(SPRINGFIELD, Ore.) June 21, 2018— PacificSource Health Plans has named Dr. Edward McEachern as executive vice president and chief medical officer. Dr. McEachern joined PacificSource in 2015 as medical director for Medicare programs and has been serving as interim chief medical officer since early 2018. In his new role, Dr. McEachern will provide operational and strategic leadership to the clinical enterprise of the company.

Dr. McEachern’s will also work to maintain strong relationships with PacificSource’s provider partners to improve the health outcomes in populations the organization serves in Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.

“Dr. McEachern is a proven leader with a track record for producing innovative, industry-changing solutions,” said Ken Provencher, president and CEO of PacificSource. “His global healthcare background, knowledge of care coordination, and mastery of quality management will serve our members well, now and into the future.”

Dr. McEachern originally came to PacificSource from Saint Alphonsus Health Alliance in Boise, Idaho, where he was chief medical officer and executive director of operations. Prior to that role, he helmed a venture capital fund that focused on healthcare, and served as chief medical officer for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Ohio.

Dr. McEachern is also an associate professor at the University of Utah School of Medicine and an assistant professor at Utah’s David Eccles School of Business. He holds six patents, authored seven books, published more than 80 peer-reviewed articles, and has served as a healthcare consultant for the U.S. State Department and Peace Corps.

Outside of work he enjoys music, cycling, hiking, rafting, camping, fishing, and spending time with his wife and teenaged triplets. 

About PacificSource Health Plans:

PacificSource Health Plans is an independent, not-for-profit community health plan serving the Northwest. Founded in 1933, PacificSource is based in Springfield, Oregon, with local offices throughout Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. The PacificSource family of companies employs 1000 people, serves more than 300,000 individuals, and has 3,900 employer clients throughout the Northwest. For more information visit PacificSource.com.

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Representatives from 21 States and Canada are gathering in Salem, Oregon next week for a three-day Summit (Monday June 25 – Wednesday June 27). The Summit is the first of its kind and will feature presentations from experts, government officials, and other school safety leaders regarding the effective implementation and operation of tip lines to prevent threats to student safety. Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum will welcome participants and kick off the Summit.

Oregon State Police will showcase the State’s school safety tip line SafeOregon. SafeOregon launched statewide in January 2017, and to date, generated over 1,450 tips. For more details visit www.safeoregon.com.  

“This summit will give the opportunity to share information first hand and learn from others with years of experience to help Oregon continue to improve our processes and tip line tool to be the best resource it can for our young Oregonians.”  Superintendent Travis Hampton.

Outcomes of the Summit include a blueprint for implementing and sustaining a tip line. OSP is partnering with RTI International and Summit participants to develop a framework to share with others interested in starting at tip line.

Pre-registration was required to attend this event.

Media is welcome to attend on Monday, June 25, 2018 until the conclusion of Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum’s welcoming. (Media needs to be set up by 12:30 PM.  We expect remarks to be done by 1:00 PM)

 About SafeOregon

SafeOregon is a statewide resource managed by Oregon State Police and is designed to accept confidential or anonymous reports concerning student safety through a phone call, text message, mobile application or the internet by students and other members of the public. The school safety tip line program is called SafeOregon. It became Law through HB 4075 (2016), as a result of recommendations from the Oregon Task Force on School Safety.

About RTI International

RTI International is an independent, nonprofit research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach—one that integrates expertise across the social and laboratory sciences, engineering, and international development. We believe in the promise of science, and we are inspired every day to deliver on that promise for the good of people, communities, and businesses around the world.  For more information, visit www.rti.org.

Oregon Heritage Commission has awarded nearly $60,000 in grants to nine museums throughout the state. The grants will help fund a variety of projects including collection preservation, visitor education and heritage tourism. Award amounts ranged $4,500 - $8,000.

Funded projects:

• Clackamas County Historical Society, in Oregon City, for collections inventory and shelving at the Stevens Crawford House.
• Deschutes County Historical Society, in Bend, for the “Cruisin’ 97” exhibit and geotagging tourism project.
• Fort Rock Valley Historical Society and Homestead Museum for repairing the Belltable Home at Fort Rock museum complex.
• High Desert Museum, near Bend, for the “By Her Hand” exhibit, and other historic and contemporary indigenous art.
• Mount Hood Cultural Center and Museum, in Government Camp, to organize and digitize a historic photograph collection.
• Oregon Jewish Museum, in Portland, to place online finding aids that link to the museum’s object collection.
• Oregon Nikkei Endowment, in Portland, to preserve the WWII Minidoka Incarceration Site collection at the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center.
• Umatilla County Historical Society, in Pendleton, to install the “Umatilla Gold: The History of Wheat in Umatilla County” exhibit.
• Willamette Heritage Center, in Salem, to preserve and create a finding aid for over 800 plans created by architectural firm Payne, Settecase and Smith.

The museum grant program is offered annually by the Oregon Heritage Commission, part of the Oregon Heritage program at Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). The grant program began in 1965 when only 24 organizations were eligible for the program.

The Oregon Heritage Commission works to secure, sustain and enhance Oregon’s heritage. The Commission sponsors heritage initiatives that educate the public about the value of heritage and celebrate the state’s diversity.

The Oregon Heritage Commission consists of nine members appointed by the governor and nine agency advisors. Members are chosen from state agencies and statewide organizations, and represent a diverse geographical and heritage background.

To learn more about the Oregon Museum Grant or the Oregon Heritage Commission, visit www.oregonheritage.org or contact Kuri Gill at i.gill@oregon.gov">Kuri.gill@oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.

On June 19th, 2018 at about 12:35 pm Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a crash involving a motorcycle and an SUV.  The crash occurred near the intersection of Dever-Conner Road and Interstate 5 in Linn County. 

The preliminary investigation revealed a Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Eric Wayne Clanfield, age 42 of Dallas, was traveling west on Dever-Conner Road.  A Infiniti Sport Utility Vehicle, driven by Kristin Dawn Holcomb, age 44 of Albany, was traveling east on Dever-Conner Road and was attempting to turn left onto the southbound on ramp to I-5.  The SUV turned in front of the motorcycle which resulted in a nearly head on collision.  Clanfield was deceased at the scene due to the injuries he sustained in the crash.  Holcomb was not injured.

Jefferson Fire Department, Linn County Sheriff’s department, Oregon Department of Transportation arrived on scene to assist. 

Dever-Conner Road was closed for about 3 hours.

The operator of the Honda Civic has been identified as Hailee FOX, age 21 from Grants Pass.  FOX sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.  The passenger Rodrigo, HERRERA, age 24 from Grants Pass.  HERRERA was transported to the hospital for his injuries.

No further information will be released as investigation is continuing

On June 16, 2018 at approximately 12:50 AM Oregon State Police Troopers responded to a 911 call on Galice Rd.

Preliminary investigation reveals that a female from Grants Pass had called 911 and reported that a male had been assaulted and that he was in need of medical attention.    She stayed on the phone with 911 and began driving to the hospital.  As Troopers were responding they located the male in the middle of Galice Rd. and evidence that a vehicle had left the road and went into Hellgate Canyon.

Rural Metro Fire personnel rappelled into Hellgate Canyon and there they located a Honda Civic with a female operator that sustained fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Oregon State Police was assisted by Josephine County Search and Rescue and Rural Metro Fire.

No further information will be released as investigation is continuing.