Rogue Valley News, Tuesday 11/9 – Fentanyl Overdose Deaths on the Rise in Jackson County, Jackson County Expo Offering Covid Testing and Vaccines Again

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

Tuesday, November 9, 2021

Rogue Valley Weather

Tuesday– Rain before 7am, then showers between 7am and 10am. High near 55. South wind around 6 mph becoming north northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Wednesday– Patchy drizzle with a chance of rain before 7am, then rain likely, mainly after 10am. Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 53. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Veterans Day– Partly sunny, with a high near 65.

Friday– A slight chance of rain after 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 64.

Saturday– Partly sunny, with a high near 65.

Fentanyl Overdose Deaths on the Rise in Jackson County

In 2021 there have been 14 confirmed fentanyl overdoses (through July) and many more awaiting toxicology.

The last week of October, JCSO Medical Examiner Detectives have responded to a number of fentanyl suspected overdose deaths. Fentanyl laced pills including counterfeit Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, and Xanax have been found at overdoses in 2021.

Do NOT take any pills unless they come from a licensed health care provider. JCSO ME Detectives have also found fentanyl mixed in with illicit drugs such as heroin, methamphetamines, cocaine, MDMA, and more.

BEWARE: As little as 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal depending on body size, tolerance and past usage (pictured here on pencil tip). During some of these fentanyl overdose deaths, multiple doses of NARCAN was administered and the patient still died.

Locally, these fentanyl overdose deaths span all demographics and ages, from professionals to retirees, legitimate prescription users to addicts; from an 18-year-old male in Talent, a 23-year-old male in Eagle Point, a 27-year-old female in Medford, a 39-year-old male in White City, a 40-year-old female in Jacksonville, and a 57-year-old female in Medford.

PARENTS: Now is the time to talk to your kids about the dangers of counterfeit pills and illicit drug use.

Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash 11/7 Josephine County

On Sunday 11/07/2021 at 3:15 pm, the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a single motor vehicle crash at the intersection of Rockydale and Waldo Road.  Personnel from Illinois Valley Fire Department and American Medical Response responded as well.

Upon arrival, Deputies located a heavily damaged vehicle crashed into the ditch.   The vehicle had one occupant who was the driver.  The driver was determined to be deceased upon arrival.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as 42 year old Donald Lennen of Cave Junction, OR.  Next of kin has been notified.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.  Josephine Co. Sheriff’s Office

UPDATE: Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash 11/05/21
Josephine Co. Sheriff’s Office –

DECEASED: Miller, Joseph  39 years oldFanno, Maureen 76 years old

DETAILS:      On Friday, November 5, 2021, at approximately 4:11 PM, Deputies responded to the 7500 Block of Monument Drive for a report of a two-vehicle head-on collision.  Personnel from Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were also dispatched to the crash.  Upon the arrival of first responders, both drivers were deceased and pinned in their vehicles. 

Per a witness statement, Miller swerved off the roadway and over the yellow lane divider line several times while driving northbound on Monument Drive.  Evidence at the scene showed Miller had left the roadway and swerved into the southbound lane, where Fanno was driving, causing the vehicles to collide.  Notification to next of kin of both individuals was made. 

Jackson County Expo Offering Covid Testing and Vaccines Again

Whether you need a Covid-19 vaccine or a test for the virus, the Jackson County Expo is again host to opportunities to get those things accomplished.

The Oregon Health Authority and Jackson County Public Health partnered with the Expo on the new vaccination site. All three authorized Covid-19 vaccines are being offered, and they can be for first, second, third or booster doses.

Unfortunately, pediatric doses of the Pfizer vaccine, authorized last week, are not currently available at the Expo clinic. Jackson County Public Health said that it has not yet received them, though they are expected to arrive this week. Parents and guardians can reach out to their pediatrician, primary care provider, or pharmacist to ask if they will have the vaccine and when they can begin scheduling appointments.

Vaccines at the Expo

  • Location: 1 Peninger Rd. Central Point OR
  • Gate Entrance: 1 1/2
  • Hours of Operation: Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. | Monday-Thursday, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  • COVID-19 Vaccines Provided: 1st, 2nd, 3rd doses and boosters available for Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson. Pediatric COVID-19 vaccines are not available

Testing is being offered through a separate effort by a company called Curative. The drive-through testing location allows people to self-administer PCR Covid-19 tests, with text results expected to be provided within 48 hours via text, email, or both.

People will need to pre-register at www.curative.com, select book now, then select Jackson County Expo, and complete the registration process. For people who do not pre-register, they will need to do so onsite using a cell phone.

Testing at the Expo

  • Location: Jackson County Expo, 1 Penninger Rd. Central Point
  • Hours of Operation: Sunday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  • Gate Entrance: 1 1/2

Jackson County Public Health reported Monday that throughout last week, October 31 through November 6, the county saw 339 new cases of Covid-19. This represents a 14% decrease from the week prior.

Hospitalizations have also decreased, if gradually. As of Monday morning, there were 45 patients hospitalized for Covid-19 between Jackson and Josephine counties. Nine of those patients were in intensive care.

Public health officials in Jackson County reported two more deaths on Monday, those of a 60-year-old woman and a 75-year-old woman. Both had underlying health conditions. Their deaths brought the county’s death toll up to 331 since the pandemic began.

Josephine County Public Health also reported two more deaths on Monday, a 70-year-old man and a 45-year-old man. Both had underlying conditions. While the older man had been vaccinated against Covid-19, the younger man had not. Their deaths brought the county’s death toll up to 214 since the pandemic began.

Among adults, Jackson County’s vaccination rate is 65.3% and Josephine County’s is 58.9%. Including the full population, those percentages drop to 55.7% and 50.7%, respectively.

Oregon reports 2,125 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 58 new deaths

There are 58 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 4,620, Oregon Health Authority reported 2,125 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 bringing the state total to 374,253.

The 58 new deaths and 2,125 new cases reported today include data recorded by counties for the three-day period between Friday, Nov. 5 and Sunday, Nov. 7.

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (7), Benton (43), Clackamas (205), Clatsop (17), Columbia (28), Coos (38), Crook (10), Curry (1), Deschutes (249), Douglas (61), Grant (2), Hood River (12), Jackson (85), Jefferson (36), Josephine (50), Klamath (21), Lane (169), Lincoln (22), Linn (97), Malheur (7), Marion (159), Morrow (12), Multnomah (366), Polk (31), Tillamook (29), Umatilla (29), Union (6), Wallowa (2), Wasco (14), Washington (250) and Yamhill (67).

Oregon reports 913 confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases on Nov.  5, 735 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases on Nov. 6 and 477 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases on Nov. 7.

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Mother And Toddler Survive 100 Foot Fall While Hiking At Multnomah Falls

A mother and her 2-year-old child survived a fall of more than 100 feet on a trail outside Portland on Sunday, according to Oregon authorities.

According to officials, the toddler began to slip off a trail, and after the mother tried to pull the child back up, both slipped and fell into a creek below.

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office said they responded to the incident at Multnomah Falls, about 30 miles east of Portland, just after noon on Sunday.

“Both were assisted by other hikers, including an off-duty ER doctor. The mom and daughter were transported to the hospital to receive treatment for their injuries,” Chris Liedle, spokesperson with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office said.

Nearby hikers, including someone trained in emergency medicine, grabbed blankets and jackets from the gift shop and rescued the mother and daughter from the creek.

“Both of them were alert and conscious. Neither of their injuries were life-threatening,” Liedle said.

“It was initially reported to 911 the height of the fall was approximately 50 feet. After confirming where the two hikers fell, responders believe the fall was closer to 100-150 feet.”

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office thanked the Corbett Fire company, the local ambulance company and “the good Samaritans for their assistance while emergency personnel were on their way.”

Multnomah Falls is Oregon’s tallest cascade, and the most visited natural recreation site in the Pacific Northwest, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

ODOT Says It Expects More than $1 Billion in Infrastructure Funds

The Oregon Department of Transportation says it expects to receive more than $1 billion as a result of the roughly $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill passed in the US House of Representatives on Friday. ODOT expects that the funds will go toward projects around the state to benefit drivers, transit riders, cyclists and pedestrians, help
maintain roads and bridges, and address climate change.

That said, the agency is still looking at the bill to find out exactly how much the state will receive and where it can be
directed — some ODOT projects are ready for construction, and others are in the final stages of planning so that the agency can move quickly.

Congressman Peter DeFazio, who chairs the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, said that the need in Oregon for this funding is clear. The American Society of Civil Engineers gave Oregon a C- grade on its last infrastructure report card.

Kaiser Permanente Workers Set to Go on Strike

Thousands of Kaiser Permanente workers in Oregon and Southwestern Washington are set to go on strike next week. Union leaders representing the employees gave management a ten-day notice last Thursday of their intent to strike over what they claim are proposed wage cuts for new and existing workers.

The Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals alleges Kaiser Permanente proposes to depress wages for current employees and slash pay for incoming workers by way of a two-tier system that would take effect amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Kaiser officials deny the claim.

Fatal Crash Highway 101- Tillamook County 

On November 7, 2021, at approximately 4:00 A.M. Oregon State Police responded to the report of a single-vehicle crash that occurred on US Highway 101 near milepost 60 near Tillamook, Oregon. 

A preliminary investigation revealed a silver Subaru Impreza, operated by Anthony Ronald Cuarteros (26) of Portland, OR, was northbound in wet weather conditions when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle drove off the northbound shoulder into a deep drainage ditch.  The vehicle continued in the drainage ditch for more than 200 feet, crossing over two raised driveway entries, until it came to an uncontrolled rest in the ditch directly in front of the Tillamook Country Smoker Factory Outlet Store. 

Anthony Cuarteros sustained serious injuries and was transported to an area hospital.  The passenger, Janette Gaudalupe Medina (23), of Portland was pronounced dead at the scene.  Passengers Alexander Bradley Cuarteros (22) of Portland and Damon Kyle Cornwell (25) of Beaverton were treated at the hospital for minor injuries.  

US Highway 101 was closed for approximately five hours.  OSP was assisted by Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office, Tillamook Police Department, Tillamook Fire and Rescue, Bay City Fire Department, and ODOT Incident Response. Oregon State Police

Motorcyclist Dies in Multi-Vehicle Accident in Klamath Falls

A local motorcyclist died in a multi-vehicle accident in Klamath Falls on Sunday.  Robert Allen Washburn, 66, of Klamath Falls, was pronounced dead at the scene after his motorcycle was hit by a car, causing Washburn to fall off of his bike and directly into the path of a second vehicle.

The crash occurred on 5:45 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 7, at the intersection of Summers Lane and Bristol Avenue. The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office responded to the crash, with support from the Klamath County Fire District 1 and
Oregon State Police. 

According to a release from the KCSO, an initial investigation suggested motorcycle speed, handling and equipment failure may have contributed to the crash. However, the investigation is ongoing. No citations were issued and there
were no additional injuries reported from the crash, the release added.

First King Tides of the Season

The first king tides of the season were expected throughout the Oregon coast this weekend, as conditions came together to bring high waves from Astoria to Brookings.

The mean high tide at Nehalem is 6.45 feet, according to the Oregon King Tides Project. On Sunday, the high tide was predicted to be 8.45 feet. In Newport, the predicted high tide was 9.88 feet on Sunday, as compared to the mean high tide of 7.61 feet. In Bandon, the high tide was predicted to be 8.47 feet on Sunday, as compared to a mean high tide of 6.42 feet. A king tide is the non-scientific term for the highest winter tides of the year.

According to the Oregon King Tides Project, these high waters happen when the moon’s orbit comes closest to the Earth, and the Earth’s orbit is closest to the sun. The U.S. Coast Guard urges people to be aware of safety concerns during king tides. Visitors are urged to stay off jetties, beaches and low-lying areas.

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