Klamath Basin News, Monday, Dec. 11 – County’s Emergency Manager Working To Keep Klamath Basin Better Prepared For Any Disasters That May Occur; One Of Largest Drug Busts Ever in Portland

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Monday, December 11, 2023

Klamath Basin Weather

Today’s Headlines

   What if disaster struck Klamath County?

Earthquakes, droughts and wildfires are all potential catastrophes for the residents of the basin. The question is, how do we prepare in the Klamath Basin?

Klamath County officials and staff are working to answer that question with the county’s new Emergency Manager Ian Thigpen.

A work session held Tuesday morning revealed that, as it stands, the county is behind the times in terms of disaster preparedness.

For the coming year, Thigpen said it would be in the county’s best interest to reduce the use of Oregon Emergency Management as well as federal grant funding to the bare minimum, covering necessities such as staffing positions and basic materials and supplies.

Because having an emergency management policy is often mandatory to receive funding, Thigpen proposed a draft for a new emergency management during the work session which aims to align with both the county’s primary objectives and the requirements of relative state and federal programs.

Emergency incident training is another aspect required to be compliant with regulations. While the trainings and NIMS compliance may only be mandatory for departments receiving federal funding, they will be offered to all employees.

Thigpen is certified by OEM as well as FEMA to provide these trainings. (Herald and News)

Efforts to list the Crater Lake Newt, a distinct rough-skinned population of newts found only in Crater Lake, for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act are being taken by the Center for Biological Diversity.

Even if the newt, also known as the Mazama newt, receives protection under the ESA, studies by aquatic biologists at Crater Lake National Park, which began in 2008, indicate it might not be possible to ensure their survival because of unchecked, growing populations of non-native crayfish that feed on newts and, according to biologists, “are nearly impossible to remove once established.”

Crater Lake park biologists Dave Hering and Scott Girdner are cautiously optimistic the ESA listing will be beneficial.

An earlier report on newts and crayfish noted, “Lessons learned by studying crayfish invasion at Crater Lake National Park may help managers in other areas reduce the spread of this destructive invader.”

The petition also notes that sharp declines in newt populations, with losses estimated at more than 80%, stem from the exploding populations of crayfish, predators that consume newts. In addition, the petition notes that warmer water temperatures resulting from climate change have resulted in a 5.6 degrees Fahrenheit increase in summer surface temperature since record keeping began in Crater Lake in 1965. 

Most adult newts are 4 to 5 inches long. Crayfish and newts are similar in size but, crayfish are “much more aggressive than newts and can easily kill and eat a newt if it gets hold of it.  (Herald and News)

Students from Henley Middle School participated in an experimental salmon reintroduction project. Last week the students released Chinook salmon fry into the Williamson River.

The Klamath County School District posted to Facebook that Henley Middle School science teacher Faryn Knight, principal Kristy Creed and Mark Hereford, a fisheries reintroduction biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife helped release about 40 fry into Williamson near Collier State Park.

Knight’s classroom received over 200 fertilized eggs at the beginning of November. According to the Facebook post, the district said the eggs originated in the Trinity River Hatchery in California before being transferred to the ODFW Klamath Hatchery on Crooked Creek.

The district’s post said they will continue with the hands-on project and will be incorporated into seventh and eighth-grade science natural resources lessons. Students will learn about ecosystems and keynote species. Eighth graders will focus on specific issues and how they impact the Basin.

(KCSD facebook page)

The Chiloquin Community is hosting the Chi-Town Winter Wonderland, Friday, Dec. 22nd.

The fun event will benefit the Chiloquin community to help ensure that every child has an opportunity to enjoy and the experience the spirit of giving during this holiday season.  Attendees will enjoy hot cocoa and Christmas-themed treats to create a cosy and festive atmosphere. 

Organizers are Tahnie Clark and Alethia Brown-David.

• • If anyone would like to donate, it would be greatly appreciated for our Chi Community. We are also looking for anyone interested in setting up some type of little Xmas game inside the gym. This event will be on Friday, December 22, 2023, from 4 to 7 p.m.
  • For information, please call Valerie at 541-882-8846, ext 3508

To compete at FFA Nationals, you have to be the very best. Only the state champions qualify. The FFA team from Klamath County’s Lost River Junior/Senior High School did just that Nov. 18, taking first in state at FFA’s State Food Science competition at Oregon State University and becoming the school’s first national qualifying FFA team.

Team members are Melanie Martinez, Julitza Serrato-Cobian, Anna Kliewer, and McKinley Ruda and alternates Gemma Arceo-Bigoni and Zuliana Cobian-Cazarez. Julitza, Melanie, Gemma, and Zuliana, all juniors, started the school’s first Food Science team three year ago as freshmen with the goal to win state. That first year, they placed 16th; and last year they earned a fourth-place at state. This year, they were joined by sophomores Anna and McKinley.

In their competition this year, the team competed against 23 other schools. Unlike sports competitions, which have divisions based on school size, any school that has an FFA chapter competes in the same event.

The state contest consisted of three parts:- Objective test, • Sensory Evaluation: and Team activity.

The team will now prepare to compete in the National FFA Food Science and Technology Career Development Event in October 2024 in Indianapolis.

Like they did for the state competition, the team plans to practice and study at least once a month through the school year and then gear up in the fall to prepare for nationals. (KCSD)

The City of Klamath Falls is offering snow removal assistance to low-income area seniors.

To be eligible you must be 60 years or older and make less than $26,600 in gross income, or for a couple to qualify you need to make less than $30,400.

You can register on the city of Klamath Falls website.

Service is on a first come first serve basis and is available Mondays through Fridays. (city of KF)

It’s been another incredibly productive year for the Klamath Trails Alliance, a volunteer group that oversee building and maintaining a growing network of biking, hiking and cross country skiing trails in Klamath County.

KTA members logged 1,213 hours of volunteer trail work and cleared 403 logs or downfall from trails through Nov. 30. During the organization’s annual meeting last week, honored as the top 10 trail workers were Grant Weidenbach, Josh Nelson, Dwight Johnson, Michael Schaaf, John Poole, Lee Heckman, Jeremy Macko, Karen Poole, DJ Wagner and Adam Brunick.

Honzel also said the group’s funding “jumped substantially” in 2023 to $400,000, an increase he attributed to grants. The group received a $240,000 grant from the American Rescue Plan to expand trailheads along with several smaller grants for the Geo Trail extension project.

Trail maintenance was also impressive with the construction of new trails, plans for more and ongoing upkeep and maintenance at systems that include Spence Mountain, Moore Park, Oregon Tech/Sky Lakes Geo Trail, Brown Mountain and other areas of the Sky Lakes Wilderness, such as Mount McLoughlin and Rye Spur trails.

Honzel said several milestones were achieved at Spence Mountain, the 10th year of trail development.

In looking forward to 2024, Honzel and KTA President Kevin Jones said plans include completing the remaining a third-of a mile of the Chinquapin Trail, a 2-mile downhill only trail that they said “really gained in popularity this year — for the part that was open.” (Herald and News)

The Citizens Santa Program, presented by Citizens for Safe Schools, is accepting sponsors for gift giving to at-risk youth who are mentored by the organization.

The invitation to sponsor youth is open to the community.

According to a news release, “Citizens Santa is not just a gift-giving campaign. It is an opportunity to bring the community together and make a positive impact in the lives of local children.”

Wrapped gifts must be dropped off at Everybody’s Vintage store, 733 Main St., before Dec. 18.

Those wanting to be a Citizens Santa, or for more information, can call Sarah Miller at Citizens for Safe Schools (541) 238-4839, email smiller@citizensforsafeschools.org, or visit the Citizens for Safe Schools Facebook page.

Citizens for Safe Schools is a 501(c)3 youth-serving nonprofit, operating in the Klamath Basin for more than 23 years. Primary programs focus on mentoring youth in a variety of ways, including adult-to-youth, peer-to-peer, and youth-adult-partnership.  (Herald and News/CFSS)

The Ross Ragland Theater will be the site for the upcoming holiday performance by the reunited ‘80s-’90s band, Wilson Phillips. The group will present “A Wilson Family Christmas” at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 15.

According to the Ragland, “This is one of the biggest shows happening this year at the theater and a fan favorite for those who grew up with the ‘80’s sensation.”

This special intimate Christmas show consists of five Wilson family members on stage. A two-piece band includes musical director Rob Bonfiglio.

They will play old Beach Boys songs, classic covers, Wilson Phillips material, and of course Christmas songs from their record, including the classic “Hey Santa”.

Best known for their ‘90s hits like “Hold On” and “Release Me,” the group Wilson Phillips is made up of sisters Carnie and Wendy Wilson (daughters of Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys), and Chynna Phillips (daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas and the Papas).

The group originally formed in 1986 and had great success with four albums, selling 13 million worldwide, produced three No. 1 hit singles and six top-20 hits. In 1993, Carnie and Wendy released the song “Hey Santa,” which has been on radio stations every season since.

GET TICKETS HERE: https://ragland.org/

This show is sponsored by Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Klamath Falls. (Herald and News/rrt)

Sky Lakes Medical Center has installed a beautiful bronze sculpture in the center of the roundabout on Campus Drive. This impressive artwork was built and designed by the renowned sculptor and artist, Stefan Savides.

The concept for the “red hawk sculpture” was brought to the Sky Lakes board in 2019 by Paul Stewart, former CEO/President of Sky Lakes Medical Center. The piece created represents nature’s ability to overcome obstacles created by urban development. The entire process, from conceptualization to installation, spanned over two years.

Stefan Savides employed an intricate process that involved crafting miniature clay molds, followed by wax molds, and eventually welding the elements into the beautiful bronze sculpture. The three columns depicted in the sculpture represent the urbanization of land, with a branch breaching each column, symbolizing the resilience and adaptation of nature. At the top of the tallest column, a life-size hawk sits majestically. To further enhance the space, the landscaping around the sculpture will be adorned with native plants and boulders that complement the artwork.

The installation of the sculpture was generously donated by Diversified Contractors Inc and coordinated by Healthy Klamath. This artistic addition is a testament to Sky Lakes’ dedication to fostering a vibrant and thriving community. Public art has been shown to curate a culture of creativity as well as elevate community members’ sense of pride.

Sky Lakes hopes to continue making investments in the community, offering opportunities for people to connect with and take pride in the place we call home. (Sky Lakes Medical Center press release)

Sky Lakes is embarking on a journey with a new mission and vision, signaling a pivotal moment in its commitment to shaping a brighter future for the community.

Guided by the dedication to enhancing the patient experience, improving access to care and the overall wellbeing of Klamath County, Sky Lakes’ leadership team is excited to chart a transformative path forward. 

Grounded in the belief of the power of community and the potential of every individual, Sky Lakes’ new mission is to “inspire human potential through better health.”

In these six simple words, the organization encapsulates its dedication to guiding individuals toward a brighter and healthier future. It pledges to empower and support the community in realizing its infinite possibilities by fostering a culture of well-being and vitality. Through its dedication to comprehensive care, Sky Lakes seeks to ensure that every individual receives the support and the care they need throughout every stage of their health journey. 

Sky Lakes’ commitment to comprehensive care extends beyond traditional healthcare, recognizing that the journey to well-being begins in the community, in education, in the home, and in a commitment to preventative care. This proactive and holistic approach is a cornerstone of Sky Lakes’ pledge to uplift the community and promote healthier lifestyles. 

As part of this commitment, Sky Lakes continues to support various community-focused initiatives, including significant investments in parks and recreation, such as Klamath Commons, Eulalona Park, and the new Moore Park Playground.

Sky Lakes also invests in our community through various programs and projects, like the Everyone Swims program, Blue Zones Project/Healthy Klamath, the Wellness Center, and additional investments to support tourism, arts and culture. Additional projects in the works are improved signage downtown, commissioned local art in our new roundabouts, and the extension of community trails for improved access to outdoor activity. (Sky Lakes press release)

Around the state of Oregon

Portland Area Drug Bust Leads To 52 Pounds, 11 Million Doses Of Fentanyl, One Of Largest Seizures In Oregon History

A months-long investigation by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Dangerous Drugs Team resulted in one of the largest illegal fentanyl seizures in state history, and the largest seizure in agency history, deputies announced Friday.

The Dangerous Drugs Team (DDT), a grant-funded narcotics task force (more information below), executed an early morning search warrant on Thursday, culminating an investigation into a drug trafficking organization selling fentanyl in the tri-county area.

During the investigation, DDT identified several suspects and their co-conspirators, as well as cars and houses believed to be involved. Search warrants were executed at locations in Portland and Oregon City. At the Portland location, law enforcement located more than 52 pounds of fentanyl powder. At the Oregon City location, more than one pound of fentanyl powder and over 8,000 fentanyl pills were discovered.

In addition to the drugs, over $30,000 in cash and multiple firearms were seized. The weapons found included two firearms that were broken down and concealed in packages addressed for locations outside the United States.

DDT estimates that the more than 50 pounds of fentanyl powder seized would have yielded 11 million individual doses, which would have otherwise been sold in the Portland-area.

Due to the excessive amount of fentanyl powder being processed, detectives used personal protective equipment and had NARCAN (Naloxone nasal spray) available in case of accidental exposure. The bulk fentanyl, over 50 pounds, was found open in a cardboard box lined with a trash bag.

Three people were booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center: 23-year-old Luis Funez, 21-year-old Gerson Isaac Hernandez Betancurt, and 37-year-old Dezirae Ann Torset. The case has been referred to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The Dangerous Drugs Team is a narcotics task force that identifies, disrupts and dismantles local, multi-state, and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency, prosecutor-supported approach. MCDDT is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) which is composed of members from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Gresham Police, FBI, Parole and Probation, and U.S. Marshals.

Special thanks the U.S. Marshal Service, the FBI and Clackamas County Inter-Agency Task Force (CCITF) for their assistance in executing the warrants.

MCSO wants to remind the public that one pill can kill . The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) reports that it only takes 2 milligrams of fentanyl — about the weight of a few grains of salt — to cause a fatal overdose. Today, six out of ten DEA-tested pills with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose. To learn more about the scope of the fentanyl crisis, visit the DEA’s Fentanyl Awareness page. Information about addiction services and recovery support in Multnomah County can be found here . (SOURCE)

Oregon State Police seeking public assistance with vehicle shootings in Linn County

LINN COUNTY, Ore. 06 Dec. 2023 – On Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, the Oregon State Police (OSP), Albany Area Command, received a report of a vehicle struck by a bullet.

On Tues., Dec. 5, 2023, OSP (Albany) received a second report in a similar area to the Dec. 1 incident. OSP Major Crimes Section detectives immediately began investigating these as possibly connected incidents and now have enough information to believe these shooting incidents are likely connected. 

The investigation revealed two other incidents reported to the Albany Police Department and the OSP Salem Area Command prior to Dec. 6. This morning, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office cross-reported another incident in the area of Highway 20 and Highway 226.

The Oregon State Police is actively investigating these random acts of shooting at moving vehicles.  All of the victims were driving along highways at the time of the incidents and some reported hearing a “pop.”  The dates, times, and locations of each incident are listed below:

• Nov. 2, 2023, 2:00 a.m.- Highway 20, just east of Albany
• Nov. 25, 2023, 9:30 a.m.- Highway 22E, near Mill City
• Dec. 1, 2023, 2:30 a.m.- Highway 20, near Highway 226
• Dec. 5, 2023, 2:00 a.m.- Highway 226, south of Scio
• Dec. 6, 2023, 2:37 a.m.- Highway 20, near Highway 226

At this time, no victims have been injured. However, investigators have confirmed the damage to vehicles was caused by a firearm.

The Oregon State Police is adding extra patrols in the area of these incidents to enhance public safety.

OHA To Create Pharmaceutical Board For Feedback About Two Major Chains Merging

The Oregon Health Authority says that the Kroger and Albertson merge could affect 150 pharmacies across Oregon.

OHA is forming a community board made out of community members, providers, and healthcare experts to determine what needs to be done to better the pharmacies during and after the merge. The OHA still needs people to apply.

Fill out an application out at https://ow.ly/Be9v50QgUUr and apply by emailing the application to hcmo.info@oha.oregon.gov before January 19^th  to be a part of the board.

U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service Proposes Shooting 400,000 Barred Owls To Save Northwest Spotted Owls

USFW still trying to save the Spotted Owl.  In November, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed shooting over 400,000 barred owls over the next 30 years in order to save endangered spotted owls. The agency has experimented with shooting barred owls in the past. Now, they are proposing to do it on a much larger scale.

Kessina Lee, supervisor of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office in Oregon, pointed out that the agency has a legal responsibility to protect the endangered spotted owl.

“Rather than choosing to conserve one bird over the other, this is about conserving two species,” Lee said. “Spotted owls are fighting for their existence right now. Whereas, even if the service was able to remove that number of barred owls over the next 30 years, that would represent less than 1% of the global population of barred owls.”

Barred owls migrated to the Pacific Northwest from the Eastern U.S. and they’ve essentially outcompeted their smaller cousins. Spotted owls eat mainly flying squirrels, wood rats and red tree voles, while barred owls can eat salamanders, other mammals and birds, insects, or even snails and earthworms.

“They can use a smaller territory and they can pack into an area,” said Robin Bown, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s barred owl management strategy lead. “So the spotted owls become not just competing with a single pair of barred owls, but up to four pairs of barred owls to try to maintain their territory.”

While barred owl populations have grown exponentially since they arrived in the Pacific Northwest, “We are down to very few spotted owls left now in Washington and in Northern Oregon, and we’re rapidly reaching that condition in Southern Oregon and Northern California,” Brown said.

In previous studies, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that in the study areas where barred owls were not killed, spotted owl populations declined by about 12% each year. In the places where barred owls were killed, there was only a 0.2% annual decline. Bown points out that because spotted owls only reproduce every other year or every third year, they didn’t have enough time in the length of the studies for their populations to rebound.

The agency has considered other methods of controlling barred owl populations, including sterilization and nonlethal removal. Both methods were considered impractical. Sterilization does not reduce the problem of competition long enough for the spotted owl populations to revive. “The population is not increasing because of that individual.,” said Bown. “But by the time the barred owl dies, the spotted owls in the area have also died, because they have no territories.”

Also, nonlethal removal would require caging or moving large populations of barred owls that have nowhere else to go.

“We don’t want to release these birds elsewhere in the West and spread the impact of this nonnative predator to other native species,” said Bown. “They prey on a large number of species that have a potential to have a pretty big impact on those species.”

When the U.S. Fish and Wildlife first started testing this method of species control, they hired an ethicist to help work through the moral issues of killing one species to save another.

Kessina Lee points out that since humans bear responsibility for barred owls being here in the first place, we also bear some of the responsibility for protecting the spotted owls. Initially, the Great Plains prevented barred owls from moving beyond the forested East Coast. But as European settlers planted patches of forest and changed the climate, the owls were able to migrate westward.

“When we’re talking about the likely extinction of a species, however unpalatable and uncomfortable the conversation is of lethal removal of another species,” Lee said, “people generally accept that this is sometimes necessary.” (SOURCE)

Missing child alert — Jerrica Landin is still missing and is believed to be in danger

The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, asks the public to help find Jerrica Landin, age 17, a child in foster care who went missing from Portland, Oregon on Aug. 21. She is believed to be in danger.

ODHS asks the public for help in the effort to find Jerrica and to contact 911 or local law enforcement if they believe they see her.

Jerrica may be in Portland or Eugene in Oregon. She may also be in Washington in Vancouver, Seattle or the Tri Cities. 

Name: Jerrica Landin
Pronouns: She/her
Date of birth: Oct. 24, 2006
Height: 5-foot-6
Weight: 130 pounds
Hair: Reddish brown
Eye color: Brown
Other identifying information: Jerrica has a tattoo of a heart on her neck below her right ear. She often dyes her hair red, pink and purple.
Portland Police Bureau Case #23-803125
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children #1489518

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.

People in Oregon can now manage state benefits with the Oregon ONE Mobile app

People can now securely manage their medical, food, cash and child care benefits through the State of Oregon from the convenience of their mobile devices using the new Oregon ONE Mobile app. People first will need to apply for benefits online, in person at a local office or over the phone. 

The app is available for free in the Apple and Android app stores. It is an official State of Oregon app created by the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS). The app’s development was partially funded by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“At ODHS we are committed to meeting people in Oregon where they are with as many ways as possible to manage their benefits, check application status and share needed documentation, like when they get a request for information during a renewal,” said Nathan Singer (he/him), director of the ODHS Oregon Eligibility Partnership. “People can now manage their benefits in-person, by mail, by fax, by telephone, online and on their mobile phone using the Oregon ONE Mobile app, which is available in English and Spanish.”

Oregon ONE Mobile app video on YouTube

New Oregon ONE Mobile app video link

• Create a ONE Online account.
• Access their existing ONE Online account.
• Report changes to household information including address, contact information and income.
• Upload requested documents using a smartphone camera.
• Get updates on application status and check if it is approved, denied, or pending, and what actions might need to be taken.
• See and download notices that were mailed.
• Find the next renewal date for their benefits.
• Get important, time-sensitive alerts and notifications about benefits on mobile devices.
• View benefit issuance history for food and cash payments.

People who serve as Authorized Representatives for people with benefits are also able to use the app.

How to manage your medical, food, cash and child care benefits: 

• By phone at: 1-800-699-9075. All relay calls accepted.
• Online at: benefits.oregon.gov
• Through the free Oregon ONE Mobile app available on Apple and Android app stores
• In person at an office near you: Find an office.
• In your language: Help in Your Language
• By mail at: ONE Customer Service Center, PO Box 14015, Salem, OR 97309
• By fax at: 503-378-5628

Resources to help meet basic needs

• Find food resources in your community: needfood.oregon.gov.
• Learn about government programs and community resources for older adults and people with disabilities: Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon at 1-855-673-2372 or www.adrcoforegon.org.
• Dial 2-1-1, or text your zip code to 898-211, www.211info.org
• Find local resources and support by contacting your local Community Action Agency: www.caporegon.org/find-services/
• Oregon Department of Human Services help center 

OHCS announces Homeowner Assistance Fund application portal to close on December 20th

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) is closing the Oregon Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) program to most new applicants to avoid overcommitting funds. The application portal will close at noon PST Dec. 20. Homeowners who are in active foreclosure may still be able to apply through a housing counselor.  

“We’re encouraging homeowners who are at imminent risk of housing displacement, socially disadvantaged individuals as defined by U.S. Treasury, or anyone who meets one of the additional eligibility criteria listed on the HAF website to apply for HAF assistance before noon Dec. 20,” said Ryan Vanden Brink, assistant director of Homeowner Assistance Programs. “Although we are accepting new applications, there may not be enough funds for everyone who applies as the program winds down.”

Existing applicants can continue to log on to the HAF portal to check the status of their application or scheduled payments.

OHCS planned its HAF program to operate as a safety net for the most at-risk homeowners who have no viable workout option, so those homeowners will receive priority processing. If funds still remain after the portal closes and applications are processed, HAF intake partners will be able to submit new applications on behalf of homeowners in a judicial foreclosure action or in nonjudicial foreclosure with a scheduled sale date. These applicants may need to complete intake paperwork and foreclosure prevention counseling before working with a counselor. Funding may not be available for all these new applications.

In addition to Oregon’s foreclosure moratorium and increased mortgage forbearance and default workout options, HAF has helped Oregon maintain a historically low foreclosure rate during and since the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping many in their homes. According to August 2023 Corelogic data, there were 1,016 residential foreclosures in Oregon, which reflects a 0.16% foreclosure rate, compared to a 20-year average 1.03% foreclosure rate.

As of Dec. 4, OHCS has approved 1,745 applications, totaling about $46.9 million of the $72 million available to homeowners when the program launched. Over $35 million in approved funds have already been paid with an average award of about $27,000. OHCS is reviewing or monitoring another 859 applications that, if approved, are projected to total $23.2 million in assistance. The agency projects $1.9 million remains. OHCS is currently working with homeowners, housing counselors, and mortgage servicers to postpone and prevent hundreds of foreclosures for applicants. Visit the HAF Dashboard for more detailed information.

Free help is available  – Homeowners who have fallen behind or are at risk of missing a payment on their mortgage can continue to get free help from certified housing counselors around the state to learn about options to keep their homes, such as modifications or adding deferred payments to the end of a mortgage. Housing counselors are knowledgeable, experienced, and dedicated professionals who can help homeowners communicate with their mortgage servicers.

Search the full list of free certified housing counselors by county. Homeowners should be aware that some housing counseling agencies take longer due to high volume and remote working policies.

In addition to connecting with a certified housing counselor, Oregon homeowners should directly contact their mortgage servicers and lenders to see what types of mortgage assistance and foreclosure prevention programs are available. Homeowners who communicate with their lenders and servicers have some additional protections and usually have more time to figure out their options.

Avoiding fraud  – The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services recommends being extremely cautious with offers to help from unauthorized companies or people. Homeowners are urged not to provide financial or personal information unless they verify the company or person’s licensing status. It does not cost anything to apply for the HAF program or meet with an Oregon housing counselor.

There are several common warning signs homeowners should watch out for that may indicate a scam. If a homeowner suspects they’re being contacted by a scammer, they can report it to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Oregon Department of Justice, or the U.S. Treasury’s Office of the Inspector General.

To verify a lender’s license, visit the Division of Financial Regulation’s license page and compare it with the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS) license number. This number must be included on all advertising materials and should be easy to find. To verify a housing counseling agency’s status with the state, make sure they are listed on the OHCS website.

The Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of Education are offering free Naloxone kits to every middle and high school in the state.

The effort is an expansion of the Save Lives Oregon (SLO) Initiative’s Harm Reduction Clearinghouse Project. Each middle and high school is eligible to receive three kits. According to the OHA, the kits contain a wall mounted naloxone box, instructions, emergency medical supplies, and eight doses of the opioid antagonist, naloxone nasal spray.

Naloxone, also called Narcan, is the drug that helps reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Several Southern Oregon school districts already have naloalone at the ready.

While overdoses in middle and high schools is rare, it’s always better to be prepared, just in case. When it comes to fentanyl, Havniear said it doesn’t discriminate. (Oregon news)

In Eugene, it’s a mess at a homeless camp along the McKenzie River say outdoors enthsiasts as the view is now leftover trash, pipes and a septic tank from a homeless camp that have been swept into the McKenzie due to rising waters, according to local residents. 

The camp is underneath Coburg Bridge on the north side of the McKenzie River across from Armitage Park.  Heavy rainfall made the waters of the McKenzie rise and sweep away waste from the camp that was too close to the riverbed. 

One man said there’s trash floating in the water, a septic tank that’s been abandoned and the place is a mess with tents and old trucks and RVs settled there.  

Lane County Parks and Recreation as well as Lane County Sheriff’s say the group is permitted to stay in that spot until January 2024. A spokesperson from Lane County said in a statement that the land is a mix of public and private property and the county has sent an outreach team to work with the unhoused people over the course of the next month to find them housing.

An  outreach team has twelve people from that encampment in line for housing that should become available within the next few weeks. The idea from Lane County is go get people into housing and safer shelter rather than simply trespassing folks and moving the problem to a new location. Stay tuned.

Last-minute camping is about to get a little easier in Oregon.

Starting Jan. 1, 2024, same-day online reservations will available at dozens of state park campgrounds, allowing spontaneous campers the option to book sites less than 24 hours in advance.

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department announced the change Tuesday, nearly five months after rolling out same-day reservations at state parks on the coast. That pilot program went smoothly, park managers said in a news release, giving the parks department the confidence to expand it to campgrounds across the state, including at popular places such as Silver Falls, L.L. Stub Stewart and The Cove Palisades.

(Oregon news)

Starting next month, Oregonians will have more options to take the train to Seattle.

Amtrak Cascades, jointly operated between the Washington and Oregon state transportation departments, said it will add two new round-trip trains between the states’ two largest cities.

The two new trains will begin running on today, Monday, Dec. 11, with the earliest one departing Seattle at 5:52 a.m. and Portland at 6:45 a.m. The latest trains of the day will leave at 7:25 p.m. from Portland and 7:50 p.m. from Seattle. With the two additions, there will now be a dozen trains between the two cities every day.

The two cities are the busiest stops on the Cascades route, which runs from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Eugene.

One train, the Coast Starlight, runs out of Klamath Falls northbound for Portland and points north, leaving Klamath Falls around 8:15am.

(Oregon news)

Red Cross of Oregon Asking for Blood Donations During The Holidays

Help on Giving Tuesday and during the holidays by visiting redcross.org to make a financial donation or an appointment to give blood or platelets. Individuals can also register for volunteer opportunities in their area.

INCREASING SUPPORT AMID EXTREME DISASTERS With the growing frequency and intensity of climate-driven disasters, the Red Cross is racing to adapt its services and grow its disaster response capacity across the country. As part of this national work in 2023, the Red Cross distributed $108 million in financial assistance directly to people after disasters of all sizes, including for wildfire recovery in the Cascades Region.

Across the country, the Red Cross is delivering this vital financial assistance on top of its immediate relief efforts — including safe shelter, nutritious meals and emotional support — which have been provided on a near-constant basis for this year’s relentless extreme disasters. In fact, this year’s onslaught of large disasters drove an increase in emergency lodging provided by the Red Cross with partners — with overnight stays up more than 50% compared to the annual average for the previous five years. 

In the Cascades Region we opened four times as many evacuation shelters in June than previous years because of a wildfire season that burned more than 250,000 acres across Oregon and SW Washington. Altogether, nearly 200 of our local volunteers responded to disasters in 2023, including more than 770 in the Cascades Region.

RESPONDING TO ADDITIONAL EMERGING NEEDS Beyond extreme disasters, people stepped up through the Red Cross to address other emerging needs for communities, including:

• BLOOD DONATIONS: As the nation’s largest blood supplier, the Red Cross is grateful for the millions of donors who rolled up a sleeve throughout the year and helped us meet the needs of patients in the Cascades Region in 2023. To further improve people’s health outcomes, the Red Cross has been working with community partners to introduce blood donation to a new and more diverse generation of blood donors — which is critical to ensuring that a reliable blood supply is available to the 1 in 7 hospital patients who need a lifesaving blood transfusion. 
• The holidays can be a challenging time to collect enough blood for those in need. To book a time to give, visit RedCrossBlood.org, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App or call 1-800-RED CROSS. As a thank-you, all who come to give blood, platelets or plasma Dec. 1-17 will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card by email. Terms apply. See rcblood.org/Amazon.
• LIFESAVING TRAINING: This year, the Cascades Region has trained more than 57,000 people in lifesaving-skills while, nationally, the Red Cross expanded its training to empower people to act during current-day crises — which is vital considering that nearly half of U.S. adults report being unprepared to respond to a medical emergency. This included launching the new “Until Help Arrives” online training course last spring for opioid overdoses, severe bleeding, cardiac arrest and choking emergencies, and partnering with professional sports leagues through the Smart Heart Sports Coalition to help prevent tragedies among student athletes by offering CPR training and increasing access to AEDs. 
• MILITARY FAMILIES: Red Cross workers helped service members on U.S. military installations and deployment sites worldwide — including in Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. As part of our support this year, Red Cross volunteers delivered emergency communications messages connecting more than 87,000 service members with their loved ones during times of family need, while also engaging members in morale and wellness activities during deployments.

Visit www.redcross.org/CascadesGiving for more information about how the Red Cross Cascades Region helped people in 2023.

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