SAIF Corporation’s board of directors today declared a $100 million dividend for approximately 44,000 current and former customers.
Customers with policies that ended in 2009 are eligible for the dividend. Individual dividend information will be available to employers through SAIF’s website, saif.com, beginning December 1, 2010.
Checks will be mailed to eligible SAIF policyholders during December. Dividend amounts will range from 23.75 percent to 28.13 percent of premium.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
PUBLIC INVITED TO ASSIST IN NEW OR STATE FORESTER RECRUITMENT
Recruitment for a new Oregon state forester is underway, and Oregonians are invited to help by sharing their thoughts on the attributes they think the next state forester should have. The Board of Forestry has posted a brief survey online. It takes only a few minutes to complete and will help the board as it recruits candidates for this important position.
The survey can be found at: www.surveymonkey.com/s/DOF. It must be completed by Sunday, Dec. 12.
All responses to the survey will be compiled and used to develop an ideal candidate profile, which the board will reference throughout the selection process.
The board launched a plan last Friday to recruit candidates for the position, with a goal of having a new state forester onboard early next year.
The recruitment process includes the online survey to collect public input, as well as stakeholder and Oregon Department of Forestry employee forums with the finalists, and an opportunity for incoming Gov. Kitzhaber or his representative to meet with the finalists.
Nancy Hirsch, chief of ODF's State Forests Division, has been designated to serve as acting state forester until the position is filled.
Oregon's state forester carries out the Board's overarching policies through leadership of the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF). The state forester serves as director of the department, which provides services including preventing and fighting wildfires, managing state-owned forests, enforcing natural resource protection laws on private forestlands, advising landowners, and providing urban forestry assistance.
The agency has 647 employees and a two-year budget of $303 million.
The state forester also assists and represents the board and department in identifying and resolving policy issues and in working with interest groups, the state legislature, and others.
The survey can be found at: www.surveymonkey.com/s/DOF. It must be completed by Sunday, Dec. 12.
All responses to the survey will be compiled and used to develop an ideal candidate profile, which the board will reference throughout the selection process.
The board launched a plan last Friday to recruit candidates for the position, with a goal of having a new state forester onboard early next year.
The recruitment process includes the online survey to collect public input, as well as stakeholder and Oregon Department of Forestry employee forums with the finalists, and an opportunity for incoming Gov. Kitzhaber or his representative to meet with the finalists.
Nancy Hirsch, chief of ODF's State Forests Division, has been designated to serve as acting state forester until the position is filled.
Oregon's state forester carries out the Board's overarching policies through leadership of the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF). The state forester serves as director of the department, which provides services including preventing and fighting wildfires, managing state-owned forests, enforcing natural resource protection laws on private forestlands, advising landowners, and providing urban forestry assistance.
The agency has 647 employees and a two-year budget of $303 million.
The state forester also assists and represents the board and department in identifying and resolving policy issues and in working with interest groups, the state legislature, and others.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Coast Guard assists Tillamook County officials locate missing mushroom picker
The Coast Guard assisted the Tillamook County Sheriff’s Department in locating a missing 73-year-old man near Nehalem, Ore., Sunday.
Coast Guard Air Station Astoria, Ore., received a report that Lawrence Smith was missing at approximately 4 p.m., and launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew at 4:07 p.m. to conduct a search in the vicinity of Nehalem.
At 4:25 p.m. the helicopter crew was able to locate a man walking along a logging road near Highway 53 that matched Smith's description.
The crew passed on the location of the man to the Tillamook County Sherriff’s Department who directed a ground party to the site where they positively identified and recovered Smith.
The report was made to the Tillamook County Sherriff’s Department at noon after Smith went missing while picking mushrooms.
Coast Guard Air Station Astoria, Ore., received a report that Lawrence Smith was missing at approximately 4 p.m., and launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew at 4:07 p.m. to conduct a search in the vicinity of Nehalem.
At 4:25 p.m. the helicopter crew was able to locate a man walking along a logging road near Highway 53 that matched Smith's description.
The crew passed on the location of the man to the Tillamook County Sherriff’s Department who directed a ground party to the site where they positively identified and recovered Smith.
The report was made to the Tillamook County Sherriff’s Department at noon after Smith went missing while picking mushrooms.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Election Results for the Columbia Pacific Region
Oregon US and State Offices
Oregon US Democratic Senator Ron Wyden won handily over his Republican challenger Jim Huffman, with nearly 56% of the vote to Huffman's 41%.
Oregon 1st District US Representative David Wu has defeated challenger GOP Rob Cornilles, with nearly 55% of the vote over Cornilles nearly 43%.
Oregon 16th District Democratic State Senator Betsy Johnson will retain her seat, with nearly 55% of the vote over Republican Bob Horning's nearly 45%.
Oregon 31st District Democratic State Representative Brad Witt has defeated his Republican challenger Ed DeCoste with 57% of the vote over Decoste's nearly 43%.
In Oregon's 32nd District, Democrate Deborah Boone has retained her seat, with nearly 53% of the vote, over her challenger Republicn Lew Barnes 47%.
City of Astoria:
Mayor Willis Van Dusan will retain his seat, defeating his challenger Bonnie Wingard. Incumbent City Council member Arline LaMear has been elected to another term to the Ward 1 seat, defeating challenger Robert Howard with 78% of the vote to Howard's 20%
Newcomer Karen Mellin has defeated incumbent Ward 3 council member Blair Henninsgaard.
City of Warrenton:
Three term Mayor and Position 4 Commissioner Gil Gramson has lost his bid for re-election to area resident and construction buiness owner Mark Baldwin. Baldwin will take the position 4 commissioner's seat in January. The Board of Commissioners will then elect the new mayor.
Seaside School District
As of this morning's count, voters were supporting the tax measure by nearly 56% to 44%, with a vote count of 2,667 to 2,103.
Tillamook:
Suzanne Weber, a retired teacher with the Tillamook School District, is Tillamook’s first new mayor in 28 years. Weber has defeated her challenger, Joe Martin, with 759 to Martin’s 374,
Weber replaces Bob McPheeters, who announced in August that he would not be running for a 29th year as Tillamook’s mayor.
Rockaway Beach:
The coordinated campaign of Team Rockaway, has claimed victory in the mayor's race and also have filled the three seats up for election for the city council.
Last nights unofficial results reported in the Tillamook Headlight Herald, give challenger Dennis Porter 312 votes, beating out incumbent mayor Terry Walhood's 244 votes.
Walhood was appointed mayor in 2009 following the death of Ray McFarlane.
Jack McClave, was the top vote getter in the city council race, receiving 295 votes in the unofficial tally.
Rodney Breazile, will be seated on the council, after winning 263 votes.
Jon Orloff, , will also take a seat with 253 votes.
SW Washington State:
For US District 3 Representative: Republican Jamie Herrera: 53% of the vote, over Democrat Denny Heck's 47%
19th District SW Washington State Representative's Brian Blake and Dean Takko will retain their seats. Blake led challenger Tim Sutinen (R) with 53% of vote, 17,226 votes to Sutinen's 15,439.
Dean Takko will keep his seat after defeating Kelso Republican Kurt Swanson, 19,388 to 13,376 as of last night.
Pacific County:
Lisa Ayers will take the District 3 Pacific County Commissioner's seat, after defeating fellow Democrat Cathy Russ, 4,114 to 2,914.
Scott Johnson will be the new Pacific County Sheriff, after defeating long time incumbent and fellow Democrat John Didion.
Wahkiakum County:
Bill Coons, running as an independent, defeated incumbent County Assessor Sulema Zerr, 1,043 to 638.
Incumbent District 3 County Commissioner Blair Brady is well ahead of his challenger Lori Scott, as of last night's count, 925 to 746.
Current Undersheriff Jon Dearmore will become the new Wahkiakum County Sheriff, handily defeating his challenger Troy Norris, 1,398 to 259.
In the race for District 3 PUD Commissioner. Dennis Reid is ahead of incumbent Esther Gregg, with 850 votes over Gregg's 758 as of last nights count.
At posting time, there were still 205 votes to be counted in Wahkiakum County.
Oregon US Democratic Senator Ron Wyden won handily over his Republican challenger Jim Huffman, with nearly 56% of the vote to Huffman's 41%.
Oregon 1st District US Representative David Wu has defeated challenger GOP Rob Cornilles, with nearly 55% of the vote over Cornilles nearly 43%.
Oregon 16th District Democratic State Senator Betsy Johnson will retain her seat, with nearly 55% of the vote over Republican Bob Horning's nearly 45%.
Oregon 31st District Democratic State Representative Brad Witt has defeated his Republican challenger Ed DeCoste with 57% of the vote over Decoste's nearly 43%.
In Oregon's 32nd District, Democrate Deborah Boone has retained her seat, with nearly 53% of the vote, over her challenger Republicn Lew Barnes 47%.
City of Astoria:
Mayor Willis Van Dusan will retain his seat, defeating his challenger Bonnie Wingard. Incumbent City Council member Arline LaMear has been elected to another term to the Ward 1 seat, defeating challenger Robert Howard with 78% of the vote to Howard's 20%
Newcomer Karen Mellin has defeated incumbent Ward 3 council member Blair Henninsgaard.
City of Warrenton:
Three term Mayor and Position 4 Commissioner Gil Gramson has lost his bid for re-election to area resident and construction buiness owner Mark Baldwin. Baldwin will take the position 4 commissioner's seat in January. The Board of Commissioners will then elect the new mayor.
Seaside School District
As of this morning's count, voters were supporting the tax measure by nearly 56% to 44%, with a vote count of 2,667 to 2,103.
Tillamook:
Suzanne Weber, a retired teacher with the Tillamook School District, is Tillamook’s first new mayor in 28 years. Weber has defeated her challenger, Joe Martin, with 759 to Martin’s 374,
Weber replaces Bob McPheeters, who announced in August that he would not be running for a 29th year as Tillamook’s mayor.
Rockaway Beach:
The coordinated campaign of Team Rockaway, has claimed victory in the mayor's race and also have filled the three seats up for election for the city council.
Last nights unofficial results reported in the Tillamook Headlight Herald, give challenger Dennis Porter 312 votes, beating out incumbent mayor Terry Walhood's 244 votes.
Walhood was appointed mayor in 2009 following the death of Ray McFarlane.
Jack McClave, was the top vote getter in the city council race, receiving 295 votes in the unofficial tally.
Rodney Breazile, will be seated on the council, after winning 263 votes.
Jon Orloff, , will also take a seat with 253 votes.
SW Washington State:
For US District 3 Representative: Republican Jamie Herrera: 53% of the vote, over Democrat Denny Heck's 47%
19th District SW Washington State Representative's Brian Blake and Dean Takko will retain their seats. Blake led challenger Tim Sutinen (R) with 53% of vote, 17,226 votes to Sutinen's 15,439.
Dean Takko will keep his seat after defeating Kelso Republican Kurt Swanson, 19,388 to 13,376 as of last night.
Pacific County:
Lisa Ayers will take the District 3 Pacific County Commissioner's seat, after defeating fellow Democrat Cathy Russ, 4,114 to 2,914.
Scott Johnson will be the new Pacific County Sheriff, after defeating long time incumbent and fellow Democrat John Didion.
Wahkiakum County:
Bill Coons, running as an independent, defeated incumbent County Assessor Sulema Zerr, 1,043 to 638.
Incumbent District 3 County Commissioner Blair Brady is well ahead of his challenger Lori Scott, as of last night's count, 925 to 746.
Current Undersheriff Jon Dearmore will become the new Wahkiakum County Sheriff, handily defeating his challenger Troy Norris, 1,398 to 259.
In the race for District 3 PUD Commissioner. Dennis Reid is ahead of incumbent Esther Gregg, with 850 votes over Gregg's 758 as of last nights count.
At posting time, there were still 205 votes to be counted in Wahkiakum County.
Monday, November 1, 2010
OPEN ENROLLMENT STARTS TODAY FOR OREGON CHILDREN UNDER AGE 19
Oregon families that want to sign up children for an individual health insurance policy or change a child's coverage - can do so from now through Dec. 31. Children can no longer be turned down for health reasons.
Employer-based plans are already prohibited from denying coverage to children and adults based on health. Federal health reform extends this right to children who do not receive insurance through a parent's job and seek an individual policy directly from an insurance company.
However, insurers may limit enrollment to certain times of year so that parents do not wait until a child becomes sick to buy coverage, raising the costs of insurance for everyone.
"While children will be able to get an individual policy regardless of their health, parents need to be aware of new timelines," said Teresa Miller, administrator of the Insurance Division of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services.
The Department of Consumer and Business Services set an initial enrollment period from Nov. 1 through the end of 2010. After that, children may be enrolled in the months of February and August, starting with February 2011. These enrollment periods apply to all children seeking an individual policy, not just those with pre-existing conditions.
Coverage starts Jan. 1, 2011 for children enrolled during the Nov. 1-Dec. 31 period.
While two Oregon insurers have said they will no longer offer child-only policies, this type of policy remains available through other insurance companies. Children who are already enrolled in a child-only policy will not lose coverage.
Also, all of Oregon's largest health insurers continue to offer family plans in the individual market and will add children under 19 to these policies during open enrollment periods.
Options outside enrollment periods:
• Insurers must accept children under age 19 who meet certain qualifications throughout the year. These include birth or adoption, exceeding a policy's lifetime limit on benefits, or loss of other coverage due to separation, divorce, death, or end-of-dependent status.
• Insurers may choose to offer coverage to children outside open enrollment periods as long as they do not deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. Please check with each company to see if this option is available.
• Families may be able to obtain coverage for their children through Oregon Healthy Kids or the state's high-risk pools for people who cannot get coverage elsewhere. Call Healthy Kids at 1-877-314-5678. Learn more about the high-risk pools at 1-800-848-7280.
People with questions about these new enrollment periods may call Oregon insurance consumer advocates at 1-888-877-4894 or, in Salem, 503-947-7984.
In January 2014, insurers must also accept adults regardless of health and most people must purchase health insurance.
Employer-based plans are already prohibited from denying coverage to children and adults based on health. Federal health reform extends this right to children who do not receive insurance through a parent's job and seek an individual policy directly from an insurance company.
However, insurers may limit enrollment to certain times of year so that parents do not wait until a child becomes sick to buy coverage, raising the costs of insurance for everyone.
"While children will be able to get an individual policy regardless of their health, parents need to be aware of new timelines," said Teresa Miller, administrator of the Insurance Division of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services.
The Department of Consumer and Business Services set an initial enrollment period from Nov. 1 through the end of 2010. After that, children may be enrolled in the months of February and August, starting with February 2011. These enrollment periods apply to all children seeking an individual policy, not just those with pre-existing conditions.
Coverage starts Jan. 1, 2011 for children enrolled during the Nov. 1-Dec. 31 period.
While two Oregon insurers have said they will no longer offer child-only policies, this type of policy remains available through other insurance companies. Children who are already enrolled in a child-only policy will not lose coverage.
Also, all of Oregon's largest health insurers continue to offer family plans in the individual market and will add children under 19 to these policies during open enrollment periods.
Options outside enrollment periods:
• Insurers must accept children under age 19 who meet certain qualifications throughout the year. These include birth or adoption, exceeding a policy's lifetime limit on benefits, or loss of other coverage due to separation, divorce, death, or end-of-dependent status.
• Insurers may choose to offer coverage to children outside open enrollment periods as long as they do not deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. Please check with each company to see if this option is available.
• Families may be able to obtain coverage for their children through Oregon Healthy Kids or the state's high-risk pools for people who cannot get coverage elsewhere. Call Healthy Kids at 1-877-314-5678. Learn more about the high-risk pools at 1-800-848-7280.
People with questions about these new enrollment periods may call Oregon insurance consumer advocates at 1-888-877-4894 or, in Salem, 503-947-7984.
In January 2014, insurers must also accept adults regardless of health and most people must purchase health insurance.
The State of Oregon goes after Bear Stearns & Co.
Oregon Treasurer Ted Wheeler and Attorney General John Kroger today announced a lawsuit against former financial giant Bear Stearns & Co. to recover losses that were directly attributable to misleading filings in connection with mortgage-backed securities.
State Treasurer Ted Wheeler said, quote: “We believe that these junk investments were intentionally mislabeled and all Oregonians are still reeling from the economic fallout,” “If you hurt Oregonians financially, we are coming after you.” close quote.
The Oregon Public Employee Retirement Fund purchased over 57 million of the certificates in five different offerings in 2006 and 2007, at a price of $1 apiece – but the values of many of those securities dropped by more than half, according to the lawsuit.
The economic nosedive of 2007 and 2008 ultimately led to the demise of Bear Stearns. Rather than fall into bankruptcy, the company accepted a takeover bid by JP Morgan in 2008.
The lawsuit against Bear Stearns is Oregon’s second this year in connection with losses from misreported values of mortgage-backed securities. In July, the State Treasury authorized a lawsuit against Countrywide Financial Corp.
State Treasurer Ted Wheeler said, quote: “We believe that these junk investments were intentionally mislabeled and all Oregonians are still reeling from the economic fallout,” “If you hurt Oregonians financially, we are coming after you.” close quote.
The Oregon Public Employee Retirement Fund purchased over 57 million of the certificates in five different offerings in 2006 and 2007, at a price of $1 apiece – but the values of many of those securities dropped by more than half, according to the lawsuit.
The economic nosedive of 2007 and 2008 ultimately led to the demise of Bear Stearns. Rather than fall into bankruptcy, the company accepted a takeover bid by JP Morgan in 2008.
The lawsuit against Bear Stearns is Oregon’s second this year in connection with losses from misreported values of mortgage-backed securities. In July, the State Treasury authorized a lawsuit against Countrywide Financial Corp.
Astoria's Big Bang
The source of the unidentified report of an explosion in the downtown area of Astoria last Thursday has been identified. A painting and drywall business experienced a blown tire on their business vehicle. The driver of the vehicle advised that the noise was very loud and sounded like a shotgun blast, however he was not aware that it caused as much concern as it did until his father had read the report of the matter in the Daily Astorian. The driver left a voice mail on Friday evening to relate the source of the noise.
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