The latest news stories of interest in the Rogue Valley and around the state of Oregon from the digital home of Southern Oregon, Wynne Broadcasting’s RogueValleyMagazine.com
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
Rogue Valley Weather
OSP SW Region DES and JMET Serve Search Warrants at Two Locations Near Cave Junction
On November 2, 2022, the Oregon State Police Southwest Region Drug Enforcement Section team with assistance from the Josephine County Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) of the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, executed search warrants at two (2) separate locations in Cave Junction, Josephine County; the 8600 block of Caves Hwy and 3700 block of Holland Loop Rd.
Located at the Caves Hwy property and seized were approximately 960 pounds of illegal, processed marijuana, seven firearms, approximately eight pounds of illegal THC extracts, and one cargo trailer. Additionally, evidence of illegal marijuana exportation from Oregon was discovered on-scene.
James Rossi (30) was arrested and subsequently lodged in the Josephine County jail on the charges of 475C.337 Possession of Marijuana-Persons>=21-Over 8 lbs. usable (Fel C) and 475C.349 Manufacture of Marijuana-Over 12 Plants.
Located and seized at the Holland Loop road property were a firearm, 916 illegal marijuana plants, and approximately 2,000 pounds of dried, processed illegal marijuana products in the form of flower buds, concentrates, and extracts. Five individuals were detained, identified, interviewed, and later released.
The illegal marijuana seized at both locations was ultimately destroyed. The investigation is ongoing and no further information is available for release.
Shady Cove City Leaders Under State Investigation
A State investigation into some elected Shady Cove leaders is active today. An Oregon Government Ethics Commission investigator says it has not concluded any infraction occurred.
A State investigation into some elected Shady Cove leaders is active today. An Oregon Government Ethics Commission investigator says it has not concluded any infraction occurred.
Investigator Monica Walker also says today the Commission has until March 2023 to make that finding.
The Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) met today as part of its regular meeting schedule after a decision at its September meeting when it voted 5-0 “that there is a substantial, objective basis for believing that (name) may have violated ORS 192.660(2) AND ORS 192.660(6) and that the Commission should investigate accordingly” regarding Shady Cove Mayor Shari Tarvin, Council Members Tim Evertt and Tanda Murders.
It voted the same for former City Council members Kathryn Nuckles and Dick McGregor for ORS 192.660(2).
In same September 23 meeting OCEG voted that one complaint against Mayor Tarvin be dismissed.
Then the Commission voted to conduct an investigation. Its investigator Monica Walker says the alleged violations include discussion of an unauthorized topic as city business and an accusation that they made a final city action decision in an executive session. Executive sessions are closed parts of otherwise open meetings by government bodies in order to discuss limited topics, such as personnel performance or land transactions, with subsequent vote action to occur during open government meeting periods.
Walker says the Shady Cove matter was not part of today’s OGEC meeting as its investigation phase that started in September allows 180 days to complete its investigation.
She says the matter is marked for a March 10, 2023 OGEC meeting review or possibly a February 3, 2023 OGEC agenda item at the earliest, though the Commission has until March meeting to conclude the issue.
Walker says the Commission could enter a stipulated agreement to resolve the matter, and respondents would need to want to enter such orders, too.
She says she has been in contact with the Shady Cove city leaders involved, and they are cooperative. Walker says the matter started with a complaint, which starts 60 days of preliminary examination of the case which allows the Commission to open a formal, 180-day investigation to more thoroughly investigate.
OGEC has a penalty matrix with factors and associated points that determine how much of a penalty, including fines, can be levied if a law violation is substantiated.
SOU Faculty Differ On President’s Realignment Plan – Town Hall Meetings Planned
Differing views among Southern Oregon University faculty members over President Rick Bailey’s strategic realignment plan are becoming more apparent this week as the new leader began a series of town hall meetings on the matter.
Bailey said in September that the Ashland institution could no longer rely on tuition and state funds to keep going. He has recommended possible cuts to programs, along with new ventures to make money for the university, such as adding a senior living facility and more solar panels.
While those bigger projects could be years away, Bailey also is inviting the campus community to give feedback on existing programs, and the town halls are part of that initiative.
The other town halls are scheduled from 9-11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 2; 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Jan. 12; and 9-11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 16. All meetings will take place in the Rogue River Room on campus and live stream at the link sou.edu/video.
Construction Worker Hit on Medford I-5
Oregon State Police reported that a construction worker was struck by a large truck on I-5 in Medford
Oregon State Police (OSP) information shows a crash with injury occurred around 10pm Sunday near mile post 29 for Interstate 5 southbound in Medford.
OSP says it responded to a hit-and-run crash there involving a construction worker “who got sideswiped by a semi-truck and the semi-truck continued driving.” OSP lists the victim as 45-year-old Douglas Noyes of Gold Hill.
OSP says the worker was transported to a hospital for his injuries. OSP has two witnesses for the incident besides the pedestrian victim.
Today is the Final Day to Vote in Oregon
It is election day in Oregon. Today is the final day for Oregonians to vote for the leadership and laws of their state. With a new governor taking the helm and a variety of significant measures on the ballot, now is the time to participate. For those unfamiliar with, or needing a refresher on the process, the Oregon secretary of State’s office has provided some information:
- “Learn more about candidates, ballot measures and voting rules in the Oregon Voters’ Pamphlet.” A physical copy of the pamphlet should also have been provided alongside ballots.
- “Fill out your ballot. It isn’t a test. You can skip contents or fill them all out. It’s up to you. All you need is a pen. Just make sure to sign the back of the envelope.
- Send us your ballot through the U.S. Mail. It must be postmarked by Election Day. Or use an official ballot drop site by 8 P.M. on Election Day.
- Lost your ballot? No worries. Visit your county elections office and they’ll help you get a new one.”
Regardless of one’s beliefs and affiliations, voting is both a right and an important facet of our nation that should never succumb to apathy. Again, today is the final day to vote in Oregon with all ballots due in by 8 P.M.
Drop boxes and county elections offices will stop accepting hand-delivered ballots Tuesday at 8 p.m. Any mailed ballots must be postmarked by that time as well. (Information from the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office)
In the final hours of campaigning before voters have their final say, the 3 candidates for Oregon governor kept stumping for votes.
For the three former state lawmakers campaigning to be Oregon’s next governor, the final stretch before Election Day looked a lot like the rest of their campaigns: Republican Christine Drazan highlighted public safety concerns. Democrat Tina Kotek reminded voters of her record as a reproductive-rights champion. Betsy Johnson, a former Democrat running as an unaffiliated candidate, promised to be the best of both parties.
The campaign talking points voters are seeing on television, hearing on the radio and getting in the mail aren’t the only signal the race isn’t over until Nov. 8. The money also continues to roll in. Last week, Drazan reported another $1.25 million donation from the Republican Governors Association and Kotek received a $250,000 boost from the Democratic Governors Association. This is already the costliest governor’s race in state history, topping $60 million.
Unless there is a big surprise before the election on Tuesday, it’s probable that none of the candidates in the three-way race for Oregon governor will get a majority of the vote. Instead, Democrat Tina Kotek, Republican Christine Drazan, and non-affiliated candidate Betsy Johnson will split the vote in such a way that the “winner” of the race will have received more votes against them than for them.
Oregon voters to weigh in on 4 state measures – Healthcare, slavery, an attendance policy and gun laws are up for vote in this year’s election. On Nov. 8, Oregonians will decide on four state measures.
Measure 111 is about health care for all Oregonians. If passed, it would mean amending the Oregon constitution by making it a state obligation to ensure every resident has access to cost-effective and affordable health care. It would be up to the Legislature to determine how to fulfill this obligation, however, as there is no funding set aside for it.
Measure 112 had almost unanimous support in the Legislature. Oregon is one of four states voting this November on state constitutional amendments prohibiting slavery and involuntary servitude. If passed, Section 34 of the Oregon Bill of Rights would be amended to prohibit slavery or involuntary servitude without exception.
Measure 113 would create an attendance policy for state lawmakers. It would disqualify lawmakers from holding office for the next term if they have 10 or more unexcused absences from the House or Senate.
Measure 114 would require permits to buy a firearm, require safety training and prohibit the sale of ammunition magazines of more than 10 rounds. The cost for a permit would be $65, plus an additional $50 to renew every five years.
This is the first general election in which Oregon ballots that are postmarked by Election Day count. The postmark rule could mean that the winner of a close race, such as the one for governor, is less likely to be determined the night of the election.
The Oregon Secretary of State will post the initial results around 8 p.m. on Tuesday and will continue to tally ballots until Nov. 16. The state’s deadline to certify the election results and ballots is Dec. 16.
Search Warrant Yields Arrest, Seizure of Fentanyl, and other Narcotics in Lincoln City
On 10/29/22, Lincoln City Police Officers executed a residential search warrant at 621 SE Reef Ave. After receiving reports from several concerned citizens regarding a large amount of short-stay traffic and drug use in public view, a criminal investigation began and enough evidence was obtained to conduct a search warrant of the residence.
The suspect, 58-year-old Gerald Smith of Lincoln City, was not home at the time of the search warrant execution. During the search warrant, Officers located Heroin, blue Fentanyl pills, and colored Fentanyl powder (depicted in photo). While the blue Fentanyl pills are most common right now, the colored Fentanyl powder is becoming more prevalent and it is much stronger and dangerous than the Fentanyl pills.
On 11/6/22, LCPD Officers returned to the house and located Gerald Smith. Officers also located more drug paraphernalia inside the home, which appeared to be recently used. Smith was arrested for Frequenting/Maintaining a Place Where Drugs are Used, as well as a separate Theft II case, and lodged at the Lincoln County Jail. Also inside the residence was 29-year-old Elizabeth Wehr of Lincoln City, who was found to have a Felony Fail to Appear warrant out of Lincoln County. Wehr was cited and released on her warrant.
We are thankful for observant members of our community who speak up when something does not seem right. Fentanyl is a growing danger to many communities, and we will continue to investigate crimes associated with the use and distribution of narcotics.
Google’s 15-Year Tax Exemption Expires On The Dalles Oregon Data Center
Google is getting its first Oregon property tax bill. The company’s data centers in The Dalles have been exempt from most property taxes since Google opened its first one there in 2006. The Silicon Valley company capitalized on big Oregon tax breaks that have saved Google at least $240 million to date.
For years, government officials in Wasco County and around the state watched to see what would happen when Google’s first, 15-year tax exemptions expired.
Would the company shut down the aging data center? Would it shift to older, less valuable equipment to blunt the tax hit? Or would Google begin paying full freight?
The answer, for the moment, is that Google appears content to keep operating and to pay its bills. The tax break expired last year, and state and county assessors valued the facility’s taxable land, property and equipment at $335 million.
“They have a $5.2 million tax bill in the mail,” said Jill Amery, the county assessor.
That’s great news in Wasco County, where the fire district, community college, city and county governments are all beginning to contemplate how they’ll spend the extra money, which boosts total property tax collections by about 12%.
Google’s facility in The Dalles was among the first of its kind built anywhere in the world. It had never been clear what the useful lifespan of a big tech company’s data center might be. So Google’s decision to continue operating its first one is encouraging for officials in Prineville, Morrow County and Umatilla County, who have large data centers owned by other tech giants hitting the tax rolls over the next several years.
And just how much longer does Google plan to continue operating the data center now that it’s taxable? The obsessively secretive company declined to comment about its intentions. But the possibility that it might shut down a given data center at any time makes it difficult for local governments to plan for future revenue.
At any time, Google might decide to replace its older data centers with brand-new, tax-exempt locations, or stock the taxable facilities with less advanced equipment with a lower tax value.
That could reduce the tax payments without warning, or wipe them out altogether. Already, it appears Google is carefully managing its tax liability. The $5 million it now owes on its original data center is less than a third the value of the exemptions on its newest, suggesting the computers inside are far less valuable — and therefore less taxable.
In some ways, data centers aren’t very different from other kinds of industries that small communities rely upon. The loss of a timber mill or aluminum smelter can wreck a county or city budget.
Data centers are distinct, though, because of the extraordinary tax value of their computers and because the companies that operate them won’t say anything about their long-term plans. And like timber or metals, where market conditions might give a clue to their future, a data center’s fate rests entirely in one company’s technological needs and financial calculations.
“We just have to make our projections based on what’s currently there at the time , and hope for the best,” Palmer said.
The Dalles City Council begins its annual goal-setting process this year and will begin considering how to spend the new Google tax money and plan for the future. Klebes, the city manager, said the uncertainty of future Google revenue will be central to that discussion.
“What do we do with it? What kinds of risks are we willing to take?” Klebes said.
The Dalles anticipates around $800,000 in new revenue from Google’s taxes. Some of it could go into a contingency fund, Klebes said, or into capital projects that don’t require future spending commitments.
For now, Klebes said the city is likely to proceed cautiously to ensure it uses its new revenue sustainably. “You don’t write your check until you know what you’ve got in the bank,” he said.
21 Oregon Hospitals Penalized For High Readmissions
Twenty-one hospitals in Oregon will be penalized with reduced Medicare payments due to higher-than-expected readmission rates over the past few years, according to federal data compiled by Kaiser Health News.
Those hospitals include some of the largest facilities in the state: Salem Hospital, Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, Adventist Health Portland and Providence Portland Medical Center.
On average, a penalized Oregon hospital will be docked 0.26% on each Medicare payment for the 2023 fiscal year (October to September), with the largest penalty of 0.65% being assessed at Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls.
The penalties are a result of a federal program to reduce hospital readmissions that was launched under the Affordable Care Act. The program evaluates how often Medicare patients are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge. If unplanned readmissions are higher than expected — based on a ratio the federal government develops to compare hospitals to their peers — future payments are lowered up to a maximum penalty of 3% for a year.
Readmissions are seen as a particular problem if they occur within the first few days after discharge, according to the National Institutes of Health. Readmission may reflect poor care coordination or poor post-discharge care, the agency says.
Oregon has 62 community hospitals, and the program evaluated 34 of them. The other 28 are considered exempt. They include rehabilitation and long-term care facilities, critical access hospitals and hospitals that specialize in children, psychiatric patients, or veterans.
Hospitals are analyzed for readmissions among Medicare patients with the following conditions or procedures: heart failure, heart attack, pneumonia, COPD, coronary artery bypass graft, and elective hip or knee replacement.
The Kaiser Health News analysis included data dating back to 2013, highlighting which hospitals are often penalized by CMS.
Oregon Health & Science University in Portland was penalized every year from 2013 to 2022, but they will avoid any penalty in 2023. Conversely, Providence Portland Medical Center was not fined for readmissions from 2013 to 2022, but will be penalized in 2023.
Kaiser Foundation Hospital – Westside in Hillsboro is the one Oregon hospital that has never been penalized under the program, according to the data.
While typically three years of readmission rates are analyzed, this time the calculations began in mid-2020 due to the impact the first few months of the coronavirus pandemic had on hospitals and health systems.
Nationwide, CMS penalized 2,273 hospitals, the fewest since the fiscal year that ended in September 2014, according to Kaiser Health News.
Here are the Oregon hospitals that will be penalized in 2023, along with the percentage by which their Medicare payments will be reduced:
- Sky Lakes Medical Center, Klamath Falls — 0.65%
- Adventist Health Portland, Portland — 0.55%
- Samaritan Albany General Hospital, Albany — 0.51%
- McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center, Springfield — 0.49%
- Salem Hospital, Salem — 0.44%
- Willamette Valley Medical Center, McMinnville — 0.42%
- Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center, Tualatin— 0.42%
- Sacred Heart Medical Center – Riverbend, Springfield — 0.36%
- Providence Medford Medical Center, Medford — 0.31%
- Mercy Medical Center, Roseburg— 0.29%
- Providence Milwaukie Hospital, Milwaukie — 0.2%
- Providence Newberg Medical Center, Newberg — 0.16%
- Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center, Gresham — 0.14%
- Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland — 0.12%
- Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Ontario, Inc, Ontario — 0.08%
- Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, Portland — 0.06%
- Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center, Portland — 0.06%
- Mid-Columbia Medical Center, The Dalles— 0.04%
- Tuality Community Hospital, Hillsboro — 0.04%
- Legacy Silverton Medical Center, Silverton — 0.01%
- St. Charles Redmond, Redmond — 0.01%
Browning leaves on Oregon white oak may be due to damage from the invasive oak lace bug
SALEM, Ore. – A non-native bug is now causing increasing damage to the state’s iconic Oregon white oak trees (Quercus garryana). Although the oak lace bug (Corythucha arcuata) has been in Oregon since 2015,the damage they cause has been particularly noticeable this year.
Native from southern Canada to the eastern, central and southern U.S., this insect in Oregon is mostly a pest of urban oaks, although it can also infest related trees. Oak lace bug adults are an eighth of an inch long and transparent. They look similar to non-native azalea lace bugs that have been attacking azaleas and rhododendrons in recent years.
Lacebugs occur on the undersides of leaves. They suck plant juices from photosynthetic cells that contain chlorophyll and thus cause leaf yellowing. On the underside of yellow-stippled leaves you can see adults, cast skins of nymphs and black droplets of excrement.
Treatment of this insect is generally not advised because they are typically only an aesthetic pest that is not persistent year after year. Despite damage from this and other foliage pests, white oaks will drop their leaves in the fall and reflush the next year as normal.
It’s fairly common in fall to see yellowing and browning leaves on Oregon white oak. The color change can also be due to normal attacks from other insects, such as gall-making flies and wasps, leaf-mining caterpillars and flies, which come to an end when cold weather arrives. Brown leaves can also be damage from squirrels digging at twig gall grubs. Along with most of our other trees, oaks are also being stressed by ongoing droughts and hot weather. This causes their leaves to turn brown earlier than normal.
Fertilizing will not “green up” damaged, yellowing or browning leaves and is not advised as it provides more nutrients not only to the tree but also the insects that attack it.
It should also be noted that this insect can bite although it does not typically do damage beyond a mild sting. Although oak lace bug does not seek out humans specifically, it can fall from trees onto humans and may give a bite as it tests to see if we are suitable hosts, it then becomes disinterested and crawls elsewhere in search of oak leaves.
Flu season may impact Red Cross blood supply
Healthy donors needed to give now
The American Red Cross urges blood and platelet donors to give now and help fight the potential impact of seasonal illnesses and a potentially severe flu season on the blood supply.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts a serious spread of flu this year and is already reporting an early spike in cases in several states. When seasonal illnesses increase, the number of healthy donors tends to decrease, leaving the Red Cross blood supply vulnerable to a potential shortage over the holidays.
Paired with busy holiday schedules, seasonal illnesses may make it harder to collect the blood hospital patients require this winter. Donors − especially those with type O blood and those giving platelets − can help bolster the blood supply now by making an appointment to give in the coming weeks.
There is no waiting period to donate blood or platelets after receiving a flu shot. Schedule an appointment by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Learn more about flu safety and prevention at redcross.org/flusafety.
As a thank-you, the Red Cross is offering several opportunities to donors this month:
- All who come to give Nov. 1-22 will receive a $10 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. Details are available at rcblood.org/perks.
- Those who come to give over the Thanksgiving holiday, Nov. 23-27, will get a Red Cross knit beanie, while supplies last.
- All who come out to help Nov. 28-Dec. 15 will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card by email, thanks to Amazon. Details are available at rcblood.org/together.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities Nov. 16-30:
November 16
Rose City Presbyterian Church, 1907 NE 45th AVE, Portland, OR, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Georgia Pacific Camas, 401 NE Adams Street, Camas, WA, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
St Charles Medical Center Bend, 2500 NE Neff Road, Bend, OR, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
November 18
Cedar Mill Library, 1080 NW Saltzman Road, Portland, OR, 11:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
November 21
Girl Scouts Medford, 2001 N Keeneway Dr., Medford, OR, 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
November 22
East Side Athletic Club Milwaukie, 4606 SE Boardman, Milwaukie, OR, 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,1155 Presidents St., Eugene, OR, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
November 29
Kidsports, 2054 Amazon Pkwy, Eugene, OR, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Visit RedCrossBlood.org and put in your zip code to find a donation site near you.
Click here for b-roll of people giving blood.
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
Oregon and Washington still require face masks be worn at all blood drives and donation sites.
Amplify Your Impact − Volunteer!
Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross is to become a volunteer blood donor ambassador at Red Cross blood drives. Blood donor ambassadors help greet, check-in and thank blood donors to ensure they have a positive donation experience.
Volunteers can also serve as transportation specialists, playing a vital role in ensuring lifesaving blood products are delivered to nearby hospitals. For more information and to apply for either position, visit https://www.redcross.org/volunteertoday.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross. — American Red Cross – Cascades Region
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