North Douglas Herald
March 2024
Bipartisan Approval for Housing Package UCC Threat - Not Credible
$376M to ease Oregon housing crisis
Salem OR - A legislative housing
Bill intended to ease the state’s
housing crisis and build more homes
for teachers, nurses and firefighters
passed the statehouse on March 4th
and now awaits Governor approval.
The two measures, Senate Bill 1537
and 1530, were Democratic Gov.
Tina Kotek’s top priority for the 2024
legislative session and they passed
both chambers with bipartisan support.
Those two measures, along with
House Bill 4134, will send a total of
$376 million toward boosting housing
production, funding infrastructure
like roads and land acquisition and
supporting renters.
“Oregonians are struggling
under the pressure of an increasingly
unaffordable housing market,” Kotek
said in a statement. “After hearing
this concern directly from Oregonians
from across our state last year, I knew
we had to make major progress on
our housing crisis during this year’s
legislative session.”
During her first days in office,
she took an aggressive statewide
housing production goal of 36,000
new housing units a year — up from
the 22,000 or so Oregon builders were
creating. The latest funding package
builds on a $200 million package
legislators passed in the previous
legislative session to help fund
housing. This latest package includes
a $75 million dollar revolving loan
fund meant to help cities boost
affordable housing stock. It will create
a program to help local governments
offer interest-free loans in an effort to
build more moderate and affordable
home projects. Local jurisdictions
choose the project and can borrow
from the state fund to offer a grant to
local developments.
Rep. Pam Marsh, D-Ashland,
whose district was devastated by the
Almeda Fire in 2020, said the recovery
is slow due to thelack of housing in her
community.
Marsh states that, “Our
desperate lack of housing is inhibiting
recovery, undermining our workforce,
driving homelessness and despair, and
discouraging families from staying or
moving to the community”.
Rep. Maxine Dexter, D-Portland,
worked on the overall housing package
and said of the revolving loan portion
of the bill was “innovative” and
“visionary.”
The bills funnel money into a
wide range of projects, including $131
million for housing and homelessness
projects such as Project Turnkey, which
includes projects like buying hotels to
convert into emergency housing. State
lawmakers are putting an additional
$123.5 million to support shovel-
ready housing production for counties
to acquire land and develop properties.
Additionally, $24.5 million will be
reserved to provide air conditioners
and air filters on an emergency basis,
support warming and cooling shelters
and help support home improvements
to lower energy usage.
One of the initial sticking
points of the housing package was
the exemption to allow cities a
one-time opportunity to sidestep
state land-use laws and bring in
more than 100 acres for cities with
a population greater than 25,000
people and no more than 50 acres for
those with fewer than 25,000 people.
The bills passed with bipartisan
support.
“I believe this package
will make meaningful progress in
fixing our housing shortage while
also preserving our land use system
and ensuring strong environmental
protections,” Governor Kotek said in
a statement. “But this is not the finish
line.”
Man Sentenced in Eugene Man Shot in Trailer
Fired on Deputies at Traffic Stop
Eugene OR — A man who fired on
deputies during a traffic stop has been
sentenced, the Lane County Sheriff’s
Office reports.
In June 2023, Lane County Sheriff’s
Office deputies and detectives followed
an anonymous tip to the 23000 block
of Green Creek Road in Elmira. The
tip indicated Jason Scott Page was at a
residence in the area. Page was wanted
by LCSO for several crimes including
attempted murder. A sergeant observed
Page leaving in a vehicle and conducted
a traffic stop. Page fled the stop on foot
before shooting at deputies. After a
brief exchange of gunfire, Page was
taken into custody unharmed.
On February 28, 2024, Page pled
guilty to the following charges:
Attempted Murder
Assault in the First Degree
Felon in Possession of a Firearm
Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver
Reckless Driving
Page was sentenced to 10
years in the Oregon Department of
Corrections.
Suspect Unidentified
Florence OR — According to the Lane
County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) deputies
responded, with Florence Police to the
area of the Goose Pasture Staging Area,
on South Jetty Road, for a report of a male
who had been shot.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, deputies
responded to the scene at around 10:30
p.m. on Monday, February 26th and found
a man had been struck by gunfire while
inside his trailer, causing him significant
injuries. The man was transported to a
local hospital and is in stable condition.
Despite an “extensive follow up” on the
case, detectives have been unable to locate
a suspect.
Lane County Sheriff’s Office is asking for
the public’s help in identifying a suspect
involved in a shooting on Monday near
Good Pasture Staging Area on South
Jetty Road in Florence. The investigation
is ongoing, anyone who was in the area at
the time of the incident, or has information
related to this investigation, is asked by the
Lane County Sheriff’s Office to contact
Detective Hudson at 541-682-4150 option
1, and reference LCSO Case #24-0990.
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Originated Outside of United States
Roseburg OR - On Monday, February
26, 2024, the Sheriff’s Office was notified
by Umpqua Community College staff of a
security threat to the campus. In an effort
to prioritize the safety of students, staff and
faculty, the College elected to cancel all classes,
events, and activities until further notice.
The Sheriff’s Office is working in
partnership with the College regarding the
threat. There is an increased law enforcement
presence on the campus today.
“The Sheriff’s Office takes seriously
any threat directed toward the safety of our
schools, whether kindergarten or higher
education institutions,” Sheriff Hanlin said.
“The Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the
FBI, has determined the source of the email
originated from outside the country. At this
time the threatening email is not considered
credible, and there is no immediate threat to
the college.”
The specifics of the security threat will
not be released by the Sheriff’s Office in order
to protect the integrity of the investigation.
“We are committed to taking all necessary
precautions to ensure safe learning and working
environments for everyone. We understand that
this closure may cause inconvenience to the
academic and personal lives of our community,
and we appreciate your cooperation and
understanding,” said UCC President, Dr.
Rachel Pokrandt.
Anyone with information may contact
the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office at 541-
440-4471.
3 Roseburg Men Arrested
Burglary and Kidnapping
Riddle OR - Three Roseburg men were
arrested for Burglary, Kidnapping and a
number of other crimes.
On Friday, February 16, 2024, around
10:00 a.m., 9-1-1 dispatchers received a
report of a disturbance in the 200-block of
Maple Street in Riddle. Callers were reporting
a physical disturbance where three men were
assaulting another. One caller reported that
the men were applying zip-ties to the male
to restrain him.
Deputies arrived on scene and were
able to determine that 25-year-old Justin
Daniel Devlaeminck, 53-year-old Daniel
Terrance Devlaeminck, and 26-year-old
Austin Lee Lyman broke into a residence in
an effort to “evict” the 22-year-old victim.
Justin Devlaeminck pointed a firearm at
the victim and Daniel Devlaeminck broke a
window to the residence. All three suspects
entered the home and began to assault the
male victim who tried to escape, but was
pulled back. At one point, the victim was
able to break away and flee outside where the
three suspects captured him and continued
their assault and eventually used zip ties to
restrain him.
The victim was transported to Mercy
Medical Center by ambulance for treatment
of his injuries.
All three suspects were taken into
custody and transported to the Douglas
County Jail where they were lodged on the
following charges:
Daniel Devlaeminck: Burglary I,
Kidnapping I, Assault IV, Criminal Mischief
II
Justin Devlaeminck: Burglary I,
Kidnapping I, Assault IV, Menacing, Pointing
a Firearm at Another
Austin Lyman: Burglary I, Kidnapping I,
Assault IV
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by
the Myrtle Creek Police Department,
Umpqua Valley Ambulance and Riddle Fire
Department.
Page 3
Scammers Posing as
DCSO Employees
Douglas County OR - Scammers are posing
as officials from the Douglas County Sheriff’s
Office (DCSO) in an effort to scam community
members out of money. Deputies have once
again begun receiving reports from people
contacted by phone by individuals posing as
DCSO employees such as Lt. Brad O’Dell and
Retired Lt. Mike Root.
The scammer will tell the intended victim
they have missed some court appearance, owe
fines or have a warrant for their arrest and
then demands payment. The victim is often
directed to immediately make payment or they
face consequences including arrest. These are
tactics that are never utilized by legitimate law
enforcement agencies.
It is critically important for our community
to be aware of these tactics and to share
them with their friends and family members,
especially those who may be vulnerable to
falling victim to the scams, such as the elderly
members of the community. However, we also
wish to remind the community not to focus too
much on specific scam tactics; scammers often
change their methods over time:
Scammers can easily obtain new phone
numbers and will change them often.
Scammers may use “spoof” programs to
make the Caller ID show an agency’s actual
phone number.
Scammers may use the names of actual DCSO
employees to make the call seem legitimate.
Scammers may obtain personal information
about a victim online including their name,
address, phone number, and the names of others
in the home.
Scammers may initially contact victims by
mail, email, or through social media.
Due to the technology used in the scam – and
the fact that scammers can be located anywhere
in the world – it is virtually impossible to track
the scammers or to get money back.
“If anyone has any question about a possible
scam call, they should call dispatch at (541)
440-4471 and ask to speak to a deputy,” said
Lieutenant Brad O’Dell. “The most important
thing is to not send any money or agree to meet
someone to make payment.”
Missing Diver Found
Gardiner OR - The body of a Eugene man who
went missing after scuba diving in the Umpqua
River has been located.
On February 12, 2024, at approximately 8:
45 am, 9-1-1 dispatchers received a report of a
deceased body on the shore near Sparrow Park
Road.
Deputies along with Oregon State Troopers
responded to the area and confirmed the deceased
person to be 47-year-old Jeffery Scott Harris of
Eugene. Harris had
gone scuba diving in
the Umpqua River near
the mouth of the Pacific
Ocean in Winchester
Bay at approximately
12:30 p.m. on Sunday,
January 28, 2024.
Harris, who had previous
diving experience, had
not returned prompting
a call to emergency personnel. A large-scale
search took place to locate any signs of Harris, but
revealed no clues.
The Douglas County Medical Examiner’s
Office responded to the scene to investigate the
death. Harris’ next of kin has been notified. Foul
play is not suspected in this case.
The Sheriff’s Office had previously been assisted
by the United States Coast Guard, Oregon State
SAR Coordinator, CAHOOTS of Eugene, Lane
County Search and Rescue, Douglas County
Marine Patrol and Douglas County Search and
Rescue.