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
Thursday, July 21, 2022
Rogue Valley Weather
Joint Task Force Serves Search Warrant After Child Porn Uploaded from Local Gold Hill Residence
JCSO Case 22-0837 — The Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) joint inter-agency task force alongside Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) Patrol deputies and Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET) detectives, served a search warrant this morning at a residence on the 9900 block of Old Stage Road in Gold Hill. Investigators from JCSO, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Jackson County District Attorney’s office, and the Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force (SOHTCTF) served the warrant this morning after discovering numerous images of child exploitation were uploaded from the residence. Detectives are interviewing possible witnesses and involved parties, and investigations are ongoing.
During the warrant, investigators seized digital devices which will be forensically examined by the SOHTCTF for further evidence of child exploitation. A tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) started the investigation, which led to subpoenas, followed by the search warrant at the residence.
SOCET is a joint inter-agency task force that started in June of 2020 to combat child exploitation and human trafficking. The task force consists of investigators from JCSO, Oregon State Police, Grants Pass Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and HSI; as well as prosecutors from our local, state and federal law enforcement partners in Jackson and Josephine County.
ODF Southwest Oregon District Quick to Respond to Several Fires
ODF Southwest Oregon District —
𝘾𝙃𝙀𝙉𝙀𝙔 𝘾𝙍𝙀𝙀𝙆 𝙁𝙄𝙍𝙀 𝘼𝙈 𝙐𝙋𝘿𝘼𝙏𝙀: Despite numerous challenges overnight, crews working the Cheney Creek Fire, located on Marble Mountain south of Wilderville, made excellent overnight progress on the fire, lining 100% of the perimeter and starting mop-up operations. Preliminary GPS mapping found the fire to be roughly 29 acres, however more accurate mapping will be required. The fire is affecting Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and private land along Cheney Creek road. Relative humidity overnight did not recover as expected, and as a result, the fire remained active overnight, and multiple fallen trees and spot fires affected the fire line. Firefighters are also dealing with rolling boulders on the slope, posing a significant safety concern.
Today, resources will continue mop-up operations while watching for potential spread and additional spot fires. Firefighters have a goal of mopping up 50-75 feet into the perimeter of the fire. More than 120 people are assigned to the fire, including five 20-person crews, four engines, two water tenders, and two fallers. District aircraft are assigned to the fire and will be available as needed.
The Cheney Creek Fire was first reported at approximately 4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. The ODF Southwest Oregon District Detection Center was able to confirm a growing column of smoke near Cheney Creek road on Marble Mountain, south of Wilderville. Multiple resources including engines, a water tender and a bulldozer were initially dispatched, however, due to the remote location, numerous aircraft were sent, including two Type 2 helicopters, the ODF Helitack crew in the district’s Type 3 helicopter, a single-engine air attack plane, Air Tanker 104, and a U.S. Forest Service Rogue-River Siskiyou National Forest Type 1 Helicopter. Aircraft were able to quickly get over the fire and begin water bucket drops while firefighters continued to find access points to the fire on the ground.
When they first arrived, the fire was estimated to be three-quarters of an acre. Resources from ODF, BLM and private companies began an aggressive initial attack that extended into the evening. Tanker 104 was able to drop four loads of retardant and helicopters made numerous water bucket drops before they had to land for the evening. Night resources were ordered, and firefighters remained engaged overnight. Investigators will be on scene today to continue their efforts.
Reports indicated someone may have intentionally set numerous fires; investigators will be looking into these claims during their investigation. No evacuations were ever put in place on this incident. As the week progresses, temperatures near the fire are expected to decrease and overnight humidity recoveries are expected to improve, allowing firefighters an advantage on the fire line in the coming days. Firefighters will remain engaged 24 hours a day until mop-up operations are nearly complete.
ODF responded to two small fires- the Frank Hill Fire located in the hills between Ashland and Talent, and the Knowles Road Fire, located southeast of Jacksonville. Both fires are extinguished and are estimated to each be a quarter-acre in size. All resources engaged in an aggressive initial attack and are beginning mop-up operations.
Multiple engines from ODF and Jackson County Fire District #5 were on scene of Frank Hills Fire. Our type 3 helicopter was as ordered and gave an initial size up. Near Jacksonville, resources from ODF Jacksonville Fire Department and Medford Fire Department engaged on the Knowles Road Fire. Our type 2 helicopter was ordered but not needed. The causes of both fires will be under investigation. More information will be posted when it’s available.
Jackson County Sheriff’s Crisis Negotiation Team Talks Barricaded Suspect into Surrendering Peacefully
JCSO Case 22-4156 — Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) peacefully resolved a potentially volatile situation yesterday afternoon. JCSO Patrol deputies responded to a domestic violence assault call yesterday afternoon on the 14000 block of Upper Applegate Road outside of Jacksonville. When JCSO deputies contacted the reportedly armed suspect, he slammed the door and barricaded himself inside his residence. The victim was able to safely exit the residence. CNT was activated and made phone contact with the suspect at approximately 2:18 p.m. After establishing an open dialogue, the crisis negotiators convinced the suspect to leave the residence unarmed with his hands up and surrender peacefully to the awaiting deputies.
JCSO established the Crisis Negotiation Team to provide skilled verbal communicators who may be utilized to attempt to de-escalate, and effect surrender in critical situations where suspects have taken hostages, barricaded themselves, or have suicidal tendencies. The team is comprised of five detectives and deputies that have been trained to respond at a moment’s notice. The team works closely with mental health professionals to affect a peaceful outcome to potentially dangerous situations.
The suspect, Michael Wayne Ray, 63, has been charged with fourth-degree assault DV and harassment. He was lodged in the Jackson County Jail.
Douglas Co. Sheriff’s Office Renews Pleas for Public’s Help on Kendra Hanks Investigation
UPDATE / CLARIFICATION – Kendra was last seen on Thursday, July 7, 2022 at 4:00 pm. She was reported as missing on Friday, July 8, 2022. The earlier release has been updated to reflect this information.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office continues the investigation into the missing person case of Kendra Hanks and requests the public’s assistance with information.
Hanks was reported missing on Friday, July 8, 2022, by her family after she didn’t arrive home from her place of employment on Thursday, July 7, 2022. Hanks was last seen walking past B&D Meats on Highway 42 near Grange Road at approximately 4:00 pm on Thursday, July 7, 2022.
Since her disappearance, the Sheriff’s Office has been tirelessly searching for information. Early on, the Sheriff’s Office enlisted the assistance of the Douglas County Search and Rescue, the FBI, and the Douglas County Major Crimes Team, which consists of investigators from the Sheriff’s Office, Roseburg Police Department and Oregon State Police and in consultation with the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office.
Those who live in the area or were traveling through on July 7th are urged to call (541) 440-4471 with any information which may be helpful to investigators. Reviewing video surveillance systems and dash cameras could provide valuable clues which will assist in solving the case. Residents can upload video or photographic footage by going to www.dcso.com/publichelp.
Hanks is described as a white female adult who is 5’02” tall, weighing 140lbs with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last known to be wearing a dark hoodie, jeans, yellow checkered Vans shoes and carrying a black backpack purse.
In order to protect the integrity of the investigation, additional details will not be made public at this time.
Grants Pass Police arrested an ungrateful man for striking a woman with a water bottle she brought to him at a Rogue River Highway business yesterday.
The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident in the 1400-block of Highway 99 on Tuesday at about 2:15 p.m.. Police said two women at a business reported an unknown man came to their door and asked for them to call 9-1-1 for his injured friend, 51-year-old Brian Guiles.
It was not disclosed how Guiles was hurt, but one of the women called 9-1-1 while the other brought a water bottle to him. Guiles immediately got up from laying down on the sidewalk to a standing position and started cursing at the woman. She turned and walked away when Guiles picked up the water bottle and threw it at her, striking her.
She was not hurt, but wanted to pursue charges. Upon arrival, police detained Brian Guiles and charged him with Harassment. He was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center, so he was cited and released to the care of American Medical Response.
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.
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/OjS350K0Am5
Hospital capacity, approval of Novavax COVID-19 vaccine and hMPXV response highlights of OHA media event
Hospitals across Oregon are facing capacity and staffing issues related to high COVID-19 spread and other reasons, according to the state’s top health officer.
“Hospitals are stressed across the state due to patients with COVID-19 as well as other diseases, in conjunction with impacts on the workforce from COVID-19,” said Dean Sidelinger, M.D. MSEd, health officer and state epidemiologist, during Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) monthly COVID-19 media availability Wednesday.
Sidelinger said OHA will continue to work closely with health systems to ensure adequate care for patients. He encouraged residents to help reduce the strain on hospitals by getting vaccinated, and staying up to date on their boosters. “We also want to remind older residents and adults at high risk who do get COVID-19 that the highly effective treatment called Paxlovid is available as a pill,” he said.
Sidelinger encouraged residents to consider simple measures to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and ensure hospitals retain their capacity to care for their most critical patients. This includes wearing well-fighting masks in indoor spaces.
Sidelinger said Oregon continues to have a high level of community spread tied to the predominance of the BA.5 subvariant.
Sidelinger reported the number of hospitalized COVID-19-positive patients, 424 as of July 20, fell below projections in the latest model that predicted hospitalizations would peak at 479 COVID-positive patients in mid-July.
Sidelinger also highlighted news that the Novavax two-dose COVID-19 vaccine for adults was endorsed Tuesday for Emergency Authorization Use by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup. The workgroup represents Oregon, Washington, California and Nevada.
The Novavax vaccine uses a proven technology to stimulate the human immune system, which has been used for decades for vaccines for shingles, hepatitis B and the flu. Sidelinger said the Novavax vaccine will be available for people not yet vaccinated and will likely arrive in Oregon and be available in the next few weeks.
Sidelinger also provided an update on hMPXV in Oregon, noting 32 presumptive and confirmed cases of hMPXV in four counties — Lane, Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas — all among men.
“OHA is working with its federal partners to secure doses of the hMPXV vaccine, which have remained in short supply,” said Sidelinger. “As more vaccine becomes available, OHA will work with its local public health, Tribal, community and health care partners to encourage vaccination among those most at risk, and promote vaccine clinics, which are expected to begin over the next week.”
Here are the talking points from today’s media availability.
OHCS Director Andrea Bell testifies before Congress over tax incentives for affordable housing
SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Housing and Community Services Executive Director Andrea Bell testified before the Senate Committee on Finance on Wednesday morning. Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., convened the congressional hearing to examine the role of tax incentives in affordable housing.
During the hearing, Director Bell explained how the tax code supports affordable housing for rental and homeownership because the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic has made it even harder to produce affordable housing. Construction costs have gone up drastically due to the rising cost of commodities needed for construction, supply chain disruptions, and workforce shortages.
“In the state of Oregon, nearly 70 percent of all rental homes financed in the last five years relied on bonds,” Director Bell said. “Housing finance agencies and our partners across the nation are doing everything that we can to prevent deals from falling through, but the unfortunate reality is that sometimes-financing gaps are simply too large and, in some cases, there are no resources to pull from.”
Similar to other states, Oregon has a severe housing supply shortage. Even though OHCS is substantially ahead of schedule three years into the 5-year Statewide Housing Plan, with nearly 19,000 affordable homes in the pipeline, 90 percent of the goal of 25,000 homes, it is not enough to meet the growing need. More than 584,000 homes are needed to meet our state’s population growth over the next twenty years. Nearly half of those homes must be built to be affordable to low-income Oregonians.
“With rising interest rates, escalating home prices, skyrocketing rents due to the mismatch of supply and demand, many would-be homeowners are often left stuck renting,” testified Director Bell. “And more than 70 percent of extremely low-income renters across the United States spent more than half of their income on housing in 2021. That is 70 percent of individuals that have to make tough decisions every single month throughout the year about what bills they will be able to pay and how they are going to get by.”
Director Bell urged Congressional action to address the housing crisis and advance four bills she addressed in her testimony—The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act (AHCIA), the LIFELINE Act, the Affordable Housing Bond Enhancement Act, and the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act—to truly address the affordable housing crisis for both renters and homeowners.
The AHCIA is bipartisan legislation that would increase the supply of affordable housing by over 2 million homes, supporting 3 million jobs and generating $120 billion in tax revenues and $346 billion in wages and business income. The most critical provisions in the AHCIA for increasing production are lowering the 50 percent test for bond-financed Housing Credit developments and increasing the Housing Credit volume cap. Lowering the 50 percent test is especially important for Oregon because of the state’s high demand for bond cap. If the threshold for generating the full amount of 4 percent credits were lowered from 50 percent to 25 percent of total project costs, OHCS could finance more affordable housing using the same amount of total bond cap.
Director Bell’s full congressional testimony can be viewed here.
Oregon Adds 8,700 Jobs in June
In Oregon, nonfarm payroll employment grew by 8,700 in June, following gains averaging 6,200 jobs in the prior seven months. Monthly gains in June were largest in construction (+2,800 jobs), other services (+1,600), health care and social assistance (+1,300), and leisure and hospitality (+1,300 jobs). Government (-600 jobs) was the only major industry that shed a substantial number of jobs.
As of June, Oregon has regained 94% of jobs lost at the onset of the pandemic. The U.S. has regained 98%. Oregon’s private sector is close to a full jobs recovery, having regained 98% of pandemic recession losses.
Construction employment rose rapidly over the past 12 months, reaching a record of 118,700 jobs in June, well above the pre-pandemic peak of 112,300 in February 2020. Since June 2021, construction added 8,700 jobs, or 7.9%, faster growth than the private-sector gain of 5.2%. All construction industries grew rapidly over the past 12 months, with several growing by double-digits: building finishing contractors (+13.2%), building equipment contractors (+11.5%), heavy and civil engineering construction (+10.8%), and specialty trade contractors (+10.7%).
Leisure and hospitality rapidly added jobs this year and last year. It added 28,500 jobs, or 16.4%, since June 2021. Despite these gains, leisure and hospitality still accounts for a large share of the jobs Oregon has not recovered since early 2020, with 14,600 jobs left to recover to reach the prior peak month of February 2020. The industry has regained 87% of jobs lost early in the pandemic.
Health care and social assistance added jobs rapidly throughout the first half of this year—gaining 7,900 jobs through June—following a stagnant period throughout 2021. Most of the gains were seen in ambulatory health care services, which added 4,000 jobs during the first six months of this year, and in social assistance, which added 2,400 jobs.
Oregon’s unemployment rate of 3.6% in June was essentially unchanged from 3.5%, as revised, in May. Oregon’s unemployment rate has been below 4.0% for the past four months. The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.6% in March, April, May, and June.
Next Press Releases – The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the June county and metropolitan area unemployment rates on Tuesday, July 26, and the next statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for July on Wednesday, August 17.
Notes: All numbers in the above narrative are seasonally adjusted, except for the component industries within construction and health care and social assistance.
The Oregon Employment Department and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) work cooperatively to develop and publish monthly Oregon payroll employment and labor force data. The estimates of monthly job gains and losses are based on a survey of businesses. The estimates of unemployment are based on a survey of households and other sources.
The Oregon Employment Department publishes payroll employment estimates that are revised quarterly by using employment counts from employer unemployment insurance tax records. All department publications use this Official Oregon Series data unless noted otherwise. This month’s release incorporates the October, November and December 2021 tax records data. The department continues to make the original nonfarm payroll employment series available; these data are produced by the BLS.
The PDF version of the news release can be found at QualityInfo.org/press-release. To obtain the data in other formats such as in Excel, visit QualityInfo.org, then within the top banner, select Economic Data, then choose LAUS or CES. To request the press release as a Word document, contact the person shown at the top of this press release.
To file a claim for unemployment benefits or get more information about unemployment programs, visit Oregon.gov/employ.
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.
The Coos County District Attorney says two police officers were justified when they shot and killed a murder suspect in June.
Coos Bay Police officer Detective Aaron Whittenberg and Coos County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Dan Henthorne shot and killed 37-year-old Matthew Tyler Michel on June 14.
District Attorney Paul Frasier says the two were part of a team attempting to arrest Michel at the Global Inn after identifying him as a suspect in the shooting death of Amber Townsend.
Frasier said Wednesday that Michel still posed a deadly threat with the weapon. Townsend was found dead on June 11 after being shot with a shotgun on Cape Arago Highway. Michel was already on law enforcement’s radar after failing to report to his probation officer.
In a briefing after the shooting, Frasier said Michel threatened officers with a knife before being shot. But in a new development Wednesday (July 20), Frasier said the knife was in a sheath at the time of the shooting, but officers did not realize that until Michel was down.
Frasier stated that based on the evidence, the officers had reason to believe Michel posed a deadly threat. During Wednesday’s press briefing, Frasier walked through body camera video being worn by officers during the arrest attempt.
Officers confronted Michel in his hotel room and yelled at him not to reach for items on his bed, including the knife. Frasier also said that Michel had stayed in another room at the Global Inn before Townsend’s death and that housekeeping staff had found shotgun ammunition in that room.
Despite Michel being deceased, Frasier says the investigation into Townsend’s death will remain open as officers continue to examine evidence.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the Coos County Sheriff’s Office: (541) 396-7800
Metallica Continues Partnership With Clackamas Community College To Fund Trade Programs
Clackamas Community College is partnering with rock band Metallica for the fourth year to help with funding for technical education programs.
Since establishing the Metallica Scholars Initiative in 2019, the band’s All Within My Hands Foundation has been working with the community college to provide direct support for career and technical education programs.“Our goal for the Metallica Scholars Initiative is to shine a light on workforce education and support the next generation of tradespeople. With the addition of the 2022-2023 Metallica Scholars program, our grants will reach over 2,000 students in 32 community colleges across 27 states. We are honored to support these students of all ages and backgrounds and look forward to growing the program even farther in the future,” Pete Delgrosso, All Within My Hands executive director, said.
According to the All Within My Hands Foundation, on average, students who complete the program see new job opportunities and increased salary potential up to three times higher than pre-program.
Clackamas Community College on Tuesday announced it will focus its efforts on providing tools, personal protection equipment, and support for students in the “heavy metal” programs of industrial technology, welding, and automotive.
“Not only do our students take extreme pride in being selected as Metallica Scholars, but we have also seen proof that this funding from All Within My Hands makes a real difference in the success of our students,” CCC President Tim Cook said.
For more information about the Metallica Scholars program at Clackamas Community College, contact Tom Brown at thomasb@clackamas.edu or call 503-594-3956.
A federal appeals court has rejected claims that irrigation, pesticides and grazing in several Klamath Basin national wildlife refuges are managed in violation of environmental laws.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has also dismissed arguments by farm representatives that agriculture is too strictly regulated in the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
Last year, a federal judge threw out multiple lawsuits filed in 2017 against a “comprehensive conservation plan” for five refuges within the complex.
A unanimous panel of three 9th Circuit judges has now upheld that decision, ruling that the Fish and Wildlife Service’s plan complies with all the laws governing the 200,000-acre refuge complex.
“Given the extensive evidence in the record supporting the choices made by the Service, the panel saw nothing that authorized us, as the reviewing court, to make different choices,” the 9th Circuit said.
More than 20,000 acres in two of the refuges are leased for crop cultivation, which environmental advocates complained is prioritized over wildlife habitat.
The 9th Circuit has disagreed with that argument, ruling the Fish and Wildlife Service’s plan struck the appropriate balance between agriculture and wildfowl management as required by refuge management statutes.
Environmental advocates also claimed the federal government violated the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to consider scaling back agricultural leases on refuge lands.
However, the agency properly explained it didn’t consider this option because farming helps waterfowl populations by providing them with food, the 9th Circuit said.
Also, reducing farmed acreage in the refuges would not make more water available for wetlands, since it would instead go to more senior irrigators elsewhere, the ruling said.
In developing the management plan, Fish and Wildlife Service was “constrained by a complex system of water rights that is largely beyond its control,” the 9th Circuit said.
The government’s rules for pesticide spraying also came under fire from environmental advocates, who claimed the government should have evaluated heightened chemical restrictions.
The 9th Circuit has found that argument “unavailing,” since the Fish and Wildlife Service reasonably decided that further restricting pesticide usage wasn’t feasible, the 9th Circuit said.
“FWS adequately explained that some amount of pesticide use was necessary on the Refuges to ensure sufficient crop production, on which Refuge waterfowl now depend,” the ruling said.
Similarly, the government didn’t have to evaluate livestock curtailments in one of the refuges, since it considers grazing necessary to control weed species and promote sage-grouse habitat, the 9th Circuit said.
“Overall, FWS concluded that the negative effects of the limited, managed grazing program on sage-grouse were outweighed by the positive effects of the program,” the ruling said.
While most objections to the refuge management plan centered on environmental concerns, restrictions on crop production were also challenged by several farms and agricultural organizations.
These plaintiffs claimed the management plan violated federal laws by increasing the acreage devoted to wetlands and unharvested grain, among other requirements.
The 9th Circuit disagreed that farming is “automatically consistent” with proper waterfowl management and thus limits on agriculture are unauthorized.
Federal refuge management statutes “unambiguously prioritize” wildlife over agriculture, which must be consistent with waterfowl objectives, the ruling said.
Wolves in the Rogue Pack have killed two more cattle in the Fort Klamath area.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said the most recent incident attributed to the Rogue Pack, wolves that move between Jackson and Klamath counties, resulted in the death of a yearling steer on Sunday, July 17.
According to an ODFW investigation, that morning a livestock producer found a dead, approximately 950-pound yearling steer in a large private-land grass pasture.
The report said portions of the hindquarters and neck had been consumed and estimate the steer died 36-48 hours before the investigation. Physical evidence showed multiple pre-mortem tooth scrapes up to three inches long and an ⅛-inch wide around the left shoulder. In addition, areas of pre-mortem hemorrhage and soft tissue trauma were observed near both elbows and the neck.
“The pre-mortem bite scrapes and tissue trauma are clear signs of a predator attack,” the report says. “The injuries are consistent with injuries on other cattle attacked by wolves in this area. This depredation is attributed to the Rogue Pack.”
Two days earlier, on Friday, July 15, another kill was reported. According to the ODFW report, that morning a ranch manager found an injured, 800-pound yearling steer in a private land grass pasture. Because of the severity of the injuries the steer was euthanized.
Based on the investigation, it is estimated the steer was injured approximately 12 hours earlier. Physical evidence indicated several pre-mortem tooth scrapes on the yearling’s hide on both hindquarters and groin measuring up to four inches in length and ¼-inch in width along with associated pre-mortem hemorrhage and trauma to underlying tissues. The report n also said there was a large open wound with missing muscle tissue on the right hindquarter above the hock.
“The injuries are consistent with injuries on other cattle attacked by wolves. This depredation is attributed to the Rogue Pack,” the report said.
The two incidents occurred days after a July 12 incident, also in the Fort Klamath area, that resulted in the death of an 11-month-old, 775-pound cow on a private land pasture. That kill was also attributed to the Rogue Pack.
Until recently the Rogue Pack had not been involved in cattle kills since January.
Lineman Rodeo returns to the northwest after three-year hiatus
All proceeds from raffle and merchandise sales go to the Oregon Burn Center at Legacy Emmanuel Hospital.
GRESHAM, Ore. — Speed pole climbing and hurt-man rescues are just two among several of the competitive challenges lineworkers will face off in during Saturday’s 2022 Northwest Lineman Rodeo. Teams of journeypersons and apprentices representing utilities from across the West will showcase their speed, safety and trade skills while celebrating their pride in the profession.
Taking place at the PGE Linneman Substation (3490 W Powell Loop, Gresham, Oregon), the opening flag ceremony will be held at 8 a.m. with competitions happening until 4 p.m., when winners will be announced. Winners can then compete in mid-October at the International Lineman’s Rodeo held in Kansas.
The event draws lineworkers from Oregon, Washington, Idaho and other western states. Event sponsors include Pacific Power, Portland General Electric, IBEW Local 125, IBEW Local 659 and Clark Public Utilities. Pacific Power crews and apprentice lineworkers competing this year are traveling from as far as Medford, Roseburg and Walla Walla.
While competitions for lineworkers and apprentices take top billing at this event, the rodeo offers fun for the whole family. Concessions and activities for kids will be available on site. Parking and admission are FREE.
All proceeds from raffle and merchandise sales go to the Oregon Burn Center at Legacy Emmanuel Hospital.
For more information, visit: www.pacificnorthwestlinemanrodeo.org.
MEDIA EVENT
Media are invited for a Lineman Rodeo sneak peek. Join us Friday, July 22 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. for interviews with lineworkers and to film competitive demonstrations. PGE Linneman Substation (3490 W Powell Loop, Gresham, Oregon). Call 503-813-6018 for more information.
About Pacific Power – Pacific Power provides safe and reliable electric service to more than 764,000 customers in Oregon, Washington and California. The company supplies customers with electricity from a diverse portfolio of generating plants including hydroelectric, thermal, wind, geothermal and solar resources. Pacific Power is part of PacifiCorp, one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States, with 2 million customers in six western states. For more information, visit www.pacificpower.net.
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
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Have-You-Seen-Me-Southern-Oregons-Missing-People-161249961222839/posts/
Contact – Missing Children/Adults Clearinghouse
Phone: 503-934-0188
Toll Free: 1-800-282-7155
ospmissingpersons@osp.oregon.gov