TRAIN DERAILMENT
Train derails in eastern Oregon; no injuries
(Information from: East Oregonian, http://www.eastoregonian.com)
MISSION, Ore. (AP) – Railroad officials say eleven railroad cars derailed east of Pendleton on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
The East Oregonian reports that Union Pacific reported no spills, no hazardous materials involved and no injuries in the Monday night derailment.
Railroad spokesman Justin Jacobs says crews have been working since the crash to remove the cars and make repairs. He says the cause is under investigation.
The Oregon Environmental Response System notified the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality of the derailment.
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LOTTERY WINNER-FORGOTTEN TICKET
Oregon man cleans out office, finds winning lottery ticket
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – An Oregon Lottery winner has claimed his $1 million prize after cleaning out his office and discovering the winning ticket he purchased a year ago.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Joemel Panisa, of Logsden, found the Mega Millions ticket this month, just eight days before it was set to expire.
Lottery officials say Panisa put the ticket in an envelope in January 2016 and forgot about it. He had been cleaning his office when he discovered the ticket, checked the numbers and found out he was a winner.
Panisa claimed his prize this week, becoming the state’s fourth Mega Millions $1 million winner since the game began in 2010.
The Oregon Lottery says nearly $6 million in unclaimed prizes were transferred to the state’s Economic Development Fund in fiscal year 2015.
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FATAL HOUSE FIRE
Homeowner dead in Lane County house fire
(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – Lane County authorities say one person has died after a fire erupted inside a home in the McKenzie Bridge area.
The Register-Guard reports that the identity of the victim has not yet been released.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Carrie Carver says firefighters had responded to the Wednesday fire to find the house still burning. The owner of the home was found dead.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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CHILD SEX ABUSE-ARREST
St. Helens man faces 20 counts of child sex abuse
(Information from: KPTV-TV, http://www.kptv.com/)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Columbia County authorities have arrested a 55-year-old man on suspicion of sexually abusing a child over the course of more than ten years.
KPTV-TV reports that the suspect from St. Helens was taken into custody Tuesday. He faces several charges, including rape, unlawful sexual penetration and sodomy.
The sheriff’s office says a 17-year-old girl told investigators in 2016 that the suspect had sexually abused her from the time she was 5 years old.
The suspect remains held on nearly $1.5 million bail.
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WRONG-WAY FATAL
Woman killed in head-on crash with ambulance on Interstate 5
(Information from: The Seattle Times, http://www.seattletimes.com)
SEATTLE (AP) – The Washington State Patrol says a woman driving the wrong way on Interstate 5 in Seattle was killed in a head-on crash with an ambulance.
The Seattle Times reports the crash occurred at about 2 a.m. Wednesday. Trooper Rick Johnson said the driver’s Ford Expedition was seen driving south on the northbound lanes, but officers were unable to stop her before she collided with the ambulance. Johnson said the woman was 46 years old and from Eugene, Oregon.
Two emergency medical technicians and one patient were in the ambulance. All three were taken to a hospital with minor injuries.
An investigation into the collision continues.
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NORTHWEST WEATHER-THE LATEST
The Latest: 3 rescued at Crater Lake National Park
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Crater Lake National Park officials say three visitors were rescued after snowstorms forced them to take refuge in a heated restroom.
A rotary snow plow cleared a path on the three-mile road from park headquarters to Rim Village to reach the visitors Wednesday. Officials say none of them sustained major injuries.
Park staff were first notified of an overdue backcountry snowshoer by family members on Jan. 9. The park was informed of the other two overdue travelers Jan. 11.
Severe weather conditions and the risk of avalanches prevented staff from attempting to reach Rim Village until Wednesday.
Since Jan. 7, the park has experienced heavy snow with strong wind gusts. The park closed all roads Tuesday because of snowfall, downed trees and an avalanche. The road from park headquarters to Rim Village has been closed since Jan. 7.
CRATER LAKE CLOSURE
Crater Lake Closes due to snow, avalanche risks
(Information from: Herald and News, http://www.heraldandnews.com)
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) – Crater Lake National Park has closed due to severe weather, though officials hope it will reopen soon.
The Herald and News reports that the park announced Tuesday that due to heavy snowfall combined with downed trees and an avalanche on Highway 62, the park would close until road crews could clear the area.
Park spokeswoman Jennifer Evans says full closures are not unusual during the winter as the park often encounters high levels of snow.
Evans says snow levels as of Tuesday were at 99 inches at park headquarters, well over the average of 74 inches for this time of year. She says snowstorms later this week could drop between 16 and 26 additional inches of snow.
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WINE GROWLERS
Washington measure seeks expansion of wine growler law
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) – Wine drinkers in Washington state are one step closer to being able to purchase and refill their favorite pours in reusable growlers closer to home instead of making a trip to the winery.
Some state winemakers are pushing House Bill 1039 as a way to expand wine sales and reduce the carbon footprint of wine bottles. If approved, consumers would be able to bring or buy refillable growlers at any business that has the license to sell wine.
The Legislature previously approved a measure that that opened the doors for wineries to sell growlers. However, some winemakers hope to expand this process. Democratic Rep. Sharon Wylie sponsored the 2014 law and is currently sponsoring the new measure. An initial hearing is scheduled Thursday morning.
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press.
