(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

Harney County Sheriff's Office Continues to Respond to Major Flooding in Burns

Burns, Oregon – April 2, 2025, as of 1:50 p.m. – The Harney County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) continues to respond to the major flooding that has impacted the Burns area due to rapid snowmelt. The flooding has caused significant challenges for the local community, and emergency services are working tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents.

Harney County Sheriff Dan Jenkins stated, "Our primary concern is the safety of our community. Our city, county and state agencies are working around the clock to provide the necessary resources and support to those affected by the flooding. We recognize the flooding has impacted people’s lives in significant ways. We appreciate everyone’s patience as we continue to work to mitigate issues, and we are grateful for your support of one another and your first responders.”

HCSO created a webpage on its website (harneycountyor.gov/flood/) where updates will be published. We are also posting to social media on our Facebook page.

Operations: The sandbagging work on "Dike D”, the levee that runs from Foley Drive to the Silvies River is complete. The Army Corps of Engineers continues to reinforce Dike D. The work is on schedule and is expected to be completed in a few days. This is particularly important because weather forecasters anticipate additional runoff from snowmelt early next week due to warmer temperatures across the region over the weekend.

A new sandbagging machine arrived Tuesday night, which can fill bags at a faster rate. Sandbag operations are continuing today, and filled bags are being strategically placed in areas where flooding remains a concern.

A list of sandbag locations is later in this release.

Looking ahead, a volunteer coordinator is being identified.

Utilities: The City of Burns sewer system remains overwhelmed. Crews are working around the clock to mitigate issues. Complicating these efforts, on Tuesday, a fire hydrant in a flooded area was damaged. Water is shut off to 14 residents during the repair.

Drinking Water is Safe: The city drinking water is not affected by the flooding or any other complications due to the flooding. It is safe to drink.

Health Risks: Water collection samples show harmful bacteria is present in the floodwaters. STAY AWAY FROM FLOODWATERS UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. Do not allow your children to play in the water and keep your pets away. If you must enter the water, please ensure you are wearing personal protective equipment, such as rubber boots, gloves, waders and goggles to minimize exposure. When you exit, ensure you decontaminate and wash your clothing. Keep items worn in flood waters separate from other clothing/items and don't wear your shoes/boots from the flooded waters into your home. Do not dump sewage into the floodwaters. The water will continue to be tested until the flood waters recede.

E. coli and Coliform have been found in the Harney County floodwaters.Fact Sheet on e Coli

Road Closures:

• In Burns:
  • Railroad Avenue where it intersects with S. Egan Avenue and W. Fillmore Street
  • Riverside Drive: due to damages/washout from flooding
• In the county:
  • Embree Bridge Lane and Oil Well Road at Highway 78
  • Island Ranch Road at Highway 205 (expected to reopen Wednesday, April 2)
  • Foley Drive

Evacuation Zone Data (These are approximates):

• Structures within level 3 evacuation area: 593
• Addresses within level 3 evacuation area: 502
• Population within level 3 evacuation area: 1,266
   
• Structures within level 2 evacuation area: 76
• Addresses within level 2 evacuation area: 60
• Population within level 2 evacuation area: 151
   
• Structures within level 1 evacuation area: 19
• Addresses within level 1 evacuation area: 6
• Population within level 1 evacuation area: 15

Harney County Flood Resources & Updates:

• Evacuation Zone Map
• Genasys Alerts: Enter your address to check alert status in your area.
• Flood Info Line: A staffed hotline for residents to call with questions related to the floods: 541-589-0112. Only call 911 for life-threatening emergencies.
• State of Oregon Flood Dashboard

Sandbag Pickup Locations:

• City of Hines – Public Works Lot: 101 East Barnes Avenue, Hines
• The Pine Room parking lot: 543 W Monroe St, Burns, OR 97720.
• Washington Park: Corner of E. Washington Street and N. Date Avenue, Burns, OR 97720
• DMV Parking Lot: 252 S Date Avenue, Burns, OR 97720

Shelter Options and Personal Resources for Displaced and Impacted Residents:

Currently, 18 people are utilizing publicly available shelter spaces. All displaced residents, including Burns Paiute Tribal members, are welcome.

• Emergency shelter for all evacuees: Memorial Building — Harney County Fairgrounds
• RV shelter options: Residents in need of temporary shelter may park their RVs in designated areas at Hines City Park and Harney County Fairgrounds.

Portable Toilets: Portable toilets have been placed around town in City of Burns for any residents impacted by not being able to flush toilets due to sewage-system backups. List of locations (subject to change).

Showers: Hines Middle School, 500 W Barnes Ave, Hines, OR 97738. Shower Hours: April 2-3: Noon-8 PM; April 4-6: Noon-6 PM. Towels provided.

Mobile Medical Services: Harney County Health Department & High Country Wellness are partnering with SERV-OR providers to provide mobile medical services to the community. Schedule for Wednesday, April 2:

• 12 p.m.: Silver Spur Hotel
• 2 p.m.: Best Western
• 4 p.m.: Harney Hub

Donations: You can drop off donations at Burns Christian Church, 125 S Buena Vista Ave, Burns, OR 97720. Questions? Contact Donations Coordinator Melissa Albertson at 541-573-7176.

Crisis Line: Symmetry Care: 541-573-8376. National: 988.

Domestic Well Water Testing (free for impacted residents): Environmental Health Specialist: Jesse Barnes, 541-589-5788. Monday-Thursday: 8-5; Friday: 8-12. 111 W. Washington St., Burns, OR 97720.

Local Agencies: Official/Social Pages:

• Harney County School District #3
• City of Burns, Facebook: City of Burns
• City of Hines., Facebook: City of Hines
• Burns Paiute Tribe, Facebook: Burns Paiute Tribe
• Harney County, Facebook: Harney County
• Harney County Emergency Management, Facebook: Harney County Emergency Management
• Harney County Health Department and High Country Health and Wellness Center
• Oregon Dept. of Emergency Management, Facebook: Oregon Department of Emergency Management
• Oregon Dept. of Transportation, Facebook: Oregon Department of Transportation

Residents are urged to stay informed through official channels and follow any evacuation orders or safety instructions issued by authorities. The HCSO will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed.

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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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Bend Fire & Rescue invites Central Oregon high school students considering a career in the fire service to apply for Camp Fire Axe, an annual 4-day summer academy put on by professional firefighter/paramedics.

Camp Fire Axe is an opportunity for students ages 16 to 19 to learn about fire response, CPR, trauma and first aid in a real academy setting.

This year’s camp will take place June 19  – 22 from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day at the Bend Fire & Rescue North Station (63377 NE Jamison Street, Bend). Attendance is limited to 12 students with a $250 registration fee per student. Scholarships are available.

Applications are accepted on a first come, first served basis through May 1, and can be found at bendoregon.gov/camp-fire-axe.

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.

Central Oregon Partnerships for Youth (COPY), a program of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, is offering a class to prepare volunteers to become mentors for children with an incarcerated parent.

On Saturday, April 12, COPY will offer a volunteer training. This 3½-hour class covers program policies, Q&A from a current volunteer, how to establish a mentor relationship, the impact incarceration has on families, communication skills, and the stages of a mentoring relationship. There is no cost to attend, but advanced registration is required. Light snacks and refreshments provided.

After initial training and comprehensive background checks, volunteers are matched with a child in Bend, Redmond, Sisters or LaPine that share similar interests and activities and commit to spending a few hours a week together for a minimum of one year. This time is often spent on outside activities, exploring the community, doing art or craft projects, cooking or baking, or simply hanging out and talking.

For additional details please call 541-388-6651 or email COPY@deschutes.org  Additional program information is available at the Sheriff’s Office web site at www.sheriff.deschutes.org/copy 

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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The ISOR-PH Regular board meeting has been scheduled for April 17th, 2025 @11:30.

Insight School of Oregon Painted Hills Board Members are hereby notified that a Meeting of the Board is scheduled for April 17th, 2025 @11:30am. 

The meeting will take place on April 17th, 2025 @11:30am.

Insight School of Oregon Painted Hills Board Members are hereby notified that the Meeting of the Board will be held at:

1.Via Teleconference - using any of the following US phone numbers

+1 253 215 8782

+1 346 248 7799

+1 669 900 9128

+1 301 715 8592

+1 312 626 6799

+1 646 558 8656

Meeting ID is: 936 9648 8538

And

2. Via Zoom Meeting Link:

https://zoom.us/s/93696488538

The Public has been invited to the Board Meeting with notices posted at the following locations:

A. FlashNet Newswire

http://flashalertbend.net/press-releases.html

B. Insight School of Oregon Painted Hills Office

603 NW 3rd Street

Prineville, OR 97754

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.

Pendleton, OR— Low-income Pendleton area taxpayers eligible to claim valuable federal and state tax credits can get assistance filing their tax returns when Oregon Department of Revenue visit Blue Mountain Community College April 10.

Help using the combination of IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon to file electronically for free will be available at the Blue Mountain Community College Library, located at 2411 NW Carden Ave (Pioneer Hall – 147), 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., April 10.

According to IRS and state statistics, the federal Earned Income Tax Credit and the Oregon Earned Income Credit were claimed on more than 15 percent of returns in Umatilla County [MD1] for tax year 2022. It’s likely, however, that more area families could claim the credits. The IRS estimates that, overall, 25 percent of Oregon taxpayers eligible don’t claim the credits.

The Department of Revenue believes that helping taxpayers file their own returns using direct file will help maximize the number of Oregonians who choose to use the new free option and make it possible for many who don’t have a filing requirement to file and claim significant federal and state tax credits for low-income families.

The Earned Income Tax Credit is a federal tax credit for people for making up to $66,819 in 2024. Families may be eligible for a maximum refundable credit of $7,830 on their federal tax return, and a maximum Oregon Earned Income Credit of $940 on their state tax return. Certain taxpayers without children may also be eligible for these credits.

Some taxpayers eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Oregon Earned Income Credit may also be able to claim the Oregon Kids Credit, which could total as much as $5,000.

All three are refundable credits meaning that eligible taxpayers can receive the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Oregon EIC, and Oregon Kids Credit, even if they are not otherwise required to file. To receive the refundable credits, however, they must file a federal and state tax return.
 

The IRS estimates that 3,500 people in Pendleton are eligible to use IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon in addition to 10,000 others in Umatilla County.  Filing with both IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon is free and available as a combination for filing both federal and state taxes for the first time this year.

Before arriving at the library, taxpayers should:

• Use the IRS's Eligibility Checker to see if they qualify to use IRS Direct File. 
• Set up an IRS online account through ID.me. Watch this 5 Easy Steps to Register an ID.me Account with IRS video to learn how. 
• Make sure they have a Revenue Online account before they come to the event to make sure they're ready to go. Watch this How to Set Up and Log In to Your Revenue Online Account for Individuals video to learn how.

Videos are also available to show how to use IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon and taxpayers can find more information on the department’s Free Direct File assistance at local libraries webpage.

Taxpayers should bring the following information with them to the library.

Identification documents

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

Common income and tax documents

• Forms W2 (wages from a job)
• Forms 1099 (other kinds of income)
• Forms SSA-1099 (Social security benefits)

Optional documents

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

IRS Direct File does not support all return types. Specifically, taxpayers with dividends reported on Form 1099-DIV and capital gains or losses are not eligible to use IRS Direct File.

Taxpayers who aren’t eligible to use IRS Direct File can find other free options and free assistances sites on the agency’s website.  Those who can't use IRS Direct File to file their federal return can still use Direct File Oregon to file their state return.

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(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, asks the public to help find Joshua Makalea, age 17, a child in foster care who went missing from Monmouth on March 14. He is believed to be in danger.

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

Joshua is known to frequent Dallas, Independence, Monmouth and Albany. He may be in or trying to travel to Sacramento, California.  

Name: Joshua Makalea
Pronouns: He/him
Date of birth: Jan. 14, 2008
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 145 pounds
Hair: Brown, most recently dyed black
Eye color: Hazel
Other identifying information: Joshua’s often bleaches his hair
Polk County Sheriff’s Office Case #25-3007
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children #2045779

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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TUALATIN, Ore. – The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) strongly denounces President Donald Trump’s executive order, signed last night, attempting to eliminate collective bargaining rights for nearly one million federal workers. No matter what the administration says, this is clearly not about national security. It is a political attack on working people and their unions, plain and simple. 

President Trump is targeting the public servants who care for our veterans, monitor public health, inspect our food and water, and respond to national emergencies. These workers are not a threat to our country; many of them are frontline caregivers and essential personnel who keep our communities safe. Removing their ability to speak out and advocate through their unions puts all of us at greater risk. 

As a union of nurses and health care professionals, we understand how dangerous it is when those on the front lines are silenced. ONA’s members know what it means to face retaliation for telling the truth, especially when that truth is inconvenient for those in power. We also know that unions protect not just workers, but the patients, families, and communities we serve. 

ONA does not represent federal employees, but we recognize this order for what it is: a test run to dismantle union rights nationwide. If the President can erase a million workers’ rights with the stroke of a pen, no worker in America is safe.  

Let’s be clear: this is not about efficiency or safety. This is about silencing the unions that have taken this administration to court and pushed back in the streets. It is retaliation, plain and simple, and it is dangerous. 

ONA stands in full solidarity with federal unions and every worker who is now under threat. The labor movement in Oregon and across the country is united. We will not be silenced. We will not be divided. And we will continue to organize to protect the rights and voices of working people. 

Unions are not a threat to national security. We are a cornerstone of democracy, and we are not going anywhere. 

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) represents a diverse community of more than 23,000 nurses, and health care professionals throughout Oregon. Together, we use our collective power to advocate for critical issues impacting patients, nurses, and health care professionals including a more effective, affordable and accessible healthcare system; better working conditions for all health care professionals; and healthier communities. For more information visit www.OregonRN.org.

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PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal judge in Portland found a Tigard, Oregon man guilty Wednesday for shooting a United States Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier.

Kevin Eugene Irvine, 34, was convicted of one count each of attempted murder of a federal employee, aggravated assault on a federal employee with a firearm, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Irvine raised an insanity defense in the bench trial held before a U.S. District Judge. The District Judge found that Irvine had failed to establish legal insanity and was guilty of all three counts in the indictment.

According to court documents, on December 24, 2022, while driving a white van through a Milwaukie, Oregon neighborhood, Irvine made eye contact with a letter carrier delivering mail on foot dressed in a USPS uniform. Irvine threw his arms in the air, which the letter carrier mistook as waving, and waved back.  

A short time later, on an adjacent street, the letter carrier noticed the same van and again made eye contact with driver, later identified as Irvine, as he drove past. Irvine stopped the van several houses away, got out of the van with a rifle, knelt on the street and fired three rounds, striking the letter carrier once as the letter carrier ran for cover. After the shooting, Irvine picked up his shell casings and drove off.

On December 28, 2022, officers spotted the van in Lake Oswego, Oregon, where they stopped the vehicle and arrested Irvine. Later, investigators sought and obtained a search warrant for Irvine’s van and found three rifles, ammunition, spent shell casings, a knife, shooting targets and ballistic gear.

On February 8, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a three-count indictment charging Irvine with aggravated assault on a federal employee with a firearm, attempted murder of a federal employee, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.

Irvine faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release for each count of attempted murder of a federal employee and aggravated assault on a federal employee with a firearm, and a mandatory minimum of ten years of imprisonment with a maximum sentence of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release for discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. He will be sentenced on July 17, 2025.

The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the Milwaukie Police Department and the Lake Oswego Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Gary Y. Sussman and Eliza Carmen Rodriguez, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.

# # #

Released by: Sergeant Thomas Lilienthal

Release Date: March 28, 2025

Location: Unincorporated area of Bend, OR

Arrestee: Justin Noble Sayers, 51-year-old Male

Charges:

• 2x Luring a Minor ORS 167.057 (Felony)
• Using Child in Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct ORS 163.670 (Felony)
• 3x Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the First Degree ORS 163.684 (Felony)
• 3x Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree ORS 163.686 (Felony)

Victims: Multiple Female Juveniles ranging from 13-year-old to 16-year-old

NARRATIVE:

In November of 2024, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit received an ICAC Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). This Cybertip detailed an unknown user who shared imagery of Child Sexual Abuse Material on the chat application Discord within Deschutes County. This was investigated over the next several months by Oregon State Police and Deschutes County ICAC Detectives. Through multiple search warrants and subpoenas, the ICAC unit was able to identify the user as Justin Noble Sayers of the unincorporated area of Bend. The investigation also revealed that Sayers would pose as either a female juvenile or younger male adult to entice victim female juveniles to send sexually explicit images and videos to Sayers since 2023.

On March 21^st, 2025, a joint search warrant operation was conducted to take Sayers into custody, as well as a search of his residence located in the unincorporated area of Bend. This joint operation was conducted by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office ICAC unit which is comprised of investigators from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigations, and Homeland Security Investigations, The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Digital Forensics Unit which is comprised of detectives from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Bend Police Department, and Redmond Police Department, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Deputies, and Sunriver Police Department Patrol Officers.

Sayers was ultimately lodged on the above listed charges and investigators seized several digital devices from his residence. On March 27^th, 2025, Sayers was indicted by a Grand Jury on these charges.

This is an ongoing investigation. Currently, the investigation has not revealed any victims within Deschutes County. As always, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind parents to monitor their children’s online activity and have open conversations regarding communication online. Just because someone says they are a 15-year-old female does not mean that they are actually a 15-year-old female.

The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office is a full-service agency that oversees the adult jail, provides patrol, criminal investigations, civil process and search and rescue operations. Special units include SWAT, Marine Patrol, ATV Patrol, Forest Patrol, along with five K9 teams. Founded in 1916 and today led by your duly elected Sheriff Kent van der Kamp, the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office serves over 200,000 residents in Deschutes County. The agency has 259 authorized and funded personnel, which includes 193 sworn employees who provide services to the 3,055 square miles of Deschutes County.

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, David Dietrich, died the morning of March 27, 2025. Dietrich was incarcerated at Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP) in Salem and passed away in the infirmary while on hospice care. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified, and the State Medical Examiner will determine cause of death.

Dietrich entered DOC custody on July 12, 2007, from Washington County with a projected release date of March 13, 2032. Dietrich was 71 years old.

DOC takes all in-custody deaths seriously. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of approximately 12,000 men and women who are incarcerated in 12 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.

OSP is a multi-custody prison located in Salem that houses approximately 2,000 adults in custody. OSP is surrounded by a 25-foot-high wall with 10 towers. The facility has multiple special housing units including disciplinary segregation, behavioral health, intermediate care housing, and an infirmary (with hospice) with 24-hour nursing care. OSP participates in prison industries with Oregon Corrections Enterprises including the furniture factory, laundry, metal shop, and contact center. It provides a range of correctional programs and services including education, work-based education, work crews, and pre-release services. OSP was established in 1866 and, until 1959, was Oregon’s only prison.

####

March 27, 2025

Media contact: Larry Bingham: ry.Bingham@oha.oregon.gov" style="color: rgb(6, 66, 118); text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;">Larry.Bingham@oha.oregon.gov; 971-239-6499

Impact of federal grant cuts on OHA programs and Oregonians

PORTLAND, Ore.--The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), abruptly terminated roughly $117 million in COVID-era grants and funding for Oregon Health Authority programs, an impact that will be felt immediately in all nine federally recognized Tribal communities and in every county in Oregon.

The sudden loss of the funding, a year or more before some of the grants were scheduled to end, included, among other things:

• Five grants in OHA’s Behavioral Health Division that helped establish the 988 crisis line and were planned to fill critical gaps in community substance use treatment, prevention, and recovery services, especially for communities of color, young adults, and veterans.
• A grant that established an Equity Office in OHA’s Public Health Division and provided technical assistance and training to rural health care providers, Tribes, Local Public Health Departments and community-based organizations on how to improve health in communities experiencing health inequities.
• Multiple immunization-related grants in OHA's Public Health Division to support vaccine-preventable disease work, including funding for clinics in local and Tribal communities where COVID-19 and other vaccines are offered, training to keep health care providers up to date, education for community partners on the importance of immunizations, help desk support for health care providers and the general public, information materials in multiple languages to meet specific community needs.
• Multiple grants in OHA’s Public Health Division that supported adding laboratory capacity, modernizing data systems, increased surveillance, testing and response to communicable diseases caused by respiratory viruses.

OHA officials earlier today notified local public health authorities, the nine federally recognized Tribes and community-based organizations and partners who receive the funds that the grants have ended. OHA will continue to engage in a full evaluation of the impacts of these terminations, including whether they are legal, and remains committed to improving the lifelong health of all people in Oregon.

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March 27, 2025

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

Aid-in-dying deaths drop while prescriptions increase, OHA report shows

Death with Dignity Act participant characteristics consistent with previous years

PORTLAND, Ore. — Prescriptions for life-ending medications under Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act (DWDA) increased between 2023 and 2024, while the number of deaths went down, according to new Oregon Health Authority (OHA) data.

According to OHA’s 27^th annual report on the DWDA, the number of prescriptions written for lethal medications increased 8.2%, from 561 to 607; deaths from ingestion of lethal doses of DWDA medications dropped about 2.6%, from 386 to 376.

The 2024 data represent a significant change from 2023, when prescriptions increased about 29%, driven largely by a 2023 amendment to the DWDA that removed the state residency requirement. Deaths from ingesting the lethal medications increased that year by about 20%.

In 2024, 23 prescription recipients (4%) lived outside of Oregon, a slight decrease from 29 (5%) in 2023.

“What we’re seeing is, perhaps, a cooling of the heightened interest and participation in the DWDA that occurred when patients were no longer required to be Oregon residents to receive medical aid in dying,” said Tom Jeanne, M.D., M.P.H.., deputy state health officer and epidemiologist.

He added that OHA has not seen any dramatic shifts in demographics of people who participate in the DWDA, noting that “characteristics of participants have remained generally consistent with previous years.”

Despite the increase in DWDA patients during 2023, the report’s findings are similar to those of previous years. The number of physician-assisted deaths remains a small percentage of the estimated 44,000 annual deaths in Oregon.

As in prior reports, participants were more likely to be 65 or older (83%) and white (92%). The most common health diagnosis among participants was cancer (57%), followed by neurological disease (15%) and heart disease (11%).

In 2024, OHA made no referrals of prescribing physicians to the Oregon Medical Board for failure to comply with DWDA reporting requirements.

Other findings for 2024 include:

• Prescriptions for lethal doses of medication were written by 135 different physicians. 
• Just over half of patients were male (53%).
• Just under half had a bachelor’s degree or higher (45%).
• Most patients died at home (83%), and most were enrolled in hospice care (92%).
• Excluding unknown cases, all patients had some form of health insurance. The percentage of patients with private insurance increased slightly from 2023 (from 21% to 23%), while patients with Medicare or Medicaid insurance saw a slight decrease (from 79% to 77%).
• As in previous years, the three most frequently reported end‐of‐life concerns were loss of autonomy (89%), decreasing ability to participate in activities that made life enjoyable (88%), and loss of dignity (64%).

OHA is legally required to collect information on compliance with the Death with Dignity Act and to make that information available on a yearly basis.

The full report is available on OHA’s Death with Dignity Act webpage.  

###

Record-setting fish returns mark signficant progress toward long-term reintroduction goals for Tribal, utility and conservation partners

Madras, Ore. (March 27, 2025) — Record numbers of adult steelhead returned to the Pelton Round Butte hydropower project on the Deschutes River during the 2024-2025 run, which ends this month. With more than 950 fish passed upstream of Round Butte Dam, the Upper Deschutes Basin is now home to more steelhead than at any time since the 1960s. Scientists attribute this year’s returns to beneficial ocean conditions and improvements in fish management practices.

The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (the Tribes) and Portland General Electric – co-owners of the three-dam Pelton Round Butte hydropower complex – began an ambitious effort in 2010 to reintroduce ocean-going salmon and steelhead to the Deschutes River after more than 50 years without passage for these species. Scientific modeling completed in the 1990s established an annual goal of 955 steelhead adults upstream, based on the available habitat for fish.

“While the return of steelhead fish to the watershed marks a significant milestone, the journey toward full restoration continues,” said Austin Smith Jr., natural resources manager for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. “The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs remain committed to ongoing conservation efforts, adaptive management, and education.”

Of the 950 adult steelhead passed upstream, 675 traveled through Pelton Round Butte’s fish collection facility as juveniles. Young fish from the Upper Deschutes, Crooked, and Metolius Rivers are collected in Lake Billy Chinook at the Selective Water Withdrawal (SWW), a structure that enables fish to be safely transported around three dams to continue their migration to the ocean. The SWW also facilitates more natural conditions in the Lower Deschutes River by reducing temperature impacts from the dams.

“We're excited to welcome these steelhead back to the Upper Deschutes Basin. Their journey is remarkable,” said Megan Hill, senior environmental science manager at PGE. “Most of these fish passed through the SWW, traveled 100 miles down the Deschutes to the Columbia River, then migrated another 200 miles past Bonneville Dam to the ocean. After spending about two years at sea, they made the 300-mile journey back. This year’s run highlights the power of strong ocean conditions combined with our collaborative efforts to improve fish passage and reintroduction strategies.”

Steelhead released upstream of Round Butte Dam since the reintroduction program began. Totals include reintroduction fish as well as excess hatchery broodstock.

Most of the returning steelhead traveled through the SWW as juveniles in 2022, a record-breaking year for juvenile collection. Since 2010, the Tribes and PGE have improved their ability to safely capture more fish through science-based strategies. These include the installation of a net that guides fish toward the collection area, a new stress-relief pond to allow fish time to recover after handling, and collaboration with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in the practice of smolt acclimation: holding young fish in-stream for a period of time to imprint and adjust to the river’s conditions.

Additionally, with more than two thirds of the steelhead lifecycle spent in the Pacific, recent beneficial ocean conditions likely played a significant role in steelhead survival and return rates.

In addition to the 675 reintroduction program fish, 275 Deschutes River hatchery-origin steelhead were also released upstream – a reintroduction strategy adopted in recent years. These adults, referred to as excess broodstock, are screened for disease, monitored post-release, and are genetically identical to the other steelhead from the upper basin.

Conservation organizations and agencies celebrate the record steelhead run:

“The DRC and its partners have been working over the last 15 years to restore streamflow and improve habitat in the Crooked River, Whychus Creek, and Metolius system to benefit these fish coming home. This marks the largest return since the efforts to reintroduce fish above the Pelton Round Butte Dam Complex began, and shows the promise of restoring anadromous runs back to their home waters in the upper basin.”

– Kate Fitzpatrick, executive director for the Deschutes River Conservancy

“The steelhead return to the Upper Deschutes Basin during the 2024-2025 run has been much stronger than we anticipated, and we are seeing evidence of widespread spawning. The adaptive management changes we’ve made in the reintroduction program have undoubtedly contributed to this strong return. Additional factors such as favorable ocean conditions and freshwater migration conditions also play a significant role.”

– Terry Shrader, Pelton Round Butte mitigation coordinator for Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife

“This year’s large return of adult steelhead from the reintroduction program has been exciting to see, and a tremendous amount of work has been expended to make this happen. NOAA Fisheries appreciates the conservation efforts of the Deschutes River Conservancy, Deschutes Land Trust, local watershed councils, and irrigation districts. The Bureau of Reclamation has also been a great partner by storing and releasing water to assist with reintroduction. PGE and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have made improvements to their operations and collection facility, resulting in many more juvenile salmon and steelhead being passed downstream. Additionally, adjustments by the Tribes and the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife have contributed to larger numbers of juveniles being passed downstream. We look forward to ongoing collaboration and more salmon and steelhead adults returning to the Deschutes River.”

– Scott Carlon, fish biologist for NOAA Fisheries

Using radio tracking technology, biologists will continue to monitor the adult steelhead released upstream to gather data about their movement and spawning activity. A subset of the adults, known as kelts, will travel through the SWW and to the ocean a second time. Others will remain in the upper basin to lay their eggs in gravel nests called redds, which have already been discovered in the Upper Deschutes Basin. In a few years, the offspring of these adults will begin their own journey to the ocean, following the current downstream to start the cycle over again.

More information about the Deschutes fish reintroduction program can be found at portlandgeneral.com/healthydeschutes.

View or download b-roll of steelhead releases.

About the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs

The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon is a federally-recognized, sovereign Indian tribe, representing the Wasco, Warm Springs and Paiute peoples. The Tribes occupy the Warm Springs Reservation, which stretches from the summits of the Cascade Mountains to the cliffs of the Deschutes River in Central Oregon. The Reservation is reserved for the Tribes' exclusive benefit by an 1855 Treaty with the United States. To this day, the Tribes retain treaty rights across their ceded lands and usual and accustomed areas that ensure the Tribes can fish, hunt and gather its resources throughout the John Day, Hood River and the majority of the Deschutes Basin.

About Portland General Electric Company

Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) is an integrated energy company that generates, transmits and distributes electricity to nearly 950,000 customers serving an area of 1.9 million Oregonians. Since 1889, Portland General Electric (PGE) has been powering social progress, delivering safe, affordable, reliable and increasingly clean electricity while working to transform energy systems to meet evolving customer needs. PGE customers have set the standard for prioritizing clean energy with the No. 1 voluntary renewable energy program in the country. PGE was ranked the No. 1 utility in the 2024 Forrester U.S. Customer Experience Index and is committed to reducing emissions from its retail power supply by 80% by 2030 and 100% by 2040. In 2024, PGE employees, retirees and the PGE Foundation donated $5.5 million and volunteered nearly 23,000 hours to more than 480 nonprofit organizations. For more information visit www.PortlandGeneral.com/news

EUGENE, Ore. – Early registration ticket pricing for Oregon’s largest Urban and Community Forestry Conference has been extended to midnight on Sunday, April 13. The one-day conference will be held again this year on Thursday, May 15 at Venue 252 in downtown Eugene.  It is put on by the non-profit organization Oregon Community Trees in partnership with the Oregon Department of Forestry and USDA Forest Service. Co-presenting sponsors are OUR Community Forestry and Portland Urban Forestry.

The conference’s theme – Growing Together: Collaboration and Diverse Voices in Urban Forestry – will feature speakers and panelists providing insights into:

• How those working to extend the many benefits of shade-tree canopy more widely can do so in a more equitable manner by collaborating with communities.
• How people currently under-represented in urban forestry and arboriculture can be recruited into the profession and helped to flourish within it.

Keynote speaker Christine Carmichael, PhD, will be flying in from Michigan to share historic, current, and future trends in diversity, equity, and inclusion in the urban forestry field.

There will also be panels discussing workforce development and collaborating with diverse communities, including Oregon’s Tribal nations. OUR Community Forestry, which is co-sponsoring this year’s conference, will also share its experience working with communities in southern Oregon, including Talent, a large portion of which was destroyed by the 2020 Almeda Fire. Continuing education credits are being sought for the conference.

According to Scott Altenhoff, who is Manager of the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, conference attendees will learn ideas for how cities can be more successful at getting trees into neighborhoods that have below-average tree canopy, often because of historic inequities. “These often low-income areas are at greatest risk from extreme heat events and adverse health effects from lack of large, healthy trees nearby,” he said. “Yet they can be challenging places to try and establish tree canopy, not least being narrow or non-existent planting strips for street trees.”

Oregon Community Trees Conference Co-Chair Heidi Lakics said she’s excited about the conference this year. “It will bring together people who care passionately about meeting Oregonians’ needs for more trees with others interested in opening up opportunities for more people to find good jobs in the arboriculture and urban forestry fields,” she said.

Early registration is $150 until April 13 and $180 after that date ($170 if the person registering lives or works in a Tree City USA community). Students can register for $80 at any time before registration ends May 8. Price includes a boxed lunch and a social hour beverage and snacks following the conference. To register, go to Growing Together: Collaboration and Diverse Voices in Urban Forestry

About Oregon Community Trees

The mission of this non-profit, Oregon-based organization is to promote healthy urban and community forests through leadership, education, awareness and advocacy.

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Portland, Ore., March 27, 2025 – Registration is live for the annual Oregon Spring Cleanup presented by Portland General Electric! With over 100 events already posted on the SOLVE website, now is the time to get involved. Litter cleanups and habitat restoration projects span Portland and SW Washington, the entire Oregon Coast from Astoria to Brookings, the Willamette National Forest, Southern Oregon—including Medford—and all the way to Baker City in Eastern Oregon.

The Oregon Spring Cleanup, celebrating Earth Month, takes place from April 12 to 22, 2025, culminating on Saturday, April 19. Individuals, families, community and corporate groups are encouraged to participate in this collective effort to keep our region clean and beautiful. Volunteers can sign up for existing projects or host their own events with support from SOLVE.

Longtime community partner, Portland General Electric continues to champion environmental volunteerism through SOLVE. As part of PGE’s commitment to environmental stewardship, they partner with SOLVE to bring communities together to provide clean and healthy environments for all.

"Earth Month is great reminder to take action and continue to enhance our communities,” said PGE’s vice president of policy and resource planning, Kristen Sheeran. “This Earth Month, we’re ready to roll up our sleeves with SOLVE and all of the volunteer partners to make a lasting impact on Oregon’s natural spaces."

How to Get Involved

• Sign up: Find a volunteer event near you and register yourself or a group at volunteer.solveoregon.org/
• Lead your own event: SOLVE provides all the necessary resources, including supplies and disposal funds, to make hosting a project easy for you.
• Join the challenge: Rally your school, company, or community group to take part in the Trash Bag Challenge. Participants challenge others to either join an existing SOLVE cleanup or lead their own, sparking friendly competition and community pride - solveoregon.org/challenge

Supply Hubs: Making Coastal Cleanups More Sustainable

At SOLVE, we make it easy to lead a cleanup event. This year, new coastal supply hubs provide an additional way to access event materials, making it even easier to host litter cleanups along the Oregon Coast.

Through a partnership with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) and generous support from Knife River, SOLVE has established seven supply hubs along the Oregon Coast. These hubs—located at Cape Lookout, Fort Stevens, Port Orford Heads, South Beach, and Sunset Bay within OPRD parks, along with Heart of Cartm in Nehalem and Washed Ashore in Bandon—are stocked with supplies to support cleanups of up to 20 volunteers, reducing the shipment of single-use plastics to these areas.

Join the Trash Bag Challenge

New this year, SOLVE is also launching the Trash Bag Challenge, inviting schools, businesses, community groups, and organizations to challenge others to either join an existing cleanup or lead their own. This initiative is designed to spark friendly competition and community pride while making a tangible difference in local areas.

The Oregon Spring Cleanup 2025 is made possible by the generous support of Portland General Electric and other event sponsors, including AAA, CareOregon, Clean Water Services, Fred Meyer, Holman Enterprises, KOIN 6, The Oregonian, Lam Research Corporation, Metro, Lithia Driveway, Intel, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Swire Coca-Cola, The Standard, and PepsiCo.

For more information and to sign up, visit www.solveoregon.org/oregon-spring and be part of the collective effort to create a cleaner, greener Oregon.

About SOLVE 

SOLVE brings communities together to take care of our environment and enhance our waterways. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots initiative to a national model of volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon, and SW Washington, to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas, while empowering a community of environmental stewards for our state. Visit solveoregon.org for more information.