-year term to help develop and update the 2022-2027 Vancouver Strategic Plan. This document will guide city decision-making and lay out a roadmap for successfully achieving our community’s long-term goals.

Members of the Strategic Plan Advisory Committee will play an important role in identifying community needs, priorities and hopes for the future. Members will also work with the City Manager’s Office to:

• Support community outreach and listening
• Help improve communication between diverse community members and the City of Vancouver
• Identify and reflect on community needs, concerns and opportunities
• Guide how the strategic plan will collect data and measure progress toward goals

The City of Vancouver is committed to facilitating and amplifying multiple perspectives and experiences from across the city. We invite you to join us in this important effort and encourage all interested community members to apply by 11:59 pm on January 29 using the link below:

https://www.cityofvancouver.us/cmo/webform/strategic-plan-advisory-committee-application

If you have questions, if you would like to connect with staff from the Office of the City Manager, or if you would like to apply for the committee via audio or video recording, please contact: c_coordinator@cityofvancouver.us">bc_coordinator@cityofvancouver.us.

Today, the Oregon Department of Education released statewide graduation rates for the class of 2021. The report shows an overall 88.22% graduation rate for the Tigard-Tualatin School District (TTSD), increasing by 2.16% from 2020 and marking the highest reported graduation rate for TTSD. The District’s performance demonstrates growth in all student cohorts with significant gains in achievement for students with disabilities (+10.14%) and English language learners (21.3%).

“Today’s report is a strong testament to the collective student-focused commitment of TTSD’s teachers, administrators, and staff,” said Superintendent Dr. Sue Rieke-Smith. “We continue to outpace state results and close gaps in identified populations while raising achievement for all students. I cannot be more proud to serve this district, where educators are not letting our current challenges stand in the way of narrowing the achievement gap. This data is a result of the intentional strategies and data-informed collaboration efforts our team has in place to closely monitor and track students from 9th grade through graduation.”

TTSD’s overall four-year graduation rate has been on a steady climb since the 2014-15 school year, with a slight dip during the 2019-2020 school year. The 2021 graduation rate for the District’s underserved student populations grew at a higher rate than the district overall, significantly narrowing the gap for these populations. The combined disadvantaged student population group, which includes any student that is identified as underserved in at least one category, grew at twice the rate of the district overall.

“This is fantastic news for the TTSD Community,” said TTSD School Board Chair Ben Bowman. “These graduation rates are a testament to the incredible resiliency and hard work of our students and teachers during one of the most challenging periods for public education in modern history. They also prove that we can close opportunity gaps and raise achievement for all students at the same time.”

TTSD’s overall four-year graduation rate reflects the data from two comprehensive high schools and a special options program. The 2021 rates for TTSD’s individual schools are as follows:

Tualatin High School: 92.74 (92.50 for 2020)
Tigard High School: 90.45 (89.89 for 2020)
Creekside Community High School: 54.41 (48.48 for 2020)

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Transit Police Division seeks the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect who was involved in a robbery at the East 122^nd Avenue MAX Station on E. Burnside around 1 p.m. on January 4, 2022. Security camera footage captured the suspect attacking an elderly male who was seated in a wheelchair near the ticket kiosk. The suspect used force to steal the victim's wallet, which reportedly contained approximately $1,000.

The suspect is described as a Black male in his late teens or early twenties with brown eyes and black hair. At the time of the robbery, he was wearing a “Cookies” brand hooded-style sweatshirt. A photograph of the suspect is attached.

If you recognize this individual, please contact the Transit Police Division by calling 503-962-7566, and reference MCSO Case # 22-415.

Attachments: 
Attempt-to-Identify-1.png

Salem, OR,  (Jan. 20, 2022) - On Fri., Jan. 21 at noon on Zoom, the Salem City Club hosts Lessons Learned from Local Manufacturers: It Pays to Be Nimble When a Pandemic Strikes.

This program is the first part of a two-part series focusing on Salem’s local economy. Part one will address the manufacturing and trade sector.

Erik Andersson, President of the Strategic Economic Development Corporation (SEDCOR), will provide a general overview of the Salem-area economy. Russ Monk, CEO of Watershed LLC and co-founder of High Impact Technologies, will discuss pandemic-related experiences within his local company.

The second program in this series will occur on Fri., Feb. 18, and will focus on the local service sector and restaurants in Salem.

To register for the webinar, go to https://salemcityclub.com/, click the tab that says “Events,” click “Register,” and once registered, a spot will be reserved for the event. Registrants will be sent a link for the Zoom Webinar. Meetings are free for members and $5 for nonmembers.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE:      Thursday, January 20, 2022

Salem, Ore. — Salem Police detectives, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Portland Office, are seeking information related to a bank robbery at a Columbia Bank branch located in the 3300 block of Commercial ST SE. The robbery occurred near closing time on Friday, January 14, 2022 at 5:55 p.m.

The male suspect entered the bank through the front doors displaying a handgun. The suspect demanded money from the employees, who complied with his demands. After receiving the money, the suspect left through the front door of the business. 

Salem Police officers quickly arrived on scene but were unable to locate the suspect. The suspect was described by witnesses as a white, male adult, approximately 5’10” to 5’11” tall with a bigger build. He was last seen wearing a black mask, gray hooded sweatshirt, black jacket, black pants, and black gloves. 

Anyone with information regarding the robbery is asked to call the Salem Tips Line at 503-588-8477.

# # #

Portland, OR — January 20, 2022 — In partnership with the Oregon Chinese Diaspora Project and guided by co-guest editors Jennifer Fang and Chelsea Rose, the Oregon Historical Society’s scholarly journal, the Oregon Historical Quarterly (OHQ), recently published the Winter 2021 “Chinese Diaspora in Oregon” special issue, which makes visible the long, complex, and geographically diverse history of Chinese Oregonians.

The Oregon Historical Society has made available for free online the introduction to the special issue, “Erasure and Reclamation: Centering Diasporic Chinese Populations in Oregon History,” written by Jennifer Fang. Readers can also access the introduction translated into Chinese, 抹杀和复原：聚焦俄勒冈史上的离散华人群体.

Focused on the period beginning in 1850 and continuing through the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1943, this heavily illustrated special issue offers both new research and new conclusions about the history of Chinese people in Oregon — a subject that has been erased in Oregon’s public memory over the course of 200 years. In her introduction, Fang emphasizes the importance of this publication: “The works in this special issue compellingly demonstrate that reclaiming the place of Chinese people paves the way for nothing less than a new understanding of Oregon history.”

The special issue was over two years in the making and draws on the expertise of twenty authors, including historians, archaeologists, genealogists, and community knowledge-holders, who help readers better understand this part of Oregon’s past. Maps, images, and primary documents throughout the issue help to document complex transpacific networks and how early Chinese communities were integral to the shaping of Oregon. These communities existed in every corner of Oregon, in rural and urban areas, and thrived while navigating complex governmental, social, and cultural systems that were often unwelcoming and oppressive. 

The “Chinese Diaspora in Oregon” issue of OHQ begins with the findings of archaeological investigations that document the work, skills, and living conditions of Chinese miners in eastern Oregon and Chinese laborers in southern Oregon. Through these compelling histories, readers learn about highly skilled kongsi miners, who brought with them to Oregon in the 1860s over a hundred years of experience moving people, supplies, and gold over great distances in foreign lands. Authors also document the ways Chinese laborers accessed, lived, and worked at the remote Buck Rock Tunnel site, an abandoned tunnel on the Oregon & California Railroad’s Siskiyou Line. They explore early Chinese communities in Salem and Eugene that have been erased from the physical landscape and, until recent years, from public memory. A history comic illustrates the imagined life of a Chinese cowboy who lived and worked in Grant County and dispels misconceptions that often permeate the history of Chinese pioneers in America. 

The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, building on the Page Act of 1876, dominated the experiences of many Chinese people and divided the Chinese community into two distinct classes: laborers and a privileged class that included merchants. Through the lives of Chinese merchants in Ashland, Salem, Eugene, Portland, and The Dalles, readers learn about the critical role merchants served in Chinese communities — as business owners and leaders who used their social mobility to resist and persist throughout history. The scrutiny and complicated documentation process that the U.S. government imposed during the Exclusion Era — on both American-born citizens and Chinese nationals — is documented in two articles that explore Chinese Exclusion Act case files held by the National Archives and Records Administration. Concluding the special issue is an invaluable guide on researching Chinese ancestry. These articles are all launching points for researchers, especially Chinese and Chinese Americans, to learn about and document their families’ diverse histories and continue the important work of reclaiming the place of Chinese people in Oregon history. 

Published continuously since 1900, OHQ brings well-researched, well-written history about Oregon and the Pacific Northwest to both scholars and general readers. OHQ is one of the largest state historical society journals in the United States and is a recognized and respected source for the history of the Pacific Northwest region. The Winter 2021 “Chinese Diaspora in Oregon” special issue and many back issues of the Oregon Historical Quarterly are available for purchase through the Oregon Historical Society’s Museum Store for $10, and a subscription to OHQ is a benefit of Oregon Historical Society membership. 
 

About the Oregon Historical Society

For more than a century, the Oregon Historical Society has served as the state’s collective memory, preserving a vast collection of artifacts, photographs, maps, manuscript materials, books, films, and oral histories. Our research library, museum, digital platforms & website (www.ohs.org), 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 rich as Oregon’s cannot be contained within a single story or point of view. 

Chemeketa Community College students, who are planning to transfer, are encouraged to learn more about four-year institutions at Oregon Transfer Days

Salem, Ore., January 20, 2022 — Chemeketa Community College is encouraging all students who are planning to transfer to a university to attend the Official Oregon Transfer Days 2022. The virtual fair will take place on Tuesday, January 25, and Thursday, January 27, 2022. The fair times are 10 am to 1 pm and 4 pm to 6:30 pm.

Each year, thousands of students make the transition from a community college to a four-year college or university. Oregon Transfer Days (OTD) is an outreach partnership of Oregon's public and private colleges and universities. OTD is a time when four-year institutions' admission staff are available to answer questions about their school and answer specific questions from students.

Chemeketa Community College and other students from across the state are welcomed and encouraged to join OTD, whether they are actively planning to transfer or just starting to consider their four-year degree opportunities.  Approximately twenty Oregon private and public admission staff are represented and representatives from the Ford Foundation Scholarship will be present (a formal list of participating schools will be available closer to the event).

During the fair, students do not make appointments but "drop-in" to as many tables/universities as needed and engage with as many admissions staff as they would like.  Remo is a virtual conference platform that will allow individuals to freely move around 'tables" and meet with university representatives and community college advising staff to assist students with their college choices, options, and any questions they may have.  

Students will access the fair by using the link www.oracrao.org/events/oregon-transfer-days. For more information, contact tiffany.borden@chemeketa.edu

####

For more than 50 years, Chemeketa Community College has committed itself to transforming lives and our community through exceptional learning experiences in the Mid-Willamette Valley. As the second multi-campus district in Oregon, Chemeketa serves 30,000 students annually at its Salem and Yamhill Valley campuses, as well as Brooks, Eola, Winema, Dallas, Woodburn and Chemeketa Center for Business and Industry (CCBI).

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

Jan. 20, 2022

Salem – The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation is warning Oregonians to use caution when investing in cryptocurrencies, nonfungible tokens, or other new or volatile products.

Cryptocurrencies are digital assets that have no government backing. They are typically purchased, used, stored, and traded electronically through digital currency exchanges. They can be traded for goods and services, transferred from one person to another, or held for investment purposes.

A nonfungible token – or NFT – is a unique unit of data that is not interchangeable and is stored on a blockchain. They are often linked to digital works of art, photos, and videos.

There are nearly 10,000 active cryptocurrencies and they and NFTs are increasing in popularity. Regulation of these new asset types is still evolving. While there are often promises of big returns consumers often lose money when investing in them.

In fact, earlier this month, the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) released its annual list of top investor threats, and investments tied to cryptocurrencies and digital assets topped the list.

“Scams promising big returns on cryptocurrencies and NFTs are flooding the Internet,” said TK Keen, administrator for the Division of Financial Regulation. “Investors wanting to purchase cryptocurrencies and NFTs should do their homework to make sure they fully understand these investments and their risks before getting involved.”

The Division of Financial Regulation encourages Oregonians to follow these tips before deciding to invest in cryptocurrency or NFTs:

• Carefully research these types of investments. Many of these “investment opportunities” are speculative in nature. Before engaging in a transaction, make sure that you understand what you are purchasing, the value of the item purchased, the reason for the valuation, and how easy it is to sell the investment if you want to get out your money. 
• Use a digital currency exchange that is licensed with the state to transmit cryptocurrency to someone else. Oregon law requires companies that transfer digital currency from one person to another to be licensed as money transmitters. Digital currency exchange companies that purchase or sell cryptocurrency from their own inventories are not required to be licensed. 
• Do not spend money you need. The volatility of the digital currency and NFT markets means that you should not purchase cryptocurrency with money that is needed for essential purposes such as food, housing, and gas.

Consumers who have questions about these unregulated assets can call the division’s advocates at 866-814-9710 (toll-free).

###

The Division of Financial Regulation is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. Visit dfr.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov. 

Vancouver, Wash. –On August 19, 2021, Vancouver Police responded to a death investigation call at a residence in the 1400 block of NE 140th Avenue after a family member discovered the victim deceased. The initial investigation at the scene provided several details regarding the circumstances of the case and indicated the 31-year-old male had died of a possible drug overdose.

Detectives from the Vancouver Police Department Neighborhood Response Team began further investigation and the Clark County Medical Examiner’s report confirmed Fentanyl and Methamphetamine as the primary causes of death.

The investigation led to the identification of Travis R. Timme, 32 years of age, as the individual who had provided the victim drugs that led to his death. 

On January 19, 2022, Detectives with the Safe Streets Task Force and Neighborhood Response Team conducted a traffic stop on Timme, who was taken into custody without incident. Timme was arrested and booked into the Clark County Jail on multiple charges including Controlled Substance Homicide and Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver. 

The investigation is continuing and nothing further is being released at this time. 

###

Jan. 20, 2022

Media Contact: Delia Hernández 

503-986-2051 

equests@hcs.oregon.gov">HCS.mediarequests@hcs.oregon.gov 

Nearly 35,000 Oregon households have received more than $243 million in rental assistance relief due to hardship from pandemic 

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) announced that as of Jan. 19, 2022, OHCS and local program administrators (LPAs) have paid $243.6 million in federal emergency rental assistance (ERA) to 34,900 households, up from $235.4 million and 33,770 applicants last week, through the Oregon Emergency Rental Assistance Program (OERAP). 

OERAP continues to be one of the nation’s top-performing programs and is ranked sixth in the nation, in the percentage of federal ERA funds paid out and obligated, as tracked by the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

Limited OERAP portal reopening on Jan. 26

OHCS will again begin accepting new applications for OERAP starting on Wed., Jan. 26, 2022. This will be a limited reopening based on availability of funds. The agency estimates to have sufficient funding to support between 6,700-9,300 renters. Households with the most need will have priority in accessing these resources, not a first-come, first-served basis. 

The agency says it’s important for renters to know that applications received on or after Jan. 26, 2022, will be processed after applications received before Dec. 1, 2021, and to expect a delay prior to processing and payment. Importantly, because of the passage of Senate Bill 891 (SB 891), tenants who apply on Jan. 26, 2022, or after may receive safe harbor protections that prevent landlords from evicting tenants until their OERAP application is processed. SB 891, passed by the Oregon State Legislature this past December, also directed OHCS to prioritize processing applications received before Dec. 1, 2021.

Other rental assistance is available in many localities in Oregon through local programs that are operating independently from OERAP. Tenants applying for these programs can qualify for  safe harbor eviction protections. People can contact 211 or Community Action Agencies in their area.

Progress and updated numbers  

Through its three-point plan, OHCS and its processing partner, Public Partnerships LLC (PPL), have made significant strides in the past several weeks to speed up application processing. Currently, 265 PPL staff are focusing on processing applications. In the past week alone, PPL paid 2,336 applications. This is in addition to the applications processed by LPAs working across the state to finish paying out ERA 1 funds. 

To date, OHCS and LPAs: 

• Paid $243,618,433 to landlords and tenants to help 34,900 Oregon households, 84% of ERA 1 and 2 funds. 
• Currently reviewing for payment 8,313 applications.
• Need applicant or landlord response for 5,754 applications.

Visit the OERAP dashboard for more data. We have also attached the Spanish Translated Press Release.

A major project is beginning at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, which will provide a new, main visitor parking lot and improvements to East 5th Street. This is a key component of the vision outlined in the site's Master Plan, and will improve circulation for vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians. This project is partially funded by a Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) grant and is a collaboration between the City of Vancouver, the Western Federal Lands Highway Division, and the National Park Service.

This $2.9 million contract was awarded to Westech Construction, Inc., of Portland, Oregon. It includes the new visitor parking lot south of East 5th Street and west of Fort Vancouver, as well as associated landscaping, lighting, and signage. It also includes improvements to East 5th Street, including repaving, new sidewalks, reoriented parking spaces, and bicycle and pedestrian routes. Work is expected to be completed in Fall, 2022.

"We are very fortunate to be able to take additional steps to make this the vibrant campus for public service that we all envisioned during the planning process. The new, main visitor parking area will be a central hub from which visitors will experience all the park has to offer, and improvements to the connecting roadway will allow for more safe, efficient, and accessible access to the national park," said Superintendent Tracy Fortmann.

This work will have temporary effects on circulation through and to the park, and we appreciate your understanding as it progresses. For the most up-to-date information on road or sidewalk closures, please go to our website at www.nps.gov/fova.

With students all over the Ridgefield High School campus sporting blue bracelets, classroom speakers come to life as the daily announcement is read over the intercom. “Hey Spuds, join the Ridgefield Hero Movement!” Posters adorning the walls in the school’s hallways read, “Be a Hero, Not a Villain.” This might sound like a grassroots marketing campaign for the latest theatrical release from Marvel Studios, but this is actually all part of a student-driven anti-bullying program called the Hero Movement. 

The Hero Movement is distinct from other anti-bullying campaigns because it was created by students, for students. Andrea Reinertson’s leadership class wanted to create a movement for positive social change within the Ridgefield School District. To achieve that, they blended lessons from two different units, applying marketing and change-building skills to positive character development.

The class kicked off the campaign with a series of “character challenges”. Each day, they received a new challenge focused on a different character trait—kindness, patience, respect, commitment, forgiveness, selflessness, honesty, humility, and patience. The challenges started out easy, like opening the door for someone you know and for someone you don’t. The challenges gradually required more involvement, like spending time with someone who they normally wouldn’t, and actively listening to that person and focusing on treating them with genuine respect. 

By the time the students completed the challenges, they had a better understanding of how to build character by making small positive steps each day. Their next goal was to work together to put character change into action schoolwide. They applied what they learned to developing the Hero Movement anti-bullying campaign. 

What makes a hero? The students define it as someone they believe will help facilitate change for the better, and someone who stands up to bullying. The students thought about what they might actually say in real life or on social media to stand up to bullies. They started with the fairly straightforward message of simply saying, “Hey, that’s not cool.” With this simple phrase, they hoped to inspire a network of advocates on their school campus who will actively stand up to bullying behaviors when they see them. 

Reinertson had the blue bracelets leftover from a prior marketing class project. The message on the bracelets, “Join the Hero Movement”, tied in perfectly with bullying prevention. The students distributed them to 100 students they identified as heroes, and also gave three bracelets to each teacher in the school. Each bracelet came with a note explaining the project and asking students to help prevent bullying. 

From there, other students started asking how to get bracelets. The leadership class created additional ways to promote and distribute the bracelets. They wrote morning announcements to alert all students to the new campaign. School social media accounts promoted Hero Movement events and ideas, and they created posters with QR codes so students could apply to participate. 

So far, the campaign has been a great success, with students across Ridgefield High School asking to participate. The leadership class hopes to keep momentum going in a number of ways, from Hero Movement social events to creating safe spaces for bullied students. Reinertson’s class plans to continue using small steps to create big changes, one bracelet at a time.

Clark County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division continues to see a significant increase in the number of auto thefts within our jurisdiction. We are requesting the public's assistance in helping us reduce what is often a very preventable crime.    

In 2020 there were 581 vehicles reported stolen to the Sheriff’s Office.  In 2021 that total number increased to 801 stolen vehicles.   

To illustrate how prevalent this crime has become, we tracked auto theft over a 19-day period in one single area of the county, the Orchards area.  From January 1st to January 19^th, 2022, there were 23 vehicles stolen from the Orchards area alone.  These numbers only include auto thefts reported to Clark County Sheriff which occurred in and around Orchards, and not those reported to the Vancouver Police Department, which essentially covers any area south of Fourth Plain Blvd.  Of these 23 vehicles, five were left running or warming up in driveways or parking lots.

On January 20^th, 2022, during a 30-minute period of our morning rush hour, Patrol Deputies located 19 vehicles left running unattended in the Sifton and Orchards neighborhoods alone.  Deputies spoke with some of the owners, to help educate them on the dangers of leaving a vehicle warming up unattended.   

It is important for the public to know in most cases, our deputies are not authorized to pursue occupied stolen vehicles or use intervention techniques to recover occupied stolen vehicles.  Therefore, most stolen vehicles are not recovered unless they are abandoned by the suspect.   In many cases, these stolen vehicles are kept for extended periods of times by criminals and then used to commit further crime.   

The Sheriff's Office is asking the public to be more vigilant about their vehicles by not leaving them running or warming up unattended.  Set car alarms, do not leave keys in vehicles, block vehicles in at night or keep them in a garage if possible.

Please be aware that criminals are often roaming both on foot and in vehicles during the morning hours, specifically looking for targets of opportunity. Don’t be an easy target for a criminal; keep your vehicle locked and warm it up under your supervision. 

If you have any information regarding the location of a stolen vehicle or suspects involved, please notify the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, or call 311 to report.

Dr. Carlos Williams, orthopedic surgeon, performed Vancouver Clinic’s 100th outpatient procedure coinciding with the first anniversary of the Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) at the 87th Avenue clinic. The surgery center provides patients with options that no longer require a trip to the hospital. 

Patients usually return home within seven hours of outpatient surgery. “Our care team closely follows our patients once they are home to help promote healing,” said Dr. Casey Cornelius, orthopedic surgeon. “We find our patients prefer being home.”

Joint replacements have advanced and are performed in a less invasive manner and with greater precision. Patient recovery is faster and implants are longer-lasting. Offering joint replacements in an outpatient setting helps improve patient outcomes, reduces the risk of hospital-borne infections, and reduces costs for the patient. 

As the program begins its second year, Vancouver Clinic is expanding. It is building a new, larger ASC to open in the fall of 2022 at the Salmon Creek campus. The new surgery center will double Vancouver Clinic’s number of operating rooms to six.

“The outpatient surgical services at Salmon Creek II will allow us to expand our excellent care experience to more patients,” said Chief Medical Officer Dr. Alfred Seekamp. “We are excited to see the Salmon Creek campus serve more of our community with the new surgery center and an expanded-hour urgent care.”

ABOUT VANCOUVER CLINIC
Caring for people is our first priority and the driving force behind everything we do. Vancouver Clinic has served the community of Southwest Washington since 1936 and is the largest private, multispecialty clinic in Clark County. We currently offer 13 clinic locations across Southwest Washington and the Portland metro and provide 40-plus medical specialties. With more than 1,200 employees, plus 400 providers, we are also one of the largest employers in the region and a powerhouse for the local economy. For more information, visit tvc.org.

Saturday, January 22nd will mark the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. At a time when abortion access is systematically being dismantled across the nation and reproductive rights are at risk like never before, Oregon is one of the few states in the country continuing to protect and expand access to abortion. The U.S. Supreme Court has already allowed the decimation of abortion access in Texas and green-lit the unraveling of abortion protections around the nation. With the court considering a case that could officially erase nearly 50 years of precedent and the constitutional right to abortion, abortion access could be at risk in more than half the states in the country.
 

In Oregon, state legislators protected and expanded abortion access by passing 2017’s Reproductive Health Equity Act, which safeguards abortion rights in Oregon no matter what happens to Roe. Yet the legal right to an abortion has never been enough when millions can’t access it. For so many, including some Oregonians, abortion is a right in name only. That is why Oregon continues to push beyond legal protection to enact policies that expand and ensure access to safe, quality reproductive health care. Last year Oregon passed the Telehealth Equity Act, which ensures coverage of telehealth services so Oregonians can access health care no matter where they are, and the Equal Access to Care Act, which protects access to essential health services, including reproductive health care, during mergers and acquisitions.
 

Statement from Lisa Gardner, President & CEO, Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon:
 

“Access to abortion should not depend on your ZIP code. As safe and legal abortion access is under attack all across the country, Planned Parenthood health centers in Oregon are continuing to provide patients with expert, compassionate abortion care. We will continue providing care to all patients in our communities and those who travel to our state to access the abortion care they deserve.” 
 

Statement from Anne Udall, President & CEO, Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette:
 

“Planned Parenthood health centers are utilizing technology and innovation to continue increasing access to medication abortion care through telehealth. Studies have shown that medication abortion is as safe and effective as medical abortions conducted in person. Still, there is more work to be done, especially to ensure access for those facing systemic barriers to care — Black, Brown and Native communities; LGBTQ+ people; people in rural areas; and those struggling to make ends meet.”
 

Statement from An Do, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon:
 

“By this summer, the Supreme Court could officially erase nearly 50 years of precedent and gut the constitutional protections that millions rely on to legally access an abortion. Whether or not the Supreme Court explicitly overturns Roe v. Wade, we know that the right to an abortion has never been enough to guarantee access. We cannot be complacent. We must continue fighting for proactive measures to protect and expand abortion access across the country, and the U.S. Senate must follow the lead of our Oregon leaders, take action and pass the Women’s Health Protection Act as soon as possible.”
 

Less than two months ago, a majority of Supreme Court justices appeared prepared to overturn Roe during oral arguments in a case on a Mississippi abortion ban where the state explicitly requested the constitutional right be overturned. Should Roe be overturned, by this summer, politicians in about half of U.S. states may be able to control people’s personal reproductive decisions. About 36 million women — nearly half of the women of reproductive age (18-49) in the United States and more people who can become pregnant — could lose access to abortion.
 

Last year, in a historic vote, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA) with the support of Oregon Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, Congressman Peter DeFazio, Congressman Earl Blumenauer and Congressman Kurt Schrader. WHPA establishes a statuatory right to provide and receive abortion care, prohibiting states from implementing abortion bans and restrictions. The U.S. Senate must follow suit and pass WHPA as soon as possible to ensure everyone can make their own healthcare decisions without political interference.
 

Roe at Risk: Oregon Impact Report

With the U.S. Supreme Court poised to rule on a case that could render the constitutional right to an abortion meaningless, recent research from Planned Parenthood Federation of America and In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda shows that nearly half of the women in the United States of reproductive age — more than 36 million women — and more people who can become pregnant, could lose abortion access if Roe v. Wade is overturned. 
 

Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a petition to uphold Mississippi’s cruel 15-week abortion ban, could hollow out Roe and upend nearly 50 years of precedent. In fact, the state of Mississippi is asking the court to overturn both Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992), which would pave the way for 26 states to quickly move to ban abortion. 
 

Idaho is among 12 states with trigger laws that state governments could use to ban abortion immediately after a Supreme Court decision overruling or undermining Roe. Oregonians would be directly harmed as a result:
 

• An analysis in The New York Times indicates that Eastern Oregonians could see a 35% reduction in abortion access, forced to drive hundreds of miles to the nearest provider in Bend. 
• A study by The Guttmacher Institute indicates that Oregon health centers would experience a 234% increase in out-of-state patients if a 15-week abortion ban goes into effect.
• Oregon health centers are already experiencing staffing shortages. In a post-Roe world, there would be real impacts for Oregonians who may have trouble getting appointments in their own communities.
   

We are at a crisis moment for abortion access. In 2021 alone, nearly 600 abortion restrictions were introduced nationwide, including 11 here in Oregon, with 108 enacted into law across the country — more than in any year since Roe was decided. 
 

For millions of Americans, abortion is already a right in name only. For far too many people, abortion is nearly inaccessible due to a shortage of abortion providers, lack of insurance coverage and an onslaught of draconian and medically unnecessary state restrictions — including mandatory waiting periods, forced ultrasounds, biased counseling, bans on safe abortion methods and telemedicine bans. 
 

• The 36 million people who would lose access to abortion if Roe is overturned include 5.3 million Black people, 5.7 million Hispanic or Latino people, 1.1 million Asian people and nearly 340,000 American Indian or Alaska Native people of reproductive age (American Community Survey 2019). 
• Those who receive abortions are 39% white, 28% Black, 25% Hispanic and 6% AAPI.
• In 2019, nearly 1 in 9 women across the country lived in poverty — and those were disproportionately Black, Latina or Indigenous women, who experience poverty at twice the rate of non-Hispanic white women due to economic disparities rooted in racist policies.
• Groups facing discrimination and systemic oppression in the healthcare system are more likely to have low incomes and more likely to use Medicaid — including people of color, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities and women. These insurance programs may not use federal funds to cover abortion because of the Hyde Amendment, a discriminatory restriction in effect for more than 40 years. The majority of abortion patients are forced to pay out-of-pocket for the procedure, which averages around $500 — a significant and unexpected expense for people with low incomes. 
• The vast majority of abortion patients (75%) are people with low incomes, and 49% earn below the federal poverty level (a family of two earning an annual income of $15,730 or less). 
• Access to abortion hinges not just on navigating the financial cost, but on managing logistical barriers like child care, time off work and travel.
   

THE BOTTOM LINE: THE THREAT TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO AN ABORTION HAS NEVER BEEN GREATER. 
 

Abortion justice can only be achieved when people have the complete economic and social power and resources to make healthy decisions about their bodies, families and communities in all areas of their lives. It is time to depoliticize what should be a personal healthcare decision, support abortion access in all communities and support policies that increase access to abortion — rather than decimating people’s most basic rights, city by city and state by state.

Need to know

• Approximately $2.1 million is being awarded to organizations across Oregon to expand services and support for youth experiencing homelessness
• The money is being awarded to 19 organizations providing services to youth in 16 counties

(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Youth Experiencing Homelessness program is awarding approximately $2.1 million to organizations that provide services and support to youth experiencing homelessness. 

Youth experiencing homelessness face many barriers to meeting their basic needs. They experience hunger and difficulty accessing clean clothes, a place to shower, supports and resources, and safe, stable housing. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has made these experiences even more difficult for young people, especially for youth of color, members of tribal nations, and LGBTQIA2S+ youth. 

To address these needs, ODHS is awarding approximately $2.1 million in grant funding to organizations across the state to improve services for youth experiencing homelessness. Most of these grant funds were appropriated by House Bill 2544 of the 2021 Session of the Oregon Legislature.

The approximately $2.1 million is being awarded to 19 organizations providing services in 16 counties to support:

• Creation and expansion of outreach and drop-in prevention services 
• Shelter expansion 
• Transitional housing opportunities
• Culturally-specific services
• Expansion of mental health and substance use disorder services
• Expansion of services in rural areas

Organizations receiving grant funding include: 

• Alternative Youth Activities (Coos County)
• AntFarm (Clackamas County)
• Boys & Girls Aid Society (Washington County)
• Family Faith & Relationship Advocates (Douglas County)
• Hearts with a Mission (Jackson and Josephine Counties)
• Home Plate (Washington County)
• Integral Youth Services (Klamath County)
• J Bar J Youth Services (Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson Counties)
• Jackson Street Youth Services (Linn and Benton Counties)
• Janus Youth Programs (Multnomah County)
• Lincoln County Youth Tides Shelter (Lincoln County)
• Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action (Marion and Polk Counties)
• Native American Youth Services (Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington Counties)
• New Avenues for Youth (Multnomah County)
• Outside In (Multnomah County)
• Parrott Creek (Clackamas and Multnomah County)
• St. Vincent de Paul (Lane County)
• Yamhill Community Action Partnership (Yamhill County)
• Youth Era (Lane County)

Learn more about the ODHS Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program at https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/CHILDREN/Homeless-Youth/Pages/index.aspx. 

About the Oregon Department of Human Services

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

          ###   

Salem, Oregon – Awards totaling $1,265,166 will be distributed to 154 Oregon arts organizations through the Oregon Arts Commission’s fiscal year 2022 Operating Support Program. There are six more recipients than in fiscal year 2021 due to a growing number of eligible organizations.

 Ranging from $2,000 to $ 25,000, the grant awards are available to nonprofit organizations with arts at the core of their mission and budgets over $150,000.

“We often hear that operating support is the most important type of award,” said Arts Commission Chair Jenny Green. “Especially now, as arts organizations struggle to recover from losses caused by the pandemic, these awards help relieve a bit of the economic pressure.”

In 2019 organizations receiving Operating Support from the Arts Commission expended $213 million, employed 11,681 FTE and produced events and activities that were attended by close to 3.7 million people.

Organizations with budgets under $150,000 are eligible to apply to the Small Operating Program. This program funds an additional 109 arts organizations. 

Fiscal year 2022 Operating Support Grants, sorted alphabetically by geographic region (see end of list for region/county key), were awarded to:

Central

BendFilm, Bend: $7,016 

Sisters Folk Festival, Inc., Sisters: $8,589 

Sunriver Music Festival, Sunriver: $4,899 

The High Desert Museum, Bend: $17,725 

Tower Theatre Foundation, Inc., Bend: $8,077 

Greater Eastern – North

Arts Council of Pendleton, Pendleton: $10,935 

Crow's Shadow Institute of the Arts, Pendleton: $5,429

Oregon East Symphony, Inc., Pendleton: $4,899

Greater Eastern – South

Four Rivers Cultural Center, Ontario: $8,536

Portland Metro

45th Parallel, Portland: $4,899 

Alberta Abbey Foundation, Portland: $6,147 

All Classical Public Media, Inc., Portland: $11,900

Artichoke Community Music, Portland: $5,934 

Art In The Pearl, Portland: $4,899 

Artists Repertory Theatre, Portland: $10,490 

A-WOL Dance Collective, Inc., Clackamas: $4,899 

Bag & Baggage Productions, Inc., Hillsboro: $7,531

BodyVox Inc. , Portland: $13,521 

Bosco-Milligan Foundation, Portland: $5,435 

Broadway Rose Theatre Company, Tigard: $11,265 

Caldera, Portland: $13,091 

Camp45 Contemporary, Portland: $5,506 

Cappella Romana Inc., Portland: $7,997 

Chamber Music Northwest , Portland: $13,226 

Children's Healing Art Project, Portland: $4,899 

Clackamas County Arts Alliance, Oregon City: $8,360

Clackamas Repertory Theatre, Oregon City: $4,899 

CoHo Productions Ltd, Portland: $4,899 

Corrib Theatre, Portland: $4,899 

Curious Comedy Productions, Portland: $6,657 

Echo Theater Company, Portland: $5,620 

Ethos Inc., Portland: $8,230 

Film Action Oregon dba Hollywood Theatre, Portland: $8,794 

Friends of Chamber Music, Portland: $9,200 

Hand2Mouth, Portland: $4,899 

Imago the Theatre Mask Ensemble, Portland: $4,899 

In a Landscape, Portland: $4,899 

Independent Publishing Resource Center Inc., Portland: $7,330 

Lakewood Theatre Company, Lake Oswego: $11,535 

Literary Arts Inc., Portland: $14,004 

Live Wire Radio, Portland: $8,705 

MetroEast Community Media, Gresham: $11,970 

Metropolitan Youth Symphony, Portland: $10,421 

Miracle Theatre Group, Portland: $20,854 

Music Workshop, Portland: $4,899 

My Voice Music, Portland: $6,511 

Northwest Children's Theater & School Inc., Portland: $11,162 

Northwest Professional Dance Project, Portland: $11,245

Old Church Society, Inc., Portland: $7,353 

Open Signal, Portland: $15,965 

Oregon Ballet Theatre, Portland: $11,114 

Oregon BRAVO Youth Orchestras, Portland: $9,670 

Oregon Center for Contemporary Art, Portland: $11,010

Oregon Center for the Photographic Arts, Portland: $6,116

Oregon Children's Theatre Company, Portland: $14,975

Oregon Repertory Singers, Gladstone: $5,400 

Oregon Symphony, Portland: $25,000 

Outside the Frame, Portland: $5,630 

Pacific Youth Choir, Portland: $7,512 

PHAME Academy, Portland: $9,318 

Polaris Dance Company, Portland: $7,833 

Portland Actors Conservatory, Portland: $4,899 

Portland Art Museum, Portland: $25,000 

Portland Baroque Orchestra, Portland: $11,637 

Portland Center Stage, Portland: $19,018 

Portland Columbia Symphony, Portland: $4,899 

Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble, Portland: $4,899

Portland Gay Men's Chorus Inc., Portland: $7,490 

Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, Portland: $13,489

Portland Jazz Festival, Inc. dba PDX Jazz, Portland: $9,072 

Portland Opera Association, Portland: $22,309 

Portland Piano International, Portland: $6,442 

Portland Playhouse, Portland: $11,431 

Portland Street Art Alliance, Portland: $5,131 

Portland Symphonic Choir, Portland: $4,899 

Portland Youth Philharmonic, Portland: $7,642 

Profile Theatre Project, Portland: $7,477 

Regional Arts & Culture Council, Portland: $25,000

Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls, Portland: $4,899 

Shaking the Tree Theatre, Portland: $4,899 

Stumptown Stages, Lake Oswego: $4,899 

The Circus Project, Portland: $8,966 

The Portland Ballet, Portland: $8,667 

The Red Door Project, Portland: $7,939 

Third Angle New Music Ensemble, Portland: $5,217 

Third Rail Repertory Theatre, Portland: $8,611 

triangle productions, Portland: $6,178 

Vibe of Portland, Portland: $4,899 

Western Alliance of Arts Administrators, Portland: $6,972

White Bird, Portland: $11,124 

Write Around Portland, Portland: $9,822 

Young Audiences of Oregon, Portland: $8,192 

Young Musicians & Artists, Portland: $4,899 

Youth Music Project , West Linn: $6,390

Mid-Valley

Chehalem Center Association, Newberg: $8,536 

Children's Educational Theatre, Salem: $4,899 

Enlightened Theatrics, Salem: $2,000 

Historic Elsinore Theatre Inc., Salem: $6,922 

Oregon Symphony Association in Salem , Salem: $5,802 

Pentacle Theatre Inc., Salem: $5,087 

Salem Art Association, Salem: $11,775 

Salem Multicultural Institute, Salem: $7,071 

Willamette Art Center, Salem: $4,899 

Willamette University, Salem: $9,050

North Central 

Columbia Arts, Hood River: $6,952

North Coast

Liberty Restoration Inc., Astoria: $6,694

Northeast

Crossroads Creative and Performing Arts Center Inc., Baker City: $4,899 

Eastern Oregon Regional Arts Council, Inc., La Grande: $4,899 

Fishtrap Inc., Enterprise: $6,951 

Josephy Center for Arts and Culture, Joseph: $4,899

South Central

PLAYA, Summer Lake: $6,065

Ross Ragland Theater, Klamath Falls: $12,806

South Coast

Artula Institute for Art and Environmental Education/Washed Ashore, Bandon: $4,899

Coos Art Museum, Coos Bay: $5,598

Umpqua Valley Arts Association, Roseburg: $6,398

South Valley/ Mid Coast

Ballet Fantastique, Eugene: $5,420 

Chamber Music Amici, Eugene: $4,899 

Community Center for the Performing Arts, Eugene: $7,156

Corvallis Arts Center Inc., Corvallis: $6,749 

Corvallis Youth Symphony Association, Corvallis: $4,899

Cottage Theatre, Cottage Grove: $4,899 

Delgani String Quartet, Eugene: $5,003 

Eugene Ballet Company, Eugene: $11,668 

Eugene Concert Choir Inc., Eugene: $6,339 

Eugene Opera, Eugene: $5,863 

Eugene-Springfield Youth Orchestras, Eugene: $5,307

Eugene Symphony Association, Inc., Eugene: $18,011 

Joint Forces Dance Company, Eugene: $5,294 

Lane Arts Council, Eugene: $13,291 

Lincoln City Cultural Center, Lincoln City: $5,713 

Maude I. Kerns Art Center, Eugene: $4,899 

Newport Symphony Orchestra, Newport: $4,899 

Oregon Bach Festival, Eugene: $16,081 

Oregon Coast Council for the Arts, Newport: $11,885

Oregon Contemporary Theatre, Eugene: $6,784 

Oregon Folklife Network, Eugene: $4,899 

Oregon Mozart Players, Eugene: $4,899 

Pacific International Choral Festival, Eugene: $4,899

Shedd Institute for the Arts, The John G. , Eugene: $13,322 

Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, Otis: $6,533 

The Very Little Theatre, Eugene: $4,899 

University of Oregon, Eugene: $12,065

Whiteside Theatre Foundation, Corvallis: $2,000

Southern

Chamber Music Concerts, Ashland: $4,899 

Collaborative Theatre Project Inc., Medford: $4,899

Grants Pass Museum of Art, Grants Pass: $4,899 

Oregon Shakespeare Festival Association, Ashland: $25,000

Rogue Valley Art Association, Medford: $6,309 

Rogue Valley Chorale Association, Medford: $4,899 

Rogue World Music, Ashland: $4,899 

Southern Oregon Film Society, Ashland: $6,151 

Southern Oregon Repertory Singers, Ashland: $4,899 

Southern Oregon University Foundation, Ashland: $4,899

Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon, Medford: $4,899

Region and county key: 

Central (Jefferson, Deschutes and Crook Counties)

Greater Eastern North (Gilliam, Morrow, Umatilla, Wheeler and Grant Counties)

Greater Eastern South (Harney and Malheur)

Portland Metro (Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas Counties)   

Mid-Valley (Yamhill, Polk and Marion Counties) 

North Central (Hood River, Wasco and Sherman Counties)

North Coast (Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook Counties) 

Northeast (Wallowa, Union and Baker Counties)

South Central (Klamath and Lake Counties) 

South Coast (Douglas, Coos and Curry Counties) 

South Valley/Mid-Coast (Lincoln, Benton, Linn and Lane Counties) 

Southern (Josephine and Jackson Counties) 

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: www.oregonartscommission.org.

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.1% in December, edging down from 4.2% in November. This was the 20^th consecutive month of declines in Oregon’s unemployment rate. The U.S. unemployment rate dropped from 4.2% in November to 3.9% in December. 

Nonfarm payroll employment in Oregon rose by 8,200 in December, following a revised gain of 9,200 jobs in November. Throughout 2021, monthly job gains averaged 8,900. In December, gains were largest in leisure and hospitality (+2,600 jobs), health care and social assistance (+1,200), manufacturing (+900), and professional and business services (+900). None of the major industries had a big drop in jobs during December.

Leisure and hospitality added 2,600 jobs in December, following a gain of 3,700 in November. Despite these gains, leisure and hospitality still accounts for a large share of Oregon’s jobs not recovered since early 2020, with 23,200 jobs left to recover to reach the prior peak month of February 2020. The industry has regained 79% of jobs lost early in the pandemic.

Manufacturing added 900 jobs in December and 1,000 jobs in November, continuing its steady recovery over the past year and a half. Recent job gains were strongest in nondurable goods manufacturing, including food manufacturing which employed 28,700 in December, a level close to each of the four Decembers prior to the recession.

Administrative and waste services added jobs at a fast clip, averaging 1,400 per month over the past four months. Demand is hot for temporary help supply and employee leasing firms, as the employment services industry added 9,500 jobs, good for 25% growth, over the year. These gains were countered by declines in another component industry: business support services, which has steadily declined from 16,000 jobs six years ago to 9,900 jobs in December 2021. Reductions within the category were concentrated in telephone call centers, and to a lesser extent, copy shops.

Next Press Releases

The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the December county and metropolitan area unemployment rates on Tuesday, Jan. 25, and the next statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for January on Tuesday, Mar. 8.
 

The PDF version of the news release can be found at QualityInfo.org/press-release. To obtain the data in other formats such as in Excel, visit QualityInfo.org, then within the top banner, select Economic Data, then choose LAUS or CES. To request the press release as a Word document, contact the person shown at the top of this press release.

To file a claim for unemployment benefits or get more information about unemployment programs, visit unemployment.oregon.gov.

###

Equal Opportunity program — auxiliary aids and services available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Contact: (503) 947-1794. For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, call 711 Telecommunications Relay Services.

Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Council is seeking applicants to fill up to six seats on a fifteen-person board that advises the county on matters related to the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad.

Board members serve three-year terms. All open terms begin immediately. 

People interested in serving should submit a letter of interest and/or resume to ailAdvisoryBoard@Clark.wa.gov">PWRailAdvisoryBoard@Clark.wa.gov or by mail at 4700 NE 78th St., Vancouver, WA 98665. More information about the Railroad Advisory Board is available at https://clark.wa.gov/public-works/railroad-advisory-board-39. 

Application deadline is 3 pm Friday, Feb. 18, 2022.

Vancouver, Wash. – Neighbors and community members are invited to learn about design activities associated with the reconstruction of the intersections of Northeast 29th Avenue and Northeast 50th Avenue with Northeast 179th Street, at an upcoming open house. This area is anticipated to experience significant growth over the next 20 years. Upgrades to the intersections will accommodate future traffic volumes while maintaining safety and mobility.

Public Works staff will host a virtual open house at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 27, via the WebEx online meeting platform. Residents can attend by entering meeting number: 2488 127 0786 and password: 2950 at WebEx.com. Attendees can also join by calling 1.408.418.9333 and using the same meeting number and password. Attendees will listen to presentations given by the project manager and can pose questions to project staff. 

The meeting will include two presentations: the first, from 5 to 5:55 p.m. is about the intersection of Northeast 179th Street and Northeast 29th Avenue. The second, from 6 to 7 p.m., is about the intersection of Northeast 179th Street and Northeast 50th Avenue. Community members are encouraged to send their questions to the project managers prior to the presentations by emailing eetproject@clark.wa.gov">179thstreetproject@clark.wa.gov. Interpretation is available upon request. 

These projects are part of an effort to improve the local transportation system along the Northeast 179th Street corridor, in support of the Clark County Comprehensive Growth Management Plan. When complete these projects will improve travel times, encourage economic development, improve intersections, upgrade stormwater management systems, and update the corridor to meet current road standards.

More information can be found on the county’s website https://clark.wa.gov/public-works/ne-179th-st-ne-29th-ave. Community members can also find information on the Public Works Twitter, Facebook and Instagram profiles, and on NextDoor.

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County has implemented and currently operates eviction prevention rent assistance programs to assist people who are low-income impacted by the pandemic. These programs have provided an unprecedented $39 million in financial assistance to 4,744 households, paying for 41,613 months of rent and utilities since August 2020. Approximately $885,000 in financial assistance for rent and utilities is going out to 100 additional households each week.

Referrals for 400 additional households to receive rent assistance including arrears will open on Saturday, Jan. 22, at 11 a.m. Links and instructions to apply are below. Please note: the links will not be live until 11 a.m. on Jan. 22 and will close once all available referrals have been received.

At this time, households may only receive assistance one time. Households that have already received assistance are not eligible for additional assistance.  

Anyone who has previously applied for assistance is asked to please not apply again as this delays the processing of applications.

All applicants will receive a submission confirmation email. Housing providers are working to assist all households that are currently on the waitlist. Tenants must be deemed eligible in order for assistance to be provided.

• Landlord applicants: https://airtable.com/shrrKOIM977VYH0IH
• Tenant applicants: https://airtable.com/shrjao15aZyYIqPFb
• Spanish speaking tenant applicants: https://airtable.com/shrRFAEYvqZ7hKIed 

Applicants without access to internet may call (360) 695-9677.

Applicants without phone or internet access may access applications through Share at the Fromhold Center located at 2306 NE Andresen Road, across from WinCo. 

Clark County continues to work with rental assistance providers to have the capacity to open additional rent assistance spots. Additional spots are scheduled to open on Wednesday, Feb. 2.

Additional information, including the number of available waitlist spots and types will be made available via news release, website and social media posting, and through the Council For The Homeless website closer to the opening dates. 

It is important that landlords and tenants understand there are additional significant COVID-19 related rental assistance resources, including arrears, for low-income households coming which will be made available to the community as capacity becomes available.

Legal resource for tenants

Tenants seeking information about their rights should contact the Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program, (360) 334-4007 or NW Justice Project’s CLEAR program at nwjustice.org/get-legal-help or (888) 201-1014 between 9:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Youth under 24 may contact the Legal Counsel for Youth and Children, (206) 494-0323, ext. 715.

Spanish version

ASISTENCIA DE ALQUILER RELACIONADA CON COVID-19

Vancouver, Wash. - El condado de Clark ha implementado y actualmente opera programas de asistencia con el alquiler, para ayudar a las personas de bajos ingresos afectados por la pandemia. Estos programas han proporcionado $39 millones en asistencia financiera a 4,744 hogares, pagando 41,613 meses de alquiler y servicios públicos desde Agosto de 2020. Aproximadamente $885,000 en asistencia financiera para alquiler y utilidades se destinan a mas de 100 hogares adicionales cada semana.

Aplicaciones para 400 hogares adicionales para recibir asistencia para el alquiler, incluidos los atrasos, se abrirán el Miércoles 5 de Enero a las 12 p.m. Los enlaces electrónicos y las instrucciones para solicitar asistencia se encuentran a continuación. Tenga en cuenta: los enlaces no estarán disponibles hasta las 11 a.m. del 22 de Enero, y cerrarán un vez que se llenen las aplicaciones disponibles.

Se pide que personas que personas que previamente han solicitado asistencia no apliquen nuevamente, ya que hacerlo retrasa el proceso de aprobar aplicaciones.

Todos los solicitantes recibirán un correo electrónico de confirmación de envío. Inquilinos deben ser elegibles para poder recibir asistencia.

• Solicitantes de arrendadores: https://airtable.com/shrrKOIM977VYH0IH
• Solicitantes inquilinos: https://airtable.com/shrjao15aZyYIqPFb
• Solicitantes inquilinos de habla hispana: https://airtable.com/shrRFAEYvqZ7hKIed 
• Solicitantes sin acceso a Internet pueden llamar al 360-695-9677 para referirse por teléfono.

Solicitantes sin teléfono o acceso a Internet pueden acceder a las aplicaciones a través de Share en el Fromhold Center ubicado en 2306 NE Andresen Road, frente a WinCo.

El condado de Clark continúa trabajando con los proveedores de asistencia para el alquiler para tener la capacidad de abrir aplicaciones adicionales de asistencia para el alquiler. Se ha programado la apertura de aplicaciones adicionales en las siguientes fechas Miercoles 2 de Febrero.

La información adicional, incluida la cantidad de lugares y tipos de listas de espera disponibles, estará disponible a través de comunicados de prensa, publicaciones en sitios web y redes sociales, y a través del sitio web del Council for the Homeless cuando se acerquen las fechas de apertura.

Recurso legal para inquilinos

Los inquilinos que busquen información sobre sus derechos deben comunicarse con el Programa de Abogados Voluntarios del Condado de Clark: 360-334-4007 o el programa CLEAR de NW Justice Project en nwjustice.org/get-legal-help o 888-201-1014 entre las 9:15 am y las 12: 15 p. M. Los jóvenes menores de 24 años pueden comunicarse con el Asesor Legal para Jóvenes y Niños, 206-494-0323 ext. 715.

The public is invited to learn about plans to close gaps along the Oregon Coast Trail (OCT). Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is hosting an online open house and webinar for people to learn about the Oregon Coast Trail Action Plan that aims to improve safety, access and convenience for all trail users, with an emphasis on connecting trail gaps.

Visit the open house at bit.ly/OCTOpenHouse1 any time through Feb. 11 to view a presentation about the project and provide feedback.

The project team will also host a live webinar on Zoom from 12 – 1 p.m. Jan. 26 via bit.ly/OCT-Webinar1, or access the meeting by calling in:

Dial: (253) 215-8782 

Meeting: 992 0765 9206 

Password: 12622

The OCT stretches along the entire 362-mile coastline, from the border to border, offering hikers spectacular coastal vistas, lush forests and recreation opportunities for day hikers and long-distance hikers alike. Most of the trail is on sandy beaches, with sections of overland trail across headlands, forests, rivers and through some of the coast’s 28 cities. About 10 percent of the trail is disconnected, inconvenient, unsafe or inaccessible — mainly where the route requires people to hike on the shoulder of U.S. 101 or where it follows county roads and local streets. 

OPRD is leading the planning effort to close these gaps in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) and Oregon Solutions. The plan will identify gaps in the hiking experience and determine actions and funding needed to improve and maintain the trail over time.

The OCT was approved in 1971 by the Oregon Recreation Trails Advisory Council and developed and managed by OPRD as part of the state park system of Oregon. OPRD manages most of the trail; some sections are managed by the US Forest Service, Oregon Department of Transportation and cities through which the trail passes.

Individuals who require special accommodations to view the webinar or open house should contact Paul Reilly at eilly@oprd.oregon.gov">paul.reilly@oprd.oregon.gov or 541-272-7394.

In 2022 The City of Oregon City is continuing the extensive work in City parks to help clear away storm damage left behind from the February 2021 ice storm. 

Expect a contractor tree crew to clean up River Access Trail along the Clackamas River, near Clackamette Park, in January and February. Invasive species such as ivy, blackberry bushes, clematis and other plants will be removed. A licensed arborist will lead the work to help manage and care for the over 50 trees on this trail. 

Work to repair damaged trail path, create an ADA transition from the parking lot to the trail, and restriping the trail parking lot is expected in March and April 2022. 

This work is in partnership with Clackamas Water Environment Services Good Neighbor Agreement, which focuses on recreational improvements, habitat enhancement, and public education related to water treatment and management. 

For more information, contact Oregon City’s Parks and Recreation Department at 503-496-1201 or dconrad@orcity.org

Portland, Ore. — Thanks to Portland General Electric customers who participate in the Green Future^SM renewable energy programs, PGE recently awarded over $1 million to nine community-based organizations for clean energy projects that will generate 1.36 megawatts – enough to power approximately 1,200 homes. PGE also awarded $2.25 million to 11 local nonprofits that will expand access to electric transportation for Oregonians. 

“Portland General Electric’s Renewable Development Fund and Drive Change Fund grants bolster our communities’ ability to advance clean energy programs and ensure electric transportation is available and accessible to all,” said Dave Robertson, Vice President for Public Affairs at PGE. “These grants support 20 extremely deserving organizations and non-profits that help eliminate electric transportation barriers and create new innovative renewable energy programs. All of this is possible thanks to our customers who participate in the Green Future renewable energy programs and our local non-profits who work tirelessly to serve the most vulnerable people in our community.”

The PGE Renewable Development Fund is supported by Green Future customers who choose one of PGE’s renewable energy programs. The fund offers competitive grant awards for applicants to deploy their own clean energy projects like solar installations and cogeneration projects. Grants are awarded through an open and competitive application process. 

The PGE Drive Change Fund is made possible by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Clean Fuels Program (CFP). Funded by the sale of Oregon CFP credits, the fund supports projects aimed at expanding electric mobility options and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The fund prioritizes projects focused on serving vulnerable populations and underserved communities.

Project overviews

2021 Renewable Development Fund grant recipients span PGE’s service area and represent organizations delivering important community benefits in addition to their project’s clean energy generation. The 2021 PGE Drive Change Fund awards were given to organizations interested in advancing electric transportation in Oregon, specifically targeting environmental justice communities and people disproportionately impacted by the climate emergency. 

2022 application dates

For qualified applicants, the next window of opportunity to apply for 2022 grants is soon. See below for the application windows and additional information on each fund’s webpage.

• Drive Change Fund
• Electric School Bus
• Renewable Development Fund

About Portland General Electric Company

Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) is a fully integrated energy company based in Portland, Oregon, with operations across the state. The company serves approximately 900,000 customers with a service area population of 2 million Oregonians in 51 cities. PGE owns 16 generation plants across Oregon and other Northwestern states and maintains and operates 14 public parks and recreation areas. For over 130 years, PGE has delivered safe, affordable and reliable energy to Oregonians. Together with its customers, PGE has the No. 1 voluntary renewable energy program in the U.S. PGE and its 3,000 employees are working with customers to build a clean energy future. In 2020, PGE, employees, retirees and the PGE Foundation donated $5.6 million and volunteered 18,200 hours with more than 400 nonprofits across Oregon. For more information visit portlandgeneral.com/news.

PORTLAND, Ore.—On January 19, 2022, a Salem, Oregon man on federal supervised release was sentenced to federal prison after he was found in possession of more than 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine and 15 firearms, five of which were stolen.

Jorge Mozqueda-Alvarez, 33, was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.

According to court documents, in September 2019, detectives from the Salem Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit (SCU) began investigating Mozqueda-Alvarez for drug trafficking in the Salem area. Officers conducted two separate controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Mozqueda-Alvarez. On October 15, 2019, SCU executed a search warrant on Mozqueda-Alvarez’s Salem residence and located more than 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine and 15 firearms, five of which had been reported stolen. Mozqueda-Alvarez was arrested without incident.

On October 17, 2019, Mozqueda-Alvarez was charged by federal criminal complaint with illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine. One week later, on October 24, 2019, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a four-count indictment charging him with distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and felon in possession of a firearm.

On December 18, 2020, Mozqueda-Alvarez pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and felon in possession of a firearm. To resolve a separate criminal case, Mozqueda-Alvarez also pleaded guilty to illegal reentry.

U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.

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

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

# # #

On Wednesday, January 19, 2022, at approximately 9:30 PM, Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a vehicle versus pedestrian crash on Hwy 97 near milepost 129. 

Preliminary investigation revealed a pedestrian, identified as Anthony Manuel Hernandez (40) of Madras, was walking in the lanes of travel when he was struck by a southbound black Mercedes GI5, operated by Howard Dietrich (45) of Portland. Hernandez had run out of fuel and was walking back to his vehicle at the time of the crash. 

Hernandez sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased. 

OSP was assisted by Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and ODOT.

On Wednesday, January 19, 2022, at approximately 4:18 PM, Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a single motor vehicle crash on Hwy 20 near milepost 34. 

Preliminary investigation revealed an eastbound white 2004 Chevrolet Silverado, operated by Jasper June Keeney (18) of Sweet Home, lost control while negotiating a curve and rolled into the eastbound ditch, coming to rest on its top. 

Keeney suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene. 

Highway 20 was closed for 4.5 hours following the crash. 

OSP was assisted by the Sweet Home Fire & Rescue and ODOT.

The Oregon Outdoor Recreation Committee (OORC) will meet online to evaluate grant applications for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Committee members will rank and establish a priority list of applications from around the state for projects to develop or rehabilitate public outdoor recreation areas and facilities. Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) administers this federally funded grant program.

The meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Feb. 10, 2022. It is open to the public, but no public comment time is scheduled. View the agenda at oregon.gov/oprd/GRA/Documents/LWCF-2022-OORC-Agenda.pdf for a list of project proposals and link to the online meeting.

Recommendations from the OORC will be submitted to the Oregon State Parks Commission for review and approval at their April meeting. OPRD will then forward approved project proposals to the National Park Service for final approval. 

The OORC is made up of nine members who represent a variety of interests and are appointed by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department director.

LWCF is a financial assistance program of the National Park Service. LWCF grants provide matching funds to state and local governments for acquiring and developing public outdoor recreation areas and facilities. Since 1964, this national grant has awarded more than $60 million for Oregon recreational areas and facilities. Information is on the LWCF web page on the OPRD website

Individuals who require special accommodations to view the meeting should contact Nohemi Enciso by Feb. 7 at 503-480-9092 or nohemi.enciso@oprd.oregon.gov. 

The State Historic Preservation Office is offering grants for work on historic properties and for archaeology projects. The annual grants fund up to $20,000 in matching funds for preservation projects. Both grant programs support the goals of the Oregon Historic Preservation Plan. 

The Preserving Oregon Grants fund preservation of historic properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Work may include non-maintenance preservation like window repair, roof work, foundation projects, plumbing, and electrical needs. Recently funded projects include preservation of the following historic properties.

• Aurora Colony Historical Society
• Churchill Baker LLC, Baker City
• Creswell Library Building
• Mt. Angel Blacksmith Shop
• Santiam Pass Ski Lodge
• Sodhouse Ranch, Malheur County
• Union High School, Union
• Willamette Grange Hall, Benton County

Preserving Oregon Grants can also fund archaeology projects for significant work contributing toward identifying, preserving and/or interpreting archaeological sites. Archaeology projects by Southern Oregon University, Willamette University and the Vanport Placemarking Project were funded last year. 

The Diamonds in the Rough Grants help restore or reconstruct the facades of buildings that have been heavily altered over the years. These grants return buildings to their historic appearance and potentially qualify them for historic register designation (local or national). Recent façade projects have taken place in Lincoln City, Oregon City, Rhododendron, and Wallowa. 

The online grant application is simple to use and includes plenty of support.  A free, online grant workshop specific to these grant programs and how to use the online grant application will be offered. Visit the Oregon Heritage grants webpage to register. 

• March 9, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. for Diamonds in the Rough building façade projects.
• March 8, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. for Preserving Oregon Grants archaeology projects. 
• March 8, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. for Preserving Oregon Grants historic property projects.
   

Recorded trainings and tips are also online. To learn more about the grants and workshops visit www.oregonheritage.org or contact Kuri Gill at i.Gill@oprd.oregon.gov">Kuri.Gill@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.

   TIP OF THE WEEK

Date:           January 20, 2022      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:       Sheriff Curtis Landers

                   541-265-0654

                   lcsheriff@co.lincoln.or.us

Elk and Deer Winter Migration

The Central Oregon Coast is experiencing its seasonal cold weather. Although the weather slows down our daily commute, we are not nearly as affected as wildlife, specifically elk and deer. 

Natural food sources are lean in the upper elevations in the coast range during the winter as snow falls, covering the ground. This time of year with snow accumulation in the coast range and freezing temperatures periodically down to sea level, elk and deer may move to even lower elevations to find adequate food. 

These additional movements often mean that the animals are crossing major roads both day and night which creates hazards to motorists. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office would like motorists and spectators to be mindful of the animal movements. If you see one deer cross in front of you, chances are there is another one behind. 

Please take into account that the animals are often stressed due to additional migration in search of food. When spectating please keep a minimum distance of 100 yards from wildlife. If the animals begin to move from your presence, don’t follow them. Oregon Revised Statute 498.006 does protect the chasing or harassing of wildlife.

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

Lake Oswego, Ore. – January 20, 2022 – As we move closer to the forecasted peak of the Omicron surge, Becky Hultberg, President and CEO of the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (OAHHS), will meet with reporters on January 20 to answer their questions about hospital capacity, COVID-19, and other related issues.

WHEN: January 20, 11:00 a.m. – Noon 

VENUE: Zoom. The briefing is for media only. Please register in advance by visiting:  https://oahhs-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYqcumrqzMqEtIhGl5lESyictUvT5-Y1QZm  

Becky will speak briefly to start, then open it up for questions. 

###

UpdateSuspect Arrested

On Tuesday, January 18, 2022 Sergio Suarez Sanchez was arrested after his release from the hospital. He was lodged in the Jefferson County Jail on the following charges: 

1. Manslaughter 1st Degree 

2. Manslaughter 2nd Degree

3. Criminally Negligent Homicide

4. Assault 3rd Degree (DUII)

5. DUII - Alcohol

6. Reckless Driving 

7. Reckless Endangering 

8. Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree 

___________________________________________________________

On Monday, January 17, 2022, at approximately 10:34 AM, Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 361 near milepost 3. 

Preliminary investigation revealed a southbound black Chevrolet Tahoe, operated by Sergio Suarez Sanchez (36) of Madras, crossed into northbound lanes and collided head-on with a gray Ram 3500, operated by John Wallace (60) of Metolius. 

Both drivers were transported to area hospitals with injuries. The passenger in the Ram truck, Anna Wallace (56) of Metolius, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital. 

Hwy 361 was closed for approximately 5 hours for collision reconstruction. This crash is being investigated as a criminal matter. Updates will be given when appropriate. 

OSP as assisted by Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and ODOT. 

January 19, 2022

Contact: Jonathan Modie, 971-246-9139, COVID19.Media@dhsoha.state.or.us">OrCOVID19.Media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Dental Pilot Project Advisory Committee meets Jan. 31

What: The state Dental Pilot Project Advisory Committee is holding its first advisory committee meeting; the meeting will cover Dental Pilot Project #300, “Dental Therapist: Dental Hygiene Model.”

Agenda: Overview of the Dental Pilot Project Program; role of Oregon Health Authority; presentations by Project Sponsor; role of the Advisory Committee; future planning of the committee.

When: Monday, Jan. 31, 9-11:30 a.m. A public comment period will be held at the end of the meeting.

Where: Via Zoom. Link: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1602121942?pwd=cG9IWU5abU1sK3lMRkI3V2pMdVNtdz09

Call in option: 669-254-5252  

Meeting ID: 160 7480 0622  

Passcode: 917391

Background: Dental Pilot Projects are intended to evaluate the quality of care, access, cost, workforce and efficacy by teaching new skills to existing categories of dental personnel; developing new categories of dental personnel; accelerating the training of existing categories of dental personnel; or teaching new oral health care roles to previously untrained persons.

Program contact: Sarah Kowalski, 971-673-1563, ah.e.kowalski@state.or.us">sarah.e.kowalski@state.or.us.

###

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

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

If you need help or have questions, please contact Sarah Kowalski at 971-673-1563, 711 TTY or ah.e.kowalski@state.or.us">sarah.e.kowalski@state.or.us at least 48 hours before the meeting.

On Tuesday, January 18, 2022, at around 6:50 p.m., deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report that a stolen vehicle was spotted in the parking lot of a grocery store on NW West Union Road in the Bethany area of the Enhanced Sheriff’s Patrol District (ESPD). Deputies were told two men had just parked the stolen car and had gone inside the grocery store. Moments later, several deputies arrived and located the two men leaving the store with multiple items they failed to pay for. The two men were questioned about the stolen vehicle where property was also recovered from a recent burglary on NW Wenmarie Drive, near NW Springville Road.

Steven Bottcher, age 32, was arrested and taken to the Washington County Jail on charges of burglary in the first degree, theft in the second degree, theft in the third degree, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and an outstanding warrant from Clackamas County.

Patrick Brogdon, age 25, was arrested and taken to the Washington County Jail on charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, theft in the third degree, and an outstanding warrant from Multnomah County.

Charges will be referred to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution. Detectives are working to locate an additional suspect related to other recent burglaries in the area. If you have any information about the identity or location of the suspect shown in the attached surveillance photo, please contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 503-629-0111. Case No. 50-22-790.

The Enhanced Sheriff's Patrol District (ESPD) provides law enforcement services for more than 237,000 residents in the urban areas outside of cities in Washington County, including Bethany, Cedar Mill, Cedar Hills, Aloha, Reedville, Garden Home, Metzger, Rock Creek, Raleigh Hills, Bull Mountain, Bonny Slope, West Slope, Oak Hills, and more. Voters first approved the ESPD in 1987 and all local option levies since then.

Vancouver, Washington – Vancouver Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services 2022 Valentine’s Ball is canceled due to impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizers hope to see the event return in 2023.

The Annual Valentine’s Ball draws hundreds of families each year for an all-ages evening of dancing and celebration. Safely staging this multi-day event is not possible given the current COVID-19 infection rate in Clark County. Additionally, the planning, hiring and fundraising needed to support the Valentine’s Ball has not possible this year due to budget and staffing impacts of COVID-19. 

“We are disappointed that the Valentine’s Ball is canceled this year, but we believe this is the right decision to protect our community,” said City of Vancouver Special Events Coordinator Johnie Tucker. “We are looking forward to hosting this event again in the future, when we can get together safely for dancing, music and celebrating with our community.”

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Hillsboro, Oregon woman was sentenced to federal prison today for engaging in a multi-year scheme to defraud her employer, a non-profit adoption and surrogacy agency operating in Oregon and Washington, and her extended family.

Melodie Ann Eckland, 56, was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. She was also ordered to pay more than $1.6 million in restitution.

“Melodie Eckland used her position of trust within a local adoption agency to steal funds intended to help children across the world find loving families. She further stole thousands of dollars from a deceased family member’s estate in a failed attempt to keep her employer from discovering her scheme. Eckland’s selfishness and greed caused great loss and hardship for many people and pushed her employer agency to the brink of insolvency,” said Scott Erik Asphaug, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

“Preying on the trust of her employers, her friends, and her family, Ms. Eckland stole from those who trusted her most. In doing so, Ms. Eckland irreparably hurt local families attempting to do just that – become families,” said Special Agent in Charge Bret Kressin, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS:CI), Seattle Field Office. “Financial and tax crimes are not victimless, and today’s sentence is justice served for Ms. Eckland’s wanton disregard and theft from those around her.”

According to court documents, from at least 2011 and continuing until April 2018, Eckland was employed as a bookkeeper for a local adoption and surrogacy agency. Her duties included maintaining agency books and records, managing payroll, filing employment tax returns, and paying quarterly employment taxes to the IRS. Eckland also provided financial statements to the agency’s board of directors, but did not have signature authority over the organization’s business bank account.

Eckland used her position to steal funds from the agency by making unauthorized wire transfers and writing unauthorized checks to herself. Eckland also transferred agency funds in the form of bonuses to her personal bank account. To conceal her scheme, Eckland maintained two sets of financial records. One version, which she provided to the board of directors, showed the business books as they should have been maintained. The other version showed the true payments she made to herself over the course of her employment.

To cover the money she had stolen, Eckland applied for loans from at least five lending agencies on behalf of the adoption agency, using the names of the agency’s owners without their permission. Eckland altered agency financial records to make it appear as though she owned the agency and was authorized to enter into the loan agreements. Beginning in 2016, Eckland stopped making the agency’s quarterly employment tax payments to the IRS and stopped filing employment tax returns. As a result, the agency owed more than $94,000 in past due employment taxes.

To further conceal her scheme, Eckland stole funds from a bank account opened on behalf of her deceased brother-in-law’s estate. As executor of the estate, Eckland’s husband was tasked with selling his brother’s assets, paying estate bills, and preserving the remaining funds for the benefit of his brother’s children. Eckland forged her husband’s signature on unauthorized estate checks and made unauthorized wire transfers of estate funds to herself. She sent a portion of the more than $123,000 stolen from the estate to the adoption agency’s bank account to conceal her theft of agency funds.

IRS records indicated that Eckland did not report any of the embezzled funds on her federal income tax returns for 2013, 2014, and 2017. In 2015 and 2016, she reported more than $550,000 as “other income,” but failed to pay the taxes due. Between 2013 and 2017, Eckland failed to report more than $675,000 in income, resulting in a tax loss of more than $345,000. As a result of her scheme, Eckland’s victims—including the adoption agency and its owners, her brother-in-law’s estate, and the IRS—suffered a total loss of more than $1.6 million.

On June 2, 2021, Eckland was charged by criminal information with wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, filing a false tax return, and willfully failing to collect or pay payroll taxes. On June 29, 2021, she pleaded guilty to all four charges.

U.S. Attorney Asphaug and Special Agent in Charge Kressin made the announcement.

This case was investigated by IRS:CI and the Hillsboro Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Claire M. Fay, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

# # #

January 19, 2022

Contact: OHA External Relations, covid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us">orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon reports 8,538 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 15 new deaths

PORTLAND, Ore. — There are 15 new COVID-19-related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 5,908, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

OHA reported 8,538 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 549,942.

More Oregonians receive COVID-19 booster doses

Oregon continues to move closer to meeting Gov. Kate Brown’s goal, announced Dec. 17, of getting 1 million more people in the state a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of January.

When the challenge began, 949,749 people had received a booster dose. Since then, 403,059 Oregonians have received a booster.

As of today, Oregon needs 596,941 people to get a booster to reach the goal and make our state safer from the Omicron variant. Find a booster here.

COVID-19 hospitalizations

The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 921, which is 10 more than yesterday. There are 134 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is 18 fewer than yesterday.

There are 47 available adult ICU beds out of 660 total (7% availability) and 235 available adult non-ICU beds out of 4,109 (6% availability).

Statewide regions are as follows:

Region 1: Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Multnomah, Tillamook and Washington counties

Region 2: Benton, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties

Region 3: Coos, Curry, Douglas and Lane counties

Region 5: Jackson and Josephine counties

Region 6: Hood River, Gilliam, Sherman and Wasco counties

Region 7: Crook, Deschutes, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake and Wheeler counties

Region 9: Baker, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla, Union and Wallowa counties

The total number of patients in hospital beds may fluctuate between report times. The numbers do not reflect admissions per day, nor the length of hospital stay. Staffing limitations are not captured in this data and may further limit bed capacity.

Note: Please do not visit an emergency department for COVID-19 testing, unless you require emergency care for your symptoms.

Emergency departments in Oregon are under significant strain. You can find a test here. If you have a medical condition that doesn’t require emergency care, contact your provider. An urgent care center may also help you get the care you need and will save emergency departments from added strain.

More information about hospital capacity can be found here.

Vaccinations in Oregon

Today, OHA reported that 18,337 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry Jan. 18. Of that total, 1,398 were initial doses, 887 were second doses and 5,937 were third doses and booster doses. The remaining 10,038 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry Jan. 18.

The seven-day running average is now 15,033 doses per day.

Oregon has now administered 3,964,755 doses of Pfizer Comirnaty, 196,288 doses of Pfizer pediatric, 2,609,844 doses of Moderna and 262,124 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.

As of today, 3,100,566 people have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 2,806,938 people have completed a COVID-19 vaccine series.

These data are preliminary and subject to change.

Updated vaccination data are provided on Oregon’s COVID-19 data dashboards and have been updated today.

Cases and deaths

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (57), Benton (214), Clackamas (672), Clatsop (25), Columbia (105), Coos (115), Crook (93), Curry (46), Deschutes (675), Douglas (160), Grant (3), Harney (2), Hood River (109), Jackson (551), Jefferson (49), Josephine (183), Klamath (106), Lake (6), Lane (586), Lincoln (135), Linn (402), Malheur (124), Marion (1,031), Morrow (56), Multnomah (1,120), Polk (268), Tillamook (51), Umatilla (301), Union (52), Wallowa (22), Wasco (57), Washington (959) and Yamhill (203).

Oregon’s 5,894th COVID-19-related death is an 87-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive Jan. 9 and died Jan. 14 at Salem Hospital. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,895th COVID-19-related death is a 92-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive Jan. 7 and died Jan. 12 at Salem Hospital. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,896th COVID-19-related death is a 55-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive Jan. 5 and died Jan. 13 at Salem Hospital. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,897th COVID-19-related death is an 87-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive Jan. 3 and died Jan. 12 at Salem Hospital. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,898th COVID-19-related death is an 86-year-old man from Linn County who tested positive Jan. 16 and died Jan. 16 at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,899th COVID-19-related death is a 91-year-old woman from Linn County who tested positive Jan. 11 and died Jan. 18 at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,900th COVID-19-related death is a 37-year-old man from Linn County who tested positive Dec. 29, 2021 and died Jan. 17 at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,901st COVID-19-related death is a 56-year-old man from Linn County who tested positive Dec. 28, 2021 and died Jan. 16 at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,902nd COVID-19-related death is a 72-year-old woman from Lincoln County who died Dec. 5, 2021, at her residence. The death certificate listed COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV-2 as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,903rd COVID-19-related death is a 52-year-old woman from Lincoln County who tested positive Jan. 4 and died Jan. 16 at Providence Medford Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,904th COVID-19-related death is a 62-year-old woman from Josephine County who tested positive Jan. 12 and died at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center. Date of death and presence of underlying conditions are being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,905th COVID-19-related death is a 67-year-old man from Jackson County who tested positive Dec. 29, 2021 and died Jan. 16 at Providence Medford Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,906th COVID-19-related death is a 75-year-old woman from Douglas County who tested positive Jan. 12 and died Jan. 18 at Mercy Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,907th COVID-19-related death is a 78-year-old woman from Washington County who tested positive Jan. 5 and died Jan. 15 at OHSU Hillsboro Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,908th COVID-19-related death is a 64-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive Jan. 12 and died Jan. 13 at Salem Hospital. He had underlying conditions.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations  

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine situation in Oregon, visit our web page (English or Spanish), which has a breakdown of distribution and other information.

####

Vancouver, Wash. – Neighbors and community members are invited to learn about the Heritage Farm Wetland Restoration project. This project will restore five acres of wetlands and establish two acres of riparian buffer along a channelized section of Cougar Creek’s headwaters on Clark County’s 78th Street Heritage Farm property. The project will also include creating about one acre of wetland, replace a storm sewer pipe under access roads, and resurface the farm’s gravel driveways.

Public Works staff will host a virtual open house at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 25, via the WebEx platform. Residents can attend by entering meeting number: 146 464 3155 and password: 0125 at WebEx.com. Attendees can also join by calling 1.408.418.9333 and using the same meeting number and password. Attendees will listen to a presentation given by the project manager and have an opportunity to ask questions of county staff. Community members are encouraged to submit questions before the open house. Interpretation is available upon request. 

This project supports the vision outlined in the March 2020 Master Plan for the 78th Street Heritage Farm. The plan envisions an agricultural, educational, and recreational community asset that reflects the site’s history and provides a healthy, sustainable environment for future generations. 

More information about this project can be found on the county’s website https://clark.wa.gov/public-works/heritage-farm-wetland-restoration. Community members can also find information on the Public Works Twitter, Facebook and Instagram profiles, and on NextDoor.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE:      January 19, 2022

Salem, Ore. — On the evening of January 17, 2022, officers were dispatched to Marion Square Park in downtown Salem on the report of a stabbing. Officers from the Community Action Unit (CAU) located a male individual suffering from a stab wound to the back. Paramedics arrived on scene and transported the individual to Salem Health with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

CAU and patrol officers were able to identify workable leads in the case after interviewing the victim and several witnesses and on January 18, 2022, arrested 22-year-old Jacob Joseph Cook. 

Cook, recently released from the Oregon State Penitentiary in mid-December, had an existing parole violation warrant issued on December 22, 2021. CAU arrested Cook on December 28, 2021 on the warrant. He was released from the Marion County Jail on January 12, 2022. The stabbing incident at the park occurred five days later. 

“Patrol and CAU officers worked swiftly to make an arrest in this incident,” said Lieutenant Treven Upkes who oversees CAU, the team of officers who patrol the downtown on bicycles. “Our officers patrol the parks as often as possible to create a presence and make the parks safer for everyone, including those who may be experiencing homelessness and living at encampments.”

Cook is charged with assault in the first degree and unlawful use of a weapon (knife). He is due to be arraigned today, January 19, 2022, at 2:30 p.m. and all further inquiries on this case should be directed to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office.

# # #

Portland, Oregon – Idaho Power, PacifiCorp and the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) have reached a non-binding agreement that would help meet growing customer demand, improve safety and reliability, and reinforce the Pacific Northwest transmission system. The agreement clarifies and updates roles and responsibilities for the Boardman to Hemingway (B2H) transmission line.  It would pave the way for all three organizations to deliver low-cost power to their customers and support each one’s clean energy goals. 

The proposed agreement is an important step for this 500-kilovolt, 290-mile transmission line, which would deliver 1,000 megawatts of reliable, affordable power in each direction between the Pacific Northwest and Mountain west. B2H is anticipated to come online in 2026. 

“B2H is a major piece of Idaho Power’s long-term plan to meet customer needs,” said Mitch Colburn, Idaho Power Vice President of Planning, Engineering and Construction. “This agreement solidifies and simplifies a path forward for a project that will help us continue our century-long tradition of reliable, affordable, clean energy.”

“This project is a key element of PacifiCorp’s expansive Energy Gateway transmission plan to enable our customers and communities to grow with greater grid resilience, lower costs and provide more renewable energy supply by increasing the connectivity between PacifiCorp’s diverse Western and Eastern systems,” said Rick Link, PacifiCorp Senior Vice President, Resource Planning, Procurement, and Optimization.

“This arrangement paves the way toward a promising and economic solution for serving all of the participants and supports efforts to meet the region’s clean energy goals,” said Kim Thompson, BPA vice president, Northwest Requirements Marketing. “B2H is an important project, and this proposal offers BPA a durable, cost-effective means of reliably delivering federal power to our southeast Idaho customers.”

Key elements of the agreement, which benefit each organization’s customers and stakeholders, are listed below:

• Idaho Power and PacifiCorp will jointly own the B2H transmission line, with PacifiCorp owning 55% and Idaho Power owning 45%. 
   
• Idaho Power will acquire an ownership interest in PacifiCorp transmission lines and other equipment between eastern Idaho and the Four Corners Substation in northwest New Mexico. B2H and those acquisitions amplify Idaho Power’s connections to key energy markets that will help the company meet rapidly growing customer demand.
   
• The Bonneville Power Administration will transfer its ownership interest in B2H to Idaho Power and will not participate in construction or have any ownership interest in the transmission line project. Facilities currently used by PacifiCorp to serve BPA’s customers in and around Southeast Idaho will be transferred to Idaho Power.  BPA will acquire transmission service over Idaho Power’s transmission system, including the newly constructed B2H, to reliably and cost-effectively serve public utility customers in Idaho, Wyoming and Montana. More information about BPA’s effort to serve these customers and its public process to consider the agreement is available in BPA’s letter to the region. 
   
• PacifiCorp will acquire Idaho Power transmission assets across southern Idaho that, combined with its majority stake in Boardman-Hemingway, will increase its contiguous power transfer capability between its Western and Eastern systems, and will acquire additional transmission service from BPA to enable it to serve its growing customer base in central Oregon.

With the non-binding term sheet developed, the three organizations will move into a negotiation phase to finalize the agreements and seek regulatory approval.  Concurrent with this press release, BPA is issuing a letter to its regional stakeholders and customers that outlines the proposal, describes the background and explains the process for engaging with BPA on this topic.  

The term sheet and background information about B2H is available at the project website.    

# # # 

Speelyai Boat Ramp closed temporarily

Cougar, Wash.—Jan. 19,2022—The Speelyai Boat Ramp on Lake Merwin will be unusable for approximately two weeks beginning Jan. 19 as the reservoir is being temporarily lowered to accommodate work at Lake Merwin Camper’s Hideaway. PacifiCorp regrets the inconvenience this may cause boaters planning to use the facility on those days.

For this period of time, there will be no ability to launch boats on Lake Merwin. PacifiCorp will be communicating with management at Camper’s Hideaway and will restore the lake levels to allow boat launching as soon as is safely possible. Yale Lake is accessible at the Saddle Dam boat launch.

As a reminder, reservoir levels are always subject to fluctuation depending on the water management and power generation needs of our customers and PacifiCorp does not guarantee the accuracy of daily reservoir water elevations.

Media calls, 503-813-6018.

####

January 19, 2022

Contact: OHA External Relations, phd.communications@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board meets Jan. 26

What: A public meeting of the Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board.

Agenda: TBD

When: Wednesday, Jan. 26, 1-4 p.m.

Where: Via Zoom:

https://www.zoomgov.com/j/16054780370

Meeting ID: 160 5478 0370

Background: Established by Ballot Measure 109 (2020), the Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board makes recommendations to OHA on available scientific studies and research on the safety and efficacy of psilocybin in treating mental health conditions, and makes recommendations on the requirements, specifications and guidelines for providing psilocybin services in Oregon.

The Board will also develop a long-term strategic plan for ensuring that psilocybin services will become and remain a safe, accessible and affordable therapeutic option for all persons 21 years of age and older in this state for whom psilocybin may be appropriate; and monitor and study federal laws, regulations and policies regarding psilocybin.

# # #

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

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

If you need help or have questions, please contact Meredith Rider at 971-341-1713, 711 TTY, or edith.rider@dhsoha.state.or.us">meredith.rider@dhsoha.state.or.us, at least 48 hours before the meeting.

Foundation will leverage public, private funds to benefit BLM-managed public lands

WASHINGTON – Taking historic action that will benefit the nation’s public lands for generations to come, the Foundation for America’s Public Lands launched today at a virtual event featuring remarks by Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Department leaders. This congressionally-chartered, non-profit foundation authorized by Congress in 2017 will help leverage public and private dollars to conserve, protect and restore lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management for the benefit of the American people.

“It is a privilege and honor to manage America’s public lands for the benefit of current and future generations. To do that right, we need a Bureau of Land Management ready for the future, not just with the right personnel, structure and resources but also with a support system of outside partners collaborating on its success,” said Secretary Haaland. “I’m proud to appoint visionary leaders who will take on the enormous task of building the Foundation from the ground up to create this legacy and ensuring that its work is closely aligned with the agency’s mission and priorities.”

“We are thrilled to begin working with these remarkable leaders to get the Foundation for America’s Public Lands off to a great start. Like its sister foundations at the Park Service, Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife Service, I’m confident this organization will play a historic role for our public lands,” said BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning.

Secretary Haaland named four founding Board members, distinguished leaders with extensive experience who will oversee and guide the Foundation in its initial efforts. The Foundation for America’s Public Lands will operate and raise funds independent of the BLM, though its work will complement that of the agency and help the BLM better accomplish its mission. The four founding Board members include:

• Governor Steve Bullock – Steve Bullock is a native Montanan who has worked tirelessly to protect Montana’s way of life, including protecting its public lands. Bullock served two terms as Montana’s 24th governor from 2013 to 2021. During his two terms, Governor Bullock worked across the aisle to strengthen Montana’s economy, invest in public schools, freeze college tuition and expand career training so that Montana’s kids can build a better future. He increased funding for state parks, created a state government position focused on opening up access to public lands, and launched the state’s first Office of Outdoor Recreation. He has a track record of bringing people together to get things done and has served as chair of both the Western Governors Association and the National Governors Association. Prior to serving as Attorney General and Governor, he was a union-side labor lawyer. 

• Maite Arce – Founder of Hispanic Access Foundation, Maite Arce has 15 years of experience developing innovative outreach strategies that effectively mobilize under-represented populations. She has a proven track record of working with faith and community-based leaders, with whom she designs and executes data driven and measurable outreach initiatives. Arce formerly served as Vice President of Operations for the Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options (Hispanic CREO), increasing Latino parental involvement in education and public policy participation among Latino faith and community leaders. Arce received an honorary doctorate of Humane Letters from Logos Christian College in Jacksonville, Florida.

• Neil Kornze – Neil Kornze is the Chief Executive Officer of the Campion Advocacy Fund and Campion Foundation. In this role he oversees grantmaking, policy initiatives, and operations, working closely with the trustees and staff to protect America’s last wild places and combat homelessness in Washington state and across the country. Previously, Kornze served as Director of the Bureau of Land Management from 2014 to 2017. Under his leadership, the BLM protected iconic American landscapes like Bears Ears National Monument in southeastern Utah and the San Juan Islands of Washington state. Kornze also worked as a Senior Advisor to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and later founded his own strategy firm that helped clients protect land, water and wildlife.
• Stacy Leeds – Stacy Leeds is an experienced leader in law, higher education, governance, economic development, and conflict resolution. In 2021, she joined the faculty at Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University as the Foundation Professor of Law and Leadership. Leeds is Dean Emeritus, University of Arkansas School of Law (2011-2018) and the first Indigenous woman to lead a law school. She is a former Justice on the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court and former Chairperson of the Cherokee Nation Gaming Commission. She is currently a district court judge for Muscogee (Creek) Nation and an appellate court judge for other Indigenous Nations. She is frequently tapped for conflict resolution and management roles, including arbitration, mediation, and negotiations. She previously served on the National Commission on American Indian Trust Administration and Reform for the U.S. Department of the Interior.

In the coming months, Secretary Haaland will appoint an additional five founding Board members to staggered terms of four and six years to complete the Board. The BLM is working with the initial Board members to file papers of incorporation with the District of Columbia, where the Foundation will be officially located, and to apply to the Internal Revenue Service to secure 501(c)3 tax exempt status. 

On May 5, 2017, Congress authorized the creation of a BLM-affiliated Foundation in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017. As mandated by the legislation, the Foundation will:  (1) encourage, accept, and administer private gifts of money, real and personal property; and in-kind services for the benefit of, or in connection with the activities and services of, the Bureau of Land Management; (2) carry out activities that advance the purposes for which public land is administered; (3) carry out and encourage educational, technical, scientific, and other assistance or activities that support the mission of the BLM; and (4) assist the BLM with challenges that could be better addressed with the support of a foundation, including reclamation and conservation activities, activities relating to wild free roaming horses and burros, and the stewardship of cultural and archaeological treasures on public land.

The BLM will provide initial funding and support for the Foundation and is in the process of hiring a full-time liaison who will work closely with its Board and staff to ensure close coordination. Once operational, the Foundation will operate independently of the agency, though the BLM Director will serve as an ex officio Board Member.

-BLM–

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

The Multnomah Education Service District Board of Directors will meet in a work session at 5:00 p.m. on January 26, 2022.  
In response to the current health emergency this meeting will be held virtually via Zoom.

https://multnomahesd-org.zoom.us/j/86051309144?pwd=clk0MkdzbGZHQzRpL3NUVGdhVEVyUT09

Meeting ID: 860 5130 9144
Passcode: 943393

Vancouver, Wash. – The Housing Options Study and Action Plan project’s purpose is to identify housing challenges within the unincorporated Vancouver Urban Growth Area and opportunities to encourage development of housing that is affordable to a variety of household incomes through the removal of regulatory barriers and/or implementation of other strategies.

The group’s ninth and final meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25 via Zoom. The meeting is open to the public and will be recorded. 

For information on how to join and participate in the meeting, please visit https://clark.wa.gov/community-planning/housing-project-advisory-group.

At the meeting, the Project Advisory Group (PAG) will finalize their recommendations for the Housing Action Plan. The PAG released their draft recommendations on Nov. 30, 2021, to seek input from the public. The input received from a Dec. 14 public meeting, a project questionnaire, and comments received via email, will be provided to the group to help inform their final recommendations for the Housing Action Plan.

The Housing Action Plan will be presented to and reviewed by the Clark County Planning Commission and Clark County Council. At that time, the decision makers will have the opportunity to direct staff on what strategies they are interested in pursuing for implementation.

Learn more about the project at www.clark.wa.gov/housingoptions.

PORTLAND, Ore. – Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) is one of eight programs across the nation that have been awarded an $18.2 million Disability Innovation Fund Program. The statewide Pathways to Opportunity consortium led by Portland Community College is part of the project and will be partnering with VR to coordinate activities with Oregon’s 17 community colleges.

The funds will be used to develop and implement the Inclusive Career Advancement Program (ICAP) Project. ICAP will tap into Oregon’s current statewide network of career pathway services to advance educational and economic equity for people with disabilities, with intentional outreach and inclusion of marginalized communities. 

As part of the grant, ICAP will:

• Serve 500 people with disabilities, with intentional outreach being made to marginalized communities.
• Braid together career readiness and workforce development partners across the state and Oregon’s 17 community colleges.
• Use student-centered and evidence-based strategies and practice in workforce development.

Last spring, in partnership with VR and Cornell University, Pathways to Opportunity jointly developed an application for this grant. Cornell will evaluate the project’s implementation and performance to determine efficacy of ICAP’s practices and strategies. These findings will be shared nationally to expand access and opportunities for people with disabilities to enter and be supported in their career goals.

ICAP will braid the support and services of VR, Self-Sufficiency Programs, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act workforce partners, Oregon Commission for the Blind (OCB) with the three interrelated and foundational initiatives of Oregon’s community colleges — Career Pathways, SNAP Training and Employment Program, Pathways to Opportunities and Oregon Department of Human Services.

College credentials, the most proven pathway out of poverty, remain out of reach for too many students, due to the staggering unmet financial need and basic needs insecurity. Working together to address these issues is the Pathways to Opportunity coalition, which includes Partners for a Hunger Free Oregon, public colleges and universities, and the Oregon Department of Human Services, among other key partners. It aims to close opportunity gaps and increase economic mobility by expanding the federal, state, and local resources available to low-income students so more people can attend and complete college.

About Portland Community College: Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to more than 50,000 full- and part-time students in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia counties. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, eight 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/

January 19, 2022

Media contact: Jonathan Modie, 971-246-9139, COVID19.Media@dhsoha.state.or.us">OrCOVID19.Media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon Cannabis Commission meets via Zoom Jan. 25

What: A Zoom meeting for the Oregon Cannabis Commission.

Agenda: TBD. The full agenda will be available at www.healthoregon.org/cannabiscommission.

When: Tuesday, Jan. 25, 1-4 p.m.

Where: Via Zoom. Members of the public may join remotely by phone at 1-669-254-5252; Meeting ID: 160 331 9000 Passcode: 444591

Background: The Oregon Cannabis Commission was established in the 2017 legislative session through HB 2198. The commission consists of the state health officer or designee and an eight member-panel appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the senate. The commission provides advice to Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission regarding Oregon Administrative Rules that govern medical cannabis as well as retail cannabis as it pertains to patients and caregivers.  Additionally, the commission is tasked with developing a long-term strategic plan for ensuring that cannabis will remain a therapeutic and affordable option for patients and monitoring federal laws, regulations, and policies regarding cannabis.

Visit www.Healthoregon.org/cannabiscommission for more information.

# # #

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

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

If you need help or have questions, please contact Megan Lockwood at 971-673-0620, 711 TTY or .lockwood@dhsoha.state.or.us">megan.r.lockwood@dhsoha.state.or.us at least 48 hours before the meeting.

At 4:55 a.m. on January 19, 2022, SW Polk Fire District was dispatched to a vehicle crash on Hwy 99 at milepost 52. Crews responded from Salt Creek and Rickreall Community Fire Stations. Upon arrival, they found a car had struck a large semi-truck wheel. There were minor injuries reported. Polk County Sheriff provided additional support on scene. SW Polk Fire District would like to remind everyone to be watchful of your surroundings during weather conditions with low visibility.

The Oregon Heritage Commission is offering grants to qualified museums for collections, heritage tourism, and education and interpretation projects. Awards typically range between $2,000 and $10,000.

Museums may apply for a variety of projects. Collections projects may include cataloging, archival storage, disaster preparedness, and conservation. Heritage tourism projects may include museum marketing and promotions, enhancing visitor experience, and training for museum staff. Education and interpretation projects may include exhibits, online education, school classes, workshops, and camps. Museums may also partner with other organizations for projects that might be outside of the museum, but still meet the museum’s mission. It is possible to enfold response to COVID-19 challenges into appropriate projects. 

“This program is quite broad and can be used to collect the full spectrum of Oregon’s history, preserve it and raise awareness of it. We hope to see both creative and practical proposals,” said Oregon Heritage Coordinator, Katie Henry. Past projects include:

• Interpretation and education projects at the Albany Regional Museum, Elkton Community Education Center, Five Oaks Museum (Washington County), Willamette Heritage Center (Salem); 
• Collections projects by Architectural Heritage Center, B-17 Alliance Foundation, Crater Rock Museum, Deschutes County Historical Society, Jordan Valley Owyhee Heritage Council, Keizer Heritage Foundation, Sheridan Museum of Historic, Willamette Heritage Center (Salem); and 
• Tourism projects by the Hoover-Minthorn House (Newberg). 

The online grant application is simple to use and includes plenty of support.  A free online workshop specific to this grant and how to use the online grant application will be offered February 8, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Advance registration is required. Recorded trainings and tips are also online.

The Heritage Commission is comprised of nine people representing Oregon’s heritage and geographical diversity who have been appointed by the Governor. There are also nine advisory representatives from state agencies and statewide organizations. The commission’s mission is to secure, sustain, and enhance Oregon's heritage by ensuring coordination of heritage initiatives by public and private organizations; advocacy on its behalf; education of the public about its extent and value; and promotion and celebration of its diversity. The commission supports Oregon Heritage Plan goals that include: including more voices of Oregon’s history, access to Oregon’s historic resources, attaining best practices and promoting the value of heritage. 

To learn more about museum grants, visit www.oregonheritage.org or contact Kuri Gill at i.Gill@oprd.oregon.gov">Kuri.Gill@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.

STAYTON, Ore. — Oregon Department of Forestry staff whose Santiam Unit office in Lyons burned down in the wildfires of Labor Day 2020 are now in a new leased office in Stayton. 

Since the wildfire 16 months ago, staff had been working either from home, in available office space at ODF headquarters campus in Salem as well as the compound in Lyons. The Santiam staff serve eastern Marion, northern Linn and southern Clackamas counties. This includes assisting people in the Santiam Canyon as they recover from the same devastating wildfires that claimed ODF’s Lyons office.

“We’re happy to be back closer to the community we serve,” said Santiam Unit Forester Kyle Kaupp. “We thank all ODF staff, our cooperators, partners, forest landowners, adjacent districts, and the public for being patient with us as we set up at our new location.”

The structures housing fire engines and other fire equipment survived the 2020 wildfires on ODF’s compound in Lyons. ODF fire personnel are continuing to provide fire protection from that location. 

In accordance with Oregon pandemic workplace guidelines the office in Stayton is not yet open to the public. People can contact staff by email, phone or postal mail to 930 W. Washington St. Suite 20, Stayton, OR 97383. The phone number is 503-859-2151.

Kaupp said planning is still underway to determine a permanent replacement for the lost ODF office building in Lyons, but no final decisions have been made yet.                    

                                                          # # #

SALEM, Ore. - Oregon National Guard Service Members started their second hospital relief mission on Jan. 18, 2022. This new activation will place approximately 1,200 Oregon Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen supporting up to 40 hospitals throughout the state. 

Since Jan. 10, 2022, the Oregon National Guard has stood up a Joint Task Force of Air and Army National Guardsmen to support this latest hospital effort. Over the past eight days, the Guard activated nearly 500 Oregon Service Members from six locations throughout the state, supporting approximately 40 medical facilities in Oregon. 

The Oregon National Guard will further increase support by approximately 700 additional Service Members over the next two weeks, further bolstering non-clinical hospital staff roles throughout the forecasted COVID-19 Omicron variant peak over the next thirty days. 

“We will continue to work together, and in alignment with our core values, remain confident that the Oregon National Guard will ‘Always be Ready, Always There’,” said Lt. Col. Brian J. Kroeller, Oregon National Guard Hospital Relie Joint Task Force Deputy Commander. 

This activation follows a successful prior deployment of over 1,500 Oregon National Guardsmen that provided the same non-clinical support rolls staffed from August of 2021 and ended in late December of 2021. 

The Oregon National Guard comprises over 8,000 Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen, dedicated to serving the communities they live in and maintaining the ability to serve the nation in times of war. The organization is the largest part-time employer in the state. Its members, on average, conduct duty one weekend a month with an additional two-week period a year while maintaining civilian employment.  

                                                                            -30-

Released Video:

B-roll link:  https://dvidshub.net/r/qwm9sc

Released Photos:

220118-Z-ZJ128-1001

Oregon Army National Guard member and site officer in charge, 2nd Lt. Jacob King, and his team of Soldiers assigned to the hospital relief mission receive a first-day orientation briefing from Nurse Arielle LeVeaux at West Valley Hospital in Dallas, Oregon, Jan. 18, 2022. The seven soldier team is part of the National Guards' second hospital relief mission tasked to place 1,200 guard members in approximately 40 hospitals across Oregon to address non-clinical staffing shortages. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

220118-Z-ZJ128-1002

Hospital Facilities Operations Manager Don Wilder gives Oregon Army National Gaurd hospital relief mission members a tour of West Valley Hospital in Dallas, Oregon, on Jan. 18, 2022, as part of the team's first-day orientation. The seven soldier team is part of the National Guards' second hospital relief mission tasked to place 1,200 guard members in approximately 40 hospitals across Oregon to address urgent non-clinical staffing shortages. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

220118-Z-ZJ128-1003

Hospital Emergency Room Nurse Director Shane Emmert leads a first-day orientation briefing to Oregon Army National Gaurd hospital relief mission members at West Valley Hospital in Dallas, Oregon, on Jan. 18, 2022. The seven soldier team is part of the National Guards' second hospital relief mission tasked to place 1,200 guard members in approximately 40 hospitals across Oregon to address urgent non-clinical staffing shortages. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

220118-Z-ZJ128-1004

Hospital administrators give Oregon Army National Guard hospital relief mission members a first-day orientation briefing at West Valley Hospital in Dallas, Oregon, on Jan. 18, 2022. The seven soldier team is part of the National Guards' second hospital relief mission tasked to place 1,200 guard members in approximately 40 hospitals across Oregon to address urgent non-clinical staffing shortages. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

Mary Beth Tinker was only 13 years old and still a student when she found herself in the national spotlight and at the center of a Supreme Court case. Recently, Tinker spoke to Ridgefield High School students in Angela Gardner’s social studies class, sharing her experiences about the Supreme Court case and the years that followed as she became a student rights advocate.

Tinker and several other students in Des Moines, Iowa wore black armbands to school in protest of the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War and to honor both the American and Vietnamese soldiers who had died. While a large number of students had worn the armbands, only five were singled out for suspension, including Mary Beth Tinker and her brother, John. Tinker still has the suspension notice from 1965 and showed it to Gardner’s class. The family received death threats, some of which were specifically targeted at Mary Beth.

The Des Moines school board upheld the principal’s decision to suspend the students. Shortly afterwards, the Iowa Civil Liberties Union filed a complaint on behalf of three of the students–Mary Beth Tinker, John Tinker, and Christopher Eckhardt–in District Court, claiming that the students’ First Amendment rights to free expression had been infringed upon. The complaint was dismissed and went to the U.S. Court of Appeals, where the judges were split. Finally, the Supreme Court agreed to take up the case in 1968.

The Supreme Court found that the Des Moines Independent Community School District had, in fact, violated the students’ First Amendment rights by suspending the students for wearing black armbands. In a landmark decision, the court set a legal standard for free expression for students, saying that students do not lose their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech when they are on school property. In order to justify suppressing speech, schools would have to prove that the conduct would “materially and substantially interfere with the operation of the school.” This substantial disruption test became known as the “Tinker Test”. 

Tinker would later go on to become a pediatric nurse but continued serving as an advocate for youth and student rights. In 2013, she started the “Tinker Tour” where she spoke to tens of thousands of students across the United States about youth voices, free speech, and freedom of the press. In 2019, they celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Tinker v. Des Moines case. The Tinker Tour gives her a direct way to encourage students to speak out for what they believe in.

Gardner had seen information about the Tinker Tour and decided to apply when she learned that tour dates were now available via Zoom. 

“Tinker vs. Des Moines Independent Community School District is one of the required cases for the AP exam,” said Gardner. “We are also in the middle of our Civil Rights and Civil Liberties unit, so the timing all came together perfectly. It was exciting for my students to hear about this case from one of the individuals who was directly involved!”

The students were excited too, with many questions for Tinker. Charlie Fisher, a founding member of the Unite Ridgefield club, spoke with Tinker about their student-driven social justice organization at Ridgefield High School. Tinker was enthusiastic to hear about the students who were working toward justice and speaking out about the changes they’d like to see. 

“That’s what it’s about,” Tinker said. “It becomes a way of life.” 

Tinker also shared pages from a First Amendment coloring book she designed for her tours called “Color My Rights!” She pointed out that many of the pages were inspired by student-led activism, including a Girl Scout protest against the use of palm oil (which harms rainforests) in cookies, an elementary school protest against mistreatment of circus animals, and a student-led movement to stop Asian hate crimes. Tinker was clearly proud to see students stepping forward to make positive change in the world. 

Students at Ridgefield High School and across the globe will continue to build on Tinker’s legacy, ensuring that students everywhere have the right to be heard. 

January 18, 2022

Media contact: Jonathan Modie, 971-246-9139, COVID19.Media@dhsoha.state.or.us">OrCOVID19.Media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Conference of Local Health Officials meets Jan. 20 via Zoom

What: The monthly public meeting of the Conference of Local Health Officials (CLHO). 

Agenda: Tobacco retail license scope of work and funding; school-based health center ARPA funding update; public health modernization updates.

Agenda is subject to change and is posted with meeting materials on the CLHO website at http://www.oregonclho.org/ prior to meeting.

There is no public comment period during this meeting.

When: Thursday, Jan. 20, 9:30-11 a.m.

Where: Via Zoom. Members of the public seeking to attend must register for the meeting at  

https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItde2trDIuHi77O3JM8PRXSEpfLh2L6YY

Background: The Conference of Local Health Officials provides recommendations to Oregon Health Authority on the foundational capabilities and programs and any other public health program or activity under ORS 431.147. (ORS 431.340).

Program contact: Danna Drum, 503-957-8869,  um@state.or.us">danna.k.drum@state.or.us

# # #

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

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

If you need help or have questions, please contact Sara Beaudrault at 971-645-5766 711 TTY or um@dhsoha.state.or.us">danna.k.drum@dhsoha.state.or.us at least 48 hours before the meeting.

CORRECTIONS POLICY COMMITTEE

MEETING SCHEDULED

Notice of Regular Meeting

The Corrections Policy Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a regular meeting on February 8, 2022, at 10:00 a.m in the Governor Victor G. Atiyeh Boardroom at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Shelby Alexander at (503) 378-2191.

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

1. Introductions

2. Approve November 9, 2021 Meeting Minutes

3. Case Review Process Overview/Updates

    Presented by Marsha Morin

4. Administrative Closures Consent Agenda (The following items to be ratified by one vote)

    Presented by Melissa Lang-Bacho

a. James Davis; DPSST No. 39124; DOC/Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution

    Basic Corrections Certification

b. Jose Garcia; DPSST No. 36656; DOC/Snake River Correctional Institution

    Basic and Intermediate Corrections Certifications

c. Andrew Lopez; DPSST No. 57172; DOC/Snake River Correctional Institution

    Basic Corrections Certification

d. Lisa Pittman; DPSST No. 40830; Washington County Community Corrections Center

    Basic, Intermediate, Advanced Parole and Probation Certifications

e. Thea Quintana; DPSST No. 45187; DOC/ Two Rivers Correctional Institution

    Basic Corrections Certification

5. Kimberly Way, DPSST No. 41941; DOC/Warner Creek Correctional Facility

    Presented by Melissa Lang-Bacho

6. Damien Chakwin, DPSST No. 45087; DOC/Columbia River Correctional Institution

    Presented by Melissa Lang-Bacho

7. Oscar Estrada-Herrera, DPSST No. 55548; Washington County Community Corrections Center

    Presented by Melissa Lang-Bacho

8. Michael Shane Palmer, Sr. DPSST No. 39580; DOC/Snake River Correctional Institution

    Presented by Melissa Lang-Bacho

9. Cameron Williamson, DPSST No. 56428

    Presented by Melissa Lang-Bacho

10. Program Manager Update

11. Director’s Comments

12. Next Corrections Policy Committee Meeting: May 10, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.

Administrative Announcement

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

Note, we updated the spelling of two victims' names: 

Tristin C. Vanblokland

Reyshaun Dominique-Joseph Supuni

UPDATE JANUARY 18, 2022:

Eugene Police detectives want to reiterate the need for witness information and tips to help solve this case. There has been some cooperation, which is greatly appreciated, but having a healthy level of solid tips and cooperation is what is going to help investigators.

Violent Crimes Unit detectives are continuing their work on this. At this point, there is not enough to say if the event was random or targeted to individuals or a group. There is not an updated suspect description. All victims are in stable condition and/or  have been treated and released. Victim information is below.

The number to call and help with relevant tips is (541.682.5162).

Chief Skinner's comment about the need for tips (entire interview in a link included at end of this release)

The victims of the shooting are as follows:

• Richard Daniel Lemmon, age 26, of Pendleton, Oregon. 
• Jason Jamell Smith, age 25, of San Francisco, CA
• Aaleigha Mechelle Tynan, age 25, of Eugene, Oregon
• Reyshaun Dominique-Joseph Supuni, age 30, of Pendleton, Oregon.
• Tristin C. Vanblokland, age 26, of Pendleton, Oregon.
• Priscila Wavaline Camarena, age 21, Pendleton, Oregon.

PREVIOUSLY RELEASED INFORMATION

From: MCLAUGHLIN Melinda V  
Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2022 12:52 PM
Subject: Update Shots fired at WOW Hall, six people transported to local hospital

UPDATE POSTED AT 12:50 P.M. JANUARY 15: 

 Eugene Police are releasing a tip line for last night’s WOW Hall shooting (541.682.5162) and are seeking any witness information to help investigators with the case. The only potential suspect description at this time is a male with a hoody. There is no suspect in custody at this time. Detectives are actively working the investigation and ask the public to call with any relevant information or video/photos to that tip line.

On January 14 9:29 p.m., there were reports of multiple shots fired at WOW Hall, 219 W. 8^th Avenue. Eugene Police and multiple law enforcement agencies responded, along with Eugene Springfield Fire. 

Police officers arrived within 2.5 minutes to a hectic scene of people who had been shot near the walkway/back entrance to Wow Hall, with  a loud and frantic crowd. The officers quickly provided medical aid to victims, including applying tourniquets and pressure to wounds, mitigating any potential threats, and coordinating with arriving Eugene Springfield Fire medic units for a safe response to further treat the injured victims. The response included 25 Eugene Police Patrol Units plus multiple detective units, with the first arrival. We are thankful to Lane County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, Springfield Police, and UO Police Department, who provided additional quick response alongside us. Eugene Springfield Fire responded with five medics, four paramedic engine companies and four chief officers. Eugene Police Forensic Evidence Unit responded as well. Central Lane 911 received at least 30 emergency calls. 

One victim remains in critical condition, and the remaining five are stable. All of the victims with the exception of one are from out of town and appear to have traveled here for the concert. Two are female and four are male. 

Five patients were transported last night to a local hospital and one patient self-transported as a walk-in to a hospital.

NEWS CONFERENCE VIDEO

Media, here is a private Vimeo link to raw interview footage that you are free to use without attribution.

https://vimeo.com/666250128

Case 22-00850

January 18, 2022

Contact: OHA External Relations, covid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us">orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon reports 28,037 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 10 new deaths

PORTLAND, Ore. — There are10 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 5,893, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

OHA reported 28,037 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 541,415. Today’s total also reflects the weekend and MLK Jr. holiday Jan. 17.

More Oregonians receive COVID-19 booster doses

Oregon continues to move closer to meeting Gov. Kate Brown’s goal, announced Dec. 17, of getting 1 million more people in the state a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of January.

When the challenge began, 949,749 people had received a booster dose. Since then, 390,311 Oregonians have received a booster.

As of today, Oregon needs 609,689 people to get a booster to reach the goal and make our state safer from the Omicron variant. Find a booster here.

Community Transmission Report and Public Health Indicators Dashboard update

Today, OHA updated the Community Transmission Report links to downloadable data published to Tableau. The most recent full week’s community transmission data are displayed on a map of Oregon’s counties on the associated Public Health Indicators dashboard. These data will be published weekly on the first day of the week.

In the face of rapidly rising Omicron cases, public health authorities are focusing more on outbreaks in high-risk settings and less on interviewing individual cases and conducting contact tracing. With the transition to an opt-in model of case reporting, the most recent Public Health Indicators: Public Health Response data from Jan. 11 will be archived in OHA’s COVID-19 Data Reports.  

Data on timely public health follow-up (percentage of COVID-19 cases where public health initiated follow-up within 24 hours) and the percentage of COVID-19 cases traced to a known source (cases with an epidemiologic link other than sporadic) will not be collected in the same way moving forward.

The Public Health Indicators: Indicators of Severe Disease tab from Jan. 11 will also be archived as these data are now published daily instead of weekly:

• Data on emergency department visits for COVID-19 like illness (CLI) are now available daily on Oregon’s COVID-19 Update: Emergency Department tab.
• County-level COVID-19 cases by whether they were hospitalized during their illness are now available daily on Oregon’s Epidemiologic Curve here.

COVID-19 hospitalizations

The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 911, which is 51 more than yesterday (1/17). There are 152 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is four more than yesterday.

There are 62 available adult ICU beds out of 662 total (9% availability) and 250 available adult non-ICU beds out of 4,107 (6% availability).

Statewide regions are as follows:

Region 1: Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Multnomah, Tillamook and Washington counties

Region 2: Benton, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties

Region 3: Coos, Curry, Douglas and Lane counties

Region 5: Jackson and Josephine counties

Region 6: Hood River, Gilliam, Sherman and Wasco counties

Region 7: Crook, Deschutes, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake and Wheeler counties

Region 9: Baker, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla, Union and Wallowa counties

The total number of patients in hospital beds may fluctuate between report times. The numbers do not reflect admissions per day, nor the length of hospital stay. Staffing limitations are not captured in this data and may further limit bed capacity.

Note: Please do not visit an emergency department for COVID-19 testing, unless you require emergency care for your symptoms.

Emergency departments in Oregon are under significant strain. You can find a test here. If you have a medical condition that doesn’t require emergency care, contact your provider. An urgent care center may also help you get the care you need and will save emergency departments from added strain.

More information about hospital capacity can be found here.

Vaccinations in Oregon

Today, OHA reported that 11,430 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry Jan. 17. Of that total, 1,058 were initial doses, 637 were second doses, and 4,517 were third doses and booster doses. The remaining 5,154 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry Jan. 17.

The seven-day running average is now 15,482 doses per day.

Oregon has now administered 3,954,935 doses of Pfizer Comirnaty, 194,737 doses of Pfizer pediatric, 2,603,575 doses of Moderna and 261,804 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.

As of today, 3,097,435 people have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 2,804,907 people have completed a COVID-19 vaccine series.

These data are preliminary and subject to change.

Updated vaccination data are provided on Oregon’s COVID-19 data dashboards and have been updated today.

Cases and deaths

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (82), Benton (792), Clackamas (2,617), Clatsop (134), Columbia (197), Coos (339), Crook (228), Curry (121), Deschutes (2,081), Douglas (398), Gilliam (2), Grant (23), Harney (15), Hood River (43), Jackson (1,835), Jefferson (239), Josephine (453), Klamath (514), Lake (32), Lane (2,561), Lincoln (187), Linn (873), Malheur (75), Marion (2,764), Morrow (67), Multnomah (4,995), Polk (542), Sherman (2), Tillamook (81), Umatilla (703), Union (106), Wallowa (58), Wasco (30), Washington (4,093) and Yamhill (755).

Oregon reports 10,232 confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases on Jan. 14.

Oregon reports 6,062 confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases on Jan.15.

Oregon reports 4,558 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases on Jan. 16.

Oregon reports 7,185 confirmed and presumptive cases on Jan. 17.

Oregon’s 5,884th COVID-19-related death is a 74-year-old woman from Josephine County who tested positive Dec. 22, 2021 and died Jan. 13 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,885th COVID-19-related death is a 70-year-old man from Douglas County who tested positive Jan. 5 and died Jan. 12 at Mercy Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,886th COVID-19-related death is a 90-year-old man from Clackamas County who tested positive Jan. 6 and died Jan. 11 at his residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,887th COVID-19-related death is a 76-year-old man from Clackamas County who tested positive Dec. 28, 2021 and died Jan. 5 at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,888th COVID-19-related death is a 79-year-old woman from Baker County who tested positive Jan. 9 and died Jan. 13 at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, ID. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,889th COVID-19-related death is a 67-year-old man from Baker County who tested positive Dec. 30, 2021 and died Jan. 14 at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, ID. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,890th COVID-19-related death is a 71-year-old woman from Josephine County who tested positive Jan. 13 and died Jan. 15 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,891st COVID-19-related death is a 65-year-old woman from Josephine County who tested positive Dec. 28, 2021 and died Jan. 13 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,892nd COVID-19-related death is a 60-year-old man from Josephine County who tested positive Dec. 27, 2021 and died Jan. 14 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,893rd COVID-19-related death is a 72-year-old woman from Josephine County who tested positive Dec. 23, 2021 and died Jan. 15 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations  

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine situation in Oregon, visit our web page (English or Spanish), which has a breakdown of distribution and other information.

####

Salem, Oregon – In the first of two rounds of FY2022 Career Opportunity Program grant awards, the Oregon Arts Commission and The Ford Family Foundation have awarded $88,234 to 28 artists for career development projects. The awards include $44,150 from the Oregon Arts Commission for all artistic disciplines and $44,084 in supplemental funding for 11 established visual artists through a partnership with The Ford Family Foundation’s Visual Arts Program. Individual grants range from $425 to $11,000. 

Career Opportunity Grants support individual Oregon artists by enabling them to take advantage of timely opportunities that enhance their artistic careers. Most grants support the artists’ participation in residencies, exhibitions or performance opportunities.

“This grant program invests in the career growth of talented Oregon artists,” said Christopher Acebo, the Arts Commissioner who chaired the review panel. “That support is critical now as artists continue to rebuild from losses related to the pandemic.”

The Ford Family Foundation funds are available to established Oregon visual artists who are producing new work in the fields of contemporary art and craft. 

"These awards allow artists to seize key opportunities in their careers. Even one exhibition or residency has the possibility of unlocking a new path, technique or business relationship that can alter an artist’s future in a significant way,” said Anne C. Kubisch, president of The Ford Family Foundation. “The Foundation is pleased to play a part in that."

FY2022 Career Opportunity Program grant award recipients are:

Laura Allcorn, Portland          

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000                     

To support Allcom’s travel to Science Gallery (Dublin, Ireland) in November 2021 to produce a performance program to be featured alongside a newly commissioned interactive installation entitled SKU-Market, a mini-market where visitors shop to learn about AI and social profiling for the exhibition BIAS.

Loo Bain, Portland     

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

The Ford Family Foundation $587

To support travel, residency fees, materials and shipping for Bain’s attendance at The Icelandic Textile Centers textile lab in April to use the TC2 loom in Blondous Iceland to create work for an exhibit at Nordia House.

Rick Bocko, Eugene

Oregon Arts Commission $425

To support Bocko's singer/songwriter career by funding a professional recording of “Sunday Breakfast” to pair with a children's book to be published; the book will include the song lyrics, illustrations and music for read/sing/play along.

Srijon Chowdhury, Portland  

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

The Ford Family Foundation $8,500

To support the production of large-scale paintings for Chowdhury’s solo exhibition at The Frye Art Museum in Seattle in October 2022.

Tomas Cotik, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,300

To support a recording and international release of Cotik’s historically informed recording of Telemann for Solo Violin by Centaur Records, one of the oldest and largest independent classical labels.

Merridawn Duckler, Portland 

Oregon Arts Commission $900

To support Duckler’s housing for a month-long stay at Spokane’s Playwright Lab in February, where her full-length play has been accepted into an intensive developmental workshop Included will be teaching and mentoring opportunities at Gonzaga University and a public staged reading and performance.

Daniel Duford, Portland       

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support Duford’s writing and creation of a shadow puppet performance with live music and actors combining the medieval poem “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” with North American roots music, to be presented on the Winter Solstice as part of a three-week residency at Building Five in Northwest Marine Artworks.

Joshua Flint, Portland 

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

The Ford Family Foundation $500

To support the development of Flint’s professional practice by producing an edition of lithographic works with professional lithographer Austin Armstrong.

Joan Gilbert, Enterprise        

Oregon Arts Commission $1,100

To support the preparation of Gilbert’s solo exhibit titled “Wallowa Lake: 55x55” at the Josephy Center for Arts & Culture, running September through October 2022. The exhibit represents the culmination of a three-year project exploring Wallowa Lake and mediums, styles and techniques.

Brian Gillis, Eugene   

Oregon Arts Commission $1,800

The Ford Family Foundation $5,000

To support a transdisciplinary, interinstitutional, collaborative project from May 1 through July 8 that ties the Alberta Abbey to its community by establishing a hub for service and access to resources and opportunities related to health, wellness and social justice.

Garrick Imatani, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

The Ford Family Foundation $2,734 

To support Imatani’s exhibition, free online screening, book launch and public conversation for the 2021 Time-Based Arts Festival (TBA) at the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA) that will also include fabricated sculptures to be exhibited at the Chachalu Museum and Cultural Center (Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde) in early 2022.

Kendra Larson, Portland      

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

To support Larson’s art residency at GilsfjordurArts in Gilsfjörður in the Westjords of Iceland, in the summer of 2022. The award will support travel, art supplies and documentation.

Niraja Lorenz, Eugene        

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

The Ford Family Foundation $2,700

To support Lorenz’ participation in a two-week independent study with Nancy Crow in Indianola, Washington, in February/March 2022, The award will support tuition, travel, lodging and supplies.

Brenda Mallory, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,975

The Ford Family Foundation $8,500

To support the creation of art for Mallory’s solo exhibition "The North Star Changes" at The Heard Museum in Phoenix.

Brenna Murphy, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

To support Murphy’s performance and exhibition in collaboration with Birch Cooper and Jan Anderzen at Blank Forms in NYC.

Lamiae Naki, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support Naki’s consultancy with the founder and CEO of Olivia Management, a professional artist management company, to manage publicity leading up to her upcoming album release and strategies for promotion.

Kristen Nekovar, Astoria

Oregon Arts Commission $1,000

To support the completion of custom, hardwood framing in preparation for Nekovar’s debut exhibition at Astoria Visual Arts Gallery from Jan. 8 to Feb. 5.

Aja Ngo, Nehalem

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

The Ford Family Foundation $2,013

To support Ngo’s study at In Koko Mosaico in Ravenna, Italy, under the supervision of master mosaic artist Arrianna Gallo. The award will support travel, tuition and materials. 

Geraldine Ondrizek, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

The Ford Family Foundation $9,000

To support an installation of Ondrizek’s “The First 100 Hours” in the upcoming Personal Structures exhibition at the European Cultural Center in Venice, to run parallel to the Venice Art Biennale from April 23 to Nov. 27.

Sara Parker, Portland 

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

To support the inaugural production of Parker’s “the beast that blooms,” a multidisciplinary dance performance to be presented at BodyVox Dance Center on Feb. 4 and 5.

Mark Powers, Tigard 

Oregon Arts Commission $1,650

To support a unique one-on-one intensive training opportunity in the Los Angeles area to increase Powers’ knowledge of microphone, effects and drum mixing techniques for the continued growth of the artist’s remote recording home studio.

Alyson Provax, Portland      

Oregon Arts Commission $1,000

The Ford Family Foundation $2,750

To support Provax’ exhibition at Well Well Projects in North Portland scheduled for August,  focused on text-based letterpress works on paper.

William Ray, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

To support an all-BIPOC crew for Hearts + Sparks Productions’ production of Ray’s film adaption of a section of M. Scott Peck’s book "People of the Lie." The film title is "tour de force" and will be shot from Sept. 24 to Sept. 30 mostly in Southeast Portland. Post production and editing will occur off-site at Desert Island Studios.

Lyla Rowen, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,300                  

To support Rowen’s residency at the Icelandic Textile Center in April to work in the dye studio and digital loom lab to create weavings that will be shown at the museum and Nordia House.

Angela Saenz, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $700

To support Saenz’ professional documentation and website services so that she is able to share her new works and details about her upcoming solo show in the gallery of The Armory at the Portland Center Stage.

Coleman Stevenson, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,000

The Ford Family Foundation $1,800

To support the creation and installation of a Stevenson’s new body of text and image work for an exhibition in Brooklyn, NY, in May.

Jennifer Vaughn, Eugene

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

To support the creation and installation of visual artwork for a Vaughn’s solo exhibition at Ditch Projects in Springfield, Oregon in September.

Phyllis Yes, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $2,000

To support Yes’ travel to Los Angeles to work with a producer/director on the filming and editing of her movie script “Good Morning, Miss America.”

-----

The Oregon Arts Commission provides leadership, funding and arts programs through its grants, services, and special initiatives. 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.

The Oregon State Marine Board will hold a work session on January 25, beginning at 1:00 pm, to discuss boating safety, and will hold their quarterly Board meeting on January 26, beginning at 8:30 am. Both the work session and Board meeting will be held virtually.

Agenda items include:

• Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program Update
• Small Grant Funding. Action: Board Approval
• Request Regarding Foam Encapsulation Rules. Action: Consider the Possibility of Opening Rulemaking
• Lower Willamette River Rules Evaluation, Year Two
• Life Jacket Legislative Concept. Action: Board Direction
• Possible Rulemaking via Petition to Amend OAR 250-010-0121, Muffling Devices. Action: Consider the Possibility of Opening Rulemaking
• Consideration for Rulemaking OAR 250-021-0010, Applies statewide rules for personal watercraft to other small inboard jet pump powered boats. Action: Option to Adopt Rules

Written public comment will be accepted until 5:00 pm on January 21, 2022 and can be emailed to .cooper@boat.oregon.gov">jennifer.cooper@boat.oregon.gov or by U.S. Mail to Oregon State Marine Board, Attn: Jennifer Cooper, 435 Commercial St NE Ste 400 Salem, OR 97301. Verbal comments will be accepted during the public comment portion at the beginning of the virtual meeting. If you would like to provide oral testimony during the meeting, register with Jennifer Cooper, .cooper@boat.oregon.gov">jennifer.cooper@boat.oregon.gov, no later than January 21 at 5:00 pm.

To view the agenda, Board materials, and for a link to the meeting live stream, visit

https://www.oregon.gov/osmb/info/Pages/Board-and-Public-Meetings.aspx. Meetings are conducted using Microsoft Teams and viewing may require the installation of a free Teams app for mobile devices.

                                                                        ###

WHO:                David Gerstenfeld, Acting Director, Oregon Employment Department 

WHEN:              Wednesday, 1 p.m. PST, Jan. 19, 2022

WHAT:           The Oregon Employment Department is hosting a video conference media availability with Acting Director David Gerstenfeld and State Employment Economist Gail Krumenauer.  

WHERE:            Via Zoom video conference: Members of the media must RSVP by emailing  OED_Communications@employ.oregon.gov by 12 p.m. PST on Wed., Jan. 19. Video conference information will be provided to all reporters who RSVP. RSVPs must indicate if the reporter wants to ask a question of the presenters.

OTHER:             The Oregon Employment Department is updating a claims processing progress data dashboard weekly. Visit this link for weekly updates. After the briefing concludes, a recording of the video conference will be emailed to reporters who RSVP’d. 

###

Equal Opportunity program — auxiliary aids and services available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Contact: (503) 953-2366. For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, call 711 Telecommunications Relay Services. 

Update-Pedestrian name released

The pedestrian has been identified as Luis Manuel Torres Rivera (44) of Lynnwood, Washington. 

________________________________________

On Sunday January 16th, 2022 at approximately 12:12 AM, Oregon State Police Troopers responded to a vehicle versus pedestrian crash on Interstate 84 near mile post 295.

Preliminary investigation revealed a westbound Volkswagen Passat, operated by Karli McKim (21) of La Grande, struck a pedestrian who was standing in the lane of travel. 

The pedestrian sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased. The name of the pedestrian will be released when appropriate. 

OSP was assisted by Baker County Sheriff’s Office, Baker City Fire Department and ODOT. 

Update-Name released of pedestrian

The pedestrian has been identified as Marcos Pinto Balam (30) of Milwaukie. 

_____________________________________________

On Sunday, January 16th, 2022 at about 7:45 AM, Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a pedestrian that appeared to be deceased on the shoulder of Hwy 99E near milepost 14. 

Preliminary investigation revealed an unknown vehicle struck a pedestrian. The name of the pedestrian will be released when appropriate. 

The pedestrian sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased. Hwy 99E was closed for over three hours while the Oregon State Police investigated the incident.  

OSP was assisted by ODOT, Oregon City PD and Clackamas County ME's Office. 

The Oregon Heritage Commission will meet via zoom at 9:00 a.m. on January 31. Its agenda includes a presentation on the Value of Heritage Resources in Community Resilience messaging tool recently completed and added to the Oregon Heritage Value of Heritage Toolkit.  interested parties must register through Zoom to receive access information. You can access the agenda and the registration information here. 

The Heritage Commission is comprised of nine people representing Oregon's heritage and geographical diversity who have been appointed by the Governor. There are nine advisory representatives from state agencies and statewide organizations. The mission of the Oregon Heritage Commission is to secure, sustain, and enhance Oregon's heritage by ensuring coordination of heritage initiatives by public and private organizations; advocacy on its behalf; education of the public about its extent and value; and promotion and celebration of its diversity. For more information, contact coordinator Katie Henry at (503) 877-8834 or katie.henry@oprd.oregon.gov.

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

For more information about the commissions, visit www.oregonheritage.org.

Sherwood City Manager Keith Campbell has announced the appointment of Ty Hanlon as the new Chief of Police for the Sherwood Police Department. Hanlon replaces Chief Jeff Groth who retired at the end of 2021 after nearly 14 years as the Sherwood Police Chief.

Ty Hanlon has 27 years of law enforcement experience. Hanlon has been with the City of Sherwood for over 12 years where he has served as both a Sergeant and Captain, and most recently as the Interim Police Chief. Hanlon has attended numerous leadership institutes and holds multiple professional certificates. Hanlon has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Business Administration. Hanlon has lived in Sherwood the last 26 years with his wife and has three grown children.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as the next Police Chief for the City of Sherwood,” stated Ty Hanlon. “I am excited to build on the excellent reputation the Sherwood Police Department has and will continue to focus on the safety, quality of life, and relationships within our community”

Sherwood City Manager Keith Campbell had this to say about the appointment, “The City of Sherwood is consistently rated as one of the safest communities in Oregon. The Sherwood Police Department enjoys a reputation as one of the best police departments in the Pacific Northwest. A big reason for this success is the relationship the police department has built with the community and the relationship and investment in the professional development of our police officers. I am confident that Ty Hanlon is the person who can continue to enhance and lead this organization to being the benchmark of excellence.”

Hanlon was selected after a nationwide search which was conducted by the professional recruitment firm, Prothman.

Sherwood City Manager Keith Campbell has announced the appointment of Ty Hanlon as the new Chief of Police for the Sherwood Police Department. Hanlon replaces Chief Jeff Groth who retired at the end of 2021 after nearly 14 years as the Sherwood Police Chief. 

Ty Hanlon has 27 years of law enforcement experience. Hanlon has been with the City of Sherwood for over 12 years where he has served as both a Sergeant and Captain, and most recently as the Interim Police Chief. Hanlon has attended numerous leadership institutes and holds multiple professional certificates. Hanlon has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Business Administration. Hanlon has lived in Sherwood the last 26 years with his wife and has three grown children.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as the next Police Chief for the City of Sherwood,” stated Ty Hanlon. “I am excited to build on the excellent reputation the Sherwood Police Department has and will continue to focus on the safety, quality of life, and relationships within our community”

Sherwood City Manager Keith Campbell had this to say about the appointment, “The City of Sherwood is consistently rated as one of the safest communities in Oregon. The Sherwood Police Department enjoys a reputation as one of the best police departments in the Pacific Northwest. A big reason for this success is the relationship the police department has built with the community and the relationship and investment in the professional development of our police officers. I am confident that Ty Hanlon is the person who can continue to enhance and lead this organization to being the benchmark of excellence.” 

Hanlon was selected after a nationwide search which was conducted by the professional recruitment firm, Prothman.

I-84 is closed eastbound and westbound in eastern Oregon due to crash near milepost 237. This is expected to be an extended closure. The eastbound lanes are closed between Exit 216 east of Pendleton and La Grande at Exit 265. The westbound lanes are closed between Baker City Exit 302 and Exit 216. Due to limited truck parking space in Baker City and La Grande commercial trucks will need to exit the westbound freeway in Ontario at Exit 374. OR 204 (Tollgate Highway) and OR 245 are also closed to all but local residents. These two routes are not viable detours during freeway closures. If you travel, expect winter conditions in many parts of eastern Oregon. For update conditions check TripCheck.com or call 511 / 800-977-6368. Outside Oregon call 503-588-2941. 

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 18, 2022

GREATER VANCOUVER CHAMBER LAUNCHES THE BUSINESS POD TO EMPOWER ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESSES

This program is designed to lead entrepreneurs, at no cost, to success through education, individual consultations, and cohort mentoring sessions.

Vancouver, WA - The Greater Vancouver Chamber (GVC) is proud to introduce the new Business POD (Pathways to Opportunity and Development), an assistance program that offers professional and individualized guidance to SW Washington small businesses, entrepreneurs, and microenterprises to start, develop, and growth their business ideas. This inclusive program is designed to accelerate the thriving business scene in the region and empower the entrepreneurs, at no cost to them, through education, mentoring, resources, and referrals.

The Business POD, sponsored by community partner Vancouver Mall, is launching to help companies structure and develop their business acumen, by sharing with them essential functions for success.

The program will include twice-monthly free virtual workshops geared toward providing business resources. Topics across these offerings will include Business plans, Legal requirements, Operations management, Marketing, Sales, Customer engagement, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Wage, Safety, and more. These interactive seminars will be scheduled at a variety of times of day.

Through this professional program, business owners receive ongoing one-on-one counseling with experts that bring diverse perspectives, skills, and years of experience in building their own companies and in coaching entrepreneurs. The Business POD also facilitates a six-meeting series of cohort mentoring sessions, to connect entrepreneurs with business owner peers facing similar challenges.

“GVC believes in investing in the community. Our main goal is to help the entrepreneurs and small businesses in the region to bring their ideas to life and guide them through the entire business journey. We want to provide resources to help them apply for loans and grants, identify target audiences, as well as strengthen their ability to deal with supply chain disruptions,” stated Janet Kenefsky, Vice President of Membership & Operations of the Chamber.

“With our outreach efforts and strategic partners, GVC will be identifying the entrepreneurs and businesses and offer free services to effectively assess needs, provide the right counsel, tools, and resources appropriate to the maturity of their business, and build a trusting ongoing relationship that produces positive results for both the business and the community,” added Kenefsky.

The Greater Vancouver Chamber is encouraging small business owners to sign up now for this program at https://yourchamber.typeform.com/PODForm. The Business POD will host a Kick-Off Workshop on January 25th at 3:00 pm, where the participants can get to know the experts, take a sneak peek at future workshops topics, find out how to get signed up, and more. To register for this event, go to: https://business.vancouverusa.com/events/details/business-pod-kick-off-workshop-22564.

For more information about this initiative and the valuable resources available, visit: https://www.vancouverusa.com/business-owners/start-or-run-a-business/.

About Business POD

The Business POD (Pathways to Opportunity and Development) will provide affordable business assistance to new and existing businesses in Southwest Washington area. This program is designed to empower and educate small business owners through workshops and individual and peer cohort coaching sessions. The Greater Vancouver Chamber is encouraging entrepreneurs and small businesses to sign up at: https://yourchamber.typeform.com/PODForm. Experts coaches will guide participants to the resources that will help them the most.

About the Greater Vancouver Chamber

SW Washington’s largest business organization, the Greater Vancouver Chamber (GVC) has been Moving Business Forward in southwest Washington for over 130 years through business advocacy, community building, education, and creating visibility for our members. The Chamber is a supportive alliance of diverse member businesses, individuals, and organizations, working together toward long-term business prosperity. The GVC is the heart of Clark County’s business community, advocating for sound, sensible and dynamic policies that ensure a vital economic climate and prosperity for all. For more information, please visit VancouverUSA.com. 

###

Media Assets: 
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XAVmy3jVVg9nXheKW2yPO-hUmNtz0POW?usp=sharing

Official Program Link: 
Business POD

Renewable Natural Gas Sees Strong Support in the Northwest

New polling shows that Northwest voters want a decarbonized pipeline – not gas bans – for our clean energy future

PORTLAND, Ore. — The rise in demand for renewable energy continues. A new survey conducted for NW Natural by DHM Research, an independent, leading opinion research firm, shows that 77% of Oregon and Southwest Washington voters overwhelmingly want access to all forms of renewable energy – hydro, wind, solar and renewable natural gas – for a balanced, low-carbon future. 

Renewable natural gas is rapidly expanding. In the first year of procuring renewable energy for its customers, NW Natural now has signed agreements with options to purchase or develop renewable natural gas totaling 3% of NW Natural’s annual sales volume in Oregon. For context, the U.S. is at about 11% for wind and solar generation.[1]

Amidst a small list of local governments discussing forcing electrification of new homes and businesses, the new survey from DHM shows that Oregon and Southwest Washington voters are demanding a different path.

• 78% of voters value the natural gas system for its critical role in lowering emissions with both affordability and reliability as top priorities. 
• 78% of voters support local government’s efforts to encourage the use of renewable natural gas. Only 12% said natural gas should be banned.
• 73% of voters agree that families and businesses should have a choice of energy options to meet their needs and not have those choices limited or mandated by their local government. 

“NW Natural has been leading the way in our efforts to begin displacing conventional natural gas with renewables, and this new survey from DHM shows our communities strongly support this approach. Voters want decarbonization of the energy system through a comprehensive, diversified set of renewable energy options,” said Kim Heiting, senior vice president of operations at NW Natural. “Even in places with particularly ambitious climate goals, like Eugene, the survey shows the vast majority of voters oppose bans of new natural gas hookups. And over the course of the past two years, DHM’s polling shows that the more Eugene voters hear about gas bans, the more they oppose the idea.”

Across NW Natural’s service territory, DHM found that 70% of voters oppose a ban on new natural gas hookups in all homes and buildings. Only 21% support a ban. 

“There’s a misconception by some that electrification equates to decarbonization, which is not true. In fact, the number one user of natural gas in the U.S. today is electric utilities using it for power generation[1],” said Heiting. “A diverse energy system – with renewable electrons delivered over wires and renewable molecules delivered underground – gives our communities a more effective hedge against potential risks posed by more extreme weather, and a more cost-effective way to reduce emissions.” 

The survey showed that resiliency is a top energy concern in the region. An overwhelming majority (81%) of voters agree that communities with both natural gas and electricity are needed for energy reliability in case of heat waves, wildfires, and winter storms. 

DHM Research conducted its survey from November 6-14, 2021, with voters in NW Natural’s service territory, which includes the Willamette Valley, most of coastal Oregon, Clark County, Wash., and the Columbia Gorge. The service territory results are scientifically valid and have a margin of error of +/- 2.1%. 

At a glance

• 8 in 10 recent and prospective homebuyers prefer natural gas over electricity for heating and cooking and feel it is an important feature when looking for their “ideal” single-family home.[2]
• Of all the energy emissions in Oregon, only 6% come from NW Natural customers' residential and commercial use. On the other hand, electric generation accounts for about 29% of the state’s emissions.[3]
• NW Natural has analyzed scenarios to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 for the energy services we provide. Learn more about the renewables and new technologies we're pursuing at nwnatural.com/destinationzero.

About NW Natural

NW Natural is a local distribution company that currently provides natural gas service to approximately 2.5 million people in more than 140 communities through more than 780,000 meters in Oregon and Southwest Washington with one of the most modern pipeline systems in the nation. NW Natural consistently leads the industry with high J.D. Power & Associates customer satisfaction scores. NW Natural, a part of Northwest Natural Holding Company, (NYSE: NWN) (NW Natural Holdings), is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and has been doing business for more than 160 years. NW Holdings owns NW Natural, NW Natural Renewables Holdings (NW Natural Renewables), NW Natural Water Company (NW Natural Water), and other business interests. We have a longstanding commitment to safety, environmental stewardship, and taking care of our employees and communities. Learn more in our latest ESG Report.    

# # #

[1] https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/electricity/electricity-in-the-us.php; https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/natural-gas/use-of-natural-gas.php 

[2] https://www.nwnatural.com/get-natural-gas/homebuyer-energy-preference

[3] Oregon Public Utility Commission, 2015 Oregon Utility Statistics Statbook and Oregon DEQ In-Boundary GHG Inventory preliminary 2019 data.

A Tigard man is facing serious charges in connection with the severe physical abuse of an 18-month-old child.

Tigard Police Detectives were notified about the suspected abuse on Thursday, January 13th, 2022, by staff at Randall Children’s Hospital, where the 18-month-old was being treated for life-threatening injuries. 

The child was in the hospital with his mother, while her boyfriend and 5-year-old child returned home. Detectives identified the mother’s boyfriend, Brandon Stevens (DOB 3/28/1988), as the suspect in this case. He had been the primary caregiver for her two children while she was away at work each day.

Out of a concern for the safety of the 5-year-old, detectives accompanied the mother to her apartment in the 9800 block of SW Frewing Street to remove the girl from Mr. Stevens’ care. When they arrived, detectives found the 5-year-old girl home alone and Mr. Stevens was gone. The little girl was not hurt.

Later that day, Mr. Stevens was found in the 11900 block of SW Manzanita Court. Several police resources responded to the area and Mr. Stevens was safely taken into custody. He was taken to the Washington County Jail on charges of assault I (a Measure 11 crime), child neglect II and criminal mistreatment I. He also had three outstanding warrants for his arrest: two in Lane County and one in Marion County.

The 18-month-old is expected to remain in the hospital for several weeks and requires ongoing medical care.

If you suspect a child is being abused, report it to the Oregon Department of Human Services by calling the 24-hour hotline at 1-855-503-SAFE. If you think someone is being hurt or is in danger, call 911 immediately.

###

Welcome to the Oregon FBI’s Tech Tuesday segment. Today: Building a digital defense with video communication systems.

Over the past two years, many people have had crash courses in how to use video communications systems. Personal apps such as FaceTime and Skype have made it easier to keep in touch with friends and family during COVID times. Other services – such as Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet – were lifelines for schools, businesses, and community groups.

Just because most of us are back in school or back to work doesn’t mean the bad actors aren’t still trying to use these video communications systems to bilk your bank account.

Here are some reminders on how to stay safe:

• Make sure to research what security settings are available – and turn them on – for whatever platforms you are using.
• Avoid connecting your video communications apps or systems to your social media accounts whenever possible.
• Don’t accept calls or chats from unknown people or numbers.
• Review the app or service’s privacy and terms of service policies before using. Check back for updates periodically and only allow the app or service the minimal amount of permissions necessary.
• Know exactly what kind of data the app or service is collecting about you and how it is storing, sharing, or selling that information.
• Make sure group calls are password-protected and confirm participants’ identities before proceeding.
• Make sure to leave or end the call every time. Don’t count on the host to do it.
• Password protect your account and use multi-factor authentication whenever possible.
• Check your visual background or use a virtual background. You may be leaking personal information about yourself or others.

If you are the victim of an online scam, you should report the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov or call your FBI local office.  

###

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of longtime Clark County Fire District 6 Firefighter/Paramedic Joe Killian, who served the District for 26 years. Killian retired four years ago and was diagnosed shortly after with Multiple Myeloma—a cancer that is presumptive in the Fire Service.

A processional and memorial service are set for Tuesday, January 18^th at the Liberty Bible Church of the Nazarene, 12401 NE Salmon Creek Avenue, Vancouver, WA 98686. The processional is scheduled to leave Station 63 (1303 NE 136th Street, Vancouver)at 9:15 a.m. and the service is set for 11 a.m. 

Firefighter occupational cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths in the fire service, and January is Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month. Like many agencies across the U.S., CCFD6 has made continual strides in reducing toxin and pollutant exposure. 

Firefighter Killian was a respected and well-liked member of this District. “Joe used to say that being a firefighter was the best job in the world,” says Fire Chief Kristan Maurer. “He loved it because he had the ability to turn a bad thing into a good thing,” she says.

Due to Firefighter Killian’s status in our District and the community we anticipate a large turnout and likely traffic disruptions in the area. The public and Media is invited, we do ask that you give family and firefighters privacy and space to morn. There will be a live stream of the service, and the link to that stream will be available on our website, CCFD6.org

MEDFORD, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Forestry has given $100,000 to the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest (RRSNF) for forest restoration work that will reduce catastrophic wildfire risk on 20,000 acres of the Big Butte Springs watershed, which is the year-round source of water for Medford and surrounding communities.

The award is under the Planning Assistance and Categorical Exclusion or PACE funds administered by ODF’s Federal Forest Restoration (FFR) Program.

Kyle Sullivan, who leads ODF’s FFR Program, said “PACE investments provide contracting opportunities that assist federal forest managers to expand and accelerate planning efforts for forest restoration treatments. The Snowy Butte Forest Restoration Project will reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire risk in the watershed supplying Medford and communities near it with drinking water.”

Sullivan said ODF received 18 project proposals for PACE funds for this year, totaling $1,085,480. Through a competitive selection process, ODF was able to award a total of $622,895 to the nine top projects. 

“These will help the Forest Service plan faster, for more acres, and/or for more complex projects,” said Sullivan. “These PACE investments work to alleviate a key bottleneck to forest restoration efforts in Oregon: the National Environmental Policy Act planning process.”

The highest scored proposal was submitted by the High Cascades Ranger District in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.  The project rated high due to strong partnerships and matching funds contributed through the non-profit Blue Forest Conservation and the Medford Water Commission (MWC). The awarded funds ($100,000) will be used to conduct 2,000 acres of heritage surveys, thus increasing the project footprint.   

“We’re very excited to receive the additional funding from ODF for this project,” said USDA Forest Service District Ranger Dave Palmer. “The project area provides drinking water to 140,000 people in the Rogue Valley, so there’s an immediate need to reduce wildfire risk as soon as possible.”

The goal of the project is to treat approximately 20,000 acres, which amounts to one-third of the watershed. The work includes non-commercial fuels reduction, habitat restoration, silviculture treatments, and fuel breaks, which are designed to reduce risk of catastrophic wildfire, protect drinking water quality, and promote resilience against stressors such as drought and insects. The project on this scale is necessary to achieving the level of widespread resilience necessary for sustaining and protecting this critical watershed. 

Given the importance of the watershed as a drinking water source, the project has enjoyed widespread support and significant engagement from local partners including: 

• Medford Water Commission
• Southern Oregon Forest Restoration Collaborative (SOFRC)
• The Nature Conservancy
• Lomakatsi Restoration
• Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• American Forest Resource Council.

The watershed is identified as a priority area in the Rogue Basin Cohesive Forest Restoration Strategy, published by the collaborative in 2017. 

                                                             # # #