AP-OR–2nd Right Now/1051
WILLAMETTE NATIONAL CEMETERY-HISTORIC
Willamette cemetery added to Register of Historic Places
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Willamette National Cemetery in Portland has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The 1950 cemetery is about 10 miles southeast of Portland in Clackamas and Multnomah counties. It was the first national cemetery in the northwest U.S.
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department says the 307-acre cemetery offers scenic views of four mountains, the city of Portland and the Columbia and Willamette rivers.
The cemetery uses only flat granite markers, rather than upright marble markers. The design takes advantage of the site’s natural scenery.
The National Park Service maintains the National Register under the authority of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.
OREGON WILDFIRE
Crews make progress on wildfire near Condon
CONDON, Ore. (AP) — Fire crews continued to make progress on Sunday battling a wildfire about 9 miles northwest of Condon, Oregon.
The blaze is burning Bureau of Land Management and Gilliam County protected lands.
The fire grew about 9 percent overnight, bringing it to almost 8 square miles in size on Sunday. The fire came to within about 200 feet of Highway 206.
The blaze was burning mostly light grassy fuels.
The Central Oregon Fire information center said Sunday that the fire was about 55 percent contained. They expected full containment by Monday.
MORTGAGE HELP
New money available to help Oregon homeowners pay mortgages
(Information from: The Bulletin, http://www.bendbulletin.com)
BEND, Ore. (AP) — Two state programs that helped Oregon homeowners avoid foreclosure or get caught up on their mortgages in the wake of the Great Recession are being revived thanks to federal funding.
The U.S. Treasury awarded Oregon two grants this year totaling $94.5 million for the Home Rescue and Loan Preservation Assistance programs. The grants were issued from the government’s Hardest Hit Fund, which was created to help 18 states and the District of Columbia.
The Home Rescue program, which provides homeowners up to 12 monthly mortgage payments or $20,000, is accepting applications.
The loan program, which starts back up in September, gives qualified homeowners up to $40,000 to make a delinquent mortgage current.
Oregon Housing and Community Service spokesman Mike Boyer says about 14,000 homeowners in Oregon are at least 90 days behind on their mortgages.
___
FREIGHT TRAIN-FATAL
Person killed by train in northeast Portland
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland police say a person was killed after being struck by a freight train in northeast Portland.
Officers received a call at about 2:40 p.m. Saturday reporting that someone was struck by a train near Northeast 82nd Avenue and Halsey Street.
When they arrived, they found the body. The Union Pacific train engineer stopped east of the site and is cooperating with investigators.
The age, gender and identity will be determined by the Medical Examiner.
STOPPING PANHANDLERS
Campaign would promote donating to charity, not panhandlers
(Information from: The Bulletin, http://www.bendbulletin.com)
BEND, Ore. (AP) — A proposed campaign in Bend will encourage people to donate to charity, not panhandlers.
The Bulletin reports a group under the city’s Downtown Livability Committee determined there was more success in promoting donations than increasing enforcement and citations.
Bend Police Chief Jim Porter and the rest of the group told the council last week that money goes further when donated to organizations that help the homeless.
Family Kitchen development director Donna Burklo was on the committee and said panhandlers may use money to feed addictions.
She said that to move the campaign forward a company needs to be hired to develop a marketing plan and slogan.
Options include donation stations and giving via text message.
One group estimates over 2,000 people are homeless in central Oregon.
___
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER-PETS
YWCA opens domestic violence shelter to pets
VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) — The Clark County YWCA has received a $5,600 grant to convert a domestic violence shelter into a pet-friendly haven for victims.
The YWCA is partnering with the Humane Society of Southwest Washington and the Mill Plain Animal Hospital to provide the pets belonging to shelter residents with veterinary care and supplies.
The humane society will also provide special training for shelter staff to ensure the animals’ safety.
Officials say one barrier to leaving an abusive partner is fear that family pets will be harmed in retaliation. Since most domestic violence shelters don’t allow pets, some victims may feel their only option is to stay in the relationship.
The YWCA seeks to remove those barriers by providing shelter for pets, too.
OREGONLIVE-GRANT COUNTY EMAILS
Oregonian seeks restraining order for sheriff’s emails
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Oregonian is asking a state judge for a temporary restraining order to keep the Grant County Sheriff from deleting his government emails.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that their lawyers asked for the restraining order on Friday.
They say Sheriff Glenn Palmer “systematically” destroys his official emails in a potentially criminal practice that should be stopped.
Portland lawyer Charles Hinkle says Palmer deletes every email that he sends or receives to the email address that is posted on the sheriff office’s website.
Hinkle says the sheriff continued to delete them even after receiving a public records request for them.
A hearing on the restraining order has been scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday in Grant County Circuit Court.
___
CHARGING STATIONS-ELECTRIC CARS
Utility to roll out electric car charger program
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A program rolling out next year will install electric car chargers in Seattle homes and parts of the city.
The Seattle Times reports Seattle City Light discussed the plan during a Portland conference attended by almost 400 electric car industry leaders.
The utility will put chargers in several hundred homes and install 20 in the city that can power some vehicles in 30 minutes.
Electric cars and plug-in hybrids accounted for about 1 percent of the country’s auto sales as of June. Experts say annual sales could reach 15 percent by 2025.
A study found $300 million in electricity sales was possible if a quarter of vehicles on the road were electric by 2035.
Seattle City Light energy planning supervisor Brendan O’Donnell said the utility can handle that demand.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
