For Jana Langhoff and her son Tyler, summer days don’t look drastically different from when their Medford elementary school was in session. Tyler, who finished his first-grade year at home like the rest of his Howard Elementary School classmates amid Oregon’s statewide school closure, didn’t thrive while learning from a distance. And the catch-up instruction his school is offering him this summer won’t work much better, since his teacher still must connect with him over a computer instead of face-to-face. Tyler, 6, had been settling into a routine just before the COVID-19 pandemic, but the ensuing restrictions disrupted that rhythm.…
Author: Tony Cooper
As of Wednesday morning, Avamere at Three Fountains had 113 cases of coronavirus among its residents and staff. That’s dozens more than any similar facility in Oregon. The facility with the second-most cases is Maryville Memory Care in Washington County with 74 cases, according to weekly state data released by the Oregon Health Authority on Wednesday. Some of the information in OHA’s weekly report isn’t as up-to-date as local data from county governments. On Wednesday, Jackson County Public Health reported that the Three Fountains facility had 113 cases, while the state reported 95 cases. The county also listed Avamere’s Health…
As businesses continue to grapple with changing coronavirus restrictions in Oregon, one fitness company is taking the same approach as many restaurants. Several 24-Hour Fitness clubs are moving their equipment outside so people can work out, even if a county is in the ‘extreme risk’ category. The location off Murray-Scholls Place in Beaverton is one of them. The company says they’re using a combination of outdoor tents, turf areas, and patios to provide people space to stay fit. “The health and mental, physical and emotional well-being of our members is paramount, and we really want to provide space and a…
Jackson County Public Health reported three more deaths attributed to coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing the county’s death toll since the beginning of the pandemic to 44. Public health officials gave the following information about each of the three patients: Jackson County’s 42nd COVID-19 death is a 71-year-old female who tested positive on November 16 and died on December 5 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center in Grants Pass, OR. The patient had underlying conditions. Jackson County’s 43rd COVID-19 death is a 73-year-old male who tested positive on November 25 and died on December 5 at Providence Medford Medical Center. The…
Coats for Kids is an annual campaign helmed by NewsWatch 12 that connects kids in need with winter coats donated by members of the community. In the last 30 years, Coats for Kids has collected, cleaned, and distributed more than 125,000 coats to children in Southern Oregon. The current health crisis has necessitated some changes to Coats for Kids for 2020 — but the need in our community and our willingness to help remains the same. This year, the big red barrels will remain in storage as our Coats for Kids campaign goes virtual. Instead of collecting coats, NewsWatch 12…
The Oregon State Police reported Friday that a body found November 17th in Jackson county was that of 33 year old Matthew Lang of Bend. On October 27th police reported finding a badly damaged Ford Explorer that had been in a rollover wreck with no occupants on Highway 62. Lang had not contacted friends or family since the wreck. On Tuesday, November 17th a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy found a body in the river several hundred yards from the crash off Highway 62. The State Police Medical Examiner confirmed the identity of Lang.
The Asante Employee RV Park is providing shelter for those displaced by the Almeda and Obenchain Fires. Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center spokesperson Lauren Van Sickle says about 80 employees lost their homes after the fires. “By opening the RV park, it gave them a space that they can go where it was safe and kind of on their own again,” Van Sickle said. There’s room for about 32 RV’s at the park. Van Sickle says about 20 Asante employees are currently staying there. Asante purchased slightly used RV’s for those who need them. Van Sickle says the park is…
The two residence halls in question at SOU, Shasta and McLoughlin, are owned by a third party, Collegiate Housing Foundation. The university had told students interested in getting out of their leases for spring term (since SOU is doing remote-only instruction) that they would need until the end of spring break to negotiate with the owners on behalf of students. In fact, students received word from the university about what an exit might spell for them a few days earlier than expected. As with students in university-owned residence halls, students must petition to leave Shasta or McLoughlin through University Housing,…
Jackson County Public Health reports 57 new COVID-19 cases. This update brings the total reported COVID-19 cases in Jackson County to 3,826. Health officials are monitoring 693 active cases. To prevent the spread of COVID-19,Jackson County Public Health is encouraging everyone to: • Cover your mouth and nose with a mask • Avoid close contact and keep 6 feet of distance between yourself and people who do not live in your household. The fewer people you are around, the better. • Wash your hands often • Clean and disinfect surfaces that are touched frequently with common EPA registered household disinfectants…
A man has been sentenced for using a dog shock collar on a girl he was babysitting at a home outside Medford. The Mail Tribune reports 40-year-old Mark McSorley pleaded guilty in November to charges of assault and tampering with a witness. He was sentenced to three years probation and 30 days in jail. He is also barred from being a child care provider. His wife, Christina McSorley, entered not guilty pleas Wednesday to assault and harassment charges related to the same incident. A probable cause affidavit says the McSorleys while caring for three children on Oct. 22 put a…