It’s been a year-long battle for Education Freedom for Oregon to get to the point to collect signatures for school choice to be on the November 2024 ballot. Initiatives 2024-5 and 2024-6 began as 2024-1, a school choice constitutional amendment. However, in January 2022, it was rejected by Secretary of State Shemia Fagan because it was not specific to one issue.

The initiative was split and refiled on May 25, 2022. The Oregon Supreme Court released these titles on February 10. Initiative 2024-5 amends the constitution: Parent may select any public school statewide; district must admit, space permitting. Limited admission priorities. Initiative 2024-6 amends the constitution: State funds provided for private, religious, homeschool, tuition/expenses when parent declines K-12 public school.

The original titles were challenged in the Supreme Court by Reed Scott-Schwalbach, president of the Oregon Education Association, objecting to the Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum’s modified ballot title for 2024-5 and approval of 2024-6. The Supreme Court did their own modification to 2024-5 and upheld the title for 2024-6.

The Education Freedom for Oregon Executive Committee were disappointed the teachers’ union used a time wasting ploy to delay collecting signatures. President Donna Kreitzberg is glad to finally be able to kick off the "Let Them Learn" campaign. She says, “The ‘Let Them Learn’ campaign says goodbye to the artificial limits that have held many Oregon children back. The education of the past isn’t built with any particular student in mind and makes education options a privilege for the few. The education of tomorrow recognizes the inherent uniqueness of every child and offers a wide-range of options not determined by zip code or income.” Perhaps teachers and their unions will see that the campaign is for students, and not a threat to teachers.

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Summary for 2024-5 petition gives parents right to select any public/charter school statewide if child is not suspended or expelled from current school. Priority given first to resident of attendance zone (assigned area where resident sends child to specific school); second to district resident; third to outside district. When space limited, school must use lottery for each priority level, give child equal chance of selection. No admission criteria/preference allowed. Admission open throughout school year. District not required to transport child outside assigned attendance zone. State adopts uniform application for enrollment. Applies starting July 2025.

Summary for 2024-6 petition requires state funding of public schools. Statutes permit funds for private activities, including alternative education programs, extracurricular activities for homeschooled students. Constitution prohibits funding religious institutions. Measure requires state to provide funds for K-12 private schools, religious schools, homeschooling, and other education expenses when parent declines public school. Legislature calculates “basic school support funding amount,” which must be greater of $9,500 or average amount per student provided to school districts. When requested, state must deliver 80% of basic support amount to an account, administered by nonprofit of parent’s choice, for educational services. May use funds remaining after high school for Oregon colleges, vocational schools. Those receiving funds need not change creed, education practices, admissions policy, curriculum. Applies starting July 2025.

For information on the initiatives, the rulings and modified ballot titles, see the IRR Database. Education Freedom for Oregon has launched the "Let Them Learn" signature gathering drive and ask for your help.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-02-15 08:05:19

Last Update: 2023-02-15 14:15:09

Leah Horner, who has worked in several high-profile transportation roles and has a long track record of public service, will join ODOT as the next Assistant Director of Operations.

"Leah brings an incredible breadth of experience," said ODOT Director Kris Strickler. "She also knows people, how to bring them together, how to listen and how to build consensus. She believes in the power of public service and customer service, and I look forward to her using her knowledge and experience to help move the agency forward."

In her most recent role, Horner worked as Gov. Kate Brown's Deputy Chief of Staff and Infrastructure Director, providing counsel on public policy, high-profile initiatives and overseeing the policy advisor team. She previously served as the governor's Jobs and Economy Policy Advisor and Director of Regional Solutions.

In her new role, she'll oversee Operations at the 4,700-person agency. Operations includes more than 2,700 employees who build and maintain the state's multimodal transportation system. It also includes Public Transportation, Policy, Data and Analysis, and the Urban Mobility Office tasked with delivering ODOT's Urban Mobility Strategy.

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"The team at ODOT has a commitment to their work that is unparalleled," Horner said. "I am incredibly humbled to be rejoining this team and to be able to lean into operations in a way that impacts the unique transportation needs of every corner of the state."

Horner was ODOT's Government Relations Manager from 2014 to 2018. She then served as Legislative Director for the Oregon Department of Human Services.

Horner, who starts February 15, will be one of the agency's four assistant directors. The others oversee Revenue, Finance and Compliance, Government and External Relations and the Office of Equity and Civil Rights.

Horner, who lives in Tualatin, holds a master's degree in economic development and entrepreneurship from the University of Houston and a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Hawaii.


--Ritch Hanneman

Post Date: 2023-02-14 18:28:16

Last Update: 2023-02-13 20:54:17

Newly elected to Congress, Representative Andrea Salinas, representing the new sixth district, joined 41 other Democrats helping Republicans block DC's approval of the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022.

The District of Columbia City Council recently voted to allow anyone, including illegal immigrants, who has lived in DC for 30 days to vote in local elections. The Congressional bill, H.J. Res. 24, disapproved their action, and the House voted last week to block the measure on a 260-162 vote, with support from all Republicans and 42 Democrats.

It goes to the Senate where a debate on how the District of Columbia continues to be denied self-governance and why it deserves statehood is anticipated. If it passes the Senate, Administration has voice disapproval over the measure.

The three Democrats representing the metro area voted to allow noncitizens the vote are Oregon’s

• Suzanne Bonamici—First District
• Earl Blumenauer—Third District
• Val Hoyle —Fourth District

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Were these Representatives really representing their districts? Multnomah County voters say no. On the November 2022 ballot was Multnomah County's Measure 26-231, which would amend the county charter to extend the right to vote in county elections to noncitizens. In the most liberal county in Oregon, the measure failed 52.71% to 47.29%.

The Oregon Constitution doesn’t allow noncitizens the right to vote. The U.S. Constitution addresses specific rights as being for citizens. The question goes further than representation, were the House Representatives honoring their oath to keep the Constitution?


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-02-14 08:09:09

Last Update: 2023-02-15 00:40:51

Governor Tina Kotek announced that she hired Casey Codding to serve as the superintendent of the Oregon State Police (OSP), and Philip Castle to serve as the director of the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST).

Casey Codding is a familiar name that goes back to dark memories when Lavoy Finicum was targeted by State Police. Codding’s name was accidentally stated as the shooter of what was revealed as a pre-planned event in the trial of FBI agent W. Joseph Astarita for lying about the shooting in August of 2018. The judge ordered that it be redacted from transcripts, but what was heard quickly spread. Codding was praised by government for helping the FBI, but many saw it as a trap. According to police records, it was Codding’s third killing.

Governor Kotek appointed Codding for his 27 years at OSP where he gained extensive experience in managing critical incident investigations, advancing officer training, and management of agency operation projects as well as receiving many awards including Excellence in Leadership and the Herald Berg Lifesaving award.

He started as a cadet, before he was hired as an OSP Trooper and served in the Patrol Service Division for over 8 years, which included years in Crash Reconstruction, Special Operations, and Field Training. After two years in the Criminal Division, and time as a Patrol Sergeant, Codding was then promoted through the ranks and held positions such as Special Operations Lieutenant, Region Captain, Operations Bureau Major, and Deputy Superintendent.

Through all of his roles, Codding held true to OSP’s mission and values to serve all people, and safeguard our communities, property, and natural resources while building upon a diverse, professional workforce.

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Philip Castle brings over 20 years of experience in decision-making, change management, instructional design, project management, and program implementation to DPSST. Castle spent 21 years in the US Army in a variety of roles including as a medic, in leadership, and as a training and operations manager. He also has a master’s degree in education, with a specialty in adult education and training.

Among Castle’s professional accomplishments, he served as the Agency Training, Development, Talent Acquisition and Diversity Manager at the Health Care Authority in Washington state. In that role, Castle oversaw the Diversity and Inclusion Manager of the agency and helped to keep diversity and inclusion at the forefront of all agency activities.

He then worked for the Washington State Employment Security Department for five years where he quickly advanced from their Chief Learning Officer and Organizational Development Manager to his most recent position as Chief Operating Officer Deputy Commissioner.

“Incoming directors Castle and Codding each bring robust and diverse experience to run two of Oregon’s most critical public safety agencies,” said Governor Kotek. “Each has demonstrated leadership in managing large scale operations, strategic planning and a pointed focus on equity and public safety which will set up both DPSST and OSP for success.”


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-02-13 19:30:53

Last Update: 2023-02-13 20:53:47

ODFW marine scientists were recently very successful in securing funds for four research projects to expand understanding of Oregon's rocky marine habitats. Funding came from the Oregon Ocean Science Trust, a group created by the 2013 Oregon Legislature to promote research and monitoring of Oregon's ocean and coastal resources.

Projects:

1. Kelp communities in transition - ODFW's shellfish program received $193,341 to document the ecological differences of rocky reef habitats with and without kelp beds. Commercial sea urchin divers and trained science divers will survey these areas and key species associated with kelp (sea urchins, abalones, and sea stars).
   
   ODFW biologists will use the results to gauge the extent and rate of habitat changes in kelp beds and effects to these key species. Some Oregon kelp beds have declined and transitioned into urchin-barren areas while others have persisted relatively unchanged. Findings generated by the underwater surveys will also establish new baselines for management decision making about the future of Oregon's rock reef ecosystems. The project timeline begins in March 2023 and runs through Sept. 2024.
   
   
2. Seafloormapping - The Marine Habitat Program's proposed project to conduct high-resolution seafloor mapping received $181,000. State-of-the-art equipment will be leased and ODFW staff and a contracted technician will map the Rogue River Reef complex. This area is the last major unmapped nearshore rocky reef system in Oregon.
   
   Located near Gold Beach, the reef supports the largest remaining kelp beds in Oregon, the largest and most robust commercial sea urchin harvest, and the largest Stellar sea lion rookery. The Rogue River Reef complex is also a likely potential sea otter reintroduction site. Mapping timing will be targeted to avoid strong summer winds.

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3. Juvenile fish dynamics - This project was granted $169,815 to genetically identify commercially and recreationally important juvenile fish (such as black, quillback or copper rockfish) recruiting into Oregon's nearshore environment. Oregon State University researchers will use 10 years of ODFW sampling data collected from Oregon's marine reserves.
   
   This information will be used to inform upcoming stock assessments about how juvenile fish grow and recruit into our nearshore fisheries. This is key to understanding how groundfish populations are replenished. The project also funds another year of monitoring efforts and helps evaluate the role of marine reserves as a refuge for these fishes. ODFW marine reserves staff is assisting with this project.
   
   
4. Nearshore reef trophic modeling - ODFW and Oregon State University are partnering to create a food web (trophic) model to better understand the interactions and effects of management decisions on sea otter reintroduction, Dungeness crab, sea urchin, abalone, and kelp. The work builds on recent efforts to describe and model several aspects of nearshore habitat and species dynamics.

--Ryan Bannister

Post Date: 2023-02-13 10:12:26

Last Update: 2023-02-13 18:50:19

February 10, 2023, marked Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s one month in office making good on her pledge to tackle the state’s housing and homelessness crisis, she signed three executive orders the first day. Governor Kotek appealed to the legislature to invest $130 million as soon as possible to reduce the number of unsheltered Oregonians by the end of the year.

February 2, Governor Kotek was handed $9.5 million in federal funding to address Portland’s housing and homelessness from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Northwest Regional Administrator Margaret Salazar. The Portland-Multnomah County Continuum of Care (COC) is receiving $8.3 million, and the State Balance of Care COC is receiving $1.1 million.

“Oregonians are demanding bold action to reduce homelessness and build more housing,” Governor Kotek said. “I’m urging the legislature to act now on this urgent homelessness package. But we can’t stop there. As I laid out in my recommended budget, we need to make ongoing investments to take on this crisis at the scale needed to solve it, and I will work with legislators from both parties and leaders from all over the state to get the job done.”

Bills working their way through the legislature that could impact housing and homelessness include:

• SB 434 has a public hearing February 15 to create eviction mediation program.
• SB 131 has a work session on February 15 to extend the tax credit for affordable housing lenders.
• SB 147 has a work session on February 15 to extend tax exemptions granted by cities for certain rehabilitated or newly constructed single unit housing.
• HB 2001 has a public hearing on February 13 for Housing and Community Services Department to study housing.
• HB 2889 has a public hearing on February 16 to establish Oregon Housing Needs Analysis within Housing and Community Services Department.
• Ways and Means has not yet scheduled the budget hearing for Housing and Community Services Department.

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The three executive orders Governor Kotek signed on her first day set an ambitious state target to increase home construction; declaring a homelessness state of emergency; and directing state agencies to prioritize reducing homelessness in all areas of the state.

Executive Order No. 23-02 declares a state of emergency due to homelessness in regions of the state that have experienced an increase in unsheltered homelessness of 50% or more from 2017 to 2022.

Executive Order No. 23-03 directs state agencies to prioritize reducing both sheltered and unsheltered homelessness in all areas of the state—not solely those in which a state of emergency has been declared—using their existing statutory authorities.

Executive Order No. 23-04 establishes a statewide housing production goal of 36,000 per year and creates the Housing Production Advisory Council to develop comprehensive budget and policy recommendations to meet that goal.

Governor Kotek has since announced she is accepting applications for the statewide Housing Production Advisory Council, which will be composed of 25 members, including the Governor or her designee, bipartisan members of the Oregon House and Senate, relevant state agency directors, and a Tribal member. The largest share of members (18) will be appointed by the Governor. Oregonians interested in applying for the Council are encouraged to submit an application, found here. Applications are due February 15, 2023. The Council will begin work in early March.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-02-12 08:15:13

Last Update: 2023-02-11 19:20:21

Ten tree nurseries across the state are receiving over $4.4 million this year to help them increase their ability to produce badly needed seedlings. The seedlings are needed to help reforest millions of acres deforested in recent years by wildfire, disease and pests.

The money was allocated in House Bill 5006 to ODF after passage by the Oregon Legislature in 2021. The bill was a response to the devastating 2020 wildfires which burned a million acres of forest. In the wake of those fires, there were many barriers to reforesting, including shortages of money, labor, and for some smaller landowners appropriate tree seedlings.

ODF Small Forestland Owner Assistance Unit Manager Nate Agalzoff said, "These grants are helping nurseries make strategic investments to increase their ability to grow more seedlings, which will enable them to better support reforestation needs in the future."

Nurseries are using the funds to invest in everything from adding irrigation to building new greenhouses and seedbed space as well as storage facilities for storing seedling trees. Funds can also go toward equipment, the cost of collecting or purchasing tree seeds, or buying land on which to expand nursery facilities.

"These grants are increasing overall capacity across the state for whenever seedling demand rises," said ODF Reforestation Program Project Coordinator Astrea Strawn. "In the case of nurseries in Union and Hood River counties, the grants also ensure there will be capacity to provide geographically appropriate seedlings for those areas."

Strawn said funds must be spent before the end of this summer. "This makes us optimistic that landowners, especially smaller ones, will have better access to seedlings. When they do, they can promptly reforest after future tree losses to keep Oregon's working forests working for Oregonians."

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"The funding will allow Lava Nursery, Inc. to increase seedling production for the small woodland owners, helping them to meet their reforestation needs after forest fires and/or harvest operations," said Lava's Assistant Nursery Manager Jeff Snyder. "These funds will also allow for additional freezer storage capability for long-term storage of seedlings to ensure the best quality seedlings are available at the time of planting."

To qualify for a grant, a nursery had to have experience growing high-quality commercial conifer trees for reforestation in Oregon, including Douglas-fir, grand fir, noble fir, western redcedar, ponderosa pine and others. Strawn says, "The awards were targeted to nurseries which showed interest in helping with future reforestation needs, whether from wildfires or climate change losses."

Nurseries which received funds include:

Brooks Tree Farm – Salem in Marion County $540,000

Drakes Crossing Nursery – Silverton in Marion County $540,000

PRT Growing Services – Cottage Grove and Hubbard $540,000

Trillium Gardens – Eugene in Lane County $531,000

Weyerhaeuser – Aurora and Turner in the Willamette Valley $500,000

Champoeg Nursery – Aurora in Marion County $458,000

Lava Nursery, Inc. – Parkdale in Hood County $458,000

Scholls Valley Native Nursery – Forest Grove in Washington County $367,000

The Plantworks, LLC – Cove in Union County $276,000

Kintigh Nursery – Springfield in Lane County $238,000


--Ryan Bannister

Post Date: 2023-02-11 03:49:57

Last Update: 2023-02-10 23:53:44

The Oregon House Committee on Rules has schedule two election bills on Valentines Day. Perhaps they thought you’d be too busy to notice. Secretary of State Shemia Fagan has requested two bills that should concern Oregon voters. However one has been removed.

HJR 4 proposes to amend the Oregon Constitution to provide for same-day voter registration, and has been removed from the hearing schedule. The amendment removes the requirement to be registered 20 days prior to an election and adds, “Registers to vote not later than 8 p.m. on the date of the election in the manner provided by law.”

The Secretary of State website lists requirements to register to vote, which assumes someone at least glances at the documents for compliance. If a person is allowed to register at the same time as voting, there is no verification process prior to voting, and once a ballot is cast, it’s in stone and never retrieved if the registrant turns out to not qualify. To qualify, a person must have documentation that proves:

• U.S. citizenship
• Oregon resident for 6 months
• At least 16 years old, but can’t vote until 18
• Oregon driver’s license, permit or ID card or signed verification.

Constitutional amendments are referred to voters for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election. Voters are disenfranchised with government’s quest to increase the number of voters that seemingly are not informed. Voters want secure elections that guards against fraudulent votes. It is government’s job to protect our voting system, not push it off on the voters.

HB 2107 expands the automatic registration of the motor voter system in two ways. First, it extends automatic voter registration to the Oregon Health Authority when people receive care under the Oregon Health Plan. It states: “The Oregon Health Authority shall provide to the secretary electronic records, derived from information provided to the Oregon Health Plan, containing the legal name, age, residence and citizenship information for, and, if any, the electronic signature of, each person who the authority deems may be eligible to be a qualified elector.” There is some question whether this violates HIPPA laws. To approach a patient on the election process when most vulnerable and may not be thinking clearly may add to the duress of why they are seeing a doctor.

The bill further states, “the authority may not provide to the secretary any electronic records demonstrating that a person is not a citizen of the United States,” which is one of the criteria for being an eligible voter. Then the secretary is to obtain an electronic signature from the Department of Transportation if not provided by the authority. If Transportation has the signature, that should mean they have already been registered under motor voter. Is there no check for duplication?

The secretary sends the information to the county clerk and the clerk notifies each person of the process to decline registration or adopt a political party affiliation. If no response, the person is registered to vote as a qualified non-affiliated elector.

The second part of HB 2107 establishes a pilot program at Powder River Correctional Facility to require that each adult in custody be granted an updated state identification card and voter registration upon release. The facility is located in Baker City, with mixed custody housing up to 286 inmates of low- to high-risk inmates that may be serving life sentences without parole.

The Adult Custody Programs aimed towards rehabilitation include civic responsibility to re-enter society. If they take their rehabilitation seriously, voter registration or re-registration should be presented as a privilege to seek out their right to vote, not be force onto them. Once this system is set up, it makes it easier to then pass voting for prisoners.

To the heart of Valentines Day, the hearing is scheduled to include HB 2585, sponsored by Representative Lily Morgan (R-Grants Pass), which will end automatic voter registration through Oregon Motor Voter. It reestablishes the process of registration at any office of Department of Transportation where licenses or renewal applications are distributed or received that existed prior to enactment of Oregon Motor Voter. This bill is identical to HB 2233 sponsored by Representative Kevin Mannix.

These bills remove electronic reporting to the Secretary of State of every name, age, signature, residence and citizenship information, and the process for transferring it to county clerks. Instead, DMV offices will make voter registration cards available and deliver them to the county clerk in a timely manner.

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The bills provide for the driver's license application and the state identification card application include a section to apply for voter registration, which complies with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. Signatures may only be used for voter registration purposes, and they will not be automatically registered without their signature.

Court evidence is now available that proves that unused ballots are being fraudulently harvested, and that automatic voter registration has increased the number of ballots available for fraudulent activity.

The hearing is scheduled for February 14 at 1 PM in room HR C. Let your voice be heard.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-02-10 03:21:22

Last Update: 2023-02-11 19:49:57

Last October, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced Oregon would receive $1,519,627 in federal grants to help support the development of habitat conservation plans to improve the management of state and private forestlands. The funding goes to the Oregon Private Forest Accord Aquatic Species Habitat Conservation Plan in the amount of $769, 627, and Western Oregon State Forests Habitat Conservation Plan received $750,000.

This was after Merkley and Wyden announced the Oregon Mass Timber Coalition was awarded $41.4 million Build Back Better grant to advance Oregon’s sustainable mass timber sector intended to grow jobs and increase wood production and manufacturing.

“Forests in Oregon support rural economies and are also home to countless species including vulnerable salmon,” said Senator Merkley. “In this era of mega-wildfires, they’re also increasingly potential hazards if not properly managed.” Merkley claims that the Memorandum of Understanding reached by the Private Forest Accord improves the management of state and private forestlands in Oregon. If true, why does the state need to do another study to develop recommendations on state forest management, SB 90?

The age-old conflict in forest management also raises the question of the forest sector paying its fair share has risen again with the re-introduction of a severance tax. The state had a severance tax on timber harvest prior to 1991, which was dwindling leaving rural counties in the red. It was phased out by 2003 and replaced by a harvest tax. The Forest Products Harvest Tax (FPHT) applies to timber harvested from all land in Oregon, except most tribal lands. No distinction is made between timber harvested from private lands and government-owned lands.

Representative Paul Holvey (D-Eugene) and Senator Jeff Golden (D-Ashland) are proposing to replace the forest products harvest tax and restore a severance tax in HB 3025. Similar to the harvest tax, it imposes a severance tax at harvest on timber owners of public and private forestlands. The bill adds distribution of 40 percent going to the Wildfire Management Fund and 5 percent to the Watershed Conservation Grant Fund after receiving $42.9 million federal grants. Also new is 40 percent going to the general fund of each county according to their proportion. That 85 percent is offset by reducing the State Forestry Department Account to 10 percent, reducing the Forest Research and Experiment Account to 5 percent, eliminates the Public University Fund for professional forestry education, and repeals the Oregon Forest Land Protection Fund.

Should fire suppression emergency funds be eliminated? The Oregon Forest Land Protection Fund was established as an 'insurance fund' for the purpose of equalizing emergency fire suppression costs among the various Oregon Department of Forestry protection districts. The emergency funding system is designed to operate as an insurance policy whereby all districts contribute (pay premiums) into the fund so that money will be available to any individual district to pay fire suppression costs on emergency fires.

HB 3025 describes a tiered tax by the amount of acreage owned, multiplied by pond value of timber at time of harvest. The rate is discounted if management is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The FSC is an international non-profit, multistakeholder organization that “promotes environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests” via timber certification. While it may be advantageous for timber owners to join, it isn’t financially responsible for the state to promote them via a discount. The rates should be reduced for all owners without obligation.

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A tax review commissioned by the Oregon Forest & Industries Council (OFIC), reported Tax contributions of Oregon’s Forest Industry is paying 1.5 times more in overall taxes than the average Oregon business.

One timber owner told Northwest Observer, “They want more taxes while they’re shutting down more timberland. Between the Elliott State Forest, the Western HCP impacts 2/3rds of our state forests, the new Forest Management Plan that aligns itself with the Western HCP, and the Private Forest Accord which affects over 60,000 timberland owners in Oregon by increasing unmanaged land on their private property, the only way ODF and other beneficiaries of harvest tax revenue can operate is to keep increasing taxes to offset the decrease in harvestable timberland.”


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-02-10 02:37:56

Last Update: 2023-02-10 15:19:21

House District 1 was left vacant after former Representative David Brock Smith was appointed to Senate District 1 filling former Senator Dallas Heard's seat. The House Republicans now welcome Representative Court Boice (R- Gold Beach) as representative of House District 1.

House District 1 represents the communities of Coquille, Bandon, Myrtle Point, Winston, Port Orford, Gold Beach, and Brookings. The district includes portions of Coos, Douglas, and Curry Counties.

Representative Boice has served in several capacities throughout his career from working as an Oregon legislative staff member, to serving on the Coos Curry Douglas Business Development Corporation, to representing several counties as a part of the Association of Oregon Counties.

“I am excited to welcome State Representative Court Boice to the legislature and to the House Republican Caucus. I have full confidence that Representative Boice will serve his district well. I look forward to having his knowledge and experience in the building,” said House Republican Leader Breese-Iverson (R-Prineville).

“My family has been living, working, and serving in this area for over 60 years. I believe my career has prepared me to be a strong advocate for the issues impacting my district – from housing and homelessness, to education, to Oregon’s fishing and timber industries. I am truly honored to represent the constituents of House District 1,” said Representative Court Boice (R-Gold Beach).


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-02-09 13:06:36

Last Update: 2023-02-09 13:20:11

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) seeks applicants to fill 55 commissioner seats on 19 of the state's agricultural and commercial fisheries commodity commissions. The deadline to apply is March 15, 2023. For a complete list of the openings and how to apply or to learn more about the commissions, visit ODA webpage.

Acting ODA Director Lauren Henderson appoints commissioners. Once selected, commissioners serve as public officials in three-year terms. Their duties include making decisions about funding for promotion, education, and research projects. Acting Director Henderson seeks applicants representing the diversity among Oregon's farmers, ranchers, processors, and commercial fisheries. For public members, users of the commodity who have an interest and time to serve are often the best fit.

A public member must be a U.S. citizen, an Oregon resident, and have an active interest in improving economic conditions for the commodity. A public member cannot be directly associated with producing or handling the specific commodity they seek to serve.

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--Ryan Bannister

Post Date: 2023-02-08 11:50:11

Last Update: 2023-02-08 15:15:40

On March 26, 1989, the remains of a skeletonized human body were discovered by a rafting group on the Sherman County side of the John Day River. Then-Sheriff Gerald Lohrey and additional Sherman County Sheriff’s Office deputies launched a jet boat at Cottonwood Bridge, approximately 13 miles east of Wasco, and recovered the incomplete skeletal remains. In addition to many long bones that had been half-buried in silt on the riverbank, a skull was collected with dental work.

The discovery of the body made local headlines, but nothing was immediately known about the deceased. The remains were transported to the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office (SMEO) for examination.

An examination of the body determined that the decedent was most likely a Caucasian male, between 40 and 50 years of age at the time of death, and around 5’6” to 5’9” in living stature. Evidence of compressed lumbar vertebrae by the forensic anthropologist indicated possible arthritic changes in the bone. It was noted that several teeth in the mandible exhibited restorations. Additional searches of the area were performed over the next month that yielded additional small bones and several teeth.

Leads on the possible identification of this individual were received by the Sheriff’s Office in the following days and weeks; numerous reporting parties indicated they believed the remains to be that of David West, Jr., a man who had disappeared from Sherman County trying to cross the John Day River during a large flooding event in 1964. Mr. West, Jr. had lived on a ranch near Bridge Creek and was known to cross the John Day often. He normally went back and forth across the river to feed cattle. He and a friend had even built a makeshift cable car across the river to assist in quickly navigating the waters back and forth over the John Day. The day the John Day River flooded in 1964, Mr. West was thought to be feeding cattle near Ashwood, Oregon. A friend went to check on him and saw that the cable car had been washed away, the large tree that had held the cable was uprooted, and Mr. West’s dog was injured and agitated on the bank of the river. David West Jr. was never seen or heard from again.

In 1989, Mr. West’s dentist was consulted, but no conclusive identification was ever made.

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The remains were retained by the SMEO. In 2010, the SMEO submitted a bone sample to the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification. The sample was processed and yielded a forensic DNA profile for comparison and upload into CODIS. Unfortunately, no genetic associations to missing persons or family reference standards in the CODIS database were established.

In April 2022, the SMEO recognized the effectiveness of investigative genetic genealogy on cold unidentified remains cases and submitted an additional bone sample to Othram, a private DNA lab specializing in advanced forensic DNA testing. Othram uses an in-house whole genome sequencing technique that can provide genetic information and possible familial associations even with a low-yield sample. The analysis revealed the names of two biological relatives of David West Jr. as being genetically associated with the remains.

Both the Gilliam County Sheriff Gary Bettencourt and the Sherman County Sheriff Brad Lohrey (the son of Sheriff Gerald Lohrey) worked to contact family members; Sheriff Bettencourt collected oral swab standards from one relative, and these were submitted and tested by Othram.

The genetic association was confirmed through DNA comparison by Othram in September 2022, and the family was notified of the positive identification.

Sheriff Brad Lohrey said, “We are very excited that such an old case was able to be solved. It is amazing what our forensic teams can accomplish with modern technology. This was a case that was a mystery for generations here at the Sherman County Sheriff’s Office. I’m happy that the family of the deceased finally has closure.”


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-02-07 01:48:28

Last Update: 2023-02-07 16:54:07