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, February 23, 2022
Rogue Valley Weather
Today– Sunny, with a high near 45. Calm wind.
Thursday– Sunny, with a high near 49. Calm wind.
Friday– Sunny, with a high near 54. Light southeast wind.
Saturday– Partly sunny, with a high near 55.
Sunday– Rain likely. Snow level 3500 feet rising to 5200 feet in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56.
Joint Task Force Serves Search Warrant After Child Porn Uploaded From Local Talent Residence
JCSO Case 21-5045 – The Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) joint inter-agency task force alongside Talent Police Department, served a search warrant Tuesday morning at a residence on the 1600 block of Anderson Creek Road in Talent.
Investigators discovered child exploitation imagery was uploaded from the residence. Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) and Oregon State Police (OSP) detectives contacted one of the possible involved parties leaving the residence and initiated a traffic stop. Investigators are interviewing possible witnesses and involved parties, and investigations are ongoing.
During Tuesday’s search warrant, digital devices were seized, and will be forensically examined by the Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force for further evidence of child exploitation. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) tips started the investigation, which led to subpoenas, followed by the search warrant at the residence.
SOCET is a joint inter-agency task force that started in June of 2020 to combat child exploitation and human trafficking. The task force consists of investigators from JCSO, OSP, Medford Police Department, Grants Pass Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations; as well as prosecutors from our local, state and federal law enforcement partners in Jackson and Josephine County. Jackson Co. Sheriff’s Office
Man Arrested After Two-Vehicle Crash While Holding Gun To His Head
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a man near the border of Central Point and Medford while he held a gun to his own head following his involvement in a two-vehicle crash.
The crash and arrest happened Tuesday night at the intersection of Crater Lake Ave and E Vilas Rd. Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Spokesperson Aaron Lewis said the suspect male and the other driver engaged in a confrontation following the crash.
Lewis said the suspect threatened the other driver with his gun. Then, a struggle between the suspect and the other driver ensued over the firearm.
Lewis said once a Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputy arrived on the scene, the suspect held the gun to his own head and began retreating back to his vehicle.
The vehicle was disabled due to the collision and the driver surrendered himself to deputies without force. Medford Police Department and Central Point Police Department assisted in the arrest. Lewis said a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) investigation is now underway.
Croman Corporation Helicopter Involved in Hawaii Crash
The U.S. Navy says four people have died in the crash of a contractor’s helicopter on the Hawaii island of Kauai. The helicopter was flown by Croman Corporation of White City, Oregon, in support of a training operation, the military’s Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) said in a news release.
PMRF said the aircraft crashed on the north side of its installation along the western shore of Kauai shortly after 10 a.m. There were no survivors. The names of those killed were not yet available.
PMRF said, “Information on casualties will be released once available. The helicopter was flying in support of a range training operation. An investigation will commence to determine the cause of the accident. More details will be provided as they become available.”
Wildfire Survivors Facing Deadline on FEMA Trailers – Pay High Rent or Leave
Survivors of the 2020 Almeda and South Obenchain fires still living in FEMA-built trailers throughout the Rogue Valley recently received letters from the federal agency informing them that they’ll need to start paying rent if they want to stay beyond March 15th.
The FEMA temporary housing unit (THU) program was extended through September 15 of this year at the request of Oregon officials, as it was originally set to expire 18 months after the Presidential disaster declaration. Now, instead of being forced to move out on March 15, survivors will need to start paying monthly rent based on “fair market” prices. That price tag is $1697 p/month per FEMA.
Residents of the FEMA trailers have been given the option of buying their trailers. While some have taken that offer, one survivor says that it was not something they’d seriously consider — the price was too high and does not come with a guarantee that they’ll have somewhere to park the trailer when the FEMA program comes to an end. Temporary housing residents who don’t plan to buy their trailer or pay rent must vacate the units by March 15.
Oregon reports 3,400 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 29 new deaths
PORTLAND, Ore. — There are 29 new COVID-19-related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 6,485, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported at 12:01 a.m. today.
OHA reported 3,400 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 689,325. The 3,400 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 include those from Feb. 18, Feb. 19, Feb. 20 and Feb. 21.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (15), Benton (89), Clackamas (287), Clatsop (27), Columbia (44), Coos (64), Crook (23), Curry (22), Deschutes (202), Douglas (110), Harney (11), Hood River (21), Jackson (283), Jefferson (7), Josephine (99), Klamath (58), Lake (10), Lane (360), Lincoln (37), Linn (177), Malheur (8), Marion (218), Morrow (3), Multnomah (513), Polk (73), Sherman (1), Tillamook (16), Umatilla (54), Union (12), Wallowa (8), Wasco (17), Washington (420) and Yamhill (111).
Oregon reports 1,379 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases on Feb.18. Oregon reports 794 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases on Feb. 19. Oregon reports 494 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases on Feb. 20. Oregon reports 733 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases on Feb. 21.
School Masks Debate — School leaders across the state are five weeks away from having permission to make masks optional for students and staff without the risk of fines or the loss of COVID relief funds. Still, school boards in Molalla, Alsea and Redmond have decided to skip the wait and accept the risks to allow for optional masking early.
It’s a move that puts their district superintendents in a difficult position: Follow Gov. Kate Brown’s executive order to mask in schools until March 31 and risk being fired by their school board, or follow their school board’s decision and risk losing some school funding, their superintendent’s license and owing fines of up to $500 per day.
Marc Seigel, communications director at the Oregon Department of Education, said agency officials would release further guidance for districts next week. Cline hopes the department will accelerate the mask policy change, sparing him a tough decision.
UPDATE: Oregon State Police & Local Public Safety agencies working several multi-vehicle crashes along I-84 between Pendleton and La Grande
The Oregon State Police along with several local agencies worked together throughout the night to get Interstate 84 open and cleared of vehicles. Troopers from the Pendleton and La Grande Area Commands along with crews from the below-listed agencies worked all night to get them over 170 vehicles out of the 1.75 mile stretch of the interstate. Uninjured persons who could not otherwise drive from the scene due to the blockage or damaged vehicles were transported to the Pendleton Convention Center for reunification. A local taxi company and a church provided vans to transport persons from the convention center to local hotels as needed.
A total of 71 people were transported from the crash scene to the reunification center via buses. Initial numbers collected were that there were 17 patients transported from the crash scene to the hospital with an additional 2 transported after having arrived at the reunification center.
There are still several sections of Interstate 84 with extreme winter road conditions, so traveling is still hazardous. If you don’t have to travel, we recommend staying home. If you do have to travel use www.tripcheck.com for road conditions or to find an alternate route.
The Umatilla County Emergency Operations Center was activated for this incident. Several agencies worked together to coordinate this large-scale incident.
Explosion At Hermiston Potato Chip Plant
Umatilla County Fire District #1 said at about 12:50 p.m. Tuesday it responded to Shearer’s Foods, one of the largest potato chip plants in the area for reports of an explosion. Evacuations were put in place for the people who live south of the plant and a nearby hotel.
Firefighters said six people were hurt in the explosion and were taken to a nearby hospital. The cause of the explosion was a portable boiler that was fueled by natural gas, according to Umatilla County Fire District #1.
Firefighters said this was the largest fire the district has responded to in the last decade.
Man Charged in Deadly Portland Shooting
The Oregon man accused of killing one person and injuring five after opening fire on demonstrators in Portland was charged Tuesday with murder and other crimes, authorities said. Benjamin Smith, 43, was charged with second-degree murder, four counts of attempted murder and multiple counts of assault, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office said in a statement.
The statement said Smith allegedly “confronted a group of people engaged” in a demonstration protesting the death of Amir Locke, a Black Minneapolis man who was fatally shot by tactical officers carrying out a “no-knock” warrant last month.
Citing video evidence, the prosecutor’s office said Smith allegedly told protesters who had gathered at a park northeast of downtown Portland on Saturday to leave the area.
“Several participants asked Smith to leave them alone,” the statement says. “Moments later, Smith drew a firearm and fired at the crowd, striking five people.”
The shooting ended after someone returned fire, hitting Smith in the hip area, the statement says. Smith remained hospitalized in critical condition, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt said earlier Tuesday.
In a separate statement, the Portland Police Bureau identified the person who was killed as Brandy Knightly, 60. The district attorney’s office said she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities initially said the confrontation erupted between an armed resident and armed protesters, but Tuesday’s statement from the prosecutor’s office didn’t specify if the people who told Smith to leave them alone were armed.
During a news conference Tuesday, Police Chief Chuck Lovell described the scene as “challenging and dangerous” for investigators. “Officers didn’t know who the shooters were, how many, where they were at,” he told reporters. Lovell added that “many” witnesses were uncooperative with authorities and some took “critical” evidence from the scene.
The Brother of MAX Train Murderer Jeremy Christian Is Suspect in February 16th Fatal Shooting in Portland
The brother of Jeremy Christian, who is serving life in prison for murdering two people and seriously injuring another on a crowded MAX train in 2017, is suspected in a Feb. 16 North Portland homicide.
“I can confirm that the name of the individual involved in the Feb. 16 shooting is David Christian,” said Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Elisabeth Shepard. “This case is an open investigation, and we are unable to provide further comment at this time.”
On Monday, the Portland Police Bureau identified the victim of the Feb. 16 shooting as 30-year-old Zachary Steven Moore. Police have not yet released the suspected shooter’s name. The bureau said in a press release last week that, at 12:20 am on Feb. 16, officers responded to a shooting call in the St. Johns neighborhood near the intersection of North Mohawk Avenue and Fessenden Street.
“When officers arrived they located a male victim who was deceased,” PPB said. “A person involved in the shooting remained at the scene and is cooperating.”
David Christian is not in custody, and it does not appear as though police consider him dangerous: “At this time, police are not looking for any suspects and there is no threat to the community,” PPB said in its press release.
The DA’s office did not confirm that David Christian, 47, is related to Jeremy Christian, now 39. But public records indicate that the two are indeed siblings.
Separate court records from 2017 for Jeremy Christian and David Christian, whose name also appears as Jonathan David Christian, list the same North Portland residential address. Court records for David Christian dating back to 2005 also list that address.
A recognizance release from 2017 for David Christian says his mother is Mary Christian. Multiple news articles about Jeremy Christian identify his mother as Mary. And Multnomah County property records show that Mary Christian and Donald Christian are the homeowners of the property that Jeremy and David listed as their residence in court records.
A November 2017 psychiatric evaluation report for Jeremy Christian says he is “the third of four sons born to the marriage of his parents.”
“He has been variously residing in his parents’ home or staying with friends when not in custody since his release from the Oregon Department of Corrections in 2010,” the evaluation says. “His brothers also reside in the family home or with extended family.”
Oregon Small Enterprise Fund (SEF) has Reopened
Oregon Small Enterprise Fund (SEF) has reopened for financial relief to Oregon businesses excluded from federal pandemic relief assistance programs due to the owners’ immigration status.
The non-profit Oregon Worker Relief (OWR) will administer the fund as crucial aid for those businesses. The Small Enterprise Fund has $1.5-million for one-time relief grants to Oregon businesses excluded from federal relief assistance such as the Paycheck Protection Program.
Call center agents have started contacting people on the fund’s waitlist since it first opened March 2021. SEF will take new applications starting today, Feb. 22. Eligible immigrant-owned small businesses owners can call 1-888-274-7292 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday to apply for the fund.
Oregon’s Legislature is sending a bill to the Governor to change lawn and landscape sprinkler systems in the state as part of a drought remediation effort.
Ashland Representative Pam Marsh authored House Bill 4057 which passed the State Senate today after passing the State House February 10. The measure adopts efficiency standards for urban landscaping with new requirements for sprinklers to reduce water and energy consumption, thus reducing those costs.
When signed into law, House Bill 4057 would authorize the Oregon Department of Energy to adopt efficiency standards for landscape irrigation sprinkler system devices.
Marsh says the Oregon Landscape Contractors Association supports HB 4057, which establishes water-saving and energy efficiency standards for residential and commercial spray sprinklers. It requires sprinklers made and installed in Oregon after January 1, 2023 to meet Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense program product specifications.
Medical Drone Delivery To Transport Lab Samples In Oregon
Oregon-based Interpath Laboratory is joining forces with Spright, the drone division of air medical service provider Air Methods, to launch a drone delivery network that can transport lab specimens from remote and rural areas quickly.
A BVLOS 15-mile test flight conducted last week with the Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center to Interpath’s main medical laboratory location in Oregon’s Pendleton saw a Wingcopter 198 drone being used to reduce the turnaround time of critical diagnostic test results greatly.
The current process for Interpath laboratory services works something like this: Patient samples are taken throughout the day, and then they are batched together for pick-up by ground vehicles in the evening for delivery to the lab. These vehicles typically drive thousands of miles each day across the region to pick up specimens from numerous clinics, hospitals, and facilities.
In contrast, the new medical drone delivery initiative will enable samples to be picked up repeatedly and delivered to Interpath throughout the day. Not only will this improve patient satisfaction and enable healthcare providers to implement follow-up care in a timelier manner, but the green solution will also remove gasoline-powered vehicles from roads and lessens local traffic, the companies say.
Joe Resnik, president of Spright, explains: “Many communities located in remote or rural areas lack timely and convenient access to essential medical supplies and services. We look forward to this proof-of-concept, showcasing drone delivery’s ability to solve many of healthcare’s existing access and efficiency challenges, while also improving patient care and experience.”
If successful, the new drone delivery approach will allow Interpath Laboratory to transport patient samples throughout the day, rather than primarily overnight. Maximizing daytime sample processing abilities will lead to more efficient laboratory operations, while benefiting patients and healthcare providers with faster delivery of vital test results.
While Aaron Hines, CEO of Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center, points out that the initiative can help to provide high-quality, primary healthcare for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), Interpath Laboratory’s president, Tom Kennedy, says: “Medical laboratory services in rural areas frequently must invest intensive time and resources into sample pick-up. We anticipate Spright’s drone delivery service will alleviate many of the drawbacks and costs associated with automobile-based delivery.”
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/