Updated Release

Bend Police investigated an injury motor vehicle crash at Clausen Drive and North Hwy 97 on January 5, 2020 around 8:04 p.m. involving Deschutes County Sheriff’s Deputy Clint Baltzor.   Deputy Baltzor was traveling in the northbound lanes with his lights and siren on en route to a Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office S.W.A.T. call out in Terrebonne, when the crash occurred. A black Nissan Rogue, driven by Scott Senn was in front of Deputy Baltzor and Senn attempted to yield right but was unable to as there was a vehicle in the right lane, which caused him to yield left instead.  There was a concrete barrier on the left, which prevented Senn from yielding to the left. Deputy Baltzor’s patrol vehicle struck the Nissan Rogue, which then struck a blue/green Honda Odyssey driven by Chad Elliott. 

After a thorough investigation, which included obtaining speed data from the analytical report from the Airbag Control Module located inside of the Dodge Durango Deputy Baltzor was driving, it was determined that Deputy Baltzor’s speed was the primary factor and cause for the collision as reflected in the officers report.

It was the opinion of the investigators that Deputy Baltzor violated Oregon Revised Statute 820.320 “Illegal Operation of an Emergency Vehicle” which section G states, “the driver of an emergency vehicle or ambulance must not exceed any designated speed limit to an extent which endangers persons or property.”  Deputy Baltzor was issued a citation on February 24, 2020.

Submitted by: Lt. Juli McConkey

Previously Released

Driver of Deschutes County Sheriff’s Vehicle: Deputy Clint Baltzor

 2018 Dodge Durango       

Driver of Nissan Rouge: Scott Senn, 55 year old male, Lake Oswego resident

2018 Nissan Rouge

Driver of Honda Odyssey: Chad Elliott, 26 year old male, Terrebonne resident

2004 Honda Odyssey                            

The Bend Police responded to an injury motor vehicle crash around 8:04 p.m. involving a Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office deputy at North Highway 97 and Clausen Drive. The Deputy was traveling in the north bound lanes with his lights and siren on, en route to a Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office S.W.A.T. call out in Terrebonne.  A black Nissan Rouge, driven by Scott Senn, was in front of him and attempted to yield right but was unable to as there was a vehicle in the right lane, which caused him to yield left instead. Deputy Baltzor’s patrol vehicle struck the Nissan Rouge which then struck a blue/green Honda Odyssey, driven by Chad Eliott. Deputy Baltzor checked on all occupants and was tending to Scott Senn when officers arrived on scene. All three vehicles involved were in the left lane of travel on Highway 97.

All drivers were transported by Bend Fire & Rescue to St. Charles Health Systems in Bend for non-life threatening injuries, where they were treated and released.  ODOT and OSP responded and assisted Bend Police with the investigation. All of the involved vehicles were towed from the scene and the highway was reopened after about an hour.

This case is still under investigation. No citations have been issued.

Submitted by: Lt. Juli McConkey

Updated Release

Bend Police investigated an injury crash involving Deputy Kiersten Ochsner that occurred November 25, 2019 at 8:10 a.m. where she struck a 2016 Subaru driven by Megan Truelson on Butler Market Road near Eagle Road. Deputy Ochsner was responding to a roll over crash that occurred on Hwy 20 East with her lights and siren on when she struck Megan Truelson’s vehicle. 

After a thorough investigation, which included obtaining speed data from the analytical report from the Airbag Control Module located inside of the Dodge Charger Deputy Ochsner was driving,  it was determined that Deputy Ochsner’s excessive speed was the primary factor and cause for the collision as reflected in the officer’s report.

Upon the completed investigation it was determined there was insufficient evidence to support prior witness statements that Megan Truelson didn’t stop at the stop sign at Daniel Road at Butler Market Road, as it was earlier reported.

It was the opinion of the investigators that Deputy Ochsner violated ORS 820.320 “Illegal Operation of an Emergency Vehicle” which section G states, “the driver of an emergency vehicle or ambulance must not exceed any designated speed limit to an extent which endangers persons or property”. Deputy Ochsner was issued a citation on February 24, 2020.

Submitted by: Lt. Juli McConkey

Previously Released

Date and time: Monday, November 25, 2019 at 8:10 a.m.

Incident: Motor vehicle crash involving a Deschutes County Sheriff’s Deputy

Driver of Deschutes County Sheriff’s Vehicle: Deputy Kiersten Ochsner

2019 Dodge Charger

Driver of Subaru: Megan Truelson, 35-year-old female, Bend resident

2016 Subaru Forester

The Bend Police responded to an injury crash around 8:10 a.m. involving a Deschutes County Deputy at Butler Market Road and Daniel Road.  The Deputy was traveling east bound on Butler Market Road with her lights and siren on, en route to a roll over crash on Highway 20 East at mile post 35, when a 2016 Subaru Forester driven by Megan Truelson pulled out in front of Deputy Ochsner. Megan Truelson was attempting to turn west bound onto Butler Market Road from Daniel Road. Witnesses at the scene stated that Megan Truelson didn’t make a complete stop at the stop sign at Daniel Road prior to turning onto Butler Market Road. Immediately after the collision, Deputy Ochsner exited her patrol car and rendered aid to Megan Truelson until medics arrived.

Bend Fire and Rescue arrived on scene and transported both Deputy Ochsner and Megan Truelson to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend with non-life threatening injuries.  

Sheriff L. Shane Nelson, “I am thankful that Ms. Truelson and Deputy Ochsner are okay and only sustained minor injuries.”

Both of the vehicles were towed from the area. This case is still under investigation. No citations have been issued.

Oregon State Police responded to the initial crash Deputy Ochsner was en route to at Highway 20 East at milepost 35.  At least one subject was air lifted to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend.

Submitted by: Lt. Juli McConkey

On Monday, February 24, 2020 at approximately 11:44 P.M., Umatilla County Dispatch received a 911 call in regards to shots being fired in the Umapine area. 

A Umatilla County Sheriff's Deputy and Milton Freewater Police Department Officer responded to the area and were confronted by an armed individual outside the residence. Responding officers used force during the confrontation. 

The suspect was transported to the hospital for injuries sustained during the event.

In accordance with Senate Bill 111 the two involved officers have been placed on administrative leave pending the results of the investigation.

The investigation is being led by the Oregon State Police with the assistance of the Pendleton Police Department. The Umatilla County District Attorney's Office is overseeing the investigation and will release additional details as appropriate.

No further information is available for release at this time.

PORTLAND, Ore. – Since 2008, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) has hosted an after-hours experience for the 21+ crowd. Held monthly, each event highlights the science and ideas behind a specific theme, with interactive science demonstrations, local educational organizations, performance arts, and food and drink tastings. Past themes have featured Animation, Oceans, Oktoberfest. 

At OMSI After Dark: Winter Ale Fest on February 26, guests can explore the museum while sampling a variety of beers from 20 local breweries. Scientific demonstrations will show how to use light to identify different types of beers and what happens when a 40 oz. beer is infused with ultrasonic sound waves. Additionally, there will be live performances by The Coffers, A-WOL Dance Collective, and World Champion of Magic Jason Latimer.

WHAT: OMSI After Dark: Winter Ale Fest

WHEN: February 26, 6–10pm

WHERE: The event takes place in all the major halls and areas within OMSI.

CONTACT: Media interested in reporting on or attending the event can contact John Farmer: jfarmer@omsi.edu, 503.797.4517. 

About OMSI
Founded in 1944, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) is one of the nation’s leading science museums, a world-class tourist attraction, and an award-winning educational resource for the kid in each of us. OMSI operates the largest museum-based outdoor science education program in the country and provides traveling and community outreach programs that bring science learning opportunities to schools and community organizations in nearly every county in Oregon. OMSI is located at 1945 SE Water Avenue, Portland, OR 97214. For general information, call 503.797.4000 or visit omsi.edu.

The first 2020 meeting of the Advisory Committee to the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs will be held Wednesday, March 4, at Tillamook Bay Community College, 4301 Third St. in Tillamook. The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m.

The committee is made up of veterans appointed by the governor to provide counsel on veteran issues and represent veteran concerns across Oregon. Its nine members serve in a vital advisory role to the director and staff of the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Their meetings are held at different locations across the state on the first Wednesday in March, June and December, as well as the second Wednesday in September. The public is invited to attend and participate.

More information can be found online at www.oregon.gov/odva/Pages/advisory.aspx or to contact the Advisory Committee, please email vaac@odva.state.or.us.

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The FBI has launched the “Protected Voices” initiative to help 2020 political campaigns and American voters protect against online foreign influence operations and cyber security threats. The Protected Voices campaign includes information and guidance from the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. 

This FBI Portland Tech Tuesday report is adapted from the Protected Voices initiative with a focus on providing cyber security information to political campaigns as well as businesses and individuals in Oregon. More information on all aspects of the initiative, including video downloads, can be found at www.FBI.gov/ProtectedVoices. 

(Audio) 

Welcome to the Oregon FBI’s Tech Tuesday segment.  

This week: building a digital defense with your communications. 

Given the importance of communications in our lives today, it's no surprise that this particular set of technologies also represent a significant potential vulnerability. Communications can include personal and official email, messaging apps, and social media. 

Whether you are running a business or a political campaign, you should be aware of the potential dangers of cyber attacks through these various channels, and you should use the most secure methods of communication to reduce the likelihood of intrusion.

Keep in mind, most secure does not always mean easiest. Security and convenience often work on a continuum—with the most convenient practices tending to be the least secure. Use your best judgment for what makes sense for you. 

Pro-active steps you can take include addressing encryption, message retention, and access. 

Let’s start with encryption. Encryption encodes information, making it unreadable to anyone but those who have a key to decode the encrypted data. 

There are numerous ways to implement encryption so that even if an attacker gains access to your information, he or she will be unable to use it without a lot of effort. 

Look for trusted vendors of encrypted communication services for texting, email and voice; there are several solutions available, and some are free. 

Next: message retention. To help prevent attackers from stealing information, don't keep more than you need. 

You can do this by disabling the “archive” and “save old messages” features on your communication devices and applications. These are typically defaulted to automatically save. Disabling this feature is the electronic equivalent of shredding documents. 

Finally, depriving attackers of opportunities to attack can greatly improve your defenses.

Ensure only devices with a need to connect are granted access to your systems. This will reduce the resources needed to monitor and defend networks. One way of doing this is to create access control lists.

Access control lists typically consist of “white lists” or “black lists.” Whitelisting is a method of restricting access to only pre-approved devices or connections.?Blacklisting involves denying access to devices which are presumed or known to be not trustworthy. Blacklisting regions of the world that don’t have an approved or anticipated relationship with your business or campaign can greatly decrease the amount of threats your organization faces. 

Also, communications infrastructure shouldn't be left on 24/7. When you leave for the day, turn off devices and, where possible, turn off your office Wi-Fi networks, which can offer adversaries a potential route into your operations. 

Next week, we will talk about how to raise your cyber security stance when your employees or volunteers must use their personal devices in the workplace. 

Remember your voice matters, so protect it. Go to www.FBI.gov/ProtectedVoices for more information. 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HEALTH CARE OR GREEN CARD: PUBLIC CHARGE RULE CREATES A CHOICE NO FAMILY SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE

Lake Oswego, Ore. – February 25, 2020 -- A new federal rule now in effect could jeopardize access to health care for those seeking permanent legal status in the U.S. by allowing the government to take into consideration use of certain public services, including Medicaid.

The “public charge” rule could force legal immigrants to make a wrenching choice: sign up for health care coverage for their loved ones or pursue citizenship.

Oregon’s hospitals are joining other health care providers, labor unions and civil rights activists to denounce the rule change as a step backward in access to coverage and the improved health that comes with it.

“Oregon’s hospitals and health systems work every day to provide care for those who need it and ensure patients have access to programs that provide critical services,” said Becky Hultberg, President and CEO of the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems. “While enrolling people in insurance coverage is of critical importance, given the public charge rule, hospitals recognize and understand the risk for individuals and families seeking permanent residence status, as it could jeopardize their citizenship.”

Hultberg said gaining access to coverage should not jeopardize the permanent legal status (obtaining a green card) of those living and working in Oregon.

The new public charge rule is the result of a recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court allowing the Department of Homeland Security to reject applicants who have accepted public benefits including housing, medical assistance, and nutrition supports. Avoiding these programs will have detrimental health impacts for these legal immigrants.  

The public charge rule does not apply to all immigrants, only those 21 and older applying for green cards or visas from the U.S. Refugees, those who have been granted asylum, some visa holders and other categories are exempt. Those already with a green card are not affected. Immigrants who have been in the U.S. for more than five years and are legal residents are eligible for Medicaid. Undocumented immigrants are not. The rule took effect on February 24, 2020.

Oregon’s hospitals treat everyone, regardless of their ability to pay or immigration status.

Medicaid provides comprehensive and coordinated care that goes beyond hospital services and includes dental health, behavioral health, and prescription drug coverage. Expanding Medicaid and supporting  coordinated care organizations has been a cornerstone in Oregon’s health system transformation efforts, expanding access to thousands of Oregonians.

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About OAHHS: Founded in 1934, OAHHS is a statewide, nonprofit trade association that works closely with local and national government leaders, business and citizen coalitions, and other professional health care organizations to enhance and promote community health and to continue improving Oregon’s innovative health care delivery system.

February 24, 2020

Contact: Pete Edlund, 503-931-8873, .m.edlund@dhsoha.state.or.us">peter.m.edlund@dhsoha.state.or.us (meeting information or accommodation)

What: A public meeting of the Oregon Health Authority’s CCO Metrics Technical Advisory Group.

When: February 27, 1-3 p.m.

Where: Five Oak Building, 8th Floor, Suite 850, Mary Conference Room, 421 SW Oak St., Portland. Space is limited. The public also may join remotely through a webinar at https://register.gotowebinar.com/rt/5590554135910010380 and conference line at 888-398-2342, access code 5731389.

Agenda: Welcome and introductions; updates; 2020 measure calculations: review survey, next steps; adjourn.

For more information, please visit the committee's website at http://www.oregon.gov/OHA/HPA/ANALYTICS/Pages/Metrics-Technical-Advisory-Group.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:

• 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 Pete Edlund at 503-931-8873, 711 TTY, .m.edlund@dhsoha.state.or.us">peter.m.edlund@dhsoha.state.or.us, at least 48 hours before the meeting.

http://bit.ly/32lriqu

February 24, 2020

Media contact: Jonathan Modie, 971-246-9139, phd.communications@dhsoha.state.or.us

OHA to begin regular updates on persons under monitoring for COVID-19

Still no cases in Oregon and risk remains low as state’s investigation continues

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Oregon Health Authority will begin weekly updates on persons under monitoring and persons under investigation for novel coronavirus, COVID-19, as state epidemiologists, local public health officials and federal partners continue their investigation of the disease that has sickened tens of thousands of people worldwide.

Starting today, and continuing every Tuesday beginning March 3, OHA will post data on persons under monitoring (PUMs) and persons under investigation (PUI) on its website, http://healthoregon.org/coronavirus. PUMs are individuals who do not have COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough or difficulty breathing, but who may have been exposed through a close contact with a confirmed case or travel to mainland China. PUIs are individuals with COVID-19 symptoms -- but not necessarily the virus -- who have had one of these exposures.

Shirley emphasizes there still are no cases of COVID-19 in Oregon. Because there are no cases, risk to the public remains low.

The posted data will include current numbers of Oregon PUMs, as well as cumulative numbers of PUMs who have been monitored since the outbreak began. It also will include numbers of persons for whom test results are pending, positive, and negative, and total tests performed.

If a person under investigation tests positive for COVID-19, OHA will notify the public through a statewide press release along with the person’s county of residence.

There are everyday actions people can take to prevent the spread of many respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19 and influenza:

• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces that are often touched.
• Consult Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel website for any travel advisories and steps to protect yourself if you plan to travel outside of the U.S.A.
• Take care of your overall health. Staying current on your vaccinations, including flu vaccine, eating well and exercising all help your body stay resilient.

For more information:

• OHA Emerging Respiratory Disease page.
• CDC COVID-19 page.
• CDC travel notices.
• World Health Organization page.

Date and Time: February 24, 2020 11:15 a.m.

Incident: Motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian on a skateboard

Location: 61 NW Oregon Avenue, Centennial Parking Plaza Downtown Parking Garage

Victim: 17 year old, female, Bend resident

Driver:  17 year old, female, Bend resident

Vehicle involved: 2014 Volkswagen Jetta

Bend Police investigated an injury crash at the Centennial Parking Plaza Downtown Parking Garage around 11:15 a.m. on February 24, 2020, where a 17 year old female was skateboarding and holding onto the driver’s side mirror of a Volkswagen Jetta, driven by a 17 year old female. The Jetta was towing the skateboarder up to the top of the garage. It isn’t known at this point why, but the skateboarder lost her grip from the Jetta and was injured from the fall. The investigation shows she was not struck by the Jetta. The skateboarder was not wearing a helmet at the time she was injured.

Bend Fire & Rescue transported the skateboarder St. Charles Health Systems with serious injuries. The driver is cooperating with the investigation.  

Access to the parking structure was closed for about forty minutes while emergency responders tended to the victim and were investigating the incident.

The case is still under investigation, no citations have been issued.

Submitted by: Lt. Juli McConkey

SALEM, Ore. – The Emergency Fire Cost Committee (EFCC) will meet Tuesday, March 3 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Salem. The meeting will be held in the Santiam Room of Building D on the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Salem campus, located at 2600 State Street. 

The committee’s agenda includes a number of informational and decision items: 

• Financial Status of the Oregon Forest Land Protection Fund
• Weather Update
• Update on Status of Large Fire Cost Collection Efforts
• Insurance Policy for 2020 Fire Season
• Determine Unencumbered Balance of Oregon Forest Land Protection Fund as of February 16, 2020
• Agency/Fire Division Report
• EFCC Administrator Report
• Public Comment/Good of the Order

The full agenda for this meeting can be found here.

This meeting is open to the public. Public comments will be accepted near the end of the meeting, once the EFCC Administrator report has been given. The meeting space is accessible to persons with disabilities. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting by calling Chrystal Bader at 503-945-7220.

The Emergency Fire Cost Committee oversees the Oregon Forest Land Protection Fund (OFLPF), established by the Oregon Legislature as an insurance fund with the purpose of equalizing emergency fire suppression costs among the various Oregon Department of Forestry protection districts. The emergency funding system is designed to operate as an insurance policy whereby all districts contribute (pay premiums) into the fund so that money will be available to any individual district to pay fire suppression costs on emergency fires. More information can be found here: https://www.oregon.gov/odf/Board/Pages/EFCC.aspx

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SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Forestry and Seattle-based forest products company Port Blakey recently signed the largest forest stewardship agreement in the state’s history, increasing protections on 30,000 acres of the company’s privately-owned forestland in Clackamas County. The voluntary agreement, which took a year to develop, review, and approve, will enhance protections for water quality and wildlife habitat on Port Blakely’s forest located near Molalla, Oregon.

The agreement incorporates forest management and conservation measures designed to enhance aquatic, riparian and upland habitat. These include additional protection for fish-bearing streams and other bodies of water as well as measures aimed to create and sustain a mosaic of diverse habitats to meet the needs of land-based wildlife species.

In the spirit of volunteerism, a stewardship agreement takes a comprehensive landscape approach to creating and enriching fish and wildlife habitat, through the implementation of specific conservation-focused practices.  These practices take into account the many habitat requirements of critical species. Measures outlined in the agreement include leaving more standing wildlife trees and wider stream buffers after harvest, as well as retaining upland habitat patches and legacy features that are relics of past forests. Large woody debris will be placed into small and medium fish-bearing streams to enhance aquatic habitat.

“I am pleased to see the years of collaboration between Port Blakely and the Oregon Department of Forestry come to fruition in this stewardship agreement,” said Oregon State Forester Peter Daugherty. “Port Blakely is leading the way in private forest management practices by voluntarily enhancing habitat and resource protections, while also gaining regulatory certainty to keep their working forest working. This agreement is our largest to date, covering some 30,000 acres.”

 Under Oregon’s Forest Practices Act rules, a stewardship agreement is a land management agreement which provides a voluntary alternative to traditional administration mechanisms, while more efficiently implementing the provisions of the Forest Practices Act.  The program affords conservation-minded landowners with long-term regulatory certainty in areas where the landowner’s self-imposed practices exceed Oregon’s regulatory requirements designed to protect natural resources, such as water quality and fish and wildlife habitat. Until this point, approximately 13 such agreements have been in place in Oregon. Port Blakely’s agreement covers the largest amount of forestland.

“We are excited to see our vision for this forest come to life and thank our partners at ODF and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife as well as the hundreds of stakeholders who engaged with us in this process,” said Court Stanley, President of US Forestry for Port Blakely. “It’s a great example of Port Blakely’s approach to stewardship forestry and our commitment to collaborating to help ensure our forests are managed for economic, environmental and community benefits.”

The Oregon Legislature authorized ODF to enter into such voluntary stewardship agreements with landowners more than a decade ago. Under such agreements, landowners agree to provide and follow a written forest management plan reviewed and approved by ODF are allowed to continue operating their business under that plan for a defined period of time, in a more stable regulatory environment. The term of the agreement is 50 years, similar to other stewardship agreements in place elsewhere in Oregon.  This timeframe was agreed to by both parties, and also determined to be appropriate because typical harvest cycles average 35-50 years in the Pacific Northwest.

Owned by the same family since the early 20th century, Port Blakely has been involved in forestry in the Pacific Northwest for five generations. The company owns 149,000 acres of forestland in both Oregon and Washington State as well as 93,000 acres in New Zealand. In parallel to the stewardship agreement, the company is working with federal agencies to finalize a Habitat Conservation Plan for this forest. That agreement would be the company’s third voluntary federal conservation agreement. Since 2002 the company’s U.S. forestlands have been certified through the Sustainable Forest Initiative, earning recertification every year since.

The final agreement can be viewed online at  

https://www.oregon.gov/odf/Working/Pages/FPA.aspx

Redmond, OR – On Sunday, February 23, 2020, at approximately 11:00 am, Redmond Police and Fire & Rescue personnel responded to reports of a person severely injured after falling from a height of nearly 30-feet and hitting his head on the asphalt parking lot at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center (3800 SW Airport Way). 

Witnesses at the scene provided life-saving assistance to the person until first responders arrived.  The victim, later identified as Mr. Zackary Hannan, a 31-year-old Redmond resident, was transported by Redmond Fire & Rescue medics to St Charles hospital in Bend. 

An investigation determined Mr. Hannan went to the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center to practice Land Kiteboarding.  According to family members, Mr. Hannan was an experienced outdoor adventurist and recently took to his new activity with interest and enthusiasm.  He had been Land Kiteboarding for nearly one year. 

While getting ready, Hannan strapped himself in the kite and was in the final stages of preparing when an unexpected gust of wind grabbed the kite, pulling Mr. Hannan approximately 30 feet into the air.  Hannan fell to the ground striking his head on the asphalt.  Mr. Hannan had not yet secured his helmet to his head before the kite pulled him into the air. 

Mr. Hannan received several hours of surgery in Bend before passing away at 5:00 pm, Sunday, February 23, 2020, with his family by his side. 

MEDIA INFO -  

The attached photo is provided to law enforcement by Mr. Hannan’s family.  Mr. Hannan’s mother is available for media contact.  Please contact Redmond Police public information officer for a phone number. 

The Land and Water Conservation Fund Program is now accepting applications for the 2020 grant cycle. The federally funded reimbursement grant program provides matching grants to state and local governments for land acquisition, development and rehabilitation for public outdoor recreation areas and facilities.

Eligible applicants: cities, counties, metropolitan service districts, park and recreation districts, port districts, Tribal governments, and specified state agencies.

Eligible applicants should apply online via the Oregon Parks and Recreation grant application website: oprdgrants.org. 

The application deadline is April 13.

Returning applicants should use their existing account to login and complete the application. New applicants will need request an account via the grants website; requests can take up to three days to process. 

Two workshops will be held in March to help new and returning applicants navigate the application process and learn about the program:

• Webinar workshop: 1 - 4 p.m., March 3. Register in advance via the GoTo Meeting webinar portal on register.gotowebinar.com. 
• In-person workshop:  9 a.m. – noon, March 9 in Salem. To register email Nohemi Enciso, Land and Water Conservation Fund Program coordinator, at nohemi.enciso@oregon.gov.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund Program is administrated by Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Approximately $5 million in matching grants is available for 2020. The program has awarded over $55 million in grant funds to Oregon communities since its inception in 1964.

More information about the program, including the grant manual, application instructions and program schedule, is on the OPRD grants website: oregon.gov/oprd/GRA.
 

On Sunday, February 23, 2020 at about 10:39 A.M., Oregon State Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a single vehicle crash on Interstate 5 southbound near mile post 23.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a white 1996 Chevrolet SUV,  Craig McRae (70) of Vacaville, CA. was southbound on Interstate 5 when for unknown reasons went off the roadway, rolled over, and landed in a nearby field off the shoulder off the freeway.

McRae sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.

Interstate 5 was reduced to one lane for approximately 2.5 hours following the crash.

OSP was assisted by Talent PD, Jackson County Fire, Mercy Flights, and ODOT.

Case Update 

On February 22, 2020, at 4:29 PM, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office responded to a rollover, single vehicle crash on Powell Butte Highway north of Butler Market Road.  A citizen caller reported that the male driver fled on foot after the crash.  Deschutes County Sheriff’s Deputies and Bend Police Officers responded to the scene and established a perimeter.  The crashed vehicle was a silver 1999 Nissan Pathfinder.   

A perimeter unit near Powell Butte Highway and McGrath Road saw the male hiding in the trees nearby.  The male was taken into custody after a brief foot pursuit.  The male was identified as Bryan Lindley, the suspect in the Crown Villa RV Park arson from February 9, 2020.   

Lindley was evaluated at St. Charles Medical Center after the crash.  Lindley was then lodged at the Deschutes County Jail for the following Charges; 

Arson I 

Reckless Endangering (2) counts 

Assault IV (Domestic Violence) 

Violation of Restraining Order  

Update Prepared by LT. Brian Beekman/ Submitted by Sgt. R.C. Bigelow 

Case number: 2020-43013

Date and time:  February 9, 2020 at 5:10 p.m.

Location: 60801 Brosterhous Road, Crown Villa RV Park

Suspect: Bryan Dale Lindley, 59-year-old male, Bend resident

Suspect vehicle: Silver 1999 Nissan Pathfinder, Oregon license 263DTW

On Sunday, February 9, 2020 around 5:10 p.m. Bend Fire and Bend Police were called to the Crown Villa RV Park located at 60801 Brosterhous Road for a 1987 Bounder motorhome that was fully engulfed.  It was reported that Bryan Lindley intentionally set fire to the motorhome he owns with his estranged wife. After he set fire to the motorhome, Bryan Lindley left the RV Park in a silver 1999 Nissan Pathfinder.

Bryan Lindley has not been located. If you see the Nissan Pathfinder or Bryan Lindley, please call the non-emergency dispatch line at 541-693-6911 and notify law enforcement. This is an open investigation.

Submitted by: Lt. Juli McConkey

PR 01-20                                                                          BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION
                                                                FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Saturday, February 22, 2020
                                                                   CONTACT: Kevin Wingert, 503-230-4140/971-207-8390
                                                                                                                                                or 503-230-5131

Westview wins 29th annual BPA Regional Science Bowl
The Beaverton high school emerged from a field of 51 teams in a Jeopardy-style competition to secure a berth in the National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C.

Portland, Ore. – In a showdown across the Columbia River, Westview High School Team 1 of Beaverton, Oregon, took on Mountain View High School of Vancouver, Washington, for the title of champion in the Bonneville Power Administration Regional Science Bowl on Saturday at the University of Portland.

Westview High School Team 1 emerged victorious over Mountain View and now advances to the Department of Energy’s National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C., at the end of April. Jesuit High School of Beaverton battled their way to third place, while Westview High School Team 2 of Beaverton rounded out the competition in fourth.

Those Beaverton and Vancouver teams were part of roughly 250 students from public and private high school teams across western Washington and Oregon, who competed in the nation’s largest regional science bowl.

On Feb. 8, Stoller Middle School from Portland outcompeted a field of 62 teams to win the middle school competition for the regional science bowl and will also advance to the National Science Bowl. In second place, Timberline Middle School of Redmond, Washington, made a strong showing. Shahalah Middle School of Vancouver, Washington, finished in third.

Following the morning rounds of competition, the students who’ve answered the most toss-up questions correctly are recognized as All Stars. This year’s All Stars for the high school competition are:

• Dominic DeBettencourt, Jesuit High School
• Wenjun Hou, Jesuit High School
• Shannon Raloff, Mountainside High School
• Philip Xue, Westview High School
• Justin Yang, Westview High School
• Zachary Zhnug, Westview High School

This year’s All Stars for the middle school competition are:

• Chegu Vijay Aashray, International  Community School
• Vishnu Mangipudi, Odle Middle School
• Krishna Panchapagesan, Odle Middle School
• Annabella Li, Redmond Middle School
• Pavan Chaganti, Shahala Middle School
• Eric Zhan, Shahala Middle School
• Pratyush Kore, Timberline Middle School
• Darien Liang, Tyee Middle School

The event, sponsored by BPA and the University of Portland, is the largest regional science bowl in the nation. The intense academic event uses a Jeopardy-style round robin competition that showcases students’ talents in science, technology, engineering and math. Beyond the prestige of winning and entry into the national competition, BPA and science bowl volunteers have worked to establish partnerships with 16 universities and colleges in the Northwest to offer members of the top three competing high school teams more than $150,000 in potential scholarships.

The event is fueled by more than 180 volunteers, made up largely of BPA employees and previous competitors returning to the event to pay it forward to other young people. Among those competitors returning as volunteers are a cardiologist from Seattle, an MIT student and the architect for the Seattle Opera at the Center. BPA views this event as an opportunity to encourage students to consider STEM-based careers and build the future labor pool of scientists and innovators so critical to the energy industry.

More info on BPA Regional Science Bowl: www.bpa.gov/goto/ScienceBowl

More info on DOE’s National Science Bowl: https://science.osti.gov/wdts/nsb

About BPA

The Bonneville Power Administration, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is a nonprofit federal power marketer that sells wholesale electricity from 31 federal dams and one nuclear plant to 143 Northwest electric utilities, serving millions of consumers and businesses in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, western Montana and parts of California, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. BPA delivers power via more than 15,000 circuit miles of lines and 261 substations to 546 transmission customers. In all, BPA markets about a third of the electricity generated in the Northwest. BPA also funds one of the largest fish and wildlife programs in the nation, and, with its partners, pursues cost-effective energy savings and operational solutions that help maintain affordable, reliable and clean electric power for the Northwest. www.bpa.gov

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On Saturday, February 22, 2020 at approximately 6:30 A.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two vehicle crash on Hwy 30 near milepost 82.  

Preliminary investigation reveals that a gold Buick Regal, operated by Myranda Schultz (20) of Astoria, had stopped at the Knappa intersection to proceed across Hwy 30 onto Hillcrest Loop.  Schultz pulled into the path of an eastbound black Ford Mustang, operated by Cameron Rowles (72) of Warrenton, and was struck on the passenger side.

Enrique Sutphin (24) of Astoria was a passenger in the Regal and sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.

Schultz and Rowles sustained minor injuries and were not transported to the hospital.

OSP was assisted Knappa Fire Department, Medix, and ODOT

(Springfield, Ore.) Feb. 21, 2020— The PacificSource Foundation for Health Improvement and PacificSource Health Plans recently committed $400k in joint funding to support the Fostering Hope Initiative (FHI), from Catholic Community Services (CCS) of the Mid-Willamette Valley and Central Coast. The PacificSource Foundation for Health Improvement provided $325k in grant funding with PacificSource Health Plans providing the remaining $75k.

FHI is a neighborhood-based, collective impact initiative bringing together partners to ensure every child and youth in every neighborhood lives in a safe, stable, nurturing home, is healthy, succeeds at school, and goes on to financial self-sufficiency. FHI works within high-poverty, high-need neighborhoods to connect families with wraparound supports and community partner networks.

“This grant helps ensure that community health workers who are bilingual, bicultural, and who really know the neighbors they’re serving will be able to continue their work on this important effort,” said Marian Blankenship, executive director of PacificSource’s Foundation for Health Improvement.

“We are proud to partner with the PacificSource Foundation to support the important work being done by CCS in the local community where our members live, work, and raise their families,” said Ken Provencher, president and CEO of PacificSource.

“The support from PacificSource Foundation for Health Improvement and PacificSource Health Plans is a game-changer.  It allows us to expand crucial services aimed at strengthening families and communities with a prevention approach, ultimately reducing the need for high-cost health and human services for families in neighborhoods where help is needed most,” said Josh Graves, executive director of Catholic Community Services. “It will impact thousands of lives while also setting the stage for ongoing investment in cost-effective, place-based preventive services.”

Catholic Community Services has 80 years of experience providing social services to the most vulnerable residents in communities throughout the Mid-Willamette Valley and Central Coast. Their mission is realized through 12 programs, reaching more than 5,000 individuals each year.

About PacificSource Foundation for Health Improvement 

Founded in 1992, the PacificSource Foundation for Health Improvement is an expression of our commitment to our communities. Its mission is to improve community health through the touchstones of better health, better care, and lower healthcare costs. The Foundation’s grants and partnerships focus on improving access to healthcare for vulnerable populations and promoting health excellence via innovative care and community health and wellness programs. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/2yK92qF

About PacificSource Health Plans 

PacificSource Health Plans is an independent, regional, not-for-profit community health plan serving the Northwest. Founded in 1933, PacificSource has local offices throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana. The PacificSource family of companies employs 1,400 people, serves more than 500,000 individuals, and has 3,900 employer clients throughout the Northwest. For more information visit PacificSource.com.

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The FBI is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the shooting of a Mid-State Electric Cooperative Substation.

On June 1, 2019, unknown suspects using high-caliber firearms shot at a transformer and power regulators located at the “Mowich” substation. Approximately 1,000 customers lost power due to the severe damage, which is estimated at more than $400,000.

To date, no group or person has claimed responsibility.

The seeking information poster can be found on the FBI’s website at https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/shooting-of-electrical-substation.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the FBI at (541) 773-2942 in Medford or at (503) 224-4181 in Portland.

# # #

A Harrisburg couple, on the drive home from the Oregon Coast after celebrating their ninth wedding anniversary, thought the day couldn’t get much better. That all changed when they realized they’d won $250,000 playing an Oregon Lottery Scratch-it.

“We stopped to get gas and noticed on a billboard that the Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots all had a 4 in them,” Riley Ross said. “Then we looked on the mobile app and saw that Megabucks was at $4.4 million and decided we needed to get four of each.”

When they purchased their tickets, Ross said he spotted the $20 VIP Black Scratch-its and decided to get two.

“Normally we play twice a month and break even,” said Jerrica Ross. “We also take them home to play, but for some reason we decided to scratch them in the car. We couldn’t believe it when I scanned it with the app and it said that we’d won $250,000!”

Jerrica said after her tears stopped, the Harrisburg couple decided what they were going to do with the money.

“We are paying off all of our bills and our house,” Riley said. “It’s basically a reset for our finances. It’s a great anniversary present!”

The couple bought their winning ticket at the Shell Station in Monmouth.

During the 2018 fiscal year, more than $25 million in Oregon Lottery proceeds were directed to economic development, parks, education, Outdoor School, Veterans services and watershed enhancement in Linn County, where the Ross family lives. Since 1985, Oregon Lottery players have won more than $38 billion in prizes.

The Oregon Lottery reminds players to always sign the back of their Lottery tickets, regardless of the game. In the event of winning a jackpot, they should consult with a trusted financial planner or similar professional to develop a plan for their winnings. Prize winners of more than $50,000 are advised to contact the Lottery office and schedule an appointment to claim their prize.

Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned more than $12 billion for economic development, public education, Outdoor School, state parks, Veterans services and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org

PORTLAND, Ore., February 21, 2020 -- OnPoint Community Credit Union will open its first branch in North Portland on March 16, 2020. Located on North Lombard Street, the credit union's new location will be its 33rd branch in the Oregon and Southwest Washington region.  

"North Portland is a rapidly growing community and many of our members live in the St. Johns and Portsmouth neighborhoods," said Rob Stuart, President and Chief Executive Officer, OnPoint Community Credit Union. "Our first North Portland branch will provide our members who live and work in the area with expanded access to our services. We are excited to join this vibrant community and forge deep relationships with our new neighbors, area businesses and nonprofit partners."

OnPoint’s newest branch is located at 5262 N. Lombard St., Portland, OR 97203. It will offer North Portland a robust suite of financial services, including membership enrollment, consumer and commercial lending, mortgages, financial planning, ATM, coin machine and notarization; plus, it will be open on Saturdays. The branch will be led by manager Kevin Kelly, who has worked at OnPoint for almost 14 years.

"We are thrilled to expand our presence in the region and begin serving this wonderful area," said Kelly. "Our team looks forward to welcoming the community into the Lombard Branch and helping our neighbors achieve their financial goals."  

OnPoint invites the community, members and businesses to the Lombard Branch grand opening event and open house on Saturday, April 18, 9:00 a.m. -- 1:00 p.m. The event will feature refreshments, entertainment, promotions, and a $2,500 check presentation to the local nonprofit St. Johns Center for Opportunity. St. John's Center for Opportunity works to empower marginalized neighbors in the North Columbia area of Portland through community building, addressing basic needs and people-centered economic development.

"The Center for Opportunity is so grateful to OnPoint for this generous donation because it means that we can continue to successfully provide direct services to our North Portland neighbors," said Nina Nguyen, Interim Director, St. John's Center for Opportunity. "The Everyday Essential Program is our highest priority and OnPoint's contribution will allow us to continue providing our neighbors a clothing closet, hygiene supplies, direct workforce navigation support, and eventually access to food through our food pantry. Our work would not be possible without partnerships and support from folks like OnPoint. As we continue to build transformational relationships in the community, and with our partners, this partnership is a continued step towards uplifting our North Portland neighbors."

OnPoint's purpose is to help build strong communities, which is why it makes significant investments and forges deep relationships in the region it serves. In 2019 alone, the state's largest credit union donated $1,052,836 to local nonprofits and allocated 12,080 paid volunteer hours to its employees.

ABOUT ONPOINT COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION

OnPoint Community Credit Union is the largest credit union in Oregon, serving more than 392,000 members and with assets of $6.3 billion. Founded in 1932, OnPoint Community Credit Union's membership is available to anyone who lives or works in one of 13 Oregon counties (Benton, Clackamas, Columbia, Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson, Lane, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington and Yamhill) and two Washington counties (Skamania and Clark) and their immediate family members. More information is available at www.onpointcu.com or 503-228-7077 or 800-527-3932.

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PORTLAND, Ore.—U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams announced today that Mark Edward Staggs, 64, a resident of Portland, has been sentenced to six months in federal prison and two years’ supervised release for filing a false federal income tax return in 2011. Staggs was also ordered to pay more than $142,000 in restitution to the IRS.

According to court documents, from 2009 through 2019, Staggs owned a used office furniture business in the Portland area. During this time, he received all of his gross income from several large clients in Oregon and California, who paid him with checks. Staggs would travel from Oregon to California to cash the checks at a check cashing service in San Jose, California. His use of a false social security number prompted the check cashing service to file Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs) with the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). 

Staggs kept the cash he received and never deposited it into his business bank account or recorded it in his business records. When the check cashing service began refusing Staggs’ checks, he enlisted two acquaintances to cash the checks on his behalf. Staggs encouraged these acquaintances to lie if anyone questioned them about his scheme. In total, between 2010 and 2013, Staggs failed to report nearly $500,000 of income, resulting in tax loss of $142,583.

On April 9, 2019, Staggs pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false federal income tax return before U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Simon.

This case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and prosecuted by Claire M. Fay, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and IRS-CI remind Oregonians that tax day is Wednesday, April 15, 2020. For tips to assist taxpayers in choosing a reputable tax professional or preparing their own taxes, visit: https://www.irs.gov/help-resources.

# # #

MEDFORD, Ore.—William Gregory Douglas, 37, of Cave Junction, Oregon, pleaded guilty today for threatening to shoot YouTube employees at the company’s San Bruno, California headquarters after his account was removed for violating the video-sharing platform’s terms of service.

“Threatening a mass shooting is a serious crime whether or not an individual plans to act. This is a crime that undermines Americans’ fundamental right to live and work without fear,” said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “We will continue to diligently respond to and prosecute criminal threats of violence to the fullest extent of the law.”

“Using social media outlets to threaten violence of any kind victimizes individuals and undermines the safety of our communities,” said Renn Cannon, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Oregon. “The FBI remains committed to working with our state and local partners to respond quickly to threats and keep our communities free from violence and intimidation.”

According to court documents, sometime on or before August 22, 2018, YouTube removed Douglas’ video channel for violating the platform’s terms of service. In response, on August 23, 2018, Douglas posted five tweets threatening violence against YouTube employees. In one of the tweets, Douglas threatened a “bigger mass casualty” event, appearing to reference a prior shooting incident at YouTube’s headquarters in April 2018 that injured three employees.

Later, on September 8, 2018, Douglas posted a tweet stating “Hey why do you guys keep ignoring me would it be better if I leave you with no other options like your [sic] leaving me…I’m beyond pissed…I wonder how I should deal with this frustration.” Finally, on September 17, 2018, Douglas tweeted a direct threat at one of YouTube’s senior leaders saying “…I’m coming for you today #pray.”

On October 4, 2018, a federal grand jury in Medford, Oregon returned a one-count indictment charging Douglas with cyberstalking. Later, on January 14, 2020, he was charged by criminal information with one count of making interstate communications with the intent to extort. Douglas pleaded guilty today to the latter charge.

As part of the plea agreement, Douglas has agreed to pay restitution in full to his victims as determined and ordered by the court at sentencing.

Douglas faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years’ supervised release. He will be sentenced on May 14, 2020 before U.S. District Court Judge Ann L. Aiken.

This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Judi R. Harper, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Anyone with information about real or perceived threats of violence should call the FBI at (503) 224-4181 or submit a tip online at https://tips.fbi.gov. For immediate threats to life and safety, please call 9-1-1.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our department at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

# # #

SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Board of Forestry will meet in Salem on Wednesday, March 4 at 9 a.m. The meeting agenda includes:

• A review and finalization of the 2020-2021 Board Work Plans.
• An approval of the legislative concepts for the 2021 Legislative Session.
• A presentation of the 2019 Forest Practices Operator of the Year Awards.
• An update on the smoke management rule implementation.
• A collaborative effort underway with the Department of Environmental Quality.
• A presentation from the Oregon State University (OSU) College of Forestry (COF).
• An update on the work of the fire finance oversight team.
• A discussion on good governance.

The public meeting will be held in the Tillamook Room, Building C, at the Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters, located at 2600 State St. in Salem.

Public comment will be accepted on agenda topics, as well as during the start of the meeting for topics not on the agenda. A sign-up sheet will be available for public comment on a first-come, first-served basis. To ensure the Board has the opportunity to conduct all business on the agenda, public testimony will be limited to 30 minutes per agenda item. Written comments may be submitted to oardofforestry@oregon.gov">Boardofforestry@oregon.gov in advance of the meeting.

Meeting materials and a livestream option will be available for those who wish to view the meeting remotely. For more details, visit https://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Board/Pages/BOFMeetings.aspx.

Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services, or assistance can be arranged by calling ODF’s Public Affairs Office at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting at 503-945-7200.

The Oregon Board of Forestry consists of seven citizens nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the Oregon Senate. Responsibilities include appointing the State Forester, setting management direction for state-owned forests, adopting rules governing timber harvest and other practices on private forestland, and promoting sustainable management of Oregon’s 30 million-acre forestland base. More information about the Board is available at https://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Board/Pages/AboutBOF.aspx.

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) announced today that Nancy Stueber will retire from her position as chief executive officer and president of OMSI effective May 31. Chief Operating Officer, Erin Graham, has been appointed by the board as the new president and will assume the role upon Stueber’s departure.

“On behalf of the entire OMSI Board of Trustees, we thank Nancy Stueber for her exemplary service of more than 35 years and welcome Erin Graham to her new leadership role,” said Alistair Firmin, chair, OMSI board of trustees. “The board recently collaborated with human resource professionals and community partners to create a strategic leadership succession plan that envisioned this transition. We are now implementing that plan as we celebrate the strength of the OMSI organization that has grown under Nancy’s leadership and with Erin’s role in the development of the next five-year strategic plan. Nancy has led the institution she loves with a mission she lives and inspires each day, and she has navigated well through an amazing period of growth and transformation. The executive team she has developed is prepared to lead OMSI into the future, and the staff and numerous community partners look forward to OMSI’s continued success as Oregon’s leading statewide science museum.”

Stueber has spent most of her professional career at OMSI. She was hired in 1982 as a science educator and rose through the ranks to become Vice President of Exhibits in 1989 and President in 2000. Throughout her tenure, OMSI has benefited from Nancy’s science background, focus on students and visitor experiences, knowledge of effective STEAM programs that inspire young learners, world-class exhibits, robust partnerships, community engagement, successful fundraising, team development and exemplary leadership.

“Working at OMSI has been a rich and rewarding experience and it is something for which I am grateful every day. I have met and worked with so many wonderful people over the years – too many to count,” said Stueber, president of OMSI. “My husband and I are looking forward to some of the adventures that we’ve put on hold over the years. The timing of this decision is right; over the past 20 years, we have seen an amazing time of growth and transformation for OMSI. We’re now poised to take the next significant steps toward our 20-year vision. The board couldn’t have selected a better replacement than Erin Graham; she is fully equipped, uniquely positioned and ready to be president. The organization is in good hands.”

Graham has a solid track record of leadership success and has led the development of OMSI’s upcoming five-year strategic plan and long-range facilities plan. She served previously as VP of Development and led the capital campaign for the Coastal Discovery Center at Camp Gray. An employee since 2010, she is highly respected across the organization and is ready to lead OMSI into its next chapter.

“OMSI has flourished under Nancy’s leadership, and I am truly honored to be selected as its next president. Working closely with the OMSI board, staff, partners, and communities we serve, I’m looking forward to building on OMSI’s successes and embracing new challenges in this next chapter of the organization’s story,” said Graham, OMSI chief operating officer. “Nancy is an extraordinary person, and I could not have asked for a better mentor and friend in helping me prepare for this role.”

About OMSI
Founded in 1944, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) is one of the nation’s leading science museums, a world-class tourist attraction, and an award-winning educational resource for the kid in each of us. OMSI operates the largest museum-based outdoor science education program in the country and provides traveling and community outreach programs that bring science learning opportunities to schools and community organizations in every county in Oregon and throughout the region. OMSI is located at 1945 SE Water Avenue, Portland, OR 97214. For general information, call 503.797.4000 or visit omsi.edu.

Correction - Years of service were switched and are now correct.

The names of the Silverton Police Department officers are being released:

• Officer Jonathan Lamoreaux (38) - 6 years with Silverton Police Department.
• Officer Tim Hein (31) - 9 years with Silverton Police Department. 

No more information is available to be released at this time.

The Oregon State Police is continuing the investigation into the OIS in Silverton.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that William Bluestone was in possession of a handgun at the time of the shooting.

The Silverton Officer was wearing a body worn camera and the incident was recorded.  It is unable to be released at this time as this is an open/active investigation.

The Oregon State Police and Marion County DA’s office understands the public’s desire to know immediate information when an officer is involved in a deadly use of force.  However in an effort to complete a fair and thorough investigation information needs to be withheld until after a Grand Jury can be convened to hear the facts of the case, as is Marion County District Attorneys standard practice.

No more information is available to be released at this time.

On February 14, 2020 at approximately 12:40 P.M., Silverton Police Department personnel responded to a reported domestic violence disturbance at 911 Reserve St. Apt.#3, in Silverton.

Shortly after arriving, officers located the involved man, William Bluestone (21) of Bend/Silverton, concealed in the bedroom of the apartment. Bluestone told officers he was armed with a handgun and barricaded himself.

Officers attempted to negotiate his surrender for more than an hour when shots were fired. Bluestone was pronounced deceased by medical personnel who arrived shortly thereafter.

This investigation is being led by the Oregon State Police with the assistance of the Salem Police Department, Marion County Sheriff's Office and Keizer Police Department. The Marion County District Attorney’s Office is overseeing the investigation and will release additional details when appropriate.

The involved officer was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation as per protocol.

 SEATTLE – Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon today announced that the DEA will direct enforcement resources to methamphetamine “transportation hubs” — areas where methamphetamine is often trafficked in bulk and then distributed across the country. While continuing to focus on stopping drugs being smuggled across the border, DEA’s Operation Crystal Shield will ramp up enforcement to block their further distribution into America’s neighborhoods.

DEA has identified eight major methamphetamine transportation hubs where these efforts will be concentrated: Atlanta, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Phoenix, and St. Louis. Together, these DEA Field Divisions accounted for more than 75 percent of methamphetamine seized in the U.S. in 2019.

Methamphetamine seizures in the Pacific Northwest are continuing to rise. In 2019, DEA seizures throughout the region were an all-time high of more than 3,200 pounds. Recent seizure amounts for the region are on pace to surpass last year. “The increased volume of high grade methamphetamine flooding our Pacific Northwest neighborhoods coupled with increased overdose rates is alarming,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Weis.  He further added, “Operation Crystal Shield will further enhance law enforcement efforts in key distribution points throughout the Pacific Northwest linked to the identified transportation hubs in the southwest.”

Operation Crystal Shield builds on existing DEA initiatives that target major drug trafficking networks, including the Mexican cartels that are responsible for the overwhelming majority of methamphetamine trafficked into and within the United States. From FY 2017 to FY 2019, DEA domestic seizures of methamphetamine increased 127 percent from 49,507 pounds to 112,146 pounds. During the same time frame, the number of DEA arrests related to methamphetamine rose nearly twenty percent.  

“For decades, methamphetamine has been a leading cause of violence and addiction – a drug threat that has never gone away,” said Acting Administrator Dhillon. “With a 22 percent increase in methamphetamine-related overdose deaths, now is the time to act, and DEA is leading the way with a surge of interdiction efforts and resources, targeting regional transportation hubs throughout the United States. By reducing the supply of meth, we reduce the violence, addiction, and death it spreads.”

Virtually all methamphetamine in the United States comes through major ports of entry along the Southwest Border and is transported by tractor trailers and personal vehicles along the nation’s highways to major transfer centers around the country. It is often found in poly-drug loads, alongside cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl.

Information regarding illicit drug trafficking activities can be anonymously submitted at www.dea.gov

Visuals are available (local and national) – please contact Special Agent Jodie Underwood 

Portland, OR – The Oregon Historical Society (OHS) is pleased to announce the 2020 recipients of the Oregon History Makers Medal. First awarded in 2009, the History Makers Medal is one of Oregon’s most prestigious honors, and the Society presents the award annually to individuals and organizations that are positively shaping the history, culture, and landscape of Oregon.

The 2020 Oregon History Makers Medal recipients are:

Lillian Pitt: Acclaimed artist

Lillian Pitt has created a lifetime of works in a variety of media, including clay, bronze, wearable art, prints, glass, and jewelry. Born and raised on the Warm Springs reservation, with ancestors who have lived in and near the Columbia Gorge for over 10,000 years, Lillian’s emphasis is on creating contemporary fine art pieces that honor the history and legends of her people. Her works are regularly exhibited throughout the Pacific Northwest, as well as nationally and internationally.

Punit Renjen: Visionary business leader

Born and raised in India, Punit Renjen came to Oregon in 1984 on a Rotary Foundation Scholarship to Willamette University. After receiving a master’s degree in management, he began his career at Deloitte. In 2015, he became the company’s global CEO, and the first Asian born person to head one of the world’s largest professional services firms. In 2018, Punit launched WorldClass, Deloitte’s global initiative to advance education and skills for communities at risk, beginning with girls and women in India.

Dr. Geraldine Richmond: Renowned scientist and educator

Dr. Geraldine Richmond is the Presidential Chair in Science and a chemistry professor at the University of Oregon. She has served on the National Science Board since 2012, and was awarded a National Medal of Science for her fundamental research on the chemistry and physics of complex surfaces and interfaces, which is relevant to energy production and environmental remediation. Throughout her career, Dr. Richmond has worked to promote women in science around the globe.

The Greenbrier Companies: International leader in the transportation industry

What began in 1919 as a wire wheel manufacturer, founded by brothers Chester and Alvin Gunderson, has since grown into a group of companies that is one of the leading designers, manufacturers, and marketers of railroad car equipment in North America and Europe, and one of the world’s foremost manufacturers of ocean-going barges. As the fourth largest publicly traded company based in Oregon, Greenbrier also boasts over 1,100 employees in Oregon and more than 16,000 worldwide.

“For over a decade, the Oregon Historical Society has had the pleasure of highlighting the accomplishments of the business leaders, philanthropists, artists, and cutting-edge thinkers that have shaped our communities,” said OHS Executive Director Kerry Tymchuk. “Oregon would not be where it is today without the individuals and organizations that continue to innovate and push boundaries across every industry.”

The Oregon Historical Society will present the Oregon History Makers Medals at a gala celebration at the Portland Art Museum on Sunday, October 4, 2020. Table sponsorships and individual tickets are available; for more information, please contact Ally Huffman at 503.306.5226 or ally.huffman@ohs.org.

About the Oregon Historical Society

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

As Department of Revenue representatives prepare for Corporate Activity Tax (CAT) update meetings in 13 cities across Oregon in March, the agency reminds businesses that that they have 30 days after eclipsing $750,000 in commercial activity for the year to register for the CAT.

Businesses that passed the $750,000 threshold in late January will need to register with the department by the end of February.

“Our CAT team will personally engage our taxpaying communities in March to provide important compliance information. Before those meetings, however, we want to remind businesses who have reached the threshold that the first step of compliance is registration,” said Nia Ray, director of the Oregon Department of Revenue.

Meetings on the March tour are planned in Bend, Ontario, La Grande, The Dalles, Klamath Falls, Ashland, Eugene, Gresham, Coos Bay, Lincoln City, Seaside, Keizer and the west side of the Portland metro area. The full schedule is available on the CAT page of the agency’s website.

More than 6,100 businesses have already registered for the CAT. During the 2019 session the Legislative Revenue Office predicted approximately 40,000 businesses would have to pay taxes under the CAT, which went into effect Jan. 1.

To register, individuals doing business in Oregon will need their name, and their social security number or individual taxpayer identification number. Businesses will need their entity’s legal name and federal employer identification number.
Businesses and individuals will need:
• Their mailing address;
• The date they exceeded or expect to exceed $750,000 in Oregon commercial activity;
• A valid email address or current Revenue Online login, and;
• Their Business Activity Code (Refer to the current list of North American Industry Classification System codes found with their federal income tax return instructions.)
Taxpayers don’t need a Revenue Online account to register for the CAT. Those who have Revenue Online accounts can’t be logged in to register for the CAT. Instead, they should go directly to the CAT webpage and click on the “Register for the CAT” link on the right-hand side of the page.

The ability to make online payments and apply for ACH credit are now also available through Revenue Online.

CAT registrants who want to make ACH payments must submit an ACH credit application for the Corporate Activity Tax (CAT). The application is available on the department’s website through Revenue Online by scrolling down to “Tools” and clicking “apply for ACH credit.”

Once their application is completed, taxpayers will receive a confirmation providing the routing and account number. Taxpayers should not use account numbers from other tax programs. First quarter estimated payments for the CAT are due April 30.

More information about the Corporate Activity Tax is available on the Department of Revenue’s website at www.oregon.gov/dor. It includes a list of frequently asked questions and a form to sign-up for email updates on the CAT. Stakeholders can direct questions or comments about the CAT via email to cat.help.dor@oregon.gov or call 503-945-8005.

Visit www.oregon.gov/dor to get tax forms, check the status of your refund, or make tax payments; call 800-356-4222 toll-free from an Oregon prefix (English or Spanish); 503-378-4988 in Salem and outside Oregon; or email questions.dor@oregon.gov. For TTY (hearing or speech impaired), call 800-886-7204.

Released by: Lt. Chad Davis

Release Date: 2/19/20

Arrested Person: Foley, Andrew      Age: 55

                                Sacramento, CA

NARRATIVE:

On 2/15/20 at 11:22 a.m., deputies with the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office initiated a traffic stop on HWY 97 north of La Pine for the violations of speeding and failing to signal a lane change.  During the business of the traffic stop, K-9 Ares alerted to the odor of narcotics in the vehicle.  

The driver, Andrew Foley, was detained while his vehicle was searched for narcotics.  Deputies discovered 465.9 grams, or approximately one pound, of suspected methamphetamine concealed within the vehicle.  Foley was arrested for the charges of Manufacture of a Controlled Substance, Delivery of a Controlled Substance, and Delivery of a Controlled Substance.  He was lodged at the Deschutes County Adult Jail on the charges.  

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 six K9 teams. Founded in 1916 and today led by your duly elected Sheriff L. Shane Nelson, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office serves the nearly 190,000 residents in Deschutes County. The agency has 230 authorized and funded personnel, which includes 187 sworn employees who provide services to the 3,055 square miles of Deschutes County.

The Oregon Department of Transportation is in the process of lifting all vehicle restrictions that were in place for travelers on OR204 (Weston-Elgin/Tollgate Highway). A single-lane work zone along the flood-damaged section between MP 26.7 at Andes Prairie and MP 37.4 at Summerville Road prompted the restrictions. Pilot cars are escorting traffic through this area with anticipated delays of 30 minutes to two hours, depending on weather conditions and construction activities.

Commercial truck restrictions will be lifted today at 3:00 p.m. Pilot car operations will continue with extended delays.

If chain requirements are in effect in the work zone, vehicles will be required to install chains prior to entering the 11-mile-long work zone and will be required to keep their chains on through the entire zone (there is no room in this area for chain install or removal).  If drivers in the pilot line were to stop to install or remove chains within the work zone it will cause extremely long wait times at each end of the work zone.

Motorists are reminded to plan extra travel time and be prepared for long delays as crews work to stabilize the road and prevent further damage. The pilot car operation is complicated by snow removal activities, contractor repair work, and a steep highway grade adjacent to Little Phillips Creek. Road rebuilding efforts will take place as soon as weather conditions improve. Due to heavy snow and other challenges along this highway mountain pass, the impacted section is not expected to open to normal two-lane travel until late spring or early summer.

Check TripCheck.com for update conditions or call 511 / 800-977-6368. Outside Oregon call 503-588-2941.

Salem, Ore. – Using the arts as a means of addressing community need is at the heart of 36 projects awarded $205,386 by the Oregon Arts Commission’s Arts Build Communities grant program for FY2020. The Arts Build Communities program targets broad geographic impact and arts access for underserved audiences in Oregon.

Projects funded include “Anna & Abby’s Yard in Forest Grove,” an accessible playground with a culturally responsive design that supports inclusion for children with disabilities by Harper’s Playground; Cameras for Change, an Outside the Frame project offering film training and equipment access for youth experiencing homelessness in Portland; and “What I Know for Sure,” a writing/performance project featuring seniors from both the Klamath Basin Senior Citizens’ Center and EagleRidge High School in Klamath Falls.

“This program provides financial support to arts and other community-based organizations for projects that address a local community problem, issue or need through an arts-based solution," said Arts Commission Vice Chair Jenny Green, who led the review panel. “Local citizens employ creative thinking and collective response to identify a local need and provide an arts-based solution.”

The grants also spark and leverage many other investments and resources, serving as a catalyst for greater economic and civic impact, said Green.

In recent years Arts Build Communities projects attracted more than $600,000 in additional investment, much of it representing salaries paid to artists and others as well as products and services purchased in the funded communities.

Arts Build Communities grants are made possible through a funding partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.

The FY2020 recipients are:

Applegate Regional Theatre Inc, Veneta: $3,276

To support a local history writing competition for youth in two local school districts resulting in a show celebrating seven winners. The award will fund printing flyers, performance advertising and a videographer as well as props, sets and costumes for the production.

Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon, Portland: $5,832           

To create a cultural event series at the Orchards of 82nd (O82), a multi-use development comprising 48 units of affordable housing and APANO’s new community space. The series will include four to six events and be grounded in the recently-completed Orchards of 82nd Art Plan. Funds will be used for programmatic expenses such as artist fees and supplies. The primary audience will be O82 residents and neighbors in East Portland.

Bay City Arts Center, Bay City: $5,158   

To support the 2019-20 Youth Art Education Integration Project. Arts instructors provide art education at K-8 Central Tillamook schools with emphasis on math, science, social studies and humanities themed art projects. The grant award will support art instructor labor, art supplies and tools.

Boom Arts, Portland : $4,973         

To support the Acting Out Festival, a three-day festival with a mix of contemporary outdoor theatre, promenade and circus performances plus try-it-yourself workshops in partnership with The Circus Project and Portland Parks and Recreation. Funds will support artist fees and travel.

Cascade School of Music, Bend: $6,079

To support the continuation and expansion of the CSM Outreach Program. Funds will support the Awesome After School Orchestra program at three elementary schools, a Youth Enrichment class at Boys & Girls Club Bend, an intergenerational Kindermusik (ages 1-5) class at Mt. Bachelor Assisted Living & Memory Care and a bi-lingual Kindermusik class for the Latino Community.

Central Oregon LandWatch, Bend: $6,450

To support the second phase of #ProjectUnderpass to co-design and install a mural with Latinx students for the south pedestrian railroad tunnel of the Franklin underpass in Bend. Funds will support artist fees, paint and supplies, safety equipment, interpretation and/or translation services, facilitation and participant incentives.

Chinese Friendship Association of Portland, Tigard: $5,195

To support the 2020 Lunar New Year celebration Gala in Portland 5 (Keller Auditorium). The celebration included traditional Chinese arts and crafts typical of Chinese New Year, performances that demonstrate Chinese dance, song, martial arts and traditional Chinese instruments, Chinese fashion show, Chinese Opera singing and a magic show. The funds support artist fees, facility and equipment rental.

Delgani String Quartet, Eugene: $7,000

To support "Body of Sound," a statewide tour and collaboration with DanceAbility International, the world’s leading organization for mixed ability dance. “Body of Sound” will feature both classical and contemporary works for string quartet all choreographed for mixed ability dance; performances will take place April 3-7 in Portland, Bend, Ashland and Eugene. Grant award funds will support artist fees.

Deschutes Public Library Foundation, Bend: $4,293  

To support the Library’s community read program, “A Novel Idea.” Residents are encouraged to read, discuss, create and explore the selected book together. “A Novel Idea” broadens cultural, social, educational and economic areas of community life by ensuring wide access through partnerships with local artists, organizations and businesses. Grant award funds will be used to purchase books and to assist in paying the author’s honorarium.

Eugene-Springfield Youth Orchestras, Eugene: $6,003

To support the Orchestras’ String Academy project, which brings free and low-cost beginning strings classes (violin, viola, cello and string bass) to nine low-income schools in the Eugene 4J School district, giving children of all backgrounds the benefits of learning an instrument. Grant award funds will support project management and artistic staff, scholarships, instrument purchases and repairs.

Eugene Symphony Association, Inc., Eugene: $6,741

To launch “Vets Connect.” Through an enhanced partnership with the national nonprofit Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix), the Symphony will double its current offering of free tickets to 40 for every subscription concert for veterans and their family members, supplemented by opportunities for participation, music enrichment and social bonding. Grant award funds will help defray costs of free concert tickets, the Symphony Connect ensemble and a contracted music therapist.

Fishtrap Inc, Enterprise: $7,000

To support The Big Read, an annual event designed to bring communities together to celebrate one work of literature. This year's selection is "When the Emperor Was Divine" by Julie Otsuka, which tells the story of a Japanese-American family separated and incarcerated after the outbreak of World War II. Grant award funds will support free books for schools, libraries and community members in addition to guest lecturer fees, supplies, promotion and personnel.

Harper's Playground, Portland: $5,977

To support “Anna & Abby’s Yard in Forest Grove,” an accessible playground in Rogers Park, Forest Grove, with a culturally responsive design that supports inclusion for children with disabilities and benefits all children through access to outdoor activities, nature, and open-ended play. Grant award funds will support artist fees, signage and installation.

Hollywood Senior Center, Portland: $6,541

To support one year of Poetry Power, a therapeutic poetry writing program for older adult survivors of elder abuse. Poetry Power supports healing and growth through compassionate listening and facilitating creative expression in a safe and supportive environment. Grant award funds will support wages for key personnel, recruiting/training volunteer writing mentors, outreach to participants and materials for Poetry Power sessions.

Josephy Center for Arts and Culture, Joseph: $5,868

To support “Women Celebrate 100 Years of Voting & Art,” a multi-disciplinary six-week celebration of women through art, theatrical performances, music, history, current affairs and more. Grant award funds will support musical and theatrical performances; an historical exhibit that will be printed on special panels and an open call for the women’s art exhibit.

Klamath Basin Senior Citizens' Center, Inc., Klamath Falls: $3,000

To support “What I Know For Sure,” a writing/performance series featuring seniors from both the Senior Citizens’ Center and EagleRidge High School aimed at demonstrating the value of intergenerational relationships. Grant award funds will support fees for a project facilitator, a director and a videographer, as well as a facility rental fee and stipends for four senior citizen participants and seven high school seniors.

Lane Arts Council, Eugene: $7,000

To support “Celebrating Latinx arts and culture in Springfield and rural Lane County.” Grant award funds will support artist fees for community cultural events; promoting cultural events and expanding our community outreach; and connecting Latinx artists and organizations to much-needed resources, such as professional development opportunities, potential event venues and more.

Literary Arts Inc, Portland: $5,459

To support the Oregon Book Awards Author Tour, which will connect Oregon authors with small communities across the state. Grant award funds will support author travel and expenses.

Materials Exchange Center for Community Arts, Eugene: $4,382

To support the Object Afterlife Art Challenge, which uses the arts to solve an environmental problem. Artists receive a mystery material and two months to create fine art out of scraps; the event culminates in a public exhibition at Oregon Supported Living Center’s Lincoln Gallery in conjunction with Eugene’s First Friday ArtWalk. Grant award funds will provide scholarships and a venue rental while offsetting marketing, supply and reception expenses.

Miracle Theatre Group, Portland: $6,922           

To support a UNIDAD environmental arts residency for the Nixya’awii School and community in Pendleton. Grant award funds will support artist fees, transportation and curriculum development.

My Voice Music, Portland: $6,568

To support a 2020 Transition Age Artist Mentorship Program. The program will provide 25 young musicians (ages 18-24) with musical mentorship, teaching-artist training, paid internships and career counseling to help them realize their musical visions and successfully navigate independence. Grant award funds will support staff and artist fees, youth participant teaching wages and performance stipends.

Northwest Classical Theatre Collaborative, Portland: $7,000

To support the tour and West Coast premiere of Canadian poet and classicist Anne Carson’s modern language translation of “Antigone,” accompanied by live cello music, to culturally under-served populations in Multnomah, Clackamas, Umatilla, Marion, Coos, Washington, Wallowa, Yamhill and Lake counties. Grant award funds will support artist fees, transportation and lodging.

Open Hearts Open Minds, Portland: $5,083

To support “Theatre at Coffee Creek” at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility. Two theater professionals will meet twice weekly with approximately 18 women inmates for dialogue groups and creative exercises. The women will adapt a play and write an original play to be performed in front of live audiences.

Oregon Children's Theatre Company, Portland: $6,827

To support production of “The Journal of Ben Uchida: Citizen 13559,” which tells the story of the imprisonment of Japanese American citizens during World War II. The show will run at Portland’s Winningstad Theater from Feb. 29 to March 20. Grant award funds will support wrap-around community engagement activities (including panel discussions, performances and historical/artistic displays).

Oregon Coast Aquarium, Newport: $4,973

To support artist commission fees for scientific illustration and graphic production of murals for three indoor galleries. The murals will provide a visual narrative connecting Oregon’s coastal shores to ocean depths and will depict marine life for interpretation.

Oregon Coast Youth Symphony Festival Association, Newport: $4,268

To support Festival activities and expand the size and scope of its statewide music community. Grant award funds will support expenses (food, housing, etc.) for visiting high school students and teachers to ensure access for participants.

Outside the Frame, Portland: $7,000

To support Cameras for Change, an expansion of film training and equipment access for youth experiencing homelessness. Grant award funds will support film instructor fees, film supplies, youth meals, youth transportation and post-production expenses.

PlayWrite, Portland: $6,541

To support PlayWrite Youth Workshops. Grant award funds will support fees for coaches, actors and staff for four playwriting workshops as well as supplies, facility rental.

Portland Community College Foundation, Portland: $4,729

To support the 30th Annual Cascade Festival of African Films, the longest continuously running annual African film festival in the U.S. The Festival runs for five weeks around Black History Month, brining films from every region of the African continent to approximately 5,000 attendees free of charge. Grant award funds will support community outreach, community master classes with visiting filmmakers, speaker fees, and film screening fees.

Portland Lesbian Choir, Portland: $5,535

To support an open rehearsal for the Choir’s June concert: “A Roof and a Bed.” The June 7 concert will features two new commissions and three new arrangements and will be presented with video footage and narration relating the experience of being homeless with hope for change. Community partners will invite 200 homeless clients and 200 friends and donors to the event. The open rehearsal will take place on June 5.

Portland Taiko, Portland: $3,623

To support the "People of the Drum" concert featuring four percussion-based music and dance groups representing different ethnic and cultural traditions. Grant award funds will support artist fees, venue costs, project management and promotional materials.

Rogue Valley Chorale Association, Medford: $4,019

To support “Spring Sing,” three concerts performed by students for their peers to motivate them to seek out musical opportunities. Grant award funds will be support transportation, stipends for conductors and accompanists, and promotional materials.

The Circus Project, Portland: $6,670

To support the second year of the Voice Project, a recurring year-long program for youth from marginalized identities who create and perform an original ensemble circus performance focused on a social justice theme of their choosing. Grant award funds support classes and private lessons, production opportunities, participant stipends, athletic wear, food, bus tickets and access to showers and hygiene items.

The High Desert Museum, Bend: $7,000           

To support the “Natural Wanderment: Stewardship. Sovereignty. Sacredness” exhibition and an accompanying Native youth workshop series. Grant award funds will support the exhibition, which will explore Native identity through contemporary art, as well as artist fees and supplies for the workshop series, which will connect Native youth to professional Native artists and enable them to apply Indigenous methodology to contemporary art forms to construct positive self-identities.

University of Oregon Foundation, Eugene: $5,497

To support a Community Music Institute pilot outreach program in partnership with Chamber Music Amici. "Violin Instruction for Pre-K Students at Whiteaker Head Start" will provide chamber music performances and developmentally appropriate instruction to students and their families. Grant award funds will support the purchase of string instruments for in-class instruction.

Write Around Portland, Portland: $6,904

To support “Respect, Writing and Community: Empowering Youth Voices,” eight free 10-week writing workshops for 70 to 100 underserved youth in partnership with social service agencies. Following the workshops the youths' writing will be published in two anthologies and showcased during free public readings. Grant award funds will help expand the workshops’ reach, build new partnerships, train volunteers, provide materials and support the publications and readings.

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

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

The Rule Advisory Committee—formed earlier this year by Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) to review the agency’s proposed changes to Oregon Administrative Rules governing Oregon’s administration of the federal National Register of Historic Places

Program—will hold their final meeting 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. March 10 in the Dye House of the Willamette Heritage Center, 1313 Mill Street SE, Salem. The meeting is open to the public.

On the agenda: reviewing and commenting on staff edits; fiscal impact of proposed changes; discuss outreach plan should the OPRD Commission open rulemaking.

The March meeting will be the third and final in a series of meetings held by the Committee. There were originally four public meetings planned—Jan. 28, Feb. 10, Feb. 25 and March 10—however the Feb. 25 meeting has been canceled.

Ian Johnson, associate deputy state historic preservation officer, says the Committee’s strong progress prompted the Feb. 25 cancellation.

“The Committee has been immensely helpful with their recommendations to refine our proposed rule changes,” said Johnson. “We need more time to consider their input, so we’ve decided to cancel the second February meeting and will present our updated changes March 10.”

Audio of the Jan. 28 and Feb. 10 meetings is on the ORPD administrative rules webpage: oregon.gov/oprd/PRP/Pages/PRP-rulemaking.aspx.

The Committee has considered several topics when reviewing OPRD’s proposed rule changes, including counting property owners and objections; how Tribal governments, state agencies and local jurisdictions participate in the nomination process; administrative functions like staff duties, public notices and hearing procedures; and determining circumstances that would exempt nominations from public disclosure, e.g., protecting culturally-sensitive information.

Committee members were appointed by OPRD and drawn from Tribal, state, county and local governments, preservation and natural resource organizations, and citizens with an interest in the National Register program.

After the March 10 meeting, OPRD will consider the committee’s final recommendations and present the proposed rule changes to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission. If the Commission approves the proposal, OPRD will begin the public rulemaking process later this year.

More information about rulemaking is available on the OPRD administrative rules webpage: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/PRP/Pages/PRP-rulemaking.aspx

The National Register of Historic Places was established as part of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and is maintained by the National Parks Service.

Individuals who require special accommodations to attend the meeting should contact Tracy Collis, OPRD executive support specialist, at least three days in advance by calling (503) 986-0690.

(Salem) – Oregon OSHA has fined an Albany foundry $27,500 for violating job safety rules designed to protect workers from serious harm or death. The citation against Selmet Inc. follows an investigation of a furnace explosion that injured two workers, one of whom suffered second- and third-degree burns to his body.

The division’s investigation of the Aug. 15, 2019, accident identified three serious violations by Selmet. Those violations included failing to account for employee safety in the layout and design of the foundry, and overlooking proper work clothing and equipment.

“There are concrete steps employers can take to make safety a meaningful part of the operation of a work site,” said Michael Wood, administrator for Oregon OSHA. “Neglecting such steps, as this case demonstrates, serves only to invite more risk and the severe consequences that frequently come with it.”

The worker who suffered severe burns was operating a furnace – powered by high-voltage electricity – to melt titanium. He was doing so in a part of the foundry that contains older furnaces and where employees use control panels that are near each furnace. The furnace experienced a system failure that leaked water used for cooling into a vacuum chamber. The reaction of molten titanium with water triggered the explosion. 

The blast, which blew the roof off part of the building, left the worker with multiple burns to his head, neck, arms, and chest. The force of the blast threw another worker, stationed at the operating panel of another furnace, into a parts table.

Oregon OSHA cited Selmet for failing to account for safety measures in the design, layout, and operation of the older furnaces. Such measures could include blast walls to protect against explosions, isolated control rooms, or removal of employees from the risk zone during operations. The company had installed such measures for newer furnaces, according to Oregon OSHA’s investigation.

That serious violation carries a $13,750 penalty. Oregon OSHA also fined Selmet $13,750 for two related serious violations involving a lack of appropriate work clothing and personal protective equipment for furnace operators.

The total proposed fine of $27,500 reflects a 10 percent increase in the base penalties assigned to the violations. The increase reflects Selmet’s negative history of nine reportable accidents in the last three years.

In addition to its enforcement activities, Oregon OSHA offers employers resources to help improve workplace safety and health.

Contact Oregon OSHA’s no-cost consultation services for help with safety and health programs:

Phone: 503-378-3272

Toll-free in Oregon: 800-922-2689

Field office locations and phone numbers: https://osha.oregon.gov/Pages/maps.aspx

Email: consult.web@oregon.gov

The agency’s technical staff members can answer questions about rules and how to apply them:

Phone: 503-378-3272

Toll-free in Oregon: 800-922-2689

Email: tech.web@oregon.gov

Online contact form: https://osha.oregon.gov/Pages/Contact-Technical.aspx

Visit Oregon OSHA’s A-to-Z topic page for more information about on-the-job safety and health: https://osha.oregon.gov/Pages/az-index.aspx

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

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

Additional documentation highlights robust analysis
 

The Bureau of Land Management will publish six draft supplemental environmental impact statements (SEISs) on Friday for management of Greater Sage-Grouse habitat on public lands in seven Western states, highlighting the collaborative process undergone in 2019 to develop plans that reflected the needs of Western communities and Greater Sage Grouse habitat.  

The draft SEISs address issues identified in an October 16, 2019, order issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho, which placed a preliminary injunction on the implementation of 2019 BLM sage-grouse plans in Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada/northeastern California and Oregon.

"In March of last year, the Greater Sage-Grouse conservation plans were adopted with strong bipartisan support by the Western states, as the plans made important modifications that matched the input provided by the states and Western communities," said Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Casey Hammond. "The draft SEISs illustrate the hard look and robust analysis we performed in this collaborative process to balance our habitat conservation and enhancement goals in response to recent litigation."

The draft SEISs explain how the range of alternatives analyzed in the 2019 EISs was developed, the incorporation by reference of the effects analysis from the 2015 EISs, and how best available science was used. Reports by the National Technical Team and Conservation Objective Team were critical in developing the plans. The current draft SEISs also clarify the BLM’s approach to compensatory mitigation in authorizing various uses of lands that also provide habitat for the sage-grouse.

Suspending implementation of the 2019 plans has affected programs and projects across the BLM and in Western states from authorizations of renewable energy projects and oil and gas leases to grazing permit renewals and wildfire management. For example, in northeastern California, adaptive management measures to respond to changes in sage-grouse populations cannot currently be used because the data-model used in the 2015 plan is no longer the best available information.

In Wyoming, a land exchange that would increase public access and improve resource management cannot proceed and in Utah, court-ordered travel management planning has been slowed while routes are re-evaluated for conformance with the earlier sage-grouse plans. The impact to the states goes on, but the BLM is complying with the court’s order by conforming its actions to the 2015 plans while the draft SEISs undergo public review and comment.  

States primarily manage wildlife species, and federal agencies like the BLM manage wildlife habitat. The 2019 plans were adopted after months of close coordination and cooperation with state governments in the affected states. The goal was to better align BLM plans for managing habitat with state plans for conserving the species, including state plans for compensatory mitigation, while addressing the circumstances and needs of each individual state. 

The 2019 plans received bipartisan support from the governors who sought changes to the 2015 plans for their respective states.

The draft SEISs are now available online. The BLM will accept comments on the documents starting Friday, February 21, 2020, through April 6, 2020.

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The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In fiscal year 2018, the diverse activities authorized on BLM-managed lands generated $105 billion in economic output across the country. This economic activity supported 471,000 jobs and contributed substantial revenue to the U.S. Treasury and state governments, mostly through royalties on minerals. 

The Oregon Lottery is one of three United States lotteries to receive the “Sustaining Level,” the highest responsible gaming verification standard in the U.S. Presented by the National Council on Problem Gambling and the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries, the Oregon Lottery earned that level of certification for its responsible gaming program.

To accomplish this designation, the Oregon Lottery’s responsible gaming program was reviewed by a panel of independent assessors with expertise in the field of responsible gaming.  As part of the review process, the Oregon Lottery was found to have demonstrated strong programs are in place that focus on employee training, retailer training, public education and awareness, product oversight, research and marketing and advertising programs.

“The Oregon Lottery was selected as a pilot lottery for the NASPL verification program in 2016 and achieved the highest level available at that time,” said Oregon Lottery Director Barry Pack. “Achieving the ‘Sustaining Level’ demonstrates the Oregon Lottery’s deep commitment to continuous improvement of responsible gaming programming.”

The new certification comes after the Oregon Lottery achieved a Level 4 certification distinction from the World Lottery Association in 2018.  This also is the highest level of certification achievable through WLA.

Additional information about the Oregon Lottery’s responsible gaming program can be found at https://oregonlottery.org/play-responsibly/

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On Wednesday, February 19, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. EST, Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Casey Hammond will hold a media teleconference to discuss the availability of supplemental environmental impact statements to the 2019 Greater Sage-Grouse conservation plans.  The SEISs respond to a 2019 preliminary injunction suspending implementation of the plans.

Who:  Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Casey Hammond
What:  Media teleconference to discuss the Greater Sage-Grouse plans
When:  3:00 p.m. EST, Wednesday, February 19, 2020
Call details:  All credentialed news media are invited to participate. You must RSVP at BLM_press@blm.gov prior to the call to receive the call-in number and passcode for today’s teleconference.

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In fiscal year 2018, the diverse activities authorized on BLM-managed lands generated $105 billion in economic output across the country. This economic activity supported 471,000 jobs and contributed substantial revenue to the U.S. Treasury and state governments, mostly through royalties on minerals.

(Salem, OR)—The Oregon Department of Revenue (DOR) will host a series of meetings in the first week of March in central Oregon, eastern Oregon and the Columbia River gorge to provide information to business taxpayers and tax professionals about the administrative rules for Oregon’s new Corporate Activity Tax (CAT).

The meetings are being held in cooperation with the small business development centers at Central Oregon Community College (COCC), Treasure Valley Community College (TVCC), Eastern Oregon University (EOU) and Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC).

“Our CAT team will personally engage taxpaying communities again in March. We want to provide taxpayers with the information and tools necessary to comply with the law and will ask taxpayers to provide us with feedback on the temporary rules completed to date,” said Nia Ray, director of the Oregon Department of Revenue.

The date, time and locations of the meetings include:

• Monday, March 2, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Room 190 in the Science Building at COCC, 2600 NW College Way, in Bend.
• Tuesday, March 3, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Room 110 in the Weese Building at TVCC, 650 College Boulevard in Ontario.
• Wednesday, March 4, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Room 101 in Zabel Hall at EOU, One University Boulevard in La Grande.
• Wednesday, March 4, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Lecture Hall in Building 2 at CGCC, 400 Scenic Drive in The Dalles.

The meetings are part of a second statewide tour by the department’s CAT policy team. Department representatives used input collected from stakeholders during a 12-stop tour in fall 2019 in prioritizing and writing the rules. March’s meetings will include a presentation and discussion of the initial temporary rules.

The department does not provide tax advice, however, attendees will have a chance to ask questions about and share input on the rules and how they apply broadly to various business scenarios.

Additional meetings are planned in Klamath Falls, Ashland, Eugene, Gresham, Coos Bay, Lincoln City, Seaside, Beaverton, and Keizer. Visit the CAT page of the Department of Revenue website. to see the complete schedule. Stakeholders can direct questions or comments about the CAT via email to cat.help.dor@oregon.gov or call 503-945-8005.

Visit www.oregon.gov/dor to get tax forms, check the status of your refund, or make tax payments; call 800-356-4222 toll-free from an Oregon prefix (English or Spanish); 503-378-4988 in Salem and outside Oregon; or email questions.dor@oregon.gov. For TTY (hearing or speech impaired), call 800-886-7204.

Released by: Sgt. William Bailey – Public Information Officer

Release Date: February 18, 2020

NARRATIVE:

On February 10, 2020, Deke DeMars, a patrol sergeant with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an administrative inquiry into alleged agency policy violations.

Today, Kevin Dizney, a patrol sergeant with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an administrative inquiry into alleged agency policy violations.

Anytime the Sheriff’s Office receives information alleging a policy violation, we will completely investigate the allegation to determine if an agency policy violation(s) has occurred and if any personnel action is necessary.

## End of Release ##