News from around the Rogue Valley and Southern Oregon from RogueValleyMagazine.com
Friday, November 1, 2019
Rogue Valley Weather
Today
Sunny, with a high near 70. Overnight, clear with a low around 37.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 72.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 71.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 70.
Tuesday
Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 69.
Today’s Headlines…
Get ready to fall back this Sunday as Daylight Saving Time comes to an end
Set your clocks BACK one hour before you go to bed Saturday night.
In April of 2019, the Oregon House of Representatives passed a bill that would keep Oregon on DST, the senate passed it as well and Governor Brown signed it. But in order for the bill to take effect, California and Washington would need to adopt similar bills. Washington’s Governor Jay Inslee has already signed a bill and voters in California have showed support, but it still needs to go through the legislature. Calfornia is holding out.
If and when it’s passed, most of Oregon would no longer “fall back” in November and instead stay on Daylight Saving Time all-year-round. Malheur County in eastern Oregon being the only portion of the state to not do this because it is in the Mountain Time Zone. We’ll keep you posted. Meantime, set your clocks back an hour this weekend.
Thursday afternoon, employees from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife called 911 to report finding a body submerged in the Applegate River outside of Murphy, Oregon.
Deputies from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office responded and confirmed the identity of the body as Mark Edward Kirtland. Kirtland (known to friends at Metal Mark) was reported missing by family members on October 23rd in the evening when he was seen walking north on Hwy 238, 3 miles north of the 238/Watergap intersection.
Next of kin have been notified. This case has been turned over to the Oregon State Medical Examiners Office to determine cause and manner of death.
On Sunday, Medford Police officers were dispatched to a reported home invasion robbery in the 1800 block of Filmore Drive. A 75 year old female had ran to a neighbor’s home after escaping a robbery occurring at her home.
Officers arrived to the location within minutes but the two suspects were gone.
The investigation revealed that the victim, who was alone, answered a knock on her front door, at approximately 8:40 a.m. When she opened the door, she was confronted with two males who had their faces covered and forced their way into the home. At least one of the suspects was armed with a handgun. The suspects bound the victim with zip ties and assaulted her as they demanded access to certain items inside the home.
The suspects stole the victim’s wedding ring from her hand, as well as other jewelry from the residence. Once the victim realized the suspects appeared to be gone, she ran to a neighbor’s house, still partially bound in zip ties.
Detectives believe this was a targeted robbery, as the suspects appeared to have knowledge about the residence. A neighborhood canvas revealed video surveillance of black truck seen arriving shortly before the robbery and leaving shortly after. Detectives would like to identify this vehicle and the occupants, who may or may not be involved in the robbery. Pictures of the vehicle are attached to this press release.
The description of the suspects are limited to two adult males wearing face coverings. The victim was treated on scene by Mercy Flights Ambulance and later received additional medical treatment. Her injuries included facial, arm and shoulder injuries. This case is not drug related.
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested a 39-year-old man this week on charges related to the sexual abuse of a 16-year-old girl. Detectives are concerned the suspect may have had contact with additional teens.
The investigation began on January 12, 2019. A 16-year-old girl reported being sexually assaulted by an older man she had met online. The two used the Whisper phone application to communicate and later met in person.
The investigation led detectives to identify the suspect as Erik Theil Rowe, 38, of Gold Hill. On October 29, 2019, JCSO detectives executed a search warrant at Rowe’s home in the 3200-block of Galls Creek Road. Rowe was taken into custody at that time.
Rowe is currently lodged in the Jackson County jail on a charge of third degree sexual abuse. A judge set bail at $10,000.
Detectives have reason to believe Rowe may have had contact with other teens in the Medford and Grants Pass areas through various social media and phone apps. Anyone with information can contact Detective Shuart through the JCSO tip line at (541) 770-8333. Refer to case #19-827.
The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board recently announced $1 million in funding for two projects in Douglas and Josephine counties to improve habitat and passage for Coho salmon.
One is led by the Partnership for the Umpqua Rivers, which plans to replace two failing tide gates on the Smith River, and another is led by the Applegate Partnership & Watershed Council, which is replacing a push-up dam on a tributary to the Applegate River with a new irrigation water intake system.
The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board recently announced $1 million in funding for two projects in Douglas and Josephine counties to improve habitat and passage for Coho salmon. One is led by the Partnership for the Umpqua Rivers, which plans to replace two failing tide gates on the Smith River, and another is led by the Applegate Partnership & Watershed Council, which is replacing a push-up dam on a tributary to the Applegate River with a new irrigation water intake system.
Oregonians who do not get health insurance through their jobs, and who do not qualify for the Oregon Health Plan, have six weeks to sign up for 2020 coverage.
Between Nov. 1 and Dec. 15 you can go to OregonHealthCare.gov to estimate if you will qualify for help paying for coverage.
Skim the different plans available in your area, see what the plans cover, and how much they cost and find a local expert who can help you apply for a subsidy and enroll in a plan OregonHealthCare.gov is the online home of the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace, a part of state government. It is the state-level partner of HealthCare.gov, the national website where people enroll in Marketplace plans and access subsidies. Last year, more than 148,000 people in Oregon got coverage through the Marketplace.
Oregonians can apply for subsidies and enroll online on their own, or they can get free, local help with the application. Insurance agents and community-based advocates providing that assistance are listed at OregonHealthCare.gov/gethelp, or call 855-269-3767 (toll-free). Open enrollment lasts until Dec. 15. for 2020 coverage. Once the deadline passes, people can buy insurance only when they have a major life change, such as having a baby, adopting a child, or losing other health insurance.
Around the state
This week Oregon State Police (OSP) Northwest Region Marijuana team executed a search warrant at a rural property near Dexter and Inspectors with the Oregon Liquor Control Commission’s (OLCC) Medical Marijuana Division discovered an illegal marijuana extraction operation at an out-of-compliance Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) medical grow site.
The illicit extraction laboratory was discovered operating in a makeshift outdoor structure with unsanitary conditions and was not licensed to process cannabis by OLCC, OMMP, or the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Industrial Hemp Program.
Two suspects were located at the property. Among evidence seized were 10 firearms, one of which was stolen, approximately 216 pounds (over 100,000 mL) of cannabis extracts and two butane hash oil extraction machines valued at $120,000.00. Also seized were items relating to the manufacture and sale of counterfeit vape cartridges.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Eugene Resident Office, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office and OLCC assisted.
Charges of Unlawful Possession of Marijuana (any unlawful extract), Unlawful Delivery of a Marijuana Item and Unlawful Manufacture of a Marijuana Item (cannabinoid extract) will be forwarded to the Lane County District Attorney for consideration. Names of the suspects are being withheld pending review of the case by the Lane County District Attorney’s Office.
The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs will again be hosting its annual Statewide Veterans Day Celebration at 3 p.m. Nov. 11 at the World War II Memorial on the grounds of the Oregon State Capitol in Salem.
The event will include a color guard presentation by North Salem High School JROTC, the playing of “Taps,” the national anthem, a military chaplain and other patriotic observances. State Rep. Marty Wilde, of District 11 representing central Lane and Linn counties, will deliver the keynote address.
For information about what events are happening in your area, ODVA is again offering its annual list of statewide Veterans Day ceremonies, parades and other special events, which is shared on ODVA’s blog, social media and with news organizations across the state.
The directory includes an interactive map as well as detailed information about each event. You can check it out on the ODVA blog at https://oregondva.com/2019/10/11/2019-veterans-day-statewide-events/.