Portland, Ore., September 10, 2026 – SOLVE’s annual Beach & Riverside Cleanup is bringing volunteers together across Oregon and Southwest Washington from September 18–27, with nearly 100 volunteer opportunities to clean up and care for local beaches, waterways, parks and community spaces.

In the Willamette Valley and surrounding Cascade communities, Beach & Riverside Cleanup will give volunteers opportunities to care for waterways, public lands, parks and trails. From preventing litter from reaching Salem’s waterways to cleaning lakes in the Breitenbush Cascades and restoring trails for mountain bikers, local projects offer a range of ways to get involved this September.

Featured Beach & Riverside Cleanup Events in the Willamette Valley & Central Oregon

Clean Streams National Cleanup Day Event
Salem | September 19, 10 am–12 pm
The City of Salem’s Clean Streams Team will bring volunteers together at Cascades Gateway Park to remove litter before it can flow into Walter Wirth Lake and Mill Creek. The cleanup is part of National Cleanup Day and SOLVE’s annual Beach & Riverside Cleanup.

Disciples of Dirt Mountain Biking Trail Maintenance – Teaching the Basics
September 19, 9 am–12 pm
Disciples of Dirt will teach volunteers the fundamentals of mountain biking trail maintenance before putting those skills into practice through hands-on drainage and tread improvements. Participants can bring their bikes and ride the trails after the volunteer project.

Downtown Bend & Cascade Lakes Highway Cleanup
Bend | September 23, 4 pm –7 pm
Volunteers will help clean up along the trail system from the Bend spillway toward the Cascade Lakes Highway, removing litter from an area connecting Bend’s waterways and surrounding communities.

Public Lands Day Weekend – Breitenbush
Breitenbush | September 26, 9:30 am–4:30 pm
Volunteers will help clean Elk, Dunlap and Short Lakes as part of the Friends of the Breitenbush Cascades’ Adopt-A-River and Love-Your-Lakes initiatives. SOLVE registrants can also take advantage of free camping at Cleator Bend Group Campground for the weekend.

McMinnville Park Cleanup Party
McMinnville | September 27, 10 am–12 pm
Volunteers of all ages will gather at Kiwanis/Joe Dancer Park to pick up litter and remove invasive species. The first 50 volunteers to arrive will receive a free McMinnville T-shirt, with support from local community and watershed partners.

Upper Clackamas River Cleanup
Upper Clackamas River | September 26, 9 am–12 pm
For its third annual cleanup, volunteers will help remove trash from dispersed campsites and other areas along the Wild and Scenic Upper Clackamas River. The cleanup will be followed by a community picnic from noon to 1 pm.

How to Get Involved

• Volunteer: Browse local Beach & Riverside Cleanup events and register yourself or a group at volunteer.solve.org/beach-riverside
• Bring your community: Invite friends, family, coworkers or neighbors to take part in a local cleanup or restoration project.

SOLVE’s 2026 Beach & Riverside Cleanup is proudly supported by Clean Water Services, Kaiser Permanente, Knife River, Keep America Beautiful, Metro, National Recreation and Park Association, Oregon State Park & Recreation, Owens Corning, Portco Packaging, Tillamook, Harper Houf Peterson Righellis Inc., and KOIN.

For more information or to register, visit solve.org/beach-riverside

About SOLVE 

SOLVE brings communities together to take care of our environment and enhance our waterways. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots initiative to a national model of volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon, and SW Washington, to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas, while empowering a community of environmental stewards for our state. Visit solve.org for more information or follow SOLVEPNW on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn.

SALEM, Ore. — The Committee for Family Forestlands (CFF) will meet virtually on Wednesday, Sept. 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. To join virtually, please use the Teams video conference information found on the agenda. 

The committee’s agenda includes:

• Forest Resources Division update
• Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts
• Carbon markets and small forestland owners
• Seed Bank overview
• Board of Forestry update
• Review Committee for Family Forestlands charter

The meeting is open to the public to attend online via Teams. Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services, or assistance can be arranged by calling at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting at 503-949-4785 or by email at .family.forestlands@odf.oregon.gov">committee.for.family.forestlands@odf.oregon.gov.

The 13-member committee researches policies that affect family forests, natural resources and forestry benefits. Based on its findings, the committee recommends actions to the Oregon Board of Forestry and the State Forester. View more information on the CFF webpage.

September 10, 2026

Media contact: Erica Heartquist, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Recreational use advisory downgraded to a precaution for Agency Lake

Pet owners should continue to keep their pets away from areas that appear to have a bloom

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has downgraded the recreational use health advisory to a precaution for Agency Lake in Klamath County.

OHA issued the advisory July 1.

Water monitoring has confirmed that the level of cyanotoxins in Agency Lake are below recreational guideline values for people. However, levels detected are still above OHA’s educational guideline values for dogs, and owners should keep their pets away from areas with blooms.

OHA advises recreational visitors to continually be alert to signs of cyanobacteria blooms. This is because blooms can develop and disappear on any water body at any time when bloom conditions are favorable. Only a fraction of water bodies in Oregon are monitored for blooms and toxins, so it’s important for people to become familiar with the signs of a bloom, and exposure routes and symptoms by visiting OHA’s Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms website at http://www.healthoregon.org/hab.

When recreating, people, and especially small children, and pets should avoid areas where the water is foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green or blue-green, or if thick brownish-red mats are visible or bright green clumps are suspended in the water. If you see these signs, avoid activities such as swimming or motorized or non-motorized boating activities that cause you to swallow water or inhale droplets, and keep pets out of the area.

Cyanotoxins can still exist in clear water. When a bloom dies, toxins released may reach into clear water around the bloom. Blooms can be pushed into other areas, leaving toxins behind. There also are species of cyanobacteria that anchor themselves at the bottom of a water body, live in the sediment, or can grow on aquatic plants and release toxins into clear water.

For health information or to report an illness, contact OHA at 971-673-0482, or visit OHA’s Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms website.

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BURNS, Ore. – The Bureau of Land Management’s plans to rescue horses on Riddle Mountain have been postponed due to a temporary restraining order related to ongoing litigation. After a record dry winter and a fire season that consumed 70% of the herd management area, the herd’s health is under immediate threat from severe food and water shortages.

“It’s our responsibility to manage and protect these herds,” said Don Rotell, Burns District Manager.  “When fire and severe drought shrinks water sources and reduces forage, it’s the horses and other plants and animals that pay a price.”

“We want healthy horses on healthy rangelands,” Rotell continued. “Unfortunately, the practical implication of this delay is that it may not be possible to round up these horses before late fall storms make roads in the area impassable.”

The rescue operation was planned to start September 9. The BLM will provide any additional updates online.

Rescuing these horses from the range was also part of the BLM’s post-fire emergency stabilization and rehabilitation plan for the land. When a severe wildfire burns hot enough to destroy vegetation and alter soil structure, recovery doesn't happen on its own. Without quick action, winter storms can wash away topsoil, invasive weeds can take hold, and damage can last for decades. Resting the land ensures it can continue to provide habitat for the herd, other wildlife and support additional land uses. During this rest period, cattle will not be grazing on these lands, allowing the rangeland to recover without added pressure to its limited forage and water resources.  

Public safety and animal welfare remain top priorities. The Wild Horse and Burro Program is committed to the humane and sustainable management of wild horse populations and their habitats. These drive-trap gather operations are guided by the Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program, which sets handling standards that prioritize the care and well-being of the animals. Through collaborative efforts, the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program seeks to maintain healthy herds on healthy rangelands now and for future generations.

VIDEO: BLM video of the herd traveling through the scorched rangeland is available here.

-BLM-

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

APPLICANT REVIEW COMMITTEE

MEETING SCHEDULED

The Applicant Review Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a regular meeting at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Juan Lopez (503) 551-3167.

To view the Applicant Review Committee's live-stream and other recorded videos, please visit DPSST’s official YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/@DPSST.

Agenda Items:

1. Introductions

2. Approve August 26, 2026, Meeting Minutes

3. Isaac Andres, DPSST No. 67221; DOC/Deer Ridge Correctional Institution

    Presented by Victor Sanchez

4. Inquiry Closure Memos – Information Only

    Presented by Victor Sanchez

5. Next Applicant Review Committee Meeting – October 21, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.

Administrative Announcement

This is a public meeting, subject to the public meeting law and it will be recorded. Deliberation of issues will only be conducted by Applicant Review Committee members unless permitted by the Chair. Individuals who engage in disruptive behavior that impedes official business will be asked to stop being disruptive or leave the meeting. Additional measures may be taken to have disruptive individuals removed if their continued presence poses a safety risk to the other persons in the room or makes it impossible to continue the meeting.

DPSST provides reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access for people with disabilities and those with limited English proficiency. To request a sign language interpreter, translation services, or other accommodations, please contact Juan Lopez at (503) 551-3167 or at nandez@dpsst.oregon.gov">juan.lopez-hernandez@dpsst.oregon.gov, at least 48 hours before the meeting.

DPSST proporciona acomodaciones rasonables para asegurar el acceso igual para personas con descapacidades y para personas con competencia limitada de inglés. Para pedir un interprete de lengua de señas, servicios de traducción, u otras acomodaciones, por favor de contactar a Juan Lopez marcando al (503) 551-3167, o a nandez@dpsst.oregon.gov">juan.lopez-hernandez@dpsst.oregon.gov, al menos de 48 horas antes de la reunión.

PORTLAND, Ore.—Hugo Alberto Roman Aparicio, 42, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release for a gun trafficking conspiracy. Roman Aparicio will be removed from the United States after he completes his prison sentence. All guns were seized and forfeited.

According to court documents, Roman Aparicio and others, conspired to smuggle guns from Portland to Mexico. They hid 12 firearms in the spare tire compartment of a car, that Roman Aparicio obtained, to secretly transport the guns into Mexico.

Roman Aparicio, and others, arranged for the guns to be left with a co-conspirator in California, who was to complete the trip and smuggle the guns into Mexico. Investigators believe the guns were destined for cartels. The group was trying to impress a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) with the hope of receiving illegal drugs to sell in Oregon.

With the assistance of the California Highway Patrol, DEA task force officers located and stopped the courier in California before the guns could be transferred. The courier’s vehicle was searched, and law enforcement officers found the firearms hidden in the spare tire area.

On November 26, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 2-count superseding indictment charging Roman Aparicio with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to traffic firearms.

On May 22, 2026, Roman Aparicio pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic in firearms.

U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Tigard Police Department, Sherwood Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul T. Maloney and James Kilcup.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Portland comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, USMS, IRS-CI, ATF, USPIS, CBP, TSA, U.S. Coast Guard, Oregon Air, Army National Guard Counterdrug program, and Oregon-Idaho HIDTA with prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon

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Bend Fire & Rescue has launched a new online tool that makes it easier for residents to request free wildfire risk home assessments and access personalized mitigation recommendations, supporting efforts to make Bend a more fire-adapted community.

The new tool streamlines the assessment process by allowing residents to request appointments online through Fire Aside, Bend Fire's wildfire assessment and data management platform. Through the system, residents can request an assessment, access assessment reports, document completed mitigation projects and view progress over time.

A wildfire risk home assessment is designed to help homeowners identify actions that can reduce wildfire risk around their properties. During the approximately one-hour visit, a trained assessor walks the property with the resident, discusses vulnerabilities and provides recommendations related to defensible space and home hardening.

"The launch of this tool is an important step in helping residents take action to reduce wildfire risk around their homes," Deputy Fire Marshal Melissa Steele said. "These assessments provide practical recommendations that can help homeowners improve their property's resilience to wildfire while supporting Bend Fire's community wildfire preparedness efforts."

After completing an assessment, residents can create a secure Fire Aside profile to access personalized recommendations and wildfire preparedness resources. The platform also allows homeowners to upload photos of completed mitigation work, creating a record of actions taken to reduce wildfire risk.

Information gathered through assessments will help Bend Fire better understand common wildfire preparedness needs across the community and inform future outreach, education and resource planning efforts.

Residents can request a free wildfire risk home assessment at bendoregon.gov/own-your-zone. Once a request is submitted, Bend Fire staff will contact the requestor to schedule an appointment.

About Bend Fire & Rescue

Bend Fire & Rescue provides fire protection, emergency medical services, community risk reduction programs and wildfire preparedness education to over 144,000 residents throughout the Bend community and surrounding rural area of Deschutes Rural Fire Protection District #2. Bend Fire's Own Your Zone program helps residents prepare their homes and neighborhoods for wildfire while supporting long-term community resilience.

Accommodation Information for People with Disabilities & Language Assistance Services

You can obtain this information in alternate formats such as Braille, electronic format, etc. Free language assistance services are also available. Please email ility@bendoregon.gov">accessibility@bendoregon.gov or call 541-693-2198. Relay Users Dial 7-1-1. All requests are subject to vendor processing times and should be submitted 48-72 hours in advance of events.

Servicios de asistencia lingüística e información sobre alojamiento para personas con discapacidad

Puede obtener esta información en formatos alternativos como Braille, formato electrónico, etc. También disponemos de servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Póngase en contacto en correo electrónico ility@bendoregon.gov">accessibility@bendoregon.gov o número de teléfono 541-693-2198. Los usuarios del servicio de retransmisión deben marcar el 7-1-1. Por favor, envíe sus solicitudes con 48-72 horas de antelación al evento; todas las solicitudes están sujetas a los tiempos de procesamiento del proveedor.

Salem – On average, Oregon employers will pay 92 cents per $100 of payroll for workers’ compensation coverage in 2027 under a proposal the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) announced today. The rate would be the second lowest on record.

The pure premium rate would increase by an average 2.1 percent under the proposal. Pure premium is the base rate insurers use to determine how much employers must pay for medical costs and lost wages. Despite the increase, the pure premium per $100 of payroll will have declined by 36.5 percent from 2018 to 2027.

The increase to the average pure premium rate would contribute to an increase in the average cost of workers’ compensation coverage, from 89 cents per $100 of payroll in 2026 to 92 cents per $100 of payroll in 2027. This figure is referred to as loaded pure premium and includes pure premium, insurer profit and expense factors, and assessments paid by employers.

The rise in Oregon’s average pure premium rate is due to benefits for workers injured on the job being increased through Senate Bill 1519 (2026), which modified weekly lost-time wage compensation benefits for workers with disabling claims. The bill is intended to elevate benefits for lower wage earners who are injured on the job. Under current law, temporary total disability benefits are paid at 66 2/3 percent of the state average weekly wage (SAWW). Effective Jan. 1, 2027, the weekly compensation rate for wages up to 75 percent of the average weekly wage will increase to 75 percent, while the compensation rate for wages more than 75 percent of the SAWW will decrease to 65 percent.

Long-term declines in lost-time claim frequency continue to help offset upward pressure on system costs from higher medical and indemnity claim severity seen across the country, as well as benefit increases such as those made by Senate Bill 1519, according to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI). NCCI is the U.S. rate-setting organization whose recommendation DCBS reviews as part of its annual public process to decide rates.

The 2.1 percent increase in the pure premium is an average, so an individual employer may see a larger or smaller increase, no change, or even a decrease, depending on the employer’s industry. Also, an employer’s premium is affected by factors other than changes in pure premium rates, such as the employer’s payroll, modifications based on its claim experience, and its insurer’s profit and expense factor.

The increase in the pure premium will be effective Jan. 1, 2027, but employers will see the changes when they renew their policies for 2027.

Employers’ total cost for workers’ compensation insurance also includes a premium assessment. In addition, employers pay at least half of the Workers’ Benefit Fund (WBF) component and the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) Expense Fund component, which are cents-per-hour-worked rates.

The premium assessment, which is a percentage of the workers’ compensation insurance premium employers pay, is added to the pure premium. It would remain at 9.8 percent in 2027, the same as 2026, under the DCBS proposal. In fact, 2027 would mark the sixth-straight year the premium assessment remained at 9.8 percent.

The premium assessment funds the successful programs of Oregon’s workers’ compensation system, including the Workers’ Compensation Division; Oregon OSHA; the Workers’ Compensation Board, which resolves disputes over the state’s workers’ compensation and workplace safety laws; the Ombuds Office for Oregon Workers, an independent advocate for workers on workers’ compensation and workplace safety and health; and the Office of the Small Business Ombudsman for Workers’ Compensation, an independent advocate for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and the professional advisers who serve them.

Meanwhile, the WBF assessment funds return-to-work programs, provides increased benefits over time for workers who are permanently and totally disabled, and gives benefits to families of workers who die from workplace injuries or diseases.

The fund’s revenue comes from a cents-per-hour-worked assessment. The assessment would increase to 2.2 cents per hour worked in 2027. It would be the fourth-lowest rate since the inception of the cents-per-hour assessment in 1996.

New for 2027 is the establishment of the BOLI Expenses Fund (BEF) component, created by House Bill 4027 (2026). DCBS is collecting that component to help fund BOLI. In 2027, DCBS will collect 0.2 cents per hour worked for the fund.

The addition of the BEF component combined with the WBF component results in a total assessment of 2.4 cents per hour worked.

Oregon’s workers’ compensation premium rates have ranked favorably compared to other states for many years. Oregon had the nation’s 14th least expensive rates in 2024, according to a nationally recognized biennial study conducted by DCBS.

The public hearings for the premium assessment and the WBF assessment are Thursday, Sept. 17, at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.

Written testimony will be accepted through 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, by the Director's Office of DCBS, P.O. Box 14480, Salem, OR 97309-0405.

The DCBS website has a table showing the workers’ compensation cost summary for 2027 and more information about Oregon workers’ compensation costs.

The loaded pure premium includes insurer costs, known as expense loading factors. Historic figures are adjusted to reflect the 2026 mix of employment and payroll.

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About Oregon DCBS: The Department of Consumer and Business Services is Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. The department administers state laws and rules to protect consumers and workers in the areas of workers’ compensation, occupational safety and health, financial services, insurance, and building codes. Visit dcbs.oregon.gov.

BAKER CITY, Ore. – The Bureau of Land Management announces that parts of the Virtue Flat Off-Highway Vehicle Area, approximately 12.5 miles east of Baker City, will temporarily close for the Bar to Bar Off‑Road Motorcycle Race. The closure applies during active race periods on Sept. 12–13, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and is necessary to ensure public safety, support event operations, and avoid conflicts with other recreationists.   

"Public safety is our highest priority during high-speed events like this motorcycle race, and the eastern trails will remain open for other recreationists to enjoy,” said Erich Schow, Baker Field Office Assistant Manager. “We appreciate the community's cooperation and patience as we work to host a safe and successful event."

During race activities, officials will close the designated racecourse, staging, pit, parking, and start/finish areas. Public recreation access to these areas will not be permitted during the closure period. Trails and routes on BLM land to the east of the course will remain open for recreational use.

For more information about the closure, please contact the BLM Baker Field Office at (541) 523-1256.

-BLM-

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

SALEM –  The Oregon Heritage Commission has released an update to the statewide Oregon Heritage Plan.
 

The statewide Oregon Heritage Plan is a call to action for heritage preservation efforts across the state to unite around common goals. The Oregon Heritage Commission invites individuals and organizations to discuss the goals and strategies in this Plan, consider how they align with organization missions and priorities, and join the Commission in this work.

The structure of the plan includes:

• 5 focus areas that guided its development and will serve as a lens for carrying out the goals and strategies:
  • Tribal engagement and relationship building
  • Healthy and thriving communities
  • Collaborations and partnerships
  • Ethical practices and accountability
  • Future thinking
• 4 goals that identify long-term desired outcomes for heritage efforts across the state:
  • Engage More Voices - Engage excluded and marginalized voices to expand the narrative of history told and preserved in Oregon.
  • Increase Access to Heritage - Increase access to heritage resources for the communities you serve.
  • Build Heritage Networks - Work together at all levels to advocate for sustainable funding and to increase awareness of the value of heritage.
  • Develop Healthy Organizations - Apply practices and standards in sustainable, scalable, and ethical ways to increase organizational health.
• Strategies for each goal that lay out a path forward for Oregon Heritage, state agencies and service organizations, and heritage organizations to achieve the goals.

“The Heritage Commission encourages the heritage preservation community, locally, regionally, and statewide, to consider this plan as a tool to help them in their work,” says Heritage Commission Coordinator, Katie Henry. “Each step forward will result in more stories told, more people served, and more sustainable heritage organizations.”

Oregon’s heritage preservation community is any individual, organization, or entity that understands the value of and works towards documenting, preserving, and sharing Oregon’s heritage resources. These resources include places, buildings, structures, archeological sites, archives, collections, traditional beliefs and practices, culturally significant natural resources, and much more. Those engaged in this work include but are not limited to Tribal, federal, state, and local governments; local landmark commissions; museums; archives; libraries; historical societies; educational institutions; advocacy groups; Oregon Main Street organizations; building, design, finance, and real estate professionals; and any other individuals and organizations engaged in this work.

Oregon Heritage conducted engagement with the public, heritage organizations, and other key parties to inform the Plan from August to November 2025. Engagement activities included a public survey, discussion groups, and a questionnaire for heritage groups. The 2024 Oregon Heritage Vitality Study also provided critical information to help inform the update to the Oregon Heritage Plan.

Access the Oregon Heritage Plan online at oregonheritage.org in English and Spanish. Printed copies can be requested by emailing itage.info@oprd.oregon.gov">heritage.info@oprd.oregon.gov or calling 503-877-8834.

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

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

The Oregon Heritage Commission is one of four state commissions and committees under Oregon Heritage, a division of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department that includes the State Historic Preservation Office.

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

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jason Fellman | canbyharefest@gmail.com |503-515-2687

PORTLAND, Ore.—Two men have been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. Daejon Labrayae Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, have been charged by criminal complaint in Portland, Oregon.

According to court documents, beginning in February 2022, Love and Chan created fictitious investments to defraud numerous women in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California. Love met most of the women on the Internet through dating apps. Chan falsely posed as Love’s financial adviser to further gain their victims’ trust and demonstrate the validity of the investments.  Love and Chan solicited money from the women through lies and misrepresentations. The scheme lasted until the day of Love and Chan’s arrests on August 24, 2026.

The scheme relied on Love’s creation of fictitious personas and display of a lavish lifestyle which Love presented to victims both in person and on social media websites. Love falsely portrayed himself as legitimately wealthy, often as an NFL player for the San Francisco 49ers or as a wealthy real estate investor. 

Love convinced many of the victims they were in sincere romantic relationships with Love, that he was a sophisticated investor, and that Chan was his investment adviser who helped Love grow a fortune worth tens of millions of dollars. Love had romantic relationships with many of the victims and told them he wanted to build wealth and a future together. Love advertised nonexistent investment vehicles and claimed these investments would generate massive returns for both him and his victims.

Love also used phone applications to create fictitious bank and investment accounts and balances which Love showed victims to legitimize the scheme.

Love and Chan also exchanged investment-related electronic communications in which Chan pretended to be Love’s investment adviser. Chan sent Love messages purportedly encouraging Love to invest in new opportunities. Love then sent screenshots of those messages to numerous victims to further convince them to send money to either Love or Chan. Chan and Love also hosted three-way FaceTime calls in which they showed victims falsified investment gains and encouraged victims to part with their money. Victims sent Love and Chan money due to their belief that their money would be invested in legitimate investment vehicles on the victims’ behalf. Some victims also loaned Love large amounts of money, if victims did not have cash to invest, Love sometimes instructed them to take out personal loans in both scenarios Love assured the victims that they would quickly be repaid.

Once victims had no more money to invest, or if they asked too many questions, Love blocked communication with them, but kept their money. Of the victims identified and interviewed, none reported receiving any proceeds, returns on their principal, or investment account information, after sending Love and Chan money. Financial records show Love and Chan received about $1.3 million from victim investors. 26 victims have been identified; the FBI believes there are many more victims.

Arrest warrants and a criminal complaint alleging conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud and were issued for both Love and Chan on August 17, 2026, in the District of Oregon. The FBI’s investigation revealed that on August 24, 2026, Chan flew from California to meet Love in Boise, Idaho. The FBI and other law enforcement apprehended both Love and Chan at the Boise Airport. Investigators learned that Love was in Idaho to meet new victims. Investigators learned that from July 15 through August 24, 2026, Love traveled to New Mexico, California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah and Idaho.

Love has used several names including Jon Love, Daejon Love, Avril Lyto Love, and Jordan Love to perpetuate the scheme.

The FBI encourages anyone having information on Daejon Love or Taylor Chan to contact the FBI at https://tips.fbi.gov/ or to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Both Love and Chan are in federal custody in Boise, Idaho, and will have their first court appearance on Thursday, August 27, 2026.

This case was investigated by The Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bryan Chinwuba and Chris Cardani for the District of Oregon.

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

# # #

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Washington State man pleaded guilty today to sex trafficking.

Dajohntae Rayshawnlee Richard, 26, pleaded guilty to two counts of sex trafficking by fraud, force, and coercion, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon.

According to court documents, in May of 2025, Richard messaged a girl, age 15, on Facebook. Richard met with and had sex with the minor victim. Richard then drove her to a place in the State of Washington where he instructed her to solicit men seeking sex for money. Richard kept all the money that men paid for the sex acts with the minor victim. The victim reported that there were occasions when Richard hit and choked the minor victim if she did not do as Richard instructed. The victim was afraid that Richard would injure or kill her. On one occasion, he struck her in the face and choked her, causing a visible injury. This trafficking and abuse continued for about two months, and Richard transported her to various locations in Washington and Oregon to find customers.

In June of 2025, in the Seattle, Washington, area, Richard approached a second 15-year-old girl and told her she worked for him. Within days, Richard began threatening the child, controlling her use of her cellphone and forcing her to engage in sex with men for money, which Richard kept. The child victim feared for her life, so she complied with Richard’s demands. Richard drove the child victim to various locations to make money for him. This trafficking continued for about a month.

On June 28, 2025, the defendant transported both these minor victims and an adult woman to Portland, Oregon. Richard rented a hotel room and instructed the girls and woman to walk on 82nd Avenue for the purpose of finding customers with whom to engage in sexual acts.

On August 25, 2025, Richard made his initial appearance in federal court in Portland and was detained.

On August 12, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 4-count indictment charging Richard with 2-counts of sex trafficking by fraud, force, and coercion and 2-counts of sex trafficking of a child.

Richard faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a fine of $ 250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gains or losses resulting from the offense if such amount is determined to exceed $250,000, 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 fee assessment. Richard will also be required to register as a sex offender. He will be sentenced on December 7, 2026, before a U.S. district court judge.

As part of the plea agreement, Richard has agreed to pay restitution in full to the victims.

This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Rochat and Eliza Carmen Rodriguez are prosecuting the case.

If you or someone you know are victims of human trafficking or have information about a potential human trafficking situation, please call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also submit a tip on the NHTRC website.

This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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

# # #

WHO: Brig. Gen. Alan Gronewold, The Adjutant General, Oregon, along with representatives from the U.S. Navy, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, the National Guard Bureau, and the Oregon Military Department.

WHAT: A groundbreaking ceremony for the Multi-Purpose Machine Gun (MPMG) Range, a 10-lane, $12 million live-fire training facility that will become the first and only Army Standard crew-served weapons range in Oregon.

WHEN: Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.

WHERE: Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility, Boardman, Oregon

STAGING: Media should report to the Unmanned Aerial System Operating Facility (UASOF), Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility, Boardman, Oregon, where attendees will stage before moving to the ceremony site.

VISUALS: Ceremonial groundbreaking with shovels; range site overlooking the future 10-lane facility; interviews available with Oregon Military Department and Navy leadership on the range's mission and history.

BACKGROUND: The MPMG Range has been in development for more than two decades, beginning with a 2004 license agreement between the Departments of the Army, Navy, and the Oregon Military Department. Once complete, the range will allow Oregon Soldiers to qualify on crew-served weapons such as the M240, M2, and MK19 in-state, rather than traveling to facilities in Washington or Idaho, and will position Rees Training Center to support next-generation weapons qualification in the years ahead.

Media wishing to attend should RSVP to the contact listed above by September 8, 2026 for credentialing and site access instructions.

KLAMATH COUNTY, Ore. (8 September 2026) – On Saturday, September 5, 2026, at approximately 8:50 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle fatal crash on Highway 97 near milepost 200 in Klamath County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a black Honda two-door sedan, operated Elias Keyin Sorenson (21) of Eugene, was traveling northbound on Highway 97 when, for unknown reasons, it crossed into the southbound lane and collided head-on with a white Volvo semi-truck hauling a 53-foot trailer. The Volvo was operated by Jose Luis Sotelo-Monge (64) of Tulare, CA.

The operator of the Honda (Sorenson) was pronounced deceased at the scene. 

The operator of the Volvo (Sotelo-Monge) sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital. 

Highway 97 was impacted for approximately five hours during the on-scene investigation. 

OSP was assisted by Chemult Rural Fire Protection District, Crescent Fire District, and Oregon Department of Transportation.     

# # #

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

SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Board of Forestry will meet at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9. An Executive Session is scheduled immediately following the board meeting. The meeting will be held in the Tillamook Room, Building C, at the Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters, located at 2600 State St. in Salem. The meeting is open to the public and will also be livestreamed on the department’s YouTube channel. 

The board’s business agenda includes:

• Fire season update
• Agency Request Budget 2027-29
• Western Oregon State Forests Management Plan Performance Measures

The full agenda is available on the board’s webpage.

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

Signing up for live testimony is required. Instructions are available online. Written testimony will also be accepted. Written comments can be submitted before or up to two weeks after the meeting day by mail to the Board Support Office, 2600 State St., Salem, OR 97310 or email to oardofforestry@odf.oregon.gov">boardofforestry@odf.oregon.gov. Please include the appropriate agenda item and topic with the submission.

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

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

HARNEY COUNTY, Ore. (8 September 2026) – On Saturday, September 5, 2026, at 4:00 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle fatal crash on Highway 78 near milepost 36 in Harney County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a yellow Kawasaki Teryx (UTV), operated by Rae Jean Marie Neumann (71) of Burns, was traveling southbound along the shoulder when it attempted to cut across the highway to enter a driveway. A southbound silver Mercedes E350, operated by Timothy John Dudzik (86) of Carefree, Arizona, was unable to avoid the UTV and struck it on the driver’s side before leaving the roadway on the northbound shoulder. The operator of the UTV was thrown from the vehicle.

The operator of the UTV (Neumann) was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Mercedes (Dudzik) was reportedly not injured.

The highway was impacted for approximately 30 minutes during the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Harney County Sheriff’s Office, Burns Police Department, and Harney District Hospital Emergency Medical Services.

# # #

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

September 8, 2026

Media Contact: Amber Shoebridge, 503-931-9586, er.shoebridge@oha.oregon.gov" rel="noopener" target="_blank">amber.shoebridge@oha.oregon.gov

New facility expands secure inpatient behavioral health care capacity for Oregon youth by a third

EUGENE, Ore. -Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has partnered with Nexus Family Healing to open a new 12-bed secure inpatient treatment facility in Eugene, significantly increasing Oregon’s capacity to serve youth who need care.

The facility expands Oregon’s capacity of secure inpatient program (SIP) beds for youth by roughly one third. The 12 new beds build the state’s total SIP beds for youth to 44, adding to the 20 beds in Corvallis, for youth 10-17, and the 12 beds in Portland, for youth 5-11.  

Youth who need this setting will have had treatment at lower levels of care and need more intensive services and support. The average stay at this level of care is six to nine months.

"Expanding Oregon’s secure residential infrastructure is vital to ensuring that young people with complex behavioral health challenges receive the right level of care in a safe, therapeutic environment," said Jessie Eagan, OHA child and family behavioral health manager.

The Nexus project is among a wave of new facilities for youth behavioral health treatment statewide that started in 2024 and will continue through 2027.

OHA invested $6.8 million for the development of two private residential treatment facilities (PRTF) for youth through House Bill 5024 (2021):

• Madrona Recovery Center Inc., Washington County, 18 beds, $2.2 million, completed in February 2024.
• Community Counseling Solutions, Morrow County, 14 beds, $4.6 million, anticipated to open in October or November 2027.

Two additional facilities for youth are in development:

• Looking Glass is receiving a total of $11.5 million from OHA to complete projects in Lane County for youth. Of that total, $5.2 million from House Bill 5025 (2025) and $1.5 million from House Bill 5030 (2025) is for the development of a 12-bed SIP facility. The remaining funds will help move and renovate their youth Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Network (BHRN) program. Anticipated completion is July 2027.
• Live. Grow. Share. is receiving $2.1 million from House Bill 5030 (2025) for the development of a 10-bed children's psychiatric residential treatment home. Anticipated project completion is December 2028.

Oregon will exceed its goal for a total of 268 youth psychiatric treatment facility beds in 2026 and expects to reach a total of 311 by December 2027. This increased capacity provides more timely and appropriate help and support to youth who need psychiatric residential treatment.

The Nexus project was funded through a $3 million grant as part of House Bill 5024 (2021).

“The opening of this campus is a testament to the dedication of the many individuals who worked tirelessly to bring this project to life,” said Toni Miller, executive director at Nexus. “For the youth we serve, healing requires more than treatment alone. Every aspect of this environment was intentionally designed to support healing, learning, growth, and long-term stability. This campus reflects our commitment to partnering with the state to restore hope and help reshape the futures of Oregon’s youth.”

Like other SIP programs, access to the Nexus facility will be managed by OHA. Nexus began accepting youth ages 10-17 on Sept. 2.

The increase in youth behavioral health capacity is happening at a time when the adult system is also experiencing significant growth, adding 1,660 licensed residential treatment beds to Oregon's continuum of care – a more than 45% increase in capacity. Of those, 1,067 are already open and serving Oregonians today, with 593 more scheduled to open within the next two and a half years. The state was the primary investor in 960 of the beds.

About Nexus

Nexus Family Healing operates specialized residential and community-based mental health services for youth and families in Portland and Eugene.

About OHA

Oregon Health Authority works to improve the lifelong health and well-being of all people in Oregon by expanding access to quality health care, strengthening behavioral health services, advancing public health, and reducing health inequities.

For behavioral health resources and information on OHA’s child and family initiatives, visit https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HSD/BH-Child-Family/Pages/index.aspx

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2026 Board on Public Safety Standards & Training

 and Policy Committee

Open Vacancy – Recruitments

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

BPSST: All Board applications must be submitted through Workday.com and are reviewed on a rolling basis

• One member who is an administrator of a municipality recommended to the Governor by the executive body of the League of Oregon Cities
• One member who is part of a marginalized or historically underrepresented community
• One member who is a representative of the collective bargaining unit that represents the largest number of individual workers in the DOC

Policy Committees: All Policy Committee applications must be submitted by September 18, 2026.

Corrections Policy Committee:

• One non-management corrections officer employed by the DOC
• One public member who has never been employed or utilized as a corrections officer

Police Policy Committee:

• One person recommended by and representing the Oregon State Sheriffs' Association
• One non-management law enforcement officer
• One non-management law enforcement officer

Private Security/Investigator Policy Committee:

• One person representing unarmed private security professionals
• One person representing the manufacturing industry
• One person representing the retail industry
• One person representing the hospitality industry
• One person representing the public who has never been employed or utilized as a private security provider or investigator

Private Investigator Subcommittee:

• One currently licensed private investigator

Telecommunications Policy Committee:

• One person recommended by and representing a statewide association of public safety communications officers
• One person representing Emergency Medical Services & Trauma 

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

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

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

For further information regarding the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training or its respective Policy Committees, please contact Juan Lopez at (503) 551-3167 or juan.lopez-hernandez@dpsst.oregon.gov.

Thank you,

DPSST Board & Committees Staff

Español a continuación

BENTON COUNTY, Ore.— As children return to classrooms and daycare across Benton County, the Health Department reminds schools and caregivers of declining childhood vaccination rates across the state and county. The Health Department encourages families to follow the recommended childhood and adolescent immunization schedule to avoid school exclusion and to help protect students, families, staff, and the community from serious illness.

In June, the Health Department reported a downward trend in school-required vaccination rates across both the State and County and that “more students than ever are attending school without some or all required vaccines.” With schools resuming after the busy months of summer, the department wants to remind folks of the risks associated with this decline.

When vaccine rates decline, the risk of outbreaks of diseases like measles and pertussis (whooping cough) increases. These diseases spread quickly in schools and childcare programs.

“Lots of families travel during the summer, said Luv Paresa, RN, immunization coordinator for Benton County Health Department. “When staff and children return to classrooms and childcare facilities in the fall, it’s not uncommon for illness to spread quickly.”

“Now is a great time to ensure our children and the community is protected by getting kids and teens up to date on recommended and required vaccines,” Paresa said.

Local Risk and School Immunization Rates

According to the Health Department, the current vaccination rates are not high enough to maintain community immunity. Community immunity, sometimes called herd immunity, means that enough people in a group or area have immunity to a germ (for instance, a virus) that it no longer spreads easily.

While most families in Benton County continue to choose vaccination to protect themselves, schools vary in their vaccination rates.

“The most current vaccination rates are not high enough to prevent measles outbreaks,” said Carolina Amador, M.D., health officer and pediatrician for Benton County Health Services. “We encourage families to look at the rates in their schools to better understand person and community risk."

School-specific immunization rates are available through OHA’s School Immunization Data Dashboard.

School Exclusion During an Outbreak

Under Oregon law, students who are not fully vaccinated may be excluded from school or childcare during an outbreak. This helps protect them and prevent the disease from spreading. 

Exclusions can last from several days to several weeks, depending on the disease. For example, during a measles outbreak, students who are not vaccinated must stay home for at least 21 days. Missing school can disrupt learning, activities, and family schedules.

Get Ready for the School Year

The start of the school year is a great time for parents and caregivers to check their children’s vaccine statuses and update their records to avoid school exclusion. Benton County Health Department encourages people to:

• Check which vaccines are required for school and childcare.
• Review child vaccine records.
• Schedule any needed vaccine appointments.

• Ask questions about school vaccine requirements and other recommended vaccines.

If children need vaccines, contact their doctor or call Benton County Health Department at 541-766-6835. Their Public Health Immunization Clinic at 530 NW 27^th Street, Corvallis is open Monday – Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome. The clinic offers longer appointment times and helps locate and update complex vaccine records such as out of state or international records.

For more information, visit Benton County’s immunizations webpage where you can find an easy-to-read, printable flyer of the school-required vaccine schedule in both English and Spanish.

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Benton County Health Department

The Benton County Health Department is committed to protecting the health and well-being of everyone who lives in, works in, or visits Benton County. The Benton County Health Department focuses on preventing health problems before they occur. Their programs strive to create community conditions that help reduce health disparities, so all people have an equal chance for a long and healthy life.

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MYRTLE CREEK, Ore. - On Saturday, September 5, 2026, at approximately 10:40 p.m., deputies with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a reported burglary in progress at a residence located in the 1000-block of North Gazley Road in Myrtle Creek. The caller advised there were two males inside the residence at the location and a female associated with a black 2007 Honda Fit who fled after she was confronted. 

While responding, deputies located the Honda Fit and conducted a traffic stop. Deputies detained the driver, 45-year-old Amber Leigh Cates of Canyonville. She was later taken into custody. 

Upon arrival, deputies contacted the victim who reported that there had been two males were inside the residence. The victim advised that one male had fled on foot while the second was possibly still inside. 

K9 Zoro was deployed inside the residence after numerous announcements were made that the canine would be searching the residence and instructing anyone inside to surrender. There was no response. 

K9 Zoro conducted a search of the residence and did not locate anyone inside. Deputies then began searching the surrounding property for the fleeing suspects. 

K9 Zoro led his handler to a large field and began tracking north. After a short distance, Zoro showed a strong interest in an area of tall grass, indicating the presence of fresh human scent. Zoro continued tracking, eventually turning east. 

After approximately 15 yards, a male later identified as 50-year-old Tommy Coggswell of Canyonville, suddenly stood up from the tall grass with his hands raised. K9 Zoro began barking at Coggswell until deputies took him into custody without further incident. 

Deputies and K9 Zoro continued searching the area for the second male suspect, but he was not located. 

Cates and Coggswell were transported to the Douglas County Jail where they were lodged on the following charges: 

Cates: 

• Conspiracy to Commit a Class C Felony
• Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine

Coggswell: 

• Burglary in the Second Degree

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information should call 541-440-4471 referencing case #26-2801. Additional case updates will be released when they become available. 

​The Sheriff's Office was assisted by Officers from the Myrtle Creek and Cow Creek Tribal Police Departments. 

K9 Zoro, a 8-year-old German Shepherd, has been with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office since September 2019. He was purchased by an anonymous donor in the community and gifted to the agency. The Sheriff's Office K9 program, consisting of three Patrol K9 teams and 1 narcotics K9 team, is supported financially by private donations and the Friends of Umpqua Valley Police K9 Programs, a non-profit organization whose mission is to support local police K9 teams.