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
Friday, December 16, 2022
Rogue Valley Weather
AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY ISSUED: 2:09 AM DEC. 16, 2022 – NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
...FREEZING FOG ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM PST THIS MORNING... ...AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PST SUNDAY... * WHAT...For the Air Stagnation Advisory, stagnant air is expected, which may lead to deteriorating air quality. For the Freezing Fog Advisory, visibility at a quarter of a mile or less in freezing fog with potential black ice building on roadways. * WHERE...For the Air Stagnation Advisory, all valleys in southern Oregon. For the Freezing Fog Advisory, portions of the Rogue Valley north of Talent, including the City of Medford. * WHEN...For the Air Stagnation Advisory, until 10 PM PST Sunday. For the Freezing Fog Advisory, until 9 AM PST this morning. * IMPACTS...Hazardous driving conditions due to low visibility and potential frost or black ice on bridges and roadways. 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. * View the hazard area in detail at https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?wfo=mfr
New I-5 Siskiyou Summit Electronic Message Signs
Six new electronic message signs on northbound I-5 will help inform travelers about changing conditions and help regulate speeds on the highest summit on the I-5 corridor.
Gary Leaming of the Oregon Department of Transportation said the signs are located between the Oregon-California border and Ashland and will be live by the start of the new year.
Leaming said three of the signs can show drivers a legally-enforceable lower speed limit. Computers will automatically adjust speed limits displayed on the electronic, black-on-white speed signs based on weather and pavement conditions on the summit. Leaming said the computers gather information from sensors that can measure factors like road surface traction, humidity, air temperature and visibility.
When conditions improve, speed limits will be automatically raised again.
ODOT District Manager Jeremiah Griffen said, “Drivers going too fast for the changing conditions often get surprised on the Siskiyou Summit”. Griffen said, “High speeds frequently lead to crashes and delays, no matter what time of year. These new variable speed signs will be an important safety tool”.
The ODOT release said that data from the Federal Highway Administration shows variable speed limits reduce the number and severity of crashes, especially in bad weather.
In addition to the variable speed signs, there are two dynamic “curve warning” signs. They show drivers their speed as they approach two sharp curves near the Mt. Ashland exit and a railroad trestle. The signs are similar to ones on the freeway at the Myrtle Creek curves.
The new signs were installed as part of the recent $35 million interstate improvements project between the California border and Ashland. Travelers can get the latest road conditions at www.tripcheck.com.
Police Ask for Public’s Help In Investigating Missing Bend Woman Found “Alive and Safe” In Shady Cove
A northeast Bend woman reported missing late Monday after she failed to return from an afternoon walk to a nearby convenience store was found “alive and safe” in Shady Cove on Wednesday evening and is receiving medical attention, Bend Police said Thursday.
Bend Police are asking for the Medford-area community’s assistance on a missing persons case. If you saw Nadeyda Vergara Aguilar, 34, in the area of Highway 62 between Tuesday, Dec. 13, and Wednesday, Dec. 14, please contact Det. Ian Macdonell via our nonemergency dispatch line at 541-693-6911 and reference case #2022-00073425.
Vergara Aguilar is a Hispanic female who is 5 feet 1 inch tall and 140 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. She was wearing a white winter jacket, jeans and black shoes and had traveled from the Bend/La Pine area. Police are trying to determine the reasons for her disappearance and whether any crime occurred before she was found safe in the Shady Cove area last night.
Nadeyda Vergara Aguilar, 34, “is currently receiving medical attention, and an investigation is ongoing to determine the reasons for her disappearance and whether any crime occurred,” police Communications Manager Sheila Miller said in an update, not divulging further details.
Aguilar left her home in the 2700 block of NE Milltown Lane around 3 p.m. Monday to walk to the Quickway Market, at the intersection of Boyd Acres and Butler Market Roads, Miller said Tuesday. Aguilar left her children with a family member and reportedly said she would be back soon, but did not return, Miller said.
An employee at the market reported seeing the woman at the store but did not see which way she headed upon leaving. The worker also said no one was with Aguilar, who Miller said does not have a cellphone and has only lived in the area for a couple of months. Miller said Aguilar was reported missing around 10:40 p.m. Monday.
Lt. Mike Landolt said Wednesday evening, “We are still asking the public to reach out to the Bend Police Department if you have any information as to her whereabouts the past two days.” You can call Deschutes County non-emergency dispatch at 541-693-6911.
2-Alarm Fire At Medford Cannabis Business
Obie Strickler, CEO of Grown Rogue, said his team of more than a dozen employees made it out safely when a fire sparked at about 7:48 a.m. Wednesday, at 655 Rossanley Drive, saying hundreds of cannabis plants may have to be thrown out, and an entire storage room containing them was destroyed.
Strickler looked past the lost cannabis and expressed gratitude that his staff was uninjured. “This is the first time for us,” said Strickler. “Overall, we feel — I don’t think ‘lucky’ is the right word by any stretch — but it could have been way worse. (We’re) disappointed we might lose a crop, but we’ll manage through that.”-
He added that Grown Rogue has insurance and is working with the agency to recover from the damage. “It will be impactful,” Stickler said. “The smoke damage will require us to completely rebuild that portion of the building.”
For Stickler, “my first thought was the safety of the team.” He reported the 15 to 20 employees on-site at the time of the small fire got out safely.
Grown Rogue has operated in the industrial location for five years. The warehouse contains eight flower rooms for growing THC plants, none of which burned. Strickler described the incident as “a small fire,” and he was not sure of the cause, saying it is under investigation.
“It was the plastic table inserts that were really smoldering, so there was a lot of smoke contained to that room,” Strickler said.
Medford Fire Department’s second alarm drew resources from Jacksonville Fire Department and Jackson County Fire District 3 to help in the firefight near the intersection of Rossanley Drive and Stowe Avenue, according to updates from the fire department.
The fire was fully contained by about 9:30 a.m., and investigators still were working to determine a cause as of midday Wednesday.
Medford fire said the building incurred “moderate smoke damage” in the fire. “Arriving crews found a small fire and quickly extinguished it.” Stickler praised firefighters for their hard work.
Join LIGHTS ON BIKES in Talent Saturday
Get a bike, put some lights on it, and ride the streets of Talent with your friends and neighbors to look at holiday light displays! December 17th, 2022 3pm-5pm Bike Decorating Workshop | 5pm-7pm Lights on Bike Event
Talent’s Annual Holiday bike ride is quickly becoming a community favorite. Neighborhoods compete in holiday lighting decorations to win the famed Lights on Bikes Award for “Best Dressed” house. Folks decorate their bikes with battery-powered lights and holiday cheer to ride the streets and enjoy the festive light displays.
This Saturday, December 17th, Talent Maker City & Talent Business Alliance invite you to join in one of the most festive and revered events in Talent, Lights on Bikes! Grab your bike, attach some festive lights on it, and roll the streets of Talent with your amigos and neighbors to look at holiday light displays! More info here: https://www.talentmakercity.org/…/lights-on-bikes-9th…
Free First Day Hike at Valley of the Rogue State Park Jan. 1, 2023
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is partnering with America’s State Parks for free guided First Day Hikes in state parks on New Year’s Day, Sunday, Jan. 1.
Information about the hike hosted at Valley of the Rogue State Park is below:
- Join us on a 2-mile hike on the Greenway Trail and Rivers Edge Trail.
- The hike starts at 10 a.m. and begins at the amphitheater parking lot.
- The trail has both paved and dirt areas.
- Dogs are welcome on six-foot leashes.
- Participants should dress in layers, wear sturdy shoes, and bring water and snacks, as well as a camera or binoculars for wildlife viewing.
- For more information, 541-582-1118.
The $5 day-use parking fee is waived that day for all state parks that require a parking permit and are open.
Share photos of First Day Hikes via social media by using the hashtag #ORfirstdayhikes.
First Day Hikes is a national initiative to welcome the coming year in the outdoors, promote exercise and encourage connecting with nature. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has participated since 2012.
Free First Day Hike at TouVelle State Recreation Site Jan. 1, 2023
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is partnering with America’s State Parks for free guided First Day Hikes in state parks on New Year’s Day, Sunday, Jan. 1.
Information about the hike hosted at TouVelle State Recreation Site is below:
- Take in nice views of the Rogue River as we take a 1-mile hike on the TouVelle Trail.
- The hike starts at 1:30 p.m. and begins in the day-use area by Area F at the far end of the park.
- The terrain is dirt and gravel on the mostly flat, wide trail.
- Dogs are welcome on six-foot leashes.
- Participants should dress in layers, wear sturdy shoes, and bring water and snacks, as well as a camera or binoculars for wildlife viewing.
- For more information, call 541-582-1118.
The $5 day-use parking fee is waived that day for all state parks that require a parking permit and are open.
Share photos of First Day Hikes via social media by using the hashtag #ORfirstdayhikes.
First Day Hikes is a national initiative to welcome the coming year in the outdoors, promote exercise and encourage connecting with nature. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has participated since 2012.
Oregon Attorney General Announces Nearly $700-Million Monsanto Settlement For PCB Contamination
Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum (AG) announced today the Monsanto Company will pay Oregon a $698-million lump sum for polychlorinated biphenyls contamination (PCBs). She says the historic $698-million dollar settlement involves polluting Oregon with PCBs for more than 90 years.
The AG Office says Monsanto was the only manufacturer, seller, and distributor of PCBs which are toxic compounds formerly used in coolants, electrical equipment such as fluorescent lighting fixtures, and other devices, as well as hydraulic oils, paint, caulking and copier paper.
Rosenblum said the Monsanto case was the kind of lawsuit Oregon’s AG office should make to protect Oregonians. She noted that one of the AG staff even came out of retirement to help handle the matter with the AG’s office.
“This is a huge win for our state,” said Rosenblum, adding, “PCBs are still present throughout Oregon — especially in our landfills and riverbeds — and they are exceedingly difficult to remove, because they ‘bioaccumulate’ in fish and wildlife. Cleaning up our state from this horrific environmental degradation will be as costly and time-consuming as it sounds, but this settlement means we now will have resources to help tackle this problem.”
Monsanto is owned by Bayer AG, a massive German pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, which paid more than $60-billion for Monsanto in 2018. Creve Coeur (St. Louis), Missouri-based Monsanto’s best known product is Roundup, and its herbicide work is the source of other lawsuits.
Bayer shared its statement about the final settlement agreement in the Oregon PCB environmental impairment case: “Bayer has reached a final agreement with the Attorney General for the State of Oregon to resolve a pending polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)-related environmental impairment case, involving legacy Monsanto PCB products. The settlement will fully resolve all claims brought by the state, release the company from any future liability, and result in the dismissal of the case. Under the terms of the agreement, Bayer will make a one-time payment of $698 million, which is fully covered by previous provisions. The company filed a lawsuit against former PCB customers to enforce its indemnification agreements and recover these and other PCB-related litigation costs. The Oregon agreement contains no admission of liability or wrongdoing by the company. The settlement terms reflect the unique challenges and trial procedures in this Oregon venue even though Monsanto voluntarily ceased production of PCBs in 1977 and never manufactured, used or disposed of PCBs in Oregon. Bayer remains committed to defending existing and future cases at trial and won dismissal of a case brought by the state of Delaware earlier this year.”
Today’s settlement stems from a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Rosenblum against Monsanto in 2018 alleging Monsanto was aware as early as 1937 of the highly toxic nature of PCBs and, “Even with that knowledge, Oregon asserted, Monsanto continued to produce and promote the compounds for decades — until they were finally banned in 1977.” Oregon’s lawsuit asked for damages for harm to Oregon from PCB contamination as well as clean-up costs.
Rosenblum said, “Monsanto’s toxic legacy unfortunately lives on in our lands, rivers and other waterways – and poses ongoing risks to the health of our people and our environment. This is all the more reason why this settlement is so vitally important. Oregon and Oregonians will be the better for it.”
The Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ), which AG Rosenblum leads, will work with the Legislature, the Governor and state agencies to put the funds to use for statewide remediation and clean-up.
Oregon State Fire Marshal Opens New Grant Funds To Help Communities Better Prepare For Wildfire
The Oregon State Fire Marshal has opened the application period for a new $18 million grant fund geared toward helping communities be better prepared for wildfire.
The Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant is a competitive opportunity open to local governments, special districts, structural fire service agencies, and non-governmental organizations that can use the funds to support individual community members. Those eligible can apply for funding for wildfire risk reduction projects, equipment, and staff to support local efforts.
The funds will enable local organizations to create and/or support existing programs that reduce wildfire risk. These projects may include yard debris recycling days, curbside chipping programs, community education, equipment purchases, Firewise community support, and staffing to support local efforts.
“This grant fund is a major step forward in giving communities the tools they need to be better adapted to living with wildfire,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “These funds will empower communities to create solutions that work best for them. They also embody the essence of our mission of protecting people, property, and communities from wildfire.”
The OSFM will host two virtual educational webinars for those interested in learning more about the grant. Links to attend can be found on the OSFM’s website.
Oregon’s 2022 General Election Results Officially Certified Now
Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan certified the 2022 General Election yesterday. Official election results are available at the Oregon Secretary of State’s website.
Fagan says, “Since the 2020 election, proponents of the Big Lie — the false belief that the 2020 election was stolen from former President Trump — have eroded public trust, increased violence and threats of violence related to election administration and put core American values of democratic self-governance at risk of erosion. In the face of these challenges, the 2022 midterm election went off without any major issues.”
Fagan says Oregon’s November 2022 election was smooth and secure, a testament to the resiliency of Oregon’s vote-by-mail system and the importance of democracy to Oregonians.
The Oregon Elections Division’s official statistics for the November election show preliminary voter turnout at 61.5% of registered voters, placing Oregon as the top state in the country, tied with Maine, for voter turnout according the U.S. Elections Project.
In the run-up to the November Election, Secretary Fagan visited all 36 county elections offices to hear from county clerks and staff about the challenges they face and the status of vote by mail in each county. She says, “In every corner of Oregon, the state of our vote-by-mail system is strong. I want to thank the elections workers around Oregon whose integrity and hard work makes our democracy work.”
Oregon Coast To Hold ‘Whale Watch Week’ In Person Again For The First Time Since 2019
Oregon State Parks will host Whale Watch Week in person along the Oregon Coast Dec. 28 – Jan. 1. — Previous Whale Watching events were canceled during the pandemic since 2019.
Every year thousands of Gray whales migrate south through Oregon’s waters at the end of December, and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) invites visitors to the coast to see their journey.
Trained volunteers will be stationed at most of the 17 sites to help visitors spot whales, share information and answer questions from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. The sites are some of the best places to watch for whales on the Oregon Coast.
“We really enjoy getting folks out to the coast for Whale Watch Week,” OPRD Park Ranger Peter McBride said. “It’s something that Oregon State Parks has been doing for more than 40 years now, and we’re really glad to be able to bring it back in person,” he said.
A map of volunteer-staffed sites is available online on the official event webpage: https://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=thingstodo.dsp_whaleWatching
An estimated 19,000 Gray whales are expected to swim past Oregon’s shores over the next several weeks as part of their annual migration south to the warm calving lagoons near Baja, Mexico. The end of December is the peak time for their migration; roughly 30 whales pass by per hour.
The Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Visitors to the center can enjoy interactive whale exhibits and take in the panoramic ocean views. Binoculars are provided. Rangers from Oregon State Parks will also be on hand to answer questions about the whales.
All Whale Watch Week visitors are encouraged to dress for the weather, to bring binoculars and to follow beach safety guidelines such as remaining out of fenced areas, knowing the tide schedule and keeping an eye on the surf at all times. Go to https://visittheoregoncoast.com/beach-safety/ for a list of safety tips.
For more information about coast parks and campgrounds, visit http://oregonstateparks.org
AAA Holiday Travel Forecast: Expect Busy Roads and Crowded Airports
AAA projects 112.7 million Americans (33.8% of the population) will travel for the Christmas and New Year holidays. This is up 3.3% from 2021 and closing in on pre-pandemic numbers.
About 1.6 million Oregonians will pack their sleighs for a holiday trip. 2022 is expected to be the third-busiest year for holiday travel since AAA began tracking in 2000, only trailing 2019 and 2018.
While about 90% of travelers will drive to their holiday destinations, air travel is seeing a jump this year, up 14% compared to 2021. The holiday travel period is defined as Friday, December. 23 through Monday, January 2.
“With Christmas Day and New Year’s Day falling on Sundays, many are taking long weekends to celebrate the holidays. And with hybrid work schedules, we’re seeing more flexibility with the days people are traveling because they can work remotely at their destinations,” says Doreen Loofburrow, senior vice president of travel for AAA Oregon/Idaho.
“Despite roller-coaster gas prices and a bumpy year for flights, people are ready to wrap up the year with a holiday trip. This will be one of the busiest times for holiday travel in the last two decades. Travelers should expect busy roads and crowded airports this holiday season,” says Marie Dodds, public affairs director for AAA Oregon/Idaho.
Peak traffic expected Dec. 23, 27, 28 and Jan. 2 — Travelers can expect the busiest roads on Dec. 23, 27 and 28 and on Jan. 2. Delays will be the longest in the afternoons and evenings, especially in urban areas, as travelers mix with commuters. Some metro areas across the U.S. could see more than double the delays versus typical drive times, and larger urban areas could experience three times the normal delays.
“Knowing the busiest drive times can help you avoid the stress of being stuck in stop-and-go traffic,” says Dodds.
Medical Examiner Seeks Public Help to Identify Woman Found In Portland
The Multnomah County Medical Examiner’s Office is asking for the public’s help identifying the body of a woman who died Nov. 28 in Portland.
The Medical Examiner describes the woman as white, between the ages of 20 and 40 years old. They say she also was about 5′4″ tall, weighing 139 pounds. She had medium to long brown hair with brown eyes.
The woman also had pierced ears, with scars on both forearms and the following tattoos:
- Right wrist: Faith Hope Love
- Left wrist: Amirah
- Right Shoulder: Black and red butterfly
Anyone with information about the woman is asked to call the Multnomah County Medical Examiner’s Office at (503) 988-0055 and reference case number #MU-221128-812.
