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, November 16, 2022
Rogue Valley Weather
AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY ISSUED: 2:17 AM NOV. 16, 2022 – NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
...AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Stagnant air is expected, which may lead to deteriorating air quality. * WHERE...Air stagnation will affect sheltered valleys of Eastern Curry, Josephine and Jackson counties including the Illinois, Rogue and Applegate Valleys. * WHEN...Until 10 AM PST Friday. * IMPACTS...Air stagnation is likely to result in diminishing air quality with time, especially in and near areas with significant sources of air pollution. Diminished air quality is likely to cause health issues for people with respiratory problems if precautions are not taken. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Southeast winds will likely surface in the south end of the Rogue Valley near Ashland through Wednesday, so air stagnation is less likely there. * View the hazard area in detail at https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?wfo=mfr
Groundbreaking Ceremony for Royal Oaks in Medford
State, county and city officials celebrate beginning of work on affordable housing for fire survivors
WHAT: State, county and city officials alongside community housing partners will help break ground on the rebuilding of Royal Oaks Mobile Manor, a manufactured home park that was destroyed by the Almeda Fire in 2020. The affordable housing development is expected to open in the second half of 2023 providing homeownership opportunities for people affected by the Almeda and South Obenchain fires.
WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022
- Arrivals: 11:45 a.m.
- Remarks: Noon
WHERE: 4069 S Pacific Hwy., Medford. Please park at 4019 S Pacific Hwy., immediately north of the construction site.
WHO: The event will include remarks from:
- Representative Pam Marsh
- Caleb Yant, deputy director of Oregon Housing and Community Services
- Joe Vollmar, housing director at ACCESS
- Ryan Haynes, director of Real Estate Development at Housing Authority of Jackson County
Visuals: Groundbreaking and shovel ceremony with officials and dignitaries
RSVP: Wednesday, Nov. 16 by 4 p.m., equests@hcs.oregon.gov“>HCS.mediarequests@hcs.oregon.gov
The manufactured home park that was destroyed in the Almeda Fire, will soon be able to house over 100 families. The project will go a long way toward creating more affordable housing in the Rogue Valley, already in short supply before the fire.
The affordable housing development will bring 118 modular units to Rogue Valley. The units will be available to the survivors. It’ll begin the rebuilding process of the former Royal Oaks Mobile Manor on the South Pacific Highway. The Housing Authority of Jackson County, Oregon Housing and Community Services, and Access, are all behind the effort.
“This is a huge step forward and it really symbolizes a lot to us, one of the biggest obstacles we’re seeing when working with fire survivors is the lack of housing as well as affordable housing for people to get in, to move into homeownership and call it their home is a huge step forward,” said Joe Vollmar Access Housing Director.
A modular unit is built in a factory and then shipped to the site. The affordable housing development is expected to open by September 2023, around the time of the 3 year anniversary of the Almeda Fire.
Grants Pass Sound Lounge Robber Arrested
On Monday, November 14, 2022, Grants Pass Police Detectives, with the assistance of the Medford Police Department, arrested Gregory Scott Jetmore, 41 years old, for the robbery of the Sound Lounge that occurred on November 8thin Grants Pass. Following a losing Oregon Lottery gambling spree at the Sound Lounge, Jetmore allegedly returned and held the bartender at knifepoint while he demanded cash and the bartender’s phone. Jetmore fled the scene with approximately $4,000.00 cash.
Following an in-depth investigation by the Grants Pass Police Department, Gregory Jetmore was identified as the subject captured on surveillance video robbing the business. Following the arrest, Jetmore was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Robbery in the First Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing, and Theft in the First Degree.
The Grants Pass Police Department would like to thank all those who assisted with the investigation. If anyone has further information about this crime, they are asked to call the Grants Pass Police Department at 541-450-6260 and reference case # 22-49208. Further media inquiries should be referred to the Josephine County District Attorney’s Office.
The City of Phoenix says it will have its new government and public safety building finished by December 2023
“We’re doing all the preliminary site work to get the site ready for the actual construction but we’re pretty excited,” said Eric Swanson, City Manager. “This is something that’s been a long time coming and I think it’s going to be very transformational for not only the city organization but for the entire region here in Phoenix.”
In 2020, the fire department conducted a facility analysis and realized that both the old fire department building and city hall were not up to code. This is when each agency began talking about a new building that would house all three.
“I’ve been in other places around the country where the city has all three functions in the same building and it seems to make it look more professional and it will also create a better atmosphere for the people that have to do the work,” said Jim Synder, city councilman.
The trinity building will be a two-story, 24,000-square-foot facility that will house the police department, fire department, and city hall. Construction of the building costs the city just over $18 million.
“It’ll also mean that we are going to get our civic center back which the city members have occupied for a year or so now and it will be put back to its original use so that people can have wedding receptions, meetings, and other things,” Synder said.
Being more communicative and having faster response times were also additional reasons to join together in one structure.
“Also co-locating with the police and city hall will streamline a lot of services we can offer. I especially look forward to seeing the police officers as we follow more challenging calls where debriefing together is always helpful,” said Brian Bolstad, Battalion Chief for Fire District 5.
Currently, the fire department in Talent serves as a duel house, splitting up staff and fire trucks to respond to Talent and Phoenix.
Ashland Rotary Centennial Ice Rink Set to Open Nov 19, 2022
City of Ashland press release — It’s that time of year again to lace up your skates and hit the ice! The Ashland Rotary Centennial Ice Rink will officially open on Saturday, November 19, 2022.
The outdoor rink is located in beautiful Lithia Park at 95 Winburn Way, across from the playground, around the bend from the Downtown Plaza, at the corner of Nutley Street and Winburn Way. The rink is managed by Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission (APRC).
APRC and the City of Ashland hope you can recreate, eat and shop locally this winter. Holiday celebrations in Ashland include:
- The Ashland Chamber & Travel Ashland’s Festival of Light— Celebrate 30 years of magical moments this winter as they flip the switch on more than one million holiday lights! Watch for Santa at 5 p.m. on November 25, as he makes his way from the Ashland Public Library to the Downtown Plaza in a choreographed procession that will lead to the Grand Illumination of Ashland. Caroling, entertainment on the plaza and a season full of festive activities awaits. Travelashland.com/FestivalOfLight
- The Oregon Shakespeare Festival will present, “It’s Christmas, Carol.” The play will open on November 23 and run through January 1, 2023. Osfashland.org
Please visit ashland.or.us/IceRink BEFORE every trip to the rink as the schedule offers opportunities for all, from figure skaters to hockey players to families with young children, and you will want to plan your visit accordingly. (Weather can also affect the schedule.) The direct line to the rink, on or after November 19, is 541.552.2258. The rink will be open through February 2023. If you have questions before November 19, please email ParksInfo@ashland.or.us or call 541.488.5340.
Come to the Ashland Rotary Centennial Ice Rink this season and experience one of the most magical places in Ashland… that little outdoor rink in beautiful Lithia Park, where the air is fresh, and the white lights are twinkling. May you find your holiday spirit in Ashland’s season of celebration! Follow us on social media… Facebook & Instagram @AshlandParksandRec —
Vehicle Crashes into a Building – 764 NW Garden Valley Boulevard -Roseburg
At 3:30 p.m. on November 15, 2022, personnel from the Roseburg Fire Department, Roseburg Police Department, and Umpqua Valley Ambulance responded to a vehicle into a building at 764 NW Garden Valley Boulevard. Dispatch reported a vehicle had drove into Seven Thai restaurant striking patrons inside the restaurant.
Firefighters arrived on scene to find a Toyota Sienna minivan, driven by Jeanne Wallace (94 years of age), had driven through the glass pane front of the Seven Thai restaurant and struck several people that were seated at tables inside the restaurant. Two patients were found to be trapped under the vehicle. Five patients were injured and three were transported, two of which were trauma patients.
Statements to police officers on scene revealed the driver had inadvertently pushed down on the gas pedal instead of the brake pedal. The driver was uninjured and cited for careless driving. The vehicle was removed from the building by Roseburg Towing personnel.
Paid Leave Oregon launches statewide campaign to help employers prepare for paid leave
This week, Paid Leave Oregon launched a statewide campaign aimed at notifying Oregon employers about their role and responsibilities in the new program, which begins in just six weeks, on Jan. 1.
To make sure employers are ready to participate in the program, the statewide campaign includes social and digital advertising featuring Oregon employers. High-resolution photos for media from the campaign are available at this link.
Paid Leave Oregon also has a new online employer toolkit, a one-stop place for employers to find all the resources they need to prepare. The toolkit includes the required notice poster, an employer guidebook, a new video, and sample social posts that employers and partners can use to share information with their employees and networks, and much more. Resources for employers are available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, simplified Chinese, and traditional Chinese.
“Paid Leave Oregon is here to support employers so they can help their employees prepare for this new program,” said Karen Madden Humelbaugh, director of Paid Leave Oregon. “We are excited to share all of these new resources with employers, who we know are still learning about the program and how it will help Oregonians.”
Paid Leave Oregon allows employees to take paid time off for some of life’s most important moments. It covers leave for the birth or adoption of a child, for serious illness or injury, for taking care of a seriously ill family member, and for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or harassment.
The new campaign targets employers, because all employers, regardless of size, will collect contributions from employees starting Jan. 1. Both employers and employees fund Paid Leave Oregon with a total contribution rate of 1 percent of gross payroll. Employees will pay 60 percent, and large employers will pay 40 percent, of the 1 percent contribution rate. For example, if an employee makes $5,000, the employee will pay $30, and the employer will pay $20.
However, only employers with 25 or more employees also will contribute to the program. Small employers with fewer than 25 employees are not required to make contributions, but they can choose to participate in coverage as a benefit to their employees.
“Paid Leave Oregon will make it easy for business owners like us to support employees, and that helps keep trained folks on our team,” said Kathryn Weeks of Peoria Gardens in Linn County.
Peoria Gardens is one of the local Oregon employers featured in the Paid Leave campaign.
“Without this program we could not afford such comprehensive coverage, and we know that our workers are also contributing,” Weeks said. “The state will confirm a worker qualifies, and of course pay for the leave itself out of the fund. This is a real service, both for us and for our employees.”
Paid Leave Oregon will administer the program, including paying employees while they are on leave and determining their eligibility for benefits. Benefits will be available to employees in September 2023. Another statewide campaign focusing on employee outreach begins in 2023.
### The Oregon Employment Department (OED) is an equal opportunity agency. OED provides free help so you can use our services. Some examples are sign language and spoken-language interpreters, written materials in other languages, large print, audio, and other formats. To get help, please call 503-947-1444. TTY users call 711. You can also send an email to communications@employ.oregon.gov. — MORE INFO: https://paidleave.oregon.gov/Pages/default.aspx
OHA offers telehealth visits to improve access to COVID-19 therapy
Agency partners with Color Health to provide free clinician appointments so people can find out if they’re eligible for oral antivirals
PORTLAND, Ore. – Oregon Health Authority (OHA) now offers free telehealth visits statewide for those at increased risk for severe COVID-19 illness. This provides easier access to potentially life-saving treatment.
OHA partnered with Color Health to launch the new program Monday. Through this program, any person in Oregon, regardless of health insurance status, can make a no-cost telehealth appointment with a clinician. During the appointment, they can find out if they are eligible for COVID-19 oral antiviral medicine.
People at increased risk of severe COVID-19 illness whose symptoms started in the prior five days are eligible for treatment. If a clinician confirms the patient is eligible for treatment, the clinician can prescribe the medication.
“These medicines can help prevent severe COVID-19 illness, hospitalization and even death,” said Andrea Lara, M.D., M.P.H., therapeutics clinical and equity lead with Oregon Health Authority. “They should be available for free for anyone who needs them, whether or not the person has health insurance.”
She added that the service will especially benefit communities hit hardest by COVID-19. This includes Tribal nations and communities of color.
OHA recommends people with COVID-19 symptoms or a positive COVID test first call or visit a health care provider. If they don’t have a provider or are unable to quickly get an appointment, they can find a federal Test to Treat site.
If there is no Test to Treat site nearby or they can’t get to one, they can make a telehealth appointment through Color. The process is as follows:
- Visit Color.com/COVID-19-treatment-OR and take the survey, or call 833-273-6330 and describe your symptoms.
- Join the video or phone call.
- Those given a prescription can pick it up at their local pharmacy or get home delivery.
Telehealth visit hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. Consultation is offered in 17 languages. You can visit OHA’s COVID-19 treatments page, or call Color at 833-273-6330 for more information.
For people who can’t use the service or who need additional assistance or accessibility accommodations, there is another option. They can find participating federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) on the Test to Treat site. They should look for sites that say “HRSA supported health center” or read OHA’s monthly COVID-19 Therapeutics Newsletter, found on OHA’s COVID-19 Treatments page, for a list.
Oregon’s Doctors and Nurses Join Together, Ask Oregonians to be Vigilant Against RSV, Other Illnesses
(Portland, Ore.) – Across the state, hospitals are seeing a serious surge in cases of respiratory syncytial virus, also known as RSV. RSV is a common airborne respiratory virus. Young children are especially vulnerable to RSV, with children under the age of two at increased risk for severe symptoms. Combined with increased risk for cases of influenza and COVID-19, hospitals are on the verge of being overwhelmed, if they aren’t already. Public health officials across the country are warning that winter could see a “triple-demic” that will add overwhelming stress to an already stressed health care system in Oregon.
The Oregon Medical Association (OMA) and the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) are joining together to call on Oregonians to take steps to protect themselves and their children from the threats of RSV, flu, and COVID-19 – not only for their own health, but also to reduce the impact on the physicians and nurses who are facing unprecedented patient numbers in hospitals and clinics.
“All signs indicate that we are at the very beginning of this RSV surge,” said Marianne Parshley, MD, internal medicine specialist and President of the OMA. “Public health officials believe we won’t see the peak of this surge for another 10 to 12 weeks, until well past the holidays. Physicians and physician assistants across the state join their nursing colleagues in asking all Oregonians to take extra precautions now to help reduce the impact of these illnesses on our health care workers and prevent further strain on hospitals and clinics.”
A crucial step for Oregonians is to know when (and when not) to go to the emergency room. “Our ERs are overflowing with patients right now,” said Tamie Cline, RN, President of the ONA Board of Directors. “It is important for people to know when they should head to the ER and when it is better to visit urgent care, call an advice nurse, see your primary care provider, or simply stay at home and care for yourself.”
“If you suspect you or your child has been exposed to RSV, call your primary care physician or nurse advice line rather than coming into the ER where you will face a long wait, or even risk exposing yourself and your child to other illnesses like COVID-19 or the flu,” said Parshley. “Your doctor or advice nurse can run through a checklist of warning signs and symptoms and make suggestions for potential at-home treatments or recommend other steps, like visiting an urgent care clinic or coming to the ER, as needed.”
A serious symptom of RSV includes working extra hard to breathe – like flaring of the nostrils, grunting while inhaling or exhaling, or when skin between the ribs or collarbone pulls in and out. If an individual experiences such symptoms, they should be seen by a medical professional immediately. Check with your primary care provider or advice nurse if you have any questions about other symptoms.
“Just as we have been for the past two years, we are all in this together,” said Cline. “Physicians and nurses are asking everyone to take precautions like voluntarily wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, washing your hands frequently, keeping your hands away from your face, disinfecting frequently used surfaces, staying home from work or school if you suspect you might be ill, and, of course, make sure you get your flu shot and your COVID-19 booster. Spreading the message now, before this surge gets worse, is essential if Oregon is to avoid the worst impacts of an overwhelmed health care system.”
The Oregon Medical Association (OMA) is the state’s largest professional organization engaging in advocacy, policy, community-building, and networking opportunities for Oregon’s physicians, physician assistants, medical students, and physician assistant students. In the state capitol of Salem and in Washington, DC, the OMA’s members speak with one voice as they advocate for policies that improve access to quality patient care and reduce administrative burdens on medical professionals. For more information visit: www.TheOMA.org
The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) is the state’s largest and most influential nursing organization. We are a professional association and labor union which represents more than 15,000 nurses and allied health workers throughout the state. ONA’s mission is to advocate for nursing, quality health care and healthy communities. For more information visit: www.OregonRN.org.
FBI Investigating Suspicious Death on Warm Springs Reservation
WARM SPRINGS, OR – The Federal Bureau of Investigation, partnered with the Warm Springs Tribal Police, are investigating the death of a man on the Warm Springs Reservation.
Warm Springs Tribal Police received a call Monday night notifying that a man had died in a home on Dry Creek Trail Road.
Once police arrived they noticed a wound to the man’s head. The man is identified as 43-year-old Diamond Tewee.
The FBI’s Evidence Response Team is processing the scene. As this is an ongoing investigation, no further information will be released at this time. FBI – Oregon
Reynolds High School Teacher Arrested In Bend In Online Sex Sting
A Reynolds High School teacher faces possible attempted rape and other charges after being arrested last Friday in an “online sex sting” operation, the Bend Police Department said Monday in a statement.
Edward Hernandez-Corchado, 26, began messaging a Bend police officer on November 4, with the officer posing as a 15-year-old girl, according to the statement. Over the course of the week, Hernandez-Corchado “continued contacting the officer and making sexual statements, and then began making plans to meet up in person at Target in Bend to engage in sexual acts with her,” police added.
The Portland-area teacher and the officer posing as the teen girl agreed to meet Friday evening “so he could take her to a hotel,” officials said. Police arrested him when he arrived at the agreed meeting spot.
Police said they took Hernandez-Corchado into custody on charges including online corruption of a child, attempted rape and luring a minor for sexual conduct. The Portland State graduate has been teaching social studies at Reynolds since 2019, according to a LinkedIn profile.
In a message to parents and staff, Reynolds High School said the teacher has been put on leave.
Police say there may be victims who have not been identified and ask anyone with possible information to contact the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office at 503-988-0560.
Free parking at Oregon State Parks the day after Thanksgiving
SALEM, Oregon – Oregon Parks and Recreation Department invites Oregonians to head outside the day after Thanksgiving, Nov. 25.
Popularly known as “Green Friday,” the day after Thanksgiving has become a tradition in recent years. Oregon state parks will once again waive day-use parking fees in the 24 parks that are open and charge for parking on that day.
“We’re proud to promote this tradition and offer Oregonians an alternative to the busiest shopping day of the year,” said Lisa Sumption, director of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.
Parking is free year-round at almost all state parks; the waiver applies to the parks that charge $5 daily for parking. Fee parks include popular destinations such as Fort Stevens, Cape Lookout, Silver Falls, Champoeg, L.L. Stub Stewart, Smith Rock and Milo McIver. A complete list of parks that require day-use parking permits is available online at stateparks.oregon.gov (Fall Creek is listed, but closed for the season).
The fee waiver applies from open to close on Nov. 25, except at Shore Acres State Park, where it expires at 4 p.m. for the Holiday Lights event that runs Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve.
Use #OptOutside and #OregonStateParks on social media to share your adventures. Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept.
Applications Open for the 2023 Oregon FFA Scholarships
Applications are currently open for the 2023 Oregon FFA Scholarships. High school FFA students, and some alumni, with an interest in agriculture or a similar field, have an opportunity to get a jump start on their advanced education.
Available scholarships and a brief description of their purpose All scholarship applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. January 31, 2023. For more information https://oregonffa.com/scholarships-2/
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