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Colder than average winter in store for Northwest

But Pacific Power tips for conserving energy and managing costs during winter can help you save money while staying comfortable

PORTLAND, Ore. – Dec. 6, 2022--It’s probably no surprise that the colder it gets outside the more energy it takes to keep your house warm. No one can change that basic equation, but with forecasters predicting a colder than average winter blowing our way, there are steps you can take to keep energy bills from giving you the chills.

“Cold air sneaks in and warm air leaks out. So, the first thing you can do is seal all windows or doors before the cold really sets in. This can be done now and the difference will show up as temperatures continue dipping below freezing,” said Cory Scott, vice president for customer and community solutions.

Another step is to switch to equal pay. Under equal pay, energy costs are averaged out over the year so bills are more predictable and manageable. Call us any time at 1-888-221-7070 to find out how this program can help you or download the Pacific Power app and make the switch via your mobile device. 

“The sooner you call, the better for equal pay,” said Scott. “If you wait until the higher bills have already come, your average will have gone up, too. This program also helps if you have high cooling costs in the summer.”

Here are low-cost some tips you can use today to battle cold weather:

• Set your thermostat as low as comfortable, aim for 68 degrees. When you are asleep or out of the house, lower the temperature by another 10 degrees and this will reduce your energy usage by about 10 percent.
• Avoid the temptation to bump up the thermostat when it gets colder. That won’t get you to your desired temperature faster, you will just make your furnace run longer and use more energy.
• Improve your home’s heating and cooling systems by cleaning or replacing furnace filters and scheduling routine system maintenance to help air flow through the system more efficiently. Move furniture that is blocking intakes or heat registers.
• Use space heaters sparingly and safely. Running a 1,500-watt portable heater 8 hours a day for 30 days can add an extra $30 to a monthly power bill in winter.
• You can save even more energy by taking a longer range view of your energy use. In Oregon, Pacific Power teams up with Energy Trust of Oregon to offer energy efficiency consultation and cash incentives to upgrade your home and save energy and money. Visit pacificpower.net/saveenergy or call the Energy Trust toll free at 1-866-368-7878 to learn more about qualifications and services.

About Pacific Power

Pacific Power provides safe and reliable electric service to more than 764,000 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.

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PRESS RELEASE:

In the time since Oregon voters passed BM 114, the Oregon Association Chiefs of Police (OACP) has received numerous inquiries about how and when the measure will be implemented. We, and our 125 member agencies, are committed to following the rule of law and are doing everything we can to meet the requirements set forth in this measure. It is a challenge. BM 114 is scheduled to take effect on December 8^th, yet the infrastructure, processes and resources necessary to make that happen do not exist.

We know legal challenges to BM 114 are underway and we affirm that the authority and responsibility for determining whether a law is constitutional is the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts. In the meantime, law enforcement agencies are responsible for fully implementing the measure unless and until a court issues a stay (suspending the measure while they deliberate) or declares part, or all, of the measure unconstitutional. 

After the passage of BM 114, OACP began working quickly and collaboratively with Oregon State Police and the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association to implement a cohesive permit system as soon as possible. Here is what we know so far:

• BM 114 makes each police agency in Oregon a “permit agent” for their respective jurisdictions. Currently, OACP is working with OSP and OSSA to create a permit-to-purchase system that meets BM 114’s requirements. But there is currently no system in place, and therefore no permits to purchase can be issued.
• There will be a financial burden to law enforcement agencies across the state to meet BM 114’s requirements. The revenue generated by the permits (limited to $65 for each permit) will not come close to fully funding the associated expenditures. Most law enforcement agencies don’t have the personnel or money necessary to fund this required program. This will likely result in other public safety resources being reduced to cover the costs of implementing a new permit program.
• BM 114 also requires permit-to-purchase applicants to provide proof of very specific training requirements. Some of these requirements can be completed online, but one requires a demonstration to be completed in-person before an instructor who is certified by a law enforcement agency. We are not aware of any current training program that meets the requirements of Measure 114.  OACP believes that every person wishing to obtain a permit, including our law enforcement officers, will first have to complete training that does not yet exist.

For these reasons and many others, OACP believes there is no way an operational permit system will be in place by December 8^th or in the near future. OACP supports the motion made in federal court for a preliminary enjoin of BM 114, and we have submitted a declaration to the court outlining the obstacles and challenges as we see them with implementing this measure in such a short period of time. The full text of the declaration is attached.

In response to declarations from OACP and our partners at the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association, we understand that the state is agreeing to concede to a stay on the M114 permit to purchase process. We ask for patience from those across Oregon as we get further direction from the court and the details of the stay. In the meantime, we will continue to work collaboratively with other law enforcement agencies to honor Oregon voters by working toward effective implementation.

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Dec. 5, 2022

Bend Police Department statement on Ballot Measure 114

Since Ballot Measure 114 was approved by Oregon voters on Nov. 8, Bend Police and other law enforcement agencies throughout the state have received numerous questions regarding our implementation of the new law.

The measure is scheduled to take effect on Thursday, Dec. 8, although on Sunday the Oregon Attorney General recommended a delay to the permitting process until February. We do not know whether that delay will be approved.

Bend Police command staff members have been working closely with the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police and other agencies to understand the repercussions and challenges of implementing the law. Lawsuits have already been – and are likely to continue to be – filed challenging the constitutionality of Measure 114. Unless and until a court issues a stay on the measure or determines parts or all of it are unconstitutional, our Department is required to fully implement its requirements. 

Oregon State Police, the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association and the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police are working to implement a permit system that would meet the measure’s requirements.

Here is some information we know about Measure 114 as it currently stands. 

The measure prevents anyone from purchasing a firearm without a permit. To obtain a permit, a person must pay a fee and meet requirements, including completing a firearms training course. After obtaining the permit-to-purchase through a local law enforcement agency, a person will still be required to go through an OSP criminal background check at the time of the purchase. OSP is required to create and maintain a database of all firearms sales.

Every local police department and sheriff’s office must set up a system to issue these permits. The fee allowed for these permits, a maximum of $65, is not expected to create the revenue necessary to fund our agency’s required permitting process, or the personnel required to operate the permitting process. 

OACP expects that on the date the measure goes into effect, gun sales by dealers, at gun shows and most private transfers in Oregon will immediately stop. Firearms purchases that are not complete prior to the permitting process going into effect will likely not be completed until the buyer obtains a permit-to-purchase – this is because OSP will stop processing the required background checks if there is no permit. 

The measure also makes manufacturing, selling, possessing, transferring or using a large-capacity magazine (which holds more than 10 rounds) a Class A misdemeanor, unless it was possessed prior to Dec. 8. 

There are some limited exceptions to this rule, including that those charged with possessing a large-capacity magazine can raise an affirmative defense if they can prove they owned it before the measure took effect and that it was used in certain locations – their own property, a licensed gun dealer’s premises, legally at a shooting range, during a firearms competition or exhibition or recreational activities such as hunting, or in transport to one of these locations while locked separately from the gun.

An Oregon concealed handgun license does not exempt a person from the ban on large-capacity magazines or from the requirement to obtain a permit for firearms purchase. 

Bend Police appreciate your patience as we work through these issues to prepare for the implementation of Measure 114. We will not have a permitting process in effect on Dec. 8, but will continue working with agencies around the state to determine the best process for moving forward. 

Tips on how to avoid popular scams

As the holiday season swings into full gear, shoppers need to maintain their vigilance in guarding against fraud. While consumers navigate the tighter budgets this year due to higher inflation, fraudsters are likely doing the same, and will be extra desperate – and motivated – to take advantage of the seasonal rush. 

Holiday fraud is a big business, and criminals stand to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit gains during the shopping season. Combined retail sales for November and December could top $960 billion, according to a forecast by the National Retail Federation (NRF), an industry trade group. Fraudsters will be tapping into this volume. 

Just for card payments alone, fraud rates in recent years have hovered around 7 cents per $100 of volume worldwide, according to the Nilson Report. By that measure, for every $100 billion in card volume during the holidays, thieves will siphon off $70 million. 

The gap between self-perception and reality

Consumer gullibility turbocharges the payday for fraudsters. Nearly half (48%) of consumers globally are confident they can recognize a scam, according to a 2022 fraud report by Visa Inc. Yet almost three in four (73%) typically respond to terms or phrases scammers commonly use in emails and text messages, such as “Win online gift card” and “Act now.”

The vulnerability of the general population is still high: 63% incorrectly believe or are unsure that online retailers such as Amazon and eBay will request login information to provide customer support, according to a November report by AARP. And 53% incorrectly believe or are unsure that payment apps such as Cash App, Zelle, or Venmo have the same consumer protections as credit cards. About 4 in 10 said they believe (incorrectly) that ads for merchandise on social media online are trustworthy. 

“Fraudsters are always working to outsmart consumers, but during the holidays, their fervor is especially acute,” says Kathryn Albright, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Payments and Deposits at Umpqua Bank. “Criminals exploit this time of year to prey on busy individuals who are pressed for time, luring them into traps and robbing them of their hard-earned money. But taking some simple precautions will help thwart these schemes.” 

Individuals need to be especially aware of common holiday tricks used by thieves, such as:

• Gift card payment scams. Gift cards are a preferred method of choice for criminals, who convince consumers to pay a bogus financial obligation by purchasing gift cards and handing over the numbers to the fraudsters. Criminals also scam retailers by returning stolen merchandise to stores and receiving gift cards since they don’t have a receipt. They then sell those cards online at a discount. For the 12 months ended June 30, 74% of retailers reported this practice, according to the NRF. 
   
• Charity scams. Fake charities use the holidays to lure victims to donate to bogus enterprises. They mimic real charities and often use terms such as “federal” or “national.” Criminals sometimes pose as religious leaders, preying on the generosity of others by telling a story about people in need. 
   
• Non-delivery and non-payment crimes. In non-delivery scams, buyers pay for goods and services online, but never receive the items. For non-payment scams, it’s the merchants who are the victims, with goods and items shipped but are never paid. Losses for these two types of fraud amounted to $337 million in 2021, according to the Internet Crime and Complaint Center (IC3), a division of the FBI.

Tips to reduce the risk of fraud: 

• Review your account activity regularly. Everyone should review personal financial accounts often for activity to make sure there aren’t any suspicious transactions. Consumers also should carry fewer cards in their wallets when they shop and store the others in a safe place at home.
   
• Don't click on email links. Fraudsters are getting better at impersonating retailers. But even when it seems real, it’s better just to go to the website via a browser. Bad links take consumers to fake portals, which typically ask for credit card information. 
   
• Don’t give out sensitive information. When you receive a call, email, or text from someone claiming to represent your bank, or another company, do not give them your user ID or password. No legitimate company will ever ask you for this information. 
   
• Watch for key fraud terms. Consumers fall for a variety of phrases, according to a report by Visa, including “Win online gift card,” “Exclusive deal,” “Act now,” “Click here,” “Limited time offer,” “Urgent,” “Action needed,” and “Free/giveaway.” Be on the lookout and steer clear of any correspondence containing this messaging. 
   
• Stay on top of deliveries. Almost 3 in 10 (27%) of consumers reported having a package stolen outside their door, according to a November fraud report by AARP. Consumers should track various items for delivery. When consumers won’t be at home, they should call the retailer or delivery service and try to delay the shipment or arrange to have it sent to an office or designated receiving location, such as Amazon Hub Locker.
   
• Avoid clicking on ads. Malvertising is malicious advertising that often takes the form of pop-up ads. Similar to erroneous email links, these ads can lead you to sites that ask for personal information and credit card numbers. They can also infect your device with malware and make the season anything but merry.
   
• Don't shop on public Wi-Fi networks. If you're shopping online, do it at home using your own private, secure network. Cybercriminals can easily tap into public Wi-Fi, so you don't want to input passwords and visit your bank account when browsing on these networks.
   
• Use fraud alerts. Fraud alerts can be very helpful to consumers in staying on top of any suspicious activity regarding their accounts. Alerts can be tailored to transaction size, and are delivered via phone (voice), text, and email. Update any new contact information to keep accounts secure.
   
• Use cards rather than payment apps. Cards offer more protections. Those using major brands offer $0 liability for unauthorized charges. Peer-to-peer apps such as Venmo, Zelle, and CashApp process payments immediately, just like cash. These transactions cannot be reversed. 
   
• Use caution when buying gift cards. Don’t buy gift cards outside of retailers and established companies. Look to make sure the protective stickers on the card are not tampered with. Also check to see that the PIN number on the back isn’t showing. Keep your receipt, which will help identify the card in case it is stolen.

“The holidays can be a stressful time of year, but don’t let the pressures get in the way of common-sense shopping,” Albright says. “Taking the time to safeguard your shopping and payment information online and in person will go a long way toward preventing anguish, and real losses to your household budget.”

What do if you have been compromised: 

Take action immediately. Call the merchant and credit card bank to report the issue. For gift card scams, reporting to the retailer might help recoup the loss if the card hasn’t been used. 

Notify regulators and law enforcement. IC3 tracks internet crimes, and the Federal Trade Commission monitors gift card scams. It also helps your community to report an incident to the state attorney general and local law enforcement.   

Released by: Deputy Shane Zook - Assistant Search and Rescue Coordinator

Date/time: 12/03/22 at 1:35 PM

Location: Smith Rock State Park

Rescued Subject:     27 year old female - Portland, Or.

On 12-03-22 at about 1:35 PM, Deschutes County 911 received a 911 call from an injured hiker at Smith Rock State Park.  The hiker had slipped and fallen on the Misery Ridge Trail.  The hiker had injured her ankle and could not get back to the parking lot without assistance.  

A Deputy in the Special Services Division sent out a page for Search and Rescue volunteers to respond for the rescue.  Ten volunteers responded to the page and were headed to Smith Rock State Park by 2:05 PM.  The Redmond Fire Department arrived on scene and sent two personnel up to the hiker's location.  Redmond Fire stayed with the hiker and provided medical care.  

When Search and Rescue volunteers reached the hiker, they placed the hiker in a warming bag with a heat blanket, and prepared her for transport down the trail on a wheeled litter.  Search and Rescue volunteers wheeled the hiker back down the trail, and to an awaiting ambulance, which transported the hiker to the St. Charles Medical Center in Bend for further medical treatment.  

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is a full-service agency that oversees the adult jail, provides patrol, criminal investigations, civil process and search and rescue operations. Special units include SWAT, Marine Patrol, ATV Patrol, Forest Patrol, along with five K9 teams. Founded in 1916 and today led by your duly elected Sheriff L. Shane Nelson, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office serves over 200,000 residents in Deschutes County. The agency has 259 authorized and funded personnel, which includes 191 sworn employees who provide services to the 3,055 square miles of Deschutes County.

Released by: Deputy Donny Patterson - Assistant Search and Rescue Coordinator

Date/time: 12/02/22 at 5:27 PM

Location: Todd Lake, Bend, OR 

Rescued Subjects:     26 year old male - Bend, OR

                                31 year old male - Bend, OR

On 12/02/22, at about 5:27 PM, the Deschutes County 911 Dispatch Center received a 911 call from a backcountry skier near Todd Lake.  The caller reported that his ski companion was having a ski malfunction that they could not repair in the field, and they were unable to make it back out of the location unassisted.  The depth of the fresh snow, the ski malfunction, and their location prevented the two skiers from self-rescuing or hiking back out of the location unassisted. The caller reported that he had to leave his ski companion to ascend the mountain to obtain cellular service for this call. 

A Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Special Services Deputy assigned to Search and Rescue contacted the reporting person by phone.  With the assistance of a Garmin In-Reach that the skiers had with them, the caller was able to return to his ski companion's location and provide a more accurate GPS coordinates of their location.  The skiers were reported to have food, water, appropriate winter clothing, and gear to remain in place.  The subjects were advised to remain at the location together and stay warm until assistance arrived.   

At approximately 5:54 PM, a page was sent out to the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers for this mission.  At total of 6-SAR volunteers who are qualified for this type of winter rescue responded to this page (SAR First Winter Rescue Mission for the season).  At approximately 7:10 PM two SAR teams left the SAR team office with Snowmobiles, backcountry skis, and snowshoes headed to the Dutchman Snow Park.  The two teams then continued on snowmobiles to Todd Lake where they parked the snowmobiles and continued trekking into the location on Skis and Snowshoes. 

At approximately 10:03 PM, the SAR volunteers made contact with the stranded skiers.  The two skiers were in good health, and they were assisted back down the mountain and to the awaiting snowmobiles.  The skiers were then transported by snowmobiles out of the location and back to Mt. Bachelor to their vehicle.

The SAR teams then returned to the SAR team office completing this rescue mission at 2:00 AM (12/03/22).

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is a full-service agency that oversees the adult jail, provides patrol, criminal investigations, civil process and search and rescue operations. Special units include SWAT, Marine Patrol, ATV Patrol, Forest Patrol, along with five K9 teams. Founded in 1916 and today led by your duly elected Sheriff L. Shane Nelson, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office serves over 200,000 residents in Deschutes County. The agency has 259 authorized and funded personnel, which includes 191 sworn employees who provide services to the 3,055 square miles of Deschutes County.

On Thursday, December 1st, 2022, at approximately 5:26 AM, the Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle collision on the northbound lanes of Interstate 5, near milepost 270.

The preliminary investigation indicated a white 2010 Chrysler Town & Country Mini-Van, operated by Dale S Heggem (76), of Salem, veered off of the highway at a high rate of speed, driving onto the shoulder of the roadway and then striking a tree, head-on, on the driver side of the mini-van. Heggem was pronounced deceased at the scene from injuries sustained in the crash.  

Interstate 5 was open during the investigation with the slow lane being shut down for about 4 hours. 

OSP was assisted by the Woodburn Fire Department, the Marion County Medical Examiner, the Cornwell Funeral Home, and ODOT. 

RELEASED BY: Sergeant Jason Wall

DATE: December 02, 2022

ARRESTED: Brandon A. Hoff, 32-year-old male, Bend, Oregon

CHARGES: Assault 4^th Degree, Criminal Mischief 1^st Degree, Menacing, Reckless Endangering Another Person

VICTIM: 53-year-old male, Bend, Oregon

LOCATION: 62600 block of Erickson Road, Bend, Oregon

On December 1^st, 2022, at approximately 10:30 pm, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to 62600 block of Erickson Road regarding a physical dispute. Deschutes County 911 advised responding deputies a male, later identified as Brandon Hoff, was inside a vehicle crashing into other parked vehicles on the property, and through doors on some of the outbuildings.

Once a deputy arrived on scene, Hoff was contacted standing near a vehicle that had heavy front end damage and he was ultimately taken into custody without incident. One subject involved received minor injuries.

During the course of the investigation, it was determined Hoff assaulted another male on the property, and then utilized his Ford Escape to crash into parked vehicles on the property, through a fence line, and through a shed bay door causing extensive damage to the shed. Hoff also caused one of the parked vehicles to crash into a garage resulting in extensive damage to the garage attached to a residence.

During the dispute and subsequent damage done to the fence line, numerous horses escaped their pastures and needed to be corralled by their owner. 

Preliminary estimates of property damage have been listed as in excess of $50,000.00.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is a full service agency that oversees the adult jail, provides patrol, criminal investigations, civil process and search and rescue operations. Special units include SWAT, Street Crimes, Marine Patrol, ATV Patrol, Forest Patrol, along with five K9 teams. Founded in 1916 and today led by your duly elected Sheriff L. Shane Nelson, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office serves over 200,000 residents in Deschutes County. The agency has 259 authorized and funded personnel, which includes 193 sworn employees who provide services to the 3,055 square miles of Deschutes County.

POLYGRAPH LICENSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 MEETING SCHEDULED

Notice of Regular Meeting

The Polygraph Licensing Advisory Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a regular meeting at 9:00 a.m. on December 7, 2022, at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Shelby Wright at (503) 378-2191.

Agenda Items:

1. Introductions

2. Review of OAR 259-020-0150, Examination for Licensure

Relating to the minimum passing score for the examination and opportunities for re-examination when there is a failure.

3. Next Polygraph Licensing Advisory Committee Meeting – TBD

Administrative Announcement

This is a public meeting, subject to the public meeting law and it will be recorded.

BM114 becomes law on December 8, 2022.  Since November 8, 2022, the FICS unit has experienced unprecedented volumes of firearms transactions never seen before in the program’s 26-year history.  OSP continues to work diligently to process and resolve as many of the pended/delayed FICS transactions as possible.

FICS transactions that are not completed with an approval number by midnight on December 7, 2022, will require the purchaser to initiate their permit application to obtain a Permit-to-Purchase before their FICS transaction can resume. This means your FICS transaction will not be canceled on December 8th.  Once the purchaser has an approved permit, the FICS transaction will resume.

It is important to note that many times pended/delayed FICS transactions are due to missing, incomplete, or incorrect information. When there is missing or incomplete information on a person’s Computerized Criminal History (CCH), OSP must contact the agency that is the owner of that information to obtain official records so that OSP can determine whether the person is approved for the firearm purchase. The agencies contacted most for missing or incomplete information are the Courts or District Attorneys’ offices throughout the United States.  There are no required timelines for the agencies to respond to our requests for missing or incomplete information.  By statute, the information within the FICS transaction database can only be held for five years.   

Oregon State Police has worked with Permit Agents regarding the application form for the Permit-to-Purchase. The draft application is in the final review with permitting agencies and will be posted to the Oregon State Police’s website and available to those wishing to apply for a Permit-to-Purchase on December 8, 2022.

With BM114 becoming law on December 8, 2022, this gives Oregon State Police a very short window to develop a program and have technology available for use on day 1 of the new law. Because of this, the Permit-to-Purchase program at Oregon State Police will be a manual paper process until new technical systems can be designed and implemented. 

El informe describe el progreso significativo hecho en alcanzar síes ambiciosas metas en el frente de la vivienda. 

 Salem, OR— El Departamento de Vivienda y Servicios Comunitarios de Oregón (OHCS, por sus siglas en inglés) hoy dio a conocer un informe para brindar una actualización del progreso significativo de la agencia en alcanzar las metas del Plan Estatal de Vivienda 2019. La agencia ahora se encuentra un poco más de mitad de camino en el plan de cinco años cuyo lanzamiento sucedió después de extensas sesiones comunitarias por todo el estado. El propósito del plan es iluminar las áreas de necesidad en todo el estado y proporcionar un marco de referencia para que OHCS genere apoyo e inspire una acción coordinada. 

 El informe de medio camino detalla el progreso hecho por la agencia en el frente de la vivienda, específicamente para incrementar la oferta de viviendas mientras la inestabilidad de vivienda y la necesidad aumentan. En la carta de la directora de la agencia, Andrea Bell se centró en los valores compartidos como residentes de Oregón y declaró su compromiso para incrementar la vivienda asequible:  

 “Los múltiples éxitos descritos en este informe son un testimonio de la solidez de nuestras asociaciones que fomentan los valores compartidos para garantizar que todos los residentes de Oregón tengan un lugar seguro y asequible al que llamar hogar”, dijo Andrea Bell, la directora ejecutiva de OHCS. “Cada vez es más evidente la gran necesidad que existe para viviendas de todo tipo. Y para cualquiera que tenga dificultades para salir adelante, sepa que en cada momento de cada día OHCS será implacable, a través de la lente de la humanidad para aumentar el acceso a viviendas asequibles”. 

 Los logros descritos en el informe son notables, dado los inmensos desafíos en el frente de la vivienda. Con menos de 400 empleados, OHCS es una agencia estatal comparativamente pequeña con un impacto de gran tamaño. (Por ejemplo, el Departamento de Transporte de Oregón tiene más de 4,700 empleados). En los últimos años, la agencia ha aumentado silenciosamente el volumen y la cartera de desarrollos de viviendas asequibles en todo el estado. OHCS aprovecha el papel de una agencia de financiamiento de viviendas al tejer agresivamente una variedad de fondos estatales y federales, bonos, créditos fiscales y otras fuentes de ingresos para servir a los habitantes de Oregón en materia de vivienda. 

 Un ejemplo de un enfoque de financiamiento innovador para construir más viviendas incluye los fondos del programa de Alquileres LIFT de Oregón que destina dinero a las comunidades carentes de servicios adecuados, incluidas las comunidades rurales y las comunidades de color. Como resultado de este enfoque de financiación, junto con el trabajo del personal y múltiples socios en todo el estado, OHCS superó recientemente la meta de vivienda rural al financiar 3,612 viviendas asequibles de alquiler en la zona rural de Oregón. 

 Otros aspectos destacados del informe incluyen que la agencia superó la meta de financiar 1,200 viviendas de apoyo permanente (PSH). PSH es un modelo que combina la vivienda y servicios de apoyo para personas y familias que experimentan la falta de vivienda de manera crónica. La agencia fue reconocida recientemente con un premio nacional por este trabajo. 

 Quizás el progreso más ambicioso es el objetivo de financiar el desarrollo o la conservación de 25,000 viviendas asequibles en un plazo de cinco años. Este objetivo es el triple del trabajo anterior de la agencia. Hoy, la agencia está en camino de cumplir la meta con 20,624 viviendas en proceso de desarrollo. 

 “Me alegra ver este progreso”, dijo Claire Hall, presidenta del Concilio de Estabilidad de Vivienda, entidad que dirige estratégicamente el trabajo de la agencia. “Este es un trabajo impresionante. Los desarrollos de vivienda son transacciones complejas que tardan muchos años en realizarse. Este informe muestra que decenas de miles de viviendas están en proceso de desarrollo y pronto habrá personas con llaves en mano y techos sobre sus cabezas. La meta de triplicar el desarrollo de viviendas asequibles llega en un momento oportuno ya que los habitantes de Oregón necesitan desesperadamente viviendas a precios que puedan pagar”. 

 El progreso en el informe llega en un momento cuando la falta de vivienda y la asequibilidad de la vivienda son temas de suma importancia para los residentes de Oregón. El Análisis de Necesidades de Vivienda de Oregón detalló recientemente el impacto de décadas de desinversión en vivienda y otros desafíos complejos que hacen que cualquier progreso en el frente de la vivienda sea difícil de medir o celebrar. Está claro que los habitantes de Oregón necesitan desesperadamente más opciones. En el futuro, la agencia espera expandir este trabajo y ha expuesto estas y otras prioridades de vivienda en el presupuesto solicitado por la agencia para 2023-2025. Puede leer más (documento en inglés) sobre cómo la agencia espera financiar estas prioridades. 

 “Detrás de los números hay decenas de miles de personas y familias que pudieron mudarse a una casa. Este informe describe soluciones que funcionan. Porque sabemos que invertir en viviendas asequibles es invertir en la estabilidad familiar, el éxito de los niños y la salud económica de todo nuestro estado”, dijo Bell. “Ninguna familia debería tener que luchar para encontrar una vivienda segura, de calidad y asequible”. 

 El informe de progreso de medio camino está disponible para leer en español en el sitio de internet de OHCS, al igual que el Plan Estatal de Vivienda original. Es importante tener en cuenta que el informe se mide en años fiscales que concluirán en el verano de 2024. OHCS valora los comentarios y la colaboración de la comunidad. Para seguir este trabajo y ayudar a informar futuras versiones, regístrese para recibir actualizaciones por correo electrónico y oportunidades para participar. 

Report outlines significant progress made in meeting six ambitious priorities across the housing continuum.   

Salem, OR— Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) today released a report to provide an update on the agency’s significant progress in meeting the goals outlined in the 2019 Statewide Housing plan “Breaking New Ground.” The agency is now slightly more than halfway into the five-year plan which was launched after extensive listening sessions across the state to illuminate areas of need and provide a direction-setting framework for OHCS to build support and coordinated action.  

The midway report details the tremendous progress made by the agency on the housing front, especially in the areas of increasing housing supply while housing instability and need are mounting. In the Letter from the Director, Andrea Bell centers the shared values of Oregonians while promising bold commitment to increase affordable housing:  

“The multiple successes outlined in this report are a testament to the strength of our partnerships advancing shared values to ensure all Oregonians have a safe, affordable place to call home,” said Andrea Bell, OHCS Executive Director. “It’s increasingly evident the great need for housing of all types remains. For anyone struggling to get by, know that every moment of every day OHCS will be relentless, through the lens of humanity to increase access to affordable housing.”  

The achievements outlined in the report are notable, given the immense scope of the challenges on the housing front. With less than 400 employees, OHCS is a comparatively small state agency with an oversized impact. (For example, the Oregon Department of Transportation has more than 4,700 employees.) In recent years the agency has quietly increased the volume and portfolio of affordable housing developments across the state. OHCS leverages the role of a housing finance agency by aggressively weaving together a variety of state and federal funds, bonds, tax credits, and other revenue streams to serve Oregonians across the full continuum of housing.  

One example of an innovative funding approach to build more homes includes Oregon’s Local Innovative Fast Track (LIFT) funds that target funds to underserved communities, including rural communities and communities of color. As a result of this approach of funding, along with the work of staff and multiple partners across the state, OHCS recently surpassed the rural housing goal of funding 3,612 affordable homes in rural Oregon.  

Other report highlights include the agency surpassing the goal of funding 1,200 Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) homes. PSH is a proven model of pairing housing and supportive services for individuals and families that chronically experience homelessness. The agency was recently recognized with a national award for this work. Perhaps the most ambitious progress made is on the goal of funding the development or preservation of 25,000 homes within five years. This goal is triple the previous work of the agency. Today the agency is on track to meet the goal with 20,624 homes in the development pipeline. 

“I’m overjoyed to see this progress,” said Claire Hall, Chair of the Housing Stability Council, which strategically leads the agency’s work. “This is impressive work. Housing developments are complex transactions many years in the making. This report shows that tens of thousands of homes are in the pipeline and there will soon be keys in hands and roofs over heads. The tripling of the affordable housing development goal comes not a moment too soon at a time when Oregonians desperately need housing at prices they can afford.” 

The progress in the report comes at a welcome time when homelessness and housing affordability are top of mind for Oregonians. The Oregon Housing Needs Analysis recently detailed the impact of decades of divestment in housing and other complex challenges which make any progress on the housing front difficult to gauge or celebrate.  It’s clear that Oregonians desperately need more options. Moving forward the agency hopes to expand this work and has outlined these and other housing priorities in the 2023-2025 Agency Request Budget. You can read more about how the agency hopes to fund these priorities.  

“Behind the numbers are tens of thousands of individuals and families that were able to move into a home. This report outlines a roadmap of solutions that work. For we know that investing in affordable housing is investing in family stability, children’s success, and the economic health of our entire state,” said Bell. “No family should have to struggle to find safe, quality, and affordable housing.” 

The midway progress report is available to read on the OHCS website. The report is also available in Spanish. The original Statewide housing plan can be found on the SWHP landing page. Please note the report is measured in fiscal years that will conclude in the summer of 2024. OHCS values community feedback and partnership. To follow this work and help inform future versions, please sign up to receive email updates and opportunities to engage.  

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2023 Board on Public Safety Standards & Training

 and Policy Committee

Open Vacancy – Recruitment

The Board on Public Safety Standards & Training (BPSST) and established Policy Committees have open vacancies looking to be filled. The current vacancies are as follows:

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

• Two Representatives of the Private Security Industry
• Member representing the public (Recommended by the President of the Senate)
• Member representing the public (Recommended by the Speaker of the House of Representatives)
• Recommended to the Governor by the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association
• Administrator of a Municipality recommended to the Governor by the executive body of the League of Oregon Cities
• Representative of the Fire Service recommended to the Governor by the Oregon Fire District Directors Association
• Representative of the Fire Service recommended to the Governor by the Oregon Volunteer Firefighters Association
• Member who is chief of police recommended to the Governor by the Oregon Association Chiefs of Police

Policy Committees: All Policy Committee applications are due by December 15, 2022.

Telecommunications Policy Committee:

• Representing telecommunicators
• Recommended by and representing the Oregon State Police

Private Security/Investigator Policy Committee:

• Representing the public who have never been employed or utilized as a private security provider or investigator 
• Representing private business or governmental entity that utilizes private security services

Corrections Policy Committee:

• Representing Non-Management Corrections Officers
• Recommended by and representing a Statewide Association of Community Corrections Directors

Fire Policy Committee:

• Public member who has never been employed or utilized as a fire service professional.
• Non-management firefighter recommended by a statewide organization of firefighters.

Policy Committee positions next to be recruited for:

Telecommunications Policy Committee:

• Recommended by and representing a statewide association of public safety communications officers

Corrections Policy Committee:

• Representing Non-Management Corrections Officers

Police Policy Committee:

• Recommended by and representing the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association

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

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

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

For further information regarding the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training or its respective Policy Committees, please contact Shelby Wright at y.WRIGHT@dpsst.oregon.gov">shelby.wright@dpsst.oregon.gov.
 

Thank you,

DPSST Board & Committees Staff

Date: Dec. 2, 2022

Case #: 2022-00071505

Incident: Bend woman arrested after running away from DUII crash

Date / Time of Incident: Dec. 1, 2022 / 9:10 p.m. 

Location: Cooley Road & U.S. Highway 97, Bend 

Arrested: Jessica Nicole Capasso, 31-year-old Bend resident 

Charges: DUII – drugs, Attempting to Elude a Police Officer – felony, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering x6, Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver – property damage, Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver – injury, Driving While Suspended, Probation Violation – felony, Assault IV, Criminal Mischief II

At approximately 9:10 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1, Bend Police responded to a report of a DUII driver speeding through the parking lot of Sportsman’s Warehouse in the 63000 block of Hunnell Road. 

When officers arrived, they located the silver Honda CRX Del Sol parked on the east side of the building. As police approached, the driver, later identified as 31-year-old Jessica Capasso, abruptly drove away. When an officer activated his lights and sirens and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, Capasso sped away without headlights, driving over two parking lot islands. 

Out of concern for public safety, officers did not pursue Capasso as she left the parking lot and turned onto U.S. Highway 97, driving northbound in the southbound lanes.

Moments later, Capasso crashed into a Jeep Wrangler that had just turned left onto northbound U.S. Highway 97 from Cooley Road. Capasso then fled the scene. Officers found evidence of drug use in the unoccupied vehicle. 

Using a drone, officers located Capasso hiding in the bushes nearby. They took her into custody with the help of a Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office K-9 team. She was taken into custody on suspicion of DUII and the additional charges listed above, then transported first to St. Charles Bend before being lodged at the Deschutes County Jail.  

UPDATE-Driver arrested in Fatal Crash

The on-going investigation into the November 20, 2022 crash that caused the death of a 5-year-old female on Hwy 58 has resulted in the arrest of the driver, Amber Gonzalez-Riddle. 

On Thursday, December 1, 2022, Oregon State Police Troopers arrested Amber Gonzalez Riddle and lodged her in the Lane County Jail on charges of Manslaughter II, Reckless Endangering-2 counts, Assault III-2 counts and DUII. 

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On Sunday, November 20, 2022 at approximately 6:09 PM, Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two-vehicle crash on Hwy 58, 25 miles east of Oakridge at milepost 61.

Preliminary investigation revealed a westbound Honda Accord, operated by Amber Shaleene Gonzalez Riddle (26) of Portland, crossed into the oncoming eastbound lane and collided with a Toyota Rav 4, operated by Debra Diane Baker (66) of Sunriver. The Toyota caught fire and became fully engulfed after the occupants were removed. 

Gonzalez Riddle and passengers, Geavony Amor Ferreira (23) of Portland and a 3-year-old female were transported to an area hospital with injuries. An additional passenger, a 5-year-old female sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased. Baker and her passenger, John Baker (67) of Sunriver, were transported to an area hospital with injuries. 

Hwy 58 was affected for approximately 6 hours while the OSP Collision Reconstruction Unit investigated the scene. This is an active investigation and updates will be provided when available. 

OSP was assisted by Oakridge Fire Department, Central Cascade Fire Department, Oakridge Police Department and ODOT. 

(Portland, OR) - Two different reports – a national health care staffing shortage report from the American Federation of Teachers’ Healthcare Division (AFT) and a statewide survey of nurses by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) – are unequivocal in their findings: unsafe staffing levels are the primary cause of Oregon’s ongoing health care crisis.

AFT’s Healthcare Staffing Shortage Task Force, which included nurse leaders and representatives from Oregon, Alaska, Connecticut, Washington, Wisconsin, and Montana (among others), published their report on November 16, 2022. The Task Force worked for more than 8 months examining the state of America’s health care workforce. 

Among the key national findings were:

• The US is facing a serious decline in the nursing workforce (In 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported 55,000 fewer registered nurses (RNs) employed throughout the country than in 2020. This was the first decrease in total RN employment in more than five years.)
• Hospitals and health care systems claim the reduction in RNs is largely from retirements, but national demographic data shows the industry is seeing an exodus of nurses under the age of 44 from the profession; a significant reversal of the trend, between 2016 and 2022, of nurses under the age of 44 making up a greater share of the RN workforce.
• Nearly one in four health care workers are likely to leave their professions this year.
• Workplace violence against health care workers is growing and has been made significantly worse by inadequate staffing. Health care workers experience 76% of all reported workplace violence injuries, and the rate of reported assaults grew by 144% in hospitals and 63% in home health agencies from 2000 through 2020.
• Pandemic-related pressures on health care accelerated this trend as the rate of violence in hospitals increased by 25% in one year alone, from 2019 to 2020.
• 61% of nurses believe that COVID-19 stresses have had a negative impact on their mental health and 30% report they received or believed they needed mental health services due to the pandemic. Nearly 50% said the pandemic had negatively impacted their physical health, as well as their relationships with family members (42%) and co-workers (41%).
• More than 70% of healthcare workers have symptoms of anxiety and depression, 38% have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, and 15% have had recent thoughts of suicide.
• Unsafe patient levels are linked to poorer patient outcomes, including higher likelihood of death.

“Health care professionals knew long before COVID-19 that working conditions had been deteriorating for years,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten. “Then came the pandemic. For nearly three years, they’ve worked under unprecedented challenges—while for-profit institutions made record profits. Many health care workers are emotionally exhausted and heartbroken from trying to care for your patients under impossible conditions. Understaffing is the core problem, which leads to other horrible conditions like crushing workloads, mandatory overtime, extended shifts lasting 12 to 16 hours, constant fatigue, worker injuries and skyrocketing rates of violence against healthcare workers, making hospitals one of the most dangerous places in America to work.”

• Click here to view AFT's full Healthcare Staffing Shortage Task Force Report or an executive summary.

ONA is also reporting the results of our statewide nursing survey, which echoed the findings of the AFT task force report. The survey, conducted across all ONA’s bargaining units and with nurses from 37 hospitals from every corner of the state participating, found that unsafe staffing levels are what is driving Oregon’s nursing workforce crisis.

Key findings from the ONA Safe Staffing Survey include:

• Less than 1% of Oregon’s nurses report that their unit is always staffed appropriately – meaning 99% of units in Oregon’s hospitals are sometimes or never staffed appropriately.
• 50% of nurses report they are caring for too many patients on most of their shifts.
• Oregon patients are negatively impacted by improper staffing. When a unit is short staffed, 78% of nurses say there are delays in responding to patient call lights, 76% say there are medication delays, 72% report delays in providing hygiene and nutrition care, 71% say there are delays in pain assessment and intervention, and 66% report that units that are understaffed result in increased length of stays for patients and delays in discharging a patient.
• 92% of nurses report missing meal and rest breaks, with 42% of nurses reporting that they miss meal and breaks on most of their shifts.

ONA’s survey also asked nurses about Oregon’s current hospital nurse staffing law and how well the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is enforcing that law. The findings clearly indicate that Oregon’s current law is not working in large part because OHA fails to enforce the law. Specifically, 85% of nurses report that their unit is not being staffed according to Oregon law, and 84% of nurses believe that OHA has been ineffective in enforcing Oregon law.

These failures to enforce the law, combined with consistent and historic unsafe staffing levels across the state have led to a crisis in staffing, but also a crisis in nurse turnover. About 90% of nurse respondents reported that staff turnover in their unit has been high (36%) to very high (54%.) Of those who reported high or very high turnover, 84% report that turnover has had a negative impact on their working conditions and on their ability to provide quality patient care.

• Click here to view results from ONA's Safe Staffing Survey.

“The evidence, both at the national level and here in Oregon, cannot be ignored,” said ONA President Tamie Cline, RN. “We are in a crisis. That crisis has been decades in the making, and unsafe staffing is at the very heart. If we do not act, Oregon will continue to experience the devastating impacts of a failing health care system. Patients will continue to suffer, sick people will continue to face hours and hours of wait times in the ER, surgeries will continue to be canceled or delayed, and nurses will continue to leave the bedside. Unless the Oregon legislature acts in the upcoming session, this cycle will continue, and nurses and patients will continue to bear the consequences.”

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) is the state’s largest and most influential nursing organization. We are a professional association and labor union which represents more than 15,000 nurses and allied health workers throughout the state. ONA’s mission is to advocate for nursing, quality health care and healthy communities. For more information visit: www.OregonRN.org. 

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Bend Fire & Rescue’s Mustache Bash is back! Join us December 2 from 5 – 9 p.m. for a fundraiser supporting the Bend Fire Community Assistance Program (CAP), and enjoy a night of family friendly food, beer, prizes and laughs at Cascade Lakes Brewing. We will host mustache contests throughout the night for best overall, most stylish, imposter-stache and “you call that a mustache?” 

CAP is a charitable program supported by Bend Fire, in partnership with the Bend Firefighters Association. The CAP mission is to support community members in crisis. It allows firefighters who identify critical needs in the community, the ability to access funds and provide immediate support. This support could be for a family or individual who is in financial hardship and needs immediate assistance with buying food, medicine, clothing, groceries or temporary shelter. CAP is funded by donations from our community and fundraisers such as the Mustache Bash. 

Cascade Lakes will be generously donating the venue and $1 for every pint sold throughout the day. Invite all your friends and families to come out and support the Bend Fire CAP! We will see you there.

December 1, 2022

Contact: Liz Gharst, 971.666.2476, eth.a.gharst@dhsoha.state.or.us">elizabeth.a.gharst@dhsoha.state.or.us (media inquiries)

Kiari Chao, 503.931.3053, i.chao@dhsoha.state.or.us">kiari.chao@dhsoha.state.or.us (meeting information or accommodation)

Health Information Technology Oversight Council to meet December 8

What: The regular public meeting of Health Information Technology Oversight Council.

When: December 8, 12:30pm to 3:30pm

Where: By webinar and conference line only. The public may join remotely through a webinar and conference line:

• Join the webinar at https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1601505107?pwd=WFBmNGxOSkJrV0RiUE5SLzlldDdLUT09
• Conference line: 669-254-5252, Meeting ID: 160 150 5107, Password: 811368

Agenda: Welcome, Introductions and HITOC Business (12:30-12:50); Public Comment (12:50-12:55); Health Information Exchange (HIE) Workgroup Updates (12:55-1:20); House Bill (HB) 4150 Report: Supporting Statewide Community Information Exchange (CIE) (1:20-1:40); CIE Workgroup Considerations for Privacy and Security of Statewide CIE (1:40-2:10); 10-Minute Break (2:10-2:20); CIE Workgroup Recommendations for Governance of Statewide CIE (2:20-2:50); Data Equity Framework for CIE Data Program (2:50-3:10); Strategic Plan Update (3:10-3:15); Health Information Technology (HIT) Policy & Program Updates (3:15-3:20); Public Comment (3:20-3:25); Closing Remarks and Meeting Adjourn (3:25-3:30)

For more information, please visit the committee's website at https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HPA/OHIT-HITOC/Pages/index.aspx.

# # #

Everyone has a right to know about and use Oregon Health Authority (OHA) programs and services. OHA provides free help. Some examples of the free help OHA can provide are:

• CART (live captions)
• Sign language and spoken language interpreters
• Written materials in other languages
• Braille
• Large print
• Audio and other formats

If you need help or have questions, please contact OHIT.Info@dhsoha.state.or.us or call 503.373.7859 at least 48 hours before the meeting. OHA will make every effort to provide services for requests made closer to the meeting.

EUGENE, Ore.—A Prineville, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today after he requested sexually explicit photos from an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a child online and travelled from his home to Bend, Oregon in hopes of having sex with the child.

Patrick James Adams, 36, was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison and a life term of supervised release.

According to court documents, on April 25, 2021, Adams sent a Facebook friend request to a person he believed was a 14-year-old girl from Bend. A few days later, Adams initiated contact with the account via Facebook Messenger and began chatting with undercover law enforcement officers. At the outset of and at multiple times during these conversations, the law enforcement officers told Adams he was chatting with a 14-year-old child. Over the next week, Adams requested nude images and videos from the purported child more than a dozen times. Adams also sent several images and an explicit video, which were used to confirm his identity. Throughout the conversation, he repeatedly reminded the fictitious minor not to tell anyone about the exchange.

On May 7, 2021, Adams traveled from Prineville to Bend in hopes of having sex with the child. Upon his arrival, Adams notified the fictitious minor victim that he would wait at a designated meeting area, a local public library, until she finished school. Investigators arrested Adams while he was waiting for the child.

On May 20, 2021, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a three-count indictment charging Adams with attempting to use a minor to produce a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct, attempting to coerce and entice a minor, and committing a felony offense involving a minor as a registered sex offender.

On July 26, 2022, Adams pleaded guilty to attempting to use a minor to produce a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct.

This case was investigated by the Bend Police Department, Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Crook County Parole and Probation. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. McLaren.

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

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

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

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SALEM – The weather is turning cold and with that comes the chance of ice and snow. 

Winter weather can lead to damage due to falling trees or limbs, burst pipes, ice dams on your roof, cracks in your home’s foundation, car crashes, and more. Some of these losses may be covered by your insurance policy and others may not. 

Before your home, vehicle, or possessions are damaged by storms and winter weather, the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation recommends calling your insurance company or agent to make sure you have the right types and amounts of coverage.

You can also take actions to help prevent losses from occurring in the first place. You can:

• Inspect and maintain your foundation, gutters, and roof
• Insulate and maintain water pipes
• Monitor tree health and trim them as needed
• Prepare your vehicle for winter driving

If your home or vehicle is damaged in a storm, call your insurance company or agent to ask about your policy coverages, exclusions, and deductibles before filing a claim.

Before filing a claim, it is important to know if the amount of your loss is worth the effect filing a claim can have on your premium rates. It may be better to handle repairs yourself, if the loss is less than or close to your deductible.

Homeowners

A typical homeowners policy covers damage to the home caused by falling trees or limbs and weight of ice and snow. If your home received minor damage, such as the wind blowing a few shingles off your house, your homeowners insurance will probably replace the damaged shingles, but not the entire roof.

Winter storms can also create sudden damage caused by an ice dam on the roof or pipes bursting due to freezing. This type of damage is typically covered, and can be extensive – if a pipe burst floods a home – or minor, such as a leak from an ice dam causing a stain on a ceiling.

If your home sustained severe structural damage from a fallen tree or other storm debris, and it is deemed uninhabitable, and your policy has additional living expenses coverage, it can help cover the extra costs of lodging, meals, and even pet boarding while you are unable to live in the home. Those who have renters insurance can also take advantage of this policy coverage.

If your home lost power and received only minor damage, it will probably still be considered safe to live in, so additional living expenses may not apply. Check with your insurance agent or provider to confirm your coverage.

Coverage may be available for food spoilage due to a power outage. If you need to file a claim for another type of damage to your home, food spoilage can typically be added to the claim you need to file for repairs.

Auto

There are three coverage options on an auto insurance policy that typically apply to winter storms:

• Comprehensive covers damage caused by falling trees or limbs. This includes while your vehicle is parked inside a garage. Homeowners insurance excludes coverage for vehicles, even while parked inside your garage. 
• Collision covers damage to your vehicle that occurs while driving. This includes hitting storm debris or sliding on ice.
• Liability covers damage you accidentally caused to another person's property or to a person who is injured in an accident.

Once again, if the cost to repair your vehicle is less than or close to your deductible, you may not want to file a claim.

Remember, you want to make sure you have the right types and amounts of coverage and take steps to reduce your risks. Check with your insurance agent or company to determine your policy coverages, exclusions, and deductibles. 

If you still have questions or concerns, the division's consumer advocates are here to help. You can contact the division's advocates three ways:

• Call 888-877-4894 (toll-free)
• Email .insurancehelp@dcbs.oregon.gov">dfr.insurancehelp@dcbs.oregon.gov
• Visit dfr.oregon.gov

Visit the division's storm insurance resource page for more information.

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About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon's largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. Visit dfr.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

EUGENE, Ore.—A former employee of the Burns Paiute Tribe was sentenced to federal probation today after she stole and crashed a vehicle owned by the Tribe used to transport students to and from school events.

Sara Janeese Hawley, 37, a resident of Burns, Oregon, was sentenced to three years’ federal probation. Hawley was also ordered to pay restitution to the Burns Paiute Tribe.

According to court documents, Hawley used an employee access code to enter the Burns Paiute Tribe’s Tribal Housing Department building where she took the keys to and stole a Dodge Caravan minivan owned by the Tribe. Hawley, who had earlier used methamphetamine and inhalants, drove away in and later crashed and totaled the vehicle.

On April 21, 2022, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned an indictment charging Hawley with embezzlement and theft from an Indian Tribal Organization. On August 23, 2022, she pleaded guilty to the single charge.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the FBI. It was prosecuted by Jeffrey S. Sweet, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

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This release will serve as the final update for the City of Bend Police Department’s investigation into the shooting at Safeway on Aug. 28, 2022.

As of Dec. 1, Bend Police have found no evidence that anyone other than the suspect was involved in case #2022-00051266.  

In the days following the Aug. 28 incident at Safeway, our Department received dozens of public records requests for video and reports related to the case. We denied those requests because it was an active investigation. Now that we are no longer actively investigating the case, we are releasing our department’s 398 pages of reports and a video used in our investigation. The Bend Police Department understands the public interest in this incident, and this release is meant to satisfy that interest and to demonstrate the accuracy of information previously released by our Department. 

You can access these reports and video by going to https://www.bendoregon.gov/government/departments/police/records-division, then clicking on “Document Releases” under the Media Records Releases section. The video and reports are in a folder labeled “Released 12_01_2022 at 1000 Safeway Shooting Reports and Video.” 

The violence depicted in this video is horrific, and the Bend Police Department advises the public to take caution in viewing this video and reading these reports. The Police Department also asks media outlets to be thoughtful in what they choose to share. 

The video was created with help from Major Incident Team partners. It is the product of investigative work that stitches together surveillance videos from a Ring camera, Costco, Big Lots and Safeway to provide a detailed account of the suspect's path from the Fox Hollow Apartments into Safeway, where he shot and killed shopper Glenn Bennett and employee Donald Surrett before dying by suicide. The video is 5 minutes, 16 seconds long. There is no sound, and all faces have been redacted. All incidents of grievous injury and death have been redacted as well.

At the bottom of this release, you’ll find a detailed timeline to help interpret the video.

Reports show that after our on-duty officers’ initial response to the scene, the entire Central Oregon Emergency Response Team, as well as approximately 30 off-duty members of the Bend Police Department, responded to the scene. In addition to Bend Police resources, dozens of law enforcement officers from other agencies, including the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Redmond Police Department, Oregon State Police, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Crook County Sheriff’s Office, Prineville Police Department and Sunriver Police Department responded and assisted in our investigation. Those responding units assisted with everything from evidence collection and investigation to scene security, witness interviews, non-related patrol calls and response to additional reports of threats to the community in the aftermath of the Safeway shooting, all of which were ultimately unfounded. We are thankful to our neighboring agencies for assisting the Bend Police Department on this case. 

In addition, Bend Police received further assistance from Bend Fire & Rescue, Redmond Fire & Rescue, the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office, City of Bend Public Works, the Oregon Department of Transportation, St. Charles Bend and the Oregon State Police crime lab. We appreciate these agencies’ efforts as well. 

As previously noted, this was an extremely large, involved crime scene. Law enforcement interviewed and contacted more than 80 people – witnesses or those otherwise related to the incident. Our Department collected at least 173 pieces of evidence, as well as at least 90 videos and sets of photos supporting our investigation.  

In preparation for the release of this information, our Department provided advance notice to both Safeway management and the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office Victims Assistance, who communicated with victims’ families to ensure they were aware of this forthcoming release. 

The Community Assistance Center will provide support to anyone who is struggling and would like additional support. One-on-one or small group support will be available Friday, Dec. 2 through Sunday, Dec. 4, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Crisis Stabilization Center, 63311 NE Jamison St., in Bend. The Community Assistance Center is a partnership between Deschutes County Health Services, the DA Victims Assistance Program, and St. Charles Health System. Spanish translation services will be available. Please note the Stabilization Center is closed to media. In addition, here are some mental health resources for those who may find the information contained in the reports and video upsetting: Deschutes County Mental Health Recommended Resources | Deschutes County Oregon

TIMELINE

0:00-0:03: Ring camera surveillance shows the suspect moving through Fox Hollow Apartments. He is already shooting. 

00:04: View switches to depict three cameras. The lower lefthand camera is Ring camera surveillance from a Fox Hollow apartment, upper righthand camera is from Costco facing east (and is very dirty, making viewing difficult), and the main view is from the rear dock of Costco. 

00:10-11: Suspect is visible in Ring footage.

00:53-01:34: Suspect can be seen walking from Fox Hollow Apartments through the parking lot between Costco and Old Navy. Old Navy does not have surveillance cameras. 

01:34: View switches to show east-facing Costco view and internal view of Big Lots. 

01:43: Suspect is no longer visible on the east-facing Costco camera. 

01:45-02:00: People inside Big Lots react to gunshots in the parking area and take cover. 

02:00: View switches to show only inside of Big Lots. 

02:29: Additional view added showing doors to Big Lots.

02:48-02:52: Shots are fired into the front doors of Big Lots.

02:52-02:59: Suspect is visible walking past the windows of Big Lots. 

03:03: View switches to show two angles of Safeway’s west entrance.  

03:18-03:27: Smoke from suspect’s rounds is visible in the west entrance as suspect enters Safeway. 

03:33-03:35: View switches to show west entry to Safeway as well as south-facing view of aisles. 

03:36: Suspect shoots Glenn Bennett near the west entry of Safeway.

03:39: View switches to show self-checkout area. 

03:41-03:53: Suspect moves east through the store, as seen on aisle cameras. 

03:53-04:08: Suspect moves north down aisle 11.

04:08: View changes to show west-facing view of the rear of the store. 

04:08-04:10: Shopper can be seen tripping and falling to the ground in the meat department as suspect moves east near the rear of the store.

04:11: View changes to show additional view of the rear of the store, including produce section. Safeway employee Donald Surrett can be seen crouching behind an endcap in front of a melon display. 

04:14-04:25: Suspect approaches shopper in the meat department, throws his glasses, then interacts with shopper before shooting the floor nearby. 

04:29: View switches to show two views of the produce section (lower lefthand is a north-facing camera, main view is a west-facing camera). 

04:29-04:37: Suspect moves east through the rear of the store. 

04:37-04:39: Donald Surrett attacks the suspect. 

04:39-04:46: Donald Surrett is shot and killed by the suspect. 

04:47: An additional view of the east entrance is added to the video. 

04:50: Two Bend Police officers can be seen entering the east Safeway entrance as the suspect moves through the produce section. 

04:53-04:56: The suspect sits down in the produce section and shoots himself. 

04:56: Officers react to the sound of the gunshot and run toward the produce section. 

05:04-05:15: Four responding officers arrive in the produce section.  

On November 30, 2022, at approximately 10:20 P.M., Oregon State Police Troopers were in a short pursuit of an SUV that was driving recklessly on Interstate 5 southbound at milepost 253 around Jefferson, Oregon.  The SUV made an erratic U-turn and began to travel northbound in the southbound lane before intentionally ramming an OSP Patrol car.

The driver identified as Garrett W. Hall (50) from Portland was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries.  He was subsequently arrested and lodged in jail for Reckless Driving, Felony Elude, and the Assault of a Public Safety Officer.

The OSP Trooper was also transported to the hospital with minor injuries.

 The interstate was closed for over an hour for the investigation and to clear the scene. OSP was assisted at the scene by Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Salem Police Department, and Linn County Sheriff’s Office.

We are grateful that the Oregon State Police Troopers were in the right place at the right time to intervene for the public’s safety. 

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) is hosting a virtual meeting on December 5, 2022, for the public to comment on Idaho Power’s application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN). Idaho Power’s request is part of its proposed construction of a transmission line that would connect the Hemingway substation in Idaho with a substation near Boardman, Oregon. The transmission line is known as the Boardman to Hemingway or B2H project. 

Idaho Power has asked the PUC to issue a CPCN for this project. If granted, Idaho Power would use this certificate in court proceedings where it seeks to condemn an interest in land along the transmission line’s path. The certificate would demonstrate to the court that the transmission line is a public use and necessary for public convenience. 

This virtual meeting option to comment via Zoom or by phone follows a recent in-person meeting in La Grande, Oregon held last month.

Comment via Zoom or phone

When: Monday, December 5, 2022 from 6-7 p.m. PST (7-8 p.m. MST)
This meeting may go beyond the scheduled end time to allow more people to comment, so please log in before 7 p.m. PST.

Access the Zoom link and phone-in details at: https://bit.ly/3zXBRlz or at https://www.oregon.gov/puc/Pages/Whats-New.aspx.

Submit comments directly to the PUC by January 10, 2023

• email licComments@puc.oregon.gov">PUC.PublicComments@puc.oregon.gov
• Call 503-378-6600 or 800-522-2404 (all relay calls accepted)
• Mail comments to: Oregon Public Utility Commission, Attn: AHD – PCN 5, PO Box 1088, Salem OR 97308-1088

Stay Informed

To stay informed throughout this process, individuals may request to be added to the distribution list to receive publicly available documents. Submit requests by email to ings@puc.oregon.gov">puc.hearings@puc.oregon.gov or by calling 503-378-6678. Please specify docket PCN 5 in the request.

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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.             

November 30, 2022

Contact: Jonathan Modie, 971-246-9139, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Public Health Advisory Board workgroup schedules December, January meetings

What: The Public Health Advisory Board modernization funding workgroup will hold four meetings in December and January.

Agendas:

• Dec. 5: An optional educational opportunity for workgroup members to learn about the OHA 2023-25 Policy Option Package request for public health modernization.
• Dec. 6: Review planning and budgeting process to date, discuss vision and priorities for the public health system, and discuss prioritization of public health modernization funding in the 2023-25 biennium.
• Dec.16: Continue to discuss prioritization of public health modernization funding in the 2023-25 biennium.
• Jan. 9: Finalize recommendations for prioritization of public health modernization funding in the 2023-25 biennium.

When:

• Dec. 5, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
• Dec. 6, 3-5 p.m.
• Dec. 16, 1-3 p.m.
• Jan. 9, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

All meetings are open to the public. A public comment period will be held at the end of the meeting.

Where:

• Dec. 5: Zoom https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1604359165?pwd=VnViSnhsNjNtUXo3VlNkUktjZ2JlUT09 or conference call: (669) 254-5252, participant code 160 435 9165#
• Dec. 6: Zoom https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1605566274?pwd=czROS1BFMXMydGpZN3FzazB0TGNXZz09 or conference call: (669) 254-5252, participant code 160 556 6274#.
• Dec. 16: Zoom https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1601882559?pwd=TVMraGZtMTBkTnBXdFRMQllKTWxaQT09 or conference call: (669) 254-5252, participant code 160 188 2559#.
• Jan. 9: Zoom https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1615912737?pwd=NVBJTDcrOG4ySGsvSjZRYTZsbG9sUT09 or conference call: (669) 254-5252, participant code 161 591 2737#.

Background: Oregon’s Public Health Advisory Board provides guidance for Oregon’s governmental public health system and oversees the implementation of public health modernization and Oregon’s State Health Improvement Plan.

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Everyone has a right to know about and use Oregon Health Authority (OHA) programs and services. OHA provides free help. Some examples of the free help OHA can provide are:

• Sign language and spoken language interpreters.
• Written materials in other languages.
• Braille.
• Large print.
• Audio and other formats.

If you need help or have questions, contact Cara Biddlecom: at 971-673-2284, 711 TTY, or lichealth.policy@dhsoha.state.or.us">publichealth.policy@dhsoha.state.or.us, at least 48 hours before the meeting.

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland woman was sentenced to federal prison today for violating the terms of her post-prison supervised release by submitting two fraudulent applications for loans intended to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tiairre Travonne Chaney, 35, was sentenced to six months in federal prison followed by a 24-month term of supervised release.

According to court documents, in September 2015, Chaney was charged by criminal information with one count of wire fraud after she submitted 35 fraudulent income tax returns and caused the IRS to pay her more than $155,000 in unwarranted tax refunds. One month later, Chaney pleaded guilty to the single charge and, in February 2016, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Chaney was released from prison in November 2016.

By June 2018, Chaney was found to have violated her supervised release conditions by failing to pay restitution, failing to file true and correct taxes, and failing to report to her probation officer. As a result, she was placed on GPS monitoring for 30 days. In December 2019, Chaney violated her supervision terms a second time by again failing to report to her probation officer and pay restitution and also failing to obtain lawful employment. She was sentenced to three months in prison and her 33-month term of supervised release was reimposed.

In January and May 2021, Chaney violated her supervised release a third time by submitting to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) two fraudulent applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs)for Tncw Baked Goods, LLC, a straw entity she formed after the onset of the pandemic. In her applications, Chaney falsely denied being on supervised release and denied her felony conviction. In the second application, she falsely claimed Tncw Baked Goods, LLC, realized gross revenues of $45,663 in 2020 when in fact it had done no business whatsoever. 

This case was investigated by the SBA Office of Inspector General and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). It was prosecuted by Ryan W. Bounds, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

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Starting November 30, 2022, Sgt. Jason Wall will be taking over the Public Information Officer position at the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office. If you need to reach him, his email is jason.wall@deschutes.org and his phone number is 541-550-4863.  

The Oregon State Police is asking for #publicassistance with a death investigation that occurred on November 30, 2021.  OSP is hoping with the 1st anniversary of this incident that someone will come forward with new information.

On November 30, 2021, at approximately 1:00 P.M., Larry Mell was traveling westbound in his red 2003 Dodge Ram truck on Hwy 38 near Putnam Valley Rd, just west of Drain, Oregon, when he was shot.  Mr. Mell later died as a result of his injuries.  The Oregon State Police’s preliminary investigation suggests this incident appears to be accidental. 

Mr. Mell was 72 at the time of his death.  He had 8 children, several grandchildren, and a great-grandchild. Mr. Mell’s family described him as a Navy veteran who served in the Vietnam War. Mr. Mell loved fishing and crabbing and is greatly missed. Mr. Mell’s family said he was a strong survivor who had overcome heart surgery, a brain injury, and cancer. 

The Oregon State Police along with Mr. Mell's family is requesting if anyone was shooting or who knows of someone who was shooting in the area of Hwy 38 and Putnam Valley Rd on November 30, 2021, call us.   

Help provide some closure to this family who is desperately seeking answers to what happened.  If you think you might have some information on this incident, we urge you to call the Oregon State Police at 800-442-2068 or OSP from your mobile phone. Reference case # SP21-335049.

On Tuesday, November 29th, at approximately 7:11 PM, the Oregon State Police responded to a reported vehicle versus pedestrian collision on Interstate 5, near mile post 27, in Jackson County.

The preliminary investigation indicated Gabriel Escobar (39), of Medford, had recently fled on foot from a nearby Fred Meyer after allegedly shoplifting.  Escobar attempted to run across the freeway when he was struck and killed by a commercial motor vehicle traveling northbound in the slow lane.  

The slow lane was closed for approximately 3 hours while the crash investigation was conducted.

OSP was assisted by the Jackson County STAR Team, Medford PD, the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, and ODOT.

On Tuesday, November 29th, at approximately 3:15 PM, the Oregon State Police responded to a two vehicle motor vehicle collision on HWY 26, near mile post 54, in Washington County.

The initial investigation indicated a 2000 Hyundai Sonata, operated by Dalton Stevens (31), of Timber, was driving eastbound (wrong way) on the westbound side of Hwy 26 near milepost 54. The vehicle missed several other vehicles that were headed eastbound before hitting a Toyota Rav4, operated by Yvette Drolette (53), of Seaside, head on. Dalton Stevens was pronounced deceased on scene and Yvette Drolette was transported by Life Flight to a local hospital.  The 

OSP was assisted by the Washington County Sheriff's Office, the Tualatin Valley Fire Rescue, the Banks Fire Department, the Washington County District Attorney's Office, and the Washington County Medical Examiner.

Oregon Community Foundation’s ‘Go Kids’ Initiative Surpasses $2M in Funding for Oregon’s Underserved Children and Families

Oregon Community Foundation’s ‘GO Kids’ Launched in Service to Community-Led Arts, Education, Literacy and Childcare Throughout Oregon

Portland, Ore. – November 30, 2022 – Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) announced today that it has granted $904,220 to 30 Oregon-based nonprofits that are working to close the ‘opportunity gap’ for children from low-income families, communities of color, and rural areas.  OCF research illustrates where and how place, race and family circumstances can determine the future success and mobility of Oregon’s kids - at home, in school, or in their communities. In total, GO Kids has distributed over $2 million in funding from 2019-2022.

“Oregon Community Foundation’s investment in arts, education, literacy and childcare programs for underserved children clearly affirms that we can work together to establish innovative, community-led solutions and build momentum to help close the opportunity gap for low-income families in Oregon,” said Ruby Buchholtz, Community Engagement Coordinator, Oregon Community Foundation.

Following is a snapshot of just a few of the community-based organizations that Oregon Community Foundation supports through GO Kids 2-year grant funding:

Families Connected/Familias en Conexion | The Arc Lane County (Parent Education and Support) $72,000 

To support The ARC of Lane County in providing parent support to 300 families raising a child with an intellectual and/or developmental disability in rural Lane County (including the more rural areas of Oakridge, Blue River, Cottage Grove and Florence), also known as the Families Connected/Familias en Conexion program.

“Oregon Community Foundation’s GO Kids grant allows us to do targeted outreach to parents living in rural areas of Oakridge, Florence and Cottage Grove,” says Nancy Berge, The Arc of Lane County’s program director for Families Connected/Familias en Conexion program. “We are bringing services and resources into these communities that are helping parents in their journey of raising children with a disability and helping families chart a course for a positive and possible future. With better access to supports and services for their children and the camaraderie of other parents, parents are feeling less isolated and less overwhelmed.”

Juntos Aprendemos | Better Together Central Oregon (Early Literacy) $45,000

To support Juntos Aprendemos, a culturally and linguistically specific program that invites Latinx parents and their children, ages 3-5, throughout Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook counties to work together on early literacy skills prior to entering kindergarten.

“Juntos Aprendemos is a program supporting families with 3–5-year-old children to help them prepare for Kindergarten in Spanish so they all have the fundamental skills to enter Kindergarten,” said Gabriela Peden, Juntos Aprendemos Program Manager. “Our model supports both the child and the participating adult (parent, guardian grandparent, etc.) Oregon Community Foundation GO Kids funding supports the growth and expansion of the Juntos Aprendemos program into Jefferson County and neighboring areas. Our goal is to reach all of the communities in Central Oregon so it can be more accessible to the Latinx- Spanish speaking families who live here.”

Ready for Kindergarten | McMinnville School District (Early Literacy and Out of School Time Activities) $20,000 

To support the Ready for Kindergarten (RK4) program of the McMinnville School District which provides teaching, learning, academic enrichment and family engagement for students and families in Yamhill County. RK4 engages with families historically underserved with children ages birth to five (60% native Spanish speakers).

“Our priority is to enable parents to become their child’s first and best teacher through child development instruction and materials resources,” said Laurie Fry, Communications Manager, McMinnville School District. “Using a research-based curriculum, the workshops teach age-appropriate activities that show parents how to talk, sing, read and play with their child in simple ways that foster essential pre-literacy, pre-math and social-emotional skills.”

See the comprehensive lists of current GO Kids grantees (organized by geography) in the OCF Press Room online at: https://oregoncf.org/press-room/.

About OCF’s GO Kids Project

Learn more about OCF’s GO Kids project: GO Kids, https://oregoncf.org/assets/PDFs-and-Docs/PDFs/go-kids-2020.pdf  https://oregoncf.org/community-impact/impact-areas/community-engagement/go-kids/

About the Opportunity Gap

Learn more about the opportunity gap: https://oregoncf.org/community-impact/opportunity-gap/ 

Also see: TOP Report 2020: ‘Cornerstones: Economic Mobility and Belonging in Oregon’, https://oregoncf.org/community-impact/research/top-report-2020/ 

About Oregon Community Foundation

Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) works with donors and volunteers to award grants and scholarships to every county in Oregon. From 2020 to 2021, OCF distributed more than $549 million, supporting more than 4,000 nonprofits and 6,000 students. With OCF, individuals, families, businesses, and organizations create charitable funds that meet the needs of diverse communities statewide. Since its founding in 1973, OCF has distributed more than $2 billion toward advancing its mission to improve lives for all Oregonians. For more information, please visit: oregoncf.org.

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LA GRANDE, Ore. – La Grande-based forestry consultant Chuck Sarrett of Full Circle Consulting has been chosen as Operator of the Year for Eastern Oregon. Sarrett was chosen last month by one of three regional advisory committees to the Oregon Board of Forestry. Two others were chosen for Northwest and Southwest Oregon respectively. The recipients will be recognized in Salem at the January 4 meeting of the Board. The other selected firms are:

• Northwest Oregon – Mike Falleur of F and B Logging of Warrenton, Ore.
• Southwest Oregon – Bobby King of R and R King Logging of Florence, Ore.

The award recognizes forest operators who, while harvesting timber or doing other forestry work, protect natural resources at a level that consistently meets or goes above and beyond requirements of the Oregon Forest Practices Act . That law requires people to manage forests responsibly and protect streams and water quality, protect and enhance habitat, and reduce landslide risks. The law also requires landowners to replant forests after harvesting. Videos about each of the three Operators of the Year and three Merit Award winners can be viewed on the ODF website at https://www.oregon.gov/odf/Working/Pages/default.aspx

Chuck Sarrett has worked for decades in forestry in eastern Oregon, where he was born and raised. After a long career with Boise Cascade, he became a forestry consultant, starting his own firm called Full Circle Consulting. Sarrett came up with a much easier-to-use application to help forest landowners obtain federal assistance grants to manage their forestlands. He has helped scores of landowners develop forest management plans, a pre-requisite for obtaining federal funds. The plans make clear the landowner’s goals for the property, such as improving grazing, generating future income or enhancing wildlife habitat. In addition, he helps connect landowners with logging firms to carry out the work. In many cases he oversees the work at the request of the landowner, helping them improve the health and beauty of their forest and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire. He has also helped mentor and train others to become forest consultants, who are scarce in northeast Oregon.

“Chuck is well respected and liked by the landowners in and around Union County,” said ODF Stewardship Forester Travis Lowe, who works with Sarrett in the Northeast Oregon District. “His depth of knowledge and experience about what makes forests in northeast Oregon healthy helps him write management plans that leave the lands he consults about at less at risk from catastrophic wildfire, pests and diseases.”

ODF Forest Resources Division Chief Josh Barnard said, “The honorees this year innovated to protect water quality, and helped landowners be able to improve the health of their forests and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire through careful management planning. They have shown extraordinary care and diligence in challenging harvesting situations. We’re pleased to recognize the community spirit and leadership these operators have shown.”

Two other companies were recognized with an Award of Merit this year for harvests in eastern Oregon. They are:

• Chiloquin Lawn Care for helping small landowners in rural Klamath County remove overgrown brush to reduce fire danger on their property while protecting an aspen grove for wildlife.
• Wolfco Timber Services for an economically risky salvage harvest near Sisters in the wake of the devastating Green Ridge Fire.

Oregon enacted the Forest Practices Act in 1971 as a national model for forest management laws. The law focuses on ensuring responsible forest operations and protecting natural resources in forestland. The Act has been updated many times based on new scientific information and values to create a balanced approach to natural resource management.

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