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,  February 14, 2025

Rogue Valley Weather

https://graphical.weather.gov/sectors/oregon.php

 US National Weather Service Medford Oregon

Medford School District 549C —  𝐆𝐲𝐦 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐞 𝐅𝐀𝐐𝐬

𝐖𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝.

𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟐/𝟏𝟐:

Engineers have assessed nearby buildings at North, no structural threats.

Additional fencing has been placed to expand the safety perimeter.

School will open Thursday, and we are confident in the safety of North Medford.

The cause is still under review; engineers are conducting a full assessment

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝?

On Friday afternoon, a crack was discovered in one of the trusses in the North gym. The gym was immediately evacuated and secured. MSD facility teams, Medford Fire, the City of Medford, and engineering crews responded quickly to reduce the snow load on the roof. Since then, athletic practices and PE classes have been relocated to other facilities.

On Tuesday morning, several beams broke under the weight of the snow, triggering an emergency response. When the collapse occurred, it severed the emergency response button (ERB) line, initiating messaging for a school lockdown. At no point in time was there an actual threat on campus, the lockdown was simply the result of the ERB going off. The lockdown was lifted shortly after.

At 10:47 a.m. Tuesday, the gym roof collapsed. Emergency services responded immediately, and thankfully, no injuries were reported. The gym is isolated from the rest of campus, and students were kept away from the area with fencing. Students were released early on Tuesday and school was canceled on Wednesday out of an abundance of caution and so crews could assess the damage.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐞?

Since the collapse, we have expanded the security fencing around the perimeter, met with engineers, insurance and contractors to formulate next steps. We are working on a demolition plan to stabilize the structure so that it is safe for the engineer teams to complete their assessment. We will then determine if any areas are salvageable and develop a plan to rebuild. Concurrently, we are working to ensure all school gym activities have been relocated to alternate locations.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧?

We are awaiting the official engineering assessment, but engineers have informed us that typically there are multiple contributors to a collapse like this. Engineers estimate that approximately 700,000 pounds of snow accumulated on the roof. This weight may have exacerbated an existing structural weakness, leading to cracking in the glulam beam and, ultimately, the roof collapse. We will share more details once the final engineering report is complete.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐮𝐩𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐲𝐦?

At this time, there is no indication that the seismic upgrades contributed to the collapse. In fact, the improvements—such as lighter roofing materials, the removal of a cell tower, and reinforcement of the roofing diaphragm—likely helped the structure withstand the immense snow load for as long as it did. Once the building is stabilized and made safe, engineers will conduct a full assessment to determine all contributing factors and inform future repair plans.

𝐖𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐞?

There is no evidence of an engineering failure in the building’s original construction. A thorough engineering review will be conducted once the structure is stabilized.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐞?

Our priority was ensuring the safety of students and staff. Efforts to reduce the snow load and stabilize the structure included:

Deploying a shoring team as soon as possible.

Shoveling snow from the roof in areas where it was safe to do so.

Applying ice melt.

Used heat cords.

Working with Medford Fire to melt off the snow with water working from the drains out to ensure that no additional water load was added to the roof (the snow on the roof was never saturated with additional water, this only impacted a very small area around one drain and the beam fractured before this measure was attempted). This reduced the load on the roof and did not cause the collapse.

Using pumps to remove melted water and prevent pooling.

Hoping for the sun to come out and melt that snow!

These efforts were extremely dangerous due to the roof’s 200 ft by 200 ft size and the hazardous conditions incurred with the fractured beam.

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤?

No. All other large-span structures in the district have been thoroughly inspected and are safe for continued use. There are no signs of structural damage.

𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩?

Yes. The seismic upgrades played a crucial role in preventing a full scale collapse of the entire facility. The reinforced walls remain standing, which minimized the extent of the damage and the danger crews encountered.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐦? 𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐞?

The district maintains millions of square feet of roofing, and large-scale snow removal is not a standard practice in our area for roofs. Our buildings are designed to handle typical snow loads, including the amount we experienced during the storm.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬?

Facility crews inspect roofs frequently to ensure drains are cleared and that there is no flashing damage, roof leaks, etc.

No one was injured, school officials said, and other campus buildings are not in danger of collapsing.

Tuesday morning, several beams in the gym broke under the weight of the snow; students were placed on short lockdown as a precaution. At 10:47 a.m., the roof collapsed; emergency services responded immediately, and no injuries were reported.

Classes were canceled after the gym’s roof at North Medford High School collapsed under the weight of around 700,000 pounds of snow, according to school officials.

According to the school’s website, a crack in one of the gym’s trusses was discovered Friday afternoon. The gym was then evacuated, with Medford Fire, the city of Medford and engineering crews responding to reduce the snow on the roof, including shoveling, spraying and using ice melt and heat-tape cords. Athletic practices and PE classes were relocated to other buildings.

North Medford High School said an estimated 700,000 pounds of snow had accumulated on the roof.

According to the school, the gym is isolated from the rest of the campus, and students are being kept away from the area as crews assess damage. Students were released early, and school is also canceled for Wednesday.

Other buildings on campus are not in danger, having been inspected with no signs of structural damage.

The school stated that there isn’t any evidence of an engineering failure in the original construction and that the “gym performed well for 60 years before the extreme snow load caused the trusses to fail.” However, an engineering review will be performed once the structure is stabilized.

The gym had recently undergone a seismic upgrade, which prevented a full structural collapse. The reinforced walls remain standing, school officials said.

According to a statement from the principal, Allen Barber, on the school’s website, experts will be assessing the safety around the gym’s perimeter and developing contingency plans if the areas remain inaccessible.

Jackson and Josephine Counties Have Highest Flu Rate in Oregon

The counties have more than 300 of the state’s approximately 1,000 positive influenza A cases.

The FluBites weekly surveillance report from the OHA shows that Region 5, which is made up of Jackson and Josephine counties, had the highest percent positivity at 31.4 percent the week of Feb. 2 to Feb. 8. The overall percent positivity in the state is 24 percent, up 0.4 percent from the previous week.

 

Medford Fire Department

This week, our crews have been sharpening their skills with the 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 (𝗜𝗖𝗦)—a critical framework that keeps our fireground operations 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱, 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲.

By strengthening communication, decentralizing command, and improving accountability, ICS helps us:

Keep our firefighters safer

Ensure effective and efficient responses

Provide better service to our community

We’re also enhancing tactical decision-making and building even stronger training for our officers. This means 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 every time we respond to an emergency.   Medford Firefighters Local 824 

Southern Oregon Land Conservancy

Thanks to our site steward volunteers and funding from ODFW, we completed building a 1600 ft wildlife-friendly perimeter fence at Rogue River Preserve this week. We even added reflectors to the top and bottom strands of smooth wire.

Pollinator Project Rogue Valley and The Crest at Willow-Witt Both Receive $25K Awards For Their Work in the Community

We are so thrilled to be on this awesome list of nonprofits creating positive change in Oregon! Many thanks to OBRC and Oregon Community Foundation for all of their amazing and much needed support to make Oregon a great state to live and bee! The BottleDrop is an awesome and important partnership, making a difference in many ways. We are grateful.

The BottleDrop Fund was formed in 2018 as a partnership between OBRC and the Oregon Community Foundation to support organizations operating in the spirit of the Bottle Bill through annual grants.

This year, the following nonprofits across the state received funds to help support their work they’re doing to creative positive change in their communities. Pollinator Project Rogue Valley in Phoenix and The Crest at Willow-Witt Ranch in Ashland are both non-profits centered around ecological education.  You can follow and support on Facebook here:

Pollinator Project Rogue Valley

The Crest at Willow-Witt

 

THIS FRIDAY & SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 14 & 16 2025)

Cupid called—he says you need to be at Cupid’s Courtyard Sweethearts Bazaar! Join them for two days of love-filled shopping with over 50 vendors on Friday and Saturday, 10 AM – 5 PM at the Josephine County Fairgrounds. Admission is only $3, and kids 16 & under get in free! Come find the perfect gift and make Valentine’s extra sweet this year!   Find more details about this event and more great events on our website at www.josephinecountyfairgrounds.com/events

 

City of Medford, Local Government   · 

We’re teaming up with the City of Ashland Oregon to identify local economic trends, opportunities, challenges, and future developments in the Rogue Valley.

Take the survey here https://survey123.arcgis.com/…/8d998820d69d4f63a8cc92d8…

Participants will be entered for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card!

The survey is open now through February 23, 2025.

Please allow about 25 minutes to complete.

Providence Medford Nurses Overwhelmingly Reject Tentative Agreement Amid Statewide Push for Safe Staffing and Fair Wages

Nurses at Providence Medford Medical Center have overwhelmingly voted to reject the contract offer from Providence management, joining nurses from seven other Providence hospitals across Oregon in calling for contracts that address longstanding systemic issues in patient care and workplace conditions.

Nurses at Providence Medford had until Feb. 8 at 4 p.m. to vote, with Medford nurses now joining their nursing colleagues in rejecting Providence’s latest offer.

The rejection of the contract offer underscores nurses’ demands for safe staffing standards, competitive wages to recruit and retain staff, and healthcare benefits that ensure caregivers can take care of their families. Providence’s proposals fail to adequately address these critical issues, which have contributed to ongoing burnout, understaffing, and wage inequities across their facilities.

This vote comes amid the largest healthcare strike in Oregon history, which began on January 10, 2025, and involves nearly 5,000 frontline nurses and healthcare workers at eight Providence hospitals. Nurses have maintained their strike with a unified voice, demanding that Providence meet their calls for change.

ONA’s bargaining teams have approached negotiations in good faith throughout this process, even as Providence claimed their most recent offer was the best they could make. To demonstrate their commitment to transparency, ONA presented the contract offer to their members for a vote, allowing frontline nurses to provide direct feedback on the terms of the settlement–which they have done, with a resounding “no.”

The rejection of Providence’s contract offer reflects the unified stance of Oregon’s frontline nurses, who remain committed to securing contracts that prioritize safe patient care, fair compensation, and a sustainable work environment. ONA has called on Providence to return to the bargaining table immediately to deliver a fair contract that addresses these systemic issues.

 

Informational Press Release on Immigration 

RELEASE DATE:  February 8, 2025

INCIDENT:  Informational Press Release on Immigration

INCIDENT DATE AND TIME:  February 8, 2025

REPORTING DEPUTY:  Sheriff Dave Daniel

DETAILS:  The purpose of this release is to inform Josephine County citizens on the status of immigration practices within Josephine County and state-wide law enforcement as it pertains to Oregon State Law and Federal Law.  While I will not speak for law enforcement across the state, I will close with my personal opinions as it pertains to immigration reform and the direction I believe the majority of Josephine County citizens wish the Sheriff’s Office will proceed.

First, I will explain the stance of Oregon State sanctuary laws as it pertains to actions law enforcement can and cannot perform under Oregon Revised Statutes section ORS 181A.8##.

In recent years, the Oregon Legislature enacted several immigration laws as it pertains to Oregon law enforcement’s directives.  Within the State of Oregon, law enforcement can:

1. Request information from ICE about a person named in ICE records for local criminal investigation.  ORS 181A.820
2. Arrest a person wanted under certain federal criminal  immigration statutes when there is a warrant signed by a federal judge (not just an ICE administrative subpoena).  ORS 181.A.820
3. Provide information to ICE about a person in custody if the information is available to the public or by subpoena from the courts.  ORS 181A.823
4. Ask a person about their country of origin for consular notification but only after telling them they do not have to answer and if they do, they are subject to deportation or other immigration consequences.

Within the State of Oregon law enforcement cannot:

1. Use any public facilities, property, agency moneys, etc., for the purpose of detecting or apprehending a person for ICE.  ORS 181A.826
2. Allow federal enforcement officials working on immigration issues into any portion of the agency or jail not open to the public. ORS 181A.826
3. Provide information to ICE or any federal agency working on immigration issues except in response to a court subpoena or if the information is available to the public.  ORS 181A.826
4. Investigate or question individuals for ICE. ORS 181A.826
5. Deny privileges, benefits or services to a person on parole, probation or in custody based on suspected immigration status. ORS 181A.823
6. Provide any information about a person in custody to ICE for immigration enforcement except pursuant to a court subpoena or if the information is available to the public.  ORS 181A.823
7. Make a civil arrest issued by an enforcement agent, absent a judicial warrant or order, in a court, or on grounds adjacent to the court or on their way to or returning from court absent a judicial warrant.

Note: A law enforcement official is subject to additional civil penalties not only by the state but also by civilians who wish to adjoin such actions. ORS 181A.820(6)

 

In response to these sanctuary statutes nationwide the Office of the Attorney General out of Washington, D.C. (federal) issued a memo on February 5^th, 2025 with the subject line reading “Sanctuary Jurisdiction Directives”.  For the full version, refer to this link: Sanctuary Jurisdiction Directives

Within that document, it focuses on three primary directives:

1. “End Funding to State and Local Jurisdictions That Unlawfully Interfere with Federal Law Enforcement Operations”
2. “Identify and Evaluate All Funding Agreements with Non-Governmental Organizations That Provide Support to Illegal Aliens”
3. “Pursue Enforcement Actions Against Jurisdictions That Facilitate Violations of Federal Immigrations Laws or Impede Lawful Federal Immigration Operations”

Lastly, while it is known that your elected Sheriff took an oath to “support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Oregon and enforce the laws therein”, these directives pit laws against one other.  I stand firm that an individual who has entered the United States illegally has committed a crime and believe emphasis should be placed on those who commit additional crimes while here illegally.

There exists a procedure for those who wish to enter the United States, and may do so legally.  Your Josephine County Sheriff’s Office has not been contacted by ICE in years, likely due to the state sanctuary laws listed above.  However, that may change, and ramifications of state statues or federal directives may be forthcoming.

I will not stand in the way or inhibit federal immigration practices.  I will attempt to walk a fine line, for now, in the attempt to avoid devastating financial impacts on our community.  That being said, I will not turn a blind eye to crime of any sort, no matter what the cost. The hope is that these two institutions can come to common ground so that your law enforcement professionals can avoid becoming either the “target” or the “martyr” from either institutions.  As for now, there appears to be no opportunities in the middle.

Jocosheriff@josephinecounty.gov

 

 

U.S. Senator for Oregon Jeff Merkley has announced his ‘Oregon Treasures Quest’ list for 2025, a collection of spots to visit in each county of the state.

Each of Oregon’s 36 counties has a location on the list. Here are the locations selected this year for counties in southern Oregon.

In our region, he lists the following locations:

Jackson County: Oregon Shakespeare Festival.   Josephine County: Oregon Caves. Klamath County: Crater Lake National Park. Curry County: Cape Blanco State Park & Lighthouse.  Lake County: Fort Rock.

As a part of the Oregon Treasures Quest challenge, anyone who visits 10 sites in 10 counties is an Oregon Ranger. Visiting 25 sites in 25 counties makes you an Oregon Trailblazer and visiting 36 sites in 36 counties makes you an Oregon Explorer.

Anyone participating in the challenge should send a selfie of each location along with your name, the date of the picture and the name of the location to oregontreasuresquest@merkley.senate.gov.

The Britt Festival Orchestra (BFO) announces its 2025 season, with three weeks of exciting outdoor programming in historic Jacksonville, Oregon, June 12 – 28, 2025.

Under the leadership of four guest conductors, Damon Gupton (June 12-13); Chia-Hsuan Lin (June 15-18); Roberto Kalb (June 21-23); and Normal Huynh (June 26-28) the Orchestra’s 63^rd season highlights a feature film alongside beloved classical favorites.

The season features seven extraordinary guest artists: pianist Clayton Stephenson performing Ravel’s Concerto in G Major; violinist William Hagen performing Korngold’s Concerto in D Major; violinist Tessa Lark and cellist Wei Yu performing Brahms Double concerto for Violin & Violoncello in A minor; vocalist Sun-Ly Pierce performing Ravel’s Shéhérazade; pianist Jaeden Izik-Dzurko performing Rachmaninoff’s Concerto No. 3 in D minor; and violinist Simone Porter performing Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto in D and Ravel’s Tzigane. The season will begin with two evenings of Jurassic Park in Concert whereJohn Williams’ score will be performed live-to-picture by the full orchestra in one of the most beloved films of the 20^th Century.

Britt Music & Arts Festival shares extraordinary live performances and arts education experiences that inspire discovery and build community, anchored at the Britt hill amphitheater. Since its grassroots beginnings in 1963, the non-profit organization has grown from a two-week chamber music festival to a summer-long series of concerts in a variety of genres, including a three-week orchestra season, and year-round education and engagement programs. For more information, visit www.brittfest.org

 

The Jackson County Expo announced its 2025 summer concert lineup taking the stage during the Jackson County Fair in July.

According to the Expo, musical acts including Outlaw Mariachi, Jo Dee Messina, and a Taylor Swift tribute will take the stage in Central Point this summer.

The Jackson County Fair runs from July 15 through July 20. Fair tickets start at $12 and include lawn seats at the Bi-Mart Amphitheater.

Concert ticket prices start at $25 and go on sale to the public on Tuesday. Fair admission is included with the purchase of a reserved seat.

Full 2025 Jackson County Fair Concert lineup:

Tuesday, July 15 – Outlaw Mariachi

Wednesday, July 16 – Jo Dee Messina

Thursday, July 17 – Kansas

Friday, July 18 – Skillet

Saturday, July 19 – Are You Ready For It? A Taylor Experience

For more information or to purchase a ticket, visit the Jackson County Expo’s website: https://attheexpo.com/fair/

 

Upper Rogue River Users, Look for New Signs for Boat Operations 

Temporary signs being posted at access points on the Upper Rogue River in Jackson County

The Oregon State Marine Board passed new rules for boat operations on the Upper Rogue River during its quarterly January 23^rd Board meeting. The rules go into effect on February 1, 2025.

Temporary signs will be installed by January 31 at the following boating access sites:

• Fishers Ferry County Park
• TouVelle State Park
• Dodge Bridge County Park
• Takelma County Park
• Upper Rogue Regional County Park
• Rogue Elk County Park
• Casey County Park
• McGregor Park Boat Ramp

Permanent signs with graphics outlining specific rule segments on the river are in development and will replace the temporary signs by the spring.

The Marine Board will ramp up education and outreach efforts during the first year of rule implementation.

To stay up to date on the agency’s outreach, follow Boat Oregon on social media (Facebook, Instagram), or subscribe to Boat Oregon News and learn more about the rules from the agency’s Public Meetings page.

Oregon Housing And Community Services Awards Funding To Jackson County Wildfire Survivor To Buy A New Home
Oregon Housing and Community Services

First recovery grant from the Homeowner Assistance and Reconstruction Program

— A Jackson County wildfire survivor is in a new home after becoming the first homeowner to receive funding from the ReOregon Homeowner Assistance and Reconstruction Program (HARP). The program’s funding comes from the federal $422 million Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery to help Oregonians and communities recover from the 2020 Labor Day Disasters.

The new three-bedroom, two-bath manufactured home is a chance to start fresh and get back a sense of normalcy. “I can finally breathe again,” said Joan, which is not the homeowner’s real name as they did not want to be identified. “I’m safe. I’m secure… It’s hard to explain, but I finally feel like I can hit the un-pause button. I can finally begin where I left off.”

HARP, a federally funded program launched in 2024, provides qualified homeowners whose properties were damaged by the wildfires and straight-line winds in fall 2020 with financial assistance to repair, rebuild, or replace their homes. This homeowner chose the Home Purchase Pathway, which allows eligible survivors to buy a stick-built or manufactured home that is already installed.

“This is exactly what these funds were meant to do,” said Shannon Marheine, director of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS). “Although we know it’s taken longer than anyone hoped, this is just the first of many recoveries that will come from all of the hard work that OHCS, our partners, and the survivors themselves have put in over the years.”

OHCS has received hundreds of HARP applications for assistance from every county affected by the disasters, and staff continue to review them for eligibility.

“There were so many friendly and supportive people from start to finish with the HARP application,” Joan said. “The professionalism and communication were appreciated and supportive. They were always in touch and leading me to the next step.”

To read more about Joan’s story, visit https://apps.oregon.gov/oregon-newsroom/OR/OHCS/Posts/Post/A-wildfire-survivor-story-of-loss-support-and-recovery-in-her-own-words.

OHCS encourages survivors of the 2020 Labor Day Disasters, who have not yet applied, to fill out an eligibility questionnaire at https://www.oregon.gov/ohcs/disaster-recovery/reoregon/harp/Pages/harp-eligibility-questionnaire.aspx.

To learn more about HARP and other ReOregon programs, visit re.oregon.gov, sign up to receive e-mail notifications, or contact the Call Center at 877-510-6800 or 541-250-0938.

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.

 

Josephine Community Library District

Tax season help is here! From February 4 to April 11, get free assistance with your tax questions and filing at the Grants Pass Library with Josephine County VITA. Call 541-223-9597 or visit joco-freetaxes.com to learn more or schedule an appointment.

The Southern Oregon Chinese Cultural Association has organized a spectacular celebration for Chinese New Year 2025 

The celebration will take place at several venues, including Jacksonville’s New City Hall, Community Center, Library, and the Miners’ Bazaar. This multi-venue event aims to make the celebration accessible and engaging for people of all ages. Whether you are familiar with Chinese customs or experiencing them for the first time, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.

While Chinese New Year celebrations are widespread in major cities like San Francisco and New York, Southern Oregon’s observance is unique in its own right. The Southern Oregon Chinese Cultural Association, founded to preserve and promote Chinese culture in the region, has been hosting such events for many years, providing a rare opportunity for local communities to learn about and celebrate Chinese heritage. The celebration in Jacksonville is an example of how this tradition has blossomed in a small town, thanks to the efforts of cultural preservationists and the local Chinese-American community.

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  · 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’s going on five years now since Fauna Frey, 45, disappeared in Josephine County 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

 

Oregon Emergency Coordination Center Activates to Level 3 in Response to Severe Winter Weather
Oregon Dept. of Emerg. Management

SALEM, Ore.– The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) has activated the State Emergency Coordination Center (ECC) to Level 3 (Regional Response) in response to a winter storm forecasted to impact much of Western Oregon from the evening of Feb. 12 through Feb. 14. The National Weather Service predicts a strong potential for snow and freezing rain, which may lead to treacherous travel conditions, road closures, power outages, and the need for temporary warming shelters.

Multiple jurisdictional emergency operations centers across the state are activated, and OEM is coordinating with local, Tribal and state partners to monitor impacts and support response efforts as needed. The Level 3 activation allows OEM to maintain situational awareness, facilitate information-sharing and support resource requests from local jurisdictions.

People in Oregon are urged to take precautions during the storm:

• Stay informed: Check local weather forecasts and sign up for emergency alerts through ORalert.gov. View the latest Hazard Situation Overview for real-time impacts and response efforts.

• Avoid travel if possible: Roads may become hazardous due to ice and snow. If travel is necessary, carry an emergency kit, chains, and extra supplies.

• If you do need to leave the house: Check TripCheck.com to know the latest road conditions, and make sure you are caring a shovel and have an emergency car kit. Read more about how to prepare for winter driving on the OEM blog.

• Prepare for power outages: Have flashlights, batteries, and a backup heat source ready. Never use generators or grills indoors due to carbon monoxide risks.

• Check on neighbors: Ensure vulnerable individuals have what they need to stay safe and warm.

• Know where to go to get warm: Warming shelters are listed at Oregon 211.

Sign up to receive the latest news directly from OEM. To find out more preparedness tips, like how to Be2Weeks Ready for disasters, visit Oregon.gov/OEM.

### It is the mission of Oregon Emergency Management to proactively develop emergency response, risk reduction and disaster recovery programs to better serve Oregonians during times of disaster. OEM prioritizes an equitable and inclusive culture of preparedness that empowers all Oregonians to thrive in times in crisis. The agency leads collaborative statewide efforts, inclusive of all partners and the communities we serve, to ensure capability to get help in an emergency and to protect, mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies or disasters. For more information about the OEM, visit oregon.gov/oem.

More than 100 cars, trucks and semi-trucks were involved in a crash on Interstate 84 early Thursday afternoon, according to the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office.

– On Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 10:45 a.m. Oregon State Police (OSP) responded with local law enforcement and first responders to multiple crashes on Interstate 84 (I-84) westbound near milepost 35 about three miles west of Multnomah Falls.

Preliminary reports indicate numerous factors, such as icy and slick roads, limited visibility, and near-white-out conditions, contributed to the crashes. Oregon State Troopers responded to eight separate crashes, and four individuals were transported to local hospitals with minor injuries. Local law enforcement also responded to an unknown number of crashes. The total number of vehicles involved is not known at this time.

I-84 westbound is not yet completely open; however, traffic is starting to flow through the area. Much of the area remains under winter storm warning through 10 a.m. Friday. Residents are encouraged to postpone travel until weather conditions improve. If you must travel, visit tripcheck.com for current weather and road conditions.

Police earlier estimated that more than 100 cars were involved in the pileup, but after “a more thorough assessment,” they said it was closer to 20-30 vehicles that had crashed. “Low visibility made it difficult to differentiate initially between vehicles that were involved and vehicles that were only stopped,” they said.

An SUV in the pileup caught fire. Everyone in the vehicle managed to get out, police said. Freezing rain and snow contributed to the pileup, where officials extended a state of emergency through at least Friday and said eight emergency shelters would be open.

New Edition of the Oregon Blue Book Highlights John Day Fossil Beds and the Great Comet of 2024

Every odd-numbered year since 1911, the Oregon Secretary of State’s office has published the Oregon Blue Book, our state’s official almanac and fact book. Each edition of the book features beautiful, new cover images of Oregon captured by the winners of the Oregon Blue Book Cover Photo Contest.

The 2025-2026 Oregon Blue Book front cover features a stunning capture from the Painted Cove in the Painted Hills Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, near Mitchell. Photographer Matt Straite of Keizer made the image which he titled, “The Many Sides of Oregon.” The back cover includes an amazing astrophotography shot titled “Comet/C2023 A” by Nathan Rohde of Shady Cove.

“The Oregon Blue Book is an invitation to learn more about Oregon, engage with your neighbors, our government and our state’s history. It helps us understand what it means to be an Oregonian. The artists who’ve created these cover images captured some of that spirit, and I’m thrilled they’re a part of my first Oregon Blue Book as Secretary of State,” said Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read.

“So many people look right past the desert areas of the state, but there is so much beauty there,” said Straite. “I have always been drawn to images that show the work of mankind in nature, particularly when that work has been added to help others see the nature, like the work of the Civilian Conservation Corp. The way this trail bends at the end is such a strong draw to want to explore more.” Straite also said that he shot this image from the boardwalk, which is there to take people through the sensitive clay hills without harming them.

Nathan Rohde’s image of Comet/C2023 A3, also known as the “Great Comet of 2024” was made near his home. He said he’s always been fascinated by astrophotography and loved trying to capture the Milky Way and the Aurora, but after seeing posts online of other peoples’ images of the comet, he thought he could capture it too: “Living in Southern Oregon affords access to some relatively dark areas. On a tall clearing not far from Lost Creek Lake, I got set up about an hour before sunset and began scanning the sky with my lens fully extended. About 45 minutes after sunset, conditions were perfect and the pictures started coming through!” Rohde said the rolling hills in the foreground were an excellent way to provide scale and accentuate the sky.

The 2025-2026 Oregon Blue Book is available for presale purchase now at bluebook.oregon.gov/shop. These limited-edition books are $30 for the hardcover and $18 for the paperback, plus shipping and handling. A downloadable copy of the full cover for use by the media can be found in Oregon Blue Book Assets and Information here.

Frontline Caregivers to Pack the Room for Hearing on Legislation Requiring Hospitals to Disclose Strike Replacement Costs

– Providence caregivers will “pack the room” for a committee hearing on House Bill 2792, legislation that aims to create transparency and ensure that health systems in Oregon, which receive public funding, provide critical financial information to the public about what they are spending to replace striking workers.

The legislation, which was introduced by Representative Travis Nelson and Senator James Manning Jr., comes in the midst of the largest healthcare strike in Oregon history. Nearly 5,000 frontline caregivers from Providence hospitals and facilities across the state have walked off the job because of unsafe staffing, wages that are not competitive with other health systems, and cuts to workers’ healthcare, among other things.

“The costs associated with replacing employees during a labor dispute can be significant, and it is essential that hospitals be transparent about these expenses,” said Rep. Travis Nelson. “This legislation will provide the public, whose taxes help fund our hospitals, with a clearer picture of how healthcare dollars are being spent, and help stakeholders understand how much a hospital is paying to avoid settling fair contracts with their employees.”

The proposed legislation would require hospitals to submit a detailed monthly report to the Oregon Health Authority and to the Bureau of Labor and Industries outlining all the projected costs associated with hiring temporary workers or other staffing replacements in the event of a strike or lockout. The information would be made available to the public, allowing patients, employees, elected officials, and all Oregonians to understand the financial implications of a strike. Currently, hospitals are not required to disclose any of the costs associated with replacing striking workers.

• You can read the legislation in full here.

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA), which supports the legislation, estimates Providence is spending at a minimum, more than $25 million per week just on the wages of replacement nurses instead of using those additional resources to settle a contract and pay permanent caregivers, who live in Oregon, a competitive wage. Replacement nurses can make upwards of $8,000 per week just in wages, which is far more than permanent nurses who are out on strike.

“This legislation is an important step towards promoting fairness and transparency in healthcare,” said Kathy Keane, an registered nurse from Providence St. Vincent who is currently on strike. “Providence, one of Oregon’s largest health systems, has a troubling history of financial opacity. When workers go on strike to fight for better patient care and working conditions, hospitals often spend millions of dollars on replacement workers, but those expenditures remain undisclosed. This lack of transparency means that Oregonians–whose tax dollars help fund these hospitals–have no way of knowing how much of their money is being spent to undermine frontline healthcare workers rather than invest in patient care.”

The House Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards will be hearing the legislation on Monday, February 10 at 3 p.m. in the Oregon State Capitol, Hearing Room D.

During the committee hearing, frontline caregivers from Providence, who are currently on strike, will present testimony regarding the potential impact of the legislation. The hearing will be open to the public, and members of the media are encouraged to attend. The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) Represents A Diverse Community Of More Than 23,000 Nurses, And Health Care Professionals Throughout Oregon. Together, We Use Our Collective Power To Advocate For Critical Issues Impacting Patients, Nurses, And Health Care Professionals Including A More Effective, Affordable And Accessible Healthcare System; Better Working Conditions For All Health Care Professionals; And Healthier Communities. For More Information Visit Www.OregonRN.org.

Providence Threatens to Cut Healthcare for Nurses and Their Families
Oregon Nurses Assn.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) – Providence sent an email to striking nurses today threatening to cut healthcare for striking nurses and their families starting February 28. This comes less than 24 hours after ONA and registered nurses (RNs) from eight hospitals unilaterally reopened negotiations with Providence following nearly a week of silence from the $30 billion healthcare corporation.

Threatening to strip health insurance from nurses and their families, including children, while delaying and prolonging contract negotiations, is shameful and inexcusable. This callous action underscores Providence’s prioritization of profits over the well-being of caregivers and the patients they serve.

Rather than punishing nurses and jeopardizing lives, Providence executives–who earn millions in salaries–should focus on settling a fair contract. The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) Represents A Diverse Community Of More Than 23,000 Nurses, And Health Care Professionals Throughout Oregon. Together, We Use Our Collective Power To Advocate For Critical Issues Impacting Patients, Nurses, And Health Care Professionals Including A More Effective, Affordable And Accessible Healthcare System; Better Working Conditions For All Health Care Professionals; And Healthier Communities. For More Information Visit Www.OregonRN.org.

Thousands of ONA Members are Waiting—Yet Again—For Providence to Step Up
Oregon Nurses Assn.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) – Nurses from eight Providence registered nurse (RN) bargaining units are calling on Providence to step up and take meaningful action in ongoing contract negotiations. Despite the Oregon Nurses Association’s (ONA’s) readiness to meet and provide solutions, Providence continues to fail to address key priorities, leaving nurses–and the patients we serve–waiting for them to step up.

Last night, eight RN bargaining units presented a comprehensive supposal that reflects clear priorities from frontline nurses, based on detailed member surveys. These priorities include:

• Backpay for overdue wage increases to recognize the hard work and dedication of nurses who have been working without a contract; some for more than 13 months.
• Common expiration dates to ensure the ability to bargain over permanent improvements and to stand together to stave off attempts at further takeaways.
• Improved pay incentives to address vacant shifts and ensure patients receive the care they deserve, even during staffing shortages.
• Systemwide solutions to address sub-standard health care benefits.  
• Improved paid time off policies to allow nurses the rest and recovery they need to continue providing top-quality care patients deserve.

“Our members couldn’t be clearer about what’s necessary,” said Kathy Keane, a nurse and ONA leader from Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. “Providence has consistently delayed and ignored these critical priorities. The overwhelming rejection of previous tentative agreements across all eight RN bargaining units should send a loud and resounding message: Providence must come back to the table and meet the needs of nurses and our patients.”

Nurses remain united and steadfast in their commitment to securing a fair agreement. The supposals passed by our bargaining units clearly outline what it will take to resolve these issues.

“Providence has stalled for far too long,” Keane continued. “It’s time for them to get their act together and provide real solutions. Our nurses, patients, and communities deserve nothing less.”

ONA is ready to meet–at any time–but the lack of engagement from Providence highlights the employer’s failure to take these negotiations seriously … again.  The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) Represents A Diverse Community Of More Than 23,000 Nurses, And Health Care Professionals Throughout Oregon. Together, We Use Our Collective Power To Advocate For Critical Issues Impacting Patients, Nurses, And Health Care Professionals Including A More Effective, Affordable And Accessible Healthcare System; Better Working Conditions For All Health Care Professionals; And Healthier Communities. For More Information Visit Www.OregonRN.org.

Providence’s Latest Statement Is Full of BS … (Bad Statistics)
Oregon Nurses Assn.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) – Providence’s latest attempt to spin the truth is nothing more than a smokescreen to distract from the real issues nurses and patients face every day. Let’s cut through the BS (Providence’s bad statistics!):

1.) “Market-Competitive” Compensation? Let’s Be Honest. 

Providence wants you to believe that the “typical nurse will be making a $150,000 base salary.” 

Spoiler alert: The “typical” nurse will not.

Spoiler alert 2: There is no such thing as a “typical” nurse. Some nurses work full time, some work part time (some work part time at Providence and part time at another health system), some work per diem, some work nights and holidays, some are preceptors, and sometimes nurses are “on call.”

The facts: the median annual wage for a nurse at Providence in the final year of the rejected tentative agreement would be as much as $62,000 dollars less than the $150,000 Providence is claiming they would make.

Additionally, the wage offers to the Providence hospital RNs who make the most money still lagged the market by 4.3%. The gap between Providence’s offer and a “competitive wage” for all the other bargaining units was even larger.

Providence’s bad statistics simply do not add up.

2. Staffing Crisis? Providence Is in Denial. 

Pointing to 650 nurses hired over the last three years to falsely claim they have no staffing crisis is laughable. The figure proves nothing.

The fact is that Providence, as well as hospitals elsewhere, hemorrhaged demoralized and exhausted nurses during and after the pandemic. Providence’s efforts to replace them and meet the growing demand for nurses during that time collapsed. The corporation has needed to play catchup since. Its recent hiring figures are unremarkable and entirely consistent with growth in the RN workforce overall in Oregon and expansion of the hospital workforce throughout the state recently.

Staffing at Oregon’s Providence hospitals continues to be insufficient. Observe the more than 300 staffing complaints filed with the Oregon Health Authority since last July and you get a clear picture of a hospital system in crisis, where patient safety is at risk due to inadequate staffing levels, hobbled by recruitment and retention problems.

3. Health Care Costs? Executives Can Afford It–Nurses Can’t. 

Providence said, “Bargaining unit nurses receive the same medical benefits package provided to their colleagues, including senior executives…”

Executives raking in millions can absorb rising out-of-pocket health care costs and higher premiums easily – but frontline nurses can’t. For instance, consider the impact of the out-of-pocket costs on Providence Executives versus frontline caregivers:

Example One: One of Providence Oregon’s Executives is paid over $1.1 million a year. Under the new Aetna plan, their out-of-pocket costs for family coverage is $11,731 per year, which includes medical and dental premiums, deductibles, and an extra premium charge for compensation above $200,000. Even with the extra charge, the costs they pay are just 1.1% of their annual income.

Example Two: A St. Vincent’s nurse who earns $85,000  would pay $9,784 per year in annual premiums and deductibles for family coverage. This would amount to 11.5% of the nurse’s wages — ten times the amount of a Providence Executive.

The “same medical benefits package” isn’t really the same after all.

What They Didn’t Say Also Speaks Volumes 

Providence loves to report out on numbers when they can manipulate them, but here’s what they didn’t say in their latest statement.

Replacement Nurses Cost More: Providence will spend more on replacement nurses THIS WEEK than it would cost to close the gap between what was in their last proposal and full retro wages to its own staff. Specifically, Providence is spending an estimated $25 million per week for its replacement nurses wages. Their last contract offer was $15.7 million short on retro wages owed.

Providence Has Billions in Reserves: With $7.8 billion in cash reserves, it would take less than 0.2% to give their frontline nurses full retro pay. That’s right–less than 0.2%! And they would still have over $7 billion left in their “rainy day fund.”

Follow The Money to Providence’s Real Priorities: In 2023, Providence paid over $70 million in executive bonuses — that’s just bonuses! If they cut just 35-40% of that, they could invest in their frontline caregivers and meet the retro wage gap. Maybe better yet why not scrap executive bonuses altogether? If Providence is facing such “strong financial headwinds,” these bonuses for executives (who already make millions of dollars in salaries) might be a convenient place to trim…If Providence’s leadership cared about patients, staff, and the communities they serve, they would act like it.

The Bottom Line 

Providence has the resources to end this strike today. What nurses are proposing isn’t “financially unviable” for Providence; it’s a choice. A choice to prioritize temporary fixes and bloated executive bonuses over long-term solutions that nurses and patients desperately need.

Nurses deserve better. Patients deserve better. And Providence can afford to do better.

It’s time to stop the BS. The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) Represents A Diverse Community Of More Than 23,000 Nurses, And Health Care Professionals Throughout Oregon. Together, We Use Our Collective Power To Advocate For Critical Issues Impacting Patients, Nurses, And Health Care Professionals Including A More Effective, Affordable And Accessible Healthcare System; Better Working Conditions For All Health Care Professionals; And Healthier Communities. For More Information Visit Www.OregonRN.org.

Providence Medford Nurses Overwhelmingly Reject Tentative Agreement Amid Statewide Push for Safe Staffing and Fair Wages

Nurses at Providence Medford Medical Center have overwhelmingly voted to reject the contract offer from Providence management, joining nurses from seven other Providence hospitals across Oregon in calling for contracts that address longstanding systemic issues in patient care and workplace conditions.

Nurses at Providence Medford had until Feb. 8 at 4 p.m. to vote, with Medford nurses now joining their nursing colleagues in rejecting Providence’s latest offer.

The rejection of the contract offer underscores nurses’ demands for safe staffing standards, competitive wages to recruit and retain staff, and healthcare benefits that ensure caregivers can take care of their families. Providence’s proposals fail to adequately address these critical issues, which have contributed to ongoing burnout, understaffing, and wage inequities across their facilities.

This vote comes amid the largest healthcare strike in Oregon history, which began on January 10, 2025, and involves nearly 5,000 frontline nurses and healthcare workers at eight Providence hospitals. Nurses have maintained their strike with a unified voice, demanding that Providence meet their calls for change.

ONA’s bargaining teams have approached negotiations in good faith throughout this process, even as Providence claimed their most recent offer was the best they could make. To demonstrate their commitment to transparency, ONA presented the contract offer to their members for a vote, allowing frontline nurses to provide direct feedback on the terms of the settlement–which they have done, with a resounding “no.”

The rejection of Providence’s contract offer reflects the unified stance of Oregon’s frontline nurses, who remain committed to securing contracts that prioritize safe patient care, fair compensation, and a sustainable work environment. ONA has called on Providence to return to the bargaining table immediately to deliver a fair contract that addresses these systemic issues.

Oregon Couple Due in Court on Charges of Posing as Firefighters in Fake Truck

Lawmakers want to make impersonating firefighters a felony as convicted arsonist Dustin Nehl, 31, and his wife Jenni, 44, an atmospheric and fire science educator, are hit with misdemeanor charges and were due in a Van Nuys courtroom Tuesday.

On January 18, convicted arsonist Dustin Nehl, 31, and his wife Jennifer Hastings Nehl, 44, who describes herself as an “atmospheric & fire sciences educator,” pulled up to a checkpoint on the Pacific Coast Highway in a decommissioned fire truck dressed as firefighters.

The couple, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department officials say, were wearing T-shirts with the name of a nonexistent fire department in Oregon, Roaring River Fire. The fire truck they were driving – with California plates – was also emblazoned with the name of the bogus department and had been purchased at an auction.

In the truck were radios tuned to various first responder channels, hard hats, tactical vests and Cal Fire tees. A law enforcement source told Los Angeles the couple also had tools that could be used “for burglary or who knows what.” What is certain, police officials say, is that the Nehls were not first responders and had no legitimate reason to try to access the Palisades fire burn scar, which led to their arrests on misdemeanor charges last month. 

They were slated to appear in a Van Nuys courtroom Tuesday for pretrial hearing.

The case has raised eyebrows in Los Angeles as the ATF continues to investigate the cause of the Palisades Fire especially given Dustin Nehl’s alarming history of using incendiary devices to set fires at a golf course and a water treatment plant in the town of Woodburn, Oregon.  “This is a significant arrest not only because of the threat to our residents, but to city infrastructure and public safety,” then Woodburn Police Chief Jim Ferraris told reporters after Nehl was captured in 2016.  Nehl was sentenced to five years in prison in 2017.

Jenni Nehl, a National Weather Service-connected climate activist, has no criminal record, prosecutors say. But she does teach juvenile inmates about wind and fire, and encourages them to record rap songs called “Weather Slaps,” that contain lyrics like this one: “We needed help with the heat, so I am getting impatient. Wildfires running wild something breathtaking.” In a since-deleted Facebook post written on July 4, 2021, Nehl posted a photo of a wildfire with the caption, “Tired of just watching it burn? Then give the forests back to the loggers and learn.” (SOURCE)

Oregon DFR encourages people to protect themselves against relationship investment scams

Salem — The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) is warning people to be wary of an unexpected text or direct message from a stranger — it might be the first step in a relationship investment scam, also known as a romance scam or “pig butchering.” These scams often involve fraudsters contacting targets seemingly at random, using social media or common communication apps.

The scammer gains the target’s trust, often by starting a romantic relationship or a friendship. The scammer then starts to convince the victim to invest in phony investments, including fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes, before falsely claiming the initial investment grew significantly. The scammer then asks for more money and demands payment of fees or taxes if the victim requests to withdraw the funds. Even when the victim pays the withdrawal fees, the fraudster does not refund the victim’s money, but rather disappears with the funds without any further communication.

According to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), there are several warning signs to be aware of involving these types of scams:

• Unexpected contact: Never respond to unsolicited messages from unknown contacts, even about seemingly benign topics, especially through text message or on encrypted messaging applications like WhatsApp or Telegram.
• Refusal to participate in video chats: If someone you have been messaging declines to interact face-to-face, they likely are not the person from the profile photo.
• Request for financial information: Don’t share any personal financial information with anyone you have never met in person. If a new virtual friend or romantic connection starts making financial inquiries, put the brakes on the relationship.
• Invitation to invest in specific financial products: Be wary of any unsolicited investment advice or tips, particularly from someone you have spoken to only online, even if they suggest you trade through your own account. Always question what a source has to gain from sharing tips with you and whether the transaction fits with your financial goals and investment strategy.
• Unknown or confusing investment opportunity: Carefully evaluate the product, as well as the person or company requesting your investment. Along with a basic search, try adding words such as “scam” or “fraud” to see what results come up. Consider running recommendations by a third party or an investment professional who has no stake in the investment and use FINRA BrokerCheck to see if the promoter is a registered investment professional.
• Unfamiliar trading platforms: Do extensive research before moving any money, particularly in an emerging market such as cryptocurrency, which has hundreds of exchanges and new avenues for trading that continue to evolve. Who controls the platform? What security measures are in place? How can you withdraw funds if needed? If you don’t know the answers to those questions, do not put your assets there.
• Exaggerated claims and elevated emotions: Take a closer look at any investment that offers much higher than average returns or is touted as “guaranteed.” Fraudsters will also often use their knowledge about you to appeal to your emotions — for example, “Don’t you want to have money to send your kids to college?”
• Sense of urgency about an upcoming news announcement or share price increase: Remember that insider trading is illegal. You should never trade in shares of a company on the basis of material, nonpublic information.

“Romance and crypto scams continue to be the source of significant losses for consumers,” said TK Keen, DFR administrator. “Consumers who receive contacts out of the blue through messaging apps on their phone or other means should be especially suspicious of those trying to entice them into cryptocurrency or any other investments.”

Several states and federal authorities have issued warnings about this type of fraud. In 2023, investment fraud caused the highest losses of any scam reported by the public to the FBI’s Internet Crimes Complaint Center (IC3), totaling $4.57 billion, a 38 percent increase from 2022. Frauds involving cryptocurrency, including relationship investment scams, increased from $2.57 million in 2022 to $3.96 billion in 2023, a 53 percent rise. DFR accepts consumer complaints relating to investment fraud and will forward other scam complaints to the appropriate law enforcement authorities. Consumers should also report scams to the FBI’s IC3 at https://www.ic3.gov/. Learn more about relationship investment scams and how to outsmart scammers by visiting DFR’s website.

Anyone who thinks they may have been a victim of a relationship investment scam can fill out our online complaint form or contact DFR’s consumer advocates at 1-888-877-4894 (toll-free) or email .financialserviceshelp@dcbs.oregon.gov“>dfr.financialserviceshelp@dcbs.oregon.gov.

Oregon Ranked #2 in the nation for Firewise sites
Oregon Dept. of Forestry

–With 298 Firewise USA sites in good standing, Oregon is again ranked number two in the nation for number of Firewise USA sites. In 2024, Oregon added 32 new sites to create more fire-adapted communities.

Oregon is also honored to share the first Firewise USA site in the country that is located in two states, along the Oregon and California border in Lake County.

Along with being number two as a state in 2024, Oregon is also home to the number four and number five counties with the most sites in the nation: Jackson County with 74 sites and Deschutes County with 78 sites. These accomplishments would not have been possible without the dedication of community members and those that led the charge.

What is Firewise USA? Firewise USA is a program that helps guide communities in the process of protecting their homes and neighborhood from wildfire. The program is run by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and co-sponsored by the National Association of State Foresters and U.S. Forest Service. The Oregon Department of Forestry is responsible for administering the program in Oregon and is a resource to help communities create a community wildfire protection plan, find grants to fund projects, and give expert advice.

This work is not done alone. Through the help of ODF’s partners, community coordinators, and local fire departments, we all work together to complete assessments and help the community develop action plans for implementing wildfire risk reduction activities.

How does a community become a Firewise community? Starting the journey to become a Firewise USA site is as easy as picking up the phone and calling your local ODF office. Only a minimum of eight dwellings are required, meaning that your street, neighborhood or town can be a Firewise USA community.

What are the benefits of becoming a Firewise site? By becoming a Firewise site, you can educate your community and work to become more wildfire resilient. As a Firewise site, you have access to several wildfire partners, like the Oregon Department of Forestry, to help you in securing grants, getting advice, help in coordination and more. Most importantly, you create strong relationships with your neighbors under the common goal of protecting your community from wildfire.

The continuation and growth of the Firewise USA program in Oregon is just one way we can create more fire adapted communities and protect our neighbors.

Oregonians looking to renew their vehicle registration and get new tags can now do so at a handful of Fred Meyer stores around the state

The self-service express kiosks from Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services are designed to give Oregonians another way to renew their registration besides at a DMV office, online or by mail, according to a news release.

The kiosks are located in Fred Meyer locations in Salem and Eugene as well as in Beaverton, Bend, Happy Valley, Hillsboro, Medford, Oak Grove and Tualatin. A location in Portland is coming soon and the DMV said it plans to offer more kiosks around the state in the future.

In Salem, the kiosk is at the Fred Meyer located at 3740 Market St. NE and allows users to pay by cash, credit or debit card. In Eugene, it’s located at the Fred Meyer at 3333 W 11th Ave. and will only allow payment via debit or credit card.

“We see these kiosks as a way to improve customer service, access and equity,” DMV administrator Amy Joyce said in the news release. “This program is the latest effort aimed at improving the DMV experience for our customers.”

The kiosks are ADA-accessible and registration renewal can be completed in English and Spanish. Users will be charged a $4.95 vendor fee for each transaction.

Customers will need to bring identification (license, permit, or ID card), insurance information and registration renewal notice. — Vehicle registration cards and license plate stickers will be printed after the transaction.

Registration Is Now Open For The Bob Ross-inspired Happy Little (Virtual) 5K Run for the Trees

Oregon Parks Forever  —    Inspired by American painter and PBS television personality Bob Ross’ love of the outdoors, Oregon Parks Forever is sponsoring a virtual 5K race to help plant trees in Oregon’s parks & forests.  Registration is now open for the 2025 Run for the Trees at www.orparksforever.org.

Participants can run, walk, hike, skate, paddle or roll to complete their 5K anywhere outdoors anytime between April 19 and 27 (covering Earth Day and Arbor Day).   Participants are encouraged to register by April 1 to ensure that your swag arrives before the event week.  If you register after April 1, you may not receive your swag before race week. Registration will close on April 15.

For $36 per person, each participant will receive a keepsake Happy Little T-shirt, a commemorative bib number and a finisher’s medal. All Oregon race proceeds support tree planting and forest protection efforts in Oregon parks.  Ten trees will be planted in Oregon for each registration.

Gather your friends, family and/or colleagues and create your own walk or run. Make it fun!

Initially, the “Happy Little Trees” program began with a partnership between the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Bob Ross Inc., with hundreds of volunteers helping to plant “happy little trees” at locations hard-hit by invasive pests and tree diseases. The partnership quickly expanded to include the Run for the Trees / Happy Little (Virtual) 5K.

As the Happy Little 5K gained popularity, more states have joined the effort. Now in its fifth year, the Happy Little 5K has expanded its reach to include ten other states. Together, Michigan, Oregon, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Maryland and Virginia will “lock arms” as they help raise awareness and funding for stewardship efforts in each state’s parks.

“We are thrilled to partner with Bob Ross, Inc. and these other ten states on the Happy Little 5K concept as a way to honor the late Bob Ross and create a legacy event to plant trees,” said Seth Miller, Executive Director of Oregon Parks Forever.”

Oregon Parks Forever joined this event as an expansion of our efforts to fund the replanting of trees killed by wildfires, heat domes and invasive insects.  Over the past three years, Oregon Parks Forever has been able to fund the replanting of more than 800,000 trees across Oregon.

“The official Bob Ross 5K is probably our most favorite initiative,” says Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Company. “It’s the perfect blend of everything Bob held dear; nature, taking care of the environment, and happy trees too of course. He would have been so pleased to see how it’s getting so popular around the world.” —  Learn more about the program at  http://www.orparksforever.org

IRS Direct File, Direct File Oregon Will Be Available When Income Tax Return Processing Begins January 27

Salem, OR— Free electronic filing through the combination of IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon will open January 27 when both the IRS and the Oregon Department of Revenue begin processing e-filed 2024 federal and state income tax returns. Paper-filed return processing will begin in mid-February.

The IRS estimates that 640,000 Oregon resident taxpayers preparing their own tax returns in 2025 will have the option to electronically file both their federal and state income tax returns for free by filing directly with the IRS and the state.

Taxpayers are encouraged to use the IRS Eligibility Checker to see if they qualify to file directly with the IRS and the state.

E-filed returns will be processed in the order they are received. However, as in years past, the department won’t be issuing personal income tax refunds until after February 15. A refund hold is part of the department’s tax fraud prevention efforts and allows for confirmation that the amounts claimed on tax returns match what employers and payers report on Forms W-2 and 1099.

E-filing is the fastest way for a taxpayer to get their refund. On average, taxpayers who e-file their returns and request their refund via direct deposit receive their refund two weeks sooner than those who file paper returns and request paper refund checks.

The department reminds taxpayers that taking a few easy steps in the next few weeks can make preparing their 2024 tax return easier in 2025.

Free filing options open January 27 — In addition to IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon, other free filing options will also open January 27. Free guided tax preparation is available from several companies for taxpayers that meet income requirements. Free fillable forms are available for all income levels. Using links from the department’s website ensures that both taxpayers’ federal and state return will be filed for free.

Free and low-cost tax help — Free tax preparation services are available for low- to moderate-income taxpayers through AARP and CASH Oregon. United Way also offers free tax help through their MyFreeTaxes program. Visit the Department of Revenue website to take advantage of the software and free offers and get more information about free tax preparation services.

Voluntary self-identification of race and ethnicity information — New for 2025, Oregon taxpayers and Oregonians can voluntarily provide information about their race and ethnicity on Form OR-VSI when they file their 2024 taxes. Providing this information may be done separately from a tax return through Revenue Online. The information will be confidential. It can only be used for research purposes to analyze potential inequities in tax policy. The new option is a result of Senate Bill 1 in 2023.

Use Revenue Online to verify payments — Taxpayers can verify their estimated payments through their Revenue Online account.

Through Revenue Online, individuals can also view letters sent to them by the department, initiate appeals, make payments, and submit questions. Visit Revenue Online on the Revenue website to learn more.

Those who don’t have a Revenue Online account can sign up on the agency’s website.

To check the status of their refund after February 15, or make payments, taxpayers can visit Revenue’s website. You can also call 800-356-4222 toll-free from an Oregon prefix (English or Spanish) or 503-378-4988 in Salem and outside Oregon. For TTY (hearing or speech impaired), we accept all relay calls.

Department Of Revenue Volunteers Will Help Taxpayers Use Direct File Oregon To E-file Their Taxes For Free At Libraries Across The State

Salem, OR—Oregonians looking for assistance in electronically filing their taxes for free, could find help as close as their local library this tax season.

Volunteers from the Oregon Department of Revenue will be traveling to libraries in 17 different communities across the state in February, March, and April to assist taxpayers in using the free combination of IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon to complete their returns.

The one-day tax help clinics are planned at libraries in:

Dates, times, and addresses for each clinic can be found on the Free Direct File assistance at local libraries webpage.

Last year, more than 140,000 taxpayers in 12 other states filed their federal tax returns using a limited IRS Direct File pilot program while nearly 7,000 Oregon taxpayers filed their state returns using the free, state-only Direct File Oregon option.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced in May that it would make IRS Direct File a permanent option for taxpayers and invited all 50 states to participate. Oregon was the first of 13 new states to accept the invitation from the IRS in June creating a seamless free e-filing system for both federal and state taxes.

With the two direct file systems connected, the IRS estimates that 640,000 Oregon taxpayers will be able to e-file both their federal and state returns for free in 2025.

The department believes that offering free assistance will help maximize the number of Oregonians who choose to use the new free option and make it possible for many who don’t have a filing requirement to file and claim significant federal and state tax credits for low-income families.

For example, the IRS estimates that one in five Oregon taxpayers eligible to claim the federal Earned Income Tax Credit are not doing so. One Oregon organization estimates that the unclaimed credits have totaled nearly $100 million in recent years.

Taxpayers should use the IRS eligibility checker to see if they’ll be able to use IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon. Eligible taxpayers should set up an IRS online account and an account with Oregon’s Revenue Online before they come to an event. Taxpayers attending an event should bring the following information with them.

Identification documents

• Social security card or ITIN for everyone on your tax return
• Government picture ID for taxpayer and spouse if filing jointly (such as driver’s license or passport)

Common income and tax documents

• Forms W2 (wages from a job)

• Forms 1099 (other kinds of income)
• Form SSA-1099 (Social Security Benefits)

Optional documents to download

• Canceled check or bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit
• Last year’s tax return

Taxpayers can signup for the new “Oregon Tax Tips” direct email newsletter to keep up with information about tax return filing and how to claim helpful tax credits.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Sites Open in Oregon: Program Provides Free Tax Prep to Thousands of Older Adults

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is providing free preparation now through April 15 throughout Oregon. Started in 1968, Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest free, volunteer-based tax assistance and preparation program and has served more than 80 million people. For the 2024 tax season, nearly 28,000 volunteers helped almost 1.7 million taxpayers, 965,000 of whom were adults over 50 with low income. Tax-Aide is offered in conjunction with the IRS, and AARP membership is not required.

“During the 2024 tax season, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers completed over 19,400 federal returns and 18,500 state returns in Oregon with refunds of nearly $39 million,” said AARP Oregon State Director Bandana Shrestha. “Even modest refunds can make an impact on financial resilience, especially for vulnerable older adults. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide helps put money back in the pockets of Oregonians every year by making sure they don’t miss out on the credits and deductions they have earned.”

Tax-Aide volunteers provide free tax preparation and filing services to all with a focus on adults with low to moderate income. Volunteers are trained and IRS-certified every year to ensure they understand the latest changes to the U.S. Tax Code.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide offers a variety of options to better meet the needs of taxpayers. Access to the different types of assistance varies by location.

• In-Person Service: Tax preparation is completed by an IRS-certified Tax-Aide volunteer on-site in one visit.
• One-Visit Scan: Tax documents are scanned at the Tax-Aide site and then Tax-Aide volunteers prepare the return remotely.
• Two-Visit Scan: Tax documents are scanned at the Tax-Aide site and then volunteers prepare the return remotely. During a second visit, taxpayers work with a volunteer to finalize their return and obtain a printed copy for their records.

• Drop-Off Service: Tax documents are left at the Tax-Aide site with a volunteer and the return is prepared remotely. During a second visit, taxpayers work with a volunteer to file their return and obtain a printed copy and their original documents.
• No Site Visit Required (Internet Access Required): Taxpayers upload tax documents to the IRS-provided software. Tax-Aide volunteers prepare the return remotely and work with the taxpayer to file the return electronically.
• Online Coaching: Taxpayers prepare their own return and receive online support from a volunteer to help them along the way.

• Facilitated Self-Assistance: Taxpayers schedule an appointment at a Tax-Aide site to work with a volunteer to complete and file their own return.
• Self-Preparation: Taxpayers prepare their own return using a software product that has been made available through the Tax-Aide website.

Users can find their nearest Tax-Aide location and assistance options through the Tax-Aide site locator. The site locator features a Tax-Aide chat bot that can help book an appointment, answer questions about the program, and transfer the conversation to a live agent if needed or requested. For more information, including which documents to bring to the tax site, visit aarpfoundation.org/taxaide or call 1-888-AARPNOW (1-888-227-7669)

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