News from around the Rogue Valley and around the state of Oregon, from RogueValleyMagazine.com, the online home of Southern Oregon.
Thursday, January 2, 2020
Rogue Valley Weather
Today Patchy morning valley fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 50. Overnight low of 35.
Friday Areas of fog before 11am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 55. Light southeast wind becoming south southeast 11 to 16 mph in the afternoon. Overnight, rain and gusty winds. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Saturday A chance of rain before 11am, then a chance of showers after 11am. Snow level 3000 feet. Partly sunny, with a high near 45. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Sunday A slight chance of showers after 11am. Snow level 1800 feet rising to 3400 feet in the afternoon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 45.
Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 46.
Today’s Headlines
Those publicized well, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed there were multiple arrests on New Year’s Eve for DUII in the area.
Agencies across the region were out in full force patrolling the roads on Tuesday night. The sheriff’s office said they receive a high number of calls every year between New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day about possibly intoxicated drivers. The number of arrests have not been officially released.
Monday afternoon emergency personnel responded to a two-vehicle crash on Oregon Highway 140 between Lake of the Woods and Fish Lake. The investigation revealed that a Chevrolet SUV operated by a 17-year-old female of Junction City was traveling eastbound on Highway 140 when she lost control of the vehicle and slid into the westbound lane.
Her SUV then collided with a westbound Ford F-150 pickup operated by 25 year old Kristen Balin of Klamath Falls.
The 17-year-old operator of the Chevrolet SUV sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.
Balin and her passenger 27 year old Jared Aguiar of Klamath Falls were not injured in the crash.
Yesterday Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a three vehicle crash on Highway 97.
Preliminary investigation revealed that a Chevrolet Suburban pulling a trailer, operated by 70 year old Jose Parada-Rodriguez of Terrebonne was attempting to cross Highway 97 and pulled out in front of a northbound Harley Davidson motorcycle operated by 63 year old Charles Smith of Terrebonne and a BMW X5 operated by 62 year old Delita Cordes of Madras.
The operator of the Harley Davidson motorcycle Charles Smith was transported to the hospital by air ambulance where he was pronounced deceased. Parada-Rodriguez and Cordes were not injured.
On Monday, December 30th, Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a single vehicle crash on Hwy 255 near milepost 361.
Preliminary investigation reveals that a Ford F350, operated by Chester Mayer (50) of Coos Bay, was northbound on Hwy 255 when he failed to negotiate a curve, crossed the southbound lane, and left the roadway.
Mayer sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.
Mayer was last seen leaving a residence in Brookings on the evening of December 28, 2019 and was reported as a missing person to Brookings Police Department on December 29, 2019.
OSP was assisted by the Curry County Sheriff’s Office, Brookings Police Department, Brookings Fire Department, Cal-Ore Ambulance, and ODOT.
A reminder when you head to the grocery store that single-use bags are now banned in the state of Oregon.
Grocery stores have signs posted informing customers of the switch and reactions have been mixed. People can skip the cost of buying paper bags by using their own carrying vessel,whether it be a reusable shopping bag, a plastic bag from home or a backpack.
On New Year’s Eve, Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a three vehicle crash on Hwy 97 at the intersection of Hwy 370 (O’Neil Hwy).
Preliminary investigation revealed that a Chevrolet Suburban pulling a trailer, operated by Jose Parada-Rodriguez (70) of Terrebonne, was attempting to cross Hwy 97 and pulled out in front of a northbound Harley Davidson motorcycle, operated by Charles Smith (63) of Terrebonne, and a BMW X5, operated by Delita Cordes (62) of Madras.
Smith was transported to the hospital by air ambulance where he was pronounced deceased.
Parada-Rodriguez and Cordes were not injured.
Around the state
An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, John Vincent Penne, Jr., died the morning of January 1, 2020.
Penne was incarcerated at Snake River Correctional Institution (SRCI) in Ontario and passed away at a local hospital while on hospice. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified.
Penne entered DOC custody on April 16, 2008, from Clackamas County with an earliest release date of May 20, 2020. Penne was 78 years old. Next of kin has been notified.
DOC takes all in-custody deaths seriously. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of 14,700 individuals who are incarcerated in 14 institutions across the state. While crime information is public record, DOC elects to disclose only upon request out of respect for any family or victims.
SRCI is a multi-custody prison in Ontario that houses approximately 3,000 adults in custody. SRCI specializes in incentive housing, specialized housing, individuals with mental health/medical vulnerabilities, education and trades programs, cognitive and parenting programs, and institution work programs. SRCI opened in 1991 and is the largest correctional institution in the state.
Land officials in the state of Oregon announced that recreational activity costs are expected to increase while new permit systems limit access to large regions of backcountry.
The new fees and permits to hike, boat, fish and visit lands target low-paying groups to combat overcrowding amid a statewide population increase.
Officials say anyone operating a non-motorized boat over 10-feet long in any boatable waterway must purchase a waterway access permit effective New Year’s Day.
Officials say the cost of fishing and hunting licenses, adult angling tags and recreational vehicle campsites have also increased for 2020.