The latest news stories of interest in the Rogue Valley and the state of Oregon from the digital home of Southern Oregon, Wynne Broadcasting’s RogueValleyMagazine.com
Thursday, December 28, 2023
Rogue Valley Weather
...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 PM PST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Southeast winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected. * WHERE...The southern Rogue Valley in Jackson County along Interstate 5 between Medford and Ashland, and the foothills of the Cascades. * WHEN...From 7 PM Thursday to 7 PM PST Friday. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. * View the hazard area in detail at https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?wfo=mfr
Jackson County Sheriff – Sheriff’s Office Welcomes New K9 and Handler
Enhanced Patrols Planned for Josephine County New Year’s Eve
Multi-agency effort to curb impaired driving
JOSEPHINE COUNTY, Ore. 28 Dec. 2023 – Oregon State Police is partnering with the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and Grants Police Department to increase patrols on New Year’s Eve throughout Josephine County. This is a high priority holiday, as Josephine County has experienced higher than normal rates of intoxicated drivers over New Year’s Eve in the past.
Officers, deputies, and troopers will be focusing on DUII and other Fatal-5 violations that are statistically shown to contribute to serious injury and fatal crashes. Fatal 5 violations include:
- Speed
- Occupant Safety
- Lane Usage
- Impaired Driving
- Distracted Driving
In 2023 alone (Jan 1-Dec 21), OSP has arrested more than 2,657 suspects for DUII statewide. This is up 2.5 percent from 2022 with 2,593 arrests. In 2023, OSP has arrested approximately 355 suspects for DUII in Josephine and Jackson counties with 200 arrests in Jackson County and 155 arrests in Josephine County.
OSP station commanders in southern Oregon have shared that impaired driving has become a prolific problem in the region. They are asking for the public’s help in reducing impaired driving to keep Oregonians safe while traveling this holiday season.
In addition to this targeted southern Oregon saturation patrol, OSP will have extra troopers focused on impaired driving throughout the state on New Year’s Eve. If you plan to consume impairing substances, always make plans for a sober ride home such as taxis or ride share apps or designating a completely sober driver.
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U.S. Marshals Led Task Force Arrests Kansas Child Sex Abuse Suspect in Jackson County
JCSO Case 23-7218
ROGUE RIVER, Ore. – The United States Marshals Service led Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force (PNVOTF) tracked down and arrested a man wanted out of Kansas on a felony warrant for child sex abuse. The suspect, Ben J Baxter, 51, of Kansas, was wanted on a felony charge of sodomy with a child who was under 14 years of age. The crime occurred between June 27th and July 1st of this year. He is now lodged in the Jackson County Jail awaiting extradition back to Kansas.
The arrest occurred at 2:33 p.m. today, December 22, when investigations led PNVOTF and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies to a remote residence on Murphy Gulch Road west of Wimer, Ore. Investigators located Baxter leaving the residence, and arrested him without incident. Although Baxter wrapped multiple phones in aluminum foil to avoid detection, he was unsuccessful in avoiding capture.
Over the last few days, PNVOTF tracked Baxter from Josephine County to the arrest location. The task force was assisted by Oregon State Police, Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, Grants Pass Police Department, and Rogue River Police Department.
PNVOTF includes personnel from the U.S. Marshals, JCSO, and Central Point Police Department. The task force specializes in locating and arresting fugitives wanted for offenses including, but not limited to, murder, assault, sex crimes, failure to register as a sex offender, firearm violations, and probation violations. There is no further information available for release.
Mt. Ashland Just Waiting for Snow
The Mt. Ashland Ski Area is preparing to welcome a big crowd ahead of a delayed start to their winter season.
Mt. Ashland needs about 24 to 30 inches of snow before it can reopen to skiers and snowboarders. According to the Mt. Ashland website, there has been zero inches of snowfall over the past week.
Andrew Gast, the general manager of the ski hill, said there isn’t enough snow on the ground to operate but everything else at the hill is up and running.
Right now the team is working on a shuttle program after receiving a $50,000 grant from Travel Oregon. Minibuses will be running from Ashland up the hill once the season gets started.
Mt. Ashland will be celebrating their 60th anniversary on Jan. 11. Gast said the crew will be celebrating the milestone with a party that day if the hill is open. Ski hill staff are on a holiday break right now as they wait for more snow. Updates on Mt. Ashland’s opening date can be found on their Facebook
page.
Video Available for download: https://vimeo.com/896996679?share=copy
JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. – The number of DUII arrests in 2023 for Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) is the highest in the last 10 years. This year, JCSO deputies have made 349 DUII arrests as of today, December 21, and that number is expected to rise during the holiday season. The previous high was 322 DUII arrests in all of 2021.
Through New Year’s Day, JCSO is increasing patrols to keep our community safer from intoxicated drivers. JCSO and law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon are using federally-funded overtime to increase DUII patrols and educate the public on the dangers of intoxicated driving. The program is funded through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).
For more information on the program go to https://www.nhtsa.gov/drive-sober-december-and-every-month
PART 2 – Newsweek Podcast Focusing on The Disappearance of Fauna Frey From Lane County
Here One Minute, Gone the Next —– PART 2 – Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel joins investigative journalist Alex Rogue to speak with Here One Minute, Gone the Next about the disappearance of Fauna Frey, the growing friction between citizen investigators and law enforcement, and the lack of resources in missing persons cases. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-disappearance-of-fauna-frey-pt2-feat-sheriff/id1707094441?i=1000630100040
PART 1 – John Frey joins Newsweek to discuss exclusive details about the case of his missing daughter that until now have been unavailable to the general public.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of Fauna Frey, call the anonymous tip line at 541-539-5638 or email FindFaunaFrey@gmail.com.
Help Find Fauna Frey #FindFaunaFrey FACEBOOK GROUP
Census Data Shows Oregon’s Population Declined For Second Year In A Row
According to new numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau, Oregon’s once steady population growth has come to a halt in the last few years,
A little more than 6,000 people – or 0.1% of the population – left Oregon from July 2022 to July 2023, according to census data released Tuesday. Stretching back to 2021, overall census numbers estimate the state’s population went down by 0.5%, or about 23,000 people.
The numbers are different from Portland State University’s estimate that Oregon added a small number of residents over the same 12-month period.
“Of course these new Census estimates are in contrast to the population estimates from Portland State’s Population Research Center,” writes Josh Lehner, an Oregon state economist, in an analysis. “Their latest estimates showed Oregon’s population holding steady in 2022, following a downward revision, and then a moderate rebound in 2023.”
While U.S. Census Data is important in determining things like federal funding for certain programs or congressional seats, Oregon policymakers mostly use PSU’s numbers when drafting legislation or as a foundation for other official state business.
According to PSU’s Population Research Center, the state welcomed 23,397 people from July 2022 to July 2023, representing a 0.55% increase. PSU also crunched county-level data, which showed Multnomah County grew by 0.21% or 1,728 people.
Oregon employment economist Gail Krumenauer said both data sets show a big turnaround from historical trends.
“One of the advantages that Oregon has had relative to many other states – and overall in the U.S.,” Krumenauer said, “is that we’ve been able to grow our employment, grow jobs, at a greater rate over the course of the past few decades than the U.S. on average, and more than other states.”
Krumenauer said that’s because in past years, more people moved to Oregon than left the state. Economists call that net in-migration, and Krumenauer said that’s previously been the main driver for growth in the state’s labor force.
“Either case now, either very slow population growth or decline, is a very different story,” she said. “Either one of them spells lower labor force growth for us.” (SOURCE)
Many new consumer protection laws go into effect Jan. 1, 2024
Salem – When the clock strikes midnight on Jan. 1, 2024, many new laws immediately take effect. The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR), part of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) – the state’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency – is releasing an easy-to-follow guide on new consumer protection laws. https://dfr.oregon.gov/news/news2023/Pages/20231227-Many-new-consumer-protection-laws.aspx
Oregon State Police says troopers arrested 22 suspected DUII drivers around Oregon during the Christmas holiday.
The arrests were made in 12 of Oregon’s 36 counties between midnight on Dec. 24 and 2 a.m. on Dec. 26. According to OSP, preliminary data shows two of the arrests occurred in Malheur County, one in Baker County and one in Wallowa County.
Coos County on the southern coast topped the list with four DUII arrests made by state troopers.
“Impaired driving crashes are preventable,” OSP said in a statement to Elkhorn Media Group. “Drivers are urged to plan ahead and never drive impaired with any substance. To make it home safely, designate a sober driver, use public transportation, call a sober friend or family member, or use a ride share service or taxi. If you see an impaired driver on the road, call 911.”
With New Year’s Eve approaching, OSP reminds drivers that 37 people are killed each day in drunk driving crashes. Approximately 31% of all traffic deaths in the U.S. involve impaired drivers.
Portland Police Shoot And Kill Robbery Suspect During Confrontation Outside Mall 205
Police officers shot and killed a man outside Mall 205 in Southeast Portland Wednesday afternoon. Police described the man as a suspect in a robbery with an active arrest warrant, and said he was shot during a confrontation when the officers attempted to arrest him.
Three officers fired at the man, according to a news release from the Portland Police Bureau, and a firearm was later found next to him, but police did not release any further details about the circumstances of the shooting and did not say whether the man fired at the officers or displayed the gun during the confrontation.
The Portland Police Bureau initially reported around 4:30 p.m. that a majority of the Mall 205 parking lot and the adjacent portion of Southeast 96th Avenue were closed for a police shooting investigation, and said the closure would last several hours. The agency said there were no reported injuries to officers, but provided no further details about the situation at the time.
The investigation appeared to be concentrated around a T-Mobile store in a satellite building at the southwest corner of the Mall 205 property. Numerous officers and investigators could be seen moving in and out of the store late Wednesday afternoon, with patrol cars outside and most of the surrounding parking lot area roped off.
In a subsequent news release at around 7:30 p.m., PPB said officers had been dispatched just after 3:30 p.m. to “a large department store” in Mall 205 and were told that a suspect in a previous robbery was trying to steal merchandise, and that the suspect had an active arrest warrant.
Nearby members of the Focused Intervention Team responded and saw the suspect leaving the store. The suspect began running when the officers moved in to arrest him in the parking lot, according to the news release.
There was a confrontation between the suspect and officers near the west end of the Mall 205 parking lot along Southeast 96th Avenue, and the officers shot and injured the suspect. Police called EMS to the scene, and the officers approached the suspect and confirmed he was dead, according to the news release. They also found a firearm next to him.
Two of the officers who fired their weapons were from the Focused Intervention Team and the third was from the East Precinct, police said. Detectives with the Portland Police Homicide Unit responded to the scene and began investigating. The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on leave, which is standard procedure, police said.
Two of the officers who fired their weapons were from the Focused Intervention Team and the third was from the East Precinct, police said. Detectives with the Portland Police Homicide Unit responded to the scene and began investigating. The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on leave, which is standard procedure, police said. (SOURCE)
Oregon State Parks host Whale Watch Week from this Wednesday through Sunday
An Oregon Parks and Recreation Department release said every year thousands of gray whales migrate south through Oregon’s waters at the end of December and state parks invite visitors to the coast to see their journey.
Trained volunteers will be stationed at 15 sites to help visitors spot whales, share information and answer questions from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. daily. The Whale Watch Week spots are some of the best places to spot whales on the Oregon coast.
A map of volunteer-staffed sites is available online at: https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=183
The Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Visitors can enjoy interactive whale exhibits and take in panoramic ocean views. Binoculars are provided. Rangers from Oregon State Parks will also be on hand to answer questions about whales.
For more information about coast parks and campgrounds, go to: https://stateparks.oregon.gov/
Manage state benefits with the Oregon ONE Mobile app
People can now securely manage their medical, food, cash and child care benefits through the State of Oregon from the convenience of their mobile devices using the new Oregon ONE Mobile app. People first will need to apply for benefits online, in person at a local office or over the phone.
The app is available for free in the Apple and Android app stores. It is an official State of Oregon app created by the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS). The app’s development was partially funded by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
“At ODHS we are committed to meeting people in Oregon where they are with as many ways as possible to manage their benefits, check application status and share needed documentation, like when they get a request for information during a renewal,” said Nathan Singer (he/him), director of the ODHS Oregon Eligibility Partnership. “People can now manage their benefits in-person, by mail, by fax, by telephone, online and on their mobile phone using the Oregon ONE Mobile app, which is available in English and Spanish.”
Interview with OEP Director Singer available on YouTube
Oregon ONE Mobile app video on YouTube
New Oregon ONE Mobile app video link
- Create a ONE Online account.
- Access their existing ONE Online account.
- Report changes to household information including address, contact information and income.
- Upload requested documents using a smartphone camera.
- Get updates on application status and check if it is approved, denied, or pending, and what actions might need to be taken.
- See and download notices that were mailed.
- Find the next renewal date for their benefits.
- Get important, time-sensitive alerts and notifications about benefits on mobile devices.
- View benefit issuance history for food and cash payments.
People who serve as Authorized Representatives for people with benefits are also able to use the app.
How to manage your medical, food, cash and child care benefits:
- By phone at: 1-800-699-9075. All relay calls accepted.
- Online at: benefits.oregon.gov
- Through the free Oregon ONE Mobile app available on Apple and Android app stores
- In person at an office near you: Find an office.
- In your language: Help in Your Language
- By mail at: ONE Customer Service Center, PO Box 14015, Salem, OR 97309
- By fax at: 503-378-5628
Resources to help meet basic needs
- Find food resources in your community: needfood.oregon.gov.
- Learn about government programs and community resources for older adults and people with disabilities: Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon at 1-855-673-2372 or www.adrcoforegon.org.
- Dial 2-1-1, or text your zip code to 898-211, www.211info.org
- Find local resources and support by contacting your local Community Action Agency: www.caporegon.org/find-services/
- Oregon Department of Human Services help center
About the Oregon Department of Human Services
The mission of the Oregon Department of Human Services is to help Oregonians in their own communities achieve well-being and independence through opportunities that protect, empower, respect choice and preserve dignity.
About the Oregon Eligibility Partnership
The Oregon Eligibility Partnership (OEP) is part of the Oregon Department of Human Services. OEP supports state staff who determine eligibility for people applying for and receiving medical, food, cash and child care benefits. It also manages the ONE Eligibility System used to process applications and deliver benefits to eligible individuals and families in Oregon. One in three people in Oregon receive benefits through the ONE Eligibility System. OEP administers the ONE Eligibility system in partnership with the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC).###
