Get email updates Sheriff’s Office arrests 25 in retail crime mission; $4,500 in stolen merchandise recovered officers and investigators from the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office led a retail crime mission focusing on multiple retailers on SE 82nd Ave in unincorporated Clackamas County near SE Johnson Creek Blvd. CCSO was assisted in this mission by investigators from the Molalla and West Linn Police Departments law enforcement contacted individuals suspected of theft and other crimes as they exited retailers in this area The mission led to 25 arrests on a range of charges the location of 124 stolen items valued at more than $4,500 as well as the clearance of 24 arrest warrants. Several of the subjects taken into custody were found in possession of Methamphetamine and Fentanyl One of the subjects taken into custody for theft was found to have committed 12 prior reported thefts from the same retailer since November of 2024 totaling nearly $1,300 That subject had been unidentified from the prior reported theft incidents but due to being taken into custody during this mission he was identified and those additional incidents are being submitted to the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution Another subject taken into custody during the mission committed the theft of more than $300 worth of merchandise from a retailer. That subject was found to have committed several prior thefts from retailers and liquor stores within Clackamas County in 2024 totaling over $1,900. Those incidents from 2024 are currently under review by the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office A Sheriff’s Office Property & Evidence Technician played an important role in cataloging and processing recovered items of evidence A dedicated dispatcher from Clackamas 9-1-1 (C-COM) provided communications assistance Thursday’s mission was funded in part by the Organized Retail Theft (ORT) Grant Program, created by Oregon Senate Bill 900 (2023) and administered by the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office was awarded funds for FY2024-25 which helps fund staffing and equipment for law enforcement missions and other efforts to combat organized retail theft and hold those offenders accountable Additional missions are planned in the future Public Information OfficerClackamas County Sheriff’s OfficeCommunications Unit SIGN UP for ClackCo Sheriff News Releases in your inbox: Click Here Popular Sheriff's Office Services A Safe Place: Family Justice Center for Clackamas County Leadership Team Concealed Handgun Licenses Reports 2025 7:05 p.m.The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office said deputies on Sunday recovered the body of 20-year-old Marcelus Angelo Rodriguez who had been missing since last month.In this photo provided by Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office on April 12 emergency crews search for a missing kayaker on the Willamette River Courtesy of Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Investigators have recovered the body of a 20-year-old man who went missing while kayaking in the Willamette River last month when witnesses said he went over Willamette Falls in a kayak and did not resurface The kayak he was in was found the next day near Elk Rock Island about 7 miles downstream of Willamette Falls in an undated photo provided by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Courtesy of Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office was called to reports of a body along the shore of the river just north of Meldrum Bar Park in Gladstone The area is only about 2 miles downstream from the falls the Clackamas County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed it was Rodriguez and notified his family This was the eighth body recovered from the Willamette River or Columbia River in the Portland area since the beginning of April according to Deputy John Plock with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office The sheriff’s office does not believe there is suspicious activity connected to any of the deaths there are two factors that contribute to people discovering human remains in waterways: increased water temperatures and increased water activity “Warmer water accelerates the natural decomposition process which can cause bodies to rise to the surface more quickly,” he said more individuals engage in activities on and near the water This increased presence of people leads to a higher likelihood of previously undiscovered remains being observed and reported.” the river patrol unit takes it to the medical examiner’s office where the cause of death is determined and the body is identified Tags: Willamette River Stand with OPB and protect independent journalism for everyone Listen to the OPB News live stream (opens new window)Streaming Now The area is only about 2 miles downstream from the falls.","type":"text"},{"_id":"RBJXLDEIBJECFAST2SW5GHJPYU","additional_properties":{},"content":"Responding deputies confirmed the report ","type":"text"},{"_id":"TMV7KWNPR5GUHLYHAFLQ7OQJXQ","additional_properties":{},"content":"On Monday afternoon the Clackamas County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed it was Rodriguez and notified his family.","type":"text"},{"_id":"EXP4CQFGCZCJHF4LBBXIGWG3SY","additional_properties":{},"content":"This was the eighth body recovered from the Willamette River or Columbia River in the Portland area since the beginning of April according to Deputy John Plock with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office.","type":"text"},{"_id":"TI44FKLOZ5E55IKYPSTFHAEXTY","additional_properties":{},"content":"“Since April 1 though it is tragic.”","type":"text"},{"_id":"EHTHDP3CV5EOJEIIBOM54KP7KQ","additional_properties":{},"content":"The sheriff’s office does not believe there is suspicious activity connected to any of the deaths or any connections between the cases.","type":"text"},{"_id":"Q442UHQKTZENDOGXIABMPS22HQ","additional_properties":{},"content":"Plock said around this time of year there are two factors that contribute to people discovering human remains in waterways: increased water temperatures and increased water activity.","type":"text"},{"_id":"SJO43CEPQZDM5OUXQZF2OMNN2I","additional_properties":{},"content":"“Warmer water accelerates the natural decomposition process This increased presence of people leads to a higher likelihood of previously undiscovered remains being observed and reported.”","type":"text"},{"_id":"74JYRKQYYZH6LNLUUQ6JHKFMLA","additional_properties":{},"content":"When a body is recovered in the river Before that he spent more than 10 years on the digital team at Portland TV station KGW (home of Cheap Trick!) in 2004 and graduated from Portland State University in 2008 \nHe’s been a news anchor/writer/reporter/editor in Portland since 2006 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clackamas Progress Partners (CPP) a Fengate Asset Management-led (Fengate) consortium today announced the completion and handover of the new Clackamas County Circuit Courthouse – the first courthouse to be delivered as a public-private partnership (P3) in Oregon and Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) (services provider) – joined client Clackamas County and public officials on site for a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the new 257,000-square-foot courthouse Fengate Project Executive for the Clackamas County Circuit Courthouse Replacement Project “The new Clackamas County Circuit Courthouse is the epitome of P3 success – complex public infrastructure delivered efficiently and collaboratively with our public sector partners We are grateful to our valued trade partners for their hard work to deliver this state-of-the-art courthouse on schedule for the Clackamas County community Our P3 team is honored to have brought this decades-long vision to life for Clackamas County and we congratulate our client on the official opening of their new home of justice.” Fengate is managing this investment on behalf of Fengate Infrastructure Fund IV and its affiliated entities including an investment by the LiUNA Pension Fund of Central and Eastern Canada Senior Project Manager at PCL Construction “Delivering the Clackamas County Circuit Courthouse was a true team effort – one that reflects the power of partnership our focus was on creating a high-performing enduring facility for the County and the justice system it supports Thanks to our subtrade and design partners whose collaboration made this vision a reality.” President and Chief Executive Officer of Honeywell’s Building Automation segment “The innovative Honeywell automation solutions being used in this new home for justice will help ensure a more efficient and secure environment for Clackamas County residents PCL Construction and DLR Group for the commitment and collaboration that led to the on-time grand opening of this state-of-the-art facility.” Northwest Region Leader and Principal at DLR Group “We didn’t just want to build a courthouse Every aspect of the building focuses on the people within the space from citizens coming to have one of their most important moments to the staff who spend every day in the building.” A landmark for sustainable civic infrastructure the facility targets LEED Gold certification and is expected to achieve an annual greenhouse gas reduction of 62.2% during operations With several environmental and social impact accolades the award-winning facility demonstrates how successful collaboration between the public and private sectors can revitalize and help decarbonize infrastructure in the United States The new facility meets the needs of Clackamas County's increasing population which has grown to 430,000 residents in 2025 from less than 50,000 residents in 1936 when the original courthouse was built Designed to serve the community for decades to come the courthouse improves the efficiency and safety of the local judicial system with 16 modern courtrooms district attorney offices and safe corridors for courthouse users and maintain the new courthouse for a 30-year period The partner companies have completed more than 40 courthouse construction projects across their combined portfolios Further information about the new Clackamas County Circuit Courthouse is available here PCL is a group of independent construction companies that operates throughout the United States As one of the largest contracting organizations in North America PCL completes more than $8 billion USD in work annually The company’s 100% employee ownership model fuels a culture of commitment for clients in the buildings With a strategic presence in more than 30 major centers PCL’s leadership teams consistently drive innovation and set new benchmarks for excellence bringing unparalleled skill to every project DLR Group is an integrated design firm delivering architecture and building optimization for new construction Our promise is to elevate the human experience through design This promise inspires sustainable design for a diverse group of public and private sector clients; local communities; and our planet DLR Group is 100 percent employee-owned and fully supports the initiatives and goals of the 2030 Challenge and is an initial signatory to the China Accord and the AIA 2030 Commitment Maddison SharplesVice President, Communications and Marketing+1 416 254 3326maddison.sharples@fengate.com who has been reported missing and is considered endangered Charlotte was last seen on the evening of Friday She is described as a white female with a medium build standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 130 pounds (KATU) — The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office is actively searching for Charlotte Fosgate Authorities have expressed concern for Charlotte's well-being as she has been diagnosed with significant mental health issues and could pose a danger to herself It is noted that she did not take her prescribed medications with her Charlotte has a transit pass and may be using public transportation with her family believing she might be in the Portland area The Sheriff's Office urges anyone who locates Charlotte to contact their non-emergency line at 503-655-8211 Additionally, those with information about Charlotte's whereabouts are encouraged to reach out to the Sheriff's Office Tip Line at 503-723-4949 or submit tips via the online email form at clackamas.us/sheriff/tip Sheriff’s Office Searching for Missing Teenager from Oak Grove The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a missing and endangered teenager from the Oak Grove area was last seen late in the evening on Friday Charlotte is described as a white female with a medium build Charlotte has been diagnosed with significant mental health issues and could be a danger to herself She did not take prescribed medications with her She has a transit pass and may be using public transportation Her family believes she may be somewhere in the Portland area please contact the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at 503-655-8211 ADDITIONAL TIPS & INFORMATION WANTED: Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Office Tip Line -- by phone at 503-723-4949 or by using the online email form at: http://www.clackamas.us/sheriff/tip 2025 8:55 p.m.Fireside was elected in November but resigned last month amid felony charges of theft and forgery.Melissa Fireside pictured during her run for Clackamas County's board of commissioners She has been charged with eight felony counts Clackamas County announced Thursday that 59 applicants sought to replace Melissa Fireside, the county commissioner who resigned amid felony theft and forgery charges mere months into her tenure The county said it will consider five finalists: Metro Councilor Christine Lewis former Lake Oswego City Councilors Jeff Gudman and Jackie Manz; former Damascus Mayor Diana Helm and Happy Valley Mayor Tom Ellis The current four-person board of commissioners selected the finalists at a meeting Thursday The board will interview the candidates May 19 and expects to make a decision that day The replacement will be on the commission through 2026 In 2026 another election will determine who will serve the remainder of Fireside’s four-year term Fireside faces felony theft and forgery charges a Democrat who was elected to office in November is accused of stealing $30,000 from an 83-year-old man She’s also accused of forging the signature of another Democratic lawmaker but he remained on the board until losing to Fireside in November The Wilsonville Spokesman first reported Lewis’ candidacy for the commission Lewis represents District 2 on the Metro council She was first elected to the Metro council in 2018 and was reelected in 2022 Gudman was a Democratic candidate for Oregon State Treasurer in 2024 Tags: Clackamas County, Clackamas, Politics, Crime Clackamas County Elections Opens Voter Service Location Inside the Happy Valley Library for May 20 OR – Clackamas County Elections will open the pop-up vote center inside the Happy Valley Library starting Monday May 5 for voters needing assistance for the May 20 The Happy Valley Vote Center provides a closer choice for voters in Happy Valley Clackamas County Elections Office in Oregon City or the Happy Valley Vote Center Each voter service location is staffed by sworn election officials “Clackamas County Elections increases access to voting services with the Happy Valley Vote Center,” Clerk Catherine McMullen shared “making it possible for every eligible voter to be able to vote hassle-free.”  Clackamas County Elections mailed ballots April 30. Voters can sign up for Track Your Ballot to know when their ballot is mailed, and once returned when it was received and accepted for counting. Voters can sign up at clackamas.us/elections/track-your-ballot Voters should reach out and contact the elections office if they have not received their ballot by May 8 Already Registered Voters Can Update Their Voter Registration Information Until 8 p.m need to update their residence or mailing address or have changed their name are permitted to update their voter registration information until 8 p.m Voters that are active or inactive can take steps to update their voter registration record and receive a ballot for the May 20 Return your ballot by mail or to an official ballot drop site.  ballots can be mailed back with a valid postmark or returned to an Official Ballot Drop Site by 8 p.m We recommend mailing your ballot back no later than Friday Return your ballot to an Official Ballot Drop Site after that date.  Clackamas County Elections has 25 Official Ballot Drop Sites open across the county, listed in the County Voters’ Pamphlet and also online clackamas.us/elections/official-ballot-drop-sites The ColtonTel official ballot drop site is temporarily closed due to construction at that location through December 2025 and Colton residents should choose any alternate location For more voter information about the upcoming election, visit Ready. Set. Vote! A Voter’s Guide to the May 20, 2025 Special District Election (available in English plus six languages). To learn more about voting and elections in Clackamas County, visit clackamas.us/elections Contacts: Catherine McMullen, County Clerk and Justin Larsen, Elections Manager | countyclerk@clackamas.us or 503-655-8510 Procurement Process, Contracts and Grants CMap Contact the County Report a Hazard Public Records Request HIPAA/Privacy Concerns Civil Rights ACA Complaint Form Title VI Compliance Plan Website Privacy Media Contacts Chair Craig Roberts Commissioner Paul Savas Commissioner Martha Schrader Commissioner Ben West County Assessor/Tax Collector Bronson Rueda County Clerk Catherine McMullen District Attorney John Wentworth Justice of the Peace Karen Brisbin Sheriff Angela Brandenburg Treasurer Brian Nava Five candidates selected for consideration of vacant commissioner seat Five candidates have been selected for further consideration to fill the open seat on the Board of County Commissioners (Position 4) Fifty-nine candidates applied for the vacancy during a recruitment that closed April 9 Commissioners selected the five finalists: The remaining five candidates will interview before the board on Monday fourth floor of the Public Services Building where the Board is expected to make a decision Please note this is a change from the earlier schedule The interviews and deliberation will be televised live on the Clackamas County Government Channel and streamed on the county’s YouTube channel No public comment will be taken at this meeting Future updates to the process and timeline can be found on the County Commissioner Vacancy page Clackamas County Elections Mails Ballots to 319,750 Voters for the May 20 Clackamas County Elections Mails Ballots to 319,750 Voters for the May 20 Twenty-five Official Ballot Drop Sites open across the county; ColtonTel drop site is temporarily closed Clackamas County Elections begins to mail special district election ballots to the 319,750 registered voters in our county.  Voters should look for their ballot to arrive in a brightly colored 6-by-9-inch ballot packet with the “Official Election Mail” logo on the envelope.  Sign up for Track Your Ballot!  Track Your Ballot allows voters to follow their ballot from mailed to accepted This is an opt-in service that alerts voters via text Sign up to know when your ballot is mailed to you you’ll be alerted when it has been accepted for counting More than 56,000 Clackamas County voters have already signed up for this free service If you forget to sign your ballot envelope, or your signature does not match, we will notify you through the system, in addition to the required mailed letter. With Track Your Ballot you can take action that much sooner to ensure your vote can be counted. Your vote remains confidential.  Sign up online at clackamas.us/elections/track-your-ballot.  ballots can be mailed back with a valid postmark or returned to an official ballot drop site by 8 p.m Return your ballot to an official ballot drop site after that date.  Clackamas County Elections has 25 official ballot drop sites open across the county The ColtonTel official ballot drop site is temporarily closed due to construction at that location through December 2025 and Colton residents should choose any alternate location below. Those official ballot drop sites marked with an asterisk have drive-up ballot drop access Voters who have not received a ballot by May 8 should contact Clackamas County Elections for a replacement. Voters can email elections@clackamas.us or visit the office at 1710 Red Soils Court in Oregon City.  Clackamas County Elections will open a pop-up vote center inside the Happy Valley Library starting May 5 for voters needing assistance At the vote center citizens can replace a lost or damaged ballot get voting assistance if they have a disability get voting assistance in a preferred language For more voter information about the upcoming election, visit Ready. Set. Vote! A Voter’s Guide to the May 20, 2025 Special District Election (available in English plus six languages). To learn more about voting and elections in Clackamas County, visit clackamas.us/elections It's easy to take essential infrastructure services like wastewater treatment and traffic signals for granted when everything functions smoothly consider the consequences of not being able to flush your toilet or navigate safely on the roads you drive on daily.  Clackamas County works around-the-clock to provide safe roads and bridges and sewer infrastructure to protect your family’s health and our shared environment highlights the significant effort and resources required to maintain infrastructure essential for public health Here’s a look at how Clackamas County keeps the infrastructure you rely on safe every day of the year Clackamas Water Environment Services (WES) produces clean water protects water quality and recovers renewable resources We do this by providing wastewater services It's our job to protect public health and support the vitality of our communities Effective wastewater treatment is crucial in distinguishing our country from regions lacking reliable sewer systems which face risks of deadly diseases from contaminated water Thanks to advancements in wastewater treatment the average life expectancy in the United States has more than doubled to 78.8 years over the last 200 years We operate and maintain 360 miles of sewer systems and five wastewater treatment plants that serve nearly 200,000 customers these facilities treat seven billion gallons of wastewater annually WES converts materials that are traditionally regarded as waste into renewable energy and fertilizer we safeguard community water quality by implementing educational programs and maintaining stormwater facilities that help reduce pollution in our rivers The Department of Transportation and Development maintains 1,400 miles of county roads Staff regularly repair potholes and address road deterioration and water damage we keep 70,000 road signs and 165 traffic signals in good condition to keep you safe on the road we sweep the streets to allow stormwater drainage and improve public safety and water quality We also remove brush over a 250-mile area and maintain 46 miles of ditches to prevent flooding and erosion after heavy storms.  ensuring they remain strong and sturdy while preventing deterioration through regular painting and repairs Enjoy a scenic ride on the Canby Ferry and cross the Willamette River between Canby and Wilsonville/Stafford the ferry has been cherished by generations to appreciate its scenic and relaxing journey Clackamas County Parks operates 16 parks and four property holdings totaling 961 acres The county park staff maintains 226 campsites and the utility infrastructure needed to support these facilities Clackamas County Parks are spread throughout rural Clackamas County and offer various outdoor recreational activities These parks provide access to the Willamette The North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District (NCPRD) helps people live healthy lives through offering parks and recreational activities It serves over 105,000 residents in Milwaukie and the surrounding unincorporated areas of Clackamas County © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices 2025): Body recovered near Meldrum Bar Park identified as missing kayaker the Clackamas County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the identity of the body recovered from the Willamette River on Sunday as 20-year-old kayaker Marcelus Angelo Rodriguez who had been missing since April 12th after going over Willamette Falls the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to reports of a body found along the shore of the Willamette River Deputies quickly responded to the location and observed the body in a difficult to reach location along the shoreline The Marine Unit was able to access the location using boats and recover Marcelus The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the identity of the kayaker who went missing in the Willamette River on April 12 Investigators learned Marcelus and his family were on vacation and arrived in the area on Saturday evening Marcelus was last seen kayaking in the area and may not have known the falls were there multiple 911 callers reported observing a kayaker in distress on the Willamette River just upstream of Willamette Falls in Oregon City was seen going over the falls and did not resurface Initial search operations included multiple agencies on the water and in the air with support provided by a U.S Coast Guard helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft from the Portland Police Bureau The Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit is continuing to search the river to bring closure to Marcelus’ family.  are truly devastated by the tragic event that unfolded this past Saturday in the Willamette Falls area and we would not wish this experience on anyone Our family is making every effort to heal and come to terms with our loss.  We would like to first warn others to always be aware of their surroundings and to NEVER enter this river without wearing a life jacket or as the forces of nature can quickly become overwhelming and deadly.  We extend our sincere gratitude to the teams of first responders who rushed to our aid and continue to search for our boy We also thank the locals and fishermen out on the water who have been watchful and helpful during this difficult time The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office has treated us with care and compassion and we are forever grateful for their efforts.  We hope that this tragic accident can be avoided in the future for other families May God keep watch over Marcelus and bless him always.” Search and rescue efforts resumed for the missing kayaker Sunday morning Members of the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office and the Lake Oswego Fire Department are actively involved in the ongoing operation Coast Guard located the missing subject’s blue hard-shell kayak The kayak was then recovered by members of the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit Search efforts remain underway this afternoon with the continued use of both marine and aerial drone resources Clackamas Search and Rescue (CSAR) volunteers have also joined the search the identity of the missing man is not being released The family has respectfully requested privacy and has requested no contact from the media Emergency responders from the Clackamas County Water Rescue Consortium and the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit quickly initiated a coordinated search effort They were supported on land by additional personnel from the Sheriff’s Office Search efforts are resuming Sunday morning The missing individual was last seen operating a blue hard-shell kayak His identity is being withheld pending further developments The Sheriff’s Office will release additional updates when available The Clackamas County Water Rescue Consortium is a collaborative partnership between the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer
Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office
Communications Unit SIGN UP for ClackCo Sheriff News Releases in your inbox: Click Here KOIN.com Ribbon cut on new $313M Clackamas County Courthouse VIDEO: Motorcyclist ‘intentionally’ sideswiped in Hwy 26 hit-run Mia Villanueva joins KOIN 6 News as the new 4pm anchor Bodies found in Portland rivers ‘pretty normal occurrence’ Mayor’s Portland budget: ‘Back to basics,’ ‘no easy answers’ Indigenous people ‘matter and are not disposable’ The body of a kayaker from California who went over Willamette Falls in April was found early Sunday afternoon the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office said VIDEO: Driver 'intentionally' sideswipes motorcycle on Hwy 26 before fleeing Auto prowling incident now tied to Vancouver weekend shooting Check Your Voter Registration before the April 29 Deadline OR – County Clerk Catherine McMullen reminds voters that Tuesday April 29 is the Voter Registration Deadline for the May 20 To be eligible to register to vote in Oregon Oregon voters with a valid Oregon driver's license or ID card can register online at OregonVotes.gov If you do not have a valid or current Oregon license or ID card you will need to fill out a paper Oregon Voter Registration Card Paper registration cards are available at the U.S and the Clackamas County Elections Oregon City office.  If you are already registered to vote we ask that you check that your address and name are up to date in your voter registration record. Voters can update their information online at OregonVotes.gov or with an Oregon Voter Registration Card The Clackamas County Elections office will be open late on Tuesday April 29 to assist voters with any voter registration or elections questions.  The office is located at 1710 Red Soils Ct All Clackamas County registered voters will begin receiving ballots for the May 20 2025 Special District Election starting April 30 If you have not received your ballot by May 8 please contact Clackamas County Elections If you will be away from home on Election Day you can request an absentee ballot Absentee ballots can be mailed to your temporary address or picked up at the Oregon City elections office Contact Clackamas County Elections to request an absentee ballot Clackamas County Voters’ Pamphlet Arrives in Homes this Week The Clackamas County Voters’ Pamphlet is set to arrive in homes across the county starting April 22.  The county pamphlet includes candidate and measure statements for local contests and measures. You can also view the voters’ pamphlet online at www.clackamas.us/elections/may-20-2025-special-district-election you can sign up to receive ballot alerts via text be alerted when it has been received and then accepted for counting Your vote remains anonymous and confidential Sign up online for Track Your Ballot at clackamas.us/elections/track-your-ballot Clackamas County Elections will open a pop-up vote center inside the Happy Valley Library starting May 2 for voters needing assistance Catherine McMullen, County Clerk and Justin Larsen, Elections Manager | countyclerk@clackamas.us or 503-655-8510 Candidates sought for County Commissioner vacancy -- The Board of County Commissioners is seeking applications to fill the vacancy for County Commissioner Applications are being taken starting today To serve as a county commissioner in Oregon candidates must meet the following minimum qualifications: The Board may choose to consider the following additional criteria in the selection process: Interested parties can submit cover letter and resume at  www.clackamas.us/bcc/appointment applicants are being asked to answer the following questions: Position 4 seat has a term that runs through December 2028 The Board will appoint an individual to serve in the role until December 2026 The office will then be elected for an unexpired 2-year term at the General Election on Nov Filing will open in September 2025 for the unexpired term The Board has indicated that finalists for the seat will be interviewed at a public meeting before formalizing the appointment Applications submitted for the vacancy are subject to public disclosure under Oregon law Anyone with questions about the appointment process or potential applicants without internet access can contact Caroline Hill at Clackamas County Administration at 503-655-8261 Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth issues update on retail theft prosecutions -- Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth has issued the following statement regarding retail theft prosecutions by his office: Clackamas County law enforcement agencies periodically conduct retail theft missions targeting shoplifters who steal from local businesses my office vigorously prosecutes the retail theft cases referred to us in partnership with local police departments arrested 30 people for theft during a two-day investigation It takes time for criminal cases to work their way through the judicial process I want you to know the outcome of these 30 cases as of April 21 one person was arrested on an outstanding warrant for theft and pleaded guilty to the charge The adult arrestees were charged with Theft in the Second Degree (value of items taken was $100 or more but less that $1,000) or Theft in the Third Degree (value of items taken was less than $100.) Theft in the Second Degree is a Class A misdemeanor with a penalty of up to 364 days in jail and a $6,250 fine Theft in the Third Degree is a Class C misdemeanor with a penalty of up to 30 days in jail and a $1,250 fine Some of these offenders were charged with drug possession Some had pending cases or were wanted on warrants in other Oregon counties and some have numerous prior arrests for theft Here are a few of the defendants arrested in December: The Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office acknowledges the work of the many law enforcement agencies that participated in the December retail theft mission: the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office West Linn Police Department and the Oregon Department of Justice The retail theft mission was funded in part by the Organized Retail Theft (ORT) Grant Program created by Oregon Senate Bill 900 (2023) and administered by the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office was awarded $686,000 for FY2024-25 I will continue to update you on how my office deals with cases arising from these on-going retail theft missions Clackamas County's public services building Fifty-nine people applied for the open seat on the board of commissioners Former Commissioners Mark Shull and Ken Humberston did not make the cut for the $130,213-a-year-post The board settled instead on Happy Valley Mayor Tom Ellis; former Damascus mayor Jeff Gudman; Metro Councilor Christine Lewis; and former Lake Oswego councilor The finalists were pulled from a ranking of 11 top candidates who had the most support from the four commissioners Helm and Ellis were the only candidates with support from three of the commissioners The board spent the meeting deciding on the other three finalists “Appointing an individual to fill the current vacancy .. is one of the most important decisions this board will make,” said Chair Craig Roberts “We’ve all dedicated a significant amount of time reviewing the applications in order to make an informed thoughtful decision that best serves Clackamas County.” The finalists will take part in public interviews on May 19 The commission does not plan to hear public comment during the meeting Commissioner Paul Savas said the task ahead will be a difficult one “because you will be saying yes to one and you’ll be saying no to 58 other than filling the position on behalf of the county.” He didn’t refer to Shull or Humberston by name but referenced their interest in the opening He said both have experience but lost their reelection bids “Because it is not clear why the voters did not support their reelections the will of voters cannot be ignored,” he said Commissioner Ben West said he sought candidates who could bring stability to the board after the tumult of Fireside’s brief tenure “Where can there be collaboration between this current board to find common ground to lower the controversy and to bring us all moving forward and out of this to do the work without distraction?” he said during the meeting Fireside resigned last month and pleaded not guilty to an eight-count indictment accusing her of forging signatures in an alleged loan scheme that targeted an 83-year-old man and state Rep Fireside beat first-time incumbent Shull to take her first elective office Shull himself was tainted by scandal when his derogatory social media posts came to light Each candidate for Fireside’s vacant seat submitted an application that identified the most pressing issues facing the county and detailed what they would bring to the board transportation and housing infrastructure and budgeting are the top challenges “We need to implement more professional treatment and recovery programs to enable these residents of our county to become productive members of society,” he wrote he works as a contractor and previously operated a country western bar economic development and labor relations as the top issues before the county “The policies for these three issues and for all county efforts must be good for the County must be environmentally sound and must be equitable with the goal of creating a robust economy that produces generous social support,” he wrote Gudman has an extensive business background Manz’s application identified transportation homelessness and public safety as priorities the foundation of good governance lies in public safety and support for those on the margins,” she wrote she said she works as a hospitality consultant affordability and infrastructure as top issues facing the county “I’m ready to hit the ground running on day one,” she wrote in a letter to the board that detailed her volunteer and political experience She works as executive director of the Portland Urban Debate League and has an extensive background in public policy having served as a policy director in Portland and as deputy legislative director for Gov Helm said the top issues are housing insecurity and homelessness jobs and industrial land and transportation as well as the pressure of inflation on the county’s ability to maintain services “I’m particularly drawn to the health and human services aspect of the County and how it cares for our most vulnerable amongst us,” she told the board in her application she manages a portfolio of commercial and residential properties — Noelle Crombie is an enterprise reporter with a focus on criminal justice. Reach her at 503-276-7184; ncrombie@oregonian.com Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) sentenced following Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office investigation The Clackamas County Interagency Task Force (CCITF) in collaboration with federal law enforcement partners led an investigation resulting in the arrest and conviction of a local fentanyl trafficker Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to an apparent fentanyl overdose death of a woman CCITF assisted in this investigation and investigators discovered she had been ordering fentanyl from multiple sources including a dealer identified as “Puma Fetty.” While authorities could not determine the exact source of the drugs that contributed to the victim’s death they continued their investigation into known suppliers CCITF investigators arranged a controlled purchase of fentanyl from “Puma Fetty.” When Axcel Antonio Medina-Martinez A search of his vehicle uncovered approximately 117 grams of fentanyl powder Medina-Martinez admitted he was delivering the drugs for a friend Medina-Martinez pleaded guilty on December 9 to federal charges of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon.  CCITF is comprised of members from the Canby Police Department CCITF is supported by our community with the passage of the Public Safety Levy and grant funding from the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program 2025 at 6:57 pm PDTMetro Councilor Christine Lewis has applied to fill the seat left vacant on the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners after Melissa Fireside resigned amid charges she stole $30,000 from an 83-year-old Lake Oswego man The four remaining commissioners will pick Fireside’s replacement from dozens of applicants including perennial candidate for state treasurer Jeff Gudman Lewis’ bid for commissioner was first reported by the Wilsonville Spokesman Councilor Lewis represents Metro District 2 Lewis is considered a strong contender for president of the Metro Council when Lynn Peterson finishes her second term in January 2027 a switch to county politics would be a step down The Metro president earns the same salary as an Oregon circuit court judge—currently $185,508 That number could go up if a bill aimed at raising judicial salaries passes in the Legislature this session Clackamas County commissioners are paid $130,213 says she is seeking the county job because it’s full time “I spend a large amount of my time working on things in tandem and collaboration with Clackamas and projects like Willamette Falls Locks,” Lewis said in an email “What I wish for most for the county is stability and thoughtful leadership I believe I would bring that plus competence and pragmatism.” The candidate selected for the Clackamas County vacancy will serve until December 2026 An election that November will determine who serves through the end of 2028 Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today. Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today. Sheriff’s Office arrests 25 people in latest retail crime mission; $4,700 in stolen merchandise recovered including a firearm the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office led a retail crime mission focusing on retailers at the Clackamas Promenade on SE Sunnyside Road in unincorporated Clackamas County law enforcement contacted individuals suspected of theft and other crimes as they exited stores along with others believed to be involved in criminal activity in the area The mission resulted in 25 arrests on a variety of charges and the recovery of more than $4,700 in stolen merchandise 16 outstanding arrest warrants were cleared Among those arrested was a juvenile found in possession of a handgun during a theft-related arrest Investigators also developed information about an active fencing operation involving a suspect who admitted stealing multiple items for the purpose of resale to this fencing operation A prolific organized retail theft suspect was also taken into custody on multiple outstanding warrants and was found to have committed a large-scale theft at Washington Square Mall in Tigard earlier that same day a woman was arrested for driving under the influence of intoxicants after stealing from Target and returning to her vehicle The mission was a coordinated effort involving patrol deputies and detectives from the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office in collaboration with officers and investigators from the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office Deputies from the Clackamas County Jail and Sheriff’s Office Property & Evidence Technicians played a key role in processing the numerous arrests and recovered items Clackamas 911 (CCOM) supported the mission by providing mobile dispatch services the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office has been partnering with local businesses and our local law enforcement partners to combat retail theft through similar missions Additional missions throughout Clackamas County are planned for the future Four sentenced to prison for February grocery store assault and robbery -- Four people who beat and robbed an Oak Grove grocery store manager in February pleaded guilty in Clackamas County Circuit Court for their roles in the attack and were sentenced to prison and David Brandon Harris assaulted the manager of the Grocery Outlet snacks and Red Bull energy drinks from the store Santos and Sterba punched the victim in the chest while Harris punched and kicked the victim in the head and ribs as he lay on the ground Steven Tyler Pierce threatened multiple witnesses and the store manager Pierce claimed he had a gun and would shoot them He reached into a sling-bag style satchel and acted as if he were about to make good on his threats Investigators found Pierce was carrying a spring-powered switchblade and a double-edged dagger Santos and Harris entered guilty pleas and were sentenced April 23 Pierce and Sterba entered pleas and were sentenced April 18 Sheriff’s Office seeks tips following robbery at Beavercreek Store Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a robbery call at the Beavercreek Store on South Beavercreek Road in unincorporated Clackamas County Two of the owners reported that they arrived at the store and found two individuals inside wearing dark clothing The two individuals appeared to have broken into the business by breaking the hinges on the plywood covering the front door The owners confronted the two suspects who were carrying large garbage bags full of merchandise The two suspects forced their out way past the owners The owners suffered non-life-threatening wounds on their arms and were transported to a local hospital for treatment Deputies used a K9 track team and drones to try and locate the two suspects One of the suspects dropped a bag of merchandise while making their escape It was filled with thousands of dollars worth of stolen vapes Detectives are looking for any tips from the community including any surveillance video in the area to help identify and locate the two suspects we gathered to recognize and honor exceptional actions and remarkable achievements in 2024 at our Annual Awards Ceremony Please join us in congratulating our 2024 Award recipients: Our Medal of Valor is presented to members of the Sheriff's Office who distinguish themselves with acts of exceptional heroism The act must involve an imminent risk to personal safety while attempting to prevent serious injury or loss of life the Medal of Valor may be awarded to an employee of another Law Enforcement Agency when their act of valor occurred while involved in operations with the Sheriff’s Office.  Please join us in congratulating our Medal of Valor recipients: Sergeant Ariel Senior Training Officer Matsukado (Beaverton PD) The Lifesaving Awards are given to Sheriff's Office employees who — fully aware of a life-threatening situation — act purposely to prevent death Please join us in congratulating our Lifesaving Award recipients: Deputy Ausmus Our Meritorious Service Award may be given to members of the Sheriff's Office or other county employees who distinguish themselves in the performance of their duties The award recognizes unusual or highly creditable actions that further our efficiency and professionalism Please join us in congratulating our Meritorious Service Award recipient: Detective Adel The Public Service Award may be given to members of the public who distinguish themselves with highly commendable or unusual acts or by making a lasting contribution to the law-enforcement profession Please join us in congratulating our Public Service Award recipient: Gregory Losapio Our Unit Commendation may be awarded to any group of individuals or employees performing an outstanding act or achievement that brings credit to the Sheriff's Office — or provides outstanding assistance to the Sheriff's Office or to law enforcement in general Please join us in congratulating our Unit Commendation Recipients: A Safe Place Family Justice Center Division The Sheriff's Office Commendation is awarded to a member of the Sheriff's Office for an outstanding act or achievement that brings credit to the department The act or achievement involves performance above and beyond the employee's basic assignment Please join us in congratulating our Sheriff's Office Commendation Recipients: Deputy Anderson Congratulations to all of our 2024 award recipients!  Clackamas County Sheriff’s OfficeCommunications Unit Clackamas County's public services building on April 7 Public and Government Affairs and other departments are housed in this building The labor agreement ends a roughly 14-month gauntlet of negotiations over a new union contract Clackamas County Employee Association President Alex Gonzalez said The union represents over 1,300 of the county’s approximately 2,500 employees “Members are proud that we put up a fight,” Gonzalez said “I think overall it’s not everything we wanted because part of bargaining is give and take.” Labor talks kicked off in February last year and the union has been out of contract since July The county and the union put forward conflicting proposals for back pay The union asked the county for a 4.1% boost in pay for its employees that would retroactively apply to the nine months union members have been working without a contract as well as future cost of living adjustments That cost of living adjustment and backpay were granted in the final contract The new contract also secures better options for cashing out vacation time but the county did not budge on the union’s request for increased sick leave and vacation accrual Negotiations heated up in December after the county warned union members that if they did not reach an agreement that employees’ monthly insurance premiums would jump from $88 to $303 6 with the state employment board decrying the insurance hikes The county has agreed to reimburse the union for the cost of the insurance hikes and the rates will drop back to $88 a month 19 that triggered the Oregon Employment Relations Board to step in for mediation After both the union and county submitted their final offers Employees voted to authorize a strike last week and gave the county a 10-day strike notice April 4 before reaching the agreement Friday It’s unclear how much the wage back pay and insurance reimbursements will cost the county County officials said they had reached a “fair and mutually beneficial agreement.” “Clackamas County wants to thank union leadership for its efforts on behalf of its members,” the county said The two parties will sign the contract Tuesday — Austin De Dios covers Multnomah County politics, programs and more. Reach him at 503-319-9744, adedios@oregonian.com or @AustinDeDios Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. Wanted man from Washington State arrested following standoff on SE Aldercrest Road Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a trespass call at a residence in the 3300 block of SE Aldercrest Road in unincorporated Clackamas County The caller reported that the house was vacant The caller believed the person inside could be a relative who was suspected of having a warrant out for his arrest they located a stolen 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe in front of the house Deputies were able to identify the man inside as Taylor David Martello He had an active warrant for his arrest out of Washington state and was believed to be in violation of a restraining order Deputies attempted to convince Martello to exit the residence the Clackamas County Interagency SWAT and Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT) were called in to help safely contain the situation a member of CNT from the Oregon City Police Department was able to successfully negotiate Martello’s surrender Martello was safely taken into custody at around 4:45 p.m Martello was lodged at the Clackamas County Jail on charges of Violation of Restraining Order along with the warrant from the State of Washington (for escape from community custody A phonebook made for the mountain and all the local businesses that support it Video: Construction underway on new transitional shelter village in Clackamas County 24 new shelter spaces fill critical area need  Clackamas, OR - - Onsite construction is underway on Clackamas Village a new transitional shelter community south of Highway 212 Last week cranes lifted factory-built modules that will provide 24 sleeping pods for formerly homeless adult men and women Modules were also dropped into place for a central community building  “This project is a big deal,” said Clackamas County Commissioner Ben West “We are making headway on homelessness with projects like this one that provide a community for our people here in Clackamas County to experience stability and recovery on their path to well-being Clackamas Village will help hundreds of people leave homelessness for good This is an essential addition to our recovery-oriented system of care.”  Once the modules are installed onto their foundations, ASA Construction will complete final site work including ramps Care was taken to design an accessible and trauma-informed site including maintaining the natural environment and utilizing thoughtful fixtures and equipment.   Clackamas Village builds on the success of the adjacent Veteran's Village and will operate similarly. The site is owned by Clackamas County and operated by homeless service provider Sunstone Way and mental health and substance use recovery services Onsite housing navigation staff will support residents to remove their barriers to housing a typical length of stay might be around 12 months on a resident’s path to permanent housing residents who need it will continue to receive services to maintain their health and housing.  Funding for Clackamas Village construction and operations comes from the regional Supportive Housing Services tax People will be referred to live at Clackamas Village through Clackamas County’s coordinated housing access system The village is expected to open for services in May 2025.  Board of County Commissioners Craig Roberts was born and raised in Clackamas County Growing up on a small family farm near Mulino with four brothers he learned early on the importance of hard work and the significance of working together to solve problems Craig graduated from Clackamas Community College the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association Command College and the National Sheriff’s Institute as well as his blended family with partner Erica and her two daughters Craig worked in law enforcement at the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office for over 40 years He was the elected Clackamas County Sheriff for 16 years Craig’s priority was supporting public safety and those who struggle with addiction and mental illness Craig came out of retirement and was elected in November 2024 to serve the public of Clackamas County again; this time as Clackamas County Commission Chair and Cierra Brown have been appointed judges on two Oregon circuit courts.Submitted .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Zane Sparling | The Oregonian/OregonLiveOregon Gov Tina Kotek will appoint a prominent fourth-generation Portlander to the Multnomah County Circuit Court bench and a dedicated criminal defense lawyer to an open seat in Clackamas County Circuit Court Newly appointed Multnomah County Judge Elisa J Dozono will be familiar to longtime Oregonians She started her career as a news producer at KATU-TV She has been serving as a temporary judge in Washington County since 2018 and is the first Japanese American to serve on a trial court in the tri-county During World War II, the U.S. government incarcerated many of her family members, including her grandfather and great grandfather, due to their Japanese ancestry. Her father, Sho Dozono, ran unsuccessfully for Portland mayor in 2008 I have a lot of personal experience with civil rights that has shaped me,” she said adding that her goal as a judge is to “strengthen community connections with the courts.” Taking office in Clackamas County on July 1 is Cierra D who has spent the past decade working as a defense attorney with the Metro Law Group and the public defense consortium in Oregon City “I’ve always had public service careers,” Brown said “It was incredibly important to me to continue that path and do something that can make the county proud and serve the state of Oregon.” Brown will be the first person to occupy the newly authorized 11th seat on the Clackamas County bench. She won out among 15 applicants allowing the governor to select a replacement Those newfound incumbents tend to go unchallenged in down ballot races The salary for circuit judges is $174,000 a year —Zane Sparling covers breaking news and courts for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at 503-319-7083, zsparling@oregonian.com or @pdxzane Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe Deputies investigate high-speed fatal crash on SE 72nd Avenue Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a reported crash near the intersection of SE 72nd Avenue and SE Alberta Avenue in unincorporated Clackamas County Multiple callers reported that a vehicle had driven off the roadway and crashed The first deputy to arrive at the scene was initially unable to locate a vehicle in the reported area was discovered fully engulfed in flames on a property near SE Label Lane and SE 74th Avenue — a significant distance from where it had left the roadway Clackamas Fire crews arrived and extinguished the fire revealing a single occupant inside the vehicle The individual was pronounced deceased at the scene.  Efforts to identify the driver are currently underway Criminal Reconstruction and Forensic Technicians (CRAFT) responded to the crash scene to investigate Preliminary findings indicate that speed was a contributing factor in the crash investigators believe the driver was traveling southbound on SE 72nd Avenue when they failed to negotiate a sharp 90-degree turn the vehicle left the roadway at a high rate of speed became airborne due to the elevated terrain and first made impact on the Springwater Corridor It is believed the vehicle then briefly went airborne again before ultimately landing upside down near SE Label Lane and SE 74th Avenue Deputies were assisted at the scene by the Milwaukie Police Department, American Medical Response and the Clackamas County Medical Examiner’s Office If you witnessed this vehicle before the crash or have any information that could assist in the investigation, please contact the Sheriff’s Office ADDITIONAL TIPS & INFORMATION WANTED: Anyone with information about this crash is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Office Tip Line — by phone at 503-723-4949 or by using the online form.CCSO Case # 25-006024 SIGN UP for ClackCo Sheriff News Releases in your inbox: Click Here The Clackamas County Prevention Coalition is on a mission to help keep our kids from using drugs and alcohol.  If you are a parent or caregiver of a child under 18, please participate in our anonymous survey!  Your insights will help us create clear and effective strategies to support open and effective family conversations to empower healthy choices to be entered into a drawing to win prizes Please share this survey to help us prevent youth substance use across the county Learn more about Clackamas County’s Children, Family and Community Connections Division’s Clackamas County Prevention Coalition 2025 1:42 a.m.The two issues sparked impassioned public comments that signaled distrust with county commissioners in Oregon’s third most populous county.Melissa Fireside Clackamas County commissioners got an earful at a packed public meeting on Thursday The board voted unanimously to temporarily suspend pay for the newly-elected commissioner She was indicted on eight felony counts for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from an 83-year-old man and forging the signature of a state representative because we need all five of us up here at the dais to do the work,” said Clackamas County Commissioner Martha Schrader a Democrat who voted to suspend Fireside’s pay joining the county’s Republican board members Related: Clackamas County labor conflict brings threat of public employee walkout The meeting comes one day after the Oregon Department of Justice announced the indictment against Fireside a Democrat who was arraigned on charges that included first-degree aggravated theft Meanwhile, negotiations with the Clackamas County Employees’ Association, which represents more than 1,000 employees, have soured. The union has accused the county of using “bullying tactics” during negotiations particularly after members’ monthly insurance premiums increased by more than $200 when they did not reach a contract by year’s end told OPB Wednesday that members are signing strike pledges “We’re doing our best to avoid a potential strike that could affect services across Clackamas County but our members continue to feel slighted by these actions being taken,” Gonzalez told commissioners at Thursday’s meeting the two issues prompted a lengthy series of impassioned public comments that signaled distrust with county leaders The meeting could portend a difficult road ahead for the county’s newly-elected chair He was attending a conference in Washington D.C several people called on Fireside to resign saying the allegations harm the public’s trust with the board Among them was Clackamas County Commissioner Ben West “She has now put the trust of this board with the public in jeopardy,” said West who made the motion to suspend Fireside’s pay while the commissioner’s leave status is reviewed by the county’s legal counsel “I call for her formal resignation swiftly and immediately,” said West Related: Clackamas County Commissioner indicted on 8 felony counts Fireside’s attorney declined to comment Thursday Residents at Thursday’s meeting compared Fireside’s indictment to what they see as corruption and waste being rooted out by the Trump administration “This situation stinks worse than a warehouse full of curing marijuana,” said Stephen Hunter Related: Clackamas County commission votes for one of its members to resign They accused commissioners — without providing evidence — of knowing about the investigation prior to the election One person in the audience held up a sign that read “We didn’t know very much,” said Commissioner Paul Savas And I think it’s fair to say that probably most everyone on this dais today and recently probably had no idea of the magnitude of these charges Fireside is accused of accessing a computer and stealing from Arthur Wayne Petrone The county announced Thursday that she was taking a leave of absence Schrader described the allegations as serious “We have to go through the process,” Schrader said We will find out as the process moves forward whether commissioner Fireside is guilty or innocent.” members of the county’s largest union spoke to commissioners about their frustrations with contract negotiations The conflict largely began in late December when the county informed union members that monthly health insurance premiums would increase by more than $200 if a contract agreement wasn’t reached by end of the year The union says this gave members just two days before their paychecks were docked Related: Clackamas County Commissioner Mark Shull faces backlash after comparing vaccine passports to Jim Crow laws Union members said Thursday that they have had to take out loans and get second jobs to pay for the increased premiums A large group of them packed into the meeting wearing matching blue and red shirts and cheering when members spoke to the board “I just feel like you have not been listening,” said Natalie Luttmer a county employee who has brought her concerns to commissioners seven times Schrader noted that the county intends to reimburse employees for the health care payments when the contract is reached “I’m hopeful everything will be solved soon and that the valuable employees here in this county will feel as if they are treated fairly and be back and continue to do their good work,” said Schrader The county and the union have each submitted their final offers and have a mediation scheduled for March 18 Tags: Politics, Clackamas County, Union Sheriff’s Office investigates shooting; Tips wanted Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to reports of gunfire near SE Causey Ave and SE 90th Ave in unincorporated Clackamas County Multiple callers reported hearing gunshots in the area A witness reported seeing two individuals shooting at each other in the street Additional reports indicated that three males were seen fleeing the scene One of the individuals involved was described as a Black male adult with dreadlocks The other individuals were described as wearing dark clothing with their hoods up deputies located an injured juvenile at a nearby apartment complex The juvenile appeared to have been shot and was transported to a local hospital for treatment Further investigation revealed that multiple apartments and at least one vehicle had been struck by gunfire Deputies remained on scene to collect evidence and interview witnesses Investigators are seeking additional information Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has relevant information is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Office Keenan named new executive director for Oregon’s Mt Lizzie Keenan has been appointed as executive director for Clackamas County Tourism the agency responsible for managing and marketing the destination Keenan brings almost two decades of tourism industry experience to the role. She’s served in multiple leadership roles of increasing responsibility within Mt. Hood Territory most recently as the interim tourism manager for Mt She’s also served as the regional lead for Experience Mt Hood and the Gorge for the past nine years national and international tourism organizations was selected following an extensive national search that attracted numerous qualified candidates Her strengths include fostering collaboration Her appointment reflects the organization’s commitment to innovative leadership and sustainable tourism development in the region “Lizzie’s deep understanding of our region along with her proven track record in sustainable tourism and destination marketing makes her exceptionally qualified to lead the Mt Hood Territory team into its next chapter,” said Clackamas County Administrator Gary Schmidt “Her collaborative leadership style and strategic vision align with our mission to strengthen the county’s economy through responsible tourism development.” Keenan implemented several successful initiatives which won the Oregon Tourism Stewardship Award in 2019 She also secured critical funding while championing sustainable tourism practices and has consistently demonstrated a commitment to the region's mission and values.Before joining the Mt Keenan held leadership positions at Sustainable Travel International and Visit California She has a Master’s degree in Tourism Development from the University of Surrey and a Bachelor’s degree from University of California Clackamas County’s Office of Tourism is responsible for managing and marketing the county as a tourism destination branded Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory — is dedicated to developing and promoting tourism opportunities in Clackamas County A nine-member industry-represented Tourism Development Council appointed by the Board of County Commissioners Clackamas County Tourism focuses on enhancing visitor experiences supporting local economies and protecting the region's natural beauty and cultural heritage Funding for Clackamas County Tourism initiatives including the Strategic Investment Program comes from Clackamas County’s 6% transient lodging tax which visitors who stay in lodging accommodations within the county pay (KATU) — In a concerted effort to combat retail crime the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office led a successful operation on Thursday resulting in 25 arrests and the recovery of over $4,700 in stolen merchandise The 10-hour mission targeted retailers at the Clackamas Promenade on SE Sunnyside Road Law enforcement officers contacted individuals suspected of theft and other crimes as they exited stores as well as others believed to be involved in criminal activity in the area Clackamas Promenade on SE Sunnyside Road/Google Maps Among those arrested was a minor found in possession of a handgun during a theft-related arrest Investigators also uncovered information about an active fencing operation with a suspect admitting to stealing multiple items for resale Fencing is knowingly buying stolen goods to later resell them for profit A prolific organized retail theft suspect was arrested on multiple outstanding warrants and was linked to a large-scale theft at Washington Square Mall in Tigard earlier that day a woman was arrested for driving under the influence of intoxicants after stealing from Target and returning to her car Washington Square Mall in Tigard/Google Maps The mission was a coordinated effort involving patrol deputies and detectives from the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office was awarded $686,000 for the fiscal year of 2024-25 to support staffing and equipment for law enforcement missions and other efforts to combat organized retail theft Additional operations throughout Clackamas County are planned for the future Oregon City, OR – Today, Dec. 2, Clerk Catherine McMullen certified the November 5, 2024 General Election results to the Oregon Secretary of State. Final official election results can be accessed online at clackamas.us/elections/november-5-2024-general-election.  Automatic recounts ordered for two contests 2024 General Election it was determined that there are two contests that require full automatic recounts A full automatic recount is conducted when the difference in the number of votes cast between an apparently elected and an apparently defeated candidate is not more than one-fifth of one percent of the total votes cast for the office (ORS 258.280) Clerk McMullen has ordered a full recount for the City of Gladstone Councilor (three positions) contests.  The full automatic recounts will commence on Tuesday Public access for the observation of elections processes including automatic recounts is welcome.  Public observation continues to be open this week Voters use popular resources that make elections more transparent and accessible Clackamas County voters took advantage of new resources that make our elections more accessible and transparent in record numbers. More than 57,000 voters (18%) are now signed up for Track Your Ballot and almost 2,000 voters visited the new Happy Valley Vote Center to get a replacement ballot or to get assistance from a sworn elections worker.  The final voter turnout was 77.83% with 248,910 voters casting a ballot in the November 5 “I want to sincerely thank each voter that chose to participate in this election,” Clerk McMullen shared “the decision to vote is not just an individual action but a commitment to shaping the future of our communities I am deeply honored to have been entrusted to conduct the general election for the citizens of Clackamas County.” The next scheduled election in Clackamas County is the May 20 For more information on voting in Clackamas County, visit clackamas.us/elections.  2025 2:20 p.m.Commissioner Melissa Fireside is charged with forging the signature of a Oregon lawmaker and theft from an 83-year-old man Newly-elected Clackamas County Commissioner Melissa Fireside was indicted on eight felony counts for stealing thousands of dollars from an 83-year-old man according to court documents unsealed Wednesday Fireside accessed the computer network of Arthur Wayne Petrone last September and also forged the signature of Oregon State Rep Dobson said in a statement that Fireside came to her “as a friend looking for temporary relief for her personal business” last summer Dobson said she agreed to “support a single mother of a young child during a tough time.” “I drew up a contract which explicitly stated she would repay the loan within one month Dobson said she was contacted by police and informed there “was an issue with the source of the money” Fireside used to pay her back Dobson said she shared what she knew to help police with their investigation and has not been in contact with Fireside since then on charges including aggravated theft in the first degree identity theft and forgery in the first degree She was arraigned on the charges Wednesday in Clackamas County Circuit Court County leaders said Fireside is taking a leave of absence Fireside was elected to a seat on the county’s governing board in November, ousting controversial commissioner Mark Shull the case was referred to the Oregon Department of Justice by Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth due to a conflict of interest Attorney General Dan Rayfield said his agency was also brought in because the case involved a public official and the Justice Department has a prosecutor who specializes in elder abuse our society depends on the equal enforcement of our law especially when it comes to vulnerable people in our communities,” Rayfield told OPB The case was investigated for months by the Lake Oswego Police Department The indictment states the alleged thefts and forgeries took place between Sept The indictment raises questions about Fireside’s political future Clackamas County Board Chair Craig Roberts said in a statement late Wednesday that while they do not have legal authority to remove a commissioner the Board is “reviewing all available options within its legal authority to uphold the trust of Clackamas County voters and address their concerns.” Dobson called Fireside’s actions “unacceptable for an elected official” and called for her to resign Fireside testified before a Clackamas County grand jury on Feb A special investigator with the Oregon Department of Justice Tags: Courts, Politics, Clackamas County Prior to coming to OPB, he was a reporter at Minnesota Public Radio. Before that he ran the news department at an NPR affiliate in Colorado. His work has aired on \"Marketplace\" and NPR's \"Morning Edition\" and \"All Things Considered.\" He has also written for Mashable, The Oregonian, Business Week, City Pages and The Christian Science Monitor. Conrad earned a degree in international political economics and journalism from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. 2025 6:43 p.m.Fireside is accused of stealing $30,000 from an 83-year-old man and forging the signature of a state lawmaker FILE - Melissa Fireside ousted an incumbent Clackamas County commissioner She was indicted on numerous felony theft charges weeks after taking office Clackamas County Commissioner Melissa Fireside who faces felony charges of theft and forgery the chair of the county’s Board of Commissioners I personally called Commissioner Fireside and asked for her resignation,” Roberts said He said she submitted her resignation in writing Fireside’s resignation comes two days after the Oregon Department of Justice announced the charges against her She is accused of stealing $30,000 from an 83-year-old man and forging the signature of a state Rep a Democrat who represents parts of Clackamas County a Democrat who was just elected to the county’s board in November has pleaded not guilty and has yet to comment on the criminal charges She was arraigned Wednesday in the Clackamas County Circuit Court and I know how difficult and upsetting this situation has been for our community and I want to thank you for making your voices heard,” said Roberts the county’s newly elected chair who was in Washington Roberts said the board of commissioners remains committed to doing its job and moving forward “I have asked the County Administrator to begin the process of filling a vacant commissioner position starting with the creation of a dedicated webpage outlining the replacement process and the next steps,” Robert’s statement read Fireside did not immediately respond Friday to an email and a phone call to her consulting firm though he previously declined OPB’s request for comment saying Fireside requested financial help from her last summer The lawmaker said she drew up a contract for a loan “to support a single mother of a young child during a tough time.” who also was just elected to public office said Fireside abided by the contract and paid her back within a month police contacted Dobson because there was “an issue with the source of the money Melissa Fireside used to pay me back,” she said “I did not hesitate to share all the information I had to help the detectives with their investigation,” said Dobson who called for Fireside’s resignation this week “I have not been in contact with Melissa since learning about her alleged crimes.” Fireside is accused of accessing a computer and defrauding Arthur Wayne Petrone The phone number listed for Petrone was disconnected and efforts to reach him on Friday failed The Lake Oswego Police Department spent months investigating the case which is being prosecuted by the Oregon Department of Justice Fireside’s resignation follows mounting pressure from members of the public and at least one commissioner The board of commissioners moved Thursday to suspend Fireside’s pay while her leave status is reviewed by the county’s legal counsel “I am ready to get back to focusing on the important work that the county needs to do,” West told OPB Friday He called the situation a “distraction,” adding “I look forward to it being in the rearview mirror.” “This does help the county regain trust with the voters again and with our constituents,” West said Fireside’s indictment prompted calls from some members of the public on Thursday to replace her with former Clackamas County Commissioner Mark Shull Fireside’s next hearing is scheduled for April 28 Correction: A earlier version of this article had the incorrect last name for Commissioner Ben West Tags: Politics, Clackamas County, News Payments must be submitted on or before the following due dates Late payments will not receive a discount and may incur interest Option 1: Pay full amount by 11/15/2024 for a 3% discountOption 2: Pay 2/3 by 11/15/2024 for a 2% discount and the remaining 1/3 by 5/15/2025Option 3: Pay 1/3 by 11/15/2024 Clackamas County offers an option for property tax statements to be delivered electronically through a service called eNoticesOnline Property owners who want to go paperless and/or prefer to receive documents online can now sign up for electronic statement service using a unique account registration code printed on their property tax statements electronic statement notices will arrive via a registrant’s email and paper statements will no longer be delivered If you have questions regarding the values on your tax statement please call 503-655-8671.Our appraisal staff will be available to discuss your concerns If you disagree with the values on your tax statement you can file an appeal with the Property Value Appeals Board (formerly BOPTA) by Tuesday You can contact the County Clerk’s office at 503-655-8662 for more information Appeal forms are available online Appeal forms must be postmarked or delivered to the Clerk’s office on or before 12/31/2024 There will be one virtual Town Hall this year hosted by Assessor Bronson Rueda. Join our virtual town hall on Wednesday Property taxes in Clackamas County support 131 local government taxing districts Other taxing districts providing services include water districts 1 Based on data from 20232 Service includes Library Real Market Value (RMV) in Clackamas County remained relatively stable with some market areas having slight decreases/increases for the Jan Low inventory and short marketing times continue on the residential front Property taxes in Oregon are based on Assessed Value (AV) AV is determined by the lower amount of RMV or Maximum Assessed Value (MAV) MAV routinely grows 3% each year resulting in a typical tax increase of 3% This will be the outcome for many property owners again this year; however Taxes that increase greater than 3% include changes to property such as remodeling Rising market values can cause less tax savings under Measure 5 Please visit our website for more information on property taxes A yellow tax statement means your mortgage lender requested your payment information and may be paying your property tax Keep your statement for your records and do not pay if your lender pays your taxes