The Rogue Valley Transportation District has suspended a route that serves Ashland, Talent, Phoenix and Medford until further notice because of wildfires. A temporary limited loop is in place that runs between the Ashland Plaza and the business park that houses Bi-Mart and Shop’n Kart on the south end of town. “The route uses the same footprint as route 10 but does not go farther north than the Ashland Plaza,” according to a news release. RVTD also has a special emergency service route that runs between Medford and Ashland through Saturday, Sept. 12. It runs from Medford at exit 27…
Author: Tony Cooper
The killing of a young Black man last month by a white man who complained that he was playing loud music has roiled Ashland, Oregon, forcing the liberal college town that is famous for its Shakespeare festival to take a hard look at race relations. The death of Aidan Ellison, 19, added another name to the list of Black men and women whose killings have sparked a nationwide reckoning with racism and fueled a surge in a Black Lives Matter movement. “What can be said about this teenager who was full of spirit? He was just getting started on his…
At least one person is confirmed dead and a criminal investigation is underway in connection to the Almeda Fire, Jackson County Sheriff Nathan Sickler said in a press conference Wednesday. The fire, also referred to as the Glendower Fire, started burning north of Ashland on Tuesday around 11 a.m. It spread through parts of Talent and Phoenix, and is now moving toward Medford, Oregon, a town of 82,000 people. As of Friday morning, the Almeda Fire has not shown any growth from its estimated 3,000 acreage. The fire is also now 20% contained, according to officials.
Many parts are moving across the Medford School District, and the faces of those in senior positions are changing with them. Michelle Cummings, who for more than four years worked as the Medford School District’s chief academic officer, confirmed from her new home in Manhattan that her chapter as a Rogue Valley educator closed in December. She’s now vice president of content for Teachers Pay Teachers, an online marketplace where educators nationwide can buy and sell curriculum they’ve created. “It’s just an extraordinary opportunity,” Cummings said, adding that moving closer to family was another incentive. “I … have so much…
Jackson County Public Health reported an unprecedented seven more people dead from coronavirus as of Thursday, bringing the county’s death toll to 19 since the beginning of the pandemic. Some of the details on those deaths were not yet available on Thursday, but only one of the cases died in a hospital. Six of them died at their residences — possibly homes, but likely several at long-term care facilities. Public health officials gave the following information about the deaths: Jackson County’s 13th COVID-19 death is a 91-year-old male who tested positive on November 3 and died on November 13 at…
A 34-year-old Oregon man was arrested on Maui on Monday, Dec. 14 for allegedly violating Rules and Orders pertaining to a quarantine violation. Police say they were investigating a separate incident, when they found the man had left his listed residence, in violation of his quarantine.
An 18-year-old man in Jackson County Jail on a murder charge. Police responded to 911 calls of an assault early Saturday morning. It happened in the field behind Albertson’s shopping center on Ross Lane. Officers found a 48-year-old homeless man with several stab wounds. Medford Fire and Mercy Flights tried to save him. The man died at the scene. Police searched the area. About two hours later, they found and arrested Ethan Guitierrez, 18. Meford Police are still investigating. The name of the man who died is not being released until next of kin is notified.
Medford First Christian Church is speaking out on some of the challenges they’ll face beyond Governor Kate Brown’s statewide two-week freeze. During the freeze, faith-based organizations can’t have more than 25 people indoors and 50 outdoors. The church has around 35 members and most of them are elderly. Pastor Stacy Shelton says this is challenging because those who are at-risk can’t meet in person. The church does group meetings via Zoom and streams Sunday worship through Facebook live. However, not everyone has access to that technology. “It has affected them, no doubt,” Shelton said. “You know, I have a lot…
At approximately 8:02 pm, Medford Police Officers were dispatched to the listed motel for an assault report. Upon their arrival officers located a deceased 28 year old male in the motel room. Injuries to the deceased male were consistent with an assault. The listed suspect Jackson Frischman was on scene and identified as a suspect. He was taken into custody without incident and later lodged at the Jackson County Jail for Murder in the 2nd Degree.
A small grass fire is out and Interstate 5 is open again at milepost 27. The fire started about 7:14 pm The fire was in the median and the grass area along the southbound lanes of the freeway. The fire burned between 3 to 5 acres before crews from Medford, Jackson County Fire District 5 and Ashland Fire were able to get it out. The freeway was closed briefly. The fire was contained and the freeway was reopened at about 8:10 pm. Crews say they haven’t figured out how the fire started.