The latest news stories of interest in the Rogue Valley and around the state of Oregon from the digital home of Southern Oregon, Wynne Broadcasting’s RogueValleyMagazine.com
Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Rogue Valley Weather
Today– Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Light and variable wind.
Thursday– Sunny, with a high near 79. Calm wind.
Friday– Partly sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday– Sunny, with a high near 81.
Sunday– Sunny, with a high near 82.
Jackson County Commissioners To Declare State-Of-Emergency Over Upcoming Staffing Shortages
The Jackson County Commissioners say they will be declaring a state of emergency in Jackson County on Thursday in response to staffing shortages as a result of vaccine mandates.
Commissioner Rick Dyer and Coleen Roberts noted during today’s work session that they would vote in favor of the resolution that will see a formal vote on Thursday. Commissioner Dave Dotter said he would not approve it because he feels it will not have any effect on the mandate.
Health care workers in Oregon have until Oct. 18 to get vaccinated or lose their employment, and the commissioners are concerned it could result in significant losses.
“I don’t have a problem stating it as an emergency, because I do see a lot of the potential. We’re already in a crisis situation when it comes to some of these workforces, and any losses create a potential for an emergency,” said Jackson County Commissioner Rick Dyer at Tuesday’s commissioner meeting.
The commissioners had initially planned to simply send a resolution asking Oregon Gov. Kate Brown to rescind the mandate, but after a lengthy back-and-forth at the work session decided solely to focus on declaring an emergency as a more definitive means of getting a response.
“I think in effect it does support our letters of concern to the Governor. Our letter is making a request and we added ‘Please, work with us, get back with us, let’s talk about this and what is going to happen to our community.’ I think the declaration of emergency enumerates it better,” said Jackson County Commissioner Colleen Roberts.
County Administrator Danny Jordan noted that declaring an official emergency only does so much and that when one is declared, it is up to the Governor’s office to decide how to assist. They don’t need to abide by any specific request to undo the mandate.
“Let’s say the governor agrees with you that there’s a workforce issue, and it is an emergency. But instead of removing the mandate she requests help from FEMA, and FEMA dispatches staff to assist,” he said.
The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) is warning that over 80 Asante nurses have declined to get vaccinated. They have been granted an exception, however, the accommodation is that they will be granted a leave of absence. They will be allowed to use up vacation time, but after that, they will be left without pay.
ONA representative Susan Bruce says they offered some concessions, including wearing more stringent PPE at the bedside, but the hospital is holding firm.
“It seems pretty harsh. Even the federal government with their mandated vaccinations, it’s get vaccinated or get tested. They’re not saying everybody should lose their jobs. The other thing is that they’re not guaranteeing that they will have their jobs should they decide to come back,” Bruce said.
Bruce says the hospitals have commitments from state-funded traveling contractors of anywhere from 12-to-24 weeks to help buffer some of the loss of regular staff. She says the ONA does support vaccinations, and strongly recommends them as the best way to mitigate the effects of COVID-19.
“It’s not the vaccine part that’s the problem. It’s the mandating that people do that. There are some people who really truly have health conditions that allow won’t allow them to be vaccinated, so punishing those people because of their own personal health condition seems pretty ridiculous,” she said.
The county commissioners agreed to attach an item to the declaration asking the governor to seek a legislative pathway rather than a mandate. Dotterer opposes the declaration on the grounds it would be pointless.
“I rest my case. You’ve been talking for well over half an hour parsing words and splitting hairs. It’s going to accomplish nothing, so I don’t see a reason to do it,” he said.
The group continued to note that superseding the discussion is the federal vaccine mandate that is on its way. Once that goes into effect on Nov. 22, the issue is out of Brown’s hands.
More Details in Medford Homicide Update
The Medford Police Department has confirmed new information in the alleged murder of a Medford man over the weekend, reporting that they discovered the victim’s body inside of a refrigerator belonging to one of the suspects.
The grisly details were included in a probable cause affidavit filed Monday by police before it was sealed by the court.
Officers responded for reports of an assault inside an apartment in the 800-block of Royal Avenue on Sunday morning. MPD initially said that a suspect was discovered outside of the apartment, but he ran inside when officers approached. The agency said that he later came out after police called him on the phone and was detained.
In a search of the apartment, investigators discovered the body of 24-year-old Aaron Stitt inside of a closed refrigerator, and MPD said that it was evident the suspects had worked to clean up the crime scene.
Investigators arrested three men in connection with Stitt’s death: 20-year-old Brycen Scofield, 22-year-old Dylan Suede McLeod, and 25-year-old Austin Michael McLeod. All three were charged with second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, second-degree abuse of a corpse, unlawful use of a weapon, and tampering with evidence.
According to Medford Police, Stitt was invited over to Scofield’s apartment where the three men planned to rob him. Prosecutors allege that they used a hammer or wrench to kill Stitt, then later concealed, removed, or destroyed his bloody clothing, blood, and the murder weapons.
The Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office determined at the scene that skull fractures found on the victim were “consistent with being struck by a hammer,” according to the police affidavit. An autopsy of Stitt’s body is still forthcoming.
Investigators also recovered guns at the scene, MPD said.
The three suspects were arraigned in Jackson County Circuit Court on Monday and are being held without bail pending further court proceedings.
Investigators said the three men gave conflicting statements. However, all of them claimed they invited Stitt to Scofield’s apartment and planned to rob him. One of the suspects told officers Stitt stole from him in the past.
The three men have been accused of using “a hammer and/or wrench” to strike Stitt, which eventually killed him. The suspects then tried to remove and destroy evidence.
Man Arrested After Throwing Rocks At Vehicles On I-5 Near Glendale
A man was arrested Friday after allegedly throwing rocks at passing vehicles on Interstate 5 north of Glendale, according to police.
A trooper from the Oregon State Police responded to the area near mile marker 84 after multiple drivers reported seeing a shirtless man throwing rocks into traffic on the southbound lanes, according to court documents.
The trooper contacted the man, Michael Joe Garcia, 47, who said he was throwing rocks at passing cars because he was starving and was upset no one was stopping to give him food, according to court documents.
According to police, Garcia dented one car and cracked the windshield of another with the rocks. While he was being placed in the trooper’s vehicle, Garcia allegedly slammed his forehead into the side of the car creating a large dent, according to police.
Garcia was arrested on suspicion of first-degree criminal mischief, two counts of second-degree criminal mischief, second-degree disorderly conduct and two counts of recklessly endangering another person. He was lodged at the Douglas County Jail in lieu of $6,500 bail.
Plans Finalized for New Motel Near Medford Airport
Plans for a new hotel near the Rogue Valley International airport have been finalized between Jackson County Commissioners and Kauri LLC, a Belleview real estate group.
The hotel will accommodate 118 rooms and is slated to be built on a 2.76-acre lot within walking distance from the airport’s main terminal. The site will be leased by the county to the developer.
Jerry Brienza, the airport’s director said the lease agreement has been in the works for over a year. During that process, they have ironed out details such as FAA land releases, floodplain studies and complications relating to pandemic restrictions.
“Both parties were very committed to this project and we worked together to move obstacles out of our way,” Brienza wrote in a press release.
Kauri has applied for a Home2Suits Brand Hotel by Hilton. The lease gives Kauri three years to have the substantial construction work completed on the project. The project is estimated to cost upwards of $15million.
The hotel is estimated to create over 200 jobs and the company has noted that 80% of those will go to local individuals. Brienza said he hopes this will help promote tourism in the valley.
Southern Oregon Missing Persons
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Have-You-Seen-Me-Southern-Oregons-Missing-People-161249961222839/posts/
Oregon reports 1,658 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 41 new deaths
There are 41 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 3,750. The Oregon Health Authority reported 1,658 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 bringing the state total to 326,191.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (15), Benton (22), Clackamas (88), Clatsop (9), Columbia (15), Coos (66), Crook (23), Curry (11), Deschutes (103), Douglas (81), Gilliam (1), Grant (7), Harney (28), Hood River (19), Jackson (55), Jefferson (27), Josephine (29), Klamath (109), Lake (21), Lane (141), Lincoln (11), Linn (68), Malheur (58), Marion (118), Morrow (5), Multnomah (115), Polk (31), Tillamook (5), Umatilla (167), Union (9), Wallowa (2), Wasco (26), Washington (103) and Yamhill (70).
Governor Brown press conference highlights new booster guidance
Governor Kate Brown held a press conference this morning with OHA Public Health Director Rachael Banks, Oregon Department of Education Director Colt Gill and OHA Deputy State Health Officer Dr. Tom Jeanne.
Director Banks provided an update on newly issued guidance for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots of the Pfizer vaccine for Oregonians currently eligible to receive one. This includes Oregonians who completed the Pfizer vaccine series at least six months ago and who are ages 65 and older and those who live in a long-term care facility, as well as those 18-64 who have underlying medical conditions and persons in occupational or institutional settings that put them at higher risk of COVID-19 exposure and transmission.
Dr. Jeanne provided an update on the ongoing COVID-19 surge and encouraged all Oregonians not yet vaccinated to schedule their shots to protect themselves and those around them against the infectious Delta variant. Talking points for the media availability can be found here.
Covid Cases From Pendleton Round-Up
Health officials in Umatilla County, Oregon, say they are starting to see COVID-19 cases linked to the Pendleton Round-Up. Umatilla County Public Health Director Joseph Fiumara told county commissioners Monday the county’s case count last week was 550 cases of COVID-19, and Fiumara said he had 151 pending cases from the weekend.
So far, there are 44 cases of the illness tied to the Pendleton Round-Up, most from Umatilla County and some from Wallowa County, and his staff will eventually parse out what parts of Round-Up yielded which cases of the virus, he said. The current number of cases associated with Round-Up includes those who got COVID-19 at the event and those who attended while already sick, he said.
Hospitals in the county are still relatively at full capacity, public health officer Dr. Jonathan Hitzman reported, noting with the mandate that healthcare workers must be vaccinated, there is possibility some services within St. Anthony Hospital and Good Shepherd Medical Center will have to close for lack of staff.
More Oregonians died with COVID-19 in September than in all but two other months of the pandemic, according to new state data released Monday.
September’s death toll now stands at 424 people, surpassing August for the third-most fatalities of the pandemic. And the carnage from the delta surge could push this month’s final tally past January, when 476 people died.
The monthly record, set in December, is 603 COVID-related fatalities.
Oregon’s summer coronavirus wave has largely killed the unvaccinated, and state officials continue to say vaccination offers the best protection against severe COVID-19.
With cooler weather and some rain, there are fewer major fire events in Oregon listed on Inciweb, the online tracker and information system. Containment has improved, and many evacuation levels and closure notices have been reduced or removed.
Kyle Reed of the Douglas Forest Protective Association says autumn often brings other conditions known as east wind events. “That’s when winds come down off the Cascades and they funnel down through the valleys and come down the hill, and as they come down they compress,” he explained.
“Which causes them to warm up, so it’s a warm wind. And typically it’s a strong wind. So it’s very similar to what we saw last year with the Labor Day storms, except that was a very severe case of east winds. But even a mild case could really accelerate fire behavior.”
Reed adds precipitation is also improving, though much of the heaviest rainfall so far has been closer to the coast. He says while fire crews had hoped for heavier rainfall in their area, they are currently at “LOW” fire risk, and gradually issuing permits for backyard debris burning.
“So those permits from DFPA are free. They do require an on-site inspection. We have to have a fire trail around those, make sure you have fire tools and water on-site, and have a chance to explain safe burning to the people before they actually do the burn.”
Reed says the fire season is winding down, and typically ends in mid-October. But that timeline could be extended if conditions run warmer and drier than usual.
Thanks to recent wetting rains and cooler temperatures, the South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership has reduced the fire danger from “extreme” to “high” in many areas in Klamath and Lake Counties.
Public use restrictions will be lifted on the Fremont-Winema National Forest, wildlife refuges and the Bureau of Land Management Lakeview District, with the exception of the Klamath River Canyon. Oregon Department of Forestry Regulated Use Closures remain in effect, according to a SCOFMP release.
That means campfires are now allowed in most areas. The Industrial Fire Precaution Level is also being reduced from Level III to Level II, having been knocked down from Level IV several weeks ago. Power saws, cable yarding, blasting, welding and metal cutting is allowed between 8 p.m. and 1 p.m.
Governor Brown Signs Redistricting Map
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed legislation to create 90 legislative districts as well as add a sixth congressional district. The bills passed largely along party lines.
OREGON LEGISLATURE
Republican lawmakers say the process is “rigged” to give Democrats an advantage in elections, but showed up to allow the passage. Despite a threat to block new political maps Republican state lawmakers returned to the Oregon Capitol as the Legislature passed legislative and congressional boundaries that included a new, sixth U.S. House seat. The new map includes four U.S. House seats that either are safe Democratic or lean in the party’s favor, one reliably blue seat and one seat that could be a toss-up.
SNAP benefits will increase permanently in October, most Oregonians receiving SNAP will continue to receive additional emergency SNAP benefits
Starting Oct. 1, Oregonians who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will see a permanent average increase of about $36 per month, per person to their regular SNAP benefits. This permanent increase is the result of federal changes to the Thrifty Food Plan.
- Oregonians who receive SNAP benefits will see a permanent average increase of about $36 per person, per month to their regular SNAP benefits.
- Most Oregonians who receive SNAP benefits will continue to receive emergency benefits in October.
- Find resources to meet your basic needs: Dial 2-1-1, or text your zip code to 898-211, www.211info.org
- Support and resources from the Oregon Department of Human Services
In addition, most SNAP recipients in Oregon will continue to receive additional emergency SNAP benefits in October.
The federal government has approved emergency allotments every month since March 2020. This gives SNAP recipients additional support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In October, approximately 408,000 SNAP households will receive approximately $64 million in extra food benefits in addition to their regular SNAP benefits.
“We are grateful to have the opportunity to increase regular SNAP benefits and to provide additional emergency benefits to most SNAP households in Oregon,” said Dan Haun, director of the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Self-Sufficiency Program. “We also know that many Oregonians are still struggling to meet their basic needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and we encourage them to contact our partners at 211 and the Oregon Food Bank for support during this difficult time.”
Emergency food benefits will be available on Oct. 12 for current SNAP households. New SNAP households will receive the emergency allotments Oct. 29 or Nov. 2.
SNAP recipients do not have to take any action to receive these benefits as they will be issued directly on their EBT cards.
More information about emergency allotments is available at https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/ASSISTANCE/FOOD-BENEFITS/Pages/About-SNAP.aspx.
Questions about your SNAP benefits should be directed to the ONE Customer Service Center at 1-800-699-9075.
If you are a SNAP household and your income or the number of people in your household has changed, it could impact your benefits. It is important to make sure ODHS has the most up-to-date information.
You can report any changes to your income or household in many ways:
- Online at: ONE.Oregon.gov
- By mail at: ONE Customer Service Center, PO Box 14015, Salem, OR 97309
- By fax at: 503-378-5628
- By phone at: 1-800-699-9075 or TTY 711
Resources to help meet basic needs
- Find a food pantry: foodfinder.oregonfoodbank.org
- Learn about government programs and community resources for older adults and people with disabilities: Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon at 1-855-673-2372 or www.adrcoforegon.org.
- Dial 2-1-1, or text your zip code to 898-211, www.211info.org
- Oregon Department of Human Services Resources
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. Learn more at https://govstatus.egov.com/or-dhs-benefits. For local resources in your area, such as food or shelter, please call 2-1-1 or reach out to the state’s Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) at 1-855-ORE-ADRC or 1-855-673-2372. — Oregon Department of Human Services
ODFW Cautions Collisions with Wildlife Becoming More Common
As the days grow shorter, Oregon deer are beginning their seasonal migration. That makes October and November peak months for collisions between vehicles and wildlife. Nearly 6,000 vehicles in Oregon crashed into wild animals last year.
Oregon experiences a higher rate of animal-vehicle collisions than any other West Coast state, according to one insurance industry report. “Oregon is working to reduce the risk of wildlife-vehicle collisions,” says Michelle Wheat of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. ODFW is mapping migrations to determine where they intersect with busy roads.
Most of those collisions killed the animal and took a chunk out of the car, according to a recent report from the Oregon Legislative Policy and Research Office. The average insurance cost from such collisions: $4,135.
There are certain hot spots on the 79,045 miles of roads that crisscross the state: near Roseburg and Klamath Falls and where Highways 20 and 97 meet in northern Deschutes County. As the state’s population increases and development encroaches on wilderness areas, collisions are becoming more common.
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One bright spot: Over the past decade, the Oregon Department of Transportation has installed three underpasses so animals can safely cross Highway 97 in Central Oregon. Those installations have led to a reduction in collisions of up to 95% in affected areas. DMV will soon offer a specialty wildlife license plate to help pay for improvements.
By far the most common victims in animal crashes: deer. But more exotic species such as eagles, mountain goats, and even bighorn sheep also get hit. (One change: A law allowing Oregonians to salvage roadkill for their dinner tables went into effect in 2019. But ODFW warns, “Intentionally hitting a deer or elk in order to salvage it remains unlawful.”)
North Coast Beaches Open for Razor Clamming
Clatsop beaches reopen to razor clamming October 1 with good news: domoic acid levels are below the closure threshold and razor clam abundance is the highest seen since 2004 when ODFW began assessing the population.
Extremely high juvenile recruitment and good survival rates of both juvenile and mature clams over the 2020-21 winter should lead to a very promising season. This year’s population has a large number of mature clams that average over four inches with a tremendous number of juvenile clams under three-and-a-half inches.
To increase the chance of only digging mature, larger clams, harvesters should be sure to dig the largest razor clam “shows.” Clammers are reminded the daily harvest limit is the first 15 razor clams dug regardless of size or condition. Each clammer must have their own container, dig their own clams, and may only possess one daily limit. View ODFW’s video on razor clamming basics:
The most popular razor clamming area in Oregon, Clatsop beaches stretch 18 miles between the Columbia River south jetty and Tillamook Head. These beaches closed Oct. 30, 2020 due to high levels of domoic acid that remained elevated until recently.
Each year since 1967, ODFW closes Clatsop beaches to razor clam harvest July 15 – Sept. 30. This conservation measure prevents disturbance of the young clams, increases chances of good survival rates, and helps ensure future harvest. During the closure, ODFW shellfish biologists conduct stock assessment surveys to determine population health and status. Learn more about the conservation closure on ODFW‘s video.
Other good opportunities to harvest razor clams include Agate Beach, North Jetty, and South Beach in the Newport area along with Cannon Beach, Cape Meares, and Yachats Beach.
Clammers should always check for toxin-related closures before harvesting clams or crabs by calling the shellfish safety hotline 1-800-448-2472 or visit ODA’s Recreation Shellfish page. Closures are also noted on ODFW’s Recreation Report – Clamming and Crabbing Report.
Oregon Department of Human Services urges Oregonians to help one another be prepared before the next disaster
Honor those impacted by the 2020 wildfires by proactively preparing for future disasters.
The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) joins the national observation of Preparedness Month during September by encouraging Oregonians to help one another in their readiness efforts.
“This past year’s extreme heat, wildfires and ice storms remind us of the importance of preparing ourselves for any kind of disaster, as well as our responsibility to help our neighbors, friends and family,” ODHS Director Fariborz Pakseresht said. “We urge Oregonians to use this heightened awareness and take action today to ensure their community is prepared before the next emergency strikes.”
“If you already have an emergency plan and kit, that’s great! Now’s the time to help others be prepared,” Ed Flick, director of ODHS’ emergency management unit said. “If you haven’t started, or haven’t finished your emergency planning, why not use this time to work with others to get it done? The experience of working together with another person can make this essential task easier.”
ODHS suggests Oregonians act now by taking these steps: · Be aware of potential hazards in the area and sign up for emergency alerts.
· Be “2 Weeks Ready” with at least two weeks’ worth of food, water and critical supplies. Learn how to assemble an emergency supply kit at Ready.gov or American Red Cross.
· Talk with your friends and family about being prepared. Ask if they have a plan yet and what concerns them about disasters. That can help you know where to prioritize planning efforts. · If your family or friends includes people with disabilities or older adults, learn about specific steps they might need to take to be prepared. Many of the tips for people with disabilities also apply to older adults. Understanding and preparing for needs like medications, mobility devices, equipment that needs electricity and specialized transportation can make the difference in a person being able to remain safely in place or evacuate.
· Do your friends, family or neighbors have language, cultural or religious considerations that need to be addressed? Have an early conversation about how to address those needs before disaster strikes.
· Talk with your neighbors. Are they prepared? Do any neighbors have specialized equipment, like a generator that could help another neighbor use their life-saving equipment? Or expertise like medical training? Develop a plan on who will check on neighbors in need during an emergency.
“Let’s all use the valuable lessons of the disasters we’ve experienced in 2021 to plan together so we can be more resilient and prepared for the future,” Flick said.
About ODHS and disasters: Oregon’s emergency and recovery plans give ODHS responsibility to support impacted Oregonians during emergencies and recovery, at the request of and in partnership with local and tribal governments. This is in keeping with the agency’s primary role to assist people in meeting their basic needs while moving toward independence. ODHS is responsible for supporting the sheltering, feeding, emergency assistance and human services needs of people impacted by disasters. In this role, ODHS coordinates efforts among local and Tribal governments and nongovernmental organizations. Oregon Department of Human Services