Rogue Valley News, Tuesday 9/5 – Josephine County Sheriff’s Office Serves 7 Marijuana Search Warrants Between 8/29 and 8/31, Updates on Smith River Complex and Tyee Ridge Complex Fires

The latest news stories of interest in the Rogue Valley and the state of Oregon from the digital home of Southern Oregon, Wynne Broadcasting’s RogueValleyMagazine.com

Tuesday, September 5, 2023

Rogue Valley Weather

Josephine County Sheriff’s Office Serves 7 Marijuana Search Warrants Between 8/29 and 8/31

Just south of the Oregon border along Hwy 199, the Diamond, Holiday, Kelly, and Prescott fires along with multiple other fires in the area have been grouped together in the “Smith River Complex.” The fires have now spread into Southern Oregon. This is along the route from Grants Pass to the coast.

Recent rainstorms that came into the area are aiding firefighters in fighting the Smith River and Happy Camp complexes, despite flash flood warnings in some areas of the frontlines. The Smith River Complex gained ½ an inch of rain last night, while certain areas of the Happy Camp Complex gained ¼ inch of rain.

The rain helped wet fine particle fuels, slowing down the spread of the fires. The storm did bring 75 lightning strikes into the Smith River Complex, firefighters today will be those areas and examining if any combustions occurred. The Happy Camp Complex did have some lightning strikes near the area, but none touches the footprint of the Happy Camp Complex itself.

Weather Improves Conditions on Tyee Ridge Complex

The restoration project for the Butte Creek Mill is entering its last push.

As part of the final fundraising efforts, Jim Belushi, brother of the famous John Belushi and star of the TV show “according to Jim”,, is putting on Comedy on the Rogue at Belushi Farms.

Tickets went on sale today at http://comedyontherogue.com. The night will include Jim Belushi’s Board of Comedy and music from Belushi’s band. Volunteer Jay O’Neil said they need about $300,000 to finish the restoration project. Most of the work that needs done still is repairing the basement that was damaged by water during the fire. Tickets will be on sale until late September, or until they sell out. Belushi owns property in the Rogue Valley and has settled there.

Oregon State Police still attempting to located dangerous escapee- Public assistance requested

On Wednesday, August 30, 2023, at approximately 10:45 P.M., the Oregon State Police were notified of an escaped adult in custody and patient of the Oregon State Hospital, located in Salem. 

Christopher Lee Pray was an adult in custody at the Multnomah County jail for multiple serious charges, to include Attempted Aggravated Murder, when he was transferred to the Oregon State Hospital on August 30.  At approximately 10:45 P.M., Pray escaped from custody when he stole a white 2016 Dodge Caravan, bearing Oregon license plate E265614, and eluded law enforcement southbound on Interstate 5.  Law enforcement terminated the pursuit due to safety concerns and Pray was not apprehended.

Prays whereabouts are unknown at this time.  He was last seen heading southbound on Interstate 5, however he has ties to the greater Portland metro area.  At the time of his escape, he was fully restrained with leg shackles, a belly chain, handcuffs, and a restraint connecting all three together.  He was wearing a white t-shirt, maroon sweatpants, and black rubber slippers.

Pray is considered extremely dangerous and should not be approached.  Law enforcement is urging the public to dial 911 and report any sightings of Pray or the vehicle he was operating.

Christopher Lee Pray- Poses an extreme danger to the public

• 39 years old
• 6 ft. tall, 170 pounds
• Brown hair and brown eyes
• White male
• Trimmed facial hair- may be different from photo
• Stitches on his upper lip
• Tattoos- Right arm- “PRAY”; right forearm – “S”; neck- possibly “supreme”
• Full restraints- leg shackles, belly chain, and handcuffs
• White t-shirt, maroon sweatpants, and black rubber slippers.

2016 white Dodge Caravan- (photo not actual vehicle)

• Oregon license plate- E265614 (yellow plate)
• No identifying marks

2 Children and 4 Adults Rescued From Rip Current In Cannon Beach

Cannon Beach lifeguards rescued six people, including two children, swept up by a rip current at Chapman Point on Saturday.

Lifeguards watched the group get dragged farther from the shore by the current at 12:18 p.m., and one of them dove into the water while another guard called for help from local fire departments. Three other beach lifeguards dove in to help find the group.

Cannon Beach Rural Fire Protection District and the U.S. Coast Guard responded with water scooters and a helicopter, Cannon Beach lifeguards said in a social media post.

With the help of three local surfers, all six people were rescued, officials said. One lifeguard was treated for minor injuries.

Rip currents, sometimes called riptides, are strong, narrow channels of water moving toward the ocean starting near the shoreline.

Rip currents often look like darker, narrow gaps of water heading offshore between breaking waves or whitewater, according to the National Weather Service. Beachgoers should look for choppy, rippled water heading offshore. These areas will often seem like safe places to enter because no waves are rolling in, but should be avoided.

If you are caught in a rip current, don’t panic. It will pull you out farther from the shore but should not suck you under, according to the National Weather Service. Swimming back to shore against the rip current will be too exhausting, and officials say to swim parallel to the shore and out of the rip current before trying to make it back to the beach.

Most beaches will have flags and warnings if rip current conditions are expected.

For more instructions on spotting and escaping a rip current, see the weather service’s guide. (SOURCE)

Huge Search Fails To Turn Up Woman Last Seen In Eastern Oregon

Gwen Brunelle shouldn’t have been in Jordan Valley in late June, buying gas. The Boise woman was supposed to be hundreds of miles away near Fresno, California, getting coached in rabbit judging. She had rabbits with her.

But roughly 24 hours after she told the station attendant she was “in a hurry,” her unattended vehicle was spotted off a state highway north of Jordan Valley. The 27-year-old woman had disappeared.

A missing person report soon triggered one of the most intense searches ever undertaken in Malheur County. Repeated searches found no trace of Brunelle.

Authorities believe she is somewhere out in rangeland that is sparsely vegetated with sagebrush, rabbitbrush, cheat grass and crested wheatgrass. Her family in Boise hopes she is yet alive, perhaps secretly linking up with someone to run off.

But mysteries abound: Her cell phone dropped off the network soon after she left home, indicating someone had shut it off.

She changed clothes no more than 20 miles from her starting point.

And there is no sign where Brunelle spent her first night on the road. That was likely somewhere in Oregon’s desert country, and in the company of her 11 show rabbits.

Authorities report that 9 out of 10 of missing people are found within 48 hours. Only 1 out of a 100 are still missing after a year. In Oregon, 220 people are still missing after being reported in 2022, according to Oregon State Police data. That includes two cases in Malheur County.

The following day, at about 11 a.m., the UPS route driver pulled into that same graveled parking area. This was his customary lunch spot, looking north over rangeland. A worn barbed wire fence runs across the range nearby and cow trails on nearby hills lead down to Succor Creek. Passing traffic on the highway can be heard. A T-Mobile cell tower is visible to the east.

He saw Brunelle’s Honda Element there too, but no one was around.

According to police, the pullout is regularly used by people who drop off vehicles and double up to drive on to Leslie Gulch and the Owyhee Canyonlands.

The UPS driver the next day, a Thursday, saw the Honda still here. The rancher who stopped to make that call remembered seeing it, unmoved, every day through that Friday, June 30.

On that Friday night, Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Hale was dispatched to check on a report of an elderly man parked out on Leslie Gulch Road, which branches off Succor Creek Road. At about 10:30 p.m., the deputy turned off U.S. 95 onto Succor Creek Road, stopping to check on two vehicles parked at that gravel pullout.

One was registered to birders who had parked there earlier that day.

The other was Brunelle’s Element. The police check turned up the missing person notice entered by Boise police.

For 45 minutes, Hale searched in the dark, joined later by a sergeant who drove down from Vale to help.

Not far from the Honda, searchers later found a purple bath robe that Brunelle wore around home. It appeared folded, as if someone formed it into a cushion to sit on. Next to it was the water jug bought in Jordan Valley, now half empty.

The Honda was unlocked, the windows down. By then, five of the 11 rabbits had perished, suffering through a day of 95-degree desert heat.

Police called the Brunelles the following morning to report the Honda had been found but not Gwen. The ignition key was inside as was her leather shoulder bag, seemingly undisturbed with her driver’s license and credit cards. The duffel bag with clothing was on a seat and there were wrappers from snack foods. Missing were her cell phone and the Nikes she had worn out the door the day she left Boise.

At daylight, the Malheur County Sheriff’s Office launched a search organized by Undersheriff Dave Kesey. Search and rescue members were joined by two private airplanes. Two local ranch hands on horseback explored Succor and Dog Creeks.

On Sunday, Sheriff Travis Johnson joined a more intense search utilizing 12 searchers, a heat-sensing drone and trained trackers and dogs from Idaho Mountain Rescue.

Two days later, Brunelle’s relatives and three dogs participated in a search organized by Deputy Brian Belnap. When the organized search stopped, Belnap continued on his own on foot, covering six more miles.

Belnap returned the following day aboard a helicopter piloted by a Juntura man. They flew along dry creek canyons and buzzed ranch buildings in the hunt for Brunelle.

On Thursday, July 6, teams that are part of Eastern Oregon Search and Rescue committed to the largest effort yet undertaken, involving about 100 people. Four eastern Oregon counties sent searchers. Idaho Fish and Game volunteered four people as Brunelle’s family again joined in.

In all, searchers walked 300 miles. They turned up no trace of the missing woman, and the formal search effort was suspended.

Brunelle’s father returned, though, over the coming days to look. A team with dogs took yet another turn through the territory last week, again coming up empty.

Johnson, the sheriff, said there was no sign of an abduction. He believes Brunelle wandered off into the rangeland. He recalled another Malheur County case where an intense search didn’t find a missing man whose car had been abandoned. A year after the search, rock hounds discovered the man’s remains – one canyon beyond the area searched by police.

Her parents and Sanderson said Brunelle is not an outback hiker, instead using developed trails in Boise.

And Sanderson said the rabbits in the car suggest she didn’t intend to take off.

“If she left the rabbits there, she meant to come back soon after,” Sanderson said. “She raised all those since they were babies.”

About Gwen Brunelle — Age: 27 Eyes: Brown Hair: Auburn, typically in pony tail Height: 5-foot-7Weight: 140 pounds Details: Pierced ears, left-handed Website: findgwen.com Have a tip? Malheur County Sheriff’s Office: 541-473-5125

Oregon State Police Missing Children/Adults Clearinghouse: https://www.oregon.gov/osp/missing/pages/missingpersons.aspx

*** It is important to mention that there is a long string of women who are missing in Oregon that their abandoned vehicles with their belongings still in the vehicle have been found but they have never been found or recovered. Sherry Wellwood, Tammy Pitkin, Fauna Frey, Patricia Swanberg, and Carol Ray just to name a few. Oddly enough, law enforcement says no sign of foul play in these cases though seem to never check for clues that these may be related somehow and work to tie clues together. A noted Forensic Psychologist states that it would be extremely rare for a woman to just leave her vehicle with all their stuff in it.

Woman fatally struck by freight train in Salem

Salem, Ore. — Emergency responders were called to the area of 12^th and Marion STS NE at approximately 9:40 a.m. Saturday on the report of a woman struck by a freight train.

Officers determined the woman stood on the tracks facing the oncoming train. The rail crew sounded the horn and attempted to stop but could not avoid the collision as the woman did not move. She was declared deceased at the scene.

The name of the decedent will not be released pending notification to the family.

Due to the significant length of train, about 74 rail cars, traffic impacts occurred along the Union Pacific track line from Court ST to Silverton RD NE for more than two hours.

Oregon to issue an additional $39 million in Pandemic EBT food assistance to 325,000 children

• Oregon will provide approximately $39 million in food benefits to approximately 325,000 students beginning Aug. 31 and through September.
• Starting Aug. 31 and through the month of September, $120 in food benefits per eligible child will be issued to Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) cards.
• These additional food benefits are part of the P-EBT program, a temporary COVID-19 response program meant to provide additional food support for children whose access to food provided through school programs.
• Since 2020, Oregon has issued $1 billion in P-EBT food benefits to help children in Oregon get enough quality and nutritious food.

(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) will begin issuing approximately $39 million in Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) food benefits to approximately 325,000 students in Oregon on Aug. 31.

“We are grateful to be able to provide these food benefits to eligible students in Oregon,” said Claire Seguin, director of the ODHS Self-Sufficiency Programs. “As communities continue to be affected by COVID-19 and the rising cost of food, we know that many families are experiencing hardship and are struggling to get enough healthy food for themselves and their children. We encourage anyone who is struggling to meet their basic needs to contact our partners at 211, the Oregon Food Bank and their local Community Action Agency for support during this difficult time.”

How students will receive P-EBT food benefits — The P-EBT food benefits will be issued onto the P-EBT cards mailed to students in Spring 2023. Families who lost or threw away their card can contact the P-EBT call center at (844) ORE-PEBT or (844) 673-7328 to request a new card.

Newly eligible students will receive two pieces of mail addressed to them:

• A letter notifying them they will receive P-EBT
• A separate envelope with their P-EBT card that has $120 of food benefits on it

Who is eligible for P-EBT food benefits — Students are eligible for this P-EBT issuance if they received free or reduced-price National School Lunch Program meals at school or attended a Community Eligibility Provision school in May 2023.

More P-EBT food benefits to come for certain children — Oregon has received federal approval to provide additional P-EBT food benefits to children under 6 years old who received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food benefits between July 2022 and August 2023. Details about when and how these children will receive their P-EBT food benefits will be announced as soon as it is available.

What is the P-EBT program? — Since 2020, Oregon has issued approximately $1 billion in P-EBT food benefits to help children in Oregon get enough quality and nutritious food.

These additional food benefits are part of the P-EBT program, a temporary COVID-19 response program meant to provide additional food support for children whose access to adequate and quality food received through school programs may have been impacted by COVID-19.

Visit pebt.oregon.gov for more information about the P-EBT program.

Families with specific questions about their child’s eligibility or P-EBT card can contact the P-EBT Call Center at (844) ORE-PEBT or (844) 673-7328. The P-EBT Call Center is available Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific in seven language options (English, Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Somalian, Mandarin and Cantonese). Callers may also request a translator for additional languages.

P-EBT does not replace any child nutrition program already offered and families are encouraged to continue to participate in meal programs in their schools and communities.

P-EBT food benefits are issued in addition to regular SNAP benefits. P-EBT benefits are not considered in a public charge test.

Resources to help meet basic needs

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

About SNAP — Administered by ODHS, SNAP is a federal program that provides food assistance to approximately 1 million eligible, low-income families and individuals in Oregon, including many older adults and people with disabilities. Oregonians in need can apply for benefits, including SNAP, child care, cash assistance and Medicaid. Learn more at https://govstatus.egov.com/or-dhs-benefits. For local resources in your area, such as food or shelter, please call 2-1-1 or reach out to the state’s Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) at 1-855-ORE-ADRC or 1-855-673-2372.

About P-EBT  — Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) is part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. P-EBT is money for children whose access to adequate and quality food may have been impacted by COVID-19.

P-EBT is a program in partnership with the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE).

Nurses at OHSU Will Launch Strike Authorization Vote Sept. 6th

(Portland, OR) – Frontline nurses are opening a strike vote at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU). Nurses are voting to protect their community’s health and safety, and fix the ongoing staffing crisis.

The vote will run from Sept. 6 – 17. If passed, nurse leaders are authorized to call for an open-ended strike. The 3160 frontline nurses at OHSU are represented by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) through the Association of University Registered Nurses (AURN). After nine months of negotiations and meeting nearly 30 times, an agreement has still not been reached. By voting yes, nurses are authorizing their union leaders to call a strike to win improvements in their workplace for both nurses and their patients.

Outstanding issues at the bargaining table include:

• Guarantees for safe staffing as more and more nurses leave the bedside due to burnout and moral injury. Safe nurse staffing ensures high-quality care and patient access.
• Immediate improvements to workplace safety following increased assaults, gun violence, and injuries impacting staff and patients.
• Retention and recruitment incentives to employ enough staff for all units and shifts.
• Prioritizing reaching a fair agreement with OHSU nurses before the purchase of Legacy Health System.

“We do not want to strike, but we will if that’s what it takes to protect our nurses and patients for years to come.  We must see real change at OHSU now more than ever. My fellow nurses have demanded that it’s time for a strike vote as we cannot wait any longer for OHSU executives to take action. We are fighting for our fellow nurses who have suffered immensely under the decision making of OHSU’s executives. We are fighting for our patients who deserve so much better.” -Elisa Youngman, RN, BSN, CCRN, AURN President

We are also calling on OHSU to stop violating the law. The Public Employee Collective Bargaining Act (PECBA) guarantees workers’ rights to engage in union activity. PECBA violations are called unfair labor practices (ULPs). Workers have experienced the following ULPs:

• Intimidation and retaliation of union stewards and staffing committee members for speaking up about safe staffing.
• Side bargaining by attempting to direct deal with workers outside the bargaining table.
• Interference due to tearing down strike information posters.
• Coercion and intimidation of newly hired employees threatening them that they may not go on strike.
• Bad faith bargaining by withholding information from the bargaining team and misrepresentation about whether an acquisition of Legacy Health Systems was planned.

Nurses at OHSU have been working under an expired contract since June 31. On Aug. 9, nurses declared impasse which triggered a 30-day cooling-off period.

If ONA members vote to authorize a strike at OHSU, ONA’s nurse leaders will determine next steps, including setting potential strike dates. If a strike is called, ONA will provide OHSU with a 10-day notice to allow management adequate time to cease admissions and transfer patients or to reach a fair agreement with nurses and avert a work stoppage. ONA’s nurse bargaining team at OHSU continues to meet with management with the guidance of government mediators.

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) is the state’s largest and most influential nursing organization. We are a professional association and labor union representing over 16,000 nurses and allied health workers throughout the state. ONA’s mission is to advocate for nursing, quality health care and healthy communities. For more information visit: www.OregonRN.org. 

Oregon finalizes 2024 health rates for individual, small group markets; sees robust options in all counties

Salem – The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation has finalized the rate decisions for 2024 health insurance for the individual and small group markets. The division reviews and approves rates for these markets through a detailed and transparent public process before they can be charged to policyholders.

The division hosted public hearings, took public comment, and – after careful consideration and a rigorous review – reached the final decisions announced today. The division published preliminary decisions in July before the public hearings. In the public hearings, members of the public, health insurance companies, and the division had the opportunity to further review and analyze the preliminary decisions.

“We know the cost of health insurance and medicine continue to rise due to circumstances out of people’s hands,” said Andrew R. Stolfi, Oregon’s insurance commissioner and director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. “We work hard to ensure consumers have multiple choices for coverage and to keep premium costs down as much as possible. We are fortunate to have the Oregon Reinsurance Program, which helps stabilize the market and leads to more options in every county across the state.”

Oregon currently has at least five health care options for people to choose from in the individual market in all but one county. All 36 counties have at least four options. This is a big improvement from 2019 when 12 of Oregon’s counties had three or fewer insurers in the individual market. The improvement is even better when factoring in the Health Insurance Marketplace. In 2019, only five counties had at least four companies selling marketplace coverage; today, that is all 36 counties. Also in 2019, 24 of the 36 counties had two or fewer marketplace plans for people to choose from.

“This is a testament to how far we’ve come in increasing access to comprehensive health care to as many people in the state as possible,” Stolfi said. “We will continue to work to make health care accessible and affordable for all Oregonians.”

Individual market
The division issued final decisions for six companies in the individual market with average rate changes ranging from a 3.5 percent increase to an 8.5 percent increase for an overall weighted average increase of 6.2 percent, which is a half percent improvement over last year’s average of 6.7 percent. Under the decisions, Silver Standard Plan premiums for a 40-year-old in Portland would range from $467 to $537 a month.

Small group market
In the small group market, the division issued final decisions for eight companies with average rate increases ranging from 0.8 percent to 12.4 percent, for an overall weighted average increase of 8.1 percent, which was slightly higher than last year’s average of 7.8 percent. Under the decisions, Silver Standard Plan premiums for a 40-year-old in Portland range from $387 to $459 a month.

2024 final health insurance rate request chart

Facts for 2024:

• All 36 Oregon counties will have at least four health plan options in the individual market for its residents and 35 will have at least five. One-third of Oregon counties are offering six options.
• The Oregon Reinsurance Program continues to help stabilize the market – lowering rates by nearly 6 percent for the sixth straight year.
• Medical costs continue to rise due to inflation, increased use, and the cost of new specialized prescription drugs.

Final decisions for each insurance company can be found at oregonhealthrates.org.

### About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. Visit www.dcbs.oregon.gov and dfr.oregon.gov.​​

Klamath County Sheriffs Busts Marijuana Grow Operation Near Beatty

The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant Friday on Yainax Drive north of Beatty, and dismantled 579 marijuana plants.

The value of the illegal crop on the black market would have been approximately $3.3 million if the plants had been successfully harvested, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office. It is also estimated that 312,660 gallons of water had been used throughout the growing season.

Klamath County Code Enforcement assisted in the service of the warrant. No persons were located at the property.

REMINDER: Resumption of federal student loan repayments begins in October

Salem –The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) is reminding everyone with federal student loans that payments will resume for all borrowers in October, following a pause implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interest accrual resumes Sept. 1, potentially affecting borrowers’ outstanding loan balances. Since March 2020, interest on most federal student loans had been temporarily paused.

“An important aspect of this transition is that people’s student loan balances have remained unchanged, but with the resumption of interest accrual, they will begin to rise,” said Lane Thompson, Oregon student loan ombuds. “We encourage borrowers to be active in understanding the implications of this change on their financial obligations.”

To facilitate a smooth transition and ensure accurate communication, all borrowers are urged to log in to studentaid.gov, the official U.S. Department of Education platform for federal student aid, and verify the accuracy of their contact and servicer information. Also, it is recommended that borrowers review their repayment options. Circumstances can evolve over time, making it essential to align repayment strategies with current financial status.

“A lot can change in three years, so it is paramount for people to verify the accuracy of their information,” Thompson said. “Ensuring that contact details are up to date will help borrowers stay informed about their loan status.”

In conjunction with the resumption of payments, the Biden administration has introduced an on-ramp program, which includes a fact sheet. This initiative aims to provide some relief to borrowers by prohibiting loan servicers from reporting missed payments to credit bureaus for one year. This measure offers a safety net for those facing difficulties in making payments after the extended payment pause.

DFR advises all borrowers to remain vigilant against potential scams. Instances of fraud have been reported in which scammers attempt to deceive people into making payments to unauthorized entities instead of their legitimate loan servicer.

“Scammers are out and trying to take advantage of the situation,” said TK Keen, DFR administrator. “Borrowers are encouraged to seek written communication, such as letters, from their servicers to verify authenticity.”

The Oregon Attorney General’s office is also integral in safeguarding those with student loans.

“My office plays a vital role in protecting student loan borrowers from misleading and deceptive practices. This fall will be no exception – we will be closely watching what happens when the pause on repayment ends in October,” said Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum. “If you have a concern about a practice of your loan servicer pertaining to your student loans, I urge you to file a complaint.”

It is critically important for borrowers to find out their loan servicer’s name and contact information, and understand their repayment plan and options. This knowledge empowers people to effectively manage their loan obligations.

For more information and guidance on student loan repayments, visit DFR’s help page or contact the student loan ombuds office at 888-877-4894 (toll-free) or .bankingporducthelp@dcbs.oregon.gov“>dfr.bankingproducthelp@dcbs.oregon.gov.

### About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. Visit dfr.oregon.gov and  www.dcbs.oregon.gov.​​

Registration is Live for the Beach & Riverside Cleanup

– Get ready to participate in a time-honored tradition as SOLVE presents the Annual Beach & Riverside Cleanup. This eagerly anticipated event brings families and communities together to engage in beach cleanups, river cleanups, habitat restoration projects, and neighborhood litter pickup events throughout Oregon.

SOLVE is hosting over 60 project sites statewide between September 9th through September 17th – with the main events culminating on Saturday, September 16th. This extensive reach encompasses locations from the Coast to Portland, as well as the Willamette Valley, Central and Eastern Oregon. Volunteer registration is now live. Visit www.solveoregon.org to learn more about the available projects and to register for this impactful event.

From its inception in 1986, the Beach & Riverside Cleanup has evolved into a cherished annual event for countless Oregonian families. “It stands as a testament to our shared dedication to environmental stewardship, offering a safe and efficient way to make a lasting impact,” says Kris Carico, SOLVE’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our journey through the years has fostered a deep connection to Oregon’s waterways, from their origin to the sea. We encourage all fellow Oregonians to sign up for this statewide cleanup event.“

Since its start, the Beach & Riverside Cleanup has accounted for the removal of more than 2.5 million pounds of litter and marine debris. To put this in perspective, that’s equivalent to the weight of six Boeing 747 airplanes. Last year’s impressive effort involved almost 3,000 volunteers across 147 sites in Oregon, resulting in the collection and removal of approximately 50,000 pounds of discarded trash. September 16th is also International Coastal Cleanup Day and SOLVE is proudly joining forces with the Ocean Conservancy Group, contributing to a global endeavor aimed at preserving our coastlines.

SOLVE’s Beach & Riverside Cleanup is in partnership with Subaru of Portland, with additional support from OnPoint Community Credit Union, Bamboo Sushi, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Metro, BottleDrop, Knife River, Koin, Fred Meyer, Chevron, Clean Water Services, Tillamook County Creamery Association, and Tektronix.

About SOLVE — SOLVE is a statewide non-profit organization that brings Oregonians together to improve our environment and build a legacy of stewardship. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots group to a national model of volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains tens of thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas, and build a legacy of stewardship for our state. Visit solveoregon.org for more information.