The latest news stories and stories of interest in the Rogue Valley from the digital home of Southern Oregon, from Wynne Broadcasting’s RogueValleyMagazine.com
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Rogue Valley Weather
Today- A chance of rain and snow showers before 8am, then a chance of snow showers between 8am and 11am, then a chance of rain showers after 11am. Some thunder is also possible. Snow level rising to 3200 feet in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. South southeast wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Wednesday- A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Some of the storms could produce small hail. Snow level 1600 feet rising to 2900 feet in the afternoon. Partly sunny, with a high near 52. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Thursday- Partly sunny, with a high near 52. Light northwest wind.
Friday- Widespread frost, mainly before 9am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 59.
Saturday- A slight chance of rain after 5pm. Widespread frost, mainly before 8am. Snow level 2400 feet rising to 4800 feet in the afternoon. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 61.
Oregon reports 234 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 2 new deaths
There are two new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 2,298. The Oregon Health Authority reported 234 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19bringing the state total to 157,515.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Benton (5), Clackamas (26), Columbia (2), Coos (4), Curry (1), Deschutes (7), Douglas (22), Hood River (1), Jackson (22), Josephine (5), Klamath (2), Lane (15), Lincoln (1), Linn (6), Marion (22), Multnomah (31), Polk (3), Washington (57) and Yamhill (2).
Vaccinations in Oregon
More than a million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the state of Oregon since the vaccine first arrived in mid-December.
With three versions of the vaccine — from Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson — as well as the Federal Retail Pharmacy program, distribution has picked up speed despite getting off to a slow start.
Today, OHA reported that 21,793 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry. Of this total, 12,853 doses were administered on March 7 and 8,940 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry on March 7.
Cumulative daily totals can take several days to finalize because providers have 72 hours to report doses administered and technical challenges have caused many providers to lag in their reporting. OHA has been providing technical support to vaccination sites to improve the timeliness of their data entry into the state’s ALERT Immunization Information System (IIS).
Oregon has now administered a cumulative total of 1,163,828 first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines. To date, 1,420,125 doses of vaccine have been delivered to sites across Oregon.
These data are preliminary and subject to change. OHA’s dashboards provide regularly updated vaccination data, and Oregon’s dashboard has been updated today.
FEMA awards $110 million to Oregon for vaccinations
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded $110 million in federal funding to assist the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and partners in operating dozens of COVID-19 vaccination centers throughout the state.
The FEMA-supported vaccination centers will be able to administer more than 2 million vaccines during the 90-day operational period. Timelines are still under review.
Grants for emergency protective measures are funded through FEMA’s Public Assistance Grant Program, which reimburses communities for actions taken for response and recovery from a disaster. FEMA reimbursement is paid directly to the Oregon Office of Emergency Management, which then makes disbursements to the local and tribal jurisdictions and state agencies that incurred costs.
Governor Kate Brown and leading Democrats in the state legislature unveiled on Monday a $250 million package intended to supplement education and childcare programs burdened by the coronavirus pandemic over the past year.
The package would be matched by an estimated $75 million in federal funds. Much of the funding is earmarked for summer programs — both academic and extra-curricular. Governor Brown’s office said that the funding would be made available “equitably” for Oregon’s Black, Indigenous, Tribal, Latino, Latina, and Latinx, Pacific Islander, and children of color populations disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
$90 million would go toward school districts and partner organizations to invest in summer enrichment activities for K-8 students — outdoor activities, performing arts, robotics, and other activities. Schools are encouraged to partner with culturally-specific organizations where possible. Another $72 million is set aside for summer academic programs supporting high school students who fell behind with distance learning.
Governor expected to update county COVID-19 risk levels today
Governor Kate Brown is set to announce another update to the county COVID-19 risk levels Tuesday. This is part of the governor’s plan to reopen the state safely.
Based on current trends, Multnomah County is set to join Clackamas and Washington Counties in the ‘moderate risk’ category.Changes announced will take effect on Friday.
After the last coronavirus risk level update on February 23, 31 counties were out of the highest risk level, labeled ‘extreme risk’. Under the extreme risk category, social gatherings are limited to 6 people. Restaurants can resume outdoor dining; however, takeout is still highly recommended. Houses of worship and funeral homes are limited to 25% capacity or 100 total people for indoor services (whichever number is smaller).
The high risk category increases the maximum outdoor social gathering size to 8, and reopens indoor dining, gyms, and indoor entertainment with limits to 25% capacity. Outdoor recreation and entertainment increases to 75 people. It also allows for visitations at long-term care facilities.
Under moderate risk, the limits to at-home indoor gatherings increases to 8, and outdoor gatherings are limited to 10 people. Indoor dining, recreation, and entertainment can allow for 50% capacity or a limit of 100 people – whichever number is smaller. Stores and malls can increase their capacity of shoppers to 75%, but curbside pickup is still encouraged. Indoor church services are also increased to 50% capacity or 150 people – whichever number is less.
At the lower risk category, indoor social gatherings increase to 10 people with a limit to four households, while outdoor social gatherings are capped at 12. Offices are allowed to bring some people back, and outdoor recreation and entertainment increases capacity to 300 people.
Governor Brown recently announced a change to the way the state is adjusting county risk levels, allowing counties to get extensions that might allow them to bring their coronavirus cases down. In a statement, the governor said the change would apply to counties that had moved out of the ‘Extreme risk’ category, reopened businesses, but were possibly facing a move back up to ‘extreme risk’.
The change would allow these counties to have a two-week extension at their current risk level to allow them a chance to drive back down rising cases. At the end of the two-week extension, however, if cases have not changed, the county will be moved back to the ‘extreme risk’ category.
Study Shows Medford/Grants Pass Metro Area Rated Among the Safest in America When it Comes to Covid-19
The U.S. reported over 61,000 new cases of coronavirus on Mar. 7, bringing the total count to more than 28,600,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There have been more than 500,000 COVID-19-related deaths — the highest death toll of any country.
New cases continue to rise at a steady rate. In the past week, there were an average of 19.6 daily new coronavirus cases per 100,000 Americans — essentially unchanged from the week prior, when there were an average of 21.8 daily new coronavirus cases per 100,000 people.
While new data shows that the risk of contracting COVID-19 is high in almost every part of the country, cities continue to be the sites of major outbreaks and superspreader events. Experts agree that the virus is more likely to spread in group settings where large numbers of people routinely have close contact with one another, such as colleges, nursing homes, bars, and restaurants. Metropolitan areas with a high degree of connectivity between different neighborhoods and a large population may be particularly at-risk.
In the 50 largest metro areas, the incidence of COVID-19 grew at an average rate of 21.2 new cases a day per 100,000 residents in the past week — 10.1% greater than the case growth in all counties outside of metro areas.
The Medford, OR metro area consists of just Jackson County. As of Mar. 7, there were 3,987.1 confirmed cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 Medford residents, the 17th lowest rate of all 383 metro areas with available data. For comparison, the U.S. has so far reported 8,865.0 cases per 100,000 Americans nationwide.
In order to slow the spread of COVID-19, city and county governments have ordered the closure of thousands of consumer-facing businesses. These measures have led to widespread job loss and record unemployment. In the Medford metro area, unemployment peaked at 15.6% in April 2020. As of December 2020, the metro area’s unemployment rate was 6.4%.
To determine how the incidence of COVID-19 in the Medford, OR metro area compares to the rest of the country, 24/7 Wall St. compiled and reviewed data from state and local health departments. We ranked metro areas based on the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.To estimate the incidence of COVID-19 at the metropolitan level, we aggregated data from the county level using boundary definitions from the U.S. Census Bureau. Population data used to adjust case and death totals came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey and are five-year estimates. Unemployment data is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and is seasonally adjusted.
| MSA | Population | Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Mar. 7 | Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Mar. 7 per 100,000 residents | Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 7 | Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 7 per 100,000 residents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem, OR | 416,980 | 21,685 | 5,200.5 | 332 | 79.6 |
| Medford, OR | 214,267 | 8,543 | 3,987.1 | 118 | 55.1 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 2,417,931 | 91,277 | 3,775.0 | 1,280 | 52.9 |
| Bend, OR | 180,640 | 6,016 | 3,330.4 | 65 | 36 |
| Albany-Lebanon, OR | 122,870 | 3,613 | 2,940.5 | 57 | 46.4 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | 368,882 | 10,357 | 2,807.7 | 131 | 35.5 |
| Grants Pass, OR | 85,481 | 2,390 | 2,795.9 | 56 | 65.5 |
| Corvallis, OR | 89,780 | 2,360 | 2,628.6 | 17 | 18.9 |
These are all the counties in Oregon where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
ROGUE VALLEY HEADLINES:
Medford Crime Map: Check Your Neighborhood Safety
Want to check the safety of your neighborhood? We have collected relevant crime data from validated sources to plot it on Google map. For the city of Medford, OR, we found 1 Shooting, 11 Assault, 1 Robbery, 1 Burglary, 15 Theft, 24 Arrest, 2 Vandalism and 27 other crimes in the past month. Stay on top of these numbers with News Break. We will keep you informed on what is happening in your area, so you can feel safe wherever you go.
Recent crimes in your area:
- Type: Shooting
Date: 10/25/2020 7:12 PM
Description: Weapon Law – Carry Concealed Weapon
Address: 900 BLOCK OF ALBA DR, Medford, OR
source_link: visit here
Case Number: 200017903 - Type: Assault
Date: 11/01/2020 5:55 PM
Description: Assault – Simple
Address: 1300 BLOCK OF SWAYZE LN, Medford, OR
source_link: visit here
Case Number: 200018314 - Type: Robbery
Date: 10/26/2020 5:14 PM
Description: Robbery – Business
Address: 2200 BLOCK OF BIDDLE RD, Medford, OR
source_link: visit here
Case Number: 200017969 - Type: Burglary
Date: 11/03/2020 12:41 AM
Description: Burglary – Business
Address: 500 BLOCK OF N RIVERSIDE AV, Medford, OR
source_link: visit here
Case Number: 200018396 - Type: Theft
Date: 11/03/2020 12:41 AM
Description: Larceny – Theft-All Other
Address: 500 BLOCK OF N RIVERSIDE AV, Medford, OR
source_link: visit here
Case Number: 200018396
We are also actively developing a real time crime map search service in our app that will allow you to search for crime near any address. Stay tuned for the new tool in a few weeks.
RADE Detectives Make Drug Arrest in Grants Pass
RADE detectives with the assistance of Grants Pass Department of Public Safety K9 Match and Oregon State Police Troopers, stopped a gray Volkswagen SUV on I-5 near milepost 86. Detectives had been conducting surveillance and investigating the driver, Jonathon James Lawson and passenger, Jesus Rubio, for narcotics trafficking.
Detectives developed probable cause to stop Lawson, Rubio and the vehicle and after K9 Match alerted on the vehicle, Lawson and Rubio were detained. Located during the search was over 11 pounds of methamphetamine, over 10,000 suspected Fentanyl laced Oxycodone pills (M30’s), 2 firearms, 2 bullet proof vests (body armor), scales, packaging material, and cash.
Both Lawson and Rubio are convicted felons and they were taken into custody and lodged a the Josephine County Jail for Delivery/Possession of methamphetamine and Oxycodone. Additionally, Lawson was lodged for being a felon in possession of a firearm x2 and felon in possession of body armor x2.
Anyone with questions and information, please call Det. Sgt. Doni Hamilton at 541-450-6370 or through email at dhamilton@grantspassoregon.gov – Grants Pass Dept. of Public Safety
** Six Detectives, two Detective Sergeants, and a Property Specialist are assigned to the Detective Unit. The Detective Unit is responsible for criminal investigations, which includes a position with the Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) Team, an inter-agency drug enforcement team.
AROUND the STATE of OREGON
Oregon State Parks Readies for 2021 Camping Season
The first signs of spring are here and Oregon State Parks staff are busy preparing campgrounds for a more “normal” 2021 Spring Break and summer camping season.
“Our visitors and staff have weathered a rough 12 months,” said Lisa Sumption, director of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). “None of us imagined this time last year that we would face a more than two-month shutdown of Oregon State Parks and then reopen under pandemic and safety precautions, followed by last September’s wildfires that damaged our local communities and several state parks. This February’s ice storm also brought down trees and limbs and damaged some facilities in northern Willamette Valley and Columbia River Gorge parks.
“Our park staff, operating with fewer employees because of a revenue shortfall that prevented us from hiring our usual seasonal staff, have rallied and are looking forward to the coming months,” Sumption added. “We’re very grateful to them, and to all state park visitors for their patience.”
Although Oregon Lottery and park visitor fee revenue is projected to be down more than $20 million by the end of the 2019-21 biennium that ends June 30, nearly all state parks are open or will be in the next few months, including those parks that will reopen after usual seasonal closures. Oregon State Parks is also recruiting seasonal staff for park operations, and is able to do so because of spending reductions begun last year.
Park staff are evaluating the status of two park campgrounds that were temporarily closed because of wildfire damage: Collier Memorial State Park and Detroit Lake State Park.
Park Manager Aaron Raines at Collier Memorial State Park and Logging Museum says the campground may open later this year, but staff are waiting for the snow to melt to continue assessing and repairing damage caused by the Two Four Two Fire and for State Historic Preservation Office approvals for some work. The Williamson River Day-Use Area and a portion of the Logging Museum are open, although no park access is available to Spring Creek or the Williamson River during restoration efforts. Raines asks that visitors look for closure signs and to not enter restricted areas for their safety.
Detroit Lake State Park remains temporarily closed, although the Mongold Day-use Area and boat launch are open, says Bob Rea, park manager. Rea added that park staff continue to repair infrastructure damaged by the Beachie Fire and says the campground could open by this summer.
Both Raines and Rea say campground site reservations will be available as soon as reopening dates are determined.
Overnight camping rates will remain the same as 2020 rates except for a $3 increase for electric hookup and full hookup sites in selected parks May 28-Sept. 6. The electric hookup rate range will be $24-$35 and the full hookup range will be $26-$38 per night at the following parks.
- Beverly Beach State Park
- Bullards Beach State Park
- Cape Blanco State Park
- Cape Lookout State Park
- Devil’s Lake State Recreation Area
- Fort Stevens State Park
- Harris Beach State Park
- Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park
- Nehalem Bay State Park
- South Beach State Park
- Sunset Bay State Park
- William M. Tugman State Park
- The Cove Palisades State Park
- LaPine State Park
- Tumalo State Park
- Valley of the Rogue State Park
- Wallowa Lake State Park
- Champoeg State Heritage Area
- Detroit Lake State Recreation Area
- L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park
- Silver Falls State Park
These rates include applicable state and local taxes. The temporary, COVID-related surcharge that added up to an additional 30% fee to overnight stays for out-of-state campers ended March 1. All campers in 2021 will pay the same rates. OPRD plans to open a public discussion about making out-of-state rates a normal part of the overnight stay rate structure.
Some pandemic-related, temporary changes remain in place based on statewide restrictions to group gatherings, including keeping group facilities and hiker/biker camping areas closed. In addition, visitor stays in yurts and cabins are followed by a one-day resting period. The resting day reduces overall availability, but staff uses the time to thoroughly clean the facilities to ensure visitor safety. Yurt and cabin visits in coastal campgrounds require a two-night minimum stay.
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department budget is 44% Lottery Fund dedicated by Oregon voters in 1999 and 2010; 50% “Other Fund” from park visitors, a portion of recreational vehicle registrations, and other sources; and 6% Federal Fund, mainly for heritage-related programs. For more information about Oregon State Parks and campgrounds, visit stateparks.oregon.gov. – Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept.
Cape Blanco Lighthouse, Hughes House, and Lifeboat Museum to stay closed to indoor visits through April 2022
PORT ORFORD, Oregon — The interior areas of three historic sites in northern Curry County will remained closed through April 2022 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) announces.
At Cape Blanco State Park, the Hughes House and Cape Blanco Lighthouse will be closed to tours during this timeframe. The Port Orford Lifeboat Station Museum at Port Orford Heads State Park will also be closed. The grounds at all three locations will remain open.
“Out of an abundance of caution, and due to the current uncertainty, we and our partners decided to keep these facilities closed,” said Casey Nielsen, who manages both parks. “All the staff, volunteers and partners are looking forward to a time when we can safely reopen these interpretative locations and share the rich history in Curry County.”
The facilities have remained closed since March 23, 2020, when the virus first hit Oregon. OPRD has kept museums, meeting halls and other indoor facilities closed in response to statewide health guidelines.
Visitors should continue to follow health protocols while visiting state parks: limit the size of gatherings, wear face coverings, give space to others and wash hands often. For more information on what to expect while visiting state parks during the pandemic, visit our COVID-19 FAQ page.
The Hughes House and Lifeboat Station Museum are operated in partnership between OPRD and the Cape Blanco Heritage Society. OPRD operates the Cape Blanco Lighthouse in partnership with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Cape Blanco Heritage Society, Coquille Indian Tribe, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and Curry County.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the Cape Blanco Management Office at 541-332-6674 or the Cape Blanco Heritage Society at 541-332-0521. – Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept.
Bill Introduced To Expand Insurance Coverage For Fire Victims In Oregon
Many insurance policies allow homeowners up to one year to rebuild their home after a disaster, like a wildfire. A bill to extend this timeline is being introduced in the Oregon legislature this week.
Rep. Pam Marsh (D-Ashland) is proposing a bill that would strengthen insurance benefits for fire victims. If passed, insurance companies would be required to provide all policy-holders additional time to rebuild their destroyed homes.
Marsh says that last year’s Almeda Fire made the need for expanded insurance coverage especially clear.
“When individuals are experiencing one of the worst moments of their lives, as they certainly did after Almeda,” says Marsh, “we need to make sure that they know they can rebuild that they have time to do that, that they have support for themselves and their families as they are striving to rebuild — that they can make good choices that benefit both them and their families.”
If passed, the bill would require people who have experienced a single disaster, like an individual house flood, at least two years to rebuild and two years of living expenses. For mass disasters, like wildfire, coverage would expand to three years. It would also allow policy holders to legally hold insurance companies accountable for failing to meet the bill’s requirements.
Marsh says that although this bill was drafted because of the devastating aftermath of the Almeda Fire, the protections will likely be important in the future, as well.
“Sadly, we are probably not done with disasters of various kinds,” says Marsh. “It is likely that we will face other wildfires or floods or catastrophic earthquakes and we need to make sure that insurance policies provide the pretty basic coverage that we are going to need in those circumstances.”
The bill is slated to be introduced in the House Committee on Business and Labor on Wednesday.
Two Found Dead in Philomath
Two adults were found dead of apparent gunshot wounds in a home in Philomath on Sunday. Police responded to a hang-up 911 call in the 1200 block of North 19th Street at about 10:40 a.m.
The incident happened near the Forest Meadows mobile home park in the 1200 block of N. 19th Street.
The officer arrived at the scene and didn’t receive a response from the home’s occupant. A Benton County Sheriff’s deputy helped force entry into the home.
Police have identified the deceased as Carl and Merry Rath, age 55 and 53 respectively. The official cause of death has yet to be determined. An autopsy is scheduled for later in the week.
Police assure the public that the community is safe and there are no outstanding suspects. If you have any information, contact officers at 541-929-6911 or by email at police@philomathoregon.gov.
Person Dies in House Fire in Junction City
A house fire in Junction City has ended in a death, officials say. Crews responded to 236 E 4th Ave. around 2:45 p.m. after a report of a single-family structure that was heavily involved in fire with possible entrapment of one occupant.
“In a situation like this, when time is of the essence, we have mutual aid agreements with neighboring fire departments,” Junction City Fire spokeswoman Crystal Riley said. “Today, we have Lane Fire Authority, Eugene-Springfield Fire, medic units, Harrisburg Fire and our crews along with Junction City Police Department to thank for our robust response.”
Junction City Police Chief Bob Morris said he stepped in once he got on scene.
“I found one of the relatives of the victim partway in the living room of the house with a garden hose trying to put the fire out,” Morris said. “I had to physically pull him out of the house, so he would not become a victim of the fire as well.”
No more information is available at this time about the victim, the cause of the fire or a damage estimate. There were no injuries to fire crews.
US 101 Road Work Will Cause Delays Near Oregon Border
Emergency work to replace a culvert in Pacific County will cause delays just north of Astoria-Megler bridge.
In a release from the Washington State Department of Transportation, they say that work to replace a failing culvert under US 101 at milepost 1.2 begins this week.
During the work, US 101 will remain open with a temporary signal, alternating travelers through a single lane while construction crews stage equipment and supplies.
Once construction begins later this week, travelers should plan for delays of up to 20 minutes.
On Monday, Feb. 16, after several days of heavy seasonal rainstorms and harsh winter weather swept through Pacific County, maintenance crews discovered that the concrete culvert that runs underneath the highway had begun to fail, causing a portion of the road to give way and sink.
Crews determined that the drainage system became overloaded, causing two separate sections in each shoulder to collapse under the highway.
To keep travelers safe, crews closed a single lane of the road until permanent repairs could be made.
“During the most recent winter storms, our maintenance crews were working around-the-clock to keep the roads and highways open and safe for travelers,” said Project Engineer Joanna Lowrey. “We realize that it’s never ideal to close a lane of the highway, especially when there’s only two lanes for travel. In this instance, a single lane closure is the best way traffic can continue to use the stretch of highway safely, until crews can replace the culvert.” https://wsdot.wa.gov/projects/us101/astoria-megler-bridge/home
Time Change this Weekend
Suddenly, the air is a little warmer, the sky is a little bluer, and everyone is a little happier. It must be almost time to wipe those smiles away and change the clock.
Daylight saving time starts again at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 14. That means, at 2 a.m. on March 14, the clocks magically leap forward to 3 a.m., and you will wake up wondering why you feel so tired. Could this be the final time Oregonians slog through a week of post-daylight saving fog?
After the 2019 passage of Oregon Senate Bill 320, when the state spins forward into daylight saving time this very spring, in less than two weeks time, we are supposed to stay there. No fall back in the fall. No more changing the clocks.
Of course, that will happen only if Congress approves the change. But the move to allow states to permanently remain in daylight saving time has bipartisan support.