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 14, 2022
Rogue Valley Weather
Today– Rain likely after 10am. Snow level 5600 feet lowering to 4200 feet in the afternoon . Partly sunny, with a high near 52. Calm wind becoming west 5 to 8 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tuesday– Partly sunny, with a high near 48. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday– Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 49. Calm wind.
Thursday– Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.
Friday– Patchy freezing fog before 7am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.
Medford ‘Polar Plunge’ for Special Olympics Oregon
Local police officers, firefighters, paramedics, students and several community members dressed in their best costumes took the ‘Polar Plunge’ in support of athletes a part of Special Olympics Oregon. The event brought out 22 teams who raised over $30,000 for the Southern Oregon Special Olympics team.
The annual event, which raises awareness and money for thousands of athletes, returned in person after a hiatus last year due to the ongoing pandemic.
“We love to have all the fans come to support and watch us,” Luis Sanchez, an athlete with Special Olympics Oregon said. “It was the best day ever.”
The event was held at the Rogue Valley Country Club in Medford with several people baring the freezing water for the cause.
This year, the organization added two cities and fun runs throughout the state. Several Olympic athletes who live in Southern Oregon attended the event and shared their gratitude for the support.
“It makes me proud to have a disability, and it shows that people with disabilities can do anything that they want,” Carol Davis said.
This summer, two Rogue Valley athletes will represent the state during the Special Olympics 2022 USA Games.
Cindy Miguel, the Director of Program and Volunteer Services for Special Olympics Oregon, said Shaun See and Walker Hill will be heading to the games come June.Miguel explained the athletes are thrilled to be able to gather together again after the coronavirus virus kept them apart.
“We have been having to really creatively train and he’s (See) has an amazing coach, Kathy Hence, who is virtually training these guys, she meets with them weekly, gives them training, programming tips, and check they are doing what they are supposed to be doing,” Miguel said.
Miguel said the organization is grateful to each person who has donated and volunteered to help the athletes continue doing what they love.
She said 25 athletes, their families, and coaches will head to Orlando, Florida for the Special Olympics 2022 USA Games. The games begin on June 5th, 2022.
The odds that The Flying Lark in Grants Pass will open with its proposed suite of gaming machines intact just got much worse.
An opinion released by the Oregon Attorney General’s office on Friday makes clear that the state’s top attorney considers the Flying Lark venture to be an unlawful casino. While not in itself an automatic rejection of the Flying Lark’s proposal to install 225 historical horse racing (HHR) machines, the opinion was issued at the request of Jack McGrail, executive director of the Oregon Racing Commission — the body upon which Dutch Bros cofounder Travis Boersma has been waiting for the green light.
Boersma filed a request for approval with the Oregon Racing Commission back in October, but the matter has been repeatedly delayed due to pressure from a coalition of Tribes that oppose the project. The Tribal criticism has been that the Flying Lark’s HHR machines will essentially turn it into a casino. Under the Oregon constitution, non-Tribal casinos are banned, as are lotteries outside of the official Oregon Lottery.
The DOJ’s opinion, made public on Friday, concurs with whatthe Tribes have been saying. Boersma has said that the loss of these machines would not only sink The Flying Lark, it would likely take Grants Pass Downs and Boersma’s
efforts to revive Oregon horse racing down with the ship.
Fatal Crash on Hwy 238 in Jackson County
On Friday, February 11, 2022, at approximately 10:39 PM, Oregon State Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a single vehicle motor vehicle crash on Highway 238 near mile post 18.
Preliminary investigation revealed an eastbound silver Kia sedan, operated by Donnie Clough Jr. of Jacksonville, collided into the side of the Applegate River Bridge while negotiating the corner. Clough Jr. sustained fatal injuries was pronounced deceased.
Hwy 238 was reduced to one lane for approximately three hours for collision reconstruction. OSP was assisted by Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Applegate Fire, and ODOT. Oregon State Police
Man Indicted in Death of SOU Student
On January 27, 2022 a Jackson County Grand Jury indicted Elijah Benbow, a 22 year old Ashland resident, on a single felony charge of Failing to Perform Duties of a Driver to Injured Persons. This is a class B Felony.
This charge stems from an incident on August 15, 2021 at 1:00 a.m., involving the death of Southern Oregon University student Hunter Roberson. In this incident Roberson was found on Tolman Creek Road near Ashland Street, having been struck by a motor vehicle.
The investigation determined that Benbow was driving a vehicle that struck Roberson, and left the scene knowing he had done so.
Since August 15, 2021 the investigation has been ongoing and APD has been assisted by members of the Jackson County Sherriff’s Office and the Medford Police Department. Benbow is not in custody and is scheduled to be arraigned on March 3, 2022. Ashland Police Dept.
Oregon reports 2,653 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 12 new deaths
PORTLAND, Ore. — There are 12 new COVID-19-related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 6,355, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported Friday afternoon.
OHA reported 2,653 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 674,500.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (13), Benton (53), Clackamas (226), Clatsop (19), Columbia (39), Coos (59), Crook (31), Curry (25), Deschutes (155), Douglas (52), Grant (3), Harney (4), Hood River (11), Jackson (186), Jefferson (21), Josephine (113), Klamath (93), Lake (5), Lane (266), Lincoln (39), Linn (169), Malheur (6), Marion (207), Morrow (8), Multnomah (310), Polk (81), Sherman (1), Tillamook (14), Umatilla (40), Union (15), Wallowa (3), Wasco (9), Washington (310), Wheeler (1), Yamhill (66).
OHA hosts media availability
OHA hosted a media availability featuring Dean Sidelinger, M.D., health officer and state epidemiologist; Oregon Department of Education Director Colt Gill; and Peter Graven, Ph.D, director of the Oregon Health & Science University Office of Advanced Analytics. Sidelinger’s comments can be found here, and video of the media availability can be viewed here.
Just because the mask mandate will be lifted in Oregon no later than March 31, it doesn’t mean COVID is going away.
While case of infections continue to drop, hospitalizations are expected to remain high for the next several weeks. And though masks will no longer be required indoors, they are still being strongly encouraged in places like schools. Individuals may also choose to continue wearing masks.
“Just because the mask requirement is going away doesn’t mean masks are going away. Many Oregonians are still at higher risk and may continue wearing masks,” said Oregon state epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger. “Those who are unvaccinated, those who are immunocompromised, those who are at higher risk for complications, those who live with someone in one of these categories, many may be anxious and continue to wear a mask in a crowded setting.”
Oregon health officials said they hope by March 31 the surge level has dropped enough so that schools will be able to make independent decisions based on their experiences.
The trends are welcome but health officials said hospitals are still relying on 1300 National Guard members and 1200 medical professionals from out-of-state.
While the numbers are showing a major drop from the peak of the omicron surge, it’s still not in the rearview mirror yet.
Just this week Oregon saw more cases than the highest amount during both the delta surge and the surge in late 2020. While hospitalizations have dropped from nearly the delta peak, they are still nearly 40% higher than during 2020 when hospitals were overwhelmed.
Two Skiers Die Over Weekend at Mt. Bachelor
After two skiers died at Mt. Bachelor ski area Friday and Saturday, a helicopter was dispatched to the mountain Sunday morning on a medical emergency call, transporting a 64-year-old man to St. Charles Bend.
A spokesperson for Mt. Bachelor confirmed a man was flown to St. Charles Bend at around 9:53 a.m. after he experienced a medical emergency.
First on Friday, and then again on Saturday, a skier suffered fatal injuries while skiing on Mt. Bachelor.
The skier who died on Friday was a 66-year-old man, and on Saturday, a 60-year-old man succumbed to his injuries after crashing on the mountain.
While the exact circumstances and conditions that led to the fatal accidents are not currently available from official sources, other recreators said on social media they believe the latest fatality could have occurred due to an exposed log, usually covered in snow, on the mountain.
Mt. Bachelor said in its conditions report Sunday that high pressure and warm temperatures has caused variable snow surface conditions.
“Substantial icy/choppy patches are still very much present. Naturally, this adds an element of risk and warrants the need for extra caution when exploring the mountain,” the report said.
Leigh Capozzi, the communications director for Mt. Bachelor, has yet to respond to a list of questions emailed to her Sunday in regards to the conditions and circumstances of Saturday’s fatal accident.
However, Capozzi did provide information on the Sunday morning medical call and helicopter dispatch.
“At approximately 9:05 a.m. on Sunday, February 13, Mt. Bachelor Ski Patrol responded to a guest experiencing a medical emergency,” she said. “Upon assessing the guest’s condition, Ski Patrol contacted 911 to dispatch an Airlink helicopter.”
“The guest, a 64-year-old male, was transported to patrollers to the West Village landing zone, where the Airlink helicopter transported the guest to St. Charles (Bend) at 9:53 a.m.,” Capozzi added.
The names of the two skiers who died have not been released.
Tax Breaks for Oregon’s Most Wealthy Homeowners
Oregon lawmakers, who years ago agreed to discontinue huge property tax breaks for historic homes, now want to give the mostly wealthy homeowners who have long benefitted from the deal more time to lock in the tax savings for another 10 years.
That decision would reverse a nascent effort championed by a pair of lawmakers, one a Portland Democrat and the other a rural Oregon Republican, to make the state’s historic preservation incentives more geared to regular Oregonians and less so to real estate elites by shifting to grants instead of property tax cuts for homeowners.
Bill SB 1587 Would Allow Lien On Property Of Unlawful Hemp Growers
This bill subjects building or premises used for unlawful growing or handling of industrial hemp to lien, and allows buildings or premises to be sold to pay all fines and costs. Allows immediate enforcement of lien by civil action, and strengthens premise laws.
https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2022R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/SB1587/Introduced
Bill in Senate Intended To Keep Politics Out of School Districts
With school boards increasingly becoming the battlegrounds for America’s culture wars, Democrats in the Oregon Senate have passed a bill intended to insulate school superintendents from being ousted on purely political grounds.
Senator Michael Dembrow (D-Portland) chairs the Senate Committee on Education and carried Senate Bill 1521. There have been several high-profile firings of Oregon superintendents within the last year after they ran afoul of politically charged school boards, and they appear to have inspired lawmakers to intervene. Under SB 1521, a school board may not direct a superintendent to take actions that conflict with state or federal law — which includes executive orders or Oregon Department of Education policy. It also limits the instances in which a school board can terminate a superintendent’s employment without cause.
Oregon Unemployment Payments Fall But Worker Shortage Persists
Oregon began last year paying out nearly $600 million each month in unemployment assistance, providing aid to well over 200,000 people.
Monthly payments fell rapidly through the year, though, as the economy rebounded from the pandemic recession. Aid then plunged off a cliff in September when expanded federal benefits expired.
In December, the state paid just over $60 million in benefits — only 10% of what was paid at the start of that year, and only a little higher than benefits payments in the months before the pandemic.
In addition to the end of federal pandemic assistance, last year’s record decline in unemployment aid reflects one of the strongest labor markets in Oregon history. The number of vacant jobs exceeds the number of unemployed workers.
The state added 107,000 jobs in 2021. That’s far above the prior one-year record, which was 61,000.
And yet Oregon employers are still hunting for workers, and state economists say Oregon won’t have recovered all the jobs it lost to the pandemic recession until next fall.
Expanded jobless assistance in 2020 and 2021 is one reason why, according to Gail Krumenauer, economist with the Oregon Employment Department. Federal pandemic aid paid as much as $600 extra a week in jobless benefits in 2020, which meant that laid-off workers at the bottom of the pay scale were actually earning more than they did when they were working.
“They were getting, on average, full wage replacement,” Krumenauer said.
Meanwhile, just about everyone received three rounds of stimulus payments during the pandemic, part of a broad federal aid package that spared many people from the pain of the steepest, deepest economic downturn in U.S. history.
“That did build up people’s savings,” Krumenauer said.
As a result, she said, some people have a financial buffer that’s letting them take their time returning to work and be choosy about which jobs they’ll take.
The worker shortage has pushed up wages as employers compete for labor and seek to lure workers back. The average private-sector job paid $31.76 an hour in December, according to state data, up 15% since the pandemic started.
People who might have worked two jobs to make ends meet before the pandemic can now get by with one, Krumenauer said, which only makes the labor market tighter.
“That’s a great condition for workers to be in,” she said. “And it’s more difficult for employers.”
There are many other reasons Oregon employment hasn’t returned to pre-pandemic levels. Childcare remains in especially short supply, for example, and some prospective workers continue to choose to stay home because of COVID-19.
It’s not likely that Oregon’s job growth in 2022 will match last year’s torrid pace. And with so few workers left on the unemployment rolls, Krumenauer said it’s getting harder to match individual people to the skills required for the jobs available.
Still, she said that as the omicron spike in coronavirus cases fades and Oregonians draw down their savings from pandemic stimulus payments, more workers will likely be drawn back into the labor pool.
“It seems like if COVID can finally get under control after this and some of that cushion goes away,” Krumenauer said, “then more people will start getting back to work.”
Fallen Firefighter Service Saturday
An estimated 5,000 people attended the memorial service for a St. Paul, Oregon, firefighter on Saturday afternoon.
Austin Smith, 30, died after an explosion occurred on Feb. 3 while he was battling a large barn fire.
KOIN-TV reports hundreds of emergency vehicles — fire, EMS, law enforcement from Oregon, Washington and other neighboring states — participated in a procession from Woodburn to the St. Paul Rodeo grounds before the afternoon memorial service.
Smith had been with the St. Paul Fire District since 2015. He is survived by wife Ashley and many relatives.
Oregon Free Fishing Weekend Feb. 19-20
Make fishing part of your Presidents’ Day Weekend plans. Everyone can fish, clam and crab for free in Oregon on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 19-20.
No fishing/shellfish licenses or tags (including a Combined Angling Tag or Columbia River Basin Endorsement or Two-Rod Validation) are required those two days. Both Oregon residents and nonresidents can fish, clam and crab for free.
All other fishing regulations apply including closures, bag limits and size restrictions. See the Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for rules and remember to check for any in season regulation changes, especially for salmon and steelhead fishing, at https://myodfw.com/recreation-report/fishing-report/
The winter steelhead run usually peaks in mid-February, so it’s a good time of year for existing steelhead anglers to take a friend or family member with them to give it a try. This fishing isn’t hard, especially if someone is showing you how (see steelhead fishing tips). Bottomfishing could also be good if ocean conditions allow for boats to get out during Presidents’ Day Weekend.
Prefer to crab or clam instead? MyODFW has all the information you need to get started clamming or crabbing. Remember to check ocean conditions and take safety precautions: always clam with a friend and never turn your back on the ocean.
Currently, crabbing is open in bays, beaches, estuaries, tide pools, piers and jetties along the entire Oregon coast and in the ocean. With the dry weather, crab are moving back into the estuaries so crabbing could be good.
Razor clamming is currently closed from Cape Blanco, north of Port Orford, to the California border because domoic acid toxin levels are above the closure limit.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture regularly tests shellfish and closes areas when naturally occurring biotoxins get to levels that make crabs and clams unsafe to eat. Always call the ODA Shellfish safety hotline at 1-800-448-2474 or check their Shellfish page before you go out.
Check the Recreation Report for the best fishing opportunities this time of year, https://myodfw.com/recreation-report For beginners, Easy Angling Oregon is a great guide to getting started fishing in Oregon, https://myodfw.com/EAO And if you live near Portland, Bend, Medford, Roseburg or in Lane County, there are lots of nearby options.
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
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/