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, June 6, 2022
Rogue Valley Weather
Series of Crashes Over Weekend Include Fatality
Rural Metro Fire believes that wet pavement and speed were most likely factors in a series of crashes that happened on Interstate 5 southbound on Saturday, near milepost 67.5.
According to their investigation, before the arrival of rescue crews to the scene, it is believed that a first crash in the area caused four additional crashes, totaling six vehicles in all.
Four people in total were ultimately transported with a variety of injuries, but according to RMF, none of their injuries were considered life-threatening.
Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash Near Wolf Creek
On June 4, 2022, at 10:11 AM, Deputies from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, Rural Metro Fire and American Medical Response responded to a single vehicle crash near milepost two on Speaker Road, Wolf Creek.
Upon arrival, Deputies found a vehicle that left the roadway, struck a tree and went down an embankment. The driver and only occupant in the vehicle was pronounced deceased at the scene. The name of the deceased is being withheld until next of kin can be contacted. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
No further information will be released at this time.
Photos from Rural Metro Fire of yet another crash near Hugo, less than 24 hours after different crash injured four people and damaged six vehicles. According to RMF, the driver of this vehicle was sent to the hospital around 2:35 p.m. OSP is investigating the cause of the crash, but according to initial investigations it is believed that the damp pavement and bald tires may have been a factor in the crash.
The crash that injured two children today on I-5 southbound near milepost 28 on the viaduct. Oregon State Police have informed us that the two children who were taken to the hospital only sustained minor injuries and are doing okay.
Serious Injuries in Crash on New Hope Road
A driver and passenger were seriously injured after their full-size pickup lost control in heavy rain Saturday night and rolled over in the 8100 block of New Hope Road, according to Rural Metro Fire.
We have learned from RMF that the truck eventually came to rest on its wheels, but the doors were jammed shut.
Rural Metro Fire then had to use the “jaws of life” to free the occupants inside. Both occupants were transported by AMR with serious injuries.
JCSO Searching for Missing and Endangered Ashland Man, Last Seen on Valley View Headed Towards Greenway
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) is searching for a missing and endangered man last seen on South Valley View Road in Ashland.
Harold Marcrum, 26, from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania is described as a white male, 6’ tall weighing between 180-200 lbs. with blue eyes and blonde hair. He was last seen wearing a black shirt with black shoes.
Harold has been missing since Monday when he told his brother he was going for a walk on the Greenway from South Valley View Rd. to downtown Ashland. Harold left his wallet and cell phone behind but took his laptop
JCSO Search and Rescue (SAR) is actively searching in the area. If you have seen Harold or know anything of his whereabouts, call SAR Sergeant Shawn Richards at (541) 591-1843. — Jackson Co. Sheriff’s Office JCSO Case 22-3074
Manufactured Home Replacement Resources GRANT for Almeda Fire VIctims
The Rogue Valley was already in a housing crunch when the Almeda Fire hit. Eighteen mobile home parks were largely or fully destroyed, burning 1,500 to 1,700 manufactured homes and RVs, according to state Rep. Pam Marsh of Ashland.
If you are one of the thousands of fire victims who lost a mobile home in the Almeda Fire, and you are low-to-80% of median income, good news! The new Manufactured Home Replacement Resources GRANT pays the ENTIRE AMOUNT between someone’s insurance/FEMA $ & the cost of a new mobile home.
So this can be even more funds than the forgivable loan, which is just $50,000 if you had a single-wide that burned, or $75,000 if you had a double-wide that burned. Flyer is attached below. Contact ACCESS Homeownership Center to get started on your application~541-774-4305, HOCinfo@accesshelps.org.
DMV in Dire Need to Fill Job Openings in Your Area
“DMV has been experiencing the same shortage of applicants for job openings as other employers statewide and nationwide,” Joyce said.
“The people working at your local DMV live in your community – and could use your help.”
Apply for a job at ODOT today at www.odotjobs.com – select “Department of Transportation” under the Company menu.
OHA’s recent COVID-19 Biweekly Data Report, released Thursday, showed an increase in COVID-19-related cases, hospitalizations and deaths since the previous two-week period: http://ow.ly/Fmbw50JpGCw .
“The increases we are seeing with COVID-19 cases statewide confirm that the virus is still widespread through Oregon, even though many of us are ready to move on,” said Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at OHA.
“With our healthcare partners, we continue to monitor hospitalization numbers that are rising gradually. We anticipate, based on the latest modeling, that hospitalizations will peak around the second week of June and then start to come down.” “Being up to date with your vaccinations and boosters is still your best way to prevent serious disease,” added Dr. Cieslak.
“Persons who are at higher risk should make a plan for getting tested and treated quickly should they develop COVID-19 symptoms despite vaccination. Paxlovid and other treatments are now widely available in Oregon with a doctor’s prescription or through test-to-treat sites.”
To learn more about COVID-19 treatments and federal Test to Treat sites in Oregon, visit http://ow.ly/l3t950JpGCv.
ODOT Construction Includes Bridge Repair on I-5
Bridge paving begins Monday night, June 6, on Interstate 5, which will affect traffic in some areas with work scheduled to run from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. for four nights, Oregon Department of Transportation reports.
Overnight I-5 travelers should expect single lane traffic south of the Halsey-Brownsville exit next week. Crews are paving a bridge at milepost 210.
One lane will be paved each night. There are two travel lanes in each direction over the bridge. A lane will close at 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. the following morning.
Watch for lane closures and work crews. Oregon State Police will be providing extra coverage in the work zone for safety.
The schedule is subject to change depending on weather conditions.
“This project is part of our commitment to maintain our multi-modal transportation system throughout the state,” ODOT said. For 24/7 road conditions and travel information visit www.tripcheck.com. MORE INFO on PROJECTS: https://www.oregon.gov/odot/projects/pages/default.aspx
Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal Launches Grant Opportunity to Boost Wildfire Response Staffing
SALEM, Ore. – As the heat of summer nears, and the threat of wildfire increases, the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is announcing a grant to help bolster capacity at local fire departments across the state.
As part of the OSFM’s Response Ready Oregon Initiative, roughly $4 million is available to local fire districts and departments to bring on additional staff during the 2022 wildfire season. When applying for this grant, local fire agencies can request up to $35,000 to support upstaffing.
This additional funding will increase on-duty capacity throughout the fire season at the local level and allow agencies to mobilize quickly to fires at the local, regional, and state (conflagration) level. Having more on-duty firefighters will help keep fires small before they can impact communities.
“The Office of State Fire Marshal is taking a multipronged approach to combating wildfire in Oregon,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said, “We’re investing in communities through risk reduction programs and firefighting equipment and people to keep Oregonians protected from wildfire. This grant opportunity will give the Oregon fire service much needed capacity during a critical time of year.”
All 306 of Oregon’s local fire service agencies are eligible for this grant opportunity. For additional information or the grant application please visit https://www.oregon.gov/osp/programs/sfm/Pages/OSFM-Grants.aspx.
Current staff and volunteers would be eligible for additional hours under the grant using the current agency staffing model and pay scale. The application review will begin June 6, 2022. Applications may be considered through August 12, 2022, subject to the availability of funds. Applications will be periodically reviewed during the application window. Funding awards will be distributed on a rolling basis as applications are reviewed and approved.
Funding for this upstaffing grant opportunity was made possible through the Oregon Legislature and Senate Bill 762.
ABOUT RESPONSE READY OREGON
The OSFM’s Response Ready Oregon initiative was created to help bolster capacity and modernize wildfire response within the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System (OFMAS). The goal of Response Ready Oregon is to attack fires while they are small and keep them out of communities.
Record Number Of Rescues This Season For Mount Hood Rescue Crews
Crews have seen a record number of rescues and recoveries on Mount Hood this season.
Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg said they usually have a few a season; this year, they’ve had eight so far.
Van Tilburg said the increase is due to a few factors. One — more people on the mountain.
“We used to have a mountaineering season that was roughly March through July, but now people are climbing the mountain all year long,” said Van Tilburg.
He also said that means a wide range of experience levels. And experience matters, according to Van Tilburg, especially when it comes to a mountain as complicated as Mount Hood.
Mount Hood has a lot of hazards including crevasses, difficult snow conditions, and falling rocks.
“Preparing for those takes experience. Hopefully, people who are beginners can go guided or a formal course,” said Van Tilburg.
He suggests saying within your limits and never push yourself into an experience you’re not prepared for.
Important Meeting Set For Oregon Coast Residents And Visitors On Wind Farms
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) invites public comment at Newport meeting
(NEWPORT, OR) – Representatives of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will be in Newport on Wednesday, June 15th to hear public comment on the areas identified for offshore wind energy development off Oregon’s southern and central coast.
The public meeting will be held at the Best Western Agate Beach Hotel, 3019 North Coast Highway (101) from 8am – Noon. The meeting will be facilitated by Heather Mann, executive director of Midwater Trawlers Cooperative. Any individual who wishes to share a comment for the public record is encouraged to attend.
There have been a number of meetings – including among local residents and local governments – who contend that BOEM is rushing too much and too fast to make a wall of unsightly wind generators off our coasts. The economy of coastal Oregon relies very much on the fishing industry as well as tourism. They want to see a beautiful ocean – not a wall of rotating fans.
Please attend the meeting at Best Western Agate Beach, 8am to to Noon, on Wednesday, June 15th at 3019 North Coast Highway. Our ocean views and fishing industry are worth saving.
BOEM is part of the U.S. Department of Interior and is the agency that manages all offshore development.
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