Rogue Valley News, Friday 9/22 – Jackson County Illegal Marijuana Task Force Serves 14 Warrants in July and August, Smith River Complex Fire Update

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

Friday, September 22, 2023

Rogue Valley Weather

Jackson County Illegal Marijuana Task Force Serves 14 Warrants in July/August, Seizes 24,000 Black-Market Cannabis Plants, 20 Firearms, Makes Six Arrests; Code Enforcement Fines Total More Than $784,000

Video Available for Download: https://vimeo.com/866570544?share=copy

Note: Photos/Videos from July 19 Search Warrant in rural Jacksonville.

JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. – The Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET) served 14 separate search warrants in July and August, yielding approximately 24,681 plants, 1,531 lbs. processed black-market cannabis, 20 firearms, and more than $20,000 in cash. The search warrants led to six arrests so far with investigations open and ongoing and further charges pending from the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office. Jackson County Code Enforcement issued citations to the landowners totaling $784,620. Oregon Water Resources Department District 13 Watermasters issued multiple Notices of Violation (NOV) to the responsible parties.

IMET was assisted by Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO), Medford Police Department (MPD), and Oregon State Police Southwest Region Drug Enforcement Team. While regulatory agencies investigate permitted cannabis operations, IMET is focusing on the black-market marijuana trade in the Rogue Valley. IMET is a multi-agency task force funded by a grant from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission. The task force includes personnel from JCSO, MPD, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Jackson County District Attorney’s office.

Significant Findings:

– July 6 search warrant in the 1000 block of Sardine Creek Road in Gold Hill. Code Enforcement fined the California-based property owner $256,860 for violations including electrical installations that pose an imminent risk of fire and threat to life and safety, failure to obtain approval for marijuana production, unpermitted dwellings, solid waste, prohibited camping within a marijuana grow site.

– July 19 search warrant in the 100 block of Dunlap Road in Ruch. Investigators discovered 4,272 black-market cannabis plants.

– August 3 search warrant in the 7100 block of Wagner Creek Rd. in Talent. Watermasters issued two Notice of Violations to the responsible parties for unlawful appropriation of surface water and groundwater for irrigation and storage without a water right at an illegal commercial cannabis operation. This location has been on the Watermasters radar the last couple of years because of concerns the black-market marijuana grow was stealing water from Wagner Creek and impacting local irrigation.

– August 11 search warrant in the 16400 block of Ramsey Road in rural White City. Code Enforcement fined the property owner $296,760 for violations including electrical installations that pose an imminent risk of fire and threat to life and safety, failure to obtain approval for marijuana production, solid waste, prohibited camping within a marijuana grow site, and the use of RV’s as residential dwellings. The landowners had also constructed a fully completed residential dwelling on the property without land use approval or building permits.

– August 24 search warrant in the 10200 block of West Evans Creek Road in rural Rogue River. Investigators seized 11 firearms.

Search Warrants:

7-6-23

IMET Case 23-10107 – 9200 block of Butte Falls Hwy. EAGLE POINT – 3704 plants – CE fines = $256,860

IMET Case 23-10106 – 9000 block of W. Evans Creek Rd. ROGUE RIVER – 2880 plants – CE fines = $12,000

7-18-23

IMET Case 23-10664 – 4800 block of N. River Rd. GOLD HILL – 349 plants, 15.2 grams meth

7-19-23

IMET Case 23-9511 – 1000 block of Dunlap Rd. JACKSONVILLE – 4272 plants – CE fines $48,000

7-28-23

IMET Case 23-11550 – 2500 block of Sykes Creek Rd. ROGUE RIVER – 863 plants, 41 lbs. processed, 4.7 lbs. THC candy – CE fines $9,000

8-3-23

IMET Case 23-11937 – 7100 block of Wagner Creek Rd. TALENT – 3255 plants, one firearm – CE fines $15,000

8-4-23

IMET Case 23-11485 – 900 block of Elk Creek Rd. TRAIL – 137 plants, 325.7 lbs. processed – CE fines $18,000

8-9-23

IMET Case 23-12298 – 1000 block of Sardine Creek Rd. GOLD HILL – 576 plants

8-10-23

IMET Case 23-12300 – 16700 block of Ford Rd. ROGUE RIVER – 3289 plants, 545 lbs. processed, $2,396 cash seized – CE fines $58,000

8-11-23

IMET Case 23-12024 – 16300 Ramsey Rd. WHITE CITY – 1294 plants, two firearms, two suppressors – CE fines $23,000

IMET Case 23-12023 – 16400 Ramsey Rd. WHITE CITY – 958 plants, six firearms – CE fines $296,760

8-24-23

IMET Case 23-13193 – 10200 block of W. Evans Creek Rd. ROGUE RIVER – 988 plants, 56 lbs. processed, 11 firearms, $15,200 cash seized – CE fines $32,000

8-31-23

IMET Case 23-13122 – 1900 block of Sykes Creek Rd. ROGUE RIVER – 1121 plants, 244 lbs. processed, $2,564 cash seized – CE fines $8,000

IMET Case 23-13123 – 1900 block of Sykes Creek Rd. ROGUE RIVER – 995 plants, 320 lbs. processed – CE fines $8,000

Update on Smith River Complex Fire North in Southern Oregon

May be an image of 2 people and helicopter

Medal of Valor Recipients — Josephine Co. Sheriff’s Office

Medal of Valor Presentation

INCIDENT: Medal of Valor Recipients

FROM: Sheriff Dave Daniel

DETAILS:

On Tuesday, September 20, 2022 Josephine County Sheriff’s Deputies and Oregon State Police responded to a call at the Manzanita Rest Area on I5, northbound. The situation was violent and turbulent, with citizens’ lives being threatened along with the lives of responding Law Enforcement, by a male armed with a pistol and semiautomatic rifle. The male had already shot a female twice before Law Enforcement arrived. The situation ended with an exchange of gunfire where the male succumbed to his injuries. The female received medical care on scene by Law Enforcement and survived. No other citizens or Law Enforcement were physically harmed.

One year later, we are humbled to finally recognize the incredible professionals that I am privileged enough to work side by side with every single day. It was my honor to present each of them with the Law Enforcement Medal of Valor on this unforgettable anniversary.

Recipients of the Law Enforcement Medal of Valor are:

Undersheriff Travis Snyder

Sergeant Craig Ricker

Deputy Gerald Bayard

Deputy Tanner Sherrow

Deputy Chris Watson

To watch the full presentation, go to: https://youtu.be/Pis-4B_NHEY starting at minute 14.

Grants Pass Police Department

May be an image of 3 people and text that says 'TICKET屋 ACOMPÁÃ‘ANOS Celebración de la Herencia HISPANA Hotdogs Paletas de Nieve Premios 12PM Comida, Juegos, Regalos, Música 1:30PM Ballet Folklórico Ritmo Alegre 2PM Chris Requinto y Sus Chavalos 23 SEPT 1830 NE 7th St #100 Grants Pass 12PM 3PM PM GRATIS PaTROGinaDOReS Mendoau eam REQUINTO DON GOYO DONUTS CORE Micelanea Neza Southereg HOME INSPECTIONS 1(541)838-2919 Willamette Valley Bank Tito Alcauter Cuttured Palate MarshMcLennan Agency Benny Colon Purelight Power'

Please join us as we visit the Hispanic Heritage Celebration on September 23rd from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Newsweek Podcast Focusing on The Disappearance of Fauna Frey Who Went Missing Near Grants Pass

Here One Minute, Gone the Next

John Frey joins Newsweek to discuss exclusive details about the case of his missing daughter that until now have been unavailable to the general public.

Fauna is a 45 year old woman who lives just outside of Eugene/Springfield, Oregon. She has been missing since the night of 6/28/2020. She was reported missing out of Josephine County because that is the last place we know with 100% certainty she was last seen (surveillance footage leaving a store with items purchased) . Fauna did not have a cell phone with her when she left Eugene/Springfield. Her vehicle, 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo Dark Blue with Grey Rock Guard paneling was later found deep in the forest outside Grants Pass.

We are asking the State of Oregon and the Josephine County Sheriff to cooperate in investigating this case and hopefully to bring attention to the plight of missing people in Oregon so it is treated as a priority rather than it being the least of priorities to law enforcement.

If you have any information on the whereabouts of Fauna Frey, call the anonymous tip line at 541-539-5638 or email FindFaunaFrey@gmail.com.

Help Find Fauna Frey #FindFaunaFrey FACEBOOK GROUP

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.

Anvil Fire and Flat Fire Update

Coos Bay, Oregon – As a result of the Anvil Fire, the BLM is closing the Edson and Sixes campgrounds and recreation sites until further notice. This order is for the safety of the public and firefighter personnel.

Members of the public may not enter closed areas. All uses—including hiking, hunting and camping—are prohibited.

“This closure order is to keep the public and firefighters safe,” said Steve Lydick, Coos Bay District Manager. “The BLM continues to work closely with the fire team and county emergency managers on public safety measures resulting from the Anvil Fire.”

Please visit Inciweb bit.ly/AnvilFireOR and bit.ly/FlatFireOR for the latest closure information. Please call 911 to report any signs of new fires.

A list of fire restrictions and closure orders for BLM Oregon-Washington public lands are available at https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter @BLMOregon.

Fire resources worked through the night on the Morgan Fire, burning on the PaisleyRanger District of the Fremont-Winema National Forest, 8 miles north of Quartz Mountain near Bly

Morgan Fire Operational Update for September 22, 2023 from Operations Section Chief, Scott Coulson: https://www.facebook.com/nwteam7/videos/2059166731095728

Paid Leave Oregon update

SALEM – Paid Leave Oregon released new data this week, and some helpful tips for Oregonians who plan to file a claim.

The data through Sept. 17, which is on the Oregon Employment Department’s dashboard, shows about 19,000 people have applied for benefits since Aug. 14. This number is lower than the forecasted 41,000 applications the program expected to have within the first month of applications being open. So far, more than 5,800 applications have been approved and about $2.3 million in benefits have been paid. Benefit payments started going out to Oregon workers with approved claims on Sept. 13.

Paid Leave Oregon Director Karen Humelbaugh said there are a few things people can do to speed up their claim process. After submitting an application, employees should check their Frances Online account regularly and respond to any alerts or notifications. The program cannot approve benefits until it receives a complete application, which includes the correct supporting documents.

“When you don’t attach the correct supporting documents we need to approve your specific type of leave, it takes longer to process your claim,” Humelbaugh said. “Please use Paid Leave’s official forms whenever possible and make sure to use our employee toolkit to see what official documents you need to have ready.”

Employers also need to go into their Frances account and respond to their part of an employee’s benefits request. An employer’s timely response makes sure the program can process an employee’s benefits application quickly and accurately.

Paid Leave Oregon covers paid family leave, medical leave, and safe leave for working Oregonians. Employees can apply through Frances Online for the following reasons:

To care for themselves or members of their family during the birth of a child, or to bond with a child after birth, adoption, or placement of a child in their home through foster care
To care for themselves during a serious health condition
To care for a family member when they have a serious health condition
If they or their child experience sexual assault, domestic violence, harassment, or stalking

Detailed information for employees, including eligibility requirements, tutorial videos, a benefits calculator, and much more, is on the Paid Leave website at paidleave.oregon.gov.

### The Oregon Employment Department (OED) is an equal opportunity agency. Everyone has a right to use OED programs and services. OED provides free help. Some examples are sign language and spoken language interpreters, written materials in other languages, braille, large print, audio and other formats. If you need help, please call 971-673-6400. TTY users call 711. You can also ask for help at OED_Communications@employ.oregon.gov.

Oregon joins multiple states in $10.2 million settlement with Robinhood

Salem – The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) announced today that it has joined a multi-state settlement with Robinhood Financial LLC, which will pay up to $10.2 million in penalties for operational and technical failures that harmed investors, including some in Oregon.

The settlement stems from an investigation spearheaded by state securities regulators in Alabama, Colorado, California, Delaware, New Jersey, South Dakota and Texas coordinated through the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) regarding Robinhood’s operational failures with respect to the retail market.

The investigation was sparked by Robinhood platform outages in March 2020, a time when hundreds of thousands of investors were relying on the Robinhood app to make trades. In addition, before to March 2021, there were deficiencies at Robinhood in its review and approval process for options and margin accounts, weaknesses in the firm’s monitoring and reporting tools, and insufficient customer service and escalation protocols that in some cases left Robinhood users unable to process trades even as the value of certain stocks was dropping.

“This multi-state settlement is another example of states working together to protect investors,” said DFR Administrator TK Keen. “DFR is committed to holding companies like Robinhood accountable when it failed to protect those who have entrusted them.”

The order sets out the following violations:

Negligent dissemination of inaccurate information to customers, including regarding margin and risk associated with multi-leg option spreads.
Failure to have a reasonably designed customer identification program.
Failure to supervise technology critical to providing customers with core broker-dealer services.
Failure to have a reasonably designed system for dealing with customer inquiries.
Failure to exercise due diligence before approving certain option accounts.
Failure to report all customer complaints to FINRA and state securities regulators, as may be required.

Robinhood neither admits nor denies the findings as set out in the orders. Robinhood will provide access to a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)-ordered compliance implementation report to settling states. Robinhood retained an independent compliance consultant who made recommendations for remediation, which Robinhood has generally implemented.

One year after the settlement date, Robinhood will attest to the lead state, Alabama, that it is in full compliance with the FINRA-ordered independent compliance consultant’s recommendations or has otherwise instituted measures that are more effective at addressing the recommendations.

If you have questions or concerns about your investments or financial professional, please contact DFR at 1-888-877-4894 (toll-free) or email .financialserviceshelp@dcbs.oregon.gov“>dfr.financialserviceshelp@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.

Governor Kotek Pulls $2.7 Million In Homeless Funds From Multnomah County And Redistributes To Other Counties

Governor Kotek has pulled $2.7 million of the $18.2 million in emergency homeless response funds directed to Multnomah County and redistributed them to six other counties, including three in Central Oregon, due to the slow rollout by the state’s most populous county and its access to other funding.

Kotek in March signed a $200 million Emergency Homelessness Response package that she said would help move 1,200 Oregonians without shelter into housing and create 600 new shelter beds by next January, OPB reported.

Nearly $80 million of those dollars were distributed across the states’ most populous counties in April, with the largest portion, $18.2 million , going directly to Multnomah County. Central Oregon received $13.9 million to rehouse 161 households and create 111 shelter beds.

Kotek’s press secretary, Elisabeth Shepard, provided this breakdown and details on Thursday to NewsChannel 21:

Reallocation:

County	Dollar amount	Additional Number of households rehoused	Current Goal
Clackamas County	980,000	40	130
Marion/Polk counties	850,000	24	158
Central Oregon MAC (Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook counties)	850,000	25	161
Total:	$2,680,000	89

For context, our statewide goals are:

Prevent at least 8,750 households from becoming homeless statewide;
Add at least 600 low-barrier shelter beds in emergency areas;
Rehouse at least 1,200 unsheltered households in emergency areas.

Additional information about how these goals are divided across the state and more can be found here: Oregon Housing and Community Services : FAQ: Housing Emergency Executive Orders : State of Oregon

Why now? We are at a key decision point in order to reach these goals. Given Multnomah County’s existing local, regional, state, and federal resources, the funding from the emergency order will have a greater impact toward meeting our statewide goals by January 10 if reinvested into MAC (Multi-Agency Coordination) groups who are on track in their rehousing goals and indicated they had capacity to do more if given additional resources.

Why $2.7 million? The amount is based on projections and estimates that Oregon Housing and Community Services requested from the providers in the regions listed above for what it would cost to increase their rehousing goals.

Is there a date that counties next to spend this money by? The goal of the order is to achieve the outcomes by January 10, 2024. Funding may be spent after this date to sustain the work that is set up during the Executive Order period, such as paying for the rent or services that people being rehoused may need. However, the outcomes need to be accomplished by January 10, 2024.

Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson said the funding cut will “not at all” impact the county’s response to homelessness.

“The Governor and I both recognize that Multnomah County has more resources than other parts of the state,” Vega Pederson told OPB. “Our investments and goals – and the impacts they will have on our Homelessness Response System and our ability to allocate targeted resources to this crisis – will not change.”

Vega Pederson said she had already considered returning some of the money to the state before Wednesday’s announcement.

That’s mostly due to the county’s unprecedented influx of public funding meant to address homelessness – and its challenges getting those dollars out the door, OPB reported.

The post Gov. Kotek pulls $2.7 million in homeless funds from Multnomah County, redistributes to C. Oregon and others appeared first on KTVZ .

Eugene Man Found Guilty Except For Insanity For Driving Over and Killing Homeless Woman

A Eugene man charged with driving over and killing a homeless woman in her tent on Highway 99 in 2022 has been found guilty except for insanity by an Oregon Circuit Court.

In a disposition released by Judge R. Curtis Conover, the court found Anthony Charles Rodeen, 19, “guilty except for insanity” on one count of first-degree manslaughter and one count of attempted murder.

In Oregon, the term “guilty except for insanity” means the individual deemed guilty of a crime is placed under the jurisdiction of the Oregon Psychiatric Review Board for care, custody and treatment not to exceed the statutory maximum sentence of 20 years.

Rodeen will be committed to Oregon State Hospital and is currently not a “proper subject for conditional release.”

On Sept. 8, 2022, police say Rodeen drove erratically south on Highway 99 starting a little after 3:30 p.m., driving up onto sidewalks, over railroad tracks and traveling south in northbound lanes.

Amber Joanne Mark, 42, who was living in a tent on a grassy area near Barger Drive, was killed. Additionally, a 23-year-old woman walking on the sidewalk next to Dari Mart was hit and severely injured.

Rodeen was arraigned initially on charges of second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, second-degree assault and two counts of hit and run. Prior court motions filed by his attorney seeking a mental health evaluation claimed Rodeen had manic episodes and exhibited symptoms of “grandiosity.” (SOURCE)

An investigation is ongoing into a fire that engulfed an airplane hangar housing a dozen classic cars in Douglas County.

According to officials, multiple callers reported a large fire was spreading fast in the area, with several loud explosions also heard.

When crews first arrived at the scene, arriving crews found an airplane hangar completely engulfed in flames, with the fire spreading quickly into a nearby field.

Fire officials say that crews were able to quickly stop the progress of the rush fire and contained it to about half an acre. The main fire was contained to one hangar that housed twelve classic cars. Officials say the adjacent hangar did receive some fire damage to the exterior.

Fire crews spent extensive time overhauling and knockdown hot spots. Officials say no other structures were damaged or threatened.

Douglas Fire District No.2 responded with 5 fire engines, 3 water tenders, and 1 command vehicle. Fire District 2 was assisted by Glide and Sutherlin departments water tenders. DFPA responded with two brush units, Pacific power was also on scene and secured the power to the area.

Union Leaders for Nurses at OHSU Announce Strike in Public Rally

https://www.facebook.com/OregonNursesAssociation/videos/1407818040159293

WHAT: Oregon Nurses Association (ONA)-represented nurses from Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) will announce the results of their strike authorization vote during a public rally at Elizabeth Caruthers Park on the South Waterfront Monday, Sept. 18. The rally was livestreamed on ONA’s main Facebook page. The 3160 frontline nurses at OHSU are represented by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) through the Association of University Registered Nurses (AURN)..

During a rally in the South Waterfront Monday morning, nurse leaders announced that the more than 3,100 registered nurses at Oregon Health and Science University overwhelmingly voted to authorize their bargaining team to call a strike. The frontline nurses at OHSU—Oregon’s largest hospital—are represented by the Oregon Nurses
Association. Nurses at OHSU last went on strike in 2001 in a walkout that lasted 56 days. The strike authorization vote ran from Sept. 6 – 17.

Nurses at OHSU voted nearly unanimously to authorize an open-ended strike. Since December 2022, frontline nurses have engaged in more than 30 contract negotiation meetings with OHSU executives. Nurses’ contract with OHSU expired on June 30, 2023 and the nurse bargaining team declared impasse in August.

Nurses are calling for a fair contract to ensure a safe environment for patients and nurses, provide high-quality care through safe staffing, retain the highly skilled and valuable nurses who work at the hospital, and ensure frontline workers can reopen negotiations if OHSU’s acquisition of the Legacy health system is finalized. If a strike is called, ONA will give OHSU and the community a 10-day notice to allow hospital executives adequate time to cease admissions and transfer patients or to reach a fair agreement with nurses and avert a work stoppage.

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) is the state’s largest and most influential nursing organization. We are a professional association and labor union which represents more than 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.

Two state parks will host OMSI star parties Sept. 23 for the Autumnal Equinox

L.L. Stub Stewart and Rooster Rock state parks will celebrate the beginning of autumn with free star-gazing parties starting at sunset Saturday, Sept. 23.

The parks are partnering with OMSI and Rose City Astronomers to host the events, which include a presentation at dusk and star gazing 9 to 11 p.m. Telescopes will be provided by volunteers and visitors are welcome to bring their own. Viewing highlights include stars, Jupiter, Saturn and more, weather permitting.

The event is free, but parking in the day-use area does require a $5 parking permit fee per vehicle. The star party at L.L. Stub Stewart also requires a free Stargazing permit, which is available at the park.

Visitors are encouraged to bring their own chairs, blankets, warm clothing, snacks and water. Bug repellent is always a good idea. Please use red flashlights to avoid interfering with the dark sky viewing. You can also cover your flashlight or smartphone with red electrical tape.

Star maps will be provided along with recommended astronomy apps that visitors can load on their phones if interested.

Visitors should arrive early to familiarize themselves with the area and only park in designated spaces for the event. Overnight camping is not permitted in day-use areas, though visitors can find campground reservations by visiting stateparks.oregon.gov. Guests are expected to exit Rooster Rock by 11 p.m. as the park will close at that time.

On the scheduled day for OMSI Star Parties, interested visitors should check back on the OMSI website for possible weather-related cancellations and any additional information. The long-range forecast looks like it offers great viewing opportunities for this event.

Oregon Attorney General Plans to Step Down

Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum is announcing plans to step down at the end of her term. Rosenblum announced yesterday she will not be running for reelection next year, saying three terms is enough.

Rosenblum has been serving as state attorney general since 2012. She says the role has been incredibly rewarding and that she has loved being Oregon’s attorney general. Rosenblum will go on to serve as president of the National Association of Attorneys General.

Oregon Man Awarded $10.5M In Mt. Hood Skibowl Lawsuit Now Accused In DUII Crash That Killed Woman

The man awarded $10.5 million in court last year after he was paralyzed while mountain biking down the slopes of Mount Hood faces a manslaughter charge in Clackamas County for allegedly killing a woman in a drunken crash.

Court documents accuse Gabriel B. Owens of mixing alcohol and painkillers when he got behind the wheel of a Tesla Model S sedan and collided head-on with another driver on Southeast Jennifer Road at the railroad overpass near 82nd Avenue about noon on Sept. 8.

First responders extricated Kira Haston, 36, from her crushed pickup and transported her by helicopter to OHSU Hospital, where she was declared dead, according to her older brother and the Clackamas County Sheriff’s office.
Her rescue dog, Rigby, was thrown from the crash and survived with serious injuries, according to the brother, who said Owens was operating the Tesla with a medical device designed for people with paraplegia.

Owens, 44, has been charged with DUII three times before, in 2001, 2006 and 2014, court records show. The first case and second cases were diverted to a treatment program, while Owens was sentenced to probation and 10 days in jail for his third offense.

BLM celebrates National Public Lands Day with free day-use access 9/23

PORTLAND, Ore, — The Bureau of Land Management is waiving recreation day-use fees for visitors on September 23, 2023, in celebration of the 30th annual National Public Lands Day. NPLD is the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands held annually on the fourth Saturday in September. To recognize 30 years of care and community and increase recreation access to public land, BLM leaders invite people to explore our unique and diverse natural landscapes and visitor facilities.

“National Public Lands Day serves as a connection between people and public lands,” said Barry Bushue, BLM Oregon and Washington State Director “Whether it’s your first time on public lands or your hundredth, we invite everyone to get outside and enjoy these national treasures across Oregon and Washington.”

Within Oregon and Washington, the BLM’s standard amenity day-use fees will be waived at the following:

The standard amenity fee waiver does not guarantee admission to some busy recreation areas where reservations for day-use, group sites, and overnight camping are recommended. Please contact the local BLM office if you have any questions about a recreation site you are interested in visiting.

You can search all available BLM recreation opportunities to explore on your public lands at https://www.blm.gov/visit.

Want to join one of BLM’s events and help restore America’s public lands? You can find a volunteer event near you at https://www.neefusa.org/npld-event-search.

Know before you go:

Be fire aware. Check for local fire restrictions and active fire closures.

Practice Leave No Trace principles and leave your public lands cleaner than you found them.

The fee waiver only applies to standard amenity fees for day-use at the recreation sites listed. The waiver does not apply to any expanded amenity fees for overnight camping, group day-use, and cabin rentals or individual Special Recreation Permit fees along permitted rivers.

Fee-free days occur each year in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Great American Outdoors Day, National Public Lands Day, and Veterans Day.

The remaining fee-free day in 2023 will be on November 11 in celebration of Veterans Day.

For more information about the BLM’s recreation fee program, please visit https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/permits-and-fees.

-BLM- The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

High Desert Museum to Open New Exhibition Wolves: Photography by Ronan Donovan

Photograph by Ronan Donovan, National Geographic Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada Members of the Polygon pack greet one another. One pup nuzzles the pack’s aging matriarch, White Scarf (far right). Nuzzling is a common method of greeting. A second pup is playfully biting a feather while nuzzling Slender Foot.

BEND, OR — Imagine taking an intimate look into the lesser-known lives of wild wolves through the lens of a decorated National Geographic photographer. Set to debut at the High Desert Museum on Saturday, October 21, the travelling exhibition Wolves: Photography by Ronan Donovan offers Museum visitors that remarkable opportunity.

The stunning exhibition, created by the National Geographic Society and the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, Wyoming, will feature Donovan’s images and videos of wolves in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and on Ellesmere Island in the high Canadian Artic. Since 2014, the National Geographic Explorer and photographer has examined the relationship between wild wolves and humans to better understand the animals, our shared history and what drives the persistent human-wolf conflict.

“This exhibition is timely as the wolf population increases in the High Desert ecosystem,” says High Desert Museum Executive Director Dana Whitelaw, Ph.D. “After a decades-long absence, wolves are once again our neighbors. The work by Ronan Donovan gives us insight into how we might all coexist together.”

Wolves is the kickoff to a series of exhibitions and programs over the next year at the Museum that will explore the Endangered Species Act, which was signed into law 50 years ago.

Wolves: Photography by Ronan Donovan will introduce visitors to the daily lives of wolves in the Arctic with unparalleled intimacy — how they hunt, play, travel and rest in one of the harshest environments on Earth. By contrast, the wolves of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem are fearful of humans, making it more difficult to document their daily lives. One of the distinctions made clear in the exhibit’s images is Donovan’s ability to get closer to wolf pups in the Arctic, which allowed the photographer to document behaviors he had never seen in Yellowstone. Donovan attributes these differences to the fact that Arctic wolves rarely experience negative encounters with humans or view them as a threat.

“Wolves are such a fascinating animal to me because of how complex their relationship is with humans,” Donovan says in a statement from National Geographic. “Wolves were the first animals humans domesticated some 30,000 years ago and they have lived alongside us ever since as guardians, workers and companions. Yet as humans moved to more sedentary lives, raising what amounts to easy prey in the form of livestock, wolves have found themselves in conflict with humans.”

Donovan, a field biologist turned conservation photographer and filmmaker, hopes that his photos will provide people with a better understanding of these often-misunderstood animals.

“The way that a culture views wolves can reveal a lot about how a society interacts with their environment—is there a belief of power over animals, or is there a collective shared landscape?” Donovan says. “As a visual storyteller, my goal is to portray my subjects in their most authentic way by showing the challenges they face as well as the tender moments between family members in order to evoke a shared emotion that the viewer can connect with.”

Through these emotional shared connections, Donovan hopes exhibition visitors will see wolves as they are: powerful, intelligent, social mammals that have evolved to live in family structures similar to humans.

“Our goal in exhibiting Wolves: Photography by Ronan Donovan at the High Desert Museum is to familiarize visitors with the past, present and future of gray wolves in the region,” says Museum Donald M. Kerr Curator of Natural History Hayley Brazier, Ph.D. “The recent expansion of wolf packs into their historic ranges can be a divisive issue, but it’s a timely topic that the Museum is equipped to facilitate a conversation about. We hope our visitors leave with a more nuanced understanding of wolves and their growing presence in the High Desert.”

In addition to the exhibition, the Museum will host three programs to further explore the topic of wolves. The first event, “An Evening with Ronan Donovan,” will be a talk by Donovan on Thursday, October 26 at the Museum. During this discussion, participants will spend the evening hearing the remarkable stories behind Donovan’s images and research. As a result, attendees can expect to participate in invigorating discussions surrounding this incredible species and their centuries-old relationship to humans. It begins at 7:00 pm and tickets are available at highdesertmuseum.org/ronan-donovan.

The next event, happening at OSU-Cascades on Friday, October 27, will focus on the lives of wolves in Oregon. This thought-provoking discussion titled “Face to Face with Oregon’s’ Wolves: Expert Perspectives” will be moderated by Donovan and feature a panel of local experts: Cameron Krebs (rancher), Emily Weidner (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist), Aaron Bott (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife wolf biologist) and Austin Smith Jr. (Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs natural resources manager). As the evening unfolds, the panelists will unravel the complex relationships between wolves and humans in Oregon, encouraging further discussion surrounding the species’ future as a part of the High Desert ecosystem. It starts at 7:00 pm and tickets are available at highdesertmuseum.org/wolves-panel.

The final event, happening on Saturday, October 28 at the Museum, is one the whole family can enjoy. Together with Ronan Donovan, kids will learn about wolf pack dynamics and how to howl like a wolf. This interactive event, titled “Howling Around,” will act as the fun and family-friendly conclusion to the High Desert Museum’s weekend of wolves. It will take place from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and is free with Museum admission.

The visuals presented throughout Wolves: Photography by Ronan Donovan were captured from Donovan’s National Geographic Society-funded work and featured in National Geographic magazine’s 2016 issue on Yellowstone and in the September 2019 issue, as well as the National Geographic WILD series Kingdom of the White Wolf in 2019, which is available on Disney+.

Wolves: Photography by Ronan Donovan is open through February 11, 2024. It’s made possible by the Visit Central Oregon Future Fund with support from the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and Tonkin Corp. Learn more at highdesertmuseum.org/wolves.

ABOUT RONAN DONOVAN

A field biologist turned conservation photographer and filmmaker, Ronan Donovan has explored the human relationship to nature and wildlife on all seven continents. Donovan’s passion for conserving wild animals and wild places was ignited as a child growing up in Vermont and later during his years as a wildlife field biologist researching spotted owls and chimpanzees. He transitioned to visual storytelling as a way to amplify the wildlife researchers and conservationists that Donovan collaborated with. In addition to his National Geographic work on wolves, Donovan has documented human-chimpanzee conflicts in Uganda, and the legacy work of primatologist Dian Fossey

focused on mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. Donovan strives to reconnect viewers to the natural world through the lives of our fellow social mammals to highlight our shared past and interwoven future.

ABOUT THE HIGH DESERT MUSEUM

The High Desert Museum opened in Bend, Oregon in 1982. It brings together wildlife, cultures, art, history and the natural world to convey the wonder of North America’s High Desert region. The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is a Smithsonian Affiliate, was the 2019 recipient of the Western Museums Association’s Charles Redd Award for Exhibition Excellence and was a 2021 recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. To learn more, visit highdesertmuseum.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.