NUCLEAR PLANT
Northwest’s only nuclear plant resuming operation
(Information from: Tri-City Herald, http://www.tri-cityherald.com)
RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) — The Northwest’s only nuclear power plant is reconnecting to the regional power grid after an unplanned shut down.
The Tri-City Herald reports that the 1,190-megawatt Columbia Generating Station resumed late Saturday night.
Energy Northwest says power levels are slowly rising and should reach 100 percent within 72 hours of restarting.
The plant shut down following a malfunction at a substation.
The newspaper reports that the malfunction caused the line that connects the plant’s main output transformers to the substation to reject the load. A primary breaker opened too slowly and a secondary system kicked in and opened other breakers, causing the plant to separate itself from the grid and shut down.
Columbia Generating Station sends enough power to the Northwest grid to power a city the size of Seattle.
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CAROLING FATAL
Boy dies, 3 injured in Oregon crash after night of caroling
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland police say a 16-year-old boy died and another teenager was critically injured when the car they were in crashed after a night of caroling.
Sgt. Pete Simpson says five teenage boys were in the vehicle early Christmas morning, traveling from Happy Valley to Wilsonville after singing at the homes of those who attend a Romanian church in southeast Portland.
Simpson says the Volkswagen Cabriolet was part of a three-vehicle caravan. The 17-year-old driver passed one of his friends and missed a sharp turn, driving off Mt. Scott Boulevard.
Dense fog may have been a factor.
The boy who died has been identified as Samuel Chiriac of Battle Ground, Washington. The driver, Seba Pop of West Linn, was in critical condition at a Portland hospital.
Two other teen passengers suffered serious injuries and a 14-year-old boy wasn’t hurt.
The investigation remains active, but Simpson says it doesn’t appear the boys were impaired by drugs or alcohol.
OUTSIDE-VEHICLE FATAL
Washington man killed while standing outside car in Oregon
ASTORIA, Ore. (AP) — Authorities say a Washington man standing outside an SUV after a minor accident was hit and killed by a third vehicle that lost control on an icy highway in northwest Oregon.
Oregon State Police Capt. Bill Fugate (few-gate) says the collisions happened Saturday on Highway 30 about 15 miles east of Astoria.
He says 59-year-old Edward Carlson of Long Beach, Washington, was in an SUV that was involved in a minor, two-car crash caused by ice.
After he and others got out of the vehicles, a Subaru Legacy lost control and hit the SUV. Both cars struck Carlson, and he died at the scene.
Three others involved in the initial crash were also hit while standing in the road. Two suffered minor injuries and 62-year-old Lorraine Sebastian of Castle Rock was taken to a Portland hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries.
The Subaru driver was not injured.
AVALANCHE CENTER
New director hired for Wallowa Avalanche Center
(Information from: East Oregonian, http://www.eastoregonian.com)
PENDLETON, Ore. (AP) — A professional ski guide has been named director of the Wallowa Avalanche Center.
The East Oregonian reports that Victor McNeil succeeds Kip Rand, who died in an avalanche last winter while backcountry skiing near Chief Joseph Mountain in the Eagle Cap Wilderness.
The nonprofit center provides regular updates and observations on avalanche conditions in the Wallowa, Elkhorn and Blue mountains.
Deputy director Julian Pridmore-Brown says McNeil has broad outdoor experience and knowledge of the local mountains, which makes him a good fit for the position.
Oregon has relatively few avalanche fatalities, but those that occur tend to happen in the northeast part of the state.
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OAKRIDGE-POLLUTION
Lane County looks to cut down on woodstove smoke in Oakridge
(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
OAKRIDGE, Ore. (AP) — As woodstove smoke continues to raise pollution levels in Oakridge, Lane County is looking to expand its authority to enforce clean air rules in areas near the community.
The Register-Guard reports that Oakridge, a small city in the foothills of the Cascades, has been declared noncompliant with federal air quality rules and is required to take steps to limit air pollution.
The Lane Regional Air Protection Agency, which enforces federal air-quality laws in Oakridge and other Lane County cities, is asking the Lane County Board of Commissioners to expand the area around Oakridge that the agency regulates.
Commissioners approved a first reading of the amendment, which would allow the agency to regulate areas outside Oakridge’s city limits, but within the city’s urban growth boundary.
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SLEEPY THEATERGOER
‘Rogue One’ moviegoer falls asleep, awakens to empty theater
(Information from: KATU-TV, http://www.katu.com/)
CORNELIUS, Ore. (AP) — “Rogue One” has been a smashing success at the box office, but not every moviegoer has been riveted by the Star Wars story.
Sheriff’s deputies in suburban Portland say a man awoke to an empty theater Saturday morning after falling asleep during the movie. When he tried to leave, he triggered a motion-sensor alarm in the lobby. He called 9-1-1 for help and deputies helped him get out through an emergency exit.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office tells KATU-TV it doesn’t appear the incident is crime-related. More likely, theater employees forgot to check for customers at closing time.
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FATAL POLICE SHOOTING
Bend police shooting: Man tried to assault officer in July
BEND, Ore. (AP) — Court records show a man fatally shot by Bend police recently pleaded no contest to a charge of attempting to assault an officer.
The incident happened in July, when Michael Jacques was also accused of disorderly conduct and harassment. He pleaded no contest just over a month ago and was sentenced to 12 days in jail and a year on probation.
Police say Jacques was pulled over late Friday because he was driving erratically. An altercation ensued and at least one officer fired.
Jacques died at the scene.
A multi-agency investigation into the use of deadly force is being coordinated.
DAIRY QUEEN CRASH
Car crashes into Salem Dairy Queen on Christmas; 1 hurt
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Firefighters say a man was taken to Salem Hospital after his car crashed into a Dairy Queen on Christmas morning.
The Marion County Fire District says firefighters responded to the Salem business at 3:10 a.m. The man was trapped inside his vehicle and the Jaws of Life freed him.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.