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Rogue Valley News, Thursday, 10/8 – Covid Updates, Oregon State Police Releasing the Names of the Victims in Monday’s Shooting in Grants Pass

Oregon State Police is releasing the names of the victims in Monday’s shooting on the 4500 block of Redwood Avenue in Grants Pass.  34-year-old Curtis Carr was pronounced deceased. 

36-year-old Crystal Hall was taken to the hospital and since been released.  Both victims are from Grants Pass. Oregon State Police says on Monday, October 5, 2020 at around 1:05 a.m. deptuties from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the 4500 block Redwood Avenue for a reported shooting.  Upon arrival, Deptuties and Troopers from the Oregon State Police located Hall who suffered gunshot wounds. Deputies and Troopers were able to get her to an ambulance.  While checking an associated marijuana grow, Deputies and Troopers located Carr who had also suffered at least one gunshot wound. He was transported to a hospital but was later prounounced dead.  This incident is still under investigation. 

In April of this year, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office detectives received a case from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The NCMEC case was a report of child pornography being uploaded in the 400 block of  West Valley View Road in Talent. 

The investigation continued over several weeks with assistance from the Talent Police Department; Medford Police Department; Albany, Oregon Police Department; Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force; The Department of Homeland Security  and the Montana Department of Justice. The investigation led to the issuance of a nationwide warrant signed by Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Lisa Greif for the arrest of the suspect in this case. The suspect had moved from Oregon to Montana during the case investigation.

JCSO detectives travelled to Dillon, Montana and arrested 30-year-old David Levi Watters, aka Levi Watterson eight counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a Class B Felony. Watters was arrested at 2:30pm on 10-06-2020,with the assistance of the Montana Department of Justice Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Beaverhead County Sheriff’s Office, and Dillon Police Department. Watters was lodged on $80,000 bail at Beaverhead County Jail pending return to Oregon.

In April of this year, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office detectives received a case from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The NCMEC case was a report of child pornography being uploaded in the 400 block of  West Valley View Road in Talent. 

The investigation continued over several weeks with assistance from the Talent Police Department; Medford Police Department; Albany, Oregon Police Department; Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force; The Department of Homeland Security  and the Montana Department of Justice. The investigation led to the issuance of a nationwide warrant signed by Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Lisa Greif for the arrest of the suspect in this case. The suspect had moved from Oregon to Montana during the case investigation.

JCSO detectives travelled to Dillon, Montana and arrested 30-year-old David Levi Watters, aka Levi Watterson eight counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a Class B Felony. Watters was arrested at 2:30pm on 10-06-2020,with the assistance of the Montana Department of Justice Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Beaverhead County Sheriff’s Office, and Dillon Police Department. Watters was lodged on $80,000 bail at Beaverhead County Jail pending return to Oregon.

AROUND THE STATE OF OREGON

SNAP Program extended thru October 19, 2020
The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) has received federal approval for an additional extension for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients in 20 counties to request the replacement of benefits as a result of food loss due to power outages and wildfires that began on Sept. 7.

SNAP recipients in Benton, Clackamas, Columbia, Coos, Deschutes, Douglas, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Tillamook, Wasco, Washington, and Yamhill counties now have until Oct. 19 to apply to replace food purchased with their SNAP benefits.

There is no need to visit an office to request replacement SNAP benefits. SNAP recipients can request replacement food benefits by calling their local office and submitting the required information by email, fax, or regular mail. Recipients can use either Form DHS 0349D (Affidavit for Nonreceipt or Destroyed Food Stamp Benefits) or submit a signed and dated written request that includes how the food was destroyed, the date it happened, destroyed food items, and the amount paid for each item.

More information is available online at https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/assistance/food-benefits/pages/replacement%20-benefits.aspx.

Administered by ODHS, SNAP is a federal program that provides food assistance to approximately 1 million eligible, low-income families and individuals in Oregon, including many older adults and people with disabilities. Oregonians in need can apply for benefits, including SNAP, child care, cash assistance, and Medicaid. 

COVID-19 has claimed two more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 583, the Oregon Health Authority reported on WednesdayOregon Health Authority reported 305 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of today, bringing the state total to 35,634.

The new cases are in the following counties: Baker (3), Benton (4), Clackamas (22), Columbia (7), Coos (6), Crook (1), Deschutes (11), Douglas (3), Jackson (21), Jefferson (1), Josephine (6), Klamath (2), Lake (1), Lane (53), Lincoln (1), Linn (31), Malheur (5), Marion (25), Morrow (1), Multnomah (43), Polk (3), Tillamook (5), Umatilla (13), Wallowa (2), Wasco (4), Washington (26) and Yamhill (5).

Health officials remind you to please continue to: 

  • Wear a mask  
  • Remain physically distant from other people (especially older people)  
  • Avoid large gatherings and  
  • Wash hands frequently 

Police arrested a Springfield man early this morning for allegedly shooting a sawed-off shotgun in the Gateway area. Springfield police said numerous callers reported multiple shots fired. When officers arrived in the area, they heard a shot fired and debris falling around them.

The officers were unsure if they were being shot at and took cover. They told suspect James Smith, 28, to exit the property and he complied.

It does not appear Smith was intentionally shooting at officers or anyone in particular, police said. During the investigation, officials located the shotgun with seven spent casings.  Smith was arrested on charges of unlawful possession of a short-barreled shotgun and unlawful use of a weapon.

A Springfield woman was arrested on Wednesday in connection to a Eugene riot that happened back in May, police said. 

Courtney Nicole Hallett, 19, was arrested and charged with two counts of burglary in the second degree, two counts of theft in the first degree and rioting.

The riot happened on the night of May 29 into the early morning hours of the next day. It was mainly centered around the intersection of 7th Avenue and Washington Street where businesses sustained both damage and loss.

On Oct. 7, Hallett was riding in a vehicle which stopped a block from Eugene Police Headquarters, police said. Detectives then stopped her with probable cause. 

As COVID-19 cases continue to climb in Oregon, Gov. Kate Brown announced Tuesday that the state’s testing capacity is expanding from 60,000 to 80,000 tests per week.

Health officials said that with Oregon’s jump in testing capacity, they recommend people who have symptoms of COVID-19 not only be tested but also people who have been in close contact with an infected person, regardless of whether they show symptoms. 

The rapid antigen tests, which are being provided by the federal government each week through the end of 2020, can diagnose COVID-19 in 15 minutes.

Pat Allen, the director of the Oregon Health Authority, said that testing will first be distributed to counties with long-term care facilities and areas affected by the recent wildfires.

While testing will help in the fight against COVID-19, people must remain vigilant, officials said.   Confirmed coronavirus cases in Oregon have been going up during the past few weeks. Tuesday, the total number of cases in Oregon since the pandemic began reached 35,340. The death toll is 581.

James Weaver, a former Democratic congressman for Oregon’s 4th District who was a tireless advocate for environmental preservation, has died. He was 93. Weaver died early Tuesday morning. No cause of death was given. But his wife told the newspaper he had been in a care facility for some time.

Weaver held the seat from 1975 to 1987, during which he pushed for major environmental legislation and protections for wildlife in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Those close to him said even after retiring, he never put his political career away. He was elected to Congress in 1974 as part of “the Watergate Class,” in which 91 new members of the House were elected in that year’s November election following President Richard Nixon’s resignation. Seventy-five of those new members, including Weaver, were Democrats. Weaver unseated Republican Rep. John Dellenback, who had held the position for eight years. In 1987, Weaver was succeeded by current Rep. Peter DeFazio, who also worked on Weaver’s staff.

OSP Requesting Public’s Assistance in locating person(s) responsible for the Whitetail buck deer near Glide in Douglas County
On Wednesday, October 7, 2020 Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division Troopers responded to the area of Abbott Street and Mt. Scott Lane in Glide, OR. They located a Whitetail Buck Deer that had been shot with a small caliber firearm in the morning or early afternoon hours of Tuesday, October 6, 2020.

The Oregon State Police is requesting that any person with information about this incident contact Oregon State Police Southern Command Center at 1-800-442-2068 or *OSP and leave information for Trooper Jason Stone if you are wishing to remain anonymous you may also contact the OSP through the Turn in Poachers line at TIP Hotline: 1-800-452-7888 or TIP E-Mail: TIP@state.or.us (Monitored M-F 8:00AM – 5:00PM)

Anyone providing information may remain anonymous and be eligible to receive a preference point or monetary award for information leading to a citation or arrest in this case.

** Report Wildlife and Habitat Law Violators** 

The TIP program offers preference point rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of big game mammals.

Preference Point Rewards:

* 5 Points-Bighorn Sheep

* 5 Points-Rocky Mountain Goat

* 5 Points-Moose

* 5 Points-Wolf

* 4 Points-Elk

* 4 Points-Deer

* 4 Points-Antelope

* 4 Points-Bear

* 4 Points-Cougar

Or the Oregon Hunters Association TIP reward fund also offers cash rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of Bighorn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Goat, Moose, Elk, Deer, Antelope, Bear, Cougar, Wolf, Upland Birds, Waterfowl, Furbearers, Game Fish and Shellfish.  Cash rewards can also be awarded for turning in people who destroy habitat, illegally obtain licenses/tags and for the unlawful lending/borrowing of big game tags.

CASH REWARDS:
* $1,000 Bighorn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Goat and Moose 
* $500 Elk, Deer and Antelope 
* $300 Bear, Cougar and Wolf 
* $300 Habitat Destruction

* $200 Illegally Obtaining License/Tag(s)

* $200 Unlawful Lend/Borrow Big Game Tags(s) 
* $100 Upland Birds and Waterfowl 
* $100 Furbearers 

* $100 Game Fish and Shellfish 

How to Report a Wildlife and/or Habitat Law Violation or Suspicious Activity: 

TIP Hotline: 1-800-452-7888 or *OSP(677)

TIP E-Mail: TIP@state.or.us (Monitored M-F 8:00AM – 5:00PM)

A Myrtle Point, Oregon Corporation pleaded guilty today to repeatedly discharging milk and other pollutants into the public water treatment facility which caused waste water with elevated E Coli bacteria to enter the South Fork of the Coquille River resulting in a public health advisory, announced U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams.

Valley Crest Foods, Inc. (Valley Crest), a creamery, pleaded guilty today to four counts of violating the Clean Water Act.

            “The United States Attorney’s Office takes seriously any business, corporation, or individual that bypasses federal environmental laws to maximize profits.” said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “We will continue to aggressively prosecute individuals and corporations whose illegal conduct threatens our region’s natural resources and public health.”

            “We are all responsible for keeping our communities safe and protecting our natural resources, and you can’t send significant amounts of corrosive wastes down the drain and expect the sewage treatment process to work properly – especially after being told repeatedly that it would not.  Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that we will hold violators responsible – even criminally responsible where that is warranted – for breaking our environmental laws” said Jessica Taylor, Director of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division.

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