News

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The City of Corvallis and Benton County Emergency Management (BCEM) programs are pleased to announce their collaboration on a wildfire evacuation drill for Benton County on Saturday, May 18th, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.

The County’s Temporary Evacuation Point (TEP) is the Kalapuya Building on SW Research Way, Corvallis. The City’s TEP will be the Northwest Hills Community Church on Walnut in Corvallis. The drills will involve Community Emergency Response Team volunteers to ensure a coordinated and effective response.

The drill will serve as a valuable opportunity for residents and emergency responders to practice wildfire evacuation procedures and test communication systems. It is part of ongoing efforts to enhance emergency preparedness in Benton County. “We are excited to partner with the City of Corvallis on this important drill,” said BCEM Manager Bryan Lee. “By working together, we can better prepare our community for emergencies and ensure that everyone is safe and informed.”

Residents can sign up for emergency evacuation route notifications with the Linn-Benton ALERT system at https://sheriff.bentoncountyor.gov/linn-benton-alert/. After signing up for the alerts you will receive all emergency-related notifications related to your location.

Participating households have been provided detailed information about the exercise. Community members may notice additional traffic in the area as the evacuation drill gets underway. Unless there is an emergency, neighbors are advised to not call 9-1-1.

Please contact the Benton County Call Center at 541-766-6200 with questions about the drill. For more information about the wildfire evacuation drill and how you can participate, please contact Benton County Emergency Management at emergencymanagement@bentoncountyor.gov or call 541-766-6864.

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CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Oregon Association of Mounted Posses, with sponsorship from Benton County and Polk County Sheriff’s Offices, is holding all-hazards disaster preparedness training for equine and other livestock.

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CORVALLIS, Ore. – On April 26, 2024, at about 1:45 pm, detectives from the Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) made contact with the suspect of a recent hit and run on Highway 20 near Hyak Park that killed pedestrian Deborah Rosemary Haikkila, of Albany.

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CORVALLIS, Ore. – BCSO investigators have identified the victim in this recent incident. The 29-year-old female’s name is being withheld pending contact of next of kin.

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CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) is currently investigating a possible hit and run involving a deceased unidentified female estimated to be between 20-40 years old.

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The Benton County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a Drug Take Back Event on Saturday, April 27, 2024, from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. This event allows the public to safely dispose of expired or unused medications.

This is a one-day, drive-thru event at 4500 SW Research Way, Corvallis. Those interested in dropping off at this location are asked to enter the parking lot off Research Way and follow the signs and directions of the volunteers.

Some items are not allowed at the event. For safety reasons, these include thermometers, intra-venous solutions, needles, EpiPens®, or medical waste of any kind. Illegal drugs are also not accepted. Medications can only be accepted from individual households, not from businesses such as nursing homes, doctor’s offices, or veterinary clinics. A complete list of restricted items is posted on the Sheriff’s Office website at 2024 Drug Take Back Event – Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon (bentoncountyor.gov)

This event is offered as a public safety service to help keep prescription drugs out of the hands of kids or others who might abuse them. Misuse of prescription drugs is a serious problem, especially with teens and young adults.

Additionally, improperly disposing of medications, by flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, can lead to contamination of our drinking water. While most drugs can be treated at wastewater treatment plants, some cannot.

Community partners Covanta and Oregon State University are helping support this event, sanctioned by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as part of its National Take-Back Initiative. The Sheriff’s Office is able to offer this service due to the volunteer support of their Reserve Deputies, Auxiliary Team, CERT, and Search and Rescue volunteers. For more information, visit 2024 Drug Take Back Event – Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon (bentoncountyor.gov).

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Benton County Sheriff’s Office would like to announce a test of the Linn-Benton ALERT system on Saturday, March 9th, 2024, at 1:00 p.m.

The test will cover all of Benton County. All traditional land phone lines in the 9-1-1 database will receive the message. Those who have registered other devices with Linn-Benton ALERT will also receive the test message. 

The Linn-Benton ALERT Emergency Notification System is a mass notification system that allows public safety officials to provide rapid notifications to Linn and Benton County residents of emergencies, evacuations, and other urgent events. 

There will be no reason to call the Sheriff’s Office once you receive the message; please do not dial 9-1-1.

Residents can sign up for the Linn-Benton ALERT system as well as learn about emergency preparedness at https://sheriff.bentoncountyor.gov/linn-benton-alert/. As a reminder, each person in the household hoping to receive alerts will need their own profile/account. After signing up for the alerts you will receive all emergency-related notifications related to your location. 

For questions on the mass notification system, email emergencymanagement@bentoncountyor.gov or call 541-766-6864.

CORVALLIS, Ore. – On Monday, March 4, 2024, a tragic single-vehicle crash resulted in the death of Brandon Nicolas Meyer, 21, of Corvallis. Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Deputies responded to the scene on 53rd Street at the railroad trestle where Meyer’s vehicle caught fire after striking the trestle. Meyer was pronounced deceased at the scene.

In light of the significant damage to the railroad trestle caused by the crash, the area will remain closed until engineers with the railroad can survey the scene on Wednesday, March 6. A specific time for the reopening of the area will be announced by BCSO following the survey. In the meantime, residents are advised to use West Hills or Reservoir as alternate routes.
The Benton County Crash Team received assistance from the Corvallis Fire Department and Corvallis Police Department at the scene.

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Brandon Meyer during this difficult time. Any further updates on the situation will be provided by the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.

Corvallis, Ore. – On February 1, 2024, at approximately 2:45 p.m., Benton County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Corvallis Fire Department, responded to a tragic incident at a dairy farm south of Corvallis, in which a male lost his life.

Deputies arrived and located David Breyman III, 56, of Dallas, who was unconscious, not breathing, and did not have a pulse. Deputies and citizens on scene attempted lifesaving efforts but were unsuccessful. 

Corvalis Fire Department personnel arrived soon after and were able to assist getting Breyman unpinned by removing part of the wall. They also attempted life saving measures without success.

The incident involved a truck carrying 27 tons of corn meal feed. Breyman was alone and in the process of unloading the feed by using the trailer’s unloading mechanism. It appeared the feed caused the gate to swing open and push him against the barn wall, causing him to be pinned. 

A farm worker was nearby and heard Breyman yell. The worker used his phone to call for help and shut off the trailer unloading mechanism to stop it from piling up more feed. 

Breyman was from Dallas, Oregon and working for a trucking and feed company based out of Polk County.

“We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the family, said Sheriff Jef Van Arsdall. “Your dedication to put food on our tables does not go unnoticed and we’re terribly sorry for your loss.”

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