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Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024

Klamath Basin Weather

 

The Middle Fork Fire is 5,286 acres and 70% contained, according to the latest news release from the U.S. Forest Service.

For everyone’s safety, please slow down and drive carefully near firefighter activity. Roads will be slick today and debris flows are possible. Area, road and trail closures remain in place. Do not enter closed areas or drive around barriers. Entire roadways may not be blocked to allow firefighter traffic. Areas are close due to dangerous conditions like falling trees, heavy equipment and road grading,  the Oregon Department of Forestry said.  On Monday, a reconnaissance flight over the fire area revealed no areas of concern. Crews have finished repairing firelines along the Pacific Crest Trail. 

Residents wanting information about current park conditions can call Crater Lake National Park at 541-594-3000. 

 

Around the State of Oregon

TASK FORCE BUSTS PHOENIX BLACK-MARKET CANNABIS GROW CONNECTED TO ILLEGAL NORTHERN CALIFORNIA MARIJUANA OPERATION; CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES $26K IN FINES

In the Rogue Valley, the Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET) detectives served a search warrant this morning at a black-market cannabis grow in the 4000 block of Fern Valley Road in rural Phoenix.

IMET detectives seized approximately 6,054 illegal marijuana plants at the property in 20 greenhouses. During the initial investigation detectives learned the Phoenix property was connected to a black-market marijuana growing operation in Northern California. 

There was no licensing for any type of cannabis growing, handling, or processing at this location. IMET was assisted by Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies, and Oregon State Police (OSP) detectives.

IMET arrested one suspect on the property and charges are being referred to the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office for another suspect. The suspect arrested was Yuhua (AKA Shirley) Hong, 44, of Montague, Calif. She is charged with three felony counts including unlawful possession, distribution, and manufacture of a marijuana item.

During the search warrant, Jackson County Code Enforcement responded to the scene and issued a total of $26,000 in fines to the responsible party. Fines were for violations related to unpermitted construction, solid waste, and operating a marijuana production area in violation of land use approvals. The Oregon Water Resources Department Enforcement section also responded to investigate the water usage. Further charges for water violations may be added at a later time.

While regulatory agencies investigate permitted cannabis operations, IMET is focusing on the black-market marijuana trade in the Rogue Valley. IMET is a multi-agency task force funded by a grant from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission. The task force includes personnel from JCSO, Homeland Security Investigations, OSP, Medford Police Department, and the Jackson County District Attorney’s office.

Investigations are open and ongoing with detectives working additional leads. No further information is currently available for release.

 

Missing Oregon Nurse Found Dead. Neighbor Arrested For Her Murder

A nurse allegedly murdered by her Oregon neighbor just two weeks after getting married had plans to move out to be with her long-distance husband in Washington state, her family shared.

Police recovered the remains of Melissa Jubane, 32, on Friday evening after a three-day search that ended in the arrest of her 27-year-old neighbor, Bryce Johnathan Schubert, who was charged with second-degree murder.

The newlywed was reported missing on Wednesday after failing to show up to her morning shift at St. Vincent Hospital in southwest Portland. Her co-workers requested a wellness check on her, but police didn’t find any signs of her at her apartment.

Jubane married Bryan Llantero, of Hawaii, on the island of Honolulu on Aug. 24 and had just returned to Oregon before she vanished.

The newlyweds first met in Hawaii and dated for over a decade, flying back and forth to see each other. Llantero had last heard from his new wife the morning she went missing, according to KHON .

Jubane would stay in her Oregon apartment because of its proximity to her workplace while Llantero stayed in Washington state with Melissa’s family, her mother-in-law, Imelda Llantero, told the local news station.

But after tying the knot, Jubane planned to look for a job in Washington so she could live with her new husband, Imelda Llantero said.

Since her alleged murder, family members have taken to social media to advocate for justice and preserve her memory.

Jax Marquez, one of Jubane’s cousins, has turned to dedicating parts of her social media to her, including changing her profile picture to read “Justice for #melissajubane.”

Jubane’s father also expressed his heartbreak online. “I’m in so much pain right now for you my daughter Melissa Jubane. As promised by the Beaverton Police Authorities to us, your justice will be done soon,” Valentin Jubane, Melissa’s father, wrote in a post on Facebook .

“I have trust in our God The Almighty and His only son our Lord God Jesus Christ. You are loved by so many good people around the world.”

Another one of Melissa’s cousins, Onilobes Allan, urged politicians to protect potential victims from bad actors.

“[…] our government need[s] to protect [people like Melissa] so we can have a chance to live in peace and have happiness in the world but unfortunately got taken advantage and was killed by someone that is very evil. I’m asking the government to make laws that protect good citizens,” he wrote in a post on Facebook .  (SOURCE)

 

A 29-year-old man from Oregon was arrested with more than eight pounds of fentanyl powder and pills and $4,400 in cash during a traffic stop near Mount Shasta City on Sept. 4, 2024. 

The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office says they arrested Jose Andalon of McMinnville, OR while he was traveling northbound on Interstate 5 near Truck Village Drive at a high rate of speed.  During the traffic stop, a K-9 from Weed Police Department alerted officers to narcotics. Andalon was detained while his vehicle was searched.  

SCSO deputies discovered a silver revolver with spent cartridges in the driver’s side door, a grocer bag with four bricks of fentanyl weighing 8.16 pounds total and a backpack containing more than $4,000 in cash.

 

Oregon House Republican leaders are calling for changes to wildfire prevention policies following fires that have burned over one-and-a-half-million acres this wildfire season.

They want the legislature to improve forest management practices, cut regulations on mills, boost firefighting resources, and prohibit homeless camping on public lands. Changes to forest management practices are expected to face challenges from environmental groups and potential legal action. Stay tuned.

 

Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum is leading a bipartisan campaign with 41 state attorneys general who are prodding Congress to require a U.S. surgeon general warning for young people on social media platforms. 

Rosenblum, president of the National Association of Attorneys General, sent a letter on Monday to Congress urging action amid heightened concern about the role that algorithms of social media can play in youth mental health, including depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. 

The letter also noted how platforms feature irresistible algorithmic recommendations, infinite scrolling that automatically loads new content as the user scrolls down a page and a constant stream of notifications that are designed to keep kids relentlessly engaged on the platforms, even at the expense of taking breaks, engaging in other activities, or sleeping.

The letter follows the National Association of Attorney General’s summit last week in Portland, which highlighted Rosenblum’s push as the group’s president to focus on youth issues.  Rosenblum said in a statement that youth face challenges and asked Congress to move with urgency and hold the tech industry accountable.

In June, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthym released an advisory about social media use and its potential negative impacts on mental health and wellbeing. The surgeon general’s 2023 advisory recommends that technology companies design and assess their platforms to prioritize children’s safety and health and for parents to establish “tech-free zones” to encourage in-person relationships.

The advisory also calls for more research to establish standards for social media and youth mental health and encourages youth to limit their time on social media.

 

The Coquille Indian Tribe will soon be putting nearly $8 million in federal grant funding to work on salmon recovery and watershed projects. 

Earlier this year, the Tribe received two major NOAA grant awards.  Funds will allow for capacity building and a restoration archaeologist to support implementation projects within the watershed.  Tribal leaders say the grants are an example of what’s possible when state and Tribal resources are brought together in managing fish and wildlife. 

Tribal leaders say, though it may take time to see the positive effects of this work they’re looking forward to taking on the project and being stewards of the land we all call home.

 

A federal grand jury in Portland has indicted an Arizona man and three associates in a large scale fraud to steal COVID relief money.

Eric Karnezis, of Sedona, Arizona, worked with three people to gather false business information and used it to submit 13-hundred fraudulent applications for the Paycheck Protection Program. They tried to get 178-million-dollars in loans. They received approval for 105-million-dollars. Karnezis was arrested in Sedona and will be moved to Oregon for arraignment later this month. The three associates are also facing trial. Since 2021, more than 50 people have been charged in Oregon for their roles in COVID fraud.

 

Oregon gas prices are down nearly a dollar a gallon from this time last year.

That’s the largest decline in the nation, according to Triple-A. Over the last week, Oregon’s average declined two cents to $3.76 a gallon while the national average is lower at $3.26. Low demand for gas and falling crude oil prices are the main reasons for the decline. Crude oil is now below 70 dollars a barrel. Tropical Storm.Francine is expected to become a hurricane. If it affects oil production or gas refineries, it could affect prices.

 

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) wants you to leave your firewood at home in effort to avoid the spread of an invasive insect in state parks and protect ash trees in the state.   

According to OPRD, the emerald ash borer (EAB) has presented itself as of the most destructive forest pest in North America, killing hundred of millions of ash trees across the county and has been detected in four Oregon counties: Washington, Yamhill, Marion and Clackamas.

The department says the detection has prompted a permanent quarantine in those Oregon counties  The departments Natural Resource Coordinator and Ecologist Noel Bacheller says so far the EAB hasn’t been detected in Oregon State Parks, “[A]nd we would like to keep it that way for as long as possible.” 

OPRD says visitors should leave behind anyash, olive and white fringe tree firewood and materials at home and instead opt for certified heat-treated firewood or firewood.

 

Cooler temperatures and rain starting Wednesday will help dampen flames, but won’t end the Oregon fire season

High temperatures, strong winds and lightning storms have sparked dozens of new fires in Oregon these past few days, particularly in Central and southeastern Oregon.

And a national firefighter labor shortage is making it harder to suppress massive wildfires across the West, with fewer federal teams that Oregon can ask for help.

State fire officials say crews are running out of steam and resources.

“We have men and women fighting fire in the poison oak,” Oregon Department of Forestry fire division chief Chris Cline said at a press conference Monday. “They need to get clean. There are no showers, there’s no food.”

State and federal fire agencies usually help each other fight fires. But Cline said all federal fire teams are busy fighting fires across the West.

“There are no incident management teams available in the United States of America today, right now,” Cline said.

 

Man Arrested for Arson After Lighting String of Fires Along I-5

Lane County Sheriff’s Dispatch received a report of a male starting fires along I-5 in the area of Goshen.

Deputies and Oregon State Police troopers responded and quickly arrested the suspect, identified as Michael David Brown, 52. Brown was actively lighting a fire on the shoulder of Franklin Boulevard when contacted, and resisted arrest.  

Multiple fire departments responded as deputies and troopers began evacuating area residents. The fires were brought under control before larger evacuations were necessary. All evacuation notices have since been cleared. 

Brown was lodged at the Lane County Jail on case #24-4844 for five counts of Arson in the 1^st Degree, five counts of Reckless Burning, five counts of Reckless Endangering, Disorderly Conduct in the 2^nd Degree, and Resisting Arrest.  

Through their investigation, deputies also determined Brown had set a fire on Franklin Boulevard at Seavey Loop Road on August 26^th. Brown was lodged on case #24-4845 for Arson in the 1^st Degree related to that fire.  

 

Oregon Department of Transportation has closed Highway 242 west of the Dee Wright Observatory & a portion of Highway 126 is closed to fight the ongoing Willamette Complex South Fires.

 Stay up to date on road closures: tripcheck.com

Summary: Firefighting crews have made progress strengthening containment lines on the Willamette Complex South fires. Recent favorable weather conditions have aided their efforts. https://www.facebook.com/WillametteComplexFires

For More Information Phone: (541) 208-1742, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Email: 2024.willamettecomplex@firenet.gov InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/…/orwif-willamette-complex… Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WillametteComplexFires YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@WillametteComplexFiresSouth

U.S. Forest Service – Willamette National Forest –  · The Willamette National Forest has expanded an emergency closure order for the Pyramid Fire on the Sweet Home Ranger District to include the Slate Fire area. The closure order, which is for public and firefighter safety, is effective through Nov. 15, 2024, unless modified or rescinded sooner.

 

Another lawsuit has been filed against Medford’s Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in the case involving a former nurse accused of giving patients non-sterile tap water instead of intravenous fentanyl. 

In a Sept. 6 filing in Jackson County Circuit Court, an attorney for 63-year-old Candi Kay Palomares says former Asante nurse Dani Marie Schofield diverted fentanyl prescribed to Palomares for the severe respiratory distress that brought her to Asante’s intensive care unit on March 26, 2023.

The suit seeks $116 million for Palomares’ pain and suffering, future medical expenses and lost wages. By March 31, 2023, blood tests showed infections in Palomares, then a mobile home park manager in Brookings.  By April 3, 2023, Palomares suffered from sepsis-induced brain dysfunction, the suit claims.

On April 14, 2023, a patient safety representative for Asante posted a notice online about what the hospital termed “water quality rumors.” Attorney Bruce Nishioka argues in court papers that Asante acted with negligence by failing to prevent “the foreseeable diversion of fentanyl.”  Palomares can no longer work and also lost her home because it was part of her compensation for managing the mobile home park.

 

In a related story, a stay has been granted by a judge for the former Asante nurse, accused of drug diversion at the hospital. The civil case of drug diversion in regards to Horace Earl Wilson, will be delayed until the criminal case of Dani Schofield has concluded. 

The former Medford nurse accused of criminal assault of 44 hospital patients through drug diversion can “stay,” or pause, the related civil case.  Schofield is one of two defendants in a Jackson County civil court case, “Patti L. Wilson for the Estate of Horace Earl Wilson, Plaintiff, v. Asante, an Oregon corporation; Dani Marie Schofield, R.N., Defendant,” filed in February by Justin Idiart with Central Point’s Idiart Law Group. 

Schofield also has 44 felony counts of criminal assault in Jackson County Circuit Court, accusing her of causing illness to 44 Asante Rogue Regional Medical Cnter (Asante) intensive care unit patients from diverting to herself fentanyl intended for them, replacing it with hospital tap water that could cause infection.

 

SALEM, Ore. — Governor Tina Kotek and Brig. Gen. Alan Gronewold, Adjutant General in Oregon, hosted a formal demobilization ceremony in Salem, Oregon for the unit members of the Oregon National Guard’s A (-) 641st Aviation on Sept. 9, 2024.

During their mobilization they provided fixed-wing air capabilities in support of the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa and AFRICOM from Djibouti and throughout the AFRICOM Theater of operations.

“Just over a year ago we gathered to see off an exceptional group of aviators as they embarked on a critical mission to the Horn of Africa,” said Brig. Gen. Alan Gronewold to the returning Soldiers during the demobilization ceremony. “Today we come together once again –  not to say goodbye but to celebrate your safe return and extraordinary service.”

Gov. Kotek welcomed the member’s home and praised their dedication to the yearlong deployment with family and co-workers in attendance. “It was last July that you first mobilized here, and I reminded you to come home safe from your mobilization, and as this was my first mobilization ceremony as Governor and your guidon was in my office while you were gone.”

“With your dedication to duty, I am truly humbled by your commitment to serve. I want to welcome you back, and hopefully, you can now catch up on some of the activities you missed while you were away,” said Gov. Kotek.

Prior to their overseas mission, the unit spent nearly two-weeks of specialized training at Ft. Bliss, Texas. The unit has a long history of deploying overseas supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2007 and later deploying to support Operation New Dawn in Iraq in 2010 while some members of the unit deployed to Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom. Their most recent mobilization was in 2017 when they deployed to Kuwait to support Operation Enduring Freedom followed by Operation Spartan Shield.

 

Emergency Conflagration Act invoked for Service Fire in Wheeler County

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon State Fire Marshal mobilized resources to the Service Fire in Wheeler County overnight as the fire, pushed by gusty winds and critical fire conditions, rapidly grew Monday. The lightning-sparked fire is estimated to be 15,000 acres as of Monday night. The Wheeler County Sheriff has issued levels 1, 2, and 3 evacuation notices. You can find the latest on evacuations here. 

Over the weekend, two task forces assigned to the Shoe Fly Fire were reassigned to the Service Fire through Immediate Response. Two additional task forces from Marion and Clatsop counties arrived Monday night, bringing the total to four task forces. 

The OSFM will coordinate structural protection resources with the Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 2, which is managing the Service Fire. 

“We are anticipating cooler weather over the next week and that should decrease fire behavior. The OSFM continues to use every tool at our disposal to protect people, property, and critical infrastructure from wildfire,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “This has been a challenging summer for our hardworking firefighters, and we encourage everyone to remain vigilant.” 

A community meeting for the Service Fire is planned for Wednesday, September 11 at the Fossil Elementary School Gymnasium at 6:30 p.m. Please use the west entrance. 

This is the 17^th time the Emergency Conflagration Act was invoked this year. 

    About the Emergency Conflagration Act  

The Emergency Conflagration Act is invoked by Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, allowing the state fire marshal to mobilize state resources to wildfires to protect life and property.  The conflagration act is invoked following ORS 476.510-476.610 when Governor Kotek determines threats to life, safety, and property exist because of the fire, and the threats exceed the capabilities of local firefighting personnel and equipment.

 

A wildfire burning west of the Three Sisters Wilderness has prompted evacuation orders for a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office said.

The Linton Creek fire, part of the North Willamette Complex west of Middle Sister, has grown to over 500 acres since the fire was reported Friday afternoon.  A Level 3 (go now) evacuation order is in place for the Pacific Crest Trail near Linton Meadow and Husband Lake.  Officials said entry to the areas under evacuation are prohibited until conditions are safe.

The Lane County Sheriff’s Office website has the latest information about evacuations.

 

Police have released the names of the victims killed when a small plane crashed into a row of townhomes in Fairview, Oregon.

The victims have been identified as 73-year-old Michael Busher, who was the pilot, 79-year-old Jacqueline Whitford, a flight instructor, and 75-year-old Barbara MacDonald, a resident of one of the townhomes.

The incident happened on August 31st when the twin-engine Cessna went down and hit a power pole before crashing into several townhomes.

The NTSB says it could take up to eighteen months before the investigation of the crash is closed.

 

Costco announced in separate statements the recall of two food items sold by the warehouse store last month.

The recalls are for Kodiak Power Waffles and Rock River Cattle Co. Smokey Hibachi Skirt Steaks, which are sold at warehouses in select parts of the U.S, including Oregon. The 40-count Kodiak “Power Waffles Buttermilk and Vanilla” were sold primarily in the Midwest region between July 15 and Aug. 25.

The recalled products have the lot code 24193-WL4 and a time stamp of 12:00-23:00.  The waffles are being recalled “due to the potential presence of soft plastic film,” according to the release. No injuries or illnesses have been reported. However, Kodiak Cakes has said they “are taking this action out of an abundance of caution” and that “no other Kodiak products are affected by this issue.”

 

A suspected sex offender may be on the run in Oregon.

Adam Renk was indicted for multiple crimes against a child under the age of 12, following the report of a victim in June. As part of the investigation, Oregon State Police learned the 39-year-old suspect had also been charged in an unrelated case in Alabama, involving an 11-year-old victim.  

His Oregon charges include first degree sexual abuse and sodomy. In Alabama, he’s accused of child sex abuse and torture.  Renk posted bond in Alabama and was released. He was last seen leaving that state on August 7. He has ties to Oregon and Wasco County, and authorities believe he could be headed to our state, possibly driving a converted Ford ambulance that’s now painted two-tone white over gray. 

Renk is white, 6’1″ tall, 175 pounds with blue eyes and brown hair. Anyone with information on his location or other possible victims is asked to contact the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office at 541-506-2580, or OSP Det. Cassie Bantz through dispatch at 800-442-0776. 

 

Boaters are being warned about low levels on the Columbia and Willamette rivers.

That’s the message from the National Weather Service in Portland, which says submerged items could be potentially exposed or just below the surface of the river at least during low tide. Officials say boaters should avoid going out during low tide while the river levels are low and instead go out during high tide.

Tide information is available on the National Weather Service website.

 

A Medford man is dead and two others were sent to hospitals for medical treatment following a boating accident in Winchester Bay.

On Thursday 63-year-old James McKeane of Medford, his son 36 year-old Kenneth McKeane of Central Point and his neighbor 35-year-old Anthony Knight of Medford were ocean fishing. After a few hours, weather conditions brought them back to the docks.  While heading towards the bay a large wave crashed into the left side of the boat, rolling it over and eventually capsizing it.

All three of the men went into the water without life jackets.  James McKeane and Knight were rescued by the United States Coast Guard, with Knight unconscious.  Both James and Knight were transported to Lower Umpqua Hospital to receive medical treatment.

Efforts to revive Knight were made, but ultimately were unsuccessful.  Kenneth McKeane was later located by a USCG helicopter on the North Jetty and was airlifted to North Bend Hospital.

The accident remains under investigation by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Marine Division alongside the Oregon State Marine Board.

 

Oregon State Police are reminding parents and students of the SafeOregon hotline. It takes reports of potential threats against students and schools. The tips can be made anonymously.

They can include safety threats, fights, drugs, weapons on campus, cyberbullying and students considering self-harm or suicide. A technician reviews the reports and assigns them either to police or school administrators.

Tips can be made by phone, text, email or on the website, SafeOregon.com. That’s safeoregon dot com.

 

Oregon boosts emergency preparedness with new evacuation software

Oregon Emergency Mangers already seeing significant reduction in time to communicate evacuation information. 

Salem, Ore. – In honor of National Preparedness Month, the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is excited to announce a new contract that will provide advanced evacuation software to all of Oregon’s 36 counties and nine Tribes. The software, from Genasys Inc., will help manage emergency evacuations more effectively across the state.

As Oregon deals with more frequent and severe disasters, it’s essential to have a clear plan for evacuations and support services. While law enforcement handles the immediate evacuation of people, the ODHS Office of Resilience and Emergency Management (OREM) works with local communities to help identify people who need evacuation assistance and ensure people are evacuated to a location that meets their needs.  

“Even well-prepared communities face challenges with evacuations, especially when multiple areas are affected. We’re thrilled to offer this new software to all our counties and Tribes,” said Ed Flick, Director of OREM. “This tool will help emergency managers make quick and informed decisions to keep everyone safe. Over the last week the tool was used to coordinate evacuations for the Rail Ridge Fire in Grant, Crook and Wheeler Counties, which is Oregon’s top priority wildfire. National Preparedness Month is a great time for everyone to review their own emergency plans and supplies. For tips, check out Ready.gov.” 

The Genasys EVAC software helps with planning and managing evacuations. It allows emergency services to quickly create and update evacuation plans, run realistic simulations, and respond faster during an emergency.

Nick Vora, Emergency Manager for Union County, shared his enthusiasm: “Changing, exporting, and adding evacuation zones for alerts used to be slow and complicated. While there are many great mapping tools out there, they often made it time-consuming to update evacuation zones and get them ready for emergency alerts. It could take 15 to 30 minutes to make these changes and load them into the alert system. With Genasys, however, the process is much faster. You can select and adjust an area and get it ready for alerts in just a few minutes. This quick turnaround makes managing emergency alerts much easier and more efficient.”

“Genasys Protect was instrumental in notifying community members of evacuations during the Falls and Telephone Fires in Harney County. When time is of the essence, being able to instantly notify community members of updated evacuation levels is crucial. We loved the ease of use and the ability to train new staff members on how to use it under one minute. This is an essential tool during wildfires,” said Melinda Todd, Harney County Emergency Manager.

Ken Kehmna, a retired fire chief and advisor at Genasys, added, “After Oregon’s severe fires in 2020, we tested this software in Deschutes and Jackson counties. Both counties saw great results and adopted the software, leading to its statewide use.”

Michael Smith, Senior Vice President at Genasys Protect, emphasized the benefits: “EVAC’s planning and real-time communication features are vital for managing emergencies in any community, from small towns to large cities.”

This new software represents a significant step forward in making sure Oregon is ready for emergencies and can respond quickly and effectively.

About the ODHS Office of Resilience and Emergency Management

ODHS holds four distinct roles through its Office of Resilience and Emergency Management, all of which reduce the impact of disasters on people.

• Mass care:  Planning for and supporting people in the early stage and immediate aftermath of emergencies. Our work includes things like coordinating evacuation assistance, the distribution of life-sustaining goods and services, including hydration, feeding, sheltering, reunification, and distribution of emergency supplies. 
• Social services recovery:  Helping people and social services agencies recover. Our Social Services Recovery Coordinators work with survivors and their families to identify barriers to recovery, make a plan to address those barriers, and support the survivors on their journey. Our role also includes helping local social services agencies that may be impacted by the disasters to return to full functioning as soon as possible. 
• Continuity of operations:  Ensuring communities’ ongoing access to ODHS services. This includes making sure our offices are open and essential services continue, as well as supporting the agency programs and the case managers who ensure the safety of the tens of thousands of Oregonians who may need extra and early help in an emergency. 
• Legislatively directed resilience work:  Warming, cooling and cleaner air shelters; water distribution and resilience hubs. These situations don’t fit what’s traditionally been considered emergencies, but they can have significant impacts on people. The Legislature made OREM the lead for this type of work to help people. 

Across all these roles, ODHS develops and relies on partnerships and coordination with public and private organizations at the local and regional levels and with our state and Tribal Nation partners. 

 

September is National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month and Suicide Prevention Month

Take time this month to spread awareness about all the resources we have available in our community for prevention, treatment and substance abuse recovery.

September is also Suicide Prevention Month. If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, you are not alone. There are numerous resources available for you and your loved ones. Reach out to friends and family today, a conversation can save a life.

 #SuicidePrevention #YouAreNotAlone #988 #youmatter

If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, you are not alone. Please call or text the National 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or text HELLO to 741741.

 

Michael Bakkela was sentenced to 11 years in prison for a fire Phoenix is still recovering from.

The fire Bakkela started happened on the same day as the Almeda Fire four years ago Bakkela was seen on Quail Lane, near the railroad tracks, where he intentionally started a fire that was then pushed by strong northwest winds.

The DA’s office says the fire destroyed or damaged 14 homes and three businesses.  Bakkela pleaded no contest to 15 charges of criminal mischief and one count of arson back in 2022.

The fire he started did merge with the Almeda Fire, but the DA’s office made it clear there is no evidence linking Bakkela to the start of the Almeda Fire.

 

The application deadline for the new EBT program has been extended to midnight Sept. 30, 2024.

The program offers $120 per child to help cover grocery costs when school food programs are not as easy to access.

Eligible families should act now. Thousands of families may be unaware that they qualify for this essential benefit. The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) urge families to check their eligibility and apply before the extended deadline.

Remember, once benefits are received, they must be used within 122 days.  Most eligible children received their benefits automatically on June 28, 2024, if their households:

Participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Participate in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Are Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) members in households with incomes under 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Level

Children in foster care also automatically received Summer EBT.  However, families who did not receive benefits automatically, particularly those with children enrolled in a school during the 2023-2024 school year who were eligible for the National School Lunch or Breakfast Programs, should still apply to determine their eligibility.

Families are encouraged to visit sebt.oregon.gov or contact the Summer EBT Call Center to verify their eligibility

 

More than 3,000 Oregon state workers have filed claims alleging that they are underpaid due to an inaccurate evaluation of their experience and education in a recent state equal pay analysis.

The Oregon Department of Administrative Services conducts the analysis at least once every three years to ensure employees have the correct job classification and are fairly paid.

The latest review, covering about 36,000 state employees and completed in June, resulted in salary increases for 8,789 workers, who were reclassified based on updated education and experience assessments, according to Bryanna Duke, public records manager for the agency.

The significant number of reclassifications marks a victory for the state’s public employee unions, which have successfully negotiated several changes to the equal pay analysis process, aiming to promote fairness and address wage disparities between male and female state employees, as well as between employees of color and their white counterparts.

However, 3,025 employees – or about 8.4% of employees covered by the analysis – have appealed, contending that the state miscalculated their experience, education level or both, according to Andrea Chiapella, spokesperson for the Department of Administrative Services.

LL Flooring, the hardwood flooring retailer formerly known as Lumber Liquidators, is going out of business.

Less than a month after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the Virginia-based company says it is now “winding down operations” after failing to find a buyer in recent negotiations with prospective bidders. That means all of its remaining stores will soon close their doors.

LL Flooring expected to begin to begin the process this week, with closing sales at hundreds of stores slated to start Friday. The retailer says store closures should be completed over the next 12 weeks, with timing varying by location.

 

Ghost Guns To Be Outlawed this week

So-called ghost guns, privately made firearms that don’t have serial numbers and are largely untraceable, will be banned across Oregon today, after a federal judge denied a legal challenge that tried to block the prohibition.

Ghost guns differ from weapons manufactured by licensed companies in that the latter are generally required to have serial numbers — usually displayed on the frame of the gun — that allow officials to trace them back to the manufacturer, the dealer and the original purchaser.

The U.S. Department of Justice reported recovering 25,785 ghost guns in domestic seizures in 2022.  In the Oregon case, Stephen Duvernay, a lawyer for the Oregon Firearms Federation and the Firearms Policy Coalition Inc., argued in federal court this month that self-made guns without serial numbers are common in the U.S., The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.

Duvernay also said requiring his clients to add serial numbers to their guns or gun parts would be impractical, adding that about 1 million people own such weapons in state and would be affected by the new law.  In 2023 the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 2005 banning ghost guns.

State Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, a Democrat, had pushed for the legislation for years, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting.

When the ban takes effect, firearms made after Oct. 22, 1968, must have a serial number, and violating the law could result in a $1,000 fine. Repeat offenders could face higher fines and potentially incarceration.  Under the law, people with firearms that currently do not have serial numbers can have numbers put on them by federally licensed gun dealers so they comply with the statute.

Since July 2023, Oregon has also barred the sale, transfer and import of unserialized firearms and the possession, sale and manufacturing of firearms that cannot be detected by metal detectors or X-ray machines.

 

Federal officials are moving ahead with plans to promote the shipment of goods by zero-emission trucks up and down the West Coast.

Authorities say the U.S. Department of Transportation is giving Washington, Oregon and California 102-million dollars to create a network of semi-truck charging and fueling stations to power battery and hydrogen fuel-cell semi-trucks traversing the three states. Officials say major hubs would be built in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle.

 

Basketball fans mark your calendars. The 10th Annual Rip City Rally is making a stop in Coos Bay on September 16.  The mascots and the Blazers dancers will be there along with some special guests who are yet to be announced.  There will be music, games, and giveaways in the parking lot at the intersection of Curtis Avenue and South Second Street, on Monday, September 16, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Last year the rally made a stop in Medford. Now this year, Coos Bay is the only stop in Southern Oregon. The season opens in October.

 

 

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