CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) is currently investigating a possible hit and run involving a deceased unidentified female estimated to be between 20-40 years old. 

The involved vehicle is currently unknown but could be a black Toyota, unknown model, with potential damage to the front passenger side.

The incident occurred on Highway 20 near Hyak Park, between Albany and Corvallis.

At about 3:00 p.m. today, law enforcement was notified of the deceased female by a local farmer.

Investigators believe the incident took place sometime within the last couple of days.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact BCSO at 541-766-6858 or call their tip line at 541-753-8477(TIPS) to remain anonymous.

Further details will be provided as they become available.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  

DATE: April 24, 2024

Early morning collision results in motorcyclist fatality

Salem, Ore. — The 4300 block of Commercial ST SE was closed this morning for the investigation of a traffic collision resulting in the death of a motorcyclist.

Just after 7:00 a.m. today, multiple callers reported a collision between a car and motorcycle. Passersby stopped and acted quickly to render aid to the injured motorcyclist along with help from a Salem police officer. Ultimately, the rider was pronounced deceased by paramedics.

The preliminary investigation by the Salem Police Traffic Team indicated that a sedan traveling southbound on Commercial ST initiated a turn east into the parking lot of a business when the motorcycle rider collided into the car.

The motorcyclist is identified as Zachary Hendrickson, age 32, of Salem. The driver of the car, Shannon Evans, age 54 and also of Salem, remained on the scene and is cooperating with the investigation.

Commercial ST between Hilfiker LN and 12^th ST Cutoff was closed for approximately three-and-a-half hours for the scene investigation.

There is no further information available at this time, including that of citations or arrest, as the incident remains an active investigation.

This morning’s traffic fatality is the tenth to occur in Salem since the start of the year.

# # #

The Multnomah Education Service District Board Equity and Inclusion Committee will meet at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 2, 2024.
This meeting will be held virtually via Zoom.

https://multnomahesd-org.zoom.us/j/81876451257?pwd=r6K8OZA2AoIUlAxL1y8t1hbp2aaHi8.1     
​​​​​​​Passcode: 135191

UPDATE - Photo added of Sgt. OJ Johnson with Roman Santos. 

The following statement was provided at this evening's news conference in Eugene. 

Captain Kyle Kennedy, Oregon State Police

I want to start by sending our heartfelt support to the community in West Richland, Washington, a community dealing with senseless tragedy. My prayer is their community will come together to provide support and strength during this grievous time.

The conclusion of this search has been the culmination of the hard work and dedication of our law enforcement partners in Washington and Oregon, as well as federal contributors. Since the start, our goal has been simple—to bring Roman Santos home safely. We did it. Roman is in the care of Oregon officials.

Last evening, the Oregon State Police issued an AMBER Alert at approximately 11:35 p.m. at the request of the Washington State Patrol. This AMBER alert was in response to the murder of two women in West Richland, Washington, and the kidnapping of a 1-year-old infant - Roman Santos.  The suspect in these murders and kidnapping was identified as Elias Huizar. The suspect was reportedly driving a 2009 Toyota Corolla with Washington plates.

Today, at approximately 2:40 p.m., Oregon State Police troopers were observing Interstate 5 for the suspect when he located the vehicle southbound near milepost 221. OSP initiated a traffic stop and the suspect vehicle fled southbound. Two troopers engaged in a pursuit with the suspect vehicle at high speeds heading southbound.

Near milepost 209, there was a minor collision and the suspect vehicle lost control. An exchange of gunfire occurred prior to the vehicle fleeing again southbound. No known injuries occurred as a result of the gunfire.

Near milepost 197, the suspect crashed into a stopped CMV and stopped in the median. As troopers contacted the suspect vehicle, he was deceased of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The infant was located uninjured and removed from the vehicle.

Involved in the exchange of gunfire, was Superintendent Casey Codding and Sergeant Orly Johnson of the Oregon State Police.

The Lane County Sheriff’s Office has been asked to lead the investigation.

We are very proud of the efforts of the troopers involved in this pursuit today. Their dedication and courage are a hallmark of the character of an Oregon State Trooper. Their efforts today were paramount in bringing Roman home safely.

I want to thank our partners:

WASHINGTON: Kennewick PD, Paso PD, Richland PD, Prosser PD, Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol, Benton Fire Districts 1 and 4, FBI, US Marshal’s, Fish and Wildlife

OREGON: PPB, OSP, Hillsboro, and Portland FBI.                     

PURSUIT: OSP, Linn County Sheriff's Office    

ON SCENE: Lane County Sheriff's Office, Eugene Police Department, Coburg Police Department

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

•Traffic Stops

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

•Restoring the Peace

•Premise Checks

•Welfare Checks

•Flagged Down by Citizen

MALHEUR COUNTY, Ore. 24 April 2024 – On Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at 4:25 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Hwy. 20 near milepost 235 in Malheur County. 

The preliminary investigation indicated a maroon Chevrolet Trailblazer, operated by Hunter Brucker (22) of Redmond, was traveling eastbound when it entered the westbound lane to pass an eastbound commercial motor vehicle. A westbound Ford Maverick, operated by a 17-year-old male, swerved onto the westbound shoulder to avoid a collision with the Chevrolet. The Chevrolet also swerved onto the westbound shoulder and collided with the Ford Maverick. 

The driver of a Ford Maverick (a 17-year-old male) was pronounced deceased at the scene. A juvenile passenger (a 13-year-old female) was transported by helicopter to an area hospital with reportedly serious injuries. 

The driver of the Chevrolet (Brucker) sustained minor injuries and was not transported for medical care. 

The investigation into the crash is ongoing. 

OSP was assisted by the Malheur County Sheriff’s Office, Treasure Valley Paramedics, Vale Fire and Ambulance, Life Flight, and the Oregon Department of Transportation. 

# # #

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

Vancouver, Wash. – The Southwest Washington Independent Investigative Response Team (SWIIRT), led by the Vancouver Police Department, is continuing the investigation of the officer involved shooting that occurred on February 20, 2024, involving deputies from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

Results of DNA and firearms analysis are still pending from the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab. 

Investigators are finalizing their reports and those case files have been forwarded to the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
 

Additional information will be released as it becomes available. 

###

LINCOLN COUNTY, Ore. 24 April 2024 – On Monday, April 22, 2024, at 5:39 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Hwy. 101 near milepost 143 within the Newport city limits. 

The preliminary investigation indicated a red Chevrolet Monte Carlo was driving southbound on Hwy. 101 when it crossed the middle lane into the northbound lane for unknown reasons and collided with a white Honda Odyssey. 

The driver of the Chevrolet, Heidi Fay Rock (74) of Waldport, was transported to a local hospital where she later died from injuries sustained during the crash. 

The driver of the Honda, Celeste Diana Paulson (38) of Newport, and two juvenile passengers (a 6-year-old and a 4-month-old) were transported to a local hospital with reportedly minor injuries. 

The highway was impacted for approximately four hours. 

OSP was assisted by the Newport Police Department, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oregon Department of Transportation. 

# # #

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.

• Survey helps identify community challenges and point the way toward change
• It is a partnership between Western Oregon University and City of Salem

Salem, Ore. – Help Salem become a welcoming, inclusive and friendly community by sharing your thoughts on community belonging in a new survey. 

The 2024 Community Belonging Survey is available in English and Spanish. You can use the language buttons to switch between the two languages as needed in different parts of the survey. It is being conducted by graduate students at Western Oregon University in partnership with the City of Salem Human Rights Commission. 

Survey results will be used to identify and implement ways to increase diversity, the sense of community belonging and inclusion for all communities in Salem. Individual responses will be kept confidential. Responses will be combined for analysis purposes. 

For example, in 2022, the survey showed that people experienced discrimination due to their lack of housing. In response, the City of Salem added housing status as a protected class. 

As a thank you, at the end of the survey you will have the option to enter a raffle for a chance to win two $50 prepaid Visa cards (courtesy of an anonymous private donor). Completing the survey is expected to take five to 10 minutes.

Start the survey

# # #

The Ridgefield community is invited to join us in celebrating the impressive talents and artistic achievements of Ridgefield School District’s exceptional student artists! The RSD Art Show will be held on Tuesday, May 14 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at the Ridgefield High School, 2630 S. Hillhurst Road in Ridgefield.

This exciting event will feature artwork from students in grades K-12. From drawings and paintings to sculptures and puppets, you'll see a variety of creative pieces from the minds of our community’s best young artists.

Join us for an evening of celebration and inspiration as we recognize outstanding student achievements with awards presented by our school board, community partners, and visual arts faculty. Our regional award winners from the high school ESD 112 Art Show will also be featured before they advance to OSPI’s Washington State Art Show at the end of May.

Update 4/24/24 15:35 hours

Several photos of the encampment have been added. 

It is believed the remains are of an adult male.

On 4/22/2024, Clark County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) patrol deputies, acting on an online report from a resident, located partially decomposed human remains in a tent structure at a transient camp in the wooded area north of NE 179^th St near NE 10^th Ave.  Due to several factors, including the difficulty accessing the site, a recovery plan was made for the morning. 

On 4/23/2024, volunteers from Clark County Search and Rescue and Silver Star Search and Rescue cut a path through the woods, allowing easier access to the transient camp.  CCSO Major Crimes Unit (MCU) and the Clark County Medical Examiner’s office disassembled the tent structure and recovered the human remains.  There were indications the remains had been there for an extended period of time, with initial estimates of between 6 – 12 months.  

The identity of the deceased is still under investigation by the Clark County Medical Examiner's Office. 

At this point, there are no indications of foul play, but the death remains under investigation by CCSO MCU.

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Central Oregon drug trafficker who conspired with others to traffic fentanyl and methamphetamine to Madras and Redmond, Oregon, and surrounding areas, was sentenced to federal prison today.

Israel Sarabia, 30, of Culver, Oregon, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.

According to court documents, as part of a joint drug trafficking investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team (CODE), investigators learned that a Central Oregon drug trafficking organization was using a courier to transport bulk quantities of drugs from either Southern California or Mexico into Oregon. On December 10, 2022, investigators located and stopped the courier in Klamath Falls, Oregon. While searching the courier’s vehicle, investigators located three packages containing approximately 30,000 counterfeit Oxycodone pills that later tested positive for fentanyl.

Further investigation revealed that the courier was traveling to Sarabia’s residence and that he had been tasked by Sarabia with bringing him fentanyl from Southern California or Mexico. On March 15, 2023, investigators located and arrested Sarabia near his residence in Culver. On the same day, investigators located and seized 519 grams of methamphetamine, more than 1,000 fentanyl pills, 41 grams of cocaine, and nine firearms from the residence of a co-conspirator who was working for Sarabia and storing drugs on his behalf.

On March 15, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a six-count indictment charging Sarabia and an accomplice with conspiring with one another to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, and distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine. A third individual was also charged with conspiracy. 

On August 21, 2023, Sarabia pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.

This case was investigated by DEA and CODE. It was prosecuted by Lewis S. Burkhart, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

The CODE team is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. CODE includes members of the Bend, Redmond, Prineville, Madras, Sunriver, and Black Butte Police Departments; the Warm Springs Tribal Police Department; the Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson County Sheriff and District Attorney’s Offices; the Oregon State Police; the Oregon National Guard; DEA; and the FBI.

###

Vancouver, Washington—April 24, 2024—Northwest Association for Blind Athletes (NWABA) is excited to host its high-performance Blind Soccer Camp in Sandy, OR for the third consecutive year, from April 26-28, 2024. With the largest attendance to date, 23 campers—with competitive blind soccer or goalball skills—will attend this elite, invitation only session for youth and young adults, ages 10-21. Campers will receive intensive instruction, practice and gameplay in the Paralympic sports of goalball and blind soccer.

This high-performance camp session is one of seven sessions offered through NWABA’s Camp Spark program and will be held at Camp Namanu (10300 SE Camp Namanu Rd. Sandy, OR 97055). A majority of the activities and training sessions will take place on Saturday, April 27 from 9:00 am-5:00 pm and Sunday, April 28 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm.

Camp Spark is a year-round camp program for children, youth and young adults who are blind and visually impaired throughout Washington and Oregon. Camp Spark hosts seven session throughout the year, with one summer session tailored specifically to children, youth and young adults with multiple disabilities in addition to being blind or visually impaired.

Camp Spark is partially funded by the generosity of our individual donors, foundations, state grants and corporate partners; however, additional support is critically needed to deliver a successful camp. Donations to support Camp Spark can be made online at www.nwaba.org/donate or by mailing a check to PO BOX 61489, Vancouver, WA, 98666. For more information on Northwest Association for Blind Athletes, please contact Anne Coleman, Marketing & Communications Manager at 360-768-5647 or media@nwaba.org. 

About NWABA: 
The mission of Northwest Association for Blind Athletes (NWABA) is to provide life-changing opportunities through sports and physical activity to individuals who are blind and visually impaired. A group of students who were visually impaired formed the association in 2007 to ensure that people who are blind were participating in sports and physical activity. Today, NWABA is a rapidly expanding 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides more than 1,900 children, youth, adults and military veterans with visual impairments tailored programming which improves self-confidence and self-esteem, promotes independence, creates an inclusive community of supporters, and builds the skills necessary to succeed in all areas of life including school and employment.

PRESS RELEASE

A24-7662

PURSUIT INVOLVING STOLEN LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLE

APRIL 24, 2024

At about 0900 hours of April 24, 2024, Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Deputies received information about a stolen law enforcement vehicle that was headed Northbound on I-5, approaching Cowlitz County.  The vehicle had reportedly been stolen from a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent and was reported to have a firearm secured inside the vehicle.

Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Deputies, assisted by other local agencies, located the vehicle and attempted to stop it.  The suspect attempted to elude law enforcement officers while driving at speeds over 100 MPH and making erratic lane changes.  Deputies deployed spike strips at multiple locations and were eventually able to deflate one of the stolen vehicle’s tires. 

The suspect continued to drive Northbound after losing a tire and took exit 48 near Castle Rock. As the suspect continued to elude, a deputy utilized a Pursuit Intervention Technique to disable the vehicle. The suspect then rolled the vehicle on its top and was taken into custody without further incident.

Deputies were later advised by Homeland Security Investigations that the suspect, identified as Travis J. Grygla, age 41, of Portland had been placed under arrest by agents as they executed a search warrant at his Portland residence on this date.  Grygla had not been handcuffed and was seated in a Special Agent’s vehicle when he took control of the vehicle and fled from law enforcement, fleeing from Oregon until he was arrested near Castle Rock, Washington.

Grygla was returned to HSI custody.  The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office will be requesting a warrant for Travis Grygla on multiple charges regarding today’s incident.

Washington State Patrol, Castle Rock Police, Kalama Police, and Woodland Police Departments assisted with this incident.  Please refer questions regarding the initial contact and HSI investigation of suspect Travis Grygla to the Department of Homeland Security.

Troy Brightbill

Chief Criminal Deputy

Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  

DATE: April 24, 2024

Local man arrested, guns and drugs seized

Salem, Ore. — A 35-year-old Salem man was arrested yesterday afternoon on gun and drug possession charges.

Daniel Ralph Northcutt was arrested at a hotel in the 3300 block of Astoria WY NE at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. Officers observed Northcutt in the area when he then fled into the hotel. 

Initially, Northcutt refused to exit the room but subsequently surrendered without incident. A search warrant was obtained for Northcutt’s rented room and his vehicle in the parking lot of the business. Seized in the search were two firearms, a handgun and a sawed-off shotgun, as well as 1.5 ounces and 50 pills of a drug suspected to be fentanyl and $1,000 in cash.

Northcutt, who also has outstanding warrants in other cases, is lodged at the Marion County Jail on the following charges:

• Felon in possession of a firearm, two counts
• Unlawful possession of a short-barreled firearm
• Unlawful possession of a Schedule II controlled substance
• Unlawful delivery of a Schedule II controlled substance

Given Northcutt’s in-custody status, all further media inquiries concerning this investigation should be directed to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office.

# # #

Vancouver, Wash. – The City of Vancouver is preparing to pave and preserve streets across 20 neighborhoods this summer. Vancouver’s Pavement Management Program will invest approximately $12.6 million in planning, design and construction to improve pavement conditions throughout the community, thanks in part to license fees collected through the City’s Transportation Benefit District. This work helps maximize the life of our streets and protect this vital community asset. Keeping good streets in good condition provides the most cost-effective and efficient use of available resources.

Several steps occur before pavement work begins on the street. As part of this preparation, street tree and vegetation pruning along identified streets has begun and will continue through June to help clear the way for coming construction equipment. Construction of ADA-compliant curb ramps at approximately 169 ramp locations, pavement repairs and sealing of street cracks also take place before paving and preservation. 

During pavement work, drivers should anticipate delays and street closures. Throughout the process, residents and businesses along the project corridors will receive notices with details about work hours, parking restrictions, closures and more. Travelers are advised to obey signs, watch for flaggers and slow down in work zones. 

This year’s program will pave about 13 lane miles of street surfaces on Northeast Ninth Street and Fourth Plain Boulevard. The City will implement new street elements along Fourth Plain Boulevard, from Fort Vancouver Way to Andresen Road after paving work is completed. Vancouver community members have provided extensive input for this Complete Streets project to enhance safety and mobility along the corridor. 

Pavement preservation work, including microsurfacing, slurry seal and cape seal treatments, is a big component of the annual program. Almost 74 lane miles of streets in east Vancouver will see some type of preservation used to protect and extend the life of these streets. Numerous neighborhood streets within the North Image, Burnt Bridge Creek, Fisher’s Landing East and Fisher’s Creek neighborhoods will receive slurry seal treatments. Microsurfacing preservation treatments are planned for segments along Southeast Mill Plain Boulevard, 164th Avenue, 34th Street, Cascade Park Drive and 192nd Avenue. After this work, safety and mobility improvements will be implemented on Southeast 34th Street, between Southeast 164th and 192nd avenues. 

###

EUGENE, Ore.—An Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today for his role in a conspiracy to torture, mutilate, and murder monkeys, and then produce and distribute videos of those acts in exchange for money raised by an online animal abuse group.

David Christopher Noble, 48, of Prineville, Oregon, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.

“The victims in this case cannot speak for themselves, but the impact of the grotesque violence brought upon them is unmistakable. At the direction of David Noble and his co-conspirators, the producers of these animal abuse videos not only killed monkeys but did so in a way that extended their pain and suffering as long as possible,” said Nathan J. Lichvarcik, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eugene and Medford Branch Offices. “Today’s sentence should make it clear to others engaged in this heinous conduct that they will be held responsible for their crimes.”

“David Noble's depraved actions not only inflicted unspeakable agony upon innocent creatures but also tainted the very essence of humanity’s moral fiber,” stated Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “Under Noble's direction, the production and distribution of grotesque animal abuse videos represented a dark descent into the abyss of cruelty and exploitation. Today’s sentencing underscores our unwavering commitment to holding individuals like Noble accountable for their reprehensible crimes against compassion and decency.”

According to court documents, from January 2022 through February 2023, Noble conspired with others in the District of Oregon and elsewhere to send multiple online payments to co-conspirators overseas to fund the production of videos depicting the torture, mutilation and murder of monkeys. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Noble administered an online group wherein members would raise funds to produce, discuss ideas for, and share animal abuse videos.

In Noble’s messages to the group, he expressed his enjoyment of videos depicting the torture and murder of long-tailed macaques, which members of the group, including Noble, referred to as “rats.” In one message to the group sent in June 2022, Noble expressed that the only thing he did not like in abuse videos was when the torturers “kill the rats too quickly,” and he further expressed a desire that they “keep it alive make it suffer make sure it knows to fear you and that you end its existence at any time.” In another message, Noble claimed “the noises they make from pain and abuse are some of my favorite sounds.”

In 2006, Noble, a former United States Air Force officer, was dismissed from the Air Force and ordered to serve six months in military custody following a court martial for fraud and an unprofessional relationship. In early February 2023, following the investigation in this case, investigators executed a search warrant on Noble’s residence and found approximately 50 videos depicting animal abuse, along with several firearms and ammunition.

On May 18, 2023, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned an indictment charging Noble with conspiring to engage in animal crushing and creating and distributing animal crush videos, creating animal crush videos, and illegally possessing a firearm as a dishonorably discharged person.

After his home was searched, Noble relocated from Prineville to Henderson, Nevada, and, on June 13, 2023, was arrested in Henderson. The next day, he made his first appearance in federal court in Las Vegas and was ordered detained pending his transfer to Oregon. On July 21, 2023, after arriving in Oregon, Noble was again ordered detained based on the nature of his offenses, including the extreme violence associated, and his possession of firearms.

On January 10, 2024, Noble pleaded guilty to conspiring to engage in animal crushing and creating and distributing animal crush videos.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and prosecuted by William M. McLaren and Adam E. Delph, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.

###

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, James T. Birchard, passed away April 22, 2024. Birchard was incarcerated at Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP) in Salem and passed away at a local hospital. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified, and the State Medical Examiner will determine cause of death. 

Birchard entered DOC custody on September 5, 1989, from Umatilla and Morrow Counties with no parole date. Birchard was 70 years old. 

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

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

####

SW Polk Fire District was on the scene of a barn fire at 10725 Briedwell Rd.  The barn was fully involved at the time of arrival of the first engines.  Crews were able to get quick control of the fire.  SW Polk Fire District would like to thank Dallas Fire and Polk County Fire District #1 for their assistance with this fire.  The fire is currently under investigation.

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Public Works is hosting an open house for residents to learn more about planned improvements to Northeast 179th Street between Northeast 15th and 26th avenues. The open house, from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8, will allow residents to learn more about the project and submit comments to project staff. 

The project will reconstruct the existing roadway to meet current road standards. This involves modifying the road’s vertical alignment (i.e., hills), widening the roadway, and adding curbs, gutters and a separate joint-use bike/pedestrian path on both sides. The road will initially include one travel lane in each direction and a center left-turn lane, and right turn lanes in some locations. The project is currently in the design phase, with construction anticipated to begin in fall 2028. 

At the open house, staff will share a presentation about the project from 6:30 to 7 p.m., with a question-and-answer session immediately following. The presentation and question session will also be streamed online via Webex. Before and after the presentation, attendees will be able to view informational displays and discuss the project with staff. Light refreshments will be provided. 

The in-person open house will be in the media room of Pleasant Valley Middle School at 14320 NE 50th St. Handouts translated into Russian, Ukrainian and Spanish will be provided. 

To participate online via Webex, residents can register on the project webpage. An email reminder with a one-click link to join the meeting will be sent to those who register. Registration is not required, and a link to join the meeting will be posted on the project webpage at least 10 minutes before the presentation begins. Presentation slides and handouts, and a recording of the presentation, will be posted to the project webpage within five business days after the open house. 

Residents can contact the project manager, Scott Sawyer, by emailing eetProject@clark.wa.gov">179thStreetProject@clark.wa.gov or calling 564.397.4364 to request interpretation or translation, or accommodations.

More information about the project can be found at clark.wa.gov/public-works/northeast-179th-street-northeast-15th-avenue-northeast-26th-avenue.

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. 

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.

###

April 24, 2024

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS), in partnership with Neighborhood Partnerships (NP), announce $11.5 million in funding to support the Individual Development Account Initiative statewide. 

An Individual Development Account (IDA) is a matched savings account, where the money participants save is multiplied up to five times by the program. As Oregonians face inflation and rising housing costs, IDAs provide a crucial resource for those with lower incomes to address financial needs such as down payment savings, higher-education costs, microenterprise investments, emergency savings, and investment in other wealth-building assets, supported by financial education and literacy. 

IDAs are offered by a statewide network of community organizations, housing authorities, schools, and colleges.

“The Oregon Individual Development Account Initiative serves as a powerful example of collaboration between state governments and community-based organizations to build more inclusive, resilient, and equitable communities across the state,” said Andrea Bell, OHCS executive director. “The additional investment underscores the state’s commitment to facilitate solutions that advance social and economic mobility.”

To date, the IDA program has empowered more than 17,000 Oregonians in 35 of the state's 36 counties, distributing $68 million in matching dollars to savers. Through its network of providers, the Initiative makes IDAs accessible to Oregon residents who have been excluded from opportunities to build lasting financial stability, including residents from Black, Native American, Latinx, and Asian communities throughout the state.

“As the longtime administrator of the Oregon IDA Initiative, Neighborhood Partnerships and our network of community-based partners are thrilled to receive an additional $5 million from the Legislature, which will be used by Oregonians with lower incomes to increase the power of their own savings to reach self-determined financial goals, including first-time homeownership, higher education, and entrepreneurship,” said Luke Bonham, IDA program manager.

This funding is being distributed through fiduciary organizations to aid Oregonians in achieving their financial goals through matched savings. The addition of $5 million in General Funds allows a two-phased funding approach in 2024-25 to help support the IDA Initiative’s continued growth and success. The approach aims to increase reach in underrepresented counties, graduate BIPOC savers at rates that promote racial equity in asset building.

For more information about the IDA Initiative and how to get involved, please visit https://oregonidainitiative.org/.

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.  

24 de abril de 2024 

El Departamento de Vivienda y Servicios Comunitarios junto a Neighborhood Partnerships anuncian que $11.5 millones apoyarán a ahorradores con una Cuenta de Desarrollo Individual   

SALEM, Ore. — El Departamento de Vivienda y Servicios Comunitarios de Oregón (OHCS, por sus siglas en ingles), junto a Neighborhood Partnerships, anuncian que $11.5 millones serán destinados para apoyar la Iniciativa de Cuenta de Desarrollo Individual en el estado. 

Una Cuenta de Desarrollo Individual (IDA, por sus siglas en inglés) es una cuenta de ahorro igualada, en la que el dinero que ahorran los participantes es multiplicado hasta cinco veces por el programa. A medida que los habitantes de Oregón se enfrentan a la inflación y al aumento de los costos de la vivienda, las cuentas IDA constituyen un recurso crucial para que las personas con ingresos más bajos puedan hacer frente a necesidades financieras como el ahorro para el pago inicial para una vivienda, la educación superior, las inversiones en microempresas y el ahorro de emergencia, con el apoyo de la educación financiera. 

Los programas IDA son ofrecidos por una red estatal de organizaciones comunitarias, autoridades de vivienda, escuelas y universidades.

"La Iniciativa de Cuenta de Desarrollo Individual de Oregón sirve como un poderoso ejemplo de colaboración entre los gobiernos estatales y las organizaciones comunitaria para construir comunidades más inclusivas y equitativas en el estado", dijo Andrea Bell, directora ejecutiva de OHCS. "La inversión adicional muestra el compromiso del estado para facilitar soluciones que promuevan la movilidad social y económica". 

Hasta la fecha, el programa IDA ha apoyado a más de 17,000 residentes de Oregón en 35 de los 36 condados del estado, distribuyendo $68 millones en fondos igualados a los ahorradores. A través de su red de proveedores, la Iniciativa hace que las cuentas IDA sean accesibles a los residentes de Oregón que han sido excluidos de las oportunidades de construir una estabilidad financiera duradera, incluidos los residentes de las comunidades afroamericana, nativa americana, latina y asiática.

"Como administrador desde hace mucho tiempo de la Iniciativa IDA de Oregón, Neighborhood Partnerships y nuestra red de socios comunitarios están muy contentos de recibir $5 millones adicionales de la Legislatura, que serán utilizados por los residentes de Oregón con ingresos más bajos para aumentar el poder de sus propios ahorros para alcanzar sus objetivos financieros, incluyendo la compra de la primera vivienda, la educación superior y el convertirse en empresarias", dijo Luke Bonham, director del Programa IDA de Neighborhood Partnerships. 

Estos fondos se distribuyen a través de organizaciones fiduciarias para ayudar a los habitantes de Oregón a alcanzar sus objetivos financieros mediante ahorros igualadas. La adición de $5 millones en fondos generales permite un enfoque de financiación en dos fases en 2024-25 para ayudar a apoyar el crecimiento y el éxito continuo de la Iniciativa IDA. El enfoque tiene como objetivo aumentar el alcance del programa en los condados donde la participación es baja, y graduar a los ahorradores de comunidades de color a tasas que promuevan la equidad racial en la construcción de activos.

Para más información sobre la Iniciativa IDA y cómo participar, visite https://oregonidainitiative.org/. 

Acerca del Departamento de Vivienda y Servicios Comunitarios de Oregon (OHCS)   

OHCS es la agencia de financiación de viviendas de Oregón. La agencia estatal proporciona apoyo financiero y de programas para crear y preservar oportunidades de vivienda a precio asequible y de calidad para los habitantes de Oregón con ingresos bajos y moderados. OHCS administra programas que proporcionan estabilización de la vivienda. OHCS ofrece estos programas principalmente a través de subvenciones, contratos y acuerdos de préstamo con organizaciones locales y proveedores comunitarios. Para obtener más información, visite: oregon.gov/ohcs. 

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Treasurer Alishia Topper will be re-opening the drive-through tax payment drop-off window for the last two days of the tax season.

The drive-through kiosk is located at the east parking structure entrance at the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St. The kiosk will be open from 9 am to 4 pm on Monday, April 29 and Tuesday, April 30.

The drive-through option is meant as a convenience and is for pre-written checks only. The Treasurer’s Office will not accept any other forms of payment at the kiosk.

In addition, a secured drop box is located on the first floor of the Public Service Center at 1300 Franklin St. Taxpayers can seal their check payments into an envelope and leave them in the secured drop box during the hours of 8 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

Taxpayers may pay property taxes online using a credit or debit card or from their checking or savings account. E-Checks (from a savings or checking account) are free. Debit card transactions are a flat rate of $3.95 and credit card transactions are assessed a 2.39% vendor fee.

To make a payment, go to www.clark.wa.gov/treasurer/payment-options, or call 1.833.440.8685. To register to receive your tax statement electronically and manage your property taxes online, go to www.paydici.com/clark-county-wa/search/landing.

Tax payments can be mailed to the Clark County Treasurer, PO Box 35150, Seattle, WA 98124-5150. Taxpayers are encouraged to use the return envelope and payment coupon provided with their statement to mail their payments.

If in-person service is desired, the Joint Lobby is open Monday – Thursday from 9 am to 4 pm. The Treasurer’s office is available by phone and email Monday – Friday from 9 am to 4:30 pm by visiting clark.wa.gov/treasurer or calling 564.397.2252. Tax payments must be postmarked by Tuesday, April 30, 2024, to avoid interest charges.

OREGON CITY – Clackamas Community College was recently awarded a $100,000 grant from the Oregon Business Development Department to develop a statewide Spanish construction contractor certification program. This innovative program will expand access to high-wage careers in construction for Spanish-speaking individuals across Oregon.

Oregon's construction industry is booming, with growth expected to outpace national averages significantly.  However, meeting this demand with a qualified workforce is challenging. This grant directly addresses this need by:

• Increasing the number of Spanish-speaking contractors: The program aims to certify an additional 60 Spanish-speaking contractors in the first year, with a long-term goal of 400 annually.
• Fostering a more equitable construction industry: By providing training in Spanish, the program empowers those for whom English is not their first language to participate in and contribute to the construction industry's growth.

Clackamas Community College’s Small Business Development Center has a track record of success in this area.  The college currently offers the only state-approved construction contractor certification course that can teach and test in Oregon.  Since partnering with the Construction Contractors Board (CCB), they've increased Latino pass rates from 30% to 70%.

The grant will fund the development of a comprehensive Spanish construction contractor certification program, including:

• Video-on-demand training: A high-quality, digitized 16-hour course accessible to students statewide.
• Statewide proctoring system: A robust system ensuring all proctoring meets college and national SBDC standards.
• Outreach and marketing: A targeted campaign to raise awareness of the program within the Spanish-speaking community.
• Faculty support: Hiring a bilingual faculty member to support program delivery.

“CCC is proud to be awarded this grant to develop a program that will create a more inclusive construction industry,” Rob Campbell, SBDC director at Clackamas Community College, said. “This innovative program will address the critical need for skilled workers while empowering Spanish-speaking individuals to pursue rewarding careers in construction.”

The project is designed for long-term sustainability. By the grant's conclusion, a robust, self-sufficient Spanish certification program will be available at SBDC locations across Oregon.

For more information about CCC’s Small Business Development Center, visit www.clackamas.edu/SBDC. 

-30-

Vancouver, Wash. – Deputy County Manager Amber Emery today announced that the county has selected long-time public defense attorney Christopher Swaby as the county’s first Director of Public Defense and Chief Public Defender. Christopher will join the county on July 1.

“Christopher is a known and respected leader across the state of Washington with more than three decades of litigation experience,” said Deputy County Manger Amber Emery. 

Swaby is on the board of the Washington Defender Association, a member of the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Washington State Bar Association Council on Public Defense and the Washington State Bar Association Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council. 

Christopher began his career in 1990 as a staff attorney for the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. Christopher moved to eastern Washington in 2000, where he practiced on the felony defense panel in Benton County.  He moved to the Seattle area and joined the Defender Association (TDA) as a staff attorney in the felony division and was later promoted to felony division supervisor. Christopher left TDA in 2012 and joined a small boutique criminal defense firm. In 2015, he left the firm to start a solo criminal defense practice. He has represented clients in matters in Benton, Cowlitz, Franklin, Gray’s Harbor, Island, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, San Juan, Snohomish, Spokane, Thurston and Yakima counties.  

Christopher was born and raised in Washington, D.C. He has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Virginia and a juris doctor from the Georgetown University of Law Center.

“The establishment of the new Public Defenders’ Office reflects Clark County’s ongoing commitment to fostering a justice system that is equitable and responsive to the needs of its residents,” said Swaby. “I am deeply committed to addressing the pressing issues facing public defense services in Clark County.”

The county council in November 2023 approved using American Recovery Plan Act funding to create the new Public Defense office. The county is process of transitioning away from a contract model to provide county staffed indigent defense services.

April 24, 2024

Media contacts:

Erica Heartquist, Oregon Health Authority, ica.J.Heartquist@oha.oregon.gov">Erica.J.Heartquist@oha.oregon.gov, 503-871-8843

Jake Sunderland, Oregon Department of Human Services,  land@odhs.oregon.gov">Jake.Sunderland@odhs.oregon.gov, 503-877-0170

One year after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic emergency, Oregon among top states keeping people covered

More than one million people are keeping their Oregon Health Plan benefits due to Oregon’s efforts to expand coverage options

SALEM, Ore. — With more than 90 percent of the state’s 1.5 million renewals complete, more than 4 out of 5 Oregonians are keeping their Oregon Health Plan (OHP) or other Medicaid benefits.

During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), which ended one year ago in April 2023, the federal government allowed states to keep people on Medicaid benefits. This ended when the pandemic emergency ended, so over the last year Oregon has been making sure everyone on OHP is still eligible.

At this point in the PHE unwinding process:

• Just 1,078 members, about 0.07 percent, still need to respond to renewal requests 9,573 members, about 0.65 percent, have responded to their renewal but are awaiting state action on the response.
• The remaining renewals, about 8.72 percent of the total, will occur over the summer.

Oregon’s 81.8 percent renewal rate continues to be the third highest in a national comparison of state renewal rates by KFF, a nonpartisan health policy organization. Oregon’s high renewal rates are due to proactive efforts by the state to keep people covered, including extended response timelines, and adding the upcoming OHP Bridge program for adults with higher incomes.

Members who have not received a renewal yet should:

• Keep their address and contact information up to date.
• Check their mail or ONE Online account for their renewal letter.
• Do what the renewal letter asks as soon as possible. Anyone concerned they missed their letter should get help with their renewal via one of the ways to find help listed below.
• Members who did not respond to renewals can still re-open their case three months after it closes if they are still eligible, and they can reapply at any time.

Although most people are keeping coverage, approximately 240,000 people will lose or have reduced medical benefits and need to consider other coverage options.

• People who do not have coverage through an employer or Medicare may be able to enroll through the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace and get financial help. Most people who enroll through HealthCare.gov qualify for this help.
• The Marketplace is sending information to people who are no longer eligible for OHP benefits, advising of other potential coverage options.
• People who have recently lost OHP benefits can enroll anytime until November 30, 2024, or within 60 days of their benefits ending.
• For more information and ways to get help signing up for Marketplace, Medicare, or employer coverage, see “What to do if OHP is ending” below.

Remaining renewals

On Feb. 13, 2024, the federal government approved a revised plan for Oregon’s remaining 126,000 post-pandemic renewals.

Many of these renewals were affected by a federal request for more than 30 states to review automated renewal processes or restorations of some Oregon Supplemental Income Program Medical (OSIPM) benefits. A May 2024 technical update to Oregon’s ONE Eligibility system  will enable Oregon to use the new automated  process  for the remaining renewals.

Renewal letters will be sent to members in four waves between June and September. Members will still have 90 days to respond, and 60 days’ advance notice before any termination or reduction in benefits. This means the final responses would be due in December 2024, and the final closures will happen in February 2025.

Data about pandemic unwinding renewals appears in the Medical Redeterminations Dashboard.  The dashboard data and these press releases will not include renewals for OHP members who have already renewed early in the unwinding process, who are coming up for renewal again. Over time, Oregon is switching to renewing most OHP members every two years instead of annually.

April OHP renewal data

As of March 19, 2024, 1,317,810 people have completed the renewal process. This represents 90.6 percent of all OHP and Medicaid members.

• 1,077,765 people (81.8 percent) were renewed and kept their benefits.
• 226,042 people (17.2 percent) were found ineligible.
• 14,003 people (1.1 percent) had a reduction in their benefits. Most of these members lost full OHP but were able to continue Medicare Savings Programs that help pay their Medicare costs.

Find help renewing your benefits

1. Learn more about how to renew your Oregon Health Plan medical coverage.
2. Call the ONE Customer Service Center at 800-699-9075. All relay calls are accepted, and help is available in multiple languages. Wait times are lowest between 7 and 8 a.m.
3. Visit or call a local Oregon Department of Human Services office. People can find their local office at https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/Pages/office-finder.aspx.
4. Visit a community partner for free, in-person help. To find one near you visit OregonHealthCare.gov/GetHelp (English) or orhim.info/ayuda(Spanish).

What to do if your OHP is ending:

• First, review the case summary in your letter to make sure the information used to make the decision was correct. If that information has changed, notify the state via one of the options above If the information on file for you is correct and you disagree with the decision, you can request a hearing. Learn more about hearings.
• Explore options through an employer. If you, your spouse, or a parent are working, you may be eligible for health coverage through that employer. Talk to your manager or Human Resources department to see if you qualify. You will have a special enrollment period to enroll mid-year due to loss of OHP benefits.
• If you have or are eligible for Medicare: For help understanding and choosing the right Medicare options, go to https://OregonHealthcare.gov/GetHelp to find an insurance agent or a counselor at the Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance Program (SHIBA). You can also call SHIBA at 800-722-4134.

If you need to sign up for Medicare for the first time, contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) at 800-772-1213 to enroll by phone or find a local office. You can also enroll in Medicare online at ssa.gov/medicare/sign-up.

• Nearly 80 percent of Oregonians qualify for financial help through the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace. Visit OregonHealthCare.gov/WindowShop to answer a few quick questions, find out how much you can save and find out how much coverage may cost you. You can also call the Marketplace Transition Help Center at 833-699-6850 (toll-free, all relay calls accepted).
• Need free local help finding other coverage? Visit OregonHealthCare.gov/GetHelp to find professional help near you.

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) are committed to transparency and will continue to send monthly information about medical coverage among Oregonians as the agencies continue to track the programs. Check our ONE Eligibility Operations Dashboards for more frequent updates on medical renewal data and wait times for callers to the ONE Customer Service Center.

###

BEND, OR — Calling all writers! Submissions for the 10th annual Waterston Desert Writing Prize close May 1, 2024. This prestigious award, a program of the High Desert Museum, celebrates proposals for outstanding literary nonfiction dedicated to the literal and figurative exploration of desert landscapes. 

This year’s winner will receive a $3,000 cash award and be recognized with a reception and reading at the Museum in Bend, Oregon on September 26, 2024. Tickets are available now at highdesertmuseum.org/2024-waterston-ceremony. The winner and finalists will be selected by the 2024 guest judge Sam Waterston – renowned actor and brother of Prize founder Ellen Waterston.

Known for his work in theater, television and film, Sam Waterston gained stardom portraying DA  Jack McCoy on the NBC crime series Law & Order (1994–2010, 2022–), for which he has received a Screen Actors Guild Award, Golden Globe Award and Emmy Award. Waterston will announce the 2024 winner and address attendees during the Waterston Desert Writing Prize ceremonies either on video or in person alongside the 2024 Prize winner and the 2024 keynote speaker, Tucker Malarkey, who will attend in person.

Nationally bestselling author of the critically acclaimed and national bestselling novels An Obvious Enchantment and Resurrection, Malarkey’s first major work of nonfiction, Stronghold, describes one man’s journey to save salmon habitat in the U.S. and Russia. Stronghold was an editor’s pick for The New York Times, National Book Review, Outside and Forbes. With a career that began at The Washington Post, Malarkey’s love of human culture and wilderness have since taken her all over the world.

The Prize was established in 2014, inspired by author and poet Ellen Waterston’s love of the High Desert — a region that has been her muse for more than 40 years. The Waterston Desert Writing Prize celebrates writers whose nonfiction book proposal reflects a similar connection to a desert, recognizing the vital role deserts play in ecosystems and the human narrative.

Emerging, mid-career and established nonfiction writers who illustrate artistic excellence, sensitivity to place and desert literacy with the desert as both subject and setting are invited to apply. The award supports literary nonfiction writers who are completing, proposing or considering the creation of a book-length manuscript. It is recommended that the writing sample submitted is part of the proposed project or closely represents it in content and style.

To learn more about the Waterston Desert Writing Prize and how to submit an entry, visit highdesertmuseum.org/waterston-prize. The Prize is possible with support from The Source Weekly. Submissions will be accepted through May 1, 2024.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM:

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

###

A completely NEW Maker market experience! Wood & Other Wonders Market @wowmarketpdx created by
Urbanite PDX & Rescue Oregon Timber to build a home for hands-on, engaged, community fun
Unlike any other event in Portland, this market promises to be an exciting blend of live maker demonstrations, interactive activities, teaching moments and ‘make-n-take’ projects for all ages: Mobile blacksmithy, active wheel throwing, jewelry making, weaving, sewing, screen printing, hammering, hand building, celebrity guests, setting, sewing, sawing & so much more
 

We invite families to come have fun reconnecting to their joy of making with our cities vibrant artisans, makers & builders!
 

When: The Second Sunday of each month 10am-4pm
 

May 12
First class feature - Tree to Table Pdx & Charcuterie Me, Mothers Day Make-N-Take Charcuterie Board, build and fill start to finish charcuterie experience for all types of Mom-Types!
Learn woodworking, Build & Finish a board, Fill It with local charcuterie delights & Sip the day away
 

Additional Dates: 
June 9th
July 14th
August 11th
September 8th
October 13th
 

Where:
Urbanite Pdx - 1005 SE Grand Ave -in the fenced MLK-side Event Lot
 

The new board will guide management of the nation’s largest research forest, shaping research, conservation, and economic outcomes 

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Department of State Lands is accepting letters of interest for the Elliott State Research Forest Board of Directors. 

Ensuring accountability, transparency, and meaningful engagement is critical to establishing and operating the Elliott as a public research forest. In April 2024, the State Land Board approved a research forest oversight structure that includes appointment of an ESRF Board of Directors. 

The ESRF Board will guide management of the research forest, with authority to shape management, research, conservation, economic and social outcomes of relevance at the local, statewide, national, and international level.  

The ESRF Board will consist of seven or nine voting and one nonvoting member designated by the ESRF’s lead research entity. Voting members are appointed by the State Land Board. The DSL Director will review letters of interest and develop a list of candidates for State Land Board consideration at its June 11, 2024, meeting. 

Individuals interested in being considered for the ESRF Board should review the recruitment flyer and submit the required interest materials no later than Sunday, May 12, 2024. 

Vancouver, Wash. – The City of Vancouver is seeking applicants to fill one vacancy on its Culture, Arts and Heritage Commission. Applications must be submitted by May 21.

The City’s Culture, Arts and Heritage Commission is a nine-member volunteer group responsible for facilitating the development and promotion of a thriving cultural, art and heritage environment that reflects the Vancouver community. This is accomplished through community-informed programs, ownership of buildings and public art, and a commitment to community partnerships. 

Commissioners meet from noon to 2 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month, with meetings currently being held as hybrid. This recruitment is for a mid-term appointment, with a term beginning July 1, 2024 and ending Dec. 31, 2026. Per Vancouver City Council policy, all incumbents who wish to be considered for reappointment to their positions will be interviewed along with any other qualifying applicants. All applicants must be available to participate in a virtual interview with members of the Vancouver City Council on a date to be determined.

Learn more about boards and commissions and apply online at www.cityofvancouver.us/boards. For a printed application or for more information, contact the Boards and Commission Coordinator at P.O. Box 1995, Vancouver, WA 98668-1995, c_coordinator@cityofvancouver.us">bc_coordinator@cityofvancouver.us or 360-487-8600.

###

On April 23, 2024, at 3:45pm, Vancouver Fire Department was called for a house fire at 100 S Knoxville Way. As the crews were on their way, reports were coming in that significant amount of fire was showing from the back of the house.

Crews arrived minutes later to find a single-story house with flames showing from the front and back of the house. Due to the amount of fire showing, Firefighters initially stretched hose lines to the front of the house to apply water from the outside. Once the outside fire was under control, crews moved inside to attack the fire that was in the attic and search for anyone still inside. In approximately 15 minutes reports came back that everyone made it out safely and crews were getting control of the fire.

Four fire engines, two ladder trucks, one squad and to Battalion chiefs for a total of 24 firefighter responded to the scene. There were no injuries reported and there were two people displaced from their home. 
 

The fire is under investigation by the Vancouver Fire Marshal.  

With 2nd strike looming, nurses at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services speak out hours ahead of contract mediation with PeaceHealth executives. 

Nurse Solidarity Action and Press Conference
Wednesday, April 24 at 9 a.m.
Public sidewalks near PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center Riverbend’s main entrance
3333 Riverbend Dr, Springfield, OR 97477

WHAT: Home health and hospice nurses at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services, elected leaders and community allies are holding a solidarity action April 24 to speak about the importance of local home care services ahead of a contract mediation session with PeaceHealth executives. Nurses have spent more than a year fighting for a fair contract to address record turnover and job vacancies at PeaceHealth’s home health and hospice agency–the region’s largest home health service provider. 

On April 16, nurses voted to authorize an open-ended strike against PeaceHealth to protest PeaceHealth’s unlawful unfair labor practices (ULPs) and reach a fair contract agreement that improves community healthcare. Wednesday’s solidarity action precedes a scheduled contract mediation session between Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) nurse leaders and PeaceHealth executives at Riverbend. Nurses and local elected officials will speak and take media questions at the event. Members of Oregon’s Congressional delegation have also taken action to support nurses and sent a letter to PeaceHealth executives on April 23 calling for a “fair settlement that demonstrates the respect that healthcare workers deserve.”

WHEN: Wednesday, April 24 at 9 a.m.

WHERE: Public sidewalks near PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center Riverbend’s main entrance. (3333 Riverbend Dr, Springfield, OR 97477). Near the intersection of Cardinal Way and MLK Jr. Pkwy.

WHO: ONA nurses with PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services and Riverbend, elected officials and community allies are scheduled to speak, including 

• Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis
• Lane County commissioner Laurie Trieger
• Lane County commissioner Heather Buch
• Springfield city councilor Kori Rodley
• Eugene Springfield IAFF Local 851 trustee Brett Deedon
• ONA bargaining unit chair Jo Turner, RN, hospice nurse at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services
• ONA bargaining unit chair Chris Rompala, RN, nurse at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center Riverbend

WHY: Local home health and hospice nurses have endured 45+ contract bargaining sessions with PeaceHealth executives since Feb. 2023 including six sessions with a federal mediator. After holding a limited duration strike Feb. 10 - 24, nurses have voted to approve an open-ended strike to protest PeaceHealth’s unlawful unfair labor practices (ULPs) and reach a fair contract agreement that improves community healthcare. Despite nurses and community leaders’ best efforts, PeaceHealth executives continue demanding local nurses accept nearly 5% lower pay than PeaceHealth pays hospital nurses in Eugene/Springfield and hospital and home care nurses in Florence–despite both groups of home care nurses sharing managers and staff meetings and regularly caring for the same patients. 

PeaceHealth’s continued disrespect towards local nurses and their patients is driving nurses to leave–threatening our community’s health and exacerbating the care shortage. The nurse bargaining team intends to work towards a positive resolution in mediation but will call for a strike if they believe it is necessary to move PeaceHealth to meet the needs of patients, providers and our community. If a strike is called, ONA will provide our community and PeaceHealth with a 10-day notice to allow PeaceHealth executives adequate time to connect patients to alternate care options or to join us at the table and reach a fair agreement. 

The ONA represents more than 90 frontline nurses at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services and nearly 1500 nurses at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center Riverbend. 

HILLSBORO, Ore- On April 23, 2024, a Washington County jury found Cesar Yovanni Alvarez-Alcazar, age 20, guilty of Murder in the Second Degree and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. The defendant pled no contest to Unlawful Possession of a Firearm prior to the trial. Judge Theodore Sims then sentenced the defendant to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years. Senior Deputy District Attorney John Gerhard and Deputy District Attorney Dustin Staten prosecuted this case. 

On February 6, 2022, the defendant attended a house party in Cornelius, Oregon. He was heavily intoxicated and got into a verbal argument with multiple partygoers including the victim, Jose Angel Rodriguez-Sanchez, age 20 at the time. The defendant shot the victim several times and also fired a shot at another partygoer. The victim died from his injuries, and the defendant fled the scene before law enforcement arrived. 

Investigators quickly identified the defendant as their suspect. He was arrested by officers from the Salem Police Department during a traffic stop seven months later. Police found a loaded handgun hidden under the defendant’s driver’s seat along with 400 rounds of ammunition and body armor. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office commends the investigative work on this case by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the deputies serving the City of Cornelius. This office also thanks the Salem Police Department for their work in apprehending the defendant. 

Mr. Alvarez-Alcazar will be transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence. 

UPDATE

OSP is setting up to stream the news conference on Facebook and will send a news release following the news conference. 

Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/OSPsocial/

OSP News Conference regarding AMBER Alert suspect from Washington

Date: April 23, 2024 at 6 p.m. 

Location: Public Safety Building, Harris Hall, 125 E 8th Ave., Eugene, OR 97401

Media may begin staging at 5:45 p.m. for the 6 p.m. news conference. OSP will provide an overview of the incident. It's uncertain whether OSP will take any questions at that time. 

FREE FESTIVAL CULMINATES IN DAY-LONG WORKSHOPS DESIGNED FOR WRITERS OF ALL LEVELS  

VANCOUVER, Wash.— The English department at Clark College hosts its annual Creative Writing Festival from May 6-11. The event, which is free and open to the public, features activities geared for writers at all levels. The festival allows writers to immerse themselves in workshops and readings by renowned authors. It will culminate with the Clark Spring Creative Writing Workshop on Saturday, May 11, with a full day of workshops for writers.

All events will be in the Penguin Union Building (PUB) on Clark College's main campus, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver.  Directions and maps are available online.

Schedule

May 6, 11 a.m. - noon, PUB 258B: Writing from Lived Experience: A reading and conversation with author Peyton Marshall 

May 7, 10-11 a.m., LIB 101, Cannell Library: “Exit Black” book release party: A reading and celebration of Clark English professor Joe Pitkin’s new sci-fi novel

May 8,12-2 p.m., LIB 101, Cannell Library: Create Your Own Comic: A hands-on workshop by Clark Art professor Grant Hottle. Art materials provided. 

May 9, 10 a.m.-noon, PUB 161: “The Swift” release party with student readings and a celebration of the publication of the 2^nd edition of Clark's student-run literary journal 

May 9, 4-6 p.m., PUB 161: English Department Awards Ceremony

May 10, 10-11 a.m., PUB 258B-C: Yoga for Creativity: A free yoga class focused on connecting the mind and body to nourish creativity

May 11, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Penguin Union Building: Spring Writing Workshop: A full day of writing workshops, readings, and community building. Includes free lunch, coffee, and pastries. 
Reserve your free tickets here. (bit.ly/writing-24)

SPRING WRITING WORKSHOP on May 11:

STEPHANIE ADAMS-SANTOS, “Dreamscape of the Altar” "You must give birth to your images."~ Rilke. Through a blend of guided meditation and writing prompts, we will work to nurture a fertile soil for receiving sacred imagery from the depths of the psyche. Delving into the mysterious terrains of embodied inner life, we'll explore the concept of an interior altar, using active imagination to connect with unconscious symbols and dreams. This process serves as a pathway to delve more deeply into our own creative material. Note: We will be working on the floor for part of the workshop, though this portion can be adjusted to accommodate any body; all materials provided.

LISA BULLARD, “Opening Another Door: Symbolism in Poetry” Symbolism opens the door for a poet to say more with fewer words, and a striking symbol adds depth and intrigue to a poem. In this workshop, we will look at models of how others have used symbols and create symbols of our own. The workshop will be group oriented: the more brains, the better! We'll have fun and play with words.

EMILY CHENOWETH, “Disruption and Change in Character, Setting, and Plot” “There are only two plots in all of literature — a person goes on a journey, and a stranger comes to town.” So said celebrated writing teacher John Gardner (supposedly). Whether Gardner’s right is up for debate, but Arrivals and Departures are classic literary tropes for good reason. In this generative workshop, we’ll consider the three pillars of character, setting, and plot, and craft short prose pieces that have disruption and change at their heart.

MICHAEL GUERRA, “Tangible Objects: Developing an Inner Life for Your Character” This workshop will focus on the life of tangible objects that often define and shape our lives. Through this process of developing an inner life for our characters, we will discover patterns for shaping both knowns and unknowns that motivate our characters and push our stories in ways we never thought possible.

DEBRA GWARTNEY, “Who is Telling Your Story?” In this workshop, we will explore the role of the “I” in memoir writing. Both the “I” involved in the action, and the “I” remembering and reflecting upon the event at the center of your narrative. This “dual-I” is where the tension in memoir lives, and where readers engage and connect. Come prepared to write and, if you wish, to talk about the challenges of turning yourself into a character on the page.

HR HEGNAUER, “Judge a Book by Its Cover” It could be said that the phrase "don't judge a book by its cover" seems to overlook the significant impact of book design. In this workshop, we'll dive into key aspects of book design, covering topics such as cover design, interior layout, paper selection, printing methods, and the integration of eBook design. We'll also envision our own future book covers, looking at your design ideas alongside logistical considerations.

SARA JAFFE, “Starting with Image: A Prose Workshop” What is an image? While conventionally defined as a visual representation or description, an image in writing can activate many senses at once. Transcending mere detail, an image electrifies and swirls up from the page, announcing to the reader that they are in this language-world and none other. In the words of cartoonist and writer Lynda Barry, "[An image is] alive in the way thinking is not, but experiencing is, made of both memory and imagination." Because so much meaning and sensation accrues to them, images can be terrific starting points for works of fiction and creative nonfiction. In this workshop, we'll mine our own personal image-banks for generative material, and work together to effectively bring the power of the image to the page.

MEREDITH KIRKWOOD, “Unexpected Arrivals: Writing Surprising Images” A poem is a series of departures and arrivals. A poet takes the reader to one image, then departs to another. Sometimes the reader arrives at the place they expected, but at its best, poetry can surprise—can take us to places the reader (and writer!) never anticipated. Those places offer us a sense of mystery and weirdness, a glimpse into other modes of consciousness and ways of being. This workshop offers tools for getting our poetry from the ordinary and predictable into some of those other places. Using as a guide the poem “4 Stars” by Oregon Poet Laureate and recent Columbia Writers Series guest Anis Mojgani, participants will write a poem by combining fragments of memory in unexpected ways. Then they will exchange images to create an even weirder, more surprising poem. Finally, they will try to break all the rules of grammar they can to arrive at unknown poetic terrain.

JOE PITKIN, “From Margins to the Center: How to Use Duotrope to Get Connected to Publishers” Do you have a story that you are proud of but have no idea how to get it published? Are you wondering what kinds of magazines and podcasts would be open to publishing your work? This session will explore how the online tool Duotrope can be used to get connected to publishers and agents!

MATHIAS SVALINA, “Writing with Dream Logic” Dreams cohere & dissolve in the same event; in this way the logics of dreams relate to the logics of emotional overwhelm & to the logics of the mass hallucinations of history or culture. This workshop will explore dream logic as a conscious & intentional writing tool, a writing strategy to employ to arrive at writerly truths beyond the rational. We will discuss the fugitive rationality in nonsense & the profundity in silliness as we look at some writers’ use of dream logics, & the forms & rhetorics of how we tell others our dreams. We will write to explore dream logic in narrative, lyric, & personal writing. The goals are to generate work that both bewilders & intimately engages the reader & writer alike.

PAULS TOUTONGHI, “Intention and Obstacle: The Use of a Time-Based Goal to Give Your Story Urgency” Fiction writers often struggle with plot -- or at least the idea of plot. Writing can come from a place of deep imagination, which is often not harnessed to any kind of mechanical apparatus. In fact, the imagination -- a dreamworld -- often specifically resists thinking in terms of timeline and story container. We will work to open stories that have a clear sense of urgency or, if it's missing, think about ways to get this urgency in existing stories.

CLAIRE VAYE WATKINS, “Writing Life and Death: How to Raise the Stakes of a Story” This workshop will be a generative session on how to raise the stakes in your story.

Clark College is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution. Learn more at www.clark.edu/nds. If you need accommodation due to a disability in order to fully participate in this event, please contact Clark College’s Human Resources Office. Phone: 360-992-2105 or email: hr@clark.edu/.

About Clark College 

Founded in 1933 and celebrating its 90^th year, Clark College provides residents of Southwest Washington with affordable, high-quality academic and technical education. It is a public community college offering 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 a wide range of students including high school students, displaced workers, veterans, parents, non-native English speakers, and mature learners. Approximately 45% of its students are in the first generation of their families to attend college.   

####

Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Permit Center has a new home within the Public Service Center. The Permit Center is now located on the third floor of the building which is located at 1300 Franklin St. in downtown Vancouver. The Permit Center had been located at the east end of the first floor since the opening of the PSC in 2003.

The move is one of several county office moves that are the result of recent space utilization planning efforts within the county.

The Permit Center handles permits for residential and commercial construction. All in-person services at the Permit Center require an appointment which can be scheduled by email at mitservicesappt@clark.wa.gov">permitservicesappt@clark.wa.gov. 

The Permit Center uses ePlan Review, an online permitting process. Learn more about the permitting process including average permit process times and contact information on the county website at https://clark.wa.gov/community-development/permit-center. 

Salem, Oregon, April 23, 2024—Chemeketa Community College is proud to present an afternoon of Traditional Dance and a Cultural Presentation.  

Thursday, May 9
12-1
Free.
Chemeketa Community College, Salem Campus
The Quad (between buildings 3 and 9)

(inclement weather location: Bldg 6, Auditorium)

4000 Lancaster Dr NE Salem, Oregon 97309

Nakeezaka and Nakoosa Jack (Moreland) will present traditional dance in full regalia. Their combined tribal affiliations and bands include Grand Ronde, Umpqua, Rogue River, Shasta, Mary’s River Kalapuya, Klickatat, Shoshone Bannock, Dińe, Interior Salish, Colville, Coeur d’ Alene, Spokane.

Registration on Eventbrite

Contact 503-399-6093 for more information or email a.mack@chemeketa.edu">laura.mack@chemeketa.edu.
For press inquiries please contact ie.hulett@chemeketa.edu">marie.hulett@chemeketa.edu

This event is possible with the support of
s'gʷi gʷi ʔ altxʷ: The House of Welcome at the Longhouse,
Chemeketa's Office of Diversity and Equity, and
The Gretchen Schuette Art Gallery Endowment.

Vancouver, Wash. - The City recently launched a nationwide recruitment process to hire Vancouver’s next City Manager. As part of the community involvement process, the City is interested in getting feedback from community members to guide the recruitment and selection strategies.

“The role of City Manager is critical to the City’s success,” said Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle. “The input of the community is important for informing our decision-making process. I urge everyone to take a few minutes to complete this survey and share their thoughts with us."

The feedback will be used to help identify a pool of candidates that reflects the needs of the community. The anonymous survey is located on the City’s website and is open through May 15. If online access is not available, community members are encouraged to contact the City at 360-487-8614 to receive a paper copy by mail. The results of the survey will be made available to the public on the City’s website.

In addition to forming a Council sub-committee to lead the process, the city has contracted with Bob Murray and Associates to help manage the national recruitment and hiring process, with the goal of an appointment in mid-July. Learn more about the recruitment process, including the position description, at Bob Murray and Associates.

Vancouver operates under a council-manager form of government where the City Council appoints a City Manager to serve as the chief executive of the city. The City is seeking a new city manager due to the recent retirement announcement from current City Manager Eric Holmes.

### 

Salem, OR – It’s a day to remember those who died on the job. It’s a day to grieve with families, friends, and communities. It’s a day to renew our responsibility to create and maintain safe and healthy workplaces for all workers in Oregon.

Oregon workers who died on the job will be honored with a ceremony at noon Friday, April 26, in Salem. The Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) – part of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) – and Oregon AFL-CIO invite all Oregonians to attend the Workers Memorial Day observance.

The event will take place at the Fallen Workers Memorial outside the Labor and Industries Building, 350 Winter St. NE, on the Capitol Mall. The memorial service, coordinated by Oregon AFL-CIO, will feature remarks from union leaders, safety and health advocates, and elected officials.

“Every day, people across Oregon leave their homes and go to work to provide for themselves and their families – and to help make the state a thriving place to live,” Gov. Tina Kotek said. “Today, we honor the Oregonians whose lives were tragically lost doing their job and offer our deepest condolences to their families. Going forward, we will continue our efforts to make working conditions safer, so all workers are better protected.”

During the ceremony, Sen. Deb Patterson and House Majority Leader Ben Bowman will read the names of Oregon workers who died on the job in 2023.

Oregon OSHA Administrator Renée Stapleton and Oregon AFL-CIO President Graham Trainor will serve as event speakers. The event will also include remarks from PCUN Representative Liz Marquez Gutierrez and a reading of Gov. Kotek’s proclamation by Vince Porter, the governor’s deputy chief of staff for public administration. 

Oregon workplaces are safer and healthier today than in previous decades. Yet, there are still far too many preventable on-the-job deaths each year. 

“Every worker and their family deserves to know, without question, that they will return home safely at the end of a shift,” Trainor said. “This year, we read the names of 56 fallen workers, which is an increase from last year and the absolutely starkest reminder that workplace safety must be taken seriously. Oregon unions will advocate for safety improvements on the job until there are no names to be read aloud on Workers Memorial Day. This is our most critical mission, and, while we’ve made significant progress, we must always strive for perfection when it comes to keeping working people safe on the job.” 

Through a partnership of labor, business, and government working together to bolster workplace safety and health, Oregon’s fatality and injury and illness rates have steadily declined for decades.

Nevertheless, there is room for improvement.

“As we honor the memories of the lives tragically taken from us, we must also summon our courage, skill, and ethical duty to rekindle our commitment to protecting the safety and health of all workers in Oregon,” Stapleton said. “Everyone who plays a role in the safety and health of Oregon workplaces – employers, managers, safety and health professionals, employees, co-workers – must do this with urgency and clarity. Through our actions and words, we must carry the message forward that workers have an indisputable right to a safe and healthy workplace and that employers are obligated – not just legally, but morally – to protect their workers from harm.”

The annual Workers Memorial Day serves as a nationwide day of remembrance. The observance is traditionally held on April 28 because the U.S. Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act on that date in 1970.

Resources are available to workers and employers to advance on-the-job safety and health in Oregon, including:

Oregon OSHA

• Rights and responsibilities
• Protect against retaliation 
• Keeping employees safe
• Education and training

DCBS Multicultural Communications Program

• Providing outreach to communities with limited English proficiency

Ombuds Office for Oregon Workers

• Independent advocate for Oregon workers, including guidance on workers’ rights and responsibilities in workers’ compensation and workplace safety and health

###

Oregon OSHA, a division of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, enforces the state's workplace safety and health rules and works to improve workplace safety and health for all Oregon workers. For more information, visit Oregon OSHA. 

The Department of Consumer and Business Services is Oregon's largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. For more information, visit DCBS. 

The Oregon AFL-CIO is the statewide federation of affiliated unions, representing more than 300,000 working Oregonians.  For more information, visit Oregon AFL-CIO.

Over 4,000 SOLVE volunteers celebrated Earth Day across 126 Oregon Spring Cleanup events over the span of ten days

Portland, Ore., April 23, 2024 – The Oregon Spring Cleanup, in partnership with Portland General Electric, concluded on Earth Day yesterday with resounding success. Between April 13 and April 22, more than 4,000 volunteers across Oregon and SW Washington gathered for a celebration of Earth Day, where they collectively picked up 21,981 pounds of litter and marine debris and removed 21,900 square feet of invasive plant species such as English Ivy and Himalayan Blackberry. Families, community members, neighborhood associations, youth groups, and environmental enthusiasts once again made the Oregon Spring Cleanup the highlight of SOLVE's annual calendar. 

Oregon Spring Cleanup History

Rooted in SOLVE's longstanding traditions, the Oregon Spring Cleanup merged two of the organization's most cherished events—the Spring Oregon Beach Cleanup, dating back to 1986, and SOLVE IT for Earth Day, which began in 1990.

Oregon Spring Cleanup event highlights

SE Portland Eco-Disco: Litter Cleanup & Silent Disco, April 20th:

In collaboration with Heartbeat Silent Disco, this unique Earth Day celebration, in partnership with Portland General Electric, drew 114 volunteers to Portland’s Central Eastside. Following the cleanup in the Buckman neighborhood, where 800 lbs of litter got collected, the festivities continued with a free silent dance party, adding an extra layer of celebration to the cleanup efforts. Volunteers were provided with wireless headphones with personal volume control and adjustable fit, allowing everyone to enjoy the music while respecting the natural surroundings.

Cityscape Sparkle: Earth Day Cleanup at Sport Oregon, April 22nd:

This litter cleanup event took place on Earth Day and went beyond tidying up the neighborhood streets. 100 participants came together for a day of community, cleanliness, and local love at Sport Oregon to foster a sense of unity and enhance the local environment. 

“Once again, we were thrilled to witness the vibrant array of events orchestrated by our community, showcasing the power of collective action in honoring Earth Day," enthuses Kris Carico, CEO of SOLVE. "This annual event series continues to serve as a beacon, drawing together volunteers and SOLVE partners from across the Pacific Northwest in a joyous celebration of our planet. From the shores of Oregon’s northernmost tip in Astoria, down the coast to Brookings, and extending to riverside locations such as Cascade Locks, Sandy, and Breitenbush, as well as reaching Baker City in Eastern Oregon, the spirit of Earth Day resonated through every cleanup endeavor." Carico highlights the diverse range of initiatives, including the impactful efforts of the Portland chapter of Women Who Explore, bringing together 20 women for a Pre-Earth Day Riverside Cleanup at Kelley Point Park. A Girl Scout group also picked up trash along the Molalla River in Clackamas County and the Clark County Master Gardener group held an impactful Service Day in Vancouver, Washington. "These events exemplify the spirit of community and environmental stewardship that lies at the heart of SOLVE," Carico adds. 

Photo Contest

There is still time for volunteers and event leaders to send in the pictures they have taken during their cleanup events and habitat restoration projects. Everyone who submits their photos and videos by 
April 28 will enter the SOLVE photo contest with chances to win a 1-year AAA membership. Ways to enter include tagging SOLVE on Facebook or Instagram, using #OregonSpringCleanup2024, or sending us their footage via email to info@solveoregon.org. SOLVE likes to see volunteers in action, before and after cleanup shots, the largest and tiniest items you've picked up, and most importantly, your smiling faces!

Anyone who couldn’t attend an Oregon Spring Cleanup event this year can support SOLVE by individual giving. A donation of any size helps SOLVE to host more events year after year and to provide volunteers with free supplies, event leader training, and all the support they need to run a successful event.

Oregon Spring Cleanup Sponsors 2024

Along with Portland General Electric, other event sponsors include Clean Water Services, AAA Oregon/Idaho, Fred Meyer, Metro, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, KOIN, The Oregonian, The Standard, Swire Coca-Cola, Holman, Demarini-Wilson, TriMet, PepsiCo, and Wells Fargo.

About SOLVE 

SOLVE is a statewide non-profit organization that brings people together to improve our environment and build a legacy of stewardship. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots group to a national model for volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains tens of thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon and Southwest Washington to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas and to build a legacy of stewardship for our state. Visit solveoregon.org for more information. 

CORRECTION: The original release identified two detectives with incorrect agencies; the release has now been updated. MCDA regrets the error.

Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt today announced that Janeice Renee Downs, 24, has been indicted on 16 theft charges totaling over $56,000 in stolen goods from a local retailer. This case is being investigated and prosecuted by the Organized Retail Theft Task Force. 

Upon review of the evidence, the Task Force presented the case to a grand jury, which returned a true bill of indictment on April 22, 2024, for the following charges:

• Six counts of Organized Retail Theft
• Three counts of Aggravated Theft in the First Degree
• Seven counts of Theft in the First Degree

In addition, Downs has been accused of more than $400,000 in retail theft in Washington State, and she faces further charges in Multnomah and other Oregon counties. She is currently in custody in King County, Washington (under the name Janeice Smith). 

The DA’s Office would like to thank multiple law enforcement partners for their assistance in this case, including Detective Andrew Hearst with the Portland Police Bureau, Detective Jeffry Christiansen with the Bellevue Police Department, and Detective Nyla Poulson with the Tigard Police Department.

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

###

Over 4,000 SOLVE volunteers celebrated Earth Day across 126 Oregon Spring Cleanup events over the span of ten days

Portland, Ore., April 23, 2024 – The Oregon Spring Cleanup, in partnership with Portland General Electric, concluded on Earth Day yesterday with resounding success. Between April 13 and April 22, more than 4,000 volunteers across Oregon and SW Washington gathered for a celebration of Earth Day, where they collectively picked up 21,981 pounds of litter and marine debris and removed 21,900 square feet of invasive plant species such as English Ivy and Himalayan Blackberry. Families, community members, neighborhood associations, youth groups, and environmental enthusiasts once again made the Oregon Spring Cleanup the highlight of SOLVE's annual calendar. 

Oregon Spring Cleanup History

Rooted in SOLVE's longstanding traditions, the Oregon Spring Cleanup merged two of the organization's most cherished events—the Spring Oregon Beach Cleanup, dating back to 1986, and SOLVE IT for Earth Day, which began in 1990.

Oregon Spring Cleanup event highlights

SE Portland Eco-Disco: Litter Cleanup & Silent Disco, April 20th:

In collaboration with Heartbeat Silent Disco, this unique Earth Day celebration, in partnership with Portland General Electric, drew 114 volunteers to Portland’s Central Eastside. Following the cleanup in the Buckman neighborhood, where 800 lbs of litter got collected, the festivities continued with a free silent dance party, adding an extra layer of celebration to the cleanup efforts. Volunteers were provided with wireless headphones with personal volume control and adjustable fit, allowing everyone to enjoy the music while respecting the natural surroundings.

Cityscape Sparkle: Earth Day Cleanup at Sport Oregon, April 22nd:

This litter cleanup event took place on Earth Day and went beyond tidying up the neighborhood streets. 100 participants came together for a day of community, cleanliness, and local love at Sport Oregon to foster a sense of unity and enhance the local environment. 

“Once again, we were thrilled to witness the vibrant array of events orchestrated by our community, showcasing the power of collective action in honoring Earth Day," enthuses Kris Carico, CEO of SOLVE. "This annual event series continues to serve as a beacon, drawing together volunteers and SOLVE partners from across the Pacific Northwest in a joyous celebration of our planet. From the shores of Oregon’s northernmost tip in Astoria, down the coast to Brookings, and extending to riverside locations such as Cascade Locks, Sandy, and Breitenbush, as well as reaching Baker City in Eastern Oregon, the spirit of Earth Day resonated through every cleanup endeavor." Carico highlights the diverse range of initiatives, including the impactful efforts of the Portland chapter of Women Who Explore, bringing together 20 women for a Pre-Earth Day Riverside Cleanup at Kelley Point Park. A Girl Scout group also picked up trash along the Molalla River in Clackamas County and the Clark County Master Gardener group held an impactful Service Day in Vancouver, Washington. "These events exemplify the spirit of community and environmental stewardship that lies at the heart of SOLVE," Carico adds. 

Photo Contest

There is still time for volunteers and event leaders to send in the pictures they have taken during their cleanup events and habitat restoration projects. Everyone who submits their photos and videos by 
April 28 will enter the SOLVE photo contest with chances to win a 1-year AAA membership. Ways to enter include tagging SOLVE on Facebook or Instagram, using #OregonSpringCleanup2024, or sending us their footage via email to info@solveoregon.org. SOLVE likes to see volunteers in action, before and after cleanup shots, the largest and tiniest items you've picked up, and most importantly, your smiling faces!

Anyone who couldn’t attend an Oregon Spring Cleanup event this year can support SOLVE by individual giving. A donation of any size helps SOLVE to host more events year after year and to provide volunteers with free supplies, event leader training, and all the support they need to run a successful event.

Oregon Spring Cleanup Sponsors 2024

Along with Portland General Electric, other event sponsors include Clean Water Services, AAA Oregon/Idaho, Fred Meyer, Metro, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, KOIN, The Oregonian, The Standard, Swire Coca-Cola, Holman, Demarini-Wilson, TriMet, and PepsiCo.

About SOLVE 

SOLVE is a statewide non-profit organization that brings people together to improve our environment and build a legacy of stewardship. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots group to a national model for volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains tens of thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon and Southwest Washington to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas and to build a legacy of stewardship for our state. Visit solveoregon.org for more information. 

April 23, 2024

Media Contact: Erica Heartquist, ica.j.heartquist@oha.oregon.gov">erica.j.heartquist@oha.oregon.gov, 503.871.8843

Report: As health care costs increase, Oregon patients are paying more in deductibles and copays

Oregon Health Authority furthers commitment to helping make healthcare more affordable across state

(PORTLAND, Ore. –) According to an Oregon Health Authority (OHA) report out today, the amount that Oregonians with commercial and Medicare Advantage insurance paid in deductibles, copays and co-insurance increased more than 17 percent from 2015 to 2022. As health care costs continue to grow, the amount that people with health insurance pay for their care – known as patient responsibility or patient cost sharing – is also rising.

On average, in 2022, people in Oregon with commercial health insurance were responsible for 13.4% of their total health care costs, and people with Medicare Advantage insurance were responsible for 9.1% of their total health care costs. This does not include how much people pay for their health insurance premiums.

Over the past several years, patient cost sharing increased by 17.4% for commercially insured Oregonians and 17.7% for those with Medicare Advantage insurance. That growth was driven primarily by increasing deductibles in the commercial market and co-insurance for prescription drugs in the Medicare Advantage market.

At least 28 percent of Oregonians were considered underinsured in 2021, meaning that even though they have health insurance, it was too expensive for them to use.

“Too many Oregonians are struggling to afford their health care, even as more than 95 percent of people in the state now have health coverage,” said OHA Director, Dr. Sejal Hathi. “This report provides more information about how much people in Oregon are paying for health care and the reasons for those cost increases. Health insurance should open the door to care, but instead, we know that even moderate increases in cost sharing can thwart access for those who need it most. OHA will continue to work both to rein in health care costs and to protect and expand access to care.”

What is Patient Cost Sharing?

When an individual or a household buys healthcare insurance, they agree to a certain set of arrangements for services are covered by the health plan and how much of the cost the health plan will pay. The portion of the cost of covered services that the patient is responsible for is “patient cost sharing.”

Unlike health insurance premiums, which are paid to the health plan whether any services are used or not, cost sharing only applies when services are used. Examples of patient cost sharing are deductibles, copays and co-insurance.

Report Findings

The report shows that people in Oregon with commercial health insurance paid for 13.6% of their total health care costs on average in 2022, with more than half of that going toward deductibles. Commercial deductibles grew 31.9% between 2015-2022, faster than the growth in commercial co-insurance (19.2%) and copays (4.3%).

This is in part due to the increase in number of people who have a high-deductible health plan. People with high deductible health plans are responsible for 22.9% of their total health care costs, even though their average annual health care costs were lower.

The report also shows that in 2022, people in Oregon with Medicare Advantage insurance paid 9.1% of their total health care costs, on average. More than 60 percent of Medicare Advantage cost sharing was in the form of copays and less than 5 percent was paid in deductibles.

In the commercial market, almost 40% of the cost sharing in 2022 was for professional services like a doctor’s visit. In the Medicare Advantage market, almost 40% of the cost sharing in 2022 was for prescription drugs, with people paying increasingly more in co-insurance for specialty drugs.

For More Information

OHA presented preliminary findings on patient cost sharing in an educational webinar in March. The recording from that webinar is available online here. View the patient cost sharing analysis webinar slides here.

The Cost Growth Target Advisory Committee meets each month to discuss and plan strategies for increased health care affordability.

Explore the patient cost sharing data in an interactive online dashboard and find the full patient cost sharing report online  here.

Wildfire Preparedness Weekend at World Forestry Center | April 27-28, 2024 | 9 am – 4 pm | Free Admission

As wildfire season approaches, Oregonians must take steps to protect their homes and communities. To help residents prepare, the Oregon State Fire Marshal, Portland Fire and Rescue, and World Forestry Center have partnered together to host a Wildfire Preparedness Weekend at the Discovery Museum on April 27 and 28 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. This event offers residents a unique opportunity to learn how to reduce the risk of wildfires around their homes and communities and get involved in protecting our state from the threat of wildfires. Attendees can access expert speakers, interactive exhibits, and hands-on demonstrations. Admission is free for the whole event thanks to our sponsor, Portland General Electric. Learn more at worldforestry.org/wildfire-preparedness-weekend.

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Washington State University Vancouver will honor 784 graduating students this year. The honorees include graduates from the fall 2023 and spring and summer 2024 terms.

Commencement begins at 1 p.m. May 4 at RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater, 17200 NE Delfel Rd., Ridgefield, Wash. No tickets are required, and parking is free. The seating area opens at 11:30 a.m.; parking opens at 11 a.m. The ceremony will also be streamed on WSU Vancouver’s YouTube channel: youtube.com/user/wsuvancouver.

Guests as well as graduates will walk through a metal detector at entry. Carry-in belongings will be searched. Only small clutches, wristlets or fanny packs no bigger than 4.5 x 6.5 inches or clear plastic bags no bigger than 12 x 12 x 6 inches will be allowed inside. Guns, pocketknives and other weapons are not allowed. Do not bring balloons, gift bags, fireworks, outside food or drink, coolers, laser pointers, pets, weapons, umbrellas, strollers or playpens, skateboards or inline skates. Graduates and guests will be asked to return these items to their vehicle. 

ABOUT THE GRADUATES             

The 2024 graduates include 34 doctoral candidates in the areas of anthropology, biology, educational leadership, environmental and natural resource sciences, neuroscience, nursing practice, prevention science and sociology.

The 47 master’s candidates will receive degrees in anthropology, biology, business administration, computer science, education, electrical engineering, environmental and natural resource sciences, environmental science, health communication and promotion, mechanical engineering, molecular biosciences, nursing, plant biology, prevention science, psychology and teaching.

The 703 bachelor’s candidates will receive degrees in anthropology, arts, biology, business administration, computer science, criminal justice and criminology, data analytics, digital technology and culture, earth and environmental science, education, electrical engineering, English, history, hospitality business management, human biology, human development, humanities, mathematics, mechanical engineering, neuroscience, nursing, political science, psychology, public affairs, social sciences, sociology, speech and hearing sciences and strategic communication.

Names of the graduates can be found in the online Commencement program, available at vancouver.wsu.edu/commencement.

ABOUT WSU VANCOUVER

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

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

# # #

A variety of annual and perennial bedding and flowering plants, as well as vegetable starts and hanging baskets grown in Battle Ground Public Schools’ greenhouses by students and staff, will be available for purchase at upcoming public sales beginning later this month.

Sales will be drop-in with no prior registration required. The Northwest Native Trees and Shrubs sale on the CASEE campus will include one day where the first hour is for members only.

Money raised from these sales supports the district's horticulture and FFA programs and welding teams. Students and staff from Battle Ground High School, Prairie High School and the FFA program grow tens of thousands of plants each year. Some of these plants are used in landscaping projects on school campuses, while the rest are sold at annual public sales.
 

CENTER FOR AGRICULTURE, SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Saturday, April 27:

• 10-11 a.m. - NatureScaping members only (register at NatureScaping.org)
• 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Open to the public (no appointment necessary)

Sunday, April 28:

• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Open to the public (no appointment necessary)

CASEE is located at 11104 N.E. 149th Street in Brush Prairie.
Payment options: Checks and credit/debit cards accepted.

Held in conjunction with NatureScaping of SW Washington's Bare Root trees, shrubs and perennials sale, CASEE will have northwest native trees and shrubs available. Trees are $15, shrubs start at $7, perennials start at $1. There will also be mason bee cocoons available for purchase.

PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL
Wednesday through Friday, May 8-10, 3-6 p.m.
Saturday, May 11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The PHS greenhouse is located in the southwest corner of the campus at 11311 NE 119th St. in Vancouver. Signs will be out to help direct traffic.
Payment options: Cash (exact change only please), check and debit/credit cards accepted

The Prairie greenhouse has been busy growing hanging baskets, table planters, geraniums, fuchsias, succulents, perennial plants, ornamental grasses, annual bedding plants and vegetables. The What’s Growing in Prairie’s Greenhouse Facebook page will be posting details on what plants are available the week before the sale starts.

BATTLE GROUND HIGH SCHOOL
Saturday, May 18, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The BGHS greenhouses are located at 300 W Main St., Battle Ground.
Payment options: Cash, check and debit/credit cards accepted.

Battle Ground High School’s Agriculture Department has a large selection of hanging baskets in various sizes available for sale this year. Other plants available will include a wide assortment of  geraniums, succulents, perennials, vegetable starts, herbs, PNW Natives, flowering patio pots and assorted houseplants. 

(Astoria, OR) — Clatsop County welcomes applications for one seat on the Ambulance Service Area Advisory Committee. The vacancy is for a citizen position with a three-year term.

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

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

Application forms are available at the Clatsop County website and at the County Manager’s Office at 800 Exchange St., Suite 410, Astoria. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Friday, May 10, 2024.

The appointment will be made by the Board of Commissioners.

###

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University recently added a new position of Assistant Director of Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives in its Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to support efforts to become a Hispanic-Serving Institution. After a search, Cristian Mendez Garcia has been selected for this role and officially started on April 22. 

Mendez Garcia's journey began in the early 1990s when he immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico, settling in the Monmouth-Independence community. His educational path led him to Western, where he pursued his passion for art, graduating with a degree in graphic design and fine art photography. As the son of migrant workers, Mendez Garcia deeply appreciates the transformative power of higher education in opening doors to a brighter future. Drawing from his own experiences, he has dedicated his career to advancing opportunities for others. With a wealth of experience in the business sector, Mendez Garcia served as a business operations manager for T-Mobile, honing his skills in strategic planning and project management. In addition, he played a pivotal role as the Chapter Chair for T-Mobile’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts in the Oregon region, demonstrating his commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace culture. His dedication to Western extends beyond the classroom and workplace. Mendez Garcia has served on the WOU Foundation board and most recently held the position of Trustee member on the Western Oregon University Board of Trustees, where he continues to champion initiatives aimed at enhancing the university's mission and impact.

“I am incredibly thrilled to continue my work with Western Oregon University and am proud of our emerging HSI status,” shares Mendez Garcia. “Higher education is transformative and I love being in a position where I can help WOU achieve its HSI designation to help our students and the institution succeed.”

“I am excited to have Cristian join the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to support our university efforts to become a Hispanic Serving Institution,” says Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Dominique Vargas. “Cristian has a broad scope of diversity, equity, and inclusion experience combined with strategic planning, community engagement, and program development. He also has a clear passion for and investment in the Western Oregon University community. We will collaboratively vision our path forward as an emerging Hispanic institution, and work across stakeholder groups to better serve our students and community.” 

This Friday, April 26, Western is hosting its third annual Hispanic Serving Institution Summit, where state and national partners join the university and greater community to share ideas and best practices and discuss why becoming an HSI is critically important to student success and the greater community. This year’s summit will feature two keynote presenters, Patrick L. Valdez, Ph. D., and Marissa Vasquez, Ph. D., who will focus on the history, policy, and current context of Hispanic Serving Institutions, and discuss operationalizing servingness. There will also be a student panel, an afternoon of concurrent sessions, and networking time for attendees.

Learn more about the summit.

###

About Western Oregon University

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

(Astoria, OR) — Clatsop County is welcoming applications for four open seats for a three-year position on the Human Services Advisory Council. 

The Human Services Advisory Council advises the Board of County Commissioners on developmental disabilities, mental health and alcohol and drug abuse services. 

The council meets the first Thursday of each month to identify needs, establish priorities for publicly funded services and assist in selection of service providers, evaluate services and provide a link to the public through advocacy and education. 

The deadline to apply is Wednesday, May 15, 2024. Application forms are available online at ClatsopCounty.gov or at the County Manager’s Office at 800 Exchange St., Suite 410, Astoria. 

All applications will be reviewed by the Human Services Advisory Council and then brought to the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners for appointment.

###

Salem, Ore. - The Oregon National Guard’s Biak Training Center, in Powell Butte, is scheduled to host active-duty Army rotary wing night training missions, outside of normal operations hours over April 24-29, 2024. The visiting unit is located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, in Tacoma, Washington.

Army rotary wing aircraft are scheduled to conduct intermittent nighttime air operations at Biak’s

Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) training site in order to maintain pilot and crew proficiency necessary to support real world military operations. 

“Night training missions are a critical component for pilots to maintain their readiness for real-world missions,” said Michael Paul, Biak Training Area Manager. “We understand that this type of training can be disruptive to the local community and appreciate their support for mission readiness.”

Night flying operations will occur from sundown until approximately midnight and may include low-level flying and refueling stops at the Redmond Airport.

Information regarding Biak Training Center may be found on the Oregon Military Department website at https://www.oregon.gov/omd/programs/Pages/Biak-Training-Center.aspx

-30-
 

On April 30th, 2024 at 10am at Hudson’s Bay High School, the Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools and Vancouver Public Schools (VPS) is breaking ground on a new building to support construction trades and maritime pathways for VPS students. 

In January of 2023, the Endeavour Fund learned of the need to build a new space to support the existing

construction trades program at VPS. The timeline for this project has moved quickly, thanks to two generous

donors. A seed gift of $2,000,000 from the Endeavour Fund and a $500,000 gift from an anonymous donor,

along with the support from community partners and the City of Vancouver only 16 months has passed since we first thought of this project and now, we are breaking ground!

We invite you to join us on this momentous occasion. Local elected officials, VPS leadership, current trade students, and community partners will all be present at this event.

Event Details:

CTE Project Groundbreaking

April 30th, 2024 at 10am

At Hudson’s Bay High School, east side of school, near E Reserve St.

###

The Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools is an independent, 501(c)3 educational non-profit corporation established in 1988 to support Vancouver Public Schools (VPS). Governed by a volunteer board of directors made up of business, community, and education leaders, the foundation creates opportunities to cultivate and inspire student success. As an educational non-profit entity, the foundation serves students at all 40 VPS schools and programs, providing direct aid to students facing learning barriers due to economic need, as well as financial assistance for learning enrichment and mentoring programs that cannot be funded by the school district. The Foundation for VPS is supported by donations from school employees, parents, students, community members, businesses and foundations.

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Public Health’s offices will be closed on Tuesday, April 30 for an all-day staff training event. Online services will continue to be available.

Public Health’s online permitting portal enables people to submit new permit applications and renewals, upload required documents, review account activity, and make payments. Food worker testing continues to be available online. And people can place orders for birth and death certificates through the Public Health website. 

Public Health offices will resume regular hours on Wednesday, May 1. 

WHEN: Wednesday morning, April 24, 2024

WHERE: Forest Grove and Cornelius, Oregon

WHAT: State agencies in Oregon and their local and federal partners are trying a two-pronged approach to slowing the spread of the destructive tree-killing insect pest emerald ash borer (EAB) in urban areas. The first involves felling and chipping ash trees already infested with the pest. The second involves treating healthy ash trees in good condition with a systemic insecticide to protect them from infestation. A third phase this fall will involve the planting of different tree species that are not at risk from EAB.

First Stop - Forest Grove: Matt Mills, Oregon Dept. of Agriculture’s Project Manager for the Slow Ash Mortality (SLAM) strategy will be on site and available for interviews as a contractor fells ash trees infested with emerald ash borer (EAB) and feeds debris into a chipper. 

TIME: 9:30 a.m. 

MEET AT: 1218 Emily Street, Forest Grove, Oregon (Park on Emily Street)

VISUALS: Workers with chainsaws felling ash street trees infested with EAB in a residential neighborhood and chipping the wood to destroy larvae. 

SOUNDS: Chainsaws, crashing noise as trees come down, grinding noise as debris is fed into chipper.

Second Stop – Cornelius:  Oregon Dept. of Forestry’s Urban Assistance Forester Alison Herrell  will be on site and available for interviews as she works with local officials to identify healthy urban ash trees that will later be treated later with an insecticide to protect them from EAB.

TIME: 10:45 a.m.

MEET AT: Intersection of Alpine Street and 23^rd, Cornelius, Oregon

VISUALS: Alison walking down residential street examining street trees, including measuring their size with a diameter tape and inspecting them for health and any signs of EAB. Alison will also have along the systemic injection equipment to demonstrate how it works to protect trees.

RSVP: Please let Public Affairs Officer Jim Gersbach know if you plan to attend one or both stops. He will be on site with local colleagues to help with interviews, filming and recording. 

                                                                    # # #

Date: Wed, May 8th, 2024

Time: 7 pm

Location: Kiggins Theatre Vancouver, Wa

Tickets: $15-$45

Event Website: https://www.scienceontaporwa.org/events/kiggins_may_8_my_life_disaster/

Natural hazards are an unavoidable part of everyday life. In many cases, it’s the proverbial “it’s not if, but when” they might occur. Whether a wildfire threatens a local community or an earthquake devastates an entire region, the moment a hazard becomes a disaster there is a vital need for those impacted to have access to critical information. But where do you find timely, credible information? Well, the details of what has happened come from researchers and investigators, while the information people receive is shared by public information officers. Today’s speaker is both.

Steven Sobieszczyk is a scientist and spokesperson with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While “Sobie” spent most of his career researching landslide hazards, sediment transport, and flooding, he now focuses on science communication and public information. Steve is a multihazard first responder and has spoken extensively about everything from earthquakes in Puerto Rico and eruptions in Hawaii to wildfires and floods across the U.S.

Join us for what should be a captivating evening of stories and insights into what it’s like to live a life where each day is one disaster after another. 

Steven Sobieszczyk has spent 23 years with the USGS. Currently, he serves as media lead for natural hazards at the bureau. Between 2005 and 2010, Steve earned degrees in landslide engineering geology, hydrology, and geographic information systems (GIS) from Portland State University. Besides his research, Sobie’s passion is to help others communicate better, regardless of their background or interests. Never satisfied, Steve has developed broad expertise, including being a professor, author, videographer, and artist. He is a co-founder of the Association of Science Communicators (ASC) and spends part of the year as an incident first responder for wildfires and other natural disasters.

Science on Tap is a science lecture series where you can sit back, drink a pint, and enjoy learning. Listen to experts talk about the science in your neighborhood and around the world. You don't have to be a science geek to have fun--all you need is a thirst for knowledge! For more information on this event or about Science on Tap, visit Science on Tap OR WA.

On Saturday, April 27, the Portland Office of Violence Prevention’s Safe Blocks Program is hosting the Cully Community Resource Fair from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Hacienda Community Development Corporation in Northeast Portland. Sponsors include Community Services Network PDX, Living Cully, The DPI Group, and CareOregon.

The rain or shine event includes a food pantry, utility assistance information, local artisans, non-profit resources, kids activities, raffle prizes, chiropractic services, a repair café, and local food vendors.

Safe Blocks Program staff will be available for interviews at the resource fair between 12 – 1 p.m. or in advance by emailing CSDPIO@portlandoregon.gov. 

What: Cully Community Resource Fair

When: Saturday, April 27, 2024 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Where: Hacienda Community Development Corporation – Las Adelitas Event Space (6700 NE Killingsworth St, Portland OR 97218)

For more information, email info@csnpdx.org or visit https://www.portland.gov/community-safety/ovp/events/2024/4/27/cully-community-resource-fair.

###

Salem, Ore. – Tucked away with a stack of other tickets in a Tupperware container was this year’s $1 million Raffle ticket. Leslie Carr, 52, of Portland claimed the prize on Monday after she brought her pile of tickets to the retailer where she buys them – the Fred Meyer in Happy Valley. 

“I had no idea I was the winner,” said Carr, who works as a medical receptionist. “If it weren’t for the billion dollar Powerball winner making news, I would have forgot. We don’t check our tickets.”

After scanning a few dozen tickets for other draw games in the store, the last one was the winning Raffle ticket, drawn on March 15. When the machine came up with a message that she needed to go an Oregon Lottery office, she asked a staff member at the store to double check. 

“I heard him say, ‘Oh, I can’t cash this because your prize is worth over $1,000,’” she said. “That’s when I started getting butterflies.” 

Carr plans to use the money to pay off the mortgage on the home she shares with her husband, calling it “a dream come true.” A new truck to replace the one she currently drives with a broken windshield is also on her wish list, along with a vacation to Hawaii. 

Carr said she regularly plays the annual Raffle and has never won. Prizes for the Raffle include the $1 million top prize, along with 300 prizes of $500, and 1,500 prizes of $100. The Raffle offers the best odds of any Oregon Lottery game to win $1 million – 1 in 250,000. Overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 138.8. The Oregon Lottery’s Raffle game went on sale December 31, 2023, and all 250,000 tickets were sold out by March 8, 2024. 

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

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

Lebanon Fire District responds to shed fire in Lacomb. At approximately 1212am Lebanon Fire was dispatched for the report of structure fire in 33000 block of Ford Mill Rd. Initial reports stated that there was a shed on fire with livestock inside. BC31 was the first arriving unit and found a 20X30 shed that was fully involved and spreading to a vehicle that was parked close by. The first arriving Engine was able to make a quick knock down on the fire and keep it form spreading to other parked vehicles. Lebanon Fire District responded with 2 Engines, 3 Water Tenders, 2 Ambulances and a Battalion Chief Vehicle. Totaling 13 people.  Lebanon Fire District was assisted by Albany Fire Department for City coverage while the fire was being extinguished. 

Lebanon Fire district would like to remind everyone to use caution when using portable heat sources. It is important to make sure that the heat source is secured and away from placed a safe distance from combustible items. 

WHAT
The Oregon Department of Emergency Management is hosting its eighth annual Oregon Prepared Conference for the emergency management community this Tuesday through Thursday in Sunriver.

WHY
The annual conference serves as a vital gathering for emergency management professionals, providing a forum for stakeholders from various sectors to exchange ideas, discuss current trends, and share information about the latest tools and technology in emergency management and homeland security. Attendees include partners with a role in preparedness, response, recovery and resilience from tribes, counties, cities, special districts, state and federal emergency management agencies, public safety and health preparedness sectors, non-profit organizations, and private sector businesses.

WHO
Oregon Department of Emergency Management Director Erin McMahon and Deputy Director Patence Winningham will be available for interviews about the state of emergency management in Oregon. Media may also visit a workshop session for B-roll footage.

WHEN
Media Avail from 9:45-10:15 a.m., Today, April 23

WHERE
Great Hall Conference Center
Sunriver Lodge
57081 Great Hall Loop, Sunriver, Oregon

OTHER INFORMATION
Website: Oregon Prepared Emergency Preparedness Workshop
Program: Oregon Prepared Emergency Preparedness Workshop Program

SOCIAL
@oregonOEM on Facebook, X and LinkedIn

ONSITE MEDIA CONTACT
Chris Crabb (she/her)
OEM Public Affairs Officer
971-719-0089 (talk or text)
Please text upon arrival

In the early morning hours of April 22nd, Hillsboro Police received a report of a kidnapping captured on a community member’s doorbell camera. A team of investigators was formed and we requested the assistance of the community in identifying the suspect and victim from the video circulating on social media.

By the early morning hours of April 23rd, the suspect and victim were identified. The suspect was arrested and the victim is safe. The suspect and victim knew each other and this was not a random attack. There is no danger to the public. The suspect is charged with Kidnapping.

We are not releasing the names of the suspect or victim at this time.

Thank you to all the community members who contacted us to provide tips and leads in this investigation.

Devon was located this evening just moments ago. He is safe back home and uninjured. Thank you for the public assistance.  

Devon Whiteshell, age 14 walked away from his care home near Ward Dr NE / Lancaster Dr NE in Salem around 5:40 p.m. this evening.

Devon is 5’02” tall, skinny build. He was last seen wearing a gray zip-up jacket, dark blue/black jeans, and carrying a small book.

If you locate him, please keep him in your sight and call 911.

Vancouver, Wash. – A jury has reached a verdict of not guilty in the criminal trial against Vancouver Police Officer Andrea Mendoza arising from of a May 21, 2023, use of force incident. Following the incident, the Police Department opened an internal investigation, which was subsequently paused pending the outcome of the trial in the criminal case.  

With the conclusion of the trial, the Vancouver Police Department Professional Standards Unit will now resume the internal investigation. The City and Vancouver Police Department will not be commenting on the active internal investigation. Officer Mendoza remains on administrative leave.  

The City of Vancouver Police Department is committed to serving the public with professionalism, compassion, and respect.    

###

We are looking for any information the community may have regarding this incident. Please contact the Hillsboro Police at (503) 629-0111 or 911 if you have any information which could assist in the investigation.

Following an extensive search process, two finalist candidates, Chris Fritsch and Dr. James Shank, have been selected; Final interviews to be held 4/24/2024

In a special meeting on Saturday, April 20, the Castle Rock School District Board of Directors named two finalists in the district’s search for a new superintendent.  

The two finalist candidates are:

• Chris Fritsch, who led the Pendleton School District as superintendent from 2017 to 2022, brings a wealth of experience from various teaching and leadership roles, including principal in Ocean Shores and over 20 years in Longview as a teacher, coach, principal, and assistant superintendent. 
• Dr. James Shank served as superintendent in Idaho Falls and most recently in North Beach for a combined 15 years. He has a diverse background in education, including roles as a special education teacher, principal, and director of special education. Shank is a native of Longview.

The selections followed an extensive community engagement process that included an online survey with over 200 respondents and focus groups that included all levels of staff, families, students, and community leaders and members.

The board will conduct final interviews with the two candidates on April 24, 2024 and plans to appoint the new superintendent to start on July 1, 2024.

The board began interviewing semi-finalists for the position of superintendent on April 20, 2024, narrowing a pool of applicants down to the two finalists. The finalists, selected from a highly qualified and experienced candidate pool, are Chris Fritsch, former Superintendent of Pendleton School District, and Dr. James Shank, Superintendent of North Beach School District. 

“Meeting such qualified candidates who align so closely with our district’s values and priorities has been a true pleasure,” said Vilas Sundberg, Castle Rock Board Chair. “Each candidate brought a unique set of skills and experiences, yet our finalists stood out as embodying the qualities most valued by our staff, families, and community members in Castle Rock School District’s next leader.”

For more information, please visit our website at https://www.crschools.org/school_board/  or join us on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at 4:15 & 5:00 at Castle Rock Middle School and meet each candidate.

The Battle Ground City Council has appointed Kristina Swanson as the Interim City Manager, effective April 22, 2024. The appointment was made during the April 15 City Council meeting, following the resignation announcement from former City Manager Erin Erdman.  Erdman’s last day with the City of Battle Ground was April 19; she had accepted the City Manager position with the City of Kennewick, WA. 

Ms. Swanson has 33 years of public service experience, including being elected to five terms as County Auditor for Cowlitz County. Before joining us in Battle Ground, Ms. Swanson served with the City of Longview, WA, working her way up from Director of Administrative Services to the City Manager position.

The Interim City Manager will serve until a permanent City Manager is selected.  The City Council has approved a contract with Prothman, an executive recruitment firm, to conduct a nationwide search for Battle Ground’s next City Manager. The application period is currently open, with the first review scheduled to occur after May 26^th. 

In accordance with the city's adopted council-manager form of government, the City Manager is appointed by the council and serves as the city's chief administrator. 

PORTLAND, OREGON– On Friday, April 19, 2024, FBI Director Christopher Wray presented the Interfaith Peace and Action Collaborative (IPAC) with the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA) for their service to the Portland area. Lisa Broderick accepted the FBI Portland 2023 Director’s Community Leadership Award on behalf of IPAC. IPAC is a united group that proactively gathers as members of faith, community, business, and law enforcement to discuss and create action around bringing peace to Portland’s streets. The group researches best practices and identifies appropriate actions, technology, and street-level solutions to address violence at a grassroots level. IPAC is also working to become a model for, and share information with, other cities that are struggling with an uptick in crime. 

“IPAC is intentional about promoting restraint on the street and creating and maintaining dialogue between the community members it represents and law enforcement. This directly intersects with the FBI’s national mission of protecting the American people, and FBI Portland’s local mission of keeping the people of Oregon safe,” said Douglas A. Olson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Portland Field Office. “FBI Portland is proud to work with the leaders of IPAC as they devote countless hours to addressing the crisis of violence on Portland streets and are working toward solutions for a safer, shared community.”

The FBI established the DCLA in 1990 to publicly acknowledge the achievements of those working to make a difference in their communities through the promotion of education and the prevention of crime and violence. Each year, one person or organization from each of the FBI’s 56 field offices is chosen to receive this prestigious award.

"Our success as both a law enforcement and an intelligence agency hinges on our ability to foster and maintain genuine partnerships with people in all communities,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “People like this year’s Leadership Award recipients not only identify what others need, but they are willing to roll up their sleeves and provide services. They are building bridges and relationships while putting in the work to have hard conversations and find common purpose. They do it out of kindness and compassion with a sincere belief that justice – in its many forms – requires all of us to do the right thing in the right way."

Director Wray hosted the 2023 DCLA winners in a special ceremony at FBI Headquarters on April 19th, emphasizing the importance of community partnerships in keeping our shared communities safe. These partnerships – as exemplified by the breadth of the work by the DCLA recipients – have led to a host of crime prevention programs that protect the most vulnerable in our communities, educate families and businesses about cyber threats, and work to reduce violent crime in our neighborhoods. Learn more about the Director's Community Leadership Award, IPAC, and the FBI Portland Field Office online DCLA 2023 Winners — FBI. Learn more about the FBI’s general outreach efforts, and the Portland Field Office online About — FBI.

###

Attached photo: Lisa Broderick accepted the FBI Portland 2023 Director’s Community Leadership Award on behalf of the Interfaith Peace and Action Collaborative. 

Tigard, Oregon – Tigard-Tualatin School District (TTSD) Director of Secondary Amber Fields announced today that Cindy Pellicci will be the new principal at Fowler Middle School. Pellicci assumes the role on July 1, 2024, replacing current Principal Andy Van Fleet who will become the new Principal at Sherwood Middle School. 

“Our students, staff, families, and community members all voiced their desire for a leader who is visionary, a strategic thinker, equity-centered, strong communicator, experienced in middle school environments, and collaborative,” said Director Fields. “Our stakeholder groups involved in the hiring process unanimously felt that Cindy Pellicci embodies these qualities, and I wholeheartedly agree. As Fowler’s current associate principal, Cindy will seamlessly continue her career journey in the place she calls home, ready to lead with thoughtfulness and passion.”

Cindy brings 18 years of experience in education primarily serving in TTSD both at Fowler and Tigard High School. She joined TTSD in 2008 as a Health teacher before transitioning to Tigard High School’s first On-Track Coordinator. Cindy held that position for five years at which point she progressed into her current role as an Associate Principal at Fowler Middle School.

“As a longtime member of the Fowler Middle School community, I have spent eleven years building strong relationships with all stakeholders, including students, parents, teachers, and community members, by actively listening, valuing diverse perspectives, and fostering a sense of belonging. It will be an extraordinary honor to serve as the next school leader. I will work tirelessly to ensure that our pandemic-impacted students & staff can re-center the school-house as a hub of academic, social, and emotional growth and joy.”

After serving four years in the United States Navy, Pellicci earned her BS Ed. at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Connecticut. She then completed her MS in Educational Leadership from Western Governor’s University where she earned her Principal’s Licensure. She is currently enrolled in the University of Oregon Professional Administrator Licensure program. 

Leland to talk about how losing his sight expanded his world view at Columbia Writers Series   

Vancouver, Wash.— The Clark College Columbia Writers Series welcomes writer Andrew Leland. This event, which is free and open to the public, will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 29 in the Penguin Union Building (PUB) room 258 A-B on Clark College's main campus, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver.  Directions and maps are available online.  

Leland’s debut book, The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight, about the world of blindness and figuring out his place in it, was published by Penguin Press in 2023. 

Leland is a writer, audio producer, editor and teacher. His writing has been published in The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, McSweeney’s Quarterly, The San Francisco Chronicle, and more. He is a former host and producer of The Organist, an arts and culture podcast for KCRW. He has produced segments for Radiolab and 99 Percent Invisible. 

Since 2003 he has been an editor at “The Believer”, a quarterly literature, arts and culture magazine published by McSweeney’s. He has taught nonfiction writing, radio and digital storytelling at Smith College, University of Massachusetts Amherst and the University of Missouri. He lives in western Massachusetts with his wife and son. Learn more about Leland here.

The Columbia Writers Series was launched at Clark College in 1988, bringing local, national and international authors to the college and the region. Learn more about the Columbia Writers Series at www.clark.edu/cc/cws. 

Clark College is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution. Learn more at www.clark.edu/nds. If you need accommodation due to a disability in order to fully participate in this event, please contact Clark College’s Human Resources Office. Phone: 360-992-2105 or email: hr@clark.edu/.

About Clark College  

Founded in 1933 and celebrating its 90^th year, Clark College provides residents of Southwest Washington with affordable, high-quality academic and technical education. It is a public community college offering 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 a wide range of students including high school students, displaced workers, veterans, parents, non-native English speakers, and mature learners. Approximately 45% of its students are in the first generation of their families to attend college.    

#### 

[PORTLAND, OR] – On Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the City of Portland’s Safe Blocks Program and the Portland Police Bureau are partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration to host the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day at the Penumbra Kelly Building. They will be collecting tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines.

What: National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

When: Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Who: Safe Blocks Program & Portland Police Bureau 

Where: Penumbra Kelly Building (4735 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97215)

In partnership with local law enforcement, Take Back Day offers FREE and anonymous disposal of unneeded medications at more than 4,000 local drop-off locations nationwide. For more than a decade, these events have helped Americans easily rid their homes of unneeded medications—those that are old, unwanted, or expired—that too often become a gateway to addiction.

Collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps, and illicit drugs. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. The cap must be tightly sealed to prevent leakage. 

A canned food drive in support of our local Sunshine Division will be available for donations. Donate (2) cans of food to be entered into a raffle to win a $50 Amazon gift card! 

DataSafe will be available at the event for FREE confidential paper shredding to community members who wish to shred office paper, colored paper, or folders.  They will not be accepting plastic, liquids, binders, batteries, electronics, cans, or trash.

Can’t make it to this event? Visit www.dea.gov or call 1-800-882-9539  for an authorized year-round drug disposal location near you.

Note: This event will not be accepting furniture donations or disposing of any electronics.

# # #

PORTLAND, Ore.— Every April, the Justice Department’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) leads communities across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) to honor crime victims, promote their rights and recognize victim advocates. This year’s observance, the 43^rd annual commemoration, takes place April 21-27, 2024, with the theme: Options, services, and hope for crime survivors.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office joins its federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners in taking this opportunity to highlight the importance of providing necessary services at the earliest possible stage of victimization and litigation. Early intervention helps prevent further victimization and encourages victim involvement in the criminal justice system, mitigating the cycle of violence and restoring hope for the future.

“Through the work of our victim services team, our new special victims unit, and all our staff who work on victim cases, seeking justice on behalf crime victims is central to our mission and continues to be a top priority for our office,” said Natalie Wight, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

During National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, victim advocacy organizations, community groups and state, local, and tribal agencies host rallies, candlelight vigils, and other events to raise awareness of victims’ rights and services.

OVC and U.S. Attorney’s Offices encourage widespread participation in the week’s events and in other victim-related observances throughout the year. For additional information about this year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and how to assist victims in your community, please visit OVC’s website at www.ovc.gov. For ongoing updates from OVC and ideas for how you can support crime victims throughout the year, please subscribe to OVC’s email notifications at https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw/subscribe/.

If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, please call 911. If you believe you have been the target or victim of a crime, please contact your local law enforcement agency or your nearest FBI field office immediately. The FBI Portland Field Office can be reached at (503) 224-4181 or by submitting tips online at tips.fbi.gov.

###

Tigard, Oregon - After a national search, Tigard-Tualatin School District (TTSD) Superintendent Dr. Sue Rieke-Smith announced today that Jessica Seay will be the District’s new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) beginning July 1, 2024. Seay, serving currently as the St. Helens School District Director of Fiscal Services, will step into the position currently held by CFO David Moore who announced his retirement at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. 

“It's an immense privilege to be able to join the Tigard-Tualatin team and work with education, support, and operations staff, to ensure equitable educational opportunities for students. I look forward to continuing the District's work in aligning financial resources to strategic investments so that Tigard-Tualatin School District is well-positioned to continuously address the diverse needs of our students and the communities we serve.”

Seay holds a BA in Business Administration from Washington State University and a Certificate in Education Finance from Georgetown University.  She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a member of the Oregon Association of School Business Officials, serving as the Professional Development Committee Chair.  Seay is also a current member of the Oregon Department of Education Program Budgeting and Accounting Manual Committee.  

Seay began her career using her accounting background to support nonprofit organizations working with Clark Nuber Public Accounting Firm where she received training in not-for-profit accounting, organizational internal controls, and best practices in governance.  In this work, she also audited Federal programs and supervised staff navigating the accounting reporting requirements. 

Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington is currently open for Summer Enrollment. Sign up today! For additional information please visit our website www.mybgc.org

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County is seeking community input to help plan for climate change through a series of activities throughout the year to inform the county’s new climate chapter for its comprehensive plan.

With the passage of HB 1181 during the 2023 Washington State legislative session, Clark County is now required to add a climate change element into its Comprehensive Plan. The new climate chapter will include actions the county can take over the next 20 years to improve community resilience, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and benefit overburdened communities that will disproportionately suffer from the compounding environmental impacts and natural hazards due to climate change.

To start, members of the Clark County community are invited to complete a survey to share how they and their families have been affected by severe weather events and weather patterns. 

• The survey is available in multiple languages.
• Responses are requested by 5pm Sunday, May 12.
• Surveys are available online at: https://clark.wa.gov/community-planning/climate-change-planning.
• Print copies may be requested by contacting 564.397.4968.

Feedback provided through the survey will inform the development of the resilience component of the climate chapter and what actions the county can take to prepare for and cope with future severe weather events and weather patterns. 

Community members will have additional opportunities to provide feedback on this project later in the year. The entire climate event series includes:

Resilience

• Spring 2024: Survey to collect community member experience and needs related to severe weather events and weather patterns. The survey will be available through May 12. 
• Early summer 2024: Community workshop to seek ideas about how to address climate resilience in the unincorporated county.

Pollution Reduction

• Late summer 2024: Survey to collect community member priorities on reducing greenhouse gas pollution in Clark County.
• Fall 2024: Community workshop seeking ideas about how to address greenhouse gas emissions reduction in the unincorporated county.

Adoption Process

• 2025: Residents will have the opportunity to submit comments or testify to the Planning Commission and County Council about the county’s proposed climate chapter for the Comprehensive Growth Management Plan.

To learn more about county climate planning, sign up for project updates, or submit a comment, please visit the project website at https://clark.wa.gov/community-planning/climate-change-planning.

The county’s Climate Project is being funded by a state grant. The Washington Department of Commerce climate planning grant is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA). The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.

Vancouver, Wash. – The board of the Clark County Public Facilities District will hold a public meeting 4-5 p.m. Monday, May 6, 2024.

The meeting will be on the Teams platform. Anyone wishing to attend the meeting can Click here to join the meeting and use the meeting password cRytQv or call +1.213.262.7043 and use the access code 392 970 465#. 

The Public Facilities District was formed in 2002 for the purpose of participating in the study, planning and development of one or more regional centers that would promote tourism, such as the convention center in downtown Vancouver and exhibition hall at the Clark County fairgrounds.

The five-member board is comprised of two people appointed by Clark County and two appointed by the city of Vancouver. Those four appoint the fifth member.

The board typically tries to meet on the first Monday of February, May, August and November. 

The four $25,000 investments are part of OnPoint’s Green Horizons initiative to protect the Pacific Northwest’s environment and fight climate change

PORTLAND, Ore., April 22, 2024 — In celebration of Earth Day 2024, OnPoint Community Credit Union has donated $100,000 to local nonprofits working to preserve and protect the environment, natural resources and wildlife in Oregon and SW Washington. 

The donation is part of OnPoint’s Green Horizons initiative, which launched in 2021 to help empower the credit union’s members and employees to care for the planet. This year’s beneficiaries are The Nature Conservancy in Oregon, Friends of Trees, McKenzie River Trust and Columbia Slough Watershed Council. Each organization will receive $25,000.

“Earth Day is a powerful reminder of how critical it is to preserve our planet for future generations,” said Rob Stuart, President and CEO, OnPoint Community Credit Union. “The Green Horizons initiative is OnPoint’s commitment to giving our community the opportunity to make a difference, while amplifying the work of local organizations dedicated to protecting our planet. We are proud to support these four incredible organizations that are at the forefront of environmental conservation.” 

OnPoint’s Green Horizons provides members with financing discounts on electric or hybrid vehicles and solar panels, partners with local environmental nonprofits, and offers employees telecommuting programs, volunteer opportunities and environmental education. Since its launch, OnPoint has donated more than $500,000 to local nonprofits working to create a more sustainable future.

Supporting Oregon’s conservation with local nonprofit support

The Nature Conservancy in Oregon (TNC) brings people together to solve the most significant conservation challenges of our time. Since 2017, OnPoint has donated more than $340,000 to help fund projects, including forest restoration, ensuring vibrant and resilient coastal communities and sustainable fisheries, and protecting existing soil and underground carbon in Eastern Oregon. In 2021, OnPoint pledged up to $250 to TNC for every approved electric or hybrid vehicle loan with OnPoint. The campaign resulted in 1,474 approved green auto loans and a $226,750 donation to TNC. 

“We are so grateful for OnPoint’s continued support of our mission,” said Derek Johnson, State Director of The Nature Conservancy in Oregon. “This generous contribution will help us further our progress in tackling urgent environmental challenges while strengthening Oregon’s natural defenses against climate change.”

Friends of Trees partners with local communities to plant trees creating a healthier environment for local communities. Friends of Trees has planted over 950,000 trees and native shrubs in neighborhoods and natural areas in Oregon and SW Washington since 1989. Friends of Trees contributes to a greener, more sustainable future through its planting efforts and fosters a deep connection between community members and their environment. 

“Our partnerships help make it possible to engage community members in tree planting projects in neighborhoods and natural areas throughout Oregon,” said Yashar Vasef, Executive Director for Friends of Trees. “OnPoint’s partnership and generous donation will bring people together to take real climate action in their communities.”

McKenzie River Trust has brought communities together to protect and restore western Oregon’s land and waters since 1989. The McKenzie River Trust has protected over 7,000 acres of special lands, conserving critical habitats for wildlife, clean water and natural landscapes while promoting a climate-resilient and sustainable future. The Trust works to reestablish native vegetation and natural water cycles to ensure these lands withstand and adapt to environmental changes. It also safeguards the natural beauty and biodiversity of the region and engages the community in sustainable practices, contributing significantly to a healthier planet.

“Partnering with organizations like OnPoint helps us achieve our mission to protect and care for Oregon’s lands and rivers,” said Elizabeth Goward, Community Engagement Manager for the Trust. “We are grateful for the supportive partnership and look forward to continuing our work protect important places, connect people to the outdoors, and ensure a vibrant future for the land, water, and people of western Oregon.”

Columbia Slough Watershed Council partners with community members to enhance the Columbia Slough and its watershed through community engagement, education and restoration. Columbia Slough Watershed Council has worked in response to rampant development and loss of open space to fight pollution since the early 1990s. A key component of their strategy is the Slough School program, which offers free environmental education to K-12 students. This initiative educates students about the ecosystem’s history and ecology through hands-on learning and fosters a sense of stewardship and connection to their local environment.

“Our goal is to ensure our urban watershed is rich in clean water and healthy habitats that support the needs of fish, wildlife, plants and people,” said Heather King, Executive Director for Columbia Slough Watershed Council. “Everything we do is made possible by community partners like OnPoint, and we are so grateful for their generosity and shared commitment to creating a cleaner environment.”

Increasing accessibility with auto and home special rate discounts

OnPoint’s Green Horizons offers special rate discounts for members to make going green more accessible. The Green Auto Discount offers 0.25%¹ Annual Percentage Rate (APR) off auto loan rates for new or used electric or hybrid vehicles financed through OnPoint. People in the market for electric or hybrid vehicles can also find additional incentives through Oregon, Washington and federal programs.

OnPoint’s Green Horizons also makes it more affordable for homeowners to produce their own solar electricity. When homeowners apply for an EquityFlex Line of Credit for home improvements, they can fix a portion of their line of credit for the purchase of solar panels and receive a 0.25%² discount off the EquityFlex Fixed Portion APR. Homeowners can find even more savings by looking at incentives and rebate programs in Oregon and Washington.

For more information about OnPoint’s investment in building a greener future, such as telecommuting programs, employee volunteer opportunities, and other donations to environmentally-focused organizations, please visit onpointcu.com/green-horizons.

ABOUT ONPOINT COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION

OnPoint Community Credit Union is the largest credit union in Oregon, serving over 554,000 members and with assets of $9 billion. Founded in 1932, OnPoint Community Credit Union’s membership is available to anyone who lives or works in one of 28 Oregon counties (Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Wasco, Washington, Wheeler and Yamhill) and two Washington counties (Skamania and Clark) and their immediate family members. OnPoint Community Credit Union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). More information is available at www.onpointcu.com or 503-228-7077 or 800-527-3932.

###

1. APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Vehicles meeting OnPoint’s Green Auto Discount standards receive a 0.25% discount off stated APR (Annual Percentage Rate). All OnPoint loans are subject to credit terms and approval. Discount does not apply to existing OnPoint auto loans.
2. Receive a 0.25% discount off stated EquityFlex Fixed Portion APR when proceeds are used to purchase solar panels. Review of purchase order or invoice required to qualify. Discount applies to invoice/purchase order amount, not to exceed $12,000. All OnPoint loans are subject to credit terms and approval.

Vancouver, Wash. –  This Earth Day, Clark County Public Health is honoring environmental sustainability leaders in local K-12 schools and businesses with the 2024 Green Awards. The annual Green Awards highlight the accomplishments of individuals and organizations and celebrate their commitment to reducing harmful environmental impacts, educating others, and giving back to the community. 

This year’s awards recognize two local educators and three Green Businesses for their commitment to creating a healthy and sustainable culture in their communities. Winners will receive unique trophies crafted by students at Washougal High School and made entirely from recycled materials. 

The Clark County Green Schools and Green Business programs thank everyone who submitted an application for this year’s Green Awards and encourage applicants to apply again next year. 

Here are the 2024 Green Awards winners: 

Jennifer Baybado – Green Apple Award for an individual involved in school sustainability programs Jennifer Baybado is a third grade teacher at Sacajawea Elementary School in Vancouver who is a true sustainability champion in her school. She and her green team implement programs to help students reduce waste, properly recycle and compost their food scraps. She is taking the lead in creating an outdoor learning area with raised garden beds, work bin benches and outdoor seating for students to learn and grow. 

Linda Kubes – Green Apple Award for an individual involved in school sustainability programs 
Linda Kubes is a teaching assistant at the Washington State School for the Blind. Over the last few years, she has led the green team, otherwise known as the Green Beings, in completing sustainability projects around campus. Those projects include organizing litter clean ups, composting using worm bins, starting a school garden and improving recycling. Last year, Linda helped the Green Beings receive the 2023 Green Team of the Year Award. Student Charles Johnson perfectly describes Linda: “Ms. Linda sees the potential in all students who are part of the Green Beings and even though we may not all have perfect sight, she sees that we can all be part of a sustainable future.” 

Kindred Homestead Supply – Small Green Business of the Year (fewer than 25 employees) 
Kindred Homestead Supply is a beacon of sustainability for the Vancouver community. Offering more than just retail goods, it serves as a gathering point for those dedicated to conscious living. With thoughtfully stocked shelves full of eco-friendly home supplies and locally sourced products, Kindred echoes a commitment to reduce our collective environmental impact. They empower patrons with the tools and knowledge to embrace sustainable practices like waste reduction and composting through various community workshops and events. Inclusivity is at the core of their practices, inviting individuals from all walks of life to join the movement towards a greener, more connected world. Kindred Homestead Supply isn't just a store—it's a testament to the power of collective action in nurturing both the planet and the community. 

Jacobs – Large Green Business of the Year (more than 25 employees)  
In partnership with the city of Vancouver, Jacobs spearheads solutions in wastewater treatment and demonstrates their commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement. Through a blend of operational excellence and engineering ingenuity, they deliver cost-effective and award-winning utility services, ensuring regulatory compliance while prioritizing employee and community well-being. Jacobs' initiatives span waste reduction, energy conservation and water reuse, underpinned by a company-wide culture of sustainability. Their community outreach efforts, including educational tours and beach cleanups, inspire environmental awareness and inclusivity. Jacobs' dedication to sustainability sets a benchmark for the industry. 

Columbia Springs – Nonprofit Green Business of the Year 
Columbia Springs, a nonprofit organization in Vancouver, offers a remarkable 100-acre urban natural site that serves as an expansive outdoor classroom, drawing in thousands of students and community members annually. Through diverse educational programs, walking trails and events, Columbia Springs fosters a community of lifelong learners and land stewards. From the Salmon in the Classroom initiative to public events like guided hikes and nature fun days, Columbia Springs engages diverse audiences, emphasizing the importance of sustainability and environmental stewardship. Additionally, their Repair Program exemplifies sustainability by repairing broken household items, thus reducing waste and fostering a sense of community around reuse practices. Through education, outreach and active stewardship, Columbia Springs serves as a vital local resource, empowering individuals to connect with nature and embrace sustainable living practices.

Visit the Green Business and Green Schools websites to learn more about these Clark County Public Health programs.

Salem, Oregon – Next week, 18-year-old Katie Lineburg of Hillsboro will embark on the greatest adventure of her lifetime. As Oregon’s 2024 champion, Lineburg will travel to Washington D.C. to compete in the Poetry Out Loud National Competition on Wednesday, May 1. Her D.C. itinerary also includes meetings with Oregon Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici and Sen. Jeff Merkley.

“I am so filled with thankfulness, anticipation and awe as I prepare for my trip to Washington D.C.,” said Lineburg. “This experience has been such a whirlwind of blessing, growth and new opportunities, and I will forever be grateful for the chance to represent my home state of Oregon as well as my school and everyone who has made this adventure of a lifetime possible as I compete at Poetry Out Loud nationals.”

A senior from St. Stephen’s Academy, Lineburg will compete in the national semifinals from 2 to 5 p.m. (PDT) on Wednesday, May 1. The competition will be live-streamed on the National Endowment for the Arts website. The top nine students will advance to the national finals at 4 p.m. (PDT) on Thursday, May 2, also to be live-streamed.

Lineburg is the oldest of five siblings who loves music and spending time with friends and family. She is a member of the St. Stephen’s Academy Festival Choir and loves poetry because “it allows her to connect with people and express emotions in a deeper way.” She has also loved public speaking since a very young age.

“The reading of poetry can transform the written word into a deeply felt shared experience,” said First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson, who attended the Poetry Out Loud State Contest on March 9 at Salem Public Library. 

“Poetry Out Loud is a wonderful program that allows young people to connect with the human experience through the power of words,” First Lady Kotek Wilson added. “Congratulations to Katie Lineburg for representing Oregon in the national competition. We are all rooting for you!”

The poems Lineburg will perform for the national competition are "The Pulley" by George Herbert, "Beginning" by James Wright and “A Noiseless Spiker” by Walt Whitman.

Poetry Out Loud is a national recitation contest for high school students, organized in Oregon by the Oregon Arts Commission in collaboration with the NEA and the Poetry Foundation. Participants memorize and present poems, practicing public speaking skills while exploring the complexity of poetry.

See video of Lineburg performing and being announced as Oregon’s champion.

The Oregon Arts Commission provides leadership, funding and arts programs through its grants, special initiatives and services. Nine commissioners, appointed by the Governor, determine arts needs and establish policies for public support of the arts. The Arts Commission became part of Business Oregon (formerly Oregon Economic and Community Development Department) in 1993, in recognition of the expanding role the arts play in the broader social, economic and educational arenas of Oregon communities. In 2003, the Oregon legislature moved the operations of the Oregon Cultural Trust to the Arts Commission, streamlining operations and making use of the Commission’s expertise in grantmaking, arts and cultural information and community cultural development. 

The Arts Commission is supported with general funds appropriated by the Oregon legislature and with federal funds from the National Endowment for the Arts as well as funds from the Oregon Cultural Trust. More information about the Oregon Arts Commission is available online at:  www.oregonartscommission.org.

GRESHAM, Ore. - Gresham Mayor Travis Stovall will present Congressman Earl Blumenauer with the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award at the Gresham State of the City event on Tuesday, April 23, from 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the Gresham Armory, 544 NE Division St., Gresham.

Gresham’s Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates exceptional commitment to public service and significant contributions to community betterment. The award honors dedication, innovation and leadership. Congressman Earl Blumenauer, with over 50 years of continuous service across various levels of government, is the epitome of such dedication. His visionary policies and tireless advocacy have played a pivotal role in enhancing the lives of countless Oregonians and Americans.

“Over his decades of service, Congressman Earl Blumenauer has consistently exemplified a rare blend of vision, effectiveness, and integrity,” said Gresham Mayor Stovall. “His forward-thinking policies have not only shaped Portland, and beyond but have left a lasting impact on communities nationwide. From pioneering curbside recycling to advocating for sustainable transportation, Earl's contributions are not merely legislative milestones; they are the building blocks of a better, more sustainable future. His dedication reminds us all what it means to serve with purpose and passion.”

Preceding the award ceremony, Mayor Stovall will provide a brief “State of the City” recap of Gresham’s success in the areas of economic development, public safety, parks and recreation, and youth violence prevention, as well as the opportunities that lie ahead.

This ticketed event is co-hosted with the Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce. It is sold out; however, members of the news media are welcome to attend.

Media Advisory - All Media Are Invited

SOLVE's Oregon Spring Cleanup 2024 spans across Oregon and SW Washington with over 100 events. This hallmark event, celebrating Earth Day, unites volunteers and partners from the Pacific Northwest to contribute to a cleaner, greener planet. Rooted in SOLVE's rich history, this event series merges two cherished events: the Spring Oregon Beach Cleanup (1986) and SOLVE IT for Earth Day (1990). The Oregon Spring Cleanup 2024 is presented by Portland General Electric. It's an excellent opportunity for families, coworkers, and neighbors to bond while preserving Oregon's stunning locations.

Media are invited to document environmentally engaged citizens and interview SOLVE staff and partners at the following event:

What: Cityscape Sparkle: Earth Day Cleanup at Sport Oregon

When: Monday, April 22, 2024, 2 PM – 4 PM. Volunteers will start arriving after 1:45 PM.

Where: 1939 SW Morrison St Portland, OR 97205 | (Map Link)
We will be meeting outside of Sport Oregon.

This litter cleanup event taking place on Earth Day 2024 goes beyond tidying up the neighborhood streets. Participants are invited for a day of community, cleanliness, and local love at Sport Oregon to foster a sense of unity and enhance our local environment. This Earth Day event is presented by Swire Coca-Cola and TriMet.

The media should arrive at Sport Oregon by 1:45 PM. 

Available interviewees: 

• Kris Carico, CEO, SOLVE 
• Josh Keller, Development Director, SOLVE
• Tia York, Manager of Media Relations, TriMet Public Affairs Division 

For more event details, please check the event page:
SOLVE | Cityscape Sparkle: Earth Day Cleanup (solveoregon.org)

Along with Portland General Electric, event sponsors of the Oregon Spring Cleanup 2024 include Clean Water Services, AAA Oregon/Idaho, Fred Meyer, Metro, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, KOIN, The Oregonian, The Standard, Swire Coca-Cola, Holman, Demarini-Wilson, TriMet, and PepsiCo.

####

About SOLVE
SOLVE is a statewide non-profit organization that brings people together to improve our environment and build a legacy of stewardship. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots group to a national model for volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains tens of thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon and Southwest Washington to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas and to build a legacy of stewardship for our state. Visit solveoregon.org for more information. 

WHAT
The Oregon Department of Emergency Management is hosting its eighth annual Oregon Prepared Conference for 500 emergency management professionals this Tuesday through Thursday in Sunriver.

WHO
Oregon Department of Emergency Management Director Erin McMahon and Deputy Director Patence Winningham will be available for interviews about the state of emergency management in Oregon. Media may also visit a workshop session for B-roll footage.

WHEN
Media Avail from 9:45-10:15 a.m., Tuesday, April 23

WHERE
Great Hall Conference Center
Sunriver Lodge
57081 Great Hall Loop, Sunriver, Oregon

WHY
The annual conference serves as a vital gathering for emergency management professionals, providing a forum for stakeholders from various sectors to exchange ideas, discuss current trends, and share information about the latest tools and technology in emergency management and homeland security. Attendees include partners with a role in preparedness, response, recovery and resilience from tribes, counties, cities, special districts, state and federal emergency management agencies, public safety and health preparedness sectors, non-profit organizations, and private sector businesses.

OTHER INFORMATION
Website: Oregon Prepared Emergency Preparedness Workshop
Program: Oregon Prepared Emergency Preparedness Workshop Program

SOCIAL
@oregonOEM on Facebook, X and LinkedIn

ONSITE MEDIA CONTACT
Chris Crabb (she/her)
OEM Public Affairs Officer
971-719-0089 (talk or text)
Please text upon arrival

Portland, OR - Grace Memorial Episcopal Church Parking Lot: April 27^th, 2024  12-3 PM

The Portland Lloyd Lions Club will host the Paper Shredding Fundraiser on April 27, 2024. This event is part of a series of events throughout Oregon celebrating the Lions connection to Helen Keller. And their promise to address preventable blindness and hearing loss, in partnership with their Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation.

Event Details

On-Site Secure Paper Shredding Fundraiser

Saturday, 4/27 from 12-3 PM

Grace Memorial Episcopal Church Parking Lot

1535 NE 17th Ave, Portland 97232

Suggested donation:  $15 per standard File Box (15 x 12 x 10, approx. 25-30 lbs.)

We try to price this 1/4 to 1/3 less than typical retail cost to make it a good deal!

All funds received provide Sight & Hearing services to low income community members in need.

Together the Lions Clubs of Oregon, OLSHF and its partners offer access to people for critical sight saving surgeries and treatments; secure new eyeglasses; help people who can’t afford eyeglasses and hearing aids, and manage the largest vision screening program in the US. In 2015, OLSHF launched the LEAP Optical Finishing Lab to manufacture high quality, low cost eyeglasses. Annually, over 2,000 Oregonians receive new eyeglasses built by their lab. 

About OLSHF & the Lions of Oregon 

The Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation (OLSHF) serves communities statewide. Since their formation in 1959, they have created programs in response to the need for sight and hearing assistance and partnered with medical professionals for discounted rates. They have built upon the promise made to Helen Keller by creating a continuum of care for people who lack access to vision and hearing services. Learn more at www.olshf.org or www.facebook.com/olshf.

Lions of Oregon & Northern California are a part of an international network of 1.4 million men and women in 200 countries and geographic areas who work together to answer the needs that challenge communities around the world. Lions are best known for working to end preventable blindness, the giving of eyeglasses and hearing aids for the needy and local service projects. http://www.md36lionsclubs.org/

About Lions Clubs International:
Lions Clubs International is the largest service club organization in the world. Our 1.4 million members in more than 46,000 clubs provide humanitarian service in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the globe. Since 1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired, championed youth initiatives and strengthened communities through hands on service and humanitarian projects. For more information about Lions Clubs International, visit www.lionsclubs.org.

#            #            #

Portland Fire & Rescue was dispatched to a commercial fire located in the Overlook Neighborhood of North Portland at about 10:15am this morning.  The approximately 10,000 square foot building housed an automotive repair shop in one half and a space that was currently vacant in the other half. 

The first arriving truck company reported brown smoke coming from the garage bay door and as they were attempting to make entry realized the smoke was under significant pressure. At about that same time the first engine company and Chief Officer were arriving, and it was determined that the building needed to be ventilated prior to entry and a defensive fire attack was initiated. Due to the size of the building and the dangerous smoke conditions Command also called for a 2^nd alarm at this time.

This was a warehouse style building with very few windows and the fire yet to breach the roof, so it was determined that a large hole needed to be cut in the roof to provide pressure relief and allow firefighters to make entry to find and extinguish the fire. While the vertical ventilation was being done on the roof firefighters on the ground were preparing to make entry by forcing open locked doors but keeping them closed and preparing to cut holes in the large bay doors while also preparing hose lines for an offensive fire attack.

Once the hole was cut in the roof the dangerous smoke conditions quickly improved allowing for an offensive fire attack.  Crews entered the building, quickly found and extinguished the fire and the fire was recalled about 30 minutes after the initial call.  A few crews remained on scene after the recall to assist in ventilating the building and to continue to look for hot spots.   

No injuries were reported.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Douglas County, Ore. 19 Apr. 24- On Friday, April 19, 2024, at 7:58 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 5, near milepost 146, in Douglas County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a southbound Jaguar F-Pace, operated by Paul William Jordison (23) of Rochester (WA), veered off the right-hand shoulder of the roadway for unknown reasons. The Jaguar left the roadway, traveled airborne for approximately 100 feet down an embankment, and struck a tree approximately 15 feet above the ground level before falling to the base of the tree.

The operator (Jordison) was declared deceased at the scene.

Before the crash, the Jaguar was reportedly driving at high speeds.

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

OSP was assisted by North Douglas County Fire and ODOT.

# # #

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.

On April 20^th, 2024, at about 12:48 p.m. Oregon City police officers responded to a report of a suspicious adult male at Jiffy Lube located at 13851 Beavercreek Rd. The same subject, later identified as 23-year-old Adonai Gabriel-Escamilla, had been called in as trespassing at the same location earlier in the day.  During the first incident, Mr. Gabriel-Escamilla ran through traffic, refused to stop, and officers were unable to locate him during a subsequent area check. 

When officers contacted Mr. Gabriel-Escamilla during the second incident, he produced a knife and attempted to stab an officer.  Mr. Gabriel-Escamilla again fled on foot and at one point entered a local business with customers inside, prompting a large police response.  Attempts were made to close traffic to contain Mr. Gabriel-Escamilla and to protect bystanders.  Officers further pursued Mr. Gabriel-Escamilla, who ultimately dropped the knife and was arrested. 

Mr. Gabriel-Escamilla was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The Clackamas County Major Crimes team has been activated to investigate the incident.  Mr. Gabriel-Escamilla is expected to be lodged at the Clackamas County Jail once medically discharged for attempted aggravated murder of a police officer and additional charges.   

During the incident, OCPD officers were assisted by the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office and the Gladstone Police Department. 

Investigators are encouraging anyone who has video of the incident to call the Oregon City Police Tip line at 503-905-3505.  Please reference OCPD case number #24-007805.

Lake Oswego, OR – The City of Lake Oswego extends its gratitude to the advisory jury for their service in the Oswego Lake Access Trial. We understand the jury had to consider difficult questions and their mixed verdict reflects that. We appreciate the thoughtfulness and dedication they brought to their role in considering the facts and arguments.

As a community, we value public input in shaping our decisions. The City is committed to listening and upholding a diversity of perspectives in its decision-making processes.

For information about the City of Lake Oswego, visit www.lakeoswego.city.

###

Published: April 19, 2024

OREGON CITY – The Haggart Observatory at Clackamas Community College’s Environmental Learning Center announces its public viewing nights scheduled for 2024. Partnering with the Rose City Astronomers, the observatory will offer free stargazing opportunities throughout the year, allowing visitors to explore the wonders of the night sky through the observatory’s powerful telescope.

This year, the Environmental Learning Center will focus on showcasing the moon. While everyone has seen the moon before, viewing it through a high-powered telescope offers a new perspective, revealing craters, mountains and plains in detail.

The Haggart Observatory boasts a 24-inch Newtonian reflector telescope housed within its dome. During viewing nights, Rose City Astronomers volunteers also set up portable telescopes on the observatory deck, providing a variety of viewing options.

The viewings are free, open to the public and operate on a first-come, first-served basis. No pre-registration is required. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early, especially for popular dates, as space may be limited.

Rose City Astronomers volunteers are enthusiasts who are passionate about sharing their knowledge of the night sky. They will be on hand to guide visitors, answer questions and ensure everyone gets a chance to marvel at the wonders of space.

The observatory will be open to the public on the following dates:

• Saturday, April 20 (waxing gibbous moon, 7-9 p.m.)
• Wednesday, May 15 (first quarter moon, 9-11 p.m.)
• Saturday, May 18 (waxing gibbous moon, 7-9 p.m.)
• Thursday, June 13 (first quarter moon, 9-11 p.m.)
• Saturday, Aug. 10 (waxing crescent moon, 6:30-8:30 p.m.)
• Monday, Aug. 12 (first quarter moon, 6-8 p.m.)
• Tuesday, Sept. 17 (full moon, 9-11 p.m.)
• Wednesday, Oct. 16 (full moon, 8-10 p.m.)

If the skies are cloudy on a scheduled viewing night, call Rose City Astronomers at 503-594-6044 for cancellation updates. Dress warmly for the evening weather. Clackamas Community College is located at 19600 Molalla Ave., Oregon City 97045. The Environmental Learning Center, where the observatory is housed, is on the northeast side of campus.

About Haggart Observatory

The Haggart Observatory is located at Clackamas Community College's Environmental Learning Center in Oregon City. Originally constructed in 1989 with the community's help, the observatory offers a unique opportunity for stargazers to explore the cosmos.

About the Environmental Learning Center

The Environmental Learning Center has a rich history as an educational resource for Clackamas Community College, regional schools, industry and the community. Located on the former site of a Smucker's processing plant, the center was created to demonstrate what people could do to reclaim industrial sites, address stormwater issues and restore wildlife habitats in urban areas. Each year, thousands of people visit to explore the 5-acre site and learn about watershed health. The site serves as an important stormwater facility for the college campus and provides critical wetland habitat for resident and migratory birds, such as the great blue heron, wood duck and merganser. For more information about the Environmental Learning Center, visit CCC's Environmental Learning Center webpage at www.clackamas.edu/ELC.

-30-

The Centennial School District Governing Board will convene for a Work Session on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. 

Please be aware that a Budget Committee Meeting will take place (virtually) from 6:00 - 7:30 pm prior to the Work Session.

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.

All attendees will participate virtually via the Zoom app.  If you are interested in joining the meeting, please click on the link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89267786636?pwd=VStxS3VaNGsrSlRtTW5UaHF1SkZHdz09
Passcode: 512170

Or Telephone, dial:
  +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799
Webinar ID: 892 6778 6636
Passcode: 512170

NOTE: An Executive Session will take place on April 24th at approximately 8:30 p.m. pursuant to (ORS 192.660(2)(d) - To conduct deliberations with persons designated by the governing body to carry on labor negotiations.

All attendees will participate virtually.  Authorized parties may join the meeting virtually, by clicking the link below.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83982523943?pwd=K1pQcEZaY3owNXJTTjdvdkRiVVZMZz09
Passcode: 849122

To view the agenda and accompanying documents, click or paste this link into your browser: https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Organization/1561. The meeting agenda and associated documents may be updated as necessary.

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

The Parkrose Board of Education of School District No. 3, Multnomah County, Oregon, will convene in an Organizational Budget Committee Meeting on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at the Parkrose School District Office located at 10636 NE Prescott Street, Portland, Oregon at the hour of 6:30pm.

Guests and members of the public may attend in-person or virtually.  

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

We encourage and welcome all members of our community to engage with our board. Please email questions@parkrose.k12.or.us or call 503.408.2100 to arrange for translation services at least 72 hours before this meeting. Closed captioning provided on zoom. Other appropriate auxiliary aids and services may be provided upon request and appropriate advance notice.

The agenda is posted on our website at:LINK.

Agenda items include, but are not limited to: Budget Chair and Vice Chair elections, Superintendent’s annual budget message, presentation of the 2024-2025 budget & possible adoption of the 2024-2025 budget. 

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

In-Person Public Comment Protocol - Upon arrival to the meeting, please fill out an Intent-to-Speak card and hand it to the Board Secretary prior to "In-person Public Comment" on the agenda. You will have a 3 minute time limit.

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

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

Just before 3 p.m. Friday, callers to 911 reported black smoke pouring out of a duplex in the 19000 block of SW 68th Avenue in Tualatin. Firefighters from TVF&R and Lake Oswego Fire Department arrived to find one of the units engulfed in flames and threatening the neighboring residence and nearby trees. Firefighters quickly conducted a search to verify that people weren’t trapped inside while they began to extinguish the fire, which they knocked down within 12 minutes. Firefighters worked for another hour to  prevent the fire from rekindling while removing smoke and salvaging belongings.

A TVF&R fire investigator will be working to determine where and how the fire started by examining material evidence and conducting witness interviews. The residents of the fire unit were not home when the fire started, and residents from both units of the duplex will be displaced due to fire, smoke, or water damage. The duplex did not contain a residential fire sprinkler system. There were no injuries as a result of the fire.

In addition to the support from Lake Oswego Fire Department and Washington County Consolidated Communications Agency (911 dispatchers), TVF&R was assisted by Tualatin Police Department, American Medical Response, Portland General Electric, and NW Natural Gas. The American Red Cross will be assisting families displaced by the fire.

TVF&R approves the use of all images included with this release for the purpose of news dissemination.
 

Washougal School District Superintendent Dr. Mary Templeton has been selected as the new superintendent in the Lake Stevens School District, starting July 1, 2024.  

The Washougal School Board is proud of Templeton’s tenure in Washougal and her dedication to seeing the district rise during the six years she has served as superintendent. Templeton led the development of the Washougal 2025 Strategic Plan, which asked students, families, staff, and the community to share their hopes and dreams for our students. The plan has guided important work over the past five years, with the district making significant progress toward knowing, nurturing, and challenging all students to rise.

Board president Angela Hancock said, “Through the last six years, Mary has consistently focused on increasing student achievement and opportunities. Her determination to see our students and our district rise to our full potential has led to the highest graduation rate on record.  The board deeply appreciates her steady leadership throughout some of the most difficult years we have seen in public education.”

Under her leadership, our district invested in teacher training and rebooted the Professional Learning Community collaboration time, centering this time on practices that directly impact student learning. Through the reinvigorated Professional Learning Community time, teachers have seen stellar growth in student achievement as measured by standardized tests, with 70% of areas measured by the Smarter balanced Assessment showing progress and 82% of areas higher than the state average.  

Templeton has championed our Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, investing in project based learning activities that help students develop real-world skills that will serve them in whatever career path they choose. Our robust CTE programs provide dual credit and industry certification opportunities that students can use to reach their goals in skilled trades, higher education, the military, or professional careers. 

Templeton has elevated student voice, and increased opportunities for students to participate in leadership at the school and district level, asking students to co-author their educational future. She has engaged with community organizations to build partnerships that strengthen our schools and serve our students.  Working with social service, faith-based, and civic organizations, the district makes sure every student has the opportunity to succeed. 

In response to student and family feedback about the quality of student meals, Templeton led an initiative to start scratch-made meals for students.  This has improved the student experience by serving healthy, chef-inspired meals for students. 

Templeton’s passion for serving the whole child led to a focus on engaging students in artistic, creative, vocational, and athletic pursuits that help students develop skills needed to be successful in the workplace.  She has helped the Washougal community navigate a number of unprecedented challenges.  Through her steady leadership, our district has emerged from the pandemic with strong community support, committed staff, and a vision for a bright future for every student. 

The board will meet to create a plan on filling this important role, and once decisions are made, the district will share information with the community. 

Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office patrol staff responded to a reported sex crime in the 200 block of NE Yamhill Street in the city of Sheridan.  A sixteen-year-old reported two adults provided the juvenile alcohol and marijuana and then engaged in sexual contact, on multiple occasions.  The investigation was turned over to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) detectives.

On April 15, 2024, Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office SIU executed a search warrant at a residence in Sheridan.  During the warrant, detectives seized evidence pertinent to the case which corroborated the juvenile’s statements.  Two adults were arrested and are identified as Kevin Kemp (age 41) and Shannon Kemp (age 36). 

Both Shannon and Kevin Kemp were lodged at the Yamhill County Jail on multiple charges including Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree, Contributing to the Sexual Delinquency of a Minor, Providing Liquor to Minor, and Allowing Consumption of Marijuana by Person Under 21 Years of Age on Private Property.   

On April 17, 2024, Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit detectives received a case referral from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce regarding an individual uploading Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) to an online file storage platform.  Investigative leads showed the files were uploaded from a device with a telephone number belonging to an individual in Sheridan, OR. 

The same day, SIU detectives obtained and served a search warrant in the 500 block of SE Sheridan Rd in the city of Sheridan.  Evidence including an electronic device was seized.  Detectives arrested Brendan Haynes, age 27, and he was lodged in the Yamhill County Jail on 6 counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the 2^nd Degree. 

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Yamhill County Sheriff's Office is committed to investigating any report of sexual assault and child exploitation.

Media Invitation - Video & Interview Opportunity

Event:  Recognition of Bystander Interventions During Cardiac Event
Date:   Wednesday, April 24
Time:   4 – 5 p.m.
Location:  TVF&R Station 20, 414 E 2^nd Street, Newberg, 97132
RSVP To:  Corrine Haning, Public Information Officer, 503-259-1111 or rine.Haning@tvfr.com">Corrine.Haning@tvfr.com 

On Wednesday, April 24, from 4 to 5 p.m., TVF&R will recognize six community members who took swift action to aid in the lifesaving care of Robert Bass, a Newberg School District employee at Antonia Crater Elementary School. 

On the morning of Tuesday, February 27, Bass experienced a cardiac event outside of Antonia Crater Elementary School. A community member out on a walk noticed him collapse and rushed over to help, calling 911 and initiating hands-only CPR with the direction of a WCCCA 911 dispatcher. Additional community members jumped in to retrieve and apply an AED, as well as continue hands-only CPR until firefighter paramedics arrived. 

We will recognize the efforts of these individuals and will highlight the importance of taking action in the first critical moments of a cardiac emergency.

For questions day of, please call 503-259-1111 or email pio@tvfr.com. 

On Thursday, April 18, 2024, at approximately 8:48am, Battle Ground Officers were dispatched to an active assault with a weapon in the 1600 block of SW 4^th Street.  While enroute to the scene, officers were provided preliminary information through dispatch that the victim was being assaulted by her juvenile son who was reportedly armed with a knife and a blunt object, which was later identified as a kitchen pan.  Dispatch also relayed that the suspect may have harmed himself with a knife. 

Upon arrival, officers contacted the adult female victim outside of the residence, who indicated that the juvenile suspect was the sole remaining occupant inside the residence.  The suspect was described as a juvenile male with cognitive delays which render him non-verbal with most people.  

Officers observed several cuts to the victim’s arms which were constant with injuries that would be inflicted with a bladed weapon.  The victim also appeared disoriented when speaking to officers, and she stated to have been struck in the head with a kitchen pan during the altercation, which briefly rendered her unconscious. 

The additional arriving officers created a perimeter around the residence to secure the scene and the victim was turned over to American Medical Response personnel for treatment.  Battle Ground Officers utilized their vehicle loudspeaker to negotiate with the juvenile suspect who was still inside the residence and convinced him to exit.  The suspect was taken into custody without incident and arrested.

“This was an incredibly difficult situation, and I am immensely proud of how our officers conducted the scene,” said Chief Dennis Flynn.  “Their actions help bring this potentially volatile situation to a successful resolution.  Our thoughts now turn to this young man and his family, in hopes that he can receive the proper mental health care assistance that he needs.”

The juvenile suspect was arrested and booked on charges of 2^nd Degree Assault - Domestic Violence.  This case has been forwarded to the Clark County Juvenile Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. 

The victim was transported to an area hospital for additional medical treatment.    

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.  Columbia River Mental Health Services (CRMHS) also provides an array of services and well-being programs for individuals and their families in the Southwest Washington region.  Information for CRMHS is available online at www.crmhs.org or by calling their non-emergency number at 360-993-3000. 

February 19, 2024

PORTLAND, Oregon – Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt released a list of cases impacted by the public defense crisis. The list includes felony cases dismissed by the JC3 court as a result of the crisis. 

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

DA Schmidt also declared that MCDA would publish cases dismissed due to the crisis each week to increase transparency and advance the public’s understanding of the scope of the crisis. Here is an updated breakdown of the types of felonies getting dismissed.

There were 9 cases dismissed by the court as a result of the public defense crisis between 4/12/24 and 4/18/24:

23-CR-57815

24-CR-01392

23-CR-58332

22-CR-41672

23-CR-49112

23-CR-58974

24-CR-03333

23-CR-40084

23-CR-59334

#MCDA#

At 10:20am on April 19th, Vancouver Fire Department was dispatched to 7319 NE 110th Ave in Vancouver Washington.  First arriving units found a back porch fire on a single story house. The first Fire Engine on scene was able to apply water within 6 minutes of dispatch and prevent the neighboring home from being affected by the wind driven fire.  The house was quickly searched and checked for fire on the interior.  Flames were found to have extended into the attic forcing crews to fight it from below.  Damage to the home caused 2 people to be displaced but fortunately no one was injured.  Cause of the fire is underway through the Clark County Fire Marshals Office.   

Award given “For the visionaries whose actions redefine the possible, setting new benchmarks in sustainability”

Portland, Ore.— Two staff members from the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability received awards for their visionary work at the sixth annual “Model the Way Awards.” Chief Sustainability Officer Vivian Satterfield and Sustainability and Climate Commission (SCC) coordinator Elaine Livingstone were honored by the Lloyd EcoDistrict for their work on the City of Portland’s future SCC.

The Sustainability and Climate Commission will be a new governance structure for climate action in Portland and serve as the official climate connection to other governance bodies at the City of Portland. It will also guide City climate action and sustainability goals as a new governance structure and champion body for current and future climate work.

“We are building this to serve as a voice for all Portlanders in the new form of government,” said Vivian Satterfield, BPS’s Chief Sustainability Officer. “This commission creates opportunity for the community to work collaboratively with government to ensure climate priorities are always considered in City work.”

Satterfield and Livingstone have worked to develop the framework for the new SCC over the past year. They researched similar commissions in other jurisdictions and gathered input from public, private and nonprofit sectors, community feedback from the City charter reform process and SCC in-person and virtual events, public comment, and workshops. A proposed ordinance is now scheduled to be heard by Portland City Council on April 24, and the public is invited to give testimony by May 8, 2024.

The Lloyd EcoDistrict’s Model the Way Awards are “a celebration of exceptional groups and individuals who embody leadership and inspire others to follow suit.”

About the City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability

The Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) develops creative and practical solutions to enhance Portland’s livability, preserve distinctive places and plan for a resilient future. BPS collaborates with community partners to provide comprehensive land use, neighborhood, district, economic, historic and environmental planning, and urban design; research, policy and technical services to advance green building, energy efficiency and the use of solar and renewable energy, waste prevention, composting and recycling, and a sustainable food system; and policy and actions to address climate change.

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office (MCDA) today published transcripts of the grand jury proceedings in the death investigation of Matthew Holland.

Upon the grand jury’s return of a “not true bill” in this matter, MCDA filed a motion with the presiding court to create and release a transcript of the recorded grand jury proceedings pursuant to ORS 132.260(1). The transcripts are available on MCDA’s website:

• Grand Jury Testimony 3/15/2024
• Grand Jury Testimony 3/18/2024
• Grand Jury Testimony 3/20/2024

MCDA has no additional comment on this matter.

###

Original Message (3/21/24)

Grand Jury Returns Not True Bill in January 2024 Fatal Shooting by a Portland Police Officer

Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt today announced that a grand jury returned a not true bill for the fatal shooting of Matthew Lee Holland, 31, on January 14, 2024. Upon the conclusion of the presentation of evidence, the grand jury returned the not true bill yesterday, finding the use of force by Portland Police Officer Joshua Howery that resulted in Lee’s death was not criminal under Oregon law. 

Previously released information regarding this incident can be found here. 

Pursuant to ORS 132.270, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office will file a motion and request that the court authorize the release of a grand jury transcript for public review. If the Court grants the motion, MCDA will post the transcript on its website.

###

(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, asks the public to help find Caden R. Griffith, age 14, a child in foster care who went missing from Hillsboro on March 25. He is believed to be in danger.

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

Caden is often spends times in the parks of Hillsboro, Tigard and Aloha. 

Name: Caden R. Griffith
Pronouns: He/him
Date of birth: May 28, 2009
Height: 5-foot-6
Weight: 167 pounds
Hair: Brown
Eye color: Brown
Other identifying information: Caden often wears a black beanie. He was last seen wearing a black hoodie and black pants. 
Hillsboro Police Department #24-0007407
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children #2018671

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

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

###

On April 13th, 2024, the Clark County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) was involved in a deputy-involved shooting. Multiple deputies were on the scene at the time of the incident. Four deputies were placed on Critical Incident Leave. Two deputies discharged their firearms. Two deputies witnessed the incident.

Following a deputy-involved shooting, the Clark County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), at the discretion of the Sheriff, will release body-worn camera (BWC) videos of the incident. The release of these videos will be separate from the Independent Investigation Team's (IIT) investigation.

The Southwest Washington Independent Investigative Response Team (SWIIRT), led by the Vancouver Police Department, is conducting an independent investigation of this incident. The Clark County Sheriff's Office is not involved in the deputy-involved shooting investigation. CCSO will conduct its administrative investigation/review after the SWIIRT investigation is completed. 

The Critical Incident Video can be viewed on the CCSO Body-Worn Camera Page.

The Sheriff's Office cannot comment on the video release or the ongoing investigation. The video's release is meant to provide visual context of the incident, as CCSO understands it to have occurred, according to the BWC video. The video does not encompass the complete context of all recordings captured by all four body cameras.

Please be aware that the video contains graphic imagery and viewer discretion is strongly advised.

Prineville, Ore. — Portions of the Cline Buttes/Buckhorn Motorized Recreation Area will be closed Saturday, April 20, 2024, for the Technical Endurance Challenge hosted by Bend Racing. The racecourse will be closed at multiple points of entry for the safety of participants and the public. The start and end point for the race is the Buckhorn Staging Area.

Runners and bicyclists will race on portions of the off-highway vehicle trail systems on both sides of Highway 126 and the Cascade View Trail System, located west of Redmond. The closure will mostly affect the Buckhorn area, as participants traverse portions of trails 99, 93, 95, 85, 90 and Buckhorn Road. They will cross Highway 126 from Buckhorn to Barr Road, continue down Barr Road, and move into the Cascade View Trail System. Within the Cascade View Trail System, the race will use Blue Belly, Blue Belly Stem, and Stringer trails. 

OHV trails south of Highway 126, accessed from Barr Road North Staging Area, will not be closed. However,  the public should be aware of runners/bicyclists on Barr Road. Cascade View Trail System will not be closed during the race. Security will be staged at entrance points into the racecourse throughout the weekend. Flaggers and signage will also be present along both Buckhorn and Barr roads and staging areas. 

“We manage several hundred miles of trails within the Millican Plateau, North Millican, and South Millican OHV Trail Systems,” said Lisa Clark, Deschutes Field Office Manager. “This allows us the unique opportunity to permit a multi-sport race like this while also ensuring numerous other trails are still available to the public during the event.” 

Mountain bikers and hikers can use the nearby Maston trail use area. The Millican Valley OHV Trail System is an alternative site  for motorized use. It is  most easily from George-Millican Road south of Prineville.

The high-quality trails and facilities within the Cline Buttes/Buckhorn Motorized Recreation Area are collaboratively managed by the Central Oregon Combined Off Highway Vehicle Operations (COHVOPS). COHVOPS is a partnership which includes the Prineville District BLM, Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests, and Oregon Parks and Recreation ATV Program. 

For more information about the race, please visit Bend Racing’s website. For questions about the trail closures, please contact the Prineville District office at (541) 416-6700. 
 

-BLM-

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

04/18/2024

For Immediate Release

Government Camp, Oregon 

At approximately 9:30pm, Hoodland Fire was dispatched to the Historic Timberline Lodge for a fire in the attic and roof.  On arrival of the first fire crews, there were visible flames from around the central part of the lodge known as the headhouse.  Bypassing a 2^nd alarm and going straight to a 3^rd alarm assignment was called, bringing additional crews from both Clackamas and Multnomah Counties. In just under 2 hours from the time of the call, the fire was declared “Under Control”  crews continued to work on the scene protecting historical artifacts and artwork.

The last fire crews left the scene at about 2:30 this morning declaring the fire out. In total there was 10 fire engines, 3 ladder trucks, 5 water trucks (tenders), 4 Chief Officers, and 4 additional pieces of equipment.  Fire crews from Hoodland Fire, Clackamas Fire, Gresham Fire, Estacada fire, and Portland Fire worked on scene.  The cause of the fire is under investigation which is being led by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) and U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement.   

Hoodland Fire District would like to send a huge thank you to the employees of Timberline Lodge for detecting the fire early on, evacuating hotel guests and working hard in keeping fire/water damage to a minimum.

Future press releases will be going through the Mount Hood National Forest and Timberline Lodge

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) takes seriously its responsibility to engage community stakeholders about the services the agency provides. Policy and procedure serve as the foundation for all MCSO law enforcement operations, correctional operations, and business services. Policy provides members with the objectives, limits, and requirements that apply to their work for the public. Procedure provides detailed direction governing how a task is to be accomplished. 

We invite the public to provide feedback on proposed policy and procedure(s) through a 30-day period known as the Stakeholder Review. During the policy’s Stakeholder Review, the public is encouraged to submit comments or proposals relevant to the content of the policy drafts. People who submit comments should be aware that their remarks become public record.

The Sheriff’s Office is currently in the process of reviewing the following draft(s): 

• Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) 
• 920.00 Temporary Alternative Work Assignment (TAWA) Program 

To submit a comment, please go to our website.

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We take individual comments into collective consideration as policy is finalized.

To sign up for email notifications when policy reviews occur or get additional press releases from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, click here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                               

ST.MARY’S ACADEMY RAISES OVER $1,000,000 AT 36^TH ANNUAL AUCTION “CHEERS TO 165 YEARS”

Portland, Ore — With more than 600 people gathered at the Oregon Convention Center on Saturday, April 13^th, St. Mary’s Academy, an all-girls, Catholic High School in the heart of the University District of Portland, raised over $1,000,000. This year, St. Mary’s Academy (SMA) is celebrating its 165^th anniversary and the auction was an opportunity to share in the schools storied history and revolutionary future. The event also celebrated two beloved SMA leaders – Marilyn and Tom Fink. The Fink’s received the Mother Marie-Rose award, named after the Foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, and the highest honor bestowed by SMA to community members. 

President Emily Becker shared with attendees “Our graduates change the trajectory of their families, their cities, our country, and the world.  The impact of our 11,000 alumnae cannot be underestimated and as we are celebrating this momentous milestone — our 165th anniversary — we know that our work is not done.” With 40% of students receiving tuition assistance, the school is charged with educating every young woman, regardless of financial background or circumstances. Funds raised at the annual auction make this possible. 

Dean of Mission and Charism, Patty Gorman, was this year’s Bids for Kids speaker, highlighting the importance of St. Mary’s Girls in our community. According to Patty, a 45-year veteran of St. Mary’s, “I believe deeply in the power of all-girls, Catholic education which is why I have devoted my life’s work to St. Mary’s.” Her deep commitment to SMA and the transformational educational environment that it provides is one of the major reasons why students continue to matriculate and become leaders in their communities.

This year’s auction was co-chaired by a group of SMA mothers, many of whom are also alumnae including:  Jennifer Bianchini, Liane Brakke-Pound ’96, Brittney Clark ’94, Hedy Safranski Foley ’92, Alisa Todd Gaylord ’92, Jessica Hickox Meyer ’94, Andrea Maynard Molloy ’96, Alison Money and Maria Ochsner Nelson ’99. 

The auction is St. Mary’s largest annual fundraising event with proceeds benefiting every student in a multitude of meaningful ways. 

###

At St. Mary's Academy, We Believe.
Located in the University District of Portland, OR, St. Mary's Academy is the state's oldest continuously operating school and only all-girls school. Founded in 1859 by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, St. Mary's Academy serves over 600 young women in grades 9-12. The school's college acceptance rate is 100% and SMA students achieve, excel, and are recognized locally, regionally and nationally in academic fields, leadership, STEM, the arts, athletics, community service and extra- and co-curricular activities. To learn more, please visit www.stmaryspdx.org 

Vancouver, Wash. – The Southwest Washington Independent Investigative Response Team (SWIIRT), led by the Vancouver Police Department, is conducting the Independent Investigation of the officer-involved use of force incident involving deputies from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, which occurred on April 13, 2024. 

Two involved deputies are:

• Deputy Jim Payne is assigned to Central Precinct Patrol. He has been with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office since 2000 and has 23 years of law enforcement experience. 

• Deputy (K9 Handler) Michael Gonzalez is assigned to Swing Shift Patrol. He has been with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office since 2021 and has seven years of law enforcement experience.

The two witness deputies are:

• Sergeant Fred Harrison is assigned as a Patrol Sergeant. He has been with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office since 2006 and has 17 years of law enforcement experience.

• Deputy Enrique Cordero is assigned to West Precinct Patrol. He has been with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office since 2021 and has two years of law enforcement experience.

All four remain on critical incident leave. 

The Southwest Washington Independent Investigative Response Team (SWIIRT), led by the Vancouver Police Department, is continuing the investigation. Once the investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded to the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for review. 

Additional information will be released as it is available and will be sent out in a media release.

###

The Oregon Secretary of State's Elections Division will be hosting a pre-election conference call for members of the media on Tuesday, April 23rd, at 1 p.m. PDT. This briefing aims to provide crucial updates and information regarding the upcoming May closed primary.

During the 30-minute session, Secretary of State Communications Director Laura Kerns and Elections Division Director Molly Woon will deliver important insights and updates pertinent to the forthcoming primary. Moreover, there will be an allocated time for a question-and-answer session, enabling media representatives to express their informational needs for accurate election reporting.

Details of the Briefing:

• What: Pre-election informational briefing for media members
• When: Tuesday, April 23rd, 1:00 p.m. PDT
• Where: Conference call

RSVP Information:

Media representatives interested in attending are kindly requested to RSVP by replying to Laura Kerns, Communications Director, Oregon Secretary of State, at (971) 707-0313 or via email at laura.kerns@sos.oregon.gov.

Your participation and engagement are invaluable as the Oregon Secretary of State strives to ensure accurate and informed reporting on the upcoming primary.

OREGON CITY – Students attending high school in 2024 can get a jumpstart on their college degrees through Clackamas Community College’s career technical education (CTE) summer camps – tuition-free.  

CTE camps run Aug. 12-16, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. An information session will be held May 13, 6-7:30 p.m., in the Wacheno Welcome Center on the Oregon City campus.

CTE summer camps are open to Clackamas County students who will be entering ninth through 12th grade in fall 2024. Lunch will be provided, and transportation assistance is available from area high schools to the college. The deadline to register is June 9. The free CTE camps include:

• Criminal justice investigation: Apply investigative techniques in areas like fingerprinting, evidence collection and crime scene photography and reconstruction.
• Green building construction: Explore green building materials and construction through carpentry tools and techniques like measurement, layout and safe use of tools.
• Intro to CNC machining: Learn basic CNC skills, including how to set up and operate CNC milling and turning centers. 
• Music and film: Learn how to design, shoot, record audio and post-production of movies.
• Horticulture – gardening and farming: Develop and learn the principles and best practices of organic fruit and vegetable gardening.
• Medical assisting: Learn about the skills and attributes of a successful medical assistant while exploring patient-centered health care careers.
• Makerspace: Discover the art of invention through hands-on activities using laser cutters and 3D printers.

“Students who enroll in the summer camp programs will accelerate their college education while saving both time and money,” Ni'Cole Sims, CCC director of education partnerships, said.

Space is limited at all camps, and a weighted lottery will provide priority placement for underserved students (students of color, students with disabilities, students with low socio-economic status and students with limited access to accelerated learning programs).

CTE camps will be held on the Oregon City campus, 19600 Molalla Ave. For more information about summer programs and how to register, visit www.clackamas.edu/cte-summer-camps. For questions about CTE camps, email hsconnections@clackamas.edu. 

-30-

Photo/Video Opp:  Media is invited to come to Kelso High on May 3 (National School Lunch Hero Day) and talk to students about that day’s lunch offering: free-roaming bison and lentil chili with cornbread. 

Over the last couple of years, Kelso School District Nutrition Services Supervisor and Registered Dietitian Kaydee Harris has been making small changes to the district’s meal program aiming for big impact ins student health.

RECENT UPGRADES INCLUDE:

• Unlimited fruits and vegetables at EVERY school. Students are offered a rotating variety of fruits and vegetables (seasonal and non-seasonal) at lunch every day. Options include: fresh strawberries, grapes, melons, local apples of different varieties, pineapple, etc. Veggies include: cucumbers, jicama, cherry tomatoes, celery sticks, broccoli, cauliflower, snap peas, green salad mix, mini peppers, etc. In addition to fresh raw veggies and fruits, items include fresh roasted green beans, broccoli, asparagus, and more. 
• Minimally processed foods and upgraded ingredients. We are increasing the number of scratch-made menu items, which includes bean burritos, bison meatloaf, baked chicken breast, salmon bowls, quinoa, pastas, sauces, and soups. The nutritional value of our meals is continually analyzed, leading to upgrades in ingredients. For example, the district has swapped out highly-processed, high-sodium American cheese for healthier cheddar, provolone, feta, etc. 
• Locally sourced foods. Our Nutrition Services team has been working hard this year to increase locally sourced items like bison, salmon, beef, and raspberries through the Local Food for Schools program. They continue to source rolls locally from Kalama Sourdough for all of our menus, and have spent over $30K on locally sourced produce through the Department of Defense Fresh program. 

KELSO SCHOOL MEALS FUN FACTS

• Cooking kitchens at every school. Not every school district has cooking kitchens at every school. Many outsource meals or have one cook site and shuttle meals to school sites. In Kelso, food is made fresh every day on every school site.
• KSD Test Kitchen. A lot of recipe testing happens every summer. Summer school students and staff get to sample new items and give feedback. Often, new menu items are launched at one school first, then rolled out to other schools after collecting feedback from students. There is also a yearly recipe competition between elementary school Nutrition Services staff during school conferences. The staff is given a challenge menu item, nutrition parameters, and a host of possible ingredients to make the item. Winning recipes get added to the menu cycle. This year’s challenge was a scratch-made bean and cheese burrito, which will rolled out district-wide April 17.
• Variety is the spice of life. To keep up with current student preferences and food trends, every year new menus, in six-week cycles, are created. Interesting menu items this year include: teriyaki salmon bowl, bison meatloaf, quinoa bowls, chicken alfredo, roasted parmesan broccoli, roasted asparagus, BBQ chicken spread, chicken parmesan, chicken and waffles, and more.
• We’re doing something right. We actively solicit feedback by fostering conversations with students in our cafeterias. We even look through garbage cans to see what gets thrown away. All this student feedback is collected after each new menu item and we make adjustments as needed. We know we’re doing something right because our meal service has increased:
  • 24% increase in total lunches served in the last 3 years, 105% increase in breakfast
  • 750,000 meals were served in 2022-23 
  • 1 Million meals are projected for this year (2023-24) 
• ALL students eat free. Due to Kelso’s percentage of students qualifying for free and reduced-price meals, we’re able to offer ALL students free meals through the Community Eligibility Provision. 

IMPORTANCE OF SCHOOL MEALS 

• Children participating in school meals are less likely to have nutrient inadequacies and are more likely to consume fruit, vegetables, and milk at breakfast and lunch.
• Low-income students who eat both school breakfast and lunch have significantly better overall diet quality than low-income students who do not eat school meals.
• Packed lunches brought from home by pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students have more calories, fat, saturated fat, and sugar than school lunches, and less protein, fiber, vitamin A, and calcium, according to a study conducted after implementation of the new school meal nutrition standards.
• Receiving free or reduced-price school lunches reduces poor health by at least 29 percent based on estimates using national data.
• Based on national data, economists estimate that the receipt of a free or reduced-price school lunch reduces obesity rates by at least 17 percent.

Source: Food Research & Action Center https://frac.org/programs/national-school-lunch-program/benefits-school-lunch#:~:text=School%20lunch%20is%20critical%20to,obesity%20rates%2C%20and%20poor%20health

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

Vancouver, Wash. – The City of Vancouver is seeking applicants interested in two vacancies on its volunteer Urban Forestry Commission. Applications must be submitted by May 21.

The Urban Forestry Commission is an active, working group that helps plan and implement tree events, builds neighborhood association relationships, supports public education and plans community recognition programs related to appreciation of Vancouver’s community’s trees. Vancouver has been named a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation for the past 35 years, an honor that is due in large part to the work of this commission.

The commission’s advisory role includes review of Vancouver’s urban forestry policies and regulations, assistance with updating the Urban Forestry program’s work plan, and administering the Heritage Tree Program, Arbor Day recognition and awards programs. 

Those who have an interest in urban forestry and the environmental, economic, health and social benefits of trees are urged to apply. All applicants must also be available for an interview with City Councilmembers on a date to be determined.

The Urban Forestry Commission has seven citizen members who can serve two, four-year terms. This recruitment is for two full-term appointments, with a term expiring June 30, 2028. The commission meets at 6 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month. Meetings will be conducted either in person or through a hybrid option. 

To learn more and apply online visit www.cityofvancouver.us/boards. To request a printed application or for more information, contact the Boards and Commissions Coordinator in the City Manager’s Office at P.O. Box 1995, Vancouver, WA 98668-1995, c_coordinator@cityofvancouver.us">bc_coordinator@cityofvancouver.usor 360-487-8600.

###

At 02:02 on 04/19/2024 the Vancouver Fire Department was dispatched to the report of a fire at 306 NE 104^th Ave in Maple Ridge Apartments.  Vancouver Fire responded with 11 units and 26 personnel. Our first engine arrived minutes later to find the apartment building on fire.  Our crews engaged the fire directly while also making sure everyone was out of the building.  In less than twenty-three minutes the fire was under control.  The Red Cross was contacted to help three families who were displaced by the fire, no one was injured.

Vancouver Fire would like to remind everyone to please test your smoke detectors on a regular basis. 

The fire that happened on the evening of April 18, at the Timberline lodge has been extinguished. Investigators from the ATF and US Forest Service are on scene working to determine a cause. The lodge and the ski area will both be closed tomorrow, April 19th, while the damage is assessed.

At approximately 9:30pm, reports started pouring in that the attic of the historic Timberline lodge was on fire. Fire crews from Hoodland Fire, Clackamas Fire, Gresham Fire and Estacada fire are on scene to help protect the Lodge. 

Currently, firefighters have a good knock down on the fire and are doing everything they can to preserve the historic assets that exist here.

After an initial search, crews found that everybody had made it outside and were safe. 

Employees of the lodge discovered the fire and called it in. 

Hoodland Fire's Chief Scott Kline is thankful for all the assistance. 

More details to come.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  

DATE: April 18, 2024

Motorcyclist dies in early evening collision

Salem, Ore. — At approximately 6:10 p.m. this evening, the Salem Police Traffic Team responded to a single-vehicle collision on the offramp of the Center Street Bridge involving a motorcyclist.

The Traffic Team’s preliminary investigation indicates the rider of the motorcycle was traveling eastbound over the bridge. As the motorcyclist negotiated the sweeping right curve to proceed down the off-ramp, he lost control of the motorcycle and collided with the concrete barrier. The impact vaulted the rider across the barrier and approximately 30 feet down to the ground below the bridge.

The driver is identified as 27-year-old Mark Steven Sewell of Salem. Sewell was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The southbound off-ramp to Front ST NE was closed for approximately two-and-a-half hours while the collision was investigated.

To date in 2024, the Salem Police Department has responded to nine major traffic collisions resulting in nine deaths.

# # #

Chemeketa Brooks Open House Will Include a New Kubota Center, a Visit From Rep. Salinas, and a Showcase of the Five CTE Programs Offered

Salem, Ore., April 18, 2024 — Chemeketa Community College will host the annual Brooks Regional Training Center Open House on April 23, 2024, from 9 am to noon at 4910 Brooklake Rd. NE, Brooks. The event will feature the brand new training center for Kubota and National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) partnership. The collaboration offers Chemeketa students a clear route to acquiring industry-recognized certifications tailored to repairing and servicing Kubota equipment. This equips them with the expertise and abilities necessary for pursuing employment as diesel technicians within the off-road diesel sector.

Students, parents, and the community are welcome to join us for campus tours and to learn more about the five Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs offered at Brooks Center. The five CTE programs include Fire Protection, EMT and Paramedic, Diesel Technology, Criminal Justice, and Building Inspection. 

Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Dr. Amy Loyd, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education at the U.S. Department of Education, will be in attendance at the open house. They will host a roundtable on career-connected learning, focusing on work-based learning and overcoming barriers for rural students. Afterward, Rep. Salinas and Assistant Sec. Loyd will tour the campus and attend the Kubota ribbon cutting.

"This open house is a chance to see the impact of Chemeketa's CTE programs, providing a glimpse into the partnership between education and industry,” says Jordan Bermingham, Dean of the Brooks Regional Training Center at Chemeketa Community College. “This is also a celebration of our partnership with Kubota and NC3, paving the way for students to learn with cutting-edge technologies and cultivate the skills for today's workforce."

For more information, visit go.chemeketa.edu/brooks, email rooks@chemeketa.edu">brooks@chemeketa.edu, or call 503.485.2131.

####

For more than 50 years, Chemeketa Community College has committed itself to transforming lives and our community through exceptional learning experiences in the Mid-Willamette Valley. As the second multi-campus district in Oregon, Chemeketa serves 18,000 students annually at its Salem and Yamhill Valley campuses, as well as Brooks, Eola, Winema, Dallas, Woodburn, and Chemeketa Center for Business and Industry (CCBI).

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

The Parkrose Board of Education of School District No. 3, Multnomah County, Oregon, will convene in an Executive & Board Business Meeting on Monday, April 22, 2024 at the Parkrose School District Office located at 10636 NE Prescott Street, Portland, Oregon at the hour of 6:00pm.

Guests and members of the public may attend in-person or virtually.  

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

We encourage and welcome all members of our community to engage with our board. Please email questions@parkrose.k12.or.us or call 503.408.2100 to arrange for translation services at least 72 hours before this meeting. Closed captioning provided on zoom. Other appropriate auxiliary aids and services may be provided upon request and appropriate advance notice.

The agenda is posted on our website at:LINK.

Agenda items include, but are not limited to: Student School Board Representative Senior Night Recognitions 6:00pm, goal presentation from Prescott Elementary, legislative session presentation, Asian American & Pacific American heritage month in May, teacher appreciation in May, school lunch heroes day in May, supplemental budget #1 for fiscal year 23/24, local option levy rate resolution, Chartwells dining services resolution, board reports, graduation speaker, board evaluation and local option discussion. 

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

In-Person Public Comment Protocol - Upon arrival to the meeting, please fill out an Intent-to-Speak card and hand it to the Board Secretary prior to "In-person Public Comment" on the agenda. You will have a 3 minute time limit.

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

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

April 18, 2024

Media contact: Timothy Heider, 971-599-0459, timothy.heider@oha.oregon.gov

Latest Measure 110 data show new highs in client engagement with highest quarterly gains in substance use treatment, peer support services

SALEM, Ore. — Measure 110 Behavioral Health Resource Network providers reported increases in client engagement over all service areas, according to recently released quarterly reporting data.

As providers continue to establish and expand services, the most recent data revealed a 346 percent client gain in screening services since the program’s start – indicating that more providers are seeing new clients for the first time. Supported employment showed the highest overall percentage gain at 422 percent.

Client screening is an important first step for people seeking substance use treatment and recovery. As a result, network providers have reported increased numbers of people are accessing low-barrier treatment services and supports.

The latest data also show a 258 percent increase in people accessing peer services, in addition to other supports.  Many peer service providers reported meeting people in their homes or in community settings and using other measures to lower service barriers such as providing childcare and securing transportation to treatment.

Measure 110 network providers report the number of clients they serve and the number of encounters they have with their clients as a measure of overall engagement. Some clients may receive multiple services within a network or within multiple service networks.

The latest report covers network activities from July 1 through Sept. 30, 2023. Collectively, Measure 110 providers have now reported five quarters of data and expenditures from July 1, 2022, when the first network was established, through Sept. 30, 2023.

Overall, Measure 110 providers reported 267,000 encounters for people seeking peer support services and more than 220,000 encounters for substance use treatment over the 15 months of operations from July 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023.

OHA continually updates a comprehensive Measure 110 data reporting dashboard that includes quarterly data, expenditures, key demographic information, and aggregated narrative summaries for the 42 statewide service networks.

The dashboard also contains a section that shows how providers are conducting community outreach to directly connect individuals to services in their communities.

“Public awareness campaigns and community engagement activities play a pivotal role in dismantling social stigmas, misconceptions, and discrimination related to specific health services and conditions,” reported one provider. “By challenging and dispelling these stigmas, we empower individuals to seek care comfortably, which in turn, lowers the hurdles to accessing services.”

Other providers focused on reaching populations that historically have been under supported.  “Our peers and navigators have been able to do community outreach on a regular basis…with peer support referrals and health screenings,” reported one provider. “[Our] outreach focuses primarily on the houseless, unstably housed, incarcerated, transitional, and marginalized BIPOC communities.”

Another provider described the value of providing supported employment services to people in need. “The housing portion of our services has helped build tangible life skills as our tenants work to remodel and create a beautiful space while earning a paycheck.”

Despite the reported growth in service access, nearly one-third of providers continue to report challenges around building their workforce.

The deadline for the next round of reporting for expenditure and program data is in April and will cover the time from October 1 - December 30, 2023. OHA expects to publish that data in Summer 2024.

Background: In November 2020, Oregon voters passed Measure 110, the Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act of 2020, which became effective Dec. 4, 2020, to better serve people actively using substances or diagnosed with a substance use disorder. In July 2021, the legislature passed SB 755, which amended the act and made it more feasible to implement.

People who provide drug treatment and recovery services and advocates for criminal justice reform wrote Measure 110 in response to the high rate of drug addiction and overdoses in Oregon, and the disproportionate impact of those outcomes on Oregon’s communities of color.

Their goal was to establish a more equitable health-based and effective approach to substance use disorder.

OHA is continuing to develop and sharpen strategic parameters around data collection, establishing standards for the type that is appropriate to collect, modifying internal systems and processes to capture data outcomes, metrics, and reducing administrative burden on providers.

The Measure 110 program continues to refine service data collection for communities of color and other disproportionately affected communities, as the networks transition toward implementing Race Ethnicity and Language Disability (REALD) standards in their data collection.

###

April 26, 6-9 p.m. - ¡Celebración de Primavera! /  Día del Niño
April 23, 4-8 p.m. - Noche de Familia

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark College invites the community to its annual free, family-friendly Latine cultural celebration of children, literacy and Earth Day. ¡Celebración de Primavera! / Día del Niño (Celebration of Spring/Day of the Child) is from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 26, and its Noche de Familia event on Tuesday, April 23, from 4 to 8 p.m.

Both events are held at Gaiser Student Center on Clark’s main campus, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way. 

¡Celebración de Primavera! / Día del Niño

Celebrate children, families, reading, dancing, and singing with environmentally friendly games, arts and crafts and snacks on April 26 from 6 to 9 p.m. See the complete schedule here. Activities include: 

• 6 p.m. - Snacks
• 6:30 p.m. - Songs by Harney Elementary students 
• 6:45 p.m. - Reading by author Christopher Cousins 
• 7 p.m. - Games 
• 7:30 p.m. - Dancing by Vancouver Ballet Folklórico
• 8 p.m. - Dance lessons 
• 8:15 p.m. - Dance party!

Noche de Familia

In addition, Clark College is hosting Noche de Familia on Tuesday, April 23 from 4 to 8 p.m. in Gaiser Student Center. This is a special night for Latine families to learn about academic options and resources available at Clark. Offered every term by the college and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, this free, public event includes activities for kids and dinner for all. 

Attendees will have opportunities to speak with Clark representatives from Financial Aid, Transitional Services, Workforce Education Services, Disability Support Services, Counseling and Health Center, Career Services and more. Workshops will be offered to explain the processes of applying for Clark College and applying for financial aid. Information will be available in both Spanish and English. 

Driving directions and parking maps are available at www.clark.edu/maps.

Clark College expressly prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, honorably discharged veteran or military status, citizenship, immigration status, or use of a trained guide dog or service animal in its programs and activities. Learn more at www.clark.edu/nds. 

If you need an accommodation due to a disability in order to fully participate in this event, please contact Clark College’s Human Resources Office. Phone: 360-992-2105 or email hr@clark.edu 

About Clark College 

Founded in 1933 and celebrating its 90^th year, Clark College provides residents of Southwest Washington with affordable, high-quality academic and technical education. It is a public community college offering 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 a wide range of students including high school students, displaced workers, veterans, parents, non-native English speakers, and mature learners. Approximately 45% of its students are in the first generation of their families to attend college. 

To learn more, visit the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion https://www.clark.edu/campus-life/student-support/diversity-and-equity/    

####

Just after 8:15 AM, 9-1-1 received multiple calls reporting a fire and tapped out a single-alarm fire response in an industrial area of the St John’s Neighborhood in North Portland. Initial reports from callers stated that a large pile of wood products was on fire and that no homes or structures were threatened.

The first arriving Engine and Truck Companies from St John’s arrived within six minutes of being dispatched. The Engine officer took command of the incident and reported a large pile of pallets and wood debris with fire near the top of the pile. Knowing this had the potential as an extended incident from the onset, the first due Truck immediately set up its aerial ladder for an elevated master stream.

As additional units arrived, the first Chief Officer took Command. Incident Command then assigned the on-scene resources to the following tasks: establish a water supply, recon the area to ensure no exposures were present, confirm all individuals were accounted for, confirm the best access to the different areas of the wood pile, and set up for additional aerial master streams.

During the incident, water supply was a challenge due to the distance from the City of Portland hydrants and the private hydrants in the area. Because of this, the Incident Commander called for a second alarm response just before 9:30 AM. This brought additional fire response resources to the scene. Working with Portland Police and Portland Parks and Recreation, Fire crews had to shut down North Lombard for a portion of the morning and early afternoon to relay pump water to the scene.

Fire crews worked with site personnel who stated there were a lot of void spaces in the large pile of wood. Command sent a safety broadcast to fire companies on the scene so all personnel were made aware of this potential hazard. Site personnel then worked with fire companies to create a defensive fire break in the pile so the fire was contained. This was accomplished with the use of some heavy machinery and excavators that were already on site and were operated by the location’s employees.

With a fire break established and the material burning brought under control, Command began to release companies to go back into service. Three engines and three trucks will remain on the scene for an extended period to ensure extinguishment. A fire investigator was also called to the scene to assist in a fire cause determination. All traffic has been restored in the area. There were no injuries reported during this incident and no residents were displaced.

Portland Fire & Rescue would like to thank our partners with the Bureau of Emergency Communications (BOEC), Portland Parks & Recreation, Portland Police Bureau, Portland Water Bureau, Port of Portland Terminal 4, and Vancouver Fire Department. At the height of the incident, the following fire resources responded:

                Engines – 9

                Trucks – 5 

                Chief Officers – 5

                Rehab Unit – 1 

                Investigator – 1 

                Logistics/Apparatus Maintenance – 2

                PIO – 2

###

Heavy wind and rain from winter storms cause trees to plunge into Oregon rivers. Trees become obstructions, a risk for all boaters, including paddlers, rafters, and drift boats. Some of these obstructions will become more dangerous as river levels drop, requiring boats to portage around the obstructions for safe navigation.

“We urge every boater to plan ahead. River conditions can change daily which is why checking river levels is critical. Always look downstream as you navigate allowing time to react and maneuver to the safest course,” says Brian Paulsen, Boating Safety Program Manager for the Marine Board.

The Marine Board urges the following precautions:

• Visit the Marine Board’s Boating Obstructions Dashboard to view reported obstructions.
• Learn about and how to report obstructions you encounter while boating.
• Scout ahead and look for the safest route for each section of the river before committing. When in doubt, portage out.
• Stay clear of partially submerged trees and limbs. Strong currents can quickly carry you in, potentially leading to capsizing and entrapment.
• Wear a life jacket. Oregon’s waterways are cold year-round. Boaters are encouraged to wear a properly fitting life jacket and to dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature.
• If you’re using a Stand Up Paddleboard, be sure to wear a quick-release leash on moving water, especially in rivers where obstructions are present so you can disconnect from the board if you are drawn into one.
• Boat with others and stay within sight of one another. Do not separate far from one another so you can respond quickly to help.
• Know your limits and how to self-rescue. Be sure your skills and experience are equal to the river difficulty and the conditions.
• Fill out a float plan and let others know where you are boating and when to expect your return.

Visit Boat.Oregon.gov for everything you need to know about recreational boating in Oregon.

(Astoria, OR) —The Youngs Bay Boat Ramp temporarily will close to public access for the launching or retrieving of water craft from 12 p.m. Monday, April 22 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

Clatsop County Fisheries will temporarily block the boat ramp with a fish transfer pipeline for the receiving of salmon smolts to the net pens located at that site. 

The boat ramp is located at the City of Astoria site, 1555 West Marine Drive in Astoria.

-30-

ASTORIA, Ore. — A giant 208-foot tall and estimated 200-year-old grand fir tree in Clatsop State Forest was inducted into the Oregon Heritage Tree Program in a ceremony April 12. The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and the Travel Information Council and its volunteer Oregon Heritage Tree Committee held the ceremony at the base of the tree which is part of ODF’s Northrup Creek Horse Camp Big Tree Trail at Northrup Creek Horse Camp. The grand fir became the 84^th Oregon Heritage Tree. 

“A heritage designation recognizes trees with statewide or national significance,” said Craig Leech, Chair of the Oregon Heritage Tree Committee. “The Oregon Heritage Tree Program is the first state-sponsored heritage tree program in the country. It was established in 1995 to increase public awareness of the important contribution of trees to Oregon’s history and the significant role they play in the quality of our daily lives.”

ODF created the Big Tree Trail in 2012 when they identified numerous large conifer and deciduous trees near one another.

“Inducting the Big Tree Trail as an Oregon Heritage Tree helps honor this special trail of trees that are believed to be among the top five largest in the state,” said Dan Goody, ODF’s District Forester for the Astoria District. “Visiting an Oregon Heritage Tree is a chance to learn localized Oregon history and honor the vital role Oregon’s forests plays in our lives. In addition to viewing a sample of exceptional trees, The Big Tree Trail’s connection to the creation of Oregon’s modern forestry program makes it particularly notable.”

The Northrup Creek Horse Camp Big Tree Trail is located inside what used to be The Northrup Creek Grazing Experiment. The Experiment started in 1936 to study the seeding, fertilizing, grazing, and management of logged-off and burned-over timberlands and the effects of grazing on reforestation. The goal was to make burnt-up land profitable again. The project was overseen by the John Jacob Astor Experiment Station outside of Astoria and continued until the early 1950s. 

The Experiment ultimately “failed” as it determined grazing was not the solution for burned over timber lands. However, in 1939 Governor Charles Sprague gave a stump speech in the area at the time he was actively promoting the State Forest Acquisition Act. The legislation included conservation requirements for loggers to re-seed the forest by leaving seed trees and reforestation efforts for burned areas, particularly those affected by the repeated Tillamook burns of 1933, 1939, and 1945.

Former Clatsop County Judge Guy Boyington, one of the original framers of the state forest arrangement, envisioned that the foreclosed lands could be made productive if forest land management was available. Clatsop County became the first county to participate. 

You can visit the Big Tree Trail inside the Northrup Creek Horse Camp, located between Jewell and Birkenfeld four miles north of Highway 202. The trail is just under one mile and is open year-round for hiking. Hikers must start at the gate during the seasonal closure of the camp, which adds two miles. The horse camp will open May 17. The address is 87644 Northrup Creek Road, Clatskanie, Oregon. 

For more information regarding the Heritage Tree program visit www.oregontic.com/oregon-heritage-trees. 

For more information on recreation opportunities in Oregon’s state forests visit Oregon Department of Forestry : Recreation : Recreation : State of Oregon

Funds include $10 million for developing early care and education facilities co-located with affordable housing

Salem, Ore. — Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) and BuildUp Oregon announce the launch of the OHCS Co-location Fund aimed at expanding access to early childhood education and affordable housing across Oregon.

“Families face a pile of cost burdens that limit their access to afford housing, and one of these burdens is the high cost of early childcare. These investments set out to change the trajectory for Oregon families, allowing for increased stability and a better quality of life,” says OHCS Director Andrea Bell.

BuildUp Oregon will administer the $10 million in OHCS funds allocated by the Oregon legislature through House Bill 5011 to support co-locating early care and education (ECE) facilities with affordable housing. 

These resources will help bring affordable housing developers and ECE providers together to open and expand childcare services within or on the grounds of affordable housing developments. The funding awarded will depend on each project's needs, size, and costs. 

Funds provided through BuildUp Oregon can be used for: 

• Technical assistance to ECE providers and affordable housing developers on how to co-locate 
• Relationship building between ECE providers and housing developers to identify potential collaboration opportunities and facilitate communication 
• Financial support to ECE providers and developers to build or expand operations within or adjacent to affordable housing developments 

The goal of the OHCS Co-location Fund is to create or preserve 600 ECE slots throughout Oregon. 

OHCS is a funding partner with Multnomah County for the BuildUp Oregon program. Earlier this month, Multnomah County launched the Preschool for All Facilities Fund. That fund offers comprehensive support to early care and education providers in Multnomah County participating in Preschool for All (PFA) who are looking to enhance the quality of care at existing facilities, expand to serve additional families or open a new location.

"The Facilities Fund will provide crucial support to early care and education providers and help build up the infrastructure we need to ensure universal access to preschool by 2030," said Preschool and Early Learning Division Director Leslee Barnes. "This initiative represents a vital step towards all children having access to high-quality childcare in safe and nurturing environments."

Interested developers and providers can learn more about BuildUp Oregon by visiting www.BuildUpOregon.org. BuildUp Oregon will also provide further information about the OHCS Co-location Fund through a webinar in May. Details and updates on the webinar will be available on BuildUp Oregon’s website. 

About BuildUp Oregon

BuildUp Oregon is composed of four Community Development Financial Institutions. Its members are Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon (MESO), Craft3, Network for Oregon Affordable Housing (NOAH), and Low-Income Investment Fund (LIIF). Together, these organizations are dedicated to ensuring equitable access to high-quality childcare and supporting the growth and development of early care and education providers.

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. 

###

Board of Fire Commissioners to discuss fire levy lid lift April 25; public invited to attend and learn more

Revenue from Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue’s fire levy is not keeping up with capital needs, increasing numbers of emergency incidents, and costs to provide service.

The population within the CCFR response area has risen dramatically over the past decade, and so has demand for emergency services. Since 2017, CCFR call volumes have increased more than 40 percent. 

CCFR funds daily operations and capital purchases such as fire engines, ladder trucks, fire stations, and other equipment through a fire levy capped at $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. CCFR has an emergency medical service (EMS) levy at $.47 per $1000 of assessed value that funds paramedic positions and pays for medical equipment and supplies.

In 2017, voters approved a fire levy rate of $1.50. Since then, it has dropped to $1.26. This is called “levy erosion” and impacts the fire district’s ability to provide service. The fire district is limited by state law to just a 1 percent revenue increase per year, while costs to provide emergency services increase nearly 6 percent each year.

CCFR used funding from the 2017 fire levy lid lift to add firefighter positions, reopen a shuttered fire station in Charter Oak, purchase property for a fire station in Ridgefield, purchase four fire engines and a ladder truck, and provide major maintenance on existing fire stations to extend their service life. These actions helped reduce the Washington Survey & Rating Bureau Protection Class Grade for CCFR from a 5 to a 4, thereby allowing for lower fire insurance rates for residents and businesses.

“CCFR has worked hard to use taxpayer dollars efficiently, while increasing the level of safety in our communities” Fire Chief John Nohr said. “We have amazingly talented firefighters in this organization, but we are struggling to maintain response capability and capital purchases with the current fire levy.”

Commissioners considering a fire levy lid lift

Costs and demand for services are outpacing revenue. CCFR is discussing going to voters this year for a fire levy lid lift. The Board of Fire Commissioners is considering a $0.24 lid lift (from $1.26 to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value) during the August 2024 primary election. The lid lift would fund:

• Maintaining staffing levels of three firefighters at each fire station every day
• Purchase of two fire engines and one water tender
• Complete the construction of a partially built fire station in Woodland
• Initiate construction of a new fire station in west Ridgefield
• Fire station improvements at the Dollars Corner, Fairgrounds, La Center and Charter Oak facilities

The fire levy lid lift would cost the owner of a $500,000 home an additional $10 per month or $120 per year. 

The CCFR Board of Fire Commissioners will discuss placing a levy lid lift on the August ballot at its April 25 meeting, which the public is invited to attend and learn more. The meeting begins at 4 p.m. at Station 21, located at 911 N. 65^th Avenue in Ridgefield. You can also attend virtually via Zoom. Find the link at www.clarkfr.org.

###

Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue (CCFR) serves 60,000 people over 125 square miles, including the cities of La Center, Ridgefield, Woodland, and the Cowlitz Indian Reservation. Our combination department includes full-time and volunteer firefighters responding to an average of 5300 fire and emergency medical calls a year. CCFR operates under a balanced budget and has a history of passing independent financial audits by the state.

The Ridgefield School District has received another clean audit from the Washington State Auditor's Office demonstrating that the district has safeguarded public resources. This underscores the district's ongoing commitment to upholding the highest standards of financial transparency and accountability. The audit examined the areas of financial statements and federal grant compliance for the district's fiscal year from Sept. 1, 2022 to Aug. 31, 2023. Due to the size of its enrollment and annual budget, the district undergoes a thorough financial audit every year.

Independent state auditors reviewed Ridgefield's internal controls over financial reporting, federal grant compliance, and the financial statements prepared for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. The auditor’s report concludes that the district complied with laws and regulations; and that there were no internal control deficiencies. The auditor’s also determined the financial statements were fairly presented and accurately reflected the district’s financial operations. 

"Maintaining a clean audit history is paramount to earning and retaining the trust of our community," said interim superintendent Chris Griffith. “We take our responsibility very seriously, and I am proud of the teamwork and effort of district administrators and staff who ensure we are properly safeguarding public funding. This achievement reflects our dedicated efforts to ensure every dollar is accounted for and directed towards maximizing the educational experience for our students."

The State Auditor's Office audits school districts annually as part of its efforts to track public money and provide essential accountability and transparency for district operations. Their report states "the State Auditor’s Office has the independence necessary to objectively perform audits, attestation engagements and investigations. Our work is designed to comply with professional standards as well as to satisfy the requirements of federal, state and local laws. The Office also has an extensive quality control program and undergoes regular external peer review to ensure our work meets the highest possible standards of accuracy, objectivity and clarity."

“Ridgefield School District is fully committed to maintaining and building the public’s trust,” said Paula McCoy, Ridgefield School District’s Executive Director of Business Services. “Our track record of accountability is critical, and we are pleased to have another year of clean audits that demonstrate our commitment to being good financial stewards.”

The final reports for Ridgefield's 2022-23 audits are available on the State Auditor’s Office website and include the following:

● Financial Statements Report: Provides an opinion on whether financial statements are presented fairly and in accordance with the applicable reporting framework. Examines records for fraud and/or large errors or misstatements.

● Federal Single Audit Report: Required when a district spends more than $750,000 annually in federal assistance funding and determines compliance with federal requirements. View the Financial Statements and Federal Single Audit Report here. 

ANNUAL EVENT CELEBRATES FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN CULTURES 

Vancouver, Wash.— The annual Sakura Festival returns on Thursday, April 25 to the Clark College main campus, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way. The free community event underneath a canopy of cherry blossoms is presented by Clark College, the city of Vancouver and Vancouver Rotary. 

Opening remarks begin at 1 p.m. in the Royce Pollard Japanese Friendship Garden, located next to Beacock Music Hall on Clark’s main campus. In case of inclement weather, the event will be inside Gaiser Student Center in the Penguin Union Building.

Schedule 

• 12:50 p.m. - Koto performance by Mitsuki Dazai
• 1:10 p.m. - Greetings from Dr. Karin Edwards
• 1:15 p.m. – Greetings from City of Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle
• 1:22 p.m. – Greetings from Mr. Yuzo Yoshioka Consul General
• 1:25 p.m. – Greetings from Clark College student, Daniel Wall
• 1:28 p.m. – Clark College Treble Ensemble performance
• 1:40 p.m.– Guests walk through Japanese garden and up to Gaiser Student Center
• 2:30 p.m. - The celebration continues in Gaiser Student Center with a performance by Oregon Koto-Kai, Haiku reading by Clark College Japanese Club, martial art demonstration, and art share by children enrolled in Child and Family Studies program. There will be a variety of cultural displays and demonstration tables around the room. Hand-painted cherry blossom cookies will be provided by the college’s Professional Baking & Pastry Arts students.
• 3:30 p.m. - Event ends

History of Sakura Festival at Clark College: More than 25 years ago, the City of Vancouver received a gift of friendship: 100 Shirofugen cherry trees. They were planted at Clark College, creating an enduring reminder of the bonds between our region and Japan. Over the years, those trees have grown and blossomed—as has that friendship, creating traditions like the establishment in 1995 of a sister-city relationship between Vancouver and Joyo, Japan, and our annual Sakura Festival, begun in 2006. Learn more about the history of the Sakura Festival.

Driving directions and parking maps are available at www.clark.edu/maps.

Clark College expressly prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, honorably discharged veteran or military status, citizenship, immigration status, or use of a trained guide dog or service animal in its programs and activities. Learn more at www.clark.edu/nds.

If you need an accommodation due to a disability in order to fully participate in this event, please contact Clark College’s Human Resources Office. Phone: 360-992-2105 or email: hr@clark.edu

About Clark College 
Founded in 1933 and celebrating its 90^th year, Clark College provides residents of Southwest Washington with affordable, high-quality academic and technical education. It is a public community college offering 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 a wide range of students including high school students, displaced workers, veterans, parents, non-native English speakers, and mature learners. Approximately 45% of its students are in the first generation of their families to attend college.   

####

PRESS RELEASE  

CONTACT:  

Tina Sillers

Director, Media Relations  

tina@portlandmetrochamber.com

Portland Metro Chamber’s Annual 5k Brings Hundreds of Runners to the Downtown Waterfront  

APRIL 18, 2024– Portland, OR: Runners and walkers will lace up their sweetest kicks on Thursday, May 9^th for the 4^th Annual Rose City 5k, hosted by the Portland Metro Chamber and presented by Nike. 

Athletes of all levels are invited to participate. Join the race as an individual or bring your co-workers and run as a team. Last year more than 300 runners and walkers competed in the event.  

All participants will receive a Nike Dri-Fit t-shirt, a Rose City 5k tote bag, and other goodies to commemorate the day.  

Awards will be given for fastest team, largest team, and best team spirit. Individual medals will also be handed out to the top three finishers (runners & walkers) in each age group (male & female). 

“In my humble opinion, this is the best 5k race in the history of 5k races,” says Andrew Hoan, President & CEO of the Portland Metro Chamber.  

Following the event, the group will gather in the plaza for an awards ceremony that will include music, food and fun. 

 “It is an opportunity to get together with your friends and neighbors and enjoy what we hope will be a gorgeous day on the waterfront in the city we all love,” says Hoan. This event is all about bringing good positive energy into our downtown, building community, having some fun together and supporting the Rose City.”   

WHAT: Portland Metro Chamber Rose City 5k 

WHEN: Thursday, May 9^th 3:00pm to 6:00pm           

WHERE: World Trade Center (Outdoor Pavilion),Downtown Portland 

              25 SW Salmon Street, 

              Portland, OR 97204  

Online registration closes at 12 noon on May 8^th.Contact Ashley Odil for event information.  

###  

Portland Metro Chamber – Greater Portland's Chamber of Commerce – was founded in 1870 and is the leading voice for business in the region. The Alliance represents the largest, most diverse business network in the region, bringing together nearly 1,900 dynamic members, and advocates at all levels of government to support commerce, community health, and the region’s overall prosperity.  

PORTLAND, Ore.—The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon announced today that it will join 10 other U.S. Attorney’s Offices in establishing a multi-agency task force to address carjacking, an important public safety threat impacting communities in Oregon and beyond.

“We are pleased to join our Justice Department colleagues from across the country in taking this important, targeted step to address carjacking, a dangerous, violent crime. We thank all our law enforcement partners for their ongoing commitment to protecting Oregonians through this and other violent crime reduction efforts.” said Natalie Wight, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

“The Justice Department has no higher priority than keeping our communities safe. We do so by targeting the most significant drivers of violent crime and by acting as a force multiplier for our state and local law enforcement partners. We’re seeing results — with violent crime declining broadly nationwide,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Today, we are launching seven new carjacking task forces across the country to build on the success of task forces in Chicago, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Tampa, where available data shows that carjacking rates are now falling. When prosecutors, officers, agents, and analysts come together to crunch data, share intelligence, and apply best practices, we can make real progress in the fight against all forms of violent crime, including carjacking.”

In keeping with the Justice Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, the District of Oregon carjacking task force will focus federal resources on identifying, investigating, and prosecuting individuals responsible for committing carjackings and related crimes throughout the state. 

Carjacking task forces have proven to be an effective part of successful violent crime reduction strategies by focusing on a significant driver of crime and taking violent offenders off the streets. For example, carjackings in Philadelphia declined by 31 percent from 2022 to 2023, and armed carjackings are down 28 percent in the District of Columbia so far this year compared to the same period in 2023. In Chicago, carjackings decreased 29 percent from their high in 2021 through the end of 2023.

Local efforts to combat carjacking have already produced positive results. On Tuesday, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a three-count indictment charging, Raheim Carter, 41, a Portland resident, with carjacking, using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, and illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. On March 15, 2024, Carter and an accomplice are alleged to have stolen a vehicle at gunpoint from a North Portland resident. Carter and the accomplice are alleged to have approached the victim while he was unloading groceries from his vehicle, demanded he hand over his keys at gunpoint, and drove off with the vehicle. The case was investigated by the Portland Police Bureau with assistance from the FBI.

The newly formed carjacking task forces will be led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) with state and local law enforcement partners.

###

Don Hudson, Assistant City Manager/Finance Director of City of Tualatin, OR has been appointed to the National League of Cities (NLC) 2024 Finance, Administration and Intergovernmental Relations Federal Advocacy Committee. Mr. Hudson was elected to a one-year term and will provide strategic direction and guidance for NLC’s federal advocacy agenda and policy priorities on taxes that affect cities, towns and villages, voting and voter protections, advancing housing finance legislation, and more. The appointment was announced by NLC President Mayor David Sander of Rancho Cordova, CA.   

“Decisions made at the Federal level can have significant impacts on local cities, so I am honored to have been selected to this committee.  The importance of making sure lawmakers understand how their decisions affect our ability to provide the services our residents want and expect from the City of Tualatin is vital to meeting the needs of our residents and customers.”

As a member of NLC’s Finance, Administration and Intergovernmental Relations Federal Advocacy Committee, Mr. Hudson will play a key role in shaping NLC’s policy positions and advocate on behalf of America’s cities, towns and villages before Congress, with the administration and at home. 

“NLC’s federal advocacy committees play an important role in helping policymakers in Washington understand the issues and challenges facing America’s cities, towns and villages at the local level,” said NLC President Mayor David Sander of Rancho Cordova, CA. “I’m thrilled to have Mr. Hudson serve on NLC’s  Finance, Administration and Intergovernmental Relations Federal Advocacy Committee this year, and look forward to working with him to strengthen the federal-local partnership and grow our common knowledge of the issues and opportunities facing our communities.”   

The leadership of this year’s committee will consist of Committee Chair Blaine Griffin, Council President , City of Cleveland, OH; Vice Chair Mary Dennis, Mayor, City of Live Oak, TX;  Vice Chair Clare Kelly, Council Member, City of Evanston, IL;  Vice Chair Julie Spilsbury, Councilmember, City of Mesa, AZ

For more information on NLC’s federal advocacy committees, visit: https://www.nlc.org/advocacy/federal-advocacy-committees/.

MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Oregon University Board of Trustees convened on April 16 and 17 to consider and approve several items, including the tuition & fees for the 2024-25 academic year.

The Tuition Advisory Committee, which includes students, staff, and faculty, submitted a proposed five percent tuition increase, which was accepted by President Jesse Peters and presented to the Board of Trustees on April 17. The trustees approved the five percent increase to resident undergraduate tuition and a 4.86 percent increase to nonresident undergraduate tuition. Graduate tuition will increase by five percent, and is assessed at the same rate regardless of residency. Summer 2024 tuition rates are included at the same rates as the 2024-25 academic year.

"We firmly believe that higher education should be accessible to all, and affordability is a cornerstone of our mission,” shares Board of Trustee Chair Betty Komp. “While a slight increase was necessary, it enables us to continue delivering quality education and support to our students, ensuring their success and fulfillment throughout their academic journey."

Western Oregon University remains among the most affordable public higher education institutions in Oregon, offering the second-lowest tuition rate in the state. Western is also a member of the Western Undergraduate Exchange, the largest regional interstate tuition savings program, where students from participating states can attend Western and pay no more than 150 percent of the in-state resident tuition rate. 

“Students choose Western because it’s a special place. We take pride in offering students a tailored educational experience, fostering a sense of belonging, and delivering quality support services,” said President Jesse Peters. “We have worked hard to maintain affordability without compromising the exceptional quality of education and services that define Western. This slight tuition increase reflects our dedication to sustaining the excellence that makes us truly extraordinary.”

###

About Western Oregon University

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

https://wou.edu/2024/04/18/western-oregon-university-board-of-trustees-approves-tuition-increase/
 

 (Astoria, OR) — Clatsop County Clerk Tracie Krevanko is alerting the public about U.S. Post Office changes that could affect whether mailed voter registration cards and election ballots will arrive by deadlines.

“Now that all mail postmarking is now being done in Portland, we encourage Clatsop County voters who choose to mail in their voter registration card or election ballots to put them in the mail at least five days prior to any deadline. We want to make sure every vote counts,” she said.

“We also encourage people to register to vote online at the Oregon Secretary of State’s My Vote webpage and to drop their election ballots at one of Clatsop County election ballot dropbox locations,” she said.

• April 30, 2024                  Last day to register to vote and choose a political party for
                                            the Primary Election. Registration cards postmarked by this
                                           date are valid registrations for this and future elections
• May 1-May 7, 2024        Official Primary Election Ballots mailed
• May 21, 2024                  Election Day. Ballots postmarked by this date and received
                                         by the Clatsop County elections office by May 28, 2024 are
                                         valid ballots
• June 17, 2024                  Last day to certify election

How to Register to Vote

There are three ways people can register to vote:

• Online at the Oregon Secretary of State “My Vote” website
• In Person at Oregon Dept. of Motor Vehicle offices during regular business hours
• In person at the Clatsop County Clerk and Elections office, which is located at 820 Exchange in Astoria. The office closes at 5 p.m.

Returning Election Ballots

Completed and returned ballots will be counted if they are postmarked on or before Election Day, Tuesday, May 21. 

Election ballots must be delivered to an official drop site or the County Clerk’s Office, 820 Exchange St., 2nd Floor, Astoria. The elections office will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day.

Clatsop County Voters Pamphlet

For the 2024 primary election, the Clatsop County voters’ pamphlet will be included with the ballots mailed to voters. The pamphlet also is available online at ClatsopCounty.gov.

Ballot Process Live-Stream

Clatsop County Clerk and Elections Office will provide live, online video streaming of its processing of local ballots, from the verifying of signatures through to the actual count.

The live feed will begin May 2. Activities that will be live-streamed are:

• Receiving of ballots at the Clerk and Elections Office
• Scanning ballots – elections staff scans ballots to log them is as received. 
• Signature verification – elections staff compares signature on ballot envelope to voter’s registration record
• At 9 a.m. on May 10 elections staff will live-stream the public test of the ballot-counting machine.

Beginning May 20, the video stream will also show ballot-processing at the Judge Guy Boyington Building. Activities that will be shown are:

• Ballot opening – elections staff remove ballots from envelope, check ballots for damage that may make them unreadable for the ballot counter
• Vote scanning – ballots are run through ballot-counting machine

The video feed will be live through certification. The video feed will continue to show ballot processing and counting after Election Day until all qualified ballots are counted.

While live, the video feed may show extended periods with no activity. That is because ballots are processed as they are received by the Clerk and Elections Office.

-30-

SALEM, Ore. – April 18, 2024 – On April 13, President Joe Biden approved Governor Tina Kotek’s request for a federal major disaster declaration for severe winter storms, straight-line winds, landslides, and mudslides that occurred throughout the state from Jan. 10-22 (view a GIS StoryMap of the event).

The declaration will provide supplemental grant funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance program, a reimbursement program for public infrastructure damage and response costs to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations in designated counties impacted by the event. This disaster declaration covers Benton, Clackamas, Coos, Hood River, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Multnomah, Sherman, Tillamook, and Wasco counties and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians.

FEMA Public Assistance is a supplementary financial assistance program for emergency work and the repair or replacement of public facilities and infrastructure damaged by the winter event. Financial assistance is available on a cost-sharing basis; reimbursement is 75% federal share of the eligible cost for emergency measures and permanent restoration costs and 25% is the applicant's responsibility. The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (ODEM) administers the Public Assistance program in the state.

All eligible applicants with eligible projects within the designated counties and tribes can apply for public assistance. Eligible applicants include local governments, tribal governments, special districts, state agencies, and certain private nonprofits that have incurred costs for response activities or sustained facility damage as a direct result of the January event. Private nonprofits are those entities that provide a governmental type of service and have a 501(c), (d) or (e) tax exception status (see page 43 of the FEMA Public Assistance Program and Guide regarding eligible facilities and required documentation). Certain private nonprofits with damage to their facilities should apply for a U.S. Small Business Administration loan first.

ODEM and FEMA will work with each applicant to develop their projects, scope and costs that can be reimbursed. Potential applicants in the designated counties must complete a Request for Public Assistance in the FEMA Grants Portal by May 13.

The Major Disaster Declaration does not provide FEMA Individual Assistance and will not reimburse funds for repair or replacement costs by individuals to their property.

Learn more about the Public Assistance program at https://www.oregon.gov/oem/emresources/disasterassist/Pages/Public-Assistance.aspx.

###

Captions

2024 January storm damage clean up in Linn County (courtesy Linn County).
2024 January storm damage to trees and power lines in Lane County (courtesy Lane Electric).
Oregon Department of Emergency Management Logo (white background).
Oregon Department of Emergency Management Logo (no background).
FEMA Logo (Horizontal).
FEMA Logo (Vertical).

On Wednesday April 17^th, 2024 at 8:55 PM Newport Officers were alerted to a motor vehicle versus pedestrian crash in the Walmart parking lot. Prior to Officers arriving, the suspect fled the scene in a vehicle. 

The investigation revealed 44-year-old Newport resident Larry Janz II was intentionally following the victim, who was known to Janz II, in his vehicle. The victim, who was also operating a vehicle, pulled into the Walmart parking lot, stopped their vehicle in a lane of travel, and exited their vehicle. Janz II sideswiped the victim’s vehicle, striking and injuring the victim in the process. The victim, a 38-year-old Newport resident, suffered injuries severe enough to be later transported to another hospital via helicopter. Janz II fled the scene without rendering aide or exchanging information, as required by law.

Janz II was located at his residence and later taken into custody without incident and lodged at the Lincoln County jail for: 

Fail to perform duties of driver to injured persons (Class C Felony).

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

Newport Officers were assisted by: Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, Newport Fire Department and Pacific West Ambulance.

Salem, Oregon - The State Government Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council will meet at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. The meeting will take place remotely via the internet on Microsoft Teams and is open to the public. The agenda and handouts will be posted on the Council’s website.

What:    Meeting of the State Government Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council  

When:   Wednesday, April 24, 2024, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Where: Microsoft Teams (Click here to join the meeting)

Meeting ID: 259 221 087 88 Passcode: JyPqSX

Who:     State Government Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council 

The State Government Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council is established by Governor Kotek’s Executive Order 23-26, Establishing a State Government Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council. 

The purpose of the Council is to recommend an action plan to guide awareness education, and usage of artificial intelligence in state government that aligns with the State’s policies, goals, and values and supports public servants to deliver customer service more efficiently and effectively. The recommended action plan shall include concrete executive actions, policies, and investments needed to leverage artificial intelligence while honoring transparency, privacy, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Meetings of the State Government Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council are open to the public. 

Public comment may be made during the meeting.  Sign-up for public comment is required as spots are limited. Sign-up closes Monday, April 22 at noon. Written comment will also be accepted. Written comment can be submitted by mail to the Council Support Office, 550 Airport Rd SE Suite C, Salem, OR 97301 or online.

Accommodations can be arranged for persons with disabilities, and alternate formats of printed material are available upon request. Please contact Enterprise Information Services at 503-378-3175 at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting to request accommodations. Closed captioning is included on the Microsoft Teams meeting.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Links

State Government Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council webpage: https://www.oregon.gov/eis/Pages/ai-advisory-council.aspx

Executive Order 23-26: https://www.oregon.gov/gov/eo/eo-23-26.pdf

Meeting link: (https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/ap/t-59584e83/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fteams.microsoft.com%2Fl%2Fmeetup-join%2F19%253ameeting_NDRmZjdkY2QtNTk0My00ODcxLWE3NjMtNTczODQwYmVlM2Uy%2540thread.v2%2F0%3Fcontext%3D%257b%2522Tid%2522%253a%2522aa3f6932-fa7c-47b4-a0ce-a598cad161cf%2522%252c%2522Oid%2522%253a%252234556cff-59ab-4761-8d66-f5c4ccec23c6%2522%257d&data=05%7C02%7CJessica.MADDOX%40das.oregon.gov%7Cd6650f0adfa94351bfa108dc5d6ca6ac%7Caa3f6932fa7c47b4a0cea598cad161cf%7C0%7C0%7C638487968427705959%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=piNCX%2BUreNnFcpCHLpY%2FtoJul%2FVU7OgApUabPW8teuM%3D&reserved=0)

Sign-up for public comment: https://forms.office.com/g/8NPeQbXRrA

Online comments submission:https://forms.office.com/g/5ecMVUWbbi

Part of the beauty of Oregon is the hiking opportunities throughout the state. Hiking can be a fun and healthy activity for the whole family. But without proper planning, even a short hike could turn into a dangerous situation. Before you hit the trails, remember these hiking safety tips.

1. Make a Gear List

Whether you're hiking for three hours or three days, you don't want to forget something important. Make a gear list to make sure you have everything you need. Some items to include on your gear list are: 

• Water
• Water filtration such as a filter straw or a filtration waterbottle
• Rain gear and additional climate-appropriate clothing
• Compass
• Map
• Extra food
• First aid supplies
• Cell phone or radio with backup batteries

2. Bring a Map

Bringing a map and becoming familiar with the area before you hike is so important. You should never rely solely on GPS technology especially with limited service and battery power. Always pack a map and make sure you know how to read it before you need it. 

3. Hike During the Day

Whenever possible, plan to hike during the day. It is easier to get lost in the dark and the area may be home to wild animals that come out at night. 

4. Know the Area

Exploring new hiking trails can be exciting. Unfortunately, it also means you're unfamiliar with the territory. Before heading out, check regional hiking information for:

• Local wild animals and what to do if you encounter them
• Local poisonous plants
• Local hunting areas and seasons
• Local hiking or emergency alerts

5. Check the Forecast

Check the forecast while planning your hike and keep checking it until you leave. This helps determine what gear you need to bring and greatly impacts your safety. Hiking in hotter or colder weather have different challenges that impact your trip and your health. If the forecast does predict rain, snow, or ice, be sure the trail you're taking is passable in these conditions. Consider contacting your local Parks and Recreation Department so they can direct you to real-time information. When in doubt, reschedule your hike for better weather.

6. Be Confident Not Cocky

You know what you can and can't handle. When hiking in a group or with a more advanced friend, you may take risks you aren't ready for. Don't risk injury; be honest with your skill level before hitting the trail. 

7. Tell Someone Before You Go

Tell someone when and where you are going and when they should expect you to be back. If that person doesn't hear from you by a certain time, they can take the necessary action to begin a search. With Search and Rescue missions, time matters. If you don’t make it home on time, having a friend that can report your planned hiking activity and timeline can help searchers locate you. 

8. Stay Together

When hiking with a large group, it's easy to separate into groups of fast and slow hikers. Often, this happens naturally, but it isn't always safe. Keep someone at the front that hikes at a modest pace to ensure everyone stays together.

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

###

Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Climate Project Community Advisory Group will meet at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, April 24. 

The Community Advisory Group (CAG) is made up of 20 county residents who were appointed by the county manager. The group is helping the county develop policy recommendations to implement new state climate change planning legislation for Planning Commission and County Council consideration to adopt for the county. The legislation emphasizes that planning and policy decisions related to climate change do not impact us all in the same way. The CAG is one of three advisory groups supporting the county’s Climate Project.

Community Advisory Group meetings are held at 5:30 pm the fourth Wednesday of the month. 

Meetings are in a hybrid format with both in-person and virtual participation options. Attend in Room 680 of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St., or join virtually through information provided at: https://clark.wa.gov/community-planning/community-advisory-group.

The meeting is open to the public and includes a brief public comment period. A recording of the meeting will also be available for viewing afterwards.

To learn more about county climate planning, sign up for project updates, submit a comment, review meeting recordings, or learn about future community advisory group meetings, please visit the project website at https://clark.wa.gov/community-planning/climate-change-planning.

The county’s Climate Project is being funded by a state grant. The Washington Department of Commerce climate planning grant is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA). The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.

Vancouver, Wash. – The City of Vancouver is seeking applicants interested in filling two vacancies on its volunteer Parking Advisory Committee. Applications must be submitted by May 21.

The Parking Advisory Committee is a seven-member volunteer body that advises the Vancouver City Council and City staff on parking policy and program implementation. Applicants must meet at least one of the following requirements:

• Live or own property anywhere within the Vancouver city limits
• Serve as an executive officer/partner or employee at a business located in the downtown area

All applicants must also be available for an interview with Vancouver City Councilmembers on a date to be determined. Parking Advisory Committee members serve four-year terms. The committee meets quarterly, or as needed, at 8 a.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Meetings are held both in-person and remotely. This recruitment is for two full-term appointments, with a term effective July 1, 2024 and expiring June 30, 2028.

Learn more about the City’s boards and commissions and apply online at www.cityofvancouver.us/boards. 

To request a printed application or for further information, contact the Boards and Commissions Coordinator at Vancouver City Hall, P.O. Box 1995, Vancouver, WA 98668-1995, c_coordinator@cityofvancouver.us">bc_coordinator@cityofvancouver.us or 360-487-8600. 

###

Media Advisory - All Media Are Invited

SOLVE's Oregon Spring Cleanup 2024 spans across Oregon and SW Washington with over 100 events. This hallmark event, celebrating Earth Day, unites volunteers and partners from the Pacific Northwest to contribute to a cleaner, greener planet. Rooted in SOLVE's rich history, this event series merges two cherished events: the Spring Oregon Beach Cleanup (1986) and SOLVE IT for Earth Day (1990). The Oregon Spring Cleanup 2024 is presented by Portland General Electric. It's an excellent opportunity for families, coworkers, and neighbors to bond while preserving Oregon's stunning locations.

Media are invited to document environmentally engaged citizens and interview SOLVE staff and partners at the following two events:

What: SE Portland Eco-Disco: Litter Cleanup & Silent Disco

When: Saturday, April 20, 2024
The cleanup will be held from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM. The silent disco will run from 11 AM until 1 PM.
Volunteers will start arriving after 9:45 AM.

Where: 320 SE 16th Ave Portland, OR 97214 | (Map Link)
We will be meeting at Buckman Elementary, under the covered basketball courts.

This unique Earth Day celebration and collaboration with Heartbeat Silent Disco in Portland’s Central Eastside is presented by Portland General Electric. Following the cleanup at 12 pm, the festivities continue with a free silent disco until 1 pm, adding an extra layer of celebration to the cleanup efforts. Volunteers will be provided with wireless headphones with personal volume control and adjustable fit, allowing everyone to enjoy the music while respecting the natural surroundings.

The media should arrive at the Central Eastside Cleanup event by 9:45 AM. 

Available interviewees: 

• Kris Carico, CEO, SOLVE 
• Kregg Arnston, Executive Director of the PGE Foundation

For more event details, please check the event page:
SOLVE | SE Portland Eco-Disco: Litter Cleanup & Silent Disco (solveoregon.org)

What: Cityscape Sparkle: Earth Day Cleanup at Sport Oregon

When: Monday, April 22, 2024, 2 PM – 4 PM. Volunteers will start arriving after 1:45 PM.

Where: 1939 SW Morrison St Portland, OR 97205 | (Map Link)
We will be meeting outside of Sport Oregon.

This litter cleanup event taking place on Earth Day 2024 goes beyond tidying up the neighborhood streets. Participants are invited for a day of community, cleanliness, and local love at Sport Oregon to foster a sense of unity and enhance our local environment. This Earth Day event is presented by Swire Coca-Cola and TriMet.

The media should arrive at Sport Oregon by 1:45 PM. 

Available interviewees: 

• Kris Carico, CEO, SOLVE 
• Josh Keller, Development Director, SOLVE
• Tia York, Manager of Media Relations, TriMet Public Affairs Division 

For more event details, please check the event page:
SOLVE | Cityscape Sparkle: Earth Day Cleanup (solveoregon.org)

Along with Portland General Electric, event sponsors of the Oregon Spring Cleanup 2024 include Clean Water Services, AAA Oregon/Idaho, Fred Meyer, Metro, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, KOIN, The Oregonian, The Standard, Swire Coca-Cola, Holman, Demarini-Wilson, TriMet, and PepsiCo.

####

About SOLVE
SOLVE is a statewide non-profit organization that brings people together to improve our environment and build a legacy of stewardship. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots group to a national model for volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains tens of thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon and Southwest Washington to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas and to build a legacy of stewardship for our state. Visit solveoregon.org for more information. 

BURNS, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Forestry recently hosted the 2024 Rangeland Fire Protection Association Summit in Burns, Oregon. The annual summit provides a forum for the 28 Rangeland Fire Protection Associations (RFPAs) to meet with each other and partners in the spirit of helping each other be more effective at fighting wildfire on Oregon’s range. 

RFPAs are an integral part of the complete and coordinated wildfire protection system in Oregon. Oregon’s 28 rangeland associations across eastern Oregon provide initial attack response to wildfires on nearly 17.5 million acres of public and private ownership. Association members have a unique interest in suppressing wildfires since the lands they protect impact their livelihoods and those of their neighbors. 

During the summit the rangeland associations share information such as current membership, planned prevention and mitigation strategies, and lessons learned from the previous year’s wildfires. 

“The summit is an invaluable resource for association members and partners to advance wildfire suppression capability on Oregon’s rangeland, cropland, sage grouse habitat, and livestock forage that are crucial to the local economy,” said Allison Rayburn, ODF’s Rangeland Fire Coordinator.

An important part of the summit is the presentation of the Outstanding Neighbor Award, given to association members who are instrumental in supporting and growing their association. This year’s Outstanding Neighbor Award was presented to John O’Keeffe, president of the Warner Valley RFPA. O’Keeffe has represented local land interests and worked on ecological issues locally as a member of Oregon’s Wildfire Programs Advisory Council and the Oregon Cattleman’s Association, and nationally as a member of the Public Lands Council and National Wildland Fire Mitigation Management Commission.

“The people in this room are what makes this work. We want to have another generation, and another generation after that on the landscape and advocacy in far-away places is a large part of making that happen. I’ve been fortunate to have the local support to participate,” said O’Keeffe.

The history of RFPAs in Oregon started with legislation enacted in 1963 that allowed the formation of associations. In 1964, the Ironside RFPA was formed in northern Malheur County. For many years they were the lone association in the state. However, in 1998, a new era of RFPA interest emerged. Between 1998 and 2001, five additional RFPAs were formed and new associations have continued to form since then. There are currently 28 associations with over 1,200 volunteers. Association partner agencies include ODF, Bureau of Land Management, Oregon’s Office of the State Fire Marshal, Oregon State University Extension Service, county emergency managers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Natural Resources Conservation Service.