The 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team is headquartered in Idaho and consists of Soldiers from the four western states of Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Oregon. The Hermiston Unit is one of five armored brigade combat teams in the U.S. National Guard and one of 16 in the United States Army.

More than 75 Oregon Army National Guard Citizen-Soldiers, assigned to Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment, along with maintenance support members from the 145th Brigade Support Battalion, are scheduled to conduct a formal demobilization ceremony on March 5, 2023, at the Hermiston Community Center, Oregon, at 10:00 a.m.

The Oregon Soldiers were combined with two Army National Guard Companies from the Montana Army National Guard's 163rd Infantry Regiment, as part of TASK FORCE GRIZ, supporting the United States Central Command. In addition, service members from Idaho, Nevada, and Florida made up the total force supporting OPERATION SPARTAN SHIELD, strengthening defense relationships, and building partner nation abilities in the region.

These Citizen-Soldiers were initially mobilized on Nov. 4, 2021. Prior to their overseas deployment, the unit, under the command of Army National Guard Capt. Sean Popravak, first conducted additional specialized training at Fort Bliss, Texas, and departed for Qatar in early January 2022.

“Our mission was to be a mobile, armored reaction force to deter malign foreign influence and reassure allies within the Middle East of the United States' continued commitment to the region,” said Popravak.

“While deployed, we participated in Eager Lion, a multinational military exercise involving 29 other partner nations in Jordan,” Popravak said, describing some of the highlights of the nearly yearlong mobilization. “It was an exciting and rewarding experience exchanging military expertise and improving interoperability among our forces through various training scenarios and live fire events.”

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Oregon State Treasurer Tobias Reed and Maj. Gen. Michael Stencel, Adjutant General, Oregon, are scheduled to welcome home and serve as the presiding officials on behalf of Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, during their official welcome home ceremony.

The Hermiston Community Center is located at 415 S. Hwy. 395, in Hermiston, Oregon 97838. The ceremony is open to the media and community members who desire to welcome the unit service members home.


--Dollie Banner

Post Date: 2023-03-03 20:28:35

Last Update: 2023-03-03 20:53:53

The FBI Teen Academy program provides an opportunity for rising high school juniors and seniors to learn about careers in law enforcement within the FBI and beyond. The Portland Division will hold their summer camp July 11 to July 14, 2023.

Applicants chosen for the program actively engage with FBI agents and leaders in the Bureau to learn about case studies, crime prevention, evidence gathering, and investigative techniques related to criminal activity. The Teen Academy allows students to delve deeply into levels of law enforcement unavailable to them in a general classroom setting.

“We are excited to be able to offer the FBI’s Teen Academy program again this year,” said Kieran L. Ramsey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Portland Field Office. “It’s a great opportunity for these kids to learn about the FBI, engage with our Special Agents and develop leadership skills. We try to make this week-long program beneficial and useful for the students but we get so much out of it ourselves, hearing from this next generation of what their concerns are and how the FBI can do better, it’s a great opportunity for everyone.”

Students will learn about how criminals are captured, hear from FBI agents about actual cases, and learn how to raise their self-awareness online and watch for cyber-predators. Graduates of the Teen Academy program develop a keen understanding of how the FBI interacts with local law enforcement agencies and how participants can raise crime prevention awareness in their communities. In addition, hands-on instruction by FBI experts and other law enforcement agents allows students to understand the importance of communication between national and local agencies.

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FBI Teen Academy members engage in group activities ranging from small group exercises to hands-on simulations. Participation is free to the applicants chosen, and volunteer organizations provide supplies for the events. As a result, students learn valuable life skills and increase their knowledge and understanding of how law enforcement agencies interact around the country.

Teens can submit their application to outreach.pd@fbi.gov by Friday, April 14, 2023.


--Dollie Banner

Post Date: 2023-03-02 16:05:57

Last Update: 2023-02-28 20:12:39

The Oregon State Senate voted overwhelmingly to enforce students with disabilities’ right to attend school full time. Senate Bill 819 will require informed and written parental consent before a student can have a shortened school day. It also requires the Oregon Department of Education to enforce the law and empowers the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission to investigate and hold superintendents accountable for refusing to restore equal access to schools for students with disabilities.

Today, nearly 1,000 students with disabilities in districts across the state have been placed on a shortened day for whom a full school day is difficult due to endurance or other factors, in accordance with OAR 581-022-1620.

In at least one case, students receive as little as 25 minutes a week of instruction for years on end. If SB 819 is signed into law, beginning on March 27, parents of these students can file a written objection to their student’s shortened day schedule. The district must return the student to full time school within 5 school days. Failure to do so can lead to loss of state school funds and discipline for the responsible administrator.

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Director Colt Gill, Oregon Department of Education said, “ODE would require additional resources to implement the investigations required by this bill in order for each eligible child to have an educational program that enables the provision of free appropriate public education (FAPE).”

“Students with disabilities have had the right to full time public education since the 1970s. It is inexcusable that many districts routinely deprive students of the chance to learn reading, math and social skills by shutting the schoolhouse door in their faces,” said Senator Sara Gelser Blouin (D-Corvallis).

“Today, the Oregon State Senate sent a clear message: There is no excuse for school districts to violate the civil rights of students with disabilities, and the Oregon Department of Education is expected to enforce state and federal law. With rapid action from the House and Governor, Oregon students will be able to realize the promise of a free and appropriate public education next month.”

The bill will now go to the House of Representatives for consideration.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-03-02 13:59:07

Last Update: 2023-03-03 00:22:44

Governor Tina Kotek has chosen Marvin Révoal as the Chair of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC). Révoal's appointment takes effect immediately.

"Marvin Révoal is a respected community leader, and I trust that he is committed to leading the commission through this time of change and course correction," Governor Tina Kotek said. "As Interim Director Prins evaluates and enacts the necessary changes to advance accountability and transparency, Chair Révoal will provide valuable leadership to help ensure those changes take hold."

Révoal has served as a member of the OLCC Board of Commissioners for nine years, and has more than 30 years leadership experience in the commercial insurance industry. Prior to that Révoal had a career in law enforcement.

"I would like to thank the Governor for the trust she has placed in me and her continued support for OLCC," said Chair Marvin Révoal. "I look forward to doing all that I can to help OLCC advance and fulfill the mission for which it was created. I believe in the agency and I believe in our control state model."

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The Board of Commissioners will function with six members until the Governor appoints a seventh member to the Commission, and that designee is approved through the Oregon Senate appointments process.

Chair Révoal will join OLCC interim Executive Director Craig Prins, who was appointed by the Board of Commissioners last week, to serve as the agency's new leadership team. Both pledged to make the OLCC a model among alcohol control states, to continue to provide the state a stable source of revenue, and to be an engaged partner with Governor Kotek in her focus on addiction treatment and services.

"I look forward to working with Chair Révoal and the other Commissioners to establish greater accountability, institute rigorous oversight, and create transparent protocols for managing OLCC's operations," said Prins. "These are just some of the steps we must take in order to restore the public's trust in this agency."


--Ritch Hanneman

Post Date: 2023-03-01 15:34:45

Last Update: 2023-02-28 18:05:57

House Bill 2662 drew attention during a hearing on February 21 that would require the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), in collaboration with Tri-Met and Portland & Western Railroad to study extending the Westside Express Service (WES) commuter line to Salem. Representative Courtney Neron (D-Wilsonville), bill sponsor, testified, “Southwest Portland Metro Regions are among the fastest growing communities in the state. As our region grows and changes, we know we need to be proactive and thoughtful about identifying and investing in public transportation solutions.”

Economist Stephen Moore, FreedomWorks, reports on Committee to Unleash Prosperity that Oregon’s liberal paradise, Portland, can now officially be labelled a basket case. Moore wrote, “Here is what we are learning from our spies in Portland and various recent news reports. They are now calling the city an ‘anarchic wonderland.’ But it turns out normal people don’t much like anarchy. Years of riots, lawlessness, tent cities, high taxes, woke government and homeless people everywhere is chasing residents away from this former mecca of progressive governance.”

One local media outlet in the city told Moore, “The city has switched from attracting new arrivals to repelling its current citizens. In Portland, many liberals are dodging stray bullets, losing catalytic converters to thieves and sidestepping tents. Then they open their tax bills.” And we’re not talking about the summer of the 2020 riots.

A recent analysis of the U.S. Postal Service by the National Association of Realtors data released shows that Seattle and Portland metro areas are leading the West Coast in net move-outs. Census Bureau data confirms that Portland has lost population three years in a row.

Miles Pengilly, TriMet State Government Affairs Manager, testimony raised concerns related to extending WES including increasing the frequency and hours of service. The frequency of WES service is limited because WES ridership is low and the operations and maintenance costs for heavy commuter rail are high.

Pengilly recommends creating a state-chartered public corporation or some form of rail authority to extend and operate the WES line between Wilsonville and Salem, as TriMet is not the appropriate entity to oversee that project or operate that service.

Last year TriMet struggled with driver shortage, and the year before they altered schedules for lack of riders during the pandemic.

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Amtrak train from Salem to Portland costs $7 - $13 for a 1 hour and 30 minute ride, available four times a day. There is also a bus that runs the same route. To compete with drivers, the rates from Eugene to Portland were slashed 30 percent last December. Ridership dropped dramatically in April 2020 due to the pandemic closures. In 2021, the year ended regaining their 2020 ridership, but 2022 still ran 11 percent below pre-pandemic levels.

Amtrak’s experience trying to pry drivers from behind the wheel isn’t going to change with another train service, and if it divides ridership, it won't be sustainable for either. ODOT is also having conversations with Washington State Department of Transportation that would bring “ultra-high-speed ground transportation” (high speed rail or HSR). It is currently being discussed for a corridor between Portland and Vancouver, British Columbia. Representative Nancy Nathanson (D-Eugene) introduced HB 2691 that would extend high speed rail from Seattle all the way to Eugene.

Another sign of unsustainability by ridership, Senator Chris Gorsek (D-Troutdale) sponsored SB 13, which allows commercial buses operated for 5,000 miles or fewer from the required registration of certain model year diesel engines to owners located in Multnomah, Clackamas or Washington County.

The push to get drivers off the road seems to be driven by cost. Lower cost to rider, higher gas prices, and then add tolling costs.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-03-01 15:00:00

Last Update: 2023-03-02 16:48:00

Representative Ben Bowman (D-Tigard) sponsored HB 3206, permitting an individual who is 16 or 17 years of age and registered to vote to cast a ballot in school district elections, including nomination and election of school directors. It requires the Secretary of State to establish a process by rule to ensure eligible individuals only receive a ballot for school district elections.

Currently, Oregonians must register 21 days before election day and must be a U.S. citizen, must be an Oregon resident, and must be at least 16 years old. Once registered, an individual will receive a ballot and instructions in the mail about two weeks before an election. Registered voters under the age of 18 do not receive a ballot until the first election that occurs on or after the voter’s 18th birthday.

Article VIII, Section 3 of the Oregon Constitution gives the Legislative Assembly authority to "provide by law for the establishment of a uniform, and general system of Common schools." House Bill 3206 permits an individual who is 16 or 17 years of age and registered to vote to cast a ballot in school district elections.

Representative Bowman presented testimony that the bill is based on Daniel Hart and Robert Atkins publication, "American Sixteen- and Seventeen-Year-Olds Are Ready to Vote." Interestingly, at the end (page 21) there is a note: "This body of research has led theorists to conclude that adolescents may lack the legal culpability of adults for some forms of criminal behavior (see Steinberg and Scott 2003)" The article's conclusion admits the claim for 16-year-olds to vote "rests upon the exploration of the notion of citizenship, in some of its legal meanings in the United States, as well as its connotations in political philosophy. Citizens should be entitled to vote, unless there is good reason to imagine that they cannot fulfill their responsibilities as citizens or as voters." They point to the decline of children in the population as being underrepresented. They say voting is a tool to educate them on civic habits.

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Representative E. Werner Reschke (R- ) testified of the dangers inherit to permitting youth to vote while the legislature recognizes their immaturity in other areas. Reschke goes on to state that the expansion of rights with no corresponding responsibility is poor public policy. The 2019 the legislature amended Measure 11 offering special treatment to offenders age 15 to 17. Reschke asks, "Why? Because 15 to 17 year old's lacked a fully formed frontal lobe, a part of the brain that plays a major part in memory, judgement and other vital functions. If that is true, why do we want to consider those who are still adolescents to directly participate in such important adult decisions?" If brain function isn't an issue, then why not 6 year olds? Where does it stop?




--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-02-28 20:28:10

Last Update: 2023-02-28 17:10:59

Look up at night this week and you may see this F-15C Eagle flying night maneuvers. The Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing is conducting routine F-15 Eagle night training missions from February 27th through March 2nd.

Night training allows the Citizen-Airmen pilots based at the Portland Air National Guard Base to stay current with mandatory Air Force requirements.

“The first missions flown in any combat operation typically occur at night. It is critical for our pilots to train in the environment America expects them to win in,” said 123rd Fighter Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Josh Hovanas. "Our night missions are flown over the ocean or Eastern Oregon to minimize our impact on local communities."

Night flying is conducted as an essential training requirement for nighttime maneuvers to support mission and contingency response. Training flights will be completed each evening before 10:00 p.m.

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The Portland Air National Guard Base employs around 1,500 Airmen who provide an economic impact of nearly $500 million to the region. The 142nd Wing defends our homeland with F-15 Eagle fighter jets, guarding the Pacific Northwest skies from Northern California to the Canadian border, as part of Air Combat Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Their mission is to provide unequaled, mission-ready units to sustain combat aerospace superiority and peacetime tasking any time, any place in service to our nation, state and community.


--Dollie Banner

Post Date: 2023-02-28 16:04:54

Oregon is aggressively pursuing opportunities to bring home a portion of the $52 billion for semiconductor manufacturing and research made available under the federal CHIPS and Science Act. To that end, Governor Tina Kotek announced a new, $1 million grant program to help small and mid-sized Oregon businesses prepare competitive applications for the once-in-a-generation infusion of federal funds.

The grant program, which will be funded through Business Oregon’s Strategic Reserve Fund, is part of a larger strategy to ensure Oregon firms are allocated as much of the federal funding as possible. The funding will be distributed as grants to private semiconductor firms in Oregon to help with costs associated in preparing an application, including third party costs or professional services. The program will consider how applicants will serve historically underserved groups to create family-wage manufacturing jobs.

The Joint Committee on Semiconductors held its first hearing on Senate Bill 4 after weeks of public testimony on the underlying policies. This bipartisan bill represents the first step on securing the future of Oregon's semiconductor economy.

Senate Bill 4 commits $200 million, which is in Governor Kotek’s budget, for grants and loans to qualifying businesses for the purpose of allowing those businesses to apply to the federal government for additional financial support made available through the CHIPS and Science Act.

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The combination of Oregon's support and the federal CHIPS Act funds would create an opportunity to attract and grow the semiconductor and advanced manufacturing industry in Oregon. The national movement to expand domestic semiconductor production came about when the COVID-19 crisis disrupted shipments from Taiwan, the world’s most advanced chip foundry, and remote work increased demand. The tech wars inspired the Biden administration to distribute $52 billion to strengthen the domestic chipmaking sector. "It is great news for Oregon to be a global leader in advanced manufacturing and semiconductor innovation," Governor Kotek said.

“We are acting with an extraordinary sense of urgency to supercharge Oregon’s semiconductor industry, bring new jobs and money to our state, and build a better future for every Oregonian,” said co-chair Senator Janeen Sollman (D-Hillsboro). “We look forward to continuing the conversation about this first step and the work we will do later in session to maintain Oregon’s position as a global leader in semiconductors and advanced manufacturing.”

"This bill is an important first step in ensuring Oregon's semiconductor industry can capitalize on the opportunity to receive CHIPS Act funding. Our next step needs to be bold and needs to provide more support for our job creators. Not only do these manufacturing jobs provide high wages, but we also know that it is critical for national security," said co-vice chair Senator Tim Knopp (R-Bend). “Yesterday’s revenue forecast has provided us with sufficient assurance that we have the dollars to invest in semiconductor and advance manufacturing without touching rainy day funds.”


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-02-27 15:29:03

Last Update: 2023-02-27 15:45:20

Recently, the Northwest Observer had a brief discussion with Astrophysicist Gordon Fulks, an expert on weather and climate. He said January was warmer than February would be, seemingly a contradiction of the seasons. With February weather in the history books turned out he was right because the Earth has an elliptical orbit. The current earth orbit has the planet further from the sun in February 2023 than it was in January of 2023 -- something not correctable by an executive order or a cap and trade tax.

The chart below covers the last 800,000 years of climate data derived from ice core samples and the study of celestial movements.

From the chart you can see that:

1. Elliptical orbits, at the height of eccentricity, coincide with very cold ice ages.
2. We are in the Holocene Climate Optimum, a time of minimal orbit eccentricity. That is expected to continue for about another 10,000 years.
3. Periods of high CO2 follow periods of high volcanic activity as evidenced by volcanic dust detected in the ice core samples. Banning fossil fuels isn’t going to affect CO2 numbers.
4. The blue line on top shows that the amount of solar radiation experienced at the polar regions varies with differing levels of Sun activity and changing atmospheric conditions. Fretting about the amount of ice at either the North or South Pole won’t change a thing.

As the solar system moves within our galaxy and our galaxy along with trillions of other galaxies moves around within the Universe we need to sit back, enjoy the ride and just be grateful for this gift of life on Earth. It’s time to realize that human activity is a product of nature and will never be its master.


--Tom Hammer

Post Date: 2023-02-27 11:44:16

Last Update: 2023-02-27 20:33:53

Oregon's Governor Tina Kotek has now declared a state of emergency in Multnomah County Oregon due to ongoing severe cold and inclement weather. This declaration comes at the request of Multnomah County Chair Vega Pederson and is based on the recommendations of the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (ODEM).

Throughout the week, the state has been in constant contact and coordination with impacted counties.

Some counties, such as Jackson and Josephine, requested and received state assistance, but no other counties have requested an emergency declaration at this time.

“This week’s record-breaking snowstorm impacted thousands of Oregonians and has caused increased demand for local warming shelters. With severe cold weather forecasted through next week the state is dedicated to providing the assistance needed to keep Oregonians warm and safe. I am grateful to all the volunteers, staff, and first responders who have been working around the clock in response to the storm,” Governor Kotek said. “This emergency declaration ensures state resources, personnel, and equipment can be activated to complement critical local resources as this situation progresses.”

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Governor Kotek’s declaration directs ODEM to coordinate the deployment of resources with the Oregon Health Authority, the Oregon Department of Transportation, and other relevant state agencies to support Multnomah County communities as needed. ODEM will facilitate the access and use of state resources, personnel, and equipment to protect communities and aid in the recovery.

The state of emergency will remain in effect for one week.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-02-26 19:12:11

Last Update: 2023-02-26 20:48:55

The Oregon House will vote on a bill that will help save lives from opioid overdose. Representative Ed Diehl (R-Turner) introduced an amendment that replaced House Bill 2395, reducing barriers for quick action in response to overdose of opioid in the application of short-acting opioid antagonist. Fentanyl is gripping Oregon’s young people, and this bill allows school administrators, teachers and employees to administer without liability or need for permission when a student is experiencing an opioid overdose.

The bill authorizes Oregon Health Authority to issue short-acting opioid antagonist kits and medical supplies to individual or entity who have encounters with people at risk of overdose. Decision to administer or not is immune from criminal and civil liability.

HB 2395 is the result of a bipartisan coalition and has earned the support of harm reduction advocates, law enforcement, clinicians, students, educators, local governments and our public health system. The bill combines previously introduced legislation into an omnibus harm reduction package focused on increasing access to overdose reversal medication and on the ground prevention, improving overdose data, and modernizing Oregon’s harm reduction statutes.

In 2021 over 745 Oregonians died from opioid overdoses, and nearly three Oregonians a day die from this tragic and growing epidemic across the entire state. According to the Oregon Health Authority, fentanyl is now the second leading cause of unintentional overdose in Oregon. KGW reported that in 2022, crews collected 176,962 needles in the Downtown Enhanced Service area which covers a 213 block area in Portland. The needles came from public right of ways, as well as four drop box sites installed by Multnomah County within the district.

Fox News said addicts in Portland are reportedly turning to their food stamps to fuel their drug addiction, recycling bottles to garner cash to buy more fentanyl, all at the expense of the city's taxpayers. Portland resident Angela Todd released shocking footage showing people on the streets appearing to dump out water bottles shortly before cashing in on the plastic to raise money to buy more drugs.

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“It is impossible to ignore the profoundly tragic impact illicitly-manufactured fentanyl is having across Oregon,” said Representative Maxine Dexter (D-Portland), a board-certified physician. “Our responsibility, as elected leaders, is to ensure the health and safety of Oregonians. This package is an opportunity to urgently take data-driven action that will start saving lives almost immediately upon passage.”

“People are dying in escalating numbers because fentanyl is killing them,” said Multnomah County Commissioner and Emergency Physician Sharon Meieran. “[...] This package can be the state’s defibrillator to save lives now, reduce suffering, reduce hospitalization, and give Oregonians from all corners of the state a chance at recovery.”

“Protecting Oregonians, maintaining safe communities and ensuring quality of life for Oregonians is the primary objective for Oregon’s public safety professionals,” testified the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association, the Oregon Association Chiefs of Police, and the Oregon District Attorney’s Association. “The Opioid Harm Reduction Policy Package takes important steps to address barriers to harm reduction efforts with a focus on saving lives.”

“Fentanyl is wreaking havoc across Oregon. This is a pain my community knows all too well. We must do everything possible to save lives, and this legislation is a step in the right direction,” said Representative Morgan (R-Grants Pass).

Representative Bobby Levy (R- Echo) expressed concern that the bill allows a minor to obtain outpatient diagnosis or treatment of a substance use disorder without parental knowledge or consent. She states, “In my opinion, one of the main contributors to drug addiction is the fact that parents are not involved. Parents should be more involved, mental health providers get dealt a vague criteria that says they are able to withhold information from the parent, if the mental health provider ‘determines that it is not in the minor’s best interest to disclose the information’. In some circumstances I believe that may be the correct course of action but it can become obtuse and leave room for harmful decisions to be made on the behalf of another person that may need support from their parent.”


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-02-25 12:40:03

Last Update: 2023-02-25 17:23:21

A coalition of local officials in Linn County Oregon, including county, city and school leaders are asking Oregon's Governor Tina Kotek to amend the controversial Ballot Measure 110 and make the possession of Class I federal narcotics — such as heroin, cocaine and meth — state crimes and include punitive sanctions for both adults and juvenile.

The letter was also sent to every member of Oregon’s Legislative delegation.

Measure 110 effectively decriminalized possession of small amounts of hard drugs, making them misdemeanors carrying a fine of just $100, which would be forgiven if the person sought addiction help.

A recent state audit indicated more than $300 million of Oregon’s marijuana tax funds have been diverted under Ballot Measure 110, with little accountability of how that money has been used.

Local officials say that since the passage of the measure in 2020 and implementation in 2021, communities in our county — and statewide — have seen increased drug use and overdoses, increased property crimes and families and children suffer.

Roger Nyquist, chair of the Linn County Board of Commissioners, believes the intent of Ballot Measure 110 is “not coming to fruition … addiction is up and the number of addicts accessing treatment is down.”

Andy Gardner, superintendent of Greater Albany Public School says Ballot Measure 110 has “profoundly impacted how our kids view drugs”, adding “Oregon adults now have more access to controlled substances than ever before and now face fewer repercussions for possession or usage.”

He is worried that the acceptance of drug use in Oregon will create addiction issues at younger ages and will “affect future generations of kids.”

“Ballot Measure 110 is a disaster,” Linn County District Attorney Doug Marteeny said, adding that advocates saw it as something that would increase treatment for addicts, but that is not the case.

“We need to always remember that one function of law is to declare moral standards of the community. Law communicates the expectations we all have for one another,” he said.

Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan spent several years working drug cases and said it often took an arrest and a court appearance for someone with a drug addiction to “hit rock bottom” and realize they needed help.

“There is no stigma about drug use anymore,” Sheriff Duncan said. “Kids think it’s OK because there are no consequences.”

Local homeless shelters are seeing increased drug overdoses to the point the need for Narcan and training was a topic at a recent meeting of local groups interested in helping homeless people in Albany.

Torri Lynn, director of the Linn County Juvenile Department said that although Ballot Measure 110 is supposed to redirect funds to treatment programs, virtually no money was designated for juvenile programs.

Lynn said that in 2021, Senate Bill 817, “eliminated all fines and fees for juveniles”, affecting the Juvenile Department’s ability to respond to any citations with anything other than providing a phone number to the hotline for a youth who is in possession of heroin, methamphetamines or cocaine.

The state audit showed the cost of operating a telephone hotline for people cited with drug possession, cost $7,000 per call. Of about 100 callers, only 28 actually asked for addiction recovery services assistance.

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Justin Thomas, director of Linn County’s Alcohol & Drug Programs, said “The unfortunate downside of the measure is that more people may be using substances with the assumption that there are little to no consequences since the legal ramifications have been drastically reduced.”

Thomas added, “The practice of making substance use more socially acceptable is troubling to treatment providers because of the progressive nature of addiction that occurs when one uses substances consistently over time. In Linn County, we have not seen a decrease in the requests from people to access alcohol and drug treatment with the implementation of Measure 110.”

Local businesses are also seeing increased issues stemming from community drug use.

Janet Steele, president of the Albany Chamber of Commerce, said that organization is “extremely concerned that the state has legalized the possession of small amounts of all drugs, including cocaine, LSD, meth and oxycodone.”

“Like Albany residents, businesses are seeing the negative effects of Oregon’s drug laws and face the day-to-day reality of people with addictions and homeless issues harming themselves, employees, customers and buildings,” Steele said.

In a letter to the City Council, Albany Mayor Alex Johnson II said the community is doing what it can to combat drug and homeless issues, “However, the increases in vandalism, disruption of operations, assaults and littering are very evident around our city. These criminal acts put the citizens of Albany, as well as Albany businesses, at risk. They endanger staff and facilities, impact productivity and damage our ability to attract investment and create healthy economic growth. The current situation cannot be allowed to continue.”

The letter was signed by Albany Chamber of Commerce President Janet Steele, Albany Mayor Alex Johnson II, Greater Albany Public Schools Superintendent Andy Gardner, Linn County Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker, District Attorney Doug Marteeny, Sheriff Michelle Duncan, Juvenile Director Torri Lynn, Alcohol & Drug Director Justin Thomas and Sweet Home Mayor Susan Coleman.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-02-24 22:05:03

Last Update: 2023-02-24 22:25:51