Update Regarding Shooting Incident In Rural Grand Ronde -03/31/25

The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit (SIU) continues to investigate a shooting incident that took place in the early morning hours of March 27th in rural Grand Ronde.

 

Through the ongoing investigation, detectives can confirm that the victim and the suspect, were both coworkers and acquaintances at the time of the incident.

 

Cesar Flores, age 41, has been arrested on charges of Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Assault in the First Degree. He remains in custody at the Yamhill County Correctional Facility with a bail set at $750,000.

 

SIU is continuing to work diligently to gather additional information regarding the incident. As the investigation is still ongoing, we ask anyone with information to please contact Detective J. Cerda at cerdaj@yamhillcounty.gov or at the Sheriff’s Office’s business line, 503-434-7506.

Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Shooting In Rural Grand Ronde (Photo) -03/27/25

In the early morning hours of Thursday, March 27, 2025 deputies from the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting incident at a residence located in the 46000 block of SW Lachance Road in rural Grand Ronde. The homeowner rendered aid to the victim until law enforcement and medics arrived at the scene.  The victim is a Sheridan man who was shot multiple times.  He was transported to a regional hospital for critical care treatment and his prognosis at this time is unknown.  The homeowner remained at the scene and was fully cooperative with law enforcement. Alcohol consumption was a factor in this incident.

 

The suspect is a resident of Woodburn. He initially fled the scene though he was briefly in contact by telephone with 911.  After several hours of intensive efforts to locate him, the suspect turned himself in to law enforcement. 

 

This investigation is ongoing and additional information will be released later today. Anyone with direct knowledge of this incident is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Will Lavish by calling 503-434-7506. 

 

There is no danger to the public at this time related to this incident and there are no suspects at large in connection with this investigation.  We would like to thank the personnel of the Grand Ronde Tribal Police Department, the Grand Ronde Fire Department, the Newberg-Dundee Police Department, the Salem Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Woodburn Police Department for their assistance with this incident.” 

 

Sheriff Sam Elliott

Cove Orchard Water Association Addressing Water Leak -03/17/25

Yamhill County Emergency Management is releasing the following information on behalf of the Cove Orchard Water Association.

 

Cove Orchard, OR – The Cove Orchard Water Association (COWA) is actively addressing a major water emergency caused by a significant leak in the system. The issue, first detected on the morning of March 14, 2025, has disrupted water service to COWA members, prompting an extensive response effort by COWA employees, board members, and external contractors.

Timeline of Events & Response Efforts:

• March 14, 2025 – At approximately 6:00 AM, COWA staff discovered that no water was making it to the pumps. Immediate inspections confirmed that while the pumps were operational, there was no incoming flow. COWA employee Jason Kivett contacted the City of Gaston, which dispatched its contractor, HighLine, to assist in investigating the issue. Leak detection specialists from Innovative Leak Detection (ILD) were brought in to locate the source of the break. Despite multiple tests and air injection tracking, the precise location of the leak was not identified by the end of the day. COWA board members began notifying affected households, posting updates to social media, and coordinating with emergency services and the City of Yamhill, which offered water to impacted residents.
• March 15, 2025 – Response efforts continued early in the morning, with additional safety measures and water system tests. A "Boil Water" notice was issued to all affected households in collaboration with Yamhill County. A broken air release valve (ARV) south of Flett Road was identified as a potential contributor to the issue. While closing this valve reduced the overall flow loss, it did not restore full system function. Additional efforts focused on bleeding air from the system to improve flow.
• March 16, 2025 – An emergency COWA board meeting was held to determine next steps. The board, composed of President Jason Gephardt, Vice President Tristan Shell-Spurling, Secretary Emily Thompson, Administrator Sharon Ison, and members Angie VanDyke, Sue Beard Buchholz, Verna O'Loughlin, and Nick Walton, developed a plan to continue locating and repairing the leak while improving system infrastructure for future emergencies. Later that evening, Jason Kivett identified a likely leak location due to abnormal water flow despite minimal rainfall that day. After confirming the leak’s source. Repair crews were scheduled to begin work the following morning.
• March 17, 2025 – Repair efforts commenced. Emergency action plans were activated, COWA and the state are providing free bottled water in Cove Orchard. Once repairs are completed, the system will undergo flushing and water quality testing to ensure safety. Residents will remain under a "Boil Water" notice until official testing confirms the water is safe for consumption. At that time notices will be provided to inform you the “Boil Water” notice has been lifted. 

Community Response & Misinformation

COWA appreciates the patience and support shown by the majority of its members during this challenging time. Unfortunately, misinformation on social media created confusion and disrupted communication efforts thus diverting time and resources from resolving the emergency. COWA urges residents to rely on official communications from the board and staff for accurate updates.

Next Steps & Ongoing Updates

COWA remains committed to restoring full water service as quickly and safely as possible. Infrastructure improvements, including additional shutoff points along the pipeline, will be implemented to enhance response efficiency in future emergencies.

Updates will continue to be shared via official COWA channels. For further inquiries, COWA members are encouraged to contact COWA directly at (503) 341-1779

To update your contact information so crews can contact you as service is restored.