PORTLAND, Ore.— The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon today announced significant developments in two separate federal financial crime cases: the indictment of a Portland business executive for failing to pay more than $1.5 million in federal payroll taxes, and the guilty plea of a former bookkeeper who embezzled more than $1 million from her employer and filed false tax returns.

Portland CEO Indicted for Willful Failure to Pay Over Payroll Taxes

A federal grand jury in Portland has returned an eight‑count indictment charging Rosa Cazares, Chief Executive Officer of La Mota, LLC, and 503 Staffing LLC, with willfully failing to collect, account for, and pay over federal trust fund taxes, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7202.

According to the indictment, Cazares—who exercised financial control over both companies—failed to remit required payroll withholdings, including federal income taxes and Social Security and Medicare taxes, for eight consecutive quarters between March 2020 and December 2021. The total amount of trust fund taxes due and owing is $1,542,413.

If convicted, Cazares faces up to five years in prison per count, as well as fines and restitution.

An indictment is only an allegation of criminal conduct. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Former Bookkeeper Pleads Guilty to Over $1 Million Theft and Filing False Tax Returns

In a separate case in the Eugene Division, Christina Klauda, former office manager and bookkeeper for Tower Timber Services, Inc., pleaded guilty to Bank Fraud and two counts of Making and Subscribing a False Federal Income Tax Return.

Court documents show that from 2014 to 2023, Klauda exploited her access to payroll systems and financial records to systematically steal $1,083,786.56 from the company. Her methods included inflating wages, creating duplicate employee profiles to issue herself extra checks, deleting records of fraudulent payments, and issuing unauthorized checks using the company owner’s signature stamp.

Klauda also filed false federal tax returns for 2018 and 2019, failing to report more than $112,000 in income, resulting in $27,985 in tax loss. She admitted to the conduct during interviews with law enforcement.

Under the plea agreement, Klauda faces up to 30 years in federal prison for bank fraud and up to three years for each tax charge. She has agreed to pay at least $1,111,771.56 in restitution.

A sentencing date will be set by the court.

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These are two of several major fraud cases being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon in conjunction with the Department of Justice’s national fraud enforcement efforts. Additional matters are pending. Please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for more information.

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The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) has fined a Beaverton construction company $317,587 for repeatedly violating job safety requirements, including failing to protect workers from fall hazards that could seriously injure or kill them.
 

The division cited Luka’s General Construction LLC after an inspection of a jobsite in Molalla where work was being done on the roof of a two-story house.
 

The company did not implement any fall protection system to protect employees from a potential fall hazard of as much as 19 feet, according to Oregon OSHA’s findings. The employees were working with their full-body fall protection harnesses on, but they had not connected them to any fall protection anchor. Luka’s General Construction violated an Oregon OSHA rule requiring employers to provide, install, and implement fall protection systems where employees are exposed to a hazard of falling 6 feet or more to a lower level.
 

In another violation, the company was cited for failing to ensure a ladder extended at least 3 feet above the roof level surface to allow workers to safely mount and dismount the ladder at the top. In yet another violation, the company did not have certification records verifying employees were trained in how to recognize fall hazards and the procedures to be followed to minimize those fall hazards.
 

The failure to implement any fall protection system and ladder violations were both fifth-repeat violations committed by the company. In this instance, the fifth-repeat violations mean the company was caught violating these safety requirements for the sixth time in less than two years. The violations carry penalties of $167,294 and $138,146, respectively. The certification violation was a first-repeat violation, carrying a penalty of $12,147.
 

Under Oregon OSHA’s rules, penalties multiply when employers commit repeat offenses.

Under the Oregon Safe Employment Act, workers have a right to safe and healthy working conditions, and to raise concerns free of retaliation. The law requires employers to create and maintain safe and healthy workplaces.
 

In the construction industry, falls are one of the leading causes of death.
 

“Any employer who directs employees to work at heights must address potential fall hazards, with an emphasis on prevention,” said Renée Stapleton, administrator for Oregon OSHA. “To repeatedly fail to do so only increases the risk that a worker will be seriously injured or killed.”

Oregon OSHA’s enforcement program is rooted in prevention. The division requires employers to correct violations. Luka's General Construction corrected the fall protection and ladder violations. It is under an order to correct the certification violation.

Employers have 30 calendar days after receiving a citation to file an appeal. Luka’s General Construction filed an appeal.
 

Employers are encouraged to use free resources – available now from Oregon OSHA and involving no fault, no citations, and no penalties – for help protecting their employees:
 

Consultation services – Provides free help with safety and health programs, including how to control and eliminate hazards, and hands-on training.

• Phone (toll-free in Oregon): 800-922-2689
• Field offices
• Online
• Email: consult.web@dcbs.oregon.gov

Technical staff – Helps employers understand requirements and how to apply them to their worksites.

• Phone (toll-free in Oregon): 800-922-2689
• Online
• Email: tech.web@dcbs.oregon.gov

Oregon OSHA also offers free fall protection video training in English and Spanish, and key information for employers and workers.
 

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About Oregon OSHA: Oregon OSHA enforces the state’s workplace safety and health rules and works to improve workplace safety and health for all Oregon workers. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit osha.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Forestry wants to remind timber operators that their state-registered log brands must be renewed between Oct. 19 and Dec. 31, 2026.

Log brands discourage log theft

Log brands − The identifying symbols welded onto the face of a hammer and struck into the ends of logs for identification − discourage log theft and aid in the return of lost logs. When transported on public highways, waterways, or railroads west of the crest of Oregon's Cascade Mountain range, forest products and booming equipment must have a log brand that has been registered with ODF. 

Under Oregon law, log brand registrations must be renewed every five years. Renewal forms will automatically be mailed to registered log brand owners on Oct. 19, 2026. Timber operators whose addresses have changed since their initial registration or last renewal need to provide ODF with their current address before Oct. 19 to ensure they receive their renewal certificate. Address information can be sent to the ODF’s Log Brands Unit by phone or email:

Phone: 503-931-5515

Email: rands@odf.oregon.gov">log.brands@odf.oregon.gov

Operators who registered in 2026 must still renew their brands for the new five-year period (Jan. 1, 2027 – Dec. 31, 2031). The new log brands will be active through Dec. 31, 2031. Any log brands not renewed by Dec. 31, 2026, will be considered abandoned and the registration number will expire.

CASE: 23CR55517                                                                                               October 15, 2026

Portland, OR-Multnomah County Circuit Court Celia Howes sentenced 35-year-old Michael Paul Ayles to 35 years in prison on October 14, 2026.

A Multnomah County jury found Ayles guilty of Sodomy in the First Degree and eight counts of Sex Abuse in the First Degree during a trial in late July of 2026. Ayles later pleaded No Contest to another count of Sodomy in the First Degree. The sodomy charges carried a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison under Oregon’s Jessica’s Law for certain sexual abuse charges involving a child victim under the age of 12.

Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Mihnea Moga prosecuted the case for the state. After the sentencing he said: “We thank the victims in this case for their bravery of coming forward and helping in holding the defendant accountable for his actions that secured this prison sentence. When someone takes advantage of the vulnerable, we are committed to seeking justice, ensuring the victims’ protection, and righting what has been wronged.”

The District Attorney’s Office would like to thank Detective Todd Christensen and the Portland Police Bureau Child Abuse Team for their excellent investigative work on this case.

The DA’s Office would also like to highlight the work of MCDA Victim Advocates who give care and compassion to crime victims.

THE FACTS:

In 2022 three sisters disclosed to their mother that Ayles had sexually abused them while the mother was away and he was babysitting them.

Two of the girls said the abuse began when they were between the ages of four and five years old; the third child said the abuse began when she was five or six years old.

One of the children recalled a specific incident that happened when she was 11 years old, but Ayles isolated and subjected the girls to consistent traumatic sexual advances and abuse throughout their childhood.

                                                              ###MCDA###

MEDIA RELEASE
 

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is aware of a DUII arrest involving one of our employees, Deputy Corbin Collins, that occurred on the evening of Monday, October 12, 2026, following a single vehicle traffic crash investigated by the Oregon State Police on Highway 101 in Seal Rock, Oregon. Deputy Collins was off duty and operating a personal vehicle at the time of the incident. In accordance with our office policies and procedures, Deputy Collins was placed on paid administrative leave while both the internal investigation and legal process are carried out.
 

We take matters involving law enforcement and public safety extremely seriously and our office is committed to ensuring the investigation involving this incident is objective and complete.
 

As with other active investigations and because this is an ongoing personnel and legal matter, we are not able to provide additional information at this time.

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The following information is in reference to a death investigated by the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office. This investigation is related to a three-vehicle crash involving a bus on Northwest La Center Road on Oct. 8, 2026.

This individual died on 10/08/2026 in Ridgefield, WA.

The name of the decedent: West, Alyssa   Age: 38 years

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

The opinions listed on the death certificate are as follows:

Cause of death:  Blunt trauma

Manner of death:  Accident

How the injury occurred: Driver of car that was involved in motor vehicle collision

Place of injury: Roadway

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 Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

Media release issue date: 10/15/2026

Shortly after 1:00am on October 15, 2026, multiple law enforcement agencies in Clackamas County responded to reports of a wrong-way driver traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 205 near Johnson Creek Boulevard.  Responding officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but those efforts were unsuccessful.  The incident ended when the vehicle collided with a marked Oregon City Police Department patrol car near exit to 82nd Drive.

Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported.  The Oregon City police officer involved in the crash was transported to a local hospital for evaluation and was later released.  Oregon State Police investigated the crash and arrested the driver, identified as 63-year-old Edward Landgrebe III of Estacada, on suspicion of DUII.  Landgrebe was later lodged at the Clackamas County Jail.

This crash serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers impaired driving poses to the public and the officers working to keep our roads safe.  We are grateful that this incident did not result in more serious injuries and appreciate the officers who put themselves in harm’s way to protect our community.

Ref OSP #SP-26-338100 / OCPD #26-020401

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, the Department of Justice filed two lawsuits against the Cities of St. Paul, Minnesota and Portland, Oregon, challenging their unconstitutional attempts to regulate federal law enforcement officers by prohibiting federal officers from wearing masks and requiring them to provide identification in the manner prescribed by Code of Ordinances of the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota §§ 268A–268B and P.C.C. §§ 23.30.030, 23.30.100.

Not only are these laws illegal attempts to regulate the Federal Government, but, as alleged in the complaints, the laws threaten the safety of federal officers who have faced an unprecedent wave of harassment, doxxing, and even violence. Threatening officers with prosecution for simply protecting their identities and their families also chills the enforcement of federal law and compromises sensitive law enforcement operations.

“Under the Supremacy Clause of our Nation’s Constitution, states and localities cannot regulate the Federal Government and its law enforcement officers,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. “And they certainly cannot enact laws that place the safety of federal law enforcement at risk and undermine federal operations authorized by Congress. This Department of Justice will never tolerate the doxxing or harassment of federal officers, or any law like those in St. Paul and Portland that enables violent behavior against federal law enforcement officers and their families.”

“These St. Paul and Portland local laws are a direct regulation of federal law enforcement operations and threaten severe consequences for officers and public safety alike,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Federal Government, not state and local governments, gets to decide which equipment federal officers may or may not wear when performing their official duties.”

“Aside from being unconstitutional, laws like these impede federal law enforcement’s ability to keep Oregonians safe and endanger the brave men and women of federal law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Scott Bradford for the District of Oregon. “They live in our communities. Their kids go to school in our communities. They care about our communities. They are part of our communities. It is unfair and improper to vilify them for political purposes.”

Attorney General Blanche has instructed the Department’s Civil Division to identify state and local laws, policies, and practices that facilitate violations of federal laws or impede lawful federal operations. Today’s lawsuits are the latest in a series of lawsuits brought by the Civil Division targeting illegal policies designed to thwart federal law enforcement across the country, including in New York, Virginia, Connecticut, New Jersey, California, Maryland, Philadelphia, Denver, and Milwaukee. Through these filings, the Department reaffirms that federal law enforcement operations cannot be compromised by state or local measures that violate federal law.

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SALEM, Ore. — The Regional Forest Practice Committee for southwest Oregon will meet at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22 at the Douglas Forest Protective Association, 1758 NE Airport Rd., Roseburg. To join virtually, please use the Teams video conference information found on the agenda. To provide public comment, please email estresources.committees@odf.oregon.gov">forestresources.committees@odf.oregon.gov.

The committee’s agenda includes:

• Division and field updates
• Operator of the Year
• Workplan development
• Technical guidance development
• Compliance monitoring update
• Forest Practices Act training update

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

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

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

YAMHILL COUNTY, Ore. (15 Oct. 2026) – On October 12, 2026, the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division responded to the Gopher Valley area of Yamhill County to investigate the unlawful take of a bull elk. Gopher Valley is a rural area approximately two miles east of Sheridan.

Fish and Wildlife troopers located a deceased 5x5 bull elk with wasted meat left behind. The killing of the elk is believed to have occurred during the start of the Any Legal Weapon Western Deer season. The elk appeared to have been dragged about 75 feet off the roadway into the brush. The neck meat, head, and antlers were left behind. The elk is believed to have been killed somewhere other than where the remains were left. The quarters and backstrap may have been taken with the hide still attached to them.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Turn-in-Poachers (TIP) line at 1-800-452-7888 or TIP@osp.oregon.gov. Tips may also be called in to OSP (677) on a mobile phone. Please reference case number SP26-334940.

Report Wildlife and Habitat Law Violators

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

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

Preference Point Rewards

5 Points: Bighorn Sheep

5 Points: Rocky Mountain Goat

5 Points: Moose

5 Points: Wolf

4 Points: Elk

4 Points: Deer

4 Points: Pronghorn Antelope

4 Points: Bear

4 Points: Cougar

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

Cash Rewards

Oregon Hunters Association (OHA) cash rewards:

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

$1,000 Elk, Deer, or Antelope

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

$300 Habitat destruction

$200 Illegally obtaining Oregon hunting or angling license or tags

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

$200 Game Birds or Furbearers

$200 Spotlighting

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

Oregon Wildlife Coalition (OWC) Cash Rewards:

$500 Hawk, Falcon, Eagle, Owl, Osprey

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

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

Oregon Outfitters & Guides Association (OOGA) Cash Rewards:

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

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

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

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

For more information visit the Oregon State Police Turn-in-Poachers (TIP) web page.

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About the Oregon State Police

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

Identified

RELEASE DATE:               October 15, 2026

CASE NUMBER:                 26-47409
 

Gresham, Ore.— Police are releasing the names of the victims in Saturday’s shooting at the VN Bar and Grill in Gresham.  Hassan Smith, age 25, died at the scene.  Quincy Ng, also 25, and Demarco Streeter, age 40, were transported to a local hospital.  They are both expected to survive. 

Police are asking anyone with information about this incident to contact Detective Tyson Conroy at oy@GreshamOregon.gov">Tyson.Conroy@GreshamOregon.gov or Detective Ryan Burkeen at yan.Burkeen@GreshamOregon.gov">Ryan.Burkeen@GreshamOregon.gov.

SAIF, Oregon’s not-for-profit workers’ compensation company, is traveling across the state to offer free agriculture safety seminars.

This is the 30^th year SAIF has offered the seminars, helping Oregon’s farm owners, managers, and workers to stay safe in one of the most hazardous industries.

The seminars are designed primarily for people working in agriculture but are open to anyone interested in safety and health—they don't have to be insured by SAIF.

SAIF is conducting 29 free ag safety seminars in 16 cities across Oregon starting in November. Seminars will continue through March and nine of the seminars will be presented entirely in Spanish. SAIF will also host online webinars in both January and March in English and Spanish. 

This year's seminars focus on four topics:

• Your last line of defense: PPE for farm chemical safety 

• Analyze this: Ag chemical safety edition 

• Ag hacks & cool tools: Why didn’t I think of that? 

• First aid by the numbers 

In-person seminars will be in Bandon, Central Point, Clackamas, Corvallis, Eugene, Hermiston, Hillsboro, Hood River, Klamath Falls, Madras, Mt. Angel, Ontario, Pendleton, Salem, The Dalles, and Wilsonville.

Spanish seminars will be held in Central Point, Clackamas, Hermiston, Hillsboro, Hood River, Mt. Angel, Salem, The Dalles, and Wilsonville. 

All will run from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and free lunch will be provided.

Employers with small ag businesses who attend the seminar or webinars will meet OSHA's instructional requirement—one of four requirements that exempt small agricultural operations from random OSHA inspections.

The Landscape Contractors Board has approved the seminar for four hours of continuing education credits. Four producer credits have also been approved by the Department of Consumer and Business Services.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture has approved the seminar for two core pesticide continuing education credits.

More information, including registration details, can be found at saif.com/agseminars.

About SAIF

SAIF is Oregon’s not-for-profit workers’ compensation insurance company. For more than 100 years, 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.

WASCO COUNTY, Ore. (15 October 2026) - On Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at approximately 6:22 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle fatal crash on Highway 26 near milepost 62 in Wasco County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a white 2024 Ford Transit van, operated by Alexander Nikkole Meira (20) of Portland, was traveling westbound near Government Camp when it crossed into the eastbound lane and struck a 2022 Subaru Outback, operated by Craig Gerard Russillo (55) of Bend, head-on. The Subaru caught fire and several passersby pulled Russillo from the vehicle.

The operator of the Subaru (Russillo) was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Ford (Meira) sustained minor injuries and was treatment at an area hospital.

Impairment is believed to be a contributing factor in the crash. Meira was arrested on charges of DUII, Reckless Driving, and Manslaughter II and was lodged at the Northern Oregon Regional Corrections Facility.   

Highway 26 was impacted for approximately five hours during the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Hoodland Fire Department, American Medical Response, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.           

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

ASTORIA, OR. — Clatsop County has announced the winners of the 2026 Parks Photo Contest, which invited residents and visitors to capture and share their favorite moments in County parks.

Winners were selected in two categories:

• Landscapes: Tom Grimm of Warrenton for a photo taken at Carnahan County Park
• People in Nature: Tiffany Levin of Cannon Beach for a photo taken at Klootchy Creek County Park

A total of 25 photos were submitted during the first year of the contest. The contest was created to highlight Clatsop County parks through the eyes of the people who visit and enjoy them. Submitted photos showcased local scenery, outdoor recreation, natural spaces, and visitor experiences across County parks.

Entries were reviewed by the Clatsop County Recreational Lands Planning Advisory Committee and judged on relevance to Clatsop County parks, visual impact, technical quality, originality, creativity, and public outreach value, including how well each image could help promote appreciation, stewardship, and responsible enjoyment of County parks.

The winning photographers will receive a Clatsop County parks pass. Winning photos may also be featured on the County website, social media, newsletters, and future parks materials.

Clatsop County thanks everyone who participated in the first year of the Parks Photo Contest and helped showcase the beauty and value of local public spaces.

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Photos credits. Photos attached. 

Photo by Tiffany Levin, Cannon Beach
Park: Klootchy Creek
Category: People in Nature

Photo by Tom Grimm, Warrenton
Park: Carnahan County Park
Category: Landscapes

Salem, Ore. — When the Salem Civic Center reopens next year following a seismic retrofit, visitors will be greeted by a new art installation from an Oregon artist reflecting the natural beauty of the Willamette Valley.

The art installation, inspired by Oregon’s white oaks and created by Michael Boonstra, will be located in the center open air atrium of the Civic Center. The work will consist of two 7’ by 24’ metal panels with 1/8” space between. To create the work, Boonstra uses a water jet to cut perforations in large steel sheets. Each panel will be 1/8” thick and will be mounted 2” from the surface of the concrete wall, allowing light to pass through the perforations created by the water jets. In the open air setting, the metal selected will rusts to create a patina that will add to the character and coloring of the material. 

“I’m excited to design and create this artwork for the City of Salem,” Boonstra said. “Examining various facets of a site's history is a major aspect of my creative practice. Linking visual elements of a century’s old oak tree with 20th century architecture that is being updated to 21st century standards presents a unique opportunity to honor the past while looking towards the future.” 

“My hope is that the design concept ties these layers together in a way that is visually engaging and meaningful for years to come.”

About the Artist

Boonstra received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Michigan and his Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Oregon. He is the sculpture coordinator and co-founder of the Creative Field Work program at Oregon State University.

Boonstra’s studio work is included in the collections of the Hallie Ford Museum of Art, the City of Portland, Oregon State University Cascades, Umpqua Community College, the OSU School of Forestry and PacificSource. He has been an artist in residence at Playa Center for Art and Science, Djerassi, Caldera, Pine Meadow Ranch, Signal Fire and the Kesey Farm.

About the Civic Center Project and the Artist Selection

The City is required to spend half a percent of public building construction costs on public art, such as the Civic Center seismic retrofit. The total cost for Boonstra’s proposal is $130,000 from the Civic Center project. The 2022 voter-approved Safety and Livability Bond included $39.4 million for seismic, system improvements and accessibility upgrades to the Civic Center.

Similarly funded public art works can be found in the recent Salem Public Library and Salem Police Department Headquarters.

In 2023, design work began on the Salem Civic Center project. Construction began in July 2025. Civic Center services and staff are temporarily relocated during the construction. The building is expected to reopen in early 2027. 

The proposal from Eugene artist and Oregon State University art instructor Michael Boonstra was selected from 24 proposals and eight interviews by the Salem Public Art Commission. Boonstra’s inspiration for the art is from the many Oregon White Oaks that are native to the Willamette Valley. 

About the Salem Public Art Commission

The Salem Public Art Commission is charged with overseeing the City’s public art collection. The commission’s primary duties include acquisition and approval of the City’s public art collection; maintenance and repair; cataloging; decommission art within the City’s collection; and approving public murals.

The seven volunteer members of SPAC are appointed by Salem’s Mayor and City Council who have experience, training or expertise in the visual arts, art history, art criticism, museum curation and art education. The Commission helps identify the criteria, selection, acquisition and location of art for the City of Salem.

The next regular public meeting of the FVRLibraries Board of Trustees will be held on Monday, October 19, 2026 at Battle Ground Community Library. It will be a hybrid (in-person/online) meeting. Agenda

You can view the agenda and meeting materials at fvrl.org/about/board-of-trustees

AI-assisted impersonation, sophisticated payment fraud and new forms of phishing are raising the stakes for small businesses

PORTLAND, Ore. — Cyber threats are becoming harder for small businesses to detect as criminals use artificial intelligence, stolen credentials, and increasingly sophisticated impersonation tactics. Half of small and midsize businesses reported a cybersecurity incident in the past year, according to the National Cybersecurity Alliance’s 2026 Small Business Cybersecurity Awareness & Practices Survey.

OnPoint Community Credit Union is highlighting emerging cyber scams during Cybersecurity Awareness Month and sharing practical steps small businesses can take to protect their money, data, and operations.

“Automation and AI help cybercriminals make scams faster, more convincing and harder to recognize,” said Emma Stocker, director of information security, OnPoint Community Credit Union. “Small businesses can reduce their risk by verifying financial transactions, restricting access to critical accounts and making cybersecurity part of everyday operations.”

The cyber threats businesses should know

Cybercriminals are using new tools and tactics to make scams more convincing and harder to detect. Here are four threats OnPoint advises small business owners to watch for:

• AI-powered executive and vendor impersonation. AI is making scams more polished and convincing, including fake emails, invoices and message threads. In August 2026, Microsoft detected more than one million fraudulent emails over three days, many designed to trick accounts payable teams into authorizing fraudulent ACH payments.
• Business email compromise and payment redirection. Criminals may impersonate or compromise an executive, employee, or vendor to request payments or changes to payment instructions. The FBI reported that companies lost more than $3 billion in 2025 via email scams, a 10% increase from the previous year.
• Phishing that bypasses traditional defenses. Attackers use QR codes, malicious authorization prompts, and collaboration tools to get around security controls. Microsoft found that malicious Teams-based voice-phishing attempts increased about 80% during the first half of 2026.
• Ransomware fueled by stolen passwords and outdated systems. Many ransomware attacks happen when criminals get hold of stolen login information or take advantage of software that hasn’t been updated. Verizon found stolen credentials were involved in 38% of ransomware cases and unpatched vulnerabilities in 29%.

Protect your business against today’s scams

While cyber scams are becoming more sophisticated, OnPoint recommends seven safeguards that can help small businesses reduce their risk:

1. Verify before moving money. Never authorize a wire, ACH payment, purchase, or change in vendor banking information based solely on an email, text, phone call, or video meeting. Confirm the request using a known contact or consider requiring a second person to approve high-risk transactions.
2. Be cautious with login prompts and app permissions. Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited account notifications. Employees should also pause before letting a new app access email, files, or other company information.
3. Use stronger forms of multifactor authentication. Multifactor Authentication (MFA) remains an essential defense, but not all methods offer the same protection. The National Coordinator for Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience (CISA) recommends businesses use phishing-resistant MFA wherever possible, particularly for email, remote-access, and administrative accounts.
4. Keep software and devices updated. Promptly install security updates, particularly for internet-facing devices such as routers, firewalls, and VPNs, to avoid leaving vulnerabilities that help attackers gain initial access.
5. Protect credentials and limit access. Use unique passwords or passphrases, a reputable password manager and MFA. Employees should have access only to the systems and information necessary for their roles.
6. Back up critical business data. Maintain secure backups, including a copy isolated from the company’s primary network, and periodically test that data can be restored.
7. Train employees regularly. Cyber threats evolve quickly, so cybersecurity training should be refreshed on a regular basis. It should cover suspicious emails, fraudulent texts and calls, QR codes, fake cloud-sharing invitations, executive impersonation and unusual requests for payments or account access.

Cybersecurity is not only an IT issue — it is a key part of protecting a company’s finances, customers and ability to operate. OnPoint will never initiate a request for sensitive information such as passwords, secure access codes, verification codes, PINs or card security codes by phone, email or text.

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About OnPoint Community Credit Union

OnPoint Community Credit Union is the largest credit union headquartered in Oregon, serving more than 671,000 members throughout Oregon and southwest Washington. Founded in 1932, OnPoint Community Credit Union’s membership is available to anyone who lives or works in one of 33 Oregon counties (Baker, Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Malheur, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Washington, Wheeler and Yamhill) and who lives, works, worships, or attends school in one of four Washington counties (Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, and Skamania), and their immediate family members. More information is available at onpointcu.com.

Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Opportunity.



Press Release   
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
October 15, 2026

GREATER VANCOUVER CHAMBER ANNOUNCES 2026 BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP AWARDS HONOREES

Annual awards recognize outstanding businesses, public service, and community leadership across Southwest Washington.

VANCOUVER, Wash.  — The Greater Vancouver Chamber (GVC) announced the recipients of its 2026 Business & Leadership Awards, presented by Riverview Bank, during a ceremony on October 14 at The Heathman Lodge. The annual awards celebrate outstanding businesses and leaders whose contributions strengthen the economy, support the community and help move Southwest Washington forward.

2026 Award Recipients

• Start-Up to Watch: School of Rock Vancouver

School of Rock Vancouver is transforming music education by combining hands-on instruction with live performances and collaborative learning. Through its performance-based approach, the business helps students build musical skills, confidence, teamwork and leadership while contributing to the region’s vibrant arts community.

• Small Business Award: ANC Movers

ANC Movers has built a longstanding reputation for using its business to make a difference throughout Southwest Washington. Beyond providing moving services, the company creates employment opportunities for individuals facing barriers to work, assists families experiencing hardship with affordable moves, and supports local nonprofits through donated services and other contributions. Its resourcefulness and generosity have also helped redirect usable medical equipment to communities in need overseas.

• Large Business Award: MacKay

Headquartered in Vancouver, MacKay has helped shape Southwest Washington through community-focused planning and projects, including Vancouver’s Main Street Promise, public infrastructure and parks. The firm partners with local governments, businesses and community organizations to develop lasting solutions while investing in future professionals through educational partnerships with Washington State University Vancouver.

• Statesperson of the Year: Alishia Topper, Clark County Treasurer

Alishia Topper is recognized for a career dedicated to public service, responsible financial stewardship and expanding opportunity across Clark County. Serving as Clark County Treasurer since 2019, following five years on Vancouver City Council, Topper has also championed affordable housing, supported vulnerable residents and contributed to numerous civic and nonprofit organizations. Her leadership includes service on the Washington State Housing Finance Commission and as president of the Washington State Association of County Treasurers.

• Manufacturer of the Year: United Precision Corporation

United Precision Corporation (UPC) has rapidly expanded its advanced manufacturing presence in Clark County, developing a 50,000-square-foot facility in Washougal that employs 55 people. With projected revenue growth of 40% in 2026, the company is strengthening the regional manufacturing sector through local supplier partnerships, workforce development initiatives and collaborations with Washington State University’s engineering program and the Camas Robotics Booster Club. UPC is also preparing for a potential Innovation Center focused on aerospace engineering and advanced manufacturing.

• First Citizen Award: Jon Girod, Owner of Quail Homes and Founder of Careers in Construction

Jon Girod is being recognized for his contributions to housing, workforce development and the future of the skilled trades. Since 1989, he has built more than 3,000 homes and developed more than 2,000 lots. He also founded Careers in Construction, a nonprofit that brings skilled-trades education to high school campuses, connecting students with industry-relevant training and career opportunities.

A Celebration of Community Leadership

“Southwest Washington is stronger because of the businesses and leaders who invest their time, resources and expertise in the success of others,” said John McDonagh, president and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Chamber. “This year’s honorees represent the very best of our region, from businesses creating opportunities and driving innovation to leaders advancing public service, workforce development and community well-being. We are proud to recognize their achievements and the lasting impact they make throughout our community.”

The awards ceremony took place October 14 at The Heathman Lodge and was livestreamed for a broader audience. The event was made possible through the support of presenting sponsor Riverview Bank, along with Edward Jones, BBSI, Maddox Industrial Transformer, Washington Trust Bank, WSU Vancouver, Alaska Airlines, The Columbian, MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions and Casey Evans Media.

For more information about the Business & Leadership Awards and future sponsorship opportunities, contact GVC at Chamber@VancouverUSA.com" id="link-mailto:YourChamber@VancouverUSA.com-35860f97b839" style="text-size-adjust: 100%; color: rgb(0, 79, 89);" target="_self">YourChamber@VancouverUSA.com or visit VancouverUSA.com/business-leadership-awards.

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About the Business & Leadership Awards

Introduced in 2012, the Business & Leadership Awards honor outstanding businesses and individuals who exemplify the Greater Vancouver Chamber’s motto of "Moving Business Forward." For over a decade, the southwest Washington business community has celebrated excellence and leadership through these prestigious awards. 

About the First Citizen Award

Since 1939, the annual First Citizen Award has been presented to a Clark County resident who models the attributes of good citizenship through leadership, action, civic pride, and cultivates inclusive civic engagement practices. These are individuals who, through their business, volunteering, and philanthropic efforts, improve the lives of those in the community by serving first. For more information about the First Citizens through the years, visit:  https://www.vancouverusa.com/first-citizen-award-honorees. 

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 135 years through business advocacy, community building, education, and creating visibility for our members. The Chamber is a supportive alliance of diverse member businesses, individuals, and organizations, working together toward long-term business prosperity. The GVC is the heart of Clark County’s business community, advocating for sound, sensible and dynamic policies that ensure a vital economic climate and prosperity for all. For more information, please visit VancouverUSA.com. 

_____________________________________________

Media Assets:

• EVENT PHOTOS: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17bTyqUuJEO3KrB1XAhgoRJXLWUOCNrsE
• AWARDS VIDEO: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/199w1T7W4x/

ASTORIA, OR - Clatsop County Clerk and Elections Office will provide live, online video streaming of its processing of local ballots. The live feed will begin October 19.

Activities that will be live streamed:

• Receiving ballots at the Clerk and Elections Office.
• Elections staff scanning ballots to log as received. 
• Signature verification by elections staff to compare signatures on ballot envelopes to voter’s registration records.
• Live-stream the public test of the ballot-counting machine at 10 a.m. on October 26.
• Elections staff removing ballots from envelopes and checking ballots for damage that may make them unreadable for the ballot counter at the Judge Guy Boyington Building (starting November 2).
• Processing the ballots to count the votes through the ballot-counting machine

The video feed will be live to show ballot processing and counting after Election Day until all qualified ballots are counted and through certification. View the schedule of the live feed at www.clatsopcounty.gov/elections.

Please note that while live, the video feed may show extended periods with no activity because ballots are processed as they are received by the Clerk and Elections Office.

Election results will be posted online starting at 8 p.m. on Election Day at clatsopcounty.gov and as updates are provided.

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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and brings attention to an important issue that affects millions of individuals and families. This month is a good reminder to encourage open conversations, express empathy, and work to create a safer environment. By increasing our understanding of domestic violence, we can better support survivors and work towards preventing domestic violence altogether.

Domestic violence includes many forms of abuse, including physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, and financial. It can affect individuals of all ages, genders, races, and socio-economic backgrounds. Domestic violence leaves victims feeling trapped, isolated, and fearful.

Common Signs of Abusive Behavior in a Partner (provided by the National Domestic Violence Hotline):
 

1. Telling you that you never do anything right.
2. Showing extreme jealousy of your friends or time spent away from them.
3. Preventing or discouraging you from spending time with others, particularly friends, family members, or peers.
4. Insulting, demeaning, or shaming you, especially in front of other people.
5. Preventing you from making your own decisions, including about working or attending school.
6. Controlling finances in the household without discussion, such as taking your money or refusing to provide money for necessary expenses.
7. Pressuring you to have sex or perform sexual acts you’re not comfortable with.
8. Pressuring you to use drugs or alcohol.
9. Intimidating you through threatening looks or actions.
10.  Insulting your parenting or threatening to harm or take away your children or pets.
11.  Intimidating you with weapons like guns, knives, bats, or mace.
12.  Destroying your belongings or your home.

If you are concerned about someone you know, you can help connect them to support. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-7233. Local non-emergency dispatch lines can also help connect you to proper authorities, the Non-Emergency Dispatch number for the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is 541-265-0777. If there is an emergency, such as an immediate threat to life or risk of injury, call 911 to get help right away.

Domestic violence is a complex issue, but there are numerous organizations and helplines dedicated to providing support. Whether you're a survivor seeking assistance or someone looking to help, there are resources available, and you don’t have to go through this alone. We all have a role to play in ending domestic violence and everyone deserves a healthy relationship and safe home.

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

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NOTE: CORRECTED. Michael Sugar is running in District 40, not 30, and there are 23 total endorsements in the House races. Our apologies for these mistakes.

Wilsonville, Oregon (October 15, 2026) – The Oregon Nurseries’ Political Action Committee (ONPAC) has issued its endorsements in selected races for the 2026 general election cycle, with an aim towards providing greater balance in the state capital.

“Oregon agriculture is under duress at the state and federal level, and the cost burden has made many operations struggle to remain competitive,” said nursery owner Tyler Meskers of Oregon Flowers Inc., who serves as chairman of ONPAC. “That’s why the nursery industry seeks to break the cycle of super majorities held by the Democrats in the Oregon Legislature and seek a new direction in the governor’s race.”
 

The endorsements are as follows:

Oregon Governor — Christine Drazan. “ONPAC believes that the state is at a critical juncture for livability and business survival,” Meskers said. “A Republican governor has not been elected since 1982 and it is time for a change. Drazan is a longtime ally of the industry. ONPAC endorsed her in 2022 during her narrow loss and feels she is again the best choice for the industry in 2026.”

Oregon Senate — Five endorsements: 

• Brad Hicks (R-District 3, southern Jackson County)
• Jack Tibbetts (R-District 6; Linn, eastern Lane and Marion counties)
• Tracy Cramer (R-District 11, Marion County and Salem-Keizer); 
• Courtney Bangs (R-District 16, North Coast and Lower Columbia)
• Sen. Jeff Helfrich (R-District 26, Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood)

Oregon House of Representatives — 23 endorsements: 

• Rep. Court Boice (R-District 1, Coos, Curry and Douglas counties)
• Claire Lynn (R-District 9, Douglas, Lane and Coos counties)
• Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis (R-District 15, Linn, Marion and Benton counties)
• Ken Jackola (R-District 11, Linn, Marion and Benton counties)
• Rep. Darin Harbick (R-District 12, Eastern Lane County)
• Amanda Staehely (R-District 18, Clackamas and Marion counties)
• Rep. Kevin Mannix (R-District 21, North Salem and Keizer)
• Max Sherman (R-District 32, North Coast)
• Scott Hege (R-District 52, Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood)
• Dan Farrington (R-District 17, Marion and Linn counties)
• Noemi Legaspi (R-District 22, Woodburn, North Salem, Gervais, Brooks, and Labish Village)
• Rep. Anna Scharf (R-District 23, Polk and Yamhill counties)
• Rep. Lucetta Elmer (R-District 24, Yamhill and Polk counties)
• Stephanie Carken (R-District 26 ,Washington, Clackamas and Yamhill counties)
• Rep. Darcey Edwards (R-District 31, Columbia, Washington, Multnomah and Yamhill counties)
• Michael Sugar (D-District 40, Oregon City, Gladstone and Johnson City)
• Rep. Matt Bunch (R-District 51, Canby, Estacada and Sandy)
• Rep. E. Werner Reschke (R-District 55, Klamath County and parts of Lake County)
• Rep. Emily McIntire (R-District 56, Klamath Falls, North Medford, and Eagle Point)
• Rep. Greg Smith (R-District 57, Gilliam, Morrow, Wheeler, Wasco, and Sherman counties)
• Rep. Bobby Levy (R-District 58, Umatilla, Wallowa, and Union counties)
• Rep. Vikki Breese Iverson (R-District 59, Prineville)
• Rep. Mark Owens (R-District 60, Baker, Grant, Malheur, Harney, and Lake counties)

U.S. House of Representatives — One endorsement:

• U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-District 2, Eastern Oregon)

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Ballots were mailed Wednesday, October 14 and must be returned by Election Day. They can be postmarked on November 3 or must be deposited in an official drop box by 8 p.m. November 3. They also can be returned to a County Clerk’s office by 8 p.m. Such offices will be open from 7 a.m.–8 p.m. on Election Day.

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October 15, 2026

Contact: Amy Coven (503-943-0164, amy.coven@oha.oregon.gov)

Explore Health launches tool to help people navigate health coverage options for 2027

Plan Guide will help people in Oregon find financial help, compare health plans.

SALEM, Ore. — People in Oregon can now get an early look at their health coverage options for 2027 with the launch of the Explore Health Plan Guide, a new online tool designed to help people prepare for Open Enrollment.

The Plan Guide helps users explore individual health and dental plans available in their area and compare costs, benefits and coverage. Users can also enter their prescription medications and doctors to see which plans may best meet their health needs.

The tool provides an assessment for potential eligibility for Oregon Health Plan (OHP) benefits and financial help through the Marketplace, including an estimate of the amount of financial assistance someone may qualify for.

“Choosing health insurance can feel overwhelming, especially when plans and coverage options are changing,” said Chiqui Flowers, director of the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace. “The Plan Guide gives you a chance to explore options before Open Enrollment begins so you can better understand what coverage and financial help may be available.”

The new tool is especially timely for 2027. Providence and PacificSource will no longer offer individual health plans in Oregon, and Moda will  only be available in select counties. The Plan Guide can help people affected by these changes understand which plans are available in their area and compare their options before selecting coverage.

Explore Health is available for people in Oregon who do not have access to affordable health coverage through their job and are not eligible for public medical programs such as the Oregon Health Plan.

Open Enrollment for 2027 health coverage runs from Nov. 1, 2026 to Jan. 15, 2027. The Plan Guide is available now to help people explore their options ahead of Open Enrollment. Using the tool does not enroll someone in coverage.

Explore Health is Oregon’s new state-based health insurance marketplace. Starting with the 2027 plan year, eligible individuals and families will be able to use Explore Health to shop for and enroll in Marketplace health coverage.

To explore the Plan Guide or learn more about Open Enrollment, visit ExploreHealthOR.gov. People in Oregon can also make an appointment with an Enrollment Partner for help understanding their options and enrolling in coverage.

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15 de octubre de 2026

Contacto: Amy Coven, 503-943-0164, amy.coven@oha.oregon.gov

Explore Health lanza herramienta para ayudar a las personas a entender y elegir sus opciones de cobertura médica para 2027

La Guía de Planes ayudará a los habitantes de Oregon a encontrar ayuda financiera y comparar planes de salud.

SALEM, Ore. — Los habitantes de Oregon ya pueden obtener una vista previa de sus opciones de cobertura médica para 2027 con el lanzamiento de la Guía de Planes de Explore Health, una nueva herramienta en línea diseñada para ayudar a las personas a prepararse para el periodo de Inscripción Abierta.

La Guía de Planes ayuda a las personas a explorar los planes médicos y dentales individuales disponibles en su zona, así como a comparar costos, beneficios y coberturas. También pueden ingresar información sobre sus medicamentos recetados y sus médicos para determinar qué planes se ajustan mejor a sus necesidades de salud.

La herramienta ofrece una evaluación de la posible elegibilidad para los beneficios del Plan de Salud de Oregon (OHP) y para recibir ayuda financiera a través del Mercado de Seguros, incluyendo una estimación de cuánta ayuda financiera que alguien podría recibir.

"Elegir un seguro médico puede resultar abrumador, especialmente cuando los planes y las opciones de cobertura cambian constantemente", señaló Chiqui Flowers, directora del Mercado de Seguros Médicos de Oregon. "La Guía de Planes brinda a las personas la oportunidad de explorar opciones antes de que comience la inscripción abierta, para que comprendan mejor qué coberturas y ayuda financiera podrían estar disponibles".

Esta nueva herramienta llega en un momento especialmente importante para 2027. Providence y PacificSource dejarán de ofrecer planes de salud individuales en Oregon, y Moda solo estará disponible en algunos condados. La Guía de Planes puede ayudar a las personas afectadas por estos cambios a entender qué planes están disponibles en su área y comparar sus opciones antes de elegir una cobertura.

Explore Health está disponible para los habitantes de Oregon que no tienen acceso a una cobertura médica asequible a través de su empleo y que no reúnen los requisitos para programas públicos de salud, como el Plan de Salud de Oregon.

El periodo de inscripción abierta para la cobertura de salud de 2027 será del 1 de noviembre de 2026 al 15 de enero de 2027. La Guía de Planes ya está disponible para que las personas puedan revisar sus opciones antes de que inicie la inscripción abierta. Usar esta herramienta no inscribe a nadie automáticamente en un plan de salud.

Explore Health es el nuevo mercado estatal de seguros médicos de Oregon. A partir del año del plan 2027, las personas y familias elegibles podrán utilizar Explore Health para buscar y elegir su cobertura de salud del Mercado.

Para explorar la Guía de Planes u obtener más información sobre la Inscripción Abierta, visite Espanol.ExploreHealthOR.gov. Las personas en Oregon también pueden programar una cita con un Socio de Inscripción para recibir ayuda para entender sus opciones y completar su inscripción.

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Jim Quiring, a local who was born and raised in the Santiam Canyon, an advocate for the Opal Creek Wilderness (https://www.orartswatch.org/opal-creek-wilderness-a-story-of-survival/) and the first Director of the Tillamook Forest Center when it first opened in 2006, has authored "Beautiful Stream" -- a book about the history of the Little North Santiam.  It's a subject near and dear to Jim's heart and one with which he has a long and intimate history.  The book includes chapters telling about the harrowing near-death evacutations of a number of Forestry employees and locals during the Labor Day fires of 2020 which devasted much of the area.

The State Forests Trust of Oregon is hosting a book launch party for Jim at the Old Mehama School and Community Center on OCtober 29th at 3pm.  The event is open to the public. Jim will read excerpts from his book and talk about how he came to write it.  Copies of the book, published by the Oregon State University Press, will be available for purchase.  The Old Mehama center is located at 22057 Emma St. SE, Mehama, Oregon.  

Beginning Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 12:01 a.m., all Washington County fire agencies will lift the High-Fire Danger Burn Ban. The decision follows a recommendation from the Washington County Fire Defense Board, made in consultation with the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF). Washington County fire agencies include Banks Fire District #13, Cornelius Fire Department, Forest Grove Fire & Rescue, Gaston Rural Fire District, Hillsboro Fire & Rescue, and Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue.

The burn ban has been in effect since June 15, 2026. Improved weather conditions now allow it to be lifted, and Washington County fire chiefs thank the community for helping prevent wildfires this summer. While fire danger has eased, it hasn't disappeared, and an outdoor fire can still get out of control. Fire chiefs encourage everyone to stay vigilant and keep safety first: know your local burning rules, never leave a fire unattended, and make sure every fire is completely out.

Know the rules where you live

Outdoor burning rules vary by jurisdiction. Before burning, check your fire agency’s website or call its burn information line. To determine whether burning is allowed at your address, use Washington County’s interactive burn ban boundary map at www.washingtoncountyor.gov/environmental-health/resources/burn-ban-boundary or the boundary map provided by your local fire agency. Information on Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) burning laws and guidelines is available at www.oregon.gov/deq/aq/Pages/Burning.aspx.

The Washington County Fire Defense Board administers the High-Fire Danger Burn Ban and represents fire agencies throughout the county. Burning restrictions are authorized by Oregon Revised Statute 478.960 and Oregon Fire Code 307.

Slash burning remains restricted

ODF has not yet opened slash burning. A burn permit from ODF is required for slash burning year-round. For questions or to get a permit, contact the ODF Forest Grove District burn information line at 503-359-7499 or fgburninfo@oregon.gov.

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On 10/14/2026 at 9:00 AM, the Vancouver Fire Department Fire Boat and Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Marine Patrol responded to a deceased female located floating in the Columbia River downstream from the I-5 bridge.  The identity of the female is currently unknown, and the death is considered suspicious.

The female is described as possibly Asian or Pacific Islander with brown hair and brown eyes.  She is approximately 20 to 30 years old, approximately 5 foot, 4 inches tall, and approximately 150 pounds.  These are preliminary estimates.  She has no tattoos but has a birthmark on the right side of her right calf muscle.

The investigation is continuing by the CCSO Major Crimes Unit and the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office.  Further specific details are not being released at this time. 

 Anyone with information can contact the Clark County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit Tip Line, 564-397-2847. 

BURN BAN LIFTED IN THE CITY OF PORTLAND

The burn ban that was issued in early July in the City of Portland has been lifted by the Portland Fire & Rescue Fire Marshal’s Office effective 10/15/26. Although the burn ban is being lifted, Portland Fire & Rescue would like to remind members of the community to only burn dried cordwood in a controlled setting by using a fire ring or elevated fire pit with an active hose line stretched to the location of your fire. Keep all flame lengths less than 24” and to be certain to be a safe distance away (a minimum 15’) from any structure and significant vegetation.

In addition to the safety concerns with recreational fire pits, PF&R would like you to remain vigilant in your outdoor cooking activities as well. Residents are reminded to use extreme caution when using an outdoor cooking set up with open flame. When using charcoal briquettes, please properly dispose of the ashes in a covered metal container away from combustibles, and keep the ashes wet for a few days before properly disposing of them. Maintain at least ten feet (10’) between outdoor cooking locations and anything combustible such as siding, fences, shrubbery, etc.

Ensure all cigarettes/cigars are extinguished prior to disposal.

Those living in rural areas are asked to continue to maintain their defensible space by monitoring growth surrounding homes and structures as there is still a wildfire risk posed in our region, and to maintain adequate access for firefighting equipment in the event there is a response need.

Contact Portland Fire & Rescue 503-823-3700 for additional information.

The public is invited to attend free art events, including the opening reception of Archer Gallery's upcoming exhibit by award-winning artist Roger Allan Cleeves

VANCOUVER, Wash. — Archer Gallery at Clark College is hosting a new exhibit and an exciting lineup of public programs. All events are free and open to the public, and they will take place on Clark’s main campus at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way. Art Talks will be located in the Penguin Union Building (PUB), room 161. Light refreshments will be provided. Directions and maps are available online.

Located on Clark’s main campus, Archer Gallery serves the students and community by exhibiting contemporary art in a not-for-profit educational setting. Archer Gallery exhibits work by nationally and internationally renowned artists and connects the Clark College community with accessible and diverse perspectives from the contemporary art world.

Clark Art Talks hosts an art lecture series throughout the academic year for students and the community. Distinguished artists and art scholars from around the country share their experiences related to their art practices and provide unique insights into their varied career paths and artistic techniques. For more information about Archer Gallery’s exhibitions and art talks, and to watch videos of past art talks, visit archergallery.space.
 

UPCOMING EXHIBIT: ROGER ALLAN CLEAVES, PATH TO PROGRESS

Opening Reception: Tuesday, October 12, 2–5 p.m. at Archer Gallery

Art Talk: Thursday, October 22, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. in PUB 161

Artist Website: https://www.rogerallancleaves.com/

Path to Progress represents a chapter in Roger Allan Cleaves’s ongoing narrative universe, Forget Me Nots Land — a world where history, folklore, popular culture, and imagined futures come together. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Cleaves brings a perspective shaped outside the Pacific Northwest to Archer Gallery. He will join us for the exhibition opening and an artist talk, giving students and visitors an opportunity to hear directly about the ideas, stories, and visual references behind his work. Cleaves’s practice is deeply connected to Afrofuturism, a movement that brings together Black history, African traditions, fantasy, technology, and science fiction to imagine new possibilities for the future. Afrofuturist art matters because imagination can be a form of agency. By envisioning Black people as protagonists, explorers, inventors, and creators of future worlds, artists can challenge histories of exclusion and imagine futures in which Black life can thrive. This idea is at the heart of Forget Me Nots Land and its central character, Bookie, a young Black protagonist navigating an ever-expanding, otherworldly universe.

For Archer Gallery, Path to Progress offers an opportunity to consider how contemporary artists can engage with art history as something alive and changeable. Cleaves invites us to recognize familiar images, look at them differently, and consider who gets to shape the stories of the future. As one chapter of Forget Me Nots Land, the exhibition remains open-ended — an invitation to imagine new stories, new protagonists, and new futures.

Cleaves was born in Memphis, Tennessee, where he currently lives and works. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Memphis. During his tenure at the University of Memphis, he was one of fifteen undergraduate students selected from across the country to participate in the Yale Norfolk Summer program for the arts. Cleaves went on to study at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he earned his MFA.

Cleaves’ exhibit will be at Archer Gallery from October 1 through December 4, 2026.

CLARK ART TALKS, LECTURES, AND WORKSHOPS

Orlando Almanza Art Talk: October 26, 2–3 p.m. in PUB 161

Artist’s website: https://www.orlandoalmanza.com/

Orlando Almanza (b.1989, Las Tunas, Cuba) pulls us into his dreamworld of memory, myth and loss with ethereal landscapes, portraits and storytelling. His stories take place in the natural world where figures are intertwined with plants, animals, and light. The interconnectedness of his work points to the artist's deep dedication to nature and the unique way it connects with myths and storytelling across cultures. Each painting invites us in, to search for meaning and truth. Almanza received his B.A. in printmaking from the Institute of Superior Arts in Havana, Cuba.

Tentacle Tribe (Montreal) Lecture Demonstration: October 28, 2–3 p.m. in Archer Gallery

Artist’s website: https://www.tentacletribe.com/

Clark College Foundation Presents and Archer Gallery welcome "conceptual hip hop" dance company Tentacle Tribe (Montreal) for a Lecture Demonstration, including performance excerpts. This free public event will feature internationally renowned dancers sharing their unique vision for melding street and contemporary dance forms.

Steve Gardner Artist Workshop: October 29, 1–4 p.m. at Frost Art Center, Ceramics Lab

Artist’s Website: https://gardnerart.com/

Seattle artist Steve Gardner studied art and biology at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, then received his M.F.A. in ceramic sculpture from Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA. He sculpts his three-dimensional work in architectural terra cotta, using traditional techniques with new innovations in surface color. Both his gallery work and his architectural commissions focus on the human figure, surface pattern, and a sense of story. Recent architectural commissions have taken the form of large murals in cast glass and metal. Installations of his sculptures can be seen at SeaTac International Airport (Seattle, WA); The LaSalle Building (Baton Rouge, LA); the Snohomish Library (Snohomish, WA); the Vancouver School for the Blind (Vancouver, WA); the Denali Lodge (Denali, AK); and the Oregon Zoo (Portland, OR). He lives with his family in Ballard, Seattle, WA, USA.

Laura Ross-Paul Art Talk: November 3, 11 a.m. –12 p.m. in PUB 161

Artist’s Website: https://www.lauraross-paul.com/

Laura Ross-Paul has been painting professionally for over four decades. During that time, she has been represented by nine West Coast galleries from Seattle to LA, with solo exhibits at the Portland Art Museum, Oregon, The Column Gallery, Colorado College, Colorado: The Art Gym, Portland, Oregon; and important exhibits at the Arnot Museum, Elmira, New York; Palm Springs Art Museum; Seattle Art Museum; Tacoma Art; the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art (Eugene), The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art (Portland), and The Schnitzer Family Collection.

Among her many awards, Ross-Paul has received the Bonnie Bronson Visual Arts Fellowship, an Oregon Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship, and the Susan Cooley Gilliom Artist and Teaching Residency in Roseville, California. Her art has been singled out for prizes in regional biennials at the Portland Art Museum, Tacoma Art Museums, and Turtle Bay Museum in Redding, California; featured in the cable TV film Spy (1989); and appears on book covers including fiction by Charles Spaeth (2011) and Barbara Wilson (1993) and poetry by Judith Barrington (2015).

Diego Mancilla Art Talk: November 5, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. in PUB 161

Artist’s Website: https://di-nation.com/

Born in Mexico City, raised in Portland, Oregon — Mancilla is a creative spirit. From the moment he drew on MacPaint in 1998, all he wanted to do was design. Today, he focuses on working with companies and individuals to create design solutions through the use of typography, layout, color mashups, and a splash of creativity. He is a Digital and Graphic Designer.

Palmarin Merges Art Talk: November 16, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. in PUB 161

Artist’s Website: https://www.palmarinmerges.com/

Palmarin Merges is a Filipina American artist whose work draws from the desire to become more sustainable by re-using materials close at hand and by adapting restriction as a generative force for creation. Trained as a Printmaker, she now works primarily in mixed media, especially household waste - plastic, cardboard, etc. These common materials taken from the fabric of her daily life are processed and then transformed into pattern, collage and concrete poetry.

Raised in Hawaii and California, she left Oregon in Dec. 2019 with her husband to return to Japan, this time to Tokyo. Her adventures now include exploring a variety of traditional crafts and wandering the areas in and around the Yamanote Line.

Palmarin Merges holds an MFA Printmaking from the San Francisco Art Institute and has exhibited in Japan, the Philippines, San Francisco, and Portland, Oregon. She has previously taught Relief, Screenprint and drawing at Pacific Northwest College of Art, Marylhurst University and Pacific University.

About Clark College

Founded in 1933, Clark College is Southwest Washington’s largest public institution of higher education. Clark College provides residents of Southwest Washington with affordable, high-quality academic and technical education. This public community college offers more than 100 degree and certificate programs, including bachelor’s and associate degrees; professional certificates; high school diplomas and GED preparation; and non-credit community and continuing education. Clark serves almost 10,000 students, including high school students, veterans, displaced workers, multilingual and mature learners. About three-quarters of its students are the first in their families to attend college.

Clark’s Fine Arts Program

Clark’s Art/Fine Arts program invites students to explore creative expression through a wide range of artistic media. Taught by professional artists and instructors with advanced degrees, courses provide a supportive environment for students to develop their skills and pursue their artistic ambitions. Whether students are beginning their journey or expanding their talents, students can choose from courses in painting, drawing, ceramics, photographic, and graphic design.

Learn more about Clark’s Art/Fine Arts program here.

All Are Welcome: Clark College is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution. Learn more at www.clark.edu/nds.

Vancouver, Wash.  ̶  Capping more than three years of work, the Clark County Councilors this week adopted a plan that will guide growth in Clark County over the next 20 years.

The more than 400-page Comprehensive Growth Management Plan final update now goes to the Washington State Department of Commerce.

On Tuesday, Oct. 13, the council adopted ordinance 2026-10-01, reflecting their decisions on the plan update. The county will issue a Notice of Adoption of the Comprehensive Plan Update on Oct. 23, which kicks off the 60-day appeal period. Appeals are submitted to the state Growth Management Hearings Board.

The council approved the plan after listening to public comment and discussing the options.

The plan includes a new Climate Element, multi-modal transportation standards, and updated housing policies and zoning code with an emphasis on providing housing at all income levels.

Additional highlights of the plan include:

• Changes to the comprehensive and zoning plan map;
• Updates to policies and text in the comprehensive plan document;
• Changes to Clark County Code Title 40, the county’s unified development code, to implement map and policy changes;
• Changes to the Arterial Atlas;
• Updated Capital Facilities and Capital Facilities Financial Plans; and
• Updated school and transportation impact fees, and new fire impact fees.

The Growth Management Plan Update covers the 20-year period ending in 2045, when the population is projected to be 718,154 and 73,500 more people will be employed in Clark County. Currently, the county’s population is approximately 577,431, and there are approximately 180,900 jobs.

By state law, the update must include a capital facilities plan that outlines the public facilities, such as roads and schools, needed to support the additional population and how they will be financed.

The Growth Management Act requires state and local governments to manage growth by identifying and protecting critical areas and natural resource lands, designating urban growth areas, preparing comprehensive plans, and implementing them through capital investments and development regulations.

The act applies only to Washington’s quickly growing counties.

Learn more about the county Comprehensive Plan Update project, Your Future. Your Voice. at: https://bit.ly/2025CPUpdate.

Salem, Ore. – Fire season on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) protection districts in the Northwest Oregon Area (NWOA) will end October 15, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. which include:

• ODF Forest Grove District
• ODF Tillamook District
• ODF Astoria District
• ODF North Cascade District
• ODF West Oregon District

These districts protect private and public forestland spanning across Marion, Polk, Clackamas, Multnomah, Lincoln, Benton, Yamhill, Tillamook, Clatsop and Columbia Counties.

The end of fire season means property owners protected by ODF can burn residential yard debris and burn barrels without a permit. However, this change does not relieve anyone of their legal responsibility to burn safely and responsibly. Easily check your local burning regulations at beforeyouburn.net.

Fire officials caution that, even though fire season is over in the area, everyone should remain vigilant in fire prevention efforts. This includes refraining from burning on dry, windy days and managing debris burn piles with water and a shovel. Also, never leave a debris burn unattended and make sure it is completely out when finished. 

Fire season requirements for industrial operations are no longer in effect. However, the burning of slash resulting from forest harvesting operations requires a permit year-round. Check with your local ODF office before lighting a fire to stay safe and avoid escaped debris burns.

The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Northwest Oregon Area would like to thank all our landowners, forest operators, the public, and interagency partners for their efforts in fire prevention, detection, and suppression activities this season.

For tips on wildfire prevention, visit www.keeporegongreen.org.

PORTLAND, Ore.— A Sacramento County, California, man charged in a wire fraud scheme made his initial appearance in federal court Tuesday before a U.S. magistrate judge. A federal grand jury in Portland has returned an indictment charging 35‑year‑old Daejon Labrayae Delenar Love with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon.

According to the indictment, Love and a co‑conspirator solicited victims to invest in fraudulent high‑yield investment opportunities, including an “expedited account” that promised unusually large and rapid returns. To gain victims’ trust, Love allegedly presented himself as a wealthy real estate investor or a current or former NFL player.

The indictment further alleges that Love used online dating and social media profiles containing fabricated personal and financial information, developed romantic relationships with victims, and staged displays of wealth to persuade victims to send cash or wire funds. Instead of investing the money as promised, Love allegedly used it for personal expenses, including travel, lodging, high‑end vehicles, clothing, jewelry, and other purchases.

Love was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and was ordered detained pending a jury trial scheduled to begin on December 15, 2026.

If convicted, Love faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. He will also be required to forfeit any property obtained with proceeds from the scheme.

The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bryan Chinwuba and Christopher Cardani are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is only an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

In April, the Department of Justice announced the establishment of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, a new unit dedicated to investigating and prosecuting fraud. The division supports the President’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, led by Vice President J.D. Vance, which coordinates government‑wide efforts to reduce fraud, waste, and abuse in federal benefit programs.

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Vancouver, Wash. – Inspire Vancouver, the City of Vancouver's Cultural Access Program, has launched its new Field Trip Fund for the 2026-27 school year. The program brings dedicated funding to expand field trip access for students of all grade levels in public schools across Vancouver. The new funding will help more students experience arts, culture, heritage, and science firsthand.

Field trips to museums, theaters, science centers, and cultural sites give students hands-on experiences that bring classroom learning to life. In recent years, tighter school budgets across the region have made these experiences harder to fund, and many schools and families have stepped up to fill the gap through Parent Teacher Organization fundraising and parent volunteers. This new funding will help ensure that a student's opportunity to go on a field trip isn't shaped by how much a school community is able to fundraise.

Funded by the Cultural Access Sales Tax

Starting with the 2026-27 school year, Inspire Vancouver has set aside 10% of its annual funding for students in Vancouver Public Schools and Evergreen Public Schools. The Field Trip Fund is distributed directly to the districts, with each guaranteed at least 5% of tax revenue. This means schools can put the funding to work right away.

The Inspire Vancouver Field Trip Fund supplements existing school resources and can cover costs across all grade levels, including:

• Transportation to field trips
• Admission and program fees for cultural, arts, heritage, and science experiences

"Field trips provide students with hands-on learning experiences that bring the classroom to life. These experiences can spark curiosity, inspire lifelong relationships with the arts, culture and sciences, and even help shape future careers. We are incredibly grateful to Inspire Vancouver for investing in our students," said Carinn Ormson, Fine and Performing Arts and PE Specialist, Evergreen Public Schools.

"Through our partnership with Inspire Vancouver, we are creating more equitable access to enriching field trip experiences for our elementary students, while also expanding meaningful, curriculum-connected opportunities at the secondary level. These experiences help students connect classroom learning to their community and see their learning come to life. We are grateful for a partnership that is helping make authentic learning experiences more accessible to Vancouver Public Schools students," said Traci Young, Curriculum Specialist, Vancouver Public Schools.

Inspire Vancouver is one way the City of Vancouver puts tax dollars directly to work for the community. The program is funded by a 0.1% sales tax approved by City Council in December 2024. The tax costs the average household about $30 a year, roughly a penny per $10 spent, and is expected to generate up to $7 million annually for the community. Ninety percent of that revenue goes directly to eligible organizations and schools, a direct return of local tax dollars into experiences that benefit Vancouver's students and residents. The Field Trip Fund is one part of Inspire Vancouver's first grant cycle. Application-based grants for nonprofit organizations focused on arts, culture, heritage, and science will be awarded later this year, with those funds supporting programming during the 2026-27 year.

Looking Ahead

Inspire Vancouver is also in ongoing conversations with the school districts to explore additional ways to expand student access to enriching experiences in the years ahead. As part of that work, the program will include additional School Grant opportunities dedicated to helping eligible nonprofit organizations bring their programming directly into schools, alongside its continued support for youth-focused cultural activities. Applications for School Grants will open in spring of 2027.

About Inspire Vancouver

Inspire Vancouver is the City of Vancouver’s Cultural Access Program. Funded by a 0.1% sales tax, Inspire Vancouver grants help local nonprofit arts, culture, heritage, and science groups bring programs to more neighborhoods and more people in Vancouver. It also gives kids more chances to learn and helps build long-lasting cultural programs for the community.

For more information about the Field Trip Fund and other funding opportunities, visit www.inspirevancouver.org/. 

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Join The Community for the Official Dedication and Ribbon-Cutting Event

Vancouver, Wash. – On October 13, 2026, at around 10:45 p.m., Vancouver Police responded to an apartment complex in the 2600 block of NE Neals Lane for a welfare check.  A family member reported that her sister lived there with her boyfriend, that she had missed work that day, and family members had not heard from her. Friends and family went to the complex earlier in the day, saw her car in the parking lot and knocked on the door but no one answered. Officers made entry to the apartment and located a male and a female with gunshot wounds. Both were deceased.

The Vancouver Police Department Major Crimes Unit is investigating this as a murder-suicide. The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office will release official cause and manner of death and the identities of both individuals. Nothing additional is being released at this time.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 14, 2026

Contact Information: 

umenauer@employ.oregon.gov">Gail Krumenauer, State Employment Economist, (971) 301-3771

Video and Audio available at 10 a.m. PT

David Cooke, Economist (971) 375-5288

Oregon’s Unemployment Rate Was 5.0% in September

Oregon’s unemployment rate was little changed at 5.0% in September and 5.1% in August. It has held to a tight range between 5.0% and 5.3% for the past 19 months, since March 2025 when it was 5.0%. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.2% in September and 4.1% in August.

In September, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 5,800 jobs, following a revised gain of 2,600 jobs in August. September’s gains were largest in construction (+2,000 jobs); health care and social assistance (+1,700); and leisure and hospitality (+1,300). Losses were largest in retail trade (-1,500 jobs).

In the past 12 months, payroll employment rose by 2,600 jobs, or 0.1%. Health care and social assistance continued its rapid growth during the past four years by adding 12,100 jobs, or 3.8%, in the past 12 months. Other services (+1,600 jobs, or 2.4%) and private education (+1,300, or 3.6%) were the other major industries that added the most jobs since September 2025. Manufacturing (-4,300 jobs, or -2.4%) cut the most jobs in that time, followed by government (-4,000 jobs, or -1.3%).

Construction employment drifted upward during April through August, then jumped higher by 2,000 jobs in September. In the past 12 months, each of the three component industries expanded: construction of buildings (+900 jobs); specialty trade contractors (+500); and heavy and civil engineering construction (+100).

Several industries rebounded over the most recent two months. Government added 1,300 jobs since July, following losses in prior months. Nonetheless, it has cut 4,000 jobs in the past 12 months. Manufacturing added 1,700 jobs since July, partially reversing steady declines during the past three years. Leisure and hospitality's September gain reversed losses in June and July.

Next Press Releases

The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the September county and metropolitan area unemployment and jobs data on Tuesday, Oct. 20, and the next statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for October on Wednesday, Nov. 18. 

About Workforce and Economic Research

The Workforce and Economic Research Division of the Oregon Employment Department develops and distributes quality economic and workforce information to help Oregonians make informed decisions and support a thriving economy. Staff collect data from state and federal records and surveys; analyze the available information; and share insights with the public in a variety of ways, including regular reports, publications, and the website, QualityInfo.org.

The Oregon Employment Department (OED) is an equal opportunity agency. OED provides free help so you can use our services. Some examples are sign language and spoken language interpreters, written materials in other languages, large print, audio, and other formats. To get help, please call 503-947-1444. TTY users call 711. You can also send an email to communications@employ.oregon.gov.

El Departamento de Empleo de Oregon (OED) es una agencia de igualdad de oportunidades. El OED proporciona ayuda gratuita para que usted pueda utilizar nuestros servicios. Algunos ejemplos son intérpretes de lengua de señas e idiomas hablados, materiales escritos en otros idiomas, letra grande, audio y otros formatos. Para obtener ayuda, por favor llame al 503-947-1444. Usuarios de TTY pueden llamar al 711. También puede enviar un correo electrónico a communications@employ.oregon.gov.

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SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) announced funding approvals by the Oregon Housing Stability Council to develop or preserve 480 affordable rental homes and 36 homes for purchase in Newport, Grants Pass, Eugene, Lincoln City, Bend, Portland, and Hillsboro.

“Oregon is one of the greatest states because of the people who call it home and the communities that define it,” said OHCS Executive Director Andrea Bell. “We are grateful to local leaders who are working to ensure Oregon is a state of opportunity for everyday Oregonians, where people can afford to live and raise families.”

The rental investments include new housing for older adults, family-sized apartments, and housing for people with behavioral health needs. The approvals also support rehabilitation of existing affordable apartments, helping residents maintain access to stable housing.

The homeownership investments include homes prioritized for qualified hospital employees and survivors of the 2020 Echo Mountain Fire in Lincoln City, as well as new homes within a resident-owned community for older adults in Grants Pass.

The rental and homeownership approvals are as follows:
 

The Housing Stability Council also approved the last available funding for the Older Adult Housing Program (OAHP), which was established through House Bill 3589 (2025) as part of the Senior Housing Development Initiative to expand Oregon's supply of affordable and accessible rental housing. This program is designed to support the expansion of accessible, affordable housing for older Oregonians, enabling them to age in place by leveraging state subsidies.

More detailed information regarding each project can be found in the Housing Stability Council meeting packet.

About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS)

OHCS is Oregon's housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. For more information, please visit: oregon.gov/ohcs.

Vancouver, Wash. – On October 13, 2026, at around 9:20 p.m., Vancouver Police responded to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center for the report that a male with a gunshot wound had just been dropped off by a friend. Security personnel at the hospital were able to gather some basic information from the friend who left the hospital prior to police arrival. The friend said the victim was in the area near Evergreen Park when another male attempted to rob him of his bicycle and then shot him. The victim is in stable condition.

The Vancouver Police Department Major Crimes Unit is investigating and nothing further is releasable at this time.

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Sewer Rate Adjustment Effective July 2027

LAKE OSWEGO, Ore. — October 14, 2026 — The Lake Oswego City Council has approved a contract with Jacobs to design, build, operate, and maintain a new wastewater treatment facility. The project is a major infrastructure investment designed to protect water quality, improve system reliability, and support the community for generations.

On Tuesday, October 13, Council also approved a resolution directing staff to proceed with a 28% sewer rate adjustment effective July 1, 2027, to help fund the project. The approved rate adjustment represents the lowest projected long-term cost to customers among the funding options considered by the City Council. The adjustment is expected to increase sewer bills by approximately $25–$30 per month for an average customer.

The decision advances a City Council goal to collaborate with the City of Portland on a financially and environmentally responsible, long-term investment in wastewater infrastructure. The new facility will replace the aging 1964 Tryon Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant and is designed to improve treatment performance and water quality, provide reliable service, and better withstand seismic and flood events.

“This is a significant investment in Lake Oswego’s future and in the essential services our community depends on every day,” said Mayor Joe Buck. “While the cost is substantial, continuing to rely on aging infrastructure carries operational risks of its own. By moving forward with this project in partnership with Portland, we’re investing in reliable wastewater service, cleaner water, and a more resilient system for generations to come.”

A long-term investment in essential infrastructure

The Tryon Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant is more than 60 years old and in need of replacement to address aged mechanical and structural components. Lake Oswego, with Portland’s support, is planning to build a new, resilient, environmentally sustainable wastewater treatment facility to replace the old plant.

The Lake Oswego Wastewater Treatment Facility is one of the largest capital investments in the City of Lake Oswego’s history. The modern facility will provide improved water quality, enhanced seismic resilience, strict management of odor, and reliable performance.

As the Design-Build-Operator, Jacobs, a nationally recognized critical infrastructure services firm, will be responsible for designing, building, operating, and maintaining the facility.

"This project represents a generational investment in environmental stewardship and essential public services,” said Michelle Green, Jacobs’ Vice President. “Jacobs is proud to partner with the City of Lake Oswego, not only to build this infrastructure, but to operate and care for it as well. It’s a responsibility we take seriously, and we’re honored to be part of something that will serve the community for decades.”

Demolition of existing buildings at the new site is expected to take place in early 2027. Construction is expected to take about five years to complete.

Funding the project

The project will be funded through a combination of sewer utility revenue, a federal Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan, City of Portland contributions, municipal bonds, and System Development Charges.

Because sewer rates fund the sewer system, an adjustment is necessary to help pay for this essential infrastructure investment. The approved 28% adjustment will take effect July 1, 2027, followed by annual inflationary adjustments estimated at approximately 3.9%, subject to future rate-setting decisions.

Learn more

Community members can learn more about the wastewater treatment facility project, its funding, and proposed improvements on the project website: lakeoswegowastewaterfacility.org

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The free, all-ages “History Thursdays” series will feature three unique presentations taking place on November 12, 19 and December 3 at 7:00pm at the Public Library in Banks, Oregon.

Banks, Oregon, October 15, 2026 – The Banks Historical Society, in partnership with the Banks Public Library, today announced “History Thursdays,” a series of all-ages presentations exploring a different eras in the history of Banks, Oregon and the surrounding area. As a part of the series, the Banks Historical Society is also holding the Flora Munford Photography Competition, “Banks: Then and Now,” also announced this week, with winners to be showcased at the library during the December 3 event. All presentations are free and open to the public. 

November 12, 2026, 7:00pm

On the Banks of Dairy Creek: A History of People and Place – Long before the settlers came, the Atfalati Indigenous people called this area home. This presentation will share some of their history and delve into the stories of the first Oregon Trail settlers who made their home here – the Wilkes family. The audience will discover how they got along as neighbors living on the banks of Dairy Creek before the Atfalati were removed to the Grand Ronde Reservation.

November 19, 2026, 7:00pm

Banks: A Town on the Move – In the earliest years of the 20^th Century the town of Greenville literally picked up and moved – buildings and all – to Banks. This presentation will look at why and how that took place. It was originally delivered to the 6^th grade engineering class at Banks Middle School. Their assignment: to figure out how entire buildings were moved two miles up a dirt road with only the tools and technologies available between 1901 and 1906. The students’ final projects will be on display.

December 3, 2026, 7:00pm

Flora Munford: At the Birth of Banks – For the first time ever, this presentation will share the story of Flora Munford. She was a mover and shaker in Banks for nearly 40 years, yet her story is unknown to most area residents. Flora was a remarkable woman who moved here in 1908 as the wife of the town doctor. She soon became a church and civic leader, an advocate for women and children and an entrepreneur, and she served as treasurer on Banks’ first city council when the town incorporated in 1920. Flora was also a wonderful photographer who documented the birth of Banks with her camera. 

Photography Exhibit: Banks, Then and Now

The Banks Public Library will be showcasing some of Flora Munford’s photographs of Banks taken around 1910 alongside the winners of the Banks Historical Society’s “Banks, Then and Now” Flora Munford Photography Competition.

This community history series is supported, in part, thanks to a grant from the Cultural Coalition of Washington County.

About the Banks Historical Society

The mission of the Banks Historical Society is to preserve, protect, and promote the history and heritage of Banks, Oregon—and all municipalities and rural areas within the Banks School District—through educational programs, exhibitions, community engagement, and recognition of local, state, and national historic landmarks and resources in the service area. The Banks Historical Society is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and historical purposes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible and are eligible for Oregon’s Cultural Tax Credit.

The competition challenges photographers of all ages to re-create Flora Munford’s historic 1910 photographs of Banks, Oregon from the same vantage point today. 

Banks, Oregon, October 14, 2026  – The Banks Historical Society today launched the Flora Munford Photography Competition “Banks: Then and Now.” The challenge for photographers is to choose one of Flora Munford’s historic 1910 photographs of Banks, find the location where the original photographer stood and photograph the same view as it looks today. Entries will be judged on similarity of vantage point, composition/visual interest and how effectively the photograph illustrates change over time. 

The photography contest is being held in conjunction with the Banks Historical Society and Banks Public Library’s fall “History Thursdays,” a series of three local history presentations to be held at the Banks Public Library on November 12, 19 and December 3 at 7:00pm. 

No special camera is required – smartphone photos are welcome. Winners will be awarded in three age categories: 12 and under, 13 to 17 and Adult. Winning photographs will be showcased at the December 3, 2026 presentation of “Flora Munford: At the Birth of Banks” at the Banks Public Library at 7:00pm. 

Details about the competition, contest source images and the competition entry form are available on the Banks Historical Society website.

Photo submissions must be received by midnight PT on November 15, 2026.

“In addition to taking some of the earliest photographs of Banks, Flora was also a highly influential person in church and civic life here for nearly 40 years – including having served as treasurer on the very first Banks City Council when the town incorporated in 1920,” said Jennifer Allen Newton, secretary of the Banks Historical Society and one of the presenters of the history series.  “Despite Flora’s many contributions to the community, most people here have never heard of her. We aim to change that!” Newton added.

About Flora Munford’s photographs 

Beginning around 1908 - 1910, Flora Munford took some of the earliest photographs of Banks. Her images give us a rare glimpse into the birth of the town, which grew rapidly in the wake of incoming railroad lines in 1906 and 1911. 

Flora photographed homes, horses, buggies and cars on dirt streets. She captured the people and the iconic false-front buildings of local merchants, including the Banks Pharmacy, which Flora owned with her husband, town doctor William “Doc” Munford. Flora turned some of her photos into postcards, which she sold at the pharmacy and sent to family and friends. Winning photographs will be displayed at the library, next to Flora’s photograph of the same scene.

This project is funded, in part, by a grant to the Banks Historical Society from the Cultural Coalition of Washington County.

About the Banks Historical Society

The mission of the Banks Historical Society is to preserve, protect, and promote the history and heritage of Banks, Oregon—and all municipalities and rural areas within the Banks School District—through educational programs, exhibitions, community engagement, and recognition of local, state, and national historic landmarks and resources in the service area. The Banks Historical Society is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and historical purposes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible and are eligible for Oregon’s Cultural Tax Credit.

Monday, October 12, 2026

Contact: Heidi Hagemeier, Arts & Culture Communications Coordinator, heidi.hagemeier@biz.oregon.gov, 971-518-0966

Oregon Arts Commission awards $1.3 million in Sustaining Arts Program grants to 317 organizations statewide

SALEM — The Oregon Arts Commission has awarded more than $1.3 million in grants to 317 arts and culture organizations across Oregon through its Sustaining Arts Program for fiscal year 2027.

The Sustaining Arts Program supports nonprofit arts organizations that offer ongoing, high-quality outreach programs and arts services or artistic programming in their communities. Awards are based on a funding formula that considers an organization’s annual expenses, the number of applications received and available grant funds. This fiscal year—from July 2026-June 2027—grant awards range from $1,000 to $18,000.

“Arts and culture is part of the vibrancy of Oregon - sparking discovery, conversation and connection,” said Oregon First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson. “These grant awards are a vital investment in creating access to arts and culture for all Oregonians.”

“We know there’s a multiplier effect in providing funding support for arts and culture,” said Oregon Arts and Culture Director Amy Lewin. “These organizations energize local economies and their communities by providing cultural opportunities in every corner of the state. We’re pleased to support their ongoing work.”

Funds for this grant program are provided by the state of Oregon general fund through its support of the Oregon Arts Commission and by the National Endowment for the Arts through a grant to the Arts Commission.

Grant category key:

Group A Organizations with annual expenses of less than $150,000.
Group B Organizations with annual expenses equal to or greater than $150,000.

FY2026 Sustaining Arts Program grants awards by region:

Central

Jefferson, Deschutes and Crook counties

Group A

Cascade Chorale Association, Bend: $1,000

Central Oregon Mastersingers Inc, Bend: $2,250

Ellipse Theatre Community, Bend: $2,000

Kaycee Anseth Legacy Foundation, Bend: $1,000

OperaBend, Bend: $1,000

Ballet Bend, Bend: $1,000

Group B

BendFilm Inc, Bend: $7,025

Cascade School of Music, Bend: $7,025

Scalehouse, Bend: $5,000

SFF Presents, Sisters: $7,525

SSJ Inc, Sisters: $5,000

Sunriver Music Festival Inc, Sunriver: $5,000

Tananáwit, Warm Springs: $5,000

High Desert Museum, Bend: $15,000

Tower Theatre Foundation Inc, Bend: $8,000

Greater Eastern – North

Gilliam, Morrow, Umatilla, Wheeler and Grant counties

Group B

Pendleton Center for the Arts, Pendleton: $5,000

Oregon East Symphony, Pendleton: $5,000

Greater Eastern – South

Harney and Malheur counties

Group A

Drexel H. Foundation, Vale: $2,000

Group B

Painted Sky Center for the Arts, John Day: $5,000

Portland Metro

Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties

Group A

Airlie Press, Portland: $1,000

Amadeus Chamber Orchestra, Portland: $1,000

Anonymous Theatre Company, Tigard: $1,000

A Notion, A Scream, Portland: $1,000

Aspen Meadow Band, Colton: $2,500

Aurora Chorus, Portland: $2,500

Bach Cantata Choir, Portland: $2,250

Bells of the Cascades, Tualatin: $1,000

Cathedral Park Performing Arts Collective, Portland: $2,250

Creative & Emerging Technology Institute, Portland: $5,000

Classical Up Close, Tigard: $1,000

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann Micheal O Domhnaill Branch of OR, Portland: $1,000

Community Jams, Portland: $2,000

Conchords Chorale, Tualatin: $1,000

Shaun Keylock Company, Portland: $1,000

Dance for Parkinson's Oregon, Lake Oswego: $1,000

Elbow Room, Portland: $5,000

Elevate Unity Inc, Portland: $2,250

EnTaiko, Portland: $2,500

Fool House Art Collective, Lake Oswego: $1,000

Friends of IFCC, Portland: $2,500

FROGTOWN, Portland: $1,000

From the Ground Up, Portland: $5,000

Future Prairie, Portland: $1,000

Greater Portland Flute Society, Portland: $1,000

Heidi Duckler Dance Northwest, Portland: $1,000

Immigrant Story, Portland: $2,250

In Mulieribus, Portland: $2,500

ISing Community Choir, Beaverton: $2,500

Many Hats Collaboration, Portland: $2,250

Media-Rites, Portland: $1,000

Medicine Bear Native American Spiritual Encampment, Portland: $2,500

Misfit Academy, Portland: $2,000

MusicOregon, Portland: $2,250

Music Workshop, Portland: $5,500

Cascadia Composers, Portland: $1,000

New Moon Productions, Portland: $1,000

Northwest Dance Theatre, Tualatin: $2,500

Oregon Alliance of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Portland: $1,000

Oregon Chorale, Hillsboro: $2,250

Oregon Origins Project, Portland: $2,500

Performance Works NW, Portland: $2,250

Piano Santa Foundation, Portland: $1,000

Portland Area Theatre Alliance, Portland: $5,000

Portland Chamber Music, Portland: $1,000

Portland Child Art Studio, Portland: $2,500

Portland Fire Fighters Pipes and Drums, Portland: $1,000

Portland Panorama, Portland: $2,500

Portland Radio Project, Portland: $2,250

Portland SummerFest, Portland: $2,500

PUSH FOLD, Portland: $2,500

Radix Vocal Ensemble, Portland: $1,000

Renegade Opera, Portland: $1,000

Risk/Reward, Portland: $2,250

Rose City Pride Bands, Portland: $2,000

Shady Pines Radio, Portland: $2,500

Sincere Studio, Portland: $2,500

Siren Nation Inc, Portland: $1,000

Stage Fright Festival, Portland: $1,000

Swan Songs, Portland: $1,000

Takohachi Inc, Portland: $2,500

The Artback, Portland: $1,000

The Wave Elements Global Music, Portland: $1,000

Tualatin Valley Community Band, Tigard: $1,000

Tualatin Valley Symphony, Tigard: $1,000

Unlock the Arts, Portland: $1,000

Westside Orchestra Association, Hillsboro: $1,000

Women in Film-Portland, Portland: $1,000

Zephyr Clarinet Choir, Tigard: $1,000

Group B

21ten Theatre, Portland: $5,000

Alberta Abbey Foundation, Portland: $7,025

Friends of Noise, Portland: $7,025

All Classical, Portland: $12,000

Architectural Foundation of Oregon, Portland: $7,025

Art in Oregon, Portland: $5,000

Art in the Pearl, Portland: $5,000

Artists Repertory Theatre, Portland: $7,115

Clackamas County Arts Alliance, Oregon City: $5,000

A-WOL Dance Collective Inc, Portland: $5,025

Bag & Baggage Productions, Hillsboro: $5,250

The Beaverton Arts Foundation, Beaverton: $10,000

Beaverton Symphony Orchestra, Beaverton: $5,000

BodyVox Inc, Portland: $7,115

Boom Arts, Portland: $5,000

Broadway Rose Theatre Company, Tigard: $10,000

Caldera, Portland: $10,000

Cappella Romana Inc, Portland: $7,015

Chamber Music Northwest, Portland: $8,000

Clackamas Repertory Theatre, Oregon City: $5,025

CoHo Productions, Portland: $5,000

Corrib Theatre, Portland: $5,000

Cracked Pots, Portland: $5,000

Curious Comedy Productions, Portland: $5,115

CymaSpace, Portland: $5,115

Echo Theater Company, Portland: $7,025

Choral Arts Ensemble, Portland: $5,000

Ethos Inc, Portland: $7,025

Experience Theatre Project, Beaverton: $5,000

Film Action Oregon, Portland: $12,000

Friends of Chamber Music, Portland: $6,025

Gather:Make:Shelter, Portland: $5,025

Hand2Mouth, Portland: $5,000

Hellenic-American Cultural Center & Museum, Portland: $5,000

Imago the Theatre Mask Ensemble, Portland: $5,015

In a Landscape, Portland: $7,025

Independent Publishing Resource Center, Portland: $5,000

Lakewood Theatre Company, Lake Oswego: $8,000

Literary Arts Inc, Portland: $12,000

Live Wire Radio, Portland: $5,250

MetroEast Community Media, Gresham: $7,525

Metropolitan Youth Symphony, Portland: $7,025

Miracle Theatre Group, Portland: $5,025

Montavilla Jazz Festival, Portland: $5,000

My Voice Music, Portland: $6,025

New Expressive Works, Portland: $5,000

North Pole Studio, Portland: $5,000

Northwest Children's Theater & School Inc, Portland: $10,000

Northwest Professional Dance Project, Portland: $7215

Old Church Society Inc, Portland: $5,250

Open Hearts Open Minds, Portland: $5,000

Open Space, Portland: $5,025

Oregon ArtsWatch, Portland: $5,015

Oregon Ballet Theatre, Portland: $15,000

Oregon BRAVO Youth Orchestras, Portland: $7,015

Oregon Center for Contemporary Art, Portland: $5,025

Oregon Children's Theatre Company, Portland: $7,075

Oregon International Ballet Academy, Portland: $5,000

Oregon Repertory Singers, Portland: $5,115

Oregon Society of Artists, Portland: $5,025

Oregon Symphony Association, Portland: $18,000

OrpheusPDX, Portland: $5,000

Outside the Frame, Portland: $6,075

Pacific Youth Choir, Portland: $5,015

PassinArt: A Theatre Company, Portland: $5,000

Phame Academy, Portland: $6,025

Play It Forward, Beaverton: $5,500

PlayWrite, Portland: $5,000

Portland Art Museum, Portland: $18,000

Portland Baroque Orchestra, Portland: $7,000

Portland Center Stage, Portland: $15,000

Open Signal, Portland: $1,000

Portland Cultural Dance Collective, Portland: $5,015

Portland Drama Club, Portland: $5,000

Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble, Portland: $5,015

Portland Gay Men's Chorus, Inc, Portland: $5,250

Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, Portland: $8,000

PDX Jazz, Portland: $7,075

Portland Lesbian Choir, Portland: $5,000

Portland Opera Association Inc, Portland: $13,000

Portland Piano International, Portland: $5,025

Portland Playhouse, Portland: $7,775

Portland Revels, Portland: $5,000

Portland Street Art Alliance, Portland: $7,015

Portland Taiko, Portland: $5,000

Portland Youth Philharmonic, Portland: $7,525

Profile Theatre Project, Portland: $6,000

Regional Arts & Culture Council, Portland: $1,000

Rejoice! Diaspora Dance Theater, Portland: $5,000

Resonance Ensemble, Portland: $5,000

Scarlet Sails Cultural Foundation, Beaverton: $5,000

SCRAP Creative Reuse, Portland: $7,115

Shaking the Tree Theatre, Portland: $5,000

STAGES Performing Arts Youth Academy, Hillsboro: $5,000

Sticky Culture, Portland: $2,000

Street Books, Portland: $5,000

Stumptown Stages, Portland: $5,025

Synth Library Portland, Portland: $2,250

The Portland Ballet, Portland: $6,025

The Vanport Mosaic, Portland: $5,000

Third Angle New Music Ensemble, Portland: $5,000

Third Rail Repertory Theatre, Portland: $5,025

Tilikum Chamber Orchestra, Portland: $1,000

Vibe of Portland, Portland: $5,000

Western Alliance of Arts Administrators Foundation, Portland: $7,025

White Bird, Portland: $7,025

Willamette Light Brigade, Portland: $6,025

Willamette Writers, Portland: $5,000

Write Around Portland, Portland: $5,000

Arts for Learning Northwest, Portland: $7,525

Young Musicians & Artists, Portland: $5,500

Youth Music Project, West Linn: $8,000

Mid-Valley

Yamhill, Polk and Marion counties

Group A

Arts Alliance of Yamhill County, McMinnville: $2,000

Focus on Book Arts, Monmouth: $1,000

Keizer Homegrown Theatre, Keizer: $1,000

McMinnville Film Festival Foundation, McMinnville: $2,250

Oregon Artists Series Foundation, Salem: $1,000

Oregon Community Theatre Alliance, McMinnville: $1,000

Salem Big Band, Salem: $1,000

Salem Orchestra, Salem: $1,000

Salem Pops Orchestra, Salem: $1,000

Salem Youth Symphony Association, Salem: $2,500

Silverton Arts Association, Silverton: $2,000

Oregon Spirit Chorus, Salem: $2,500

The Moxie Initiative, Salem: $1,000

Oregon Symphony Association in Salem, Salem: $5,000

Western Oregon University Development Foundation, Monmouth: $2,000

Theatre 33 of Willamette University, Salem: $2,500

Group B

Chehalem Center Association, Newberg: $7,025

Historic Elsinore Theatre, Salem: $7,025

Pentacle Theatre, Salem: $5,175

Salem Art Association, Salem: $5,500

Oregon Symphony Association in Salem, Salem: $5,000

Willamette Master Chorus, Salem: $5,000

Yamhill Enrichment Society, McMinnville: $5,025

North Central

Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties

Group B

Columbia Center for the Arts, Hood River: $5,000

Columbia Gorge Orchestra Association, Hood River: $5,000

North Coast

Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook counties

Group A

Arts Council of Clatsop County, Astoria: $1,000

Astoria Arts and Movement Center, Astoria: $2,500

Astoria Visual Arts, Inc, Astoria: $2,250

Columbia Chorale of Oregon, Warren: $1,000

North Coast Chorale, Astoria: $1,000

The Writer's Guild, Astoria: $2,000

Tolovana Arts Colony, Cannon Beach: $2,500

Trail's End Art Association, Gearhart: $1,000

Group B

Hoffman Center, Manzanita: $2,500

Liberty Restoration Inc, Astoria: $7225

Ten Fifteen Productions, Astoria: $5,000

Northeast

Wallowa, Union and Baker counties

Group A

Eastern Oregon Film Festival, La Grande: $2,500

Grande Ronde Symphony Association, La Grande: $2,250

Group B

Crossroads Creative and Performing Arts Center Inc, Baker City: $5,115

Art Center East, La Grande: $5,000

Fishtrap Inc, Enterprise: $5,015

Josephy Center for Arts and Culture, Joseph: $5,250

South Central

Klamath and Lake counties

Group A

Klamath Music, Klamath Falls: $2,000

Group B

PLAYA, Summer Lake: $5,015

South Coast

Douglas, Coos and Curry counties

Group A

Bay Area Community Concert Band, Coos Bay: $1,000

Dolphin Players Inc, Coos Bay: $1,000

Oregon Coast School of Art, Gardiner: $5,000

Redfish Music Festival, Port Orford: $1,000

South Coast Folk Society, Coos Bay: $1,000

Wild Rivers Coast Foundation for Dance, Brookings: $2,500

South Valley/Mid Coast

Lincoln, Benton, Linn and Lane counties

Group A

Applegate Regional Theatre Inc, Veneta: $2,000

Arts and Business Alliance of Eugene, Eugene: $2,500

Coastal Voices, Newport: $1,000

Corvallis Guitar Society, Corvallis: $1,000

DisOrient Asian American Film Festival of Oregon, Eugene: $2,500

Eugene Gay Men's Chorus, Eugene: $2,000

Eugene Springfield Community Orchestra, Eugene: $1,000

Florence Regional Arts Alliance, Florence: $5,000

Free Shakespeare in the Park Theatre Company, Eugene: $1,000

New Zone Gallery, Eugene: $2,500

Oregon Brass Society, Eugene: $1,000

Oregon Coast Youth Symphony Festival Association, Newport: $2,000

Radical Alternative Development, Elmira: $1,000

Santiam Hearts to Arts, Mill City: $1,000

Springfield Community Concert Band, Springfield: $1,000

Generations Arts Academy, Harrisburg: $1,000

Willamette Valley Symphony, Eugene: $1,000

Group B

Radiant Community Arts, Eugene: $5,000

Ballet Fantastique, Eugene: $5,500

Children's Repertory of Oregon Workshops, Florence: $5,000

Community Center for the Performing Arts, Eugene: $6,025

Comunidad y Herencia Cultural, Springfield: $5,000

Corvallis Arts Center Inc, Corvallis: $5,250

Corvallis Fall Festival, Corvallis: $5,000

Corvallis Multicultural Literacy Center, Corvallis: $5,000

Corvallis Youth Symphony Association, Corvallis: $5,000

Cottage Theatre, Cottage Grove: $5,025

Eugene Ballet, Eugene: $1,000

Eugene Concert Choir, Eugene: $5,025

Eugene Opera, Eugene: $5,025

Eugene Symphony Association Inc, Eugene: $1,000

#instaballet, Eugene: $5,000

Lane Arts Council, Eugene: $7,025

Lincoln City Cultural Center Inc, Lincoln City: $5,250

Materials Exchange Center for Community Arts, Eugene: $5,000

Maude Kerns Art Center, Eugene: $5,015

Maxtivity, Philomath: $5,000

Music Education & Performing Artists Association, Eugene: $5,000

Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, Otis: $8,000

Orchestra Next, Eugene: $5,000

Oregon Coast Council for the Arts, Newport: $7,025

Oregon Contemporary Theatre, Eugene: $5,250

Oregon Mozart Players, Eugene: $5,000

Siletz Bay Music Festival, Lincoln City: $5,000

University of Oregon - Oregon Folklife Network, Eugene: $5,000

Southern

Josephine and Jackson counties

Group A

Women's Choral Society, Phoenix:  $5,000

Art Presence Inc, Jacksonville: $2,250

Ashland Children’s Theatre, Ashland: $2,000

Ashland New Plays Festival, Ashland: $2,500

Guitar Society of Southern Oregon, Ashland: $1,000

Ashland Flute Circle, Medford: $1,000

Oregon Art on a Mission, Talent: $1,000

Rogue Valley Symphonic Band, Talent: $1,000

Siskiyou Singers Inc, Ashland: $2,000

Ashland Independent Film Festival, Ashland: $5,000

Southern Oregon Guild, Cave Junction: $2,000

Group B

Storytown, Ashland: $5,000

Camelot Theatre Company, Talent: $7,025

Collaborative Theatre Project Inc, Medford: $5,000

Grants Pass Museum of Art, Grants Pass: $5,000

Oregon Shakespeare Festival Association, Ashland: $18,000

Peter Britt Gardens Arts and Music Festival Association, Medford: $18,000

Rogue Valley Art Association, Medford: $5,000

Southern Oregon Repertory Singers, Ashland: $5,000

Southern Oregon University Foundation - Chamber Music Concerts, Ashland: $5,000

Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon, Medford: $5,000

About the Oregon Arts Commission
The Oregon Arts Commission provides leadership, programs and funding for nonprofits and artists through its grants, special initiatives and services. Commissioners appointed by the Governor establish policies and provide advisory support for public investment in the arts. Nested within Business Oregon, the Arts Commission works to support the economies, educational opportunities and vibrancy of communities throughout the state. The Arts Commission is supported with funds appropriated by the Oregon Legislature, as well as by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Oregon Cultural Trust. Learn more at oregonartscommission.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Two people were taken to the hospital after a house fire early Wednesday morning in Tigard that destroyed a home.

Crews were dispatched shortly before 2 a.m. to a reported house fire at 15180 Southwest Sunrise Lane. Firefighters arrived to find heavy fire coming from multiple sides of the house.

Two people were injured, including one who suffered burns and another who jumped from a balcony to escape the flames. Both were treated by TVF&R paramedics and transported to the hospital for further care. The three other occupants of the home evacuated unharmed.

Due to the heavy fire conditions, firefighters deployed hose lines to all sides of the structure to attack the fire from the outside. As the fire progressed, portions of the home’s walls and ceilings collapsed, creating additional hazards for crews. Despite heavy fire involvement and challenges with water supply, crews methodically brought the fire under control. With only one fire hydrant available, firefighters carefully managed the water supply while working to bring the fire under control and protect nearby trees and shrubs from catching fire.

The fire destroyed the home, and the family has made alternate living arrangements.

The fire also resulted in the loss of several family pets. One of the family’s dogs alerted the homeowners to the flames but is believed to have died in the fire. A second dog escaped safely. The family’s pet birds are also presumed to have died.

Approximately 25 emergency response apparatus assisted at the scene. TVF&R was assisted by American Medical Response, the Tigard Police Department, Northwest Natural and Portland General Electric.

Vancouver, Wash.—On October 6, a sold-out crowd of more than 700 library lovers filled the Vancouver Hilton to celebrate 35 years of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library Foundation (FVRLFoundation). The event raised a record-breaking more than $370,000 for the programs, collections, and spaces that make Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries such welcoming places across Southwest Washington.

“We’re grateful to everyone who gives their time, resources, and voices so that neighbors across our region can find opportunity at their library,” said Jennifer Giltrop, executive director of Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries. “Thank you to the Foundation and all our supporters for believing in our libraries and helping us make more possible.”

Foundation support puts summer reading books into children’s hands, helps families build reading skills together through Reading in Action, and brings neighbors together for Community Reads discussions and author events. Donations also expand access to books, digital resources and the Library of Things, and help fund welcoming spaces such as the new Washougal Community Library, opening 2028.

The evening was a celebration of stories and the people who love them. Guests bid on silent auction items, heard from featured author and illustrator Amy Tan, and lined up afterward to have their books signed and take photos with her.

The Foundation thanks:

• Amy Tan, for sharing her inspiring stories.

• Sponsors, including Presenting Sponsor Columbia Credit Union, whose continued support made the evening possible.

• Volunteers, who generously gave their time to make the night special. 

• Event partners, including the Vancouver Hilton, Encore A/V Production, and Simple Pleasures Events, whose expertise brought the evening together.

Those who were not able to attend Authors & Illustrators, but would still like to be part of the FVRL Foundation’s milestone year, can learn more or make a gift at fvrlfoundation.org. 

SALEM, Ore. — The Adaptive Management Program Committee will meet virtually at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20. To join, please use the Teams video conference information found on the agenda.

The committee’s agenda includes:

• Amphibians questions 1 & 2 into existing research agenda

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

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

PORTLAND, Ore.— A Granite Bay, California, man pleaded guilty today to cyberstalking his ex‑girlfriend and posting sexually explicit photos of her online.

Jason David Campos, 44, pleaded guilty to stalking and aggravated identity theft.

According to court documents, Campos harassed his ex‑girlfriend from 2009 to 2023 by posting intimate images and personal information about her online without her consent. He created social media and forum accounts using her name and, in some cases, encouraged others to contact or harass her.

In 2021, Campos created an email account using the victim’s maiden name and used it to impersonate her and obtain her confidential legal file. Later that year, he sent intimate images of the victim to her attorney from the same account.

In 2022, Campos sent emails to an account belonging to the victim, attempting to confirm her identity and referencing a minor family member whose name he obtained from her legal file. In 2023, he used an instant messaging app to distribute intimate images of the victim to strangers and directed them to contact an email account he controlled that had previously belonged to the victim.

On April 9, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland indicted Campos on charges of stalking, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Under the plea agreement, Campos pleaded guilty to stalking and aggravated identity theft.

Campos has agreed to pay full restitution to the victim and to her attorney for services provided in response to the fraudulent records request.

Campos faces a maximum of five years in prison for stalking and a mandatory two‑year consecutive sentence for aggravated identity theft, along with fines and supervised release terms.

Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 1, 2027, before a U.S. District Court judge.

“Today’s plea sends a clear message that those who use the internet to harass, intimidate and exploit others will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford. “We remain committed to protecting victims of online abuse and ensuring offenders face the full consequences of their actions.”

The FBI investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory R. Nyhus is prosecuting the case, with support from Assistant U.S. Attorney Mira Chernick.

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When: Noon – 1 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15

Where: Project site near the end of Bjur Road in Ridgefield

What: The Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership and Clark County have invited project partners to celebrate the completion of the $23.5 million East Fork Lewis River Reconnection Project on Thursday, Oct. 15. After two years of construction, crews completed the earth-moving and infrastructure work this week. Students and community volunteers will help replant the project area during the winter months

The project restored three miles of river habitat, improved conditions for salmon and wildlife, reduced flood and erosion risks for nearby homes and businesses, and enhanced recreation opportunities along the river. The project aimed to recreate historic river conditions in a stretch of river that once flowed through seven abandoned gravel mining pits. More information on the project’s benefits, state, local and federal funding is available on the project website.

The event will include a program followed by optional site tours. Program speakers will include State Representative Ed Orcutt (WA LD-20), Clark County Council Chair Sue Marshall, and leaders from state and local agencies and organizations.

The project site and event location have uneven, rocky ground. Sturdy closed-toe shoes are required. Potable water and restrooms are not available at this location.

After parking at the end of Bjur Road, attendees will be shuttled to the project site in all-terrain vehicles. Please allow extra time for the ride to the site from the parking area.

Because of the unique features of the site, limited space and access, participating media are strongly encouraged to contact Kaley McLachlan-Burton, Clark County Public Works public information officer, at urton@clark.wa.gov">kaley.mclachlan-burton@clark.wa.gov or 360.946.7584 (call or text; text messages are more likely to go through at the project site on the day of the event).

On October 12, 2026, a little before 4:30 pm, Yamhill Communications Agency was notified of a plane crash at the Chehalem Airpark in rural Newberg. The information relayed to the Sheriff’s Office was that a small ultralight aircraft crashed near the airpark. Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue and Dundee Fire Department responded with Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office. LifeFlight also responded to the crash, landing a helicopter near the Airpark.
 

The sole occupant and pilot of the ultralight had self-extricated from the aircraft before the arrival of emergency responders. Despite extensive efforts, the pilot died from his injuries. He is identified as 58-year-old Trevor Gray-Ingram of Vancouver, WA.  
 

The crash was witnessed and captured on video. That video was reviewed by the Sheriff’s Office and turned over to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). A representative from the FAA, as well as one from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), responded to the scene.
 

The information that we have confirmed so far is the ultralight took off from the Chehalem Airpark and had flown around the area before the crash, which took place during a landing attempt. The location of the crash was just off the Airpark property in a privately owned field. There were no other injuries or damage to any structures because of the crash.
 

The Sheriff’s Office would like to extend our condolences to Mr. Gray-Ingram’s family and friends.

SALEM, Ore. – The State Land Board will meet virtually on Tuesday, October 20 at 10:00 a.m.

Agenda items the Land Board will consider include:

• Appoint four voting members of the Elliott State Research Forest Board of Directors to four-year terms: Mike Buffo, Amanda Craig, Jerry Ingersoll, and Mike Wilson.
  The board serves as a key structure in shaping the management of the research forest through public oversight, accountability, and engagement. The appointments are intended to achieve a full complement of relevant experience that is not otherwise represented by current board members.
   
• Approve a permanent easement for an existing bridge on the Willamette River in Lane County.

Meeting Details and Agenda

Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

This meeting of the Land Board will be held virtually only. The full meeting agenda and materials are available on the DSL website. The meeting will be livestreamed to the DSL YouTube channel.

The public may submit written testimony or sign up to provide spoken testimony (by phone or virtually) at the meeting. The meeting agenda indicates whether testimony will be accepted on an item. Advanced sign-up is required, and the deadline is 10 a.m. on Monday, October 19.

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

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

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www.oregon.gov/dsl

TILLAMOOK STATE FOREST, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) worked with the non-profit Trash No Land to make major improvements to the four shooting lanes at Wolf Creek in the Tillamook State Forest. They reopened the lanes this month after being closed for several weeks to complete the work.

“The improvements include increased yardage at the lanes, packed gravel walkways and staging areas, new signage, and fire and other safety improvements,” said Ben Burns, Recreation Facilities Manager for ODF’s State Forests Division. “Thanks to the $30,000 raised by Trash No Lands we were able to get all this work done in just a few weeks.”

One of the most notable improvements was the increased yardage for the lanes.

“The number one ask from target shooters using the lanes was increased yardage,” said Bill Cogley, president and co-founder of Trash No Land.

Lane 1 was 35 yards, and now it’s 120 yards. Lane 2 was 24 yards, and now it’s 70 yards, Lane 3 was 60 yards plus the 16-yard pistol berm, and it’s now 70 yards with the pistol berm slightly longer at 18 yards, Lane 4 was 80 yards and is now 106 yards.

“The 100-yard distance is important because that’s what most hunters and target shooters use to sight in their rifles,” said Cogley. “What people were doing is setting their target way up the backstops in areas with a lot of vegetation to get the 100-yards. During summer that was a big safety concern since those rounds had the potential to start fires.”

Cogley and Burns are confident the new 100-yard plus lanes will greatly reduce that hazard.

“We also did a lot of vegetation management before the contractor started work,” said Burns. “Crews from South Fork Forest Camp (SFFC) cleared out brush and dry vegetation on the sides and back of the lanes to improve fire safety.”

SFFC is jointly run by ODF and the Department of Corrections and does many construction and maintenance projects in Tillamook State Forest. They also provide trained fire crews during wildfire season.

The other big improvement at the lanes was the addition of gravel.

“These lanes often were a muddy mess six-to-eight months out of the year,” said Cogley. “It made it inconvenient and messy to stand and walk out to set up and retrieve targets. So, some folks were kind of lazy and didn’t want to walk through the mud to pick up their used targets and pack out their other trash if it was wet and muddy. Now the lanes have gravel walkways out to set up the targets and gravel behind the Jersey barriers where folks shoot from. Our hope is this will greatly reduce the trash left at the ranges.”

Although the walkways are not ADA compliant, they do provide better wheelchair access.

“One of our board members uses a wheelchair so he was an advocate for making the walkways easy to use for those with mobility issues,” said Cogley. “The compacted gravel makes that possible now.”

The other improvement was better informational signage.

“Increased use of visuals on the signs make them quicker and easier to read and the repaired wood kiosks at each lane should make them more durable,” said Burns

Trash No Land also repainted the concrete Jersey barriers with a camouflage design, scrubbed graffiti off of boulders and picked up trash.

“Our hope is with all these improvements the estimated 25,000 yearly users of the lanes will take better care of them,” said Cogley. “Without a doubt these are the best public land shooting lanes in the entire Northwest which is why you see so many shooters out here.”

Cogley appreciates the 10-year working relationship with ODF.

“Our non-profit became official back in 2017, and we started it because of ODF’s willingness to listen, work and improve Wolf Creek in a collaborative manner.  It’s truly a win-win for everyone.”

For more information about volunteer opportunities, see the Trash No Land website.

For current regulations, updates and closures, visit the Tillamook State Forest target shooting website or contact the ODF Forest Grove office at (503) 357-2191.

For more information about Trash No Land and volunteer opportunities, see the Trash No Land website.

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County is hosting three open houses to share information on Propositions 12 & 13 that are on the Nov. 3, general election ballot. If approved, the measures will expand and update the current jail facility in downtown Vancouver and fund law and justice staffing.

The open houses are scheduled as follows:

• 6 pm Wednesday, Oct. 21, sixth-floor hearing room, Clark County Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St.
• 6 pm Monday, Oct. 26, sixth-floor hearing room, Clark County Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St.
• 6 pm Oct. 27, Battle Ground Community Center, Moulton Falls Room, 912 Main St.

Jail Services and representatives from the Sheriff’s Office will present information regarding the propositions and answer questions from attendees.

Jail tours
Attendees of the Oct. 21, and Oct. 26, open houses will have an opportunity to tour the Clark County Jail. Tour capacity is limited to no more than 20 people, and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Two tours will be offered on each of those evenings. Tours will begin immediately after the open house presentation and Q&A session.

Anyone wishing to take the jail tour must complete a Jail Clearance Application and Agreement and bring it to the open house.

Jail tours are not offered at the open house in Battle Ground.

Proposition 12

Bond Proposition 12 would allow Clark County to:

• Remodel current jail to ensure safety of those housed in the jail as well as those who work in the jail.
• Connect incarcerated people to treatment and re-entry services.
• Add/expand capital infrastructure to increase the beds available in the jail.
• Provide new headquarters for the Sheriff’s Office; which is currently located in the basement of the jail.
• Add courtrooms in the jail.

The cost of Proposition 12 is $366 million. Based on the median home value of $550,000, the estimated cost would be approximately $86 per year or $7.17 per month.

Proposition 13

Proposition 13 is a levy lid lift and will pay for law and justice staffing including, but not limited to:

• Employees (e.g. corrections officers, professional support staff, medical staff, etc.) to staff and operate the expanded jail.
• Additional Sheriff’s Office employees (e.g. deputies, professional support staff, etc.).
• Law and justice impacts for additional Sheriff’s Office Deputies, Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys, court staff, Deputy Clerks, public defense attorneys, etc.
• Four Prosecuting Attorney staff currently funded by one-time grant funding.
• Other law and justice staff.

The cost of Proposition 13 is $51.4 million which will fund jail staffing for the expanded jail, Sheriff’s Office staffing and other law and justice impacts. Based on the median home value of $550,000, the estimated cost would be approximately $242 per year or $20.17 per month.

Find more information at clark.wa.gov/prop12and13.

SALEM, Ore. –(October 13, 2026)  Stay Alive Vets (SAV) will bring veterans, families, and community supporters together on Veterans Day for the 6th Annual Stay Alive Vets Gala, an evening dedicated to honoring those who have served while raising awareness and support for efforts to prevent veteran suicide.
 

The gala will be held Wednesday, November 11, 2026, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Salem Convention Center, 200 Commercial St. SE in Salem. The evening will feature dinner, a keynote address, veteran recognition, and live music from The Denominators.
 

This year’s keynote speaker is Sergeant Matthew W. Zedwick, a U.S. Army veteran who was awarded the Silver Star for acts of gallantry during combat operations in Iraq.
 

“Veterans Day is a time to honor those who have served, but honoring our veterans also means being there for them when they come home and making sure they know they are not alone,” said Angela Plowhead, Air Force veteran and board president of Stay Alive Vets. “Our gala brings people together to celebrate the strength and sacrifice of our veteran community while supporting programs that provide hope, connection and help when it is needed most.”
 

The sixth annual gala will also provide an opportunity for guests to learn more about the programs Stay Alive Vets supports to address veteran suicide in Oregon and throughout the Pacific Northwest.
 

“Having Matthew Zedwick join us on Veterans Day makes this year’s event especially meaningful,” Plowhead said. “His story reflects courage, service and an extraordinary commitment to others. That same spirit of looking out for one another is at the heart of our work. We want veterans and their families to know that they have a community standing beside them.”

Registration and Tickets

• Tickets: $60/person or host a table of 10 for $600. Purchase here.

• Veteran Tickets: Veterans and families can request their complimentary tickets on VetTix.

• Sponsorship Opportunities:   Buy Sponsorships — Stay Alive Vets: SAV Annual 

• The group is also accepting silent and oral auction items. Contact angela@stayalivevets.org to donate.

Community members are invited to dress up, dine and celebrate while supporting and honoring Oregon’s veteran community on Veterans Day. Additional event information is available at Home | Stay Alive Vets.
 

About Stay Alive Vets: Stay Alive Veterans (SAV) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and uplifting the veteran community by addressing the pressing issue of veteran suicide. Operated by veterans for veterans, SAV is uniquely positioned to understand and respond to the complex challenges that veterans face after their service. The organization is driven by a deep commitment to ensuring that every veteran has access to the resources they need to lead fulfilling lives after their military careers.

October 13, 2026

Media Contact: Kristen Lambert, isten.Lambert@oha.oregon.gov" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Kristen.Lambert@oha.oregon.gov

Medicaid Advisory Committee Accepting Applications

External - New Applicants

• New applicants please apply externally HERE
  • You will be instructed to create a Workday profile using an email and password
  • Sign in, search for Medicaid Advisory Committee, and select the Apply button
• Detailed guidance on how to apply externally can be found - HERE

Internal – New Applicants

Applicants who are already board members applying for reappointment or would like to apply for another board, and/or current state workers, please apply internally:

• Log into Workday – HERE
  • On the homepage, click on Menu and then select
  • Click on Internal – Find
  • Search for Medicaid Advisory Committee and select the Apply
• Detailed guidance on how to apply internally can also be found – HERE

Only complete applications will be considered. A complete application consists of: contact information, short personal bio, responses to application questions, demographic information, uploaded resume, background check questions, voluntary disclosures, and additional tasks (prompted by Workday).

Applicants are subject to a background check, and additional vetting may apply for some board positions. Notifying us about something in your past does not necessarily mean that you cannot or will not be appointed; but, it is important that you disclose this information in the beginning of the process. Please ensure your fiscal responsibilities are in order when applying. Non-compliant issues may delay or jeopardize your potential appointment.

Contact: If you have questions, please contact Sarah Wetherson (mac.info@odhsoha.oregon.gov, 503-793-1920).

You can get this document in other languages, large print, braille or a format you prefer free of charge. Contact MAC.Info@odhsoha.oregon.gov or 971-304-9642. We accept all relay calls. 

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The Beaverton Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a fugitive wanted in connection with a 2022 child sexual abuse investigation in Beaverton. The suspect is also wanted in multiple states on additional child sexual abuse-related charges.

Erick A. De Leon, also known as Alex Rosado Lopez, is wanted on an active felony arrest warrant stemming from a 2022 Beaverton Police Department investigation involving the alleged sexual abuse of a 12-year-old child. Following the investigation, De Leon was indicted in 2022 on the following charges:

• Two counts of Attempted Rape in the First Degree
• Two counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree

De Leon has remained wanted on the outstanding felony warrant.

In addition to the charges in Oregon, De Leon is wanted by authorities in Wisconsin in connection with child sexual abuse material offenses and in Georgia on additional child sexual abuse-related charges.

The U.S. Marshals Service is coordinating efforts to locate and apprehend De Leon and announced a reward in late September for information leading to his arrest.

The Beaverton Police Department is working to bring attention to this case and encourages anyone with information regarding De Leon’s whereabouts to contact law enforcement.

Anyone who sees De Leon should avoid approaching him and immediately contact law enforcement. Individuals with information regarding his whereabouts are encouraged to contact the U.S. Marshals Service or the Beaverton Police Department.

De Leon may be using multiple names, including Alex Rosado Lopez.

The Beaverton Police Department remains committed to protecting vulnerable members of our community and holding individuals accused of crimes against children accountable. ###

John Day - The Oregon Heritage Commission will have tours of local heritage preservation efforts in John Day on Oct. 25 and will meet for the business meeting on Oct. 26 at 9am at the Grant County Regional Airport and online via zoom.
 

The business meeting agenda includes a Commission discussion on the museum grant and heritage grant program, information on an update to the Cost of Collections Care report, a presentation on the Chinese Diaspora Project, an overview of the Oregon Covered Bridges Needs Assessment Report, and more.

This meeting is open to the public and there is an opportunity at the beginning of the meeting for public comment. Public comment can be made online or by written submission. For online attendance, registration is required. To view the full agenda, register for the virtual meeting, or learn more about public comment options, visit here.
 

The Heritage Commission’s nine Governor appointed members represent a diversity of cultural, geographic, and institutional interests. The Commission’s nine advisory members include representatives from the Oregon State Library, Oregon State Archives, State Historical Records Advisory Board, Higher Education Coordinating Committee, Travel Oregon, Oregon Historical Society, Department of Education, State Historic Preservation Office, and the Department of Land Conservation and Development.
 

The Commission is the primary agency for coordination of heritage activities in the state. This includes carrying out the Oregon Heritage Plan, increasing efficiency and avoiding duplication among interest groups, developing plans for coordination among agencies and organizations, encouraging tourism related to heritage resources, and coordinating statewide anniversary commemorations.
 

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

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On October 12, 2026, at approximately 8:51 a.m., Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) deputies responded to a minor vehicle-pedestrian collision near the 19300 block of NE Allworth Road in Battle Ground.

The investigation determined that a school bus had stopped to pick up an elementary school student. As the student began crossing the road, a sedan traveling in the opposite direction slowed but did not stop. The front passenger-side corner of the sedan hit the child, causing the child to fall to the ground. The driver immediately stopped and cooperated with the investigation. The child reportedly sustained minor injuries.

The sedan driver was cited for passing a stopped school bus.

CCSO reminds drivers that school is back in session, and young students are getting on and off school buses throughout our neighborhoods. Drivers must stop for school buses when required by law. Failing to stop can result in a fine of more than $400.

Please slow down, stay alert, and watch for children near school buses and bus stops.

SALEM, Ore. (Oct. 12, 2026) – Maps Credit Union and the Maps Community Foundation are accepting applications for the 2026–27 Teacher Grant Program, which will award a total of $50,000 to support projects benefiting students and school communities.

Eligible K–12 teachers may apply for $1,000 grants to help bring educational projects to life. Funding may be used for classroom projects, school-wide initiatives, field trips and educational after-school clubs.

“Maps was founded by teachers, so supporting educators remains deeply connected to who we are,” said Executive Director Kim Hanson of the Maps Community Foundation. “Teachers see possibilities for their students every day, and sometimes a relatively small investment is all it takes to turn a great idea into a meaningful learning experience. These grants are our way of helping educators bring those ideas to life and create opportunities that can make a real difference for students.”

The program is open to Maps members who teach at K–12 public or private schools in Marion or Polk counties or in Wilsonville, Oregon City, Astoria or Seaside.

Teachers can apply by submitting a short written application and a photo describing how the grant would be used, the number of students who would benefit, the total cost of the project, and why support from Maps is needed.

Applications are open now through October 31, 2026. Selected recipients will be announced later this fall.

For more information and to apply, visit Teacher Grants on the Community Giving page at mapscu.com.
 

The Maps Community Foundation is the philanthropic giving arm of Maps Credit Union, investing in education, economic empowerment and vibrant communities. Its mission is to enrich the lives of members and the community through investments in these areas. The Foundation supports nonprofit organizations, schools, teachers and students through grants, sponsorships, scholarships, financial education programs and community partnerships. Maps invests more than $500,000 annually in community initiatives through the Foundation.

About Maps Credit Union

Maps Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative dedicated to helping people and communities thrive. Serving Oregon’s Mid-Willamette Valley since 1935, Maps Credit Union was founded by teachers and built on a belief in education, service, and community. Today, as a community-chartered credit union, anyone who lives, works, or learns in the Willamette Valley Basin is eligible to join Maps. With more than 85,000 members and 14 branches, Maps offers banking that puts people first. Through our mission, Every Member Benefits, Maps focuses on providing affordable loans, competitive savings options, and personalized financial solutions. And, as a proud partner in local schools, nonprofits, and neighborhoods, Maps gives back through financial literacy programs, charitable giving, and hands-on community involvement. For more on our community impact, visit mapscu.com or contact us at 503.588.0181. Maps Credit Union is federally insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Opportunity. NMLS #462882.

CORRECTION TO EVENT LOCATION

Here is the correct location:

The Vic Bar + Kitchen (at the Victory Club)
5325 N Verrado Way
Buckeye, AZ 85396

(623) 388-3000

Thursday, October 22, 2026
12:00 to 2:30 PM

THE ADDRESS ON GOLF DRIVE IS INCORRECT.

Hello everyone,
 

Just a friendly reminder that we are now only two months out from the Retired Police Luncheon!

Join us for good food, great company, and camaraderie as we celebrate our retired members and the legacy of service. The event includes a buffet and beverages, at $40 per person.

Please RSVP as soon as possible so we can finalize our headcount.

Payment options:
- Venmo: @ Deanna Whattam
- Check: mail to 8103 E Del Rubi Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85258

We look forward to seeing you there!

Save the date

October 22, 2026

Arizona Retirees Luncheon

See flyer for details

 Estacada Third Graders Post Largest Reading Gain Among Mid-Size and Large Districts in Oregon

Third-grade reading proficiency jumps nearly 15 points to 52%, more than 10 points above the state average

Estacada School District third graders posted the largest one-year reading gain of any mid-size or large district in Oregon, according to 2025-26 state assessment results released by the Oregon Department of Education on September 24th. The share of Estacada third graders meeting or exceeding state standards in English Language Arts rose from 37.2% to 52.0%, a gain of 14.8 points. Statewide, third-grade reading proficiency rose 1.2 points to 41.5%. Among the 88 Oregon districts with 75 or more third graders tested, Estacada's gain ranked first. The progress extends beyond third grade. Estacada's fourth- and fifth-grade students also posted reading proficiency rates above the state average, demonstrating encouraging results across multiple elementary grade levels.

“Reading by the end of third grade is one of the strongest predictors of a student's future success," said Dr. Ryan Carpenter, superintendent of Estacada School District. "These results reflect the daily work of our teachers and the support of our families. We're proud of our students, and we're focused on building on this momentum in every grade."

District leaders credit the gains to an early literacy plan grounded in the science of reading, the research on how children learn to read. Every K-2 teacher in the district was trained in the approach. The plan changed how reading is taught, building a system designed to reach every student. All students learn from a knowledge-building curriculum that grows their vocabulary and background knowledge alongside core reading skills. Through tiered instruction, students who need more support get it, and those who fall behind receive high-dosage tutoring.

“Our team has been intentional about following the science of reading in every classroom, every day," said Jennifer Behrman, Estacada’s Director of Teaching and Learning.  "Our teachers and staff have worked hard to strengthen literacy instruction, with support from literacy experts who observe lessons and provide feedback through our partnership with Stand for Children. REID Days and high dosage tutoring give students extra time for targeted learning. Seeing our third graders rise almost 15 points in one year shows what's possible."

The results continue a broader trend of academic growth in the district. Estacada's overall math proficiency rose 6.5 points to 31.7%, its highest level in state data going back to 2017-18. Science proficiency reached 36.6%, six points above the state average.

Full 2025-26 assessment results are available on the Oregon Department of Education website.

Members of the media are invited to attend a joint structural collapse training exercise on Thursday, October 15, at Camp Rilea, where Clackamas Fire's Urban Search & Rescue (USAR) Task Force will train alongside the Oregon National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Astoria, and the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.

The training will simulate a large-scale structural collapse following a tsunami that destroyed a coastal town with multiple people trapped in the rubble. Responders will work together to search the collapsed structures, locate and rescue victims, provide medical care, and coordinate their evacuation for further treatment.

The exercise will give the participating agencies an opportunity to practice working together during a complex disaster, such as an earthquake or post tsunami, where multiple resources are needed. Military resources will supplement Clackamas Fire’s USAR Task Force during the exercise, giving responders the opportunity to practice the coordination that would be needed during a major disaster that stretches beyond the resources of a single agency.

The exercise will also include simulated patient transport by helicopter, allowing responders to practice moving critically injured survivors from the scene to additional medical care.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES: 
• Video/photo opportunities of live helicopter hoist operations and search and rescue operations
• Interviews available with:

• U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Astoria

• Oregon National Guard

• Clackamas Fire Urban Search and Rescue Task Force

DATE: Thursday, October 15

TIME: Media arrival 9:30 am

LOCATION: Camp Rilea

Members of the media interested in attending are asked to RSVP in advance by emailing cfdpio@clackamasfire.com  to receive location and parking information.

SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is conducting its 2026 State Level Exercise, Getting Through Lahar’d Times, this week, October 13–16, bringing together state agencies, counties, Tribes, and community partners to test Oregon’s ability to recover from a major volcanic eruption.

Unlike most state-level exercises—which traditionally emphasize short-term disaster response—this year’s exercise focuses on long-term recovery, offering Oregon a rare opportunity to test its newly adopted Oregon Disaster Recovery Base Plan. Few states have the chance to meaningfully exercise recovery operations at this scale, making Getting Through Lahar’d Times an exceptional milestone for statewide preparedness.

This exercise is also the first in Oregon to integrate community members as special observers and evaluators, including volunteers, representatives from organizations active in disasters, and individuals connected with under resourced communities. Their involvement reflects OEM’s commitment to building a Ready and Resilient Oregon through whole community participation.

“I want to thank our community advising partners serving as special evaluators,” OEM Director Erin McMahon, said. “Your perspectives play a vital role in helping us understand how well the State Recovery Plan supports and includes the whole community. Your feedback will help us improve Oregon’s recovery strategies and make them stronger and more equitable. This is a first for Oregon and is emblematic of OEM's vision of a Ready and Resilient Oregon. Thank you especially to the leadership of Natasha Fox, Robert Quinn, and Quinn Butler, who worked toward a creative solution to develop this partnership.”

A Statewide Exercise Built for Whole Community Engagement

As Oregon observes International Emergency Manager Awareness Month, agencies and partners statewide are preparing to practice the transition from emergency response to long-term recovery. Using a realistic volcanic eruption scenario, participants will:

• Conduct damage assessments
• Transition from response to recovery operations
• Set statewide recovery objectives
• Develop a State Recovery Action Plan
• Coordinate resource allocation under the Oregon Disaster Recovery Base Plan

Local, Tribal, and community partners are essential to the exercise’s success, bringing cultural context, local operational realities, and community specific needs into the planning environment.

“The value of these exercises is that they let us practice the hardest days of a disaster without the consequences of an actual event," Robert Quinn, OEM exercise officer, said. “We learn what works, what needs strengthening, and how we can better support communities when the real thing happens.”

Building on Lessons Learned

Oregon has a long history of using state level exercises to prepare for large and complex disasters.

• Cascadia Rising 2016 examined the first 72 hours after a simulated Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake.
• IronOR24 expanded the play into days four through seven, helping responders practice sustained operations and refine their transition into recovery.

The 2026 exercise now advances this progression by exercising recovery coordination—a phase rarely tested in statewide training.

“Every exercise is an investment in Oregon’s resilience,” McMahon said. “Our communities expect us to be prepared, and these statewide efforts help us strengthen the systems and relationships we rely on in a disaster.”

PF&R responds to 2^nd alarm apartment fire in NE PDX

At 10:44 AM Portland Fire responded to a possible apartment fire in the Cully Neighborhood of NE Portland. The closest responding fire engine noted over the radio there was a visible header or smoke column indicating an active working fire.

Crews arrived to thick dark smoke pushing out of the backside of a 2-story four-plex apartment building and directed an offensive fire attack with crews taking hose lines to the interior. The first arriving truck was assigned search and rescue and threw ladders to the second story windows to gain access to the elevated floor of the complex affected in the incident.

A second chief on scene reported heavy fire visible from the backside of the structure that was impinging on an adjacent apartment building which led to the command chief requesting a second alarm assignment adding another 24 firefighters to the incident placing over 50 members of PF&R assigned to this incident. The second alarm response provides for an adequate workforce on scene should the fire extend to an additional structure.

The fire was quickly extinguished with only a single engine company from the second alarm assigned any work on the incident. There were no reports of any injuries. Ten occupants will be displaced because of the fire with Red Cross assisting in this effort. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Board of Forestry will meet for a planning retreat on Oct. 26 through 28. The retreat’s three-day itinerary will include an executive session, field tour and public meetings. The planning retreat offers the board and department leadership the opportunity to connect on their shared strategic plan.

The public can attend in-person at the Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites, 2525 Ashland Street, Ashland or observe via a livestream on the department’s YouTube page.

During this informal retreat, board members will focus on:

• Board member and executive team introductions
• Agency overview
• Vision for Oregon’s Forests
• Executive Session
• Executive Order 25-26 Climate Resilience Work Plan
• Board Work Plans
• Board discussion

View the agenda and retreat details.

The Executive Session will be closed to the public, except for members of the press who are permitted to attend by law. This Executive Session is held pursuant to ORS 192.660 (2)(f) to consider information or records that are exempt by law from public inspection as well as pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(h) to consult with legal counsel concerning the legal rights and duties of a public body with regard to current litigation or litigation likely to be filed.

This meeting will not have live public testimony, but written comments can be submitted before or up to two weeks after the meeting day by mail to the Board Support Office, 2600 State St., Salem, OR 97310 or email to oardofforestry@odf.oregon.gov">boardofforestry@odf.oregon.gov. Please include the appropriate agenda item and topic with the submission.

Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services, or assistance can be arranged by calling at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting at 503-302-6344 or by email at oardofforestry@odf.oregon.gov">boardofforestry@odf.oregon.gov.

The Oregon Board of Forestry consists of seven citizens nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the Oregon Senate. Responsibilities include setting management direction for state-owned forests, adopting rules governing timber harvest and other practices on private forestland, and promoting sustainable management of Oregon’s 30-million-acre forestland base. Learn more about the board.

OREGON CITY AND MILWAUKIE – Clackamas Community College will be the site of two free flu clinics and community wellness fairs on Oct. 29 and Nov. 4, offering community members flu shots, blood pressure checks and help connecting with health care resources. Both events are open to the public, and no insurance is required.

The events are a partnership between Clackamas Free Clinic, CCC’s Health Sciences and Neighborhood Health Center.

CCC nursing students will administer flu shots and provide blood pressure checks. Neighborhood Health Center will help attendees enroll in the Oregon Health Plan (OHP), sign up for services and navigate care options. Clackamas Free Clinic will provide information about its free primary care, vision, behavioral health and other services, answer questions about eligibility, and help uninsured and underinsured adults connect with health services, provide blood pressure screenings and distribute free health and wellness items to attendees.

“As flu season approaches, we want to make it easy for community members to get a flu shot, regardless of whether they have insurance,” Lisa Steenson, executive director of Clackamas Free Clinic, said. “These events are also an opportunity to ask questions, connect with local health resources and get support for staying healthy.”

The clinics and wellness fairs will take place:

• Thursday, Oct. 29, noon to 4 p.m., at CCC’s Harmony campus, 7738 SE Harmony Road, Milwaukie.
• Wednesday, Nov. 4, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Wacheno Welcome Center on CCC’s Oregon City campus, 19600 Molalla Ave., Oregon City.

For more information, call 503-722-4400 or email info@clackamasvim.org.

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Press Release   
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
October 12, 2026

GREATER VANCOUVER AND EDWARD JONES ANNOUNCE JON GIROD AS 2026 FIRST CITIZEN AWARD HONOREE

Quail Homes owner and Careers in Construction founder recognized for his lasting contributions to housing, workforce development, and the next generation of skilled trades professionals.

VANCOUVER, Wash.  — The Greater Vancouver Chamber (GVC), in partnership with Edward Jones, is proud to announce Jon Girod, owner of Quail Homes and founder of Careers in Construction, as the recipient of the 2026 Clark County First Citizen Award. The honor recognizes Girod’s decades of professional leadership, civic engagement, and commitment to creating opportunities that strengthen Southwest Washington.

A regional tradition dating back to 1939, the First Citizen Award celebrates individuals whose professional achievements, volunteerism, philanthropy, and dedication to public service have made a lasting difference in their communities. Girod’s career reflects that spirit, combining a longstanding contribution to the region’s housing industry with a commitment to helping young people build successful futures through careers in the skilled trades.

“Jon’s story is a powerful example of what it means to put community first,” said John McDonagh, President & CEO of the Greater Vancouver Chamber. “He has built a successful career in our region’s housing industry, but he has also recognized a broader need and taken action to address it. By connecting students with opportunities in the skilled trades, Jon is helping strengthen our workforce, open doors for the next generation, and create benefits that will extend well beyond his own lifetime. That commitment to turning success into opportunity for others is at the heart of the First Citizen Award.”

Since 1989, Girod has built more than 3,000 homes and developed more than 2,000 lots, with an emphasis on housing designed for empty nesters and multigenerational living. As owner of Quail Homes and a past president of the Building Industry Association, he has helped shape the region’s residential construction industry. But his impact extends well beyond the homes he has built.

Recognizing the growing need for skilled tradespeople and the importance of introducing students to career opportunities beyond traditional four-year college pathways, Girod founded Careers in Construction, a nonprofit organization that establishes Skilled Trade Centers on high school campuses. Through industry-relevant curriculum, hands-on learning, and connections with employers, the program helps students explore and prepare for careers in construction and other skilled trades.

Girod has worked alongside educators, school districts, industry leaders, elected officials, and community organizations to expand career and technical education (CTE) and strengthen connections between education and the workforce. His advocacy emphasizes that students deserve access to multiple pathways to success, including careers that offer family-wage opportunities, professional growth, and long-term stability.

For Girod, the recognition is not a solo achievement. He credits the many people who have helped advance his work and bring his vision to life.

“I am honored by this award, but a lot of great people are helping me do this. So it’s a WE thing,” Girod said.

The First Citizen Award is presented by Edward Jones, whose partnership supports the Chamber’s recognition of individuals making a lasting difference in the community.

“The First Citizen Award represents leadership, courage, action, and results. These are core values not only of our community’s most impactful leaders, but also values we bring to the table on behalf of our clients. We truly value leadership and work to model it with the families we serve,” said Andy Nygard, Edward Jones financial advisor.

Girod will be formally recognized during the Greater Vancouver Chamber’s Business & Leadership Awards, presented by Riverview Bank, on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, from 4 to 6 p.m. at The Heathman Lodge in Vancouver, Washington. Community members are invited to attend and celebrate Girod alongside the region’s outstanding business and community leaders.

Tickets and event information are available at VancouverUSA.com/Business-Leadership-Awards.

The Greater Vancouver Chamber’s Business & Leadership Awards are made possible through the generous support of Presenting Sponsor Riverview Bank, along with Edward Jones, BBSI, Maddox Industrial Transformer, Washington Trust Bank, WSU Vancouver, Alaska Airlines, The Columbian, MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions, and Casey Evans Media.

To learn more about the First Citizen Award and explore past honorees, visit VancouverUSA.com/First-Citizen-Award-Honorees.

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About the First Citizen Award

Since 1939, the annual First Citizen Award has been presented to a Clark County resident who models the attributes of good citizenship through leadership, action, civic pride, and cultivates inclusive civic engagement practices. These are individuals who, through their business, volunteering, and philanthropic efforts, improve the lives of those in the community by serving first. For more information about the First Citizens through the years, visit:  https://www.vancouverusa.com/first-citizen-award-honorees. 

About the Business & Leadership Awards

Introduced in 2012, the Business & Leadership Awards honor outstanding businesses and individuals who exemplify the Greater Vancouver Chamber’s motto of "Moving Business Forward." For over a decade, the southwest Washington business community has celebrated excellence and leadership through these prestigious awards. 

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 135 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/1yAZ-c8BeboUqIzB_w4R1c_hdJh3wDc0F?usp=sharing

Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Council seeks volunteers to fill up to five seats on the fifteen-member Railroad Advisory Board. The board advises the county on matters relating to the county-owned Chelatchie Prairie Railroad.

Applicants with railroad or railroad-related experience, or business experience using freight-rail service, are strongly encouraged to apply.

Board members serve three-year terms. Terms are anticipated to begin after Jan. 1, 2027.

To apply, volunteers should submit a letter of interest and/or resume to ailAdvisoryBoard@clark.wa.gov">PWRailAdvisoryBoard@clark.wa.gov or by mail to 4700 NE 78th St., Vancouver, WA, 98665. Applications must be received by 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6.

More information about the railroad and advisory board is available at clark.wa.gov/public-works/railroad-advisory-board.

For information about road and park projects, closures, opportunities for community input, and more, residents can follow Public Works on X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook and Instagram and view information on Nextdoor. Residents can also visit clark.wa.gov/public-works to sign up for email notifications.

Go to clark.wa.gov/public-works/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/news 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/news. Нажмите на кнопку Change language (“Изменить язык”) в правом верхнем углу страницы рядом с символом земного шара и выберите свой язык.

Перейдіть на сторінку clark.wa.gov/public-works/news, щоб прочитати цю інформацію українською. Натисніть кнопку Change language (Змінити мову) зі значком глобуса у верхньому правому куті сторінки та виберіть потрібну мову.

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Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Commission on Aging’s charge is to provide leadership in addressing the special needs of the aging population and to manage and assist with the implementation of the county’s Aging Readiness Plan.

Commission members welcome emergency management professionals from around the county to discuss winter preparedness at their October meeting. The meeting will be at 4:30 pm Monday, Oct. 19, 2026.

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

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

Bend Fire & Rescue will open its doors to the community from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, at the North Fire Station, 63377 NE Jamison St., in celebration of Fire Prevention Month.

The free, family-friendly event will feature hands-on activities, safety demonstrations and opportunities to meet local first responders. Activities include:

• Climbing aboard a fire engine and ambulance and spraying a fire hose.
• Watching Airlink and Life Flight helicopters land and exploring the aircraft.
• Viewing a live fire demonstration.
• Painting a City of Bend snowplow and making family-friendly crafts.
• Enjoying free ice cream and other giveaways.

More information, including a schedule of events, is available at https://bendoregon.gov/departments/public-safety/fire-rescue/calendar/bend-fire-rescue-open-house/

October is Fire Prevention Month, and this year's theme is "Charge Into Fire Safety." The campaign focuses on the safe use of lithium-ion batteries, which power many everyday devices, including e-bikes, power tools, cell phones and tablets. Improper charging, use or disposal of lithium-ion batteries can increase the risk of fire. Residents are encouraged to purchase listed products, follow manufacturer charging instructions and recycle or dispose of batteries properly.

Community members can learn more about lithium-ion battery safety at the open house or by visiting the National Fire Protection Association website.

Bend Fire & Rescue abrirá sus puertas a la comunidad de 10 a. m. a 1 p. m. Sábado, 17 de octubre, en la estación de bomberos del norte, situada en el 63377 de la calle NE Jamison, con motivo de la celebración del Mes de la Prevención de Incendios.

Este evento gratuito y apto para toda la familia contará con actividades prácticas, demostraciones de seguridad y la oportunidad de conocer a los servicios de emergencia locales. Las actividades incluirán:

• La oportunidad de subirse a un camión de bomberos y a una ambulancia y usar una manguera contra incendios.
• Observa el aterrizaje de los helicópteros de Airlink y Life Flight y explora las aeronaves.
• Observar una demostración con fuego real.
• Pintar una máquina quitanieves de la ciudad de Bend y hacer manualidades para toda la familia.
• Disfrutando de helado gratis y otros obsequios.

Habrá más información, incluyendo un calendario de actividades, disponible en https://bendoregon.gov/departments/public-safety/fire-rescue/calendar/bend-fire-rescue-open-house/jornada-de-puertas-abiertas-de-bend-fire-rescue/

Octubre es el Mes de la Prevención de Incendios, y el lema de este año es “Adelante con la seguridad contra incendios”. La campaña se centra en el uso seguro de las baterías de iones de litio, que alimentan muchos dispositivos de uso cotidiano, como las bicicletas eléctricas, las herramientas eléctricas, los teléfonos móviles y las tabletas. La carga, el uso o la eliminación inadecuados de las baterías de iones de litio pueden aumentar el riesgo de incendio. Se recomienda a los vecinos que adquieran los productos indicados, sigan las instrucciones de carga del fabricante y reciclen o desechen las pilas de forma adecuada.

Los miembros de la comunidad pueden obtener más información sobre la seguridad de las baterías de iones de litio en la jornada de puertas abiertas o visitando la página web de la Asociación Nacional de Protección contra Incendios.

For immediate release

October 12, 2026

Contact Chris Nelson (503) 551-0531

TELECOMMUNICATIONS CURRICULUM ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULED

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon is working to reduce wildfire risk, improve forest health, and protect communities by investing $10 million in projects that are part of the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) landscape resiliency approach. 

The current grant awards will fund joint projects in Douglas, Grant, Jackson, and Josephine counties. The projects will reduce hazardous fuels, restore fire-adapted landscapes, and improve landscape resilience across more than 6,400 acres. 

Forest Resources Division Chief Josh Barnard said, “with more than 2 million acres burned by wildfires in Oregon so far in 2026, this work has become more important than ever. Every responsibly managed acre helps reduce wildfire risk around communities and improves the long-term health of Oregon’s forests and rangelands.” 

The ODF landscape resiliency effort is Oregon’s primary all-lands investment hub to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires before fires even start. This approach supports efforts across public, private, and Tribal lands that are part of Oregon’s 20-year landscape resiliency strategy. The goal is to coordinate and complete landscape-scale work that helps forests and protects communities. 

This year’s investments continue Oregon’s commitment to put wildfire risk reduction and landscape resiliency dollars to work where it matters most – on the ground. 

“This year’s projects demonstrate what can get done when local communities, landowners, Tribes, federal agencies and partners work toward shared goals – protecting our communities and stewarding natural resources,” said Barnard. 

ODF is focusing on larger forest resiliency by reducing tree density in some areas and planting better adapted trees in others. 

“ODF is improving methods to enhance landscape resiliency to better protect our forests from large disturbance events,” said ODF Forest Entomologist Christine Buhl. “We are building tools to better diagnose problems and offering strategies and resources to landowners to help them do adaptive management. This includes metrics to help identify site and climate conditions and where stress is predicted. These tools and identification processes are a part of how we prepare and recover from stress from heat and droughts, insect pests and diseases, and wildfires.”

The projects funded in this round include: 

• Douglas County

ODF will invest $1.29 million through the Little River Landscape Resiliency Project. This project will create strategic fuel breaks along Lane Mountain, the Little River drainage and Cavitt Creek. These breaks will improve firefighter access and reduce wildfire intensity in high-risk areas. 

• Josephine and Jackson counties

The two southern Oregon counties will see $4.85 million invested through the Hotshot Rx Connect project. This project will thin forest stands and use prescribed fire across almost 2,700 acres. The work will reduce hazardous fuels, restore forest health, and improve wildfire response access. 

• Grant County

ODF is investing $3.46 million into the John Day Landscape Resiliency Project. The work will include thinning forests, removing junipers that compete with more valuable timber trees for water, and planning ongoing wildfire risk reduction across 3,400 acres. The plan will reduce wildfire risk and improve landscape resilience. One example is a 57-acre prescribed burn of thinned areas on private ponderosa pine forest near Monument. That burn was carried out by the Prescribed Burn Association, a collaboration that included OSU, ODF, Soil and Water Conservation Service, and local landowners.

This year’s investment lays the groundwork for future success. The funds will help develop new landscape plans that align priorities among the USDA Forest Stewardship Program, Natural Resources Conservation Service, ODF, and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. These plans pinpoint priority landscapes, improve coordination, and guide investments. 

ODF continues to strengthen this all-lands investment approach with ongoing funding and better coordination between local ODF districts, other public agencies, tribes, private landowners and local communities to identify and complete the highest-priority projects. 

Beyond funding individual treatments, ODF bridges state and federal programs through collaborative planning, leveraging investments, and coordinating cross-boundary work to produce larger, more meaningful impacts. 

An example of this coordinated work is the Central Oregon Shared Stewardship Project. Partners in the project, including ODF and multiple soil and water conservation districts among others, thinned ponderosa pine forest and cut brush along roadsides near Black Butte Ranch.  After the work was complete, this summer the 27,491-acre Akawa Butte Fire came through, burning part of the treated area.

“Because of the work done in this area, firefighters were able to fight the fire from safer places along roads where there was less fuel,” said ODF’s State Initiatives Grant Coordinator Jenna Nelson. “It also allowed fire fighters to immediately backburn the treated land without having to prepare it first, saving precious time. The back burns consumed fuel ahead of the advancing fire front, stopping it in those areas. Because treated areas burned with lower intensity, they will also have a better chance at recovering, with a high percentage of trees surviving.”

Landowners and partners interested in participating in future landscape resiliency projects are encouraged to contact their local ODF office. 

Previous Landscape Resiliency Program projects can be viewed at Oregon Department of Forestry : Landscape Resiliency Program : State of Oregon. 

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Come for some wild and crazy fun!  On Saturday, October 17th, the Oregon Department of Forestry, State Forests Trust of Oregon, and the Westside Trail Federation will host the grand opening of a new CXT vault-style toilet in the Tillamook State Forest. The event is being held in conjunction with the Frienduro MTB event, an event where mountain bike riders come in crazy costumes, riding the Fear and Loaming Trail. This is the sixth annual running of the Frienduro event.  The toilet will be wrapped in toilet paper.  Frienduro contestants in wild costumes will be on hand for the "ribbon cutting."  This will be a fun and campy event.  Please join us!  Toilet grand-opening and ribbon cutting at 8 am at the Drift Creek Trailhead in the Tillamook State Forest:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/vTzR76VvRyFSxyGm7  The event will occur raiin or shine!  Beautiful fall color. MTB riders in wild costumes. A TP-wrapped vault toilet. Lots of humour and fun! And treats will be served!  Frienduro event follows immediately after, starting at 9am. 

Lebanon, Oregon

Lebanon Firefighters battled a blaze in the late morning of Sunday, October 11, 2026. The Linn County dispatch center was notified at 10:36 of the structure fire in the 300 block of E. Maple with occupants still inside. The Battalion Chief arrived and found an attached garage with heavy fire from the front doors, extending into the house with a neighboring home exposed to flames. When the incident commander began to size up the situation, he met the occupants coming from the front door trying to wrangle their small dogs. Firefighters began a quick exterior attack on the garage while crews from a Lebanon fire/medic were instructed to enter the burning home and begin a search for any other occupants. Firefighters then quickly gained access to the roof with ladders of the burning house, cutting a hole to let heat and deadly smoke and gases escape the structure making it easier for firefighters to see and giving better air quality for any other potential occupants of the house in which there were none. During this operation the IC asked for a 2^nd alarm for additional firefighters and equipment from surrounding fire departments while other Lebanon crews were busy extinguishing the fire in the garage and checking the inside of the neighboring structure for any extension of fire into its attic space. No injuries were reported by firefighters, and the two occupants were evaluated at the scene. Unfortunately, one of the family’s dogs didn’t escape and was later found and recovered by firefighters. The fire is currently under investigation by Lebanon’s investigation team.

Lebanon Fire District would like to thank Albany Fire Department, Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District, Lebanon Police Department and Pacific Power for responding to the fire on E. Maple, while Scio Fire District and an Albany Fire Department medic unit covered additional 911 calls in the district.

The district would also like to remind residents of the importance of working smoke alarms and that with colder weather approaching to follow safe home-heating instructions. Space heaters should be used with care, plugged directly into an outlet, and not permitted to remain on when residents are sleeping or away. Be Safe!

On October 10th, 2026 at approximately 8:25am deputies assigned to the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) Patrol Unit were dispatched to the area of Chinook Landing in the City of Fairview to the report of a single vehicle crash. When deputies arrived at the scene they located a deceased male.

The MCSO Vehicular Crimes Team responded to the scene to continue the investigation. Their initial investigation determined the vehicle left the roadway, crashing into the embankment near the entrance to Chinook Landing and that alcohol was a contributing factor.  The investigation is ongoing and no further information is available for release at this time.

Gresham, Ore.— Gresham police responded to a shooting at a bar in the 1700 block of NW Fairview Dr just before 11 p.m. Saturday.  One person was deceased at the scene and two additional victims were transported to local hospitals.

The East County Major Crimes Team is leading the investigation.  Police are asking anyone with information about this incident to call the GPD tip line at 503-618-2719 or toll-free at 1-888-989-3505.

There is no ongoing threat to the community.  No additional information is available at this time.  

Just before 5 p.m. today, Lebanon Fire District responded to a fire involving a grove of trees in the 31000 block of Sandridge Drive near Glaser Road after an unattended agricultural burn pile spread beyond its intended area.

Fire crews arrived on scene within seven minutes of the call and worked quickly to stop the forward movement of the fire, which was contained in 28 minutes. Approximately 1.5 acres burned as a result of the incident.

Lebanon Fire District responded with 15 personnel to contain the fire and prevent further spread. Sandridge Drive was closed for approximately two hours while emergency crews worked to bring the incident under control.

The Linn County Fire Defense Board has not reopened outdoor burning. This incident serves as a clear reminder that fire danger remains a significant threat, even in the fall. Unattended burn piles can quickly spread and threaten surrounding vegetation, property, and public safety.

Residents are reminded to follow all current burn restrictions and avoid any unauthorized burning. Do not assume conditions are safe for burning simply because temperatures have cooled or rain has occurred.

Please help keep our community safe by following current fire restrictions and never leaving a burn pile unattended.  

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The Centennial School District Governing Board will meet for their Regular Business Meeting on Wednesday, October 14, 2026 at 6:30 pm.

The Board and key staff will attend in-person at CSD's District Office - 18135 SE Brooklyn St., Portland, OR  97236.

The public and guests may join in person or virtually via the Zoom app.

To join the meeting, please click on the link below

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89331100906?pwd=aLzrmB9osC9a2I-Fv2QQtLFeeD_YHA.nKxi8i2HpFMKgM3x
Passcode:951959

Or Telephone, dial:

     +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799

Webinar ID: 893 3110 0906
Passcode: 951959

Public comment will be limited to a total of 30 minutes per meeting. Individuals wishing to address the Board will be required to submit their request and topic via the online form at least 24 hours prior to the start of the regular business meeting.  For more information regarding this process, please visit our website at www.csd28j.org.

The full board meeting packet is available for reference on the Centennial School District website at www.csd28j.org and can be found on the School Board page. The meeting agenda may be updated as needed and additional board meeting documents may be added as they become available. 

For information about the agenda email dan@csd28j.org">melissa_grindle@csd28j.org or oard@csd28j.org">board@csd28j.org.

On Saturday, July 18, 2026, Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to an assault at a home near Metzger Park in unincorporated Washington County. The reporting party said he had come home and found an adult man in bed with his minor child.

Detectives from the Violent Crimes Unit (VCU) identified the man as 30-year-old Jason Emmanuel Lara-Vazquez. Detectives learned that Lara-Vazquez was posing as a teenager when he met the victim on Snapchat and had sexual contact with her more than once.  Lara-Vazquez was taken to a hospital that night after a confrontation at the home.

On September 15, 2026, a Washington County grand jury convened and indicted Lara-Vazquez on the following crimes related to the incident:

• Rape in the second degree x2
• Sodomy in the second degree x2
• Sexual abuse in the first degree x4
• Unlawful sexual penetration in the second degree x2

On September 24, 2026, the Vancouver Police Department assisted WCSO detectives in arresting Lara-Vazquez. He was lodged at the Clark County Jail and extradited to the Washington County Jail on October 8, 2026.  

Detectives are concerned there may be additional victims and want to speak with anyone who has information about Lara-Vazquez or who was contacted by him on Snapchat or other social media. Please contact VCU detectives at 503-846-2500 and reference case number 50-26-10111.

In accordance with Oregon House Bill 3273, the Sheriff’s Office is releasing Lara-Vazquez’s booking photo to assist in identifying any additional criminal activity.

Salem, Ore. - Center 50+’s Wellness on Wheels (WOW) Van and Connection Kitchen was awarded the Oregon Recreation and Parks Association’s Section for Older Adult Resources Program of the Year at the 2026 state conference in Seaside, Oregon. 

The program, nominated for their exceptional innovation, impact and leadership in expanding access to essential services for older adults, has been supported by Center for Community Excellence, Salem Health Foundation, Home Instead and United Way of the Willamette Valley.

Traditional senior center programming often serves only those able to visit a physical facility. In response, Center 50+ identified a significant community need in the thousands of older adults who remain isolated due to mobility, transportation and health challenges.

The WOW Van and Connection Kitchen were created to close this gap by bringing connection, support and vital services directly to older adults where they live, be it in manufactured home parks, neighborhood clubhouses, local parks and even right to their front porch.

Strengthening Community Connections for Salem’s Seniors

The WOW Van travels to local parks, neighborhood clubhouses, housing communities and community hubs throughout Salem delivering fitness instruction, wellness and mobility programming, nutrition support, lifelong learning classes, technology tutoring and social check-ins.

The Connection Kitchen serves hot noon meals at local 55-and-older mobile home parks and independent living communities. The kitchen rotates between 13 locations including the Salem Housing Authority and 55-and-older mobile home parks throughout the month.

“This outreach-centered approach strengthens community well-being, fosters social connection and directly aligns with Oregon Recreation and Parks Association’s mission to broaden access to meaningful recreational and wellness opportunities for all,” said Marilyn Daily-Blair, Center 50+ director. “The WOW Van and Connection Kitchen remain a lifeline, ensuring no older adult is left unseen or unsupported. Simple acts of kindness like sharing a meal, checking on a friend and engaging in community projects continue to create lasting ripple effects of belonging and resilience throughout Salem.”

By cultivating whole-person wellness, these programs help older adults build and sustain relationships, contribute to their neighborhoods and rediscover a sense of purpose, which are powerful tools in reducing isolation and loneliness.

Monthly community events feature seasonal themes, special guests, interactive activities, and opportunities to connect with nature.

VANCOUVER, Washington - Discover something new about the natural world at Columbia Springs Fall Nature Days, a series of free community events featuring hands on activities, special guests, demonstrations, and engaging monthly themes. From exploring the misunderstood creatures of spooky season to learning about fish and evergreen tree communities, these events invite community members of all ages to learn, discover, and connect with nature.

Once a month, Nature Days offer a new theme and opportunities to explore the natural world through interactive activities and educational experiences. Whether attending with family, friends, or on your own, visitors can enjoy a welcoming environment that encourages curiosity and environmental appreciation.

Monthly Themes and Special Activities

October 17, 10 am – 1 pm: (Not So) Scaries

Celebrate the spooky season by discovering the fascinating side of nature! Meet the creatures you thought you knew and discover they're not so scary after all. Get up close with the facts about spiders, bats, snakes, opossums, and raccoons. Learn what's really behind the behaviors we find spooky and uncover the truth about these misunderstood beings. Visit an opossum expert for some trivia and collect an exclusive zine available only at the event.

Special lamp repair and knife sharpening demonstrations by Columbia Springs Repairs’ volunteers will add to the fun. Visitors can learn practical repair skills and learn simple fixes for broken lamps and the best way to sharpen knives. Visitors can bring up to 2 broken lamps and 3 knives. Please be sure to bring replacement parts for lamps (switches, cords, etc).

November 21^st, 10 am – 1 pm: Fish Games

Dive into the world of fish through play. Challenge yourself to jump as high as a salmon at our jump wall, navigate a salmon's life cycle through a labyrinth game, and explore fish-themed board and card games that bring aquatic science to your fingertips. Discover what makes these underwater athletes so extraordinary while gaming your way to a deeper understanding of the fish that shape our rivers and streams.

December 19^th, 10 am – 1pm: Evergreen Tree Communities

Step into the hidden world of evergreen communities. Discover how these trees share nutrients through underground fungal networks, shelter wildlife in their canopies, and build soil with the help of decomposers. Explore how returning salmon feed the forest, and learn to read the trees by their needles, bark, and cones.

Free Community Events for All Ages

Nature Days at Columbia Springs make nature education accessible and engaging for the entire community. Each monthly event features a unique theme, hands-on learning opportunities, and special experiences designed to inspire curiosity and encourage a deeper appreciation for the environment. All are welcome.

Community members are invited to join the fun each month and experience the natural world in new and engaging ways. From discovering the surprising benefits of often-misunderstood wildlife to exploring aquatic ecosystems and evergreen habitats, Fall Nature Days offers opportunities to learn something new at every event.

For more information about Columbia Springs’ Fall Nature Days, including event dates, times, and activity details, visit https://www.columbiasprings.org/events/nature-days/.

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About Columbia Springs
Columbia Springs’ mission is to offer a unique setting and educational experiences that foster a greater awareness of the natural world and inspire stewardship. Located within a 100-acre urban natural area in Vancouver, Washington, Columbia Springs connects children and community members with nature through field trips, salmon education, community programs and hands-on learning.

State of Oregon v. Daniel Haynes

Marion County Circuit Court Cases 25CR48419, 25CR37418 and 25CR69268

Salem, OR – October 9, 2026 – On October 7, 2026, Marion County Circuit Court Judge Manuel Perez sentenced Daniel Haynes (age 42) to 9.5 years in the Department of Corrections.

The conviction is the result of guilty pleas in three different cases. The first case stems from an incident on September 18, 2024 in NE Salem when Marion County Sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene of a vehicle collision. Haynes, who was driving a motorcycle, crashed into a vehicle making a legal turn. Haynes and his passenger were ejected onto the road. Haynes, his passenger, and the other driver were transported to the Salem Hospital Emergency Room Department where Haynes’ labs later revealed four different controlled substances in his blood. Haynes pled guilty to Driving Under the Influence, Assault in the Third Degree, and Assault in the Fourth Degree.

In the second case, deputies arrested Haynes on June 11, 2025, after he was found in the parking lot of a Lancaster business with fentanyl and methamphetamine. He pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance.  

In the third case, deputies responded to a disturbance call in SE Salem and found Haynes in possession of fentanyl, methamphetamine and a firearm. He pled guilty to Unlawful Delivery of Methamphetamine, Unlawful Manufacture/Delivery of a Schedule II Controlled Substance and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.  Haynes was out of custody on a release agreement pending the earlier cases when this incident occurred.

The state was represented by Deputy District Attorney Matthew Estrada. The Marion County District Attorney’s Office wishes to extend gratitude to the deputies at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.  

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HILLSBORO, Ore- On October 2, 2026, Viviana Lucinda Vallejo pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the first degree and was sentenced to 18 years in prison by Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Erwin. Chief Deputy District Attorney John Gerhard and Senior Deputy District Attorney Dustin Staten prosecuted this case.
 

On November 4, 2020, Hillsboro police were dispatched to the Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve after someone there found a body. Investigators learned that the victim, Alexis Vega-Cruz, was shot and killed.
 

In January of 2023, police received a tip related to the homicide. The caller reported that a person known to her had admitted to shooting and killing the victim. Investigators learned that the shooter believed Mr. Vega-Cruz was involved in an assault months prior and that the shooter was seeking revenge for the attack. They learned the shooter convinced Ms. Vallejo to lure the victim to the scene of the deadly shooting before he was killed.
 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office commends the work of the Hillsboro Police Department on this case.
 

The co-defendant in this case is scheduled for trial in early 2027.

New location expands access to personalized, in-person banking and builds on OnPoint’s longtime presence in Lake Oswego

PORTLAND, Ore. — OnPoint Community Credit Union will open its second Lake Oswego branch on October 16 at 101 A Avenue in the heart of downtown, expanding its longtime presence in the community with a new location serving residents, businesses and visitors in the city’s growing downtown core. OnPoint will donate $5,000 to Hunger Fighters Oregon and host a community grand opening on October 24 to celebrate the new branch.

The opening comes as Lake Oswego continues to invest in its future, with new housing, commercial development and other improvements planned throughout downtown and surrounding areas. While population growth is projected to remain steady, continued development is expected to bring new residents, businesses and visitors to the community in the years ahead.

“As Lake Oswego continues to invest in its downtown and plan for the future, we’re excited to deepen our own investment in the community,” said Rob Stuart, president and chief executive officer, OnPoint Community Credit Union. “Our Kruse Meadows branch has served Lake Oswego for years, and this new downtown location will make it even easier for members and local businesses to access personalized financial services close to where they live and work.”

The Lake Oswego Branch will provide a comprehensive suite of financial services, including:

• Full member account support
• New membership enrollment
• Personal and commercial loans
• Home and equity lending
• Financial planning
• ATM services
• Notarization

OnPoint also offers free, one-on-one financial counseling, debt management support and educational resources through its partnership with GreenPath Financial Wellness.

Community invited to grand opening celebration

The Lake Oswego community is invited to join OnPoint's grand opening on October 24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Guests can meet the branch team, explore the new space and learn more about OnPoint's products, services and community partnerships.

Local leadership and community connection

Colette Young will lead the new branch as branch manager. Young joined OnPoint in 2002 and has held a variety of roles across the credit union, most recently serving as branch manager at OnPoint’s Kruse Meadows branch.

“I’m excited to continue serving the Lake Oswego community and welcome members to our new downtown branch,” Young said. “Having another location gives us an opportunity to build even stronger relationships with the people and businesses who call Lake Oswego home and make it easier for members to get personalized support when and where they need it.”

Young lives in Southwest Portland with her husband, Ryan, and their two Rhodesian Ridgebacks. Outside the credit union, she serves on the board of trustees at Randal Children’s Hospital. A lifelong Oregonian, Young enjoys exploring the outdoors through hiking, fishing and camping.

OnPoint's $5,000 donation to Hunger Fighters Oregon reflects its ongoing commitment to strengthening the communities it serves. The food pantry provides food and essential household items at no cost to those in need, with no proof of income or residency barriers.

“Support from partners like OnPoint helps us continue our work to ensure that people in need in our community can access high-quality, basic and supplemental food and essential hygiene items,” said Simone Coker-Kamna, executive director, Hunger Fighters Oregon. “We’re grateful for OnPoint’s investment in our work and excited to welcome its new downtown branch to Lake Oswego.”

Expanding OnPoint’s presence in Lake Oswego

The new downtown location builds on OnPoint’s longstanding presence in Lake Oswego. The credit union will continue to serve members at its Kruse Meadows branch while providing another convenient option for personalized, in-person financial services closer to the city’s downtown businesses, residents and visitors.

Click here to view the full list of OnPoint's 61 branches, as well as 70,000 surcharge-free ATMs nationwide.

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About OnPoint Community Credit Union

OnPoint Community Credit Union is the largest credit union headquartered in Oregon, serving more than 671,000 members throughout Oregon and southwest Washington. Founded in 1932, OnPoint Community Credit Union’s membership is available to anyone who lives or works in one of 33 Oregon counties (Baker, Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Malheur, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Washington, Wheeler and Yamhill) and who lives, works, worships, or attends school in one of four Washington counties (Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, and Skamania), and their immediate family members. OnPoint Community Credit Union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). More information is available at onpointcu.com.

Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Opportunity.

More information

Additional background and resources on becoming a member of the Governor’s boards and commissions can be found on the Governor’s website.

For questions about the LGBTQIA2S+ Subcommittee of the Governor’s Commission on Senior Services, send an email to tqia2s.commission@odhs.oregon.gov" target="_blank" title="mailto:lgbtqia2s.commission@odhs.oregon.gov">lgbtqia2s.commission@odhs.oregon.gov.

Salem, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Forestry understands that with wildfire regulations changing at the city, county and state level, knowing what the fire restrictions are in your area may be confusing. Here are some quick Q&As to help clear up some of that confusion.

When can I burn my yard debris?

Across Oregon there are multiple jurisdictions that vary from city to county to state to federal, and each may have different restrictions on fire. While in fire season, debris burning is prohibited on ODF-protected lands. But what if you’re outside of ODF jurisdiction?

The easiest way to look up if it is safe to burn your yard debris is to visit beforeyouburn.net. The Before You Burn program simplifies and coordinates burns and provides real-time information to ensure the safety of Oregon’s communities. The online system empowers community members with the knowledge they need to comply with local regulations and burn responsibly.

What if I want to have a campfire?

Oregon is well known for its beautiful landscapes and forests, making outdoor recreation one of the most popular pastimes in the state. To keep these beautiful forests, it’s important to check the local regulations of the area or the regulations at state or national park you’re camping in. Campfires may be allowed but only in designated sites and, depending on fire danger, they may not be allowed at all.

Regulations may vary depending on where you are, so using the public resources available will make planning your trip much easier.

• Look up ODF fire regulations before recreating.
• Oregon State Parks has a trip planning tool that will give you all the information you need to know about the campsite you’re staying at. 
• Find the national forest you’re visiting and plan ahead.
• Learn about the different recreation activities and campground restrictions on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

The common theme, especially during this time of year, is to check local regulations before you go. Taking that extra step will help protect Oregon’s forests from wildfire and keep them open for recreation.

What about the prescribed fires around me? Is that safe?

Prescribed burning is a valuable tool for maintaining a healthy forest, reducing wildfire smoke and reducing risks to public safety. These fires are thoroughly planned throughout the year to meet ecological objectives and are only lit when weather and fuel conditions are favorable to protect sensitive communities and areas from their smoke. If conditions change and are deemed unfavorable, the burn is postponed.

Battle Ground, Wash. - The Clark County Arts Commission invites the public to an engaging afternoon of art, creativity, and conversation at Arts Talk Live, taking place on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, at 4 pm, at the Battle Ground Community Library.

This special event features three talented artists: Joylynn Woodard, Hiroko Stumpf, and Sharon Harbeck, who will share insights into their creative journeys, artistic techniques, and the inspiration behind their work.

Arts Talk Live is an ongoing community initiative designed to bring artists and audiences together through lively discussions about the creative process and the role of art in our everyday lives. The program provides a rare opportunity to hear directly from working artists, explore their perspectives, and engage in an interactive conversation.

Organized by Clark County Arts Commission, Arts Talk Live seeks to strengthen the connection between the arts and the wider community while celebrating the region's diverse creative talent.

The Arts Talk Live event is free and open to the public. Art enthusiasts, aspiring artists, and curious community members are warmly encouraged to attend.

Event Details:

4 pm Sunday, Oct. 25

Battle Ground Community Library, Meyer Memorial Trust Community Room, 1207 SE 8th Way

Trails will be closed starting mid- and late October.

Port Orford, Ore. – Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is conducting several land and forest management projects in October. This is a regular part of OPRD’s stewardship and supports healthy ecosystems.

Check the park pages linked below for updates.

Humbug Mountain State Park

Humbug Mountain Trail will be closed for about two weeks starting Monday, Oct. 19. OPRD is managing a sudden oak death infestation in tanoak. Sudden oak death is an invasive pathogen that causes tanoak to die. The treatment is necessary to remove the infected and dead tanoak to reduce the spread of sudden oak death within the park and surrounding areas.

Within the 21-acre treatment area all tanoak will be cut down and the tree stumps will be treated with herbicide to limit resprouting. This treatment will also reduce the chances of wildfire risk by removing the unhealthy and dead trees. Initially discovered in Oregon in 2001, this pathogen spread within Curry County affecting private, state, and federal landowners.

Cape Blanco State Park

The horse trail system will be closed for about three weeks starting Monday, Oct. 26. OPRD is reducing tree density within this area to enhance habitat, specifically to support the state and federally listed endangered western lily.

This work will take place across 34 acres and include removing tree seedings, saplings and other trees to allow more meadow species to thrive and reduce encroachment in the sensitive western lily area.

PF&R responds to two significant fires in short time interval

Portland Fire & Rescue responded to two significant fires in a 6-hour period in NE Portland. The first fire occurred at sunset and was confined to a single structure in an area of many buildings. The second significant fire response occurred at just past 1 AM on the next day, about 3 hours after the last crew picked up and cleared the first fire.

At just past 7 PM in the Hazelwood Neighborhood of NE Portland PF&R was dispatched to a fire in an apartment complex with heavy fire showing upon arrival. An active powerline bouncing alongside the structure with a vehicle leaking fuel actively on fire were challenges to the crew. Interior searches of the structure indicated all occupants were outside safely. A difficult access to the attic space led to the creative use of an infrequently used nozzle applicator to extinguish the body of fire in the attic spaces. There were no reports of any injuries in this fire. The cause of this fire is under investigation.

The second fire response was just past 1:30 AM with crews responding to a commercial semi-truck and trailer fabrication and repair structure in the Cully Neighborhood. Heavy fire showing from a large multi-story metal clad structure with a lot littered with semi cabs, trailers and other trucks led to a challenging approach for arriving crews.

The initial arriving company began using an offensive fire attack initially with access provided through a failed roll up garage door but quickly changed to a defensive operation pulling all firefighters from the interior of the structure. An additional access to the building was cut into an adjacent roll up door that allowed firefighters to apply water to the body of fire from these two openings. An aerial ladder truck was raining down water from above using the master stream on the tip of the extended ladder.

Water supply was crucial with the closest fire hydrants located blocks away. Multiple fire engines were used in pushing the required amount of water from the hydrants to the engines and trucks with their aerial master streams used to apply copious amounts of water from above to reduce the flames and body of fire. The closest fire hydrant was quite a distance which required multiple engines inline relay pumping to have enough water at the end of the nozzles to successfully extinguish the flames.

A battalion chief and engine company from the requested 2^nd Alarm were redirected to a row of homes located to the west of the building to begin preparing for potential fire extension. Fortunately, the crews working on the fire were able to reduce the flames and extinguish the fire by saving over half the building and preventing any fire spread to the row of homes on the elevated hill just to the west of the fire building.

The PF&R Fire Investigations Unit beginning to perform their work to determine cause. No reported injuries.

PF&R would like to thank PPB and the dispatchers at BOEC for their assistance in each of these incidents. Additional thanks to the utility companies for their assistance as well with both electric and gas companies responding to each fire.

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Vehicle Crash leads to Water Rescue

October 8, 2026 – Newport, OR
 

On October 8^th, 2026, at approximately 1:18 PM, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were dispatched to a report of a single vehicle crash near SE Shady Cove Ln. The initial report indicated the vehicle crashed into the Alsea Bay and was partially submerged, approximately 40 feet from the shoreline. When deputies arrived on scene, they located a Gray Subaru Outback submerged in the water up to the windows. Deputies saw an individual who appeared to be trapped inside the vehicle and heard him calling for help. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Deputies acted swiftly, locating a small boat nearby, and rowed out to the vehicle. 

Once at the vehicle, Deputy Jacob Wright forced entry into the vehicle and established an elderly male driver, who was the sole occupant, was in distress and not able to get himself out of the vehicle. Deputy Wright exited out of the boat, entering the bay, and was able to get the elderly male out of the vehicle, holding him above water until Central Oregon Coast Fire personnel arrived. Deputies assisted fire personnel in loading the patient onto a Jet Ski and took him to shore, where PacWest Ambulance personnel were waiting to begin treatment and transport of the patient. 

The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office would like to commend Deputy Wright’s swift and selfless action in rendering aid to an individual in crisis. His actions embody LCSO’s commitment to providing our community with outstanding service, ensuring the safety and quality of life of all our community members. LCSO would also like to thank our first responder partners for their assistance in safely resolving this incident.

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