James David Lamb Jr. 

News In brief

Man facing “hate crime” charge after Redmond motel owner assaulted — A Eugene man has been accused of attempted murder and a hate crime after allegedly attacking a 70-year-old woman who owns the Hub Motel at 1128 NW 6th Street in Redmond, according to a Redmond Police news release. James Lamb, 53, who was staying in the motel, allegedly used a garbage can to smash the glass entry door of the manager’s office around 6:33 a.m. Dec. 31, before attacking the owner, police said. Lamb then returned to his room, where police contacted him and got him to surrender without further incident, police said. Lamb was taken to Deschutes County jail. On Jan. 7, Deschutes District Attorney John Hummel announced a grand jury had charged Lamb with two counts of first-degree bias crime and one count each of second-degree attempted murder, second-degree assault assault , second-degree burglary, strangulation, menacing, and second-degree criminal mischief. Hummel said the bias crime charge, which was made possible by revisions to Oregon’s “hate crime” law made last year, was based on Lamb’s statements about the motel owner being a native of India and a desire Lamb expressed to “rid America of people like her.” The changes to the law allow a single person to be charged, while previously two or more people had to allegedly be involved with the crime. Hummel said the victim remained hospitalized with broken bones, but is expected to survive. “The victim of this unprovoked assault provided heroic testimony to the grand jury from her hospital bed,” Hummel said in a statement. “Too many people in Oregon are silenced by intimidation and violence because of how they look, who they love, or to whom they pray. Because of this woman’s strength, and because the Oregon Legislature passed a law last year to strengthen Oregon’s hate crime law, justice will be delivered in this case. Hate is not tolerated in Deschutes County.”

Police: DUII driver involved in multiple vehicle crash on Sixth Street — A 28-year-old Sisters woman was arrested Jan. 3, on suspicion of driving under the influence after a multi-vehicle crash just after 3 p.m. in downtown Redmond, according to a Redmond Police news release. Police say Ashley Clary side-swiped a parked pickup with her Toyota 4Runner at NW Sixth Street and NW Greenwood Avenue, then entered downtown on SW Sixth Street at close to 50 mph, swerved and rear-ended a parked GMC Terrain. The force of the collision sent the unoccupied GMC into a tree and then across SW Cascade Avenue, where it collided with another unoccupied parked car. Clary was transported to St. Charles Redmond for minor injuries and then arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving, four counts of criminal mischief in the second degree, and misdemeanor hit and run, police said. She was released at the hospital with a citation to appear in Deschutes County Circuit Court due to medical reasons. No other individuals were injured.

Crash on NW Way injures two — Two drivers, both of Redmond, were injured in a crash at 2:38 p.m. Jan. 5 at the intersection of Northwest Way and NW Coyner Avenue. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and Redmond Fire Department, assisted by Oregon State Police, responded to the crash site where one driver was trapped in her car, said deputies. John Smith, 69, driver of a 1997 Ford pickup, and Vanessa Klingensmith, 38, driver of a 2008 Mazda MZ3, were both transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries after the fire department cut the driver’s door of Klingensmith’s car and removed her from the vehicle, officials said. A minor child in the vehicle with Klingensmith was not injured. Deputies say the crash occurred when Smith, northbound on Northwest Way, attempted to make a left turn onto Coyner and struck Klingensmith’s vehicle, southbound on Northwest Way, on the driver’s side. Both vehicles sustained major damage and the intersection was blocked for approximately an hour until the vehicles could be removed. Smith was cited for making a dangerous left turn and deputies say alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

Events

Lens on Learning “Wolves” — Friends and Neighbors of the Deschutes Canyon Area’s Lens on Learning Event “Wolves: a cultural perspective,” will be held 2-3:30 p.m. Jan. 18 in the Juniper Room, 5195 SW Club House Road, Crooked River Ranch. The event is presented by Wilson Wewa, a spiritual leader and oral historian of the Warm Springs Paiute. Preregistration is required and the cost is $3, free for Friends and Neighbors of the Deschutes Canyon Area members. For more information call 541-771-3267 or to register visit fansofdeschutes.org.

Mentor Training Class offered — Central Oregon Partnerships for Youth is offering a free six-hour class Jan. 18 to prepare volunteers to become mentors for children with an incarcerated parent. After training and background checks, volunteers are matched with a child in Redmond who shares similar interests and commit to spending a few hours a week together for a minimum of one year. Pre-registration is required. For more information, visit www.sheriff.deschutes.org/copy, call 541-388-6651 or email COPY@deschutes.org.

Business

Weight Watchers moves to the Grange — Weight Watchers, now known as WW, is now meeting at the Redmond Grange, 707 SW Kalama. The group’s workshop days and times have not changed. For more information, visit www.weightwatchers.com/us/find-a-meeting.