Rogue Valley News, Friday 10/11 – Detectives and ODF Conducting Joint Fire Investigation After County Bridge in Butte Falls Burns, The Farm Bus Bistro Farm Day Camps Offered Today and Monday & 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,  October 9, 2024

Rogue Valley Weather

Wildfires continue to produce smoke in the Pacific Northwest. Breathe a little easier by keeping up to date on air quality conditions and concerns at Fire.AirNow.gov.

Seasonal Climate Forecast September – November 2024

https://www.oregon.gov/oda/programs/naturalresources/documents/weather/dlongrange.pdf

We’re not out of the woods just yet… DON’T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN – Fire  Season still in progress. Many people let their guard down because fall has arrived. Major fires can get started in October and November. Fire season will not end until we really hit full speed on the cooler weather, rain, and snow coming to stay. Until then, be vigilant and do everything you can to prevent the spark that could be the next serious fire.

Please take precautions to avoid sparking a human-caused fire, be familiar with evacuation levels, and have a go-kit ready in case you need to leave your home.” — We’ve had an unprecedented fire season already. Don’t be that spark that could lead to a tragedy! Check Conditions

Detectives and ODF Conducting Joint Fire Investigation After County Bridge in Butte Falls Burns

Damages Could Exceed $1,000,000

JCSO Case 24-5571 0- BUTTE FALLS, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) detectives and Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Fire Investigators are conducting a joint investigation after a fire on a Butte Falls area bridge Thursday morning.

At 8 AM, JCSO deputies received a call for a fire east of Butte Falls on the Fredenburg Road bridge over North Fork Big Butte Creek. Butte Falls Volunteer Fire and Rescue firefighters put out the fire just after 8:30 AM and there was no spread to the surrounding forest.

The bridge is expected to be closed for an extended period as the Jackson County Roads and Parks Department assesses damage, which may necessitate a full bridge replacement. As a result, Fredenburg Road is closed at the 0.7-mile marker. A temporary detour is in place for the use of affected residents in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. According to initial estimates, damages to the bridge could exceed $1,000,000. If you have any information about this fire, call the JCSO Tip Line at (541) 774-8333 and reference case 24-5571. There is no further information for release at this time.

The Farm Bus Bistro  Farm Day Camps Offered Today and Monday

Farm Day Camps offered this Friday, Oct 11 and Monday, Oct 14!

3578 Pioneer Road, Medford

Trial Begins in Medford for Klamath Falls Man Accused of Kidnapping Women

Jury selection began Tuesday morning in U.S. District Court in Medford, followed by opening statements on Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning. Federal prosecutors have submitted more than 500 exhibits and a witness list of at least 70 people for the trial of an Oregon man who allegedly kidnapped a woman in Seattle, then locked her in a cinder block cell in his garage. Negasi Zuberi, 30, is also facing charges related to a second kidnapping involving a woman in Klamath Falls.

A Klamath Falls man is learning in federal court today how police found his recreational trailer, and how they discovered evidence inside it for his criminal kidnapping and weapons charges.

30-year-old Negasi Zuberi appears to be focused on his criminal case proceedings in federal court in Medford, where he faces two counts of kidnapping, four counts of felon-related weapons and ammunition charges, and sex and attempted escape charges.

He’s accused of kidnapping two different women at two different times from two different places, one of the from Seattle in July 2023.

The Seattle woman told her account to jurors yesterday about an overnight abduction July 14, 2023, that started in Zuberi’s car in Seattle where he impersonated a police officer and ended the next day in Klamath Falls. She also told about sexual assault during the trip as she was kept in handcuffs and leg irons under threat of a handgun and taser she said Zuberi used to subdue her. She also told about her escape from a cinder-block room she described as a captivity cell in Zuberi’s garage at a house he rented in Klamath Falls, using her bare hands to beat through the doors.

That woman told that same account to police, and some of them are giving testimony today in Zuberi’s federal court trial.

Zuberi watched police bodycam video intently yesterday when it presented the apparent kidnap and rape victim telling her account quickly to police, and then Zuberi appeared to start writing notes, sitting between his defense lawyers, flipping paper over.

That bodycam video also showed her giving a gun she’d said Zuberi used for his accused crime to police. Yesterday in court, police advanced her account with their own accounts of their investigation. (SOURCE)

Pacific Power Crews From Southern Oregon Deploy to Georgia for Hurricane Helene Response

— In response to a mutual assistance request from Georgia Power, Pacific Power is sending crews, support personnel and equipment from Medford, Bend, Roseburg, Astoria and Grants Pass in Oregon and Walla Walla and Yakima in Washington to aid in power restoration efforts following the catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Helene. The Category 4 storm, with sustained winds reaching 140 miles per hour, impacted 10 states, with the National Hurricane Center reporting that its effects extended as far as 400 miles from its landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region.

These teams, totaling 22 Pacific Power employees, will be equipped with 20 trucks and associated heavy equipment to help restore power to impacted communities. Rocky Mountain Power, Pacific Power’s sister company, is also deploying four additional crews to aid in the response.

“Our crews are fully prepared and ready to respond as they work tirelessly through the deployment to restore power to customers in Georgia and to support our fellow line-crews across the affected states,” said Tom Eide, vice president of operations at Pacific Power. “Disasters can happen anywhere, and part of being a good neighbor is answering the call to help.”

Pacific Power is part of a nationwide network of utilities that provide mutual assistance during emergencies and disasters. According to the Edison Electric Institute, approximately 50,000 electric utility workers from 40 states, the District of Columbia and Canada are currently responding to the devastation left in Hurricane Helene’s wake. While power has been restored to 4.69 million of the 6 million customers affected, some areas have experienced such extreme infrastructure damage that a complete rebuild is required.

For more information on Pacific Power’s involvement in the recovery efforts, please follow us on social media.

About Pacific Power

Pacific Power provides safe and reliable electric service to more than 800,000 customers in Oregon, Washington and California. The company supplies customers with electricity from a diverse portfolio of generating plants including hydroelectric, natural gas, coal, wind, geothermal and solar resources. Pacific Power is part of PacifiCorp, one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States, with 2 million customers in six western states. For more information, visit PacificPower.net.

Medford City Council Allocates Funds To Local Initiatives

$570,000 from the Council Community Initiative Funds- sourced from local and state marijuana tax revenue, will be allocated to local projects and programs targeting cultural preservation, public spaces, community health, and educational opportunities. The initiatives that will benefit from the funds are:

• $125,000: The Downtown Medford Association intends enhancing its appeal for residents and visitors. The funding will support the revitalization of downtown Medford, creating a more vibrant, engaging space.
• $100,000: The Southern Oregon Alliance of Physician Partners strive to improve health services and achieve better outcomes in Medford. The funding is earmarked to support healthcare initiatives led by local physicians.
• $100,000: The Children’s Museum Scholarships plan to use the funding to foster creativity and learning by ensuring children from diverse backgrounds have access to educational exhibits and programs.
• $100,000: The Park Strip Restoration contributes to Medford’s greenery and sustainability efforts an will use their allocation to restore privately owned park and planter forest strips.
• $50,000: The Southern Oregon Historical Society works to celebrate and share the history of Southern Oregon for future generations. The funding will help preserve the region’s cultural heritage.
• $50,000: The Alba Park Fountain Restoration will put the funds towards their initiative to restore the historic Alba Park fountain, one of the city’s key public spaces.
• $35,000: The Consumer Credit Counseling Services gives residents tools and knowledge to achieve greater financial stability by managing their finances better. One of their financial literacy programs will benefit from the funds.
• $10,000: The Rogue Rapids Swim Scholarships promotes water safety and better access to recreational activities for Medford families. The funds will be allocated to swim scholarships for local youth.

The allocation of the funds by the Medford City Council is in the interests of furthering educational opportunities, supporting financial and health well-being, preserving cultural heritage, and improving public spaces. They are expected to have a broad and lasting impact.

The Farm Bus Bistro  –

Farm Day Camps offered this Friday, Oct 11 and Monday, Oct 14!

3578 Pioneer Road, Medford

Drop-off and Pick-up anytime between 8:30am – 5:30pm.

We’ll enjoy a fun, Fall day at the Farm: making a snack on the Farm Bus, visiting the animals, doing a planting project in the garden and, of course, taking time to play and craft!

Pre-registration required. Limited spaces available. Sign-up online at: www.farmbusbistro.com

Drug Arrests Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team 

Medford Fire Department –   𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝘄𝗿𝗮𝗽!

Thank you to everyone who came out to our Open Houses. We had a blast this week and hope you did, too!

Reminder, this year’s Fire Prevention Week theme is “𝗦𝗺𝗼𝗸𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘀, 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂!”. Working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half. Learn more https://www.oregon.gov/osfm/education/Pages/alarms.aspx

New York Man Sentenced to 15 years in Federal Prison for Traveling to Southern Oregon to Sexually Abuse a Child He Met Playing an Online Video Game

MEDFORD, Ore.—A New York man was sentenced to federal prison Tuesday for traveling to Southern Oregon to sexually abuse a child and capturing the abuse on video.

Brent Johnson, Jr., 26, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison and a life term of supervised release.

According to court documents, in August 2021, Johnson contacted a child through an online video game and, after exchanging phone numbers with the child, continued communicating with them via text messages and phone calls. Undeterred by the child’s age, in late 2021, Johnson traveled to Southern Oregon where he sexually abused the child and captured the abuse on video. In February 2022, the child’s mother contacted law enforcement after receiving text messages and images from Johnson.

On May 5, 2022, a federal grand jury in Medford returned a three-count indictment charging Johnson with sexually exploiting a child, distributing child pornography, and traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

On June 26, 2024, Johnson pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting a child and distributing child pornography.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents in Long Island, New York, and Medford, and the Rogue River Police Department. It was prosecuted by Judith R. Harper, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to contact HSI at (866) 347-2423 or submit a tip online at report.cybertip.org.

Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.

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

Medford Police Launch Public Crime Mapping Portal

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/

Southern Oregon hosting workplace safety and health conference Oct. 15-17

Rogue Valley Humane Society  · Donations Always Needed to Help Community

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.

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 more than 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

 

Celebrate Fire Safety this October

– As the leaves change and cooler weather sets in, the Oregon State Fire Marshal and the Oregon fire service remind everyone of the importance of home fire safety. October is Fire Prevention Month, a time to focus on fire prevention and safety at home. This year’s theme, “Celebrate Fire Safety,” calls on Oregonians to take action to reduce fire risks and protect their loved ones.

In 2023, 2,518 home fires in our state resulted in $119.5 million in losses to homeowners. Cooking remains the leading cause of home fires, followed closely by home heating. Alarmingly, in 417 of those fires, no smoke alarm was present.

“Oregon’s first responders are unwavering in their commitment to protecting our communities by reducing home fires and preventing the devastating injuries they cause,” said Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple. “This Fire Prevention Month, we’re calling on all Oregonians to take proactive, life-saving steps to protect their families, their homes, and their future.”

There are several simple things Oregonians can do to lessen the chance of a home fire and increase safety:

• Install and maintain smoke alarms. Make sure you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms, and outside sleeping areas.
• Practice cooking safely. Never leave cooking unattended and always have a lid or cookie sheet nearby to smother small flames.
• Use heating equipment safely. Keep anything flammable at least three feet away from heating devices and always plug space heaters directly into the wall—never use extension cords.
• Create and practice a home fire escape plan. Make sure every family member knows at least two ways out of every room.
• Consider candle alternatives. Battery-operated candles reduce fire risk, but if you use real candles, always blow them out before leaving the room.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek proclaimed October as Fire Prevention Month. For more information about Fire Prevention Month, a link to the proclamation, and more tips to prevent the top causes of home fires in Oregon, visit our website.

Woodburn Company Recalls Nearly 10 Million Pounds Of Meat For Listeria

An Oregon company is recalling nearly 10 million pounds of meat and poultry products made at an Oklahoma plant because they may be contaminated with listeria bacteria, which can cause illness and death.

BrucePac of Woodburn, Oregon, recalled the roughly 5,000 tons of ready-to-eat foods this week after U.S. Agriculture Department officials detected listeria in samples of poultry during routine testing. Further tests identified BrucePac chicken as the source. The recall includes 75 meat and chicken products.

The foods include products like grilled chicken breast strips that were made at the company’s facility in Durant, Oklahoma. They were produced between June 19 and Oct. 8 and shipped to restaurants, food service vendors and other sites nationwide, government officials said.

The products have a best-by date of June 19, 2025 to Oct. 8, 2025. Officials said they’re concerned that the foods may still be available for use or stored in refrigerators or freezers. The products should be thrown away, they stressed.

There are no confirmed reports of illness linked to the recall.

Eating foods contaminated with listeria can cause potentially serious illness. About 1,600 people are infected with listeria bacteria each year in the U.S. and about 260 die, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Listeria infections typically cause fever, muscle aches and tiredness and may cause stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. Symptoms can occur quickly or to up to 10 weeks after eating contaminated food. The infections are especially dangerous for older people, those with weakened immune systems or who are pregnant.

Sharp divide in Oregon over bill to step up logging to prevent wildfires

Republicans are backing a proposal to scale back environmental regulations to “thin” forests while Democrats and environmentalists want to fund community preparedness

For the last 30 years, shrub and grass fires have burned far more acres and destroyed more property in the West than forest fires, and the same was true this season.

Still, Republicans in the U.S. House – including Oregon’s two Republican representatives – are hoping Congress will pass a bill before year’s end that would tackle increasingly large wildfires in the West by scaling back environmental regulations to make it easier to log and cut vegetation in federal forests, which account for more than 60% of the forests in Oregon.

Proposed by Arkansas Republican Rep. Bruce Westerman and California Democrat Rep. Scott Peters, the “Fix Our Forests Act” passed the U.S. House on Sept. 24 with 268 representatives in favor and 151 opposed, including Oregon’s four Democratic representatives. It is expected to get a vote in the U.S. Senate after the November general election, according to Hank Stern, a spokesperson for Oregon’s U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat.

Proponents say the bill would restore forest health, increase resiliency to catastrophic wildfires and protect communities by expediting environmental analyses while reducing frivolous lawsuits and step up restoration projects. But opponents, including environmentalists and Democrats, say it would open millions of acres of federal land to logging without scientific review or community input, potentially increasing the risk of wildfires while rolling back regulations to protect endangered and threatened species.

To counteract the bill, Oregon’s Democratic House and Senate members are introducing legislation that would direct federal investments in community preparedness and home hardening.

The Biden administration is also opposed to the bill and published a statement a day before the House vote, saying it contains “a number of provisions that would undermine basic protections for communities, lands, waters and wildlife.” More than 85 environmental groups also submitted a letter to the House Committee on Natural Resources opposing the bill.

The bill comes on top of calls in Oregon from state House Republicans to roll back restrictions on logging in state and private forests. Three prominent state lawmakers recently called on their peers in the state Legislature to reform forest management and logging policies they say would prevent large fires from starting and spreading.

More than 2,000 wildfires in Oregon this season have burned a record of about 2 million acres – and not largely in forests. About 75% of the acres scorched were in grass and shrubland, mostly in eastern Oregon, according to the Wildland Mapping Institute.  (READ MORE)

Oregon Housing and Community Services releases final report on five-year Statewide Housing Plan

State delivers on its ambitious priorities, surpassing nearly all goals

Statewide Housing Plan, Andrea Bell, sound bite

Salem, OR— Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) today announced monumental progress in improving housing outcomes for all Oregonians with the release of the final report on Oregon’s first-ever Statewide Housing Plan (SWHP).

The five-year housing plan was launched in July 2019 with a bold, shared vision: to ensure every person across Oregon has a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home. In the report’s Letter from the Director, Andrea Bell says the agency and its partners exceeded many of the goals outlined in the plan’s six priorities while navigating economic uncertainties, devastating wildfires, and a global pandemic.

“Our shared progress is measured by more than numbers; it is measured by how many lives are better off because of our work,” said OHCS Executive Director Andrea Bell. “Families who now have a place to grow and thrive, everyday working people who have found stability after years of uncertainty, and communities that are stronger because of historic increased housing opportunities – these are the true stories of Oregon’s progress.”

The past five years have been transformative for OHCS as it focused on its six priorities: equity and racial justice, homelessness, permanent supportive housing, affordable rental housing, homeownership, and rural communities.

“We are just getting started. As we look to the future, more work lies ahead of us. The lessons learned from the Statewide Housing Plan are already informing the next steps in Oregon’s housing progress, including our 2025-2027 Agency Request Budget. We are building on our collaborative success, helping to establish new and strengthen existing partnerships, and expanding our efforts to protect and further advance equitable housing stability across Oregon.” The final report as well as other SWHP-related reports are available on the OHCS website.

Oregon Housing and Community Services’ Homeowner Assistance Fund accepting final applications online

— Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) is reopening the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) online application portal to accept final applications directly from homeowners. Applications must be submitted by Oct. 31, 2024. New applications will be put on a waitlist and prioritized for homeowners most at risk of foreclosure or loss.

Homeowners can now review application criteria and apply directly online using a link on the HAF website: oregonhomeownerassistance.org. If homeowners need or would like assistance with an application, they can contact a HAF intake partner. A list of intake partners can be found at https://www.oregon.gov/ohcs/homeownership/Pages/Homeownership-Assistance-Fund.aspx.

“OHCS is reopening the online application portal through Oct. 31, 2024, to ensure we help as many Oregon families as possible,” said Ryan Vanden Brink, assistant director of Homeowner Assistance Programs. “With our average award of $26,500, we can assist approximately 250 additional households. Any further applications will be placed on a waitlist pending the availability of funds.”

HAF offers federal temporary COVID-19 pandemic relief to help homeowners who experienced financial hardship due to the pandemic. HAF can help homeowners become current on their mortgages, county taxes, homeowners’ (HOA) or condo associations, land sale contracts, secured manufactured home or floating home loans, and lot rent or moorage fees associated with homeowners in manufactured home parks or marinas. Financial hardship includes a reduction in income or an increase in housing costs resulting from the pandemic.

Homeowners are eligible to apply if they meet the program’s general eligibility criteria and are facing foreclosure, involved in a court case that threatens their home, in property tax foreclosure, in collections with their HOA, or in other high-risk situations identified by a housing counselor. Homeowners in foreclosure may have already received outreach letters from OHCS or their county assessor.

OHCS will make its final HAF payments in February 2025, limiting total assistance available to new applicants.OHCS encourages homeowners to explore all other options with their servicer or a housing counselor before applying for HAF. Applying for HAF does not guarantee approval or that a foreclosure will be postponed. HAF is administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury.

About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) – OHCS is Oregon’s housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. For more information, please visit: oregon.gov/ohcs.

Preventing wildfires requires a collective effort from everyone—help mitigate the risk of human-caused wildfires and protect our forests and communities.

Monitor Fires in Oregon – Updated Daily

Large Fires in Oregon Past 2 Weeks 10/11/24 9:00am per INCIWEB

https://app.watchduty.org/

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.

ODHS Seeks Public Insight on Provider Rate and Wage Study Affecting Oregon Service Providers

Feedback invited on key findings from a statewide provider rate and wage study

 ̶  The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) seeks feedback from the public on key findings from a statewide study of the rates that service providers are paid, and wages staff earn.

Providers included in the study serve people who get support through:
• ODHS Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS)
• ODHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities (APD)
• Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Behavioral Health.
These providers, which include group homes, day services and larger residential long-term care settings, offer essential services that support people in living their daily lives.

A final report on the study findings, including feedback shared, will be available in December 2024. The report will support planning on how to ensure Oregonians have a selection of providers in the communities where they live. Oregon needs to keep and attract quality providers that are safe. To be safe, providers need to have the ability to pay wages that can attract and retain workers.

Background on the study

In 2023, the Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 5506 which required ODHS and OHA to conduct the study. Burns & Associates, part of Health Management Associates (HMA-Burns), was hired to run the study and produce a report on the results along with recommendations.

How to provide feedback
• Go to the study web page on the HMA-Burns website.
• The website is available in English and Spanish.
• Email feedback to HMA-Burns at egonRates@healthmanagement.com“>OregonRates@healthmanagement.com by Oct. 28, 2024.

About the Oregon Department of Human Services
The mission of the Oregon Department of Human Services is to help Oregonians in their own communities achieve wellbeing and independence through opportunities that protect, empower, respect choice and preserve dignity.
You can get this document in other languages, large print, braille or a format you prefer. Contact ODHS at 503-945-5811 or odhs.info@odhsoha.oregon.gov. We accept calls from all forms of relay service for people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf-Blind, blind or have low vision. For more information about relay service providers visit https://www.oregonrelay.com or https://www.fcc.gov/general/internet-based-trs-providers.

Hundreds more found to be mistakenly registered to vote in Oregon; Kotek calls for audit

Governor Tina Kotek and the Oregon Secretary of State call for a full audit of Oregon’s DMV “Moter Voter” program following more voter registration errors.

Over 300 more people were found to have been mistakenly registered to vote by the Oregon DMV through the state’s “Moter Voter” program. The agency said a technical error led to thousands of records to go unanalyzed.

Both Governor Tina Kotek and Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade have called for an independent audit of the Oregon DMV’s Moter Voter program following these revelations.

Kotek also directed the Oregon DMV to pause transmitting Moter Voter data to the Secretary of State’s office until the completion of the audit at the end of the year.

After first-learning of the improper registrations on Aug. 1, around 953 voter registrations have been inactivated on top of the 306 originally flagged, for now a total of 1,568.

The new batch of records were identified following a two-week investigation by the DMV into its own system at the direction of Kotek. The after-actions report identified 302 additional records that have been sent to Oregon’s Secretary of State for inactivation.

Of those registrations, 123 records were due to a clerical error — the same one that inadvertently registered hundreds to vote. These records were original missed in an “earlier hand review” due to a technical issue in the way the file was labeled, the DMV said. It was discovered on Oct. 1 and led to 3,151 records to be hand reviewed.

Another group of records, 178,  were found involving residents of the U.S. territory of American Samoa and Swains Island. While these residents use a U.S. passport, they are not eligible to vote in some elections, a citizenship law unique to these territories, the DMV said. It had been DMV policy to identify these individuals as U.S. citizens, making them eligible for automatic voter registration. “That policy was incorrect,” the DMV said.

This discovery was made following a media inquiry from Willamette Week on Oct. 2, the DMV said.

“By agreeing to an external audit,” said Jeff Helfrich, R-Hood River, Oregon House Republican leader. “Democrats have conceded that something is systemically wrong with Oregon’s automatic voter registration system. House Republicans welcome this audit, as we have called for it since the onset of this scandal. Every effort must be made to complete it and remove all ineligible voters from the rolls before the November election. Oregonians deserve safe, secure elections.”

One additional record was also caught through the DMV’s new quality control measures — but after it was sent to Oregon’s Secretary of State to be registered to vote. It’s now policy that all records are reviewed by a manager to catch any clerical errors. In response to one slipping through, the DMV said it’s adjusting its policies to ensure it won’t happen again.

“Two weeks ago, we believed we had all of the information to project confidence that we understood and had reviewed all records at risk of error,” said DMV Administrator Amy Joyce. “We have since learned this confidence was misplaced based on new information outlined in this announcement and after-action report and for this, we are sorry.”

On Sept. 30, the Secretary of State stopped automatically registering voters through Oregon Motor Voter.

The DMV said that it has since implemented some corrective actions, including managers reviewing work, changes to the computer system that aim to reduce human error, more training and a change to the review process when processing documents from American Samoa.

“Any error that undermines our voting system must be taken incredibly seriously and addressed,” Kotek said. “Given the findings in the Oregon DMV’s After-Action Report, an immediate, external audit of the Oregon Motor Voter program and a pause to data transmission between the Oregon DMV and SoS [Secretary of State] are imperative steps to ensuring the program can operate with integrity and accuracy into the future.” (SOURCE)

OHA distributed more than 10,000 air conditioners, air filters and devices to keep communities healthy in extreme weather

SALEM, Ore. – Oregon residents at risk from heat and wildfire smoke-related health issues had more ways to receive air conditioners, air filters and other devices this year. Oregon Health Authority (OHA) distributed more than 10,000 devices ahead of, and during, 2024’s extreme summer weather events through new Oregon Health Plan (OHP) climate benefits and the Air Conditioner and Air Filter program.

“Oregon is leading the way when it comes to mitigating climate change’s health harms, especially on our most vulnerable communities,” said Emma Sandoe, Medicaid Director at OHA. “Through collaboration and innovation, we’re finding new ways for Oregon residents to receive life-saving devices so they can stay healthy in their homes during heat and poor air quality events.”

Devices have been needed as the state experienced historic heat waves over the summer, and wildfires have been active in Oregon for five consecutive months and counting. Though all individuals are vulnerable to the health impacts of extreme weather events, OHA’s “Climate and Health in Oregon 2023 Report” shows that certain communities are disproportionately impacted by climate change. Given the lack of access to or high cost of cooling devices, people with lower incomes and chronic conditions are among those most likely to experience heat exhaustion, heat stroke or other health conditions.

Both the new OHP climate benefits and the Air Conditioner and Air Filter program align with OHA’s goals to eliminate health inequities by 2030. OHA’s goals are to reduce:

• Heat-related illnesses by 50%
• Heat-related hospitalizations by 60%
• Heat-related deaths by 70%
• Respiratory ER and urgent care visits by 20%

In March 2024, OHA launched the first-in-the-nation Medicaid climate benefits to reduce health inequities and provide a way for eligible OHP members to proactively request devices. Preliminary data highlights that in the first six months, with support from Oregon’s Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs), OHA distributed almost 6,000 devices to eligible members experiencing specific health conditions and life transitions. OHA’s analysis of the first four months of data (see Image 1 below) shows that 65% of members who received a device were homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. An updated report on the OHP climate benefits will be available in early 2025.

Image 1

With one-time funding from the state legislature, OHA’s Air Conditioner and Air Filter program purchased and distributed 4,400 air conditioners and 1,200 air filter devices from July through September 2024. Oregon Department of Human Services, including the Office of Resilience and Emergency Management, partners with OHA to distribute devices directly to eligible individuals or to community-based organizations, county health clinics and the Nine Federally Recognized Tribes in Oregon to deliver in anticipation of heat events or emergency declarations. Air filter devices were prioritized for counties that have historically had the highest number of days with poor air quality and counties actively experiencing wildfire smoke events.

OHP members interested in receiving devices under the new OHP climate benefits can contact their coordinated care organization (CCO) year-round to learn more. If an OHP member is not sure which plan or CCO they are in, they can call the OHA Client Services Unit at 1-800-273-0557. OHP Open Card members can call 1-888-834-4304 or email HRSN@acentra.com“>ORHRSN@acentra.com.

To learn more about either of these efforts, visit the Air Conditioner and Air Filter Program web page or the OHP climate benefits web page.

Klamath County Announces Program to Help Farmers Battle Grasshopper & Mormon Cricket Infestations

Klamath County, OR — October 8, 2024 — Klamath County continues to face a significant challenge as grasshoppers and Mormon crickets have wreak havoc on crops, rangelands, and natural habitats. These pesky invaders threaten the livelihoods of the county’s farmers and ranchers, the food supply, and the overall health of the ecosystem and related economy.

In response, the Oregon Legislature has acted by passing SB 5701, Section 408 (2024), along with a Temporary Administrative Order. These measures provide financial assistance for pest management efforts aimed at reducing the impact of these insects on agricultural crops. Klamath County has been granted $100,000 by the Oregon Department of Agriculture to help tackle the problem.

To distribute these funds, the County has set up a reimbursement grant program. A special grant committee has been formed, including representatives from the Klamath Irrigation District, Klamath Drainage District, Van Brimmer Ditch Co., and two at-large citizens. This committee will review applications from affected farmers and ranchers and make funding recommendations to the Board of Commissioners.

Farmers and ranchers can apply for these grants from now until October 31, with the application window closing at 5:00 PM on October 31. Unfortunately, late submissions will not be accepted. The grant committee will meet in November to review the applications and provide their recommendations to the Board of Commissioners who will make the final determinations for payment.

The application can be found online on the Klamath County Grants Website. While the County recognizes that $100,000 won’t cover all the damage caused by these infestations, they are grateful to be able offer some help to those who need it most.

For more information, please contact the Klamath County Grants Office at 541-851-3637. — https://www.klamathcounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=657

Oregon State Parks to increase camping, parking and reservation fees for 2025

SALEM, Oregon— Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is increasing its camping, parking and reservation fees to keep pace with the rising cost of utilities, operations and maintenance.

Most of the increases range from $2 to $5 depending on the fee.

The park system has experienced record visitation as well as the impacts of rising costs and inflation. Utility costs for example have increased by 28% over the last 4 years, but most fees have remained the same. Depending on the fee, the last increase was anywhere from seven to 15 years ago for base fees.

“We know that raising fees by any amount can be challenging for visitors, and we don’t make this decision lightly. We try to keep costs and fees as low as possible to minimize the impact while still fulfilling our commitment to stewardship and recreation,” said OPRD Director Lisa Sumption.

Oct. 15, 2024: OPRD will increase its base camping fees for the first time since 2017. The increase applies to all camping reservations for 2025. Starting on October 15, 2024, all reservations made for 2025 stays will include the fee increase.

Increases in base rate by site type:

• $2 increase for misc. sites (includes teepees, meeting halls and other facilities)
• $3 increase for tent sites (includes horse tent sites, horse group sites, group tent) and primitive sites (includes overflow, fly-in and walk-to-sites)
• $4 increase for RV sites (includes full hookup, electrical, horse RV and group RV sites)
• $5 increase for cabins and yurts (includes rustic, mini, totem, and deluxe sites)

(Seasonal rate increases were adopted in 2020. The seasonal adjustments will be added to the new base rates. As in previous years, summer rates are $2 more for tent sites, $3 more for RV sites and $5 more for cabins/yurts.)

Jan. 1, 2025: OPRD will increase its reservation fee from $8 to $10 per site starting Jan. 1, 2025. This fee has not been increased since 2010.

Daily parking permit fees will increase from $5 to $10 at the 25 parks that charge a fee for day-use parking. Parking permit fees were last increased in 2009. The annual parking permit and the two-year permit fees remain the same at $30 for the annual permit and $50 for the two-year permit.

July 1, 2025: OPRD will expand the 25% out-of-state surcharge for RV campsites (required by state law) to all site types for out-of-state campers.

New camping rate ranges replace the existing ones. These ranges set the lowest and highest fees that OPRD can charge over time. It gives OPRD’s director the ability to change fees in the future as needed. The last rate range update was adopted in 2018.

OPRD has three main sources of funding: a little less than half comes from constitutionally dedicated lottery funds, about 15% comes from recreational vehicle license plate fees and roughly 35% comes from park fees from visitors. OPRD is not funded by taxes.

OPRD does offer a few resources and programs to help increase access to Oregon State Parks.

• Most Oregon State Parks offer free day-use parking. Current exceptions include this list of 25 parks online.
• We also have special access passes for free camping and day-use parking permits for:
  • Oregon foster parents, guardians and parents who have adopted Oregon foster children.
  • U.S. veterans with a service-connected disability.
  • Active duty U.S. military on official leave.

Next month, OPRD will open public comment on a proposal designed to give OPRD’s director more flexibility to decide which parks charge for day-use parking. The proposal would require day-use parking permits at all parks unless otherwise noted. The director would have the authority to waive the permit requirement as needed. There are no plans to charge at all parks, and OPRD would consider any changes carefully.

OPRD will continue to explore options in the future that reduce cost as a barrier while earning needed revenue to maintain our parks and manage congestion.

Measures On The Ballot For Oregon’s 2024 Election

Oregon voters will decidewhether to receive a $1,600 annual rebate through an increase in the corporate sales tax via a ballot measure that has received fierce pushback from lawmakers, local businesses and labor unions alike.

Why it matters: If Measure 118 passes, every Oregonian would receive an annual check, regardless of age or income, starting next year.

• The rebate would be paid for by a 3% gross receipts tax for all companies doing business in Oregon that make more than $25 million annually in sales.
• If passed, the new tax would generate $1.3 billion in revenue for the 2023-25 biennium, according to the Legislative Revenue Office.

The intrigue: This would be separate from the “kicker.”

Catch up quick: The measure is one of five initiatives Oregonians will vote on this November that could alter how the state governs its elections, businesses and elected officials’ salaries.

Here’s a brief look at the other four measures.

Measure 115 would amend Oregon’s constitution to allow the Legislature to impeach statewide elected officials — if both the House and Senate reach an affirmative two-thirds vote.

• Right now, Oregon is the only state without an impeachment doctrine.

Measure 116 would establish a commission to study and set the salaries and compensation for statewide elected officials.

• The yearly base pay for Oregon lawmakers is around $35,000. The study would look at all elected offices, including governor, secretary of state, judges, district attorneys, as well as state senators and representatives.

Measure 117 would establish ranked choice voting for federal and statewide elected offices.

• Portland voters will participate in the city’s first-ever ranked choice election this fall, while Multnomah County voters will use the system in November 2026.

Measure 119 would essentially make it easier for cannabis workers to unionize by requiring cannabis retailers, processors and labs to submit a labor neutrality agreement with a union in order to request or renew their operating license.

The bottom line: The last day to register to vote in order to participate in the Nov. 5 election is Oct. 15. (SOURCE)

OSP asking for the public’s help to locate wanted man —  Oregon State Police

**UPDATE** Vehicle license plate: OR/353JWK — Suspect wanted for sex crimes in Oregon and Alabama — Oregon State Police and the Mobile (Alabama) Police Department are seeking the public’s help to locate Adam Renk (39) who is wanted in both states for sex crimes against child victims.

On June 21, 2024, OSP detectives responded to a sexual abuse disclosure made by a minor. The minor disclosed Renk as the perpetrator. Renk has since been indicted on multiple crimes against a child victim under the age of 12. He is charged with Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the First Degree, Sodomy in the First Degree, and Sexual Abuse in the First Degree.

As part of their investigation, OSP detectives learned Renk had been charged in another case involving a minor victim in Mobile, Alabama. The Alabama charges include Child Sexual Abuse and Torture involving an 11-year-old victim. The victims in the two states are not related. Alabama law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Marshals Service are attempting to locate Renk who posted bond in Alabama and was released from pre-trial custody.

Renk was last seen leaving Alabama on August 7, 2024. He has ties to Oregon and Wasco County. He is believed to be traveling in a converted Ford Ambulance that is now painted two-toned white over gray. Renk is a white male, 6 ft. 1 in. tall, 175 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair.

Anyone with information about Renk’s whereabouts or information about possible additional victims is asked to contact the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office at 541-506-2580 or OSP Detective Cassie Bantz through dispatch at 800-442-0776 or by dialing OSP (677) on a mobile phone.

Red Cross Volunteers from Oregon and SW Washington on Their Way to Hurricane Helene — American Red Cross – Cascades Region

Support communities in the path of the storm by making a financial donation or scheduling an appointment to give blood

Thousands of people are dealing with the devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene and American Red Cross disaster workers are with them, providing comfort, support and relief.

More than 4 million customers – as many as 12 million people – are without power across impacted states. The danger isn’t over and people in affected areas are urged to heed the utmost caution before venturing outside. Helene is now a tropical storm threatening parts of the Southeast with dangerous flooding, damaging winds and tornadoes.

Thousands of people affected by Hurricane Helene need help now. Your donation enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) to make a financial donation or to schedule a blood donation appointment. Individuals can also text the word HELENE to 90999 to make a donation.

RED CROSS RESPONSE In just the past 48 hours, the Red Cross has opened or supported more than 140 shelters for nearly 9,400 individuals who have evacuated their homes. Red Cross teams managed 50 of these shelters overnight and supported more than 80 partner shelters with staff and supplies

The Cascades Region in Oregon and SW Washington has sent 10 volunteers already with more lining up to go.  Just like volunteers from across the country who came to Oregon to support our wildfire evacuations this summer, our volunteers will be there as long as we are needed.

As deadly flooding continues and threatens additional communities, even more people will urgently need our support. Red Crossers are working closely with community partners and state and local officials to ensure help is available where needed.

Nearly 500 disaster workers are on the ground helping with hundreds more on their way. The Red Cross has also deployed numerous emergency response vehicles to help where needed. When it is safe to do so, Red Cross disaster responders will travel throughout affected communities, assessing the damage and distributing meals and relief supplies.

CANCELED BLOOD DRIVES Helene has canceled blood drives throughout Georgia and the Carolinas causing more than 1,000 blood donations to go uncollected, and this number is growing.

As communities feel the effects of Helene, patients are fighting their own battle. Some of these patients urgently need closely matched blood donations to weather their health crises. If you’re in a safe area, you have the power to be a lifeline.

Please schedule a blood donation appointment now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, using the Blood Donor App or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to help restock the shelves.

FIND A SHELTEREvacuation shelters are open across the region. You can find evacuation shelters on redcross.org, the free Red Cross Emergency app or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767).You can also find shelters by following your local Red Cross and local emergency officials on social media, or by monitoring local news. If you need assistance finding or going to a shelter in the Big Bend region, call 800-729-3413 for help.

CLIMATE CRISIS Helene could be the start of a series of back-to-back storms that threaten the U.S. as additional systems form in the Atlantic.Experts report Hurricane Helene was able to grow and become more destructive because of hotter-than-average ocean temperatures caused by the climate crisis, which is bringing more frequent and intense disasters that upend lives. In response, the Red Cross is providing food, shelter and recovery support on a nearly continual basis.

Find safety steps for different emergencies ꟷ including hurricanes and power outages ꟷ here.

About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.

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