SHADY COVE, Ore. - Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) detectives are investigating a homicide in Shady Cove.  Detectives say one person of interest is currently in custody; there is no known threat to the public regarding this incident. 

On Sunday, April 21, 2019, at 10:13 a.m., dispatch received a 911 call from a residence in the 500-block of Sarma Drive.  Deputies arrived on scene at 10:39 a.m.  

An investigator with the Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office responded to the scene.  Detectives believe they have identified the deceased; however, the next-of-kin have not yet been notified. 

JCSO officials activated the Major Assault and Death Investigation Unit (MADIU).  JCSO investigators are assisted by personnel from the following agencies:  Oregon State Police, Medford Police Department, Ashland Police Department.  

Additional information regarding the incident will be released at a later time.  Anyone who has relevant information about the case is asked to call detectives at (541) 774-6800.  Refer to case #19-7804.

###

The Lake County Sheriff's Office is requesting the public's assistance in locating Glenda Cormie (59) of Paisley, OR.

Cormie was last seen in Paisley, OR on Monday, April 15, 2019.  She is described as 5 foot 3 inches tall with short gray hair. 

If anyone has any information regarding the location of Cormie or has seen her since April 15, you are asked to contact the Lake County Sheriff's Office Dispatch at 541-947-2504 and reference case #19-0154

Oregon State Police is requesting anyone that witnessed the crash or has any information to please contact the Oregon State Police Dispatch Center at 1-800-442-0776 or OSP -  refer to case #SP19-099917 .

TWO VEHICLE FATAL CRASH ON HWY 97 NEAR REDMOND - DESCHUTES COUNTY

News Release from Oregon State Police
Posted on FlashAlert: March 21st, 2019 4:13 PM

On Thursday, March 21, 2019 at approximately 6:46 A.M. Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a two vehicle crash on Hwy 97 near milepost 125, just south of Redmond in Deschutes County.

Preliminary investigation determined that a silver Honda Pilot, operated by Sara Edwards (19) of Redmond, was traveling southbound on Hwy 97 when she attempted to avoid a vehicle that was entering Hwy 97 from the Desert Terrace Mobile Estates.  Edwards lost control of her vehicle and slid into the northbound lanes and collided with a Mack Concrete Pumping Truck, operated by Michael Cucera IV (36) from Redmond.

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

Cucera sustained minor injuries.

OSP was assisted by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Redmond Police Department, Bend Police Department, Redmond Fire Department, Bend Fire Department, and ODOT.

Contact Info:
Captain Tim Fox
Public Information Officer
Oregon State Police

Media Email: OSPPIO@state.or.us


### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###
Twitter: @ORStatePolice
Facebook: @ospsocial

VICTIM:

WMJ, 17 years old

INJURIES:

Two non life threatening stab wounds to the back. 

ARRESTEE #1:

17 years old

Grants Pass Resident

CHARGES:

Assault 2, Assault 3

ARRESTEE #2:

14 year old, WMJ

Grants Pass Resident

CHARGES:

Assault 3, Runaway Juvenile

ARRESTEE #3:

15 year old, WMJ

Grants Pass Resident

CHARGES:

Assault 3

ARRESTEE #4:

15 year old, WMJ

Grants Pass Resident

CHARGES:

Assault 3

DETAILS:

On Saturday, April 20th, 2019 at approximately 8:10pm, Officers from the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety, responded to 1327 NE Evans Street for a reported stabbing.  Officers located a 17 year old victim with non-life threatening injuries.  GPDPS Fire/Rescue responded and provided medical attention to the victim. American Medical Response transported the victim to Three Rivers Medical Center where he was treated and released.  

The investigation revealed the assault was related to an interaction the victim had with a female juvenile known to the victim . The four arrested males confronted the victim over this interaction at the Evans St. address.  The victim was assaulted by the four male juveniles.  During the assault, One of the juveniles stabbed the victim in the back with a box cutter.  The juveniles fled the scene, but were located hours later.  The listed male juveniles were located, interviewed and all four were lodged at the Josephine County Juvenile Justice Center.  

The Western Oregon University Board of Trustees approved an increase of 2.33%, or $4 per credit, for Oregon resident undergraduate students in the 2019-20 academic year at its quarterly meeting Wednesday.

WOU is one of the first state public universities to finalize its new tuition rate in advance of the Oregon Legislature’s budget decision for the 2019-21 biennium.

“WOU students cannot wait until lawmakers set the budget for higher education, so we decided to move forward,” said WOU President Rex Fuller. “We know that tuition rates are a primary consideration for Oregon students as they make their college decisions, so we wanted to give them the information they needed to make the best choice for their families without delay.”

WOU students took part in the tuition rate recommendation process as part of the long-standing Tuition and Fee Advisory Committee. The university was able to keep its rate increase low by redesigning its tuition framework, continuing its budget-conscience operations and being prepared to tap reserves. WOU strives to be the most affordable Oregon public university while still offering a high-quality, career-focused education that can be completed in four years with minimal student debt.

“High on our list of priorities is keeping a degree within reach of Oregon families,” Fuller said. “Our lower tuition rate supports our mission of accessibility to higher education, equity and inclusion for all families seeking upward mobility.”

WOU also has joined with the other six public universities in seeking a $120 million increase in the Public University Support Fund in order to match the current service level for those universities.

In other action Wednesday, the board:

• Heard a report from the April 4-5 visit from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, WOU’s accrediting body.
• Learned that the NWCCU had approved WOU’s new Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership program, which will launch in fall 2019.
• Got an update on WOU’s status change to a doctoral-granting institution and the inaugural program, Doctorate of Physical Therapy.
• Heard a progress report for capital projects happening on campus. The Natural Sciences building renovations are in the final phase, and the Oregon Military Academy building’s transition to the new Welcome Center is under way. The seismic upgrades and renovations to the Instructional Technology Center have not begun.
• Approved the additions of a new undergraduate certificate in Bilingual/English as a Second Language; a new undergraduate certificate in Early Childhood Education; a new minor in Early Childhood; a new minor program in English Studies; and a new minor program English for Speakers of Other Languages and Bilingual Education.

For more information about the board meeting, visit wou.edu/board

About Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University, founded in 1856 and located in Monmouth, is the state’s oldest public university. Serving approximately 5,100 students, WOU is a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution with nearly 75 percent of the student population being from Oregon. A significant portion of attendees are members of under-represented groups, veterans or non-traditional students. WOU is Oregon’s campus of choice for those seeking a transformative education in a supportive, student-centered learning community where classes are taught by faculty. Together we succeed.

# # #

PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal grand jury in Portland has returned a seven-count indictment charging Glen Stoll, 68, a resident of Washington State, with multiple crimes stemming from a scheme whereby he organized, promoted, and marketed fraudulent tax avoidance strategies. Stoll made his initial appearance in the District of Oregon today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman.

Stoll is charged with one count each of conspiracy to defraud the U.S., conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and making a false statement on a loan application and three counts of tax evasion.

As alleged in the indictment, Stoll served as the director of an entity called Remedies at Law. Stoll used Remedies at Law and other related entities, including the Oregon-based Embassy of Heaven, to promote schemes designed to assist people in evading the assessment and collection of federal income taxes. Stoll advised clients that they could avoid paying taxes by creating a church or ministry and placing their assets and income in so-called ministerial trusts.  Stoll referred to himself as a “general counsel” with legal experience when, in reality, he held no license to practice law.

Beginning in September 2007, Stoll assisted former Oregon couple Karl and Laurie Brady with the creation of two “ministerial trusts” called Progeny Services and Progeny Foundation. At Stoll’s direction, Karl Brady opened bank accounts for the nominee entities, issued checks from his business payable to Progeny Services or Progeny Foundation, and deposited the checks into the nominee accounts. This enabled the Brady’s to avoid the assessment of federal income tax while maintaining full access to the money for personal and family expenses.

From 2008 through 2015, at Stoll’s direction, Karl Brady filed no personal income tax returns despite receiving more than $3 million and ignored repeated letters from the IRS notifying him of his failure to file. This scheme allowed Brady to evade in excess of $1.2 million dollars in income taxes.

Separately, in 2015, Stoll assisted Brady in defrauding two of Brady’s mortgage lenders.  Stoll assisted Brady in submitting a false short sale application and other fraudulent documents to avoid repayment on a vacation rental in Hawaii. At Stoll’s direction, Brady’s short sale application included a letter claiming he and his wife were under the complete care of a church ministry, had no income, no assets, and were completely dependent on a church. Relying on this false information, the lenders authorized the short sale and suffered combines losses of approximately $120,000.

This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Donna Brecker Maddux, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

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

# # #

Criminal conspiracy could have cost investors more than $600 million

PORTLAND, Ore.—U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams announced today that Brian A. Oliver, a former owner and executive vice president of Aequitas Management, LLC and several other Aequitas-related companies has pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud and money laundering.

According to court documents, Oliver, 54, of Aurora, Oregon, and unnamed co-conspirators used the Lake Oswego, Oregon, based company to solicit investments in a variety of notes and funds, many of which were purportedly backed by trade receivables in education, health care, transportation, and other consumer credit areas. Oliver was the company’s primary fundraiser and shared responsibility for the operation and management of Aequitas-affiliated companies and investment products as well as for the use of investor money.

From June 2014 through February 2016, Oliver and others solicited investors by misrepresenting the company’s use of investor money, the financial health and strength of Aequitas and its related companies, and the risks associated with its investments and investment strategies. Oliver and his co-conspirators also failed to disclose other critical facts about the company, including its near-constant liquidity and cash-flow crises, the use investor money to repay other investors and to defray operating expenses, and the lack of collateral to secure funds.

Oliver faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or twice the gross monetary gains or losses resulting from his crimes, and three years’ supervised release. He will be sentenced on August 5, 2019 before U.S. District Court Judge Michael W. Mosman.

As part of the plea agreement, Oliver has agreed to pay restitution in full to each of victim’s as determined and ordered by the court.

This case is being investigated by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration. It is being prosecuted by Scott E. Bradford and Ryan W. Bounds, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.

# # #

EUGENE, Oregon – The Oregon National Guard is scheduled to display military equipment at Autzen Stadium Saturday, April 20 for the annual University of Oregon Military Appreciation Spring Game.  The Spring game allows the Ducks to scrimmage with each other to practice their skills before the fall season, while also paying tribute to military service members.

Military members are scheduled to greet fans in front of the stadium before the game and veterans from every branch of service will participate in Military Appreciation Day activities during the game.

Oregon Army National Guard’s Staff Sgt. Duane Reno from the 234th Army Band is scheduled to sing the National Anthem. This will be followed by an F-15 flyover by the Oregon Air National Guard’s 173 Fighter Wing at 2:05 p.m. prior to game kick off. The half-time show is scheduled to have an honors presentation and recognition along with a helicopter flyover by the United States Coast Guard.

The half time honors presentation includes a flag folding ceremony directly involving Coach Mario Cristobal.  Coach Cristobal has ties to Oregon’s Historic 41 Infantry Division, and the local 162 Infantry Regiment based in Springfield.  Coach Cristobal’s wife, Jessica, had a grandfather, Harry Anicich, who served with the 41st Infantry Division throughout World War II.  The 41st was the longest deployed division in the Pacific serving all four years.

Accepting the flag from Coach Cristobal is Army Vietnam Veteran, the former Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Training, Readiness and Mobilization, the second longest serving Adjutant General and Commander of the Oregon National Guard, and also University of Oregon Alum, Maj. Gen. Mr. Raymond F. Rees (Retired).

Fans are encouraged to make a three can food donation to FOOD for Lane County at the admission gate, which is part of one of the largest food donations operations in the county.

The gates open at noon for attendees to view military static displays.  The gates to Autzen Stadium are scheduled to open at 1:00 p.m. and the game officially start at 2:00 p.m.  

Captions:

180421-A-VK948-002

University of Oregon ROTC cadets present the U.S. flag during a pre-game ceremony for the University of Oregon Ducks Football Spring Game at Autzen Stadium, April 21, in Eugene, Oregon. Veterans from every branch of service participated in Military Appreciation Day activities during the game. (Photo by 1st Lt Jessica Clarke, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

UPDATE, 4/19/19 at 10:30 a.m.: 

Jackson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO) search and rescue (SAR) officials say Dale Westrom has been located safe in Douglas County.  He was transported to receive medical care, but is in good condition.  SAR officials wish to thank those who kept an eye out for Westrom and called with tips of possible sightings. 

___

Original release, 4/18/19 at 3:00 p.m.:

TRAIL, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) search and rescue personnel are attempting to locate a missing Trail man.  Dale Westrom, 43, was last seen on Saturday, April 13, 2019, at around 6:00 a.m.  He was walking along Highway 227 at the 44-mile marker, near the intersection with National Forest Road 32.

On Monday, April 15, 2019, a friend reported Westrom missing.  Westrom was reportedly going mushroom hunting, but he may have become confused and walked west in an attempt to get to Sutherlin. 

Westrom is described as a white male with brown hair, hazel eyes, and a goatee.  He is five-feet, nine-inches tall and weighs approximately 195 pounds.  He was last seen wearing a black baseball cap, an orange hooded sweatshirt, a green or blue raincoat, blue jeans, and brown boots. He was carrying a black backpack.  Westrom has difficulty communicating verbally due to a medical condition.

If you have information about Westrom’s whereabouts, please call Sergeant Shawn Richards through dispatch at (541) 776-7206.  Refer to case #19-07390. 

###

April 18, 2019 - Salem, Ore. – When Saleem Hakimi, owner of the Stayton Market and Deli found out that his store sold a winning Win for Life ticket, he couldn’t believe it.

“This just shows that you can win anywhere, even a small town like Stayton,” Hakimi said.

Hakimi sold the winning ticket to Brian Schachtsick of Stayton. Schachtsick claimed his prize last week and opted to take the annual payments of $52,000 before taxes, each year for the rest of his life. The winning numbers were 11-19-50-52.

Hakimi said that he hasn’t had a big win like this in the past and is excited to receive the $13,000 selling bonus for selling the winning Win for Life ticket.

“I will put some back into the business, because you have to invest to make money,” Hakimi said. “I am also moving to a new house, so this will come in very handy.”

The Oregon Lottery will be at the Stayton Market and Deli on Thursday, April 25 at noon, to help him celebrate selling the winning ticket by providing him an oversized ceremonial check and handing out free Oregon Lottery Scratch-its to customers.

“When I share the story with friends and customers about selling the ticket, they all stop by and buy Lottery tickets,” he said. “When someone wins from a small town, people get excited. It makes people more optimistic that it could happen to them!”

This is the fourth Win for Life top prize Oregon Lottery players have won this year – all this Spring. The top prize for Win for Life is $1,000 per week for the rest of the life of the winner. Drawings are held on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Prior to these most recent top prize winners, there was a three-year drought from 2014-2017 with no Win for Life top prize winner.

The current streak of Win for Life luck started on February 12, when Robert East of Fairview won the top prize. East took the prize as a weekly $1,000 payment. He said he will use the prize for retirement and purchased the ticket at CJs Pub in Fairview.

Then in March it was an incredibly lucky month for Win for Life players, with two top prizes being awarded within three days of each other. On March 5, Sondra Lundy of Springfield claimed her top prize from a ticket she purchased at The Pour House Tavern.

Three days later, on March 8, Steven Henning of Eugene hit the third Win for Life prize. He purchased his ticket from Dari Mart in Eugene. All three winners opted to take their jackpots as weekly, $1,000 prizes, for the rest of their lives.

“If this keeps up, Win for Life is going to be the game to play in 2019,” said Patrick Johnson, Lottery spokesperson. “Normally there is a Win for Life top prize winner that comes every now and then, but sometimes the random nature of the Lottery will surprise you, just ask our winners!”
The Oregon Lottery reminds players to always sign the back of their Lottery tickets, regardless of the game. In the event of winning a jackpot, they should consult with a trusted financial planner or similar professional to develop a plan for their winnings. Prize winners of more than $50,000 are advised to contact the Lottery office and schedule an appointment to claim their prize.
Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned nearly $12 billion for economic development, public education, state parks, Veterans services and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org

MEDFORD, Ore.—On Thursday, April 18, 2019, Jonathan Alan Ochoa, 31, of Talent, Oregon, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

“Mr. Ochoa’s actions show a blatant disregard for the law and public safety. The lengthy prison sentences ordered in this case reflect the seriousness of mixing firearms and drug trafficking,” said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “I thank the ATF agents involved in bringing Mr. Ochoa and Mr. Manzer to justice. Our communities are safer thanks to their efforts.”

“Mr. Ochoa compounded his drug dealing by accepting firearms in trade for illicit drugs,” said ATF Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Darek Pleasants. “His willingness to engage in this lawless behavior undermines the safety and security of his community and contributes to other related criminal activities. His sentence is appropriate and serves to send a message to the community that actions like this will not be tolerated.”

According to court documents, between July and August 2017, Ochoa agreed and conspired with co-defendants Gonzalo Manzo, Jr. and Rodolfo Quevedo to send more than 500 grams of cocaine from California to Oregon to sell and distribute to others. During this time, Ochoa and Manzo negotiated a sale of cocaine with an undercover agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) in exchange for multiple firearms.

On August 17, 2017, at Manzo’s request, Quevedo transported approximately 1000 grams of cocaine from California and delivered it to Ochoa in the Medford area. The firearms and cash were intended to be transported back to California but agents arrested Ochoa and his co-conspirators and the firearms were seized by law enforcement.

Manzo pleaded guilty to the same charges in August 2018 and was sentenced to 188 months in prison and three years’ supervised release on December 11, 2018. Quevedo pleaded guilty in September 2018 to a single count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced to one year and one day in prison and five years’ supervised release on December 20, 2018.

Ochoa previously pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on October 29, 2018.

This case was investigated by ATF and is being prosecuted by Nathan J. Lichvarcik and Adam E. Delph, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.

The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

# # #

What: The second meeting of the Tri-County Regional Behavioral Health Collaborative Medical Community Collaboration Workgroup

Agenda: Learn from existing integrated medical models; begin to develop a context for a toolkit; establish audience, purpose and messaging for a toolkit.

When: April 25, 2019, 9-11 a.m.

Where: Portland State Office Building, Room 1D, 800 NE Oregon St., Portland

The Tri-County Regional Behavioral Health Collaborative brings together multiple sectors across the Portland metro area to collectively address and prevent behavioral health challenges. The collaborative is focused on peer delivered services and substance use disorder activities that can make an impact in 12 to 24 months.

For more information, see the RBHC website at (https://www.oregon.gov/OHA/HSD/BHP/Pages/Regional-Collaboratives.aspx

# # #

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 Summer Boslaugh at 503-753-9688, 711 TTY or email .h.boslaugh@dhsoha.state.or.us">summer.h.boslaugh@dhsoha.state.or.us at least 48 hours before the meeting.

On Friday, April 19th, 2019, Officers with the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety will be conducting a Seat Belt Enforcement Blitz.  This special enforcement is made possible by State and Federal grants to help reduce serious injury and death of those persons involved in motor vehicle crashes.

Officers will actively look for drivers and passengers not wearing a seatbelt, to include children not correctly placed in a child safety seat, and motorcyclists not wearing a helmet.

April 18, 2019

Media contact: Saerom England, 971-239-6483, om.y.england@dhsoha.state.or.us">saerom.y.england@dhsoha.state.or.us

Tri-County Regional Behavioral Health Collaborative Communities of Color Workgroup meets April 25 in Portland

What: The second public meeting of the Tri-County Regional Behavioral Health Collaborative Communities of Color Workgroup.

Agenda: Continue visioning process; identify possible outcomes.

When: Thursday, April 25, 2-4 p.m.

Where: Portland State Office Building, Room 1D, 800 NE Oregon St., Portland.

Details: The Tri-County Regional Behavioral Health Collaborative brings together multiple sectors across the Portland metro area to collectively address and prevent behavioral health challenges. Its focus is on peer-delivered services and substance use disorder activities that can make an impact in 12 to 24 months.

For more information, see the RBHC website at https://www.oregon.gov/OHA/HSD/BHP/Pages/Regional-Collaboratives.aspx

# # #

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:

• 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 Summer Boslaugh at 503-753-9688, 711 TTY or email .h.boslaugh@dhsoha.state.or.us">summer.h.boslaugh@dhsoha.state.or.us at least 48 hours before the meeting.

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, Kenneth D. McDonald, died April 18, 2019. McDonald was incarcerated at Snake River Correctional Institution (SRCI) in Ontario and passed away in the infirmary while on hospice. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified.

McDonald entered DOC custody on February 4, 2016, from Lane County with an earliest release date of July 2, 2024. McDonald was 69 years old. Next of kin has been notified.

DOC takes all in-custody deaths seriously. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of 14,700 individuals who are incarcerated in 14 institutions across the state. While crime information is public record, DOC elects to disclose only upon request out of respect for any family or victims.

SRCI is a multi-custody prison in Ontario that houses approximately 3,000 adults in custody. SRCI has multiple special housing units including disciplinary segregation, intensive management, infirmary (with hospice) with 24-hour nursing care, and an administrative segregation unit. SRCI participates in prison industries with Oregon Corrections Enterprises including a contact center, laundry, and sign shop. SRCI specializes in incentive housing, specialized housing, individuals with mental health/medical vulnerabilities, education and trades programs, cognitive and parenting programs, and institution work programs. SRCI opened in 1991 and is the largest correctional institution in the state.

####

WASHINGTON – On April 17, 2019, the Department of Justice released two complementary reports focusing on the mental health and safety of the nation’s federal, state, local and tribal police officers. The Bend Police Department in Bend, Oregon was featured in the report as one of eleven law enforcement agencies demonstrating a range of innovative approaches to safeguarding the mental health of both sworn and nonsworn employees.

The reports, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act: Report to Congress and Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Programs: Eleven Case Studies, were published by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) as required by the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) of 2017.

The LEMHWA passed both chambers unanimously and without amendment and was signed by the President shortly thereafter. These actions show that its purpose and intended effects are uncontroversial among policymakers – law enforcement agencies need and deserve support in their ongoing efforts to protect the mental health and well-being of their employees. Congress took the important step in improving the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services that will help our nation’s more than 800,000 federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers.

“Serving as a law enforcement officer requires courage, strength, and dedication,” Attorney General William P. Barr said. “The demands of this work, day in and day out, can take a toll on the health and well-being of our officers, but the Department of Justice is committed to doing our part to help. I want to thank the men and women of our COPS office for their hard work to support our officers every day, and specifically for these thoughtful and insightful reports, which detail both the challenges facing our officers and some specific ways we can give them the support that they deserve.”

“We are incredibly proud of everyone at the Bend Police Department for the innovative steps taken to protect the mental health of all employees. Not only does this protect officer and staff wellbeing, but it also bolsters public safety. I am grateful to Chief of Police Jim Porter for his leadership and commitment to supporting the men and women under his command.” said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “I hope that Bend PD’s example will mark the beginning of a new era in policing where protecting the mental health of officers and staff is universally viewed as an essential element of effective law enforcement.”

“A damaging national narrative has emerged in which law enforcement officers – whether federal, state, local, or tribal – are seen not as protectors of communities but as oppressors,” said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. “In this environment, where an inherently stressful job is made more so by a constant undercurrent of distrust and negative public opinion, the risks to officer wellness are exacerbated. This report is an important measure and reflection in our ongoing commitment to protect those who protect us.”

Under the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act, the COPS Office was required to submit reports to Congress that addressed:

1. Recommendations to Congress on effectiveness of crisis lines for law enforcement officers, efficacy of annual mental health checks for law enforcement officers, expansion of peer mentoring programs, and ensuring privacy considerations for these types of programs;
2. Mental health practices and services in the U.S. Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) that could be adopted by federal, state, local, or tribal law enforcement agencies; and
3. Case studies of programs designed primarily to address officer psychological health and well-being.

The first report, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act: Report to Congress, includes 22 recommendations to Congress ranging from supporting programs to embed mental health professionals in law enforcement agencies to supporting the development of model policies and implementation guidance for law enforcement agencies to make substantial efforts to reduce suicide.

The case studies report, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Programs: Eleven Case Studies, is designed to provide an overview of multiple successful and promising law enforcement mental health and wellness strategies with the joint aims of informing Congress, state and local government officials, and the law enforcement field. The report includes 11 case studies from a diverse group of sites across the United States.

The Department of Justice is pleased to respond to the LEMHWA as officer safety, health, and wellness is a longstanding priority of the agency. The reports released today address some of the most pressing issues currently facing our law enforcement community.

The COPS Office has a near 25-year history of supporting the efforts of state, local and tribal law enforcement, including the management of the National Blue Alert Network. The agency awards grants to hire community policing officers, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to community members, local government leaders, and all levels of law enforcement. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to help advance community policing.

# # #

The foundation of all the work done at the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) is safety for the children and adults we serve across our five major programs. Our vision for children who cannot live with their families safely is to enter a foster care system where they are protected; get the services and supports they need to heal in a stable, caring environment in their communities, and grow to thrive in adulthood.

Oregon’s child safety system, particularly its Child Welfare program within DHS, has been extremely strained for several decades. During the past two years, there have been multiple internal and independent assessments and audits of the agency and its Child Welfare program that all point to the same list of solutions. We have a clear picture of what must be done, we have defined the strategies to correct the problems, we have been building the foundation for the corrective work and we are making progress.

Transforming a statewide child safety system into a robust child well-being system will take time. It requires meeting the demands of today while building the system for the future. We appreciate Governor Kate Brown continuing to prioritize the safety of our children and families. We welcome the additional support her Executive Order provides to increase our capacity and capabilities to improve Oregon’s Child Welfare system today and for the future. Keeping Oregon’s foster children safe and helping our families heal and thrive takes all of us working together. We look forward to working productively and cooperatively with the Governor’s designees.

We have built the foundation for the corrective work and we are making progress by:

• Putting the structure and systems in place to right-size the foster care system by safely reducing the number of children entering the system through community-based supports for at-risk families and reducing disproportionality.
   
• Stabilizing the Child Welfare workforce by reducing turnover and bringing caseloads closer to the national average so caseworkers have more time to work face-to-face with families, and improving staff training and supports.

• Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children through a series of improvements ranging from consistent screening of child abuse reports to in-home nursing visits.
   
   
• Expanding community-based placement options so every foster child is safe and in the care settings that meets their unique needs in Oregon, whether it be family foster care or a therapeutic setting.
   
• Basing our decisions in research and data, coupled with the professional experience of our staff, to ensure we get to the root causes of problems and take actions that are child-centered and effective.

• Expanding our allies because the Child Welfare program cannot address the factors that bring families to our attention or resolve the capacity crisis alone.

The support from the Governor will provide the necessary resources to help the Department continue and accelerate progress to ensure the Child Welfare program in Oregon achieves the goals we all share.

On Wednesday, April 17, 2019, at approximately 6:19 P.M. Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two vehicle collision on Highway 201N near milepost 21.

Preliminary investigation reveals a Pontiac Sunfire, operated by Roberta Chandler (41) of Ontario, was southbound on Highway 201N when for unknown reasons drifted into the northbound lane and collided with a northbound Chevy Impala, operated by Sergio Sandoval (58) of Weiser, ID.

Chandler sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.  Her passenger, Tira Zacarias (29) of New Plymouth, ID, was transported by helicopter to a hospital in Boise, ID.

Sandoval and his passenger, Marina Navarette-Hernandez (57) of Weiser, ID. were transported by ground to the hospital.

OSP was assisted by Treasure Valley Paramedics, Ontario Fire and Rescue, and ODOT

Preliminary investigation revealed that Jordan Cutts (24) of Forest Grove was northbound on Glencoe Rd. operating a silver Mazda Protege. He crossed into the southbound lane to make a turn onto Wren Rd. and struck a Washington County Sheriff's car being operated by Deputy Frank Ward head on.

Both drivers were transported to Legacy Emmanuel Hospital with serious injuries. 

The intersection was closed for approximately 3.5 hours.

OSP was assisted by North Plains Police Department, Hillsboro Police Department, Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue, Washington County Sheriff's Office, Washington County Land Use and Transportation, and Oregon Department of Transportation

Oregon State Police and emergency personnel are on scene of a two vehicle crash at the intersection of Glencoe Rd / Wren Rd in Washington County.

The crash occurred at approximately 3:00 PM.

Operators of both involved vehicles have been transported to area hospital with injuries.

Investigation is continuing.

On April 20, the Red Cross and community volunteers will install more than 500 smoke alarms in homes that need them

MEDFORD, Ore., April 17, 2019 — The local American Red Cross Cascades Region and community volunteers are partnering to save lives by installing smoke alarms in homes that need them in Southern Oregon. On Saturday, April 20, starting at 9 a.m., Red Cross volunteers will go door-to-door in neighborhoods located in Eagle Point, OR and Central Point, OR to install free smoke alarms and deliver fire safety information.

The Red Cross installs free smoke alarms in homes that need them and has installed more than 25,000 smoke alarms in Oregon and Southwest Washington since 2014. Seven lives have been saved in our area as a result of Red Cross installed smoke alarms.

People interested in volunteering to install free smoke alarms at on Saturday, April 20, should contact Red Cross Disaster Preparedness Coordinator Christi MacLaren at (541) 779-3773.

WHAT: Red Cross Smoke Alarm Installation Event
WHERE: Fire District 3, 8383 Agate Rd. White City, OR 97503
WHEN: Saturday, April 20, 2019, starting at 9 a.m.

MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Red Cross Disaster Preparedness Coordinator Christi MacLaren and Fire District 3 representative Ashley Blakely will be available for media interviews at 9 a.m. at Fire District 3.

GET AN ALARM The Red Cross advocates emergency preparedness and offers the installation of free smoke alarms in our community. Residents may call (541) 749-4144 or complete an online form at http://www.redcross.org/GetAnAlarm to schedule an appointment.

MAKE A PLAN You may only have two minutes to escape when a fire occurs, but most people mistakenly believe they have more than twice as long to get out. The Red Cross recommends that households develop a fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year with everyone who lives in the home. People should know two ways to escape from every room and designate a safe place to meet outside the home in case of a fire. Discuss the plan with everyone in the household and practice until every member of your household – including children – can escape in less than two minutes

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/Cascades or find us on Twitter at @RedCrossCasc.

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Es el momento de retarte a ti mismo a tener una carrera con una misión: ¡Proteger a los estadounidenses y defender la Constitución! El FBI busca candidatos que hasta hoy no hayan considerado un futuro como Agente Especial del FBI. Según el Agente Especial en Jefe de la oficina del FBI en Oregon, Renn Cannon: “Sabemos que somos más fuertes como organización cuando representamos mejor a la población que servimos. La diversidad puede representar muchas cosas tales como raza, género, religión, orientación sexual. También puede representar a personas que aportan diferentes vivencias, aptitudes laborales y formación académica. Si quieres un cambio y enfrentar un reto ¡aquí está tu oportunidad!” 

El FBI diseñó el evento de Reclutamiento de Agentes con Diversidad Cultural (DAR—siglas en inglés) para motivar a las comunidades poco representadas -  en especial a las mujeres y a las minorías – a que consideren una vida dedicada al servicio público. Con las amenazas cambiantes que los Estados Unidos enfrenta, la Oficina le ha dado prioridad a la necesidad de contratar a aquellas personas que están altamente calificadas y que a la vez sean representativas de la comunidad en general. De manera particular, el FBI busca candidatos bilingües, aquellos con aptitudes de razonamiento analítico, y aquellos que tengan experiencia en los campos de la ciencia/computación/tecnológica.  

El evento de Reclutamiento de Agentes con Diversidad Cultural (DAR—siglas en inglés) en Portland les brindará a los posibles aspirantes la oportunidad de conocer más de cerca las oportunidades de trabajo en esta Institución.  Los interesados(as) tendrán la oportunidad de escuchar y hacer preguntas relacionadas con: 

• La vida como agente (incluyendo el entrenamiento en Quántico) 

• Como mantener el equilibro entre un trabajo muy exigente y la familia   

• Un día típico en la vida de un Agente Especial del FBI (una pista: ¡No existe!) 

• El trabajar casos que hacen la diferencia en tu comunidad 

• Las oportunidades de viajar por el mundo 

Evento de Reclutamiento de Agentes con Diversidad Cultural (DAR—siglas en inglés)  

• Fecha: 23 de abril del 2019 
• Hora: 6 pm – 9 pm 
• Lugar: Portland (Se dará la dirección exacta a quienes se registren previamente) 
• Favor de confirmar su asistencia no mas tardar el 18 de Abril: https://www.fbijobs.gov/career-paths/special-agents/diversity-agent-recruitment-program 

Los aspirantes a Agentes Especiales del FBI deben tener entre 23 y 36 años de edad; deben contar por lo menos con un título universitario; deben tener un mínimo de dos años de experiencia laboral (o un año con maestría universitaria) y deben ser ciudadanos(as) de los Estados Unidos.  

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Now is the time to challenge yourself to a career with a mission: protecting the American people and upholding the Constitution! The FBI is looking for candidates who may not have, until now, considered a future as an FBI Special Agent. 

“We know that we are stronger as an organization when we better represent the people we serve,” said Renn Cannon, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Oregon. “Diversity can mean a lot of different things – race, gender, religion, sexual orientation. It can also mean people who bring different life experiences, job skills and educational backgrounds. If you want to make a change and take up a challenge – here’s your chance!” 

The FBI created the Diversity Agent Recruiting (DAR) event program to encourage underrepresented communities – especially women and minorities – to consider a life of public service. With the evolving threats that the United States faces, the Bureau has prioritized the need to hire those who are both highly skilled and representative of the wider community. In particular, the FBI is looking for applicants who are fluent in a second language; who have the ability to think critically; and who come from a science/computer/technological background. 

The FBI’s DAR event in Portland will allow potential applicants the opportunity to learn more about job opportunities inside the Bureau. They will have the opportunity to hear about and ask questions related to: 

• Life as a new agent (including training at Quantico) 

• Balancing a high-energy job with family 

• Typical day in the life of an FBI Special Agent (hint: there isn’t one!) 

• Working cases that make a difference in your community 

• Opportunities to travel the world 

Diversity Agent Recruiting (DAR) event 

• Date: April 23, 2019 
• Time: 6 – 9 pm 
• Location: Portland (exact location given to those who pre-register) 
• RSVP required by April 18th: https://www.fbijobs.gov/career-paths/special-agents/diversity-agent-recruitment-program 

FBI Special Agent applicants must be between the ages of 23 – 36; hold a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree; have a minimum of two years work experience (one year with a Master’s Degree); and be a U.S. citizen.  

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PORTLAND, Ore.—Gloria Harris, 48, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced today to 39 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release for operating a fraudulent tax return business. Harris was also ordered to pay more than $548,000 in restitution.

As part of the scheme, Harris prepared more than 100 fraudulent tax returns requesting nearly $600,000 in fraudulent refunds from the IRS.

According to court documents, between 2012 and 2016, Harris operated a covert tax preparation scheme whereby she would file client tax returns as “self-prepared” returns to mask her participation in the filings. Harris would increase the size of the fraudulent returns by falsely claiming that unrelated children were dependents to qualify clients for various tax breaks including the Earned Income Tax Credit.

Harris began to raise suspicion among certain clients by refusing to provide copies of file returns, chastising them for asking questions in writing, and withholding refunds. On one occasion, Harris delivered a $1,400 “refund” in cash to a client in a parking lot. Investigators later learned that this client was a due a refund of more $8,500 from the IRS.

Harris previously pleaded guilty to one count each of making false, fictitious, or fraudulent claims against the U.S. and aggravated identity theft on July 18, 2018.

This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Quinn P. Harrington, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

# # #

Three Oregon university students will present their research findings on April 25 at the Oregon Heritage Summit in Medford. The presentations will begin at 4:00 p.m. at the Inn at the Commons, 200 N Riverside Ave, Medford OR, and are free and open to the public.

The emerging scholars will present on the public interpretation of the “Pioneer Father” statue at the University of Oregon, an analysis of War Code housing permits issued in Portland, and research on the practices of charitable medicine in Oregon.

The three students have been named Oregon Heritage Fellows by Oregon Heritage, a division of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, based on the strength of both their scholastic achievement and their research topics. The fellowships encourage the thoughtful inquiry of Oregon's heritage by emerging scholars.

"The Fellows conduct original research into the diverse history of Oregon, often on topics that have drawn less attention from more-experienced historians," explains Chrissy Curran, Oregon’s deputy state historic preservation officer.  "We believe it is important that their research is presented to the public."

The Fellows, their schools, and topics are:

--Marc Carpenter, University of Oregon graduate student in History: “Reconsidering the ‘Pioneer Statue,’ 100 Years Later”

--Kerrie Franey, University of Oregon graduate student in Historic Preservation: “America’s Adventure in Hospitality: Portland, Oregon and War Code Housing”

--Isaiah Silvers, Reed College undergraduate student in History: “From Dispensary to Hospital: Charitable Medicine in Oregon, 1900-1929”

Laura Ferguson, curator of Western History at High Desert Museum, will moderate the session.

The Oregon Heritage Summit April 25-26 brings together staff and volunteers from historical societies, historic landmark commissions, schools and universities, humanities groups, local and state agencies, museums, tourism and economic development organizations, federal agencies and tribal governments.

To find more information and register for the Heritage Summit, visit www.oregon.gov/oprd/HCD/OHC/Pages/Conference.aspx.

The Newberg store sold the winning $1 million Raffle ticket

WHO: Oregon Lottery officials

WHEN: 1 p.m., Thursday, April 18, 2019

WHERE: Newberg Safeway, 1140 N. Springbrook Road, Newberg, OR

WHAT: Oregon Lottery officials will present an over-sized display check to representatives of Safeway for selling the winning Raffle top prize ticket. Lottery officials will also be handing out a limited number of free promotional Scratch-it tickets at the event. Safeway will recieve a 1-percent selling bonus for selling the $1 million winning Raffle ticket.

BACKGROUND: Steven and Shirley Seaquist of Newberg purchased the winning $1 million Raffle ticket at the Newberg Safeway. The couple claimed their prize on March 20 and said they are regular Raffle players. The Seaquists also said they were talking with a financial planner before spending any of the $680,000 they received after taxes. The 2019 Oregon Lottery Raffle had a total of 1801 winning tickets.

The Seaquists said they plan on attending the event Thursday.

During the 2015-17 biennium more than $14.4 million lottery dollars were directed to Yamhill County’s state parks, school districts, watershed enhancement projects and economic development. Of that, the Newberg School District received $3.86 million of Lottery proceeds.

VISUALS: Oregon Lottery officials will present an over-sized ceremonial check to representatives of the Newberg Safeway and will also distribute a limited amount of free promotional Scratch-it tickets to patrons of the store.

Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned nearly $12 billion for economic development, public education, state parks and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org

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April 17, 2019

Media contact: Delia Hernández, 503-422-7179, phd.communications@dhsoha.state.or.us

Avoid getting sick from chicks, ducklings during Easter celebrations

Easter planning is in full force as many families prepare to celebrate the holiday this weekend. Going to events that offer chicks and ducklings for petting might be on the itinerary, but health experts say people may want to think twice before taking home one of these Easter-themed animals.

Oregon Health Authority infectious disease experts say the fluffy animals, no matter how cute and cuddly, can carry bacteria that can make people sick. Children often pick them up, hold them close to their faces, and even kiss them. And children often don’t wash their hands after handling the pets.

“Chicks and ducklings don’t make good Easter gifts,” cautions Emilio DeBess, public health veterinarian at OHA. “Children younger than 5 can get very sick from Salmonella contamination because their immune systems at that age are not fully developed.”

Salmonella infections can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever symptoms lasting three to seven days, DeBess said. People with compromised immune systems could become very ill and die of the infection. The last major salmonellosis outbreak, in 2018, occurred after people handled, kissed and kept poultry inside the home.

For those attending events where animals will be present, these tips can help prevent infection:

• Don’t allow children younger than 5 years of age, older adults, or people with weak immune systems handle or touch chicks, ducklings or other live poultry, or rabbits.
• Ensure that kids wash their hands with soap and water immediately after touching any type of animal.
• If chicks are handled, never nuzzle or kiss them.
• Don’t eat or drink in the area where the animals roam.

Salmonella, a Twitter account personifying the salmonella bacteria using humor, has reappeared just in time for Easter. The Salmonella social media campaign kicked off last year during the holidays to bring attention to this important public health issue.

For more information about baby birds and Salmonella, visit the OHA Salmonella webpage.

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Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kBHgAyXwS4

Electric vehicle charging station projects across Oregon receive funding from Pacific Power grant program

In addition to the popular Pacific Power grant program, local organizations can now enroll in a new electric charging station technical assistance program.  

PORTLAND, ORE. – More Oregon cities are getting help with charging-up from a Pacific Power grant program. Electric vehicle charging station projects from Seaside to Grants Pass – 10 in all – will receive up to 100% of eligible costs. The program, which launched in late 2018, is designed to assist non-profits, local governments and businesses with providing workers, customers and the general public with more options to charge electric vehicles.

“We are continuously evaluating and investing in ways to support the communities we serve,” said Cory Scott, director of customer solutions. “As more people take to the road in electric vehicles, they will need more ways to charge their car. This program is just one of the ways Pacific Power is helping to build out the necessary infrastructure to ensure electric vehicle drivers have plenty of options to power their daily commutes and summer road trips.” 

Pacific Power is providing grant funding to help non-residential customers develop community-driven electric transportation infrastructure projects. The electric vehicle charging station grant program will award $1.45 million in total to projects that advance transportation electrification in areas such as workplace charging and publicly accessible stations.

Grant Recipients:

• Southern Oregon Labor Temple Association – Central Point, Ore. (public charging / 2 ports)
• East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District – Portland, Ore. (workplace charging / 2 ports)
• Craft Brew Alliance – Portland, Ore. (public charging / 2 ports)
• Central Oregon Community College – Redmond & Madras, Ore. (public charging / 8 ports)
• Wyndham Worldmark, Resort at Seaside – Seaside, Ore. – (public charging / 4 ports)
• Independence Landing I, LLC (Tokola) – Independence, Ore. (public charging / 4 ports)
• Wooldridge Creek Winery, LLC – Grants Pass, Ore. (public charging / 2 ports)
• Brio Portland, Inc. – Portland, Ore. (multi-unit housing / 2 ports)
• Neil Kelly Co., Inc. – Portland, Ore. (workplace charging / 5 ports)
• Tolovana Inn – Tolovana Park, Ore. (public charging / 4 ports)

The next round of grant applications opened on April 15, 2019. Funding awards will cover up to 100 percent of the project cost. All non-residential Pacific Power customers in California, Oregon, and Washington are eligible to apply with preference given to community-focused organizations, such as 501(c)(3) and city, county and regional governments.

Applications will be accepted up to May 15, 2019 at 5:00 PM. Recipients will be announced June 2019.

For detailed eligibility requirements, project qualifications and application forms, please visit pacificpower.net/ev-grants.

Materials may be submitted to plugin@pacificpower.net.

To learn more about the benefits of electric vehicles, visit pacificpower.net/ev.

In addition to the electric vehicle charging station grant program, Pacific Power also announced a new free electric charging station technical assistance program. The program is for non-residential customers interested in installing charging equipment and need help evaluating options and costs. The technical assistance program is available at no cost to customers and includes a site visit, analysis of electric vehicle technology options, costs, rates, and best practices for siting, configuring, installing and managing equipment.

“The electric vehicle technical assistance program is a first step for businesses, local governments and non-profits interested in installing charging equipment but do not know where to start,” said Scott. “Once the analysis is complete and they receive the report, the business could apply for a charging station grant to help pay for the costs.”

For more information and to apply for the technical assistance program, visit pacificpower.net/env/ev/charging-station-technical-assistance.html

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PORTLAND, Ore.—On Tuesday, April 16, 2019, Mark Aaron Culp, 56, of Columbia City, Oregon, pleaded guilty to knowingly trafficking counterfeit, Chinese-made Leupold-branded rifle scopes online. Leupold & Stevens, Inc., an Oregon company, manufactures its rifle scopes in Beaverton, Oregon.

According to court documents, between May and July 2015, Culp sold rifle optics bearing various Leupold trademarks and design features online via at least two commercial websites: GunBroker.com and eBay. Culp sold 13 counterfeit rifle scopes that he had imported from China, generating approximately $3,700 in revenue.

Culp’s sales were discovered by Leupold & Stevens personnel.  They purchased a scope from Culp online, confirmed that it was counterfeit, and referred the matter to the Beaverton Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security’s Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Culp faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $2 million fine and 3 years of supervised release. He will be sentenced on July 18, 2019 before U.S. District Court Judge Anna J. Brown.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Ryan W. Bounds, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

# # #

Advisory for Thursday, April 18

Press Briefing Call Regarding the West Coast Clean Transit Corridor Initiative

Utilities and municipalities in three western states join in unprecedented collaboration to tackle harmful emissions

WHAT:  Electric utilities and municipalities from California, Oregon and Washington will host a press briefing to announce a joint effort aimed at curbing emissions from medium- and heavy-duty truck traffic up and down the West Coast from the Mexico to Canada borders. 

WHEN: 10 a.m., April 18th

WHERE:  Moderated conference call.                              

WHO:   A panel of leaders representing the three states, including:

• Caroline Choi, senior vice president for Corporate Affairs, Edison International and Southern California Edison
• Bill Boyce, manager of Electric Transportation, Sacramento Municipal Utility District 
• Scott Bolton, senior vice president, External Affairs, Pacific Power
• Dave Robertson, vice president of Public Policy, Portland General Electric
• Emeka Anyanwu, Energy Innovation & Resources officer, Seattle City Light

BACKGROUND: The goods-movement industry is crucially important to the economies of the three West Coast states, but it is also a major source of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to supporting their own states’ air quality and climate goals, nine electric utilities and two agencies representing 27 municipal electric utilities are coming together like never before to tackle air pollution and climate change along the western seaboard.

CALL-IN DETAILS: For call-in number, password and background information, please RSVP to iffo@sce.com">paul.griffo@sce.com.

On 4-13-2019, at approximately 0909 hrs, the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety responded to Sears Roebuck parking lot located at 1533 NE F St., for a report of a female employee who had been backed over by a vehicle.  Investigation revealed a white male described as being in his md 20's with curly hair wearing an unknown color of jeans and a black jacket ran out of the store with a case of Craftsman tools valued at $109.99 without paying for them.  The male suspect jumped into the driver's side of his pick-up truck followed by the assistant manager who was running after him.  The suspect quickly backed up, hitting the manager, and driving over her legs with the front end of his truck.  The suspect sped out of the parking lot and was able to flee the area prior to police arrival.  Additionally, there was a white female adult with dirty blond hair seated in the passenger seat. 

On Tuesday, April 16th, 2019 Sheriff's Deputies patrolling the Wolf Creek area attempted to contact the driver of a vehicle in Wolf Creek. The vehicle eluded deputies, leaving their car at 2792 Lower Wolf Creek Rd.  A search of the area was conducted and Michael Brenden was contacted. Monday, GPDPS Detectives received tips from the community implicating Brenden in the robbery/assault at Sears from April 13th.  Brenden was taken into custody by Sheriff's Deputies and transported to the Josephine County Jail.  While searching for Brenden, the suspect vehicle was located nearby.  The truck had been painted black/blue and was hidden from view.  The truck was recovered and returned to the registered owner, who had reported it stolen prior to the robbery at Sears.  Along with changing the appearance of the truck, Brenden's hair was significantly different upon his capture. 

Shortly after locating Brenden, the female was identified as Destiny Dawn Graeta.  Graeta was then located and arrested on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant.  At the time of this update, she is being interviewed to determine if charges will be filed. The Grants Pass Department of Public Safety would like to thank the community for tips that assisted in identifying Brenden, and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office for their assistance.  

In cooperation with the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) is honored to recognize our women veterans across the State by featuring the “I Am Not Invisible” exhibit at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem.  While there are over 28,000 women veterans throughout the State, there are still barriers in the services and recognition that their male counterparts often receive.  The “I Am Not Invisible” exhibit spotlights the many faces of this diverse and important segment of the Oregon veteran community while increasing awareness and dialogue about women veterans. 

A walk through the exhibit will open your eyes to the myriad of contributions, needs and experiences of women who have served in the military.  We invite you to take the time to visit the 20 portraits of Oregon women military veterans and read about their contributions. The exhibit will be on display in our main lobby through April 22nd.

DPSST's Director Eriks Gabliks said "we know that thousands of our state's city, county, state, and tribal public safety professionals have worn the uniform of our nation's armed services and are now continuing to serve by wearing the uniform of a law enforcement officer, firefighter, private security professional, or perhaps a non-certified position who collectively are helping to ensure our communities and residents are safe.  We are honored to host this display at the Academy to showcase the service of Oregon women who have served."

April 16, 2019 - Salem, Ore. – As a former public works director, Michael Faught can tell you the Ph of municipal wastewater, or the perfect angle a roadway needs to be to deal with stormwater run-off. After winning $150,000 playing Powerball, he can also tell you what a Power Play is.

Faught and his wife, who now live in Lebanon, were on a road trip with their travel trailer when they stopped to get Powerball tickets at a Food for Less in Medford which turned into a big win.

“The customer service clerk wanted to know if I wanted to purchase the $3 per line ticket,” Faught said. “I had no clue what she was talking about as we rarely purchase lottery tickets, so I just said yes. That decision ended up tripling our win from $50,000 to $150,000!”

Faught ended up matching four numbers and the Powerball for the Saturday, March 23 drawing. Since he purchased Power Play multiplier option, and the multiplier drawn for that drawing was three, Faught tripled his prize for the $1 extra he paid. The winning numbers were 24-25-52-60-66 with a Powerball of 05. The jackpot for that drawing was $625 million. Faught said winning $150,000 was surreal when he checked the ticket at a gas station on his way home and couldn’t believe his luck.

“My wife and I were excited, elated, giddy and soooo happy!” Faught said. “We feel so blessed that we were able to pay off some major bills as a result of the win.”

Faught also said the couple was talking to a financial advisor and were going to put new wood floors in their Lebanon home. In addition, he said he may do some minor upgrades to his motorcycle. The family had already planned a trip to Disneyland, and Faught said they used some of the prize to “enhance” the trip.

During the 2015-17 biennium, more than $42.1 million in Oregon Lottery proceeds were directed to economic development, parks, education and watershed enhancement in Linn County, where Faught lives. Since 1985, Oregon Lottery players have won more than $38 billion in prizes.

The Oregon Lottery reminds players to always sign the back of their Lottery tickets, regardless of the game. In the event of winning a jackpot, they should consult with a trusted financial planner or similar professional to develop a plan for their winnings. Prize winners of more than $50,000 are advised to contact the Lottery office and schedule an appointment to claim their prize.

Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned nearly $12 billion for economic development, public education, state parks, Veterans services and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org

UPDATE 04/16/19 13:58

CHILD HAS BEEN LOCATED SAFE.

The child has been located and is safe. Thank you for your assistance.

Media inquiries should be directed to the Sutherlin Police Department for further comment.

####

ORIGINAL RELEASE

Sent on behalf of the Sutherlin Police Department

OAKLAND, Ore. - Douglas County Law Enforcement is asking the public for assistance in searching for a silver Toyota Carolla with tinted windows and a sticker of the State of Oregon on the back window. The vehicle has an unknown Oregon license plate on the back of the car, but is missing the front plate.

3 year-old Ryklin Monroe Anderson was abducted by an unknown male and female from a residence in Oakland around 11:19 am. The child is 3 foot, 50 lbs, blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a yellow shirt and denim leggings.

The subjects are considered armed and dangerous. Do not attempt contact, but call 9-1-1 if you see the vehicle.

There is no additional information available at this time.

SALEM, Ore. – In honor of National Safe Digging Month, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) and the Oregon Utility Notification Center (OUNC) remind Oregonians to call 811 before digging to have underground utility lines marked.

“During April and throughout the year, we remind homeowners and professional contractors to call 811 to reduce the risk of striking an underground utility line,” said Megan Decker, PUC Chair. “Striking a single line can result in costly repairs, inconvenient outages, fines, injuries, and in rare cases, fatalities.”

The OUNC, who operates the free 811 one-call center, will notify the affected utility companies that serve the area of the planned project, which may include planting a tree or shrub, building a deck, or installing a fence. Utility personnel will visit the project site to mark the approximate location of the underground lines, pipes and cables in the planned digging area. 

“Never assume a digging project is too shallow and won’t hit a utility line,” said Scott Gallegos, OUNC Board Chair.  “The depth of utility lines vary due to erosion, previous digging projects, or uneven surfaces, so always call 811 at least two business days ahead to have your lines located. This is the only way to know what’s below.”

Statistics show that a majority of line strikes occur June through September at a time when more yard work is being done. In 2017 an estimated 439,000 line strikes occurred nationwide, 25 percent of which were due to insufficient notice to the 811 service.

To reduce the number of line strikes in Oregon, there are strong local partnerships between the OUNC, Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the PUC to enhance the communication link and improve safety efforts.

Call 811 or visit digsafelyoregon.com to submit a locate request or to learn more about safe digging practices.

# # #

SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Forestry has named Kyle Abraham to head the agency’s Private Forests Division. Abraham, who grew up in Salem and still lives there, has been the Division’s deputy chief since 2017. He’ll assume his new responsibilities officially when the current chief, Lena Tucker, moves into her new role as Deputy State Forester on July 1.

Abraham will be leading several programs within the Private Forests Division to help protect and maintain Oregon’s forests and the services they provide. The Division is responsible for forest health, urban and community assistance forestry and helping Oregonians follow the Forest Practices Act governing timber harvesting and replanting.

“I’m very excited and humbled to have this opportunity to serve as the Private Forests Division Chief,” Abraham said. 

After graduating from Oregon State University with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in fisheries science, Abraham in 1988 began working with ODF in the field in several capacities. Those experiences included doing electrofishing surveys, evaluating fish passage through culverts, and collecting water samples after aerial herbicide applications. He worked as a Stewardship Forester for several years in ODF’s Santiam, Molalla and the Dallas offices. He also worked in ODF’s Salem headquarters as a monitoring specialist, developing and leading scientific monitoring projects designed to test the effectiveness of Oregon’s Forest Practices Act. 

From 2010-2012, Abraham worked for the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board as their Effectiveness Monitoring Coordinator.  He returned to ODF in late 2012 and began serving as the Water Quality Specialist for the Private Forests Division, leading the agency’s discussions on water quality and forestry interactions. 

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(Salem) – A two-day event in Pendleton will offer employers and workers a variety of opportunities to sharpen their workplace health and safety programs. Topics covered include safety committees, safety leadership, root cause analysis, and chemical safety.

Oregon OSHA, a division of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, is one of several partners presenting the June 3-4 Blue Mountain Occupational Safety and Health Conference at the Pendleton Convention Center.

On Tuesday, June 4, keynote speaker Rob Fisher will present “How Personality Impacts Risk.” Fisher, president and director of operations for Fisher Improvement Technologies in Concord, N.C., will show how different personalities see risk differently and how to manage risk from that standpoint.

Fisher said it’s important to be aware of and manage the personality tendencies that can blind people to risk. When we account for certain tendencies, he said, we increase our chances of being safer. “There is more to being safe than just managing the physical hazards,” he said.

Other conference topics include:

• I’m on the safety committee, now what?
• Confined space and industrial rescue: How much and how?
• Forklift safety
• Overexertion: Using alternative therapy to overcome repetitive use injuries
• Machine safety: What are you doing to improve your machine safety program?

The event features a Forklift Round-Up on Monday, June 3, which spectators are welcome to enjoy. Conference registration for Tuesday, June 4, is $85, which includes lunch. On the afternoon of June 3, the Oregon SHARP Alliance will hold a no-cost workshop to discuss how to sustain a strong safety program despite personnel changes. The nonprofit SHARP Alliance promotes safety and health management by encouraging teamwork among people, employers, and organizations to improve on-the-job health and safety for Oregon workers.

For more information about the two-day event or to register, go to: https://osha.oregon.gov/conferences/blue-mountain/Pages/index.aspx

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Oregon OSHA, a division of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, enforces the state’s workplace safety and health rules and works to improve workplace safety and health for all Oregon workers. For more information, visit www.osha.oregon.gov.

The Department of Consumer and Business Services is Oregon’s largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. For more information, go to www.dcbs.oregon.gov.

Oregon Adds 5,700 Jobs in March

Oregon’s total nonfarm payroll employment rose 5,700 jobs in March, following a decline of 1,200 jobs in February. Five major industries each added close to 1,000 jobs in March: professional and business services (+1,300 jobs), government (+1,100), health care and social assistance (+900), other services (+800), and leisure and hospitality (+700). None of the major industries cut a substantial number of jobs in March.

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.4 percent in March, unchanged from 4.4 percent in February. For 29 consecutive months, dating back to November 2016, Oregon’s unemployment rate has been between 4.0 percent and 4.4 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.8 percent in both February and March of this year.

Job gains in recent months are an indication of continued moderate economic expansion in Oregon, despite the tight labor market as was evident from the near-record low unemployment rate.

Since March 2018, Oregon’s nonfarm payroll employment increased by 32,600 jobs, or 1.7 percent. This was a slight acceleration from annual growth rates averaging 1.5 percent over the prior nine months. Over the past 12 months, the U.S. expanded at the same rate as Oregon: 1.7 percent.

Over the past 12 months, transportation, warehousing, and utilities (+3,400 jobs, or 5.3%) grew at the fastest rate of Oregon’s major industries, due to growth at warehouses, fulfillment centers, and package delivery firms. Construction employment grew by 4,400 jobs, or 4.2 percent, as growth in the industry moderated from rapid expansion in recent years. Manufacturing added 5,500 jobs, or 2.8 percent, led by computer and electronic product manufacturing, which has added 1,800 jobs in the past 12 months. Meanwhile, six of the major industries were relatively flat over the year, with none gaining more than 700 jobs.

Next Press Releases

The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the March county and metropolitan area unemployment rates on Tuesday, April 23rd, and the next statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for April on Tuesday, May 14th.

Notes:

All numbers in the above narrative are seasonally adjusted except for the jobs in computer and electronic product manufacturing.

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 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.

Welcome to the Oregon FBI’s Tech Tuesday segment. This week: we continue our series on building a digital defense against frauds targeting senior citizens.

Over the past few weeks, we have been highlighting fraud schemes that target the elderly… and for good reason. A national law enforcement sweep over the course of the past year has shown that seniors are prime targets for criminals. Why? Because they tend to be financially stable, to be trusting and to be reluctant to say “no.” 

As Americans grow older, it is common to want to solidify the financial nest egg you have or to tap into the equity you’ve built up to keep you and your family in a comfortable lifestyle.

That’s where today’s topic comes in - real estate fraud. Reverse mortgage frauds, also known as home equity conversion mortgages, are one of the most popular real estate scams we see.

A legitimate home equity conversion mortgage is insured by the Federal Housing Authority or FHA. It allows eligible homeowners to access to the equity in their homes by providing funds without the homeowner having to make a monthly payment. 

When a fraudster finds a senior who is not familiar with the requirements or the process – or who is in desperate need of a steady stream of cash – the results can be devastating. Unscrupulous professionals in a variety of real estate, financial services and related companies will work to steal the equity in your home. 

Another kind of real estate scam involves using seniors as straw buyers. The criminal wants to buy a house, but – for whatever reasons – says he can’t get approved for the purchase. Maybe you agree to sign the papers for him as a favor, or maybe you think you will earn a few thousand dollars bonus. The criminal could be a real estate agent, lender, appraiser, investor or new friend. In the end, the bad guy often ends up skimming the equity and leaving you holding a hefty 30-year mortgage with potential criminal liability. 

In other related real estate scams, the criminals may offer the victims free homes, investment opportunities or foreclosure and refinance assistance. The result is often the same – you lose that cherished nest egg and your credit history is in ruins.

Here’s how you can protect yourself and family members:

• Don’t respond to unsolicited ads.
• Be suspicious of anyone saying you can own a home with no down payment – or flip a house by signing for a mortgage you don’t want.
• Don’t sign anything that you do not fully understand.
• Don’t accept payment for helping someone else to buy a house that you do not intend to live in. 
• If you want to pursue a reverse mortgage lender, seek out one who is approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Next week, we will wrap up our series on elder fraud with telemarketing fraud and sweepstakes scams.

If you have been victimized by an online scam, report your suspicious contacts to the FBI. You can file an online report at the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov or call your FBI local office.

A threatened Northwest frog that lost habitat to development, agriculture and invasive species has found refuge in what may seem like an unlikely place: beneath the high-voltage power lines of the Bonneville Power Administration.

Oregon spotted frogs lay eggs in the shallow water provided by wetlands, such as those that exist within many BPA transmission line corridors. Because high-growing vegetation poses a risk to power lines, BPA works to cultivate low-growing native plants that protect wetlands and maintain open-water habitats, all of which are beneficial to frogs.

BPA works closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other agencies to ensure it protects suitable habitat for the Oregon spotted frog and other wildlife living beneath its transmission lines. Methods include reducing the unintentional injury of frogs from equipment, hand mowing or cutting non-native vegetation and carefully planning spot herbicide use.

The agency’s practice of maintaining healthy plant communities along its rights-of-way and limiting the use of herbicides decreases maintenance costs and improves power system reliability.

The Oregon spotted frog isn’t the only species that thrives in the improved habitat. BPA’s techniques promote the growth of low-growing shrubs and flowering plants that are critical for imperiled honey bees and other pollinators.

The Oregon spotted frog is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. It once lived in open wetlands, lakes, ponds, streams and occasionally slow-moving rivers from northern California to British Columbia.

Today, the threatened frog can still be found in some river basins in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, but scientists have not documented the animal in northern California for more than a century.

About BPA

The Bonneville Power Administration, headquartered in Portland, Ore., is a nonprofit federal power marketer that sells wholesale electricity from 31 federal dams and one nuclear plant to 142 Northwest electric utilities, serving millions of consumers and businesses in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, western Montana and parts of California, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. BPA delivers power via more than 15,000 circuit miles of lines and 261 substations to 475 transmission customers. In all, BPA markets about a third of the electricity consumed in the Northwest and operates three-quarters of the region’s high-voltage transmission grid. BPA also funds one of the largest fish and wildlife programs in the world, and, with its partners, pursues cost-effective energy savings and operational solutions that help maintain affordable, reliable and carbon-free electric power for the Northwest. www.bpa.gov

(SALEM, Ore.) – Today the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) was named a defendant in a lawsuit from Disability Rights Oregon and A Better Childhood. The lawsuit calls for an increase in the foster care system capacity to ensure every child has an appropriate placement and to ensure foster children - particularly those with intellectual or developmental disabilities or identifying as LGBTQ - receive the services and supports that meet their needs.  

DHS shares the same vision of a foster care system where all children are safe, have the customized supports they need to heal, and are cared for in stable, loving families where they thrive.  We take the care of our foster children seriously and work with urgency and diligence to achieve this goal.  Over the past 18 months we’ve been building the foundation needed to balance staff workload, so they can spend more time with children and families and add supports to serve children and families holistically in their communities.

Many efforts are underway to further the same goals of the lawsuit, including:

• A data collection project to identify the types and numbers of placements we lack to meet the needs of our foster children, so we can target our capacity-building efforts where they are needed the most.
• Statewide campaigns to recruit therapeutic and general foster families, and community volunteers to support them.
• Finalization of a long-term, statewide strategic plan to retain and recruit foster families developed by a workgroup of DHS staff and community partners.
• Development of new procedures for nurses and caseworkers for discussing the emotional and health supports available to foster children identifying as LGBTQ.
• An action plan in motion to re-assess foster children being served outside Oregon, including those with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The assessments are to ensure children are getting the services and supports they are eligible for and confirm they are in the appropriate level of care, returning to Oregon those who can be served safely here.
• Working closely with the nine federally recognized Oregon Tribes to reduce and eliminate overrepresentation of Indian children in foster care and to provide them with culturally appropriate services with the help of the Tribes.
• Establishment of an organizational culture with safety and well-being at its foundation.

We will continue to work purposefully with our system partners in addressing the gaps in the foster care system to create a better future for Oregon’s children.