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, December 26, 2022
Rogue Valley Weather
WIND ADVISORY ISSUED: 4:34 AM DEC. 26, 2022 – NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM PST TUESDAY... * WHAT...South winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph expected. * WHERE...Jackson County. * WHEN...From 7 PM Monday to 7 AM PST Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The strongest winds in Jackson County will be around Ashland. * View the hazard area in detail at https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?wfo=mfr
Central Point Police Arrest Portland Murder Suspect
A murder suspect who allegedly killed his girlfriend and left her body at Powell Butte Nature Park in Portland was arrested in Southern Oregon Friday, Dec. 23.
Central Point Police Department officers arrested 43-year-old Jose Caraballo on a warrant for second-degree murder (domestic violence) that was issued in Multnomah County by the Portland Police Bureau.
He was booked into the Jackson County Jail Friday afternoon and will be transferred back to Multnomah County.
The arrest concludes a nationwide search for Caraballo after 27-year-old Kathryn Muhlbach’s body was found earlier this month at Powell Butte, 16160 S.E. Powell Boulevard, a popular nature park in East County. Police believed Caraballo would attempt to flee south using associates in Oregon, California, and Mexico.
Muhlbach’s family posted on social media in the days following her death that Caraballo was abusive and isolated her from loved ones.
Man Found Dead In Bear Creek
Medford Police Department say they pulled a body out of Bear Creek Thursday. According to police, the body has been identified as a white male in his 60s.
The name of the deceased is not being released at this time until the next of kin are notified.
An autopsy was conducted, and officials say there is no indication a crime was committed before the man’s death.
Police say it is believed the man was alive when he first went into the water. A likely cause of death was determined to be drowning and exposure.
Crater Lake National Park’s Ranger-Guided Snowshoe Walks
Crater Lake National Park’s ranger-guided snowshoe walks have begun for this winter season.
Officials say these walks happen Saturdays, Sundays, and most holidays through April 30. Hikes are offered daily from Dec. 17 through Jan. 2 and from March 25 through April 1.
Snowshoes are provided free of charge. No previous snowshoe experience is necessary to participate.
Walks start at 1:00 p.m. and last 2 hours. They cover 1 to 2 miles of moderate-to-strenuous terrain. Routes vary, but most begin at Rim Village and explore the forests and meadows along the rim of the lake. Crater Lake National Park is one of the snowiest inhabited places in America, receiving an average of 43 feet of snow per year.
The release said space on each tour is limited and advanced reservations are required. For more information or to sign up, call the park’s visitor information line at 541-594-3100. While the walk is free, admission to the park is $20 per car. All participants must be at least 8 years old.
Snowshoes are provided free of charge and no previous snowshoeing experience is necessary. For more information on winter conditions, services and programs at Crater Lake National Park, go to: www.nps.gov/crla.
There is no additional cost for the walk, apart from the park’s entrance fee. Walkers must be at least eight years old and be prepared with warm clothing and water-resistant footwear.
For more information and to sign up for a walk, call the park’s visitor information line at 541-594-3100.
Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving
The weeks leading up to the holiday season are a busy period on America’s roads. To help keep drivers safe, our local law enforcement departments will work with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) during the national Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving drunk-driving-awareness campaign.
If you plan to go out and include alcohol in your celebration, make sure you refrain from driving. Review these facts and spread the word about the dangers of drunk driving.
- During the 2016-2020 December months, more than 4,400 people were killed in drunk-driving-related crashes.
- Drunk male drivers were involved in fatal crashes at a much higher rate (660) in December 2020 compared to female drivers (191).
- Approximately one-third of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers (with BACs at or above .08). In 2020, there were 11,654 people killed in drunk-driving crashes.
- Although it’s illegal to drive when impaired by alcohol, in 2020 one person was killed every 45 minutes in a drunk-driving crash on our nation’s roads.
- The rate of alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2020 was 3.1 times higher at night than during the day.
Plan for a Safe Celebration
Always remember to plan ahead when you will be celebrating with alcohol. If you plan to drink, make arrangements for a sober driver to take you home. Before you start celebrating this holiday season, look over these safety tips to keep you, your loved ones, and everyone else safe on the road.
- Plan ahead: If you wait until you’ve been drinking to make a smart decision, you might not. Before you have one drink, designate a sober driver who won’t be drinking.
- If it’s your turn to be the designated driver, take your job seriously, and don’t drink.
- If you see a drunk driver on the road, 911 immediately.
- Do you have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and let a sober driver get your friend home safely.
Atmospheric River To Bring Series of Storms and Wet Weather To The West
From freezing rain to the warmest Christmas day on record in Eugene happening all in one week, it’s been quite the start of winter so far.
It will be a wet week in the West as a series of low-pressure systems will bring stormy weather to the region.
An atmospheric river will bring rain to parts of Washington, Oregon and California starting Monday and overspreading more of the region with wet weather on Tuesday. Several inches of rain are possible throughout Monday and Tuesday.
In higher elevations, moderate to heavy snow is forecast for the Cascades and the Siskiyou Mountains. A Winter Storm Watch was issued ahead of the storm as the NWS expects snow upwards of 4 feet above 8,000 feet.
Strong winds are also expected, along with the threat of flooding and feet of snow.
“Very strong winds will become a concern as well on Tuesday,” the NWS warned. “Especially near the coast and at higher elevations as the center of this potent low is forecast to reach coastal Washington later on Tuesday.”
High Wind Warnings have already been posted ahead of the incoming system in parts of Oregon, California and Nevada.
And while there may be a lull in precipitation midweek, another low-pressure system will bring more rain and high-elevation snow by the end of the workweek and into the weekend.
Federal Study Confirms Oregon Spike In Homelessness
A recently released national report shows the number of people experiencing homelessness nationwide has remained relatively steady since 2016 despite the pandemic.
The report also shows what most Oregonians already know: The number of people sleeping on the streets in this state has spiked.
There were 582,462 people sleeping on the streets nationally during a single night in January this year, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — a 0.3% increase since 2020.
Point-in-time counts are meant to provide a snapshot of who is sleeping on the streets on any given night, and they are often considered an undercount.
In Oregon, according to federal data, there were 14,655 people, an increase of 22.5% since 2020.
Margaret Salazar, who recently ran the Oregon Housing and Community Services state agency and now works for the federal Housing and Urban Development office as a Northwest regional administrator, said the numbers are “heartbreaking.”
She said a new plan from the federal government should help Oregon combat the crisis unfolding on the streets.
“We’re very excited about it. It’s bold,” Salazar told OPB.
The plan sets the goal of reducing homelessness by 25% by 2025 and encourages states to use the federal plan as a strategic guide.
The plan includes ideas on how to boost affordable housing and emergency shelters, but the real focus will be trying to keep people on the verge of losing their home keep it. The federal government also plans to offer more support to state agencies through both technical assistance, using available data to gain a sense of the problem, and also by providing more human power — sending people who can reach out to the unhoused population and help connect them with resources.
There was one notable semi-brighter spot in the federal data: The report shows a decrease of about 18.9% or 248 unaccompanied homeless youth in Oregon. Kids experiencing homelessness, however, are often referred to as “invisible children” because many intentionally try to go unnoticed.
Oregon Gov.-elect Tina Kotek has promised to make addressing the homeless crisis a priority.
Oregon Among States Raising Their Minimum Wages In 2023
Amid inflation, and no changes on the federal level, multiple states will be raising their minimum wages in 2023.
The federal minimum wage in the U.S. is $7.25 , a rate that hasn’t changed since 2009. As of fall 2022, 15 states have minimum wage rates that match the federal minimum wage, down from 16 last year .
In the new year, 27 states will see an increase in their minimum wage. Most will take effect on January 1, but others will have to wait until further into 2023.
California will have the highest minimum wage rate at $15.50, up from the $15 it set in 2022. Only Washington, D.C. has a higher minimum wage of $16.10. D.C.’s wage will rise again in July, 2023 in proportion to the increase in the Consumer Price Index, according to its Department of Employment Services .
Oregon and Nevada won’t see their minimum wages increase until July, 2023. Then, Oregon’s rate will rise from the current $13.50 to a yet-to-be-determined number based on the Consumer Price Index, a figure released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Free Ranger-Guided Hikes at 20 Oregon State Parks On New Year’s Day
Rangers will guide hikes at Oregon state parks on New Year’s Day to kick off 2023. Choose from 24 hikes in 21 parks across the state. All hikes will be guided by a park ranger or volunteer who will share stories about the park’s history, geology, wildlife, and plants.
Known as “First Day Hikes,” the trips typically cover just a few miles and are considered family-friendly.
The tours are free and the $5 day-use parking fee is also being waived on New Year’s Day at every state park that normally requires a fee. A few of the guided hikes do require registration.
Rangers will cover park history, geology, wildlife and plants during the hikes at parks around the state from the high desert to the coast, according to a news release.
“A guided hike is great way to kick off 2023 in the outdoors and begin a new tradition or continue a longstanding family tradition,” said Lisa Sumption, director of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. “As our centennial year comes to a close, we’re excited to begin the next 100 years of Oregon State Parks and continue to offer year-round recreation.”
The hikes begin at different times and locations. To get information on each of the different treks, including length, difficulty and whether you need to register, go to https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=v.feature-article&articleId=263
“Remember to plan for winter weather, dress in layers, wear sturdy shoes, bring water and carry binoculars for viewing wildlife,” the news release said.
Here’s a list of the planned hikes at each state park.
Portland area
- L.L. Stub Stewart State Park: 10 a.m., meet at the Dairy Creek West meeting hall
- Milo McIver State Park: 10 a.m., meet at the Dog Creek Trailhead in the Riverside Day-Use Area.
- Milo McIver State Park: 1 p.m., meet at the Dog Creek Trailhead in the Riverside Day-use Area.
Columbia River Gorge
- Deschutes River State Recreation Area: 11 a.m., meet at the Oregon Trail Kiosk. Registration required.
- Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail: 10 a.m., meet at the Mark O. Hatfield East Trailhead on Rock Creek Road, Mosier. Bring your snowshoes or cross-country skis if there’s snow.
Willamette Valley/West Cascades
- Elijah Bristow State Park, Equestrian Ride: 11 a.m., foot in stirrup at noon, meet at the equestrian parking area for horse riding (bring your own horse).
- Elijah Bristow State Park: 10 a.m., meet at the main parking lot at the end of the park road near group picnic areas.
- Detroit Lake State Park: 11 a.m., meet at the Campground Visitor Center.
- Silver Falls State Park, Historic District Hike: 10 a.m., meet at the South Falls Lodge porch.
- Silver Falls State Park, Geology Hike: 10 a.m., meet at the South Falls Lodge porch.
Oregon Coast
- Bullards Beach State Park: 1 p.m., meet at the amphitheater.
- Fort Stevens State Park: 10 a.m., meet at the main parking lot next to the museum and visitor center.
- Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park: 10 a.m., meet at the Cleawox Lodge.
- Nehalem Bay State Park: 9 a.m., meet at the main parking lot.
- South Beach State Park, South Jetty: 10 a.m., meet at the new Jetty Trailhead, South Jetty Day-use Area.
- Sitka Sedge State Natural Area: 12 p.m., meet at the parking lot.
Southern Oregon
- Collier Memorial State Park: 10 a.m., meet at the Logging Museum parking lot. Call the park office, 541-783-2471 X21 to register by Dec. 30. Leave a message that includes name, contact info and number of people attending.
- TouVelle State Park: 1:30 p.m., meet at the day-use area by Area F at the far end of the park.
- Valley of the Rogue State Park: 10 a.m., meet at the amphitheater fire pit in the program area.
Eastern/Central Oregon
- Cottonwood Canyon State Park: 10 a.m., meet at the Experience Center.
- LaPine State Park: 10 a.m., meet at the Cougar Woods Trailhead. Registration required.
- Smith Rock State Park: 9 a.m., meet at the Welcome Center Yurt. Registration required.
- Tumalo State Park: 1 p.m., meet at the day-use entrance near the fee machine.
