Story by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Oregon Army National Guard’s W.D. Jackson Armory, located in Portland, Oregon, hosted a formal ribbon cutting ceremony on April 4, 2025, to officially unveil the recently completed renovations to the facility.

Presiding over the occasion, Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General of Oregon, said that the upgrades and renovations will continue to serve “as a cornerstone for training, readiness, and community engagement into the future."

“The scope of these renovations is impressive,” he said, magnifying some of the projects goals. “The facility now boasts new water lines, seismic upgrades, energy-efficient windows, new flooring, fresh paint inside and out, and updated bathrooms. They represent our investment in the future of the Oregon National Guard.”

Initially constructed in 1963 and featuring an additional 6,100-square-foot storage building added in 1991, this $9.4 million renovation project will now extend the armory’s lifespan for another 25 years. The renovations are part of the U.S. Army Service Life Extension Program (ASLEP) and are funded by a combination of federal resources and bond sales by the State of Oregon.

Additionally, dilapidated roads were replaced, backup generators were installed, and caged storage areas for equipment were created. Facility designs were provided by BBL Architects, focusing on cost-effective and energy-efficient improvements for the Oregon Military Department.

“This project exemplifies what we can accomplish through partnership and collaboration. I want to recognize the tremendous work of the Oregon Military Department, AGI Construction, P&C Construction, and BBL Architects,” Gronewold said.

The two-story building, located on the southern edge of the Portland Air National Guard Base, was officially renamed in 1975 as the William D. Jackson Armory in honor of the former Commander of Battery ‘A’ of the 148th Field Artillery in Portland.  

""Over the last 60 years, the Jackson Armory has been a gathering point for Oregon Citizen-Soldiers. It has supported domestic operations, multiple deployments to Iraq, and most recently the mobilization of the Battalion this summer to Iraq and Syria,” said Lt. Col. Anna Robledo, Commander of the 2nd Battalion, 218th Field Artillery. “We are very grateful for the support from the Oregon Military Department, our state, and our partners in the community of Portland who made these upgrades possible.”

The armory stands as a symbol of dedication and mission readiness, housing both the Alpha and Charlie Batteries of the 2nd Battalion, 218th Field Artillery Regiment, part of the 41st Infantry Combat Team, alongside the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment of the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team. Over the past several years, soldiers have committed themselves to rigorous preparations for deployments and the warm reunions with family members at the armory - vividly illustrating the resiliency and unity that the armory embraces.

 “The halls are quiet today at Jackson Armory as our rear detachment is continuing their training over at the coast, and our brothers and sisters in arms continue their defensive operations in the Middle East,” Robledo said.

Approximately 230 members of the unit were mobilized on August 9, 2024, to support Operation Inherent Resolve, which was directed to advise, assist, and enable partner forces to defeat terrorist elements throughout the Central Command Area of Responsibility.

The W.D. Jackson Armory also houses the Soldiers of the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, whose most recent mobilization sent them to Poland in support of the European Deterrence Initiative as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve in April 2021, returning home in January 2022.

“I am proud that the Oregon National Guard remains the service of choice for Oregonians. Our Citizen-Soldiers come from every corner of this great state, bringing diverse skills, perspectives, and a shared commitment to service,” Gronewold said, emphasizing the impact of the renovations for the service members assigned to the armory. “They deserve facilities that match their dedication, and Jackson Armory now stands as an example of our promise to provide exactly that.”

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Released Photos: 

250404-Z-CH590-1117: Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General of Oregon (center-left) and Oregon Army National Guard Lt. Col. Anna Robledo, 2nd Battalion, 218th Field Artillery Commander (center-right) and other dignitaries cut a ceremonial ribbon to highlight recent renovations at the Oregon Army National Guard’s W.D. Jackson Armory, located in Portland, Oregon, on April 4, 2025. Initially constructed in 1963 and featuring an additional 6,100-square-foot storage building added in 1991, this $9.4 million renovation project will extend the armory’s lifespan for another 25 years. (Air National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

250404-Z-CH590-1078: Oregon Army National Guard Lt. Col. Anna Robledo, 2nd Battalion, 218th Field Artillery Commander, addresses those in attendance at the ribbon cutting ceremony held at the Oregon Army National Guard’s W.D. Jackson Armory, located in Portland, Oregon, on April 4, 2025. Initially constructed in 1963 and featuring an additional 6,100-square-foot storage building added in 1991, this $9.4 million renovation project will extend the armory’s lifespan for another 25 years. (Air National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

250404-Z-CH590-1048: Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General of Oregon, addresses those in attendance at the ribbon cutting ceremony held at the Oregon Army National Guard’s W.D. Jackson Armory, located in Portland, Oregon, on April 4, 2025. Initially constructed in 1963 and featuring an additional 6,100-square-foot storage building added in 1991, this $9.4 million renovation project will extend the armory’s lifespan for another 25 years. (Air National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

250404-Z-CH590-1152: A renovated classroom and meeting space at the Oregon Army National Guard’s W.D. Jackson Armory, located in Portland, Oregon, was officially unveiled during the formal ribbon cutting ceremony held on April 4, 2025. Initially constructed in 1963 and featuring an additional 6,100-square-foot storage building added in 1991, this $9.4 million renovation project will extend the armory’s lifespan for another 25 years. (Air National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

250404-Z-CH590-1160: The Oregon Army National Guard’s W.D. Jackson Armory, located in Portland, Oregon, hosted a formal ribbon cutting ceremony on April 4, 2025, highlighting the recent renovations. Initially constructed in 1963 and featuring an additional 6,100-square-foot storage building added in 1991, this $9.4 million renovation project will extend the armory’s lifespan for another 25 years. (Air National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

250404-Z-CH590-1143: A fresh coat of paint and other upgrades to the halls and stairwell at Oregon Army National Guard’s W.D. Jackson Armory, located in Portland, Oregon, were officially unveiled during the formal ribbon cutting ceremony held on April 4, 2025. Initially constructed in 1963 and featuring an additional 6,100-square-foot storage building added in 1991, this $9.4 million renovation project will extend the armory’s lifespan for another 25 years. (Air National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

https://www.dvidshub.net/news/494642/oregon-national-guard-celebrates-renovations-wd-jackson-armory-portland

LANE COUNTY, Ore. 4 April 2025 – On Thursday, April 3, 2025, at about 2:23 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle fatal crash on Highway 126 near Florence in Lane County.

The preliminary investigation indicated that a white Freightliner semi-truck traveling westbound, operated by Joseph Jack Botelho (64) of Veneta, and a white Ford T-350 van traveling eastbound, operated by Mathew Jacob Decker (37) of Eugene, collided head-on near milepost 6 on Hwy. 126 for an unknown reason.

The operator of the Ford T-350 (Decker) was declared deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Freightliner semi-truck (Botelho) had reported minor injuries and was not transported.

The highway was impacted for approximately five hours during the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by Western Lane Fire and EMS and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
 

# # #

About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in documenting, investigating, and analyzing complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in using advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR-accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.

April 4, 2025

Media contact: Erica Heartquist, 503-871-8843, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Board of Direct Entry Midwifery seeks rules advisory committee members

PORTLAND, Ore.— Oregon Health Authority’s Health Licensing Office and Board of Direct Entry Midwifery are seeking individuals to serve on a rules advisory committee (RAC) that reviews the Legend Drugs and Devices Program.

The purpose of the rulemaking is to develop draft rule recommendations for the Board related to standardized competencies, assessment examinations and applications requirements for the purchase and administration of legend drugs and devices used by licensed direct entry midwives. Rule recommendations will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Review and recommend changes to the standardized competencies.
• Integrate passage of the written and skills examination into the application requirements.
• Develop examination requirements: proctor, location.

In addition to providing recommendations, the RAC will evaluate the impact the rules may have on individuals and communities likely to be affected by the changes.

RAC members provide a unique perspective, subject matter expertise and lived experience in direct entry midwifery, community birth services and consumer safety in the purchase and administration of legend drugs and devices.

The Board recommended following individuals or communities be represented on the rules advisory committee:

• Licensed direct entry midwives.
• Midwifery educators or instructors.
• Health care providers with knowledge of drugs and devices used by licensed direct entry midwives.
• Professional midwifery organizations.
• Consumers of community birth.

Members can serve in multiple membership capacities.

RAC meetings are expected to begin in July 2025 and end in September 2025. Those interested in serving on the RAC should submit a completed interest form to josh.page@oha.oregon.gov no later than noon May 15. Forms can be sent by email to josh.page@oha.oregon.gov or mailed to the address listed below c/o Josh Page.

If you have questions, contact Samie Patnode at samie.patnode@oha.oregon.gov or 503-373-1917, or Josh Page at josh.page@oha.oregon.gov or 503-934-0720.

For additional information, visit the Health Licensing Office website.

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CURRY COUNTY, Ore. 4 April 2025 – On Thursday, April 3, 2025, at about 5:11 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single-vehicle fatal crash in Curry County. The initial report was received via an automated alert system from the vehicle.

The preliminary investigation indicated a black Jeep Wagoneer, operated by Virginia Gayle Peare (81) of Brookings, was traveling northbound on Hwy. 255 near milepost 360 when it left the roadway for an unknown reason and rolled down an embankment.

The operator (Peare) was declared deceased at the scene.

The highway was not impacted by the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Curry County Sheriff’s Office, Brookings Fire Department, the Oregon Department of Transportation, and CAL-ORE.
 

# # #
 

About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in documenting, investigating, and analyzing complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in using advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR-accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.

Clackamas County, Ore. 4 April 2025- On Thursday, April 3, 2025, at 1:31 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a three-vehicle crash on Highway 224, at the intersection with Weitz Lane, in Clackamas County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a westbound Ford F150, operated by Luis Guerrero Lopez (64) of Eagle Creek, struck the rear of a Toyota Celica, operated by Timothy Mark Woodard (64) of Eagle Creek, which was stopped to turn onto Weitz Lane. The collision pushed the Toyota into the eastbound lane where it was struck head-on by an eastbound Subaru Forrester, operated by Joshua Jordan Redd (43) of Estacada.

The operator of the Toyota (Woodard) was declared deceased at the scene. A passenger in the Toyota, Diane Woodard (71) fo Eagle Creek, was seriously injured and transported to an area hospital.

The operator of the Subaru (Redd) was seriously injured and transported to an area hospital. 

The operator of the Ford (Lopez) was evaluated for injury and arrested for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants.

The highway was impacted for approximately seven hours during the on-scene investigation. Impaired driving is considered a primary cause of the crash. The crash remains under investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.

# # #

About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.

Clackamas County, Ore. 4 April 2025- On Thursday, April 3, 2025, at 8:36 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 551, near milepost 1, in Clackamas County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a northbound Kia Forte, operated by Matthew Gene Rinehart (41) of Eugene, attempted to make a pass in a "no passing" zone and struck a southbound Kia Soul, operated by Darci Ann Olivier (37) of Wilsonville, head-on. 

The operator of the Forte (Rinehart) was declared deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Soul (Olivier) was declared deceased at the scene. A female juvenile (4) passenger was transported to an area hospital with reported minor injuries.

The highway was impacted for approximately four hours during the on-scene investigation. Unsafe passing is considered the primary cause of the crash.

OSP was assisted by the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, Aurora Fire Department, Woodburn Fire Department, Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue, and ODOT.

# # #

About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man was sentenced to federal prison Thursday for using Instagram, a social media platform, to persuade children to produce and send him sexually explicit images of themselves.

Solomon Dean Cook, 21, was sentenced to 121 months in federal prison and ten years’ supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $103,000 in restitution to his victims.

According to court documents, in January 2022, the parent of a victim in Portland called the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center (NTOC) to report that an Instagram user had persuaded their child to produce and share a sexually explicit photo. The user threatened to distribute the image if the child did not continue producing and sending more images. During follow-up interviews with investigators, the victim identified a second child in Portland that Cook victimized.

Federal agents traced two Instagram accounts to Cook and learned that he posed as a “sugar daddy” online by offering large amounts of money to entice children into sending him sexually explicit photos. Once the victims agreed, Cook’s demands for sexually explicit materials escalated and he threatened to release images of the victims if they did not comply with his demands. Investigators learned that between November 2021 and May 2022, Cook exploited three minor victims in this manner. 

On May 11, 2022, Cook was arrested after agents executed a federal search warrant on his residence. During the search, Cook confessed to enticing the reporting victim into producing a sexually explicit image and to exploiting additional victims in the same manner. Investigators also searched Cook’s phone and found sexually explicit images of five minor victims and several adult victims.

On June 7, 2022, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a four-count indictment charging Cook with sexual exploitation of children, attempted sexual exploitation of children, and receiving and possessing child pornography.

On September 4, 2024, Cook pleaded guilty to three counts of enticing a minor online and one count of possessing child pornography.

This case was investigated by FBI Portland’s Child Exploitation Task Force (CETF). It is being prosecuted by Mira Chernick, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

The FBI CETF conducts sexual exploitation investigations, many of them undercover, in coordination with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. CETF is committed to locating and arresting those who prey on children as well as recovering and assisting victims of sex trafficking and child exploitation.

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

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

# # #

Sherman County, Ore. 4 April 2025- On Friday, March 28, 2025, at 3:36 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a three-vehicle crash on Highway 97, near milepost 6, in Sherman County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a southbound Kenworth commecial motor vehicle and trailer, operated by Satwant Singh (33) of Yuba City (CA), failed to negotiate a curve, entered the northbound lane, and struck a northbound Peterbilt commercial motor vehicle and trailer, operated by Francisco Sandoval (65) of Snohomish (WA), nearly head on. The southbound Kenworth then struck a northbound GMC 3500, operated by Shawn Hutchinson (63) of Wilton (CA), in a secondary collision. The collision caused both commercial motor vehicles to catch fire.

The operator of the Kenworth (Singh) was delcared deceased at the scene. 

A passenger in the Kenworth, Rajvir Singh (31) of Yuba City (CA), was seriously injured and transported to an area hospital.

The operator of the Peterbilt (Sandoval) suffered reported minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

The operator of the GMC (Hutchinson) suffered reported minor injuries and as transported to an area hospital.

The highway was impacted for approximately seven hours during the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Sherman County Sheriff's Office, Sherman County Fire, and ODOT.

# # #

About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.

Medford, Oregon – The Bureau of Land Management is re-opening the Rogue River National Recreation Trail after crews created a path around a large landslide. Wildland firefighters from BLM’s Veteran Crew 10, along with BLM recreation staff, were able to clear the landslide and re-route the trail around a large boulder. The crews also removed several downed trees and addressed other issues along the first few miles of the trail.

The trail is rated as difficult due to the remote nature of the trail, tall cliffs, the potential for downed trees, landslides and high water in creeks. Hikers may still encounter smaller landslides, unstable footing, erosion of trail tread, and other storm-related impacts along the trail. If you find damage on BLM lands, please report it to the Medford District Office at 541-618-2200.

“The Rogue River Trail is beautiful this time of year and we worked hard to open it as quickly as possible,” said Justin Kelly, Grants Pass Field Manager. “Please watch out for additional hazards as you enjoy your public lands.”

The Rogue River National Recreation Trail traverses the wild section of the Lower Rogue National Wild and Scenic River along its entire length. Stretching 40 miles between Grave Creek and Big Bend, the trail offers some of southwestern Oregon's most amazing landscapes and rewarding hiking experiences. Majestic steep canyon walls, cascading waterfalls, and glistening streams are just a glimpse of the magnificent scenery in the Wild Rogue Canyon.

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The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in the 11 Western states and Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In fiscal year 2018, the diverse activities authorized on BLM-managed lands generated $105 billion in economic output across the country. This economic activity supported 471,000 jobs and contributed substantial revenue to the U.S. Treasury and state governments, mostly through royalties on minerals.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY COMMITTEE

MEETING SCHEDULED

The Telecommunications Policy Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a regular meeting on May 7, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in the Governor Victor G. Atiyeh Boardroom at the Oregon Public Safety Academy located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Juan Lopez at (503) 551-3167.

To view the Telecommunications Policy Committee's live-stream and other recorded videos, please visit DPSST’s official YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/@DPSST.

Agenda Items

1. Introductions

2. Approve February 5, 2025, Meeting Minutes

3. Administrative Closures Consent Agenda (The following items to be ratified by one vote)

     Presented by Cindy Park

     a. Jeris Nakamasu; DPSST No. 64153

     Basic Telecommunications Certification applicant

4. Review of Telecommunication Curriculum Advisory Committee

     Reapproval of the Current Bylaws

     Presented by Chris Enquist

5. Agency Updates

6. Next Telecommunications Policy Committee Meeting: August 6, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.

Administrative Announcement

This is a public meeting, subject to the public meeting law and it will be recorded. Deliberation of issues will only be conducted by Telecommunications Policy Committee members unless permitted by the Chair. Individuals who engage in disruptive behavior that impedes official business will be asked to stop being disruptive or leave the meeting. Additional measures may be taken to have disruptive individuals removed if their continued presence poses a safety risk to the other persons in the room or makes it impossible to continue the meeting.

A three-day workplace safety and health conference in Portland in May will offer employers and workers across industries multiple education and training opportunities, including how to improve safety leadership, build a culture of safety and health, and how to achieve effective communication.

Those learning opportunities – and more – will be available during the 29th annual Northwest Safety & Health Summit, to be held May 13-15 at the Holiday Inn Portland – Columbia Riverfront in Portland.

The workplace safety and health event is offered by the Region X Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association. The nonprofit group aims to reduce workplace injury and illness by pursuing safety, health, and environmental excellence through cooperative efforts among labor, management, and government. The event is designed for all industries and worksites, even if they are not part of the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), which encourages companies to protect workers by going well beyond minimum safety and health requirements.

The event’s keynote speakers are safety advocates Russ and Laurel Youngstrom. They will emphasize the importance of personal accountability in workplace safety and of the long-term consequences of ignoring safety precautions. They will share ideas for leaders on how to move safety from their team members’ heads to their hearts.

They will deliver their keynote presentation – “It Won’t Happen to Me” – on Wednesday, May 14.

The Northwest Safety & Health Summit offers everyone from operations personnel and project managers to safety managers and safety committee members opportunities to receive exceptional workplace safety training and to develop relationships with others in their line of work. It includes a full-day workshop on how to complete a successful VPP application and how to achieve safety excellence at worksites.

Event topics include:

• Dust Happens: Silica Hazards and Prevention Strategies
• How to Build a Hand Safety Program: Reduce Hand Injuries and Improve Worker Safety
• Next Generation in Safety: What Is New and On the Horizon in PPE
• Improving Driver Safety Through Engagement
• To Lift or Not To Lift? One Question to Prevent Sprains and Strains at Work
• Heat Stress and Wildfire Smoke: Protecting Workers in a Changing Climate
• Combustible Dust Hazards
• Unique Role of a Union Safety Representative and Employee Health Advocate
• Our Journey to Achieve VPP Recognition
• Nutrition and Wellness in the Workplace

Fees for full-day workshops (Tuesday) range from $200 to $250. Registration for the conference (Wednesday and Thursday) is $375 for VPP members and $400 for nonmembers. The fee for one day (Wednesday or Thursday) is $200.

To register, go to https://safetyseries.cventevents.com/vpp25. For more information, contact the Oregon OSHA Conference Section, 503-947-7411, or email egon.Conferences@dcbs.oregon.gov">Oregon.Conferences@dcbs.oregon.gov.

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About Oregon OSHA: Oregon OSHA enforces the state's workplace safety and health rules and works to improve workplace safety and health for all Oregon workers. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit osha.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

SALEM, Oregon— Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) wants to better understand how residents use all land and water trails throughout Oregon and opportunities for improvement. 

OPRD launched an online survey this month to collect the feedback now through April 30. The survey is open to all trail users and potential trail users including hikers, bikers, equestrians, OHV and ATV riders, snowmobilers, boaters and paddlers who recreate on any public lands or bodies of water in Oregon, not just Oregon State Parks. 

The information will help inform the Oregon Statewide Trails Plan, which provides guidance for OPRD as well as other federal, state, and local agencies and private sector partners. It outlines trends and issues, creates priorities for grant funding and recommends actions to improve trails over the next 10 years.  

The Oregon Statewide Trails Plan covers non-motorized trails (hiking, biking, equestrian), motorized ATV trails, snowmobile trails, and non-motorized boating and water trails.  

The survey takes about 20 minutes to complete, and it’s open to all Oregon residents. Those who complete the survey have the option of entering a drawing for a free Oregon State Parks annual parking permit. 

“Oregon is home to amazing recreational trails. Each year, more than 80% of Oregon residents recreate on trail systems across the state. We appreciate residents’ support and feedback, which will help make these systems even better in the future,” said OPRD Statewide Trails Planner Jessica Horning. 

For questions about this survey or the Oregon Trails Plan, please visit our website or contact OPRD Statewide Trails Planner Jessica Horning at  .horning@oprd.oregon.gov" target="_blank">Jessica.r.horning@oprd.oregon.gov. 

Oregon is experiencing historic flooding that has deeply impacted Harney County. We are grateful for the outpouring of support from individuals who want to help.

FINANCIAL GIFTS ARE THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO HELP

• Financial support to voluntary agencies is the most efficient and flexible way to help those impacted.

• Cash donations allow organizations to purchase exactly what is needed, when and where it’s needed—without delay.

• Unsolicited food and clothing donations slow the aid and recovery process, as organizations are left sorting and disposing of unusable items instead of providing support to survivors.

• To make a financial gift visit redcross.org/cascades or go to https://www.orvoad.org/current-members/ for a list of trusted organizations.

• You can also check an organization’s GuideStar rating to see how they rank among their peers and ensure they are a reputable organization.

• Be careful around donating to individual fundraiser accounts like GoFundMe. GoFundMe has some tips and best practices to avoid common scams and to protect yourself.

• The Oregon Department of Financial Regulation also has some guidance to protect yourself from fraud and exploitation, including for those needing to hire contractors for repair work.

VOLUNTEERING

• Please do not respond by self-deploying yourself to the disaster area. The arrival of uncoordinated volunteers can interfere with response efforts and create safety issues.

• Volunteers will be needed most during the recovery phase—your help will be vital, but timing and coordination are key.

• To register your interest in volunteering, contact the Harney Hub by calling 541-573-6024. You may also volunteer with the American Red Cross Cascades Region through their volunteer portal at redcross.org/volunteer.

• Local organizations will provide training and placement as needs are identified.

MATERIAL DONATIONS (CLOTHING, FOOD, HYGIENE ITEMS, ETC.)

• Unsolicited in-kind donations, while generous, can overwhelm local resources and logistics systems.

• Only donate items that are specifically requested by officials. Items not needed may go to waste and slow down relief efforts.

• If you have already collected goods but cannot find an agency in need, consider donating them to a local charitable organization.

• For local coordination of approved donations, contact Burns Christian Church, which is working with the American Red Cross.

• Call Melissa Albertson, Donation Coordinator – 541-573-7176 for more information.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP

• Host a fundraiser, donation drive, or community event to raise funds for voluntary organizations actively supporting the flood response.

• Before taking action, check local official websites and social media channels for real-time updates on what's needed.

• Financial contributions remain the fastest and most impactful way to help flood survivors recover.

FOR THOSE AFFECTED

A shelter is open and providing hot meals, safe shelter, relief supplies, emotional support, health services, information and other services to impacted individuals and families at: Harney County Fairgrounds 69660 South Egan Road, Burns, Oregon.

Thank you for your compassion, patience, and support. Working together, we can continue to help people in this time of need.

Salem, OR - The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) launched a new Oregon Brain Injury Program. The program is designed to help individuals with brain injuries navigate and access the services and supports available to them. Services are free and available to anyone in Oregon affected by a brain injury, including family members or others seeking information.

Free help is available through a toll-free phone line that accepts calls Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Services provided include:

• One-on-one, free and confidential support.
• Personalized referrals to resources specific to brain injury recovery and management.
• Comprehensive resource information to help navigate available services and options.

Brain injuries are occurring at more frequent rates in Oregon, according to data published on the Oregon Traumatic Brain Injury Safety Dashboard. In 2023 alone, there were 38,718 brain injuries that required hospital or emergency department intervention and 1,177 fatal brain injuries in Oregon.

“Oregon’s Brain Injury Program is a step forward in ensuring people in Oregon are supported at every level of need and through every stage of life,” said Nakeshia Knight-Coyle, Director of the ODHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities. “This program will improve access to services for people with brain injuries and take the burden off families who are trying to find support.” 

The Brain Injury Program serves people with brain injuries through four key areas:

• Advocacy: Helping people advocate for their needs and access essential supports.
• Options Counseling: Offering guidance on understanding and comparing available services and programs.
• Resource Navigation: Connecting individuals to the right resources, whether medical, therapeutic or social.
• Service Coordination: Facilitating connections between different service providers to ensure coordinated care and support.

Services are tailored to the needs of each person, ensuring they receive the help that best fits their situation.

The program also reduces barriers that exist as people seek help. Assistance and supports to people with brain injuries are not centralized under one government agency or program. Case managers or social workers who serve as guides for the people they serve are in short supply. The Brain Injury Program helps address these issues by helping people access services across agencies and programs.

“Without a resource like the Brain Injury Program help line, many individuals struggle to access services and resources that are available to them. Our goal with the program was to address the gaps,” said Jane-ellen Weidanz, Deputy Director of Policy for the ODHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities.

Oregon’s Brain Injury Program was developed as a result of Senate Bill 420 (2023). Oregon's Brain Injury Advocate Coordinator at the Center on Brain Injury Research and Training (CBIRT) at the University of Oregon was among many advocates and organizations behind development and adoption of Senate Bill 420. "This new program would not exist without the incredible dedication and hard work of hundreds of Oregonians throughout the state who fought tirelessly to make this program a reality. Oregon's Brain Injury Program represents their commitment to making a better future for all of Oregon's brain injury survivors, their families, loved ones, and caregivers,” said David Kracke, Oregon's Brain Injury Advocate Coordinator at CBIRT.

The bill also calls for creation of a Brain Injury Program Advisory Committee, which will advise on the development of programs and activities to address the needs of individuals with brain injuries across the state. The Advisory Committee will be made up of 12 people who have knowledge and experience in brain injuries and who represent all of the geographic areas of Oregon. At least one-third of the members must have experienced a brain injury. Recruitment for the Advisory Committee is open now. Individuals can apply by submitting an application.

More information:

• Brain Injury Program phone number: 1-833-685-0848 (toll-free). Interpreting services are available at no cost for people who need help in a language other than English. The Brain Injury Program accepts TTY calls by dialing 711.
• Hours of operation: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Learn more on the Brain Injury Program webpage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

Media hotline: 503-813-6018

California Climate Credit to appear on customer power bills

YREKA, CA (April 3, 2025) — Pacific Power residential and small business customers can expect to see a credit of $259.36 on their April electricity bill as part of California's efforts to fight climate change. The twice annual California Climate Credit provides ratepayers with their share of the benefits of California’s Cap-and-Trade Program, which requires large industries that emit greenhouse gases to buy carbon pollution permits.

The majority of Pacific Power’s proceeds are split evenly across each residential household and qualifying small business after covering administrative and outreach expenses and funding clean energy programs.

The California Climate Credit is designed to help customers as the state transitions to a low-carbon future. Each year, the state issues a limited number of greenhouse gas emission allowances in line with California’s goal of reducing its overall emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030.

A second credit in the same amount will appear on eligible customers’ October bills.

Customers can call Pacific Power at 888-221-7070 for information about their bill and can learn more about the California Climate Credit at the CPUC website.

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About Pacific Power

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

(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, asks the public to help find Andrew Shelby, age 19, a young person in foster care who went missing from Portland on March 28. Andrew is believed to be in danger.

ODHS asks the public for help in the effort to find Andrew and to contact 911 or local law enforcement if they believe they see him.
 

Name: Andrew Shelby
Pronouns: He/him
Date of birth: June 10, 2005
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 176 pounds
Hair: Brown
Eye color: Brown
Portland Police Bureau Case #25-80166
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children #2047275

Sometimes when a child or young person is missing, they may be in significant danger and ODHS may need to locate them to assess and support their safety. As ODHS works to do everything it can to find these missing children and young people and assess their safety, media alerts will be issued in some circumstances when it is determined necessary. Sometimes, in these situations, a child or young person may go missing repeatedly, resulting in more than one media alert for the same child or young person.

Report child abuse to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline by calling 1-855-503-SAFE (7233).  This toll-free number allows you to report abuse of any child or adult to the Oregon Department of Human Services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.

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Salem – The Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) has published its first permit-ready plan under the state’s updated Permit-Ready Plans Program. The building plans, available free to the public, are for a code-compliant residential deck.

The Permit-Ready Plans Program creates an efficient pathway for the state to develop and make publicly accessible building plans under Oregon Revised Statute 455.062 that meet the requirements of the state building code. Plans are published to the BCD website. BCD is a division of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services.

The first plan published is a single-level, wood-framed, exterior deck attached to a building regulated by the Oregon Residential Specialty Code. BCD anticipates publishing more permit-ready plans for other residential accessory structures such as pole buildings, detached garages, patio covers, and carports later this year. The division will start developing plans for smaller detached dwelling units by the end of 2025.

Once a permit-ready plan has been published, it will be available for use by the public. To use a permit-ready plan, download the plan, supply any project-specific details required by the plans (dimensions used, site-specific design criteria, selected options, etc.), and then contact the local building department for details about how to submit the plan for its review.

“The Permit-Ready Plans Program is one part of the state’s broad approach to foster increased housing production in Oregon,” said Alana Cox, administrator of the Building Codes Division. “Permit-ready plans are able to be processed by building departments more efficiently, which streamlines the specific project using the provided plans. Also, this streamlined process frees up building department resources to process other permit applications more efficiently.”

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About Oregon BCD: The Building Codes Division administers the statewide building code, which provides uniform standards that ensure newly constructed residential and commercial buildings are safe for people to occupy. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit oregon.gov/bcd and dcbs.oregon.gov. 

(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, is thankful for the community support to find Joshua Makalea.

Joshua, age 17, is a child who went missing from Monmouth on March 14. He was found April 1.

Sometimes when a child is missing they may be in significant danger and ODHS may need to locate them to assess and support their safety. As ODHS works to do everything it can to find these missing children and assess their safety, media alerts will be issued in some circumstances when it is determined necessary. Sometimes, in these situations, a child may go missing repeatedly, resulting in more than one media alert for the same child.

Report child abuse to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline by calling 1-855-503-SAFE (7233).  This toll-free number allows you to report abuse of any child or adult to the Oregon Department of Human Services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.

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Tillamook State Forest—More than 100 volunteers converged on the Tillamook State Forest to clear brush and branches, fix drainage issues and hack back vegetation on 10 miles of the Wilson River Trail to prepare for the busy summer season.

“Volunteers are critical for maintaining our entire trail system,” said Joe Offer, Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Recreation, Education and Interpretation Program Manager. “We only have four full-time employees to maintain all the campgrounds, day use areas, and nearly 100 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails here in the Tillamook. The special partnership we have with these non-profit trail groups is key to keeping these spaces in great shape for all Oregonians.” 

The “Trail Party” on March 29 was organized by the State Forest Trust of Oregon, Northwest Trail Alliance and ODF, along with support from Trailkeepers of Oregon, Westside Trail Federation, and Oregon Equestrian Trails. Typically, the non-profit groups organize their own smaller work parties with 10-20 volunteers at different times throughout the year.

“This event is special because it brings together all the trail groups on one day,” said Kelly Lau, Executive Director State Forests Trust of Oregon. “Collaboration is the key to having an opportunity for all to build a connection with ODF’s Recreation, Education, and Interpretation Program, as well as to our state forests. Events like this not only help with the physical needs of maintaining infrastructure but the social connections between people who truly love to work and play in these forests. It’s amazing how getting your hands dirty with others helps build those relationships.”

Connecting with nature and others who value state forests provides a unique opportunity for those who joined the trail party.

“Many of our volunteers have office jobs in the Portland area, “said Nathan Frechen who coordinates many of the work parties in the Tillamook for Northwest Trail Alliance (NWTA). “This is a different experience for them since most of their work projects are long term and hard to see the end results.  Not so out here. We can look back at the end of the day and see immediate results—the overgrown trails are now clear, and we did it together with some hard work in just a few hours.”

Most of the work is done with hand tools, but some of it requires the use of gas-powered brush cutters and hedge clippers. Volunteers use safety gear such as gloves, face shields and hearing protection depending on the equipment they are using. This gear also protects them from some thornier vegetation.

“Salmonberry is an amazing bush,” said Timothy Mathews with Westside Trail Federation. “One plant can send out satellites in a 20-foot diameter, so if you don’t clear the entire trail prism and cut it to the ground, it will grow back in just a few weeks.”

 Most hikers do not like the thorny bush growing over the trail. 

“On the other hand,” said Mathews, “we try to leave as many ferns and vine maples as close to the trail as possible because we all like looking at them.”

Another volunteer, Suzi Asmus, with NWTA just enjoys the work.

“I just enjoy cleaning and organizing,” said Asmus. “It also brings back good memories of my time with AmeriCorps—that was a long time ago and different work but with kind of the same results, a sense of helping people.”

If you would like the challenge of maintaining trails in state forests, contact one of ODF’s trail partners or the State Forest Trust of Oregon.

“We work directly with our trail partners for many reasons, but two significant benefits are safety and efficiency,” said Offer. “There are many places in our state forest without cell phone coverage so it’s best to work in groups. Also, our partners provide excellent safety training prior to each trail maintenance event. As far as efficiency, these groups are outstanding in their trail work standards. For example, Nathan and other folks were out here a few weeks earlier and used chainsaws to cut up more than 80 trees that fell across just a few miles of trail following a late-season winter storm. That work, and everything else our partners do throughout the year, made it much easier for the crews today to make such good progress.”

If physical work on trails is not your idea of fun, there is also a need for volunteers doing everything from being a campground host to welcoming visitors at the Tillamook Forest Center. For more information on these types of opportunities go to: Oregon Department of Forestry : Volunteer : Recreation, education & interpretation : State of Oregon or the State Forests Trust.

If you want to get involved with trail work, go to one of ODF’s partner organizations:

• Northwest Trail Alliance ​| Event calendar
• Trailkeepers of Oregon | Eve​nt calendar
• Westside Trail Federation | Event calen​​dar
• Oregon Equestrian Trails | Event calendar

2025 Board on Public Safety Standards & Training

 and Policy Committee

Open Vacancy – Recruitments

The Board on Public Safety Standards & Training (BPSST) and established Policy Committees have open vacancies looking to be filled before the end of the year! The current vacancies are as follows:

BPSST: All Board applications must be submitted through Workday.com

• One member who is a sheriff recommended to the Governor by the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association
• One person representing non-management law enforcement 
• Representative of the collective bargaining unit that represents the largest number of individual workers in the DOC
• Public Member

Policy Committees: All Policy Committee applications must be submitted by June 20, 2025.

Private Security/Investigator Policy Committee:

• One person representing the retail industry
• One person representing persons who monitor alarms
• One person who is a private investigator licensed under ORS 703.430, and is recommended by the Oregon State Bar (will also serve on the PI Sub-Committee upon appointment)
• One person representing the public who has never been employed or utilized as a private security provider or investigator

Telecommunications Policy Committee:

• One person representing recommended by and representing the Oregon State Police

Private Investigator Subcommittee:

• Currently licensed private investigator

To inquire about a vacancy, please visit Department of Public Safety Standards & Training : Board on Public Safety Standards & Training and Policy Committees : Boards and Committees : State of Oregon.

If interested in applying for a Policy Committee position, please complete and submit the Policy Committee Interest Form found under the ‘Board and Committee Resources’ section of the website listed above.

If interested in applying for a BPSST position, please complete the online application at Workday Board and Commission Opportunities. (Please note that an account may need to be created if not already in Workday)

For further information regarding the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training or its respective Policy Committees, please contact Juan Lopez at (503) 551-3167 or juan.lopez-hernandez@dpsst.oregon.gov.

Thank you,

DPSST Board & Committees Staff

4/2/25 UPDATE: Donald has been located safely.

ORIGINAL INFORMATION:

Name: Donald Albert Gale

Age: 73

Sex: Male 

Race: Caucasian

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 160

Hair: Gray

Eyes: Blue

Case #: 25-7375

On April 1, 2025, we received a report that Donald Gale was missing.  Donald left his residence in the 5000 block of Williams Highway in the early morning hours of March 30, 2025 in a silver Dodge pickup, Oregon plate WBB795.

Please contact the Josephine County Sheriff's Office with any information. 

541-474-5123

Operation Not Forgotten Will Surge 60 FBI Personnel to 10 FBI Field Offices to Support Investigations of Indian Country Violent Crimes

PORTLAND, Ore.— The Justice Department announced Tuesday that it will surge FBI assets across the country to address unresolved violent crimes in Indian Country, including crimes relating to missing and murdered indigenous persons.

FBI will send 60 personnel, rotating in 90-day temporary duty assignments over a six-month period.  This operation is the longest and most intense national deployment of FBI resources to address Indian Country crime to date.  FBI personnel will support field offices in Albuquerque; Denver; Detroit; Jackson, Miss.; Minneapolis; Oklahoma City; Phoenix; Portland, Oreg.; Seattle; and Salt Lake City. The FBI will work in partnership with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Tribal law enforcement agencies across jurisdictions.

FBI personnel will be assisted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit, and they will use the latest forensic evidence processing tools to solve cases and hold perpetrators accountable.  U.S. Attorney’s Offices will aggressively prosecute case referrals.

“Crime rates in American Indian and Alaska Native communities are unacceptably high. By surging FBI resources and collaborating closely with US Attorneys and Tribal law enforcement to prosecute cases, the Department of Justice will help deliver the accountability that these communities deserve,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi.

“The FBI will manhunt violent criminals on all lands – and Operation Not Forgotten ensures a surge in resources to locate violent offenders on tribal lands and find those who have gone missing,” said FBI Director Kash Patel.

“Operation Not Forgotten provides critical resources to support the ongoing efforts by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and partners to address violent crime, including missing and murdered indigenous people, in Tribal communities throughout Oregon,” said William M. Narus, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

“FBI Portland welcomes additional resources to assist in conducting investigative and enforcement efforts throughout the state of Oregon,” said FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Olson. “Our men and women are dedicated to serving our communities with the assistance of our partners, and we will continue to do so with the same vigor and dedication as we have in the past.”

Indian Country faces persistent levels of crime and victimization.  At the beginning of Fiscal Year 2025, FBI’s Indian Country program had approximately 4,300 open investigations, including over 900 death investigations, 1,000 child abuse investigations, and more than 500 domestic violence and adult sexual abuse investigations.

Operation Not Forgotten renews efforts begun during President Trump’s first term under E.O. 13898, Establishing the Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives.  This is the third deployment under Operation Not Forgotten, which has provided investigative support to over 500 cases in the past two years.  Combined, these operations resulted in the recovery of 10 child victims, 52 arrests, and 25 indictments or judicial complaints.

Operation Not Forgotten also expands upon the resources deployed in recent years to address cases of missing and murdered indigenous people.  The effort will be supported by the Department’s MMIP Regional Outreach Program, which places attorneys and coordinators in U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the United States to help prevent and respond to cases of missing or murdered indigenous people.

# # #

SALEM, Ore. - A formal ribbon-cutting rededication ceremony for the recently completed renovations at the W.D. Jackson Armory of the Oregon Army National Guard, located in Portland, Oregon, is scheduled to be held on Friday, April 4, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.

Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, the Adjutant General of Oregon, will preside over the event, which will include elected officials, members from the City of Portland as well as other Oregon National Guard dignitaries to commemorate the rededication.

“The Oregon Military Department is excited to announce completion of a $9.4 million renovation of the W.D. Jackson Armory which is now available to support the Oregon National Guard and the local community,” said Mr. Todd Farmer, director of the Oregon Military Department Installations Division. “This renovation extends the life of this important facility by at least 25 years and demonstrates OMD’s commitment to Portland.”

The armory was originally constructed in 1963 and features an additional 6,100-square-foot storage building added in 1991. The renovations are part of the U.S. Army Service Life Extension Program (ASLEP) and are funded by a combination of federal resources and bond sales by the State of Oregon.

The upgrades feature new water lines, HVAC units, seismic enhancements, energy-efficient windows, new flooring, fresh paint, and updated bathroom facilities. Additionally, dilapidated roads were replaced, backup generators were installed, and caged storage areas for equipment were created. Facility designs were provided by BBL Architects, focusing on cost-effective and energy-efficient improvements for the Oregon Military Department.

The armory is currently home to both the Alpha and Charlie Batteries of the 2nd Battalion, 218th Field Artillery Regiment, which is part of the 41st Infantry Combat Team, as well as the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, part of the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

Members of the media who wish to attend the ceremony can contact Lt. Col. Stephen Bomar, Public Affairs Director for the Oregon Military Department.

-30-

The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) issued four grants totaling $2.35 million to fund local pilot projects that provide innovative strategies to address the emergency medical services needs of older adults who live in long-term care facilities.

The grants are part of the Senior Emergency Medical Services Innovation Program, which was created when Oregon House Bill 2397 passed in 2021. Funding for the grants started in January 2025 and will continue through December 2026.

The four grant recipients are:

• Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue (TVF&R), which was awarded $758,000 to fund an Advanced Resource Medic (ARM) unit. This unit will be staffed with advanced practice paramedics and physician assistants who can respond to emergency calls from licensed facilities and provide the care needed to reduce unnecessary hospital visits for residents. TVF&R responds to about 45,000 emergency medical services calls a year and 14 percent of those are in care facilities.
   
• Eugene-Springfield Fire, which was awarded $1,233,000 to fund a Community Aid Response Unit. This team will respond to residents of licensed long-term care facilities and is equipped to stay on scene to provide services that take longer than a typical emergency response. This unit will also provide risk evaluation and education services to facilities. 
   
• City of Lake Oswego, which was awarded $288,000 to fund Risk Reduction and Prevention and Education Programs for older adults in the community. The city fire department will hire a risk reduction specialist and will partner with licensed long-term care facilities to develop emergency plans. Lake Oswego will also work toward developing a master emergency plan that care facilities across the state can build from in preparing their own plans.
   
• City of Albany, which was awarded $68,500 to fund a Care Facility Response Safety Program to train facility staff on using lifting devices and responding to falls.

The Senior Emergency Medical Services Innovation Program is within the ODHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities (APD). In addition to funding pilot projects, its work  is focused on promoting quality emergency medical services for older adults while also ensuring efficiency and encouraging community-based responses to challenges.  

“Each of these pilot projects represents a step forward for our state as we look to meet the needs of older adults and use community emergency response resources effectively,” said Nakeshia Knight-Coyle, Ph.D., Director of the ODHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities, which administers the Senior Emergency Medical Services Innovation Program.

The grants issued were awarded through a competitive Request for Proposal process managed through OregonBuys. Funding for the pilot project grants is provided through APD’s Quality Care Fund.

Salem, Ore.  –  Here comes the April 15, 2025 deadline to file your taxes -- but wait, there’s good news. If you don’t owe any taxes, you have three years to file your tax return without any penalty and still get your refund. Plus, thanks to the Oregon Department of Human Services Tax Infrastructure Grant Program, there are many places to get free help in filing your taxes.

For many people, particularly those with lower incomes or who work part-time or seasonally, a refund is due thanks to withholding and refundable tax credits.

But why wait three years if you are due a tax refund? Don’t let the April 15 deadline stop you from getting your tax return this year. It may be too late to find an appointment before April 15, but many free tax filing places take some time off after April 15 and then start up again in May and work through October 15.

Also, it is fairly common to get a letter two or three months after filing your taxes from the Oregon Department of Revenue or the Internal Revenue Service asking for more information. The free tax filing services can help you respond to the letter including translating into other languages if needed.

Learn more about credits, deadlines and where to find free help: https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/Pages/tax-help.aspx

The Tax Infrastructure Grant Program funds culturally relevant or culturally specific organizations, Tribal governments and rural community organizations to help educate and provide free tax filing help for people with low incomes. Help is available in multiple languages. The grant money is also used to increase the number of certified tax preparers in Oregon.

Where to get free help filing taxes

• 211Info: Call 2-1-1 or email help@211info.org for a list of all the free tax filing help.

• Oregon State University; vita@oregonstate.edu; 541-737-3371; Corvallis, Bend, Eugene OSU VITA website: https://business.oregonstate.edu/volunteer-income-tax-assistance  
• Western Oregon University; wouvita@wou.edu; 503-751-4132; Monmouth, Independence, Falls City; WOU VITA website: https://wou.edu/business-economics/volunteer-income-tax-assistance-vita/.
• CASH Oregon: info@Cashoregon.org; 503-243-7765; Portland, Beaverton, Gresham
• Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO); TAX@irco.org; 971-427-3993; Portland, Ontario       
• Centro de Servicios Para Campesinos; biec@Centrodspc.org">debbiec@Centrodspc.org; 503-982-0243; Woodburn        
• Latino Community Association; info@latinocommunityassociation.org;

541-382-4366; Bend, Redmond               

• Moneywise Oregon; dan@moneywiseoregon.org; 541-670-5054; Coos Bay, Roseburg

Klamath County, Ore. 31 March 2025- On Monday, March 31, 2025, at 8:46 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two vehicle crash on Highway 97, near milepost 176, in Klamath County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a northbound Buick LeSabre, operated by Leif Taylor Celusta (34) of Crescent, lost control, crossed into the southbound lane, and struck a southbound Kenworth commercial motor vehicle and trailer, operated by Robert Emil Mewes (58) of Madras.

The operator of the Buick (Celusta) was declared deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Kenworth (Mewes) was reportely uninjured.

The highway was impacted for approximately two hours during the on-scene investigation. Speed and roadway conditions are being considered primary causes of the crash.

OSP was assisted by Crescent Fire and ODOT.

# # #

About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.

Salem, Ore. -- Oregon has received approval from the U.S Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to waive the 10-Day Timely Reporting requirement to request replacement of food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost or destroyed during the March 16, 2025, floods, mudslides, and power outages.  

New deadline for SNAP replacement benefits 

Households in the approved counties now have until April 15, 2025, to report food losses and request replacement benefits.  

Approved counties for the waiver: 

Individuals residing in the following counties are eligible to request SNAP replacement benefits by the extended deadline:  

• Clackamas 

• Coos 

• Curry 

• Douglas 

• Harney 

• Jackson 

• Josephine 

• Lane 

• Malheur  

• Multnomah 

What about other counties? 

For individuals who live in a county not listed above, the standard 10 day rule remains in effect. Food losses must be reported within 10 days of the incident, and proof may be required.  

How to request SNAP replacement benefits: 

Individuals who experienced food losses due to the storm can submit a request for replacement benefits using one of the following methods: 

• By phone: Call 1-800-699-9075 or 711 (TTY) 

• In person: Visit a local office (find locations at: Oregon.gov) 

• By mail: (Requests must be received by the due date)  

• ONE Customer Service Center P.O. Box 14015 Salem, OR 97309 

• By email: Send requests to egon.Benefits@odhsoha.oregon.gov" target="_blank">Oregon.Benefits@odhsoha.oregon.gov  

• Online: Submit requests via the ONE online portal 

The information necessary to make a request is available in the form 347D: https://sharedsystems.dhsoha.state.or.us/DHSForms/Served/de0349d.pdf 

The information required to replace the SNAP benefits may be found in the form 347D found here: https://sharedsystems.dhsoha.state.or.us/DHSForms/Served/de0349d.pdf 

When does the waiver end? 

The waiver will remain in effect until April 15, 2025. After this date, the standard 10-day rule for reporting food losses and requesting replacement benefits will apply. 

About the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) 

SNAP helps households with low incomes buy food. If you qualify, you get benefits that can be used to buy groceries at authorized stores. For more information or to request SNAP replacement benefits, contact your local office or visit the Oregon SNAP benefit website or call 800-699-9075.

                                                            # # #

Umatilla County, Ore. 1 April 2025- On Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 2:20 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on Interstate 84, near milepost 190, in Umatilla County.

The preliminary investigation indicated an eastbound Chevrolet Venture, operated by Kenneth Leroy Stout (85) of Ilwaco (WA), was passing through a single lane construction zone when it began to pass vehicles on the inside shoulder of the roadway. The operator lost control, entered the median, rolled several times, and came to rest on the westbound shoulder.

The operator (Stout), who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle and declared deceased at the scene.

The highway was not impacted during the on-scene investigation. The primary cause of the crash is considered unsafe passing and further investigation is being conducted.

OSP was assisted by the Echo Fire Department, Stanfield Fire Department, Umatilla County Fire District 1, Umatilla County Sheriff's Office, and ODOT.

# # #

About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.

COOS BAY, Oregon— Join rangers at Sunset Bay State Park from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday April 26 to remove invasive English ivy from the landscape and make space for native plants in honor of Earth Day.

Invasive species of ivy are prevalent throughout the Pacific Northwest and tend to outcompete native plants. Assist park rangers in identifying and eradicating the weed from the park property in honor of Earth Day.

Volunteers will gather at Yoakum Point about ¼ mile before Sunset Bay day-use area when driving south. The trailhead is on the west side of the highway, and the parking lot is on the east side (please do not block the driveway). The address is 90064 Cape Arago Highway.

Participants should be prepared to travel on uneven ground at the service site. Service will take place outdoors, and volunteers should be comfortable wearing work gloves and using hand tools. Gloves, tools, snacks and bottled water will be provided.

Volunteers are encouraged to dress for the weather and wear closed toed-shoes and something they don’t mind getting dirty.

For more information, please contact Park Ranger Jess Hayward at d@oprd.oregon.gov">Jess.hayward@oprd.oregon.gov or 541-888-3732.

Salem, OR—Nearly 1.2 million Oregonians have already filed their state personal income tax returns this year.

But with just two weeks before taxes are due, April 15, more than 1 million Oregonians have yet to submit their tax year 2024 returns.

“Taxpayers are slightly ahead of the pace from 2023, the most recent non-kicker year. We still expect to see a rush of returns as we get closer to Tax Day,” said Megan Denison, Personal Tax and Compliance Division administrator with the Oregon Department of Revenue.

“Our best advice for taxpayers is to get their returns in as soon as possible.”

In addition, to filing sooner rather than later, the department offers the following information for taxpayers who still need to file their state return.

File electronically.

E-filing is the fastest way for taxpayers to get their tax refund. On average, taxpayers who e-file their returns and request their refund via direct deposit receive their refund sooner than those who file paper returns and request paper refund checks. Taxpayers should file just once. Sending a paper return through the mail after e-filing will a delay a refund.

Free filing options

Revenue provides several options for taxpayers to e-file their returns for free. Oregon Free Fillable Forms performs basic calculations and is ideal for taxpayers who don’t need help preparing their returns and want the convenience of filing electronically. The IRS offers a similar option for filing federal taxes electronically.

New this year, taxpayers can file their federal return directly with the IRS using IRS Direct File and their Oregon return directly with the state through Direct File Oregon for free. Videos are available to show how to use IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon.

Information about all available free tax preparation software options is available on the Revenue website, along with a list of organizations providing free assistance.

Where’s my refund? tool and video

Revenue has issued nearly 850,000 refunds already this year, most within two weeks of filing. Taxpayers wondering about the refund on their tax year 2024 return, can use the Oregon Department of Revenue’s Where’s My Refund? tool to check its status and, if they want more information, watch a video outlining the refund timelines to better understand the process.

Filing an extension.

Individuals who are not able to file by April 15, 2025 can file an extension directly with the Oregon Department of Revenue or with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). If the IRS extension is granted, the Oregon extension is automatically granted. A timely filed extension moves the federal tax filing deadline and the Oregon filing deadline to October 15, 2025.

Only request an Oregon extension if you:

• Don’t have a federal extension.
• Owe Oregon taxes.
• Can’t file your return by April 15, 2025.

Remember that having a filing extension is not an extension to pay any tax owed. Taxpayers who can’t pay the full amount they owe, should pay what they can to avoid late payment penalties.

Visit www.oregon.gov/dor to get tax forms, see a list of approved tax preparation software products, check the status of your refund, or make tax payments. For questions not answered on our website, call 800-356-4222 toll-free (English or Spanish) or 503-378-4988 or email questions.dor@dor.oregon.gov. For TTY (hearing or speech impaired), we accept all relay calls. Due to the number of calls Revenue receives during tax season, you may experience extended wait times.

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SALEM, Oregon—Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is seeking public comment on a proposal to expand the 25% out-of-state camping surcharge to parking permit fees and eliminate the two-year parking permit.

The out-of-state camping surcharge was enacted by state law in 2022 for RV campsites, and OPRD expanded it to all site types for out-of-state campers for stays beginning July 1, 2025.

The proposed rule change would add the 25% out-of-state surcharge to parking permit fees. Based on current rates, out-of-state visitors would pay $12.50 per day or $37.50 for an annual parking permit. If approved, the change would begin July 1, 2025.

Oregon residents would continue to pay the same parking permit rate of $10 per day or $30 for an annual permit.

The proposed rule change would also eliminate the sales of 24-month parking permits starting in 2026. Existing permits would be honored until they expire. The 12-month annual permit will continue to be sold.

These changes would help parks more consistently implement the surcharge as well as track annual revenue and budgets for parks in the future. It’s part of an ongoing effort to help keep pace with rising costs while continuing to provide exceptional outdoor experiences.

Public comments on the proposed rule change will be accepted through 5 p.m. April 30, 2025:

• Online: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/PRP/pages/PRP-rulemaking.aspx
• Mail: OPRD Department, attn: Katie Gauthier, 725 Summer St NE, Suite C, Salem OR 97301
• Email: D.Publiccomment@oprd.oregon.gov">OPRD.Publiccomment@oprd.oregon.gov

A public hearing will also be held 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, 2025:

• Register to attend the virtual hearing at: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__1Zw_JurTy-PYpxWhGra2w#/registration

Once the public comment period ends, the proposal with any incorporated updates is slated to go to Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission in June for possible adoption.

Portland, OR — While scholars have addressed the U.S. government’s forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, few have focused on temporary detention centers or incarceration experiences in Oregon. “‘Not fit for human habitation’: Portland’s Wartime Japanese American Detention Camp,” published in the Spring 2025 issue of the Oregon Historical Quarterly (OHQ) by author Lauren R. Yanase, offers an important addition to the historical record.

Following the United States’ entry into World War II and President Franklin Roosevelt’s issuing of Executive Order 9066, authorizing the U.S. military to forcibly remove and incarcerate people of Japanese ancestry, West Coast military and governmental leaders began moving large populations from designated military zones to temporary locations. In May 1942, civilians arrived at the euphemistically termed Portland Assembly Center (now the Portland Expo Center), one of 15 temporary detention camps (and the only in Oregon) that the U.S. government used to detain Japanese Americans — including American citizens. The detention center, hastily converted from Pacific International Livestock Exposition Pavilion, imprisoned over 3,500 people at its peak, offered little privacy, and smelled of manure; activist Minoru Yasui described the place as “not fit for human habilitation.”

In the article, Yanase foregrounds the stories of two Japanese Americans, Ida Nakamura, a 17-year-old girl born in Portland, and Saku Tomita, a 41-year-old mother of three. Through her analysis of their firsthand accounts, government papers, and existing scholarship, Yanase documents conditions at the detention camp and argues that the Portland Assembly Center was “more than the waystation between freedom and incarceration.” There, detainees who were mostly families “battled hunger, pestilence, disease, and uncertain futures,” while “negotiat[ing] labor, leisure, and loyalty” with the Euro-American site administrators.

In the decades since the U.S. government created the wartime temporary detention camp, “the physical, visual, and olfactory environment of the Portland Assembly Center has been transformed to the point of being unrecognizable.” Following the end of World War II, the site was restored to a livestock facility and eventually converted into the Portland Expo Center. Traces of the detention center can be found if one knows where to look, and Hall A, one of the few remaining structures associated with Japanese incarceration, “invokes the gloom and echoes of the clamor that detainees adapted to almost a century ago.” As the future of the site remains uncertain with plans for substantial renovations, Yanase’s scholarship points to the Japanese American community’s profound connection to that place and to the importance of remembrance through physical memorialization.

In the Spring 2025 issue, authors also engage in a public history discussion about doing history in the Pacific Northwest, explore OHS’s newest exhibition about the history of Portland, and share through a local history spotlight how one museum utilizes its collections for senior enrichment.

The journal of record for Oregon history, the Oregon Historical Quarterly publishes well-researched, well-written history about Oregon and the Pacific Northwest for both scholars and general readers. OHQ amplifies knowledge and perspectives that traditional scholarship has often silenced and sparks relevant conversations about history. It is one of the largest state historical society journals in the United States and is a recognized and respected source for the history of the Pacific Northwest.

A subscription to OHQ is also a benefit of Oregon Historical Society membership. Copies of the Spring 2025 issue and many back issues are available for purchase for $10 in the OHS Museum Store, and select articles from previous issues are also available to read for free online.

About the Oregon Historical Society

For more than 125 years, the Oregon Historical Society has served as the state’s collective memory, preserving a vast collection of objects, photographs, maps, manuscript materials, books, films, and oral histories. Our research library, museum, digital platforms, educational programming, and historical journal make Oregon’s history open and accessible to all. We exist because history is powerful, and because a history as deep and complex as Oregon’s cannot be contained within a single story or point of view.

SALEM, Ore. – Governor Tina Kotek has proclaimed April 2025 to be Oregon Arbor Month throughout the state. This year’s proclamation recognizes the importance to neighborhoods of urban trees as cities add housing and rapidly densify.

The proclamation states that “Trees play an integral role in fostering healthy communities,” adding that urban development and the preservation of trees demands a careful balance.

Governor Kotek said “To protect Oregon’s natural and working lands in the face of the worsening climate crisis, we must build a more resilient future that forges connection across our landscapes, for both rural and urban communities alike. Arbor Month is key to this goal, promoting the preservation and planting of trees across Oregon.”

Her proclamation notes the loss of many trees in Oregon in recent years to wildfire, extreme heat and drought, development pressures and new tree-killing pests, such as emerald ash borer.

Oregon Dept. of Forestry Urban and Community Forestry Program Manager Scott Altenhoff said “Replacing those trees will require us to pick up the pace not only of planting but also of ensuring nurseries have the capacity to grow the numbers and types of trees needed that are resilient to climate change and resistant to serious pests and diseases.”

He added that it is equally important to grow and diversify the workforce in urban forestry.

Altenhoff said there is growing recognition, as cited in the proclamation, that the benefits of tree canopy have been unevenly distributed in the state. “Many low-income areas and those with large populations of people of color have fewer large shade trees than more affluent neighborhoods. Research has shown that having fewer large shade trees in those lower-canopy neighborhoods is strongly associated with increased deaths from heart disease and poor health outcomes.”

As examples, Altenhoff cited studies showing lack of trees can affect everything from having more low-birthweight babies to increased rates of asthma and mental health issues, as well as higher rates of domestic violence and certain crimes.

“We are in a much better position now to help communities increase their canopy, thanks to the Oregon Legislature last biennium providing the first-ever state funding dedicated to support urban forestry so we can help communities have healthy, shade-giving urban forests,” he said.

History of Arbor Month

Oregon Arbor Month grew out of Arbor Day, a one-day tree-planting campaign in Nebraska in 1872. The event spread nationwide and expanded in many states to a week-long celebration of all-things tree related. In Oregon, a few years ago the non-profit Oregon Community Trees lobbied to expand the time devoted to celebrating trees to the entire month.

Read the full text of the proclamation.

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SALEM, Ore. — The Adaptive Management Program Committee will meet at noon on Monday, April 7 in the Clatsop Room, Building C, at the Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters, located at 2600 State St. in Salem. To join virtually, please use the Teams video conference information found on the agenda.

The committee’s agenda includes:

• Discuss amphibians research questions (Substantial decision item)

• Discuss the IRST’s questions on the scoping proposal on eastern Oregon steep slopes questions (Substantial decision item)

• Discuss potential modifications to the AMPC charter (Substantial decision item)

• Discuss effectiveness monitoring

The meeting is open to the public to attend in person and online via Teams. Public comments will be accepted near the start of the meeting. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting at 503-945-7200 or by email at ogram@odf.oregon.gov">adaptivemanagementprogram@odf.oregon.gov.

The 13-member committee The Adaptive Management Program Committee helps determine if forest practices are meeting their goals to protect natural resources through a science-based and transparent process. The committee sets the research agenda that the Independent Research and Science Team (IRST) implements. View more information on the AMPC webpage.