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
Friday, April 22, 2022
Rogue Valley Weather
Today– A 20 percent chance of showers after 11am. Snow level 4000 feet rising to 5000 feet in the afternoon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 59. Calm wind becoming northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday– Sunny, with a high near 68. Light and variable wind
Sunday– Sunny, with a high near 73. Light northwest wind.
Monday– Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69
Tuesday– A chance of showers. Snow level 4600 feet lowering to 4000 feet. Partly sunny, with a high near 59.
Fire Survivor Resource Fair On Saturday 4/23 At Talent Town Hall Parking Lot
A joint task force of multiple nonprofits known as the Fire Relief Center Team is hosting a resource fair and pop-up supply distribution event for fire survivors on Saturday, April 23 from 12pm-3pm at the Talent Town Hall parking lot.
The Rogue Action Center and Rogue Climate bring together partner organizations to share information and resources while providing supplies and free lunch from Loncheria Las Reyes and Curbside King food trucks, courtesy of Rogue Food Unites.
Community members are invited to meet staff from the following organizations to connect with their programs:
- Coalicion Fortaleza,
- Jackson County Library Service,
- Zone Captains,
- Maslow Project,
- OYEN Emotional Wellness Center,
- Jackson County Community Long Term Recovery Group and more,
Bilingual ACCESS, Oregon Department of Human Services, and Catholic Charities staff will be on hand to help with housing resources.
Free non-perishable food, grocery staples, and assorted hygiene and cleaning supplies will also be available at Talent Town Hall (206 E. Main St, Talent, parking available in the lot next to Town Hall).
Español:
El Centro de Alivio por Incendio está organizando una feria de recursos y distribución de suministros móvil, el sábado 23 de abril, de 12:00 p. m. a 3:00 p. m. en el estacionamiento de Talent Town Hall para sobrevivientes de incendios.
Rogue Action Center y Rogue Climate reúnen a organizaciones asociadas para compartir información y recursos mientras proporcionan suministros y almuerzos del camión de comida gratis Loncheria Las Reyes y Curbside King, cortesía de Rogue Food Unites.
Los miembros de la comunidad están invitados a conocer al personal de
- Coalición Fortaleza,
- Servicio de Bibliotecas del Condado de Jackson,
- Zone Captains,
- Maslow Project,
- OYEN Emotional Wellness Center,
- Jackson County Community Long Term Recovery Group y más,
para conocer sus programas y conectarse con el personal y los voluntarios.
El personal bilingüe de ACCESS y del Departamento de Servicios Humanos de Oregón y del Catholic Charities estará disponible para ayudar con los recursos de vivienda.
Alimentos no erecederos gratuitos, alimentos básicos y una variedad de artículos de higiene y limpieza también estarán disponibles en Talent Town Hall (206 E. Main St, Talent, estacionamiento disponible en el estacionamiento junto al Town Hall)
Public Health Agency Warns Of Gastroenteritis Outbreak In Jackson County
Jackson County Public Health issued a health advisory Thursday, Apr. 21 warning residents about an increase in gastroenteritis cases and outbreaks in Jackson County among daycare and school-aged children. Public Health officials suspect a common, but highly transmissible norovirus as the culprit.
“Diseases that cause diarrhea with or without vomiting are called gastroenteritis,” Jackson County Public Health said in a release. “Gastroenteritis means inflammation of the stomach.”
Gastroenteritis is often referred to as food poisoning or the stomach flu, although it is not related to the flu (a respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus). Many different germs can cause gastroenteritis, including viruses (such as rotaviruses, noroviruses), bacteria (such as Salmonella or Shigella), and parasites (such as Giardia).
“We suspect the increase of gastroenteritis cases and outbreaks is caused by norovirus, and we believe that there are many other cases and outbreaks in the community that we are not aware of,” states Andrea Krause, Communicable Disease and Epidemiologist Manager for Jackson County Public Health. “We are currently collecting specimens from cases to submit to the Oregon State Public Health lab for testing.”
There are about 2,500 reported norovirus outbreaks in the United States each year. Norovirus outbreaks occur throughout the year but are most common from November to April. In years when there is a new strain of the virus, there can be 50% more norovirus illness.
Each year, on average in the United States, norovirus causes:
- 900 deaths, mostly among adults aged 65 and older
- 109,000 hospitalizations
- 465,000 emergency department visits, mostly in young children
- 2,270,000 outpatient clinic visits annually, mostly in young children
- 19 to 21 million cases of vomiting and diarrhea illnesses
You can get norovirus by accidentally getting tiny particles of feces (poop) or vomit from an infected person in your mouth. Norovirus is very contagious; people with norovirus illness shed billions of virus particles in their stool and vomit and can easily infect others. It only takes a minimal amount of norovirus particles (fewer than 100) to become infected.
People can become infected if they eat food or drink liquids that are contaminated with norovirus, touch surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus and then put your fingers in your mouth, or have direct contact with someone who is infected with norovirus, such as by caring for them or sharing food or eating utensils with them.
Symptoms of Norovirus:
If you think you have the stomach flu or stomach bug, it is most likely norovirus. Norovirus is the most common cause of vomiting and diarrhea, and foodborne illness.
A person usually develops symptoms 12 to 48 hours after being exposed to norovirus. Most people with norovirus illness get better within 1 to 3 days.
The most common symptoms of norovirus are:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
Other symptoms include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Body aches
If you have norovirus illness, you can feel extremely ill and vomit or have diarrhea many times a day. This can lead to dehydration, especially in young children, older adults, and people with other illnesses. If you think you or someone you are caring for is severely dehydrated, call your healthcare provider.
Symptoms of dehydration include:
- Decrease in urination
- Dry mouth and throat
- Feeling dizzy when standing up
- Children who are dehydrated may cry with few or no tears and be unusually sleepy or fussy.
How to Prevent Norovirus:
You can help protect yourself and others from norovirus by washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water and following other simple prevention tips.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially after using the toilet or changing diapers, always before eating, preparing or handling food, and before giving yourself or someone else medicine.
- Handle and prepare food safely. Carefully wash fruits and vegetables, cook oysters and other shellfish thoroughly, food contaminated with norovirus should be thrown, be aware that noroviruses are relatively resistant to heat and can survive temperatures as high as 145F.
- When you are sick, do not prepare food or care for others. You should not prepare food for others or provide healthcare while you are sick and for at least two days after symptoms stop. This also applies to sick workers in restaurants, schools, daycares, long-term care facilities, and other places where they may expose people to norovirus.
- Anyone who is sick with either vomiting or diarrhea should stay home from daycare, school, or work until at least 48 hours after symptoms have resolved. This is because the virus can still shed after symptoms have resolved.
Sheriff’s Office Issues Door-To-Door Sales Safety Tips
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. – There have been several reports over the last couple days of door-to-door sales people selling aromatherapy/air purifier/diffuser products. In some of these reports, the sales person has pushed their way into the home of a person who has said they are not interested.
The sales person usually female and appears to be alone but when she leaves, she gets into a vehicle (a grey Chevy Suburban or a White Ford Explorer) that is occupied by two males. The legitimacy of these salespersons is unclear; what is clear is that their sales tactics are suspicious and that you should use caution when dealing with door-to-door sales people as a general rule.
Here are a few tips to help keep you safe when someone comes knocking at your door.
• Use peep-holes to determine who is at your door, and keep your porch light on in the evening.
• Refuse to open the door to anyone you don’t know or aren’t comfortable with.
• Talk to sales people through the door and let them know you aren’t interested. Most products being sold door-to-door can be obtained by contacting the company directly.
• Never give door-to-door salespeople personal information or disclose that you are home alone.
• Utilize “No Soliciting” signs near your door.
• If you suspect a door-to-door-salesperson is not legitimate, take note of details you can observe without opening your door, such as the person’s personal appearance including height, approximate weight, hair and eye color, clothing description, and description of a vehicle if applicable.
• Contact your neighbors and put them on alert!
Report suspicious persons or activities to your local law enforcement. Douglas Co. Sheriff’s Office
We want to keep you informed about COVID-19 in Oregon. Data are provisional and change frequently. For more information, including COVID-19 data by county, visit our dashboard: https://public.tableau.com/views/OregonCOVID-19Update/DailyDataUpdate?:language=en-US&:toolbar=n&:display_count=n&:origin=viz_share_link
Wednesday, Oregon Health Authority announced its latest COVID-19 findings, which reveals a steady increase in cases and a significant drop in COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Across Oregon, OHA finds 83% of adults have been vaccinated in the state. The OHA also wanted to remind Oregonians that the Test to Treat Program is still available across the state for people who want to be treated for COVID-19 symptoms. Public Information Officer Valeree Lane says that one of the great things about where we are in our response to COVID, is so many people have been vaccinated or have had COVID, that they have the anti-bodies, in their bodies right now, to respond to the virus in a way that’s not as troubling as it was a couple of years ago.
Oregon Health Authority officials say they are monitoring a rise in COVID-19 cases, including the now prevalent BA.2 subvariant. Deputy State Health Officer Dr. Tom Jeanne says Oregon averaged 600 new cases a day over the past
week, “It’s been a little bit more than four weeks since the lifting of mask use in most settings, and some of the jump we see in case counts is likely tied to less mask use and more Oregonians gathering indoors and returning to pre-pandemic social activities.” He says the OHA is aware there’s a level of underreporting, saying the proportion of cases reported to public health also has likely declined, with more home tests available.
According to Dr. Jeanne, that underreporting could mean the case count is as much as five- to 10-times higher than what’s reported. OHA Senior Health Advisor Dr. Paul Cieslak urges continued caution, especially the elderly and those with compromised immune systems, because it’s not possible to track home tests and those asymptomatic
people who don’t get tested. The OHA has no plans to reinstate mask mandates should COVID numbers spike again because more than 80% of the population has some level of immunity and there are more effective medical treatments available. Dr. Cieslak believes the best protection continues to come from getting vaccinated and boosted.
President Joe Biden Visited Oregon Yesterday
Biden arrived to highlight the historic growth and nearly 8 million jobs created as a result of his and Congressional Democrats’ actions, including the American Rescue Plan and bipartisan infrastructure law.
Governor Brown welcomed President Joseph R. Biden Jr. for a tour of the PDXNext project, which includes a new roof and expanded main terminal at the Portland International Airport. The Portland airport received significant improvement funds through the law.
The visit highlighted the opportunities to improve infrastructure in Oregon and underscored the importance of embedding equity in Oregon’s approach to implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The Governor was joined by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer, U.S. Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, U.S. Congressman Peter De Fazio, U.S. Congressman Kurt Schrader, and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler.
The President was joined at the airport by Governor Kate Brown, Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, and Congressman Kurt Schrader. The president also talked about efforts to reduce inflation.
He attended a fundraiser at Portland Yacht Club for the Democratic National Committee. On Friday – Earth Day – Biden heads to Seattle to discuss clean energy. This is his first visit as President to Oregon and Washington.
Oregon Will Receive An Additional $3.8 Million, Bringing The Total For Oregon — Including American Rescue Plan Funds — To $92.6 Million In LIHEAP Funding
The White House said Thursday that the Department of Health and Human Services will release $384 million more to a program to help low-income families with home energy cost.
The funds will go to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which received $4.5 billion earlier through the American Rescue Plan.
The infrastructure law passed this year will provide $500 million to the program in $100 million installments starting this year. That money is provided to states to help residents with energy costs.
President Joe Biden was expected to comment more on the efforts to fund the program during a trip to Portland on Thursday.
“Oregon, where the president is traveling today, will receive an additional $3.8 million, bringing the total for Oregon — including American Rescue Plan funds — to $92.6 million in LIHEAP funding,” the White House said. “Washington, where the president will travel [on Friday], will receive an additional $6.5 million, bringing its total to $151.2 million.”
The White House said the American Rescue Plan provided Emergency Rental Assistance programs $21.5 billion in funding to provide help with past-due utility bills or ongoing assistance with energy costs.
“The Treasury Department is also working with states and tribes to distribute $9.8 billion in funding for the Homeowners Assistance Fund, with a majority of approved plans including utility assistance to homeowners in need,” the White House said.
The White House also called on local and state governments to use the money from the programs to help residents avoid energy shutoffs and help provide more energy efficient appliances during the upcoming summer months.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is continuing a series of 100 actions, to be completed this year, that together will save families $100 every year with more efficient home appliances and equipment,” the White House said. “Today’s announcement also builds on the administration’s previous actions to ensure these historic resources are distributed swiftly and equitably.”
Man Found In Hand-Built Casket At Harrisburg Cemetery Identified
The man found dead inside a hand-built casket at a rural cemetery last month has been identified based on his fingerprints, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office said.
The sheriff said the deceased was 59-year-old Randall Louis Lloyd.
“Lloyd has ties to Washington, Idaho, and more recently Eugene, Oregon,” the sheriff’s office said. “Preliminary findings from the autopsy show Lloyd’s death was from natural causes, pending toxicology results.”
Detectives continue to investigate who left Lloyd’s body in the cemetery – and why. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Detective Division (541) 967-3950.
April 21 Oregon Employment Department Media Statement – Economic Update
On Tuesday, April 19, the Employment Department released March unemployment rates and jobs numbers for Oregon’s counties and metropolitan areas. In March, seasonally adjusted unemployment rates declined in 35 of Oregon’s 36 counties.
No Oregon county had its unemployment rate go up in March. Wheeler County’s unemployment rate did not decline, but it held steady over the month.
All across Oregon, unemployment rates are at or near record lows since at least 1990. Klamath County had Oregon’s highest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (5.3%) in March. Benton County registered the lowest unemployment in March, at 2.9%.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, nine out of 10 nonfarm payroll jobs gained in March were added in Oregon’s metropolitan areas. The Portland metro area added 2,600 jobs during the month. Eugene added 1,100 jobs.
The Bend metro area had 1,800 more jobs in March 2022 than before the pandemic recession. Other metro areas that have regained essentially all their recession losses include Salem, Grants Pass, and Albany.
A handful of rural counties – Gilliam, Klamath, Lake, Lincoln, and Sherman – had small job losses in March. All other rural counties held steady or had total nonfarm job gains over the month.
Several rural counties have regained all their recession job losses, and they had more jobs in March 2022 than in February 2020. They include Baker, Crook, Gilliam, Harney, Morrow, Wallowa, and Wheeler counties.
The Oregon Employment Department (OED) is an equal opportunity agency. Everyone has a right to use OED programs and services. OED provides free help. Some examples are sign language and spoken language interpreters, written materials in other languages, braille, large print, audio and other formats. If you need help, please call 971-673-6400. TTY users call 711. You can also ask for help at OED_Communications@employ.oregon.gov
Maintenance Man At Lincoln City Senior Facility Arrested On Multiple Charges
Lincoln City Police arrested 61-year-old Alan T. Zimmerman of Lincoln City on Tuesday, April 19, on multiple charges stemming from an investigation into reported criminal activity he was involved in while working at the Dorchester House senior living apartments in Lincoln City.
In early March of this year, Lincoln City Police received information that thefts had been occurring from apartments within the apartment complex. An investigation ensued and information was learned that a number of residents had experienced burglaries and thefts from their apartment. During the investigation, probable cause was developed that the complex’s maintenance man was involved in these thefts, as well as other criminal activity at the complex.
On Tuesday morning, Lincoln City Police detectives and officers, along with assistance from detectives with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and the Toledo Police Department, served a search warrant at the Dorchester House and took Zimmerman into custody. During the subsequent search, stolen items were found in Zimmerman’s possession as well as a firearm, which he is prohibited from possessing.
As a result of the investigation, Zimmerman was subsequently transported to the Lincoln County Jail where he was lodged on charges of Burglary I, Theft III, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, two counts of Sex Abuse I, and four counts of Sex Abuse III.
The Lincoln City Police would like to thank the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and the Toledo Police Department for their assistance with the search warrant service. The case investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed. If you have any information regarding this case, contact Detective Bud Lane at 541-994-3636.
Grants Pass Missing Person
The Grants Pass Police Department is seeking assistance from the public in locating 30 year old Noah Baker. Baker was despondent after an argument and left his residence in Grants Pass driving a silver Ford Fiesta with Oregon Plate 671MUR.
Baker is described as a white male adult, 5’09”, 170 lbs, brown hair and blue eyes and was last seen wearing black sweats, black shirt, black shoes and a black hat.
If anyone knows of his whereabouts or sees Baker, please call your local law enforcement agency or the Grants Pass Police at 541-450-6260. Reference case #2022-14203 Grants Pass Police Department
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
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Have-You-Seen-Me-Southern-Oregons-Missing-People-161249961222839/posts/