Around the state

Published 12:02 am Friday, January 27, 2017

School officials placed on leave — Two Willamette Valley school administrators have been placed on leave after sending text messages in which they mocked students. Creswell High School Principal Andy Bracco and Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Jordan Osborn were placed on paid administrative leave Wednesday. District Superintendent Todd Hamilton said the men would be on leave pending the outcome of a “complete investigation.” The text conversation happened Jan. 13 during a high school basketball game. Someone in the stands took a photograph over Osborn’s shoulder of the texts to Bracco on his phone. One text made fun of a student’s weight. Another suggested a former student was doing drugs. Hamilton confirmed copies of the text were between Osborn and Bracco. The administrators apologized for their comments in an email to Creswell High School families.

Rape case sentencing — A Portland man convicted nearly 30 years ago of attempted murder has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for raping a cyclist who was trying to fix her flat tire. Thomas Peacock, 51, was sentenced Thursday in the March attack on a 22-year-old woman in Gresham. Police say the woman told them she flagged down a man riding a bike and asked him for help. She says he threatened her with a knife, forced her into a wooded area and attacked her. Peacock pleaded guilty to rape, sexual abuse and kidnapping in the case. He declined to make a statement in court. Court records show Peacock’s criminal history includes robbery, burglary and a 1989 attempted murder conviction. He was released on parole in August 2015.

Malheur County relief — Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are asking the federal government to begin the process to bring relief money to farmers and businesses in Malheur County who have lost income and property due to extremely heavy snow in the past few weeks. The letter released Thursday asks the U.S. Department of Agriculture to formally declare a disaster in Malheur and surrounding counties so farmers and businesses can apply for federal loans and insurance relief. The senators say the region received 16 inches of snow overnight on Jan. 18 on top of about 2 feet of existing snow. The accumulation caused numerous roofs to collapse, and roads were impassable for days. Large sections of Interstate 84 were closed as well. Residents in some communities continue to dig out.

Ice storm reimbursements — The federal government is reimbursing public infrastructure agencies in Lane County in Western Oregon for cleanup and repairs from a December ice storm. County public agencies and utilities reported more than $9.4 million in damage, labor costs and other expenses from the Dec. 14-17 storm. County Emergency Manager Linda Cook said each agency or utility will be eligible for up to 75 percent of the costs it incurred responding the storm. The agencies receiving reimbursement include the University of Oregon and the cities of Eugene and Springfield. Last month’s ice storm brought branches down on power lines and utility poles, causing thousands of people to lose power. Some homeowners waited as long as eight days for power to be restored.

Leash law park ranger — Salem has hired a park ranger with the authority to ticket dog owners who violate the city’s leash law. Ranger Mike Zieker will patrol Salem’s parks in search of unleashed canines. Public Works Department senior policy analyst Pat Dodge says Zieker started work in early January but is still completing reserve police officer training. Dodge says Zieker will be issuing warnings to people whose dogs are running loose in the park until he finishes his training. Zieker is a former Colorado State Parks employee. According to Dodge, he plans to introduce some new educational and customer service ideas. Zieker says he’s excited about his new role.

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