Oregon News from the AP

AP-OR–2nd NewsMinute,307
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press
NEWBERG, Ore. (AP) – More than 120 people have evacuated a hotel
near Portland following an overnight explosion. The Oregonian
newspaper reports that the blast occurred about 3 a.m. in a room at
the Best Western hotel in Newberg. Police say a 29-year-old man was
flown to a hospital with burns, and a toddler and a woman were also
hospitalized. The extent of their injuries was not known. Officials
are investigating whether the explosion was the result of a
drug-making operation.

MOLALLA, Ore. (AP) – A pair of Oregon newlyweds has reported the
theft of about $10,000 in wedding gifts from a ranch after their
wedding reception. Hank and Annie Elliot say they left a pile of at
least ten wrapped gifts and a number of gift cards on a table in
the reception area of the Coleman Ranch in Molalla. Annie Elliot
said she last saw the gifts late on Aug. 6, the night of the
wedding. The couple camped overnight and found the gifts missing at
about 4 a.m.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – A Salem family is hoping whoever stole a
small wooden box containing a family member’s ashes will return it.
Jackie Megert tells the Statesman Journal that several people were
home at the time of the Tuesday afternoon robbery but were sitting
on the front porch. She later found doors open and the box
containing her mother’s ashes was missing, along with a laptop
computer and other items.

HERMISTON, Ore. (AP) – Hermiston Police Chief Dan Coulombe
(kuh-LOHM) has been placed on paid leave and the city has called in
a retired chief from Hillsboro to look into officers’ complaints
about his management practices. The East Oregonian says the review
will be conducted by Ron Louie, chief in Hillsboro from 1992 to
2007. A police lieutenant will supervise the department in the
meantime.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-08-25-11 0931EDT