Following suppression efforts, firefighters encountered a strong sewage ordor. . Corbett Fire notified both Multnomah County Sanitarian and Oregon DEQ

On Monday, May 12, 2025, at approximately midnight, the Oregon State Police, supervising the AMBER Alert system, worked with investigators from the Sheriff’s Office to initiate an alert.

The alert went statewide and crossed over into the adjoining states of Washington, California, and Idaho. The initial notifications went to all law enforcement agencies, highway road signs controlled by the various Departments of Transportation, and on social media channels. The audible alert tone sent to mobile devices was scheduled to alert at 7:00 a.m., when commuter traffic would be on the roadways with the best visibility.

On Tuesday, May 13, at about 02:21 a.m., a trooper with the Washington State Patrol (WSP) located the stolen Mazda CX-5 at a rest area nine miles east of George, on Interstate 90, in Grant County, Washington. The trooper attempted a traffic stop on the Mazda as the driver returned to I-90, but they fled. A pursuit ensued for seventeen miles heading westbound on I-90.

The 29-year-old driver, Adan Osman Abdi, exited the interstate and slowed enough for the trooper to initiate a pursuit immobilization technique (PIT), successfully stopping the vehicle. With the help of a Grant County Sheriff’s Office deputy, Abdi and the adult passenger, Trayviana Shoulders, were arrested. The children, ages two and three, associated with the AMBER Alert, were safe inside the vehicle and placed in protective custody.

Abdi was charged in Washington State with felony elude and taking a vehicle without permission in the second degree, and a warrant for arrest out of Oregon for two counts of custodial interference in the first-degree.  Shoulders was held on a warrant for arrest out of Oregon for two counts of custodial interference in the first-degree, and for violating the terms of her release agreement. Additional charges may follow.

We are grateful to the Washington State Patrol, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, the Moses Lake Police Department, the Oregon State Police, and the community for their efforts in resolving this incident. Most importantly, we are relieved that the children were safely located. 

Media Release Update: Abducted Children Located

Early this morning, Washington State Patrol located the stolen Mazda in Grant County, Washington. Trayviana and Adan were arrested. Both children were taken into protective custody and are safe.

Additional information will follow as it becomes available. We would like to thank the Washington State Patrol and the community for their efforts in resolving this incident. 

Update: AMBER Alert Issued for Two Abducted Children

As of 11:57 p.m., in coordination with the Oregon State Police, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office has issued an AMBER ALERT for the two abducted children.

If you have any information about their whereabouts, please call 911 or the AMBER Alert hotline at 503-846-2665.

On Monday, May 12, 2025, at approximately 7:00 p.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a reported kidnapping occurring at the Vista Hills Arms Apartments, located at 3560 SW Vista Drive in the West Slope neighborhood.

Detectives from the Violent Crimes Unit responded and determined that 26-year-old Trayviana Shoulders took her two children–3-year-old Zimaya Moore and 2-year-old Michael Qualls–from their legal guardian. Shoulders does not have custody rights, and the children are believed to be in endangered.

Trayviana left the area with the children in a blue 2016 Mazda CX-5, Oregon license plate 423PDT, which was being driven by an unidentified male.  

Zimaya was last seen wearing yellow shirt and pink shorts. Michael was last seen wearing blue shirt and blue shorts.

If you have any information, or if you see the vehicle described, please call 911 or Washington County dispatch at 503-629-0111.

MEDFORD, Ore.—A Grants Pass, Oregon, man is facing federal charges for trafficking fentanyl and illegally possessing a firearm, announced the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

Christopher Smith, 38, has been charged by criminal complaint with possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to the complaint, approximately one year ago, investigators with the Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) task force and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) obtained information that Smith was actively distributing fentanyl throughout Josephine County, Oregon from his residence in Grants Pass. On May 9, 2025, investigators executed a state search warrant on Smith’s residence where they located and seized approximately 400 grams of fentanyl, two digital scales with fentanyl residue, two 3D printers, two ghost guns, 74 additional firearms, and an unmarked firearm suppressor. Smith was present during the search and placed under arrest.

Smith made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge.

This case was investigated by RADE and DEA and is being prosecuted by John C. Brassell, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

RADE a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force supported by the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. RADE includes members from Oregon State Police, the Grants Pass Police Department, Josephine County Probation & Parole, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

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

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SALEM, Ore. - The State Capitol Mall was packed as civilians and service members gathered in honor of Armed Forces Day, May 14, 2025, in Salem, Ore.

The Oregon National Guard had something for everyone, from the howitzer salute courtesy of 2nd Battalion, 218th Field Artillery, to the F-15 Eagle flyover by the Oregon Air National Guard, music from the 234th Army Band, and military static displays staged around the Mall.

“This Armed Forces Day, we gather to express our profound gratitude for the service and sacrifice of all the remarkable individuals who serve in every branch of our armed forces,” said Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek.

The Oregon National Guard recognized the 20-year anniversary for Oregon Soldiers who deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom during this year’s celebration. Personnel from 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment, headquartered in Springfield were deployed in 2004 and returned back to Oregon in 2005. 

Armed Forces Day was created in 1949 by President Harry S. Truman to honor Americans serving in all military branches, replacing the separate Army, Navy, and Air Force Days. The holiday was officially designated in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy.

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Release B-ROLL: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/962457/2025-oregon-national-guard-hosts-armed-forces-day-celebration

Released photos:

240514-Z-ZJ128-1001 - Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 218th Field Artillery Regiment, Oregon Army National Guard, fire an M119 105 mm howitzer during a salute at the Armed Forces Day celebration in front of the Oregon State Capitol building in Salem, Ore., May 14, 2025. The celebration featured music from "Oregon's Own" 234th Army Band, static displays of military equipment, local food trucks, and concluded with an F-15 Eagle flyover from the Oregon Air National Guard. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

250514-Z-UZ129-1001 - Attendees tour the Oregon National Guard static displays during the Armed Forces Day event at the State Capitol Mall in Salem, Ore., May 14, 2025. Armed Forces Day recognizes the continued sacrifice of all military members and their families. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Emily Simonson, Oregon National Guard)

250514-Z-UZ129-1002 - The North Salem High School Junior ROTC color guard posts the service flags during the Armed Forces Day event at the State Capitol Mall in Salem, Ore., May 14, 2025. Armed Forces Day recognizes the continued sacrifice of all military members and their families. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Emily Simonson, Oregon National Guard)  

250514-Z-UZ129-1004 - Brig Gen. Alan Gronewold, Adjutant General, Oregon, addresses attendees during the Armed Forces Day event at the State Capitol Mall in Salem, Ore., May 14, 2025. Armed Forces Day recognizes the continued sacrifice of all military members and their families. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Emily Simonson, Oregon National Guard)  

250514-Z-UZ129-1005 - The Armed Forces Day event concludes with an F-15 Eagle flyover by Oregon Air National Guard's at the State Capitol Mall in Salem, Ore., May 14, 2025. Armed Forces Day recognizes the continued sacrifice of all military members and their families. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Emily Simonson, Oregon National Guard)  

250514-Z-UZ129-1006 - Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek greets retired Command Sgt. Maj. “Vinnie” Jacques, who served in Iraq in 2004-2005 with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment following the Armed Forces Day event at the State Capitol Mall in Salem, Ore., May 14, 2025. Armed Forces Day recognizes the continued sacrifice of all military members and their families. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Emily Simonson, Oregon National Guard)  

250514-Z-UZ129-1007 - Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and Brig. Gen. Alan Gronewold, Adjutant General, Oregon, pose for a group photo with 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment members following the Armed Forces Day event at the State Capitol Mall in Salem, Ore., May 14, 2025. Armed Forces Day recognizes the continued sacrifice of all military members and their families. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Emily Simonson, Oregon National Guard) 

TUALATIN, OR –
The City of Tualatin is proud to partner with Hazelbrook Middle School, LAM Research, SOLVE, Friends of Trees, and Tualatin Riverkeepers to host the first-ever Hazelbrook Middle School Cares day of service on Tuesday, May 20. This collaborative initiative supported by the Parent-Student Organization brings together students, families, non-profit organizations, local businesses, and City staff for a day dedicated to service, learning, and community stewardship.
 

An anticipated 880 Hazelbrook Middle School students will participate in volunteer projects across the community. Students and parent volunteers will work directly with LAM Research employees, SOLVE volunteers, Friends of Trees, Tualatin Riverkeepers,  and City of Tualatin staff at Tualatin Community Park, Jurgens Park, and the school campus—making a tangible impact through environmental cleanups, infrastructure education, and stewardship activities.

The day’s activities will feature a mix of educational and hands-on experiences, including:

• Environmental Science Learning: Students will participate in projects influencing stream health and the Tualatin Watershed. Students will identify native plants and remove invasive plants in greenspaces improving forest diversity.
• Civic Responsibility: Students will learn about city assets, city infrastructure, parks, trails and greenspaces and help maintain them for community health, safety and longevity.
• Community Litter Blitz: SOLVE team members and City staff will lead students in a community and campus litter cleanup. Students will explore the environmental and community costs of litter, and learn how they can help and inspire others.

The goal of HMS Cares is to inspire students through meaningful volunteerism alongside family members, while fostering a deeper understanding of environmental responsibility and the role of public service in their daily lives.
 

“HMS Cares Day is a powerful example of what can happen when students, families, non-profit organizations, businesses, and local government come together,” said Jackie Konen, Volunteer Program Manager for the City of Tualatin. “It’s more than a volunteer day—it’s an investment in youth leadership, environmental responsibility, and community connection that we hope will inspire lasting impact.”
 

The City of Tualatin is excited to support Hazelbrook Middle School in this inspiring new tradition that helps students develop a lasting sense of civic pride, environmental awareness, and community connection.
 

Join Us
The City of Tualatin is grateful for every volunteer who donates their time and talent to make our community stronger. To learn more about how you can get involved, visit www.tualatinoregon.gov/volunteers.

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Children who will be 5 years old by Aug. 31, 2025 are eligible to attend kindergarten next fall. Online enrollment is available now. Parents/guardians are encouraged to enroll their child as soon as possible and participate in kindergarten orientations happening this month.

2025 kindergarten orientation dates:

• Captain Strong: May 20, 4:30 - 6:15 p.m.

• Daybreak: May 20, 5 - 6:30 p.m.

• Glenwood Heights: May 22, 5 - 6:30 p.m.

• Maple Grove: May 22, 5 - 6 p.m.

• Pleasant Valley: May 22, 5:30 - 7 p.m.

• Tukes Valley: May 22, 5:30 - 7 p.m.

• Yacolt: May 22, 5 - 6:30 p.m.

Parents/guardians will need proof of their child's birth date (such as a birth certificate) and a signed and completed Washington state certificate of immunization status form or certificate of exemption. Please note that the state of Washington requires that immunization records be medically verified. Families can find out which school their child will attend by using the Clark County Property Information Center or by calling the district boundaries office at 360-885-6577.

Jump Start canceled

Please note that, due to the recent double levy failure and resulting budget cuts, Jump Start Kindergarten is unfortunately canceled for the 2025-26 school year. We understand that this may be disappointing news for families who were looking forward to this opportunity. Please know that we remain committed to helping your child have a successful start to their kindergarten experience. More information will be shared during kindergarten orientations.

Alternative kindergarten options

Battle Ground Public Schools’ K-12 alternative learning experiences also offer early learning opportunities: 

Battle Ground Virtual Academy is an online learning option that uses a web-based curriculum with interactive activities, videos and workbooks. All curriculum is provided and lessons are delivered online. Students receive 30 hours of learning activities per week, as well as one classroom experience per week, either in person or virtually.

River HomeLink offers two half-day in-person kindergarten classes along with three days of at-home instruction. All curriculum materials are provided. Parents are asked to volunteer as a classroom assistant two days per week. 

River also offers PrimeLink, where families can receive weekly advice and assistance on planning, implementing and reporting on their child’s home-based instruction. Parents also have the option of selecting their own at-home curriculum from a list of approved options and taking advantage of a one-time consultation to assist with setting up the at-home learning environment. Students in all ALE programs still have the option of taking elective classes at their neighborhood school.

Before and after-school care

The district has partnered with Right At School to provide before- and after-school care at its primary schools from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day that school is in session.

Preschool options

Battle Ground Public Schools also offers preschool options for early learners. Prairie High School, Battle Ground High School and the BGPS Community Education Department offer tuition-based preschool programs for ages 3-5. Battle Ground Public Schools also offers early intervention programs and services for children ages 3-5 who are identified for special education services. Learn more and compare options.

On May 13, Ridgefield School District officials recognized the May 2025 Employees and Students of the Month at the regular Board of Directors meeting. Congratulations to all of this month’s honorees!

Gabriel Mahlberg, Pre-K at the Early Learning Center

Gabriel is a kind, patient, and deeply understanding young learner who approaches each day with curiosity and wonder. He is always eager to ask thoughtful questions—especially “but why?”—which reflects his genuine desire to understand the world around him. His natural inquisitiveness enriches our classroom discussions and encourages his peers to think more deeply as well. Gabriel also takes great pride in participating in all of our classroom jobs. He completes them not only with enthusiasm but also as a model of responsibility and positivity, inspiring others through his actions. His leadership is quiet yet impactful and rooted in kindness and respect for others. We are truly grateful for Gabriel whose warmth and light brighten every corner of our classroom. He is a joy to teach and a gift to our learning community. 

Oliver McPherson, Kindergarten at Union Ridge Elementary School

Oliver has been a shining star in kindergarten this year! At the start of the year, he was a little shy, but he quickly came out of his shell and showed everyone his kind heart and bright smile. Oliver is always polite, helpful, and ready to jump in — whether it’s sharing his crayons, helping clean up, or cheering on a friend. He works hard on his assignments and takes pride in doing his best. His cheerful spirit and caring nature have helped him make great friends. Oliver's teacher, Andrea McCain, shared, "I am so proud of how much Oliver has grown this year; he truly makes our classroom a happier and fun place to be!" 

Marlon Araujo Burciaga, 2nd grade at South Ridge Elementary School
Marlon deserves to be recognized as South Ridge’s Student of the Month because he works so hard to demonstrate the 3 Rs every day—he is respectful, responsible, and resilient. Marlon approaches each day with a positive attitude and a strong work ethic, giving his best effort to achieve his goals, even when things are hard. He shows true resilience when faced with difficult tasks every day. His determination to grow as a student is especially evident in reading, where his hard work is paying off—he has made remarkable progress and continues to impress with his growth. Marlon is a shining example of what it means to be a dedicated and driven student at South Ridge, and is a joy to have at school!

Holden Crain, 5th grade at Sunset Ridge Intermediate School

Holden Crain is a truly inspiring member of our school community. Every day, Holden approaches challenges with determination, joy, and a positive spirit that brightens the lives of those around him. Whether working hard on his therapy bike or using his sit-to-stand device, his perseverance is remarkable. He lights up when greeted, responding with genuine excitement that instantly warms hearts. Holden’s depth of understanding and compassion continually impresses everyone who has the privilege of knowing him. His thoughtfulness is sincere—he often asks about situations he’s heard about, showing a level of care that is truly heartwarming. Holden also loves hearing from his classmates about their activities both in and outside of school, always taking an interest in others' lives. Academically, Holden puts in tremendous effort and eagerly shares his thoughts during group lessons. His love for learning, combined with his enthusiastic participation, makes him a valued member of every classroom he’s part of. Known for his friendly smile and positive attitude, Holden is well-loved by his peers and brings happiness to our school each day. He is a shining example of perseverance, kindness, and community spirit.

Sophia Vasquez, 8th grade at View Ridge Middle School

Sophia's teachers had so much to say about how deserving she is of this recognition. She consistently goes above and beyond in both academics and character. With her outstanding work ethic, positive attitude and unwavering commitment to excellence, she embodies the very best of what it means to be a VRMS student. Mr. Hagensen highlights Sophia’s “incredible energy” in the STEM classroom. He says she’s always asking thoughtful questions, tackling tough problems head-on, and showing true enthusiasm for learning. Her curiosity and strong work ethic make her a standout student. Mr. Broeckel praises Sophia’s academic focus and determination, noting the top-notch quality she puts into every assignment, project, and presentation. Her active participation and insightful contributions in class discussions set an excellent example for her peers. Mrs. Ballman echoes these sentiments, calling Sophia an outstanding student who treats others with kindness and never gives up, even when faced with challenges. She is a wonderful part of our VRMS community. In choir, Mrs. Whetsell commends Sophia for her diligence, commitment, and going the extra mile. Whether it’s staying on task or stepping out of her comfort zone to try for a solo, Sophia brings such a positive attitude and tireless effort to everything she does. Finally, Mr. Kotsovos describes Sophia as both hardworking and kind. Her consistent engagement and maximum effort truly make her deserving of this honor. Sophia, your teachers and the entire VRMS community are proud of you and we celebrate your excellence, leadership, and dedication!

Firefly Krawczyk, 11th grade at Ridgefield High School

Across the many settings within our school—classrooms, clubs, creative spaces, and beyond—Firefly has brought an extraordinary blend of intellect, creativity, humor, and heart. Firefly’s presence at RHS is nothing short of a delight. They have an unmatched talent for connecting course content to their own interests, resulting in work that is both insightful and wonderfully original. As Ms. Lacey shared, “Firefly, your quirky brilliance brought light to every lesson, and you remind all of us that learning can be deeply meaningful and joyful.” Mr. Rinard shared a similar feeling: “Firefly approaches math with a thoughtful calm, always willing to support others while never losing their own sense of curiosity and wonder.” And then, there’s the Firefly that shines outside the bounds of a syllabus—the one who leads with compassion and unshakable integrity. Whether it’s their leadership in Art Club, their problem-solving in technical theatre, or their spontaneous wit that leaves the room smiling, Firefly gives fully of themself in every moment. Their creativity seems limitless, their resilience unwavering, and their sense of justice deeply rooted in love for others. Firefly, you bring joy, insight, and connection into every space you inhabit. Thank you for being a constant source of inspiration, kindness, and light. You will be greatly missed at RHS!

Kathrynne Williams, 12th grade at Wisdom Ridge Academy

It is our honor to recognize and celebrate a remarkable student, Rynne Williams, whose journey over the past year is a powerful example of resilience, determination, and personal growth. Rynne has faced significant challenges in her life—circumstances that could have easily derailed her education and future. But instead of allowing those hardships to define her, she made the courageous decision to take control of her path. Through hard work, reflection, and a deep desire to improve, she has turned things around in an extraordinary way. Not only has Rynne made great strides in taking care of herself emotionally and physically, but she has also shown a renewed dedication to her education. After struggling with attendance in the past, she has made noticeable improvements in this area —showing up, staying committed, and taking responsibility for her future. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. Rynne continues to attend Cascadia Tech Academy, where she has been entrusted with additional responsibilities in the form of an internship—a clear sign that her educators and mentors see her potential and trust in her abilities. We are proud of the person Rynne is becoming: someone who is proving every day that she can accomplish anything she sets her mind to. Her story is one of hope, perseverance, and the incredible impact of believing in oneself. Rynne is thankful for the WRA staff members who have helped her along the way and plans to work after high school to earn some money and then plan for her next steps. Please join us in recognizing Rynne not only for her academic and personal growth, but for inspiring all of us with her strength and courage.

Jessie Stenhjem, Attendance Secretary at Sunset/View Ridge Middle School 

Jessie is an exceptional attendance secretary who goes above and beyond every day in her dual role supporting both Sunset Ridge Intermediate School and View Ridge Middle School. Her dedication to students and staff across two buildings is nothing short of remarkable. Jessie is always there to offer help—no matter how busy she is, she never hesitates to step in and provide support. She consistently puts students first, ensuring their needs are met with care and attention. Her calm, dependable presence creates a sense of stability and warmth for everyone around her. Jessie’s ability to juggle the demands of two schools while still making each person feel valued and supported speaks volumes about her commitment and character. She is more than deserving of Employee of the Month, and is very appreciated. Thank you, Jessie!

Karen Miller, ParaProfessional at Union Ridge 

Karen is an incredible support to both students and staff, going above and beyond in her role as a paraeducator. She helps manage a student we share from the SLC program, coordinating pickup routines and ensuring he has everything he needs for a successful day. Karen is consistently responsive, creative, and proactive—whether she’s making visual supports, checking in through email, or sharing helpful observations. Her work with some of our highest-needs students is truly a gift. She brings warmth, kindness, and encouragement to everyone around her and always lifts spirits with her positive attitude, even on the toughest days. Karen actively participates in trainings, offering thoughtful questions and insights. She supports not only her assigned students, but others in the classroom as well, making a meaningful difference wherever she’s needed. It’s a joy to work alongside her. Thank you, Karen, for your dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Hotline: 503-813-6018

Pacific Power to host customer forum on wildfire prevention

Bend, OR (May 14, 2025) – Pacific Power will host a public forum in Bend on Thursday, May 15 to discuss our efforts to protect customers and communities against the threat of wildfire. During this conversation, company representatives will detail the important steps we take during wildfire season to keep customers and communities safe. This forum is an opportunity to learn about our comprehensive wildfire mitigation plan in Oregon.

Topics of conversation: 

• Our ongoing work to strengthen our system.
• Our advanced weather monitoring capabilities.
• Our enhanced vegetation management practices.
• Our enhanced safety settings for wildfire season.
• Our emergency de-energization procedures during active wildfires.
• How Public Safety Power Shutoffs work – an important tool when wildfire risk makes it necessary to turn off power to ensure customer and community safety.

Event details:

    Thursday, May 15 – 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

    Riverhouse Lodge   

    3075 N Highway 97

    Bend, OR 97703

Livestream:

Webinar Registration - Zoom

ASL and Spanish translation services will be available for this event.

Protecting our customers and communities while providing safe, reliable power is our highest priority. If you have any questions or would like to request a reasonable accommodation to attend this event, please contact us at 1-888-221-7070.

About Pacific Power 

Pacific Power provides safe and reliable electric service to 800,000 customers in Oregon, Washington and California. The company supplies customers with electricity from a diverse portfolio of generating plants including hydroelectric, thermal, wind, geothermal and solar resources. Pacific Power is part of PacifiCorp, one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States, with 2 million customers in six western states. For more information, visit PacificPower.net. 
 

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(Salem, OR) – Older Americans Month is celebrated every May and is an opportunity to recognize the contributions of older Americans and reaffirm commitments to meeting the needs of older adults in our communities. The 2025 Older Americans Month theme is Flip the Script on Aging, which focuses on shifting common perceptions of aging and explores ways people stay active and engaged in their communities as they age. 

“We must challenge the outdated narratives that can limit older adults' potential, recognize the many contributions being made by older adults, and support opportunities for people to thrive in their communities in ways that are meaningful to them,” said Nakeshia Knight-Coyle, Ph.D., Director of the Office of Aging and People with Disabilities (APD) within the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS).

As Gov. Tina Kotek’s proclamation of Older Americans Month highlights, “Older Oregonians continue to be active, engaged, and influential members of our community, participating in volunteer activities, mentoring, and contributing to the workforce.” The proclamation also notes that Oregon is home to more than 1.5 million people over the age of 50, and people over age 65 make up more than 19 percent of the state's population. Estimates indicate that by 2034 there will be more people 65 and over than under 18. ODHS is looking ahead to ensure this growing population has and continues to have equitable access to programs that support and promote independence, health and safety, food security, employment, and connection through several initiatives. Recent accomplishments include:

• Implementation of several projects to provide free technology to help reduce social isolation and loneliness. Eligible older adults and people with disabilities have been offered opportunities to receive free laptops, GrandPads, iPads and tablets to foster social connection such as video calls with friends, online cooking and exercise classes and listening to music. To date, hundreds of older adults and adults with disabilities have accessed and benefitted from these programs.
   
• Recruitment efforts to help grow the in-home care provider workforce, hire more case managers and encourage people to become licensed adult foster home providers. These valuable in-home and community-based service roles help older adults and people with disabilities maintain independence and navigate resources available to them.
   
• Regular meetings with the LGBTQIA2S+ Subcommittee of the Governor’s Commission on Senior Services to improve support of older adults who are part of the LGBTQIA2S+ community. This committee was formed as a result of Senate Bill 99 (2023).
   
• Implementation of Oregon Project Independence - Medicaid (OPI-M) as an addition to the state’s traditional OPI program to give more options for support so people can remain in their own homes. OPI-M uses Medicaid funds to pay for services, expanding access to more Oregonians. It also offers more service hours than some other in-home care options and there is no estate recovery requirement for people in this program. OPI-M has successfully approved more than 1,000 individuals since its launch, addressing the needs of many Oregonians who were previously on a waitlist for services or lacked other care options.
   
• Continued support for home-delivered meals and congregate meal sites throughout Oregon to provide opportunities for older adults to connect with others in their community. In 2024, the federally funded Senior Nutrition Program supplied healthy home-delivered and congregate setting meals for more than 23,000 people aged 60 and older. To find a meal site, contact the Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) of Oregon at 1-855-673-2372 or visit https://adrcoforegon.org.
   
• Increasing outreach on Adult Protective Services ensuring older adults and their family and friends know about elder abuse and how to report potential abuse.

Resources:

People who need help with long-term care needs, food programs or other supports can contact their local APD office or office serving older adults and people with disabilities. A list of office locations and contact information is available on the ODHS office finder web page. 

Free help and resource information is also available through the Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) of Oregon. Call 1-855-673-2372 or visit the ADRC website at https://adrcoforegon.org.

About the Office of Aging and People with Disabilities:

APD’s vision is to ensure Oregon’s older adults, people with disabilities and their families experience person-centered services, supports and early interventions that are innovative and help maintain independence, promote safety, wellbeing, honor choice, respect cultural preferences, and uphold dignity.

May 14, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Town ‘At the Edge of the World’ Breaks Ground on World-Class Skatepark

By Paige Parker

LAKEVIEW, Ore. — One day, a modest idea rolled into Lakeview: What if we built a skatepark?

Two years later, the southern Oregon town — population 2,400 — is turning that vision into reality. This week, excavating equipment arrived on site to begin digging out an old tennis court and shaping the bowl for what will become a world-class skatepark in the heart of the community.

“They're in there working, digging holes and putting pipes in and everything,” said Rotarian Chuck Kelley. “I'm super pleased. Things are going right along.”

It all started when Kelley noticed many kids were missing out on traditional sports like football and basketball — whether because they couldn't afford the gear, didn’t speak English or didn’t feel like they belonged.

“Those sports don’t catch everybody,” said fellow Rotarian Michael McGowen. “The fear is that the way kids go instead is to the easily available and inexpensive drugs.”

A park geared toward the relatively low-barrier activity of skateboarding seemed like a solution. Rotarians donated $1,500 to get the project started, and a community survey showed strong support.

Small Town, Big Dream

Building a skatepark legally is an enormous undertaking. Community members often fear that a skatepark will attract crime, but research shows that parks in visible places tend to become community assets. Lakeview organizers studied the ins and outs of design, safety and liability with support from The Skatepark Project.

The nonprofit was founded by skateboarding legend Tony Hawk — a kid who didn’t fit into traditional sports and turned to skateboarding after struggling in baseball. Hawk became the first skateboarder to land a 900, a trick that involves revolving two and a half times mid-air. He later retired from professional competition and established his foundation to help build skateparks in low-income areas.

Following the Rotarians’ research, the Lakeview Town Council endorsed the project and leased the public land for the skatepark site to organizers for $1 a year. Councilors didn’t want just any skatepark — they wanted one that could attract competitions and visitors to Lakeview, filling its hotel beds, campsites and restaurants.

“We put out an RFP to six of the best skatepark design firms in the United States,” McGowen said.

Oregon’s own Dreamland Skateparks submitted the winning bid. The Lincoln City firm designed a 13,000-square-foot park suitable for skateboarders, scooter riders, BMX bikers, rollerbladers and wheelchair users. The design includes a deep, kidney-shaped bowl, a chute and a series of mounds, allowing for both park and street styles — the two disciplines that debuted during the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. In park style, competitors ride in a bowl to build speed for aerial moves; in street style, they maneuver over obstacles.

‘We’ll Find a Way’

Despite being located in one of Oregon’s poorest counties, the community has raised more than $500,000 of the $600,000 budget. Organizers cobbled together the funding from in-kind donations, philanthropic support and Rotary Club fundraisers. Kelley is even loaning the construction crew a house he owns in town for the duration of the project.

“Lakeview is at the edge of the world,” McGowen said. “We don’t have much in this town, but one thing we do have is town spirit. We’re so remote that we have to do for ourselves.”

Oregon Community Foundation stepped in early with a $10,000 grant and contributed another $50,000 in 2024. OCF President and CEO Lisa Mensah shared Lakeview’s story at the foundation’s recent annual meeting before an audience of more than 700.

“Asking ‘What if’ can show a community of kids that they’re worth fighting for,” Mensah told the crowd at the Portland Art Museum and those watching across the state on Zoom. “I wonder, what if we all believed in our kids like Lakeview believes in theirs? That takes nerve. That takes backbone. And that’s ‘What if’ at work in Oregon.”

Organizers are already working on ways to give away bikes, skateboards and helmets to kids in need through sponsorships from manufacturers and retailers. They hope to bring in a professional skateboarder to offer a free clinic and teach kids the basics of riding.

“If you worry too much in life, you miss out on opportunities,” McGowen said. “We’ll find a way.”

And it will all happen right in the middle of town — where every child will finally be seen.

Watch Lisa Mensah’s annual meeting speech and learn more about the May 9, 2025, event at the Portland Art Museum.

Contact: Colin Fogarty, Director of Communications

Oregon Community Foundation

503-720-3112 | cfogarty@oregoncf.org

 A public hearing will be held by the Tax Supervising and Conservation Commission on the budget approved by the budget committee for the Multnomah Education Service District, Multnomah County, State of Oregon, for the fiscal year July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.  

The hearing will be held May 20th, 2025 at 6:00pm.  This meeting will be in a hybrid format: in person in the Board Room at 11611 NE Ainsworth Circle, Portland, OR 97220 as well as virtually via Zoom.

Zoom link:

https://multnomahesd-org.zoom.us/j/88643940753?pwd=YwlhJyFm9QQb9Qmyox91spCSFvw6ZQ.1

Webinar ID: 886 4394 0753

Passcode: 880056

The purpose of the hearing is to discuss the budget with interested persons.  A copy of the budget document may be viewed on the MESD website: www.multnomahesd.org/departments/business-services.

The meeting is accessible to persons with disabilities.  A request for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.

Public comment will be taken.  For in-person comment, complete the request form on the table outside the Board Room and provide any notes or handouts to the Board Secretary prior to the meeting.  Schedule Zoom comment up through 5:00 pm May 20, 2025 by providing your name, phone number, and address.  All comments are subject to a three minute limit per community member.

For meeting accommodations or to submit or schedule public comment, please contact Heather Severns at 503-257-1504 or hseverns@mesd.k12.or.us.

VANCOUVER, Wash. — On Wednesday, May 14, the Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools, VPS staff and students, and community partners gathered at Fort Vancouver High School for the groundbreaking of a new technical trades building. 

This new facility, funded by the Ed and Dollie Lynch Fund, will be utilized for classes teaching students job-ready skills in advanced manufacturing and welding. It greatly expands the capacity of Fort’s existing programs and will provide students with hands-on, experiential training. The center aims to create a pipeline of skilled workers ready to contribute to the region’s ongoing economic growth.

The Ed Lynch Technical Trades Center is projected to open to students by January 2026.

“We’re so happy to be able to bridge the gap between our donors’ visions, community needs, and the needs of our VPS students. This pathway for collaboration makes buildings like the Ed Lynch Technical Trades Center possible,” said Timothea Sutton, Interim Executive Director of the Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools. “We can’t wait to see the positive impact these highly-trained students will bring to our community.”

Attendees included VPS Superintendent Dr. Jeff Snell and City Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle.

This project is 100% donor-funded, with no bond or taxpayer money used, thanks to the support of the Ed and Dollie Lynch Fund, a charitable fund of the Community Foundation of Southwest Washington, as well as the district’s generous community and business partners.

For Media only: Photos and video from the event can be found here. 

Raising Readers Begins at Birth — Seaside Elementary Student Helps Inspire Families, Child Care Providers with Toolkits Featuring Her Artwork

ASTORIA – Mously Mbathie, an eight-year-old from Seaside, was recently selected as the winner of a county-wide art contest. Her submission features her standing among all of her favorite book characters. There’s a bespectacled elephant named Gerald, Raggedy Ann with her bright red hair, Barbie in a pink dress and a vested alligator named Brash. 

“They make me feel like they are always with me,” Mously says about her winning submission.  

Mously was one of dozens of students who entered a county-wide art contest called “Inspired to Read.”  

The contest was part of a wider campaign -- dubbed How to Raise a Reader -- developed by the Northwest Regional Early Learning Hub to promote early literacy. Students were invited to share what they love about reading and what it means to them. 

Using the artwork from the contest winners, the hub team developed a toolkit to help parents and child care providers promote early reading skills. 

Brain science tells us children start developing literacy skills the moment they’re born and not once they start going to school as some people might think. That means families and child care providers are the ones helping children develop those early skills that will set them up for success once they reach kindergarten. 

Following these tips is not complicated or time-consuming, but learning to follow them does take practice. 

“We thought it could be so much more powerful to talk about early literacy using children’s own voices,” says Abbey Lutskovsky, who oversees the Northwest Regional Early Learning Hub and rolled out the contest in the fall in partnership with school districts and child care providers. “Integrating their ideas and artwork into the toolkits really brought them to life,” she says. 

Abbey and colleagues then teamed up with Oregon’s Department of Human Services to add Little Free Libraries to self-sufficiency offices in Seaside, Astoria, St. Helens and Tillamook. The reading tips and artwork are featured at each little library. 

She also staffed a panel to select high-quality books for every age and has co-hosted ribbon-cutting ceremonies with the student artists in St. Helens and Tillamook. The Clatsop County ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. next Wednesday, May 21 at the Department of Human Services office in Seaside. 

This weekend, along with NWRESD’s Child Care Resource and Referral team, the staff will start distributing toolkits around the region to an estimated 75 child care providers in Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook counties as part of the annual Child Care Appreciation events. 

The Clatsop County Appreciation Event Will Be Held 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the Following Location - MEDIA INVITED TO ATTEND
 

• Captain Robert Gray School (785 Alameda Avenue Astoria OR 97103)

More About the Toolkits

The toolkits include posters, trifold brochures, stickers and social media graphics all based on the student art contest winners. These materials will help teach parents, caregivers and child care providers about how they can start building literacy skills in babies, toddlers and preschoolers. The full toolkit is available at nwresd.org/raise-a-reader. But here’s a recap: 

Top Literacy Tips:
 

• Sing or talk to your child in short, simple phrases — and don’t be afraid to use a higher pitch. Babies love it. 

• Cuddle up and read together — any type of book will do, but babies and toddlers love to look at pictures.

• Ask questions as you read aloud to build comprehension.

Other Resources for Parents and Child Care Providers:

• Sign up for mail delivery of books through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

• Visit your local library to check out books or use the Little Free Library locator to find books near you.

• Sign up for Lantern to receive free parenting tips via text.

• Check your child’s progress with a free, online Ages & Stages questionnaire.

• Parenting classes will help you build your skills and confidence and connect with other parents. 

• Use research-backed strategies to help your child learn how to problem-solve, share, take turns, sustain friendships and understand and express their emotions. 

About the Northwest Regional Early Learning Hub

Young children from birth to 5 are learning and developing at a rapid pace — faster than any other time in their lives. The Northwest Regional Early Learning Hub works to ensure young children and their families in Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook counties have the resources and support to thrive. We are educators, health care providers, community advocates, program providers and businesses who believe we can do more for our communities together than we can on our own.

Raising Readers Begins at Birth — Nestucca Valley 8-Year-Old Helps Inspire Families, Child Care Providers with Toolkits Featuring Her Artwork

TILLAMOOK – If you ask Aaliyah, an 8-year-old from Nestucca Valley, who inspired her to read, she’ll tell her it was her mom. 

“She gave me courage to read by myself,” Aaliyah says. 

So when her after-school program invited students to participate in a Tillamook County-based art contest all about reading, Aaliyah knew right away who she would draw. 

In the center of her submission is her mom and surrounding her are pink and read hearts with open pages and a stack of books. This aspiring park ranger from this coastal Oregon town was surprised to learn her entry was selected among dozens from her region. Not even her mom knew about it and said later she was so honored her daughter thought of her that way. 

The contest was part of a wider campaign -- dubbed How to Raise a Reader -- developed by the Northwest Regional Early Learning Hub to promote early literacy. Students were invited to share what they love about reading and what it means to them. 

Using the artwork from the contest winners, the hub team developed a toolkit to help parents and child care providers promote early reading skills. 

Brain science tells us children start developing literacy skills the moment they’re born and not once they start going to school as some people might think. That means families and child care providers are the ones helping children develop those early skills that will set them up for success once they reach kindergarten. 

Following these tips is not complicated or time-consuming, but learning to follow them does take practice. 

“We thought it could be so much more powerful to talk about early literacy using children’s own voices,” says Abbey Lutskovsky, who oversees the Northwest Regional Early Learning Hub and rolled out the contest in the fall in partnership with school districts and child care providers. “Integrating their ideas and artwork into the toolkits really brought them to life,” she says. 

Abbey and colleagues then teamed up with Oregon’s Department of Human Services to add Little Free Libraries to self-sufficiency offices in Seaside, Astoria, St. Helens and Tillamook. The reading tips and artwork are featured at each little library. 

She also staffed a panel to select high-quality books for every age and has co-hosted ribbon-cutting ceremonies with the student artists in St. Helens and Tillamook. The Clatsop County ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. next Wednesday, May 21 at the Department of Human Services office in Seaside. 

This weekend, along with NWRESD’s Child Care Resource and Referral team, the staff will start distributing toolkits around the region to an estimated 75 child care providers in Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook counties as part of the annual Child Care Appreciation events. 

A Tillamook County Event Will Be Held 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the Following Location - MEDIA INVITED TO ATTEND
 

• Child Care Resource & Referral Building (1315 3rd Street Tillamook, OR 97141)

More About the Toolkits

The toolkits include posters, trifold brochures, stickers and social media graphics all based on the student art contest winners. These materials will help teach parents, caregivers and child care providers about how they can start building literacy skills in babies, toddlers and preschoolers. The full toolkit is available at nwresd.org/raise-a-reader. But here’s a recap: 

Top Literacy Tips:
 

• Sing or talk to your child in short, simple phrases — and don’t be afraid to use a higher pitch. Babies love it. 

• Cuddle up and read together — any type of book will do, but babies and toddlers love to look at pictures.

• Ask questions as you read aloud to build comprehension.

Other Resources for Parents and Child Care Providers:

• Sign up for mail delivery of books through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

• Visit your local library to check out books or use the Little Free Library locator to find books near you.

• Sign up for Lantern to receive free parenting tips via text.

• Check your child’s progress with a free, online Ages & Stages questionnaire.

• Parenting classes will help you build your skills and confidence and connect with other parents. 

• Use research-backed strategies to help your child learn how to problem-solve, share, take turns, sustain friendships and understand and express their emotions. 

About the Northwest Regional Early Learning Hub

Young children from birth to 5 are learning and developing at a rapid pace — faster than any other time in their lives. The Northwest Regional Early Learning Hub works to ensure young children and their families in Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook counties have the resources and support to thrive. We are educators, health care providers, community advocates, program providers and businesses who believe we can do more for our communities together than we can on our own.

Raising Readers Begins at Birth — Clatskanie High Schooler Helps Inspire Families, Child Care Providers with Toolkits Featuring Her Artwork

ST. HELENS – Grace Hadley, a 15-year-old from Clatskanie, loves reading dystopian, fantasy and historical fiction books. She also loves penning stories — so when she heard about a recent county-wide art contest, she decided to create artwork to go along with one of her stories. 

Using colored pencils, she drew her characters in a bleak forested winterscape. Birds play heavily in her storylines, too. “Hawks represent power and the throne, while owls represent wiseness and magic,” Grace says. 

She was delighted to find out her submission was selected from among dozens of submissions as the winner of the “Inspired to Read Art Contest.” 

The contest was part of a wider campaign — dubbed How to Raise a Reader — developed by the Northwest Regional Early Learning Hub to promote early literacy. Students were invited to share what they love about reading and what it means to them. 

Using the artwork from the contest winners, the hub team developed a toolkit to help parents and child care providers promote early reading skills. 

Brain science tells us children start developing literacy skills the moment they’re born and not once they start going to school as some people might think. That means families and child care providers are the ones helping children develop those early skills that will set them up for success once they reach kindergarten. 

Following these tips is not complicated or time-consuming, but learning to follow them does take practice. 

“We thought it could be so much more powerful to talk about early literacy using children’s own voices,” says Abbey Lutskovsky, who oversees the Northwest Regional Early Learning Hub and rolled out the contest in the fall in partnership with school districts and child care providers. “Integrating their ideas and artwork into the toolkits really brought them to life,” she says. 

Abbey and colleagues then teamed up with Oregon’s Department of Human Services to add Little Free Libraries to self-sufficiency offices in Seaside, Astoria, St. Helens and Tillamook. The reading tips and artwork are featured at each little library. 

She also staffed a panel to select high-quality books for every age and has co-hosted ribbon-cutting ceremonies with the student artists in St. Helens and Tillamook. The Clatsop County ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. next Wednesday, May 21 at the Department of Human Services office in Seaside. 

This weekend, along with NWRESD’s Child Care Resource and Referral team, the staff will start distributing toolkits around the region to an estimated 75 child care providers in Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook counties as part of the annual Child Care Appreciation events. 

A Columbia County Appreciation Event Will Be Held 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the Following Location - MEDIA INVITED TO ATTEND

• Grant Watts Elementary School (52000 SE 3rd Place Scappoose, Oregon 97056) 

More About the Toolkits

The toolkits include posters, trifold brochures, stickers and social media graphics all based on the student art contest winners. These materials will help teach parents, caregivers and child care providers about how they can start building literacy skills in babies, toddlers and preschoolers. The full toolkit is available at nwresd.org/raise-a-reader. 

Top Literacy Tips:
 

• Sing or talk to your child in short, simple phrases — and don’t be afraid to use a higher pitch. Babies love it. 

• Cuddle up and read together — any type of book will do, but babies and toddlers love to look at pictures.

• Ask questions as you read aloud to build comprehension.

Other Resources for Parents and Child Care Providers:

• Sign up for mail delivery of books through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

• Visit your local library to check out books or use the Little Free Library locator to find books near you.

• Sign up for Lantern to receive free parenting tips via text.

• Check your child’s progress with a free, online Ages & Stages questionnaire.

• Parenting classes will help you build your skills and confidence and connect with other parents. 

• Use research-backed strategies to help your child learn how to problem-solve, share, take turns, sustain friendships and understand and express their emotions. 

About the Northwest Regional Early Learning Hub

Young children from birth to 5 are learning and developing at a rapid pace — faster than any other time in their lives. The Northwest Regional Early Learning Hub works to ensure young children and their families in Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook counties have the resources and support to thrive. We are educators, health care providers, community advocates, program providers and businesses who believe we can do more for our communities together than we can on our own.

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

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

Exemption specialists will be available to help enroll applicants at Luepke/Marshall Center, 1009 E McLoughin Blvd. from 9 am to 3 pm Friday, May 23.

Exemption specialists will be on hand for another enrollment event on Friday, June 6, from 9 am to 3 pm at the Evergreen Public Schools administrative building, 13413 NE LeRoy Haagen Memorial Drive.

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

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

RELEASE DATE:               May 14, 2025
CASE NUMBER:                 25-19228
 

Gresham, Ore. — Gresham Police detectives have arrested two 16-year-olds in connection with the shooting that occurred early Tuesday morning in the 3500 block of SE Richey Rd.

Just before 4:00 a.m., on May 13, officers responded to reports of gunfire in the area. Upon arrival, they located shell casings in the street and a nearby residence that had been struck by bullets. No injuries were found at the scene.

A short time later, a local hospital notified police that an individual with a gunshot wound had arrived in a private vehicle. That vehicle, a silver 2009 Subaru Impreza with Oregon license plate 737LQM, left the hospital before officers could make contact. Investigators have since determined the Subaru was reported stolen. The vehicle may have a black wheel on the rear driver’s side. The individual remains in critical condition.

Following an investigation, the two 16-year-old suspects were taken into custody and lodged at the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Center. Both face multiple charges, including:

• Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (8 counts)
• Unlawful Use of a Weapon
• Conspiracy

Detectives believe these incidents are connected, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information about the shooting or the current whereabouts of the silver Subaru Impreza is urged to contact Detective Huffman at ederick.Huffman@GreshamOregon.gov">Frederick.Huffman@GreshamOregon.gov or Detective Snider at Tim.Snider@GreshamOregon.gov.

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The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) will host the state’s annual Memorial Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 26, at the Oregon World War II Memorial, located on the grounds of the Oregon State Capitol in Salem (intersection of Cottage and Court Street NE).

This solemn event brings together Oregonians from across the state to remember and reflect on the sacrifices of our nation’s fallen heroes, who made the ultimate sacrifice service to the United States. Held in the heart of Oregon’s capital, the ceremony provides a space for community members, families, veterans, and civic leaders to pay tribute to those who served and never returned home.

The event will feature remarks from ODVA Director Dr. Nakeia Council Daniels, along with other veteran leaders, state officials, and honored guests. The program will include ceremonial elements such as the national anthem, presentation of colors, and a moment of silence.

“Memorial Day is a sacred day of remembrance — a time to reflect on the cost of our freedoms and to honor the courage and selflessness of those who laid down their lives in service to our country,” said Dr. Daniels. “We invite all Oregonians to join us in this moment of unity and gratitude.”

This year’s Memorial Day ceremony holds the significance of falling on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The Oregon World War II Memorial, dedicated in 2014, honors the more than 3,700 Oregonians who lost their lives during WWII.

Limited seating will be available. Attendees are welcome to bring their own chairs or blankets for the park setting. Please dress appropriately for the weather, as the ceremony will take place rain or shine.

For those unable to attend in person, the event will be live-streamed beginning at 11 a.m. on ODVA’s Facebook page at facebook.com/odvavet and YouTube channel at youtube.com/channel/UCAQVavs9KmvDeJ42ySFtY8A.

Established in 1945, the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs is dedicated to serving Oregon’s diverse veteran community that spans five eras of service members. ODVA administers programs and provides special advocacy and assistance in accessing earned veteran benefits across the state. Learn about veteran benefits and services, or locate a local county or tribal veteran service office online at oregon.gov/odva.

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PRESS RELEASE                                                        FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAY 14, 2025

CASE: 23CR27928

Portland, OR - On May 8, 2025, Multnomah County Judge Andrew Lavin sentenced Michael Panarites to 50 years prison for multiple crimes tied to the rape, sodomy, assault, solicitation, and attempted murder of his former intimate partner with whom he shared a child.

A Multnomah County jury in February of 2025 found Panarites guilty of the following:
 

Attempt to Commit Any Degree of Murder or Aggravated Murder

Solicitation of Murder

Stalking

Two counts, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm

Six counts, Unlawful Use of a Global Positioning System Device

Harassment

Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree

Two counts, Coercion

Assault in the Fourth Degree

Harassment

Sodomy in the First Degree

Two counts, Rape in the First Degree

Two counts, Sodomy in the First Degree

Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the First Degree

Multnomah County Deputy District Attorneys Kenzie Ludwig and Reid Schweitzer prosecuted the case for the state. After the sentencing, Ludwig said, “I’m forever grateful to the survivor for trusting us to handle the case against her abuser. This sentence not only reflects the severity of his conduct, but it also serves a greater purpose of keeping her, her loved ones, and the community safe from his criminal behavior.” 

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office would like to thank Gresham Police Department Detectives Adam Wright and Lindsay Friderich, Gresham Police Officer John Heer, and Portland Police Bureau Officers Karina Robles and Julian Drury for their extensive investigation and dedication to this case through the years.

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office would also like to highlight the kind and compassionate work done by MCDA Victim Advocates Karla Juarez along with Chelsea Hickok and Karma Prajzler. 

Judge Lavin stated there were two primary reasons for why he agreed with the State’s recommended sentence. First, this was a long, continuous course of conduct that involved terrorizing the victim in every way possible - emotionally, physically, sexually, mentally, verbally, and financially. That has had an immeasurable impact on the victim’s life along with those who were also affected. The second consideration is that despite the numerous court issued orders on the civil and criminal side, nothing stopped Panarites from harassing those who were cooperative with law enforcement.

THE FACTS:

From at least December of 2020 until his arrest May 29, 2023, Michael Panarites physically, sexually, and psychologically abused the victim at various times. He was responsible for sexually and physically assaulting the victim before she fled the home in July 2022. After obtaining a restraining order, Panarites continued to stalk her by hiring a private investigator and placing multiple tracking devices on her vehicle to monitor her. His behavior continued to escalate when he solicited his parents on numerous occasions to assist in killing her and her mother. When confronted initially by police, Panarites fled from police, crossed state lines, and obtained stolen firearms and other weapons. 

Finally, on May 29, 2023, Portland Police stopped Panarites’ car because he had stolen license plates on it. Officers found 100+ rounds of ammunition, multiple loaded magazines, stolen loaded/functioning firearm, machete, axe, crossbow, bolts, and numerous stolen license plates. And on his car keys, police found a handcuff key. All of these items were documented by police as they were tools and weapons he described to his parents he would use to murder of the victim and others. 

                                            ###MCDA###

A Troutdale man has been arrested for murder in the shooting death of Ahanu Johnson.  Gresham Police found Johnson shot to death in the 2600 block of NE 201^st Ave on May 5th.  Investigators identified 21-year-old Quincy Teklehiamanot as the suspect in Johnson’s death and obtained a warrant for his arrest.  East Metro SWAT arrested Teklehiamanot at a residence in Troutdale early this morning.  Teklehiamanot has been charged with Murder in the Second Degree. 

Police are asking anyone with information about the shooting to contact Detective Tyson Conroy at oy@GreshamOregon.gov">Tyson.Conroy@GreshamOregon.gov or Detective Isaac Hibbs at bs@GreshamOregon.gov">Isaac.Hibbs@GreshamOregon.gov.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Kids Curate exhibition shares work of yearlong program with elementary students

BEND, OR — The High Desert Museum invites visitors to experience the culmination of a yearlong program that dove into the diverse perspectives of wildfire in Central Oregon. Explore the artistic voices of young students in Kids Curate, open now through Sunday, June 1.

Every year, Kids Curate integrates art, science and history into classrooms and field-trip experiences with one Central Oregon elementary school over the course of the school year. The program culminates in an exhibition created by the students on the Museum’s walls. Caregivers and families celebrate the students’ work at an exhibition opening event.

“Students engage with the topic deeply through hands on experiences to better understand many viewpoints throughout the year,” said Bonnie Lee and Oliver P. Steele III Curator of Education and Engagement Molly Wilmoth. “We’re grateful to partner with the educators at a school to provide this intensive and in-depth learning experience.”

Third and fourth graders from La Pine Elementary School in La Pine, Oregon, participated in this year’s project. Months of learning have culminated in a series of artwork. Each of the students’ canvases depicts a unique perspective on wildfire, a phenomenon of particular interest after last year’s Darlene 3 fire in their community. With the help of Museum educators, La Pine teachers and experts, the students explored our complicated relationship with fire in the High Desert.

As a result, more than 100 pieces of art will adorn the walls of the Desertarium Gallery at the Museum. The exhibition is an external representation of the internal process.

Museum educators first met with the students in October 2024 and continued to meet with them every other week. Through different educational disciplines – from science and art to social studies and history – the students learned about wildfire on the landscape and then translated those perspectives into art. This ranged from fire as a threat to fire as a helpful, natural process. Their new understandings of fire are highlighted through the exhibition.

As part of the Kids Curate program, the Museum included two outside voices to help the students in their yearlong learning. Ariel Cowan, regional fire specialist with the Oregon State University Extension Service, helped the students explore fire as both scientists and community members. She took part in the students’ field trip to the Museum in late February 2025, providing information on how fires can damage structures in a community but also spur new forest growth.

Artist Jake Kenobi, also known as Spring Break Jake, visited La Pine Elementary three times during the year to share his techniques with the students. From how he creates his artwork to the incorporation of feelings and emotions onto the canvas, Kenobi invited the students to see fire as more than just heat and combustion.

After gathering materials in the forest at the Museum, Kenobi assisted students in creating “studio potions.” Acrylic paint supplemented with pinecone bits, soil, pine needles and manzanita leaves adorn the canvases on display.

In addition, Kids Curate provides participating students with the pride of publicly and prominently displaying their artwork and the tools needed to continue their artistic practice.

More information about the Kids Curate program can be found at highdesertmuseum.org/kids-curate.

The 2025 Kids Curate program and exhibition is made possible by The Bloomfield Family Foundation, Braemar Charitable Trust/Trust Management Services LLC, the Chambers Family Foundation, the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation, the PGE Foundation and the Oregon Arts Commission. Additional support comes from Bennington Properties.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM:

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

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MANZANITA, Oregon— Nehalem Bay State Park will reopen day-use areas including trails and the boat launch on May 23, but the campground will remain closed through at least June due to ongoing construction.

“We’re excited to welcome visitors back to the park, and we appreciate everyone’s patience as we work to improve the park experience,” said Park Manger Ben Cox.

The day-use areas opening include the boat ramp, the south day-use parking area, the airport and the multi-use path east of the main entrance road. The main entrance from Garey Street will be reopened to the public at the same time to serve the day-use areas. 

The campground and the Horizon Street entrance will remain closed to the public through June while work continues in the campground. The campground is slated to reopen as soon as July 1 depending on the construction schedule. The park will open campground reservations in the next few weeks for dates starting in July.

Check the webpage for updates.

The construction work at Nehalem Bay includes:

• Upgrading water and electrical lines within the camp loops
• Adding a restroom/shower building to serve increasing visitation and provide more accessible facilities (accessible features include adult changing table for visitors with disabilities)
• Adding an accessible restroom and accessible campsites to the horse camp
• Adding hose bibs to horse camp sites
• Renovating and adding additional accessible campsites and paths
• Repaving the main entrance road
• Adding traffic calming features park entry road from the Garey Street entrance to the airport intersection
• Adding a new day-use fee station near the airport intersection

The work at Nehalem Bay was made possible by GO Bonds, a $50 million investment approved by the Oregon State Legislature in 2021. It’s one of nine projects at eight parks focused on building capacity, increasing accessibility and maintaining aging park infrastructure. Visit the Go Bond website for a complete list of projects.

The City of Tigard is pleased to announce that Scott Edwards Architecture has been selected as the architectural firm for the new Tigard police and public works facility.

Scott Edwards Architecture (SEA) was chosen for this project through a competitive process and brings more than 27 years of experience to the table in delivering public, non-profit and private projects. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, SEA is already familiar with this project and with Tigard, having completed the preliminary site programming work during the due diligence phase.

SEA’s recent projects include the Wilsonville Public Works building and the Oregon City Engineering and Operations Center. Additionally, SEA partners with MWL Architects, which has extensive public safety building experience. The selection panel was particularly impressed by their team-oriented approach and their excitement for the CMGC (construction manager/general contractor) construction delivery method the City of Tigard will be utilizing for this project. The selection was unanimously confirmed by Tigard City Council Tuesday evening (May 13, 2025).

“We are excited to work with Scott Edwards Architecture and see them bring this critical project to life through thoughtful design, innovative technologies and environmentally friendly materials,” said Tigard Mayor Heidi Lueb. “We are looking forward to working with SEA as we continue to move this project forward.” 

Known as Building a Better Tigard, significant work has already been done to move forward with construction of a safe, modern facility for Tigard’s police and public works departments. Currently housed in outdated, undersized and unsafe facilities, completing this project is a top priority for Tigard City Council. This move is strategically designed to enhance efficiency, ensure safety, reduce costs and improve services.

After years of research, the City of Tigard purchased 9.5 acres of undeveloped land for this purpose on SW Wall Street & Hunziker Road in 2024. In early 2025, Otak was selected as the Project Director to oversee the project (read the news release on Otak’s selection here.) The City is asking for the community to support this important project through a bond vote in May 2026. If successfully passed, construction is expected to begin immediately. The City of Tigard Police and Public Works Departments could move into the new combined facility Tigard’s police and public works departments by mid to late 2028.

Learn more about SEA at https://www.seallp.com/ and get updates on the new facility project at www.tigard-or.gov/BuildingABetterTigard.

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Vancouver, Wash. – On Monday, May 12, Vancouver City Council passed a resolution to award $11.15 million from its Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) to help create or preserve 330 affordable rental homes with a focus on seniors, people with disabilities and individuals exiting homelessness.

“This funding is an essential tool in our continuing effort to address the affordable housing crisis in our community,” said Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle. “The important projects supported by this investment will help ensure that our most vulnerable neighbors have access to safe, stable and affordable homes, fostering a more inclusive and resilient community.”

After review by the Housing Advisory Committee, five projects were recommended totaling $11.15 million in AHF awards:

• Community Roots Collaborative – C-Roots Mill Plain Tiny Homes: $1.05 million supporting 20 new units (permanent supportive housing for households exiting homelessness)
• Palindrome – Artifact at Vancouver Heights District (site C): $4.1 million to support 109 new units (new mixed-income development with units for people with disabilities)
• Mid-Columbia Manor – Smith Tower preservation: $2 million to support preservation of 170 existing units (rehabilitation of iconic senior apartment building to improve life/safety features)
• Vancouver Housing Authority – Vancouver Heights District site P (senior housing): $1 million forward commitment to support 51 new units (new senior housing with on-site services and community amenities)
• Vancouver Housing Authority – Vancouver Heights District site P (family housing): $3 million forward commitment to support 80 new units (new family housing with supportive services and outdoor space)

These projects will create or preserve rental homes serving households earning 30% - 60% of the area median income. They were prioritized by community need, project readiness and project feasibility.

The application process for the AHF remains open on a rolling basis, with quarterly review periods throughout the year.

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Pacific Power to describe wildfire protection efforts

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, Nickolas James Beaumont, died shortly after midnight May 14, 2025. Beaumont was incarcerated at Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP) in Salem and passed away at the facility. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified, and the State Medical Examiner will determine cause of death.

Beaumont entered DOC custody on December 13, 2018, from Klamath County with an anticipated release date of November 8, 2026. Beaumont was 29 years old. Next of kin has been notified.

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

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

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MEDIA ADVISORY ALERT: Breakfast forum, building Portland’s clean economy, May 15. Register now.

REGISTER NOW at Portland Metro Chamber

WHO:
The Portland Metro Chamber is hosting a Breakfast Forum to explore how Portland is advancing a clean economy through its new Clean Industry Hub. Panelists include:

• Corky Collier, Executive Director, Executive Director at Columbia Corridor Association  
• Todd Khozein, Co-founder and CEO, SecondMuse
• Donnie Oliveira, Deputy City Administrator for Community & Economic Development, City of Portland 
• Kristen Sheeran, Vice President, Policy and Resource Planning, Portland General Electric 

Moderator: Alando Simpson, CEO, COR Disposal & Recycling 

WHAT:

Breakfast Forum: building Portland’s clean economy. It’s on Thursday, May 15, 2025. A conversation with several Portland business, utility, and city leaders on reducing industrial carbon emissions, supporting clean technology innovation, and ensuring equitable economic growth.

WHERE:

Downtown Hilton, Skyline Ballroom, 921 SW 6th Avenue, Portland, OR 97204 

WHEN:
Thursday, May 15, 2025, from 8:30 am – 10 am.

Cost:

Single ticket (members only) $55

Table of 8 (members only) $440

REGISTER NOW at Portland Metro Chamber

THE DETAILS:

Portland has been a national leader in addressing climate change and reducing its carbon footprint. Over the past four years, business, workforce, higher education, and community organizations have partnered with the City of Portland to develop the first-ever Clean Industry Initiative, which released an assessment and roadmap, endorsed by 28 partner organizations, for meeting the city’s industrial decarbonization targets in 2022. In 2024, the Portland Clean Energy Fund approved a $20 million Clean Industry Community Program grant to launch this public-private industrial decarbonization partnership. Portland’s business, utility, and city leaders will discuss how local industries embrace sustainable practices and collaboration on climate solutions. Learn how this cross-sector effort is positioning Portland as a leader in clean manufacturing and climate resilience. Alando Simpson, CEO of COR Disposal & Recycling, will guide the conversation to help highlight why these efforts in the Rose City are critical in addressing climate change.

SPECIAL THANKS:

Special thanks to Alaska Airlines, George Fox University, Portland Tribune and US Bank.

• Road closures and lane restrictions are expected surrounding the Capitol Mall
• Drivers should use extra caution in response to increased pedestrian traffic in the area
• The permitted event is scheduled from 2-4 p.m. May 17

Salem, Ore. — Street closures for an event near the Oregon State Capitol Mall on Saturday, May 17, will affect midday traffic. Permitted street closures for the event will include parts of Center Street NE between Cottage Street NE and Capitol Street NE from 2-4 p.m.

Drivers will see more pedestrians in the area and may experience delays. Temporary signs will show which roads are closed and where lanes are restricted.  Drivers should plan ahead, take different routes and drive carefully.

Closure Details

• Date: Saturday, May 17
• Time: 2-4 p.m.
• Affected Streets: Center Street NE, Chemeketa Street NE, Court Street NE, Cottage Street NE, Capitol Street NE and Winter St NE, all in the vicinity of the Oregon State Capitol and Capitol Mall.
• Details: Streets inside the area bordered by Center, Cottage, Court and Capitol streets will have full or partial closures. These closures will allow the event to take place and keep participants and visitors safe.
   

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

Those with questions or comments should contact the City of Salem’s Public Works Dispatch Center at 503-588-6311.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 14, 2025

CONTACT INFORMATION:
umenauer@employ.oregon.gov">Gail Krumenauer, State Employment Economist

(971) 301-3771

Video and Audio available at 10 a.m. PT

David Cooke, Economist (971) 375-5288

Oregon’s Unemployment Rate Was 4.7% in April

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.7% in April and 4.6% in March, after rising gradually over the past year from 4.1% in April 2024. Oregon’s 4.7% unemployment rate was 1.1 percentage points higher than the recent low of 3.6% during spring 2023. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.2% in both March and April.

In April, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 1,200 jobs, following a revised gain of 6,200 jobs in March. April’s gains were largest in leisure and hospitality (+3,300 jobs) and professional and business services (+900). Declines were largest in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-1,300 jobs) and other services          (-600). None of the other major industries had a change of more than 400 jobs.

Leisure and hospitality had a larger-than-expected increase in seasonal hiring in April, adding 3,300 jobs. The April jobs total of 212,700 was 5,600 jobs, or 2.7%, above its average during the prior two years. Its component industry arts, entertainment, and recreation added 500 jobs in April, to reach a record high of 30,200. During the past two years it has expanded consistently. Meanwhile, the other component industry—accommodation and food services—is estimated to have grown rapidly this year, adding 2,800 jobs in April and 5,000 jobs so far this year, following slight declines over the prior two years.

Construction employment slipped by 200 jobs in April to a total of 114,600 jobs, continuing a gradual downward trend. Since reaching a peak of 119,000 jobs in June 2023 construction has shed 4,400 jobs, or -3.7%.

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities cut 1,300 jobs in April, following a gradual gain of nearly the same amount during the prior 12 months. Most of the April loss occurred in couriers and messengers which cut 800 jobs in April and shed 1,200 jobs since April 2024.

Next Press Releases

The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the April county and metropolitan area unemployment rates on Tuesday, May 20, and the next statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for May on Wednesday, June 18.

Salem, OR – Carl Riccadonna, state chief economist and Michael Kennedy, senior economist of the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) Office of Economic Analysis (OEA), presented the latest economic outlook and revenue forecast to the Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue. The quarterly revenue forecasts serve to open the revenue forecasting process to public review and is the basis for much of the Oregon state government budgeting process.

What is different about this forecast?

The Office of Economic Analysis provides quarterly forecasts for the State of Oregon’s major revenue sources, including all sources contributing to the General Fund (Personal and Corporate Income Tax, etc.), Lottery and the Corporate Activity Tax. In May of odd years, OEA’s revenue forecast establishes the anticipated resource levels for the next biennium’s adopted budget.

The May 2025 economic outlook brings more uncertainty and slower growth as risk factors continue to widen. Key points include:

• The national economy was projected to grow 2% for 2025 in the previous forecast; that growth is now projected to be 0.8%, less than half the original estimate.
• The outlook is now characterized as sluggish growth, a significant slowing in economic growth that results in a rising unemployment rate. This is distinct from a recession, which is characterized as a broad-based decline in economic activity. The probability of recession is currently estimated by OEA at 25%.
• Oregon’s economy continues to be bound to national trends for growth and inflation.
• Oregon’s heightened sensitivity to trade has a direct impact on personal income taxes and state labor trends although less of an impact on corporate taxes.

Revenue Forecast

The May revenue forecast projects the 2023-25 General Fund ending balance to be $2.17 billion, with revenues decreasing by $162.3 million.

In the 2025-27 biennium, General Fund revenues decreasing by $337 million from the March forecast.

About the Office of Economic Analysis

The state chief economist oversees the Office of Economic Analysis within the Department of Administrative Services and provides objective forecasts of the state’s economy, revenue, populations, corrections population and Youth Authority population. These forecasts are used across state government, and by the public for a variety of reasons, notably to inform the state budgeting process. For more information about the Office of Economic Analysis and recent forecasts visit https://www.oregon.gov/das/oea/pages/index.aspx.

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MITCH Charter School, Portland, OR, May 13, 2025: The Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation (OLSHF) proudly announces that its School Vision Screening program (SVS) surpassed a significant milestone – 2 million students screened in Oregon since the program’s inception in 1994!

During this current school year at MITCH Charter School in Portland, OLSHF SVS staff Kerith Vance and volunteers screened MITCH students, including Jeremiah, marking the 2,000,000th student screened by SVS!     

Since 1994, OLSHF has provided vision screening to Oregon students. In 2012 OLSHF acquired new, objective vision screening technology (Spot device) and annual totals for the number of students screened jumped in just two years from 25,000 to 150,000. 

Now OLSHF screens nearly 200,000 students per year across the state in partnership with Lions volunteers, identifying vision problems early - especially in elementary-aged children.

FAST FACTS – SVS this school year

15 SVS event staff located around the state, 2 SVS full time staff in Portland 

SVS visited 784 schools total 

SVS partners with 161 School Districts, 40 charter schools and 20 private schools

During our 23rd year of screening (2017), OLSHF hit the first million student mark in the Brookings Harbor School District. To reach our 2nd million student mark? Only 7 years!

For every student screened, OLSHF provides their parents with a detailed report highlighting any issues captured in the screening, as well as information on resources like low cost/no cost eye exams and eyeglasses for families in need of financial assistance. 

17% of children we screen are referred for comprehensive exams. These are children who may otherwise go undiagnosed and struggle in school unnecessarily.

Vision screening for students is critical for identifying potential conditions early. 

Using Spot devices, OLSHF staff and volunteers provide quick and accurate vision screenings. In a matter of seconds, these devices take 13 eye measurements and check for 8 different vision conditions, including amblyopia (reduced vision in one eye), a common visual impairment in children. When caught early, this condition can be treated with noninvasive measures like proper corrective lenses, eye drops, or eye patching. 

A classroom of 30 students receives screenings in under 10 minutes, and OLSHF screenings average 200 students per hour. 

Experts have noticed a significant impact that lingers from school closures and remote learning that can affect children’s vision. Excessive screen time and “delayed vision screenings during the pandemic has created a heap of issues for children’s eyesight.” (Reference - https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/covid19-pandemic-myopia-children-eyes)

In Roseburg, school children are screened every year by SVS. Staff member & Roseburg Lion Dr. Steven Tronnes tells us, “As a Doctor of Optometry with many years of experience, I have seen firsthand the disadvantages students are at when they don't get proper eye care. The School Vision Screening program is a great way to identify problems that the parents and students don't know are the reasons for poor school performance.” 

Image, left to right: Kerith Vance, OLSHF SVS staff; Nicole Hans, MITCH Vice Principal; Jeremiah, 2 millionth student; Karen Pena, parent

About OLSHF 

We are the Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation (OLSHF), serving communities statewide. We are driven by a promise made to American author and deaf blind activist Helen Keller. In 1925, at an International Lions Convention, she challenged Lions to focus on preventable sight and hearing issues as their primary mission. Since our formation in 1959, we have endeavored to uphold this promise by creating programs in response to the need for sight and hearing assistance. We have built upon the promise made to Helen Keller by creating a continuum of care for people who lack access to vision and hearing services.

In partnership with the Lions Clubs of Oregon and community organizations, we serve people through critical sight saving surgeries and treatments; manufacturing new eyeglasses; helping people who can’t afford eyeglasses and hearing aids, and creating the largest vision screening program in the US. Our statewide programs serve children to the elderly, giving them much needed access to optical and hearing services. In 2015, we launched the LEAP Optical Finishing Lab that allows OLSHF to manufacture high quality, low cost eyeglasses. Annually, over 2,000 Oregonians receive new eyeglasses built by our lab. 

To donate to the School Vision Screening Program or learn more please visit www.olshf.org or www.facebook.com/olshf. Public support and private funds from family foundations, Lions Clubs, donors and corporate donors help support this program.

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APPLICANT REVIEW COMMITTEE

MEETING SCHEDULED

The Applicant Review Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a regular meeting at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Juan Lopez (503) 551-3167.

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

Agenda Items:

1. Introductions

2. Approve March 26, 2025, Meeting Minutes

3. Jeffrey Borton, DPSST No. 66135; Lincoln County Community Corrections

    Presented by Cindy Park

4. Inquiry Closure Memos – Informational Only

    Presented by Cindy Park

5. Next Applicant Review Committee Meeting – June 25, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.

Administrative Announcement

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

2025 Board on Public Safety Standards & Training

 and Policy Committee

Open Vacancy – Recruitments

The Board on Public Safety Standards & Training (BPSST) and established Policy Committees have open vacancies looking to be filled before the end of the year! The current vacancies are as follows:

BPSST: All Board applications must be submitted through Workday.com

• One member who is a sheriff recommended to the Governor by the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association
• One member representing Non-Management Law Enforcement 
• One member who is a representative of the collective bargaining unit that represents the largest number of individual workers in the DOC
• One individual who is a member of the OSFFC recommended to the Governor by the executive body of the council
• Public Member

Policy Committees: All Policy Committee applications must be submitted by June 20, 2025.

Corrections Policy Committee:

• Public Member

Private Security/Investigator Policy Committee:

• One person representing the retail industry
• One person representing persons who monitor alarms
• One person who is a private investigator licensed under ORS 703.430, and is recommended by the Oregon State Bar (will also serve on the PI Sub-Committee upon appointment)
• One person representing the public who has never been employed or utilized as a private security provider or investigator

Private Investigator Subcommittee:

• Currently licensed private investigator

Telecommunications Policy Committee:

• One person representing recommended by and representing the Oregon State Police
• One member recommended by and representing the EMS and TSP of the OHA

To inquire about a vacancy, please visit Department of Public Safety Standards & Training : Board on Public Safety Standards & Training and Policy Committees : Boards and Committees : State of Oregon.

If interested in applying for a Policy Committee position, please complete and submit the Policy Committee Interest Form found under the ‘Board and Committee Resources’ section of the website listed above.

If interested in applying for a BPSST position, please complete the online application at Workday Board and Commission Opportunities. (Please note that an account may need to be created if not already in Workday)

For further information regarding the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training or its respective Policy Committees, please contact Juan Lopez at (503) 551-3167 or juan.lopez-hernandez@dpsst.oregon.gov.

Thank you,

DPSST Board & Committees Staff

Salem, OR— Oregonians who filed for an extension instead of filing their federal and state income taxes last month should go ahead file their tax year 2024 returns as soon as they can, the Oregon Department of Revenue said this week.

“The extension deadline is October 15, but for a lot of people who sought an extension just before the April 15 deadline there’s no reason to wait until the fall,” said Megan Denison, administrator of the Department of Revenue’s Personal Tax and Compliance Division.

So far in 2025, the department has processed almost 2 million of an expected 2.2 million returns. That leaves approximately 200,000 Oregon taxpayers who still need to file their tax year 2024 returns.

Several free filing options and in person tax assistance remain available during the summer months, including Direct File Oregon.

People file for an extension for all kinds of reasons. Some are waiting on additional information or documents. Others are experiencing hardship in the days before the deadline and have to direct their attention elsewhere. Some people just put it off or forget.

“Whatever the reason, as soon as they have what they need, they should file,” Denison said. Some people may not have filed because they didn’t have money to pay what they owe, but an extension to file is not an extension to pay any tax owed. Those who didn’t file and haven’t paid are only racking up additional late payment penalties and interest by waiting.

“Even if they can’t pay the full amount they owe, they should pay what they can as soon as they can,” Denison said. For those who can’t pay all they owe, filing a return offers them the opportunity to set up a payment plan with the state.

For some taxpayers, filing can mean receiving a refund.

“Some tax situations are complex and require extra time—even months—to prepare, but most aren’t,” Denison said. “Filing as soon as you can makes good sense. It can save money and provide some peace of mind.”

Taxpayers with questions can call 800-356-4222 toll-free from an Oregon prefix (English or Spanish) or 503-378-4988 in Salem and outside Oregon. For TTY (hearing or speech impaired), the department accepts all relay calls.
 

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The 2025 Metro Advanced Wildland School (MAWS) live fire exercise is set for Friday, June 6, and Saturday, June 7, in Molalla, Oregon.

MAWS offers Oregon structural firefighters a hands-on opportunity to complete critical wildland performance objectives for Firefighter Type 1, Engine Boss, and Strike Team/Task Force Leader qualifications. Training will include:

• Firing and aerial operations
• Engine drafting and mobile attack
• Weather assessment and its operational impact
• Structure triage and preparation
• Hard line construction
• Crew supervision in live fire environments

Smoke will be visible near Pierce Road and Sawtell Road. Residents are urged not to call 911 unless there is an actual emergency.

Media Invitation – Friday, June 6

Media are welcome to observe Friday’s training operations, which will provide excellent opportunities for photos, video footage, and interviews.

All media personnel entering the fire ground must wear appropriate wildland PPE, including:

• Closed-toe boots
• Nomex pants
• Nomex shirts
• Wildland-rated helmet

To schedule a media tour or for more information, please contact:
Sandy Roberts, Public Information Officer
? 541-979-4096 | 541-917-7734

WOODBURN, OR – The City of Woodburn is pleased to announce the appointment of Jason Millican as the new Chief of Police for the Woodburn Police Department. Chief Millican brings more than 27 years of law enforcement experience and a deep commitment to public safety, leadership, and community service.

Chief Millican began his career with the Woodburn Police Department in April 1998 as a patrol officer. Chief Millican has held a variety of positions from K9 officer to Acting Chief of Police.  Chief Millican held command positions which included Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Deputy Chief.

In addition to his operational experience, Chief Millican brings strong academic and leadership credentials. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Western Oregon University. He is a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy (Session 274), the Senior Management Institute for Police, and the International Public Safety Leadership & Ethics program.

Chief Millican is a member of the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association, and serves on the board of the Northwest Accreditation Alliance, underscoring his commitment to professional development and best practices in policing.

“Chief Millican has deep roots in both the department and the Woodburn community. He brings high ethical standards, a strong commitment to diversity, and a demonstrated record of service, leadership, and community engagement,” said Scott Derickson, City Administrator, City of Woodburn. “He is experienced and qualified to lead the department into the future with integrity and vision.”

Portland, Oregon, May 14, 2025 – Rocky Butte Farmers Market returns for 2025 to its convenient NE Siskiyou and 80th Ave. location with more than 20 vendors, educational programming & food demos and an exciting new food-sharing initiative called pahtl o’-pe-kwan in Chinuk Wawa — or “Full Basket”, that will provide needed support for those visiting the Roseway neighborhood market.
 

The new program is thanks to a generous collaboration led by the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) and the Cully, Woodlawn, and Rocky Butte farmers markets that have teamed up to provide $50 in weekly tokens to market patrons who are receiving supplemental government assistance, which can be used to purchase produce, meat, eggs, fish, and more. 
 

This initiative comes at a critical time as tariffs are driving up the cost of imported goods nationwide and with the potential for shortages looming, building community and increasing access to fresh, local food is more important than ever. This program will help take care of our Portland neighbors who need assistance through this uncertain period.

In addition to “Full Basket,” Rocky Butte Farmers Market provides a number of other ways to make shopping at the market easier and more affordable: 

• SNAP recipients can double their purchasing power with up to $20 matched per visit through the Double Up Food Bucks program;

• shoppers who arrive by bus or bike receive $5 shopping tokens, through the Metro RTC grant;

• access to essential resources such as SNAP eligibility screenings through Hunger-Free Oregon and regular distribution of free COVID tests and naloxone to support public health and safety in our community.

Each week Rocky Butte Farmers Market collects excess food from vendors and donates it directly to Mainspring. This keeps high-quality, locally grown produce within the community and ensures that everyone has access to fresh, seasonal food, regardless of income.
 

New to the market this year will be Veg-Education and food demos in collaboration with high school students in McDaniel High School’s Sustainable Agriculture CTE Program. This initiative focuses on lesser-known, in-season produce and helps educate shoppers on how to incorporate these foods into their weekly meals. Veg-Education will include student-tested recipes, an educational zine, storage and preparation tips to reduce food waste, a social media campaign, and live cooking demos at the market.
 

More than just a market, Rocky Butte Farmers Market strives to be an impactful community resource - collaborating with neighboring food pantries, nonprofits, and gardens to provide services to underserved community members, increase access to education and food security, and positively impact the ecology, health, and overall community well-being.
 

Rocky Butte Farmers Market will open Saturday, May 24, 2025, in the Roseway neighborhood at NE Siskiyou, between 79th and 81st. The Market runs every Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., May 24 through October 25.
 

Learn more about the market, this year's vendors, the weekly entertainment or apply to be a vendor at www.rockybuttemarket.com. Follow the market on Instagram at @rockybuttefarmersmarket and Facebook at @RockyButteFarmersMarket to stay informed on news and updates.

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Gresham, Ore.— Gresham Police are investigating an overnight traffic crash that left one person dead.  Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on W Powell Blvd near NW Bryn Mawr Way shortly after 11 p.m. Tuesday.  The lone occupant of the vehicle was pronounced deceased at the scene.  Officers believe excessive speed was a contributing factor to the crash.  Detours on W Powell Blvd around the crash scene will be in place for several hours. 

Gresham, Ore.— Gresham officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 3500 block of SE Richey Rd just before 4 o’clock Tuesday morning.  Arriving officers found shell casings in the street and a nearby home that had been struck by gunfire.  Officers did not find anyone injured at the scene.  

A short time later, a local hospital reported a person suffering from a gunshot wound had arrived in a private vehicle.  The vehicle, a silver 2009 Subaru Impreza with Oregon license plate 737LQM, left the hospital before officers arrived.  The Subaru may have a black wheel on the left rear tire.  The person who was shot remains in critical condition.  

Investigators believe these incidents are connected.  Anyone with information regarding the shooting or the current location of the Subaru Impreza is asked to contact Gresham Police Detective Huffman at Frederick.Huffman@GreshamOregon.gov or Detective Snider at Tim.Snider@GreshamOregon.gov.

SALEM, Ore. — The Regional Forest Practice Committee for southwest Oregon will meet at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 20 at the ODF Office, 87950 Territorial Hwy in Veneta. To join virtually, please use the Teams video conference information found on the agenda. To provide public comment, please email estresources.committees@odf.oregon.gov">forestresources.committees@odf.oregon.gov.

The committee’s agenda includes:

• Division and agency updates
• HCP status
• Operator of the Year Program revisions
• Compliance Monitoring Project update
• All streams crossing technical guidance review & technical guidance update

The public may attend in-person or online via Teams. Public comments will be accepted. Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services, or assistance can be arranged by calling at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting at 503-945-7200 or by email at estryinformation@odf.oregon.gov">forestryinformation@odf.oregon.gov.

Regional Forest Practices Committees are panels of citizens – mandated under Oregon law – that advise the Oregon Board of Forestry and may assist the Board of Forestry in developing appropriate forest practice rules. The committees are comprised of citizens qualified by education or experience in natural resource management. In 1971, the legislature enacted Oregon’s Forest Practices Act which includes three Regional Forest Practices Committees, serving the Eastern, Northwest, and Southwest regions of the state. Under Oregon law, a majority of the committees’ members must be private forest landowners and logging or forest operations companies.

Oregon’s forests are among the state’s most valued resources, providing a balanced mix of environmental, economic, and social benefits. View more information on the RFPC webpage.

It’s not every day that a Kindergartener gets to see their art brought to life, but that’s what happened at Cape Horn-Skye Elementary this month!  Students in Mrs. Alice Yang’s art classes at Cape created “monsters” in their art class.  These drawings were brought to life by Yang’s Canyon Creek Middle School Art students!  

Yang first worked on the art project with the younger set of students, with some drawing inspiration from books, games or movies.  Others let their imaginations run wild as they created artwork that depicted a monster they wanted to see made into a tangible stuffed animal. 

Yang said, “I was so happy to see how hard the middle schoolers worked because they didn’t want to disappoint the younger students!  It really brought to light the strong sense of community we have at Cape and Canyon.  The student engagement was incredible.  I had several students sew more than one project and ask to work on them at home as well.”  

The middle school students worked with Yang, who ordered fabric in a number of different colors, learning sewing techniques and strategies for creating the complex designs the younger students imagined.  

CCMS Student Hayley Lomax said that in the art she created, “it was a little challenging to figure out how to make the head stand up, so it is a little floppy.” 

Yang added that, “Something about the real world application of the sewing / crafting - challenge to put skills together to make the art work as a project.” She added, “I love that our middle schoolers are not only connecting with the little artists, but they are also learning how to sew, which is such an important skill. There were several drawings that were challenging to interpret with felt and thread, but the students’ creativity and problem-solving skills shone through.”

Lomax said that “it was cool to create art for someone else; you don’t normally get to see the enjoyment someone else receives when they see or experience art!”

The younger students were amazed by the work the middle school students had done, and were presented both with their artwork that was the inspiration for the stuffed animal, and the new monster that was created just for them.  

Cape Horn-Skye Principal Brook Henley said,  “Our students have such a special opportunity to learn on a Transition to Kindergarten  to 8th grade campus.  The staff’s commitment to ensuring our students are role models to one another is phenomenal.  Mrs. Yang’s project is a wonderful example of utilizing our unique school setup for developing lifelong skills, community mentorship, and memories.”

Visual arts classes and projects like this one are funded by the Washougal School Levy. The levy supports great opportunities for students to explore their interests, develop their talent, and share their passion with our community. 

DALLAS (OR) – James Michael Madden, of Keizer, has been sentenced to serve 75 months in prison by Polk County Circuit Court Judge pro tem Timothy R. Park after pleading guilty to two counts of sex abuse in the first degree involving a victim under the age of 14. Madden, 46, will also be required to serve a term of 45 months of Post-Prison Supervision and to register as a sex offender upon his release. The victim in this case was five years old at the time of the incident and under Madden’s care.

Madden, who was arrested at the Portland International Airport as he was attempting to flee the country, was in the Polk County Jail during sentencing.  Madden has previously been required to register as a sex offender due to prior convictions for possession of child pornography.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Shannon Clausen of the Polk County District Attorney’s Office and investigated by the Salem Police Department.

SALEM, Ore. — Drivers who use McGilchrist Street SE should be aware that eastbound traffic is closed through the end of the year between 22nd Street SE and 25th Street SE.

Local access will be available to all residences and businesses in the area. Signs pointing to traffic detours will be in place. Drivers are advised to watch for traffic signs and follow all instructions from crews working in the area.

This work is part of the McGilchrist Complete Street Project, Phase 2 construction. The cost is funded by the voter-approved 2022 Safety and Livability Bond, federal funds, urban renewal and other City funds.

The McGilchrist Complete Street project will transform the current two-lane arterial into a street that provides the necessary elements to support safe movement of goods and people by truck, rail, car, foot and bicycle. People will be able to use this corridor to support economic development in a sustainable manner while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, flooding concerns and improving the water quality for Pringle Creek. Learn more at https://salemor.gov/3ERFbED.

The McGilchrist Street SE eastbound closure will include travel lanes and parking spaces in the construction zone. Drivers are urged to be cautious while traveling, follow all signage, and watch for workers in the area.

Please continue to monitor the Current Road Conditions Map on the City of Salem website to receive up-to-date information on scheduled or emergency road closures in Salem: https://public-construction-salem.hub.arcgis.com/.

Se buscó la participación del público para ayudar a dar forma a las futuras prioridades de salud

ASTORIA, OR — El Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Clatsop, el Hospital Columbia Memorial y el Hospital Seaside de Providence están trabajando juntos para comprender mejor las fortalezas, necesidades y desafíos que afectan la salud y el bienestar en nuestras comunidades.

Como parte de la Evaluación de las Necesidades de Salud de la Comunidad (CHNA, por sus siglas en inglés) de 2025, se invita al público a compartir sus perspectivas a través de una breve evaluación en línea abierta desde ahora hasta el 30 de junio de 2025.

La evaluación tarda unos minutos en completarse y ofrece a los participantes la oportunidad de ganar una tarjeta de regalo de Amazon de $ 100. Las respuestas son anónimas y ayudarán a informar las estrategias, servicios y políticas locales que apoyan un condado de Clatsop más saludable.

Realice la evaluación aquí:
https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/3c697d7ea69d4c828e86fcb7f7764de5

"Esta es una oportunidad muy importante para que los residentes compartan ideas sobre la salud, la vivienda, la obtención de atención médica, la salud mental, el uso de sustancias y otras cosas que afectan su vida diaria", dijo Jill Quackenbush, subdirectora de Salud Pública del Condado de Clatsop.

La encuesta es solo el primer paso en el proceso de CHNA. La evaluación completa también incluirá entrevistas con líderes comunitarios, grupos focales y un análisis de datos de salud locales para crear una imagen integral de la salud comunitaria.

Para obtener más información sobre el proceso de CHNA o para solicitar una copia impresa de la evaluación, comuníquese con el Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Clatsop al 503-325-8500, envíe un correo electrónico a health@clatsopcounty.gov o visite www.clatsopcounty.gov/publichealth.

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Public input sought to help shape future health priorities

ASTORIA, OR — Clatsop County Public Health, Columbia Memorial Hospital, and Providence Seaside Hospital are working together to better understand the strengths, needs, and challenges impacting health and well-being in our communities.

As part of the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), the public are invited to share their perspectives through a brief online assessment open now through June 30, 2025.

The assessment takes a few minutes to complete and offers participants a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card. Responses are anonymous and will help inform local strategies, services, and policies that support a healthier Clatsop County.

Take the assessment here:
https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/3c697d7ea69d4c828e86fcb7f7764de5

"This is a very important chance for residents to share ideas around health, housing, getting healthcare, mental health, substance use, and other things that affect their daily lives,” said Jill Quackenbush, Clatsop County Public Health Deputy Director.

The survey is just the first step in the CHNA process. The full assessment will also include interviews with community leaders, focus groups, and an analysis of local health data to create a comprehensive picture of community health.

For more information about the CHNA process or to request a paper copy of the assessment, contact Clatsop County Public Health at 503-325-8500, email health@clatsopcounty.gov  or visit www.clatsopcounty.gov/publichealth.

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Portland, OR — Each year, the Oregon Historical Society’s (OHS’s) scholarly journal, the Oregon Historical Quarterly (OHQ), presents the Joel Palmer Award to the author of the best article published in the journal during the previous year. Omar C. “Slug” Palmer and William J. Lang established this award in honor of their ancestor Joel Palmer, an Oregon pioneer and political leader during the mid-nineteenth century.

OHQ’s Editorial Advisory Board votes on the first-place prize, which carries with it $500, as well as recognizes two authors for honorable mention. The recipients were announced at OHS’s May 1 Annual Meeting of the Membership, and the articles as well as all previous Palmer Award–winning articles are available to read for free at ohs.org.

The Quarterly’s board recognized Marie Hashimoto’s Fall 2024 article, “To ‘begin again where I left off’: Narrating Japanese American Resettlement in Portland, Oregon, 1945–1946,” as the winning article for 2025. In the article, Hashimoto addresses the question of what life was like for Japanese Americans returning to Portland after the federal government released them from concentration camps where they were incarcerated during World War II.

While the years of Japanese American incarceration during World War II have attracted decades of scholarly attention, Hashimoto’s scholarship focuses on a largely unexamined period that offers opportunities for new and original interpretation of firsthand accounts of Japanese American resettlement. Using a mix of scholarly and archival sources, including oral histories held at the Japanese American Museum of Oregon, Hashimoto argues that Portland’s Nikkei (anyone of Japanese descent who makes their permanent home outside of Japan) faced a cautious, limited welcome from local leaders — whose statements made it clear that support for Nikkei remained contingent on a quiet return that would not demand redress for the injustice of incarceration nor draw attention to continued racism. Through this scholarship, personal oral histories of returnees complicate any simplistic images of the immediate postwar period, revealing that Japanese Americans continued to wrestle with community divides and the unresolved trauma of incarceration.

“OHQ is honored to publish this important scholarship, and we are especially grateful for the clarity that such 20/20 hindsight vision can provide on the lived experience of mass incarceration,” said OHQ Editor Eliza E. Canty-Jones. “Hashimoto’s research reveals important insights about ongoing legal questions about due process and the rights of U.S. citizens and residents.”

Two articles were recognized as honorable mentions: Kimberly Jensen’s Spring 2024 article, “Gendering White Supremacy: Edna Cummins’s Defamation Suit Against the Newberg, Oregon, Ku Kluk Klan in 1924,” and Christopher Foss’s “Federal Investments and Civil Rights Contradictions: The Mixed Legacy of Congresswoman Edith Green in Oregon’s Third Congressional District, 1955–1974.”

In “Gendering White Supremacy,” Jensen examines the case of Edna Cummins, a White, divorced, single mother and former Klanswoman who won a civil suit for defamation of character against members of Newberg, Oregon’s, Ku Klux Klan. Cummins had sought protection from the Klan during her divorce, charging her husband with domestic violence. When the Klan failed to protect her and threatened her with harm, she used the courts to regain her reputation and safety. Jensen argues that the case “illustrates the durability of gendered White supremacist ideas and actions beyond the Klan in Oregon and the nation.” During that time, Jensen notes, “White Protestant supremacy remained a powerful, systemic force in Oregon, a force with which we continue to contend today.”

Foss’s article examines the career of Edith Green, who served as U.S. Representative to Oregon’s Third District from 1955 to 1974. She was one of the foremost advocates for women and children in Oregon and the United States, helping to pass iconic legislation in the twentieth century, including Title IX. As her career progressed, Green turned against many of the policies designed to expand the federal government that she had once supported, and not all her constituents — especially Black people — benefited from her work. Foss’s exploration of Green’s legacy also offers a significant analysis of twentieth-century political shifts in Oregon and beyond.

OHQ thanks the authors for bringing their works to the journal and congratulates them on this recognition of their scholarship.

The journal of record for Oregon history, the Oregon Historical Quarterly publishes well-researched, well-written history about Oregon and the Pacific Northwest for both scholars and general readers. OHQ amplifies knowledge and perspectives that traditional scholarship has often silenced and sparks relevant conversations about history. It 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. A subscription to OHQ is also a benefit of Oregon Historical Society membership, and single-issue copies can be purchased in the OHS Museum Store.

About the Oregon Historical Society

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

PORTLAND, OREGON – May 13, 2025— After a decade of determined work, more than $500,000 invested (not including thousands of hours of volunteer labor), and the steadfast support of donors, grantors, contractors, and volunteers, the legendary Spokane, Portland & Seattle 700 has officially come back to life.

On May 9, 2025, the SP&S 700—affectionately known as the Lady of the Northwest—was ceremonially fired up for the first time in over 10 years. This marks a major milestone in the locomotive’s restoration and is a moment of pride and celebration for all who have helped bring her back to life.

“This wasn’t just a repair job—it was a comprehensive restoration,” said Randy Woehl, President for the Friends of the SP&S 700. “We undertook an ambitious effort to rebuild and replace major and minor components, install new superheaters, fabricate new copper appliance lines, and complete an extensive list of mechanical upgrades. Every bolt and bearing was carefully evaluated and addressed to ensure the long-term reliability and preservation of the locomotive.”

“This kind of work doesn’t happen in a vacuum,” added Pat Tracy, President of the Friends of the SP 4449. “It takes all of us—organizations, volunteers, donors, and supporters—pulling together to preserve and maintain these incredible machines. We’re proud to have lent a hand in the restoration of the 700. Helping each other ensures the continued operation of all these locomotives, and that benefits everyone who loves railroad history.”

The result is a locomotive in the finest condition it’s been in since it left regular service. The SP&S 700 now stands among the best-preserved and most operationally sound mainline steam locomotives in the country.

“The 700 is a crown jewel in the Oregon Rail Heritage Center’s collection,” said Rick Franklin, President of the Oregon Rail Heritage Center. “This return to steam is more than just mechanical success—it’s a living, breathing connection to the Northwest’s railroading past and an inspiration for future generations.”

The Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation and the Pacific Railroad Preservation Association (Friends of SP&S 700) are deeply grateful to the individuals and institutions who made this achievement possible—including grant funders, private donors, technical advisors, and the tireless volunteer crews who worked week after week, month after month.

Please join us in celebrating this historic moment. The ceremonial lighting of the SP&S 700 is a symbol of revival, resilience, and the enduring power of steam.

Long live the Lady of the Northwest!

Media Contacts:

Oregon Rail Heritage Center
Renee Devereux
503.233.1156
rdevereux@orhf.org
www.orhf.org

Friends of the SP&S 700 (PRPA)
Randy Woehl
503.207.8699
woehl@hotmail.com
www.sps700.org

A motorcyclist is deceased following a crash in Southeast Portland.

On Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at approximately 2:00 p.m., East Precinct officers responded to the area of Southeast 80^th Avenue and Southeast Powell Boulevard on reports of a crash involving a motorcyclist and a van. When they arrived, officers located an adult male motorcyclist suffering from serious injuries. The individual was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The driver of the van stayed at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation.

The Portland Police Bureau’s Major Crash Team is responding to investigate. Several blocks of Southeast Powell Boulevard will be closed to traffic during the investigation.  

Anyone with information about this crash is asked to contact imetips@police.portlandoregon.gov">crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov attention Traffic Investigations Unit and reference case number 25-125041.

###PPB###

The Portland Police Bureau has identified and contacted the woman involved in Tuesday morning's incident. The initial investigation suggests that no crime was committed. 

PPB wants to thank the community, but is no longer asking for the public's assistance with this case.

###PPB###

Original Message Below

The Portland Police Bureau needs the public’s help in locating a female and a van involved in a possible abduction.

On Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at approximately 10:45 a.m., East Precinct officers responded to the 800 block of Southeast 162^nd Avenue on reports of a possible abduction. Officers determined that just before 10:00 a.m., a white van pulled up next to a female who was walking down the street. A person exited the vehicle and approached the female before ushering her into the van and driving off. The vehicle was last seen at 10:01 a.m., driving northbound on Northeast 162^nd Avenue from Northeast Glisan Street.

The vehicle PPB is attempting to locate is a white van with a damaged front and rear bumper. It also has distinctive hubcaps and a broken back window that is taped over. The female was wearing a black or white shirt, a grey jacket, green pants, and a black backpack.

Anyone who spots this female or vehicle, or knows anything about this case, is urged to call 911 immediately and reference case number 25-124871.

Photo description: Van

Photo description: Van

Photo description: Female and van

###PPB###

May 13, 2025

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

Syphilis during pregnancy on the rise, leading to serious health complications for infants

OHA public health physician says coordinated action, increased awareness and commitment to equitable care can help protect those most at risk

PORTLAND, Ore. —Health care providers in Oregon are deeply concerned that congenital syphilis rates continue to rise at an alarming pace, according to preliminary 2024 Oregon Health Authority data. This is despite overall rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Oregon stabilizing in recent years.

In 2014, Oregon recorded two cases of congenital syphilis. By 2024, that number had surged to 45—a staggering 2,150% increase—according to data analyzed by the HIV, STD and TB Section at OHA’s Public Health Division.

“Although rates of syphilis infections in Oregon have decreased in line with national trends, the rate of syphilis diagnosed during pregnancy is increasing, resulting in more infants affected by this preventable disease,” said Pete Singson, M.D., OHA’s HIV, STD and TB medical director.

“Congenital syphilis cases remain concentrated in urban areas, but we’re seeing a growing number of syphilis cases during pregnancy in rural and frontier counties,” Singson explained. “Half of the 2024 congenital syphilis cases were outside the Portland metro area.”

Pregnant people in the Black/African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, and Hispanic/Latino populations in Oregon are disproportionately represented in this epidemic.

Singson said it’s critical to understand that these disparities are not due to race or ethnicity, but rather by the compounded effects of systemic racism, poverty, houselessness and stigma.

The risks of untreated syphilis during pregnancy include miscarriage, growth abnormalities, premature birth and fetal death. In a newborn, nearly every organ system can be affected, and severe cases can result in neonatal death. Providers have limited experience diagnosing syphilis due to its historically low prevalence, Singson said, which makes diagnosis even more challenging.

OHA is encouraging providers to work closely with local public health authorities to ensure patients complete their treatment, and to facilitate the testing and treatment of people with whom the patients have had sexual contact. Singson said OHA is aligned with American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidance in recommending that all pregnant people be universally screened at three timepoints during their pregnancy: their first prenatal visit, at 28 weeks, and at the time of delivery.

Addressing this crisis requires not only a concerted effort to educate providers and communities but also expanding screening, treatment and access to care.

“With coordinated action, increased awareness and commitment to equitable care, we can end this crisis and protect future generations of Oregonians,” said Singson.

Increasing awareness and education about primary prevention, public health risks and preventive health services are among actions OHA is taking as part of its 2024-2027 Strategic Plan. The plan further supports expanding access to vaccines and other health resources for children, parents and families in all communities in Oregon.

To hear Dr. Singson talk about the dangers of congenital syphilis, click here.

Pete Singson, M.D., OHA’s HIV, STD and TB medical director

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With the recent dam removals on the iconic Klamath River, this stretch is very technical which means novice and intermediate recreational boaters are not advised to boat in this area in the foreseeable future. Only very experienced whitewater boaters with advanced skill sets for self-rescue should attempt to recreate downstream of the Keno Dam.

Inexperienced boaters are encouraged to go with a registered outfitter guide to experience the river. Rapid classification and traits can change depending on higher and lower water levels. High water can wash out rapids or make them more intense, and lower water can make some rapids more challenging and technical.

The rapids between Keno Dam Access Site to Pioneer Park West are rated Class III, and from Pioneer Park West to Moonshine Falls, the rating increases to Class IV. There is little transition between difficulty ratings. 

The Klamath River Recreation Corporation is working with numerous agencies and organizations in both Oregon and California as part of the approved Federal Energy Regulatory Commission plan, which includes recreation.  

The Marine Board approved grant funding to improve Pioneer Park West and the development of new access at Moonshine Falls.

These facilities are under construction:

• Pioneer Park West will have a partial opening beginning May 15.
• Moonshine Falls will be closed until later this summer. All construction is anticipated to be completed by August 1.

In Oregon, all boaters are required to wear a properly fitting, U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket for any rivers with a Class III or higher scale of difficulty rating. The Marine Board also encourages helmet wear while whitewater boating.

The Marine Board is developing comprehensive safety information on a web page, along with signage for experienced users at Keno Dam, Pioneer Park West, Moonshine Falls, and Spring Hill Island access sites. 

Learn more about the International Scale of River Difficulty and skill level.

Visit Boat.Oregon.gov for more recreational boating safety information and KlamathRenewal.org for Klamath River public notices. 

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HILLSBORO, Ore- On April 30, 2025, a Washington County jury found Teresa Louise Biswanath guilty of criminally negligent homicide. On May 9, 2025, Judge Erik Buchér sentenced the defendant to two years in prison. Senior Deputy District Attorney Chris Lewman prosecuted this case.
 

On August 30, 2022, an 11-month-old child died while under the care of the defendant, who was running an unlicensed in-home daycare. The defendant previously worked at a well-known childcare center where she underwent extensive training, including safe sleeping techniques for infants. That training precluded the practice of infant swaddling, and the defendant told police she followed that same policy at her business.
 

On the day of the child’s death, the defendant was caring for five children, including the victim. During nap time, the defendant squeezed the victim into a swaddle much too small for his size, one designed for newborns less than three months old who could not roll over or crawl as he could. She used straps to bind the child’s arms and put a pacifier with a 6-inch stuffed animal attached into his mouth.
 

The defendant initially tried to get the child to sleep in the same room with the other children, but eventually took him to a bedroom on the second floor of the home. She placed him facedown on the bed with his arms constrained by the swaddle and the pacifier in his mouth. The victim was upstairs for at least one hour as the defendant was in and out of the bedroom. The defendant left to check on the other children and when she returned to the upstairs room, she found the victim blue and unresponsive. She attempted to perform CPR while her husband called an ambulance. First responders were unable to revive the child.
 

Deaths related to an unsafe sleep environment are a leading cause of preventable child fatality nationwide, including in Washington County. To address this issue, the Washington County Child Abuse MDT has partnered with the National Cribs for Kids Program to provide free crib kits to eligible families residing in Washington County. In addition to providing a free portable crib and educational materials, community partners from the Washington County Public Health Maternal, Child & Family Program and the Healthy Families Program will work with eligible families to provide safe sleep education and distribute cribs. Please visit our website to learn more about this effort.
 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office sends its deepest condolences to the victim’s family and loved ones.
 

In addition to her prison sentence, the defendant is barred from ever operating a licensed childcare center. She will also serve three years of post-prison supervision and was ordered to have no contact with the victim’s family.

SALEM, Ore ­— The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is accepting applications to fill two positions on the Local Government Grant Program Advisory Committee.

The dealine to apply is May 31, 2025. The 10-member committee allocates funding to public park and recreation projects throughout the state. OPRD is seeking one representative from a city with a population of less than 15,000 people, and a representative of the public who represents an historically under-represented community. Public-at-large positions may be held by a recreation professional or any citizen with an interest or background in outdoor recreation.

The main function of the committee is to read, assess and score grant applications submitted to the Local Government Grant Program Advisory Committee and attend a three-day grant application presentation meeting to be held in Salem July 29, 30 & 31.  Committee members can attend the meetings in person or via Zoom.  

Expectations and responsibilities are listed on the program webpage: oregon.gov/oprd/GRA/pages/GRA-lggp.aspx. Interested applicants should submit a Committee Interest Form by May 31, 2025.

Committee members serve up to two consecutive four-year terms.  Members represent the following categories:

• Counties east and west of the Cascade Range
• Cities under 15,000 people
• Cities over 15,000 people
• Park and recreation districts, metropolitan service districts or port districts
• People with disabilities
• Three members of the public including at least one person who represents an historically under-represented community.

If travel is involved, OPRD will reimburse all travel, meals and lodging expenses associated with committee meetings.

The Local Government Grant Program is funded by the Oregon Lottery and currently awards about $14 million annually to outdoor park and recreation projects throughout the state. Eligible applicants to the program are cities, counties, parks and recreation districts, port districts and metropolitan service districts.

OPRD is committed to ensuring that all committees represent the growing age, ethnic and gender diversity of the state. New committee members will ultimately be appointed by the OPRD Director.

For information, contact Mark Cowan at 503-951-1317 or k.cowan@oprd.oregon.gov">mark.cowan@oprd.oregon.gov.

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Fraudulent Letters Sent to Portland Residents Regarding Illegal Burning

It has been brought to the attention of Portland Fire & Rescue that letters are being mailed to residents within the City of Portland accusing residents of illegal burning on their properties. The letters state that these illegal burning violations could lead to fines of $1500, along with the claim that failure to act may lead to the “involuntary” forfeiture of properties. PF&R wants the community to know that these letters are not official communications from PF&R and have not been sent from our offices.

These letters have the PF&R logo centered at the top of the page rather than the official letterhead of Portland Fire & Rescue. This logo is also present on the envelope used in these mailings in the return address area of the envelope. Along with the use of the logo in place of the official PF&R letterhead, there are a few other errors in these letters. First, the ordinance referenced within the body of the letter addresses tree removal and not illegal burning; second, this same ordinance is cited in reference to the potential of property forfeiture; third, the signature on the letters is not Interim Chief AJ Jackson’s signature; and lastly, PF&R does not have an 800 number used for our communications. The 800 number in the letter directs recipients to an adult content phone line.

Portland Fire & Rescue has not sent out these letters claiming you must contact a toll-free phone number or pay a fee that must be mailed to PF&R, nor has PF&R threatened any property owners with “involuntary” property forfeiture. PF&R would like to remind Portlanders to never provide any financial information over the phone or by mail to an unknown or unverified source.

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VANCOUVER, Wash. – On May 17, 2025, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site will launch a new self-guided tour to connect dog owners to local history in Vancouver, Washington.

Explore Fort Vancouver with Your Pup on the New BARK Ranger Tour!

Dogs have been a part of Fort Vancouver’s story from the very beginning. They were not only companions but also working animals for Indigenous peoples, fur traders, soldiers, and settlers. Now, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site is celebrating that legacy with a fun new way for you and your furry friend to explore the park together.

Starting May 17, bring your dog and enjoy a self-guided tour of the grounds designed for pups and their people. The tour begins at the Fort Vancouver Visitor Center, where you can take a handout that includes:

• A park map with five marked stops.
• Easy questions to answer along the way.
• A certificate to celebrate your adventure.

How It Works

Each stop on the map has a QR code. Scan the code to read a short story about the role of dogs in the park’s history. Then, answer the related question in your handout. Complete the first six questions (that’s only three stops!) and you’ll earn your certificate.

Along the way, you’ll learn about some of the amazing dogs that have left their paw prints on Fort Vancouver’s past.

Bonus for Dog Lovers

Want a special souvenir? The Friends of Fort Vancouver are offering unique BARK Ranger dog tags for sale in their bookstore, also located at the Visitor Center.

Whether you're a history buff, a dog lover, or just looking for a new way to enjoy the outdoors with your pup, this tour is a great way to connect with the past while making new memories.

“We’re excited to launch this new tour for our visitors and their four-legged friends,” said Park Ranger Ada Gonzalez. “We know how much people enjoy bringing their pets to Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, and we hope this will be a fun, meaningful way for them to connect with the park’s history. It’s also a great opportunity to share tips on how to explore the site safely and responsibly with dogs.”

The BARK Ranger program is a nationwide National Park Service program that encourages park visitors to follow the “BARK” rules:

• Bag and dispose of your pet’s waste in trash cans located throughout the park.
• Always leash your pet.
• Respect wildlife.
• Know where you can go.

In addition to learning historical stories of dogs at Fort Vancouver and Vancouver Barracks, tour participants will learn how to follow these rules at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. Learn more about how to follow the BARK Ranger rules at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site at https://go.nps.gov/PetsAtFOVA.

BARK Ranger Ambassador Caroline Krause states, “Since I first learned about the BARK Ranger program – which started at Olympic National Park in 2016 and has now spread to parks all over the country – I have taken my pups Harley Quinn and Louis on numerous adventures to explore and enjoy each site responsibly. We come to Fort Vancouver every week to walk the grounds. As a volunteer and official BARK Ambassador, I have supported the development of the new self-guided tour. This park is perfect for dogs and their humans to enjoy the paths and trails together on leash, so I’m sure it’s going to be a big hit!”

The Friends of Fort Vancouver’s bookstore at the Fort Vancouver Visitor Center sells an assortment of dog-related books and handmade accessories like bandannas and blankets. Don’t forget you can purchase a BARK Ranger tag to remember your visit!

What: Launch of the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site BARK Ranger self-guided tour.
When: Saturday, May 17, 11 am to 1 pm.
Where: Fort Vancouver Visitor Center, 1501 Evergreen Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98661
Cost: The self-guided tour handout and certificate are free. BARK Ranger dog tags are sold by the Friends of Fort Vancouver for $4.95.

On Saturday, May 17, 2025, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the Sheriff’s Office Foundation, will host the 18^th Annual Washington County K9 Trials at the Hillsboro Stadium, located at 4450 NE Century Blvd, Hillsboro, OR. This fun event offers families an exciting opportunity to learn more about the incredible law enforcement K9 units dedicated to protecting our communities.

Competition events include area search, agility course, suspect apprehension, fastest dog, and handler protection. Gold, silver, and bronze medals will be awarded to the top three dogs in each event based on their fastest times. The overall winner will receive first place based on a point system for each event.

In addition to the thrilling and fast-paced competition, spectators can look forward to the community and vendor fairs, and a meet-and greet with the K9s after the competition. The community and vendor fairs open at 10 a.m., and the K9 competition begins at 11 a.m. 

Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

Family and friends of all ages are encouraged to join us in celebrating our dedicated K9 units, but please leave pets at home (service animals are welcome).

For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/K9Trials. 

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. 13 May 2025 – The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is asking for the public’s help in identifying a person involved in the unlawful take and waste of a wild steelhead on the North Umpqua River at John P. Amacher Park in Douglas County. Wild steelhead retention is prohibited on the Umpqua system.

On Thursday, May 8, 2025, a father and son were contacted in the parking lot at Amacher Park. A wild steelhead was later found stashed in bushes where one of the individuals had been fishing. The individuals were not positively identified during the contact and fled the scene before the steelhead was found.
 

They were driving a gray or silver SUV, similar to a Toyota Highlander. They may be from the Springfield area and sometimes fish the Dollar Hole on the Main Umpqua.
 

Anyone with information is asked to call the TIP hotline at 800-452-7888 or contact Senior Trooper Kyle Bachmeier through OSP’s Southern Command Center at 800-442-2068 or OSP (677). Please reference case number SP25-152261. Callers can remain anonymous.

Report Wildlife and Habitat Law Violators

The Turn In Poachers (TIP) program is a collaboration between the Oregon State Police, Oregon Hunters Association, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Wildlife Coalition, Oregon Outfitter and Guides Association, and the Oregon State Marine Board.

The TIP program offers preference point rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of big game mammals.  

Preference Point Rewards

5 Points: Bighorn Sheep

5 Points: Rocky Mountain Goat

5 Points: Moose

5 Points: Wolf

4 Points: Elk

4 Points: Deer

4 Points: Pronghorn Antelope

4 Points: Bear

4 Points: Cougar

The TIP program also offers cash rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of the following fish and wildlife species. Cash rewards can also be awarded for habitat destruction, illegally obtaining hunting or angling license or tag, lending or borrowing big game tags, spotlighting, or snagging.

Cash Rewards

Oregon Hunters Association (OHA) cash rewards:

$2,000 Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, or Moose

$1,000 Elk, Deer, or Antelope

$600 Bear, Cougar, or Wolf
$400 Game Fish & Shellfish
$400 Snagging/Attempt to Snag

$300 Habitat destruction

$200 Illegally obtaining Oregon hunting or angling license or tags

$200 Unlawful lending/borrowing big game tag(s)

$200 Game Birds or Furbearers

$200 Spotlighting

Rewards for Game Fish & Shellfish and Snagging/Attempting to Snag are sponsored, in part, by Northwest Steelheaders Association and Coastal Conservation Association.

Oregon Wildlife Coalition (OWC) Cash Rewards:

$500 Hawk, Falcon, Eagle, Owl, Osprey

$500 Cougar, Bobcat, Beaver (public lands only), Black bears, Bighorn Sheep, Marten, Fisher, Sierra Nevada Red Fox

$1,000 Species listed as “threatened" or “endangered" under state or federal Endangered Species Act (excludes fish)
$10,000 for Wolves east of Highway 395 and $11,500 for Wolves east of Highway 395 and north of Highway 20

Oregon Outfitters & Guides Association (OOGA) Cash Rewards:

$200 Acting as an Outfitter Guide for the Illegal Killing of Wildlife, Illegally Obtaining Oregon Hunting or Angling Licenses or Tags, or Illegally Offering to Act as an Outfitter Guide as defined in ORS 704.010 and 704.020.

How to Report a Wildlife and/or Habitat Law Violation or Suspicious Activity:

TIP Hotline: 1-800-452-7888 or OSP (677)

TIP email: TIP@osp.oregon.gov (monitored Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

For more information visit: www.oregon.gov/osp/programs/fw/Pages/tip.aspx

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About the Oregon State Police

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

Vancouver, Wash. – PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center has named Michael Skehan as Chief Operating Officer (COO). He assumes his new role on May 19, 2025.

Known for his highly collaborative and interactive leadership style, Skehan has successfully led numerous projects to increase revenue, reduce operating expenses, drive growth and improve quality and safety during his 20+ years in healthcare.

In his new role, Michael will serve as a member of the hospital’s senior executive team and will focus on clinical excellence, regulatory compliance, operational efficiencies, and leading a LEAN culture.

For the past two years, Michael has served as the Chief Operations Officer/Deputy Director for Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare in Warrenton, Oregon. There, he provided strategic and operational oversight for all clinical operations and business/administrative services.

Prior to that, Michael spent eight years in various leadership roles with a system that is now part of Intermountain Health, most recently as the Chief Operating Officer for Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Denver, Colorado, a 410-bed hospital. Michael had direct responsibility for all surgical and procedural services, cancer service line, cardiovascular service line, respiratory services, all ancillary and support services, and a 12-provider surgical practice.

“Michael brings a wealth of healthcare experience and has driven impactful improvements around patient satisfaction, quality and safety, growth and operational effectiveness” shares Cherelle Montanye, Chief Hospital Executive for PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. “I am confident he will align well with our mission of providing quality care to our community.

Skehan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wabash College and  Master of Public Administration from University of San Francisco.

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About PeaceHealth: PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, Wash., is a not-for-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. PeaceHealth has approximately 16,000 caregivers, a group practice with more than 1,200 providers and 9 medical centers serving both urban and rural communities throughout the Northwest. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. The Sisters shared expertise and transferred wisdom from one medical center to another, always finding the best way to serve the unmet need for healthcare in their communities. Today, PeaceHealth is the legacy of the founding Sisters and continues with a spirit of respect, stewardship, collaboration and social justice in fulfilling its Mission. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.

The man killed in the homicide that occurred in Old Town on Sunday, May 11, 2025, is identified as Froilan Ortiz, 49, of Portland. His family has been notified of his death and they are requesting privacy at this time.

The Oregon State Medical Examiner determined that Ortiz died of homicide by gunshot wound. The investigation is continuing, and no further information is being released at this time.

Photo descriptions: Portrait of Ortiz in gray hat; Oritz poses with a red guitar

###PPB###

Original Message Below

A man died following a shooting on Northwest Naito Parkway in the Old Town Neighborhood, and the case is under investigation by the PPB Homicide Unit.

On Sunday, May 11, 2025 at 7:03 a.m., Portland Police Officers from Central Precinct responded to a report of shots fired at Northwest Naito Parkway near the Steel Bridge. When they arrived, they located a deceased person, believed to be an adult male, in the street.

The suspect or suspects left the scene, and no immediate arrests were made.

Portland Police Homicide Unit Detectives are responding to the scene to investigate. During the investigation, Northwest Naito Parkway is closed both directions between Northwest Everett Street and Northwest Ironside Terrace.

If anyone has information about this case, please contact Detective Calvin Goldring at ing@police.portlandoregon.gov">calvin.goldring@police.portlandoregon.gov , 503-823-0256; or Detective Eric McDaniel at ic.mcdaniel@police.portlandoregon.gov">eric.mcdaniel@police.portlandoregon.gov 503-823-0833. Please reference case number 25-122918.

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

###PPB###

Portland, OR (May 13, 2025) – Point West Credit Union is excited to announce the promotion of Mariely Flores to the role of Vice President of Operations. In just over a year with the credit union, Mariely has quickly proven herself to be a thoughtful and values-driven leader, bringing her extensive experience and deep commitment to cooperative principles into every interaction.

Mariely joined Point West as Remote Branch Manager and immediately stood out for her ability to implement positive change within the call center and lead with empathy. With over a decade of managerial experience in operations with financial institutions, Ms. Flores consistently fosters innovation and operational excellence. Her passion for Point West and its mission is clear, and her leadership has already made a meaningful impact.

“Mariely impressed us throughout every step of our vetting process—not just for her qualifications, but for the heart and commitment she brings to Point West,” says Amy Nelson, President/CEO of Point West Credit Union. “It’s clear she genuinely cares about our members, our mission, and the people behind the work we do. Her leadership helps guide our North Star, and we’re excited to see how she continues to shape the future of our operations and our cooperative.”

“From day one, I knew Point West was different. In the best way.” says Mariely Flores. “I’m honored to step into this leadership role and continue serving our members and staff with compassion, transparency, and purpose. It’s a privilege to be part of a team that not only talks about inclusion and equity, but lives it every day.”

About Point West Credit Union
Point West Credit Union is 100% not-for-profit, member-owned and headquartered in Portland, Oregon. With a bilingual staff ready to help its members achieve financial empowerment, Point West works with its community partners to bring inclusion and equity to the underserved and needed capital to local microenterprise businesses—all with an unwavering commitment to its members and cooperative development. Find out more and join Point West today at https://www.pointwestcu.com/.

SALEM, Ore. — Construction activities will impact traffic around the intersection of State and 25^th streets SE through October of this year.

Activities for a Capital Improvement Project began May 12 at that intersection and are expected to continue intermittently through October. Traffic control will be set up to the east and west along State Street and south along 25th Street SE.

The project includes construction of accessible curb ramps and sidewalk, installation of a pedestrian island, modification and extension of an existing median island and signal improvements. This safety-oriented project is intended to reduce vehicle crashes, increase pedestrian visibility and bring the intersection up to current ADA standards.

This project is funded through Oregon Department of Transportation All Roads Transportation Safety Program, with the City’s match share coming from State Gas Tax Revenue.  

For more information about City of Salem Capital Improvements, see https://www.cityofsalem.net/government/shaping-salem-s-future/capital-improvements.

Some night work will be necessary to complete this project. Pedestrians and drivers should use caution, expect some delays and follow traffic-control signage.

Vancouver, Wash. – The Commission on Aging’s charge is to provide leadership in addressing the special needs of the aging population and to manage and assist with the implementation of the county’s Aging Readiness Plan.  This month, the Commission focuses on Chapter 2 of the Aging Readiness Plan—Healthy Communities. The COA and their guests will discuss opportunities and programs oriented to older adults and physical fitness. Join us in welcoming representatives from the City of Vancouver’s Marshall and Firstenburg Community Centers.

The meeting will be 4:30 pm Wednesday, May 21, and is open to the public.

Commission on Aging meetings are currently held in a hybrid format with both in-person and virtual participation options. Attend in the sixth-floor Training Room of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St., or join by phone or computer through information provided at: https://clark.wa.gov/community-planning/commission-aging-meetings.

Commission meetings are carried on CVTV Channel 23/323 and online at www.cvtv.org. To see replay times, go to www.cvtv.org.

The Commission on Aging, supported by the of the Clark County Council, is a nine-member volunteer group that implements the Aging Readiness Plan and provides leadership addressing needs of aging community members.

The following information is in reference to a death investigated by the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office. This investigation is related to a use of deadly force incident involving Clark County Sheriff’s Office on May 7, 2025.

This individual died on 05/08/2025 in Ridgefield, WA.

The name of the decedent: Fogle, Marc   Age: 54 years

The decedent was a resident of (city/state): Clackamas, OR

The opinions listed on the death certificate are as follows:

Cause of death:  Multiple stab wounds of torso

Manner of death:  Homicide

How the injury occurred: Injured by other person(s)

Place of injury: Law enforcement building

Reports and records of autopsies or postmortems shall be confidential as per RCW 68.50.105. No additional information is available for release from the Medical Examiner’s Office. Refer all other inquiries to Washington State Office of Independent Investigations.

Media release issue date: 05/13/2025

On Monday, May 12, 2025, the Lincoln City Police Department was awarded the Gold Plaque Award from LEXIPOL, a policy management and training program designed to enhance employee knowledge and standardize department procedures. The Gold Plaque is the highest level of achievement awarded by LEXIPOL to agencies that complete daily training and regularly update their policies.

In receiving this award, the Lincoln City Police Department has shown a dedication to updating our policies and procedures, as well as training our employees. It is important for law enforcement agencies to keep up-to-date with the most recent case law, criminal procedures, and ethical standards, and using the LEXIPOL program is one of the ways we keep current in these areas.

The Lincoln City Police Department would like to recognize Lieutenant Jeffrey Winn, who spearheads the LEXIPOL program at our department by creating and updating our policies on a regular basis. He is also instrumental in ensuring LCPD employees are completing their training, and our department would not have achieved this award without his dedicated effort.

Portland, Ore., May 13, 2025 – The 2025 Waterway Cleanup Series is officially underway, marking the eighth year of partnership between SOLVE and Clackamas Water Environment Services (WES). This seasonal initiative unites community members in protecting Oregon’s rivers, streams, and creeks through hands-on litter cleanup events across the region.

The series launched with a successful cleanup along the Willamette River at Meldrum Bar Park in Gladstone, where 31 volunteers helped preserve the park’s wetlands and removed 791 pounds of litter from this ecologically and recreationally vital area. Popular with families, anglers, and summer visitors, Meldrum Bar Park is just one example of how clean waterways contribute to both healthy ecosystems and vibrant community spaces. The Waterway Cleanup Series will continue throughout the summer and conclude with a final event along the shores of the Clackamas River on October 15 at High Rocks Park.

Protecting waterways is critical to both environmental and public health. Trash that accumulates in inland areas—on sidewalks, roadsides, or riverbanks—can travel through storm drains into nearby creeks, streams, and rivers, eventually making its way to the ocean. This journey, powered by rainfall and stormwater runoff, turns local litter into a far-reaching threat, harming wildlife, polluting water sources, and degrading natural habitat along the way. Cleanups not only reduce this risk—they also help ensure that popular recreation areas remain safe, beautiful, and accessible to all.

“Every piece of trash removed represents one less pollutant that could harm wildlife or degrade water quality,” said Kris Carico, CEO of SOLVE. “The Waterway Cleanup Series is about more than litter—it’s about people coming together to protect the places we love. We’re grateful to our volunteers and the partnership with Clackamas Water Environment Services for making that possible.”

SOLVE and WES are now calling on individuals, businesses, community groups, and organizations to join a waterway cleanup event or host their own cleanup events this summer. Whether it’s a local creek, popular swimming hole, or neighborhood stream, volunteers can take action in the places that matter most to them. All events are family-friendly and supported with supplies, promotional help, and planning guidance.

In 2024, more than 1,500 volunteers participated in 61 events, collecting over 30,000 pounds of litter from Oregon and SW Washington’s waterways and natural areas. This year, the series aims to inspire even greater impact.

Get Involved:
Explore upcoming events or learn how to organize your own waterway cleanup at www.solveoregon.org/waterway-series.

About SOLVE 

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

About Clackamas Water Environment Services

Clackamas Water Environment Services produces clean water, protects water quality and recovers renewable resources. We do this by providing wastewater services, stormwater management, and environmental education. It’s our job to protect public health and support the vitality of our communities, natural environment, and economy. Learn more.

On Monday May 12^th, 2025 at 9:16 am Officers from the Newport Police Department were dispatched to Walmart on a report of a male subject pointing a firearm at another person.

After an investigation it was determined that 68-year-old Lincoln City resident, Dee Helm, got into a verbal altercation in the Walmart parking lot with another driver over a driving complaint. After exchanging words with the other driver, Helm exited his vehicle and retrieved a handgun from the back of his vehicle, pointing it at the occupants of the other vehicle as they began to drive away. Helm then began following the vehicle, on foot, while still in possession of the firearm. The vehicle Helm was pointing the firearm at was occupied by two adults and two children, ages 2 and 10 months old.

Helm was stopped and detained by Newport Officers and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputies, who responded to assist, as he was attempting to leave the parking lot. A search warrant to search Helm’s vehicle was obtained and a firearm was recovered from within. Helm was taken into custody and lodged at the Lincoln County Jail on the following charges:

Menacing X2

Unlawful Use of a weapon X4

Pointing a firearm at another X4

Reckless Endangering X4

Disorderly Conduct II

The incident remains under investigation. If you have any information regarding the case, please contact Officer Grippin of the Newport Police Department at 541-574-3348. The Newport Police Tip Line is available at 541-574-5455, or Text-a-Tip at 541-270-1856 or tipline@newportpolice.net.

Information Released By: Sgt Leake, 541-574-3348

PORTLAND, Ore.—A known leader of Portland’s 18^th Street Gang was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison Friday for his leadership role in a local drug trafficking conspiracy and for possessing a weapon while in federal prison.

Noah Herrera, 26, was sentenced to 144 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.

According to court documents, Herrera was a second-in-command leader of the 18th Street Gang in Portland, working regularly with the gang’s local leader, Gustavo Torres-Mendez, who was sentenced in May 2024 to 164 months in federal prison. Together, the two men led various gang-driven activities including trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl in the Portland area. During this time, the 18th Street Gang was heavily armed and sold drugs acquired near the Mexico border in California to local buyers in and around Portland.

The government’s investigation exposed several major episodes in the gang’s activities. In August 2022, agents seized nearly nine pounds of methamphetamine after Herrera organized a transaction in Portland. Only weeks later, in early September 2022, federal agents monitoring the two leaders’ activities learned they and subordinate 18th Street Gang members had collected over $126,000 in cash after which Herrera and Torres-Mendez dispatched two members to California to purchase and pick up drugs. Agents monitored the return of the load vehicle, which was stopped near Grants Pass, Oregon, and over 104 pounds of methamphetamine and a smaller quantity of cocaine were seized. The methamphetamine was packaged in 56 separate plastic food containers.

On November 17, 2022, agents arrested Herrera and executed a search warrant at his Vancouver, Washington, home, where they found two loaded Glock pistols, ammunition, additional quantities of drugs, two scales with drug residue, a drug ledger, over $5000 in cash and several cell phones.

Agents also executed a search warrant at a residence in North Portland which had been used by the 18th Street Gang throughout the investigation as a meeting place and stash house. There, agents found and seized ten handguns in locations throughout the main rooms, a short-barreled shotgun, extended magazines, ammunition, body armor as well as additional drug evidence, packaging equipment and scales.

On September 25, 2023, while housed at FCI Sheridan pending trial, prison guards found Herrera in possession of a shiv (a six-inch sharpened piece of metal) prohibited by federal law.

On January 10, 2025, Herrera pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine, and possessing a dangerous weapon in a federal facility.

This case was investigated by the FBI and was prosecuted by Thomas H. Edmonds and Nicole M. Bockelman, Assistant United States Attorneys for the District of Oregon.

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

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

•Traffic Stops

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

•Restoring the Peace

•Premise Checks

•Welfare Checks

•Flagged Down by Citizen

Advocacy Organization Calls on Oregon Lawmakers to Keep Their Promise to Fund Foundational Public Health Programs

PORTLAND, Ore. (May 06, 2025) Oregon’s 33 local public health authorities face severe and worsening workforce challenges, limiting their ability to protect the health and safety of Oregon’s 4.2 million residents. 

Those are the findings from a new report issued by the Oregon Coalition of Local Health Officials (CLHO), the advocacy organization for local public health authorities.

The most significant issues include inadequate pay, chronic understaffing, burnout, leadership turnover and a lack of training, recruitment and retention resources. 

“While these are not new challenges, they continue to worsen because of increased work coupled with drastic public health cuts at the federal level as well as chronic underfunding from all levels of government,” says Sarah Lochner, CLHO’s executive director. Ten years ago, Oregon lawmakers promised to fully fund essential public health programs like disease control, environmental health and emergency preparedness. So far, they’ve committed only half of the funding they promised. We’re calling on lawmakers this legislative session to keep their promise to fund these foundational programs.” 

The new report's findings and recommendations come from surveys and focus groups conducted in 2024 with public health administrators and human resource professionals in 29 of Oregon’s 33 public health authorities. 

“The biggest workforce challenges have been reduced budgets, laying off staff and cutting FTE.”

— Jackson Baures, Jackson County Division Manager

Key findings: 

• While the total number of full-time positions has increased since CLHO’s last workforce report in 2021, there are fewer nurses and epidemiologists, especially in rural counties.   
• Although average wages for many positions, including nurses, epidemiologists and administrators increased, wages in public health are still significantly lower than in the private sector, especially for nurses.
•  Inadequate pay, limited advancement opportunities and burnout are the top reasons public health workers leave their jobs.
• There is significant turnover among public health leadership. Between 2020-21, 16 public health administrators left their positions. Since then, another 17 have left.
• Many new hires lack basic public health training and skills needed to do their jobs.
• Counties struggle to recruit and retain qualified candidates due to limited resources; a lack of measurable diversity, equity and inclusion hiring goals; and a lack of affordable housing.

Key recommendations:

• Invest in competitive, sustainable compensation by increasing state funding and encouraging local investments.
• Fund tuition, scholarship, mentorship and leadership development programs in partnership with educational institutions.
• Expand job outreach by posting openings on culturally specific job platforms and through local and tribal colleges, particularly those serving historically excluded groups. 
• Offer recruitment incentives such as relocation assistance, housing assistance and sign-on bonuses.
• Create and implement a statewide DEI hiring framework.
• Develop a centralized, publicly accessible onboarding “Public Health Essentials Toolkit” that could be adapted to fit the specific needs of the local workforce.
• Build capacity among staff to assume leadership positions.  

The report concludes by stressing the importance of sustained funding increases to ensure that the public health workforce is prepared for the next pandemic, disease outbreak or environmental disaster. 

“We don’t wait until there is a fire to ask for funding for the local fire department. Their funding structure allows them to respond immediately when a fire starts. We should fund public health the same way–if we have to wait for another public health emergency to receive funding for essential programs, more people will suffer and more people will die," said CLHO Chair Philip Mason-Joyner, who oversees public health and health and human services in Clackamas County.

To get a copy of the full report or arrange an interview, please email info@oregonclho.org

CLHO is asking state lawmakers to invest an additional $65.2 million per biennium in local public health. Read about CLHO’s 2025 legislative priorities here.

SALEM, Oregon – The Oregon Heritage Commission will meet via online meeting on May 27. The meeting will include approval of the 2025 Oregon Museum Grant recommendations. To view the full agenda and/or to register for the virtual meeting visit here.
 

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

The Heritage Commission’s nine members represent a diversity of cultural, geographic, and institutional interests. The Commission is the primary agency for coordination of heritage activities in the state. This includes carrying out the Oregon Heritage Plan, increasing efficiency and avoiding duplication among interest groups, developing plans for coordination among agencies and organizations, encouraging tourism related to heritage resources, and coordinating statewide anniversary celebrations.
 

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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OREGON CITY PARKS AND RECREATION ANNOUNCES BUSY

SUMMER OF CONCERTS AND EVENTS

Oregon City, ORE. – Oregon City Parks and Recreation is urging residents to get ready for a summer to remember, as the department gets ready to launch a season packed with music, movies, and community celebration.

“From toe-tapping concerts to family-favorite films under the stars, plus the city’s biggest patriotic bash, there's something for everyone to enjoy,” said Taylor Miller, Rental and Events Coordinator with with Parks and Rec.

The annual Concerts in the Park series are always popular with residents, and the lineup this year promises continue that trend. Starting July 10 this year and running every Thursday until Aug. 14, the series once again takes place at the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center.

In addition to live music, there will also be local food vendors, and family-friendly activities and a Kids’ Zone to add to the festival-like atmosphere. This year’s lineup includes a wide variety of genres to appeal to all music lovers. Acts include:

• July 10 – Ants In The Kitchen: High-energy Rock, Soul, Blues & Funk 

• July 17 – Band After Midnight: ABBA tribute, glittering costumes & singalongs 

• July 24 – Nate Botsford: Country hits and feel-good classics 

• July 31 – Fighting Foos: Foo Fighters tribute with rock & passion 

• August 7 – Kalimba: Earth, Wind & Fire tribute with dynamic horns 

• August 14 – Hit Machine: The ultimate dance party to close out the summer 

“This event showcases the best of Oregon City – a perfect blend of music, food, and community,” said Miller. “We’re thrilled to continue this summer tradition and look forward to welcoming families and friends to enjoy these magical evenings together.”   

Miller stressed that the concerts are truly a community event, as they couldn’t happen without help from local sponsors.

“Our Presenting Sponsors this year are OnPoint Community Credit Union, Lithia Subaru of Oregon City, South Ridge Center,” he said.

Other community help comes from supporting sponsors Oregon City Brewing Company and Floyd Family Orthodontics. Event sponsors  Hillside Chapel & Funeral Services, Country Financial, Embold Credit Union, Providence, Holman-Hankins-Bowker & Waud and Stone Creek Building. Friend of the Concert Sponsors are Citizens Bank, Oregon City Optimist Club, McLoughlin Neighborhood Association, Oregon City Festival of the Arts.

The venue opens at 4 p.m. with food vendors and Kids’ Zone opening at 5 p.m. before music starts at 6:30 until 8:30 p.m.

Learn more at orcity.news/2025-concerts. 

While the Concerts in the Park have long been a popular event, one new celebration is returning as well.

Last year’s 4^th of July Community Celebration was deemed a huge success, and Parks and Recreation is looking to keep that momentum going. Residents will be able to celebrate Independence Day the Oregon City way—with an evening full of live music, family fun, delicious food, and a spectacular laser light show.

Headlining the event this year is local favorite Johnny Limbo and the Lugnuts, bringing their high-energy brand of classic rock and roll to the stage as part of their farewell tour at 8 p.m. Opening the night is the Schown Slade Band at 6 p.m.

The grand finale will once again be the Laser Light Spectacular, paying tribute to our nation with a break taking light display. This year’s event is made possible by Floyd Family Orthodontics, Citizens Bank, Oregon City Optimist Club, and Oregon City Festival of the Arts.

 Finally, Movies in the Park return as well for more free family fun under the stars. Backed by Water Environment Services, Pex Realty Group, Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation Team Bill Clark, Lithia Subaru of Oregon City, and Sunshine Early Learning Childcare Center, four films are planned for this summer starting July 25. This year’s lineup includes:

• July 25 – Despicable Me 4 at Wesley Lynn Park 
• August 5 – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off 
  (As part of National Night Out, 5:30–8:00 PM at the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center) 

• August 15 – Inside Out 2 at Chapin Park 

• August 22 – Moana 2 at Hillendale Park 

Activities and vendors at each movie begin at 7:30 p.m. with movies starting around 8:30.

“The only constant is change”.

It’s a quote that really resonates with us this week as CCFD6 Fire Chief, Kristan Maurer, has resigned her commission and is moving on to other challenges and opportunities. It’s a big adjustment for the District, considering that Kristan has worked here in some capacity for 26 years—starting as a line Firefighter in June of 1999.

In her final memo to District personnel Chief Maurer wrote “I am proud to have served our community and deeply appreciate the ongoing support they provide the District every day,” says Maurer. “I am extremely proud of where this department stands today and humbled to have played a role in its journey.”

Chief of Staff Darryl Hebert, will be the interim Fire Chief. “Chief Maurer’s leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment have left a lasting legacy on our organization and the community we serve,” says Chief Hebert. “I look forward to working alongside each of you as we continue our mission of protecting and serving our community.” District activities will continue as scheduled, including the annual Open House at Station 63, set for Saturday June 7th from Noon to 3 p.m.
 

The Multnomah Education Service District Board Policy Committee will meet at 12:00 p.m. on May 14, 2025. 
This meeting will be held virtually via Zoom.

https://multnomahesd-org.zoom.us/j/81372297812?pwd=6UUOCXHMFJII4oJIibGjSbkOFkZAJu.1
Passcode:582756

SALEM, Ore. — The Regional Forest Practice Committee for northwest Oregon will meet at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 16 at in the Clatsop Room, Building C, at the Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters, located at 2600 State St. in Salem. To join virtually, please use the Teams video conference information found on the agenda. To provide public comment, please email estresources.committees@odf.oregon.gov">forestresources.committees@odf.oregon.gov.

The committee’s agenda includes:

• Division and agency updates
• HCP status
• Compliance Monitoring Project update
• Operator of the Year Program revisions
• All streams crossing technical guidance review & technical guidance update

The public may attend in-person or online via Teams. Public comments will be accepted. Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services, or assistance can be arranged by calling at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting at 503-945-7200 or by email at estryinformation@odf.oregon.gov">forestryinformation@odf.oregon.gov.

Regional Forest Practices Committees are panels of citizens – mandated under Oregon law – that advise the Oregon Board of Forestry and may assist the Board of Forestry in developing appropriate forest practice rules. The committees are comprised of citizens qualified by education or experience in natural resource management. In 1971, the legislature enacted Oregon’s Forest Practices Act which includes three Regional Forest Practices Committees, serving the Eastern, Northwest, and Southwest regions of the state. Under Oregon law, a majority of the committees’ members must be private forest landowners and logging or forest operations companies.

Oregon’s forests are among the state’s most valued resources, providing a balanced mix of environmental, economic, and social benefits. View more information on the RFPC webpage.

Wallowa County, Ore. 12 May 2025- On Friday, May 9, 2025, at 7:22 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 82, near milepost 43, in Wallowa County.

The preliminary investigation indicated an eastbound Subaru Impreza, operated by Andrew Victor Singer (50) of Wallowa, crossed the center line and struck a westbound Toyota Rav4, operated by Jeffrey Michael Stein (38) of Elgin, head-on.

The operator of the Subaru (Singer) was declared deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Toyota (Stein) suffered reportedly serious injuries and was transported to an area hospital.

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

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

# # #

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 

DATE: May 12, 2025

One in custody after shooting and burglary

Salem, Ore. — Jimmy James Santos of Salem was arrested on May 11 on charges related to a shooting incident and a burglary.

Just after 1:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, officers were called to the scene of a gunshot wound in the 4100 block of Campbell DR SE. The suspect fled the scene before officers arrived. The 37-year-old male victim was transported for medical care with a non‑life‑threatening injury.

At approximately 3:45 p.m., a homeowner in the 4000 block of Cranston ST SE reported returning home to a break-in, with the burglar asleep inside the residence. Officers arrested the burglary suspect, Santos, without incident.

The initial investigation by the Salem Police Violent Crimes Unit determined Santos, who is acquainted with the gunshot victim, was involved in the shooting. Detectives also discovered that the handgun used in the shooting was stolen from the home that Santos burglarized. Several thousand dollars in cash was also taken in the burglary.

Santos was lodged at the Marion County Jail on the following charges:

• Attempted murder, second-degree
• Unlawful use of a weapon
• Burglary, first-degree
• Aggravated theft, first-degree
• Theft, first-degree

The 25-year-old Santos faces arraignment proceedings today at 2:30 p.m. at the Marion County Circuit Court Annex on the above listed charges, as well as five outstanding warrants in other cases.

# # #

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Animal Protection and Control with support of the Sheriff’s Office facilitated the seizure and rescue of 26 goats, 5 sheep, and 14 chickens. Mohammad Aluauddin has been charged with 45 counts of Animal Cruelty in the first degree. 

The most recent case began back in May of 2023 when Animal Protection and Control started receiving complaints about how several goats appeared malnourished and were living in poor conditions. Over time, conditions worsened, and the number of animals increased. A break in the case came when a neighbor reported one of the goats escaped off the property which provided sufficient evidence to obtain a search warrant. 

Animal Protection and Control officers entered the property on the morning of May 7, with Clark County Sheriff’s deputies and seized 45 animals and removed them from the property. By the end of the day, all animals were relocated and receiving proper veterinarian care and nutrition.   

The owner was arrested and had his first appearance in court on May 8, where the judge ordered that he cannot possess, own, or care for any animals. Animal Protection and Control will perform periodic checks on the property per the judge’s order. The next court appearance for this case is May 21, 2025. 

Animal Protection and Control thanks the Clark County Sheriff’s Office for their support and commitment to hold those accountable for the crime of animal cruelty. The Animal Legal Defense Fund has been instrumental in providing much needed resources and support to Clark County Animal Protection and Control in this case. 

Learn more about the county’s Animal Protection and Control program at https://clark.wa.gov/community-development/animals-and-pets.

PRESS RELEASE                                                                                                                              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Case: 24CR00332

Portland, OR- On Thursday, May 8, 2025, Multnomah County Circuit Judge Christopher Marshall sentenced Dylan Levi Rhoads to 90 months in prison for shooting at a man who confronted Mr. Rhoads over Mr. Rhoads harassing a flock of peacocks roaming a southeast Portland neighborhood.

Rhoads pled guilty to Attempted Murder in the Second Degree With a Firearm and Unlawful Use of a Weapon With a Firearm and resolved 8 different cases against him.

Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Eric Palmer prosecuted the case for the state.

After the sentencing he said:  “This defendant had a clear pattern of escalating, dangerous, criminal behavior. And yet he was repeatedly released after being arrested for his earlier crimes. 

I believe the system failed here- failed both the victims and the defendant.” 

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the work of Detective Sara Clark, of the Enhanced Community Safety Team within the Portland Police Bureau, for her dedicated work to this case. 

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office would also like to thank MCDA Victim Advocates Amina Dureti and Nang Dunn for their compassionate care shown to the victims in this case. 

THE FACTS:

On September 29, 2023 Mr. Rhoads’ victim was leaving his wife and kids at his home and heading to work. When he stepped out of his house, he noticed the defendant and another person harassing peacocks across the street. He asked them to stop. They had a violent response to him including saying “bock, bock, bock you next” and “We can bang right now.”

The victim disengaged, went back into his home and let them drive away. When he thought it was clear, he went back out to his car to leave and made it a couple blocks to the next intersection and saw that they were waiting for him there. The driver shot at the victim from the driver’s seat of their vehicle. Investigators found five shell casings in the intersection and multiple bullet strikes to the victim’s car. 

Bullets grazed the victim but fortunately he did not suffer serious injuries, in part because he had installed a special, heavy duty seat in his vehicle which stopped one of the bullets from hitting him.

Police used a Ring camera video to get a good picture of the defendant’s vehicle and found the vehicle within days, connecting the car to the defendant.

                                                                                           ###MCDA###

Earlier this year, the Washington State Auditor’s Office spent more than 340 hours reviewing Battle Ground Public Schools’ finances. The results of the three audits recently became available. The state auditor confirmed that BGPS followed state laws and district policies approved by elected school board members. Moreover, public funds were well-managed and protected. The audit revealed no fraud, significant errors or misuse of funds.

Accountability audit

As part of an accountability audit, the auditor reviewed activity from Sept. 1, 2023, through Aug. 31, 2024, in the following areas:

• Payroll

• Associated Student Body activities, including fundraising

• Use of restricted funds for professional development

• Use of local levy dollars for enrichment activities

• Compliance with supplemental contracts for enrichment activities

• Compliance with laws for construction projects 

• Compliance with laws regarding public meetings

• Financial condition of the district

The state auditor issued a clean accountability report for the district. This is the 14th consecutive clean accountability report that the district has received since 2010.

Financial statements and federal audits

In addition to conducting an accountability audit, the state also reviewed the district’s financial statements and compliance with federal laws and regulations during the same time period. Auditors found that the district has satisfactory internal financial controls and meets the requirements for financial reporting. 

An analysis of the district’s use of federal grant money, specifically Title I grants and COVID-19 funds, showed that BGPS is in compliance with all requirements. See the full report on the financial statement and federal audits. 

This is the 21st consecutive clean financial statement audit for BGPS since 2005. The district’s last federal grant finding was in 2023, when the state auditor determined that the district unknowingly did not maintain proper records of how it allocated funds from the federal Emergency Connectivity Fund, which helped purchase Chromebooks for students during the pandemic. 

As noted by State Auditor Pat McCarthy, the FCC’s guidance to schools lacked detailed descriptions of the type of records schools should maintain to document their compliance with the grant requirements. BGPS estimated student need for the devices at the time of its grant application, inventoried all Chromebooks and retained data on student use of the devices. 

Since the 2023 finding, the Federal Communications Commission, which administered the fund, reviewed the state audit and the district’s response. The FCC issued a final determination, ruling that Battle Ground did indeed comply with the rules of the fund. The commission will not seek to recover any money and now considers the matter to be resolved. 

Other financial accountability measures

In addition to participating in annual state audits, Battle Ground Public Schools has an audit committee that meets monthly to review expenditures including payroll, timesheets and vendor invoices. The committee includes two board directors. Audit committee findings are presented at regular board meetings, which are open to the public. 

Additional indicators of district financial health

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction also monitors all Washington state school districts’ finances. OSPI recently awarded Battle Ground a score of 3.35 out of 4.0 for the 2023-24 school year, the most recent for which scores are available. The average score for all other K-12 Clark County school districts that year was 2.64. 

The scores are intended to provide a snapshot of a school district’s financial health over time. Higher scores indicate greater financial stability and ability to respond to unexpected expenditures. Learn more.

HILLSBORO, Ore. – That’s a wrap! Literally.

Portland Community College recently unveiled the new livery for its training aircraft – a Bombardier Q400 commercial propeller plane – just in time for the Oregon International Air Show. In 2022, Horizon Air flew the Q400 to the Hillsboro Airport and donated the former commercial aircraft to the PCC Foundation to provide students in the Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) Program with real-world training.

The airplane will be open for tours on both Saturday and Sunday, May 17-18 of the airshow and hosted by PCC and Horizon Air.

Soon, the Q400 will be used for hands-on instruction on modern engine and avionics technologies. The aircraft will provide PCC students with the chance to conduct – system servicing, wheel, brake, and tire changing, turbine engine run/ops check, airframe inspections, power plant inspections, ice and rain protection, air conditioning and pressurization, indicating and recording, autoflight (autopilot systems) and auxiliary power unit operation, inspection, and servicing.

“It is rare for an aviation maintenance school to have such a modern commercial aircraft for training,” said Tom Laxson, faculty chair of the Aviation Maintenance Technology Program. “It exposes students to technologies that are otherwise exclusive to tenured professionals of commercial aviation. Even just the aircraft’s maintenance manuals have had a significant modernizing effect on our offered training.”

PCC, and schools like it in the country, is the primary means by which the aviation industry gains new aviation maintenance workers in the region. The Oregon Employment Department reports Portland area aviation service technicians can earn a starting annual salary of $85,993, and a report by Boeing indicated a dire shortage of trained workers in the field.

“It’s critical to have hands-on experience for our students, and we’re doing that with this donation for aviation maintenance,” said PCC President Dr. Adrien Bennings. “Collaboration and partnership with the community make great things happen.”

The plane’s presence at the airport is a continuation of strong industry and community partnerships PCC has developed to strengthen its career-technical education (CTE) training. In 2020, the college partnered with the Hillsboro School District, Oregon Air Show Charitable Foundation and other key partners to create the dual-credit Oregon Aerospace Careers for Everyone (O-ACE) Program for high school students interested in careers as aviation maintenance technicians, avionics technicians or professional pilots. 

In 2021, AMT entered into a partnership with Horizon Air called the Horizon Technician Development Program, providing students with industry-relevant training and employment opportunities.

“Our relationship with PCC is extremely strong,” said Archie Vega, Director of Line/Base Maintenance and Student Development with Horizon Air.

Wendy Wright, a senior graphic designer for the foundation and a graduate of PCC's Graphic Design Program, created the livery. Her creative design took between 150-200 hours to develop and included a fuselage wrap and a new blue color scheme for the tail.

"People don't realize all of the 'behind the curtain' things that happen to make something so incredibly complex look so simple," Wright said. "I also loved the collaboration that it took to get to this point. This plane not only helps one of our many programs at the college but is a huge gift to the entire college."

Wright's involvement symbolizes how involved the PCC Foundation is with providing resources for CTE programs like AMT. The foundation has three aviation-related scholarships to fund student success and program training, and has collectively awarded $24,400 to AMT students during the 2024-25 academic year.

For more information on PCC's Aviation Maintenance Technology, visit https://www.pcc.edu/programs/aviation-maintenance/ 

About Portland Community College: Founded in 1961, Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to more than 53,000 full- and part-time students in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia counties. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, 10 education centers or areas served, and approximately 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. The PCC district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses and life-long learning.

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

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

Corbett Fire and AMR will provide over 100 free life jackets in both child and adult sizes at Lewis and Clark Park, Glenn Otto Park in Troutdale, and Dabney Park.  Each location will have signs (English, Spanish, and Russian) explaining how to borrow and return the lifejackets.

May 12, 2025

Media contact: Franny White, anny.l.white@oha.oregon.gov" style="color: rgb(6, 66, 118); text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;">Franny.l.white@oha.oregon.gov, 971-349-3539

OHA seeks your help to make health care more affordable

New committees, public hearing provide opportunities to brainstorm solutions

SALEM, Ore. – Are you concerned about paying for a health emergency or routine care? Do you have an idea that could make health care more affordable? Oregon Health Authority (OHA) wants to hear from you.

“Everyone deserves quality health care, but growing medical costs make that increasingly challenging,” said Antonio Germann, M.D., a family physician who is vice-chair of the Oregon Health Policy Board, a citizen-led body that oversees OHA. “We need to tackle this complex issue to ensure our future health, and we’re inviting people to share their personal experiences and expertise with us to help us address it.”

About 83% of Oregon adults worry about being able to afford health care in the future, and 43% have struggled to pay their medical bills, according to a 2024 survey. Concerning statistics like this prompted OHA to make strengthening affordable health care for all a pillar in its strategic plan. It also led the Oregon Health Policy Board to seek the public’s help in identifying a broad range of solutions by serving on committees and participating in a June 10 public hearing.

Oregonians are invited to submit applications to serve on two new committees focused on health care affordability. May 16 is the extended deadline to apply for both committees. Applications and more information are available on the Committee on Health Care Affordability and Industry Advisory Committee webpages. Once their members are chosen, the committees plan to meet beginning this summer. Additional details are below.

The Committee on Health Care Affordability, also simply called the Affordability Committee, is seeking diverse voices. Its members may include people who receive health care, employers that purchase insurance, health economists and health policy experts.

The Affordability Committee will be supported by the Industry Advisory Committee, which also aims to include a variety of perspectives, ranging from health insurers to providers, hospitals and health industry leaders. Health care professionals in small or independent practices, and those who specialize in primary care, behavioral health, oral health or pediatrics are particularly encouraged to apply to the industry committee.

Comment at public forum

Both committees will build on the work of OHA’s Sustainable Health Care Cost Growth Target program, which seeks to limit Oregon’s health care cost increases to 3.4% per person annually. Between 2021 and 2022, the state’s health care spending grew by 3.6%, slightly more than the target.

Every year, the Health Care Cost Growth Target program holds a legislatively required public hearing to discuss recent trends in health care spending and highlight what’s driving health care cost growth. The 2025 public hearing will specifically explore behavioral health and pharmacy spending trends and will also focus on policy ideas to improve health care affordability. Information and potential solutions discussed at the event will help inform the new committees’ future work. People are also encouraged to share their personal stories and ideas about health care affordability during the hearing. See below for details on how to participate.

What: Health Care Cost Growth Public Hearing

When: 10 a.m.-Noon PT Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Details: Hybrid virtual and in-person meeting to discuss health care costs in Oregon, including recent trends, their causes and ideas for slowing cost growth.

Get involved: Consumers, clinicians and businesses are invited to share their concerns about and experiences with health care costs. Email written testimony or sign up to provide spoken comment at e.CostTarget@oha.oregon.gov" style="color: rgb(6, 66, 118); text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;">HealthCare.CostTarget@oha.oregon.gov.

Webpage: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HPA/HP/Pages/cost-growth-target-public-hearings.aspx

Zoom meeting:

https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1610883159?pwd=PAveuaEZgsT4KLXVPXm8WduVGatWCa.1

Meeting ID: 161 088 3159

Passcode: 371696

One tap mobile: +16692545252,1610883159# US (San Jose)​

In-person meeting: Salem, Oregon (details will be added to Oregon Health Policy Board meeting webpage)

SALEM, OR – The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and other fire prevention experts are urging everyone to exercise caution when disposing of yard debris this spring. There have already been 32 escaped debris burns reported on ODF-protected land in 2025, nearly double the amount compared to this time last year. The average size of a spring escaped debris burn is about one acre, or the size of a football field, and generally requires suppression from the local fire protection agency.

Over seventy-five percent of wildfires in Oregon are human caused, with escaped debris burns topping the list. With forecasters becoming increasingly confident that this season will be hotter and drier than normal, now is the time to practice wildfire prevention. As grass and vegetation begin to dry out, the risk of a fire creeping away from a debris burn pile increases. Make sure to weigh your options and have all of the fire prevention tools in place before lighting the burn pile or incinerator.

Besides burning, preferable options for brush removal include composting or recycling. Check with your local disposal company for recycling options.  

But if burning now is the only option to dispose of yard debris, fire prevention specialists ask people to follow safe burning practices.

• Call before you burn—Regulations vary by location. Call your local district, fire protective association, fire department, or air protection authority to learn about current burning restrictions or regulations, and if you need a permit.
   
• Know the weather—Burn early in the day and never burn on windy days, because fires can spread out of control more easily.
   
• Always have water and fire tools nearby—When burning, have a shovel and charged water hose or a bucket of water on hand to put out the fire.
   
• Clear a 10-foot fuel-free buffer around the pile—Make sure there are no tree branches or power lines above.
   
• Keep burn piles small—Large burn piles can cast hot embers long distances. Keep piles small, maximum of four feet by four feet. Add debris to the pile in small amounts as the pile burns.
   
• Burn only yard debris—State laws prohibit burning materials, treated wood or trash that create dense smoke or noxious odors.
   
• Never use gasoline or other flammable or combustible liquids to start or speed up your fire.
   
• Stay with the fire from start to finish—NEVER leave your debris burn unattended. State law requires monitoring debris burn piles at all times, until it is out cold. This law is intended to ensure sparks or embers that jump from the fire can be put out quickly.
   
• Put the fire out cold/completely—Drown the pile with water, stir the coals, and drown again, repeating until the fire is cool to the touch.
   
• Recheck burn piles—Return to the burn site periodically over several weeks to check for heat or smoke and refrain from adding new yard debris on top of old ashes. Burn piles can retain heat for several weeks and rekindle when the weather warms up and winds blow.
   
• Costs of run-away debris burns—State law requires the proper clearing, building, attending and extinguishing of open fires all year. If your debris burn spreads out of control, you may have to pay for suppression costs, as well as the damage to your neighbors’ properties, which can be extremely expensive.

As the summer fire season quickly approaches, consider putting off any burning until next fall or winter, when conditions are more favorable. Just cover a portion of the pile with plastic, such as a tarp, to keep dry until you decide to burn. Delaying your burn plans will give the debris more time to cure and prevent spring holdover fires.

More tips on wildfire prevention, including campfire safety, motorized equipment use, and fire-resistant landscaping can be found on the Keep Oregon Green website. Find public use restrictions for Oregon Department of Forestry protected lands before your burn.

Wednesday, May 14 9:30 – 10:30 am

1616 E. Burnside St., Portland, OR

Central City Concern’s 16 x Burnside Recovery Center

Join Governor Tina Kotek, First Lady Kotek Wilson; Central City Concern (CCC) President and CEO Dr. Andy Mendenhall; Ebony Clarke, Division Director, Behavioral Health, Oregon Health Authority; Skyler Brocker-Knapp, Director, Portland Solutions and other dignitaries as CCC announces the opening of the 16 x Burnside Recovery Center, a new 74 bed residential treatment center. Drug and alcohol free, 16 x Burnside Recovery Center will serve as a culturally responsive and trauma informed treatment center addressing a key care gap in our community.

Speakers will be on hand after the press conference to answer questions.

For more information, please visit https://centralcityconcern.org/blog/meeting-our-regions-need-for-more-treatment-beds/

The Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries will meet via online meeting on May 27 at 1:00 p.m. The primary agenda item is approval of the 2025 Oregon Historic Cemeteries grants. The meeting is open to the public and the agenda includes an opportunity for public comment. Register for the meeting to receive online access information.

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

May 12, 2025

Media Contact: 
Colin Fogarty, Director of Communications
cfogarty@oregoncf.org

Oregon Community Foundation Welcomes to Board Leaders in Rural Advocacy, Iconic Businesses, Conservation, Law 

PORTLAND, Ore. – Oregon Community Foundation’s Board of Directors has five new members who bring extensive experience in conservation, law, rural community development and leadership of iconic Oregon companies. The five new members were approved by unanimous vote by the OCF Board of Directors. 

“This an all-star group of civic and community leaders will bring a diversity of viewpoints and insight to advance our work,” said Lisa Mensah, President and CEO of Oregon Community Foundation. "The foundation’s next stage of growth will depend upon our ability to bring Oregonians together to deliver bold solutions.”

Deana Freres advocates for rural communities as founding board member of the Santiam Hospital and Clinics Foundation and co-founder the Santiam Canyon Wildfire Relief Fund. She served 18 years advocating for children through the relief nursery Family Building Blocks.

"I value the determination OCF shows to connect with communities from all over the state, especially in rural areas," Deana says.  "We share a goal to ensure these communities are vibrant, healthy, and have the resources they need to keep their economies thriving."

Chris Nemlowill is co-founder of fast growing and community focused Fort George Brewery in his hometown of Astoria, where he and his wife are “raising 3 kids playing 6 sports.” In 2024, the company installed the largest private single-building solar array in Oregon, providing more than 70% of the brewery’s electricity.

“I’ve been a promoter of community my whole life, so of course I’m drawn to an organization like Oregon Community Foundation,” he says. “I’ll do anything I can to help our communities remain great places to build a business and raise a family.”

Joth Ricci is former CEO of Dutch Bros., Stumptown Coffee and Adelsheim Vineyards. He co-founded TASTE for Equity, serves as Executive Chair at Burgerville, and teaches at Oregon State University’s College of Business.

“Serving on this board feels like a natural progression for me, after my work in communities all over this state and with organizations like the Oregon Business Council,” Ricci says. “This is an exciting time at OCF. What attracted me was the conversation around innovation, growth and change management that I hope can help drive community development across Oregon.”

Chuck Sams, a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, served under President Biden as the first Native American Director of the National Park Service. He currently serves on the Northwest Power and Conservation Council and was on the board of the Gray Family Foundation, an OCF supporting organization.

“OCF represents a value and ethic that resonate with me. In Indian Country, you are measured not by your wealth but by how much you give,” Sams says. “OCF is committed to taking Oregon where it needs to go by spreading the wealth to improve the health of our state in multiple ways.”

Penny Serrurier is an estate planning attorney who has served on the Oregon Business Council and the boards of OMSI, Oregon Zoo Foundation, Oregon Symphony Foundation and Downtown Portland Safe & Clean. She spent 9 years on OCF’s Development and Marketing Committee.

“I am so excited to be joining the board of an organization that has contributed so much to Oregon communities through the years. I believe in the power of philanthropy, and I know that OCF has a critical role to play in the future of our great state. I am honored to be chosen for this leadership role.”

Read their full bios here and below.

About Oregon Community Foundation

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

###

 
New Oregon Community Foundation Board Members 2025

Deana Freres

Deana Freres’ volunteer work centers around her passion for rural communities and the economies that lift them. Her advocacy promotes economic development initiatives, leverages the responsible management of natural resources, and ensures families have access to jobs, housing, education and quality healthcare in the communities where they live.

As a founding board member of the Santiam Hospital and Clinics Foundation, Deana plays a pivotal role in advancing rural healthcare initiatives and capital campaign strategies. She also serves on the board of the Stayton Public Library Foundation and is beginning her first term of service as a member of Oregon Episcopal School Board of Trustees. She recently concluded 18 years of service on the board of Family Building Blocks, a relief nursery where she supported child abuse prevention and family support services through legislative advocacy, capital campaigns and program governance.

Deana stepped into an unexpectedly significant role in disaster relief and recovery efforts following the devastating Lionshead and Beachie Creek wildfires in 2020. She co-founded the Santiam Canyon Wildfire Relief Fund (SCWRF), a nonprofit initiative in partnership with Santiam Hospital & Clinics. As a member of the SCWRF Advisory Committee and president of the Santiam Canyon Long Term Recovery Group, she coordinated survivor recovery grants, supports disaster case management, and organizes ongoing community rebuilding efforts, assisting over 1000 households impacted by the disaster.

Deana studied Management Science Engineering at Southern Methodist University and worked 10 years in project management and process design engineering before dedicating her time in support of nonprofits.

"I value the determination OCF shows to connect with communities from all over the state, especially in rural areas," Deana says.  "We share a goal to ensure these communities are vibrant, healthy, and have the resources they need to keep their economies thriving."

Chris Nemlowill

Chris Nemlowill is the co-founder of Fort George Brewery and Public House in his hometown of Astoria, Oregon.

After earning a marketing degree from Southern Oregon University, Nemlowill knew he didn’t want to work in a cubicle. Instead, he found his passion in home brewing and learned everything he could from mentors in Oregon and Europe. While attending international marketing classes, he was especially inspired by Germany’s community-centered, family friendly beer culture.

Back in Astoria, Nemlowill worked as a barista and developed his brewing craft on the side. In 2007, he co-founded Fort George Brewery and Public House and demand grew quickly. “We couldn’t make beer fast enough,” he says. The brewery eventually transformed a once-dilapidated warehouse — pigeons and all — into a full city block of community gathering space.

Fort George has grown to 150 employees. In 2024, the company installed the largest private single-building solar array in Oregon, providing more than 70% of the brewery’s electricity.

Nemlowill and his wife, Zetty, are raising “three kids doing six sports” while continuing to grow community partnerships in Astoria.

“I’ve been a promoter of community my whole life, so of course I’m drawn to an organization like Oregon Community Foundation,” he says. “I’ll do anything I can to help our state and our community remain a great place to build a business and raise a family.”

Joth Ricci

Joth Ricci is an innovative leader with a proven track record of driving growth and creating value. Over his 33-year career, he has led several well-known brands, serving as CEO of Dutch Bros., Adelsheim Vineyards, Stumptown Coffee and Jones Soda Co. His expertise spans business strategy, brand development and scaling organizations for long-term success.

Beyond executive leadership, Joth is committed to community impact and advancing equity. He is the Vice Chair of the Children's Institute, past chairman of the Oregon Business Council, co-founded TASTE for Equity, and served on the State of Oregon’s Racial Justice Council. He is the author of The System, and works with individual leaders and companies to build capacity and manage organizational dynamics.

Currently, Joth serves as Executive Chair at Burgerville and as an executive-in-residence at Oregon State University’s College of Business. He is an active board member for organizations including Upward Projects, The Oregon Fruit Company, Bamboo Sushi and Great Frontier Holdings.

Chuck Sams

Chuck Sams grew up on the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Northeast Oregon, where he is enrolled as Walla Walla and Cayuse with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. He currently serves on the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. He most recently served under President Biden as the 19th director of the National Park Service, the first Native American to hold this office. 

Chuck has over 35-years of executive leadership that includes serving on the Northwest Power and Conservation Council as a Council member, Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director for the CTUIR, in addition to Communications Director and Environmental Health & Safety Officer and Planner and Special Sciences analyst with CTUIR. 

Other prior positions include Program Coordinator for the Community Action Program of East Central Oregon, House Manager/Field Supervisor for the City Volunteer Corps of New York, President/CEO of the Earth Conservation Corps, Executive Director of the Community Energy Project, Executive Director of the Columbia Slough Watershed Council, the National Director for the Tribal & Native Lands Program of the Trust for Public Land, Executive Director of the Umatilla Tribal Community Foundation, and President/Chief Executive Officer of the Indian Country Conservancy. 

He received his Master of Legal Studies in Indigenous Peoples Law from the University of Oklahoma School of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, Management, Communications, and Leadership from Concordia University. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center 'A' School. Upon graduation he served as an Intelligence Specialist with Attack Squadron 155 Silver Foxes, the Joint Intelligence Center Pacific Command and the Defense Intelligence Agency.  

He and his wife, Lori, and daughter Ruby live in Pendleton, Oregon.

Penny H. Serrurier 

Penny Serrurier is a partner at the law firm of Stoel Rives in Portland. For more than 25 years, she has provided nonprofit organizations with strategic solutions to their most pressing challenges. Penny works with higher education institutions, healthcare organizations, public charities and private foundations on issues involving governance, fundraising, advocacy, tax status, scholarship compliance and endowment management. Penny is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.

Penny grew up in Vermont. She earned a history degree from Middlebury College and graduated from Cornell Law School. Penny and her husband, Peter, raised two boys in Portland and have long been active in the Portland community. She serves on the board of directors of the Oregon Business Council and for Downtown Portland Clean & Safe. Penny has served as Board Chair for both the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) and the Oregon Zoo Foundation. 

Penny has supported and volunteered for many local nonprofits, including serving for several years on the Oregon Community Foundation’s Development and Marketing Committee.

“I am so excited to be joining the board of an organization that has contributed so much to Oregon communities through the years. I believe in the power of philanthropy, and I know that OCF has a critical role to play in the future of our great state. I’m honored to be chosen for this leadership role.”

At 5:34 A.M. on May 12, 2025 Vancouver Fire Department was dispatched to a reported fire at Abhiruchi Indian Cuisine at 233 N.E. Chkalov Dr. in Vancouver.  The first arriving fire engine arrived four minutes after dispatch and reported flames coming from the structure, including through the roof.  The fire was contained within 12 minutes of arrival of the first engine company. Five fire engines, three ladder trucks, one squad and two battalion chiefs responded to the fire for a total of 34 personnel working on scene.  Mutual aid was provided by Camas Washougal Fire Department.  The building was unoccupied at the time and no injuries were reported.   The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Vancouver Fire Marshal's Office. 

The Keizer Police Department will be closing River Rd. N. on Saturday, May 17^th, 2025 for the annual Keizer Iris Festival Parade.

Lockhaven Dr. N. will be closed at 6:45 a.m. to all traffic between River Rd. N. and McClure St. N. to establish the parade staging area.  Parade entries will not be allowed to travel westbound on Lockhaven Dr. N.  Those needing to enter the staging area must take Chemawa Rd. N. to Windsor Island Rd. N., then proceed north to Lockhaven Dr. N. where entry can be made to designated staging points.

River Rd. N. will be closed to all north and southbound traffic starting at 9:45 a.m. from Plymouth Dr. N.E. to Lockhaven Dr. N.  Northbound River Rd. traffic from Salem will be diverted to Cherry Ave. N.E. via Plymouth Dr. N.E.  This traffic will be routed back to the Salem Parkway where they may continue northbound travel via Verda Ln. N.E.  Southbound River Rd. N. traffic from north Keizer will be diverted eastbound onto Lockhaven Dr. N.E.

Before the parade and other events begin, traffic will periodically be allowed to cross River Rd. at Chemawa Rd., Dearborn Ave., and Manbrin Dr. Vehicles will not be allowed to travel north or south on River Rd during this time.

The parade will begin at 10:20 a.m. with a children's parade that proceeds south on River Rd. N. from Lockhaven Dr. and ends at Chemawa Rd. The full parade will begin at Lockhaven Dr. at 10:30 am. The parade will end at the intersection of River Rd. and Glynbrook St. N.  It is expected that River Rd. will begin to re-open around 12.30 p.m. as the end of the parade proceeds southbound on River Rd.

Parade signs advising of the street closures have been posted along River Rd. advising citizens of the forthcoming closure.

For those preparing parade space ahead of time by placing chairs on the sidewalk, please remember to leave an adequate travel path of at least three feet for use by our wheelchair-bound citizens.

A fire destroyed a food truck in the early morning hours of May 12th, at approximately 1:00 AM at the 19000 block of 7th Ave in Tumalo.  Bend Fire & Rescue and Deschutes County Sheriffs's Office responded to the incident and found flames coming through the food truck roof.  The fire was quickly extinguished and a fire investigation is currently underway for origin and cause.  At this time the cause of the fire appears to be accidental in nature, but still under investigation.  The food truck was unoccupied at the time and no injuries were reported during fire operations.  The fire did an extensive amount of damage and is considered to be a total loss to the food truck and contents.  

UPDATE 9 P.M. Sunday, May 11, 2025: Lane closure expected to remain in place until Friday, May 16.

Drivers advised to use detour for westbound travel on NE Airport Way and the southbound right turn lane on NE 148th Ave to Airport Way.

PORTLAND, OR – Portland Water Bureau crews will continue working well into this week to repair a main break at NE Airport Way and NE 148th Avenue.

The City advises drivers to avoid the area. Flaggers will direct drivers to follow signs to a detour around the intersection. Westbound travel on NE Airport Way and southbound traffic in the right turn lane on NE 148th Avenue are impacted.

Drivers should use caution while driving in the area. Bureau crews working to repair the water main have families just like you; please keep your distance from crews at work and slow down when traveling through work zones.

Water service is not impacted at this time.

Crews are responding to a leak in a valve attached to a 48-inch steel water main that was originally installed in 1983. The soil condition in the area and the depth of the water main are complicating the repair. The first team on-site worked to stop the flow of water, address flooding, and pinpoint the location of the break. Crews are working to reach a valve that must be turned to reduce the flow of water and allow workers to access and repair the damaged main.

About the Portland Water Bureau

The Portland Water Bureau serves water to almost a million people in the Portland area. Portland’s water system includes two great water sources, 54 tanks and reservoirs, and 2,250 miles of pipes. With 600 employees working on everything from water treatment to customer service, the Water Bureau is committed to serving excellent water every minute of every day.

PRESS RELEASE                FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Case #  (main cases) 24CR37703  and 24CR37704

May 11, 2025

Portland, OR-Multnomah County Judge Christopher Marshall sentenced Samantha Faye Smith and Delone Dominque Kelley on May 9th, 2025, to significant prison sentences resulting from an avoidable fentanyl overdose which caused serious physical injury to their son. The victim, who was three years old at the time, is now five years old. He remains significantly impacted by those injuries.

The plea agreements allowed the defendants to remain out of custody pending sentencing in order to get their affairs in order. Both defendants were warned that if they failed to appear at the original sentencing date, their prison sentences would be substantially increased. Neither defendant showed up for sentencing on April 4th as required by Judge Marshall. 

Smith was sentenced to a total of 56 months in prison for the crimes of Criminal Mistreatment in the First Degree and Assault in the Third Degree. She also pled guilty to the crime of Failure to Appear in the First Degree.

In consideration of the fact that she did eventually turn herself in, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office asked Judge Marshall to take four months off of Smith’s sentence (which would have otherwise been 60 months prison).

Similarly, Judge Marshall sentenced Kelley to 75 months in prison (instead of 80 months prison) at the State’s request because he turned himself in.

Kelley previously pled guilty to Criminal Mistreatment in the First Degree and Assault in the Third Degree. Like Smith, he also pled guilty to Failure to Appear in the First Degree. 

Both will be eligible for Alternative Incarceration Programs. In Oregon, the Alternative Incarceration Program (AIP) is an intensive prison program for select adults in custody to address criminal risk factors. Alternative incarceration was established by the 1993 Legislature with House Bill 2481, creating the Summit program. Ten years later, the 2003 Oregon Legislature authorized the Department of Corrections to establish residential AIPs that emphasize intensive alcohol and drug treatment (House Bill 2647).

Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Afton Coppedge prosecuted the case for the state.

After the sentencing she said:

 “This case matters because there is a fentanyl epidemic in our community. We often think about fentanyl in the context of open air markets, people using on the streets and how it impacts individuals experiencing homelessness. But the reality is that there are children across this county who are living with fentanyl in their homes. And they are ingesting fentanyl at small levels and toxic levels. Kids need to be safe at home just like they need to be safe in the community. And so, we will hold people accountable even when that’s parents.”

Coppedge also commented on why the state asked the judge to reduce some of the extra prison time the parents agreed to before the original sentencing.

“It is a tragic case all around. There is no doubt in my mind that these parents love this child and that he loves them. Mr. Kelley and Ms. Smith knew the consequences of not showing up at the original sentencing and made that choice. I think that while the state wants to hold people accountable- we also recognize that when people ultimately make the right decision to turn themselves in as they did here, that there should be some acknowledgement for making good choices.”

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit of the Portland Police Bureau for their hard work and persistence investigating this case, and for their exhaustive efforts to locate the defendants when they failed to appear at sentencing. We would also like to recognize the work of MCDA Victim Advocate Alie Aguilera for her compassion and care offered during this case.

THE FACTS:

On June 25, 2023 a three year old boy woke up in his home in Multnomah County excited to watch cartoons with his grandmother. His parents had made the decision to bring fentanyl into their home. The child ingested some of it which led to a life altering brain injury.

Vancouver, WA — 5-12-2025— Columbia Play Project, the innovative nonprofit bringing hands-on play and learning to children across Southwest Washington, has officially launched a search for its first paid Executive Director. This new leader will guide the organization through a pivotal moment in its evolution, as Columbia Play Project transitions from its grassroots beginnings into a fully realized children’s museum serving the region.

Founded during the COVID-19 pandemic, Columbia Play Project began with at-home play kits and quickly expanded to “Pop Up Children’s Museums in the Park,” reaching more than 5,000 participants in its first year. In 2022, Columbia Play Project introduced the Mobile Children’s Museum (MCM), offering exploratory STREAM-based (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, and Math) experiences to families throughout Clark County. Since then, Columbia Play Project has hosted hundreds of events, reaching over 60,000 children and caregivers through creative, engaging, child-led play.

“I am thrilled that Columbia Play Project is ready to hire its first paid Executive Director,” said Jeanne Bennett, current volunteer Executive Director. “From the beginning of this project, we knew that volunteers would need to get the Columbia Play Project going but someday we would want and need a professional with museum and nonprofit management experience. That day has come, and it couldn’t be more exciting.”

With a $500,000 planning grant, sponsored by Senator Annette Cleveland, from the Washington State Department of Commerce, Columbia Play Project launched its Dream the Museum campaign to create a permanent children’s museum in Clark County. The planning process is nearly complete—including strategic planning, site identification, business planning, community engagement.  The future Executive Director will implement the strategic and business plans, oversee the feasibility process and guide Columbia Play Project’s overall growth and operations.

This is a unique opportunity for a visionary leader with a passion for play, child development, and community building. The ideal candidate will bring experience in museum and nonprofit leadership and management, fundraising, operations, and public engagement.

Applications, including a resume and cover letter, are due by 5:00 pm on June 6, 2025. Materials should be sent to info@columbiaplayproject.org or mailed to PO Box 5797, Vancouver, WA 98668-5797. A full overview of the position and organizational background is available at: www.columbiaplayproject.org.

About Columbia Play Project:
Columbia Play Project inspires wonder, fosters curiosity, and strengthens communities by empowering explorers to discover and learn through STREAM play. Through its Mobile Children’s Museum and seasonal indoor play space, Columbia Play Project removes barriers to access and delivers joyful, hands-on experiences for children and families throughout Clark County.

• Menacing
• Unlawful Use of a Weapon
• Felon in Possession of a Firearm
• Unlawful Possession of a Firearm
• Interfering with a Police Officer
• Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree

test

PRESS RELEASE

A25-10969

SHOOTING INVESTIGATION

MAY 9, 2025

At 1536 hours of May 9, 2025, Cowlitz 911 received a report of a shooting at a residence in the 1800 block of West Side Hwy in Kelso, Washington.  Deputies responded to the scene and learned that three people associated with the residence had been shot.  A fourth subject was later contacted after arriving at St John Medical Center with a gunshot wound.  That person, a juvenile male, was determined to be a suspect in this incident. All injured parties are expected to survive.

The involved parties are known to each other, and this incident appears to be related to a domestic relationship.  Deputies have learned that while a child exchange took place, a group of subjects that arrived in a vehicle had a dispute with subjects at this residence, and shots were fired.

Detectives obtained a search warrant to process the crime scene and are in contact with multiple subjects who were involved in this incident.  The juvenile suspect received medical treatment at St John Medical Center and was then booked into Cowlitz County Juvenile Detention on three counts of Assault 1^st Degree and Drive-By Shooting.

This investigation is ongoing – no further details are available for release at this time.

The Sheriff’s Office requests anyone with information about this incident to call 360-577-3092, reference case A25-10969.

Troy Brightbill

Chief Criminal Deputy

Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office

On May 8th, 2025, the Lincoln City Police Department received a report of inappropriate communications between a Lincoln County School District school bus driver and a Taft 7-12 student. An investigation began immediately and steps were taken to ensure the driver had no more contact with students.

On May 9th, Josiah Lafrenz (21) of Lincoln City was arrested and charged with Luring a Minor and 2nd Degree Online Sex Corruption of a Child. He was lodged at the Lincoln County Jail and is awaiting his arraignment on Monday, May 12th.

The LCPD notified the Lincoln County School District of the investigation and arrest. Due to the potential for additional child victims, the LCPD is urging anyone with information regarding this investigation or similar circumstances to call us at (541) 994-3636 and reference case #25-5594.

As always, the LCPD encourages parents to monitor children’s cellular communications and internet usage, as well as educate them about the dangers posed by the strangers with whom they interact.

The Centennial School District Governing Board will meet for their Regular Business Meeting on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. 

The Board and key staff will attend in-person at CSD's District Office - 18135 SE Brooklyn St., Portland, OR  97236. The public and guests will join virtually via the Zoom app.

To join the meeting, please click on the link below

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89843848373?pwd=Sm53eGJPbUJKTjFFSG54bzlIWFBRZz09
Passcode:625036

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

Webinar ID: 898 4384 8373
Passcode: 625036

The full board meeting packet is available for reference on the Centennial School District website at www.csd28j.org and can be found on the School Board page. The meeting agenda may be updated as needed and additional board meeting documents may be added as they become available. 

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

May 9, 2025

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

Recreational use advisory lifted for Emigrant Lake

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has lifted the recreational use health advisory issued for Emigrant in Jackson County.

OHA issued the advisory on May 1 due to the photo and satellite imagery evidence of potentially-toxin producing cyanobacteria near areas of high recreational use.

Water monitoring has confirmed that the level of cyanotoxins in Emigrant Lake are below recreational guideline values.

OHA advises recreational visitors to continually be alert to signs of cyanobacteria blooms. This is because blooms can shift quickly. They can develop and disappear on any water body at any time when bloom conditions are favorable. Some cyanobacteria move up and down in the water depending on light and nutrients, so what’s visible on the surface can change throughout the day. Wind and water movement can also affect where the bloom appears.

Only a fraction of water bodies in Oregon are monitored for blooms and toxins, so it’s important for people to become familiar with signs of a bloom, exposures and symptoms by visiting OHA’s Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms website at http://www.healthoregon.org/hab.

When recreating, people, and especially small children, and pets should avoid areas where the water is foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green or blue-green, or if thick brownish-red mats are visible or bright green clumps are suspended in the water. If you see these signs, avoid activities that cause you to swallow water or inhale droplets, such as swimming or high-speed water activities, and keep pets out of the area.

Cyanotoxins can still exist in clear water. When a bloom dies, toxins released may reach into clear water around the bloom. Blooms can be pushed into other areas, leaving toxins behind. There also are species of cyanobacteria that anchor themselves at the bottom of a water body, live in the sediment, or can grow on aquatic plants and release toxins into clear water.

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

###

Vancouver, Wash. – The county manager is seeking applicants to fill two positions on the Clark County Development and Engineering Advisory Board, DEAB.

The positions are for the following:

• Representative of Southwest Washington Contractor’s Association
• Professional associated with Commercial/Industrial Development Industry

Application deadline for the Contractor’s Association opening is 5 pm July 25, and the deadline for the commercial/industrial opening is 5 pm Monday, June 30.

Members shall be appointed or reappointed to three-year terms. Members are eligible for reappointment after their terms expire.

The advisory board reviews policy and county code changes and works on process improvement and fees with the Community Development and Public Works departments. The board’s recommendations are routinely forwarded to the Clark County Council for use by final decision makers.

The board consists of three private-sector planners or engineers; one public-sector planner or engineer; one construction contractor; one land developer; one Building Industry Association representative; one professional associated with commercial or industrial development; and two professionals associated with development.

The Development and Engineering Advisory Board, commonly referred to as DEAB, typically meets at 2 pm the first Thursday of the month in the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St.

Anyone interested should submit a letter of interest and résumé to
Victoria Abram, Program Coordinator, P.O. Box 9810, Vancouver, WA 98666-9810. Applications can also be emailed to ia.abram@clark.wa.gov">victoria.abram@clark.wa.gov.  

More information, including meeting agendas and minutes, is available at www.clark.wa.gov/community-development/development-and-engineering-advisory-board.

DATE: Monday, May 12, 2025

TIME: 6:00 p.m.

LOCATION: via Zoom (link on HSD website)

POLICE POLICY COMMITTEE

MEETING SCHEDULED

The Police Policy Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a regular meeting on May 22, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in the Governor Victor G. Atiyeh Boardroom at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Juan Lopez at (503) 551-3167 or juan.lopez-hernandez@dpsst.oregon.gov.

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

Amended Agenda Items:

1. Introductions

2. Approve February 20, 2025, Meeting Minutes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9. Applicant Review Committee Nominations

10. Agency Updates

11. Next Police Policy Committee Meeting – August 21, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.

Administrative Announcement

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

Deschutes County, Ore. 9 May 2025- On Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 8:52 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 97, near milepost 156, in Deschutes County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a southbound Dodge Caravan, operated by Anthony Buddrick Torres (25) of La Pine, crossed the centerline and struck a northbound Kenworth commercial motor vehicle and trailer, operated by Florentino Cruz Aguilar (52) of Williams (CA), head-on. The collision caused both vehicles to become fully engulfed in flames and required local fire crews efforts to extinguish the fires.

The operator of the Dodge (Torres) was declared deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Kenworth (Cruz Aguilar) suffered reportedly minor injuries and was transported to an area medical center.

The highway was impacted for an extended period of time during the investigation and cleanup of the vehicles. The operator of the Dodge had been reported as suicidal prior to the crash and the crash is suspected to have been intentional.

OSP was assisted by the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Sunriver Fire, Alfalfa Fire, La Pine Fire, and ODOT.

# # #

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

Almost 45 years ago, in the early morning hours of July 18, 1980, Oregon State Police responded to a report of a deceased, unidentified male along Interstate 5 near Woodburn. A homicide investigation was opened and while extensive efforts were made to identify the victim, he remained a John Doe until April 2025.
 

In cooperation with the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office and the Orange County (California) Sheriff’s Department, OSP’s Cold Case Unit was able to positively identify the victim as Larry Eugene Parks. Parks was 30 years old at the time of his death and a Vietnam veteran. His family had lost contact with him in 1979, and was last seen in Pensacola, Florida. Until his identification last month, the circumstances of his disappearance were unknown to the Parks family.
 

The discovery of Parks’ body came a day after the body of Michael O’Fallon was found along I-5 near the Talbot exit, also in Marion County. Due to similarities in the evidence, investigators at the time suspected the two murders were related. Unfortunately, both investigations went cold as investigative leads dried up.
 

In 1983, Randy Kraft was arrested in Orange County, California, for murder. Kraft was ultimately convicted of 16 murders in California, although he’s suspected of committing more than 60 murders across the West Coast and Michigan. During Kraft’s trial and sentencing, evidence from the O’Fallon and Parks murders was transferred to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office to be used in court. The evidence remained in Orange County until 2024.
 

In January 2024, an investigator from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department reached out to the Oregon State Police Cold Case Unit regarding evidence related to the John Doe (Parks) case from 1980 and offered to help identify the remains using Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy.  John Doe’s blood sample was sent to Parabon Nanolabs and a genetic profile was developed. Investigators were able to use this information to locate possible family members. The family members submitted DNA samples for comparison which led to the positive identification of John Doe as Larry Parks.   

With Parks' identity confirmed, investigators are now working to bring resolution to the 45-year-old case.

# # #

About the Oregon State Police Cold Case Unit

The Cold Case Unit consists of investigators in OSP’s Criminal Investigation Division dedicated to resolving the agency’s unsolved homicide, missing persons, unidentified human remains, and suspicious death investigations. The unit is maximizing the use of forensic analysis and genetic genealogy in multiple cases. The unit has made tangible progress on cases as old as 50 years and is actively investigating 37 cold cases. 

DALLAS (OR) – Tara Leeann Griffin (formerly Davies), of Dallas, has been convicted of Assault in the First Degree and Criminal Mistreatment in the First Degree involving an infant child under her care. Griffin, 41, was found guilty by Polk County Circuit Judge pro tem Timothy R. Park after a four day trial to the court held in April.

Griffin was previously found guilty of these same charges in 2011 by a Polk County jury and sentenced to serve ten years in prison. However, that conviction was overturned by recent Supreme Court decisions finding that non-unanimous jury verdicts are unconstitutional and granting her a new trial. In her first trial, Griffin was convicted by an 11-1 vote of the jury.

In commenting on the verdict and why his office sought a second trial, Polk County District Attorney Aaron Felton stated:

“It was important that the integrity and justice of the first trial outcome be maintained, while fully respecting the due process rights of the defendant as our appellate courts envision.”

The case was prosecuted by District Attorney Aaron Felton and investigated by the Dallas Police Department. The first prosecution was overseen by the Oregon Department of Justice. Ms. Griffin will be sentenced on May 13.

Ridgefield School District is inviting families, staff, students, and community members to participate in shaping the district’s future by attending one of several upcoming Strategic Planning Launch Sessions.
 

The sessions are the first step in developing a new district Strategic Plan, and will focus on gathering community input on Ridgefield’s vision, mission, core values, and guiding principles. The feedback received will play a key role in guiding the Strategic Planning process scheduled for Fall 2025.
 

“We are excited to launch this process and look forward to hearing from our community,” said Dr. Jenny Rodriquez, Superintendent of Ridgefield School District. “Your voice is critical in helping us shape a shared vision for the future of Ridgefield schools.”
 

The planning sessions are free and open to the public. Each session will follow the same format, so participants are encouraged to attend the one that best fits their schedule. Meetings will last approximately two hours, with both morning and evening options available to increase community access.

Strategic Planning Launch Session Schedule:

• Thursday, May 15 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
  Ridgefield High School, Room 311
  2630 S Hillhurst Road, Ridgefield
   

• Monday, May 19 | 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
  Ridgefield Administrative and Civic Center (The RACC), Columbia Assembly Room
  510 Pioneer Street, Ridgefield
   

• Wednesday, May 21 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
  Ridgefield Administrative and Civic Center (The RACC), Columbia Assembly Room
  510 Pioneer Street, Ridgefield

Community participation is essential to ensuring the Strategic Plan reflects the values and priorities of the entire Ridgefield community. Ridgefield School District encourages everyone to attend and be part of this important process.

As the 15th anniversary of Kyron Horman’s disappearance approaches, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and law enforcement partners are reaffirming their commitment to finding Kyron and pursuing justice.

Over the past year, investigators have undertaken a significant effort to modernize and review the case through a renewed, collaborative approach. The MCSO and Gresham Police detectives are working to digitize and reorganize the entire case. This means scanning and documenting thousands of pages of reports, photos and evidence.

When the case is digitized, the file will be reexamined by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU). The BAU is a unit within the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime that uses behavioral analysis to assist in criminal investigations, by analyzing statements, narratives and evidence, performing psychological and behavioral analysis and offering investigative recommendations based on patterns from similar historic and current cases nationwide.

These steps lay the foundation for a fresh and comprehensive review of the entire investigation. In the coming months, MCSO detectives will meet with Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez and his team for further evaluation.

Kyron Horman was last seen on the morning of June 4, 2010, at Skyline Elementary School in Portland, Oregon, attending his school’s science fair. He has not been seen or heard from since. At the time, he was seven years old. Kyron has brown hair, blue eyes, and wears glasses. He also has a distinct V-shaped strawberry birthmark on his forehead.

On the day of his disappearance, Kyron was wearing a black t-shirt with "CSI" in green letters and a handprint graphic. He was also wearing black cargo pants, white socks, and black Skechers sneakers with orange trim. Kyron may have had his glasses on at the time.

“We have never stopped searching for Kyron,” said Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to bring resolution to this case, for Kyron, for his family and for the community. With the support of our partners and the public, we are actively pursuing every credible investigative opportunity. Kyron and his family are at the heart of our work.”

Each year, hundreds of tips are received, reviewed and considered for follow-up by investigators. To support this continued work, detectives are leveraging advances in software, digital forensics and technology to examine new and existing leads.

“As we approach the 15th anniversary of Kyron Horman’s disappearance, I want to reaffirm my continued commitment to this case,” said Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez. “My office has begun a thorough and methodical review of the case with fresh eyes, and we look forward to receiving further analysis from the Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. Our focus remains where it has always belonged—on Kyron and his family.”

A $50,000 reward remains available for information leading to the resolution of Kyron’s disappearance. Anyone with information is urged to contact the MCSO TipLine at 503-988-0560, email tips@mcso.us, or reach out to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-THE-LOST or online at the NCMEC CyberTipLine.

Learn more about the case, review the timeline and view age-progressed images on our webpage dedicated to Kyron Horman.

Join the Friends of the Multnomah County Fair for a spectacular celebration at this year's Multnomah County Fair, marking the 119th edition of this beloved event! This year promises to be more thrilling than ever, featuring various live stage performances that showcase youth talent and multicultural acts.

Get ready for an action-packed lineup! Enjoy dazzling performances by White Lotus, Portland Lion and Dragon Dancers, and the dynamic Hip-Hop Soulsation dancers, high-energy shows by the School of Rock, the vibrant sounds of Salem Youth Mariachi, and captivating dances by the Four Directions Native American Dance Troupe.

Saturday, be sure to bring a sense of adventure for fun photo opportunities with the entertaining Portland Lucha Libre wrestlers!

On Sunday, Día de la Familia will spotlight a festive atmosphere filled with lively mariachi and ranchera music, folkloric dance performances, and FREE Loteria (bingo) games for all ages.

Monday, show off your doggie’s flair at the Memorial Day Doggie Costume Parade! Every pup is a winner!!!

Shop local as you explore a variety of craft and food vendors showcasing unique handmade goods and delicious treats. Our fair highlights youth this year, and exhibits will feature impressive displays of youth art, gardening, crafts, and more — a wonderful opportunity to support our young talent!

Don't miss the chance to take a pic with beloved characters from Maribel and Friends and take your little ones to meet adorable barn animals, creating cherished memories that capture the essence of a county fair.

The excitement continues with Oaks Park's exhilarating rides, mini golf, midway games, and roller skating – there's something for everyone!

Admission to the fair is free!

Please note that Oaks Park attractions and parking are sold separately.  For your convenience, discounted ride bracelets are available for purchase ahead of time at Multcofair.com.

Mark your calendars and visit Multcofair.com for daily event schedules and the latest updates. We can't wait to see you there!

Drivers advised to use detour for westbound travel on NE Airport Way and the southbound right turn lane on NE 148^th Ave to Airport Way

PORTLAND, OR – Portland Water Bureau crews will begin repairing a main break at NE Airport Way and NE 148^th Avenue this morning. Work is expected to last through the weekend.

The City is advising drivers to avoid the area. Flaggers will direct drivers to follow signs to a detour around the intersection. Westbound travel on NE Airport Way and southbound traffic in the right turn lane on NE 148^th Avenue will be impacted.

Drivers should use caution while driving in the area. Bureau crews working to repair the water main have families just like you; please keep your distance from crews at work and slow down when traveling through work zones.

Water service is not impacted at this time.

Crews are responding to a leak in a valve attached to a 48-inch steel water main that was originally installed in 1983. The soil condition in the area and the depth of the water main could complicate the repair. The first team on site worked to stop the flow of water, address flooding, and pinpoint the location of the break. Today’s efforts will focus on replacing the damaged main.

About the Portland Water Bureau

The Portland Water Bureau serves water to almost a million people in the Portland area. Portland’s water system includes two great water sources, 54 tanks and reservoirs, and 2,250 miles of pipes. With 600 employees working on everything from water treatment to customer service, the Water Bureau is committed to serving excellent water every minute of every day. 

Salem, Ore. – On May 7, 2025, the City of Salem Budget Committee advanced the Interim City Manager's proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Proposed Budget to the Salem City Council.  The Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Budget begins on July 1, 2025, and addresses the $13.8 million budget shortfall in funding for Salem Public Library, parks, recreation programs and Center 50+, and other General Fund programs.  Salem’s City Council will next pick up the FY26 Budget on June 9, 2025.
 

“This isn’t a fair budget—but it is impartial,” said Interim City Manager Krishna Namburi. “It reflects the hard truth of our financial reality and the difficult situation we are in. The choices we face are not about one service being more important than another—it’s a response to a financial crisis, shaped by community priorities, that demanded hard, imperfect tradeoffs. I am deeply saddened by the impact this proposal has on the dedicated staff whose jobs are affected and on the community members who are losing access to essential services they rely on. I’m grateful to the Budget Committee for their thoughtful leadership, and to our community and staff for their resilience as we navigate this crisis together.”
 

The Budget Committee’s work began April 16, 2025 and continued through May 7, 2025.  The Committee considered in-person testimony and in writing sharing how these services have positively impacted their lives and voicing concerns over the potential cuts.  The Committee also held public hearings on Capital Improvement Fund and projects, and State Shared revenues discussed.  At each meeting, the City provided responses to questions.  All the Budget Committee’s materials, and the Proposed FY26 Budget, are available on the City’s website.
 

What Happens Next?

Salem City Council picks up the FY26 Budget on June 9, 2025.  The proposed budget balances costs with available revenues.  It does not account for the possibility of revenues from a proposed five-year local option levy. The City will also continue pursuing new revenue opportunities, identifying efficiencies and finding cost savings, including direct engagement with the State of Oregon to pursue funding support for public safety services to State facilities.
 

Local Option Levy. The local option levy will appear on Salem voters' ballots for the special election taking place on May 20, 2025.  When the outcome of the levy is known, if it passes, the Salem Budget Committee will reconvene to consider amendments to the FY26 Budget.
 

If the measure passes, the property tax revenue generated would be placed in a dedicated and protected account overseen by a committee to ensure that the revenue is used only for purposes outlined in the measure, including:

• Restoring and continuing Salem Public Library services.
• Operation of Center 50+ classes, activities, outreach services, and support services.
• Recreation programming, including youth day camps, youth sports, and community events.
• Management and maintenance of more than 90 parks, including facilities, playgrounds, splash fountains, sports fields, trails, and more.

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(Astoria, OR)  — Clatsop County is seeking applications from individuals interested in serving on the Clatsop County Planning Commission. The appointment will fill a vacant seat whose term would expire on June 30, 2026.

“Planning commission members play a critical role in protecting the health and safety of our communities and property values,” said Gail Henrikson, community development director.

“We strive to see that all geographical areas of the county are represented to the greatest extent possible.”

The Planning Commission is the county’s committee for citizen involvement on development and land use issues, such as zoning, natural resources, transportation, natural hazards, economic development, housing, farm and forest lands and coastal zones.

The commission makes land use decisions on subdivisions and makes recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners on amendments to the comprehensive plan and its implementing ordinances.

Committee application forms are available on the Clatsop County website or at the County Manager’s office at 800 Exchange St., Suite 410 in Astoria. The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. Friday, June 13, 2025.

-More-

The Planning Commission regularly meets in Astoria at 10 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. Meetings are currently hybrid, with an in-person and virtual option available.

The Board of Commissioners is tentatively scheduled to review applicants at its Wednesday, July 9 work session, with appointments tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, July 23.

For additional information about the commission’s meetings or responsibilities, please ikson@clatsopcounty.gov">email or call Gail Henrikson at 503-325-8611.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 

DATE: May 9, 2025

Updated 05-09-2025 | 0755

Suspect in custody

Salem Police Violent Crimes Unit detectives have arrested a male juvenile in the homicide of Isac Steven Rizo. Rizo, age 21, received fatal knife injuries during a physical altercation with the suspect at a billiard hall on May 8.

The 16-year-old suspect was taken into custody without incident at approximately 9:30 p.m. outside a residence in northeast Salem. He was transported to the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center and lodged on the following charges:

• Murder, second degree
• Attempted murder, first degree
• Assault, second degree
• Unlawful use of a weapon

With the suspect in custody, all further inquiries concerning this investigation should be directed to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office.

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Originally published 05-08-2025 | 1130

Altercation ends in multiple stabbings, leaving one person dead and another injured

Salem, Ore. — Just before 1:00 a.m. this morning, Salem Police officers responded to the report of two stabbing victims who arrived at the Salem Health emergency room in need of immediate medical care.

Officers learned the stabbings occurred during a physical altercation between a group of young men at The Cue Ball located at 1242 State ST.

One of the individuals who was stabbed, 21-year-old Isac Steven Rizo of Salem, died from his injuries at the hospital. A second victim, a 20-year-old man, received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.

Violent Crimes Unit detectives are investigating Rizo’s death as a homicide.

No further details about the incident are being released at this time, as this is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Salem Police Tip Line at 503-588-8477.

# # #

Earlier today, fire crews responded to a fully involved shop fire that prompted a second alarm response. The 30x30-foot structure was fully engulfed upon arrival, with exposures threatened on all sides.

Thanks to the rapid and coordinated efforts of multiple agencies, the fire was brought under control. One firefighter sustained minor injuries during operations and was transported to a local hospital. The firefighter has since been treated and released.

Further investigation determined the fire likely originated from a burn barrel near the structure.

On May 8, 2025, at about 8pm detectives from the Clatsop County Major Crimes Team along with Cannon Beach Police officers, Seaside Police officers and Clatsop County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Joshua Alan Gervolstad, a 46-year-old resident of Cannon Beach, for the May 7, 2025, assault and strangulation of his 39-year-old girlfriend, Kendra Edwards.  Gervolstad was located at 988 S. Hemlock and taken into custody without incident.

Gervolstad will be charged with Assault II and Strangulation.  Assault II (ORS 163.175) is charged when a person intentionally or knowingly causes serious physical injury to another.  Serious physical injury is defined as physical injury which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious and protracted disfigurement, protracted impairment of health or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily organ.  Strangulation (ORS 163187) is defined as a person who knowingly impedes another person’s normal breathing or circulation by applying pressure to the throat, neck, or chest, or by blocking the nose or mouth.

Detectives will continue to evaluate all evidence and investigative leads. The case will be presented to the Clatsop County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact Officer Jenny Thompson at 971-601-0749.

The Clatsop County Major Crimes Team is comprised of detectives from Astoria, Warrenton, Seaside, Gearhart, and Cannon Beach Police Departments along with detectives from the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office and a representative from the Clatsop County District Attorney’s Office.

This information is preliminary and is intended for early information use rather than being a formal investigative report.