The latest news stories and stories of interest in the Rogue Valley from the digital home of Southern Oregon, from Wynne Broadcasting and RogueValleyMagazine.com.
Thursday, November 5, 2020
Rogue Valley Weather
Today A 30% chance of rain late in the afternoon, otherwise mostly cloudy, with a high near 71.
Friday Showers likely, mainly before 10am. Snow level 4200 feet. Cloudy, with a high near 51. West northwest wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Overnight a 20% chance of showers before 10pm. Snow level 3800 feet. A low around 35.
Saturday A 20% chance of showers after 10am. Snow level 3700 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49.
Sunday A slight chance of showers before 10am. Snow level 2500 feet. Partly sunny, with a high near 47.
Monday Partly sunny, with a high near 49.
TODAY’s HEADLINES
This week’s total is 12. COVID-19 has claimed four more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 705.
Oregon Health Authority reported 597 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of yesterday, bringing the state total to 47,049.
Jackson County Health officials added another 52 Covid cases yesterday and Josephine County while in Josephine County, only a single new case was reported overnight.
Yesterday’s new cases are in the following counties: Baker (7), Benton (2), Clackamas (54), Clatsop (4), Columbia (5), Coos (2), Crook (9), Deschutes (17), Douglas (12), Grant (2), Harney (1), Hood River (2), Jackson (52), Jefferson (5), Josephine (1), Klamath (3), Lake (1), Lane (24), Linn (11), Malheur (11), Marion (83), Morrow (2), Multnomah (172), Polk (13), Tillamook (2), Umatilla (23), Union (3), Wallowa (3), Wasco (1), Washington (57), and Yamhill (13).
This is the second consecutive week that daily case counts set a record high for the pandemic. As COVID-19 cases continue to surge, OHA reminds people to:
- Wear a face covering.
- Keep physically distant.
- Maintain good hand hygiene.
Around the state of Oregon
Oregon election officials are reporting record-breaking voter turnout for Tuesday’s election. The Oregon Secretary of State’s Office says two-point-15-million Oregonians cast their votes this election cycle. That breaks the previous record of two-point-05-million votes set during the 2016 presidential election.
Finally it was declared a riot in downtown Portland and the National Guard was activated Wednesday evening in response to protest violence there.
Eleven protesters were arrested as multiple businesses were vandalized overnight. Among those arrested was a man accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail at officers. He was wearing a tactical vest and had a loaded rifle with additional magazines, an improved explosive device, a knife and cans of spray paint
Law enforcement authorities said they had also seized additional weapons, commercial-grade fireworks and hammers throughout the night.
The Portland Business Alliance denounced the damage to the small busnesses downtown.
“I find it beyond comprehension that anyone would continue to think that the destruction of our small businesses in downtown Portland is somehow acceptable or represents the exercise of free speech. These destructive acts of political violence, must stop now,” said PBA President President & CEO Andrew Hoan. “I hope every elected official will react and denounce this reprehensible behavior, just as vehemently as when our beloved Oregon Historical Society was attacked.”
Governor Kate Brown says that she will extend the joint law enforcement command intended to keep the peace in Portland this week and beyond, hoping to maintain the needed stepped-up presence in the city from Oregon State Police and the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office.
Brown’s peacekeeping plan has the Oregon National Guard helping during the nonstop nightly protests which are making her look weaker and weaker. Brown’s office said that the joint incident command structure has been extended until Friday evening unless rescinded or lengthened.
A measure intended to hike taxes on tobacco products and put taxes in place on vaping products has passed.
Measure 108 increase taxes on tobacco products and “inhalant delivery systems,” namely e-cigarettes, and puts the money toward health programs under the Oregon Health Authority umbrella. Cigarette tax at 16.65 cents per cigarette, which is an increase from $1.33 to $3.33 per 20-pack of cigarettes; E-cigarettes and other nicotine inhalants at a rate of 65% of the wholesale sales price; and Cigar tax cap of 65% of the wholesale sales price, not to exceed $1.00 per cigar, an increase from $0.50.
Voters in Union and Jefferson counties say they want their slice of Oregon to become part of Idaho. To be more precise, a majority of residents who cast ballots in those rural counties decided to require that their county commissioners hold meetings about relocating the border. In Jefferson County, 5,655 residents — 51.02% — voted for the measure. In Union, 7,401 — 52.42% — supported it. The measure also was on the ballot in Wallowa County but fell just short, with 2,429 (49.53%) voting yes and 2,475 (50.47%) voting no.
The weak mayor of Portland, Ted Wheeler, declared victory Wednesday after a bruising campaign that sandwiched him between a tough challenger to his political left and anger from moderate voters and business owners frustrated with five months of near-nightly protests that made the city a frequent lightning rod for President Donald Trump.
Wheeler said he had a clear mandate with more than 90% of the vote counted and was energized by his win. If his lead holds, Wheeler would become the first mayor to win a second term in the notoriously hard-to-govern city in 20 years.
On Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at approximately 10:10 A.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a multiple vehicle crash on Hwy 101 near milepost 9.
Preliminary investigation revealed a Lincoln Navigator, operated by Rachael Forrest (26) of Seaside,was northbound when it crossed into the southbound lane and struck a Toyota Rav4 operated by Randall Shine (63) of Ilwaco, WA. The impact spun the Rav4 into the northbound lane where it was struck by Chevrolet pickup (ODOT) operated by Richard Kearns (67) of Ocean Park, WA.
Kearns and his passenger Virginia Williams (59) of Warrenton (both ODOT employees) were transported to the hospital.
Shine and his passenger Patricia Shine (71) of Ilwaco, WA. both sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced deceased.
Forrest was not injured. Alcohol is being investigated as a possible factor.
On Monday, November 2, 2020 at approximately 9:45 A.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a crash on Hwy 395E near milepost 148.
Preliminary investigation revealed a Ford F350 truck and flatbed trailer, operated by Daniel Decker (22) of Lakeview, was northbound when it failed to negotiate a corner, overcorrected, and rolled.
The passenger, Clarea Lasley (37) of Lakeview, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.
Decker was transported by ground ambulance to the hospital and later flown to St. Charles Medical Center.
Decker will be referred to the Lake County District Attorney’s Office for charges of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Manslaughter.