The North Salem Crime Prevention Council for all of north Salem will be Thursday, November 19, 6:30 p.m. in the media center of Waldo Middle School.

The agenda will include a review of the crime trends for the entire north Salem area and residents are asked to bring forward their concerns about activity occurring in their neighborhood.

Because of the increased awareness in the potential for widespread H1N1 infection, the Salem Police Department's will again offer its presentation on the police response plan for public health emergencies. "In a major event, all public emergency resources will be stretched within moments, so it's important that the public understand the police department's responsibilities and the role of residents in being prepared," said Sgt. Doug Carpenter of the Crime Prevention Unit.

Also available will be Emergency Preparedness Manager Roger Stevenson who facilitates the Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT. CERT is a complementary prevention and preparedness partner when it comes to working at the neighborhood level to keep our community safe.

The North Salem Crime Prevention Council (CPC) focuses on all neighborhoods north of State Street and residents from that geographic area are invited to attend.

Lancaster Mall is pleased to announce the addition of several new stores opening for the holiday season.

International Accents is now open near Footlocker specializing in hand made items by indigenous people of Peru, Ecuador, Guatemala, Costa Rica and some other countries. Items include sweaters made out of natural fibers, hats, ponchos, woven tapestries, wall hangings, jewelry, ceramics and natural oils incense.

Hickory Farms is back for another season near Sport's Authority. Hickory Farms has been delivering quality specialty meat and cheese products for 58 years. Visit the kiosk for an extensive selection of gift boxes at a variety of prices.

Calendar Club Plus has opened near Binyon's Eye World. Calendar Club carries all the hottest 2010 calendars for all ages and tastes. They also carry a unique selection of popular board games for your family.

Personalized Ornaments is now open near Sears carrying a wide selection of ornaments making a unique and personal gift for someone on your list.

Clear is now available in Salem and has opened a kiosk near Candy Tyme. A representative will assist you in your wireless internet needs.

For more information on the growing list of new tenants at Lancaster Mall, please visit www.LancasterMall.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 18, 2009

Most Department of Human Services offices will be closed Nov. 26 and 27

Local offices of the Department of Human Services (DHS) and other state agencies will be closed Friday, Nov. 27, as 26,500 state employees take mandatory, unpaid furloughs on that day - the day after Thanksgiving.

The Friday, Nov. 27, closure is a result of budget cuts adopted by the Legislature due to the current recession. It is the second of 10 closure dates the state has scheduled over the current two-year budget period. Each day of closure will save an estimated $2 million in personnel costs statewide.

Local DHS branch offices that serve Oregonians in their communities will be closed. However, Public Health employees responsible for the state's H1N1 flu response and certain DHS employees who ensure client safety and care for the state hospital's patients will remain on the job.

"We are working with clients in advance to minimize the impact on them of the planned closure," said Dr. Bruce Goldberg, DHS director. "Operations that require around-the-clock staffing will be maintained, and employees will elect an alternative unpaid furlough day."

State Web sites offer information on closures
The Oregon Department of Administrative Services has published information about the closure on Nov. 27 and other furlough days on the state's Web site (www.oregon.gov). Members of the public can also find out which state offices will remain open on the closure days. The public is encouraged to check individual agencies' Web sites for additional information.

The state has scheduled the following dates as closure days with mandatory unpaid furloughs (all are Fridays):

(October 16, 2009 - past)
November 27, 2009
March 19, 2010
April 16, 2010
June 18, 2010
August 20, 2010
September 17, 2010
November 26, 2010
March 18, 2011
May 20, 2011

# # #

On Saturday, November 18, 2009, Albany Fire Department will hold a car seat clinic at Station 12 located at 120 34th Avenue S.E. in Albany. The clinic is from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m.
If you have a car seat and need it installed properly, or have a seat already installed and want to be sure it is in correctly, you are invited to attend this free event. Seats donated by Albany Fire Department are limited to one per child per family.
Albany Fire Department is also accepting used car seats for recycling. If you have a seat you would like recycled, please remove all fabric and padding prior to dropping it off at the clinic.
Contact Shannon Snippen with any questions at 541-917-7732.

091117-F-6642T-054: Bill Loyd demonstrates how to pick the basketball up with one hand while playing wheelchair basketball to wounded warrior Spc. Ben Walters. The event was sponsored by the Community Based Warrior Transition Unit (CBWTU) and was held at Kliever Memorial Armory Nov. 17. According to Sgt. Harold Smith a member of the CBWTU the days events brought wounded warriors from Oregon, California, Nevada and Washington together to gain hands-on experience from disabled athletes who showcased a number of paraplegic sports including basketball, rugby and cycling.

091117-F-6642T-280: Spc. Michelle Siebold took part in the program and learned how to ride a bike specially set up for paraplegic riders after retuning from Iraq pending thyroid removal surgery scheduled for the next day Nov. 18. She deployed with the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team and spent six months in-country prior to coming back pending surgery.

091117-F-6642T-124: Bill Loyd takes a shot during a scrimmage showcasing wheelchair basketball for members of the Community Based Warrior Transition Unit comprised of wounded soldiers from Oregon, California, Washington, and Nevada who participated in a monthly muster. The day's events served as a demonstration of the capabilities of paraplegic's in sports.

091117-F-6642T-289: Sgt. Harold Smith a member of the Community Based Warrior Transition Unit briefs wounded warriors and thanks the paraplegic athletes who took the time to train them following the events at Kliever Memorial Armory Nov. 17. The muster for the injured soldiers brought wounded warriors from Oregon, California, Nevada and Washington together to gain hands-on experience from disabled athletes who showcased a number of paraplegic sports including basketball, rugby and cycling.

A Long Beach, Washington woman died Tuesday morning when she collided head-on with a pickup while attempting to pass another vehicle on the flat stretch of the Astoria-Megler Bridge. Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers are continuing the investigation into the crash that left the other driver seriously injured.

On November 17, 2009 at approximately 11:35 a.m. a rented 2008 Saturn four-door driven by KATHLEEN ANN BROCK, age 51, from Long Beach, Washington was southbound on Highway 101 near milepost 3 reportedly at a high rate of speed when she attempted to pass a witness driving a vehicle pulling a trailer. As the Saturn was alongside the other vehicle it was attempting to pass, it collided head-on with a northbound 2004 Dodge Dakota pickup driven by HERBERT LESLIE GOEBEL, age 57, from Vancouver, Washington.

BROCK was pronounced deceased at the scene. She was not using safety restraints and the car's airbags deployed.

GOEBEL was using safety restraints and suffered serious injuries. He was transported by Medix ambulance to Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria then transferred by LifeFlight to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland. His pickup's airbags deployed.

OSP troopers from the Astoria Area Command office are continuing the investigation. The roadway at the crash scene is straight and level with unobstructed views in both directions. Conditions were described as clear.

Astoria Fire Department and ODOT assisted at the scene. Highway 101 on the bridge was closed about four hours.

Photograph Source: Oregon State Police

### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###

November 17, 2009 @ 3:00pm

On November 17, 2009, at about 1:45am, Corvallis Police Officers investigated an armed robbery which occurred at DeDe's located at 1786 NW 9th Street. The previous News Release described the male as wearing black jeans, when in fact the jeans worn by the suspect were blue.

The suspect is described as a white male with blue eyes, possibly in his twenties or thirties. He is between 5'8" and 6'0" feet tall with a thin to medium build. During the robbery the suspect was wearing a black ski mask over his face, black gloves, a black hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and black and brown hiking boots. He displayed a dark grey revolver during the robbery.

The attached image is a photograph of the suspect taken from surveillance footage. If anyone has information regarding the robbery, contact Detective Shawn Houck at (541) 766-6924.

You can give someone a reason to be truly thankful this season. The American Red Cross asks that you give special thanks and help save lives by donating blood during the month of November, a time when blood donations are typically declining and need remains constant.

Hospital patients count on volunteer blood donors to help provide needed medical treatment. Because blood can be separated into different components, each blood donation can help save multiple people.

Any healthy adult weighing at least 110 pounds may be eligible to donate blood. Valid identification is required for all blood donations. Please make an appointment to save lives at our upcoming blood drive on Wednesday, November 25 at Lancaster Mall, in the Macy's D street parking lot by going online to www.givelife.org or calling the American Red Cross at 503-779-1261.

Two California residents were arrested Monday during an Oregon State Police (OSP) traffic stop about 15 miles east of Burns when they were found in possession of nearly 11 lbs. of marijuana.

On November 16, 2009 at approximately 1:43 p.m. an OSP sergeant stopped a 2005 GMC pickup for failure to maintain a single lane of travel on Highway 20 near milepost 146. Contact with the two occupants identified them as driver LEVI ALAN MEIER, age 30, and passenger MOOREA ROSE AGNOLI, age 25, both from Willits, California.

Subsequent investigation related to the traffic stop led to the discovery of nearly 11 lbs. of marijuana concealed in luggage on the backseat. A small amount of hashish and drug paraphernalia was also found in the pickup.

With the assistance of a Harney County Sheriff's Office deputy, MEIER and AGNOLI were taken into custody and lodged at Harney County Jail for Unlawful Possession and Delivery of a Controlled Substance - Marijuana, and Unlawful Possession of Hashish.

The seized marijuana has an estimated value of approximately $30,000.

Photograph Sources:
Oregon State Police - Marijuana
Harney County Sheriff's Office - Agnoli photo (No Meier photo available at this time)

### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###

The Oregon Employment Department has released its projections of employment for 2018. The projections point to modest job growth between 2008 and 2018, although many job openings are expected due to the need to replace workers who leave their current occupations.

The department's forecasters expect economic growth to add more than 160,000 jobs, a gain of 9 percent over the decade. This growth is slightly less than the 10 percent gain that occurred between 1998 and 2008 and much slower than in many prior 10-year periods. The manufacturing industry is the only broad sector expected to lose jobs between 2008 and 2018.

Education and health care services are expected to grow by 23 percent and add nearly 50,000 jobs to meet the needs of the state's growing and aging population. Professional and business services will grow by about 14 percent or almost 28,000 jobs. Leisure and hospitality will add 12 percent or 21,500 jobs. The slowest-growing sector is construction with 1 percent growth over the decade, followed by information with 2 percent growth. Manufacturing will likely decline by 3 percent and lose over 5,000 jobs between 2008 and 2018, the only broad sector not to gain jobs over the decade.

Despite slow job growth in the economy as a whole, many job openings should result from workers leaving their occupations to change careers or retire. In addition to the 163,000 job openings due to economic growth, department forecasters expect an additional 430,000 openings to replace current workers who leave their occupations.

Three occupational groups - office and administrative support; service occupations; and professional and related occupations - together represent almost half (48%) of all employment in 2008 and 52 percent of projected growth job openings.

The wide variety of high-paying, high-demand occupations include registered nurses, general managers, truck drivers, accountants, wholesale sales representatives, supervisors of retail and office workers, and postsecondary teachers, among others.

Projections for Oregon's 15 workforce regions show the fastest growth in Central and Southern Oregon. Metro areas are expected to grow at close to the statewide average and half of the state's job growth will be in the Portland area.

The projections are available on the Oregon Employment Department's economic and workforce information Web site at www.QualityInfo.org. Select a region from the map and look in the Publications tab for Regional Projections by Industry and Occupation 2008-2018.

- end -

Detectives believe there may be other victims related to a joint investigation by Oregon State Police Criminal Investigations Division (OSP CID) detectives and Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) that led to the arrest Saturday in Lane County of a 26-year old man on multiple sex offense allegations involving juvenile males. The suspect has worked for about 3 years at an area private treatment facility for emotionally disturbed children. He allegedly abused children who were placed into his home as foster children, after he met them at the private treatment facility.

On November 14, 2009, OSP CID detectives arrested JOSHUA THOMAS FRIAR, age 26, at his residence located in the 600 block of S. 41st Street in Springfield. Detectives served a search warrant and seized evidence at two Springfield residences where FRIAR lived the last three years, which are located at 636 S. 41st Place and 1883 17th Street. DHS removed 3 juvenile males, ages 7 - 16, which were currently living at the home and there is no evidence that they were victims of the charged crimes.

FRIAR was lodged in Lane County Jail on multiple sex-related charges with bail set at nearly $2 million.

OSP detectives and DHS started this investigation November 10th after a juvenile male disclosed allegation of sex abuse to a DHS caseworker involving FRIAR while previously living at his foster home. During the investigation, OSP detectives learned FRIAR has been employed as a direct care staff member for about 3 years at "Jasper Mountain", a private treatment facility in Lane County.

FRIAR had direct contact with the children at the facility and allegedly identified vulnerable juvenile males, whom he later requested to be placed in his home as foster children. The first known victim alleged he was sexually abused while living at FRIAR's foster home.

OSP detectives have identified a second juvenile male victim and believe there may be additional victims related to this ongoing investigation.

Information indicates FRIAR previously volunteered as a Big Brother / Big Sister and used to live in the southern Oregon coast region.

Anyone with information to help in this investigation is asked to call OSP Northern Command Center dispatch at (800) 452-7888.

Questions regarding court appearance(s) should be directed to the Lane County District Attorney's Office.

Questions for DHS should be directed to Patricia Feeny at (503) 945-9073.

Photograph Source: Lane County Sheriff's Office

### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###

(Salem) - Workers and employers in Oregon's construction industry are invited to attend a full-day conference designed to highlight safety with hands-on training on Monday, Jan. 25, 2010.

The Department of Consumer and Business Services, Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) is one of several partners presenting the Mid-Oregon Construction safety Summit at the Riverhouse Resort and Conference Center in Bend.

The training, designed for residential and commercial construction workers, is built around the theme, "What's in your toolbox?" Conference attendees can take advantage of more networking and trade-focused workshops, such as mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work; paving and road maintenance; and steel erection activities. Other topics include:

*Safety committee and safety meetings
*Construction boot camp for supervisors
*Managing subcontractors and multi-employer sites

The registration fee is $50, or $60 after Jan. 21, 2010. Discounted registration is available for companies who send five or more attendees. For more information or to register, go to www.orosha.org/conferences.

###
About Oregon OSHA:
Oregon OSHA, a division of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, enforces the state's workplace safety and health rules and works to improve workplace safety and health for all Oregon workers. For more information, go to www.orosha.org.

The Department of Consumer and Business Services is Oregon's largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. For more information, go to www.dcbs.oregon.gov.

November 17, 2009 @ 9:30am

On November 17, 2009, at about 1:45am, Corvallis Police Officers responded to a hold-up alarm originating from DeDe's (a video poker and lottery retailer), located at 1786 NW 9th Street. Officers learned the business had been robbed by a man, armed with a handgun.

The investigation revealed, a man wearing a ski mask and gloves, entered the store and confronted the clerk with a handgun. The suspect moved the clerk to several locations within the business while stealing an undisclosed amount of money. The suspect then fled the business through the back door. The clerk was the only person inside the business during the incident and was unharmed.

The suspect is described as a white male with blue eyes, possibly in his twenties or thirties. He is between 5'8" and 6'0" feet tall with a thin to medium build. During the robbery the suspect was wearing a black ski mask over his face, black gloves, a black hooded sweatshirt, black jeans and black and brown hiking boots. He displayed a dark grey revolver during the robbery.

Corvallis Police Officers searched the area with assistance from a K9 team from the Linn County Sheriff's Office, but were unable to locate the suspect. Anyone with information concerning the robbery is asked to contact Detective Shawn Houck at (541) 766-6779.

No surveillance photos are available at this time.
A voice recorded message is available at (541) 766-6505.
Corvallis Police Department Case Number 2009C06376.

For Clark Seely, retiring this fall after a 35-year career with the Department of Forestry, his life as a forester has, ironically, not necessarily been all about trees.

"I didn't come into the profession knowing that, but if I have had a learning moment over 35 years - that's the learning," Seely says, reflecting on his career. "It is all about people and not necessarily about the trees. And looking back, that's what has made it such a wonderful journey."

Seely, 55, has served as the Associate State Forester-the agency's second-in-command-since 2004. Seely began his career as a forester trainee in Astoria and held field positions in all corners of the state, before rising to Protection from Fire Program Director, Assistant State Forester in the Administrative Services Division, and finally Associate State Forester. His replacement, Satish Upadhyay-a former budget analyst with the Oregon Department of Administrative Services-started in mid November.

Thoughtful, thorough and pragmatically optimistic, Seely has been universally regarded both inside and outside the department as one of the hardest working executives in Oregon state government, known for his careful planning and preparation, and his thoughtful, collaborative and organized approach to problem solving.

A native of Kansas City, Seely graduated from Oregon State University in 1977 with a degree in Forest Management. During his college years, he worked summers for the department in Astoria, Coos Bay and Grants Pass. His first permanent position was as a Forester 1 in The Dalles where he worked a unique job as both service forester and forest manager of the White River Wildlife Management Area.

During those early years, Seely excelled on the forestry side, but also found a passion for the people side of the business, where his relationship-building and managerial abilities delivered real results on the ground, and propelled him quickly into ever-increasing responsibility. In less than 10 years, Seely promoted from Unit Forester in La Grande to Assistant to the Area Director in Northwest Oregon, to Klamath-Lake District Forester and then to Manager of the Elliott State Forest in Coos Bay. Each of those assignments had its unique challenges and joys. What Seely remembers most is the people-earning their trust, recognizing their abilities, serving their needs-and the shared accomplishment that came from collaboration.

In La Grande, Seely built lasting working relationships with the U.S. Forest Service that led to development of the first interagency dispatch center in northeast Oregon. In Klamath Falls, Seely and his team coped with back-to-back challenging fire seasons. In Coos Bay, he led an effort that produced the first-ever federally approved Habitat Conservation Plan for state forests, seeking a workable balance between habitat protection and management activities.

In 1994, Seely promoted to the Protection from Fire Program Director in Salem, where he led development of first-of-its-kind landmark legislation-known as Senate Bill 360-and fire policy directed at improving conditions in the complex and high-risk wildland-urban interface.

Since joining the department's executive team in 1999, Seely has been the driving force behind business improvement initiatives that use technology and best practices to improve business processes, and that make the department better able to serve the needs of constituents. He has also championed organizational development initiatives, including the department's Succession Management Plan, a leadership development curricula that includes the Agency Leadership Program (ALP) and the Covey Seven Habits training, and institution of a concept referred to as "Shared Leadership" that promotes a collaborative work culture recognizing each employee's contribution to the agency's success. He has also been responsible for creating a quality assurance and internal audit function that helps the department implement transparency and accountability in all that it does.

In addition to his service to the Department of Forestry, Seely has been an elected and appointed leader at the local, statewide and national level for the Society of American Foresters (SAF), where he is a fellow and an SAF Certified Forester, and currently serves on the national board of directors.

"In the six years I've been here, Clark has been like a cornerstone to the Department," says State Forester Marvin Brown. "So many of the things we undertake start with his excellent work. The budget, our relationship with other agencies, mentoring new managers, building better planning, decision-making and business systems. Forestry wouldn't be near the agency it is without his contributions and we're all going to miss him sorely."

Through it all has been his kindness, and his always-on-target advice and direction.

"I have been incredibly blessed," Seely says, thinking back over the last 35 years. "What I've tried to do is turn that around and give back to the organization and ask myself "what can I do today to help us be a better organization?' When I look back, I hope I have contributed to the people side of the equation and our ability to be an effective organization through our employees."

Without a doubt, as the agency says farewell and thanks to one of its most respected leaders, that will be one of Seely's lasting legacies.

Seely and his wife Adenia live in Salem, and are the parents of two college-age sons, Paul and Matthew.

Eugene, OR - It was a long night for EPUD crews as strong wind and rains caused widespread outages throughout the EPUD District. The first outage calls began around 8pm on Monday night from the Cottage Grove and Junction City areas. Soon after, EPUD began experiencing small scattered outages in Coburg, Eugene, Creswell, Fall Creek, Dexter, Pleasant Hill and Marcola. In total, approximately 1,200 EPUD Customer-Owners were affected.

EPUD line crews and tree crews were dispatched immediately and worked through the night to restore power. There are currently only 10 Customer-Owners still without power and crews are onsite.

To stay up-to-date with the most current outage information, follow EPUD on Twitter, @emeraldpud. All Twitter updates are also posted live to our website at www.epud.org.

BE PREPARED! Since no utility can prevent all power outages, customers should be prepared for the occasional interruption of service. Have candles, matches, a flashlight and a battery-powered radio (with fresh batteries) in an easily accessible place.

In the event of a power outage, customers should first check their fuses and circuit breaker, and call EPUD if that is not the source of the problem. Power outages can be reported at any time by calling 541-746-1583 or 800-422-4086. Press 4 to report an outage.

After reporting an outage, customers should first turn off their electric water heater and unplug solid-state electrical equipment (including microwaves, TVs and DVD players), then turn their porch light or other outside lights on, so EPUD can monitor their power status.

Did you know? Today, November 17, 2009 is EPUD's 26th Birthday!

###

For the second consecutive year, Oregon earned a "C" grade on the March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card. While the grade remained the same, the state slipped in U.S. ranking and Oregon's preterm birth rate increased by a tenth of a percent.

The grades were determined by comparing preterm birth rates to the national Healthy People 2010 preterm birth objective, which is 7.6% of all live births. Oregon's rate increased slightly to 10.3% from 10.2% and the United States continues to fail at 12.7% with a "D" on the Report Card.

"Although preterm birth is an all too common problem, there are many contributing factors we are still working to understand," said Leonardo M. Pereira, M.D., perinatologist and assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology, OHSU School of Medicine. Dr. Pereira is one of the national prematurity initiative researchers funded by March of Dimes. "Many women do everything right, yet they still give birth too soon."

Oregon slipped from a ranking of 2nd best in the U.S. last year to 3rd this year. The shift is due to a significant improvement in New Hampshire's rate of preterm birth, decreasing from 10.5% to 9.4%, allowing that state to move from 4th to 2nd best.

The report card focuses on three areas that affect preterm birth and can be impacted by public policy: uninsured women, women of childbearing age who smoke, and late preterm birth. In Oregon, the rate of uninsured women decreased from 22.3% to 21%. Women of childbearing age who smoke rose from 16.9% to 20.2%, but with this year's passage of Senate Bill 734, which expands access to smoking cessation programs, there is cause to believe that number will decrease. Lastly, the late preterm birthrate remained unchanged at 7.6%.

In the 2009 Premature Birth Report card, seven states (Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Maine, Missouri, Utah, and Wisconsin) improved their performance by one letter grade and two (Ohio and Oklahoma) fared worse. Criteria that affect preterm birth improved in many states:
* 33 states and the District of Columbia reduced the percentage of women of childbearing age who smoke;
* 21 states and the District of Columbia reduced the percent of uninsured women of childbearing age;
* 27 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico lowered the late preterm birth rate.

One in 10 babies in Oregon is born premature. In the US, more than 540,000 babies are born too soon each year. Preterm birth is a serious health problem that costs the United States more than $26 billion annually, according to the Institute of Medicine. It is the leading cause of newborn death and babies who survive an early birth often face the risk of lifetime health challenges, such as breathing problems, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, blindness and others. A March of Dimes report released in October found that 13 million babies worldwide were born preterm and more than one million die each year.

November 17th marks the nation's 7th Annual Prematurity Awareness Day®, when March of Dimes focuses the nation's attention on the growing problem of premature birth (birth before 37 weeks gestation). A special Web site - marchofdimes.com/fightforpreemies - includes state profiles on prematurity and ways for volunteers to help reduce the premature rate.

For those wishing to do something locally to commemorate Prematurity Awareness Day and support life-saving research, the Greater Oregon Chapter is offering a mission-oriented gift to everyone who donates $20 or more through the Greater Oregon website (marchofdimes.com/Oregon) on November 17th. The first 40 people donating $20 or more through marchofdimes.com/Oregon will receive a very special deck of cards with heart-swelling images and information about prematurity. Every $20 or more donor after the first 40 will receive a purple wrist band with the message "fight for preemies."


About March of Dimes
March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.


Members of the press interested in interviewing a local expert on premature birth should contact Michele Larsen, March of Dimes State Director of Communications at 503.222.9434 x19:
* Leonardo M. Pereira, M.D., perinatologist and assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology, OHSU School of Medicine. Dr. Pereira is one of ten national prematurity initiative researchers funded by March of Dimes and serves on the Program Services Committee for the Greater Oregon Chapter of March of Dimes.

For a copy of the Report Card, contact Michele Larsen: 503.222.9434 x19, mlarsen@marchofdimes.com

New USDA report confirms escalating hunger crisis: Oregon ranks second in hunger
PORTLAND, Ore. (Nov. 16, 2009) - Oregon's hunger rate is, once again, on the rise.
The newest report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicates that both the rates of food insecurity and hunger continue to increase in Oregon, according to Oregon Food Bank and the Oregon Hunger Task Force.

An average of 6.6 percent of Oregon households (about 95,000 households per year), between January 2006 and December 2008, experienced times when they were hungry but did not eat because there was not enough money for food. That compares to 3.9 percent in 2003-05 - a statistically significant 2.7 percent increase. These households fall into a group technically called "very low food security," but better known as "hunger." These households ate less, skipped meals or sometimes went without food for whole days.
Oregon is now among the five states with the highest hunger rate, in the company of Mississippi, Maine, Oklahoma and Missouri. Only Mississippi, at 7.4 percent, had a higher percentage than Oregon of hunger.

A larger group, 13.1 percent of Oregon households experienced food insecurity, meaning that these households lack consistent access to adequate amounts of nutritious food. That compares to 11.9 percent during the 2003-05 period - a 1.2 percent increase.
Nationally, 49-million Americans, including nearly 17-million children, lived in households that were food insecure in 2008 - up from 36.2 million in 2007 and 33.2 million in 2000.

Oregon's rates of both hunger and food insecurity increased significantly since last year's report.

"These alarming numbers confirm the severe human toll of this recession and what the Oregon Food Bank Network has been seeing for the past two years," said Rachel Bristol, CEO, Oregon Food Bank. "Oregon has been hit especially hard."

The Oregon Food Bank Network distributed 66.2-million pounds of food in 2008-09 - the highest amount distributed by the statewide network in a single year.

Distribution of emergency food boxes throughout the Oregon Food Bank Network increased 14 percent - from 786,000 to 897,000 -- during fiscal year 2008-09, according to Bristol. In many parts of the state, emergency food distribution increased more than 20 percent. And 36 percent of those eating meals from emergency food boxes are children.

"Hunger for children isn't merely uncomfortable, it's dangerous," said Bristol. "Children who are hungry get sick more often, have more trouble learning in school and may face long-term health consequences."

"Oregon's rise in hunger mirrors Oregon's rise in unemployment," according to Patti Whitney-Wise, executive director, Oregon Hunger Task Force. "While we are boosting programs and emergency food efforts, wages aren't keeping up with family needs. We need long-term solutions to help families get ahead."

It is important to note that the USDA numbers reflect the state of hunger in 2008. Since then, the economy has weakened significantly, and there are likely many more people struggling with hunger than this report states.

"President Barack Obama has made it a goal to end childhood hunger by 2015, and these numbers highlight the urgency of achieving this goal," said Jim Weill, president of the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), a national anti-hunger nonprofit that analyzed the new USDA data.

Oregon Food Bank and Oregon Hunger Task Force joined FRAC in agreeing that ending childhood hunger by 2015 is an achievable goal - one that can be reached by strengthening the federal child nutrition programs, improving income supports like refundable tax credits, and ensuring that all people can access nutritious food at home, at school or child care settings and in their communities.

Bristol notes that Congress is preparing to take up the reauthorization of the child nutrition programs next year. "This is a chance to improve the programs so more low-income children can participate," she said. ""We can end hunger by lifting up both children and their parents."

Each year, the Census Bureau measures food insecurity through a series of household survey questions about the ability to obtain enough food for an active, healthy life for all members.

To report food insecurity in each state, USDA uses three-year averages to compensate for limited sample sizes and give a better estimate of the number of households experiencing hunger - thus the state data are an average for 2006-08.

The new data reinforces recent findings from a research study conducted by Feeding America, the nation's leading hunger-relief organization of which Oregon Food Bank is a member, reflecting a dramatic increase in requests for emergency food assistance. Conducted in September, the Feeding America study shows uniformly that its network of food banks witnessed an average increased need of nearly 30 percent this year.

"National socio-economic indicators, including the escalating unemployment rate and the number of working-poor, lead us to believe that the number of people facing hunger will continue to rise significantly over the coming year," added Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America. "Research on previous economic recessions indicates that people who fall into the grips of poverty in a time of recession often times never recover. Many of those people are likely to be in need of our services now or in the future."

About Oregon Food Bank
Oregon Food Bank is a nonprofit, charitable organization. It is the hub of a statewide network of more than 935 local partner agencies serving Oregon and Clark County, Wash. OFB recovers food from farms, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, individuals and government sources. It then distributes that food to 20 regional food banks across Oregon. Sixteen are independent charitable organizations. OFB directly operates the four regional food banks serving the Portland metropolitan area, southeast Oregon and Tillamook County. Those four centers distribute food weekly to 380 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other programs helping low-income individuals in Multnomah, Clackamas, and Clark, Washington, Harney, Malheur and Tillamook counties. OFB also works to eliminate the root causes of hunger through advocacy and public education.

About the Oregon Hunger Task Force
The Oregon Hunger Task Force (OHTF) was created in 1989 by the state legislature to report on the extent of hunger and solutions to the problem.OHTF helps to expand federal food programs and works on long-term solutions to hunger including affordable housing, health care, child care, and living-wage jobs.
# # #

SALEM, Ore. - The 102 Civil Support Team will be participating along with emergency responders from the Klamath Basin in a hazardous materials exercise Nov. 18 and 19, in Klamath Falls, Ore.

State and local responders, including Klamath County Fire District #1, Klamath - Lake County Hazardous Materials team, Klamath Falls Police Department, Klamath County Sheriff's Office, Oregon State Police Bomb Squad, 142 Explosive Ordnance Device Team from Portland Air Base, and the 102 Civil Support Team, will be participating in the event.

The mission of the 102 Civil Support Team (Weapons of Mass Destruction) is to support civil authorities at domestic Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and Explosive incident sites by identifying CBRNE agents and substances, assessing current and projected consequences, advising on response measures and assisting with appropriate requests for additional support.

WMD - CST's provide support for intentional or unintentional releases of CBRNE and natural or man-made disasters in the United States that result or could result in the catastrophic loss of life or property.

This training will occur at different locations over the two day period. The main exercise will occur Nov. 19. The first responders will be working around Klamath County Fire District #1's Station 3, located at the corner of Shasta Way and Mitchell St. The exercise will begin around 7:00 am and will conclude later in the afternoon when the training objectives have been accomplished.

One of the main training objectives of this exercise is for the community of federal, state, and local first responders to work together in a combined effort to accomplish a goal.

Since certification, the team has responded to at least 12 real world incidents and has furthered its partnership with Oregon's response community.

Photograph Sources:
Oregon State Police - Marijuana and "2C-B" photos
Jackson County Sheriff's Office - Kriesberg and White photos

***

An Oregon State Police (OSP) traffic stop Monday morning near Ashland led to the discovery of "2C-B", an unusual hallucinogenic drug, and approximately 10 lbs. of marijuana. Three people were arrested and the investigation is continued by OSP Drug Enforcement Section detectives.

On November 16, 2009 at approximately 7:20 a.m. an OSP senior trooper stopped a 1994 Honda Accord displaying Oregon license plates northbound on Interstate 5 near milepost 11 for an unlawful lane change violation. The three occupants were identified as driver PETER DAVID KRIESBERG, age 34, from Santa Cruz, California and passengers DUSTIN WILLIAM WHITE, age 28, and AMY R. VILLASTRINGHAM, age 25, both from Seattle, Washington.

Subsequent investigation led to the discovery of approximately 10 lbs. of marijuana and 1,030 tablets of an identified hallucinogenic drug called "2C-B" concealed in the car's trunk. Ten starter marijuana plants were also found hidden in the car's passenger compartment. An OSP drug detection canine assisted during the stop and discovery.

All three persons were taken into custody.

According to information from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), "2C-B" is abused for its hallucinogenic effects and is sold as other hallucinogens such as MDMA (Ecstasy) and LSD." "2C-B" user population is the same as for Ecstasy and other club drugs and typically sells for $10 to $30 per tablet.

Estimated value of the seized "2C-B" is $10,000 to $30,000. Estimated value of the seized marijuana is $25,000.

KRIESBERG and WHITE were lodged in Jackson County Jail for:

* Unlawful Possession, Distribution and Manufacture of a Controlled Substance - Marijuana.
* Unlawful Possession and Distribution of a Controlled Substance - "2C-B".

VILLASTRINGHAM was cited to appear in Jackson County Circuit Court for:

* Unlawful Possession, Distribution and Manufacture of a Controlled Substance - Marijuana.

### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###

November 16, 2009

As the busy holiday season begins, Oregon Public Health officials are reminding employers of things they can do to protect their employees, customers and businesses during the H1N1 pandemic.

"It's important that employers find ways to stop the spread of pandemic H1N1 flu at their places of business. The first step is prevention." says Mel Kohn, M.D., M.P.H., Oregon public health director.

Businesses can start by taking the following steps to prevent the spread of flu virus:
* Encourage employees to wash their hands, cover their coughs with something other than their hands and get vaccinated as soon as possible.
* Provide customers with hand sanitizers, tissues and trash receptacles.
* Discourage employees from using others' phones, desks, offices or other work tools and equipment.
* Frequently disinfect work surfaces, telephones, computers and other office equipment.
* Promote healthy lifestyles including smoking cessation, good nutrition and exercise.
* Have sick leave policies that allow employees to stay home and not spread the virus.

"One of the most crucial things people need to do to stop the spread of flu is to stay home when they first get symptoms, particularly a fever," says Kohn. "That may cause a short-term hardship for a business, but it's easier to stop the spread of flu in the workplace than replace multiple employees who are out for more than a week."

Businesses can plan ahead by making sure all employees know the sick leave policies and when it's safe to return to work after having the flu. Employers who can't offer sick leave can find creative ways to allow employees to make up lost time such as flexible scheduling or working from home.

"Dedicated workers and employers sometimes have trouble missing work," says Kohn. "They need to know it's okay to stay home when they're sick."

Employers can plan ahead for flu absences by cross-training employees, compiling a current list of backup workers, and determining the minimum amount of work that will be required to keep the business running.

"By working together, we can keep Oregon's business and industry going strong through the flu season," says Kohn.

For more information and a helpful business tool kit, visit www.flu.oregon.gov or call the Oregon Public Health flu hotline at 1-800-978-3040.

# # #