Regarding the last release, Mckenzie has been located.  No further assistance is needed.  

Date: Nov. 28, 2022

Case #: 2022-00070905

Incident: Bend Police seek assistance in locating missing juvenile 

Date / Time of Incident: Nov. 28, 2022 / 7:02 p.m. 

Location: 200 block of NE Second Street, Bend

Bend Police are asking the public’s assistance in locating a juvenile who is considered missing and at risk.

McKenzie Rianne Clifton, 16, is described as Hispanic, standing 4 feet 11 inches, with a thin build. Her hair is dark on top, turning blonde halfway down.  

She was last seen at approximately 7 p.m. at the warming shelter at 275 NE Second Street. She was wearing a black matte jacket, black pants and a bright green sleeping bag. 

She left the area with an unknown male, who is described as white, 5 feet 9 inches, with a goatee and possibly wearing a brown, UPS-style uniform. 

He was driving a black Jeep Cherokee with Arizona plate #BLP1543. Their direction of travel is unknown.  

Anyone with information on McKenzie’s whereabouts is asked to call nonemergency dispatch at 541-693-6911.

UPDATE: 

This afternoon, Bend Police determined Sommerset was in a trailer on Hunnell Road. At approximately 5:05 p.m., Bend Police activated the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team to respond to Sommerset’s location. Over the course of several hours, CERT and Bend Police repeatedly ordered Sommerset out of the trailer. He did not respond. Bend Police applied for and received a search warrant to the trailer. CERT members then forced entry into the trailer and K-9 Kim was deployed. Sommerset was taken into custody at approximately 8:35 p.m. and was transported to St. Charles Bend. 

Date: Nov. 28, 2022

Case #: 2022-00070632

Incident: Bend Police looking for suspect in two weekend assaults

Date / Time of Incident: Nov. 27, 2022 / 7 a.m. 

Location: Empire Avenue & N Highway 97, Bend

Suspect: Kenneth James Sommerset, 35-year-old Bend resident 

Charges: Robbery I, Theft II, Aggravated Assault II

Bend Police are looking for 35-year-old Bend resident Kenneth James Sommerset, who is suspected of committing two assaults in the Hunnell Road area over the weekend.

On Sunday, Nov. 27 at approximately 7:58 a.m., Bend Police responded to a report of a man stumbling southbound on U.S. Highway 97 with blood all over his face. 

When officers responded, the victim reported a man had pistol whipped him on Hunnell Road. The victim reported a man approached him and struck him with what may have been a CO2 gun, then pointed the gun at him and emptied the victim’s pockets, taking his wallet and cigarettes. The victim was transported to St. Charles Bend for treatment of his injuries.

In a separate incident, Sommerset is suspected of spraying bear spray into another person’s face during an argument on Sunday evening. 

November 28, 2022

Contacts: Liz Gharst, 971-666-2476, eth.a.gharst@dhsoha.state.or.us">Elizabeth.a.gharst@dhsoha.state.or.us (media inquiries)

Tara Chetock, 971-304-9917, a.a.chetock@dhsoha.state.or.us">tara.a.chetock@dhsoha.state.or.us (meeting information or accommodation)

Oregon Health Policy Board meets December 6, via Zoom

What: A public meeting of the Oregon Health Policy Board.

When: December 6, 8:30 am – 12:00 pm

Where: Virtual meeting only. The public can join remotely via Zoom or a conference line.

To join via Zoom: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1604737337?pwd=WEJFeWJick9oVCsrT0RwcjEwaWdWZz09

To call in to the meeting on a mobile device, use the following number:

+16692545252,, 1604737337#,,,,,,0#,, 136235#

Proposed topics for the meeting agenda are listed below. The final meeting agenda and supporting materials will be posted on the OHPB website prior to the meeting. 

Agenda:

1. Roll Call, Welcome & Minutes Approval;
2. OHA Updates;
3. Post-Public Health Emergency (PHE) Eligibility Renewals Planning Updates;
4. OHA Government Relations: Leadership Transition and Legislative Preview;
5. Public Comment;
6. Health Equity Committee (HEC): Proposed Membership Slate & Charter Updates;
7. Oregon Coordinated Care Organization (CCO) Legislative Report Update;
8. Bridge Program: Task Force and Actuarial Analysis Update;
9. Closing Comments & Meeting Adjourn;

To provide public comment, please submit your request for public comment at least 48 hours prior to the meeting at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OHPB-Public-Comment

For more information and meeting materials, please visit the OHPB meeting webpage at https://www.oregon.gov/oha/OHPB/Pages/index.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
• CART (Communication Access Real-time Translation)
• Written materials in other languages
• Braille
• Large print
• Audio and other formats

If you need help or have questions, please contact Tara Chetock at 971-304-9917, 711 TTY, a.a.chetock@dhsoha.state.or.us">tara.a.chetock@dhsoha.state.or.us, at least 48 hours before the meeting.

The Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Troopers from the Pendleton Area Command received information on several individuals who were unlawfully taking big game animals. In the summer of 2020 Troopers began gathering information and evidence over the following year, which led to the service of a search warrant at a Pendleton residence in December of 2021. Evidence seized from the search warrant included 6 sets of deer antlers, and 3 sets of elk antlers, including a 7x7 trophy bull elk, a rifle, a bow, and meat. The investigation and search warrant led to the indictment of Walker Erickson, (28) of Pendleton, Oregon, and Hunter Wagner, (23) of Pilot Rock, Oregon.

In October of 2022, Walker Erickson was indicted on the following:

-3 Counts of Unlawful Take of a Cow Elk

-4 Counts of Unlawful Take of a Whitetail Buck

-2 Counts of Unlawful Take of a Mule Deer Buck

-4 Counts of Unlawful Take of Bull Elk

-3 Counts of Waste of Game

-1 Count of Unlawful Possession of Big Game

-1 Count of Hunting While Criminally Trespassing

-1 Count of Hunting on Another’s Cultivated or Enclosed Land

-1 Count of Hunting from a Motor Vehicle

-2 Counts of Tampering with Physical Evidence

In October of 2022, Hunter Wagner was indicted on the following:

-7 Counts of Counseling, Aiding, or Assisting in Another’s Unlawful Take of a Big Game Animal

The Oregon State Police would like to thank the public for the tips regarding this large and extensive investigation. This case is being prosecuted by the Anti-Poaching Prosecutor with the Department of Justice in coordination with the Umatilla County District Attorney’s Office.

Report Wildlife and Habitat Law Violators

The Turn in Poachers (TIP) program offers preference points or cash rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation, to a suspect, for the unlawful killing of wildlife, and or waste of big game. Cash rewards can also be awarded for turning in people who destroy habitat, illegally obtain licenses/tags, and for unlawful lending/borrowing of big game tags. Learn more: https://www.oregon.gov/osp/programs/fw/Pages/tip.aspx

The Stop Poaching Campaign educates the public on how to recognize and report poaching. This campaign is a collaboration among state agencies, sportsmen, and other conservationists, landowners, and recreationists to engage the public in combatting Oregon's poaching problem. Our goal is to: Incentivize reporting on wildlife crimes through the TIP Line; Strengthen enforcement by increasing the number of OSP Fish and Wildlife Troopers, and Support prosecution in becoming an effective deterrent. The campaign helps to protect and enhance Oregon's fish and wildlife and their habitat for the enjoyment of present and future generations. 

Campaign Sponsors include Oregon State Police, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon State Marine Board, Oregon Hunters Association, Oregon Wildlife Coalition, and Oregon Outfitters & Guides Association.

Report a Wildlife or Habitat Law Violation or Suspicious Activity 

Dial 1-800-452-7888 or OSP (677) from a mobile phone or via email at TIP@osp.oregon.gov​

Date: Nov. 28, 2022

Case #: 2022-00070584

Incident:  Man arrested after hostage situation 

Date / Time of Incident: Nov. 26, 2022 / 8:53 p.m. 

Location: 60000 block of Alpine Drive, Bend

Arrested: Austin Michael Supica, 36-year-old Bend resident

Charges: Kidnapping I, Burglary I, In-State Warrant

On Saturday, Nov. 26 at approximately 8:53 p.m., Bend Police were called to a home in the 60000 block of Alpine Drive on a report of an unwanted subject. 

The man, identified as 36-year-old Austin Michael Supica, was reportedly refusing to leave the home and was armed with a flare gun and threatening to shoot himself with it. Supica had been at the house earlier in the night and had been asked to leave, but had returned and forced his way into the home. 

When officers arrived, two people in the home were able to leave, but Supica refused to allow a third person to exit. 

After Supica repeatedly refused to leave the home and continued to prevent another person from leaving, the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team was activated and arrived at approximately 10:05 p.m. 

The hostage escaped the home at around 10:34 p.m. while Supica was using the bathroom. Once Supica was the only person remaining in the house, CERT negotiators were able to talk him out of the house. At 10:45 p.m., Supica exited the residence and was taken into custody without incident. 

He was lodged at the Deschutes County Jail on charges of first-degree kidnapping, first-degree burglary and the felony in-state warrant.

Bend Police thanks the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office for its assistance providing a K-9 in this incident.

SALEM, Ore.—A $20 million landscape resiliency grant program is making Oregon’s landscapes more resistant to the threat of wildfire by treatments done through unique partnerships with private landowners and other local, county, state, and federal agencies.

Oregon’s 2021 Legislature invested nearly $195 million to address Oregon’s wildfire crisis through Senate Bill 762. Of this $195 million, $20 million created a two-year landscape resiliency and mitigation grant program that the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) has been administering. 

“Projects like this are a major step towards protecting communities and natural resources in Oregon by making forests healthier and more resilient in the face of changing climate and wildfire environment,” said Cal Mukumoto, Oregon’s State Forester,” said Cal Mukumoto, Oregon’s State Forester.

 Just over 200,000 acres of Oregon landscapes are planned to be treated by June 2023 when the program ends. These projects in some of the highest-risk landscapes will greatly reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire in those treated areas. Not only will it make the forestland around communities and resources safer, but it will also encourage forest health, resiliency, ecosystem health, and shared stewardship. 

Recently, a small group of experts that helped ODF design project criteria met on a cold sunny day in Sisters to see this program unfold.

“We went to see five different projects—five different stories of what landscape resiliency looks like,” said Jeff Burns, ODF’s All Lands Initiatives Unit Manager. “These five projects boasted just shy of 2,000 acres of fuels mitigation and resiliency work. However, the real highlight of the tour was the focus on what our partnerships and relationships can achieve together. The support and collaboration of these diverse groups are key to the success of getting this work done on the ground in such a short period of time.”

The tour highlighted innovative technology such as air curtain burners, fuels mitigation creating in-stream habitat, fuels reduction with an element of wildlife habitat management, slash burning, and mastication groundwork. 

Some of the projects visited included: 

• The Upper Deschutes Watershed Council removed trees on 58 acres that provided approximately 750 trees to be used for in-stream work and habitat restoration.
• The Ponderosa Land & Cattle Company project that included 727 acres of roadside brushing, thinning, mowing and mastication for fuel breaks. It also treated 590 acres of unit mowing, mastication, thinning and ladder fuels.
• The Black Butte Ranch project highlighted the use of an air curtain burner that can be used to dispose debris from their project of 79 acres of roadside brushing, thinning, stump grinding, limb removal, and mastication. Two other private landowners had projects concentrated on thinning and pruning pine trees, removal of juniper, mastication of ladder fuels such as bitterbrush, and burn piles. 
• The Ludwick Property Project treated 170 acres
• The Glynn Property Project treated 200 acres.

“Access to programs like this enable ODF to work closely with our public and private partners to support communities, local economies, and natural resources while making them safer from wildfires,” Burns said. “At the end of these projects, we hope we can show a level of success that will encourage future funding for this type of work.”

For more information visit ODF’s Landscape Resiliency Grant Program website.

PORTLAND, Ore., November 28, 2022—The 2022 holiday season is officially underway, and inflation has people shopping much more carefully than in past years. The average household plans to spend about the same amount while prioritizing social experiences and gifts for others, according to a survey by financial firm Deloitte. To help prepare consumers in Oregon and Southwest Washington for an increasingly expensive holiday season, OnPoint Community Credit Union offers tips for spreading cheer without breaking the bank. 

"Focusing on bringing joy to others this holiday season can help temper the ongoing financial impacts of inflation," says Meredith Bureau, Manager of OnPoint's Hillsdale Branch. "With a little planning and creativity, you can set yourself up for a festive yet cost-conscious holiday season. Create a budget, track your spending and get creative with your gift-giving. Making gifts or purchasing vintage items encourages a sense of community, saves money and is more sustainable."

Here are OnPoint's 10 tips for a joyful but affordable holiday season:

1. Create a holiday budget and stick to it: Have a serious talk with your family about what you can spend this year. Create a holiday budget by writing down and adding up every holiday-related expense, from hosting and travel, to special dinners, gifts and decorations. If the total is more the than the number you initially wrote down, prioritize your list and cut where possible. Once you set your budget, stick to it by tracking every holiday-related expense to avoid going over. If you share responsibility for gift buying with a partner, check your budget together regularly.
2. Curtail non-holiday extras now: Review your current spending. Can you hold off on dining out, delay large household purchases, limit travel, or pause regular nights at the movies, concerts or sports events? Doing so could free up a little extra cash for your holiday budget. OnPoint offers several online tools to help you identify where to make relatively painless cuts.
3. Cull your gift list: Determine gift-giving strategies with the people you'll be spending the holidays with in advance. Cull your list by buying gifts only for children, drawing names or regifting in an exchange of second-hand items. Inflation is impacting every budget, requiring us all to reevaluate our spending. Be honest with the people in your life about wanting to pare down this year—they will likely be thinking the same.
4. Want, need, wear, read: Consider limiting the number of gifts you give your children by following the "want, need, wear, read" approach. Each child gets four gifts: something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read. Determine how much you can spend on each child when you create your holiday budget and allot a specific amount to each category. Gifting in this way will ensure you don’t break your budget and help your kids be more cognizant about what they already have and what they really want.
5. Shop smart, not early: It seems logical that consumers who shop early in the season will spread their purchases out, find bargains and ease budget pressure. But Deloitte found in 2021 that those who begin shopping in October or earlier spend more than those who hold off until Thanksgiving when many of the sales begin. Unlike last year, shelves should be well-stocked, making it less risky to wait for prices to drop. Start monitoring prices on must-have gifts early, so you're ready to pounce when a good deal arises. If an item on your list goes out of stock, consider buying a gift card so the recipient can use it when the store restocks.
6. Get creative: Look for treasures at a local vintage store, flea market or thrift store. Regift presents that may not have suited you to someone who will love them. Are you crafty or artistic? Skip the expensive checkout at the mall or online and make your gifts at home. Or follow the lead of Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond: bake a big batch of cinnamon rolls and deliver them to friends and co-workers.
7. Send cards: Replace gifts with thoughtful holiday messages; that way, you can still send holiday greetings to those who have fallen off your gift list. Slipping a photo or two of your family in the card can make the special delivery even more meaningful.
8. Donate to a non-profit on someone's behalf: The number of people living in "extreme poverty" worldwide increased by 115 million in 2021. Now more than ever, people must have access to the social services needed to survive. As non-profits work tirelessly to meet a growing need, consider donating to a non-profit organization on behalf of your loved ones or colleagues instead of purchasing material gifts. Sending them a card letting them know you donated in their name will not only brighten their holiday, but also impact a worthy cause and maximize your tax deduction. 
9. Establish new traditions: Shift from buying gifts to hosting meaningful get-togethers that don't require you to plan a big meal. Try hosting a potluck for dinner or a cookie exchange in the afternoon with coffee and hot chocolate. Organize a book or an ornament exchange. They don't need to be complicated or perfect, just something that will create fond memories.
10. Plan for next year: Open a checking and debit account specifically for vacation or holiday spending and set up an automatic deposit from each paycheck. Hide it from yourself in your online banking system so you're not tempted to draw from it over the year. You'll be surprised how quickly the deposits add up, giving you a cushion as you enter the next holiday season. 

All of us are watching our budgets more carefully this holiday season, but that doesn’t mean you must give up on giving entirely. These tips are a great place to start, and if you’d like more personalized help creating a budget or ways to monitor your spending, visit any of OnPoint’s 55 branch locations where our knowledgeable staff are ready to find the solution that works best for you and your family.

ABOUT ONPOINT COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION

Founded in 1932, OnPoint Community Credit Union is the largest credit union in Oregon, serving more than 500,000 members and with assets of $9.1 billion. OnPoint membership is available to anyone who lives or works in one of 28 Oregon counties (Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Wasco, Washington, Wheeler and Yamhill) and two Washington counties (Skamania and Clark) and their immediate family members. More information is available at www.onpointcu.com or 800-527-3932.

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BEND, OR — The High Desert Museum is bringing back Winter Nights every Thursday in December. For those looking for a unique evening out, the Museum will remain open until 7:30 pm with seasonal themes, a chance to see new exhibitions, activities for families and students and reduced admission rates.

In Winter Nights, the Museum offers people a break from the busy work week with a festive night out when they normally may not be able to visit. In addition, the Museum presently has one new exhibition and will open a second one on December 17. 

For this year’s Winter Nights:

December 1: Welcome to Winter – Rimrock Café will be open for folks to grab dinner or a treat and enjoy a wine tasting. The Museum store will also be open with discounts for all: Museum members will receive 20 percent off on most items and others 10 percent. Visitors will find kids activities, a free gift-wrapping station and a special tote-bag thank you for Museum members.

December 8: Sugar Cookie Shindig – Enjoy engaging activities for kids including High Desert-themed storytime, snowflake making and sugar cookie decorating. The Museum store, Silver Sage Trading, will also be open with discounts for all and a gift-wrapping station, and Rimrock Café will be ready for diners.

December 15: College Night – Students with college identification will receive free admission! Kids activities will still be happening, and the Museum store will also be open with discounts for all and a gift-wrapping station. Visitors can also enjoy a tasting of locally made hard ciders and try their hand at sugar cookie decoration.

December 22: Solstice Social – Explore the newest High Desert Museum exhibit Under the Snow. A meal, snack, beverage and beer tasting await in the Rimrock Café, and the Museum store will also be open with last-minute gift shopping, discounts for all, a gift-wrapping station and kids activities including story time and paper snowflake-making.

December 29: Après Snow – Get cozy after a day of snow play—explore temporary exhibits and get a tasty meal and beverage from the Rimrock Café. We will welcome Lava Terrace Cellars for wine tasting and families can still enjoy kids activities. The Museum store will also be open with discounts for all.

There is always something new to explore at the High Desert Museum with up to nine new exhibits every year. December is no exception: The newest exhibition opens Saturday, December 17, Under the Snow. The exhibit reveals the hidden world beneath the snow, called the subnivium. In this environment, animals create a matrix of tunnels to survive the winter’s frigid temperatures and hide from the predators that lurk above. Using interactive graphics, visitors will meet the species that depend on the snow, including a resilient mammal named Pika, an observant owl called Great Gray and a fruiting fungus known as Fuzzy Foot. Learn more at highdesertmuseum.org/under-the-snow.

Winter Nights visitors can also explore the original exhibit In the Arena: Photographs from America’s Only Touring Black Rodeo. Through the lens of San Francisco Bay area photographer Gabriela Hasbun, the exhibit documents the exhilarating atmosphere of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo—the only touring Black rodeo in the country—and the showstopping style and skill of the Black cowboys and cowgirls who compete in it year after year. Learn more at highdesertmuseum.org/in-the-arena.

Admission for Winter Nights is $10 general admission and $6 for ages 12 and under. Museum members are always free. Visitors who arrive earlier in the day may stay for Winter Nights without paying additional admission. The outdoor exhibits are closed during Winter Nights. Regular winter hours are 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Learn more at highdesertmuseum.org/winter-nights.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM:

THE HIGH DESERT MUSEUM opened in Bend, Oregon in 1982. It brings together wildlife, cultures, art, history and the natural world to convey the wonder of North America’s High Desert. The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is a Smithsonian Affiliate, was the 2019 recipient of the Western Museums Association’s Charles Redd Award for Exhibition Excellence and was a 2021 recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. To learn more, visit highdesertmuseum.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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Providence’s broken payroll system has systematically and repeatedly shortchanged Oregon’s nurses and other frontline health care workers for nearly 5 months.

(Portland, OR) – Earlier today, the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) asked the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office to launch an independent investigation of Providence Health & Services for ongoing wage theft against frontline nurses and other health care workers. Since July 2022, Providence systematically underpaid thousands of health care workers by using a faulty payroll system which resulted in unpaid hours; unpaid overtime; unpaid differentials; unpaid certifications; and other lost hours and benefits. In some cases, nurses and health care workers did not receive a paycheck at all despite working 40+ hour weeks. In other cases, Providence is failing to pay workers’ money owed to them for taking on advanced training and responsibilities at work. 

Due to Providence’s repeated payroll failures, frontline nurses and other hourly health care workers have incurred debt and shouldered added financial stress including having their bank accounts overdrawn and facing financial penalties, foregoing monthly payments and skipping essentials because of missed pay and underpayments. 

“It feels like we don’t matter. No one at Providence is accountable,” said ONA member Danica Trujillo, a registered nurse at Providence Portland Medical Center. “I’ve spent hours auditing my time cards. On my days off, I’m on the phone with Providence’s HR. I feel like I can’t afford to spend any money because I don’t know if I’ll receive the money I’ve earned next week or not. I’m working a job but I’m not getting paid for it. I don’t know what my future holds.” 

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office recently partnered with the statewide Bureau of Labor & Industries (BOLI) to investigate criminal charges for corporations who repeatedly or intentionally commit wage theft. 

This summer, Providence switched to a new Genesis payroll system which systematically underpays nurses and other frontline health care workers in Multnomah County and throughout the Providence system. ONA represents more than 4,000 frontline nurses working in 10 Providence Health System hospitals and facilities across the state, including Providence’s flagship hospital in Multnomah County–Providence Portland Medical Center. 

More than 200 ONA members across the state filed a class action lawsuit against Providence in August to recover lost wages and damages owed to all workers at Providence including nurses, allied health workers, technicians, housekeepers, food services staff, doctors and other workers who have suffered from Providence’s failure to pay workers the wages they are owed. While the exact amount of theft is too large to determine without a comprehensive audit, lost wages and penalties could be in the millions. Workers who have been victims of Providence’s wage theft do not have to be named in the lawsuit to benefit from a fair settlement. 

Since July, frontline workers throughout the Providence system have filed tens of thousands of HR payroll tickets about lost and inaccurate pay. Providence has responded by closing many pay tickets and informing workers it fixed the problem; only to underpay nurses again on their next check.  

“What’s frustrating to me is that they don’t seem to care. It shouldn’t take 3 months to get a payroll screw up fixed,” said ONA member Michelle McSherry, a veteran nurse who has worked at Providence Portland Medical Center for nearly 30 years. “I have never seen such disregard for staff as what is happening now. Not just with Genesis but in many matters like staffing shortages. Wage theft is just an ongoing issue we seem to get to deal with. It certainly makes me want to look elsewhere for employment.”

ONA nurses at all 10 ONA Providence bargaining units have also filed workplace grievances against Providence. The grievances offer Providence another way to solve its problems and ensure workers are paid the amount they’ve earned by:

• Reinstating the prior payroll system as a backup to ensure payroll records are accurate and to prevent Providence from continuing to underpay frontline nurses and health care workers.
• Conducting a comprehensive audit of all time card records since the implementation of the Genesis payroll system to determine and correct all improper wage deductions and restore any lost benefits including potential lost paid time off (PTO).
• Paying direct and indirect damages to all workers affected by Providence’s improper wage deductions, including but not limited to banking overdraft fees, fines for missed rent or mortgage payments and credit card late payment penalties.

Providence Health & Services/Providence St. Joseph Health is the third-largest health system in the US and one of the largest employers and companies in Oregon with tens of billions in annual revenue. Despite its national reach, Providence regularly collects more than half of its total profits from Oregonians. 

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) is the state’s largest and most influential nursing organization. We are a professional association and labor union which represents more than 15,000 nurses and allied health workers throughout the state, including more than 4,000 nurses working at 10 Providence Oregon health care facilities throughout the state. ONA’s mission is to advocate for nursing, quality health care and healthy communities. For more information visit: www.OregonRN.org.

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Nov. 28, 2022

The next Housing Stability Council meeting will be from 9 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. The meeting will be held electronically due to the current COVID-19 health crisis. You can find all updated meeting materials on our website.

Webinar Meeting Only

Register in advance for this webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0gaTLc20SYSFgConBPN2kw 

AGENDA:

9 am: Meeting Called to Order - Roll Call 

9:05 am: Public Comment

9:30 am: Report of the Chair

9:45 am: Report of the Director

         • CEI Update

10 am: Affordable Rental Housing Division (pg. 05)

           Natasha Detweiler-Daby, Interim Director, Affordable Rental Housing

• MF Housing Transaction Recommendations: Tai Dunson-Strane, Production Manager    
  • Park Avenue
  • Gateway Phase 2
     
• Preservation Pools, Terrace Manor, Project Recommendation: Martin Jarvis, State Tax Credit Program Analyst; Amy Cole, State Development Resources Manager
• Subsidy Update for the Preservation of Manufactured Home Parks Program: Edward Brown, Program Analyst; Amy Cole, State Development Resources Manager
• Qualified Allocation Plan and 9% LIHTC Program Recommendations: Angela Parada, Senior Tax Credit Program Manager; Jacqueline Santiago, LIHTC Program Analyst; Roberto Franco, Assistant Director Development Resources and Production
• General Housing Account Program Oregon Administrative Rules, Bulk Approval Consent Agenda: Natasha Detweiler-Daby, Director Affordable Rental Housing

11:30 am: Break

11:45 am: Homeownership Division (pg. 45)
           Emese Perfecto, Director, Homeownership

• Homeownership Development Allocation & Timeline: Talia Kahn-Kravis, Operations & Policy Analyst
• Homeownership Development Incubator Program Rules: Talia Kahn-Kravis, Operations & Policy Analyst
• Increasing LIFT Homeownership Funding Caps: Talia Kahn-Kravis, Operations & Policy Analyst

12:20 pm: Disaster Recovery & Resilience (pg. 60)

Ryan Flynn, Assistant Director, Disaster Recovery & Resilience

• Depoe Townhomes: Ryan Flynn, Assistant Director, Disaster Recovery & Resilience and Lauren Dressen, Chief Recovery Officer
• Project MOSAIC: Ryan Flynn, Assistant Director, Disaster Recovery & Resilience and Lauren Dressen, Chief Recovery Officer

1:00 p.m. Housing Stabilization Division (pg. 78)

Jill Smith, Director, Housing Stabilization
• Housing Stabilization Administrative Rules: Jill Smith, Director, Housing Stabilization
• COVID Emergency Funding Programs: Tim Zimmer, Assistant Director of Energy Services, Jovany Lopez, Interim Assistant Director of Homeless Services

1:45 pm:   Meeting adjourned

SALEM, Oregon— Give the gift of the outdoors and save this season with the Oregon State Parks 12-month parking permit sale through December.

The permit hangtag once again features whimsical designs from Portland artist El Tran. Holiday shoppers can buy the annual parking permits for only $25, which is a $5 savings starting Dec. 1 and running through Dec. 31. The pass is good for 12 months starting in the month of purchase.

Purchasing passes is easy. Buy them online at the Oregon State Parks store. Parking permits are also sold at some state park friends' group stores and select local businesses throughout the state. For a complete list of vendors, visit stateparks.oregon.gov.

Parking costs $5 a day at 25 Oregon state parks unless you have a 12- or 24-month parking permit or a same-day camping receipt. The 24-month pass is $50 and is also available at store.oregonstateparks.org. The permits are transferable from vehicle to vehicle.

Additional media resources: A video statement from Tamie Cline, Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) President and a registered nurse at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Hermiston, OR, is available for download here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/0aoxb9fwi8otkuk17cra8/h?dl=0&rlkey=7j2skonsl0e8i3dupaqln87ar

(Portland, Ore) - Respiratory infections and other illnesses—including the flu, RSV, and COVID-19—are on the rise in Oregon. Governor Kate Brown declared a public health emergency because “the statewide pediatric hospitalization rate has more than tripled and is likely to exceed its previously recorded weekly hospitalization rate imminently,” according to the Governor’s office. Across the state, hospitals are implementing “crisis standards of care” and nurses and other frontline health care workers are experiencing an influx of patients rivaling that of the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

That's why nurses are asking everyone to do their part to keep themselves, their families, and their communities safe.  

Regularly washing hands, wearing a mask, keeping your hands away from your face, disinfecting frequently used surfaces, getting a flu shot and other vaccines, avoiding large gatherings, asking friends and family who are sick to stay away from gatherings, and staying home when you get sick, can all help slow the spread of these illnesses. Parents and family members of infants should avoid frequent visitors and crowds.  

If you or a family member are experiencing mild symptoms, ONA is urging Oregonians to contact their primary care provider or an advice line first, before going to the emergency room. For those with severe symptoms, the emergency room is always the right choice.  

Hospitals must also take steps to ensure that their nursing staff and other frontline health care workers are supported during this challenging time. 

ONA is calling on hospitals to immediately hire traveling nurses. Oregon’s hospitals can, and should, hire these travelers now because the nationwide demand for travelers will only increase in the coming days and weeks.  

Health systems across the state should try everything they can to keep patients out of hospital beds, including by delaying all elective surgeries. They should also give more incentives for nurses who agree to work extra shifts, relieve nurses of non-nursing duties by hiring more support staff, incentivize more staff for pediatric outpatient clinics and urgent care clinics, increase advice line staff, and do more patient education on when to visit the ER.  

Everyone at ONA believes that patients, frontline health care workers, and all Oregonians deserve a happy and healthy holiday season.  

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) is the state’s largest and most influential nursing organization. We are a professional association and labor union which represents more than 15,000 nurses and allied health workers throughout the state. ONA’s mission is to advocate for nursing, quality health care and healthy communities. For more information visit: www.OregonRN.org. 

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On Monday, November 21, 2022 at approximately 9:18 AM, Oregon State Police Troopers  responded to a suspicious object found by Oregon Department of Corrections cleanup crew on northbound Interstate 5 near milepost 260.

OSP Troopers with the Salem Area Command took possession of a small backpack that contained a human skull. 

The skull was transported to the  Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office who will continue to investigate the identity of the skull. The skull had no identifiable features, but was most likely that of a female in her late 30’s to 40’s. 

No further information is available at this time. 

(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, asks the public to help find Phoenyx Cannon, age 15, a child in foster care who went missing from Gresham on Nov. 12. She is believed to be in danger.

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

Phoenyx is suspected to be in the Portland metro area. She is known to spend time at the unhoused encampments in Southeast Portland, the downtown Portland area and around SE 82nd and Stark. She also frequently spends time at the Gateway Transit Center in Portland and in Beaverton.

Name: Phoenyx Cannon
Pronouns: she/her
Date of birth: May 1, 2007 
Height: 5-foot-8
Weight: 200 pounds 
Hair: Brown
Eye color: Brown 
Other identifying information: Phoenyx has long brown hair. 
Portland Police Bureau report number #2242304
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children #1465625

A small number of children in foster care may be in significant danger when they run away or have gone missing. As ODHS works to do everything it can to find these missing children and ensure 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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November 23, 2022

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

Health experts ask people to take action to lower risk for children as RSV, flu cases push hospitals to brink

Health officials issue call to action to protect kids ahead of post-holiday surge in serious respiratory illnesses that will worsen pediatric ICU bed shortages

PORTLAND, Ore. – State health officials are asking people to take immediate, urgent action to protect children and ensure there are pediatric intensive care beds available in Oregon hospitals to treat any child or youth with a serious illness or injury. Oregon health officials expect respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases to peak after the Thanksgiving holiday, which will further strain pediatric hospital intensive care units in the Portland area that are already at their limit.

In response to Oregon’s acute shortage of pediatric intensive care beds, state health officials recommend that people:

• Stay home when sick.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with the inside of your elbow, or with a tissue that you immediately throw away after use.
• Clean and disinfect all high-touch surfaces, including doorknobs, faucets, chairs, countertops and tables.
• Regularly wash hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer, especially after coughing or sneezing into a tissue.
• Get a flu shot and stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including new bivalent boosters. There is no vaccine for RSV.
• Consider wearing a mask in crowded indoor spaces.

The recommendations come as at least two Portland-area hospitals – Doernbecher Children’s Hospital at Oregon Health & Science University and Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center – notified OHA they have enacted crisis standards of care for their pediatric intensive care units. Crisis care standards allow hospitals to adjust their staffing to help treat as many critically ill children in the state as possible.

Patrick Allen, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) said, “Oregon children’s hospitals are pushed to the limit. If you have young children and they get sick, there may not be a hospital bed for them. Our recommendations are a call to action for Oregonians to help slow the spread of respiratory disease and make sure no child’s life is put at risk because every pediatric ICU bed in our state is full with another seriously ill kid.”

“Multiple respiratory infections circulating in our community are of great concern to all of us in health care, says Providence St. Vincent Medical Center’s Genevieve Buser, MDCM, a pediatric infectious disease specialist. “Children have been especially hard hit, and we are caring for unprecedented numbers of very sick young people in our hospitals, immediate care facilities, and clinics. Right now, more than half of our kids sick enough to be hospitalized have RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), and almost all of those are babies less than 6 months of age. It causes babies to need oxygen to breathe, and even stop breathing.”

Dr. Buser added that since the Oregon region is in a crisis for critical pediatric hospital beds, “we should do what we can as a community to slow transmission to our most vulnerable neighbors,” including getting COVID and flu vaccinations. “Older adults, too--especially those with chronic lung disease--can become very ill with RSV, in addition to COVID and flu.”

State health officials are working with hospitals to bring additional nurses into Oregon from out of state. OHA officials also are pursuing health care volunteers through Serv-OR, the state’s emergency volunteer registry. In addition, OHA is providing hospitals with recent legislatively appropriated funds to aid staffing.

Parents of children younger than 5, especially newborns to 6-month-olds, are especially advised to take precautions that keep their children safe and help to limit the spread of RSV and influenza in coming weeks. Young children, as well as older adults – people 65 and older – are at higher risk of severe illness from these respiratory viruses, including hospitalization and death.

Data showing that the RSV hospitalization rate for children quadrupled between Oct. 29 and Nov. 19, from 2.7 to 10.8 children per 100,000 population. RSV hospitalizations are expected to rise further over the next few weeks.

Hospitalizations are also being fueled by a rapid increase in influenza cases around the state. According to OHA’s weekly Flu Bites influenza surveillance report, the percentage of positive influenza tests has doubled each week since mid-October – it was 1% the week ending Oct. 22, 2% on Oct. 29, 4.5% on Nov. 5, 9.3% on Nov. 12 and 16.4% on Nov. 19.

A 5% positivity rate for influenza tests is considered a threshold for significant influenza circulation.

RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms, such as runny nose, coughing and sneezing. Most infections go away on their own in a week or two. Almost all children will have had an RSV infection by their second birthday.

People experiencing mild RSV symptoms should:

• Stay home from work or school, and avoid indoor and outdoor holiday gatherings and events.
• Manage fever and pain with over-the-counter fever reducers and pain relievers.
• Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
• Make sure to talk to your health care provider before giving your child over-the-counter cold medicines which are typically not indicated for this age group.

While cold-like symptoms are more typical of RSV infections, some children can experience severe symptoms requiring immediate care. Parents should call their pediatrician or seek care right away if child has any of the following symptoms:

• Difficulty breathing or increased work of breathing.
• Symptoms of dehydration, or fewer than one wet diaper every eight hours.
• Gray or blue color to tongue, lips or skin.
• Decreased activity and alertness.

Some children with RSV may be at increased risk of developing a bacterial infection, such as an ear infection. Call your pediatrician if your child has:

• Symptoms that worsen or do not start to improve after seven days.
• A fever of 100.4°F or higher if they are younger than 3 months old (12 weeks).
• A fever that rises above 104°F repeatedly for a child of any age.
• Poor sleep or fussiness, chest pain, ear tugging or ear drainage.

For more information about RSV, visit OHA’s RSV page. Information about influenza is available at OHA’s Flu Prevention page.

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The city of Baker City has received a grant through the federal Historic Preservation Fund, administered by Oregon State Historic Preservation Office to fund the following local preservation projects. 

City of Baker City, Baker County

Lynndale Building, 2028 Main Street

$2,500

Repair and Retire original public entryways to 2nd floor room/office.

Baker City Hall, 1655 1st Street

$8,463

Repointing interior side of masonry foundation in basement.

Wisdom House, 2035 2nd Street

$1,750

Repointing exterior of masonry foundation.

Baker Tower, 1705 Main Street

$3,000

Repair 173 wood window sills.

This notice serves to make the public aware of the projects and solicit comments pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. The comment period is open for 30 days from the date of this announcement. To provide comments or learn more information about this project visit the federal grant public comment section of our website or contact Kuri Gill at i.Gill@oprd.oregon.gov">Kuri.Gill@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.

The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 authorizes a program of federal matching grants, known as the Historic Preservation Fund, to assist the various states in carrying out historic preservation activities. The Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, and in Oregon, is administered through the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office. For information about the grants contact Kuri Gill at 503-986-0685 or by e-mail: i.Gill@oprd.oregon.gov">Kuri.Gill@oprd.oregon.gov.

The next meeting of the Advisory Committee to the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs will be held Wednesday, December 7, 2022, via Zoom. The Zoom room will open at 9 a.m., but the meeting does not officially begin until 9:30 a.m.

The committee is made up of veterans appointed by the governor to provide counsel on veteran issues and represent veteran concerns across Oregon. Its nine members serve in a vital advisory role to the director and staff of the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

ODVA’s Reports to the Advisory Committee are available to the public on the ODVA website: https://issuu.com/odva/stacks/38107bb40c054695831edf5634865ca4

This meeting is being held virtually due to travel and gathering size restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic. The public is invited to attend.

To attend:

You will need to pre-register using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZctceuprT4iG9RuNrFZImfstIxavCPoN5CM

 Pre-registration is required. Once pre-registered, you will receive the meeting link.

Join by Zoom via Telephone: Dial 1 (253) 215-8782. When prompted, enter the meeting ID: 830 6213 5810# and password/participant ID: 277996#

You will be prompted to state your name. State your first and last name.

Meeting focus: Veteran Houselessness

Town Hall:

There will be a Town Hall at the end of the business meeting in which we invite you to ask questions of the committee and director. This time is set aside for individuals to bring up broader veteran community issues. Members of the community are also invited to submit written public comments to the Committee at the following email address: vaac@odva.state.or.us

More information can be found online at www.oregon.gov/odva/Pages/advisory.aspx or to contact the Advisory Committee, please email vaac@odva.state.or.us. 

Lo que debe saber

• La mayoría de los habitantes de Oregon que reciben beneficios de alimentos de SNAP continuarán recibiendo los beneficios adicionales temporales de emergencia en Diciembre
• Aproximadamente 426,000 hogares que reciben SNAP recibirán aproximadamente $70 millones en beneficios de alimentos adicionales además de sus beneficios regulares de SNAP
• Estos beneficios de emergencia son un apoyo temporal que Oregon puede dar debido a la emergencia de salud pública federal por el COVID-19
• Encuentre recursos para cubrir sus necesidades básicas: marque al 2-1-1 o envíe un mensaje de texto con su código postal al 898-21, www.211info.org 
• Centro de ayuda para el COVID-19 del Departamento de Servicios Humanos de Oregon

(Salem) – La mayoría de los habitantes de Oregon que reciben beneficios de alimentos del Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria (SNAP) recibirán pagos de emergencia en Diciembre.

El gobierno federal ha aprobado pagos de emergencia todos los meses desde marzo del 2020. Esto da a los beneficiarios de SNAP apoyo adicional durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Estos beneficios de emergencia son un apoyo temporal que Oregon puede dar debido a la emergencia de salud pública federal por el COVID-19.

Debido a que el gobierno federal aprobó estos beneficios de emergencia para Diciembre, Oregon también podrá darlos en Enero del 2023. Sin embargo, se espera que los beneficios de emergencia terminen cuando la emergencia de salud pública federal llegue a su fin.

En Diciembre, aproximadamente 426,000 hogares que reciben SNAP recibirán aproximadamente $70 millones en beneficios de alimentos adicionales además de sus beneficios regulares de SNAP.

“Sabemos que muchos dependen de estos beneficios adicionales de alimentos de emergencia para tener suficientes alimentos saludables para ellos y sus familias”, dijo Jana McLellan, Directora Interina de los Programas de Autosuficiencia del Departamento de Servicios Humanos de Oregon (ODHS). “También sabemos que muchos habitantes de Oregon todavía tienen dificultades para cubrir sus necesidades básicas y los alentamos a que se comuniquen con nuestros socios en el 211, el Banco de Alimentos de Oregon y su Agencia de Acción Comunitaria local para recibir apoyo durante este momento difícil”.

Los hogares que actualmente reciben SNAP recibirán el pago de emergencia el 13 de Diciembre. Los hogares que no recibieron beneficios en ese primer depósito mensual recibirán el pago de emergencia el 30 de Diciembre o el 4 de Enero del 2023.

Las personas que reciben SNAP no tienen que tomar ninguna acción para recibir estos beneficios adicionales ya que se depositarán directamente en sus tarjetas EBT.

Más información sobre los pagos de emergencia en https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/ASSISTANCE/FOOD-BENEFITS/Pages/Emergency-Allotments.aspx.

Si tiene preguntas sobre sus beneficios de alimentos de SNAP comuníquese con el Centro de Servicio al Cliente de ONE al 1-800-699-9075.

Si su hogar recibe SNAP y sus ingresos o la cantidad de personas que viven en su hogar ha cambiado, eso podría afectar sus beneficios. Es importante asegurar que ODHS tenga su información más reciente.

Puede notificar cualquier cambio en sus ingresos o en su hogar de muchas maneras:

• En línea: ONE.Oregon.gov
• Por correo: ONE Customer Service Center, PO Box 14015, Salem, OR 97309
• Por fax: 503-378-5628
• Por teléfono: 1-800-699-9075 or TTY 711

Recursos para ayudar a cubrir sus necesidades básicas

• Encuentre una despensa de alimentos: foodfinder.oregonfoodbank.org
• Infórmese sobre programas del gobierno y recursos en la comunidad para adultos mayores y personas con discapacidades: Conexión para Recursos de Envejecimiento y Discapacidad de Oregon al 1-855-673-2372 o www.adrcoforegon.org.
• Marque 2-1-1, mande un mesaje de texto con su código postal al 898-211, www.211info.org 
• Encuentre recursos locales y apoyo comunicándose con su Agencia de Acción Comunitaria local: www.caporegon.org/find-services/ 
• Centro de ayuda para el COVID-19 del Departamento de Servicios Humanos de Oregon

Administrado por ODHS, SNAP es un programa federal que brinda asistencia de alimentos a aproximadamente 1 millón de familias y personas elegibles de bajos ingresos en Oregon, incluyendo muchos adultos mayores y personas con discapacidades. Los habitantes de Oregon que lo necesiten pueden pedir beneficios como SNAP, cuidado infantil, asistencia en efectivo y Medicaid. Obtenga más información en https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/benefits/Pages/index.aspx.

Para información sobre recursos locales en su área, como alimentos o refugio, llame al 2-1-1 o comuníquese con la Conexión para Recursos de Envejecimiento y Discapacidad (ADRC por sus siglas en inglés) del estado al 1-855-ORE-ADRC o al 1-855-673-2372 .

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Shepherd’s House Ministries will serve a fabulous Thanksgiving Meal with all the fixings Wednesday, November 23 from 2-4 PM.

Shepherd’s House is offering a special Thanksgiving meal to any individual or family in need. Because of the current economic challenges many in our community face and with the recent surge in homelessness because of the colder weather, Shepherd's House is opening this meal up to anyone in need.

Location: 275 NE 2^nd Street- Lighthouse Navigation Center

Parking: There is ample parking available

Expected Attendance: 200+

For those wanting to support this effort, monetary donations can be made at:

https://shepherdshouseministries.org/donate/   

Click on the Thanksgiving Link.

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