Chris Thomas – Oregon News Service

WILSONVILLE, Ore. – When Oregonians who volunteer as long-term care ombudsmen got together last week, one thing they learned is that more of them are needed around the state. About 43,000 residents live in nursing homes, adult foster homes and other long-term care facilities in Oregon. Ombudsmen, who are trained to advocate for them, gathered in Wilsonville for policy updates and additional training.
Audio: Oregon Elders Need More Caring Eyes and Ears

Long-Term Care Ombudsman volunteers check in on and advocate for many of the 43,000 residents of long-term care facilities across Oregon. Courtesy of Nat’l. Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care.

They also heard from Dr. Fernando Torres Gil, a national AARP board member. Gil pointed out that as the population begins a dramatic age shift in the next 20 years, the role of ombudsmen will become even more critical.

“These people are, in many respects, kind of the first line of defense in terms of preventing elder abuse, monitoring patient issues and ensuring that there’s a certain level of care and safety and dignity for long-term care residents in the state of Oregon,” Gil said.

Ombudsmen have their work cut out for them, with more than 2,300 facilities to visit in every corner of the state. Mary Jaeger, who heads the Oregon Long-Term Care Ombudsman (LTCO) office, noted the constant need for more volunteers, many of whom are in their 50s and 60s. According to a report on the LTCO website, the current group of about 200 ombudsmen fields more than 1,100 inquiries and complaints a month.

“We are only getting to about 70 percent of the places where people live,” said Jaeger. “We also have a 1-800 number, with staff members staffing that line every day. That actually brings quite a number of calls into our office.”

Oregon requires an initial five-day training course and exam for prospective ombudsmen. They must be age 21 or older, pass a criminal background check, and be able to spend four hours a week visiting their assigned facilities. The 2013 ombudsman training schedule and more information about the program are available by calling 800-522-2602 or visiting www.oregon.gov/LTCO.

Source: Office of Senator Jeff Merkley

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the U.S. Forest Service announced it would award operating contracts for “Next Generation” airtankers to be used in wildfire suppression:

“I am pleased that the Forest Service is moving forward to get these planes into service. Last year, we saw the devastating effects of historic wildfires in Oregon. With another historic wildfire season potentially looming, we must act quickly to ensure that we have the safest and most effective possible equipment in place for firefighting.”

The Next Generation airtankers will replace aging “Legacy” aircraft that have been used as part of the Forest Service aviation program for years, and in some cases, decades. All of the Next Generation airtankers are turbine powered, can carry a minimum of 3,000 gallons of retardant and have a cruise speed of at least 300 knots when fully loaded.

Two of the contracts will go to Oregon-based companies: Aero Air in Hillsboro, and Coulson Aircrane in Portland.

The U.S. Forest Service announced today that it intends to award exclusive use contracts for Next Generation airtankers to:

• Minden Air Corporation; Minden, Nev., for 1 BAe-146
• Aero Air, LLC; Hillsboro, Ore., for 2 MD87s
• Aero Flite, Inc.; Kingman, Ariz., for 2 Avro RJ85s
• Coulson Aircrane (USA), Inc.; Portland, Ore., for 1 C130Q
• 10 Tanker Air Carrier, LLC; Adelanto, Calif., for 1 DC-10

Source: Office of Senator Jeff Merkley

Numerous officers and detectives became involved in this investigation, which included multiple interviews and a weekend door-to-door canvass of the neighborhood surrounding the park, in an attempt to locate witnesses or evidence to support the victim’s story. Missing Persons Unit detectives began to note inconsistencies in the victim’s version of the events leading up to, during, and after the alleged abduction.

Detectives met with the victim again this morning, Monday May 6, 2013, at which time she was confronted with the facts of the investigation, the inconsistencies in her statements, as well as a lack of evidence to support her story. The young woman confessed that she had not been the victim of a kidnapping, or of any other crime.

The young woman told detectives she had been scared by an adult Hispanic male (described in the original news release), driving the described van, after he had honked at her and had seemed to have been following her, as she walked home from school, along Southeast Stark Street. She said that as she neared Ventura Park, the man parked his van and called out to her, which she had interpreted as threatening behavior. She said she ran away from the area, and later decided to report that she had been kidnapped.

The young woman has confessed that the man never approached her, nor did he ever attempt any physical contact with her.

Further details of her statement provided to detectives, including her reasons for having lied about the kidnapping, will not be released at this time, as this case will be presented to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution consideration, related to possible criminal charges including Initiating a False Report, which is a Class C misdemeanor.

The Portland Police Bureau takes these incidents very seriously, and urges anyone who believes they are in danger to get to safety, seek help, and immediately call 9-1-1.

Anyone with additional information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Mike Weinstein, at (503) 823-0446 or Mike.Weinstein@portlandoregon.gov.

Portland Police Bureau News Release

As First Lady of Oregon, Hayes is a policy advisor to the Governor on clean energy and economic development issues. She has authored several books about sustainable economics and development and is a regular contributor to Grist and Huffington Post.

The luncheon is a forum for the exchange of the latest conservation ideas between the Aquarium’s senior staff and leading thinkers. The event also provides the Aquarium with charitable support, from sponsors like Vernier Software & Technology, which help make the Aquarium’s world-class marine science facility and education programs possible.

Pre-registration for the event is required. To order tickets or reserve a table, contact Libby Scott, Development Manager, at (541) 867-3474 x5217 or at libby.scott@aquarium.org.  All proceeds from the event benefit the Oregon Coast Aquarium and its coastal and marine conservation and education programs.

The Oregon Coast Aquarium is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization located in Newport on the beautiful Oregon Coast. Our mission is to inspire the public to better understand, cherish and conserve marine and coastal ecosystems. The Aquarium is a member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. It has been named one of the top 10 aquariums in the U.S. Visit us at 2820 S.E. Ferry Slip Rd., Newport, OR. www.aquarium.org, 541-867-3474.  Follow us on Facebook.com/OregonCoastAquarium for the latest updates.

Source: Oregon Coast Aquarium

Officers spoke to a person near where the truck was abandoned who told police that a person tried to get into their truck but ran away when confronted.

Officers searched the neighborhood but did not locate anyone matching the suspects description, which was a white or Hispanic male in all dark clothing.

It is not known at this point if this attempted ATM theft is connected to a similar incident last week on Southeast Belmont Street.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Portland Police at CrimeTips@PortlandOregon.gov

Portland Police Bureau News Release

The victim reported that she had been walking home alone from David Douglas High School, between approximately 4:00 – 4:30 p.m., on Thursday, May 2. She reported having noticed a plain white, cargo-style panel van, with a sliding, rear passenger-side door, but no windows on the rear sides of the van, with a single occupant male driving the vehicle.

The victim reported that after she had turned to walk northbound on 113th from Stark, towards Burnside, a man surprised her, coming up behind her on foot, without her having noticed him. The man reportedly grabbed the female from behind and pulled her towards the same van she had seen nearby, which was now parked facing the wrong way, northbound, on the west side of 113th, across from Ventura Park.

As soon as the victim was able to see the male suspect, she recognized him as the driver of the van.

The suspect is described a dark-skinned, possibly Hispanic male, 35-40 years old, approximately 5’7″, with a medium build and short, black, buzz-cut hair. He was unshaven, and was wearing a dark-colored T-shirt, and had multiple tattoos covering both his forearms. He did not speak much, but was described as having spoken in English, with a slight foreign accent.

The suspect forced the victim into his waiting van, and drove off, northbound along 113th, to East Burnside Street, where, upon seeing a police car pass by, the suspect ordered the victim out of the vehicle, as he drove off eastbound on Burnside.

The victim, who was physically unharmed, is continuing to cooperate with police, and detectives have been out canvassing in the area, for possible witnesses or recorded surveillance video. At this time, detectives have no reason to believe this incident was in any way directly related to David Douglas High School.

Anyone who may have witnessed any portion of this incident, or who may have information related to this investigation, is asked to contact Detective Mike Weinstein, at (503) 823-0446 or Mike.Weinstein@portlandoregon.gov.

Portland Police Bureau News Release

Since 1989, the Willamette NF and RMEF have collaborated on 41 projects. Approximately 2500 acres per year are thinned and maintained through meadow restoration and control of noxious weeds. Much of the seeding, weeding, planting and foliage cutback projects are completed cooperatively. Numerous working weekends are held with partnership groups throughout the year.

Robert Alvarado, Wildlife Program Leader for Oregon and Washington National Forests, said of the Willamette staff, “They work as a team and cooperate across jurisdictional boundaries. Many organizations, such as the Oregon Hunters Association, Bureau of Land Management, The Audubon Society, and Confederated Tribe of the Grande Ronde, come together under the leadership of the Willamette National Forest to complete these projects.”

For further information about the Willamette National Forest, please go to the website
www.fs.usda.gov/willamette or follow us on twitter.com/WillametteNF

Source: Detroit Ranger District

PORTLAND, Ore. – Unions in Oregon are banding together to help new unions get off the ground … and organizers say the new approach is working. Some 300 Head Start employees submitted cards to the Employment Relations Board Monday to form a union, and about 3000 workers have set up unions in the past year.

Audio: Unions Try “Something New” – and Membership Grows

Oregon AFL-CIO President Tom Chamberlain says a new collaboration between established unions is helping new unions get off the ground. 300 Head Start workers turned in their union cards Monday. Photo courtesy of Oregon AFL-CIO

According to Oregon AFL-CIO president Tom Chamberlain, established unions share advice, manpower and sometimes even money with the new labor ventures.

“To give workers an opportunity to decide whether they want a union or not takes some real coordination to sort of push back on this multi-million-dollar industry that’s grown up around union-busting, and denying workers the right to organize,” he declared.

He explained that the idea arose after hearing from workers who were interested in forming a union, but didn’t have time or expertise to do it on their own.

Bruce Hansen, the business representative for Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757, said the new approach of offering support meant 170 new members.

“Communicating all the way through the process, updating them, keeping them involved,” was the work to be done, he said. “Actually, in this one particular location, our local has tried to organize them, I believe, three additional times unsuccessfully up until this point.”

Some of the unions in the new partnership: Oregon AFL-CIO, Communications Workers of America, Oregon Nurses Association and the Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council, among others.

Complete list of the new organizing table is at ORAFLCIO.org.

Last September, Americans turned in 244 tons of prescription drugs at over 5,200 sites operated by the DEA and its thousands of state and local law enforcement partners.  In its five previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners took in over 2 million pounds–over a thousand tons–of pills.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines–flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash–both pose potential safety and health hazards.

Four days after the first event, Congress passed the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an “ultimate user” of controlled substance medications to dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General to accept them.  The Act also allows the Attorney General to authorize long term care facilities to dispose of their residents’ controlled substances in certain instances.  DEA is drafting regulations to implement the Act.  Until new regulations are in place, local law enforcement agencies like Yamhill County and the DEA will continue to hold prescription drug take-back events every few months.

News Release from: Yamhill Co. Sheriff’s Office