SALEM, Ore. – The Unified Child and Youth Safety Implementation Plan Steering Team meets Tuesday, October 2 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Barbara Roberts Human Services Building, Room 137 B-D, 500 Summer St. NE, Salem. The meeting is open to the public.

Agenda items include: overview of priority projects, Oregon Child Abuse Hotline presentation and future agenda items.

Individuals unable to attend in person may call into the meeting and follow the presentation along online. Conference line: 1-877-848-7030; Participant Code: 285-3245. To follow presentation online, please use this link: https://bit.ly/2pegMhO.

The meeting location is accessible to people with disabilities. For questions about accessibility or to request an accommodation, please contact Kelsi Eisele at 971-283-1628 or kelsi.p.eisele@state.or.us. Requests should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting. A good faith effort will be made to fulfill requests.

For questions about this meeting, please contact: Kelsi Eisele, Communication Project Manager, at kelsi.p.eisele@state.or.us.

DHS developed the Unified Child and Youth Safety Implementation Plan, which defines a two-year scope of work for transforming the child safety system and governance structure. The project team is driving forward ten priority projects geared towards increasing child safety in Oregon. This steering team provides oversight, adherence to goals and will monitor and control projects within the Unified Child and Youth Safety Implementation Plan.

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SALEM, Ore. – The United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service approved an adjustment to the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) and the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps. The COLA sets the income guidelines and benefit allotment amounts, and the SUA determines the amount of heating and cooling costs an eligible person may claim. These adjustments will be effective on October 1, 2018.

Oregon SNAP participants do not need to take any action. The state will automatically recalculate cases and adjust when required. Families may experience the following: no change, a $9 increase or a $4 decrease. Changes are based on a family’s individual case and will be reflected in the October 2018 disbursement.

Currently, slightly less than one in seven Oregonians – or 626,038 Oregonians – receive food benefits through SNAP. The amount of benefits a SNAP participant receives is based on many factors, including income and deductions for necessities like shelter and utilities.

The change in the 2018 standards will not increase the number of people receiving SNAP, and it does not change program eligibility requirements. To be eligible for SNAP, most families must have income less than 185 percent of the federal poverty level and meet other eligibility factors. For a family of four, this means having gross income less than $3,870 per month. Some individuals or families, which include a disabled person or a person at least 60 years of age, can be eligible for SNAP benefits with income higher than this amount.

SNAP participants with questions about the changes can contact their local Oregon Department of Human Services office for assistance: oregon.gov/DHS/Offices/Pages/index.aspx

Based on latest US Census 2017 estimates & SNAP Participation numbers from July 2018

September 20, 2018

Contact: Pete Edlund, 503-559-2216, .m.edlund@dhsoha.state.or.us">peter.m.edlund@dhsoha.state.or.us (meeting information or accommodation)

CCO Metrics and Scoring Committee meets September 21

What: The regular public meeting of the Oregon Health Authority’s CCO Metrics and Scoring Committee

When: Friday, September 21, 9 a.m. to noon

Where: Clackamas Community College Wilsonville Training Center, Room 210, 29353 SW Town Center Loop E. Wilsonville. Join the meeting by webinar at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/7438627555801803523. Conference line: 888-204-5984, access code 1277166.

Agenda: Welcome, consent agenda, and updates; 2018-19 committee chair and vice-chair decisions; public testimony 9:25-9:35 a.m.; finalize 2019 benchmarks and improvement target floors; break; continue finalizing 2019 benchmarks and improvement target floors; health aspects of kindergarten readiness measure development update; adjourn.

For more information, please visit the committee's website at https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HPA/ANALYTICS/Pages/Metrics-Scoring-Committee.aspx.

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Everyone has a right to know about and use Oregon Health Authority (OHA) programs and services. OHA provides free help. Some examples of the free help OHA can provide are:

• Sign language and spoken language interpreters
• Written materials in other languages
• Braille
• Large print
• Audio and other formats

If you need help or have questions, please contact Pete Edlund at 503-559-2216, 711 TTY, .m.edlund@dhsoha.state.or.us">peter.m.edlund@dhsoha.state.or.us, at least 48 hours before the meeting.

http://bit.ly/2DjrWvF

Salem, Oregon – Eugene artist Jovencio de la Paz will exhibit “Every stitch in the world of flames” in the Governor’s Office of the Capitol Building in Salem from Oct. 1 to Nov. 29.

De la Paz explores how textile processes—such as weaving, dye and stitchwork—intersect with broader concerns of language, histories of colonization, migrancy, ancient technology and speculative futures. Confronting issues of embodiment and disembodiment, his current work employs a hand-operated digital TC2 Jacquard loom to create textiles that exist between the physicality of cloth and the ephemeral states of digital. His work in “Every stitch in the world of flames” capitalizes on the lineage that unites hand-looms, punch-card Jacquard looms and IBM’s early punch-card computers. The resulting textiles are familiar in their tactility and surface, but alien in their digital geometries and pixelated distortions.

De la Paz received an MFA in Fibers from the Cranbrook Academy of Art (2012) and a BFA in Fiber and Material Studies from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (2008). He has exhibited work in solo and group exhibitions both nationally and internationally, most recently at The Museum of Contemporary Art (Denver, Colorado); Ditch Projects (Springfield); The Art Gym (Marylhurst); ThreeWalls (Chicago); Casey Droege Cultural Productions (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania); The Alice (Seattle); Carl & Sloan Contemporary Art (Portland); 4th Ward Projects (Chicago); SPACE Gallery (Portland, Maine); SOIL Gallery (Seattle); and Uri Gallery (Seoul, South Korea). He regularly teaches at schools of art, craft and design throughout the country, including the Ox Bow School of Art (Saugatuck, Michigan), the Haystack Mountain School of Craft (Deer Isle, Minnesota), and the Arrowmont School of Craft (Tennessee). De la Paz is a co-founder of the collaborative group Craft Mystery Cult, established in 2010.

The Art in the Governor’s Office Program honors selected artists in Oregon with exhibitions in the reception area of the Governor’s Office in the State Capitol. Artists are nominated by a statewide committee of arts professionals who consider artists representing the breadth and diversity of artistic practice across Oregon, and are then selected by the Arts Commission with the participation of the Governor’s Office. Only professional, living Oregon artists are considered and an exhibit in the Governor’s office is regarded as a “once in a lifetime” honor. Artists whose work has previously been shown in the Governor’s office include Henk Pander, Michele Russo, Manuel Izquierdo, James Lavadour, Margot Thompson, Gordon Gilkey and Yuji Hiratsuka.

The Oregon Arts Commission provides leadership, funding and arts programs through its grants, special initiatives and services. Nine commissioners, appointed by the Governor, determine arts needs and establish policies for public support of the arts. The Arts Commission became part of Business Oregon (formerly Oregon Economic and Community Development Department) in 1993, in recognition of the expanding role the arts play in the broader social, economic and educational arenas of Oregon communities. In 2003, the Oregon legislature moved the operations of the Oregon Cultural Trust to the Arts Commission, streamlining operations and making use of the Commission’s expertise in grantmaking, arts and cultural information and community cultural development. 

The Arts Commission is supported with general funds appropriated by the Oregon legislature and with federal funds from the National Endowment for the Arts as well as funds from the Oregon Cultural Trust. More information about the Oregon Arts Commission is available online at: www.oregonartscommission.org.

The second phase to widen and improve the riverfront trail in Howard Amon Park begins on Monday, September 24.  

The impacted area begins south of Lee Boulevard near the gazebo, and extends about 300 feet to the south park boundary at the Hampton Inn. A detour route begins further down the trail at the Bradley Street parking lot, to provide a safe entry and exit for trail users.The public is encouraged to use the sidewalk along Bradley Boulevard to and through the Community Center parking lot to Lee Boulevard. Citizens should avoid the work area as crews prepare it for reconstruction and widening.

The entire Riverfront Trail Improvement Project, which includes approximately 3,500 feet of trail, will be completed in phases over the next five to six years. The widening will accommodate the increase in trail traffic, add safety enhancements and repair damaged sections.                 

Phase two includes the removal of three, end-of-life locust trees. 

The project will close this section of the trail through October and possibly into November.

September 20, 2018

Report: Levels of metals in air, soil near Uroboros too low to harm health

OHA public health assessment applies to adults, children living near glass maker

Levels of metals measured in the air and soil around Uroboros Glass in north Portland are too low to harm the health of people living, working and playing near the facility, according to a new state public health assessment.

The Oregon Health Authority Public Health Division today released the assessment for a 45-day public comment period. Uroboros was an art glass manufacturer that ended operations at its North Kerby Avenue location in September 2017. The Uroboros public health assessment concluded that concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, chromium and other metals detected near the facility between March and July 2016 were below health-based concentration limits, and too low to harm human health. It also found that soil samples collected around Uroboros in February 2016 contained levels of metals that were below health risk values.

"The Uroboros public health assessment was important for determining just what level of health risk people in the area faced related to emissions from the glass factory prior to 2016 and going forward," said Todd Hudson, a toxicologist with the division's Environmental Health Assessment Program (EHAP). "What we found was that risk was, and has been, low."

The 2016 data comes from air samples collected by four Oregon Department of Environmental Quality air monitors deployed around Uroboros. The monitors operated 24 hours a day, with one air sample taken each day, resulting in more than 350 individual samples collected. DEQ also collected a total of 27 soil samples from Albina Park, Albina Community Gardens and a nearby daycare facility.

"It is safe to eat homegrown produce that was grown around the area of Uroboros Glass," Hudson said. "Most garden vegetables do not absorb metals."

The Public Health Division began work on the Uroboros assessment, along with similar assessments for Bullseye Glass Co. and Precision Castparts Corp. in southeast Portland, in spring 2016. The assessments were launched in response to significant community concerns about health risks from past, present and future exposures to heavy metals emitted from the facilities after a research project discovered elevated levels of metals in tree moss around Portland.

In its assessment, EHAP used the federal Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR) standard public health assessment process. The assessments examine health risks based on soil and air data collected near the facilities. Such assessments are not community health studies and do not determine whether existing health issues are caused by environmental exposures.

In addition to 2016 data, the Uroboros assessment looked at past exposures to metals emitted from the facility. Examining air sampling results from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency studies at Harriet Tubman Middle School, located northeast of Uroboros, in 2009 and 2011, OHA toxicologists found that cadmium levels were above "cancer-based" health values in 2009 and chromium levels were above those values in 2011. However, the increased risk of getting cancer after exposure to the measured levels of cadmium, chromium and arsenic in the air—one additional cancer case for every 10,000 people exposed—did not meet the threshold for health risk as defined by ATSDR.

"The 2009 and 2011 data show us that there may have been some risk from past exposure, although that risk was low. Unfortunately, that data is extremely limited," Hudson said. EPA took only 13 air samples over 13 weeks in 2009 and 46 samples over eight weeks in 2011. These small numbers increase uncertainty about health risk in those years. However, the extensive 2016 monitoring allows OHA to state with confidence that risk of harm to health remained extremely low.

Hudson noted that Uroboros had not used arsenic for many years and agreed in early 2016 to stop using trivalent chromium, a less-toxic form of the metal. He also said that proposed new rules made through Cleaner Air Oregon, the state initiative to strengthen Oregon’s regulation of industrial sources of air toxics, would apply emission limits on any new industrial facility that moves into the building where Uroboros once operated.

To read a summary of the report and the full report findings and recommendations, visit the OHA Uroboros webpage at https://healthoregon.org/uroborospha. Copies of the report can also be reviewed during regular library hours at the Multnomah County Library, 3605 NE 15th Ave., Portland.

OHA is accepting public comment on the draft Uroboros public health assessment until Nov. 5 at 4 p.m. Comments can be emailed to ehap.info@state.or.us or sent to: Attn: EHAP, 800 NE Oregon Street Suite 640, Portland, OR 97232.

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http://bit.ly/2xqw088

Every three days, an Oregon veteran takes his or her life.

According to the latest data from the VA, Oregon veterans commit suicide at a rate that is significantly higher than the state’s general suicide rate. In Oregon, veterans represent only 8 percent of the population, but account for 16 percent of the suicides.

Veteran advocates across the state and nation are investing significant resources to address the issues believed to be risk factors for veteran suicide. Both nationally and in our state, data is informing the policy and funding to address the core issues impacting veteran suicide. This data is also influencing how we do outreach and the community partners that are crucial to ending this crisis.

Taking a hard look at the data helps advocates identify groups with a high risk for suicide that might otherwise be overlooked, like the aging population (55 and older), which in our state, comprises 60 percent of veteran suicides. 

“As a veteran, these numbers are deeply painful to me,” said Kelly Fitzpatrick, newly appointed director of the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs. “When we were in service, our most basic instinct was to protect the one on our right and the one on our left, and those instincts don’t just go away after we leave the service.”

Suicide has become a public health concern that causes immeasurable pain among individuals, families, and communities across the country. Veterans specifically, are committing suicide at a much higher rate than that of the general population. The VA estimates that the national number of veterans who take their own lives is 22 people every single day.

“Every single one of those 22 veterans matters in infinite ways,” Fitzpatrick said. “Every veteran matters.  Each has served his or her county and the impacts of their service are as unique as they are. Although veterans all gain great strength from serving our country, it’s not surprising that many of us also face challenges when reintegrating back into civilian life. These challenges can easily lead to crisis, depending on the individual’s experiences, support network (or lack thereof) and other factors.”

On average, 70 percent of veterans who end their lives never engaged the VA for services. Just as every veteran matters, so does every accessible wraparound service to address the myriad of risk factors that increase the likelihood of a veteran taking their own life. Major risk factors include: a prior suicide attempt, mental health conditions, stressful life events such as the loss of a major relationship, job loss, the death of a loved one, and the availability of lethal means.

Veterans may have additional unique risk factors from their service that increase their likelihood to commit suicide including a service-related injury (mental and physical), and life transition from military service to civilian life. Both of these factors, left unresolved may increase their likelihood of choosing to end their life.

And this work is not happening only on a national level. Here in Oregon, Gov. Kate Brown has made it one of her administration’s top priorities to end veteran suicide in our state, by taking concrete steps to ensure at-risk veterans have adequate access to care, housing and mental health treatment.

Veteran advocates need the community’s help to raise awareness of veteran suicide and the resources that exist. Oregon veterans need to know that regardless of the life circumstances, there is an entire community behind them who understands and has the best expert help and resources available to help them address the very real life issues they are experiencing.

“We must also work together to remove the stigma associated with asking for help,” Fitzpatrick said. “Military service members undergo rigorous training to be self-reliant, so the challenge of admitting you are facing something you can’t overcome on your own is often harder for veterans than civilians. Other veterans are key in this. Those who have faced mental health challenges can offer great strength and courage to veterans in crisis simply by being open and honest about their own stories.”

Any veteran or person concerned for a veteran in crisis can call the confidential 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Veterans PRESS 1. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website has crisis and longer-term self-care information for veterans, as well as information for friends and families who are concerned for their loved one, including finding support, asking for help and stories from survivors of suicide attempts.

For assistance in accessing and learning about the local, state and federal veteran benefits and resources like service-connection compensation, pensions, employment, education, housing, or other veteran services, contact Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs or a county veteran service office. 

Statewide contact information, along with additional benefit and resource information, is located online at www.oregon.gov/odva.

More than $4.8 million awarded to seven Oregon tribes and one tribal commission

WASHINGTON – U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams joined the Department of Justice in announcing more than $113 million in grant awards to improve public safety, serve victims of crime, combat violence against women, and support youth programs in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, including: the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission; Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation; Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation; Coquille Indian Tribe; Cowcreek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians; and Klamath Tribes.

“Pursuing justice on behalf of tribal communities and supporting the development and growth of tribal law enforcement agencies, courts, and victim services has been a key focus of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for many years,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “These awards mark the Justice Department’s continued commitment to ensuring all tribes have the resources necessary to keep their communities safe and effectively enforce the administration of justice on tribal land.”

Nationwide, grants were awarded to 133 American Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages, and other tribal designees through the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation, a streamlined application for tribal-specific grant programs. Of the $113 million, just over $53 million comes from the Office of Justice Programs, more than $35 million from the Office on Violence Against Women, and more than $24.7 million from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.

In addition, the Department is in the process of allocating up to $133 million in a first-ever set aside program to serve victims of crime in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.  The awards are intended to help tribes develop, expand and improve services to victims of crime by providing funding, programming and technical assistance.  Recipients will be announced in the near future. 

“With these awards, we are doubling the amount of grant funding devoted to public safety programs and serving victims of crime in Native American communities,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio, who made the announcement during his remarks at the 26th Annual Four Corners Indian Country Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  “There is an unacceptable level of violent crime and domestic abuse in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.  This increase in resources, together with our aggressive investigation and prosecution of crimes, shows how seriously Attorney General Sessions and the entire Department of Justice take these issues.  We are committed to reducing violent crime and improving public safety.”

The Four Corners Conference is facilitated annually by U.S. Attorneys from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah to provide a forum for discussion of justice-related topics with a large number of populous and diverse tribal nations located in the region.

CTAS awards cover nine purpose areas: public safety and community policing; justice systems planning; alcohol and substance abuse; corrections and correctional alternatives; children’s justice act partnerships; services for victims of crime; violence against women; juvenile justice; and tribal youth programs.   CTAS funding helps tribes develop and strengthen their justice systems’ response to crime, while expanding services to meet their communities’ public safety needs.

This announcement is part of the Justice Department’s ongoing initiative to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

A listing of the announced CTAS awards is available at: go.usa.gov/xP2uc.

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BEND, Ore. – The Oregon Recreational Trails Advisory Council (ORTAC) will meet 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 4 in the boardroom at the Best Western Peppertree Inn, 1082 SW Yates Drive, Bend. The meeting is open to the public.

On the agenda: updates on various programs, election of officers for 2019 and selection of locations and dates for 2019 ORTAC meetings.

View the agenda online: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/Trail_Programs_Services/Documents/ORTAC%20Agenda%20Bend%202018.pdf

The Oregon Recreational Trails Advisory Council (ORTAC) was established by the Legislature in 1971 to advise Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) and its partners in the development and promotion of high quality non-motorized trail systems throughout Oregon.

The council is made up of seven volunteer members representing the five congressional districts and two coastal representatives. Members are appointed by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission. The council holds quarterly meetings in different locations across the state.

For more information about ORTAC, visit https://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/Trail_Programs_Services/Pages/Advisory-Committees.aspx

The meeting location is ADA accessible. Individuals that need special accommodations to attend should contact Nicole Sprecher, Administrative Support Specialist, at 503-986-0968 or echer@oregon.gov">nicole.sprecher@oregon.gov at least three days in advance.

WALLA WALLA – At last night’s school board meeting Superintendent Smith commended the school board for their commitment to financial stewardship and conservative fiscal practices, maintaining a commendable Aa3 credit rating. Landing within Moody’s Investor Services “High Quality” category, the third party rating agency affirmed Walla Walla Public School’s “double a” rating in their most recent issuer’s comment.

Among many factors, Moody’s called out the district’s credit position as very healthy, noting its strong financial position and healthy local economy and tax base. Most notable was their praise over the district’s negligible debt load of .4%, noting that Walla Walla School District’s debt burden is, “materially below other Moody’s-rated school districts nationwide.”

This favorable credit rating bodes well for the district should the community choose to support the proposed no-tax-rate increase replacement bond appearing on the November 6, 2018 general election ballot. If approved by voters, such strong credit backing helps motivate greater interest from investors, often driving down interest costs at the time of sale. As Smith noted, “I have witnessed first-hand what a positive impact a “double a” credit rating can have at the time of sale. In a similarly-sized bond sale in a former district we were able to save an estimated $5.0M for taxpayers, reducing both the rate and term of the bond.”

The replacement bond appearing on the November ballot, as proposed, is set to maintain the current bond rate of $1.23/$1,000 assessed, one of the lower school bond rates in Walla Walla County. “Should we receive similar heightened interest at the time of sale from investors due to our strong credit rating, taxpayers may actually experience a decrease in rates over current levels due to favorable conditions,” noted Smith.

The replacement bond will renovate Walla Walla High School, Pioneer Middle School, and Lincoln High School and fund specific district-wide health, safety, educational and infrastructure improvements. In addition to the $65.6M generated locally, the school renovation projects are eligible for an estimated $52.6M in State Match funds. All State Match funds will be applied only to the voter-approved projects. Any excess dollars remaining following the completion of the projects will be used to pay down debt to reduce the rate for taxpayers. An 11-member Community Bond Oversight Committee will oversee the entire program to ensure transparency, accountability and fiscal stewardship of the community’s resources. To learn more, visit: http://www.wwps.org/2018bond

September 19, 2018

Healthcare-Associated Infections Advisory Committee meets September 26

What: The quarterly public meeting of the Healthcare-Associated Infections Advisory Committee (HAIAC)

Agenda: Discuss how Oregon health care facilities use National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) data for performance benchmarking; review Legacy Health’s development of its role as an Ebola Assessment Center; summarize 2016-17 Oregon health care worker influenza vaccination data; revisit travel screening activities in Oregon health care facilities; report data and discuss future opportunities for Targeted Assessment for Prevention (TAP) assessment work; brainstorm topics to address at future meetings and for future reports; public comment.

When: Wednesday, Sept. 26, 1-3 p.m. A 10-minute public comment period is at 2:55 p.m.; comments are limited to five minutes.

Where: Portland State Office Building, Room 1B, 800 NE Oregon St., Portland. A conference call line is available at 877-873-8018, access code 7872333.

OHA provides oversight and support for the mandatory reporting of healthcare-associated infections in Oregon via the Healthcare-Associated Infections Program. The program convenes its advisory board on a quarterly basis; the purpose of the board is to make recommendations to OHA regarding infection measures reportable by health care facilities.

Program contact: Roza Tammer, 971-673-1074, oza.p.tammer@dhsoha.state.or.us">roza.p.tammer@dhsoha.state.or.us

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Everyone has a right to know about and use OHA programs and services. OHA provides free help. Some examples of the free help OHA can provide are:

• Sign language and spoken language interpreters
• Written material in other languages
• Braille
• Large print
• Audio and other formats

If you need help or have questions, please contact Diane Roy at 971-673-1093, 711 TTY or oy@dhsoha.state.or.us">diane.m.roy@dhsoha.state.or.us at least 48 hours before the meeting.

The Governing Board of the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) will meet on Monday, October 1 at 8:30 a.m. at DOGAMI's Portland offices, 800 NE Oregon St., Suite 965.

The meeting agenda is available at www.OregonGeology.org.

The DOGAMI Governing Board sets policy and oversees general operations, and adopts a strategic plan every six years. The Board meets at least quarterly. As active members of their communities, Board members provide an important connection between Oregonians and DOGAMI's mission of providing earth science information and regulation to make Oregon safe and prosperous.

KENNEWICK, WA – In celebration of National Voter Registration Day, River View High School in Finley is partnering with the Benton County Sheriff’s Department to host a Voter Registration Drive at the school from 8 AM to 1:30 PM on Tuesday, September 25.  As part of the drive, Legislative Representative and Sheriff’s Deputy, Brad Klippert, will present to the RVHS Civics and US History classes on the importance of becoming a registered voter. 

In Washington State, any legal US citizen over the age of 17 may register to vote, and will be eligible to vote when he or she turns 18.  Both the US History and Civics classes offered to RVHS juniors and seniors are mandatory classes as part of Washington’s graduation requirements.  With the upcoming November 8th General Election, the high school’s voter registration drive and presentation provides an opportunity for interested students to meet registration deadlines (October 8th for online or mail-in, and October 29th for in-person). 

While Washington State votes by mail, and easy-to-use online portals like “MyVote” provide citizens with even more convenience at their fingertips, low voter turnout remains a problem not only locally, but across the country.  According to a recent article published by National Public Radio, “You have to go back to the turn of the 20th century to find a midterm election when a solid majority of people voted...” (NPR, 2018)

While some non-voters want to vote but face a variety of registration problems, others who can vote simply choose not to exercise their civic right.  Reasons for choosing not to vote often include being too busy, the belief that their vote won’t make a difference and/or the system is corrupt, or concerns that they don't know enough to vote.  RVHS Principal Chris Davis, says he wants to help eliminate any voter registration barriers facing his students.

“This is the first time we’ve done something like this at RVHS in a quite a while,” states Principal Davis, “and it’s long overdue. Our staff is excited to bring this opportunity to Finley’s kids and help them understand that their voice does matter.”

On September 25, all eligible RVHS students will be given the opportunity to register to vote using paper registration packets (now available in 18 different languages in Washington). Community members interested in registering to vote are also encouraged to stop by the high school between 8 AM and 1:30 PM, where additional voter registration packets and assistance will be available. For more information, contact Finley PIO Molly Curtiss at 509.544.5787 or tiss@esd123.org">mcurtiss@esd123.org.

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Investigation revealed  that a red 1999 Mercury Sable, operated by a 17 year old female, was southbound on HWY 99W behind a box truck. A John Deere tractor, operated by Christopher Current, age 49, of McMinnville, was on Mineral Springs Rd attempting to turn left to go northbound on HWY 99W.  After the box truck made a right turn on to Mineral Springs Rd, the tractor entered the intersection colliding with front passenger side of the Mercury Sable.

The front passenger of the Mercury Sable, a 17 year old male, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The third occupant of the Mercury Sable, a 16 year old male, along with the driver, were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

OSP was assisted by McMinnville Police Department,  McMinnville Fire Department and ODOT.

Oregon State Police and emergency personnel are on scene of a motor vehicle crash involving a tractor on Hwy 99W near mile post 33 - approximately 1 mile south of Lafayette.

There is one confirmed fatality.

ODOT has set up a detour in the area but delays and intermittent closures should be expected.

This crash occurred at approximately 8:15 AM.

September 18, 2018

Recreational use health advisory for water contact at Twin Rocks Beach lifted September 18

Testing shows fecal bacteria levels have subsided

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) today lifted a recreational use health advisory for contact with marine water at Twin Rocks Beach, located in Tillamook County. The health authority issued the advisory September 11 after water samples showed higher-than-normal levels of fecal bacteria in ocean waters.

Results from later samples taken by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) showed lower bacteria levels. Contact with the water no longer poses a higher-than-normal risk. However, officials recommend staying out of large pools on the beach that are frequented by birds, and runoff from those pools, because the water may contain increased bacteria from fecal matter.

State officials continue to encourage other recreational activities at all Oregon beaches, suggesting only that water contact be avoided when advisories are in effect.

Since 2003 state officials have used a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant to monitor popular Oregon beaches and make timely reports to the public about elevated levels of fecal bacteria. Oregon state agencies participating in this program are OHA, DEQ and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

For more information, visit the Oregon Beach Monitoring Program website at http://www.healthoregon.org/beach or call 971-673-0482, or call the OHA toll-free information line at 877-290-6767.

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http://bit.ly/2xv7GB3

September 18, 2018

Recreational use health advisory for water contact at D River Beach lifted September 18

Testing shows fecal bacteria levels have subsided

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) today lifted a recreational use health advisory for contact with marine water at D River Beach, located in Lincoln County. The health authority issued the advisory September 11 after water samples showed higher-than-normal levels of fecal bacteria in ocean waters.

Results from later samples taken by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) showed lower bacteria levels. Contact with the water no longer poses a higher-than-normal risk. However, officials recommend staying out of large pools on the beach that are frequented by birds, and runoff from those pools, because the water may contain increased bacteria from fecal matter.

State officials continue to encourage other recreational activities at all Oregon beaches, suggesting only that water contact be avoided when advisories are in effect.

Since 2003 state officials have used a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant to monitor popular Oregon beaches and make timely reports to the public about elevated levels of fecal bacteria. Oregon state agencies participating in this program are OHA, DEQ and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

For more information, visit the Oregon Beach Monitoring Program website at http://www.healthoregon.org/beach or call 971-673-0482, or call the OHA toll-free information line at 877-290-6767.

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http://bit.ly/2NUgxXl

The Richland City Council is accepting applications from Richland citizens interested in serving on its Library Board, Board of Adjustment and Planning Commissions.

Library Board candidates should have an interest in the library and its mission to promote the love of reading and the joy of discovery for persons of all ages, provide information and learning resources in a variety of formats for both education and leisure, and prepare our patrons for the challenges and opportunities in the lifelong quest for knowledge in the information age.

The Library Board establishes basic policies for the operation of the Richland Public Library, which includes budgetary planning to provide library services to the community. Additionally, the Library Manager reports to the Library Board.

Board of Adjustment members conduct public hearings and makes decisions on applications for special use permits; grants permits when requirements are fully met; grants or denies variances to the regulations or restrictions in the Richland Municipal Code when the variance is in harmony with general purposes and intent of the code; and hears and decides on appeals to administrative interpretations of the City’s Zoning Code.

The application deadlines for both are September 28, 2018.

Planning Commission members serve as an advisory body to the City Council to recommend, or prepare and recommend regulations, amendments, extensions, or additions to such regulations or plans for the physical development of the City in the interest of health, safety, economic viability, and general welfare.

The application deadline for the Planning Committee is October 4. 

Richland residents can apply on www.ci.richland.wa.us/bccvacancies or by calling 942-7388.

WASHINGTON - As part of the Trump Administration’s ongoing goal to reduce the regulatory burden on the American people and foster economic growth and energy development by using innovation, best science, and best practices, the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today announced a final rule that revises the 2016 Waste Prevention Rule (also known as the Venting and Flaring Rule).  The new rule, which included a 60-day public comment period, will reduce unnecessary burdens on the private sector and restore proven regulations at a time when investment in Federal onshore oil and gas is skyrocketing.

“Sadly, the flawed 2016 rule was a radical assertion of legal authority that stood in stark contrast to the longstanding understanding of Interior’s own lawyers,” said Deputy Secretary David Bernhardt. “The Trump Administration is committed to innovative regulatory improvement and environmental stewardship, while appropriately respecting the clear and distinct authorities of the States, Tribes, as well as the direction we receive from Congress.”

The BLM reviewed the 2016 rule and found that it had considerable overlap in existing State, Tribal and Federal regulations. Additionally, the agency determined that the previous administration underestimated the cost in the 2016 rule.  

The rule was reviewed as part of Executive Order 13771, Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs, Executive Order 13783, Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth, and Secretarial Order 3349, American Energy Independence, issued March 29, 2017.  The BLM found that many parts of the 2016 rule were unnecessarily burdensome on the private sector.

Publication of the final rule in the Federal Register is forthcoming. The rule is effective 60 days after publication. A pre-publication version of the final rule can be found at https://go.usa.gov/xP2qE.

WALLA WALLA -- State Superintendent Chris Reykdal released results of the most recent state tests on Thursday, September 13. A total of 2,990 Walla Walla Public Schools students completed the English Language Arts and math exams, and 1,289 participated in the new Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science during the April and May state testing window last spring.

The tests administered included:

• Grades 3-8 and high school Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) in English Language Arts (ELA) and math
• Grades 5, 8 and 11, Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS)

While Walla Walla Public Schools reading and math assessment results still lag behind statewide averages, the recently-released data reveal positive trends in cohort results.

Examination of cohort data, following the same group of students from one year to the next, shows strong student growth, particularly in English Language Arts. This year’s 3rd to 4th and 4th to 5th grade cohorts showed an average growth of 8% in ELA scores. At the middle school level, the 6th to 7th grade cohort ELA scores increased by approximately 8%, and math scores improved by 6%.  Eighth grade also revealed improvement over prior years’ results. With math lagging in comparison at the elementary grades with respect to cohort growth, classroom teachers are in the process of analyzing standards and implementing interventions to ensure students master the grade level content.  

High school students are also administered the SBA assessment, last year being the first year sophomore students took the SBA, previously taken as juniors. While high school ELA and math scores were below the state average, science students scored 15% above their state-wide counterparts.     

The district’s Strategic Plan calls for adopting better aligned instructional materials to support high quality instruction. In the Spring of 2017 new K-5 Language Arts materials were adopted, and in the Spring of 2018 new 6-12 materials were also acquired. These curricular improvements provide teachers and students with rigorous literacy materials, aligned to state standards and provide all students access to Advanced Placement (AP) classes. This year’s ELA cohort growth shows the promise of these new materials. Similarly, the middle school math materials also adopted in 2017, focus on building deep conceptual mathematics understanding and help teachers focus on the learning that is most essential at each grade level.

“Looking ahead, we expect math cohort data will increase, similar to ELA, as teachers collaborate around instructional practices to respond to student data, and new materials for K-5 are addressed in the next year,” said Christy Krutulis, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning.

For a complete look at all district state assessment information, visit the OSPI school report card:

http://reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us/summary.aspx?schoolId=266&reportLevel=District&orgLinkId=3004&year=2016-17&yrs=2016-17

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Welcome to the Oregon FBI’s Tech Tuesday segment. This week: building a digital defense against charity fraud.

With Hurricane Florence hitting the east coast last week… and the on-going disaster recovery efforts stretching from Hawaii to Puerto Rico… you need to be able to tell the legitimate charities from the frauds.

It is no secret that charity scams spike after significant events, particularly natural disasters. The news and your social media feeds are filled with photos of chaos and destruction. You feel helpless, and the fraudster knows it. These criminals will create fake social media accounts and websites to make it easy for you to give. Just click the link, and you will feel like you’ve made a difference. Unfortunately, if you pick the wrong organization, those most in need will never see your donation.

Along with the Federal Trade Commission, FEMA and other partner agencies, we offer these tips for safe giving:

• Donate to charities you know and trust.
• Designate the donation to go to a specific disaster relief effort as opposed to a general fund.
• Never click on links or open attachments in unsolicited e-mail or social media posts.
• Verify the legitimacy of any e-mail or social media solicitation by contacting the organization directly through a trusted contact number.
• Beware of organizations with copycat names similar to, but not exactly the same as, those of reputable charities.
• Avoid cash donations if possible. Pay by credit card or write a check directly to the charity. Do not make checks payable to individuals.
• Legitimate charities do not normally solicit donations via money transfer services. They also won’t ask for donations via gift cards.
• Most legitimate charity websites end in .org rather than .com.
• Make contributions directly, rather than relying on others to make a contribution on your behalf.

Those affected by recent disasters can use your help – and there are plenty of legitimate charities out there to do that work. You just need to do your research before giving.

If you have been victimized by a charity fraud scam or any other online scam, be sure to file a report at the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov or call your FBI local office.

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 3.8 percent in August, which was Oregon’s lowest unemployment rate since comparable records began in 1976. Oregon’s July unemployment rate was 3.9 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.9 percent in both July and August.

The number of Oregonians unemployed shrank in recent months. In August, the number of unemployed people dropped to 80,500, which is down from 88,000 in August 2017. The low number of unemployed reflects a very tight job market. Many people just entering the labor force are getting snapped up by employers. In August, there were only about 20,000 new entrants to the labor force who were unemployed; this was only one-third the number of such “unemployed entrants” seen in the early 2010s. This means that there are far fewer Oregonians just entering the workforce who can’t find a job. Meanwhile in August, of the unemployed Oregonians, 28,000 had lost their job—a historically low level, given that in 2009 there were five times the number of unemployed due to job loss. 

In August, Oregon’s nonfarm payroll employment grew by a modest 900 jobs, following a revised gain of 3,400 jobs in July. Monthly gains in August were concentrated in construction, which added 800 jobs, and trade, which added 800 jobs in wholesale trade and 700 jobs in retail trade. These gains were offset by losses in leisure and hospitality (-1,100 jobs) and government (-600 jobs).

Oregon’s nonfarm payroll employment increased by 42,000 jobs, or 2.2 percent, since August 2017. More than one-quarter of payroll employment growth was in the construction industry, which added 11,400 jobs, expanding by 11.6 percent. Over the year, no other industry has grown nearly as fast as construction. Next in line are four major industries that each grew slightly slower than 3 percent: manufacturing (+5,500 jobs, or 2.9%); professional and business services (+6,900 jobs, or 2.8%); leisure and hospitality (+5,700 jobs, or 2.8%); and health care and social assistance (+6,400 jobs, or 2.7%). Rapid growth across the industries isn’t universal, as several industries remained close to their year-ago job totals, including wholesale trade (700 jobs, or 0.9%); retail trade (+1,200 jobs, or 0.6%); transportation, warehousing, and utilities (+300 jobs, or 0.5%); government (no change in jobs, or 0.0%); and information (-200 jobs, or -0.6%).

Next Press Releases
The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the August county and metropolitan area unemployment rates on Tuesday, September 25th, and the next statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for September on Tuesday, October 16th. 

Notes: 
All numbers in the above narrative are seasonally adjusted.

The Oregon Employment Department and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) work cooperatively to develop and publish monthly Oregon payroll employment and labor force data. The estimates of monthly job gains and losses are based on a survey of businesses. The estimates of unemployment are based on a survey of households and other sources.

The Oregon Employment Department publishes payroll employment estimates that are revised quarterly by using employment counts from employer unemployment insurance tax records. All department publications use this Official Oregon Series data unless noted otherwise. This month’s release incorporates the January, February, and March 2018 tax records data. The department continues to make the original nonfarm payroll employment series available; these data are produced by the BLS.

Effective with the January 2018 data, employment of Oregon’s approximately 17,000 home care workers are counted in private health care and social assistance instead of state government. The change was due to legislative action clarifying that for purposes of workforce and labor market information, home care workers are not employees of state government. The reclassification affects private sector and government monthly change figures for January 2018 and will affect over-the-year change figures through December 2018. It does not affect total payroll employment levels.

The PDF version of the news release, including tables and graphs, can be found at www.QualityInfo.org/press-release. To obtain the data in other formats such as in Excel, visit www.QualityInfo.org, then within the top banner, select Economic Data, then choose LAUS or CES. To request the press release as a Word document, contact the person shown at the top of this press release.

For help finding jobs and training resources, visit one of the state's WorkSource Oregon centers or go to: www.WorkSourceOregon.org.

Equal Opportunity program — auxiliary aids and services available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Contact: (503) 947-1794. For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, call 711 Telecommunications Relay Services.

On Monday September 17, 2018, the Newport Area Command received information a missing child, from Orange County, California was possibly in the Lincoln County area. Kaia Fina (age 11) was reported to still be with her biological mother Sera Fina (age 42). There was an active felony warrant for Sera Fina’s arrest for child abduction.

Information received was Kaia Fina was reported missing on September 6, 2018 at approximately 10:30 PM from San Clemente, California. Her foster parent was last to have seen Kaia and it was believe Sera had picked Kaia up. An attempt to locate was provided to law enforcement agencies with descriptions and vehicle information.

Oregon State Police, Newport Police Department, Lincoln City Police Department, and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s office spent the majority on Monday, September 17, 2018 trying to locate Kaia and Sera Fina in a black 2007 BMW. At approximately 7:40 PM, Trooper Wertz conducted a welfare check on a 2006 Lincoln Navigator parked on the shoulder of US HWY 101 near Beverly Beach State Park. Trooper Wertz quickly identified both Kaia and Sera from photos from Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

Sera Fina was taken into custody and lodged at the Lincoln County Jail on the issued child abduction warrant and fugitive complaint. The bail was listed as $150,000. The Department of Human Services responded to care for Kaia. It was discovered Sera Fina had recently purchased the vehicle they were found in and no longer had the suspected vehicle.

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(Salem) – More than 500,000 acres have been burned, and approximately 4,000 Oregonians have been warned to evacuate their homes this wildfire season. Over 300 earthquakes have also shaken the state this year, including a 6.2 magnitude quake just off the coast in August. These alarming facts mean it is critical for Oregonians to get prepared for both natural and human-caused disasters.

National Preparedness Month has arrived, and Sept. 16-22 is Home Inventory Week. This week is designated to an often overlooked part of disaster preparation, protecting your personal property.

To recognize this week, the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation encourages Oregonians to do two simple tasks that will save time, money, and stress when disaster strikes:

1. Build a home inventory – Take video or photos of each room in your home, paying close attention to walls, drawers, closets, and storage areas. Recalling your personal property is a daunting task following a disaster. A home inventory eases the post-disaster stress, and enables your insurance company to move forward with processing your claim.   
2. Review your insurance coverage – Take time to discuss your policies with your insurance company or agent. Make sure you have the right coverage and know what to expect when you file a claim for disasters such as fire, earthquake, flood, tornado, theft, and ice storms.

“These simple projects are easy to do, and should be an essential part of every Oregonian’s disaster prep,” said Insurance Commissioner Andrew Stolfi. “Home Inventory Week is an ideal time to add these money-saving, stress-reducing tasks to your to-do list.”

Oregonians are encouraged to visit dfr.oregon.gov/preparenow for videos, apps, and resources to help complete these simple tasks. The site also provides social media tools to help residents share their experience and encourage their families, friends, and neighbors to get prepared as well.

The division is joined in this effort by the League of Oregon Cities, Oregon Sheriffs Association, Oregon Office of Emergency Management, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

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About DCBS: The Department of Consumer and Business Services is Oregon's largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. For more information, visit www.dcbs.oregon.gov. 

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

                                             Space Goat Productions Fails to Deliver Product to Supporters  

Portland, Oregon —?Sept. 18, 2018?A start-up company that promised to deliver board games based on the popular sci-fi movies “The Terminator” and “Evil Dead 2” failed to deliver on its promise, earning itself an F rating from Better Business Bureau.  

The company, Space Goat Production has received 14 complaints from consumers who allege the company failed to deliver products promised to backers of their Kickstarter campaign. The Bellingham-based business launched the fundraising campaigns in 2016. They asked for monetary donations in order to launch their board game company. “The Terminator” board game received more than $220,000 pledges, while the “Evil Dead 2” game received more than $722,600. The company received pledges from more than 8,200 customers.  

An Oregon man reports he was an original backer on the company's Kickstarter campaign to help fund the product. He paid $80 but never received the product. He is asking for a full refund.  

Consumers report the company never delivered on their promise. While some customers did receive a refund, others report they never received more than one, or any, communication about the status of the game.  

Before supporting a startup’s crowdfunding request, BBB recommends doing your research. When you donate to a startup, it’s important to know who is behind the call for investors. Research the person or company behind the campaign to see if they have a track record for fulfilling promises. You also want to know if they have had successful campaigns in the past.  

To file a complaint, visit bbb.org/complaints. To speak with a Space Goat consumer in the Portland area call Stephen Mayer at  971-201-8528.  

ABOUT BBB:?For more than 100 years, the Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands,?and?charities they can trust. In 2017, people turned to BBB more than 160 million times for BBB Business Profiles on more than 5.2 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at?bbb.org. There are local, independent BBBs across the United States, Canada,?and?Mexico, including BBB Northwest & Pacific, which serves more than 15 million consumers in Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Hawaii and Western Wyoming.??? 

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PASCO, WA – Families of students with disabilities are invited to attend an informational evening on Thursday, September 27 from 4-6 PM at Educational Service District 123 in Pasco.  In partnership with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA), ESD 123 is honored to connect area families to the information they are seeking.

Attendees of the event will learn what services and resources are available for their students with disabilities, as well as eligibility requirements and how to apply to receive services.  ESD 123 works in partnership with school districts across the region to support students with disabilities, from birth to age 21. 

Transition Director at ESD 123, Lori Scott, says that this event is an important opportunity to connect staff, students, and parents in our region with valuable support.

“Families don’t always know which way to turn, or even all of the potential services that are available to their students,” states Ms. Scott. “In our work through the ESD, our goal is to serve as a hub that connects families and their students with what they need to be successful in school and in life.”

The “DVR & DDA Services for Students with Disabilities” event will include a panel of experts available to answer questions and provide information on medical, housing, employment, and transitioning from school to adult living. The event is free and no registration is required.  For more information, contact Director of Communications, Molly Curtiss, at 509.544.5787 or tiss@esd123.org">mcurtiss@esd123.org.

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About ESD 123:  Educational Service District 123, based in Pasco, WA, is one of nine ESDs in Washington. Dedicated to delivering collaborative solutions that promote learning, ESD 123 serves 23 school districts in seven counties of Southeastern Washington. Under Superintendent Darcy Weisner and its board of directors, this legislatively mandated, not-for-profit educational organization provides efficiency of educational systems and equity of learning opportunities for over 70,000 Washington students. For more information about ESD 123, please call 509-544-5700 or 888-547-8441 or visit www.esd123.org.

Investigation shows that a 2004 Honda Civic, operated by Eric Ellis (57) of Detroit was eastbound on Hwy 22E when it went into the westbound lane and sideswiped a 2012 Ford PU pulling a travel trailer, operated by Owen Barth (48) of Dallas.  The Honda Civic continued and hit a 2014 GMC PU, operated by Ryan Wolvert (41) of Oregon City.

Ellis sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Barth and Wolvert were not injured.

Hwy 22E  was closed for about 3.5 hours following the crash.  OSP was assisted by Gates Fire, ODOT, Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Keizer P.D.

Oregon State Police and emergency personnel are on the scene of a three vehicle crash on Hwy 22E near mile post 37 - east of Gates.

One person has sustained fatal injuries and has been pronounced deceased at the scene.

The crash occurred at approximately 1:30 PM.  Expect delays and closures for several hours.

No more information is available at this time.

Salem, OR. – Sept. 17, 2018 – The nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) has been postponed until October 3 due to ongoing response efforts to Hurricane Florence. The test will be conducted by FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

In Oregon, the WEA portion of the test commences at 11:18 a.m. Pacific Time, and the EAS portion follows at 11:20 a.m. Pacific Time. The test will assess the operational readiness of the infrastructure for distribution of a national message and determine whether improvements are needed.  

The test was originally scheduled to take place this Thursday, September 20, although FEMA held October 3 as a back-up date. According to FEMA, a backup date was planned in case of widespread severe weather or other significant events on the primary test date.

For further information on the test, go to https://www.fema.gov/emergency-alert-test.

PORTLAND, Ore. – Dominic Caputo, 46, of Clackamas County, Oregon, was indicted today on allegations that, as a civilian program manager for the Oregon National Guard Oregon Sustainment Maintenance Site (OSMS), he submitted false reimbursement requests to the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) and misrepresented the operational status of equipment used to maintain a war-ready posture.

The court unsealed a five-count indictment alleging Caputo falsely certified that the refurbishment of equipment was complete or in-process. Caputo’s certifications prompted CECOM to remit payment for more than 1,300 pieces of equipment at a cost of more than $6 million to OSMS with the expectation the equipment was ready to be shipped to other military installations and put back into service, when it was not.

Caputo faces four counts of wire fraud, and one count of false statements in a document.

Caputo made his initial appearance in federal court today before U.S Magistrate Judge Beckerman and was released pending trial. A 7-day jury trial is scheduled for November 20, 2018 before U.S. District Court Judge Anna J. Brown.

An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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On September 16, 2018 at about 3:55 PM, Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two vehicle crash involving a motor cycle and passenger car on US 395 near milepost 141. 

The preliminary investigation revealed that a blue 2015 Harley Davidson motorcycle, operated by Jacob Alexander Lepeilbet (26) from Caldwell, Idaho, was traveling northbound on US 395 near milepost 141 when, for an unknown reason, failed to stop for a white 1995 Ford Taurus stopped in the northbound lane signaling to turn left. The motorcycle impacted the rear of the Taurus at highway speed. 

The passenger on the motorcycle, Hailey Michelle Ernest (35) from Boise, Idaho, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene. 

Lepeilbet suffered significant injuries and was transported to the Lake District Hospital and later flown to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend, Oregon. 

The driver of the Taurus, Ronald Allen Foltz (59) from Lakeview, Oregon, sustained minor injuries.

US 395 was closed for over three hours following the crash. 

OSP was assisted by ODOT and Lake County Sheriff's Office. 

The Oregon Fire Service Honor Guard and the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) extend an invitation to attend the State's 13th annual Oregon Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial this Thursday, September 20, 2018 at 1 p.m. The ceremony will be held at the Oregon Public Safety Academy, 4190 Aumsville Highway SE, Salem. We are honored to have Doug Grafe, Chief of Fire Protection for the Oregon Department of Forestry, as this year’s guest speaker. 

DPSST Director Eriks Gabliks said "The Oregon Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial stands as a daily reminder of the sacrifices made by 169 men and women who died in the line of duty protecting our communities, airports and natural resources around our great state.  The memorial also allows us to honor a pledge made to the families of the fallen - we will never forget!  We are thankful that no names are being added to the Oregon memorial during this year’s ceremony which signifies that Oregon did not suffer a firefighter line of duty death in 2017.  Sadly we know that is not the case on a national level as the names of 103 career and volunteer firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2017 and previous years will be honored at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial at the National Fire Academy on October 6 and 7, 2018 in Emmitsburg, Maryland."

Please note the event is held outside rain or shine.

If you have any questions regarding the Memorial, please contact Julie Olsen, Fire Program Manager, at 503-378-2297 or by email at julie.olsen-fink@state.or.us

For More Information on Oregon and National Firefighter Memorials:

Oregon Fallen Firefighter Memorial  https://www.oregon.gov/DPSST/FC/pages/fallenfirefightermemorial.aspx

National Fallen Firefighter Foundation – National memorial https://www.firehero.org/2018/08/28/2018-flag-raising-national-fallen-firefighters-foundation/

Those honored on the State memorial include:

Oregon’s first state-legal retail marijuana proprietor sentenced for federal tax crimes

PORTLAND, Ore. – Matthew Price, 32, of Portland, was sentenced today to seven months in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $262,000 for willfully failing to file federal income tax returns in four consecutive years.

“Matthew Price attempted to live a double life—advising OLCC officials on how to regulate state-legal marijuana sales, while privately evading his personal and business tax obligations,” said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “Marijuana businesses and business owners are subject to the same federal tax laws as every other business and will be scrutinized for criminal wrongdoing. Tax cheaters will not be tolerated in any industry.”         

According to court documents, in 2010, Price, then 25 years old, came to Portland with the financial backing of a business partner in Colorado to start a state-legal marijuana business in anticipation of Oregon’s full retail legalization. Price had previously been working in a marijuana store in Colorado owned by his business partner. In December 2010, Price began operating a marijuana farmers market in Portland called Cannabliss. In mid-2013, Price and his business partner converted the business to a medical marijuana dispensary. In 2014, the pair opened two additional Cannabliss dispensaries, a second in Portland and one in Eugene, Oregon.

Price failed to file personal income tax returns in four consecutive years between 2011 and 2014, despite retaining the services of three different certified public accountants. Price’s taxable income steadily grew from $42,000 in 2011 to $590,000 in 2014. In 2015, Price was a member of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission’s (OLCC) Recreational Marijuana Technical Advisory Retail Subcommittee. In this capacity, Price, with other retailers, advised the OLCC in its rulemaking process for Oregon Measure 91, the Control, Regulation, and Taxation of Marijuana and Industrial Hemp Act.

Price previously pleaded guilty to four counts of willfully failing to file personal income tax returns in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7203 on May 31, 2018. Upon completion of his prison sentence, Price will be on supervised release for three years with six months of home detention.

The IRS Criminal Investigations investigated this case. It was prosecuted by Seth D. Uram, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

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Rosemary Johnson of Astoria has been appointed by Governor Kate Brown to a four-year term on the Oregon Heritage Commission.

Johnson was the Planner and Historic Preservation Officer for the City of Astoria until her retirement in September 2014, after 35 years with the City. She staffed the Planning Commission, Historic Landmarks Commission, and Design Review Committee for the City for over 27 years. Johnson currently works as a contract planning consultant for the City of Astoria and serves as a project manager for larger projects such as restoration of the Doughboy Monument and the design and construction of the Scandinavian Heritage Park. Having helped to complete the Astoria Riverfront Vision Plan and implementation of codes for three of the four Riverfront Districts, she is currently working on completing the code implementation for the last Urban Core District. She is also an active volunteer at the Clatsop County Historical Society’s Flavel House Museum.

“I am excited to be part of the Oregon Heritage Commission,” Johnson noted about her appointment. “I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember. I believe we are a product of our past and we need to preserve the history of our State and Nation to help form our future. Preservation is not just preserving structures. It is about people, our cultural history and the built environment.”

“Johnson has engaged with many of the Commission’s programs through her work and brings a wealth of preservation experience to the group,” said Beth Dehn, Heritage Commission Coordinator. “We are pleased to have her on the Heritage Commission.” 

The Heritage Commission is comprised of nine people representing Oregon's heritage and geographical diversity. There are also nine advisory representatives from state agencies and statewide organizations.

The mission of the Heritage Commission is to secure, sustain, and enhance Oregon's heritage by ensuring coordination of heritage initiatives by public and private organizations; advocacy on its behalf; education of the public about its extent and value; and promotion and celebration of its diversity. For more information, commission coordinator Beth Dehn at 503-986-0696 or eth.Dehn@Oregon.gov">Beth.Dehn@Oregon.gov or visit the Commission’s website at www.oregonheritage.org.

HOSPITAL CHARITY CARE SPENDING CONTINUES TO CLIMB IN Q2

Oregon’s community hospitals are again spending more on charity care despite having one of the lowest rates of uninsured residents in the country, according to a newly released financial performance report by Apprise Health Insights from the second quarter of 2018. Despite the increase, median operating margins held steady from the same period last year.

Median charity care as a percentage of total charges increased to 1.7% (compared to 1.6% in Q2 2016). Seven of the last eight quarters have seen an increase in seasonally adjusted Charity Care.

Meanwhile, operating margins stabilized after large drops in 2017. Median margins came in at 4.5% in Q2 2018 after a drop to -0.8% in the final quarter of last year. The overall median operating margin for Oregon hospitals in 2017 was 0.5%. 

“These numbers show that, despite expanded coverage, many Oregonians are uninsured or can’t pay the deductible in their health plan,” said Andy Van Pelt, executive vice president of the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems. “Hospitals treat everyone regardless of ability to pay, but it’s important to note the increases in charity care indicate lack of adequate coverage. That’s an issue our state needs to continue to tackle.”

The charity care numbers stand in contrast to the widely held view that charity care has been essentially eliminated in Oregon due to the Affordable Care Act. While charity care costs are below pre-ACA levels, they are on an upward trend as many patients continue to need free or reduced-price services.

Inpatient discharges continue to decline in Q2 2018 over last year, dropping by some 100,000. That corresponds with an increase in outpatient visits, which rose by around 200,000 in Q2 2018 over the same quarter in 2017. Outpatient utilization has climbed steadily in Oregon for several years.

To read the entire report, visit OregonHospitalGuide.org under “Understanding the Data” or click here.

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PASCO, WA – School safety and a proactive approach to identifying potential threats remains a top priority for schools across the United States.  Beginning this school year, Educational Service District (ESD) 123 is launching a new Threat Assessment program to provide an immediate and systematic response to youth who pose a serious threat to commit acts of violence to others. Newly-hired Threat Assessment Coordinator, Katie Haynes, is leading the charge.

The ESD 123 Student Threat Assessment program is a two-level system that includes a school site-based screening team, called a Level I Assessment, and a multi-agency community team, called a Level II Assessment.  The program was adopted from the Salem-Keizer Mid-Valley Student Threat Assessment System (STAS), a set of protocols and safety planning procedures to promote safe school environments.

According to ESD Threat Assessment Coordinator Katie Haynes, over-reactive school responses to Zero-Tolerance Policies often result in an inflated number of students identified as potentially dangerous, and an over reliance upon expulsion to resolve school safety concerns. The Threat Assessment program takes a team-based approach instead.

“I’m very excited for the opportunity to work alongside our schools, provide support, and help foster learning environments that are free from the distraction of fear,” states Ms. Haynes.

Initial funding is allowing ESD 123 to launch our Threat Assessment program in three of our twenty-three school districts:  Richland, Pasco, and Kennewick. The goal is that more school districts will join in the Threat Assessment cooperative so that services can expand to all districts across Southeast Washington.

To learn more, visit the ESD 123 website at  www.esd123.org/programs__services/prevention_services/threat_assessment, or contact ESD Director of Communications, Molly Curtiss, at 509.544.5787 or tiss@esd123.org">mcurtiss@esd123.org.

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About ESD 123:  Educational Service District 123, based in Pasco, WA, is one of nine ESDs in Washington. Dedicated to delivering collaborative solutions that promote learning, ESD 123 serves 23 school districts in seven counties of Southeastern Washington. Under Superintendent Darcy Weisner and its board of directors, this legislatively mandated, not-for-profit educational organization provides efficiency of educational systems and equity of learning opportunities for over 70,000 Washington students. For more information about ESD 123, please call 509-544-5700 or 888-547-8441 or visit www.esd123.org.

September 17, 2018

Recreational use health advisory lifted for Willow Creek Reservoir

Testing confirms reduced cyanotoxins in Morrow County lake

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has lifted the recreational use health advisory issued July 26 for Willow Creek Reservoir, located just east of the town of Heppner in Morrow County.

Water monitoring has confirmed that the level of cyanotoxins (harmful algae toxins) in the lake is below recreational guideline values for human exposure.

Although the advisory has been lifted, conditions can change rapidly due to changes in weather and nutrients in the lake. People should always be aware that blooms can develop on any water body under the right environmental conditions, and can grow and disappear throughout the season.

People should always be aware of their surroundings before entering a water body, especially around shorelines, shallow water areas, coves and physical structures such as docks, as these are areas where blooms tend to develop, officials say. You are your own best advocate when it comes to keeping you and your family safe while recreating.

People, and especially small children, and pets should avoid recreating in areas where the water is foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green, blue-green or brownish red in color, if a thick mat of blue-green algae is visible in the water, or bright green cells are suspended in the water column. If you observe these signs in the water you are encouraged to avoid activities that cause you to swallow water or inhale droplets, such as swimming or high-speed water activities.

It's possible cyanotoxins can still exist in clear water. Sometimes, cyanobacteria can move into another area, making water that once looked foamy, scummy or discolored now look clear. However, when a bloom dies elsewhere in the water body, it can release toxins that may reach into the clear water. There also are species of cyanobacteria that anchor themselves at the bottom of a water body, live in the sediment, or can grow on aquatic plants and release toxins into clear water near the surface.

For recreational health information, to report human or pet illnesses due to blooms or cyanotoxins in recreational waters, contact the Oregon Health Authority at 971-673-0440.

For information about recreational advisories issued or lifted for the season, contact the Oregon Public Health toll-free information line at 877-290-6767 or visit the Harmful Algae Blooms website at http://healthoregon.org/hab and select "Algae Bloom Advisories."

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On September 15, 2018 at approximately 1:10pm Oregon State Police, McMinnville PD, Yamhill Co. S.O., Amity PD, and ODOT responded to a two vehicle head on collision on HWY 18 near Milepost 48.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a silver 2001 Pontiac Grand Am driven by Joseph Hawkins (19) of Salem, with no passengers, was traveling eastbound when he crossed into the westbound lanes hitting a 2005 Subaru Legacy head on.

Hawkins sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The driver of the Subaru, Roger Verdier (70) of Vancouver, WA. was transported to Willamette Valley Medical Center with serious injuries. 

His two passengers, Mary Verdier (59) of Vancouver,WA. and Susan Heffel (60) of McMinnville, both sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced deceased at the scene.

The reason Hawkins entered the oncoming lanes is unknown at this time. 

Oregon State Police and emergency personnel are on scene of a fatal vehicle crash on Hwy 18 mile post 48 - near the McMinnville airport. 

Expect delays and intermittent closures in the area while the investigation continues.

On September 13, 2018, Oregon State Police Detectives arrested Blake V. Northway, age 55 of Medford, on multiple counts of Sodomy.

Northway is a Deportation Officer with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) assigned to the Medford office.

The arrest is a result of a joint investigation between the Oregon State Police and ICE - Office of Professional Responsibility.   “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold its officers to the highest standards of professional conduct and does not tolerate those who violate the law, said ICE Public Affairs Officer Tanya Roman.  ICE will continue to cooperate until this case has been resolved. “

Northway has been relieved of all authority and will be placed on leave pending the results of the criminal investigation.

Northway was lodged in the Jackson County Jail.  

These charges are not related to Northway’s position with ICE. 

On Friday September 14, 2018 at about 4:30 pm, Oregon State Police along with the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene of a two vehicle crash on Highway 97 near Odem Avenue, south of Terrebonne. 

The investigation revealed that a black 2008 Harley Davidson motorcycle, operated by 68 year old Terrebonne resident Robert Constant, had been traveling northbound when traffic congestion forced vehicles in front of him to slow.  Constant lost control of the motorcycle and laid it down while attempting to stop.  The motorcycle slid and crashed into a green 1995 Geo Metro, operated by 51 year old Culver resident Traci Sauls, who sustained minor injury.

Constant was transported by ground ambulance to a Redmond Area Hospital and then was transported via air ambulance to a Bend Area Hospital.  Constant was pronounced deceased at the hospital as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. 

Speed and following distance are believed to be a contributing factor in the crash.  The Oregon State Police were assisted at the scene by the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Redmond Fire and Rescue, and ODOT.