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Southern Oregon nonprofit offers mobility option for people with disabilities to enjoy the outdoors

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Southern Oregon nonprofit offers mobility option for people with disabilities to enjoy the outdoors


David Hatrick along with his new chair in 2017.

Courtesy: David’s Chair

In 2017, avid outdoorsman David Hatrick obtained a devastating analysis.

Medical doctors instructed Hatrick he had ALS, also called Lou Gehrig’s Illness, and solely a short while to stay.

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After the shock wore off, Hatrick resolved to proceed doing the issues he beloved so long as he might, no matter weakening muscle tissues and nerve injury.

However he nonetheless confronted a problem: Methods to hunt or navigate a rocky path in a wheelchair?

The reply was a particular battery-powered wheelchair that makes use of snowmobile-like tracks for wheels, making it able to going rougher locations. Hatrick and a pal, Steve Furst, instantly began to boost the required $20,000.

“It was a giant headache,” Furst mentioned.

The buddies held a rummage sale however solely made $3,000 and have been left with extra stuff on the finish than once they began. So that they modified gears.

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“We contacted some wonderful individuals and put collectively a poker event, dinner and public sale occasion and raised sufficient cash for David’s unique observe chair and our youth observe chair,” Furst mentioned.

Hatrick died just a few months after that success. However associates say he’d made it clear he needed different individuals to learn.

“David needed one other individual to have the observe chair,” Furst mentioned. “I mentioned ‘What if we might make it to the place a number of individuals can use the observe chair by borrowing it for a day or every week?’ as a result of observe chairs usually sit in a shed as a result of individuals shouldn’t have a strategy to get them to the locations they want to use them.”

The new chair at the Manzanita Visitor Center, as seen on April 25, 2023, was donated in memory of Biefke Vos Saulino, a longtime educator and environmentalist.

The brand new chair on the Manzanita Customer Middle, as seen on April 25, 2023, was donated in reminiscence of Biefke Vos Saulino, a longtime educator and environmentalist.

Kristian Foden-Vencil / OPB

So that they began the nonprofit David’s Chair, which now has seven chairs scattered round Oregon and one in Texas. Folks can flip up with a tow hitch and take a few of them wherever they wish to go. Use of the chairs is free. The nonprofit additionally has two “ParaGolfers,” particular carts that permit a disabled golfer to take a full golf swing.

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This previous month, two new chairs have been added in Manzanita and Seaside.

“They invited me (to make use of one) and I ended up driving all of it the best way down from the guests heart … to the seaside,” mentioned Alice Yates, a retired financial institution employee from Nehalem.

She mentioned the chair was straightforward to make use of and an unlimited enchancment over how she used to get her husband out and about.

“My husband was in a wheelchair, however he died earlier than any of those chairs existed,” she mentioned. “I used to get him on the seaside by placing him on a tarp and pulling him down slightly bit, so he might benefit from the sand and stuff.”

Earlier in 2023, 82-year-old Alice Yates took the new chair for a test drive on the beach in Manzanita.

Earlier in 2023, 82-year-old Alice Yates took the brand new chair for a take a look at drive on the seaside in Manzanita.

Courtesy: David’s Chair

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David’s Chair goals to keep away from potential indignity and inconvenience for individuals with disabilities by offering powerful, chunky, get-anywhere wheelchairs.

“It’s giving those who sense of freedom once more,” mentioned Dan Haag with the Tillamook Coast Guests Affiliation.

His group helps individuals entry the brand new chair on the Manzanita Guests Middle, only a block off the seaside.

“You sort of take as a right you can transfer by yourself,” mentioned Haag. “However simply the entire concept of getting out on the seaside and transferring with out somebody pushing you, and simply creating that independence.”

The chair is saved in a shed; guests ebook it on-line. It’s camouflaged in inexperienced and brown hues, with tracks that seem like they got here off a small tank.

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“I imagine the tracks are just like what are utilized in snow mobiles,” mentioned Haag.

On April 25, 2023, David Haag prepares to blow the sand off the new wheelchair with an air hose.

On April 25, 2023, David Haag prepares to blow the sand off the brand new wheelchair with an air hose.

Kristian Foden-Vencil / OPB

The chair runs on two rechargeable automobile batteries, slightly than an engine, so it’s comparatively quiet and easy to function. Haag mentioned customers simply want to determine the joystick. It must be pushed ahead to go ahead and to both facet to show.

“It’s a kind of issues the place it’s like that is too good to be true as a result of they supply the chair. They increase all of the funds for the chair. They cowl the legal responsibility. They do all the key upkeep, they usually do all of the coaching,” mentioned Haag. “All they require is a spot to retailer it so individuals can test it out.”

The nonprofit is funded by donations, grants and sponsors.

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Vacationer locations usually wrestle to make seashores and wilderness areas accessible. However many are working to enhance entry. Tillamook County officers not too long ago purchased 9 wheelchairs with fats traction tires and positioned them in parks and close to seashores. Additionally they put in a particular boat launch to assist individuals with disabilities get out and in of kayaks.

Haag mentioned the brand new chairs are one other transfer in the precise path to make sure everybody has entry to out of doors recreation alternatives. “We all know there’s nonetheless a protracted strategy to go,” he mentioned.

Over the subsequent few years, David’s Chair hopes to put extra units at American Legions, VFWs and Elks Lodges, so extra younger individuals and veterans can take them into nature to hunt and fish.

The chairs will be booked at davidschair.org.



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Oregon

Powerball ticket worth $328.5 million sold in Oregon

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Powerball ticket worth 8.5 million sold in Oregon


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The first Powerball jackpot of 2025 was sold in Oregon and is worth $328.5 million, according to lottery officials.

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The winner purchased the winning ticket in Beaverton on Thursday, Jan. 17, the Oregon Lottery said. The retail location will not be revealed until a winner has come forward.

The winning numbers for the Saturday drawing were: 14, 31, 35, 64 and 69 and Powerball 23.

The winner has a year to claim their prize, Oregon Lottery spokesperson Melanie Mesaros said. After the winning ticket is presented, “it will take time before a winner can be identified due to security and payment processes.”

Oregon lottery winners, with few exceptions, cannot remain anonymous, Mesaros said.

The winner will have a choice between an annuitized prize of $328.5 million or a lump-sum payment of $146.4 million, according to lottery officials, which are both options before taxes.

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Last year, the largest Powerball prize won in Oregon — a $1.3 billion jackpot — was split between a Portland man, his wife, and friend.

Before Saturday, the most recent Powerball jackpot was sold in December in New York and was worth $256 million.

Powerball is a multi-state jackpot operated by 44 states, plus the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Fernando Cervantes Jr., a news reporter for USA TODAY, contributed to this story.

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Cherrill Crosby is the executive editor of the Statesman Journal and The Register-Guard. Reach her at crosbyc@gannett.com



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Oregon’s Dan Lanning visits 5-star recruit Cantwell, top TE Premer during Midwest run

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Oregon’s Dan Lanning visits 5-star recruit Cantwell, top TE Premer during Midwest run


Oregon head football coach Dan Lanning has been a busy man.

But when you’re the man tasked with running one of the top college football programs in the country, burning jet fuel to shake hands and take photos is a big part of the gig. And Lanning was doing plenty of that last week.

A native of Kansas City, Mo., Lanning returned home last week on a two-day tear recruiting some of the top 2026 prospects in the country.

Lanning’s known stops included Lee’s Summit on Jan. 16, where the Tigers have 2027 interior line prospect Zach Harsha (6-5, 260) and 2028 tight end Max Trillo (6-4, 225).

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He was even busier the following day. He had stops at Raymore-Peculiar, where he visited with and offered four-star uncommitted running back DeZephen Walker (6-0, 205) who is believed to be heavily considering Kansas and Nebraska.

Raymore-Peculiar running back DeZephen Walker

Raymore-Peculiar running back DeZephen Walker. / Photo by David Smith, SBLive

He also headed to Illinois, where he swung by Lincoln-Way East to visit with quarterback Jonas Williams, who agreed with the Ducks on Aug. 3, 2024,

A trip to the Springfield, Mo. area was also on the docket, as Lanning traveled to Nixa High School to again meet with the country’s No. 1 2026 offensive lineman, Jackson Cantwell, on Jan. 16. The 6-8, 315 offensive tackle has offers from just about everyone in the country, though he has spoken highly of Lanning and his relationship with the Ducks coach – making Oregon one of the favorites for his services.

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Cantwell was honored by the Kansas City Chiefs on Jan. 18 during their AFC Divisional playoff game against the Houston Texans after he was selected to represent the Chiefs at the ‘Nike Ones’ showcase during Super Bowl weekend in New Orleans.

Lanning concluded his trip with a little basketball in Hutchinson, Kan., where he watched Great Bend tight end Ian Premer (6-6, 215) – the top tight end in the 2026 class – take on Hutchinson. Premer, a three-sport star in football, basketball and baseball, impressed with 22 points in the game.

The Midwest swing adds to a busy month for Lanning, who also has been spotted with Utah No. 1 athlete Salasi Moa and recently secured a visit with top 2026 quarterback and Nashville native Jared Curtis.

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People with disabilities are extra vulnerable in major disasters like wildfires, says Oregon advocate

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People with disabilities are extra vulnerable in major disasters like wildfires, says Oregon advocate


FILE – Scorched wheelchairs rest outside Cypress Meadows Post-Acute, a nursing home leveled by the Camp Fire on Dec. 4, 2018, in Paradise, Calif. The staff was able to safely evacuate all 91 patients.

Noah Berger / AP

Jake Cornett, Executive Director and CEO of the advocacy group Disability Rights Oregon, says he will forever be haunted by Ashlyn Maddox’s death during the 2021 Oregon heat wave.

The Portland woman, 36, was disabled and living in a group foster home. She was dropped off by a medical transport company, but the company didn’t make sure she made it safely into her air-conditioned home. She ended up wandering around for hours in the heat, and died only 50 feet from safety.

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Cornett says, “These deaths are preventable with the right planning, the right strategy for mitigation, the right preparedness and a response plan that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and respects the needs of people with disabilities.”

Jake Cornett, executive director and CEO of Disability Rights Oregon.

Jake Cornett, executive director and CEO of Disability Rights Oregon.

Courtesy of Ramsey Cox

Cornett spoke with “All Things Considered” host Geoff Norcross about Oregon’s ability to help people with disabilities during a natural disaster, such as the deadly wildfires burning in the Los Angeles area.

This conversation has been edited for clarity and length.


Geoff Norcross: If we were to transport those fires in Southern California here, would we see a similar catastrophe for people with disabilities?

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Jake Cornett: Surely, we fear that the same disasters we’ve seen play out in the catastrophes in the lives of people with disabilities in LA would play out right here in Oregon as well. And I don’t think this is just a theoretical question. It’s only a matter of time before we have major wildfires along Highway 20, very close by in Portland and in other major cities throughout our state.

Norcross: What is the obligation of local governments to provide for people with disabilities when disaster strikes? I guess I’m asking if the Americans with Disabilities Act applies here.

Cornett: Absolutely. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that cities, counties, the state and the federal government are taking into account what the needs are of people with disabilities, and providing accommodations for those needs when engaging in disaster planning.

Norcross: Getting information out to people quickly in a disaster is so critical, especially for something that’s as fast-moving as the LA wildfires. For people who are deaf or blind, can you talk about how that’s extra complicated?

Cornett: Absolutely. You know, emergency response notification systems that happen on your phone are a great tool if you have a phone, or if you have the technology to make your phone provide you the information you need. And that’s particularly important for folks who are blind.

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I think about a blind person who may not have the same visual access to information as others. If police run around your neighborhood and put a notice on your door that says “get out of town, there’s an evacuation order, you’re under wildfire threat,” that notice on your door might not be enough because you can’t access that information.

And this is where cities, counties and the state really have an obligation to adjust to how they communicate so that it’s effective for all people with disabilities.

Norcross: And again, when you say obligation, you mean a legal obligation, not just because it’s the right thing to do.

Cornett: Absolutely. There’s a legal obligation to do that under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Norcross: Even if an evacuation order gets to affected people quickly, there’s this expectation that most people will get in their car and they will leave. How does that expectation leave people with disabilities in even greater danger?

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Cornett: Yeah, that’s another huge issue for people with disabilities, especially when it happens quickly like the LA fires. People think evacuating is getting in the car, driving quickly away to safety.

But many people with disabilities don’t have access to a car, or they can’t physically drive a vehicle. They’re totally reliant on others to transport them to safety. So just providing that notice is not an adequate way to ensure that we are saving the lives of people with disabilities in the way it needs to be done.

Norcross: Is there an event here in Oregon that you can point to that shows us how situated we are to help people with disabilities when disaster strikes, good or bad?

Cornett: Here in Oregon, we’ve seen hundreds die or have serious injuries because of heat in the past few years. Climate change is real. We live in a warming environment, and it’s having a really disproportionate impact on seniors, on people with disabilities and people with underlying medical conditions.

And I’ll forever be haunted by a story of a 30-something year old woman who was dropped off by a medical transport company, but didn’t wait in their air-conditioned van to make sure that she got inside her home where there was air conditioning. Instead, they took off. She wandered around for hours before dying of heat, just 50 feet from her adult foster home.

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These deaths are preventable with the right planning, the right strategy for mitigation, the right preparedness, and a response plan that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and respects the needs of people with disabilities.



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