The latest news stories of interest in the Rogue Valley and around the state of Oregon from the digital home of Southern Oregon, Wynne Broadcastingβs RogueValleyMagazine.com
Friday, July 8, 2022
Rogue Valley Weather
Yankee Creek Fire Extinguished in Eagle Point
ππΌππππ πΎππππ ππππ: ODF, Fire District 3 and Lake Creek firefighters have stopped the Yankee Creek Fire, located on the 700 block of Yankee Creek road, Eagle Point to the northeast of Agate Lake County Park.
Firefighters have extinguished all active fire and are starting mop-up operations. It was caught at an estimated half-acre. The cause will be under investigation.
We sent a number of engines and our Type 3 helicopter with our Helitack crew, and thankfully not all of these resources were needed. Please be aware- despite the recent rain, fuels are dry and fires can still start and spread. For a complete list of current regulations, visit our website, swofire.com.#swofire2022#fireseason2022
| Missing Women over Last two Years in Southern Oregon per Oregon State Police Missing Persons |
| Jackson County |
| FRIES ADDISON ELISE 4/13/2021 |
| GALPREN-GIBSON MEISHA ANN 6/13/2021 |
| SALAZAR-WALKER LAILA LYNN 6/28/2021 |
| BARBOUR BREANNA JO 9/3/2021 |
| BENNETT KIMBERLY KAE 9/14/2021 |
| MARQUIS ROSANNA 12/14/2021 |
| LEMONS MAERET ALIJAH 1/20/2022 |
| 16 WITHERSPOON ZOE ROSE 2/25/2022 |
| HUTCHINSON ERICA LEE 5/26/2022 |
| SHARP MARIAH DANIELLE 6/12/2022 |
| NELSON KAITLYN RAE 6/14/2022 |
| DELEPINE BARBARA 7/4/2022 |
Josephine County |
| FREY FAUNA ROSEANNA 6/29/2020 |
| BULLWINSTEAD JAYDEN ROSE 10/1/2020 |
| CLARK LUNARAH ROSE 12/1/2020 |
| SPARKS TARAH 12/1/2020 |
| LEETCH MICHELLE 12/1/2021 |
| KENDALL MAKENNA 5/3/2022 |
| JOHNS BROOKLYN 6/14/2022 |
| LEPP, DONNA 6/27/2022 |
Oregon State Police SW Region Drug Enforcement Team serves illegal marijuana warrant-Josephine County
On Wednesday, July 6, 2022, the Oregon State Police (OSP) Southwest Region (SWR) Drug Enforcement Section (DES) team served an illegal marijuana search warrant in the 300 block of Gene Brown Rd. OβBrien, Josephine County.
As a result, 3,547 illegal marijuana plants contained in five (5) large greenhouses, were located, seized, and ultimately destroyed. Additionally, the property is subject to multiple code violations through Josephine County Code Enforcement, for unpermitted structures (greenhouses), unpermitted water tanks, unpermitted electrical installations, and illegal water diversion from a nearby waterway. Josephine County will move forward with enforcement action against the property owner which could result in closure of the property for one calendar year (illegal drug cultivation) and possible civil forfeiture.
The investigation is on-going and no further information is available at this time.
Marijuana Search Warrant – Josephine Co. Sheriff’s Office
INCIDENT DATE AND TIME: July 6, 2022
DETAILS: On July 6, 2022, the Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) executed a search warrant in the 1300 block of Frontage Road and the 80 block of Speaker Road, Wolf Creek, regarding illegal marijuana grow sites.
During the execution of the search warrants approximately 14,000 marijuana plants located inside multiple greenhouses and indoor grow facilities were seized and destroyed. In addition to the growing marijuana plants, approximately 7,000 pounds of processed marijuana was located in one of the outbuildings.
Josephine County Code Enforcement responded to the scene and identified multiple code violations to include electrical and solid waste issues and misappropriation of water by taking it from a creek. The power has since been turned off due to electrical issues and the property is subject to potential seizure by the county. Josephine County Code Enforcement will continue to interact with the property owner in an attempt to resolve the numerous code violations.
58 year-old Chen Fengzhi and 41 year-old Liang Zhao were taken into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Manufacturing of Marijuana and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana.
At the time of this press release the investigation is ongoing and no further details are being released.
UPDATE: SWAT Responds to Armed Barricaded Domestic Assault Suspect in Central Point
Update 3:15 p.m.: The next of kin has been notified. The name of the decedent is Dustin Michael Davis JR, 29, of Central Point, Ore. All further information will come from the Jackson County District Attorney’s office.
News Release from Jackson Co. Sheriff’s Office July 7th, 2022 11:28 AM JCSO Case 22-3851 Update:
The suspect is deceased from an apparent self inflicted gunshot wound. No lethal rounds were fired by law enforcement during the incident. SWAT and CNT attempted to contact the suspect via numerous means to resolve the situation peacefully. JCSO attempted less lethal means and negotiations but unfortunately the incident ended when the subject took his own life.
The suspectβs name will be released pending notification of next of kin. Multiple shots were fired at deputies during the incident but there were no injuries.This is an active investigation and Table Rock Road will be closed from Orr Drive to Gibbon Road for several hours. Medford Police Department (MPD) and Central Point Police Department assisted with the incident.Jackson County Major Assault and Death Investigation Unit (MADIU) will conclude the investigation and pass off their findings to the Jackson County District Attorneys office.
ORIGINAL RELEASE: Jackson County Sheriffβs Office (JCSO) SWAT, Crisis Negotiators Team (CNT), and detectives were called out early this morning for an armed, barricaded subject following a domestic assault.
JCSO Patrol deputies responded to a 911 call for a domestic assault at 2:27 a.m. on the 6000 block of Table Rock Road and the armed subject barricaded. The suspect has prior assaults on the same victim.
JCSO is working through contingency plans to create an environment and opportunity for the suspect to give up and be arrested. SWAT and CNT have made multiple notifications, and flash bang distraction devices have been deployed.
In an abundance of caution neighboring residences have been evacuated. This scene is active, please avoid the area while the situation is ongoing. JCSO Case 22-3851 Jackson Co. Sheriffβs Office
Fatal Crash on Hwy 260-Josephine County
On July 7, 2022 at approximately 6:12 PM, Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a single-vehicle crash on Hwy 260 near milepost 18.
Preliminary investigation revealed an eastbound purple Mazda B23 pickup, operated by Tracy Allen (49) of Grants Pass, left the roadway and collided with a tree. The vehicle caught fire and was totally engulfed. It is unknown why the vehicle left the roadway.
Allen sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased. — OSP was assisted by Josephine County Sheriffβs Office, Rural Metro Fire and ODOT.
How gas prices have changed in Medford in the last week
Oil and gas prices are declining as fears of a recession loom large.
West Texas Intermediate crude, the U.S. benchmark, and Brent Crude, the world benchmark, briefly dipped below $100 per barrel this week. Regular gas prices hovered at $4.75 per gallon on July 7, down more than 25 cents in three weeks. Ten states have seen gasoline prices decrease by at least 10 cents per gallon just in the last week.
Stacker compiled statistics on gas prices in Medford-Ashland, OR metro area using data from AAA . The cheapest gas stations are from GasBuddy . Gas prices are current as of July 7. State gas tax data is from World Population Review . Connecticut and New York have temporarily suspended gas taxes to help consumers while the cost of gas has increased.
You may also like : Free to use gas price widgets
Medford by the numbers
– Gas current price: $5.46
— Oregon average: $5.45
— Oregon gas tax: $0.36 per gallon (#10 highest among all states)
– Week change: -$0.06 (-1.0%)
– Year change: +$1.65 (+43.4%)
– Historical expensive gas price: $5.57 (6/15/22)
– Diesel current price: $6.67
– Week change: -$0.03 (-0.5%)
– Year change: +$2.98 (+80.8%)
– Historical expensive diesel price: $6.72 (6/29/22)
Cheapest gas stations
#1. Costco: $5.05 (3075 Hamrick Rd, Central Point)
#2. Pilot: $5.19 (1600 E Pine St, Central Point)
#3. ARCO: $5.19 (2380 OR-66, Ashland)
Metros with the most expensive gas
#1. San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles, CA: $6.42
#2. Napa, CA: $6.40
#3. Salinas, CA: $6.32
Metros with the least expensive gas
#1. Warner Robins, GA: $3.94
#2. Albany, GA: $3.96
#3. Laredo, TX: $3.98
States with the highest gas tax per gallon
#1. Pennsylvania: $0.59
#2. California: $0.53
#3. Washington: $0.52
States with the lowest gas tax per gallon
#1. Alaska: $0.0895
#2. Hawaii: $0.16
#3. Virginia: $0.162
We want to keep you informed about COVID-19 in Oregon. Data are provisional and change frequently. For more information, including COVID-19 data by county, visit our dashboard: http://ow.ly/HxeA50JQZGCNote: The summary tables for some OHA COVID-19 dashboards will be temporarily unavailable Thursday July 7 from 5:00β6:00 p.m. while Tableau engineers perform routine maintenance. OHA appreciates your patience.
OHA releases COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough report
PORTLAND, Ore. β Oregon Health Authorityβs most recent update on COVID-19 breakthrough cases, released today, reported 45,843 cases of infection during the month of June.
Of those cases, 19,923, or 43.5%, were unvaccinated people, and 25,907, or 56.5%, were vaccine breakthrough cases. Among the breakthrough cases, 10,644, or 41.1%, were fully vaccinated and boosted.
To date, there have been 259,450 COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough cases in Oregon. Of those cases, 78,313, or 30.2%, were fully vaccinated and boosted at the time of infection.
To date, 2.6% of all vaccine breakthrough cases have been hospitalized, and 0.6% have died. The median age of vaccinated people who died is 80.
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective at protecting people from getting seriously ill, being hospitalized and dying. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a COVID-19 primary series vaccines for everyone ages 6 months and older, and COVID-19 boosters for everyone ages 5 years and older, if eligible.
The latest breakthrough report can be found here.
Oregon Health Authority hosted a Zoom media briefing at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 7 β to discuss the latest on hMPXV (human monkeypox virus) in Oregon.
Tim Menza, M.D., Ph.D., senior health adviser for the hMPXV response at the OHA Public Health Division, will give an update on the stateβs response to the national outbreak and reporting of cases in Oregon, and take questions.
Today, we gave an update on Oregonβs response to a national outbreak of hMPXV (human monkeypox virus) that includes at least six cases in Oregon. In the current hMPXV outbreak, an initial flu-like illness may occur. A rash can also appear at the same time or five days later, presenting more often on the genitals and around the anus. The rash can be subtle and may be painful or itchy as it moves through predictable stages, including what look like pimples, blisters and scabs. Sores may also be present inside the mouth, vagina or anus.
hMPXV has an incubation period of 6-13 days, but can be as long as 21 days. Illness lasts 2 to 4 weeks.hMPXV is not as contagious as COVID-19, but its control requires a coordinated, thoughtful public health response.βWhile anyone can be affected by hMPXV, the current global outbreak of hMPXV has largely affected gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men,β said Dr. Tim Menza, senior health advisor for OHAβs hMPXV response. βI point this out not to say that men who have sex with men are the only people at risk for hMPXV, but that right now our priority should be empowering men who have sex with men and the larger LGBTQIA+ and queer community and their health care providers with information, testing, prevention and treatment strategies.βRead our news release to learn more about how weβre emphasizing information-sharing, testing, vaccination and treatment as part of Oregonβs response to hMPXV: http://ow.ly/BZry50JR7x3
Fentanyl-driven overdoses sharply increasing throughout Oregon
OHA, counties, CBOs working to get word out about rescue drug naloxone
PORTLAND, Ore.βDrug overdose deaths in Oregon more than doubled between 2019 and 2021, with the increase driven largely by misuse of the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl, an Oregon Health Authority (OHA) analysis has found. Preliminary data indicate that this trend has continued in 2022.
Over the last 30 months, fentanyl has become a leading cause of overdose deaths, particularly among people who donβt have access to harm-reduction services. This trend is prompting urgent requests for supplies of naloxone, the rescue drug that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose.
βWe are seeing a critical need for naloxone as many communities experience dramatic increases in overdoses due to fentanyl misuse,β said Dean Sidelinger, MD, MSEd, health officer and state epidemiologist at OHA. He noted that many counties have reported multiple opioid overdoses over the last several weeks, and that there has been a corresponding demand for naloxone. βWe encourage everyone in Oregon to educate themselves and their loved onesβincluding young peopleβabout the importance of naloxone, how to use it in an overdose emergency, and where people can access it.β
In 2021, nearly a third of Oregonβs counties saw more people die from fentanyl overdose than overdose from any other drug, OHA analysts found.
An overdose is always a medical emergency. Individuals should call 911 immediately after administering naloxone, and be aware that it may take multiple doses of naloxone to reverse the overdose. Oregonβs Good Samaritan law protects the caller and the person who has overdosed against possession and paraphernalia charges.
People who are taking prescription opioids should ask their health care provider or pharmacist for a naloxone prescription. Health insurance may cover the cost of naloxone. Individuals who want to have naloxone on hand for someone else should ask their pharmacist for a prescription. While health insurance usually will not cover this, coupons may be available online to offset the cost.
OHAβs Naloxone Rescue for Opioid Overdose webpage contains naloxone frequently asked questions and a map showing Oregon pharmacies that distribute the medicine. Anyone actively using opioids, or other illicit substances, can get naloxone and other harm-reduction materials at no cost through syringe service programs. Syringe service programs are available to anyone who uses drugs, regardless of whether they inject them. Here is OHAβs list of syringe and needle exchange services available in Oregon.
In addition, OHA is issuing the following warnings to people who use drugs:
- Unless a pharmacist directly hands you a prescription pill, assume it is counterfeit and contains fentanyl.
- Assume any pills obtained from social media, the internet or a friend are counterfeit and contain fentanyl.
- If you are using pills, donβt use alone and always have naloxone on hand and visible.
- Test your drugs with fentanyl test strips before you use them. Fentanyl test strips can often be accessed at local harm-reduction sites.
A review of State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS) and Oregon death certificate data by analysts from OHAβs Injury and Violence Prevention Section found that unintentional/undetermined drug overdose deaths increased from 496 in 2019 to 1,072 in 2021. The 2021 figure doesnβt include all fourth-quarter overdose deaths, which are still being tallied and analyzed.
Unintentional/undetermined fentanyl overdose deaths jumped more than 600% between 2019 and 2021, from 71 to 509, respectively. Of unintentional/undetermined drug overdose deaths in 2021, 47.5% were due to fentanyl; in 2020, fentanyl caused 32.1% of overdose deaths; in 2019, the drug was responsible for 14.3% of overdoses.
Overall, unintentional/undetermined overdoses from opioids, including fentanyl and heroin, also rose sharply during that time, from 280 to 739 deaths β a 164% increase. Unintentional/undetermined stimulant β methamphetamine β overdoses were up two-fold, from 325 to 658 deaths from 2019 to 2021.
While exact reasons for the overdose increases are unknown, public health officials have long suspected that disruptions to daily life due to the COVID-19 pandemic have been a factor. Those with substance use disorder have been hit particularly hard by job losses, school closures and social isolation resulting from restrictions put in place to limit exposure and transmission of the virus.
The COVID-19 crisis also interrupted ways people with substance use disorder can get help, such as mental health services, 12-step programs and ambulatory visits, Sidelinger says.
But an increase in availability of fentanyl also is a factor in Oregonβs overdose increases. According to an April 2022 bulletin by the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (OR-ID HIDTA), 40% of all counterfeit pills in circulation contain fatal amounts of fentanyl. The OR-ID HIDTA seized 1.5 million counterfeit pills in 2021, a 51% increase from 2020 and a 137% increase from 2019.
OHA is taking steps to reduce drug overdose deaths:
- OHA, in collaboration with OR-ID HIDTA, is working with public safety and public health partners to implement Overdose Mapping and Application Program (ODMAP), a real-time suspected overdose surveillance data system to mobilize an immediate response to a sudden increase in overdose events in local communities. HIDTA has recently found a large number of narcotic pill seizures by participating law enforcement agencies that appear to be pharmaceutical narcotics like oxycodone but are likely counterfeits containing fentanyl.
- Oregon established a Harm Reduction Supply Clearinghouse to support agencies that serve people at risk of overdose, including offering community-based outreach, prevention and harm-reduction programs, withdrawal and substance use treatment programs, and rural and frontier first uniformed responders across Oregon. Currently, there are 127 organizations set up to order harm-reduction supplies online through the Clearinghouse. Organizations participating in the Clearinghouse have ordered nearly 130,000 doses of naloxone and other supplies, including syringes, wound care, PPE, disinfectants and personal hygiene products (to prevent COVID-19 and treat wounds).
- The PRIME+ (Peer Recovery Initiated in Medical Establishments) program provides peer-based harm reduction support for persons currently using drugs who present to medical settings. The program goals are to reduce overdoses and infections related to harmful drug use. PRIME+ peer support specialists assist people who are using drugs to access naloxone, safer use supplies, HIV and hepatitis C testing, primary care and substance use treatment, and more. The PRIME + program operates 23 sites in 20 counties in Oregon and has reported more than 20,000 contacts with community members and provided harm-reduction-centered peer support to more than 3,400 people who are using drugs in participating counties since January 2021.
- About 10,000 to 11,000 patients in Oregon are receiving methadone through Oregonβs opioid treatment providers (OTPs). Most OTPs are concentrated along the Interstate 5 corridor serving Oregonβs four largest metropolitan areas, although federal funds have helped with expansion to rural and frontier areas, such as the Oregon Coast, and central and eastern Oregon. As of spring 2022, Oregon also had about 2,100 practitioners federally certified to prescribe buprenorphine for treating opioid use disorder, although only around half of providers choose to use their certifications in any given year. Despite expansion efforts, coastal and rural communities in Oregon are still lacking in access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in many cases.
Health officials are reminding people that opioid use disorder can be successfully treated. Those who need help to stop using opioids can talk to their health care providers or view OHAβs list of resources. In addition, Oregon law allows lay people to carry and use naloxone, a medication that can be used to reverse an opioid overdose, on other people. Learn more about naloxone. If a person is using substances alone, the Never Use Alone Hotline 800-484-3731 can be a nonjudgmental and lifesaving point of contact for emergency services.
Oregon-based nonprofit Lines for Life and OHA recently launched the Safe + Strong Helpline at 1-800-923-4357 (800-923-HELP). The line offers free, 24-7 emotional support and resource referral to anyone who needs itβnot only those experiencing a mental health crisis. The Safe + Strong Helpline is a response to needs for emotional support around disasters like COVID-19 and wildfires and was funded by the CARES Act. Callers are routed to a counselor who can provide emotional support, mental health triage, drug and alcohol counseling, crisis counseling or just connection.
Gun Safety Measure Poised To Appear On November Ballot
Supporters of a gun safety ballot initiative say they have gathered more than enough signatures to guarantee a statewide vote on a law that would require licenses for all gun owners. If voters approve it, the measure will require completed background checks and ban large-capacity ammunition magazines
Hundreds of volunteers for Initiative Petition 17 will continue collecting petition signatures across Oregon until Tuesday night, then deliver them to the Secretary of Stateβs Elections Division on Friday. As of Monday afternoon, organizers estimate that theyβve collected between 135,000 and 140,000 signatures β well above the 112,000 needed to make the ballot and ensure a comfortable buffer in case some arenβt valid.
The initiative would tighten Oregonβs gun laws, which allow gun ownership at 18 and requires criminal background checks before gun purchases, though a loophole in federal law allows firearms dealers to sell guns without a background check if it takes longer than three days to complete. The man who killed nine people in a racially-motivated shooting at a South Carolina church in 2015 acquired his gun that way.
If the measure were enacted, everyone would have to complete a background check, no matter how long it takes, and pass firearm safety training to obtain a permit before buying a gun. It would not apply to current firearm owners unless they purchase additional weapons after the law took effect.
The measure would also prohibit the sale of ammunition magazines that can contain more than 10 rounds, though people who already own large magazines could continue to use them on their property, while hunting or at shooting ranges.
The initiative would not ban assault-style weapons, which have been used in many mass shootings, though petitioners plan to work with legislators to pass such a ban in 2023. They initially planned to put that ban on the November ballot but decided it worked better to focus all their efforts on one initiative, a spokesperson said.
New Report Finds Hundreds Of Oregonβs Disabled Students Are Illegally Denied Full School Days
Dozens of school districts across Oregon continue to deny some students with disabilities their right to full school days as a means to deal with behavioral challenges and classroom disruptions, and the state Department of Education is shirking its responsibility to monitor and correct those denials, a new expert report has found.
Students with disabilities including autism, emotional disturbance and communication impairment were given as few as 10 or even five hours of instruction per week, despite a longstanding federal law requiring schools to offer such students access to the same sort of free public education as their non-disabled peers and with the least possible restrictions, the report says.
The report, written by a consortium of special education experts, documents that Oregon schools often give students with significant behavior issues reduced instruction time rather than greater attention and the individualized education they need to succeed. The experts were chosen by state officials and advocates for children with disabilities and paid by the Oregon Department of Education.
Oregon GOP Has New Chairperson
Oregon’s Republican Party has a new chair today to replace its interim leader from Josephine County.
The Oregon Republican Party (ORP) officially has Portland restauranteur Justin Hwang as its new Chairman today.
Hwang was elected as Vice-Chair in May, then moved up to fill the vacancy after Herman Baertschiger of Josephine County resigned as Chairman of the state party.
Hwang says, “I am humbled and honored to serve as the new Chair of the Oregon Republican Party. I want to thank the ORP delegates and ORP leadership, including former Chair Baertschiger, for believing in me. I’m excited to bring a fresh voice to the Party along with my years of experience as a small business owner. My colleagues and I are ready to get to work and we only have one vision in mind for 2022 β to elect more Republicans to office.”
Hwang says ORP is committed to doing the work to ensure Oregon Republican election victories this November.
ORP says Hwang is the first Asian-American and first Korean American to be serve as Chairman of the Oregon Republican Party, noting Hwang is a business owner with more than 30 restaurants across the Portland-metro area and a former state legislative candidate.
Senator Jeff Merkley is blaming the steep gas costs on price gouging by American oil companies.
To counter this, the senator is sponsoring a ‘big oil windfall profits tax’, a bill that would get money back into the hands of Oregonians, in the form of a check.
Senator Merkley says the bill would raise about 45 billion dollars from big oil companies. He also says he supports President Biden’s proposal to suspend the gas tax for short-term relief.
Oregon Republican Congressman Cliff Bentz has also been weighing in on gas prices on Twitter. Early last month he said it’s time to unleash American energy and quote “end this madness”.
Bottle Hunting Season Has Begun! — The Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative released the first clues Wednesday for the 2022 Oregon Hidden Bottle Hunt
Six commemorative bottles have been hidden around the state of Oregon to celebrate more than a half-century of Oregonβs Bottle Bill. Each bottle has been placed in parks and trails throughout the state.
Five daily clues as to the bottlesβ locations will be revealed through Sunday. All clues can be found on the BottleDrop website.
The second clues for this years 2022 Oregon Hidden Bottle Hunt were revealed Thursday.
The hunt is divided into six geographical zones. Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook and Harney counties are in Zone 4. Klamath, Lake, Josephine and Jackson counties are in Zone 3. Eastern Oregon is in Zone 5. Southwest Oregon is in Zone 2 while Zone 1 has been split into an east and west region covering Portland and Northwest Oregon.
The green, refillable bottles come with a small, Oregon-shaped tag that says βThe Oregon Bottle Bill: Promoting a legacy of recycling since 1971.β They will come with a small bag to keep the bottle in.
The winners get to keep the bottle and will get to choose one of the 5,000 BottleDrop Give nonprofit partners to receive a $1,000 donation.
Important Bottle Hunt rules
- Do not trespass on private property. All bottles are hidden in parks or trails open to the public.
- Do not go inside any buildings to look for bottles. All bottles are hidden outside.
- Do not dig for the bottles or otherwise damage/destroy any plants or structures at the park/trail, and bottles will not be hidden in any community garden spaces. The bottles may be concealed but will not be hidden in places that require damaging property in any way. You do not need to dig underground or destroy anything to access the bottles, and doing so is prohibited.
- Abide by any park/trail hours while you are hunting.
The Oregon Bottle Bill, signed into law on July 2, 1971, was the nationβs first beverage container redemption system that allowed people to get money back for returning bottles.
OBRC said the Oregon redemption rate was 83.9% in 2021, with Oregonians returning nearly 2 billion containers for recycling.
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