An overwhelming series of fierce, wind-driven wildfires in Oregon have all but destroyed five small towns, leaving a potentially high death toll in their wake, Governor Kate Brown said on Wednesday, as initial casualty reports come in.
Winds of up to 50 miles per hour sent blazes moving tens of miles within hours, engulfing hundreds of homes as firefighters fought at least 35 large blazes across Oregon.
The town of Detroit in the Santiam Valley, as well as Blue River and Vida, and Phoenix and Talent in southern Oregon, were substantially destroyed, Governor Kate Brown said during a press conference.
“This could be the greatest loss in human lives and property due to wildfire in our state’s history,” Brown said.
Wildfires in Clackamas County have destroyed 22 houses and structures since Sunday night and are threatening more than 600 other houses and structures as thousands have been forced to evacuate their homes. The entire county is under some level of evacuation warning, with about half the county, including Estacada and parts of Molalla, under a Level 3 evacuation order, meaning residents are asked to leave immediately.
“Everyone must be on high alert,” Brown said.
The blazes are extremely destructive around Medford, in southern Oregon, and near the state capital of Salem.
At least three people were killed in Oregon fires and a small child died in blazes in Washington state. Brown said some communities were substantially damaged, with “hundreds of homes lost.”
Vancouver, WA — The Vancouver Police Department announced Monday evening they made an arrest in the investigation of a hit-and-run incident that happened Saturday evening following the Aaron “Jay” Danielson memorial at Esther Short Park.
According to Vancouver Police, Charles R. Holliday-Smith, 30, turned himself in, and he was booked into the Clark County Jail for Assault 1 and Felony Hit and Run. The report says Saturday’s hit-and-run indicates the victim, identified as Shane Moon (as indicated by his friends) and a group of friends, identified as the pro-Trump Proud Boys, traveled from downtown Vancouver to Charlie’s Sports Bar & Grill, located at 3315 NE 112th Avenue, where the assault later occurred. The report says the group had reportedly attended the Danielson memorial earlier Saturday. Danielson was killed August 29 in downtown Portland following a pro-Trump rally.
Holliday-Smith allegedly followed the victim’s group from downtown Vancouver and began filming them, which made them feel uneasy. No verbal confrontation occurred inside the bar. Holliday-Smith was asked by security staff to stop filming, and he then he exited the bar. As he left the bar, there were several Proud Boys in the parking lot smoking cigarettes, who had just arrived from the memorial service.
The victim and his friends also went outside where both parties talked to each other, and got combative. Vancouver Police said the suspect got into his vehicle, drove toward the victim, hit him, and then fled from the parking lot. Eyewitnesses say the suspect is a member of ANTIFA.
The victim has sustained serious injuries, including bleeding on the brain, but is expected to survive.
The police say the investigation is continuing and aren’t releasing anymore information at this time.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/09114835/D3DF6B7C-DE83-49DE-B67E-4E53AB5122E1.jpeg9601280Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2020-09-09 11:54:192020-09-09 11:54:26Vancouver Police Make Arrest in Hit-And-Run Incident Following Danielson Service
VANCOUVER, WA — Last Thursday, Carolyn Long, candidate for Congress in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, released her Pandemic Recovery Plan alongside three community leaders who endorsed her plan.
Carolyn Long announced at a press conference on Facebook Live her vision for Southwest Washington’s recovery from the economic and public health crises facing the county. Long’s plan outlines relief, calling for immediate expansion of unemployment insurance; and long-term relief through infrastructure investments and a prioritization of small businesses and working families.
“With expanded unemployment benefits that expired over a month ago, tens of millions jobless, and small businesses shuttered, Congress, and Jaime Herrera Beutler, have failed to do their job and pass new relief measures to help families and small businesses,” said Long.
Long was joined by three community leaders representing local unions, health care, and small businesses. Deken Letinich, a lifelong Southwest Washingtonian and third generation member of LiUNA Local 335, endorsed the plan and sees it as an investment in working Washington families like his own.
Terri Niles, a Vancouver critical care nurse currently working at the Oregon Health and Science University Covid Task Force offered her endorsement.
“Healthcare workers need help in this fight against COVID-19. Carolyn’s plan does that,” she said.
Chris Thobaben, a father, marine, and small-business owner, said that this plan is an important investment in working families.
Long’s full plan includes the following recommendations:
Extend the unemployment insurance expansion
Give schools access to the resources they need to reopen safely
Invest in local infrastructure to employ those out of work and set the conditions in place for a robust economy
Strengthen and prioritize the small business recovery
Invest in job training for those out of work or employed in industries negatively affected by the pandemic
Increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour
Ensure affordable child care for all families and a robust child care industry, while expanding to universal Pre-K
Expand paid sick and family leave
Impose a moratorium on consumer and small business debt collection – including student loan debt – for the duration of this crisis
Ensure strong oversight of recovery funding to ensure aid goes where it’s needed most
Protect The Affordable Care Act and create a public option that will provide quality and affordable health coverage to any American that wants it
Strengthen our rural health care system, and protect rural hospitals
Boost public health funding and responsibly manage infectious disease programs to ensure we are prepared for future threats and to stop the next pandemic before it starts
Carolyn Long is running for Congress in Southwest Washington (WA-03) for the 2020 election. She previously was the Democratic nominee for Washington’s 3rd District in 2018. She resides in Vancouver with her family and teaches at WSU-Vancouver.
Vancouver, WA — Hundreds gathered peacefully Saturday at Esther Short Park to honor the life of Aaron “Jay” Danielson, the man who was murdered last Saturday in downtown Portland following a Donald Trump re-election rally and caravan.
Organizers of Saturday’s two events — a 4 pm memorial service, and an 8 pm candlelight vigil — said attendance far exceeded the planned 600 for the event. The candlelight vigil had approximately 250 supporters. T-shirts and stickers calling for justice for Danielson were handed out while people grilled hot dogs and hamburgers and friends waved flags.
Danielson, 39, who died just six days shy of his 40th birthday, was a supporting member of the controversial Patriot Prayer group. The group’s leader, Joey Gibson, addressed mourners at both events.
Gibson encouraged people to remove hate. He spoke of Danielson’s love for life, and vowed to keep his memory alive.
“They got everything going up against us, but it doesn’t matter, guys. It doesn’t matter if you fight for what you believe in. If you fight for what you believe in, God will have your back,” Gibson said.
Mourners at the candlelight vigil had the opportunity to speak of their memories of Danielson, and were joined by a local Christian singing group.
“If anybody wants to say anything, we are going to keep this an open forum,” said Gibson. He then opened the vigil with a prayer asking God for peace.
“We are so tired of all the lies, hatred and division, we are asking you to humble us as a nation, humble us an individuals, we apologize for the way we’ve acted as a nation. We apologize for the way we have treated one another. Give us the strength to forgive, and give us the strength to stand up as a voice in this nation … and guide us in the right direction.”
Several people spent the next 45 minutes sharing their experiences with Danielson.
Candlelight vigil at Esther Short Park.
“Jay could light up the day like today at noon with the sun straight above us, bright as hell, he could light that room up, just with his smile,” said one friend.
“I honor him because there was never a dull moment just being around him,” said another friend. “He was very intelligent. A smart man. A patriot. A God-fearing man. What I remember the most is he didn’t have to try to fit in. He would go wherever he wanted to go. I told him he was accepted and the he was my friend. A lot of people turn from others because they are not the same as us. I just want to say that he will be missed …”
The man believed to have killed Danielson was himself killed by law enforcement Thursday when he pulled a gun during an arrest attempt, according the U.S. Marshals Service.
The alleged shooter, Michael Forest Reinoehl, 48, was present in Camas at the BLM rally held on Friday, August 28 described himself in a social media post as “100% ANTIFA.”
This sticker was handed out to supporters.
What is Patriot Prayer?
Patriot Prayer is not an official organization, but the group does attract controversy. Gibson was accused of starting a Portland riot last year and is a frequent target of ANTIFA and other groups.
A close friend of Gibson’s, who was attacked by an ANTIFA group following last week’s Trump rally, explained what the group is about.
“Patriot Prayer is a fight to bring God back into this country,” he said. “This country is founded underneath God. He’s given us all our liberties and rights and freedoms. We have these rights because we were born as human beings because of God. Patriot Prayer is exactly that. We stand up for this country under God because all of us are created equally and we need to remember where that glory goes to. It all goes to God.”
The group says it attends these political events to help persuade to stop hating and to turn to Christianity.
Gibson’s Facebook and Instagram pages were removed by Facebook earlier this week.
“Antifa groups murdered my friend while he is walking home, and instead of the multibillion dollar company banning Portland antifa pages they ban Patriot Prayer and myself,” Gibson said in a statement.
Facebook confirmed the pages were removed due to its “Dangerous Individuals and Organizations” policy.
“They were removed as part of our ongoing efforts to remove Violent Social Militias from our platforms,” a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement, who pointed to the policy that was expanded last month.
Joey Gibson was charged with felony riot for his alleged involvement in a 2019 May Day brawl at a Portland bar called Cider Riot.
The Downtown Camas Association (DCA) officially dedicated the Mill Photo Collage Friday afternoon with a ribbon cutting at the Universal Martial Arts building at the corner of 4th Avenue and Adams.
The collage honors the history of the Camas Paper Mill with original images.
DCA Board President, Caroline Mercury, emceed the event, which was mostly a live-streamed virtual ceremony, providing context about the public art project from concept to construction.
“It’s just our pleasure to dedicate this beautiful photo collage to the city of Camas as a wonderful public art project that the DCA has executed to honor the huge role that the paper mill played in making Camas what it is today.”
Mercury was dressed in a paper dress to honor the occasion and the history. The dress is a replica from a 1940s Paper Festival, which was the precursor to the contemporary annual Camas Days event.
“About four years ago, the design committee at the DCA began incubating the idea for a large-scale mural, collage, of vintage photos from the mill collection, and then entered Anna Fry,” said Mercury.
Former and longtime mill employee Fry was involved in community relations and was the champion of this project through the GP Foundation process.
Big Hook Graphics was the company who put together the giant photo collage following direction from the talented artist, Allan Jeffs.
The Clark County Historical Museum also contributed to the project. Kitchen Electric added dusk to dawn lighting to illuminate the strumming mural. Additional funding came from Riverview Bank and the Clark County Historical Commission.
DCA Executive Director, Carrie Schulstad, explained the collage has a QR code that visitors can scan to get more information. Schulstad thanked Mercury for her daily commitment to making this project come to fruition.
“Her love of the mill is just incredible as you can tell, and we are so lucky to have her in our community,” said Schulstad. “The town is fantastic and it grew up to serve the mill so if you would like to learn more there is a QR code that’s right there on the legend and you can click that and it takes you on a tour of downtown.”
Camas Mayor Barry McDonnell was there, accompanied by the brand-new City Administrator, Jamal Fox.
“Anytime you ask anyone in Camas who has been here for a while they have some sort of connection to the mill, whether they work there, they knew someone that was there … or maybe they just like to catch the toilet paper rolls that get thrown out at the Camas Days parade.”
Following his speech, McDonnell cut the official ribbon.
The photo collage was originally scheduled for its official dedication in April, but due to the pandemic that was delayed.
Camas, WA — The #camasunites program, organized by Papermaker Pride, donated nearly $3,000 to the Family Community Resource Center today, which provides food and clothing to local residents.
Karen Gibson, a partner at Papermaker Pride, presented the check to Mary Weishaar and Olivia Eagle Wednesday afternoon on behalf of major donors, including Suzanne Ferguson from Juxtaposition (from sales of specific #camasunites products), Leonard and Julie Felix (representing CID Bio Science and Felix Instruments), and Katie Elliott, who makes regular monthly donations.
“We have Katie Elliott here today,” said Gibson. “Her family has donated $250 each month for the past four months, and it’s an ongoing thing for their family, that’s their give back. Suzanne from Juxtaposition has donated $800 towards today’s check, and we have a group that donates to charity and they chose #camasunites and the food program, and it was a $1,000 donation. We have just under $3,000 in this check.”
The program was started several months ago as a means to raise money to help feed local families. This is the fourth check #camasunites check presentation since the program began. A total of $13,078 has been donated through the program to date.
“Our community has been so amazing at just stepping up and helping us sustain this area,” said Mary Weishaar. “Olivia, Debbie and Rachel are working hard to get all the school supplies out to families.“
At this time, the center doesn’t need anymore clothing unless its brand-new socks and underwear. The program, located at the Jack, Will and Rob Center near Doc Harris Stadium is open to the public.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/02155834/13C02811-AEEE-4E51-9B69-365626973ECB.jpeg5391280Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2020-09-02 16:27:582020-09-02 16:28:08#camasunites Donates Nearly $3,000 to Family Community Resource Center
Up to $10,000 is available for businesses with 10 to 20 employees to support COVID-related response and recovery
VANCOUVER, WA – The Columbia River Economic Development Council (CREDC) is accepting applications for the Clark County Main Street Support Program (CCMSSP), which will provide new emergency grants of up to $10,000 each for businesses with 10 to 20 employees in Clark County. Grant money can be used to reimburse rent expenses related to the impact from COVID-19.
A pool of approximately $432,000 is available only to businesses in Clark County until funds are exhausted. Applications will be accepted through end of day on September 12, 2020. To learn more and apply, visit credc.org/ccmssp.
Funding for the program is from the state’s Working Washington Small Business program and federal Coronavirus Assistance, Recovery and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds to help with COVID-19 response and recovery efforts across Washington State.
“As CREDC continues to support businesses through COVID-19 response and recovery efforts, we are pleased to be able to bring a second round of emergency grants to Clark County,” said CREDC President Jennifer Baker. “Our focus on rent support is responsive to feedback we received from businesses hit particularly hard by the pandemic.”
CREDC and other local economic development organizations statewide partnered with the Washington State Department of Commerce to make a new tranche of $10 million in Working Washington Small Business Emergency grants available. As the state-designated Associate Development Organization for Clark County, CREDC is running point on the applications and administration of the new funds locally as other ADO’s that serve all 39 counties are doing within their municipalities. The Washington State Department of Commerce is not accepting or reviewing applications.
“The length and depth of the pandemic have hit small, main street businesses hard,” said Washington State Department of Commerce Director Lisa Brown. “In particular, restaurants, hotels and other service industries have not seen the expected number of customers. Small businesses need these resources to stay open as we respond to the public health crisis and help get people back to work.”
About CREDC Since 1982, the Columbia River Economic Development Council (CREDC) has served as Clark County’s leading economic development organization, connecting companies to the resources they need to expand or locate in the region. As a private-public partnership, we leverage the expertise and collaboration of over 140 investors and strategic partners to advance the economic vitality of Clark County while maintaining our exceptional quality of life. www.credc.org
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/02142005/AF84E2E9-8259-433E-AF9A-207E38C72E00.jpeg9001200Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2020-09-02 14:36:402020-09-02 14:39:02Economic Development Council Accepting Applications For Business Grants
Washougal, WA — The Washougal School Board approved a new, two-year contract with the Washougal Association of Educators at its Tuesday, August 25 board meeting.
The contract puts equity, diversity, and inclusion front and center for the district, with a major investment in teacher training on equity this coming school year. The district is excited to be partnering with the Washougal Association of Educators (WAE) as well as the statewide Washington Education Association to provide culturally responsive practices training for all teaching staff. The contract includes new language around inclusive practices, and language to remove barriers to student participation that are created through discipline processes. This work will help both groups work to eliminate the achievement gaps for our diverse learners, as school leaders and teachers work together to authentically know all learners, nurture relationships that build common understanding, and challenge each of us to disrupt systemic racism in our society.
The contract also features an investment in additional teacher training focused on technology to build skills and to ensure quality implementation of the new impactED remote learning model.
“Our vision to know, nurture and challenge all students to rise remains in place,” said WSD Superintendent, Mary Templeton. “This training will help our teachers deliver positive and engaging learning experiences for our students.”
The contract includes a state provided increase in compensation across two years, along with additional paid training time.
“This keeps the district’s overall compensation in alignment with our region, so that we can continue to attract and retain great teachers,” said Aaron Hansen, Assistant Superintendent of HR & Student Support.
“WAE are happy to have the contract in place for the next two years,” said Eric Engebretson, WAE President. “It is one less item on teachers’ plates.”
This agreement makes changes to Special Education language that provides more equity to Special Education teachers as compared to general education teachers.
Other contract features are additional non-discrimination language, changes in leave provisions, creation of a guest teacher (substitute) handbook, and more structure for teacher involvement in equity and school building leadership teams.
“This was an unusual bargaining process for many reasons,” said Hansen. “We held about 18 bargaining sessions; all were done over Zoom. Both sides worked extremely hard to listen, to seek common ground, and to collaborate as we solved issues in the contract. It is the first time in quite a while we’ve settled a contract without support from a mediator.” Engebretson added “I think that this is one of the earliest contracts to be settled between WAE and WSD. We appreciate the work the Union and District did together to come to an agreement.”
The tentative agreement was reached at the bargaining table July 29. WAE membership ratified it in a general meeting on August 21, and the WSD Board approved it at the August 25 board meeting.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/01180507/0CD700EE-52AE-476D-9774-E1856375EF0A.jpeg4921030Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2020-09-01 18:21:572020-09-01 18:22:07Washougal School Board Agrees to New Two-Year Teacher Agreement
Clark County Public Health issued a statement today regarding last week’s Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) provisional death data update. Here is their statement:
We’re seeing a lot of misunderstanding around new data from the CDC, and we need to set the record straight. Provisional death data updated by the CDC last week shows that for 6 percent of COVID-19 deaths, COVID-19 was the only cause mentioned. The remaining 94 percent of deaths were among people with other underlying conditions.
This does not mean that only 6 percent of deaths are due to COVID-19. It means that for the other 94 percent, there were underlying conditions that likely made their COVID-19 illness worse and made them more at risk for serious illness and death.
There are different types of cause of death: immediate, underlying and contributing. For COVID-19, a common example might be an immediate cause of death of acute respiratory distress syndrome (which is what actually killed them), and an underlying cause of death would be COVID-19 or pneumonia from COVID-19 (which are the triggering factors that lead them to get the thing that actually killed them), and then contributing factors could be asthma, COPD, or diabetes (something that may have made their illness worse than it would have been).
As an underlying cause of death, COVID-19 is the thing that triggered the cascade of events that eventually leads to death. For example, older adults are more likely to have more contributing factors, but if they don’t get COVID-19, then they don’t start this cascade of events that lead to death.
Monday COVID-19 update: Since the last update on Friday morning, another 76 people have tested positive for COVID-19 and two people have died – a man in his 60s (unknown whether he had underlying health conditions) and a man in his 70s with underlying health conditions.
Over the weekend, Clark County had an average of about 25 new cases per day (Fri-Sun). To date, 2,610 Clark County residents have tested positive for COVID-19 and 51 people have died.
Nineteen COVID-19 patients are hospitalized and five persons under investigation (PUIs) for COVID-19 are hospitalized.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/31201647/17E2C573-2D33-496A-9317-F8509455FBED.jpeg12801920Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2020-08-31 20:37:102020-08-31 20:37:20Clark County Public Health Clarifies CDC COVID-19 Provisional Death Data
PORTLAND, OR — Aaron “Jay” Danielson, aka Jay Bishop, a Patriot Prayer supporter, was fatally shot Saturday night in Portland following a pro-Trump caravan.
Bishop attended Friday’s dueling Camas pro-police and #BLM rallies and was seen riding around and talking with supporters and protestors on both sides.
Patriot Prayer founder Joey Gibson, a controversial local public figure, who arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting, issued the following statement today:
“1st- We love Jay and he had such a huge heart. God bless him and the life he lived.
“2nd-I am going to wait to make any public statements until after the family can.
“3rd- If you planned on going to the boat cruise, please go! I know that Jay would love to look down from heaven and see tons of American flags on the Columbia river today. I will not be attending but I hope all of you enjoy yourselves out there. Fly them high for Jay.
“God Bless all of you.”
Matt Robins, a protest medic near the shooting scene, said he heard two pops.
“We thought someone had lit fireworks off or something, and when we looked, we saw a guy run for like two seconds and then plop on the ground,” Robins said.
Robbins said he and his partner help treat people injured at protests.
“There’s a guy standing over top of him saying this is my friend, help him please,” Robbins said.
Robbins said once Portland police arrived he and his partner were told to leave.
“We were forcibly pushed down,” Robbins said. “My partner, a field medic, tried to get her gear, because like I said, they rushed us so fast that some of our gear had fallen down.”
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said the shooting is under investigation, however, and a 48-year-old man who was accused of carrying a loaded gun at an earlier Portland protest is under investigation in the fatal shooting of Bishop.
Michael Forest Reinoehl refers to himself as an anti-fascist and has posted videos and photos of demonstrations he attended since late June, accompanied by the hashtags #blacklivesmatter, #anewnation and #breonnataylor.
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