Media Information Release

Type of incident: Structure Fire

Location of incident:  800 Block, NW Ewen Street, Prineville, Oregon 

Incident date:  11/20/2024                  Alarm Time:  03:07 am

Description of occupancy:  Small one-story house

Owner, occupant:  Occupants were alerted by a neighbor, and were able to exit the home safely.  Their several dogs and other pets were unharmed.  Occupants were connected with Red Cross.

Circumstances found on arrival; actions taken:  Units arrived at a small one-story house to find an attached storage building in the rear of the house on fire. Firefighters stretched a hose line to knock down the fire, then quickly entered the attached house to search for occupants and check for fire extension. No occupants were found, and the living area of the house sustained minimal fire or smoke damage. 

Injuries, rescues, other information of interest:  No injuries or rescues.

Responding Apparatus:  6

Responding Personnel:  13

Mutual Aid assistance by:  Prineville PD, Cascade Natural Gas, Pacific Power

Probable fire cause:  Fire was determined to be accidental.  It was caused by a heat lamp in a small chicken coop that was located near the storage structure.  The strong winds caused a small portable car shelter to land on the chicken coop, dislodging the heat lamp.

Contact:  Division Chief – Fire Marshal Russell Deboodt

Office: 541-447-5011        Cell:

Coos County, Ore 19 Nov 24- On Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 11:57 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Hwy 101, near milepost 255, in Coos County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a northbound GMC Sierra, operated by Nickolos Hastings Barker (40) of Bandon, crossed the center line for unknown reasons and struck a southbound Ford F-250 and trailer, operated by Michael Guarino (49) of Bandon, head-on.

The operator of the Ford (Guarino) was ejected from the vehicle and declared deceased at the scene.

The operator of the GMC (Barker) was seriously injured and transported to an area hospital.

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

OSP was assisted by the Bandon Police Department, Bandon Fire Department, Coquille Police Department, Coos County Sheriff's Office, and ODOT.

# # #

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 the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of 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.

Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, Nov. 20, Results for America recognized Oregon as an Honorable Mention in its 2024 Invest in What Works State Standard of Excellence for its use of evidence and data to drive taxpayer dollars toward proven solutions. The announcement was made during an event with the National Governors Association.

“One of my key priorities as Governor is making sure our state government uses its resources wisely and focuses on providing the best outcomes to support the health, happiness and economic prosperity of all Oregonians. The Results for America recognition illustrates that Oregon continues to lead and mature in our use of data-informed decision making and in managing for results. I look forward to seeing agencies continue to strengthen their practices to deliver valuable services to Oregonians.” -Governor Tina Kotek.

Some highlights include: 

• Oregon’s  Key Performance Measures system is a leading example of performance management. Agencies use this system to report regular progress on identified measures to the legislature and the Governor's Office.
• In a 2022 report to the legislature, the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) Youth Development Division invested in local programs that meet evidence-based practice criteria.
• The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) maintains an ongoing inventory of approved evidence-based practices in behavioral health, including culturally relevant services. OHA has also established the Health Evidence Review Commission to continually review and update an ongoing inventory of evidence-based practices at work within OHA.

Results for America’s 2024 Invest in What Works State Standard of Excellence evaluates all states against 12 criteria that measure how they are leveraging their budgeting, grantmaking and direct services authority to invest in what works and deliver better results for their residents faster.

Links:

• 2024 Results for America: https://2024state.results4america.org/
• Oregon State Legislature Key Performance Measures: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/lfo/Pages/KPM
• Progress Report on SB267: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/citizen_engagement/Reports
• Youth Development Division Report: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/citizen_engagement/Reports

Salem, Ore. – As winter storms and extreme weather events impact communities, Oregon residents are reminded to be prepared for potential power outages. Heavy snow, ice, and high winds can damage power lines and disrupt electricity, sometimes leading to extended outages. Weather conditions in specific geographies may also cause electric utilities to adjust system settings, which can result in more frequent or longer outages. 

Be Prepared in Advance 

Prepare your home and business in case a winter storm leads to a power outage: 

• Be two weeks ready – Gather food, medical supplies, batteries, pet supplies, and other essentials needed by family members during an outage or evacuation for up to two weeks. Learn more about what supplies to consider.  
• Register for a Medical Certificate – If you have a medical condition that requires power, contact your electricity service provider in advance to register a Medical Certificate. This certification provides added benefits and helps ensure your needs are met during an outage. 
• Update your contact information – Ensure your utility service provider has your current contact information to receive notifications. If uncertain which electric utility serves your area, visit Find Your Utility. 
• Charge your devices – Keep cell phones fully charged in anticipation of an outage. Consider a car charger for phones and other electronic devices. 
• Plan for livestock and well water needs – Ensure you have a plan for providing water to livestock in case well pumps lose power. 
• Consider alternative power sources – If possible, invest in a backup generator or identify an alternative location to meet power needs. 
• Documentation back-up – Capture clear images of vital papers and send them to your email, organizing them in a dedicated folder for quick access during emergencies (passports, driver’s license, car title, rental agreements, insurance policies, property titles, wills or power of attorney documents). 

During a Power Outage 

• Avoid downed power lines – Stay away from downed lines and anything near them. Report them to your utility provider immediately. 
• Be cautious around crews – Give space to utility workers and emergency responders as they work to restore service and clear hazards. 
• Use emergency lighting – Use flashlights or battery-operated lanterns for light. Avoid candles or other open flames. 
• Reduce power surges – Turn off lights and unplug electric appliances except for the refrigerator and freezer. Leave one light on to know when power is restored. 
• Use generators safely – Never operate a generator inside your home or garage, or near windows or vents, to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Learn more about safe generator use. 
• Check on vulnerable neighbors – Offer assistance to elderly neighbors or individuals with special needs who may require additional help. 
• Report outages – Call your electricity service provider to report an outage. Report non-emergency issues to your utility provider – Contact your electricity or utility company directly for outage reports or other non-urgent concerns to help keep 911 lines open for those in critical need. 
• Call 911 only for true emergencies – During major events like power outages or severe weather, 911 call centers (PSAPs) may experience high call volumes, which can delay emergency response times. 
• Invest in an emergency radio with AM/FM/SW and NOAA capabilities- Weather radios are available for under $40. Many models feature solar panels, hand-crank or battery backup, and double as flashlights and power banks for your cell phone. 

Natural Gas Tips 

• If you need to evacuate, there’s no need to shut off natural gas. 
• If natural gas appliances don’t work properly after electricity is restored, contact your gas service provider. 
• Do not turn on natural gas service yourself; always call your gas provider for assistance. 
• If you smell natural gas, evacuate immediately and call 911. 

Stay Informed 

• Sign up for alerts – Contact your electricity provider to ensure your contact information is current and sign up for local emergency alerts through ORalert.gov. 
• Check road conditions – Before traveling, visit Trip Check for road closures and weather updates. 
• Call 211 for information on resources available in your community.

Winter storms can disrupt daily life, but with preparation and safety precautions, you can minimize their impact on your household and community. 

###

It is the mission of the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) to proactively develop emergency response, risk reduction and disaster recovery programs to better serve Oregonians during times of disaster. OEM prioritizes an equitable and inclusive culture of preparedness that empowers all Oregonians to thrive in times in crisis. The agency leads collaborative statewide efforts, inclusive of all partners and the communities we serve, to ensure capability to get help in an emergency and to protect, mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies or disasters. For more information about OEM, visit oregon.gov/oem.

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

November 20, 2024 

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

New data shows Behavioral Health Resource Networks are reaching more clients as Measure 110 changes begin to take effect 

SALEM, Ore.— Behavioral Health Resource Networks (BHRNs) across the state continue to connect more substance users with services and treatment, according to the most recent quarterly report that ended June 30, 2024.

The newly reported data were collected after legislative reforms to Measure 110 were passed but have yet to be fully implemented. 

“BHRNs are helping Oregonians engage and stay in treatment,” said Measure 110 Executive Director Abbey Stamp. “Following legislative changes to Measure 110, it’s encouraging to see that providers, law enforcement and the communities are continuing to connect more substance users to care.”

Stamp started her role as the state’s Measure 110 program director October 15.  

Measure 110 established and funds BHRNs. The networks provide substance use disorder services in seven specified areas regardless of a client's ability to pay. There are BHRNs in all 36 Oregon counties, and more than one in some counties. 

The Oversight and Accountability Council, which governs Measure 110 funding, is presently considering a new round of grant applications for services that will begin on July 1, 2025.  

Each BHRN is responsive to its community’s needs by providing screening, assessments, treatment, peer support services, harm reduction, housing, and supported employment. 

The latest quarterly data shows several notable and evolving trends: 

• Since the establishment of BHRNs, client contact has increased steadily. Overall client encounters over the most recent quarter grew from 248,651 to 299,662 – a 20 percent increase.
• Supported employment, peer services and housing supports have more than tripled in the 21 months of operation.
• In the most recent quarter, capital expenditures have dropped to 10 percent compared to almost 50 percent during the first quarterly review period, from July through September 2022. The steady evolution from capital costs to service expenditures shows BHRN infrastructure is firmly established, and substance use disorder services continue to increase.

BHRN provider feedback showed the needs of communities across the state and endorsed the value of Measure 110 investments: 

• “We have seen many successes with our BHRN funding. Client outcomes are improving through the removal of barriers. Housing stability and employment services are the two main areas where we really see barrier removal making an impact. With fewer setbacks, individuals are able to focus on their treatment and make progress.”
• “The recruitment for hiring more community-based peer specialists has been challenging due to the high level of need in the community and staffing shortages. With the new employees, we once again work towards onboarding and stabilizing.”

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) maintains a comprehensive online dashboard that includes quarterly data, expenditures, key demographic information, and aggregated narrative summaries for the 42 service networks statewide.  

The dashboard contains a new feature summarizing community engagement work, a key component of Measure 110’s strategic data plan.

The work included collecting feedback from culturally specific providers to better understand their programs and how to improve evaluation measures.   

To learn more, visit OHA’s Measure 110 webpage.  

### 

Salem, Ore. – As winter storms and extreme weather events impact communities, Oregon residents are reminded to be prepared for potential power outages. Heavy snow, ice, and high winds can damage power lines and disrupt electricity, sometimes leading to extended outages. Weather conditions in specific geographies may also cause electric utilities to adjust system settings, which can result in more frequent or longer outages. 

Be Prepared in Advance 

Prepare your home and business in case a winter storm leads to a power outage: 

• Be two weeks ready – Gather food, medical supplies, batteries, pet supplies, and other essentials needed by family members during an outage or evacuation for up to two weeks. Learn more about what supplies to consider. 
• Register for a Medical Certificate – If you have a medical condition that requires power, contact your electricity service provider in advance to register a Medical Certificate. This certification provides added benefits and helps ensure your needs are met during an outage. 
• Update your contact information – Ensure your utility service provider has your current contact information to receive notifications. If uncertain about which electric utility serves your area, visit Find Your Utility. 
• Charge your devices – Keep cell phones fully charged in anticipation of an outage. Consider a car charger for phones and other electronic devices. 
• Plan for livestock and well water needs – Ensure you have a plan for providing water to livestock in case well pumps lose power. 
• Consider alternative power sources – If possible, invest in a backup generator or identify an alternative location to meet power needs. 
• Documentation back-up – Capture clear images of vital papers and send them to your email, organizing them in a dedicated folder for quick access during emergencies (passports, drivers license, car title, rental agreements, insurance policies, property titles, wills or power of attorney documents). 

During a Power Outage 

• Avoid downed power lines – Stay away from downed lines and anything near them. Report them to your utility provider immediately. 
• Be cautious around crews – Give space to utility workers and emergency responders as they work to restore service and clear hazards. 
• Use emergency lighting – Use flashlights or battery-operated lanterns for light. Avoid candles or other open flames. 
• Reduce power surges – Turn off lights and unplug electric appliances except for the refrigerator and freezer. Leave one light on to know when power is restored. 
• Use generators safely – Never operate a generator inside your home or garage, or near windows or vents, to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Learn more about safe generator use. 
• Check on vulnerable neighbors – Offer assistance to elderly neighbors or individuals with special needs who may require additional help. 
• Report outages – Call your electricity service provider to report an outage. Report non-emergency issues to your utility provider – Contact your electricity or utility company directly for outage reports or other non-urgent concerns to help keep 911 lines open for those in critical need. 
• Call 911 only for true emergencies – During major events like power outages or severe weather, 911 call centers (PSAPs) may experience high call volumes, which can delay emergency response times. 
• Invest in an emergency radio with AM/FM/SW and NOAA capabilities- Weather radios are available for under $40. Many models feature solar panels, hand-crank or battery backup, and double as flashlights and power banks for your cell phone. 

Natural Gas Tips 

• If you need to evacuate, there’s no need to shut off natural gas. 
• If natural gas appliances don’t work properly after electricity is restored, contact your gas service provider. 
• Do not turn on natural gas service yourself; always call your gas provider for assistance. 
• If you smell natural gas, evacuate immediately and call 911. 

Stay Informed 

• Sign up for alerts – Contact your electricity provider to ensure your contact information is current and sign up for local emergency alerts through ORalert.gov. 
• Check road conditions – Before traveling, visit Trip Check for road closures and weather updates. 

Winter storms can disrupt daily life, but with preparation and safety precautions, you can minimize their impact on your household and community. 

#### 

The PUC regulates customer rates and services of the state’s investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities, including Portland General Electric, Idaho Power, Pacific Power, Avista, Cascade Natural, and NW Natural. The PUC also regulates landline telephone providers and select water companies. The PUC’s mission is to ensure Oregonians have access to safe, reliable, and fairly priced utility services that advance state policy and promote the public interest. We use an inclusive process to evaluate differing viewpoints and visions of the public interest and arrive at balanced, well-reasoned, independent decisions supported by fact and law. For more information about the PUC, visit oregon.gov/puc. 
 
It is the mission of the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) to proactively develop emergency response, risk reduction and disaster recovery programs to better serve Oregonians during times of disaster. OEM prioritizes an equitable and inclusive culture of preparedness that empowers all Oregonians to thrive in times of crisis. The agency leads collaborative statewide efforts, inclusive of all partners and the communities we serve, to ensure the capability to get help in an emergency and to protect, mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies or disasters. For more information about OEM, visit oregon.gov/oem. 

November 20, 2024

Contact: Amy Bacher, acher2@oha.oregon.gov">amy.bacher2@oha.oregon.gov

Oregon Health Plan members, providers, advocates encouraged to share experiences at virtual town hall

Portland, Ore. – The Oregon Health Policy Board (OHPB) will host a virtual town hall Dec. 3 to hear about Oregon Health Plan (OHP) member successes, challenges and experiences with coordinated care organizations (CCOs). Stories shared at the town hall will inform the board’s recommendations about the CCO model to Oregon Health Authority and the Governor’s office.

OHPB is looking for stories from health care providers, caregivers, community-based organizations (CBOs) and OHP members. They are particularly interested to know more about CCO efforts regarding health care for children, care that goes beyond medical appointments to support social and environmental development (such as information about, or access to, air conditioning or housing programs), or behavioral health referrals or partnerships.

The town hall will take place online Dec. 3, 10 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. People who wish to share during the meeting should register no later than 11 a.m., Monday, Dec. 2. Anyone who wishes to share their experiences will have approximately three to five minutes to speak; timeframes may need be updated if there is an overwhelming number of participants. There will also be time at the January 7 OHPB meeting to provide feedback.

Stories can also be shared in writing only. Written submissions will be compiled and shared with OHPB members, then posted to the web site. People do not need to be present during the town hall to submit their stories via email.

OHPB will host a separate event in early 2025 for CCO staff to share their experiences. The December town hall is meant for OHP members, providers, CBOs, and members of the public.

If you have any questions or request assistance, please contact Suzanne Cross at oss@oha.oregon.gov">suzanne.l.cross@oha.oregon.gov or (541) 640-2994. Additional information is available on the OHPB web site or by subscribing to OHPB updates.

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PRINEVILLE, Ore. – The Bureau of Land Management is temporarily setting aside roughly 4,037 acres of public lands associated with the proposed Expedition Solar Project near Redmond in Deschutes County. This means that the lands will be withdrawn from the public land laws for two years, including location under the Mining Law, subject to valid existing rights, while the BLM reviews the potential environmental impacts of the proposed project.

As of September 2024, the Biden-Harris administration approved 41 renewable energy projects on public lands (10 solar, 13 geothermal, and 18 gen-ties) and exceeded the goal to permit 25 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2025. In total, the BLM has permitted clean energy projects on public lands with a total capacity of approximately 29 gigawatts of power – enough to power more than 12 million homes.  

The withdrawal notice will publish in tomorrow’s Federal Register.

For more information, please contact Faith Simitz, BLM Prineville District Realty Specialist, at (541) 416-6783 or fsimitz@blm.gov. 

-BLM- 

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

Portland, OR — The Oregon Historical Society (OHS) and Densho are excited to announce a significant grant award from the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) for Citizen(s) Yasui: Illuminating the Japanese American Experience through the Yasui Family Collections. This two-year collaborative digitization project will create over 17,000 digital files from the Yasui family papers, Yasui Brothers business records, and Yabe family papers collections preserved in OHS’s research library. 

This grant award is part of CLIR’s Digitizing Hidden Collections: Amplifying Unheard Voices program, designed to support efforts to digitize materials that deepen public understanding of the histories of people of color and other communities and populations whose work, experiences, and perspectives have been insufficiently recognized or unattended. Citizen(s) Yasui is one of 18 funded projects that, through archival digitization efforts, ensures that new generations can engage with and learn from the stories, contributions, and cultural heritage of underrepresented groups.

“Public discourse requires an honest and rigorous understanding of our past; it is imperative that we expand access to these vital materials to foster scholarship and enrich our collective knowledge,” said CLIR president Charles Henry noted in a press release announcing the grant awardees. 

Building on the successes of recent projects highlighting and translating a selection of Japanese language materials, Citizen(s) Yasui will cover a much larger sample of these historically significant collection materials. Rare among archival collections in size and content, these three collections document early twentieth century immigration, business, farming, family, and community life in Oregon; Japanese American incarceration and separation during World War II; the work of later generations to rebuild in post-WWII America; and decades of activism to acknowledge incarceration and seek justice.

This project will enable free online access to these primary source materials documenting the Japanese American experience through OHS Digital Collections (digitalcollections.ohs.org), Densho Digital Repository (ddr.densho.org), and the Digital Public Library of America (dp.la). 

About the Oregon Historical Society

For more than 125 years, the Oregon Historical Society has served as the state’s collective memory, preserving a vast collection of photographs, books, maps, manuscript materials, films, oral histories, objects, and belongings. Our research library, museum, digital platforms, educational programming, and historical journal make Oregon’s history available to all. We preserve our state’s history and make it accessible to everyone in ways that advance knowledge and inspire curiosity about all the people, places, and events that have shaped Oregon. 

About Densho

Densho is a nonprofit organization started in 1996, with the initial goal of documenting oral histories from Japanese Americans who were incarcerated during World War II. This evolved into a mission to educate, preserve, collaborate, and inspire action for equity. Densho uses digital technology to preserve and make accessible primary source materials on the World War II incarceration of Japanese Americans and presents these materials and related resources for their historic value and as a means of exploring issues of democracy, intolerance, wartime hysteria, civil rights and the responsibilities of citizenship in our increasingly global society. 

With changes in the national economic outlook, Oregon is moving toward a soft landing.

Salem, OR – Carl Riccadonna, state chief economist at the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) and head of the Office of Economic Analysis (OEA), presented the latest revenue forecast to a joint meeting of the Oregon Legislative Revenue Committees. The quarterly revenue forecasts serve to open the revenue forecasting process to public review and is the basis for much of the Oregon state government budgeting process. 

The Office of Economic Analysis provides quarterly forecasts for the State of Oregon’s major revenue sources, including all sources contributing to the General Fund (Personal and Corporate Income Tax, etc.), Lottery and the Corporate Activity Tax. In May of odd years, OEA’s revenue forecast establishes the resource levels for the next biennium’s adopted budget.

What is different about this forecast?

The revenue forecast presented in today’s committee begins with a modified analytical approach. Carl Riccadonna and his team reviewed the methodology and outcomes of the revenue forecast over several recent biennia to identify potential sources of error. The past forecasts ultimately deviated significantly from actual tax collections, as shown in figure 1. 

The Nov. 20 forecast reflects methodological adjustments that result in immediate increases to the forecast. The reason for these methodology changes is because the historic forecast errors have increased in magnitude and shown a persistent bias since 2009. OEA’s adjustments are expected to address these issues. 

The Office of Economic Analysis has made two main adjustments:

1. Reconstruction of the Personal Income Tax model to reflect true tax liability and collections. As part of this change, modeling of the kicker impact was more intrinsically incorporated into the model. This will eliminate a false signal of weakness in current tax year collections 
2. Tighter alignment between the Oregon revenue forecast assumptions and the larger, national economic trends.

The intent of these changes is to reduce future forecast error and align income tax forecasts with economic assumptions. 

The results

The December revenue forecast projects the 2023-25 General Fund ending balance to be $2.79 billion, with revenues increasing by $945 million since the September forecast. 

In the 2025-27 biennium, General Fund available resources are forecast to increase by $2.27 billion, and revenues increasing by $1.3 billion from the September forecast. This results in a total of $37.8 billion projected available resources. 

About the Office of Economic Analysis

The state chief economist oversees the Office of Economic Analysis within the Department of Administrative Services and provides objective forecasts of the state’s economy, revenue, populations, corrections population and Youth Authority population. These forecasts are used across state government, and by the public for a variety of reasons, notably to inform the state budgeting process. For more information about the Office of Economic Analysis and recent forecasts visit https://www.oregon.gov/das/oea/pages/index.aspx. 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bend, OR – November 20, 2024 – Shepherd's House Ministries is calling on the Central Oregon community to come together in the spirit of gratitude and generosity by contributing to its annual Thanksgiving Dinner. Donations are needed to provide a warm and meaningful holiday meal for individuals and families in need.

The following items are needed to prepare this year’s feast:

- Turkeys

- Green Beans

- Yams

- Apple Pie

- Pumpkin Pie

- Carrots

- Celery

- Butter

- Potatoes

- Stuffing Mix

Donations can be dropped off at the following locations:

- 1854 NE Division Street, Bend

- 1350 S Hwy 97, Redmond

Donation Hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The annual Thanksgiving Dinner, a cherished community tradition, will take place on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, the day before Thanksgiving. Meals will be served at both the Bend and Redmond shelter locations, providing nourishment and connection for those who need it most.

“This event is more than just a meal; it’s an opportunity to share hope, love, and community with our neighbors,” said Curt Floski, Executive Director. “We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of the Central Oregon community in helping us make this possible year after year.”

Shepherd's House Ministries invites everyone to join in this effort to bring warmth and joy to those in need. Whether you donate food items, volunteer your time, or spread the word, your involvement makes a difference.

For more information about the Thanksgiving Dinner and ways to support, shministries.org

About Shepherd's House Ministries

Shepherd's House Ministries serves the Central Oregon community by providing shelter, meals, and programs for individuals and families experiencing homelessness and hardship. Together, we can make a difference and show that grace changes everything.

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LYONS, Ore.—The four-year effort by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) to reforest the Santiam State Forest after the 2020 wildfires hit an important milestone this month when the last of more than 2.3 million trees were planted. 

“This was a huge, challenging, and long-term project for ODF,” said John Walter, ODF’s State Forests Silviculturist. “We planted about ten times what we normally would in that time, with no additional staff being hired. The replanting was in steep, rocky, and difficult terrain along with high-altitude snowy conditions for much of the prime planting season. These safety concerns limited the time crews could plant the seedlings. Additionally, we did not have the budget to purchase that number of trees for the 5,600 acres that were scorched in the state forest from those 2020 fires. Even with all those hurdles, the ODF team worked together to make this happen quickly and effectively.” 

And those were just the challenges of replanting, to get to the areas that needed to be reforested, more than 200 miles of roads had to be repaired; and burnt, dangerous trees along those roads had to be removed so crews could safely get to the areas. 

The fastest and most cost-effective way to remove the dead trees and get the roads fixed was through special salvage logging timber sales. 

“This was a gigantic work effort,” said Kyle Kaupp, Santiam Unit Forester for ODF’s North Cascade District. “We typically have a team of one unit manager and five foresters to set up our four-to-six sales for the year. In 2021, we had foresters come in from every district with State Forest ownership to help set up 18 salvage sales, develop road repair contracts, assist with reforestation, and help us through the planning process.” 

Speed is critical for after fire timber salvage sales since the standing timber is only good for about three years before it is unusable. 

“We had advertised timber volume of 50.5 million board feet for the sales which gave us net receivables of roughly $20.25 million,” said Kaupp.   

This revenue would not have been recovered if not for the quick actions of the ODF team. The revenue from all state forests sales is split with approximately two thirds going to the county where the timber was harvested and one third going to ODF to manage state forests. 

“Clackamas, Marion, and Linn counties all received more than typical years of regular harvests. The additional revenue was timely in that it helped the counties in their already monumental efforts to recover from those 2020 fires,” said Kaupp. 

To access the sales areas and to get the salvaged timber out the roads needed to be inspected and repaired. “Many of our smaller road culverts, typically18-inches, are made from plastic and some of these melted from the intense heat of the wildfires,” said Kaupp. “If you don’t evaluate and replace the damaged ones you could get dangerous sinkholes in your roads. The roads are also critical to get to future wildfire starts to put them out quickly and to minimize future losses from fires.” 

As the salvage logging was underway and roads repaired and improved, tree planting was taking place. However, there was still the challenge of paying for seedlings and crews to plant them. 

“We received more than $1million from the non-profit American Forests,” said Walter. “All that funding went toward seedlings costs—we typically plant 360 seedlings per acre and then go back and replant if we do not have at least 200 trees per acre survive.” 

Because of the rough terrain and lack of roads in some areas of the state forest the department also used a helicopter to aerial seed some nearly inaccessible parts of the forest.  

“The challenge with that method is determining how effective your efforts are after a few years since those small seedlings can’t be seen through the other vegetation from our typical aerial surveys,” said Walter. “Our small on the ground sampling in areas we could get to saw a good survival rate considering the conditions.” 

State forests are not just managed for economic benefits, but a concept called greatest permanent value. This takes into account economic, environmental, and social benefits to all Oregonians.  

The social value of the Santiam was greatly reduced right after the fire as most trails and recreation areas were closed due to those dangerous hazard trees and road safety concerns.   

“At the popular Shellburg Falls recreation area bridges, wooden steps and other infrastructure and the trees around the falls were wiped out by the fires,” said Joe Offer, ODF’s Recreation Manager for State Forests. “For the safety of our staff, we had to wait for the salvage logging and road repairs to finish before beginning work on recreation restoration projects.” 

Once again there were no additional personnel or funding to get recreation sites useable again. 

“We relied heavily on volunteer groups and adults in custody work crews from the Department of Corrections to rebuild and realign trails and build new structures,” said Offer.  

Thanks to those cooperative efforts, the popular Butte Creek Falls and Shellburg Falls recreation areas opened this year providing access into some of the forest’s most loved facilities and trails. 

“The only areas that are still closed for safety reasons are the Sardine Creek and Rhody Lake areas. However, we’re working diligently to open both in the near future,” said Offer. 

On the environmental side the 2020 burns impacted wildlife and their habitat. 

“Many people do not realize that the landscape after a wildfire is not a monolithic black completely burned area,” said Mike Davis, state forests Wildlife Biologist. “It’s more of a patchwork type of landscape depending on the severity of the fire in each area. There might be completely a burned area, then a small stand of healthy trees that survived, then trees that look alive but die in a few years.” 

In the middle of that patchwork the biologists were excited to see the first northern spotted owl in the area since 2020. The spotted owl is a threatened species the department monitors throughout all the state forests in western Oregon and Sun Pass State Forest in eastern Oregon. 

“We first saw the owl in 2023 and worked with our contract surveyors to capture and put leg bands on the female owl. It was found again this year but doesn’t appear to be nesting,” said Davis.   

Nearly half of the Santiam was burned by the fires including critical habitat areas for owls.  

“We were excited to see the owl make a return—even if only one. Our hope is it will find a mate and nest next year,” said Davis. 

Under the future state forests habitat conservation plan (HCP) the department is in the process of applying for with federal agencies to ensure both continued timber harvest and protection of threatened and endangered species for the next 70 years, the Santiam will provide a unique research opportunity. 

As part of the HCP, the department will develop and manage habitat conservation areas (HCAs) to maintain and improve habitats of key fish and wildlife species. 

“We'll be implementing landscape-level passive acoustic monitoring to document changes in northern spotted owl use throughout our habitat conservation areas on Santiam State Forest,” said Vanessa Petro, state forests Lead Wildlife Biologist.   

This process uses remote recording devices to capture wildlife vocalizations to more accurately determine what species are in an area. 

“Conducting this type of survey in the Santiam will allow us to document differences in spotted owl occupancy relative to the burn severity patterns within the Beachie Creek fire perimeter. It will also help us better understand how wildlife species are responding to habitat treatments such as thinning that will accelerate the development of late-seral forest characteristics we desire in the HCAs such as large diameter snags and down wood, in addition to a multi-layered forest canopy.  

Another species ODF will be studying is the Oregon slender salamander, which is a federal species of concern found only in the Cascade Range in Oregon. 

“We will also be conducting Oregon slender salamander surveys to better understand their distribution and occurrence on the Santiam,” said Petro “Our long-term monitoring will provide us a better understanding on how their occupancy and abundance is influenced by existing habitat conditions and our forest management activities.” 

Wildfires like the ones in 2020 fueled by strong East winds can move very fast and inflict their damage in a few hours; however, recovery can take years. 

“I want to thank all the staff, volunteers, contractors, partners and community members for their hard work and patience while we worked to restore their forest these last four years,” said Mike Wilson, ODF’s State Forest Division Chief. “This replanting is an important milestone, but we still have more work to do to make sure the Santiam State Forest recovers and remains accessible to all Oregonians.” 

SALEM, OR – November 19, 2024 – The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) invites all Oregonians to participate in shaping the future of emergency management across the state. On February 11, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., OEM is hosting its second annual town hall where community members and partners from all backgrounds can provide input and feedback on the agency’s 2023–2025 Strategic Plan and the OEM Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) plan.

The Strategic Plan serves as a blueprint for OEM’s commitment to delivering excellent customer service and building resilience within Oregon’s communities. The IDEA plan guides emergency management practices that address the needs of all communities, fostering equitable outcomes and inclusive resilience statewide.  Feedback from this town hall will help guide OEM’s efforts to improve emergency preparedness, response and recovery in ways that serve every community across the state—before, during and after a disaster.

The town hall is open to everyone, and no prior emergency management experience is required. Closed captioning will be available, and a video and audio transcript of the event will be accessible upon request after the event.

Event Details:

Event: Oregon Department of Emergency Management’s second annual strategic planning and IDEA town hall
Date: February 11, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Location: Meeting will be virtual; link will be sent as event nears.  

Your feedback is critical in helping OEM serve Oregon’s diverse communities better and to foster an inclusive approach to emergency preparedness and resilience. We look forward to hearing from you at this important event.

For more information or questions, please contact Bobbi McAllister at obbi.mcallister@oem.oregon.gov">bobbi.mcallister@oem.oregon.gov. 

PR 22-24

BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 
CONTACT: Maryam Habibi, BPA, 503-230-4413

BPA selects Chris Wilk as chief information officer

Wilk will take over the role and join BPA’s executive team on Dec. 1, 2024 

Portland, Oregon – The Bonneville Power Administration has named Chris Wilk as its chief information officer and executive vice president of Information Technology. Wilk will take over the role on Dec. 1. 

Wilk comes to BPA from the Southeastern Power Administration, where he served as CIO for three years. He also served as BPA's acting CIO during the first half of 2024. 

“Chris brings to BPA a depth of experience in civil service, industry and the military that gives him a uniquely well-rounded perspective and the ability to create connections, collaborate and build coalitions across diverse groups at all levels," said Chief Administrative Officer Robin Furrer. 

The CIO and executive vice president of Information Technology is responsible for developing and supporting BPA-wide technology systems and providing governance and planning to meet BPA's mission and objectives. In this position, Wilk will have overall responsibility, oversight, direction and accountability for BPA information and operational technology-related programs.

After completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Colorado, Wilk was commissioned through the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. While on active duty, he served with the storied 10th Mountain Division as part of Operation Enduring Freedom as well as with the 15th Signal Brigade and U. S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence. 

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to serve as BPA's chief information officer," said Wilk. “Technology is a key partner and enabler, supporting nearly all aspects of our agency's mission. I look forward to working with BPA’s workforce as we help move the agency forward during a time of critical transformation."

You can read more about Wilk’s qualifications and responsibilities in BPA’s newsroom. 

About BPA: BPA is a federal non-profit power marketing administration that delivers reliable, affordable and carbon-free hydropower produced in the Columbia River Basin to communities across the Northwest. BPA also owns and operates more than 15,000 circuit miles of high-voltage transmission lines and administers one of the largest, most comprehensive fish and wildlife conservation programs in the United States. More information about these and other activities is available on our Media Relations page.

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MONMOUTH, Ore. – Building upon Western Oregon University’s success in educating bilingual teachers to serve Oregon’s diverse communities, the university has been awarded a $2 million Workforce Ready Grant by the Oregon Legislature, administered by The Higher Education Coordinating Commission to help train more counselors and behavioral and mental health professionals through June 2026.

Similar to the shortages of teachers and medical providers, there is a severe lack of counselors and behavioral health professionals who can work with clients in both Spanish and English. The program will recruit bilingual undergraduate students, provide them with tuition assistance, and offer opportunities to work with Polk or Marion County in an earn-to-learn setting. Students placed with the counties will work part-time, gaining valuable experience and supervised clinical hours while addressing the acute shortage of counselors in the community.

The program will also support students in Chemeketa Community College’s Behavioral Health program, Western’s Master of Science in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling program, and the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program. The community-based organization Interface Network will assist in recruiting students and helping them overcome barriers that affect their ability to earn their degrees, such as lack of childcare, transportation, and technology.

"As a clinician for 25 years working alongside our Latino community members and other service providers, I know firsthand the benefit of working with clients in their preferred language,” said  Carlos Texidor Maldonado, Ph.D., assistant professor in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling at Western. “It is thrilling that Oregon, particularly Western Oregon University, is purposefully training more bilingual counselors and behavioral health professionals to meet the increasing needs of our communities."

The program launches in early 2025 and is currently recruiting students. Learn more about the program.

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About Western Oregon University

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

SALEM, Oregon — Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is seeking public comments on proposed general park area rule updates that refine definitions, reflect agency practice, make rules easier to understand and provide more flexibility when possible.

Park area rules help guide public use of park properties and cover everything from the use of motor vehicles, bicycles and boats to day use and campground use. Proposed changes would address issues that staff face as visitation grows, make rules and penalties clearer and provide more flexibility for public services.

The public is invited to comment on the proposed updates now through 5 p.m. Jan. 17, 2025: 

• Submit comments online on the rules webpage 
• Attend a public hearing Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 5:30 PM
  • Registration required to provide public comment: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_V89ta-sURvamrsaBaOnz0g
  • Watch the hearing: https://www.youtube.com/@oprddirectorsoffice5783/streams

Two internal workgroups developed the proposed updates. The last group reviewed the rules with an inclusionary lens and sought external feedback to help remove possible barriers to park use. 

A Rule Advisory Committee (RAC) met three times last summer to suggest changes to the proposed rule updates developed by the two internal workgroups. RAC Members included mental health practitioners, representatives from the disability community, equestrian community and diversity and environmental conservationists. The committee included diverse stakeholders who currently use state parks and those who have faced barriers. Those meetings are posted online at https://www.youtube.com/@oprddirectorsoffice5783/streams

One proposed update creates a clearer definition of the overnight campground stay limit. Currently, visitors can stay no more than 14 consecutive days in a 17-day period. This definition has caused confusion for visitors and staff. The proposed update defines the stay limit as no more than 14 consecutive days in a 30-day period to match most national parks. Another update includes language about traditional use for members of a federally recognized Oregon tribe. 

Individuals who require special accommodations to view the meetings should contact Helena Kesch at least three days in advance of the meeting at helena.kesch@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-881-4637.

WHAT: On Thursday, November 21 the Coquille Indian Tribe is hosting state legislators and other leaders as the Oregon Department of Human Services' Office of Resilience and Emergency Management conducts an emergency preparedness exercise and installs evacuation assembly point (EAP) equipment.

Members of the media are invited to tour the EAP equipment and attend a news conference. 

WHERE: Coquille Indian Tribe Plank House. Media parking at 1050 Plankhouse Road, Coos Bay, OR 97420.

WHEN: Thursday, November 21, 2024

• Members of the media may come and go anytime 12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
• Key events:
  • 12:45 p.m. news conference
  • Speakers from the Coquille Indian Tribe, Oregon Legislature, Oregon Department of Human Services
  • 1:15 p.m. mass care demonstrations: 
    • United States Coast Guard demonstrating medical extraction and search and rescue.
    • CERFP demonstrating mass care triage capability.
    • Scappoose Fire demonstrating an unmanned aircraft system (aka drone).
  • 2:30 p.m. demonstrations end
• Video and still images of the exercise will be sent to media by 3:00 p.m. on November 21.

WHO: Leaders from the Coquille Indian Tribe, State legislators and leaders from Coos County and the Oregon Department of Human Services’ Office of Resilience and Emergency Management

WHY: The Coquille Indian Tribe agreed to host the EAP supplies provided by OREM. The supplies are housed in metal shipping containers that store food, water, tents and medical supplies to support 100 people at the evacuation assembly point (EAP) for two weeks in the event of an emergency. Evacuation assembly points are short-term locations for people to gather while emergency responders work to access the impacted area, and stage people for evacuation. 

This is the third set of EAP equipment that OREM has placed on the Oregon Coast. Others are located at the Tillamook Municipal Airport and Newport Airport. These are pre-planned locations for people to be transported out of the immediate disaster area.

OREM is the lead state agency for mass care (e.g., shelter, food and water). Along with partners like the Coquille Indian Tribe, OREM has staged these supplies in coastal communities because they will be isolated from responders in the immediate aftermath of the Cascadia earthquake. 

HOW: For interviews or additional information please contact: 

• Sara Campos, ODHS OREM Public Information Officer, 971-208-1947 a.k.campos@odhs.oregon.gov">sara.k.campos@odhs.oregon.gov
• Tim Novotny, Coquille Indian Tribe Communications Director, 541-751-7491 timnovotny@coquilletribe.org

Date: Nov. 19, 2024

Case #: 2024-00067896

Incident: Man dead in train collision near SE Wilson Avenue

Date / Time of Incident: Nov. 18, 2024 / 5:43 p.m.  

Location: BNSF railroad tracks, SE Wilson Avenue, Bend 

Deceased: Tony Ray Monen, 52-year-old Bend resident

At approximately 5:43 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 18, Bend Police were dispatched to a report of a collision between a southbound BNSF train and a person at the railroad tracks near SE Wilson Avenue. 

An investigation determined that the man, identified as 52-year-old Tony Ray Monen, was lying on the tracks when he was struck. Monen was dead at the scene, and no foul play is suspected. 

SE Wilson Avenue between Ninth and Centennial streets was closed until approximately 9:30 p.m. as the Bend Police crash reconstruction team conducted its investigation. 

The countdown is on! The first day of the highly anticipated Holiday Express is almost here, and it’s your chance to ride a train pulled by a historic steam locomotive—an unforgettable experience like no other.

Santa's nearly ready—list checked, elves prepped, lights sparkling, and candy canes in hand. The only thing missing is YOU!

Get your tickets now for this beloved annual tradition. Create lasting memories with friends and family aboard the Holiday Express. Rides begin Nov. 29 and run every Friday - Sunday through Jan. 4.

Special Offer: Get 10% off select rides from Nov. 29 to Dec. 8! But don’t wait, tickets are selling fast.

Be part of the magic this holiday season. Reserve your seat today!

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, Robert Gary Gammell, died November 11, 2024. Gammell was incarcerated at Snake River Correctional Institution (SRCI) in Ontario and passed away at the institution. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified, and the State Medical Examiner will determine cause of death.

Gammell entered DOC custody on July 7, 2020, from Marion County with an earliest release date of November 3, 2028. Gammell was 68 years old. 

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

SRCI is a multi-custody prison in Ontario that houses approximately 3,000 adults in custody. SRCI has multiple special housing units including disciplinary segregation, intensive management, infirmary (with hospice) with 24-hour nursing care, and an administrative segregation unit. SRCI participates in prison industries with Oregon Corrections Enterprises including a contact center, laundry, and sign shop. SRCI specializes in incentive housing, specialized housing, individuals with mental health/medical vulnerabilities, education and trades programs, cognitive and parenting programs, and institution work programs. SRCI opened in 1991 and is the largest correctional institution in the state.

Please note - the delay in public notification is due to a technical difficulty with the messaging platform DOC uses.

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Lake Oswego, Ore. – The Hospital Association of Oregon Board of Trustees has elected Joe Ness, interim executive vice president and interim CEO of OHSU Health, and Tom Gessel, president and CEO of Asante, to serve as member trustees on the board of trustees. Both were elected to fill vacancies on the board.  

“We are excited to have these two outstanding leaders join the board,” said Hospital Association of Oregon President and CEO Becky Hultberg. “Both Joe and Tom have spent their careers improving the health care system, and each brings a wealth of leadership experience. They will make great additions to the board at this critical time for hospitals and the communities they serve.” 

Since 2018, Ness has also been a senior vice president and the chief operating officer at OHSU Health, where he has executive leadership responsibilities for OHSU Healthcare (OHSU Hospital and OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital), including professional and support services, perioperative services, Knight Cancer Institute’s clinical oncology services, organ procurement organization, and major capital construction initiatives. Ness earned a master’s degree in health administration from the University of Washington.  

Gessel joined Asante in 2023 and serves as president and CEO.  He brings 25 years of executive experience, with 20 years at the president and CEO level. Gessel previously served as group president for a 20-hospital system in Colorado and has led a variety of hospitals throughout his career. He holds a master’s degree in health administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.  

About the Hospital Association of Oregon 
Founded in 1934, the Hospital Association of Oregon is a mission-driven, nonprofit trade association representing Oregon’s 61 community hospitals. Together, hospitals are the sixth largest private employer statewide, employing more than 70,000 employees. Committed to fostering a stronger, safer, more equitable Oregon where all people have access to the care they need, the hospital association provides services to Oregon’s hospitals ensuring all are able to deliver dependable, comprehensive health care to their communities; educates government officials and the public on the state’s health landscape and works collaboratively with policymakers, community based organizations and the health care community to build consensus on and advance health care policy benefiting the state’s four million residents.   

Released By: Sergeant Jason Wall

Release Date: November 18, 2024

With the holidays quickly approaching the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Shop with a Cop program planning is well underway. This year we will be at local area Walmart Stores beginning December 3rd, 4th, and 5th.

Shop with a Cop is a joint venture between local law enforcement agencies throughout Central Oregon, and local Walmart stores. The primary focus is to help make the holidays a little brighter for less fortunate families and provide an opportunity for children to engage in positive police interaction.

Shop with a Cop is completely funded by donations from our community. Many businesses, organizations, and individual citizens donate money to the program. No tax dollars are spent on this program. In addition to shopping for the students, Shop with a Cop provides a Christmas meal for participating families. We apply 100% of community donations to this local program.

Participating students are referred by the Family Access Network (FAN) advocate for the schools within Deschutes County. Additional students are referred via the Central Oregon Partnership for Youth (COPY) program, which provides positive mentoring for children of incarcerated parents.

Shop with a Cop is overseen and coordinated by the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, however, its continued success stems from the participation of deputies from the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, officers and deputies from agencies throughout Central Oregon, City of Bend Police Department, Redmond Police Department, Sunriver Police Department, Deschutes County Parole and Probation, Oregon State Police, and law enforcement from the U.S. Forest Service.

Shop with a Cop has also been overwhelmingly successful in past years because of the outstanding generosity, in the form of monetary support, from local citizens and businesses. Volunteer support for the program has always been a critical part of the program's success as well.

For inquiries regarding possible donations please contact Lieutenant Bryan Husband through our main office. 541-388-6655.

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

Date: Nov. 18, 2024

Case #s: 

2024-00063972 
2024-00053768 
2024-00040527
2024-00020088
2023-00061247
2022-00073066 
2022-00009195
2022-00049336

Incident: Recent scams defraud local businesses

The Bend Police Department would like to alert local businesses and community members to two types of scams we are frequently seeing reported.   

These scams follow two fact patterns. 

In the first scam, of which we’ve received reports dating back to 2022, local businesses and nonprofits are targeted. A company email is unknowingly hacked, and the scammer initiates email communication with the local business while impersonating a known vendor or contractor. In multiple cases, the scammer has used an email address that is virtually identical to the vendor’s email address, but with one letter changed. 

The scammer then contacts the local business posing as the vendor, with an invoice or payment request, and the local business wires the funds or sends a check to a new account. 

In these cases, victims have lost at least $400,000, and we believe there are additional victims who have not reported these incidents to law enforcement. These cases can be difficult to investigate, as the money is typically wired to an offshore account, leaving our office with little suspect information.  

The other common scam our officers are seeing features a scammer calling a local business or an individual and pretending to be someone in a position of power: a manager, company owner or bank employee, for example. The scammer directs the victim to remove money from an account, a safe or other place where money is secured in the store and directs them to put those funds in a Bitcoin account. This has similarly resulted in losses of thousands of dollars for victims. 

So far this year, our agency has taken at least 361 reports of scams and fraud attempts, a significant increase over past years. We don’t want you to be a victim. A few reminders: 

• Law enforcement and other federal agencies will never call or email you demanding money. Banks will not ask you to wire money as part of a fraud investigation. Do not transfer money into Bitcoin or other online apps at the behest of any agency or business. 
• Likewise, legitimate groups do not request payment in the form of gift cards. 
• Never give personal information like a social security number or a bank account number over the phone or via email. A banking institution will not ask for these things. 
• Trust your gut. If the caller is rushing you, making you feel uncomfortable, or you just think something is off, get off the phone and call the nonemergency dispatch line at 541-693-6911. 
• Don’t believe Caller ID. Scammers can fake the number they’re calling from or a name or company you may recognize. 
• If the person who calls or texts you claims to be a manager or company owner, tell them you’ll need to call them back. That will buy you time and allow you to contact your immediate supervisor. You won’t inconvenience them; you may save them a lot of money. 

Have you been the victim of a scam? You can file a complaint with the FBI at www.IC3.gov. 

SALEM, Oregon – Oregon Parks and Recreation Department will once again offer free day-use parking the day after Thanksgiving to encourage Oregonians to enjoy the outdoors.

Popularly known as “Green Friday,” the day after Thanksgiving, which falls on Nov. 29 this year, has become a tradition for many families. State parks will waive day-use parking fees in the 23 parks that are open and charge for parking. (Fall Creek and Nehalem Bay charge for parking but are closed.)

“We’re excited to continue this tradition and offer everyone the opportunity to get outside and explore,” said Lisa Sumption, director of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. 

Parking is free year-round at almost all of Oregon’s approximately 250 state parks; the waiver applies to the parks that charge for parking. The current $5 daily fee is going up to $10 starting Jan. 2, 2025, but the prices for 12-month and 24-month permits are staying the same at $30 and $50, respectively. Learn more about the increasing fees on our website. 

The parks that charge parking fees include popular destinations such as Fort Stevens, Cape Lookout, Silver Falls, Champoeg, L.L. Stub Stewart, Smith Rock and Milo McIver. A complete list of the 25 parks that require day-use parking permits is available online.

The fee waiver applies from open to close on Nov. 29, except at Shore Acres State Park where it expires at 4 p.m. for the Holiday Lights event that runs Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve. 

Use #OregonStateParks and #GreenFriday on social media to share your adventures. 

The day after Thanksgiving is one of three days a year that Oregon State Parks waives the day-use parking fees. Other days include First Day Hikes on New Year’s Day and Oregon State Parks Day the first Saturday in June, which also includes free camping. 

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BEND, OR — Days are shorter, and the air is colder … winter is coming! Experience the warmth of the High Desert Museum every Thursday in December during Winter Nights—a special time of extended evening hours, engaging exhibitions, discounted rates and festive activities for all.  

This year’s Winter Nights features: 

• December 5: Welcome to Winter — Ease into the first Winter Nights event of the season dressed in your ugliest sweater or wackiest hat!  Visitors can learn how to print their own wrapping paper and enjoy a festive photo booth. Local food and beverage vendors will provide tasty samples, and dinner or a treat will be available in the Rimrock Café. Silver Sage Trading will feature holiday deals and complimentary gift wrapping. And everyone’s favorites--cookie decorating and storytelling--will happen all evening long. 

• December 12: Feels Like Flannel– Flannel is the fabric of the season! Don your grungiest flannel as you scout out our new Blood, Sweat & Flannel exhibition after hours. Create your own flannel art. Regional food and beverage samplings, cookie decorating and storytelling will delight adults and children alike. Silver Sage Trading–with holiday deals and gift wrapping–and the Rimrock Café will also be open throughout the evening. 

• December 19: Paws and Paint– Attention animal lovers! Hightail it to the Museum after dark for a look at our new exhibition Neighbors: Wildlife Paintings by Hilary Baker. Visit with Hilary (in-person) to learn more about her art! Plus express yourself with watercolor painting, decorate cookies, sample food and beverages and more. Animal-themed outfits are highly encouraged. 

• December 28: By the Fireside – This is your ticket to get the entire family out of the house in their pajamas! Take family pajama portraits in our photo booth, enjoy story time with your kiddos, design your own lighted lantern, decorate holiday cookies, savor food and beverage tastings from regional craft vendors and more. 

All interior exhibitions are open for Winter Nights. This includes Sensing Sasquatch, which shares the works and stories of five Indigenous artists around this “non-human other” who is often considered a Pacific Northwest pop culture icon. Catch this exhibition in its last month—it's open through January 12, 2025. 

In Rick Bartow: Animal Kinship, from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation, visitors can experience works from one of Oregon’s most celebrated contemporary artists. Bartow (Wiyot, d. 2016) created two-dimensional and sculptural works that draw from Indigenous stories as well as his interest in nature and wildlife. It’s open through February 9, 2025. 

Winter Nights visitors can also explore the new original exhibit Blood, Sweat & Flannel, which opened on November 2 and will be on display through June 29, 2025. This exhibition invites visitors to explore the stories behind flannel—a fabric that goes beyond clothing to reflect the history of work and culture in the High Desert region. From logging to grunge, the exhibit travels through time. It also includes audio.  

And on Saturday, December 7, the Museum will open the new exhibition Neighbors: Wildlife Paintings by Hilary Baker. The Los Angeles-based artist creates vibrant paintings that juxtapose wildlife in urban settings. The exhibition will be open through April 6, 2025. 

Admission for Winter Nights for adults is $10 in advance and $12 at the door. During Winter Nights, it’s always $6 for ages 3-12. Ages 2 and under—and Museum members—are free. 

Visitors who arrive earlier in the day may stay for Winter Nights without paying additional admission. The outdoor exhibits are closed during Winter Nights. Regular winter hours are 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. More information and tickets are available at highdesertmuseum.org/winter-nights.  

ABOUT THE MUSEUM: 

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

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As we enter the holliday season, consider helping a Central Oregon child sleep better in their own bed, built and provided at no cost by the local non-profit, Sleep in Heavenly Peace.

SHP gets materials donated to build beds for children who may be sleeping with a sibling or on the floor. Several times a year, builds are help with lumber and supplies donated by Home Depot, Lowes and others. But the beds need sheets, a blanket and a pillow. Can you help a child get a better nights sleep?

From now through January 15, collection boxes will be located at the AAA office on Empire and at Bend-area Starbucks. 

"We need new twin-bed sized pillows, sheets and blankets," says Joe Myers, president of the central Oregon SHP chapter. "We hope that people consider donating a "Twin Bed in a Bag," he said. This link provides additional details about what is needed:  https://linktr.ee/joe.myers 

(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, asks the public to help find Cherie “Rene” Stewart, age 16, a child who went missing from Portland, Oregon on Nov. 2. ODHS believes that she may be at risk and is searching for her to assess her safety.

ODHS asks the public to help in the effort to find Rene. Anyone who suspects they have information about the location of Rene should call 911 or the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline at 1-855-503-SAFE (7233). 

Rene is known to frequent the Northeast Portland area as well as the neighborhood of SW 19th Avenue and SW Davis Street in Portland. She may attempt to travel to Vancouver, Washington. It is possible that Rene is traveling with her mother Rebekah Blackburn.

Name: Cherie Rene Stewart (prefers Rene)
Pronouns: She/her
Date of birth: Feb. 20, 2008
Height: 5-foot-1
Weight: 90 pounds
Hair: Brown
Eye color: Blue
Other identifying information: Prefers to go by “Rene,” and has recently shaved her head. 
Oregon Health & Science University Police Case #24-21392

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

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

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Nov. 14, 2024

Media Contact: Delia Hernández                          

equests@hcs.oregon.gov">HCS.mediarequests@hcs.oregon.gov 

Correction: Family Faith and Relationship Advocates (FARA), not the Phoenix School of Roseburg, was chosen to receive Youth Emergency Housing Assistance program funding.

OHCS invests $5 million to help youth experiencing homelessness in rural Oregon

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) is investing $5 million to combat rural homelessness through the Youth Emergency Housing Assistance Program (YEHA). The $5 million will be disbursed to five different organizations in Coos, Klamath, Lincoln, Douglas, and Josephine Counties that help youth and their families who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless.

“We are committed to ensuring every young person in Oregon has a safe place to call home,” said OHCS Executive Director Andrea Bell. “By investing in real solutions to address youth homelessness, we aim to bridge the funding and service gaps that rural communities often face. This investment will help create sustainable pathways to housing stability and increase opportunities for our youth to thrive.”

The YEHA project team analyzed data from both Oregon’s Emergency Homelessness Response and the Department of Education to identify which communities had the highest rate of youth experiencing homelessness to ensure these funds make the biggest possible impact. The YEHA project team chose the Coos County Office of Homelessness Response, Integral Youth Services in Klamath County, the Lincoln County Housing Authority, Family Faith and Relationship Advocates (FARA) in Douglas County, and the Maslow Project in Josephine County to receive funding.

"This funding will empower us to expand our outreach, enhance our support services, and build sustainable solutions for the unique challenges faced by our Josephine County community,” said Maslow Project Founder and Executive Director Mary Ferrell. “It’s a vital step toward ensuring that youth and families in our county can access safe and stable housing. We know that when stabilized, youth are far more likely to finish high school, improve their long-term outcomes, and end the cycle of homelessness.”

YEHA aims to provide housing-focused services to school-age children and their families to enhance family stability and school success. The organizations in these counties will establish and promote intentional collaboration between schools and housing providers to extend a reliable family support network and optimize the funding’s impact. These resources will help cover expenses such as rent, utilities, work and educational support, moving costs, transportation, furniture, household goods, and more.

About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS)

OHCS is Oregon's housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. For more information, please visit: oregon.gov/ohcs.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
Nov. 15, 2024

Media Contact:   
Rebeka Gipson-King
Communications@employ.oregon.gov 
 

Oregon Employment Department announces 
2025 rates for Unemployment Insurance 
and Paid Leave Oregon

SALEM, Ore. — Today, the Oregon Employment Department announced the 2025 contribution rate for Paid Leave Oregon and 2025 tax rate for Unemployment Insurance. The department is mailing each employer their annual notice of the new rates. 

2025 Unemployment Insurance Tax Rate 

The department uses a statutory formula to establish the annual tax rate for subject employers. Most Oregon employers pay taxes that go into the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund in Oregon, which is the source of Unemployment Insurance benefits for Oregon workers. Workers do not contribute to this fund or to their unemployment benefits. 

As a self-balancing fund, Oregon’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund was stable through the pandemic and remains one of the healthiest in the country. The trust fund balance also earns interest, which helps keep employers’ tax rates lower. The goal of the statutory formula is to reach a balance between revenue and expenditures, where the state takes in about the same amount of money in taxes as it pays out in Unemployment Insurance benefits. 

Oregon will remain in Tax Schedule 3 for 2025. For all subject employers, the taxable wage base will rise from $52,800 per employee for 2024 to $54,300 for the 2025 calendar year.

For new employers (those with less than 12 months of experience), the Unemployment Insurance payroll tax rate will remain at 2.4% for 2025. 

In addition to the tax rate schedule, federal law requires states to use experience ratings to calculate individual tax rates for subject employers with more than 12 months of experience. At a high level, experience ratings are based on how much a business’s employees access Unemployment Insurance benefits. 

In 2021, the Legislature passed HB 3389 to temporarily freeze employer experience ratings at 2020 levels. This was done to support Oregon businesses who were negatively affected during the pandemic. We estimate it will save Oregon employers subject to UI taxes a total $2.39 billion in tax contributions through 2029.

For 2025, we are returning to the standard rules that were in place before the pandemic to calculate UI experience ratings. Specifically, 2025 experience ratings will be based on wages and benefit charges from the third quarter of 2021 through the second quarter of 2024.

2025 Paid Leave Oregon Contribution Rate 

Both employers and employees pay contributions to the Paid Leave Oregon Trust Fund, which provides benefits for Oregon workers.  

The Paid Leave Oregon contribution rate for 2025 is 1% of employee wages and applies to up to $176,100 of wages. This is the Social Security taxable maximum wage amount for 2025. Contributions for Paid Leave Oregon are divided between employees and employers, with employees paying 60 percent of the rate and employers paying 40 percent. 

“We want to thank Oregon businesses for all they do to promote economic stability in Oregon, even during challenging times,” said Employment Department Director David Gerstenfeld. “We know employers have faced significant challenges the past several years, yet Oregon’s employers continue to focus on job growth, contributing to both our economy and our robust workforce.” 

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Need help?
The Oregon Employment Department (OED) is an equal opportunity agency. OED provides free help so you can use our services. Some examples are sign language and spoken-language interpreters, written materials in other languages, large print, audio, and other formats. To get help, please call 503-947-1444. TTY users call 711. You can also send an email to communications@employ.oregon.gov.

¿Necesita ayuda?
El Departamento de Empleo de Oregon (OED) es una agencia de igualdad de oportunidades. El OED proporciona ayuda gratuita para que usted pueda utilizar nuestros servicios. Algunos ejemplos son intérpretes de lengua de señas e idiomas hablados, materiales escritos en otros idiomas, letra grande, audio y otros formatos. Para obtener ayuda, por favor llame al 503-947-1444. Usuarios de TTY pueden llamar al 711. También puede enviar un correo electrónico a communications@employ.oregon.gov.

November 15, 2024

Media contacts:

• Jonathan Modie, OHA, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov
• Todd Loggan, Clackamas County, PIO@clackamas.us

Oregon confirms first human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza

Affected individual linked to commercial poultry operation in Clackamas County where Oregon Department of Agriculture confirmed virus in 150,000 birds

PORTLAND, Ore.—The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a person linked to a previously reported outbreak affecting birds at a commercial poultry operation in Clackamas County.

Health officials are not providing additional details about the individual, naming the operation, and will not be providing specific location information to protect privacy. There is no evidence of person-to-person transmission and the risk to the public is low.

“Clackamas County Public Health Division has been closely monitoring people exposed to the animal outbreak, which is how this case was identified. The individual experienced only mild illness and has fully recovered,” said Clackamas County Public Health Officer Sarah Present, M.D. The person received treatment with the antiviral medication oseltamivir, and household contacts were prescribed oseltamivir prophylaxis.

Dean Sidelinger, M.D., M.S.Ed., health officer and state epidemiologist at Oregon Health Authority (OHA), said, “We continue to remind the public that people at increased risk of infection are those who have had close or prolonged, unprotected exposures to infected birds or other animals, or to environments contaminated by infected birds or other animals.”

OHA epidemiologists are working closely with their counterparts at local public health authorities, Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and CDC to monitor individuals exposed to animals infected with H5N1 and respond promptly if new symptoms consistent with avian influenza develop, said Sidelinger.

When an outbreak in animals occurs, ODA provides personal protective equipment and training to affected farmworkers, and public health authorities provides symptom education and monitoring.

“This has proven an extremely effective approach to avian influenza outbreaks,” Sidelinger said. “While we cannot prevent every case, we know that we are preventing many.”

To reduce the risk of HPAI, people should avoid contact with sick or dead birds or animals, or their droppings or litter, and should not drink or eat unpasteurized or raw dairy products such as milk or cheese.

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