Rogue Valley News, Friday 6/23 – Another Illegal Grow Bust in Josephine County, Police Seek Public Assistance in Cedar Links Park Shooting

Amended Abortion and Transgender Care Bill Heads To Governor To Sign

The abortion and gender-affirming care bill that nearly torpedoed the Oregon legislative session is headed to Gov. Tina Kotek after a final intense debate on the House floor.

An amended version of House Bill 2002 passed the House on a 35-12 vote Wednesday, with nearly a dozen Republicans opting to stay away from the Capitol to protest the measure. Senate Republicans spent six weeks blocking a Senate vote on the measure before returning to the chamber late last week after extracting concessions from Democrats.

The measure, which Kotek is expected to sign, will protect providers who perform abortions or gender-affirming care from prosecution or civil liability as other states restrict or ban such care. It also would strengthen requirements that health insurers cover reproductive health care and gender-affirming care, including treatments like facial feminization surgery and electrolysis that are now treated as cosmetic procedures.

The measure is the product of a state work group formed last summer after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and the national right to abortion. Work group member and Portland Democratic Rep. Travis Nelson said in a statement to the Capital Chronicle that Democrats committed to defend and safeguard the rights Oregonians had before that decision.

“I’m proud to say we fulfilled that commitment and also made sure Oregon is a welcoming and safe state for LGBTQ+ communities by expanding access to lifesaving gender-affirming care,” Nelson said.

The amended version would require health care providers to tell parents or guardians about patients younger than 15 seeking abortions unless the provider determines that informing a parent could result in abuse or neglect or if a second health care provider with a different facility agrees that it wouldn’t be in the child’s best interest to involve a parent.

A previous version of the bill would have allowed minors of any age to obtain an abortion without parental consent. It also contained since-removed grant funds for abortion and other reproductive health care on college campuses and in rural areas.

The changes were enough to bring some Senate Republicans back and allow the Legislature to resume work, but House Republicans were under pressure to block the bill. Rep. Emily McIntire, an Eagle Point Republican who sued the state over the bill, said she and other House Republicans have received hundreds of emails from constituents telling them they were terrible people and that they needed to walk out to block the measure, a tool Oregon Republicans have because the state requires two-thirds of legislators be present to conduct any business.

“We Republicans are strongly protesting,” said Rep. Christine Goodwin, R-Canyonville and one of the 14 Republicans on the floor. Some, she said, were protesting by staying away from the Capitol, while others stayed to argue against the measure.

Republican Reps. Court Boice of Gold Beach, Shelly Boshart Davis of Albany, Tracy Cramer of Gervais, Ed Diehl of Stayton, James Hieb of Canby, Bobby Levy of Echo, Lily Morgan of Grants Pass, Virgle Osborne of Roseburg, E. Werner Reschke of Klamath Falls, Anna Scharf of Amity and Boomer Wright of Coos Bay were not in the House for the vote, though Boice arrived nearly an hour later to vote on other bills. Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner, briefly stepped out of the chamber before the vote.

Reschke, who was the Republican whip, and Boshart Davis, deputy minority leader, also quit their leadership positions. They’ll remain in the Legislature

One Republican, Rep. Charlie Conrad of Dexter, joined every Democrat to vote for the bill, as he did when it first passed the House in May. An anti-abortion group, Oregon Right to Life, launched an effort this week to unseat the first-term representative over that vote.

Lawmakers were late getting to a vote on House Bill 2002 after a building-wide internet outage that also interrupted web services for several state agencies prevented the House and Senate from coming to the floor until early afternoon. (SOURCE)

Former Federal Law Enforcement Officer Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Transportation of Child Pornography

On June 20, 2023, a former Veteran’s Administration police officer and resident of Roseburg, Oregon was sentenced to federal prison for repeatedly placing hidden cameras in sensitive personal locations to capture sexually explicit photos and videos of minors.

Robert Wayne Roady, 50, was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison and 10 years’ supervised release.

In October 2020, Roady’s conduct was reported to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office who opened an investigation. Roady later admitted to hiding the cameras.

On November 5, 2020, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned an indictment charging Roady with attempted sexual exploitation of a child. On March 1, 2023, Roady pleaded guilty to a one-count criminal information charging him with attempted transportation of child pornography.

This case was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the FBI. It was prosecuted by Adam E. Delph and Jeffrey S. Sweet, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon with assistance from Allison D. Eichmann, Chief Deputy District Attorney for the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office.

If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, please call 9-1-1.

Anyone who has information the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at (503) 224-4181 or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Deschutes County Weighing A Plan To Remove Homeless People Land North Of Bend

Deschutes County commissioners are weighing a plan to remove homeless people from city- and county-owned land north of Bend that could cost the county as much as $300,000.

The plan emerged after the county cited a 50-acre plot of land it owns for violations of health and safety standards in March. Now, that code violation has permeated neighboring city-owned land, teeing up the potential for a mass sweep of up to 200 homeless people. It would be one of the largest homeless encampment sweeps in the region in years.

Juniper Ridge is colloquially called dirt world, because it is characterized by dry, dusty conditions, winding dirt roads and sheer isolation from the city. It spans about 1,500 acres along U.S. Highway 97. Some estimate homeless people have been living there for more than a decade.

People living near the property where the county was found to be in violation of its own code have used a nearby canal for drinking water, bathing and washing laundry, according to documents obtained by The Bulletin. But there are also excessive amounts of feces in the area and the county is concerned about the potential transmission of bacteria or parasites.

That land abuts more than 630 acres of city-owned land, which is outside of city limits and therefore subject to county rules.

The city received a nearly identical code violation from the county at the end of May. Ultimately, officials said, its land north of the city will also be swept of homeless people. “We’re just like any other property owner that receives a notice,” said Matt Stuart, the city of Bend’s real estate director.

While there are numerous health concerns on city and county property in Juniper Ridge, behavioral health and mental wellness is also big concerns.

Often, people living outside while homeless have relationships with one another and with service providers that create a sense of safety and stability, said Janice Garceau, the director of health services for the county. With the plans to sweep Juniper Ridge, they may lose that.

“Regardless of how people feel about encampments, the reality is the folks who are living there do live in a community,” Garceau said. “They do have relationships of care and trust with each other, not just with us. They check in on each other, help each other.”

The impact of removals like the one at Juniper Ridge isn’t just losing a service provider or access to services. It’s also losing a neighborhood, Garceau said. It can give way to an increase in mental health symptoms and heightened stress from having to move on short notice, she said. For many living on Juniper Ridge, who work, the impending removal will also likely impact their jobs.

“It literally can affect their ability to get to work every day,” Garceau said.

However, another impact could be a positive one, she said. It could mean accessing a homeless shelter or housing, given that is available.

The county has a policy in place for addressing homeless encampments. However, the plan for Juniper Ridge wasn’t created in accordance with that policy, county documents show. The policy was intended “to address problem encampments on a much smaller scale with focus on the removal of personal property, not individuals themselves,” the plans said.

Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone previously told The Bulletin he believed removing people from Juniper Ridge might make the county vulnerable to legal challenges under a federal appeals court ruling known as Martin v. Boise.

Martin v. Boise, a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling, made it illegal for governments to punish people sleeping outside on public property if inadequate shelter beds are available or when people have no option but to live outside.

“We’ll probably end up in the courts for the rest of time here pretty soon,” DeBone told The Bulletin in a June 1 interview. “That’s kind of the reality of this situation. Either the state court for land use or the federal court for homeless issues or our local Catch-22 with code enforcement. That’s the conundrum no matter which way we go — we can’t go backwards probably. It’s just wild right now.”

Once people and their belongings are removed from the county’s land, the county intends to secure it to deter people from returning, according to its plans.

The county could utilize locked gates, concrete jersey barriers to block vehicle access from the highway and a private security patrol, according to draft plans.

The concrete barriers and gates could cost around $35,000 combined.

“It seems like a more affordable option than trying to fence the entire property,” said Kristie Bollinger, the county’s property manager.

Permanent fencing around the entire property could cost up to $756,000, the plans said.

People living on county land on Juniper Ridge haven’t yet been told they will likely have to move, said Erik Kropp, county administrator. Direction from the County Commission could kick-start that notification after their Wednesday morning meeting, which includes the potential sweep on the agenda. (SOURCE)

2023 Mid-Willamette Valley Interagency Wildland Fire School begins June 26 in Sweet Home

(Sweet Home, OR) – Over 200 wildland firefighters and instructors will convene in Sweet Home during the last week in June to participate in the annual five day Mid-Willamette Valley Interagency Wildland Fire School. Officials from the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), and US Fish and Wildlife Service host the yearly training to prepare firefighters for the rigors of fighting fire, both in Oregon’s forests and in rural-urban interface areas.

Co-Incident Commanders Chris Mushrush, Fire Planner for Northwest Oregon Interagency Fire Management, and Craig Pettinger, Unit Forester for ODF in Sweet Home, are leading the effort to train firefighters in tactical skills and safety.

“Fire School provides crucial education and training in wildland fire to new firefighters and gives veteran firefighters a chance to refresh their skills and explore leadership opportunities. It’s also an important time to strengthen interagency ties and collaboration.” said Mushrush.

Trainees will learn about fire behavior, suppression tactics, weather, map and compass use, teamwork, leadership, safety, use of engines, tools and hose lays, and fire investigation. To mimic life in a real fire camp, students will sleep in tents at Sweet Home High School and eat their meals communally.

The training culminates with a live fire exercise on Friday, June 30^th just outside of Sweet Home. The live fire will be a controlled burn of slash piles created by forest management activities. This presents trainees with a final challenge: applying their newly acquired skills and techniques to suppress and mop-up a real fire.

“Cascade Timber Consulting, a local forest landowner, provides a new field site each year and we are very grateful,” added Pettinger. “The live fire exercise provides an invaluable training experience – working in smoke, hiking through uneven terrain, and working closely with crew members to dig fireline – these are all things they’ll experience this season as wildland firefighters.”

Safety principles of fire training include wearing protective gear, safe use of tools and looking out for hazards. “Safety is paramount in every aspect of wildland firefighting, and it begins with our training exercises,” continued Pettinger. “Working together in a collaborative training setting improves communications and builds effective relationships for all agencies to draw on during fire season.”

This year, the field site used for the live fire exercise is located north of Foster Lake approximately 2 miles northeast of Sweet Home. Fire officials urge the public to use caution as there will be increased fire traffic in the area and the potential for visible smoke on Friday, June 30.

Northwest Association for Blind Athletes to Kicks Off Its Camp Spark Season for Blind and Visually Impaired Youth

Vancouver, Washington—June 22, 2023—Northwest Association for Blind Athletes (NWABA) is excited to announce the start of its seventh-year hosting Camp Spark for children, youth and young adults who are blind and visually impaired, through the summer and winter seasons.

Camp Spark is a comprehensive overnight sports camp for individuals ages 8 to 21, who are blind and visually impaired. This unique model uses sports, physical activity, and orientation and mobility as a catalyst to encourage leadership, independence, advocacy, and daily living skills that contribute to overall greater quality of life.

NWABA will host a total of seven week-long sessions throughout the year. Two summer sessions will be held at the Linfield University Campus in McMinnville, OR and will provide sports instruction to a total of 82 campers ranging in age from 8-21, living in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. Campers will participate in a variety of sports and recreational activities including goalball (a sport specifically developed for individuals with visual impairments), fitness, beep baseball, tandem cycling, yoga, judo, track & field, and numerous others. One additional summer session is tailored specifically to children, youth and young adults with multiple disabilities, in addition to being blind or visually impaired. And one session, to be held in April 2024, targets elite athletes, ages 10-21, and focuses on high-performance blind soccer and goalball skills. All campers vary in socioeconomic status, ethnic background, and level of skills and abilities and NWABA offers camp free of charge to youth and their families.

Other sessions will be held at various locations throughout Oregon and Washington. For a complete schedule of Camp Spark session descriptions, dates and locations, visit our website.

“Our Board of Directors is extremely excited to offer these truly transformational programs to children and youth with visual impairments. Camp reaches far beyond participating in sports, and acts as a catalyst to help campers gain the confidence, self-esteem, friendships, and independence they need to achieve success in all areas of life.” said Founder, President & CEO, Billy Henry.

Camp Spark is partially funded by the generosity of our individual donors, foundations, state grants and corporate partners; however, additional support is critically needed to deliver a successful camp. Donations to support Camp Spark can be made online at www.nwaba.org/donate or by mailing a check to PO BOX 61489, Vancouver, WA, 98666. For more information on Northwest Association for Blind Athletes, please contact Anne Coleman, Marketing & Communications Manager at 360-768-5647 or media@nwaba.org.

About NWABA: 
The mission of Northwest Association for Blind Athletes (NWABA) is to provide life-changing opportunities through sports and physical activity to individuals who are blind and visually impaired. A group of students who were visually impaired formed the association in 2007 to ensure that people who are blind were participating in sports and physical activity. Today, NWABA is a rapidly expanding 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides more than 1,900 children, youth, adults and military veterans with visual impairments tailored programming which improves self-confidence and self-esteem, promotes independence, creates an inclusive community of supporters, and builds the skills necessary to succeed in all areas of life including school and employment.

Oregon DOJ Consumer Protection Office Urges Oregonians To Be Proactive In Wake Of DMV Data Breach

The Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles confirmed Thursday that cybercriminals copied information on an estimated 3.5 million Oregon driver’s licenses and identification card holders , as part of the global MOVEit Transfer attack.

That’s bad news because your driver’s license contains plenty of information about you, including your birthdate, home address and even your height, weight, and eye color. Scammers can use some of this information to steal your identity and apply for credit cards, loans, and unemployment benefits in your name.

“Learning that personal information most Oregonians gave to their government has been exposed in a data breach is highly distressing,” said Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum.  “While the state works to identify who was impacted and what data was exposed, please follow these recommendations to stay safe.”

If you have an Oregon driver’s license or ID card, here’s what you should do:

• Order copies of your free credit reports and review them for inaccuracies.

You are entitled to a free copy of each of your three credit reports, one each maintained by the national credit bureaus of Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, each year. You can get these reports from www.AnnualCreditReport.com.

These reports list your personal information, any recent bankruptcy declarations or foreclosures, and your open credit card and loan accounts, including how much you owe on each of these accounts.

If you notice loans or credit accounts on your reports that you know you never opened on your own, you know someone is using your personal information to steal your identity.

Fortunately, even if thieves have already opened accounts in your name, you can take action to stop future damage.

You should notify the banks or financial institutions behind the credit card or loan accounts opened fraudulently in your name. Explain to these institutions that you did not apply for these accounts or loans and that you are a victim of identity theft. The financial institutions will close these accounts. If you act quickly, you likely will not be responsible for charges made on fraudulent credit cards you didn’t apply for, and you may not have to pay back loans that thieves took out in your name.

• Consider freezing your credit.

A credit freeze prevents creditors — such as banks or lenders — from accessing your credit reports. This will stop identity thieves from taking out new loans or credit cards in your name because creditors won’t approve their loan or credit requests if they can’t first access your credit reports.

When you freeze your credit with each bureau, it will send you a personal identification number. You can then use that PIN to unfreeze your credit if you want to apply for a loan or credit card. You can also use the PIN to freeze your credit again after you’ve applied for loans or a new credit card.

You will have to freeze your credit with each bureau: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.

• If you have been a victim of identity theft, place a one-year fraud alert on your credit reports.

This alert tells creditors that they must take reasonable steps to verify that it is actually you who is applying for credit or loans in your name.

To do this, you only need to contact one of the three national credit bureaus. That bureau must then inform the other bureaus of your fraud alert.

• If you receive notices from the Oregon Employment Department about benefits you’ve never applied for, contact them as soon as possible. 

Go online to unemployment.oregon.gov and click on “ID Theft” to fill out an ID Theft Reporting Form.

• Set up a profile change alert if you use mobile or online banking tools.

If your personal information on your bank’s website or app changes without your authorization, that is typically a sign of identity theft.

To stay safe, set up a profile change alert through your bank’s website or app. The alert can warn you when there’s been a change to your login information.

• If you have been a victim of identity theft, report it immediately.

If you suspect that a criminal has used your driver’s license information to steal your identity, make a report online at IdentityTheft.gov.

For more information about identify theft, visit the Oregon Department of Justice online at https://www.doj.state.or.us/consumer-protection/id-theft-data-breaches/identity-theft/ or call the Attorney General’s Consumer Hotline at 1-877-877-9392.