Rogue Valley News, Wednesday 5/4 – Juvenile Suspect Arrested After Making Threats Towards Shady Cove Elementary School, Trial Set For Suspect In Second Fire Set In Phoenix 2020

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, May 4, 2022

Rogue Valley Weather

Juvenile Suspect Arrested After Making Threats Towards Shady Cove Elementary School

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies arrested a 16-year-old male last Thursday for threatening violence towards the Shady Cove Elementary School. The threat came from the social media platform, Snapchat on Thursday, April 28.

In the reported video, the juvenile suspect made verbal threats while walking along Highway 62 just off the school property. There were no children present when the threat was received around 4:30 p.m. so no formal lockdown was initiated. Upon receiving the threat, school staff were sent home and after-school functions were canceled.

JCSO deputies identified the 16-year-old suspect and he was arrested at his home around 6 p.m. the same day. The suspect was lodged at the Jackson County Juvenile Detention Center and charged with first-degree disorderly conduct. Investigations are ongoing.

We take threats against children and schools very seriously, if you are aware of an immediate threat towards a school call 911.  JCSO Case 22-2330 Jackson Co. Sheriff’s Office

Trial Set For Suspect In Second Fire Set In Phoenix 2020

The man accused of starting a second fire on September 8, 2020, will stand trial next week.

Michael Jarrod Bakela was arrested in Phoenix while the Almeda Fire was underway. He is not charged with starting the initial fire, but rather a second fire he is accused of starting in Phoenix.

Bakkela is chared with two counts of Arson in the First Degree, 15 counts of Criminal Mischief in the First Degree, 14 counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person, one count of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, and seven counts of Animal Abuse in the First Degree.

Late last month, Bakkela’s attorney requested a change of venue for the trial. On April 27, 2022, Melissa E. LeRitz, Deputy District Attorney for Jackson County, filed a response to Bakkela’s request for a change of venue. Indicating that Bakkela’s attorney cited social media posts as the reason a change of venue was warranted.

Defendant relies heavily on the “Jackson County Scanner Page” profile on Facebook, which is known in the community as a forum for crime reporting and gossip. The “Scanner Group” is a private Facebook group consisting of 73,900 members, as of the writing of this response. A member does not have to be a resident of Jackson County in order to join, and is therefore not necessarily representative of the county. Additionally, the members make up less than a third of the U.S. Census Bureau’s estimated 223,734 residents of Jackson County.

Today, Judge Laura Cromwell denied the request for the change of venue. The trial is scheduled to begin Monday, May 9, 2021.

Budget extra time this week on Interstate 5 south of Rogue River

ODOT crews will be crack-sealing the pavement on Interstate 5 this week between mile posts 45 and 48, just south of Rogue River. This work is weather-dependent through Friday, from 6 a.m. through 4 p.m.

Expect single lane traffic and short delays. Slow down and watch for crews in the work zone. ODOT: SW Oregon

Targeted Pedestrian Operation in Medford

On Friday, May 6th, 2022 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, the Medford Police Department and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting a joint “Targeted Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operation” on E Jackson Street at Olwell Road. The operation will focus on drivers failing to yield the right of way to pedestrians in the crosswalk.  It is important to know this is an unmarked crosswalk in a school zone adjacent to Hedrick Middle School where speeds are posted 20 MPH.  Fine amounts double for traffic violations that occur within a school zone. 

These operations are to raise pedestrian safety awareness through enforcement of pedestrian right of way laws with the use of a decoy pedestrian operation at targeted locations.  Violators may be cited for failure to stop and remain stopped for a pedestrian in a marked or unmarked crosswalk or passing a stopped vehicle at a marked or unmarked crosswalk. Both violations carry a presumptive fine of $265.00.  Drivers should be reminded there is a crosswalk at every intersection, regardless if it is marked or unmarked.           

Drivers are reminded of the Oregon laws that require a driver must stop and remain stopped if a pedestrian is walking in your lane of traffic or the lane adjacent, remembering this applies on single and multi-lane roadways.  Oregon law also prohibits passing a stopped vehicle at a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection if the vehicle is stopped to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway. Medford Police Dept.

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: http://ow.ly/3Qn550IYulA

Screen shot of linked dashboard shows an increase trend in cases, test positivity  and hospitalizations. Vaccinations have plateaued. Please visit healthoregon.org/coronavirus for more information.
May be an image of text that says 'FREE ZOOM WEBINAR: LEARN ABOUT COVID-19 TREATMENTS Thursday, May 5, 12- p.m. oHa experts will discuss: •What COVID-19 treatments are available .How to get them •How much they cost And more helpful information To join, click the Zoom link above or scan the QR code. SCAN ΜΕ Health Oregon'

Join a free Zoom webinar to learn about COVID-19 treatment. Experts from Oregon Health Authority will go over everything we know about available COVID-19 treatments, such as monoclonal antibodies and antivirals. When: Thursday, May 5, 12-1 p.m. PDTWhere: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1605111562… COVID-19 experts and health care providers will discuss what treatments are available, how to get them, how much they cost and more.There will also be an opportunity to ask questions. An ASL interpreter will be present, and closed captioning will be provided. The webinar will be recorded and posted to the OHA website here:https://govstatus.egov.com/or-oha-covid-19-treatments…

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Oregon Honors 192 Fallen Law Enforcement Officers – Three Names Added to Memorial Wall  

The State of Oregon remembered and honored 192 fallen law enforcement officers, and the families they left behind, during a memorial ceremony on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at 1 PM attended by Governor Kate Brown. The event took place outdoors, at the state memorial which is located at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem.  

The names of three fallen Oregon law enforcement officers were approved for addition to the state memorial and honored at this year’s ceremony; S. Allen Burdic of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, EOW 3/11/21; John R. Burright of the Oregon State Police, EOW 5/4/21; and Carl L. Frazier of the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, EOW 10/9/1979.

The Oregon Fallen Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial Ceremony is a significant event that the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) is proud to host each year in partnership with the Oregon Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, Oregon Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), Oregon Fallen Badge Foundation, and Oregon’s various statewide law enforcement associations.

The memorial honors 192 fallen Oregon law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty since the 1860s. This includes officers from city, county, state, tribal and federal law enforcement agencies who have served as law enforcement officers, corrections officers, and parole and probation officers.

The Oregon memorial is held the week ahead of National Police Week events in Washington, D.C. so that family members and co-workers can attend both memorial ceremonies.  More than 21,000 officers who have died in the line of duty are honored on the national memorial

Background on the names being added to the Oregon Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Memorial in 2022:

On March 11, 2021 Deputy Sheriff S. Allen Burdic died as the result of complications of gunshot wound. In the early morning hours of August 12th, 1980, Deputy Burdic responded to a shooting at a tavern in Myrtle Creek. As Deputy Burdic checked the area he located the suspect parked in a gravel turn-out near I-5. The subject opened fire on Deputy Burdic, shooting him twice. The man then stole Deputy Burdic’s Patrol vehicle and ran over his legs as he fled. One of the shots injured Deputy Burdic’s spine, causing him to suffer partial paralysis. He medically retired in 1982 as a result of the incident and continued to receive medical care until passing away as a result of complications of the wounds. The subject who shot him was sentenced to 40 years in prison for attempted murder, first-degree assault, felon in possession of a firearm, and unauthorized use of a vehicle. Deputy Burdic had served the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office for one year at the time of the incident and had previously served with the Canyonville Police Department for three years. He is survived by his wife and son.

On May 4,2021 Sergeant John Burright succumbed to injuries sustained on September 4th, 2001, when he struck by a vehicle near mile marker 243 on I-5 near Albany. Senior Trooper Maria Mignano and Police Officer Jason Hoerauf, of the Albany Police Department, were killed in the same incident while all three were assisting a family whose van had broken down. Officer Hoerauf was on a ride-along with his mentor, Sergeant Burright, when the two stopped to assist the van. Trooper Mignano responded to the scene to back them up. While the three officers were standing on the right side of the van, which was parked on the right shoulder, a pickup truck suddenly swerved across a lane of traffic. The pickup struck the right rear of Trooper Mignano’s patrol car, traveled along the other two vehicles, and struck all three officers. The driver of the vehicle was driving on a suspended license at the time and had fallen asleep while driving. Trooper Mignano and Officer Hoerauf succumbed to their injuries at the scene. Sergeant Burright was flown to a local hospital in extremely critical condition. He suffered critical injuries that caused him to medically retire in early 2002. He remained under continuous medical care until succumbing to complications of his injuries on May 4th, 2021. In December 2001, the man plead guilty to criminally negligent homicide and was sentenced to two days in jail and three years of probation as part of a plea bargain. Sergeant Burright had served with the Oregon State Police for 14 years. He is survived by his wife and three sons.

On October 9, 1979 Sergeant Carl L. Frazier suffered a fatal heart attack while removing a large crop of marijuana from the bottom of a canyon that had been discovered and reported by hunters. The steep canyon hampered rescue efforts and Sergeant Frazier had to be winched up to the roadway so that he could be transported to the hospital. Sergeant Frazier succumbed to the heart attack 8 days later. Sergeant Frazier was with the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at the time of his death and previously served 15 years as a police officer with the Riverside, California police department.  He is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters.  

# # # The Oregon Law Enforcement Memorial Fund raised funds to build the state memorial more than 20 years ago and hosts the annual ceremony.  For more information on the Oregon Law Enforcement Memorial Fund and the statewide license plate that is available to honor fallen law enforcement officers and firefighters please visit: https://www.oregon.gov/dpsst/BD/MFB/Pages/Oregon-Law-Enforcement-Memorial-Trust-Fund.aspx
 

For more information on the Oregon Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Memorial please visit: https://www.oregon.gov/dpsst/Memorials/LawEnforcement/Pages/default.aspx

For more information about National Police Week, please visit www.LawMemorial.org/policeweek.

Bureau of Land Management distributes $29 million in Secure Rural Schools funds to 18 Oregon counties

The Bureau of Land Management Oregon/Washington is announcing $29.4 million in payments to 18 western Oregon counties under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. The payments are made in lieu of timber harvest receipts based on a formula set by Congress.

“We’re committed to sustainable forest management as part of our multiple-use and sustained yield mission,” said BLM Oregon/Washington State Director Barry Bushue. “This work supports local economies and provides family-wage jobs for our neighbors, and with the funds we are able to support critical community services like education and public safety.”
 

The BLM manages 2.4 million acres of Oregon and California Railroad Revested Lands in 18 western Oregon counties for sustainable timber harvest. The lands are some of the most productive timberlands in the world. In addition to sustainable timber harvest, BLM-managed forests are home to valuable fish and wildlife habitat, world-class recreational opportunities, cultural and historic resources, and wild and scenic rivers. 

Of the $29 million, roughly $2.6 million will be set aside for cooperative Title II projects. Authorized by the Western Oregon Resource Advisory Committee, these projects aim to improve the health of public lands, and can include wildfire hazard reduction, stream and watershed restoration, forest road maintenance, road decommissioning or obliteration, control of noxious weeds, improvement of fish and wildlife habitat, and opportunities for youth training and employment. 

Additional information about the Western Oregon Resource Advisory Committee is available at: www.blm.gov/get-involved/resource-advisory-council/near-you/oregon-washington/western-oregon-rac

Three-Day Exercise This Week To Evaluate Response Plans For A Large-Scale Pacific Northwest Earthquake And Tsunami

A three-day exercise this week intends to evaluate the federal government’s coordinated response with state and local response plans for a large-scale Pacific Northwest earthquake and tsunami.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) is conducting the comprehensive exercise for a (CSZ) Earthquake and Tsunami
Response Plan. 

It says more than 1,800 federal, tribal, state, local, private sector, non-governmental organizations and scientific community partners were involved in the CSZ planning effort so, “The lessons learned from this ROC Exercise will be incorporated into both an updated CSZ Response Plan and into FEMA’s response operational
procedures.”

The exercise occurs Wednesday through Friday, May 3-5, when FEMA Region 10 will host Cascadia Rising 2022: Rehearsal of Concept as a three-day discussion-based exercise at the Pierce County Readiness Center in Camp Murray, Washington. 

Participants include emergency management representatives from Oregon Alaska, Idaho and Washington, tribal partners, U.S. Department of Defense, American Red Cross, Emergency Management British Columbia and FEMA.

Oregonians are Paying More at the Pump Again

Average gas prices rose 2 cents per gallon this week in Portland and around the state. Nationally, prices are climbing even faster, with prices jumping 7 cents this week to $4.20 per gallon. Oregonians are now paying an average of $4.69 for a gallon of regular, and Portlanders an average of $4.77.

Portland remains near its all-time high of $4.79, which it reached on March 27, and Oregon lingers a few cents below its March 11 crest of $4.74. The national average also reached its peak on March 11, at $4.33.

But AAA spokesperson Marie Dodds said consumers shouldn’t expect much relief for gas prices this summer, as crude oil prices remain around $100 a barrel.

Crude oil prices have risen as the U.S. and other countries placed strict sanctions on Russia, one of the world’s largest oil producers, in response to its invasion of Ukraine. The effects of
that price increase have outweighed the potential for decreased demand prompted by a COVID-19-related economic downturn in China.

Oregon Humanities Invites Oregonians To Swap Letters In A Pen-Pal Project

Dear Stranger is a recurring letter-exchange project that connects Oregonians through the mail to share experiences, beliefs, and ideas.

The isolation of the COVID pandemic and the strident partisanship of national politics have left many Oregonians feeling disconnected and alone. Dear Stranger, a letter-exchange project from Oregon Humanities, offers a chance for connection by inviting Oregonians to write letters with someone they’ve never met.

Oregon Humanities is a statewide organization that brings people together to talk, listen, and learn from one another. “In good times, bad, and everything in between, sometimes it’s hardest to share our innermost thoughts with those closest to us,” says Lucy Solares-Steger, a program assistant who runs the Dear Stranger project at Oregon Humanities. “Dear Stranger offers a chance to share a fresh perspective with a stranger in the world and receive one in return. It provides an opportunity to reach out and find community, listen to one another, and learn from each other.”

The aim of Dear Stranger is to create shared understanding among Oregonians with different backgrounds, experiences, and beliefs. The premise is simple: Write a letter, get a letter, and make a new connection. Oregon Humanities has operated Dear Stranger since 2014, with each round of the project asking writers to address a different question or theme. In the most recent round this past winter, 69 people from 28 communities across Oregon exchanged letters.

This spring’s prompt for writers is about care: “What do you care about, and why? Who do you care for, and who cares for you? Does this feel like a choice or a given? Where do you see care, and where do you notice its absence?

Prompts for writing and instructions for participation are available on the Oregon Humanities website at oregonhumanities.org. Letters are swapped anonymously, and each person receives a letter from the person who received the one they wrote. What happens next is up to the writers. If they’d like to write back, they can do so through Oregon Humanities.

Letters should be addressed to Oregon Humanities, Attn: Dear Stranger, 610 SW St., Suite 1111, Portland, Oregon, 97205. Oregon Humanities will exchange letters mailed by June 30, 2022.

Questions about Dear Stranger should be directed to programs@oregonhumanities.org.

Oregon Humanities connects people and communities through conversation, storytelling, and participatory programs to inspire understanding and collaborative change. More information about our programs and publications—which include the Conversation Project, Bridging Oregon, Consider This, Humanity in Perspective, Public Program Grants, Responsive Program Grants, and Oregon Humanities magazine—can be found at oregonhumanities.org. Oregon Humanities is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities and a partner of the Oregon Cultural Trust. MORE INFO: http://oregonhumanities.org/programs/other-projects/dear-stranger/

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Grants Pass Missing Person

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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 

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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

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Have-You-Seen-Me-Southern-Oregons-Missing-People-161249961222839/posts/

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