"In the News" Summary for Friday, January 16th:

 

There is a new feature on "In the News".  Each Friday, I will be posting a link to something nearby that is easy to visit.  Today's post is about the  Donal G. McGregor Memorial Viewpoint at La Pine State Park.

*Bend Police Log

*Deshutes County Jail Inmate List 

*Deschutes County Most Wanted List

*Klamath County Online's Arrest Records for Jan. 16th

*Klamath County Online's Most Wanted List

*Klamath County Online's EMS Calls for Jan. 16th

*Lane County Arrests for Jan. 16th

*Mail Tribune Crime News

 

There were a lot of accidents due to the icy roads, especially down in Gilchrist and Crescent.

7:45 a.m. - La Pine.  A male hospice patient has died at home.

9:30 a.m. - There was an attempted break-in on Thursday night at Ed Staub and Sons on HWY 97 near the HWY 131 Jct.  A caller was making police aware that at that time, he saw 4 transient hitch hikers with a dog, who were in that area.  On top of that, he had just spotted one of them at a motel in Crescent.

9:52 a.m. - La Pine.  A female stroke patient on Rainbow Dr. has been taken to St. Charles via ambulance.

People are fighting today.  8:44 a.m. - A grandfather and grandson were throwing fist-a-cuffs.  The grandson walked back into his trailer.  10:11 a.m - There was a domestic violence call on NE 9th St. in Bend - two females.

11:53 a.m. - La Pine.  The police were called to Whitley Rd., near Gordy's Truck Stop, but I never really learned what was going on.  They had at least two cop cars.  Also, there were two medical emergencies at Mt. Bachelor.  One woman broke her leg skiing and I am not sure what the other one was.  The dispatcher asked La Pine if they could send an ambulance up there, but La Pine didn't have any left.

12:30 p.m. - These were some of the things that I heard on the scanner within 15 minutes, but I didn't catch where they were.  The ambulance was called to help a 50-year-old man who had overdosed.  Life Flight (out of Klamath Falls, I think) was called to transport a person who had been attacked by a dog.  The crew was asked to bring a camera so that they could take pictures of the injuries.  Also, teens were seen making a drug deal in La Pine.

3:00 p.m. - Century Drive.  People coming down off the mountain from skiing were simply driving to fast and the road was unexpectedly icy.  There were two rollover crashes between MP 12 and MP 13, but they were no serious injuries.  OSP was called to help slow people down and tow trucks were dispatched.

3:17 p.m. - Century Drive.  There was another wreck, this one at MP 17.  Nobody was slowing down to help.

There was a lot more; traffic stops and other stuff that I just caught at the tail end.  I turned my scanner off around 6:00 p.m.  I did check in on @centralORscan's twitter feed and learned that something really bad went down at the Juniper Swim Center in Bend.  They were performing CPR, but then later three detectives and two chaplins were sent over there.

Construction on a much needed overpass at Wikiup Junction will begin in 2016. Thanks to Tim Wright for looking up the information for us.

 
"U.S. 97 is a critical part of the State’s transportation system, and is classified as an expressway in the project area. Keeping roads in good condition and providing for safe travel are critical parts of the Oregon Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) mission.

The at-grade railway/highway crossing on U.S. 97 at Wickiup Junction is the only at-grade crossing on U.S. 97 in the entire state. Drivers on U.S. 97 who are not familiar with the area do not anticipate having to stop for trains. Nor are they anticipating have to stop for school buses and vehicles carrying hazardous materials that are required to stop at railroad crossings regardless of whether a train is approaching or not. These create an extremely unsafe situation on the highway. This safety problem has forced local school buses to avoid this section of the highway and to have to travel out-of-direction to complete their routes.

Currently there are on average 10-12 trains per day passing through Wickiup Junction. This is expected to increase over time.

The traffic volume on U.S. 97 through the project area is currently at 10,000 vehicles per day, and is projected to increase to 13,000 by the year 2032. The traffic volume on Burgess Road east of Huntington Road was 3,050 vehicles per day in 2011 and is projected to increase as well. The increase in traffic intensifies the need to improve safety at the railroad crossing.

How ODOT proposed to solve these problems:

ODOT partnered with Deschutes County and the City of La Pine to develop a solution for the safety problem at the BNSF/U.S. 97 railroad crossing at Wickiup Junction. A number of alternatives were explored but the selected near term solution is to realign U.S. 97 to the east of its current location and build a railroad overpass just south of the current at-grade crossing. New connections will be built for Burgess Road to the realigned U.S. 97 (see the preliminary design map).

In developing a solution for the railroad crossing, there were a number of goals and objectives identified by the agencies and the public that were considered These include:

Provide a transportation solution that safely accommodates projected travel demands for all users and modes 20 years into the future.
 
Maintain mobility and minimize traffic delays for U.S. 97.

Minimize costs and maximize project value (cost-effective solution).
 
Provide safe and reasonable access to area communities, Wickiup Junction businesses, and recreational destinations while minimizing out-of-direction travel.

Maintain reasonable access between U.S. 97 and Burgess Road.
Consider options that improve bicycle and pedestrian movements in the Wickiup Junction area.

Maintain the viability of the current Park & Ride and consider the ability to expand the lot in the future.

Support Wickiup Junction’s role as a part of the City of La Pine’s commercial center for highway, recreational, and local traffic.
 
Minimize U.S. 97 traffic delays during construction, and address other construction related impacts to BNSF, the local transportation system and surrounding land uses.

Achieve consistency and compatibility with the Oregon Highway Plan, applicable objectives of the ODOT’s U.S. 97 Highway Strategy, and the Oregon Highway Plan expressway designation for U.S. 97.
 
Public Involvement:
A public open house was held on Thursday, November 20, 2008, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. There were twenty-two people who signed in. The purpose of the meeting was to provide information on project alternatives, and to solicit input. There was a brief presentation followed by questions and answers. A summary of the open house is posted below.

November 20, 2008 Open House Summary

Project Cost Estimate - $17 million

Project Timeline:
Complete environmental work 2009
Design and final plans 2014-2015
Bid Opening Summer/Fall 2015
Construction 2016-2017

Link to the Project Design Map: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION4/US97_Wickiup_Jct/WickiupOverviewMap2.pdf

 

Deschutes County reports that County Commissioner Tammy Baney has been appointed as the Chair of Oregon Transportation Commission. Way to go, Ms. Baney!  To read more, please check out the Deschutes County Facebook Page.

 

 "DeBone's First 5 for 5 Meeting 

this Thursday, Jan. 22nd"

Deschutes County Commissioner, Tony DeBone, will be holding community meetings for "Newberry Country".  Save the date! The first meeting will be on Thursday, Jan. 22nd from 11:30 to 1:00 at the La Pine Grange Hall. Cost is $20 per person and includes a catered lunch.  Space is limited. 
 
"The goal of holding the sessions is to bring residents of “Newberry Country” (all of South Deschutes County including Sunriver, and North Klamath County) together to discuss what is important to them regarding topics such as public safety, the economy, education, health and human services, natural resources, and environment and infrastructure (roads, sewer, water). Everyone is welcome to attend."

"For more information about the event, please contact Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone at (541) 388-6568. To register for any of the “5 for 5” events, please contact the La Pine Chamber of Commerce at (541) 536-9771."

"Suicide Prevention Presentations in 

Bend & Redmond, January 26 and 27"

RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW!

Participants will learn the risk factors related to suicide, the importance of recognizing signs and getting help, as well as how a community can work together to help prevent suicide and suicide attempts. Resources for help will also be available. All community members and mature young adults are welcome to attend.

BEND PRESENTATION:
DATE: Monday, January 26
TIME: 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
PLACE: Bend High School, 230 NE 6th St, Bend.

REDMOND PRESENTATION
DATE: Tuesday, January 27
TIME: 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
PLACE: Redmond High School, 675 SW Rimrock Way, Redmond.

THERE IS NO COST to attend, however registration is required.

TO REGISTER: www.suicidepreventiontrainings.eventbrite.com.
 
For more information please call (541) 388-6606 or email david.visiko@deschutes.org.

These quality trainings are brought to you through a partnership of the Central Oregon Association of Psychologists, The Central Oregon Mental Health Promotion Grant Task Force, and OSU Cascades.

Take care, and please stop back by to visit soon!

Kathy Matthews  

Email:  oregongiftsofcomfortandjoy@hotmail.com

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