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, June 8, 2022
Rogue Valley Weather
JCSO Continues Search for Missing and Endangered Ashland Man, Last Seen on Valley View Headed Towards Greenway
ASHLAND, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) continues to search for a missing and endangered man last seen on South Valley View Road in Ashland. JCSO Search and Rescue (SAR) is actively searching the greenway around Ashland for Harold Marcrum, 26, missing since May 30.
SAR is conducting area searches of his last known location using multiple teams. The SAR teams are searching via horseback, K-9, mountain bike, drone, ground, and fixed wing aircraft. SAR personnel have searched both sides of Bear Creek along the greenway from Ashland into Talent, Phoenix, and Medford, and will broaden the search area as needed.
Harold has lived in Ashland since 2017 and is originally from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He 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 May 30 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.
If you have seen Harold or know anything of his whereabouts, call SAR Sergeant Shawn Richards at (541) 591-1843. JCSO Case 22-3074 Jackson Co. Sheriff’s Office
Police Seek Tips on Ashland Man Who Committed Suicide After Attempting To Kidnap Child In Springfield
An Ashland man took his own life after trying and failing to abduct a child yesterday, Springfield police say.
The Springfield Police Department reports that they received a call just after 4:15 p.m. on June 6 alleging that a man had attempted and failed to kidnap a child on Forty-Eighth Street near Daisy Street in Springfield. Police said the caller provided them with a description of the suspect’s vehicle and the direction they were headed. Police add that several officers from nearby agencies responded to locate the suspect and his vehicle, aided by the caller’s testimony.
Police say the child was located unharmed and is at home safe with their family.
According to police the suspect, later identified as Tanner Hoover, 28, from Ashland, tried to get away near Camp Creek Road and Highway 126. Police say that when they tried to pull his vehicle over, Hoover immediately stopped his vehicle and committed suicide.
Police say they are conducting an investigation to determine if any other individuals have been affected and to obtain a clearer understanding of the events. The Springfield Police Department has promised to release more information about the case when more facts are known.
Police said that their investigation revealed that Hoover had been away from his residence in Ashland for some time. If you have any information on his whereabouts in recent days, police ask you to call.
Police ask anyone who has seen the suspect – identified as 28-year-old Tanner Hoover – in the last 10 days to contact police at (541) 726-3721 or police@springfield-or.gov.
DMV in Dire Need to Fill Job Openings in Your Area
The DMV has been experiencing the same shortage of applicants for job openings as other employers statewide and nationwide and is looking for applicants looking for a good and rewarding job.
“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.
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/ApOh50Js0uJ
OHA —-· If you’re heading outdoors, it’s important to be on the lookout for cyanobacteria blooms that can produce toxins in Oregon lakes, rivers and reservoirs as air temperature rises.Cyanobacteria are beneficial bacteria found worldwide in all freshwater. Many blooms are harmless, but some can produce cyanotoxins that make people and animals sick.
Children and pets are particularly sensitive to illness because of their size and activity levels. Dogs can get extremely ill and even die within minutes to hours of exposure to cyanotoxins by drinking the water, licking their wet fur or eating the toxins from floating mats or dried crust along the shore.
Symptoms of exposure to cyanotoxins include diarrhea, cramps, vomiting, numbness, dizziness and fainting.We recommend that everyone stay out of water that looks foamy, scummy, thick (like pea-green or blue-green paint) or where brownish-red mats are present.
Remember, “When in doubt, stay out!”To learn more, and to check if an advisory has been issued or lifted for a specific water body, visit healthoregon.org/hab. For health information or to report an illness, contact OHA at 971-673-0440. For campground or lake information, call the local management agency.
Oregon Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial Ceremony June 9th
Each year, the Oregon Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial Ceremony honors the sacrifices of brave individuals that protect our state. This year’s ceremony will be held on June 9, 2022 at 1pm at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST).
Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) 4190 Aumsville HighwaySalem, Oregon 97317
Please join us on this day as we gather to honor four fire service members who made the ultimate sacrifice: Firefighter/Squad Boss Frumencio Ruiz-Carapia, Captain Richard Ilg, Captain Harry E. Klopfenstein, and Lieutenant Jerry A. Richardson. The 2022 ceremony will be open to the public for any who would like to attend in-person, as well as streamed live via DPSST’s Facebook webpage. Afterward, a link to a recording of the ceremony will be posted as soon as the video is ready to be shared.
Ruiz-Carapia, who worked for GE Forestry Inc., was killed in the line of duty on August 23, 2021 when he was struck by a falling tree during the Gales Fire in Lane County. Forest Grove Fire & Rescue’s Captain Ilg passed away from work-related brain cancer after long battle on September 12, 2021. Silverton Fire District’s Captain Klopfenstein passed of cardiac complications on September 25, 2021 following a response to a motor vehicle crash. Lastly, on November 19, 2021, Lieutenant Jerry Richardson lost his battle with cancer and passed away after being diagnosed with mesothelioma after serving as a firefighter and fire paramedic for over 34 years.
In preparation for Oregon Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial, the names of the four fallen firefighters were recently etched into the memorial wall alongside the names of 170 other firefighters who are already honored and remembered on the State’s memorial. Families of the fallen were in attendance at the engraving event alongside members of the Oregon Fire Service Honor Guard who stood watch while the names were added.
Background information on Frumencio Ruiz-Carapia – Frumencio Ruiz-Carapia passed away at 56 years old during the Gales Fire in Lane County when a tree suddenly snapped, crashing to the ground and striking Ruiz-Carapia. Ruiz-Carapia succumbed to his injuries at the scene despite efforts from his crew to save him. Immediately following his death, responders wrapped him in the American flag and formed a procession before his body was prepared for transport home to Medford, where he would eventually be sent to Queretaro, Mexico where his mother and brother live. Ruiz-Carapia was a 20-year firefighting veteran where he was known to be a kind, caring, upbeat individual that loved his wife and three children. Unfortunately, he was due to return home the day following his death where his wife had his favorite food prepared for him.
Background information on Richard “Rick” Ilg – Rick Ilg passed away peacefully in his home on September 12, 2021 after a courageous battle against brain cancer. He was just 49 years old. Ilg began his career with Forest Grove Fire & Rescue in 2003 after working as a Paramedic with Metro West Ambulance. During his years of service with Forest Grove Fire & Rescue, he became the department’s highest decorated firefighter with several commendations and awards in service to the community, including the department’s highest honor, the Medal of Valor, which he earned during a daring technical rescue in the Oregon Coast Range Mountains in 2014. Ilg was known in his region as a highly respected and regarded Paramedic who had an incredible ability to remain calm and collected on high-risk calls. Ilg is survived by a wife and daughter.
Background information on Harry E. Klopfenstein – On September 24, 2021 Harry Klopfenstein responded to a motor vehicle crash in Silverton, Oregon. The next day, Klopfenstein was assisting a neighbor near his property where he collapsed and eventually succumbed to cardiac complications at Silverton Hospital less than 24 hours after responding to the vehicle incident. Klopfenstein selflessly gave 33 years of service as a volunteer for Silverton Fire District as well as owned KS Seeds, but he was happiest when working with his family on the farm. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, five sons, and several grandchildren.
Background information on Jerry A. Richardson – Jerry Richardson, 56, passed away on November 19, 2021 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Richardson, a loving husband and father of two, started his life of service as a volunteer at Selah Fire Department in Montebello, California when he was just a junior in high school. After graduating high school, Jerry enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served as an airbase firefighter for four years. After the military, Richardson studied to become a Paramedic and began his firefighting career at Cottage Grove Fire in 1992. In 1999, Richardson started at Portland Fire & Rescue where he would become a well-respected Lieutenant and leader. Richardson enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, baseball, softball, coaching, woodworking, and church, but he valued his family most. In 1993, Richardson married the love of his life, Heather, and soon after they would expand their family with the birth of their children, Eddie and Kaylee. Though Richardson battled cancer for the last three years of his life, he still managed to find joy in each day.
If you have any questions regarding the Memorial, please contact Fire Program Manager Julie Olsen at 503-378-2297 or julie.olsen@dpsst.oregon.gov or Fire Certification Coordinator Brooke Bell-Uribe at 503-378-2254 or rooke.bell-uribe@dpsst.oregon.gov“>brooke.bell-uribe@dpsst.oregon.gov.
Give blood in honor of World Blood Donor Day
Blood donors needed ahead of summer break, when donations typically decline
— Each year on June 14, the American Red Cross joins blood collection organizations around the world to celebrate World Blood Donor Day, which recognizes the importance of a safe and stable blood supply and the donors who make it possible.
Nearly 2.5 million people volunteer to give lifesaving blood and platelets every year with the Red Cross. Eligible donors are encouraged to be part of something big by making an appointment to give blood or platelets this month.
Blood donations decline in late spring and early summer – especially during holiday weeks, like Memorial Day and Independence Day – but the need for blood and platelet transfusions doesn’t take a summer break. Generous blood and platelet donors are critically important in ensuring lifesaving care is available the moment patients need it. To schedule an appointment to donate, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit https://rdcrss.org/findappt1 or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
As a thank-you for helping, in honor of the new Baz Luhrmann film, Elvis, all who come to give in the month of June will be automatically entered for a chance to win a VIP trip to Graceland for two, including round-trip airfare to Memphis, plus a three-night stay at The Guest House and Elvis Entourage VIP tour, courtesy of Graceland, a custom-wrapped Gibson Epiphone guitar and more. Additionally, those who come to donate June 1-30 will also receive a $5 e-gift card to a merchant of choice.
A few upcoming blood donation opportunities June 14-30:
June 14
- Riversgate Church, 7634 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR, 12pm-5pm
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Vancouver Stake Center, 10509 SE 5th St., Vancouver, WA, 1pm-7pm
- Venue 252, 252 Lawrence Street, Eugene, OR, 11am-4pm
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Medford Stake, 2900 Juanipero Way Medford, OR, 1pm-6pm
June 17
- Hollywood Library, 4040 NE Tillamook St, Portland, OR, 12pm-5pm
- Chick-fil-a, 16320 SE Mill Plain Blvd, Vancouver, WA, 10am-4pm
June 21
- Fight the Bite, Give Blood, 4252 SE International Way, Ste J, Milwaukie, OR, 7:30am-1pm
Find a drive or donation site near you by visiting https://rdcrss.org/findappt1 and putting in your zip code.
Find blood donation b-roll here: https://vimeopro.com/americanredcross/biomed-b-roll/video/658677305
Health insights for donors
At a time when health information has never been more important, the Red Cross is screening all blood, platelet and plasma donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait. This additional screening will provide Black donors with an additional health insight and help the Red Cross identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients with sickle cell disease. Blood transfusion is an essential treatment for those with sickle cell disease, and blood donations from individuals of the same race, ethnicity and blood type have a unique ability to help patients fighting sickle cell disease.
Donors can expect to receive sickle cell trait screening results, if applicable, within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App and the online donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org.
Blood drive safety
The Red Cross follows a high standard of safety and infection control. The Red Cross will continue to socially distance wherever possible at blood drives, donation centers and facilities. While donors are no longer required to wear a face mask, individuals may choose to continue to wear a mask for any reason. The Red Cross will also adhere to more stringent face mask requirements per state and/or local guidance, or at the request of blood drive sponsors. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at a drive.
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit https://rdcrss.org/findappt1, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross. —- American Red Cross – Cascades Region
OSU Names New President
Jayathi Y. Murthy, a national leader in higher education engineering teaching, research and service, and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion, was announced Tuesday as Oregon State University’s next president.
Murthy, 64, who has served as the dean of the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science since 2016 and previously worked at several other top engineering universities and in the private sector, will become OSU’s 16th president Sept. 9. She will succeed Becky Johnson, who has served as OSU’s interim president since May 1, 2021, and will remain OSU’s president through Sept. 8.
Oregon State’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously Tuesday morning to approve Murthy’s appointment and a five-year employment agreement to lead the state’s largest public university.
“We are very pleased to welcome president-elect Murthy to Oregon State University,” said Kirk Schueler, chair of OSU’s Board of Trustees. “Dr. Murthy is the right person and leader to guide this remarkable university that is enjoying tremendous momentum. Under Dr. Murthy’s leadership, OSU’s incredible impact in Oregon, nationally and globally, and the university’s commitment and progress in advancing diversity, equity and inclusive excellence will grow.”
“This is the right place and right time,” Murthy said. “I am very impressed by Oregon State University. OSU is well-positioned to address the many challenges in how higher education will be best provided in the years ahead thanks to the university’s excellent faculty, staff and leaders, and its commitment to student success, inclusive excellence and its long experience and leadership in online education.”
Murthy wants to grow programs, and creativity — Murthy praised OSU for its growing national and global research prominence and its contributions to Oregon communities statewide through OSU Extension and engagement programs.
“Oregon State University is widely recognized in all things related to climate science and resilience, and also in trans-disciplinary research related to AI, robotics, natural resources, clean energy, public policy, public health and the social sciences,” she said. “This is the time to think big and do big things. I am confident that OSU can be a national leader in the post-pandemic era.”
Murthy said OSU can grow faculty research, scholarship, creativity and innovation by continuing to hire and retain excellent faculty.
“We also will invest even more in research infrastructure. We will support individual research investigators in their efforts to expand their research activities. And we will grow our work with federal and state leaders and agencies, and private sector businesses, to significantly expand large-scale and collaborative OSU research.
Murthy was the first woman dean at UCLA’s engineering school, which has 190 faculty members and more than 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students. During her tenure, she made expanding access to a UCLA engineering education a top priority. This includes deepening relationships with local community colleges, increasing outreach to underrepresented minority groups and easing the transition for transfer students.
She underscored her intention to advance OSU’s commitment to inclusive excellence among students, faculty and staff.
“Advancing diversity, equity and inclusion is a deeply held conviction of mine and is central to my work as an educator and administrator,” Murthy said. “As an engineer, I have often been the only woman in the room since I was 16.”
Murthy said the university will advance inclusive excellence by providing access to college for all learners and providing students enrolled on campus and online with strong student support services, including advising, internships, mentoring and financial assistance for those with need.
“I do not believe in exclusivity or in excluding certain students,” she said. “That’s not the future I see for OSU. I see broad access for all qualified learners.”
Before joining UCLA, Murthy was chair of the mechanical engineering department at the University of Texas at Austin and held the Ernest Cockrell, Jr. Memorial Chair in Engineering from 2012-2015. Prior to that, Murthy was a mechanical engineering professor at Purdue University from 2001-2011 and served as a professor of mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh from 1998 to 2001.
Murthy began her career at Arizona State University, where she was an assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering from 1984 to 1988. From 1988 to 1998, Murthy worked at New Hampshire-based Fluent, Inc., a developer and vendor of the world’s most widely used computational fluid dynamics software. She has authored over 330 technical publications.
Murthy received a doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of Minnesota, a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Washington State University and a bachelor’s of technology degree in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, where she was named a distinguished alumna in 2012.
Man Arrested For Murder And Arson After Fire In Bend
Police say a Bend man with a criminal past has been arrested for murder after a man was found dead in his townhome early Tuesday morning.
The fire happened just before 2:30 a.m. at Daggett Townhomes in the 2000 block of NE Daggett Lane, a couple blocks northwest of St. Charles Hospital.
The Bend Police Department said firefighters arrived to find smoke and an active fire from the two-story building. Firefighters went inside and found a person dead on the first floor.
The victim was identified as Glen Allan Ely, 53, who was a resident of the townhome.
Police arrested Thomas Craig, 35, of Bend. He was held on suspicion of murder and arson. Bend PD said he also faces charges of failing to register as a sex offender and for a warrant out of Colorado. He was booked into the Deschutes County Jail.
Police say there are no outstanding suspects and no ongoing danger to the public.
“It is an ongoing and active investigation and so as soon as we have more information that we can release, obviously we will do that,” BPD said. “We know that people get nervous about these sorts of things and we want to provide as much information as possible.”
Some neighbors received water damage to their apartments due to the sprinkler systems in the building. Red Cross is assisting those people, Miller said.
Daggett Lane is no stranger to unsettling activity, as a meth operation was discovered in another unit in the neighborhood in March.
Oregon’s Agriculture Sector Could Access Millions Of Dollars In Federal Funding
Oregon produces about 220 specialty crops. (Oregon Department of Agriculture)
Oregon’s thousands of farmers and ranchers have an opportunity to garner millions of dollars in loans and free grants from the federal U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Last week the agency announced it would spend about $3 billion to transform the nation’s food system to benefit consumers, producers and rural communities by allowing midsize and small farms to expand their access to markets and give consumers a wider choice of nutritious, low-cost food.
Unlike some Midwest states focused on single crops, Oregon produces about 220 specialty crops, along with beef cattle and other livestock.
Many of Oregon’s 38,500 farms are small or midsize, making them a target for funding.
Apply for money
Oregon farmers and food manufacturers can find links to funding opportunities and application requirements here .The new money stems from lessons learned during the pandemic and disruptions caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine, according to a USDA news release. A spokeswoman, Paige Blanchard, told the Capital Chronicle that some of the programs have allocations per state while others don’t. That means that those allocations will not be influenced by a state’s population or acreage available for farming. For farmers interested in applying, this release provides links to the various programs.
The funding intends to create more markets by funding distribution and local producers. “Having more capacity to gather, process, move and store food in different geographic areas of the country will provide more options for producers to create value-added products and sell locally, which will support new economic opportunities and job creation in rural communities,” the release said.
Supporting local producers will give people in rural areas more options and help the country move away from having the food supply reliant on large corporations, the USDA said.
“Covid has revealed the perils of a food system dominated by a few corporate players,” the statement said. “USDA’s investments will deliver a better deal for farmers, ranchers, growers and consumers.”
The funding is also designed to make nutritious food more affordable and promote equity by supporting producers in underserved and rural communities, it said: “USDA’s food system transformation investments will create more economic opportunities for these communities and allow them to retain more of the food system dollar.”
Nationally, the allocations include:
- $600 million for processing, distribution, storage and capacity needs in a variety of sectors.
- $400 million to create regional food business centers.
- $375 million for independent meat and poultry processing plants.
- $300 million to help farmers shift to organic production.
- $275 million for loans and other support for meat and poultry processing.
- $200 million for food safety certification in specialty crop programs.
- $155 million for grants and loans to entities in “food deserts” that provide affordable, healthy food.
- $100 million to train workers and develop safe workplaces in processing facilities.
- $100 million for school boards to step up efforts to improve the nutritional quality of school meals.
- $90 million to reduce food waste.
- $75 million to support urban agriculture, including community gardens.
- $60 million for commodity purchases for Farm-to-School programs.
Oregon appears to be particularly well situated to garner support to transition to organic crops. The state has 196,000 acres of organic production, the ninth highest in the country, and it’s fourth nationwide in the sale of organic food, according to the USDA. California, Washington and Pennsylvania in order rank higher.
Chris Schreiner, executive director of Oregon Tilth, which certifies organic farmers and helps with the transition , welcomed the USDA announcement.
“We were excited to hear the secretary’s announcement last week and to see that USDA understands that organic can be part of the food system’s transformation,” Schreiner said. He praised the inclusion of technical support, which he said comes up a lot when questioning farmers about the challenge to switch to organic from traditional farming.
“We hope there will be opportunities for us to partner with the USDA in outreach and technical assistance and farmer support,” Schreiner said. “We look forward to hearing more details.”
Another area likely to spark interest is the meat processing initiative. Small producers say they have trouble finding facilities to process a few animals.
Jeff Stone, executive director of the Oregon Association of Nurseries, Oregon’s biggest agricultural sector, supports grants that fund the entire production of agriculture as long as they aren’t entwined in a lot of red tape.
“The main concern I have with any effort, no matter how well intentioned it may be, is the ease of the process to get money to the producer.”
Each of the programs has different deadlines, with some within the next few months and others stretching to the end of the year.
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