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, August 29, 2022
Rogue Valley Weather
Fallen Firefighter Logan Taylor’s Public Funeral Today at 10am
25-year-old Logan Taylor died last Thursday on duty as a wildland firefighter. He was hit by a tree while working on northern Josephine County’s Rum Creek Fire.
A public memorial service will be held Monday, August 29, starting 10am at Harry and David Field, 2929 South Pacific Highway in Medford. The Medford Rogues baseball team donated usage of the facility.
Members of the public are welcome to attend to honor Taylor.
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Medford Police Department, and Oregon State Police will escort the funeral procession on Monday morning for ODF contract firefighter Logan Taylor, 25, of Talent, Ore. Taylor died while fighting the Rum Creek Fire in Josephine County. The procession will begin at 9 a.m. and traffic will be affected along the route.
The procession and temporary street closures will begin promptly at 9 a.m.
Temporary Street Closures:
– Barnett Rd. from Alba Dr. to Stewart Ave.
– Stewart Ave. from Barnett Rd. to Riverside Ave. – Riverside Ave. from Stewart Ave. to Hwy 99 to Lowry Ln.
If possible please avoid the area. If you would like to watch the procession, park safely in a designated parking spot along Highway 99 between Riverside and Lowry Lane.
The funeral service is open to the public at the Harry & David Baseball Field, follow ODF for more information.
News Release and photos from Jackson Co. Sheriff’s Office
Governor Brown Declares State of Emergency, Orders Evacuations as 8,400-Acre Rum Creek Wildfire Burns in Josephine County
Oregon’s governor has declared a state of emergency as the Rum Creek wildfire burns through the southwest area of the state. Governor Kate Brown enacted Oregon’s Emergency Conflagration Act on Saturday when the fire had only swept through 4,700 acres.
The state of emergency will allow for emergency responders and additional assistance to be brought in from other states.
“It is important for all Oregonians to be prepared, follow all evacuation orders, and continue to follow local and statewide fire prevention regulations to keep our communities safe and our natural resources protected,” said Brown in her statement.
The Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal can now work together with the Oregon Department of Forestry to combat the fire, according to a report by The Hill. Brown’s statement also included that the Rum Creek Fire “exceeds the firefighting capabilities of local firefighting personnel and equipment.”
As of today, the fire has currently burned 8,404 acres in Josephine County, near Galice, Oregon. It has doubled in size since Saturday, when the state of emergency was invoked. Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuation orders are in effect for residents living near the fire, according to the Josephine County Sheriff’s Department.
“This is a good reminder that conditions can change quickly, and that fire knows no bounds,” said Brown.
Central Point Fire Contained – Level 1 Evacuation Notice Canceled
Central Point Police have canceled a Level 1 evacuation notice for the Old Upton Subdivision tied to a fire Sunday night.
Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest District (ODF) states that the fire burning along Dean Creek Road is now 100% lined and that firefighters were able to stop the fire at four acres.
ODF says mop-up work is underway and will likely continue overnight.
ODF says windy conditions pushed the fire to spot across a creek but the forward progression of the fire has been stopped. Level 1 Evacuations have also been issued by Central Point Police for the Old Upton subdivision in Central Point.
ODF deployed two helicopters, and both aircraft performed water drops. ODF says the fire no impact on Interstate 5. ODF worked with Jackson County Fire District 3 on the fire near I-5 exit 35 north of Central Point. The fire cause is under investigation.
Three Dead In Shooting At The Safeway In Bend
Sadly the Top News Around the Country is the Deadly Shooting in Bend
Three people are dead in a shooting at the Safeway on Bend’s east side Sunday night. The shooter is one of the three killed. Bend Police say it happened around 7:04 p.m. at the Forum Shopping Center at Highway 20 and NE 27th Street.
Chief Mike Krantz said late Sunday that it’s believed the shooter entered from a residential area behind the shopping center. “The shooter moved through the parking lot from the Costco on the west end, shooting rounds from an AR-15-style rifle, the shooter entered the west entrance of Safeway,” said Krantz.
Krantz said the gunman shot one person at the entrance. That person was later transported to the hospital, where they were pronounced dead. St. Charles Health System said in a Facebook post that they received another victim of the shooting, who is reported to be in good condition.
Police say the gunman moved through the store, continuing to fire shots and killed a second person inside.
Krantz said officers arrived, still hearing gunshots. They found the suspected gunman dead inside the store with the AR-15-style rifle as well as a shotgun nearby. Krantz said no officers fired shots.
Krantz said the gunman shot one person at the entrance. That person was later transported to the hospital, where they were pronounced dead. St. Charles Health System said in a Facebook post that they received another victim of the shooting, who is reported to be in good condition.
Police say the gunman moved through the store, continuing to fire shots and killed a second person inside.
Krantz said officers arrived, still hearing gunshots. They found the suspected gunman dead inside the store with the AR-15-style rifle as well as a shotgun nearby. Krantz said no officers fired shots.
There was also a report of one person who was injured, but it wasn’t clear as of late Sunday night if that was related to this incident.
Windows at the Big Lots next door were also shot out.
Krantz said officers also investigated reports of a second shooter, but no second shooter was found. He said officers also responded to reports of additional shootings in the vicinity. He said no evidence of any such incidents was found.
This is just a small compilation of missing women and their pictures in the area. There are of course women missing all over Oregon and men and children missing too. We don’t mean to dismiss that, however, there is an inordinate amount of women who go missing each week and there could possibly be a connection with an anomaly or two here and there. 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/
