FATAL ATV HIT-AND-RUN
ATV driver killed, rider hurt in hit-and-run crash
(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
WINCHESTER BAY, Ore. (AP) — The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is still searching for three people involved in a fatal hit-and-run crash between two all-terrain vehicles on the dunes in Winchester Bay.
The Register-Guard reports that the crash happened at 11 p.m. Friday and officials were still searching Monday.
Deputies say 30-year-old ATV driver Benjamin Wohl of Poulsbo, Washington, died in the crash.
Wohl’s passenger, Breauna Ellison of Clackamas, Oregon, suffered serious injuries.
Deputies say Wohl and Ellison were riding double on a Honda ATV when they were struck by a Polaris ATV.
The Polaris’ occupants, two males and a female, stopped briefly after the accident, and then left the scene first on the vehicle and then on foot.
Deputies used a K9 police dog unit but did not locate the suspects.
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WILDLIFE REFUGE CLOSURE
Oregon refuge headquarters to remain closed for rest of year
(Information from: KOPB-FM, http://news.opb.org)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters, which has been closed since an armed occupation was held there earlier this year, is expected to remain closed for the remainder of 2016.
Oregon Public Broadcasting reports the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is installing security upgrades at the headquarters and visitor center. The federal agency says the work could take until early next spring to complete, but it’s still encouraging people to visit other areas of the refuge.
The roads and wetlands remain open to visitors.
The upcoming trial of eight defendants charged in the 41-day armed occupation is creating additional interest in the refuge. Fish and Wildlife spokesman Jason Holm says the agency is taking security concerns seriously.
The armed takeover started Jan. 2 as a protest against the imprisonment of two ranchers.
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TRAIN HITS CAR
BNSF train hits car in Vancouver, driver dead
VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) — A BNSF train hit a vehicle on a track in Vancouver, Washington, killing the occupant.
Vancouver police were called to the report of a train accident at about 9 p.m. Sunday. Police, fire and medical crews arrived, but the only person in the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim’s name was not released, pending notification of family.
BNSF police are conducting the investigation. It was not immediately clear how the crash occurred.
SANDSTONE PEDESTAL-KNOCKED DOWN
Video shows vandals destroying popular Oregon rock formation
(Information from: KATU-TV, http://www.katu.com/)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Cellphone video captured a group of people knocking over a popular sandstone rock formation known as the “Duckbill” on an Oregon beach.
Oregon State Parks officials originally said they didn’t think the break at the site frequented by tourists was caused by humans.
But the video obtained by KATU-TV shows the visitors pushing the structure until it crumbled to the ground on August 29 at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area.
The sandstone pedestal was roughly 7 feet to 10 feet across and located in a fenced off section of the park.
David Kalas says he was helping a friend film part of the coast with his drone when they noticed about eight people trying to push the pedestal down. Kalas says he started recording with his cellphone when it began wobbling.
The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department said Monday it will review the incident and takes vandalism seriously.
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This story has been corrected to reflect that the video was recorded on a cellphone, not with a drone.
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RAILROAD INSPECTIONS-DATA
Secret railroad inspection data frustrates Spokane officials
(Information from: The Spokesman-Review, http://www.spokesman.com)
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Railroads appear to keep most data on their bridge inspections secret, even after a federal law allowed local officials to request the information.
The Spokesman Review reports that Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart says he requested copies of Union Pacific and BNSF Railway bridge inspections, hoping to learn more about the condition of the infrastructure that supports trains carrying oil and other hazardous cargo.
He says he was expecting an engineer’s analysis of the structures, but only got a one-page report for each bridge with little detail.
BNSF spokeswoman Courtney Wallace says the bridges are inspected at least twice a year, more than required by the federal government, and that the company will not run trains on any infrastructure it thinks could be unsafe.
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MISS AMERICA
Former Miss America pageant winner earns scholarship
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — A former Miss America pageant winner has scored another honor.
The Miss America Foundation announced Monday that Katie Harman Ebner has been named the inaugural recipient of its new Former Miss America Discretionary Scholarship.
The scholarship was established to help former pageant winners who still need financial assistance in completing their education after their 10-year scholarship window expires.
Ebner was Miss America 2002. She will receive up to $10,000 in scholarship assistance to continue her studies at Southern Oregon University’s renowned Oregon Center for the Arts.
The discretionary awards are approved and allocated by the foundation’s scholarship committee.
The next Miss America will be crowned Sept. 11 in Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.
FATAL STABBING-ARREST
25-year-old man found dead in car; Portland suspect arrested
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Authorities have arrested a 36-year-old man in connection with the slaying of a man who was found dead in a car in Portland.
Police had responded Saturday night after someone reported that they were the victim of a drive-by shooting. Arriving officers initially did not find a victim, but police say a tipster led them to the vehicle where 25-year-old Richard Ochoa was found dead.
The Oregon State Medical Examiner has determined Ochoa died from a single stab wound.
Police have arrested Kelby Blaine Jake for investigation of murder. He is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.
Police say the suspect and the victim knew each other.
It’s unclear what led to the man’s death.
POT PLANTS SEIZED
240 pot plants seized from Beaverton home
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A Washington County homeowner has been cited for unlawful marijuana possession after authorities seized 240 marijuana plants from his backyard.
Sheriff’s deputies had been following up on a complaint when they responded to the Beaverton residence Sunday. Tuyen Ngo was cooperative and allowed the deputies to search his home.
Deputy Mark Povolny says most of the marijuana plants were seized but Ngo was able to keep four plants, as allowed under Oregon’s recreational marijuana law.
The 60-year-old homeowner told KPTV gardening is his hobby and he was unaware of the limits on pot growing.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
