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, July 20, 2022
Rogue Valley Weather
Local Illegal Marijuana Task Force Identifies Medford Black-Market Cannabis Shipping Business, Seizes $1.19 Million, 16 Firearms
MPD Case 22-4457 – Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET) detectives along with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force (SOHTCTF) served two search warrants on a black-market marijuana shipping organization the morning of May 13. The search warrants were part of a yearlong investigation into the illegal shipping of black-market marijuana and other illicit substances from Southern Oregon throughout the United States. The investigation identified a local business, residence, and multiple suspects involved in the illegal activity.
Detectives identified multiple suspects during their investigation. Jonathan James Quintero, 53, was contacted and interviewed at the business and criminal charges are pending further investigation. Matthew James Sachen, 28, was contacted and interviewed at the residence and criminal charges are also pending.
While searching the associated business and residence, detectives located and seized $1,191,970 in cash and 16 firearms. The money seized is the suspected proceeds of the illegal shipping business and is being criminally forfeited through HSI. This case is being reviewed by the Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSA) for federal prosecution and additional suspects have been identified. The case remains open, and investigations are ongoing.
During the search, investigators seized digital devices which will be forensically examined by SOHTCTF for further evidence of illicit activity. Detectives served the warrants as a result of yearlong investigation into the crimes of unlawful delivery of marijuana, conspiracy for the unlawful delivery of marijuana, unlawful import/export of a marijuana item, and money laundering.
Detectives served the first search warrant at the ProPack & Ship business on the 2700 block of West Main Street in Medford. The second search warrant was at a residence on the 2500 block of Tahitian Avenue in Medford. The business is suspected of illegally shipping black-market marijuana throughout the U.S. Once the locations were secured, a Medford Police Department (MPD) drug detection canine responded and alerted on several packages. Additional search warrants will be obtained and served on those packages.
Throughout the course of this investigation multiple suspects were contacted and interviewed and additional subjects were identified using ProPack & Ship for illegal purposes. These subjects will be contacted and interviewed regarding their involvement.
While regulatory agencies investigate permitted cannabis operations, IMET is focusing on the black-market marijuana trade in the Rogue Valley. IMET is a multi-agency task force funded by a grant from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission. The task force includes personnel from Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Medford Police Department, and the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office.
Investigations are open and ongoing with detectives working additional leads. The city of Medford is conducting a business license review based on the criminal activity originating from the ProPack & Ship location. No further information is currently available for release. Jackson Co. Sheriff’s Office
Crews Put Out Grass Fire on I-5 Between Central Point and Gold Hill Quickly
A grass fire near I-5 north of Central Point is under control, according to the Oregon Department of Forestry. The fire broke out around noon on Tuesday and prompted a swift response from fire crews.
The response included numerous engines, a water tender, and a Type 2 helicopter. It reached half an acre in size.
The response from fire crews has backed up traffic along I5, near milepost 37 north of Central Point.
Also, an unrelated car crash occurred just north of the fire on the southbound side of I-5, majorly affecting traffic. Authorities say to please be aware of medical and fire personnel in the areas where they are working.
Man Stabbed In Veterans Park Over The Weekend
On Friday, July 15th at 8:57 P.M., officers responded to Veterans Park, 1601 S. Pacific Hwy, to investigate a stabbing incident. Upon arrival, Officers located a 47 year-old male suffering from one stab wound to his upper torso. Medford Fire Department and Mercy Flights personnel responded and rendered aid to the victim who was ultimately transported to an area hospital for treatment.
A Detective responded to investigate the incident and found the incident started as an argument between the victim and a female at the location. The suspect, Jose Marrere-Delgado interjected himself into the argument and ultimately stabbed the victim. Marrere-Delgado fled the scene in a vehicle and was located by a patrol officer a short time later in a parking lot near the intersection of Steward Avenue and Kings Highway. Marrere-Delgado was arrested and lodged at the Jackson County Jail and the victim is expected to make a full recovery.
UPDATE July 19: Missing Woman Has Been Located
The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office reported in an updated release that Jayme Murphy was located Tuesday morning.
No further information was provided in the release.
UPDATE: GP Man Crashed and Died While Trying to Elude Deputies on Rockydale Road
The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office has released more information about a weekend crash that claimed the life of a motorist who was attempting to elude law enforcement.
According to a Monday press release, 38-year-old James Scott Mattox of Grants Pass crashed in the 5500-block of Rockydale Road on Saturday around 12:55 p.m..
Deputies attempted to stop Mattox for no license plate on his sedan, but he refused to yield, began driving recklessly and deputies terminated the pursuit in the interest of public safety. A short time later, the car was found crashed through a power pole, fence and into trees on the roadside.
Mattox was conscious, but trapped inside the wreckage. Rescue crews from Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response and Pacific Power extricated the driver. He was transported to Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford where he later died from severe injuries. Next of kin have been notified.
The Sheriff’s Office said the case is still under investigation and additional details are not available at this time.
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/8QWG50JZzR3
According to a new Oregon Health Authority (OHA) report, health care costs grew 49% per person across insurance markets between 2013-2019 in Oregon, outpacing national healthcare cost growth during the same time period. By market, Medicare costs per person grew 58%, commercial market costs per person grew 45%, and Medicaid costs per person grew the slowest at 32%.
Rising prescription drug costs and the cost of professional services were the primary factors driving health care cost increases. Between 2013-2019, Oregon’s health care costs grew faster than income—while per person health care costs grew 49%, per person income grew 31.5% and average wages grew 21.6%.
The report shows that for people in Oregon with commercial, employer-sponsored insurance, the cost of the average annual deductible and insurance premiums combined in 2019 was 10.1% of median income.
The report documents cost growth across six major service categories and identifies which types of services are responsible for most of the cost growth in each market. Between 2013 and 2019, per person pharmacy costs grew the most (116%). Inpatient services have the highest per person costs and grew by 22% over the six years.
OHA holds media briefing on COVID-19 tomorrow at 11:30 a.m.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is hosting its monthly COVID-19 media availability on Wednesday, July 20.
Dean Sidelinger, M.D. MSEd, health officer and state epidemiologist at OHA, will answer reporters’ questions and provide an update on the state’s pandemic response, the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine and hMPXV (human monkeypox virus) in Oregon at 11:30 a.m. via Zoom.
Interested reporters can join via this link. A livestream will be available for the public on YouTube.
Forestry department announces community information sessions about the statewide wildfire risk map
The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) is holding a series of community information sessions starting July 26 and 27 in southwest Oregon. Each session will include a presentation about the map’s function and purpose, how wildfire risk is assessed, and how property owners may appeal their assigned risk class. Time will be available to address questions from community members.
The wildland-urban interface (WUI) and statewide wildfire risk map available through the Oregon Explorer is a tool to help inform decision making and planning related to mitigating wildfire risk for communities throughout Oregon.
Representatives from Oregon State University who produced the map based on rules adopted by the Board of Forestry will also attend the sessions.
The first set of meetings is in southwest Oregon. Two sessions are currently scheduled, one in Medford, and one in Grants Pass. Both meetings are from 7-8 p.m. Dates and locations for each community meetings are as follows:
- July 26, Grants Pass— Anne G. Basker Auditorium, 500 NW 6th St.
- July 27, Medford—Medford Public Library, 205 S Central Ave.
Details will soon be announced for sessions in The Dalles, La Grande, and Bend. Additional community meetings may be added.
Property owners in the high and extreme risk classes will receive written notice from ODF this week indicating the property’s risk class and whether it’s in the wildland urban interface. The notice will inform them if they may be subject to future defensible space or building code requirements and how to find information on those requirements. It will also provide information on the process to appeal a property’s risk classification.
For properties in the WUI and a risk classification of high or extreme, Senate Bill 762 requires actions to help mitigate the risk of wildfire through adoption of defensible space and home hardening building codes. Oregon State Fire Marshal is passing defensible space code requirements through a public process. Code adoption of defensible space requirements will occur December 2022, after the map validation and appeals period is closed. Those requirements won’t apply until later. Visit OSFM’s website for more information. Building Codes Division (BCD) will adopt home hardening building codes through a public process. Building codes will be adopted October 1, 2022 and will be effective April 1, 2023. Visit BCD’s website for more information.
Update-OSP Investigating Homicide & Requesting Public Assistance- Polk County
Investigators are updating the description of the suspect vehicle as well as releasing a third photo. The vehicle is believed to be a BMW 3 Series with a body style similar to a 2006.
We are releasing the name of the victims in this case. The deceased male victim was identified as Dennis Gerard Anderson (45). The passenger in his car was identified as Brandy Dawn Goldsbury (46).
On July 13, 2022, at approximately 9:00 P.M. OSP responded to Hwy 18 milepost 15 in Polk County to a report of a shooting.
Preliminary investigation revealed the shooting was the result of a suspected road rage incident, in which the victim pulled over and stopped to let the suspect vehicle pass. The suspect vehicle stopped next to the victim, the victim got out of his car, and multiple shots were fired from the suspect vehicle. The shots are reported to be fired by the passenger of the suspect vehicle. The suspect vehicle then left the scene.
The victim was declared dead at the scene. A passenger in the car was not injured. The passenger described the suspect vehicle and the passenger of the suspect vehicle. The description of the car is a black car with a round emblem on the hood. The description of the passenger in the suspect car was a younger male, less than 25 years old, medium complexion, and small in stature with short dark hair.
Officers from multiple agencies responded to the area but were unable to locate the suspect’s vehicle. One individual matching the description was detained, interviewed, and eventually released.
OSP Detectives are urging anyone with information about this case to call the Oregon State Police Dispatch at 1-800-452-7888, OSP (677). Reference case number SP22177525.
This is an ongoing investigation.
OSP Detectives are being assisted by Detectives from the Polk County Major Crimes Team.
The Oregon Secretary of State has verified enough signatures to allow a gun control initiative to be on this November’s ballot.
Lift Every Voice Oregon, which sponsored Initiative Petition 17, collected more than 130,000 signatures in support of it. That is about 20,000 more than needed to get approved.
IP 17 would require a permit to buy a gun, which includes safety training and a completed background check. It would also ban magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.
The Rev. Dr. WJ Mark Knutson, the chair of Lift Every Voice Oregon, said they’ve been trying to get this on the ballot for years. This is the first time they’ve gotten this far.
Knutson said what is different this time is “the incredible volunteer effort. Teenagers have been at the heart of this.”
He added his dream is to “make communities safer.” And he’s hopeful this becomes law.
The Coast Guard rescued a man from a vessel approximately 57 miles offshore Newport after he suffered a medical emergency.
Coast Guard watchstanders received a report Saturday evening of a 29-year-old male who had suffered from a stroke and related medical complications aboard the vessel Malto Hope approximately 1,000 miles west of the Oregon coast.
Watchstanders at the 13th Coast Guard District Command Center recommended the ship transit closer to shore to be within range for a medical evacuation from a Coast Guard helicopter.
Once the vessel was within response range, Coast Guard watchstanders directed the launch of an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Facility Newport to rescue the man. The aircrew arrived on scene Monday shortly after 10:30 a.m., hoisted the man and transported him to awaiting emergency medical services at Air Facility Newport in stable condition.
Statewide initiative launched: ‘Faster Internet Oregon’
A statewide effort is underway to improve internet access by engaging residents across the state.
Oregon Economic Development Districts (OEDD), Onward Eugene, SpeedUpAmerica and Link Oregon has partnered to launch the initiative, called Faster Internet Oregon.
The effort includes a quick one-minute speed test that organizers said will help identify gaps in Oregon’s internet services and inform the development of broadband infrastructure initiatives.
Oregonians are being asked to test their speeds as soon as possible at www.fasterinternetoregon.org.Specifically, for Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook, and Western Washington County region, the Columbia Pacific Economic Development District (ColPac) is leading a push to encourage residents to take the speed test.
“Currently, the only data we have for the availability and speed of internet connections is inaccurate. With enough tests in the region, we can use this data to advocate for internet infrastructure funding to improve fast and affordable internet services,” a release from ColPac states. “Since federal and state funding applications are already available, it is imperative for Oregonians to take the speed test”
The internet test can be found on Faster Internet Oregon’s website, www.fasterinternetoregon.org. When testing, ColPac asks that you be sure to test a home internet connection, not cellular and no VPNs. If you do not have a home internet connection, reporting no internet access at a location is also possible and can be done via a cell phone.
ColPac said data privacy is of the utmost importance to the campaign’s partners.
“No personally identifiable information beyond the test participant’s address will be stored and address information will not be available for public viewing nor be used for commercial or marketing purposes” the release states, adding that only the campaign partners and public decision makers who have signed a data privacy agreement can view the detailed data map created by the tests to help advocate for internet infrastructure projects.
“This mapping effort is a critical early step towards creating a compelling case for internet infrastructure development in our region,” ColPac Executive Director Ayreann Colombo said. “I encourage all residents in Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook, and Western Washington counties to take this less than one-minute speed test. Your contribution will help us strengthen our case to develop an accessible, fast and affordable fiber internet system in our region. Please also consider bolstering our efforts by sharing Faster Internet Oregon with your friends, family, and neighbors.”
Take the Test at: www.fasterinternetoregon.org.
Faster Internet Oregon is supported by: Link Oregon, Lane County Government and the following Oregon Economic Development Districts: Columbia Pacific Economic Development District, Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, Greater Eastern Oregon Development Corporation, Mid-Columbia Economic Development District, Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments, Northeast Oregon Economic Development District, Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments, SOREDI Foundation, and South Central Oregon Economic Development District.
For more information, visit www.FasterInternetOregon.org or email info@FasterInternetOregon.org
Women Missing Since May 1st 2022 between Medford, Grants Pass and Roseburg per Oregon State Police
| MAKENNA KENDALL 5/3/2022 |
| ERICA LEE HUTCHINSON 5/26/2022 |
| MARIAH DANIELLE SHARP 6/12/2022 |
| KAITLYN RAE NELSON 6/14/2022 |
| BROOKLYN JOHNS 6/14/2022 |
| DONNA LEPP 6/27/2022 |
| BARBARA DELEPINE 7/4/2022 |
| KENDRA MARIE HANKS 7/7/2022 |
| CORI BOSHANE MCCANN 7/8/2022 |
| SHYHAILA SMITH 7/12/2022 |
| ALEZAE LILYANNE MARTINEZ 7/13/2022 |
| RAVEN RILEY 7/13/2022 |
| TAHUANA RILEY 7/13/2022 |
| DANIELLE NEWVILLE 7/14/2022 |
Women Missing Since May 1st 2022 in Lane County per Oregon State Police
| BREISA RAQUEAL SIKEL 5/3/2022 |
| HANNAH MARIE RHOTEN 5/17/2022 |
| MARISSA ALEESA DAMBROSIO 5/18/2022 |
| ISABELLA BROSOWSKEYOUNGBLOOD 6/7/2022 |
| LOUISA DAY AVA 5/28/2022 |
| AMY CHRISTINA SULLIVAN 6/1/2022 |
| NIKKI ELIZABETH ZEREBNY 6/6/2022 |
| SHADOW STAR SEVIGNY 6/17/2022 |
| SHAUNA LEAH HOGAN 6/17/2022 |
| AIRIONNA CHEALSEY RHODES 6/27/2022 |
| KARISSA RENEE ADAMS 7/6/2000 |
| VERONICA ESSYNCE DELERIO 7/6/2022 |
| AUBRIE HANNA STEPHENS 7/10/2022 |
| LARA IVEY STEINMETZ 7/11/2022 |
| SARA LINDSAY SCHAEFER 7/12/2022 |
This is just a small compilation of missing women’s pictures in the area. There are of course women missing all over Oregon and men and children missing. Sadly most of them never get any attention. Family and friends must keep any information going and lead investigations so that they aren’t just forgotten. https://www.oregon.gov/osp/missing/pages/missingpersons.aspx
Contact – Missing Children/Adults Clearinghouse
Phone: 503-934-0188
Toll Free: 1-800-282-7155
ospmissingpersons@osp.oregon.gov
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Have-You-Seen-Me-Southern-Oregons-Missing-People-161249961222839/posts/