Justin Grant Bibow DMV photo

**UPDATED RELEASE 03/21/2019 9:00 AM**

RIDDLE, Ore. - On Wednesday, March 20, 2019, at 11:46 am, the Sheriff's Office was alerted by a citizen that a Dodge pickup had been found burned approximately 6 miles up West Fork Cow Creek Road outside of Riddle. 

Deputies and investigators from the Sheriff's Office arrived and determined the vehicle to be that of Justin Grant Bibow, who had previously been reported missing. After searching the area, Bibow was located deceased away from the vehicle. The Douglas County Medical Examiner's Office is continuing its investigation into the death. Foul play does not appear to be a factor. 

Next of kin has been notified. 

**ORIGINAL RELEASE**

MYRTLE CREEK, Ore. - The Sheriff's Office is seeking information from the public regarding a missing Myrtle Creek man. 

29 year-old Justin Grant Bibow last had contact with family and friends on Sunday, March 10, 2019. He was reported missing to the Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, March 12th at 3:40 PM. 

Deputies have been investigating the report and have entered Bibow into a nationwide database as missing. Attempts to locate Bibow have been unsuccessful. Deputies have learned that prior to being reported as a missing person, a Salem Police Officer (Oregon) conducted a computerized records check on Bibow on Monday, March 11, 2019 at 2:27 AM. Bibow could possibly still be in the Salem, Oregon area. 

Bibow is described as 5'10'' 320 lbs with hazel eyes and brown hair. He is associated with a white 2016 Dodge Ram Cummins pickup with Oregon license plate 850JTM. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact local law enforcement and reference Douglas County Sheriff's Office Case #19-1136.

Stephen Adam Cain

CORRECTION: The following press release has been updated to include the Douglas County District Attorney's Office who was unintentionally left off of the original release. 

ROSEBURG, Ore. – A Roseburg man is lodged in the Douglas County Jail this evening after a two-week stand-off with law enforcement, which has ended peacefully.

On Monday, March 4, 2019, Douglas County Circuit Court issued a court order which mandated 42 year-old Stephen Adam Cain to turn over custody of his 3 year-old daughter to law enforcement. Cain refused to allow the order to be served or to comply with the court order, barricading himself inside his home in the 100-block of Willamina Court in Roseburg and holding his daughter captive. Cain made statements and threats against law enforcement should they attempt to force entry into the home to enforce the order. At no point did law enforcement deem Cain to be an imminent threat to citizens or neighbors.

Beginning on March 4th, negotiators attempted to work with Cain to submit and turn the child over to authorities per the court order. During the course of a two-week period, negotiators continued speaking with Cain to reach a peaceful resolution.

On March 18, 2019, at approximately 5:00 pm, Cain agreed to comply with a plan to surrender and release his daughter. Cain was taken into custody by law enforcement without incident.

Cain was lodged at the Douglas County Jail on the following charges:

• Felony Arrest Warrant - Custodial Interference
• Obstructing Governmental or Judicial Administration

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Roseburg Police Department, Oregon State Police, Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team, Douglas County District Attorney's Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

ROSEBURG, Ore. - The next meeting of the Douglas County Dog Control Board will be held on Wednesday, March 20, 2019, at 6:00 p.m. in Room 311 of the Douglas County Courthouse, located at 1036 SE Douglas Avenue, Roseburg, Oregon 97470.

The agenda meeting packet can be found at http://www.dcso.com/advisory_dog.asp 

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DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. - The winter storm that affected Douglas County was declared a state of emergency by the County Board of Commissioners and by Governor Kate Brown. At this time city, county and state officials are gathering information regarding storm damage and impacts to determine what assistance could be requested to assist businesses, and individuals. 

At this time there is no state or federal financial assistance, in regards to the February winter/snow storm, available to homeowners, renters or businesses Douglas County is still gathering data at http://dcso.com/storm to better understand the impacts that the storm had on County residents and businesses. 

To submit damage data to the report, please visit the website. 

Douglas County is seeking information about damages that citizens incurred during the winter storm of February 24.  We are attempting to try and document damages in case that there might be any Federal assistance available.  If you have damages from the February winter/snow storm please go to the website: http://dcso.com/storm/ fill out the form the best you can.  Even if you have already repaired the damage we are still interested in the information. 

There is no guarantee that any assistance will become available, however this is the only way we can understand how severely the storm impacted the citizens of Douglas County.

In addition, the Douglas County Community Organizations Active in Disasters (DCCOAD) in partnership with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office have set up a website through Recovers.org to assist with the basic needs of those affected by the recent snowstorm. If any Douglas County residents are still in need of assistance or want to offer assistance we encourage them to visit the Douglas County Recovers website at https://roseburgdisaster.recovers.org/ .  This site is a means through which you can offer assistance in cash, materials, and/or time, to the community of Douglas County in this disaster.  It is also where you can request assistance. 

The Recovers website and program was developed by Co-founders Caitria and Morgan O’Neill after an EF3 tornado impacted their hometown of Monson Massachusetts.  The program has been used successfully in many communities.

Retired Sheriff Norman B. Neal 1981-1989

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Retired Sheriff Norman Neal at the age of 83. He passed on Wednesday, February 27, 2019. 

Sheriff Neal dedicated his professional life to public service. He served in the U.S. Air Force for four years. At 21, he served both with the Roseburg Police Department and as rural fire department volunteer.  As such, he was a first responder in the 1959 Roseburg Blast where a truck carrying a two-ton load of dynamite and four and one-half tons of ammonium nitrate blew up and leveled 8 city blocks.  

A few years later, in 1963, Neal was sworn in as a Deputy with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.  Norm, along with (retired) Sheriff John Pardon, established the local SAR program.  Neal was also a founding member of the Sheriff’s Office Dive Team.  He was promoted through the ranks during his long career, holding positions as both Sergeant and Lieutenant.  In 1981, Norm was elected to his first four-year term as Douglas County Sheriff and served a second term until his retirement. 

While serving as Sheriff, he was instrumental in establishing the first SAR State Standards, and was also one of the Sheriffs that pushed the man tracking program in Oregon.

After his retirement in 1989, Norm remained active as a volunteer with the Search and Rescue Program that meant so much to him.   As a volunteer, his desire for betterment of the SAR program did not slow down.  He was instrumental in re-establishing the 4x4 SAR Program and was one of the snowcat operators.  He championed the effort to replace the aging snowcat with a new Tucker.  He formally retired in 2015 from his volunteer work with the Sheriff’s Office.  

His service to the County, both in law enforcement and through Search and Rescue, spanned a total of 52 years. 

“Sheriff Neal was a dedicated and respected servant of the community.  His service was honorable and has had substantial positive impact on the safety of our county,” Sheriff John Hanlin describes. “He was instrumental in establishing a quality, professional Search & Rescue program in Douglas County, and was the first Sheriff in the county to successfully pass a public safety levy to fund much needed public safety services during the County’s financial shortfalls of the early 80’s.”  

Sheriff Neal will be missed by many while his legacy lives on in our community and the Sheriff’s Office. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Neal family. 

Spontini was booked into the Douglas County Jail Monday on multiple charges.

ROSEBURG, Ore. – A 27 year-old Roseburg man has been arrested after committing multiple burglaries and thefts in Douglas County. Donovan Joseph Spontini was arrested and lodged in the Douglas County Jail, Monday.

On Monday, March 4, 2019, a deputy took a report of stolen vehicles and heavy equipment from Umpqua Aggregate Resources in Roseburg. The theft included two Dodge Ram pickups, a 30-foot trailer, an excavator, a track loader and several tools. The theft totaled $235,167.00.

The business owner posted information on Facebook regarding the theft and later received a tip regarding the location of the property.

Deputies followed up on the tip and responded to the area of Cooper Creek Reservoir in Sutherlin, where most of the stolen property from Umpqua Aggregate Resources was recovered.

While deputies were recovering the property, an Oregon State Trooper located Spontini driving one of the stolen Dodge pickups. Spontini was taken into custody. Evidence and property of burglaries from K&R Drive-In and Douglas Forest Protective Association were located in the pickup.

Spontini was charged with the following crimes. Additional charges are pending.

• Unauthorized Use of Motor Vehicle x5 – Felony
• Criminal Trespass 1st Degree - Felony
• Criminal Mischief 1st Degree – Felony
• Aggravated Theft 1st Degree – Felony
• Forgery 1st Degree – Felony
• Felony Arrest Warrant

Kyle Fugate - File Booking Photo January 2019

CANYONVILLE, Ore. – A 27-year old Canyonville man was lodged in the Douglas County Jail Monday night after running on the interstate and assaulting a deputy.

At 4:41 P.M., deputies were dispatched to the area of the Napa (400-block S. Pine Street) in Canyonville. It was reported that Kyle Joseph Fugate was running around believing people were out to get him. When deputies arrived in the area, Fugate was found to be running northbound on Interstate 5.

Fugate was initially detained, then head-butted the deputy. The deputy was not seriously injured. 

Fugate was transported to the Douglas County Jail where he was lodged on the following charges:

• Disorderly Conduct
• Probation Violation
• Assault on Public Safety Officer

UPDATE - 03/04/2019 10:15 AM

Sent on behalf of the City of Drain

The request for residents serviced by the City of Drain to conserve water has been lifted. Residents may return to normal use of their water.

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ORIGINAL RELEASE 03/01/2019 11:00 AM

Sent on behalf of the City of Drain

Drain, Ore. - Urgent notice asking City of Drain water customers to ration water usage until further notice.  Power outages and pump issues continue to affect the water system. 

If local residents need drinking water, local stores are open and water is available for purchase. 

Thank you for your patience as we work to resolve this issue.  We will continue to provide updates as we receive them. 

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. – The resiliency of our county is something to be proud of. Community members, volunteers, neighbors, civic organizations and local businesses have spent a great deal of time assisting those in need. We want to thank them for providing their time and efforts to help the community recover and ask the community to continue to assist those still in need.

Our current focus is the ongoing recovery efforts. In Elkton, one of the hardest hit areas by the storm, an American Red Cross Shelter was established yesterday (Saturday, March, 3, 2019) and saw its first overnight guests. The shelter remains open equipped with power, heat, food and showers. The shelter is available to those who would like to utilize the facilities, but don’t necessarily want to stay overnight.

The Elkton Station is operating on generator power and is open for business selling gasoline, diesel and propane.

Utility crews continue the task of restoring power, cable and telephone service to residential customers. It is important to remember these outages are widespread and a significant amount of damage was sustained to infrastructure which will take a substantial amount time to repair. Residents should plan ahead for continued service outages.

Debris removal remains a priority for road crews who continue their work today. 90% of all main county roads are open with two lanes. Motorists area asked to slow their speeds and use caution through the affected areas as road and utility crews may be in the work zones. Our staff will be working on a long term plan to repair surface damage, cracks, re-striping, guard rails and signage. 

A water conservation notice is still in effect for residents serviced by the City of Drain.

The following shelters are open and available:

• American Red Cross Shelter - Elkton High School (739 River Drive, Elkton)
• Lookingglass Grange (7426 Lookingglass Road, Roseburg)
• Dream Center (813 SE Lane Street, Roseburg)
• American Red Cross Shelter – Old Harrison Elementary School (1000 South 10th, Cottage Grove)

The Red Cross Shelter at the Foursquare Gospel Center has CLOSED.

The Volunteer Service Center hotline has CLOSED. Requests for welfare checks or assistance for those with specialized medical needs should be directed to the Douglas County Dispatch non-emergency telephone number at (541) 440-4471.

Those wishing to make donations to recovery efforts may donate to the American Red Cross or the Greater Douglas United Way. 

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. – Douglas County is still in a state of emergency.  Road, utility, emergency and volunteer crews continue to clear roads, assist residents and restore services as safely and quickly as possible.  

The response from Douglas County Commissioners, Douglas County Public Works, and Sheriff’s Office personnel early Sunday evening was swift and immediate, utilizing all available resources. Staff in all county departments as well as numerous community resources and local businesses have offered assistance during the emergency, many of which are working non-stop to provide assistance in all areas of the recovery.  

CITY OF ELKTON: The American Red Cross has opened a new shelter in the Elkton community. The shelter is located at the Elkton High School and will be operational tonight (Saturday, March 2, 2019) by 6:00 pm. The shelter will be equipped with food, water, cots, power for heat and charging electronics.

The Elkton Gas Station is being powered by generator and is open to supply gasoline, diesel and propane. Their hours of operation will be 10:00 am – 4:30 pm beginning on Sunday (March 2, 2019)

SHELTERS: The following warming centers or shelters will be available Saturday evening (03/02/2019).

• The Dream Center (813 SE Lane Ave., Roseburg) opening at 7:00 pm.
• Lookingglass Grange (7426 Lookingglass Road, Roseburg) operating 24 hours.
• American Red Cross Shelter – Elkton High School (739 River Drive, Elkton) opening at 6:00 pm.

The Red Cross shelter at the Winston Foursquare Gospel Center has CLOSED.

COUNTY ROADS: 90% of main county roads are open with two lane access.  Crews are now focused on helping residents and clearing access and side roads.  95% of our transportation system was impacted by the storm in less than a 10-hour period.  DC had 1,300 miles of roads and 100,000's of trees impacted by the storm.  This is not a snow clean up, this is a debris and massive timber clean-up project.  The removal of trees and debris from our road infrastructure is just the beginning of the recovery process.  Our staff will be working on a long term plan to repair surface damage, cracks, re-striping, guard rails and signage. 

ODOT: All state highways are now open. This includes Highway 138E, Highway 38 and Highway 138W have been reopened. 

ROAD SAFETY: Due to the widespread nature of the work that still needs to be done and safety concerns for the workers, we are asking for residents to slow down and use caution when driving thru locations where clean-up is still taking place. Most locations do not have flaggers helping with traffic flow.

CITY OF DRAIN: City of Drain residents are asked to continue to conserve water until further notice.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES: The Volunteer Service Center hotline has CLOSED. Requests for welfare checks or assistance for those with specialized medical needs should be directed to the Douglas County Dispatch non-emergency telephone number at (541) 440-4471.

POWER: Pacific Power, Douglas Electric Cooperative, City of Drain and others continue to work to restore power to homes as safely and quickly as possible. The damages are widespread and will take time to restore. Residents can check the progress of restoration by checking the following websites: 

• Douglas Electric Cooperative: www.dec.coop or Facebook @deccooperative
• Pacific Power: https://www.pacificpower.net/ed/po/oom.html or Facebook @pacificpower
• City of Drain: www.cityofdrain.org 

Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. – Douglas County is still in a state of emergency.  Road, utility, emergency and volunteer crews continue to clear roads, assist residents and restore services as safely and quickly as possible.  

The response from Douglas County Commissioners, Douglas County Public Works, and Sheriff’s Office personnel early Sunday evening was swift and immediate, utilizing all available resources. Staff in all county departments as well as numerous community resources and local businesses have offered assistance during the emergency, many of which are working non-stop to provide assistance in all areas of the recovery.  

CITY OF ELKTON: The American Red Cross has opened a new shelter in the Elkton community. The shelter is located at the Elkton High School and will be operational tonight (Saturday, March 2, 2019) by 6:00 pm. The shelter will be equipped with food, water, cots, power for heat and charging electronics.

The Elkton Gas Station is being powered by generator and is open to supply gasoline, diesel and propane. Their hours of operation will be 10:00 am – 4:30 pm beginning on Sunday (March 2, 2019)

SHELTERS: The following warming centers or shelters will be available Saturday evening (03/02/2019).

• The Dream Center (813 SE Lane Ave., Roseburg) opening at 7:00 pm.
• Lookingglass Grange (7426 Lookingglass Road, Roseburg) operating 24 hours.
• American Red Cross Shelter – Elkton High School (739 River Drive, Elkton) opening at 6:00 pm.

The Red Cross shelter at the Winston Foursquare Gospel Center has CLOSED.

COUNTY ROADS: 90% of main county roads are open with two lane access.  Crews are now focused on helping residents and clearing access and side roads.  95% of our transportation system was impacted by the storm in less than a 10-hour period.  DC had 1,300 miles of roads and 100,000's of trees impacted by the storm.  This is not a snow clean up, this is a debris and massive timber clean-up project.  The removal of trees and debris from our road infrastructure is just the beginning of the recovery process.  Our staff will be working on a long term plan to repair surface damage, cracks, re-striping, guard rails and signage. 

ODOT: All state highways are now open. This includes Highway 138E, Highway 38 and Highway 138W have been reopened. 

ROAD SAFETY: Due to the widespread nature of the work that still needs to be done and safety concerns for the workers, we are asking for residents to slow down and use caution when driving thru locations where clean-up is still taking place. Most locations do not have flaggers helping with traffic flow.

CITY OF DRAIN: City of Drain residents are asked to continue to conserve water until further notice.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES: The Volunteer Service Center hotline has CLOSED. Requests for welfare checks or assistance for those with specialized medical needs should be directed to the Douglas County Dispatch non-emergency telephone number at (541) 440-4471.

POWER: Pacific Power, Douglas Electric Cooperative, City of Drain and others continue to work to restore power to homes as safely and quickly as possible. The damages are widespread and will take time to restore. Residents can check the progress of restoration by checking the following websites: 

• Douglas Electric Cooperative: www.dec.coop or Facebook @deccooperative
• Pacific Power: https://www.pacificpower.net/ed/po/oom.html or Facebook @pacificpower
• City of Drain: www.cityofdrain.org 

Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. - Statistics from the recent DUII enforcement occupant protection (seatbelt) specialized enforcement campaign. Funding for the enforcement was made possible by the Oregon Department of Transportation and Oregon State Sheriff's Association. 

10 hours of enforcement were spent focused on impaired driving. During the course of the hours worked, the following contacts were made:

• 1 DUII crash
• 1 Driving While Suspended
• 1 Arrest
• 1 cite equipment violation
• 6 warning equipment violation
• 14 other warnings
• 1 cite for speed
• 1 warning for speed

An additional 25 hours were specifically focused on the use of safety belts and child restraint systems. Deputies made the following enforcement contacts: 

• 7 citations for speed
• 11 warnings for speed
• 9 Driving While Suspended
• 3 cites for seat belt
• 3 warnings for seat belt
• 21 citations for other
• 24 warnings for other
• 1 warning for distracted driving
• 6 warnings for equipment violations

Sgt. Mark Norris said, "These grant dollars help us to educate and keep our roads safer." 

The Sheriff's Office encourages citizens to report impaired drivers to 9-1-1. 

A Search and Rescue volunteer assists an individual from their home during a recent welfare check.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. – Today, Sheriff Hanlin and Commissioner Boice visited the community of Elkton. That area was especially hit hard with the storm that created problems across the county Sunday night. 

The power infrastructure which supports Elkton and the surrounding area sustained significant damage, which is estimated to take weeks to repair. 

The County’s Emergency Management Division, Sheriff’s Office, Commissioners and American Red Cross are assisting the local community in the interim by arranging for resources to deploy to the area. 

SHELTERS: The following warming centers or shelters will be available Friday evening (03/01/2019).

• The Dream Center (813 SE Lane Ave., Roseburg)
• Lookingglass Grange (7426 Lookingglass Road, Roseburg)

The Red Cross shelter at the Winston Foursquare Gospel Center has CLOSED.

COUNTY ROADS: Douglas County road crews, along with various community partners will continue to work throughout the weekend clearing roads.  Good progress was made Thursday (02/28/2019) in the southern county district, which allows more resources to be focused on the northern district of the county.  70% or more of the main roads are cleared, and have two lane access.  Workers will now be directing their attention to access and side road clearing. 

ODOT: All state highways are now open. This includes Highway 138E, Highway 38 and Highway 138W have been reopened. 

ROAD SAFETY: Due to the widespread nature of the work that still needs to be done and safety concerns for the workers, we are asking for residents to slow down and use caution when driving thru locations where clean-up is still taking place. Most locations do not have flaggers helping with traffic flow.

DOUGLAS PUBLIC HEALTH NETWORK: Those with specialized medical needs or those who are unable to pick up their prescriptions may contact (541) 464-6560 for assistance and information about resources. 

COMMUNITY RESOURCES: The Volunteer Service Center hotline remains active. Approximately 18 welfare checks and 30 phone calls were completed by the group on Thursday 02/28/19. The call center can be reached at (541) 464-6556 or (541) 464-6555.

POWER: Pacific Power, Douglas Electric Cooperative, City of Drain and others continue to work to restore power to homes as safely and quickly as possible. The damages are widespread and will take time to restore. Residents can check the progress of restoration by checking the following websites: 

• Douglas Electric Cooperative: www.dec.coop or Facebook @deccooperative
• Pacific Power: https://www.pacificpower.net/ed/po/oom.html or Facebook @pacificpower
• City of Drain: www.cityofdrain.org 

Search and Rescue resources from across Oregon have been assisting the Sheriff’s Office with welfare checks. Over the past week, over 140 welfare checks have been completed. Those individuals contacted were notified of community resources available.

The Emergency Operations Center and county resources will continue to operate throughout the weekend.

Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

MEDIA ADVISORY - REQUEST FOR BROADCAST AS PSA FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS IN DOUGLAS COUNTY.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office and Douglas County Commissioners have received a lot of requests from people that want to help.  If you know of any elderly or vulnerable neighbors that might need assistance with food, water or heat, we encourage you to check on them, if you are able to safely do so and have suitable transportation.  If you are unable to reach them, or you discover they need additional assistance, please call the public assistance call center at (541) 464-6556 or (541) 464-6555. In an emergency call 911.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. - Douglas County continues to recover from the severe winter storm that has affected our area.  The following is an update to some of our critical services.

The Emergency Operations Center at the Sheriff’s Office continues to operate to help facilitate access to emergency services and provide the latest information updates. The Emergency Operations Center is comprised of representatives from various entities.

Power is being restored but outages remain, particularly in fringe locations.  There is no estimate on when power will be restored.  Pacific Power and Douglas Electric continue working around the clock to restore power.  Do not call 9-1-1 to determine when your power will be turned back on. The emergency dispatchers do not have access to this information. Contact your power company directly to determine an estimated time of restoration.

The following locations have shelters and warming centers available:

- American Red Cross - Shelter - Winston Foursquare Church, 540 SE Main St, Winston, OR

- Lookingglass Grange - Shelter - 7426 Lookingglass Road, Roseburg, OR – No cots or phones

- Family Felowship - Warming center - 330 NW 2nd Street, Myrtle Creek, OR – Hot meals, phone charging.

-Dream Center – Will be CLOSED tonight but is expected to re-open on Friday.

All Douglas County Senior dining sites will open for hot meals on Friday, March 1 at 11:45 am.  Those sites are located in Glendale, Glide, Oakland, Canyonville, Myrtle Creek, Yoncalla, Glendale, Camas Valley, Elkton and Tiller.  Volunteers will also be delivering meals to homebound seniors as road and driveway accessibility permits.

Weather:  Overnight temperatures are projected to be 33 degrees in the Roseburg area and mid 20’s in the outlying areas.  1/10 of an inch of rain forecast for tomorrow afternoon.  At this time, county streams and rivers are not projected to flood.

We continue to encourage residents travel with caution. If driving is required, motorists should be prepared for potential hazards and plan accordingly. If traveling ensure you have sufficient emergency supplies including food, water, medications, winter clothing, flashlights and blankets. Give yourself extra time to get to your destination and reduce your speed.

County road information:  Douglas County Public Works crews have been working around the clock to open and clear the more than 1,400 miles of roads in Douglas County.  As of today, road crews have opened up 60-70% of the main county roads with either two lane or single lane access.  The priority is to open up the main county roads first, then move onto opening the adjacent access and side roads.  Road crews along with numerous community partners and businesses have stepped up to provide workers and equipment to help expedite the cleanup process.

State Highway Information: 

• Hwy 38 has been re-opened between Sutherlin and Drain. 
• Hwy 138W is expected to re-open this evening.  (Sutherlin-Elkton Highway)
• Hwy 138E remains closed. (Roseburg-Diamond Lake Highway)
• Interstate 5 – 30 minute delays are expected Friday, March 1 between 8:30 am to 10:30 am between Cottage Grove and Rice Hill as utility workers repair downed power lines.

We have received a lot of requests from people that want to help.  If you know of any elderly or vulnerable neighbors that might need assistance with food, water or heat, we encourage you to go check on them, if you are able and have suitable transportation.  If you are unable to reach them, or you discover they need additional assistance, please call our public assistance call center at (541) 464-6556 or (541) 464-6555 or for an emergency call 911.

The Sheriff's Office Emergency Management Division and County Commissioners continue to work with local and state partners. Thank you for your patience as we work with road crews, service organizations and power companies to restore access to our citizens.  We will continue to provide updates as we receive them. 

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Some residents are still snowbound and have been without power for several days.  The Sheriff’s Office encourages residents who can safely check on a neighbor or friend, who may need basic supplies, to do so.  If you need to report an emergency, call 911. 

The Sheriff's Office has partnered with the Community Organization Active in Disasters (COAD) to set up a public assistance call center to help make contact with our vulnerable population that may be isolated and in need.  This center has been set up to help to do welfare checks and / or to see if anyone is in need of any basic supplies or help.

If you know of someone who may need to be checked on, and you are unable to do it yourself, please call one of the call center numbers below:

541-464-6555
541-464-6556
541-464-6557
541-464-6559
541-464-6560

The call center will be operational from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m

DRAIN, Ore. - On Wednesday, February 27, 2019, in coordination with Douglas County Search and Rescue, the United States Coast Guard North Bend Station rescued a man who had been stranded in the snow for several days.

73 year-old Lloyd Cline, a watchman working as security watch for Double S Logging, became stranded in the Elk Creek area off Upper Smith River Road due to the snow. 

Rescue efforts were attempted Monday and Tuesday, however hazards and severe weather hampered rescuers from reaching Mr. Cline. Air assets could not be utilized due to limited visibility and heavy snow falling.

Douglas County Search and Rescue notified the Oregon State Search and Rescue coordinator of the rescue mission.

On Wednesday, SAR ground search personnel were again attempting to make their way to Mr. Cline’s location. A brief break in the weather provided a window for a helicopter rescue attempt. 

The Oregon State SAR coordinator along with Oregon Office of Emergency Management coordinated a helicopter rescue with the U.S. Coast Guard station in North Bend. The flight crew flew to Cline's location and was able to successfully rescue him.

Cline was flown to River Bend hospital for treatment.

Joint Release with Douglas County Government

(Douglas County, OR) Severe weather conditions continue to spread across Douglas County.  The Douglas County Board of Commissioners declared a state of emergency for Douglas County today at the Board of Commissioners Business Meeting.  

The order was recorded and forwarded onto our Emergency Manager for processing, and submission to the State and Governor Brown’s office requesting an official emergency declaration for Douglas County. The order cited severe winter storms, heavy snowfall, widespread power outages and road closures from downed trees and power lines.

The Governor's emergency declaration will allow increased flexibility in how services are managed to ensure that resources reach our citizens and to continue make the safety of our citizens our top priority. The Governor’s emergency declaration will also authorize state agencies to expedite additional resources services management tools to users who would not otherwise have access.

An Emergency Operations Center has been set up at the DCSO to help facilitate access to emergency services and provide the latest information updates.

Do not call 9-1-1 to determine when your power will be turned back on. The emergency dispatchers do not have access to this information. Contact your power company directly to determine an estimated time of restoration.

The following locations have shelters and warming centers available:

- American Red Cross Shelter - Winston Foursquare Church, 540 SE Main St, Winston, OR

- Dream Center - 813 SE Lane Street, Roseburg, OR (Open 7p – 7a) -  (541) 673-5918

- Yoncalla Elementary Gym - 400 First Street, Yoncalla, OR

- Sutherlin Community Center - 150 Willamette Street, Sutherlin, OR

We continue to encourage residents travel with caution. If driving is required, motorists should be prepared for potential hazards and plan accordingly. If traveling ensure you have sufficient emergency supplies including food, water, medications, winter clothing, flashlights and blankets. Give yourself extra time to get to your destination and reduce your speed.

• ODOT has opened Interstate 5 and traffic is flowing north and southbound.

The Sheriff's Office Emergency Management Division and County Commissioners continue to work with local and state partners.

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Corporal Jon Dorland

ROSEBURG, Ore. – Three Douglas County Sheriff’s Office employees were honored Friday, February 22, 2019, at the Roseburg Optimist Club’s annual Respect for Law Banquet.

The annual banquet was hosted at the Douglas County Fairgrounds where the organization honored law enforcement professionals from various agencies in the County.

Corporal Jon Dorland received the Patrol Deputy of the Year award for his overall commitment and dedication to the agency. Dorland, who has been assigned to the patrol division for nearly 12 years, was selected in 2013 fill the role of K-9 handler. He exceeded the expectations of the position and “set the bar” for the future of DCSO’s K-9 program. Dorland and his K-9 partner Grim received several accolades, including Springfield Police Department’s ‘Top Dog’ award, two years in a row. Promoted to the rank of Corporal in 2018, Dorland continues to serve the agency as a front line supervisor who is respected by his peers, subordinates and supervisors.

911 Dispatcher of the Year went to Communications Officer Heather Gray who has been with the agency for 7 years. Gray is described by her peers as dependable, caring and “the consummate dispatcher”. Gray often serves the agency in other ways by assisting in community outreach events and as a training officer and lead dispatcher. Sheriff Hanlin said Gray is "honest and reliable in every aspect of her position".

Deputy Larissa May was honored as Corrections Deputy of the Year. May started her career by volunteering with the Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue program when she was 14 years old. Even after being hired full-time as a Correction Deputy, May continues to serve as a SAR volunteer. Deputy May was commended for her positive attitude and work ethic. She has assumed additional duties to include being a member of the Corrections Emergency Response Team and Inmate Services Coordinator. Her supervisors describe her as a reliable employee who represents the Sheriff’s Office in a positive manner.

“I am extremely proud of these employees who demonstrate their commitment to the agency and the community we serve on a daily basis.”, said Sheriff Hanlin.

The club also honored law enforcement professionals from Roseburg PD, Sutherlin PD, Winston PD, Myrtle Creek PD and Oregon State Police.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. - The winter storm is continuing to impact Douglas County. Overnight temperatures are expected to drop into the low 30's to mid-20's, which may create additional hazards. 

Approximately 31,000 county residents remain without power. Residents should prepare for prolonged outages, which could last several days. Preparations should be made for those who have medical dependencies such as medications, oxygen or other specialized needs. Residents who are able are encouraged to provide assistance to their neighbors and vulnerable populations within their communities. 

Do not call 9-1-1 to determine when your power will be turned back on. The emergency dispatchers do not have access to this information. Contact your power company directly to determine an estimated time of restoration. 

The following locations have shelters and warming centers available:

• An American Red Cross shelter has been opened at the Winston Foursquare Church (540 SE Main St, Winston)
• The Dream Center (813 SE Lane Street, Roseburg) opened its doors at 6:00 pm and will operate throughout the night. For more information contact: (541) 673-5918
• Yoncalla Elementary Gym (400 First Street, Yoncalla)
• Drain Civic Center (400 W. Ave, Drain)

We continue to encourage residents to stay home and only drive if absolutely necessary. If driving is required, motorists should be prepared for potential hazards and plan accordingly. If traveling ensure you have sufficient emergency supplies including food, water, medications, winter clothing, flashlights and blankets. Give yourself extra time to get to your destination and reduce your speed. 

ODOT has opened Interstate 5 and traffic is flowing north and southbound.

The Sheriff's Office Emergency Management Division and County Commissioners continue to work with local and state partners. 

Douglas County government offices will be closed to the public tomorrow, Tuesday, February 26, 2019. Douglas County Public Works, Juvenile Shelter and Sheriff's Office employees will continue to operate. 

Tips regarding emergency preparedness can be found at www.ready.gov/build-a-kit 

Additional information will be released as it becomes available. 

Downed power lines across Garden Valley Road

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. - Douglas County has seen significant snowfall today in most parts of the county. The Sheriff's Office and Douglas County Government urge residents to remain home and not to drive unless absolutely necessary. 

Emergency services have been extremely busy responding to incidents as a result of the weather. Additionally, the Douglas County Public Works Division has been working diligently to keep major roadways open and remove hazards. 

"We are seeing an increase in accidents and downed trees due to the storm", said Sgt. Brad O'Dell. 

Snow is expected to continue falling in most parts of the county throughout the evening. Lower temperatures may create additional hazards. 

If driving is necessary, ensure that your vehicle is equipped for the conditions. This includes appropriate tires and vehicle capabilities. Slowing your speeds and giving yourself extra time to get to your destination is strongly encouraged. 

Commissioner Tim Freeman said, "The safety of our citizens is our number one priority. We encourage you to stay in the safety of your home or delay all unnecessary travel until weather conditions improve."

The Sheriff's Office and the Public Works Division will continue to work throughout the night.