WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021 | SILVERTONAPPEAL.COM
PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK
Climate Protection Plan approved
Controversial program could increase
the price of fuel and consumer goods
Tracy Loew Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
Oregon policymakers have approved
the state’s Climate Protection Plan,
which aims to reduce the amount of
greenhouse gases and toxic pollutants
emitted in the state.
The controversial plan could in-
crease the price of fuel and consumer
goods in Oregon. But state officials say
it will pay off in better health for resi-
dents and will speed the switch to less-
polluting fuels.
Oregon now is the second state in
the nation to set enforceable limits on
greenhouse gas emissions from fossil
fuels, following California.
“This is a major victory for environ-
mental, climate justice and public
health advocates, in addition to every-
one and everything who breathes Ore-
gon's air,” Meredith Connolly, Oregon
Director for the nonprofit Climate
Solutions, said.
The complicated program, which
will begin next month, was developed
in just 18 months.
In March 2020, Gov. Kate Brown
signed an executive order directing the
state Department of Environmental
Quality to develop the plan, using its
existing authority. The order came after
Republicans twice blocked cap-and-in-
vest legislation, in 2019 and 2020, by
leaving the Capitol to avoid a vote.
See PLAN, Page 2A
FRETWELL MURDERS CHAPTER I
A life full of promise
Oregon now is the second state in the
nation to set enforceable limits on
greenhouse gas emissions from fossil
fuels, following California.
ANNA REED / STATESMAN JOURNAL
Accountability
from housing
agency sought
by lawmakers
Connor Radnovich
Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
Tiny
photographs
of Karissa
Fretwell
beaming and
holding her
son Billy were
handed out at
their July 7,
2019,
celebration of
life. CAPI
LYNN/STATESMAN
JOURNAL
Capi Lynn, Virginia Barreda and Whitney
Woodworth Salem Statesman Journal | USA TODAY NETWORK
This is the first chapter in a four-part series
about the life and murder of Karissa Fretwell and
her 3-year-old son, Billy.
Karissa Alyn
Fretwell, 25, of
Salem, and her
three-year-old
son, William
(Billy) Fretwell
were reported
missing on
May 17, 2019.
A wooden plaque with a photograph of
Karissa Fretwell and her son, Billy, hangs
prominently on a wall in the office at Mor-
rison Campus Alternative School in Dal-
las. h In one of the classrooms, a drawing
of Karissa’s childhood home graces the
wall next to the bookcase. h She graduat-
ed from Morrison nearly a decade ago, but
left an impression.
Karissa survived her troubled teen years to be-
come an inspiration for young women and single
mothers, working part-time jobs, attending college
and caring for a toddler. But she struggled.
When she finally did seek help, it may have cost
them their lives.
The disappearance of Karissa, 25, and Billy, 3, in
2019 gripped the community. Two years later, Billy’s
Divine
Distiller’s
holiday
special this
year is
Coquito,
sometimes
referred to
as Puerto
Rican
eggnog.
JASON
GREENWOOD/
SALEM POLICE
DEPARTMENT
biological father is still awaiting trial for their mur-
ders.
Their tragic deaths are only part of their story.
Teenage struggles
Karissa was born in Colorado and lived for a
while in North Dakota. She was 14 when she lost her
father, whom she called her best friend. Some of her
troubles as a teen may have surfaced after his death
in 2007.
She moved to Oregon and attended Dallas High
See PROMISE, Page 4A
Season’s eatings
Calls for accountability from Oregon Housing and
Community Services grew louder during the Oregon
Legislature’s special legislative session last week,
with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle seeking
oversight or new leadership at the agency.
Lawmakers were back in the Oregon Capitol to ex-
tend the state’s eviction “safe harbor” for those who
have applied for rental assistance and allot $215 mil-
lion in state and federal dollars toward supporting
landlords and tenants. Gov. Kate Brown signed all
four bills.
Sen. Kayse Jama, D-Portland, and Rep. Julie Fa-
hey, D-Eugene, sent a letter to Secretary of State She-
mia Fagan during the proceedings, requesting a per-
formance audit of the agency and its distribution of
hundreds of millions of dollars in state and federal
rental assistance.
While the pair wrote that they understood the un-
precedented pressure the state placed on OHCS dur-
ing the fallout of the pandemic-related economic re-
cession, they said they are “deeply troubled” by the
technical challenges, lack of communication and
slow disbursement of aid that plagued the agency.
“We have an obligation to hold agencies account-
able for how they implement programs and deliver
services – especially when implementation prob-
lems could lead to such a potentially tragic result for
so many Oregonians,” Fahey and Jama wrote.
Oregon Housing and Community Services
spokeswoman Delia Hernandez said the agency
would be willing to participate in an audit.
“Any type of review or audit is welcome,” she said.
Meanwhile, top Republicans called for Gov. Kate
Brown to replace Margaret Salazar as executive di-
rector of the agency and laid the blame at the feet of
Democrats for allowing problems to persist.
These issues become only more important to ad-
dress now, they said, after the Legislature voted to
give the agency an additional $215 million.
“Democrat state leaders have not addressed the
numerous errors and mistakes at OHCS that are hurt-
ing Oregonians,” House Republican Leader Vikki
Breese-Iverson, R-Prineville, said in a statement.
“House Republicans urge significant changes to
these agencies under Democrat control. We call on
the governor to dramatically increase oversight to en-
sure this money gets to real people in need.”
An estimated 8,000 Oregonians are at risk of evic-
tion for non-payment of rent due to the COVID-19
pandemic and the state’s housing agency has been
unable to process their applications within the cur-
rent 60-day window.
Under the bills – which passed the Legislature
with bipartisan support – tenants won’t be evicted
for non-payment for as long as their rental assistance
applications are pending, until June 30, 2022.
The state’s slow processing of applications has re-
sulted in thousands of renters being evicted while
waiting for the money they and their landlords are
due. The state’s 60-day “safe harbor” period became
law in June and was quickly proven to be inadequate.
See HOUSING, Page 1A
Em Chan Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
With Christmas and New Years just around the
corner, it’s the perfect time to get some food gifts to
share — or savor by yourself. These local options are
perfect stocking stuffers or general gifts for friends
and family alike.
And if nothing at this list sticks out as the best pre-
sent, a good old fashioned gift card or certificate to
their favorite restaurant(s) are always a great way to
DIVINE
DISTILLERS
See GIFTS, Page 3A
Vol. 141, No. 1
Online at SilvertonAppeal.com
News updates: h Breaking news h Get updates from
the Silverton area
Photos: h Photo galleries
Serving the Silverton
Area Since 1880
A Unique Edition of
the Statesman Journal
QEAJAB-07403y
Oregon state Representatives congregate in the
House during a special legislative session at the
Oregon State Capitol in Salem.
BRIAN HAYES / STATESMAN JOURNAL