Rogue Valley News, Monday 2/7 – City of Medford Seeks Resident’s Input on Community Court Program, Shootings on Savage Creek Road and Biddle Road

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, February 7, 2022

Rogue Valley Weather

Monday– Sunny, with a high near 60. Calm wind.

Tuesday– Sunny, with a high near 63. Calm wind.

Wednesday– Sunny, with a high near 68.

Thursday– Sunny, with a high near 70.

Friday– Mostly sunny, with a high near 68.

City of Medford Seeks Resident’s Input on Community Court Program

The City of Medford is seeking residents’ input through a survey as city officials evaluate the possibility of creating a community court program.

According to the Department of Justice, community courts are neighborhood-focused court programs that combine community and the justice system to address local issues.

Other cities in Oregon have community courts. Eugene’s city website defines their community court as a “team of the justice system and social service professionals dedicated to collaborating on cases to reach practical solutions.”

“One of the aspects of a community court is that they are unique to the individual community, we are going through an intensive process to gather feedback from our community,” said Katie Zerkel, deputy city attorney for the City of Medford.

Zerkel explained that a needs assessment is the first step in exploring a community court program, but it doesn’t mean the program will be created. She said the survey is one of three steps the city is currently taking to collect the data needed to move forward.

“We are using this needs assessment to create the perimeters of how it would work, it would be a docket within the Medford Municipal Court which only prosecutes misdemeanors and violations,” Zerkel said.

She noted that the process is still in the early stages, but the community’s input is vital.

“If we were just to take a model and dump here in Medford, it might not work, without that feedback we won’t have a community court,” she added, wanting to make sure the program can address the “unique concerns are in Medford.”

Zerkel said the city is working with the Center for Court Innovation, which has helped other cities around the country develop their community-based program.

Residents can share their input through the City of Medford’s survey until Friday, February 11. Take the Community Court Survey here: https://www.medfordoregon.gov/Government/Departments/Municipal-Court/Medford-Community-Court

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Savage Creek Road Shooting

JCSO Case 22-0685 — Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) is investigating a shooting that occurred on the 600 block of Savage Creek Road Sunday evening. One subject is being questioned for their involvement. There is no threat to the public at this time. Investigations are ongoing by JCSO detectives. More information to follow. Jackson Co. Sheriff’s Office 

Shooting in Medford off Biddle Road

Medford Police are investigating a shooting near the Quality Inn and Elmer’s Restaurant on Biddle Road MPD says the call came in around 7:40 pm Sunday night about a man who was shot at in the parking lot outside of the Purple Parrot Lounge.

The man was treated on scene for non-life threatening injuries. A suspect has not been identified at this time. Police are still investigating and working to find more details at this time.

Grants Pass Police Department Raises More Than $5,000 In Saturday’s ‘Dunk A Cop’ Event

Even though Saturday was a cold yet sunny day in Grants Pass, many people turned out for the Grants Pass Police Department’s ‘Dunk A Cop’ event making it a success.

In their second ever ‘Dunk A Cop’ event, organizers raised $5,269 dollars, $2,600 from the public, which will go to supporting Special Olympic athletes.

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, the public got a chance to swing by and take a throw at dunking one of many Grant Pass officers into the freezin’ tank.  

One throw equaled a $5 dollar donation, three throws for a $10 donation and for $25, participants were given a guaranteed dunk! The Grants Pass Police Department stated that this year, the department would match the money donated during the event. 

White City Mobile Home Fire

A fire broke out on the 3200 block of Antelope Rd around 7:30 Friday morning. A mobile home in White City Mobile Estates was fully involved.

According to Jeff Bancroft, Battalion Chief with Fire District 3, a column of smoke was visible from miles away as crews were arriving. Four engines responded to the scene, three Fire District 3 engines and one Medford Fire Department engine.

When crews arrived, the two occupants and their pets had already been able to evacuate on their own and with the help of neighbors. There are no injuries. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Chaplain was on scene assisting the homeowners with finding temporary housing since the structure is a total loss.

Suspect Arrested for Rape, Sex Abuse, Assault of Elderly Central Point Woman

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies took a report of a rape and assault of a woman in her 70s that occurred late Saturday night at her home on Blackwell Road. Her son, who lives nearby, confronted the suspect and he fled the scene. JCSO deputies arrived to investigate and the victim went to an area hospital for a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) exam.

The suspect was known to the victim and was contacted and taken into custody. Based on the evidence, Michael Dean Gates, 62, of Central Point, was lodged at the Jackson County Jail for first-degree rape, first-degree sexual abuse, and fourth-degree assault. His bail is set at $400,000. Investigations are ongoing. Further information will come from the Jackson County District Attorney’s office.

Labor Day 2020 Fire Survivors in FEMA Housing Granted 6 Month Extension

An extension granted by the state gives survivors of the 2020 Labor Day wildfires in Southern Oregon an extra six months of FEMA housing.

FEMA guidelines call for housing assistance only up to 18 months after a declared disaster, giving the survivors of the 2020 fires until mid-March to find new homes.

FEMA spokesperson Paul Corah said finding permanent housing for people is slow going in an area with low housing inventory.

Typically extensions are given in three-month increments, but the severity of the damage in the Rogue Valley prompted the six months. Of 190 units supplied to fire survivor families, 154 are still in use in Jackson County.

Housing programs in Marion, Lane, Lincoln and Linn Counties were given similar extensions.

Residents have been able to stay in the FEMA units while paying only utilities, but those who stay beyond April 1 will start paying a sliding-scale rent.

“FEMA’s working with the survivors about what that scale is. The minimum is $50,” Corah said.Corah said FEMA also has a sales program, allowing residents to purchase the units.

The Oregon wildfire season in 2020 destroyed more than 4,000 homes, killed nine people and tore through 1.1 million acres (445,154 hectares). Almost all the damage occurred over a dramatic 72-hour period. It was a wake-up call for the Pacific Northwest as climate change brings destructive blazes to wet places and urban landscapes.

Oregon reports 4,872 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 33 new deaths

PORTLAND, Ore. — There are 33 new COVID-19-related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 6,214, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported Friday afternoon

OHA reported 4,872 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 bringing the state total to 654,343.

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (23), Benton (98), Clackamas (377), Clatsop (25), Columbia (46), Coos (84), Crook (48), Curry (24), Deschutes (258), Douglas (79), Grant (15), Harney (24), Hood River (28), Jackson (240), Jefferson (40), Josephine (129), Klamath (133), Lake (5), Lane (517), Lincoln (120), Linn (262), Malheur (46), Marion (563), Morrow (8), Multnomah (524), Polk (169), Sherman (1), Tillamook (40), Umatilla (107), Union (43), Wallowa (5), Wasco (31), Washington (641) and Yamhill (119).

Health Officials in Jackson County continue to report a high amount of new COVID-19 this week, more than 1,200 cases from Tuesday through Friday, but at a lesser rate than last week, more than 1,800 cases in the same time frame.

Yet despite a decrease in cases, hospitalizations from the virus are continuing to stay relatively high. The latest report from Jackson County Public Health shows that across Region 5, which includes both Jackson and Josephine Counties, 129 people are still in the hospital with the virus.

The University of Oregon extended their booster requirement for students and employees to Friday, March 18. Previously, the deadline was January 31.  Another update is the temporary policy that allows instructors the option to request moving courses remotely that are experiencing 20 percent of more COVID-related student absences. This deadline has been extended to Monday, February 14.

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Scientists Carefully Monitoring Oregon’s Volcanic Region

In a USGS Hazard Notification statement Monday, Cascades Volcano Observatory announced their scientists have tracked an increased rate of ground uplift in the Three Sisters volcanic region found in the southwest corner of Oregon.

Using satellite radar images and GPS units, USGS scientists have tracked an increased rate of uplift for a 12-mile diameter region, 3 miles west of the South Sister volcano. According to USGS, the data suggests the ground rose 0.9 inches (2.2 cm) from June 2020 to August 2021.

Scott Burns , a geology professor at Portland State University, told Nexstar’s KOIN that while episodes of increased uplift have been observed in this region before, the cause is what local scientists are excited about.

“The Three Sisters area is an area that we’ve been studying for the last 25 years,” Burns explained. “It’s very exciting because magma is moving up underneath the volcano … the last major volcanic eruption in Oregon, which was 2,000 years ago, was right there in that area.”

While the catalyst for the current uplift is unconfirmed, geologists have been able to credit previous soil shifts at the South Sister location to small pulses of magma accumulating approximately 4 miles below the earth’s surface.

According to Burns, increased uplift is not the only thing impacted by the observed magmatic intrusion. “We believe that the magma is rising about four miles below the surface. And, and so associated with that, a lot of times you’ll have very small earthquakes,” Burns said. “In December and in January, we had a series of very small earthquakes, showing that there is some movement of magma. The question is, what type of magma is it going to be, and what type of volcano?”

Before the recent increase, the USGS stated the rate of uplift at the South Sister location had reportedly slowed down since scientists first recognized the phenomenon in the mid-1990s.

“From 1995 to 2020, the area rose approximately 12 inches (30 centimeters) at its center,” USGS stated in a recent release. “Although the current uplift rate is slower than the maximum rate of about 2 inches per year measured in 1999-2000, it is distinctly faster than the rate observed for several years before 2020.”

Despite the excitement, USGS and Burns have said that the public is not in any immediate danger. The volcano status is currently listed as “green,” and there is no sign of an imminent eruption.

“While any magmatic intrusion could eventually lead to a volcanic eruption, an eruption would likely be preceded by detectable and more vigorous earthquakes, ground movement (deformation), and geochemical changes,” stated USGS. “In general, as magma moves upward during an intrusion, it causes continued or accelerated uplift, fractures rock to generate swarms of earthquakes, and releases significant amounts of volcanic gases, such as carbon dioxide. We do not detect any of these signs currently.”

Burns says a team of scientists with Cascades Volcano Observatory will continue to closely monitor uplift at the site and will be ready if a threat is detected.

“We have great maps for the whole Three Sisters area,” Burns explained, “So if [the volcano] does come back to life, we will know which people are going to have to get out of the way and be prepared for it.”

He continued, “The good news is we’re prepared for it … We’re still at ‘green,’ but things are coming back to life now. Mother Nature writes her own history book, so it will be interesting to see what she will come up with this time.”

Seven People Arrested in Salem Area Illegal Marijuana Growing Operation

 Police in Keizer said Saturday they have arrested seven people in what they call an extensive illegal marijuana growing operation.

The operation was growing cannabis plants in six houses in residential areas of Salem and Keizer and children were living in two of the homes, the Keizer Police Department said.

Authorities seized 273 1-pound packages of marijuana, with a street value of about $278,000, and 4,085 plants.

The plants, once matured, could have yielded marijuana worth at least $8 million.

All of those arrested were charged with unlawful manufacture of marijuana, unlawful possession of marijuana and attempted delivery of marijuana. They have an initial court appearance March 3.

The arrests stemmed from an investigation that began in October when police were tipped off to possible illegal activity at one of the homes. An investigation found that marijuana was being grown there and at the five other homes, police alleged.

Police seized and destroyed a total of 2,100 pounds of processed marijuana and plant material from the homes.

The price tag for already expensive goods may be going up with a new bill proposed in Oregon.

Lawmakers are currently discussing hundreds of bills, and one of them would tax certain luxury items to help some low-income families.

From a snowmobile to designer clothes and handbags to a firearm– if House Bill 4079 passes, there would be a three percent sales tax on these kinds of items and more.

The money collected would then fund the Oregon Freedom Pilot Program, which is established in the Department of Human Services. The funds would be given to more than 2,000 people who have aged out of the foster youth program.

This includes low-income pregnant women. A recent study from the National Academy of Sciences cites poverty as a risk factor for lower brain activity in infants. Low-income families would receive a monthly stipend of $750 for three years.

If the bill passes, it will go into effect starting Jan. 1, 2023. Currently, Oregon lawmakers are in session and plan to adjourn on March 7.

Bootleg Fire Confirmed Lightning Caused and Cougar Peak Fire Human-Caused

Some people in Klamath and Lake counties have heard rumors that the Bootleg Fire was human-caused. After talking with fire officials, these rumors are false. The Bootleg Fire was caused by lightning in the Fuego Mountain area. A lightning storm occurred in the area about two weeks before the Bootleg Fire was spotted.

The US Forest Service says holdover fires are fairly common and can last for several weeks. Fire investigators even looked at the possibility that the fire was a flare-up from the Fuego Fire but found that the Bootleg Fire’s origin point was too far away.

While the Bootleg Fire has been officially ruled as naturally caused by lightning, there is a fire from last summer that is considered human-caused: the Cougar Peak Fire. Fire investigators are still looking for any leads on who or what caused the Cougar Peak Fire and ask that if you have any information about what started the fire to call 541-947-2151.

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Klamath County Sheriff’s Office Asks for Public’s Help in Search For Trucker Suspect

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

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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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