Regional News Archives for 2014-09

USPS Worker Faces Multiple Charges For Mail Theft

(Portland, OR)  --  A man who works for the U.S. Postal Service is facing multiple felony charges after being accused of stealing more than ten-thousand pieces of mail from across Portland.  Thirty-two-year-old John Paul Osburn has pleaded not guilty to 114 counts of felony mail theft and 30 counts of identity theft, among other charges.  Prosecutors say Osburn kept the stolen mail in a storage unit on Southeast Division. 

Half-million Dollars Awarded In Lawsuit Against Portland Police

(Portland, OR)  --  A man who claimed he was beaten and Tasered by three Portland police officers is being awarded more than a half-million dollars by a jury.  Thirty-nine-year-old Jason Cox of Portland filed a lawsuit against the Police Bureau in April 2013, claiming negligence and assault against the officers when he was being arrested for DUII in 2011.  Mayor Charlie Hales says he doesn't agree with the jury's verdict, but respects the legal process.  Hales says the Police Bureau has changed its use-of-force policies and now puts more emphasis in its training practices on "de-escalation."

Disaster Assistance Approved For Residents, Businesses

(Olympia, WA)  --  Homeowners and small-business owners affected by wildfires that hit Washington over the summer will get some help from the federal government.  Governor Jay Inslee says the Small Business Administration has approved a request he made last week, making emergency disaster assistance available to qualified businesses and residents.  The counties included under the declaration are Okanogan, Chelan, Douglas, Ferry, Grant, Lincoln, Skagit, and Whatcom. 

One Dead In Scappoose Fire

(Scappoose, OR)  --  Investigators are trying to find out what caused a mobile home fire that left one person dead in Scappoose.  KOIN-TV reports the blaze was reported around 1:52 this morning in the area of Teakwood Drive and East Columbia Avenue.  Firefighters found the body inside the single-wide trailer.

Teen Charged In Connection With School Bomb Scare

(St. Helens, OR)  --  A teenager is facing formal charges after he was accused of bringing an explosive device to St. Helens High School Friday.  The 16-year-old, whose name hasn't been released, is charged with possession and manufacture of a destructive device.  Police say they've identified a second suspect, who was involved with creating the device.  After the school was evacuated Friday, bomb-squad personnel removed the device from the 16-year-old's locker and rendered it safe.

Police: DUII Suspect Had Five-year-old In Car

(West Linn, OR)  --  Oregon State Police say a man who was arrested for DUII near West Linn had his five-year-old son in the vehicle.  Authorities say a trooper pursued the car Sunday night after multiple drivers complained of a reckless driver on northbound Interstate 5 approaching Wilsonville.  Police from multiple agencies joined in the chase, and spike strips were laid out to stop the suspect.  Troopers say Jesus Hernandez of Hillsboro was arrested on multiple charges, and his son has been placed with another family member.    

Entry Fee Increase Possible For National Parks

(Washington, DC)  --  Entry fees at Mount Rainier and Olympic national parks could rise considerably.  The National Parks Service is proposing raising entry fees by 67 percent at 131 parks nationwide.  Mount Rainier National Park acting superintendent Tracy Swartout tells the Tacoma "News Tribune" that the entry fee would rise from 15 dollars to 25 dollars per car, and an annual pass would increase from 30 dollars to 50.  Officials say the fee increase would allow parks to improve visitor facilities and services.

Estacada Wildfire Now 69% Contained

(Estacada, OR)  --  The Pit 36 wildfire near Estacada is still burning, but is now reported to be 69-percent contained.  All evacuation orders in the area have been lifted, but several roads and recreational areas are still closed.  The fire began more than two weeks ago and is said to be human-caused.

Quality Vintage Predicted With Oregon Grape Harvest

(Newberg, OR)  --  Winemakers in Oregon say the state's grape harvest indicates a good vintage year for the industry.  Warmer-than-normal temperatures during the summer are among the factors being noted in the 2014 harvest.  Growers say those conditions will translate into pleasant experiences for those who enjoy lush and powerful red wines.

Task Force Recommends Revival Of Taxes To Fund WA State Parks

(Olympia, WA)  --  A task force appointed by Washington Governor Jay Inslee is recommending revival of two taxes to fund state parks and the outdoor recreation industry.  The Everett "Herald" reports the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Parks and Outdoor Recreation wants to reinstate the sales tax on bottled water and the excise tax on motor homes and travel trailers to generate revenue to keep parks open.  Some of the revenue would also fund new initiatives in the Department of Commerce to put outdoor recreation on the same level as other sectors of the Washington state economy.  Inslee says he'll work with lawmakers to try to put the panel's recommendations in place.

Investigators Say Cigarettes Caused Deadly Fire

(Milwaukie, OR)  --  Investigators say smoldering cigarettes were the cause of a fire that killed one person and injured three at a Milwaukie apartment.  The blaze was reported around 12:30 Saturday morning at the Lake Crest Apartments.  The building was evacuated, and several people had to be carried to safety.  The Red Cross says it's providing assistance to nearly three-dozen residents of the apartment building.

Memorial Held For Steve Fritz

(Portland, OR)  --  Family and friends are remembering Doctor Steve Fritz as a man who was a "true original."  A memorial service was held yesterday for the psychiatrist from Portland, who was killed last Wednesday in a crash on Interstate 5 in Salem.  He was also the husband of Portland Commissioner Amanda Fritz.  Several hundred people attended yesterday's memorial at Terry Schrunk Plaza.

Car Prowlers In Custody, More Arrests Possible

(Multnomah County, OR)  --  Multnomah County deputies say more arrests are possible after three people were detained for breaking into cars along the Columbia River Highway.  Facing multiple charges are 37-year-old Brian Peoples and 42-year-old Kristina Yurick.  A third suspect was later released without being charged.  Authorities say the arrests were made over the weekend after people who had been hiking in Angel's Rest reported that items had been stolen from their vehicles while they were gone.
 

Cougar Spotted In Happy Valley

(Happy Valley, OR)  --  Sheriff's deputies are on the lookout for a cougar that was spotted in a family's yard in Happy Valley.  Neighbors were alerted to the sighting after the big cat was seen Saturday night.  State wildlife officials have also been notified.

Ex-nurse Sentenced To 15 Years In Sex Abuse Case

(Portland, OR)  --  A former emergency-room nurse at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center is scheduled to spend 15 years in prison for multiple counts of sexual abuse.  Thirty-nine-year-old Jeffrey McAllister recently pleaded guilty to the charges, and he received his sentence yesterday.  Police say their investigation found that McAllister abused a number of patients and a co-worker at the hospital between 2009 and 2013.  McAllister has also been ordered to serve five years of post-prison supervision and register as a sex offender.

Vancouver Police Investigate Deadly Stabbing

(Vancouver, WA)  --  Vancouver police are investigating a stabbing death.  Officers arrived late last night at a home on West 16th and found the victim lying unconscious.  Witnesses reported seeing a possible suspect leaving the scene in a vehicle.  The name of the victim, who died later at a hospital, hasn't been released. 

Pedestrian Injured In Milwaukie Hit-and-run

(Milwaukie, OR)  --  A woman is being treated at a Milwaukie hospital after being injured in a hit-and-run crash.  Police say the 18-year-old woman was pushing a child in a stroller along Southeast Linwood Avenue around 6:15 yesterday evening, when a car ran onto the sidewalk at high speed and struck her before speeding off.  The woman pushed the stroller out of the way before she was hit, and the child was unharmed.  Police say the car is a black Toyota Camry with a broken right headlight, driven by a tall man in his early 20s.

Man Killed In Multi-vehicle Crash

(Salem, OR)  --  Police are investigating a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 5 near Salem that left a man dead.  Authorities say psychiatrist Doctor Steven Fritz, who was the husband of Portland City Commissioner Amanda Fritz, died following yesterday morning's crash, which involved a semi-truck.  A passenger in the car with Fritz was critically injured.  Two other people involved in the crash sustained minor injuries.

Evacuations Lifted, Pit 36 Fire 55-Percent Contained

(Estacada, OR)  --  The wildfire near Estacada is now 55-percent contained.  Final evacuation orders have been lifted in the area affected by the Pit 36 fire.  Rainy weather has helped firefighters in their efforts to battle the fire, and more rain is in the forecast.  Officials believe the wildfire was human-caused.

Two OR Jimmy John's Included In Potential Security Breach

(Champaign, IL)  --  Two Beaverton Jimmy John's restaurants are among the more than 200 locations nationwide affected by a potential security breach involving customers' debit and credit cards.  The sandwich chain says the potential breach took place after an intruder stole log-in credentials from the company's vendor and used them to remotely access systems between June 16th and September 5th.  The Oregon Jimmy John's restaurants that were affected include one on Southwest Cedar Hills Boulevard and one on Northwest Evergreen Parkway, both in Beaverton.
 

WA Looking To Ban Pot In Vehicles

(Olympia, WA)  --  Washington state officials will ask lawmakers to outlaw smoking marijuana in vehicles.  Currently, there's no specific language that makes it illegal to smoke pot in a car.  The Washington Traffic Safety Commission wants the Legislature to address that in the next regular session in January.  Commission Director Darrin Grondel tells "The Olympian" that the law would prohibit both drivers and passengers from smoking or having open packages of marijuana inside a vehicle. 

Body Of Missing Hillsboro Man Found

(Vernonia, OR)  --  Authorities are investigating the death of a Hillsboro man who was reported missing in Columbia County.  The body of Jon Hill was found shortly after five p.m. yesterday, about a mile from where his pickup truck was found Sunday near Vernonia.  Officials say Hill went bow-hunting Saturday, and was reported missing after he didn't return home Saturday night as scheduled.  There's no word on possible cause of death.

More Than 1200 PGE Customers Without Power

(Portland, OR)  --  More than 12-hundred Portland General Electric customers remain without power.  Most of the customers are in Clackamas, Marion, Multnomah, and Washington counties.  PGE officials haven't released information on what caused the outages, which were reported last night.

Scoggins Valley Park To Be Re-opened

(Gaston, OR)  --  Officials say they plan to re-open Scoggins Valley Park at Hagg Lake today.  The park was shut down September 19th after the Scoggins Creek wildfire broke out.  That fire is now reported to be almost fully contained.  Investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire, which cost an estimated one-point-87-million dollars to fight.    
 

Two Killed, One Injured In Longview Crash

(Longview, WA)  --  Two people are dead and one is injured, following a two-vehicle crash near Longview.  The Washington State Patrol says an eastbound vehicle struck a westbound vehicle, head-on, on Ocean Beach Highway yesterday.  Troopers say the eastbound vehicle caught fire, and both people inside died at the scene.  The driver of the second vehicle, 67-year-old Russell Gilchrist of Longview, is being treated at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver for multiple fractures.
 

Man Killed In Oregon 99E Crash

(Canby, OR)  --  A 63-year-old man is dead, following a crash on Oregon 99E in Clackamas County.  Oregon State Police say the wreck happened around 2:45 yesterday afternoon, when a vehicle crashed into the back of a pickup truck that was idle on the shoulder of the highway, about five miles north of Canby.  The driver of the pickup was hit as he stood next to the truck, and was airlifted to a Portland hospital, where he was pronounced dead.  The passenger in the pickup and the driver of the second vehicle sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
 

More Progress Against Scoggins Creek Fire

(Gaston, OR)  --  Residents in Gaston are returning to their homes as firefighters continue to make progress in battling the Scoggins Creek Fire.  The wildfire, located near Hagg Lake, is reported to be 83-percent contained.  The fire has burned more than 400 acres, but no homes or structures were damaged.

Forest Grove Council Passes Marijuana Tax

(Forest Grove, OR)  --  Should Oregon voters approve the legalization of recreational marijuana use in November, the city of Forest Grove will be ready with a tax.  "The Oregonian" reports the City Council voted last night to okay a tax on recreational marijuana and marijuana-infused products.  Mayor Pete Truax asked the Council to remove a proposed tax on medical marijuana, and the Council agreed.  Forest Grove's ordinance is modeled on one passed in Happy Valley, and similar taxes are being considered in Hillsboro and Ashland.
 

Car Slams Into East Portland Apartment

(Portland, OR)  --  No injuries are being reported after a two-car collision in East Portland sent one of the vehicles through the wall of an apartment.  Police say the apartment was empty yesterday when the car crashed into it in the area of East 50th and Burnside.  The occupant of the apartment had left only minutes earlier to get a cup of coffee.  The second car ran over a fire hydrant.

Diabetic Man Reported Missing

(Salem, OR)  --  A Salem man who has Type 1 diabetes is being sought after he was reported missing.  Police say 58-year-old Daniel Zwicker has not been seen since the beginning of this month, when he made a financial transaction.  Authorities say Zwicker is believed to be driving a red 2012 Toyota Prius with Oregon plates 4ZWICK.  Anyone with information helpful to the investigation is asked to call 503-540-2463.

Sporting-goods Store Owner Indicted

(Beaverton, OR)  --  The owner of a sporting-goods store in Beaverton is under indictment after being accused of selling stolen merchandise.  Play It Again Sports owner James Larkins is alleged to have bought 60-thousand dollars' worth of stolen sporting goods from a man who was stealing the items from local department stores.  The man suspected of stealing the items is identified as Matthew Poorman.  Both men are facing theft charges.

Google Most 'Googled' Brand In Oregon

The most "Googled" brand in Oregon is, well, Google.  A survey, conducted by business lender Direct Capital, is based on per-capita search popularity for the 200 most popular brands in the U.S.  The survey shows Oregon's favorite brands are Google, Nike, and Mobil.  Microsoft is ranked as Washington's most favorite brand, followed by Starbucks and Boeing.

Officials: Restaurant Not Source Of Fatal E. Coli Infection

(Portland, OR)  --  Health officials are still trying to determine the source of an E. coli infection that killed an Oregon girl and sickened a boy from Tacoma.  Family members say four-year-old Serena Proffitt and the five-year-old boy shared a turkey sandwich at a restaurant in Otis, Oregon during the Labor Day weekend, but the restaurant has been ruled out as the source of the infection.  Serena was taken off life support at a Portland hospital on September 8th, and her friend remains hospitalized in Tacoma.

Body Found In Linn County

(Corvallis, OR)  --  The Linn County Sheriff's Office is among multiple law enforcement agencies investigating, after a body was recovered near Truax Island.  The body was reported yesterday afternoon in the Willamette River Greenway off Riverside Drive.  The identity of the body hasn't been released.

Police Investigate Report Of Man Armed With Spear, Gun

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland police are looking for a man who was reported to be armed with a spear and a handgun.  The man was reportedly seen in the area of North Interstate Avenue and Prescott Street last night.  Police say the man is described as white, in his 30s, about five-feet-seven with a thin build, curly black hair, and wearing a white t-shirt and dark pants.

Oregon, Washington Poverty Rates Increase

(Washington, DC)  --  New figures from the U.S. Census Bureau show Oregon and Washington experienced increases in their poverty rates between 2012 and 2013.  The rate of poverty in Oregon grew from 13-point-five to just over 15-percent.  Washington's poverty rate increased from 13-and-a-half-percent to 14-point-one percent.  The Census Bureau says 42 states and the District of Columbia showed no statistical changes in their respective poverty rates or the number of residents in poverty.

Signs Warn Of Possible Contamination In Willamette River

(Portland, OR)  --  A health advisory is in effect for the Willamette River in downtown Portland.  An algae bloom was spotted there Tuesday, and tests are being run to determine whether the algae is toxic.  Oregon Health Authority officials say the fluorescent algae stretches from the Ross Island Channel to the Fremont Bridge.  Test results could be ready as early as today.

Progress Made Against Pit 36 Fire

(Estacada, OR)  --  Firefighters are making headway in battling the Pit 36 wildfire near Estacada.  The fire is reported to be 30-percent contained, and officials have downgraded evacuation levels in the area.  So far, no homes or structures have been burned by the fire, which is believed to be human-caused.  The fire has scorched about four-thousand acres so far.

Estacada-area Wildfire Now Seven-percent Contained

(Estacada, OR)  --  The Pit 36 wildfire near Estacada is reported to be seven-percent contained.  Officials say the fire has grown to nearly 36-hundred acres, but higher humidity yesterday aided firefighters in getting the fire partially contained.  Residents of Southeast Fall Creek Road and Michaels Road are under a Level Three evacuation, and a Level One evacuation is in effect for residents of Tumala Mountain Road east of Divers Road in Estacada.  Evacuations and closures that were announced earlier remain in effect.

Alleged Car Prowler Held By Witnesses For Police

(Portland, OR)  --  An accused car prowler is facing charges, after he was allegedly seen breaking out a car window and stealing a bag.  Authorities say witnesses who saw the crime committed in a downtown parking garage chased the knife-wielding suspect, tackled him, and detained him until police arrived.  One of the men who chased the suspect suffered a cut to the arm.  The suspect, Nathan Samuel Fawver, has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges in connection with the September 7th incident.

Person Found Shot To Death In Parking Lot

(Portland, OR)  --  Police are investigating after a person was found shot to death in the parking lot of a Portland restaurant.  "KATU-TV" reports the person was found with a shotgun in a car in the parking lot of the Skyline Restaurant on Northwest Skyline Boulevard, around 7:00 yesterday morning.  Police believe the gunshot was self-inflicted.  The person's name hasn't been released.

Sketch Of Suspect In Laube's Death Released

(Portland, OR)  --  Investigators are still searching for a suspect in the death of a woman at a Cedar Mill apartment complex. Authorities have released a police artist's sketch of the man believed to have fatally stabbed Nicole Laube on August 19th at the Commons at Timber Creek. Deputies say the man, who was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, was seen running from the scene of the crime. Anyone with information helpful to the investigation is asked to call the Washington County Sheriff's Office at 503-846-2500.

Teen Subdued With Taser, Case To Be Reviewed

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland police say after a 16-year-old boy was subdued with a Taser by officers, the case is under review. Authorities say officers responded just after midnight Sunday to reports of a disturbance involving a group of nine males and females in the area of North Philadelphia Avenue and Ivanhoe Street. Police say the 16-year-old boy resisted arrest and officers wrestled him to the ground and used a Taser to subdue him. The Police Bureau announced the review after videos of the confrontation were posted on Facebook.
 

Missing Woman Being Sought

(Lane County, OR)  --  Lane County sheriff's deputies are looking for a 27-year-old woman who's been reported missing. Megan Ryan was at Cougar Dam with friends when she went missing Saturday. Ryan stands five-feet-seven, weighs 140 pounds, has brown hair and hazel eyes, and was last seen wearing a brown shirt and turquoise-colored pants. Anyone knowing her whereabouts is asked to call 541-682-4141.

Estacada Wildfire Threatening Homes

(Estacada, OR)  --  Homeowners in the Estacada area are being told to prepare to evacuate ahead of the 36 Pit wildfire.  Lazy Bend Campground and Work Center were evacuated and closed yesterday because of the fire, which has grown to more than one-thousand acres about eight miles east of Estacada.  "The Oregonian" reports six homeowners who live along Hillockburn Road in Estacada have received a level one evacuation advisory.  Investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire.

Missing Beaverton Man Found Safe

(Beaverton, OR)  --  A Beaverton man who had been reported missing and endangered is safe.  Police say Scobee Mike Bates was located yesterday afternoon in Tigard.  Bates was reported missing Friday after leaving his house without taking his driver's license, credit cards, or money.
 

Man Crushed Between Buses At PDX In Critical Condition

(Portland, OR)  --  Family members say a man who was crushed between two buses while loading luggage at Portland International Airport is in critical condition.  Authorities say 51-year-old Kevin Schaffer was placing luggage on a shuttle bus at the main terminal Friday when another shuttle hit him from behind.  No charges have been filed yet.  The Port of Portland is investigating.

Police Investigating Theft Of Vancouver Man's U-haul

(Kent, WA)  --  Police in Washington are investigating, following the theft of a U-haul trailer containing a number of rare, expensive guitar amplifiers.  Authorities say the theft, which was caught on surveillance video around 6 a.m. yesterday, happened quickly in the parking lot of the Comfort Inn motel in Kent.  Kevin Strickland of Vancouver, who was renting the trailer, says the Kendrick amplifiers were to be auctioned off to raise money to support his father-in-law, who's suffering from Alzheimer's.  Police say they're looking for a red pickup truck that was used to tow the stolen trailer, which was found abandoned and empty in Burien, Washington.

Suspect Sought After ATM Skimmers Found

(Oregon City, OR)  --  Oregon City police are looking for a suspect, after skimming devices were found attached to two ATMs in the city.  One of the devices was found on August 30th at the Clackamas Federal Credit Union on Warner Milne Road, and a second was found at a branch of Columbia Bank on Molalla Avenue.  Surveillance images of the suspect were recorded at both banks.  Police describe the man as white, with a short, dark beard, wearing long-sleeved collared shirts, jeans, and a baseball cap.

Police ID Man Found Dead In Beaverton

(Beaverton, OR)  --  Police continue to investigate a shooting that left a man dead outside an apartment complex in Beaverton.  Authorities say the body of Amjad Alkofi was found around three a.m. Wednesday at the Birch Pointe Apartments on Cornell Road.  Investigators have conducted a number of interviews in the case, but no arrests have been announced.

Man Accused Of Stealing $1 From Gas Station

(Gresham, OR)  --  Police in Gresham say a man is facing charges after being accused of stealing one dollar from a gas station.  Thirty-one-year-old Donovan Fogel allegedly demanded two dollars Monday from the clerk at a Chevron station on West Powell Boulevard in Gresham.  Police say Fogel fled the premises after the cashier handed him one dollar.  Fogel was arrested about an hour later, and is facing a charge of second-degree robbery.

WA Marijuana Sales Exceed $12 Million

(Olympia, WA)  --  The Washington State Liquor Control Board says recreational-marijuana sales in the state have topped 12-million dollars.  Legal retail sales of pot began in the state in early July.  SeattlePI.com reports there are now 55 fully licensed retail-marijuana outlets in Washington, with another five approved and waiting on final licensing payments.

Arraignment Scheduled For Murder Suspect

(Gresham, OR)  --  A man accused in a murder that happened in Gresham last year is scheduled to be arraigned this morning.  Authorities say 20-year-old Demetrius Brown was arrested yesterday in Portland.  Brown is accused in the fatal shooting of Andreas Price Jones, whose body was found at the Rockwood Station Apartments in Gresham in June 2013.  Brown is also facing charges stemming from a shooting in May 2012.

Fires In Gorge, Metro Areas Sparked By High Winds

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland Fire & Rescue officials say they responded to more than 30 fire-related incidents in the metro area yesterday.  High winds are being blamed for a number of fires that broke out in the metro area and in the Columbia River Gorge.  A tree branch fell onto power lines around three p.m. yesterday, triggering a blaze that ran up a hillside on Cook Underwood Road at S-R 14 on the Washington side of the Gorge.  A red flag warning is in effect through Sunday for the Portland area.

WA Supreme Court Finds Lawmakers In Contempt

(Olympia, WA)  --  The Washington State Supreme Court is withholding sanctions against the state after unanimously finding legislators in contempt.  The high court rendered the decision yesterday against lawmakers for failing to establish a plan to fully fund public education.  The justices also decided to place sanctions on hold until after the 2015 legislative session to give lawmakers time to develop a plan.  The Legislature remains divided on how to come up with at least three-billion dollars in additional funding for K-12 education by 2018.

No Legal Action Against Man Who Put Up Illegal Signs

(Gaston, OR)  --  A Gaston man won't face legal action after being cited for illegally placing warning signs near Hagg Lake.  Sixty-six-year-old Michael Medill was cited for damage to public property on September 6th after he put up signs warning swimmers of steep drop-offs beneath the lake.  The Washington County District Attorney's Office says Medill had good intentions following the recent drownings of four family members.  The county placed temporary warning signs at the lake after Medill's signs were removed, and permanent signs will be put up later this week.

Water Main Break Prompts Street Closure

(Portland, OR)  --  A stretch of Northeast Sandy Boulevard in Portland is closed, following a water-main break.  Oregon Department of Transportation officials say both east and westbound lanes of the boulevard are closed between Northeast 122nd and 138th avenues.  The pipe break happened yesterday afternoon.  Officials say the stretch of Sandy Boulevard will remain closed for several days.

Four Injured In Crash Near Battle Ground

(Battle Ground, WA)  --  A seven-year-old girl is in critical condition following a crash that injured four people near Battle Ground.  The Clark County Sheriff's Office says a pickup truck collided with a minivan around 6:30 last night at the intersection of Northeast 182nd Avenue and 129th Street just east of Battle Ground.  A woman and three children in the minivan, including the seven-year-old, were injured.  The crash remains under investigation.
 

Source Of E. Coli Infection Still A Mystery

(Otis, OR)  --   Serena Proffitt died at a Portland hospital Monday of complications from the infection, which is believed to have been contracted after she and her five-year-old friend shared a turkey sandwich at a restaurant in Otis.  The boy also became sickened, and is being treated at a hospital in Tacoma, Washington.  Lincoln County health officials are scheduled to have a news conference later this morning to give an update on the E. coli investigation.

Dozens Of Vehicles In SE Portland Hit By Vandalism

(Portland, OR)  --  Police are investigating after dozens of cars in Southeast Portland were damaged in acts of vandalism.  Authorities say windows in more than 36 vehicles were shattered late Monday night from Southeast Powell Boulevard to Tolman Street and from Chavez Boulevard to 60th Avenue.  Police say they have only a vague description of a male suspect on a bicycle.  Crime Stoppers is offering a thousand-dollar reward for information leading to an arrest.
 

Kitzhaber, Lawmakers Want To Scrap Cover Oregon

(Salem, OR)  --  Governor John Kitzhaber and members of the state Legislature say they want to do away with Cover Oregon.  The "Portland Tribune" reports that if the Cover Oregon board doesn't vote to transfer its functions to other state and federal agencies, the governor and lawmakers will take action next year to dissolve the state health-insurance exchange.  A website failure has cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars, and has led to competing lawsuits by the state and the prime contractor for the website, Oracle Corporation.  The board may vote later this month on whether to disband.

WA Boy Treated For E. Coli After Oregon Girl Dies

(Tacoma, WA)  --  A five-year-old boy who's being treated for E. coli in Tacoma, Washington might have received the infection from the same gathering as a four-year-old girl who died Monday in Oregon.  Serena Proffitt died at a Portland hospital of complications from E. coli after suffering a stroke Sunday.  Family members say the boy and the girl shared a turkey sandwich at an Otis, Oregon restaurant, which sickened the kids during a gathering over Labor Day weekend.  The boy is in critical condition.  
 

Arrest Made In Fatal 2013 Shooting

(Portland, OR)  --  A man wanted for a deadly shooting outside a Portland bar last year is behind bars.  Police say 23-year-old Xavier Dorell Bolden was arrested yesterday in Las Vegas and is awaiting extradition to Oregon.  Bolden is accused of shooting 30-year-old Durieul Joseph Harris to death outside the nightclub on Northeast Broadway last November.  Police say anonymous tips phoned into Crime Stoppers led to Bolden's arrest.

Man Facing Federal Charges After Hash-oil Explosion

(Tigard, OR)  --  A man is facing federal charges after being accused of igniting a fire in a Tigard parking lot while making butane hash oil.  Authorities say Dale Corzine of Irvine, California, has been indicted on one count of knowingly and intentionally creating a substantial risk of harm to human life.  Officials allege that Corzine ignited a blaze that destroyed his car and another vehicle and damaged three others at a TriMet park-and-ride lot in Tigard.  Prosecutors say Corzine was making the hash oil inside his car when the explosion took place on July 29th.   
 

Portland Base-jumper Seriously Injured At Tower Rock

(Lewis County, WA)  --  A Portland man is seriously injured after a failed base-jumping attempt on Tower Rock in Lewis County, Washington.  Officials say the 38-year-old man was seen yesterday, jumping and hitting the rock wall several times before his parachute fully opened.  Rescue personnel hiked about a mile from the road to reach the man, who was airlifted by Navy helicopter to a Seattle hospital.  He's being treated for broken bones in his legs.

County Posts Warning Signs At Hagg Lake

(Gaston, OR)  --  Days after a Gaston man was cited for posting warning signs about a drop-off under Hagg Lake, Washington County has its own warning signs up.  Michael Medill says he posted the signs because he wanted to save lives by warning swimmers of a dangerously steep drop-off at the bottom of the lake.  He says the county cited him and fined him five-thousand dollars for bolting his homemade signs on trees and infrastructure at the Sain Creek picnic area at the lake.  A family of four, including a three-year-old boy, drowned in Hagg Lake last month.

Woman Accused Of Embezzling From Lake Oswego Chamber

(Lake Oswego, OR)  --  A Lake Oswego woman is behind bars after being accused of embezzling 25-thousand dollars from the city's chamber of commerce.  Police say 58-year-old Lori Jo Lauber was the office manager for the Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce when the alleged embezzlement took place.  Lauber had worked for the chamber for eight years before resigning in April.  She was arrested Friday, and her bail is set at 75-thousand dollars.
 

Jury Selection Begins In Portland Murder Case

(Portland, OR)  --  Jury selection is in progress in the trial of a Portland man accused of killing his wife.  Lloyd Erp is facing a charge of murder constituting domestic violence, in the shooting death of Lori Lynn Erp.  The victim's body was found in the couple's Northeast Campaign Street home in early March of last year.  Opening statements in the trial are scheduled for tomorrow.

Search Conducted For Missing Man, Son

(Mount Hood, OR)  --  Police are trying to find a Kentucky man and his son, who are believed to have gone missing near Mount Hood.  Authorities say they found a Kia that belongs to 52-year-old John Wood of Bardstown, Kentucky, who's believed to be with his 32-year-old son, Jason Wood.  The vehicle was found abandoned Friday on Highway 35, about eight miles south of Mount Hood.  Police say the two men live together in Kentucky and haven't been in contact with their family since mid-August.
 

Police Search For Missing Hillsboro Teen

(Hillsboro, OR)  --  Hillsboro police are looking for a 13-year-old girl who may be endangered.  Investigators say Ivette Gutierrez left her home in southeast Hillsboro yesterday morning and is believed to be with her 44-year-old uncle, Jose Roberto Gomez.  Police say the pair may be using public transportation.  Anyone with information on the location of Ivette Gutierrez is asked to call Hillsboro police at 503-681-6175.

New Poll Shows Kitzhaber Maintaining Lead

(Salem, OR)  --  A new opinion poll shows Governor John Kitzhaber maintaining the lead in his bid for election to a fourth term in office.  Kitzhaber, the Democratic incumbent, has a 48-percent-to-38-percent lead over his GOP challenger, Dennis Richardson.  The Rasmussen poll, commissioned by KATU-TV, has a margin of error of plus-or-minus four percent.  The survey's results are close to those of a Survey USA poll taken last month, which showed Kitzhaber leading by 48 percent to 36 percent.

Small Quake Rattles Mount Hood

(Mount Hood, OR)  --  No damage is being reported following a small earthquake that shook Mount Hood.  The U.S. Geological Survey says the two-point-six-magnitude quake was detected at 1:52 yesterday morning.  It was centered about 35 miles east-southeast of Troutdale.  The USGS says the quake happened at a depth of two-point-three miles.

Woman With Dementia Reported Missing

(Gresham, OR)  --  Gresham police are looking for a woman with dementia who's been reported missing.  Authorities say 87-year-old Mary Ruth Cain left home Monday morning at eleven o'clock to go to the Bank of America near East Powell and Northeast Hood Avenue.  Police say Cain, who is without her medication, may have been spotted Wednesday night in the area of Northeast 8th Street and Northeast Cleveland Avenue.  She was last seen wearing beige slacks and a floral-print top, and she uses a red-and-black walker.

Body Found At Vancouver Refuse Facility

(Vancouver, WA)  --  Police are investigating after the body of a man was found at a trash facility in Vancouver.  Authorities say workers at the West Van Materials Recovery Center on Northwest Old Lower River Road found the body around 8:30 last night on a sorting conveyor belt.  Police tell "The Oregonian" that the victim is between 45 and 55 years old.  The man's identity hasn't yet been determined.

Cigarette Reportedly Caused Large Fire In McMinnville

(McMinnville, OR)  --  Fire officials believe a cigarette is what started a large fire that caused damage to a business and several vehicles in McMinnville.  The McMinnville Fire Department says the cigarette was apparently tossed into some hedges yesterday, igniting the blaze that spread to several cars parked at True Form Collision and Repair on Northeast Highway 99.  The business and the vehicles were damaged before firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze.  No one was injured.

Embattled Centerplate CEO Resigns

(Stamford, CT)  --  The company that operates food services for Providence Park, Safeco Field, and thousands of other venues, has a new CEO.  Chief executive Desmond Hague has resigned from his position after becoming embroiled in a scandal involving mistreatment of a dog.  Food-services company Centerplate recently put Hague on probation after he admitted to being the man seen in an elevator surveillance video, kicking and yanking the leash of a Doberman Pinscher puppy he was walking.  Centerplate officials say the company does not condone the abuse of animals.  Chris Verros is now acting president and CEO.

Man Who Killed Classmate In 1990 To Be Released Soon

(Portland, OR)  --  A man who was convicted of the murder of a high-school classmate in 1990 will be released from prison in October.  Conrad Engweiler was 15 years old when he was found guilty of murdering 16-year-old Erin Reynolds, his classmate at Beaverton's Sunset High.  Engweiler was sentenced to a minimum of 30 years in prison, before the state of Oregon set specific sentencing guidelines for underage criminals.  The Oregon Parole and Post-Prison Supervision Board granted parole to Engweiler yesterday, saying he's now a low risk of committing violent acts in the future.

Ex-Forest Grove High School Coach Facing Sex-abuse Charges

(Forest Grove, OR)  --  A former assistant coach at Forest Grove High School is facing charges of sexually abusing a student.  Police say 30-year-old Robert Schuppert, Jr. Was arrested as a result of a four-month investigation.  Schuppert was indicted last month by a Washington County grand jury on two counts of second-degree sex abuse, luring a minor, and tampering with physical evidence.

Man Shot By Police Undergoing Mental Evaluation

(Portland, OR)  --  A man who was shot by a police officer after he reportedly pointed a replica handgun at passing vehicles on I-84 is undergoing a mental evaluation.  Police say Denorris Laron McClendon was high on methamphetamine at the time he was shot Monday.  Authorities say McClendon had been suffering a paranoid delusion the day before, and had broken both of his arms last week and removed the casts himself.  McClendon was arraigned yesterday, but the evaluation is being conducted before a decision is made on whether to set bail.

Man Dead After Falling From Downtown Apartment

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland police say a man is dead after falling from his downtown apartment.  The man's body was found early yesterday morning, lying in the area of Southwest 17th Avenue and Clay Street.  The Oregon State Medical Examiner determined the man jumped from his apartment nearby.  The man's name hasn't been released.

Two-year-old, Man Injured By Dog In Springfield

(Springfield, OR)  --  A two-year-old girl is listed in critical condition, following an attack by a dog in Springfield.  Police say the attack happened shortly before six p.m. Sunday at a home on Olympic Street in Springfield.  Officials say the toddler's father was bitten in the face as he was trying to rescue the child.  Police say the large, male pit bull, and another dog that was nearby at the time of the attack, are in quarantine.

Woman Killed In Crash Near Lebanon

(Lebanon, OR)  --  Oregon State Police say a woman is dead, following a rollover crash in Linn County.  Troopers say the 27-year-old woman was eastbound on Highway 34 near Lebanon early yesterday morning when she lost control of her SUV, causing it to roll near the intersection with Denny School Road.  The woman was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene.  That stretch of Highway 34 was shut down until about 10:20 a.m.

Suspect Shot By Police Facing Multiple Charges

(Portland, OR)  --  A suspect who was shot by police on Interstate 84 is facing multiple charges.  Police say 27-year-old Denorris Laron McClendon was reported to be pointing a gun at passing vehicles as he walked along I-84 near Northeast 122nd Avenue yesterday morning.  Officials say after officers arrived, McClendon pointed a gun at the officers and began running through traffic, at which time he was shot.  After McClendon was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, he was booked into the Multnomah County Jail.

Police: Woman Made Up Story About Being Stabbed

(Vancouver, WA)  --  The Clark County Sheriff's Office says a Vancouver woman who reported being stabbed in her back yard made up the story.  Deputies were sent to her home on Northeast 15th Place yesterday afternoon after she reported that she was attacked by an unknown man.  The woman said she was stabbed and slashed on her face, in the chest, and in the lower abdomen.  After investigation, detectives concluded the attack was a fabrication and the woman's injuries were self-inflicted.

Death Of Charleston Man Being Investigated

(Newport, OR)  --  Police are investigating the death of a Coos County man during a fishing trip off Newport.  Authorities say 70-year-old Eugene Elmer Compton of Charleston was found dead aboard the vessel "Carolyn Ruth," the morning after he set out on a fishing expedition Saturday afternoon.  Oregon State Police say it's likely Compton died of natural causes.   
 

Teen On Sidewalk Injured By Car Involved In Crash

(Vancouver, WA)  --  A 17-year-old boy is seriously injured after he was hit by a car while walking on a sidewalk.  Police say the teen was walking along Northwest 99th Street in Vancouver around 6:20 p.m. Sunday when the vehicle crashed into another car and was sent into the victim.  The driver of the second car suffered injuries that aren't life-threatening.  Police say criminal charges are pending against the driver of the first vehicle, who's identified as 18-year-old Chancellor Pruett of Vancouver. 

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