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
Monday, December 6, 2021
Rogue Valley Weather
Today– Rain, mainly between 10am and 4pm. High near 47. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tuesday– Partly sunny, with a high near 53. Calm wind.
Wednesday– Rain likely, mainly after 4pm. Cloudy, with a high near 47. Light west northwest wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday– A chance of rain and snow before 1pm, then a chance of rain. Snow level 2100 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Friday– Partly sunny, with a high near 41.
Plane Crash Bursts into Flames at Valley Chevrolet Across From Rogue Valley-Medford International Airport
One person is dead after a plane crashed and burst into flames near the Chevrolet dealership in Medford across from the Rogue Valley-Medford International Airport early Sunday evening.
Medford Police officers, firefighters, and rescue personnel responded to the crash site in a parking lot adjacent to Airport Chevrolet, 3001 Biddle Road
Initial information indicates that one person was aboard the plane when it crashed, and they did not survive.
The Medford Airport tower notified its fire department just before 5 p.m. that an “Alert Three” had been issued, which usually means that a local plane had experienced an incident.
Airport Fire Chief John Karns told reporters that he believed the plane had just taken off from the airport with only one person on board immediately prior to the crash. Karns said he believed that the plane was not a local aircraft.
Karns said he understood the plane to be a Piper Navajo, which is a twin-engine, gas-powered aircraft. First responders had described it as a 9-passenger propeller plane. Karns said that the National Transportation Safety Board has been notified of the incident.
The fire chief for the Medford Fire Department, Eric Thompson said the call came about a possible explosion which was then upgraded to an ‘Alert Three’. Thompson said the alert indicates there is an aircraft emergency and a possible crash.
“Upon arrival, we had at least 20 vehicles that were fully involved,” Thompson said. “We know that the aircraft took off from the Medford airport, they just filled up with fuel they had 128 gallons of fuel onboard, and the incident occurred only a few minutes after they took off.”
Major news channels across the country have covered the story too. This is an ongoing story and additional details will be posted once they are available.
People Flock to Jacksonville’s Victorian Christmas Parade
Hundreds of people flocked into downtown Jacksonville for the city’s Victorian Christmas Parade after a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The city’s chamber of commerce director, Amanda Moreira said hundreds of community members came out to be a part of the parade and join in the celebration.
“We had the most entries ever for the parade and I think this was our biggest crowd, if not one of the biggest,” Moreira said. “We really appreciate having everyone come into town.”
Last year, the city’s Victorian Christmas festivities were condensed, and several were canceled due to the county being under extreme COVID-19 safety measures.
Moreira said the community more than made up for it this year. “We have our community not only from around here in the Rogue Valley but abroad, Northern California, people come from out of this state and county for our Victorian Christmas; they know its tradition, either they grew up here, have family here, it’s just a special place with a small-town feel,” Moreira said.
She explained the annual celebration, which consists of festive activities throughout the month of December, brings people into the city and helps the local economy.
“It’s really important that we support our small businesses, that’s our main goal is to have people shop local, know that they can get their gifts here, in town, they can get unique gifts and be here for our business owners, who are also are apart of our community,” Moreira said.
Moreira said Father Christmas, also known as Santa Clause, will be in town every Saturday and Sunday until December 19th. Anyone can take photos with him and his helpers free of charge.
“There’s just tons of energy, I think everyone can feel it, I’ve been hearing people commenting as I was walking around,” she said. “Everyone is just happy to be back and gathered together.”
“There’s just tons of energy, I think everyone can feel it, I’ve been hearing people commenting as I was walking around,” she said. “Everyone is just happy to be back and gathered together.”
Oregon reports 1,352 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 16 new deaths
There are 16 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 5,243, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported OHA reported 1,352 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 bringing the state total to 394,569.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (3), Benton (21), Clackamas (95), Clatsop (7), Columbia (21), Coos (40), Crook (45), Curry (8), Deschutes (74), Douglas (45), Grant (6), Harney (8), Hood River (14), Jackson (63), Jefferson (19), Josephine (35), Klamath (22), Lane (181), Lincoln (16), Linn (92), Malheur (2), Marion (105), Multnomah (150), Polk (55), Sherman (2), Tillamook (4), Umatilla (3), Union (12), Wallowa (1), Wasco (9), Washington (159) and Yamhill (35).
The likely arrival of the new omicron variant and questions about its strength and speed are clouding an otherwise cautiously optimistic outlook of the course of COVID-19 in Oregon, according to a new state report.
The forecast from Oregon Health and Science University, released late Thursday, shows the delta variant spike that hit Oregon over the summer and peaked around Labor Day continues a steady if the stubbornly laborious decline in the state.
New infections, hospitalizations and deaths are falling, if not as quickly as forecast a month ago. But projecting trends into the future is more difficult with the arrival of the omicron variant.
First reported by South African researchers on Nov. 25, it has now been found in more than 20 countries. No cases have been reported yet in Oregon, though it’s unlikely the virus would somehow skip the state. But continuing delta’s drop is the main focus of public health officials until more is known about omicron.
“We don’t think it’s a big threat in Oregon because we don’t yet have a confirmed case and it will take time for it to spread,” said Peter Graven, director of OHSU’s Office of Advanced Analytics.
Scientists have been rushing to find out if the new variant is more contagious, more severe and can get around vaccinations or natural immunity from earlier exposures.
“It really comes down to vaccination,” Graven said. “If the vaccines work, we’re fine. If they don’t work at preventing hospitalizations, we may have to go back to protecting our vulnerable populations until we get a booster that effectively neutralizes the omicron variant.”
South African researchers reported Friday that omicron spreads twice as rapidly as the delta variant. But they differed on whether the cause was just rapid contagion or that omicron was getting around defenses of vaccines and earlier natural exposures.
Graven said that the infection situation in Oregon was quite different. About 82% of Oregonians have immunity, which includes both those vaccinated or recently infected. At about 85%, Graven estimated the delta variant would be unable to create another spike because of the low number of unprotected people.
The Oregon Health Authority reported this week that about 28.7% of new infections were in people who had been vaccinated — so called “breakthrough” cases. But the vaccines have kept the percentage of severe cases and death much lower than in unvaccinated people.
Those who have been inoculated account for about 4.4% of cases requiring hospitalization and just over 1% of deaths. The deaths of vaccinated people were primarily in those over age 80.
The delta variant, which drove a spike in infections, remains the main threat to Oregonians who are not vaccinated or were exposed naturally to the virus.
Several new high-volume COVID-19 vaccinations sites are opening up across the state of Oregon, including one in Jackson County.
According to the Oregon Health Authority, the site at the Jackson County Expo will be open Monday through Thursday from noon to seven at night. On weekends, the site will be open on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. along with a family fun clinic.
On top of that, several of sites including the site of the former Multnomah Greyhound Park in Wood Village will be running as a high-volume Oregon Health Authority COVID-19 vaccination site starting today
The site is one of nearly a dozen high-volume COVID-19 vaccinations sites OHA has opened, or will be opening, around the state this month – in partnership with local public health authorities and community-based organizations – as part of its effort to increase immunizations against the virus.
All three approved COVID-19 vaccines – Pfizer, Modern and Johnson & Johnson – will be available, as well as booster and pediatric doses (younger children are only eligible for the Pfizer vaccine). The clinics are walk-in/drive-in only, and no appointment is required. All vaccines are offered at no cost, and no medical insurance coverage required.
With the holiday shopping season in full effect after Black Friday, it’s also that time of year that brings a rise in robbery and shoplifting cases nationwide.
Law enforcement officials encourage several tips for shoppers to keep in mind before heading to stores especially now as the days get darker earlier in the day,
Preferably park your car in a well-lit area, as well as close to the store or shopping center as possible.
Place shopping bags or any packages in the trunk rather than upfront, to prevent people from looking through the windows and finding the urge to break in.
Make sure to have you’re car keys and phone in an accessible place as you make you’re way from or to the car in case something were to happen.
The FBI in Portland is warning shoppers to beware of fake shipping notices.
They often contain links that can download malware on computers or cell phones. The FBI says that if you’re expecting a delivery to use the website where you bought the item to track its location.
Gov. Brown wants Oregonians to quit wasting food to help reduce greenhouse gases.
Gov. Brown wants Oregonians to quit wasting food to help reduce greenhouse gases. The initiative to do so took Brown halfway around the world to the United Nations l Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, last month.
The Oregon governor explained the state’s drive to cut down on food waste as a panelist at the international gathering called COP26. For Brown and the state, reducing food waste isn’t about clearing out the refrigerator crisper. It’s about paring back on carbon emissions by not growing and transporting food that won’t get eaten.
Union Workers At Mckenzie-Willamette Medical Center in Eugene Plan Five-Day Strike
Over 300 McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center workers are gearing up for their second unfair labor practice strike.
This includes including certified nursing assistants, MRI technicians, respiratory therapists, pharmacy technicians and more.
The five-day strike will begin on Monday at 7 a.m. when those participating will walk out. The union workers will strike Monday until 1 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Organizers say this comes after they took a strong stand in October with a two-day Unfair Labor Practice strike alleging unfair labor practices by the hospital, saying that management is interfering with their rights as union members.
They say that despite several bargaining sessions with a federal mediator following the strike, workers allege management has not addressed their safety concerns for patients and workers and also allege that management has engaged in more unfair labor practices.
The members of SEIU Local 49 are working to settle a new union contract with management that includes safe staffing, fair wages, COVID protections, contained healthcare increases, and helps keep good jobs at the hospital.
They are also striking understaffing, high turnover, low wages, lack of affordable healthcare and lack of adequate COVID protections.
“It’s extremely disappointing that McKenzie-Willamette management continues to ignore our safety concerns and to stonewall bargaining when so much is at stake,” said Aaron Green, CNA2. “We take great pride in providing quality care for our patients and serving our community. And when you’re not safe, you have to stand up and do something about it. You cannot ever bargain away your safety and the safety of your patients.”
A spokesperson for McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center shared the following statement with reporters:
“On Thanksgiving, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) notified McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center (MWMC) of its intention to strike and picket beginning at 7 a.m. on Dec. 6 until 7 a.m. on Dec. 11. Hospital operations will continue uninterrupted. We are prepared to execute our contingency plans during the SEIU strike. All departments will be appropriately staffed. All inpatient, outpatient, and emergency services will remain available.”
The statement continued on to say that MWMC has been in an active mediation with the SEIU since October, seeking a resolution and new overall contract which expired Aug. 31. They said they remain hopeful for a “mutually beneficial agreement.”
“The hospital remains focused on what matters most—safely caring for our patients in a healing environment,” the statement said.
Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge Finally Getting Water
After a summer spent drying up, Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge finally began receiving a measurable flow of water, thanks to the start of the winter irrigation season on December 1.
The refuge can receive up to 11,000 acre-feet of water between December and February depending on how Upper Klamath Lake is filling.
Water began flowing into the refuge’s Unit 2 wetland through the Ady Canal on Wednesday and was flowing at around 60 cubic feet per second at 5 p.m. Friday. It was the only significant inflow to the refuge since last winter other than roughly 750 acre-feet transferred from the Wood River Valley by the California Waterfowl Association in September.
However, 2021’s disaster of a water year continues to wreak havoc on Water Year 2022. In August, the Bureau of Reclamation had to ‘borrow’ 9,300 acre-feet from the flow of the Klamath River to stabilize the only remaining wetland unit on Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
The agency must now pay that water back to Iron Gate and Copco Reservoirs, which were drawn down to facilitate the transfer while keeping lake levels and Klamath River flows in line with Endangered Species Act requirements. Reclamation says that means water must once again stop flowing to Lower Klamath (and to the adjacent
Klamath Drainage District, where farmers flood irrigate their fields during the winter) — at least temporarily.
The agency has directed all diversions from the Klamath and Lost rivers to cease by December 6, according to a statement posted on the Klamath Basin Area Office’s website Friday.
Police Seek Public’s Help: Missing 77-Year-Old Myrtle Creek Woman
— Police made a public appeal for help locating a woman who left home early Saturday morning and hasn’t been heard from since.
Myrtle Creek Police say Bonnie Jo Short, 77, left her residence around 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 27, 2021. She is about 5-foot-4 and weighs around 110 pounds with grey hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing blue slacks, a grey and black striped sweatshirt, black boots and a grey robe.
Short was driving a silver 2015 Ford Escape bearing Oregon license plate 900MLJ.
“It is unknown where Bonnie may have gone, and her cell phone appears to be shut off,” police said. “If you have any information regarding Bonnie’s whereabouts or have seen her vehicle, please contact the Myrtle Creek Police Department immediately at 541-440-4471.”
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