Public’s Help Wanted in Continuing Myers Murder Investigation

The Lincoln County Major Crime Team is asking for the public’s help in its continuing investigation into the murder of Cody Myers of Lafayette at a spot just east of Toledo. Investigators are following up on a tip that the murder suspects, David Pedersen and Holly Grigsby, may have traveled to, and stopped at the Devil’s Punch Bowl between Newport and Depoe Bay October 2 between 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Investigators are asking to hear from anyone who may have seen the suspects or found anything suspicious, including photographs and/or a brown and grey tarp, in the area along the street leading up to the Devils Punch Bowl or on the ocean beach around October 2nd that may be connected with this case.

Second, investigators continue to request to speak with anyone who took photos or video at the Newport Performing Arts Center or across the street at Don Davis Park on Saturday, October 1, during the daytime performances of the jazz festival. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lincoln County Major Crime Team tip line at (541) 265-0669. As part of the ongoing investigation, investigators are trying to confirm tips that will help track the suspects as they moved through Oregon south to California. These items were mentioned in a tip that could help independently confirm the information shared with investigators.

Pedersen and Grigsby remain in custody in the Yuba County, California Jail as murder suspects there. They are suspected in four murders in all. Detectives believe Myers arrived in Newport Saturday, October 1 for the jazz festival. After arriving in the area, he came into contact with one or both suspects prior to his death.  His vehicle, a white 1999 Plymouth Breeze four-door displaying Oregon license 025 CCH, was spotted at least twice in the mid-Willamette Valley area during the weekend of October 1 – 2.

One of the reported sightings confirmed the car was in the possession of two people identified during the investigation as Pedersen and Grisby, who were already suspects in a Washington murder case. Myers’ body was found October 5th in the Mary’s Peak area southwest of Corvallis.

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Occupy Newport Group Plans More Actions

The Occupy Newport group that turned out a substantial crowd of demonstrators Wednesday (October 11) plans another rally Saturday at noon at the Hwy 20/101 junction in Newport. Organizer Devin Robinson said the rally will be part of a “global day of solidarity,” with rallies organized worldwide. “We will add our voices to the global call for the return of governance of the people,” Robinson said. The group will also encourage Bank of America patrons to close their accounts and choose alternatives like local banks and credit unions. Bank of America has received negative publicity for its recent decision to charge $5 per month for the use of a debit card. This came after the federal and several state governments sued the bank for its role in the mortgage crisis, and for a robo-signing scandal.

On Tuesday, the Occupy Newport group will hold what it called a “general assembly” at the Don Davis Memorial Park pavilion in Newport’s Nye Beach. The gathering at 6:00 p.m. will be to discuss options for a march and protest scheduled for Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. The march will start at the entrance to Nye Beach and end at the Hwy 20/101 interchange.

A rally Wednesday in Newport turned out more than 100 people and received an overwhelmingly positive response from passing motorists.

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Cub Scout Signup October 17

Cub Scout Night is being held at the AWPPW Union Hall (148 E. Graham St) Monday October 17 from 4:30 to 6:00. There will be free pizza and is open to parents and boys in the first through fifth grades from Toledo, Siletz and east county. A parent or guardian must accompany boys to this event. Parent volunteers are wanted too. For information, call Ryan Rasmussen at 503-320-9391.

 

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Learning Is Fun Together Program Opens

This article also available en Español.

A school readiness program for children 3-5 is now open and signing up families at its Toledo location at Arcadia School and three other sites in Lincoln County. The Learning Is Fun Together (LIFT) program focuses on parent-child bonding, enrichment activities and includes a parent support group. A parent or guardian must accompany a child. The program is free.

The Toledo program is offered Tuesday and Thursday at Arcadia School from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. In Newport, the class is held at the Newport HELP Center from 9:30 – 11:30 Mondays and Wednesday. In Waldport, it is Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 – 11:30 at the Seashore Family Literacy Center, and in Lincoln City at the Oceana Family Literacy Center from 10:00 – Noon Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Newport and Lincoln City sites offer bilingual education.

The current session runs into December. There will be additional session from January – March and again April – June. Some of the activities include arts and crafts, story time, music and outdoor activities.

Toledo program coordinator Jinji Wimalasena said an important part of the program is the fact that it offers a built-in parent support group.

To sign up, or get more information for Toledo, call 541-336-4357. For Waldport, call 541-563- 8584; for Newport call 541-574-5824 and in Lincoln City, 541-921-1865 (541-992-5514 en Español).

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Local Group “Occupies Newport” in Solidarity With Other Cities

A group of about 120 people organized by the Central Coast MoveOn Council jammed the sidewalks at US 20 and US 101 in Newport Wednesday (October 12), showing support for the “Occupy Wall Street” gatherings popping up nationwide. As the two-hour event proceeded, the original group was joined by some passers by. The response from motorists was almost universally positive, with a constant stream of thumbs-up signs and horn honking. During an hour on site, a reporter witnessed only one driver give a “thumbs down.” Rennie Ferris of Newport, one of the organizers of the event, said he was “overwhelmed by the number of people who came out” for the rally, and even more gratified by the nearly unanimous support of passing motorists and pedestrians. The ages of the crowd ranged from elementary school to octogenarian. Sign slogans carried messages including “Occupy Wall Street” to “End Corporate Personhood,” “Jobs not Cuts” and “We Are 99% Strong.”

It was not just a Newport crowd. There were a number of people there from Toledo, Waldport, and as far away as Yachats, some of whom talked about hoping to organize events in their respective towns. Union attendance was low. One member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers expressed disappointment not to see fellow union members on the picket line. “But I’ll get them out here next week,” he said. Ferris said the MoveOn group plans another rally next Wednesday, also from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. and hopes to see a much larger crowd.

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