PORTLAND OFFICER-INVESTIGATION
Portland police investigate officer in violent arrest
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Portland Police Bureau says it is reviewing the actions of an officer who was involved in a man’s violent arrest last September.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that Officer Matt Bigoni threatened three times to shoot the man, 27-year-old Christopher Lee Fish, when he refused to come out of his motor home.
Officers had gone to the motor home to arrest Fish for probation violations. After about 25 minutes the officers busted in the door, held him down, punched him and fractured his eye socket and nose.
A judge dismissed a charge that Fish interfered with police, and jurors in February acquitted him of resisting arrest. A cell phone recording Fish made of Bigoni’s threats turned out to be a key piece of evidence at the trial.
A lawyer for Fish has notified the city he intends to sue over the arrest. The police bureau declined to comment, but confirmed the three officers involved in the arrest remain on patrol duty.
The Associated Press could not immediately reach Bigoni for comment Sunday; a phone number listed for a Matt Bigoni in Portland rang busy.
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PESTICIDE FINES
Fines for pesticide use violations quadrupled in Oregon
(Information from: Statesman Journal, http://www.statesmanjournal.com)
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — As the Oregon Legislature considers four bills that would tighten regulations around pesticides, the state’s Agriculture Department says the dollar amount of fines it issued for improper pesticide use quadrupled last year — thanks largely to one big penalty.
The Statesman Journal reports that the department levied 37 fines totaling nearly $86,000, up from 23 fines totaling less than $19,000 in 2015.
In one significant case last year, an aerial spraying company, Applebee Aviation, and its owner, Michael L. Applebee, were fined nearly $54,000. Investigators said they failed to take any health or safety precautions for workers, and continued spraying after its license was suspended.
Other cases that generated fines last year included a Gresham nursery that allowed pesticide spray to drift onto a nearby home, sickening its occupants.
Among the measures the Legislature is considering is one that would make it easier for people sickened by pesticides to sue and another that would require the state to maintain an electronic reporting and notification system for pesticide applications, with free public access.
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BODY FOUND-BRIDGE
Body found near the Dougan Falls Bridge
WASHOUGAL, Wash. (AP) — The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the discovery of a body near the Dougan Falls Bridge in western Skamania County.
The Skamania County 911 center received a call at about 9:10 a.m. Saturday reporting a body over the embankment near the bridge, which runs over the Washougal River.
Deputies responded and located the body.
Dougan Falls is about 17 miles northeast of the City of Washougal, Washington.
The body appears to be that of a white male adult. No additional identification was immediately available.
The cause and manner of death were not known although the incident is being investigated as suspicious in nature.
The Clark County Sheriff’s Office is helping with the investigation.
TIRES SLASHED-MAYOR’S SON
Mayor’s son charged with slashing tires on 27 vehicles
(Information from: KATU-TV, http://www.katu.com/)
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (AP) — Springfield police say two citizens detained a man suspected of slashing tires on at least 27 different vehicles.
KATU-TV reports that the suspect turned out to be the son of the city’s mayor.
Benjamin Daniel Lundberg faces 27 counts of criminal mischief.
Springfield Mayor Christine Lundberg said Friday that she wanted to sincerely apologize to the community for the actions of her family member.
Damien Czech woke up Friday to find tires slashed on his truck and trailer. He said he had two jobs that required both vehicles and he could only do one until he got the tires fixed.
Police say a victim saw Lundberg slashing his tire on 10th Street and followed him.
That’s where police found Lundberg on the ground, guarded by two citizens.
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OREGON BOTTLE BILL-THE LATEST
The Latest: Oregonians cash in on increased bottle refunds
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Some of the most thrifty, eco-conscious Oregon residents, each hauling hundreds of used water bottles and soda cans in trash bags and carts, flocked to bottle-recycling centers and grocery stores Saturday — the first day the per-bottle refund rate doubled to 10 cents.
Oregon was the first state in the nation to give 5-cent refunds for recycling used soda cans and glass bottles more than 45 years ago through its so-called Bottle Bill.
Today, with other recycling options now commonplace, this eco-trailblazing Pacific Northwest state is hoping to revamp the program by doubling that refund on bottled and canned water, soda, beer and malt beverages — regardless what their labels say.
The most frugal of Oregonians have been hoarding bottles for months in anticipation of the roll-out. Even the press pool at the state Capitol in Salem has been buying cases of water bottles and stockpiling the empties to pay for a pizza party.
Many grocery stores and the 20 or so bottle redemption sites across the state were bustling with activity, as expected, on Saturday.
A newly-built BottleDrop redemption site in north Portland, Oregon experienced heavy foot traffic steadily throughout the day that employees say is usually only seen during peak hours on the typical Saturday.
JAPANESE GARDEN EXPANSION
Portland Japanese Garden expansion complete
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Portland Japanese Garden’s largest improvement in a half century has been completed on time, despite bad weather, neighbor complaints and a $33.5 million price tag.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that on Sunday, the public will be able to see the results of years of fundraising and 20 months of construction to execute a concept by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma.
Kuma is known for designing the $1.5 billion National Stadium for the 2020 Olympic Games.
The ambitious project in Portland’s Washington Park has transformed land leading up to the hilltop entrance of the garden, considered one of the most-authentic outside of Japan, but not the garden itself.
The expansion added 3.4 acres to the front of the 9.1-acre garden. The larger footprint allows for new educational facilities and event spaces.
Challenges also included the steep terrain, landslides and storm water issues.
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DAM-SEISMIC TEST
Federal agency checks stability of Ochoco Dam
(Information from: The Bulletin, http://www.bendbulletin.com)
PRINEVILLE, Ore. (AP) — The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will begin collecting soil samples in early April at the Ochoco Dam in Prineville to ensure the stability of the dam in an earthquake.
The Bend Bulletin reports that the work is part of the federal bureau’s Safety of Dams program, which is focused on the integrity of its dams.
Dam safety drew nationwide attention in February when nearly 200,000 people were evacuated due to the threat of a breach at the Oroville Dam in California.
Crews will work in April near the toe of the dam’s downstream face. Crews will collect soil samples from the embankment and foundation at six drill sites to refine existing Ochoco Dam studies for seismic stability.
The dam holds back Ochoco Creek water and stores winter snowmelt for the Ochoco Irrigation District, which provides irrigation to the surrounding area.
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BIG DAIRY
Oregon regulators approve mega-dairy despite opposition
(Information from: East Oregonian, http://www.eastoregonian.com)
PENDLETON, Ore. (AP) — Despite vocal opposition from environmentalists and small farm advocates, Oregon regulators have agreed to permit the state’s second-largest dairy in eastern Oregon.
The East Oregonian reports that The Oregon Department of Agriculture and Department of Environmental Quality on Friday announced that they have issued a wastewater and manure permit for Lost Valley Farm, which plans to add 30,000 cows on 7,288 acres in Morrow County.
The mega-dairy can now start milking cows sometime in the next few weeks.
Oregon regulators received more than 4,200 public comments about Lost Valley’s proposal. Many opponents criticized the effect the dairy would have on air and water quality. Environmental groups argued that the dairy could produce as much waste as a mid-sized city.
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Copyright 2017 The Associated Press.
