SUSPICIOUS DEATH-ST HELENS
Police seek person of interest in death of Portland woman
ST. HELENS, Ore. (AP) — Authorities are asking for the public’s help to locate a person of interest in the death of a woman whose body was found northeast of St. Helens.
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office said Monday they want to speak with 28-year-old Jesse Lane.
Lane is a white man, 6 feet 1 inch tall, about 145 pounds with brown hair, brown eyes and tattoos on his elbow, left arm, neck and right forearm. He has a tattoo of the letter “B” below his right eye.
The last known address for Lane is Jackson County, Oregon, but he has been seen in Portland and the St. Helens area in recent weeks.
The body of Apache Hightower of Portland was found earlier this month down an embankment and authorities say she died of homicidal violence.
TRAIN DERAILMENT
13-car train derailment in Eugene prompts hazmat measures
(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Rail officials are investigating after 13 railcars derailed on a Union Pacific train in Eugene.
The Register-Guard reports that Eugene police and Eugene Springfield Fire personnel were called Sunday when a black tanker car fell to its side in west Eugene on the Union Pacific tracks. Another 10 empty rail cars were behind the tanker, tilted at awkward angles. Two grain cars also derailed.
Union Pacific spokesman Justin Jacobs says the train was headed around a curve when the cars left the track. The track’s main line wasn’t affected and no hazardous material was released.
Jacobs says Union Pacific will not know what caused the derailment until its investigation is completed.
Despite not being on the main track, the derailment delayed passenger train service.
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RANCHING STANDOFF
Bundy jurors shown video of men firing assault rifles
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The prosecution is expected to rest its case Tuesday in the trial of Ammon Bundy and six others who occupied an Oregon bird sanctuary last winter.
On Monday, prosecutors showed jurors a video of men using assault rifles to fire at a Malheur National Wildlife Refuge boat launch. FBI agents displayed evidence bags that contained more than 1,000 spent shell casings recovered from that area.
Assistant U.S Attorney Ethan Knight says the video shows the armed occupation was not a peaceful protest.
Bundy’s attorney, Marcus Mumford, maintains that the firing of weapons is not an act of force. During his cross-examination, he asked FBI Special Agent Christopher Chew if anyone got shot at the refuge.
Chew said no.
Bundy and his followers occupied the refuge for weeks last winter, demanding the government free two imprisoned ranchers and relinquish control of Western lands.
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OLD CITY HALL
Pendleton officials press for old city hall repairs
(Information from: East Oregonian, http://www.eastoregonian.com)
PENDLETON, Ore. (AP) — Pendleton officials are taking action to speed up fire damage repairs on the old city hall.
The East Oregonian reports that Development Commission Chairman Chuck Wood said last week that Pendleton will begin enforcing a nuisance ordinance to hasten the repairs. It could cost the family that owns the building $500 a day.
City Manager Robb Corbett says the owners will receive a letter with details about the ordinance.
Wood says officials haven’t seen any progress on restorations since a July 2015 explosion destroyed the building’s roof and windows. The accident killed 25-year-old Eduardo Quezada.
The building is owned by Eduardo’s father, Jose Quezada, and his family. Jose Quezada says his daughter has been dealing with the city, but she could not be reached for comment last week.
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TIMBERLINE TRAIL
Oregon’s Timberline Trail reopens after upgrades
(Information from: Statesman Journal, http://www.statesmanjournal.com)
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — An iconic pathway around Oregon’s tallest mountain has fully reopened to the public.
The Statesman Journal reports that work on the Timberline Trail, a 41-mile circuit of Mount Hood, was completed last week. One section of the trail was re-routed and reconnected after being closed by a debris flow in 2006.
Forest engineering specialists decided to relocate the affected section of the trail after determining that a permanent bridge at the original location wasn’t feasible.
Mount Hood National Forest officials said in a news release that hikers will once again be able to circumnavigate Mount Hood, travelling past waterfalls, meadows and forest along the way.
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OBIT-BERNSTINE
Former PSU president Daniel Bernstine dies at 69
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Former Portland State University president Daniel Bernstine has died at 69.
Bernstine led PSU from 1997 until 2007. After leaving, he headed the Law School Admission Council in Pennsylvania.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the Law School Admission Council issued a news release Sunday saying Bernstine died suddenly at his home.
Portland State president Wim Wievel (Vim VEE-vel) said in a statement that Bernstine left an impressive legacy at PSU. Wievel noted that new buildings opened on Bernstine’s watch and enrollment soared by more than 70 percent.
A 2005 Oregonian profile said Bernstine’s parents were Louisiana sharecroppers who moved to California after World War II. His father worked as a janitor, and going with his dad to clean attorneys’ offices got him interested in law.
Bernstine earned his undergraduate degree at the University of California, Berkeley, his law degree at Northwestern University School of Law; and a master of laws degree at the University of Wisconsin Law School.
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DJ GUCCI THIEF
Suspect known as ‘DJ Gucci Thief’ arrested in Lake Oswego
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A young man nicknamed “DJ Gucci Thief” by Portland police has been arrested on theft charges.
Sgt. Pete Simpson said Monday that 21-year-old Kyle Rodgers was taken into custody by police in Lake Oswego.
Police dubbed the suspect “DJ Gucci Thief” after high-end, Gucci sunglasses were stolen by a man who claimed to be wealthy rapper.
Tips poured in almost immediately after surveillance images were shown to the public. After identifying Rodgers, detectives learned he was also suspected of stealing an expensive camera from a store in downtown Portland.
BEND FIRE
Fire destroys Bend home, car and boat
(Information from: KTVZ-TV, http://www.ktvz.com/)
BEND, Ore. (AP) — A fire in southeast Bend destroyed a home, a car and a boat.
KTVZ reports the fire ignited in a garage late Sunday afternoon and quickly spread. Witnesses reported hearing loud booms.
Neighbors helped residents and pets evacuate and there were no injuries. The American Red Cross Cascades Region sent a disaster response team to help five adults and one child with immediate basic needs.
The house valued at $275,000 was considered a total loss, as were contents valued at $50,000.
Investigators have yet to say what started the blaze.
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Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
