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
Thursday, November 11, 2021
Rogue Valley Weather
Veterans Day– Widespread fog before 1pm. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 65. Light and variable wind.
Friday– Patchy fog before 1pm. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 64. Light and variable wind
Saturday– Partly sunny, with a high near 66. Light and variable wind.
Sunday– Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 66.
Monday– A chance of rain, mainly after 10am. Patchy fog between 7am and 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 62.
Jockeys Injured During Race At Grants Pass Downs
Two jockeys were injured on Tuesday night after the lights suddenly went out during a race that had just begun at Grants Pass Downs.
According to Grants Pass Downs, the incident happened during the 11th and final race on Tuesday. The gates opened, and the horses came charging out into the initial stretch of the 6 1/2 furlong race. Then the track was suddenly plunged into darkness.
When the first horses reappeared under the light of a scoreboard across from the stands, two of them were without riders.
After the dust settled, jockeys Patrick Henry Jr. and Alex Anaya were taken to the hospital with undisclosed injuries. All six horses escaped without injury, according to Grants Pass Downs. The race was declared no contest.
Grants Pass Downs is still looking into what happened to the lights but did not think the issue stemmed from a power outage due to other lights and electrical systems that remained on when the floodlights went out.
Both Henry and Anaya were released from the hospital on Wednesday. Despite the incident, Grants Pass Downs said that Anaya won the overall Fall Meeting riding championship with 23 wins and also topped the Thoroughbred standings with 19 wins. It was the first riding title for the 22-year-old Anaya.
3 Suspects Arrested After Armed Robbery At Medford 7-11 Store
The Medford Police Department announced that it arrested three suspects after the 7-11 on 1723 E. McAndrews in Medford was robbed and shots were fired at an employee.
The department arrested 18-year-old Alexander Shirmard, 18-year-old Chance Hahn and 22-year-old Beau West after they were dispatched to the incident early this morning.
According to a press release from the department, the robbery was called in at about 2:19 a.m.
“Several Medford Police officers were dispatched to a report of shots fired during a Robbery at the 7-11 store,” the press release noted. “While en-route to the call, witnesses provided a direction of travel for the three male suspects, who fled on foot eastbound. A Medford Police K-9, “Bones”, led the search.”
At 2:51 a.m., the three suspects were located in a backyard in the 1100 block of Wabash Avenue. The stolen property, as well as the handgun used during the robbery, were recovered.
“The investigation revealed the three suspects entered the store and stole beer and cigarettes before fleeing,” the press release noted. “The clerk followed the suspects into the parking lot and one of them fired several rounds towards the employee. No one was struck during the shooting.”
After shots were fired, the suspects ran to a home they were staying at where they were tracked by the K-9 and located in the backyard.
New Housing Compound to Open in Ashland
Rogue Retreat is working on a new housing compound in Ashland to help with homelessness and the growing problem here in Southern Oregon.
“We’re going with the same model that we’ve been using in Medford since July of last year — it’s a proven model, it works, it will benefit the community, so we’re just kind of reaching into Ashland now to help their community,” said Liz Adams, Program Director for Rogue Retreat.
The urban campground model for providing shelter to the homeless has been steadily picking up steam within the last year. The site in Medford is expanding, Grants Pass has approved the concept while it nails down a site, and this site in Ashland has been making steady progress since it was first announced in April of this year. The shelter is hoping to house about 49 people.
“The difference is that there’s not going to be any tents — it’s going to be pallet houses and inside the building, but with alleviating the tents we’re going to add car camping, so there’s going to be other opportunities for people to utilize those services out there,” Justin Hon, Operations Manager for Rogue Retreat said.
With the development of the new campground, Rogue Retreat is hoping to help out the community of Ashland.
“Will be working with the Ashland Police Department just like we do with the [Medford Police] Livability Team, so they’ll be one of our support systems out there,” Adams added.
Rogue Retreat says the campground should be up and running within the next week or two. They are still looking to add more volunteers as well as services to help out with meals.
| Happy Veteran’s Day — With so much going on in our nation, it’s important to pause and honor those who have fought for the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. Service members and their families continue to make significant sacrifices on behalf of our great nation. I have a cousin who is graduating from boot camp and another stationed in Germany. I also have dear friends who have three kids serving in the Navy. The Oregon National Guard is currently on deployment, serving across the state. I take great pride and gratitude in heroes like these and those that have gone before them. I will keep them in my prayers as they sacrifice and serve. Community Events Today8:00 am Pancake Breakfast – Community Center in Merlin Community Park, 100 Acorn Dr. (Hosted by the Grants Pass Lion’s Club)11:00 am Veteran’s Day Celebration – Veteran’s Walk of Honor, Merlin Park, 100 Acorn Dr. (Sponsored by Evergreen Bank) A Tribute to Veterans at the Oregon Capitol Showcases Service Flags, UniformsIf you happen to be in the Salem area, you can visit the annual A Tribute to Veterans exhibit at the Oregon State Capitol which is taking place noon Monday, November 8 to noon Friday, November 12. (The Capitol is closed on Veterans Day, Thursday, November 11.) The exhibit will include uniforms from each service branch with a biography of the person who served in the uniform, coming from the Veterans of Foreign Wars #661 Uniform Display Museum. Each uniform will be accompanied by the appropriate service flag, which are on loan from the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs.This is a free exhibit open to the public. Parking is metered around the Capitol. This event is part of the Capitol History Gateway Project produced by the Visitor Services Department and is funded by the Oregon State Capitol Foundation. For more information about events and exhibits at the Capitol, contact Visitor Services at 503-986-1388 or visit www.oregoncapitol.com . Veteran’s Legacies Grand Opening at Evergreen Museum3 to 6 p.m. on Veterans Day Read More Info Here  |
| 2021 Legislation Passed Supporting VeteransDuring the 2021 Legislative Session, I voted for the following bills that support our veterans: HB 2139 – Rural Veterans Healthcare Transportation Grant Program· Ensures that veterans residing in rural areas will have access to physical, mental, or behavioral health care. SB 101 – Grants for members of the Oregon National Guard· Supports members of the Oregon National Guard in their efforts to obtain higher education degrees by awarding them grants.· This is a continuation of funding for veterans to attend public universities/colleges.· Adds flexibility to expand who is eligible for the grants and how much they are able to receive. SB 319 – Vietnam War Memorial· The project is to be funded and constructed by a qualified nonprofit corporation, so there is virtually no cost to the state apart from providing the land on which the memorial will be built.· Oregon doesn’t have a Vietnam War memorial set up to honor veterans, and this will create a location at which families can honor their loved ones, and veterans can finally feel welcomed home.· There was a big push for this from the VFW and American Legion. SB 320 – No-charge fishing permits for veterans Arguments for:· Supports veterans and gets them involved in a hands-on hobby.· Gets veterans outdoors.· Brings new participants in Fish and Wildlife activities. HB 5036 – Department of Veterans’ Affairs Budget· $3 million to provide assistance for potentially higher operational costs for the Oregon Veterans’ Homes due to COVID-19.· $600,000 for Campus Veteran Resource Center Grants for community colleges and public universities to expand and enhance existing veteran programs on campuses.· $650,000 for the Rural Veterans Healthcare Transportation Grant program.· $342,689 for Veterans Services Grant.· $100,000 for Emergency Assistance. |
| Resources for Veterans Josephine County Veteran’s Services Office is an outstanding resource that can connect veterans with services and programs. You can find out more HERE. If my office could be of any assistance, please email or call (503) 986-1403. |
| All my best, |
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Oregon Office of Emergency Management Advisory: Weather conditions call for awareness of potential hazards
Oregon’s Office of Emergency Management advises residents to be aware – and prepared – for potential hazards due to heavy rains forecasted this week across the state.
According to the National Weather Service, expected rainfall amounts from 5 p.m. tonight through Friday may cause potential flooding of creeks and rivers in northwest Oregon, especially along the coastal terrain and Cascades. Rain amounts may be high enough to cause flooding Thursday and Friday.
Heavy rain can trigger debris flows and landslides in steep terrain, and the risk is higher in wildfire burn areas. There is potential for debris flows in the burned areas of the Cascades, including the Beachie Creek, Echo Mountain, Lionshead and Riverside fire sites. Eagle Creek and Holiday Farm fire areas may also be potentially impacted.
The public can remain safe using basic preparedness actions, including staying informed, being aware of surroundings, having a plan for emergencies and being prepared with an emergency kit.
Stay informed
- Monitor the weather forecast for watches, warnings or advisories at https://www.weather.gov.
- Sign up for local emergency alerts at https://oralert.gov.
- If told to evacuate, do so immediately.
Drive with caution
- Be aware of the latest road conditions before driving by checking http://tripcheck.com.
- Be alert when driving; embankments along roadsides may fail, sending rock and debris onto the road.
- Turn on lights, increase following distance and slow down.
- Don’t drive through flood water; just 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult, and a foot of rushing water can carry away most cars.
Heed flood watches and warnings
- A Flood Advisory is issued when a specific weather event that is forecast to occur may become a nuisance: Be aware.
- A Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding to occur: Be prepared.
- A Flood Warning is issued when flooding is imminent or already occurring: Take action.
Know the signs of landslides
- Look for changes in landscape like leaning trees, land movement, or a trickle of falling mud or debris.
- Pay attention if the water in streams or creeks suddenly turns muddy or the water flow suddenly decreases or increases.
- Listen for unusual sounds, such as trees cracking or boulders knocking together, that might indicate moving debris.
For more information about flood risk and mitigation, visit https://www.ready.gov/floods. For information on landslides and debris flow, visit https://www.ready.gov/landslides-debris-flow. For information on flood insurance, visit https://www.floodsmart.gov. — Oregon Office of Emergency Management
Oregon reports 1,033 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 75 new deaths
There are 75 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 4,730. The Oregon Health Authority reported 1,033 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 bringing the state total to 376,372.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (7), Benton (16), Clackamas (91), Clatsop (7), Columbia (15), Coos (23), Crook (2), Curry (8), Deschutes (111), Douglas (49), Gilliam (1), Grant (1), Harney (5), Hood River (3), Jackson (54), Jefferson (12), Josephine (28), Klamath (16), Lake (13), Lane (62), Lincoln (17), Linn (45), Malheur (12), Marion (79), Morrow (3), Multnomah (136), Polk (27), Sherman (1), Tillamook (8), Umatilla (27), Union (1), Wallowa (2), Wasco (7), Washington (100) and Yamhill (44).
Reminder: State health officials to add more than 500 COVID-19 deaths due to technical error
Over the coming weeks, OHA will report approximately 550 deaths among people who died with COVID-19, but whose deaths only became recently known to state epidemiologists due to a technical computer error.
This will result in higher death totals as the backlog is resolved. More details can be found here.
Scheduling note: OHA will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 11, so employees may commemorate Veterans Day with family and friends. For this reason, there will be no Daily Media Release, Oregon Coronavirus Update or other OHA reports and communications tomorrow. OHA will be open regular hours on Friday.
There will also be no OHA e-newsletters, reports or other communications on Thursday, Nov. 25 (Thanksgiving Day) and Friday, Nov. 26. Thank you for understanding.
Oregon Judges And Court Staff Among Most Vaccinated Of All State Workers
According to a report, more than 92% of some 1,800 state court employees and judges across Oregon are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 now that a mandate handed down by state Supreme Court Chief Justice Martha Walters took full effect last Friday.
That represents an increase of about six percentage points since Walters issued her order in mid-September — and elevates the state court system to one of the most vaccinated big departments in the state.
State courts produced a higher vaccination rate than Oregon’s executive branch, which stood at only 85% as of two days after its vaccination mandate took effect. Gov. Kate Brown’s executive-branch order applies to more than 40,000 state employees, but not the judicial branch, which required its own directive from Walters.
The state courts rate also is notably higher than individual executive branch agencies employing more than 1,000 workers — including, as of Oct. 20, the Department of Corrections at 75%, the Department of Transportation at 81%, the Department of Human Services at 86%, and the Department of Justice at 89%.
The state courts vaccination rate, too, exceeds the reported rate of every category of health care worker, with the exception of Oregon dentists, with 94% fully vaccinated, according to state data through Nov. 1.
In comparison, 72% of adult Oregonians statewide are fully vaccinated.
While vaccination rates have been publicly available for all executive branch departments, health care workers, and now judicial employees, collective vaccination rates are unknown for at least one other profession with inoculation requirements:K-12 educators. Brown required school employees to get vaccinated by Oct. 18, as well, but no state agency is tracking compliance rates.
14 Oregon Employers Recognized for Hiring Veterans
Fourteen Oregon companies that work with the Oregon Employment Department are being recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor today with the HIRE Vets Medallion Award for their investment in recruiting, employing, and providing long-term career opportunities to our nation’s veterans.
“We are pleased to see the result of our employees’ efforts to help businesses see the value of hiring veterans. Last year, 10 companies received this award, and we are pleased to report that this year, four more companies are investing in and valuing veterans as employees,” said David Gerstenfeld, acting director of the Employment Department.
Oregon’s HIRE Vets Medallion companies are in all parts of the state and include small or medium-sized businesses.
“A&M Transport has always focused on hiring Veterans, as it is a small way we can show our appreciation for all they have done for all of us. We value Veterans for their service to this Country and for their exceptional work ethics they bring to the table,” said Gaylene Nixon, who is responsible for driver development and recruiting for A & M Transport, a Glendale based company.
The City of Tigard also was recognized. “Tigard is excited to be recognized as a HIRE Vets Medallion recipient! We have a long history of hiring our nation’s military veterans and value their important contribution to Team Tigard. We look forward to continuing our efforts to hire, retain, and support our veterans,” said Brandi, Leos, Senior Human Resources Business Partner at the City of Tigard.
“When recruiting veterans, we know we’re getting someone who is reliable, trainable and has a sense of ownership over the work they produce,” said Brad Scardino, Flux program manager. “Flux believes this so much, we’ve created a program for veteran engagement so we can ensure we are continuously attracting veteran talent and the skills and experiences they bring.”
“Cayuse Holdings understands the value that veterans bring to the workplace, and we are proud to support veteran careers,” said Billy Nerenberg, chief executive officer of Cayuse Holdings. “Many of our leaders are veterans, and many current employees still serve. These veterans inherently act as mentors in their roles, setting an example for our employees. We support our veteran employees in several ways, including education incentives, a wellness program for them and their families, and a staff liaison who provides valuable resources. We recruit new employees using targeted language and sites to find veterans, and we offer a referral bonus for employees that help us hire other veterans.”
Local Veterans’ Employer Representatives (LVERs) at the Employment Department are dedicated staff who assist businesses in filling their workforce needs with job-seeking veterans. As veterans, they use their own knowledge and expertise to perform a wide range of duties on behalf of businesses, including promoting the HIRE Vets Medallion Program and guiding employers on the process. The next application period is early next year.
More information can be found at oregon.gov/jobs/pages/veterans or HIREVets.gov.
| 2021 HIRE Vets Medallion Recipients | |
| EMPLOYER | OREGON CITY |
| A&M Transport | Glendale |
| Bullet Rental & Sales, Inc | Klamath Falls |
| Cayuse Holdings, LLC | Pendleton |
| City of Tigard | Tigard |
| ENERGYneering Solutions Inc. | Sisters |
| Flux Resources, LLC | Lake Oswego |
| Hood River Consulting Engineers (GDM, Inc.) | Hood River |
| Marathon Coach, Inc. | Coburg |
| Mark Ronning LLC (Northwest Veterans Law) | Salem |
| NORTH AMERICA MATTRESS CORP | Clackamas |
| Ondadottedline, LLC | Salem |
| Portland Patrol | Portland |
| Roseburg Urban Sanitary Authority | Roseburg |
| TP Trucking LLC | Central Point |
Equal Opportunity program — auxiliary aids and services available upon request at no cost to individuals with disabilities. Contact: 971-673-6400. For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, call 711 Telecommunications Relay Services. Oregon Employment Department
Oregon Pays More than $130 million in Federal Emergency Rental Assistance
More than 19,600 applicants have received funds to pay rent
Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) and Local Program Administrators (LPAs) continue to make strong progress on processing applications for the Oregon Emergency Rental Assistance Program (OERAP).
As of today, OHCS and LPAs have paid $130.6 million in federal emergency rental assistance to 19,613 applicants, up from $119.9 million and 18,203 applicants since Nov. 4. The agency is ranked 7th in the nation in the percentage of funds paid and obligated.
Progress and Updated Numbers
Through its three-point plan, OHCS and its processing partner, Public Partnerships LLC (PPL), have made significant strides to drive rapid application processing in the past several weeks. Currently 105 PPL staff are processing applications on behalf of counties with applications outside the 60-/90-day safe harbor period. In the past week, PPL processed close to 800 applications, exceeding their 500-application target.
To date, OHCS and LPAs have:
- Paid $130,614,471 to landlords and tenants to help 19,613 Oregon households, over $20 million in the past two weeks alone.
- Processed and obligated an additional $31.9 million in funds for 3,796 households.
- Received more than $364.4 million in funding requests via applications.
- Received more than 48,184 completed applications.
Visit the OERAP dashboard for more data.
Applications in Review Process
About 20,086 applications are in the review process. Our agency is tracking when a tenant completes an OERAP application and the number of applicants that have not been paid outside of the 60-day window (90 days in Multnomah County and unincorporated areas of Washington County). The 60-/90-day window of protection begins when a tenant shows proof they applied for the program. However, this data is not currently available. Applications outside the 60-/90-day window are being moved from the LPA in their county to PPL.
The graph below shows the geographic areas with the highest numbers of applications outside the 60- and 90-day windows of protection as of Nov. 10. This graph does not include applications outside the 60-/90-day window from counties that received ERA funding directly from the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Below is a graphic that shows average application processing times for each county for the OERAP program as of this week.
Multnomah County is not included in this as a comparison because they have a 90-day window. Their average processing time is 75 days. On average, PPL processed applications within 57 days from when they received the application.
Oregon Community Foundation and Community Rebuilding Fund Deploy $2.3 Million in Third Round of Relief for Fire Impacted Communities
Oregon Community Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust, The Ford Family Foundation and American Red Cross Address Long-Term Recovery Needs
The Community Rebuilding Fund, a joint effort led by Oregon Community Foundation in partnership with Meyer Memorial Trust, The Ford Family Foundation and American Red Cross, today announced an additional $2,299,607 in a third round of grants to support 27 more nonprofit organizations helping Oregon communities rebuild from the devastation of the 2020 fires. This latest round of funding, augmented by more OCF donors, brings the total to date to $8,479,974 to 62 organizations.
“The devastation of the wildfires has been matched by the generosity of hundreds of donors,” said Dee Anne Everson, Member, Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) Board of Directors.
While Oregon Community Foundation has deployed most of the grants available from this fund, the recovery and rebuilding process will take years. There is still a tremendous amount of unmet need. Therefore, contributions to the Community Rebuilding Fund are still being accepted and can be made online at: www.oregoncf.org/rebuilding.
“The American Red Cross is proud to support Oregon’s recovery from these devastating wildfires,” said Amanda Ree, Executive Director, Wildfire Recovery Programs for the American Red Cross. “No one organization can possibly meet the multitude of needs created by the impact of such destructive fires. The strong partnership through the Community Rebuilding Fund increases our collective ability to fund a wide range of vital recovery services and alleviate human suffering.”
Following is a snapshot of some of the community organizations delivering critical services to Oregonians in need:
The Children’s Museum of Southern Oregon (formerly Kid Time) | $112,500
To build capacity for early learning, supporting healthy social-emotional development for children and their families in a region that has experienced significant loss following the 2020 fires.
“This funding helps us address a widening void in our community. The loss of childcare, early learning activities – particularly those offered in Spanish, as well as English – has been crippling in Southern Oregon,” said Sunny Spicer, Executive Director, The Children’s Museum of Southern Oregon. “With childcare, parents can readily access employment and meet the economic needs of their families. With supportive educational and developmental opportunities, we can avert learning delays and long-term hardships for the young children in our communities.”
City of Detroit (Oregon), https://detroitoregon.us/| $150,000
To rebuild the City of Detroit’s municipal water storage reservoir which was destroyed by the Lionshead wildfire in September 2020. The City is currently operating with only 30% of its pre-fire water storage capacity. The City is also expecting support via insurance and is seeking additional support through FEMA.
“Water is a basic, essential need that we must provide for with humans, wildlife and vegetation in our region” said Michele Tesdal, Detroit City Council. “This project is vitally important and will increase protection, resilience and safety for all that call Santiam Canyon home.”
Farmworker Housing Development Corporation | $100,000
To commission a feasibility study to look at rebuilding a 36-unit farmworker family community that was destroyed by fires in Talent, Oregon as well as acquire an 82-unit community in Medford, Oregon.
“As we continue to listen and learn, we are called to be part of the healing solutions that Oregon farmworkers and Latino communities affected by climate change and the ravages of fire need,” said Maria Elena Guerra, Executive Director, Farmworker Housing Development Corporation.
See a complete list of grantees (as of November 10, 2021) online in OCF Press Room: https://oregoncf.org/press-room/
About the 2020 Community Rebuilding Fund
The 2020 Community Rebuilding Fund launched in response to Oregon’s devastating 2020 wildfire season which forever changed many of Oregon’s vibrant rural communities. Recognizing equitable, inclusive and resiliency-based rebuilding is essential, the 2020 Community Rebuilding Fund centers the needs of Oregon’s vulnerable residents most impacted – including Latino/a/x, Tribal and rural community members. The Fund supports community-led rebuilding that engages residents in shaping the future of the diverse and dynamic places they call home. The 2020 Community Rebuilding Fund is led by Oregon Community Foundation, in partnership with Meyer Memorial Trust, The Ford Family Foundation and American Red Cross and in addition to each partner, is primarily funded through individual, corporate and foundation support. To learn more, please visit: Community Rebuilding Fundhttps://oregoncf.org/grants-and-scholarships/grants/community-rebuilding-fund-grants/community-rebuilding-fund-values/.
Police Seize 2 Million Dollars Worth Of Illegal Marijuana In Linn County
Law enforcement officers seized 2,800 pounds of marijuana after finding it in the back of a U-Haul truck near Albany.
On November 3rd, a detective from the Linn Interagency Narcotics Enforcement (LINE) team was following a U-Haul truck south on I-5 and noticed a smell coming from the vehicle.
After coordinating with other law enforcement, they arranged for the U-Haul to be stopped and checked. The two men inside the truck claimed that they were carrying furniture and that the smell was possibly coming from the driver’s t-shirt.
The truck was opened up and 2,800 pounds of black-market marijuana in 173 large black garbage bags, with an estimated street value of 2.2 million dollars was seized.
Police said 31-year-old Vidal Gonzales-Tetlctle of Hermiston, and 20-year-old Jose Guadalupe-Alatorre of Redway, California, were both charged with Unlawful Possession and Delivery of Marijuana and Criminal Conspiracy and lodged at the Linn County Jail.
In 2015, Linn County was designated as a HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) County and the LINE team was established to dismantle large-scale drug trafficking organizations in the area.
When the LINE Task Force investigates marijuana-related crime, they focus on the big picture, which includes money laundering, racketeering, or other greed-related criminal conduct.
Often, money made from large-scale black market marijuana operations in Oregon is linked to more serious crimes all over the country and internationally, including gang and cartel-related violence and Human Trafficking.
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