The Linn County District Attorney has reached a decision regarding an officer involved shooting from February 8, 2023.  The written decision is attached to this release.  Any questions or requests for additional information should be directed to Albany Police Department PIO, Captain Brad Liles.

On 3/22/2023, around 9:40 am, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office responded to a suspicious circumstance call off SE Sunset View Road in Washougal, WA. A passerby had reported that there appeared to be two “life-sized mannequins” just off the roadway down an embankment in some thick brush. 

A CCSO deputy responded to investigate and discovered two deceased persons.

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit (MCU) responded and is investigating. They are currently processing the area as a crime scene.

It is believed that they may be related to the Vancouver Police Department's missing persons, Meshay Melendez and Layla Stewart.

This post will be updated as more information becomes available.

03/22/2023 09:24 AM

Media Contact: 

Lt. Ben Harvey, Corvallis Police Department

(541) 766-6556 / benjamin.harvey@corvallisoregon.gov

Corvallis Police Investigate Stabbing at the Skate Park

On March 22, 2023 at approximately 3:05 am, Officers of the Corvallis Police Department responded to the area of the Skate Park, 190 SW B Ave, for a report of a stabbing. Officers arriving on scene located a 41-year-old male, with no fixed address with stab wounds. The male victim was transported by ambulance to the emergency room where he is being treated for his injuries. Detectives from the Corvallis Police Department were called in and the investigation is ongoing. Police vehicles, crime scene tape and personnel will be in the area of the Skate Park throughout the day as the investigation continues. Anyone with information, or who may have witnessed the incident are encouraged to contact Corvallis Police Detective Josh Zessin. Detective Zessin can be contacted at 541-766-6924.

News Release Corvallis Police Department 180 NW 5th Street Corvallis, OR97330 541-766-6924

03/20/2023 2:55 PM

Media Contact: 

Lt. Ben Harvey, Corvallis Police Department

(541) 766-6556 / benjamin.harvey@corvallisoregon.gov

Corvallis Police Investigate Shooting on March 19, 2023

On March 19, 2023 at approximately 10:35 pm, Officers of the Corvallis Police Department responded to the area of NW 9^th Street near NW Walnut Blvd for a report of two vehicles ramming each other while traveling westbound on NW Walnut Blvd. Additionally, the caller reported hearing a gunshot. Officers quickly located both vehicles and safely detained who they believe to be all involved persons in the area. No persons were injured in the incident, although we do believe a firearm was fired at least one time by the involved subjects during the altercation. Detectives from the Corvallis Police Department were called in to investigate. Two persons were initially arrested on unrelated warrants during the investigation, which is ongoing. The incident spanned over many blocks in North Corvallis beginning at approximately 10:09 pm until 10:40 pm. The involved vehicles are described as a black mid-size SUV and a black minivan.   Anyone with information, or who may have witnessed the incident are encouraged to contact Detective Smith at the Corvallis Police Department. Detective Smith can be reached at 541-766-6924.

RELEASE DATE:               March 22, 2023
CONTACT PERSON:         On-duty PIO
CASE NUMBER:                 22-19261

Gresham, Ore.—Just before 5:30 p.m. on May 25, 2022, Gresham Police responded to reports of a shooting at 18837 SE Yamhill St., the East Park Place Apartment complex. When officers arrived, they located a Vancouver, Wash., man outside, suffering from a gunshot wound. Emergency medical aid was administered but ultimately Antoine Steven Archer, 23, was pronounced dead.  Archer’s death was ruled a homicide by gunfire. 

Gresham Police is asking for the public’s assistance with identifying a potential witness to this shooting.  If you can identify this person, please call the Gresham Police Tip Line at 503.618.2719 or toll-free at 1.888.989.3505. 

###GPD###

Lane County Sheriff’s deputies served a search warrant shortly before 9:00am this morning at a residence in the 1500blk of Adelman Lp. in Eugene pursuant to a robbery investigation they are conducting. 

The Sheriff’s Office’s Special Response Team initially responded to assist with the warrant as there was information to believe that the suspects could be armed and dangerous. 

Deputies are still processing the scene and the investigation is ongoing.  One person was detained for questioning without incident.  More information will be released as it becomes available.

Interested in serving your community and learning more about a career in law enforcement? 

The Lane County Sheriff’s Office Cadet Program is for young adults between the ages of 18 and 21 who have an interest in law enforcement.  The Cadet Program provides an opportunity to get first-hand experience working in the criminal justice field.  Cadets are able to develop skills and knowledge in order to prepare for full-time employment in a very important and fulfilling career.

Requirements:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Must be between 18 and 21 years of age
• Must be enrolled in high school / GED program, or have a high school diploma / GED

Cadets Will:

• Participate in law enforcement ride-alongs
• Receive training in law enforcement procedures, legal issues, use of force, corrections operations and patrol operations
• Learn about the services provided by the Sheriff’s Office and work with special teams including Marine Patrol, Dunes Patrol, And Forest Patrol

This is a competitive process that will be closing soon!  Apply today at:

https://www.cognitoforms.com/LaneCountyOR/CadetApplication

Additional information may be found at: http://www.LaneCountyOr.gov/Sheriff_Cadet_Program or by contacting Sgt. Alex Speldrich at ich@lanecountyor.gov">alex.speldrich@lanecountyor.gov

Measure 20-340 

www.publicsafetylevy.org

Week of March 19-25, 2023 

Lane County Sheriff Cliff Harrold will be available for questions related to the proposed Lane County Jail Levy Renewal (Measure 20-340) at two different locations this upcoming week:

• Tuesday, March 21 at 6:30PM - Elmira Elementary School (88960 Territorial Hwy., Elmira)
• Thursday, March 23 at 6:00PM – John Serbu Campus (2727 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Eugene)

Following a short presentation, the Sheriff will be available to answer questions and speak with community members. 

Passage of this measure would not increase the tax rate and renews a current local option tax. 

Measure renewal will maintain a minimum of 255 local jail beds for the five-year period, providing the Sheriff with improved ability to hold those arrested for violent felony offenses until their cases are resolved. 

Levy renewal would also:

• maintain investment in medical mental health services within the Jail to help those in custody make positive improvements and build life skills in an effort to reduce recidivism 
• continue to provide counseling, secure treatment, and detention services for youth offenders

Levy funds are placed in a restricted fund earmarked for the Jail and Youth Services. An annual independent financial audit of levy spending is required and presented publicly.

The estimated tax rate for this levy is $0.55 per $1,000 of assessed value. The median Lane County homeowner is estimated to pay an average of $118 per year for five years. 

Additional information sessions will be provided by the Sheriff at different locations throughout the county in the upcoming weeks. 

In 2022, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office was awarded a limited amount of funding by the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission to investigate and shut down large-scale criminal marijuana manufacturing operations.  The Sheriff’s Office has utilized this funding to shut down several operations that have negatively impacted our community and without the grant funding, LCSO would not have the resources needed to conduct the investigations. Investigative resources are focused on large scale operations that illegally sell their product on the black market undermining licensed growers and producers.  Often these unregulated operations negatively impact the environment, violate land use laws, construction safety codes, and labor laws.    The following case summaries are recent examples of how this limited funding has been used.   

LCSO Case # 23-0047

On February 15, 2023, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, Eugene Police Department, Springfield Police Department, Oregon State Police, Drug Enforcement Administration, Douglas Interagency Narcotic Team and the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed search warrants at 7 locations throughout Lane County after a year long investigation into large criminal marijuana manufacturing and processing ring.  During the execution of the warrants law enforcement seized over 16,000 marijuana plants growing in 9 buildings on a property off of Crow Road outside Eugene.  Approximately $280,000 in US currency, firearms as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars in vehicles and grow equipment were discovered to be directly involved in the operation.  During the investigation it was learned that marijuana from the operation was being sold out of state to places including Texas, Minnesota, Arkansas and even as far away as France.  One of those arrested was already on probation in Texas after he was caught shipping marijuana through the United States Postal Service.  

An illegal professional-scale marijuana refinement facility was located and shut down on W. 12^th Ave. in West Eugene as part of the operation.  This site is located just feet from the Amazon Canal (See attached photos). The refinement facility contained large volumes of unregulated highly flammable materials that requires a full scale Hazmat crew to safely clean up.  The cleanup process is ongoing.   

Seven people were arrested for their involvement in the operation and more arrests are expected. Law enforcement was assisted at the scenes by Lane County Code Enforcement, the State of Oregon Watermasters, Eugene/Springfield Fire, and Eugene Code Enforcement.  Several code and water violations were located, and the agencies are working to obtain compliance with those responsible.

LCSO Case # 23-0039

On March 15^th, 2023, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, Springfield Police Department, Eugene Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, Douglas Interagency Narcotic Teams Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed search warrants at numerous residences in the Eugene-Springfield area, a residence in Happy Valley (Clackamas County) and a grow location south of Eugene. Investigators seized over 12,000 marijuana plants and 3600 pounds of processed marijuana.  Deputies had become aware of the grow location after several complaints from neighboring properties.  The property contained two 60’X300’ buildings built strictly for marijuana production. LCSO began an investigation and through surveillance determined those responsible for the operation in Lane County resided in three houses in Lane County and one house in Happy Valley, Oregon. The three residences in Lane County were searched with the agencies listed above, while the Happy Valley location was secured by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.  During searches of the involved residences, firearms, marijuana and over $400,000 in US Currency was located. 

During the investigation deputies learned that several of the suspects had been involved in a 2017 organized criminal ring in King County Washington in what was described as a ‘TCO’ or Transcontinental Drug Trafficking Organization.  During the Washington investigation it was learned that over 9 million dollars had been wired to China under different LLC names. 

At two of the locations Law Enforcement found occupants unwilling to exit and in one case, at a residence on Q Street, a flash sound diversionary device was used to gain compliance. 

Lane County detectives were assisted by Chinese interpreters from the FBI.  During interviews it was learned that the workers at the grow had been promised between $3000-$5000 per month.  One of the workers indicated he hadn’t been paid for 3-4 months and hadn’t received his promised pay for about one year.  The worker indicated that they were made to work 7 days a week and 13 hour days to increase production.  The worker told detectives he would like to leave, but couldn’t or he would never be paid for his work.  The same worker revealed that the grow location off Dillard Road was the target of two armed robberies in the last two years that went unreported to police.  In one of the robberies, the suspects pointed firearms at the workers and told them that they were police officers. 

Three people were arrested for their involvement in the operation and investigations are ongoing.

These are very large-scale criminal operations.  Individually, each of these grows was consuming approximately $500,000 per year in electricity.

Lane County Code Enforcement and the Oregon State Watermaster’s Office responded to these grow locations and are dealing with numerous violations regarding water use and building safety codes.

LCSO would like to thank all the partner agencies that assisted in these investigations as well as analytical help from the Oregon National Guard. Without the assistance of our partners, LCSO would not have adequate resources to investigate and dismantle these highly complex operations. 

Public safety agencies from all over Lincoln County will be taking part in an interagency training exercise for emergency response to a large-scale critical event on Saturday, April 1, 2023. This training event will be a day-long event that will allow emergency responders from Lincoln County to work and train together to become better prepared to respond in the event a critical incident occurs in our county. 

This training exercise will be taking place at the Oceanlake Elementary School campus in Lincoln City, and we want to alert the public in hopes of minimizing any alarm or confusion that may occur when people see a large concentration of police cars, fire vehicles, and ambulances heading to or parked at the school. The training exercise will be occurring during Spring Break when no students will be present at the school, and the only school staff present will be those scheduled to take part in the exercise. Signs will be posted outside the school indicating that a training exercise is underway.

Agencies participating in the training exercise include the Toledo Fire Department, North Lincoln Fire and Rescue, Newport Fire Department, Lincoln City Police Department, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Newport Police Department, Pacific West Ambulance, First Student Transportation, Care Oregon, and the Lincoln County School District. 

Should you have questions or concerns, please contact Lincoln City Police Department Lieutenant Jeffrey Winn at 541-994-3636 or Toledo Fire Department Training Captain Shannon Brecik at 541-336-3311 x 5203.

All emergency response agencies would like to extend a big thank you to the Lincoln County School District for allowing the use of their building for this training exercise. The cooperation of all our emergency response agencies and our school district partners is crucial to helping keep the communities and citizens of Lincoln County safe. 

Submitted by:  Lieutenant Jeffrey Winn

Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reports that deputies of the Sheriff’s Office have been involved in an officer-involved shooting, while responding to a 9-1-1 call of a disturbance at a residence in east Linn County. The Linn County Major Crimes Team, led by Oregon State Police, have been engaged to investigate the shooting, as is required by agency policy and state statute. We will provide updates as additional details become available.

On 3/16/23 at approximately 10:20 PM, Milwaukie Police Officers were called to the 2900 Block of SE Harrison St. on reports of gun shots.  Officers arrived and located a male in a vehicle attempting to leave the scene later identified as Simon Brassard, 22 of Portland. Officers learned Brassard was involved in the incident and attempted to contact him. Brassard remained in his vehicle refusing to exit. Officers obtained witness information Brassard was potentially armed with a gun and summoned additional resources from Clackamas County Sheriff’s office and the Portland Police Bureau air support unit. A crisis negotiator began speaking with Brassard.

Officers spoke with witnesses and learned gunfire occurred at a nearby residence, where a handgun was subsequently located. After successful negotiations, Brassard surrendered from the vehicle and was safely detained. 

Milwaukie Detectives learned shots were fired into a residence at the location and also fired from inside that same residence into the neighborhood where several bullets struck a neighboring home, shattering a window. No one was injured in the exchange of gunfire and police recovered two handguns. The incident occurred between acquaintances and there is no danger to the public. 

Brassard is being lodged at the Clackamas County Jail on charges of Attempted Murder, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Menacing. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Detective Simac at 503-786-7471 or email simack@milwaukieoregon.gov. MPD case 23-1835

This investigation is ongoing and there is no further information to share at this time.

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) is asking for the public’s continued vigilance about a phone scam impersonating our members. A number of concerned individuals have alerted us to phone scams over the past month. In one instance, a person reported losing $1,500.

Most recently, the scam calls are from someone posing as a Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant or sergeant. It’s been reported that the scammer claims the recipient has missed a grand jury summons and must pay a fine or they will be arrested. New tactics reported to us include, scammers using fake badge numbers and case numbers to try to legitimize their claims.

Often, a method of the scammers is to keep the person on the phone during the entire process and tell the person they are not allowed to contact family or friends for advice. Once the scammer receives payment, they will then tell the person they can come to an MCSO office for reimbursement. 

We want to remind the public that we NEVER conduct matters concerning warrant service, missed jury duty, missed court dates or payment of fines over the phone. We urge you to be aware of these ongoing and evolving scams.

What to do if you are contacted:

•If you are called by a person claiming to be a member of the Sheriff’s Office and they are requesting payment in any capacity, DO NOT SEND MONEY or engage with these individuals. They do not represent the Sheriff’s Office.

•If you have been a victim of this scam, please file a police report by calling 503-823-3333 and select the option for non-emergency police reporting in the jurisdiction that reflects your residence.

Link to video of a voicemail a scammer left a victim and a message from a deputy the scammers often pose as.

Information from the Oregon Department of Justice

Just Hang Up - Oregon Department of Justice

Six Signs It Is A Scam - Oregon Department of Justice

A 25-year-old Fairview resident is found guilty on child sex abuse charges, following a months-long investigation by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO).

The investigation began on March 21, 2022, when patrol deputies responded to a Fairview business to check on the wellbeing of a child, who was under the age of 10. Deputies learned from the child’s parents that a man, later identified as Brendan Tyler Johnson, had been communicating with their child through an online social media application, and that he had requested sexually explicit images from the child. Johnson was arrested.

Over the course of eight months, detectives performed searches of Johnson’s home and meticulously reviewed his internet and electronic communications history, with the help of MCSO’s digital forensic expert. Detectives discovered Johnson’s online activity included the handling and storage of pornographic images of children and the grooming of minors. 

The case was referred to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, and charges were filed following a grand jury indictment.

Earlier this month, after a weeklong trial, a jury found Johnson guilty on two counts of using a child in display of sexually explicit conduct, one count of encouraging child sexual abuse in the second degree, and three counts of encouraging child sexual abuse in the first degree. Johnson’s sentencing is scheduled for April 14, 2023.

“The months-long investigation highlights MCSO’s commitment to creating safer communities and protecting our youth,” MCSO Law Enforcement Chief Deputy James Eriksen said. “Our team worked together to bring justice to the family and prevent Johnson from victimizing anyone else.”

We also want to take this opportunity to remind the public that April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. National Child Abuse Prevention Month recognizes the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect. For resources on online safety, child abuse awareness, age-appropriate education, or to make a report of suspicious online behavior, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s website. You can also report child abuse to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline by calling 1-855-503-SAFE(7233).

On Tuesday, March 21, 2023, the Oregon State Police Major Crimes Section and the Linn County Major Crimes Team responded to Linn County to investigate an officer involved shooting.  

At approximately 2 P.M., Linn County Deputies responded to the area of Cascadia to investigate a reported disturbance.  Upon arrival at the reported location, Deputies confronted an armed male and the incident resulted in two Deputies discharging their duty weapons.  Deputies rendered emergency medical aid to the suspect, Noah David Colgrove (30) of Sweet Home, however he was declared deceased at the scene.  The Deputies were uninjured during the incident. 

The Deputies involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave; per agency policy and practice.

At this time, no further information is available for release.  This is on-going investigation and future updates will come from the Oregon State Police or the Linn County District Attorney’s Office.

On Monday, March 20, 2023, at approximately 7:45 A.M., the Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on Hwy 97, near milepost 151, in Deschutes County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a 2005 Toyota 4Runner, operated by Leland Daniel Angier (31) of Bend, was traveling northbound on Hwy 97, near MP 151, when it lost control on icy road conditions, slid off the roadway and rolled several times before coming to a stop. The single occupant of the vehicle was declared deceased at the scene.

The roadway was impacted for approximately 4 hours during the on-scene investigation of the crash.

OSP was assisted by the Deschutes County Sheriffs' Office, Sunriver PD, Sunriver Fire, and ODOT.

On Saturday, March 18, 2023, at approximately 3:05 P.M., the Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on Interstate 5, near milepost 210, in Linn County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a 2022 Freightliner (CMV) and trailer, operated by Branden Hamilton (50) of Buffalo (NY), went off the roadway and impacted the guardrail and bridge cement barrier on Interstate-5 southbound, near milepost 210. Hamilton was pronounced deceased at the scene from injuries sustained in the crash. 

The highway was closed for approximately 6 hours during the on-scene investigation. The cause of the crash is unknown, however investigators believe the operator may have suffered a medical event prior to the crash.

OSP was assisted by the Halsey/Shedd Fire Department and ODOT.

This evening at 7:18 PM Portland Firefighters were called to a house on fire on the 15100 block of SE Gladstone St. When they arrived firefighters began searching the structure and working to extinguish the fire. One victim was located inside and was brought out of the house. The victim was conscious and was able to walk out, but was suffering from issues related to smoke inhalation. The issues don't appear to be life threatening.

The fire was located on the second floor and was extinguished. A fire investigator was called to determine the cause of the fire. This release will be updated with cause information and any images if and when they are available. 

Portland Fire crews were dispatched this morning at 10:15 to a confined space rescue at SE 9th Ave and SE Lambert St.  Environmental services was on scene, they had removed a man hole cover to inspect the storm drains below when unsuspecting 14 year old Labrador retriever named Tess walked over and didn’t see the opening and fell 23’ to the bottom. 

Several crews were on scene including the technical rescue team. They set up and used a piece of equipment called an Arizona Vortex which allows for quick deployment of a rescuer from a high point.  It provided the team with an anchor point to lower a firefighter down to the dog. Once the rescuer reached the dog they were able to put a harness around it and hoist it out.  The dog was uninjured and able to return home to its owners. 

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

The Sandy Police Department has identified the suspect of the carjacking on March 15^th as 23 year old Carlos Sanchez. Mr. Sanchez has ties to Sandy and Lebanon, Oregon but is suspected to be in/around the Portland Metro Area. A picture of Mr. Sanchez and a police sketch compiled with help from the victim accompanies this release. If you see Mr. Sanchez, call 911 and do not approach him. Carlos Sanchez is considered armed and has active arrest warrants. Mr. Sanchez may still be in possession of the victim’s stolen car, a Gray 2004 Toyota Camry with Oregon plate 381NBX. Non-urgent tips about the location of Mr Sanchez or the car can be called in to Clackamas County Non-Emergency Dispatch at 503-655-8211 so that an on-duty officer can take the information.

On February 26, 2023 at approximately 7:21pm, the pictured female was seen entering the locker room at a Tualatin fitness center, where she stole a victim’s wallet from a gym locker. 

The female suspect then went to a local bank ATM in Tualatin and attempted to withdraw cash using the victim’s debit card. Next, the female suspect also attempted to use the stolen card at a Tualatin gas station. 

Tualatin Police believe the female suspect might have targeted other gyms in Portland and Vancouver. Anyone with information on the identification of this individual is asked to contact the Tualatin Police Department at 503-691-4800 and reference case number 23-003781. Individuals who wish to remain anonymous can call the tip-line at 503-691-0285.

No further information at this time.

https://bit.ly/3Z2deOd

TVF&R recognizes collaborative effort to rescue West Linn fire victim 

Firefighters, a quick-thinking family member, and a vigilant bystander who helped save a life during a house fire in West Linn will reunite and be recognized for their efforts.

WEST LINN — On the evening of February 26, 2023, two family members were inside a West Linn home when the granddaughter of the homeowner spotted a flickering orange glow from the corner of her eyes. She immediately sprang into action and executed a series of steps that led to the successful rescue of her grandmother, including persuading her grandmother to evacuate, calling 9-1-1, enlisting the help of neighbors and bystanders, and staying on the phone with dispatch through much of the event. 

As the fire was rapidly spreading, the grandmother slipped at the bottom of the stairs and was unable to evacuate on her own. A bystander who was driving through the neighborhood pulled over and immediately jumped into action, entering the burning home and pulling the grandmother toward the front door. TVF&R firefighters arrived to the home and carried the grandmother out the front door and to the front lawn for further assessment. They then returned to a hose line and helped bring the fire under control.

Without the quick actions of everyone involved, the outcome of the fire could have become fatal. Remarkably, the granddaughter escaped uninjured, and the grandmother sustained only minor injuries. Media are invited to watch as the granddaughter, bystander, and fire crews reunite for the first time on Wednesday. 

What: TVF&R highlights a successful and collaborative rescue effort
When: Wednesday, March 22, 2023, 10:00 a.m.
Where: TVF&R Station 56 – 8445 SW Elligsen Rd, Wilsonville, OR 97070 
Visuals: Media are invited to film and conduct interviews at the reunion event. Immediately afterwards, media are invited to film a TVF&R training exercise where firefighters are drilling on various search & rescue techniques using simulated smoke and thermal imaging cameras at 7151 SW Boeckman Rd. in Wilsonville.

For questions the day of the event please call or text 971-895-3552. 

Vancouver, Wash. – On March 18, 2023, at approximately 2:15 p.m., Vancouver Police responded to the Springfield Meadows apartments (4317 NE 66^th Avenue) regarding a welfare check for Meshay Melendez, 27 years old, and her 7-year-old daughter Layla Stewart. Family members reported they had not heard from Meshay since March 11, and a friend told them Meshay and Layla had not been home for a few days and their dog was inside the apartment barking. A family member let the officer into Meshay’s apartment, which was unoccupied except for the dog. 

Investigators learned that Meshay, Layla, and Meshay’s ex-boyfriend Kirkland C. Warren had stayed at the home of an acquaintance on March 11 and the three were seen leaving in a burgundy Dodge Charger on March 12 at approximately 6:00 a.m.

On March 19, Meshay’s mother located her vehicle (2000 Chrysler 200) in the 7800 block of NE Loowit Loop. Vancouver Police seized it for a search warrant. 

On March 19, Vancouver Police executed a search warrant at Warren’s residence (3700 block of NE 109^th Ave) and took Warren into custody. He was arrested and booked on Tampering with a Witness, Violation of DV Orders (Meshay Melendez as the listed protected person), Assault IV-DV, Drive-By Shooting and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm II.

On March 22, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call regarding two bodies that were located in a rural area near Washougal. Vancouver Police Detectives were contacted and believe them to be Meshay Melendez and Layla Stewart, based on unique identifying genetic marks. Family members of Meshay and Layla have been notified. Cause and manner of death are pending the report from the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office. 

The investigation is continuing and nothing further is releasable at this time.

###

Additional photographs attached

The Vancouver Police Department is requesting assistance in locating a missing endangered male, missing from his home in Vancouver, WA. Spencer, Michael J. (69 years old). His son last saw him around 2000 hours yesterday (March 21st) and believes he may be experiencing a dementia episode.  He has low functionality and requires extensive assistance at home with regular tasks.  

Michael is a White male, 5’10”, 190-200 lbs., gray / brown hair, and blue eyes. Michael was last believed to be wearing a dark flannel shirt with a blue under shirt and gray jeans.  

Michael does not have a vehicle and is believed to be getting around on foot.

If found, please call the Vancouver Police Department through the Columbia Regional Emergency Services Agency at 311 or 911.

The Vancouver Police Department is requesting anyone with surveillance systems, to check their cameras in the event they captured any of the following vehicles between the dates of 3/11/23 – 3/18/23: 2021 maroon Dodge Charger license OR plate 812MWM, 1999 white Chevrolet Lumina WA license plate 3A68206, and a 2011 white Chrysler 200 WA license plate.

The Vancouver Police Department is actively following up on leads received from both the community as well as evidence recovered as part of the search warrant at the residence of Kirkland Warren following his arrest on March 19. Warren is a person of interest in the disappearance of Meshay and Layla and thus far, is the person we believe they were last with.

Warren was arrested on March 19 and booked into jail for Tampering with a Witness, Violation of DV Orders (Meshay Melendez the listed protected person), and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm II.

Please contact Sgt. Ballou at allou@cityofvancouver.us">julie.ballou@cityofvancouver.us with any additional information.

The Vancouver Police Department is seeking the assistance of the public in locating 27-year-old Meshay Melendez and her 7-year-old daughter, Layla Stewart. The pair was last seen in the early morning hours of March 12 in the 7700 block of Vancouver Mall Drive. A vehicle believed to belong to Meshay was located a short distance away on March 19.

Meshay is 5’9”, 185lbs with black hair and brown eyes. Layla is about 4’, 50lbs with brown hair and hazel eyes.

If you have any information about Meshay & Layla’s whereabouts, please contact Detective Givens obert.givens@cityofvancouver.us">robert.givens@cityofvancouver.us, Detective Nolan chadd.nolan@cityofvancouver.us, or call 911.

Update 2

On March 20, 2023, at approximately 5:00 a.m., Vancouver Police detectives, with assistance from Portland Police Bureau SERT, the Vancouver Police Department Safe Streets Task Force and Vancouver Police Department Neighborhood Response Team, served a search warrant at a residence in the 10800 block of SE Stark Street in Portland and arrested Austin A. Bell, 21 years of age. Bell was wanted in connection with a March 11 murder, assault and drive-by shooting investigation that occurred in Vancouver. 

Bell is currently lodged in the Multnomah County Jail awaiting extradition to Clark County to face charges of Murder I, Assault I and Drive-By Shooting. 

Nothing further is releasable at this time. 

Update

On March 15, 2023, at 3:20 a.m., Vancouver Police arrested Nicholas Martinell-Sterling, 28 years of age, at a residence in the 7900 block of NE Burton Rd. 

Sterling was booked into the Clark County Jail for Murder I, Assault I and Drive-By Shooting.

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

Vancouver, Wash. – On March 11, 2023, at approximately 11:35 p.m., several males are involved in a confrontation at the Safeway located at 6701 E Mill Plain Blvd. As two of the males leave the store, the suspects fire multiple rounds at them. The victims were able to get into their vehicle and drive toward a nearby hospital. The suspects followed and fire additional rounds at the vehicle as they are nearing the hospital.

One of the victims, a 28-year-old male was pronounced deceased at the hospital. The other three victims, a 42-year-old male, a 35-year-old male and a 36-year-old female also suffered gunshot wounds. 

The Vancouver Police Department Major Crime Unit, Safe Streets Task Force, Neighborhood Response Team, Property Crime Unit and Traffic Unit assisted with the response. The Major Crime Unit is continuing the investigation. 

Nothing further is releasable at this time. 

###

This afternoon, deputies responded to a bank robbery and are now asking for the public’s help locating the bank robber who was recorded on surveillance cameras. 

On Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at 12:09 p.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies serving the City of Cornelius responded to a bank robbery at the US Bank located at 1735 N Adair Street.

After deputies arrived, they learned a man had presented a bank teller with a note demanding money, and the man left the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Deputies and Hillsboro Police Officers searched the area for the man but did not find him.

The man who robbed the bank is described as a white male, approximately 70 years old, with white hair and a white beard, about 5’ 10”, and 180 pounds. 

Deputies ask community members to contact Washington County Consolidated Communications Agency non-emergency dispatch at (503) 629-0111 if they know the man’s location or have any additional information about him or the bank robbery.

Members of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Crash Analysis Reconstruction Team (CART) arrest the driver of a vehicle that struck and killed a pedestrian.

On Friday, March 17, 2023, at 3:48 a.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a crash involving a pedestrian and a vehicle. When deputies arrived, they learned a person was crossing Tualatin Valley Highway in a crosswalk near SW 178^th Avenue when a white 2001 Volvo S60 struck the person and then crashed into a power pole. The pedestrian was killed in the crash. 

The driver, 32-year-old Emanuel Starr, was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries and was released a few hours later. 

The Sheriff’s Office Crash Analysis Reconstruction Team (CART) responded to the scene to investigate the crash. Through CART’s investigation, investigators believe Starr was impaired and driving at a high rate of speed when the crash happened. 

This afternoon, investigators on CART arrested Starr for several charges related to the crash, including manslaughter in the second degree, driving under the influence of intoxicants, and reckless driving. Starr was lodged in the Washington County Jail.

The pedestrian’s name is not being released now. 

Tualatin Valley Highway was closed for several hours so CART members could investigate the crash and Portland General Electric could repair their damaged equipment.

UPDATE: Photo of Jesus Camarena now included.

ORGINAL: Wednesday March 22, 2023 – Woodburn, OR - On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at approximately 3:09 p.m., Woodburn Police officers observed 26-year-old Jesus Camarena enter a residence in the 1000 block of Williams Ave in Woodburn. The officers, aware Camarena had multiple felony warrants issued for his arrest, set a perimeter around the residence and requested other individuals inside to exit. Camarena was not observed exiting during this time. 

Due to serious nature of the warrants, the Marion County Regional SWAT Team was requested to conduct a search of the residence. A shelter-in-place was issued at approximately 4:30 p.m. for residents in the 1000 block of Williams Ave, and a section of Highway 99E was closed in both directions between Lincoln St and Hardcastle Ave. At approximately 5:42 p.m. a warrant was signed by a Marion County Judge to search the residence for Camarena. Marion County Regional SWAT members then conducted a search but did not locate him.

Camarena is described as a Hispanic male, 6’0” and 165lbs, with black hair, brown eyes, and a tattoo on his right hand.

He is wanted for a Parole Violation for Felon in Possession of Firearm, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Assaulting an Officer, as well as separate warrants for Unlawful Use of a Vehicle and Domestic Violence. 

Anyone with information about Jesus Camarena’s location is asked to contact the Woodburn Police Department at 503-982-234/5.  

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VANCOUVER, WA—Two Vancouver Clinic surgeons have performed the first-ever robotic hernia and hysterectomy procedures in a standalone ambulatory surgery center in the greater Pacific Northwest (Wash., Ore., Idaho, Alaska, and Northern Calif.).

Dr. Leslie Disher performed the hernia surgery Monday, March 13, and Dr. Jacob Calvert performed three hysterectomies on Wednesday, March 15 at the new Vancouver Clinic Surgery Center. 

“Vancouver Clinic joins a handful of surgery centers across the country who can offer this type of outpatient procedure,” said Dr. Calvert, OBGYN. “I am excited to be part of the team leading surgical care forward in our region.”

After the procedures, the patients were able to safely and comfortably recover at home. Their care teams used phone calls to check in regularly and answer any questions.

“If I had a family member needing a hysterectomy, I would recommend they travel to Vancouver for surgery given what we can now offer,” Dr. Calvert said. “Our comprehensive approach to surgery allows us to offer high-quality care at a fraction of the cost compared to the same procedure performed in a hospital. Employing the latest tools and technology helps us offer patients the best possible care and an easier recovery.”

Drs. Calvert and Disher used the da Vinci Robotic Surgical system, installed as part of the Salmon Creek 2 expansion project.

The da Vinci allows surgeons to use very small tools and access difficult-to-reach areas of the body without a large incision. The minimally invasive technique can be used for gallbladder, hernia, reproductive organ, colon, kidney, and bladder surgeries. 

“This technology is exciting for us to be able to share with our patients at Vancouver Clinic,” Dr. Disher said. “A wide variety of surgeries—including inguinal hernias, umbilical and ventral hernias, and cholecystectomies—can be performed in our surgery center now that we have the robotic platform. All of these robotic surgeries would have been done at the hospital before now.”

Vancouver Clinic now offers two robotic-assisted surgical systems for outpatient procedures. In 2021, orthopedists began using the MAKO™ robotic-assisted surgery device to perform full joint replacements for low-risk individuals. The MAKO™ device allows surgeons to place new hip and knee joints with extreme accuracy for natural movement.

Thanks to these new technologies, plus better pain-management options, patients have alternatives to a traditional hospital experience. Physicians from specialties throughout Vancouver Clinic can schedule patients into the surgery center to help ensure fast access to high-quality, low-cost surgical care.

The new Vancouver Clinic Surgery Center is open for limited procedures at this time and will be fully open in May 2023. 

About Vancouver Clinic

Vancouver Clinic is the largest independent, physician-owned, multispecialty medical practice in the Northwest. With 460 clinicians and 1,200 employees, Vancouver Clinic is also one of the largest employers in the region. Founded 85 years ago, Vancouver Clinic offers comprehensive primary, specialty, and surgical care. For more information, visit tvc.org.

photos available upon request

Portland, Ore. – About $3 million in funding is available for natural resource projects that restore and improve public lands across western Oregon. The Bureau of Land Management encourages individuals, organizations, and local governments to submit funding applications for consideration. 

Project funding is available through Title II of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. Proposed projects should restore land health, improve water quality, or maintain existing infrastructure. Projects must benefit Oregon and California Grant (O&C) lands and resources. O&C lands are located in the 18 western Oregon counties, including: Benton, Clackamas, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, and Yamhill Counties. 

“Title II funds are used to make investments in public lands and create employment opportunities,” said Heather Whitman, Roseburg District Manager. “These projects are vital because they improve cooperative relationships among the people that use and care for public lands.”  

BLM officials encourage applicants to discuss their project proposals with them prior to submission. Please contact the BLM District representative where the project would be implemented:

• Coos Bay District – Stephanie Messerle, l@blm.gov">smesserl@blm.gov, (541) 751-4230
• Medford District, Roseburg District, and Klamath Falls Field Office of the Lakeview District – Christina Beslin, eslin@blm.gov">cbeslin@blm.gov, (541) 618-2371; or
• Northwest Oregon District – Patricia Johnston, pjohnsto@blm.gov, (541) 683-6181.

The application forms, criteria, and instructions are available through grants.gov. The grant is under the heading Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement L23AS00283 BLM OR/WA Secure Rural Schools, Title II Grants. 

Applications are due by May 15, 2023. 

Examples of previously funded projects include noxious weed treatments, trail maintenance, garbage removal, and stream restoration. 

The Western Oregon Resource Advisory Committee will review the applications at their fall 2023 meeting.

Information about the BLM’s Western Oregon Resource Advisory Committee is available at: blm.gov/get-involved/resource-advisory-council/near-you/oregon-washington/western-oregon-rac

On Saturday, April 8, 2023, at the Fort Vancouver Visitor Center, Director Erik Flint and Curator Heidi Pierson of the Lewis Army Museum in Tacoma, WA, will present a historical overview and discussion of diversity and inclusion in the United States Army. This presentation will cover key moments and significant shifts in military policy and practice, which reduced discrimination and allowed more opportunities to serve. In addition, this presentation will highlight individual service members and emphasize connections to Washington State.

Erik Flint is a retired lieutenant colonel and has been the director of the Lewis Army Museum for eight years. Over his 35-year military career, Flint served as an enlisted US Marine, Washington State Army National Guard soldier, active-duty Army infantry officer, and Army Reserve officer. He was deployed twice to Iraq as a special operations combat historian and prior to retirement from the Army Reserve, served as the First Corps command historian at Join Base Lewis McChord. Flint has a bachelor's degree in History and a master's degree in International Land Warfare Studies. In his free time Flint also leads historical battlefield tours in Europe and throughout the Pacific.

Heidi Pierson has a Master of Arts degree in Anthropology, with a specialization in museum studies and historical archaeology. Pierson worked for the National Park Service at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site beginning in 2004, before taking the curator position at Lewis Army Museum in 2015. Pierson uses her knowledge of history and anthropology to provide a unique perspective on the history of the US Army in the Pacific Northwest.

"We are incredibly pleased to welcome the director and curator of the Lewis Army Museum to Fort Vancouver. Military history is a key component of this National Park Service site, and we are glad to offer this opportunity for our visitors to learn more," said Fort Vancouver National Historic Site Superintendent Tracy Fortmann. Fort Vancouver NHS encompasses areas of Vancouver Barracks, the region's earliest Army post, founded in 1849.

What: Exploring Diversity and Inclusion in the US Military, a public talk presented by Director Erik Flint and Curator Heidi Pierson of the Lewis Army Museum

When: Saturday, April 8, 2023, at 1 pm

Where: Fort Vancouver National Historic Site Visitor Center, 1501 East Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver, WA 98661

Cost: Free. Advance reservations are recommended. To reserve a spot, please go to the Friends of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site website here.

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Clackamas, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today for robbing a local pub with a gun.

Dustin Lee Henderson, 42, was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.

According to court documents, on November 22, 2019, Henderson robbed the Lighthouse Pub, a public house and deli located on 82^nd Avenue in Clackamas. In video surveillance of the robbery, Henderson was seen handing the pub clerk a bag, brandishing a firearm, and taking five cartons of cigarettes. The pub’s owner chased Henderson through the parking lot when Henderson discharged a single round from his firearm, prompting the owner to stop the chase. Law enforcement later recovered a .22 caliber cartridge case near the site of the shooting.

Law enforcement later observed Henderson in a nearby mobile home lot and arrested him. Investigators executed a state search warrant on a mobile home where Henderson resided and recovered the stolen cigarette cartons, clothes worn by Henderson during the robbery, and a .22 pistol. DNA analysis later linked Henderson to the seized firearm.

On March 17, 2022, Henderson was charged by superseding indictment with interfering with commerce with threats or violence, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. 

On April 27, 2022, after a three-day trial, Henderson was found guilty on all counts.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from Oregon State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cassady Adams, Craig Gabriel, and Suzanne Miles prosecuted the case.

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PORTLAND, Ore.—A Clackamas, Oregon man appeared in federal court today after he was arrested on child pornography charges less than three months after completing a federal prison sentence for similar conduct.

Nicholas James Stacy, 29, has been charged by criminal complaint with transporting and possessing child pornography.

According to the complaint, in March 2023, special agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) were contacted by Portland Police Bureau detectives investigating multiple CyberTipline reports they had received regarding Stacy’s alleged use of Facebook, Dropbox, and other web services to possess and distribute child pornography.

Stacy was released from federal custody in December 2022 after serving a 60-month sentence on a previous child pornography conviction. While on post-prison supervision, Stacy was prohibited from possessing a computer or other electronic devices or accessing the internet for any reason without permission from his probation officer.

On March 16, 2023, investigators executed federal search warrants on Stacy’s person, residence, and his mother’s residence. Agents seized multiple electronic devices Stacy possessed in violation of his terms of supervision and placed him under arrest.

Stacy made his first appearance in federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Youlee Yim You. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.

This case was investigated by HSI, the Portland Police Bureau, and U.S. Probation Office. It is being prosecuted by Mira Chernick, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

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

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to contact HSI at (866) 347-2423 or submit a tip online at report.cybertip.org.

Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.

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

# # #

TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY COMMITTEE

MEETING CANCELLED

Notice of Meeting Cancellation

The Telecommunications Policy Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training meeting scheduled for May 3rd, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. has been cancelled due to lack of agenda items.

The next Telecommunications Policy Committee meeting is scheduled for August 2nd, 2023, at 9:00 a.m.

PORTLAND, Ore. – March 20, 2023 – The 2023 National Earthquake Program Managers (NEPM) meeting will take place March 21-23 at the Duniway Hotel at 545 SW Taylor St. The event aims to provide information sharing and capacity-building opportunities for state, federal, non-profit and private sector members of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP).

This year's NEPM meeting is co-hosted by the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Cascadia Region Earthquake Workgroup (CREW). OEM Geological Hazards Program Coordinator and 2023 NEPM Chair Althea Rizzo will lead the meeting, alongside 2023 NEPM Vice-Chair Scott Gauvin, who also serves as manager of strategic operations and preparedness with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

“It’s a privilege to work with people from across the country so passionate about improving earthquake safety,” said Rizzo. “Earthquake preparedness and mitigation is a vital investment in our collective resilience, safeguarding our communities and securing the future against nature's unpredictable upheavals."

The NEPM group is primarily composed of state emergency management agency representatives who actively plan and prepare to reduce earthquake-related losses in their states. While some states have a dedicated earthquake program manager, in others, the responsibility is shared. Collectively known as the National Earthquake Program Managers, the group holds annual meetings to develop programs, share best practices and foster relationships.

The NEPM group first began holding annual meetings in the early 1990s, and after a brief hiatus, resumed meeting in 2004 at the National Earthquake Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. Since then, the group has met yearly to continue building resilience against the high-consequence hazard of earthquakes.

For more information, visit EQProgram.net.

# # #

WHAT
The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is hosting its Oregon Prepared Conference for the emergency management community this week in Sunriver. The workshop provides training and information on programs, current issues, and a place to discuss lessons learned and best practices related to all phases of emergency management in Oregon. This marks the return of the event following a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19.

OEM will host a media availability from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. on March 21. OEM Deputy Director Matt Marheine will be available for one-on-one interviews about the state of emergency management in Oregon. Visit the workshop session discussing evacuation planning for B-roll footage.

WHEN
Media Availability: 9:45-10:45 a.m. on March 21
Conference: March 21-23

WHERE
Homestead Ballroom at Sunriver Resort, 56924 Meadow Rd.

WHO
Workshop attendees (450) include tribal, county, city, special district, state and federal emergency management, public safety and health preparedness staff, DHS/FEMA preparedness grant recipients, and non-profit and private sector partners with a role in preparedness, response, recovery and resilience.

INFORMATION
Oregon Emergency Preparedness Workshop

RSVP
Please contact Chris Crabb, OEM Public Affairs Officer, at 971-719-0089 or is.crabb@oem.oregon.gov">chris.crabb@oem.oregon.gov in advance to make arrangements.

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

Mia, age 16, is a child who went missing from Salem on Nov. 29, 2022. She was found March 17, 2023. 

Sometimes when a child is missing they may be in significant danger and ODHS may need to locate them to assess and support their safety. As ODHS works to do everything it can to find these missing children and assess their safety, media alerts will be issued in some circumstances when it is determined necessary. Sometimes, in these situations, a child may go missing repeatedly, resulting in more than one media alert for the same child.

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

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An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, William M. Blanscet, died the evening of March 19, 2023. Blanscet was incarcerated at Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP) in Salem and passed away in the infirmary while on hospice care. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified.

Blanscet entered DOC custody on April 9, 2004, from Josephine County with an earliest release date of April 2, 2032. Blanscet was 53 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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An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, Richard Donald Mortimore, died the morning of March 18, 2023. Mortimore was incarcerated at Two Rivers Correctional Institution (TRCI) in Umatilla and passed away in the infirmary. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified.

Mortimore entered DOC custody on January 16, 2020, Marion County with an earliest release date of August 6, 2029. Mortimore was 73 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 12,000 individuals who are incarcerated in 12 institutions across the state. While crime information is public record, DOC elects to disclose only upon request out of respect for any family or victims.

TRCI is a multi-custody prison in Umatilla that houses approximately 1,800 adults in custody. TRCI participates in prison industries with Oregon Corrections Enterprises including institution and industrial laundry, mattress manufacturing, and sewing. Other institution work programs include reparation and cleaning of irrigation ditches, maintenance of local baseball fields, and work with local cities and the Hermiston School District. The facility provides a range of correctional programs and services including education, religious services, and behavioral health services. TRCI opened in 2000.

####

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, Donald Dale Johnson, died the afternoon of March 17, 2023. Johnson was incarcerated at Snake River Correctional Institution (SRCI) in Ontario and passed away at a local hospital. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified. 

Johnson entered DOC custody on July 14, 2016, from Linn County with an earliest release date of October 28, 2028. Johnson was 73 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 individuals who are incarcerated in 12 institutions across the state. While crime information is public record, DOC elects to disclose only upon request out of respect for any family or victims.

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

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SALEM, Ore. — The Committee for Family Forestlands will meet virtually on Thursday, March 23 from 9 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. To join virtually, please use the Zoom video conference information found on the agenda. 

The committee’s agenda includes:

• Forest Resources Division update
• Private Forest Accord Small Forestland Investment in Stream Habitat Program (SFISH) update
• Legislative update
• Forest legacy update 
• Board of Forestry update including Forestry Plan for Oregon (FPFO)
• Discuss procedure and topics for CFF annual report
• CFF members and succession
• Round table discussion

The meeting is open to the public to attend online via Zoom. Public comments will be accepted near the start of the meeting. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 24 hours before the meeting by emailing estlands@odf.oregon.gov">committee.of.family.forestlands@odf.oregon.gov.

The 13-member committee researches policies that affect family forests, natural resources and forestry benefits. Based on its findings, the committee recommends actions to the Oregon Board of Forestry and the State Forester. View more information on the CFF webpage.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
March 21, 2023 

CONTACT INFORMATION: 
umenauer@employ.oregon.gov">Gail Krumenauer, State Employment Economist (971) 301-3771 
Video and Audio available at 10 a.m. 

Oregon’s Nonfarm Payroll Jobs Changed Little in February 

In Oregon, nonfarm payroll employment declined by 100 jobs in February, following a gain of 9,600 jobs in January. Job losses in February were largest in manufacturing (-1,300 jobs) and financial activities (-1,000). Gains were largest in construction (+1,400 jobs), private educational services (+1,000), and government (+700). 

Nondurable goods manufacturing experienced more job cuts than normal in both January and February. The industry employed 57,800 in February, which was close to its February totals of the prior two years. Food manufacturing comprises about half of nondurable goods manufacturing employment and, at 27,800 jobs in February, was close to its February totals of each of the past seven years. Meanwhile, durable goods manufacturing hasn’t gained much ground lately, as it has hovered close to 137,000 jobs during the past eight months. Recent gains in machinery manufacturing have been offset by declines in computer and electronic product manufacturing. 

Construction employment rose sharply in February, reaching another record high of 122,700. The industry added 7,500 jobs, or 6.5%, over the past 12 months. Since February 2022, all published components of construction are up between 3.8% and 9.3%. The component that grew the fastest was building equipment contractors, which added 3,000 jobs, or 9.3%, in that time. Both components within construction of buildings grew close to 4%, with residential building construction up 800 jobs, or 3.8%, and nonresidential building construction up 500 jobs, or 4.3%. 

Government employment rebounded above to its pre-pandemic high of early 2020, as it rose to 302,100 jobs in February. Local government education rose to 139,100 jobs in February, which was 6,500 jobs above its year-ago figure, and is now nearly back to its February 2020 total of 141,900. Local government, excluding education slowly expanded over the past eight months; it employed 97,700 in February. 

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.7% in February, little changed from 4.8% in January. Oregon’s unemployment rate averaged 4.8% over the past six months. In February, the U.S. unemployment rate rose to 3.6%, from 3.4% in January. 

Next Press Releases 
The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the February county and metropolitan area unemployment rates on Tuesday, March 28, and the next statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for March on Wednesday, April 19.

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March 22, 2023

Media contacts: Jonathan Modie, Oregon Health Authority, 971-246-9139, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

OHA providing vouchers for free well testing, water treatment

Umatilla, Morrow residents in Groundwater Management Area can submit applications through May 15

PORTLAND, Ore.— Oregon Health Authority is urging private well users in Umatilla and Morrow counties to take advantage of free water testing and treatment so well users in those counties can know their risk of exposure to nitrate and other contaminants.

Domestic (private) well users who live in parts of Umatilla and Morrow counties that are within the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area, or LUBGWMA, are eligible to apply for water testing vouchers. To be eligible for a free voucher the well water must be used for drinking, bathing, cooking and washing dishes, and the well is not part of a public water system.

“It’s important that everyone in this area of concern who relies on a domestic well finds out whether they are exposed to high nitrates and other common contaminants in their drinking water,” said Gabriela Goldfarb, OHA’s Environmental Public Health Section manager. “Testing is an essential first step that allows OHA to provide well users in Umatilla and Morrow counties access to treatment systems or other alternative sources of water for daily living.”

Testing voucher applications are accepted through May 15 and expire June 7. They cover testing for nitrate, arsenic, bacteria, lead, iron, manganese and hardness. Applications are available at http://bit.ly/3xzx1cp. They also can be accessed from OHA’s LUBGWMA page in both English and Spanish.

As of today, 38 testing vouchers have been distributed in Morrow County and one in Umatilla County. Most were submitted following a March 11 event organized by Morrow County Public Health and community-based organization Oregon Rural Action. Volunteers went door to door to promote well water testing, distribute OHA well testing voucher applications and collect water samples.

Morrow County conducted extensive water testing after issuing a June 2022 domestic well water emergency declaration; Umatilla County has also made testing available to residents. OHA is working closely with the counties to use existing test results to identify households at risk and offer treatment and, where treatment is not adequate, provide alternative water supplies with support from the Oregon Department of Human Services. End-of-tap treatment systems are not effective when nitrate levels are above 25 milligrams per liter (mg/L), or may not produce enough water to meet the needs of larger households.

There are an estimated 4,500 wells used for drinking water in the LUBGWMA. Some wells serve multiple households. OHA estimates about 80% of the wells are in Umatilla County and 20% are in Morrow County.

OHA’s testing and treatment effort is funded through June 2023 by a $881,987 Legislative Emergency Board allocation, which pays for 800 tests and 84 reverse-osmosis treatment systems. Gov. Tina Kotek’s budget request this year includes resources that would extend funding for this work into the 2023-2025 biennium.

OHA will soon begin providing vouchers for in-home treatment systems for certain households with private well water. Those that have tested at or above 10 mg/L, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) maximum recommended contaminant level for the compound in drinking water, may be eligible for treatment or provision of water for household use.

The LUBGWMA is an area that spans the northern portions of Morrow and Umatilla counties along the Columbia River, and encompasses the cities of Hermiston, Boardman, Irrigon, Stanfield, Echo and nearby unincorporated areas. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) designated the LUBGWMA in 1990 under Oregon’s groundwater Quality Protection Act of 1989 due to regional nitrate-nitrogen concentrations in groundwater that exceeded 7 mg/L.

Here is what different nitrate levels mean: The federal Safe Drinking Water Act defines high nitrate as a level exceeding 10 mg/L.

• Nitrate up to 10 mg/L is SAFE for all uses.
• Nitrate between 11 mg/L and 40 mg/L is NOT SAFE to drink for infants who rely on baby formula, children younger than 3, or women who are or may become pregnant, or to use for tooth brushing in children younger than 3. It is SAFE to drink short term, up to a year, by people 3 and older (except pregnant women), pets and livestock. It is SAFE for other domestic uses, including bathing, washing dishes, laundry and garden irrigation.
• Nitrate above 40 mg/L is NOT SAFE for drinking. It is SAFE for other domestic uses, including bathing, washing dishes, laundry and garden irrigation.

OHA has additional information about nitrate in a fact sheet posted on its website in English and Spanish.

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March 22, 2023

Contact: Afiq Hisham, 971-273-3374, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Oregon Psilocybin Services issues state’s first licenses

PORTLAND, Ore. –Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has issued the state’s first psilocybin license as part of the nation’s first regulatory framework for psilocybin services. The manufacturer license was issued to a woman-owned business, Satori Farms PDX LLC, owned by Tori Armbrust. As the nation celebrates Women’s History Month, this woman-owned business will bring communities one step closer towards accessing psilocybin services in Oregon.

“We congratulate Tori Armbrust of Satori Farms PDX LLC for being issued the first psilocybin license in Oregon’s history and for representing women leading the way for the emerging psilocybin ecosystem,” says Oregon Psilocybin Services Section Manager Angie Allbee. “We are committed to fostering an inclusive partnership with our regulated community to ensure safe, effective and equitable psilocybin services throughout the state.”

The role of Oregon Psilocybin Services (OPS) is to license psilocybin facilitators, manufacturers, service centers and laboratories, while ensuring that those licensees and their workers comply with Oregon law. OPS began accepting applications for the four license types on January 2, 2023. OPS expects to issue additional licenses to laboratories, service centers and facilitators in the coming months.

Anyone interested in accessing psilocybin services can find service centers and facilitators once they are licensed on the OPS Licensee Directory website. The directory will contain licensee names and contact details for all licensees that have requested to have their information published. This may also provide opportunities for licensed psilocybin businesses to connect.

Oregon Psilocybin Services (OPS) has also begun publishing a Weekly Report on Applications for Licenses and Worker Permits. The new weekly report includes information about total number of applications received by type and status. OPS will update the report on a weekly basis.

OPS encourages the public to visit the OPS website for more information and to sign up for updates on the section’s work.

For the latest updates, subscribe to the Oregon Psilocybin Services distribution list at: oregon.gov/psilocybin 

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March 21, 2023

Media contacts:

• Jonathan Modie, Oregon Health Authority, 971-246-9139, Communications@oha.oregon.gov
• Andrea Cantu-Schomus, Oregon Department of Agriculture, 503-881-9049, ea.cantu-schomus@oda.oregon.gov">andrea.cantu-schomus@oda.oregon.gov

Gresham company recalling frozen strawberry products linked to hepatitis A cases in Washington

Oregon health officials are working with federal partners to determine whether product has caused any illnesses in Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore.— Scenic Fruit Company of Gresham is recalling frozen "Organic Strawberries” sold at Costco, Aldi, KeHE, Vital Choice Seafood and PCC Community Markets, and frozen “Organic Tropical Fruit Blend” sold at Trader Joe’s, due to an outbreak of hepatitis A illnesses.

Five outbreak-associated cases of hepatitis A have been reported in Washington since March 13. The five cases occurred between November 11 and December 27, 2022, and two individuals required hospitalization. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), everyone reported eating frozen organic strawberries.

Although no patients with hepatitis A in Oregon have been definitively linked to the consumption of these products, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) officials are monitoring the outbreak in Washington. In addition, OHA is interviewing persons diagnosed with hepatitis A to determine if any have consumed frozen berries.

“Since these products were available in Oregon stores, we want to let people know about them so they can take steps to protect themselves and their families,” said Ann Thomas, M.D., M.P.H., a public health physician in OHA’s Acute and Communicable Disease Prevention Section. “At this point, OHA is carefully investigating any new cases of hepatitis A virus to determine if they are associated with the outbreak, but we have not yet been able to link any Oregon cases to these products.”

The following products are subject to this recall:

The company has ceased the production and distribution of the product as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the company continue their investigation into what caused the problem. In addition, the company is removing all inventories of the affected lot from sale.

“The company is voluntarily recalling the affected products and cooperating with the FDA,” said Karel Smit, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Food Safety Program manager. “The purpose of the recall is to remove the products from commerce and prevent the public from consuming potentially affected products.”

Although no hepatitis A virus has been found in the products, consumers should stop eating the product, and return it to the place of purchase for a full refund, or throw it away. Consumers with questions may contact the company at .service@scenicfruit.com">customer.service@scenicfruit.com.

Thomas said, “People who believe they’ve gotten sick from consuming frozen strawberries purchased at Costco or Trader Joe’s should contact a health care provider.”

Since 2014, Oregon has seen an average of 20 cases a year, with 2020 having the highest number at 29. Symptoms of hepatitis A infection include jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes), tiredness, stomach pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (frequent watery bowel movements), dark urine, and light-colored bowel movements.

The disease varies in severity, with mild cases lasting two weeks or less and more severe cases lasting four to six weeks or longer. Hepatitis A infection can result in hospitalization. Some individuals, especially children, may not develop jaundice and may have a mild illness that can go unnoticed. However, even mildly ill people can be highly infectious. People with symptoms suggestive of hepatitis should consult a physician immediately, even if symptoms are mild.

For information about the national hepatitis A outbreak linked to frozen strawberries, visit the CDC website. General information about hepatitis A is available on OHA’s and CDC’s websites.

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March 20, 2023

Media contacts: Jonathan Modie, Oregon Health Authority, 971-246-9139, 

PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

OHA issues statement on Legacy Mount Hood waiver request

PORTLAND, Ore.— Oregon Health Authority is issuing the following statement regarding Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center’s request for a waiver that would allow it to discontinue maternity services at its Family Birth Center:

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is highly concerned about reports that maternity patients at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center are being redirected to other Legacy hospitals such as Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel. OHA has not granted Legacy’s waiver and is in the process of reviewing Legacy’s responses to the many questions OHA posed to Legacy about its waiver request. OHA received Legacy’s responses late on Friday, March 17. OHA has been very clear with Legacy that it cannot cease providing required maternity services at its Family Birth Center without receiving OHA approval of a waiver.

OHA will be investigating reports that Legacy has ceased providing maternity services. 

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Salem, Ore. – It’s time to check your tickets - Oregon’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Raffle numbers have been drawn. 

Winning $1 Million Top Prize Number: 195243

Prizes for the St. Patrick’s Day Raffle include:

• One $1 million top prize
• 300 prizes of $500
• 1,500 prizes of $100

To check the winning Raffle numbers for all 1,801 prizes, players can use the Lottery’s smart phone app, go to www.oregonlottery.org or visit a participating Oregon Lottery retail location.

The $500 and $100 prize winners can claim their prizes at any Oregon Lottery retail location. In addition, players can claim their prize by mail – visit oregonlottery.org/about/claim-prizes for instructions. The $1 million Raffle prize winner will need to make an appointment with the Oregon Lottery office in Salem or Wilsonville. Please call 503-540-1000 for assistance.

The Raffle offers the best odds of any Oregon Lottery game of winning $1 million – 1 in 250,000. Overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 138.8. The Oregon Lottery’s Raffle game went on sale January 1, 2023 with 250,000 tickets available, and all tickets were sold out by March 9, 2023. This was the 22^nd time a Raffle was offered by the Oregon Lottery. 

The Oregon Lottery reminds players to always sign the back of their Lottery tickets, regardless of the game. In the event of winning a jackpot, they should consult with a trusted financial planner or similar professional to develop a plan for their winnings.

Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned nearly $15 billion for economic development, public education, outdoor school, state parks, veteran services, and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org. 

The Marine Board wants to hear from boaters about its Cycle One grant applications and how the boating dollars are invested. The deadline to review applications and provide comments is April 17, 2023. 

The Marine Board’s Boating Facility Program received 10 grant applications for its Cycle One funding opportunity, requesting $5.4 million in needs, with a total application value of $9.6 million in motorized and nonmotorized funding. These grants are for the improvement or development of motorized and nonmotorized boating facilities, education, and on-water boating experiences for people in underserved communities. 

The Marine Board anticipates having $2.2 million in state funding available in its Cycle One grants for motorized and nonmotorized projects. Applicants are requesting nearly double the amount of funding available, so competition is high. 

Public comments are an important part of the grant application evaluation process and will be provided to the Marine Board prior to its June 28 Board meeting to consider the applications. 

Applications for Cycle One motorized and nonmotorized funding closed on March 13. The Boating Facility Program conducts two additional grant funding opportunities during the two-year budget cycle. If you did not see an application for your favorite boating facility, we encourage you to contact the facility owner, share your ideas, and ask how you can help support any future grant requests. 

Visit the Boating Facility Grant Application Comment Page to view the project applications and provide feedback.

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OREGON COAST, Ore—Two popular coastal campgrounds will temporarily close this fall and winter for construction projects. 

Bullards Beach, two miles north of Bandon, and Beverly Beach, seven miles north of Newport, will close their campgrounds temporarily for construction projects. 

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department understands that it takes time to plan a trip and wanted to give potential visitors enough notice to find alternative parks for their fall and winter visits.

• Beverly Beach campgrounds will be closed Sept. 5, 2023 through May 24, 2024 to upgrade the park and campground power and water lines as part of the Go Bond projects, which include improvements at 11 parks around the state. 
• Bullards Beach campgrounds will be closed Oct. 15, 2023 through March 15, 2024 for a main sewer line upgrade. 

While the campgrounds will be closed at Bullards Beach, visitors can still enjoy the day-use area, boat ramp, lighthouse and horse camp, which will remain open. 

All facilities will be closed at Beverly Beach.

OPRD knows that these campgrounds are well loved places that will be missed this fall and winter season. The closures will allow crews to improve the parks for seasons to come. 

“Thank you for your patience as we make improvements to the campground that will enhance the park experience for all of our visitors,” said Bullards Beach Park Manager Nick Schoeppner.

Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Council is seeking applicants to fill a position on the Clark County Board of Equalization.

The three-year position runs from April 30, 2023, to April 29, 2026.

The Board of Equalization is a three-member, impartial citizen panel that hears and decides property owners’ appeals of assessed property valuations and exemptions. Members are paid $100 per day while attending hearings and meetings. Board hearings usually are held in alternating weeks, Tuesday through Thursday mornings in a virtual format. 

Applicants must be Clark County residents. They cannot hold any elective office or be an employee of any elected official. Persons who have been employed by the Clark County Assessor’s Office are not eligible to be a board member for two years after leaving their employment.

Applicants also should have knowledge of Clark County real property and personal property appraisal techniques and property tax law. Knowledge of building trades is helpful. Computer skills are helpful.

Applicants should submit a letter of interest and résumé to Michelle Pfenning, County Manager’s Office, P.O. Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666-5000 or michelle.pfenning@clark.wa.gov. 

Application deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, April 21, 0223.

To learn more, visit https://clark.wa.gov/internal-services/board-equalization.  

Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office - MEDIA RELEASE   

The following information is in reference to a death investigated 

by the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office.  The investigation is related to a December 15, 2022, mobile home fire in Ridgefield, WA. 

These two individuals died on 12/15/2022 in Ridgefield, WA

Decedent 1: 

The name of the decedent: Rhodes, Belinda     Age: 62 Yrs   

The decedent was a resident of (city/state):  Ridgefield, WA

The opinions listed on the death certificate are as follows:

Cause of death: Pending 

Manner of death: Pending  

Decedent 2: 

The name of the decedent:  Hemry, Devin       Age: 63 Yrs 

The decedent was a resident of (city/state):  Ridgefield, WA

The opinions listed on the death certificate are as follows:

Cause of death: Pending 

Manner of death: Pending 

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 the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. 

Media release issue date: Prepared 03/22/2023

Doreen Gunderson 

Operations Manager  

Vancouver, Wash. – The intersection of Northeast 99th Street and Northeast 94th Avenue will be closed beginning Monday, April 17 for construction of a roundabout. The closure is expected to last at least 25 days but may be extended as needed. Exact closure start and end dates are weather dependent.

Drivers will be diverted onto a detour route. To reduce the impact of traffic along the detour route, the construction contractor will place temporary bumps. The temporary speed bumps are owned by the contractor, who will remove them when the closure ends. 

Upon completion Northeast 99th Street will be connected between Northeast 94th and 105th Avenues. This project is part of a larger effort to improve traffic circulation on Northeast 99th Street between Northeast 94th Avenue and Northeast 117th Avenue/SR-503. Information about these projects is available at clark.wa.gov/public-works/ne-99th-street. 

For information about road and park projects, closures, opportunities for community input, and more, residents can follow Public Works on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and view information on Nextdoor. 

Go to clark.wa.gov/public-works and click on “News” to read this information in another language. Click the button in the top right of the page that says “Change language” next to a globe icon and choose your preferred language. 

Vaya a clark.wa.gov/public-works y haga clic en “Noticias” para leer esta información en español. Haga clic en el botón en la parte superior a la derecha de la página que dice "Change language " junto al icono de globo terráqueo y elija su idioma preferido.

Чтобы прочитать эту информацию на русском языке, зайдите на сайт clark.wa.gov/public-works и нажмите на "Новости". Нажмите на кнопку Change language (“Изменить язык”) в правом верхнем углу страницы рядом с символом земного шара и выберите свой язык.

Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office

MEDIA RELEASE      

The following information is in reference to a death investigated 

by the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office.

This individual died on 3/10/2023 in Vancouver, WA

The name of the decedent: Brown, Kory          Age: 54 Yrs            

The decedent was a resident of (city/state):  Longview, WA  

The opinions listed on the death certificate are as follows:

Cause of death:  Pending 

Manner of death:  Pending  

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 the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. 

Media release issue date: Prepared 03/20/2023

Doreen Gunderson 

Operations Manager  

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Green Neighbors is accepting applications for host gardens in the 2023 Natural Garden Tour. The annual tour features gardens across the county that are maintained using earth-friendly techniques.

Clark County residents with urban and rural gardens of all sizes can apply to have their property included in the tour, which offers self-guided tours to the community. Properties considered for the tour must be maintained without the use of synthetic chemicals.

Applications to be a host garden will be accepted online through March 31. After the application period closes, Clark County Green Neighbors will schedule in-person site visits for further evaluation.

This year’s Natural Garden Tour is 10 am to 4 pm, Sunday, July 16. To learn more about the event, view the 2022 Garden Tour Booklet and 2022 Virtual Garden Tour.

(Astoria, OR) — The Clatsop County Department of Public Health is hosting an open house Tuesday, April 4 in recognition of National Public Health Week on April 3-9, 2023.

“We are bringing together Clatsop County’s diverse communities to celebrate how culture shapes our health and well-being,” said Jiancheng Huang, Clatsop County public health director. 

Culture is the pattern of ideas, customs, and behaviors shared by communal people. Culture affects perceptions of health, well-being and illness, beliefs about the cause of disease, and our approaches to improve health. 

“The Department of Public Health is committed to the goal of building a shared culture of health in the County. Everyone has the opportunity to improve their health and well-being and we look forward to working with our community to reach that goal,” he said

• The April 4 Open House is from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. at 820 Exchange in Astoria. It will highlight services and programs the department provides, such as WIC, reproductive health, immunizations, health promotion, food safety, environmental health, substance use, tobacco, and much more.
• The open house will have naloxone training and rescue kits, and COVID-19 and flu vaccines, and snacks. Facility tours, including the Mobile Medical Van, will be held on 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. that day. A full schedule of activities can be found on the Clatsop County website.
• During the open house, the public may provide feedback on local health services by completing a short survey. The first 100 people who complete the survey will receive a coffee gift card. County employees are encouraged to complete the survey, but they are not eligible to receive a gift card.

 “We look forward to celebrating Public Health Week with you on April 4 as one more step in Clatsop County’s journey towards a culture of health and wellbeing.” Huang said.

All services provided by Clatsop County Public Health Department are open to the public. Many services are no cost or low cost and no one will be denied services if they cannot pay.

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(Astoria, OR) — Clatsop County welcomes applications for two seats on the Ambulance Service Area Advisory Committee. 

The first vacancy is for a fire representative advisor from a municipal agency, and the second vacancy is for an emergency room nurse, preferably affiliated with Providence Seaside Hospital.  Both are new positions with terms beginning in June 2023.

The committee meets four times annually and monitors and reviews local emergency medical services in accordance with the county Ambulance Service Area Plan and Ambulance Franchise Agreement. 

The committee relies on information from service users, providers and the medical community, monitors coordination of service resources and dispatch procedures and reviews service area boundaries. 

Application forms are available at the Clatsop County website and at the County Manager’s Office at 800 Exchange St., Suite 410, Astoria. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Friday, March 31.

The appointment will be made by the Board of Commissioners.

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(Astoria, OR) — Parents and caretakers are invited to attend a free virtual information session at 6 p.m. this Wednesday, March 22, to learn how to protect children and teens, stay up-to-date with drug trends and find out what prevention services and resources are available in their community. 

Parents and caretakers will hear from a panel of experts, including professionals who work in youth services, mental health, and law enforcement. All attendees will receive drug prevention materials and local agency information. 

The event will be recorded to share with friends and family and will be posted at the Clatsop County website.

The Clatsop County Department of Public Health and Columbia County Public Health Department have partnered to sponsor this event. 

Individuals may register in advance or when the session begins.

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(Astoria, OR) — Clatsop County invites applications from individuals interested in serving on one open seat on the Clatsop County Recreational Lands Planning Advisory Committee. 

The Recreation Lands Planning Advisory Committee regularly meets in Astoria on the last Thursday of each month beginning at 1 p.m.

The Board of Clatsop County Commissioners created the Clatsop County Recreational Lands Planning Advisory Committee to assist the County in the development of long-range plans for County parks and to direct the formulation and preparation of amendments to Clatsop County’s Recreational Lands Element of the Comprehensive Plan. 

In addition, the Committee advises County staff regarding the County’s update of its Parks Master Plan; and provides a public forum for citizen input regarding proposed changes that potentially impact parks, recreational lands, trails, boat ramps and related programs within the county.

The Board of Clatsop County Commissioners may use the County Recreational Lands Planning Committee as a primary public review body for any County actions related to recreation issues such as:

• Potential county land sales, trades or exchanges involving county park lands or lands adjoining county park properties
• Potential county timber sales involving county park lands or lands adjoining county park properties
• Land acquisitions
• Major improvement proposals, and
• Annual budget proposals

For more information about this committee’s meetings or responsibilities, please email or call Steve Meshke, natural resources manager, at 503-325-6452. 

The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Friday, April 28. Committee Application forms are available at the Clatsop County website or the County Manager’s office at 800 Exchange St., Suite 410 in Astoria.

The City of Oregon City announced a total of $435,000 in funds available to the public through three separate grant programs.  

The three opportunities are the Oregon City Arts Commission Grant, the City Sponsored Public Event Grant and The Community Enhancement Grant. The funds will be distributed between May 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024.  

“This is an unprecedented level of financial support being made available to multiple segments of our community that come together to make Oregon City better as a whole,” said Oregon City Economic Development Manager James Graham. “I’m truly pleased that we will be able to support a variety of community events, community improvements and art-related programs.” 

Oregon City Arts Commission Grant Program – The Oregon City Arts Commission Grant Program was created to provide funding to individuals and organizations based in Oregon City to support local art and artists, and to strengthen Oregon City’s standing as a community that supports the arts and art-related businesses.

There are two tiers of funding. The Arts Commission Small Grant Program offers grants from $250 to $2,499. The Arts Commission Large Grant Program provides funding from $2,500 to $10,000. The Arts Commission may award up to $35,000 in grants. The application period for the Arts Commission Grant program is March 20 – April 28. More information and the application are available on the City’s website at orcity.org/community/arts-commission-grant-program-2023.

City Sponsored Public Event Grant -  Also for the first time, the City of Oregon City is offering grant funds to support public events that also contribute to the City’s theme of “Oregon’s Hometown. Welcome Home!” Eligible events will have a minimum of 1,000 to 5,000 visitors who attend from around the region. Both nonprofit organizations and for-profit businesses may apply.

The maximum grant award is $20,000. The City may award up to $100,000 in grant funds. Learn more and find a grant application at orcity.org/community/city-sponsored-public-event-program. 

Community Enhancement Grant – The Community Enhancement Grant is available on an annual basis and is open to nonprofit organizations and local government committees and organizations. The grant is the result of an agreement between the City of Oregon City and the regional government, Metro. Oregon City receives a $1.00 for every ton of solid waste brought to the Metro Transfer Station on Washington Street in Oregon City. 

Enhancement Grant projects must result in specific community improvements, such as positive changes in the livability of the community, the local environment and/or economic opportunity. These goals include improved cleanliness, improvements to wetlands, forests or other wild areas, or increased work and training opportunities, among others. 

This year, Oregon City will have up to $300,000 to distribute in Community Enhancement Grants. The maximum grant award is $50,000. More information and the application for this grant program may be found at orcity.org/community/community-grant-programs.

For more information about these grant programs, contact Ann Griffin, Economic Development Coordinator, at iffin@orcity.org">agriffin@orcity.org. 

Note: Please note the correct spelling of Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Tribal Councilwoman Cheryle Kennedy.

Salem, Ore. —Mayor Chris Hoy, the 60^th Mayor of Salem, gave his first State of the City address this afternoon to a crowd of more than 240 people at the Salem Convention Center. 

Prior to the address, the McKay High School String Quartet entertained the audience. Salem Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Tom Hoffert and President Wendy Veliz, this year’s hosts, introduced dignitaries. Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Tribal Councilwoman Cheryle Kennedy gave the blessing before Mayor Hoy took the stage.

“It’s a time of fresh ideas and for an earnest look at what we have achieved and where we have more to do,” Hoy said, taking note of sense of a “new season” symbolized by a new City Manager, Mayor and several new City Councilors. 

He thanked Salem residents for the $300 million community investment voters passed last fall. The bond funding will allow investments throughout the City and in most of the City’s areas of business. Streets, sidewalks, parks, fire safety, affordable housing, libraries and cybersecurity are among the projects that will benefit from this funding. 

The Mayor took a detailed look at the progress Salem has made over the past few years in response to the shelter crisis, affordable housing, and other City Council priorities. He also looked at transformation in progress and planned for downtown Salem, as well as efforts to increase accountability and stop violent crimes and narcotics trafficking. 

Read the Mayor’s full address below:

 

Salem 2023 State of the City 
Salem Convention Center

Thank you for joining me today and thank you to the Salem City Club, Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Downtown Rotary, for hosting this event. 

Before I begin, I’d like to take a moment to share my appreciation and thanks to several people. First and foremost, I’d like to thank our front-line city employees who do the outstanding work of making Oregon’s Capital a wonderful place to live and do business. They are the backbone of our municipal government and are essential in everything we do. These employees interact daily with our community and are critical to the services we provide to our residents. They answer the phones, clean the parks, and literally keep the water flowing. Since joining the City Council in 2017, I have had the privilege of meeting some of the most dedicated and skilled public employees that I can think of. Please join me in a round of applause to thank them for their work.  

I’d also like to thank our department directors, and all of you for being here as well. In addition, I’d like to individually thank our City Councilors for the work they do representing their constituents and the work we do together. 

Council President Virginia Stapleton, Councilor Linda Nishioka, Councilor Trevor Philips, Councilor Deanna Gwyn, Councilor Jose Gonzalez, Councilor Julie Hoy, Councilor Vanessa Nordyke, and Councilor Micki Varney. I’d also like to thank Keith Stahley, our City Manager. 

You may not be aware of this, but City Councilors in Salem are volunteers. So, in addition to working full-time and caring for their families, these councilors give up nights, weekends, and sometimes even holidays, to address the pressing concerns of our community. I thank them for their work, their earnestness, their passion, and for their every effort to make this city a wonderful place to live. 

Our City Council is also, for the first time in our history, led by a female majority! As women across the country continue to fight for equal rights, I think this milestone is worth celebrating. Gender discrimination, pay equity, sexual harassment, and reproductive rights, are just a few examples of the challenges that women face in today’s world. I am committed to being an ally to these women and to do all that I can to remove the senseless barriers to equality.  

Two days ago we celebrated the end of winter and beginning of spring here in the Cherry City. We will soon see the cherry blossoms return and our valley will begin to bloom. In nature, spring brings a sense of renewal and of new opportunity. With our city too, comes the same sense of a new season, a new beginning. We have a new City Manager and several new City Councilors. And I am fortunate to serve as the 60^th Mayor of Salem! 

It’s a time of fresh ideas and for an earnest look at what we have achieved, and where we have more to do.  

I am proud to report that Salem is a strong, diverse and evolving community. We continue to grow as new residents and new businesses make their way to our beautiful valley. We are making strides in all areas of our strategic priorities: responding to our sheltering crisis, planning for our future, engaging our community, and sustaining infrastructure and services.  

In addition, last fall, Salem residents approved a $300 million dollar investment in our community that will allow us to improve and build new streets, sidewalks, bike facilities, and parks; purchase fire engines and equipment; establish an affordable housing fund; construct two new fire stations; purchase sites for affordable housing, establish two branch libraries; construct earthquake safety upgrades to the Civic Center; and enhance information technology to provide cybersecurity for city infrastructure. I’d like to thank our residents for their support of this bond.

This year, our council will continue to prioritize our response to the homelessness crisis and increase the supply of affordable housing in the city. Like much of the United States, and in every corner of Oregon, Salem has seen a rise of individuals experiencing homelessness and of affordable housing needs. Mental illness, addiction, economic imbalance, and even climate change, have accelerated this collective failure. Decades of under-prioritizing behavioral health services and access to housing have compounded year after year, and now the need is so great, that we see it every day, on almost every corner. I am committed to advancing our capacity to address it, and I know that you are as well. City Council will work to evolve our strategies and collaboration with state and county partners as well as private entities, until we achieve the outcome we are looking for – a home for every neighbor. 

Maya Angelou said, “The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned” and so we will continue this fight. Because it’s the humanitarian thing to do, and because housing is vital to the success of every individual, and therefore is vital to the success of our city. You can’t find a job, or go to school, care for a loved one, or recover from illness, if you don’t have a home. It’s a place that we all deserve. At the end of the day, we all want a place to go home to. For too many Salem residents their home may be a tent on the side of a road, a mattress in a warming shelter, or the cold fear of staring into the darkness with nowhere to go. People who live on our streets live in fear of being victimized, of not knowing where they will sleep. Fear of their belongings being stolen and of declining health. We must be better stewards of each other.  

It is in this spirit that I’m proud to report that last year our City Council approved the siting of multiple locations for Micro-Shelter Communities managed by Church @the Park. These shelters provide managed, temporary housing opportunities for homeless individuals, combined with case management and outreach services designed to match participants with resources on an individualized basis. But more importantly, our micro-shelters give people a place to feel secure because the door locks. People living in our micro-shelter communities don’t have to worry about their belongings being stolen when they look for work. They don’t have to worry about being kicked out of their resting place. They don’t have to worry about being victimized. Because the door locks. And for what is often the first time in years, they can rest. Imagine what your life would look like if you hadn’t had rest in years. 

These shelters have proven to be one of the most effective tools we have in transitioning people from the streets, into more permanent housing. During 2022, 64% of micro-shelter village guests moved to positive destinations.  

In addition to these highly successful micro-shelters, the city has invested funds in the SafeSleep United women’s shelter expansion. United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley is expanding their capacity to shelter women from 19 to 45 beds. The city also invested funds in Mosaic – a Project Turnkey facility for people fleeing domestic violence, stalking, or trafficking through a grant to the Center for Hope and Safety, and we’ve invested funds in the Salem Warming Network to provide life safety measures to help people come out of the cold.   

I am also pleased that on May 1st, our Navigation Center will open its doors. Working in partnership with the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, the Navigation Center will provide 75 low-barrier shelter beds. It will be open 24-hours a day, seven days a week, and will offer intensive case management to connect people to needed services, healthcare, and stable housing. 

Navigation Centers across the country have shown strong success in helping people exit homelessness. Traditional shelter models require sobriety upon entry, segregate by gender, and offer limited space for personal possessions or pets. 

We continue to offer the Safe Park Program for those who shelter in their vehicles, a program I proudly introduced in 2019. While no one should have to live in a car, this approach to sheltering can help families and individuals get connected to services in a secure environment with access to onsite toilets, storage, garbage removal, laundry, showers, and security assistance. 

Last year, the City Council funded the Salem Outreach Services Team to respond to areas of concern, help connect people to resources, and remove accumulated garbage at parks and other public spaces to reduce the impacts of homelessness on businesses and neighbors. On average, each month this team removes 44,000 pounds of waste from our public spaces. 

The SOS team collaborates with police officers, called the Homeless Services Team.  Since beginning to track data in 2022, the officers on this team have contacted 1,675 individuals at 974 encampments and made 377 referrals for services. Relationship-building through regular communication increases the chances individuals will connect with available services, and the two assigned Homeless Services Team officers do exactly that.  

The team’s daily work includes responding to online complaints of camping on private and City-owned property, regular visits to areas prone to complaints, such as Cascades Gateway Park and ensuring areas around managed micro-shelter communities remain clean and safe. HST coordinates their efforts and works closely with the SOS team to avoid duplication and increase their effectiveness in covering all areas of the city. 

Enforcement is not the priority. Instead, they are focused on building relationships with both the unsheltered community and the various local service provider organizations. Developing relationships can build trust in the police to encourage the reporting of crimes which, in turn, can reduce victimizations within the encampments. Arrest is always a last resort and in limited situations. Rather, the goal is connection to services and deflection from the criminal justice system. In fact, an officer recently contacted an individual living on the streets who was an admitted methamphetamine addict. He told the officer he was ready for help. The officer knew it was critical to get the person into help right then. Through his contacts with local service providers, they were collectively able to get him into substance abuse treatment. Previous approaches would have resulted in the individuals arrest, but now he is getting the intervention he needs that will hopefully help him break the cycle of addiction. 

Our City Council has allocated $23.33 million dollars to expand sheltering options and manage health, safety, and livability concerns in our community through investment of state funds and American Rescue Plan dollars.

Unfortunately, these existing one-time funds will be exhausted next year, and our micro-shelter communities and Navigation Center will be forced to close unless we develop additional revenue or other financial support for these emergency sheltering services. We have been lobbying our state and federal elected officials for financial support so that we may keep these beds available for as long as possible. I ask for your support in these efforts. 

Now let me give you a preview of what’s coming to Salem in 2023 and beyond. 

As you know, the city is not a housing developer. But we facilitate or hinder, as the case may be, the development of housing units. Because we are committed to facilitation and removal of barriers, we are conducting a housing needs analysis to identify and remove barriers to housing development. 

Housing construction in Salem remains strong. Subdivisions and large multifamily complexes have been robust. There was an increase in formal inquiries about multi-family developments last year compared to 2021. Of the approximately 1,700 unit permits that were received in 2022, 575, or about one third of these units, are reserved as affordable housing. 

The city is in early discussions with representatives from the Truitt Brothers property to turn that property into an exciting multi-family, mixed-use development with more 300 units. This development will embrace the river & waterfront and revitalize the area north of downtown in historic fashion. 

And you’ve probably noticed construction is underway at the former Nordstrom location, which will add 162 units in the Ravenwood Apartments.  City Council used incentives to enable affordable units to be included in this building.  

The Salem Housing Authority, in partnership with the city, has developed Yaquina Hall preserving the former nurses’ quarters on the State Hospital grounds. This project has brought back to life a 1947 historic structure, updating this one-of-a-kind building with 52 apartments, community spaces and supportive service offices throughout, including dedicated units for people with serious and persistent mental illness. Yaquina Hall is scheduled for a grand opening event on April 5, and applications for residency are already in progress.  

In the Battlecreek area of south Salem, Mahonia Apartments will break ground tomorrow and will bring 313 intergenerational affordable housing units and the 27th Street Apartments will bring 96 affordable housing units, serving low-income and Latino families. 

Also in south Salem, the Housing Authority renovated and modernized Southfair Apartments. The renovation included the conversion of an obsolete daycare into two additional fully accessible one-bedroom apartments. This project also added subsidy to 32 additional apartments making them more affordable to residents. 

In east Salem, East Park Village will bring 670 single family dwellings and 370 multi-family units. 

In north Salem, Salem Housing Authority is building Sequoia Crossings, a Permanent Supportive Housing Project for families. The project has drawn on lived experiences throughout the design phase. Design of Sequoia Crossings has taken a trauma-informed lens to help create a welcoming and inviting 60-unit complex, beautiful calming landscaping, and community space that allows for multiple onsite service provider offices. 

Now let’s talk about downtown. A vibrant and re-energized downtown is a priority of mine. I am pleased to report that we are well on our way to that goal! 

One indicator of a vibrant downtown is a lack of available on-street parking spaces. If you’ve been downtown recently, you know that’s the case. Our downtown business owners, workers and patrons have asked us to fix the parking situation. So that’s what we’re doing. We recently instituted 24x7 security in all downtown parking garages. We have made Marion Parkade safe again by removing residents from stairwells and elsewhere and staff is working on a proposal to institute paid parking downtown. 

Our small businesses downtown need it. They need spaces to turn and paid on-street parking is how you make that happen.  As more and more people move downtown and as the evening scene grows, as Salem comes of age, paid parking is inevitable. 

 Downtown Salem has seen a surge of interest regarding properties that have been vacant and/or underutilized. In fact, just across the street the Holman Hotel is opening today! 

 Demolition of the former Union Gospel Mission, Saffron Supply and ABC Music is done. These combined properties, currently owned by the Urban Renewal Agency, will soon be on the market for redevelopment. Several other properties are in the process of being sold and multiple spaces are also in the final stages of leasing to new tenants.  All these changes will bring increased vibrancy to downtown Salem.   

This year we also look forward to working with property owners and developers to support new uses in the JC Penney building, the former Wells Fargo site, and Liberty Plaza. 

In west Salem we have engaged the Urban Land Institute to finally develop a vision for the Edgewater District that will create a westside urban center with housing and retail in an area that has been ravaged by industrial blight for many years. The city is also constructing improvements to 2^nd Street NW which should begin later this spring. This work should enhance development in the Edgewater District significantly. 

At the airport, City Council has unanimously approved funding to prepare for commercial passenger air service. We’ve pushed staff and the community to make this happen. And now we are in the process of signing a contract with the first airline, which will initially serve the Los Angeles Basin, with flights expected to start soon.  

Commercial passenger air service to Salem will provide direct access to Oregon’s wine country, world class recreation, and one-of-a-kind cultural assets – which will increase visitor spending in the region and provide additional local jobs and support for local businesses. We are grateful to our partners at Marion County for financial assistance at the airport as well. 

While we understand it is a risk, this public-private partnership with the city, the Chamber of Commerce and Travel Salem is providing a rebirth at our airport. We are attracting new businesses and the school district has purchased a hangar and we will soon have an airport based CTEC drone program.  

Phase one of our work to improve McGilchrist Street SE is going out to bid this spring, with construction starting soon.  Widening McGilchrist Street between 12th Street and 25th Street, will begin in 2025. And McGilchrist will be the first street in Salem to feature a cycle track! These projects will promote economic development in southeast Salem and will make transit access to the VA and Social Security Administration much better for those with mobility challenges. 

At Fairview, Yamasa is in the middle of a $12 million expansion that will be completed this summer to allow for additional production capacity, while partnering with local farmers to provide for more regionally sourced products. 

At our Mill Creek Corporate Center, Dollar General purchased more than 70 acres to construct an 800,000 sq/ft facility and 400 new jobs. 

It is truly an exciting time for our community. As you just heard, housing and commercial development is strong. Many of you in this room deserve credit for that. From policy makers to business leaders, you have helped shape this city into a welcoming community that is attracting more and more people. Thank you for your partnership. 

In Public Safety, the city council has begun additional investment in our police department by adding 8 new positions last year. Chief Womack continues to effectively lead our police officers with integrity and a commitment to community policing. His vision of a 21^st century police department with officers who reflect our community and that prioritizes relationships with residents and businesses is well on its way to fruition.  

Chief Womack’s belief in holding law enforcement accountable is shown in his advocacy for body cameras and through the procedural justice training that he requires of his staff.  

In January, the department launched an online transparency portal to increase trust and legitimacy with the community. By openly sharing data, policies, reports, and other information that directly impacts the public, the department strives to engage residents in knowledge-sharing, while demonstrating openness and accountability. 

Through a new collaboration with federal-level partners, Salem PD established the Safe Streets Task Force, with the goal of focusing on investigating and stopping violent crimes and major narcotics trafficking in our city. The enhanced federal-level resources magnify the work done by the five detectives of the Strategic Investigations Unit. 

The department’s strategic plan includes an emphasis on traffic safety, but also on the importance of weaving equity into enforcement action. The department initiated the Oregon Car Care Program, a voucher system for equipment infractions. The program directs needed enforcement efforts toward the moving violations that cause serious injuries and away from mere equipment violations, thus focusing on education and cooperation, while offering understanding to those who find themselves having to defer upkeep. These efforts to address the importance of traffic safety, while working toward improving community relationships and building trust, are essential to relationship-based policing. 

Last year, Salem police responded to more than 114,000 calls for service. They arrested 416 drunk drivers; handled 130 child abuse cases, 74 bomb squad callouts, seized 493 illegal firearms, more than 237,000 fentanyl pills, and 426 pounds of meth, cocaine, and heroin. Please join me in thanking Chief Womack and his officers for a job well done.  

Public safety remains a top concern among Salem residents. In our annual community satisfaction survey, the proportion of residents who now cite crime as a top issue increased 13% over the past year. Chief Womack and his officers have done a tremendous job with limited staff, but they simply do not have enough resources to adequately address the needs of our growing city. To achieve a reduction in crime, manage an increase in call volume, and to ensure adequate response times, he needs more officers and more support. Last year City Council hired an independent firm to analyze our staffing needs throughout the city and that report shows we need to add at least seventy new officers to our streets. But let me be clear – if we want to increase the safety of our city and see a reduction in crime, if we want relation-based policing, if we want safer neighborhoods and safer streets, we need additional revenue for public safety. I implore you to join me in this advocacy. 

The Willamette Valley Communications dispatch center continues to be the second busiest 9-1-1 center in the state processing over 400,000 calls for service each year. Twenty-nine agencies from around the valley and the Oregon coast are dispatched by the dedicated staff at the center. These dispatchers are the “first” first responders and do a great job of communicating during emergency situations. 

Our Salem Fire Department, led by Chief Mike Niblock, continues to serve our community well. 2022 was a busy year for them with 31,319 requests for service, an increase over the previous year.  

The Salem Fire Department and the Salem Fire Foundation continue their great work of teaching CPR and AED to all the 8^th grade students in the Salem Keizer School District. Approximately 3,500 kids a year receive this training and since the program’s inception in 2015 more than 20,000 kids have received the lifesaving training. There have been three documented cases of lives saved by students of this program.  

You will also be pleased to know that the Fire Department has already put revenue from the recently passed bond to good use, by ordering an entire fleet of new fire apparatus.

Unfortunately, the bond does not provide revenue for the hiring of firefighters, and we are in desperate need of them. Since 2010, our population has increased 15.8% and call volume has increased 86.7%. The firefighters available to respond to that near doubling of calls has not increased. City Council has re-opened a fire station and hired new fire fighters, but we are just now back to 2010 staffing levels. Just like our dedicated police officers, our firefighters are professionals who are doing the best they can, with what they have. And what they have is not enough. The same independent firm that analyzed our staffing needs for the city has recommended that we hire another 111 firefighters to serve a city this size and meet the response time goal.  

And so we have challenges ahead of us. Like a blossom waiting to bear fruit, our city is transforming. Salem has a small town feel that is integral to our culture, but we must also face the reality that we cannot stay a small town forever. As the state’s capital and its second largest city, it is inevitable that we evolve. Adapting to this 21^st century reality will allow us to shape it, rather than it shaping us. 

I know the last few years have been trying for much of America, and for much of Oregon. A culmination of national and local challenges has exhausted our patience. Partisan politics has created unprecedented levels of tension and mistrust of our neighbors, our schools, and of every level of our government. The gaslighting and endless arms race of our political discourse has frayed the very fabric of our democracy, but partisan politics hasn’t been the only thing straining our resolve.  

Since 2018, Salem residents have endured algae blooms, heat domes, ice storms, wildfires and a global pandemic that has reshaped our entire culture. Some families lost loved ones; others lost jobs, some lost their homes or businesses.

But in Salem, we came together. The Chamber of Commerce launched Salem Eats, a Facebook group aimed at highlighting local businesses that stayed open and served food; within weeks it had tens of thousands of followers as residents flocked to support our small businesses. We came together as one city, and we responded. As our hospital and urgent care centers became the front line of defense, our doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, responded to save lives; our teachers and administrators responded by adapting to educate their students remotely, and the community responded with a renewed sense of humanity.  

Our definition of safety, of community, of happiness, isn’t the same as it was a few years ago. Change can be a difficult thing, but it also provides an opportunity to adapt and to grow. If we choose to harness this momentum, we can shape it to create the change that we’ve always wanted. If we condemn hate and embrace equality, if we condemn ignorance and celebrate reason, and if we reject divisiveness and demand a return to civility, then our city will bloom.  

This is a new spring. Today, right now, our new beginning. It is our constant rededication to our faith in each other that makes us Americans. Our belief that a united people can accomplish anything. Within our reach is every ideal. Within our grasp, is our loftiest goal. Within our hearts we hold the keys to harmony, and within our deeds lies the greatness of America.  

It is a great time to be the mayor of the City of Salem. I am honored and humbled to be entrusted with this role. The state of our city is strong and together we can make Salem even stronger than it is today. I hope that you’ll join me in this new beginning for the city we love. 

Thank you. 

###

Salem, Ore. —Mayor Chris Hoy, the 60^th Mayor of Salem, gave his first State of the City address this afternoon to a crowd of more than 240 people at the Salem Convention Center. 

Prior to the address, the McKay High School String Quartet entertained the audience. Salem Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Tom Hoffert and President Wendy Veliz, this year’s hosts, introduced dignitaries. Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Tribal Councilwoman Cheryl Kennedy gave the blessing before Mayor Hoy took the stage.

“It’s a time of fresh ideas and for an earnest look at what we have achieved and where we have more to do,” Hoy said, taking note of sense of a “new season” symbolized by a new City Manager, Mayor and several new City Councilors. 

He thanked Salem residents for the $300 million community investment voters passed last fall. The bond funding will allow investments throughout the City and in most of the City’s areas of business. Streets, sidewalks, parks, fire safety, affordable housing, libraries and cybersecurity are among the projects that will benefit from this funding. 

The Mayor took a detailed look at the progress Salem has made over the past few years in response to the shelter crisis, affordable housing, and other City Council priorities. He also looked at transformation in progress and planned for downtown Salem, as well as efforts to increase accountability and stop violent crimes and narcotics trafficking. 

Read the Mayor’s full address below:

 

Salem 2023 State of the City 
Salem Convention Center

Thank you for joining me today and thank you to the Salem City Club, Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Downtown Rotary, for hosting this event. 

Before I begin, I’d like to take a moment to share my appreciation and thanks to several people. First and foremost, I’d like to thank our front-line city employees who do the outstanding work of making Oregon’s Capital a wonderful place to live and do business. They are the backbone of our municipal government and are essential in everything we do. These employees interact daily with our community and are critical to the services we provide to our residents. They answer the phones, clean the parks, and literally keep the water flowing. Since joining the City Council in 2017, I have had the privilege of meeting some of the most dedicated and skilled public employees that I can think of. Please join me in a round of applause to thank them for their work.  

I’d also like to thank our department directors, and all of you for being here as well. In addition, I’d like to individually thank our City Councilors for the work they do representing their constituents and the work we do together. 

Council President Virginia Stapleton, Councilor Linda Nishioka, Councilor Trevor Philips, Councilor Deanna Gwyn, Councilor Jose Gonzalez, Councilor Julie Hoy, Councilor Vanessa Nordyke, and Councilor Micki Varney. I’d also like to thank Keith Stahley, our City Manager. 

You may not be aware of this, but City Councilors in Salem are volunteers. So, in addition to working full-time and caring for their families, these councilors give up nights, weekends, and sometimes even holidays, to address the pressing concerns of our community. I thank them for their work, their earnestness, their passion, and for their every effort to make this city a wonderful place to live. 

Our City Council is also, for the first time in our history, led by a female majority! As women across the country continue to fight for equal rights, I think this milestone is worth celebrating. Gender discrimination, pay equity, sexual harassment, and reproductive rights, are just a few examples of the challenges that women face in today’s world. I am committed to being an ally to these women and to do all that I can to remove the senseless barriers to equality.  

Two days ago we celebrated the end of winter and beginning of spring here in the Cherry City. We will soon see the cherry blossoms return and our valley will begin to bloom. In nature, spring brings a sense of renewal and of new opportunity. With our city too, comes the same sense of a new season, a new beginning. We have a new City Manager and several new City Councilors. And I am fortunate to serve as the 60^th Mayor of Salem! 

It’s a time of fresh ideas and for an earnest look at what we have achieved, and where we have more to do.  

I am proud to report that Salem is a strong, diverse and evolving community. We continue to grow as new residents and new businesses make their way to our beautiful valley. We are making strides in all areas of our strategic priorities: responding to our sheltering crisis, planning for our future, engaging our community, and sustaining infrastructure and services.  

In addition, last fall, Salem residents approved a $300 million dollar investment in our community that will allow us to improve and build new streets, sidewalks, bike facilities, and parks; purchase fire engines and equipment; establish an affordable housing fund; construct two new fire stations; purchase sites for affordable housing, establish two branch libraries; construct earthquake safety upgrades to the Civic Center; and enhance information technology to provide cybersecurity for city infrastructure. I’d like to thank our residents for their support of this bond.

This year, our council will continue to prioritize our response to the homelessness crisis and increase the supply of affordable housing in the city. Like much of the United States, and in every corner of Oregon, Salem has seen a rise of individuals experiencing homelessness and of affordable housing needs. Mental illness, addiction, economic imbalance, and even climate change, have accelerated this collective failure. Decades of under-prioritizing behavioral health services and access to housing have compounded year after year, and now the need is so great, that we see it every day, on almost every corner. I am committed to advancing our capacity to address it, and I know that you are as well. City Council will work to evolve our strategies and collaboration with state and county partners as well as private entities, until we achieve the outcome we are looking for – a home for every neighbor. 

Maya Angelou said, “The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned” and so we will continue this fight. Because it’s the humanitarian thing to do, and because housing is vital to the success of every individual, and therefore is vital to the success of our city. You can’t find a job, or go to school, care for a loved one, or recover from illness, if you don’t have a home. It’s a place that we all deserve. At the end of the day, we all want a place to go home to. For too many Salem residents their home may be a tent on the side of a road, a mattress in a warming shelter, or the cold fear of staring into the darkness with nowhere to go. People who live on our streets live in fear of being victimized, of not knowing where they will sleep. Fear of their belongings being stolen and of declining health. We must be better stewards of each other.  

It is in this spirit that I’m proud to report that last year our City Council approved the siting of multiple locations for Micro-Shelter Communities managed by Church @the Park. These shelters provide managed, temporary housing opportunities for homeless individuals, combined with case management and outreach services designed to match participants with resources on an individualized basis. But more importantly, our micro-shelters give people a place to feel secure because the door locks. People living in our micro-shelter communities don’t have to worry about their belongings being stolen when they look for work. They don’t have to worry about being kicked out of their resting place. They don’t have to worry about being victimized. Because the door locks. And for what is often the first time in years, they can rest. Imagine what your life would look like if you hadn’t had rest in years. 

These shelters have proven to be one of the most effective tools we have in transitioning people from the streets, into more permanent housing. During 2022, 64% of micro-shelter village guests moved to positive destinations.  

In addition to these highly successful micro-shelters, the city has invested funds in the SafeSleep United women’s shelter expansion. United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley is expanding their capacity to shelter women from 19 to 45 beds. The city also invested funds in Mosaic – a Project Turnkey facility for people fleeing domestic violence, stalking, or trafficking through a grant to the Center for Hope and Safety, and we’ve invested funds in the Salem Warming Network to provide life safety measures to help people come out of the cold.   

I am also pleased that on May 1st, our Navigation Center will open its doors. Working in partnership with the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, the Navigation Center will provide 75 low-barrier shelter beds. It will be open 24-hours a day, seven days a week, and will offer intensive case management to connect people to needed services, healthcare, and stable housing. 

Navigation Centers across the country have shown strong success in helping people exit homelessness. Traditional shelter models require sobriety upon entry, segregate by gender, and offer limited space for personal possessions or pets. 

We continue to offer the Safe Park Program for those who shelter in their vehicles, a program I proudly introduced in 2019. While no one should have to live in a car, this approach to sheltering can help families and individuals get connected to services in a secure environment with access to onsite toilets, storage, garbage removal, laundry, showers, and security assistance. 

Last year, the City Council funded the Salem Outreach Services Team to respond to areas of concern, help connect people to resources, and remove accumulated garbage at parks and other public spaces to reduce the impacts of homelessness on businesses and neighbors. On average, each month this team removes 44,000 pounds of waste from our public spaces. 

The SOS team collaborates with police officers, called the Homeless Services Team.  Since beginning to track data in 2022, the officers on this team have contacted 1,675 individuals at 974 encampments and made 377 referrals for services. Relationship-building through regular communication increases the chances individuals will connect with available services, and the two assigned Homeless Services Team officers do exactly that.  

The team’s daily work includes responding to online complaints of camping on private and City-owned property, regular visits to areas prone to complaints, such as Cascades Gateway Park and ensuring areas around managed micro-shelter communities remain clean and safe. HST coordinates their efforts and works closely with the SOS team to avoid duplication and increase their effectiveness in covering all areas of the city. 

Enforcement is not the priority. Instead, they are focused on building relationships with both the unsheltered community and the various local service provider organizations. Developing relationships can build trust in the police to encourage the reporting of crimes which, in turn, can reduce victimizations within the encampments. Arrest is always a last resort and in limited situations. Rather, the goal is connection to services and deflection from the criminal justice system. In fact, an officer recently contacted an individual living on the streets who was an admitted methamphetamine addict. He told the officer he was ready for help. The officer knew it was critical to get the person into help right then. Through his contacts with local service providers, they were collectively able to get him into substance abuse treatment. Previous approaches would have resulted in the individuals arrest, but now he is getting the intervention he needs that will hopefully help him break the cycle of addiction. 

Our City Council has allocated $23.33 million dollars to expand sheltering options and manage health, safety, and livability concerns in our community through investment of state funds and American Rescue Plan dollars.

Unfortunately, these existing one-time funds will be exhausted next year, and our micro-shelter communities and Navigation Center will be forced to close unless we develop additional revenue or other financial support for these emergency sheltering services. We have been lobbying our state and federal elected officials for financial support so that we may keep these beds available for as long as possible. I ask for your support in these efforts. 

Now let me give you a preview of what’s coming to Salem in 2023 and beyond. 

As you know, the city is not a housing developer. But we facilitate or hinder, as the case may be, the development of housing units. Because we are committed to facilitation and removal of barriers, we are conducting a housing needs analysis to identify and remove barriers to housing development. 

Housing construction in Salem remains strong. Subdivisions and large multifamily complexes have been robust. There was an increase in formal inquiries about multi-family developments last year compared to 2021. Of the approximately 1,700 unit permits that were received in 2022, 575, or about one third of these units, are reserved as affordable housing. 

The city is in early discussions with representatives from the Truitt Brothers property to turn that property into an exciting multi-family, mixed-use development with more 300 units. This development will embrace the river & waterfront and revitalize the area north of downtown in historic fashion. 

And you’ve probably noticed construction is underway at the former Nordstrom location, which will add 162 units in the Ravenwood Apartments.  City Council used incentives to enable affordable units to be included in this building.  

The Salem Housing Authority, in partnership with the city, has developed Yaquina Hall preserving the former nurses’ quarters on the State Hospital grounds. This project has brought back to life a 1947 historic structure, updating this one-of-a-kind building with 52 apartments, community spaces and supportive service offices throughout, including dedicated units for people with serious and persistent mental illness. Yaquina Hall is scheduled for a grand opening event on April 5, and applications for residency are already in progress.  

In the Battlecreek area of south Salem, Mahonia Apartments will break ground tomorrow and will bring 313 intergenerational affordable housing units and the 27th Street Apartments will bring 96 affordable housing units, serving low-income and Latino families. 

Also in south Salem, the Housing Authority renovated and modernized Southfair Apartments. The renovation included the conversion of an obsolete daycare into two additional fully accessible one-bedroom apartments. This project also added subsidy to 32 additional apartments making them more affordable to residents. 

In east Salem, East Park Village will bring 670 single family dwellings and 370 multi-family units. 

In north Salem, Salem Housing Authority is building Sequoia Crossings, a Permanent Supportive Housing Project for families. The project has drawn on lived experiences throughout the design phase. Design of Sequoia Crossings has taken a trauma-informed lens to help create a welcoming and inviting 60-unit complex, beautiful calming landscaping, and community space that allows for multiple onsite service provider offices. 

Now let’s talk about downtown. A vibrant and re-energized downtown is a priority of mine. I am pleased to report that we are well on our way to that goal! 

One indicator of a vibrant downtown is a lack of available on-street parking spaces. If you’ve been downtown recently, you know that’s the case. Our downtown business owners, workers and patrons have asked us to fix the parking situation. So that’s what we’re doing. We recently instituted 24x7 security in all downtown parking garages. We have made Marion Parkade safe again by removing residents from stairwells and elsewhere and staff is working on a proposal to institute paid parking downtown. 

Our small businesses downtown need it. They need spaces to turn and paid on-street parking is how you make that happen.  As more and more people move downtown and as the evening scene grows, as Salem comes of age, paid parking is inevitable. 

 Downtown Salem has seen a surge of interest regarding properties that have been vacant and/or underutilized. In fact, just across the street the Holman Hotel is opening today! 

 Demolition of the former Union Gospel Mission, Saffron Supply and ABC Music is done. These combined properties, currently owned by the Urban Renewal Agency, will soon be on the market for redevelopment. Several other properties are in the process of being sold and multiple spaces are also in the final stages of leasing to new tenants.  All these changes will bring increased vibrancy to downtown Salem.   

This year we also look forward to working with property owners and developers to support new uses in the JC Penney building, the former Wells Fargo site, and Liberty Plaza. 

In west Salem we have engaged the Urban Land Institute to finally develop a vision for the Edgewater District that will create a westside urban center with housing and retail in an area that has been ravaged by industrial blight for many years. The city is also constructing improvements to 2^nd Street NW which should begin later this spring. This work should enhance development in the Edgewater District significantly. 

At the airport, City Council has unanimously approved funding to prepare for commercial passenger air service. We’ve pushed staff and the community to make this happen. And now we are in the process of signing a contract with the first airline, which will initially serve the Los Angeles Basin, with flights expected to start soon.  

Commercial passenger air service to Salem will provide direct access to Oregon’s wine country, world class recreation, and one-of-a-kind cultural assets – which will increase visitor spending in the region and provide additional local jobs and support for local businesses. We are grateful to our partners at Marion County for financial assistance at the airport as well. 

While we understand it is a risk, this public-private partnership with the city, the Chamber of Commerce and Travel Salem is providing a rebirth at our airport. We are attracting new businesses and the school district has purchased a hangar and we will soon have an airport based CTEC drone program.  

Phase one of our work to improve McGilchrist Street SE is going out to bid this spring, with construction starting soon.  Widening McGilchrist Street between 12th Street and 25th Street, will begin in 2025. And McGilchrist will be the first street in Salem to feature a cycle track! These projects will promote economic development in southeast Salem and will make transit access to the VA and Social Security Administration much better for those with mobility challenges. 

At Fairview, Yamasa is in the middle of a $12 million expansion that will be completed this summer to allow for additional production capacity, while partnering with local farmers to provide for more regionally sourced products. 

At our Mill Creek Corporate Center, Dollar General purchased more than 70 acres to construct an 800,000 sq/ft facility and 400 new jobs. 

It is truly an exciting time for our community. As you just heard, housing and commercial development is strong. Many of you in this room deserve credit for that. From policy makers to business leaders, you have helped shape this city into a welcoming community that is attracting more and more people. Thank you for your partnership. 

In Public Safety, the city council has begun additional investment in our police department by adding 8 new positions last year. Chief Womack continues to effectively lead our police officers with integrity and a commitment to community policing. His vision of a 21^st century police department with officers who reflect our community and that prioritizes relationships with residents and businesses is well on its way to fruition.  

Chief Womack’s belief in holding law enforcement accountable is shown in his advocacy for body cameras and through the procedural justice training that he requires of his staff.  

In January, the department launched an online transparency portal to increase trust and legitimacy with the community. By openly sharing data, policies, reports, and other information that directly impacts the public, the department strives to engage residents in knowledge-sharing, while demonstrating openness and accountability. 

Through a new collaboration with federal-level partners, Salem PD established the Safe Streets Task Force, with the goal of focusing on investigating and stopping violent crimes and major narcotics trafficking in our city. The enhanced federal-level resources magnify the work done by the five detectives of the Strategic Investigations Unit. 

The department’s strategic plan includes an emphasis on traffic safety, but also on the importance of weaving equity into enforcement action. The department initiated the Oregon Car Care Program, a voucher system for equipment infractions. The program directs needed enforcement efforts toward the moving violations that cause serious injuries and away from mere equipment violations, thus focusing on education and cooperation, while offering understanding to those who find themselves having to defer upkeep. These efforts to address the importance of traffic safety, while working toward improving community relationships and building trust, are essential to relationship-based policing. 

Last year, Salem police responded to more than 114,000 calls for service. They arrested 416 drunk drivers; handled 130 child abuse cases, 74 bomb squad callouts, seized 493 illegal firearms, more than 237,000 fentanyl pills, and 426 pounds of meth, cocaine, and heroin. Please join me in thanking Chief Womack and his officers for a job well done.  

Public safety remains a top concern among Salem residents. In our annual community satisfaction survey, the proportion of residents who now cite crime as a top issue increased 13% over the past year. Chief Womack and his officers have done a tremendous job with limited staff, but they simply do not have enough resources to adequately address the needs of our growing city. To achieve a reduction in crime, manage an increase in call volume, and to ensure adequate response times, he needs more officers and more support. Last year City Council hired an independent firm to analyze our staffing needs throughout the city and that report shows we need to add at least seventy new officers to our streets. But let me be clear – if we want to increase the safety of our city and see a reduction in crime, if we want relation-based policing, if we want safer neighborhoods and safer streets, we need additional revenue for public safety. I implore you to join me in this advocacy. 

The Willamette Valley Communications dispatch center continues to be the second busiest 9-1-1 center in the state processing over 400,000 calls for service each year. Twenty-nine agencies from around the valley and the Oregon coast are dispatched by the dedicated staff at the center. These dispatchers are the “first” first responders and do a great job of communicating during emergency situations. 

Our Salem Fire Department, led by Chief Mike Niblock, continues to serve our community well. 2022 was a busy year for them with 31,319 requests for service, an increase over the previous year.  

The Salem Fire Department and the Salem Fire Foundation continue their great work of teaching CPR and AED to all the 8^th grade students in the Salem Keizer School District. Approximately 3,500 kids a year receive this training and since the program’s inception in 2015 more than 20,000 kids have received the lifesaving training. There have been three documented cases of lives saved by students of this program.  

You will also be pleased to know that the Fire Department has already put revenue from the recently passed bond to good use, by ordering an entire fleet of new fire apparatus.

Unfortunately, the bond does not provide revenue for the hiring of firefighters, and we are in desperate need of them. Since 2010, our population has increased 15.8% and call volume has increased 86.7%. The firefighters available to respond to that near doubling of calls has not increased. City Council has re-opened a fire station and hired new fire fighters, but we are just now back to 2010 staffing levels. Just like our dedicated police officers, our firefighters are professionals who are doing the best they can, with what they have. And what they have is not enough. The same independent firm that analyzed our staffing needs for the city has recommended that we hire another 111 firefighters to serve a city this size and meet the response time goal.  

And so we have challenges ahead of us. Like a blossom waiting to bear fruit, our city is transforming. Salem has a small town feel that is integral to our culture, but we must also face the reality that we cannot stay a small town forever. As the state’s capital and its second largest city, it is inevitable that we evolve. Adapting to this 21^st century reality will allow us to shape it, rather than it shaping us. 

I know the last few years have been trying for much of America, and for much of Oregon. A culmination of national and local challenges has exhausted our patience. Partisan politics has created unprecedented levels of tension and mistrust of our neighbors, our schools, and of every level of our government. The gaslighting and endless arms race of our political discourse has frayed the very fabric of our democracy, but partisan politics hasn’t been the only thing straining our resolve.  

Since 2018, Salem residents have endured algae blooms, heat domes, ice storms, wildfires and a global pandemic that has reshaped our entire culture. Some families lost loved ones; others lost jobs, some lost their homes or businesses.

But in Salem, we came together. The Chamber of Commerce launched Salem Eats, a Facebook group aimed at highlighting local businesses that stayed open and served food; within weeks it had tens of thousands of followers as residents flocked to support our small businesses. We came together as one city, and we responded. As our hospital and urgent care centers became the front line of defense, our doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, responded to save lives; our teachers and administrators responded by adapting to educate their students remotely, and the community responded with a renewed sense of humanity.  

Our definition of safety, of community, of happiness, isn’t the same as it was a few years ago. Change can be a difficult thing, but it also provides an opportunity to adapt and to grow. If we choose to harness this momentum, we can shape it to create the change that we’ve always wanted. If we condemn hate and embrace equality, if we condemn ignorance and celebrate reason, and if we reject divisiveness and demand a return to civility, then our city will bloom.  

This is a new spring. Today, right now, our new beginning. It is our constant rededication to our faith in each other that makes us Americans. Our belief that a united people can accomplish anything. Within our reach is every ideal. Within our grasp, is our loftiest goal. Within our hearts we hold the keys to harmony, and within our deeds lies the greatness of America.  

It is a great time to be the mayor of the City of Salem. I am honored and humbled to be entrusted with this role. The state of our city is strong and together we can make Salem even stronger than it is today. I hope that you’ll join me in this new beginning for the city we love. 

Thank you. 

###

Salem, Ore. — The City of Salem has entered the fourth and final phase of its restoration project in the Willamette Slough. This year’s effort starts with replanting.

Next week our contractor, Integrated Resource Management (IRM), will be on site planting 12,850 native bareroot plants along the banks of the slough to help combat future re-infestation by Ludwigia and other invasive plants. Work will begin on Monday, March 20, and continue through Wednesday, March 22, or until all plants are installed. The work includes site preparation, planting, and installation of beaver fencing in select planting areas. 

Over the past three years, the City of Salem and Willamette Riverkeeper have treated the aggressive, invasive Ludwigia, which had gained a stranglehold on the Willamette Slough at Minto Brown Island Park. Later this year, the slough is scheduled for two final rounds of herbicide treatment for re-emerging Ludwigia. These treatments will likely occur in early July and mid-August. IRM, an experienced, state-licensed habitat restoration company, has been hired to complete the work in accordance with established safety measures. 

Prior to each summer treatment, City staff posts signs about the project at nearby locations in Minto-Brown, Wallace Marine and Riverfront parks. Staff will have communication cards available to the public. Further notification will be made through our website, media and social media posts, as well as direct notification to related businesses.

Learn more about Restoring the Willamette River.

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Vancouver, Wash. – The City of Vancouver welcomes feedback on the Vancouver arts hub, a concept that will give new life to the former Vancouver community library building (1007 E. Mill Plain Blvd.) by transforming it into a vibrant center for arts and culture to serve the entire community. 

The City of Vancouver will become the steward of the former library building later this year, providing an exceptional opportunity to create a new arts hub in a space that is already meaningful to the community. Large, accommodating and eye-catching, the building can support a wide variety of activities and events. Located near educational resources, the Historic Reserve and the Downtown Arts District, many opportunities exist for partnerships that support a flourishing arts ecosystem.

Emphasizing a broad range of visual and digital arts, the arts hub could be a gathering place where people create and learn together. The current vision includes artist studios, classrooms, exhibit space, a community kitchen and a retail café. 

City staff are working with the Culture, Arts & Heritage Commission to explore options for managing, operating and financing the project. The Vancouver arts hub concept is in the early stages of planning and a wide range of perspectives and ideas are needed to help shape the future of this project.

Visit www.BeHeardVancouver.org/Vancouver-Arts-Hub to see architectural renderings and learn more. Community members are encouraged to take the online survey to measure public interest in expanding arts and culture opportunities in Vancouver. 

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Vancouver, Wash. – The City of Vancouver is preparing to pave and preserve streets across 20 Vancouver neighborhoods this summer. Vancouver’s Pavement Management Program will invest approximately $13.1 million in planning, design and construction to improve pavement conditions throughout the community, thanks in part to license fees collected through the City’s Transportation Benefit District. 

This year’s program will pave more than five miles of city streets, including segments along East Fourth Plain Boulevard, Fort Vancouver Way, East McLoughlin Boulevard, East 18th/20th Street, Northeast 58th Street, Northeast 49th Street and Southeast Evergreen Highway. In addition, approximately three miles of residential streets currently in poor or failed condition will be resurfaced in Harney Heights, Vancouver Heights, Oakbrook, Old Evergreen Highway, Fircrest, Mountain View and Cascade Highlands neighborhoods. The City will implement new street elements along East Fourth Plain Boulevard and Fort Vancouver Way after the paving work is completed. Vancouver community members have provided extensive input for this safety and mobility project and more details can be found online.  

Pavement preservation work – which includes microsurfacing, slurry seal, asphalt rubber chip seal and cape seal treatments – is another big component of the City’s annual Pavement Management Program. Preservation work alternates between east and west Vancouver. For 2023, almost 16 miles of streets in west Vancouver will see some type of preservation used to protect and extend the life of these streets. Some of those street segments include Kauffman Avenue, East Reserve Street, Northeast Ross/54th Street, Northeast 51st Street, Northeast 66th Avenue, Northeast Vancouver Mall Drive/Loop, Saint Helens Avenue, Southeast Ellsworth Road and Lieser Road. 

Curb ramps at approximately 127 locations along the various project routes will be upgraded to current standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to improve accessibility and mobility for all. Federal requirements mandate that curb ramps be upgraded to current ADA-compliant standards along streets receiving treatments that are considered an alteration, such as paving or cape sealing. In areas where ADA-compliant ramps exist, no changes are required.

Several steps can be expected before pavement work begins on the street. In preparation for the coming work, street tree and vegetation pruning along identified streets has begun and will continue through June to help clear the way for coming construction equipment. The Pavement Management Program is coordinating with Urban Forestry, both divisions of Public Works, to embark on a comprehensive proactive street tree maintenance program to protect the health and structure of trees in our community. Pavement repairs, sealing of cracks and construction of ADA ramps will also take place prior to paving and preservation work.

Throughout the process, community members and businesses along the project corridors will receive notices with details about work hours, parking restrictions, closures and more. Community members are also encouraged to watch for signage and flaggers during construction, alerting travelers to slow down and be prepared for brief delays ahead. 

There are more than 1,900 lane miles of paved streets in Vancouver. Each year, streets are evaluated to determine the most cost-effective methods to extend pavement life and provide better driving conditions. When streets begin to fail, they can often fail quickly and the cost to repair them increases dramatically. Keeping good streets in good condition provides the most cost-effective and efficient use of available resources.

Since its adoption by City Council in 2015, Vancouver’s Street Funding Strategy has provided additional funding to continue improvements to overall pavement conditions citywide and reverse a trend of deterioration. Transportation Benefit District fees are a substantial part of this funding strategy. 

More information about the 2023 Pavement Management Program is available online at www.cityofvancouver.us/pavement. View a map of 2023 pavement projects at www.cityofvancouver.us/pavementmap.

Tentative schedules will be posted on the Pavement Management website, www.cityofvancouver.us/pmschedule, in advance of street work. Pavement work is highly weather dependent and schedules are subject to change. Watch also for Vancouver Public Works construction alerts posted on NextDoor, Twitter @VanPubWorksUS and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/VancouverPublicWorks.

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On March 16, 2023, Marion County Circuit Court Judge James Edmonds sentenced Antonio Soto, 34, to life in prison for the murder of Davontae Smith (40) and the attempted murder of Adrian Gonzales (22). Soto will serve a minimum of 45 years before he is eligible for release before the parole board. 

Soto was convicted of Murder in the Second Degree with a Firearm, Attempted Murder in the First Degree with a Firearm, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm after a two-week jury trial held in Marion County Circuit Court from January 30 to February 10, 2023. 

These crimes occurred in the early morning hours of June 8, 2021, at the Capital Inn and Suites in Marion County, Oregon. Smith and Gonzales attempted to intervene when they saw Soto assaulting a woman in the hallway of the hotel. Soto killed Smith, almost shot Gonzales in the head, and then fled the state. 

Soto had been released from prison only 15 months prior to this murder and attempted murder after serving a prison sentence for Robbery in the First Degree. 

The case was tried by Marion County Deputy District Attorneys Matthew Kemmy and Katharine Semple. 

Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt today testified in support of three gun violence prevention bills (HB 2005, HB 2006, and HB 2007), with a particular focus on HB 2005’s provisions relating to ghost guns and 3D-printed firearms. Ghost guns are unserialized and untraceable firearms that can be bought online and assembled at home. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms estimates that the presence of ghost guns has increased by 1,000% since 2017.

“Increasing gun violence is one of the most significant challenges to public safety and health facing Oregonians today. In fact, according to the CDC, firearms were the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of one and 19 in 2020. 

“In Oregon, we have worked hard to create a balanced system of background checks that allow for responsible gun ownership while keeping guns out of the hands of those convicted of serious criminal activity. 

“However, off-market firearms – like ghost guns and 3D-printed guns – circumvent these checks, exposing all of us, especially our crime victims and frontline law enforcement, to diminished public safety. I’m pleased to support this crucial legislation to further our continuing work in preventing gun violence and keeping our communities safe.”

More information is available on the Oregon Legislature’s website. 

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Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt today announced that a grand jury indicted Ana Karen Perez-Velador, 28, on eight charges relating to a recent assault of a TriMet bus driver. Deputy District Attorney Julian Samuels is the prosecutor assigned to this case.

On Monday, March 13, officers from Transit Police (TPD) and Portland Police responded to the area near NE 27^th Avenue and Saratoga Street. The bus driver reported that, after being stabbed by Perez-Velador in the leg, they extricated themselves through the driver’s side window as Perez-Velador continued to thrust the knife at the driver multiple times. Police officers located Perez-Velador and a male acquaintance, 26-year-old Cody Christopher Richardson, nearby and took them into custody.

During the investigation, officers learned the bus driver, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, asked Perez-Velador and Richardson to exit the bus because it had reached the line’s terminus. Perez-Velador then confronted the driver and pulled out a knife, stabbing the driver in the leg. The bus driver and two suspects were the only people onboard at the time of the incident.

The bus driver was treated at a local hospital for the leg injury and released.

Perez-Velador was indicted by a grand jury today on eight charges: 

1. Attempted Murder in the Second Degree
2. Assault in the Second Degree
3. Unlawful Use of a Weapon
4. Coercion
5. Criminal Mischief in the First Degree
6. Theft in the Third Degree
7. Interfering with Public Transportation
8. Menacing

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office thanks Transit Police and PPB for their assistance with this case.

A charging instrument is only an accusation of a crime. Perez-Velador is innocent unless and until proven guilty.

### 

Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt today released the findings of an independent review he requested to investigate allegations of gender discrimination and retaliation within his office.  

“I take these types of allegations very seriously. When these particular allegations were made last year, I turned the matter over to the County Chair and the Complaints Investigation Unit and committed that my office would cooperate fully in an independent review. Now, the investigation that the County ordered has been completed by outside experts, and I am releasing the findings for full transparency.

“I’m proud of the hundreds of dedicated public servants in my office who work hard every day to ensure fair and equal justice for everyone in Multnomah County. I’ll continue to make equity work internally and externally a focus every day as your District Attorney.” 

The review was conducted by Barran Liebman LLP at the request of the Multnomah County Complaints Investigation Unit. The summary report is available for review here.

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

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

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

There were 3 cases dismissed by the court as a result of the public defense crisis between 3/10/2023 and 3/16/2023:

22-CR-60938

22-CR-52320

22-CR-54462

#MCDA#

The Centennial School District Governing Board will meet virtually in a special meeting on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. 

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.

Please Note: This is a virtual meeting - All participants will join virtually via the Zoom app.

If you are interested in joining, please click on the link below.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88257603820?pwd=RHFYVnArOXdLdXRZa2NDL1hia3VQZz09
Passcode: 599201
 

To join by telephone, dial one of the numbers below, then follow the prompts.

+1 669 444 9171  OR +1 669 900 9128

Webinar ID: 882 5760 3820
Passcode: 599201

International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kCGksqHcX

The Multnomah Education Service District Board of Directors will meet in Regular Session at 6:00 p.m. on March 21, 2023.  The Board will be considering a supplemental budget. At the end of the Regular Session meeting, the Board will move in to Executive Session under (ORS 192.660(2)(i)) -To review and evaluate the employment-related performance of the chief executive officer, employee or staff member who does not request an open hearing.

This meeting will be held virtually via Zoom.
https://multnomahesd-org.zoom.us/j/86838553250?pwd=NHFoYyt4amE3MDJYa1ZpU2dpNHhBQT09
Meeting ID: 868 3855 3250
Passcode: 139744

WHAT: Tualatin High School will host their Winter Sports Celebration to include:

Honoring Oregon State Boys 6A Basketball Champions

Honor USA National Champion Cheer Team - Varsity Co-ed

Three Rivers League Champion Girls Basetball

Celebrate all winter sports accomplishments

WHEN/WHERE: Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 10:20 AM

Tualatin High School

22300 SW Boones Ferry Road, Tualatin

Media should arrive by 10 AM and check in/sign in at school office.

After ten years serving on the board for the Hockinson Public Schools Foundation, Board President Chris Turner steps down from the role this year. The Hockinson Public Schools Foundation looks ahead to a bright future, offering five scholarships of $55,000 annually to graduating Hockinson High School seniors for post-secondary education. This includes a new recurring cementing Turner’s legacy in new recurring scholarships for Hockinson students beginning this year. The Hockinson Public Schools Foundation

“It is gratifying and fulfilling to know I'm leaving the Foundation in the very capable hands of a new board with great potential for benefiting our schools and community,” said Turner. “For my family, Hockinson is not only where we live, but who we are.”

The Hockinson Public Schools Foundation was established in 2003. As a relatively young foundation in a small community, the board has found ways to leverage minimal resources to benefit Hockinson youth. 

“As a board, we have not only been able to keep the foundation viable through some really lean years, but to realize new heights with community business leaders,” said Turner. Turner was instrumental in facilitating a recent donation by longtime Clark County resident Chuck Borstad, resulting in a $40,000 annual contribution to scholarship funds for Hockinson High School graduating seniors.

"Hockinson rallies around its schools and Chris, the Foundation, and its donors have dedicated themselves to lifting up our graduates,” Superintendent Steve Marshall added. "I am so thankful for all Chris has done. He's helped to write a pretty amazing chapter in our history and created a brighter future for our students and all of us, really."

While Chris Turner opens a new chapter, his work with the Hockinson Public Schools Foundation will positively impact our community and our students' future by supporting post-secondary education for years to come.

Congratulations to the Ridgefield High School Knowledge Bowl team for placing first at the state competition in Wenatchee last week! The win secured the team’s second consecutive 2A state championship. After winning the national Knowledge Bowl championship last year in an unprecedented, come-from-behind win, the team is excited to once again compete in the National Knowledge Bowl, this time as defending national champions.  

Knowledge Bowl is similar to Jeopardy, with rapid-fire questions across a broad range of subjects. Flip through a list of sample questions, and you might be surprised at how challenging they are. For example: Name three modal auxiliaries that begin with the letter M? Answer: may, must, might. What is the phase shift of this function: f(x)=4?Answer: sine(x-pi). What is the largest island in the immediate vicinity of the Seychelles, Mauritius, and the Comoros? Answer: Madagascar. Minerals that collect in what kind of alluvial deposits must be dense, chemically inert, and resistant to weathering? Answer: placer deposits. 

Watching the RHS team answer questions like these, one after another, is impressive. There’s virtually no hesitation before they hit the buzzer, confident and prepared.

The varsity team won the state championship after taking first place at regionals. Adam Ford, James Haddix, Emi Newell, and Stuart Swingruber are experienced competitors; Ford, Newell, and Haddix were all members of last year’s national championship Knowledge Bowl team. In this year’s state tournament, the Ridgefield team took on tough competition with Charles Wright Academy and Pullman High School, winning by two points in the finals.

Coach David Jacobson is very proud of his students and excited to see them compete on the national stage again—this time attending at least one competition in person. Due to COVID restrictions, many academic competitions had to be held online, so the students are thrilled to get to travel this year. The team is traveling to the national competition in Atlanta thanks to the generous donations from Ridgefield residents and businesses, a $1,500 donation from the Ridgefield Lions Club, and a $5,000 matching grant from the Ridgefield Public Schools Foundation. 

One thing for the team hasn’t changed though: they are continuing to practice, working their way through thousands of sample questions. 

“They are super smart kids, and they’ve worked hard to get where they are,” Jacobson said. “You never know what will happen at competition, but they have a winning record again this year, and I think their chances are as good as any other team at nationals.

Congratulations to the Ridgefield High School Knowledge Bowl team on their second consecutive state championship, and best of luck at the national competition!

For immediate release

March 17th, 2023 - Vancouver, WA - After a three-year absence due to COVID, the annual Paddy Hough Parade returned to Main Street in Vancouver’s Uptown Village Neighborhood.  The parade began at Hough Elementary School and featured every class, along with local organizations, businesses, classic cars, and bands.

The Paddy Hough Parade is a long-time Vancouver St. Patrick’s Day tradition.  This year’s theme was “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.”  Each class selected its own take on the theme which they presented to judges along the parade route.  Students marched in a loop from Hough Elementary down Main Street, returning to the school to celebrate with awards and an ice cream social.

In addition to students, the parade featured local businesses, police, firefighters, classic car clubs, school marching bands and more in a colorful and fun procession.  One parade participant, Bill Drury, attended Hough Elementary as a 6th grader in 1941!  Drury walked in the parade today.

Hough Elementary school’s namesake, Patrick (Paddy) Hough was born in Tipperary, Ireland on March 17^th, 1846.  Paddy Hough immigrated to Canada in 1870 and then in 1883 to Vancouver, Washington.  Soon after his arrival he realized his dream of becoming an American citizen.  He served as a teacher and Associate Superintendent in Vancouver.  Sixteen years after Paddy Hough’s death, Hough Elementary School was built and named after the beloved educator.  Soon thereafter a community sprouted up around the school which also bears his name, Hough Neighborhood.  

Broll and SOTs for use in broadcasts and social media: 

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WqZzK-TYhsIc-L9Yo5JdfKVOOY6Wbsfv?usp=sharing

Soundbite name/title:

Becca Kempton - Hough Program Assistant

Norwood Brown - Parade Judge

Random kids - no names

Bill Drury - Hough class of ‘41 and parade participant

EVERGREEN VIRTUAL ACADEMY
NOTICE OF SPECIAL SESSION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MARCH 21, 2023, 6:30PM
Evergreen Virtual Academy Board Members are hereby notified that a Special Meeting of the Board will be held via Zoom Webinar at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87254322950
Or Telephone:
Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 9128 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592

St. Mary’s Academy Students Give Heartfelt Thanks to TriMet Workers 

Members of the Operation Appreciation Club came together to thank and celebrate transit workers 

Portland, Ore. – Located in the heart of downtown Portland, nearly 50 percent of St. Mary’s Academy’s students rely on public transportation to get to and from school each day. As part of the invitation from TriMet to celebrate Transit Driver Appreciation Day on March 17, St. Mary’s students came together to create and gift their local transit drivers with thank you buttons and signs in addition to their usual display of gratitude. 

To express how grateful the school community is for the hardworking Portland transit workers, who ensure students arrive safely to school and back home, students wrote thank you notes, shared a special video with drivers, and passed out more than 200 student-designed buttons throughout the week. 

These efforts were led by students in St. Mary’s Operation Appreciation Club. Operation Appreciation is a student-driven club, created to make a positive impact on both the school and larger community by providing cards and small tokens of appreciation to some of the unsung heroes at school.

Senior Sabrina McGarvey, a member of Operation Appreciation, said, “As someone who takes public transit to and from school most days, I wanted to find a way to show TriMet workers how much our St. Mary's community and the broader Portland community, appreciate all they do. Portland is so lucky to have such a wonderful system that helps get everyone where they need to go.”

# # #

At St. Mary's Academy, We Believe. Located in the heart of downtown Portland, Oregon, St. Mary's Academy is Oregon’s premier all-girls high school and the oldest continuously operating school. Founded in 1859 by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, St. Mary's Academy serves nearly 600 young women in grades 9-12. St. Mary’s Academy students and alumnae go on to influence local and global communities. For more information visit www.stmaryspdx.org.

(SPRINGFIELD, Ore.) March 20, 2023— PacificSource Health Plans is pleased to announce a new business collaboration with Aetna Signature Administrators® that will improve access to care for PacificSource members when traveling or residing outside of Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and Montana. Aetna’s preferred provider organization (PPO) network will give PacificSource members in-network access to more than 6,000 hospitals and 1.5 million participating physicians and ancillary providers. Aetna will replace First Health Network, PacificSource’s current national partner, on June 1, 2023.

Access to Aetna’s PPO network will be offered to PacificSource members covered on individual and family plans, employer group plans and student health plans. Services from Aetna PPO network providers, outside the PacificSource four-state area, will be paid as in-network. The new partnership does not include Medicare or Medicaid members.

“We are pleased to welcome Aetna as a trusted partner and have full confidence our members traveling or residing outside our four-state service area can get the care they need through their comprehensive network of providers,” said Peter McGarry, PacificSource vice president of provider network.

PacificSource in-network plan benefits remain the same for members using Aetna’s provider network outside of PacificSource’s four-state service areas of Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and Montana.  

About PacificSource Health Plans:

PacificSource Health Plans is an independent, not-for-profit community health plan serving the Northwest. Founded in 1933, PacificSource has local offices throughout Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and Washington. The PacificSource family of companies employs more than 1,800 people and serves over 600,000 members throughout the Greater Northwest. For more information, visit PacificSource.com.

BEND, OR — The High Desert Museum celebrates spring break with special programs and extended hours beginning Saturday, March 25 through Sunday, April 2, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. Visitors pay winter rates with summer hours through Friday, March 31. It’s made possible by Oregon College Savings Plan.

The popular indoor flight demonstration Sky Hunters returns to the E.L. Wiegand Pavilion in the Donald M. Kerr Birds of Prey Center. Visitors can experience powerful predators close up as raptors fly just overhead, showcasing the birds’ agility and grace. The program runs from Saturday, March 25 – Saturday, April 1 with demonstrations daily at 11:00 am and 1:30 pm. Tickets are $7 and available at Admissions. Museum members receive a 20 percent discount. 

The Museum is excited to welcome special guests from the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife from Thursday, March 30 – Saturday, April 1. Visitors can find them at the Autzen Otter Exhibit sharing information and biofacts about sea otters and Pacific lamprey.

Spring break visitors will also be able to experience the Museum’s temporary exhibitions. The newest original exhibition is Creations of Spirit. Native artists created artwork to be used in Native communities before arriving at the Museum, and the art will be available to Native communities for use once again after the exhibition. It features acclaimed artists Joe Feddersen (Colville), RYAN! Feddersen (Colville), Natalie Kirk (Warm Springs), H’Klumaiyat Roberta Joy Kirk (Wasco, Warm Springs, Diné), Phillip Cash Cash, Ph.D., (Cayuse, Nez Perce), Jefferson Greene (Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs) and Kelli Palmer (Wasco, Warm Springs). Creations of Spirit is a one-of-a-kind, celebratory experience featuring the stories of living works of art. highdesertmuseum.org/creations-of-spirit

Other temporary exhibitions include the original effort, Under the Snow. The exhibit, offered in English and Spanish, reveals the hidden world beneath the snow, called the subnivium. In this environment, animals create a matrix of tunnels to survive the winter’s frigid temperatures and hide from the predators that lurk above. The exhibit is filled with animations of animals and immerses the visitor in the winter landscape. Learn more at highdesertmuseum.org/under-the-snow.

And In the Arena: Photographs from America’s Only Touring Black Rodeo, will be open through June 25. Through the lens of San Francisco Bay area photographer Gabriela Hasbun, the exhibit documents the exhilarating atmosphere of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo—the only touring Black rodeo in the country—and the showstopping style and skill of the Black cowboys and cowgirls who compete in it year after year. Learn more at highdesertmuseum.org/in-the-arena.

Living history characters in period dress will be present during spring break, as well, from Saturday, March 25 – Saturday, April 1 from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm. They will share how they lived and supported themselves in the High Desert in 1904 and offer visitors opportunities to help with chores and play games. The encounters will take place outdoors at the High Desert Ranch and Sawmill or indoors in the Spirit of the West exhibit. The location is weather-dependent, and visitors are encouraged to check with Admissions upon arrival.

Visitors will also be able to enjoy two daily talks during spring break, the Natural History Walk and Otter Encounter. Other daily programs that usually take place in the pavilion will resume on Sunday, April 2.

More information on visiting the High Desert Museum is available at highdesertmuseum.org/visit-bend-oregon.

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 Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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Blazers Legend Brian Grant and friends come together to raise funds for programs to empower people with Parkinson's disease to lead active and fulfilling lives

Portland, Ore. (March 6, 2023) – On April 20, 2023, the Brian Grant Foundation (BGF) will host its twelfth annual “Shake It Till We Make It” gala at Castaway Portland. The gala, presented by Dick's Auto Group, will bring together 250 guests to raise essential support for BGF’s programs to help improve the quality of life for people with Parkinson’s disease. 

“We're grateful for the incredible support of the Portland community in our efforts to empower people with Parkinson's to lead active and fulfilling lives,” says Katrina Kahl, executive director of the Brian Grant Foundation. “We're excited to share the achievements that we've made together at the gala on April 20.”

“Shake It Till We Make It” launched in 2010, four years after former Portland Trail Blazer Brian Grant was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson's disease. Today the event includes a four-course dinner, live and silent auction, as well as a program celebrating the people that have made BGF's achievements possible. The silent auction is available online and opens to the public on Monday, April 17, 2023 at briangrant.org/gala. 

“The commitment of the Portland community to improving the well-being of people with Parkinson's never wavers,” says Brian Grant. “Through recessions, pandemics, and other events, this community keeps coming through for us and I can't thank you enough.”

Thanks to the support of local organizations, including presenting sponsor Dick's Auto Group, 100 percent of the proceeds from the gala will benefit BGF's programs and operations. Gold sponsors include Jamba Juice, Jordan Brand, Maker's Mark, Moda Health, 'Ohana Ventures, Pearl Catering, Portland Trail Blazers, Sapphire Health Services, and Urban Restaurant Group. A full list of sponsors can be found at briangrant.org/gala.

For more information about the gala and to purchase tickets, visit briangrant.org/gala.

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Founded in 2010, the Brian Grant Foundation (BGF) empowers people impacted by Parkinson's disease to lead active and fulfilling lives. BGF provides resources to support well-being, connects people with Parkinson's to a supportive community, and shares the stories of people affected by the disease. BGF was established in 2010, following Brian's diagnosis in 2008 at the age of 36. For more information, visit briangrant.org. 

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 20, 2023

GREATER VANCOUVER CHAMBER ANNOUNCES SUCCESSFUL KICKOFF OF  “YOU STAY, WE PAY” PILOT PROGRAM  

This tourism and economy stimulation promotion was created to support hotels and increase overnight and day-visit tourism, while at the same time helping boost small businesses in the community. 

Vancouver, WA - The Greater Vancouver Chamber (GVC) is pleased to announce the success of its “You Stay, We Pay” pilot program, launched to bring real economic results to small businesses, increase local tourism, and encourage visitors to explore the southwest Washington region during the winter months.  

The Chamber partnered with Sonesta ES Suites Vancouver 41st Street and Best Western Premier Hotel at Fisher’s Landing to offer the first 65 guests who booked a two-night stay $75 in Grow the 360 gift certificates. These gift certificates work like cash when redeemed at participating restaurants, coffee shops, nail salons, boutiques, fitness centers, and other local attractions around the city. The program reimburses participating businesses 100 percent of the face value of the currency.

Thanks to the program's success, the Greater Vancouver Chamber was able to inject $5,000 into the local economy, while also providing a boost to the hospitality industry. Funding for the program was made possible by assistance from the City of Vancouver, Washington Lodging Tax Grant Program.

Participating hotels and businesses in the surrounding areas reported an increase in foot traffic, booking, and sales during the program period.  

“We loved the ‘You Stay, We Pay’ and Grow the 360 programs. This was fun! The Grow the 360 gift certificates were a nice bonus to present to hotel guests. It gave them an opportunity to explore Vancouver and find places to eat and shop without any risk to them,” said Angie Hildebrant, Director of Sales at Sonesta ES Suites Vancouver 41st Street.

According to Thao (Bella) Bui, owner at LaBelle Nails & Spa, the Grow the 360 gift certificates program also helped her business to grow. “It is super easy to collect these gift certificates from my customers. I am impressed how the Chamber promotes my business and encourages local consumers and visitors to come and utilize my services. I love being a member of my local Chamber of Commerce,” said Bui.    

After a successful pilot, the Greater Vancouver Chamber is planning to implement the “You Stay, We Pay” program on a large scale to continue helping small businesses to thrive, while at the same time positioning the southwest Washington region as a great tourist destination.  

"We are overjoyed with the remarkable success of the 'You Stay, We Pay' initiative," stated Janet Kenefsky, Vice President of Operations for the Chamber. "Recognizing the need for our tourism industry and small businesses to receive a lift during the winter months, we took it upon ourselves to bolster local businesses and entice visitors to explore the diverse offerings across the city. It's gratifying to witness the program's positive influence on the local economy, with a program where people spend, on average, 38% more than the value of the gift card, further boosting economic growth. As we move forward, we remain steadfast in our commitment to support the tourism industry and local businesses, fostering their ongoing prosperity and success."

The Grow the 360 gift certificates program experiences consistent purchases and redemption activity each day. However, Kenefsky noted, "It was truly remarkable to observe how this particular initiative inspired guests to utilize the gift certificates across a wide range of businesses, including nail salons, spas, and boutiques throughout the city, enriching the local economy and supporting a diverse array of establishments."

For more information about the Grow the 360 program and other initiatives by the Greater Vancouver Chamber, please visit VancouverUSA.com.

About the Greater Vancouver Chamber

SW Washington’s largest business organization, the Greater Vancouver Chamber (GVC), with nearly 1000 members, has been Moving Business Forward in southwest Washington for over 130 years through business advocacy, community building, education, and creating visibility for our members. The Chamber is a supportive alliance of diverse member businesses, individuals, and organizations, working together toward long-term business prosperity. The GVC is the heart of Clark County’s business community, advocating for sound, sensible and dynamic policies that ensure a vital economic climate and prosperity for all. For more information, please visit VancouverUSA.com.

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Media Assets
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Uqj1m3I3trBjKZ6dZWr6YqSaO7IaUOmo?usp=sharing

Grow the 360 program 
https://www.vancouverusa.com/support-local/grow-the-360/

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 20, 2023

VICE PRESIDENT OF GREATER VANCOUVER CHAMBER GRADUATES FROM PRESTIGIOUS US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION'S EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

Fellowship provides state and local business leaders with opportunities to engage nationally on critical education and workforce issues.

Vancouver, WA – The Greater Vancouver Chamber (GVC) proudly announces the graduation of its esteemed Vice President, Janet Kenefsky, from the prestigious US Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Business Leads Cohort, a rigorous six-month fellowship focused on workforce development.

The US Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Business Leads Cohort brings together an exclusive group of leaders to collaborate and address the country's most pressing workforce challenges. During the six-month program, participants engage in a series of workshops, roundtable discussions, and seminars aimed at empowering them to create innovative solutions to bridge the skills gap, foster talent pipelines, and enhance economic opportunities in their respective communities.

Janet Kenefsky has demonstrated unwavering commitment and passion for workforce development throughout their tenure at the Chamber. Her participation in this highly competitive program underscores her dedication to advancing the organization’s mission of nurturing talent, fostering innovation, and contributing to the overall growth of the business community.

"We are extremely proud of Janet for successfully completing the fellowship," said GVC President & CEO John McDonagh. "Her hard work, insights, and collaboration with other industry leaders will undoubtedly benefit not only our organization but also the larger community. We are already seeing the positive impact of her efforts as we continue to invest in our workforce, collaborate with partners across the region and create opportunities for growth."

Upon returning from the program, Kenefsky will spearhead new initiatives and strategies to enhance the Greater Vancouver’s talent development programs, deepen our partnerships with local educational institutions, and create opportunities for upskilling and reskilling employees in alignment with industry trends.

For more information on the Business Leads Fellowship Program, visit the program’s website. 

About the Greater Vancouver Chamber

SW Washington’s largest business organization, the Greater Vancouver Chamber (GVC), with nearly 1000 members, has been Moving Business Forward in southwest Washington for over 130 years through business advocacy, community building, education, and creating visibility for our members. The Chamber is a supportive alliance of diverse member businesses, individuals, and organizations, working together toward long-term business prosperity. The GVC is the heart of Clark County’s business community, advocating for sound, sensible and dynamic policies that ensure a vital economic climate and prosperity for all. For more information, please visit VancouverUSA.com. 

About the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation

The US Chamber of Commerce Foundation is a nonprofit affiliate of the US Chamber of Commerce dedicated to strengthening America's long-term competitiveness by addressing the most critical workforce challenges. The foundation focuses on four key areas: workforce development, education and skills, economic growth, and corporate citizenship. For more information, visit www.uschamberfoundation.org.

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Media Assets
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1RM8M9fMofWZBYXzYZO_oeopkpF_0zkJm

Business Leads Fellowship Program
https://businessleads.uschamberfoundation.org/

AMBOY, WASHINGTON - North Clark Historical Museum will host the 17th Quilt Show at 21416 NE 399th St., Amboy, WA  98601.

Saturday, March 25th    10:00 am -- 4:00 pm

Sunday, March 26th      12:00 pm -- 4:00 pm

Featured this year will be the Roberta Davis and Family Quilt Collection.  The collection consists of antique, children's, hand-quilted, and machine-quilted quilts in various sizes and patterns.  Roberta has been a member of the Clark County Quilters Guild since 1985, and is a member of the local chapter of Project Linus. Project Linus provides handmade quilts to children who have experienced a stressful event in their lives.

The Museum raffle quilt, "Blue Starlight", will be on display, and tickets will be available to purchase.  The queen size quilt was made and donated by the Chelatchie Quilters of Chelatchie Prairie, near Amboy, WA.  The proceeds from the raffle benefit the Museum's Capital Improvement Fund.

No Admission Fee.               Donations are Welcome.               Wheelchair accessible.

For more information, contact North Clark Historical Museum at 360-247-5800 or museumnch88@gmail.com

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

A Portland original, the historic Oaks Amusement park in southeast Portland opens for our 118th season this Saturday, March 25.  The rides, mini golf, and midway games will be open from 12-5 PM every day of Oregon Spring Break from March 25-April 2, rain or shine!  The Roller Rink will also be open with public skating every day of Spring Break. Weekday discounts are available March 27-31; visit oakspark.com for offers.  

TUALATIN, OR, March 21, 2023 – The Oregon Alliance of Independent Colleges and Universities (The Alliance) has signed an operating agreement with Core Education Services, a public benefit corporation on a mission to transform the business model for small- and mid-sized colleges and universities to unleash its shared service platform and business transformation solutions. The agreement with Core will allow The Alliance and its 12-member institutions to leverage economies of scale to improve services, technology and operating effectiveness. 

“The combined budgets of The Alliance member institutions are more than $1 Billion,” said President of the Oregon Alliance of Independent Colleges and Universities Brent Wilder. “We need to find the right platform to empower our institutions to work independently yet take advantage of the economies of scale for shared services. Our operating agreement with Core provides us with the best of both worlds.” 

“The operating partnership with Core is an important strategic initiative,” said President of Linfield University and Chairman of the board for The Alliance Miles Davis. “The operating agreement with Core creates a shared service platform that encourages inter-institutional collaboration, improving the collective strength of our 12 institutions.”   

The agreement allows The Alliance institutions to transform their business models with shared service through a unique operating partnership. Supporting services and expanded human resources for member institutions include enterprise and campus technology, institutional research, financial planning, capital strategies, workflow automation, academic programming services, revenue growth, and compliance support services. 

“Business model transformation requires innovation and creativity,” said Executive Chairman of Core Education Rick Beyer. “By creating economies of scale and providing access to top talent and resources that would otherwise be inaccessible, members of The Alliance will have an operating partner who understands what it takes to establish long-term prosperity through transformation.”

About the Oregon Alliance of Independent Colleges and Universities
The Alliance’s activities foster collaboration and find the intersection between the needs and expertise of member institutions, industry leaders, philanthropy, and government. In doing so, The Alliance is a contributing partner to Oregon’s 40-40-20 education attainment goal, strengthening the state’s intellectual, creative, and economic resources. The mission of Oregon Alliance of Independent College and Universities is to represent and serve its member institutions, all of which are accredited by an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education, nonprofit, independent colleges and universities in Oregon. For more information, please visit www.oaicu.org.

About Core Education Services, PBC
Core Education is a public benefit corporation with a mission to help small- and mid-sized institutions transform their business model. By creating a culture of prosperity, Core leverages its economies of scale to achieve operational effectiveness, technological efficiency, and market expansion implemented through innovative shared services. For more information, please visit www.core.edu.

Portland, OR — The Oregon Historical Society has nominated Megan Kruer, a 7th/8th grade language and literature teacher at Seven Peaks School in Bend, Oregon, for the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award for her work with students on Oregon History Day (OHD), an affiliate of the National History Day® (NHD) program. 

Each of the 58 NHD affiliates may nominate one middle school teacher for the Patricia Behring Award annually. Nominees for the $10,000 award demonstrate a commitment to engaging students in historical learning through the innovative use of primary sources, implementation of active learning strategies to foster historical thinking skills, and participation in the NHD contests. Each nominee receives $500 as a result of their nomination. 

The Behring Award is sponsored this year by Patricia Behring’s family in recognition of the pivotal role teachers play in the lives of students. The national winner will be selected by a committee of experienced teachers and historians and announced at the National History Day contest awards ceremony in June.

“Teachers are among the greatest resources children have to develop the skills necessary to become critical thinkers,” said National History Day Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn. “Each nominee for the Behring Award shows a dedication to teaching that goes beyond the classroom.”

Oregon History Day — facilitated by the Oregon Historical Society — is a student-directed, project-based, interdisciplinary learning program. Open to all middle and high school students, this culturally responsive program invites students to interpret a historical event that connects to the annual theme by creating a website, paper, performance, exhibit, or documentary. Over half a million students from every state in the nation participate in the National History Day program at the local, state, or national contest levels. 

“Because [Seven Peaks is] an IB school, students are quite skilled at pursuing inquiry independently. However, for Oregon History Day, the challenge is to help them take their inquiry to the next level. This is what I think the NHD theme helps students achieve. I spend significant time with students as a group and individually unpacking the nuances of the theme and investigating angles they might take on topics in light of the theme. Students have almost complete freedom when selecting their topics; this certainly helps them take ownership of their research,” said Kruer.

Kruer competed in National History Day as a middle school student in Ohio, when she interviewed her grandmother and great-grandmother for her projects on women’s roles in World War II and the polio vaccine. As a teacher today, Kruer uses this adaptable program to implement Oregon’s state standards and student learning goals. Working with her partner teacher, Patrick O’Brien, Kruer continuously improves her lesson plans from previous years to better support her students as they move through the program.

“I actually redesigned my entire first unit to better prepare students to use primary sources,” Kruer continues. “The summative project for that unit is called ‘Documenting Your Life,’ and students are asked to mine their personal archives to find primary sources from their experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic. They then compile these ‘artifacts’ or primary sources into a project (using the same format options as NHD). This project helps students appreciate how a story can emerge through a deep engagement with an archive (personal in this case) while developing the skills they need to compete in the Oregon History Day contest!”

Students share their research in two ways at Seven Peaks School. First, the young historians present their projects to the entire Pre-K to 8th grade student body during a special event during school hours. Later, Kruer and the Seven Peaks staff host a community “Celebration of History” night where students share their projects with local judges. This gives students a chance to present their work and answer questions about their research process and refine their projects before competing at the Oregon History Day contest. 

The annual theme for the 2023 National History Day contest is Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas. The 2023 Oregon History Day contest will take place on Saturday, April 29 from 8am to 5:30pm in Salem, Oregon, at Willamette University. The National History Day contest is scheduled to take place in mid-June at the University of Maryland, College Park.

To learn more about how to get involved with Oregon History Day, contact OHD coordinator Katie Pearson at son@ohs.org">Katie.Pearson@ohs.org.

About the Oregon Historical Society

For more than a century, the Oregon Historical Society has served as the state’s collective memory, preserving a vast collection of 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 rich as Oregon’s cannot be contained within a single story or point of view. 

SAIF is featuring two coastal organizations in the new web video series, Oregon Odd Jobs. 

At Lincoln City Glass Center, owner and founder Kelly Howard showed host Corey Jenkins, SAIF’s creative services supervisor, how to blow one of their famous glass floats while staying safe on the job.  

In Newport, Oregon Coast Aquarium mammologist Megan Pros, environmental health and safety manager Patricia Howe, and aquarist Abby Henderson walked Corey through the care and feeding of the aquarium’s many animals. 

Both episodes of the series are available on YouTube or at saif.com/oddjobs.

SAIF is taking a look at uniquely Oregon jobs across the state, and how they’re done safely. More information is below, and interviews are available by request.   

SAIF'S NEW VIDEO SERIES COMBINES OREGON CHARM WITH WORKPLACE SAFETY

SAIF visited workplaces across the state to create a new YouTube series, Oregon Odd Jobs. The series showcases uniquely Oregon jobs and how they’re done safely.  

“While safety is everyone's responsibility, we all go about it differently depending on the job we do,” says SAIF safety consultant Dawn Jacobs. “Oregon Odd Jobs highlights the weird and wonderful while giving us a look at how Oregonians stay safe.” 

Among other things, the videos teach how these businesses find safety success as they combat complacency, stay alert to surrounding hazards, keep up with safety innovations, and put safety redundancies in place.  

The first three episodes feature Homestead Log Homes in Central Point, Oregon Potato Company in Boardman, and Oaks Park Amusement Park in Portland. Host Corey Jenkins, SAIF’s creative services supervisor, tries his hand at building log homes, grinding potatoes, and inspecting roller coasters.  

SAIF will publish new episodes every two weeks. Future episodes include wrangling llamas, blowing glass, and feeding sharks. 

Subscribe to SAIF’s YouTube page for future episodes and other safety-related videos. 

About SAIF 

SAIF is Oregon's not-for-profit workers' compensation insurance company. Since 1914, we've been taking care of injured workers, helping people get back to work, and striving to make Oregon the safest and healthiest place to work. For more information, visit the About SAIF page on saif.com.