Around the state

Published 5:00 am Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Klamath commissioner may challenge Walden — A Klamath County commissioner says he’s considering challenging U.S. Rep. Greg Walden in the Republican primary. Dennis Linthicum says he hopes to decide soon whether to take on the only Republican in Oregon’s congressional delegation. Linthicum describes himself as a “constitutional conservative” and tagged Walden as a “professional politician.” As chairman of the House GOP’s campaign committee, Walden is one of the most senior Republicans on Capitol Hill. He’s had to walk a tight rope between the party’s moderates and tea-party conservatives. In a statement, Walden says he works hard every day for the Oregonians who elected him. Walden reported having $1.3 million in the bank on his most recent campaign finance disclosure. Walden represents the sprawling 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses all of Eastern Oregon.

Teen girl helps police catch burglar — When a man broke into a Grants Pass house over the weekend, a 14-year-old girl went into a drill she’d practiced with her family: Get a description. Call 911. Hide. Police say the man knocked on the front door and rang the doorbell Saturday morning, and then pulled a screen from the window to get in. Meanwhile, the girl gave the 911 dispatcher what was described as a detailed description of the man and then retreated to a closet with her 12-year-old brother. She stayed on the call. Ninety seconds later, the Grants Pass Daily Courier reported, police officers arrived. Police detained 25-year-old Brandon Weeks of no permanent address as he left the property and booked him on charges of burglary, criminal mischief and probation violation.

Fire season in SW Oregon over — After several days of rain, state foresters are declaring an end to a busy fire season in southwestern Oregon. The Department of Forestry said Monday the fire danger level was reduced to its low, or “green,” level as of midnight Monday, and public and industrial restrictions will be lifted. The major firefighting effort this summer followed a barrage of lightning strikes on July 26. From that emerged four fire areas, including two complexes of blazes called Douglas and Big Windy. The total areas for the two sets of fires amounted to more than 100 square miles, and it took weeks to contain them. The department urges residents planning to burn debris this fall to check to make sure that open burning is permitted — and then to be cautious.

Firm to make restitution to 163 veterans — A Lake Oswego senior living company will pay from $750 to $3,500 or more in restitution to 163 veterans as part of a settlement with the Oregon Department of Justice. The state said Monday the company, Holiday Retirement, agreed to the payment after the Department of Justice called “alleged unlawful marketing of senior housing to veterans.” The Oregonian reported the announcement followed a lawsuit filed a month ago by four veterans or widows charging the company with luring them into housing arrangements with predatory sales practices, misrepresenting a government housing assistance program, and then moving aggressively to collect rent from them.

Former officer sentenced for credit union theft — Federal prosecutors say a 35-year-old former officer in a Portland credit union who was addicted to painkillers has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for stealing more than $400,000 over seven years. The U.S. attorney’s office said 35-year-old Jade Carnahan of Scappoose took the money from the bank vault at Rivergate Federal Credit Union as well as from customer accounts. She was the operations officer. She was ordered to make restitution. Investigators said she spent the money to feed her addiction and acknowledged the addiction at sentencing.

Sex offender center fire in Beaverton — Investigators say a fire at a Beaverton sex offender treatment center was deliberately set. Washington County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. David Thompson told KATU it looks as if someone broke in, ransacked the place and started the fire in the room where records were kept. A passerby noticed smoke Saturday morning and called 911, and firefighters quickly put out the fire. A Tualatin Valley Fire investigator determined the fire was started in the garage of the house that was converted into the Center for Behavioral Intervention. No one stays in the center overnight. Investigators say whoever broke in also stole some money, then used some fuel to set fire to furniture and files.

— From wire reports