LAKE OF THE WOODS, Ore. - Jackson County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) is assisting the Klamath County Sheriffs Office on a missing mushroom hunter case. We are searching for Gerald Severson of Ruch, Ore. He was last seen Thursday evening near Lake of the Woods in Klamath County.

Severson is described as a 56-year-old white male, 5’4” tall, weighing 140 pounds with gray hair and blue eyes. Severson was staying at a cabin on the east side of Lake of the Woods and left to search for mushrooms at about 7PM on Thursday, May 2nd. SAR teams have been searching since Friday, May 3rd at 1PM when Severson was reported missing.

If you have any information regarding Severson’s location please call 911 and report it. The area he was last seen is populated and has multiple busy roads. It’s very possible Severson could have been picked up. Authorities are very concerned for the safety of Severson and the searchers as the weather in the area is very poor at this time.

SALEM, Ore – The Oregon State Fire Marshal is excited to announce the launch of the Oregon Fire Service Health and Safety Collaborative, a pioneering program that will enhance the support systems for firefighters throughout Oregon. This collaborative is a significant commitment to the health and safety of the men and women serving in the fire service across the state, ensuring they receive needed support in their critical role.

Firefighting is an intense and demanding profession that poses numerous physical, psychological, and environmental challenges. Recognizing these challenges, the Oregon Fire Service Health and Safety Collaborative will create a robust support system by aligning resources and providing dedicated support to fire service personnel.

The program is built around a visionary framework designed to address the diverse needs of all fire service personnel in Oregon. Focusing on critical areas such as behavioral health, physical wellness, cancer prevention, and incident safety, the collaborative aims to cultivate a resilient and thriving firefighting community.

The core of the collaborative includes:

• Establishing a forum for equal contribution from all partners.
• Coordinating efforts across various agencies.
• Representing a wide range of perspectives within the Oregon fire service.

By following these principles, the OSFM hopes to nurture a culture of collaboration, support, and continuous improvement.

"The Oregon Fire Service Health and Safety Collaborative is a proactive approach to confronting the unique challenges faced by our firefighters," Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. "This collaborative is not just about addressing immediate needs but about building a foundation for long-term resilience and excellence in our fire service."

The collaborative serves as a hub for resources to simplify access to necessary support services. Fire service personnel seeking assistance with behavioral health services, cancer prevention strategies, or incident safety protocols will find valuable resources and guidance.

The work forming the collaborative and its success was guided by a sub-committee of the Governor’s Fire Service Policy Council. On Thursday, the group was honored for their work by the Oregon Fire Chief’s Association with a 2024 Award of Excellence.

As the collaborative moves forward, the Oregon State Fire Marshal is committed to the continuous evaluation and enhancement of the support systems, ensuring they effectively meet the evolving needs of Oregon's firefighting community.

We invite all fire service members and partners to join us in this vital program. Together, we can ensure a safer, healthier future for all firefighters and the communities they protect.

For more information about the Oregon Fire Service Health and Safety Collaborative, please visit www.oregon.gov/osfm/healthandsafety.

CAMP ROBINSON, Ark. — The sweltering Arkansas sun baked the soaked soil at Camp Robinson, and the moisture rose into a thick, humid haze. Sgt. Trahern Fox, Sgt. Kevin Martin, and Spc. John Adamson stepped onto the range; every stride felt like walking on a soaked sponge, and the oppressive 80 percent humidity enveloped them like a sauna.

The trio of Oregon National Guard scouts remained laser-focused amid the swampy conditions. They were all first-time competitors at the Winston P. Wilson Small Arms Championship - the National Guard's most prestigious and grueling rifle and pistol marksmanship event.

Originally a four-man team from the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment's scout sniper section in Ashland, their fourth shooter had an unfortunate last-minute family emergency that prevented him from attending. It derailed their chances at the coveted team championship, but the three Oregonians were undeterred in their goal of personal growth.

The competition was established in 1971 by the then-Chief of the National Guard Bureau, Maj. Gen. Winston P. Wilson. The annual championship promotes sustained combat marksmanship mastery with individual weapons. It challenges the nation's top Guard sharpshooters across multi-day, combat-focused courses involving rifle and pistol ranges.

After an overhaul in 2007, which implemented new strenuous, reality-based courses, the Winston P. Wilson event became one of the Army and Air National Guard's most intense tests of individual marksmanship skills. Camp Robinson's National Guard Marksmanship Training Center hosts the annual event, where the nation's elite convene yearly to improve their shooting prowess.

"It's a cool, humbling experience to shoot with some of the best in the country and test your abilities against them," said Martin, a detective with the Medford Police Department balancing his civilian career with National Guard service. "You learn a lot about yourself as a shooter - where you need to improve and where you're succeeding."

For the citizen soldiers juggling jobs, families, and military obligations, the championship presented a rare opportunity for focused immersion in honing critical shooting skills. As part of the infantry battalion's reconnaissance element, their scout sniper section's long-range shooting proficiency is vital for gaining intelligence ahead of combat operations.

The scouts' ability to observe and precisely engage enemy targets from exceptional distances could mean the difference between success or failure for their battalion's missions. This ability allows the infantry to fix and destroy the enemy with surgically applied fire and maneuver based on their reconnaissance.

Fox, a network engineer for a California tech company who grew up in Southern Oregon, relished the freedom to devote himself entirely to hone his shooting skills without distractions.

"There's a lot more coordination and complexity that eventually, when you wrap your head around it, it's actually really good skills refinement," Fox said. "Lots of consistent, deliberate trigger time too - back-to-back days drilling the fundamentals that you just don't get at home station."

Adamson, a 12-year police officer working drug cases in Medford, joined the unit only four years ago. He joined seeking training like this and welcomed the chance to elevate his skills against the nation's most elite shooters.

"These are the best marksmen in the country," said the 34-year-old. "If you think you're a decent rifle or pistol shooter, and you go against these guys, they'll show you there's a lot you can improve on. It's incredibly humbling."

According to Martin, a prior combat-deployed trained sniper, injecting stressors to simulate combat conditions was a core premise. Dynamic drills involving moving targets, obstacle negotiation, and skewed shooting positions and environments, all under grueling time constraints, created intense pressure to replicate scouting a hostile objective. 

"With ranges designed around realistic combat scenarios, they induce that same sense of urgency as when you're experiencing the stressors of a hostile environment," Martin explained. "time restraints and competition are the best ways to induce stress into a shooter. And you have both of those things here."

The Oregonians' fatigues told the story as the orchestra of ringing steel and dust-kicking impacts grew louder with each passing range. Their sweat-soaked uniforms and sunburned skin showed that these warriors were honing their combat effectiveness through a challenging course.

When finalized, their scores would memorialize new shooting milestones with rifles and pistols. But the trio's greatest prize was incalculable - fortified skills to elevate their scout sniper section's operational lethality.

The ability to leverage high-level marksmanship from exceptional distances, gleaned through the National Guard's premier shooting crucible, could prove invaluable in combat. Overmatch against any future foe; their heightened ability to shoot and move will pave the way for improved mission success.

While disappointed to lose their fourth shooter, the Oregonians focused on the invaluable skills they'd absorbed. The Marksmanship Training Center's rifle and pistol experience will burn bright when passed from Camp Robinson's ranges to their scout sniper section's training.

                                                                       -30-

Released B-Roll-https://dvidshub.net/r/duuyxb

Released photos:

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Sgt. Kevin Martin, a scout sniper with the Oregon National Guard's 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, scores a target by placing a feedback disk in a target pit at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock, Ark., during the Winston P. Wilson Small Arms Championship on May 2, 2024. The prestigious marksmanship competition hosted by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center pushed Martin and his teammates' rifle and pistol skills through realistic, high-stress courses designed to elevate their lethality on the battlefield. (Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne Oregon National Guard public affairs office)

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Oregon National Guard Sgt. Trahern Fox (right) from the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment scout sniper section confers with Staff Sgt. Clary, a range support staff member, to discuss the conduct of fire for an upcoming event at the Winston P. Wilson Small Arms Championship in North Little Rock, Ark., on May 1, 2024. The prestigious marksmanship competition hosted by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center at Camp Robinson pushed Fox and his teammates' rifle and pistol skills through realistic, high-stress courses designed to elevate their battlefield lethality. (Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne Oregon National Guard public affairs office)

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Sgt. Kevin Martin, a scout sniper with the Oregon National Guard's 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, fires his M17 pistol steadied on a post during a competition range at the Winston P. Wilson Small Arms Championship in North Little Rock, Ark., on April 30, 2024. The prestigious marksmanship event hosted by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center pushed Martin and his teammates through realistic, high-stress rifle and pistol courses to elevate their battlefield lethality. (Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne Oregon National Guard public affairs office)

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Sgt. Trahern Fox (left), Sgt. Kevin Martin (center), and Spc. John Adamson (right) from the Oregon National Guard's 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment scout sniper section before taking the firing line at the Winston P. Wilson Small Arms Championship. The prestigious marksmanship event at Camp Robinson's National Guard Marksmanship Training Center in Arkansas pushed the trio's rifle and pistol skills to the limits through realistic, stressful courses designed to elevate their lethality. Though down one shooter due to a family emergency, the Oregonians focused on individual growth to bring heightened skills back to their unit.

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Spc. John Adamson, a scout with the Oregon National Guard's 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, fires his M4 carbine from a seated position during the Winston P. Wilson Small Arms Championship at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock, Ark., on May 1, 2024. The prestigious marksmanship competition hosted by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center pushed Adamson and his teammates through realistic, high-stress rifle and pistol courses designed to elevate their battlefield lethality. (Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne Oregon National Guard public affairs office)

240502-Z-ZJ128-1002

In the foreground, Sgt. Kevin Martin, with Sgt. Trahern Fox behind, both scout snipers from the Oregon National Guard's 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, fire their M4 rifles during the Winston P. Wilson Small Arms Championship at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock, Ark., on May 1, 2024. The prestigious marksmanship competition hosted by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center pushed the Oregonians through realistic, high-stress rifle courses to elevate their battlefield lethality. (Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne Oregon National Guard public affairs office)

240502-Z-ZJ128-1003

Spc. John Adamson, a scout sniper with the Oregon National Guard's 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, prepares to engage targets with his M4 rifle during the Winston P. Wilson Small Arms Championship at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock, Ark., on May 2, 2024. The prestigious marksmanship competition hosted by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center pushed Adamson and his teammates through realistic, high-stress rifle courses designed to elevate their battlefield lethality.

(Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne Oregon National Guard public affairs office)

240502-Z-ZJ128-1005

Sgt. Kevin Martin, a scout sniper with the Oregon National Guard's 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, scores a target by placing a feedback disk in a target pit at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock, Ark., during the Winston P. Wilson Small Arms Championship on May 2, 2024. The prestigious marksmanship competition hosted by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center pushed Martin and his teammates' rifle and pistol skills through realistic, high-stress courses designed to elevate their lethality on the battlefield. (Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne Oregon National Guard public affairs office)

Salem – Teams of students at Hermiston, Silverton, Henley, Parkrose, Crescent Valley, and McLoughlin high schools have earned top prizes in a media contest designed to increase awareness about workplace safety and health for young workers.

High school students across Oregon were invited to participate in the annual contest organized by the Oregon Young Employee Safety Coalition (O[yes]). In its 16th year of putting a spotlight on the importance of young worker safety and health, the 2023-24 media contest challenged participants to create an ad – through either a compelling graphic design or video – that captures their peers’ attention and convinces them to take the O[yes] Young Employee Safety Awareness online training. 

The creative possibilities were multifaceted: Participants got to choose the key message, theme, or tagline they believed would attract their audience and move it to act. Participants were asked to submit either a graphic design or a video that was no more than 90 seconds long. 

Teams of students met the challenge with smart and positive media projects. In attention-grabbing videos and artful graphic designs, students called attention to everything from workplace stress to worker rights on the job. Their projects stayed laser-focused on convincing their target audience – teen workers or teens who are preparing to work for the first time – to take the O[yes] Young Employee Safety Awareness online training to improve their knowledge of how to stay safe and healthy in the workplace.

The top winners in each category were:

Video:

• First place: Silverton High School, “Saying Yes” ($500)
• Second: Parkrose High School, “The Office Ordeal” ($400); McLoughlin High School, “On the Job Lessons” ($400)
• Third: Crescent Valley High School, “Do Not Touch” ($300) 
• Finalists: Lincoln High School, “Choose O[YES]” and Nyssa High School, “Out of the Woods.” 

Graphic design:

• First place: Hermiston High School, “Don’t Burn Yourself Out” ($500)
• Second place: Henley High School, “Safety is a Full-Time Job” ($400)
• Third place: Henley High School, “Ensure Your Safety” ($300)
• Finalists: Henley High School, “O[Yes] Poster,” Beaverton High School, “Shaping Safe Workplaces,” Hermiston High School, “Safety Awareness,” Hermiston High School, “Safety in the Workplace,” Henley High School, “Teen Safety Poster.”

The first-place teams in each category also earned a matching award for their schools.

Check out the winning submissions on the (O[yes]) website, where you will also find videos of the contestants discussing their media projects.

The mission of (O[yes]) is to prevent injuries and illnesses, and promote well-being to young workers. The nonprofit does this through outreach, advocacy, and sharing resources with young workers, educators, employers, parents, and labor organizations. 

The 2023-24 contest sponsors were the Oregon chapters of the American Association of Safety Professionals, Construction Safety Summit, Central Oregon Safety and Health Association, Hoffman Construction, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Oregon OSHA, Oregon SHARP Alliance, SafeBuild Alliance, and SAIF.

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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, go to osha.oregon.gov.

The Department of Consumer and Business Services is Oregon's largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. For more information, go to oregon.gov/dcbs.

The Oregon Young Employee Safety Coalition (O[yes]) is a nonprofit dedicated to preventing young worker injuries and fatalities. O[yes] members include safety and health professionals, educators, employers, labor and trade associations, and regulators. For more information, go to youngemployeesafety.org.

PORTLAND, Ore.—The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon joins its partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5, 2024, as National Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day.

The office also announced today the appointment of an MMIP Regional Coordinator based in the District of Oregon. Cedar Wilkie Gillette, who since June 2020 has served as the District of Oregon MMIP Coordinator, will now serve as regional coordinator for the Northwest Region under the Justice Department’s MMIP Regional Outreach Program. The Northwest Region includes the states of California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.

Ms. Wilkie Gillette will work alongside Ms. Bree R. Black Horse who was appointed in February 2024 in the Eastern District of Washington to serve as the MMIP Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northwest Region.

“We are delighted that Cedar Wilkie Gillette will serve as northwest regional coordinator for the Justice Department’s MMIP Regional Outreach Program. This program is a critical next step in the department’s ongoing effort to address this crisis, which has affected tribes and communities across our region and country. Cedar is abundantly qualified for this position and we are eager for her to expand the great work she has done here in Oregon throughout the Northwest Region,” said Natalie Wight, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

“There is still so much more to do in the face of persistently high levels of violence that Tribal communities have endured for generations, and that women and girls, particularly, have endured,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “In carrying out our work, we seek to honor those who are still missing, those who were stolen from their communities, and their loved ones who are left with unimaginable pain. Tribal communities deserve safety, and they deserve justice. This day challenges all of us at the Justice Department to double down on our efforts, and to be true partners with Tribal communities as we seek to end this crisis.”

Launched in July 2023, the MMIP Regional Outreach Program permanently places 10 attorneys and coordinators in five designated regions across the United States to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered indigenous people. This support includes assisting in the investigation of unresolved MMIP cases and related crimes, and promoting communication, coordination, and collaboration among federal, tribal, local, and state law enforcement and non-governmental partners on MMIP issues. 

The regional outreach program program prioritizes MMIP cases consistent with the Deputy Attorney General’s July 2022 directive to U.S. Attorney’s Offices promoting public safety in Indian Country and fulfills the Justice Department’s promise to dedicate new personnel to MMIP consistent with Executive Order 14053, Improving Public Safety and Criminal Justice for Native Americans and Addressing the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People, and the department’s Federal Law Enforcement Strategy to Prevent and respond to Violence Against American Indians and Alaska Natives, Including to Address Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons issued in July 2022. 

The Department’s work to respond to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-department effort. In March, the Departments of Justice and the Interior released their joint response to the Not Invisible Act Commission’s recommendations on how to combat the missing or murdered indigenous peoples and human trafficking crisis.

Over the past year, the Department awarded $268 million in grants to help enhance Tribal justice systems and strengthen law enforcement responses. These awards have also gone toward improving the handling of child abuse cases, combating domestic and sexual violence, supporting Tribal youth programs, and strengthening victim services in Tribal communities.

For additional information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website. Click here for more information about reporting or identifying missing persons.

In early 2022, the District of Oregon established an MMIP Working Group to increase multi-agency communication and collaboration in support of and response to Oregon-connected MMIP cases. The working group includes representatives from each of the nine federally recognized Tribes in Oregon, the FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of Interior Regional Solicitor’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service, Oregon Department of Justice, Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office, and Oregon State Police.

Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2020, Ms. Wilkie Gillette served as a law fellow for Earthjustice, a nonprofit environmental law organization. She has a juris doctorate from the Vermont Law School and a bachelor’s degree in applied social justice and human rights activism from the University of Minnesota. Ms. Wilkie Gillette is an enrolled member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation and a direct descendant of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. She has conducted extensive research on indigenous human rights and environmental justice issues.

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May 03, 2024

Media Contact: Amber Shoebridge
er.shoebridge@oha.oregon.gov">amber.shoebridge@oha.oregon.gov
503-931-9586

CMS Clears Oregon State Hospital from Immediate Jeopardy Status

(Salem, OR) – Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has informed Oregon State Hospital (OSH) administrators that the hospital is no longer in immediate jeopardy status. 

CMS surveyors were on the Salem campus after OSH reported a patient death shortly after arrival. While on site, CMS surveyors noted Code Blue emergency equipment in the Admissions area was not stored in an organized way and was identified as a potential future safety risk.

This is still an active survey process. The next step will be the delivery of an official CMS statement of deficiencies.

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SALEM, Ore. — Nineteen public safety leaders from throughout Oregon successfully completed the International Public Safety Leadership and Ethics Institute (IPSLEI) on April 25, 2024, at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) in Salem.

IPSLEI is an intensive leadership program that involves a variety of learning methodologies, including written case studies, video case analysis, and interactive learning processes. Students explored a number of films, books and articles that inspired a deep exploration of ethical decision-making principles and their application to the students’ own leadership journeys. By simply asking the question “why,” the students developed their critical thinking processes related to leadership and their own self-awareness. 

The 160-hour IPSLEI training program takes place over the course of four months and consists of four modules that highlight:

• Developing a Personal Philosophy of Leadership and Ethics
• Leading Others Ethically
• Ethical Leadership in Organizations
• Ethics and the Challenge of Leadership

Over 350 public safety professionals from the police, fire, corrections and community corrections disciplines have completed the program since DPSST began hosting it in 2008.

The 2024 ISPLEI graduates are:

Sergeant Kris Asla, Sherwood Police Department
Probation Officer Molly Bineham, Washington County Community Corrections
Lieutenant Steven Binstock, Redmond Police Department
Officer Richard Brenner, Corvallis Police Department
Corporal Tyler Brown, Grand Ronde Police Department
Officer James Bryant, Corvallis Police Department
Supervisor Tim Davis, Lane County Youth Services
Sergeant Tom Harper, Lake Oswego Police Department
Sergeant Derek Hicks, Redmond Police Department
Parole Officer Khara Kerns, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office
Captain James Macfarlane, Columbia County Sheriff's Office
Correctional Services Technician Nancy Miranda, Lane County Parole and Probation
Sergeant Karinya Moisan, Lake Oswego Police Department
Probation Supervisor Jacob Musick, Lane County Youth Services
Sergeant Dale Raybould, Corvallis Police Department
Crisis/CORE Team Clinician Dayna Svendsen, Benton County Health Department
Sergeant Garrett Thornton, Sandy Police Department
Equitable Policing Instructor Violet Trammel, DPSST Center for Policing Excellence
Sergeant Christopher Wingo, Woodburn Police Department

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About DPSST
The mission of the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) is to pursue excellence in training and accountability for public safety professionals. DPSST certifies and licenses police, corrections, and parole and probation officers, as well as regulatory specialists, emergency telecommunicators and medical dispatchers, criminal justice instructors, private security providers, private investigators, fire service professionals, and polygraph examiners in the state of Oregon.  DPSST works with public and private safety agencies around the state to provide basic, leadership and specialized training at the 237-acre Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem and regionally throughout the state.

UPDATE: This event has been rescheduled to Saturday, May 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the TouVelle State Park 8601 Table Rock Rd, Central Point, OR 97503

ORIGINAL RELEASE:

CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) and Marine deputies will be at the Touvelle State Park on Saturday, May 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the 2024 Citizens’ Academy. Parking lots E & F will be closed to the public during that time while the Citizens’ Academy class participates in a demonstration of SAR and Marine boats capabilities. 

Note for News Reporters: If you would like to cover the event, please notify PIO Aaron Lewis at lewisaj@jacksoncountyor.gov or 541-531-8203 to gain access. 

([Klamath Falls, Oregon] May 1, 2024) – 2024 marks the 60th year since the Community Action Network was established to help American families and communities overcome obstacles to poverty. Over 1000 agencies across the country are working every day to create opportunities and transform the lives

of their neighbors, making communities stronger and helping families across the US survive and thrive. This year, Klamath and Lake Community Action Services, a proud member of the Community Action Network, will also be celebrating 20 years of helping Oregonians throughout Klamath and Lake counties.

“Each May, during Community Action Month, we reflect on the impact Klamath and Lake Community Action Services and our network has had on families in our communities,” said Christina Zamora of Klamath and Lake Community Action Services. “Last year alone, we served over 4,800 individuals who live in Klamath and Lake counties with a team of less than 25. The dedication of our committed and mighty team in reliable service delivery and their approach to identifying opportunities to improve is continually evolving.”

Community Action Agencies serve 99% of all American counties with life-changing services to help families achieve financial stability. All agencies are locally controlled and represented by the private, public, and low-income sectors of the community. “We are proud of our Board’s participation in

the improvement and oversight of our programs,” said Zamora. “Their engagement helps us to be more effective in our approach by determining what challenges are faced by Klamath and Lake county community members and how to deliver our services most efficiently.”

Klamath and Lake Community Action Services is a member of the National Community Action Partnership and the Community Action

Network, which was created by the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964.

www.klcas.org

Our mission is to address individual and family needs and make connections to promote communities that thrive.

May 2, 2024 

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

During Mental Health Awareness Month, OHA reminds Oregonians of support resources for those in need and their loved ones 

PORTLAND, Ore. – Oregon Health Authority is recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month during May by promoting resources that support mental well-being for all Oregonians.

One in five people will experience a mental health condition in a given year, and about half of all Americans will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition sometime in their lives, according to national statistics.

Nearly everyone faces challenges in life that can affect their mental health and emotional well-being.

“Too many people in our state are facing mental health challenges, and we want everyone to know you do not have to struggle alone,” said OHA Director Sejal Hathi, M.D., MBA.

Dr. Hathi, who has spoken about her mental health journey, added, “In many of our communities, societal or cultural norms discourage people from reaching out, or even admitting that we may need some help. Mental Health Awareness Month is a critical opportunity to highlight that mental health is health.”

Here are a few highlights of resources available for Oregonians:

• OHA provides support for Community Mental Health Programs that provide services related to mental health, substance use, and problem gambling, in counties and communities across Oregon. A directory of these services, listed by county can be found
• In Oregon, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The easy-to-remember 988 number is available for people experiencing any type of mental health challenge, substance use crisis or thoughts of suicide or self-harm. Anyone who needs support can call, text or chat in English and Spanish (interpretation services and American Sign Language are also available) and connect with trained crisis counselors. The 988 Lifeline is also a resource for friends and families concerned about a loved one.
• The Mental Health Toolkit was created through a collaboration between OHA and Oregon Department of Education to help educators increase students’ academic achievement through meeting their mental and behavioral health needs.
• Online resources from Sources on Strength - Sources of Strength has two online resource packets. The first is Resources for Practicing Strength at Home, and the second is a shorter version that also offers a wellness plan. Any resource in these packets can be used in classrooms, staff meetings, in individual or group counseling, or to practice strength wherever you are.

OHA encourages communities, organizations, and individuals to use the month of May to help raise awareness of mental health and well-being. 

For news media reporting on suicide, find useful guidance here: https://reportingonsuicide.org/ 

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Portland, Ore., May 2, 2024 – SOLVE, in partnership with Oregon Heritage, is pleased to announce the revival of the Historic Cemetery Cleanup Days after a hiatus since 2018. These cleanup events are scheduled on various weekends throughout May, leading up to Memorial Day on Monday, May 27, 2024, to ensure Oregon's historic cemeteries are respectfully maintained for visitors paying homage to their loved ones. Volunteers are invited to join in the removal of invasive plants, cleaning of headstones, and assisting with general grounds maintenance. This endeavor not only honors the memory of those who served our country but also fosters a sense of community and environmental stewardship in preserving these culturally significant sites.

Oregon's historic cemeteries serve as poignant reminders of our collective past and are repositories of immense cultural value. Heritage enthusiasts, friends, and neighbors from all walks of life are invited to join us in preserving these sacred sites during the Historic Cemetery Cleanup Days throughout May. Your participation is crucial in ensuring these cemeteries are respectfully prepared to welcome visitors on Memorial Day.

Events Scheduled:

Salem Pioneer Cemetery Site Restoration

Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024 | 9 AM – 1 PM
Location: Pioneer Cemetery, Corner of Commercial St. and Hoyt St., Salem | Map Link
For more information and registration, visit: SOLVE | Pioneer Cemetery Site Restoration Event

Marshfield Partners to Preserve our Pioneer Cemetery

Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024 | 11 AM – 3 PM
Location: Marshfield Pioneer Cemetery, 972 Ingersoll Ave Coos Bay| Map Link
For more information and registration, visit: SOLVE | Marshfield -Partners to Preserve our Pioneer Cemetery (solveoregon.org) 

Clackamas Cemetery Spring Cleanup

Date: Saturday, May 18, 2024 | 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Clackamas Cemetery, 13600 Se Ambler Rd, Clackamas| Map Link
For more information and registration, visit: SOLVE | Clackamas Cemetery Spring Cleanup 2024

Pioneer Cemetery Workday

Date: Saturday, May 25, 2024 | 9 am – 12 pm
Location: 200 East Dodge, Lebanon| Map Link
For more information and registration, visit: SOLVE | Lebanon Pioneer Cemetery Workday

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. 

About Oregon Heritage 
Oregon Heritage is part of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Office and includes the Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries. Oregon Heritage provides technical resources and grants for work supporting documentation and preservation of and access to Oregon’s history. 

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

May 2, 2024

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

OHA Director visits Central Oregon on fifth regional visit, hears community concerns

(Bend, OR) – Director of Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Dr. Sejal Hathi, visited Central Oregon this week and heard about the health issues that are of greatest concern to local residents and health care providers.

Feedback from the Central Oregon community was consistent, from a lack of affordable housing to barriers to mental health treatment and workforce shortages. She also heard about steps local clinics are taking to give people greater access to mental health treatment in primary care clinics and growing number of local people who are receiving substance use services through Measure 110.

Central Oregon is the fifth region Dr. Hathi has visited since she was confirmed by the legislature as OHA’s permanent director in February.

“One of the most consistent appeals I heard was for the state to do its best to sustain some of the services our public health and community-based partners have built over the past few years, with federal as well as Measure 110 funding, which continues to fill real and previously unmet needs. Even and especially as federal pandemic-era funding comes to an end, it would be a huge loss to let those services wither,” Dr. Hathi said.

Monday, Dr. Hathi started her visit to Central Oregon at Pacific Source, a Coordinated Care Organization (CCO), then toured Mosaic Community Health’s Conners Health Center in Bend. She visited Rimrock Trails, which provides comprehensive counseling and treatment services for individuals and families struggling with mental health and substance use disorders. Tuesday, Dr. Hathi met with Local Public Health Authorities (LPHAs) and Local Mental Health Authorities (LMHAs) from Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook and Wheeler Counties. She also toured the Deschutes County Stabilization Center; a crisis care clinic in Bend.

“We found Dr. Hathi to be a great listener and really appreciate that she genuinely wants to learn about the regional healthcare needs that we face here in Central Oregon," said Megan Haase, FNP and CEO of Mosaic Community Health. "We look forward to continuing our conversation and collaboration in the future.”

Dr. Hathi also discussed her three biggest policy priorities as OHA Director: eliminating health inequities, transforming Oregon’s behavioral health system, and expanding access to affordable health care.  But she emphasized that local input will inform and shape OHA’s approach to this work, as well as its partnerships with community.

Here is a link to the video of what Dr. Hathi said she learned during her visit to Central Oregon] She will head to Hood River and Pendleton later this month to speak with Oregonians. A full schedule of all of Dr. Hathi’s upcoming regional listening visits is  posted on her web page.

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Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is seeking a volunteer to serve as the Hiking Representative on the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Grants Advisory Committee.

The ten-member committee evaluates grant proposals for statewide trail projects. The committee meets once or twice a year, virtually or at locations throughout the state. 

The time commitment varies and includes reviewing and evaluating 25 to 40 grant applications per year. Committee members serve three-year terms and are eligible to serve a second term.

Ideal candidates for representing the interest of hikers can live anywhere in Oregon with experience in at least one of the following areas: 

• Land management
• Recreation planning
• Trail planning or design
• Recreation related volunteerism
• Trail enthusiast who is uniquely qualified to evaluate statewide project proposals through other experience and involvement.

Strong candidates may also demonstrate an awareness of statewide recreational trail needs, other broad recreational issues, and the importance of providing equitable, inclusive and accessible recreational opportunities.

Those interested in serving must submit an RTP advisory committee interest form by June 30, 2024. The form is available online: https://form.jotform.com/232364818278162

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

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

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, Eric Hrafn Vilhjalms Walston, died the May 1, 2024. Walston was incarcerated at Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP) in Salem and passed away at an area hospital while on end-of-life care. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified.

Walston entered DOC custody on July 30, 2020, from Lane County with an earliest release date of October 28, 2026. Walston was 49 years old. Next of kin has been notified.

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

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

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Program moves into application and review phase 

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) is moving into the application phase of the Homeowner Assistance and Reconstruction Program (HARP) after receiving nearly 800 Eligibility Questionnaires from survivors of the 2020 Labor Day wildfires and straight-line winds. This is an important milestone only made possible because of the partnership of local organizations.  

ReOregon, an OHCS program, launched HARP at the end of March to help homeowners with low to moderate incomes who still need assistance to repair, rebuild, or replace their homes in the wake of the disasters.  

“The HARP program is now progressing into the application review phase, which brings us closer to getting survivors the resources they need on their path to recovery,” said Ryan Flynn, director of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at OHCS. “We also want to thank all of our outreach and intake partners for their help in reaching and assisting hundreds of survivors. We couldn’t do this without them.”

ReOregon is now working on notifying more than 300 of the 800 people who submitted questionnaires with instructions on how they can apply for HARP. Local culturally specific organizations are helping households that may need additional support navigating the application process. ReOregon estimates there may be more survivors who may be eligible for assistance in later phases of HARP.

Those who are interested can still fill out the Eligibility Questionnaire on the re.oregon.gov website where eligibility requirements are also listed.  

For assistance with the process, contact the ReOregon Call Center at 1-877-510-6800 or 541-250-0938 or email t@oregon.org">housingsupport@oregon.org. Additionally, OHCS has partnered with community-based organizations to provide in-person support. A full list of these partners is on the re.oregon.gov website.  

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.  

2 de mayo de 2024

El estado brindará asistencia a cientos de sobrevivientes de desastres a través del Programa de Asistencia y Reconstrucción para Propietarios de Viviendas 

El programa entra en la fase de solicitud y revisión 

El estado brindará asistencia a cientos de sobrevivientes de desastres a través del Programa de Asistencia y Reconstrucción para Propietarios de Viviendas

El programa entra en la fase de solicitud y revisión

SALEM, Oregon – El Departamento de Vivienda y Servicios Comunitarios (OHCS, por sus siglas en inglés) pasa a la fase de solicitud del Programa de Asistencia y Reconstrucción para Propietarios de Viviendas (HARP, por sus siglas en inglés) después de recibir cerca de 800 Cuestionarios de Elegibilidad de sobrevivientes de los incendios forestales y vientos huracanados del Día del Trabajo de 2020. This is an important milestone only made possible because of the partnership of local organizations. El progreso de este trabajo ha sido posible gracias a la colaboración de las organizaciones locales.

ReOregon, un programa de OHCS, lanzó HARP a finales de marzo para ayudar a los propietarios de viviendas con ingresos bajos y moderados que aún necesitan asistencia para reparar, reconstruir o reemplazar sus hogares después de los desastres.  

"El programa HARP avanza ahora hacia la fase de revisión de las solicitudes, lo que nos acerca a la posibilidad de proporcionar a los sobrevivientes los recursos que necesitan en su camino hacia la recuperación", dijo Ryan Flynn, director de la División de Manejo y Recuperación de Desastres de OHCS. "También queremos agradecer a todos nuestros socios que se pusieron en contacto con cientos de sobrevivientes y proporcionaron asistencia con el cuestionario de elegibilidad. Este progreso no fuera posible sin ellos".  

ReOregon está trabajando ahora para notificar a más de 300 de las 800 personas que completaron los cuestionarios para darles instrucciones sobre cómo pueden llenar una solicitud para HARP. Organizaciones locales culturalmente competentes están ayudando a los hogares que pueden necesitar ayuda adicional para navegar por el proceso de solicitud. ReOregon calcula que hay mas hogares que pueden ser elegibles para recibir asistencia en fases posteriores de HARP.

Las personas interesadas aún pueden llenar el Cuestionario de Elegibilidad en el sitio de internet re.oregon.gov, donde también puede encontrar los requisitos de elegibilidad.  

Para obtener ayuda con el proceso de solicitud, comuníquense con el Centro de Llamadas de ReOregon marcando al 1-877-510-6800 o 541-250-0938. También pueden enviar un correo electrónico a t@oregon.org">housingsupport@oregon.org. Además, OHCS se ha asociado con organizaciones comunitarias para proporcionar apoyo en persona. La lista completa de estos socios se encuentra en el sitio de internet re.oregon.gov.

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.  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
Media hotline: 503-813-6018

Former chief legal officer Ryan Flynn to lead utility through a deeper regional focus

PORTLAND, Ore. (May 2, 2024) — Pacific Power announced today that Ryan Flynn has been appointed president. In his new role, Flynn will be responsible for regional strategy and engagement, and will lead teams focused on customer and community affairs, government affairs and legal. 

“Ryan’s extensive knowledge of the regional energy landscape, along with his personal and professional connections to the Pacific Northwest, make him uniquely positioned to lead Pacific Power and address the many challenges facing Western utilities today,” said Cindy Crane, PacifiCorp’s chair and CEO. 

Flynn joined PacifiCorp in 2006, holding various positions in the legal department before leaving in 2015 to pursue a family opportunity in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. He returned to the company in 2018, where he served as senior vice president and chief legal officer for Pacific Power and was responsible for leading the legal, communications and government affairs teams. Flynn previously worked as a lawyer for Troutman Pepper in Washington, D.C., and Davis Wright Tremaine in Seattle, Washington. 

Flynn lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon, and is a native Oregonian. He received his bachelor’s degree from Willamette University and his law degree from George Washington University. He is a longtime board member at the Dougy Center, which provides support to grieving children and teens, and serves on the executive committee of the Portland Metro Chamber. He is a former board member of OMSI, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

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About Pacific Power

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

Update: Attached Mugshot

JCSO Case 22-4129

EAGLE POINT, Ore. - The Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) joint inter-agency task force arrested a Medford man on multiple child sex crime charges at 2:28 p.m. today in Eagle Point. Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) and Eagle Point Police Department assisted with the arrest at a business near the intersection of Hwy 62 and West Linn Road.

During their investigation, SOCET discovered the suspect was communicating nationwide with at least five underage victims through several social media sites. SOCET investigators identified a 13-year-old victim from Kansas City, Missouri, and are attempting to identify the additional underage victims.

The suspect, Zachary Elijah Bowen, 22, of Medford, Ore., was arrested on 12 felony charges including using a child in display of sexually explicit conduct, 10 counts of second-degree encouraging child sexual abuse, and luring a minor. He was booked and lodged in the Jackson County Jail. 

SOCET started investigating Bowen after more than a dozen National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) cyber tips led to multiple residences where he lived in Portland and at a licensed marijuana farm in Trail, Ore. SOCET served a search warrant on February 7, 2023, at the marijuana farm in the 4700 block of Highway 227 in Trail. Investigators seized digital devices for forensic examination by Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force (SOHTCTF). 

Investigators found evidence of Bowen communicating nationwide with at least five underage victims through social media sites such as SnapChat, Instagram, Kik, and Google under the username “zach_grant2152.” If you have any information on Bowen, contact investigators through the Sheriff’s App “Submit a Tip” feature. Download the App here: https://apps.myocv.com/share/a72997501. You can also call the JCSO Tip Line at (541) 774-8333 and reference case number 22-4129. 

SOCET is a joint inter-agency task force that started in June of 2020 to combat child exploitation and human trafficking. The task force consists of investigators from JCSO and Homeland Security Investigations with some collaboration from Oregon State Police and Medford Police Department; as well as prosecutors from our local, state and federal law enforcement partners in Jackson and Josephine County.

This case is under further investigation with detectives following additional leads and attempting to identify other victims. Jackson County District Attorney’s Office will prosecute the case. There is no further information available for release. 

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EUGENE, Ore.—A Springfield, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today for repeatedly possessing and distributing photos and videos depicting child sexual abuse.

Randy Lee Cook, 43, was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison and a life term of supervised release.

According to court documents, in 2006, Cook was convicted of state child pornography charges in Missouri and served a significant prison sentence for sending child sexual abuse material to a minor, engaging in sexual chats with the minor, and then engaging in additional sexual chats with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a minor and propositioning the decoy minor for sex. Following his release from prison, Cook was required to register as a sex offender.

In the summer of 2020 and spring of 2021, investigators learned that Cook had resumed distributing child sexual abuse material online, this time using Kik Messenger, an instant messaging mobile application. Investigators traced multiple Kik accounts to Cook and learned he was residing in Springfield. On June 11, 2021, investigators executed search warrants on Cook’s residence, truck, and person. Cook’s phone was found to contain approximately 194 images and 63 videos depicting child sexual abuse.

In July 2021, Cook was charged by criminal complaint with possessing and distributing child pornography and arrested. On July 20, 2023, a federal grand jury in Eugene indicted him on the same charges.

In December 2023, while Cook’s case was being litigated, an FBI task force officer in Louisiana investigating an unrelated matter began conversing with an individual on Kik who was later determined to be Cook. In conversations online with the officer, Cook claimed to have engaged in sex acts with children and sent the agent an explicit video of a child. On December 14, 2023, Cook was arrested a second time when he was leaving his Springfield residence to plead guilty in federal court.

On January 24, 2024, Cook pleaded guilty to three counts of distributing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography.

This case was investigated by the FBI Eugene Resident Agency with assistance from the FBI New Orleans Field Office, Lane County Sheriff’s Office, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Shreveport Police Department. It was prosecuted by William McLaren, Marco Boccato, and Mira Chernick, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

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

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

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Nearly 300 students presented historical research projects at Willamette University in Salem on the annual theme, “Turning Points in History.”

Portland, OR — Participation in Oregon History Day, the statewide affiliate of the National History Day® program, tripled this year over 2023, with 292 students from 12 schools competing in this annual competition. Administered by the Oregon Historical Society (OHS), the goal for the 2024 program was to increase participation statewide, specifically among students in rural communities. Students from 22 cities and towns across Oregon took part, representing Mt. Angel, Independence, Hood River, Creswell, Bend, Beaverton, Medford, and Portland.

The contest took place on Saturday, April 13, at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, and featured students who worked individually or in small groups to produce fascinating projects in the forms of documentary films, websites, performances, exhibits, and papers. Creating projects inspired by the annual theme, “Turning Points in History,” these young historians in grades 6–12 chose topics to explore and proceeded to conduct historical research and practice critical thinking skills as they analyzed primary and secondary sources and considered diverse viewpoints and bias present in these materials. The student-selected topics ranged from the Berlin Wall to the Partition of 1947 to Disney animation to The Simpsons. 

Oregon History Day cannot exist without volunteer judges, who gathered with the participants to evaluate projects, provide feedback to students, and reach consensus on project rankings. Due to the huge influx of students, judges stepped up to evaluate one of the largest groups of projects ever at Oregon History Day. Judges provide substantive feedback about the students’ work, based on a rubric carefully designed by National History Day®. And, with the top two projects in each category able to qualify for the National Contest, judge feedback is crucial for students’ revising and improving their work before they are compared against projects from across the nation. Of the 153 projects considered, 31 qualified to advance to the National Contest, which will take place at the University of Maryland, College Park, near Washington, D.C., from June 9–13. 

“The energy from participating students who showcased their work at the 2024 Oregon History Day event was incredible,” said Chief Program Officer Eliza Canty-Jones. “It was a powerful example of the intelligence and care that young people bring to their studies of history and of the generosity of adult volunteers and educators in making the whole event possible.”

According to Westview High School history teacher and National History Day Teacher of the Year nominee John Santella, “This is such an amazing event. Last year’s students who attended [the National Contest] were so excited by their experience that they approached me about making this a club on the flight home.” His school alone had 103 participating students. 

This year, OHS awarded prizes to outstanding entries that best demonstrated superior research and scholarship related to the contributions, accomplishments, and experiences of specific groups of people in Oregon history. OHS awarded prizes to projects focused on Black history in Oregon and women’s history in Oregon as well as maritime history from anywhere in the world (sponsored by the Naval Order of the United States) with each winner receiving a $100 prize. Those winners are:

Black History in Oregon Award
Racism in Portland: Redlining, Zoning, and Restrictive Covenants
A junior group documentary by Sam Lewis and Max Rosen from ACCESS Academy

Women’s History in Oregon Award
“Lola Baldwin: Breaking Barriers, Empowering Equality”
A senior group website by King Hey Chan, Maxwell Gaston, Tai Wong, and Austin Yu from Sunset High School

Maritime History Award
“The Battles of the Nile, Copenhagen, and Trafalgar and How They Expanded the British Empire”
A junior group website by Ben Giron and Lucas Steinbeck from ACCESS Academy        

For a full list of Oregon History Day projects, including those advancing to the National Contest, visit ohs.org/oregonhistoryday.

National History Day® reaches more than half a million students and tens of thousands of teachers each year via its international student history contest and its wide range of teacher professional development programs, curriculum tools, and other educational activities. Learn more about this immersive program at nhd.org. 

Educators who are interested in bringing Oregon History Day to their classroom can contact OHS Education and Programs Manager Katie Pearson at son@ohs.org">Katie.Pearson@ohs.org for more information. 

About the Oregon Historical Society

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    
Media Hotline: 503-813-6018  

PORTLAND, OR (May 1, 2024) – To recognize National Wildfire Awareness Month, Pacific Power is encouraging Oregonians to prepare for fire season. Fire weather conditions, such as severe drought combined with summer windstorms or active wildfires, could lead to safety-related power outages. 

Long-term forecasts are indicating 2024 will have a warmer and drier than normal summer, with the active portion of fire season arriving in June in most areas, and the peak of fire season in August and September.

Pacific Power is leading the way in wildfire mitigation, investing close to $70 million over the past five years in hardening its grid in Oregon, and the company is working hard to protect customers from the risks associated with wildfires. The company’s mitigation practices are focused on three main areas:

• Situational Awareness: Risk modeling that incorporates 30 years of data to help us assess potential wildfire impacts in different parts of our service area, while daily risk forecasting – through a team of meteorologists using an advanced network of 454 weather stations – provides daily wildfire monitoring and modeling for the states we serve. 
• Operational Practices: By employing sensitive protective settings on powerlines when elevated fire risk conditions exist, conducting enhanced vegetation management, having the ability to conduct a Public Safety Power Shutoff anywhere across our service area and having the ability to do an emergency de-energization when a wildfire encroaches near our assets, we have practices in place to help keep our customers and communities safe. 
  • System Hardening: Investing millions of dollars in infrastructure enhancements that reduce and mitigate risk, concentrated in geographic areas at greatest risk of wildfires. This includes rebuilding lines using covered conductor and more sensitive equipment that can de-energize power lines within fractions of a second when interference is detected.

“Providing safe, reliable electricity is our number one priority,” said Allen Berreth, Pacific Power’s vice president of transmission and distribution operations. “Our heavy investments in wildfire mitigation are driven by our goal of keeping the communities we serve safe.”

Even as electric providers partner with federal, state and local agencies and Tribes to plan and prepare for the upcoming wildfire season, preparedness is a year-round effort, and everyone has a part to play when it comes to readiness.

Resources are available to help every Oregonian take steps to plan ahead and be ready for wildfire-related power outages. At wildfire.oregon.gov, Oregonians can find tips to stay informed, make a plan and trim trees and plants to create defensible spaces around their homes to help slow the spread of wildfire. 

Stay in the know

Customers can take steps to make sure they receive wildfire-related information.

• Contact Pacific Power at 1-888-221-7070 or log in to their account at PacificPower.net and make sure all contact information is current. That way, the company can send alerts and messages.
• In addition to having a back-up plan with medical providers, customers who rely on electricity to store medication or operate medical equipment at home should enroll in Pacific Power’s Medical Certificate Program to receive proactive communications about outages.
• Visit Oregon Alert to find your local alert system. Provide current contact details and sign up for wildfire-related alerts. 

Make an outage kit

• Prepare a home outage kit in the event wildfire leads to a power outage. Be sure to include shelf-stable food; water for people, pets and livestock; necessary medications; flashlights; batteries; and solar or car chargers for electric devices. Keep ice packs or frozen water in the freezer to help keep food cold until ice is available. 
• Businesses should prepare to minimize disruptions, keep employees safe and protect equipment. Outage kits should include flashlights or camp lights for all areas, including restrooms, battery-powered or hand-crank radios for information; battery-powered fans; extra batteries; car chargers for cell phones and electric devices; bottled water; and emergency phone numbers.

Have a plan 

• Consider options to relocate with a friend, family member or shelter, especially if a medical condition, medication or equipment requires electricity. 
• Businesses should communicate their outage response plans to key employees, plan for workarounds to computers and cash registers, and make a plan to bypass electronic door locks. 
• Homes and businesses should consider buying backup generators. Information on how to operate them safely is available on Pacific Power’s website.
• Make a plan for watering livestock if well pumps are without power.
• Know how to open and close electric garage doors and security gates. 
• Learn how to protect home and business electronics and appliances against data loss and surge damage when power is restored.

Pacific Power customers can visit pacificpower.net/wildfiresafety for resources and information including an outage preparation checklist for residential and business customers, an interactive map outlining potential public safety power shutoff areas and its 2024 Wildfire Mitigation Plan.   

About Pacific Power  

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

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PR 07 24                                                                  

BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION
                                                                                                                  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
                                                                  CONTACT: Isabelle Williams, BPA, (503) 230-5196

2024 Northern Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Season Begins May 1; Reaches Effort Milestone in 2023 

Portland, Ore. – The Northern Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Fishery enters the 2024 season fresh off last year’s historic milestone, when participants surpassed 1 million angling days recorded since the program began in 1991. The Northern Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Program is designed to reduce the native predator’s impact on salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River Basin.

“That milestone is a really big deal as a testament to a very successful, long-lived BPA project that has been helping Pacific Northwest salmonids for the past 33 years,” said Eric Winther, project leader of the Columbia River Predator Control Program through the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The program is funded by the Bonneville Power Administration and administered by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, along with the Oregon and Washington Departments of Fish and Wildlife.

The Pikeminnow Sport-Reward 2024 season starts at most stations on May 1 and lasts until Sept. 30. Specific start dates and times at each pikeminnow station are available at the stations tab of the Sport-Reward Fishery website at www.pikeminnow.org/stations-maps/. This is the second season in which anglers can register to fish using the Pikeminnow Registration mobile phone app available on both Apple and Android devices. The phone app eliminates the need to submit a paper registration prior to fishing which gives anglers more time on the water catching northern pikeminnow. 

Fishing will take place from the mouth of the Columbia River to Priest Rapids Dam in eastern Washington, as well as in the Snake River, from its convergence with the Columbia to Hells Canyon Dam along the Idaho-Oregon border. These areas represent a substantial portion of the migration corridor of juvenile salmon and steelhead, which are prey to northern pikeminnow. 

Northern pikeminnow consume millions of juvenile salmon and steelhead every year, and to mitigate their predatory effects on salmon and steelhead populations, the Northern Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Fishery offers rewards to anglers who remove large, predator-sized northern pikeminnow from the river. This effort aims to reduce northern pikeminnow populations by 10-20% in the Columbia River. Since the Sport-Reward Fishery was implemented in 1991, predation of juvenile salmon and steelhead by northern pikeminnow has been reduced up to 40% through the removal of more than 5.59 million northern pikeminnow.

This year, rewards for northern pikeminnow catches will range from $6 to $10 per fish, and the more fish an angler lands, the more each fish is worth. Anglers receive $6 for the first 25 fish they catch. After 25, fish are worth $8 each, and after 200 they are worth $10 each.

State fish and wildlife biologists have also released tagged northern pikeminnow into the Columbia and Snake rivers, which have their own special reward. These verified external tagged northern pikeminnow are worth $500, with verified internally tagged fish worth $200 each. Grant Waltz, project lead for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, emphasized that tagged fish are also valuable to state fish and wildlife biologists, as they help the program estimate if the fishery has met the harvest goal of 10 to 20% of the northern pikeminnow population.

Previously tagged northern pikeminnow that are harvested and subsequently returned to the Northern Pikeminnow Management Program creel stations are critical to the effort to track the exploitation of this predator species. According to Waltz, these tag returns can also provide the program information about movement patterns and growth of northern pikeminnow, which is used to better understand the dynamics of the population.

In 2023, the top-twenty anglers caught an average of 4,005 fish per angler and averaged reward payments of $40,135 each for the 5-month season. The highest paid angler earned $107,800. 

For more information about the program such as regulations, specific station guidelines, participation instructions, and historical catch statistics, visit www.pikeminnow.org or call 800-858-9015.

About BPA

The Bonneville Power Administration, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is a nonprofit federal power marketer that sells wholesale, carbon-free hydropower from 31 federal dams in the Columbia River Basin. It also markets the output of the region’s only nuclear plant. BPA delivers this power to more than 140 Northwest electric utilities, serving millions of consumers and businesses in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, western Montana and parts of California, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. BPA also owns and operates more than 15,000 circuit miles of high-voltage power lines and 261 substations, and provides transmission service to more than 300 customers. In all, BPA provides nearly a third of the power generated in the Northwest. To mitigate the impacts of the federal dams, BPA implements a fish and wildlife program that includes working with its partners to make the federal dams safer for fish passage. It also pursues cost-effective energy savings and operational solutions that help maintain safe, affordable, reliable electric power for the Northwest. www.bpa.gov 

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May 1, 2024

Media Contact: Amber Shoebridge
er.shoebridge@oha.oregon.gov">amber.shoebridge@oha.oregon.gov
503-931-9586

Oregon State Hospital receives CMS statement of deficiencies

(Salem, OR) — Oregon State Hospital (OSH) has received a statement of deficiencies from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), following a survey which occurred in February and March 2024. 

The survey was prompted by a serious incident of patient-to-patient aggression in February 2024. Surveyors also reviewed three other incidents from previous years; these four patient safety events were instances of patient-to-patient aggression or sexual contact.

The deficiencies identified in the report relate to staff presence in the milieu; quality of incident investigation and response, including required clinical documentation; patient grievance response; and training and competency verification. OSH has 10 calendar days to respond with a Plan of Correction (PoC). 

“There will always be things we can improve, and we will continue to do so, but what persists is our dedication to the humans we are privileged to care for,” said Interim Superintendent and Chief Medical Officer, Sara Walker, M.D. 

Once CMS approves the PoC, they will conduct another unannounced survey to review implementation. OSH is already expecting an unannounced verification survey for a separate PoC before an existing termination date of May 24, 2024. 

Meanwhile, CMS has approved OSH’s plan to remove the immediate jeopardy status pertaining to Code Blue equipment in the Admissions area. Hospital leadership expect a return survey to verify that they have successfully addressed the immediate jeopardy findings on Thursday, May 2, 2024.

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MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University announces its latest Hispanic student enrollment figures. As of fall 2023, 25.2 percent of Western's full-time equivalent undergraduate students and 24.1 percent of all Western students (both graduate and undergraduate) identify as Latino/a/e. Western is the first four-year public Oregon institution to achieve these numbers, bringing it closer to becoming eligible to obtain an official Hispanic Serving Institution designation.

Achieving official designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution requires Western to maintain a minimum enrollment of 25 percent full-time equivalent undergraduate students for three consecutive academic years and maintain the same percentage at the end of the award year immediately preceding the application date to become an official HSI. There are additional criteria that higher education institutions must meet in order to become an HSI, some of which Western has met and some of which are ongoing. Attaining official HSI status will provide Western opportunities to apply for Title V federal grants to expand and enhance academic offerings, program quality, and student services.

“As we look towards becoming an official Hispanic-Serving Institution, we recognize the significance of our role in empowering Latiné students and fostering their academic success,” said President Jesse Peters. “Our commitment to serve all of our students extends beyond the classroom, as we strive to create an inclusive environment that values their unique perspectives, stories, and cultures. Together, we provide a personalized learning community where individuals experience a deep sense of belonging and empowerment.”

Over the last few years, Western’s Latiné student enrollment has been steadily increasing. President Peters shares his excitement about the growing Latiné student enrollment but also understands the continued work ahead. “Western is committed to not only sustaining current Latiné enrollment numbers but also enhancing student engagement, support, and enrollment. This will be achieved through increased participation in community events, additional bilingual campus liaisons, enhanced bilingual resources, expanding the Latiné alumni network, and restructuring key campus areas to facilitate smoother communication and reduce barriers. This is a journey we are all on together."

Western is also a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, the only national association representing existing and emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions. Faculty and staff members from Western have participated in HACU fellowship programs that aim to foster the development of Hispanic leadership on a variety of levels. On April 26, Western hosted the third annual Hispanic Institution Summit with nearly 300 participants which included state and national partners, universities, and greater community members sharing ideas and best practices throughout the day in plenaries and workshops. Western also recently added the 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 was selected for this role and officially started on April 22. 
According to the U.S. Department of Education, as of fall 2021, there were 561 Hispanic Serving Institutions in 28 states, including the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

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Pictured left to right: student panelist Moises Leal Zepeda, Brenda Rocio Martinez, America Joselyne Salazar Nava, Andy Rincon, and moderator Ricardo Lujan Valerio at the 2024 HSI Summit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

BEND, OR — On Wednesday, May 15, the High Desert Museum will host a thought-provoking Indigenous Artist Panel, showcasing the diverse talents and perspectives of several Indigenous artists from around the region. The event will take place at the Museum with doors opening at 6:00 pm and the program commencing at 6:30 pm. 

This engaging panel discussion will feature esteemed artists Kelli D. Palmer of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Jacy Sohappy representing Cayuse/Nez Perce/Yakama heritage and Dr. Michelle Jack of sqilxʷ /syilx (Okanagan) descent.[MS1]  

Throughout the evening, attendees will have the opportunity to delve into the artistic journeys of these talented individuals, gaining insights into the ways in which Indigenous artists are both preserving vibrant cultural traditions and pushing the boundaries of contemporary art forms. From traditional techniques passed down through generations to innovative approaches that reflect the complexities of modern Native identity, the panelists will offer a multifaceted exploration of Indigenous artistry. 

One of the panel’s featured artists, Kelli Palmer, is dedicated to preserving and revitalizing traditional Indigenous arts like cornhusk basketry, beadwork and regalia making. In Indigenous cultures, regalia refers to highly symbolic ceremonial clothing. Meanwhile, Jacy Sohappy preserves her culture and identity through traditional and contemporary sewing, beadwork and painting. Dr. Michelle Jack reimagines and repurposes tools and materials in her printmaking, photography, sculpture, film and more – a technique the sqilxʷ /syilx (Okanagan) people has utilized for centuries.

"We are excited to welcome Kelli Palmer, Jacy Sohappy and Dr. Michelle Jack to the Museum for this important discussion," said Museum Executive Director Dana Whitelaw, Ph.D. "Their voices represent not only their own artistic excellence but also the creative traditions of Indigenous communities across the region." 

Tickets for the Indigenous Artist Panel are $10, with Museum members receiving a 20 percent discount. This event is open to the public, and all are encouraged to attend this celebration of art and culture. 

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit highdesertmuseum.org/indigenous-artist-panel.

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.

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Los servicios públicos de Oregón promueven la concientización sobre los incendios forestales: Prepárese
para la temporada de incendios ahora y manténgase informado
PGE, Pacific Power, Idaho Power y la PUC comparten consejos y pautas a medida que se acerca la temporada de incendios.

Portland, Ore. – En reconocimiento al Mes Nacional de Concientización sobre Incendios Forestales, que comienza hoy, la Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC), Portland General Electric, Pacific Power e Idaho Power aconsejan a los habitantes de Oregón que se preparen para la temporada de incendios forestales. Todos tienen un papel que desempeñar este verano para mantener seguras a nuestras comunidades. 

PGE, Pacific Power e Idaho Power invierten durante todo el año en métodos para reducir el riesgo de incendios forestales y preparar sus redes eléctricas para suministrar energía segura y confiable. Colaboran con tribus y agencias federales, estatales y locales para planificar y prepararse para la próxima temporada de incendios forestales. El estado de Oregón requiere que las empresas de servicios públicos propiedad de inversionistas presenten planes anuales que proporcionen un panorama general e integral de las estrategias de cada empresa para mitigar el riesgo de incendios forestales y mantener seguros a los clientes y las comunidades. La PUC está revisando los planes de mitigación de incendios forestales del año 2024.

“En Oregón, todas las personas desempeñan un papel esencial para mantener seguras a las comunidades de los incendios forestales. La Oregon Public Utility Commission se compromete arduamente a auditar el recorte de árboles de todas las empresas de servicios públicos en todo el estado y se centra en cómo las empresas de servicios públicos están cambiando sus operaciones y equipos para aumentar la seguridad y la resiliencia de sus servicios”, dijo la inspectora Letha Tawney. “Asimismo, cada residente tiene un papel vital en reducir y prepararse para el cambio ante el riesgo de incendios forestales extremos en su comunidad. Los clientes deben prepararse especialmente para los cortes de energía por motivos de seguridad pública durante las condiciones climáticas extremas. Juntos, podemos proteger a Oregón y a sus residentes”.

Los recursos para ayudar a todos los habitantes de Oregón a prepararse para la temporada de incendios forestales están disponibles en wildfire.oregon.gov, donde pueden encontrar muchos consejos, desde información sobre incendios forestales y cortes de energía relacionados con incendios forestales hasta planes de evacuaciones y el establecimiento de áreas de defensa que ayuden a frenar la propagación de incendios forestales.

PGE, Pacific Power e Idaho Power también comparten estos consejos adicionales sobre cómo mantenerse seguro y estar preparado durante esta temporada de incendios.

Tenga un plan 

• Considere trasladarse a lo de un amigo, un miembro de la familia o un refugio, especialmente si tiene una enfermedad cuya medicación o tratamiento requiera electricidad.
• Las empresas deben comunicar sus planes de respuesta ante cortes de energía a sus empleados más importantes, planificar soluciones alternativas para las computadoras y las cajas registradoras, y hacer un plan para evitar el bloqueo de las cerraduras electrónicas de las puertas. 
• Planifique las necesidades de agua para el ganado en caso de que las bombas de los pozos pierdan energía.
• Aprenda cómo abrir y cerrar las puertas de garaje y las puertas de seguridad eléctricas. 
• Aprenda cómo proteger los equipos electrónicos y electrodomésticos del hogar y del negocio contra la pérdida de datos y daños por sobretensión cuando se restaure la energía.

Prepare un kit para apagones

Tenga un kit listo para usar para proteger su hogar y su negocio ante cortes de energía en caso de que un incendio forestal provoque uno. 

• Asegúrese de incluir alimentos no perecederos, agua para consumo humano, mascotas y ganado, medicamentos, linternas, baterías y cargadores solares o para automóviles para dispositivos eléctricos. Tenga a mano paquetes de hielo o agua congelada en el congelador para ayudar a mantener los alimentos fríos hasta que el hielo esté disponible. 
• Los kits para cortes de energía también deben incluir linternas o luces de campamento para todas las áreas, incluidos los baños, radios a batería o manivela, ventiladores a batería, baterías adicionales, cargadores de automóvil para teléfonos móviles y dispositivos eléctricos, agua embotellada y números de teléfono de emergencia.
• Las empresas deben prepararse para minimizar las interrupciones, mantener seguros a los empleados y proteger los equipos. 

Mantenerse al tanto

Aquí hay algunos pasos que puede seguir para asegurarse de recibir información actualizada sobre incendios forestales:

• Póngase en contacto con su proveedor de electricidad o inicie sesión en su cuenta para asegurarse de que toda la información de contacto esté actualizada para que pueda recibir alertas y mensajes.
• Si depende de la electricidad para almacenar medicamentos u operar equipos médicos, inscríbase en el Medical Certificate Program (Programa de Certificado Médico) de su proveedor de energía eléctrica, si está disponible, para recibir comunicaciones preventivas sobre cortes de energía. Elabore un plan de respaldo con su médico y otros proveedores médicos.
• Visite Oregon Alert para encontrar su sistema de alerta local. Proporcione detalles de contacto actualizados y regístrese para recibir alertas de incendios forestales. 

Información, recursos y listas de verificación

• Los clientes de PGE pueden visitar portlandgeneral.com/incendios-prevencion-y-seguridad para obtener información sobre cómo trabajamos para proteger a las personas, las propiedades y los espacios públicos, y para conocer nuestro su Plan de Mitigación de Incendios Forestales de 2024 para obtener información, listas de verificación y recursos adicionales. 
• Los clientes de Pacific Power pueden visitar pacificpower.net/wildfiresafety para acceder a recursos e información, incluida una lista de verificación de preparación para cortes de energía para clientes residenciales y comerciales, un mapa interactivo que delinea áreas potenciales de cortes de energía por motivos de seguridad pública y el Plan de Mitigación de Incendios Forestales de 2024.   
• Los clientes de Idaho Power pueden visitar idahopower.com/wildfire para obtener más información sobre la preparación para cortes de energía en verano y lo que Idaho Power está haciendo para proteger la red eléctrica de los incendios forestales.   

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Oregon Utilities Promote Wildfire Awareness: Get Ready for Fire Season by Preparing Now and Staying Informed
PGE, Pacific Power, Idaho Power and the PUC share tips and guidance as fire season approaches

Portland, Ore. – In recognition of National Wildfire Awareness Month, which kicks off today, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC), Portland General Electric, Pacific Power and Idaho Power encourage Oregonians to prepare for wildfire season. Everyone has a part to play this summer in keeping our communities safe. 

PGE, Pacific Power and Idaho Power invest year-round in methods to reduce wildfire risk and prepare their electric grids to deliver safe, reliable power. They partner with tribes and federal, state and local agencies to plan and prepare for the upcoming wildfire season. The state of Oregon requires investor-owned utilities to submit annual plans that provide a comprehensive overview of each utility’s strategies for mitigating wildfire risk and keeping customers and communities safe. The PUC is reviewing 2024 wildfire mitigation plans.

“In Oregon, everyone plays a role in keeping communities safe from wildfire. The Oregon Public Utility Commission invests significant effort in auditing all utilities’ tree trimming statewide and focuses on how utilities are changing their operations and equipment to increase the safety and resiliency of their services,” said Commissioner Letha Tawney. “Likewise, every resident has a vital part in reducing and preparing for the changing risk of extreme wildfires in their community. Customers should particularly prepare for Public Safety Power Shutoffs during extreme weather. Together, we can safeguard Oregon and its residents.”

Resources to help every Oregonian get ready for wildfire season are available at wildfire.oregon.gov, where they can find tips on everything from staying informed about wildfire and wildfire-related outages to making a plan for evacuations to establishing defensible spaces that help slow the spread of wildfire.

PGE, Pacific Power and Idaho Power also share these additional tips on ways to stay safe and be prepared this fire season.

Have a plan 

• Consider relocating with a friend, family member or shelter, especially if medication or treatment of a medical condition requires electricity.
• Businesses should communicate their outage-response plans to key employees, plan for workarounds to computers and cash registers and make a plan to bypass electronic door locks. 
• Plan for livestock water needs in case well pumps lose power.
• Know how to open and close electric garage doors and security gates. 
• Learn how to protect home and business electronics and appliances against data loss and surge damage when power is restored.

Make an outage kit

Prepare your home and businesses by making an outage kit to use in case wildfire leads to a power outage. 

• Be sure to include shelf-stable food, water for people, pets and livestock, medications, flashlights, batteries and solar or car chargers for electric devices. Keep ice packs or frozen water in the freezer to help keep food cold until ice is available. 
• Outage kits should also include flashlights or camp lights for all areas, including restrooms, battery-powered or hand-crank radios for information, battery-powered fans, extra batteries, car chargers for cell phones and electric devices, bottled water and emergency phone numbers.
• Businesses should prepare to minimize disruption, keep employees safe and protect equipment. 

Stay informed

Here are a few steps you can take to make sure you receive up-to-date wildfire information:

• Contact your electricity provider or log in to your account and make sure all contact information is current so you can receive alerts and messages.
• If you rely on electricity to store medication or operate medical equipment, enroll in your electric provider’s Medical Certificate Program, if available, to receive proactive communications about outages. Make a backup plan with your doctor and other medical providers.
• Visit Oregon Alert to find your local alert system. Provide current contact details and sign up for wildfire alerts. 

Information, resources and checklists

• PGE customers can visit portlandgeneral.com/wildfiresafety for information about how PGE works to protect people, property and public spaces, including its 2024 Wildfire Mitigation Plan for information, checklists and additional resources. 
• Pacific Power customers can visit pacificpower.net/wildfiresafety for resources and information including an outage preparation checklist for residential and business customers, an interactive map outlining potential public safety power shutoff areas and the 2024 Wildfire Mitigation Plan.   
• Idaho Power customers can visit idahopower.com/wildfire to learn more about summer outage preparedness and what Idaho Power is doing to protect the grid from wildfires.   

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About Portland General Electric Company 

Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) is an integrated energy company that generates, transmits and distributes electricity to over 930,000 customers serving an area of 1.9 million Oregonians. For more than 130 years, Portland General Electric (PGE) has powered social progress, delivering safe, affordable, reliable and increasingly clean electricity while working to transform energy systems to meet evolving customer needs. PGE customers have set the standard for prioritizing clean energy with the No. 1 voluntary renewable energy program in the country. PGE is committed to reducing emissions from its retail power supply by 80% by 2030 and 100% by 2040. PGE is recognized by the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index for the company’s commitment to creating a more equal, inclusive workplace. In 2023, PGE employees, retirees and the PGE Foundation donated nearly $4.6 million and volunteered over 23,000 volunteer hours to more than 400 nonprofit organizations. For more information: portlandgeneral.com/news

About Pacific Power

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

About Idaho Power

Idaho Power, headquartered in vibrant and fast-growing Boise, Idaho, has been a locally operated energy company since 1916. Today, it serves a 24,000-square-mile area in Idaho and Oregon. The company’s goal to provide 100% clean energy by 2045 builds on its long history as a clean-energy leader that provides reliable service at affordable prices. With 17 low-cost hydroelectric projects at the core of its diverse energy mix, Idaho Power’s residential, business and agricultural customers pay among the nation’s lowest prices for electricity. Its 2,100 employees proudly serve more than 630,000 customers with a culture of safety first, integrity always and respect for all. IDACORP Inc. (NYSE: IDA), Idaho Power’s independent publicly traded parent company, is also headquartered in Boise, Idaho. To learn more, visit idahopower.com or idacorpinc.com.

About the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC)
The PUC regulates customer rates and services of the state’s investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities, including Portland General Electric, Idaho Power, Pacific Power, Avista, Cascade Natural, and NW Natural. The PUC also regulates landline telephone providers and select water companies. The PUC’s mission is to ensure Oregonians have access to safe, reliable, and fairly priced utility services that advance state policy and promote the public interest. We use an inclusive process to evaluate differing viewpoints and visions of the public interest and arrive at balanced, well-reasoned, independent decisions supported by fact and law. For more information about the PUC, visit oregon.gov/puc.

On May 15, 2024 the Oregon Museum Grant committee will meet to score and rank the applications for the Oregon Museum Grant program. The recommendations from the committee will be forwarded to the Oregon Heritage Commission for final review and approval on May 20, 2024. The hybrid meeting will be held by teleconference at 8:30 a.m. interested parties may access the meeting by registering through Zoom or in person at 725 Summer Street NE, Room 124A in Salem. The meeting agenda also includes the access information. 

The Heritage Commission is comprised of nine people representing Oregon's heritage and geographical diversity who have been appointed by the Governor. There are nine advisory representatives from state agencies and statewide organizations. The mission of the Oregon Heritage Commission is to secure, sustain, and enhance Oregon's heritage by ensuring coordination of heritage initiatives by public and private organizations; advocacy on its behalf; education of the public about its extent and value; and promotion and celebration of its diversity.

Special accommodations for the meeting – including translation services – may be made by calling 503-986-0690 at least 72 hours prior to the start of the meeting. For information about the grants contact Kuri Gill at 503-986-0685 or by e-mail: i.Gill@oprd.oregon.gov">Kuri.Gill@oprd.oregon.gov. 

Salem, OR— State of Oregon Enterprise Information Services announced State Chief Information Officer, Terrence Woods, was awarded the StateScoop GoldenGov: State Executive of the Year Award and Deputy State Chief Information Officer, Jennifer Bjerke, was awarded StateScoop State Leadership of the Year Award. 

The StateScoop 50 Awards, now in their 11th year, annually honor the best and the brightest who make state government more efficient and effective. These awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of government peers and acknowledge their tireless efforts to make a positive impact in the government Information Technology community and in public service.

StateScoop is a media brand reporting on news and events impacting technology decisions in state and local government. Through their website, newsletter, and events, StateScoop brings together IT leaders and innovators from across government, academia and industry to exchange best practices and identify ways to improve state and city government. Woods and Bjerke were chosen from hundreds of individuals nominated for the awards and now join an esteemed group of individuals who work to improve and innovate in information technology. 

Woods was appointed as State Chief Information Officer and Director of Enterprise Information Services (EIS) in 2018 and brings more than 20 years of leadership and knowledge to the role. Since his appointment, Woods has established a diverse Executive Team and built the strategic foundations and enterprise capabilities for delivering on the EIS vision — “Ensuring accessible, reliable and secure state technology systems that equitably serve Oregonians.” His accomplishments include publication of the EIS 2023-2026 Strategic Framework Version 2.0, Cloud Forward: A Framework for Embracing the Cloud in Oregon, Oregon’s Data Strategy: Unlocking Oregon’s Potential, EIS Modernization Playbook and deployment of Microsoft 365 to all Executive Branch agencies. 

Bjerke was appointed as Deputy State Chief Information Officer in 2018, after serving as the State Strategic Technology Director. Woods shared, “With Deputy Bjerke’s leadership, we are making progress on our goals to streamline state government and modernize our systems to better serve Oregonians. It’s an honor that we were both awarded for our collective efforts.”

The complete list of award recipients can be viewed on the StateScoop website where they will also feature interviews with award winners in the coming days.

SALEM, Oregon—Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is seeking public comment on a proposed rule change that would correct the city of Maupin’s boundary description in the Deschutes Scenic Waterway rule.

The rule uses a description of Maupin’s city boundary that does not include land annexed in 1973. The later adopted Deschutes Scenic Waterway statute includes the city boundary with the annexed land. 

The discrepancy between the two was discovered when a proposed development in the Lower Deschutes State Scenic Waterway corridor raised the question regarding the statutory boundary. The proposed rule change would update the description of Maupin’s city boundary to reflect the boundary described in statute. 

Learn more about the proposed rule change online. Public comments on the proposed rule change will be accepted through 5 p.m. May 31, 2024 and can be submitted:

• Online: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/PRP/Pages/PRP-Rule-2024-Correct%20Reference%20to%20Maupin%20in%20Deschutes%20Scenic%20Waterway.aspx
• Mail: OPRD Department, attn: Katie Gauthier, 725 Summer St NE, Suite C, Salem OR 97301
• Email: D.Publiccomment@oprd.oregon.gov">OPRD.Publiccomment@oprd.oregon.gov

There will be no public hearing. Once the public comment period ends, the proposal with any incorporated updates is slated to go to Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission in June for possible adoption.

OPRD manages state scenic waterways program on behalf of the state of Oregon. The program seeks to balance protection and use through cooperation between federal, state and local agencies as well as individual property owners and those who recreate along a waterway.

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Beaverton, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today for distributing fentanyl that caused the fatal overdose of a local man.

Billy Ray Trueblood II, 33, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison and four years’ supervised release.

According to court documents, in early March 2019, investigators from the Westside Interagency Narcotics Team (WIN) responded to a fatal overdose of a local man in his early thirties who was found unresponsive by his roommates. An autopsy by the Oregon State Crime Lab later confirmed the man died of an acute fentanyl overdose.

Further investigation revealed that the victim became addicted to opioids after using prescription pain killers in college to deal with athletic injuries. Investigators also learned the victim had been purchasing drugs from Trueblood since college and had recently exchanged text messages with him to arrange the purchase of “blues,” a term used to describe counterfeit Oxycodone pills manufactured with fentanyl.

In the days following the victim’s fatal overdose, investigators attempted to locate Trueblood, but were unable to do so until one investigator spotted him on television at a Portland Trailblazers basketball game. After another investigator confirmed the man spotted was indeed Trueblood, the investigators relayed the information to police officers at the game who located and arrested him. During his arrest, Trueblood was found in possession of a large amount of cash and several types of pills including some that resembled those found in the deceased victim’s bedroom.

On November 10, 2020, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a three-count indictment charging Trueblood with distributing fentanyl, distributing fentanyl resulting in death, and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl.

On May 30, 2023, Trueblood pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl.

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

WIN is a Washington County, Oregon-based multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force supported by the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program that includes members from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Beaverton and Hillsboro Police Departments, Oregon National Guard Counter Drug Program, FBI, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

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PORTLAND, Ore.—A former Oregon Department of Human Services employee was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison today for violating the civil rights of a woman with developmental disabilities in his care by engaging in sexual misconduct with her.

Zakary Edward Glover, 30, of Lebanon, Oregon, was sentenced to 300 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.

“Mr. Glover’s crimes profoundly betrayed the trust placed in him as a state health care support specialist,” said Natalie Wight, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “We thank our partners at the FBI, Oregon State Police, and Civil Rights Division for their commitment to this victim and the safety of all Oregonians.”

“This defendant engaged in deplorable acts of sexual misconduct and targeted a victim with severe developmental disabilities who was entrusted to his care and could not defend herself,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The defendant breached the public trust and violated the most basic standards of decency. The significant sentence imposed should send a strong message that the Justice Department will do all it can to hold accountable those who abuse their authority by sexual assaulting people in their custody and under their care.”

“Zakary Glover's actions are inexcusable and appalling,” said Douglas A. Olson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Portland Field Office. “The FBI will not stand by when people in positions of trust violate and victimize vulnerable community members. Mr. Glover abused his power and today’s sentence sends the message that the FBI and our partners will hold accountable anyone in a position of power who fails the citizens of their community.”

According to the court documents, Glover served as a Direct Support Crisis Specialist for the Oregon Department of Human Services, Office of Developmental Disabilities Stabilization and Crisis Unit (SACU). SACU operates several 24-hour crisis residential programs in Oregon that serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As a SACU employee, Glover was tasked with ensuring the health, safety and security of the individuals who lived at the residential facility where he worked.

The victim, who has severe autism and cognitive deficits, was one of the individuals under Glover’s care. As part of his duties, Glover took the victim on outings in a state-owned van. The van used for such outings was purposely secured with child locks and a heavy plastic partition between the front and rear seats so that individuals like Glover’s victim cannot get out.

On November 2, 2021, while on an outing with the victim, Glover drove down a dead-end road near a cemetery in Aumsville, Oregon. Upon reaching the dead-end, he parked the van near the cemetery’s gate and proceeded to engage in sexual acts with the victim without her consent. 

On February 18, 2022, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Glover with depriving the victim of her constitutional right to bodily integrity under color of law involving attempted aggravated sexual abuse and kidnapping.

On January 9, 2024, Glover pleaded guilty to depriving the victim of her constitutional right to bodily integrity under color of law involving attempted aggravated sexual abuse.

This case was investigated by the FBI Portland Field Office with assistance from Oregon State Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gavin Bruce of the District of Oregon and Trial Attorney Daniel Gruner of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.

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PORTLAND, Ore.—A Monmouth, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today for distributing fentanyl that caused the overdose death of a teenager in Salem, Oregon.

Javen James Pedro, 21, was sentenced to 75 months in federal prison and six years’ supervised release.

According to court documents, on February 24, 2022, officers from the Salem Police Department responded to an overdose of a 15-year-old teenager. Paramedics quickly transported the teen to a local hospital where he died. Further investigation revealed that on the previous day, the minor victim had purchased and consumed counterfeit Oxycodone pills containing fentanyl in front of several other juveniles. Investigators also obtained video surveillance footage from a neighbor showing the minor victim completing what appeared to be a drug transaction with a person determined to be Pedro.

Later on February 24, investigators located and arrested Pedro in Monmouth and he admitted to selling ten counterfeit Oxycodone pills to the minor victim the day prior. Pedro further admitted to selling pills to the minor victim approximately five to ten times previously.

On February 24, 2022, Pedro was charged by criminal complaint with distributing fentanyl. Later, on March 17, 2022, a federal grand jury in Portland indicted Pedro on the same charge.

On February 6, 2024, Pedro pleaded guilty to a one-count superseding criminal information charging him with distributing a controlled substance to a person under the age of 21.

This case was investigated by the Salem Police Department. It was prosecuted by Scott M. Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

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After failure to reach an agreement despite months of negotiations, nurses are making their contract fight public 

WHAT: Frontline nurses who work at Providence Medford will host an informational picket about raising healthcare standards for nurses, patients and our communities on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. The nurses—represented by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA)—will be joined by worker advocates and community allies. 

ONA represents more than 4,700 frontline nurses working in nine Providence Health System facilities from Portland to Medford. Nurses are standing together to raise standards for nurses, patients and communities within Providence--Oregon’s largest health care system and one of the state’s largest corporations. 

WHEN: May 1, 2024 
Informational Picketing from 4-7 p.m.   
Speakers: 4 p.m.
Times are approximate

WHERE: On sidewalks outside Providence Medford Medical Center, 1111 Crater Lake Ave., Medford 

WHO: ONA frontline nurses will be picketing alongside worker advocates and community allies. Bargaining unit chair Vicki Knudsen, RN, will be joined by other nurses to talk about the challenges they face.

WHY: Nurses at Providence Medford began bargaining with management in January but their contract expired in March. While they’ve made progress on some lower-priority bargaining topics, nurses are frustrated with the disappointing counterproposals Providence has offered for their top issues. 
• Adding RNs for Safe Patient Assignments: Providence frequently doubles patient assignments during meal periods, with assignments as high as eight patients for one nurse, and our RNs seek safe assignments throughout every shift.
• Paid Time Off (PTO): Providence RNs are below market standards for PTO by more than 20-30 hours.
• Market Competitive Wages & Differentials: Current wages are at or 50% below market for caregivers at the Northwest’s largest health system.
• Market Competitive Health Benefits: Deductibles and out-of-pocket max for ONA and ONA-affiliated caregivers are up to $6,000 more per year than competitor health systems.

ONA nurses are picketing to improve patient safety by addressing Providence’s staffing crisis and raising standards to recruit and retain caregivers. Despite nurses’ sacrifices, Providence has left hundreds of frontline nurses working without the safety and security of a contract. In addition to Providence Medford, nurses at Providence St. Vincent, Providence Newberg, Providence Hood River and Providence Willamette Falls are working under expired contracts. The contract for nurses at Providence Milwaukie will expire at the end of May. 

Nurses at Providence St. Vincent and Providence Newberg have already held strike votes and authorized their bargaining team to call for strikes if necessary. 

The community is encouraged to attend the informational picket to show support for the caregivers they rely on. 

Note: An informational picket is not a strike or work stoppage. It is a demonstration of solidarity to Providence’s administrators and a promise to our community that nurses, elected leaders and allies are united to raise health care standards at Providence and throughout Oregon.
 

COLUMBIA COUNTY, Ore. 30 April 2024 – A tip to the Turn In Poachers (TIP) Line alerted Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife troopers to a Columbia County business illegally providing guide services. The tip led to the arrest and conviction of Eric Swanson, 31, operator of Eric Swanson Outdoors, who advertised guided fishing trips on the Columbia River and guided waterfowl hunts on the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area. 

The Oregon State Marine Board (OSMB) confirmed that Swanson failed to renew his guide license. The investigation revealed Swanson had been illegally guiding fishing and hunting trips in 2022 and into 2023, receiving a substantial income from the illegally guided trips. In addition, Swanson had forged the outfitter guide sticker attached to his boat with the identification number of another legally registered guide.

On January 13, 2023, Oregon State Police executed a search warrant. During the search warrant, forged stickers were seized from Swanson’s boat.

On April 24, 2024, Swanson pled guilty in Columbia County to two counts of Fail to Register Outfitter/Guide. In addition to 24 months of probation, Swanson was ordered to pay $30,000 to the Oregon State Marine Board, $15,000 to the Oregon Outfitters and Guides, and $5,000 to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, bringing the total restitution amount to $50,000.

The guide licensing process is a public safety measure, according to Cyndi Bolduc, OSMB Outfitter Guide program coordinator for the boating safety program. Licensing establishes that operators meet safety standards, including operating certification, first aid and CPR certification, and insurance coverage. OSMB is tasked with maintaining those standards.

"Unlicensed guides undercut all aspects of guiding, not only fees," Bolduc said. "Enforcement is a priority with the marine board, and we've worked hard to have guiding infractions included in the TIP program and eligible for rewards."

People who call the Turn In Poachers (TIP) Line to report poaching, habitat destruction, and other crimes against fish and wildlife are eligible to receive either cash rewards or, in some instances, hunter preference points if their tip leads to an arrest or citation. The reporting party, in this case, received a $200 cash reward. Oregon Outfitters & Guides Association (OOGA) cash rewards apply to anyone acting as an outfitter guide for illegally killing wildlife, illegally obtaining Oregon hunting or angling licenses, or illegally offering to act as an outfitter guide.

"We need people to do the right thing and contact the TIP Line if they know of illegal activity," Bolduc said. "In this case, we are pleased to give a TIP reward to the reporting party who suspected Swanson was cheating the system and knowingly ignoring the legal requirements."

If you know of or suspect other crimes against fish wildlife or habitat, please report to the Turn In Poachers (TIP) Line by calling 1-800-452-7888, dialing OSP (677) from a mobile phone or emailing TIP@osp.oregon.gov.

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

Salem, Ore. –  A Portland man, his wife, and their friend are making history as winners of the fourth largest Powerball jackpot. Cheng “Charlie” Saephan, 46, purchased the ticket for the April 6, 2024 drawing and was the only person in the country to match all five numbers plus the Powerball. 

Saephan is sharing the prize with 37 year-old Duanpen Saephan, his wife, and friend Laiza Chao, 55, of Milwaukie. The prize will be split among the three individuals: 50% (Chao) and 25%, 25% (Saephans). All three elected to take the cash option, which totals $422,309,193.97 after taxes.

Saephan, who has battled cancer and is fighting a recurrence, was relying on a combination of faith and luck when he purchased over 20 tickets for the drawing. In the weeks leading up to the jackpot, he wrote out numbers from the game (1-69) on a piece of paper and slept with it under his pillow.

“I prayed to God to help me,” he said, “My kids are young and I’m not that healthy.”  

Saephan, who is Iu-Mienh, was born in Laos and has lived in Portland for the past 30 years. He said the prize will allow him and his family to live “worry free” in light of his illness. 

Chao gave Saephan $100 toward the purchase of tickets for the game. After discovering he was holding the winning ticket, he called her to share the news. 

“I said, ‘Laiza, where are you?’ and she said, ‘I’m going to work,’” said Saephan. “I replied, ‘You don’t have to go anymore.’”    

The win is by far the biggest prize ever won in Oregon. Previously, the largest Powerball prize won in Oregon was a $340 million jackpot in 2005. 

“I want to offer my heartfelt congratulations to the Saephans and Ms. Chao on this historic win,” said Oregon Lottery Director Mike Wells. “Not only is the prize life-changing for the three of them and their families, it’s also a huge win for the state.” 

Approximately a third of sales from Powerball will be returned to state beneficiaries to support economic development, education, veteran services, state parks and more. The retailer that sold the winning ticket, Plaid Pantry, will also receive a $100,000 bonus. 

Powerball is a multi-state jackpot operated by 45 states, plus the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. 

The Oregon Lottery recommends that you always sign the back of your ticket to ensure you can claim your prize. In the event of winning a jackpot, players should consult with a trusted financial planner or similar professional to develop a plan for their winnings. Players have a year to claim their prize. 

Photos from today's event are available at the link below. Please credit Oregon Lottery. 

https://brandfolder.com/oregonlottery/oregon-powerball-winner-24

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. 

Tillamook County, Ore. 27 Apr. 24- On Saturday, April 27, 2024, at 4:55 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on Hwy 101, near milepost 39, in Tillamook County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a northbound Dodge Charger, operated by Ellis Miller Heine (56) of Cottage Grove, attempted to pass another vehicle and lost control. The Dodge slid across the northbound lane and into the ditch at highway speeds before striking a tree.

The operator of the Dodge (Ellis Heine) was seriously injured and transported to a local hospital.

A passenger in the Dodge, Rhonda Sue Heine (55) of Cottage Grove, was declared deceased at the scene.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Tillamook County Sheriff's Office and Nehalem Bay Fire.

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

Lincoln County, Ore. 26 Apr 24- On Friday, April 26, 2024, at 4:42 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Hwy-20, near milepost 1.5, in Lincoln County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a westbound Subaru Forester, operated by Velma June Freudenthal (78) of Newport, crossed the centerline into the eastbound lanes and struck an eastbound Nissan light duty pickup, operated by Christopher Michael Robeson (62) of Siletz, head-on.

The operator the Nissan (Robeson) was declared deceased at the scene. A passenger in the Nissan, Ramona Lynette Luledjian (55) of Toledo, was seriously injured and transported to a local hospital.

The operator of the Subaru (Freudenthal) suffered minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital.

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

OSP was assisted by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Newport 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.

SALEM, Ore. – May is Wildfire Awareness Month. Oregon experiences its heaviest wildfire activity during the summer months, but fires occur all seasons of the year including spring. Keep Oregon Green, in partnership with federal, state, tribal and local fire agencies, will be spreading the word about the steps we all can take to prevent the start of careless, unwanted wildfires this summer, and encouraging Oregonians to create defensible space around homes and outbuildings. 

At stake: lives, property and scenic beauty

Each year, over 70% of Oregon’s wildfires are started by people. Many are a result of escaped debris burn piles or gas-powered equipment and vehicles casting sparks or catching fire.

During the 2023 fire season, the Oregon Department of Forestry reported that people were directly responsible for sparking 823 wildfires that burned 6,197 acres. Any spark can gain traction in dry vegetation, spread quickly and impact lives, personal property, and the many benefits provided by Oregon’s scenic natural areas.

Before heading outdoors this summer, contact the agency or landowner who manages the land at your destination for an update on current fire restrictions or bans. Any visitor to Oregon’s natural areas should be familiar with these restrictions before building campfires or using equipment that could ignite a wildfire. 

Put Your Smokey Hat On

Smokey Bear is celebrating his 80^th birthday this year. Smokey is a beloved and trusted American icon that has educated the public on preventing human caused wildfires since 1944. His timeless and important message celebrates people who take responsibility and prevent wildfires. Smokey’s hat is the driving force behind Keep Oregon Green’s 2024 summer wildfire prevention campaign. “Put Your Smokey Hat On” is a call to action, encouraging the public to predict the outcome of their actions and do everything they can to prevent wildfire ignitions. Campaign artwork, PSAs, and additional wildfire safety tips can be found at keeporegongreen.org and its various social media platforms.

Coming soon: More Wildfire Awareness Month tips 

During May, a new wildfire prevention topic will be shared each week to help homeowners and recreationists learn how to prevent their outdoor activities from sparking the next wildfire. For more information, visit the websites for Keep Oregon Green at www.keeporegongreen.org, the Oregon Department of Forestry at www.oregon.gov/odf, and the Oregon State Fire Marshal at https://www.oregon.gov/osfm/education/pages/prevent-wildfires.aspx

Follow Oregon wildfire news and prevention updates on social media: Twitter @keeporegongreen, @ORDeptForestry and @OSFM

April 29, 2024

Media Contact: Amber Shoebridge
er.shoebridge@oha.oregon.gov">amber.shoebridge@oha.oregon.gov
503-931-9586

CMS Places Oregon State Hospital in Immediate Jeopardy Status

(Salem, OR)_Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has placed Oregon State Hospital (OSH) in immediate jeopardy status. CMS surveyors noted that emergency response equipment was located in more than one room in the admissions area of the Salem campus. 

CMS surveyors were on site after OSH reported a patient death shortly after arrival. Although the location of the Code Blue equipment did not contribute to the patient death, it was identified as a potential future safety risk.

“The primary concern was that all Code Blue equipment for the admissions area was not in the same room. We have already rectified this,” said Interim Superintendent and Chief Medical Officer, Sara Walker, M.D. “I am confident that together we will make the necessary changes to provide a safer environment for patients.”

Meanwhile, a core team of clinical and administrative personnel are creating an immediate jeopardy removal plan describing exactly how and when the hospital will correct any remaining issues (e.g., updating signage) and will continue to abide by this standard to ensure patient safety. OSH will submit the plan early this week. If the plan receives preliminary approval, a CMS surveyor will conduct another unannounced visit to review implementation.

If the plan is successful, CMS will take OSH out of immediate jeopardy status. Otherwise, the hospital may lose eligibility to receive federal Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement for services.

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SALEM, Ore. — The Adaptive Management Program Committee will hold a virtual meeting Monday, May 6 at 3 p.m. To join virtually, please use the Zoom video conference information found on the agenda.

The committee’s agenda includes:

• Finalize responses to clarifying questions from the IRST re: Roads questions package (Substantial decision item)
• Refresher on Eastern Oregon Steep Slopes questions package

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

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

(Portland, OR – April 2024) The Lemelson Foundation is pleased to announce the national debut of an award-winning documentary that celebrates innovation, curiosity, and resilience. American Public Television (APT) proudly presents Pathways to Invention, a documentary that follows modern inventors of diverse backgrounds and their journeys as they develop life-changing innovations.

Produced by Maaia Mark Productions in association with the Lemelson-MIT Program (and with funding from The Lemelson Foundation, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Engineering, and the University of California at Berkeley), the 60-minute special explores whether inventors are born or made through a series of engaging, up-close profiles while examining the tangible impact they’re making across a variety of disciplines including biotech, medical diagnostics and prosthetics, sustainable agriculture, food production, software development and materials science. The documentary's featured inventors were all recipients of the prestigious Lemelson-MIT Student Prize. The program will premiere in May on PBS stations nationwide, available for streaming in the PBS app and on PBS.org as well as on WORLD™. A companion website with related learning resources for all ages will launch on May 1st at pathwaystoinvention.org. 

PATHWAYS TO INVENTION explores the lives of twelve inventors – overcoming obstacles to achieve success - in cities across the country. Each shares their insightful perspective inspiring audiences to discover their own pathways to realizing their goals. Journeying through the workshops, garages, laboratories, and offices of these entrepreneurs, the film considers what it really means to take “leaps of faith” as the accomplished innovators present a realistic approach of persevering through overwhelming odds and obstacles, taking risks, and inevitably experiencing failures before achieving success and discovering that the essence of invention is collaboration, lifelong learning, and resilience. 

“We all have the power in our minds and hands to shape the world,” said Levi C. Maaia, the film’s director, a former high school educator and co-founder of Maaia Mark Productions with Noah Mark, a veteran showrunner and Executive Producer. “The goal of PATHWAYS TO INVENTION is to inspire others to think about new ways they can create solutions to benefit their own lives and humanity at large.” 

Together, Maaia and Mark have collected more than a dozen awards for the film. At the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards (LAIFFA) in the summer of 2022, it was recognized as the season's best documentary feature; Mark and Maaia as best producers; Maaia as best director of a documentary feature; and, composers Michael Mark and Jon Cobert for best original musical score.

The film seamlessly weaves together the distinctive paths of each inventor working to achieve similarly meaningful results such as:

• David Moinina Sengeh, Chief Innovation Officer and Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education for the Government of Sierra Leone, who witnessed those around him struggle with ill-fitting prosthetics that were uncomfortable to wear and designed next-generation wearable mechanical interfaces that improve comfort for amputees. 
• Nicole Black, a materials scientist whose experience growing up as a little girl grappling with hearing loss due to a perforated eardrum led to the groundbreaking formulation of a 3D-printed material – a near-perfect scaffold for the regrowth of human eardrum tissue. 
• A Fulbright Scholar visiting Uganda, Paige Balcom was inspired to develop a small-scale community recycling process in Gulu employing street-connected, at-risk youth. This supposedly “impossible” initiative was the genesis of Takataka Plastics, where Paige now serves as co-founder and is currently working to expand to five towns across Uganda, and eventually scale to other developing countries.
• Since becoming obsessed during college with the programmability of living things at a microscopic level, Geoff von Maltzahn has raised hundreds of millions of dollars to date to fund groundbreaking biotech and life sciences research. Through the management of microbes and the DNA programming of organisms big and small, Geoff and his colleagues are focused on eliminating plant pesticides, creating drought-tolerant crops, sequestering carbon, and eliminating disease.

“The key takeaway to keep in mind about the film is that it’s never too late – or too early – to get on the pathway to invention. We are all aware of problems in our daily lives, and we have what it takes to become collaborative problem-solvers and to invent solutions that can make the world a better place,” replies Stephanie Couch, PhD, Executive Director of the Lemelson-MIT Program.

Championing the idea that most inventors do not emulate the storied life of Thomas Edison nor follow the financial trajectory of Elon Musk, PATHWAYS TO INVENTION brings a relatable aspect to the journeys of each inventor. 

“We all are born curious; we all like to study the world. We like to understand it. That’s the innate curiosity that we all have, and sometimes it’s the environmental factors that drive it out of us,” says Josh Siegel, assistant professor at Michigan State University and inventor whose work focuses on designing platforms for collecting and analyzing vehicle data. “Inventing has taught me to be persistent; inventing has taught me to be creative; inventing has taught me to trust myself as I have never trusted myself before. It’s okay to be imperfect, so long as you’re better than you were. We can invent things, we can invent products, we can invent services. We can create new capabilities; we can create new knowledge. But at the end of the day, what we’re really doing is reinventing ourselves.” 

PATHWAYS TO INVENTION will launch nationally in May on public television and WORLD™ as well as will be available for streaming in the PBS app in conjunction with the release of online learning resources for educators, parents, and students at www.pathwaystoinvention.org. 

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About Maaia Mark Productions: Maaia Mark Productions is a Los Angeles-based film and TV production company focused on amplifying the voices of innovative people doing extraordinary things. By addressing systemic issues through individuals’ narratives, Maaia Mark showcases diverse contemporary innovators, artists, designers, and creators. Central to the company’s mission is spotlighting science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) and amplifying voices from historically underrepresented communities. Through engaging storytelling, Maaia Mark Productions aims to connect with a diverse audience, highlighting the social impact and transformative power of creativity and innovation. Learn more at maaiamark.com.

About Lemelson-MIT: The Lemelson-MIT Program is a national leader in efforts to prepare the next generation of inventors and entrepreneurs. Their work focuses on the expansion of opportunities for people to learn ways inventors find and solve problems that matter to improve lives. Its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion aims to remedy historic inequities among those who develop inventions, protect their intellectual property, and commercialize their creations. Jerome H. Lemelson, one of U.S. history’s most prolific inventors, and his wife Dorothy founded the Lemelson-MIT Program at MIT in 1994. The Lemelson-MIT Program is funded by The Lemelson Foundation and administered by the MIT School of Engineering.

About The Lemelson Foundation: The Lemelson Foundation uses the power of invention to improve lives. Established by prolific U.S. inventor Jerome “Jerry” Lemelson and his wife Dorothy in the early 1990s, and guided today by the Lemelson family, the Foundation believes invention can solve many of the biggest economic, social, and environmental challenges of our time. A private philanthropy located in Portland, Oregon, and operating globally, The Lemelson Foundation has provided over $300 million in grants and other investments to hundreds of organizations around the world. For more information, visit http://www.lemelson.org.

About American Public Television: American Public Television (APT) is the leading syndicator of high-quality, top-rated programming to the nation’s public television stations. Founded in 1961, APT distributes 250 new program titles per year and more than one-third of the top 100 highest-rated public television titles in the U.S. APT’s diverse catalog includes prominent documentaries, performances, dramas, how-to programs, classic movies, children’s series and news and current affairs programs. Midsomer Murders, America’s Test Kitchen, AfroPoP, Rick Steves’ Europe, Pacific Heartbeat, Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Television, The Indian Doctor, Legacy List with Matt Paxton, Lidia’s Kitchen, Kevin Belton’s New Orleans Kitchen, Simply Ming, The Best of the Joy of Painting with Bob Ross, Front & Center, James Patterson’s Kid Stew and NHK Newsline are a sampling of APT’s programs, considered some of the most popular on public television. APT also licenses programs internationally through its APT Worldwide service and distributes Create^®TV — featuring the best of public television’s lifestyle programming — and WORLD™, public television’s premier news, science, and documentary channel. To find out more about APT’s programs and services, visit APTonline.org.

Pathways to Invention: website, local listings, and trailer - pathwaystoinvention.org

Linn County, Ore. 28 April 2024-

Oregon State Police and Linn County Sheriff’s Office Pursue Coburg Shooting Suspect – Results In Officer-Involved Shooting. 

On Sunday, April 28, 2024, at approximately 3:00 p.m., Oregon State Troopers responded to the Coburg area to assist the Coburg Police Department and Lane County Sheriff’s Office with a reported shooting. The shooting in Coburg critically injured one of the involved individuals and a search ensued for the other involved suspect.

At approximately 6:00 p.m., a vehicle of interest in the Coburg shooting was reported as a driving complaint. The vehicle was located by Linn County Deputies, Lane County Deputies, and Oregon State Troopers.  A pursuit ensued northbound on Interstate 5 from exit 209. After a successful deployment of spike strips to stop the suspect vehicle, the vehicle crashed along the shoulder of Interstate 5. At the crash scene, an officer-involved shooting occurred, involving the Linn County Deputies and OSP Troopers from the pursuit. 

The driver of the suspect vehicle is deceased. A passenger in the suspect vehicle was also injured during the officer-involved shooting and was transported for treatment.

No law enforcement members were injured during these incidents.

The Oregon State Police Major Crimes Team is investigating the Coburg shooting. 

Pursuant to Linn County Use of Deadly Force (SB 111) protocols, the Albany Police Department is investigating the officer-involved shooting on Interstate 5, and any involved law enforcement members have been placed on paid administrative leave by their respective agencies. Any further information will be released by the Albany Police Department.

Members of the media are invited to an announcement regarding the winner of the $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot from the April 6 drawing. 

WHEN: Monday, April 29, 1 p.m. 

WHERE: Oregon Lottery headquarters lobby, 500 Airport Road SE, Salem 

There will be parking marked and reserved for media at the north end of the lot. Media members are also welcome to park in open spots.  

WHAT: The jackpot winner will be revealed and available to answer brief questions. Oregon Lottery officials will also be available. 

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