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Friday, Sept. 13, 2024

Klamath Basin Weather

Freeze Warning and Frost Advisory in effect from September 13, 02:00AM until 9PM

 

The Middle Fork Fire is 5,286 acres and 70% contained, according to the latest news release from the U.S. Forest Service.

For everyone’s safety, please slow down and drive carefully near firefighter activity. Roads are slick and debris flows are possible. Area, road and trail closures remain in place. Do not enter closed areas or drive around barriers. Entire roadways may not be blocked to allow firefighter traffic. Areas are close due to dangerous conditions like falling trees, heavy equipment and road grading,  the Oregon Department of Forestry said.  A reconnaissance flight over the fire area revealed no areas of concern. Crews have finished repairing firelines along the Pacific Crest Trail. 

Residents wanting information about current park conditions can call Crater Lake National Park at 541-594-3000. 

 

Around the State of Oregon

Copycat Threats to Oregon Schools

While an arrest was made of a former student at Henley High School in Klamath Falls this week, threatening a school principal, Central Point Oregon School District 6 says there is “no credible threat” to Crater High School after a TikTok post that threatened violence towards the school.

In a Facebook post, the school district said the post “referenced schools across the country as potential targets for violence.”  

When a concerned parent told the district about the TikTok post, the school district called the police, the post said.  “After a thorough investigation, it was confirmed that the individual responsible for these posts has been arrested in Nevada,” the post said.

“The post mentioned numerous schools across the nation, state and region including Crater High School, but there was no credible threat directed specifically at our school. 

The school district says they still increased patrols from local police today to give students and parents “an extra sense of security.” 

 

The Medford Police Department is alerting the public to a blackmail extortion scam that has emerged in the community.

Victims have reported receiving emails from individuals claiming to have personal, incriminating information and demanding payment via Bitcoin to prevent its release.  This is a scam. 

Medford Police say “We strongly advise the public not to pay the ransom. If payment is made, the scammer will likely continue to exploit the victim for more money. Instead, delete these emails like any other junk mail. If the emails persist, contact the Medford Police Department.  Online scam artists are continually evolving their tactics. To protect yourself:   Do not open emails from unknown senders.  Do not click on suspicious attachments.   Be cautious when interacting with unfamiliar individuals on social media.”

If you’ve received these emails, report them to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center:  www.ic3.gov.

 

Police are also warning of an increase in reports of a common scam. The scammer sends an email to the victim with their name in the subject line, their address and phone number.

An attached file includes personal information and a photo of their residence. They claim they will send compromising photos or information to everyone on their contact list if they’re not paid in a day.

Police say the extortion scam almost always goes nowhere. Attachments can contain malware and shouldn’t be opened. Police want anyone who lost money to the scam to report it.

 

Gov. Tina Kotek declared a drought in Lake County yesterday, saying dry and hot conditions are expected to affect farmers, increase fire risk and decrease water supplies.  

According to a news release from the Governor’s Office, the region has been in a moderate drought since July 9. Officials do not expect water supply conditions or precipitation levels to “meaningfully improve.”  

“Drought is likely to have a significant economic impact on the agricultural, livestock and natural resources sectors, as well as an impact on fish and wildlife,” the release said. 

Officials are continuing to monitor Lake County’s conditions, the release said, and Kotek’s declaration allows them to use more tools to assist the public. 

“The drought declaration by Governor Kotek unlocks a number of drought-related emergency tools, including assistance to local water users,” the release said. “…As state and local officials coordinate with federal partners, conditions will be closely monitored by the state’s natural resource and public safety agencies, including the Oregon Water Resources Department and the Oregon Department of Emergency Management.”

 

Near Roseburg, a Gardiner woman joins her husband behind bars after police say the pair of them allegedly attempted to persuade a victim of sex abuse to recant her story. 

This information came while officers were responding to a disturbance at a residence in the 70000 block of Highway 101. At that time, 36-year-old Eric Thomas Cumming was arrested on multiple charges including unlawful penetration and sexual abuse.  According to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, on Monday 38-year-old Tabitha Cumming was arrested and faces one charge of tampering with a witness which is a felony. 

During their investigation, detectives learned that Eric Cumming who is currently in jail was writing letters to his wife Tabitha, asking her to persuade the victim to change her story.  Police say in an attempt to do this, Tabitha Cumming even contacted the Douglas County DA’s office and said the minor “had recanted her story and wanted to set the record straight.” 

After speaking with both Tabitha and the victim, detectives believe the pair did indeed attempt to get the victim to change her story.  Both the husband and wife are currently in the Douglas County Jail. In addition to his previous charges, Eric Cumming also faces a charge of tampering with a witness.

 

TASK FORCE BUSTS PHOENIX BLACK-MARKET CANNABIS GROW CONNECTED TO ILLEGAL NORTHERN CALIFORNIA MARIJUANA OPERATION; CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES $26K IN FINES

In the Rogue Valley, the Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET) detectives served a search warrant this morning at a black-market cannabis grow in the 4000 block of Fern Valley Road in rural Phoenix.

IMET detectives seized approximately 6,054 illegal marijuana plants at the property in 20 greenhouses. During the initial investigation detectives learned the Phoenix property was connected to a black-market marijuana growing operation in Northern California. 

There was no licensing for any type of cannabis growing, handling, or processing at this location. IMET was assisted by Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies, and Oregon State Police (OSP) detectives.

IMET arrested one suspect on the property and charges are being referred to the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office for another suspect. The suspect arrested was Yuhua (AKA Shirley) Hong, 44, of Montague, Calif. She is charged with three felony counts including unlawful possession, distribution, and manufacture of a marijuana item.

During the search warrant, Jackson County Code Enforcement responded to the scene and issued a total of $26,000 in fines to the responsible party. Fines were for violations related to unpermitted construction, solid waste, and operating a marijuana production area in violation of land use approvals. The Oregon Water Resources Department Enforcement section also responded to investigate the water usage. Further charges for water violations may be added at a later time.

While regulatory agencies investigate permitted cannabis operations, IMET is focusing on the black-market marijuana trade in the Rogue Valley. IMET is a multi-agency task force funded by a grant from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission. The task force includes personnel from JCSO, Homeland Security Investigations, OSP, Medford Police Department, and the Jackson County District Attorney’s office.

Investigations are open and ongoing with detectives working additional leads. No further information is currently available for release.

 

Missing Oregon Nurse Found Dead. Neighbor Arrested For Her Murder

A nurse allegedly murdered by her Oregon neighbor just two weeks after getting married had plans to move out to be with her long-distance husband in Washington state, her family shared.

Police recovered the remains of Melissa Jubane, 32, on Friday evening after a three-day search that ended in the arrest of her 27-year-old neighbor, Bryce Johnathan Schubert, who was charged with second-degree murder.

The newlywed was reported missing on Wednesday after failing to show up to her morning shift at St. Vincent Hospital in southwest Portland. Her co-workers requested a wellness check on her, but police didn’t find any signs of her at her apartment.

Jubane married Bryan Llantero, of Hawaii, on the island of Honolulu on Aug. 24 and had just returned to Oregon before she vanished.

The newlyweds first met in Hawaii and dated for over a decade, flying back and forth to see each other. Llantero had last heard from his new wife the morning she went missing, according to KHON .

Jubane would stay in her Oregon apartment because of its proximity to her workplace while Llantero stayed in Washington state with Melissa’s family, her mother-in-law, Imelda Llantero, told the local news station.

But after tying the knot, Jubane planned to look for a job in Washington so she could live with her new husband, Imelda Llantero said.

Since her alleged murder, family members have taken to social media to advocate for justice and preserve her memory.

Jax Marquez, one of Jubane’s cousins, has turned to dedicating parts of her social media to her, including changing her profile picture to read “Justice for #melissajubane.”

Jubane’s father also expressed his heartbreak online. “I’m in so much pain right now for you my daughter Melissa Jubane. As promised by the Beaverton Police Authorities to us, your justice will be done soon,” Valentin Jubane, Melissa’s father, wrote in a post on Facebook .

“I have trust in our God The Almighty and His only son our Lord God Jesus Christ. You are loved by so many good people around the world.”

Another one of Melissa’s cousins, Onilobes Allan, urged politicians to protect potential victims from bad actors.

“[…] our government need[s] to protect [people like Melissa] so we can have a chance to live in peace and have happiness in the world but unfortunately got taken advantage and was killed by someone that is very evil. I’m asking the government to make laws that protect good citizens,” he wrote in a post on Facebook .  (SOURCE)

 

A 29-year-old man from Oregon was arrested with more than eight pounds of fentanyl powder and pills and $4,400 in cash during a traffic stop near Mount Shasta City on Sept. 4, 2024. 

The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office says they arrested Jose Andalon of McMinnville, OR while he was traveling northbound on Interstate 5 near Truck Village Drive at a high rate of speed.  During the traffic stop, a K-9 from Weed Police Department alerted officers to narcotics. Andalon was detained while his vehicle was searched.  

SCSO deputies discovered a silver revolver with spent cartridges in the driver’s side door, a grocer bag with four bricks of fentanyl weighing 8.16 pounds total and a backpack containing more than $4,000 in cash.

 

Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) leaders are pushing for a new state prison, asking state lawmakers to add it to the top of their priority list and see how much it would cost to repair or replace the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem.  

The big request — in the hundreds of millions of dollars — could both reshape the state’s budget plans and its criminal justice system.  DOC Director Mike Reese said the Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP) is “oppressive” and aging past the point of repair. 

Reese, the former Multnomah County Sheriff, toured all 12 DOC institutions when he assumed directorship in the fall of 2023. For him, OSP stood out as the worst of the bunch.  The DOC estimates it would cost $624 million to replace OSP with a new state prison, which could take about 5-10 years to build. 

The alternative, Reese said, is a backlog of more than $110 million in deferred maintenance requests at the current facility and tens of millions more in needed improvements and upgrades. The department is asking lawmakers to approve a feasibility study in the upcoming legislative session to evaluate the cost-benefit of a new or repaired state penitentiary. 

State Senator Janeen Sollman, who co-chairs the Oregon Legislature’s Ways and Means subcommittee on public safety, said she visited the state prison and she supports the idea of building one.  The Oregon State Penitentiary houses about 1,800 adults in custody. It’s the only maximum-security prison in the state, and about 460 DOC staff members work there.

 

The Oregon Employment Department reopened its phone lines on Mondays this week, declaring it has made progress on a large backlog of issues that were holding up jobless claims and paid leave benefits.

The agency stopped taking inbound calls on Mondays last June and cut the number of hours the phones were open by one hour each in the mornings and afternoons. At the time, it was facing a growing backlog of jobless claims and jammed phone lines as laid-off workers sought information about their stalled benefits. 

By reducing phone hours, the employment department said it could devote more time to processing claims and resolving issues that stood in the way of it paying benefits. The change affected both jobless insurance claims and the new Paid Leave Oregon benefits program, which is also administered by the employment department.

The shorter phone hours confounded some unemployed Oregonians, who couldn’t get through on the phone lines to find out why they weren’t receiving their aid.  In June, more than a third of callers to the employment department spent over an hour on hold. Many others couldn’t get through at all.

 

Oregon House Republican leaders are calling for changes to wildfire prevention policies following fires that have burned over one-and-a-half-million acres this wildfire season.

They want the legislature to improve forest management practices, cut regulations on mills, boost firefighting resources, and prohibit homeless camping on public lands. Changes to forest management practices are expected to face challenges from environmental groups and potential legal action. Stay tuned.

 

Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum is leading a bipartisan campaign with 41 state attorneys general who are prodding Congress to require a U.S. surgeon general warning for young people on social media platforms. 

Rosenblum, president of the National Association of Attorneys General, sent a letter on Monday to Congress urging action amid heightened concern about the role that algorithms of social media can play in youth mental health, including depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. 

The letter also noted how platforms feature irresistible algorithmic recommendations, infinite scrolling that automatically loads new content as the user scrolls down a page and a constant stream of notifications that are designed to keep kids relentlessly engaged on the platforms, even at the expense of taking breaks, engaging in other activities, or sleeping.

The letter follows the National Association of Attorney General’s summit last week in Portland, which highlighted Rosenblum’s push as the group’s president to focus on youth issues.  Rosenblum said in a statement that youth face challenges and asked Congress to move with urgency and hold the tech industry accountable.

In June, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthym released an advisory about social media use and its potential negative impacts on mental health and wellbeing. The surgeon general’s 2023 advisory recommends that technology companies design and assess their platforms to prioritize children’s safety and health and for parents to establish “tech-free zones” to encourage in-person relationships.

The advisory also calls for more research to establish standards for social media and youth mental health and encourages youth to limit their time on social media.

 

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) wants you to leave your firewood at home in effort to avoid the spread of an invasive insect in state parks and protect ash trees in the state.   

According to OPRD, the emerald ash borer (EAB) has presented itself as of the most destructive forest pest in North America, killing hundred of millions of ash trees across the county and has been detected in four Oregon counties: Washington, Yamhill, Marion and Clackamas.

The department says the detection has prompted a permanent quarantine in those Oregon counties  The departments Natural Resource Coordinator and Ecologist Noel Bacheller says so far the EAB hasn’t been detected in Oregon State Parks, “[A]nd we would like to keep it that way for as long as possible.” 

OPRD says visitors should leave behind anyash, olive and white fringe tree firewood and materials at home and instead opt for certified heat-treated firewood or firewood.

 

Man Arrested for Arson After Lighting String of Fires Along I-5

Lane County Sheriff’s Dispatch received a report of a male starting fires along I-5 in the area of Goshen.

Deputies and Oregon State Police troopers responded and quickly arrested the suspect, identified as Michael David Brown, 52. Brown was actively lighting a fire on the shoulder of Franklin Boulevard when contacted, and resisted arrest.  

Multiple fire departments responded as deputies and troopers began evacuating area residents. The fires were brought under control before larger evacuations were necessary. All evacuation notices have since been cleared. 

Brown was lodged at the Lane County Jail on case #24-4844 for five counts of Arson in the 1^st Degree, five counts of Reckless Burning, five counts of Reckless Endangering, Disorderly Conduct in the 2^nd Degree, and Resisting Arrest.  

Through their investigation, deputies also determined Brown had set a fire on Franklin Boulevard at Seavey Loop Road on August 26^th. Brown was lodged on case #24-4845 for Arson in the 1^st Degree related to that fire.  

 

Another lawsuit has been filed against Medford’s Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in the case involving a former nurse accused of giving patients non-sterile tap water instead of intravenous fentanyl. 

In a Sept. 6 filing in Jackson County Circuit Court, an attorney for 63-year-old Candi Kay Palomares says former Asante nurse Dani Marie Schofield diverted fentanyl prescribed to Palomares for the severe respiratory distress that brought her to Asante’s intensive care unit on March 26, 2023.

The suit seeks $116 million for Palomares’ pain and suffering, future medical expenses and lost wages. By March 31, 2023, blood tests showed infections in Palomares, then a mobile home park manager in Brookings.  By April 3, 2023, Palomares suffered from sepsis-induced brain dysfunction, the suit claims.

On April 14, 2023, a patient safety representative for Asante posted a notice online about what the hospital termed “water quality rumors.” Attorney Bruce Nishioka argues in court papers that Asante acted with negligence by failing to prevent “the foreseeable diversion of fentanyl.”  Palomares can no longer work and also lost her home because it was part of her compensation for managing the mobile home park.

 

In a related story, a stay has been granted by a judge for the former Asante nurse, accused of drug diversion at the hospital. The civil case of drug diversion in regards to Horace Earl Wilson, will be delayed until the criminal case of Dani Schofield has concluded. 

The former Medford nurse accused of criminal assault of 44 hospital patients through drug diversion can “stay,” or pause, the related civil case.  Schofield is one of two defendants in a Jackson County civil court case, “Patti L. Wilson for the Estate of Horace Earl Wilson, Plaintiff, v. Asante, an Oregon corporation; Dani Marie Schofield, R.N., Defendant,” filed in February by Justin Idiart with Central Point’s Idiart Law Group. 

Schofield also has 44 felony counts of criminal assault in Jackson County Circuit Court, accusing her of causing illness to 44 Asante Rogue Regional Medical Cnter (Asante) intensive care unit patients from diverting to herself fentanyl intended for them, replacing it with hospital tap water that could cause infection.

 

SALEM, Ore. — Governor Tina Kotek and Brig. Gen. Alan Gronewold, Adjutant General in Oregon, hosted a formal demobilization ceremony in Salem, Oregon for the unit members of the Oregon National Guard’s A (-) 641st Aviation on Sept. 9, 2024.

During their mobilization they provided fixed-wing air capabilities in support of the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa and AFRICOM from Djibouti and throughout the AFRICOM Theater of operations.

“Just over a year ago we gathered to see off an exceptional group of aviators as they embarked on a critical mission to the Horn of Africa,” said Brig. Gen. Alan Gronewold to the returning Soldiers during the demobilization ceremony. “Today we come together once again –  not to say goodbye but to celebrate your safe return and extraordinary service.”

Gov. Kotek welcomed the member’s home and praised their dedication to the yearlong deployment with family and co-workers in attendance. “It was last July that you first mobilized here, and I reminded you to come home safe from your mobilization, and as this was my first mobilization ceremony as Governor and your guidon was in my office while you were gone.”

“With your dedication to duty, I am truly humbled by your commitment to serve. I want to welcome you back, and hopefully, you can now catch up on some of the activities you missed while you were away,” said Gov. Kotek.

Prior to their overseas mission, the unit spent nearly two-weeks of specialized training at Ft. Bliss, Texas. The unit has a long history of deploying overseas supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2007 and later deploying to support Operation New Dawn in Iraq in 2010 while some members of the unit deployed to Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom. Their most recent mobilization was in 2017 when they deployed to Kuwait to support Operation Enduring Freedom followed by Operation Spartan Shield.

 

As the days get shorter and the air gets colder, standard time looms on the horizon.  This year, daylight saving time will end at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 3, two days before the presidential election. 

What do politics have to do with changing clocks? A lot, it turns out.  If lawmakers had been successful earlier this year, November’s time change could have been one of the last for Oregonians. But, a bill to abolish daylight saving time died in the Oregon Legislature in March. 

Senate Bill 1548 would have kept most of Oregon on standard time year-round.  Hawaii and most of Arizona stick to one time already, proving year-long standard time is possible. But when it comes to the West Coast, don’t expect the end of time changes anytime soon.

 

Boaters are being warned about low levels on the Columbia and Willamette rivers.

That’s the message from the National Weather Service in Portland, which says submerged items could be potentially exposed or just below the surface of the river at least during low tide. Officials say boaters should avoid going out during low tide while the river levels are low and instead go out during high tide.

Tide information is available on the National Weather Service website.

 

September is National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month and Suicide Prevention Month

Take time this month to spread awareness about all the resources we have available in our community for prevention, treatment and substance abuse recovery.

September is also Suicide Prevention Month. If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, you are not alone. There are numerous resources available for you and your loved ones. Reach out to friends and family today, a conversation can save a life.

 #SuicidePrevention #YouAreNotAlone #988 #youmatter

If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, you are not alone. Please call or text the National 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or text HELLO to 741741.

 

The application deadline for the new EBT program has been extended to midnight Sept. 30, 2024.

The program offers $120 per child to help cover grocery costs when school food programs are not as easy to access.

Eligible families should act now. Thousands of families may be unaware that they qualify for this essential benefit. The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) urge families to check their eligibility and apply before the extended deadline.

Remember, once benefits are received, they must be used within 122 days.  Most eligible children received their benefits automatically on June 28, 2024, if their households:

Participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Participate in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Are Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) members in households with incomes under 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Level

Children in foster care also automatically received Summer EBT.  However, families who did not receive benefits automatically, particularly those with children enrolled in a school during the 2023-2024 school year who were eligible for the National School Lunch or Breakfast Programs, should still apply to determine their eligibility.

Families are encouraged to visit sebt.oregon.gov or contact the Summer EBT Call Center to verify their eligibility

 

Basketball fans mark your calendars. The 10th Annual Rip City Rally is making a stop in Coos Bay on September 16. 

The mascots and the Blazers dancers will be there along with some special guests who are yet to be announced.  There will be music, games, and giveaways in the parking lot at the intersection of Curtis Avenue and South Second Street, on Monday, September 16, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Last year the rally made a stop in Medford. Now this year, Coos Bay is the only stop in Southern Oregon. The season opens in October.

 

 

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