Program will collect used eyeglasses, hearing aids, and cell phones for the needy during the month of February(Portland, Oregon) – Umpqua Bank's Club Carefree 50 is teaming up with Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation's month-long "Have a Heart" campaign. Working with Lions Clubs across Oregon, Washington and California, Umpqua Bank will collect used eyeglasses, hearing aids and cell phones in an effort to address the number of unfulfilled requests for vision services and hearing ... [full story]

A driver remains in serious condition following an accident Friday evening involving two allegedly drunk drivers on Highway 213 in Mulino, about 25 miles south of Portland, Oregon State Police (OSP) reported.   Two allegedly drunk drivers crashed in Mulino Friday evening, seriously injuring one driver who was identified as Thomas A. Laron, 56, of Canby. Photos provided by OSP.   Thomas A. Larson, a 56-year old Canby resident, apparently pulled out in front of a 1999 Ford ... [full story]

Brian Stift - Photo courtesy Salem PD Ashley ColemanSalem Police are asking the public’s help in locating two subjects wanted for questioning in connection with numerous fraud incidents that occurred between Portland and Salem in November and December of 2006. Ashley Coleman, 20, and Brian Stift, 25, are wanted for questioning in several cases involving counterfeit checks that were passed at local businesses. The pair allegedly manufactured checks using victims’ bank accounts, passing them primarily at Fred ... [full story]

A Gresham man received non-life threatening injuries early Monday morning after he lost control of his car and crashed into a house in southeast Clackamas, Oregon State Police reported.  The driver, whose license was suspended for a prior drunk driving charge, was again cited for the same offense.   22-year old William Robert Madison IV of Gresham, Oregon was cited for drunk driving after he crashed his car through the side of a Clackamas home. OSP ... [full story]

Gerber Legendary Blades donates to “Catch-a-Dream” at Portland’s annual Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor (SHOT) Show  (Portland, Oregon) - The annual Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show, commonly known as the SHOT Show, draws thousands each day to see the latest and greatest in outdoor market products.  Gerber Legendary Blades not only experiences a packed floor, but for the third consecutive year Pete Gerber, whose father Joseph founded the company in 1939, was on hand to ... [full story]

Oregon parents with children in need of medical services or equipment not fully covered by health insurance can apply for a grant up to $5,000 from UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation. The UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF) is now offering support to meet the needs of children nationwide with assistance grants for medical services not fully covered by health insurance.  Parents and caretakers across the country will be eligible to apply for grants of up to $5,000 for health ... [full story]

Portland, Oregon - Oregon Health & Science University's nationally recognized steroid and substance abuse prevention programs for teen athletes, ATLAS and ATHENA, have been selected to receive a $1.2 million education grant from the National Football League and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) through the NFL Youth Football Fund.“We are thrilled to join with the National Football League's Youth Football Fund and NFL Players Association. Because of this partnership, thousands of young male and female ... [full story]

Oregon families are one step closer to relief from high cost of health care   Salem, Oregon—The House Health Care Committee today passed the Healthy Kids plan, which will help working families afford health insurance for their kids. The bill, HB 2201, was approved by a 5-4 party line vote, and will proceed to the House Revenue Committee for another round of hearings. “This is a huge step forward for Oregon’s working families,” said House Speaker ... [full story]

Detectives, forensic personnel, and medical examiners are investigating the suspicious death of an unidentified body found Friday morning in the Baldock Rest Area near milepost 282 off Interstate-5, and south of Wilsonville, Oregon State Police (OSP) reported. The body was found about 11:20 a.m. on Jan. 26 by an Oregon Department of Transportation employee who was performing maintenance duties near the rear parking lot in the south section of the rest area, said troopers.  The decomposed ... [full story]

The Oregon Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) adopted new administrative rules regarding Measure 37 claims Thursday during a regular meeting in Salem. Measure 37 is the property rights initiative that passed in November of 2004.  The new rules (Oregon Administrative Rules 660-041), which were adopted after a public hearing, will do three things: • Make permanent the temporary Measure 37 rules that LCDC adopted in November, 2006. Those rules clarify the requirements for the ... [full story]

A 41-year old Washington County, Oregon woman was arrested Thursday morning for suspected animal abuse and assaulting an officer when authorities seized 15 animals from a semi-truck trailer where the suspect was living -- including one dog whose muzzle she had tied shut, sheriff’s deputies reported.   Echo Chamberlin, WCJ Photo Animal Control officers and sheriff’s deputies from Washington County served an administrative search warrant at 20480 NW Pottery Lane in an unincorporated area of the county ... [full story]

Four men were rescued from the 58-foot fishing vessel, Starrigavin, after it wrecked on the south jetty of Tillamook Bay near Garibaldi, Oregon on Thursday night, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) public affairs office reported.  One of the crewmembers that was seriously injured, identified as Kenneth Russell Venard, 50, later died at Tillamook County General Hospital. The Thirteenth District Coast Guard Command Center was alerted to the incident at 9:25 p.m. when the vessel's emergency position indicating ... [full story]

Legislation would block the Pentagon’s sale of F-14 parts and equipment. Working to end the Iranian government’s acquisition of sensitive military equipment, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, introduced legislation Thursday that would prohibit the Pentagon from selling surplus parts and equipment for F-14 fighter aircraft. Wyden’s legislation would also prohibit the export of F-14 parts already sold. “There is no good reason for the United ... [full story]