RANCHING STANDOFF-BUNDY LAWYER
Judge: Ryan Bundy unfit to serve as his own lawyer
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Federal Judge Anna J. Brown is set to strip Oregon standoff defendant Ryan Bundy of his ability to represent himself in court.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the judge wrote in an order filed Wednesday that Bundy has been unwilling to follow her orders and has shown an “open defiance” of the court’s authority.
Brown gave Bundy until Monday to “show cause” why she shouldn’t reinstate an attorney to represent him.
She wrote that by repeatedly raising “frivolous issues and matters” that the court has previously ruled on or resolved, Bundy has engaged in “serious and obstructionist misconduct,” ”abused the dignity of the courtroom” and used his pro se status as a “license not to comply with relevant rules of procedural and substantive law.”
Bundy is one of eight defendants charged with conspiring to impede federal employees at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
___
OREGON KILLING
Suspect in Oregon killing extradited from California
BEND, Ore. (AP) — A community college safety officer charged with murder in Oregon has been extradited from California, where he was in custody in connection with other violent crimes.
Online jail records show 31-year-old Edwin Lara was booked Wednesday into Deschutes County Jail. He faces four counts of aggravated murder in the July death of 23-year-old Kaylee Sawyer.
Authorities say Lara, a security officer at Central Oregon Community College, kidnapped and tried to sexually assault Sawyer as she took a late-night walk near campus and then killed her to cover up his crimes.
They say he then committed a kidnapping in Salem, Oregon, and an attempted murder and carjacking in Yreka, California.
He was arrested July 26 in Siskiyou County, California.
Benjamin Kim, Lara’s lead attorney, did not immediately return a call.
SALEM-KEIZER SCHOOL-LEAD
Salem-Keizer School District uncovers more sources of lead
(Information from: Statesman Journal, http://www.statesmanjournal.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Salem-Keizer School District has discovered lead in at least one water source in five schools this past week, bringing the total to 13.
The Statesman Journal reports that testing on a classroom sink at McNary High School showed water contained lead at levels more than 50 times higher than the action level.
State officials in June asked Oregon school districts to test all taps used for cooking and drinking in June following concerning lead levels found at some Portland schools.
The Salem-Keizer School District finished collecting samples from taps at all 88 schools and administrative buildings earlier this month. The district is also testing for copper.
The district has received results from 25 schools, and more than a dozen have lead in at least one tap.
___
CHILD SEX ABUSE-PORTLAND
Portland man to be arraigned on child sex charges
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland police have arrested a man accused of sexually abusing a child and possession of child pornography.
The 39-year-old suspect is set to make his first court appearance in the case Thursday. He faces charges of unlawful sexual penetration, sex abuse and encouraging child sex abuse.
Detectives with Portland’s Sex Crimes Unit began investigating the man earlier this month after someone reported the alleged abuse.
The victim, who is now an adult, told police the abuse occurred over a 10-year period.
Police served a search warrant at the suspect’s home and seized several pieces of evidence.
The suspect remains held at the Multnomah County Detention Center on $620,000 bail.
DOUGLAS FIR DISEASE
Oregon Douglas fir trees stunted by fugal disease
(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Oregon State University researchers have found that an increasing number of Douglas fir trees in the Oregon Coast Range are suffering from a fungal disease.
The Register-Guard reports that according to a survey conducted by the Swiss Needle Cast Cooperative of Oregon State University, trees infected with Swiss needle cast have their growth stunted by about 50 percent, which is causing an annual economic loss of $128 million.
Douglas fir forests are common in Oregon because the trees are valued for lumber. By stunting growth, the fungal disease limits the number of board feet available to sell.
Researchers say the disease is spreading in the state because Douglas firs are overpopulating forests and also that climate change may be contributing.
___
FORESTRY DEPARTMENT AUDIT
Oregon audit: Forestry department stretched too thin
(Information from: The Bulletin, http://www.bendbulletin.com)
BEND, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon state audit says the time, effort and money spent fighting wildfires has strained workers and harmed other programs at the Oregon Department of Forestry.
The Bend Bulletin reports that the Oregon secretary of state released the audit on Tuesday.
According to the report, the wildfire workload has increased and staffing has not kept pace, forcing more employees to do fire-related assignments and work longer hours. The audit says the forestry department is fighting more severe fires with about the same number of employees it had 20 years ago.
The department says it supports and agrees with the audit’s findings. Officials have detailed ways they plan to address the recommendations.
___
CHILDREN GROPED-NUDIST RESORT
Man sentenced for groping children at Oregon nudist resort
(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — A 68-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexually abusing two children at a nudist resort northeast of Eugene.
Lane County authorities say Michael Lee Hochgreve groped the children in a pool at the Willamettans Family Nudist Resort. He pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual abuse and received the maximum sentence.
The Register-Guard reports the victims and their parents did not attend Wednesday’s hearing.
Hochgreve lived at the resort for more than a year before his arrest. The resort website says the place was established in 1953 and is located on 40 acres. It has cabins for rent and space for more than 100 RVs.
___
CRATER LAKE-FREE DAYS
Crater Lake to offer free admission as park system turns 100
(Information from: The Bulletin, http://www.bendbulletin.com)
CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK, Ore. (AP) — Crater Lake National Park will waive its entrance fees for several days to celebrate the National Park Service’s centennial.
The Bend Bulletin reports that visiting the park will be free from Thursday through Sunday and officials plan to offer several activities on Thursday.
The park will still charge for reservations, camping, tours and concessions.
Thursday will feature a pop-up museum displaying Crater lake memorabilia at the Rim Village Community House. Visitors are invited to contribute to the museum with old, new, unique or just interesting objects.
There will also be a Southern Oregon Historical Society exhibit, Centennial Junior Ranger programs and a campfire gathering.
___
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
