News and stories from across the Rogue Valley and around the state, from RogueValleyMagazine.com
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020
Rogue Valley Weather
Today
Mostly cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 53. Overnight, clear, with a low around 27. Calm wind becoming east southeast around 5 mph after midnight.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 57.
Thursday
Partly sunny, with a high near 56.
Friday
Sunny, with a high near 58.
Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 59.
Today’s Headlines
Arrests made in White City shooting incident. Yesterday at about 5 o’clock Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a report of an adult male who was bleeding from his arm, requesting an ambulance in the area of Lakeview Dr. and Merry Lane in White City.
Deputies arriving at the scene found the injuries were bullet wounds. Shortly after the initial report, deputies were advised that a suspicious vehicle had left the scene at a high speed driving recklessly. The two events were believed to be related.
The investigation revealed that the victim of the shooting and two subjects were inside the victim’s vehicle when he was shot. The vehicle was parked at the intersection of Lakeview and Merry. After the victim was shot, the victim fled from the car on foot and the two subjects fled in the victim’s vehicle. The victim was transported by Mercy to Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening wounds.
At about 5:40 the suspicious vehicle was located off of Gramercy Road. Subsequently, two persons of interest were detained. Later, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office announced charges have been filed regarding the shooting investigation on 021620 on Lakeview Dr. at Merry Ln in White City, Oregon.
Devon James Wright, dob 110494, last known address 3200 block of Britt Ave, Medford, Or. was originally lodged on a Parole Violation charge.
Tylar Jordan Rossiter, dob 031391, last known address 8200 block of 24th St. White City, Or. was lodged on a charge of Probation Violation.
After further investigation of the incident, JCSO detectives charged Wright with additional charges of Assault First Degree, Assault Second Degree, Robbery First Degree and Attempted Murder Second Degree. He is being held on a total of $400,000 bail at Jackson County Jail. No additional charges have been filed at this time against Rossiter.
The victim has been identified as Juan Robert Leach, 27 years old. He remains hospitalized for treatment of his injuries.
Investigation into the case is continuing. Detectives are asking anyone who may have more information about this case to contact Detective Steve Bohn at the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office at 541-774-6168
Medford Police issue many citations for seatbelt violations.
Between February 3rd and February 16th, the Medford Police Department participated in a high-visibility traffic enforcement operation focusing on safety belt and child restraint use.
On these dates, law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon used federally funded overtime to educate the public about safety belt and child seat laws including a 2017 law increasing safety for children under age two.
During this two week operation, the Medford Police Department stopped 74 vehicles and issued 71 citations. 34 of those citations were for failing to use a seatbelt.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading nationwide cause of death for children ages one through twelve years old. In 2017, 1,906 children under twelve were injured in Oregon traffic crashes, 9 percent were reported not using a child restraint system. It is estimated that car seats may increase crash survival by 71% for infants under one year old and by up to 59% for toddlers aged one to four. Booster seats may reduce the chance of nonfatal injury among four to eight year olds by 45% compared to safety belts used alone.
The most recent complete report by ODOT in 2017 shows that there were 11 fatalities in Jackson County during that year and that in 4 of those fatal accidents, seatbelts were not used (36.36%). Studies have shown that safety belts used correctly can reduce the risk of major crash injury or death by up to sixty- five percent. The Medford Police Department would like to remind the public to drive safely and always use their seatbelt in a proper manner while operating their vehicle.
Anglers and residents who live near the Applegate River in southwestern Oregon are upset that jet boats are speeding down the river disturbing the quiet and possibly stirring up silt that could hurt juvenile salmon and steelhead.
There are no bans on powerboats on the Applegate River which has about one-quarter the amount of water flow of the Rogue River. The Applegate River empties into the much larger Rogue River about 7 miles downstream of Grants Pass.
Fishing guides and residents say the Applegate is too narrow and winding for power boats that navigate more easily on the Rogue River. Some of the jet boats go as fast as 55 mph in the narrow river channel.
Pete Samarin said Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has no jurisdiction over powerboat use because that is the Oregon State Marine Board’s domain.
Around the region
A stretch of Highway 22 will be closed for much of this week as crews clean up gasoline and diesel fuel that leaked out of a crashed tanker truck along the North Santiam River.
The highway between Idanha and Santiam Junction is unlikely to reopen until Friday or Saturday as crews remove contaminated soil in a roadside ditch and rebuild a 600-foot section of roadway. An oil sheen was noted on the North Santiam River downstream of the crash sit, but officials said most of the tanker’s oil seeped into the ditch, where it was absorbed by the soil. The crash on Sunday closed Highway 22 near Detroit and Santiam Junction.
According to Oregon Department of Environmental Quality officials the truck was carrying 10,600 gallons of fuel total with about 7,800 gallons of fuel emptied into a roadside ditch and the rest was recovered.
Around the state
On Monday afternoon, the Oregon State Police and emergency personnel responded to a vehicle crash on Hwy 101 near milepost 323.
Preliminary investigation revealed that a red Ford Ranger pickup, operated by Jerry Vanhoosen (70) of Kerman, CA. had been northbound on Hwy 101 when it left the roadway, impacted a tree, and came to rest in a ravine.
Vanhoosen was pronounced deceased. Vanhoosen had been reported missing to the Brookings Police Department on February 11 and it is believed the last known contact with Vanhoosen was on February 8.
Brookings Police Department had been actively looking for Vanhoosen with assistance from the Curry County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue.
Oregon Governor Kate Brown visited with Oregon Army National Guard service members involved in the search and rescue efforts in Umatilla County over the past week.
Gov. Kate Brown declared a state of emergency Friday afternoon for Umatilla, Union, and Wallowa counties because of flooding in those areas. Three Oregon Army National Guard helicopters were initially called out by the county to support search and rescue operations. Two Pendleton based CH-47 Chinooks provided aerial reconnaissance and an HH-60M MEDEVAC Black Hawk based out of Salem arrived on scene supporting a rescue of five civilians the first evening.
Thanks to the efforts of the Oregon Army National Guard flight crews 54 people, 10 dogs, one cat and one rabbit were rescued and transported from the flooded areas via helicopter.
“I couldn’t be more proud of your Oregon National Guard members and their efforts supporting flooding this month,” said Major General Michael Stencel, Adjutant General, Oregon, “They truly embody our core values of Character, Competence, Courage and Commitment, while demonstrating that we truly are part of our communities.”
Gov. Brown presented the flight crews in both Salem and Pendleton with recognition and awards for their efforts.
“These Oregon National Guard Members took part in the largest search and rescue operation in Oregon’s history,” said Stephen Bomar, Director of Public Affairs, Oregon Military Department, “They did an amazing job supporting the community and saving lives.”
More than 200 career and volunteer firefighters from more than 75 fire agencies (city and tribal fire departments, fire districts, and wildland) throughout the state were at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem this weekend for the State’s annual Winter Fire School.
This two-day event began with the posting of the colors by the Oregon Fire Service Honor Guard after which all military service members in attendance were recognized for protecting our nation. Those attending the training made a $500 donation to help support the state’s Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial which is located on the grounds of the Academy and honors more than 150 men and women from diverse backgrounds who died in the line of duty while protecting our communities, airports and natural resources.
This is the 17th annual Winter Fire School hosted by the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) and is held at the Oregon Public Safety Academy 4190 Aumsville Highway in Salem.
Nine classes are being offered by the National Fire Academy, DPSST, and the City of Dallas Fire & EMS Department.
Classes range from leadership topics such as Incident Safety Officer, Leadership in Supervision: Creating Environments for Professional Growth, Instructor Development, Fire Service Culture: Who Protects Firefighters from Firefighters?, Leadership in Supervision: Frameworks to Success, Wildland Urban Interface: Fire Adapted Communities-Introduction and Leadership. Hands-on training classes include Vehicle Extrication, Emergency Vehicle Operations, and Live-Fire Training.
A Yamhill County jury has concluded that police can seize the home of a woman convicted of a felony drug crime under Oregon’s civil forfeiture law.
The woman, 62 year old Sheryl Sublet, pleaded guilty in 2018 to to selling less than 1,000 grams of methamphetamine and was sentenced to six years in prison. Sublet, a grandmother and military veteran, forfeited $50,000 in cashier checks found inside her home just outside Yamhill at the time of her arrest. The Yamhill County Interagency Narcotics Team then attempted to take Sublet’s $354,000 home. Under Oregon’s civil forfeiture la, authorities can seize items from a person if they are convicted of a crime and if the property is suspected to be a proceed or instrument of the illegal conduct.
Police in Portland and Salem seized firearms, marijuana and cash and made at least one arrest after breaking up a burglary ring that apparently targeted state-legal marijuana businesses in Oregon and southwest Washington.
Authorities said they seized 16 firearms, $33,000 in cash, 30 pounds of marijuana and other items during the police operation in Salem on Friday. Also seized were six pounds of hash oil, a marijuana concentrate, and burglary tools.