MISSING HIKERS
Lane County launches search for 2 missing hikers
(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — The National Guard is expected to join Lane County search and rescue crews as they look for two missing hikers.
The Register-Guard reports that sheriff’s Sgt. Carrie Carver says the two Grants Pass men, both 27, had set out for their hike on Nov. 29 with two dogs. It was supposed to be a five-day trip, but the men failed to show up for a food stop in Douglas County on Sunday.
Family members alerted authorities, and crews began searching along the hikers’ route Tuesday.
The men had planned to begin their hike at McCredie Springs on the Southern Pacific Cascade Line and follow along Hills Creek into Douglas County.
Lane County crews plan to continue looking for the hikers Wednesday with help from the National Guard.
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ODOT WORKER-CRASH
Driver strikes ODOT employee stopped for rollover crash
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Authorities say a driver has hit and seriously injured an Oregon Department of Transportation worker who had been helping at the scene of a highway crash.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that 65-year-old Stephen Capps, of Hood River, is expected to survive his injuries from the Sunday crash.
Oregon State Police say Capps had been standing on the shoulder of the highway when 25-year-old Lucia Martinez lost control of her vehicle and struck the man. She and her passenger were not hurt.
The driver of the car that initially crashed and his passenger were also uninjured.
State police spokesman Sgt. Kyle Hove says icy conditions are being investigated as a contributing factor of the crash that left Capps injured.
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HOMELESS MAN-SEXUAL ASSAULT
Homeless man arrested on suspicion of raping woman
GRESHAM, Ore. (AP) — Police have arrested a homeless man on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman while she walked to work just east of Portland.
Gresham police said in a news release that tips from the public led officers to arrest 25-year-old Orion Mears in Portland on Tuesday.
Police say Mears forced the woman off the sidewalk at about 4 a.m. Nov. 30 and sexually assaulted her.
He has been jailed on charges of rape, sodomy, kidnapping and robbery in the incident.
Police say Mears was also wanted for probation violation warrants related to cases involving burglary and unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon.
RANCHING STANDOFF-PATRICK
Oregon standoff defendant files motion to dismiss indictment
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — One of seven Oregon refuge standoff defendants awaiting trial is asking the court to dismiss his indictment, arguing that statements by federal officials expressing disappointment after the acquittal of Ammon Bundy will taint his right to a fair trial.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Jason Patrick, who is representing himself, filed the motion Tuesday to have the charge against him dismissed.
Patrick is accused of conspiring to prevent federal employees from carrying out their work during the 41-day takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge earlier this year.
Occupation leaders Ammon Bundy, his brother, Ryan Bundy, and five others were found not guilty of federal conspiracy and weapons charges after a trial that ended in October.
Patrick and other defendants are waiting to hear from prosecutors on whether they plan to move forward with the February trial and on what charges.
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MARIJUANA-OLDER ADULTS
Researchers worry as info lags on pot use by older adults
DENVER (AP) — Surveys show a small but growing number of older adults are using marijuana — a trend that worries researchers who say not enough information exists about how pot affects older users.
People over 50 are still far less likely to use marijuana than younger people.
While abundant research has been done on how the drug affects developing brains, little is known about the potential health consequences on older users.
Researchers at New York University say pot could pose distinctive health challenges to older users — from memory loss to risk of falling.
PORTLAND POLICE SHOOTING
Man armed with rifle fatally shot by Portland police
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland police say a suspect armed with a rifle has been fatally shot by an officer.
Sgt. Pete Simpson says the shooting happened early Tuesday, after officers responded to a 911 call about a disturbance and shooting at a residence in outer southeast Portland.
He says preliminary information shows the suspect fired at officers, possibly from a handgun, before emerging from the building with a rifle. A SWAT team and crisis negotiators were dispatched to the scene, but not yet in place when the shooting occurred.
Police have yet to release the man’s name; Simpson says he was in his 50s.
No one was hurt in the shooting that prompted the 911 call, and no officers were injured.
The residence is near a light-rail stop, but trains were allowed through during the investigation.
PASTOR SEX ABUSE
Former Ashland youth pastor accused of sex abuse
(Information from: Mail Tribune, http://www.mailtribune.com/)
MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) — A former Ashland youth pastor has been accused of having sexual contact with a young girl he knew through his church.
The Mail Tribune reports that 44-year-old Kenneth Baker has been charged with four felony and two misdemeanor sex charges for incidents that allegedly occurred between 2006 and 2011.
Baker was the youth pastor at First Baptist Church of Ashland. Pastor Don Baldrica of First Baptist told the Mail Triune that Baker admitted to his actions to church leaders, who then immediately notified the sheriff’s department.
The church then terminated Baker.
Baker is due back in court Friday.
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MISSING OREGON BOY-THEFT CHARGE
Terri Horman accused of stealing gun in California
(Information from: KGW-TV, http://www.kgw.com/)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The stepmother of a missing Oregon boy Kyron Horman was arrested by police in California after her roommate reported that she stole his handgun.
KGW-TV reports that Terri Horman’s roommate told authorities the gun was stolen from a safe in his Marysville, California, home. Officers say Horman had the weapon when they found her.
Records show she booked into jail on July 4 after failing to show for her arraignment. She was released and later pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor theft charge. Her next court hearing is Dec. 16.
Horman is now using her maiden name, Terri Moulton, a reason her arrest escaped attention at the time.
Horman took then 7-year-old Kyron to his Portland school in 2010 and was the last person known to have seen him. Though she has not been identified as a suspect, Horman told People magazine she relocated to California to flee intense suspicion from Oregonians.
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Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
