Rogue Valley News, Wednesday 12/29 – One Dead in Mobile Home Fire Near Hugo; Man Found Shot To Death, Buried In Shallow Grave At Illegal Marijuana Grow In O’Brien

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, December 29, 2021

Rogue Valley Weather

Today– Snow showers likely before 11am, then a slight chance of rain and snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 36. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Thursday– Patchy freezing fog before 11am. Cloudy, with a high near 36. Calm wind.

Friday– A 30 percent chance of snow showers before 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37. Calm wind. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

New Year’s Day– Partly sunny, with a high near 39.

Sunday– Partly sunny, with a high near 40.

One Dead in Mobile Home Fire Near Hugo

One person was found dead after a mobile home caught fire and collapsed near Hugo on Monday evening, according to Rural Metro Fire.

Josephine County dispatch began receiving a number of 911 calls about the fire shortly before 4:30 p.m. on Monday, according to Rural Metro, coming from neighbors in the area and drivers along I-5.

Crews from Rural Metro Fire arrived to find a single-wide mobile home on a hill in the 6300-block of Hugo Road, accessible only by a long driveway off Trevor Way. The unplowed driveway quickly became a problem for firefighters working to access the burning home.

Fire crews requested the help of a County snowplow, but even the plow truck struggled to fully clear the narrow driveway due to vehicles and debris scattered along the edge of the driveway, limiting areas to push the snow.

“A small 4WD wildland engine was able to reach the home, which had already collapsed,” Rural Metro said. “Due to limited space at the location due to excessive yard accumulation, the single engine shuttled loads of water up the driveway from units staged at the bottom.”

It was 11 p.m. before firefighters had completely wrapped up at the fire scene. Rural Metro said that one fatality was confirmed, and the fire is now under investigation by Rural Metro, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office.

Suspect Arrested in Robberies at Medford Walgreens and Lumpy’s Restaurant

On December 26th, 2021, at 5:06 p.m., Medford Police officers were dispatched to a reported armed robbery at Walgreens, 210 E. Barnett Road.

Upon arrival the suspect was gone. Police learned the lone male suspect entered the store, approached the employee at the counter, produced a handgun, and demanded money.

Hixon prior mugshot

The suspect fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspect was wearing dark clothing, and his face was covered with a black ski mask during the robbery.

On December 28th, 2021 at 10:50 a.m., an armed robbery was reported at Lumpy’s restaurant, 801 S. Riverside Avenue. Upon police arrival, the suspect was gone, and the description matched the prior robbery at Walgreens. In both cases, the suspect displayed a handgun. Video surveillance from both robberies was obtained and analyzed. 

On December 28th, 2021 at 12:45 p.m., an officer spotted a suspect walking on S. Central Avenue who matched the description. The suspect was detained and ultimately determined to be the robber. A BB gun was recovered, which looked similar to a real firearm, believed to be used during the robberies. 

The suspect was identified as David Americus Hixon, 59 years old, who was staying at a nearby motel. He is also on parole for Assault 2nd Degree. Hixon was interviewed and lodged in jail for two counts of Robbery 2nd Degree, bail $200,000.  — Medford Police Dept. 

Man Found Shot To Death, Buried In Shallow Grave At Illegal Marijuana Grow In O’Brien

On Oct. 8th, 2021, Deputies and Detectives with the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a deceased male that had been shot and buried in the O’Brien area. The reporting party did not know the area well but was able to lead law enforcement (LE) to a location off Samarkand Drive in O’Brien, Oregon.  

Upon arrival, LE recognized the property to be an illegal marijuana grow site, where a previous marijuana search warrant had been served. The reporting party knew some details regarding the incident and was able to walk LE to a wooded area, approximately one-quarter mile from the grow site to a shallow grave. LE dug up the shallow grave and confirmed a deceased individual was buried at the location. The deceased was a Hispanic male, who was known to work on the grow site.  Next of kin have been notified, however, the name of the deceased will not be released in order to protect the investigation. 

The Josephine County Major Crimes Team was activated for this incident which consists of the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, Grants Pass Police, Oregon State Police and the Josephine County District Attorney’s Office.  

The investigation is still ongoing and further information is not available.  Anyone with information pertaining to the incident is asked to call the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office at 541-474-5123.  Josephine Co. Sheriff’s Office

Falling Tree Crashes Onto ODOT Truck Near Wolf Creek

On Monday, an incident responder with the Oregon Department of Transportation was driving on northbound Interstate 5 near Wolf Creek, Oregon when a large tree came crashing down on their vehicle.

No one was hurt. Oregon DOT officials said that Oregon State Police and a private logging company responded and helped remove the tree.

Local Mountain Destinations Have More Snow than Usual

Like much of Southern Oregon’s higher-elevation areas, Crater Lake National Park is getting a major helping of powder this month, more so than is usual for this time of year.

The National Weather Service noted on Tuesday morning that Crater Lake received 27 inches of snow within just 24 hours between December 26 and 27. Its total snow depth was last recorded at 76 inches, when the normal depth would be 52 inches for this date.

NPS said Tuesday that light snow is still falling over Crater Lake. The three miles of road between the park headquarters and Rim Village remain closed until two lanes of travel can be cleared through the snow drifts and across avalanche areas.

Chains or traction tires are required on all roads in the park. Mt. Ashland Ski Area reported a similarly significant dumping on Monday, reporting that the mountain had received almost 100 inches of annual snowfall in the less than 10 days since the season began.

Diamond Lake Resort reported Monday that it had received 13 inches of snow in the previous 24 hours. Despite ODOT shutting down snow parks along state highways in the region, Diamond Lake Resort’s parking lots remain plowed and maintained for visitors.

Roseburg Announces City buildings to close Dec. 31 for New Year’s

ROSEBURG, OR – City of Roseburg buildings will be closed Friday, Dec. 31, for the New Year holiday.

Roseburg City Hall, the Roseburg Public Safety Center, Roseburg Public Library and other City buildings will be closed to the public. Police and firefighters will continue to provide public safety throughout the holiday.

In addition, the library at 1409 N.E. Diamond Lake Blvd. will be closed on Saturday, Jan. 1.

Lobbies at City Hall, 900 S.E. Douglas Ave., and the Public Safety Center, 700 S.E. Douglas Ave., are normally open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, residents and others doing business with the City are encouraged to do so by email, phone or online whenever possible.

The Southern Oregon Hemp Co-op and Green Leaf Lab Announce the Third Annual Hemp, CBD & CBG Trade Show

Featuring the Golden Grow Awards 

Grower’s Deadline for Entering Their 2021 Flower is January 3rd, 2022

MEDFORD, OR December 19, 2021 –The Southern Oregon Hemp Coop, a leading local Hemp growers and brokers cooperative, today announced the third annual Hemp, CBD and CBG trade show, scheduled February 5, 2022 at the Ashland Hills Hotel and Convention Center in Ashland, Oregon. The trade show will culminate in the evening Golden Grow Awards (GGA) lunch  and ceremony which celebrates the recent harvest, recognizes product excellence, and names the region’s “Grower of the Year”.  

With an emphasis on educating the industry and public on the characteristics of quality hemp flower, the GGA judges, all with impressive industry backgrounds, will select cultivars for awards. This is the only competition of its sort in the region, and organizers anticipate a lot of local interest.  

“The show is an opportunity for local growers to celebrate the recent harvest, as well as to present their Hemp cultivars to a panel of judges who will chose the award-winning varietals and select the ‘Best Northwest Grower’ of the year,” said Mark Taylor, event organizer and founding board member of the Southern Oregon Hemp Co-op. “We’ve seen a lot of changes and consolidation in the Hemp industry, alongside significant regulatory reform, and we anticipate a lot of spirited discussion around these topics on the show floor and at our awards lunch.”

Exhibitor tables are available for interested vendors at a cost of $250.00 per table. 

The 3rd  Annual Southern Oregon Hemp, CBD and CBG Trade Show will host the 3rd annual Golden Grow Awards lunch  and ceremony as part of the Saturday event.  The following speakers are scheduled to make presentations:

Eric Cerecedes, Hemp Industry Consultant,

Justin Botillier, CPA from Calyx Accounting,

Erik Larson, vertical integration expert,

Jason Peterson, Hemp Industry Consultant, 

Matt Cyrus, from Triple C Farms, and,

Andrew Dewisse from the Green Light Law Group.

The Golden Grow Awards ceremony celebrates the recent harvest and recognizes product excellence. With an emphasis on educating the industry and public on the characteristics of quality hemp flower, the GGA will award cultivars based on cannabinoid potency, terpenes, physical characteristics and overall presentation. 

The show will be emceed by two local favorites: Freeway Farrell and Jamie Colson. 

A regular at local casinos, emcee Freeway Farrell began his career thirty-three years ago in high school as a Disc Jockey at a roller rink. He then hosted his own weekend time slot as a DJ at a local radio station; then he traveled the country working as an on-air personality for various radio stations, all while he maintained a regular spot in the local stand-up comedy scene. 

Emcee Jamie Colson is a hilarious, Eugene-based stand-up comedian and singer. A Cannabis educator and bud-tender, this young lady knows her way around both comedy and the Cannabis industry. 

Music for the show dinner and awards ceremony will be provided by “Highway Bound”. Highway Bound is a local Country Music Band. The group features Erica Flynn on Vocals. Erica is accompanied by Jimi Smith on electric and acoustic guitar, Jimi has his masters degree in music, and Alex Detweiler on drums and acoustic guitar. New member Tim Kelly, bass player, also has a masters in Music and is from the Bay area.

Southern Oregon Hemp Cooperates, Inc., the “Co-op”, was incorporated by Mark Taylor in 2019 to serve the region’s Hemp farming community with education, advocacy, networking, trade shows, real estate acquisition and a co-operative product brokerage. The organization is governed by a board of directors and is supported by its membership and outside sponsors who seek to target the local Hemp industry. The Co-op can be reached through its website contact form at http://www.soorhempco-op.com/; or by calling Mark Taylor at (541) 601-5130.  The Co-op currently hosts The Pizza Meet Up at Wild River Pizza located at 2684 N Pacific Hwy, Medford, OR one Saturday each month for local farmers to share their own experiences and stories.

The organization’s $125.00 annual membership fee supports the many farming and sales assistance programs the Co-op provides, and also helps grow the local industry through cooperative efforts and ventures.

Oregon reports 1,900 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 8 new deaths

PORTLAND, Ore. — There are eight new COVID-19-related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 5,631, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

OHA reported 1,900 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 416,020.

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (3), Benton (30), Clackamas (136), Clatsop (4), Columbia (7), Coos (95), Crook (23), Curry (9), Deschutes (182), Douglas (22), Gilliam (1), Grant (16), Harney (3), Hood River (13), Jackson (104), Jefferson (8), Josephine (32), Klamath (40), Lake (2), Lane (157), Lincoln (14), Linn (33), Malheur (8), Marion (257), Morrow (5), Multnomah (258), Polk (73), Tillamook (4), Umatilla (79), Union (8), Wallowa (5), Wasco (20), Washington (217), Wheeler (2) and Yamhill (30).

Weather affecting some high-volume clinics for vaccine, booster shots

High-volume vaccination clinics around Oregon continue to operate today to provide primary and booster COVID-19 vaccines, but inclement weather is affecting some sites.

The clinic at Multnomah Greyhound Park in Wood Village is closed today, while the Tektronix, Salem and Springfield sites are open with reduced hours – until 5 p.m., closing two hours early.

While the Jackson County Expo vaccination site has permanently closed, a new indoor site has opened at The Merrick, 200 N. Riverside Ave., Medford. The Redmond Fairgrounds site is closed this week.

All the high-volume sites offer all three COVID-19 vaccines, boosters and pediatric doses, and can accommodate large numbers of people seeking vaccinations. To learn more about locations and hours of service for high-volume community vaccination locations, including changes due to inclement weather, visit our web page.

Number of Covid Cases Climbs

The number of Oregonians known to be infected with COVID-19 climbed by 25% this past week even though the overall number of tests administered dropped 15%, reflecting the omicron variant’s tightening grip on the state. While omicron has been surging nationwide in the past few weeks, Oregon clearly is now following suit, albeit at a slower pace.

Across the U.S., new infections rose by 61% week to week, while testing declined by 24%. The percentage of Oregonians testing positive for COVID-19 – known as the positivity rate – rose to 9%, up from 5% a week ago. With
most omicron infections thought to be milder than those caused by delta and many occurring in fully vaccinated people, experts say what matters most are the numbers of people experiencing severe disease and the potential for death. On that front, the outlook worsened slightly, with the number of hospitalized patients rising 42 patients since Thursday to 381 patients on Monday.

Winter Weather And Holiday Traffic Leads To Hundreds Of Accidents On Oregon Roads

Courtesy Of Marion County Sheriff‘s Office

Oregon recorded a stunning number of traffic accidents on roads throughout the state this holiday season. State police and transportation officials say winter weather and a return to pre-pandemic levels of traffic are to blame.

According to Oregon State Police, there were 915 traffic accidents between Thursday, Dec. 23, and Tuesday, Dec. 28. Oregon saw 365 accidents during that same period last year, and some 237 in 2019.

The agency hasn’t yet calculated how many people may have been killed or injured. A 15-year-old passenger died in a Coos County wreck Dec. 23. OSP officials said a fuller picture of the human toll will take time to verify.

David House, a spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Transportation, said that the high number of accidents over the last week is a reminder to travelers to use caution and prepare for slick conditions.

It’s also a signal that traffic is picking back up significantly.

“We’ve heard how air travel is back up, and we’ve seen for ourselves that the freeways are full of cars again, pretty much almost back to normal,” House said.

Snow in the mountain passes hasn’t been the only concern for transportation officials this holiday travel season, with lower elevations in the Willamette Valley and even areas of the Oregon Coast receiving up to several inches in some locations.

According to House, Highway 22 near Detroit was blocked for several hours Monday with a number of vehicles sliding off the road.

On Tuesday morning, a crashed semi-truck 14 miles east of Biggs Junction along the Columbia River caused all lanes of Interstate 84 to close as crews cleared the wreckage. About an hour later ODOT reopened one lane of travel in both directions.

“When it first hits, it really catches you off guard. It only takes one car to slip and block a lane” House said.

Staffing is also playing a role with both ODOT and Oregon State Police feeling the effects of a nationwide labor shortage.

Fines for trucks that don’t carry chains doubled earlier this year. According to House, the Oregon Legislature passed a law in 2021, and in September it took effect, increasing the fine from $440 to $880.

House said ODOT is working to get the message out to truck drivers that although chaining up takes time, it saves them and thousands of other travelers time in the long run.

“Trucks from out of state who have never been to Oregon before don’t understand that this snow can be different,” House said. “It’s different when you go to the other side of the mountains, or you go to the Midwest where the snow is very dry and gritty. [In the Willamette Valley], it’s very wet and slippery.”

ODOT and State Police are continuing to push the message to travelers that they need to carry chains or use traction tires when crossing the Cascades. They’re also urging travelers to use TripCheck to ensure their route is clear.

The other biggest piece of advice for travelers this holiday season: Stay home if you can.

“If you can sit tight for a couple more days, just avoid getting out there, that’s going to be the safest thing you can possibly do,” House said.

OHA investigating state’s first cases of Candida auris infection

Fungus, often multi-drug resistant, detected in 3 Salem Health patients

PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon Health Authority is investigating an outbreak of the state’s first cases of Candida auris, a serious fungal infection that is often resistant to multiple antifungal medicines.

The Healthcare-Associated Infections Program at the OHA Public Health Division, working with a regional public health laboratory in Seattle and Salem Hospital, have identified Candida auris in three Salem Health patients. The first case was detected at Salem Hospital Dec. 11 in a patient who had recent international health care exposures, and confirmed Dec. 17. Candida auris has only recently appeared in the United States.

Two of the cases did not have international health care exposures, but had epidemiologic links to first case, indicating health care-associated spread of Candida auris to the second and third patients – identified Dec. 23 and Dec. 27, respectively.

The Healthcare-Associated Infections Program is leading the investigation, working with local public health authorities, local health care partners, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the regional public health laboratory to identify cases and ensure appropriate infection control measures are in place.

Candida auris is an emerging pathogen of concern because it can cause serious infections, particularly in those with serious medical problems, and can be resistant to the antifungal drugs we have to treat it,” said Rebecca Pierce, Ph.D., Healthcare-Associated Infections Program manager. “Fortunately, the organism we’re dealing with in this outbreak appears to respond to existing treatments. Nonetheless, it’s critical that we prevent the spread of the infection.”

Jasmin Chaudhary, medical director of infection prevention at Salem Health, said the health system is taking action on a number of fronts to prevent the spread of Candida auris at Salem Hospital.

“With the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen a rise in multi-drug resistant organisms around the world and nationwide, and Salem is not immune,” Chaudhary said. “Salem Health is working with OHA and the CDC to execute a rigorous plan, implementing aggressive eradication measures that have been shown in other hospitals to be successful in eliminating Candida auris. These include proactive steps that will assist in preemptively identifying new cases to prevent spread.”

Among the measures in effect: working with the patients’ care teams to ensure frequent and effective disinfection of the health care environment; using transmission-based precautions for those infected or colonized with Candida auris; adhering to hand hygiene protocols; and conducting effective interfacility-transfer communication about a patient’s Candida auris status when being transferred to another health care facility.

In addition, OHA and Salem Health have been coordinating to notify health care facilities that previously received transferred patients from affected units at Salem Health, and to support safe discharge of patients from Salem Health during the anticipated COVID-19 surge.

Candida auris is a type of yeast that can cause severe illness, particularly those suffering from serious medical conditions in hospitals and nursing homes. According to the CDC, patients who have been hospitalized in a health care facility for long periods, have a central venous catheter or other lines or tubes entering their body, or have weakened immune systems are at highest risk of infection and serious complications. The risk of Candida auris infection to otherwise healthy people, including health care personnel, is extremely low.

The fungus can cause serious infections, including bloodstream infections and wound infections. It also has been isolated from respiratory and urine specimens and can colonize patients’ skin. A laboratory test is needed to determine whether a patient is colonized or infected with Candida auris, but laboratories should be aware that it can be misidentified as other types of fungi and should know when to suspect Candida auris, as misidentification could delay treatment and control measures. Health care facilities that suspect they have a patient with Candida auris should contact their local public health authority immediately.

Since 2013, more than 1,150 clinical cases of Candida auris have been identified in the United States. There have never been any cases of the fungus identified in Oregon until now.

Patients who test positive or had a high-risk exposure will be contacted by Salem Health.

Visit the CDC’s Candida auris website at https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/candida-auris for more information.

BottleDrop Gives $20,000 To Assist Oregon Warming Shelters

PixelSpoke Logo

On Tuesday, BottleDrop announced it’s contributing $20,000 from its emergency fund to help warming shelters across Oregon. That includes several in the Portland Metro area.

The emergency fund supports nonprofits in local communities during times of crisis. It’s previously been used during the wildfires and during last February’s severe cold snap.

“As we watched this weather take over much of Oregon and we thought about the vulnerable Oregonians who are facing it most severely, we wanted to quickly get some support out the door to help with organizations that are providing warming centers and shelters for unhoused individuals,” said Ric Chambers, external relations director for Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative.

If you’d like to support Bottle Drop’s emergency fund, just bring any bottles or cans to one of their redemption centers and say you’d like to donate them.

And if you need a warm place to go, call 211. They can also set you up with a ride.

Oregon Ducks Play Oklahoma In Alamo Bowl Today

No. 14 Oregon will take on No. 16 Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio. 

It will be the highest ranked matchup among all non-CFP bowl games and the first Alamo Bowl matchup between two 10-win teams. 

The Ducks are 1-1 overall in the Alamo Bowl. Oregon is making its first Alamo Bowl appearance since losing to TCU in overtime after the 2015 season. The Ducks beat Texas in the 2013 Alamo Bowl. 

Kickoff is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. on Dec, 29. The game will be aired on ESPN. 

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A 17-year-old was reported missing in Salem and detectives say the teen might be the victim of an online catfishing scheme.

Ezra Mayhugh, 17, was last seen on October 15, 2021 after being dropped off in downtown Salem by a friend, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said. He was reported as a runaway the following day when he did not return home.

Investigators say he might be in Washington or California. They hope to reunite Ezra safely with family members.

He’s described as about 5-foot 11-inches tall, weighing 130 pounds, with blonde hair and brown eyes.

If you have had contact with Mayhugh since October 15 or have other helpful information on his whereabouts, the sheriff’s office asks you to contact Detective M.J. Sphoon at 503-588-6808 or to submit a tip by texting TIPMCSO and your tip to 847411.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Have-You-Seen-Me-Southern-Oregons-Missing-People-161249961222839/posts/

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