Rogue Valley News, Wednesday 8/14 – Traffic Stop Leads To Seizure of 60 Pounds Of Fentanyl Pills in Jackson County , Air Quality and Fire Updates & Other Local and Statewide News…

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

Wednesday,  August 14, 2024

Rogue Valley Weather

...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM PDT WEDNESDAY...

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air
Pollution Advisory...in effect until at least 5 PM PDT Wednesday.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality
advisory for Lake, Klamath, eastern Douglas, and northern Jackson
counties due to wildfires burning in the region. The DEQ also expects
intermittent smoke in southern Jackson County through this period
due to smoke from surrounding fires.

The wildfire smoke combined with forecast conditions will cause air
quality levels to fluctuate and could be at unhealthy levels.

Smoke levels can change rapidly depending on the weather and planned
burn operations. Smoke can irritate the eyes and lungs and worsen
some medical conditions. People most at risk include infants and
young children, people with heart or lung disease, older adults and
pregnant people.

People can take the following precautions to protect their health:

- Follow local burn restrictions to prevent deteriorating air
quality.
- Avoid strenuous outdoor activity during periods of poor air quality.
- People with heart or lung problems and young children are
especially vulnerable. These people should stay indoors while smoke
levels are high.
- Use certified High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters in
indoor heating, ventilation, cooling and air purification systems.
- Avoid using wood-burning stoves and other sources of indoor smoke
if possible.

For additional information...please visit the web site at
https://oregonsmoke.org

Fire Weather Tools from the National Weather Service

As we prepare for the peak of wildfire season in the U.S., the National Weather Service (NWS) reminds wildland fire managers that we have tools to help you monitor and fight wildfires. Whether it is a prescribed burn, ground fire or crown fire, fire managers can use this information to make decisions on how best to combat fires and keep the public safe. 

Fire weather forecasters – The NWS issues Fire Weather Outlooks for the next eight days. These outlooks show areas where pre-existing fuel conditions, combined with forecast weather conditions, may result in a significant threat of wildfires.

Our Fire Weather Program supports land managers and firefighters who mitigate and respond to fires. Our weather forecasts are designed to highlight times and locations where a fire may be exceptionally hard to control. For example, we offer Red Flag Warnings, which mean warm temperatures, very low humidities and stronger winds are ongoing or expected to produce an increased risk of fire danger in 12 to 24 hours for specific locations. 

Need a fire weather Spot Forecast? Land managers can request a site-specific, localized forecast for prescribed burns and wildfires to assess a potential threat. NWS recently updated this tool and will deliver additional enhancements to the application later this year. Learn more about the new Spot Forecast tool.  

For federal and select state large wildfires, onsite weather forecasting support to firefighters is critical. An NWS Incident- Meteorologist (IMET) can be deployed to your incident command post. IMETs arrive on scene within 12 to 24 hours after activation and can serve up to 14 consecutive days before being relieved by another IMET. https://www.weather.gov/news/241507-fire-weather-tools

Traffic Stop Leads To Seizure of 60 Pounds Of Fentanyl Pills in Jackson County

 – A traffic stop by an Oregon State Police K-9 Unit netted 60 pounds of fentanyl-laced pills destined for Portland. 

On August 12, 2024, at 8:00 a.m., an Oregon State K-9 Trooper stopped a commercial motor vehicle tractor unit on Interstate 5 in Jackson County for a traffic violation. During a consent search of the vehicle’s cab, the trooper located two 5-gallon buckets filled with blue pills suspected of being laced with fentanyl. 

Two suspects, Daniel Pena Gragoso (42) and Josue Itzel Gomez (28), both of Mexico, were arrested and charged with possession and delivery of fentanyl and lodged at the Jackson County Jail. 

The seized pills weighed 60 pounds which is the equivalent of about 276,000 individual pills.

# # # OSP Domestic Highway Enforcement Initiative
The Oregon State Police-Domestic Highway Enforcement (OSP-DHE) Initiative is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).

The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives, including the OSP-DHE Initiative.

Gold Hill Private Basketball Coach Arrested for Luring a Minor, Detectives Looking for Other Victims

JCSO Case 24-4186 — GOLD HILL, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) detectives arrested a local private basketball coach yesterday, August 12, for inappropriate contact with an underage child.

The suspect, Geordan Victor Sanchez Edmond, 29, of Gold Hill, is charged with one count of luring a minor and is lodged in the Jackson County Jail. 

Edmond has given private basketball lessons to children in the local area for the last few years.

Detectives suspect Edmond could have additional victims. If you have any information about the pictured suspect, call the JCSO Tip Line at (541) 774-8333 and reference case 24-4186.

OSP arrests Grants Pass man on child sex abuse charges

OSP Detectives ask anyone with information to come forward

GRANTS PASS, Ore. 14 August 2024 – Oregon State Police detectives recently arrested and charged a Grants Pass man with child sex abuse offenses and are asking additional victims to come forward. 

On August 7, 2024, Justin Lee Concha (30) was arrested and charged with multiple sex offense crimes and detectives believe additional victims are likely. Concha is suspected of attempting to meet underage juveniles for the purpose of sex.

He has been charged with five counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse 1, five counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse 2, and Sexual Assault of an Animal.  Concha additionally uses an aka of Jay Leslie Frost.

If anyone has information about Concha, please contact OSP’s Southern Command Center at 1-800-442-2068.

ALERT: MISSING PERSON: SPECIAL ATTENTION ALONG HWY 138 EAST

Myrtle Creek Police Department is working on a missing person case involving 69-year-old Kathleen Wilson, who left the Myrtle Creek area on the morning of August 5. Her vehicle, a red or maroon 2012 Chevy Cruz bearing Oregon license plate#747EDB, was last seen heading east on Highway 138E leaving Roseburg just before 7:00 AM.

Her intended destination is Chiloquin, Oregon in Klamath County, where she never arrived. Information so far is that she has medication she did not take with her and was getting confused while driving. She is currently listed as missing and endangered. If you see her or her vehicle, please call 541-440-4471 immediately.

Emergency Conflagration Act invoked for Tiller Trail Fire in Douglas County
Oregon State Fire Marshal – 08/10/24 10:46 PM

The 47th Annual Crater Lake Rim Runs CANCELLED

Crater Lake National Park closes north entrance due to Middle Fork Fire

The north entrance to Crater Lake National Park is closed beginning Tuesday to allow firefighters on the Middle Fork Fire to prepare control lines along the road.

The move will likely slow entrance into the park, officials said, and will add extra time to the drive from the Willamette Valley. Crater Lake National Park remains open and is accessible from Highway 62 on the western and southern routes.

Organizers of the 2024 Crater Lake Rim Runs say their concern for participants and heavy wildfire smoke caused cancellation of the event that was scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024.

White City Oregon lottery winner purchased $1 million ticket with dead mother-in-law’s credit card

Christina Goodenow’s millionaire prospects were tarnished after police learned she used her dead mother-in-law’s credit card to buy a $1 million ticket

An Oregon woman may be stripped of her $1 million lottery ticket after police discovered she allegedly used her dead-mother-in-law’s credit card to buy it.

White City resident Christina Goodenow, 38, may have purchased a winning ticket, but she allegedly did so through illegal means—stealing her deceased relative’s credit card. The winner now faces multiple theft charges along with forgery and possession of methamphetamines, said Oregon law enforcement officials who conducted a search of her home Thursday.

“I’ll be fascinated to see how this shakes out,” Lottery spokesman Chuck Baumann said. “In my 12 years with the Oregon Lottery, this is the first time I’ve encountered something like this.” The suspect is said to have bought the winning ticket Oct. 9 using a credit card that once belonged to her late mother-in-law who died more than a year ago.

The woman traveled to Oregon Lottery headquarters in Salem a few days later on Oct. 12 to accept the prize, opting for the reoccurring payments of $33,500. This was projected to pay out the $1 million grand prize over the course of 20 years. Investigators began their probe in Goodenow’s finances once they learned she’d allegedly used the stolen credit card to buy several other items beside the ticket.

On Thursday, police were said to have found methamphetamine inside the woman’s home but very little money, George said. “Our investigation is still trying to determine what happened to the $33,500,” George said.

If convicted of the charges, Goodenow’s lottery win becomes null and void, police Lt. Tim George said. State lottery officials did not divulge further details because the investigation is ongoing. (SOURCE)

Did you get help from FEMA, insurance, or others after the 2020 Almeda and South Obenchain Fires?

You can schedule an appointment directly with our Intake Specialists through our website https://firebrandcollective.org/harp/

Visita la página de HARP en nuestro sitio web para pedir cita hoy mismo.

firebrandcollective.org/harp/

Rogue Valley Humane Society  ·  We are very low on cat and almost out of kitten food for our Community Food Bank.

We have gone through a lot of both cat and kitten food this last couple of weeks. Any type, any variety would be greatly appreciated.

 

Our Community Food Bank exists to help folks who need an extra helping hand during a difficult month to feed their pets. Our program has a limited budget and so we rely on generous members of our community to donate some of these goods to continue to help assist our community.

 

In 2023 we fed an average of 700 pets a month! This equates to approximately 70 – 40lb bags of food each month! Many pets have benefited from the community’s generosity, and we can’t thank you enough for your kindness.

 

 

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱! Fire season is in full swing, and we have several resources designed to help keep you and your loved ones safe:

Sign Up for Citizen Alert (the City’s primary notification system): Citizen Alert – Sign In (everbridge.net)

Know Your Zone (to help you prepare for an emergency evacuation): medfordoregon.gov/evaczones

Preparedness Tips (to help you plan ahead): medfordoregon.gov/beprepared

 

David Grubbs’ Murder Investigation Remains Active

The Ashland Police Department’s investigation into the murder of David Grubbs on November 19, 2011 remains open and active. Recently two new detectives have been assigned to look into new leads that have come in.

It has been Four Years since Fauna Frey, 45, disappeared in Oregon on a road trip, June 29, 2020, following her brother’s death 

PART 2 – Newsweek Podcast Focusing on The Disappearance of Fauna Frey From Lane County

Here One Minute, Gone the Next —– PART 2 – Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel joins investigative journalist Alex Rogue to speak with Here One Minute, Gone the Next about the disappearance of Fauna Frey, the growing friction between citizen investigators and law enforcement, and the lack of resources in missing persons cases. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-disappearance-of-fauna-frey-pt2-feat-sheriff/id1707094441?i=1000630100040 PART 1 – 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. READ MORE HERE: https://www.newsweek.com/exclusive-what-happened-fauna-frey-new-clues-uncovered-1827197?fbclid=IwAR3Z3Glru5lIgqiYXbs_nA1Fj8JuCIzM11OHSVHfwIucfq2f_G5y9y5bnmQ 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

Wildfires Expected To Burn Until Fall Rains Arrive

Although rain, cooler temperatures, and higher humidity are expected in some parts of the region, conditions are still dry enough for active fire behavior. Significant lightning with little precipitation is forecast for eastern Oregon today with Red Flag Warnings in effect. PLEASE: Do your part to prevent human-caused starts and follow all fire restrictions.

Multiple wildfires across the Northwest will likely burn until fall weather arrives. In the meantime, more lightning and new fires are expected.

“Our planners are taking a realistic look at current wildfires, expected new fires, and the resources we have to help us safeguard human lives and property while enhancing our ability to respond to wildfires in high-risk areas,” said Jacque Buchanan, Regional Forester for the Pacific Northwest Region of the Forest Service.

Fire managers are developing strategies to maximize success, while minimizing the risk of injury or death to emergency responders. Among other tactics, crews on long-duration wildfires will develop a network of primary and contingency containment lines to stop flames approaching communities, power lines, water systems and other resources. You can support firefighters by following fire restrictions and emergency closures.

Westbound I-84 remains closed between Cascade Locks and Hood River due to wildfire

CLICK the Wildfire Dashboard link below – click the map tab and then put in your address. #checkfirerisk#checkevacuation#oregonfires#LaneCountyFires#firesafety#evacuationzones#OregonFires2024WILDFIRE DASHBOARD https://geo.maps.arcgis.com/…/a6c8f8e58ad642f4813732233…

Most fires are human-caused and accidental. The most common fire causes we respond to are everyday activities that ODF regulates in the summer in an effort to cut down on these types of fire starts. Help prevent wildfires and Keep Oregon Green by following the current regulations: https://swofire.com/public-fire-restrictions/

Wyden, Hoyle pledge meals and pay for firefighters, tout arrival of New Zealand fire crews

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle, both Oregon Democrats, said they were working to improve catering at fire camps and make permanent firefighter pay increases at a news conference Friday.

“It’s pretty hard to fight fires if you can’t feed your firefighters,” Wyden said. He said the issue had been fixed.

In addition, Wyden touted the arrival of a fire crew from New Zealand to help on wildfire burning in Lane County, he said.

Hoyle said once Congress reconvened, she would push for a raise for firefighters, approved after the pandemic, to be made permanent. Hoyle stressed that fires in Oregon are likely to get worse before they get better.

Large wildfires have burned tens of thousands of acres across the PNW, with human activity and lightning being a significant contributing factor. The uptick in human-caused fires, which include those started by campfires and debris burns strains firefighting resources significantly​. Preventing wildfires requires a collective effort from everyone—help mitigate the risk of human-caused wildfires and protect our forests and communities.

Monitoring Fires in Oregon – Updated Daily

Large Fires in Oregon 8/14/24 9:00am per INCIWEB

Please Help Prevent Wildfires!

In these dry conditions, a single spark can cause a lot of damage. Learn how you can prevent wildfires by visiting the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s wildfire prevention page. 

As new school year looms, health officials urge measles vaccination

Highly effective MMR vaccine the best way to prevent highly infectious virus

PORTLAND, Ore. — With the start of the new school year around the corner – and as a measles outbreak continues in three Oregon counties – health officials are urging parents and guardians to get their children vaccinated against the highly infectious virus before classes begin.

A total of 25 confirmed cases of measles have been reported in Clackamas, Marion and Multnomah counties, all among unvaccinated individuals. Two people have been hospitalized, and there have been no deaths. Ten of the cases are 9 and younger; 10 cases are ages 10 to 19; and five cases are 20 and older.

Marion County has the most cases with 16, followed by Clackamas County with eight and Multnomah County with one.

Paul Cieslak, M.D., OHA medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations, joined Clackamas County Health Officer Sarah Present, M.D., for a media briefing this morning to give an update on the outbreak. A recording of the media briefing is available on OHA’s YouTube channel at this link.

Cieslak said state and county epidemiologists have seen several waves of measles cases since mid-June, “so now about two months of sustained transmission of measles.” It’s the largest measles outbreak the state has seen since 2019, when Oregon experienced 28 cases that were linked to a much larger outbreak in Clark County, Wash.

“Before 2019, you have to go all the way back to the early 1990s to see case counts this high,” Cieslak said. “The reason is we maintained very high vaccination rates and very high population levels of immunity. Unfortunately, we’ve seen an erosion in the percentage of people who are getting vaccinated against measles.”

Since about 2000, an increasing number of parents have chosen nonmedical exemptions from state school vaccination requirements for their children. Before that year, only about 1% of kindergarteners had vaccination exemptions; since then, the number has risen steadily, and during the 2023-2024 school year, the exemption rate reached 8.8%.

“In Clackamas County, as in other Oregon counties, pockets of unvaccinated people raise risk of infection in communities where they live,” Present said. “That’s why the counties reach out to every case that’s been identified and try to determine exactly where they’ve been while infectious.”

Someone with measles can spread the virus up to four days before the tell-tale rash appears, and their symptoms may be mild during that time. As a result, the counties and OHA have been sharing information about specific locations that cases are known to have visited, so “we can let members of the public know they may have been exposed to measles,” Present said.

She noted that since measles is so contagious, an estimated 95% of a population needs to have received two doses of measles vaccine to be able to protect the most vulnerable members of the community via community or “herd” immunity.

Getting the MMR vaccine can also help families avoid the burden of having to isolate at home for several weeks if they are exposed to measles. According to state law, an unvaccinated person exposed to the virus must be excluded from school or child care during the period when they could become sick, which is usually for 21 days after exposure. And this exclusion can be extended if there are more measles cases. 

“It’s really an important time to make sure students and their families are up to date on vaccinations as we go into the new school year,” Present explained.

Learn more about measles at https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/DISEASESCONDITIONS/DISEASESAZ/Pages/measles.aspx.

Klamath Falls Double Murder Suspect Gets Arraignment Date In Sister’s Deaths Case

Tuesday 8/13, a 20-year-old Klamath Falls man has a new arraignment date in Klamath County Circuit Court, accused of killing two Klamath Falls sisters and attempting to kill their father.

Elijah Albert Qinkade Croy has his arraignment next week for two murder charges and an attempted murder charge after his June 29 arrest for the sisters’ shooting deaths and attempted shooting of their father that day.

A Klamath County grand jury indicted Croy on six charges, also including criminal weapon charges, July 3, 2024, before a series of court proceedings leading to his Aug. 21, 2024, arraignment next week. They include a psychological evaluation report to the court within the past week and a motion by Croy to recuse Judge Stephen Hedlund from the case, which was granted this month.

Klamath Falls police say they arrested Croy within a few feet of the murder victims. A Klamath Falls Police Department officer wrote, “Croy admitted to me he had shot and killed both … using a Glock style handgun he had purchased in individual parts and then assembled into a working handgun himself. He stated he had done this after he had attempted to murder the girl’s father … who had discovered him inside of his daughter’s bedroom.”

The indictment charges Croy with the deaths of a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old sister at their east Klamath Falls home. NewsWatch 12 is not identifying the victims based on the minor involved in the case.

It also charges Croy with attempted murder of their father, with a police probable cause statement for Croy’s arrest saying he tried to shoot the father, “but his handgun failed to fire after he pulled the trigger.”

Klamath County District Attorney David Schutt filed a notice with Klamath County Circuit Court to apply “enhancement fact” to the case, referring to fact/s required to be found by a jury to increase the jail sentence that could be imposed upon conviction of a crime.

The Croy’s original arraignment date for his indictment was July 9, 2024.  He is listed as a Klamath County Jail inmate.

Found Meth – Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT) 

The Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT) is currently conducting an investigation into a large amount of suspected methamphetamine located early this week by a citizen in Fir Grove Park in Roseburg.  

Law Enforcement was contacted after the citizen located what appeared to be two brand new bags of charcoal briquettes in the brush along a trail in the park.  The bags appeared to have been abandoned, and it was suspected they’d been stolen.  The bags were opened and were found to contain a large amount of suspected methamphetamine mixed in with the briquettes.  

This area is highly populated during the day with kids and citizens utilizing the park and trails. DINT took possession of the bags of briquettes and suspected controlled substances. DINT is seeking information from the public on anyone who may have seen the briquettes being carried into or left at the park. The specific amount of methamphetamine is not being disclosed at this time. — DINT can be contacted at 541-440-4474 or through our web tip line that can be found at DCSO.COM

Salem Dispute leads to shots fired, one fatality, two wounded — UPDATE

Suspect identified, wanted by police — Salem Police Violent Crimes Unit detectives ask for the public’s help in a 2023 homicide case.

On the evening of February 13, gunfire rang out in a northeast Salem neighborhood after a verbal dispute between several men gathered in the street near Arbon DR and Vallejo ST NE. The incident left Alejandro Silva-Ramirez and two other victims with gunshot wounds. Silva-Ramirez, age 27 of Salem, died on‑the-scene. The adult and teen who were also struck by gunfire survived their injuries.

Evidence developed in the investigation led to Fermin Flores, age 33 of Salem, as the suspect in the incident. Flores, who also uses the name Alejandro Chavez Mando, has a warrant for his arrest on the charge of second-degree murder.

Detectives have exhausted all efforts to locate Flores and request the public’s help with this case.

Flores is a Hispanic male adult, with black hair and brown eyes, is 5 foot 3 inches in height, and has a slender build. He generally wears his hair shaved and may have facial hair.

Anyone with information about Flores’ whereabouts is asked to call the Salem Police Tips Line at 503‑588-8477. If you see Flores, call police authorities. Do not approach him. He is considered armed and dangerous.

Seeking proposals to run Smith Creek Village, other concessions at Silver Falls

SILVERTON, Oregon—Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is seeking proposals to operate Smith Creek Village retreat center, South Falls Café and two historic ranches at Silver Falls State Park.

Smith Creek Village is a retreat center on the south side of Silver Falls that includes lodging (13 cabins and 4 lodges) and a restaurant with a commercial kitchen, dining room and seating area with lots of natural light

“Silver Falls is one of the crown jewels of the park system, and this is an incredible opportunity to be a part of this breath-taking destination,” said Willamette Valley District Manager Sarah Steele.

The park is one of the most popular in the state with an estimated 1.5 million day-use visits per year and features the nationally recognized Trail of Ten Falls. 

In 2021, OPRD signed an agreement with Silver Falls Hospitality to run two services— Smith Creek Village and the historic ranches—and a separate agreement with Oregon Commission for the Blind to run South Falls Café. Both contracts will expire at the end of October, prompting a new request for proposals. The new 10-year contract will include all three business opportunities.

The opportunity includes:

• Smith Creek Village, a retreat at the south end of the park with a restaurant, dining area, and lodging including 13 individual cabins and four group overnight lodges as well as outdoor event space, historic buildings, meeting areas and a commercial kitchen. 
• South Falls Café, a popular café near the trailhead for the Trail of Ten Falls with a full kitchen and indoor and patio space at the South Falls Lodge. Concession services at the South Falls Café currently include casual dining, food to go, and snacks for picnicking and hiking. 
• The Davidson Ranch and the Foothills Ranch, two large overnight facilities with commercial kitchens for private retreats and group lodging for weddings and other gatherings. 

OPRD is looking for a business or individual to run all three opportunities. The deadline to apply is Aug. 30. OPRD will host an open house 1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 16, and 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 17 for prospective concessionaires. Registration is required. Email utler@oprd.oregon.gov“>Winona Butler by 2 p.m. Aug. 14 to register.

Silver Falls is expected to see continued growth with work now underway to develop the North Gateway: a new campground, visitor center and park improvements slated to open in 2026. 

The park offers everything from camping, hiking and biking to picnicking, horseback riding and wildlife viewing. Several of the park’s structures date back to the Civilian Conservation Corps established in 1933. The architecture features the now-iconic look of stone facades and timber beams seen at Silver Falls Lodge. 

Those who are interested in learning more can contact Contract Specialist Winona Butler at utler@oprd.oregon.gov“>winona.butler@oprd.oregon.gov or go OPRD’s website and click on the Silver Falls Concession Opportunity. The deadline to apply is Aug. 30, 2024.  —   Photos of the properties are available for download. 

Act now to secure Summer EBT benefits

(Salem) – As summer begins to wind down, families have a limited window to secure essential food assistance through the new Summer EBT program. The program offers $120 per child to help cover grocery costs when school food programs are not as easy to access. With the application deadline quickly approaching on Sept. 2, 2024, it’s crucial for eligible families to act now.

Thousands of families may be unaware that they qualify for this essential benefit. The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) are urging families to check their eligibility and apply before the deadline. Remember, once benefits are received, you have 122 days to use them.

Most eligible children received their benefits automatically on June 28, 2024, if their households:

• Participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Participate in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Are Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) members in households with incomes under 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Level 

Children in foster care also automatically received Summer EBT. 

However, families who did not receive benefits automatically, particularly those with children in Head Start programs that participate in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Programs, should still apply to determine their eligibility.

Families are encouraged to visit sebt.oregon.gov or contact the Summer EBT Call Center at 833-ORE-SEBT (833-673-7328) to verify their eligibility and apply. ODHS Director Fariborz Pakseresht said, “Making sure children have access to nutritious food throughout the summer is critical. This small action could provide significant support to families in Oregon.” 

Interview with ODHS Director Fariborz Pakseresht

Since June 28, 2024, more than 329,000 eligible school-aged children have been issued $39.5 million in Summer EBT food benefits. More than 60 percent of families receiving benefits in the initial issuance were able to immediately use benefits on existing Oregon EBT cards; the rest received new cards in July.

“The results of the Summer EBT launch so far have far exceeded our expectations, but we know that there are many more families out there who have children who may be eligible for the $120 Summer EBT benefit,” ODE Director Dr. Charlene Williams said. “We encourage our schools and Summer Meals providers to have flyers on site to raise awareness and get our families the benefits they qualify for.”

Interview with ODE Director Dr. Charlene Williams

Act now and don’t let this opportunity pass by. Make sure your family receives the assistance it deserves by applying for Summer EBT before Sept. 2, 2024.

To learn more:

• Call 833-ORE-SEBT (833-673-7328). The call center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time.
• Visit sebt.oregon.gov.

SNAP Double Up Food Bucks Benefits for Oregon Residents

You can use  Double Up  dollars when purchasing eligible items at participating farmers markets across the state. Just bring your SNAP EBT card with you to a participating farmers market and visit the information booth before you begin to shop.

Adapted from the Fair Food Network’s national model, Oregon Double Up Food Bucks makes it easy for low-income Oregonians to eat more fruits and vegetables while supporting family farmers and local economies. Double Up is Oregon’s first statewide incentive program, designed to be convenient for shoppers.

The program doubles the value of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (sometimes called “SNAP” or “food stamps”) benefits at participating farmers markets, grocery stores, and CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farms so shoppers can bring home more fresh produce.

Double Up is currently offered at over 85 farmers market locations, 35 grocery stores and more than 40 CSA farms across the state — with new locations joining the program each year.

For every $1 in SNAP you spend, you will get $1 of Double Up Food Bucks to spend on more fresh fruits and vegetables, up to $20 per transaction. For example: if you spend $20 in SNAP benefits, you’ll get an extra $20 free that you can use to buy more produce. Learn more at OregonFoodBank.org/DoubleUp.

Oregon Wildlife Agencies Want Your Help Tracking Roadkill

This summer, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Oregon Zoo started asking Oregonians to do their own tracking and upload pictures of roadkill.

“The state wants to get a better idea about where different animals, different species are getting struck and killed by cars,” said Rachel Wheat, the ODFW wildlife connectivity coordinator. If Oregon’s naturalists can identify roadkill hotspots, then maybe the state can reduce the number of animals killed in interactions with people each year by removing vegetation that attracts wildlife to a specific area or by building a wildlife crossing. Roadways and vehicular traffic are a significant contributor to fragmentation of habitat and impacts to wildlife, including injury and mortality. The purpose of this project is to improve our understanding of the impacts of roads on Oregon’s wildlife, and to identify roadkill hot spots and vulnerabilities among a diversity of animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. This information can help reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and make roadways safer. To sign up and for more information visit: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/roadkills-of-oregon  

The Oregon Coast Aquarium New Tufted Puffin Oregon License Plates on Sale

One of Oregon’s most adorably iconic seabirds is coming to the front and back of a car near you. The Oregon Coast Aquarium has opened voucher sales for its new tufted puffin license plates.

The design, featuring a tufted puffin floating in the ocean and gazing down at some fish below, was created by the aquarium’s graphic design and marketing coordinator, Cam Mullins. Starring a tufted puffin—one of Oregon’s iconic seabirds–funds from the new license plate will benefit both the Aquarium’s animals and their wild counterparts.

You can purchase a voucher now and exchange it at the DMV once the physical plates are available. We need to sell 3,000 vouchers to reach the production stage—meaning the sooner 3,000 vouchers are sold, the sooner production begins, and the sooner you’ll have your puffin plates in-hand.

Read the full story at aquarium.org/puffin-plate-debut: photo by OCAq’s Jeremy Burke Tufted puffins are native to Oregon and nest on the rocky coast. The aquarium has a Seabird Aviary that sustains a flock of these sea birds and the profits from the license plates will go to benefit these puffins and their wild counterparts.

The voucher is available for purchase on the aquarium’s website. The cost covers the $40 surcharge fee and the money left over after the deduction of the DMV’s fees will go to support the Oregon Coast Aquarium’s rehabilitation and conservation efforts. The aquarium is building a new marine wildlife rehabilitation center with hopes of doubling the number of animal patients it can offer care to. FOLLOW on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/OregonCoastAquarium

https://www.oregon.gov/osp/missing/pages/missingpersons.aspx

 

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