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, January 17, 2022
Rogue Valley Weather
Monday: M.L.King Day– Partly sunny, with a high near 55. Calm wind
Tuesday– Partly sunny, with a high near 52. Calm wind.
Wednesday– Patchy fog before noon. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 53.
Thursday– Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 56.
Friday– Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 54.
In addition to the tsunami that affected the West Coast on Saturday, a pressure wave that originated from the major volcanic eruption in the South Pacific was observed on local surface observations. When comparing local observations, one can observe the pressure wave moving from west to east at a speed that approximates the speed of sound.
Vehicle Found but Suspect Still at Large in Medford Homicide Investigation
On January 15th, 2022, at 12:36 p.m., officers were dispatched to a residence in the 800 block of Pennsylvania Avenue for an assault with a firearm. Upon arrival, the suspect, who is known to the victim, had fled the scene. The victim was beyond help and pronounced deceased.
Update: Saturday night around 9:00 pm, the vehicle was located near I-5 at the California / Oregon border. Lamberto Barboza-Valerio’s vehicle has been found, but was empty when police arrived.
Police have informed the media that the White 2007 Chevy Silverado was located at the I-5 California/Oregon border Saturday night around 9 p.m. Police have confiscated the vehicle for evidence and have stated that it is believed that Valerio was picked up in the area. The suspect remains outstanding.
The identity of the victim is not being released at this time. Detectives are actively investigating the case, and are being assisted by the Oregon State Police Crime lab and the District Attorney’s Office. More information will be released as the case unfolds.
In 2021, Medford Police investigated seven homicides, all of which resulted in an arrest.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to phone 541-770-4783, case 22-843. Medford Police Dept.
Ashland I-5 Emergency Evacuation Ramp Construction Begins Tuesday
A road construction project that became especially pressing in the wake of the Almeda Fire is set to begin Tuesday. The Oregon Department of Transportation said that crews are set to begin building an emergency evacuation ramp from Mountain Avenue to I-5 southbound.
ODOT says that the $100,000 project will help address Ashland’s evacuation needs in the case of an emergency — another major wildfire, earthquake, or some other disaster that requires citywide evacuation.
The project will provide a one-way ramp from Mountain Avenue to the interstate, giving Ashland residents an evacuation route to I-5 between the two I-5 Exits, 14 and 19.
“The need for the evacuation ramp became apparent after the 2020 Almeda Fire, which began in north Ashland,” ODOT said. “The ramp will be gated and locked when not in use for emergencies.”
The state agency said that it will be working with City of Ashland crews to build the on-ramp as weather permits so that it will be ready in time for the coming Fire Season.
Home Destroyed During Two-Alarm Structure Fire In Williams
Rural Metro Fire says that a single-story home located on 16444 Water Gap Rd. in Williams has been completely destroyed.
Fire officials say that the homeowner was not home at the time of the fire. No injuries were reported.
Officials say it took three hours to put the fire out.
Multiple agencies responded to the fire, including the Illinois Valley Fire Department, Williams Fire Department, Grants Pass Fire Department and Applegate Fire Department.
The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and fire marshal are looking into the cause of the fire.
Klamath County Sheriff’s Office Asks for Public’s Help in Search For Trucker Suspect
Please share!!! The first real clue to come in on all the missing person cases in the area. Help Klamath Falls Oregon Sheriff Office ID this trucker. He was the last to see this woman alive and could be the key to not only solving this woman’s disappearance but a number of the hundred other women missing in PNW. IF you have any information, please call (541) 883-5130
Oregon reports 8,672 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 13 new deaths
There are 13 new COVID-19-related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 5,883, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported 8,672 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 bringing the state total to 513,391.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (36), Benton (196), Clackamas (806), Clatsop (40), Columbia (58), Coos (179), Crook (96), Curry (56), Deschutes (746), Douglas (79), Gilliam (1), Grant (5), Hood River (50), Jackson (424), Jefferson (99), Josephine (150), Klamath (122), Lake (10), Lane (590), Lincoln (116), Linn (246), Malheur (153), Marion (787), Morrow (38), Multnomah (1,660), Polk (202), Sherman (4), Tillamook (29), Umatilla (249), Union (42), Wallowa (3), Wasco (47), Washington (1,184) and Yamhill (169).
Pediatric cases rise
COVID-19 cases continue to rise sharply among children ages 0 to 17 with the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant, according to the latest weekly dashboard report of pediatric COVID-19 case data in Oregon. In the most recent full week’s data, published today, hospitalized pediatric case rates are increasing for children ages 0 to 4 and 12 to 17. OHA will continue to monitor trends in pediatric case hospitalizations.
Oregon OSHA Announces Stance on Federal Vaccine-or-Test Standard
On January 13, 2022, the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) announced that because the Supreme Court of the United States has stayed the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), it “will not move forward with adopting the same or similar standard in Oregon.”
Oregon operates an OSHA-approved state plan that applies to both public and private employers. Accordingly, Oregon employers are subject to the state OSHA’s standards rather than the federal OSHA standards and were awaiting Oregon OSHA’s release of its own ETS.
Although Oregon OSHA will no longer implement a vaccine-or-test standard, the COVID-19 workplace rule remains in effect. The protections under that rule include infection control planning, exposure risk assessments, infection notification protocols, and sanitation. Oregon employers are also required to follow the Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) masking requirements for indoor spaces, which provides that individuals, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask, face covering, or face shield when in an indoor space unless the individual is in a private individual workspace or is actively eating or drinking. A private individual workspace means “an indoor space within a public or private workplace used for work by one individual at a time that is enclosed on all sides with walls from floor to ceiling and with a closed door.” The rule allows for other limited exceptions to the indoor mask requirement.
Employers may want to revisit their COVID-19 policies and workplace practices to consider whether they are complying with Oregon OSHA’s COVID-19 workplace rule and OHA’s indoor masking requirements. Employers may also want to keep in mind that employees are protected from discrimination or retaliation for opposing any practice forbidden under the Oregon Safe Employment Act, including Oregon OSHA’s COVID-19 workplace rule.
New Recommendations Limit Contact Tracing In Oregon Schools
New guidance from the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of Education could end contract tracing when a student tests positive and was in close proximity to other students as long as all were wearing masks.
In an email sent Friday, the director of the state Education Department, Colt Gill, advised schools that they would not be expected to investigate any potential student exposures to Covid-19 unless they occurred in situations in which students weren’t wearing masks, such as in cafeterias, in band classes and in some athletic classes or while practicing sports.
This move means students that wear masks at school and their families will not get a call from a school official, investigating the infection. Until now, officials have interviewed students, trying to trace the source of the infection to prevent it from spreading further. Gill said the change will ease the burden on school officials, at a time when the omicron variant is widespread across the state, causing about 8,000 cases a day in Oregon.
But under the new guidance, officials will only investigate a case if the infected student was around peers who weren’t masked.
Gill told school administrators in the email that “the vast majority of transmission has occurred following indoor unmasked contact.” He said few infections have stemmed from classroom situations in which students are masked.
Right now, all students, staff and volunteers have to wear masks at school. They’re only allowed to take them off while eating in the cafeteria, during band practice if they play an instrument such as a trumpet or trombone or sing, or while playing sports and in some athletic classes. Students and staff are still expected to maintain a distance of 3 to 6 feet in schools when possible. Scientists say that the 6-feet advice is not enough to prevent transmission of omicron, which appears to be the most infectious variant of the novel coronavirus yet.
School staff and students can report positive cases to the Health Authority’s Case Support Hotline at 866-917-8881 or Positive COVID Test website.
Mass Shooting at Eugene Concert Venue Leaves Six People Injured
Oregon police investigators are searching for a suspect who shot a total of six people Friday (Jan. 14) at a rap concert.
The shooting occurred just outside the venue WOW Hall in downtown Eugene, Oregon, around 9:30 p.m. local time, on Friday night (Jan. 14). Eugene Police Department received at least 30 calls reporting the shooting.
According to a news release by the police department, Six people were hospitalized following the shooting, with one victim sustaining critical injuries. The rest are in stable condition. One of the victims was a walk-in at the local hospital, while the rest were transported from the concert venue. Two of the victims were female and the other four were male.
Officers said they arrived at a “hectic scene of people who had been shot near the back entrance of the venue.”
We’ve got multiple victims with gunshot wounds,” Eugene Police Chief Chris Skinner said in a press conference early Saturday morning (Jan. 15). “I think this is about as close as you’re going to get and certainly one of the highest profile shootings that we’ve had in the city of Eugene.
Chief Chris Skinner News Briefing Wow Hall from EPD PIO on Vimeo.
Skinner continued, “all we know at this point is we have a male in a hoodie that was seen running westbound on 8th right after the shooting. We think that’s our suspect.”
Chief Skinner also said the crowd was difficult to manage and no witnesses were willing to say what they did or didn’t see. The concert was headlined by rappers Zay Bang and Lil Bean.
Police are actively working the investigation. There is no suspect in custody at this time and we ask the public to call with any relevant information. 541.682.5111.
Tsunami Advisory Along the Coast from Undersea Volcano
A tsunami advisory for the Oregon and Washington coasts was canceled late Saturday afternoon after an undersea volcano erupted hours earlier near the Pacific nation of Tonga.
“No additional tsunami danger exists, although some areas may continue to experience strong currents and small sea level changes,” the National Weather Service (NWS) in Portland tweeted at 4:50 p.m.
On Saturday morning, emergency officials urged people to stay off beaches due to the potential for tsunami waves and potentially hazardous conditions along the entire West Coast.
Tsunami waves starting arriving along the Oregon and Washington coasts around 8 a.m.
Officials initially said waves of one to three feet could be expected. However, waves along the Pacific Northwest rarely exceeded one foot throughout the morning.
In Oregon, the largest waves the National Weather Service reported were 1.2 feet in Port Orford and 0.8 feet in Charleston. People could be seen walking along Cannon Beach near Haystack Rock for much of the afternoon.
Outside of Oregon, there were some large tsunami waves on the West Coast. Port San Luis in California recorded a wave of 4.0 feet and King Cove in Alaska recorded a 2.8-foot wave.
Airwaves from the underwater volcanic eruption that happened Friday night near the South Pacific island nation of Tonga were detected at seismic stations several thousand miles away in Oregon, the U.S. Geological Survey said Saturday.
The stations logged near-mimicking seismic and infrared signals , indicating they were from the eruption that led to tsunami advisories being issued for the entire West Coast, officials said.
A tsunami advisory is the second highest form of warning issued for a tsunami. It means waves between one to three feet are expected and that people should stay away from the shore. It’s a step below a tsunami warning, which means people should head for higher ground immediately.
For information on tsunami and tsunami hazards visit: https://www.oregon.gov/oem/hazardsprep/Pages/Tsunami.aspx
Statewide transportation plan online open house available through Jan. 24
Oregonians are invited to help shape the future of Oregon’s transportation system. How can you weigh in? Give us feedback as we update the long-term Oregon Transportation Plan. An online open house is taking input through Jan. 24 in this first of several outreach opportunities over the next 12-18 months.
Why is this plan important? Our transportation system provides access to jobs, healthcare, childcare, food, housing, recreation and leisure activities, and it plays a critical role in a healthy economy. The Oregon Transportation Plan, or OTP, sets the long-term transportation policy for the whole state. Updating the OTP will result in a plan that can adapt to the variables we experience over time, such as climate change, social equity concerns, Oregon’s growing population, new technologies and more. The plan will also provide guidance for the state’s other transportation plans, including near-term action documents such as ODOT’s Strategic Action Plan.
We invite all Oregonians to learn more about the plan by visiting the online open house and watching the project video.
DMV Asks You To Check Online Before Going To Office
Staff with the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles said residents should check online before going to a DMV office, even if they have an appointment.
A release said this is especially important this winter when DMV offices may need to close without notice due to weather or staffing, or both.
DMV Administrator Amy Joyce said weather and staffing challenges can cause occasional office closures every winter. She said, “This winter DMV is experiencing the same kind of staff shortages and hiring challenges that other retail and service industries are seeing”.
The release said the current surge in COVID-19 infections also might limit access to DMV offices. Masks continue to be required inside DMV offices and during test drives.
When a DMV office needs to limit the number of people in the lobby, close an office or reduce business hours, that office’s page will be updated at: https://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/DMV/Pages/index.aspx
Online services remain available 24/7, every day of the year.
Motorcyclist Dies in Fatal Crash on Hwy 42-Douglas County
On Friday, January 14, 2022 at approximately 5:25 PM, Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 42 near milepost 75.
Preliminary investigation revealed that a 1999 Ford Ranger Pickup, operated by James Chittum Jr. (75) of Roseburg, was southbound on Landers Avenue approaching the Highway 42 intersection. The Ford Ranger entered Highway 42 and into the path of a westbound Harley Davidson Motorcycle, operated by Brian Porter (54) of Roseburg. The Harley Davidson motorcycle crashed with the Ford Ranger causing Porter to be ejected from the motorcycle. Two eastbound passenger cars, a Toyota Avalon, operated by Max GODEK (73) of Winston, and a Honda Civic, operated by Sylas Moore-Fain (28) of Dillard, collided with Porter in the roadway.
Porter sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased. Porter was wearing a helmet and all others involved were wearing safety belts.
OSP was assisted by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Winston Police Department, Douglas County Fire District 2, Winston-Dillard Fire Department and ODOT. Oregon State Police
Pedestrian Dies in Fatal crash on Hwy 58-Lane County
On Saturday, January 15, 2022, at approximately 6:46 PM, Oregon State Police and emergency personnel responded to report of a motor vehicle versus pedestrian crash near milepost 35 on Hwy 58 near milepost 35.
Preliminary investigation revealed a westbound white Kia Soul, operated by Robert Anthony Fraser (53) of Oakridge, struck a pedestrian, Dale Michael Roberts (71) of Oakridge, who was crossing the lanes of travel.
Roberts sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased while being transported to an area hospital. Investigation revealed FRASER displayed indicators of impairment and was subsequently arrested for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. Further charges will be determined by the Lane County District Attorney at the completion of the investigation.
OSP was assisted by Oakridge Police Department, Oakridge Fire Department and ODOT. Oregon State Police
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/