Noticias de la cuenca de Klamath, viernes, 5/5/23 – Fin de semana húmedo esperado; KCC invita al público a la apertura del centro de aprendizaje el sábado 6 de mayo

Saturday,   Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53.  Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch. Rain mixed with snow overnight, snow level lowering to 4400 feet, low of 34.  Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Sunday,   A slight chance of rain and snow showers before 8am, then a slight chance of rain showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 54. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Monday,   A chance of rain and snow showers before 8am, then a chance of rain showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 54. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Tuesday,   A slight chance of showers after 11am. Snow level 4800 feet rising to 5900 feet in the afternoon. Partly sunny, with a high near 59.
Wednesday,   Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.
Thursday,   Sunny, with a high near 69.

Today’s Headlines

The Klamath Falls City Council meeting was a packed house this week. During the regular meeting earlier this week, community members turned out in an unprecedented show of support for the city’s F-15 static jet display.

Last summer, the city revealed plans to install a decommissioned F-15 jet from Kingsley Airfield in Veterans’ Memorial Park.  The project has been a highly debated issue since its announcement.

During public comment, 28 community members made their voices heard on behalf of the project with an additional 12 comments submitted in writing.  In line with a previous pro-jet statement from Chamber of Commerce Vice President Joe Spendolini, Potter argued that a compromise needs to be made.  Spendolini spoke on behalf of an item on the City Council’s meeting agenda which aims to make such a compromise.

The action item, which received unanimous approval, asked the City Council to decide whether to allocate additional funding — $21,450 plus $2,150 for contingencies — for the purpose of asking ZCS Engineering & Architecture to redesign plans for the project at a different location in the park.

The proposed new location would place the jet display on the concrete amphitheater located on the northside of the park.  Official design plans have not yet been made public, but city documents said the jet display was to be placed on a two-acre plot near the center of the park.

Following years of community project planning and fundraising, the public is invited to witness the finished product for themselves at an open house celebration for the new Klamath Community College Apprenticeship Center on Saturday, May 6.

The event will take place Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring tours of the facility, speakers, and refreshments The open house event marks the culmination of the Build the Basin campaign — a multi-year effort toward construction of the multipurpose educational facility funded through community donations, and grants. Its designed purpose is to train professional, skilled trades workers for the Klamath Basin and beyond. Approximately $11 million was raised for its construction, funded without use of a school bond or tax levy.

Groundbreaking for the site took place Nov. 10, 2021, with Klamath Falls-based Kinsman Construction as the project’s lead contractor. Despite complications from severe weather delays, inflation-related cost increases, pandemic associated supply chain disruptions, and COVID-19 impacts, construction was completed within the estimated spring 2023 timeline.

The Apprenticeship Center provides a home for KCC’s growing list of pre-apprenticeship, registered apprenticeship, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. Previously, some of these workforce programs were housed off campus: KCC’s welding program was based in facilities at Oregon Tech, and KCC’s fire science program shared space with local fire districts.

The facility houses adaptable training areas for wildland and structural firefighting, emergency medical technician, welding, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, manufacturing, and more. The center is also home to KCC’s U.S.

Department of Education High School Equivalency (HEP) program, CTE program director offices, and a computer equipped open student work area. Visitors are welcomed to the center by a 1949 fire engine, restored and donated to KCC for permanent display by Klamath County Fire District No. 1. Ample outdoor space surrounding the structure — which features a multi-story fire training tower — is utilized for fire, criminal justice, and commercial driver license training, among other programs.

Apprenticeship programs typically span four years — a partnership between KCC and regional businesses to train employees working toward state certification in a number of construction and contracting fields. The addition of the KCC Apprenticeship Center means an expansion in the number of available apprenticeship programs and training space for students, which will garner an increase in state-certified contractors and skilled workers in the Klamath Basin in the coming years.

Oregon Tech and the Klamath Tribes renewed their memorandum of understanding (MOU) to further strengthen collaboration in academic support and access, financial assistance, cultural and social support, and research.

According to a press release, the renewed MOU was signed at a special ceremony Friday, April 28 by Oregon Tech President Dr. Nagi Naganathan, Klamath Tribal Council Vice Chairwoman Gail Hatcher and Klamath Tribes General Manager George Lopez. The original MOU was signed in 2017. At that time, both groups agreed to periodically review activities, performance or satisfaction with memorandum focus areas and to evaluate additional collaboration opportunities.

Before the Friday signing, the press release states, Naganathan, Hatcher, Oregon Tech Trustee Kathleen Hill and 75th Anniversary Committee Co-chair Dr. Christopher Syrnyk helped plant a ceremonial chokecherry tree on campus. The event also included a round dance and honor song by the Klamath Tribes Youth Council.

According to the press release, the MOU meets the common purpose of helping people to better themselves through education, research, economic development and other forms of personal enlightenment. It also provides a collaborative environment to make the respective communities prosperous with multiple opportunities for surrounding citizens.

The Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Cultural Engagement at Oregon Tech will play a key role in implementing the Memorandum of Understanding. Parties from both groups will continue to meet annually and evaluate the areas to increase collaboration.

Crews began work on the 3rd Street Geothermal Project on Monday and according to a press release, the construction work is expected to continue for the next several weeks along 3rd Street between Klamath Avenue and Pine Street. During the construction, portions of 3rd Street will be closed to through traffic.

The press release states there will be intermittent lane closures on Klamath Avenue near the 3rd Street intersection. Motorists are asked to use caution when driving through the work zone.

For more information, call the City Development Services Department at 541-883-4950.

This year marks the 59th year since the Community Action Network was established to help American families and communities overcome obstacles to poverty.

According to a press release, more than 1,000 agencies across the country are working every day to create opportunities and transform the lives of their neighbors making communities stronger and helping families across the U.S. survive and thrive. This year, Klamath and Lake Community Action Services, a proud member of the Community Action Network, also will commemorate 19 years of helping Oregonians throughout Klamath and Lake counties.

Christina Zamora of the Klamath and Lake community action services says that  each May, during Community Action Month, we reflect on the impact Klamath and Lake Community Action Services and our network has had on families,” in a press release.  She adds, “Last year alone, we served over 4,300 in Klamath and Lake counties with a team of less than 25. The dedication of our small and mighty team in consistent service delivery and their approach to identifying opportunities to improve is constantly evolving.”

Community Action Agencies serve 99% of all American counties with life-changing services to help families achieve financial stability, the press release states. All agencies are locally controlled and represented by the private, public, and low-income sectors of the community.

Greensprings Market and Deli celebrated its one-year anniversary under new ownership Monday, May 1.

A member of the community for more than 40 years, Karen Wynne spent most of her working career in retail before taking over ownership of Greensprings in 2022.

To celebrate her first year as owner and to say thanks, Wynne gave away $1 Oregon Megabucks lottery tickets from the market’s new machine to each patron that came through the door.

Aside from bringing lottery to the business, Wynne has also taken full advantage of the market’s commercial kitchen by offering homemade baked goods and daily specials for sale such as spaghetti, meatloafs and daily soups.

Located on Riverside Drive, Greensprings Market is open 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays.

Emergency personnel and students training in emergency care will take part in a mock ambulance and helicopter today.

The drill is set to take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the DOW Center for Health Professions on the Oregon Tech campus at 3201 Campus Drive in Klamath Falls.

According to a press release, Oregon Tech students, faculty and staff will participate in a multi-organization transport drill in conjunction with Klamath County Fire District 1 (KCFD1) and AirLink Critical Care Transport-Klamath Falls to gain hands-on emergency experience.

Oregon Tech Respiratory Care students will begin the drill and assess the quality and nature of the “patient” and provide emergency care of “patient” while arranging for transport with KCFD1 ambulance, the press release states. KCFD1 will provide ambulance coordination and be on the ground arranging for landing and helicopter transport operated by AirLink CCT.

According to the press release, public spectators are discouraged as pedestrian traffic might interfere with helicopter arrival and departure. Helicopter landing is dependent upon weather and landing conditions at time of arrival.

The simulation will run approximately 1 hour from care, to ambulance transport, helicopter landing, and liftoff, the press release states. The helicopter portion of the drill will occur at Lot O, which is the gravel lot east of the solar array.

The Klamath County Board of County Commissioners released $80,000 more of American Rescue Plan Act grant monies to Klamath Falls Little League during their weekly business meeting Tuesday, May 2.

The Klamath Falls Little League (KFLL) Baseball Complex is in need of serious repair according to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant proposal written by Robbyn Thompson to the Klamath County commissioners.

Seven of the 11 fields that KFLL provides for play will need work to bring them up to safety standards including repair to field fences and batter backstops. The grant proposal also mentioned building another driveway and exit to help combat traffic congestion and fire safety because currently the KFLL Baseball Complex has only one entrance and exit. KFLL also is planning to use the funds to improve the existing bleachers, concession stand and bathroom facilities.

The commissioners also opened an invitation to bid for a sidewalk project taking place along Shasta Way. The work will consist of constructing 6,100 square feet of sidewalk, removing and replacing approximately 1,400 linear feet of curb and gutter along with ADA replacements, driveway paving, asphalt patching, retaining wall construction, drainage improvements and traffic control.

Commissioners also read a proclamation declaring May as Community Action Month.

Joined by Dawn Neal Ruiz and Christina Zamora of Klamath and Lake Community Action Services, Commissioner Kelley Minty said KLCAS provides supportive services to more than 1,900 households made up of 3,820 individuals in Klamath County.

The Klamath Chorale spring performance of “What the World Needs Now” is set to hit the stage this weekend.

Beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 7 the Klamath Chorale plans “a seasonal tribute to love, music and the joys of springtime” at the Ross Ragland Theater, according to a press release. The show is directed by Robin J. Schwartz and accompanied by Bill “Slippery” Eaton.

According to the press release, the 80-voice, all-volunteer choral group will present a program of songs about love and other seasonal topics, all in unique large-scale arrangements, The program also includes special solos, duets and small ensembles.

Weekly rehearsals for the Chorale’s annual spring concert began in mid-January and additional rehearsals have been held in the several weeks leading up to the concert, the press release states.

According to the press release, the concert program includes many well-known songs, such as “What A Wonderful World,” “Good Vibrations,” “Unchained Melody,” “High Hopes,” “Make Someone Happy,” “I Wish You Love,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” and, of course, “What The World Needs Now Is Love,” among many others.

The Klamath Chorale was formed in 1979 as the Klamath Symphonic Choir and has generally performed one or two concerts each year ever since, the press release states. It is the largest all-volunteer choir in the Klamath Basin and is made up of people who love to sing choral music.

For more information about the concert, which will be approximately two hours long, call Production Coordinator Charles Cossey at 541-884-8484.

Around the state of Oregon

Senate Republicans Continue a Quorum-Denying Walkout Boycotting Sessions To Try and Halt Bills On Guns And Abortion

Most Republican members of the Oregon Senate failed to show up for the second straight day Thursday, delaying action by the majority Democrats on bills on gun safety, abortion rights and gender-affirming health care.

The stayaway prevented a quorum, with Senate President Rob Wagner calling for another try on Friday. Republican lawmakers have used walkouts in the past, but this time — if they continue to stay away — they’ll be testing a law approved overwhelmingly in a ballot measure last November that bans lawmakers with 10 unexcused absences from running for reelection.

The boycott comes as several statehouses around the nation, including in Montana and have become battlegrounds between conservatives and liberals. Oregon has increasingly been divided between liberal population centers like Portland and Eugene and its mostly conservative rural areas.

—— Several Oregon Senate Republicans went missing Wednesday and Thursday, kicking off the latest in a series of legislative walkouts that the party has staged in recent years.

Walkouts are stall tactic employed by the minority party, usually to kill specific legislation. Most bills only require a simple majority vote to pass, but the Senate and House can’t hold votes unless a quorum is present, meaning at least two-thirds of each chamber’s members.

Democrats hold 17 of the Oregon Senate’s 30 seats and 35 of the House’s 60 seats, which means they have enough votes to pass most (but not all) legislation without Republican support, but they can’t achieve a quorum in either chamber on their own. If enough Republicans walk out, business grinds to a halt.

The leader of Senate Republicans, Sen. Tim Knopp, spoke on the phone Thursday with Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek after telling journalists Wednesday that a derailed legislative session would jeopardize the governor’s legislative agenda, including tackling homelessness.

Knopp’s spokesperson, Ashley Kuenzi, said Kotek expressed willingness to help resolve the impasse. But the governor’s office had a different characterization of the call, with Knopp being asked to stop the boycott.

“The governor listened to his concerns and reiterated that he is making choices,” said Kotek’s spokesperson, Elisabeth Shepard. “She asked him to choose to get back to work to do the people’s business.”

Knopp told a news conference Wednesday that Republicans are protesting because bill summaries are not being written in plain language even though a 1979 state law requires they be readable by anyone with an eighth or ninth-grade education, which is measured by a score of at least 60 on the Flesch readability test.

Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber said that’s just a pretext, and noted that the vast majority of bills have passed with bipartisan support, including on housing and attracting the semiconductor industry to Oregon.

“This is about abortion, guns and transgender rights,” Lieber said. “The timing of this is such that they’re walking out on important legislation that Oregonians sent us here to do.”

The Senate added this weekend to its schedule to convene, starting at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The existence of the readability law, passed by the Legislature in 1979 with bipartisan support, was discovered in April by a Republican caucus staffer. Knopp said he does not know when the law was last employed to make bill summaries easy to read.

“But it’s important that we follow the law because, if we’re passing laws today, are we just expecting in, you know, 20, 30, 40 years that people are just going to ignore the laws that we have on the books that we all passed,” Knopp said Wednesday. “I don’t think we would appreciate that.”

Asked if the Republican boycott was due to the bills on gun control and abortion and gender-affirming care, Knopp said, “It’s about every bill. But those bills specifically also don’t qualify under this law, and they refuse to fix them.”

Knopp said Republicans are reviewing bills to see if they pass the readability test. He added that legislative counsel, the non-partisan office that drafts legislation, “in large part is to blame for the bills not meeting Oregon law.”

Some local leaders, labor organizations and activists supporting reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights in Central Oregon called on Knopp to end the Republican walkout and planned to hold a rally later on Thursday in Bend — Knopp’s hometown.

GOP lawmakers employed the same boycott strategy in 2019 and 2020 to freeze legislation capping greenhouse gas emissions, among other things. Oregon has a two-thirds quorum rule, meaning the state House and Senate need two-thirds of their members to be present to conduct business. In the Senate, that’s 20 of its 30 members. Currently, 17 senators are Democrats, 12 are Republicans and one is an independent.

If Republican senators deny a quorum for the rest of the legislative session, which doesn’t end until late June, they could theoretically kill the bills on gun control, abortion rights and gender-affirming care.

The wide-ranging bill on abortion and gender-affirming care would shield patients and providers from lawsuits originating in states where abortion and gender-affirming care are now restricted. It would also allow doctors to provide an abortion to anyone regardless of age and bar them in certain cases from disclosing that to parents.

The gun control measure would increase the purchasing age to 21 for AR-15-style rifles and similar guns, impose penalties for possessing undetectable firearms and allow for more limited concealed-carry rights.

___ The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Judge Denies Oregon Republican Effort To Waylay Abortion, Gender-Affirming Health Care Bill

Republicans failed to win a temporary restraining order delaying House Bill 2002. The party’s Senate walkout continues.

Republican lawmakers stumbled Thursday in their legal effort to delay a contentious abortion bill by insisting Democrats had not followed proper procedure when putting it forward.

Marion County Circuit Judge David Leith denied a petition on behalf of two GOP legislators and the advocacy group Oregon Right To Life, requesting the court temporarily block Senate Democrats from passing House Bill 2002. In doing so, Leith signaled serious misgivings that the case would ultimately succeed, nodding to arguments from government lawyers that the court had no authority to block the Legislature from doing its job.

“I don’t see any likelihood of success in persuading the court … to enjoin that legislative function,” Leith said.

It was not ultimately clear Thursday whether Republicans would continue to pursue the matter in court. Meanwhile, the party made clear it has other options to block Democrats’ progress.

For the second day in a row, just two Republican lawmakers showed up in Senate chambers for a scheduled floor session. Ten Republicans and one Independent were absent — many in protest to Democrats’ agenda this year — meaning the chamber did not have a 20-member quorum and could not conduct business.

At issue in the court case — filed Wednesday by state Sen. Suzanne Weber, R-Tillamook, state Rep. Emily McIntire, R-Eagle Point, and Oregon Right To Life — is a state statute that legislative officials say hasn’t been followed in decades.

Under ORS 171.134, legislative attorneys that write summaries of bills before the Legislature need to ensure they are readily understandable by the general public. Specifically, the law, enacted by Democrats in 1979, says those summaries need to score a 60 or higher on something called the Flesch-Kincaid readability test, or something comparable. The Flesch test analyzes text for how easy it is to read, and a score of 60 connotes a reading level of about eighth grade.

HB 2002′s bill summary — and breakdowns of pretty much every other piece of legislation — don’t meet that threshold. Republicans have attempted to force Democrats to revise the document to comply with the law, but have been overruled by the majority party, hence the lawsuit.

The GOP was represented in court Thursday by Vance Day, a former Marion County judge who has seen controversy over refusing to marry same-sex couples, among other things, and was suspended from the bench for ethical violations.

“This is obviously an unusual case,” Day told Leith, his former colleague on the Marion County bench. “You’re being asked to step into a different branch [of government] with, in many ways, probably a very heavy foot.”

But Day made the case that the Legislature had failed to comply with the law, and that there had to be some form of accountability when that happens.

If Democrats could simply fail to follow the law, he asked, “then what is the use of the statute. Is there no remedy under the statute?” Day argued that a restraining order would not block Democrats from ultimately passing HB 2002, just force them to follow the law.

Lawyers with the Oregon Department of Justice told Leith that’s not how the state’s constitution works.

Under the state’s separation of powers, they said, the court could not step in to dictate the manner in which lawmakers legislate. “That strikes right at the core of legislative functions and at the core of legislative independence,” said Assistant Attorney General Alex Jones.

The DOJ likened the statute in question to a legislative rule that lawmakers could choose to obey as they saw fit. And they pointed out that, under the state constitution, lawmakers cannot be forced to come to court for civil process during legislative session.

Senate President Rob Wagner, House Speaker Dan Rayfield, and three legislative officials are named as defendants in the suit. “President Wagner can’t be sued today, because the Legislature is in session,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian Simmonds Marshall. “If he was the key witness in an automobile accident case, he could not be subject to a summons … I honestly have no idea why any of them think they can stop the Legislature from legislating.”

Day argued that Democrats could easily repeal ORS 171.134 if they want, but noted they have made no move to do so. But the DOJ said that, by passing HB 2002 in its current form, lawmakers would effectively be choosing to nullify the law — at least as it applies to that bill.

In the end, Leith seemed to agree that there’s a high likelihood he ultimately could not block Democrats from acting. And since the argument was not likely to fly in the case, he denied the restraining order.

But Leith also made clear he did not believe Democrats complied with the readability statute.

“If it was mine to decide, I would say that the summary doesn’t meet that standard,” Leith said. “I am also not at all sure that it’s possible to accurately convey the information that would summarize this bill without exceeding the threshold that the statute provides.” (SOURCE)

Watered-Down Version of Rent Control Bill Clears Oregon Senate Panel

A watered-down version of a proposal meant to prevent a repeat of the nearly 15% rent hikes allowed this year cleared a Senate committee Thursday.

Oregon’s 2019 statewide rent control law caps increases on many buildings to no more than 7% plus inflation. Last year’s high inflation cleared the way for landlords to hike rents by 14.6%.

Note: The CPI calculation is for the prior year. It is shifted forward one year above to properly align with the year for which it applies for the maximum annual increase. The first year for which the law applies is 2019. Previous years are shown for illustrative purposes. Oregon Office of Economic Analysis

Sen. Wlnsvey Campos, D-Aloha, introduced Senate Bill 611 in January to change the allowable hike to no more than 8% or 3% plus inflation, whichever was lower. By the time the Senate Rules Committee voted to send the measure to the Senate floor on Thursday, the bill had been amended to the lesser of a 10% cap or 7% plus inflation.

Campos told committee members that she and supporters have had many conversations with renters, landlords and other legislators to reach an agreement on the bill.

“We feel that we have brought forth a bill that would benefit many Oregonians,” she said. “We have heard the stories of folks who were on the brink of losing their housing and whose voices have come forth a lot throughout this discussion, saying that these sorts of rent increases are the difference between them being able to stay in their homes or not.”

The changes weren’t enough for Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp, R-Bend, who voted against the bill. Knopp and other Republicans also opposed the 2019 rent control law.

“While this policy may help some people, it will hurt many,” he said.

He said landlords who otherwise might not have raised rent now issue annual rent increases or charge the maximum allowed. Knopp, the executive vice president of the Central Oregon Builders Association, added that developers will build in states with fewer restrictions.

The real estate website Zillow estimates that the median Oregon rent is $1,810. Under the current law, that median rent could increase by almost $265 per month, or nearly $3,200 per year. The introduced version of SB 611 would have capped increases for that median apartment at about $145 per month, or just under $1,740 annually, and the latest version would result in a cap of $181 per month or about $2,170 per year.

Oregon’s rent control law only applies to buildings once they’re 15 years old, and it doesn’t apply to subsidized housing. There’s also no limit on how high landlords can set rent between tenants.

The measure’s future is unclear as Senate Republicans continue a quorum-denying walkout preventing the chamber from passing bills. Some Senate Republicans are continuing to participate in committee meetings but have stayed away from the Capitol when they’re scheduled to be on the floor.  (SOURCE)

OHA Report Shows Oregonians Delaying Health Care Due To High Costs

Rising healthcare costs have caused more Oregonians to delay accessing health care since 2019, according to an Oregon Health Authority report.

Healthcare costs have been rising the past 10 years due to inflation. And the pandemic caused a spike in costs because of staffing shortages, expanded behavioral health care and a pause on non-emergency services, the report says.

Nationally, 38% of adults reported delaying health care in 2022 because of costs.

In 2020, health care and health insurance costs represented 23% of household spending in Oregon, an upward trend continuing from 2018 as costs increased faster than the national rate, according to the report.

Economic barriers to health care cause some people to delay getting the services they need, especially working-age adults and Hispanic or Latino individuals. The pandemic put a greater burden on these individuals, the report said.

People of color, those in rural areas, and low-income individuals and families experience more barriers to accessing quality health care, such as a lack of economic stability, transportation, and availability of services nearby.

While some people delay health care leading to worsening health outcomes, others accrue medical debt. The report said 10.2% of Oregonians reported using all or most of their savings on medical bills in 2021.

A Couple Accused Of Chaining Up, Strangling And Verbally Abusing A Child For Nearly A Year Has Been Arrested In Oregon

Ana Miranda, 67, and her husband Charles “Randy” Ward, 74, were arrested on criminal mistreatment charges as part of an investigation into child abuse, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) said.

The investigation began on April 26 when detectives with the violent crimes unit received reports of possible child abuse at a home near Tigard. They interviewed several witnesses and got a search warrant for the home, ultimately finding evidence inside the house that “corroborated the allegations of abuse.”

Detectives received information that a child was being chained up in the house, often for more than 12 hours daily. The child was also strangled, hit, kicked, and verbally abused, including derogatory slurs,” the sheriff’s office said.

The abuse went on for nearly a year, investigators said. It allegedly started because the child took food and drinks from the kitchen.

The couple lived at the house with nine children and two adults.  Miranda was indicted on eight counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment, single counts each of strangulation, second-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon.

According to a criminal indictment filed Wednesday in Washington County Circuit Court, Miranda “knowingly” withheld food, physical and medical care from a minor several times between July 2019 and April 2023. The assault charge stems from an alleged physical injury caused by metal pliers.

Ward was indicted on four counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment, also for allegedly withholding food and care from the minor on purpose.

A deputy district attorney in Washington County filed notices to seek sentence enhancements against each suspect, claiming they were “deliberately cruel to the victim,” adding that “the degree of harm or loss attributed to the current crime of conviction was significantly greater than typical for such an offense.”

A judge set bond for Ward and Miranda at $15,000 and $25,000, respectively, with the conditions that if they are released pre-trial they must be on house arrest, not reside with someone who lived in the residence where the incident occurred, not contact any minor or any victim in this case, or each other.  A sheriff’s office spokesperson said those charges stem from two victims living at the house, and that they are working to see if there was any other abuse. Sgt. Danny DiPietro said the agency is still investigating and could request additional charges.

There are many more children in that home, and the investigation is continuing to see if any of them sustained any injuries or any kind of abuse in the past,” DiPietro said.

“I want to make sure everyone knows that the children involved in this case are safe. They’re with family,” he added. Anyone with helpful information is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 503-846-2700. (SOURCE)

Wildfire Alert App Expanding Coverage To Oregon

Watch Duty, a wildfire alert app run by active and retired firefighters and first responders, is expanding its coverage to Oregon next week.

John Mills, co-founder and CEO of the nonprofit organization, said the app helps bring real-time wildfire updates to people, typically faster than law enforcement or government agencies.

Mills said he almost lost his ranch in Sonoma County to wildfires on multiple occasions and said Watch Duty helps save lives during fire season.

“It wasn’t until the 2020 lightning siege when half of California was on fire that it really occurred to me that the key was these men and women, retired and active firefighters, first responders and others who were on Facebook and Twitter listening to radio scanners all day and all night,” Mills said. “That’s where I found all the real-time information.”

Watch Duty was created in 2021 and currently covers the state of California, with more than 500,000 users. The website and app will cover the state of Oregon starting May 2.

Mills said having access to real-time information during fire season can potentially save lives. As fires continue to become more frequent in California and Oregon, he said every second counts.

“It’s extremely important to us that everything is vetted and still using nixels and Code Reds and everything else the government used,” Mills said. “You need to have those but ultimately, we need more information faster and so Watch Duty works in unison with the government.”